Abby awoke feeling much worse then she had when she had fallen asleep three hours ago, then she wasn't feeling bad at all, at least physically. But now, now she felt like shit, she was freezing and it seemed that no matter the amount of blankets piled on top of her, she couldn't warm up. She'd practically begged the nurse to bring her warming blankets, but she had a fever apparently. She sure felt a lot colder than 102 degrees. She had even agreed to letting the nurse start another line for cold saline, but it didn't seem to be doing its job. They'd tried Tylenol, Motrin, anything to get the fever down, and were finally trying to get her to consent to IV antibiotics. She shook her head, not wanting anything to be injected into the IV port, especially after what Stenton did to her.
Not long after that, Susan, who had officially become the treating physician, or one of them at least, had gotten word.
"She's going to kill me Luka, she's going to be the death of me" Susan said after she had hung up the phone with Abby's nurse.
"What now?"
"Apparently she has a decent fever, Motrin and Tylenol have not touched it, and she's refusing antibiotics."
"She's just reacting I suppose."
"Yeah, well we have to figure out what's causing the fever,"
"Probably an infection from the dialysis."
"In that case, if we don't stop it soon, she's screwed,"
"We don't have that much power, Susan. She won't give it to us."
"Then what do we do? Just like her fry?"
"What's her fever at?"
"102.6"
"She won't fry at that. Yet."
"But if it is an infection caused by the dialysis.."
"Susan, calm down, it's not uncommon."
"No Luka I will not calm down, she can not afford this!"
"Well, you can't force it on her, short of an order of mental incapacitation."
"I can at least go and check on her,"
"Maybe wait a little longer."
She nodded, Luka was right she was over reacting. Ten minutes later, the phone rang again, "yeah..um.. I'll be up in a few," she said and hung up the phone.
"What was that?"
"Her fever's gone up, she's puking," Susan paused "and she asked for me,"
"Go to her then, but don't do anything... anything you might regret." She nodded and was up the stairs in no time.
Abby felt like hell, so much so that she had actually asked the nurse to call Susan. Susan would know what to do how to fix whatever this was. If she even decided to come up, which Abby seriously doubted at the moment, not after their last meeting. She shivered and brought the one blanket closer, the damn nurse had taken the other four away.
"Abby," she heard the familiar voice accompanied by a knock at the doorway, "It's Susan. Is it okay if I go in?"
"Yeah," she replied. She went in slowly, avoiding sudden movements, unsure of what to expect. Abby looked at her, surprised she had come, "I'm sorry," she spoke, as she laid back into the pillows.
"Need anything?"
"I don't feel to hot," she tried to joke, unaware that Susan already knew.
"I think I caught that drift. I think you should give consideration to antibiotics."
"what's wrong with me?" she asked, hardly above a whisper.
"Infection would be the logical assumption."
"Okay," she said, suddenly turning green, "I'm going to be sick," and forced herself up.
Susan grabbed at the nearest basin... Well, technically it was a kidney dish, but it worked just as well, "Here." Abby got it just in time, as she did indeed get sick.
"thanks," she said finally after finishing before collapsing back against the pillows.
"You're welcome."
"I'm freezing," Abby spoke, hugging the blanket as close around her body as possible.
"You're burning up according to the thermometer."
"What's it at?" the last time she checked, the nurse had told her it was 102.
"102.9"
"it keeps going up,"
"Which means that it's likely only antibiotics will bring it down."
"I don't want them injected, but I cant hold anything down," she said, not wanting to let onto her fear of being injected with medication now.
"We could try compazine, or maybe give it a second try orally."
"Okay, anything I don't care anymore, just make the headache go away."
"Alright. I'll have the nurse bring you some."
"Um..could you stay for a while..just in case something happens?"
"Sure. Just hit the call button so a nurse gets in here, okay?" Abby nodded and pressed the button, suddenly exhausted. "Want anything else? Maybe try some ice or something?"
"I want to sleep, and I want another blanket, this sheet just isn't cutting it,"
"You can have another blanket when we aren't' worried about you baking."
"Please Susan, I'm cold," she practically begged as she fought to stay awake.
"That's the fever talking, Abby."
"No, I really am cold, I'm freezing the monitor is lying, please,"
"Am I allowed to touch your forehead?" Abby nodded, not in the mood to fight with Susan right then. Susan pressed the back of her hand to Abby's forehead and found it far too warm. "The monitor tells no lies."
