Chapter 35 Poison

Odessa, Texas

He hated that smell… Hospitals… So clean and shiny… Nevertheless, he hated it. It didn't matter that he worked in the same building. Just few corridors away…. He hated it. It was so white and the faces… There were so many faces in here… Desperate, serious, sick … So many people walked around, despite the early hour. So many thoughts, that Peter could not ignore. He wanted to deafen them… All of them…

Peter had leaned on the wall. He stood still, while Claire had fallen asleep on the bench. He looked at her. Her face was still wet. Her nose was still red. Her hair had disarranged. She did not want to sleep. However, the tears had exhausted her. Claire was indestructible, but not emotionally. Emotionally, she was just like him – weak.

Peter sighed and rubbed his red eyes. He looked at the clock above the door of the emergency. It showed 7 AM. Pete was in there three hours already. The doctor got out just once to inform them that their son was still alive.

Peter trembled. Still alive… What that meant? Was he bad, worse, getting better? Why he was so bad when they came here? Peter had asked him all these questions. He did not like the answer – we don't know yet. By this time, Claire already had fallen asleep. She had not heard anything. She was too exhausted to stay awake.

He rubbed his eyes again. They hurt him. His entire body hurt him like hell, but he did not care. He could not care right now. How could he? His son was in there still fighting for his life. Peter had no right to feel bad. He had no right to feel exhausted and by the edge of his strength. He felt weak on his knees and slid down on the wall. The ground was cold. However, he did not care. His eyes gazed the white door before him. Peter was afraid to close his eyes. He might fell asleep and he could not afford that now. Claire needed him awake. His son needed him awake. He had to be strong for them.

The sound of the ringing phone, coming from Claire's purse, made him jump on his feet. Peter quickly opened the small purse and took Claire's phone. Noah's name was on the screen.

'Noah?' Peter answered and walked little further in the corridor. Claire still slept.

'Peter? Where the hell are you? We called you and…'

'We are in the hospital!' Peter said with cracked voice. He licked his lips and leaned on the wall again.

'Are you okay? Claire…'

'We are fine… Claire and I. It's Pete… He…' Peter rubbed his eyes again. 'He was bad last night. He still is in the emergency…'

'Oh my God!' Noah sounded shocked. 'We are coming soon! Meet you there! Be strong, Peter!'

'I'm trying…' Peter said quietly and hung up the phone.

Yes, he was trying. That was all he could do now. He had to try, because he was sure that there was nothing strong in him anymore. Peter dragged feed on the floor as he walked back to Claire. His Claire…

Peter sat back on the cold ground and leaned head on his hands.

That was how Sandra and Noah found them. Claire was still sleeping and Peter was in some kind of drowse. He heard them coming and his eyes opened.

'Peter?' Sandra squatted close to him. She touched his hair and stared in his red sore eyes. 'Any news?'

'No.' Peter shook his head. Even his voice was faint.

'You look awful, why don't you…'

'No!' Peter snapped and jumped on his feet, loosing his balance for one moment. 'I'm fine!'

Sandra stood up slowly and touched his arm.

'Peter, please…'

'I said no! They needed me!' even quiet, his voice sounded firmly. Sandra did not protest more. She just looked at Noah. He shook his head.

'Let him!' He said to her without words. Sandra nodded and went to him. Peter looked again at the clock. 7:30 AM. He started loosing patience. No one had showed from there an hour already.

Peter looked back at Claire. She shivered and he saw her opened her eyes.

'Peter?' She asked panicking and looked around.

'I'm here!' He said and sat beside her when she woke up completely.

'Mom! Dad!' She looked at them surprised. 'Peter called you?'

'No!' Noah said. 'We called you and Peter picked up the phone. He told us where are you, so…'

'Any news?' Claire looked at Peter. He had closed his eye for one moment.

'He is still alive… That's what they told me an hour ago!' Peter said quietly.

'Just this?'

'It was enough for me then!' He opened his eye and looked at her.

'Of course, but… I want to know how he is now!' Claire studied his tired face. 'Maybe if I get in there…'

'I tried!' Peter said. 'Two times, while you were sleeping. They stopped me!'

'But I have to know! We have to know! Something! Anything!'

'Claire, please… ' He was tired. That was obvious. Claire could see that in his eyes. Peter was awake only because of his will. He had not slept much last night. Maybe one or two hours…

'Peter, are you okay?' she was concerned.

'I'm just tired! Noting more!' Peter said and looked at her. 'At least one of us slept!'

'That should be you!' Claire frowned and touched his face. 'Why didn't you tell me that you're tired?'

'I'm okay! I told you!' He said and saw her ready for fight.

The white door opened and cut that her intention. Peter suddenly forgot about his exhaustion and got off the bench along with Claire. The doctor came close to them.

