Lisa
Lisa pulled Jennie's meter from her pocket once she had Jennie settled in her lap in the car and pricked her finger. She cursed under her breath before taking another reading just to be sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. "Fucking shit." Lisa muttered under her breath as she read the second reading that confirmed Jennie's dangerously low levels
"How low?" Jin asked.
Lisa didn't respond, she simply turned the face of the meter towards Jin who lost all the colour in his face at the sight. "Oh my God," Jin whispered to himself.
Jin and Lisa both knew that with potassium numbers that low, Jennie was at risk for life threatening heart arrhythmias. She needed an IV and she needed that IV as fast as possible. Lisa toyed with the idea of giving her the meds that were in her own pocket, or the ones she had given Hoony to hold for emergencies, but she was worried they had been tampered with as well. Lisa had no clue when or where the medication had been swapped and was terrified of the possibility that all of Jennie's meds had been altered. Even if they had identifiers on the side, pills could easily be coated or injected with harmful substances and she didn't know for sure which medication bottles had been tampered with and which ones hadn't.
If I can just get Jennie an IV. That's what she needs.
Having to decide between the house and the hospital in a split second, Lisa chose the house because they could get there thirty minutes faster than the nearest hospital and Jennie didn't have an extra thirty minutes. As soon as the car came to a stop in front of the house, Jin flew out of the car and started running to get Jennie's medical supplies. Hoony was the next to get out of the car, motioning with his hands for Lisa to hand Jennie over to him. "Give her to me." Hoony instructed, holding his arms out for Jennie.
Lifting Jennie up out of her lap, Lisa passed a nearly unconscious Jennie over to Hoony who took off for the house with her cradled in his arms. Lisa's mind was racing, trying to figure out exactly how Jennie's medication had been swapped and what on earth she had taken in its place. She was furious, scared and confused as she sprinted up the steps, trying to get a hold of herself before she had to start working on Jennie.
Lock your shit down Lisa. She doesn't need you to be a panicked mess. Jennie needs you to do your job and fix her. Calm your ass down and fix her.
Taking in a deep breath, Lisa held it there in her chest for a few seconds before blowing it out slowly as she and Jin got Jennie's IV set up. She battle breathed her way to calmness, taking her adrenaline rush and using it as fuel instead of panic as her hands worked furiously to ready the fluids that Jennie's body so desperately needed.
Jennie groaned and reached for her legs and feet that were fully cramped and contorted into hard knots which had to be excruciating.
I hate that you're feeling pain Jennie girl, but I love that you're responding to it.
Jennie's body hadn't shut down yet and response to pain signals was a good thing despite being unbearable for Lisa to watch. "I'm gonna take care of that for you honey, just give me a minute and I'm gonna get you all fixed up." Lisa soothed once she and Jin had everything in place. "Small stick Jennie girl." Lisa said as she inserted the IV, sending up a silent prayer that she wasn't too late.
"Hollywood I need you to get that small portable EKG out of my med bag." Lisa said over her shoulder, prompting Hoony to start rummaging through the bag.
"Got it."
"How many leads are there in the bag?" Lisa asked. Hoony looked at him in confusion, unsure what to look for.
"The cords, Hollywood. How many cords are there?"
"Right... uh four or five."
I would have preferred twelve, but five will have to do.
"Bring those over and help me get this dress off." Lisa ordered, lifting Jennie forward so Hoony or Jin could unzip the back of her dress. "I got to take this off okay, baby? You don't even have to move, we'll do all the work." Lisa hummed into Jennie's ear as she sat Jennie up against her chest, giving Hoony access to the zipper of Jennie's dress.
Lisa slowly slid Jennie's dress down enough to gain access to her chest. She had on a lace strapless bra that looked like it might get in the way of the electrodes Lisa was trying to place on her skin for the heart monitor. "I'm gonna try my best to work around this bra, but if I can't it might have to go." Lisa said, warning Jennie and looking directly at Jin, hoping Jin understood that Lisa wasn't trying to take advantage of or expose his sister, but that she needed to get those leads placed so she could monitor Jennie's heart to see how bad it was.
"Do what you got to do man." Jin said giving Lisa an approving nod. Lisa carefully placed the electrode dots on Jennie's chest, having to lift up her bra in certain places to get them to stick where she needed them, but ultimately getting them secured in place. Holding the monitor in her lap, Lisa watched the screen for what felt like an eternity. She slid her finger along the screen as she reviewed the reading, sliding the chart back and forth as she analysed it and counted in her head.
To her surprise, Jennie clung to consciousness, opening her eyes occasionally, trying hard to focus on Lisa, but she was completely and utterly terrified. She knew just as well as they did how dangerously low her levels were and what that could mean, and she was panicked.
"I need you to slow your breathing down Jennie girl." Lisa said, running one hand down her cheek. Her calming words and soft touches didn't make a difference. Jennie was too amped up and scared and she was hyperventilating, which wasn't helping her heart rate in the least. In fact it was making it worse.
Lisa set the monitor on the bed and turned her full attention to Jennie, because she needed her. She needed Lisa to make her world quiet and calm and she was going to do everything in her power to make that happen. Having to take control of her own panic and worry, Lisa coached herself, giving herself reminders of what Jennie needed from her.
Her world is too loud, painful and scary. Slow things down for her, Lisa. Take her fear away so she can relax.
"Jennie, Jennie, easy baby... easy... look at me." Lisa said in a hushed voice as she stroked Jennie's hair. Her panicked eyes welled with tears as they locked onto Lisa's. "I know you're scared, but I need you to slow your breathing down." she repeated, but Jennie's breaths remained heavy and erratic. "Am I going to die?" Jennie rasped, with a tear rolling down her cheek.
"What? No... you think I'd let you go anywhere without me? I go where you go, remember?" Lisa said, giving her a reassuring smile. She tried to smile with all of her might, but she couldn't. Her fear was too strong and it was overwhelming her, making it nearly impossible for her to calm down on her own.
"I'm not gonna let anything happen to you Jennie, and I know this is scary." Lisa said, trying to affirm her feelings of fear. She nodded, confirming Lisa's words with tears trailing down her face as her chest pumped wildly for air.
"So focus on me... you said it yourself, I'm not scary at all." Lisa chuckled, trying to pull her focus towards her. She positioned herself so that she was hovering over Jennie slightly, leaving only inches between their faces as she used one hand to tilt her head towards her and rubbed her thumb back and forth across her cheek. "Keep your eyes on me... it's just you and me Jennie girl.... I'm gonna fix you, but I need your help... slow your breathing down for me baby." Lisa spoke the words slowly and calmly, soothing Jennie with her voice and healing Jennie with her touch.
Lisa took Jennie's small hand in hers and pressed it against her chest, holding it there as she took big over-exaggerated breaths. "Breathe with me sweetheart." Lisa said puffing out her chest as far as it would go before blowing out her breath and letting her chest cave.
Slowly but surely Jennie started to mimic Lisa's breathing pattern, slowing her breaths and calming herself which was starting to lower her heart rate.
"Good." Lisa praised her. "That's my girl."
