A/N: Thank you to ghfan51184 for the feedback. I appreciate it. Enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 63 "Ashlynn's Diagnosis"

(At the hospital, Elizabeth rushes to the main floor, trying to stay positive about what she heard regarding Ashlynn. She doesn't know how she can because all she could hear Laura say regarding Ashlynn was 'sick…hospital...'. Is Ashlynn sick? Is she in the emergency room? What did Laura mean? Elizabeth finally gets to the main floor and frantically gets to the Nurse's Station. When she finally does, she sees a nurse there. The nurse sees Elizabeth and smiles at her, but when she can see the state Elizabeth is in, she grows concerned)

Nurse: "Ma'am, are-are you okay?"

Liz: (trying to catch her breath) "My…daughter…"

Nurse: "Ma'am, its okay. Come sit down and relax and tell me what's wrong. I'll do my best to help."

(The nurse brings Elizabeth to the waiting room where she finally calms down enough to talk to the nurse)

Liz: (sighs) "Okay. My-My mother-in-law called me at work and being she was cutting in and out, I could only hear her say 'Ashlynn…sick…hospital'. Ashlynn is my daughter who is 6 months old."

Nurse: "And you think she was brought here?"

Liz: (nods) "Yes. This is the only hospital in Port Charles and if my daughter IS here, I don't know where."

Nurse: (nods) "Okay. What's your mother-in-law's name?"

Liz: "Laura Spencer. I'm Elizabeth Spencer. My daughter is Ashlynn Rose Spencer."

Nurse: (nods) "Okay. Well, being I don't know what floor she'd be on or if she was admitted here, I'll see if your mother-in-law signed her in anywhere in the hospital."

Liz: (nods appreciatively) "Thank you so much! I really appreciate it."

Nurse: (smiles) "No problem, Mrs. Spencer."

(The nurse goes to the Nurse's Station, with Elizabeth following her, and goes behind the counter where her computer is. Elizabeth is on the other side of the counter, facing the nurse, patiently waiting for the nurse to type in the necessary information)

Nurse: "Is Ashlynn, your daughter's name, spelled with one 'n' or two?"

Liz: "Two."

Nurse: "Okay."

(The nurse asks Elizabeth other appropriate questions so she can try to see if Ashlynn's name is in the system. The nurse apologizes for taking so long, but Elizabeth understands and says it's okay. After a few minutes of entering the necessary data, something beeps on the computer, which the nurse looks at)

Nurse: "Okay…I found something regarding you daughter, Ashlynn Rose Spencer."

Liz: (little worriedly) "And?"

Nurse: "She's not in the emergency room. She's on the infant and toddler floor. It also says she was admitted 2 ½ hours ago by Dr. Lindsay Hartley, who is a Pediatrician. Your mother-in-law did in fact bring her in."

Liz: (nods) "Okay. Um…Can-Can you please tell me what floor the infant and toddler floor is on?"

Nurse: (nods) "Yes, I can. We are on the main floor and the floor you want is #5."

Liz: (nods) "Okay. Thank you, ma'am, for all your help!"

Nurse: (smiles) "You're welcome, Mrs. Spencer. I hope you daughter is okay."

(Elizabeth smiles in response before going to the 5th floor. She takes the elevator to get to the 5th floor. Even though it feels like it took forever to get to the correct floor for Elizabeth, it only took 3 minutes. After the elevator door opens, on the wall across from the elevator door, a sign says '5th Floor: Infant and Toddler'. Elizabeth looks around worriedly, frantically searching for a clue on where to go. She finally finds the Nurse's Station, which she walks fast to. She sees two nurses on the computers, doing hospital work and entering data. She goes up to the counter)

Liz: (worriedly) "Excuse me?"

(One of the nurses looks up from her computer to face Elizabeth)

Nurse: "Can I help you, ma'am?"

Liz: (nods quickly) "Yes. I was told from a nurse on the main floor that my 6-month-old daughter, Ashlynn Rose Spencer, was admitted to this floor by a Dr. Lindsay Hartley, who is a Pediatrician."

Nurse: (nods) "Okay. I can sure check for you."

