Pooh's Site

Title: For a Cure
Author: Fred
Category: All CC
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: A child with diabetes comes Trick or Treating as the gang prepares to leave for a Halloween Party.
Special Thanks: To Pooh, BigEd, Zendorox, Faithlee and all of you who have donated your money and time to finding a cure.

For JP

Dreading the night ahead, Michael sat on the couch in his apartment squirming in his hot, itchy costume. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Maria was dragging everyone to a lame costume party, she was also making him go as the big bad wolf. Tonight was sure to bring certain misery.

Michael stopped his sulking for a moment when he heard the knock at the door. He got up, pulled on his mask and grabbed the small bowl of candy he had bought to give to the few kids that might come by before they left for the party.

He swung the door open and growled, expecting to scare a few of the apartment complex’s children. Instead, he found Max and Isabel standing on his doorstep.

Max tried hard not to laugh at the sight. Michael had complained all week about the costume that Maria had picked and Max wanted to be supportive but he just couldn’t do it. He let out a smirk.

Michael pulled off the mask and gave Max a dirty look. Then, looking at Max who only wore the bottom half of some army fatigues, he said, "At least I have a costume. What the hell are you suppose to be?"

Max grinned and answered. "A lower GI."

Isabel rolled her eyes and pushed her way into Michael’s apartment. "Is anyone else here yet?"

Michael shook his head. "So what are you? A hooker?"

Isabel put her hands on her hips, accentuating the leather outfit she wore. "No Michael. For your information I am Sandy Olsson from Grease."

Michael shrugged and went to sit back down on the couch as Max followed. They picked up the controllers to Michael’s game system and started to play as Isabel wandered around the apartment making comments about Michael being a pig.

The doorbell rang a few minutes later. Isabel opened the door letting Kyle and Tess in.

"Hi everyone!" Tess sung out.

Isabel smiled as Max and Michael mumbled their hellos. Kyle walked over to the TV, immediately mesmerized by the game the other guys were playing. Isabel looked at Tess, "Men," she said as she rolled her eyes.

Tess giggled. "Yeah boys and their toys."

"Well, I’m just glad Alex isn’t like that." Isabel answered just as there was another knock at the door. "I bet that’s him now."

Isabel masked her disappointment when she opened the door to find three children.

"Trick of Treat!" They yelled.

Isabel smiled as Tess handed each of them a piece of candy.

Isabel closed the door as soon as the children ran off, complaining under her breath. "Don’t parents teach manners anymore? You would think kids could learn how to say thank you!" When no one answered she looked at Tess who wore a skintight cat suit. "So what are you suppose to be?"

Tess wiggled a little, showing off her curves. "I’m a Bond Girl and Kyle is James Bond."

Isabel nodded approvingly. Now at least she understood Kyle’s vintage tux.

The door swung open as Maria barreled in followed by Liz and Alex. "We’re here! Let the party begin!"

Max handed Kyle his controller as soon as he saw Liz. She was so cute in the other half of the fatigues. He jumped off the couch and walked over to her. "Hi there Upper GI." He said softly grinning ear to ear.

She smiled back at him as he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close for a kiss.

Isabel rolled her eyes and walked over to Alex, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Alex savored the moment before starting to drool over Isabel in the tight leather pants and shirt. "You look very beguiling tonight."

Isabel smiled. Alex didn’t look half bad himself in his tight blue jeans and black t-shirt. "Well it’s all for you Danny Zuko." She said in her very best ‘Sandy’ voice.

Annoyed that Michael hadn’t even acknowledged her presence, Maria walked over to Michael and hit him on the top of his head. "So what do you think of my costume?"

Michael glanced at her and shrugged. He wasn’t about to tell her that this annoying wolf costume was worth the pain just to see her in that short little skirt and red cape.

Maria hit him again. "Whatever. It’s time to go."

"Just a minute." Michael answered knowing he was irritating her. "Let me finish my game."

Maria walked over to Liz. "I don’t know why I bother."

Liz smiled at her friend, knowing exactly why she bothered. She looked up at Max as she weaved her hand into his. Tonight was going to be fun, she thought.

Maria opened the door when another knock came.

The loud chorus of voices came from the hall. "Trick or Treat!" The loud chorus of voices came from the hall.

"What do we have here?" She asked the kids at the door.

"I’m a doctor." A boy about eight said.

"I’m a ballerina, and my brother is a fireman." An older girl answered.

"Well, you all look wonderful." She then gave each child a piece of candy. She started to close the door when she noticed a fourth child standing back from the other three.

"Hi sweetie." She smiled at the irony of the boy’s alien costume. "What are you suppose to be?" She asked.

The child, who probably was not yet in school, answered proudly, "I’m an alien!"

