--- Part 9 ---

“Heero, are you still here?”

“Yes,” he answered, his voice not betraying his surprise that Relena knew that he was there.

She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to moan. She felt like she was burning, indicating that the fever was back with a vengeance. However, that was not was worrying her.

“Will you go get Dr. Ling, Heero? I think that something’s wrong.”

He studied the monitors, noting that her temperature was higher but her blood pressure and heart rate were lower. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t feel right,” she murmured, her eyes trying to focus on him. Yet, despite her efforts, his image refused to come into focus. “I can’t explain it. I just feel . . .”

Her voice trailed off, never finishing the sentence. She tried to focus on him one last time before the darkness took her under. From the side of the bed, Heero watched as her eyes rolled back into her head before closing, signaling her unconsciousness.

“Relena? Relena!”

Heero was still calling her name when the monitors began to beep their alarm.

* * * * *

Alex grimaced as she downed the bitter, black coffee. However, the warmth radiated throughout her body, and she knew that she would appreciate the caffeine rush soon. With a sigh, she continued her review of the call schedule for the month, noting the very days off she would be afforded.

“More coffee, Dr. Ling?”

Alex looked up at the voice. “No thanks, Gillian. Maybe later.”

“Okay,” the young nurse replied, continuing on to the modest break room behind the nurses’ station.

Alex watched her as left. Gillian was one of her favorite nurses on this floor. Although she had been working at the hospital for almost two years and almost exclusively the draining night shift, the young nurse had managed to maintain her enthusiasm for her work. Her upbeat attitude and outlook usually reminded Alex of herself during medical school and spurred her through the entire shift to be her best.

Her musings were cut off by the shrill beeping of a patient monitor. One of the older nurses jumped from her chair, calling out the room number and the dropping vital signs of the patient. Before the nurse had finished, Alex was already running down the hall.

She ordered Heero out of the way, ignoring his glare. She confirming the stats the nurse had read off and noted Relena’s unconsciousness and slowing, shallow breathing. Glancing at the door, she was glad to see Gillian.

“We’re losing her,” Alex stated, disconnecting Relena’s current IV line. “I need a bag of saline and some epinephrine, among the standard supplies, and have the crash cart on standby. Now.”

“Yes, doctor,” Gillian replied, allowing the older nurses to assist while she retrieved the supplies. Within moments, she had returned with the supplies.

“Someone turn those alarms off,” Alex ordered as she grabbed the bag of saline solution and attached it to Relena’s IV line, letting it drip rapidly.

“Young man, you’re going to have to leave,” one of the nurses stated, positioning herself between Heero and the bed. However, the young man’s rigid posture indicated his outright refusal.

“Heero, you have to leave,” Alex said, locking eyes briefly with him. “You’ll only be in the way. However, guard the door and don’t let anyone in here but hospital staff until I tell you otherwise.”

He nodded slightly and strode purposely out of the room, except for one worried glance at Relena. With that situation taken care off, Alex shifted her attention completely back to her patient. Glancing at the monitors, she realized that the saline was bringing up blood pressure up quickly enough.

“Where’s the epinephrine and that second IV line?” she demanded, already searching for a good vein in Relena’s arm.

“Epinephrine,” Gillian stated, handing Alex a syringe.

“I’m working on the second line,” another stated, working on the other side of Relena. “I think I got it. Yeah, it’s good.”

Alex injected the epinephrine, praying for luck. “Let’s get that second IV line ready. We’ll need it.”

Luck was kind. The epinephrine took effect and Relena’s vital signs began to climb upward. The young politician was definitely a tough person indeed.

“We’re still not out of the woods, yet, people,” Alex said, although Relena’s blood pressure and heart rate were nearing normal. “Let’s get a second bag of fluids going and get a thermal blanket. We need to keep her warm.”

Then, Alex had to do the toughest part of her job. She sat back, waiting and praying.


Part IX “Heero, are you still here?” “Yes,” he answered, his voice not betraying his surprise that Relena knew that he was there. She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to moan. She felt like she was burning, indicating that the fever was back with a vengeance. However, that was not was worrying her. “Will you go get Dr. Ling, Heero? I think that something’s wrong.” He studied the monitors, noting that her temperature was higher but her blood pressure and heart rate were lower. “What’s wrong?” “I don’t feel right,” she murmured, her eyes trying to focus on him. Yet, despite her efforts, his image refused to come into focus. “I can’t explain it. I just feel . . .” Her voice trailed off, never finishing the sentence. She tried to focus on him one last time before the darkness took her under. From the side of the bed, Heero watched as her eyes rolled back into her head before closing, signaling her unconsciousness. “Relena? Relena!” Heero was still calling her name when the monitors began to beep their alarm. * * * * * Alex grimaced as she downed the bitter, black coffee. However, the warmth radiated throughout her body, and she knew that she would appreciate the caffeine rush soon. With a sigh, she continued her review of the call schedule for the month, noting the very days off she would be afforded. “More coffee, Dr. Ling?” Alex looked up at the voice. “No thanks, Gillian. Maybe later.” “Okay,” the young nurse replied, continuing on to the modest break room behind the nurses’ station. Alex watched her as left. Gillian was one of her favorite nurses on this floor. Although she had been working at the hospital for almost two years and almost exclusively the draining night shift, the young nurse had managed to maintain her enthusiasm for her work. Her upbeat attitude and outlook usually reminded Alex of herself during medical school and spurred her through the entire shift to be her best. Her musings were cut off by the shrill beeping of a patient monitor. One of the older nurses jumped from her chair, calling out the room number and the dropping vital signs of the patient. Before the nurse had finished, Alex was already running down the hall. She ordered Heero out of the way, ignoring his glare. She confirming the stats the nurse had read off and noted Relena’s unconsciousness and slowing, shallow breathing. Glancing at the door, she was glad to see Gillian. “We’re losing her,” Alex stated, disconnecting Relena’s current IV line. “I need a bag of saline and some epinephrine, among the standard supplies, and have the crash cart on standby. Now.” “Yes, doctor,” Gillian replied, allowing the older nurses to assist while she retrieved the supplies. Within moments, she had returned with the supplies. “Someone turn those alarms off,” Alex ordered as she grabbed the bag of saline solution and attached it to Relena’s IV line, letting it drip rapidly. “Young man, you’re going to have to leave,” one of the nurses stated, positioning herself between Heero and the bed. However, the young man’s rigid posture indicated his outright refusal. “Heero, you have to leave,” Alex said, locking eyes briefly with him. “You’ll only be in the way. However, guard the door and don’t let anyone in here but hospital staff until I tell you otherwise.” He nodded slightly and strode purposely out of the room, except for one worried glance at Relena. With that situation taken care off, Alex shifted her attention completely back to her patient. Glancing at the monitors, she realized that the saline was bringing up blood pressure up quickly enough. “Where’s the epinephrine and that second IV line?” she demanded, already searching for a good vein in Relena’s arm. “Epinephrine,” Gillian stated, handing Alex a syringe. “I’m working on the second line,” another stated, working on the other side of Relena. “I think I got it. Yeah, it’s good.” Alex injected the epinephrine, praying for luck. “Let’s get that second IV line ready. We’ll need it.” Luck was kind. The epinephrine took effect and Relena’s vital signs began to climb upward. The young politician was definitely a tough person indeed. “We’re still not out of the woods, yet, people,” Alex said, although Relena’s blood pressure and heart rate were nearing normal. “Let’s get a second bag of fluids going and get a thermal blanket. We need to keep her warm.” Then, Alex had to do the toughest part of her job. She sat back, waiting and praying.


Part X--Coming Soon You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye