The Long Road, Part 7
Danny felt very uncomfortable in his hospital gown, following the nurse into the elevator. He had to struggle to keep the back from flapping open and exposing his behind, and he knew people were staring. Luckily, they were the only ones on the elevator, and he backed into a corner, watching the floor numbers light up as they zoomed past them. The car stopped on number eight and the doors slid open. The nurse ushered him out as he once again, fumbled with the gown in back, doing his best to keep up with her.
She led him into a room that was so small one needed to step outside to change one's mind, and told him to wait. She went through another door, and Danny looked around a little nervously. He wondered if this was going to hurt. He'd only had a couple of blood tests ever in his young life, and he remembered it wasn't very pleasant. He couldn't wait for them to remove the needle; and he knew this was going to be a little different. The nurse had explained the whole procedure to him. They would tie a rubber band around his upper arm and insert the needle into the crook of his arm. The needle would be attached to a tube that led to a bottle with still another tube attached to a needle in Keith's arm, and the blood would be transferred that way. Out of Danny's arm, right into Keith's. He just hoped he didn't faint! He never was one much for needles (what eleven-year-old was?), but right now, he was willing to endure anything for Keith. He wanted him better; back to exchanging insults with him, back to the teasing and the laughter. He wanted him back, period. The things his brother suffered with this virus were too much, for either of them. He knew Keith was exhausted, and just watching him deteriorate made Danny tired, too. It was so awful to see Keith in pain, not knowing what was coming next. He just wanted him well again, and if this was what it took to get to that point, he was more than willing to do his share!
The door opened, and the nurse smiled, beckoning him on and he bravely followed her again, this time into a larger room.
Keith was already there, lying on a table with his head turned away from the other table that Danny assumed would be his for the next little while. Keith's eyes were closed, and his skin was pale, almost see-through. He looked peaceful, and Danny was glad he was out of pain for the time being.
"Okay, kiddo, hop up here," the nurse smiled, patting the second table.
Danny used the step at the bottom of the table to climb up, and the nurse put a pillow down as he laid back. She took the rubber band and tied it quickly around Danny's right arm as the boy glanced over at Keith.
His brother was already hooked up with the needle and the bottle, and Danny gulped, staring at Keith's still form there, not two feet from him. "Will this hurt him?" Danny asked the nurse as she took the needle in her hand.
"Hurt him? No, honey. He won't feel a thing. And I'm going to try not to hurt you, either. Make a fist, sweetie."
Danny obeyed, his eyes still on his brother. She came down with the needle and Danny closed his eyes tight, feeling a little prick in the crook of his arm. It went a bit numb, then he couldn't feel anything at all and he opened his eyes. She was taping the needle down onto his arm so it wouldn't come loose, and he continued watching her as she connected him to Keith via the tubes and the bottle.
"Okay, honey. You just lie here and try not to move. I'll be back when the bottle's about half full, okay?" She started for the door.
"Okay," Danny said, turning his head to the right, so he could see Keith. His brother didn't move, and Danny swallowed, staring at him, half-wishing he would wake up and at least talk to him. He wanted to see that he was okay, but he also wanted Keith to know that he, Danny, was there for him. He would always be there.
With a sigh, Danny looked ceilingward, staring at the bright light above them. It was hard on his eyes, and he closed them, taking the opportunity to say a heartfelt prayer for his brother.
As he finished the prayer, he heard movement nearby and quickly looked over to see Keith's head rolling slowly on the pillow beneath it. Keith whimpered, and Danny lifted his head, staring at him.
"Keith?" he said gently.
Keith moaned again, and now he faced the other table. The younger boy swallowed, wanting to touch him; to let him know he was there; that someone was with him.
He tried again. "Keith!"
To his surprise, Keith's eyes fluttered open and Danny grinned, hoping he could see him clearly.
"Danny…" Keith whispered after a second, and it was all Danny could do not to sit up and grab him.
"Yeah, it's me…how ya feel?"
Keith swallowed. His mouth was arid, and he was very, very sleepy. "What's going on? What are you….?" He mumbled through cracked lips.
