Dumping Ground

Rick ~ Appendicitis

"Mike. Gina."
"What is it Rick?" Mike asked as they were standing by the door.
"I need to go to a hospital."
"Why?"
"What's wrong?"
"I think I've got appendicitis. My visions blurred, I've got pain in my abdomen and I feel like I'm going to pass out."
"You are looking pale."
"And I'm shaking," Rick said before he held his hand up to show them.
"Right. Are you sure?"
"We can take you to the out of hours GP first?"
"No," Rick said before he raised a hand to his stomach and started to fall forwards.
"Woah," Mike said as he supported him and Rick looked up. "Rick?"
"I really don't feel good."
"I'll start the car."
"Thanks."
"I'll get lunch ready. Keep me updated."
"I will," Mike said as he put his arm around Rick and they started walking to the door.

"Argh," Rick groaned as he got into the car.
"Are you alright?" Mike asked him.
"No. The pain's getting worse..." Rick said as he closed his eyes and grimaced. His right hand was protecting his stomach.
"Ok. We're on the way," Mike said as he started to drive. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"You were out. argh... And the pain only started getting bad two hours ago."
"Alright," Mike said and he drove on.
"I feel sick," Rick told him as he started to lose consciousness.
"We're almost there, just hold on Rick. ... Rick?" Mike asked before he looked over. Rick was leaning against the window with his eyes closed, and he wasn't moving. "Rick? Rick, wake up. Come on."
"Hmn... nhm..."
"Stay with me Rick," Mike said before he drove faster.

~

"Gina," Tee said as she came into the lounge.
"Why are we having a house meeting?"
"Where's Rick? Shouldn't he be here?"
"Yes. It's actually Rick I want to talk about."
"Has something happened?"
"Has he been arrested?"
"Carmen."
"What?"
"Is he sick?"
"Is he ok?"
"He's gone to the hospital with Mike."
"The hospital?"
"Why?"
"Is he ok?"
"He's got appendicitis."
"What?!"
"They've taken him into surgery to remove his appendix. It's a simple operation, but Mike is going to wait to make sure that he comes out of it alright."
"Poor Rick."
"Appendicitis can happen to anyone."
"Still... surgery is serious."
"And appendicitis has been known to kill people."
"Rick should be alright. But I just wanted to let you know."
"Will you tell us if Rick's surgery goes ok?"
"I'll let you know as soon as I hear from Mike."
"Thanks Gina."
"Thank you," Elektra said and Gina left.
"I can't believe that Rick's in hospital."
"Why didn't we notice something? He's been with us all morning."
"He probably just hid it really well."
"Rick's not one to show pain."
"Maybe he didn't want to appear weak."
"Appendicitis doesn't make you weak."
"Well, he's being looked after and there's nothing we can do for the moment."

~

"Hey Rick. It's Mike," Mike said as Rick started to wake up.
"Hey," He whispered.
"You've had surgery and the doctor has taken your appendix out. You're doing alright."
"Good."
"How are you feeling?"
"Dizzy. And I have a sore throat."
"That'll be the anaesthetic. You'll feel better in a few hours."
"Thanks. For listening to me."
"Of course. I'm glad that you came to us before you collapsed in the house. You saved us some panicking there."
"I panicked you anyway."
"Yes, but not as badly as you could have," Mike said and Rick smiled.
"Did everything go ok with my surgery?"
"Yes, everything went smoothly. You'll make a fully recovery and should be discharged tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"It's currently 5pm."
"Ok."
"It does mean that you're going to miss dinner."
"I don't fancy eating at the moment."
"I wonder why," Mike said and Rick laughed a little. "Get some rest."
"Thanks," Rick said, and he let his body drift back off to sleep. Mike left him in the care of the hospital and returned to Elm Tree House.

~

"How's Rick?" Tyler asked Mike as he came in during dinner.
"He's awake and the surgery went well."
"That's a relief."
"Is he ok?"
"He's doing fine Tyler. He's just tired, so he's getting some rest."
"When can he come home?"
"He's only just come out of surgery."
"I know. But..."
"The doctor says tomorrow. But, we'll see how Rick's doing in the morning."
"I'll write him a get well soon card."
"Good idea Tee."
"And I'll tidy his room," Tyler said and everyone looked at him. "What? You can't even see the floor in there at the moment!" Tyler said and everyone laughed.
"Alright, alright. Eat your dinner."
"I'm glad that Rick's ok."
"So am I," Johnny and Elektra said.
"He'll recover quickly."
"I'm glad that Rick came to us before he collapsed in the house."
"Yeah, that would have been scary."
"Remember when Tracy fell down the stairs?"
"Oh, that was terrifying."
"Or when I fell off the roof."
"Yeah."
"Please don't. I was so scared about you Lily."
"Alright guys. Rick didn't fall. He felt sick then had surgery."
"And now he has a night in the hospital."
"He'll be fine."

~

"Rick. You're ok!" Tyler called before he hugged Rick.
"Yeah... not so tight Tyler."
"Sorry," Tyler said as he let go.
"I'm still sensitive."
"Aww, sensitive Rick," Elektra said and Rick smiled. "I'm just joking."
"I'm glad that you're alright."
"Yeah, we all are."
"Were you worried?" Rick asked everyone.
"Of course we were."
"We still are."
"Thanks guys."
"Shall we go into the lounge?" Gina suggested and everyone nodded.

"So, can I see the scar?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's all bandaged up. Anyway, it's not very big, it was keyhole surgery."
"What's that?"
"It's when they make a small cut into your body instead of a big one. They use specialist equipment to do the surgery."
"Cool."
"Are you alright? I mean, are you feeling ok?"
"I'm still a little dizzy, but mostly I'm tired."
"That's normal as your body needs lots of rest to heal itself."
"How long until you're back to normal?"
"3 to 5 days the doctor said."
"That long?:
"It's mostly the effects of surgery. Now my appendix is out, there's nothing with me."
"Right... so you're not sick, but recovering from the surgery that made you better?"
"Exactly."
"I don't understand," Harry said and Rick smiled.
"Don't worry about it. Let's watch some TV."
"Yeah, what's on?" Tyler asked and they chose a film.

"What was that ending?" Carmen asked loudly. "Urgh, so anticlimactic."
"Shhh."
"Don't tell me to shush, don't you know..." Carmen trailed off as she saw Rick. "Is he?"
"He's asleep."
"I can see that."
"I think he needs the rest."
"You don't say."
"We should get him upstairs to his bed."
"How?"
"By carrying him."
"Carrying Rick?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Have you seen the size of him?"
"Yeah but..."
"Why's it so quiet in here?" Mike asked as he came in.
"Shush. Rick's fallen asleep."
"I see," Mike said and he went to to him. "Rick," He said gently as he shook him. "Rick, wake up."
"Hmn..."
"You need to go to bed."
"Imn in bed."
"No, you're on the sofa. Come on," Mike said, and Rick stood up with his eyes closed. Mike took him upstairs and everyone was quiet.
"I've never seen Rick like that."
"You would be like that if you had surgery yesterday."
"I suppose so."
"Come on, let's go to bed too."
"Alright," Everyone agreed and they went to bed.