Hook is admitted to the hospital for treatment and testing and becomes a bit loopy on the medication he is given.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. I'm merely borrowing them for my own amusement.

Warnings: Adult Themes

Spoilers: Spoilers for up to the Season 3 finale.

Author's Notes: This story was originally written before Season 4 aired and was supposed to take place shortly after the end of Season 3. Then it turned out that Season 4 started immediately after Season 3 ended, so just because of how the story was written and how Season 4 turned out, I want to say that it should actually take place during Season 4 between episodes 3 and 4. Because of these circumstances though, there won't be any mention made of any events that happen during Season 4 except for a few small details that are pure coincidence and there is some stuff that contradicts events some stuff from Season 4 a bit as well.

Emma rubbed her eyes trying to stay awake. She'd barely seen Hook for two minutes after she'd arrived at the hospital before they took him away to have a chest x-ray and she was left in the waiting room to fill out paperwork. The forms were tedious and there were some questions that she didn't know the answer to, but she filled them out the best she could. She handed the paperwork to the receptionist and then slumped down in a chair again. She was so tired and worried that tears formed in her eyes in spite of herself. She quickly wiped the tears away. She knew that she should relax. Hook had looked slightly better and seemed to be doing well on the oxygen mask, but it was hard not to worry when she'd come so close to losing him... again. She had a sudden urge to call her parents and probably would have if it wasn't so damn early. There was nothing they could do anyway so she might as well let them sleep. She'd let them know what was going on at a more reasonable hour. Despite her anxiety she was very tired and just as she was starting to doze off she saw Dr. Whale walking toward her. He also looked very tired and disheveled as though he'd been asleep in the on call room when the paramedics brought Hook in. "Doctor Whale, how's he doing? Can I see him?"

"He's stable, but we're going to have to admit him," Whale answered. "You can see him as soon as he's been settled into his room. The chest x-ray shows fluid in his lungs, but he's breathing well enough on oxygen. I've got him on a cocktail of antihistamines and steroids as well as preventative antibiotics. If the fluid doesn't clear out of his lungs by itself, I might have to surgically drain it."

"Shit, I really should have brought him in after dinner," said Emma. "I just thought the wheezing was because his ribs were hurting so much from all the sneezing and coughing. Does this mean that whatever he's allergic to is giving him asthma?"

"There might be an asthma component, but I couldn't say for sure at this point. His coughing and difficulty breathing might just be solely due to the mucous in his lungs."

"This is all my fault. I should have brought him in as soon as I realized..." Emma trailed off.

"Realized what?" Whale asked gently.

"That he had mixed rum with the antihistamines I gave him," said Emma biting her lip.

Whale raised an eyebrow. "Well as bad as mixing alcohol with antihistamines can be, I don't believe that's the reason for the fluid in his lungs. It might be entirely from the allergic reaction itself, or he might have already been fighting off a respiratory infection at the time the allergy attack started. I ordered blood work to check for infection as well as a battery of allergy tests, but it will take time to get the results back. Skin testing is much faster but he's in no condition to have that done right now."

Emma sighed. "Even if the alcohol had nothing to do with his deterioration, if I'd brought him here because I was worried about that, then it still would have gotten him here sooner, and you could have started treating him before he got this bad, before he almost died."

Whale wasn't sure what to say. She did have a point. "Try not to dwell on it. Hook's here now and he'll receive the very best care."

"Thanks Doctor," Emma said giving him a weak smile. It was nearly an hour later before a nurse came to fetch her and said that she'd better get down to his room as he was asking for her and getting agitated. She made her way down to Hook's room and pulled up a chair next to his bed. He opened his eyes and murmured something, but his voice was muffled through the oxygen mask and she couldn't make it out. "Sorry I can't understand you."

Hook pulled the oxygen mask down from his face. "I said I don't want any jello. I don't care if it's medicinal, it's revolting."

Emma couldn't help but laugh. "Jello is not medicinal. It's not even very good for you. It's comfort food. They serve it to boost morale, but I guess everyone has a different idea of what comfort food is. Some people prefer chocolate, cake, or even pasta. Don't worry about the jello, you don't have to eat it."

Hook nodded. "I'd much prefer chocolate. At least that's something I could actually recognize as being edible." Hook closed his eyes and grinned.

"What are you smirking about?"

"I was just imagining applying melted chocolate to your lips and licking it off." Hook answered.

Emma couldn't help but shudder at that image but she also rolled her eyes. "You must be feeling better. Did they give you pain killers?"

Hook nodded happily and giggled. "It's good stuff. They put it right into my arm and my ribs don't hurt anymore."

Emma didn't remember him being this giddy on pain killers the last time he was in the hospital, but combined with the antihistamines they must be having an odd effect on him. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I hate to see you in pain and I was so worried about you." She squeezed his hand careful not to dislodge the oxygen sensor on his index finger.

Hook squeezed her hand back. "I'm fine love. Let's go dancing tomorrow. You're a good dancer."

Emma smiled. "I don't think you'll be up to it tomorrow, but sure we can go dancing when you're feeling better if you really want to."

Hook nodded eagerly. "And then we can eat cake and pasta. Do I like pasta?"

Emma managed to suppress her laughter. "Yes, you seemed to enjoy the ravioli we had the other night. Now settle down, you need to rest." Hook's expression suddenly changed to a grimace. At first she thought he was going to protest her orders to rest, but then he started sniffling and rubbing at his nose. Emma looked around and found a box of tissues on the nightstand. She picked them up and placed them on the bed next to Hook.

Hook pulled a few tissues out of the box and quickly brought them to his face. A few seconds passed before the tickle in his nose escalated. He inhaled sharply then let out two weak tired sounding sneezes. He paused then sneezed twice more somewhat more forcefully. He coughed a few times and then blew his nose. "These tissues are awful. They feel like sandpaper," Hook complained.

Emma winced in sympathy. The cheap hospital tissues would feel rough on anyone, but she could only imagine how uncomfortable they would be on Hook who's nose was so red and swollen he could give Rudolph a run for his money. "What happened to the ones you brought with you?"

"All gone..." Hook answered before breaking off into a painful sounding coughing fit.

"Jeez, your nose is really stubborn. All those drugs you've got pumped into you and it's still insisting on making you sneeze." Emma noticed that he was starting to wheeze again and she placed the oxygen mask back on his face. He seemed to relax and breathe easier after a few moments. "Ok you really need to get some sleep now." Hook moved over to one side of the bed as much as possible and briefly removed his oxygen mask to ask her to lie next to him. Emma frowned. It would be a tight squeeze, but it would be better than sleeping in the chair and she certainly wasn't going to leave him to go home and sleep in her own bed. She climbed into bed next to him careful not to get tangled in his IV line. Hook put his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder. She kissed him on the forehead and stroked his hair until he fell asleep. Emma fell asleep shortly afterwards hoping that Hook would get better soon and that the blood work would give them some answers.