Finding the Missing Piece: Book 2

Chapter Forty-Two

Katniss POV-

"Katniss Everdeen?" A nurse comes from a door on the side of the waiting room.

Quickly, I jerk my head up, another wrong move.

Peeta stands up and eases me to my feet.

I lean against him for support as I can feel myself involuntarily leaning forward.

Peeta keeps me balanced and prevents me from falling.

"Hi, Katniss. Take a seat. I'm just going to be taking your vitals." The nurse speaks softly to me.

Peeta helps me sit down in the cold metal chair and the nurse checks my blood pressure, temperature, height and weight.

"Well, your blood pressure is a little high for your age which is concerning. Is there something going on that may be causing a spike?" She asks me.

I look up at Peeta, "She has been a little worried about being sick. Also, we've both been under a lot of stress lately at home." Peeta informs her.

She writes the information down on a clipboard and nods, "Anything I should be concerned about, Katniss?"

"No. It's been taken care of." I say.

"Alright. You also have quite a high temperature. You're running a 103.6 degree fever." She says, writing it on my chart.

Peeta squeezes my hand.

She comes over and pats my back once gently, "Poor kid, I can see how much pain you're
in." The nurse says sympathetically.

I open my eyes a little and shrug.

I look at Peeta.

He gives me a sad smile and the nurse leads us to the room where she said a doctor will see me soon.

Both Peeta and the nurse help me onto the paper covered bed and help me lay down.

Peeta and I sit in dead silence until the doctor comes into the room a few minutes later.

"Knock, knock." The doctor says, opening the door.

Peeta rolls his eyes and I refrain from it, partly because it'll make me feel worse if I do.

"I'm Dr. Aurelius." He waves as he takes the clipboard full of my information from the cubby on the back of the large door and looks it over.

"Katniss, have you had any trouble hearing or are your ears sensitive right now?" He asks.

"A little ringing and preside." I say simply.

"Okay, are you light sensitive?" He asks.

I nod my head and he writes it down.

"Have you had sexual intercourse within the last three months?" He asks, eyeing both Peeta and I.

I feel my face heat up at the question and see Peeta is holding back a laugh.

"No." I say simply.

"When did all of this begin?" Dr. Aurelius asks.

"I guess yesterday. I started feeling bad but I didn't think much about it. I threw up last night but went to bed. I was fine all night while I was laying flat but once I sat up, that's when I felt light headed and then I puked." I explain.

The doctor writes down a few more things, "Okay, I am gonna check your ears right quick." The doctor says.

Dr. Aurelius grabs some sort of device from a drawer and slaps a little plastic cap on it. He flicks on a light and looks into both of my ears. Seconds later he throws the cap into the trash and places the machine back into the drawer, without saying anything.

"I'll be back in just a few minutes." He says and leaves the room.

I look over at Peeta.

"Maybe it's an ear infection?" Peeta Asia.

I shrug, "I hope it's nothing more than that but I just feel horrible. It can't just be my ears, Peeta." I tell him with doubt.

Peeta shrugs just as Dr. Aurelius walks back into the room, "Okay, I believe you have a pretty nasty but fast moving ear infection. It's caused vertigo but since symptoms just started yesterday, it might be quick to treat." He says.

"What can I do to help her?" Peeta jumps on the question.

Dr. Aurelius just shrugs his shoulders, "Well, the ear infection can be treated with antibiotics and the vertigo which is also a result of the ear infection, will just have to pass on it's own." He says.

"Is there anything that will help ease her pain until the antibiotics kick in?"

"I am sorry but there isn't much we can do but prescribe the antibiotics. She will just have to let the rest pass on it's own. It should be over within a few days, no more than a week."

Peeta sighs, "Katniss felt like she was dying and this could last for another week?"

"Since we caught it early, a week at the latest. If you would've let the symptoms persist over the course of a few more days, it could've been up to six weeks."

"Peeta, I'll be fine." I say truthfully.

"If you're not better within the next week, come back and we will see what else we can do for you. Thank you and I hope you feel better soon." The doctor says and leaves the room.

"Let's go, Katniss." Peeta says, slowly helping me up.

We pay for the visit and make it back to the car. We drive home from getting my ear drops from the pharmacy as well as antibiotics.

When we get home, Peeta carries me up the stairs and to the bedroom, helping me put on something more comfortable then tucks me into our bed.

Peeta places a pair of fuzzy socks on my feet.

"I'll go get the laptop so we can look more into this." He says.

"Yeah." I say, turning over in the bed and pulling the comforter over my ears.

I lay there in the cold bed and under the cold blanket and a few minutes later Peeta comes up.

He carefully sits on the bed next to me and turns on the laptop.

"It says here that there isn't an actual treatment but there's medicine to ease the pain." Peeta says.

I roll my eyes, "What is it?" I ask him softly.

"The antibiotics he prescribed and the ear drops. Then over the counter stuff to stop the nausea. I know it's not much of a treatment but it still could help if we got you something to help you from being so dizzy." Peeta says.

"Okay." I say softly.

"I'm sorry you feel so bad. I don't like seeing you in pain, it breaks my heart." He says sympathetically.

"At least I'm not dying." I joke.

Peeta laughs, shaking his head.

He gets up and puts on his shoes again, "Where are you going?" I ask.

Peeta looks over at me, "To get your medicine or see what else might help." He says.

I nod my head.

"I'll be back really soon, okay? You try to sleep and don't get up. Do you want me to make you something to eat before I go?" He asks.

I shake my head 'no.'

"How about I pick you up some soup from The Hob? It's your favorite thing there."

I smile and nod my head. "Please?"

Peeta comes over and bends down next to my bedside and I turn to face him, "I'll be back. I love you." He says, kissing my lips.

"I love you too. Thank you for taking care of me." I say.

Peeta gives me a genuine smile and walks out of the room.

Soon, I fall into a semi-safe feeling sleep.

It'd be better if Peeta was here but I know he'll be back soon and that helps ease my longing.