Katie's feet padded down the hallway early in the morning as she went looking for food. She walked past the dining table heading for the kitchen where Beth normally helped her make breakfast.
"Hello Gator." She greeted him wiping her eyes.
"Hi Katie. Your mom and grandpa are in the dining room." He said as Beth entered the kitchen.
"Good morning baby." Beth said.
"Morning Mama." Katie said sounding flat. Beth put a hand to her forehead making Katie wince.
"My head hurts." She said trying to push Beth's hand away.
"Let me see." Beth said. Katie turned around to have her back to Beth while she parted her hair and seeing the cut on her head looking very red and inflamed. "Come on let's show Grandpa." They went to the dining room to find Lynelle chatting with John.
"You walked straight passed us Katie." John said. Beth shook her head at him.
"She's not feeling very well. Sore head." Beth told them.
"Let me see." John said, doing the same as Beth. "Might be infected Beth. The vet is here today."
"The vet? She is not a damn horse Dad."
John looked perplexed. "I know but they might be able to help."
"You came to play." Katie said quietly to Lynelle as Beth sat in her place and Katie on John's knee.
"I did. We can play when you're feeling better." Lynelle said having had John fill her in on the past week. Katie nodded and tried some food before pushing it away.
Beth watched her carefully, thinking to herself that this was the sickest she had ever seen Katie. "I might call Rip."
John was surprised, normally Beth was happy to deal with Katie herself unless the situation was too bad.
Beth left the room and called Rip.
"What's going on Beth?"
"I don't know. Katie isn't herself and her head is inflamed and red. She complaining of a sore head."
"Does she have a temp?.."
"I don't think so."
"All right. Well the vet is down here, can you bring her here?"
"Rip she's not an animal."
"Darlin' they're the nearest thing to a doctor we have right now if you're that worried."
"I'm coming now." She said hanging up the phone. She grabbed a blanket off the couch because getting Katie.
"Katie, let's go see Daddy quickly." Katie nodded not saying anything before holding her arms out to be carried. Beth wrapped her up in a blanket like the day she first met Katie and carried her outside to the vet. Rip was already waiting for them both.
"How is she?" He asked. Beth shaking her head passing her to him. "Hi darlin', you ok?"
"No." She told him resting her head on his chest.
"This is Sam. She works with the horses but is going to look at your head cowgirl."
"Hi Katie. You like horses too." Katie nodded affirmative before Sam parted her hair. Beth stood nearby biting one of her nails. Rip put Katie down on the bench for Sam to looks at before moving to Beth's side.
"Beth, let Sam look at her before we start to worry."
"Baby, I'm telling you something is wrong with her."
"I know, ok. Let's just not get to that point before we know." He said. Beth stayed back while Rip spoke to Sam.
"It's definitely infected Rip. She's got a temp too and from what you've told me a pretty low mood. I'd take her to the doc." Sam looked over at Beth. "Probably sooner rather than later Rip." He nodded his thanks before picking Katie up and taking Beth's hand. He passed Katie to her at the car and told her he was going to speak to John.
"Sir. Sorry to interrupt." He started taking his hat off in front of Lynelle and Clara. "We've got to take her to the doc or hospital. I was hoping -."
"It's fine Rip. Go. Update me will you when you know."
"Yes sir." Rip turned on his heel and got in the driver's side.
He drove to the nearest doctor and they waited to be seen.
"Katie.. Dutton-Wheeler?" An elderly man called her name. The three stood and followed in down a corridor in to his office. "What can I do for you?"
"Our daughter was running inside a few days ago and fell backwards hitting her head on a table. There was a cut which we cleaned. She woke this morning not feeling well and it looks quite red." Beth explained.
"Is she behaving like her normal self?" He asked gently.
"No. She is a lot quieter than usual." Rip explained.
"Ok. Let's pop her up here." He pointed to the bed in the room. Rip sat her up there as the doctor looked at her head. He pushed around the cut.
"Ow!" Katie cried out.
"I agree with you both that it does look infected. I'm going to take her temp and do a few other tests." He said before doing so. The doctor made some notes as he went before finally saying. "I'm going to phone the local hospital and advise them you're coming in. Katie is going to need to be seen by the general surgeon and definitely need some antibiotics."
"Right Doc. Can you tell us why she needs to see the surgeon?" Rip asked.
"I'm concerned the infection may run deeper. I'm likely wrong but it is worth having it looked at." The doctor informed them before making a phone call. "They have advised to go to reception when you get there and they'll call the surgeon from there for you."
"Thanks Doc." Rip said as Beth held Katie's hand out of the office.
Rip drove them to the hospital and they were met at reception by the surgeon himself.
"You must be the Dutton-Wheeler's and this must be Katie." He crouched at her height as she lent in to Beth's leg.
