TOM
You got the call from Ben and immediately panicked. She's never fallen before. He was able to calm your nerves a bit, informing you she was regaining her color and no longer struggling and she was resting.
Once I hung up with him I explained the situation to Luke and then went to start gathering my things and began searching for the soonest flight back home. Luke was making the necessary calls informing everyone I had a family emergency and would not be able to finish the press tour. Unfortunately, news would get out that I had cancelled due to an emergency and that would be all over the tabloids soon enough, but that did not matter right now.
What mattered was getting home to Jane.
I couldn't find anything soon enough for my liking so I called a few airlines to see if there have been any cancellations or anyway for me to get on the next flight.
I managed to find one that would leave at 1am. I texted Ben my flight information and asked for an update on Jane.
He said she was sleeping comfortably and that he would be sleeping in the living room recliner in order to keep a close eye on her. They did not want to move her so they made her as comfortable as could be on the couch.
It felt like the longest flight you've ever been on, which is saying something considering the places you've traveled, but none of the planes you'd been on were taking you to the love of our life who needed you.
You fall asleep for the last hour or so of the flight and call Ben as soon as you're off the plane.
You make it through the airport in record time and grab a cab and head for the house, making it there in roughly just thirty minutes.
You quietly walk inside, as it was still early. You see Ben at the counter with a cup of coffee.
He turns and smiles at you, standing to give you a hug. He takes your bag for you and you immediately go towards the couch and kneel in front of Jane. You missed her so much it was so hard not to be able to swoop her up into your arms.
She was extremely pale, under many blankets but still shivering. You reach your hand to her forehead lightly and she's burning up. She doesn't stir. You hear her shallow, raspy, and uneven breaths. You stand and look at the concentrator, still on six liters.
You look at her for another moment before nodding to Ben to follow you into the kitchen.
"How did she do overnight?"
"Well, she sprung a fever kind of out of no where, I woke up and went to check on her and noticed her shaking. After I covered her in blankets and it still didn't stop, I woke her to check her temperature and it was 102.5 so I gave her a dose of tylenol and it helped. It's wearing off now tho because the shivers are back. She coughed quite a bit, but nothing that made me too nervous or that woke her up."
You nod. Taking out your phone to call her doctor.
"Ben, thank you so so much for caring for my girl. I'm sorry if I was rude when I came home, but I was worried sick and just had to see her. I'm so sorry if that hurt your feelings at all."
He smiled at you and shook his head. "Not at all, Tom. Now go call her doctor."
You dial the number for the hospital and Dr. S still isn't there. You inform the nurse it is rather urgent and she says she will page him to please call you as soon as he can.
With it still being rather early, there's not much to do except wait. You poor yourself some coffee and sit with Ben.
You sit quietly, listening to the humming and bubbling of the oxygen concentrator, but Ben's voice breaks the silence.
"Tom?"
"Yes, Ben?"
"Sophie and I are absolutely struck by how much you do for, Jane. These past few weeks have been emotionally, and physically, exhausting. And that's with the two of us and just for a short while. I can't imagine how tiring it must be by yourself day in and day out. Well, what I'm getting at, is that Sophie and I would like to temporarily move down here. For as long as you need us after transplant. Sophie brought it up last night and I had been thinking about it for a few days now. Sophie says she can't bare the thought of not being here for her best friend when she needs her most. She was brought to tears. We want to be here for both of you. We will go back to London to gather some things and make arrangements while you're busy with all of the transplant testing, and then return and stay in a little apartment or rent a small house for as long as need be."
You couldn't stop the tears from falling. Absolutely taken aback by what he was saying.
"Thank you." was all you could manage.
Ben smiled wide and gave you a strong pat on the back. You felt your phone vibrate and began collecting yourself as you knew who it was.
"Dr. S?"
"Yes Tom, hello. What's going on? I thought you were out of town?"
"I'm afraid Jane is not well. She has been feeling ill for a few days now and last night she had a fall. Since then she has had her oxygen at six liters and still seems to be having a bit of a difficult time, she is very pale and has a fever. I feel it's time to start the transplant list process."
"I think you may be right. Bring her in. The floor isn't full so there won't be a problem for a bed, the sooner you get here the better."
"I will bring her shortly."
"See you then."
You hang up and begin to go and pack some of her things while Ben goes to wake Sophie.
She comes in once you're almost finished and gives you a hug, her larger belly making it a bit awkward to wrap her arms around you.
"How are you, love?"
"I'm doing alright, besides having to pee all the time. I'm so glad you've made it home and are happy about our offer to help."
"I cannot thank you enough, Sophie."
"You don't have to." She stands on her tip toes to kiss your cheek and then she leaves the room.
Ben has loaded what you've packed into the car, while you ready her a portable oxygen tank.
Once things were in order you go to wake her up. Kneeling down in front of her and running your hands thru her hair, her head still feeling hot.
"Jane my love, wake up darling."
Her eyes flutter and she looks at you, still mostly asleep.
"There's my girl."
A weak smile crosses her face and she leans forward for a kiss.
"Tom? What are you doing here?" Her voice nothing more than a raspy whisper.
"I was able to come home earlier than expected. I'm sorry to wake you love, but it's time to go to the hospital."
She nods her head weakly and tries to sit up. Placing a hand on her shoulder, you shake your head at her.
"No no no, I'll carry you. I just didn't want to frighten you. I'll be gentle don't worry. Are you ready?"
She gives a slight nod, already falling back asleep.
You switch her oxygen and then gently lift her and all her blankets. Even with all of them she is light as a feather.
Sophie gives her a kiss on the head before you care her out the door and Ben carries her pillow and wheels her oxygen behind you.
You get her settled into the back seat and she doesn't even stir. Ben comes with you to help you get her and our things inside.
JANE
Your chest is tight, you can't seem to catch your breath. You are freezing and shaking, but feel like you're sweating. Each minute felt like it was getting harder to breathe, causing an ache in your lungs.
You hear Tom and feel his warm hands on your cheek.
"Darling? We're going to take you inside now. I'm going to have to put you in a wheelchair so please try and stay awake now."
You open your eyes to look at him, noticing the corners of your vision becoming blurry. You nod and lift your arms out of the blankets to wrap your arms around his neck. He lifts you up and you notice Ben come around the other side of the car to shut your door and carry your oxygen tank and bags. You tried to smile at him but you felt so weak you weren't sure if you actually did or not.
Once inside Tom places you in a chair and wraps the blankets around you securely before checking in. Ben stands by your side, never taking his eyes off of you. He looks concerned. Tom sees this and kneels down to be eye level with you.
"Jane? Are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Black spots appear in your vision and you shake your head to Tom. "No" you say but it just comes out as a gasp as you try to breathe in oxygen but it felt as though nothing would come.
You hear many voices and Tom lifts you to place you on a gurney.
"It's going to be ok, love. I'm right here." He says squeezing your hand.
Then everything goes dark.