Oh Ms Believer

11. Tyler

"It's pneumonia," the doctor said to us.

Jenna had jumped into the car with me, and Brendon had taken the keys from me. He wouldn't let me drive.

"You have a flight in four hours!" I argued.

"Not anymore I don't. Not until I know Sam's okay," he'd said.

Jenna squeezing my hand tightly snapped me back to the present.

"Tyler. It's pneumonia. Like Karen had," she said, tears forming in her eyes.

I shook my head.

"No, not like Karen. Sam is different. Sam is strong," I said.

The doctor looked at us sympathetically.

"We've got her on some good antibiotics. It's bacterial for sure, so those should help. Her fever's still higher than I'd like. We'll keep the cooling blanket on for a little longer. Once the antibiotics kick in, that fever should come down."

I nodded and looked over at Samantha lying in her hospital bed, fast asleep, with oxygen being administered through nasal cannula. Sleeping was all she had the energy to do. She'd cough now and then and it sounded so thick.

I texted Brendon who had gone back home to help Sarah with Junie and Rosie. I filled them in on what was happening.

The doctor reassured us that he felt Sam would be okay in a couple of days. But that she might be in the hospital for at least a week.

I sat beside her in a chair pulled right up to the bed. Sam's bed had her in a more upright position to help her lungs drain and hopefully help her cough out the gunk in her lungs. I smiled at her, even though she was asleep and couldn't see.

I looked across the bed to Jenna, who was running her fingers through Sam's hair, humming to her and holding her hand. She looked up and smiled a sad smile back at me.

"She's going to be okay, Jenna," I said.

Jenna nodded. It wasn't a committed nod, it was a resigned nod.

I reached my hand out over Samantha and took Jenna's and Sam's in mine.

"She is going to be okay," I reiterated.

Just then, Sam sat up and started coughing. It seemed to go on forever and it was thick. She stopped coughing but had her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. Thinking she had to throw up, Jenna grabbed a basin and Samantha hung her head over it and spat out the biggest glob of phlegm I think I've ever seen.

"That is disgusting," Samantha said, holding the basin away from her. Jenna took it and then looked around.

"Should the nurses see this?" She asked. "Because this is... a lot."

I shrugged.

"Couldn't hurt," I said.

"I'll be right back," Jenna said, holding the basin sort of away from her.

She came back about five minutes later and went into Samantha's bathroom and presumably flushed the glob down the toilet.

A nurse came in and asked Samantha to sit up. She listened to Sam's chest.

"You sound clearer. I'll let the doctor know and he'll probably want to do another chest x-ray and see how your lungs are looking. For now, just relax," she smiled at Sam.

Sam lay back on the pillow, coughed again a little bit and looked over at Jenna.

"I'm sorry, Mom," she said.

"What are you sorry for?" Jenna asked.

"I'm sorry I scared you," Sam said. Jenna wrapped her in a hug.

"Don't you worry. That's my job," Jenna smiled.

"K, so, I'm still tired. I'm gonna nap a bit," Sam yawned. We both gave her a kiss and sat back.

I texted with Brendon and let him know, in great detail, what had transpired.

"DUDE!!" He replied. "THAT WAS WAY MORE INFORMATION THAN I NEEDED!!"

"Too bad I didn't take a picture," I sent back.

"🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮." He replied. I smiled.

"How are the girls?" I asked.

"Rosie wants to know where Sammy is. We told her she got sick and you took her to the hospital and that she's going to be fine and we'll visit later if Sam's up to it."

"Thanks, bro," I said.

"Anytime. Junie, by the way, has completed her doctoral dissertation and defended it splendidly," he said.

"Blow out?" I asked, laughing.

"I swear, we thought she exploded. Sarah's giving her a bath and put on her laundry, because she had to change the sheets in her crib. I am having my toes painted by the world's cutest pedicurist."

"What are you laughing at?" Jenna asked.

"Junie had a blow-out," I said, showing her the texts. She laughed as well.

"Seriously?" Sam's sleepy voice said. "There are sick people who need their rest. Laugh quieter."

We giggled and apologized.

Jenna went for a walk while Sam slept. She found the hospital library and took out a book. She also came back with coffee for the two of us. I hadn't realized we hadn't had coffee yet. It was nearly dinner time. Sam had gotten the antibiotics started in the Emergency Room, but hadn't been moved to a room until after lunch. Which we'd also skipped.

Jenna had also bought a couple of sandwiches which she'd put in her hoodie pocket. She handed me one.

"Thanks," I whispered.

We ate our sandwiches and drank our coffee. Then, there was a commotion in the hallway and Rosie came bounding into the room.

"Hi, Sammy!" She said cheerfully, jumping up onto the bed. She woke Sam up.

"Wha-?" Sam opened her eyes. Then smiled.

"Hey Rosie Posey!" She said brightly, pulling her sister into her lap as she sat up.

"You is warm, Sammy!" Rosie said. I put my hand on her forehead. She still had a fever, but it didn't feel as high.

Sam coughed again. It was still thick, but it sounded better.

Brendon and Sarah sat with Sam and visited for a while. Then, it was time for them to take the littles home. I sent Jenna with them and said I'd stay with Sam tonight. They all left, the doctor did wind up coming in and listening to Sam's chest and said he'd set up an x-ray in the morning to see her lungs. But he agreed they were clearer sounding.

I hopped up onto Sam's bed and we turned on the TV. There was a basketball game on, so Sam and I watched. She fell asleep on me while watching. I stayed beside her, eventually falling asleep on her bed, too