Chapter Eleven
Like You
Herbert had to call him and Katherine at two in the morning, and they got to the Halsey house as fast as they could. Crawford didn't know why it couldn't wait until morning, but with his cousin it was never simple. Not even when it involved a certain cat of the daughter of the house brought back to life. He cursed when he finally parked the car, getting a look of warning from Katherine. They were both still mostly in their sleepwear, he in his Miskatonic shirt paired with jeans now, and she in her long coat thrown over her soft blue pajamas since it was still late.
Herbert had left the front door unlocked for them, telling them both that Meg knew now and would be present with the re-animation of the cat once called Rufus. How could he do this to an innocent animal? And it was MEG'S pet! Herbert never had the best experience with animals; his parents wouldn't even let him have one so he would never knew what it was like to have a pet companion, and they never let Crawford have one either because they were simply messy creatures, but he never thought so. Damn them for drilling that into Herbert.
Horrible screeching noises sounded from the main foyer, making them both stop in their tracks. "Did you hear that?" Katherine asked.
He nodded. "In the basement, as he said." And the basement it was, for when they made their way for it without any trouble, the door was already opened and showing the flight of stairs. Meg and Herbert were down there at the table, as well as -
"Oh, my God, it's alive!" Katherine shrieked happily, ignoring the mangled, bloody feline writhing and yowling hideously on the table and was just going around Crawford, down the stairs, but he wouldn't let her anywhere near that thing. He stopped her with his arms wrapped around her and held her struggling in his arms. Meg whipped around and saw them, rising fast and hurrying up to join them and closing the door behind her but not shutting all the way. "Megan, did you see that?! I told you!"
"You hinted it, but it was –" She paused as she tried for the right words. "Incredible!" she exclaimed. "He actually overcame physical death! He's not crazy as they said he was in Switzerland; he tried saving Gruber's life, and you got him out of there to finish it!" She was looking into her sister's eyes with a new excitement Crawford felt unnerved by; how did Herbert do this to her so easily?
"You see, Crawford?" All three turned at the sudden appearance of Herbert, face taut but smiling slightly. "Seeing is believing."
"I remember," he returned. "But how will you get past the way that thing is now?" He doubted it would get any better than that.
Herbert's pupils dilated. "I'd need a human specimen, of course."
~o~
Brain death was described as irreversible, lacking all physical and life-like activity. There was nothing more to be done via charge paddles, nothing more than drugs and surgery when all options fail...but not anymore. Meg went through her day in a state of elation and good moods, much to the delight yet baffle of Dr. Harrod. "Why, you're in a good mood today," she noted when Meg came in to help check on Tiffany Bateman, who had yet to be released and set as Katherine's patient. "She's still managing," Joan informed her. "But we put her in sedation a couple times to keep her stable."
"When's she to be released?" Meg asked.
"Later this afternoon. Dr. McMichaels will come and get her. You ready for Mr. Douglas' amputation procedure?" Meg nodded; Ronald Douglas was a student here at Miskatonic and in one of her medicine classes. He'd suffered severe trauma to his left leg after a brutal beating by a gang in the street, his leg mostly. He'd suffered so much damage that the bloodflow was poor, likely an infection to grow, so it was scheduled for surgery today. After the procedure was complete, he would be given a replacement leg as soon as his leg healed. That is if it does heal properly, but chances of otherwise were small. He wouldn't die from it, but Meg wanted him to go through and get his life back on track; he would NEVER walk through life with permanent damage and confined to a wheelchair.
Her boss might be hard at times, but once in awhile Meg felt like she could talk to her about anything. She wondered, though, if she could trust her with her newfound relation. "Joan, did you know Dr. McMichaels is my...?" she asked slowly.
The older woman's eyes met hers. "Sister? Of course, I did." She raised an eyebrow behind her glasses. "When did you figure this out?"
"On Saturday," Meg answered calmly, leaving Miss Bateman's room with her. "We ran into each other at the bridal salon. Then we spoke after we took care of Miss Bateman." She bit her lip. "I still ask myself why Daddy kept this from me, even though I'm told he did it to...protect me," she spat disgustedly, looking back up at Harrod. "Protecting himself, is that what it really is? Keeping me from knowing my real mother and twin sister?"
