Here's chapter 2. Hope you enjoy :)

It was only half an hour later that Kurt heard a knock at their door. He extracted himself from Jane's grip, sneaking out of the room quietly. Looking through the peephole, he recognized the man on the other side of the door to be their family physician; Doctor John.

He opened the door, greeting the doctor.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice." Kurt said, shaking the doctor's hand.

"Not a problem." Doctor John replied. "From what you were saying on the phone, her pain is quite severe."

Kurt nodded.

"I had the same bug yesterday, and it was nothing compared to what she's going through."

The doctor nodded.

"Let's go and take a look at her."

"She's just in the bedroom. She fell asleep about half an hour ago." Kurt said, leading the doctor towards Jane.

The doctor waited in the doorway, while Kurt sat beside his wife, rubbing her shoulder gently.

"Jane." he said softly. "The doctor's here."

Jane's face contorted in pain as consciousness came back to her. She shifted uncomfortably, her arms drawing tightly around her stomach again.

She blinked up at Kurt, a look of resignation in her eyes. Kurt offered a small smile in return. He knew she didn't want to be examined by yet another doctor, but he was also not taking no for an answer. Something was clearly wrong with her, and he would be irresponsible not to get her checked.

"Hi Jane." the doctor greeted from the doorway. "Do you mind if I come in?"

Jane cast one last look at Kurt, before turning towards the doctor.

Not finding the strength within herself to talk, Jane merely nodded.

Kurt got off the bed and moved to the side, giving the doctor room to work.

Doctor John moved into the room, laying his briefcase on the floor beside the bed.

"Tell me what's been going on." he said softly, crouching down beside her. He could sense her growing discomfort at his presence and wanted to try and make her feel a little more comfortable. If that meant just talking for a start, then he would move slowly.

"I just have a stomach bug." Jane said flatly. "Kurt had it yesterday, and now I have it today." She was clearly agitated.

"Ok." the doctor said softly. "And what about this pain you've got in your tummy?"

Jane tried to suppress an eyeroll. It's just a damn virus for God's sake! She glanced up at Kurt, her annoyance diminishing slightly at the concern on his face. She frowned and took a deep breath. They were just trying to help. The sooner she be polite and play ball, the sooner they would let her just go back to sleep.

She cleared her throat, knowing her voice would be husky from the intense vomiting.

"The cramps started with the vomiting." she said. "But they've grown progressively worse." she admitted.

"Any diarrhea?" the doctor asked.

She nodded her head in affirmation.

"Ok Jane. Do you mind if I have a look at you?" the doctor asked kindly.

"Ok." was all she could get out. She cast a pleading look at Kurt and he moved around the other side of the bed, taking her hand in his. It was possible she was suffering from a little PTSD due to her time in the hospital.

The doctor opened his briefcase, taking out a pulse oximeter and his thermometer. He checked all of Jane's vitals, writing them down on a small notepad, before returning the devices to the briefcase.

"Can you lie on your back for me?" the doctor asked. "I just want to have a look at your tummy."

Jane complied, but couldn't help the small cry of pain that escaped her lips at the change of position. Instinctively, she wanted to roll back on her side. She held her stomach, breathing heavily against the pain.

"Ok, ok." The doctor soothed. "I'll make it quick."

Kurt took her hand off of her abdomen, giving the doctor room to work. He held tightly, wanting to offer her strength.

The doctor pulled his stethoscope out of his briefcase, before gently lifting Jane's shirt. He listened to different parts of Jane's stomach, before removing the chestpiece. He frowned as he listened, and Kurt's concern only grew.

"I'm just going to have a bit of a feel now. You tell me if it gets too much." he said softly to Jane.

Jane grit her teeth as he began his examination.

He worked his way from the bottom of her belly, palpating as he went. As he moved up higher, Jane could no longer suppress her cry of pain. Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes and she was in real danger of completely losing her resolve.

