"Dizzy...." I moaned as the medical staff twisted my rolling stretcher around, rushing me through the hallways.
"I know, sweetie, but we have to move you into a different area for an examination," a soft voice explained.
I shut my eyes, avoiding the circling display of hospital members.
"Which doctor is on call?" the small voice pondered.
"Dr.Turtle!" came a booming accent.
Accent? What city was I in after all?
"Someone page her please! He needs to be settled in."
The moving stopped. Thank God.
"Okay, Nick..." The accented one had returned to me. "We need to move you to another stretcher."
My eyelashes fluttered. "I'm already on a stretcher."
A small hand caressed my cheek. "I know, but if we move you, you'll be more comfortable."
"We'll help you," the other assured me.
I forced my eyes open, sitting up. "Okay." I stared at them intensely.
"What's wrong, sir?"
"Do I know you?"
The burly man lifted me up, swinging my legs over the stretcher. "We're the paramedics that brought you in, kid."
"Oh."
The woman took the IV, bringing it to the new bed as the man guided me.
My head spun. "Wh-where am I?"
The man positioned me over the new stretcher. "The hospital."
I attempted to place his accent. "A hospital in Puerto Rico? Did Howie bring me?"
He laughed. "No, son you and I are many miles away from Puerto Rico. You're in Chicago."
The fair-skinned lady glanced over my IV. "That's where your tour is now."
"Oh."
Tour?
"Brian!" I shouted, my eyes searching the room.
"Is he your friend? The smaller one?"
I nodded despite the pounding in my skull.
"He's in the waiting room. Unfortunately, because your friends aren't related, they'll have to stay there a bit longer. Until some tests are performed."
"Is he okay?" I blurted out.
"Well, he's scared for you."
"But his heart is okay?"
"As far as I can tell. Now, you just relax."
The man walked toward the door. "Don't worry. Your other friend is with him. The bigger guy."
"Kevin," I whispered, clutching the Care Bear Brian had managed to slip in my arms.
"Make sure Kevin takes care of him."
The woman joined him at the doorway. "We'll see what we can do. You just relax."
A thin redheaded woman walked through the entrance. "How's he doing?"
"Sick and scared. He's handling it quite well considering the circumstances. An eighteen-year-old kid without his family, miles away from home."
She frowned. "You poor boy. I'll try to have you fixed up in a jiffy."
The paramedics waved to me. "Feel better."
The redhead came closer to me. "Hello, Nick, I'm Dr.Turtle. Could you tell me what's going on?"
"My stomach hurts. I just don't feel very well."
She read over my chart. "Sweetheart, I don't think anyone with your symptoms would be doing cartwheels."
My mind became puzzled. "I don't think we do any cartwheels in our show.....Do we?"
She bit her lip. "I'll just take your word for it."
"Are you old enough to be a doctor?" I asked as the bright light shone in my eyes. She looked like she was Kevin's age, maybe even Howie's.
"I am, Mr.Carter, I assure you."
"You're the youngest looking doctor I've ever had," I muttered.
A stethoscope rested against my chest. "I'll take that as a compliment. Breathe deep for me."
I breathed in as directed. "Am I going to die?"
Her brown eyes narrowed as she lifted my shirt above my belly. "I don't think so. Why don't you concentrate on something else right now?"
"Okay."
"Is your throat bothering you?" came the question as she slid her fingers over my glands.
"Yeah, it's burning from all the puking."
I gazed at her features. "It's a shame you became a doctor."
"Why?"
"You're beautiful. You should've been a model. They get more money."
"Uh huh...." She felt my forehead. "I think the first thing on your health agenda is to lower that fever. You're spacing out a bit on me." She pressed against my stomach. "Let me know where the pain is the worst."
"It's pretty much is killing me all over."
Her hands poked roughly against my right side. "Is the aching any worse here?"
I winced. "It hurts bad." I gasped. "Really bad."
She frowned, scribbling away on her chart.
"Is it my appendix?"
"Possibly, but I'm not sure of anything yet. I'd like to run some tests. Just to be on the safe side."
