Chapter 7

Jessica glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It was past 11:30 at night and Mort was calling. She knew it was something she would dread.

"Mort, what is it?"

"I'm coming over to take you to the county hospital," he informed her.

Jessica didn't have a good feeling about this.

"Oh? And why would it be necessary for me to go to the county hospital?

There was a slight pause from Mort, as if he were debating how to tell her the news.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Mrs. F., but something has happened to the Doc."

#

As Mort drove Jessica to the hospital, he told her everything he knew about the situation, according to the paramedics.

Evidently, Seth had just come in from making a late house call visit, due to the Mayor's mother being very ill in bed. After hanging up his hat and jacket, he proceeded to brew some decaf coffee for himself when he started shaking and feeling nauseous. At first Seth thought it was just a chill, but when he vomited, he knew it was best to call the ambulance.

Jessica momentarily closed her eyes with worry over Seth. She privately wondered if Seth could have also been poisoned or was it a mere coincidence.

"Any chance you can drive any faster, Mort?" she anxiously asked him.

"Any faster and I would have to give myself a ticket!" Mort said sarcastically. He instantly regretted his comment when he saw how upset Jessica looked.

"You're right," he agreed, "I should rush it; after all, this is an emergency."

He flipped a switch.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...

Bright lights and sirens were suddenly activated as he sped up his car.

"Thank you, Mort," she responded gratefully.

"Don't mention it," Mort stated, "just know that we'll be at the Doc's side in a few minutes."

#

Jessica didn't know what to expect when she rushed into the hospital room in the middle of the night. She assume she would see Seth laid out prone on the bed, with a deathly pallor on his face.

However, the first thing she noticed was how regular Seth appeared, as he sat up on the adjusted bed. The second thing she noticed was how feisty and cranky he could be so late in the night as he argued with the nurse who was tending to him.

"What do you mean I have to stay here for at least two days!" Seth stubbornly folded his arms, "I told you I feel fine and I should know! I'm a doctor!"

"Now, just calm yourself down, Doctor Hazlitt! You of all people should know it takes time to find out what's wrong," Nurse Ruth calmly responded, not taking Seth's bad mood personally, "And judging by your coloring and tremors alone, our hospital doctor think it's something more than just indigestion!"

"Oh, for the love of Pete!" Seth stated impatiently, but then when he turn his head, he saw Jessica standing by the door and instantly his expression softened, "Jess, dear Jess! Good to see you!"

And for the first time that night, he looked happy.

"Seth! Are you alright?" Jessica asked as she stepped up, looking concernedly at him.

"Ayuh, I'm alright" he responded, "but I'm losin' my patience havin' to stay here! I just think the hospital needs to fill an empty bed!"

"Oh Seth," she lightly berated him, "they just want to know the cause of your ailment! You should be glad they're so thorough! No need to give them such a hard time!"

"I'm tellin' you, Jess, what I have is just a combination of high stress and bad indigestion... there's no need for all this fuss!" Seth complained, "I've now learned my lesson about not havin' a second slice of pie at Millies! But they're tellin' me that they gotta run tests that could take up to two days!"

"And is that really so bad for you to take some much needed rest?" Jessica reasoned, "if I'm correct in my calculations, Seth, you haven't had any time off for a year and a half!"

"Well, I don't want to take time off from work against my will, Jess! Especially since all I have is a little stomach flu!"

"I think you should stay here until Dr. Henderson gives you his stamp of approval for you to leave here," Jessica stated it gently but firmly, "we need to cure whatever ails you!"

"But Jess, "Seth gave her a defeated look, "if I stay in here for two days, we won't be able to attend the country club dance together!"

So that's why Seth was so impatient!

"Did I hear you right, Doc?" Mort questioned, "THAT'S why you don't want to stay here?"

"Oh, yes, I had heard about your first date!" Nurse Ruth declared, "Lilly Wilson, the one handling the ticket sales for the dance, had earlier mentioned to me that you had purchased tickets for yourself and Mrs. Fletcher!

Seth looked annoyed, "Is there anyone who DOESN'T know my personal business? Did you remember to record the news of my dance date into my medical chart? I'm not sure Dr. Henderson knows yet!"

"You should be glad I'm on top of things, Doctor Hazlitt," Nurse Ruth pointed out, "because being in the hospital will allow you to get a FULL refund on the dance tickets!"

"Really now?" Seth sarcastically asked, "Because with the way my luck is goin', the refund will probably bump me up to the next tax bracket!"

"Seth, you're staying here and that's that," decided Jessica, "normally, I wouldn't be so adamant, but with Bert Bradley having been poisoned, I'm thinking that there could be a chance that you could have been poisoned as well. You seem to display the same symptoms."

"Nonsense!" he gruffed, "I mean, sure the symptoms are similar...but...uh...I've also got some sniffles, and...and sniffles have NEVER been an indication of someone bein' poisoned!"

Jessica didn't say a word but just quietly put her hand over his. He looked down at their enjoined hands and then over at her and his body relaxed. She smiled down at him.

"Are you done with your ranting yet?" she patiently asked.

He looked down at their hands and his expression looked guilty.

"I...guess so," he murmured, "although there might be some aftershocks."

"Well, now that the patient has shown signs of common sense," Nurse Ruth commented, "I think I'm going to go finish my rounds and deal with some people who actually appreciate it when I try and help them!"

Mort asked the nurse, "Do you think you can run some test to see if the Doc here had ingested some poison?"

"Poison?" Nurse Ruth questioned, her hands on her hips, "You think that's what's wrong the grumpy Doctor?"

"Grumpy?!" Seth sounded indignant until Jessica squeezed his hand.

"I think it would be wise to test for poisoning," she concurred, "especially for thallium."

"I'll see what I can do," Nurse Ruth promised before departing.

#

"Well, now, " Mort said, when the nurse was gone, "since the Doc seems alright for now, I'll be out in the waiting room so that the two of you can have some alone time together..."

"...and don't forget to bring me a bullhorn," Seth said to Mort sarcastically, "so I can announce my future plans with Jess to the entire world!"

"Sethhh!" Jessica lightly slapped him. She then turned to the sheriff.

"Actually, Mort, it's not necessary to wait for me," suggested Jessica, "I can call for a taxi when I'm ready to leave. It's late and I'm sure Adele would prefer you at home right now."

"I know I would be happier!" Seth piped in.

"Don't ever change, Doc," Mort straight-faced, "except your personality."

Mort then turned to Jessica.

"And don't worry, Mrs. F.," he assured her, "I'll let you know the minute the lab gets the Doc's results back."

"Thanks, Mort, I'd appreciate that."

Jessica watched as Mort got ready to leave. He placed his sheriff's hat back on his head, giving it one quick tap on top to keep it secure on his head. He was set to go.

Suddenly, Jessica's eyes widened as her mouth momentarily dropped.

"THAT'S IT!" she exclaimed.

"What? What's it?" Mort asked, puzzled.

"Uh-oh," Seth warned, "I know that look. Our Jess is onto something!"

"I know how Bert Bradley was poisoned!" she announced, her eyes bright, "And if I'm right, Seth was poisoned exactly the same way!"

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