| Chapter 62 Brian and Tara walked into Nick's room. Lyn and Nick were both asleep. Lyn was in the chair next to the bed, she had dropped the rail on that side, and she and Nick were holding hands. Brian and Tara looked at each other and smiled. "So, she does sleep," Brian whispered. "Yeah, and she needs it too," Tara said. Brian walked over to the other side of the bed and checked on Nick. He reached down and put his hand on Nick's forehead, he was burning up. "Tara, look and see when someone checked his temperature last," Brian said. Tara walked over to the chart and looked, "An hour ago, it was 101." Brian headed for the door, "I'm gonna go see if someone will come and check it again, he feels awfully hot." Brian left the room and Tara walked over to the bed. She touched Nick's arm, suddenly she saw Nick in the water. He wasn't swimming, but sinking. Then she saw Lyn, searching for him. Tara pulled her hand back, tears welling up in her eyes. Was she seeing what had happened, or was she seeing his dreams? She didn't know, but it scared her just the same. Brian came in with a nurse. The nurse proceeded to take Nick's temperature. "What's wrong?" Brian asked, seeing that Tara was upset. She wiped the tears from her eyes, "I'll tell you later." The nurse was writing on the chart. "What is it?" Brian asked. She looked at him, "It's 103.6, I'm going to call the doctor right now." They both watched as the nurse left the room. "I thought he was getting better," Brian said. Tara walked over to the chair Lyn was in and shook her arm, "Lyn, wake up." Lyn opened her eyes and looked at Tara, "What's wrong?" "Nick's fever is really high, the nurse just went to call your uncle," Tara answered. Lyn looked over at Nick, "Not again." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kira woke up to the phone ringing. She reached over and grabbed it, "Hello." "Kira, hey it's Kevin, is Howie around?" he asked. Kira looked around Nick's bedroom, Howie wasn't there. "Um, hang on Kev," she said getting up and walking into the hall. She went downstairs, through the living room and into the kitchen, still no Howie. She looked out on the patio, there he was. Kira opened the door, "Howie, Kevin is on the phone." He got up and came in, taking the phone in the kitchen, "Hey Kev, what's up?" "Hey D, I didn't interrupt anything did I?" Kevin asked smiling. "Naw, I was on the patio," Howie answered. "Good, well Brian called last night, but it was so late I decided to wait until this morning to call everyone," Kevin said. "Oh, how's Nick doing?" Howie asked concerned. "Brian said he was doing a little better. The doc took him off the ventilator, so that's good," Kevin said. "Yeah, did he say when they might be coming back?" Howie asked. "No, he sounded tired though, and I kinda got the impression he wasn't telling me everything," Kevin said. "I don't guess he said anything about us coming up there either?" Howie asked. "No, he said he'd call again in a day or so. Maybe he'll know more by then," Kevin said. "OK man, let us know when you find out," Howie said. "Alright D, talk to ya later," Kevin said. Howie hung up the phone and looked at Kira. "Nick's not doing well?" she asked. "Brian said the doc took him off the ventilator, but didn't say much more," Howie said. Kira walked over and hugged him, "I know you're worried." Howie held her for a long time, "Yeah, I just feel like I should be doing something more for him." Kira looked at him, "You're taking care of his house, just like he asked you. Until you hear something else, there's really nothing more you can do." "I know," Howie said looking out the patio doors. "You wanna go out and sit for a while?" Kira asked. "Yeah, it's nice out. I woke up early and couldn't sleep, so I came out and watched the sun rise," he said. Kira followed him out the door, and they sat down next to each other. She knew he was worried about Nick, he hadn't slept a whole night almost since Nick had left. She reached over and took his hand in hers, and together they watched the clouds roll by. