Lunch with his prospective future in-laws had defended into a nightmare, not the polite farce his girlfriend had predicted as they looked down on the toy boy he was dating. The twenty-two year old had to cast his mind back several years to his last medical emergency in LA over five years ago. For nearly eight years of managing his disabilities and his serious allergies, but had made the mistake of letting his guard down visiting his girlfriend's family for the first time. They knew he was vegan, an easy option to cover not eating any dairy. He had met the Taylor's twice before, but this was the first time visiting their home with CC. The wonderful and mercurial Cecilla had been trying to build bridges with her family after several years of estrangement. Mosty, with encouragement from Tony, Alex suspected. The lunch ending abruptly with the guest lying on the floor of the dining room, covered in vomit. He had two paramedics trying to stabilise him after complications from his medication, with his girlfriend screaming abuse at her father and stepmother, practically accusing them of the attempted murder of the first decent boyfriend she'd ever had.
Gasping for breath and in intense pain, the guys in Green had explained to Alex he had developed tachyarrhythmia as a side effect of the epinephrin auto applicator. His vision was greying at the edges, unconsciousness would be a blessed relief. His last allergic reaction had been no where near as severe. He was still swelling up like blimp, been violently sick and still with a restricted airway all because of a bit of creme fraiche in the soup. How bloody typical after all he had done and survived, he could die of something so trivial. Death by forbidden food should have been by something decent like his passion for strong cheese, a vice only allowed in his dreams.
He heard the whine of a helicopter and he briefly thought of Yassen, as he closed his eyes and let unconsciousness take him.
CC watched on, arms tightly wrapped around her, providing no warmth or comfort. She dug her nails into her forearms as the situation progressed from bad to worse; as the doctor and paramedic from Cambridgeshire Air Ambulance arrived and were confronted with her critically ill boyfriend. His favourite 'lucky' Armani suit and shirt in ribbons as it had been cut from his body, to allow access for the medical examination, insertion of lines for fluids, to attach monitoring equipment and now the defibrillator. The petite woman with short dark hair in a pixie cut turned away as a tube was shoved down Alex's throat, as the paramedic now fought to keep the airway open.
Her life had changed over eighteen months since Alex had hired her to teach him to dance for his father's wedding. She had avoided relationships and had never co-habited before. Alex had become her friend and love had blossomed. In the five months they had lived together, she had learned Alex was fanatical about fitness, food and health. They both had demons in their past. He understood that you survived trauma by coping mechanisms, both good and bad. She had used food as a weapon for years, starving, binging and purging. Alex ran a tight ship with nothing forbidden in the house. She was no longer tempted to hoard biscuits, chocolate and ice cream, and the vegan alternatives were just not up to scratch. Alex had an unusual family, being close despite his father and step father living in LA. She liked Tony, a man she now had to call and try to explain how her bitch of a step mother had caused this medical emergency because she had misunderstood that no dairy was a must for Alex because of his serious allergy. The dance teacher had sent through recipe ideas and pamphlets on anaphylaxis to her step mother in anticipation of this lunch. Diane had spoke of just a spot of something in the soup to live it up. Never thinking it was going to harm her guest. Diane thought vegetarianism was a fad and that their was nothing wrong with her Cordon Bleu cuisine.
Facing the wall, listening to the technical terms of the clinicians and the electronic recording tell everyone to keep clear, checking for heart rhythm, continue with CPR if no pulse. The horror ending, with Alex stabilised for the trip to hospital. He was out of danger and on his way to Addenbrooks.
The perfectly decorated dining room again silent, with only the paramedics diligently clearing up waste, unused packages and equipment. All the remaining diners exiled to the hall. CC picked up the tatters of Alex's jacket to retrieve his car keys, iPhone and wallet. Alex's prized prosthetics had gone with him to hospital. Her eyes drawn to the expensive bouquet of pink and cream roses Alex had brought as a gift to Diane. The bottle of cognac still in its wrapping paper on the side table.
With a withering look at her hen pecked father, who always took his wife's side about everything especially critiquing his wayward daughter, she left without saying goodbye and ignoring the fact Diane was weeping on his shoulder. CC sat in Alex's dark blue Mini Cooper and drove into the village. Parking on the Green, she took three deep calming breaths before unlocked the phone. Sadly she noted Alex had last called his father at 5AM, this morning. It was early morning in LA, she rang Tony's personal phone to get the answerphone, "Tony, its CC, call me as soon as you get this message." She repeated this for the house number and Gerard's phone; not surprised that everyone was still in bed. Then she phoned Dylan. "Hi… Dylan … its CC."
