After calling 911, Carol tries to call Dana again with no luck. About ten minutes later an ambulance arrives. The paramedics come rushing in. They check for vitals. They find a very low heart-rate and when they examine his lower abdomen Rich wakes up in pain. The paramedics load him on the stretcher and head out to the ambulance. Before taking off one of them stops to talk to Carol.
"Mam, what is his name and your relationship to him?"
"His name is Rich Halke. He is my daughter's fiancee."
"Okay, I don't want to scare you but you need to contact your daughter immediately"
"What's wrong with him?"
"unfortunately, since you are not family. We can't release that information. Listen, we need to get him to the hospital. Call you daughter or any family member and get there as quickly as possible."
She rushes back to the ambulance and they take off. Carol goes in the house and puts the soup away, throws the sheets in the washer since they are drenched in sweat she thought it would be a good idea to help them out. While she wasn't trying to be noisy she does notice a certain item on the nightstand. She knows it's none of her business .
Then, Carol rushes to her car and heads back to her house. She runs in the kitchen which startles Frank who is in the kitchen.
" Frank, thank goodness your here. We have to get to the hospital."
"Carol what's wrong?"
"Rich was just rushed to the hospital. The paramedics wouldn't tell me anything."
At this moment Karen, Al and JT walk in the kitchen just as Carol says….
"Frank, I can't get a hold of Dana"
"Carol, calm down, try calling her again."
Carol goes over to the phone and tries to call Dana again, still not getting an answer.
"what is going on?" says Al
"Rich, has been rushed to the hospital" answers Frank
"what? Why aren't we going there?" says JT
"Because, we have to get a hold of Dana. We wont be able to get any information since we aren't family."
"that's crazy" says JT
" I still can't get a hold of Dana. JT do you know his mom's number?"
"um, yes."
"Son, I know your worried about Rich but the best way to help him right now is for a family member to get to the hospital first, then we can all head there."
"Okay, I will call her"
JT goes to the phone and calls Rich's mom. He tells her that she needs to get to the hospital.
" Can we please head there now?"
"Listen, son how about you, Karen and Al head to the hospital while Carol and I get a hold of Dana"
"That's a good idea Dad, come on JT he will be okay."
The three of them head to the hospital.
"Frank, what are we going to do?"
"Carol, it will be okay. What exactly happened?"
"Dana, had asked me to check on Rich because she was sick this morning. I brought him some soup but he said he wasn't hungry. Before he had fallen asleep he said he was cold so I got him a blanket. I waited about an hour and went to check on him. (at this point she starts to cry a little) I noticed he was sweating, so I tried to wake him up but he didn't respond. I checked his temperature and it was 104 so I called 911. When the ambulance came they asked him his name and how I was related to him. The paramedic did seem concerned about something and said a family member needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible."
"Okay, well his Mom is on her way there. Now we need to get a hold of Dana. Listen, here is what we are going to do. Try calling her one more time, if she doesn't answer we will go to her school/office."
Meanwhile Dana is just getting back to her office. Before checking her messages, she tries to call Rich to check on him. When she doesn't get an answer she just assumes that he is sleeping off whatever sickness he is fighting. She checks the time. Thinks to herself "okay, its about 2pm, maybe I can get out of early for once." She sits down and takes a much needed break. About ten minutes later she checks her messages. She realizes her mom has left her several messages insisting she calls her back immediately. At this point Dana starts to panic just a little. She tries to call her mom but no one answers. (Frank and Carol are already on their way to her office).
One of her classmates, named Gina, that she is becoming friends with, happens to be walking by and stops by her office.
"Hey, Dana. Are you okay?" She doesn't answer at first. "Dana?"
"Yeah. Oh hey Gina"
"Is everything okay?"
"I am not sure."
"what's wrong?"
"Rich was sick this morning. I tried calling him but he didn't answer."
"If he is sick then he is probably sleeping."
"I know but then I got several messages from my Mom to call her and now I can't get a hold of her."
"Try not to worry so much."
"I am trying but I can't help it."
"Then take the rest of day off."
"I can't. I still have a few things to do."
"Go check on Rich. I will cover for you."
"I couldn't ask you to do that"
"Really, tell me you don't want to go home and check on Rich?"
"I do but"
Gina gently pushes Dana out of the office as she says "No butts. Let's just say you owe me one. Also invite me to the wedding."
"Fine, I am going."
"Good, tell him to feel better."
Dana goes downstairs to the lobby where she runs into her Mom & Frank.
"Mom, Frank what are you doing here?"
"Dana, I have been trying to get a hold of you."
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"Carol, tell her in the car. We should get going."
They all head to the car and get in.
"Mom, seriously what's going on?"
"Dana, Rich was rushed to the hospital about an hour ago."
"What? why?"
"When I checked on him. He was drenched in sweat, had a 104 fever, & was unresponsive."
"no, no (starts to panic)"
"I am sure he will be okay"
"Frank, drive faster"
Carol wraps Dana in a hug. About ten minutes later they arrive in front of the hospital. Dana gets out of the car before it's stopped, Carol follows her as fast as she can while Frank goes to park the car. Dana gets to the front desk.
"Where is Rich Halke?"
