Here is the next chapter. Please review. Amber

Chapter 12

Callie woke up in the ambulance. "What the hell?"

Frank clipped from beside her. "You fainted. Scared the whole class and Ms. Bailey to death."

Callie moaned. "Oh my head hurts those lights."

The medic put a rag over her eyes. "Sorry I need to start an IV. Your heart rate is 130."

Frank's lips were pursed. Callie turned toward him. "I didn't know I could feel this bad. Oww!"

Frank and the medic said simultaneously. "Don't move."

Callie sighed. "You got it in one try. I'm impressed."

He chuckled. "Honey I have to find these things going eighty miles an hour. I got you."

They pulled into the ER and were taken to observation four. Frank had their book bags and put them down. The doctor came in. "Mrs. Shaw, I'm Dr. Lewis, what happened?"

"I've been having morning sickness, I haven't been able to eat or drink for two days."

"How far along are you?"

Frank and Callie both answered. "seven weeks."

"Let me call your doctor, who is it?"

Callie answered. "Dr. Anderson."

"I'll give him a call. He may want you up in labor and delivery for monitoring."

"Oh great, your mom is up there."

Five minutes later they were transporting her upstairs to labor and delivery. Laura Hardy was waiting in the room. "What happened?"

"I fainted because I've been sick all day. Haven't been able to eat or drink."

Laura Hardy got Callie a gown. "Go take everything off, put this on, and come back."

Frank paced as Callie went into the bathroom. She came out in the hospital gown. Frank helped her climb into bed. He watched as his mother brought this stretching looking belt thing and put two discs on Callie's stomach. "Lift your hips a minute honey." Laura said.

Callie did as she was told and her mother slid the belt thing up onto her stomach. Then she put on a blood pressure cuff and a small pulse ox on her finger. "Dr. Anderson is on the way."

"I'm here. We're going to do some labs, give you fluids and nutrients through the IV, a vaginal ultrasound, and how about some medication for the nausea."

"I say yay for the nausea meds." Callie said.

"According to the scale down stairs you lost 6 pounds in one week. So this indicates GA which is a severe form of morning sickness. It happens in 3% of pregnancies."

"Lucky me." Callie said sarcastically.

"I want you here for 24 hours. I don't want you to have anything by mouth except ice chips to give your gastrointestinal system a break. Then if you can eat and drink by this time tomorrow I will send you home."

"Laura turned something on and the baby's heartbeat filled the room."

Callie gripped Frank's hand. "Is that?"

"Your baby." Laura said smiling. Now I'm going to go get your meds. Frank go get her some ice chips."

"Yes ma'am."

Frank returned with the ice chips just as a phlebotomist came in to draw blood from Callie. Callie saw the tubes a blue, a red, two greens, and two lavenders. "What are these all for?"

"Magnesium, potassium, calcium, electrolytes quant, a CBC, a bmp, a basic, and a red top and blue tops just in case. That way if they order more tests that aren't therapeutics I don't have to stick you again. Cool?"

Frank nodded. "Fine with us."

The phlebotomist found Callie's vein with ease. She used a green butterfly needle in the crook of her arm. Frank knew that was the median cubital area, the place where it was preferred to do blood draws from. His mother came back in with a huge yellow bag. And a small bag labeled magnesium. "This is a bag of nutrients mixed with IV fluids. I'm going to start a second line for just fluids."

Callie moaned. "Just how many times am I going to be poked today?"

Laura nodded in sympathy. "Every four hours while on the magnesium. It will help lower your heart rate by relaxing you."

Frank smiled. "A therapeutic."

"Exactly." Laura found a vein in the same arm as her other IV and expertly inserted the catheter. Then like any other patient she attached the IV medications but first she gave something for nausea. "I've called Fenton. He's on his way."

Frank held up the cup. "Want some ice chips?"

Callie opened her mouth and he put a few on a spoon and fed them to her. Callie smiled. "Thanks. You should go get some dinner once your dad gets here. I don't like all this fuss."

"I will go get something when dad gets here. We aren't fussing, we care." He rubbed her tummy. "It's not just you we're worried about here."

Callie kissed him. "I know."

A knock was heard at the door. Fenton Hardy stepped in. "Well, what happened to you dear?"

"I haven't been able to eat much this past week, and for the last couple days couldn't keep anything down at all. I fainted and woke up in the ambulance."

Frank moved a chair beside Callie's bed. "It's called GA and happens in about two or three percent of pregnancies each year."

"I brought you a couple of sandwiches from the house. I'll be outside in a chair with my federal credentials. Sam will come overnight around midnight."

"Thanks dad."

Callie was able to go home the next evening. She was feeling much better. She had to change her diet. Eat a ton of saltines and drink ginger ale but she'd manage. She and Frank went Christmas shopping and found everyone nice gifts. Callie even splurged for Joe getting him a black leather jacket. They were at the house alone right now. Joe was out with Vanessa, his father was down in the office so technically he was home. He was wrapping up paperwork for some cases. Laura was working. Callie wrapped the last present. "They're all done. I wrapped yours and you didn't even see."

He had been working on his computer. "I was busy."

"Busy?" Callie went and rubbed his shoulders. "With what?"

"Contracting work. Nothing major." He turned and pulled her onto his lap. "You look beautiful today."

Callie blushed. "You always say that."

Frank nuzzled her neck. "It's always true."

Callie turned her head to giving him better access. His hands reached under her sweater finding her enlarged breasts. Her breath hitched when he caressed her. "Frank it's been so long."

He kissed up her neck and to her lips. "I know."