Chapter 5:
The thermometer beeped and Mr. Schue was stunned by the reading. In big black numbers, it read 103.1. This fever was more extreme than he expected, and he tried to determine whether he should bring her into the hospital or not. Knowing Rachel despised hospitals, he decided the best option was to give her the medicine and continually check her temperature to see if it starts to fall.
Luckily, his next period after lunch was his off period, and he would be able to keep an extremely close eye on her. Feeling bad to wake her again, Mr. Schue knew that Rachel desperately needed the Tylenol, and lightly patted her trying to wake her up.
Rachel's eyes remained shut which brought distress to the teacher. "Come on Rachel, you need to wake up only for a little, and then you can go right back to sleep" he said gently.
"Rachel! Come on open your eyes" Mr. Schue said a little louder. Finally, the girl opened her eyes the slightest bit which brought Mr. Schue so much relief. All the pain she was feeling could be seen through the glare her eyes contained.
"I know it hurts, but I need you to sit up so you can take this Tylenol" he stated in the most compassionate voice, as he helped Rachel sit up. With one hand supporting Rachel, he used the other to give her two pills to take. Rachel slowly took them down one by one, with the water Mr. Schue retrieved from the teachers lounge.
Before Rachel could fall back asleep, Mr. Schue explained "Rachel, I know you hate hospitals, but you have a really high fever of 103.1 which really worries me. I am going to check on you all day long, but if your fever doesn't break, I am going to have to take you into the emergency room."
Rachel gulps and says in a whisper… "You said not to lie anymore, so I need to tell you the truth. I have a thermometer in my locker and earlier when you sent me out of your room I took my temperature. It read 102.6 earlier, and now its 103.1. I don't want to go to the hospital, but I am really scared Mr. Schue." She begins to cry, but hardly anything comes out because she is so dehydrated from all of the throwing up.
"And I can't have my dad's pick me up because they are both on a business trip." Rachel chokes out.
Mr. Schue now almost crying himself from seeing Rachel in such pain, begins to gently stroke Rachel's hair; taking over the position of a father figure that she is clearly missing in this moment. "Shh, everything is going to be ok, I promise!" Mr. Schue says in the calmest voice that he can find. "I am not going to take you to the hospital yet, and I promise that I will figure everything out for you, don't worry. Now go back to sleep and get some rest."
With the overwhelming sickness taking over Rachel, she is once again fast asleep and bundled up on the large couch.
Authors note: Don't really know what to say in this authors note LOL! Just wanted to say hey, and thanks again for reading.