Episode 8: FANthrax
Part 9
Still visibly embarrassed by the recent maiming on the helipad, Nick crept back inside the hospital and made his way to the ward designated for anyone affected by the biochemical agent. He glanced through the doors as he put his Hazmat suit back on. Spare hospital beds lined the walls as if they had run out of rooms for the influx of patients and were planning to fill the hallway next.
Bracing himself, he placed the helmet back on and pulled open the door. As he walked through the ward, an eager young nurse pushed past him, almost knocking him down as she hurried down the hall. He could see a cluster of hospital staff ahead of her.
Wonder who’s died now, Nick speculated as he approached the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse before he went to find Red. But he could barely see anything; it seemed as if all the doctors and nurses were congregating outside one patient’s room. “What’s going on?” Nick asked the young lady who had almost knocked him down. She turned and grinned at him through her face shield.
“It’s Carter,” she stated. “He’s getting better.”
I’m Carter, thought Nick in confusion. 00Carter. Then he remembered the other Carter, Dr. Carter, whom Red reported had fallen victim to the epidemic at the hospital. “Oh — good.” He quickly recovered. “I mean, that’s great news!”
The young nurse stepped aside so Nick could approach the window where the others stood, watching what was happening in the room. He managed to shove his way through the swarm of healthcare workers to get a better look. Peering through the glass partition, he saw Dr. Carter being examined by two doctors in identical suits. The doctor’s eyes were open and looking around, a faint smile forming on his lips when he recognized his colleagues through the window. Soon he closed his eyes again, presumably to sleep. People started to dissipate, though a few still lingered.
When one of the doctors turned toward the window, Nick rapped his knuckles on the glass. “Red!” he called.
Red Jewel looked up, smiling when she saw him. She came out to the hall, carrying a vial of blood in her gloved hand. “Nick, he’s improving. The welts are going away, and Jeanie just came back with the results of his latest bloodwork, which shows that his viral load has decreased significantly. I was just getting a fresh blood sample to take back to the lab to synthesize an antidote.” She brushed past him.
All of a sudden, he heard another commotion at the other end of the hall. The same group of staff members who had gathered outside Dr. Carter’s room now raced down the hall in the other direction. Stuck at the back of the crowd, Red and Nick made it out of the ward just in time to see a stretcher fly by in a flash of blood-soaked blue. “What happened, I wonder?” asked Red, frowning in concern behind her face shield.
“Oh… uh…” Nick grimaced. “Slight mishap on the helipad. Julilly can explain when she gets back.”
“Ah,” murmured Red, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. “Well, I’ve got to get this to the lab. Why don’t you go check on Brian?” With that, she squeezed through the lingering herd of hospital staff and disappeared.
Nodding after her, Nick turned and ducked back into the isolation ward, making his way to Brian’s room.
***
Nick stared at Brian’s unconscious body. The seconds ticked by with the steady beep of his heart monitor, reminding Nick that time was running short. His stomach had stopped cramping every time Brian twitched or moaned, mostly because he’d been awfully quiet since Nick had come back. According to Red, who had been monitoring him closely, Brian had slipped into a coma.
Hearing a soft sob, Nick turned his head toward the woman sitting next to him. Through the clear front of her face shield, he could see tears rolling silently down her cheeks as her bright green eyes took in the grim sight of her boyfriend lying in the hospital bed in front of her. Feeling oddly inadequate, not knowing what to do or say, Nick sighed and looked back at Brian.
Suddenly, the door of the room burst open, startling both of them. In came Jeanie, holding a syringe in one hand, followed closely by Red.
“Is it ready?” Opal asked, rising from her seat. Nick noticed the hint of hope hidden in her voice.
Red nodded. “Yes, finally. We ran a couple of tests on the guinea pigs, and it seems to work just fine. Let’s just hope the same for Brian.” Sighing, she turned to look at Jeanie, who was preparing the needle for injection. “Let’s just hope we’re not too late.”
Opal let out another sob, her lower lip trembling. “Baby…”
They all stood still and watched Jeanie find the vein in Brian’s arm and wipe the area where she was going to inject the needle with an alcohol swab. Being the pro that she was, it took her only seconds to insert the syringe with the antidote made from Dr. Carter’s blood into Brian’s skin and push the plunger down. Nick held his breath as the antidote made its way into Brian’s bloodstream.
Jeanie placed a clean cotton ball over the injection site and withdrew the needle from Brian’s skin, gently applying pressure on his arm. Behind her face shield, her expression was full of fatigue and sorrow, but Nick could also see the determination in her eyes as she stepped back to observe him with the others.
“Let’s hope for the best, people. If Dr. Carter could get better, so can Officer Littrell.” Her eyes panned across all three of them slowly, her gaze landing on Opal, whose eyes were still fixed on Brian. “I just hope we weren’t too late. The efficiency of the antidote is the only thing we can lean on right now — that and the strength of Officer Littrell’s immune system. We can only wait and see how his body will react now.”
