Author's Note: Thank you to all readers of this fiction. Please enjoy Chapter 3.

Chapter 3

Emu Honjo was busy.

He had twelve patients under his direct care with two more an hour coming through the Emergency Ward.

Even with the help of the Nurses, Emu was run off of his feet. He'd been at the hospital for six hours and this was his first chance to take a break.

He put coins into the vending machine and bent to retrieve the apple juice he'd selected. He collapsed at one of the cafeteria tables with a sigh and leant back in his chair with an expelled breath.

"Emu." Parado sat across from him, long legs crossed as he leant forward eagerly. "Pipopapo got hold of Dan's prototype 'Smashing Swings'. Want to play?"

"I don't know, Parado," Emu replied, holding the cool can to his forehead. "Do you think it could wait until a day off?"

"Day off? When is that?" Parado asked and Emu wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or was actually quizzical.

Emu's other half still seemed to be learning the ropes. And work was something that neither of them seemed to be adjusting to well.

Emu was glad that he was able to help so many people, of course. He was the star of the hospital and much in demand after his recent work at the clinic. Unlike Hiiro, however, Emu didn't want to turn anyone away. Didn't want anyone to have to wait. He couldn't stand the idea of someone suffering just because they weren't in a life threatening condition. If there was something he could do, he should do it.

And it wasn't that he was unaware of overwork. He'd seen it often enough and been there once or twice. He made sure he kept to his shift times and didn't put in any extra hours. But even he had to admit he was buggered by the time they got home.

Parado had started following him to work after two weeks home alone but the bugster didn't seem to be aware of the importance of what Emu did. And Emu certainly didn't have time to explain it to him.

"Let's talk about it again when we get home, ok?" Emu said with a tired smile.

Parado's excitement dropped from his face. "But-"

"Doctor!" A nurse ran into the cafeteria. "We need you!"

"On my way." Emu gathered his drink and stethoscope and stood.

Parado stood too. "Emu-"

Emu smiled at him sadly. "Later, Parado. I've got to go."

Emu ran after the nurse to find himself with another emergency patient.

He was so intent on the treatment that he didn't even hear his phone ringing until Parado reached around him and retrieved the device.

"Hello?" Emu heard Parado answer.

Emu kept one ear on the conversation as he tightened the pressure bandage on his current patient.

"He's busy."

"You need what?"

"Why?"

Emu felt Parado's gaze on him.

"Sorry, Ghost, he's occupied."

Did he just say Ghost?!

Emu turned to see Parado about to hang up.

"Wait!" he cried and grabbed the phone. "Ghost? Ghost are you there?"

"Ex-Aid." Ghost's voice sounded timid.

"What do you need?" Emu asked.

"Oh no. It's ok. Parado said you were busy. I can ask-"

"I'm ok. What do you need?"

There was a hesitation on the line. "My friends in the Gamma World are dealing with some kind of infectious outbreak. We were after a Doctor."

"In the Gamma World? They're going to make you a portal?"

"I got Build's help and he's made us a new portal. One with less exposure time. We can open it from our side."

"Build is there with you?"

"Yeah, he came through a few minutes ago."

Emu heard a faint voice ring in the background. "Does he want me to use the portal to pick him up?" Yep. That sounded like Build alright.

"What do you know about this outbreak?" Emu asked.

"Just that it seems to be spreading quickly. Makoto and Alain thought they had it contained but it just keeps spreading."

"What are the symptoms?"

"They said it was similar to a cold: fevers and aches. But it's come out of nowhere. They said the first case occurred only three days ago but now they have over 100 cases."

"Do they have any samples?"

"They do but they didn't want to send it through for fear of contamination. If it's local, they didn't want to spread it."

"Ok. I'll gather some stuff and be right there. Where are you guys at the moment?" Emu asked.

"We're at my temple. We can come to you if you want."

"I've got a portal," Build's insistent voice sounded in the background again.

"No. It's not that far away. I'll see you soon."

"Thank you, Emu," Ghost said and they hung up.

Parado took the phone.

"You're busy enough. They could have found any other Doctor," he said.

Emu shook his head. "We're all Riders. We need to be able to rely on each other."

"They're just relying on you. Who do you get to rely on?"

Emu smiled. "My friends."

He called the nurse over and had her finish bandaging the patient before he retrieved his phone from Parado and called Hiiro.

"I've got to make an emergency visit. Can you cover the rest of my shift for me?" Emu asked.

"Is it important?" Hiiro responded.

"Yes."

Hiiro sighed. "Go. I'll cover."

"Thank you." Emu grinned. "I owe you one."

Parado grabbed Emu's belt while Emu grabbed medical supplies.

Emu frowned at him.

"I don't think we're going to need that."

"You never know when you're going to need it," Parado replied.

Emu shrugged and gathered his stuff.

"Let's hurry," he said.