Avery nodded to the technician to come back over and help hold Jay. ‘Jay, we’re just checking your temperature. Can you tell me how you’re feeling?’
Katsuko was quick. The tympanic thermometer only took five seconds to register. Thank goodness. Because by six seconds, Jay was thrashing around again. He made a loud noise and then retched. Katsuko grabbed a nearby sick bowl, but it seemed that Jay didn’t have much to bring up.
‘Thirty-nine point five,’ she said swiftly to Avery.
She could almost see his brain calculating everything. He watched as Frank nodded to another colleague who held Jay’s arm firmly in place. Frank inserted a cannula and withdrew blood quickly, filling five different tubes.
Jay started to try and thrash again. ‘It’ll be enough,’ said Avery. He walked over to the medicine cupboard in Resus. ‘With a temperature like that there’s likely to be an infection somewhere. His chest sounds clear, but call for an X-ray. The agitation is the thing that’s worrying me most.’
Katsuko was watching him closely. Jay had been in the room around two minutes and she could already tell Avery was close to making a decision. At work he was decisive and trusted his instincts. She was learning to trust them too.
He caught her gaze. ‘Can you ask the technician what the sleeping arrangements were for the surfing competition?’
She frowned. It was an odd question, but easily asked. She listened to the technician and turned back. ‘It was university-style dorms.’
Avery nodded. ‘I’m going down the meningitis route. There’s no visible rash but we all know that seeing the rash is bad news. In an ideal world we’d do a lumbar puncture and get some CSF. But he’s just too agitated right now. I’m going to have to make an executive decision. Let’s start with some IV penicillin.’ He looked around the room. ‘Is there a relative? Can we ask about allergies?’
Katsuko held up the technician’s paperwork. ‘Mum was following the ambulance in the car. She told the technician Jay had no allergies. Do you want me to find her and double-check?’
Avery shook his head. ‘If it’s already recorded that’s good enough for me. Let’s not waste another second for this kid.’ He mixed up the preparation and drew it up into a syringe. ‘Frank, can you hold his arm while I administer this?’
Frank nodded and held Jay’s arm firmly. Avery slotted the syringe into the cannula. IV antibiotics had to be administered over a few minutes and Avery watched the clock while he completed the process.
He met her gaze again. ‘I’ll talk to his mother as soon as she arrives. Jay needs one-to-one nursing care. Fifteen-minute obs. IV fluids. I’d love to monitor fluid intake and output but I’m not sure that inserting a catheter is feasible right now. I want his breathing watched carefully and also his oxygen saturation. I’ll write up some other meds for temperature control, nausea and agitation if required, along with the rest of his IV antibiotics. We need to watch this boy carefully.’ He gave a little shake of his head. ‘I’d still prefer to have got some CSF.’
She could see the worry lines on his forehead. Meningitis could be a killer. If this was the correct diagnosis they had to hope they’d administered antibiotics quickly enough to have an impact and halt the progression of the disease. Frank disappeared with the blood bottles and forms and she walked over next to Avery. She knew that testing cerebrospinal fluid could be a crucial part of the diagnosis. But the procedure for a lumbar puncture meant the patient had to lie very still in a certain position. Jay just wasn’t able to do that right now.
‘You okay?’
She watched as he licked his lips and took a few seconds to answer. He looked up. All she could see was the pale green of his eyes. She was closer than she meant to be. But it was natural for her. The skin on their arms was touching and it felt like that was meant to happen.
It was the first time she’d actually seen Avery look a little vulnerable. Something inside her squeezed tight. She reached up and touched the side of his face. ‘You’ve got this, Avery.’
Her voice was low and his head inched a little closer to hers. Their noses almost touched. ‘Do you need to tell me something?’
He shook his head. ‘I’m just not good with waiting games. I want to know right now if meningitis is the correct diagnosis. The penicillin won’t do any harm. But I want to know right now if it’s doing any good.’
