Gretchen covered her face with her hands and started sobbing, "I'm sorry."
"You said you weren't going to," Ferb said.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault. It's," Gretchen began.
"Stop," Ferb said a little forcefully, but there was a gentleness in his voice.
Shane placed a hand on Gretchen's shoulder.
Ferb sat quiet for a moment, then he too started sobbing.
Shane placed his other hand on Ferb's shoulder, "Come on guys. Everything is going to be okay."
"I'm sorry sweetheart, I let you down. I should have stayed home with you," Ferb apologized to his wife.
"You had to work," Gretchen pointed out.
"I should have called in," Ferb protested.
Gretchen shook her head, "I shouldn't have gone out."
"This is the third day in a row, Gretchen. You need to take better care of yourself," Ferb remarked.
"Third day in a row? You mean she passed out yesterday as well? Gretchen, you realize I'm going to have to tell your doctor," Shane said seriously.
Gretchen whimpered, "No."
"I don't want to have to admit you. I will if I have to. You're hardly eating and you didn't sleep well last night," Ferb said.
"Dr. Manson...I was just about to come and get you," Shane said upon noticing the doctor.
"Gretchen, would you mind explaining to me why you are here?" Dr. Manson inquired.
Gretchen's gaze dropped.
"I'm sorry Gretchen but I have to inform him," Shane said.
"Inform me of what?" Dr. Manson asked.
"Ferb said this is the third consecutive day she has passed out," Shane stated.
"Is this true?" Dr. Manson inquired.
Ferb nodded sadly, "I got a call at work both yesterday and today."
Dr. Manson turned to Gretchen, "Where were you when you passed out?"
"I was in a restaurant with my friends," Gretchen said.
"After yesterday, I tried to encourage her to stay home," Ferb added.
"Did she eat dinner last night?" Dr. Manson asked.
Ferb nodded.
"What about breakfast?" Dr. Manson inquired.
"I'm not sure," Ferb admitted.
"Yes, yes I did," Gretchen defended.
"And you passed out again today and yesterday?" Dr. Manson asked.
Gretchen whimpered again and replied in small voice, "Yes."
"Anything to cause any above average stress or anxiety?" Dr. Manson inquired.
"I was just out with some friends I've not seen in a while," Gretchen answered.
"Are these good friends of yours or do they always raise your anxiety levels?" Dr. Manson asked.
"I'd say they're good friends," Gretchen replied.
"Are you having any other symptoms?" Dr. Manson inquired.
"No," Gretchen said.
"You said were nauseous, but you weren't vomiting," Ferb remarked.
"Gretchen, two days ago you assured me you would take it easy," Dr. Manson said.
"I-" Gretchen stopped short when he gave her a concerned look.
"I'm trying," Gretchen said.
"Gretchen, I'm not only speaking as your doctor but as a friend and a colleague, it's a little upsetting to know that you have passed out once a day for the last three days," Dr. Manson said.
Ferb rubbed his fingers into his temples.
"Is something wrong?" Shane asked quietly.
Ferb shook his head, "Just a headache."
"I'm sorry Ferb. I didn't mean to," Gretchen apologized to him.
"I know you didn't mean to," Ferb replied, obviously upset.
"Ferb, please-" Gretchen began, only to be cut off by him.
"I don't want to lose you...What if you passed out while you were driving?"
Gretchen started to tear.
"If you did, I would lose you. I don't want to lose you," Ferb's voice became raw with emotion.
"You know I would never drive if I didn't think I was capable," Gretchen said softly.
Ferb took a shaky breath, and couldn't answer.
"Ferb? You know this right?" Gretchen asked.
"Normally, yes. However, you're not eating or sleeping properly," Ferb replied.
"Are you saying my judgment isn't sound?" Gretchen inquired.
Ferb shook his head.
"Ferb..." Gretchen trailed off.
"Sweetheart, I-I don't know," Ferb managed to choke out.
Shane came back into the room at that moment, "Come on Ferb. Let's you and I go for a walk."
Ferb kissed Gretchen's hand, "I love you sweetheart," he said then followed Shane out of the room.
"I want to admit you for observation, however..." Dr. Manson began before getting interrupted by Gretchen.
"I can't leave him like that."
"As I was saying. I want to admit you for observation, however I think I need to put your husband on medical leave for a week," Dr. Manson continued.
Gretchen gasped.
"I think it's for the best," Dr. Manson stated simply.
"But-" Gretchen tried.
"Gretchen, it's obvious that he is also stressed. You do realize what can happen right?" Dr. Manson cut her off this time.
Gretchen sighed and nodded.
"I'll take care of the admittance forms," Dr. Manson said.
Gretchen nodded silently.
