#fever!

They are halfway to Texas when they stop for the night. They had a little portable crib for the baby that fits by their bed. Jamie feeds her as Claire walks Highway. When she returns, she finds her man frantic.

“She is hot!” He calls out. She drops Highway’s leash and hurries to his side. Falling down by him, her hand goes out to touch her head.

“Oh. She has a fever. Do we have a thermometer?” She is already searching through the diaper bag. Jamie lifts Jamie Ellen up to his shoulder and starts to rock her. “Oh good.” She has found a baby thermometer. “Put her on stomach and loosen her diaper.”

“We take it there?” his eyes get comically large.

“Yes, it isn’t like she will hold it under her tongue. You have never taken a babie's tempture?”

“Nae, my nephew and niece, well I was there fun uncle. Nae icky stuff.” She giggles at that as she places a lubricated tip cover on it. He holds her over his lap as she gently inserts it. The baby starts and Jamie softly whispers Ghaildhig over her. It doesn’t take long. The beep let's her know it is done. She removes it and looks.

“Claire what is it?”

“101.”

“Oh Christ! What do we do?”

“We don’t panic. She needs to be seen by a doctor.” He nods and hands the baby to her. She strips her down to her diaper. She holds her with one hand as she search’s through the bag with the other.

“What are you looking for?”

“Fever reducer.” He helps and they finally find baby Tylenol at the bottom. After carefully reading the directions, they give her a dose. Claire gets on her phone to see if there is a urgent care clinic near by that is open. Luck is on their side. They find one and head there.

Seating in the waiting room, they attempt to shield Jamie Ellen from the coughs, sneezes, and misery of those around them. She is fussy, refusing the comfort of a bottle and restless in their arms.

“Do you think it is her throat? With not wanting the bottle?” Jamie asks.

“Or ears. Probably. A dose of antibiotics should fix her up.”

“Jamie Ellen Mackenzie.” A nurse calls out and they jump up. She is weighed, measured, and has her temp re-taken.

“100. 5.” She tells them.

“We did give her some Tylenol.” Claire explains.

“Good. So, who is her pediatrician?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t know of her existence until a week ago.” He explains, leaving out his uncles and the fact that Lori wasn’t her mam. “She left her. We are trying to figure this out, day by day.”

“Well, good for you. Must men would have just dropped her of with CS and been on their way.”

“I am not most men. I was raised better. Will she be okay?”

“She will. The doctor will be in soon.”

The doctor comes in and smiles at them. “This must be Jamie Ellen and her daddy and step mommy.”

“For all intents, Jamie and Claire.” He says.

“Nice to meet you. Now, let's see what is wrong with the princess. Hold her daddy so I can listen and look.” She is very gentle, talking softly to the baby as she listens to her chest and back, looks in her ears and throat.

“She has an ear infection. Not major. I will prescribe antibiotics and ear drops. She will be just fine.”

“Thank God!” Claire prays.

“Amen. Was it something we did? The way her bottle was held?”

“You are sweet. Would like to clone you. No, her ears are short. That allows fluid to built up. As she gets older, they will grow. She will outgrow them.”

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2vrhb8cH0M)