ONCE Chapter 4

[obvmluver.livejournal.com]

Title: ONCE
Author: obvmluver
Type: RPS
Pairing: Orlando/Viggo
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: These events never happened. I get no profit from this.
Beta: Not betaed
Summary: Orlando falls ill. Can he and Viggo survive through it together?
Author’s Notes: I read a wonderful story in the 90s that was in the Reader’s Digest. I can never thank the real people behind the original story enough. Send feedback to my address. Thanks.

This is the fouth chapter...Enjoy...


After the nurse has taken another blood test I kiss Orli and go to lunch. I eat at the café in the 5th floor. The macaroni and cheese are like paste. At the same time I think about the future. I break down. I’m so exhausted, scared even. I know that I should be honest with Orli but I can’t let him lose his hope. I take one moment and day at a time.
I come back to B 3 where my golden prince lies in his realm. Crimson blood is flowing to his vein. He has a slight blush on his cheeks and he looks great. But soon the transfusion is over.

On Thursday I wake up being extremely stiff. Orli’s treatment starts today and that’s why I have to accept the truth – Orli has a cancer and I have given a permission to treat it with chemotherapy. Orli is quiet and wondering something. I am uptight and stingy. After cleaning up and organizing everything in the room I attack him. “Take a shower!” I order. He’s protesting against me at first but after sensing the state I’m in he hurries. I’m sure that in bath he’s become more energetic, that he’d understand the situation. I also wish he’s somehow show me he’s fine. We are a clumsy combination: Orli, the IV-rack and me. We walk to the bathroom and I fill the tub. Orli takes off his pyjamas and jumps in taking a good position. I kneel down beside him.
“Orli. We’ll start the treatment today” I say. “Yeah.” He answers. Okay, he knows. His eyes fill with tears but so do mine. I get to wash him. He’s so weak that I dry, dress and take him into my arms. I feel his heartbeat next to mine. I clearly see he has understood what lies before him. It’s an important thing. I lead him to the hallway and I come back to empty and disinfect the tub. When I come back I meet Ralph, a nurse or should I say an apprentice. Ralph is short, serious and he has a brownish beard. He has a white jacket on and its chest pocket is full of pens.
Dr. Baker and another, still studying, doctor on Orli’s ward inform that the drugs are here. We could start now. A handsome dr. Jackson gently examines Orli’s arm where the IV enters his system. Then he says that he should find another vein for Adriamycin.
Our doctor injects the Adriamycin into Orli holding his breath. We all sigh in relief as he pulls the empty syringe out. Orli collapses down being exhausted. Doctor leaves us quietly. Orli is staring at the ceiling and I lie down on the couch keeping my eyes on him. My eyes are all stingy and burning from exhaustion. “I feel sleepy.” Orlando states and I walk next to him. I cover him and make sure everything’s okay. I terribly need loneliness and I sneak off to a dark storage room. Between my sobs I hear dr. Baker ask: “Where’s Viggo?” “I’m here.” I answer as I come out of my hiding place. As we walk back to Orlando’s room he tells me that Orli would start to vomit badly in two or three hours and that he’d order a nurse to give him Thorazin.
Half an hour later after Orli has fallen asleep he wakes up and pukes onto a towel spread on the floor. Jeannette and I take care of those things together: we swipe, clean and change sheets. It’s really sad when Orli is moaning in pain.

The shift changes at 7:00 AM and Nancy and me take care of Orli who sways on the toilet seat keeping his head in his hands. “Vig, this is so embarrassing” he says. “I can’t believe this! A 28 years old man can’t wet his bed three times during the night. I don’t want that Thorazin shit anymore!”
Today Orli is exhausted. I read while he’s resting and keep a bowl under his chin. Orlando falls asleep once again and I curl up on a rocking chair at the end of the corridor. My heart breaks into tiny, little pieces.
Another endless night. I put a bedpan under him every hour so that all the fluids flowing from him won’t surprise us. It’s worth everything. In the morning I meet bright eyes and a wide smile.
Routines are the same day after day at the same time. Every morning at 6:00 a lab technician walks in to take the blood tests. I go and sit next to him and help him pull through. Every morning at 6:45 a student comes to examine Orli. This is a teaching hospital. That’s why Orli’s personal doctor changes every three weeks. It’s very nice to watch their youth, devoted attitude and perfect dedication to my Orli. Every morning at 7:00 the nurse on the daily shift, usually Nancy, comes to measure the temperature, pulse and blood pressure. At 7:30 AM Orlando receives his breakfast. He eats watching TV. After breakfast Orli brushes his teeth and rinses his mouth with Nystantin. It prevents small wounds from appearing on his gums. He hates to take it. I can see it in his eyes.
Every morning I wander the stairs to a cafeteria where I eat my own breakfast at a window seat. At 9:00 AM I return to the ward. At 9:30 AM Orli takes a shower and by ten we are ready to meet the doctors again.