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ted came through the door and headed straight for Nick. Brian, Tara, and Lyn stepped to the other side of the room to get out of the way. Ted examined Nick, and gave several instructions to the nurse. She left the room and Ted walked over. "Guys, his infection is really getting the best of him right now. We're gonna try and get his fever down, but it may take a while," he said. "Can we do anything to help," Lyn asked. "Yeah, I'll need you to help when the nurse gets back. We're gonna put him in ice, I know it sounds crude, but it's the most effective way of getting the body temperature down in a hurry," Ted said. The nurse came back with a couple orderlies. They moved Nick from the bed, to a special gurney they had brought in. It had sides on it to keep the ice in. Then they wrapped him from head to toe in a sheet. Another orderly came in with a large ice machine, and several scoops. "OK guys, put alot of ice around his head and chest," Ted said. Everyone grabbed a scoop and went to work. Ten minutes later they had used all the ice, and one of the orderlies had gone to find another ice machine. Nick almost looked like a mummy, wrapped in the sheet with piles of ice around him. Ted kept an eye on him, he had started to shiver a little, but his skin was still hot to the touch. The ice was melting faster than Brian thought it should be. "Doc, how long can we do this?" Brian asked. Ted looked at him, "Until he wakes up, or his fever goes down." "Why until he wakes up?" Lyn asked. "Cause this would be very miserable if he was awake. He would feel like his skin was on fire, I wouldn't leave him in this if he woke up," Ted said. "Doc, what if this doesn't work, then what?" Tara asked. Ted looked at her, "Pray that it works, cause there is nothing else." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hello, Gary?" Leighanne said picking up the phone. "No Lee, it's Kevin," he said frowning. "Oh Kev, how's Nick, have you heard?" she asked. "Yeah, Brian called last night. He said he's off the ventilator, and that he slept most of the day yesterday," Kevin said. "He was on a ventilator? No one told me that," Leighanne said. "Yeah he was, but I guess he's better so they took him off," Kevin said, "Lee, umm, where you expecting someone else to call?" "Oh, yeah, Gary, we're going to the premiere together," she said. "That's tonight?" Kevin asked. "Yeah, and I'm a nervous wreck," Leighanne said. "Oh, don't worry. It'll be great," Kevin said. Leighanne smiled, Kevin was still like her big brother, "Thanks." "Lee, I am kinda worried about something," he said. "Oh, what's that?" she asked. "Are you umm, well, are you back with him?" Kevin asked. "Gary?" she asked. "Yeah, are you two seeing each other again?" Kevin asked. "Well, kinda, yeah," Leighanne said. "Do you think that's wise?" he asked. Leighanne sighed, "Kevin, he's not the same person he was when everything happened." "I know, that's what Brian told us, but you're really sure about him?" Kevin asked. "Yes Kevin I am. He's a totally different person now. He's kind and considerate, and loving and compassionate....," she said. "Whoa, hold on. It sounds like you're in love with this guy," Kevin said. Leighanne smiled, "I am." Kevin was silent for a moment, "Lee, you know you're like my little sis, right?" "Yeah," she said. "As long as you're happy, I'm happy, but if he ever hurts you, I'll hunt him down and ..." Kevin said. "I know," Leighanne laughed, "I know. Don't worry. I'm very happy." "OK, well then I guess I'll let you go. Have a great time at the premiere, and I'll call when I get more news," Kevin said. "Alright Kev, and thanks," she said. "No problem Lee, that's what big brothers are for," he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A couple of hours and four ice machines later, Nick's fever finally broke. The nurses and Ted were in the room getting him dried off and settled. Lyn, Brian, and Tara were in the hall, waiting. They were all rubbing their hands, trying to get the feeling back in them from being in the ice so long. Ted stuck his head out the door and motioned for them to come back in. Nick was still asleep, but back in his bed. His hair was still wet, and pretty messed up. They all gathered around the bed. "Uncle Ted, how long before he wakes up?" Lyn asked. "I don't know honey. He needs all the sleep he can get though," Ted said. "Doc, his fever is gone right?" Tara asked. "Yes, for now it is. I'm hoping this was the worst of it, and it won't come back, but we'll keep a close eye on it," Ted said. "Doc, I've heard with fevers as high as his, that it could do some brain damage. Is that true?" Brian asked. "It could yes, especially in adults. We won't know until he wakes up," Ted answered. Lyn reached down and took his hand in hers. His fingers were cold. "What do we do now?" she asked. Tara looked at her, "The only thing we can, pray." Chapter 63 |