"You needed blood, so I'm giving you some of mine." Danny's chest puffed out proudly. "Cool, huh?"
Keith's sleep-laden eyes followed the tube from his arm upward. Danny waited patiently. Finally Keith's focus turned back to him, or so it seemed. "Uh huh…" he said tiredly, heavily, closing his eyes.
To Danny's disappointment, Keith had fallen back into his own quiet world. Taking great care not to bother any of the equipment attached to either one of them, Danny reached over with his left hand, touching Keith's left hand as it lay almost dangling off the table. "See you later, pal…you're gonna get better now, Keith."
As expected, Keith didn't respond and Danny laid back, feeling mighty good for the moment.
With all the goings-on in the morning, Danny was eager to return to the hospital. He never knew when Keith would need more blood, and he was ready to do his duty. But everyone was in slow motion this morning. Reuben, Laurie and the two littlest Partridges were getting ready for their long bus ride back to San Pueblo, and Shirley was not so eager to see them off. She had discussed it again and again with the manager, who had assured her -again and again - that it was the best plan all around.
No one seemed to notice that all of this was slowly killing Danny!
Finally, Reuben announced, "Okay, let's go over to the hospital, so we can say goodbye to Keith."
Danny practically flew out to the bus. It was about time, really! Suppose Keith had needed him? How could he tell him that the reason he wasn't there, was that his family was a bunch of slow-poke worry-warts? It wasn't an excuse; it was just how it was. He would have come earlier, but he was too young to drive the bus, and Keith might not take that answer, either. He would be very disappointed in his little brother, because Danny didn't try hard enough to get his tail over there! And now, they'd probably given Keith someone else's blood; a stranger. All because Danny Partridge was too young to drive…
His imagination was still running a little rampant when they all entered the hospital lobby. Shirley turned to her brood.
"Okay, now, Chris and Tracy will have to stay here," she said, reacting to their cries of protest.
"We'll tell Keith good bye for you," Laurie assured them, putting a hand on each of their young heads.
"It's not fair," Tracy muttered, her blue eyes welling with tears. "He's our brother, too!"
"I know, sweetheart, but it's against the rules. We'd take you up there in a second if we could," Shirley smiled down at her youngest daughter.
Chris sighed, flopping into a chair. "Come on, Trace. We know when we're not wanted…"
"Now, Chris…" Shirley began as Danny tried to keep from screaming.
"Come ON!" he bellowed, taking Laurie's hand and starting for the elevators.
Reuben followed as Shirley lagged behind, still talking to Chris and Tracy. "Stay right here, all right? We'll be back in a few minutes."
They nodded, their feelings clearly hurt, as Shirley joined the others on the elevator.
Danny watched anxiously as the car started upwards, taking forever and a day to reach the eighth floor. When the elevator stopped and the doors parted, he was the first one out.
The nurse at the desk directed them, saying that Keith's room was the first door down the connecting hallway and Danny had to hold back to keep from running. Maybe now that Keith had his blood, he would be practically back to normal, sitting up and flirting with the nurses; something his older brother was very adept at.
He was so very wrong. Even as they entered the hallway, they could sense that something was not right. Drawing closer to the room, they heard Keith's anguished cries of pain and the four of them stopped, their hearts in their throats. Shirley motioned for them to wait there, and slowly pushed open the door.
Keith was on his side in the bed, doubled over in pain as a young nurse stood beside him.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Shirley stepped in all the way.
The nurse turned, her face serious. "Oh, Mrs. Partridge, thank goodness you're here. We've been trying to get hold of you… He's having a reaction to the blood transfusion, is all. His system is trying to fight it."
Shirley went to the bedside, watching her son writhe in pain. "I see," she said, reaching down and putting a cool hand on Keith's face. "It's okay, baby. Mom's here."
Hearing her voice, Keith reached up, grabbing her hand. "Mom," he gasped. "Oh, god, Mom, it hurts…make it stop…"
The nurse smiled sadly. "We can't give him painkillers without the doctor's permission. We paged Dr. Burns, but he hasn't answered yet. I'll go, so you can have some time with him, and I'll let you know when we get hold of the doctor."