I gulped. "Is it going to hurt?"
"Some won't be too bad, others won't be too great." Dr.Turtle glanced up from her chart. "I'll have a nurse come in and help you into the hospital attire. That should make things much easier on you."
"Will she be nice like you?"
"Katie is a very sweet nurse, Nickolas."
Sweat poured off my skin. "What are you planning for me?"
"I'm going to have the nurse begin you on some medication through the IV after I'm positive of your allegries. Then, Katie will draw some blood, and someone will be along to give you an ultrasound."
My stomach churned. "I'm pregnant?"
"No, I need a look inside your tummy."
My stomach rumbled, swishing a burning liquid from side to side. I brought my free hand to my mouth. "Dr. Turtle-"
The doctor placed a basin under my mouth just in time. Tears fell from my eyes it was hurting so intensely. She wiped my face, helping me lye back.
"Shh...I know it hurts. Just try to relax and we'll see what we can do for you, all right?"
I faced her. "I shouldn't be this upset."
"You have every right to be upset. Don't worry about a thing, it's perfectly all right to be upset."
I sighed. "I'm so confused."
"I know." She smiled. "I wasn't sure if you were a patient or a model scout."
I gave her a half-smile. I was glad she was nice.
She gave my hand a final pat. "Try to rest, Katie will be in shortly."
I stared at the small white area, now that I was alone. My puzzled mind practically ached with confusion. I needed to get to Brian. Someone had to assure me he was okay. And I wanted my doctor's home phone number....I shook my head, attempting to clear my mind.
"Good evening," a gentle voice echoed.
A small burnette stood at my bedside, carrying to a vast supply of intravenous drugs.
"Hi, Nick, I'm Katie."
"Hi," I whispered, holding my still aching stomach.
She flipped her brown hair over her shoulder, placing a thermometer to my ear as she set a small blood kit across from me. "How are you feeling?"
"Sick."
She nodded. "I can imagine."
I faced her. "Could you check on Brian?"
She retrieved the device. "Who's Brian?"
"My friend. He came here with me. He's really scared and he just had heart surgery and-"
"Shh....I'll stop by the waiting room after I take your blood to the lab."
Blood? I had a feeling I was going to be sick again. "What's my temperature?"
She frowned. "Let's just say too high."
Are we talking the medical definition of 'too high'? Or AJ's defintion of 'too high'?
"Do you need help removing your shirt?"
A beautiful brunette helping me remove my shirt- tempting. Why did I have to be too sick to enjoy the full pleasure of a beautiful medical staff? And too dizzy to keep them in focus?!
"Maybe."
She placed a green gown on top of my bed sheets. "There 'ya go, sweetheart."
I stared at my IV. "I think I'm going to have a problem."
"I'll help you, sweetie."
I shivered as she began to help me remove my sweaty t-shirt. "Are you cold?"
"Y-yes," I stuttered.
"I'll go get you an extra blanket after I draw some blood."
"Thanks," I croaked as she tied the small strings behind my neck.
"Can I keep on my boxers?"
She nodded. "By all means."
The few moments of giddiness I had exprienced due to the gorgeous ladies had now passed and I felt deathly ill again as she began to search my arm for a vein.
"Is this going to hurt as much as the IV?" I mumbled.
"It shouldn't sting as much." She grinned as she passed her fingertips over my arm. "This feels like a good one."
"Um...could my friend come back here?"
"Not quite yet, Nick. But I'll see if I can't again someone back here before your ultrasound."
I cringed as she tied the band around my arm.
"Why don't you try closing your eyes?"
Does that make the needle disappear? Either way I won't disagree with a medical worker.
I felt the needle slide under my skin, moving around.
"Ah!" I groaned. I couldn't help it. It hurt quite badly.
I heard her sigh and she removed the needle, pressing a swab of cotton against my skin.
I slowly opened my eyes. "Is it over?"
"Not entirely, sweetheart. You have rolling veins."
"Huh?"