She gave a little smile. ‘Avery Flynn, do you have no patience?’
He smiled too. ‘Not a single bit.’
She licked her lips. ‘Then let’s get logical.’ She tilted her head to one side. ‘Tell me why meningitis.’
Avery nodded. ‘Teenage boy, quick onset, he’s probably immunised against some strains of meningitis but not every type. Neisseria meningitis is most common in teenagers, particularly if they’ve been in a communal environment. It could be serotype C, Y or W.’
She put her hand on his arm. ‘And you could have just saved his life.’
It was the oddest feeling. But since her palm was in contact with his warm skin she didn’t feel the urge at all to pull it away. It was pathetic. Look at how she’d acted when he’d brushed against her behind. Why did this feel like exactly what she should be doing?
Avery glanced over at Jay. ‘Let’s hope so. The next few hours will be crucial.’ He straightened up. ‘Is his mother here yet? I’ll need to speak to her.’
Katsuko pulled back her hand. ‘I’ll go and check.’ She stepped back and hurried down the corridor.
* * *
Avery stared at his arm for a few seconds. He could almost feel her imprinted on his skin. There was a distinct feeling of unease. It had only been a few short days but he’d made a real connection with Katsuko and he wasn’t quite sure what to do next.
The initial harmless flirting had quickly turned into something else. Every relationship he’d ever been involved in had been cool on his part. He’d been happy for the companionship. Enjoyed the friendships and physical connection. But the emotional connection? On his part, it had never really been there.
But Katsuko felt different. He wanted to be around her. He wanted to know so much about her. It would be easier if she weren’t the General’s daughter. It would be so much easier if she weren’t the Major General’s daughter.
But no matter how much he was feeling the first real pull at his heartstrings, the little twist inside was still there. Japan? He hardly knew anything about it. He wasn’t even entirely sure how long this assignment would last. Apparently his sick colleague had requested this posting to Okatu. It was likely that once he’d made a full recovery he’d want to pick this assignment up again.
Part of those thoughts felt like relief. He wouldn’t want to settle down. He wouldn’t want to put down roots anywhere. He wouldn’t be in the difficult position of having that kind of a conversation with a woman because he always had a get-out clause.
It didn’t matter that he’d known lots of fellow colleagues who had found love, married and happily combined their family lives with working in the air force. Sure, it was difficult. Sure, there were sacrifices to make.
The whole thing had just never computed for him because of his example of family life back home. He’d loved the freedom of the air force. It gave him a safe haven. It had become his family. Could he even contemplate something else?
A dark hand appeared on his arm. Frank. ‘Avery? Jay’s mother has arrived. I’ve put her in the relatives’ room. Katsuko is with her.’
‘Thanks very much. You’ll keep an eye on him while I’m gone?’
Frank gave him a resolute nod.
The relatives’ room was bland. It didn’t matter how hard the staff tried to make it warm and friendly, it was always a place where difficult news was delivered, and it seemed to have that atmosphere around it permanently.
As soon as he walked in, Jay’s mother jumped to
her feet. ‘Where is he? Where is Jay? Why can’t I see him?’
Katsuko had her lips pressed together and Avery could sense the tension in her body.
He reached out and touched the woman. She had the broadest Texan accent he’d ever heard. It was such a surprise. In the last few days he’d become accustomed to the quieter tones of Japanese voices or Japanese accents when colleagues were speaking in English to him.
‘You can see Jay, but I need to make a few things clear.’ He spoke calmly and honestly. ‘Where is Jay’s dad?’
The colour faded from the woman’s face. ‘Why?’
Avery shook his head. ‘Jay’s sick. I think he might have meningitis. The next few hours are crucial. It would be best if his dad could be here too.’
Jay’s mum took a little step backwards. ‘He’s...a pilot. He’s flying to Kadena Air Base, then onto Okinawa. He won’t be home until tomorrow.’
Katsuko looked at him. ‘Do you want me to deal with that?’