"Thank you," Shirley pulled up a chair next to the bed, her hand still in Keith's painful grip. "Could you send the rest of my family in, as well?"
"Of course," the nurse nodded, going out the door.
Shirley took Keith's hand in both of hers as Laurie, Reuben and Danny came warily in, looking very worried. She shook her head at them, then focused her attention on her firstborn. "Where does it hurt, Keith?"
"My back…it feels like my kidneys are ready to explode…" His voice rose with the intensity of the pain.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Laurie swallowed, stepping closer. She saw her brother's anguish and bit her own lip in sympathy.
"They said it was a reaction to the transfusion. For some reason, his body's fighting Danny's blood." Shirley ran her hand along her son's spine.
Upon hearing that, Danny slammed back into the door, suddenly ridden with guilt and terrified. His blood was causing all this pain and misery? Dear god…he wanted to die!
Shirley and the others looked back at the young boy. He stared at them, his stomach churning as his mother smiled at him. "Danny, come here…come talk to Keith while I get a cold rag for his fever."
Violently, Danny shook his mop of red hair, paralyzed in the doorway. "No…I…I'll just stay here."
"You've been wanting to do this all morning; what's the problem?" Reuben looked puzzled.
"I don't want to," Danny wailed, turning and grabbing the door handle. He slipped out as Shirley looked up at Laurie.
"Laurie…"
"I'm way ahead of you, Mom," Laurie sighed, following her little brother.
He was down the hall a couple of doors, bent over himself, nearly hyperventilating, and Laurie hurried to him. "Danny! What is it, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
He looked up at her, fear emanating from his cherubic, freckled face. "I almost killed him."
"What?"
"My blood…it's making him sicker! Oh, Laurie, he's gonna die, and it's all my fault!" He began to shout, and she grabbed him, pulling him to her, trying to quiet him and comfort him all at once.
"No, no…no one said he was dying. It's a reaction, that's all!" she spoke soothingly, squatting down so that she was more on his level.
"But it's hurting him! Did you see him? He's in pain! It's my blood that's doing it to him!"
"That's why they're trying to get hold of the doctor, so they know what to give him. Oh, honey, he's going to be all right. If he wasn't, there would be all kinds of doctors and nurses in there in a big panic."
He calmed a little, sniffing and swiping at his nose. "You really think so?"
Laurie produced a tissue from her pocket. "I know so. Now, come on. Keith needs us now. Let's go talk to him, let him know we love him, okay?"
His lip still trembling, he wiped his eyes and nose, nodding still a tiny bit disconsolately as she lovingly took his hand and led him back to the room.
Still on his right side, Keith was in agony, moving under the covers as the pain tore through his lower back, centering on the soft spot between his ribs and his pelvic bone. He cried out into the pillow as Shirley wiped his brow with a wet cloth.
Laurie pushed Danny forward and the boy stared down at his brother, terror still showing on his face.
"Keith…" he managed to say.
Between outcries, Keith desperately took in air. "What?"
"I - I'm sorry if my blood's hurting you…"
Keith panted, fighting another rush of pain. "It's not your fault, Danny… the nurse said that my body just thinks it's…being invaded, you know…?" He gasped as the muscles in his back twisted once more.
"Keith's body will adjust to it, soon, Danny, and his pain will ease," Shirley told him, handing Danny the rag.
He took it from her, sitting on the bed with his brother and carefully wiping his forehead with it.
Keith reached up, feeling almost blindly for Danny, finally finding the boy's shoulder. He gave it a weak squeeze, and Danny gulped, trying not to cry in front of him. He knew he had to be brave for Keith right now.
"Honey, maybe it would help it you sat up," Shirley suggested.
"Right, Keith, we could prop your pillows up against your back for support. Might take the pressure off." Laurie moved to the other side of the bed.
Keith nodded. At this point, he was willing to try anything, and Danny moved as his mother and sister each took an arm and adjusted him while Reuben folded the pillows behind the young singer.
The two women eased Keith back against the pillows, waiting tensely for his reaction. He closed his eyes, only pulling a slight face this time.
