Chapter 10. Memory
The next morning the ARC was bustling with activity when Stephen and Abby arrived.
"About time you two got here," Lester said walking up.
"Lester, we weren't even due in for another half hour," Abby reminded him.
He sighed and tapped his foot impatiently.
Stephen
"But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep." Robert Frost
"What's going on?" Stephen asked glancing around.
"Helen Cutter has divulged the location of an anomaly to Nick. He's the only person she'll talk to, so I'm sending you, Abby, Captain Becker and Temple to check it out. Stephen, I'm putting you in charge, do try not to let it go to your head." he said, before turning and walking off, "I have a feeling I'm going to profoundly regret this," he muttered.
The anomaly was inside a restaurant's kitchen, inside a meat locker. Luckily for them the restaurant was closed for the day, so there was no one to evacuate. Becker kept his rifle aimed on the freezer door as Stephen yanked it open. The anomaly was smaller than some he'd seen, but showed no signs of weakness as if about to close.
The center of the anomaly began to bulge, meaning something was coming through. Stephen stepped back, knocking into Becker and sending his gun skidding across the floor, just as a large, centipede like creature came through. The creature would have struck Abby but Stephen threw himself in front of her taking the blow to his shoulder.
He could almost feel the creature's venom flowing into his bloodstream. The affect was practically instantaneous, the room spinning around him before he dropped to the floor. Gunshots rang out in the distance and he could hear someone screaming his name in the background. Abby, he thought in reference to the latter.
His body began to tremor and shake violently and cold washed over him. He was vaguely aware of Abby clutching his hand in hers as the medics worked on him.
Abby
Abby sat in the chair beside Stephen's bed, her legs curled underneath her, eyes not leaving his face. He looked peaceful, she thought, trying to give herself some reassurance that he was, at least at the moment, in no pain.
Nick had been called in, and he, Connor and Becker were working on securing a sample of the creature's venom. If they were unsuccessful, Stephen would die, but that wasn't even an option. She knew she should be there helping them, but couldn't tear herself from Stephen's bedside.
She wasn't aware of dozing off until she was woken by Connor cheering they'd secured the venom. Her eyes shot open and she felt antsy as she waited for them to find and administer the correct anti-venom. It had only been administered for a few minutes when the doctor came in and pulled her into the hall to talk.
"We just received some of Mr. Hart's test results back, it appears the venom may have caused some minor brain damage."
"How minor are we talking?" she asked trying to maintain a cool composure.
The doctor, she noticed, looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"We won't know for sure until he wakes up, but it's very likely he'll suffer amnesia."
"As in he won't remember anything," it was a statement, not a question, on that felt foreign on her tongue, "From how far back will he lose?"
"It's impossible to tell."
Abby sank back into the chair, her eyes, again, not leaving Stephen's face once. Several hours later he began to stir.
Stephen
Stephen's eyelids felt heavy as he tried to open them. He was in the hospital, he deduced from the sounds of the mechanical beeps and impossible sterile scent. But how the hell did I get here? he wondered.
His next attempt at opening his eyes was more successful, his eyes immediately finding those of a pretty blonde sitting at his bedside.
"Stephen, thank god you're okay," she said, reaching over and taking his hand in hers.
Stephen was incredibly confused, as far as he was aware, he was single, and while he really had no complaints to the beautiful blonde worrying at his bedside, he also had no idea who she was.
He attempted to reach for the water picture on the bedside table, unable to speak due to his dry throat. The girl immediately took the picture and poured some water into a paper cup and handed it to him. He took a deep drink and handed the cup back to her.
"Thanks," he said, his voice hoarse.
"How are you?" she asked, studying him for any signs of discomfort.
"I feel like I've been run over." he replied honestly, wishing he could place her face.
"That's to be expected," she said with a weak smile, "Do you remember what happened?"
"Not at all, honestly, I'm not even sure who you are."
He could see the hurt fill her eyes, she was important to him, that was obvious.
"I'm Abby, we work together," she said forcing a smile.
"You're a paleontologist?" he asked, pretty sure they'd done more than work together…
"Reptile specialist at a zoo actually, but I've been helping you and Nick with the anomalies."
Stephen nodded slowly trying to comprehend everything.
"Where is Nick?"
"On his way, he had to take care of a couple things first," she replied.
"Okay," he said leaning back against the pillows, then turning to Abby, "I really do wish I could remember you."
"Don't worry about it," she said dismissively.
"You stop and close your eyes, you can't deny what lives inside you. Well I know it's hard to see what is meant to be, when yesterday is so far behind you. Deep inside your soul know I'm always there." Default