Chapter four

Kris stretched lightly in her seat and tried to find a better position for her stiff back. It was now 5 pm and John was sleeping peacefully in his bed. She shook her head, he looked like an angel, but he could turn into a real devil.

A couple hours ago Richie had to use all his strength to hold his son down when Doctor Cunningham insert the IV line into his little hand. John was furious and he was still pissed when a nurse attached the monitoring unit to his body. Kris wasn’t even sure he was scared or that it really hurt him, it was more that he didn’t want to stay in the hospital.

She was close to collapse when she saw her son fighting against anything and everyone and already wanted to give in and take him home, but Richie was more controlled and told his son in a strict voice to stop. Kris had never seen him being that demanding with one of his kids. John seemed to be surprised too and stopped the screaming and fighting.

Now Richie was at home packing some necessary items for John and her. Then he would drop off Kathy, Ava and his mother at Jon and Dot’s before returning and spending the better part of the night here.

John moved slowly and opened his eyes. “Mommy?”

“Yes, baby…how are you feeling?…a bit better?” she ran her hand gently through his blond hair.

“Headache...” he whispered and touched the right side of his head, the area he hit the ground with.

“Still?...Hmmm…” she kissed his cheek and he tried to sit up, but seemed to be complete out of balance. Kris grabbed him before he fell out of the bed.

“John?” She stood up. “Are you dizzy, baby?” She looked him directly in the eyes, but they didn’t react at all. In the next second his eyes rolled back and the monitors started to beep uncontrollable.

“John?...Baby…” Kris touched his cheek and tried to wake him up again, but he didn’t instead he started to throw up.

“Shit!” Kris turned him to the side and made sure he wouldn’t aspirate the vomit. The door opened and a nurse followed by a pediatrician and Doctor Cunningham stormed into the room.

“Mrs. Sambora, please step back.” Doctor Cunningham pushed her gently, but demanding aside. She stumbled back and watched how they examined her little boy. His whole body was shaking and the beeping of the monitors wouldn’t stop.

Tears started to stream down her face, she was shaking uncontrollable. Where’s Richie?

The doctors started to roll the bed with her son out of the room.

“What will happen now?” Kris stuttered worried and followed them a couples meters down the hallway.

“Wait here, I’ll be back in a little while.” Doctor Cunningham said and rushed with his colleague away.

Kris stared at them in shock.

“Darling?” she turned around. Richie was standing in front of her, a small travelling bag and John’s favorite stuffed animal in his hands.

“Oh God, Richie.” She threw herself into his arms and started to sob.

“Darling…what happened?” he’d dropped the bag the moment Kris landed in his arms and held her tight now. “Where’s John?” he asked concerned. The room of his son was empty.

“He…he…he…” she was close to a break down.

“Darling, calm down…” Richie looked at her worried. He couldn’t remember ever seen her like this.

“He had some kind of a seizure…he was trembling, and threw up and …oh, Richie it was terrible when his eyes rolled back and there was nothing I could do.” She sobbed.

Rich pressed her close to his body; he wasn’t able to say anything. All he could do was hold her.