"Can you turn off the lights, they are only adding to my headache,"
"Sure."
Abby nodded a thank you once the lights were off, it didn't help the headache, but didn't make it any worse, but it was still defiantly there. "Susan, please you have to get rid of this headache," she spoke and put her hands to her eyes. Finally the nurse arrived, and minutes later, had the antibiotic tablet and compazine. Susan caught on that as she injected the compazine, Abby's eyes never left the syringe.
"It's okay, it's done. No seizures, no new coma. Just a bit of compazine."
"Yeah, of course,"
"Now ready to try the horse pill? Not as effective, but worth a shot."
'Okay," she said and took the drug from Susan, hoping that she would be able to swallow the enormous thing. Her mind was screaming at her to just take it via IV, that there was no way in hell she could keep anything down.
"Try breaking it in half."
She nodded and tried, but soon realized it would be impossible, even as much as she hated to admit it Abby, realized she simply was not as strong as she was before Stenton, that she did in fact need the help.
"Want me to do it?"
"you don't mind?"
"If I minded, I wouldn't offer."
Abby nodded and handed it over, watching as Susan broke it in half with incredible ease.
"Here ya go. Down from one pill of 600 mg to two of 300. Still a lot to swallow, but not quite as bad."
"Thanks," she took it, and the water, but as soon as it hit her lips, she gagged, her body revolting. "damn it," she said frustrated.
"Compazine isn't helping?"
"not really,"
"Sure you don't want to try the IV? I know it's not... I know you don't want it, but is it worth all this?"
"Why isn't it working, why wont the Tylenol work or the Motrin or the Compazine, or anything else for that matter!" she cried.
"Because they don't always work well. Different people, different responses to medications
"Its not fair," she knew how childish that sounded and knew probably what Susan's response would be, along the lines of life isn't fair, but this was ridiculous. "I didn't do anything wrong Susan,"
"I know you didn't, sometimes things just happen."
"I.." she couldn't get the words out, she was crying so hard now.
"It's okay, Abby. It's okay. Its a lot to deal with, but it's okay. You can get through this."
"I..can't" she managed to get out, doubting Susan could translate it between the sobs.
"Yeah, Abby. You can."
"They didn't have to do it Susan," she cried, never having mentioned it before. But Susan suddenly grew more concerned, she had said they.
"Didn't have to do what?"
"Hurt me like that, I said, I told them I wouldn't go to the police, but they didn't care, they laughed."
"Them? There was more than one attacker, Abby?" she nodded slowly. "Do you know who they were?"
"I know Stenton, I don't know the other one, he just held me down, didn't hurt me," she squeezed her eyes shut,.
"Never saw him before?"
"I don't think so, I might have, I didn't really see him that much, just when he grabbed me."
"Do you think you could talk to the police about it?"
"NO!" Abby said a little to fast for Susan's comfort.
"You don't have to, don't worry about it."
"Okay," she seemed to relax and lean back into the pillows, relieved that Susan was not going to force her to talk with them.
"The IV, willing to try it?"
"Has my fever come down at all?"
"Nope."
"What is it?" she was seriously weighing the odds here, did she want the antibiotics or not.
"Penicillin maybe?"
"It wont come down without it?"
"Doesn't look likely."
After a little more hesitation, Abby nodded, agreeing. "Okay,"
"You're not allergic, right?"
"I don't think so.." she said, but Susan could actually hear how nervous Abby was about this.
"You're not sure? There are alternatives to it," it was a way to stall.
"I..I don't know anymore, I don't even know if I want it, but if I don't get it, I'm going to just get worse,"
"There are alternatives.
"Like what?"
"Other medications."
"I don't care, I cant take this anymore, my head is pounding, and I'm freezing, do something, anything,"
"Okay, let's try the penicillin." Abby nodded, couldn't argue anymore, not with this headache. It started scaring her, what had she come down with? Again, Susan had the nurse bring in the drug, this time a small IV bag. "I'm going to hook it up now, okay?"
"Alright," she said softly, keeping her eyes closed.
She connected it to the IV port, "It'll take a while to work, but eventually we'll see improvement."
"I'm freezing, now can I have a blanket?" she asked hopefully.
