1 DAY OF RECKONING

CHAPTER 8

The birthday party went off without a hitch, all of the children had enjoyed themselves and no trouble had erupted from Garrett Darvin.

With the party behind them life returned to a new pace, which was somewhat eased by mama Lucy's presence, Dara still suffered unbearably from the exhaustion and various other symptoms, but Matt was still unable to find a reason or cure to help her.

She had still managed to keep the seriousness of her illness from her husband, but even that was getting increasingly difficult to do as the symptoms seemed to be gaining in intensity. The realization of how serious his wife's condition was came to Lucas just before the second week in January, when Dara was around six months pregnant.

Lucilla had decided to venture home for the day to gather some things she needed, Caleb and Trisha had volunteered to drive her, leaving Dara and the children alone.

Dara had been feeling increasingly weaker through the day, she was in the process of preparing supper when the dizziness descended on her with a vengeance, she had grabbed at the kitchen counter for support but was unable to fight succumbing to the overwhelming sensation which finally engulfed her, causing her to collapse on the floor into oblivion.

Rinie, Riesa and Alex had all three heard the noise and went to find it's source. Not seeing their mother they were about to go back to watching their shows when Rinie decided that she was thirsty. Going over to the refrigerator she found her mother unconscious. Shouting for her siblings who came over quickly, they tried to revive their mother.

Alex looked to his sisters in fright, "What do we do, she won't wake up?"

Riesa glanced to her sister, who despite her age was remaining calm. Glancing at the clock, Rinie stated hopefully, "Daddy will know what to do, he should be home soon."

Just then they heard the front door open and heard their father's voice announcing his arrival. Riesa jumped up and ran up the hallway to get her father.

Lucas turned to smile at his daughter until he saw the look of panic on her face. "Daddy! Come quick, there something wrong with mommy."

Lucas ran up the hallway where his other children were still kneeling over their mother's unconscious body. Placing his hand gently behind her neck to lift her head from the floor, he gently patted her cheek as he begged, "Dara? Honey, wake up, come on now open your eyes, honey wake up." Lucas waited but when no response came from her he tried again more insistently, patting her cheeks with a little more force he spoke more harshly, "Damned Dara, wake up baby, come on look at me, open your eyes." When he still received no response he placed his arm under her legs and lifted her off the floor.

Rinie looked at him in fear as she asked timidly, "Daddy, will mommy be all right?"

Lucas looked at all three children, trying to keep his own panic down, he answered in what he hoped was a steady voice, "I hope so angel." Trying to decide on the best course of action, he was grateful to see the front door open and his eldest child enter. Rushing past he briefly explained, "Call Crower, tell him that your mother has passed out but she isn't waking up, I'm taking her to the hospital." With that he rushed to the car and settled her in the front before speeding off leaving Caleb to do as told and Trisha and mama Lucy trying to comfort and quiet the younger children's fears for the their mother.



Lucas sat in the emergency waiting room with his head in his hands, begging whatever deity there was that his wife would be all right. Finally, Crower came out and sat across from him.

When Matt saw Lucas' eyes he could have sworn the man had been crying.

Lucas asked, almost afraid of the answer, "Well?"

Matt shook his head as he decided to level with him, "First of all, she's been battling whatever this is for a while, since before her pregnancy it's only gained in intensity with her pregnancy, and to be honest I'm stumped. We've run every test there is on her for the past two and a half months trying to find a cause. She stays exhausted, continuous dizziness, headaches, sore throats and according to her, she sleeps but doesn't get any rest from it."

Lucas considered his words and realized that he had seen everything he had just had described to him, but had always accepted Dara's explanations of a new virus or just not feeling well. Sighing heavily he asked, "So what do we do now? You're telling me my wife has a disease that you cant find?"

Matt sighed in frustration, "I'm not happy with it either, if I don't know what it is then I cant treat it, but I've taken the liberty of calling a friend of mine he's an expert in obscure diseases. If any one can find the answer he can."

Lucas looked at him in appreciation for his foresight, "What about now, how is she?"

Matt, realizing his concern, stated, "She's still pregnant, we did an ultrasound and the baby appears to be fine, whatever happened didn't affect the baby. She's conscious now and she isn't having any pain, other than the one in her back, but we knew to expect that one, but there is one major thing though."

Lucas glanced at him impatiently as he demanded, "Well, what is it?"

Matt was wearing a look of deep concern on his face as he stated, "She's thoroughly exhausted, I mean beyond belief, and not to mention extremely depressed. I think that stems from her illness though. She wants to go home and since there's no complications with the baby and given her mental state at the moment it might not be a bad idea."

Lucas nodded in acceptance of Crower's decision, "All right, whatever is best for her." With that he let Crower lead him to the examination room where Dara was.

Lucas had to brace himself when he saw her, she looked exceedingly frail and he could see that just sitting up seemed to be a chore for her, placing a smile on his face he informed her brightly, "Darlin, Matt says that you can go home so lets get you dressed and I'll take you home all right?"

Giving a slight nod of her head in agreement, Lucas realized that she didn't say anything because she was too tired to speak. Taking her clothes from the chair he dressed her since she was unable to do it for herself. He had just finished when Crower pushed a wheelchair in to discharge her. Lucas held her arm for her to get down from the table, when she slid from the table to the floor her legs refused to hold her and she would have landed in a heap if Lucas hadn't of caught her.

