Chapter 9

Much to everyone's dismay, Scarlett's improving healthy had a setback when her fever returned. A glassy sheen appeared in her eyes one afternoon that Bonnie had been banished to the play room under the strict supervision of Lou. The days prior everything seemed to be on the up. Her sprains and broken bones were healing nicely, the swelling of her face had gone down and the bruising subsided. But the quickness of her energy depletion still remained.

A cough was also present with the fever; every time Scarlett had a coughing fit her body shuttered in pain and caused dull moans to escape her lips as pain radiated her body. The fragile mending of her broken ribs broke during one coughing fit causing further pain and escalated her fever. What had gone unnoticed was the rash that formed on Scarlett's flesh. The rash had not been easily spotted due to the pink hue of Scarlett's complexion due to the high fever.

Doctor Meade had been able to examine Scarlett's back before she took this turn for the worse and found that there was surprisingly no permanent damage, only bruising of the spine. This news was gratifying to allow Scarlett to sit up in bed. This was critical when her sudden illness brought on dry heaves and then vomiting. Nothing they gave her stayed down whether it was food or medicine.

By not having any form of oral medicine, Doctor Meade had to give her injections trying to get some form of pain reliever in her system as well as other medication to try and break her fever. The ice company once again was called to deliver ice three times a day. First they started to attempt to keep Scarlett's body cool with compresses but her body melted the ice too fast to do any good. The ice order was increased and a tub was brought into the room. Doctor Meade instructed Rhett to place Scarlett in the tub as Pansy, Jules, and Kaya broke up the ice blocks and placed them in the tub as well as water. Next to the tub was a copper bowl filled with chilled water and rags to place on Scarlett's face. Another bowl was left empty near the tub for when Scarlett's body revolted any contents in her stomach. It was during this form of treatment that the rashes were first recognized.

Delirium started on the fourth day of the rapid illness. Mammy being the only person to have known Scarlett her entire life stayed in the room to sooth the fever dreams that escaped her lips. Rhett too was never far away; in fact he did not leave the room once since her current illness showed its ugly features. Much of what came out of Scarlett's mouth were too far in Scarlett's childhood for Rhett to know what she was talking about, Mammy tried to explain as best she could while consoling Scarlett. There were jumps in Scarlett's delirious time frame that she would go to the time at Tara after the war. At one point she spent nearly a whole day focused on her mother's death. Never once did she call out to Rhett or Ashley for that matter, none of her husbands were on her mind, only her life at Tara as a child or during the war.

Two weeks passed slowly in the Butler house as Scarlett's health faded. It was then the elderly Doctor Meade decided to stop giving Rhett hopes for Scarlett's recovery. The fever never left her body in those two weeks; she had not had any food in her system to have much strength left. Her bouts of any form of conscious were becoming further apart. It was in the best interest to give Rhett the truth and start to make arrangements.

"Captain Butler, may I have a word with you," the doctor's words were heavy as well as all movements.

Rhett removed himself from Scarlett's side to meet the doctor.

"Captain Butler, this is not the easiest discussion to have, nor will it ever be. To be frank, Scarlett's health is too far depleted to make a full recovery. Even if she had not had the accident, I do not think she would be in any better of a state. Her body is giving up and it will be a matter of days before she is fully at rest. This may be the best time to contact family and start making arrangements for her final resting place here or at Tara." Even though Doctor Meade was not related to Scarlett, he still felt a strong tightness in his throat as he spoke. For the last decade, Scarlett had been a constant presence in Atlanta and part of the women's gossip for the entire time as well. Having known Scarlett her entire adult life, the doctor felt as though another one of his children were sentenced to eternal sleep.

Rhett was in a daze. His eyes were swollen and red, his hair unkempt and his clothes soiled with sweat. He looked from the doctor to Scarlett's still form on the bed. Regret was even more prevalent now than it ever was before. The love of his life was doomed because of him. How as he to survive without her? He couldn't handle life without Scarlett. There was no life without her in his life. His gaze fell from the bed as his hands covered his face as a heart wrenching sob released in his throat. His broad shoulders shook violently as the flood gate of tears poured out his eyes.

"Remember you have Bonnie. You may want to have a talk with the child before her mother is gone. Is there anyone you would like me to contact for you?"

Rhett stood up and walked over to the writing desk to write down his mother's and Scarlett's aunt's addresses as well as Tara's. It was only fitting to invite them to the worst day of his life. Rhett returned to his seat and handed the paper to the doctor. "There is nothing else you can do?" Defeat was evident in Rhett's words; the gay sparkle that resonated in his eyes seemed to flicker out during Doctor Meade's assessment.

"All that is left is prayer. I will keep administering the medication." Rhett only gave a nod of the head before he exited the room for the first time in over two weeks.

He walked down to the nursery where Bonnie had been kept for safe keeping. In the silence of the night he would hear her crying for her mother and the pleading with the servants to let her out to see her mother. It broke his heart chip by chip hearing the cries.

"Bonnie," he stated flatly as he sat in a chair and motioned for her to join him. But the child did not move, she stayed where she was and watched with wide eyes.

"Mommy?" she asked as tears welled up. Fear was the only tone evident in the one small word.

"The doctor said…mommy is going to the angels." At every word Rhett choked up, his strained voice cracked at the end as clear streams traveled down is face.

"NO!" Bonnie shouted as she bolted out the door and down the hall. "Mommy! Mommy! Don't go. Please Mommy, don't leave me!" Bonnie cried as she climbed on the bed next to her mother stroking her hair. "Don't leave me."

Rhett followed Bonnie back to the room. Doctor Meade had left to the post office to send out the telegrams. He sat in his chair next to the bed as his daughter cried desperately for her mother to wake up and get better.

"Kiss her Daddy. Kiss Mommy." Bonnie's saliva soaked mouth said between hiccups. Her face was blotched with red spots from her tear stained face.

He looked up at her through his own watery eyes. "A kiss won't change…"

"Yes it will. A kiss of true love always works. Kiss Mommy." Bonnie said more forceful. Fairytales had always been a favorite for Bonnie since they were short. But Rhett had always altered the dark fables to please Bonnie's young innocent mind.

Rhett rose from his seat and leaned over the bed and placed his lips against Scarlett's to give his daughter some form of comfort and hope. Scarlett's lips were burning as was her entire body. He looked into her sunken red face praying to see her eyes open as they had before. When nothing happened Rhett placed a kiss on her forehead before whispering "Sleep well my queen," in her ear.

Rhett sat back in his chair and watched his daughter break down in another set of fresh tears when her mother did not wake up. There was nothing he could do to change this outcome. He debated on removing Bonnie from the bed and holding her but felt it best to allow Bonnie the time with her mother before the end.

"I love you, Mommy," she said through her sobbing as she kissed her mother's cheek before resting her head on her mother's chest to hear the pounding of her heart. Her tears fell onto the fabric of the coverlet as she watched her mother's wan face.