Podie1 - Yes, the part about the survival game was a set-up for another story in this series, although not necessarily the next one ;)
Yes, I am taking an artistic licence and I'm proud of it. Besides, it doesn't necessarily have to be scientifically correct, does it? LOL.
Contagious
The waiting room, although full, was probably the most verbally silent room in the hospital. Mike was sitting back in his seat, lost in thought and trying desperately to hide his emotions from everyone else. Bobby, who was also lost in thought, was unwittingly making his emotions obvious to everyone in the room, wondering if there was something he could have done to prevent this; he'd known something was wrong earlier but she had insisted he drop it. Carolyn and Deakins were the only ones in the room that looked 'awake'. Then, of course, Mike had called John Eames (her father) to let him know what was going on and he had arrived almost immediately after the phone call had been made and John had been with his son Eric at the time, so he was there as well. The worry clear on both of their faces as they had now been forced to wait for 2 hours since they'd arrived at the hospital. There was no one else in the room but since it was a small room, it probably couldn't fit many more in it.
There was a clock on the wall that continued with its constant tick tocks reminding them all of how much time was passing and just how slowly it seemed to be trailing on; like a snail trying to cross a meadow. The sounds of life coming from the coridor outside, the buzz of people moving quickly trying to find where they are meant to be and the shrills of phones ringing where people were hanging on the other end of the line being made to wait for someone to answer and the cries of people who were in pain, grieving or just simply lost. So, even if no one was talking in the room, there still was sound.
Sound that was starting to grate on Mike Logan's last nerve.
He couldn't remove the image of Alex falling from her chair as her conciousness slipped away from her, and he couldn't stop the guilt he was feeling as he blamed himself for what was happening to her right now. Even if he couldn't understand why she was reacting so badly to it, it didn't change the fact that he felt it was his fault. He knew it was his fault and he felt so helpless sitting in the waiting room as they waited for a doctor, a nurse, anyone to come and tell them what was going on.
As if on cue John Eames finally chose to speak up, softly, "Stop blaming yourself, son." John cleared his throat a little as it complained at it's sudden and unexpected use. Mike looked up at him in surprise. Had he been speaking out aloud? Was he that obvious? He knew it was aimed at him because of the way John was looking at him.
Mike shook his head at him, he couldn't stop doing that. "I'm the one who had it first, I'm the one who gave it to her in the first place." Mike's voice was deep, low and almost inaudible but he was heard by everyone in the room. Mike was slowly rubbing his face with his hand with his frustration.
"Did you give to her on purpose?" John asked.
"No!" Mike answered quickly, taken back by his suggestion. He would never do that to her on purpose.
"Then it's not your fault." John told him, being rational. Mike looked away from him, sighing. John could tell that he wasn't getting through. "Bobby, tell him." He turned to Alex's partner, dragging Bobby out of his own thoughts and reflections.
Bobby looked at Mike and Mike leveled a stare at him, daring him to have a go. "I-It wouldn't do any good. There is nothing we can do to change his mind." Bobby told John, who looked disappointed. Bobby then turned to Mike, "But it isn't really your fault and even if we can't change your mind, you should know that she couldn't a-and wouldn't blame you."
Eric snorted, "She'll probably kick your ass for saying as much." That earned a laugh from a few in the room.
"Mike." Carolyn said, grabbing the attention of her partner, "The person at fault here is Lydia Wyatt." Mike could understand what they were all saying but the only one who was going to convince him was Alex and they still didn't even know how she was.
Everyone fell back into that silence, the one that everyone seems to prefer to the chatting because despite the fact that the silence is uncomfortable, the chatting tends to be worse at times like this. A tapping sound began to erupt in the room and everyone looked at the source; Eric Eames. He was tapping his wedding ring on the wooden arm of the chair, creating a musical beat with actually good timing. He noticed everyone watching and then stopped, "Sorry, old habit." He then put his hands together and tried to still them.
"What the hell is taking so long?" Deakins asked, getting more uncomfortable in his seat as he began to fiddle with his watch band where the two metal pieces clasp together. Opening it, closing it, opening it, closing it.
"They're probably doing a thorough examination." Carolyn said hopeful, meaning that when someone did arrive to tell them what was going on they'd get a detailed description as opposed to a small summary without explanation.
