His Two Miracles | Thomas Barrow

Chapter 59

A few days after taking Ellie to London for the day, Thomas woke up feeling dreadful. His head was pounding and his body felt like it had been hit by a truck. He tried to sit up, but the room was spinning, and he collapsed back onto his pillow. He groaned and rubbed his temples, trying to ease the pain. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this ill.

As he lay there, he felt a small hand patting his face. He opened his eyes to see Ellie looking at him with concern.

"Hey, sweetheart," he said weakly, reaching out to stroke her cheek. "Daddy's not feeling very well."

Ellie looked up at him with her big pale green eyes and nodded solemnly. She snuggled into his arms and rested her head on his chest. Thomas closed his eyes and tried to rest, but his fever was getting worse, and his headache was becoming unbearable.

Suddenly, Ellie stirred in his arms and looked up at him with concern.

"Daddy," she said in her soft, high-pitched voice. "S - something's wrong."

Thomas tried to sit up, but the room spun around him, and he fell back onto the pillows.

Ellie wriggled out of his arms while very slowly and carefully got out of the bed and crawled to the door. She reached up and turned the handle with difficulty before opening it a crack. She peered out into the hallway, and her eyes lit up when she saw someone she recognised.

"Anna!" she called out. "H - help! Daddy's sick!"

Thomas felt a surge of relief when he heard Ellie's voice. Anna was one of the few people at Downton Abbey who knew the most about Ellie's condition, and he trusted her to take care of her if anything happened to him.

A moment later, Anna appeared in the doorway, looking worried as she picked up Ellie and set her on her hip.

"Thomas, what's wrong?" she asked, rushing over to his bedside.

"I don't know," Thomas said weakly. "I woke up feeling awful."

Anna felt his forehead and frowned.

"You've got a fever," she said. "I'll go and get Mrs. Hughes. And tell her to phone for Doctor Clarkson."

Thomas watched as Anna set Ellie back on his bed and hurried out of the room, feeling grateful for her help. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to take care of Ellie or himself in this state, and he was glad that someone was there to help him.

As he lay there, he felt Ellie snuggle up to him again, her small body offering comfort and warmth for her father. He closed his eyes and tried to rest, knowing that he was in good hands.

~

As Anna returned she returned with Mrs Hughes and Doctor Clarkson in tow. Anna picked up Ellie and stepped back to let the doctor examine Thomas. Ellie let out a whine and reached out for her father, wanting to stay close to him.

"It's okay, Ellie," Thomas reassured her.

Dr Clarkson examined Thomas and quickly diagnosed him with meningitis.

"Thomas, I'm afraid you're very ill," Dr Clarkson said solemnly. "We need to get you to the hospital right away."

Thomas felt a wave of panic wash over him. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving Ellie behind, especially when she needed him so much.

"What about Ellie?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"We'll take care of her," Mrs Hughes said gently. "She can stay with us until you're well enough to come home."

Dr. Clarkson arranged for an ambulance to take Thomas to the village hospital, and he was admitted immediately.

Thomas tried to say something else, but his body body became weak and unresponsive. He could feel the world slipping away from him as he was carried out of the room. The last thing he remembered was Ellie's small hand reaching out for him, her voice calling out to him in a whimper.

Once at the village hospital he was transferred to a hospital bed, and a nurse immediately started him on intravenous antibiotics to help fight the infection and meningitis. As the nurse placed a cold cloth on his forehead, Thomas drifted in and out of consciousness. He was in excruciating pain, and every movement felt like a knife twisting in his body.

He heard the doctors and nurses talking, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. His mind was foggy, and his thoughts were jumbled. As the hours passed, Thomas grew more and more unresponsive. The doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to try and save him, but his condition continued to deteriorate.

Three days later, Thomas was still in the hospital, unconscious and unresponsive. The nurse assigned to his care checked on him, turning him gently on his side to prevent bed sores from forming.

Meanwhile, Anna arrived at the hospital with Ellie. Anna knew how much Thomas loved Ellie, and she hoped that having Ellie there would help him to recover.

As they approached Thomas's room, the nurse warned them to be as quiet as possible. Anna set Ellie down at Thomas's bedside, and Ellie touched her father's hand and tried to talk to him. Anna watched with tears in her eyes as Ellie spoke to her father, knowing that he might not be able to respond.

"H - hello, Daddy," Ellie said, her small hand grasping Thomas's larger one.

Anna felt a lump form in her throat as she watched Ellie speak to her father.

Ellie looked up at Anna, tears in her eyes. "Why w - won't Daddy wake up?"

Anna's heart broke for Ellie, but she had a feeling that Thomas knew his daughter was there. "Ellie, why don't you lay down with your Daddy and snuggle him?" Anna suggested.

Ellie nodded eagerly, and Anna helped her climb onto the bed next to Thomas. Ellie snuggled up to her father, wrapping her arms around him as best she could. "I love y - you, Daddy," she whispered again. "Please w - wake up."

For a few moments, there was silence in the hospital room. Ellie lay snuggled up to her father, and Anna watched over them, tears in her eyes. Then, suddenly, Thomas's hand twitched, and he let out a soft groan.

Anna leaned over him, her heart pounding. "Thomas? Can you hear me?"

Thomas's eyes slowly opened, and he looked at Anna, then down at Ellie, who was still snuggled up to him. A tear rolled down his cheek. "My Ellie," he whispered. "My precious girl."

Anna smiled through her tears as Thomas slowly moved his hand to stroke Ellie's hair. "Thank you, Anna," he said. "Thank you for bringing her here."

Ellie looked up at her father, her eyes shining with love. "I k - knew you would wake up, Daddy," she said.

Thomas smiled weakly, his voice weak and hoarse. "I couldn't leave you, my Ellie. I love you too much."

And with that, Thomas drifted off to sleep, his daughter snuggled up beside him, and Anna watching over them both.