Tegan, Cameron, Sonia and the kids spent a glorious day on a yacht Cameron arranged through one of her contacts. It was late afternoon when they docked and got ready to head home.
"Alright guys, time to pack up and go home" Tegan yelled at Cameron and the kids who were still splashing around in the hot tub.
"Okay, let's grab you some towels" Cameron said getting up.
"Nooo" Casey complained.
"More swimming" Ryan added.
"We'll swim again tomorrow guys. In the pool or even better, I'll get Mike to fill up the hot tub tomorrow" said Tegan bending over to pull whichever kid was in reach first out of the water.
"No, no, no" Casey stomped her foot.
"I'm not fighting about this Casey" Tegan said calmly.
Ryan lay back in the warm water, clearly not planning on going anywhere!
"Ryan get up, get out" Tegan said a bit harsher.
"More swimming" he repeated.
"Mom, can I get some help here please" Tegan called towards Sonia.
Cameron moved to pick Ryan up and hand to Tegan but Tegan stopped her.
"No Cam, don't want you to get hurt"
"Get hurt?" Cameron frowned.
Tegan shrugged and lifted Ryan out of the water. He was throwing a proper tantrum, screaming at the top of his voice and kicking and thrashing to get out of Tegan's arms as Sonia covered him with a towel.
"Why do you need to spoil a perfectly wonderful day… why?" Tegan grunted and handed Ryan to Sonia. By now Casey was also bawling where she stood on a step shivering.
"Come on Casey" Tegan lifted her daughter. She didn't scream but she kept crying with her face in Tegan's neck.
Tegan took a few deep breaths as she dried Casey off. She looked on the verge of tears herself.
"Can I help with anything?" Cam asked drying herself off.
"No… thanks. Think they're just over tired. Missed their naps today" Tegan said through the screaming and crying.
Cameron didn't want to interfere with Tegan's parenting techniques, so she busied herself with getting dressed. She felt awkward being there and still not being able to do much.
"That's enough now" Tegan said while she and Sonia dressed the kids. They kept their performance up.
"I said that's enough now" Tegan snapped loudly. The kids were suddenly quiet and looking at her perplexed. Casey's bottom lip started quivering again.
"Ah damn it" Tegan mumbled and walked away with her hands in her hair and her head thrown back.
She stepped off the boat to distance herself just for a few minutes.
"Mommy! Mommy please don't leave. Mommy come back" Ryan yelled from the boat.
"Don't go mommy. Mooommyyyy!" Casey cried.
As the realisation hit Tegan she felt instantly dizzy. They didn't want her to leave like Lindsey left. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She climbed back onto the boat.
"Mommy I'm sorry, I'll be a good boy" Ryan cried.
"Don't go mommy"
"Hey, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere I promise" Tegan whispered and knelt, she took the kids in her arms and held them tight.
"I'm right here, I'm not leaving. Shhhh, it's okay" Tegan repeatedly whispered into their ears.
Cameron paled and swallowed hard. She had a sudden ache in her chest, not one from illness but that weird sensation that spreads from your chest into your throat and makes you want to cry. She shook her head and turned away.
About ten minutes later the kids were calm and sitting silently on Tegan's lap.
"Alright, let's get up. We're putting a fish on the grill tonight. How does that sound?" Tegan said smiling at the kids.
"Can I help Mommy?" Casey asked.
"Yes! You can both help if you want" said Tegan getting up.
Cameron and Sonia were leaning up against the boats railing waiting for everyone to calm down.
"She's a good mother" Cameron said absentmindedly.
"She is, she just gets flustered and frustrated sometimes" Sonia replied.
"I thought all parents do that?"
"Yeah, they do" Sonia laughed.
"I better get going guys. I need to spend some time with the family tonight" Cameron said as Tegan joined them.
"Oh, that's disappointing, thought you'd enjoy the fish" said Tegan.
Cameron just needed to get away for a while, she didn't understand this sudden urge to bolt but it was there.
