GL - A FEW DAYS AWAY - Chapter 8
TITLE: A Few Days Away
FANDOM: Guiding Light
PAIRING: Otalia
SUMMARY: Set mid-friendship, this is a hurt/comfort piece as I'm a hurt/comfort junkie. Olivia, Natalia and Emma decide to have a few days away...hopefully more interesting than the summary suggests. Please request before archiving.
RATING: PG for mild violence
Author's note: This is my first ever attempt at fanfic so I'm having to gather a lot of nerve to post it. With very deep thanks to my Canadian Buddy, Critic2000, who beta'd and prodded for this story to see a conclusion and provided insightful and useful comments throughout. I know most of Europe loves her for providing us with Otalia clips as soon as possible but to me, she's my very dear friend. (Course, the clips help ;o))
ADDITIONAL NOTE: As always, appreciating the comments and glad to know someone's out there and hopefully enjoying it. I have stated it's a hurt/comfort piece and it will remain in that vein throughout - you have been warned ;o)
DISCLAIMERS: I do not own Guiding Light or any of the characters
As promised the next chapter, tried not to be too 'icky' here but delicate stomachs beware...
Chapter 8
Abandoning her anger and her bag at the door, Natalia ran back to where her distressed friend was on hands and knees violently retching. As she reached her, Olivia drew in a momentary breath, before leaning forward again on shaking arms to dispel another forceful stream of vomit. A whimpering sound came from Olivia as she attempted to sit back and wipe her mouth, hopeful that the worst was over.
Natalia could see the sheen of perspiration on her forehead as she knelt next to her, desperate to help, conscious there was little she could do. She placed her hand on Olivia’s back and softly rubbed up and down.
A moment passed and then she could see Olivia’s stomach starting to heave again, her lurch forward to now dispel little more than liquid.
“God,” Olivia groaned, spat, and wiped her mouth once again with a shaking hand.
“Do you think you can stand?” Natalia asked after another moment had passed.
Eyes closing, a brief nod of the head, Olivia began to get her legs under her. Natalia wrapped her arm around her and began leading her back to the cabin, pausing briefly to pick up their bag of things, she guided Olivia inside. “Do you want to lie down?”
Jaw clenched and shaking her head, Olivia suddenly pulled away from her and dashed to the bathroom. Natalia could hear the tell-tale sounds of more gagging, liquid striking liquid, flushing, ragged breaths and muted whimpering and she had to quell her own urge to throw up.
Collecting a glass of water she entered the bathroom to find Olivia kneeling on the floor, head bent over and resting on her arms in a mock version of prayer. She put the glass down and picked up a washcloth, ran it under the tap and knelt next to her friend again.
“Olivia,” she said softly.
Olivia turned her head to look pathetically at her.
“Here,” she handed Olivia the glass of water and proffered the wet flannel.
As Olivia sat up and took the glass with still shaking fingers, Natalia moved forward and wiped around Olivia’s face. Olivia took a small sip, seemingly grateful for the respite from her body’s betrayal, rinsed her mouth and spat into the bowl. Natalia could see Olivia’s eyes shining with unshed tears.
“How’re you doing?”
Olivia looked unsteady but nodded, “Just give me a minute.” She shut her eyes again, “Can’t be much more.”
They waited together, sat on the bathroom floor, as Olivia carefully sipped from the water glass. Natalia was at the point of suggesting they move somewhere more comfortable when Olivia reached for the toilet bowl again and began another string of retching, this time clearly purging herself of the water she’d just ingested.
“Do you want me to call a doctor?” Natalia asked, once again trying to comfort her friend.
Rigorously shaking her head no, Olivia appeared to be getting angry with herself and her predicament, “I’ll be okay in minute.”
The bowl was flushed again. Olivia seemed to be corralling her will, gathering her strength and moved to stand on unsteady legs. “Let me just go lie down,” she breathed.
“Okay,” agreed Natalia, “but I will call a doctor, Olivia, if this continues. Something’s obviously wrong.”
They were making their way back to the double room, Natalia’s insistence clearly agitating her charge.
“It’s just an upset stomach, nothing more. Please don’t read more into this, okay?”
Natalia was not convinced as they approached the bedroom.
“You’ve been through a lot the last couple of days. It probably wouldn’t hurt to...”
She was cut off by a snapping, “Please. Please just let me lay here for a bit.”
Natalia stepped back and studied her again. Fine, we’ll do this your way for the moment.
“Did you want some help changing into something comfier?”
With obvious effort, Olivia began sliding off her jeans and then she fell back onto the bed and curled in on herself in a foetal position, eyes closing, whispering, “Just wanna lay here...”
Natalia watched her for a long time, until she noticed Olivia’s breathing had deepened and evened out, then she turned and left her to sleep.
***
From the moment her knees had hit the ground she could feel the rising sensation of bile, forcibly racing to discharge itself from her. Taking advantage of the brief moment to breathe, she was unprepared when her stomach muscles tightened again, the sensation of self control dropped away from her and another stream of sick was ejected. Swallowing convulsively, she sat back.
She hated being sick. She hated that since her diagnosis all those months ago, all she’d been was sick. That in its self sickened her.
She became aware of a hand on her back, calming her. She wiped her mouth but knowing the signs now, could feel another round of gagging upon her and was helpless as she fell forward once again to go through the detested motions for nothing more than watery liquid.
“God,” she groaned. If there were truly any in heaven, then she must not be in their favour. She spat and wiped her mouth again.
Natalia was saying something about standing. Sure, moving indoors seems like a great idea. Just gotta get myself together here.
Nodding her head in answer, she was immensely grateful for the arm wrapped around her, practically dragging her back to the cabin. She was aware of stepping inside into the coolness, Natalia’s query about laying down but most of all the urgent need to throw up again. Clamping down on her jaw for fear of not making it to the bathroom in time, she pulled away and ran for the toilet bowl.