The overdressed thirty four year old dance teacher got to the Casualty Department at Addenbrokes after a half hour chat with Dylan and the fifty minute drive from her father's country manor back to the city. Alex had already been transferred onto Ward K3, but visiting hours were strictly regimented until after dinner, so she returned to their flat in Cambridge.
Alex was trying to sleep. He was exhausted, but sleep would not come as his brain was in overdrive. The background noise of the nurses, the other patients and the medical equipment was keeping his brain active after one hell of a day. The doctoral student had yet to digest this series of unfortunate events. He had just survived a cardiac arrest and now had to see a heart specialist for this incident of arrhythmia. The double whammy of severe allergic reaction and the adrenaline used to keep him alive had fucked his heart. The thing that scared him most was the fact he had probably scared his papa and step-dad half to death by almost dying again.
CC had already called them and Dylan several times with updates. Alex had not overheard those conversations and CC had been in full reassurance mode that evening, as she had informed them that Alex was OK and just in hospital overnight for observation. Only he wasn't, the doctors in Casualty had stated he might be here for several days for tests until being allowed to go home. With a hard lump in his throat, the disabled man did not want any more hurdles to negotiate. He loved his independence. He had plans, and none of them included spending precious hours or days in hospital or on numerous doctors appointments. Life had been good, too good. Happiness had made him complacent. He hated the feeling of powerlessness. He then heard the alarm on his heart monitor scream out as his heart rate again jumped above 100 beats a minute.
….
Dylan was on the phone for much of the journey from London to Cambridge. The luxury of a driver allowed him to continue to work as the car sped up the M11. His visit north to the provinces was to make sure Alex was OK after his hospital stay. His ETA was just after 1, hopefully his best friend's son would be resting in bed and he could go straight back to his office and work late to catch up on everything. It would be great to see Alex anyway as they had last crossed paths in early September and it was now November.
The car dropped him off on the busy street south-east of the city centre. He had been over for dinner several times and to a couple of raucous parties in the flat Alex had now lived for three years. He had bought the ground floor two bedroomed flat in a nice Edwardian semi-detached villa after he had difficulty finding suitable rented accommodation for his second year of his undergraduate degree. The strange teenager had grown up to be a fine young man, one who knew what he wanted and was forging his own path. Tony's son was tall, fit and handsome. He rang the bell and felt guilty as he had quite forgotten the seriousness of Alex's health problems.
The pretty and petite girlfriend answered the door. Tony had met Alex's first live in girlfriend in September. CC was a choreographer and dance instructor who worked with disabled children. She had short dark hair and slim androgynous figure. Today she looked very stressed. "Good Afternoon, Cecilia. How is Alexander?"
"Alex is still in hospital. I spoke to the ward twenty minutes ago, said he was stable and due to have some more tests. What sort of tests they would not tell me. So,visiting hours aren't till three and when I called, Al could not talk as he was getting examined by the Consultant Cardiologist." The young woman then chided herself, " I'm a one, completely forgetting my manners. Stood here talking in the doorway. Please, come on in Dylan. I guess you're here to visit our sick little bunny. I'll come with you as I need to drop some stuff off for Al as its not just standard overnight stay and getting the OK I expected." She went through to the small kitchen and on autopilot filled and switched on the kettle. Alex drank gallons of tea. "So, what's your poison? Juice, Tea, coffee, wine or something stronger? I think I need a martini myself."
"I would love a glass of wine, but I'll abstain and stick to a cup of tea. Earl Grey if possible. So, you mentioned Alex had a bad reaction to his Epipen. What actually happened?" Dylan asked the million dollar question.
Cecilia paused and took a deep breath. "Alex asked me not to tell you, Tony or Gerard the grizzly details. You asked me directly so here's the bad news. He started wheezing, took his medication as I called for an ambulance. He then started vomiting. The paramedics had arrived, so it was all handled by them. He had a bad reaction to the epinephrin. The air ambulance was called. Alex went into cardiac arrest. They had to shock him to get his heart beating properly again. He's being kept in hospital for tests to check out if he's damaged his heart and for options managing his allergies as another bout of anaphylaxis will probably kill him."
Dylan pulled out the chair by the small kitchen table and sat down.
"Al wanted to tell his Papa himself, face to face. Its your call, but Tony needs to know how bad it was. My stupid pig of a step mother nearly killed Alex because the vegetable soup had to have a spot of cream in it. She knows he's not a vegan by choice, she thought his allergy was like hers to pineapple, just a minor irritation. I have a bit of first aid training, but it scared the shit out of me. I knew it was super serious when the paramedics called the air ambulance. The village will be gossiping about it for months."
