A/N Oh it feels so good to be able to get back to typing and posting this! After a month you have no idea how much I missed being able to do that! Glad you guys are all still reading. Drop me a review to let me know who is still out there. And if you need anything clarified after all this time, don't hesitate to email me with any questions.
Chapter 61
"I know but this is different Collins!" Maureen said into the phone as she watched Mark throw up into the sink. "And Mark's sick too. They both got fevers. Maureen turned and whispered into the phone. "And she's got really bad cramps. Collins I'm scared and Ginny's not home." She told him barely audibly. She listened to him as she walked over to Mark putting her hand on his clammy forehead. He shook her away and walked back over to the couch lying down.
"Okay we'll meet you there. Bye." She hung up the phone and walked into Mark's room. Returning a minute later she handed him his wallet, shoes, glasses and a jacket.
"What's going on?" Mark asked from the couch.
"We are going to St. V's hospital. Collins is going to meet us there." She told him walking into Roger and Cass' bedroom.
"Hey don't you ever knock?" Skee yelled at her, pulling on a pair of pants.
Maureen gave him a disgusted look and then ignored him, just grabbing some stuff for Cass. She took it to her in the bathroom. "Mark are you ready?" She asked, dragging Cass along behind her.
Mark just looked at him. He knew if Cass was going willingly, she was pretty bad off, and at this moment he didn't mind the idea of somebody giving him something to settle his stomach. "Yes." He stood up pulling on his jacket.
"Wow, this is easier than I ever expected." Maureen commented to both of them. "That's probably not a good sign. Just don't either of you puke on the cab ride over. Please."
"We'll try Mo." Mark said dryly.
"Thena you leaving?" Skee asked, walking out of the bedroom. "We're almost done, right Dodger?"
He looked up from the computer. "Yeah, final checks are running now. Should be a few more hours and you'll be all up and running."
"Good. Finish it, then wait here. And don't touch or do anything. We'll be back soon." She put her hand to her stomach.
"I don't know Thena, I told you all that health food crap was going to kill you one of these days." Dodger laughed.
"Shut up! And I told you to quit calling me that! Just finish working. And don't answer the phone. Fuck anything else up while I'm gone and I'll feed you two idiots the Thai food we ate earlier."
With that they left. Maureen got them a cab. Collins was waiting by the Emergency Room entrance when they pulled up.
"Ewww." He exclaimed, looking at the two of them. "You're sure it's food poisoning?"
Maureen shook her head. She wasn't cut out to play nursemaid or mommy. Mark was much better suited for that job. But right now, he was in no shape for either, and he needed her. She did kind of like that. "Well its either food poisoning or Roger managed to knock up Mark and now he's got morning sickness too!" She snapped at him.
"Ha ha." Mark rolled his eyes.
"Can we please not talk about that? Please?" Cass begged holding her stomach and squeezing her eyes closed tight as another wave of cramps passed over her.
Collins grabbed her, scooping her up before he thought she would pass out. He put Cass into a chair and went up and got them registered, bringing back two clip boards he handed one to Maureen, who started filling out Mark's.
After they were finished Collins took the information forms back up to the desk. He spoke to the triage nurse. Stressing how sick she has been all throughout the pregnancy and how different this was, especially the cramps. He knew he was being somewhat over dramatic, but it must have worked, as they were called in within about twenty minutes.
After about two hours Collins came back out to the waiting room to find Jason and Jen sitting there. They hopped up as he came over.
"What's going on? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" Jen asked impatiently.
"Yeah they're fine. Or at least they will be. Thanks." He told Jason, taking the coffee he handed him as he kissed him hello. "It was definitely food poisoning. They split something from that little Thai place over on 14th Street. I don't think any of us will be eating there again."
"But they're okay?" Jason asked.
"Yes. Cass is really dehydrated. That's why she was getting such bad cramps. Most likely she was already somewhat dehydrated just from throwing up from the migraine and the morning sickness. They have her on IV fluids and are watching her. They don't want to give her too much medicine because of the baby and all. They'll probably keep her over night. Just for observation."
"That's good. What bout Mark? Where is he?"
"He's in there. He was puking into a bucket being oh so tenderly held by Maureen. Actually, it was kind of funny." He laughed.
