Chapter 119

The nausea didn't subside after the shower and Ryan decided to take her to the ER, after what felt like his hundredth trip to the bathroom to empty the container. "Come on, let's get you to the hospital." Ryan said gathering some things they might need if she has to be admitted to hospital.

"No hospitals. I'm fine." She answered weakly looking up at him trying to put up a brave face.

"No Alex you're not." He answered in a tone of voice that made it clear to her that there is no arguing with him. Sending a quick text to inform the work that they won't be in today and that he'll provide proof of their absence, before letting Sita know what is going on and that he'll inform her once a diagnosis has been made. Helping her out of bed, and down the stairs to the car, taking a few plastic bags with them on the ride just in case another wave of nausea hit them along the road, they headed for the hospital.

Despite her shivering she rolled down the window to get some fresh air coming into the car hoping it will help. Not that it did because she vomited twice before they got to the hospital, certain that there was nothing left in her stomach and that her intestines were the next thing that would threaten to come up if this continues. She was tired and drained and had a deep thirst that a whole bottle of water would quench.

Ryan discarded the bag and helped her through the automatic sliding doors, talking to the nurse behind the reception desk, who took one look at Alex and ordered a porter to get her into one of the empty beds until a doctor would get to them. By now she was weak up to a point where she just wanted to close her eyes but some voice in the distance wouldn't allow her to.

A doctor arrived about five minutes later and walked into the room where they were. "Alex, stay with me." He ordered and she had a hard time keeping her eyes open because her eyelids were so droopy. "How long has this been going on?" He asked looking at Ryan. "It started around 8 so almost two hours now." He informed the doctor who nodded. Ordering the nurse to get bags of IV fluids started while he tried to keep Alex conscious. Ryan stood in the corner of the room to give them room to work although he wanted to rush over to her bedside and tell her everything will be okay.

"Alex come on, do not close your eyes." The doctor said and her eyes fluttered opened briefly, before she passed out.

"What's happening? Is she okay? You can help her right?" Ryan rushed over to his wife's bedside, looking up at the doctor.

"She just fainted because she's dehydrated and lost too much body fluids. We'll get an IV started and she'll come by again." He explained to the concerned husband.

He went back into his corner where he previously stood rubbing his hands together, watching as they were busy working on Alex. Putting needles into her arms as they're looking for a vein. When they were all done the doctor assured him that she'll be fine and left the room. He moved closer to her taking one of her hands in his, kissing her knuckles. Updating his mother in law about her daughter's status before laying his head down on the edge of the bed looking at her he dosed off, and woke up when someone squeezed his hand.

"Hey sleepy head." He smiled looking at her. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better. Not ready to run a marathon yet." She answered looking around as the IV bags dripped bits of liquids into her veins. "When did this happen?" She asked pointing to the IV's.

"When you fainted. It took them some time because they couldn't find a vein."

Looking at him as if he doesn't make any sense because she can't remember any of it, she nodded either way. His phone rang and he answered it not bothering to walk out of the room. From the one sided conversation she could make out she tried to fit the pieces together, especially the ending part when he told whoever was on the other end that he'll "see them soon."

When he ended the call she looked up at him expectantly. "Who are you seeing soon?" She asked tilting her head on the fluffy pillows.

"Uuuhhhmm, I kind of called your mom this morning, and she said if it comes to the point of you being admitted to hospital, I should let her know." He informed his wife.

"I'm not being admitted." She sounded unsure but judging on the amounts of IV's there was still left that she had to get she knew she'd have to spend the night there. "I am feeling better, Ryan you know how much I hate hospitals I can rest at home." She argued but he shook his head.

"You are not going home. And you're going to stay here for as long as you need to, don't try to convince the doctors otherwise."

"But Ryan I'm fin…"

"But nothing Alex." He interrupted her sentence making it clear that there was no arguing and she nodded. "I need you to get better, I really don't want to see you looking like that again anytime soon." Ryan confessed taking a seat on the couch near the bed.

Alex smiled a little. "You know, all the time while you were in the bathroom with me stroking my back and holding back my hair, I couldn't help but think how terrible I must look at that moment." She laughed seeing the smile on Ryan's face.

"And here I was worried about you." He laughed stroking some of her hair back. "I'm heading home in little while is there anything in particular you'd want me to pack?" He asked seeing the time thinking he could go now and come back to spend some more time with her before visiting hours ended. It actually did since it was now lunch time but being a regular he had some perks.

"No not really. Some clean clothes and pajamas would do. And bring Phoebe over when you get back. I probably need to see if what I have is not contagious." She said the second part more to herself than to Ryan.

Ryan was gone for about half an hour when a doctor came to check up on her, and explained that she is dehydrated and have to get some more fluids, so she's definitely spending the night, and they're not sure what could've caused this. They'll draw some blood and have it tested before they can make a final diagnosis and that it wasn't contagious so Phoebe's allowed to enter, when there was a soft knock on the door, Sita opening it slowly peeking around the door.

