"Hey, you're early! I'm glad" said Tegan when Cam walked into the house. She gave Cam a quick hug.
"Yeah, finished up earlier than I expected. I just need to go back to my aunt's place in an hour or so. Went to pick up the kids but they were napping"
"You get that errand done?"
"Yes" said Cam without further explanation.
"Where are those two rascals?" asked Cam.
"They're outside on the swing set. Beth's keeping an eye on them. Speaking of Beth. She told me you guys are going out for a drink this week"
"Oh… yeah. She seems keen to check out some of the bars in town"
"Nice"
"You should come if you want?"
"You know what, I think I'm going to skip this one. I kind of need to check out the kid friendly places"
"We can leave the kids with Tori one night? Or with one of the other security people? It will be good for you to get out"
"I get out!"
"Yes but I mean without the kids, with adult company"
"Maybe another time"
"Oh come on!"
"No, you guys go have fun. Beth's earned it"
"Oh, alright…" said Cam looking disappointed.
A second later a blood curdling cry came from outside.
"Oh shit… Ryan" Tegan said and started running.
Ryan was lying on the grass holding his head screaming like a lunatic. Casey was standing a few feet away crying.
"Oh my god, what happened?" Tegan yelled as she approached.
"He fell off the swing when he tried to climb down, I don't know what happened… I… I…"
"I'm here Ryan, oh god… oh god"
"Tegan I've got this… its okay" said Cam putting a clean wash cloth to the scrape just below Ryan's hairline.
"I'm here… I'm here" Tegan kept repeating while rocking Ryan in her arms.
"Let's get this cleaned up" said Cam.
"We need to go to the hospital… We need a doctor" said Tegan.
"Tee its okay, let me clean this up and have a look at him. Right now he's okay. It's just a scrape and a bump"
"He may have a concussion... or a brain bleed, he needs a doctor, he… he needs a doctor. Call 911" Tegan yelled.
"Tegan, he's already calmer. I'm sure it was just the shock that had him crying like this. It's okay, I know what I'm doing"
"I'm here big boy, mommy's here" Tegan kept repeating, she was now wheezing and shaking.
"Let him go Tegan, let me take care of him" said Cam gently.
"No… no… I can't leave him. Get an ambulance!"
"Alright, come with me inside. You can hold his hand while I clean this up"
Tegan was wheezing more and more.
"Tegan, where's your inhaler. Take a puff, you're wheezing" said Beth crouching next to Tegan.
Tegan seemed to be in shock. She was breathing hard and fast.
"He needs a doctor… He needs a doctor"
Cam was now way more concerned about Tegan's breathing difficulty than the minor scrape on Ryan's head.
"Get a car, he needs a doctor!" Tegan yelled.
"Just let me have a look" said Cam gently. Tegan still clutched her little boy to her chest.
"He has to be okay, he has to be okay…. I can't… he has to be okay, he needs a doctor" Tegan mumbled.
"Dammit Tegan… I am one!" Cam yelled.
Tegan looked up speechless.
"You are?" asked Beth looking perplexed.
"Listen, just call an ambulance and call Dr King at the clinic. Tell her we're bringing them in"
"A doctor?" Tegan mumbled through her wheezing.
"It's… it's a long story" said Cam while fishing Tegan's inhaler from her pants pocket. She put it to Tegan's mouth.
"Deep breath" Tegan tried to oblige but didn't get much of the medicine into her lungs. She was starting to feel light headed.
"Another one, come on stay with me" said Cam trying to get Tegan to take in some air.
Ryan was still softly crying on Tegan's lap. Mike had taken Casey and was trying to distract her.
"Alright, that's better. Tegan just lie back and try to take long, deep breaths okay. I've got Ryan, he's okay. It looks like just a scrape but we're going to take him to the clinic to be checked out anyway alright" Cam was 99% sure Ryan was perfectly okay but she knew she needed Tegan to go to the clinic. Her breathing was getting worse by the minute.
"Okay… It's okay Ryan" said Tegan losing steam.
