Again I want to thank everyone for the reviews. I guess I am basing the use of Pansy off of 'Scarlett'. I can understand how that could get mixed up though and I'm glad that if someone thinks I'm wrong about something they let me know. I want to get things accurate. Anyway here's the next chapter. Please keep reviewing.
I wish I could say that I owned everything about GWTW or Scarlett, but of course I don't own any of it.
Days had gone by. To Rhett it had felt like years. Scarlett still hadn't awoken from her typhoid induced slumber. She had shown no change in days. Rhett was starting to think any change would be good, whether it be for better or worse. Rhett continued his constant vigual in Scarlett's room. He couldn't bring himself to leave her side. What if something were to happen? What if she woke up? What if she got worse?
"Good Morning Rhett." Doctor Williams and Rhett had become somewhat friends over their time together.
"Hello Mark." Rhett was fond of the man. He was close to Rhett in age.
"How is our patient today?" Dr. Williams was astonished by Rhett's obvious love for Scarlett.
"She seems the same." Rhett hoped maybe the doctor would see some change he had missed.
Dr. Williams was hoping Scarlett would get better for Rhett's sake, "Well I'll just have a see."
Rhett trusted Dr. Williams very much now, "While you do that I'll just slip into the bathroom and clean up a bit."
As Rhett was in the bathroom, Dr. Williams began his examination of Scarlett. The first thing he checked was her temperature, which had been for the past three days at 103 degrees. He knew that it wasn't good for anybody to have such a high temperature for so long. To his amazement Scarlett's temperature was down to 100 degrees. He also noticed that her rash seemed to be fading slightly. He was glad to see that maybe there was hope for Scarlett after all.
Rhett re-entered the room looking like a changed man, having shaved and changed clothes, "How does she look?"
"Better actually. Her temperature is down and the rash is getting better. She may very well pull through after all." Dr. Williams was glad to see the slight smile rise to Rhett's face.
Rhett was afraid to be completely happy about something that hadn't yet happened, though he did smile none the less. "You really think she'll be all right?"
"I still can't know for sure, but she has improved. I am hoping that if she were going to get worse she would have done it by now." Dr. Williams didn't want to instill too much false hope in Rhett, however he did want him to see there was some hope now.
"How much longer do you think until we will know if she'll get better?" The unsure waiting was driving Rhett mad.
Dr. Williams knew Rhett's patience was being tested, "I don't know Rhett, maybe a couple of days."
Rhett was disappointed that it could still be days, "All right. Thank you, Mark."
"I'll see you later Rhett." Dr. Williams figured Rhett wanted time alone with his thoughts and Scarlett.
When Dr. Williams left Rhett resumed his all too familiar seat at Scarlett's side. He took her hand in his and kissed it lightly. He starred at her entranced in her beauty. She reminded him so much of Bonnie. Like he had so many times while sitting with Scarlett in silence his mind wondered back to the past. He thought about all the aspects of his life with Scarlett. He had come to the realization that all their problems hadn't been all Scarlett's fault. If had been nicer to Scarlett at certain timed maybe she would have seen her love for him sooner. He also realized that he truly loved Scarlett with all his heart and didn't want to live his life without her.
The next day Rhett was again sitting with Scarlett lost in thoughts. Although this time something was different something wonderful happened.
Rhett was staring out the window. "Rhett?" A soft raspy voice called to him. Rhett looked down expecting to see Scarlett lost in a dream of some sort. To his astonishment he saw those remarkable green eyes gazing back at him.
"Scarlett… Scarlett you're awake. Oh thank god." Rhett had Scarlett in his arms, holding her as if he let go she would disappear.
Scarlett was very confused at what had happened. The last thing she remembered was shopping with Rhett and the children. "Wh… What's going on?" Scarlett's voice was still so weak it could barely be heard.
Rhett was so over whelmed with seeing Scarlett awake that he hadn't even heard her question. "Rhett" Scarlett said straining herself to make sure she was heard.
"I'm can't believe you really awake. How do you feel?" Rhett couldn't take his eyes of hers.
"Mmmmm…I feel awful. What happened?" Scarlett was amazed by Rhett obvious love for her.
Rhett wasn't sure Scarlett needed to hear all about her illness so early after waking up, "You got sick, but you're better now. Everything is all right now."
"How, Rhett?" Scarlett could barely stand the pain it took to talk, but she wanted to know what happened.
"Don't talk Scarlett. I'll tell you everything in due time. Right now you need to rest." Rhett didn't want Scarlett to make herself sick again by doing too much too soon.
