One Day At a Time ✔️

Ch. 21 An Idea

Drift's P.O.V.
Four days have passed; I'm trying to get Jamie to talk. I have an idea.
"Ratchet, would it be possible to take the trach out for a couple of hours?" I ask.
"I-I don't know; you know how dangerous that can be?"
"If Jamie's oxygen level couldn't stay up. I know it's not great evidence, but she kept her oxygen level at 90% while crying for forty minutes."

Ratchet's P.O.V.
I see what Drift is hoping to accomplish, but it's risky, and this will require careful planning. I trust Crosshairs and Drift can take care of Jamie, but it's Jamie panicking if she can't get air in that I worry about.
"You sure about this?" Crosshairs asks, "you know she's going to panic—."
"I know, but I think we can keep her calm," Drift assures Crosshairs before leaving my office and the medbay.
"You're really letting him do this?" Crosshairs asks. I can tell there's anger in his voice.
"We were supposed to be planning before Drift left," I explain.
Crosshairs walks out of my office and the medbay.

Crosshairs' P.O.V.
I know what Drift hopes to accomplish, but serious consequences are involved.
Drift isn't in the room as Jamie sleeps. It's only nine in the morning. I don't want to argue with Drift, but I worry he will cause a serious situation with what he wants to do. My mind already plays what could happen, and I can't put Jamie through that. I know he's hoping to get Jamie to talk, but I think he forgets if his plan works; we'd still need to put the trach back in and get Jamie talking more often.

Drift walks in ten minutes later. 
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I ask, "you know she'll panic if she can't get air in."
"I know, but we can handle it," Drift replies.
"I don't know about this, Drift. It's hard watching her struggle already."
"She needs to be ok with this. Then she'll be relaxed if she can't keep her oxygen level up. We'll have what we need ready. You should know I wouldn't do something like this without careful planning."

Drift's P.O.V.
I'm a little worried I'll see my girl struggle to get air in, but Crosshairs and I work well together to take care of Jamie. Knowing Ratchet, he'll insist on being close by, likely Jolt as well, waiting if we need help.

Ratchet is allowing us to give Jamie foods other than oatmeal and soup. She's doing well eating with the trach in—another reason I don't understand why she won't talk.
Crosshairs goes down to the cafeteria to make our breakfast as I get Jamie ready. I don't know what I hate more; how frustrated she was a few days ago or how she's depressed and doesn't want to get out of bed. 
I don't understand what's going on in your mind.
Considering how Jamie doesn't help me, I fear she's thinking about dying.
"I love you so much. You know we don't mind taking care of you, and you're safe," I assure her, unsure of what is troubling her today.
I put her in the wheelchair and put the speaking valve on.
"Let's go get breakfast."

Crosshairs is already waiting when we get to the cafeteria.
"Lucky, you get to eat bacon," Sideswipe sulks, resulting in a slap on the back from Sunstreaker. I didn't think Jamie would laugh.
"You're welcome," Sideswipe comments, "but seriously, Sunny won't let me have bacon."
"Have you seen how skinny she is?!" Sunstreaker scolds as Jamie hands Sideswipe a strip of bacon.
"We still have to be careful with what she eats," I tell the two mechs.
I don't know if there are foods she can choke on with the trach in, but even though she's skinny, it doesn't mean to let her eat whatever. The twins sit with us for breakfast. Both have eggs, but only Sunstreaker had bacon — until now.
I catch Ratchet watching us from another table as Jamie eats. I didn't think she'd eat the two pancakes and four strips of bacon Crosshairs gave her. 

We take her to the medbay after breakfast. I should have been more careful as Jamie became anxious and tries to stop the wheelchair from moving. Though it's hard to since I have both the waist belt and chest straps fastened.
"No," Jamie cries before crying.
Crosshairs and I look at each other, concerned.
What did they do to you, Jamie?
I don't like how she'll only talk when scared — even though she's only saying no.
"Hey, hey, listen to me," I crouch down and take her hands, "Jolt and Ratchet will not hurt you." 
Jolt walks out of the medbay, which I thought was good timing until Jamie panicked.
"Is she going to be mad if I do something human doctors do with young children?" I hear Jolt asks Crosshairs.
"Probably not," he replies.
Jolt already has one of Jamie's favorite candies as he crouches down beside me.
"I will not hurt you," he says as he takes her hand and gets her to take the candy, "you're safe here."
We hear how heavy she's breathing. I have the oximeter with me, and her oxygen level dropped to 80%. 
"Alright, we're going back to our room," I comment as I get the tube for the oxygen concentrator.
"Take her to the medbay. I have a theory," Jolt requests before getting up and returning to the medbay.
"No," Crosshairs scolds as he gets a tissue from his pocket and wipes Jamie's eyes.
I know you hate seeing Jamie frightened, I also hate it, but we need to get her to talk and not be afraid of Jolt and Ratchet.  
Ratchet comes by once the oxygen tube is connected. Jamie can't make a sound but is panicking. Enough to get Crosshairs to rush her away from Ratchet. 
"What happened?" Ratchet asks, concerned.
He didn't like hearing how much Jamie panicked when she realized we were going to the medbay and seeing Jolt. He becomes concerned hearing Jamie's oxygen level dropped to 80%.

Crosshairs' P.O.V.
I position the wheelchair close to Drift's bed, prop the pillows up, and put Jamie on the bed. It's a challenge since she's connected to the oxygen concentrator.
"You're safe," I assure her as tears still roll down her face. 
I cover her with the blanket and take the candy Jolt gave her, and I put it in the fridge and get a small bottle of apple juice.
I lay on the bed with Jamie as she drinks the juice. Her oxygen level is slowly going up.
I worry something is causing her oxygen level to drop than the trach not allowing enough air in as she cries.

Drift returns a half-hour after Jamie falls asleep. Ratchet walks in once Drift sees Jamie is asleep.
He's careful as he listens to her breathing for a few minutes with the stethoscope.
"Her oxygen level is back to normal, and her breathing is normal," Ratchet tells us, "I'm not sure what to do to deal with this. What did they do to you, Jamie?" 
We can't remove the trach here, even if Ratchet sits in the hallway until he's needed.
Ratchet leaves, telling us he's going to see if there's anything he can do about this.