She was feeling overwhelmed, both by the pain and sickness and from having to be poked and prodded yet again.

The doctor rubbed her arm comfortingly, allowing her to roll back onto her side into a ball.

Kurt sat watching the ordeal, at risk of wanting to cry himself. He hated seeing her in this much pain, especially when there was nothing he could do to help.

"Now I'm fairly sure that you don't have a stomach bug." the doctor said. "Or if you do, the symptoms are underlying."

"What does that mean?" Kurt asked, crossing his arms.

"I think you might have pancreatitis." the doctor said. "I would like you to admit you into hospital, where they can run more tests."

Jane shook her head.

"Not happening." she ground out through a fresh wave of pain.

"Jane…" Kurt said.

"No hospitals." she breathed.

Kurt shot a desperate look at the doctor.

"Jane you're heart rate is elevated, as is your temperature." Doctor John started, crouching down on the floor, near her head. "You have swelling in the upper quadrant of your abdomen as well as guarding when I press down. That along with the severe pain, vomiting and diarrhea… you are almost textbook."

Jane frowned.

"Like I said… I'm not going."

"Jane… what you need to understand…" the doctor started, speaking softly, "If you do have pancreatitis… if left untreated, and unobserved, there is a great risk of you becoming very unwell."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take." she hissed.

Kurt got up off the bed, shaking his head.

"Can you give us a moment doc?" he asked, his voice emotional. The doctor nodded, moving out of the room. Kurt shut the door slowly behind him.

Jane was about to start protesting again, when Kurt turned around. His face was flushed, and Jane could see that he was holding back tears.

"Kurt?" she asked in a small voice.

"I can't lose you, Jane." he said, his voice breaking.

Jane sat up slowly, resting against the headboard.

"You're not going to." she replied matter of factly.

He shook his head again, closing his eyes.

"I know the last few months have been hard on you." he said, sitting on the bed beside her. "But I've nearly lost you twice." He hung his head. "I don't think I could do it a third time."

"Kurt…" she whispered taking his hand.

"Please just go to the hospital." he begged. "I'll be with you the whole time." He brought her hand up to his mouth, kissing the back of it softly. "I know you're scared… and I'm scared too… but-" his voice cracked. "I need you to be ok."

Jane looked down at the briefcase the doctor had left in the room. She could see the small notepad lying on top. Temp 101.84, Pulse 108, Diminished bowel sounds, abdominal distention and guarding.

She hung her head.

"You're right." she whispered. "I am scared."

Kurt squeezed her hand.

"I'm scared that if I go in there… this time I won't come back out." She looked up at him, the worry she felt displayed on his face.

"There's a greater risk if you don't go baby." he said softly, cupping the side of her cheek.

She sighed in resignation.

"No ambulance." she said. "You drive me… and the moment they start talking about me going home… I'm leaving."

He nodded. He could work with that.

"I'll go and tell the doctor." he said, kissing her on the forehead. He stopped at the door, turning back to look at her. "You'll be ok, Jane." he promised, before opening the door and leaving

She forced out a weak smile, before screwing her face up, her stomach choosing that moment to spike her pain levels up again. She lay back in the fetal position, waiting for Kurt to return.


When they arrived at the hospital, Kurt helped Jane sit on one of the chairs, away from other patients who were waiting to be seen. She immediately curled into herself, clenching her teeth so she wouldn't cry out against the pain. He rubbed her shoulder gently, before taking her referral up to reception.

He returned a few minutes later, sitting down beside her and putting his arm around her shoulders. She instantly leaned into him, the pain beginning to overwhelm her.

"Sshh." he soothed, rubbing her back. "The receptionist said they shouldn't be too long."

Jane let out a small moan, both her hands in tight fists, her arms wrapped around her middle tightly.

About twenty minutes passed, before Jane started shifting uncomfortably.

"You ok?" Kurt asked.

"I might be sick." she warned, breathing heavily, her fingers pressed to her lips.