"Tegan, deep breaths for me" said Cam as she took Ryan.
Tegan was still pale and wheezing.
"Damnit" Cam mumbled and put the inhaler to Tegan's lips again. "Come on Tee another deep breath on three"
Cam put her fingers in Tegan's neck to check her pulse, it was sky high.
"Just… take care… of Ryan… Is he… okay?" Tegan wheezed and pushed Cam's hand away.
"He's going to be just fine, breathe Tegan"
The world was starting to spin for Tegan. She needed her other inhaler and an anxiety pill but couldn't find the strength to tell Cam and she couldn't even think where it was.
A minute later an ambulance screeched to a halt in front of the house.
"Cameron?" said the blonde female medic with short tousled hair getting out of the ambulance.
"Hi Flynn" said Cam.
"What have we got?"
"All I know is she has a history of lung problems. She had a bit of a panic attack after her son hit his head. I've given her three puffs of her inhaler with very little effect"
"Hey what's your name?"
"Uh… Tegan" Tegan grunted.
"Hi Tegan, I'm Flynn. We're going to take good care of you. Just relax"
"Is the boy okay?" asked the paramedic as she put an oxygen mask on Tegan who seemed half out of it.
"I think it's just a scrape but Tori can check it out at the clinic"
The paramedic swiftly started a line in Tegan's arm and injected something into it. Straight after they put Tegan on a gurney and started carrying her to the ambulance. The meds seemed to have some effect and Tegan tried to sit up and pull the mask over her mouth away.
"Ryan" she said as loudly as she could.
"It's okay, he's alright. We're taking you to the clinic to be checked out"
"I need my son, I need Ryan" Tegan panted.
"Just relax, he's right here" said the paramedic.
"Oh my god… he needs to be okay" Tegan started crying again.
"He will be Tegan. I promise" said Cam looking into her eyes.
"Bring Casey in the car, she'll want her there. I'll go with Ryan and Tegan in the ambulance" said Cam looking rattled.
Tegan held Ryan's hand as the paramedic put a nebuliser mask over her mouth and nose. "It's okay big boy, everything's okay" she wheezed.
"Just try and stay calm now, it's okay" said the paramedic and patted Tegan's shoulder.
"Cameron, Ryan… bring him. Casey, what about Casey, bring Casey"
"Tegan, I'm going to bring Casey alright. We'll be right behind you. Just relax and breathe now" said Beth.
Tegan felt light headed and nauseous. She nodded and allowed the paramedics to load her into the ambulance.
"Ryan, Mommy's here okay" she wheezed but Ryan had long since stopped crying and was laughing at Cam over something.
"Listen guys, he seems to be okay. I'm fine too, let me out of here" said Tegan, her hands still shaking violently.
"We just need to get you checked out at the clinic. Its okay" said Cam calmly.
The medic put the pulse ox on Tegan's finger. "It's low and your pulse is racing. Just relax and take deep breaths"
Tegan nodded and closed her eyes. "BP's low too. Don't worry though, Dr King will have you sorted out in no time"
Two minutes later the ambulance pulled up in front of the clinic. The doors opened and Tori stood waiting with her hands in her sides.
"What happened?"
"I'll leave that up to them to explain" said Cam indicating to the paramedics.
"Hey Doc, this is Tegan Quin. Mid thirties. Breathing difficulty after a panic attack. I've nebulised and started a line. Her BP's 89 over 61. She's tachy, pulse at 125. Pulse ox is hovering around 91 now, up from 85 earlier. This is Ryan Quin, he fell and scraped his head. Pupils equal and reactive. Neuro exam normal but mommy here would prefer that he gets checked out and have that scraped cleaned out"
"Thank you Flynn. Hi Tegan" said Tori and squeezed Tegan's hand.
"Hi" Tegan mumbled.
"Let's get you sorted out. Cam, Dr O'Bannon is in exam 3. She'll check out Ryan"
"No, I want you to do it!" said Tegan trying to sit up.
