They don't belong to me. I am just borrowing them for a while. A sequel to Christmas Eve Visitor and Starting Our Life Together. This story is fiction, any people, places or events that happen are not actually real or factual. Enjoy and please review.
Holy Matrimony, Batman!
By JayCee08
Chapter 10
Boston
Ranger and I were leaving the next day for Boston.I was finishing up packing things for Ricky. He was going to be staying with the Manoso's this time. But this time we were going to be gone about a week, so there was more to pack.
I had the portable crib/playpen, two mega packs of diapers, a suitcase full of clothes, another with his toys, a cooler for the pumped milk, and jars of fruits and vegetables and a couple boxes of cereal. I had the diaper bag packed with more diapers, spit-up cloths, pacifiers, baby Tylenol, baby ora-gel, baby bottles, bibs and anything I could think of that they may need.
Then I started working on my packing. I packed some RangeMan uniforms. Some other casual clothes. Some nice dresses for dinners out. And some new sexy lingerie. I was really looking forward to our time together. I know that Ranger would be working most of the days and I thought that maybe I could help while I was there doing searches, but I was hoping that the nights would just be for us.
I snapped the lock on my suitcase when Ranger walked into the room. "All packed Babe?" He asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Is all that stuff by the door just for Ricky?"
"Yeah."
"Babe."
"What?" Your parents are going to need stuff. We are going to be gone for a week."
"I am sure they have things at their house. They have many grandchildren that come over."
"Yes, but some of that stuff is old and probably doesn't meet the safety codes anymore. Which reminds me I need to get the booster seat that I bought."
"Why a booster seat?"
"It's a portable seat that straps to any chair. It has a tray in front and then as Ricky gets bigger we can take the tray off and push him right up to the table. I thought we can use it when we go out to eat or to our families' houses for dinners."
"Why can't we use the high chairs at the restaurants when we go out? Why do we need to bring our own booster seat along."
"Do you know what kind of germs are on the high chairs? They certainly don't wipe them off. Have you ever watched at a restaurant? They come and take the high chair and just set if off on the side and never once do they wipe it down."
"Babe."
"What? There are enough germs out there that we have to deal with. Why invite trouble?"
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That night as I was getting Ricky ready for bed, he felt a little warm. I gave him some baby Tylenol and put him to bed.
"Ricky feels a little warm. I wonder if he is coming down with something."
"Did you give him something?"
"Yeah, I gave him baby Tylenol. It could be teething."
"What do you want to do, Babe?"
"Let's wait until morning. It could be nothing or it could be the start of a cold."
"O.K. Let's get some sleep. We have to get up at the crack of dawn so we can get Ricky to my parents in plenty of time so you can say good-bye and still catch our plane."
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The next morning, I went to get Ricky up. He still felt warm. I picked him up.
"Hey, Little Man, are you getting a cold? Are you teething?"
I met Ranger in the hall. "How is he?"
"He still feels a little warm. I don't know what to do?"
"Babe, why don't you stay home? You will only worry yourself to death if you go."
"But I was looking forward to this."
"There will be other trips."
"I know." I whined.
"Babe, take care of Ricky. He should be your number one priority."
"You're right. It wouldn't be fair to your parents to drop off a sick kid."
"I'll unload the car." He said as we made our way downstairs.
"Are you still going to go?" I asked.
"Yeah, Babe. I already made arrangements. They don't know I am coming so it is like a surprise inspection."
"Oh."
"I'll call you every night."
"It will be lonely without you."
"I'll be lonely too. I was looking forward to our time together."
Ranger dragged in all the bags and stuff I had packed for Ricky. I felt bad that I made him load up the car only to unload it. But he would have had to do it once we got to his parents' house anyway.
I gave Ricky a cool bath hoping it would help with the fever. I gave him more baby Tylenol. We were both waiting for Ranger to come down so we could say good-bye.
Ranger was talking on his cell phone. Probably giving last minute instructions to Tank.
