DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from LOK. They belong to Brike. I Do however own the storyline and anyone you don't recognize.
Enjoy!
A/N: For anyone who can come up with a better title for me, you'll get mention in the next chapter!
"Senna's New Start"
Chapter 2
"When did this start?" Katara frowned as she pulled up Senna's shirt so she could examine her stomach. She gasped at the good size bruise she found. As gently as she could, she touched it.
The whimper that escaped Senna's throat broke both her mother and Katara's hearts.
"Shh, Senna, it's okay," her mother combed a hand through her hair, "Katara's gonna help you."
"It hurts!" Senna cried, tears streaming down her face.
"We know, sweetheart," Katara soothed. "How did you get this?"
Senna was silent except for the sob of pain that escaped her throat. The gentle squeeze she got from her mother assured her it was okay to be honest.
"He hurt me yesterday," she explained.
Katara knew who Senna meant by "he." Trying to push her anger down, she concentrated on helping the pre-teen who she loved just as much as she loved Kaia.
"Okay, we need to get her to the clinic so I can do an x-ray," Katara explained. "I'm gonna start an IV and give her some braizine to help with the pain. Has she been vomiting?"
"Yes," Kamaria replied.
"Okay. We'll bring a bucket with us in case Senna needs it during the ride. I'll be right back," with that, Katara left to get the supplies.
"Senna, I'm so sorry," Kamaria apologized.
"Mom, it's not your fault. You're not the one who hurt me," Senna assured her.
"Still…" her mother's voice trailed off just as Katara returned.
"Okay, sweetheart, I need you to make a fist for me," she gently instructed.
Senna did so as more pain rippled through her stomach. She didn't even wince when the needle bit into her skin.
"You're doing great," her mother encouraged.
"Your Mom's right," Katara affirmed. "I'm going to give you some medicine that will hopefully help your stomach feel better. When we get to the hospital, we're going to take a picture to see what's going on."
"Okay," Senna softly replied.
"I'm gonna lift you, is that okay?" Katara asked.
"Uh-huh," Senna answered through gritted teeth. Taking a shaky breath she added, "I trust you."
"I'm glad," Katara gently lifted the pre-teen into her arms. She led the way out of the house with Kamaria following close behind. Gently setting Senna in the backseat of the snowmobile, Katara got in the driver's seat. She let Kamaria get in back with Senna.
The ride to the hospital didn't take long. Arriving, Katara carried Senna inside. Entering radiology, she lie Senna down on a table.
"Your Mom will be waiting for you," Katara explained. "I'll be with you the whole time. It shouldn't take long."
"Okay," Senna whispered.
"I love you, sweet girl," her mother kissed her forehead.
"I love you too," Senna replied.
Once the x-ray was taken, Katara transferred Senna to a bed with wheels. Pushing it out in the hallway, she found Kamaria waiting near some open exam rooms. Pushing the bed into one of them, Katara locked the wheels before turning her attention to her friend.
"We should have the results in fifteen minutes. I'll be right back."
Once Katara was gone, Kamaria turned her full attention to her daughter.
"I'm scared, Mom," Senna admitted. Her voice shook as she spoke.
"It's okay to be scared," her mother rested a hand on her shoulder, "I am too. But I want you to know I Love you. I won't leave you unless I have to."
"Okay," Senna swallowed hard as she spoke. "Mom, I'm gonna…" she heaved without warning. Once her stomach calmed down, she was in tears from pain.
"Shh, Senna, I know, I know," her mother soothed. Sitting down on the bed, she took her scared little girl into her arms as best she could.
Just then, Katara returned. She frowned when she saw the scene in front of her.
"Kamaria, Senna, I have the results," she began.
"And?" Kamaria prompted her friend.
"What's wrong with me?" Senna tearfully asked.
"Your spleen is ruptured. We need to remove it to prevent infection," Katara explained.
Senna shook her head as more tears came.
"Shh, Senna, it's okay…" her mother ran a hand through her hair.
"You can stay with her until she falls asleep. You can even come in with her for a minute," Katara offered.
"Katara?" Senna's tearful, shaky voice caught the waterbending master's attention.
"Yes?" she glanced down at her, a frown of empathy on her face.
"Will you be there?" the eleven-year-old asked.
"The whole time," she promised. "You can even squeeze my hand if you want."
Senna nodded.
"I'm going to get you ready down here and then I'll take you up," Katara explained.
"Okay," Senna whispered.
"I'm gonna give you something to relax you. It might make you feel sick to your stomach. You need to let your Mom or me know."
Senna nodded. She reached out and her mother gave her what she needed without a second thought.
"Okay, here we go. 1, 2, 3…"
"Aah! Ow!" Senna whimpered as her right arm started to burn.
"Shh, shh, Senna, it's okay, it's okay…I'm right here," her mother comforted.
"Almost over, sweetheart, almost," Katara soothed.
Senna let out a sob, causing her mother to blink back tears of her own.
A few minutes later, Katara pushed the gurney out of the room and down the hallway. When they reached the right floor, she left to get things ready.