Opal collapsed back onto the chair she’d been sitting in and bent over, resting her helmeted head in her gloved hands. Nick could hear her whispering words of prayer under her breath, as she had been doing between her sobs for the past few hours.
Red motioned for Jeanie to follow her outside the room, mouthing, “We’ll be right back,” to Nick through her face shield.
As the two doctors left the room, Nick saw Julilly standing in the doorway. Meeting his gaze, she raised her hand to wave, hesitating to come into the room. Figuring he could leave Opal alone with Brian for a couple of minutes, Nick went out into the hallway to meet Julilly.
“How is he holding up?” Julilly asked hesitantly.
Nick let out a tired sigh, fogging up the front of his helmet. “I don’t know. He was going in and out, but now he’s in a coma. Jeanie and Red just gave him the antidote they prepared from Dr. Carter’s blood, but I don’t know if it will work.” He growled exasperatedly. “I just wish I’d gotten the chance to rip that twitchy bastard’s head off. A helicopter crash was a good way to go compared to what I would have done to him.”
Julilly flashed him a sympathetic smile. “Littrell will be fine, Nick. He may be small, but I think he’s pretty tough on the inside.”
Nick nodded. “Yes, he is.” He looked back into the room, where Brian was still lying unconscious. “He knows how to kick some serious ass.”
“Have faith in him, Nick, and have faith in the antidote. You’ll see… Before you realize it, he’ll be back on his feet, healthier than ever. I don’t know him personally, but from what I could tell, he’s not the kind of person to let a stupid virus take him down.”
Nick knew Julilly was right. Although he didn’t want to admit it, in the short and not-so-pleasant time he had worked with Brian, Nick had witnessed the CIA officer’s strength and determination. No wonder he was known as The Rok. Nick thought Brian would do a brilliant job if he were a part of HimTak.
But still, he was worried. Not only was he worried because someone he knew had caught this awful virus and was battling for his life right behind that door; he was worried because it was Brian. Brian, Officer Littrell, The Rok. Cousin of his boss, ally of HimTak, and for this past mission, his partner. Someone he’d fought alongside for the same cause.
At that point, it didn’t matter that Brian was a part of the American government, a group Nick hated almost more than he hated FANS. He was suddenly overcome with a strange realization: he cared for Brian. He was as surprised as he was worried, but he found himself deeply hoping that Brian would be back on his feet soon, so that he could annoy the hell out of Nick.
Nick let out another sigh. “I should go back in,” was all he said. He would never admit his true feelings out loud.
Julilly nodded. “I’ll be around.”
Feeling the need to be polite, Nick knocked on the door before walking back into the room. The scene was identical to the one he’d left: Brian lay unconsciously in the silent room, accompanied only by the constant beeping and buzzing of the machines, with Opal crying silently on the other side of the room.
Opal.
Nick was clueless when it came to comforting other people; hell, he didn’t even know how to comfort himself. And he was notorious for saying the wrong things at the very wrong times. But, at least, he could be there. He could just be there for her.
Slumping into the chair next to Opal, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him. Reacting to his touch, Opal gave in and rested her head on his shoulder, tugging on his suit.
“He’s gonna be alright, Opal,” he whispered as he rubbed her arm with his gloved hand. “He’s gonna be alright.”
***
The day turned into night. Night passed gradually. They waited. Mostly in silence, with occasional coffee breaks, chit-chatting now and then about the most random things, just to break the tension surrounding them. Nick made sure he goofed around enough to distract Opal from going crazy just waiting there. She wanted to know all the details about the virus, the mission, and the man behind it all.
When dawn broke, the sun shone with its full might. The room was dim because of the closed window blinds, but the sunbeams still seeped in, bathing the room in a soft orange tone.
Nick’s head kept falling down onto his chest; every time, he jerked his chin up, his eyes flying open to see if there was any difference in Brian’s condition. Opal had been sleepless all night, barely winking an eye.
However, the last time Nick nodded off, it wasn’t his fallen head that woke him up. It was Opal’s sudden tugging on his arm.
“He moved!” Opal whispered enthusiastically. “Nick! Wake up! Brian just moved his foot!”
“Huh?” Nick straightened himself up on the chair, rubbing his eyes.
Opal was already by Brian’s bedside, carefully examining his face. Afraid a single touch would break him into pieces, she gently stroked his hand.
Nick shook the sleepiness off of him right in time to see Brian moving his head slightly.
A minute later, Brian’s eyes fluttered open. “Ashy…” his voice cracked.
“I’m right here, baby,” Opal said tenderly, taking his hand in hers. “Thank God..”
In an attempt to speak more, Brian tried to clear his throat, which made him cough uncontrollably.
“Shh… don’t wear yourself down,” Opal coaxed her boyfriend. She used a damp cloth to wipe away the tiny beads of sweat that had appeared on Brian’s forehead. “You need your energy.”
