Disclaimer- Check out chapter one and get back here!

Personal Note- I will never give this up- THANKS ZEV! Thanks to KL- Love ya!
Thanks for not charging me! Great WORK! Thanks to Dag, you know why and thanks.
Thanks to Steve, miss you. OH, before I get beat up, thanks to Kristy- thanks for
laughing at me when I shared my ideas, I told you I would never stop so :P. Oh, sorry if
my downloading the chapters seems too close together, my computer is not liking me
right now.

Meaning of Life-

By the Untalented JOxER

Chapter eight.

Lucas froze - mouth hanging open, gaze fixed on the figure looming in the doorway. It
was his father - just standing there...staring at him. *He came to finish the job.* Lucas
knew he couldn't get away, but he had to try. He HAD to get away. Grabbing onto the
rails, Lucas tried to climb out of the bed, but he was too weak to balance his weight and
slipped, crashing to the hard floor. Screaming in agony as pain tore through his body,
Lucas struggled to focus. He had to get away!

Panic over-riding the pain, Lucas frantically attempted roll onto his side and scoot away
from the door. The sweat soaking his body trickled into his eyes, stinging them.
Reflexively rubbing it away, Lucas glanced up at the door. There was no one there. He
stared at the empty space for nearly a full minute before it dawned on him that it had been
a dream.

The teen gasped out a relieved sigh, letting himself roll exhaustedly back onto his
stomach. The sigh turned into a scream as he felt the crack of his injured ribs. Curling
up in a futile attempt to ward off the pain, Lucas felt like he was drowning in agony. His
leg was on fire. The incision in his side throbbed, forcing a small part of his quickly
fading consciousness to register the warm liquid soaking the bandage. He looked at his
hand, confirming his suspicions. His wound was bleeding again. Hazily, he noted a
person's shadow fall across him. Glancing toward the door, Lucas called for help. He
could see the nurse's lips move and knew she was speaking to him, but nothing made any
sense. Before she reached him, Lucas slipped into the comforting oblivion of
unconsciousness.

Having finished their breakfasts, Nathan, Kristen and Ben decided to get back to Lucas.
Pausing just long enough to book a couple of rooms a nearby hotel, they hopped a cab
back to the hospital. Exiting the second floor elevator, they bumped into Dr. Chambers.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Doc," Ben apologized.

"Captain! I need to talk to you now!"

"What's wrong! Is it Lucas?" Nathan asked the doctor. Her uncharacteristically serious
expression made the captain's stomach twist anxiously.

"It seems that Lucas tried to get up and took a nasty spill. Nurse Bay heard screaming
and ran towards it. She found Lucas on the floor in severe pain. Captain, we had to
set his ribs again. He also managed to reopen the wound in his side, we had to restitch it.
It's set him back at least a week," she explained, before pausing to take a breath. She let
it out slowly, seeming much calmer when she continued. "He's been sedated and seems to
be rested comfortably now. I have to go. Mar is waiting for you at the nurse's station."

"Thank you, doctor." Kristen responded, realizing that Nathan and Ben had been left
speechless.

They raced to the nurse's station to find Nurse Bay.

"Captain, Dr. Westphalen, I hafta.."

"Nurse Bay, Dr. Chambers already filled us in. How is he?"

"He's doing better. His temperature's up, but we've got it under control, and he seems to
be resting peacefully. You guys can go see him, but it's likely he'll sleep for several more
hours." The trio nodded acknowledgments and turned towards Lucas' room, but paused
when Marcy shouted after them. "If he wakes up, push the nurse's button. I want to
know, okay."

"You will be the first nurse to know," Nathan reassured as they entered Lucas' room.
The captain grabbed a chair and sat as close as he could to the teen. Taking Lucas' fragile
hand into his own, he whispered to Lucas - just soft enough for no one else to hear.
Kristen rested her hands on Nathan's shoulders as Ben got her a chair. Then, they all sat
there, lost in their own thoughts, waiting for their teen to wake up.

It was almost noon when the hand that the Captain has been holding for so long began to
move. Nathan shot up straight and began to talk to Lucas.

"Lucas? Hey, kiddo."

"Uh? Captain?"

"Hey, kiddo, sacked out in the middle of the day....not like you."

Lucas responded with a small grin.

"I know you're anxious to get home, but don't push yourself, Lucas."

"It was all a dream," Lucas whispered, remembering the image of his father looming in he
doorway.

"What was?" Kristen prodded.

"Oooh...I thought it was all just a dream, but I guess not. The broken ribs prove it, huh?"
Now, he wasn't just being dishonest with the captain, but with the doctor as well.

"Well, mister, your right! The ribs prove it! You also tore open your incision and it had
to be re-stitched," Kristen gently chastised

"Oh! Before we forget," Nathan reached towards Lucas' bed and pushed the nurse's
button. "Nurse Bay wanted to know when you were awake," he explained as he turned to
Lucas.

