DISCLAIMER:I only own my OC's every other character is owned by Disney, Lucas and everyone else who has ever written anything for Star Wars. This is for entertainment only. My own and anyone who cares to read it.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Rex braced himself, the Tooka was more like herself and was eyeing up his arm, as he held her down for Ana to remove the splint. it was a tough old feline but treating her had helped Ana by giving her something to do.
Splint off, the Tooka squirmed out of his hands hissed and sprang to its feet; its leg buckled a little and when it stretched out, it was at an odd angle. It didn't stop it though; jumping off the table it limped off, with its usual disdain.
Rex was just happy to see Ana smile at the result.
He had watched as she attempted to get over the threshold into her old room to get some clothes. She could not physically do it. Eventually he decided that they should move her things into the room that they were now occupying and Ana had become energised at the idea, spending the next day painting and decorating their new room.
It now looked nothing like her old bedroom. She had even painted the furniture. Rex wasn't bothered either way but it appeared to have helped Ana to move on. The old bed was taken out and burnt.
Sleep was just on the horizon, when Rex felt Ana turn and lean into him; this was the closest she had lain next to him since that night. He had not pushed her, hoping she would tell him when she was ready. He felt her kiss his neck and her arm curl around him. He turned, kissed her and she responded. He stepped up the pace turning the kiss into something more passionate; again she responded.
"Are you Ok with this?"
"Mmmm." She murmured, he heard the hitch in her breath."I've missed you Rex." As she ran her fingers down his spine.
She was back; his Ana was back.
.
The chill Ana had developed over the last few days had worsened and she retired to bed early. After watching a repeat of the Mid Rim Second Division Boloball play offs, which had been disappointing, Rex had joined her. Recently, she had seemed much better mentally but very tired; the whole episode had affected her, physically and mentally.
He woke up in the early hours hot and the cause was Ana, who felt like an overheated blaster. She had put one of the long nightdresses on before retiring, as she was chilled but now with her temperature, it was sodden with sweat.
It worried him; she had never previously shown any sign of physical illness but had never been right since that night. He had put all his work to contact his brothers on hold, to make sure she was okay and these last few days she had been more like her normal self.
Definitely ill, she had had symptoms all day; alternating between fever and chills, with a headache. She was now delirious, and didn't respond to questions. She turned to him, her breathing raspy and short; her eyes, bloodshot, with almost black shadows underneath, skin grey. She grabbed his hand and squeezed hard, trying to talk but was barely audible. He did make out one word.
"Hot"
.
The room was hot, too hot; she swung her arms and legs out from under the quilt.
"No!" She heard Rex's baritone voice in the distance ordering her.
Why does he keep putting the quilt back on? it's too hot.
Can't move.
Too hot.
Throat hurts.
It's too cold, who opened the window? Need covers.
Need Tula.
The covers were wrapped around her tucked in keeping her warm. She forced her eyes open.
Rex?
.
"Tula?" He repeated. "She'll know what to do?" Ana nodded.
He had asked the question several minutes ago; he dressed, as fast as he had done in the War.
"You're going to have to get up and get dressed and go in the speeder."
He told her going around the bed to help her; her attempt to get out of the bed left her collapsed bonelessly at the side. He lifted her back on the bed. He dressed her, and wrapping the quilt around her, lifted her to carry her out to the speeder. She was drifting in and out of consciousness. He needed to hurry, luckily it was a clear night, so he could see his way easily, much like the night a few weeks or so ago.
She clung to his neck and as she regained consciousness, she whispered in his ear. "Love you." He pulled her closer. "Love you." He didn't answer.
He strapped her in the speeder, well covered, it was chilly, and set off. Although it was the fastest, he had made it into town, it still seemed like an eternity with Ana drifting in and out of consciousness, trying to talk but only producing incoherent noises. The town was quiet, even the Cantina was closed, its neon light with the missing letters still flashing though. He headed quietly to The Store, he didn't want anyone to stop him.
Although Jed would have been helpful.
Rex carried her to the door rapping loudly on it.
No answer.
He tried again, longer and louder this time; an upstairs light went on, a window opened and the sound of two voices floated down to him.
"Who is it?" Asked the soft lilting tones of Tula.
"Not sure." Was the reply from Essie.
Rex answered for them both."It's Rex here, with Ana, she's ill."
There was a commotion upstairs and within minutes the front door opened and he rushed inside; ushered to the kitchen and ordered to put her on the table. He complied, as carefully and as gently as possible, afraid he would do her further harm. Tula bustled in for an examination, while Essie heated up the wood burning stove. Tula was the closest person to a doctor that the small town had, her and an old med Droid but the locals preferred her. Rex could understand why. She looked as if she would break in the smallest gust of wind but in reality was as tough as old boots, having survived slavery with a Hutt for a number of years and escaped.
She shone the tiny torch into Ana's mouth and throat, and tutted.
"Has she had any infection that appeared to clear up?"
Rex thought over the last couple of weeks. "Nothing that she has mentioned."
She glared at him "Has there been anything out of the ordinary happen over the past few weeks?"
The fight.
The scratches.
"She was scratched on her forearm", he lifted it to show them "it happened a few weeks ago but it seemed to heal cleanly." He was gabbling like a shiny. "Is that what caused this?"
"I don't know."
"Fek it! Medics nowadays never know anything." He swore. "Can you help her?"
