Page 128 of Pack Scratch Fever
I blink. “No way.”
“Yes, way,” Blair walks over and perches at the edge of my hospital bed. “It makes sense. You were under stress, and apparently your suppressant brand can weaken your immune system. I brought your prescription bottle to show the doctor.” She leans over and presses the red button on the remote that sits on top of the blankets. “They’ll tell you more once they come in. But you’re staying in here for a while.”
I frown. “Like, for a day?”
My best friend scoffs. “You went septic.”
“Okay, so I’ll be out tomorrow then? I can’t take this much time off.”
“Piper!” Blair snaps, her eyes watery. “Do you understand what I’m telling you?” her voice cracks. “If I hadn’t come over…”
Through my brain fog, Blair’s words finally resonate.
I was sick. Very, very sick.
“I’m sorry,” I say simply, but Blair begins to weep softy.
“If I had waited another day…”
Her beautiful face crumples, and I lie in my hospital bed, helpless as my friend cries.
I hesitantly reach my hand out from under the blankets and place it over hers.
“Thank you,” I say. “I’m okay now. I’m with the right people; they’re going to help me and make me better.”
Blair has had a hard time in hospitals ever since her ex-pack was in the car accident.
It means the world to me that she’s here.
She sniffs and nods. “Yeah,” she mumbles. “I know. Just don’t ever do this again.”
“I don’t think I could repeat this if I tried.”
“I don’t either,” a third voice says, and the doctor walks in, giving me a polite smile. She’s an Omega that smells like raspberries and roses, and I instantly like her. Her kind brown eyes meet mine, and I know I’m in good hands.
“Well, Miss Rhodes, are you ready to discuss your diagnosis? I looked at your chart, and it’s a bit complicated.” She motions to Blair. “You’re family?”
“Yes,” she says.
“Alright. Let’s go over it then. You have an infection from a cat bite,andcat scratch fever,” the doctor concludes. “You’re staying with us until we have your medication sorted, and the infection is gone. The antibiotics should knock it out soon, but you’ll probably be here a few days. Let’s also get you onto some new suppressants; the ones you’re on can compromise your immune system and aren’t ideal for long-term use.”
“My physician didn’t tell me that,” I admit.
I didn’t read the side effects at all. When I talked to my doctor, I was doing it just to appease Blair and not caring about my wellbeing.
I was punishing myself again.
“Based on what I see, you were not taking your other suppressants as stated,” she responds, and I sense Blair glaring at me out of the corner of my eye. “You can’t be abusingsuppressants unless you want unforeseen circumstances like this. The suppressants you were on were meant to get your Heat back on track, but at the cost of being susceptible to infections. We’re going to switch you to a milder prescription.”
I nod. “Okay.”
“I’ll be back to talk to you in the morning, but I’ll be looking at your updated bloodwork throughout the evening. Have a good night, Miss Rhodes, and be grateful that this didn’t turn into something worse.”
Once the doctor leaves, I reach to the bedside table for water.
“This place is great,” Blair says. “They even have extra nesting blankets for you in that drawer over there, in case you were in Heat. This doctor specializes in Omega care, too.”
But now that my brain isn’t as fuzzy, worries plague me. “Who all knows?” I ask her, and her face falls.
