Part 183
Looking around, Kevin didn’t see Howie anywhere.
Becca saw the concern on his face and asked, "What’s wrong, Kevin?"
"Where’s ‘D’?"
Nick answered, "In make-up getting his hair dried and make-up redone. What’s up?"
Kevin waved them off as he hurried to get Howie. Minutes later, both men came rushing back headed to Howie’s dressing room.
While Kevin had been gone, Sarah had woken up and was now in the bathroom throwing up. Alex was standing with her holding her head and her hair.
"Alex…" called Howie but was answered by the sounds of Sarah getting sick. "Damn," he muttered heading to the bathroom.
"D, I’m gonna get them to call a doctor or something," said Kevin.
"Yeah…fine," he answered from the bathroom. Alex stepped out of the way and Howie took her in his arms. "Angel, I’m here now," he whispered.
Exhausted and as limp as a noodle, Sarah collapsed into Howie’s arms. Sobbing uncontrollably, "D, I hurt all over."
"I know," he whispered as he stroked her hair. "Do you think you can go back out to the couch now?"
"I think so, but I don’t think I can walk" she whispered.
Howie wasn’t in a position to pick her up so Alex took her in his arms and carried her out to the couch. He set her down and moved out of the way so that Howie could sit beside her.
About that time, Brian, Sonja, Vanessa, and Ali came in to check on Alex and Howie. Brian asked, "What’s up?"
"Sarah’s getting worse," said Alex softly watching as Howie wiped her forehead with the rag. "Kevin’s gone to get a doctor."
From the doorway, Becca asked, "What’s wrong with Sarah?"
Sarah panicked hearing Becca’s voice. "D, don’t let her in here!" she whispered.
"Calm down, Sarah," he soothed. "Bri," he motioned towards the door to get Becca out.
Brian went to the door and said, "Bec…don’t come in right now. We’ll let you know something in a minute."
Howie went on talking to the girls. "I know you’re worried about Sarah but she could use the peace and quiet and somebody needs to watch out for Jesse. Kevin will be back in a minute with a doctor."
"Sure, D. We’ll be outside if you need us," said Vanessa.
"Thanks."
The girls followed Brian out to where Nick and Becca were both waiting.
"What’s going on, Brian?" asked Nick.
"I’m not sure but Sarah looked really pale. We’ll have to wait for Alex to come out or Kevin to get back for an explanation."
"Kevin went to call for a doctor," offered Vanessa seeing the puzzled looks on Becca and Nick’s faces.
In the dressing room, Alex had stayed kneeling beside the couple watching as Howie wiped Sarah’s forehead. He was scared and he could see Howie was too. "D, this isn’t good, is it?" he asked in a whisper. "I mean, she was fine at breakfast."
"No, it’s NOT good. She started feeling bad while they were shopping.
Look, it’s your turn for the shoot. Go on so we can get it done."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah…I’m done for a little while and Kevin will be back in a few minutes."
Sarah reached for Alex. "I’ll be okay, Alex….Go on. Becca is really looking forward to this today so go make it special for her."
Howie grinned. "Oh, she’s definitely enjoying it. You should have seen her after I got done. I can’t WAIT to see her when Nick is up."
Alex gave Sarah a kiss on the forehead. "Baby, I hope you feel better."
"Thanks, Bone."
Alex headed out and was met by six anxious people.
Becca looked as though she could have the baby right that moment and before he could open his mouth to say anything, she was shooting questions at him. "What is wrong? Is Sarah okay? She’s not having cramps is she?"
"Give me a minute, Bec! Sarah started feeling bad while you ladies were out shopping and evidently, the blow up over Howie’s hair was more because she didn’t feel good than the fact that he cut it. Anyway, while Howie was doing his bit, Sarah got worse. Her fever went up really high and she started throwing up," explained Alex.
"How high is it?" asked Sonja.
"I don’t really know. Until we know something, Sarah wants us to go on as if nothing was wrong."
"How can we do THAT when she’s so sick?" asked Nick.
Concern was etched all over Becca’s face. "A high fever at this stage in her pregnancy is NOT good."
