Chapter 4: When Things Get Too Real
1149 Words
The hours passed slowly, each minute dragging as the small jet soared high above the clouds. Cathy’s fever had momentarily stabilized, but Rafael wasn’t fooled. The way her body shivered beneath the thin airline blanket made his heart race with worry. She’d seemed better for a brief moment, but now, her skin was burning up again, and her breathing shallow.
He sat beside her, his eyes flicking back and forth between the flight attendants and her pale face. Sweat clung to his brow as he ran a hand through his hair, desperately trying to stay calm.
“Please, God,” he muttered under his breath.
Cathy’s teeth chattered, the tremors making her entire body quake. She opened her eyes, barely lifting her head from the armrest. “Rafael... it’s too cold...”
“Stay with me, Cathy. You’re going to be alright,” Rafael said, but the doubt in his voice didn’t match his words. He felt helpless. Every time she shivered, his stomach tightened with anxiety.
One of the flight attendants, a woman in her late twenties with short brown hair, approached their row. “Sir, is everything alright? We noticed your companion is looking worse.”
Rafael’s voice was tight with urgency as he nodded. “She’s running a high fever. I need help. This isn’t just a simple cold. I need you to make an emergency landing.”
Her expression shifted immediately, and she placed a hand on Cathy’s forehead, frowning. “We’re about two hours from our destination, but I’ll inform the captain. We’ll need to land at the nearest airport. Hold on, sir.”
Rafael felt his pulse thundering in his ears as the attendant moved quickly to relay the message. Within minutes, the captain’s voice crackled over the intercom, calm but filled with authority. “Ladies and gentlemen, we will be making an unscheduled landing at Brisbane International Airport due to a medical emergency. Please fasten your seatbelts and remain seated until further instructions.”
Cathy whimpered softly, her fever escalating, her body now wrapped in blankets that seemed unable to keep her warm. Rafael's heart pounded. Not fast enough. We need to get her help now.
The flight attendants worked quickly, prepping for the landing. One of them gave Rafael a reassuring look. “We’re doing everything we can. The medical team will be waiting for you when we land.”
As the plane descended, Rafael barely noticed the changing landscape below. His thoughts were consumed with Cathy, her weak voice still ringing in his ears. Don’t leave me, Cathy.
The jet touched down on the runway with a gentle thud, and the moment the aircraft halted, emergency lights blinked on the runway. Within seconds, paramedics rushed onto the plane, their faces serious as they quickly wheeled Cathy down the narrow aisle on a stretcher.
“Sir, please follow us,” one of the paramedics said.
Rafael didn’t hesitate. He walked close beside them, his hand gripping Cathy’s as if letting go would mean losing her. They rushed off the plane and were ushered into a waiting ambulance, the sirens blaring through the quiet of the airport.
By the time they arrived at Brisbane’s nearest hospital, the medical team was waiting with a sense of urgency that matched Rafael’s panic. Cathy was rushed into an emergency room, the heavy doors closing with a clang that felt like a death knell to Rafael.
Minutes turned to hours, and the stress was eating at him. Finally, the emergency doors swung open, and a young woman in a white coat stepped out. Her brown hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, and her eyes were sharp with professionalism.
“Mr. De Luca?” she asked, her voice firm but not unkind. “Cathy is stable now.”
Rafael exhaled in relief, his chest heavy with the weight of the past few hours. “What happened to her?”
The doctor glanced at the chart in her hands, then gave him a sly smile that didn’t match the seriousness of the situation. “It looks like Cathy’s fever was triggered by... well, let’s just say, the intensity of your... first night together.”
Rafael blinked, confused. “What are you talking about?”
She raised an eyebrow, still smirking. “You two went a little overboard, didn’t you? Your first time... too much excitement. It caused a physical reaction in her body. It triggered an infection that caused the fever.”
Rafael’s face flushed. He wasn’t expecting that kind of answer from a doctor, especially in front of a hospital corridor.
The doctor continued, unfazed by the awkwardness in the air. “To be blunt, no more s*x for at least a month, okay? Let her body heal. I suggest you both take it slow. If she doesn't, there’s a risk she could relapse.”
Rafael clenched his jaw. “You’re serious?”
She nodded. “It’s common in such... enthusiastic cases. It’s nothing life-threatening, but she needs rest. Plenty of fluids and time. Let her recover before you do anything else.”
Rafael felt a strange mix of embarrassment and irritation. “So... what? You’re saying our first night caused this?”
The doctor’s smirk grew wider, and she leaned in a little. “Let’s just say your ‘penetration’ caused a... triggering effect. No more ‘enthusiasm’ for a while. Understand?”
Rafael opened his mouth to argue but closed it again. He didn’t know whether to laugh or be mortified. “Understood.”
The doctor gave him a final nod, her smile more teasing than professional. “Good. I’ll let you know when she can go home. She’ll need to rest here for a couple of days. Keep her calm and get her back on her feet. And remember, no more marathon sessions, at least not for a while.”
Rafael just stood there, dumbfounded, watching as she turned to walk away. He didn’t know what to think. Part of him wanted to storm after her and demand more information, but another part of him was still processing everything.
He stepped into the room where Cathy lay, her face pale but peaceful now that the fever had broken. Rafael sat by Cathy’s bed as she slowly stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked, disoriented, her head resting against the soft pillow.
“How are you feeling?” Rafael asked softly, his gaze filled with concern.
Cathy let out a small sigh, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m so sorry... for all the trouble I’ve caused. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Rafael shook his head, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “No worries, Cathy. You’re my wife now. It’s natural for me to take care of you. You don’t have to apologize.”
She smiled weakly, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you... for everything."
- Writer
