Olivia grimaced, her body felt like lead; stiff and sore. Her head heavy, she was quickly putting together that she wasn't just waking up; she had been drugged. She went to stretch her arms and found a hand blocking them; blearily she opened her eyes.
" Morning Olivia. You just finished with the marrow and spinal taps. Stay still alright?" Melinda's voice was calm and reassuring.
" Okay." She glanced around, noticing that she now had a second IV running from her arm. Apparently she had slept through a bit this morning. " What did they give me?"
" Anaesthetic, they put you under for the procedures this morning; the nurse added it to your IV. They took blood to. This afternoon you start a benzodiazepine regimen, it will keep you comfortable for the most part; they will inject you with the virus. Hopefully you won't remember much of it.
I already spoke to Cragen, he put you on medical leave; Finn promised to come see you. I've taken some vacation time so I'll be here too; you aren't going to be alone." Melinda moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
" I take it you expect me to be feeling really crappy then?" Olivia looked around, hoping there was water somewhere.
" You will. But not so much that as you are my friend Olivia; and so is Elliot. I respect what you want to do and understand it. I want to see both you and Elliot's son come out of this alright." Melinda held her hand.
" I didn't mean to mess up your schedule. I just thought you would know what was going on to be able to make effective decisions. You don't have to be here all the time; you have your family too." Olivia flinched, Melinda was to involved; she had just intended for to have to be called if something went bad.
" No, Olivia. I want to be involved. I'm staying here so I know you are okay. My daughter is old enough to run the house for a while and if not my husband survived as a bachelor while I was in the air force he can do it again.
I spend enough time with the dead, I'd like to be involved in helping the living for awhile; I'm as qualified a doctor as Sonya. My focus is you, and that allows hers to be Eli; it makes it easier. We already discussed it, I'm going to monitor your condition same as she is. Just rest Olivia and for once in your life let someone take care of you. " Melinda smiled at her softly and Olivia nodded.
" Do the Stablers know yet?"
" You aren't going to do this anonymously Olivia. There is no chance of that, hospital's have the worst grape vines. Kathy probably heard before she got off shift last night but I don't think Dr Miller has told them anything officially yet. You don't have to talk them until your ready."
" Its not that, its just what if it doesn't work?" She whispered.
" Olivia, it will. For this round I am sure it will, parts of it are going to be rough. Our questions lie in how to preserve his health in the long term. A few years ago CH was a death sentence, like a lot of disease; now its a game of chance. Don't you worry about that right now okay.
Pull through this and when you wake up we should have a healthier little boy waiting for you. Then we sit down and put a plan together to make sure he doesn't get back to this point again. It isn't simple, lets take it one step at a time." Melinda replied.
Her heart went out to her friend, she knew very few people who would react so strongly to the pain of others. Most were desensitized by daily living and society's view of look out for yourself but Olivia took it one step further; even as a detective she still felt for victims.
Yet she fought it anytime someone tried to look out for her. Olivia picked her fights and went at them alone; at least on a personal level. She had watched it for years, she counted her as a friend and learned to respect her space; it was something she couldn't not quite grasp.
Over the years she had related it to how she was raised, Olivia had been raised in a much different envrionment than she had; and than she had raised her daughter in. She had worked with Olivia for over a year before the woman openly told her of how she came to exist; she had heard the rumor through the building earlier.
Now, even though Olivia was her friend, a woman almost her age, all she wanted to do was mother her; almost as she would her own child. The brunette felt for people but did not see how people felt for her. To most what she had already done this morning would have been a stretch; it was only the beginning.
Holding her hand she fought the urge to shake some sense into Olivia at the one time she had her trapped. She had no doubt the brunette would fight it if she did.
So she had resigned herself to doing what Olivia wanted; only not exactly the way she wanted it. Melinda had explained it to her husband when she got home last night, called Cragen in the morning and cleared her schedule; they would make due without her.
By suppertime tonight Olivia would be dead to the world in her own personal hell; Melinda was going to look after her body. She had dropped down to see Eli, the little guy was in the last leg of the infection; barely hanging on.
She expected Olivia's fever to spike by ten and stay up until it was over; they weren't going to allow her body to kill the infection within its self. The sweats and chills would hit her at some point, once they got the lines in she hoped Olivia wouldn't cough to much. In the morning a blood test would be done to check her counts on a variety of immune cells her body would produce.
