Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Twenty-One

When Rhett walked into the room, Scarlett was on his side of the bed. She was practically in the same position she was in when he left her. When his body started to respond he said out loud, "Get a grip man. You are a forty-two-year-old man who should have better control of his body than you do." Rhett smiled and continued his statement, "But what a body your wife has. Scarlett."

Scarlett rolled over more into Rhett's spot. He knew she could roll herself over a little bit but not completely. She just didn't have the arm strength. He said, "Scarlett, wake up. I have your breakfast."

As Rhett set the breakfast tray on her vanity, he heard a muffled voice say, "Just set it down and go away."

"You have to get up."

In a still muffled voice, Scarlett said, "Rhett?"

"Yes."

"Turn me over and give me my breakfast."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Scarlett scowled at Rhett even while he was turning her over. Once she was on her back, she said, "What did Fran make me?"

"It looks like an egg and a piece of bacon."

"Is that all? I need more than that at a normal time, but now I'm eating for two."

"Toast and a sweet roll." Scarlett craned her neck trying to see what was on the breakfast tray. Rhett added, "And orange juice."

"Let me have it."

Rhett set down the tray in front of her and said, "Do you always have breakfast in bed?"

With food in her mouth, Scarlett said, "No, I eat the messy stuff then I get up and start getting dressed."

"I would like for you to be ready when Dr. Harrison gets here. I would like for us to meet him in the parlor."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I have always seen a doctor either in his office or in my bedroom."

"It is time to try something new."

Scarlett looked at Rhett. He had his mask on so that didn't tell her anything, but yet there was something there that she knew she should be aware of, but she wasn't. In a moment of wisdom, she decided not to fight him on the point. In truth, it didn't really matter where the doctor saw her. She smiled and said, "Go ring the bell and get Prissy in here to help me get ready."

"I will help you."

Scarlett stared at Rhett. The last time he helped her get dressed was the night of Ashley's birthday party and her mind just pushed that memory away. The last time before that was in New Orleans when he had still been her friend. Maybe, just maybe, she could get Rhett back as her friend. She said, "Of course. You will need to go to the back of the changing room and get another one of my maternity dresses. Because of my ribs I can't tighten up my corset."

"Maybe you shouldn't even wear a corset. You should wear stays. You can tighten those up yourself."

"No, it is alright. I am wearing a maternity corset so I can loosen it accordingly. Go tell Mammy to come help me change my strips."

"I will do it."

"No, Rhett, you can't see me naked."

Rhett started to argue with Scarlett and decided that he could not handle her standing in front of him naked. He said, "I will tell her then go wait in the parlor."

"No, come back in about thirty minutes. I feel safer when you help me down the stairs."

"Certainly, my dear."

"I will finish my breakfast while I wait on Mammy."

Rhett left the room. Thirty minutes later he had returned, and he was helping her down the stairs. When they were settled in the parlor, she said, "What time did the doctor say he would be here?"

"He said he would just drop by."

"Would you read the paper to me while we wait?"

"Certainly. When did you start reading the newspaper?"

"These last three months. While I am trying to save my reputation, I can't spend time with the Yankees and Scallawags. Reading the paper passed the time."

About an hour later just about the time that Rhett had exhausted the newspaper, Pork announced, "Dr. Harrison is here."

"Thank you. See him in."

As Dr. Harrison walked in the parlor, he did not waste time on small talk. He simply said, "How does your head feel?"

"Not that bad. There are even moments when it doesn't hurt at all."

"May I feel your head?"

"Yes."

As Greg was feeling Scarlett's head, he said, "Your bumps are not larger. In fact, I think they are smaller."

Rhett said, "That is great."

Dr. Harrison said, "Let me ask you some of my questions. Have you been nauseated?"

"No."

"Problems talking?"

"No."

"Dizziness?"

"Not really."

"Blurred vision?"

"No."

"How about ringing in your ears?"

"No."

"A bad taste in your mouth?"

"Not anymore."

"Any change in your sense of smell?"

"No."

"What about a sensitivity to light?"

"No."

"Sound?"

"No."

"Are you still having problems thinking straight?"

"Not really." Scarlett smiled at Rhett, and he smiled back. She continued, "Rhett is helping me keep everything straight."

"Are you having problems concentrating?"

"No."

"Do you think you remember everything that has happened since the last time I was here?"

With a quick look at Rhett, Scarlett said, "Sort of. Rhett will be talking about something, and I won't know what he is talking about. Of course, that really isn't unusual. I am often confused by what Rhett says." With a look at her husband, Scarlett whispered, "He is too smart for his own good."

Greg smiled and said, "Go on."

"All of the sudden, I know what he is talking about."

"You just remember what he is saying?" Scarlett nodded her head. Greg said, "Make a note of any time you don't remember. You should keep a journal of these incidents so you can share with me when I come back."

"Alright."

"Mood swings?"

Rhett answered, "That is the same as it always has been."

