Relapse || Mez
Who: Megan and Oz
Where: Penthouse/ hospital
When: Tuesday 26th June 2018
Notes/ Warnings: Megan takes ill again and Oz rushes her to hospital.
tw:medical tw:hospital
@ozmontague
Megan was utterly exhausted as she drove home. Stopped at yet another red light it was beginning to feel as if the entire city's traffic system was conspiring against her. Suddenly she was aware of a sharp pain in her chest again. It had come on and off all day but never lasted for long however this time it seemed to be hanging around for longer than she would have liked. Finally arriving at the Tower Megan parked her car and took the elevator up to the penthouse. As she stepped out of the doors she couldn't catch her breath at all and stood leaning back against the wall and her eyes closed as she tried to steady herself, her breath coming in pants.
Oz finally felt as if things were returning to normal. He and Megan hadn't quite had a full scene yet, at least not his version, but they were getting there. He finished up for the day and put away the last of his files before heading to the elevator. Sometimes it was frustrating to live in the same building he worked but on days like this it was wonderfully convenient. He pushed open the door and looked over at Megan, leaning against the wall, far too pale. "Megan? What is it?"
Megan barely lifted her head as she heard his voice. "I....I just need a moment," she gasped, panic starting to well within her. "I'll just...." she slid herself down the wall so she was sitting on the floor. Bending her legs up she rested her forehead against her bent knees trying desperately to remember the correct position for heart attack victims from her training all those years ago and assuming that position would help in this case too.
Oz bent low to touch the back of her head. "Megan." he stated her name more than he asked it as his mind raced, calculating distances and times. Within seconds he picked up his phone and called his driver. He scooped her up carefully and carried her to the elevator, pressing the button for the garage. Within minutes he was sliding them both into the back seat of his town car. "Just breathe my beauty, just breathe."
Megan was finding it difficult to focus on anything. She knew she had to breathe but the pain in her chest made her wince and that stopped her wanting to take a breath again. He was there, Oz was right beside her she did know that much and the only conscious thought she had was that he would keep her safe. She offered no resistance as he lifted her from the ground though her muddled thoughts did register slight surprise as he took her into the elevator and not into bed. Once in the car she did her best to follow his instructions and breathe but her eyes kept screwing shut as each sharp pain cut through her like a knife. By the time the car slowed she just wanted to sleep and she was struggling to keep her eyes open.
Oz kept his eyes on her face as the driver handled his job. They arrived in the hospital in mere minutes but by then Oz was whispering, "Just stay with me ... stay ... please Megan ... just stay with me." He didn't get out of the car as he stopped, letting the driver fetch the attention of the medical personnel as he focused on the woman in his arms. As the door opened, the look in his eyes was so painfully desperate, the nurse actually hesitated for a moment before reaching for Megan.
Megan couldn't understand why he wanted her to stay. She wasn't going anywhere, she just wanted to sleep and he kept talking so she couldn't. As arms reached for her Megan's hand curled around his so she could stay with him. A bright light kept flashing and she was vaguely aware of some shouting but nothing she could put her finger on as she was suddenly lying down and being whisked through the hospital. A mask was placed over her face and her brain said oxygen. It became a little easier to breath and her chest didn't feel quite as tight but the exhaustion she had been fighting all day took over and she finally gave in letting her eyes draw closed.
Oz followed her out of town car, refusing to let go of her hand until the doctors eventually insisted that he step away. He settled against the wall and watched as they worked on her. Finally when her condition stabilized he was allowed to go sit next to her. Once again, she was in the hospital, looking far too small and fragile in the hospital bed. He did not try to hide the tears as they traced his cheeks.
Megan woke to the steady beep of the heart monitor and the horrible feeling of the oxygen mask over her face. The pain, she quickly realised, had gone and again as she turned her head she saw Oz sitting right by her side. Pulling off the mask she gave him a weak smile, "Hi." She could see the dried tear tracks down his cheeks and that almost broke her. How could she keep putting him through this...even though it was not something she was choosing to do?
Oz looked up from their entwined hands as Megan moved. "Hello my beauty. Are you feeling better?" He asked softly as he reached up a hand to brush back soft strands of hair. "The doctors will be back soon I'm sure. Apparently you have been quite naughty and not taking care of yourself enough. We're going to have to change some of your rules I think my beauty."
Megan nodded at the question as she moved her mask aside again, "Much better Master." Her eyes fluttered closed at his gentle touch but soon opened again in surprise at his words. "I've done what I was supposed to. I have taken my medication every day and I was feeling a lot better. Today was just very stressful....and so was yesterday, in fact it's just not been a great week. I am sure I will feel better again soon." The end of his statement whirled around her head as she asked, "Change which rules?"
Oz nodded, "Good. I am glad to hear it." He murmured with a soft brush of his fingertips over her cheek before he cupped her face. "We'll get to those later. I'm afraid you will find them a bit strict to begin but you will settle." He murmured quietly before leaning in to kiss the curve of her lips. Then the door swung open and medical personnel hurried in to check her.