"Better?" Shirley put her hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah." He still strained for breath as he looked up at her. "Thanks."
Laurie noticed that Keith's skin was red and bumpy under the collar of his pajama top . She leaned down, carefully pulling at the collar. "Oooh, Keith, that's one heck of a rash you have going there…"
Shirley looked to see, too. "Oh, honey, that looks terrible! Does it itch? Burn? Hurt in any way?" She reached over, unbuttoning his shirt. The rash covered his upper torso and she flinched, pulling back.
"No…I think it has something to do with the reaction…oh, god, Mom, where's the doctor?" Keith asked, anguished, trying to will the pain away. He cried out, feeling his lower back with his hand and tensing beneath the covers.
Suddenly, Danny went forward, gathering his brother into his arms and pulling him close.
"I'm sorry, Keith, I'm sorry…" he cried, burying his face in Keith's collarbone, holding onto him tightly.
Keith swallowed, sagging in his little brother's hold. "It's okay, Danny…" he murmured, weakly hugging him back. Keith tensed with pain, his face reflecting every morsel of misery, and Shirley put her hand on Danny's shoulder.
"Danny, get down…you're hurting him…Danny!" Shirley said.
"It's okay, Mom…he's not…" Keith said softly as Danny's sobs trailed off. "Danny, I told you, it's not your fault. They told me it's a regular reaction. Dr. Burns just didn't leave the nurses instructions for any medication, that's all," Keith explained, taking care not to let any pain show through. It was tough, but he thought he was managing it.
Danny didn't see the exchange between Keith, Laurie and the adults, and Laurie stepped up to the bed.
"Come on, sweetie, let's go down to the lobby and check on Chris and Tracy. " Laurie urged her little brother. "Let's let Reuben, Mom and Keith have some time to themselves."
Reluctantly, Danny slid down off the bed, and with a shaky smile from Keith, he followed Laurie out the door.
Keith waited until he was sure they were out of earshot before he groaned again, his body driving hard against the pain.
When Dr. Burns finally did come, the pain had all but won over Keith's valiant struggle and he was exhausted, letting the medication slowly overtake his aching body. He lapsed into a deep sleep, to Shirley's relief, and she was able to get away to give Laurie, Reuben and her two babies a tearful send-off.
As she hugged each of them goodbye, Reuben appeared a bit apprehensive. "Now, you know the number to call for the rental car…I arranged everything. All you need to do is pick it up."
Still clinging to Tracy, Shirley nodded. "Yes, Reuben," she said, just a hint of sadness in her voice.
"No letting Keith drive it…well, of course he won't be, not in his condition, but if he even WANTS to, tell him no. He's not covered under the policy."
Danny tried to lighten the moment. "How about me?" he quipped. Out here, by the bus, he could joke around, but the minute he saw his brother and the agony he was going through, his mood darkened.
"Yeah, sure, kid. Anything you want. Just don't take your mother or Keith with you." Reuben shot back, to Danny's delight, turning back to Shirley. "And the plane tickets will be waiting for you at the airport. You can drop the car off there and get right on the plane, convenient, right?"
"Oh, very. Thank you Reuben…you've been a tower of strength through all of this."
The manager actually blushed at Shirley's compliment. "Well, you know…Keith's more than just a client to me; you all are." He checked his watch. "Okay, we'd better hit the road if we want to get back to San Pueblo."
"You will be stopping somewhere for the night, won't you?" Shirley almost cried when she saw Chris and Tracy board the bus.
"Yes," came the blond man's answer.
"Call me when you do. You have the hospital's number and the hotel's…"
"We will, Mom. Tell Keith we love him and to get better soon," Laurie gave her mother a big hug.
"Things should start looking up by morning. Dr. Burns is working nearly round the clock." Shirley said, trying, and failing miserably, to sound happy. She and Danny stood back as, once everyone was on board, Reuben gently closed the doors to the bus. Waving, they watched as the engine fired up and the psychedelic monster rolled away from the curb.
It was the first time her little brood had been split up for longer than a day or so. Shirley wiped at her eyes as she and Danny started back for the hospital entrance.
to be continued...
