Mitch returned to Meghan’s ER room about 15 minutes later, having hopped into the shower and put on new scrubs. “How are you doing now?” he asked. “Zofran finally kicking in?”

Meghan nodded. “Yeah, the wonders of modern pharmacology. Still feel like crap, but I highly doubt I’m going to puke on you again. Sorry about that.”

Mitch shrugged but smiled. “It happens.” He pulled over the rolling stool and sat down. “I’ve gotten some of your bloodwork back. Your cortisol is low, but not drastically. White blood cell count is elevated, consistent with an infection going on. Everything else is looking okay. So aside from the nausea and being tired and lightheaded, what’s going on?”

Meghan shook her head. “I’ve got a bit of a headache, and think I’m doing a bit of the hot/chills stuff. My lower abdomen is achy, too. Was really nauseous earlier, as you found out.”

Mitch nodded. “I think you’ve got the current stomach bug, and that stressed your system enough to drop your cortisol. I’m still waiting to hear back from Dr. Woodruff to get his opinion on treatment, but I don’t think you necessarily need more cortisone or to stay overnight here.” He stood. “Since you said your stomach’s staying in place, I want to finish examining you.” Meghan nodded, and Mitch resumed his abdominal exam.

Mitch walked over to the glove dispenser and pulled out a pair. He rummaged in a drawer and pulled out a couple packets of lubricant, and grabbed the thermometer. “Roll onto your left side for me, Meghan, and slip your underwear down. I’m going to get a temp and do a rectal exam.”

Meghan wasn’t expecting this, but knowing her brother-in-law, she knew that arguing would get her nowhere. So she turned as directed and shimmied her panties down to around her knees. Mitch pulled the curtain around the door to give her more privacy and brought his equipment over, setting it on the gurney behind her bare bottom. He put a sheath on the thermometer, lubricated it, and gently inserted it into her rectum. It soon beeped and he removed it.

“You’ve got a fever: 102.8 F. Not bad, but you’ll want to keep an eye on that.” He popped off the thermometer sheath, tossing it in the trash, and put the thermometer back in its wall bracket. Squirting some lubricant on his finger, he separated her buttocks and gently inserted his finger fully into her bottom. He felt a lot of fecal matter in her bottom as he rotated his finger around before removing it. “Finger’s out,” he reassured her, handing her some paper towels to wipe up. “When’s the last time you had a bowel movement?” he asked as he stripped off his gloves and threw them in the trash.

“It’s been a few days,” Meghan replied, embarrassed. No matter how she tried, it was still difficult to talk about her bowel habits with him.

“Pending what Dr. Woodruff says, I’d like you to come home with me for a couple of days until you get to feeling better. Kelsey just got over this stuff, and she needed some care while she was feeling ill. You’re in no shape to go home alone.” Mitch typed notes into her chart as he spoke.

Meghan sighed but nodded. She made a move to pull up her underwear, but Mitch stopped her. “Don’t do that yet. I’m going to send Bob in with a couple of Tylenol suppositories. We need to get on top of that fever.” He arranged the blankets over her to protect her modesty and headed out the door.

Meghan cringed. It was weird feeling like her butt was just hanging out, about to be viewed by a friend and have the suppositories shoved up her bottom. And while she knew being at the Branstons’ while getting over this stomach bug was a good idea, she knew that Mitch would want to examine her again and would probably want to give her enemas. She wasn’t too keen on that, but gave in to the inevitable – she was too tired to do anything else.

Bob soon came in with the medication. “Dr. Branston ordered Tylenol for you, Meghan. Let’s get these in real quick and then you can settle back and rest.” He pulled on a pair of gloves, then raised the blanket to expose Meghan’s behind. He lifted her buttock and brought the first suppository to her anus. He gently pushed it in, and followed it with a second suppository. He pushed this one in and followed it with his finger. He kept his finger inserted for a moment, then removed it. He pulled off his gloves and switched for a new pair.

“I’ve also got a shot of antibiotics for you. Let’s get this taken care of.” He opened a prep pad and cleaned a spot on Meghan’s right buttock. Uncapping the needle, he made sure to get out any air bubbles before plunging the needle into her muscle. He slowly injected the medication and removed the needle, disposing of the syringe in the nearby sharps box. “You can pull your underwear back up now.” He tossed the used gloves. “Need anything before I go?”

Meghan pulled up her panties and tossed the blankets back over herself, chilled. “I think I’m good for the moment, thanks.”

“Well, if you need anything, use the call button,” Bob instructed before leaving her room.

Meghan reached under the covers and rubbed her sore butt. The injection had been painful, but she knew that it would help her recover quicker. She wondered when Dr. Woodruff would talk to Mitch, and if she’d get to go home to the Branstons’ that night or have to stay in the hospital.

Meghan was awakened an hour later by the doctor in question. “Hi Meghan. How are you feeling?”

She sat up more in the bed. “Like I’ve been hit by a truck, and could use a pile of blankets to get warm,” she grimaced, shivering.

