Chapter 48

I just lay in Zoe's arms exhausted. Zoe rocks me gently thinking it will sooth me but I groan slightly

"Sorry nick I didn't think" Zoe says.

"Ok" I mumble.

I just lay there quietly listening to Zoe and Ash small talk. After around ten minutes of making sure I wasn't going to be sick again "thanks Ash for being so caring you don't even know, but you have been so helpful."

Zoe was shocked at me speaking as she thought I had finally drifted of to sleep but I just shut my eyes but couldn't sleep.

"No worries Nick, you don't deserve this no one does and you probably won't remember me but I used to be a nurse down in the ED when you were consultant up in Darwin and then I retrained as a doctor." Ash said.

"I'm afraid I don't, but wow what made you retrain of as a doctor." I replied.

Ash was explaining to me why he decided to become a doctor. I nodded to show I was listening.

"Wow I didn't know that" Zoe tips in.

Ash nods and laughs slightly.

This conversation we are having right now is making me forget that I am ill for awhile. I am glad to have this as they are both treating me like a normal human being and not another patient in the numbers.

I start to feel a dry throat "Zo can you get me some water" I say.

Ash poured me some water as he could see I was comfortably in Zoe's arms. I thanked him as he held it for me and helped me to drink it.

"Sip it" Zoe instructed me to.

I nodded and took a few sips and then pushed it away.

Ash moved it to the side. In Zoe's free hand she had a bowl in her hand just in case I needed it. I just snuggled in Zoe's arms and shut my eyes. Zoe put the bowl down and comforted me. I had only had my eyes shut for a minute when I felt that familiar churning feeling in my stomach. I just groaned not knowing what end it was going to come from but still had my eyes shut as I couldn't be bothered to open them. Zoe propped me up slightly and Ash quickly passed her a bowl.

"Shhh it's ok get it all up." Zoe said as she rubbed my back.

Just then the loudest explosion happened and I could feel the diarrhoea slide down my leg. I just groaned even louder, my stomach was really hurting now from the cramping going on.

Ash quickly got into action and got one of the cardboard commodes and slid it under me as Zoe turned me slightly on to his side for him to get under me. Once Ash had put it in the correct place he pulled my disposable pants down and then they rolled me back over so I was over on the cardboard commode as I let out more diarrhoea I just groaned as my stomach continued to cramp. I held my stomach in pain. Both Zoe and Ash comforted me. Zoe gently massaged my stomach trying to help but it was just making it worse, so I pushed her hand away.

"Sorry Nick was just trying to help."

"I know" I say weakly as I lean on Zoe.

Awhile later after they made sure I had finished having diarrhoea for now anyway. Ash removed the commode from underneath me and started to clean me up as I lay in Zoe's arms. He made sure he cleaned my legs where the diarrhoea had dripped down. Once he had cleaned me up and put a fresh pair of disposable underwear and gown on me. Ash then took his gloves of and thoroughly washed his hands and put a fresh pair of gloves on. Zoe comforted me and pressed the buzzer for a nurse to give me some pain medication.

A nurse poked her head through the door "what can I do for you."

"Can you please check Nick's temperature and he is complaining of really bad stomach ache and is there anything he can get for his diarrhoea and can you also dispose of these." Zoe asked.

"Of course let's get his temperature and other observations checked first." The nurse said putting a gown and apron on. The nurse walked into the room and held her nose at the smell of it. She tried not to show it bothered her but I could tell it did.

"Your temperature has gone right up I will also get you something for that to." The nurse said as she took my other observations.

The nurse then left disposing cardboard commodes. I lay in Zoe's arms and she cuddled me lightly and stroked my arm which I found comforting. Ash watched the sight of the two of them and thought they looked cute together. The nurse soon came back with all my medicine and started administering it. While she was administering it she spoke to Zoe and Ash "I'm not chucking you two out but I do suggest you both start to head of home soon as you need some sleep yourself otherwise you will make yourselves ill and not be able to look after Nick." The nurse said.

Ash and Zoe nodded at the nurse's suggestion. Zoe's was more of reluctant nod as I knew she wouldn't want to leave me. As much as I wanted her to stay I knew she needed her beauty sleep. I think Ash noticed this to.

The nurse soon left after she had put given me the medicine and left the paracetmaol running through my drip over half hour.

"Zoe I know you want to stay with Nick but the nurse is right you need to go home and have some sleep, you know the nurses will take care of Nick, and don't worry about work tomorrow have already sorted that out, Connie is coming in tomorrow and I will put out for an extra locum." Ash said.

Zoe nods "thanks, but I'm going to stay here."

"Zo go home I'll be fine, I'll see you in the morning." I say as much as I wanted Zoe to stay here and cuddle up to her, I knew the nurse was right.

Zoe reluctantly nodded "Let's get you to sleep and then I'll go."

I manage to weakly smile at this "thanks" I say.

I snuggle into Zoe's arms and she comforts me and tells me to just close my eyes. I do as she says and hope to get to sleep as I feel so exhausted. Ash spots the Mp3 player on the side. "Nick would music help you get to sleep." Ash says.

I just shake my head.

"I will leave it beside you here in reach if you decide want it later in the night" Ash says.

"Thanks" I say opening my eyes to see where Ash has put it.

Zoe smiles at Ash as he does that. I shut my eyes and feel Zoe's soothing hand on my arm stroking it up and down gently.

About twenty minutes later Zoe heard slight snoring coming from me. She sighed in relief that I was finally asleep. Zoe stayed holding me for about another five minutes making sure I didn't wake up. She then carefully untangled herself from me and got up and she and Ash left the room quietly. They took their aprons and gloves of and washed their hands.

Zoe then headed up to the nurses station. "Is it possible to speak to the nurse in charge tonight?" Zoe asks.

The nurse nods and tells Zoe to wait a minute and she went and got her.

"Hello Dr Hanna I'm Isabel how can I help." Isabel said.

"Hi Isabel, It's just with Nick can someone please check on him regularly because as well as vomiting he has severe diarrhoea and he is feeling to weak to get up to go to the toilet and I don't want him lying in his own faeces for hours." Zoe said.

"Of course, I will make sure he gets the best treatment." Isabel says.

Zoe thanks Isabel before her and Ash head of towards the car park.

Ash stops her "Zoe I know they said about going home but I am going to take it you have been with Nick all evening and haven't eaten anything tonight."

Zoe sighs "Yes but I don't feel hungry."

"You need to have something to keep your energy up for Nick." Ash says.

I reluctantly nod knowing Ash is right. "But where is open at this time of night" Zoe says.

"Fast food restaurants, kebab shop and I'm not letting you drive after your shock today you are in no state." Ash says

"Kebab shop sounds good, but my car is here." Zoe replies.

"You have had a big shock today I can pick you up in the morning or you can get a cab and by that I am not coming on to you in that way I know your with Nick and you two are very cute together." Ash says.

"Thanks for the offer but I will be fine" Zoe says.

Ash sighs "fine I can't argue but first we are going to the kebab place across the road to make sure eat something tonight."

Zoe nods she can't argue for that.

They head to the kebab shop Zoe orders a lamb shish kebab. She didn't realise how hungry she was till she started eating. Once they had both finished eating they headed back to the car park and said there goodbyes before heading there separate ways.