Danny felt very uncomfortable in his hospital gown, following the nurse into the elevator. He had to struggle to keep the back from flapping open and exposing his behind, and he knew people were staring. Luckily, they were the only ones on the elevator, and he backed into a corner, watching the floor numbers light up as they zoomed past them. The car stopped on number eight and the doors slid open. The nurse ushered him out as he once again, fumbled with the gown in back, doing his best to keep up with her.
She led him into a room that was so small one needed to step outside to change one's mind, and told him to wait. She went through another door, and Danny looked around a little nervously. He wondered if this was going to hurt. He'd only had a couple of blood tests ever in his young life, and he remembered it wasn't very pleasant. He couldn't wait for them to remove the needle; and he knew this was going to be a little different. The nurse had explained the whole procedure to him. They would tie a rubber band around his upper arm and insert the needle into the crook of his arm. The needle would be attached to a tube that led to a bottle with still another tube attached to a needle in Keith's arm, and the blood would be transferred that way. Out of Danny's arm, right into Keith's. He just hoped he didn't faint! He never was one much for needles (what eleven-year-old was?), but right now, he was willing to endure anything for Keith. He wanted him better; back to exchanging insults with him, back to the teasing and the laughter. He wanted him back, period. The things his brother suffered with this virus were too much, for either of them. He knew Keith was exhausted, and just watching him deteriorate made Danny tired, too. It was so awful to see Keith in pain, not knowing what was coming next. He just wanted him well again, and if this was what it took to get to that point, he was more than willing to do his share!
The door opened, and the nurse smiled, beckoning him on and he bravely followed her again, this time into a larger room.
Keith was already there, lying on a table with his head turned away from the other table that Danny assumed would be his for the next little while. Keith's eyes were closed, and his skin was pale, almost see-through. He looked peaceful, and Danny was glad he was out of pain for the time being.
"Okay, kiddo, hop up here," the nurse smiled, patting the second table.
Danny used the step at the bottom of the table to climb up, and the nurse put a pillow down as he laid back. She took the rubber band and tied it quickly around Danny's right arm as the boy glanced over at Keith.
His brother was already hooked up with the needle and the bottle, and Danny gulped, staring at Keith's still form there, not two feet from him. "Will this hurt him?" Danny asked the nurse as she took the needle in her hand.
"Hurt him? No, honey. He won't feel a thing. And I'm going to try not to hurt you, either. Make a fist, sweetie."
Danny obeyed, his eyes still on his brother. She came down with the needle and Danny closed his eyes tight, feeling a little prick in the crook of his arm. It went a bit numb, then he couldn't feel anything at all and he opened his eyes. She was taping the needle down onto his arm so it wouldn't come loose, and he continued watching her as she connected him to Keith via the tubes and the bottle.
"Okay, honey. You just lie here and try not to move. I'll be back when the bottle's about half full, okay?" She started for the door.
"Okay," Danny said, turning his head to the right, so he could see Keith. His brother didn't move, and Danny swallowed, staring at him, half-wishing he would wake up and at least talk to him. He wanted to see that he was okay, but he also wanted Keith to know that he, Danny, was there for him. He would always be there.
With a sigh, Danny looked ceilingward, staring at the bright light above them. It was hard on his eyes, and he closed them, taking the opportunity to say a heartfelt prayer for his brother.
As he finished the prayer, he heard movement nearby and quickly looked over to see Keith's head rolling slowly on the pillow beneath it. Keith whimpered, and Danny lifted his head, staring at him.
"Keith?" he said gently.
Keith moaned again, and now he faced the other table. The younger boy swallowed, wanting to touch him; to let him know he was there; that someone was with him.
He tried again. "Keith!"
To his surprise, Keith's eyes fluttered open and Danny grinned, hoping he could see him clearly.
"Danny…" Keith whispered after a second, and it was all Danny could do not to sit up and grab him.
"Yeah, it's me…how ya feel?"
Keith swallowed. His mouth was arid, and he was very, very sleepy. "What's going on? What are you….?" He mumbled through cracked lips.
