Carrying on the Torch

Disclaimer: I don't own Good Luck Charlie

A/N:

Chapter 17 (That is Not Chicken!)

For lunch, Charlotte was discussing possible places to eat with Dee and Regina. She was very gung-ho about trying out Kwikki Chikki, despite Skyler's adamant refusal of letting her go. She didn't want to undermine her, but she was sure nothing bad would happen. She'd managed to convince Regina, who was already hesitant, but Dee was currently trying to talk her out of going. "What can it hurt? We've never eaten there and I want to go."

"Didn't Skyler tell you that the food they have there is not only disgusting, but sickening?" Dee tapped her foot on the ground and tilted her head to the side. Regina remained sitting on the courtyard bench, listening with amusement. "You will get food poisoning from that place, people get sick all the time!"

"So don't order anything like the coleslaw, or anything that might have old mayonnaise." She remembered PJ saying something about the chicken not really being chicken, and one of the foods involved was horsemeat. Of course, surely they would have removed that by now. Horsemeat was different than regular meat, and a lot of people developed allergies from eating it, some even going into anaphylactic shock, which is a fatal allergic reaction. Kwikki Chikki actually did get sued at one point of time for a patient developing an allergic reaction from unknowingly consuming the horsemeat.

"I'm telling you, I think it's a bad idea. If you really want to, I guess you can, but I don't recommend it…"

"It'll be fine, Dee." She looked to Regina and smiled at her. "What do you think 'Gina?" Regina lifted her eyebrows and sighed heavily, she didn't enjoy being brought into the middle of this conversation. She smirked subtly and rose to her feet.

"I think I'm not going to get involved in this. I'm hungry, and I don't much care where we eat. I just want food in my stomach." Dee sighed with defeat and shrugged her shoulders. Evidently she couldn't talk the girl out of eating where she wanted to eat, so hopefully the first time would not come out to be a problem. If it was, then they were in trouble.

Once at the restaurant, the trio waited in the line to order their food. The manager was standing there, Mitch, the same manager that was there when PJ worked. Charlotte had her eye on the menu item number four, which looked like a chicken sandwich. Though, from the picture, she wasn't completely sure if it was chicken or not. Once they made their way to Mitch behind the cash register, Dee ordered a soda, Regina ordered the chicken meal which came with two chicken legs, mashed potatoes, and baked beans. "I'd like to have number four, please."

"Number four? Will that be the sandwich alone or would you like the combo?" The combo came with fries and a drink, and was a dollar extra. She tapped her chin in thought and shook her head, she really wasn't all that hungry.

"I'll take the sandwich alone." Mitch rang up the price and Charlotte paid him. Regina stared at the menu with uncertainty while Dee found a seat close to the door. Charlotte looked to her friend, she wondered why Regina was still looking at the menu, unless she wanted something else. "Did you not finish ordering?"

"No, I went with what others at school said was safe, and I'm sticking with that, but…I think you just ordered something a lot of kids get sick with. Then again, that might be number three, the horsemeat."

"You mean they didn't actually take that out?"

"They said they did, but they still use it." Charlotte's eyebrows rose and Regina moved over to the table where Dee was. She felt her stomach tighten with anticipation and anxiety, she wanted to eat, but was starting to become afraid of touching the food. There weren't many patrons there, and none were high school students braving the rumors.

When Mitch returned, he smiled at Charlotte and set the tray carefully on the counter. "Enjoy your meal." She smiled at him and took the tray. As she turned her eyes to the sandwich, a nauseating wave came over her. She shrugged it off and moved to the table. Regina took her plate and set it down in front of her, the first thing she grabbed was the chicken leg. Charlotte bit her lip and stared at the sandwich, it smelled a bit different to her.

"Well, time to dig in I guess." Dee raised an eyebrow and set her cell phone down, she'd just got done texting someone. Charlotte looked at her, but dismissed the thought. It wasn't her business who she texted. As she lifted her sandwich up to her mouth, she continued staring at the patty. It was slightly brown, but did not look like chicken.

"Something wrong?" Regina asked, taking a bite of her chicken. She paused and stared her chicken leg. "This tastes funny…" Charlotte lifted her shoulders and quickly bit into the food. As she chewed, the meat seemed to split and separate very easily. She noted how soft it was, almost as if it were some kind of seafood. She rolled it around on her tongue and swallowed.

"Okay, that's not chicken. Dee?" Dee set her drink on the table and leaned forward as Charlotte showed her where she bit into the sandwich. Dee's face scrunched up and she stuck her tongue out, disgusted. "What?"

"That's crabmeat. Normally I love crabmeat, but I'm disgusted to see them passing it along as chicken." Crabmeat, huh? She'd never had crab before. It didn't taste all that bad. PJ was allergic to shellfish, so he never had it around the house, nor did she ever order it at any restaurants. She took another bite of the sandwich and swallowed it down.

