TRIXIE CHAPTER 29

While they were outside, Amita said she needed to go back to prepare for the next day's classes.

Alan told Charlie to send Amita home, but Amita said she could get back on her own as she had driven to the hospital. She turned to Trixie and said, "Trix, as I've said earlier, if you need someone to talk to, you know, about ladies' things, you can call me or call Megan. They have our phone numbers. Alright?"

"Yes, Mita thank you very much for listening." she hugged Amita and said, "love you."

Amita was surprised and she replied, "Love you too, take care and look after Don for us?"

Charlie looked at Amita and tried to tell her something but Amita shook her head.

"Bye Alan, Charlie walk with me to the car park please."

"Bye MITA." Alan smiled at his future daughter in law and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Take care; you don't have to come tomorrow if you are tied down. OK?"

"Yes, Alan, you all take care and go back and sleep, Don wouldn't want you to fall ill."

Another round of goodbyes, Charlie held Amita's hand, and they left.

"What was that about?" Charlie asked Amita when they were nearer the hospital entrance.

"Well, it's a girl's thing."

"What girl's thing?"

"Well…. Well… I think Trixie is; now how do I say it? I think Trixie likes Don very much." Amita said looking at Charlie.

"Go on! Don is old enough to be her father. She looks to him like a father maybe."

"N…..o… No.. I don't think so. But your brother does bring a flutter to all female's hearts no matter what age. Look at those nurses, geez he's creating a harem without being aware of it,he has a bevy of nurses looking after him.
Even the older ones, look at Yenn, old enough to be his mother and a Supervisor too, Clara and Jenny, my goodness! "

"Amita, you're way off, it's not his fault if they like to look after him. See all my students, the female ones. Ow!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Yeah? Tell me more. What about the female students?" Amita looked at Charlie, ready to punch him again.

"Nothing, nothing, it's just that they are more hardworking than the guys."

"Anyway what happened to make you think that way?" Charlie asked Amita to divert her attention from his female students.

Amita was thinking, 'Maybe I have it wrong… maybe she just wanted to impress Don because she likes him so much.
She held Don's hand when he was in his fevered dreams and she managed to calm him. That's odd and she asked if Don likes to listen to piano music."
Amita turned to Charlie, 'She's a music protégé you know and she is going to study at the RCM London when she's older, she can't get in now because of her age."

"No, she' a math genius."

"I think she's both." Amita nodded.

After a passionate kiss with Charlie, Amita left.

Charlie trotted back to Don's room; Dr. Stewart was just coming out.

"Doc?"

"Oh, he's settled down now, I've given him an injection, his temperature should start coming back down. Not to worry, Don's a strong man.
He should have shaken off the sedation by morning. Remember I want you two to go home and sleep; come back in the morning."

"Eh. Doctor, if it's alright with you, one of us will stay with Don throughout the night." Alan said.

"Well, it's up to you. Take care you don't fall ill. If Don's discharged, he will need someone to help him out." The doctor said.

"Yes, that'll be us. He'll be staying with us, we'll take care of him." Alan nodded.

"Yes, that's good. Well, good day to you. I'll see Don again in the morning."

Alan opened the door and they all went in, Trixie went straight to Don's bed and stood there looking at him.

Charlie stood and watched her, 'Maybe what Amita said is correct. Hmm…'

"Dad, I'll stay here with Don." Charlie said.

"No, Charlie, I'll go home with you and after dinner, I'll come back here, say around 11pm. You need to rest your hand too."

"Dad…"

"No, Charlie, what I've said, goes."

"What about Trixie?"

"She'll be here. Everything for her is already fixed so no problem there, she has her own bodyguard too."

Later towards the evening, Alan called in Chandler and told him that they were leaving and Trixie would be in the room with Don and it would be better if he were to sit inside the room.
Alan told Chandler when they bring in the dinner, he could have Don's share as that Don wouldn't be having it.

Chandler thanked Alan and Alan also said the he would be back around 9.30pm and he would bring a cup of coffee for him.