Harrod stopped first, Meg following suit. "Megan," Joan's voice was firm and low. "He did keep this from you, but it was for his own reasons, I know that. We both know how he is." She put her hand on Meg's shoulder, meant for comfort. "But it was also high time you finally knew her now, so you and her did the right thing finally finding each other." She gave her a reassuring smile. "How about we finish this later and go about the day? Maybe us women get together sometime before your father returns?" she suggested.
Well, this turned out better than she thought it would, but the hardest was yet to come. She nodded. "But telling Daddy is going to be..."
"Harder than now. It is, but remember the longer a secret is kept, the worse it blows up," Harrod reminded her. Oh, she couldn't agree more.
~o~
She hadn't seen her mother for two weeks now, so she felt like she owed her a visit now. And took Meg with her to finally meet her. It was Thursday, and Dean Halsey would return tomorrow afternoon with none other than Dr. Hill. Katherine wasn't looking forward to it one bit, because the pressure was getting to her sister about breaking the news to her father that she finally found out about her other family. She looked forward to giving him a tongue lash no matter what.
The retirement home was on the edge of Arkham, which was a good drive, and by the time the sun was disappearing beneath the horizon, she and Meg finally arrived. Crawford had some work to take care of, and Herbert wasn't exactly the sociable type even though he came along with them. Meg had wanted him to come even though he declined once before, finally giving in when she promised him if there was the chance of their first human specimen coming along. Katherine thought it possible because chances were an elder person could give in while they were there.
But she was also worried that they would get caught, and that would mean the end. She was starting to think more like them now. How could she not? This was her sister, and that man who had been a psychiatric patient for the wrong reasons brought back for a cause.
"Katherine!" the receptionist greeted her with a bright smile when she approached with the two new faces behind her. "And who did you bring with you?" Looking more closely at Meg, her jaw droped. "Oh, my God, is this...?"
"My newfound twin sister Megan," she answered calmly. "Came to finally meet our mother. And this is Herbert, a good friend of ours." She nodded to him, but he gave no real sign of politeness, just gave a brief smile and curt nod before resorting back to chilled aloofness. "How's my mother doing?" she asked. The call she received over the phone was bordered on distressing because her mother's health wasn't good. If she was dying as she feared, then that meant Herbert had to get to it pretty fast or else.
Erin McMichaels was in room 202, second level taken by elevator, and by the time the trio arrived, they were greeted by a room of Old English rose classic blended with up-to-date. Katherine preferred vintage household style any day in contrast to scientific methods and theories reused instead of new ones accepted, by that hardly applied. There was her mother in an oversized sweatshirt and skirt, her soft hair held behind her head with loose strands. She looked like she hadn't actually aged a day, but the troubles of living alone and raising a daughter by herself with the knowledge that her husband would never be released and abandoned by the man who fathered two children of hers – as well as separating them – weakened her independence as well as her heart. Sharp blue eyes looked up from the book she was reading as she sat in the cushioned arm chair beside the bed, facing the door they stood. She gave a warm smile upon seeing her daughter. "Kathy, you finally came." She closed the book and rested it in her lap. "Come here, you. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."
Finally she noticed the bags under Erin's eyes. She hadn't slept in awhile. "How are you feeling, Mama?" she asked tenderly, kneeling in front of her and taking her hand into hers. Erin's skin was clammy and shaking slightly; the daughter noticed that she was still wearing the white-gold diamond wedding ring from her husband, not wishing to take it off and part from the only memento she had of him.
"Oh, I'm tired but I can't sleep," she answered softly. "Been having headaches more often, and short of breath. I think I may have the cancer now." Katherine's heart wrenched; she hated it when her mother spoke like that. Erin McMichaels was healthy as an ox, never having any problems in her life other than heartburn once. Then her attention shifted to the doorway. "So, who are your – oh!" Her eyes widened when they landed on Meg. The other daughter she never met, never held as a little one or got to see and speak to. "Kathy, is this your –?"
