Chapter Text
“I don’t feel good. I’m coming over this weekend,” I said in lieu of a greeting.
“Good morning to you too. Can you elaborate, or do I need to come home?” Dad asks carefully. He and I tend to get hot headed over this kind of thing, so he knows he’s stepping on unwelcome territory.
“I’ll be fine.” I groan, sinking onto the floor to try to get my head to stop spinning.
“Leah?” There’s an edge to his voice. “You call the second you feel like you need a doctor.”
“I have an appointment for later today.” I sigh, my cold, clammy hands running over my face in an attempt to gain some relief.
“I’ll come pick you up for your appointment. What time is it?”
“Dad-”
“Honey, you sound like hell and I’m worried. In all honesty, I know you haven’t been good since Mom. I wanna make sure you’re okay.”
I wait for a moment, biting back the nausea. “It’s at noon. I’ll be at home.”
“Okay. There’s Gatorade in the fridge, crackers in the pantry. I mean it Leah, you feel worse, you call.”
“Yessir.”
“Love you. I’ll see you at home.”
“I love you too.” I sigh back, hanging up quickly before bolting for the bathrooms.
———-
The subway ride is merciful, but not the taxi ride. My head is killing me by the time I get home and it’s all I can do to pay the cabbie and crash on the couch.
——
“-eah, Aaleah, honey, open your eyes.”
I don’t have to do that to know it’s Dad.
“Shh.” I groan.
“I told you to call if you needed a doctor. Open your eyes, hon.” Dad strokes my hair back and waits. When I finally manage to, the world is spinning.
“Bucket,” I manage to mutter feebly, before I start retching. Luckily Dad catches my words and hands me the trash can just in time.
While I heave, he manages to sneak a temperature check. I don’t have to see the number to know it’s bad- I’ve never felt so sick in my life.
“Reagan, what is taking- Oh, my god.” Baez, I assume, rushes in. I start to feel very woozy when Dad picks me up.
“Stay with me, Leah.” He presses, but the world is already going dark.
—————————
I wake up to the cold.
It’s way too cold in here. The lights are bright, and whatever I’m in is not warm enough.
“Shh, you’re okay.” Dad reassures me quietly. “I won’t ask you to open your eyes, but can you tell me where you are?”
“The hospital?” I screw up my eyes and groan into the pillow. It’s so bright.
“Yeah. Hang on, I’ll get the lights.” Dad replies softly and seconds later the room is flooded in darkness. I sigh in relief as I open my eyes.
Dad does not look happy, but he does look relieved for now.
“You should have called me earlier.” He said quietly. “Baez and I had to use the sirens on the way here.”
“We didn’t go to the doctor?”
“Leah, your temp was 104, you were confused and couldn’t stay conscious. You tell me- doctor or hospital?”
“ I get it. What’s wrong with me?” I ask softly.
“Meningitis” he sighs. “Bacterial- it’s pretty bad already, and the doctor says you’ll probably get worse before you get better since you had your spleen removed. You seized once they took you back for testing, but they got it under control.”
“Dad, you shouldn’t be here.”
“Like hell I shouldn’t. Leah, this is what parents do, they look after their kids. I’m staying.”
“I’m contagious. You have work, and Sean and Jack. I’ll be fine.” I tried reasoning.
“I don’t want to argue about this. You’re sick, I’m staying. That’s final. I have preventative meds, and Baez already called our boss to let him know what’s going on.”
“Please tell me she’s not missing too,” I groan.
“No, she went back to work.”
“Pop, go home.”
“What is wrong with you? You are literally laying in bed with a 104 fever and your main concern is me being here? How do you even have energy for this?”
“You shouldn’t be here. You could get sick.”
“Hell yes, I should” he raises his voice. “Will you tell me what your problem is?”
“I don’t have a problem, I need you to do your job and stay safe.”
“I’m doing it Leah. And clearly not well enough, because you’re asking me to go to work when you’re very seriously sick.”
“You know what? I’m tired, I’m going to bed, and you better be home with the boys when I wake up.” I yell, instantly regretting it as my nausea comes back full force and I hurl up bile over the edge of the bed.
And then, I’m pretty sure I pass out again.