Theoretically they should have skyrocketed, they would then take a transfusion of her blood to Eli, effectively counteracting her body's attempt to get rid of the infection. Immunity levels would continue to rise and as long as her vital organs remained stable they would let them, and continue harvesting from them.
The greatest concern was her heart, they would be putting strain on it, balancing her blood pressure between harvests would be key. Melinda had brought a few of her own things in a bag she'd tucked under Olivia's bed; she didn't need to see.
A nurse came in and changed one of the IV bags, injecting something into the line; Melinda assumed the doctor was ready to start. She stayed on the edge of the bed as Olivia drifted off; then lowered the bed. Took out her bag and took her own set of vitals; blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate.
Ten minutes later the doctor showed up, Melinda gave her a slightly forced smile. " How's Eli this morning?"
" He perked a little after the transfusion; his vitals are stronger. How is she?" The woman set several boxes on the tray table.
" Out cold now, what is she on?" Melinda asked, moving back to her chair.
" Thiopental bolus and a low dose midozolam drip to keep her under. I'm going to intubate her and then start. At midnight we will get a sample for the labs; we'll collect when they're up." Sonya explained, pulling on a pair of gloves.
Melinda nodded, she knew the procedures but watching a friend go through them was not pleasant. The woman easily began to feed the long tube into Olivia's throat; attaching it to the oxygen unit. A piece of tape secured it in the edge of her mouth.
She winced as the woman prepared the nasogastric tube. The drugs they were using on Olivia paralyzed, keeping her still for the procedures and the duration of the infection; it was both kind and cruel. Once the bolus of pain killer wore off she would not be able to see what was being done to her but she would feel it; and hear what was being said.
Melinda reached forward and gently lifted Olivia's head, positioning it for the insertion, when the doctor rotated the tube she tilted it back and the tubing disappeared quickly. Gently letting her friend's head rest back again she watched as it to was secured.
The doctor cleaned up and prepared an injection. It disappeared into Olivia's skin and the doctor prepared to leave. " If you don't mind I'll look after her."
Sonya Miller paused, she wasn't sure whether she was being assessed or pitied. " My nurses need to chart her, I'll ask Ruth to take day shift with her; you two will get along."
She nodded, as the woman left quickly. Olivia hadn't really reacted yet, it was as good a time as any to go and see Eli. She made her way down to where Eli was, the curtain was open; she couldn't go in but she could look. Melinda really hoped that little boy would be looking better by the next time Olivia was able to come see him.
Elliot was sleeping in the chair with his back to her and Kathy was curled up next to the little boy; a bright red IV ran into his arm. Olivia's blood was running into the child's body, hopefully preparing it for the fight of his life.
" Ms Warner?" A small voice came from behind her.
" Kathleen. Sweetie are you okay?" The girl's eyes were red and her body seemed to tremble.
" No, the doctor came to talk to mom and dad this morning; alone. I, I don't think they can do anything else for him." The girl's voice was cracking badly as she finished; terrified of her own words. Melinda wrapped her in a hug and she broke down.
Easing her down she rested Kathleen's head against her chest and let the girl cry; leaning against the wall. People continued to hurry by, no one stopped to ask; outside peds ICU there was only one reason. She waited, wondering how long the girl had held her composure.
" Kathleen that's not what the doctor came to talk about. Stand up okay?" Melinda mostly pulled her to her feet, the girl didn't look at the glass; her parents were still asleep. " Your brother has a new IV, the doctor has found something she can do for your brother."
" How? Last week..." She broke off staring silently. Melinda's heart pulled, she wanted desperately to just tell her ; but she couldn't be sure Dr Miller had told her parents. Glancing around she looked for anyone who might know.
Her eyes locked on the nurses station, Dr Miller had just walked up; she was checking something on the computer. The doctors head tilted up and then she nodded; Melinda pulled her arms tighter around Kathleen. Olivia and Kathleen had history, Olivia had been able to reach her a few years ago because she wasn't afraid to be hated to help her; as her father was.
" Will you walk with me. I can maybe explain it." She guided the girl away, if she was going to see Olivia before this was over than this was the best time.
" Was that blood in the IV line? Don't you work for the morgue?"
" I do, but I'm on vacation. I'm here helping a friend. It is actually related to your brother. Look I don't want to shock you but I want you to know that everyone is doing everything they can for your family; no one want's Eli to die." They were rounding the corner to Olivia's room.
She sniffed a couple times. " I don't know if anything can really change it."
" Yes it can, it already is. C'mon." Pushing open the door she guided Kathleen into the room.
