When I arrive back at Escala, Gail has Ashleigh and Kate has gone for a much needed sleep. I will tell her that Elliot called and knows she is spending a couple of days with us here. Ashleigh has been asleep for 2 hours by now so she must be more satisfied and contented.
Kate emerges after a further 2 hours having had a shower as well and she looks ten times better.
"That feels so good" she comments as she walks into the lounge "that's the first shower I have had recently that has lasted for more than 2 minutes"
Gail and I laugh "You look much better" Gail adds.
"It's amazing what a few hours of sleep can do for you" Kate chuckles as she leans over Ashleigh in a Moses basket I used briefly for the twins.
"Would you like a cup of tea and something to eat Miss Kavanagh?" Niamh has come into the room.
"That would be lovely, thank you" Kate replies, Niamh disappears and returns a few moments later with tea for us all, a chicken salad sandwich for Kate and some cake as well.
"This is great, thank you so much Ana and Gail, you really are lifesavers"
"Our pleasure Kate" Gail answers with a smile.
Max, Melissa and Ashleigh all together wake and start fussing.
"Impeccable timing as always" I comment "I will gets some bottles ready but Kate start feeding now"
Ashleigh is reaching glass breaking screeches by now until Kate is ready and then she settles.
Gail takes Melissa and I have Max, they readily take all the formula, Ashleigh fusses after a short time so I give Kate the third bottle and all is right in her baby's world again.
"She is so hungry, I didn't realise she wasn't getting enough but I should have known that" Kate looks crestfallen
"Oh Kate sweetie, everything with babies is a huge learning curve, you can't be expected to know everything but combine that with sleep deprivation, sometimes the simplest things are most difficult" I tell her, hoping to alleviate some of her anxiety.
"Elliot phoned your apartment just after you left so he knows you are here and he will come past on his way home to pick you up" I tell her.
"Oh that's great, I was going to call him but I fell asleep before I could" she chuckles and sounds a little more like the Kate I know.
Babies fed, burped and changed. Ashleigh falls straight back asleep in Kate's arms; she almost needs to catch up on sleep herself. Max and Melissa are happily gurgling on the play mat together when Christian comes in.
"Hey baby, Gail, Kate and my gorgeous children and niece" he leans in, kisses me before kneeling on the floor and cooing at the twins, rattling toys and blowing raspberries at them. He stands and quietly fusses Ashleigh before excusing himself to shower and rest for a while.
He looks a bit annoyed but as managed not to blow up in front of us, I am sure I will find out later though.
The rest of the afternoon runs smoothly, Niamh has made a pasta bolognaise for us all, I admit quietly to myself that it's not a patch on Gail's but then remember Niamh is much younger and sometimes these things come with age and experience. It's perfectly edible, I have opened a bottle of wine and that is slipping down very nicely.
Kate says goodnight shortly afterwards and has gone to the spare room armed with bottles so she doesn't have to get up too much in the night. Gail and I both tell her to wake us up if she needs a hand with anything but even in the short time here and with a little sleep she seems much brighter and more confident with Ashleigh.
I retire to the bedroom after feeding Max and Melissa, settling them down and singing a couple of lullabies, they have happily drifted to sleep. Christian is awake but sitting in bed with his laptop open and he is furiously typing on the keyboard and the familiar Grey scowl is returning.
"Everything alright Christian?" I ask when the typing has stopped.
"Fucking people, I wish they would just do what they are paid to do, I am away for a few weeks and everything goes to the dogs because I am not there to keep things in check" he grumbles.
"What's happened?" I ask tentatively.
"The meeting I had today was a total shambles, the idiot that was supposed to be communicating with prospective clients has made all these assurances and guarantees without speaking to legal, me or anyone. I looked like a total prick when I went in there and found out the basis for our agreement had been changed and no one bothered to tell me"
"Oh dear" I am not sure what else to say.
"In essence, the whole agreement now is going to run at a loss for us because of this change, as it has been verbally agreed I can't go back on all of the assurances without losing face"
"I see" I say as he continues on
"Legal are furious, I am totally pissed, I am feeling like crap now and my chest is hurting" he admits.
"Your chest is hurting?" I question.
"It started after the meeting had finished but then I was really stressed so I put it down to that, it will be fine" he quickly adds.
"I should ring your Mom..." but he interrupts before I finish
"Don't disturb Mom, I will be fine, I am just going to go to sleep"
I lean over and kiss his lips, he responds back tenderly "Sorry baby, I didn't mean to off load on you"
"It's ok, I am here to help if I can" I smile but I feel concerned. He turns and almost instantly falls asleep.
I creep out of the bedroom to the phone in the lounge, dial Grace's number, I check the time and it's only 10.30pm so hopefully they will still be up.
"Hello, the Trevelyan house"
"Grace, it's Ana, sorry it's late but I am worried about Christian" I start
"Hello Ana, what's the problem?" her voice sounds tense.
