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It was a crappy cold Friday but Dessie found one good thing... School was out for the weekend. For others this would be the best thing all week but for the teen it was heavily tempered by worry. She had found a family.... Or they found her... And now she might be losing them. Dessie was scared at how much she feared the idea of Lily dieing. It has been less than a year since she met the spunky redhead, even less time officially being her niece/sister, and now she was losing her. Xander said there was nothing anyone could do.... No one to fight or force to make it better. She was slipping away and Dessie couldn't do anything. Dessie was shaken out of her thoughts by the shuttering stop of the bus, the automated voice announced that this was the stop for the hospital and she exited with the other lost souls.

It wasn't the first time she walked through the automated doors but it still gave her a pause. Dessie had only been here once before Lilly took ill and she found that she wished she never had to return. The lady at the desk nodded when she saw Dessie, most of the staff knew about the kid Xander adopted... It was a big deal when it first happened. The blond teen hunched herself deeper into her battered jacket, her bag hanging heavy on her shoulders, and began her trek to Lily's room. She was to meet Xander and the rest there and still she hesitated at the elevators. She was use to Xander and Lily but even after months of dealing with the rest Dessie still felt like an outsider, after all who would want a girl like Dessie. She flinched when a stranger's arm brushed hers when he reached for the button for the elevator, a extreme force of will had her standing still. It didn't take long for her to reach the right floor, in some ways it didn't take long enough before she found herself in front of Lily's room. Dessie gave a quiet knock to the door before opening it, it gave the others a chance to come up with an excuse to get rid of her if they wanted. Dessie didn’t need anyone so she didn’t fully understand why she felt the bite of rejection even if it was just imaginary.

Dessie only hesitated for a second before she came closer into the room. It was still hard for her to believe she had family now so her smile was small but she appeared much so much more at ease with the gathering then the first time they all met. She quickly slid the heavy bag off and left it by the door before heading over to the bedside. She nodded to Rose before brushing a quick hand over Lily's pale cheek, those that knew her knew that Dessie didn't like touch... She normally reacted violently but Dessie found that she couldn't not at least make sure the red headed amazon was still breathing. It was quick and revealed so much more then she would have admitted out loud.

Dessie shoved her hands back into her pocket and even though Rose offered her a seat Dessie found that she prefered to stand against the wall near Xander. She thought he looked tired and worn, and Dessie wondered how he was holding up under the strain. At Least Dessie had the occasional fights she gets it to to release her stress, and only the ones at school can Xander really complain about.

School? Dessie opened her mouth to share her caustic thoughts on the stupidity of school but a glance over at the figure lying in the hospital bed. It was the thought of how her harsh words would hurt not only Xander but Lily too, and Lily was already in too much pain as it was, that made Dessie change her words. "It was there." She shrugged and because she knew that more would be asked she added, "gym was fun, we did dodgeball today." The memory of the game brought a ghost of a smile to her face.

Dessie snickered softly at Xander, "my side won. And it was nerf balls so they didn't hurt too much." She added a nod as a smile flickered across her face. She remembered the request about not fighting in school and other than the one major time she hadn't had any more issues. Granted she didn't really talk to anyone so few messed with her and after the one fight those that saw her as an easy mark gave her wide berth. Just the way she prefered it.

Any amusement she had felt quickly dropped away when the conversation turned towards Lily's condition. She spoke up quietly, "you're here, that is helping." Dessie couldn't find the courage to look anyone in the eyes and instead studied the picture hanging across the room. It was a generic landscape and featured a cozy little cottage nestled in the trees. Something about the picture reminded her of the general feeling of belonging that the people around her seemed to generate.

Dessie glanced up when Alyssa spoke and made her way over. She had the urge to move away but stayed put. Remaining quiet she watched as the older lady comforted Xander and felt jealous of Xander. She shifted uncomfortably as the shame swirled since she didn't have any reason to feel jealous of her 'father', she knew that if she could stand such casual touch that such types of affection would shown to her but she still couldn't the squash the mixed feelings of shame, guilt, and jealousy. Dessie pulled herself from her thoughts and focused on the conversation around her.

She piped up as Rose fell silent. Looking around Alyssa, so she could look Xander in the eyes, Dessie added, "I've never met anyone with a stronger will and personality. She will be fine." She tried to convey her conviction through her look, after all if Maia can dust a youma she can beat a stupid illness. Dessie would stick by this thought process until the bitter end and beyond. Anyone who says otherwise will learn the hard way not to piss her off. "Don't worry. Soon she will be up and complaining about my clothes soon enough." Her attempt to interject humor into the situation fell a little flat but it was still rather true. "I'll even let her drag me out shopping once she is up for it. I won't complain or anything," she smiled softly and cheekily added, "well not much at least."