"That would be funny." Jason laughed also. "Nurse Maureen! Ha! So are they keeping him too?"
"No, they'll release him soon I think. The main reason they'll keep her overnight is because she's pregnant." He thought back to Maureen's comment before about Mark and smiled to himself.
"I'm sure her really good insurance doesn't hurt either." Jason said dryly.
"No I'm sure it doesn't." Jen added. "So what do you want us to do? Stay or go?"
"You might as well go home. Nothing you can do here. Cass was about to fall asleep before."
"Okay. I'll pop my head in, check on her and Mark and Mo and then we'll go home." Jen said walking into the room, leaving the two of them alone."
"You okay hun?" Jason asked him, concerned.
"Yes. Just tired. It's been a long evening. I guess Maureen got a little freaked out at how sick they were. Ginny wasn't home and Mo kind of felt out of her league. She called Joanne in Washington who told her to call me." He sat down in the chair, facing Jason.
"So yeah, sick Mark, very sick Cass, freaked out Maureen. Long evening."
Jen walked back up next to him as Collins finished speaking. Her eyes got wide as she nudged Jason and motioned with her head towards the door leading into the ER.
Jason looked up. "Uh oh. I think it's about to get longer."
Collins turned towards where they were looking to see Roger storming up to the reception desk. "Great! What's he doing here?" He said standing up.
"He doesn't look happy."
"When does he ever?" Jason said. "Want me to stay with you?"
"No. Why don't you guys try and sneak out the side door before he sees you. I'll take care of Roger." He walked toward him as they left.
****************
"Look I told you I can't tell you anything. I'll tell her doctor you're here. When he gets a chance he'll talk to you." The nurse told Roger, obviously used to dealing with people like him.
He was about to start to argue with her again when he heard Collins call his name. He spun around and almost ran into him. "What's going on? Is Cass okay? Why the hell didn't Mark call me? Where is she?"
"Relax, will you? She's fine. They both are. What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be back till Sunday."
Roger ignored him and started to move towards the rooms Collins was near. "Where is she?" He snapped at Collins.
"She's sleeping. Will you relax and stop yelling. Sit down, calm down and I'll tell you what's going on."
Roger moved to protest, but he knew Collins held all the cards at the moment. He sat down hard and looked up at Collins.
Collins had seen that look on his face before. That look of despair and defeat and fear. The same look he had on his face the whole time Mimi had been in the hospital. He hated seeing Roger like this. Collins sat down next to him. "She's okay Roger. Mark too. They just got food poisoning. That's all it is. Just food poisoning. She's going to be fine. She was a little dehydrated from throwing up, but she's fine. The baby too. So don't worry okay?"
Roger had dropped his head into his hands, his elbows resting on his knees. Without looking up he spoke to Collins. "You're sure? She's okay?"
Collins could hear Roger's voice quiver. "Yes, she's fine." He tried to sound comforting.
Roger gave a huge sigh, wiping his eyes as he took his hands away from his face. "I just get home and there's two idiots at the loft. I don't know who they are. They don't know what's going on. Just that they are both really sick and Mo took them to the hospital and, oh God Collins I just… you know. First April and then Mimi and I don't know." He collapsed back into his seat.
"I know. But she's okay. So are Mark and the baby. She's probably asleep, do you want to go see her?"
He nodded, but didn't move. "I don't think I could take it if anything happens to her Collins. Mark either."
"I know, but they're going to be fine."
"Why didn't Mark call me?"
"Honestly, Cass wouldn't let him. She didn't want you to worry. Or to leave the tour early. Which reminds me, what are you doing home? You're not supposed to be here till Sunday."
Roger got a slight grin on his face. "Actually, the lead singer of the group we open for is sick, so they cancelled tonight's show, as well as tomorrow an Saturday night. So as soon as they told us today, I grabbed a train and headed home. I thought I would surprise her. Guess I was the one who got surprised."
"Yeah well, she'll be glad you're back. You want to see her?"
"Yeah." He stood up. "Where is she?"
Collins led him into the room. Cass was sleeping still. "Mark's over there." He pointed to the curtain separating the two parts of the room.
Roger could hear Mark and Maureen quietly talking behind the curtain. He walked over to the side of Cass' bed. He ran a finger down the side of her face, trying not to wake her up.
