Page 17 of Heal
"Um…" Faith glanced up at his head. "I think you need a new mirror."
"What?" He ran his fingers through his hair, all too aware that the gray hairs were starting to show. Not that he would admit it out loud.
Faith rolled her eyes again. "You're as bad as Xander. I keep telling him his beard will be fully gray in five years, but he doesn't believe me."
"Hmm, maybe it's the woman in both our lives causing us to go gray." He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Hardly. I keep you young." She laughed as she pushed through the emergency room door as if she was the one reporting for work.
Beau followed, glad he'd been able to spend the day with Faith. She was just what he needed to cheer him up. Xander and Matt had been happy to let him take her, especially after hearing of Dyson's injury. Faith didn't have to be asked twice. A day at the hospital for her was like a day at the mall for most teens. It was her favorite place to be, and she never turned down an invitation to join Beau at work.
He watched as Faith hugged the other nurses and doctors as they made their way down the hallway. She might be too young to work here, but she had the respect of everyone who'd met her. Her determination to learn everything she could was clear, and everyone was happy to let her help out where they could.
Faith did everything asked of her, no matter if it was setting up supplies, organizing the nurses' station, or making coffee. When he had patient permission, he'd let her sit in and watch him cast a broken arm, or do minor things. He looked forward to the day when she could get a job as a nurses' aide and do more than watch.
"So, what are we doing today?" Faith leaned against the counter at the nurses' station.
"I was actually hoping you could spend some time with a couple of my patients today." Beau watched Faith closely. He would never force her to visit with an abused patient if she was uncomfortable.
Faith frowned. "Boy or girl this time?"
"Two boys and two girls." Beau was nothing but honest with Faith. He couldn't give her many details, but he didn't have to. She'd lived through it herself already. She knew what had happened to the kids.
"Same case?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Yes. From a foster home."
Faith nodded. "The team found them?"
Beau shook his head. "Police were called. It wasn't one of our cases." He kept his voice low so those around wouldn't hear.
Faith was aware of what her fathers' and the rest of the STK team did. She didn't know all the details, but just like the team had saved her, she knew they continued to save others. As she got older, more details were shared with her, but they were all very protective of Faith, and tended to keep her out of the meetings when they discussed cases. Beau wasn't sure how much she really knew, and he wasn't going to be the one to explain things. That would be up to Matt and Xander to decide. He was glad she had good fathers, who could manage things like this.
"Too bad." Faith eyes gleamed.
"My thoughts as well." Beau smiled. "Anyway, if you're willing, I'll introduce you first to Lisa and Jeff. I need to take Lisa for a few tests, and thought you could keep her brother, Jeff company while we're gone. He doesn't like being alone."
Faith nodded. "Sure. Did you tell them about me?"
Beau shook his head. "Not my place. As far as they will know, you're just my friend, there to keep them company while I work. What you decide to talk about is up to you." He made sure to never put Faith in a position where she would have to tell anyone about her past. It was her choice what she shared with others, just like it would be Lisa and Jeff's choice if they wanted to talk to Faith about what happened to them. Faith would never let on she knew about why they were in the hospital. As far as the kids would know, she was just visiting for something to do.
"You should order us a pizza." Faith smiled.
"Pizza? It's nine in the morning." Beau reached out and tugged on one of Faith's braids. "But maybe later for lunch, if you guys all want, I can figure out something."
"I love that you can't say no to me." Faith laughed.
"I've told you no before." Beau tried to remember back. He didn't always give in where Faith was concerned, did he?
"Only once, and that was when I was going to stitch Kasey's hand after he broke that glass. If you hadn't shown up so fast, I would have had it done." She glared at him, but her tone was teasing.
"I have no doubt you would have." He remembered walking in just as she was about to numb the area. "Kasey was going to let you. That's what scares me."
"I was doing fine until you made me stop."
"You were thirteen. Hardly old enough to be sticking needles in someone."
"You just wanted to be the one to stick Kasey." She shoved him playfully.