"Dr O'Bannon is one of the best trauma surgeons on the east coast. She now lives in the area so she helps us out when she gets a chance. Ryan could not be in better hands, I promise" said Tori.
"I want to stay with him" Tegan wheezed.
Tori sighed. "Cam, tell KT that she needs to come see the patient in exam 1"
"Alright" said Cam and headed off after depositing Ryan on Tegan's lap.
"I'm okay. This happens sometimes. It's just a… I'm okay…. Ryan… help him"
"You're both going to be fine. Just relax now" said Tori.
"I told the nurse to get Dr O'Bannon, she was finishing up a consult, I didn't want to disturb her" said Cam. Truth was, she didn't really feel like talking to KT. Right now wasn't the time to catch up with old colleagues.
"This is so embarrassing" Tegan mumbled and looked away.
"Nothing at all to be embarrassed about Tegan" said Tori taking Tegan's BP.
"Hello hello, oh… Dr Hart. Hi" said a gorgeous, tomboyish brunette entering the room. She kind of reminded Tegan a bit of Kate or Cam but she was definitely more full of it than those two. She looked as if she owned the place. She had a confident swag to her.
"Dr O'Bannon. Need I remind you again that it's just Cameron" said Cam looking annoyed.
"Okay, just Cameron" said Dr O'Bannon rolling her eyes and turned away to pull some gloves on. "What a waste" she said shaking her head.
Tegan frowned and looked at Cam. The awkward moment was interrupted by Tori.
"Dr O'Bannon, this is Ryan Quin. He fell and bumped his head. Can you please give him a full neuro exam and clean that scrape out"
"Oh this doesn't look so bad. I'll get Randy to come do it"
"KT… I want you to do it please" said Tori and gave KT a dirty look.
"Maybe you should stick to big city trauma rooms" said Cam under her breath.
"I do most of the time but I like to give back to my community" said KT sarcastically and smiled.
"Dr O'Bannon... get to it please" said Tori while starting an IV line in Tegan's arm.
"Well… The boss has spoken" said KT and tried to pick Ryan up.
"No no… don't take him please. Please" Tegan begged.
"Okay, just take it easy. I just thought we might be getting in the way here" said KT carefully.
Tegan's hands were shaking again.
"It's okay Tegan. Just let her take him to that counter over there where you can still see them. I'll go with them" said Cam gently.
"Oh… Okay" said Tegan. She watched as the cocky little goddess of medicine checked her son out while Tori and the nurse treated her.
"Alright then. Tegan, he seems perfectly fine. Neuro exam is normal. I've cleaned out that abrasion. Nothing to worry about. It's probably going to scab over, try to get him to leave it alone"
"Thank you" said Tegan pulling down the mask over her face.
"You're welcome. You need some help over here Dr King?" asked KT.
"I can use a second opinion I guess. Her lungs are slowly opening up but with her medical history I don't know if we should be taking any chances. I'm considering moving her while she's stable. Flynn's still around isn't she?"
"Moving me where?" asked Tegan.
"To the hospital in the next town Tegan"
"No that's not going to happen. I'm fine. This happens sometimes. I'm fine, really" Tegan protested.
"Tegan, it may be best to err on the side of caution here"
"NO, I'm not going" Tegan exclaimed and started wheezing again.
"Dr King, can we talk for a minute?" said Cameron.
"Okay" Tori nodded.
Tegan had Ryan on her lap again. He was laughing trying to pull the mask off her face.
"Dr King, may I have a word?" said Cam and led Tori away from the bed.
"Tori, I think that if there's any chance of keeping her here… taking a wait and see approach… I think she'd really appreciate it" said Cam.
"I don't know Cam"
"She's stable, airways are opening up fine. She says this happens pretty frequently. Can't you just keep her here for the afternoon to monitor her? If she deteriorates then yes, I agree, have her admitted. But give her a chance Tori… please, for me?"
"Alright. I was leaning towards that anyway but that was a lovely speech" Tori winked and walked back towards Tegan.
