Chapter 161
Alex texted Ryan when the cab stopped outside their house and she saw Nimah sitting on the front steps. When she got out and walked towards the door Nimah got out and pulled her into a hug, "Phoebe's gonna be okay." Nimah said and Alex nodded her head, walking to the front door as she unlocked the door and the two of them walked inside. "We're not going to work tomorrow, Ryan told me you have a doctor's appointment and I'm taking you and then we'll go visit Phoebe and spend the rest of the day on the couch." Nimah said and Alex nodded her head not knowing what to do with herself right now as she would usually be running after her daughter, or pick up the day's toys but since there was nothing she kind of felt out of her comfort zone, and it only made her more aware of the fact that her child and husband wasn't at home.
"Have you eaten anything?"
"I'm not hungry." Alex dismissed shaking her head seeing the disapproving look of her friend.
"Alex, this is not just about you anymore. You're growing a baby who needs food. I'll be right back." Nimah said and walked out the front door, Alex having no idea where she is going. A few seconds later Nimah showed up with two boxes of pizza.
"I've ordered while I waited for you and ate a few slices in the car, but the bottom box is still untouched. So which one will it be, pineapple or the sweet and sour rib?" Nimah opened the box so Alex can have a look.
"First of all pineapple does not belong on pizza, so sweet and sour rib it will be." Alex smiled slightly sitting down at the kitchen counter as the two of them ate out of the boxes not bothering to get plates. "Thank you." Alex said softly smiling at her friend when her phone went off and Ryan sent her a picture of him and Phoebe captioned, "Sleep tight Mama, see you tomorrow. We love you." Alex smiled as she read it and showed it to Nimah.
"And that's your sign also, time for bed Mrs. Booth, I promised the Special Agent I'd look after you and right now it's time for bed."
"You're a demanding baby sitter." Alex laughed and grabbed one more pizza slice as she headed upstairs.
"Alex, if you need anything, no matter what time of the night I'm downstairs." Nimah said as the two of them made their way to call it a night and try to see what tomorrow have in store for them.
Alex woke up in the middle of the night with terrible stomach cramps, and she sat up in the bed thankful when it disappeared again after a few minutes. She turned in bed and checked the time on her phone. 03:35 AM. Turning around and getting comfortable she fell asleep again but was once again awoken by stomach cramps about an hour later, she walked around the bedroom to try and see if it'll pass and what sucked even more was the fact that she wasn't allowed to have any pain medication due to her pregnancy. She opened the window of the bedroom and stood in front of it to get some fresh air as an autumn night breeze entered the room but that was short lived also because she was soon filled with nausea and she made her way over to the bathroom just in time as she started vomiting. Rinsing her mouth and flushing the toilet as she leaned with her back against the bathtub, not wanting to leave the bathroom in case another wave of nausea hit her, and she decided to stay in the bathroom if that was the case as she laid on the little rug that was in front of the toilet curled up in the fetal position until she fell asleep again on the bathroom floor.
Nimah woke up around 7 and got some breakfast started, when she walked up the stairs to see where Alex is since she had to be at the doctor in an hour. "Alex?" Nimah asked knocking on the door softly as she opened it but saw she wasn't in bed and she just assumed she was in the bathroom. Walking across the bedroom Nimah saw her laying in a curled up ball in front of the toilet and she immediately assumed the worst.
"Alex? What's wrong?" Nimah asked walking towards her friend seeing Alex move as she sat up, and Nimah got a fright when she saw how pale Alex was. "Have you been throwing up?" Nimah asked and Alex nodded her head slightly. "For how long? When did it start?"
"Around 4 this morning." Alex moaned, making her friend worry even more as she has never saw her like this before. "I feel terrible, it's like every bone in my body is hurting." Alex complained and made it for the toilet again as she started heaving while Nimah rubbed her back and offered her some water.
"Come on, let's get you to the doctor. I don't care if you're appointment is an hour away they'll just have to attend to you." She said helping Alex up and running her a bath while she called Ryan.
The vibration of his phone woke him up from his sleep where he laid on the couch. "Hey Nimah." He groaned voice still thick with sleep.
"Ryan, I'm worried about Alex. She's been vomiting, and she looks really pale. I found her asleep on the bathroom floor." Nimah said looking back to the bathroom where Alex took a bath. "She said she has a doctor's appointment today, so I'll bring her in when she gets out of the bath." Nimah said and Ryan nodded from the other side even though she couldn't see him.
"Okay thank you. I called my mom and Sita last night, they're on their way. Please don't tell her about it because she'll tell them it's not that bad. I get that she's worried about Phoebe but she needs to put herself and the baby first right now."
"Yeah, let's try telling her that. I'll see you in a little bit and update you on how she's doing." Nimah said ending the phone call and checked up on Alex knocking on the door slightly before pushing it open and peeking inside. Alex was busy getting into her dressing gown and was busy cleaning the bath when Nimah stopped her.
"Leave that, go get dressed I'll clean the bath I the meantime. And don't make the bed I will do that as well." Nimah said over her shoulder. I was busy with breakfast you can go get yourself to something to eat if you're up to it."
Alex didn't say anything she nodded her head and walked out of the bathroom towards the bedroom and got dressed in some slacks. Making her way downstairs. She looked around to see what Nimah was busy making but she wasn't prepared to eat anything in case she had to make it back to the bathroom again and empty the contents of her stomach so she settled for some black tea. Getting comfortable on the couch wanting to call her husband but just then her phone rang and she accepted the video call.
"I was just about to call you." Alex said smiling slightly.
"Yeah well that won't be necessary. How are you feeling?" Ryan asked sitting on the bed restraining is daughter who was very excited to see her mother, and did not resemble the picture of someone being sick, or maybe it was the medication that was working so soon.