Liz: (nods) "Okay. Thank you."

(The nurse enters data into the computer to find out what room Ashlynn would be in)

Nurse: "Who brought the child in?"

Liz: "Oh, uh, it would've been my mother-in-law, Laura Spencer."

Nurse: "And your name?"

Liz: "My name is Elizabeth Spencer."

(After a minute or so of typing, the nurse gets information on her screen which she reads to Elizabeth)

Nurse: "Okay, according to our records, your daughter, Ashlynn, is in room 15. The woman who brought her in, Laura Spencer, said Ashlynn had been coughing off and on since this morning. When she checked Ashlynn's temperature because she felt really warm, it was 102.5."

Liz: (gasps) "Oh, my God!"

Nurse: "It also says that…Ashlynn had trouble breathing. There's a little note to the side that says she's had a cold for the past few days."

Liz: (nods) "Y-Yeah. Yes. I've been giving her whatever cold/cough medicine I could that's appropriate and safe for a 6-

month-old."

Nurse: "Yeah, and unfortunately, there aren't a lot of varieties because of her age."

Liz: "Yes, I agree. I wish there were more cold/cough medicines available for babies, but unfortunately, there aren't."

Nurse: "Would you like me to show you where Room 15 is being this is your first time up here?"

Liz: (nods appreciatively) "Yes, please. Thank you."

(The nurse gets up from her chair and shows Elizabeth where the room is. Elizabeth thanks her, which the nurse responds by saying 'you're welcome' before going back to the Nurse's Station to continue what she was doing before Elizabeth came. The room is pink colored with flowers scattered around the room to give it more color or add a little something extra. There are several baby beds small enough for a baby around Ashlynn's age. There are other babies in some of the beds along with parents standing next to them. Elizabeth sees a woman who's wearing a doctor's coat that has her name tag, reading 'Dr. Hartley' along with a tool around her neck that checks your heartbeat. As Elizabeth walks to Dr. Hartley, she feels a hand on her, gently grabbing her. Elizabeth looks to see who is grabbing her, revealing Laura)

Liz: "Laura!"

Laura: "Elizabeth!"

(They hug each other, happy to see each other. Afterwards, they break free and they face each other)

Liz: "Laura, what's going on? You kept cutting in and out. I couldn't understand what you were saying, except for that Ashlynn was in the hospital."

Laura: (sighs sadly) "Oh, honey. I'm sorry about that. I only had one bar left on my phone and for some reason, I wasn't getting very good cell service."

Liz: (sighs) "That's okay."

Laura: "I know you were in the middle of your shift when I called. I'm glad Tammy was kind enough to let you leave during your shift to come here,"

Liz: "Well, actually, she doesn't know I left."

Laura: (surprised) "She doesn't?"

Liz: (shakes her head) "No."

Laura: "She's not going to be upset, will she? I mean, I'm sure she won't being it has to do with Ashlynn, but…"

Liz: "Tammy is a very understanding person. Considering the circumstances, I'm sure she'll be okay with it. Besides, Melody and Taylor are there and they're the ones that encouraged me to come here because they could tell I was worried about Ashlynn."

Laura: (smiles) "You have very nice friends and coworkers at your workplace."

Liz: (smiles) "Yeah, they're the best."

Laura: "Well, just to be on the safe side, I think you should call Tammy and let her know where you're at and what happened so she knows."

Liz: "I will. I promise. I just need to know what's going on with Ashlynn first."

Laura: "Did the nurses tell you anything on the way up here?"

Liz: (nods) "Yeah, that she was coughing…um…she had trouble breathing…oh…and that you said she had a high temperature."

Laura: (nods) "Yeah. 102.5"

Liz: "I know I may be a mother for the first time, but that sounds really high."

Laura: "I agree. I was worried as well, so that's why I brought her in. I've taken her temperature many times before in the past, but that's the highest I've ever seen it. I tried giving her something for her temperature, but when that didn't help, I panicked, so I brought her here. I felt so bad you couldn't really hear me during our conversation, but I figured you'd want me to do what I felt was best for Ashlynn first before calling you again being the baby was that sick."