"Hello." She smiled warmly greeting the doctor and then walking over to her daughter.

"Hey Ma." She smiled hugging her mother for some time. "Where's unc…?"

"Parking the car." Sita answered before she could finish her sentence.

"I'm okay. I don't know what Ryan told you but it's not that big of a deal." Alex said before her mother could make a big fuss.

"Yeah, she'll make a full recovery. She just passed out due to dehydration." The doctor shrugged earning a look from Alex telling him maybe he shouldn't have said that.

"Oh you forgot to mention that part." Theresa said looking at Alex sternly and smiled at the doctor who nodded and left the room. At times she really wants her mother to understand that she's not a little girl anymore but a grown woman.

Just when she was about to say something Joey knocked on the door before entering. "Hey girl. The reason for all those speeding tickets I'm about to get." Joey said walking over to her hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry for being the cause of that, but it was really no need for you guys to come all the way to check up on me. I'm fine."

"Yeeaahh, well if you're in hospital that statement gets questioned." He said making himself comfortable on the chair Ryan sat on. "Which is why we talk to Ryan because he won't lie to us." Sita commented on Joey's statement.

"Okay fine. I won't say anything then." Alex said sitting up against the fluffy pillows, Sita helping her get comfortable, when the doctor entered the room again.

"Sorry to bother again. Your sick certificate Mrs. Booth. You're off work for the rest of the week." He informed.

"Seriously?" Alex asked scrunching up her face.

"Sorry doctor's orders." He smiled signing the form leaving again. "And on that note, I'm staying for a few days just until you're back on your feet." Sita said, she and Ryan had discussed this earlier and he didn't have a problem with it even though they both knew his wife would. The door opened again revealing Ryan and a smiling daughter on his arm.

"Look who's here." Ryan said and she looked between the people in the room, extending her arms towards her grandmother. "Hello my angel! Granny missed you so much." Sita said kissing her granddaughter continuously, until she extended her hands towards Joey and Sita set her down on the floor, for the first time seeing how she's walking over to Joey. "Phooeebee." Sita chimed and couldn't tear her eyes of her and how cute she was being.

"Look how big you are!" Joey said kissing her forehead while she sat on his lap, playing with the car keys, Alex patiently waiting until her daughter realizes that she's in the room as well. Rattling the keys still not taking any note of her mother, as she and Joey continues their one sided conversation and Alex complains to Ryan about being off work for the rest of the week, but just like her mother he had no sympathy and warned her not to even think about work when she's supposed to be resting.

Hearing her mother's voice Phoebe looked in her direction and made her way off Joey's lap, walking over to her mother's bedside. "At last, I thought you'd never come greet me." Alex smiled as Ryan helped their daughter onto the bed to sit with her mother.

"Hello bub. Give me a kiss please." She asked and Phoebe leaned forward kissing her mother, but being distracted by the wires and the needle with the white plaster covering it on her hand, pointing towards it. "Yeah, it's ouch but it's making me better." Alex explained and Phoebe looked it at her mother as if she understood, touching it continuously until she found something else to distract herself with. They sat in her room talking and laughing until it was time to head home. Sita and Joey greeted first, leaving the three of them to have some family time.

"I was thinking about something that I need your input on." Alex said looking up at him.

"I'm listening." He said making himself comfortable on the small bed, to look at her.

"Since things between mom and uncle Jo are moving in an official direction, and Phoebe doesn't have a familial grandfather. I was thinking if we can ask him if he's willing to play that role in her life, only if it's fine with you." She said not wanting to back him into a corner.

Smiling slightly he nodded his head. "I don't have a problem with it. Can you imagine what his reaction will be when we ask him?" Ryan laughed kissing the tip of Alex's nose.

Ryan put Phoebe on the floor, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, pulling his wife closer towards him in a hug. "I don't want to leave you here alone." He said into her hair, hugging her even tighter. "I'll be fine, I promise." Alex said loosening her grip on his waist to look up at him. "Don't just say that to try and make me feel better." Ryan warned his rows furrowing.

"No, I'm serious I feel better. And I haven't thrown up since I have these fluids going into my body." Alex explained looking at the almost empty bag. "Call me when you guys get home. And take care of my baby." Alex said looking at her daughter where she sat on the floor, fidgeting with the wheels at the bottom of the small hospital bed. "She'll probably abandon me tonight." He said looking at her. "Most probably yes, there's no way Sita Parrish would allow her to sleep alone." Alex laughed. Ryan picking her up and she kissed her mother one last time before he kissed his wife and they headed out.

"You sure you're going to be okay on your own, Alex?"

"I'll be fine. Off you go now." She said and he smiled closing the door behind him.

Thanks for reading guys. Someone asked where I'm from, I'm from South Africa x . A new case will be up in the next chapter. I feel like I rushed through this to get this part out of the way so I could continue onto the next one, I'm sorry. And I have Phoebe's birthday up in a few more chapters really looking forward to sharing that with you guys. And a big announcement. (Okay maybe not that big, but still an announcement.)

Lovies-S