Rory dreams she is in Camelot a handmaiden at the round table friend of Guinevere and pursued relentlessly by Lancelot, she is championed by and weds Tristan – In her waking world she is pursued by Logan after the bridesmaid debacle and surprised when Tristan appears to save the day. Was her dream prophetic? Who will she choose? (AU)
Disclaimer: Still not mine, only borrowed to make my stories more interesting
Chapter 10 - Her New Reality
Rory was dreaming of Camelot again, the brave knights of the round table she was older than the first dream she was walking with Guinevere in the garden.
"Lady Maria, what troubles you so?" Guinevere asks.
"Sir Lancelot has returned and I fear he and Sir Tristan will come to terms." Maria explained.
Rory suddenly woke feeling like her world was spinning, she leapt to the bathroom and threw up. He had felt her leave the bed, then heard her retching so he went to her and held her hair, and made small circles on her back. When she finally finished, he grabbed a towel and wet it with cold water and filled the glass from the sink handing it to her. She thanked him, rinsed her mouth and took a sip of the water enjoying the cool cloth on her neck.
"Babe, are you okay, do we need to get a pregnancy test?" Tristan, held her as she steadied her breathing.
"No, not pregnant, just stressed, I am worried about what Logan is up to." Rory tried to stand but was weak, "Could also be food poisoning, I got a sandwich from a new guy and the mayo was already in it. My tummy hurts." She explained in a whiny voice.
He helped her stand at the sink, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, noticed yuck on her shirt and took it off, rinsing it before setting it over the tub. He helped her to the bed and retrieved a fresh shirt then grabbed the Pepto and poured it for her. She drank the dose hoping it would help sooner than later, she had had food poisoning before and knew it was 50/50, the pink drink would help. Her stomach felt crappy and she tried to find a comfortable position, her stomach rolled again and she was back to the bathroom losing the pink and the water along with what felt like her liver in the heaving stress.
"I am taking you to the doctor, if it's food poisoning they will need to give you IV liquids." Tristan went to the closet and got dressed. He then went to the kitchen and grabbed a basin, in case she got sick in the car. He finally grabbed a towel and wrapped her in her robe. She didn't complain, only rinsed her mouth again, grabbed her basin and got into the car. He placed an additional towel in the back seat and they drove to the ER.
They arrived at the ER and he was lucky someone was just ending a smoke break and offered to wheel her in while Tristan parked. The orderly even helped Rory with her paperwork so she could be treated faster. Tristan came in and saw the young man helping his very ashen girlfriend and was grateful.
"Thanks man, I appreciate your helping then took over the paperwork and let the guy return to work. He then took the clipboard to the desk and hoped her name or his would speed the desk. Just as he was returning Rory heaved again, it was dark yellow and he called for a nurse just as Rory passed out dropping the basin and its contents to the floor.
Rory awoke in a bright white room, her eyes stung from the light, her throat ached and her eyes were parched. She cautiously looked around and her eyes fell on him, he was leaning with his head on the bed and holding her hand. The nurse walked in and was writing some notes on a clipboard.
"There you are, you are finally awake, you gave this young man here quite the fright. You have been asleep for fourteen hours, how do you feel?" The nurse asked kindly.
"My throat hurts and is dry and my eyes hurt." Rory croaked out.
The nurse stepped out and returned with a cup of ice and fed her some, then she applied some drops to her eyes, that immediately provided relief. Rory helped herself to more ice and felt Tristan stir beside her.
"Hey, you're awake, how do you feel?" He kissed her hand and the nurse smiled.
"Well, she tells me her throat hurts, the ice should help, her eyes were dry so we applied some drops and now I am going to check her vitals and get the doctor to come check her out. You are lucky this young man brought you in, you had a severe case, you were already dehydrated when you came in." The nurse chatted about nothing in particular while she tested reflex, heart rate and read the information on the machines and noted the amount of liquid still in the IV drip. She then slipped away to report to the doctor on call.