As the coughing fit subsided, Brian let out a low groan. Looking around, he noticed Nick sitting on the other side of the room. His eyes shifted to Opal again, his expression confused. “What happened?”
A single tear rolled down on Opal’s face. “Oh baby, I thought I lost you. When Nick told me you got infected, I thought you were going to die. You’ve been through hell and back, baby. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you…”
Brian cleared his throat. “I’m not going anywhere, Ash,” he said hoarsely, his eyes never leaving her face. “I won’t let anything tear us apart, let alone a stupid virus.” He cracked a smile. “I’m the luckiest man in the world. Your love kept me alive.”
“I love you, Brian…”
Nick just sat there awkwardly, a heavy lump caught in his throat. He wasn’t one to enjoy emotional scenes; as a matter of fact, he felt quite uncomfortable whenever he found himself in one. This time around, though, he was surprised to find himself getting emotional, too.
Brian was a lucky man.
He stood up from his seat and snuck out of the room, trying not to draw any attention to himself. Luckily, Brian and Opal were too engrossed in each other to notice.
He bumped into Red and Jeanie in the hallway.
“I was just coming to tell you…” he started.
“Did something happen to Brian?” Red cut his sentence worriedly.
“No, he’s getting better,” Nick replied. “Actually, he just woke up!”
The two doctors looked at each other for a second to process the news they’d just heard. It took them another second to fully comprehend what Nick had said, but he saw the moment when their eyes lit up behind their face shields. “Thank God,” Red murmured, hugging Jeanie through her Hazmat suit. “We did it!”
“I better go inside to check him,” Jeanie said as Red released her.
“I would wait for a while if I were you,” Nick chimed in, wiggling his eyebrows. “Let the lovebirds finish declaring their undying love for each other.” He pointed his finger at his open mouth, pretending to retch.
Jeanie and Red could only show patience for another five minutes before bursting back into Brian’s room. It surprised Nick how much better Brian looked already: the black pustules were disappearing, his blue eyes were shining, and he was smiling. So was Opal.
“Look who’s back among us!” Red said joyfully. “You just kicked the virus’s butt, Officer Littrell.”
“You had doubts that I wouldn’t, Dr. Llewellyn?”
Red shook her head. “Not for a second, Brian. Not for a damn second.”
For the next half an hour, the hallway outside Brian’s room filled with other members of the hospital staff, who stopped by to see for themselves that their patient was improving. One survivor was one thing, but two meant that the antidote was working and could be used to cure other victims.
Eventually, the rush died down, leaving Brian alone with the people who knew him best. Happiness was contagious inside his hospital room. Red talked a mile a minute, telling Brian all about the virus and how Jeanie had come up with the cure for it. Opal couldn’t stop smiling as she coddled her boyfriend, stroking his hair and promising to nurse him back to health once he was well enough to go home.
Nick watched the scene before him with a peaceful feeling until a soft knock on the door diverted his attention. A nurse poked her head inside, eyeing everyone before entering the room.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said, “but I’m afraid visiting hours are over. We have to let Mr. Littrell rest. He’s been through a lot, as you already know. Plus, the sooner he gets back on his feet, the sooner we can send him home.”
They all nodded in agreement. Red said goodbye to Brian and followed the nurse outside.
“I’ll be back first thing in the morning.” Opal squeezed Brian’s hand before she let go. “Even before you wake up. I love you, baby.”
Brian smiled and blew her a kiss. “I love you too, Ash.”
Opal left Brian’s side and walked over to the door. Nick held it open for her, motioning her to go out first. She smiled with gratitude as she walked past him.
“Carter?”
Nick was about to step outside the door when he heard Brian call his name. He stopped and turned back towards his hospital bed.
A mischievous smile played on the CIA officer’s lips. “I heard you wailed like a baby in a helicopter chase… just to try and save me.”
“Yeah, well… word travels fast around here, doesn’t it?” Nick suddenly felt embarrassed. What had he been thinking when he’d told Opal how he’d almost had a panic attack during the chase, anyway?
“I’m kidding, Carter.” Brian chuckled softly before his expression turned serious. “Thank you. For everything. But especially for taking care of Opal. It means a lot.”
Nick lowered his head, kicking an invisible object on the floor. “Nah, it’s no biggie…”
“I owe you, Carter.”
It was Nick’s turn to return the mischievous smile. He lifted his index finger towards Brian. “I’ll make sure you pay me back, El-li-ott…” he spoke in his ET voice.
Instead of shaking his head and rolling his eyes as he would normally do, Brian lifted his own hand up and motioned to his forehead with his finger. “I’ll… be… right… here…” He imitated his own version of ET’s voice.
Surprised that the CIA officer was actually going along with his joke, Nick grinned and motioned towards the door once again. “Glad to have you back, Littrell.”
***