As Tim laid on the blanket, his head in Caroline's lap, he read the poems he had written in the little book she brought to the picnic.

"These are wonderful" she told him as she moved a lock of his hair off his forehead before she placed a kiss upon it.

"What makes them wonderful is because they are about you" he said as he smiled up at her. She blushed a bit at his response.

Tim sat up and poured them each a glass of wine. He moved next to her, placing her hand in his as they sat together under the oak tree, watching the sun set.

Soon they decided to pack everything up to head back home. "Are you sure you're ok to drive. We can always pick up your car tomorrow" Tim asked her.

"Yes, I only had 2 glasses. I'm fine" Caroline said with a smile.

He pulled her close "Baby, I just worry about you. I'll follow behind you, ok" he told her before kissing her lips lightly. "Ok" she whispered through the kiss.

....

It was 3 am, Tim was awakened by Caroline crying next to him. "Baby, what's wrong, why are you crying" he asked as he rolled over to face her.

"It...hurts...bad..."she stuttered.

"What hurts Caroline? Where do you hurt?" he asked as he pulled her to him.

"My..head..hurts" she told him.

"Did you take anything? How long has it been hurting" he asked softly, trying not to speak to loud.

"Yes...when we..first came home.. it started...thought...it was...the wine" she staggered her answer.

Tim didn't like the way she was answering him and she never complained of a headache ever before. She never complained of anything.

"Let's get you to the hospital to be checked" he told her as he started to get up.

"No..don't want..hospital...just hold..me" she replied.

He held her close the whole time listening to her whimpering in pain. After about 30 minutes he said "Caroline, I am taking you to the hospital, this is not normal for you". She didn't refuse this time. He helped her put lounge pants over her shorts she was wearing and a sweater over her tee shirt. He grabbed his keys from the dresser then picked her up and carried her out to the car.

Caroline laid her head on his lap, still whimpering in pain, as he drove to the hospital. Once there, he pulled up near the ER entrance and carried her inside. "Help, I need help here" he yelled as he entered.

Two nurses came out from the glass surround behind the desk. One directed him to a nearby room and had him place Caroline on the gurney while the other gathered a cart of supplies. Caroline was still whimpering in pain and asking that the lights be turned off, that they were burning her eyes.

"Who are you to this young lady" the other nurse asked. "I am her boyfriend" Tim replied. "You will need to leave, only relatives are allowed with the patients" she told him as she tried to direct him out of the room.

"Oh hell no, I am not leaving her alone" Tim replied sternly.

"Do I need to call security young man" she asked.

"You can call whoever the hell you want to, I am not leaving her alone" he said again, more angered than before.

Caroline called for Tim "please stay with me, I'm scared" she told him. "I'm not going anywhere Caroline" he assured her as leaned down to kiss her forehead taking her hand in his.

"Young man, I am calling security" the nurse sternly said. The first nurse that directed them to the room turned and said "no, you're not. He can stay, you can leave and prepare the rest of the paperwork" she said as she pulled the curtain around Caroline.

"I apologize for her actions, she thinks every rule needs to be followed to the letter. But, some rules need to be broken, such as this" she smiled as she took Caroline's blood pressure and attached the heart monitor and pulse oximetry on her finger.

"My name is Ms. Janzic but you can call me Kristen if you like. I have a few questions to ask you Caroline, but if you can't answer then your friend here can for you. Your name young man?"

"Tim, Tim Foust ma'am" he answered.

She could tell he was anxious about his girlfriend, the fear in his eyes said it all. "Don't worry Tim, we will take good care of her" she said trying to reassure him.

"Yes ma'm" he replied as he lightly ran his fingers over Caroline's forehead.

After all the questions had been asked and Caroline was made as comfortable as possible, the nurse informed them the Dr. would be with them shortly to continue with the exam. Shortly after an older gentleman moved the curtain to the side as he entered the room.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Adams" he said as he shook Tim's hand. "So, tell me what brings you here tonight young lady" he directs his question to Caroline. As best she could she answered all his questions about the onset, severity of the pain, what she was doing before, etc. What she couldn't answer Tim would for her. Tim also added that she never complains about anything and has never complained of a headache before.

The Dr. finished the primary exam, writing various things down along the way. "I'm ordering a few routine tests and a CAT scan just as a precaution. Everything comes back normal, I'll give you something for the pain and you'll be on your way home within the hour" he told them. Tim thanked him as he turned to leave the room.

He leaned down to Caroline, humming softly to her, trying to soothe her as she still whimpered in pain. She looked at him sadly "Timothy, I love you so much. I'm sorry about all this."

"Shh, you have nothing to be sorry for my love. Close your eyes and try to relax, it will make the pain less" he whispered.

Soon nurse Janzic returned and took several vials of blood from Caroline, then set up the gurney to take her down for the CAT scan. She could tell Tim was afraid to let Caroline out of his sight. "You won't be able to go in with her Tim, but you can walk down to the waiting area with us" she told him. "Thank you" he replied as they walked down the hall.

About an hour later, after Caroline was back in the exam room, Dr. Adams returned. "Well, young lady everything looks normal. Nothing in the CAT scan, which is a very good sign. You're blood work shows a bit of anemia but other than that no abnormalities. Based on what you've told me and the symptoms you presented with of light sensitivity, nausea, severe pain on one side of your head, I believe you are experiencing a migraine headache. These can be caused by several things. Added stress, foods containing nitrates, hormonal imbalances to name a few. I am giving you an injection for the pain, with a few tablets of the same medication in the event this lasts another day or two. Don't be alarmed, it's not uncommon for that with migraines. I also suggest that you be evaluated by a neurologist. Do you have any questions?" he asked them.

"Ok then, I will have the nurse bring in the injection for you. Tim, be sure she doesn't try to drive or do any excessive exertion for the next 24 to 36 hours after she gets this medication" he told them.

"Yes sir, thank you again, for everything" Tim said as he shook the Drs. hand.

Nurse Janzic returned with the syringe of medication "Caroline, sweetie, you need to roll up on your side. This needs to go into your hip." Tim helped Caroline roll to her side, wiping the tear from her eye as she winced from the pain. "Sorry, sweetie I know it stings a bit" the nurse commented.

Within a few minutes Caroline seemed much calmer than she had been and looked as if she would be asleep in no time. The nurse returned with the discharge papers and instructions to call or return if she should become worse. "She will be quite sleepy for most of the next 24 hours, Tim. Be sure she isn't left alone during that time frame, she will need assistance getting around."

"She won't be alone" Tim assured the nurse as he signed the discharge papers. She had brought a wheelchair for Caroline to be taken to the car with but Tim refused the chair. He picked Caroline up, she nuzzled her face into his chest as he carried her back out to the car. The nurse walked out with them, opening the car door and holding it open while Tim eased her into the front seat. He put on her seatbelt for her before shutting the door. "Thank you ma'am for all your help" Tim told her.

"She's a very lucky woman to have someone who loves her as much as you do Tim" Nurse Janzic told him.

"She's my whole world, I love her with every fiber of my being" he told her as he walked around to the drivers side before getting into the car. The nurse watched as they pulled away thinking theirs was a love of a lifetime.