"Yep! Told us to let her know or she'd skin us alive," Ben added, making Lucas laugh.

"Ben, don't make him laugh. It will hurt him more," Kristen shot back.

"No, Dr. Westpahlen. It is okay," Lucas said as finished laughing.

"Look who's up?" Nurse Bay greeted as she entered the room. "How ya feel?"

"I feel lonely," Ben whines, winking at Lucas.

"Aren't you used to it by now?" Nurse Bay shot back. "Anyways, I was speaking to
Lucas. So?"

"Better than a few hours ago."

"Thanks to those wonderful little marvels we call pain relievers! Gotta take your
temperature," She said, holding the thermometer to Lucas ear. "99.5 a little high. Your
listening to Kat Country - grrrrrrrowl - 99.5 KCAT FM!" She did her best to impersonate
her favorite radio DJ. "Hey, ya think you can eat?"

"Pizza?"

"Hey, this is a hospital. We clear your arteries, not clog them! No, just a light lunch. A
sandwich, some juice and Jell-O."

"If it's still there," Lucas replied, thinking about his addict friend.

"Huh?" Nurse Bay responded, totally confused.

"I've met your Jell-O addict, Jesse. From what I hear, there might not be any Jell-O
left and... speak of the devil," Lucas said as he noticed the little kid enter his room.

"Jesse!" Nurse Bay's shout stopped him in his tracks. Jesse tried back out, but it was too
late.

"Hey, I have plans with this guy. He said we could have lunch. What kinda friend would
I be if I didn't keep my promises?" Jesse stood straight and proud in his fish robe, trying
not to look as scared of the Nurse as he felt.

She quickly turned to Lucas.

"True? This little rugrat brainwashing you, too? What'd he promise you? Jell-O?"

"Hey, I did accept his offer, and, no, no Jell-O bribery. Just company."

"Oh, in that case, if Lucas wants you around, fine with me," She gave Jesse a quick hug
and felt something crinkle in his rob. She dipped her hand into his pocket to see what he
was hiding. "Jesse!" The nurse scolded as she held two packages of Jell-O, crushed but
in good shape.

"I need it!" Jesse whined, plaintively, as the nurse took the packages away.

"I know. When Lucas' lunch comes, there will be fresh packages for you. Okay?"

"What ya gonna do with those beat up ones?"

"Trash."

"NO! What a waste! They're still good!" Jesse whined, again.

"Sorry, kid! They're crushed, but I'll send ya up three packages. Okay?"

"Fine," Jesse huffed. He wasn't thrilled to know the packages were going to waste but
three instead of two work for him.

Nurse Bay departed, leaving the trio, along with Jesse, alone with Lucas. Jesse took his
preferred position on Lucas's bed and began to chat with Lucas like an old friend.

"Why do you love Jell-O so much Jesse?" Lucas inquired.

"It's the best food. Take it and shape it to any mold you want. Have any flavor your
heart desires and it is perfectly healthily!"

"I don't think so, young man, too much sugar," the doc had to have her voice heard.
"Jell-O definitely has too much sugar in it."

"Yes, it does, but it doesn't have any cholesterol or fat or major calories. Doesn't have a
history of causing any diseases or harming animals. Jell-O doesn't contain fat from an
animal nor a plant. All it is some weird names I can't read and water. Has nothing bad,
so it must be healthy!"

Kristen found herself speechless. The little runt had gotten her. She didn't want to argue
with this one. She could have, and proven that Jell-O was bad in large amounts, but she
knew this was one occasion that she just had to let a boy be a boy.

"So, hear that your Marlins and my Yankees are going to play tonight? Sorry about your
team, Lucas. They're going to lose again."

"Hey! Wait a sec, Jesse, the Marlins won the World Series not so long ago, and they
already kicked the Yankees' butts last year."

"Little do you know about the Yankees. Carlos Labor has hit 80 home runs, beating the
legendary Mark McGuire's home run record, not to mention, their star pitcher struck out
everyone of the Dodgers in their last game!'

"Carlos Labor hasn't hit a home run in 3 games. And your star pitcher, he played against
the Dodgers! Darwin could beat the Dodgers."

"Darwin? Oh, you were talking about him before I had to visit the vampire."

"Yeah, Darwin is the dolphin that lives onboard the seaQuest."

"Yeah, Lucas has developed a way for Darwin to talk," the captain added, knowing it
would be information that a kid would find exciting.

Jesse turned to Lucas, his eyes wide with wonderment. "Way cool, Lucas, you must be a
real genius!"

"Yeah, but don't let it get out. Top secret. Hush-hush. Okay?"

"What? Me squeal?" Jesse stood up and put on a tough guy face. "Not even the whole
hospital's supply of Jell-O would make me talk."

