He already has the door open and looks down at Cami with unease. “She’s never passed out before,” he says.
“Let’s get her to the hospital right away.”
Franklin tells me what hospital we are going to as I dig out my phone. I call their ER to set up arrangements prior to our arrival, telling them she needs some level of privacy. I don’t have any of her medical information, know her birthday, or any of her history. All I know is that she needs medical attention right now.
Placing my hand on her forehead, she doesn’t have a fever. If anything, she feels a little clammy. Her skin doesn’t have the same shine or warmth that it usually has.
When Franklin parks outside the emergency room, I take her in my arms and carry her to reception. “Checking in for Cami Jenson,” I tell her. The woman nods her head and leads us back to a private room. I hear the rumbling noises of irritation from waiting room guests. The fact is, even if she weren’t famous, her Omega status would likely have gotten her seen sooner rather than later.
Gently, I place her on the hospital bed as multiple nurses take her vitals, vials of blood and hook her up to a saline drip.
“Her heart rate is fine, and so is her blood pressure. We will need to wait for the blood results. The doctor should be in shortly.”
Franklin and I sit uncomfortably in the chairs next to her bed as she lies there motionless. She doesn’t even stir, and it feels like we sit here for an eternity before the nurse comes back in with the doctor.
The nurse injects something into the IV hooked up to her, and she slowly starts to move. Her eyes blink rapidly as she looks around the room.
“Ms. Jenson, I’m Doctor Harris. You’re at Lincoln Memorial, you passed out. Are you able to hear me okay?”
“Yeah, what happened?” She looks over at me in confusion.
“Once you finished the show, you said your stomach hurt, and you passed out.” Her eyes go wide as she looks her doctor up and down.
“Ms. Jenson, we ran your blood sample, and it’s pretty clear that your heat suppressants are messing with your kidneys. It’s something that we’ve been noticing more and more frequently with long-term suppressant use. At twenty-six, it’s extremely uncommon for an Omega to be unbonded and still using suppressants. You will need to completely take yourself off suppressants to ensure that you do not cause irreparable damage to your kidneys or your reproductive system. I’m going to send a referral in with your insurance to have a consultation to make sure you haven’t done any irreparable damage to your reproductive system.”
Tears start rolling down Cami’s face. “But… but I go through my heats. I’m not skipping them. The suppressants are so that I can function in everyday society. I’m around Alphas all the time. What am I supposed to do?” Tears track down her face and Franklin holds her hand. I sit there not knowing what the fuck I can offer her.
“I’m so sorry, but fulfilling your heat is only half the battle. I understand the value of suppressants and modern medicine only works so fast to catch up to society’s needs. Right now, the only solution to your problem is to find a pack. Once you are bonded you will have protection, your heats will regulate and you won’t feel the need to scent mark on other Alphas.”
“There’s nothing else? No other medication? Nothing?” she says through tears.
“I’m so sorry. That’s really the only solution. I can recommend Heat Haven. They have great safety precautions in place to make sure you are safe during your heat, and I’ve heard a lot of success stories of Omegas finding packs at the centers.”
Cami scoffs but takes the brochure that he hands her. “I just want to reiterate, Ms. Jenson, that if you continue to use suppressants, you could go into kidney failure. That would end your career, no doubt. If you can find a pack, there’s still a good chance that you can continue to live your life the way you have been.”
“Yeah and have a bunch of controlling Alphas dictate my life for me, no thanks,” Cami says, causing the doctor’s eyebrows to rise.
“I wish I had a better solution, but this is it. I hope you take care of yourself, Ms. Jenson,” says the doctor as he leaves the room.
The nurse rubs Cami’s arm tenderly. “There are a few deodorizing products out there that work wonders, like Trix undergarments and Sugared deodorizers. I know it won’t help with the effect that Alpha pheromones have on you, but they will help you be less noticeable.” Cami nods her head at the nurse, but turns on her side and cries.
I’m so beyond my depths. When Kelsey was a mess, I hardly knew how to handle her tears. Cami, I barely know. I don’t know how to comfort her.
“There’s a massive candy store called Honey Dipped down the street,” I say. Knowing sugar is her go-to when she isn’t feeling herself.
“What kind of store?” she asks through sniffles.
“The kind where you can get a huge bucket and fill it up with as many types of candy as you want.”
“Okay,” she mumbles while wiping her face.
She checks out of the hospital. She’s quiet and clearly in her own head about the entire ordeal. I can’t imagine not being able to function in everyday society because of your pheromones. When Franklin pulls up to the candy store, I look over at her. She’s still beautiful, but she’s a complete mess. Her wig isn’t straight and makeup is smeared all over her face. Not to mention her scent is still so strong from earlier.
“Do you want me to go in and FaceTime you so you can pick out what you want?”
“You would do that?” she asks, sniffling again.
“Of course,” I say, and she gives me a watery smile as she digs out her phone and FaceTimes me.