The door closed as the girl realized who was in the bed, Melinda let her go and she backed into the door. " Olivia, no, not her too."
" Olivia is healthy. A blood test proved that she is a match to your brother. It's her blood in his IV. The doctor found a way to help him; through her." Melinda offered her a hand.
" Come here. Feel." She pulled the reluctant girl forward, placing her hand on Olivia's chest. " She is okay."
" Her heart beat is strong, but she has all kinds of tubes." Kathleen whispered, Melinda eased her into the chair beside the bed; sitting on the edge herself.
" The tubes are to make sure she is getting enough nutrients and fluids for two people. You know Olivia doesn't give up on the things she starts. Her body is fighting the same infection as your brother's but her immune system is strong; it will wipe it out.
The doctor is using that to kill the infection in your brother too. They are going to take her blood, it has the antibodies in it to fight germs and give it to your brother; she isn't going to get better until he does." Melinda watched her finally look at Olivia, scan her face look at the IV s running from her arms.
" She doesn't look sick, she looks like she is asleep." Kathleen spoke softly.
" Not quite, when your brother got sick it was slower, the virus worked its way into his blood stream; it was injected directly into hers. The doctor gave her a medication to help keep her a little more comfortable; especially as they need to be able to run tests on her as needed. You can talk to her, she can hear you but she can't move, its safer for her. You know if you need to talk about anything Olivia will always listen; this wouldn't change that." Melinda rubbed her arm, watching the girl relax ever so slightly.
" What about next time? He can get sick from anything; his body cant stop it." Kathleen reached for Olivia's hand; clinging to it.
" Olivia doesn't give up on people, she will be there and they will stop it before it gets this bad; the doctor will find a way to make it work. Why don't you talk to her. I'll give you some privacy." She knew the girl needed to unwind, tension and strain showed on her.
Melinda slipped out of the room, opening the curtain first; she wasn't going far. Just far enough to let a young woman talk to someone she trusted. She wandered up and down the hall for a bit; when she looked back in she smiled a little.
It had probably been a long time since Kathleen had been at ease enough to sleep. The girl had crawled in with Olivia and curled up; almost like her mother had been downstairs. Gently she took Olivia's wrist and checked her forehead, a fever was definitely setting in.
She wasn't to worried about Kathleen, Olivia would more or less skip the contagious stage; the girl needed the sleep. Melinda settled back into the chair, finding her book she attempted to read; but her mind didn't want to focus.
Ruth slipped in a hooked a nutrient solution to Olivia's feeding tube, checked her blood pressure and made a few notations on her chart. Moving carefully around Kathleen she didn't make a comment, gesturing that Melinda follow her to the hall.
"Olivia's fever is spiking, I'll put some face clothes in the bathroom. I'll take a blood sample but we may be moving faster than planned." Ruth informed her calmly.
" Okay, I'll stay the night with her. Kathleen may stay for a while too. When the sweats start I'll kick the girl out but for now I think she's getting more comfort than she has since this started." She glanced into the room, the young woman looked so young; to young for the strain she was dealing with.
" She has hardly left the hospital, none of them have. The only ones who aren't here almost all the time are Elisabeth and Dickie and that's because they're still in school. Maureen and Kathleen are done college for the year." Ruth glanced in to the room too. " We'll leave her be as long as we can, if Kathy asks about her I'll tell her where she is and discourage her from coming up."
" I am right in guessing that Dr Miller released Olivia's identity to them?"
" Yes, but it wouldn't have mattered, they would have heard eventually; Kathy works here. You told her?" Ruth nodded her head towards the girl on the bed.
" She thought the doctor was telling her parents her brother was going to die. Kathleen and Olivia have history, they know each other; I thought it would help reassure her that her brother was going to be okay." Melinda shrugged, whether the nurse approved or not it was done.
" It worked, she felt safe enough to sleep. We do have to move her out when Olivia starts to show." The older nurse looked at the floor, Melinda knew what she was thinking.
The nurse disappeared down the hall and Melinda went back into the room ; Kathleen snuggled closer to Olivia. Melinda reached out to touch her friend's forehead, Olivia was probably the equivalent of Kathleen's personal heating pad.
She got a cool cloth from the bathroom and washed Olivia's face, not a true attempt to bring the fever down but more to keep her friend slightly comfortable. Ruth slipped in, stacked cloths in the bathroom and took a blood sample; then increased the fluid IV in Olivia's arm.