Kurt made his way back to reception, quickly returning with an emesis bag.

He gave her the bag and winced as she started retching.

Jane didn't even care that she was in public by that point. The pain in her abdomen and the nausea surging through her body the only things she could truly think about. She was absolutely miserable. She could feel Kurt's hand rubbing small circles on her back, and tried to focus on that as her body heaved nothing but bile and acid into the plastic bag.

A nurse came by with a wheelchair at that point.

"Jane Doe?" she asked, and Kurt nodded in confirmation. "Hi I'm Rosie, a bed has just freed up."

With Kurt's help, they got Jane situated into the chair. She was still hunched over the emesis bag, the pain and the nausea in a battle of the most prevalent. Eventually the pain won out, and Jane leaned to the side of the wheelchair, nearly collapsing in exhaustion.

"Jane!" Kurt exclaimed, catching her as she started tipping to one side.

Jane could only whimper in reply, the pain in her belly twisting like hot knives.

"Let's get you into a cubicle, my dear." the nurse said kindly. She wheeled Jane through the double doors, Kurt following close behind.

They helped Jane changed into a hospital gown and took down her height and weight, before settling her onto the bed. Jane curled back into the fetal position, the moment she was able to lay down. Rosie left the room to get some equipment to check Jane's vitals and Kurt busied himself tucking the blankets around her.

He took a seat beside her, hold her hand tightly.

Rosie returned minutes later. She lay an emesis bowl on the bed in front of Jane and got to work checking her vitals and starting an IV.

Jane's eyes stayed squeezed shut the entire time, her breaths coming out in short gasps.

"Please… is there anything you can give her for the pain?" Kurt asked Rosie, stroking the side of Jane's head.

Rosie shook her head

"Unfortunately I can't give her anything until the doctor has charted it…" she cast them a sympathetic look. "It shouldn't be too long now." She rubbed Jane on the shoulder, before exiting the cubicle, leaving them alone.

"Oh, my love." Kurt whispered, as Jane let out another cry of pain. Her face was screwed up and he could see she was about to lose the battle with her emotions. "Sssh…" he soothed, continuing to stroke her head. "You're ok…"

"It hurts." she cried softly, her face turning into the pillow as her body writhed in agony.

"I know it does baby." Kurt replied, his heart broken. "The doctor will be here soon."

They sat in silence for a moment, before Jane spoke up.

"Kurt… I'm sorry." she whispered.

"Sorry for what?" he asked, slightly confused.

"I'm sorry that you have to watch this." she replied in a small voice.

"Oh Jane…" he whispered.

"No… as you said… you've nearly lost me twice in the last couple of months… and now you have to watch me going through this… and I haven't exactly made the whole ordeal easy on you." she ground out, her voice laced with pain.

"Jane.." he said again. "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

"I know…" she replied softly. "But I'm still so sorry for all that you've been through."

He shook his head, both not wanting to think about what they had been through, and also not wanting her to bear that burden.

"None of this is your fault Jane." he said emphatically.

"Maybe not…" she said "But I still could have made things easier on you."

"Sshhh." he whispered. "None of that matters now… let's just get you better."

"Ok." she said in a small voice.

She groaned again, clutching tightly to his hand as a fresh wave of pain coursed through her.

"Sssh…" he murmured again, leaning forward, allowing her to curl her face into his chest. "I've got you…. Just breathe." He rubbed her back softly, trying to offer any form of comfort.

The doctor chose that moment to pull the curtains back, entering the cubicle. Kurt stood, moving around to her back, to give the doctor a little room.

"I'm Doctor Guthrie." he said, introducing himself. "I've just read over your referral from Doctor John. It says here he suspects you may have pancreatitis."

Jane only nodded in reply, suddenly unable to find her voice through her haze of pain.

The doctor stepped into the cubicle, taking a seat beside Jane.

"All of your stats are pointing towards this diagnoses. I'll have a look at you and then we will start running some tests to confirm."