"You needed blood, so I'm giving you some of mine." Danny's chest puffed out proudly. "Cool, huh?"
Keith's sleep-laden eyes followed the tube from his arm upward. Danny waited patiently. Finally Keith's focus turned back to him, or so it seemed. "Uh huh…" he said tiredly, heavily, closing his eyes.
To Danny's disappointment, Keith had fallen back into his own quiet world. Taking great care not to bother any of the equipment attached to either one of them, Danny reached over with his left hand, touching Keith's left hand as it lay almost dangling off the table. "See you later, pal…you're gonna get better now, Keith."
As expected, Keith didn't respond and Danny laid back, feeling mighty good for the moment.
With all the goings-on in the morning, Danny was eager to return to the hospital. He never knew when Keith would need more blood, and he was ready to do his duty. But everyone was in slow motion this morning. Reuben, Laurie and the two littlest Partridges were getting ready for their long bus ride back to San Pueblo, and Shirley was not so eager to see them off. She had discussed it again and again with the manager, who had assured her -again and again - that it was the best plan all around.
No one seemed to notice that all of this was slowly killing Danny!
Finally, Reuben announced, "Okay, let's go over to the hospital, so we can say goodbye to Keith."
Danny practically flew out to the bus. It was about time, really! Suppose Keith had needed him? How could he tell him that the reason he wasn't there, was that his family was a bunch of slow-poke worry-warts? It wasn't an excuse; it was just how it was. He would have come earlier, but he was too young to drive the bus, and Keith might not take that answer, either. He would be very disappointed in his little brother, because Danny didn't try hard enough to get his tail over there! And now, they'd probably given Keith someone else's blood; a stranger. All because Danny Partridge was too young to drive…
His imagination was still running a little rampant when they all entered the hospital lobby. Shirley turned to her brood.
"Okay, now, Chris and Tracy will have to stay here," she said, reacting to their cries of protest.
"We'll tell Keith good bye for you," Laurie assured them, putting a hand on each of their young heads.
"It's not fair," Tracy muttered, her blue eyes welling with tears. "He's our brother, too!"
"I know, sweetheart, but it's against the rules. We'd take you up there in a second if we could," Shirley smiled down at her youngest daughter.
Chris sighed, flopping into a chair. "Come on, Trace. We know when we're not wanted…"
"Now, Chris…" Shirley began as Danny tried to keep from screaming.
"Come ON!" he bellowed, taking Laurie's hand and starting for the elevators.
Reuben followed as Shirley lagged behind, still talking to Chris and Tracy. "Stay right here, all right? We'll be back in a few minutes."
They nodded, their feelings clearly hurt, as Shirley joined the others on the elevator.
Danny watched anxiously as the car started upwards, taking forever and a day to reach the eighth floor. When the elevator stopped and the doors parted, he was the first one out.
The nurse at the desk directed them, saying that Keith's room was the first door down the connecting hallway and Danny had to hold back to keep from running. Maybe now that Keith had his blood, he would be practically back to normal, sitting up and flirting with the nurses; something his older brother was very adept at.
He was so very wrong. Even as they entered the hallway, they could sense that something was not right. Drawing closer to the room, they heard Keith's anguished cries of pain and the four of them stopped, their hearts in their throats. Shirley motioned for them to wait there, and slowly pushed open the door.
Keith was on his side in the bed, doubled over in pain as a young nurse stood beside him.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Shirley stepped in all the way.
The nurse turned, her face serious. "Oh, Mrs. Partridge, thank goodness you're here. We've been trying to get hold of you… He's having a reaction to the blood transfusion, is all. His system is trying to fight it."
Shirley went to the bedside, watching her son writhe in pain. "I see," she said, reaching down and putting a cool hand on Keith's face. "It's okay, baby. Mom's here."
Hearing her voice, Keith reached up, grabbing her hand. "Mom," he gasped. "Oh, god, Mom, it hurts…make it stop…"
The nurse smiled sadly. "We can't give him painkillers without the doctor's permission. We paged Dr. Burns, but he hasn't answered yet. I'll go, so you can have some time with him, and I'll let you know when we get hold of the doctor."