He closed his phone when he got to us. He took Ricky from me and lifted him up over his head.
"Hey Ricky. Don't give your mom too hard of a time while I am gone. She is going to missing some serious love making while I am gone so she may not be a happy mommy. But I will make it up to her when I get home."
He pulled me into an embrace. "Babe, I am going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too. It seems harder this time." I started to tear up. "Last time when you left we didn't know when you were going to be back. I know you are only going to be gone a week, but it just seems harder."
"It's because our love is stronger. It's harder to pull it apart." He kissed me. "I love you. I will call you to check on Ricky."
"What about me?"
"I'll call you every night. We will have to do phone sex instead of passionate sex like you wanted."
"I love you." I whimpered trying really hard not to cry.
"I love you too." He kissed me again long and deep until someone hit us in the face. Ricky laughed. He kissed Ricky and handed him back to me.
"Call Tank or one of the guys if you need anything. They all have been given orders to drop everything if you need them."
"We'll be fine. It's not like I have any psychos after me anymore."
"I know, but I still worry. You're going to be out here all alone."
"I did it before while I was pregnant and after Ricky was born."
"Please just humor me. Call Tank even if it's just to let him know you and Ricky are fine."
"O.K."
He kissed me again. Then he kissed Ricky again. "I love you both so much."
"Will you go already. So you can hurry back." He kissed me again and then he was gone. Ricky and I waved as he pulled out of the driveway.
"O.K. Ricky, it's like old times isn't it? Just you and me."
________________
I went to my parent's house. I thought I could get some advise about Ricky's fever.
"Hey Mom. Hey Grandma."
"Stephanie! I thought you were on your way to Boston with Carlos." My mom said.
"Yeah well, change of plans. Ricky is running a slight temperature. I gave him baby Tylenol and a cool bath but he still seems warm. Do you think it's teething?"
"I don't know. Is he coughing or sneezing? Does he have a runny nose?"
"He has a runny nose but that can be caused by teething."
"Let me see." She took Ricky from me. "Well he does feel warm but not too bad. It is probably teething."
"I didn't want to leave with him running a fever. Carlos left this morning."
"Do you want to come for supper tonight?"
"I don't know Mom. I think I will just get a pizza or sub."
"So you let the Package go to Boston alone?" Grandma asked.
"It's not like I had a choice. He needed to go for business. He was making a surprise inspection. I didn't want to leave Ricky if he is sick."
"If I were you I'd keep tabs on him."
"Thanks for putting doubts in my head again, Grandma."
"I am not talking about your man. I am talking about the baby. The fever can spike fast."
"Oh, thanks. I'll keep an eye on him. I better go. I need to stop and pick up some things from the store and then get something for dinner. Thanks again mom for your advise."
I hugged my mom and then hugged Grandma.
"Call if you need anything." My mom said.
"I will."
"Do you want to come for dinner some night while Carlos is gone?"
"Sure mom I will let you know."
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I stopped at the store and got some things like more baby Tylenol and some things to eat. We told Miranda that we were going to be gone and she didn't do the shopping for the week. I will have to remember to call her tomorrow.
I stopped at Pino's for a meatball sub. While I was waiting for my sub. Eddie Gazarra came in.
"Hi Steph. Hey there Ricky. What are you doing here? I thought you and Ranger were going out of town."
"Hi Eddie. How's it going? We were supposed to be, but Ricky is running a fever and is probably coming down with something so I stayed home. How are Shirley and the kids?"
"Shirley is good. The kids' have been sick on and off. It seems that just when you think they are getting better one of the kids will come down with something else."
"That's too bad. Shirley must be a wreck."
"Yeah, I promised her a weekend away once they all get well."
"So what have they all had?" The mom in me coming is out.
"Colds mostly, ear infections, strep throat, a stomach bug. The usual kid ailments."
"I will have to keep an eye on Ricky."
