Thursday finally came around and Chip was getting ready to leave the office to collect Lynsey from the airport. He couldn't wait to see her. These past few days had made him appreciate how hard it must be for her to see him set off for work for days and sometimes weeks at a time. He gathered all of his belongings and said goodbye to Janet and Lee before heading off home first.

He collected the last of the groceries for the meal he was planning to make for Lynsey. He had set the table with their wedding china and picked up a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her. Chip was nervous for the obvious reason but also because this is the first time he had cooked for Lynsey despite them having been together for almost two years. He wasn't much of a cook but Lynsey however was very good at it and he hoped he could live up to her standards. First he would need to shower, change and go to collect her and as he looked at his watch he realised he better get himself in gear!

AIRPORT

Perfect! Chip thought as he looked at the arrivals board. Lynseys flight had been delayed by an hour so he found himself with some time to kill. He went into the store and collected a paper and something to drink and sat by the information boards in case anything new developed with her arrival time. As he sat and waited he began to realise that although he had planned in his head to tell Lynsey about everything he was now really going to tell her. It was one thing in theory but what would be the result in practice? He was shaken from such thoughts when it was announced Lynseys flight had arrived. He stood up and put his now read paper and finished bottle of water in the nearby trash can. He made his way to the gate and waited along with other relatives and friends on the passengers arriving. Lynsey was flying back solo as her colleagues had been roped into attending a de-briefing a couple of days later. She had managed to escape due to the fact that she had been a last minute replacement otherwise Chip would have had to have waited another four days to see her.

The delayed passengers started to drift through the gate and Chip just caught a glimpse of his wife through the crowd of disgruntled passengers and raised a smile. However she didn't look quite right.

"Lynsey?" He asked

"Hi Chip" she replied rather flatly. This was not the overwhelming homecoming he was expecting

"What's wrong?" he asked rather worriedly "Did something happen?"

"Yes something did. We visited that restaurant Janet suggested and I had the Sea Bass like she said…"Lynsey stopped the story as she placed her hand to cover her mouth and dropped her bags beside Chip before throwing up in the nearest bathroom.

Chip picked up his wife's belongings and waited by the door for her. Lynsey emerged sometime later wiping her face with a damp paper towel and made her way over towards Chip.

"Better?" He asked

"A bit. Chip I feel awful can we go home please?" She said leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Sure sweetie let's get you home" he replied. Chip picked up her suitcase and bag and held her as they walked back towards the car.

When they reached the car and put Lynseys things in the boot they drove towards home but didn't get very far as Lynsey had to throw up again at the side of the road. Chip collected a bottle of water from the back seat and went beside her to hold her hair as she threw up. He offered her a tissue and a sip of water when she was finished. They eventually made it home having had to stop a few more times on their way. As Chip turned off the engine he looked across at Lynsey and saw that she had fallen asleep. He opened his door and walked round to her side of the car and took off her seatbelt and carefully lifted her out of the car and into the house. He managed to switch on the lights and walk upstairs to their bedroom placing her gently onto their bed. He took off her shoes and placed a blanket over her before going to retrieve everything from the car.

Chip walked into the kitchen and looked at the table he had taken time to prepare and was somewhat deflated. His romantic evening would have to wait until Lynsey felt up to it. He collected a glass of water for her and made his way back upstairs. She was still asleep as he placed the glass on her nightstand and he smiled at her as he swept her brunette wavy hair off her face feeling her forehead for a temperature. She didn't have one and he hoped that this would be a 24 hour thing and she would be better the morning. He got himself ready for bed and lay beside her as he read some paperwork.

It turned out to be a very long night. Lynsey had been up a dozen times and as dawn broke Chip was beginning to worry. She couldn't keep anything down not even water and he was concerned she was going to become dehydrated and at 6am he called Jamie.

