Family sickness follows

Chapter 11

Gemma and Zayn both headed upstairs at Katie's call. Zayn rushed upstairs as he heard the girl vomiting. She had the bucket on her lap as she threw up. "Shhh let it out sweetheart" Zayn said as she now went both ways. Katie just groaned her stomach was churning and cramping.

While Zayn comforted Katie and took her back to the bathroom, Gemma took it upon herself to ring Clover ward. "Hey Carla, it's Gemma here." Gemma said. "Hey Gemma, what's up?" Carla asked, already getting ready to take notes. "Do you happen to have a nurse free at the moment?" Gemma asked. "Not sure, it's quite busy here, what's the problem?" Carla asked.

"Well, today I had to pick Katie up from the disabled bathroom at the theme park. We thought she was reacting badly to dairy but turns out to be a stomach bug, she keeps going one way or the other and I'm worried she is dehydrated" Gemma says. "I'm afraid she will need to be brought here and, if needed, admitted to the ward with only one parent as company. We are short of staff, some of the nurses got it too, I don't have any to send to you" Carla said.

"Ok I'll get my husband to drop us off there and I will stay with Katie if she ends up being admitted, thanks" Gemma said before hanging up. Gemma went to pack a bag for her and a bag for Katie for a few days if needed.

Gemma then went into Katie's room but the bed was empty. Gemma knocked on the bathroom door. "Come in, Gem," Zayn said. He was just getting Katie in the bath. "Can you drop us off at Clover ward at Crystal Lace? They will get Katie assessed there as they are short of staff and can't send anyone here. I will stay with Katie if she ends up being admitted after the assessment" Gemma told her husband.

"Of course I can, let me bath Katie and then I will drive you there. Get your overnight bags ready, just in case, a bucket and a few carrier bags for the journey" Zayn said. "Will do, the overnight bags are ready. Will also call mum, I suggest Mikey still stay with them." Gemma says and goes to look for the bucket and carrier bags while ringing her mum. "Yeah" Zayn said, agreeing with the plan. He finishes giving Katie her bath and getting her dressed and ready. Zayn put a pad on Katie before getting her in comfy pyjamas.

"Hi mum," Gemma says when Anne picks up. "Hey Gem, how's Katie?" Anne asks. "Not great. Don't panic but we are bringing her over to Clover ward to get assessed as she keeps going one way or the other. We are worried she is getting dehydrated and they can't assess her here, so Zayn is dropping us at Clover ward." Gemma asks. "Oh no, wish Katie better, hopefully it will help having fluids and medicine IV if she needs, do you want us to still have Mikey?" Anne asks. "If that's ok" Gemma said. "Of course it is," Anne said. "Thank you mum, I'll keep you updated about Katie" Gemma said before her mum asked. "Thank you, sweetie," Anne said. They said their goodbyes. Gemma then put their overnight bags in the boot of the car and the bucket and carrier bags into the backseats of the car. She then went to see if Zayn had got Katie dressed after her bath. Zayn walked out of Katie's room with the girl sleeping in his arms. Gemma and Zayn met at the entrance hall. "Let's go," Zayn said. They walked out to the car and after everyone had buckled their seatbelts, they drove to the ward.

Zayn drove and Gemma sat in the back of the car in the middle and held the bucket in case Katie needed it. They had just been driving for a minute when Katie violently vomited into the bucket. Gemma comforted the girl. Zayn took a shortcut to avoid speeding up and to get to Crystal lace in less than the five minutes they normally take. Gemma quickly grabbed another carrier bag as the one in the bucket was almost full. "We are almost there, only a minute left" Zayn announced before soon parking the car at the building and helping Gemma and Katie out of the car. He then took the bags from the boot. They walked and took the lift straight to Clover ward. Katie was very weak and leaning on her parents, one either side of her wearing masks.

They arrived at Clover ward. Carla took one look at them. "Oh poor Katie, looks like she is suffering badly, follow me over to a bed." Carla said. Due to the lactose intolerance the ward knew the family. Carla soon called for a nurse or doctor to assess the girl. A dr and a nurse came over and assessed them. They let Zayn stay to help comfort the girl for now. They confirmed it was the bug and soon hooked Katie to fluids and medicines through a drip. Zayn went back home after Katie was comfortably asleep in a room after being admitted. Katie was now hooked up to fever reducer and fluids. The nurse told Gemma to sleep while Katie slept, so she slept in the parent bed next to Katie. Katie slept for a few hours before waking up and throwing up over herself. Gemma woke up at the sound of vomiting and asked for a nurse to come help them.