Michael's P.O.V

When I arrived, I was immediately swarmed with paparazzi:

"MR JACKSON, IS IT TRUE YOU'RE CANCELLING YOUR TOUR?"
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR BROTHERS POSSIBLY GOING ON TOUR WITHOUT YOU?"
"WILL YOU BE RESTARTING YOUR CONCERT?"
"WHY DID YOU CANCEL TONIGHT'S SHOW?"
"WHAT IS YOUR OBSESSION WITH THIS HOSPITAL? IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW BEING TREATED HERE?"
"ARE YOU REALLY SUFFERING FROM DEHYDRATION OR IS IT JUST A COVER UP?"

I refused to answer any questions, and pushed through the swarm to the main entrance, I really wasn't in the mood for their rumours.

A male nurse met me at reception, he said he was a friend of Maria's and she had sent him down to meet me.

"She hasn't left that girl's side since she got here, she's had three fits already, I don't know if she's even going to remember who you are, it's affecting her brain quicker than we predicted."

My heart dropped. "It doesn't matter, she asked me to be here, so I'm going to be here. I would never deny a child's wishes" He ushered me to the intensive care ward in silence.

The atmosphere of the place shifted as we neared the ward, it was sad and oppressive, the place where life ended on a regular basis.
This wasn't a place for children, I thought, they should be outside playing, being happy and most of all, living.
I mentally prepared myself before we pushed through the double doors into a place I could only describe as the saddest on the earth.

The ward was spacious and quiet, beautiful art covered the walls, the only speck of joy in this place.
There were too many children in here, lying on beds, wired up to different machines, like ghosts.
At one end of the ward I spotted Maria sitting on a chair at the bottom of a bed, obviously Destiny's.

Suddenly I heard a loud bleeping sound and a cluster of nurses rushed past us towards the writhing bed sheets.

I felt a hand on my shoulder "I'm sorry about this Mr Jackson, I guess she's having another episode" I couldn't voice a reply, I watched Maria help restrain the girl, glued to the spot.

The movement slowed and the mass of bodies retreated from the small figure, and were adjusting her monitors before they left again. As I got closer, I saw her.

Her face was pale but sweaty, she looked tiny and vulnerable. My mind flicked to the memory of Maria's face when I had found her in her apartment.

There was a middle aged couple seated beside Destiny, I guessed they were her parents, and I couldn't help but feel their pain. I heard the father whisper "The sooner we get her in surgery, the better" The woman beside him nodded.

I turned to my escort. "I don't think this is a good time" The couple then looked up at me, and the woman started to cry.
"Oh! We're so glad to see you Mr Jackson sir, she has been asking for you for hours, we were convinced that you wouldn't come" I smiled at her and she rose out of her seat. I hugged her then, I could only imagine what she was going through.

"It's not a problem, Mrs..?"
"Tate. But you can call me Mary. And this is my husband, Joe." I shook his hand and he patted me on the back.
"We are really grateful for what you have done for our daughter. She hadn't been able to leave the hospital for months until you invited her and those other children to see you. She hasn't stopped talking about you since, we thought it would be the thing that would help her get back on her feet, but things suddenly took a turn for the worse..."
He looked down at his daughter, who with each hour, was deteriorating.
I looked at Maria, who was holding her hand, our eyes met but she didn't say anything.

I pulled a spare chair up to Destiny's other bedside and sat down, so she could see me. Her eyes widened.

"Hello Destiny, it's me, Michael. Do you remember me sweetheart?"

"Destiny, nod if you do" Maria spoke directly to the little girl. She nodded her head several times and tried to smile.
"Well I'm glad about that. I didn't forget you, did I?" This time she shook her head vigorously.

"She goes into surgery in two hours" I looked up at Maria who was speaking to me for the first time. I could tell she was upset, but she was doing a good job of covering it up.

"Mmmm... Mmmmike...Mmmichael" I looked down at Destiny, her face was scrunched up as she attempted to talk to me.

"What is it sweetheart?"

"Th-the nuuuurses arrre g-going to put mmmme to sleep aaaand w-when I w-wake upp I"lll b-be better ag-gain" Her eyes were big and so innocent. I wondered if she knew what we did.

"That's right, and you're going to be big and strong and get all better aren't you?" She nodded her head slowly this time, she wasn't sure herself.

For the next two hours, we sat together, like a dysfunctional family.
We talked little but I sang to Destiny and read her stories, and played with her.
It was the things Maria did every day as her job, but she left us for a while to go on her rounds, knowing she was in good hands.

I made her smile and giggle, the things her parents couldn't do, they were too preoccupied with worry. They were more than happy for me to be there, even when the odd member of staff approached me for an autograph.

It was times like this that I loved my job more than ever because I could help people.

It was soon time for Destiny to go down to the operating theatre.
"Okay Destiny, it's time for you to be a big brave girl for me and your mummy and daddy"

"A-and Mm-Maria" I nodded and gave her a kiss on the forehead before I left the little girl so she could spend a few minutes alone with her parents.
I hoped they wouldn't be her last.

Maria's P.O.V

I had finished my shift and hurried back to the intensive care ward. Her bed had been made and there was no Destiny in sight.

I looked at the clock and realised that she was already in theatre. I was late and I had missed my chance to wish her luck.

"She left fifteen minutes ago, I'm sorry" Jack had come to find me and he went to give me a hug, but I refused.
"It's alright, I'll see her when she comes back"

He gave me an apologetic smile.

"Sure you will. Now, do you want something to eat? We can go out for a few hours and when we get back, she'll be ready to see you"
"No, I'm not really hungry. Besides I have to go back to my apartment and get my things. I've been borrowing Roxanne's clothes for too long and it would be nice to not look like a tart for once"
He laughed, we both knew what she was like.

"Okay if you're sure. I'll drop you off there. Are you able to get a ride back to Rox's? I have a meeting tonight"
"I'll ask Mystery Man" I winked at him and he grinned.
"Sounds good to me. Hey, when am I going to meet him exactly? I bet he's cute. What? Just because I have my man doesn't mean I can't window shop."

I just shook my head at him, trying not to giggle.
"Fine I'll wait for you to get sorted and I'll meet you by my car"

Once he had walked away, I couldn't help but smile at the fact he was completely oblivious to the fact that 'Mystery Man' was the person I had sent him down to meet only hours before, and that he was quite possibly the cutest guy on the planet, according to the magazines.

I went to reception to sign off for the day and asked if Michael was still around.

"He left not long ago, but he told me to give you this note..." She looked at me with shining eyes, she was obviously very smug that he had spoken to her.

"Oh, well thank you for this, I'll see you later, I'm coming back as a visitor"
"Sure thing, I'll put you down. So anyway... Maria... I was just wondering... like, are you two like, together or something?" I tried not to be shocked by her question.

"Whatever made you think that?"
"Well he's been coming down here a lot recently and he's always on the same ward as you. Plus why would he give you a note saying he was going to meet you "later tonight?"
She raised her eyebrow as I quickly flicked my eyes over the message.

"I believe this is private information which you have been prying into. We are nothing more than acquaintances, friends at the very most. And he visited all of the wards, and I just happened to be there, it's a coincidence"
"A bloody huge one if you ask me, but whatever. Don't worry, I'm not going to say anything about you two"
"Well there's nothing to say other than a made up rumour"

I stormed away, angry that she had almost blew everything.

*