"Once I got the needle in the vein, it began to roll, making it impossible to draw any blood. I attempted to move the needle and catch it, but that would hurt worse than sticking you again."
After that little discussion there's no doubt in my mind I'll be vomiting soon.
"Are you all right to let me try one more time?"
I nodded, shutting my eyes once again. The process began again. Only this time the search was expanded. Pump my fist, lightly slap my veins, massage the skin around the vein...Freakin' spa treatment with pain.
She sighed. "Okay, I think I've got something. Just keep strong for me."
Strong? I have to fight to keep consciousness...... The needle re-entered.
"Ah!" I shrieked as she moved it around. I couldn't help it. It hurt like hell.
"There!" she exclaimed. "I'm so sorry. It'll be over in a minute. Just stay with me."
I could hear her popping off different bottles, securing them. I had seen the number of tubes she had brought it. Does someone actually have enough blood in their blood to give out that much?
She taped up my arm. "All done."
I opened my eyes tiredly, breathing deeply. "Katie?"
"Yes?"
"I really don't feel good."
"I know you don't. Maybe having someone back here with you will help."
I coughed. "You have to check on Brian-Brian Littrell! I have to know that he is okay!"
I placed the Care Bear in her hands. "And can you give him this? It's kinda' an on-the-road ritual."
She nodded. "Okay, I promise, I'll check. But I think you better worry about yourself right now. You've gotten even paler since when I first saw you. Try to relax."
It was when she left that l realized how sick l was. I felt as if the room was spinning if I simply turned my head. My body was layered in perspiration. And the walls inside my stomach were grinding together.
Is this how Brian felt before his surgery? I shut my eyes, pretending that when I opened them it would have only been a bad dream.
Minutes later I felt a someone's hand pushing my sweat matted hair out of my face.
"Hi there, buddy."
"Kevin?" I sat up quickly. "Where's Brian?"
Kevin gently eased me back into bed. "He wanted me to come see you. He's feeling a bit tired from all the excitement. Your nurse said you insisted that she make sure he was okay. So she gave him your bear and he resting in the waiting room."
I could feel my eyes wandering the room involuntarily. "Is he sick?"
"No, just tired and worried. I'm sure once he's up to it, he'll be in here causing chaos since you're currently invalid to do so."
"If he's not in here something's wrong. I know something's wrong," I rambled.
Kevin sighed. "You've got to relax. You just have to lye back and be taken care of."
"Brian tried to take care of me..." l muttered.
"Yes, but Brian was also coherent. There's a big difference."
I groaned. It's not nice to use big words when a blonde is delirious. My head felt heavy.
"But Brian is okay? It's not his heart?"
"No, Nick. Now, be quiet would 'ya?"
He placed an extra blanket over me. "The nurse said you were getting cold and asked me to bring this to you while she ran down to the lab."
I breathed deeply. "I feel so strange."
"I know, buddy. But they'll be able to help you now."
I coughed roughly, clutching my stomach, fighting tears. "I didn't mean to make Brian scared. I didn't mean to be nasty to him-"
Kevin wiped a hand over his face, covering his teary eyes. "I know, Nick, I know." He grabbed the small cup behind him. "Hey! Enough of this sappy stuff! Your nurse said l could give you some ice chips!"
Ice chips? Is that a treat?
"Oh."
He held an ice cube to my dried lips. "Come on, Nicky."
I allowed him to slip the ice into my mouth. I kept it there, allowing it to melt.
"My lips...." I moaned. "My lips are so dry."
He nodded, pulling a tube of chapstick from his pocket. "It's the dehydration."
"It sucks," I complained as I took the tube from him. I was shaking so terribly it fell from my hand onto my blankets.
Kevin stared at my needle -attacked arms and shaking hands. "You want me to put the chapstick on for you?"
I nodded.
I felt my body trembling as Kevin applied the substance to my lips. I couldn't even put chapstick on by myself or keep focused. What was wrong with me?
"That better?" he asked, pushing the tube back into his pocket.
I sniffled. "Kev, I'm scared."
