January 20, 1925
I was right, thought Leia, but God she wished she wasn't. She was standing in a hospital room that contained two other occupants besides herself: little Poe Dameron asleep in his hospital bed with his mother Shara standing vigil beside him. Leia couldn't believe it had happened so quickly. Kes had called Han and Leia's house two days ago in a panic, asking Leia to cover Shara's shift at the hospital because Poe was sick. Leia of course hadn't given it a second thought, the nurses switched shifts all the time, and made her way over to cover for Shara. Everything was running smoothly except for a few cranky patients, when all hell broke loose. As she was completing patient charts, Leia heard a commotion at the entrance of the hospital. Thinking Mara Jade, the other nurse on duty, had got it covered, Leia merely glanced in the direction and went back to charting. That was until she saw Mara and Shara rush past her, Shara carrying Poe in her arms, wailing. Leia immediately placed them in a room and told Mara to get Dr. Rieekan. And that was when she got a good look at the little boy. Poe was dreadfully pale, a sharp contrast to his normally tan skin. He was shivering, sweating, and covered in ulcers while Shara pulled a chair next to her son's bed, sat down and began stroking his forehead
"Shara what happened?"
"Oh Leia," her voice cracking, "It all happened so fast. Poe woke up with this dreadful cough, the wet kind. And you know it's flu season so I thought I'd keep him home from school today and let him rest and that he'd be better in a few days. So I went on to work because Kes said he would stay with him. I was barely here for two hours when I got a call from the hospital phone that was from Kes saying I need to come home right away and that it was an emergency." A mucusy cough interrupted Shara as Poe began wheezing for air.
Shara promptly stood up and went for the door, "Where is that man?" she practically growled out, referring to Rieekan.
Leia walked over to her, guiding her back to her seat, "A laboring mom came in just after you left so he's busy with her and he'll be in here as soon as he can."
At this point Mara jogged in, "I updated Rieekan with what's going on and he has an idea of what's wrong with Poe."
Shara sensed her hesitation, "Tell me Mara, I can handle it."
"I- I'm not sure that-"
"Jade tell me what's wrong with my son!"
"Diphtheria," she whispered, "He thinks Poe has diphtheria."
The room went silent. Leia was thinking back to that Inuit child that Rieekan had told her and Han about last month. She was drawn out of her thoughts when Shara spoke after being quiet for a few minutes.
"Alright, Alright I- um- I just-"
Leia saw the need to intervene, "Okay Mara, do you have the medicine?"
"Leia, we do it's just," drawing in a breath she collected herself, "Dr. Rieekan located 6000 units in his office, and it's expired."
That's not enough thought Leia, it's not enough to save Shara's little boy. Diphtheria was typically treated with 10,000 to 30,000 units of antitoxin and that was therapeutically. Poe's case was definitely severe, and they would need anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 units to successfully treat him. Shara seemed to have come to the same conclusion and she began to weep.
Leia nodded to herself, "Okay...Okay! Mara call Kes and tell him to come to the hospital immediately. Actually you know what, go and get him yourself, it's a slow day as it is."
Mara nodded and ran out of the room while Leia turned to address her friend, "Shara, I'm going to go to Rieekan's office and get the medicine."
A hollow laugh came from Shara, "Leia, is there really a point?" and Leia could see that Shara was ready to give up. Kneeling before her she grabbed her face between her hands.
"Hey, listen to me, I know the odds aren't great, but it's the best we can do at the moment. You know Rieekan will put in an order for more medicine."
"Leia" Shara sobbed out, "We both know it will get here too late."
Before Leia could respond a raspy voice whispered, "Mommy I'm so cold."
"You stay with Poe, I'll get more blankets and the medicine.
Shara barely acknowledged her as she continued to look at Poe with worry on her face, silently stroking his head.
That had been two days ago. And now Leia stood helplessly watching Shara and her son, waiting for the inevitable.
No, not yet, there could be a miracle. But Leia knew she was lying to herself. Mara had discovered that Dr. Rieekan put in an order for more antitoxin this past summer, from Juneau, but the port in Nome closed before it could get here.
So now we wait.
While Leia had been lost in her thoughts Kes Dameron had entered the room to be with his wife and son. Glancing at the small family, Leia did the only thing she could think that might help. Please God, please don't take away Shara's son. With that, she exited the room to go back home for the night, and give the Dameron's privacy.
January 21, 1925
"Leia wake up."
"Unnn"
"Leia," Han gently shook her.
"Han no…."
"Leia it's Shara."
With that Leia immediately woke up and glanced at the bedside clock, which read three AM. When she looked at the expression on Han's face she froze. And with that, she knew, she just knew, Poe Dameron was dead.