After a moment he turned around and walked over to the curtain. As he pushed it open Mark and Maureen looked up.
Mark sat straight up in the bed as he saw Roger. "I, we, she's not, I mean she wouldn't let me, I mean, oh shit. I'm sorry." He fell back against the bed.
"What, what are you doing her Rog?" Maureen asked meekly.
"What? My best friend and my girlfriend end up in the hospital and I'm not allowed to come see them?" He teased Maureen.
"Well no, I mean yes. I mean how did you know they were here?"
"Relax Mo. I'm not mad. Anymore. Let's just say you owe Collins." Roger explained why he was home early and Mark explained who the two guys in the living room were. A few minutes later the nurse came in and checked on Mark. She gave him some forms to sign and a prescription telling him he was being released.
"What about Cass?" Roger asked.
"Who are you?" The nurse asked.
"He's the father." Maureen explained.
"Um, yeah." Was all Roger could say. He hadn't heard himself referred to like that before and it just sounded strange.
"Well we want to keep her overnight just for observation. They should be moving her upstairs soon. Someone will let you know. Mr. Cohen you can leave thought."
"Um okay." Mark said looking at Roger as the nurse walked out. "I'll stay with you."
"No, go home. I'm fine. Really."
Maureen took Mark home and Collins went out to the waiting room to sit again. Roger sat down next to Cass' bed. Taking her hand that didn't have the IV in it, he ran his callused fingers up her arm. Still holding her hand, he leaned his head against the bed.
Cass could feel his fingers on her arm as she started to stir. She opened her eyes and thought she saw Roger. Blinking she finally spoke. "Roger? Am I still asleep?"
He grinned at her. "No Baby. You're awake."
"You're home?"
"Yeah, I'm home. I was going to try and surprise you. I got you flowers, but they're at the loft. How do you feel?"
"Better. Lot's better now that you're home. I'm sorry you had to leave the tour early."
"It's not your fault Baby. We had to cancel a few shows. I didn't even know you were sick until I got home. But I'm really glad you fell better. I really missed you Baby." He kissed her.
Cass touched his face with her hand. "I like that." She smiled. "It looks really good."
"Huh? Oh." He ran his hand over the goatee he grew while he was gone. "I forgot about that. You like it? That was supposed to be a surprise too."
"I like it. I'm just glad you're here. Where's Mark?"
"They let him go home a little bit ago. Mo took him home."
"Are you mad at him?"
"Why would I be mad at him?"
"Because I wouldn't let him call you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Baby. Don't worry about it. I'm home and you and Mark and the baby are okay. That's all that matters." He told her, interlocking their fingers.
"I love you Roger."
"I love you too Baby."
"I want to go home."
"I don't think they'll let you, they want to keep you overnight." He brushed her hair out of her face.
"But I want to stay with you."
"Don't worry Baby, I'm not leaving you."
She smiled as the nurse walked back in and kicked Roger out for a few minutes. He went out and sat down next to Collins.
"So now that you talked to her, you feel better?"
"Yeah, I guess. Man that still sounds weird. What Mo said, about me being the father. That just sounds odd."
"Yeah." Collins laughed. "But you are. You should have heard Mo before. When I asked her how she knew they had food poisoning she said it was either that or, and I quote, Roger managed to knock up Mark too." Collins laughed.
"Oh great."
"Actually it is. I mean think about what she said." Collins said looking at him, realizing he still didn't get it. "She said too. Roger managed to knock up Mark too. Don't you see what that means?"
"That Mo needs to go back to 5th grade health class?"
Collins rolled his eyes. "No. She was implying how you already got Cass pregnant."
"But I didn't." Roger was confused.
"I know that." Collins was getting frustrated. "I know that, an so do you, and so does Maureen. What it means is, if your friends, who know the truth automatically think of it as yours, so will the rest of the world."
"Hey, you're right I guess that's really good. I never thought of it that way." He grinned.
"Cass Sullivan?" The nurse called out to the waiting room.
Roger jumped up. The nurse explained they were moving Cass upstairs and after some argument, Roger was allowed to go with her.
After they left, Collins called the loft. He gave Maureen an update and told them Roger would either be spending the night with Cass or getting himself arrested trying. With that he headed home to Jason and the end of this very long night.