Meg nodded and stepped further into the room. "Yes...Mother." She struggled with the title of the woman she was just meeting. "It's Megan, your daughter."
Erin lifted her other hand which didn't hold Katherine's. "Come here so I can see you." Meg obeyed and kneeled beside her, so Erin's hand touched her cheek. Meg winced slightly at the foreign contact from a complete stranger despite the fact they shared the same blood. "Oh, so beautiful. Just like your sister." Meg's eyes were glazing over as she chewed her lower lip. "If only your father didn't..." She trailed off and shook her head. "So, both my girls are doctors now. I'm so proud of you both," she said with a soft smile.
Meg nodded and returned it. "I'm almost there," she answered. Herbert's shadow fell over them both; he was expressionless as ever. "This is Herbert," Meg told their mother. "A friend of ours."
"Crawford's cousin," Katherine added.
"Pleasure, Mrs. McMichaels," Herbert spoke, as politely as he could manage. He was looking her mother over as though she were an interesting finding, but Erin didn't seem to notice. Meg did, though, but said nothing. Katherine thought maybe he saw her as a chance for a testing and prayed if it happened, her mother would make it through and back into the world alive and well, but also prayed Erin was only mistaken for having cancer.
"We came all this way, and I want to get to know my real mother now," Meg spoke finally, finding the courage. "My father returns tomorrow, and I want to get to know you now while I can before he does."
~o~
Herbert admitted he grew fond of Katherine and Meg's mother. She was very pleasant to a point he wished she was his mother instead of Isabel West. She was so kind to him, patting his hand even when he didn't want her to, but he bit his tongue for her sake and for her daughters. She treated him like a human being, and Meg was being nicer to him now. He wasn't sure if this was because she now started to see through his purpose. She was actually excited when she expressed it to her sister and Crawford; Herbert felt something inside him swell when he heard her say that him bringing her cat back to life was incredible. They'd even discussed it in the car on the way here, and to think of the millions of people they could save, she'd said...Herbert remembered how he'd despised her at first because she reminded him of his mother who hated him just because of his unexpected birth. But the more time he spent with her, her twin and now their mother, it finally settled in his body that not all women were the same as his mother and Dr. Giger in Zurich.
He and Meg hadn't been able to find the right time for the perfect human specimen, mostly because he needed to perfect the re-agent more, but it was more than ready. He was surrounded by elderly people and those who had recently been brought in, like Katherine and Meg's mother. He thought about starting here because anytime an elder could drop dead in their room or somewhere else, and since Meg was a student at the college, she could always bring it in at the school's expense if there were no families.
And just when they were leaving Erin's room, luck favored them as though reading his mind.
Voices were shouting that a resident had passed on. "Get the doctor here!" a younger female voice shouted, apparently a member of the staff. Herbert stood by with the women and watched on before Meg stood and announced them joining. "Take her to the ward fast!"
The person was a white-haired elderly woman in her seventies; possible cause being a stroke. An older African American gentleman in a white coat – the doctor, whose ID read Harold Connors – greeted them all at the door, stopping the trio. "Hold, you three can't be here."
Katherine stepped forth. "Beg your pardon, but I'm Dr. Katherine McMichaels, PhD," she stated. "These are Megan Halsey and Herbert West at Miskatonic University, and on behalf of the medical school, we would love to claim the body of the woman if there are no other relatives to do so." Herbert smiled at her bold, straight-to-the-point attitude even though her field wasn't his and Meg's.
Dr. Connors' face softened then. "Oh, yes, hm." He cleared his throat. "Of course. Please come in then, the three of you." The woman was being settled in even though she was already dead, but examination and attempt of revival was necessary, and Meg volunteered to step in, her fierce determination kicking in much to the surprise of the others in the room.
Watching her, Herbert smiled to himself. This was a woman who loved life enough to save it. She wouldn't let death win the battle. This was exactly who he was, the enemy of death itself, and he sought to eradicate it from this world. Watching as she interlaced her fingers and applied whatever strength she had in her small, lithe build, her chest heaved up and down with every deep breath she took, heat pooling in his own as he could feel his heart thunder as though feeling what she was. At that moment, he wanted to touch those curves and see how they actually felt under his palms, to caress her skin and see exactly how soft it was, run his fingers through her short, shimmering pale hair...