Disbelieving there could be anything more to come up, she was amazed when another stream of liquid struck the water in the bowl with force. Flushing, she pulled away from the bowl and unsure where to put herself she leaned forward onto her arms, unable to prevent yet another whimper from escaping.
She could hear the sound of a tap running and her name being called.
She turned and looked at Natalia, offering her water. She took the glass, grateful for the opportunity to rinse her mouth out and welcomed the sensation of a wet cloth being dabbed gently around her face. She felt dirty and annoyingly helpless again. Her eyes brimming with frustrated tears.
“How’re you doing?”
She just needed a minute, couldn’t be much more could there?
Thinking the worst was over now, she sat, shoulder to shoulder with Natalia, carefully sipping from the glass. Amazed this woman beside her, who only a short time ago was shouting at her, was still here.
Too soon to rejoice it seemed as her stomach contracted again and the movement, which seemed to require every muscle in her body to be involved, rid itself of the last few sips of water. Concerned she was starting to dry heave and unable to stop the convulsive spasms of her stomach, the hand at her back again reminded her Natalia was there. Not alone. Natalia was suggesting she should call a doctor.
No. She tried to communicate, “Let me just go lie down.” She was exhausted. She wanted nothing but oblivion at that moment but she stood albeit unsteadily.
They were moving now and Natalia was being insistent again. Olivia found herself trying to reason but for some reason she didn’t feel like she was getting through and really, all she wanted was to lay down.
“Please!” she wanted to beg, “Please just let me lay here for a bit.”
Natalia was asking her about getting comfier, she couldn’t argue with that and with the almost sullen actions of a teenage child, removed her jeans.
The bed was comfy, her body was one big bruise that had been pulled through the wringer and she desperately wanted to close her eyes. As she drew her knees in and attempted to find a position that didn’t upset her stomach more she felt she was still trying to negotiate a deal, “Just wanna lay here...”
Then, mercifully, for the moment she knew no more.
***
Natalia was of two minds. In fact she was of two minds about many things but at the moment there were two in particular. One concerned whether or not she should phone for a doctor, regardless of what Olivia might want. She reasoned with herself that it wasn’t unusual for Olivia to not take the best care of herself and to disregard medical instructions but then, she reasoned, even if they did consult a doctor, would Olivia follow that advice anyway?
Then she began to think that, yes she would because after all that’s why she was there wasn’t it? To make sure that Olivia lived and did all the right things when it came to her health. She was aware enough of her role as caregiver but she also knew it was more than that, she genuinely cared.
Something about this woman made her care.
So, should she ring or shouldn’t she?
Then a voice spoke up and asked the question of, who would she ring? There had to be a medical area around here somewhere but how likely was it that they made ‘cabin’ calls. And if it meant travelling to a facility, would it really be fair to Olivia to put her through a journey like that, feeling how she obviously did, when Olivia had said she was going to be fine?
Arrghh! Please God, I need some guidance.
While she left question number one running in the background of her mind, she began to ponder question number two; what to do about Emma?
She was sure that Olivia wouldn’t want Emma to see her, especially being so blatantly obviously sick, when the woman had tried to hide something as serious as the after effects of her heart transplant from the little girl.
But then there was the thought that maybe, having her daughter there might actually make Olivia feel better.
No, I think she’d want Emma away from this; she’s having fun and that’s what Olivia would want for her.
Having reasoned to herself at least one decision, she could think of an ideal solution but was unsure if it would work.
Finding the contact details Olivia had obtained earlier, Natalia picked up the phone and dialled Mrs Blaxendale.
The phone picked up on the third ring.
“Hello? Mrs Blaxendale?”
“Yes.”
“Oh hi, this is Natalia Rivera, Olivia Spencer’s friend; you have her daughter Emma with you.”
“Oh hello Ms Rivera. We do! Wonderful child, Jane is having a ball, they both are.”
“That’s wonderful, I’m glad they’re enjoying themselves.” She paused to gather up the nerve to ask her favour.
“Is there something wrong Ms Rivera?”
“No,” Natalia tried to quickly reassure but then sighed and said, “Yes actually there is. Olivia, Emma’s mother, she’s...”
“What is it?”
“She’s taken unwell and...”
“Ah, I see, is everything alright? Is there something I can do?”
“Well, I was hoping you would be able to look after Emma for a little bit longer?”
“My goodness, of course we can my dear. Would it help if...now I don’t want to overstep here but, would it help if we had Emma over for a sleepover? I know Jane would be absolutely thrilled to bits.”
Natalia’s sigh of relief was almost palpable. “Oh, Mrs Blaxendale, you have no idea how helpful that would be. Is Emma there?”
“They’re out in the garden at the moment. Would you like me to get her?”
“No, no, that’s fine. Would you let Emma know and if she wants to ring or come back, I’ll come and get her. I don’t want her to be worried.”
“Naturally my dear.”
There was a pause.
“Are you alright Ms Rivera, you sound a little upset?”
“It’s Natalia, please and no, I’m fine. I’m just worried about Olivia. We,” Natalia sighed, “We’ve had a rough few days and...” Natalia couldn’t prevent the sniffle.
“Well, you must call me Ruth dear and I’m sure Olivia will be okay. Don’t forget you need to take care of yourself as well?” The other woman’s voice was strangely reassuring after the scares of the last few days.
“I will Ruth. Thank you so much for taking Emma for us.”
“Not a problem. If you need me for anything, I’m not that far away.”
“Thank you, really, we really appreciate this.”
They hung up and with one concern taken care of, Natalia turned to go back to the bedroom to face yet another.
TBC...