Chapter 22 --- Sponge Baths
"Diane, I'm here."
The look she gave him was filled with pain, annoyance and accusation; it stayed that way until she turned her head and continued vomiting into the toilet.
"Fran will be here as soon as she can. Apparently everyone who had the vegetarian plate last night has food poisoning."
Diane whimpered before collapsing on the tile floor.
After cleaning her up and tucking her into bed, he goes to check on his other patient.
Sarah was sitting on the edge of the tub, completely limp.
"Sarah, are you Ok?"
"uhhh…"
Wetting a wash cloth, he cleans her face and carries her to her bed. Tucking her in, he leaves the door open and goes to Diane's office to check on Nora Lee.
After changing her messy diaper and cleaning her up, he gently rocks her to sleep. Then he starts his rounds again.
Diane is pale and clammy, watching him through heavy eyelids.
"Nora Lee is sleeping, Sarah is in the same shape as you are and Fran should be here soon. She was stopping at Lou's first. Having a half-billion dollars of technology inside of you puts you high on the list for treatment." He feels something in his ear, looking around he then notices Diane's face scrunched up. "Are you alright sweetheart?"
She looks at him and scrunches her face up again. This time he picks up a faint "Jake…" in his ear. "Don't try Diane. You need your rest, let me take care of you." Languidly, Diane nods and leans over the edge of the bed, aiming for the bucket he had placed there.
Rubbing her back while supporting her, he smiles. Strange as it seems, there's no place on earth he'd rather be. Helping her lie back he brushes her hair back. "It's Ok Diane; we needed to shampoo the carpet anyway."
She gives him a look he's pretty sure wasn't in the neighborhood of 'How do I love thee…'
After cleaning her face, and the carpet, he checks on Sarah. She's asleep, but her trash can needs emptying…
While he's feeding Nora Lee, Fran arrives.
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Entering the kitchen, Fran smiles and drops into a chair, "All done."
"Will they be Ok?" Jake asks from the stove where he's fixing formula.
"It'll take a few days for Sarah to get back to normal, but the danger's over. Diane should be well by noon. Have her mirror Sarah's recovery."
"Why did Diane get sick? Shouldn't the nanites have prevented it?"
"Diane ingested food poison, it has to work through her system. The nanites don't interfere with the body's natural functions. She will recover much faster than if she wasn't enhanced. One thing though, don't let her nurse Nora until I've run tests to see if the poison's present in Diane's milk."
"Got it. Was the food poison deliberate?"
"I don't think so, but Kyle's investigating."
"Does he need me to come in?"
"Lou wants you to guard Diane, just in case."
"I think I can follow that order. Who would have though a simple retirement dinner would cause so many problems?"
"I was there too, rubber chicken never tasted so good."
"I had the shoe leather roast beef and was getting it in both ears about eating healthier."
"Diane's never going to get you to eat healthier now."
"Hey, compared to what I ate when I was single… Would you like some coffee or tea?"
"Tea would be nice."
Opening the cabinet where Diane stores the tea. "Any preference?"
Eyeing the shelves of herbal teas, she asks "Something with caffeine?"
"One Irish Breakfast coming up." Jake said nuking some water in his micro-kettle.
"Anything I can do before I leave?"
"Well," Jake starts pouring a cup of tea for each of them. "If you could get Sarah cleaned up while I change the sheets…"
"You sure you don't want to give her a sponge bath yourself?" Fran teased.
"If I did that, do you think I'd ever be allowed to touch Diane, ever again?" Jake deadpanned. "I've slept solo all the nights I want to" Looking at Fran he adds, "Of course if Kyle's free…"
"Huh…? No; no, no, no, no, no, no…"
"I'm sure he'd take one for the team."
"No, I'll take care of it." Fran said, winking at Jake.
"Before I forget, Diane's been trying to 'think' at me and all I get is a mild hum."
"It's probably just exhaustion, but I'll check it out. This is something I do need to know about. Any other nanite problems?"
"None that I know about, she hasn't been exactly chatty. She got sick around 4:00am and Sarah, maybe, a half hour later. Both are clammy, irritable, disoriented and weak as kittens."
"How did you know that Sarah was sick?"
Jake taps his nose, "The only enhancement I can't seem to control, why is that?"
"Probably a lifetime of only controlling it at Thanksgiving, first dates and few other occasions."
"So if I practice, I should learn to control it?"
"That's my theory. Haven't you discussed this with Diane?"
"To be honest, she always smells so…" He smiles and shakes his head, "… I forget to ask."
"Tell me about how sensitive you are?"
"Well," he looks at her, "this morning your shower was shorter than usual, you compensated with a couple of extra drops of perfume, the one Kyle gave you Christmas. You had a cream filled doughnut and coffee for breakfast and your jacket is ready for the cleaners."
"Remind me not to ask that question again." Setting her empty tea cup down she stands. "I'll see to Sarah. The worst of the reactions should be over. When they are ready they'll need liquids, soup and TLC."
"And Jake, try not to have too much fun sponge bathing Diane…"
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Jake awoke when he felt Diane throw her arm and leg over him, she must be feeling better. She no longer felt clammy or weak; her heart was strong, respiration normal – it felt like she was awake. The only problem was that his Georgetown sweatshirt needed washing.
His sweatshirt; he'd given up on ever wearing it again. Diane had procured it three Thanksgivings ago. He'd warned her that he was keeping anything he found in it. He was glad he had found her wearing it. Ten days later he had nearly killed himself trying to propose. Eight weeks later, Diane had called off the wedding and they eloped three weeks after that. Yeah, she can have the sweatshirt, he has what he wants.
"Jake?"
"Do you need something sweetheart?"
"Remember that sponge bath earlier?"
"Yeah! We need to try that when you're feeling better."
"Were you that thorough with Sarah?"
Jake started laughing and Diane slapped him on the chest.
"Sorry, I'm sorry." He wrapped his upset wife in his arms, "I asked Fran to do that before she left. Like Jim Stafford said, 'I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid."
She slaps him on the chest again. "No Jake, you're actually pretty smart… wise… brave… handsome…" Stopping she raises her head, "How's Nora Lee?"
"Good, a little fussier than usual. She misses her mommy and she's not very fond of the formula. Oh yeah, Fran doesn't want you to nurse until she checks to see if your milk carries the poison." Jake feels tears falling onto his chest. "It'll be alright sweetheart."
"How were we poisoned?"
"It appears to be accidental food poisoning. Kyle's on the case."
"Good." She snuggles into Jake and slowly calms down into sleep.
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"Diane you have to stay in bed."
"But I feel great – stud."
"You… cut that out. Your recovery has to mirror Sarah's. Thanks to my chasing an adolescent dream, she knows too much about nanotechnology. She must not find out about you."
"I know you're right," she eyes him with a mischievous smile, "I'm just, well… wanna' play?"
"Diane… Let me get Sarah settled."
"I'll be back with my sponge."
Giving Jake her most innocent look, Diane purrs, "I'm so very, very dirty."
"Don't start what I can't finish."
She stretches suggestively on the bed; when Nora Lee starts crying, without a thought, Diane is at her crib picking her up, cooing to comfort her daughter.
"I'll get her a bottle." Jake says going to the door. "Remember, you are weak, tired and ready for a nap."
Looking at him, Diane just nods.
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