Chapter 6

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've gotten input about Abby's temperature and how 103 is high enough to cause these symptoms and that 104.9 is unrealistic. I appreciate the input and if I didn't know better, would probably think the same thing, HOWEVER  When I had strep throat, my temperature was 103.6 and I was still "lucid" Well, kind of. I remember drifting in and out and my sister laughing at me because I was watching TV with her then all of a sudden, I was snoring (literally) LOL. People have had their temperatures go up to 105-106 and not die but they are really sick. So my point is, 104.9 is frickin hot, BUT it has happened. You don't really worry too much about a temp going up to 104 unless it is for more than two-three hours without quitting. LOL I'm rambling……….Enjoy the chapter. 

The ride to the hospital was quick and went without any exchange of words. Luka sat beside Abby, holding her hand as the medic started a cool saline IV and checked her vitals. The ambulance had arrived at the apartment only a few minutes after Luka called 911 and they were on the road within ten.

Throughout the ride, Abby had only regained consciousness once when they went over a pothole. She seemed unaware of anything except the bitter cold she felt deep in her bones and the pain shooting around her eyes and upper jaw. She didn't know where she was; yet she had the distinct feeling that she was moving. "Must be the dizziness," she thought, "I wonder if Luka is home from work yet." She wanted to turn over and look at the clock, but she couldn't get her eyes to open. All of a sudden she had an image of her throwing up, and Luka telling her that there wasn't any snakes on her legs. She sighed, her mind was so jumbled she wasn't even sure if she was dreaming all this.

A few minutes later, the ambulance was backing up to the ER doors and the engine was cut. The back doors flew open and Susan and two nurses were already waiting. Luka had the medics call ahead to the hospital and let them know he and Abby were on their way.

"How is she doing Luka?" Susan helped pull the gurney off the back of the ambulance and through the ER doors, pushing through the full waiting room and into trauma one.

Luka rubbed his hands over his weary forehead. "BP 120/80, resps 98, temperature back hovering around 104.5. Lab called an hour ago, positive for strep A but I wasn't able to get her to take any penicillin. She's been vomiting and it now looks like the infection has spread to her sinuses." He glanced down at Abby, her pale face blending in with the white pillow. "I wouldn't have brought her in but she wouldn't be able to swallow any meds tonight and her fever is much too high."

Susan looked sympathetically at her colleague, "I'm glad you did Luka, you look absolutely exhausted. Let us help you guys out now." She turned the trauma nurse, "Get another bag of saline going and start another line with a penicillin drip." Frowning as she felt Abby's burning forehead she asked, "Luka, when did she last have anything for the fever?"

"Almost three hours ago, I gave her some extra strength acetaminophen."

"Okay, that's close enough to four hours." Susan looked down at the chart, "Give her another five hundred of Tylenol 3, we have to get that fever down." Grasping Luka's arm she gave a little tug, "Come on Luka, you should go lie down in the call room. I'll get you when she wakes up."

Luka started to protest; he didn't want to leave Abby in such a sick state. As soon as he started however, he relented. There was nothing left for him to do except get in the way. The penicillin was flowing and with the Tylenol 3, Abby wasn't going to wake up for quite a while. "Okay, but come and get me if anything changes."

Susan gave her promise and went back into the trauma room to sit with her friend.

Hours later, Abby slowly became aware of a very bothersome beeping close to her head. Frowning in annoyance, she opened her eyes and was ready to glare at the offensive source, whatever that may be. She was alarmed to discover that opening her eyes wouldn't be an easy feat. She felt as if there were lead weights sitting on her eyelids, trying to suppress their upward movement.

Her eyes gradually obeyed and opened a slit, burning under the harsh lights of what looked like a trauma room. The beeping device turned out to be a heart monitor and she realized that she was in fact hooked up to several IV's. "What was she doing at the hospital hooked up to a heart monitor and IV's? She just had the flu for crying out loud!" Turning her head to the right, she saw Susan sitting on a stool, reading what was probably her chart.

Abby tried to moisten her dry mouth, "Susan?"

The cheerful doctor looked up in surprise at Abby's voice, "Hey! How are you feeling?"

Abby tried to push herself up but was quickly stopped by Susan's hands on her shoulders. "I wouldn't do that, you've just been burning a temperature of 105F and I doubt your balance is great right now." Susan smiled and felt her forehead, "I think its going down though." She motioned to the nurse to take her temperature again.

The nurse complied, "102.9F"

Abby shook her head in confusion, "105? From what? I thought I just had the flu."

Susan scoffed light-heartedly, "No. It turned out to be strep throat, which made a beeline for your sinuses too for kicks. Luka was trying to get you to take the penicillin but apparently you had other ideas and barfed all over his couch." Susan laughed, "I think you scared him when your temperature went up to 104.9 so he called an ambulance and I'm glad he did. You are pretty sick."

"Oh." Abby was beginning to feel the effects of her illness now that the surprise of waking up in the hospital had passed. "Where is Luka? Did he go home and get some sleep?" Abby looked around and didn't see him anywhere. She hoped he had gone home to rest because she doubted he had gotten much sleep in the last few days. She felt a twinge of guilt; he was already run ragged as it was.

"No, he's asleep in the call room. I told him I'd wake him when you woke up." Susan stood, "Should I?" She looked at Abby questioningly, hoping she'd say no. Luka did look really tired.

"No, no. Let him sleep. It will be morning soon." Abby saw the clock above the trauma room doors, it was nearly four AM.

"Okay." Susan made a note on Abby's chart. "We are going to admit you for the day and see if your condition stabilizes, if it does, I'm sure you could go home tomorrow and continue the antibiotics there. I've called up to 3-West, they are cleaning a room for you and said it will probably be only another forty minutes or so. I'll get a nurse to take you up and let Luka know when he wakes up."

"Thanks Susan." Abby tried to smile at her friend, but her eyes were starting to droop. They must have given her something, she felt drugged.

"You're welcome, see you later." Susan smiled at her now unconscious friend and left the room.