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Title: Five Moments That Shaped The Strangest Moment Of Francesca Rivera's Young Life
Fandom: Guiding Light
Characters: Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, Emma Spencer, Francesca Rivera, Frank Cooper, Rick Bauer.
Category: Romance, Drama, Humor
Rating: R
Word count: 3, 028
Summary: The five moments that shaped the strangest moment of Francesca Rivera's young life.
Spoilers/Timeline Generally through September '09, though nothing terribly specific I think.
Disclaimer: All characters (Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, blah blah etc.) and situations belong to Guiding Light, Telenext, Proctor & Gamble, etc. I'm not them.
Author's Note: I've had this idea for almost a year now. All that to say...even I have no idea where I got this idea from at this point.
Beta: A big thanks to both aimlessla and Rysler for their very different but equally invaluable input about this fic.
Warning: This fic may leave you scratching your head. You may not want to read it if you have a family history of baldness.
Part One
2.
Two years and some months later
“Olivia.” Natalia caught her arm in a bruising grip and pulled her into a quick, tight embrace. “Thank God you’re here. Emma? ”
“ -Is with Phillip. I’m sorry it took me so long to get here, Sweetheart,” Olivia said, kissing the top of her head. She had flown out of the Beacon like a bat out of hell the moment Natalia had called her. “How is she?”
Natalia shrugged. “Rick wouldn’t say. He looked worried.”
“Shit,” Olivia muttered. “I should have taken her to the doctor yesterday.”
“Olivia, there was no way you could have known,” Natalia murmured.
Olivia shot her a look that said differently - and would have withered anyone else. Natalia brushed it aside without a thought.
“Hey,” Natalia said firmly. “Don’t.” She used a finger to pull Olivia’s chin around toward her and stared her down. “We decided to wait and see if Chessy got better. She didn’t. I brought her in. We did the right thing.”
“I wasn’t there,” Olivia said through clenched teeth.
“No, you were at work. Where you should have been - providing for your family. I stayed home. Don’t you trust me to take care of our daughter?” Natalia demanded.
“Of course I do,” Olivia said, her frown melting as she glanced back at Natalia. “But-”
Natalia planted a finger over her lips, cutting her off. “No buts.” She was saved from further argument by Rick bursting through the emergency room doors, coming toward them in a hurry.
It didn’t look good. He wore a dour expression and his arms were folded over his chest.
“She’s severely anemic right now.” Rick held up his hand, forestalling them. “We’re not sure what the cause is yet, but she needs blood. We’re giving it to her but-”
“But what, Rick?” Olivia demanded, brushing past Natalia and stalking forward. “What’s the problem?”
“Francesca has a rare blood type - O negative. And we’re experiencing a shortage here at the hospital right now. We might need more.”
“So get some,” Olivia growled out.
“It’s not that easy. There have to be donors.” He shot Olivia a look. “Willing donors. And we’ll call other blood banks in the area. Someone is already working on that.”
Olivia stuck out her arm. Rick sighed and looked at her warily, before he scrubbed a hand over his face. “It’s more likely that a blood relation would be a match.”
Olivia’s face froze; her jaw clenched. Natalia laid a hand on her arm. “Actually, Rick, Olivia is a match. Remember? From when they were doing all the blood typing and compatibility matching for her transplant?”
“Yes,” he conceded. “But-”
“But, what?” Olivia demanded.
“You’re a bad choice,” Rick said, clearly reluctant to discuss it. “The blood thinners - you shouldn’t even be a possibility.”
“That’s my kid, Rick. If I can do something to help her, I don’t care what it means for me!”
“Until we know why she’s anemic, it could just make it worse, Olivia.”
“I know, but-”
“But, nothing,” Natalia said as if that settled it. “I’ll go get tested and then we’ll see. It will be okay. We’ll worry about it later - if it’s necessary.”
Rick nodded. “You should probably also call Frank - see if he’ll come in. He’s another possible match.”
“He should be on his way. I called him earlier. But he’s AB negative.” Natalia shot a brief, apologetic glance at Olivia. “He mentioned it while we were engaged. Will that work?”
“No,” Rick frowned. “No, it won’t.” He shook his head. “You should get that testing started as soon as possible.” He gave Natalia a funny look but didn’t say anything, walking away. “I need to go re-run some tests...”