KT gave Cam an inquisitive look. "What?" Cam snapped.
"Nothing... I just... Tegan Quin huh! Niiice" KT grinned.
"It's not like that alright"
"Uh huh"
"Shut up O'Bannon" Cam snapped.
KT smiled good heartedly and shrugged. She wordlessly left the room.
"Here's the deal. We're going to keep you here for the afternoon to monitor you. Get those airways open, get your BP up. If you're still stable by closing time we'll let you go home. If not, we're transferring you to the hospital"
"I'll be fine, I promise"
"Okay. Just take it easy. Breathe in the meds and the oxygen. I'll ask Randy to bring you some lunch"
"Where's Casey?" asked Tegan sitting up.
"She's in the waiting room playing with our very own Sheriff"
"Reese is here?" Tori smiled.
"She said she'll wait" said KT as she entered the room again to pick up some supplies for another case.
"Looks like we'll have to postpone dinner to another night" said Cam.
"I'm sorry. You know, I think I'll be fine by tonight. We can still do it?" said Tegan.
"You're going to be exhausted. You won't want to make dinner and have guests over" said Tori making a note on Tegan's chart.
There was a knock on the exam room door. Tori called enter.
"Hi everyone. I have somebody here that wanted to say hi" said Reese carrying Casey in. Casey was playing with Reese's sheriff badge. Beth and Reese followed them in.
"Hey honey!" said Tegan holding out her arms.
"Mommy!" Casey yelled smiling.
"Thank you for that" Tegan smiled at Reese.
"No problem at all. She's a sweetheart" Reese grinned. Cameron introduced Tegan to Reese.
The kids were busy, they were already fiddling with the BP cuff around Tegan's arm.
"I have an idea. Apparently they're going to keep you here a few hours to keep an eye on you. Why don't I take the kids to our place for a playdate. I can take the afternoon off no problem" said Reese.
"Um… I don't know, they're a handful" Tegan objected.
"You can send Beth with them?" said Cam.
"What about you?" asked Tegan.
"I think I want to stay here and keep you company. It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it" Cam shrugged playfully.
"When they let you go you can come have that barbeque at our place, if you feel up to it that is" said Reese.
"I don't know… are you sure?" said Tegan.
"Very. Let me do this for you Tegan" said Reese.
"They're in safe hands Tegan. She's the sheriff after all" Tori winked and smiled at her wife.
"Okay. Thank you. I'd appreciate it if Beth could tag along?"
Beth gave Tegan a dirty look but it went right over Tegan's head.
"Alright! Let's go have some fun kids" said Reese.
"Thanks Reese! I owe you" said Cam.
"No, I owe her" said Tegan frowning.
"Uh huh… say goodbye to Mommy guys" said Cam.
"No… Mommy come" said Casey holding Tegan's hand.
"Go with Reese honey. It's going to be fun. There's going to be friends. Beth will be there. Go have fun" said Tegan. Ryan was already standing in front of Reese looking up at her with his mouth gaping open in awe.
"Come on, I'll make you both special deputies for bravery. Who wants a badge?" said Reese. With that the kids left and didn't look back.
"You know she actually had these "special deputy" badges made for her adoring audience of toddlers.
"That's awesome" laughed Tegan, she looked tired.
"Yeah, she's cool" said Cam. The room had emptied out now leaving only Tegan and Cam.
"Thanks for staying. It's nice to have somebody take your mind off where you are" said Tegan.
"Sure. I'm going to see what happened to our lunch. Would you like a soda or coffee or something with that?"
"I guess my BP could do with a bit of caffeine. Coffee would be great" said Tegan.
She didn't know why buy she felt perfectly relaxed with Reese, a virtual stranger taking her kids. It helped that Beth was with them. When her eyes started drooping Tegan realised that they probably gave her some anti anxiety meds earlier. She tried her best to stay awake but was out cold before Cam returned with their lunch and coffee.
A/N: Again, apologies for the late update. I hope to be faster going forward. Please review!