My New Doctor

Chapter 49

Harry's POV
I was 8 hours into my shift which meant only 2 left which was great but Rachel wasn't responding that well to medication so I rose from my position at my desk to go check on her. I entered her room and she was asleep so I gently took her temperature which read 41.1, it was getting higher and I couldn't figure out why. I shook Rachel's arm to get her to wake up "rach, wake up for me babe" I said lightly, her eyes flickered open but she looked confused "what's happening?" She asked
"Your not very well princess but we are going to get you better okay?" She nodded gently "how are you feeling? You in any pain?" I asked while listening to her chest
"Everything hurts haz, I feel like I've been hit by a bus or something and my head hurts, can you turn the light off?" She said and something clicked in my head 'viral meningitis' was my first thought.
"I'll turn one off but o need the other to see what I'm doing okay?" I asked and she nodded "I know your scared princess but I need to run a test, your not going to like it and I'm really sorry but it has to be done." I said softly.
"W-what test?" She stuttered out the fear growing in her eyes, I felt awful but it has to be done
"It's called a lumber puncture or you might have heard it called a spinal tap, and what it does is collect fluid from your spine, you know I won't lie to you princess and it will be a bit painful but you will be just fine I promise" I said holding her hand
"Please haz, I don't want to" she sobbed
"I know babe, I really do and I don't want you to have it either but I really need you to, do you understand?"
"Yes" she replied lowering her head. I left the room to collect supplies and I went to find a friend of mine who could help me with Rachel before returning to her room to see her in floods of tears struggling to breathe.
"Calm down princess, breathe" I tried calming Rachel and put a oxygen mask on her face, she tried pulling it off though, "no you need to leave it on" I said holding it in place "I'm not going to hurt you babe, it's me Harry! I need you to calm down that's all, when your calm we can talk" she just nodded. 10 minutes later she was a lot calmer and ready to talk, "rach, this is my friend Dr Shelley" I said and he walked over "you can call me George if you like" he said as they shook hands and she just nodded and smiled slightly "I know your scared but it's not that bad honest" I told Rachel
"How do you know? You've never had one" she said
"I've had one" George said "and yes they hurt a bit but it's mainly the thought, it's a lot of pressure but it's no where near as bad as your expecting I bet" she turned to me with tears streaming down her cheeks with a pleading look in her eyes, this was killing me but I had no choice.
"I'm sorry princess" I said as I pulled her into my arms " you have to have it though, I can't make you better without it and I hate seeing you like this" I said
"I know but I'm scared" she sobbed
"I know, do you trust me?" I asked
"Of course I do"
"Then you know I would never do anything to hurt you and I would never put you through this unless I really needed to" I said while wiping her tears
"I know"
"You can choose either I can do it or George can do it and I'll come sit with you"
"Will you do it?" She asked
"Of course I will" I smiled "I need you to turn into your side and lift your knees as far up to your chest as you can, George is going to come sit in front of you invade you get scared okay?" She nodded before sucking in a big breathe and turning. I grabbed some gloves and positioned my stool so I could reach her back. I opened her gown at the back and put opened a wipe "just going to clean your back, it'll be a bit cold" I said and she jumped but George slid his hand in hers "I'm here darling, no need to panic it's only Harry behind you" he said and nodded to me.
I then grabbed the anaesthetic and removed cap, "rach this is just going to make your back numb now so keep nice and still it'll just be a sharp scratch" I said and she nodded "deep breaths, I'll do it on three, one...two...three" I said and inserted the needle
"Just keep breathing with me, don't panic" George said and his eyes never left hers as she tried to remain calm. I removed the needle and waited for it to work. "almost there now rach, can you feel anything?" I asked while poking her back, she shook her head no "right here we go then" o said and picked up the needle "your going to feel a lot of pressure but you have to stay still, can you do that?" I asked and she nodded "good girl, I'm going to start now so just breathe" she started taking really shaky breaths
"Calm down, we ain't going to panic are we?" George said positively "we are going to breathe nice and slowly to calm down, and Harry will insert it on three, how does that sound?" He asked her and she nodded.
I positioned myself ready and when she was calm enough I started "one, two, three" I said and inserted the needle she whimpered but didn't move, I removed the needle from the inside leaving just the tube and grabbed the tube for the sample, I waited until I had enough before handing it to the nurse and removing it from Rachel's back and covering it with a plaster. "Your all done princess, I'm so proud of you, you can turn back over now if you want but you will be a little sore for a while" I said and she turned into her back slowly. "I knew you would be fine" George said as he stood up, "I'll come see you in a bit okay?" He said and she nodded
"Get some rest I'll be back soon" I said as we left
We got out of her room and I thanked George for his help
"Anytime mate, she's a lovely girl"
"Don't get any ideas now!" I joked and he laughed "see you later mate" I said as he went to get another patient.
40 minutes later Rachel's results were back so I headed to her room to tell her what was going on.