"I'm fine." Alex lied seeing the disapproving look on her husband's face.
"Nimah told me about what happened this morning. And you look really pale sweetheart. What's going on, don't tell me you're fine when you're not."
"Maaaammmaaaaa" Phoebe smiled and pointed to the screen continuously to try and get her mother's attention.
"Hello bub. Did you sleep well?" Alex asked as her daughter nodded her head. "I called your mom last night after you left, and I know you don't like it when we call them every time something happens but they're on their way. They offered to stay with Phoebe tonight while I come home."
Alex sighed loudly as her husband knew how she felt about informing their parents about things like this, as it always makes her feel like she is incompetent of taking care of her child but she knows he means well and she'd like it if he comes home to be with her, even if it is just for one night. But what would make her feel even better would be the fact that she's hoping the doctors would tell her that Phoebe is getting better.
"Phoebe, I'll see you in a little bit okay. Were you being a good girl for the nurses and the doctors?" Alex asked and Phoebe shook her head seeing her husband smile.
"At least she's being honest. She was fussy for a little while when they came to check up on her but she was friendly again this morning when they brought her breakfast." He explained seeing Nimah appear in the background.
"Phoebe Grace!" Nimah smiled looking at the little curly haired girl.
"Aunty!" Phoebe said making them all laugh, Alex soon ended the video call with her husband and daughter. "Did you eat something?" Nimah asked and Alex shook her head, but she pointed to the half full cup of tea. "That's not food Alexandra Booth." Nimah whined but left it at that. "Just don't tell the doctors all about it I don't want them to keep me there." Alex pleaded and Nimah took some time before she agreed to it as the two of them left the house.
They drove down to the hospital, and walked in the opposite direction towards the offices where she signed up for her appointment. The nurse at the counter looked up at Alex while she filled out the form. "Are you okay ma'am?"
"Not really but I'll be fine." Alex handed the form back and sat down on the chairs in the waiting area until her name was called. Nimah was texting on her phone and left the room when Ryan entered and she went downstairs to see Phoebe while Ryan spends some time with Alex in consultation.
A knock on the door made her look up, and a smile appeared on her face when she saw her husband entering the room. "Hey" he smiled walking over to her kissing her forehead.
"Hey, how's Phoebe?" Alex asked and Ryan sat down on the bed next to her.
"Not resembling a person who is sick, she's doing better the doctors are happy with her progress. Also, I'm coming home with you tonight because I called your mom and she's on her way." He added carefully trying to read her expression as she nodded her head at him. "And, Nimah called me to say you were throwing up quite a bit this morning."
"Ryyaann.."
"No Alex, I get that you're worried about Phoebe, I do. But that doesn't mean you can neglect looking after your own health. She needs you to be healthy, and me and the baby. You have no idea how much you mean to us you cannot be taking chances like this and brush it off as if it is nothing."
"Alright. I'll look after the two of us." She pointed towards her belly. "I promise." She added to put him more at ease. The doctor soon entered and stopped in her tracks when she saw Alex.
"Mrs. Alexandra Booth, why do you look so pale? This is not how I'm used to seeing you." The gynecologist commented.
"I've had a bit of a rough start to my morning, and some stress about my daughter." Alex said briefly as the doctor took her blood pressure. "Oh that's why the surname on the pediatrics list was so familiar, she is such a joy. Whenever the nurses are coming closer with medication she refuses to open her mouth or give them her hand so they can administer it into her IV."
"Yeah that sounds like her." Alex smiled as the doctor took down her readings.
"How do you feel Mrs. Booth? And be 110% honest with me right now, because I am not happy with what I'm seeing. And if we do a sonogram in a few minutes, and your baby is unhappy you'll have to get ready for a few days in hospital."
Alex looked at Ryan and sighed deeply before answering. "I have been vomiting for quite some time this morning and have had some stomach cramps, but because I didn't have any bleeding I didn't think it was such a big problem." She answered as the doctor squeezed out some gel on her stomach and looked at the monitor, smiling at the strong even heartbeat of their baby.
"Okay, the baby is happy and healthy. I cannot tell you what it is just yet if I can get the little one to turn this way I might be able to, okay I'm sorry for invading your privacy then." The doctor laughed as the baby did not turn towards the monitor making it hard for them to get an accurate reading of what the sex of the baby might be, but the surprise is still good for the parents as they don't know what to expect. "Mrs. Booth your blood pressure is very low and it concerns me. So I want to keep you here not overnight, I just want to monitor you for the day. If you're doing better by 5 or 6PM you're allowed to go home." The doctor bargained although Alex wasn't very keen on being in a hospital bed all day.
"Can I at least go see my daughter?" Alex asked and the doctor nodded on the condition that she'd be back in the room in about an hour, because there'd be trouble if she's not back or tried to escape by not obeying doctors orders. Ryan walked downstairs with her as they entered Phoebe's room seeing Phoebe reading a book to Nimah that she had upside down.
Trying to enter the room as silently as possible it didn't work, because when Phoebe saw her mother she extended her hands in Alex's direction from where she was sitting on the bed. "Maammmaaa."
"Phoebe!" Alex smiled picking her up and kissed her. "I missed you so much, what are you doing?" Alex asked and she pointed to the book. "You were reading to Aunty Nimah?" Alex posed the question and she nodded.
"It was something about a doggie and a word I had no idea how to decipher, but we managed to get to page three." Nimah laughed kissing Phoebe's forehead, as she grabbed her things. "I'll go get everything in order back at home and get some washing started because I'm sure the doctor told you to rest." She said looking at her friend.
"You really don't have to do that Nim.."
"But I want to. Sometimes you have to allow people to take care of you too, Alex." Nimah answered making it clear that it was no use arguing. She said goodbye to her friend while Ryan walked her out and updated her on what the doctor had said.
