Hanging On

After their flight Foss took Kyle back to the Trager home, where Stephen on Foss's instruction had delivered Jessi's research.

"Here this is all of Jessi's work" said Foss as he pointed to the various exercise books and laptop computer.

"We will have to rely on your brain power to solve this, Jessi has done enough"

Foss spoke sadly as he remembered how Jessi had looked when he left her.

He opened the laptop nearby and showed Kyle the files Jessi had produced, he opened the exercise books scattered around the table all full of Jessi's meticulous notes.

Kyle stared at Jessi's handwriting and stroked the words on the page, a tear fell onto the page which he quickly wiped away.

He had to be stronger than this for Jessi and for himself, he had to fix this, he had to save Jessi.

He quickly read through all of Jessi's research, amazed how detailed her theories were everything was painstaking put together but some parts seemed to be missing.

Whatever was happening to Jessi it had slowed her natural intellect, it pained me to know that Jessi was making mistakes she would never ordinarily have made.

Jessi had done most on the work herself, she had worked hard trying to change her situation. I had the smallest part to play but unfortunately it was the most important.

Foss left Kyle to his task and returned to Adam's wanting to check up on Jessi and see if he could do anything to help.

When he arrived he saw Stephen sitting in the living room, a book in his hand that he seemed unable to read.

"Hey" said Foss softly not wanting to startle him as he seemed so lost in thought,

Stephen looked up and placed the book on a small table beside him.

"Hey, where's Kyle" Stephen asked as he looked towards the door hopefully.

"I dropped him off at your house...how is Jessi" Foss asked.

"Not great, we need to think about getting her a nurse" Stephen replied,

"A nurse, why what's happened."

"She can't keep anything down, she's so dehydrated. Jessi needs intravenous fluids and that's a bit over our heads" Stephen explained sadly.

"Of course, let me make a phone call. I have an associate she was a medic in the forces, I know she will be discrete."

Foss left the room to make his call and Stephen returned to looking at his book, upstairs Nicole was anxiously watching Jessi as she slept.

"She'll be here as soon as she can" Foss suddenly announced to Stephen making him jump right out of his seat.

"I'm going to get some supplies, she gave me a list of what we will need" Foss explained as he held up a piece of paper with his scribbled notes upon.

"Need any help" Stephen asked hoping he could escape from the house that now held so many unhappy memories.

Foss looked at Stephen debating whether he wanted any company but seeing Stephen's troubled face he asked Stephen to come along.

The following morning a knock on the door woke Nicole from her slumber, she was sleeping on a sofa bed in Jessi's room so she could be there if needed in the night.

She looked towards Jessi who was still fast asleep and put on her dressing gown hurriedly, as she ran down the stairs to answer the door.

Foss and Stephen were still away but they had informed Nicole about a woman coming to help with Jessi.

"Hello" Nicole greeted as she opened the large front door,

"Hi I'm Anna Kursinka, Tom asked me to come as soon as possible" said the woman as she shook Nicole's hand.

She was a tall slim women roughly in her early to mid thirties, her eyes were a striking blue her hair was long and fair.

"I'm so glad you came so quickly, I hope you didn't have far to travel" Nicole said as she escorted the woman into the living room helping her with her bags.

"I'm glad to help out and I haven't come too far, I live in Tacoma" she explained.

Nicole was pleased Anna hadn't travelled a great distance and very grateful a medical professional was here to help with Jessi.

"Can I get you anything, a drink perhaps" Nicole asked politely.

"No I'm fine, I'd really like to meet Jessi though, Tom's told me a lot about her."

"He has" Nicole questioned worried about just how much Tom Foss had revealed.

"Don't worry he wasn't too specific, he just told me Jessi is a very bright and special girl who's unwell and needs some looking after.

Nicole sighed reassured Foss had not elaborated much on Jessi's condition, she lead her up the stairs and into Jessi's bedroom.

Anna walked over to the bed and let out an audible gasp, she reached for Jessi's hand and felt for a pulse.

"Amazing" she said as she tucked Jessi's hand back into the covers,

"Sorry" Nicole asked a little confused.