"I just want to get to the bottom of what's causing these blackout episodes," Dr. Manson stated giving his co-worker, turn patient, a slightly unnerved look.
Shane lead Ferb to a set of chairs down the hall and sat down, "I'm sure Dr. Manson will tell her to rest up and eat properly."
Ferb nodded numbly as he sat down.
"I understand how worried you are," Shane remarked.
Ferb raised an eyebrow at the slightly older man.
"My sister was a young mother as well. She had a rough pregnancy, worse than Gretchen," Shane stated, staring straight ahead.
Ferb looked at him.
"She had really bad morning sickness. She lost twenty pounds in the first three months. She was hospitalized and put on intravenous supplements," Shane continued.
Ferb's eyes went wide.
"They were afraid that they were going to lose my sister," Shane's comment added to Ferb's worry.
Ferb raised an eyebrow at the male nurse.
"She's a tad bit more of spitfire than Gretchen though," Shane laughed.
"Everything worked out?" Ferb asked.
Shane grined, "My niece is three-years-old and is quite the handful."
Ferb smiled, "That's encouraging."
"Although she can be quite the little devil at times," Shane said then laughed lightly, "My sister jokes that I'm pretty much the only one who can keep up with her when I visit."
"Sounds like you enjoy the time you spend with your niece," Ferb remarked.
"Yeah," Shane nodded then added after a pause, "I'm pretty sure your child would be a lot more calm and collected than my niece."
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"It's just an observation. I've noticed you are generally calm and collected until it comes to Gretchen. And she can maintain her composure quite well, unless it has anything to do with you. That's a pretty powerful love for each other right there," Shane said.
"I just don't know what I'd do without her," Ferb replied.
"I know she feels the same," Shane stated.
"Thank you. I should see if she's ready to go home," Ferb remarked as he stood.
"I'm off tomorrow. I'll stop by for a visit to keep her company," Shane offered.
"I'm sure she'll enjoy that," Ferb said.
"Well Dr. Manson should be done talking with her by now," Shane said as he stood.
"I thought male nurses aren't allowed to-" Ferb began.
"They aren't...generally at least. They know that Jen, Gretchen and myself generally work together," Shane replied then stated, "You're poking fun at me."
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"Gretchen's a good friend of mine. If I didn't see her as a sister, she might be a best friend," Shane said.
Ferb smirked.
"Although that one guy in the ER a couple weeks ago...he really rubbed me the wrong way..I didn't like the way he was watching her," Shane said with a frown.
"I heard you took care of it," Ferb remarked.
Shane nodded, "Yes...I could tell he's a womanizer..I sure hope that young woman Gretchen was seeing to dumped him."
Ferb muttered under his breath, "And hopefully before he pushed the sleep with him issue."
"Gretchen mentioned the incident?" Shane asked.
"She found it disturbing that one of her ex-boyfriends was eying her like a piece of meat," Ferb replied.
"Ex-boyfriend?" Shane inquired.
"A long time ago," Ferb answered quickly.
"Like how long ago?" Shane asked.
"High school," was Ferb's simple answer.
"He's going to wind up in jail sooner or later," Shane noted.
Ferb nodded, "He already has a record for assault. So if charges are pressed against him of the same degree..."
"But I would never want for someone to get harmed by him," Shane commented, slightly at an unease.
Ferb shrugged, "What goes around comes around."
"He didn't harm Gretchen did he?" Shane asked, concerned for his friend's safety and well being.
"No. I wouldn't stand for that," Ferb returned instantly.
"Did he harm you?" Shane inquired.
Ferb froze and Shane knew he hit right on the money.
"How badly?" Shane asked.
"Bad enough to crush two vertebrae in my neck," Ferb answered, his voice tightening a little.
Shane gave a nod, "That would be why she's extremely careful with patients who have neck injuries."
"I think that cemented her desire to become a nurse," Ferb remarked.
"That would explain things," Shane said.
Shane opened door to Gretchen's room and Ferb approached his wife.
"Are you able to leave?" Ferb asked.
Gretchen looked at him sadly and a little bit pitifully, and then shook her head.
"You can't?" Ferb inquired.
Gretchen responded quietly, "He wants to keep me for observation."
"Because of the black outs?" Ferb asked gently.
Gretchen nodded.
Ferb hugged her tight, "I'm so sorry sweetheart."
"I know, and I'm sorry," Gretchen sobbed into his chest.
"Ferb, may I see you for a moment?" Dr. Manson asked.
Ferb raised an eyebrow, then nodded.
"I would like for you to stay overnight as well," Dr. Manson stated.
"Why?" Ferb inquired.
Dr. Manson gestured towards Gretchen, "I want to make sure of something."