STOP!
But it was already too late. He wasn't sporting anything unwanted down below, but the seed of desire had already been planted. Meg was so beautiful, so gifted yet singled out because of her current status. Her sister had graduated early before intended time and already climbed her way to being a great doctor who made wondrous breakthroughs in psychology; his cousin was a wonderful physicist, exploring the universe's mysteries but treading carefully now since what transpired with his late mentor. Meg wanted to be great, too, as Herbert did. They were both like their relatives, but still trying to be recognized for what they were; alright, Meg was, but that was because despite her being a compassionate and successful student, her daddy was still in charge of her life as much as the man Herbert hated as much as his own mother and the fools in Switzerland. He himself longed to be taken seriously with his own discovery. He wanted to be known as the man who conquered death, treated with as much respect as the woman before him, her sister beside him, and his own cousin.
It was a wonderful dream, but one that hadn't been granted in the essence of time. It was like trading your soul for something greater, the results tasting that much sweeter; he wouldn't so much as face the consequences that came.
His attention was back to Meg now, at her screaming for the paddles to be charged, for the IV being set up. It was like she was in charge instead of Dr. Connors who assisted her. She dared to risk herself getting into trouble just because she was a student, but they didn't question her. She was so strong, yet she didn't have the confidence to stand up to her own father and Hill. Herbert hated them both for making her that way, as much as he hated his mother for making him loathe so many women in his life; he hated her father for using her like a crutch because of his own mistakes in life. Because his wife took her own life.
And because Hill had his daughter as collateral. Herbert was no green-eyed monster, nor was he possessive of anything other than his re-agent, but Meg did not deserve a man he knew she had no feelings for.
"I'm calling it," Dr. Connors announced, but Meg protested. "Miss Halsey, I know you tried; we all tried. But we did everything we could." He said exactly the same words Herbert remembered Dr. Harrod always telling her every time a life was lost.
She looked him hard in the eyes. "Doctor, I'm fighting with everything I have for a reason. No one ever deserves to die; I never stop until the patient is saved at all costs."
He put his hand on her shoulder. "Believe me, I understand. Everyday whenever I lose a patient, I never stop fighting. That's exactly what I'm admiring in you. You'll be a great doctor someday, so keep doing the right thing." He turned behind him to turn off the EKG machine which showed the flatlines. "Alright, prepare her for takeaway."
Herbert had his mouth sealed shut the whole time and finally stepped up. "Doctor, does she have any family to claim her?"
He shook his head. "Mr. West, this is Eva Wilson, seventy-six. She lost her whole family ten years ago, no relatives left." His gaze darted back between him and the girls again. "Why don't you three go ahead and take her to the hospital or the local funeral home, at least?"
They were in luck, yes! Herbert could barely contain his delight; finally a new specimen! But he kept himself stoic on the surface as possible. He could actually read it off of Meg's body language, too; she was fighting to keep a smile off her face, but Connors didn't seem to notice. The sheet was drawn over the body before it was loaded onto a stretcher and wrapped in a body bag. Ready to be put with the others in trash bags to be abandoned and wasted. Oh, not in Herbert's book, no.
"We have it!" he cried to the girls as soon as they were out of the building, wheeling the gurney to the van. "Now onward to business."
"I know!" Katherine agreed, taking her keys out of her coat and pressing the unlock button; the rear and headlights flashed in response. "So when do we start?" she asked as she opened the trunk for him and Meg to haul the heavy bag inside. The poor woman hadn't been dead that long, but it needed to be done fast because the tissue cells didn't get that much fresher every minute that passed.
"Soon as possible," Herbert said, getting into the backseat and picking up the little black bag which held his vial and syringe, as well as the tape recorder. Might as well record the results like a true scientist. But instead of to the hospital right away, and since he made it clear to Meg that he'd done everything he could at her house, there was one other option left that nobody else would learn about that he could sneak in undetected much to the dismay of the owner.
