Through sickness and in health

Chapter Eight

Nicky, Lorna and Red were sat round Red's kitchen table eating a quiche she had made previously. Lorna looked over at Nicky who was pushing the meal around on her plate, not really eating it.

"Nicky, hon, what's wrong?" Lorna asked, placing her hand on Nicky's arm. Nicky look up and Lorna noticed the bags under her eyes.

"Nothing, I'm just not really hungry," she replied, looking back down at her barley touched plate. At this point, Red looked up.

"Honey, you've hardly eaten in three days and when you have you've thrown it straight back up. Perhaps we should take you to the hospital. It could be that new medication?" Nicky just shook her head in response.

"I think maybe I'm going to go for a lay down, I'm feeling pretty tired," Nicky excused herself from the table. She left the room and went over to her bedroom that Red kept for her when she stayed over.

When Lorna was positive that Nicky was out of ear shot she faced Red, with a worried expression on her face.

"I'm real worried about her. She's not herself anymore. I can see her getting worse but I just don't know what to do." A tear began to fall from her left eye. Red reached out a sensitive hand and wiped it away before replying to her, choosing her words carefully.

"I know honey. If she doesn't eat tomorrow then I'm going to take her straight to the hospital. But the good news is she is getting higher up on the transplant list." Sometimes Red would find it different to be positive to, in moments like this, but she knew that she had to be strong. For Nicky's sake.

***
Two weeks later

"What's wrong honey?" asked Red as she stroked a withdrawn Nicky's hand. Nicky moved her head up slightly on the hospital bed to look at Red properly.

"I really didn't want it to have to come to this," she muttered.

"I know Nicky but remember it's only temporary. Only until you can eat again."

As she said that two Nurses entered the room.

"Are we ready Nicky?" Nicky nodded her head reluctantly.

"Right if you can sit up. Mrs Reznikov I'm going to hand you this drink. Nicky, if you feel the need to cough at any point, have some of the drink. Okay?" Nicky nodded as she sat up. The Nurse began to talk Nicky and Red about what she was going to do but Nicky wasn't really listening as she was watching the other Nurse setting some things up. The taller of the two Nurses who was previously setting up the equipment, brought the tube over to Nicky, and placed it by her nose. She made a few measurements before going back over to the preparation table.

A few moments later both Nurses came over to Nicky and Red. Red was perched on the side of the hospital bed holding the cup of water. One Nurse carefully took hold of Nicky's head to keep her still as the other one took the tube and held it just underneath Nicky's left nostril.

"Remember what I said Nicky. As soon as you feel the need to cough take a sip of the drink."

The Nurse began to push the feeding tube up Nicky's nostril. For a few seconds Nicky felt fine before she felt the need to cough. She began to sip from the drink that Red was holding for her as the Nurse continued to feed the tube through Nicky's nostril. Nicky began to gag and the tube fell out. She brought up a small about of yellow liquid into the cardboard bowl she had been given. Red was rubbing her back.

"It's okay Nicky. That's quite normal. We can try again," said the Nurse as she looked at Nicky with soft eyes.

***
It took them three more times before they managed to place the NG feeding tube in correctly. It had been taped into place on her cheek with the rest tucked behind her ear. She was laying on her other side, facing away from the door. Her throat felt sore and all she wanted to do was pull it back out. Red had tried to talk to her but she would only grunt in response.

Several hours later Lorna and Alex entered he hospital room.

"Hey Nick," greeted Alex warmly as Lorna kissed her on the cheek, carefully avoiding the tube that had been taped in place.

"Go away," croaked Nicky.

"Please Nicky," pleaded Lorna, confused as to why Nicky was treating her coldly.

"I don't want you to see me like this."

"No, Nicky. I love you. No matter what."

"Really?"

"Of course. I'll always love you."

Nicky rolled over and looked into Lorna's deep brown eyes. They kissed for a few seconds before Alex interrupted them.

"Do you want me to leave?" Nicky chuckled softly.

"We're done," stated Lorna, smiling back down at Nicky.

"For now," implied Nicky, grinning back up at Lorna and Alex.

"I'm glad to see your doing better."

Lorna knew Nicky had a long way to go. However in that brief moment, she felt a small amount of hope that perhaps one day she would be able to have a life with Nicky. One where they could get married, have kids but most importantly, Nicky would be healthy.

***
I really would love to hear what you think of this. I'm also currently undecided between two endings so it would be great if I could hear how you want this to end, it will help me decide how best to finish it off when the time comes. Thanks!