Peyton dropped Haley and Brooke off at the entrance to the ER and parked the car. Haley rushed up to the reception desk, "Keith Scott, I'm his mother." The nurse picked up the phone said something a few seconds later another nurse came out from the ER.
"Mrs. Scott," the second nurse said.
"Yes," Haley responded.
"Right this way," the nurse said and opened the door for her. Haley grabbed Brooke's hand and dragged her with them.
"Um Mrs. Scott, family only beyond that door," the nurse at the desk said.
Brooke turned quickly and said, "I'm her sister," and continued into the ER with Haley.
The nurse took them around a corner and Haley could see Nathan standing outside a door. Forgetting she was holding Brooke's hand Haley ran to Nathan, dragging Brooke along.
"Why are you out here," Haley asked him.
"The nurse is taking blood. I just thought I should leave," he answered.
"You didn't have to leave Mr. Scott you're his father and he's a minor. If you needed to leave the nurse would have asked," the nurse said. "You can go in if you want."
"Oh ok," Nathan said and the nurse left. "Um the doctor wanted him on an IV. I just thought I'd warn you," he said taking Haley's free hand and heading into the room.
The nurse just finished as they entered. "The doctor will be in shortly to explain things," the nurse said and left the three of them alone with Keith.
"Oh God," Haley said releasing Brooke's hand to cover her mouth. Her grip on Nathan's hand tightened as she approached her son asleep in the crib. In one arm was the IV through which they were hydrating him, in the other was a well from which the nurse had just drawn blood.
The doctor entered the room. Haley and Nathan both turned to look at him while Brooke stepped out of the way. "There is a young woman, blonde curly hair, asking for your son but the ER only allows family members," he said looking at Brooke for the last part.
"Peyton," Haley said sounding like she forgot about her.
"I'll go wait with her," Brooke said heading for the door.
"No, you guys shouldn't have to wait," Haley said, "go home."
"You sure," Brooke asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, I'll call you later," Haley answered. Brooke hugged her then left.
"Mr. and Mrs. Scott we're giving Keith fluids to hydrate him and IV meds to help with the fever. What concerns me is that your son was on antibiotics for a strep infection for almost a week now. He should have been doing better. We are going to try a stronger antibiotic intravenously but as a precaution I have ordered some blood tests," the doctor said.
"Ok should we be worried," Nathan asked.
"Honestly we won't know much until the test results come back," the doctor answered.
"What about the well and the IV won't he try to pull them out," Haley asked.
"A nurse will be in to put braces on his hands so he won't be able to. He was sedated when they inserted them, that's why he is asleep."
"Can we hold him," Haley asked.
"Of course, the rocking chair is on the same side as the IV stand just be careful of the IV and tubing. We do want to admit him overnight to keep an eye on him until we know more. One of you will have to fill out paperwork," the doctor said.
"I'll do it," Nathan said and he and the doctor left the room.
Haley said in the rocker never taking her eyes off Keith. The nurse came back and put the braces on Keith's hands. When the door shut Keith rustled a little and Haley jumped to her feet to stand over him.
Nathan came back in, "the doctor said they're gonna move us upstairs soon." Haley didn't say anything. Nathan continued into the room and stood next to her. She collapsed into his arms sobbing, "hey hey, shhh shhh," he said gently wrapping his arms around her. "You're gonna wake him," he said. Haley continued to cry. "Shhh, baby, shh," he said stroking her hair. He pulled her over to the rocking chair. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap and rocked her as she continued to cry. "Hey it's gonna be alright the doctor is figuring out what's wrong."
"He's never been sick like this," she sobbed.
Nathan continued to rock her, "it's probably just that he needed stronger medicine."
"I hope so," she said finally calming down. She rested her head on his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head.
The nurse came in with two orderlies. Nathan and Haley stood up, "Mr. and Mrs. Scott your son's room is ready upstairs."
"Ok," they said in unison.
"Hey sorry," Brooke said to Peyton as she rushed into the ER waiting area.
"How did you get back there," Peyton asked.
"I said I was Haley's sister," Brooke answered.
"Oh," Peyton paused, "how's Keith?"
"No idea yet. They were drawing blood when we got here and he's on an IV but that's all I know," she paused, "Haley told us not to wait she'll call later with an update."
"Oh ok," Peyton said and they began to leave.
"Um excuse me girls," the nurse from the desk called after them. She got closer then whispered, "I'm not supposed to tell you this but your friend's son is being moved to room 323 in pediatrics, they allow non-family visitors."
"Oh ok thanks," Peyton said.
"I would just give them a few minutes to get situated," the nurse said.
"Sure," Peyton said and she and Brooke sat down.
"So now what," Haley asked the nurse once they were settled in the new room.
"We wait and see if he responds to the new medication and for the blood test results," the nurse answered. "I'm sorry I don't have more answers for you," she said then left.
Haley stood over the crib as Nathan took a seat behind her. "I should call my mother and Lucas," Nathan said, "do you want me to call anyone for you?"
"Just Lucas," she mumbled.
"Are you sure," Nathan asked.
"Yeah, no reason to worry anyone until we know something. I told Brooke I'd call her later remember."
"Ok," Nathan said and picked up the phone and dialed. "Mom, hey um Keith's still sick. In fact he's worse so the doctor admitted him to keep an eye on him. They changed his antibiotics and did a blood test but we don't know anything yet," Nathan paused, "no, no don't come down. I'll call you again if we learn anything."
"What did she say," Haley asked after Nathan hung up.
"She's worried and wanted to come down," Nathan answered.
"No, no I don't want a big fuss. It'll be frightening enough for Keith," Haley said.
"I want to let Lucas know though," Nathan said.
"Of course I do too," Haley said.
As Nathan called Lucas there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Haley responded.
"Hey," Brooke said as she entered the room followed by Peyton. "The nurse told us they were moving you up here."
"You don't mind do you," Peyton asked.
"I guess not," Haley answered.
"So what's going on," Brooke asked.
"We don't really know yet," Nathan answered. "They're trying a new antibiotic and waiting on test results. They want to monitor him that's why they admitted him."
Keith began to wake. Haley picked him up. "Hey buddy, momma's here," she said as she sat in the rocker.
"What did Lucas say," Haley asked Nathan.
"He's stopping by. I couldn't talk him out of it," Nathan answered.
There was another knock on the door followed by the doctor entering. "Hi," the doctor said then looked at Peyton and Brooke, "can you give us a moment?"
"Sure, actually we're going to leave," Brooke said, "call me later."
"Yeah call if you need anything," Peyton said.
"Ok thanks guys," Haley said.