Consequences

Chapter 41

Authors note: I am so sorry in not update any of my fics. Been extremely busy with work over last few months but now it's called down I will try and update more if people still want me to. Not entirely happy with this as very rusty but it's an update.

Within a matter of hours, Graces temperature had increased higher; forcing her daughter to sit up long enough to take some paracetamol and a drink, Connie helped her to lie in her own double bed and constantly dabbed her forehead with a cold cloth throughout the night.  By the following morning, Grace still had her temperature and had started vomiting; when she couldn't get her to drink anything at all, Connie started to worry about her daughter becoming severely dehydrated. Making a snap decision, knowing she needed help, she helped Grace into her range rover and drove to the emergency department, making a call to Charlie on the way.

"How is she?" He asked, meeting them outside with a trolley.

"She hasn't drunk anything in 12 hours; she needs fluids and medication to stop the sickness. Her temperature hasn't moved from last night either" she answered as Jacob lifted Grace from the front seat and onto the trolley. "Who's on?"

"Alicia and Dylan" Charlie answered as they headed through to the Peads resus area.

"Someone get Dr Munroe here" she barked, her hand not leaving Grace's. "I'm still here darling"

"Mom" Grace whispered.

"I'm not going anywhere"

As Alicia checked the youngster over and instructed Charlie to set up an IV drips with fluids and paracetamol, Connie stood and watched, her arms wrapped around herself as Jacob gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"It's just the flu; she'll be fine" he said.

"Her temperature is so high"

"She's a fighter; give it a couple of days and she'll be right back to her cheeky self"

"I know" she sighed. "Thank you...for staying even though your shift has finished"

"Anytime"

"I'll be okay; you should go and get some sleep"

"I'm good"

"Honestly, I'll be fine" she insisted, shaking off his hand and making her way to stand next to her daughter and take her hand. "I'm here darling; you'll feel better soon, I promise"

As everyone else disappeared, Charlie stayed behind and continued to keep an eye on the youngster; seeing Connie holding back a yawn, he placed a gentle hand on her forearm to get her to look at him.

"Go and get some rest, I'll stay with Grace" he offered, more of a suggestion than a question.

"I'm not leaving her"

"Connie, you are exhausted; you'll be no good to Grace if you end up collapsing"

"I'm not going anywhere Charlie"

"Okay, how about this then? I'll see if the side room is free and we'll move her into there; at least then you can have somewhere more comfy to sit" he compromised.

When Connie didn't answer, he squeezed her forearm and left her to it; gently moving her hair from her daughter's sweaty forehead, she watched her sleep somewhat peacefully now the anti-sickness medicine and fluid were starting to do there job. An hour later, Charlie had manage to wrangle them a side room and shortly after taking a seat in the comfy armchair next to the bed, Connie was soon sleeping; when she woke a few hours later, she found Jacob sat next to her daughter on the bed, Grace snuggled against him as they watched some video on his tablet.

"Hey sweetheart, you feeling better?" She asked, sitting up so she could lean forward and take her hand.

Grace nodded.

"That's good; you feel a lot cooler. Think you can manage soup?

"Jacob already gave me some"

"Okay; I'm gonna get something. I'll be right back, okay?"

When Grace nodded, Connie kissed her forehead and left the room; leaning against the wall outside the side room, she sighed heavily.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Charlie asked as he stood next to her and handed her a mug of coffee.

"Just a sense of dejavu; this room, me been ill. What are you still doing here? Your shift finished hours ago" she asked as they took a seat.

"I grabbed a couple of hours in the on call room; Alicia's happy for Grace to go home. Just keep an eye on her but her temperature has dropped back to normal and she's taking in fluids and food"

"Thanks Charlie" she smiled slightly, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes.

"Why don't I drive you both home?" He offered, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"I have the car"

"And you are exhausted; you can pick it up tomorrow"

"Am I a bad person?" She asked, her eyes still closed.

"Why do you say that?"

"All my life, from a young age, bad things always follow me; my mom committed suicide. My dad drank himself stupid. My husband set me up for murder. Grace's car accident. My pneumonia and now this..."

"You're not a bad person Connie; just unlucky. What happened with your parents and the accident and you and Grace been ill, none of that was your fault; and with Michael, you fought back; the lack of sleep last night is making you feel and think about things you wouldn't normally even consider usually. You are a fantastic mom to that little girl in there; no matter what has happened in the past, that's what it is: in the past"

"So how do I change how I feel?" She asked, looking at him; out of everyone in the department, Charlie was the only person she allowed to see her vulnerable side, except for Zoe.

"Just keep doing what you're doing; drink your coffee, get your daughter and I'll you home"

As he disappeared to get Graces discharged notes from Alicia, Connie looked through the window into the room as she drank her coffee, watching as Grace laughed; seeing her so content and happy, despite how she was feeling, made Connie feel a little better.