While Michael was with Frank, Claudia Joy and Pamela tried to console his distraught wife."Denise, Frank is going to be okay. He is a fighter honey," Claudia Joy said to her friend.
"Yeah Denise, he is strong, and he loves you, he won't give up without a fight," Pamela added.
Michael came out about an hour later with a nearly hysterical Jeremy. Denise shot up like a bullet "What's wrong? Is he okay?" she asked.
"Doctors are saying it's a stroke, Denise," Michael told her. "Jeremy is just a little shocked. Frank's been telling him things he's kept quiet from you."
"A stroke?" she asked getting very upset and falling on the couch, she felt like she had just had the wind knocked out of her.
"Minor in the scheme of things," Michael soothed. "But he's going to need a lot of help."
"Okay, but if we help him and he rests he will be okay. He's young, he'll rehabilitate," she told the General.
"He's okay now except for being extremely weak," Michael told her. "He's not confused anymore. His pressure is down, heart rate is okay, not great and he's asking for you."
She stood and walked over to Jeremy who was hysterical and wrapped him in a hug just as she did when he was a little boy. "Oh Jeremy, shh, it's alright baby. Your Dad is going to be okay, shh, it's all right," she said swaying from side to side to help calm him.
"I'm sorry, mom. I'm sorry, I should have said," Jeremy cried like he was nine years old again. "I should have said. I had to carry him to bed, Mom," Jeremy sobbed. "He couldn't stand or walk, he was in pain, and I lied to you. He asked me to take care of you. I should have said, you're a nurse, if I told you…"
"No, Jeremy you were just doing what he wanted," she said. "This wasn't your fault," she told him sternly but comfortingly.
"Mrs. Sherwood," the doctor called. "Your husband is asking for you." Denise passed Jeremy off to Claudia Joy, Frank needed her and her best friend was there to console her son.
Claudia Joy took over Jeremy for her and she went to Frank, she walked in and he was lying there sleeping peacefully.
Denise couldn't help herself; she had to touch him, to let him see she was there. She went to his side and lifted one of his hands and laid it on her tummy. The other she lifted to her lips before gently prodding him. "Frank? Sweetie, open your eyes for me."
Frank stirred slightly before slowly opening his eyes. "Hey Dee," he said sleepily.
"There's those blue eyes I love," she said smiling. "I'm not going to leave your side for a minute so you don't have to be afraid, okay? I know there are a lot of things you don't understand but I'll be with you. Tell me the truth on how you feel now."
"Weak and tired, my head is hurting some but not bad," he told her honestly.
She took both hands into hers, "Squeeze," she told him, her own test for motor skills and strength.
He squeezed her hand, it wasn't his normal strength but at least he was getting somewhat stronger than it had been at home. That wasn't consistent with the diagnosis of stroke.
"They both seem to the same," Denise said more to herself that to Frank. She gasped a second later and leaned forward, "Ouch!" she said in shock with her hands going to her belly.
"Denise, are you okay?" he asked her trying to sit up, but failing he was still too weak to do that on his own.
"Yeah, baby just kicked me in the ribs. It's getting strong every day," she said smiling.
Frank smiled. "Ouch, couldn't that break your ribs," he asked her.
"No, she's not strong enough yet," Denise smiled. "It'll bruise sometimes, but I love feeling it. Tells me everything is okay." She waited, "Frank, do you remember anything about before, before Michael came to get you?"
"I remember you being there but nothing else, how bad was it?" he asked.
"It was bad," she told him. "You thought I was carrying Jeremy."
"Oh lord, I guess I forgot we already had one child, one amazing one at that," he said "How is he holding up?" he added.
"He's a wreck," Denise said honestly. "This is hard on him, he's trying to protect me and you and us and it's taking its toll. Our boy cried like a baby."
"I don't blame him for crying, he needed to vent, I just wish so much of this wasn't falling on his shoulders," Frank said.
"More of it will," Denise said sadly. "As my pregnancy progresses I'll need more help taking care of you. But I will be the one doing that, I'm going to resign for the medic corps, stay home, and be with you."
Frank smiled at her. "You are amazing you know that," he said lifting his arm slowly to touch her cheek.
Denise's eyebrows knitted, "Can you lift your other arm for me honey?"
Frank slowly lifted his other arm and placed it on her shoulder.
"Hmm," Denise thought to herself. "Was it hard for you to do that?"
"No not really," he told her honestly.
"Did the doctors tell you what they think happened? Denise asked.
"Yeah they think I had a stroke, why?" he asked looking in her eyes searching for the answer
"I've seen strokes before, honey. This doesn't fit that pattern," Denise said more for herself than for him. "You'd have a hard time speaking, weakness in your limbs, especially on one side or the other, maybe memory loss or swallowing issues, I see none of that."
"Really? So what do you think it is if it isn't a stroke?" he asked her.
"TIA, maybe, mini stroke, short term deficits weak limbs, fatigue, memory loss..." Denise listed. "Either way you have to rest."
"Okay, I will but you need to rest just as much as I do, have you ankles been swelling?" he asked
"Along with the rest of my legs yes," Denise replied. "Normal for being pregnant. Wait until the seventh month when the baby is pressing on my bladder. Lots of fun."
Frank laughed slightly "Well why you don't lay down with me and rest, you have to be exhausted," he told her
"I have to check on Jeremy," Denise said. "And deal with my dad."
"Denise, let me handle your father. I don't want you anywhere near him without me," Frank said wanting to protect her from another onslaught.
"Frank, you're going to have a long recovery and I need to deal with this now for me and for the baby. All I plan on telling him is that he is not welcome near me or my family ever again," Denise said is a tone so smooth and emotionless it gave Frank chills.
"Denise, are you sure you can do this on your own?" he asked her.
Frank the way I'm feeling right now I'd fear for the life of anyone who'd dare to mess with me," Denise said flatly. "I want you to rest, sleep, and start getting your strength back. I need my childbirth coach and class starts soon." Denise knew Frank would never have recovered enough by then but she wanted to hope.
"Okay but if you need help let me know," he told her.
Denise kissed Frank's cheek and went in search of Michael. The General was waiting with Jeremy and the rest of the tribe. "Michael, I'd like to speak with you for a moment please."
"Sure Denise," he said getting up and following her so they could talk privately.
"He didn't have a stroke, Michael," Denise said the minute they were alone.
"Denise, what do you mean he didn't have a stroke? The doctor confirmed it," Michael told her.
"I want another opinion," Denise said. "I'm a registered nurse and an EMT and I'm telling you Frank did not have a stroke. He lifted both of his arms to touch my face, his grip is weak but it is equal on both sides, his speech isn't slurred anymore at all, that doesn't make sense," Denise told the General.
"Okay you can get a second opinion, but Denise I'm telling you, it was a stroke," he said.
"TIA, maybe, and that's a huge maybe," Denise said starting to tear up from frustration. "I'd know if my husband had a stroke, Michael and he didn't. Frank is fine right now, he's tired, he looks like death, but he's fine. He's moving fine, he's talking fine, he's fine..."
"Okay well you know Frank better than anyone so if you want a second opinion I say go for it," he told her.
"They need your approval," Denise told him. "I have to..." She flinched again and rubbed her tummy.
"Have to what?" he asked her concerned.
"See a doctor," she said breathing deeply. "That was just a contraction."