DAY OF RECKONING

CHAPTER 16

Garrett Darvin was certain that he had finally had the key he needed dropped in his lap when he discovered the interest that a certain medical file clerk from the hospital had in him. Deciding to take advantage of the situation he had gotten closer to her to the point of visiting her at the hospital where she worked. He needed to find something more about his sister in law, he had found out about the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from gossip and such, but he needed more vital information, which he found on one night when Wendy, the file clerk, had been asked upstairs to retrieve some files, due to lack of help on the floor there was no one available to return the stack of folders to the records room.

Garrett, as usual, was visiting when the pretty young girl asked, "I have to go upstairs, will you be here when I get back?"

Garrett smiled charmingly at the pretty brunette, mentally comparing her with his sister in law. "Sure I will honey, go on upstairs I'll just sit here and listen to the radio."

Wendy glanced around in a quandary, "I'm not really supposed to leave you in here, but I guess that I can trust you."

With that she placed a kiss on his mouth as he stated, "Of course you can, what on earth could I want in here?"

Satisfied, she left for the upper floors leaving Garrett free to search for her answers. Heading to the section he needed he quickly located the file he needed, pulling it out he read the label: BUCK, DARA, CHAMBERS. Opening it he scanned it quickly but thoroughly until he came across his key. Smiling, he stated aloud, "Bingo!" There in black and white was the answer to his problem.

Written in Matt Crower's careful hand under allergies was, PENICILLIN (HIGHLY DANGEROUS, POSSIBLY LETHAL).

Garrett smiled he now had the key he needed, now he just needed the door to put it in, continuing his perusal he found further along in the more current portion of the file under continuous medications: HIGH POWERED MULTI VITAMINS, IRON SUPPLEMENTS. As well as a log of the dates for refills, which were filled here in the hospital pharmacy, checking he chuckled to himself, "Well, looks like my sister in law is a creature of habit." All the dates were the same each month and the day after tomorrow was when the next prescription was due to be filled.

Considering his options he smiled to himself as he realized exactly how he would get his sister in law out of the way for a while, he had no intentions of killing her, yet, not until he had his chance at her to find out exactly what it was that kept his brother so enthralled with her. He did however want to get her out of the way and he couldn't think of any better way than to put her in anaphylactic shock.

Putting the file away he heard Wendy returning when he took his seat, smiling, he decided that it was time to deepen their relationship, at least enough to get him into the pharmacy.



Dara was getting ready for bed when she remembered that she had forgotten to take her iron pills. Since Matt had her on both vitamins and iron she opted to take the vitamins during the day and the iron at night. She had just finished downing the pills followed by a glass of water when Lucas came in and smiled at her as he asked,

"Ready to get some sleep?"

Dara nodded as she walked past him placing a kiss on his mouth while he undressed. Checking on Ria to make certain that she was still asleep, having started early at sleeping through the entire night, she pulled the baby blanket over her as she placed a kiss on the infant. Lucas had climbed into bed and turned the light off when she joined him and settled against him for the night to find rest.



Lucas, sensing something wasn't quite right, came awake instantly. Switching the lamp on he turned to his wife and gasped in horror.

Her complexion was almost paper white and she was frantically clawing at her throat as she was attempting to breathe.

Lucas could hear the ragged wheezing as she struggled to get air into her lungs. Reaching over he snatched the door open and careless of his undressed state yelled as loud as he could, "CALEB, GET IN HERE, NOW!"

Turning back to his wife he placed his arm behind her back to lift her to a sitting position, thinking that she was choking on something, began frantically hitting her back in an attempt to dislodge it.

Caleb stumbled in, still half asleep, mumbling, "What's the mat…?" Seeing his mother's condition he rushed to the side of the bed and asked frantically, "MAMA, WHAT IS IT?"

Dara looked at them both in panics as she struggled to speak past the swelling in her throat. "Cant breat…"

Lucas watched in horror as she lost consciousness and her chest ceased movement. Looking at his son he ordered sharply, "CALL CROWER NOW!" With that he lifted her off the bed and placed her on the floor as Caleb went to do as told.

