Chapter 29 #2
“Parking lot,” Davis said. “I saw a couple earlier.”
They moved fast. Within minutes, they loaded two golf carts with everything they could carry. The little electric motors hummed to life. Rain hammered down as both operators steered the golf carts back toward the medical wing, groaning under the weight of supplies.
KASAVOA – PEDIATRIC WARD
The storm drenched Kasavoa. Even inside the clinic, the wind could be felt. It struck the building in hard, irregular bursts that rattled the windows and made the lights flicker before the generators steadied again. Rain lashed across the courtyard outside and ran down the glass in thick sheets.
But inside the pediatric room, everything centered on the bed in front of Eira.
Her fever finally broke. She could feel it in the coolness of her skin and the clarity returning to her thoughts.
Her body was still weak and heavy with exhaustion, but the burning heat that wrapped around her earlier was gone.
Hunter noticed it immediately. “You’re turning the corner,” he said after checking Kavi in the other peds room.
Eira nodded faintly. “I know.” She only wished the same were true for Véronique. The monitor flickered again. 83.
Hunter stepped closer to the bed and placed his stethoscope against Véronique’s chest. He listened longer this time, his brow tightening as he moved the diaphragm across different points along the child’s lungs.
When he finally straightened, he didn’t try to soften the truth. “The inflammation’s compromised her lungs.”
Véronique’s breathing grew shallow and uneven beneath the oxygen mask. Each breath seemed to take more effort than the one before.
Eira brushed damp hair away from the girl’s forehead. “Come on, Véronique,” she whispered.
The monitor dipped again. 81.
Hunter adjusted the oxygen flow, but the number barely moved.
When Eira looked up at him, he met her eyes, and she knew. “We’re there,” he sighed. “She’s exhausted.”
Eira nodded.
Hunter turned toward the door. “Liana, I need the intubation kit.”
Liana rolled the airway cart into the room while Hunter began preparing the ventilator tubing. The equipment clicked and rattled softly as he moved through the process with practiced speed. Eira pulled on fresh gloves and stepped beside Véronique’s head.
Hunter drew medication into a syringe and handed a second vial to Liana. “Sedation and paralytic.”
Liana nodded and prepared the second syringe.
Eira kept her hand wrapped around Véronique’s small fingers. “I’m right here.”
Hunter administered the sedation first. The medication moved quickly through Véronique’s system. Her body relaxed, and her eyelids fluttered before closing. The paralytic followed seconds later.
Hunter tilted Véronique’s head gently to open the airway while Liana handed him the laryngoscope. The small blade reflected the overhead light as he guided it carefully into position.
Eira watched the monitor while he worked.
Hunter leaned forward, steady and precise. “Tube.”
Liana placed the endotracheal tube into his hand.
Hunter guided it down past the vocal cords with a controlled motion. “Advancing.” The tube slid into place. “Bag.”
Liana connected the ventilation bag and began gentle manual breaths while Hunter secured the tube. The monitor numbers began to shift almost immediately. 84. 87.
Hunter attached the ventilator tubing and adjusted the settings before stepping back slightly to watch the response. The ventilator filled the room with its steady rhythm. Air in.
Air out.
Eira exhaled slowly as the oxygen saturation climbed again. 90. Hunter checked the tube placement once more with his stethoscope before nodding.
“She’s stable.” He drew another medication into a syringe. “Post-intubation sedation.” The medication flowed through the IV line to keep Véronique asleep while the ventilator worked for her.
Eira remained beside the bed, still holding Véronique’s hand as the child settled into the steady mechanical rhythm of the machine. For the first time in several minutes, the room went still. Outside, the storm roared against the clinic walls.
Eira watched her brother remove his gloves and rub the back of his neck. “You called it at the right time.”
Hunter looked at Véronique. “She didn’t give us much room to wait.”
Eira leaned back slightly in a chair, exhaustion creeping through her muscles again now that the immediate crisis passed.
Hunter rested his hands on the foot of the bed. “You’re getting stronger, but you still need rest.”
Eira gave a faint smile. “Good timing.” Her eyes drifted toward the window where the storm raged outside. Then, farther than that, across the dark water.
Hunter followed her gaze. “You’re thinking about Ford.”
Eira didn’t deny it. She nodded.
Hunter studied the ventilator for another moment. “Ford has a talent for walking into impossible situations.”
Eira huffed. “That’s one way to describe it.”
Hunter glanced back at her. “You trust him.”
Eira looked down at Véronique’s small hand resting in hers. “I do.” She paused. “He’ll find a way.”
Hunter nodded slowly. “He usually does.” There was an understanding in his voice.
Eira studied him before speaking again. “I’m glad he asked you to come. When things get bad, he trusts you. And he knew I was too stubborn to call for backup.”
Hunter let out a long breath. “Ford and I go back a long way.”
Eira smiled faintly. “I figured.”
Hunter looked back at Véronique and then toward the storm outside. “He cares about you.”
Eira’s fingers tightened gently around the child’s hand. “I know.”
“Ford doesn’t share his heart easily.”
Eira looked at her brother. “I know.”
“I’ve seen him be paternal, brotherly, but never saw him have feelings for a woman. Until you. Are you ready to open your heart for a man again?”
Eira met his eyes. “Yes. I am.”