'Your son is fine and out of danger!' He said and that was all Peter needed to hear. He just smiled and collapsed on the floor.

'Peter!' Claire screamed panicking and knelt beside him. 'Doctor…'

He already had knelt beside Peter and checked his pulse. Then pulled out his medical torch and lightened his pupils.

'Extreme exhaustion!' the doctor said. 'Other than that he is fine.'

They put Peter on one stretcher.

'He needs to sleep!' the doctor said. 'His son as well…'

'Is he in consciousness?' Claire asked.

'No, he's sleeping! You may see him later.'

'Thank you!' She said and the doctor nodded.

'We can talk more later…' He said and leaved them alone.

Claire nodded and went to see Peter. He slept. She kissed his forehead and whispered.

'You are alright! You both are alright!' That was enough for her. Two of the most important people in her world were out of danger. That was the best news ever. Claire smiled and caressed Peter's hair. 'Sleep now! We can see our son later…'

Noah watched them from distance. Claire was so scared right now. Probably terrified, but she was strong for Peter as he was before for her.

'Strange, huh?' Sandra asked him.

'What?'

'He was the strongest before, now…'

'I just thought the same…' Noah said and looked at his wife. 'What a bond, don't you think?'

'Special bond!' Sandra said pensively.

'Yeah…' Noah said and watched as Claire caressed his pale face.

Odessa, Texas

Pete's Room

Peter woke up in one quiet room. When he thought that it was quiet, it was really quiet. He opened his eyes and looked around. It was dusk and he thought that it was probably an evening.

'Peter?' He looked at the door, just in time to see Claire, walking in with some paper bags. He licked his lips and tried to sit in his bed. 'Easy!' She rushed to him and caught his arm, helping him.

'Where am I?' Peter asked and studied her face. She looked good, despite the circles above her eyes.

'Look around!' She nodded and Peter saw his son, lying on the near bed. He tried to jump of his bed and went to him, but Claire squeezed his hand.

'You have to eat first!' She said firmly.

'But…' Peter frowned, ready for protest.

'Eat, Peter!' Claire shoved the paper bag in his hands. Peter sighed and opened it. He took the small sandwich and started to eat. 'That's good!' She said and sat beside him. Her head rested on his shoulder.

'Well, what did doctor…?'

'He was bad, but you found him just in time!' Claire searched for his free hand and grabbed it. 'They said that Pete has been poisoned!'

'Poisoned?' Peter drop what was left from the sandwich in the bag. His eyes widened and he looked at the small body of his son. ''But… but how? I mean…'

'I don't know!' Claire shrugged and her voice cracked. 'They said… they said that he was close to…' She burst into tears. 'He almost died Peter! Our boy…'

'Sh-sh…' Peter wrapped arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly. 'But he is fine now, isn't he?'

Claire sniffed and paced her hand on his thigh.

'They said that we have to wait until he wakes up, but… ' She sniffed again. 'They are optimists.'

'That's good…' Peter released his breath. He felt his heart fluttered. 'That is really good!'

'Yeah…' Claire trembled. 'But… I think about the poison…'

'Did they tell you what was it?'

'Arsenic, but they is not sure yet.'

'Arsenic? Claire this is a really strong poison!' Peter was shocked. 'Who would want to poison him? He is just a kid!'

Claire shook her head and said quietly.

'I don't think it was for him Peter! I think that it was for us!'

'For us? Who..?' Suddenly Peter stopped and his face faded. 'Andy?'

'I thought I saw him yesterday while I was shopping, but…' Claire moved her head slightly just to look at him. 'I thought that this was only my imagination and… I'm sorry that I didn't tell you!'

'It's okay…' Peter rubbed her arm and tried to smile calmingly. However, that was only for her. After her words, Peter was not calm at all! Andy was here, probably watching them. Peter frowned.

'Peter, don't!' Claire grabbed his shirt and looked at him insistently.

'What?'

'I know what you're thinking!' Claire said. 'Don't go after him! Maybe he wants just that! Let the Police…'

'I won't go after him, Claire! I'll wait him and then…' Peter did not finish, but it was not necessary.

'Just be careful, okay?' Claire said quietly and saw his nod.

'Mama… Dada…' The weak childish voice made them jumped off the bed. They both knelt beside the bed of their son.

'We are here…' Peter said and took his small hand.

'Mommy and daddy are here…' Claire said softly and placed her hand on his tummy. 'We are going to be beside you now….'

'You are safe…' Peter whispered and his heart melted when he saw Pete's eyes opened. His son looked at him and one half smile appeared on his small baby face.

'Dada…' Pete said weakly.

'Yeah…' Peter looked at Claire and took her hand. 'We are here…'