Dr. Woodruff nodded sympathetically. “The stomach bug going around is no joke. Listen, I’ve looked at your labwork and think that you’re probably just dealing with your system reacting to the bug you’ve got. I want you to double up on your cortisol for the next week, and I’ll see you in the office in a week. I think Dr. Branston will cut you loose from here soon, so go home, take it easy, and get to feeling better.”

Meghan gave him an attempted smile. “I’m glad. I’d rather be going home than staying in the hospital.”

He patted her arm. “I’m sure. I’m not seeing anything that warrants a hospital stay or more extensive treatment as far as your Addison’s is concerned. So get some rest and get to feeling better.” He waved goodbye and left the room.

Mitch came in a little later. “How’d you like to go to our home? Kelsey is coming in to pick you up in a bit. I’ll have Bob leave the heplock in for at home, but I’ll get your discharge paperwork finished up. Did Dr. Woodruff give you instructions for the next few days?”

Meghan nodded. “I’m to double up on the cortisol for the next week and see him in a week.”

Mitch nodded. “Good plan. Let’s get you home and into bed, resting. I’ll check on you after I get off shift.” He headed out.

Kelsey showed up not long thereafter. Bob brought in Meghan’s discharge paperwork and got her IV disconnected, leaving in the heplock as directed. Once he left, Meghan changed back into her street clothes and followed Kelsey out to her car.

Kelsey drove Meghan to her apartment so she could pack an overnight bag for a few days. Meghan looked at the stairs, sighed, and started climbing. She packed a bag and grabbed her knitting. She also picked up a fresh vial of cortisone, a vial of sterile water, and a packaged syringe to replenish her emergency kit. She made sure to lock the door, and headed back to Kelsey’s waiting car.

Meghan sank into the car seat gratefully. The stairs and packing had used up what energy she had. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back as Kelsey drove. She was on the verge of falling asleep when Kelsey pulled into the driveway. “We’re here, sis.”

Meghan reluctantly opened her eyes. “So we are.” She yawned, then got out of the car, retrieving her bag.

“I’m sure you are ready for a nap, sis. You look tired and miserable,” Kelsey commiserated. “You’re more than welcome to the regular guest room – I’ve got the bed already made up. Before you go to sleep, though, Mitch wants a full set of vitals.”

Meghan wasn’t the most thrilled with that, knowing what Mitch would have ordered, but she wanted to sleep, so nodded gamely. The sooner her sister got vitals out of the way, the sooner she could relax in bed.

Kelsey led the way to the guest room, Meghan following. Kelsey had already placed the needed equipment in the room, to Meghan’s surprise. “I see you’re prepared for me.” Meghan chuckled as she set her bag down on the bed. She rummaged for her PJs.

Kelsey laughed. “Well, we both know Mitch and how he runs this house like his ER. I figured I’d go ahead and set up for you and what his orders would be. How’s the nausea?”

Meghan grimaced. “Still there, but it’s in check. Did he tell you I threw up on him?” Meghan started changing clothes.

“What? Oh, no! No, he didn’t. But we have Zofran on hand if you need it.” Kelsey stopped her sister from pulling up her PJ bottoms. “Let’s get your temp before you pull those up. On the bed, please, sis.”

Meghan sighed and did as she was bid. She knew that a thermometer was going to go up her butt. Truth be told, she didn’t mind them anymore – she had experienced enough rectal temps over the last year that it wasn’t an unwelcome novelty anymore. She lay down flat on her stomach and pulled her panties down so that Kelsey could get on with the procedure.

Kelsey shook down the thermometer, applied some lube to the tip, and separated her sister’s buttocks. She inserted the rod deep into Meghan’s rectum and held it in place until the machine beeped. “You’ve got quite the fever, sis: 101.6 F. Did they give you anything at the ER to try to lower this?” She pulled out the thermometer.

Meghan pulled her underwear and PJ bottoms up and rolled over. “Yeah, Mitch ordered a couple of Tylenol suppositories. He also gave me a shot of antibiotics.”

Kelsey nodded. “Let’s finish getting a set of vitals, and then I’ll let you sleep. Think you might be able to stomach some soup for dinner?” She wrapped a BP cuff around Meghan’s arm and placed a pulse ox on her finger. She pumped up the cuff and let it deflate. “102/68. Looks pretty good.” She jotted down Meghan’s vitals on a notepad. “What was it when you decided you needed to go to the ER?” She asked, removing the cuff and pulse ox.

“It was 88 over something.” Meghan pushed down her sleeve.

“Yeah, that’s too low. Well, I’m going to leave all the supplies here for the moment,” Kelsey said, setting them neatly on a nearby table. “You get some rest, and I’ll wake you for dinner when Mitch gets off work.” Kelsey shut the door, and headed for the kitchen.

Meghan gratefully slipped under the covers, shivering at the cool of the sheets. She curled up in a ball until her body heat warmed things up a bit, and fell asleep.