Same disclaimers: I don't own 'em. Thanks for the reviews!!!
Chapter 3: Staying Overnight
Tori, Blake and Dustin watched the ambulance leave. Dustin had already run back to the table to get the cooler while Tori got the van started. When he was sure no one was around, Shane called into Ninja Ops.
"It's Shane, we've got a serious problem."
"I haven't detected anything on the monitors," Cam replied, frantically rechecking to see if he'd somehow missed an alien.
"Wrong kind of problem. Hunter got stung and he's on his way to the hospital. He had a bad reaction."
"Oh no…" Cam said, leaning back in his chair.
"Blake went with him in the ambulance. We're on our way now."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
Cam looked over at his father, waiting for the Sensei to say something. And he hoped it was something wise yet comforting.
"You must go, Cam. CyberCam and I will monitor things from here."
It wasn't what he had in mind, but it had to do. Cam changed from his ninja uniform into civilian clothes and left Ninja Ops.
---
It was a mercifully short ride to the hospital. But Blake was stopped from going with Hunter into the emergency room. He waited in the waiting area, pacing, unable to think of anything but his brother.
"Blake!" he heard someone call. He turned to see Tori, Shane and Dustin rushing toward him.
"Anything?" Shane asked, calmly.
"Nothing yet. They had to put a needle into his arm!" Blake exclaimed.
"Sit down, Blake. You need to calm down. He's still breathing, he's being taken care of. If you freak on him, it won't do him any good," Shane said, guiding the younger Bradley brother to the nearest chair.
The second Blake sat down, his head went between his knees. Shane sat on one side of him, with Dustin on the other and Tori knelt in front of him. Both Shane and Dustin had supportive hands on his shoulders, while Tori took Blake's hands into her own.
"He's my bro. I need him," Blake whispered.
"Blake Bradley?" a nurse asked a minute later.
Tori moved to Blake could stand, and the three followed him when we walked to the nurse.
"I'm Blake," he said, "How's my brother?"
"Your brother's awake in an exam room. I'll take you to him," she said, motioning for Blake to follow her.
"We'll wait here," Tori called.
"Here's hoping he'll be ok," Dustin said, leading the trio back to the chairs. "And Cam's coming?"
"He said he was. I'm surprised he isn't here yet," Shane answered.
The nurse opened the door for Blake, saying, "He may not be totally coherent, he's got some medicines that'll make him drowsy. His doctor will be in shortly to talk to you."
Blake sat on the edge of Hunter's bed, taking his brother's hand, the opposite from the arm with the IV.
"How are you feeling?" Blake asked softly.
Instead of verbally answering, Hunter used his other hand to give his brother the 'thumbs-down' sign.
"That bad?" Blake asked, receiving a nod in response.
A doctor came in, moving to the other side from where Blake was sitting.
"You must be his brother," he said, with Blake nodding. "I'm Dr. Alexander."
"Blake Bradley," he said, shaking the doctor's hand.
"Well, I think you're brother's going to be fine. But I do want to keep him here overnight, just for observation. There is a risk of a secondary reaction."
"He can…" Blake began, his eyes widened.
"Although there is a chance of it happening, it's small. And we're plenty prepared in case it does."
Blake closed his eyes for a few seconds, taking a deep breath. When he felt Hunter squeeze his hand, he opened his eyes and looked down. Blake smiled softly down at his brother, taking one hand from Hunter's and sweeping his brother's dirty blond bangs away from his eyes.
"What's in that?" Blake asked, pointing to the IV fluid above Hunter's bed.
"It's mostly saline, but it also has some Benadryl and steroids. The Benadryl helps with the allergic reaction."
"Bro," Blake sighed, leaning down to embrace his brother. "You scared the daylights out of me!"
Blake looked up to see Hunter's eyes moisten, his face apologetic.
"If you'll excuse us for a few minutes, I'm going to go with Hunter to his room. I'll come get you when we're ready," Dr. Alexander said.
"Don't you try anything funny," Blake warned, tapping the end of Hunter's nose with his fingertip. "I'll be right there."