Brian spotted Kevin coming with two paramedics. "We’ll find out something now."
Kevin showed the two men in and stopped to speak to the group. "Guys, go on and get started with AJ’s part and I’ll let you know something as soon as I can."
"Kevin…how can we go on when…" started Nick.
Kevin realized what this was doing to Nick and Becca and taking his big brotherly tone, he said, "Both of you need to calm down. Sarah will be okay and Howie is worrying enough for ALL of us. He REALLY doesn’t need us losing it. Look, he’s worried that this may trigger Lupus in Sarah just like it did in Caroline and he’s probably just over-reacting. I’m concerned because she’s got a fever and is throwing up. She got dehydrated in Baton Rouge from a bad round of morning sickness and it could easily happen now. The BEST thing we can do for Howie and Sarah right now is to look out for Jesse and go on like nothing is wrong."
"I think we’d ALL feel better knowing how Sarah is," said Alex. "We’ve got the rest of today and tomorrow to get this video done."
As they had been talking, Jesse had wandered up and was now tugging at Kevin’s jacket. "Uncle Kevin!! I wanna see Mommy!" she whined.
Kevin scooped her up, "Jess, your mom is REALLY sick right now and your dad is in there trying to help her feel better. Do you think you can wait a little while longer to see her?"
Rolling her bottom lip out in a pout, Jesse asked, "Do I have to?"
Vanessa said, "Jesse, why don’t you come with me and Ali and we’ll go see if they can do your make-up?"
Jesse’s eyes got really big. "You mean like Mommy’s last night?"
"Exactly like Mommy’s," said Ali as she took Jesse from Kevin’s arms. "And we’ll get them to do your hair too."
Excitedly, Jesse said, "Oh Boy!!"
Kevin said, "Just tell them she’s Howie’s daughter. They’ll understand."
Becca shook her head, "Sarah’s gonna kill you two."
"She’s gonna have to feel a WHOLE LOT better than she does right now to do that," smirked Alex.
The group watched Ali and Vanessa head off towards make-up relieved that they had thought of the idea to distract Jesse. They stood talking as they waited for word on Sarah.
In Howie’s dressing room, the paramedics introduced themselves to Howie and then asked what was wrong. He explained that Sarah was pregnant with twins, about her morning sickness, and what had happened today. The lead paramedic, Noah, examined Sarah taking her blood pressure, taking her temperature, checking her pulse, and then listening to the fetal heartbeats.
"Mr. Dorough, your wife seems to be okay. Her temp is 103 which is nothing to panic over just yet."
"What about the babies? Won’t it hurt them?"
"Not unless it stays that high for an extended period of time. She simply has the flu and the morning sickness is intensifying the aches and pains of the flu. I heard both heartbeats and they’re strong."
"What now?"
"Make sure she’s as comfortable as possible, gets plenty of fluids, and
let her sleep. If the fever doesn’t come down in twenty-four hours or she gets
worse, give me a call," said Noah handing Howie a card. "I’m
actually a doctor but I fill in from time to time with the paramedics."
Howie sighed in relief knowing he was a doctor. "I really appreciate you coming."
"Not a problem," answered Tony, the second paramedic. He had been standing off to the side the whole time watching Sarah intently. "Is she your wife?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"The way she was dancing last night with that other guy, the one with
the tattoos, you’d have thought THEY were married. I certainly wouldn’t let
MY wife dance like that with another man."
Howie smiled, "They’re best friends and I have no problems with what she
did. I take it you caught her show."
"My girlfriend wanted to go to see you guys."
"How did she know we’d be there?"
"She’s a HUGE Backstreet fan."
Weakly, Sarah said, "D, why don’t you get a picture and get the others to sign it?"
Howie laughed, "I was JUST thinking that. Give me a minute. I expect they’re all outside the door. What’s your girlfriend’s name?"
"Bobbi."
Howie got the picture and went outside to get the others to sign it. He was ambushed coming out the door. "WHOA! Back down! Damn, do I need security with my own friends?" laughed Howie.