"Sure. As long as you don't go up to 103, you can have a blanket."
"I'll work on it," she replied, trying to stay awake, glad that Susan was there with her. It didn't happen, she couldn't stay awake any longer, the last thing she was aware of was Susan spreading the blanket over her and then she was out.
Susan glanced over at the clock, and was surprised to see she'd been there for quite some time. She wanted to head back down to the ER, but at the same time, couldn't leave Abby just then, maybe she could call them? She dialed down to the ER, and was careful to speak quietly, not wanting to awaken Abby.
"ER," came Frank's voice.
"Frank, is Weaver down there? Or Kovac?"
"Kovac!" he shouted
"So only he's there?" she asked, having heard the screech. How many times did they have to tell him to hit 'hold' first?
"Weaver's in her office, its dead down here. How's Lockhart,"
"I'll catch you all up later."
"Want me to page Weaver. have her come up there?" he offered.
"Yeah. Please." It only took seven minutes, and Kerry was at the door, "Hi Kerry," she whispered.
"Susan, did something happen?"
"Besides the apparent onset of a massive infection, yes something did happen."
"Details forthcoming, I'm sure."
"There was more then one Kerry, Stenton had help apparently,"
"Who?"
"I don't know, she just told me, said he held her down, she had never seen him before, doesn't even remember all that much about him."
"So we have no idea if he worked here."
"We know nothing Kerry, we don't even know if he's been in here, maybe that's why she is so freaked out about everything,"
"I think when she wakes up, we need to discuss the possibility of a transfer with her."
"You want to transfer her? Now? She.."
"If there is even a possibility that one of her attackers is still at large and has access to her here, she can't stay here, it wouldn't be safe."
"But if he does work here, he'll find out about the transfer, where we sent her,"
"Discression has its place. Even if he were to know where she was transferred to, it's not a guarantee that he would have the same level of access."
"We had no idea, I thought Stenton was the only one,"
"Everyone did, I think. Nothing in the evidence pointed to two attackers, and prior to now, Abby didn't say a word about what happened."
"We need to talk to the police, yet she doesn't want to. I wonder, do you think she has seen him here, maybe he has said something to her, that's why she refuses treatment?"
"That's part of why I think she needs to be at a different hospital."
"Think she'll agree?"
"I don't know, but at the very least, we can try."
"And what do we do about the police? They have to know,"
"Abby's wellbeing has to be our primary concern. If you wish to take the information to them, then you may, but I doubt it will do much good unless they hear it straight from her."
"And no way in hell is she even going to think about speaking to them. Well," she said looking back at Abby. "At least we've made some progress…I think."
"I think you're right. She's at least acknowledging what happened."
"I don't think she even realized she was doing, what she was saying, it just came out. Maybe the fever is a good thing," Susan tried to joke.
"Possibly, but it needs to go down sooner rather than later. She can't be transported with a temp of 102.5."
"Yeah, I think whatever it is, is caused by the dialysis, but I'm not for certain, and I know what her answer would be if I asked to get some blood drawn,"
"If she responds to the antibiotics, it won't be an issue."
"Lets hope she does," she paused. "Where were you thinking of transferring her?"
"Mercy, Mt. Sinai, St. Jude, just about any place with an ICU."
"Does she still need the ICU.. I mean.."
"For the time being, I think it would be preferable, though she might be alright in telemetry."
Susan nodded, "what do we do while she's here, we cant just leave her unprotected now that we know,"
"I can arrange for a guard to be outside her room with security."
"But then if he's still here, it would alert him to the fact that she told us,"
"What would you prefer? Transferring her to a locked ward? It would keep her safe without telling him anything, but will likely do her more harm than good psychologically."
"So for the time being its what is worse: mentally or physically, which one are we willing to risk more?"
"I think it's up to her."
"Either way, it's the lesser of two evils, pick your poison. And we both know she wont get us an answer besides 'she's fine'"
"She can pick her own poison."
"How soon do you think we could arrange the transfer? And actually get her there?"
"Once she gives it her okay, if she does... Not long, maybe an hour to arrange, maybe a little longer, the length of the actual transfer depends on where she's going."
"You don't think she'll agree to it, do you?"
"I don't know. It's been hard, if not impossible, to gauge her reactions lately."
"Wonderful," she looked back in to see that Abby appeared to be waking up, "want me to talk to her, or you?" or the both of them was of course another option. Two was always better then one.