Scarlett lay back on the bed. Rhett sat on the side of the bed. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. He was afraid that if he looked away she would be back in her deep sleep.
Rhett remembered that Dr. Williams had said that Scarlett would probably be thirsty when she woke up, ""Do you want some water?"
Scarlett nodded her head yes. She was going to listen to Rhett and not talk any more.
"All right I'll go get Pansy and ask her to bring in some fresh water up." Rhett knew the water in the room hadn't been changed since the day before. Rhett stepped out into the hall to find Pansy.
After Pansy brought the water Rhett sent her to get Dr. Williams. Scarlett had drifted off back to sleep once she had a few sips of her water. Rhett didn't want her to go to sleep but knew that she still needed her rest.
Dr. Williams arrived as quickly as possible. He wanted to see for himself that Scarlett was truly awake. When he arrived he saw that Scarlett was asleep and wasn't sure that he had heard Pansy correctly.
Dr. Williams was standing at the door with a questioning look on his face. Rhett walked over to him, not wanting to disturb Scarlett.
Motioning Dr. Williams out into the hall Rhett closed the door behind them. "She woke up. I couldn't believe it. She just woke up."
"That's wonderful Rhett. How long was she awake?" Dr. Williams was very happy for Rhett.
"She was only awake for about half an hour, but she did talk a little and she had a few drinks of water." Rhett couldn't help but smile.
Dr. Williams was almost sure that this meant that Scarlett would make a full recovery. "I am really glad to hear that Rhett. I do need to check her though."
Rhett didn't want to wake Scarlett up but figured she could sleep all she wanted when Dr. Williams was done. "All right, come on." They both walked back into the room.
"Scarlett, honey, wake up." Rhett gently shook Scarlett. "Scarlett" For a moment Rhett was afraid that he had dreamed the whole thing. Scarlett slowly stretched out and moaned, but she didn't open her eyes. "Scarlett, I need you to open your eyes."
Scarlett opened her eyes but didn't say anything. "There are those beautiful eyes. Scarlett I want you to meet Dr. Mark Williams. He has been the one here with us through everything."
Dr. Williams walked closer to the bed so Scarlett could see him, "I can't tell you how good it is to see you awake Mrs. Butler."
Scarlett opened her mouth to thank Dr. Williams but of cut off sort. "I know you want to thank him Scarlett, but you don't need to be talking. Am I right Mark?"
"Your husband is correct Mrs. Butler. You need to take it as easy as possible. You'll have all the time to thank me when you're better." Dr. Williams proceeded to check Scarlett's temperature and other things. "From what I can see Mrs. Butler you have improved a great deal since yesterday."
"Scarlett." Scarlett had always hated the formality of names. She thought that the man who saved her life should be allowed to call her by her first name.
Dr. Williams didn't understand what she meant, "I'm sorry?"
Rhett had however picked up Scarlett's meaning, "She wants you to call her Scarlett."
"I believe I could do that." Dr. Williams was glad. He felt as though he had known Scarlett forever because Rhett had told him so much about her.
Scarlett smiled up at Dr. Williams with a grateful look on her face. She dearly wanted to thank this man not only for helping her, but for helping Rhett. She could tell that he and Rhett had become close over the time they spent together.
"Scarlett you are a strong woman. You had one of the worst cases of typhoid I have ever seen. I have seen many people die from a lot less." Dr. Williams was trying to make Scarlett feel good about making it through such an ordeal.
This didn't work because when he said typhoid Scarlett's face turned to horror. Rhett hadn't told her what see had yet. "Typhoid" Scarlett wanted to make sure she hears him right.
Rhett knew that Scarlett's mother had died from typhoid and that that was probably what was troubling her so. "Yes Scarlett you survived it though."
"How did I get it?" Scarlett was having trouble talking but had to know.
Rhett knew Scarlett wouldn't be able to rest now before she had answers. "You got it from Beau's school you went to visit him. They had just started having an outbreak." Rhett saw the worry in Scarlett's face and figured it was most likely about the children. "Don't worry about Wade and Ella they are fine. They didn't get it. They're in Charleston with my mother."
"Beau?" Scarlett would never forgive herself if anything happened to him. She had promised Melly she would watch after him.
"He is all right. He's in Charleston too." Rhett had forgotten to tell her about him.
Dr. Williams could see that Scarlett cared a great deal for her children and her nephew. "I think you should rest now Scarlett."
Rhett nodded, "He's right. I'll be right back I'm going to walk Mark out." Scarlett agreed with them and moved into a resting position as they left.