Scarlett scowled. Greg went on. He said, "Are you sad or nervous?"

"No."

"Are you still not having trouble sleeping?"

"No, not at all. I go right to sleep."

Greg said, "What about your ribs?"

"They still hurt, but not as much. Do I have to keep wrapping them?"

"If you don't feel better with them wrapped then don't wrap them. You seemed to be healing quite nicely. I will continue to keep an eye on you for the next several months. Do you have any questions?"

"When will all my bruises be gone?"

Greg looked at Scarlett. He said, "The ones I can see have all turned yellow which means they are almost completely healed. Once they turned tan, they are hours away from disappearing."

"It will be nice to not see the bruises when I look in the mirror."

"Or when I look at you." Scarlett scowled. Rhett continued, "What?"

Greg looked at the ground then at Rhett then back at the ground. Finally, he said to Rhett, "Will you leave us? I need to ask Mrs. Butler some extremely personal questions."

"No! Whatever you have to ask Scarlett you can ask in front of me."

Scarlett pleaded, "Rhett."

"No, go ahead Dr. Harrison."

"Very well." While looking straight at Scarlett, Greg said, "Mrs. Butler, your husband said you were with child."

"Yes."

"There is a way to relieve your pain during labor if you are interested."

"Definitely."

There was a knock on the door, and everyone turned to look at the door. Rhett said, "Come in."

Pork opened the door and while looking at Rhett said, "Dr. Meade is here."

Rhett turned to Scarlett and Greg and said, "I will get rid of him. Don't talk about anything until I get back."

After Rhett had left the room, there was an uncomfortable silence. Finally, Scarlett said, "You can relieve the pain of labor?"

"Yes, but I will explain everything after your husband gets back.

"Of course." Scarlett sighed. Then she thought, 'If Rhett is going to get rid of Dr. Meade, who is going to take the stitches out of my arm.' She continued, "Can you remove these sutures?"

"Yes, I can, but…"

"Rhett doesn't care about this. He only cares about something that might affect his baby."

"Let me look at the wound." Scarlett showed him the wound. Greg said, "Those stitches are ready to come out. Let me get my scissors."

Greg returned with his bag and got his scissors out. He said, "My father gave these to me when I graduated from medical school."

"He must have been proud of you."

"No, he thought I should become a plumber."

"A what?"

"A plumber. It is a man who deals with pipes. With everyone going to indoor plumbing my father was sure I could make a fortune at that trade."

"You probably could."

"I decided to become a poor country doctor instead."

Scarlett and Greg laughed. Rhett walked in while they were laughing. He said, "What is so funny?"

Scarlett smiled and said, "You would have to have been here. Was Dr. Meade mad?"

"Let's just say we aren't going to be invited to Christmas dinner with the Meades this year."

Scarlett laughed and said, "No big deal. We probably weren't going to be invited anyway."

Rhett grinned back and said, "Probably not. What were you saying about relieving Scarlett's pain during labor?"

"There is a new thought process going around. To administer the mother an anesthetic. Some doctors have given the mother – ether or chloroform. Most doctors use chloroform because it doesn't smell as bad. As I understand it the woman is awake the entire time and there is still pain, but it is not as acute as it is without it. Queen Victoria used it for her last three children. "

Rhett said, "How does this affect the baby?"

"I have not read anything from the literature saying it has had any negative effect on the baby at all."

"Have you done this before?"

"I have given a woman in labor chloroform a couple of times, but I have administered ether and chloroform to my patients while preforming surgery on them scads of times."

"We will let you know."

"Yes, Mr. Butler."

"Are you finished examining my wife?"

"Yes, come see me next week, Mrs. Butler."

"I will come see you after all the bruises have healed from my face."

Greg started to open his mouth to argue with Mrs. Butler about her coming sooner than that. He changed his mind and said, "I will be back next week. I want to be sure you are progressing nicely."

Rhett who had not sat down said, "Let me show you out."

"Certainly."

Rhett turned to Scarlett and said, "I will help you back upstairs when I get back."

"I think I am going to sit right here for a while. Oh, Dr. Harrison…"

"Yes?"

"When can I read again?"

"You can read again as long as it doesn't give you a headache."

"Thank you."

Rhett walked Greg to the front door. As he opened the door for the other man, he said, "Is there anyone who knows more about head injuries than you do?"

With a smile, Greg said, "Probably thousands of people." He smiled then added, "If you are still concerned about Mrs. Butler, take her to the teaching hospital in New York. There is a doctor there who has done a lot of research in regard to the brain. His name is Ben Casey."

Rhett smiled and said, "Thank you. Send me a bill."

"Yes, sir."

Rhett went back to the parlor and said, "I will think about it."

"Yes, Rhett, but it really hurts."

"I suppose you would be more willing to have more children if labor didn't hurt as much."

"Yes, Rhett."

"I want what is best for the baby."

"I do too."

As Rhett left the room, sadly Scarlett thought, 'What about what is best for me?'