Once the nurse was gone, Tristan leaned over and kissed her gently, "No more ice cooler sandwiches, I am making you lunch from now on. You are not allowed to get so sick so quick, you actually passed out in the lobby, it did get you seen quicker, but I was hoping our names on several floors would do that not you passing out."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. Where is mom?" Rory was enjoying the feeling the ice provided and noticed her tummy was rumbly. "I'm hungry, do you think I can eat?"
The doctor entered in time to hear her and chuckled, "Lorelai Gilmore, if I am not mistaken your mother has the same name. Tell me young man is this one as capable of out eating a sumo as her mother is?" Tristan just laughed and nodded in response. "Well, I am Dr. Kildare, Dr. Welby briefed me on your case when I came on shift, I play golf with Richard from time to time, so it is nice to meet the famous Rory. How are you young lady?"
Rory smiled liking his kind manner, "Well my throat hurts, the ice helps, but it still hurts and to be honest I am starving."
"Well I am not surprised, you were asleep for fourteen hours and before that it appears you vomited all but mothers milk before coming in and even after." He looked over her chart notes, "I will allow you a B.R.A.T. diet, and that should get you back on track. Do you remember the name of the food service you purchased the sandwich from, we will need it for our report."
"Oh, they were new, Excalibur, I think was the name, they had a hand in an oven mitt rising from a countertop with a chef's knife in it, I thought it was cute. They were a new vendor, I guess buying a sandwich that had the mayo already on it was a bad plan. I usually have a stomach of iron..."
"Miss Gilmore", he interrupted, "it happens, what I am more concerned about was the severe dehydration, tell me how many glasses of water would you say you drink a day"
Tristan looked at Rory knowing full well she was not a big fan of the beverage, "Coffee is made with water, does that count?"
"No, we are talking just plain water?" The doctor seemed impatient.
"Maybe two or three glasses a day." Rory knew this was a wrong answer.
Dr. Kildare shook his head, "That explains a great deal, and how much coffee?"
"Fifteen to twenty cups, black." Rory looked at the physicians astonished face, this was going to be all bad.
"That explains many things, especially the fourteen hour sleep, You should try to cut back to no more than two cups a day, try switching to decaf and drink at least eight full glasses of water daily.
Rory nodded, "I understand doctor, what other things did you mean when you said there were several?"
"Well, you have mild anemia, a heart murmur and guessing by the color of your last vomit, a mild ulcer. Too much acid and caffeine can cause these problems although we usually see them in older male patients who work in finance." the doctor wrote something in the chart as he spoke. "I am referring you to a food health specialist, they will need a journal of your diet, including all liquids consumed and they will make dietary suggestions. You are very fortunate this is caught now, it can be corrected, but you will have to make major changes."
Rory and Tristan nodded, "Will I need anything for the anemia?"
"We think with a proper diet your body will right itself again, now get some rest I will have some Jell-O sent in." He patted her leg and left the room.
"Why is this happening to me, I live for coffee, two cups, that's all, I think I'll die, and he is going to make me eat healthy, what next no pop-tarts?" Rory leaned heavily on Tristan and he kissed the top of her head.
"Mare, you threw up blood and passed out, then slept deeply for fourteen hours, I think that giving up coffee is worth your health and well being. Lorelai will understand, trust me she wants you happy and healthy, and if that means less coffee she'll be okay with it." Tristan soothed.
Rory loved how well he knew her, that he knew just what to say. "I love you Tristan Dugrey, I love that you know me so well and love me enough to know what is really bothering me. You are kinda perfect like that."
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A/N: The B.R.A.T. diet is short for Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast; Jell-O is often included because it too soothes the tummy, and is a typical recommendation here in the US when a person has suffered severe vomiting. It helps the stomach ease into food and is typically followed with light broths and the person is then eased back to regular foods, the process can take several weeks.