"Unless, your family I can't give you any information"
"I am his fiancee"
"That's not technically family."
"You got to be kidding me."
"I am sorry those are the rules."
At this moment Carol comes up next to Dana.
"Mom, they won't tell me anything. (She starts to cry)
"Sweetie, try not to panic to much"
"I need to know what's wrong with Rich."
Frank finds them.
"Carol, Dana come with me."
They look a little confused but follow him. They end up in the waiting room, where Al, Karen, JT and Cheryl (Rich's Mom) are there.
"Can any of you tell me what's going on?"
"They haven't told us anything yet."
About 10 minutes later Dana is pacing. Everyone,except JT, has been trying to calm her down but its not working.
"Dana, he will be okay."
"How do you know that JT?"
"Because if he doesn't show up to the wedding he knows you will kill him."
Dana gives him a slight smile.
"He better show up."
"you know he will." says Al
"Why, don't we change the subject?" says Carol
"Let's talk about the wedding plans. All of us girls need to pick a date to go get your dress" says Karen
"Actually, I have been looking at some magazines. I found a few I really like."
For about the next hour they discuss the wedding and plan a day when they can all spend the day looking at dresses. (They will call Sam later)
"hey did anyone call Cassie?" says JT
"Crap, can someone please call her and let her know about Rich?" says Dana
"Don't worry about it. I will go call her" says JT
"Thanks, JT" Five minutes later he comes back. "Cassie said she will be here as soon as she can."
Another half hour passes with no word on Rich's condition.
"This is ridiculous, what could possibly be taking so long?"
A doctor walks up at this moment.
"who is family of Rich Halke?"
"I am his Mom." says Cheryl as she goes by him.
"Rich is in recovery." says the doctor
"Recovery? From what? No one has told us anything."
"A nurse should've came by to tell you. Rich had an appendicitis. He got here just in time. He should make a full recovery." replies the doctor.
Dana has overheard what the doctor said and goes and stands by Cheryl.
"What do you mean should make a full recovery?"
"I am sorry, are you family?"
"She's his fiancee. Tell her everything."
"well, there could be complications but the risk of that is low."
"Can we see him?"
"one at a time and family only. Visiting hours are almost over."
Cheryl goes in, Rich is still sleeping, about five minutes later she comes out so Dana can go in. About 20 minutes later, a nurse goes in the room.
"Miss I am sorry but visiting hours are over in 5 minutes."
"okay thanks"
Before leaving she gives Rich a kiss on the cheek. Then she heads back into the waiting room.
"How is he?" says JT
"he is sleeping. Hey JT you visiting hours are almost over by you have five minutes."
"You don't have to do that I could wait til tomorrow. Plus they said family only."
"its okay. I know how worried you are."
"I appreciate it."
After JT comes out, another worker comes to the waiting area and tells everyone there that visiting hours are over and they can return at 8am. Dana, Cheryl, Al, Karen, JT, Frank and Carol all head out of the hospital. Before they head home they all reassure Cheryl and Dana that Rich will be okay and plan on meeting up tomorrow.
"Hey, Mom can I stay will you tonight?"
"Of course sweetie, let's go get things you may need for the night."
About a half hour later Dana is in her old bedroom with her sisters.
"This going to be so much fun having you back here even if its just for one night." says Karen
"I guess so, kind of weird being back here. I doubt I will get any sleep tonight.I can't sleep without Rich."
"hey, let's get your mind off that. He will be okay."
"Actually, I should make a phone call. There is no way I am going to school tomorrow." she goes and makes two phone calls one to the head of the department and one to Gina. Dana tries to enjoy some time with her sisters but finds it difficult.
"Hey, I am kind of tired, I am going to get ready for bed."
Al and Karen share a look but agree. She then goes and changes into Rich's shirt and shorts. She crawls into bed and tries to get some sleep but has trouble falling a sleep. Eventually, exhaustion takes over. The next morning she gets up around 7 and starts to get ready for the day. No one else is up yet. Just before 8am Dana leaves to head back to the hospital. When she arrives Rich is still sleeping. She brought some files to work on so she doesn't get to far behind on school. About an hour later Cheryl walks in with two cups of coffee. She hands Dana one of the cups.
"Dana, did you get any sleep last night?"
"Not a lot. What about you?"
"Probably more then you."
"What are you doing there?"
"Trying to get some work for school done so I don't get to far behind."
Cheryl goes and sits next to her. "Hey, he is going to be ok. I can only stay for a little while. Have to get to work." An hour passes. Cheryl and Dana had some small talk but where mostly quiet. Cheryl has to leave for work. Just as Cheryl leaves JT walks in.
"Morning JT"
"Hey, Dana. How is he?"
"He is still sleeping. I wish he would wake up."
"Is it okay if I sit with you for awhile?"
"yeah"
About an hour later a nurse comes in to check on Rich. She notices something but doesn't say anything and goes to get the doctor. A few minutes later the doctor comes in. The nurse tells Dana and JT they need to leave the room.
"what's going on?" asks JT
The only response they get from the doctor is that "he should be awake by now." Dana starts to cry, JT is trying not to cry to. He puts his arms around Dana and they walk out of the room and into the waiting room.