Frank made the short drive to the post hospital in record time though each minute of the drive seemed to take a lifetime. Thanks to his "Officer" status he was entitled to a priority parking spot and when he found one he quickly pulled into it and cut the engine.
Denise was lying in the back seat of the truck wrapped like a newborn baby in their bedding. She was laying limp across the seat and her breathing seemed to have become more labored that it had been earlier. She appeared to be asleep though he knew her well enough to know she wasn't. He gently picked her up and held her close to him for a moment before kicking the car door closed and hip checking it into place. Denise stirred at the loud noise and the sudden movement and opened her eyes hoping to see Frank. She wasn't disappointed. She tried to smile to reassure him but wasn't sure if she succeeded. She had though even her smile was weak and fleeting. Frank wasn't used to seeing that, Denise was one of the strongest people he knew and it broke his heart to see her like this. He wasn't sure what ailed her but he was certain he was going to do all he could to make her feel better.
Frank carried Denise inside and walked directly to the admissions desk. He moved ahead of the lines of people waiting for attention. The old cliché "rank has its privileges" had its place in the world. The girl seated behind the desk was clearly not Army, but likely a civilian volunteer from the post high school earning community service hours. She was involved in a telephone conversation Frank knew had nothing to do with work. He could have her job for this, and would if she didn't acknowledge him after his first try. He cleared his throat loudly and lucky for her the girl looked up immediately. She said a quick goodbye to the person on the other end of the line and hung up before giving her full attention to Frank and Denise.
"How can I help you, Sir?" She asked seeing Denise in his arms.
"I'm Lieutenant Colonel Frank Sherwood, this is my wife. She needs a doctor immediately. She's very sick," he said in a slightly panicked voice.
The girl logged on to the computer and entered the information Frank had provided. It didn't take her long to find Denise's file or to get them back to see a triage nurse
"What are her symptoms, Sir?" the nurse asked once they were taken back to speak to her. She had Denise's medical history pulled up on here screen and nothing seemed unusual except for the looks of a generally healthy woman lying still as death in her husband's arms.
Frank sighed. "She is running a fever of 103 and she has been complaining with her throat hurting and body aches. Earlier I found her in the bathroom, she'd been vomiting, but I don't know how often. She's burning up, she needs to see a doctor," Frank replied hoping he remembered all of the things she had said were hurting her earlier.
"Okay, have a seat in the green section over there and a doctor will be with you shortly," the triage nurse told Frank.
Frank sighed again, exasperated at all of the waiting. He walked over with Denise still in his arms and took a seat where instructed. She snuggled into his chest as far as she could to stay warm and moaned deeply from the pain shooting through her with each breath. "Shh, Sweetie it's okay. Just try and relax, I've got you," he soothed and kissed her forehead. While they waited he played with her hair and rubbed her arms to hopefully help her stay calm and stay asleep. She moved around a bit every so often, but eventually settled back down and continued to sleep.
A short while later they were finally called back to see a doctor. The gentleman that appeared in front of Frank was a regular on this shift and recognized him. "Frank, long time no see." Most everyone knew frank around here since Denise had worked her a few months back, but some were more pleasant than others. This doctor, Dr. Miller was very good and very nice.
"Hey , yeah I know it has been a while," Dr Miller looked down and saw Denise laying in Frank's arms and said, "Okay, let's get a look at her so I can see what has got a hold of her."
Frank placed Denise gently on the hospital bed but as soon as he broke the contact with her body she moaned and opened her eyes slowly. "Frank what's going on?" She asked quietly obviously not knowing where she was or what was happening to her. She sounded more than a little frightened to come awake in a strange bed when the last thing she remember was sleeping in her husband's familiar embrace.
Frank took the chair next to her bed and sat down. He took her hand in his and said "Everything is fine, Baby. You're at the hospital and Dr. Miller is just going to check you over and see what's making you feel so sick."
She seemed to relax with this explanation and let the doctor begin to do his job.
After a thoroughly examining Denise and considering her symptoms he concluded she most likely had pneumonia complicated by an intestinal virus of some kind. He'd have to do a chest X-ray and some blood work to confirm the diagnosis and the type of pneumonia, but regardless she would have to remain hospitalized for a few days until everything was under control. He told Frank that despite the outcome of the chest X-ray and blood panel, Denise was severely dehydrated and would need IV fluids to help her body replace what it had lost. Denise heard this and began to squirm and fuss tugging on Frank's arm.
"What Baby?" he asked gently holding her hand still. "Tell me."
"No, Frank don't let them do this. I'm already hurting enough. Please don't let them hurt me anymore," she pleaded her eyes filling with tears.
He hated seeing his wife this way; frightened, irrational, and hurting so much and knowing he couldn't do anything to ease her pain. In fact, if she intended to fight the IV, he'd likely have to cause her some pain in order to help her. He hoped not.
"Honey, it's okay. I will be right here with you the whole time, but you have to have the IV if you want to get better and stronger again," he said trying to get her to calm down and realize this was for the best. She was a nurse, she knew intellectually that she needed this treatment, but the fever and electrolyte imbalances were confusing her.
"Okay," she said almost inaudibly.
"Okay," Frank replied and nodded to who then went to get the things need for the IV. He came back shortly and set up everything to insert the IV. It wasn't often a doctor did that himself, but Denise was a special case. Frank took Denise's hand and kissed it and continued to hold it as the doctor inserted the needle into her soft skin.
She winced at the pinch but was fine in a second and dozed off quickly. "Okay, all set. A transport team will be coming in a little while to take her to X-ray," Dr. Miller said offering Frank a reassuring smile before excusing himself and going to tend other patients.
Frank waited until the transporters came and followed Denise to X-ray. While she was in the room being tested he went outside to call the Holdens to let them know what was going on with Denise.
After only 3 rings Michael picked up the phone, voice husky from sleep. "General Holden."
"Sir, it's Frank Sherwood," Frank said reverting to formality.
"What's happened, Frank? And unless it is military business, it's Michael when you're calling me before Reveille," Michael said sitting up and nudging Claudia Joy.
"Michael," Frank repeated. "Listen, Denise is in bad shape. We are at the hospital the doctor says she probably has pneumonia."
"Okay, Fran. Wow,stay calm. Claudia Joy and I will be there as soon as we can."
Frank let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding and replied "Thank you, Sir…Michael."
Michael smiled at Frank's struggle with informality and assured him, "It's no problem. We will see you in a little bit. Hang in there."
"I will. See you all soon," Frank said and hung up the phone getting back inside the hospital in just enough time to be reunited with his wife for the walk back to her hospital room. It was going to be a long night, but as long as Denise needed him, there was no place he'd rather be than by her side.