“Kenin!” The alarmed shout brought the doctor running from the exam room that she had been cleaning. It was after hours, but the nurse that normally stayed around had had to leave early, so Kenin was closing up the clinic tonight.

“Chris?” She recognized the voice and it made her blood run cold. As she came into the waiting room, she was nearly run over by the sheriff. He had Drew cradled in his arms.

“This way,” she said without a second look. She turned back to the room she had just cleaned. “Put her there.” She pointed to a bed. “You´ll have to help. My nurse has gone.”

As he put Drew down, Chris began to talk. “I was seeing her home after work,” he said. “She didn´t look good, and then she collapsed.”

Kenin nodded. A quick glance showed Drew to be flushed and dry. As she touched the girl, she noticed that her skin felt warm. “Drew, hon?”

The young woman looked up at her and blinked. “Huh?,” she mumbled weakly. “I don´t feel too good.”

“Let me take a look,” Kenin said, brushing Drew´s hair back. “Can you get her temperature for me?” she asked Chris.

The man nodded and picked up the electronic thermometer while Kenin took the girl´s vitals.

“One hundred point one,” Chris said, setting the thermometer aside.

“Her pulse is fast, but her pressure is fine,” Kenin added. “Drew, honey, can you hear me?”

“Uh huh.”

“Have you been sick lately?”

“Uh huh.”

“How long, Drew? I need you to try to talk to me.”

“Days...” The girl curled up.

Kenin put oxygen and the heart monitor on her, then turned to Chris. “Get an ambulance headed this way,” she said quietly. “And get hold of Buck and Ezra.”

Chris nodded. “What is it?”

“I´m not sure yet.” Kenin turned back to her charge as Chris went to make the calls.

“Have you been taking care of yourself? Eating well and drinking water?”

Drew looked up and shook her head. “Buck´s been trying...”

“Have you eaten today?” Kenin asked. While she waited for an answer she started setting up an IV.

“Had some coke.” The girl grinned weakly.

Kenin shot her a look and saw Drew cringe. “Consider that your lecture, since you know the routine.” She watched the girl nod as she came back to the bed side. “I´m going to start an IV, then we´ll get you to the hospital in Ajo, where they can do more tests.”

+++++

Chris dialed the private number for the station, and JD answered. “Hi, JD,” Chris said, his voice calm. “Yeah...yeah...Listen, JD, is Ezra there?...Can you ask him to come by the clinic?...Just ask him, JD. Thanks. And get hold of Buck, ask him to come by as soon as he can. And call Nathan, see if he can come in early...Thanks, JD.”

Chris hung up and started to pace across the waiting room. He hated waiting, but before long, he saw Ezra pull up, and stepped out to meet him.

“Chris. Is there trouble? Is Dr. Darnell all right?”

“She´s fine, Ezra.” Chris put a hand on Ezra´s shoulder. “Ezra, Drew coll...” As he´d expected, the other man started to push past him.

“What about her? Where is she? Is she all right? Let me by.”

“No. Ezra,” Chris said firmly. “She´s in good hands. Kenin is checking her. You can see her, but you can´t just go bursting in...”

“I can do as I like!” Ezra backed from Chris´ restraining touch and started around him.

“Ezra!” The sharp shout stopped him. “Don´t get in the way.

Ezra looked up at him, his eyes betraying his fear, and nodded. He pushed open the door and walked into the clinic. Chris sighed and waited for Buck. +++

“Drew?”

Kenin glanced up and saw Ezra standing in the doorway. She smiled. “Can you tear some tape for me?” she asked, nodding toward the tray next to the bed. She hooked up the IV she had just started and set aside the glucometer.

Ezra nodded, approaching slowly.

“Hi,” Drew said, grinning weakly.

Ezra smiled. “What are you doing here?”

“Just bored,” the girl replied.

Ezra tore strips of tape that he handed to Kenin, then took Drew´s free hand. “What´s wrong with her?”

“I don´t know yet,” Kenin replied with a smile. “She looks stable right now, but I´ve called an ambulance to take her to Ajo.” She went over to the counter and allowed Ezra to move closer to the bed. A quick glance at the glucometer and she knew what the problem was. She started to say something when a quiet roar cut her off.

