Birth by Sea
by: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters
4. Health
When Catherine woke hours later, Ashlynn was still fast asleep, whimpering as Catherine shifted to wake her for a feed.
Sara opened her eyes sleepily.
"Go back to sleep for a bit. We need to get up soon."
Sara nodded, kissing her cheek and rolling over, falling back asleep.
Catherine smiled, watching Ashlynn as she fed, then getting up to pace as she burped her.
Sara snuggled into the blankets, trying to stay warm.
Catherine pulled another blanket over Sara, kissing her forehead, then moved out to the living room.
Sara smiled, snuggling in deeper.
A few seconds later, Catherine accidentally knocked a glass to the floor with a loud smash and Ashlynn began screaming. "God, shh... I'm sorry baby..." Catherine whispered.
Sara was up, running out after the crash. "What happened?"
"I just knocked a glass. We're fine," Catherine replied, trying to soothe their daughter.
Sara walked over, wrapping her arms around them, swaying with them gently. "Shh, it's ok baby... You're ok. Nobody will hurt you."
Catherine kissed Sara's cheek as Ashlynn grew quiet, holding tightly to Sara's top.
Sara kissed Ashlynn's head. "Shh... We've got you."
"At least we know she can hear," Catherine said softly.
"That's true," Sara said, shivering.
"Still cold?" Catherine asked, placing her dressing gown over Sara's shoulders.
Sara nodded, pulling it on. "Freezing."
"Here, take her," Catherine replied, "She's toasty and I need to clean this up."
Sara nodded, sitting in a chair and wrapping herself in a blanket.
"Are you coming down with something?" Catherine asked, sweeping up the shattered glass.
"I hope not," Sara said, lying Ashlynn on a pile of blankets and going into the bathroom, finding a thermometer.
"Who's Mama's beautiful girl?" Catherine smiled as she sat beside Ashlynn, looking over her.
Sara walked back out, frowning.
"Temperature?" Catherine asked.
"103.2"
"Oh dear," Catherine sighed. "Shall we leave as soon as we get her off to sleep? You can't drive."
Sara nodded, sighing. "I'll pack our bags. I can't touch her."
"We may have to take a few stops if she wakes for a feed, and I'm still exhausted."
Sara nodded again. "That's fine. But how is she going to get back with no car seat?"
"The owners said they had one left a while ago that we can take."
Sara nodded again, quickly packing the bags and throwing them in the car before collapsing into a chair. "I don't feel like I'm going to puke. I just...feel weak and tired and achy."
"Then we need to get you home in front of the warm fire."
"But...I shouldn't...be with...the baby..."
"What do you propose we do?"
Sara shook her head. "Leave me in the spare room until I'm well? Or have your mom take her. But you'll never do that, so I guess I'll be alone for a few days."
"I can't let Mom take her. She's only a few days old. Anyway..." Catherine paused as her cell found signal in the only place in the cabin, and she had a quick conversation with her mother, sighing when she hung up.
"Then lock me in."
"I can't. It's not that simple."
"Why? You have a daughter. You know what to do," Sara said.
"Lindsay's got tonsillitis."
Sara sighed. "Great. Two sick people. Listen. You can't get sick. You can't afford to. After we get back, I'll check into a hotel."
"No, Sara. I won't let you."
"Cath, the baby can't get sick. What are you going to do?"
Catherine rubbed her forehead. "I don't know. Whatever we do, promise you'll stay with Lindsay? I hate seeing her sick, especially when I can't comfort her."
Sara nodded. "Absolutely. Does she need to have them out?"
"At some point. We're waiting for a date. They said last time, they can't operate when they're infectious."
"Okay, so what's she supposed to do?"
"Mom's got her some antibiotics, then lots of cuddles, rest and ice cream."
Sara nodded. "Can you make me an appointment to get some antibiotics?"
"Yes, and we can stop on the way. Listen, the baby stuff is at ours so why don't I drop you to Mom's to be with Lindsay?"
"After the antibiotics?" Sara asked, beginning to sweat, though she was shivering.
"Yes. Now, go to the car and we'll meet you in a minute."
