A Humble Heart (Hollywood Hearts #1)(49)

He smiled. “I’m glad you approve.”

“I could have done better,” Lucas muttered, earning an elbow in the ribs from Dana. He just laughed it off.

“I suspect you’re taking Dana to the party,” Lucas said.

“Yes, thank you for bringing her here safely.”

“Not a problem. I’ll see you guys there.” Lucas leaned over and kissed her cheek before he followed everyone out.

Dana stood up and grabbed the back of the seat in front of her as a wave of dizziness shot through her. “Whoa, head rush,” she mumbled.

“Are you okay?” Edward asked. He put an arm around her waist to help her.

She waved him off. “I’m okay I just need to eat something. Now that the nerves are gone that should be easy.”

“Okay then let’s go. I’m getting you something to eat before we hit the party.” He urged her forward. They walked through the lobby, receiving applause and congratulations.

“Hell of a job,” Eric said to Edward. He kept an arm around Dana while he spoke to Eric.

Pain ripped through Dana’s stomach. She bent over, gasping.

“Dana?” Edward asked concerned.

“I’m fine…just….” She fell to the floor as everything went black.

*********

“Dana!” He tried to shake her gently. She didn’t wake up. “Someone, call an ambulance!” he yelled.

Amy ran to her side. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. She grabbed her stomach and fell over,” Edward said anxiously. He pulled her into his lap as a crowd formed around them. “Baby, wake up please!”

“Let me through! I’m a doctor,” a man said. A moment later a short man with grey hair knelt down next to Dana. He reached out and took her pulse.

“Her pulse is weak, she’s clammy, and burning up. Her breathing is shallow and irregular.”

Amy was crying now. “She hasn’t been feeling good, not eating, throwing up, and she hasn’t been able to sleep. We all thought it was stress.”

Edward held her tighter against him. “Where’s the ambulance? I saw two stationed outside.”

“Move aside!” a police officer said, pushing through the crowd. He was followed by two EMT’s pushing a stretcher.

The doctor reached over and grabbed a stethoscope from one of the EMT's leg pockets as he said, “I’m Dr. Brown. I want this woman brought to Mercy hospital. I’ll be riding along.” The EMT’s nodded as they looked her over.

“Thank you,” Edward murmured. He picked Dana up and noticed that she was lighter than before. He placed her on the stretcher and pushed her hair back as she was strapped in. He kissed her lips before a face mask was placed over her mouth. He ignored the clicks and flashes of cameras focusing on them.

They moved fast over the red carper to an awaiting ambulance. Edward jogged by her side holding her hand. Fans were screaming and crying. They tried to push past the barrier. Police quickly lined up and pushed them back. In seconds screams erupted as the crowd broke loose.

“Shit!” one of the EMT’s yelled as they quickly loaded the stretcher into the ambulance and jumped in with Edward and Dr. Brown in tow before the frantic crowd surrounded the ambulance.

Edward held Dana’s hand as Dr. Brown worked on her. He watched as the doctor inserted an IV and hung a bag. Then he tested her blood sugar. The doctor frowned and shook his head. “She hasn’t eaten for days, has she?”

“I don’t know I've been in England,” he mumbled, feeling like an ass**le. He should have known.

Dr. Brown reached over and picked up the heart monitor. He pulled down Dana’s dress and applied electrodes. He turned the monitor on and watched. “Shit.”

Edward felt real fear for the first time since Cole’s accident. “Get us the hell out of here before her heart crashes!” Dr. Brown yelled. He picked up a microphone and turned on the CB radio. “C-med, this is Dr. Richard Brown requesting Mercy hospital with a priority one patient, female age,” he looked at Edward.

“Thirty.”

“Age thirty, blood pressure is eighty over thirty, pulse is forty, blood sugar is twenty-five, sick for unknown amount of time, complaints of nausea, dizziness, patient complained of stomach pain before collapsing, patient is unconscious and unable to regain consciousness at this time, IV and oxygen are in place. ETA.” He looked around. The EMT in back answered him.

“Ten minutes.”

“Mercy received.”

Dr. Brown replaced the microphone. “What’s wrong with her?” Edward asked, fighting back tears.

“I don’t know. We won’t know without more tests,” he said gently.

A group of doctors and nurses met them at the entrance. It seemed Dr. Brown’s name carried some clout here. They moved Dana quickly inside. They asked Edward dozens of questions, but he could hardly focus.

In the end they gave her more saline, medicine to stabilize her heart and breathing, as well as some nutrients to help settle her starving body as they ran their tests. Edward sat by her side after they drew her blood. He gently pushed her hair out of her face. “I love you so much, Dana,” he said over and over again.

“Baby, please don’t leave me.” He broke down after two hours when she still hadn't woken up. He climbed onto the bed and laid his head on her chest and sobbed. “Please come back to me. I need you.”