"You think they would at least let us know if she was okay." Mike said, quietly. Everybody nodded but no one really believed that would happen.
Bobby was just about to speak when they heard a noise at the door. All looking round to see the door handle moving and someone peak around the door. "Is this the waiting room?" A young girl asked. Everyone sunk back into their chairs when they realised it was just another patient or visitor.
"Yes, it is." Carolyn replied, when no one else would. Mike let out a very audible sigh in frustration as the young girl walked into the room and picked out the only available chair, next to Deakins.
The girl looked at them and took in their tired and worried expressions. "Are you all visiting?" She asked, wanting to make conversation with someone to ease her own anxiety.
"Yeah." Mike said, and then added with sarcasm, "We're the Motley Crew." Hoping that would deter the girl from any further conversation and it did the trick but it also earned Mike a few unappreciated stares and eye rolls from everyone else in the room.
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It seemed that they were destined to wait forever, the young girl who had come to the waiting room had since been called out by a nurse and left the room. They were all beginning to think they'd been forgotton about.
Eric had continued his tapping on the chair with his ring.
Deakins had continued fiddling with his watch.
Mike had continued with silently berating himself for causing Alex harm.
John had continued trying to convince Mike that it wasn't his fault.
Bobby had continued to consider what he could have done to help Alex.
Carolyn had actually been pondering the power of voodoo.
All these things they were doing were instantly dropped the moment a man, looking very much like a Doctor, walked into the room. "I'm looking for a family member of Alex Eames." He said, politely as he held a clipboard in his hand, which Bobby presumed were notes on her.
"We're all family here." John said, looking at everyone in the room and then back at the Doctor. John knew that there was no way Mike was gonna let him leave with the Doctor anyway and to be honest John wouldn't try.
The Doctor looked at them all and then took a seat. "Alright, My name is Doctor Williamson." They all nodded and he took a quick look at his notes. "I've run every test that I can think of at this point apart from surgical exploration and although some results won't be back for a few days." He looked at them, hoping he was getting the message through to them. "I can tell you now that although her reaction to the poison ivy seems severe it's not going to be life threatening or cause any permanent problems. She didn't inhale it so I have no concerns over her respiratory systems."
He watched as everybody in the room seemed to breath a sigh of relief. "I can also tell you that she also appears to be suffering from the flu, which is what has been elevating her fever. And because her body is trying to fight two infections it caused her to collapse. We've given her some anti-biotics to help her immune system combat the flu. I just want to keep her here overnight for some observation."
"How come it took you this long?" Mike asked, he'd expected something else, something big.
"Because I had to rule out other possibilities including Impataigo and other viral infections." He explained, completely understanding Mike's question.
"Can we see her?" Eric asked.
Williamson nodded, "Yes, but she is resting so I only really want one of you in there." He noticed that they all seemed eager to see her and although that was nice thing to see for one of his patients, he didn't want them to crowd her or wake her up because he wanted her to get better and for her to do that she needed to sleep.
Bobby looked at Mike and silently indicated that he thought Mike should go but Mike looked at John, "You go." he told him.
John shook his head, "No, I'm alright. I think you're the one who needs to see her more."
"Is this about me blaming myself again?" Mike asked, knowing what John's motives were.
John nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "Yes." Mike nodded and stood up to follow the Doctor out. "But you can give her a kiss for me." John added as Mike left the room.
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Mike walked into the hospital room and the first thing he noticed was the nurse putting up a drip for her IV. He followed the leads all the way to Alex, who was looking almost as white as the sheets, and she would be if it weren't for the rashes on her arms and neck. The nurse noticed him and smiled at him in greeting, she then left the room and he was on his own. Mike walked over to the bed and sighed, this certainly wasn't easing the guilt that was threatening to rise up and knock him over. He silently took her hand and rubbed her fingers.
Leaning over he gave her that kiss from John; a small kiss on her forehead. And one from him, a more loving kiss on her cheek. He stayed stood next to her bed, watching her as her chest rose when she inhaled and fell when she exhaled. The sound of her breathing was somehow a comfort to him, and he hoped that she really did get better soon so he could start apologising profusely.
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TBC
What do you think so far? I do promise that it's not all angsty. I can never hold on to that stuff for long. I like writing it but it's too emotional and I'm too sensitive to keep it up. :)