"Follow me to the paediatric ward." He said leading them down a hallway to a colourful area with brightly painted rooms with beds in each. He turned in to a baby yellow coloured room and closed the door behind them. "The local doctor is a friend of mine and said it was best I have a look at Katie's head. He's filled me in on what happened."
Beth sat on the bed holding Katie whilst the surgeon look and Rip watched on.
"Hmm, I'm going to take a swab and get the nurses to do some observations. Once I get the results from the lab, I will come and give you a plan."
Beth nodded. "Thanks."
"Make yourselves comfortable." He said before leaving. A young nurse came in shortly after with a bright and cheery demeanour.
"Hi! I'm Sarah, here to do a few little things for the surgeon and then I'll be out of your way!" She said trying to engage Katie. Katie looked between Rip and Beth giving up minimal information. The nurse took some temperatures and further blood tests before looking at Beth and Katie again. "I'm sorry but I'm sure I know you both."
"Ah I don't think we've met." Beth said.
The nurse looked at Katie paperwork, "Oh sorry, you're the Governor's family."
"Yes we are. Thanks for your help." Rip said finality in his tone hinting for the nurse to leave.
Beth sat on the bed with Katie and Rip in the armchair by the bedside. She gave Katie her phone with the children's book app open to play with.
"I can see the nurses walking up and back all looking in." Rip said.
"Let them look." She said right as the surgeon came back in the room.
"I apologise about everyone looking in. I'll be having a word with them. I have the results." Beth and Rip nodded, Katie now engrossed in the book. "There is an infection that the lab picked up and because of her age we won't be able to treat it with oral antibiotics. She will need it through a drip and to stay overnight and possibly a second night."
"Ok. How bad is it?" Rip asked.
"We've caught it early but we need to make sure the infection doesn't travel further around her body. She is probably going to feel quite unwell when the antibiotics start but she should improve after a day."
"Right. Thanks doc." Rip said.
A new nurse entered the room. "This is the nurse in charge, Sandy. I'm going to have her get the antibiotics started. She'll need to put a cannula in Katie's arm too."
"That's fine." Beth said offering a small smile. "Hey baby, look at me for a second." She said to Katie taking the phone away. "This is Sandy, she's going to pop a little thing in your arm to make you feel better. It's probably going to sting for a little bit." Beth told Katie.
Sandy came around the bed, cleaning Katie's arm before putting the cannula in. Katie clenched her jaw but didn't cry out. "That was very brave Katie." Sandy told her hooking up the antibiotics. Any troubles, ring the buzzer." She told Beth and Rip before leaving the three alone.
Rip sat down with a sigh. Katie lay on the bed while Beth stroked her hair.
"I'll call your Dad and let him know Beth."
"Thank you baby."
Rip left the room to phone John in the hallways. He answered the phone on the second ring seeing it was Rip.
"What is happening Rip?"
"We're at the hospital and we've seen the surgeon. They've got her on an IV for tonight possibly tomorrow night too."
"Jesus Christ. Need anything?"
"We should be right. I won't be home tonight Sir."
"That's fine Rip." John said before hanging up.
Rip looked around and noticed a lot of nurses watching him, he looked down the hallway and saw a vending machine. He paid for a juice for Beth and some potato chips.
"How's it going?" He asked entering the room and putting down the stuff from the vending machine.
Beth let out a breath of air she was holding. "She's sleeping."
"Good. Come sit here." He said sitting in the armchair and pulling her on to his lap. "Close your eyes. I'm watching her." He told Beth, keeping on hand on Katie's back.
He watched Katie breath as she slept and the drip as it did it's work. Beth sleeping on his chest. The hours passed and Katie didn't wake. Beth woke went it got dark outside.
"She's still sleeping." She commented. Rip nodded.
"Hasn't stirred." Beth yawned and stretched.
"I'm going to go for a walk. Are you ok with her?" Beth asked.
"Yeah go Beth. I got it."
Beth closed the door quietly behind her and headed for some fresh air and a smoke. Rip stretched before turning on the tv and turning the volume down low.
The beeping of the machines Katie was hooked up to suddenly got louder and the pace quicker. Rip looked over and noticed Katie shaking in the bed. He hit the emergency button on the wall sounding an alarm. "Come on kid, wake up." He said holding her.
Doctors and nurses rushed in to the room.
"Sir you need to get out. Now!" A young man in a white coat said.
"No. That's my kid." The nurse, Sandy, took him by the arm and led him outside the room.
"I know it's hard to watch Rip. You need to let us do our job so you can keep doing yours as her Dad."
"All right, all right." He said as she went back in the room and closed the door. He watched from the window when Beth entered the ward.
"Rip? What's going on?" She said picking up her pace.
"I don't know Beth. She was shaking and the machines beeping and I couldn't wake her. Doctors and nurses are in there and we are allowed right now." He told her.
Beth peered in the room and saw the doctors working on her girl. She closed her eyes and let out a sob as Rip held her. He stroked her hair, "It's going to be ok. Our girl is tough."