"You can do the talking, but I'll stick around, in case I can be of use."
"Let the epic battle begin…again," Susan smiled as she slowly walked into Abby's room, followed by Kerry.
"You mean it stopped?" Kerry mumbled under her breath as she stepped inside, unsure of what they would face.
"You left?" Abby asked sleepily, worried what might have happened while she was alone.
"Just stepped out for a moment," Susan reassured her.
"Oh okay," she yawned.
"Abby, we need to talk to you about the possibility of being transferred."
"What?" she shook her head, trying to get rid of the cobwebs that formed after one woke up after a deep sleep. "Why?"
"For your safety."
"you think he's here?"
"If your second attacker is still at large, we don't know what access he does or doesn't have to the hospital."
"But..if I transferred…he would know…and I cant.." she shook her head, trying to come up with a decent sentence.
"Your transfer doesn't have to be a matter of common knowledge."
"so I was just discharged immediately from the ICU?" Abby looked at them.
"For all they know, yes."
"No..he would find out..if he and then.. I," she said debating if the transfer was a good idea or not.
"He won't know where you are. Even if he's from inside the hospital, especially if he's from inside this hospital, you'd be safer somewhere else. He wouldn't be able to get to you there. Wouldn't have a security badge, or know where to look."
"He was wearing scrubs Kerry, he carried a stethoscope that was all he needed, I never even saw a security badge, he could have been some psycho off the street posing as a nurse. We were passed by a guard, he never even noticed."
"It might help. There's no way to be certain, but at the very least, it's an added obstacle for him. What is there to loose?"
"Besides having to get use to strangers taking care of my every need, injecting drugs, while it not seem scary to you, to me.." she shook her head, not believing she had just admitted to being scared.
"It would be a big transition, we understand that, but maybe someone could go with you. Not to treat you, but just... to be there, if it'd be any help."
"After the way I've treated everyone?"
"No one has minded Abby."
"I doubt that." she paused "where would I go,"
"Any preference? You could probably be down to telemetry, so just about any hospital in Chicago. Believe me, they haven't taken it personally."
She thought about it for a minute "someone would go with me? They wouldn't have to stay, just in the helicopter or ambulance,"
"Yeah, it wouldn't be too tricky to work out, right Kerry?"
"Something could be arranged,"
"What do you say Abby?" Susan asked hopefully, they had actually suggested something without having to fight her for it. At least, so far.
"I.." Susan and Kerry could both tell that she was frightened, "Okay," she agreed, reluctantly.
"Alright. Good. Thank you," Susan was more than a little relieved, "how soon do you think you'd be willing to go?"
Abby closed her eyes and shook her head before reopening them and looking at Kerry and Susan. "you handle everything, okay?"
"Of course."
"Thank you," she nodded, not relaxed in the least bit, trying to calm the anxiety that was building up.
"We're going to try for later tonight or early tomorrow morning then, just before a shift change, if that's alright."
"The shift change? Everyone's here then.. I mean maybe he would know..I..I.."
"Before the shift change, I meant. With everything else that goes on, your departure will be less noticible."
"Unless he's watching.." she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to picture his face.
"That's the thing, during a shift change, it'd be too hectic for him to follow you."
"Or for anyone to notice he is following me,"
"We'd be there, one of us would notice."
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure."
"What if he tries something before, or what if he's the paramedic or.." her mind was going a thousand different places trying to think of who the second attacker way. Right then, it was any male wearing scrubs.
"We can have a guard here, stay by the door if you'd like, until the transfer. And go by chopper when we do. Remember, someone can be with you while you're being transported. Whoever it is will watch your back."
"The guard.. But what if he sees the guard he'll know I told," she said anxiously, her voice cracking, and a tear running down her cheek, letting Kerry and Susan know just how frightened she really was.
"No one has to think that's why. Or someone could stay with you, in here, if you'd like. Anyone from down in the ER would be more than happy to do so."
"Okay.." she nodded, still not exactly sure about her decision.,
"Anyone in particular you'd like to have up here?"
"No..no I don't care," she paused, realizing how much she had just admitted to, damn it. "You know what.. I'll be fine, don't worry about it, I can be by myself." putting the wall back up.
"Are you sure Abby? I'm sure some of them would be glad for a chance to catch up."