Olivia’s hand closed over his arm. “I want to see her - then we’ll go.”
Rick glanced down at his arm than back up at her. “Olivia, it would really be best if-”
It was Natalia who cut him off. “Rick. I’m going to get tested immediately. But we need to see her first.”
Rick took one glance at Natalia’s expression and nodded. “Right, of course. Follow me.” He glanced back over his shoulder at them. “I should warn you-”
“Just take us to her.” Olivia gritted out, taking her turn to cut him off. She couldn’t stand anymore of this. She needed to see Francesca for herself.
*** *** ***
Francesca looked so frail and tiny. Her usually well-tanned skin was pale and looked sickly in a way that no amount of sun could restore. Her eyes were closed and she was painfully still.
Olivia had to touch just her to make certain... She couldn't finish the thought, even to herself. This wasn't like Emma when she'd drunk a bottle of perfume in an unattended moment. That had been terrifying enough, but Olivia thought this was worse. At least then they had known what was wrong - and Rick had known how to fix it.
Natalia brushed hair back from Francesca's brow and leaned over to kiss her. The gesture made Olivia's heart clench. She put a steadying hand on Natalia's back - though she wasn't sure if it was for herself or Natalia.
"It's the sedative that's making her so sleepy," Natalia said. "Rick gave it to her so she wouldn't fight the IV. That's all."
Olivia flashed her a tiny smile. "How do you always know the right thing to say?"
Natalia gave a little shrug. "I was thinking the same thing. You know Rafe was about this same age when he was diagnosed. I just thought he was naturally calm and quiet. I didn't realize..." Natalia shook her head. "He was almost in a coma by the time I got him to the emergency room."
Olivia sighed and slipped her arm the rest of the way around Natalia's waist, leaning her head briefly against Natalia's shoulder.
"Our kids have been through so much."
"They have," Natalia agreed. "But they turned out okay and this will too."
Olivia shot her a look. "You have faith?"
Natalia gave her a fathomless look. "I don't have any reason not to."
Olivia looked away, unable to hold her gaze. "We should go get tested. We told Rick we'd only be a minute."
"Olivia," Natalia laid her hand against Olivia's cheek.
"I know, okay," Olivia said grumpily. "Just let me deal with this my way."
"Okay," Natalia agreed. "Just don't beat yourself up too badly."
Olivia wrinkled her nose and Natalia tried to stifle a smile. It would be okay - and so would Olivia - even if she wasn't happy about.
*** *** ***
Olivia watched Natalia flex her arm up and down at the elbow, her fingers pressed against the bandage that was cutting tightly into her arm, the pressure keeping the bleeding down. She wished the bandage was on her arm, wished that she had already been able to give the blood that their little girl so desperately needed. It seemed so fucking unfair that Olivia was perfectly capable of giving Francesca what she needed, but was unable to because of the failings of her own body.
The technician had offered to wait until Natalia’s blood had been typed to see if she was a match before she donated. Natalia had declined, insisting that even if she wasn’t a match for Francesca she might be a match for someone else's little girl.
Olivia had rolled her eyes inwardly, in no mood for that kind of sentiment, but she had gone along with it anyway for far more practical reasons. If Natalia was a match than any step that took a second longer out of the delay was a welcome one. And if it made Natalia happy then that was even better.
"Natalia - I'm glad I found you," Rick said, striding into the room. "We need to talk."
"Good to see you too, Rick," Olivia muttered, not really under her breath.
He shot her a look but didn't comment, choosing instead to focus on Natalia. "Talk privately, I mean." He saw her glance at Olivia. "It's important. I wouldn't ask otherwise."
This time Natalia's focus didn't go anywhere but to him. The intensity of it was surprising. "Anything you have to say to me, Dr. Rick, you can say in front of Olivia."
"Ah, I'm not sure you want to do that."
Natalia's stare didn't relent - nor did she move.
"Fine," Rick said with a sigh. "If this is the way you want it... When you told me Frank's blood type was AB negative it set off some alarm bells for me. So I had the lab run some additional tests to confirm it. Frank isn't Francesca's father."
"Well then who the hell is? And what's going on here?" a voice demanded from behind them.
Natalia blinked, once and then again. Olivia looked ready to spit nails. Rick just looked tired and - if possible - even more depressed than usual.
Yet none of it compared to the thunderstruck look of absolute shock and righteous indignation on Frank Cooper's face.