Nurses on the floor watched their interaction, feeling for the parents not knowing what was going on with their child.
"I wonder if the Governor will come?" A young nurse asked her colleague. Rip overheard and turned around glaring at them.
Sandy came out of the room. "She's ok, it appears that she had a reaction to the medication so we've changed the antibiotics. She's asking for you both." She smiled at them, squeezing Beth's arm gently as she left. The rest of the medical team left the room.
"Hi baby." Beth said to Katie as she sat up in the bed.
"Hi cowgirl."
"I'm hungry." She said.
Beth laughed. "I've never been so glad to hear you say that."
Rip opened the chips he bought earlier putting them on the bed for her to eat.
"I guess she's feeling a bit better." Rip commented. They two got on the bed with Katie and settle in for the night.
"Can we go home now?"
"No baby. You need the medicine so your head can get better."
"Hmm. I guess." She said snuggling down in the hospital covers.
Beth and Rip both woke early the next morning, Katie sleeping between them both. Beth's phone buzzed next to her. She read the message on the screen.
"Dad is going to come in and bring a few things for Katie."
Rip nodded, stretching his back. He checked his watch, "I'm going to get an update."
He approached the nurses desk. "Don't you go home Sandy?" He said with a chuckle.
"No rest for the wicked don't they say. I'm guessing you're here for an update?" Rip nodded. Sandy opened Katie's file reading the latest update. "So they antibiotics should finish today and they would like to run some further bloods and do a head CT scan."
"Thanks Sandy." He said leaving her to her work. He let Beth know as she helped Katie with breakfast.
John arrived with Lynelle a few hours later as Sandy was removing the cannula from Katie's arm.
"Hello!" Katie said with more energy than the previous day.
"She looks much better honey. You look tired yourself." John commented to Beth. She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah well she wasn't in a good way last night." Beth told them both, filling them in. Lynelle and John sat down listening to what Beth had told them, looking at Katie a now completely different child to what Beth was describing.
The surgeon from the day before knocked before entering the room.
"Hello everyone. I'm just here to see how things are before we go for the head CT scan." He said.
"She's doing a lot better now." Beth said. The surgeon crouched to Katie's height and spoke with her before giving the all clear.
"We need the CT and if that is fine, I'm happy to discharge you. I'll get Sandy to bring a wheelchair."
"I can walk!" Katie said.
"It's a long way to the special machine. If you're sure you can then you can walk it." He told her.
"I can." She said indignantly.
"I'll see you there." The surgeon said before leaving the room.
"Thanks Doc." John said.
Sandy brought in a children's hospital gown for Beth to put on Katie before taking them down to the medical imaging department. Heads turned in the corridor as the Governor and Senator Perry followed Rip and Beth.
"It is a big walk!" Katie said slowing down.
"I think you got a bit too excited cowgirl. Come here." Rip said scooping her up and carrying her the rest of the way.
Rip took Katie in to the machine with Sandy and stayed with her whilst Beth, John and Lynelle sat on the plastic chairs outside.
"How you doing honey?" John asked.
"Fucking great." She said sarcastically.
"You know Beth. Once when you weren't much older than Katie you were so excited to see my after the branding that you ran up to everyone before they got off their horses. One of the cowboys didn't see you as he got off his horse and his boot got you in the head and you fell." Both Beth and Lynelle listened.
John continued. "You feel forward and hit your head too. Your mother was furious at me for not watching you. But we ended up here and you went into that room and had scans too. I remember sitting here and just hoping that you would be ok."
"I don't remember that."
"I know you don't. I'm trying to tell you Beth that I have been through what you're going through." He squeezed her hand as they sat and waited.
"I'm all done Mama." Katie said coming out of the room. "Why you look sad?"
"I'm not sad Katie, I was just worried about you." Beth told her.
"You don't have to worry Mama. I'm ok."
Beth closed her eyes briefly. "I'm glad you are."
Sandy's pager went off. "The surgeon is coming to come down now to review the images himself."
Twenty minutes later he greeted them giving them all the ok to go home. Sandy brought there belongings from the room before they left.
"The scan showed that the skull and brain weren't affected by the infection or either antibiotic. Keep an eye on her and if possible not do too much over the next two days. Make sure the wound stays clean and keep it dry for two days with the dressing on it. Then it's fine to do everything as normal and change the dressing every second day."
"So she's ok."
"She'll be fine. You're both doing a great job with her." He said before leaving.
Rip carried the clothes Katie had on the previous day while Beth held her hand out to the truck.
"I got you a car. Figured you both might be too tired for the drive back?" John said, pointing to the government car across the road.
Rip nodded slowly. "Thanks."
"Someone will drive the truck back." John said getting in to the other car with Lynelle.
"Are you staying Lynelle?" Katie asked.
"We haven't been able to play yet, I'll stay tonight." She told Katie before leaving.