| Chapter 16: Lucky Spencer paced the hospital corridors, anxious to hear the news about Emily. AJ sat in one of the chairs outside her room, and Lizzie sat next to him. The door to Emily's room opened. Lucky looked up as a doctor walked out. "How is she?" Lizzie asked, standing up. The doctor looked saddened. "Is there any immediate family member that I could talk to?" AJ stood up. "I'm her brother." "Please follow me." AJ glanced at Lucky, confused. But Lucky was staring at the doctor, all of the worst thoughts going through his mind. What was wrong with her? What was wrong with his best friend? As AJ and the doctor went down the hallway, Lucky walked over to the window and stared inside, feeling helpless. Emily was lying on the bed, her eyes closed. She looked pale and so cold, even though there was perspiration dotted on her face. An IV bag hung next to her and the medicine dripped down into her hand. A nurse was in there, adjusting the IV and taking notes about her condition on a chart. "I feel so helpless." Lucky said. "God, I was so stupid." "Lucky, this isn't your fault." Lizzie said. "It is, Elizabeth. If I were only paying more attention to her, if I was there for her, she wouldn't have felt so alone. We wouldn't have gotten into that fight." He stared longingly at the teenager. Lucky looked up to see Elizabeth watching him, with growing concern. "I'm going to go call Jason. He would want to know." Lucky walked gloomily down the hallway, leaving Elizabeth to stare after him. She turned to look in the window. "He needs you, Emily." She whispered. "He really does. Even more than he realizes." "What's wrong with my sister?" AJ wanted to know. Dr. Sommers motioned AJ into her office. "Your sister has a very high fever, Mr. Quartermaine. Over one hundred and six degrees. If it gets higher, it could be fatal. Let me explain." Dr. Sommer sat at her desk and gestured for AJ to sit in a chair. "Temperatures above one hundred and twelve degrees are usually fatal. They could cause damage to the nervous system that would be irreversible. There's not a very high chance that it will rise six degrees, but the option is always out there. "There is, however, the risk of pneumonia. We are giving her medication that will hopefully lower her temperature, therefore, the risk won't be quite so high." Dr. Sommers looked at AJ sadly. "We're doing the best that we can. I promise you that she will get better." AJ could barely meet her eyes. "What can I do?" he asked, barely above a whisper. "There's nothing that you can do for her health. That's our job. But you can contact her family and friends. That way when she does get better, she'll know that everyone was there for her." AJ nodded. "I'll do that. I'll make sure that everyone is there for her this time." |