One Day At a Time ✔️

Ch. 41 Infection

Ironhide's P.O.V.
Another thirty minutes pass, and I'm worrying about Crosshairs and Drift's mental state to be gone this long more than that, I'll be dealing with Jamie while she's upset. Even if I have Jolt sitting here with me.

It's quiet for ten minutes before we hear Jamie cry in her sleep. I do not know where Jolt is going as I carefully move Jamie onto my lap and get the blanket back on her.

Jolt rushes back in with a few things in his hand and another chair. I can tell he's worried about Jamie being difficult without her guardians being here. Jolt gets the syringe that has been on the counter before sitting in the chair. He tries to get Jamie to wake up, hoping to not scare her. He told me the text Ratchet got from Drift three hours ago, and he's worried about being the one to wake Jamie up.

Jamie looks at us and tries to rip the trach out, knowing she's not strong enough to break free from my hug. I hate restraining her, but it's dangerous if she rips the trach out. This is what I feared would happen.

Jolt's P.O.V.
I fear Jamie has taken a step backward. I can't tell if she's terrified of me or thinks she's back at the asylum. Ironhide's holoform is buff and would definitely give the impression he's here to restrain her. Add he has to restrain her before she rips the trach out.
Jolt: Jamie is panicking in the medbay.
I'm hoping showing Jamie her favorite candy will help get her to understand where she is.
"Hey, Jamie, look what I have," I get her attention and show her the candy, "you're safe."
I watch her eyes look around. It's hard to know if she's still panicking where she is. She'd be looking for her guardians even if she felt safe.
I can't believe how fast Drift ran into the room, deciding not to take Jamie from Ironhide. Crosshairs runs in afterward, almost bumping into Drift.
"She's calm but looking for you two," Ironhide tells them.

Ratchet and Prime walk in, which Jamie doesn't like. It's impressive how Ironhide knows how to keep Jamie calm.
"Do we stick to the plan and get the twins?" Ratchet asks.
Optimus nods and texts them. I didn't think Ratchet would then decide to put the speaking valve on. He puts the oximeter on and keeps the oxygen tube close.

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.
Sideswipe and I knew what this was about, but after last night, we are uncertain about taking her for a while, even if it's good for her guardians.
"She's taken a step backward," Ratchet sighs.
We knew this would happen, but it's hard not to feel bad about this.
I hate This. It's been seventy-five days, but Jamie thinks she'll end up back at the asylum. Sideswipe tells me.
We do not know what's been going through her mind. I fear memories change what she's thinking, and now she's taken a step backward.

Sideswipe and I aren't sure if we should be a part of the conversation as Jamie's guardians, our leader, and the two medics try to get her to understand she's safe, and we want to help her. Ironhide holds Jamie, also uncertain what to say. I watch her, dreading she's going to say no, and it's been the only word she'll say. Crosshairs and Drift were lucky to hear her say yes once.
"... please, let the twins take you to their room for a while after lunch," Optimus finishes.
I can tell Optimus was hoping she'd talk, but Jamie still used the hand communication method. At least she said yes.
For now, Jamie's guardians take her back to their room.
"I know I said this would take a year, but I'm worried she can't recover," I admit.
"It's hard to know right now. It's only been two and a half months since Jamie woke up from the coma," Ratchet points out, "and it's been rough."

Drift's P.O.V.
Crosshairs and I decide to take Jamie to the park. I'm happy this park has swings for kids with disabilities. Jamie is relaxed as I slowly push the swing. I shouldn't want her to fall asleep before I need to leave her, but I worry about how she's taken a step back in her recovery. Crosshairs sits on a bench, worried. I know he also worries about me. I hate how he hides how he felt until this morning. Now I should be happy he doesn't avoid me.

After fifteen minutes on the swing, we take Jamie for a walk around the park. She's keeping her oxygen level up with the speaking valve on the trach.

With Jamie still awake when we get back to the base, we go to the lounge room to watch T.V. I want to know what's going through her mind, why she won't talk, but I can't force her to say anything. It's hard since this is also how Jamie is; often quiet, but I don't think this is my little lady being her normal quiet self.

I believe I have my answer as Jamie hugs me as she sits on my lap. Crosshairs looks at me, worried. It's been seventy-five days, but with Jamie being sick twice, it's as if it's only been a week or two of working on Jamie's recovery.

"Drift!"
I didn't know I phased out until I heard Crosshairs yelling my name and hearing Jamie struggle to get air in, but it was not a sudden inability to breathe on her own; this was a panic attack.
Crosshairs texts Ratchet, uncertain if the protocol changes when it's someone who has a trach. Is putting Jamie on oxygen a must?
I lay her down across my lap.
"You're ok and safe."
We've learned warning signs of throwing up. I get Jamie sitting up and trying to aim for the floor before she throws up. Crosshairs didn't get the trash bin in time.
Crosshairs is texting somebot likely for cleaning supplies as Jamie throws up.
She always cries though maybe it's helping that she can hear herself cry.
"Shh, you're ok," I try to calm her down.

Jolt walks in with the cleaning supplies. It's weird seeing Jolt look at the mess first, but I know he's checking for blood. He tells me to take Jamie to the medbay.

Ratchet doesn't follow me into an exam room, but I didn't know Crosshairs did.
"Ow!" He complains as I try to close the door on him, and his foot stops me.
We see Jamie smile. I think he did that on purpose, considering how he could have used the wheelchair to make sure I didn't close the door. I sit on the chair and wipe Jamie's eyes and nose.
"You're safe; you're not going back there," Crosshairs assures her as he puts his trench coat on her.
"You better tell them it's not happening," I tell Crosshairs as Jamie falls asleep.
"Already on it. What the hell?"
"That's another problem. This is the second time she's done this today," I explain as I lay Jamie on the exam table and get the bag from the back of the wheelchair, lift the trench coat and remove Jamie's pants and the diaper, "and I think she's been doing this longer than I thought."
I refasten the diaper and go get Ratchet.

Crosshairs' P.O.V.
Not again, and it doesn't help that Jamie can't keep warm to begin with, so we can't go with one of the typical first signs that she's sick.
We take Jamie to an inpatient room and a bedpan under her after Ratchet injects a sedative.

I worry Drift is not taking the possibility that Jamie is sick again well. As much as I try to respect Jamie's privacy and leave looking down there to Drift, I have him sit down while I take care of her. Jamie has a low-grade fever, and often she's able to ignore these fevers. I'm not sure if that is the case now, but her lethargy is because of other reasons.
"I can't believe this. How long before we skip right to deadly illness?" Drift sobs.
I'm not even going to point out that Jamie's oxygen level is 90%, but I put her on oxygen as she sleeps. Drift is too distracted. I will not say anything yet, but we need to do quick vitals checks at least twice a day. We wouldn't have been able to prevent illness but would have caught the signs early.

Unfortunately, there was no way to catch a kidney infection early. We don't give Jamie a lot of drinks for her to need to use the bathroom often. Drift found out Jamie tries to hold off peeing for as long as possible this morning.
"It's going to be hard to deal with this," Ratchet points out, "but repeat infections aren't good either. We need to talk to her."
It's hard to figure out what Jamie is thinking now compared to before what Megatron did, but this is dangerous for her to refuse to communicate.

Ratchet begins treatment for the kidney infection while Drift and I get lunch. It's hard to hide that Jamie is dealing with a health issue and the communication issue we're facing. The terror twins want to help, and oddly I feel bad for telling them to stay away from the medbay even if that applies to everyone but Optimus. Things just keep getting more complicated.