Alan turned to Trixie and said, "Girl, I'm taking Charlie home and I'll come back around 9.30pm. Do you want anything?"

"Thanks Alan, could you please get me two packets of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish? Any two varieties will do."

"Pepperidge Farm? Eh.. Charlie do you…"
"Yes, dad I know what it is, I'll drop by the store, I think they sell them there."

"Anything else Trixie?"

"Er.. if you don't mind, some milk to go with it?"

"Of course, I'll get some milk for you. OK you be good, read your books and Chandler will be here with you. The pack of cards is by the table there."

"Bye, Trixie. " Alan bent down and kissed her cheek. She reached out and hugged him and kissed him back. "Love you." She said.

Alan said, "Love you too and be good, go trash Chandler in Gin Rummy."

"Dad, you're teaching her bad things." Charlie said and he bends down and kissed her and he got the same treatment.
"Er.. Love you too, pumpkin." And he got another hug again from Trixie.

Around 9 pm, Jenny had one of the nurses help Trixie to get ready for bed.
She said she wanted to wait for Alan to bring the biscuits that she wanted to eat first. Dora told her that she could eat it tomorrow morning, as she had already brushed her teeth.

She finally agreed to go to bed and she told Dora she could get herself to bed. Dora agreed and left her.

She went up to Don's bed and she reached out for his hand and she held on to it whispering, "Don, goodnight, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite." She then stood on tiptoes and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.,"Get better soon, I want to talk to you."

She climbed onto her bed, clutching Goofy and was soon asleep.

Alan came back around 10pm and he saw that Trixie was already sleeping. He left the biscuits and milk on the table.

He gave the coffee to Chandler and the second one was for him.

Chandler introduce Grace to Alan and said that he would be going off duty and Grace would take over.

Chandler handed his coffee to Grace and left.

Alan told Grace that she'd be better off with the sofa inside the room.

Alan had a pulled out the reclining chair next to Don's bed.

In the middle of the night, Alan was awakened by Don's movements.

Don was getting restless and was hot to the touch.
Alan felt his foerhead, it was hot too. Grace was with him. " What's the matter? " she whispered.

"My son's very hot."

"You've pressed the bell for help?"

"Yes, no one's come yet." Alan said.

"OK, I'll go out and call them." Grace said and in a flash she was out the door.

Jenny rushed in with two nurses and Grace behind her.

They told Alan to move aside and they went to work,
Jenny pulled away the blankets and with the other two nurses they took of his hospital blue shirt and the unwound the bandages round the shoulders.

They checked the injured area, cleaned and rebandaged it while Jenny instructed the two junior nurses to use wet cloths to cool down his stomach and chest area.

She went out but was accosted by Alan, "Jenny what is happening to Don?"

"Don's fever is not due to his injuries, there's no infection that i can see. I am going to give Dr. Stewart a call. My nurses are trying to bring down the temperature. I'll get a cooling blanket before I call Dr. Stewart. Don't worry Alan; it's just one of those things. You'll excuse me?"
Jenny quickly left and in a little while another nurse came in with a cooling blanket. The nurses spread it out and covered Don totally and tucked it round him.

Jenny soon came in an injection for Don, as per Dr. Stewart's instructions; Change medication and monitor his temperature every hour.

Don slept on; the cooling blanket which was soon taken away.
After 3am, the nurse said that his temperature was at an acceptable level, Alan sighed in relief.

Alan finally slept around 3.30am.

The morning came and Alan got up to use the bathroom, he cleaned up and he went to look at Don who was still sleeping.
He put his hand to his forehead and found it cool.
His fever had come down; Don was going to be OK.

Alan went out and saw Grace sitting by the side of the door, reading a magazine.

"Good morning Grace, thank you for yesterday."

"No problem Mr. Eppes and good morning to you. Little princess still sleeping?"

"Yes, er..I am going to the cafeteria for an early morning cup of coffee, can I get you one?"

"That would be most welcome, thanks."

Tbc

Thanks to Mikiss.