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Lucy and Kevin proceeded down the staircase into the kitchen to find Annie and Ruthie working on dishes and cleaning up from dinner.
"We're just going to go out for some ice cream," Lucy told Annie as she grabbed her coat from the hook beside the back door.
"Alright, the kids are in the living room," Annie smiled back, a bit suspicious at Lucy's sudden happiness.
Lucy and Kevin looked into the living room to find the twins, Dylan and Maddy watching a cartoon on tv.
"Hey guys we're going to get some ice cream. Who wants to come?" Lucy questioned all the kids, expecting to hear a big chorus of "me me me!".
Sam, David and Dylan all jumped up and ran to get their coats, yelling "I want to" once they were already halfway to the kitchen. Maddy stayed there on the couch.
" You don't want to come?" Lucy said, kneeling down beside her daughter who was lying down on the couch.
Maddy shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Her cheeks were red and she looked tired.
"You ok hun?" Lucy questioned her.
She shook her head yet again. " Tummy feels yucky and I'm hot," Maddy said.
Lucy put her hand on Maddy's forehead to find it quite hot.
"She's burning up," Lucy said to Kevin.
The twins and Dylan arrived back in the living room, with Annie following behind them, a basket full of folded up clothes ready for the bedrooms upstairs.
"What's going on?" Annie questioned, as most Camden's do when they enter a room.
"Maddy's got a fever and she isn't feeling good. I'll pass on ice cream, you guys go." Lucy said as she lifted Maddy off of the couch.
" No, no. You go, I'll take care of Maddy," Annie offered, setting down her basket.
"You sure mom?"Lucy asked Annie.
" Of course I'm sure, go out have some fun," Annie said waving her hand.
Lucy set Maddy back down on the couch and then gave her a kiss, telling her they would be back in a bit.
Kevin and Lucy got the three boys in the car and set off for the local Dairy Shack. On arrival they got in line, waiting to be served. When Kevin reached the cashier he ordered 5 banana splits. They decided to sit down at a table to enjoy their treats.
They arrived back at the Camden home an hour later. Surprised not to find someone walking by, the house seemed empty. Maddy had been moved off of the couch and no one was vacating the living room. They entered the kitchen to find it suspiciously empty too.
" Where do you think everyone is?" Kevin said, breaking the silence.
" Maybe mom is upstairs with Maddy, but I don't know about everyone else.
Lucy noticed a note on the kitchen counter which had Annie's hand writing on it. Lucy picked up the note and read it over, her eyes becoming big.
" What's wrong?" Kevin asked Lucy, noticing the concern run over her face.
" Mom said they had to take Maddy to the hospital. Her temperature was getting dangerously high. She said we better come right away. Come on let's go!" Lucy said, turning around for the front door again. Everyone followed and hopped back into Kevin's SUV.
When they got to the hospital Lucy jumped out of the vehicle and hurried for the front doors, Kevin and the kids at her heels. Reaching the front desk she requested the room in which her daughter, Madison Camden, was. The receptionist's fingers flew over the keys and seconds later she announced "room 304". The five rushed over to the nearest elevator. When the doors finally opened Lucy pressed 3 and waited as patiently as possible to reach the floor. When the doors flung open on floor three Lucy practically jumped out of the elevator.
They finally found room 304. Lucy took a deep breath before entering the room. Inside there was a single bed, the room was smaller than others. Annie was sitting next to the bed, Eric on the other side. In the bed lay Maddy. Her eyes were closed, but fluttered open when she heard everyone come in the room. Lucy went over to the bed and grabbed Maddy's hands. Even they were hot. When she kissed her on the forehead it felt as though she could burn her lips if she left them there any longer.
"What happened? Is she ok?" Lucy asked.
" Her fever just kept getting higher and then I decided it was just too high and I knew I should take her in. The nurses just got through with her and the doctor should be in any minute," Annie said, worry across her face.
" Boys, why don't you go see Ruthie and Simon down the hall in the lounge. They're watching tv." Eric suggested.
"Ok," Sam said, speaking for all of them as they followed him out of the room.
Annie stood up, letting Lucy take her seat beside the bed. Lucy held Maddy's hand, talking to her, telling her everything was going to be ok. Five minutes later a male doctor, with graying hair and glasses came in. He frowned as he stared down at the clipboard he was given for Maddy. When he spoke he was not mean at all though and his frown disappeared.
" Well let's see here, came in with a high fever. A Madison Camden. I'm guessing that must be you in the bed. I'm Dr. Emerson," he said smiling and winking at her.
He walked over to the bed.
" I'm just going to check your temperature to see if it's changed since the nurse took it," he informed Maddy as well as the rest of the family. After checking her temperature and noticing that it had risen 3 degrees in the short 20 minutes since the nurse had taken it, he scribbled something on the clipboard. He then checked her heartbeat and looked in her throat and ears.
" Well there seems to be no infection in her throat or ears. No sign of the flu or a cold, but they may be slow in progressing. I'm going to go grab some antibiotics for starters to try and bring this fever down. Be right back," Dr. Emerson said before exiting the room. The Camdens were left worried and still knowing nothing about Maddy.
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