Ben woke up feeling around the bed, but Miranda's spot was empty. He got up, used the bathroom and then went to go check on Tuck who was still sleeping.
"Miranda you slept out here all night?", Ben said walking into the living room seeing her sitting up sleep still in her clothes from last night.
"Well I wasn't going to leave him sleeping in here by himself and wake up to multiple strangers", Miranda said waking up.
Ben exhaled irritated. "Do you want breakfast Miranda?"
"Not if its going to be a problem for you", she replied snappy.
"Miranda please not today....I can't. I'm tired and I just want to rest."
"You slept all night!", she mumbled.
Ben was making unnecessary noise in the kitchen with the pots, plates and cabinets.
"Wake the whole house up then....", Miranda said getting up going into the kitchen.
Ben ignored her and kept cooking.
"Good morning", Joey said waking up. "Good morning hun. Did you sleep okay?"
"Yes. Can I use the bathroom?"
"Sure it's down the hall."
"Breakfast is ready!", Ben said setting the plates.
Joey came back to the kitchen and sat down at the table. Ben went to go get Tuck up and Miranda sat down at the table.
"Morning mommy!"
"Morning baby", Miranda said picking him up to hug and kiss him.
"Hi, I'm Tuck!", he said to Joey.
"Hi, I'm Joey."
"Mommy is he staying with us too?", he asked excited.
Miranda looked at Ben and then at Joey. "Yes baby for now until we find his family."
"But where are they mommy? Where's his family?"
"Tuck just eat your breakfast."
"At what point were you going to discuss with me about him staying here?", Ben whispered to Miranda as they were cleaning up the kitchen.
"You really want to go there again......really Benjamin!!!!"
Tuck and Joey were playing in the living room.
"Miranda-....", Ben stopped talking and was rubbing his head.
"Benjamin what's wrong?", she looked at him worried touching his hand.
"I'm fine don't worry about it, I need to figure it out by myself if there is something wrong", he said walking out going into the room.
Miranda was pissed, but she was more worried about him.
"Tuck you and Joey go in your room and play...."
"I have video games. Do you like to play?", Tuck asked.
"Yeah.....sure."
Miranda went into their room and Ben was laying down on his side with his eyes closed. "Are you going into work today?"
"Yes if they need me. Otherwise no...I'll be home. Why?"
"Can I leave the boys here with you?"
"Fine Miranda", he said not feeling okay as he was trying to turn around.
"Benjamin what's wrong?"
"Nothing Miranda I can deal with it, I don't need you even more stressed out worrying about me", he said holding his side.
"Benjamin move your hands and let me check", she checked and pressed around his abdomen, but nothing was sore to touch.
"It's probably something I ate. If it gets worse I'll go to the doctor okay."
"Benjamin I am a Doctor."
He just looked at her. "Benjamin I don't like this. I don't like how you're acting with me. I see what you're trying to do, but something could be really wrong with you and you want to prove a point."
"Yup....it sucks when someone you care deeply about won't let you know what's going on with them doesn't it......and would rather handle it alone by pushing you away."
Miranda was teary eyed and went to the bathroom to go shower for work and Ben fell asleep.
Once she was out of the shower she checked on Ben again rubbing his forehead and he was burning up. "I'm sorry okay....I get it."
She went to go get a cold rag and placed it on his head then rubbed his face. "Benjamin get up you're coming with me to work! I'm not leaving you here like this. I'm getting you checked out."
Ben sat up slowly because his head was pounding. He didn't say anything he just got ready while she got the kids together and ready to go.
At the hospital she checked Ben into the ER and then headed upstairs to the daycare dropping Joey and Tuck off. "Umm this is Tuck's cousin he is visiting us for a few weeks. Will it be okay if I can sign him in for today?", Miranda asked the nurse.
"Dr. Bailey usually we don't allow kids who we don't have any medical papers on, but I'll help you out for this one day."
"Thank you!", Miranda said then headed back downstairs to Ben, but she had a emergency surgery to tend to first and then she would go check on Ben.
Miranda was just closing up when she heard Ben over the intercom. "Nice job Dr. Bailey!"
"Benjamin are you okay? Why are you not in a bed?"
"I'm fine Miranda it was just a bug like I said. I'm going to go pick up the boys and head home and get ready to go trick-or-treating tonight."
"Dr. Bailey and Dr. Warren please don't use the intercom as yall personal call time."