Megan 's eyes narrowed and she gazed at him in confusion, not sure what he was thinking but before she could question him the room seemed to fill with doctors and nurses. Her cardiologist had been called in and was studying the ECG printout along with a few others. "Your rhythms have settled again your heart rate is back to normal." He began to ask Megan questions about when the pain had started and how long she had had it before a decision was reached. "I am going to give you another tablet which you take three times a day for the next three days, that should help to relieve any lingering effects of this episode. You keep taking your normal tablets as well and you will find these new tablets may make you quite drowsy so no driving and I would advise taking a few days off work. I'll have the pharmacy dispense your new medication and once you have it you are free to leave unless there are any questions." Dr Lorenzo looked between the two of them and Megan shook her head and happy that she did not have to spend the night in hospital with Oz not getting any rest again.
Oz listened and felt his frustration build as Megan relayed that she had felt the symptoms build. If she wouldn't take care of herself then he would have to stop trusting her word. That alone was frustrating. "Thank you Dr. Lorenzo. We appreciate your time and help." He stated with a genuine nod of appreciation. He pulled out his phone and called his driver again to relay the good news and arrange their pickup. "I will go to the pharmacy to collect the new prescription. Please remain here until I return."
Megan watched as Oz called his driver and gave his instruction to her but there was no softness to his words and she couldn't help wondering if he was genuinely frustrated with the situation. If this was going to happen again was he really going to stay with her and that fear began to bloom within her again. She sat on the edge of the bed waiting for his return and wondering whether she should call Drew yet or if word of this would get out to him soon enough.
Oz returned with the simple white paper bag in hand, which he held out for Megan to take from him. "Come ... hospital policy says that you must travel by wheelchair." He murmured gently as he held out a hand to her to help her off the bed and then into the conveyance. He was struggling to control his temper in the moment and determined not to say anything to his beautiful claim until they were alone. "I have messaged Drew. He will be coming to the penthouse tomorrow. You will be calling in sick." he ordered crisply but quietly.
Megan lifted her head as the door opened and he came back with her new medication. She took the offered bag and while she was quite sure she could have walked she knew he was right about the policy and climbed into the wheelchair. Megan was struggling to read his mood as everything he said seemed clinical and cold but she also knew that it was quite late and he must be tired. The news that he had already tected Drew was a surprise and she turned to look at him. “There’s no need to disturb….” her words fell away and she turned back to the front with a muttered, “Yes my Lord.”
Oz looked at her sharply, "Good girl." he murmured quietly as he wheeled her to the entrance. There were only a few reporters there, given the time of day, and he managed to hustle the lovely brunette into the backseat before settling in beside her. His arm circled her slim shoulders and rested there. He felt the soul deep kind of tired.
Megan felt her stomach clench at the abrupt look from him and she began to wonder if he was cross with her rather than her condition. She felt herself tense and panicked as he manoeuvred her through the hallway but as he wrapped his arm around her in the car she felt calmer and began to doze as they made the short journey back to the Tower.
Oz felt her nod off against him and he had to work hard to quell his internal panic and residual anger over the day's events. As the car stopped in the parking garage, he unbuckled her seatbelt and slipped an arm under her knees before lifting her from the seat. He carried her to the private elevator and within minutes they were on route back to where the night had begun so horribly many hours before.
Megan began to stir as the car stopped but she was still very drowsy and more than happy to let Oz carry her to the elevator. The white paper bag clutched tight in one hand she opened her eyes with a groan as she realised they were travelling up to their home. "You must be tired, I can stand," she said gently.
Oz sighed as she spoke. "My beauty. Kindly shut the hell up." he grumbled quietly. He was working very hard to control his temper but if she continued to say ridiculous things, that control would snap to an end.
Megan stopped talking straight away. Staying quiet was quite obviously the best thing to do in this instance and that she could manage. As they reached the penthouse she forced herself to stay as she was, in his arms until he told her otherwise.
Oz stepped into the suite, her purse and other items still scattered at the front entrance. He kicked off his shoes but ignored everything else. He carried her through the open space until he reached the bedroom. He seated her on the edge of the bed. "To take these medicines, do you need food?" he asked somewhat brusquely as he stripped the younger woman out of her clothing with gentle hands. In a rare turn, he slipped a clean one of his own shirts over her small frame. He satisfied something primal in him, he couldn't help but feel satisfied as he rolled up the sleeves so she had use of her hands. He adjusted the pillows. "Sit back. You are allowed to leave this bed to use the facilities and that is all. I am going to make some food and then you are going to call in sick and go to bed. No part of this statement is negotiable. Do you understand me Megan?"