"He doesn't go to daycare does he? Because if he hasn't been exposed to sick kids then you shouldn't worry. He is probably teething. I remember when the kids were babies. Getting teeth must be horrible. They are cranky and drool a lot and run fevers. Then it stops and then that tooth starts to push through again and they're cranky again. Then it stops. And then finally there is a little pearly white thing in their mouths."
"Thanks for the visual."
"Well I better get going. I offered to pick up pizzas for supper tonight. For those that can eat and are hungry that is."
"Hey Eddie here is your order. Steph your sub is just about ready." Tony the owner said as he handed Eddie his pizza and garlic bread and salad. "Here's your sub, Steph. Enjoy. See you soon."
I didn't notice that Joe was sitting in the back booth.
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Later that night, I woke to hearing coughing coming over the baby monitor. I got up to check on Ricky. Ranger had called earlier to check in. Ricky had been fine. Still had the slight fever. But he still played with his toys, so I just figured it was due to another tooth coming in.
I walked into Ricky's room. I didn't turn on the light. The nightlight gave off enough light to see. I felt Ricky's head. He was burning hot. He coughed some more. I picked him up and went into the bathroom and ran a luke warm bath for him. He was still sleepy when I placed him in the bath. He didn't wake up much. I poured water over him in an attempt to cool him down. When I thought he had been in the bath long enough I took him out and dressed him in a lighter weight sleeper thinking that maybe he was dressed too warm. I gave him some more baby Tylenol. He seemed to settle down and sleep and he felt cooler. I got the ear thermometer that I bought earlier. I was reading how to work it before going to bed. I check his temperature. It was 102 degrees F. I went to call Tank.
"Yo. Someone better be dead." Tank answered.
"Uh, Tank?"
"Bomber! Is everything O.K?"
"I don't know. Ricky's temp is high. Right now it is 102 degrees F but that is after I gave him a cool bath. I don't want to be panicking but I am wondering if you could come and get us and take us to the ER?"
"Sure thing. I be right there."
"Thanks Tank."
I went to get dressed. I came back to get Ricky. I took his temp again and it was 104 degrees F. It was going higher instead of lower. All of a sudden he started jerking and shaking.
"Oh my God! Ricky!" I ran for the phone. And tried to call Tank back. Ricky stopped shaking and jerking. I picked him up and headed for the stairs. I started dialing 911. When I heard the buzzer indicating someone was at the gate. I ran to the control panel and didn't bother looking to see who it was. I thought it was Tank.
I got Ricky in the carrier and grab my jacket and purse just as the doorbell rang. I opened the door and there was Joe Morelli.
"Oh my God! Joe! What are you doing here? Never mind. Do you have your Kojak light in your car?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Ricky is sick. I think he just had a seizure. I need to get to the hospital. I called Tank, but that was before the seizure. I was just calling 911 when you got here."
"Come on. Let's go."
Joe picked up Ricky and we went out to his SUV. I got in back with Ricky and strapped the carrier in. Joe placed his Kojak light on the roof of the car and turned it on. He used his cell to call in. I called Tank to tell him to meet me at the hospital instead.
Joe pulled up to the emergency entrance. I hopped out. Tank and Bobby were there waiting for me. They didn't seem to be too happy to see Joe. I didn't have time to explain things to them. They escorted me to the admitting desk.
"I think my baby just had a seizure. He has a really high fever that I can't get down. I tried baby Tylenol and cool baths."
"O.K. come with me." The nurse said to me.
She led us back to one of the curtained rooms. "The doctor will be right in." She said.
"How is he?" Tank said to me a little stiffly.
"I don't know. I woke up when I heard coughing and when I felt him he was burning up. So I gave him a bath. And then after I called you he started to shake and jerk. I think he had some sort of seizure."
The doctor came in then. I repeated what had happened. He listened to his heart and lungs. Ricky was starting to wake up. The doctor took his temperature again.
"He sounds a little congested. And his temp is now 105 degrees F. He must have some sort of infection. The temp is high but not that high for a baby. But it is serious. I think we should admit him and start him on IV antibiotics and fluids. He is a little dehydrated. Probably from the fever."