"He went to work today but only for a few hours, he seems to have got worked up about a deal and now he has chest pain"
"Where is the pain? Does it radiate to his shoulder? What's his breathing like?" she sounds a little worried.
"That's the problem Grace, he is brushing off my concern and he has gone to sleep; he didn't want me to call you either. What should I do?" I feel anxious.
"I would feel happier if he went to the ER but we both know that is easier said than done, I will come over, Carrick can drive, if we leave now we should be with you in about 35 minutes, OK?" she says.
"Really? Thank you Grace, I'm sorry to trouble you but it would put my mind at ease" I say truthfully.
"See you shortly" the phone goes down.
"Ana is everything alright?" Gail has come in from the kitchen.
"Christian has chest pain so Grace is coming to check him over as the chance of getting him to the ER is pretty much zero" I say with half a smile.
"Let me know if you need anything" she says.
"I will thanks Gail"
I put the kettle on while waiting until a sleepy Sawyer brings Grace and Carrick through the front door.
"Thank you so much for coming, I am sure it is nothing but I wanted to be sure"
"Of course Ana, I guess he doesn't know I am here" Grace asks and I shake my head.
She walks toward the our bedroom, opens the door, switches the light on,
"Whaaat? Who? Mother?! Is that you?" he coughs.
"Yes Christian, what's this I hear about you having chest pain?" she barks
"I asked Ana not to call you" he moans
"She did exactly the right thing, since when did you become a doctor to self-diagnose?" Grace raises her voice.
"It's nothing, really" he looks sheepish.
"Let me be the judge of that!" she barks again "I need to listen to your chest, lean forward" she puts the stethoscope over his back and chest before putting a thermometer under his tongue.
"When did this start Christian?" she asks.
"This afternoon after a particularly difficult meeting" he confesses which is problematic with a thermometer in his mouth.
"Does it hurt when you breathe?"
"A little but then I have been bellowing at idiots all day" he coughs again.
"When did you start coughing?"
"I hadn't realised I was until just then" he says honestly.
"You have a fever of 38.5 degrees, you are clammy, coughing and your lungs sound congested. I think you have a chest infection but you ARE going to come to the ER with me for an x-ray, bloods and probably antibiotics" she doesn't give him room to argue.
I open the wardrobe and pull out some trousers, t-shirt, underwear before going to the shoe rack for his sneakers. I find Gail in the kitchen still; I quickly fill her in on what's happening and ask her to feed the twins when the awake if we are not back in time.
Christian is obviously weaker than when he came home earlier so Carrick provides a supporting arm, Taylor is waiting to follow us to the hospital. Christian is grumbling about how un-necessary this all is and a good night's sleep would be better before Grace glares at him and he sensibly decides to be quiet for the rest of the journey.
The ER is quiet so Christian gets assessed straight away, bloods are drawn, an x-ray is taken and he is put on a drip.
An hour later Grace and the attending thoracic registrar are discussing the results and come to the conclusion it is a chest infection but because of the recent injuries particularly to his chest they want to give intravenous antibiotics for at least 24-48 hours until the fever is reducing and the cough too.
"You mean I have to stay here?!" he yells before coughing.
"Yes you do Mr Grey, we will need to take a further x-ray and blood sample in 24 hours to see if the antibiotics are taking effect, then we can decide when to send you home on oral medication" the registrar explains.
"Great, just great" he grumbles.
"We will move you to a private room shortly, Mrs Grey we can set up a cot bed in the room if you would like to stay?"
"Yes please"
"That's ok baby, I will be alright, you go home and look after Kate and the twins" Christian tells me.
"No way, I am staying here, Gail is there and Kate is already feeling better with some sleep and Ashleigh having some formula" I explain and give him the don't argue with me 'Grace Look'
"Mom, are you going?" he asks looking worried.
"Yes, you are in good hands here and Gramps is poorly at the moment so I would like to get back to him" she says.
"Of course, thanks Mom" he says
"Don't thank me; thank that savvy beautiful wife of yours for not listening to you and following her own instincts" Grace Smile's at me.
"Thanks too Dad"
"You're welcome son, just rest and get well" Carrick gruffly says.
"Say hi to Nana and Gramps too"
"I will, now rest and I will call tomorrow, well no actually later today" she says glancing at her watch "and speak to the registrar but call me if you need anything, either of you"
"Thank you Grace, we will" I hug them both and they leave for home.
I yawn when I see it is close to 4am and I haven't been to sleep yet, the porter comes to move us to the room which enables me to lie down and sleep for an hour or two before morning rounds and checks are done.
Taylor has been back to Escala to pick up an overnight bag that Gail has packed for us both. He knocks gingerly before coming in to drop off the bag and has also brought in some croissants, pastries and some small cartons of orange juice. I can't thank him enough, in fact what would I do without any of the people in my life right now…
A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Please let me know what you think. Holiday over so more frequent updates. Trying for once a week but don't hold me to it.