Maria giggled. This was just too good to pass up. "An alien huh? Are you a good alien or a bad alien?"

Isabel walked over to the doorway to see what Maria was laughing about.

The boy thought about it before he answered. "I think I’m a good one."

"So you are a good alien. That’s good, cause I would be scared if you were a bad one." The boy smiled as Maria handed him a piece of candy. "There you go."

"Excuse me but is this sugar-free candy?" The boy asked.

Maria shook her head. "Of course not sweetie."

The boy’s smile disappeared as he handed the candy back to Maria. "I can’t have it then but thank you anyways."

"Of course you can." Maria said, trying to hand the candy back.

"No ma’am, I have diabetes." The boy said sadly.

"Oh that is too bad." She said trying not to sound upset.

The little boy nodded his head. "It is. I have to get four shots a day."

Maria’s heart almost broke as she looked down at the small child. "You must be very brave. I don’t think I could get four shots a day."

The boy looked down at his feet. "Sometimes I’m bad and I run from mommy when I have to get one but she always catches me." The little boy shrugged and then sniffling, he started back down the hallway of the complex.

His mother, who had been waiting at the end of the hallway, saw his distress and ran up to him. "What’s the matter Timmy?" The woman asked.

With a disappointed look on his face, Timmy looked up at his mother. "They only have sugar candy."

The mother leaned down and hugged her son. "That’s ok honey. I told you that you could get candy tonight; you just can’t eat it all at once. You can have one piece when we get home and then we will freeze the rest so you can have a little bit each day until it’s gone."

Isabel who had been watching the scene almost couldn’t bear it. "Wait! She called out. We have something else."

Excited by what Isabel had said, Timmy wiped his tears and ran back to the door. "Trick or Treat!" He yelled again smiling in anticipation.

Getting the rest of the group’s attention, Isabel walked over to the counter and ran her hand over a dirty spoon Michael had left out, changing it into a shiny new toy car.

She handed it to the boy. "There you go. We had that especially for you."

Smiling, Timmy looked at his bounty. "Thank YOU!" He said before skipping off.

Smiling with appreciation, the mother looked over at the teenagers standing in the door. "Thank you." She whispered. "He was diagnosed a few months ago and this is his first Halloween with diabetes. It’s been hard."

Isabel nodded. "I wish there was more we could do." She said sincerely as the others, who were now standing at the door, nodded in agreement.

The mother smiled. "You all are so sweet." She started to walk off, then stopped and added, "You know, there is a JDRF Walk kick off this weekend; maybe you can join our team. As a walker you get people to sponsor you and the money you collect from them goes to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It is a great organization. Eighty five percent of the money collected goes directly to research and the researchers are optimistic that a cure can be found in Timmy’s lifetime."

The woman stopped, looking embarrassed. "I’m sorry; you all obviously have plans tonight. If you all are really interested come over to my apartment tomorrow, it’s 4c, and I will give you the details. If you can’t though – I understand." The woman finished sincerely, then added, "Thanks again."

Isabel smiled and then closed the door as the woman ran to catch up with Timmy who was now at the next apartment. She looked over at Max. "He’s such a cute kid. It’s a shame he has to deal with diabetes at such a young age. I wish you could heal him." She said disappointed in knowing that he could not.

Max nodded his agreement. He wanted to heal the boy more then anything, but he knew he couldn’t risk the exposure. "Even if I could, there are millions of kids with diabetes. I couldn’t heal them all." He said, trying to make them feel a little better, but instead the statement had done the opposite. He turned to Liz who stood by his side, squeezing his hand in support.

Liz smiled as she said with determination, "We can walk Max. We can help find a cure for everyone with diabetes."

Alex walked over to Isabel and put his arm around her. He knew this was one of those times where she needed him. She would pretend that the scene had not bothered her but he knew that it had. He squeezed her shoulders. "I would like to do this walk too." He announced.

Isabel smiled, thankful that Alex had said what she had been thinking. The rest of the group nodded their agreement.

"Then it’s settled. We will go to Timmy’s apartment tomorrow and find out the details." Michael said succinctly, not wanting anyone to know that he too had been touched by the little boy.

Maria’s anger at Michael faded. No matter what he wanted people to believe, he really was a softy. She grabbed his hand. "Well, let’s get going. Tonight we dance and tomorrow we help find a cure for diabetes!"

"Well I'm gonna be doin' a little more than dancing tonight," Kyle rubbed his hands together with a gleam in his eyes.

"Oh?" Tess looked at him in suspicion.

"Oh yeah! The football team is going to be at this party tonight. If I play my cards right, I can get the whole team signed up to sponsor me for the walk." Kyle grinned.

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