"Maybe not the whole hospital's, but what about the whole world's?" Ben teased,
laughing.

"No comment, Mr. Krieg!"

A soft knock interrupted them. All eyes moved to the door and they saw that it was a
nurse with a tray of food. As Nurse Bay had promised, three packages of Jell-O awaited
the kid, and there was an extra one with a note saying- 'Jesse, Lucas' Jell-O. Love Mar.-'.

"Hey, Bub-bu-ie!" Jesse greeted the nurse.

"Hey, Ja-wes-sie!" replied the Nurse Bobbie, as she set the tray near Lucas' bed. "Okay,
Lucas, I am going to sit you up, with help from the bed. Okay? Tell me when it hurts.
Okay?"

"Sure, Bubbie."

"Don't start, Lu-ka-wus," She pushed a small button on Lucas' bed and the head piece
began to rise. Lucas groaned in pain, but he could handle it. He was at an angel, not
really sitting, but he was up.

"All right, tough guy, here's your lunch," Bobbie said as she waved her good-byes and
left the room.

Nathan helped Lucas unwrap the sandwich and gave Jesse his packages of Jell-O. Ben
glanced at the "food". It was nothing but lettuce and bread with a portion of a thing
looking like ham.

"Looks nutritious, Lucas."

"Yeah right, Ben, no pizza, no beer," Lucas shot back.

"All right, young man, you eat now."

"Yes, doctor," He rolled his eyes as he bit into the sandwich.

"Enjoying your Jell-O, Jesse?" A small nod was all the answer Lucas received before
Jesse dived into the Jell-O package again. "So, how was your breakfast, Captain?"

"Well..." Ben began, but was interrupted by Lucas.

"I don't need an explanation from you, Ben. It's obvious that you had a good breakfast."
Ben tossed him a bewildered look, so Lucas explained. "Your uniform, Ben. There are
food stains everywhere!" Ben examined his clothes and found the grease stains. He
looked embarrassed as he excused himself to go the bathroom and wash it off. Lucas
turned back to the Captain and repeated his question. "So?"

"It was good. The restaurant was nice," He squirmed in his seat. "The food was great.
Everything Kristen disapproves of."

"Haha, tell him how I made you eat the fruit salad instead of the cheese cake," Kristen
gave the captain a soft punch in the shoulder.

"Only to make you happy, Kristen!" The captain insisted as he rubbed his shoulder.
After a burst of laughter from all, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Lucas
looked at the Jell-O addict and found that the kid wasn't paying attention to anything but
his Jell-O. Jesse was working on his second package and completely ignoring his
surroundings. Lucas returned his attention to the adults next to his bed. They were all
watching him eat. After a few minutes more of the hawks watching their prey watching
them, Lucas couldn't take it anymore.

"Ok, what is it?"

"What's what, Lucas?"

"Captain, why are you guys just looking at me?"

"Oh, it is just that... I guess what I am trying to say is that we were really scared.
Now...to see you eating and talking.. it just blows our minds."

This time Lucas was the one left speechless. The captain actually cared for him. All of
them - they weren't just using him like his father, they cared. Lucas glanced at the other
two adults, who nodded their heads in agreement. He decided that he could trust the
captain - perhaps he could trust all three of them. If he told them the truth, perhaps they
could help. *But maybe that would only make thing worse*, Lucas thought. *Maybe
they will hate me and send me back for good.*

"Earth to Lucas, now who's the one just staring," Ben prodded, waving his hand in front
of the teen's face. Lucas blinked twice and grinned at the Lieutenant.

"Can't I even leave the hospital mentally without being hassled?!" Ben and Lucas
laughed, and the captain and the doctor soon joined in.

"What so funny?" Jesse inquired. He'd finally finished his three packages of Jell-O and
was now paying attention.

"Nothing, Jesse," Lucas said, as the little boy frowned. He knew something was up.

"Had to be there, right?"

"Yeah, 'fraid so, Jesse. Hey, I'm not going to eat my Jell-O. Want it?"

"Want it?! What do you think?" Jesse snatched the Jell-O from Lucas hand before
getting up and stretching his limbs. "Be right back, gotta go to my room and stash
this package for later." With that, Jesse left the room, skipping happily.

"Nice kid," Ben commented as Jesse left the room. "Seems like a good kid..." Ben was
interrupted by the sound of a small crash out side of the room. Jumping up, he went to
investigate. It was Jesse. "It's Jesse! I'm going to check on him. Okay?" Ben informed
the others as he left the room. Kristen quickly followed. Not wanting to a completely
abandoned Lucas, Nathan stayed with him.

Ben was at Jesse's side in no time. The kid had apparently walked into a nurse assistant
pushing a gurney to the elevator. The nurse assistant started to panic.

