Her words wounded him deeply and without a word he got up and left. She regretted what she said as he walked away but was too proud and angry to take it back.
Viktor headed straight for his liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of vodka. He grabbed a shot glass and was about to open the bottle when he stopped. He stared at it for a minute and then took a deep breath and put it back. He reminded himself that she was very ill and no doubt it was affecting her ability to think rationally. She hadn’t eaten or gotten any meaningful sleep in almost two days.
He went back to Amanda’s room and stepped inside. She was curled up again crying her heart out. It was hard for him to see her like that even though she hurt him deeply.
“I’m calling a doctor to the house,” he informed her. “You’re exhausted, dehydrated. You need food.”
“I don’t want a doctor,” she cried.
“I think you need one.”
“Just bring me to the airport.”
“No,” he refused.
“You can’t keep me here.”
“Can you even stand up?” he asked, not believing she would be capable.
“I will if I have to.”
“Okay. If you can get up right now and walk to the door, I’ll bring you to the airport,” he challenged her.
She sat up and then waited a few seconds for the room to stop spinning. She swung her legs off the bed and paused again before trying to stand. She held onto the nightstand as she got to her feet. Viktor stood within arm’s reach but didn’t help her. Her legs were shaky and she felt like her body weighed a million pounds. She still felt feverish and all her joints ached. She wanted to take a step but found herself reluctant to let go of the nightstand.
“Can’t you help me?” she asked.
“No. I can’t help you onto the plane.”
“Now you’re just trying to keep me hostage,” she said angrily.
“Is that how you saw it before you knew I had money?”
Defiantly stubborn, she let go of her support and took a couple steps towards the door. She felt dizzy, her heart was racing and her head pounded with every beat. It felt like her limbs were encased with cement but she refused to give up. She took a few more steps before she suddenly felt like she couldn’t stand anymore and her legs began to give out. Viktor immediately caught her and helped her back to the bed.
“I’m calling the doctor,” he said as he pulled out his phone and dialed. He gave the doctor a rundown of her symptoms over the last 36 hours and Amanda answered a few questions about her general health. When he finished the call he told her the doctor would be there in an hour.
She was shivering again under the covers. Viktor sat on the edge of the bed next to her and felt her forehead. She didn’t have the strength to object.
“Do you want anything?” he asked.
“To be alone.”
“Okay,” he softly replied and then left.
Amanda was asleep when the doctor arrived. She was awoken by Viktor calling her name and stroking her hair. She rolled over to see a man standing next to Viktor dressed in slacks and a white button-up shirt. He was much smaller than Viktor, mostly bald with his hair cut very short so as to minimize the contrast. He wore glasses and his countenance portrayed warmth and compassion.
“Hi, Amanda. I’m Dr. Sullivan. I’m here to see if we can help you feel better. Is it okay if I treat you?”
She nodded and tried to sit up a little.
He set a large duffel bag down on the end of the bed and spent the next few minutes taking vitals. He checked her temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse, oxygen saturation, listened to her heart and lungs and made detailed notes on a laptop he brought with him.
“The first thing we need to do is get you some fluids,” he said, “which we need to do through an IV. Are you okay with that?”
“Yeah,” she answered softly.
“Alright. I’ll be right back.”
He returned a couple minutes later with an IV stand on wheels and a couple bags of fluid.
“I’d like to run some blood tests,” Dr. Sullivan said after he placed the IV. “I can take the samples right from the IV, I won’t need to stick you again.”
“That’s fine,” she agreed.
He withdrew 3 vials of blood and then attached the glucose saline solution so she could start receiving some much needed fluid and nutrients. He showed Viktor how to attach the line to the bag so he could set up the second one later.
“I’m going to expedite the tests,” he informed her. “I should have some results in an hour or two. Hopefully we can figure out what’s making you so sick. In the meantime I’m prescribing you some anti-nausea medicine. It’s a tablet that dissolves under your tongue. Wait a half hour after you take it and then see if you’re able to eat and drink.” He turned to Viktor. “Some broth or simple soup would be a good start.” Viktor nodded. He turned back to Amanda. “Do you have any concerns for me?”
“My head hurts so much.”
“That’s likely because you’re so dehydrated. If it doesn’t improve after the first bag, call me.”
“Anything we should watch for?” Viktor asked.
“You should see a significant improvement with the fluids. If you don’t or her condition worsens, take her immediately to the Emergency Room. Call an ambulance, she’ll be seen quicker.”
“Okay,” Viktor agreed. “Thank you.”
The doctor shook his hand and then turned to Amanda. “You’ll be hearing from me. I hope you feel better.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Viktor saw the doctor out and then returned to Amanda’s room.
“I’m going to pick up your prescription,” he told her. “Do you need anything before I go?”
She shook her head.
“I love you, Amanda,” he said.
She chose not to respond and instead closed her