"Thank you," Shirley pulled up a chair next to the bed, her hand still in Keith's painful grip. "Could you send the rest of my family in, as well?"
"Of course," the nurse nodded, going out the door.
Shirley took Keith's hand in both of hers as Laurie, Reuben and Danny came warily in, looking very worried. She shook her head at them, then focused her attention on her firstborn. "Where does it hurt, Keith?"
"My back…it feels like my kidneys are ready to explode…" His voice rose with the intensity of the pain.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Laurie swallowed, stepping closer. She saw her brother's anguish and bit her own lip in sympathy.
"They said it was a reaction to the transfusion. For some reason, his body's fighting Danny's blood." Shirley ran her hand along her son's spine.
Upon hearing that, Danny slammed back into the door, suddenly ridden with guilt and terrified. His blood was causing all this pain and misery? Dear god…he wanted to die!
Shirley and the others looked back at the young boy. He stared at them, his stomach churning as his mother smiled at him. "Danny, come here…come talk to Keith while I get a cold rag for his fever."
Violently, Danny shook his mop of red hair, paralyzed in the doorway. "No…I…I'll just stay here."
"You've been wanting to do this all morning; what's the problem?" Reuben looked puzzled.
"I don't want to," Danny wailed, turning and grabbing the door handle. He slipped out as Shirley looked up at Laurie.
"Laurie…"
"I'm way ahead of you, Mom," Laurie sighed, following her little brother.
He was down the hall a couple of doors, bent over himself, nearly hyperventilating, and Laurie hurried to him. "Danny! What is it, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
He looked up at her, fear emanating from his cherubic, freckled face. "I almost killed him."
"What?"
"My blood…it's making him sicker! Oh, Laurie, he's gonna die, and it's all my fault!" He began to shout, and she grabbed him, pulling him to her, trying to quiet him and comfort him all at once.
"No, no…no one said he was dying. It's a reaction, that's all!" she spoke soothingly, squatting down so that she was more on his level.
"But it's hurting him! Did you see him? He's in pain! It's my blood that's doing it to him!"
"That's why they're trying to get hold of the doctor, so they know what to give him. Oh, honey, he's going to be all right. If he wasn't, there would be all kinds of doctors and nurses in there in a big panic."
He calmed a little, sniffing and swiping at his nose. "You really think so?"
Laurie produced a tissue from her pocket. "I know so. Now, come on. Keith needs us now. Let's go talk to him, let him know we love him, okay?"
His lip still trembling, he wiped his eyes and nose, nodding still a tiny bit disconsolately as she lovingly took his hand and led him back to the room.
Still on his right side, Keith was in agony, moving under the covers as the pain tore through his lower back, centering on the soft spot between his ribs and his pelvic bone. He cried out into the pillow as Shirley wiped his brow with a wet cloth.
Laurie pushed Danny forward and the boy stared down at his brother, terror still showing on his face.
"Keith…" he managed to say.
Between outcries, Keith desperately took in air. "What?"
"I - I'm sorry if my blood's hurting you…"
Keith panted, fighting another rush of pain. "It's not your fault, Danny… the nurse said that my body just thinks it's…being invaded, you know…?" He gasped as the muscles in his back twisted once more.
"Keith's body will adjust to it, soon, Danny, and his pain will ease," Shirley told him, handing Danny the rag.
He took it from her, sitting on the bed with his brother and carefully wiping his forehead with it.
Keith reached up, feeling almost blindly for Danny, finally finding the boy's shoulder. He gave it a weak squeeze, and Danny gulped, trying not to cry in front of him. He knew he had to be brave for Keith right now.
"Honey, maybe it would help it you sat up," Shirley suggested.
"Right, Keith, we could prop your pillows up against your back for support. Might take the pressure off." Laurie moved to the other side of the bed.
Keith nodded. At this point, he was willing to try anything, and Danny moved as his mother and sister each took an arm and adjusted him while Reuben folded the pillows behind the young singer.
The two women eased Keith back against the pillows, waiting tensely for his reaction. He closed his eyes, only pulling a slight face this time.