Tula put her hand on his arm, just like Ana, he stared at it.
"Yes, I think so." She seemed calm. "Let's get her prepped." It took a couple of seconds for that register with Rex. "What for?" he exclaimed.
"We need to ensure that she can breathe." Ana's breathing was now raspy and shallow at best, she was struggling. "I have to perform a minor operation to get her airway open so she can breathe and then we'll reduce any infection."
Rex was holding her hand, afraid to let go; she was still hot and he heard every breath she took. Essie had the instruments boiling on the stove; Tula carefully removed them and put them on some freshly laundered green cloths.
Old fashioned, no Bacta. Damn the Empire!
"You'll need to hold her down, Rex." Tula looked at him. "This will hurt her but any painkillers may depress her breathing rate further and she can't afford that."
Rex nodded, he exhaled not realising he had been holding his breath, as he leaned over, he wrapped his large hands around her biceps and braced himself. She gave a small moan and her eyes flickered but did not open fully. He held fast, as Tula nodded to him to say she was starting. She wiped Ana's neck with antiseptic and made a small incision, it bubbled with bright red blood and she immediately fed in a small plastoid tube. As soon as she did this, Ana's breathing became deeper and more regular; he released her, except for her hand. He needed to hold it; he could not explain why.
Tula continued to work, checking on the inside of Ana's mouth and throat.
"The infection has accumulated in her throat and has caused severe reaction in the lymph nodes there." She examined further, "There also appears to be a grey pseudomembrane spreading across her throat and blocked her airway. This operation will allow her to breath whilst we attack the infection."
"Can't you just cut it away?"
"Good question, but I don't know how far it goes and if I cut into it, if it would release more toxins into her system." She washed her hands under the hot tap using a disinfectant wash.
"I want to attack it with what I know will work but may need to call someone else"
He stood holding her hand but didn't think she realised, as she was desperately fighting the infection; an arm gently laid on his shoulder but he still watched Ana not daring to move in case something happened.
"She'll probably be out for hours while she fights it." It was Essie's voice "but we need to talk and she gently pulled him away, reluctantly he let go of her hand and followed.
In the kitchen the table was laid with a pot of steaming Caf and cookies; Rex couldn't even think of eating at this time but they pushed a mug and plate in front of him.
"This infection," began Tula, "I've seen it before. When I was a medic with the Hutts. It's rife among Spice users."
"We need to know the truth of what happened, what caused it." Finished Essie.
Rex looked between the two women and realised what they were asking of him
"Fek no, she never. I never saw…. I wouldn't have let her."
"And you?" Essie pursued the questioning.
"No. Never felt the need." He watched them again. "I swear. On my honour."
Essie snorted, turned away and back her eyes narrowed, "How then?"
He and Ana had agreed not to tell anyone what happened with Raif but perhaps this is the only way.
"We had a visit from Raif and a few of his friends."
"Osik!" Swore Essie, "I thought he'd left after Empire a Day."
"He returned and but he's gone now..." He was going to explain but Essie put her hand up, palm facing.
"I don't need to know any details except" and she took a deep breath before continuing, "is he likely to be back?"
"No."
"Good."
.
He sat with her while she fought the infection; her condition alternated between fever and chills at a moments notice. She didn't wake up but dreamt. He had left the room and heard her say Rex but by the time he returned with water, she was unconscious again. He dribbled the water into her and she drank but did not regain consciousness.
Late one night, as he sat with her, rubbing her hand. He was tired as he had been to and fro looking after her animals; the constant travelling and working, moving from one house to another was tiring and she was still drifting in and out of consciousness.
Essie called him for supper; he kissed her hand, patting it before he left the room. The aunts put on a good spread, they always did and he started to tuck in, his worry had not diminished his appetite.
"How are you doin, Rex?"
Rex's fork hesitated halfway between his plate of Nerf and bean stew and his mouth at his surprise at the question.
"I'm fine Essie, it's Ana we should be worried about." This was the woman who had threatened to pull his arms off, if he hurt Ana; that threat appeared to be off the table now.
"I..." Tula coughed and Essie continued, "We ...appreciate what you've done for her and continue to do for her. We were wrong about you. You're a good man. One of the best.'
Rex nodded, "I understand why you were worried, I would have been."
Essie nodded back, "You're welcome here anytime, Rex."
"Thank you." It meant a lot to him, that Ana's family had finally accepted him. "I'll go and sit with her a bit longer."
Tula nodded and got up to take his plate; she touched his shoulder as she walked past, "I'll get you some Caf."
.
Rex sat down with his Caf; he would soon have to leave, to return and do some more chores. He wanted everything to be right for her when she returned. He took her hand; it was a normal temperature. His hopes were raised; he used the thermometer at the side of the bed to check her temperature. It was normal.
"Tula, Essie." He yelled.
They came rushing in; Tula taking the thermometer off him and checking it again.
"It's normal." She sighed.
"Why isn't she waking up? asked Essie; Rex's thoughts exactly.
"Let's see." Tula gently tapped her face.
"Ana, wake up for me." She tried tapping again.
Rex leaned in and tried, "Ana, Cyar'ika, wake up." Her eyelids fluttered open and she tried to speak; Essie produced some ice cold water for her to sip; she sucked at it greedily, so much that they had to take it off her. She grabbed Rex's hand, squeezed hard and gave a small smile.