Lucilla came in fastening her robe as she asked over the sound of the baby, who had begun crying at the sound of her father's voice booming her from sleep. "What's going on in…what happened to Dara?"

Lucas shook his head as he ordered, "Mama, take the baby downstairs." With that he put his ear against his wife's chest to listen, hearing no air or heartbeat he swore, "DAMN!" With that he placed his hands over her heart and began CPR, after a few seconds Caleb came running back in stating,

"He's on his way over here." With that seeing his father working over his mother he asked, "What can I do?"

Lucas motioned for him to place his hands where he had and do the same thing as he started giving her mouth-to-mouth.

Caleb did as instructed and listened as her heart started beating again. Smiling he was about to stop until he noticed that she still wasn't breathing, looking at his father he instructed, "Look at her chest Dad, she's not getting any air, there's something blocking it."

Lucas opened her mouth as he grabbed a flashlight and exclaimed, "My God her throat is swollen shut." With that he directed, "Go get the alcohol, a towel, my pen knife and a pen from my jacket and hurry."

With that he ran to do as told, returning he asked, "What are you going to do?"

Lucas shook his head, "The only thing left to do, a tracheotomy."

Caleb stared at him in shock, "Isn't that dangerous?"

Lucas glared at him as he asked sarcastically, "Would you rather we let her die? Her throat is swollen shut this is the only way she can breather right now, now are you going to help me or not?" Caleb nodded, waiting for instructions.

Lucas took a pair of scissors from the drawer and cut the tube of the ink pen, then opening the knife and handing the alcohol to Caleb, he instructed, "All right, pour that over the knife, the tube and my hands then over your mother's neck. Then hold her shoulders and I mean tight she might convulse when I cut her."

Doing as told, Caleb sat the bottle on the floor, and then pressed his hands firmly on his mother's shoulders as he nodded to his father to go ahead.

Lucas nodded, as he looked down on his wife's face, bracing himself he muttered, "I'm sorry darlin." With that he pressed the razor sharp knife against her pale throat and watched as it drew a crimson line behind the blade, and then taking the tube from the pen her inserted it into the opening and waited for what seemed an eternity, but was only a second, until he heard the blessed wheezing sound from the tube. Placing his ear against her chest he looked at his son in relief as he stated, "Her hearts beating and she's breathing."

Caleb nodded, speechless as he watched the rise and fall of his mother's chest, thankful for his father's knowledge. They heard the rapid succession of footsteps on the stairs and knew that Crower had arrived.

Running into the room he knelt by Dara and asked as he checked the tube in her throat, "What happened?"

Lucas shook his head as he explained, "Damn if I know, we were asleep and I turned the light on and she was grabbing at her throat, I thought that she might be choking but she wasn't, she stopped breathing and her heart stopped, so we did CPR and when I checked her throat it was swollen shut. So I didn't have a choice but to do this."

Matt nodded his agreement as he checked her eyes and her throat, then her pulse. Glancing at Lucas he inquired, "Did she take anything tonight?"

Lucas shrugged, and then remembering the iron pills, nodded as he got up and handed the bottle to Matt. Opening the bottle Matt shook out a couple of pills to examine them. Then, breaking one open tasted the powder, eyes widening he set the bottle aside as he grabbed the phone and called the hospital. "Hello, yeah Rita? This is Crower get an ambulance to Sheriff Buck's house right away and tell them to pack epinephrine. Yeah, anaphylactic shock and yes I was her admitted." Hanging up he looked at Lucas in concern, "Do you know what's in these capsules?"

Lucas shrugged, "I thought that they were iron pills."

Matt shook his head as he stated, "They're supposed to be iron pills, this is penicillin."

Lucas narrowed his gaze as he spoke, "That's impossible, she's allergic to penicillin, you even marked it as possibly lethal in her file, didn't you?"

Matt nodded, "Yes I did, which means that this could possibly be an intentional mix up."

Lucas looked down on his wife before looking back to Crower, "I know who did this, I just don't know how he did it."

