A New Addition
Pairing: Nick and Sara
Abigail gives her parents a scare.
Disclaimer: I don't own Nick, Sara or any other CSI character. I do own Nick and Sara's families and any other non-CSI character.
Abigail's Little Scare
"Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, I am Doctor Willis," a young woman said in a calm tone. "Abigail is going to be fine. She has a slight fever, but no ear infection. I would like to keep her overnight as a precaution."
"Abigail was feeling very warm to the touch," Nick shook his head. "She was screaming and crying. My wife and I got into a panic that she might have an ear infection."
"Thankfully, she doesn't," Dr. Willis reassured the couple. "Was she vaccinated and immunized recently?"
"We took her to her doctor last week," Sara said softly. "Don't tell me she reacted to something in those vaccines."
Nick wrapped his arms around Sara's waist. She had already lost a little of over half the 40 pounds she gained during the pregnancy, but the anxiety might cause her to gain back some of that baby weight. The stress of not knowing what caused their daughter to feel feverish was getting to them. Both Nick and Sara had gone through something like Abigail was going through when they were little and it was terrifying. Now they're parents, it was still frightening.
"I doubt it's an allergic reaction," Dr. Willis said. "I think that her body is processing the vaccines and immunizations. They are doing their jobs. I'll run some tests and see what's going on. Is she your first child?"
"Yes, she is," Nick confessed. "However, I have older siblings who are married with kids of their own. I had seen most of my nieces and nephews get sick at that age. I am sorry I should have known better."
"Mr. Stokes, you and your wife did the right thing bringing your daughter here," the doctor tried to calm the young parents. "It's better to be safe than sorry. Why don't you go to the coffee shop and get a bite to eat or something to drink? Relax, Abigail is in very good and capable hands!"
"Sure," Sara said as Dr. Willis left to tend to Abigail.
Nick and Sara were about to go to the coffee shop when they saw Grissom and Catherine approaching.
"Grissom, Catherine, what brings you here?" Nick asked. "How did you know where to find us?"
"You left a message in our voicemail," Grissom rationalized. "Also, your mom told us when we called."
"Shit, I had forgotten all about giving you the message," Nick gasped.
"Nick, it's okay," Catherine tried to calm the CSI down. "I had been there myself when Lindsey was Abigail's age. It is one of the scariest moments in a parent's life."
"How is Abigail?" Grissom asked.
"She has a slight fever," Sara explained. "Nick was getting ready for work and I was planning some grandmother, mother and daughter time with my mother-in-law and Abigail. We heard Abigail crying, but it was more of a pained cry. Nick and I rushed into her room to see what was wrong with her. I felt her forehead and it was warm to the touch. We tried to keep her calm by gently rocking her. Nick sung her a lullaby. Neither helped her."
"My mom told us to get Abigail to the emergency room right away," Nick said. "So, here we are. The doctor told us that she has a slight fever, but no ear infection. She will be kept overnight as a precaution."
"We took her to her pediatrician last week for vaccinations and immunizations," Sara added. "I suspected she had a reaction to one of the vaccines her doctor gave her. The ER pediatrician told us that it could be the vaccines and immunizations doing their job."
"It looks like you are headed towards the coffee shop," Catherine said. "The two of you need a break. Gil and I will wait here."
"Nick, you have the next two nights off," Grissom said. "I am going to pull somebody from Ecklie's shift to take your place. Sara, you're still on maternity leave so don't get any ideas."
"Grissom, you have nothing to worry about with Sara," Nick chuckled. "She knows that she can't return to work until the end of next month."
"Shut up, Nicky," Sara smiled. "Let's go to the coffee shop and let these two lovebirds wait for us."
"Your daughter will be fine," Catherine tried to reassure the new parents. "She is definitely her parents' daughter. She is one strong baby."
"Thanks, Catherine," Nick said softly.
Catherine only gave him a small smile as he and Sara went to the hospital's coffee shop. They arrived and sat down at a small booth that was for up to two people. A middle aged waitress came by and gave them a menu. They both wanted to have some dinner, but they didn't feel like eating a meal. They both ordered a cup of chamomile tea, but Nick had a plain slice of blueberry pie and Sara had a piece of double chocolate cake. When their waitress served their snacks and tea, they sipped their tea slowly and ate their treats at the same pace. Sara looked at Nick with concern.
"Sara, you heard what Catherine told us," Nick tried to reassure her by gently stroking her hand. "Abigail is a strong infant. She will bounce back from this and be the happy little girl she is. Maybe it's not a big deal or maybe it is. You have to let Dr. Willis check her out."
"I know," Sara smiled. "If she could survive getting those shots, she could cope with a trip to the emergency room."
"I think she is probably coping better than her stressed out parents," Nick chuckled. "She really made her grandmother nervous and that woman had raised seven kids and managed a career at the same time."
"I wonder if Warrick has arrived in the waiting area," Sara's curiosity got the best of her.
"If he is," Nick said. "He would see Catherine and Grissom and wonder where Abigail's parents are. Then he would track us down here and demand an explanation why we weren't there for her."
