Red Alert/Red Notice (The "Super Jerk" Prequel)

13 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

^^Above, chapter title credit: Song by U2.^^

{Geoffrey}

"Mr. Cromwell?"

I snort unflatteringly and sit up straight, for a second forgetting where I am. I've been sitting in a hard plastic chair in a hospital waiting room, but I don't remember how long. The last thing I do remember, though, is finding Raina unconscious on the floor in the bathroom, a bruise on her cheek where she hit it on the way down.

"Yeah?" I say, and then amend it quickly when I see the doctor standing over me. "That's me."

"I was only coming to tell you that your wife is stable and sleeping now." He sighs. "We've done some tests, and it seems she's low on electrolytes. Are there any symptoms we should know about before we try to diagnose it?"

"Well..." I have to think. "She's been throwing up a lot."

"Do you know how long this has been going on?" he asks, his voice calm and monotone.

I shrug, tugging at my necktie. Even though it's loose now, it still feels like it's strangling me. "Two, maybe three months? It started pretty soon after she told me she was pregnant."

The doctor nods, expression grim. "Have you noticed a change in eating habits?"

I can answer that one pretty easily. "She hasn't really been eating at all."

"It's rare, Mr. Cromwell, but it sounds like she may have a case of hyperemesis gravidarum. Characterized by severe nausea and vomiting. And for someone in her stage of pregnancy, unusually underweight."

That makes me hesitate. I'd been so occupied lately I'd hardly taken any notice. Guilt rises in my stomach, and I have to suppress it. "What can we do?"

"We'll keep her overnight, for monitoring. She's on an IV, to keep her fluids and electrolytes in balance. You should go home, try to get some rest, and we'll call you if anything changes."

I nod, and then stand up. "Can I see her?"

He hesitates. "We usually don't..."

"I just want to see if she's okay," I say. It's really guilt that makes me do it, but I know Raina's been feeling neglected, and it's all my fault.

"All right," he says, giving in. "But you'll have fifteen minutes only. Is that enough?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

I follow him through the doors and further into the hospital. Other doctors and nurses in scrubs pass us without a second glance, and that's just fine. The less attention the better, and all I want is to help Raina get through this.

She's in a room at the very end of a long quiet hallway. When I open the door, I hear the beep of the heart monitor. Raina's tucked into bed, the sheets pulled close enough around her that I can see where the baby's beginning to show. Her eyes are closed, and the bruise has darkened and begun to spread across her cheekbone.

"Hey, Raina," I say, pulling up a chair beside the bed and taking her hand in both of mine. "Honey?

She stirs, and her eyes crack open. When she sees me, her brow furrows and they widen. "Geoff? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see how you were." I tuck some hair behind her ear and cup her cheek. "Feeling okay?"

"A little sore," she says, propping herself up on one elbow. It's not easy, considering it pulls at her IV tube. I see her wince when it goes too far. "How long have you been here?"

"Couple hours." I kiss her furrowed brow. "Do you remember fainting?"

"Sort of." She sags back, rubbing at her cheek and wincing. "Ow."