Chapter 57

“Ok, now comes the not so funny part.” Kim whispered to Jon. He nodded.

“Romeo, could you open your mouth once again?” Kim asked. The boy obeyed immediately.

“Wow! Perfect.” Kim took the cotton swab from Fran and brushed it across his tonsils twice. Romeo choked and closed his mouth, but Kim was faster and already handed Fran the swab back.

“Good job, Romeo. Now we find out which bacteria’s are really bothering you.” Kim said smiling. Romeo pouted lightly and wasn’t interested in it at all.

“So, tell me Romeo with which hand to you write at school or paint pictures?” Kim asked.

“With this one.” Romeo waved his right hand. Kim nodded.

“Good, then I will take the other hand.” She softly pushed the long sleeves of his pyjama back and Fran handed her the tourniquet to bind his left arm.

“No.” Romeo said already with tears in his eyes and tried to pull his hand away, but Kim held it in place.

“Sorry, Romeo. We need to do it. Otherwise you won’t feel better and you wanna go home soon, right?” Kim asked him softly. He nodded, but was definitely scared. “I’m careful, I promise.”

Jon ran his hand softly through his hair and mumbled soothing words into his ear while Steph had her hands on his legs. Kim looked at her questioning.

“He has the tendency to kick.” The girl whispered softly. Kim smiled.

“Well, thanks.” She said chuckling and took the IV line from Fran after she disinfected the back of his hand. Jon swallowed hard and tried to side-track Romeo.

“So, buddy, what do you wanna do when you are home again?” he asked.

Romeo turned his head to him and Kim used the good opportunity and tried to press the needle into his skin and push the small IV line into his bloodstream. Unfortunately his veins were already a bit collapsed because of the dehydration

“I….owwwwww!” Romeo screamed and tried to kick, but Steph’s grip stopped him. Fran grabbed the little boys left wrist to keep it still, so Kim could move the needle around to find one of his veins. Romeo cried and Jon was close to join him. Finally Kim found a vein and placed the IV line.

“Everything done, Romeo. All over.” Kim assured him and Romeo looked down at his hand with the IV. “It doesn’t hurt anymore, right Romeo?” Kim asked. He shook his head no. “Good, now we can give you the medicine without pricking you all the time.”

“Electrolytic solution?“ Fran asked. Kim nodded.

“That’s against the dehydration and he will also get the antibiotic this way.“ Kim explained to Jon, before applying the medicine. He nodded.

“Ok, ready to see your room and sleep a bit?” Fran asked the boy and he nodded with tired eyes. “Good.” She rolled him with his bed out into the hall and stopped just two doors later. “A nice single room.” She said, but Romeo was already asleep.

“Jon.” Kim stopped him when he wanted to go into Romeo’s room. He looked at her questioning. “Can we talk a second?”

“Sure. Uhm…Steph, could you stay with him till I’m back?”

“Sure, dad.”

Jon and Kim walked back to the examination room. “Where’s Dorothea, Jon? He needs her.” Kim asked.

Jon sighed. “She’s in Washington at a Karate-event. I already tried to get a hold of her, but her mobile is off and she’s not back in the hotel yet. I left a message on the mailbox to call me back immediately. That will already worry her enough.” Jon explained. Kim nodded.

“Dammit, I don’t have any reception in here!” Jon cursed when he checked his mobile. What if Dot already called?

“Go outside and call her. Leave my office phone-number, when I’m not in my office I have it transferred to my portable and I have reception because it’s a hospital phone.” Kim suggested.

“Ok, I’ll be right back.”

“Uhm, Jon?” He turned back. “Who’s with the kids?”

Jon smiled. “Richie. I called him and he arrived shortly before Steph and I left. I will call him too.” Kim nodded.

Ten minutes later Jon was back. “She didn’t call yet. I wonder what she’s doing?” he said lightly pissed.

“Probably enjoying the evening. It’s not that she often has the opportunity to go out with four kids, right?” Kim said softly.

“Yeah, you are right. I’m sorry. I know she’ll go crazy when she finds out Ro is in hospital and she’s not with him. He’s her baby.” Jon said.

“Stay with him.” Kim said. “When Dorothea calls I let you know.” She wanted to turn and walked away, but Jon stopped.

“How are you doing?” he asked and pulled her close. She knew very well what he was referring to. She was having nightmares since they ran into Nigel.

“I’m fine.” She said, but didn’t look him in the eye. He frowned lightly and lifted her chin gently with his hand. She wasn’t fine. He could see it in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, I should have stayed with you.”

“Jon, I’m working, I’m not at home as you can see.” Kim pointed out. As long as she kept herself busy things were fine.

“Yeah, but eventually you have to go home and sleep.” He pointed out.

“Not necessarily.” Kim grinned lightly.

“Staying awake forever now?” Jon joked.

“Maybe.”

Jon shook his head smiling lightly. “You can always come over to my place and stay there, you know that. And when the kids are back with Dot, we can go back to your place.”

She nodded, but still couldn’t get herself to stay overnight at Jon’s when his kids were there as well. “I know. Thanks  Jon…..Now go back to your son.” She pushed him to the door.

“Ok. …see you later, honey.” Jon said and pressed his lips to hers before he entered his sons room. He not only found his youngest sound asleep, but his daughter on the small couch. Sighing he covered her with a blanket and sat down in the chair next to Romeo’s bed.