The agent decided to see his best friends son first before breaking the bad news to Tony. He remembered back to that awful day when Alex had taken an overdose. This was the reality of Tony's family, he had adopted Alex as a disabled, sick and disturbed teenager. For four years there had been no problems, no dark clouds on the horizon, only a hard working student excelling and becoming a fine young man. It had only been five months since his undergraduate graduation, a First Class Masters degree. Now, a research student on the path to get a doctorate, but now there was a major spanner in the works. Tony was in Chicago filming a TV mini-series. Gerard in New Zealand, visiting his latest production on location. Neither could break their work schedules to look after a very sick young man. Maybe, getting Alex transferred to London was the least problematic answer. Not that that was going to happen, as soon as Tony knew Alex was ill he would move heaven and earth for his son to be with him. All of them had assumed Alex had been fine after getting checked out in hospital, but he wasn't.
…..
Four days in hospital and Alex was going crazy with boredom. He had refused Dylan's instance that he transfer to a private clinic in London. He could tell something was up when Tony had rung him to state he would recuperate in America, while he worked. Tony spoke in the soft direct tones of a parent laying down the law. His research tutor already knew he was off sick and would not be back until the beginning of the Lent Term in the New Year. Six weeks off for something as stupid as ingesting hidden milk products. It was a fait accompli, probably done with everyone's agreement. Even CC, assured Alex it was for the best, considering she worked full time and was self employed.
At eleven, Tony's plan came together as the familiar face of Sergeant Dixon entered the ward. "Morning Alex. You're looking well considering you nearly died on Sunday."
Alex had been briefed on who his travelling companion was to be but still frowned at the man's blunt statement of fact, "Well I was resurrected by a large jolt of electricity, like Frankenstein's monster. Not that I'm unhappy to see you, but we haven't been in touch since you retired."
The forty-something grey haired ex-soldier smiled broadly "Well, Since you last saw me I qualified as a nurse. Your dad has employed me to make sure you're well looked after. More nanny, bodyguard and companion for you, I guess, until you go back to full health and return to uni. So, I have a detailed list of duties and an itinerary to adhere to. I get a holiday in America to boot. Anyway, I get to drive you to Stanstead tomorrow. Your step dad Gerard has arranged a private jet to take us to Chicago. I have cleared it all with both the Cardiologist and the Immunologist. You are officially well enough to travel."
Alex sank back into his bed. "Are you staying at my place tonight?"
"Yes, CC has made up the spare room for me."
Alex was a bit morose as CC was away on a first aid course for the next three days. "Yeah, I was meant to be on placement at GCHQ next week, but that's been rearranged for after Christmas. Six weeks on sick leave for me. My tutor's been great about all this. I have some programming to work on, but without specifics its all theoretical and likely to prove to be unusable in the long run." This blip was putting his research back and had caused havoc to his carefully arranged timetable and set goals. Not helped by his papa was also scheduled for a series of publicity events for his latest movie. It was awards season and Tony had received fantastic reviews and was tipped to be nominated as best supporting actor.
…..
Tony was sat in his hotel bed after a long and tedious night shoot. He really needed to talk to Gerard and the wonders of modern technology allowed him to see his husband face to face to discuss their options over their sick son. "Good Morning Love, How are things in Wellington?"
"Stressful. I have not slept well since we heard about Alex. Thanks for copying me into the email from the cardiologist. I spoke to Alex last night. He told me he's sore, not surprising considering. He has a full check up with the cardiology team in six weeks and needs to rest in the mean time. When he gets to Chicago he shouldn't need any follow up hospital appointments. He's already complaining about the restrictions of no sports and nothing to exert his heart. Everything is treatable in Cambridge. Nothing to prevent Alex continuing his studies. I can understand your concern that it might be better if he goes back into college accommodation, but Alex likes his flat and living with his girlfriend. Employing Mr. Dixon was a particularly brilliant idea on your part, an ex-army drill sergeant will keep Alex grounded and let you finish your filming."
As for eating at friends houses, we have to rationalise this as the only incident in the last five years."
The actor exhaled, "The hard fact is each time Alex has an allergic reaction it is getting worse. At fourteen, milk just made him throw up. It took us a week to realise it was an allergic reaction causing the problem. Until the incident at training in 2005, it was managed. Alex has always been fanatical about what he eats. He still dreams about eating cheese, the stinkier the better. "