“You are going to run out of space,” I deduced.
Norbert nodded. “Space and medical personnel, too.”
“Well, you have me.”
His shoulders relaxed. Did he think I was going to just leave? I might struggle to sit through a meal and navigate the politics of the pack, but this, caring for the ill? This was my world.
“There’s another twelve coming in now.”
“We can convert Hudson’s home for now. Triage there, and bring the most urgent here.”
Norbert nodded. “Where do you want to work?”
“Triage.” While I was sure they’d rather have their familiar doctor assess them, he was better placed here with an illness he knew how to treat.
“What are the warning signs that things are deteriorating?” I asked.
“Fever above one hundred and three, and a rash covering over ten percent of their body. Those two things suggest the virus has gotten a hold of them.”
“Treatment?”
“Fluids, intravenous pain meds, and time.”
So we were keeping their body alive while they fought it off. Not unusual, but definitely terrifying. Antivirals took time to develop, and if this hadn’t made the jump into the human population, then the research hadn’t begun.
He stood and moved around the room, collecting everything I would need to help. He piled banana bags, needles, vials of pain meds, gloves, and other supplies on his desk, completely covering it.
“Let me get Dave to help carry this back.” Norbert grabbed his phone and typed out a message using only his index finger. “He’s on his way. He’ll stay with you to deal with any reluctant parents and reassure them you are more than qualified to handle them.”
Two minutes later, the door opened and Dangerous Dave swept in. He nodded at me and grabbed the items. “Follow me,” he said. “I’ve started prepping the house, but we have a lot of work to do and only ten minutes before the children arrive.”
Ten minutes? Goodness me.
Norbert squeezed my shoulder as I stood to follow Dave. “Thank you, Consort Royal.”
“Cora.” I hated being referred to by a title.
He smiled. “Cora.”
Worry settled in my gut as I glanced around the mini ward on the way out. The pack needed more medics. Dave’s strides were long and determined as he led the way back to the pack house, with me hurrying after him. The women had pushed the furniture in the sitting room to the edges, and Aunt Liz was setting up temporary beds in the cleared space while Melissa and Keira worked to cover them with clean sheets and pillows. That was good. We could fit at least twelve in here.
“Where do you want these?” Dave asked.
I pointed to the dining room and followed him inside to sort the supplies into piles that made sense to my doctor’s brain. Norbert provided vomit bowls, so I used them as mini emergency kits, while moving the pain meds to the end of the table.
“Let’s push this against the wall and set up another bed in here so I can examine them privately as they come in.”
Dave nodded and moved to do as I asked.
Keira poked her head in. “All the beds are set up. What else can we do?”
“Put bottled water and one of these bowls beside each bed, please.”
As she and my aunt worked, the door opened. I braced myself, letting out a deep breath and rolling back my shoulders. My first real act as Consort Royal might not be something mundane, like picking out paint colors or fabric swatches, but I was in my comfort zone. Handling the pack’s ill children was terrifying, but it would also allow me to show them who I was.
One hour later, the beds were not only full, but we’d needed to add three more. Eighteen sick children, ranging from age three to sixteen, lied in pain, waiting for my help.
I pointed at the drip I’d hooked up to the worst three who were in and out of consciousness. “Keira, monitor their fluids. As soon as the bag is empty, let me know. Liz, please take their temperatures every thirty minutes and note it, along with the time, down on the pad at the foot of their beds.” My heart went out to the anguished faces of the adults. “Parents, please get my attention if any of them stop responding to your voice.”