"I've got work in the morning, I-" Ferb tried protesting.
"You're going to call in sick," Dr. Manson said firmly.
Ferb looked as though he was trying to formulate a response and coming up empty.
"I'm putting in an order for medical leave. This is taking a toll on both of you," Dr. Manson explained.
Ferb raised a finger, "Could you request that it not be mentioned to Will Weiss?"
"Why?" Dr. Manson asked.
"I promised him that when I married his daughter that I'd take care of her," Ferb mumbled.
"And you feel that you aren't?" Dr. Manson prompted.
Ferb hung his head and shook it.
Gretchen got up and crossed to him, "Ferb, look at me."
"I'm sorry, Gretchen. I should have requested a leave when you first passed out. Now you're putting yourself in further danger," Ferb blurted out, not making eye contact with his wife.
"Ferb, look at me," Gretchen said.
Ferb shook his head.
"Ferb Fletcher, you stubborn ox, look at me," Gretchen said more forcefully than the first time.
Ferb looked at her, but didn't meet her eyes.
"Ferb, I need to see your eyes," Gretchen prompted.
Ferb finally looked directly at her.
Gretchen saw something in his eyes that caused her to gasp, "You think something's going to happen to me and the baby don't you?"
Ferb nodded.
"Ferb, I'm scared. You might be right, maybe I'm not cut out to be a mother. It took us years to become pregnant, now I'm.." Gretchen rambled, being pretty hard on herself.
"Gretchen," Ferb cut her off then pulled her close.
He kissed her then looked directly at her, she then buried her face in his chest.
"I never said that," he continued.
"What?" Gretchen croaked.
"I never said you weren't cut out to be a mother. I think you are the most caring and loving and nurturing person, I have ever known. You do know that I love you right?" Ferb said.
"I love you too, but I'm not-" Gretchen started but Ferb cut her off before she could get extremely harsh on herself.
"Don't do that. You have already proven that you can and will be a wonderful mother."
"I don't want to keep passing out though," Gretchen mumbled.
"I've suggested that you eat what you can, and get rest. You're pushing yourself too hard, you're going to burn out before the baby arrives," Ferb said.
"I know how far I can push myself," Gretchen shot back.
"Really? Then why are you passing out?" Ferb returned.
"It might be my stress or anxiety levels," Gretchen defended.
"You've been stressed out before but no black outs...have you ever blacked out like this before?" Ferb asked.
"What do you mean?" Gretchen returned, confusion in her voice.
"Have you ever blacked out like this before due to stress or anxiety?" Ferb clarified.
Gretchen paused then quietly admitted, "Yes."
"When?" Ferb inquired.
Gretchen looked down at his bad leg. (1)
Ferb went wide eyed, as that incident was years ago.
"Then when you had your heart attack the other year? After everyone left the room, I was so upset I passed out. I came to and moved into the chair," Gretchen added.
Ferb pulled her close, so close that he could smell her perfume, "You should have looked into that."
"I..." Gretchen started then her eyes started to flutter.
Ferb's eyes went wide, "Gretchen!" He supported her, and let her slump against him.
"Let's get her back to bed," Dr. Manson remarked, looking at his now unconscious patient.
With Shane's help, Ferb managed to get Gretchen over and into the bed. Dr. Manson frowned slightly as the two completed the task.
Ferb looked over at him, "Something wrong?"
"I didn't see the last time she," Dr. Manson stopped and shook his head, "I'm going to have to talk with a few of my colleagues."
"Are you going to tell-" Ferb began to ask.
"They'll only be told the pertinent information," Dr. Manson assured him.
Ferb turned back to Gretchen and rested his forehead against hers.
Shane came up behind and placed his hand on Ferb's back, and caught his breath, "Poor Starshine. We'll take care of her."
Ferb lifted his head, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Shane said.
"Ferb, will you come with me please?" Dr. Manson said.
Ferb slowly got up not taking his eyes off of Gretchen's unconscious form.
"Ferb?" Dr. Manson tried to get the British man's attention.
Ferb continued to look at Gretchen, then his shoulders started to shake.
"Mister Fletcher," Dr. Manson's tone became firm.
Shane stepped in front of Ferb, and spoke gently to him, "We have to go now."
Ferb nodded, and let Shane move him out of the room.
_
Early the next morning, Shane was surprised to find Gretchen already awake.
"What are you doing up?" he asked.
"Finally have a day off I see," Gretchen returned.
Shane gave her an unamused look.
Gretchen laid back, "I'm not sure...I couldn't-" she stopped and shook her head.
"Ferb's on the Psych ward for observation," Shane informed her.
Gretchen's eyes widened, "What?"
