Sunday 1st December 2013, 9am
"Mr T, have you got a minute?" Jonny asked as he entered the open office of the Obs and Gynae consultant.
"Yeah sure, Jonny what can I do for you?" Mr T asked cheerily.
"It's just, Jac had her flu vaccine yesterday. She felt a bit unwell after that but I thought nothing more of it and now she's got full blown flu." Jonny stated. "Headache, fever, chills, sore throat, achy muscles and blocked nose. I know I'm probably being overcautious but I just feel that because she's pregnant with twins, there're higher risks with a complication like this." Jonny explained. "Isn't low birth weight a problem if the mother falls ill?"
"Well, because it's a multiple pregnancy, low birth weight is slightly more likely and a problem with the mother's health can cause low birth weight because the growth of the baby is slowed but something like the flu at 31 weeks gestation is unlikely to make much of a difference unless of course, the twins come early." Mr T explained.
"And if they do come early?" Jonny asked worriedly.
"Well, we'll just have to deal with it if it happens. If it did, I could prescribe medication for Jac to delay labour and steroids to help the twins grow more before the birth but at the moment, there's nothing much you can do other than wait and just keep Jac as comfortable as possible."
"Right… Thanks Mr T."
"No problem. Oh, and tell Jac I hope she gets better. And tell her to give me a ring if she wants to reschedule her scan that's supposed to be next week."
"Will do." Jonny walked out with his head hung between his shoulders. He felt so incredibly hopeless, yet angered at the same time because she had had her flu jab at the earliest date possible, yet the day she had it she had fallen ill. It didn't matter whether it was a coincidence or not because the fact was, Jac was ill and there was nothing he could do to make her better.
"You wanted to see me?" Jonny asked as he entered the consultants' office, but he was reminded once more that Jac was suffering because the seat behind her desk was empty.
"Yes." Elliot confirmed. "I've heard Jac is unwell."
"Yeah, she came down with the flu last night." Jonny sighed.
"Poor thing." Elliot said softly. "Now, I'm not implying that your work hasn't been up to scratch but I'm sure that your mind isn't fully on the job so it's probably best you go home." He stated. "Oh and Jac emailed me this morning if she could borrow some books for her because she's starting to make plans for the new foetal cardiac unit whilst she's off so it'd be useful if you could take these with you." He added as he pointed to the three thick books on the corner of his desk.
Jonny had one arm weighed down by two shopping bags and another bag filled with Elliot's books as he used his other to unlock the front door of the penthouse. He entered to find the back doors open and the curtains were blowing in the wind.
"What the…?" He muttered as he dumped the bags on the floor and he quickly walked outside onto the balcony and he frowned as he realised that Jac was sitting on the outdoor sofa with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and she was trailing her fingers over her bump. "What're you doing?" He smirked.
"Bloody hell! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Jac shouted as she placed her hand on her chest to feel her racing heart.
"Sorry. I probably should have cleared my throat." Jonny admitted. "But what on Earth are you doing out here?" He laughed. "It's the first of December and you're outside in your PJs."
"I just had a fever that lasted for a long time, being out here helps." Jac replied. "Anyway, what're you doing back early?"
"Elliot sent me home. Apparently, I was too busy day dreaming about you that my mind wasn't on the job." Jonny replied with a grin as he held his hands out and heaved her to her feet. "Go on, in you go." He led her inside and closed the door behind him. "How's your head?" He asked.
"Sore." Jac sighed as she sat down on the sofa. "I tried planning the foetal cardiac unit but I couldn't look at the iPad screen without my head pounding so I emailed Elliot for some books."
"I know, I brought them back for you." Jonny smiled as he placed the bag of books and the two shopping bags on the side in the open plan kitchen. He began unpacking the various cold and flu medication and Jac's favourite treats but he sighed as he watched her go through a coughing fit whilst she kept one hand firmly on her bump before she took a few sips of water from her bottle. "I was given these as well." He said as he went behind her, placed a couple of coloured envelopes in her lap before he kissed her on the top of her head.
"What're these for?" Jac frowned.
"Take a lucky guess." Jonny smirked as he sat down next to her and he watched as she opened get well soon cards from Adele and Mo, Elliot, Sacha and Guy.
"I don't think I've ever gotten 'get well soon' cards before." Jac admitted.
"Well, things have changed. You've got people who care about you now." Jonny smiled. "Now, tonight I was thinking we could order any takeaway you want – but not an Indian one of course because of the risk of heartburn – and then once we've eaten, I'll run you a nice warm bath for you to relax in. Sound good?"
"Mmhmm." She nodded. "But I don't want anything big for dinner. Maybe something from Subway."
"Yep, whatever you want." Jonny smiled. "Unless it means eating outside on the balcony because it is freezing out there."
"I had a fever." Jac protested.
'She's getting worse.' Jonny thought to himself as he leant in the doorway of their bedroom where Jac was lying on her back with her eyes closed. Jac had a terrible hacking cough, aching limbs, a headache and she was constantly overheating or shivering and Jonny was overwhelmed with concern for her and their little girls.
"Jonny?" She croaked.
"Yeah."
"Stop watching me." She ordered.
"Wow, even when you're ill, you're as icy as ever." Jonny smirked as he entered the room further and sat on the bed next to her. "Listen, you haven't stopped pulling this cover on and off of you and I need to be on top form at work tomorrow after today so I'm going to sleep on the sofa tonight, alright?"
"Fine by me; I get the whole bed to myself." Jac replied smugly.
"No, you'll be sharing it with our wee girls." Jonny smiled as he placed his hand on her bump and smoothed it over her taunted skin.
"If I get any bigger, I'm going to need a hoist to get me out of this bed every morning." Jac sighed.
"You're not that– okay, you are quite big but…" Jonny joked and he smiled as she playfully hit his arm. "Right, I'm gonna go to bed now. But wake me in the night if you need me." Jonny said as he got up from the bed and switched the main light off but he left the bedside lamp on for her.
Wednesday 4th December 2013, 7:30am
Jonny smiled as he leant in the doorway of their bedroom and observed the sleeping consultant. It was the first night in a while that she had slept for the whole night without waking to cough, waking in discomfort because of heartburn or to throw the duvet off of her because she was hot. Admittedly, she had woken to go to the toilet, but she had finally had a fairly good night's sleep.
"How many times have I told you not to watch me while I'm sleeping?" Jac moaned sleepily without even opening her eyes.
"Oh, but it's just so tempting." Jonny smirked.
"I might come into work later to get some work to do." She stated as she slowly sat up and then ran her hand through her wavy hair.
"You've only had two days off Jac. Elliot can cope without you for longer than that. Besides, you can't drive anymore with a belly like that and you shouldn't be going to the hospital, you're still contagious."
"Oh, so I shouldn't go to my scan next week then?"
"That's different."
"How?"
"Because that is in a week's time. Right, I'm leaving for work now. Don't get up to mischief whilst I'm gone." He smirked.
"Bye." Jac replied before she rolled over onto her other side and laid back down again.
"You're unbelievable." Jonny chuckled before he left for work.