Pressing the thermometer to her head, it didn’t surprise me when it turned bright red.
“Let’s see if this helps.” I got her to take the medicine. “There you go. I’m so sorry that you’re feeling shitty.” I wrapped my arms around her.
Grace squeaked and flew out of my arms, barely making it to the toilet.
Well, that didn’t work.
Jett joined us and handed me my phone. “Wes is calling.”
“Hey.” I leaned against the bathroom wall.
“Something’s wrong.” Wes sounded sleepy.
“Grace is sick. Fever, vomiting, and stomach pains that make her sob. I think we should take her to the all-hours clinic at the Center. Her scent is also really weird. Not just sick, but rotten and a few other things.” My heart broke as she curled up on the rug again, Evan rubbing her back.
“Yeah. Do that. Um. hold on.” There was muffled noise. “Spencer wants to know if we need to fly back now?”
“Why don’t we take her in, and we’ll call you. Just in case it’s only a stomach bug or something.” But I knew that wasn’t it.
“True. I mean, I’ve been expecting her to get a cold or something. There’s a good chance that she might not have resistance to things here. Yeah, bring her in and call us. The great thing about taking the company jet is that we can leave whenever we want,” Wes said.
“I’ll keep you updated.” I hung up and turned to Evan. “We’re taking Grace in. Um, I know she usually visits the Center in Midtown because she goes with you. But should we take her to the one down the street? I’m pretty sure it has a twenty-four-hour clinic.”
“Midtown has a hospital and more resources than the one right here. They also know her there. This smell, it reminds me of something, but I don’t know what.” Evan frowned. “I’ll get her some clothes and get dressed.”
“Sounds good.” I sat on the bathroom floor and held her as they got dressed.
Grace screamed.
“Evan, grab her while I put pants on.” I threw on some clothes and grabbed my phone. “I don’t think we have time to drive to Midtown.”
Jett was on his phone. “There’s one not that far from here with a hospital.”
“Oh, right, the new one. I haven’t been there. We’ll take my car.” Evan pulled one of her T-shirt dresses over her head.
We went downstairs and got in Evan’s car. I sat in the back holding her as we drove through our nice, forested suburb into a newer, ultra-fancy one. We drove up to a very shiny and pretty Omega Center and were stopped at a gate.
“Do you have an emergency room or a twenty-four-hour clinic? My mate’s sick.” Evan showed his Omega Center badge to the guard.
“Yes, go to the left.” He put something red on our windshield.
Grace had gone quiet.
“Grace, we’re here,” I told her. She didn’t move. “Fuck.”
We had barely parked the car when I was running for the doors that saidHospital 24-Hours,Grace in my arms.
A startled nurse in pink scrubs looked up at me from the emergency desk. Soft music played, and a few people sat in comfortable chairs.
“She’s unconscious and sick,” I called, Jett and Evan following me.
“I’ve got her Center card.” Evan held up her phone for the nurse to scan.
“Found her, let’s get her back,” the nurse said, as another nurse rushed over.
“She has a fever, vomiting, cramping, and is in a lot of pain.” I added as another nurse joined us.
A nurse led us back to an exam bay, and I sat her on the bed.