She took a deep breath, making sure her voice was steady before she spoke, "I said I would be fine,"
"If you're sure, okay."
"I think I will be, I mean, its stupid right for me to think that he would try and.."
"It's not stupid to worry, Abby. It's probably normal."
She looked up at them and shook her head "this isn't normal,"
"Being afraid? Everyone is at some point."
"Afraid yes. Scared to death of movement in the dark, I doubt a lot of people over the age of three feel the same way Susan. Or the fact that I get so scared that I yell at my friends, push everyone away. How is that normal?"
"Abby, you've been through a lot, it's a reaction to what's happened."
"I don't remember half of it, I remember bits and pieces. I've treated people in the ER that have been through a lot more then me, and they are somewhat normal after six weeks,"
"You haven't really had six weeks yet, and maybe they only seem that way."
"This isn't right, not normal, I shouldn't be like this! I don't want to be like this,"
"In time, you won't be."
"Yeah, until one of them finishes what they started!"
"They won't get that chance."
"Are you one hundred percent certain of that? Can you guarantee me that they wont?"
"Nothing is a guarantee, but I'll do what's in my power, Abby," Susan didn't want to make a promise she wasn't sure that she'd be able to keep.
"So there is still the chance one of them will come back and hurt.."
"Not if I can stop them."
"You cant," Abby closed her eyes "I tried Susan, I tried so hard,"
"I know, Abby. I know you did. It wasn't your fault, wasn't anything you could've prevented."
Abby looked at her friend "Susan, security was right there. He grabbed me, even as they walked right past, didn't notice a thing. If security cant protect me in the moment is happening, what the hell are you going to do?"
"Pay attention." That caught Abby off guard, she was speechless, didn't know how to reply to that. "Sometimes that's all that can be done, but I think it's enough. Or at least worth a try."
"Thank you," she whispered, biting her lower lip to prevent from crying.
"You're welcome Abby."
"Susan," Abby began, "where did the other blanket go?" it was weird, ever since that night, she picked up on, noticed every single minor detail. Scary.
"Which other blanket?"
"I had another blanket.. I had three just before you left," Susan as she listened, shot Kerry a concerned glance. After a quick look around the room, Kerry noticed a lumped up blanket that had slid between the night stand and bed. Once it was handed over, Abby brought it close to her body, freezing, hoping that: one she would finally warm up and two that they would hurry up and get the transfer done.
"Abby, if it's alright with you, I should go arrange for the transfer, first I need to know if you have any preference as to where, or if there's anyone in particular you'd like to have with you en route."
"I don't care where, just someone please in the chopper."
"Okay Abby," Kerry said as she got up, "you might want to get a clean blanket though, I know hospitals are supposed to be clean, but it was still wadded up on the floor for a bit."
She forced a smile "I'm keeping this one until another one is in my hands..I'm freezing,"
Kerry shook her head, high fevers tended to have that effect on people, "I'll be back once everything's been taken care of if that's amicable."
"Okay," she watched as Kerry left, leaving her and Susan in the room.
An hour and a half later, Kerry returned to the room, "I've made the arrangements. Tomorrow at five, you'll be transferred to Mercy by helicopter accompanied by the medically trained and flight certified individual of your choosing where you will be admitted to telemetry, if you're okay with that."
"That's fine, thank you," she yawned.
"You're welcome. You should probably decide who you want tonight so that if they're on down in the ER, they can be given the evening off, or a substitute can be arranged if they're scheduled to work the day shift."
She closed her eyes. "will you go Kerry?" she whispered.
"If you want me to, of course," she said, forcing herself to forget how much she hated her flight rotation back when she was a resident.
Another thank you and she was out like a light. Before she actually got the fever, falling asleep was often a difficult task, staying asleep was in harder. Positive side of the infection.. sleep came much easier.
"Susan, I hate to ask, but can you cover an attending shift in the ER tomorrow? I'll take Labor day if you'd like."
Susan smiled, knowing exactly what was up. "sure, just make sure you get her there safely okay?"
"That was the plan."
"Her fever come down at all?" she asked, having left Abby nearly an hour ago to go and check on things in the ER.
"Two tenths of a degree."
"Ohh!" she laughed sarcastically "look at the improvement. Is she okay to be transferred like that? I mean normally a healthy patient with nothing else besides the fever.. but now with the dialysis?"