"Sorry Chief", Miranda said to Webber. "I love you, see you at home", Ben said.
"I love you too!"
Ben stopped and got some food with the boys and headed home after they played at the park. "Is the system going to come and take me away?", Joey asked Ben.
"Honestly I don't know Joey, but I'm sure my wife and I will find the best option for you okay."
"Okay!
They got home bringing in bags to set up the house for Halloween. James and Ben had a few drinks and then Ben laid down not feeling good again. "Ima just take a quick nap before setting up for tonight. You boys be good okay", Ben said closing Tuck's door.
"Okay Ben!"
Ben felt awful as he went in their room lying down. "Hey man you okay?", James asked.
"I don't know I was just fine a few hours ago and now it's back."
James went to go make Ben some soup.
"Here I made you some homemade chicken soup."
"I forgot you majored in culinary arts your first year in college", Ben said tasting the soup.
"Yeah man....I kept a few secrets/recipes from class. Get some rest and I'll help you with the Halloween decorations before Miranda gets home."
"Thanks man!"
About an hour later James went to go check on Ben and he was knocked out cold. He took the bowl out into the kitchen after shutting Ben's room door and began starting on the decorations for the house.
He put up everything the fake spiders and spider webs, the flickering lights, the scary music, skeletons and witch figures that moved, fake smoke, some fake ghosts around the house too and then went into Tuck's room.
Around that time it was completely dark and Miranda was on her way home.
"Hey Tuck ready to put your costume on?"
"Yeaahh I'm going to be a scary doctor like my mommy!"
"Joey there's a costume in here for you too", James said.
"Umm no thank you. I'll just help Tuck!"
"Yeah yeah can Joey help me? Please!!!"
"Sure, I'll get your dad up and then we can head out."
"No we have to wait for mommy she promised."
"Oh she called Tuck. She said she can't make it because of work. I'm sorry, but you have me, Joey and Ben!", he said lying about Miranda calling.
"Okay!", Tuck said sad.
James went into Ben's room again checking to make sure Ben was still knocked out and he was. He started to pull Ben off of the bed and drag him out of the room, down the hallway to his guest room.
Joey was opening the door when he saw a shadow of Ben's feet and hurried up shutting Tuck's door back.
James left Ben on the floor at first and then put him in the bed, shutting the door afterwards.
Miranda finished her last surgery 3 hours after her regular get off time because it was a complication during the surgery where they couldn't stop the bleeding for a while. She didn't feel like going trick-or-treating, but she made a promise to Tuck and didn't want to let him down nor did she wasn't to argue with Ben anymore.
James heard the car door outside shut. "Come on yall, time to go."
They were in the front living room hiding as Miranda walked through the door.
"Hello!", Miranda said walking in seeing the flickering lights and hearing the scary music.
Tuck jumped out from behind the couch. "Boooo!", he growled trying to scare Miranda.
"Welcome to my laboratory!", Tuck said to Miranda. "Look mommy!", Tuck said excited.
"I see baby.....well look at you.... Dr. Crazy Person. I love it! Go and get your trick-or-treat bag now so we can go!"
Tuck ran to his room and Joey came out. "Hi Joey, too old for costumes huh?", she smiled hugging him.
"Ummm no. I just didn't want to be a bother to anyone."
"You're not a bother sweetie. I'm sure Ben can put something together for you real quick."
"Actually Ben already got him a costume today it's right here", James said coming out of the dark handing him the bag.
"Where's Ben?", Miranda said feeling uneasy as he stepped closer.
"Oooh he had to go in once he came back home. I told him I could help out with the boys and set up for him until he gets back."
"When was that? I didn't hear about a bad fire or emergency....."
Joey looked down. He didn't want to lose a warm home and food if he said something he wasn't sure about. Nor did he want to cause problems, but he knew he had to say something.
"Oooh well we can just wait until he gets back", Miranda said.
"He called about an hour ago saying he wasn't going to make it back on time and asked if I could just walk with you and the boys."
"Ben said that?"
"Yeah. I told him I know how you feel about me and that maybe it's not a good idea but,-...."
Miranda walked away to her room calling Ben's phone. It just kept ringing. James hit the silent button and put the phone back in his pocket. Miranda started to leave a voicemail.
"Miranda I have something to tell you", Joey said walking into her room.
"Mommy I'm ready!", Tuck said. "Let's go mommy!", Tuck was pulling Miranda's arm to get up.