trusting unknowns

chapter sixteen

Luke's POV

     I was sitting in Ashton's office going over some scans trying to help him figure out a diagnosis for his patient.

" I want to say anaphylaxis but her symptoms confuse me," he said looking at them

" Maybe we should test for-" before I could finish my sentence Nick or Noah ran into the room. He and Riley both insisted on jokingly calling each other their middle names making everyone confused.

" Avery was sleeping when I walked in so I woke her up and she's shaking and her voice sounds all sick. I asked her if she felt okay and she said no." he blurted out quickly

I turned to face Ashton making eye contact with him seeing the same worried face I probably had right now. We ran into Calum's office paging Calum and Michael on the way.

I opened the door to Calum's office seeing Riles laying on his office couch. I bent down to her with Ash behind me. Her eyes were halfway open floating between awake and asleep.

" Riles can you give me some symptoms," I said rubbing her back

" cold" she mumbled out her voice sounding raspy

" Does your throat hurt?" Ashton asked her

she nodded and pointed to her head trying to tell us she had pain there too.

" do you feel out of breath," I asked afraid of phenomena

she shook her head making us slightly relieved.

" We got to get a room to exam her" Ashton said I nodded

" Can you walk or do you want me to carry you?"

She opened her arms telling me she wanted me to carry her. I picked her up and she rested her head against my shoulder.

I paged Chole letting her know what was happening, she came to get Nick he seemed a little freaked out after what happened.

We brought her all the way to the ER and put her into an open bed sitting up so we could examine her. Her face was pale and flushed. Ashton and I quickly threw on gloves and started checking her.

" Okay pretty girl temperature first," Ashton said putting the thermometer on her forehead

" 101" he readout

" Okay so let's get something to bring that fever down then we can get you some pain meds okay"

she nodded staying quiet, which was another signal she did not feel like herself.

" Have you shared any food or drink with anyone?" I asked

she shook her head

" What happened," Micheal said running into the room with Calum not far behind

" Fever of 101, headache and throat pain, she's only semi responsive " I explained

Micheal came over and hugged Riley bringing her into his arms as she rested her head on his shoulder. Just as we started to continue the chief walked in giving us all looks

" Is everything alright over here?" he asked

" Riley's not feeling too well, just got to run some tests," I said trying to drive him away so we could finish in privacy

" Sorry to hear that unfortunately, Hemmings you know you can't treat family. I've paged Dr. Murphy for you"

That idiot was not touching my daughter. Ashton made the same look towards me knowing his reputation.

" Sir, we are not comfortable with that," I said sternly and purely annoyed

" Well, then get comfortable because that girl needs a doctor and you need a job" he turned and left

I swear I could have flipped my shit right there but I kept it together, it was not what Riley needed right now. I pulled her into my arms hearing her soft cries

" Another doctor is going to look at you, we will be here the whole time there is nothing to be afraid,of" I said rubbing her back trying to bring the stress out of the situation. She nodded into my chest and we stayed hugging until Murphy arrived.

" Oh great, the peanut galley nice to see you all. "

" Patient is Riley Hemmings, 14 last update was a moderate fever" he read out to the nurse behind him

" Hi Riley, I am going to give you some medicine through an IV" Her head reminded on my shoulder until he spoke those words I knew she hated needles

" no please can you do it?" she said looking at me as her breathing increased, and tears falling. I wanted to so badly but I knew I couldn't

" I'm sorry Riles, I'll hug you the whole time" I offered trying to calm her down

" Just a pinch" Murphy said basically ignoring her

She jolted away from his touch

" You cannot insert it now in her current condition are you trying to give her a panic attack?" Calum said moving towards him

" Nurse, could I get a sedative please"

And as expected his request only made Riley more terrified, Calum fought him on it trying to explain making her pass out won't fix anything which is a hundred percent correct but he would not budge. She cried in my arms as I tried to make her anxiety subside

He took her free arm quickly inserting the sedative. She slowly became weaker in my arms as she fought it.

" shh everything is okay, I'll be here till you wake up" I reassured her till her brown eyes finally closed.

When she was unable to fight he brought the needle to her vein setting up the IV and getting her meds. He continued on with his exam after Calum and Ashton spoke to him outside, I could hear their yelling from the room.

He started checking her eyes, nose and with a small flashlight until he reached her mouth

" i've got some swelling here"

I want a strep culture and mononucleosis spot" He said grabbing one of the nurses to help him.

He placed the bell on her chest listening to her breathing as we all watched

" I don't think it's phenomena," he said

" You think? I want real test results!" I said getting angry

The nurse came back with the strep testing and blood kit so we could finally decide what was wrong.

He swabbing her throat and took her blood quickly before she could wake up again. If she tested positive for strep throat we could go home tonight but if it was mono we would be here at least one night.

I laid her down in the bed and covered her with a blanket sighing. I knew I haven't been a dad for very long but knowing she was in pain and there was nothing I could do was eating at me. I held her hand as she slept, her hand was trembling slightly as we all just sat there in silence watching her.