Ricky started coughing again. And then he started shaking and jerking again.
"Oh my God! He is having another seizure!" I cried.
Tank came over and put is arm around me. The seizure stopped. The doctor told the nurse to start drawing blood for some tests and what tests needed to be done. He told her what medicine to start him on. He wanted Ricky hooked up to an EEG to monitor his seizures. He ordered X-rays. He called up to the pediatric ward to get everything set up there and said to have a cot brought up for me. The doctor turned to me.
"I thought you would probably be staying with your son."
"Thank you." I managed to get out through the tears.
"He's going to be O.K., Steph." Tank said to me.
"Where did Bobby go?" I asked Tank.
"He went to make a few phone calls and to fill out the paper work and insurance papers."
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Bobby's POV
I stepped out of the room and dialed a number.
"Yo."
"Ranger. Bobby. We have a situation here. Ricky had to be brought to the hospital."
"The hospital? What happened?"
"His temp shot up and he had a few seizures."
"Seizures?"
"Yeah. It can be common for babies to have seizures when they have a high fever."
"How is Steph?"
"She is hanging in there. Obviously she is concerned. She will be staying with Ricky. There is one other thing you should be made aware of. Morelli brought her and Ricky to the hospital."
"Morelli? Why didn't she call Tank or one of you?"
"She did. And we were on the way. Then she called and said to just meet her at the hospital. We got to the hospital and just then Morelli pulled up with his light on top."
"I'll try and get on the earliest plane." And he hung up.
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Steph's POV
It took about an hour before Ricky was to be taken up to the pediatric ward. He didn't have anymore seizures in that time. The nurse started the IV. He had tubes and wires coming from all over. Some to monitor his heart. Some to monitor his head. Finally we were allowed to go up stairs. Tank had stayed by me the whole time but I noticed Bobby slip out. We followed the gurney with Ricky's tiny body on it. We all got in the elevator. Me, the nurse, Ricky, Tank and Bobby. I saw Joe as the doors were closing. I gave in a small smile and I mouthed "thank you" to him.
Up in the pediatric ward. They put Ricky in a crib in a private room. I think Bobby had something to do with getting that arranged. The nurse checked the IV and monitors. He looked so small and frail. She left the room. I went over to the crib and felt Ricky head, brushing the curls off his face. He felt cooler than he was earlier. Tears were still cascading down my face.
"Tank, did someone call Ranger?"
"Yeah, Bobby called. Ranger said he will try to get on the first flight in the morning."
"What time is it now?" I asked.
"It's 3:00 a.m. Why don't you lie down for a little while?"
"I can't. I need to be here for Ricky."
"Steph, he is in good hands. You aren't doing him any good by running yourself down."
"I can't" I whispered. "What if something is terribly wrong with him? What if he has brain damage?
The doctor walked in again and heard what I said. "In most cases there shouldn't be any permanent damage. The seizures were probably caused by the high fever. It's the body's way of dealing with it. There can be a reoccurrence of seizures. If that happens we will give him anti-seizure medicine. He may need to have anti-seizure medicine all the time. He can grow out of it with time. Most of the time though it is usually a one time occurrence."
"Well, it was one too many for me." I said.
"I came in here to tell you, your son has pneumonia."
"Pneumonia? How did he get that?" I asked dumbfounded.
"Does he go to daycare?" he asked.
"No."
"Anybody you know been sick that would have been in contact with him?"
"No, not that I know of." Then I remembered Ricky playing with Mary Lou's kids. I will have to check with her.
"Well, we got him on antibiotics. His temperature should break within 24 hours. Why don't you try and get some rest, Ms. Plum." And then he left.
I pulled a chair over to the crib and sat down. I put my hand through the railing and stroked Ricky. Tank took the other chair. He didn't say anything more. But he looked at me kind of funny.
NOTE: I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV. I don't pretend to know all the procedures involved. The info I got about fevers and seizures I got from the internet.
TBC Chapter 11 - At The Hospital