"I know you are, but you don't have to be. It'll be okay. Howie called your parents and all of the guys are here. Everyone is going to be staying by you through this."
"Hello, Mr.Carter," came a voice from my door frame.
"That's Dr.Turtle," I explained to Kevin. "She's really pretty. So is the nurse."
He smiled, seeming to agree with me, taking her hand. "Oh, hello, nice to meet you."
She blushed."The pleasure is all mine, Mr?"
"Richardson."
"I'm glad you're here with Nick." She walked to my bed. "Feeling any better?"
"Not really."
"Any worse?"
"Yes, actually."
"I'm sure being poked and prodded doesn't help, huh?"
I shook my head.
"Well, I'm happy to tell you the ultrasound doesn't involve needles."
I knew I liked her for a reason.
She pulled the blankets back gently. "It won't be very comfortable, because your stomach is hurting so much, but it shouldn't be terribly painful compared to before."
Kevin turned to her. "You're giving the ultrasound? I thought specialists did that?" His eyes widened. "Not to say that you can't...."
"That's quite all right. Actually, you're correct, we do normally have others to do this for the doctors. But Nick was brought in at a very odd time of night, I would prefer to perform the test myself as to wait until morning because of his severe symptoms."
"That's kind of you."
"I just want Nick to feel better and catch whatever this is as soon as I can."
Kevin glanced around the room. "Should I leave?"
"That's up to Nick."
"Please don't leave," I whispered.
He nodded. "I'll be right here."
"Okay, Nick, this gel is going to feel very cold going on."
I shivered as she pressed the freezing jelly over my stomach with the machine. "All right, Nick, just relax."
She stared into the small screen as the picture appeared. "Well, your appendix appears to be fine. That's good to hear, I'm sure you weren't wanting surgery anytime soon."
"Do you have any idea what it is?"
"Everything looks all right as far as I can see so far, Mr.Carter. Nothing seems enlarged and I don't see any signs of an ulcer."
"What happens next?" Kevin asked.
She continued to move the uncomfortable object around my belly. "I'd like to wait to see what the test results from the blood work say and perform another ultrasound in the morning, to see if there's has been any change. As for now, I want to focus on making him comfortable, since I'm not sure what we're dealing with."
Dr.Turtle turned off the machine, facing me. "Nick, I'm considering giving you a sedative. I'm hoping it would relax your body and give you a few hours of much needed peaceful sleep. I'm also hoping that while you were sleeping it would pervent the nausea and give the intravenous drugs a chance to work against the dehydration and lower your temperature, which is one of my greatest concerns right now. Would you have any objection to that?"
"No, sleep sounds great."
She nodded as she wiped the goo from my stomach. "I'm sure it does, honey. I'll go ahead and sign the prescription to Katie. Then, I'll check up on you soon. All right?"
"All right. Could Kevin stay with me until l fall asleep?"
"I don't see why not."
Kevin took a seat across from me as she exited. "You hanging in there?"
"As much as I can."
"You need anything?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"I just don't want to be alone."
"Well, one of us will always be with you as long as the staff will let us."
I felt myself shaking without end. "It's just all so scary right now. I've never been this sick."
He frowned. "I know, buddy."
Katie returned. "Hi, sweetie." She walked over to my IV. "Hopefully this medication will help you sleep and ease some of the pain."
"How's Brian?" I blurted out.
"He's all right, just a bit tired."
"You're positive?"
"Absolutely. He sends you a hug and told you to rest and listen to Kevin, whether you like it or not."
I took a raspy deep breath. "Sounds like Brian."
The nurse turned away form the IV. "All set. Now, you just keep calm and let the medication take effect."
I nodded.
"Kevin?"
"Kevin, will you tell Brian I'm sorry?"
"For what?"
"That I'm sorry. I've been saying I'm sorry, but no one pays attention. He needs to know."
His forehead creased. "You're not making sense."
I yawned, my eyes drooping. "But-"
"Just sleep."
"Kev-"
"Shh..the medication works quickly, you know that. Now, stop fighitng it and go to sleep. Brian will see you later."
I drifted off.