"Jamie? It's Chip. I'm sorry to call so early" he apologised

"Are you alright Chip?" Jamie asked with concern in his voice

"I'm fine Jamie" he replied quietly in the hallway just outside their bedroom where Lynsey was sleeping. "It's Lynsey. She got back from Chicago last night and hasn't stopped throwing up since"

"I see. Any ideas what caused it?"

"She says they ate at some restaurant there and blamed it on the sea bass"

"Any other symptoms? Temperature?"

"No I've checked. She can't keep anything down Jamie. Not even water and I'm concerned she is going to become dehydrated" Chip replied as he paced down the hall

"Ok don't worry. I'm on my way"

"Thanks Jamie – I really appreciate it" Chip hung up then went back into the bedroom to check on Lynsey. He sat by her on the bed and held her hand. Their alarm clock stared him in the face and he was due to report for duty in a couple of hours.

While Lynsey slept and he waited on Jamie arriving Chip decided to grab a quick shower and try to refresh himself after a not so refreshing night's sleep. He quickly got ready just in time to greet Jamie by the front door.

"Morning Chip. She upstairs?" Jamie asked

"Yeah. Go on up" Chip closed the door and followed Jamie upstairs

Jamie made his way into the room and over to sit by Lynsey.

"What is it with the Morton's and doctors? You guys are really getting your monies worth from me aren't you?" He said trying to lighten the mood

"Hi Jamie. I'm sorry Chip called you" She said slightly irritated with her husband's worrying

"I was concerned honey"

"I know, its ok" She replied

Jamie did a couple of checks and Chip was right there was no fever at least. She was in no pain but Jamie could understand Chips concerns. Lynsey had been throwing up a lot and it would seem to anyone that it could cause dehydration. However Jamie was not overly concerned in fact he was sure Lynseys diagnosis of food poisoning to be right on the money.

"Chip could I trouble you for a coffee? I didn't quite get the chance before I left this morning" Jamie asked

"Of course doc I should have offered" Chip replied as he made his way down towards the kitchen

"You have had your coffee" Lynsey said smelling it from his breath

"I know. I just needed to speak to you alone" he replied. "I have to ask Lynsey is there any chance you are pregnant?"

"Why couldn't you ask me that with Chip here?" She asked slightly confused

"I never like to. I don't assume anything with any couple and I like to still give the old practice of patient confidentiality a whirl" he replied

"Thank you Jamie but I am not pregnant" She replied

"Ok" Jamie didn't need to ask the obvious questions as Lynsey knew the drill. If she said no then that was enough for him.

"Someday I hope but not right now" She said as Jamie patted her hand

Chip returned with the Docs coffee and he took a sip of his own at the same time. "So what's the verdict doc?" Chip asked

"I think Lynsey has food poisoning as she predicted. I'll prescribe you some anti sickness medication and that will allow you at least sip fluids to prevent any dehydration"

"Thank you Jamie. See? I'm fine Chip and you better get ready for work or you are going to be late"

He wanted to wait and see what Jamie said before deciding on work. "You sure you are going to be ok by yourself?"

"Of course. Look if I need you, you're 10 minutes away. I can call you"

"Promise?" He asked

"I promise. Now get going!" She urged him to go. Chip grabbed his uniform and kissed Lynsey before leaving for work.

As Chip disappeared, Jamie finished is coffee and said his goodbyes. Lynsey made her way downstairs holding onto the bannister to see Jamie out. She was feeling a little weak but she felt better for getting out of bed.

"Well goodbye Lynsey. Give me a call if you or Chip need anything"

"Chip?" She laughed "Why would Chip need you?"

Jamie felt his heart skip a beat and had to think quickly. "Just in case he needs the reassurance that you are ok" he replied hoping he could get away with the off the cuff comment.

Lynsey laughed. "I'll keep that in mind Jamie thank you". She opened the door and Jamie walked towards his car sighing a breath of relief hoping Chip was going to tell her sooner rather than later what was going on.