Liz: (nods) "No, I understand, Laura. I was worried when I couldn't hear you much when you were trying to tell me about Ashlynn. Even though I was frantic when I couldn't reach you, I knew you'd probably taken her here so that's why I came here right away. I would've done the same thing."

Laura: "I'm glad you understand."

Liz: "So, anyways, I know what the symptoms are that Ashlynn has, but has the doctor given a diagnosis?"

Laura: "That's what I'm waiting on."

Liz: "I was told by the nurses that the Pediatrician, Dr. Lindsay Hartley, has been with her?"

Laura: (nodding) "Yeah, I was just about to see if there were any updates when you came."

Liz: (nods) "Okay. Let's go ask."

(Just as Elizabeth and Laura are walking to Dr. Hartley, Elizabeth stops suddenly, which Laura notices)

Laura: "Elizabeth, what is it?"

Liz: "I just realized…"

Laura: "What, honey?"

Liz: "I was in such a hurry to get here I completely forgot to call Lucky and let him know we were all here. I know he'd wanna know so he could be here."

Laura: "I'll call him. You go to the doctor and talk with her."

Liz: (nodding) "Okay."

(As Elizabeth is walking to Dr. Hartley, Laura goes out in the hallway and goes to the Nurse's Station, asking if she can use their phone being her cell phone has a low battery. The nurse at the desk says she can. Laura thanks her and calls Lucky's cell phone. Being it's still early in the afternoon, she figured he's still at work. As much as she hates bothering him at work, she knows he'd want to know about this. After about 5 rings, Lucky picks up)

Lucky: "Hello?"

Laura: "Lucky?"

Lucky: (confused) "Mom? Where-Where are you calling from? I don't recognize the number."

Laura: "I'm calling from the hospital, Lucky."

Lucky: (confused) "What? The hospital? Why are you there? What's going on?"

Laura: "I'm here with Elizabeth."

Lucky: (worriedly) "Is Elizabeth okay?"

Laura: "Elizabeth is fine, Lucky."

Lucky: (sighs in relief) "Thank God. Okay, well, what are you doing there?"

Laura: "It's Ashlynn, Lucky."

Lucky: "What's wrong with her, mom?"

Laura: "She's been admitted on the toddler and infant floor here at the hospital. She's having trouble breathing and has a high temperature."

Lucky: (gasps) "Oh, my God! What-What did the doctor say?"

Laura: "Elizabeth is with the doctor right now. I told Elizabeth I would call you and tell you what's going on so you could come here."

Lucky: "I'm on my way. What floor are you guys on?"

Laura: "5th floor, honey. Please tell Ricky where you're going so you don't get in trouble with leaving early. I told the same thing to Elizabeth."

Lucky: "I know Tammy would understand, considering the circumstances."

Laura: "She said the same thing."

Lucky: "Okay, well, I'll tell Ricky quick and then I'm coming to the hospital to be with you guys."

Laura: "Okay, sweetie. Well, get here when you can. We'll be here."

Lucky: "Okay."

(Lucky and Laura end their call with each other. About 30 minutes later, Lucky arrives at the hospital and goes straight to the 5th floor being that's where Laura said she and Elizabeth were. Just as he's about to go to the Nurse's Station to ask where his wife and mother are at, Laura sees him and calls out his name, which he hears. He runs to her, worriedly)

Lucky: "Mom."

Laura: "Hi, honey."

Lucky: "I got here at quickly as I could."

(Lucky and Laura briefly hug before Lucky speaks)

Lucky: "Where's Ashlynn?"

Laura: "I'll show you. Elizabeth is with her right now."

(Laura brings Lucky to the room where Ashlynn is. He sees Elizabeth with the doctor. He goes to them. Elizabeth sees him and he can tell she's about ready to break down in tears. He comforts her, holding her before breaking free and faces her)

Lucky: "It's okay, honey. I'm here now."

Liz: (sniffles) "Oh, Lucky."

(Lucky looks at the doctor and introduces himself)

Lucky: (nods) "Hi, doctor. I'm Lucky Spencer. I'm Elizabeth's husband and Ashlynn's father."