Fandom: Guiding Light
Characters: Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, Emma Spencer, Francesca Rivera, Frank Cooper, Rick Bauer.
Category: Romance, Drama, Humor
Rating: R
Word count: 3, 028
Summary: The five moments that shaped the strangest moment of Francesca Rivera's young life.
Spoilers/Timeline Generally through September '09, though nothing terribly specific I think.
Disclaimer: All characters (Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, blah blah etc.) and situations belong to Guiding Light, Telenext, Proctor & Gamble, etc. I'm not them.
Author's Note: I've had this idea for almost a year now. All that to say...even I have no idea where I got this idea from at this point.
Beta: A big thanks to both aimlessla and Rysler for their very different but equally invaluable input about this fic.
Warning: This fic may leave you scratching your head. You may not want to read it if you have a family history of baldness.
Part One
2.
Two years and some months later
“Olivia.” Natalia caught her arm in a bruising grip and pulled her into a quick, tight embrace. “Thank God you’re here. Emma? ”
“ -Is with Phillip. I’m sorry it took me so long to get here, Sweetheart,” Olivia said, kissing the top of her head. She had flown out of the Beacon like a bat out of hell the moment Natalia had called her. “How is she?”
Natalia shrugged. “Rick wouldn’t say. He looked worried.”
“Shit,” Olivia muttered. “I should have taken her to the doctor yesterday.”
“Olivia, there was no way you could have known,” Natalia murmured.
Olivia shot her a look that said differently - and would have withered anyone else. Natalia brushed it aside without a thought.
“Hey,” Natalia said firmly. “Don’t.” She used a finger to pull Olivia’s chin around toward her and stared her down. “We decided to wait and see if Chessy got better. She didn’t. I brought her in. We did the right thing.”
“I wasn’t there,” Olivia said through clenched teeth.
“No, you were at work. Where you should have been - providing for your family. I stayed home. Don’t you trust me to take care of our daughter?” Natalia demanded.
“Of course I do,” Olivia said, her frown melting as she glanced back at Natalia. “But-”
Natalia planted a finger over her lips, cutting her off. “No buts.” She was saved from further argument by Rick bursting through the emergency room doors, coming toward them in a hurry.
It didn’t look good. He wore a dour expression and his arms were folded over his chest.
“She’s severely anemic right now.” Rick held up his hand, forestalling them. “We’re not sure what the cause is yet, but she needs blood. We’re giving it to her but-”
“But what, Rick?” Olivia demanded, brushing past Natalia and stalking forward. “What’s the problem?”
“Francesca has a rare blood type - O negative. And we’re experiencing a shortage here at the hospital right now. We might need more.”
“So get some,” Olivia growled out.
“It’s not that easy. There have to be donors.” He shot Olivia a look. “Willing donors. And we’ll call other blood banks in the area. Someone is already working on that.”
Olivia stuck out her arm. Rick sighed and looked at her warily, before he scrubbed a hand over his face. “It’s more likely that a blood relation would be a match.”
Olivia’s face froze; her jaw clenched. Natalia laid a hand on her arm. “Actually, Rick, Olivia is a match. Remember? From when they were doing all the blood typing and compatibility matching for her transplant?”
“Yes,” he conceded. “But-”
“But, what?” Olivia demanded.
“You’re a bad choice,” Rick said, clearly reluctant to discuss it. “The blood thinners - you shouldn’t even be a possibility.”
“That’s my kid, Rick. If I can do something to help her, I don’t care what it means for me!”
“Until we know why she’s anemic, it could just make it worse, Olivia.”
“I know, but-”
“But, nothing,” Natalia said as if that settled it. “I’ll go get tested and then we’ll see. It will be okay. We’ll worry about it later - if it’s necessary.”
Rick nodded. “You should probably also call Frank - see if he’ll come in. He’s another possible match.”
“He should be on his way. I called him earlier. But he’s AB negative.” Natalia shot a brief, apologetic glance at Olivia. “He mentioned it while we were engaged. Will that work?”
“No,” Rick frowned. “No, it won’t.” He shook his head. “You should get that testing started as soon as possible.” He gave Natalia a funny look but didn’t say anything, walking away. “I need to go re-run some tests...”
Olivia’s hand closed over his arm. “I want to see her - then we’ll go.”
