Truth And Deception

(Chapter Seven: Setback)

Elliot opened his eyes to see the sunlight starting to peek in around the heavy drapes hanging in their room. He looked across the room at the alarm clock, it was just after nine o'clock and the first time the had slept in in quite a while. He looked down at Olivia laying naked in his arms, her skin against his tangled together in a sheet. He smiled as he thought to himself that he wanted to wake up like this every morning from now on.

He shifted his eyes to the chair in the corner of the room, that chair was now covered with Olivia's black satin night gown from the night before. Somewhere between the second and third times they made love he had pulled it over her head and tossed from the bed in the dark. One of her black stockings was laying on the nightstand next to the now empty champagne bottle from the night before. His empty glass laid tipped over on its side next to the bottle and hers sat carefully back onto the nightstand on her side of the bed.

Elliot combed his fingers through her soft dark locks of hair and kissed the top of her head. He laid there for a little while watching her sleep in his arms. Olivia, his best friend, his partner, his wife. And last night was one of the best nights of his life. In comparison only to the day each of his children was born.

He thought a minute about their future together. He looked past now, further down the road after she had beaten this terrible curse that was hanging over her and they were able to move on with their lives together. He tried to imagine Olivia having their child. Sitting in a nursery rocking their little boy or maybe a brown eyed baby girl who looks like her mother.

He smiled and looked back down at her resting peacefully in his arms. She was so tired lately. Not that she didn't have a reason to be after last night, but all the time anymore she was wore out. He tried to deny it sometimes, but he knew this was her illness sneaking in on them. He had to find a way to help her and soon. Before their time together ran out and it was too late for him to save her.

Elliot exhaled slowly and raised her chin to kiss her forehead. She felt really warm. Too warm. He placed the back of his hand against her forehead to check again. She was definitely running a fever.

"Olivia, baby?" He said softly trying to wake her.

She stirred a little but didn't open her eyes. Elliot moved his hand over the bare skin on her back, she was burning up. He sat up and raised her to his arms in the bed.

"Liv, honey wake up."

She opened her tired eyes and gazed into his not having any clue what was going on.

"I thought we were going to sleep in, El."

"Baby, you're running a fever." Elliot pressed his palm to her forehead once more as he dialed the front desk to get the number of a doctor and the nearest pharmacy. He found a place just a few blocks away that delivered and ordered a thermometer and a bottle of Aspirin. Then he called the emergency room number.

Fifteen minutes later the pharmacy people arrived and Elliot was quick to get the thermometer into her mouth.

"One hundred and three. Damn it!" Elliot brought in cool wet wash cloths to put on her forehead. Then went to her bag and brought her clothes and helped her dress. "The doctor on call at the E.R. said that if the fever is over one hundred to bring you in and have you checked out. It could be nothing, but with your leukemia they just want to be safe."

Olivia nodded her head and slipped her shoes on as Elliot grabbed the room key and they headed downstairs to catch a cab. By the time the doctor in the emergency room saw her the fever was up to one hundred and four and they admitted her.

Elliot sat beside her bed watching her sleep as the nurses buzzed around in the hall way. It was now after three o'clock and no one had told him anything about Olivia's condition. He stepped out in to the hallway and asked a nurse to speak to the doctor.

Half an hour later a doctor came in and picked up Olivia's chart to review it. He introduced himself to Elliot and examined Olivia as she slept.

"Her temp has dropped back down. She is at just under one hundred. That is good." He said looking across the room at Elliot who was almost in tears.

"What happened? Is she going to be okay?"

"This time, yes. Anything could have triggered this fever. Allergies or even a simple cold. It is hard to say with leukemia. She needs to rest and get some fluids in her, but as long as that fever doesn't spike again we can probably release her tomorrow afternoon." He looked up at Elliot. "You guys are from New York?"

Elliot looked at him confused.

"I saw it in her medical file, her address in Manhattan."

"We are here on our honeymoon. We got married yesterday."

"Congratulations. Dose your wife have a physician back in Manhattan that she sees regularly for this?"

"Yes."

"Then I would say your best bet is to get her back home soon so that she can see her own doctor. He knows more about their treatment plan and what she has chosen to do. I have her on some antibiotics now to help fight off infection and an IV to help keep her hydrated. She is going to want to sleep for a while. But she is stable and I assure you she is going to be okay."

"Will it be okay for her to fly?"

"Well, normally I wouldn't recommend it. But seeing as New York is about a two day drive from here, a six hour flight would probably be easier on her."

"Okay, I will get her back home as soon as she is released."

"She should be feeling a little better in a few hours. I am here all night if you have any questions."

"Thank you, doctor."

It was close to eight o'clock when Olivia finally opened her eyes. Elliot smiled and moved in to kiss her softly.

"Hey beautiful," he whispered to her.

"Hi," she replied softly.

"Everything is going to be okay. The doctor said as long as we keep this fever down you can be discharged tomorrow. But he thinks we should get back home so that you can see your regular doctor."

"Elliot, I'm sorry."

"Oh baby, don't be. Honey, you're sick. You cant control this. But I am going to take care of you."

"So the honeymoon is over, huh?"

"No sweetheart. We're just going to move it back to New York."

She smiled as he leaned in and kissed her.

"Oh," he said, "I almost forgot. I had this delivered while you were asleep. I hope you like it."

Elliot handed her a small gift box and Olivia smiled. She untied the ribbon on the top of the box and took off the lid to reveal a jewelry box. Inside the jewelry box was a diamond ring and matching wedding band.

"Oh, Elliot.!"

"What do you think?"

"They are beautiful."

"I have mine here in my pocket." He opened his ring box and showed her the matching man's ring for the set. "I picked them out yesterday before the wedding. But they had to be sized, so they were not ready in time. Our wedding package came with that little cheap ring that we used in the ceremony. But I wanted to get you a diamond and I wanted a ring that didn't turn your finger green."

Olivia laughed.

"I still like this one too," she said as Elliot slipped it off her hand and replaced it with the diamond ring and wedding band."

"I'll put this one on a chain for you so you can wear it, too."

"That would be great," she said with a smile as she slipped his wedding band on his finger. "I love you so much, Elliot."

"I love you, too baby."

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really," she said softly.

"Liv, you should eat something. You haven't eaten all day."

"I really don't want anything."

"I can order in or go pick something up for you baby, but you have to eat something. What sounds good?"

Olivia looked at him and smiled a tired smile. He could tell she still wasn't feeling well.

"What about soup? Can you at least try to eat it if I order it for you?"

"I will try. Oh and grilled cheese. With ranch dressing."

"That's my girl," Elliot kissed her and headed down to the cafeteria to bring back her food. Olivia managed to eat half a sandwich and some of the soup then started to get nauseated.

She laid back in the bed and closed her eyes. She could not believe that she had slept all day and still felt exhausted. She looked up at Elliot watching her from the chair across the room. She smiled and patted the bed beside her. He walked over to her and sat on the edge of her bed, then wrapped his arm tightly around her and kissed the top of her head.

"I love you," he said looking into her eyes.

"I love you, too. Not exactly how you expected to spend the second night of our honeymoon, huh?"

"No, but as long as I am with you I'm happy."

Elliot curled up beside her in the bed and held her tight as they both fell asleep.

The next day after Olivia was discharged from the hospital they flew back to New York and returned home.