Avery nodded. He didn’t know what she’d do—he was just sure that as the General’s daughter she could sort whatever she needed to.
She turned to Jay’s mother. ‘Can you give me your husband’s name and rank?’
‘Captain Rizalino Lim.’
Something flashed across Katsuko’s face for the briefest of seconds before she disappeared out of the door.
Avery wasn’t sure but the name sounded Filipino. The mother was distinctly American. A huge percentage of US Air Force families were from different nationalities. Had Katsuko just had a flash of familiarity with this family?
* * *
The call to her father took moments. His secretary answered straight away. ‘It’s Katsuko. There’s a medical issue. A parent is required to be located. We have a teenager with a suspected diagnosis of meningitis. He’s being treated but the next few hours are crucial.’
‘Details?’
‘Pilot. Captain Rizalino Lim. He’s flying to Kadena, then Okinawa today.’
‘I’ll find the details while I put you through to the General.’
Katsuko could almost hear her fingers fly across the keyboard. Her father had always been great when families had medical emergencies on the base. He would do everything he could to find the relative and get them back to their family. On occasion, it couldn’t happen. But nine times out of ten her father would make sure it did.
‘Something wrong?’
She smiled. He was all business. She quickly explained. If she closed her eyes for a second she could picture him. With one hand he’d be playing with a pencil, making little notes on the pad in front of him. He’d be nodding his head slowly too.
There was a loud creaking noise. His door.
‘Ah, that’s Leah with the details. Give me a second. Hmm...yes. Yes, that should be fine. Katsuko, tell Mrs Lim that arrangements are being made for her husband to be with her and Jay as soon as possible. Leah will also arrange for one of our welfare officers to come and wait with her until her husband arrives. Everything else okay?’
She was surprised. When she phoned him about air force business he didn’t tend to talk about anything else. ‘Yes, why shouldn’t it be?’
‘I haven’t seen much of you these last few days.’
Her skin prickled a little. ‘Don, I’m twenty-five. I have a social life.’
‘Any kind of social life I should know about?’
Now her whole body prickled. Someone had told him—told him that she was spending time with Avery. There was nothing surer.
She looked instantly over her shoulder. If her father knew, there was no point pretending her colleagues hadn’t noticed things too. She might as well have a neon sign flashing above her head.
She gave a silent shake of her head. Don would soon get around to asking her outright. She’d just need to figure out what kind of answer she was going to give him.
‘Nothing you should know, Don. Don’t worry.’
She put down the phone and sucked in a deep breath. Her head didn’t know what to do with this information. She spun around and saw Avery’s outline behind the darkened window of the relatives’ room.
Darn it. She even liked his reflection. And as for the unexpected feel and taste of his lips on hers the other night... She squeezed her eyes shut. Thinking about it pushed every other thought from her brain. Not something she could do at work—ever.
She straightened her shoulders and walked back down the corridor, entering the relatives’ room and giving Mrs Lim a reassuring smile. ‘General Williams wants to assure you he’s making arrangements to get your husband back to be with you both.’ She held out her hand. ‘Will we take Mrs Lim along to sit with her son?’
He put a gentle arm around Mrs Lim and led her down towards the resus room. Mrs Lim put her hand up to her mouth when she saw Jay. Frank came over to join her and waited patiently while Avery explained what he could. ‘At this point we have to look at why Jay’s having these symptoms. Meningitis is a likely cause and it’s something that has to be treated straight away. Because of that we’ve got Jay on some intravenous antibiotics. We also have him on some other drugs for some of the other symptoms he’s having. He’s agitated, has been vomiting and has a high temperature. We need to monitor Jay very carefully for the next few hours. You’re welcome to stay and sit with him.’
She turned around. ‘But he’s had injections for meningitis. It can’t be that.’
Avery nodded and pointed towards the computer. ‘We’re lucky. I have access to Jay’s medical records. He has had some vaccinations for Hib, a strain of meningitis, and Men C, another strain. But there are many different types of meningitis and we don’t have vaccines for them all.’
