Chapter 4: It's In the Blood

Jack's recovery on board the Nimitz lasted for another five days and he spent most of those days sleeping as his body healed itself from the trauma it had sustained. Except for caring about her basics needs and a few moments to talk to Vaughn via the phone, Sydney spent every moment she could with Jack. When he was awake they would talk until he grew tired again and fell asleep smiling. As much as Sydney was missing Vaughn and Isabelle she wouldn't have traded anything for the time she had been given with Jack on board the aircraft carrier.

Early in the evening of the fifth day while Jack was still awake, Dr. Robinson came into his room followed closely by Lieutenant Leahy. "Good evening how you feeling, Mr. Bristow?" The doctor called Sydney by her first name as she had requested by Jack had not given him similar permission.

"Aside from feeling a little tired still I am ready to get out of here," Jack answered.

"That's good to hear," Dr. Robinson approached Jack's bed, stopping at the foot, "I would like to listen to your breathing."

Sydney stood up, "Do I need to leave?"

The doctor shook his head no, "No, you can stay though I need to stand on the side you're on." Sydney quickly moved to allow the doctor access to Jack and with Tanya on the other side they helped Jack to sit up in the bed as he was still weaker than he realized. Robinson opened the back of Jack's hospital gown just far enough to gain access to his back, and a after a quick blow on his stethoscope he placed it on Jack's back. Even with Jack's ability to control his reactions he still couldn't stop the involuntary sharp intake of breath.

"Sorry about that," Robinson apologized sheepishly, "Can you take some deep breaths for me please?" Jack complied and the doctor was quite as he listened to the sounds of the air going in, out of Jack's lung. After a moment he returned the stethoscope to its place around his neck, "Your left lung is sounding much better. In fact I think you're more than ready to be moved to a land hospital."

Sydney smiled to hear the news, "How soon, doctor?"

"Late tomorrow morning we have a flight leaving for the U.S. military hospital in Ramstein. I'll make arrangements for you to both be on it if you'd like."

"Could you arrange for a flight to Los Angeles instead?" Jack asked.

Robinson shook his head, "Not yet, Mr. Bristow. Your condition has vastly improved since you were brought here but you still need to be under the care of a doctor and frankly LA is too far away. The flight from here to Ramstein will be exhausting enough for you without sending you on the longer flight to Los Angeles."

"How long will it be before my dad can make the flight to LA?" Sydney asked.

"I would estimate at least another week after you arrive at the hospital in Ramstein," he answered, "It maybe longer, depending on how well you continue to recover."

Jack nodded but didn't say anything and Sydney knew that he was tired again, "Well get ready for the flight to Ramstein tomorrow," she told him.

"All right then, I'll make the arrangements," he said, moving to leave the room, "I suggest you both get some sleep, you've got a long flight tomorrow." He stopped at the door, and looked at the nurse, before turning back to look ay Jack, "Before you settle in for the night I want Lieutenant Leahy to draw a blood sample so we can run a few tests."

Jack nodded, "All right."

Robinson nodded, "Sleep well and I'll see you in the morning."

Sydney left Jack shortly after Tanya drew the blood sample because she knew that he needed the sleep. After she left a message on Vaughn's voice mail (since it was 4AM in LA) she went to bed herself, and she immediately fell into a tired sleep. She slept until about 7AM when she was awaken by one of the crewmembers telling her she had a phone call from the US mainland.

"Hello?" she said, stifling a yawn.

"Syd, I got your message and I just wanted to let you know we'll be on the first flight we can get to Germany," Vaughn said on the other end.

Sydney smiled, "It'll be good to see you again."

"Yeah," he agreed, "How's Jack doing?"

"The doctor says he's doing a lot better but he still gets tired easily right now, Vaughn. That's why we're only flying to Ramstein today and after we get there the doctor thinks Dad will have to stay there at least a week before he's well enough to return to Los Angeles."

"Another week huh?" Vaughn said, "But he's getting better, Syd." Almost a week ago Vaughn had been afraid they were going to lose Jack after Sloane shot him. In fact he had known it with almost certainty they would lose him after he had seen Jack's wounds and after they were told a medivac was at least thirty minutes away. Vaughn had been certain Jack would bleed to death long before help ever arrived. But to his relief Jack had once again proven him wrong, obviously way too stubborn to die.

"At least," Sydney confirmed. At least he will be coming home, she thought.

Their conversation ended shortly after that and after eating breakfast she went to the infirmary to find Dr. Robinson and Lieutenant Leahy already there. The nurse had just removed a syringe from Jack's arm with a small vial of blood, labeling it before she disposed of the needle before she slipped by Sydney.

"What's going on?" Sydney asked stepping further into the room. She noted the solemn look on the faces of her father and on the face of the doctor who had saved his life. The doctor looked at Jack, seeking permission before he spoke.

"I'm sorry to tell this but our lab has found an anomaly in your father's blood," he began.

"What kind of an anomaly?" Sydney asked, suddenly afraid she was going to lose her father again. "Is it serious?"

"I'm afraid so," Robinson replied. "In the sample we took last night we found evidence that Mr. Bristow may have contracted the HIV virus."

"What?!!" Sydney exclaimed, "Isn't there a chance you made a mistake." She moved towards Jack's bed, taking his hand once she got there, praying that this wasn't happening.

"Of course there's always a chance we've made a mistake," the doctor confirmed, "That's why we've taken another sample."

"But there's a chance you didn't make a mistake," Jack said.

"Yes," the doctor confirmed with a nod.

"I don't understand how my father could have contracted HIV," Sydney said.

"The test we've run so far seem to indicate that the infection was recent, most likely through the blood transfusion we gave Mr. Bristow when he arrived on the Nimitz. If that is the case, I am truly sorry."

"How is that possible? I thought you screened blood donors before you take blood from them," Sydney said.

"We do but none of the screening tests are full proof," Doctor Robinson said, "Again I am sorry if it is confirmed you've contracted the AIDS virus."

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Author's Note: Again I am not a doctor so I have not a clue how long it takes someone to show symptoms of the HIV virus. What is written here is intended for the purposes of drama and angst. Please forgive any and all medical inaccuracies.