The crowd was large and people were murmuring to their neighbors. A couple hundred people were all crammed in the ballroom at Nome's Art Center as an emergency town hall meeting was called earlier this morning. It was now six in the evening and Leia had been up for 15 hours. After Han had confirmed what Leia had guessed, she immediately went over to the hospital to comfort her friends while Han stayed with Jaina. Dr. Rieekan had assured them that the death had happened fast, but it was clear to the four adults that Poe had been in in pain. Shara had a glazed expression and could only whisper, "My poor poor baby boy." Kes had a steely expression on his face, with his arm around his wife as they drew strength from each other.
When Dr. Rieekan had finally left them alone Leia was feeling something that had been a common occurence the past few days: helpless, and Leia hated to not be in control of a situation.
"Well, I'll- I'll contact the funeral home, the two of you shouldn't have to deal with this and-
"No!" Kes interrupted sharply.
Leia was taken aback, "I'm sorry I just thought-"
"It's alright Leia," Kes exhaled, an apologetic expression on his face "This is just something we need to do on our own, and start to heal."
And with that Leia had left them alone, spoke to Rieekan, who told her to take the day off, and went back to to her home with Han, to try and fall back asleep, sleep that never came. Leia's thoughts were with her daughter, and she was selfishly thanking God that it wasn't Jaina. That thought was still running through Leia's mind as she sat with her husband waiting for the meeting to start. Han looked at Leia and knew what she was thinking because he was thinking it too. He picked up her hand and gently kissed it.
"It'll be okay sweetheart."
And even though science and medicine were against what her husband was saying she found herself believing him. Han had the ability to make things okay just by being with her. With that she grasped his hand and rested her head on his shoulder attempting to get a few minutes of rest. She didn't have to wait long as she saw Dr. Rieekan stride up to the front of the room and his booming voice drew her out of the fog.
"Hello everyone, for those of you that could come tonight, I thank you, I know that this was a last minute announcement. But something...something of importance has come up."
As Rieekan was talking, Leia noticed that other members of the town council had snuck into the room and were making their way to stand next to Rieekan. Leia's heart started pounding. An emergency town meeting called by the doctor, and attended by the town council didn't usually indicate good news. Sensing her thoughts, Han leaned over to whisper to Leia,
"I got a bad feeling about this."
"...And based on all of the recent diphtheria cases that have come in to the hospital, I fear that we might have an epidemic on our hands."
And with that information the crowd's silent murmuring grew louder.
"People, people please let me finish then I will answer any questions that you have!" The people began to quiet, "Good. Now, I've determined that we need to get one million units of antitoxin to properly treat these cases and any future ones before it reaches the epidemic stage. We still have a chance before this gets out of control. I've contacted Mayor Dodonna..."
At this, the mayor stepped forward from his position a couple of persons away from Rieekan.
"...After discussing this with the Mayor and the town council we have come to agree that the hospital will be put under quarantine to prevent further spread of the disease. I have also appointed Mon Mothma, as head nurse of the makeshift diphtheria unit. Which means all you nurses," Rieekan made eye contact with Leia and Mara, Shara was of course absent, "All of you nurses report directly to her. In the meantime we would like to open the floor so all of you can discuss the best and fastest way to get the medicine to Nome…"
With that, Han grabbed Leia and pulled her out of the ballroom into the deserted hallway.
"You aren't working in the hospital while they're under quarantine."
"Excuse me?"
"Leia," Han's hands went to her stomach, which had started to protrude, "You're pregnant, and you're already around enough sick people as it is, but this is-this is too risky, even for you."
"Han, you can't tell me what to do! They need help, we're already short a nurse with Shara taking time off and we can't just expect her to jump back into work. It's only me, Mon, Mara, and Rieekan for the entire town! Not to mention we're going to need someone to be taking care of people who aren't sick and I-"
"Leia, please, you would still be in the same building with all of those sick people, even if the hospital is sectioned off."
"Han I told you that-"
"I can't you lose you!" Han shouted gripping Leia's hands, and she could see the unshed tears in his eyes.
"I-I can't lose you Leia, I wouldn't be able to-"
"Han," Leia cupped his face in her hands, "You won't lose me, or this baby. How about this? I promise to stay in the section of the hospital that's for people who don't have diphtheria. I'll take care of them while Mon and Mara handle the diphtheria cases."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Han sighed, "I don't like it but I guess it's the best we can do right now. I know the hospital is understaffed as it is. I just, I want to keep you safe, and I can't protect you from a disease."
Leia embraced Han, and whispered into his neck, "I promise I'll be careful, I have you, Jaina, and this baby to think about. But I can't sit back and do nothing while people are suffering."
Han sighed and pulled back, "I know, it's what I love about you, you put others first. So it's my job to to make sure you're put first."
Leia smiled, "You do your job just fine hotshot."
"Sometimes it feels like I don't".
With that Leia gave him a hard kiss and said, "Trust me you do."
With that, the pair walked hand and hand back into the town meeting.