Matt ventured hesitantly, "It could be a simple mistake."

Lucas glowered at the younger man as he challenged, "A simple mistake is not to fill an entire bottle labeled iron supplement with penicillin. This was done on purpose and we both know it."

Matt reluctantly nodded his head in agreement with the statement before addressing the more immediate issue. "All right, you may be right but for right now lets worry about the more immediate problem and that's getting her to the hospital and on epinephrine to counteract the penicillin." Glancing at Lucas Matt realized for the first time that he was rather scantily attired and suggested tactfully, "Maybe you would like to consider dressing more appropriately?"

Lucas glanced down and realized that he had a point. Getting up he grabbed the clothes he had laid across the chair when he had undressed for bed and went to the bathroom to dress. Matt had secured the tube in Dara's throat with gauze and bandaging tape before the paramedics came in to take her. Lucas emerged from the bathroom as they were about to lift her onto a stretcher. Watching in aggravation as they were trying to determine the best way to accomplish their task, he became agitated when the one man suggested lifting her by her arms and legs. Sucking in his breath he exploded, "Are you insane or just that stupid? She has a tube in her throat the thing she needs is for her neck to fall backwards like that." Stalking towards them he glared at them as they stepped away and ordered, "Move I'll do it." Nodding to Crower he placed his arms under her and gently lifted while Matt made certain that her neck remained immobile. Once they had her on the stretcher he looked at the other men in anger as he challenged, "Now, do you think that you can get her there without killing her?"

Both nodded as they hurried to get out of the line of fire of Lucas' temper.



An hour later sitting in the hospital waiting room, Lucas and Caleb sat afraid to speak or contemplate what was taking place behind the door. Matt had informed them that he would have to replace the small tube with a slightly bigger one, allowing more air to get to her lungs, as well as administering epinephrine to counteract the anaphylactic shock to her system.

Matt came out and sat across from them shaking his head as he explained, "I placed another tube in her throat, that will allow for more oxygen, and the swelling is going down in her throat, slowly, but it is going down. Hopefully shell be able to breath normally in a few days or so, but her heart stopping has me concerned."

Lucas glanced at him guiltily as he asked, "What about her throat, I'm no doctor did I damage anything?"

Matt looked at him in sympathy as he answered without preamble, "It's too soon to tell yet, there is a possibility that she may have some damage to her larynx but we wont know that until the tube is out of her throat."

Caleb raised his head as he asked, "You mean that she might not be able to talk again?"

Matt answered sadly, "I really don't know right now Caleb, it could be possible. We just have to wait and see."

Lucas, seeing that he was holding something back from them, narrowed his gaze as he asked in suspicion, "There's something that your not telling us isn't there?"

Matt considered lying to them, but he knew that there wouldn't be any point to it as he asked, "How long was she without oxygen?"

Lucas considered his question carefully as he glanced at his son for confirmation of his estimate. "I don't know maybe three or four minutes or so, couldn't have been longer than five I know." Caleb nodded in agreement with his father's estimation.

Matt glanced at him sadly as he stated, "The human brain can only go for a very short amount of time without oxygen before it suffers damage."

Lucas narrowed his gave as he questioned in disbelief, "Are you saying that my wife might have brain damage?"

Matt nodded in sympathy at he stated, "We're not going to know anything until she regains consciousness, but I am saying that it could be a possibility, yes."

Caleb looked at his father as he asked, "Should we call aunt Kara and have her bring the kids back?"

Shaking his head Lucas stated, "No, lets not say anything right now. There's no sense in upsetting them unless we just absolutely have to. No, you go ahead on home and help mama Lucy with the baby. I'll stay here tonight."



Lucas waited by Dara's bed for three days, waiting for some sign of her regaining consciousness. Ben understanding the situation was filling in for him at the station as well as trying to track down how the pills could have been switched.

Lucas was dozing in the chair by her bed when Matt came in on rounds. He had just finished examining her and was about to discuss his prognosis with Lucas when they noticed her hand lift off her chest towards her head as her eyes opened. She was about to say something when Matt rushed to stop her.