(The doctor shakes Lucky's hand and introduces herself)

Dr. Hartley: "Nice to meet you, Lucky. I'm Dr. Lindsay Hartley. I'm the Pediatrician on this floor."

(Lucky looks at Elizabeth while also looking at Dr. Hartley)

Lucky: "What did I miss?"

Liz: "Dr. Hartley was telling me what Laura told me earlier."

Dr. Hartley: "Lucky, I saw your mom bring you in here. What did she tell you?"

Lucky: (stutters a little) "Uh…um…that Ashlynn had trouble breathing and she has a high temperature."

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "That's correct."

Liz: "I understand that babies can get temperatures, but I've never seen Ashlynn have this high of one before."

Laura: "I also grew concerned when she started having trouble breathing. At first, I thought maybe she was choking on something, but she wasn't eating anything. Then I thought maybe her outfit was too tight on her, but when I checked, it wasn't."

Dr. Hartley: "I need to run a few tests before I can confirm my diagnosis."

Lucky: "Wait, you said...do you mean you already know what is wrong with our daughter?"

Dr. Hartley: "Well, I believe I do from some of the tests I already ran on her, but from what your mother told me, I need to run a few more to be sure. I don't want to tell you the wrong diagnosis and worry you in case it's the wrong one."

Laura: (nodding) "Okay, well, have you been able to get her temperature down at all?"

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "I was able to get it down some, yes, but not enough to lose the fever. My nurses are watching her to make sure it doesn't get higher. The temperature is one of the signs of the diagnosis I am thinking of, as well as the troubled breathing."

Liz: "Okay, well, just please…please keep us updated."

Dr. Hartley: "Of course I will, Mrs. Spencer. Well, I'm going to run more tests on the baby to determine what I believe the diagnosis is. I will update you as soon as I know anything."

(Laura, Lucky, and Elizabeth all thank her before Dr. Hartley excuses herself so she can tend to Ashlynn. Dr. Hartley helps one of the nurse's wheel Ashlynn, who's in one of the beds in the room, to a room where they can do the appropriate tests to determine a diagnosis. After a few hours of waiting, Lucky can tell Elizabeth is getting worried and impatient so he takes her in his arms and comforts her. She cries softly)

Liz: (sniffles) "I wish we would hear something. It's been so long since Dr. Hartley wheeled away Ashlynn."

Lucky: "Don't worry, honey. We'll hear something soon. It's probably been this long because they want to make sure they come to the right diagnosis so they don't make any mistakes."

Liz: (nods) "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Laura: "Ashlynn is in the best possible care here. We'll hear something soon."

(Just then, Dr. Hartley comes towards them. Lucky, Elizabeth, and Laura see her and get up from their seats to meet her face to face)

Dr. Hartley: "I have a diagnosis for you regarding why Ashlynn's been coughing, having trouble breathing, and has a very high fever."

Lucky: (nods slowly) "Okay?"

Liz: "Why has our daughter been so sick, besides just having a cold and cough?"

Dr. Hartley: "Being she had the following….coughing, having a bad cold, having trouble breathing, and a very high fever…those were symptoms of the diagnosis I guessed earlier."

Laura: "Which is?"

Dr. Hartley: "Pneumonia. I wanted to make sure my diagnosis was correct, so I had a chest x-ray done being she was having the breathing, cold, and cough problem."

Laura: "The way she's been coughing today, I thought something may have been wrong, especially since she was having trouble breathing, as well as having a fever."

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "You did the right thing in bringing her here. Between the trouble breathing and the temperature, Ashlynn could have gotten a lot worse if you didn't bring her in."

Lucky: "How was she during the chest x-ray?"

Dr. Hartley: (chuckles softly) "About as well as you can expect from a 6 month old."

Liz: "So, what happens now?"

Dr. Hartley: "We've given Ashlynn fever medicine to help with the temperature. As for the troubled breathing, cold, and coughing, that's because of the Pneumonia. I know she's still very young, but I'm going to prescribe you the nebulizer machine to help clear her lungs so she can breathe better and gets rid of her cold. Have any of you ever used a nebulizer machine before?"

