Page 31 of Hearing Little Hadley

A soft buzz filled the elevator and Hadley lifted her head. “I stopped the elevator so you can talk to me. Can you tell Daddy what hurts?”

“My head,” Hadley said as she thought, “and my arms and legs.”

“Are they achy?”

“Yas-huh.”

“Does your throat hurt?”

“Just a little bit, but it’s better than last night.”

“Okay, baby, just lay your head back down and we’ll get you all better.”

Hadley put her head on Daddy’s shoulder and relaxed. He would take care of everything.

“Here’s the doctor now, baby,” Finn said as the door opened.

“Actually, I’m a nurse practitioner,” the woman. “My name is Nurse MacIntosh.” She set the huge book she’d carried in on a table and gave them a smile. “I heard we have a sick Little one. How can I help you?”

“Hadley is nonverbal and I left her support cards in the room. I’m going to speak for her and if she wants to add anything, she will let me know,” Finn explained. “Yesterday Hadley had what I thought were allergies. We went to the stables and were playing with some animals. She was sneezing, had watery eyes, and an itchy throat. I gave her some Benadryl, but this morning she woke with body aches, perhaps a fever, and her throat looks really raw.”

“Oh, goodness. Poor Little girl. Don’t you worry about a thing, sweetheart. We’re going to get you all checked out.” She gave Hadley a smile before turning to address Finn. “We’ll start with your temp. Can you pull her pants down below her bottom for me? You can keep holding her in your lap, just lay her across your knees.”

Hadley shook her head, but it was too late. Finn was already flipping her across his lap.

“Peeps, if you need to use your safe word, just tap my leg three times, okay? I didn’t grab your support cards. I’m sorry, baby,” he said as he pulled her pajama pants and diaper down.

The nurse chuckled. “It looks like her diaper is soaked as well. New Daddy?”

“Yes, and a terrible one so far,” Finn said, shaking his head.

“No, not at all. Most new Tops panic the first time their Little one is sick. I’m sure you woke up, noticed she wasn’t well, and rushed her here. That is a wonderful Daddy. I’m glad that Hadley has someone taking care of her so thoroughly,” she said, sitting on a stool and sliding over to the couple.

“This is going to be a bit cold, Hadley,” she warned before touching her anus with something cold.

Hadley whimpered.

“I know, Peeps. I’m sorry,” Finn soothed.

“Here’s the thermometer, Little one,” Nurse MacIntosh warned before Hadley felt the implement being inserted.

She gripped Finn’s leg tightly and he rubbed her back. The thermometer felt huge and she whimpered again.

“I know, baby, but it will be over soon and then we can snuggle in bed all day,” Finn promised her.

“Alright, love, we just need that to sit there for three minutes, okay? It will beep when it’s done.”

Tears rolled down Hadley’s face. She didn’t want to lay there for three minutes. She felt like she had a turkey baster up her ass.

“It’s okay, Peeps. You’re being so brave for us.”

Hadley grabbed her dangling pacifier that was clipped to her shirt and shoved it in her mouth, plotting to leave the infirmary a one-star Yelp review.

“Do they sell these in the gift shop? I didn’t bring a thermometer at all, but I took a hybrid class with Dr. Morgan our first full day here and learned how much more accurate a rectal temp was.”

“Yes, we do, this exact brand actually. I’m so glad to hear you’re trying the new hybrid classes. Did you enjoy it?”

“I did, very much. Dr. Morgan was very informative.”

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