"Better?" Shirley put her hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah." He still strained for breath as he looked up at her. "Thanks."
Laurie noticed that Keith's skin was red and bumpy under the collar of his pajama top . She leaned down, carefully pulling at the collar. "Oooh, Keith, that's one heck of a rash you have going there…"
Shirley looked to see, too. "Oh, honey, that looks terrible! Does it itch? Burn? Hurt in any way?" She reached over, unbuttoning his shirt. The rash covered his upper torso and she flinched, pulling back.
"No…I think it has something to do with the reaction…oh, god, Mom, where's the doctor?" Keith asked, anguished, trying to will the pain away. He cried out, feeling his lower back with his hand and tensing beneath the covers.
Suddenly, Danny went forward, gathering his brother into his arms and pulling him close.
"I'm sorry, Keith, I'm sorry…" he cried, burying his face in Keith's collarbone, holding onto him tightly.
Keith swallowed, sagging in his little brother's hold. "It's okay, Danny…" he murmured, weakly hugging him back. Keith tensed with pain, his face reflecting every morsel of misery, and Shirley put her hand on Danny's shoulder.
"Danny, get down…you're hurting him…Danny!" Shirley said.
"It's okay, Mom…he's not…" Keith said softly as Danny's sobs trailed off. "Danny, I told you, it's not your fault. They told me it's a regular reaction. Dr. Burns just didn't leave the nurses instructions for any medication, that's all," Keith explained, taking care not to let any pain show through. It was tough, but he thought he was managing it.
Danny didn't see the exchange between Keith, Laurie and the adults, and Laurie stepped up to the bed.
"Come on, sweetie, let's go down to the lobby and check on Chris and Tracy. " Laurie urged her little brother. "Let's let Reuben, Mom and Keith have some time to themselves."
Reluctantly, Danny slid down off the bed, and with a shaky smile from Keith, he followed Laurie out the door.
Keith waited until he was sure they were out of earshot before he groaned again, his body driving hard against the pain.
When Dr. Burns finally did come, the pain had all but won over Keith's valiant struggle and he was exhausted, letting the medication slowly overtake his aching body. He lapsed into a deep sleep, to Shirley's relief, and she was able to get away to give Laurie, Reuben and her two babies a tearful send-off.
As she hugged each of them goodbye, Reuben appeared a bit apprehensive. "Now, you know the number to call for the rental car…I arranged everything. All you need to do is pick it up."
Still clinging to Tracy, Shirley nodded. "Yes, Reuben," she said, just a hint of sadness in her voice.
"No letting Keith drive it…well, of course he won't be, not in his condition, but if he even WANTS to, tell him no. He's not covered under the policy."
Danny tried to lighten the moment. "How about me?" he quipped. Out here, by the bus, he could joke around, but the minute he saw his brother and the agony he was going through, his mood darkened.
"Yeah, sure, kid. Anything you want. Just don't take your mother or Keith with you." Reuben shot back, to Danny's delight, turning back to Shirley. "And the plane tickets will be waiting for you at the airport. You can drop the car off there and get right on the plane, convenient, right?"
"Oh, very. Thank you Reuben…you've been a tower of strength through all of this."
The manager actually blushed at Shirley's compliment. "Well, you know…Keith's more than just a client to me; you all are." He checked his watch. "Okay, we'd better hit the road if we want to get back to San Pueblo."
"You will be stopping somewhere for the night, won't you?" Shirley almost cried when she saw Chris and Tracy board the bus.
"Yes," came the blond man's answer.
"Call me when you do. You have the hospital's number and the hotel's…"
"We will, Mom. Tell Keith we love him and to get better soon," Laurie gave her mother a big hug.
"Things should start looking up by morning. Dr. Burns is working nearly round the clock." Shirley said, trying, and failing miserably, to sound happy. She and Danny stood back as, once everyone was on board, Reuben gently closed the doors to the bus. Waving, they watched as the engine fired up and the psychedelic monster rolled away from the curb.
It was the first time her little brood had been split up for longer than a day or so. Shirley wiped at her eyes as she and Danny started back for the hospital entrance.
to be continued...