"It's just I'm amazed this girl still has a pulse, I was a medic in the forces for ten years and I've never seen anyone look so sick and still be alive" Anna said bluntly.

Nicole fought not to answer back with an angry retort, she really had done everything she could for Jessi.

Concerned by the look on Nicole's face she quickly apologised for her honesty,

"I'm sorry my mum always said I had no tact but really it is amazing, Jessi must have a lot of fight."

"She has" Nicole replied, smiling a little when she thought about Jessi's determination. Nicole was also a little amused that Anna was so brutally honest, she and Jessi would get along perfectly.

Later that day Stephen and Foss returned with boxes full of medical equipment. Stephen had a strange guilty look on his face, making Nicole wonder where they had acquired all the stuff from.

Anna set to work straight away, she inserted a needle into Jessi's hand to allow the insertion of fluids.

Using the machines Foss had delivered she was also able to monitor Jessi's heart rate, her pulse and blood pressure.

Jessi's heartbeat was a little erratic but Anna was more concerned by her low blood pressure probably due to early stages of malnutrition.

Anna had to insert a feeding tube through Jessi's nasal passage so she could give Jessi some much-needed nourishment.

Eventually with Anna's help Jessi's blood pressure stabilized, Nicole sat beside her the whole time surprised she never awoke.

Jessi's bedroom now looked like a hospital ward, with machine lights flashing but no beeping noises. Nicole had asked for the volume to be turned down not wanted Jessi disturbed by the noise.

Around ten that evening Jessi finally woke, her eyelids fluttered then slowly opened revealing her beautiful hazel irises.

"Hi honey" Nicole said softly stroking her hand, "How are you feeling."

"Fine I guess" Jessi replied as she noticed the drip in her hand and the various wires she was attached too. She moved her hand to her face and felt the tube descending from her nose, Jessi tried to remove it but Nicole took hold of her hand to prevent her.

"You need that, it's just a feeding tube" Nicole told her as she looked up at Anna who was hovering nearby.

Jessi followed her gaze and noticed a woman smiling down at her, Jessi moved closer to Nicole startled by the strangers presence.

Nicole introduced Anna to Jessi and explained that she was a trained nurse helping out with the medical aspects of her care.

Jessi gave her speculative look, debating whether she could trust this woman or not.

When Nicole explained how Anna and Foss were acquainted Jessi seemed to relax a little.

A short while later Foss called Kyle to tell him Jessi was awake, Kyle had been calling all day hoping to talk to her.

Foss carried the telephone into Jessi's bedroom and asked if everyone would leave and give the pair some privacy.

Jessi was almost afraid to speak to Kyle, fearing he would force her to reveal her location.

But deep down she was desperate to hear his voice again so she took the phone from Foss and tentatively spoke.

"Hello"

"Jessi" the voice asked eagerly.

"Kyle" Jessi said trying not to break down.

"Oh Jessi, how are you feeling and don't say your fine" Kyle asked.

"I'm feeling better especially now..."

"I'm sorry Jessi, I'm so sorry this happened to you" Kyle said suddenly cutting her off, Jessi could hear him quietly crying and it broke her heart.

They were silent for a while as Jessi also broke down, she held tightly to the phone her tears slowly falling down her cheeks.

"Please don't cry Jessi" Kyle asked as he realised he had made her cry.

"It's going to be okay, I can help you now," Kyle wished he had been braver and not upset Jessi, he missed hearing her voice.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, don't be too mad okay" Jessi finally said.

"Don't worry I'm not mad, not at you anyway I love you" Kyle replied.

He was certainly mad at someone but it wasn't Jessi, he could never be mad with her.

"I love you too" Jessi sobbed, wishing Kyle was there so he could hold her in his arms.

Without warning Jessi audibly winced, the pain in her head had returned at the most inconvenient time.

"Are you okay" Kyle asked concerned he strangely felt her pain,

"I'm fine" Jessi's voice did little to assuage his fear, Jessi herself was struggling to focus on the room around her.

"I think I should go now, I'm sorry I can't talk longer, I love you" Jessi said quickly.

"I love you too Jessi, are you sure your alright" Kyle asked but there was no reply.

"Jessi...JESSI" Kyle shouted, there was nothing only silence.