Matters of the Heart

Chapter 20

Jesse lay propped up shirtless in his and Abbeys bed as Abbey sat on the edge of the bed facing Jesse. She had changed into a pair of leggings and tank top but still had her stethoscope hanging from her neck.

Abbey took her stethoscope from around her neck and placed it in her ears, then placing the bell on Jesse's chest.

"Ok take some deep breaths for me. Breathe as deep as you can"

Jesse nodded as he breathed as deeply as he could. Abbey moved the bell of the stethoscope around Jesse's chest as she listened to his lungs.

She moved the stethoscope further to the left side of his chest. As Jesse began to take another deep breath, Abbey stopped him and placed her free hand on his bare arm.

"Just breathe normally. I just want to listen to your heartbeat right now"

Jesse watched silently with heavy eyelids as Abbey intently listened to his heart. His eyes were fluttering open and shut as Abbey laid the stethoscope on the bed and started fishing through her bag for some products. She pulled out an alcohol wipe and took it out the package. She straightened one of Jesse's arms out and sterilized the veins in the crook of his elbow. She pulled out a syringe and medicine vial out of her bag and injected the syringe into the vial filling it. She looked up at Jesse. His eyes were fully closed now.

"Jess?"

"Mmm?"

"You're going to feel a little pinch ok?"

"Okay"

She injected the syringe into the vein in his arm. He immediately flinched.

"I know. I know. I'm sorry, almost over"

She began to release the needle from his arm and placed a small guaze pad and medical tape over it.

"All done"

"What was that?

"Adenosine, it's an anti arrthymic. It's going to help put your heart back in its normal rythym. "

Jesse nodded his head, eyes still closed and breathing deeply. Abbey pulled out a small thin package out of her bag along with a pair of gloves. She pulled on the gloves and then ripped open the package revealing a small patch. She pulled the sticky backing off the back of the patch and then placed the patch over Jesse's chest.

" This is going to help with your chest pain."

Jesse slightly moaned

"Thanks"

Abbey took off her gloves and cleaned up the mess off the bed. She rose from the bed but Jesse immediately reached his arm out and placed his hand on her arm.

"Don't leave. Stay with me" he said to her without opening his eyes.

She leaned forward and gently kissed his lips.

"I'm just going to toss this stuff in the trash in the bathroom. I'll be right back I'm not leaving you."

Jesse nodded. Abbey got up and threw the pile in the small trashcan in the bathroom, came back and cleared off the bed. She went back to his side of the bed and sat down facing him. Her right hand reached up and gently cupped his cheek, her thumb gently caressing it. She leaned forward and her left hand ran through his hair. He softly moaned. Abbey leaned forward and softly and lovingly kissed her husband's forehead. His eyes fluttered open. She looked deep into his ocean blue eyes as she continued to stroke his hair. His eyelids began to flutter again, he was struggling to keep them open.

"Honey stop fighting it, just rest"

"I'm sorry, I'm so tired"

"I know you are. Just go on to sleep"

"Stay with me please. Don't leave me"

He reached up and grabbed her hand on his cheek and held it.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here sweetheart. Today was a bad one huh?"

He nodded his head as his breathing started to even out. She removed her hand from his hair and the other from his hand.

"No"

"Jesse sweetie I'm not going anywhere, I just want to listen to your heart again"

"Ok"

Abbey picked up her stethoscope and placed it in her ears and the bell against his chest, and listened to his heart. After a few minutes she removed the stethoscope and laid it aside. She got up from bed and then sat on the edge her back propped up by the head of the bed and her legs stretched out in front of her. Abbey gently nudged Jesse's head to her shoulder and he curled up into her side, slightly moaning.

"It's ok I got you"