"Dara don't talk, you had to have a tracheotomy and you have a tube in your throat so don't speak, all right?"

Looking up at him confused, she nodded her acceptance. Looking around the room she saw her husband and held her hand out to him. Sitting on the side of the bed he took her hand and held it tightly as he brought it to his lips in thankfulness. Turning back towards Matt she motioned for him to come closer.

Doing as she requested he sat on her other side and asked, "You want to ask me something?"

Nodding she pointed to her throat and shrugged her shoulders.

Matt was uncertain as to her exact meaning until Lucas stated knowingly, "She wants to know what happened." Dara turned and nodded her agreement with his statement.

Matt spoke hesitantly, "You went into anaphylactic shock and your throat swelled shut. Lucas had to perform a tracheotomy to save your life."

Turning to her husband she looked at him questioningly as she pointed to him then to her throat. Lucas answered her without having to guess, "Yes I did it and I'm sorry darlin the last thing in the world I would want to do is hurt you but there wasn't another option." Dara shook her head as she motioned for him to lean closer and placed a kiss on his cheek, silently thanking him.

Matt watched the interchange in amazement at the way they were able to communicate with each other without the use of words.

Glancing back at Matt she looked at him questioningly, as she motioned to her throat then to her mouth and mimicked the action of talking with her hands.

Lucas looked at him in amusement of his confusion as he interpreted, "She wants to know if she'll be able to talk again."

Matt shook his head as he stated, "Dara, I just don't know right now, we wont know until we take the tube from your throat and suture the opening, which by the way we'll be able to do tomorrow." Looking at her apologetically he informed her, "I hate having to do this right now, but you were technically dead for a few minutes and we have to make certain that there's no subsequent damage, so I need to ask you some questions all you have to do is motion or nod, okay?"

Looking at him knowingly she pointed to her head. Understanding her meaning he smiled and answered, "Yes, I mean brain damage. Okay just mouth the words to this one, okay? What's your full name?"

Dara spoke the words without sound, 'Dara Cherice Chambers Buck.'

Smiling, Matt nodded as he continued, "All right, good, how old are you?" Holding up her hands she held up three fingers on the first hand and one on the other, much to both men's delight. "Good, okay are you married and who to?"

Looking at him sarcastically, she nodded and pointed to Lucas.

Matt smiled, "I know I remember I was there but I have to ask. How many children do you have and how old are they?"

Holding up her hands once more she first held up five fingers then began ticking off there ages of sixteen, twice at four for the twins, and then three for Rinie before finally fourteen for Ria.

Glancing at her unsurely on her last answer Matt looked to Lucas who answered, "Ria is fourteen weeks old." Dara smiled as she nodded.

Matt nodded hid head in understanding as he promised, "Okay, last question how long have you been married?"

Smiling she held up her hand once more and five fingers, indicating the number of years.

Shaking his head Matt smiled as he offered, "Well Mrs. Buck I've always said that you were a sharp lady and thank God you still are. Now, I have other patients and you need the rest. We'll get that tube out tomorrow and see about your voice, all right?"

Nodding appreciatively she motioned for him to come closer as she kissed his cheek in gratitude.

Blushing Matt stood up and smiled as he patted her hand, "You're quite welcome, and I'll see you tomorrow." With that he walked out the door, leaving them alone.

Turning to Lucas Dara positioned her arms as though holding a baby while she looked at him questioningly, understanding her meaning he explained, "Mama has Ria, and she's quite all right, all though we had to go ahead and start her on formula while you're in here."

Looking at him questioningly she pointed to her breasts and shook her head in question.

Shaking his head he answered, "Sorry darlin, your milk dried up from all the medication."

Sighing in aggravation she made a face of disappointment.

Patting her hand he advised, "Don't fret over it, it'll be okay." With that she yawned as he asked, "Tired?"

Nodding her head she motioned to the chair and raised an eyebrow at him hopefully. Understanding her meaning he asked,

"You want me to stay?" Nodding her head he smiled, "I was planning on it, go to sleep, I'll be right here."