Sara wrapped another blanket around herself and walked out to the car. After getting in, adjusting the covers and the seat, she was asleep in seconds.
Catherine carefully placed Ashlynn in the car seat and put the rest of their things into the car, smiling over at Sara as she got in. Catherine drove for a couple of hours before pulling over for a stop, feeding Ashlynn then continued her journey, Sara out cold.
She stopped off to get Sara's prescription, then drove to her mother's. Reaching over, her fingers brushed Sara's cheek lightly. "Baby..."
Sara's eyes opened slowly. "Hmm?"
"We're at Mom's honey."
Sara nodded, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
"I got your antibiotics. Did you want me to walk you to the door?"
"Can you?"
Catherine nodded, getting Ashlynn out of the car before walking with Sara up the path, knocking.
Sara held tightly to Catherine, feeling exhausted.
Catherine kissed Sara's forehead gently. "We love you, ok? Make sure you get plenty of rest so you can come back to us soon."
Sara nodded, kissing her hand as she took her bags and trudged inside.
"Thanks Mom. Call anytime," Catherine smiled before walking away from the house feeling saddened.
From the second Ashlynn woke that evening she cried and cried. She missed Sara. They both did. Catherine gave a heavy sigh a few hours later when she finally fell asleep, shattered.
Sara, meanwhile, had slept since she'd hit the bed in the spare room.
Lindsay joined her in the small hours, curling up close with her as she too fell asleep.
Sara wrapped her arm around her, pulling the covers over them to combat her own chill.
By the time morning came, Catherine had been awake more than asleep. She text Sara a picture of Ashlynn just before ten. 'Morning Mommy x'
Sara woke to the buzzing of her phone in her pocket. She opened it, smiling at the message before taking one of herself and Lindsay to send back, oblivious to how white and exhausted she looked.
'Sara, honey, you look really sick. Maybe I should call a doctor to check you over x'
'Please x. I feel awful. The meds only make me sleep, but I haven't even been on them a full day yet x'
'Doctor will be with you within the hour. Love you both x'
'Love you two too. She's not sick, is she? X'
'She's fine. Don't worry about us.' Catherine replied as Lindsay stirred.
Sara stroked her cheek. "Hey, sweetie. How are you feeling?"
"My throat hurts," Lindsay managed.
Sara nodded, sitting up, then moaning as she hit the pillows again. "I'll get you ice cream after the doctor comes to check me over, ok?"
Lindsay shook her head. "You're sick too. Grandma can get it. I miss Mommy."
Sara nodded again. "I miss her too. Look, she sent a picture."
Lindsay grinned. "She's cute!"
Sara nodded. "She sure is."
"When can we go see her?"
"We need to get better first."
Lindsay nodded as her Grandma entered. "Ice cold drink for you," she said to Lindsay, then turned to Sara, "I wasn't sure which you wanted because of your fever so I made you a tea and an iced water."
Sara smiled, sipping the tea. "Thanks. Catherine called a doctor and they should be here within the hour to see me as I feel worse than yesterday."
"No offense, but you do look really ill."
Sara groaned, holding the ice water to her head. "I know."
"Any new symptoms?"
Sara shook her head. "Haven't thrown up or anything. Not nauseous. Just tired an achy. Hurts to move."
"Cough?"
"A little bit."
"Pneumonia?"
"Hope not."
"So do I," she smiled, kissing Lindsay's head.
Sara nodded. "Though Cath did make me promise to take care of Lindsay."
"Can I get you anything to eat? "
"I'm not hungry. I'm too sore," Sara moaned, snuggling back under the covers.
"Just shout if you need me."
Sara nodded.
A couple of hours later, Catherine text Sara once more. 'What did the doctor say?'
'Pneumonia, but I'm not contagious or sick enough for the hospital. Gave me different meds. I can actually take a breath without being sore. He thought I was at the worst of it, but I have to take the meds until they're gone x'
'Which will be how long?'
'5 days to a week'
Catherine sighed heavily. 'I miss you.'
'Miss you too'
"Looks like it's you and me all week baby girl," Catherine said, as Ashlynn finally fell asleep in her arms.
Sara sighed, falling asleep.
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