Calvin nodded. “Sam’s sick too.”
“All right. Well, let’s take care of you first.” He reached into his bag and used a forehead reader to take his temperature. Then measured his pulse and blood pressure.
“What meds have you given him?” Alex asked Julia. She’d parked herself on the other side of the bed and gripped Cal’s hand.
“Children’s Motrin. I’d have to check the bottle for the dosage amount.”
“That’d be good. How long’s he been over a hundred?”
“About an hour. I kept hoping the medicine would bring it down.”
“How long without fluids?” He was all business, and Julia could’ve smacked herself for thinking he’d be anything other than professional.
“A few hours at least. He’s been restless all night, only sleeping on and off. I’ll go get the medicine.”
When she returned, he was on the phone. “Think I should push saline? Uh-huh. Okay. Just sec.” He reached out, took the bottle from Julia, and read the label to whoever he was talking to. “You’ve only given one dose?” he asked Julia.
“No, two. The first, like three hours ago, and the last about thirty minutes ago. He threw up most of that though.”
Alex relayed the information and then listened. “I might take you up on that. Thanks, bro.”
“Who was that?”
“My brother Johnny. The ER doc I told you about. I’ve got something a little stronger I can give him. If he can’t keep it down, I’ll start an IV and give it to him that way, along with some fluids. Johnny’s slammed at the hospital, but says he can come by after work if Cal hasn’t improved. You okay with that?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.” She sat again by Calvin’s side and watched Alex take charge and care for her boy.
“Hey, buddy. Can you sit up and try a sip of this?” It was some sort of juice, probably full of electrolytes and stuff. Calvin did his best to be brave and do what Alex asked.
“My tummy hurts,” he said. Julia was ready with a bowl when a look crossed Cal’s face that she read instantly. He threw up what he’d barely finished choking down. “I’m freezing.”
“I’m gonna fix that, okay? It might hurt a teeny tiny bit. But you’re tough enough to take a quick poke, right?”
Calvin’s lip quivered. Alex turned away so Calvin couldn’t see the needle he was prepping.
“Look at me, honey,” Julia said to distract him. “Mr. Alex is a firefighter and knows how to make sick little boys feel better. Remember when he climbed up and rescued you from the top of the fire truck?”
Alex gave her a nod, indicating he was ready, and that she was doing great.
“Yes. I tried to get Sam and got stuck. Ouch!” He narrowed his eyes at Alex, who had found a vein, stuck Calvin, and covered the needle with gauze in two seconds flat.
“Sorry, bud. All done. You did great,” he said, giving Calvin a big it’s-going-to-be-fine grin. “Don’t tell your mom, but I’ve got a sucker for you for being so brave,” he whispered with a wink.
Calvin whispered back, “I think she heard you.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Julia asked, pretending not to have heard them.
“Nothing,” Alex and Calvin said together.
“What’s that tube?” Calvin asked, noticing the IV sticking from his arm. Alex had jerry-rigged a bag of saline to hang from a knob of the nearby dresser.
“I’m gonna give you some medicine through the tube. It won’t hurt. I promise. Just don’t mess with it, okay?”
“Okay,” Calvin said. He laid back down, having depleted his energy.
Julia wiped his forehead with her hand. He was so hot. God, she hoped this worked.
Alex pushed the meds and sat back to wait. “Let’s give it ten minutes or so.”