"I swear I didn't see him," the RNA insisted. There were nurses headed their way, but
Kristen beat them there.

Ben noticed a small trickle of blood coming from the little boy's head. "Doc, he's out
cold and he's bleeding," Ben informed the doc as she bent down to examine the child's
head Before her hand made contact with Jesse, it was stopped by another hand.

"What's the meaning of this, nurse," Kristen demanded, glaring at the nurse that had
stopped her from helping the kid. Nurse Bay quickly helped Kristen up from the floor
and tried to explain the situation, while the other nurses took care of Jesse.

"I'm sorry the nurse caught you by surprise," Nurse Bay apologized.

"She did more than surprise me, she stopped me from helping him. He was bleeding and
I needed to see where it was coming from and if it was serious!" Kristen yelled. She
glanced at Jesse as the other nurses put him onto a gunnery and wheeled him away. The
nurses werehandling Jesse very carefully - a little too carefully.

"I know but...," Marcy sighed, "you were using your bare hands," she whispered.

"I'm not following you, Nurse Bay?"

"I should have told you when Lucas first mentioned Jesse, but I've always left it to Jesse
to tell people. I guess that was a mistake," Marcy sighed again. " What I'm trying to say
is
that if you'd exposed yourself to his blood, you could have been affected with aids."

Both Ben and Kristen were speechless.

"Y-you mean that healthy looking ten year old has aids?" Ben struggled to make sense of
what Marcy was telling him. How could a ten year old have aids?

"Ben, keep your voice down. Look, you two, come into an empty room. I will explain it
privately."

-*-*

Nurse Bay sat on the edge of an empty bed and prepared herself for a long speech.

"When Jesse was born, he was born with HIV. His mother was an addict and was
infected by sharing infected needles. Jesse was turned over to his aunt when his mother
died. By the time Jesse was 5, he'd entered this hospital with pneumonia. It was his
second bout with pneumonia, and the doctor determined that his condition had advanced
from HIV to Aids. We've tried all types of treatment, mostly AZT, a powerful drug that
is currently used to treat the virus. But the treatment only delays it. The doctors didn't
expect Jesse to make it to his 7th birthday. When he did, they pushed it back to his 11th
birthday," Marcy paused, taking in her silent audience. "I know what you're thinking and,
no, you can't get aids just from being around him - only through contact with bodily
fluids. And that's why you were prevented from helping him, Dr. Westphalen."

Within a few minutes, Nurse Bay finished telling Ben and Kristen the facts about Jesse.
Ben was speechless. He couldn't understand how Jesse could die at any moment from a
virus that no one was getting even close to finding a cure for.

"So, what you're saying is that this healthy looking ten year old is dying. Why is he
allowed to wonder around like he does?" Ben almost yelled at the nurse.

"Jesse's always wanted to be a normal kid. He been in and out of the hospital since his
aunt took him in. They've tried so many treatment on him, and none of them have
worked. When I met him, he'd been diagnosed with aids and all he wanted was to be
treated normally. He didn't want any special treatments from anyone and he wanted to be
the one to tell his story. He's looking forward to his 11th birthday. He says that he can
beat the odds if he makes it to 11." Nurse Bay was in tears by the time she finished, and
Ben came over to comfort her. The comfort flowed both ways.

"Why is he here now, Nurse Bay? Shouldn't he be with his family or..." Ben began to
ask.

"Jesse began showing signs of pneumonia again. This is his 3rd visit just in the past 2
months. Without white blood cells, his body is defenseless."

"So he's allowed to wondered around freely, even though he could pick up a virus any
where?" Ben rephrased his earlier question.

"Ben, I know how you feel. The doctors here recommend that Jesse stay in bed, but that
makes him depressed. He says he rather die outside running around than locked up.
We've tried everything to make him stay in his room - even brought in games and stuff
like that, but he gave them away to other patients. Besides, he came up with a very
convincing argument one day," the nurse smiled as she remembered his words. "Jesse
asked how someone could catch a virus when the hospital is always being disinfected. I
couldn't argue with the kid, so we all let his do whatever he wants."

"I see."

"Look, I'm very sorry that I didn't tell you about Jesse. I have to go now and check on
my other patients." Marcy left the room, wiping the tears from her face.

Ben and Kristen left the empty room, still trying to come to terms with what the nurse
had just told them. They entered Lucas' room and found a nervous teen and anxious
Captain waiting for them.

"What happen to you guys? How's our little friend?" Lucas asked as they entered the
room. Neither Ben or Kristen said a word as they sat down in the chairs near his bed.

"Come on, you guys. Your scaring me! How's Jesse?" Lucas repeated his question with
a little more force.

"There something we have to tell you, Lucas. About Jesse," Kristen told him, as she
took his hand.

"This is serious," the Captain predicted, as Ben and Kristen began their story.