"Um… next time alright. Reese has the evening off so we're going to chill and…"
"You can invite her if you want, and Tori and the kids"
"Thanks Tegan, but I'm going to leave you and your mom to catch up. I'll take a rain check on that fish"
"We'll drop you at home" said Tegan.
"It's okay, think I'll take a walk, its not that far"
Tegan lifted an eyebrow. "Really, honestly it's no hassle we can just…"
"Alright, let Mike take me. I don't want you guys to go out of your way. Thanks anyway"
"Okay. Thanks for arranging this today Cam. It was a really special day. The kids loved it… I loved it"
"Sure, no problem" Cam smiled and looked at her shoes to hide her blush.
"Casey and Ryan, come say thank you and goodbye to Cameron please"
Cameron crowched down and the kids threw their arms around her neck.
"Don't go away Camewon" Casey begged.
"I'll come visit again soon alright"
"Tomowwow?"
"Um, maybe"
"Pwease"
"Okay I'll pop by tomorrow, you guys be good now"
Cameron felt the ache in her chest again. She took a deep breath, hugged the kids and hastily got up. She greeted Tegan and Sonia in record speed and headed towards Mike standing at an SUV close by.
"You not coming for dinner at Tegan's?" Mike asked.
"Not today"
Mike didn't say anything but looked over in Tegan's direction. She was watching them. He got in the car and drove away. Cameron didn't look back.
-0-
"Mike please drive by the clinic, I just want to see if Tori's still there. I'll catch a lift with her if she is" said Cameron looking pale.
"You okay?" Mike asked with his eyebrow arched.
"Yeah just want to go say hi"
Mike had a few questions but decided to stay quiet.
Cameron was relieved when she saw Tori's car in front of the clinic. The car was still moving when she opened the door.
"Whoa, easy! Just let me stop the car" said Mike with is hand on Cam's arm.
"Thanks Mike, see you later" Cameron mumbled and rushed into the clinic.
"Hey Cam" said the receptionist.
"Tori still here?"
"We were just about to pack up for the day, she's still here"
Cameron didn't ask for permission, she just barged into Tori's office.
"Cam?" Tori asked looking startled.
Cameron was looking panicked now, she was breathing fast and pacing up and down.
"Hey what's up kiddo? Just sit down for a sec, take a deep breath"
"I don't know…. My chest, I had this weird…. ache just now… and…"
"Alright come with me" said Tori without needing a further explanation, she looked spooked.
Tori led Cam into an exam room and helped her onto the bed.
"I don't know what's going on… I… I…."
"Jase is KT still around? Please send her in right now if she is"
"What are you thinking… oh my god… is something wrong… oh shit, shit, shit" Cameron had her palms over her eyes.
"Just relax, try and calm down"
"What do we have" said KT striding into the room.
"I don't need a fucking trauma doctor" Cam snapped.
"She's not a trauma doctor today, she's just a clinic doctor" Tori said and winked. She proceeded t put her stethoscope into her ears.
"KT, Cam just came in saying she was experiencing chest pain and…"
"No not pain, just like… an ache you know"
"Okay… she's also pale and short of breath, she's shaking. Can you help me get some vitals please"
Tori listened to Cam's chest for a couple of minutes while KT took her blood pressure and temperature.
"I can't hear anything wrong except that she's running very fast. Let's do a 12 lead EKG"
"BP's a tad high but nothing too hectic. Temp's normal" said KT.
Cam was hyper ventilating again.
"Hey just calm down and breathe ok. We're going to get to the bottom of this just take nice slow breaths" said KT and rubbed Cam's arm up and down.
"Shall we do an echo?" KT asked.
"Might as well, we have the expensive thing now" Tori said. The clinic got a donation from the big hospital in the next town. It was a hand me down like a lot of the equipment in the clinic but they were grateful for it nonetheless. Cam shivered as the cold gel on the electrodes made contact with her chest. That sensation took her back to the hospital in LA and she started hyperventilating again.
"We've got you, just breathe" Tori smiled and put the echo probe on Cam's chest.
A/N: remember there are 3 new chapters today, in case you clicked on the link for one