"It's actually pretty good. I mean sure, it's not chicken, but it…" Her chest started to tighten for a second and her eyebrows rose. "That was strange, my chest feels a bit heavy. I didn't get a drink."

"Here…" Dee handed her the cup and she quickly sipped through the straw. She set the sandwich down and leaned back in her chair, sighing softly, trying to relax her body.

"Thanks."

"No problem." After a minute or two, she took another bite of the sandwich, but something was wrong, she was starting to feel a bit nauseous. She also was starting to become increasingly fearful of impending doom. Her two friends were staring at her with concerned gazes. "Charlotte, you're breaking out!"

"What?" Dee held up a compact mirror and Charlotte took one look. She gasped and brought her hands to her face, light pink blotches were starting to appear on her body. Her throat was beginning to swell as well and her breath was fleeting. The tightness in her chest was becoming more severe and her body was starting to sweat. "Guys, I can't breathe…"

Suddenly the doors flew open and Skyler stormed into the building. She'd been the one Dee texted, alerting her of where they were. Skyler rushed over to the table and Charlotte's eyes were wide with shock. "Charlotte! What did I te-my god what did you eat!"

"Mom, I can't breathe…" Her words came out faint and quiet, but laced with fear. Dee held up the sandwich and Skyler cursed. "Am I, what's happening to me?"

"Crabmeat! PJ's allergic to it, you could be too, we need to get you to the hospital, fast!" She was starting to go into shock and her friends were beginning to panic. She was rushed out of the place and into Skyler's car, Dee and Regina were close behind. Thankfully St. Paul Medical Center was close by. It was where Amy worked and everyone there was close friends with Skyler, so it wouldn't be a long wait for medical attention at all.

It was not long after arriving to the hospital, she wasn't sure how much time had elapsed, the staff had been able to relieve her of the symptoms before anything bad happened. Of course, Skyler was in such a panicked rush that she was giving orders to everyone until the doctor arrived, and they were listening to her. Now she was in a hospital room with her friends, Skyler, and Dr. Reed.

"It's a good thing you got here as fast as you did, Mrs. Duncan," Dr. Reed told Skyler. Charlotte had her head bowed with embarrassment, she could have died. Apparently she had a severe allergic reaction to the crabmeat and almost suffered anaphylaxis. Next time Skyler tells her not to eat at a restaurant, she was definitely listening! "I must say, I was impressed with how you handled the staff. Are you sure you don't want that position as Head Nurse? You know Amy Duncan held that position, we'd be glad to have you fill it. It recently became open."

"I don't know." Skyler folded her arms over and lifted her shoulders. "It's a lot to think about right now, with PJ's grandmother having to move in and a baby to take care of…" Charlotte's lips curled upwards and she quickly moved forward on the hospital bed. The hours were certainly better, if Skyler became a nurse, she'd have to work less days and could make more money, it was definitely something to consider.

"You could be home more, Skyler."

"That's true." Skyler chuckled and slowly rose from the chair she was in. She moved over to Charlotte and put her hand to the girl's shoulder, smiling slyly. "We have a little something to discuss, later."

"I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

"Yep." Charlotte sighed and bowed her head once more. She was grateful for Dee, having texted the woman in the first place, but she regretted the decision to try the restaurant out in the first place. If she'd just listened to Skyler, none of this would have ever happened. It was times like these, she really didn't like having to admit that the parent was right. "You've gone through enough for one day, so I'm going to take you home. I'm calling up Jo and telling her you're unable to attend today's class."

"Aw, but-"

"No buts." Skyler's expression grew deathly serious, telling the girl that she'd better not question or talk back if she knew what was good for her. "I'm taking the rest of the day off as well, I need to make sure you don't have any further reactions to that crabmeat. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am…" She lifted her eyes to Skyler and smiled when she saw her face soften. Skyler reached over and hugged her close. She hugged her back and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't listen. I should have known better…I thought if I did get something, it wouldn't be this bad."

"I know dear, just…next time you plan a stunt like this, tell me first. You know I don't like surprises." Very true, Skyler was probably more upset that she'd gone to the restaurant without telling her, than she was that she'd gone there at all. From then on, she was not keeping information from Skyler. Especially not if it could be so serious. "Now, what have you learned from all this?"

"That Kwikki Chikki seriously needs to quit calling themselves a chicken restaurant if they're not going to serve chicken!" The others smiled in amusement and Skyler laughed. "Oh, and I am not eating there again! No way, not happening!" The older woman grinned and hugged her again.

"That's my girl." Her stomach was still churning and she still felt a bit dizzy and nauseous. She hoped that would pass before her date with Mason. It would most likely pass, since the body was capable of getting rid of foul toxins pretty quickly. Which, unfortunately meant, she might be having diarrhea. Most unfortunate.

Well, a valuable lesson was learned here. 1) Do not undermine Skyler, she knows what she is talking about. 2) Kwikki Chikki really needs to change their gameplan and 3) Allergies to crabmeat, most unpleasant.