FIC: "Tummy Troubles" (3/4) (Rating: PG-13) for Milk_and_Glass

[febobe]

Here's the third part of four. . . .



CHAPTER THREE

"MAMMA!!!!"

"Coming, sweetheart!"

Primula sighed as she dashed back into her child's room. It had been two days already and Frodo remained very ill, sick with fever and tummyache despite her regular administration of the ginger tea. The fits of vomiting were coming less often now, but they still occasionally occurred, and she had had to change Frodo's bed more than once. If she left the room at all - as just then - to prepare ginger tea or fetch clean linens, he cried piteously for her, wailing until she returned to hold and rock him in her arms.

There had been no vomiting in about three hours, though. She wondered whether she could begin giving him the medicine yet; the diarrhea was making his little bottom so raw, and draining them both of energy more than almost anything else. . . .

Deciding to chance it, she gathered Frodo into her lap, shook the bottle well, cuddled her arm around him so she could hold a spoon in one hand and pour with the other, then poured cautiously, trying not to drip on child or clothing, though she'd taken to wearing an apron, at least. Frodo was too exhausted even to squirm in her arms, and lay limp against her bosom.

The medicine poured, she set the bottle back on the table and offered the spoonful to Frodo, coaxing softly. "Open for Mamma, darling," she soothed. "Just swallow this down; it'll make your tummyache better. . . ."

Wordlessly Frodo parted tiny lips and allowed her to slip the spoon in. The lack of protest worried her, but she took advantage of it, praising him nonetheless.

"There's my good little lad! My, aren't you clever! Thank you, Frodo, for helping Mamma out."

Frodo merely whimpered and clung to her.

Corking the bottle closed once more, Primula checked the clock so as to time the next dose properly.

And prayed that this would work.

Thirty minutes passed, with only one attack of diarrhea. By the time she got Frodo cleaned up and comfortable, it was time for more medicine, which she gave at once.

Thirty more minutes passed, again with an attack of diarrhea. Another dose of medicine, which Primula administered faithfully.

Thirty more minutes passed, this time without any diarrhea. Primula administered the next dose of medicine, scarcely daring to hope.

Please, she thought, please let it be over. For my baby's sake.

Comments

[milk-and-glass.livejournal.com]

Poor baby! I'm glad the medication seems to be working. Poor Primmy, I feel bad for her being so worn out with cleaning up vomit and diarrhea, but I feel the worse for poor Frodo-lad, all limp and sad and blue-eyed in his mama's arms. I squee every time I reread this fic, sweetie, and I love it so much, so thank you a million times!

[shirebound]

Poor baby! I actually went through my own "tummy troubles" most of last night, and wish I had all this cuddling!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

The loving relationship between Frodo and Primula is so comforting. Poor little mite, he's certainly been ill.

[b-briarwood.livejournal.com]

Awww, poor little thing! *rocks him gently*

I've been through stuff like this with mine. you don't really even sleep when they're that sick.