‘So this is a different kind?’
Avery nodded. ‘We think so. We’ve taken some blood from him for testing—the results will show if there are bacteria in his blood. Unfortunately, the other test we need to do is called a lumbar puncture. We’d have to curl Jay on his side and put a needle into a specific part of his spine to collect some fluid. Jay is just too agitated to do that test.’
‘Will it matter?’ Her eyes were wide.
He took a deep breath. ‘We might not be able to specify the exact type of meningitis, but we would still be able to identify it as a bacterial meningitis.’
‘Would his treatment change?’
Avery shook his head. ‘It would still be intravenous antibiotics. We just need to wait and see how he is over the next few hours.’
Frank came over to show Mrs Lim to a seat. He gave a nod to Avery and Katsuko. ‘I’ll give you a shout if I need you.’
Katsuko gave Avery a little smile. Both of them could recognise the signs of being told unofficially to take a break. They were lucky. The ER had its own coffee room. Staff here frequently didn’t have time to make it to the hospital canteen or other facilities.
Katsuko flicked the switch on the kettle and opened the huge tin that sat in the middle of the coffee table.
Avery looked over her shoulder and pulled something out. ‘What are these things? I see them everywhere.’
She gave a laugh as she spooned some coffee into the mugs. ‘I think you’d call them...’ she pointed to the first packet ‘...chocolate pretzel sticks, and those ones...’ she pointed to the other ‘...are strawberry rice cakes.’
Avery was still staring at the pictures on the packaging.
She poured some water into the cups. ‘They are two of most popular snacks in Japan. Think of it as an initiation of fire.’
He pulled open the first packet and sagged down onto a chair as Katsuko tipped some milk into the mugs, stirred the coffee and brought them over. She hesitated for a second, then sat down next to him. There wasn’t much point in worrying if someone saw them sitting together.
Avery settled back, letting his sh
oulder come into contact with hers. ‘Okay, introduce me to your strange snacks. I wanted potato chips and a candy bar.’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘What? No apples or bananas?’
‘Usually yes. But today? After that diagnosis? Definitely something sweet and nasty.’
She handed him the chocolate pretzel sticks. He took a few and started eating. After a few minutes he smiled, picking up his coffee and relaxing a little. ‘Hey, these are actually okay. I could get used to these.’
‘You’ll have to. There isn’t much else in the tin.’
He turned his head towards her. ‘So, you’re off in a few days. Where are we going?’
She was trying so hard to appear like the coolest woman on the planet as she felt all the blood starting to rush to her cheeks and ruin her disguise.
And, for some strange reason, What makes you think we’re going anywhere? turned into, ‘Where do you want to go?’ She wasn’t entirely sure how that had happened.
What had happened to the walls she’d wanted to build around herself earlier? The fact she didn’t really want to give her colleagues anything to talk about? It seemed a few hours in the company of Avery Flynn made her go against all the things she’d planned in her head.
He gave a little nod. ‘You took me to the busiest place on the planet the last time. This time I’d like to go somewhere a little quieter.’
Uh-oh. Those pale green eyes were staring at her. And there was a definite twinkle in them. She didn’t want her brain to start imagining what he was hinting at. If that was what he’d done in the busiest place on the planet, what could he do somewhere quieter?
She gave a little nod. ‘Tokyo is huge. I’m sure I can find us somewhere more scenic to go.’
He grinned. ‘And definitely quieter?’
There he went again, teasing her. She could play him at his own game.
‘I have the perfect place in mind.’
CHAPTER SIX
HE’D TOLD KATSUKO he would pick her up at home but she’d suggested they meet in the base coffee shop. Part of him was relieved and part of him was a little put out. Was she trying to hide him from her father? And did he really want to be under the General’s interrogating gaze anyway?
One Kiss in Tokyo... Page 9
