Too Close For Comfort (LH) (PT1&2)

18. Sesame Street

Luke laid there with me until a nurse came in. She went over everything with me, explaining things slightly better than Luke did. I got the picture, I had put myself in this hospital bed. I was being careless and reckless. Caught up in my mental health, I had completely forgotten about my physical health, and all the not eating had put me in this hospital bed.

"Katie!" Daniel ran into my ER room. Liz following closely behind. My dad hugged me tightly, letting out a deep breath of relief. His arms pulled on the IV, causing me to wince. I was thankful he didn't notice. "What happened?" He leaned back, searching my face desperately. He seemed pale. It was obvious he was worrying himself sick.

"Hi dad," my voice was soft and sweet. How could I tell them that I had done this to myself? That I had put myself in this position. "I'm okay," I tried to resume him. All this caring, this worrying, it was all new to me. There were many nights I sat alone in a hospital in America. Yet tonight in Australia the room seemed full of people.

"Luke," Liz waved for him to follow her outside. She was going to interrogate him for answers, but the nurse came in.

"We got your room ready Ms. Storm," she greeted my family with a forced smile. The blue and black wheelchair she was pushing clashed with her coral scrubs.

"Room?" Daniel spun around, holding onto my hand tightly, squeezing it until my skin was turning a light shade of white, "she's being admitted?"

"She's severely dehydrated. She needs fluids. We have to monitor her heart rate, blood pressure, and kidney function," the nurse informed them, remaining calm and collective.

"Dehydration can be fatal," Liz covered her mouth, gripping the foot of the bed for support.

"That is true, but with the proper treatment, which we can give her, she will be fine. You have to trust us, she's better here than at home. In my honest medical opinion I think he brought her here at the perfect time. I don't foresee any long term complications. I think if we keep her here for a few nights we can have her back home fully functional in no time," that was a relief.

Daniel nodded, glancing back at me. He was scared. I flexed my hand that was completely enclosed in his bear-like grip, "thank god for Luke right." He cut his eyes up at the tall boy in the corner, giving him a nod of approval. This was a thank you.

After Luke's outburst about the new house they hadn't really talked. Every time Daniel would enter a room Luke would leave it. Sometimes Luke would just flat out ignore him. Liz would fuss, and they'd get nowhere. The cycle would repeat itself. Daniel would walk away feeling defeated because he couldn't get through to Luke, Luke would leave annoyed, and Liz would be heartbroken because Luke wouldn't accept the idea of her and my dad.

"How did this happen?" Liz fired her next question. I shivered already knowing the answer.

"She's been sick," Luke spoke up before the nurse could, coming up with a lie on the spot, "all she's been doing is unpacking and sleeping. All that not eating and not drinking finally took a toll on her."

I silently thanked Luke for coming up with a believable excuse on spot. "I'm sorry," I whispered. This unnecessary stress was just a burden on them. At least that's how I felt about the situation.