“What the hell?” Buck strode into the room, nearly pushing Ezra aside as he tried to get to Drew. “Why didn´t you tell me?” he growled to Chris.

“Because I didn´t want you to come storming in here.”

“She´s my wife! I had a right...”

“Buck...” Drew squeezed his hand, drawing his attention.

“How are you, Sunshine?” he asked, gently caressing her face.

“Okay,” she whispered.

Buck smiled, then glanced at Kenin. “What´s wrong with her, Doc?” he asked.

Kenin sighed and walked to the bed side. “Her blood sugar is elevated, indicating gestational diabetes.” She smiled and adjusted the IV flow. “That´s diabetes associated with pregnancy. It´s usually easily controlled, and if she takes care of herself,” she raised an eyebrow at the young woman, “doesn´t pose any complications. I still want her to go into Ajo.”

“Whatever you think is best, Doc,” Buck said, holding Drew´s hand. Ezra nodded in agreement.

“It really is quite routine,” Kenin said with a reassuring grin. “Once they get the sugar under control, everything should be fine. But someone is going to have to see that she takes care of herself.”

Drew groaned. She wasn´t so sick that she didn´t know what had just been said, and that there was a whole passel of ‘someones´ to look after her.

++++++++

“Where is my daughter?” Maude demanded as she entered the waiting area. “And just who is this Doctor Darnell?”

Ezra jumped from his chair and intercepted his mother before Chris could reach her. Trina, who had been called by Ezra, stood beside him and gripped his hand. “Mother, Drew is fine,” Ezra cajoled.

“Where is she? I´m her mother. Why wasn´t I notified sooner?”

“Because she doesn´t need your attitude,” Chris growled.

Maude gave him an injured look. “I don´t know what you mean,” she said innocently. “She´s my baby, and she shouldn´t be alone at a time like this.”

“She isn´t alone, Mother. Buck...”

“That lout?” Maude nearly screeched. She turned and stormed into the main emergency area, followed by the two men.

“I demand to see my daughter,” she shouted to the first nurse she saw. “Where is Drew Standish?”

Trina bristled, but turned her attention from the woman and headed toward Drew´s room.

Buck heard the commotion and winced. It was hard not to hear, and he glanced at Drew, who had until now been sleeping.

“Buck?”

“I´m here, Sunshine,” he murmured, squeezing her hand. He hid his seething well for her sake.

“I´ll take care of it,” Kenin said, rising from the bedside chair.

“Thanks, Doc.” Buck looked up as Trina came in, smiling apologetically.

“Maude´s here,” she explained with a shrug.

“I figured as much,” Buck grumbled as Trina went to the other side of Drew´s bed.

“Dinna worry about it, Drew,” she said, pushing hair from her friend´s face.

Drew smiled wearily and nodded.

++

Kenin stormed into the hall. She confronted the irate woman, her hands on her hips. “What is this about?” she asked calmly.

“I want to see my daughter,” Maude snarled.

“I´m afraid we have a policy of only one visitor per patient, and she has someone with her.”

“I suppose you´re referring to that womanizing cradle robber Buck Wilmington?” Maude turned to Chris. “I want him arrested for rape.”

Chris snarled and held Ezra back even as he moved to face Maude. “You listen, and you listen good,” he growled. “Buck has been taken with that girl since he first saw her. He is devoted to her and only has eyes for her. And Drew is an adult and can make her own decisions. If you don´t stop right now, I *will* have you arrested.”

Maude sputtered but remained silent. Finally, she snapped, “I´m contacting my lawyer,” then spun on her heel and marched out.

“You do that, Mother,” Ezra sighed. He glanced at Chris and nodded gratefully.

“Drew´s private doctor has agreed to let her go home as long as one of you stays with her for the next forty eight hours, and I check on her regularly. It would probably be best if I spend the night at their place.” Kenin smiled. “But she´s going to be fine and the baby is okay.”

“Thank god,” Ezra sighed.

Chris grinned and hugged Kenin. “I knew I loved you for a reason,” he whispered in her ear.

“Yes, well, we´ll see,” Kenin chuckled. “Well, gentlemen, shall we get the young lady home?”

.