Rick glanced down at his arm than back up at her. “Olivia, it would really be best if-”
It was Natalia who cut him off. “Rick. I’m going to get tested immediately. But we need to see her first.”
Rick took one glance at Natalia’s expression and nodded. “Right, of course. Follow me.” He glanced back over his shoulder at them. “I should warn you-”
“Just take us to her.” Olivia gritted out, taking her turn to cut him off. She couldn’t stand anymore of this. She needed to see Francesca for herself.
*** *** ***
Francesca looked so frail and tiny. Her usually well-tanned skin was pale and looked sickly in a way that no amount of sun could restore. Her eyes were closed and she was painfully still.
Olivia had to touch just her to make certain... She couldn't finish the thought, even to herself. This wasn't like Emma when she'd drunk a bottle of perfume in an unattended moment. That had been terrifying enough, but Olivia thought this was worse. At least then they had known what was wrong - and Rick had known how to fix it.
Natalia brushed hair back from Francesca's brow and leaned over to kiss her. The gesture made Olivia's heart clench. She put a steadying hand on Natalia's back - though she wasn't sure if it was for herself or Natalia.
"It's the sedative that's making her so sleepy," Natalia said. "Rick gave it to her so she wouldn't fight the IV. That's all."
Olivia flashed her a tiny smile. "How do you always know the right thing to say?"
Natalia gave a little shrug. "I was thinking the same thing. You know Rafe was about this same age when he was diagnosed. I just thought he was naturally calm and quiet. I didn't realize..." Natalia shook her head. "He was almost in a coma by the time I got him to the emergency room."
Olivia sighed and slipped her arm the rest of the way around Natalia's waist, leaning her head briefly against Natalia's shoulder.
"Our kids have been through so much."
"They have," Natalia agreed. "But they turned out okay and this will too."
Olivia shot her a look. "You have faith?"
Natalia gave her a fathomless look. "I don't have any reason not to."
Olivia looked away, unable to hold her gaze. "We should go get tested. We told Rick we'd only be a minute."
"Olivia," Natalia laid her hand against Olivia's cheek.
"I know, okay," Olivia said grumpily. "Just let me deal with this my way."
"Okay," Natalia agreed. "Just don't beat yourself up too badly."
Olivia wrinkled her nose and Natalia tried to stifle a smile. It would be okay - and so would Olivia - even if she wasn't happy about.
*** *** ***
Olivia watched Natalia flex her arm up and down at the elbow, her fingers pressed against the bandage that was cutting tightly into her arm, the pressure keeping the bleeding down. She wished the bandage was on her arm, wished that she had already been able to give the blood that their little girl so desperately needed. It seemed so fucking unfair that Olivia was perfectly capable of giving Francesca what she needed, but was unable to because of the failings of her own body.
The technician had offered to wait until Natalia’s blood had been typed to see if she was a match before she donated. Natalia had declined, insisting that even if she wasn’t a match for Francesca she might be a match for someone else's little girl.
Olivia had rolled her eyes inwardly, in no mood for that kind of sentiment, but she had gone along with it anyway for far more practical reasons. If Natalia was a match than any step that took a second longer out of the delay was a welcome one. And if it made Natalia happy then that was even better.
"Natalia - I'm glad I found you," Rick said, striding into the room. "We need to talk."
"Good to see you too, Rick," Olivia muttered, not really under her breath.
He shot her a look but didn't comment, choosing instead to focus on Natalia. "Talk privately, I mean." He saw her glance at Olivia. "It's important. I wouldn't ask otherwise."
This time Natalia's focus didn't go anywhere but to him. The intensity of it was surprising. "Anything you have to say to me, Dr. Rick, you can say in front of Olivia."
"Ah, I'm not sure you want to do that."
Natalia's stare didn't relent - nor did she move.
"Fine," Rick said with a sigh. "If this is the way you want it... When you told me Frank's blood type was AB negative it set off some alarm bells for me. So I had the lab run some additional tests to confirm it. Frank isn't Francesca's father."
"Well then who the hell is? And what's going on here?" a voice demanded from behind them.
Natalia blinked, once and then again. Olivia looked ready to spit nails. Rick just looked tired and - if possible - even more depressed than usual.
Yet none of it compared to the thunderstruck look of absolute shock and righteous indignation on Frank Cooper's face.
(2/5)