"The dialysis isn't that big an issue actually, for transport. It's not as though she needs it twenty four hours a day. It's taken into account, but not a large concern."
"Right I know, but what I'm asking is, is the fever a big concern, especially after everything that has happened, is she stable enough?"
"Her condition's far from ideal, but she's not overly likely to decompensate in the air, I think the risk is justified."
"Lockhart is going to Mercy huh?" Morris said loudly as she slammed the charts down on the counter.
"Damn it, Morris," Susan hissed, "Keep it down, will you?"
"What? Oh please, everyone is going to find out where she is anyway,"
"No, Morris, the idea was that they wouldn't, at least not right now."
"Whatever. So when are you planning on this secret mission," he said clearly not getting the picture.
"It's not a matter for public discussion."
"Right." he spoke. No body noticing the lone figure leaning against the wall listening to every word being said. "I should see her before she goes, I miss her,"
Taking Abby's state into consideration, Susan decided it wasn't the best idea, "It might not be good for either of you. She's not really up to guests."
"You kidding? Abby loves me," he smiled.
"She's not feeling well."
"Fine. I get it," he said as his pager started going off. "I'll come and see her tomorrow at Mercy!" and then he walked off.
"Morris, get your ass back here," Kerry screamed after him. He stopped instantly and turned around, keeping his head down as he walked over. "My office, now," she said coolly
"What did I do?" he said, sounding much like a child caught doing something he was not supposed to be doing.
"Now," Kerry added, a bit less serenely. Reluctantly he followed and when the door slammed shut in her office, he felt the shit hit the fan. "You are not to say a word about her transfer, or to visit her while she's there, do you understand that, Dr. Morris?"
"Why? Stenton's in jail, its not like anyone is after her anymore!"
"It's not that simple, and I'm not going to waste time trying to explain it to you, so I will make this crystal clear. If you say a word to anyone, write anything down, go to visit her, or do anything whatsoever that might reveal anything about Abby's transfer, you will be fired."
"Okay." he nodded, knowing full well that Kerry was serious.
"As long as we're clear on that," she said plainly, secretly regretting having hired him, "do you have patients to be treating?"
He nodded and was out the door in a second, all the while wondering what was so secretive about Abby's transfer. After a moment, she followed down to the ER.
The man waited until both Susan and Kerry had left the admit desk before calming pulling out a cell phone, after all, he had been given strict instructions to call on any new information.
Back downstairs, it was a madhouse, and Kerry was quickly pulled into the whirlwind. About two hours later, Kerry decided to make a quick detour to the lounge on her way to the next patient. Coffee. Susan was there, half asleep on the couch.
"she okay?" Susan asked, not opening her eyes.
"Abby? I haven't heard anything, so presumably no change."
"maybe she's finally getting better,"
"At least she's not decompensating. You look about as bad as Abby, go home, get some sleep."
"No, not until she's.." she didn't say the word "you look like hell yourself,"
"Gee, thanks. I'm serious, go, before I call Chuck and have him drag you out of here. I'll check on her."
"we told her we would protect her, I told her I'd pay attention, cant do that if I'm at home,"
"So at least go camp out in her room instead of the lounge. I'll keep a handle on things down here."
Susan looked at her watch, "its one in the morning, she's going in four hours, ER is not busy, pull up a couch,"
"If I sit down, I will fall asleep."
"We've got three and a half hours Kerry, might as well use it," Susan yawned as she closed her eyes.
"But if I go to sleep, I'm not going to wake up for a very long time."
"I'll throw some cold water on you,"
"You wouldn't."
"If you're the one going on the chopper, the one Abby requested, and refuse to wake up, I just might have to."
"It's not that I wouldn't wake up. The bearer of the ice water would meet an unfortunate end. I think I'll get some coffee."
"Okay. For example, what if Abby were suddenly, while in transit, decide to code on you or something, how much help could you be to her without sleep"
"Three hours won't make much difference, but have it your way. I'll be in my office, use a projectile, my alarm clocks die prematurely, and I don't want my ER chief to meet the same fate," Kerry forced herself out of bed at ungodly hours, usually before the sun had risen, but her tendency to backfist alarm clocks meant they were replaced at least five times per year.
Susan nodded and was out instantly, sleeping soundly for the first time in over a month.