"I'll be back for her in ten minutes," she gently explained.
"Okay," Kamaria replied.
"Mom, will you come with me?" Senna's voice was slightly hoarse from crying so much.
"I sure will. I can only stay until you're asleep. Then I'll be there when you wake up," her mother explained.
"I know," her daughter said.
"I love you so much," her mother planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you too," Senna whispered. She was about to say something else when her stomach twisted. "Mom, I'm gonna throw up!"
Kamaria managed to get the bucket in place with seconds to spare.
As Senna was lying back down with her mother's help, Katara returned.
"Are you ready, honey?"
"No," Senna honestly said. She squeezed her mother's hand for dear life as the gurney started to move.
"You're gonna be okay," Katara assured her.
Entering the O.R, Katara grabbed Senna's attention verbally.
"Senna, I need to lift you now."
"Okay," Senna's voice shook with fear and unshed tears. She felt safe with Katara, but she still didn't want to do this. Feeling herself being lowered, she reached her hand out for her mother's.
"I'm here, sweet girl," her mother soothed. She resumed stroking her daughter's hair.
Senna relaxed a little at the contact. All of a sudden, she started shivering.
Katara frowned in concern. Going over to a closet, she returned with a blanket. Wrapping it around the pre-teen, she gently rubbed her shoulder.
"How does that feel?" she asked.
"Better," Senna softly said. "I'm so sleepy…"
"Give into it," Katara encouraged.
"Katara's right, honey. Let yourself fall asleep. You need it. I Love you," her mother affirmed.
"Love you…" Senna's voice trailed off as her eyes closed.
"I'll come and get you when she's out," Katara explained. She lead Kamaria back to the waiting area.
"Please, take care of my little girl," Kamaria implored.
"You got it," Katara hugged her friend before turning around and returning to Senna.
******
Senna awoke to the sound of beeping and humming. Opening her eyes, she hissed in pain. Suddenly starting to shiver, she tried to call out for her mother or Katara, but her throat hurt too much.
"Shh, Senna, it's okay. You're not alone. You did a great job. Your Mom will be back to see you in a little while."
Senna locked eyes with Katara. Tears of fear coursed down her cheeks when she realized why she couldn't speak. She tried to pull at the tube, but Katara was faster.
"No, sweetheart, you can't do that. I'm gonna take it out in a minute. You need to calm down or I won't be able to."
Senna tried, but it wasn't easy. She was still hurting and she still felt sick.
"Thatta girl. Let me do a quick examination and then I'll take the tube out," Katara promised. She was gentle, but Senna still winced.
"Okay, sweetheart, here we go. Now, I need your help. Can you help me?" Katara gently requested.
Senna nodded.
"Okay. I need you to take a deep breath in when I count to three. Then I'm gonna count again. When I get to three a second time, I want you to blow out hard. Can you do that?"
Senna nodded again. She just wanted this thing out!
"Okay. Here we go…Deep breath in…1, 2, 3…blow out, now."
Senna did as she was told. Coughing as the tube was removed, she gagged before throwing up without warning. The action was repeated a second time before she found relief. She sipped slowly from a cup of water Katara pressed to her lips. Lying back down, she tried to speak.
"Wha-whe…where's my…" her voice gave out as she started coughing again.
"Shh, you need to rest your voice for tonight," Katara gently instructed. "You'll see your Mom soon."
"Okay," Senna whispered. Closing her eyes, she let sleep find her again. The whole night had been exhausting. Little did Senna know things were about to get a lot worse before they got better.
****
"How did she do?" Kamaria asked. She sat down next to her daughter's hospital bed. Taking her free left hand in hers, she whispered, "I'm here, sweet girl. I Love you."
"She did great. We had to remove her spleen and her Appendix," Katara explained. "She spiked a fever in the O.R and we discovered her Appendix was infected."
Kamaria gasped.
"Is she okay now?" she frowned in worry.
"Yes. She needs to rest for a week, but she should make a full recovery."
"Thank the spirits," Kamaria sighed. She locked eyes with her best friend, "Thank you for everything."
"You're both welcome. I Love you like family," Katara patted her shoulder.
Just then, Senna groaned in pain, grabbing both adults' attention.
"Shh, Senna, it's okay, sweetie."
"Mom?" Senna muttered just as a coughing fit jerked her awake.
"I'm right here, sweet girl," her mother comforted. She gently patted Senna's back as her daughter's coughs became harder. "That's it, just cough it up…" she encouraged.
Katara slipped a bucket underneath the pre-teen's chin just in case she threw up from coughing.
Senna caught her breath a minute later.
"Are you okay now?" Katara asked.
"Uh-huh," Senna replied. She lay back down with Katara's help. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. You need rest. Just try to sleep. You'll be able to go home in a few days."
"You're staying right?" Senna turned to her mother.
Kamaria nodded.
"Of course I am," she assured her.
"Good," her daughter whispered. Letting her eyes close, she let exhaustion have its way. She just prayed that the days ahead would present an opportunity for them to escape the nightmare they called home…