Laura: (nods) "Yes. When Lucky was about a year old, he had a bad cold and he was prescribed by the doctor the nebulizer machine."

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "Okay, then you know how to use it."

(Dr. Hartley looks at Lucky and Elizabeth)

Dr. Hartley: "Do you two know how to use the machine as well?"

(Lucky and Elizabeth look at each other before looking back at the doctor)

Lucky: (shakes his head) "No, I don't."

Liz: (shakes her head) "No."

(Laura looks at Lucky and Elizabeth and then back at the doctor)

Laura: "I can show them. I've had to do it a few times with Lucky when he was young."

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "Okay. If any of you ever need any help or have any questions, there's a nurse on this floor who are able to show you to refresh your memory or answer any of your questions in case I'm not available."

(They all nod and thank Dr. Hartley)

Dr. Hartley: (smiles) "You're welcome. Being your mother knows how to use it, I won't explain how to use it to you. I know, being Ashlynn is very young, she may fight you when you try give it to her, but just do the best you can and make sure she gets as much of the vapor air as possible. I want you to do it 3 times a day. Morning, afternoon and before you put her down for bed."

Liz: (nodding) "Okay."

Dr. Hartley: "Elizabeth…Lucky…are either of you with Ashlynn during the day or do you both work?"

(Lucky looks at Elizabeth briefly)

Lucky: "We both work. Ashlynn goes to my mother's when we're both at work."

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "Okay." (looks at Laura) "Then you will be in charge of giving Ashlynn her meds when you have her."

Laura: (nods) "That's not a problem."

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "Sounds good. I wrote a prescription for Ashlynn regarding the nebulizer machine."

(Dr. Hartley takes the piece of paper that's the prescription copy off of Ashlynn's chart and gives it to Elizabeth, which she takes)

Dr. Hartley: "Do either of you have health insurance?"

Lucky: "I do. Elizabeth doesn't."

Dr. Hartley: "Okay. When you pick up Ashlynn's meds, they'll ask you the same thing I asked you just now so you'll give them your insurance card. I'm guessing you'll fill out a form, but not sure. After the pharmacist processes the information, they'll get Ashlynn's stuff for you so you can take it home. They will put a label on the meds telling you about the med and how often to give it along with how long to give it. I wrote on the prescription to do it for two weeks and then make an appointment with me to see if she's any better. I will check on Ashlynn to see how her fever is. If you want to come with, you can or you can wait in the waiting area."

(Laura, Lucky, and Elizabeth say they want to come with)

Dr. Hartley: (nods) "Okay. Come with me."

(They follow Dr. Hartley to where Ashlynn is at. The doctor gets a baby thermometer and takes the baby's temperature. After the thermometer beeps, Dr. Hartley looks at it for a few seconds before looking at Luke, Laura, and Elizabeth and smiles)

Dr. Hartley: "Her temperature went down to normal."

(Laura, Luke, and Elizabeth sigh in relief)

Laura: "Oh, thank goodness!"

(They hug happily before breaking apart)

Dr. Hartley: "Well, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask."

Liz: (shakes her head) "No, I'm fine. Thank you, doctor."

Lucky: "We appreciate it."

(They all shake hands with Dr. Hartley before she leaves. They all look at each other)

Laura: "I'm so glad her fever broke."

Liz: "So are we."

Lucky: (smiles) "Let's take our little girl home."

Laura: "I'll come over and show you how to use the machine as soon as we pick up her prescription."

Liz: (nods) "Sounds good."

(They go get Ashlynn and her ready so she can leave the hospital. Afterwards, they stop at the pharmacy to get her prescription before going to Lucky and Elizabeth's apartment)

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Any names used in this chapter or overall in the story is for entertainment purposes only. I wrote/finished this story years ago so any names that is actually real I didn't know would be later on in life. I'm NOT a doctor or an expert in the medical field. I did research, but I don't claim to know anything medical. If I'm wrong on anything, please consider it AU/AH. Thanks for reading and please kindly reveal. Take care.