Megan chewed at her lower lip as he carried her through the space and into the bedroom. It was on the tip of her tongue to argue she could walk but even his walking seemed jerky and screamed of his annoyance. The sudden question about her medication drew her from her haze and she opened the bag to check. "Yes, with food," she muttered, putting the bag down on her bedside table. She offered no resistance as he undressed her and tried to hide the surprise as he immediately put one of his shirts on her. The whole situation was confusing her greatly but then he spoke again and the ice in her stomach reappeared. It was late and she was more than ready to sleep but she could see where this was going. "I feel much better, I can go to work tomorrow and if you really want me to see Drew I can go over at lunchtime or after work. There's no need to put anyone out."
Oz met her eyes and his jaw clenched hard. "Megan. This is not negotiable and I will not be arguing with you. If you do not call in sick, I will embarrass you by calling in myself and locking you in here tomorrow. Do /not/ push me right now. You promised me you would not do this to me again. You /promised/. Now I am going to go make you something light to eat with your medication and you can sleep."
Megan swallowed hard at the look on his face. She could and would have conceded easily enough to making the call but the way he made it sound like her fault had her seeing red. "I didn't do anything. You make it sound like I wanted to spend the evening in pain. I can't control this!" Her voice was raised by the time she was finished and her chest was heaving as she moved forward, up on her knees as she looked at him, torn between wanting to cry or run away from the whole thing.
Oz gestured toward the bed. "You will sit back right now." He smoothed a frustrated hand over his face. "You are lying. I heard you tell the doctors how many days you have been feeling these symptoms, how long you have been neglecting what your body needs, telling me you were fine, you were lying to me and maybe to yourself. But I will not tolerate this any longer Megan. If you won't take care of yourself, if your words cannot be trusted then I will deal with the situation. You control it by taking care of yourself and you didn't. You promised me and you let me down."
Megan did as she was told and sat back against the pillows, her gaze never leaving him. His words cut deep though. She hadn't intended to lie to him. It was all little things that she could explain away and she didn't want to cause him to fuss. By the time he finished speaking tears were streaming down her face as she choked out her words, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to lie to you. I didn't want any of this......I just didn't think about it. I just felt a lot better and didn't.....I just didn't think." She reached for a tissue and roughly wiped away the worst of her tears as she reached for her phone ready to make the call to her work.
Oz felt such pain at her tears. These weren't the tears he enjoyed - the ones intermixed with sexual pleasure and the sweet taste of her submission. She was hurting and he hated that she was hurt. However, he also absolutely livid. "Well it is time for you to start thinking. You are not taking this seriously but I am. If you are not careful, you will not get to the hospital in time. If you won't do it for me or for yourself, then I will take steps because losing you because you have decided our life together isn't worth it ... well that's not a fucking option.”
Megan knew that he was angry but as he spoke she could feel the intensity of it. She had never seen him this furious and the urge to throw herself at his feet and beg forgiveness was very strong. However he had made it very clear that she was to stay on the bed so she remained rooted to the spot. The warning that one day she would not get to the hospital in time made her sick to her stomach and it broke her heart that this was clearly something that he had been thinking about. Reining her tears in a little she sobbed, "Our life together is what makes it all worth living. I love you, I don't ever want to lose you and I'm sorry. I'll do better I promise, I'll be better."
Oz leaned in, wrapping his hands around her sweet face and met her eyes, "Do not make me lose you. Do not do this to me /ever/ again. I will never forgive myself if you died like that Megan. It would destroy me for the rest of my life ... do you understand what I am telling you?" he growled as he met her bright eyes overflowing with tears.
Megan could feel the tears choke in her throat as he spoke. His words hurt far more than any kind of physical reprimand would and she had never regretted her actions quite as much. Tears streamed again, less hysterical than before but she still had no chance of stopping them. "I understand, I'll tell you I promise. Even if I think it's nothing I'll tell you." She hated the thought of being wrapped in cotton wool and never being allowed to do things but that would be far preferable to the way she felt now and the hurt she saw in his gaze.
Oz sat himself on the bed and pulled her onto his lap. The anger slowly started to dissipate although he wondered if the nugget of pain would ever truly fade. "Never again." he whispered softly as he wrapped his arms around her and his own tears started to run.
Megan felt herself release some of the guilt she felt as he pulled her over. His words were so soft she could barely hear them over her own breathing but she echoed them, "Never again." Resting her head against his shoulder her tears hadn't stopped entirely and as she tipped her head up and saw his it broke her heart again. She didn't know whether to react to them or not but chose to give him a moment where she stayed quietly in his arms, very much there and alive to recover. There were no more promises to be made that night, she meant every word she had said but it was growing late and they were both clearly tired. "I should make that call," she murmured after a few more minutes.
Oz released her reluctantly and dusted away the tears that had stained his cheeks. "I ..." his voice was thick and heavy so he paused to clear his throat. "I ... will go make something for you to eat with your medications."
Megan gave a slight nod and watched him go. She obediently ate her snack and took her medication before settling down for the night, cuddling into him more than she usually would have given the conversation but wanting to feel him close to her.