"Ok." Jane managed to grind out.

"Roll onto your back for me." Doctor Guthrie said, raising her gown once she had managed to straighten out enough for him to work. He exposed her stomach, and Kurt winced at the swelling that was now notable.

Kurt moved to the head of the bed, holding Jane's hand tightly as the doctor pressed down softly.

Even though the doctors ministrations were gentle, Jane couldn't help the wail of torment that emerged between clenched teeth. Her face crumpled in pain, tears squeezing out of the corners of her eyes, trailing into her hairline.

Kurt stroked her hair off her forehead, trying to do something to help her through the examination.

The doctor stopped palpating her stomach, putting his stethoscope in his ears and listening intently.

He finished the examination, lowering her gown and helping her roll back onto her side. Jane groaned, her pain and nausea at battle again. She curled around the emesis bowl, breathing heavily through her nose.

The doctor rubbed her shoulder in sympathy.

"I'll get you some painkillers." he said kindly, leaving the cubicle.

He arrived moments later, Jane still trying to convince her body not to throw up again.

Doctor Guthrie administered some pain relief and an antiemetic. Kurt rubbed her back softly, just wanting her to know he was there.

"So far I have to agree with your family physician. Everything is indicating pancreatitis." the doctor said, once Jane started to calm down a little. "I'll get Rosie to come and do some bloodwork and I'll order an ultrasound to confirm."

Jane didn't answer, too caught up in trying to control her breathing. The painkillers and anti nausea were starting to work, but she still didn't trust her body enough to move away from the bowl.

The doctor left the cubicle and Kurt moved forward again, wanting to be as close to her as possible.

Slowly Jane gained more confidence in herself, straightening away from the bowl. She stayed on her side, her knees drawn up to her chest in the only position that was giving her a little relief.

"You ok?" she asked Kurt, making him chuckle.

At her raised eyebrow, he explained; "You're the one in the hospital bed… and you're asking me if I'm ok?"

Jane nodded.

Seeing she was serious, Kurt kissed her gently on the forehead.

"You truly are one in a million." At Jane's pointed look, he continued. "But yes. I'm ok." He stroked the side of her head, his face turning serious. "Seeing you like this is hard." he admitted. "But knowing you're in the right place makes it a little less daunting."

Jane shifted so she could look at him better.

"I'm sorry for being so difficult earlier." she whispered. Her voice was still pained, but with the painkillers, was at least a little stronger.

He shook his head.

"It's ok my love, I get it."

Her eyes were downcast, her chin wobbling. He could see how afraid she was and he hated it. With the dulling of the pain, her anxiety seemed to be leaking through the cracks.

"Hey." he said softly. "You're ok."

She took a shaky breath.

"I know… it's just that being here… it reminds me of…"

"I know baby." he soothed.

"I had accepted death Kurt." she said in a small voice. "And then I was cured and I thought everything would be ok… but being here… I'm feeling all of those emotions all over again… the fear… the acceptance… it's so dark." Her lips quivered, and Kurt could see she was trying not to cry.

"Hey… it's ok sweetheart." he kissed the back of her hand. "This is different. This isn't ZIP."

"I know… it's just hard being here again."

Kurt nodded.

"And this time I can see the worry in your eye." she said, reaching up and touching his face. "I don't know if that makes it easier or harder to deal with."

"Either way, I'm right here." he said, holding her hand to his chest. "Everything is going to be ok." he promised.

She exhaled slowly.

"I'm so lucky to have you." she said, offering him a small smile.

He kissed the back of her hand again.

"Yeah you are." he quipped, earning himself a larger smile. "Rest my love." he said kissing her forehead. "The nurse will be here soon."

Jane complied, closing her eyes. The pain was still severe, but the painkillers had managed to dull it down to a slightly more manageable level - that and the anti nausea seemed to be working. She dozed, knowing there would be a whirlwind of tests waiting for her when she woke, but content in knowing that, once again, Kurt would be by her side.