"Due to stress. He loves you and is worried about you Starshine," Shane explained, trying to put her at ease.
"What happened?" Gretchen inquired.
"He refused to leave the room," Shane explained.
"How'd you-" Gretchen started.
"I convinced him to leave," Shane replied then added after the door closed behind the nurse, "Good morning Jen."
"How'd you know that it was me?" Jennifer inquired.
"You smell like lilacs and sweet peas. Starshine smells like vanilla and apple spice," Shane explained.
"How's my patient this morning?" Jennifer inquired as she came over.
Gretchen replied in a resigned tone, "Fine."
"It can't be that bad," Jennifer said as she checked Gretchen's vitals.
A tear escapes from Gretchen's eye, "My husband's on the Psych ward," she blurted with a sob.
"I'm sure Dr. Manson will allow him to come down and see you," Jennifer tried to soothe the younger and smaller woman.
"Eric put him there for observation," Shane stated.
Jennifer gave a slight nod, "All right," she turned to Gretchen, "I don't think I have to tell you your options or, do I?"
Gretchen gave her an unamused look.
_
Ferb opened eyes and closed them tight, then opened them again and pressed the 'nurse call' button.
"How are you this morning?" the nurse inquired.
Ferb took a breath, "I need my medications."
"Of course," the nurse said as she pulled out a syringe.
Ferb went wide eyed, "No. Not that. I have a heart condition."
"Of course you do," the nurse replied soothingly and administered the syringe.
Shortly afterwards, Dr. Manson came to check on his green haired patient.
"Ferb?" he called out.
Ferb gave no response.
"Come on, stay with us," Dr. Manson said as he began checking Ferb over.
Once again Ferb gave no response.
Dr. Manson turned to the attending nurse, "What did you give him?"
"Just the standard anti-anxiety injection," the nurse replied.
"He's a cardiac patient," Dr. Manson stated.
"I thought it was-" the nurse's reply was cut off by Dr. Manson.
"Never mind that now. We've got a Code Blue." He then muttered under his breath, "His wife isn't going to like this."
"Code Blue, fourth floor. Code Blue, fourth floor." Went out over the Public Address system.
In Gretchen's room the trio of nurses froze as they hear the announcement. Shane was the first to regain his composure.
"I'll see if they need any help," Shane stated.
Jennifer gave a nod and Shane hurried out of the room.
"Please don't be Ferb," Gretchen whispered as tears slid down her cheeks.
"Gretchen, please remain calm," Jennifer asked of her co-worker/patient.
Gretchen took a few shuddering breathes.
"Gretchen.." Jennifer said, trying to distract the young woman.
On the fourth floor.
"Dr. Manson!" Shane shouted when he caught sight of the Doctor.
"Shane what are you doing here?" Dr. Manson asked, surprised to see the flamboyant nurse.
"Visiting Starshine," Shane replied.
Would you give-" Dr. Manson began to ask.
"Of course sir," Shane interrupted.
_
Back in Gretchen's room, Gretchen had started to hyperventilate.
"Gretchen, I need you to calm down," Jennifer said seriously.
Gretchen shook her head, "I need to see him. I need Ferb."
Gretchen tried to get up but Jennifer held her down. Gretchen, still hyperventilating, pushed Jennifer away with a surprising amount of strength. She got up and almost made it out of the room. Jennifer rushed to Gretchen, and caught her as she collapsed. Jennifer wrapped her arm around Gretchen's waist and pulled her back to the bed then sighed, "Gretchen..."
Meanwhile on the Fourth Floor…..
"He's stabilizing," Dr. Manson said in relief.
Shane sighed, "Starshine's gotta be-"
Dr. Manson ran a hand through his hair, "She heard the PA didn't she?"
Shane gave a hesitant nod.
"Get him to the cardiac unit," Dr. Manson said to an orderly.
"Yes sir," The orderly replied, without missing a beat.
_
Jennifer got Gretchen back into the bed and took her vitals, "Gretchen, what happened?"
"What? Where? Ferb?" Gretchen blurted.
"Calm down," Jennifer said as she tried to restrain Gretchen.
"I need to see my husband," Gretchen said, insistently.
(1) If you had read Sabrina06's Life Turned Upside Down you might remember the scene where Gretchen blacks out in the waiting room.
A/N RBW26Z: This is just a reminder that if anyone says that 'Ferb should be with Vanessa' or 'Phineas should be with Isabella' this isn't the show. Secondly this was started way before Act You Age was aired. And thirdly I consider 'Act Your Age' to be non-cannon for several reason which if you want to know, just PM me. The major reason for AYA to be non-cannon for me is that 'Boys aren't that stupid or oblivious forever.'