Bracing herself as her husband held her, she looked up into his concerned face and unable to hold it back any longer she began crying weakly without saying a word.

Lucas pulled her tight against him as he stated, "Darlin it's all right, we'll find out what this is, don't worry. Matt called a specialist; he'll be able to help you. Please baby, don't cry, I can't stand to see you like this."

Matt shook his head at the sight of Lucas Buck trying to comfort his wife. Five years ago he would never have been able to comprehend Buck even possessing the feelings he was now displaying.

Dara had finally quieted down as Lucas wiped the tears from her eyes. "Better now?"

Dara nodded weakly as she leaned against him for support, holding her up while Crower pushed the chair behind her, Lucas gently lowered her to the seat and followed as Crower pushed her to the parking lot. Once outside Lucas lifted her from the chair and settled her in the car.

Matt glanced at him as he stated, "When Adam gets here, I'll call you."

Lucas nodded his appreciation as he went around and got in the car.



Once they arrived home Lucas glanced at Dara in uncertainty, "Darlin, do you think that you can make it in the house by yourself?"

Dara looked at him with tears in her eyes as she shook her head sadly and voiced quietly, "I don't think that I can even get out of the car by myself."

Lucas got out and quickly came around to her side to open the door. Lifting her in his arms he felt a wave of despair wash over him when she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder and began crying. Patting her back comfortingly, he held her tighter to him as he stated, "It's all right baby, let it out, you've kept it in long enough. We'll find out what the problem is and we'll fix it. Don't worry, I'm right here."

Lucas had just reached the top step when the door opened wide. Caleb was about to say something when Lucas shook his head, cutting him off as he continued on his course up the staircase. When he reached their bedroom he sat her on the bed as he searched for a nightgown so that he could dress her for bed.

After he had removed her clothes and dressed her in a gown he pulled the covers of the bed back, then lifting her off the edge settled her under the covers. Making certain that she was warm enough he tucked her in and was about to leave when she reached out and grabbed his hand as she pleaded, "Please, don't leave me, stay with me until I fall asleep."

Lucas patted her hand as he lay down next to her and held her close to him, trying to assure her that everything would be all right. "It's going to be fine honey, this specialist will be able to find out what the problem is and then they can help you. I'm right here and I promise that I'll be right here to take care of you."

Lucas knew that she was crying again but he also knew that she was better off to let her emotions out then to keep them in. He began rubbing her lower back where he knew it would be hurting her the worst to try and help her relax. Shortly, he could feel her breathing deepen and become more even as he realized that she had finally fallen asleep. Lucas pushed the hair away from her face and placed a kiss on her forehead as he headed downstairs to discuss the situation with the rest of their family.

When Lucas entered the living room it was to find their four children as well as Mama Lucy and Trisha waiting to learn what was going on with Dara.

Lucas sat down in his chair as he gratefully accepted a cup of coffee from his grandmother. Caleb, unable to bare the tension, came straight to the point as he asked his father, "Well, what's wrong with mama? And don't tell us she just fainted, she's been passing out a lot and there has to be a reason."

Lucas turned and nodded at the truth of his son's statement as he explained, "There is a problem, and apparently she has been ill since before this pregnancy, it's just intensified the further into her pregnancy she gets."

All three of the younger children looked at each other then to their father in seriousness as Riesa asked in uncertain fear, "Daddy, is mommy going to die?"

Lucas abruptly slammed his cup down and glared at his three-year-old daughter, as he exploded, "NO, AND DON'T YOU EVER ASK ME A QUESTION LIKE THAT AGAIN YOUNG LADY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

Riesa tried to hold back the tears but was unable to; her father had never raised his voice at her, Rinie or her brothers.

Lucas, seeing the hurt and confusion on his daughter's face, as well as the tears spilling from the eyes that were so much like her mother's, was instantly regretful of his outburst. Holding his arms out to her he watched with a tug at his heart as she reluctantly walked over and allowed him to lift her up to his lap as he hugged her and brushed her tears away. "I'm sorry baby. No, mommy isn't going to die, we just aren't sure exactly what's wrong with her right now."

Turning to the rest of the group he explained, "Which is why we have all got to pull together. Your mother is very tired and weak; she needs as much rest as possible. So we have to make the rest of her pregnancy as easy on her as we can. Crower called in a specialist to see if we can't find out exactly what is wrong with her. So do I have all of your cooperation?"

Everyone was quiet until Trisha spoke up timidly, "If mama Lucy can handle it until Caleb and I get home from school, then we can take care of the house and cooking, as well as the grocery shopping."

Lucas nodded in appreciation of the girl's eagerness to volunteer her help. "I've got some time coming and things are fairly quite right now, I can get Ben and Floyd to cover for me so that I can he here to help as much as possible." Turning to Lucilla, he asked, "Well, mama its up to you, are you in it with us?

Lucas saw the hopeful look on the faces of all her grandchildren and nodded in agreement, "Of course I am, we're a family and we stick together during a time like this. I'm in."

Lucas sighed in relief as having overcome one obstacle, now if they could just get past the larger one of finding out what was wrong with Dara, and how to cure it.