"Just because he is her godfather doesn't make him an expert on parenting," Sara smirked.
They finished with their tea and pastry. Sara requested the check and paid it with cash. Nick insisted, but he knew better than to argue with her. She allowed him to leave a generous tip. They went to the waiting room where they were relieved that Warrick hadn't shown up yet. Catherine was sitting reading an issue of one of those women's magazines while Grissom was writing a poem about his favorite bug on a small notebook.
"I know what you are going to ask," Catherine said looking at Nick and Sara. "No, the doctor hasn't stopped by. I called Warrick and he should be here in about fifteen minutes."
"I think we should wait here," Nick whispered in Sara's ear.
Sara smiled and knew from their conversation at the coffee she shop what he was talking about. They sat in chairs nearby Grissom and Catherine.
"How is she?" Warrick asked while rushing towards the group of four.
"Whoa, sit down and relax!" Nick snapped. "I'll tell you what I know of Abigail's condition."
"Nick, I'll sit down," Warrick hissed. "However, I won't relax until you tell me."
"We brought her here because she feeling warm to the touch," Nick calmly explained. "We were afraid that she had an ear infection. Fortunately, she didn't, but she has a slight fever. She will be kept overnight for observation and as a precaution."
"She's tough, like her parents," Warrick echoed what Catherine already told them.
"Thanks," Nick beamed.
An hour later, Dr. Willis appeared with a soft smile on her face.
"Mr. and Mrs. Stokes," Dr. Willis said. "I have some good news. We ran a few tests and nothing is wrong besides the low grade fever. Like I said before vaccines and immunizations are doing their jobs. I still want to keep her overnight for observation."
"That's okay, doctor," Sara said. "Thank you!"
"If you would like," Dr. Willis said. "I could bring two cots into her room so you could stay with her. I don't want her to be alone during her overnight stay."
"We don't mind at all," Nick said. "Just tell us what room she is in and we will go there now."
"Oh no, the two of you are going out for dinner," Warrick protested. "I assume you had herbal tea and some sweet snack instead of something nourishing at the coffee shop. I will stay with her for about two or three hours. I am her godfather!"
"She was just moved to the children's ward in the 6th floor," the doctor said. "Her room is 619. I'll wait until Mr. and Mrs. Stokes return from their dinner to put their cots in Abigail's room. Mr. Brown, you just go down the hall make a left and continue until you can't go any further. Make a right and you are at the elevators. Go to the 6th floor and make a right. Her room is on the fifth door to your left."
"Nick, Sara, can you remember that?" Warrick asked seemingly confused couple.
"The directions to the children's ward are just as confusing as the one's to the maternity ward." Nick chuckled as Warrick winced.
"Can we go with Warrick?" Catherine asked
"Sure, you can," Dr. Willis said.
Two hours later, Nick and Sara returned from their dinner at a nearby Japanese restaurant. They were able to find their daughter's room after getting lost twice until a pediatric nurse getting ready for her shift was kind enough to lead the way. They thanked her and she went her separate way. They entered the room to find Warrick sitting on a chair and Catherine and Grissom standing.
"I take it you got lost," Warrick said.
"Nice way to greet somebody," Sara laughed. "Yes, we did get lost not once, but twice. A nurse was kind enough to guide us in the right direction."
"Well, you are here and that is the most important thing," Catherine said.
"How is she?" Nick asked with deep concern in his voice.
"She is sleeping peacefully now," Grissom said. "While you we out, she was crying up a storm. She was probably scared. The doctor was here fifteen minutes ago to check on her. She is fine!"
"Thank you for staying with her," Sara said.
"No problem," Catherine said. "Come guys, we need to relief Swing Shift. Nick, we'll see you in two days. Sara, we'll see you later."
After exchanging their 'good nights', Grissom, Warrick and Catherine left Nick, Sara and Abigail alone in the room. Nick left the room to ask for the two cots. Sara looked at Abigail's sleeping form and gently touched the infant's face with her fingers. Nick returned with an orderly carrying two folded cots. He helped the orderly unfold them and placed them near the crib. He and Sara thanked the man who gave them a smile and left the room. Nick pulled Sara into an embrace and they kissed each other in relief that their baby's going to be okay.
"We should get some rest," Nick said.
"Yeah, we should," Sara yawned. "I love you, Nick!"
"I love you, too, Sara," Nick said. "And we both love Abigail!"
They lay on their cots and fell asleep almost immediately. Doctor Willis stopped by and quietly examined Abigail a few times, careful not to wake her or her parents. She left the room each time as quietly as she came in.
Abigail was released from the hospital in the morning and her parents couldn't be any happier. The doctor told them that she should get plenty of rest, fluids and lots of kisses. Nick and Sara laughed at the last order. Once they arrived at home, they were greeted by a very anxious Cynthia who took Abigail off of Sara's hands and started to spoil the poor infant. Nick admonished his mother by gently telling her that Abigail needed to rest after getting out of the hospital. She went to Abigail's room and gingerly put the infant in her crib. She emerged from the room and joined her son and daughter-in-law in a discussion about Abigail's little scare.
TBC