All Fairytales End – Chapter Eight
Disclaimer: please refer to Chapter 1
A/N: RockinAngel, your review had me sitting there dumbstruck. For a long time I just couldn't believe someone had actually written that to me. Truly, I can never thank you enough, your kind words meant a lot to me. I just hope that this story continues to be a pleasure to read. {^_~}
Btw here down under we are so used to hot shows coming and going. 'Now and Again' was a favorite show of mine that got axed over there. I just hope that they decide 'Dark Angel' is worth saving. And I hope those writers get the bright idea to go and read some fanfiction. They might learn a few things. lol. Just maybe. ;)
Josie could hardly contain her excitement. 'A genetically targeted virus and she's got cure. Lord get me off this plane. I need a lab like asap.' She shuffled all the pages together, opening her journal she put them in and zipped her journal shut. Stuffing everything back in her bag, she rebuckled her seatbelt as the announcement voiced that they'd be coming into land shortly.
During the past few hours she'd poured over Miranda's notes. It all made sense now. She was so ecstatic that she was grinning from ear to ear. The elderly man sitting next to her tapped her lightly on the shoulder. "I couldn't help noticing that you seemed really sad before, I'm glad you're feeling better."
Josie smiled at him, "I had a patient who was very sick and friend of mine died today, everything's been kind of a mess lately." He nodded silently and then turned to look out the window for a moment. When he spoke again, he had a solemn expression on his face.
"I'm sorry your friend died." He paused again, as if wondering whether he should continue or not. "You'd be the first doctor I've ever met that shows such concern over her patient. I've always felt like they couldn't wait to get rid of me. Just die already, they might as well have said. You lass, don't you ever change. Bless you." He patted her on the air and then just as suddenly as he started up, he switched off. Folding his hands in his lap and drifting back to sleep.
A single tear had pooled in her eye and trickled down her cheek. 'Please don't start all that again.' She wiped the moisture away with the back of her hand. She'd never thought that being so involved or caring so much could actually be a good thing. She had always been told it was a weakness, which would wear her out or worse send her crazy. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the elderly gentleman. Nope, it was definitely a good time. It didn't matter who you were or how old you were. Just a little more consideration, a smile and some patience could make a world of difference.
As the plane began its decent to Seattle Tacoma International Airport, she inhaled and exhaled through her mouth to keep the change pressure from hurting her ears. The wheels made contact with the tarmac and the plane jolted on impact. It wouldn't be long now and she'd meet with Dr Sam Carr. She'd messaged him just twenty minutes ago, saying she was on her way. He'd replied confirming he'd meet her at the airport and drive her straight to Logan.
After waiting for ten minutes for clearance, the plane was taxied to the terminal and everyone was allowed to depart. Nervously, she gathered her coat and bag and made her way to the exit. She'd only met Sam once before, at a medical conference in Oregon. She'd just started out in the field and she'd attended to see that latest in genetic research and nerve reconstructive therapy. Sam had signed for the same lectures and they had attended together. They had not kept any real contact but when she'd taken Logan as a patient in Dallas City, his file pulled a familiar name to memory. She was immensely relieved to have a friendly face meet her. The last thing she needed right now was to have to deal with pleasantries and so on. Time was limited, she needed support and action. "Sam." She held out her hand, 'It's good to see you."
"You too Josie, it's been a long time." He shook her hand and gestured to the lounge exit. "My car's parked just outside. I only just got here, he's in really bad shape."
Josie bit her lip and held back the sob that threatened to escape; taking a deep breath, she cleared her throat. "Then I won't be a hold up. Let's get going. I'll fill you in on the way."
When Asha heard the door open, she didn't even move. She was so exhausted that ever fibre in her body felt like it was numb. Numb to the pain, numb to the sight, just so utterly drained from everything. She adjusted the filter covering her nose and mouth. The darn thing was so annoying, kind of itchy too. Leaning against the back of the chair, she let her eyes wonder slowly around the room.
The windows were all sealed up with black duct tape. The floors were covered with plastic sheets, to make it easier to clean. Around Logan's bed, a small makeshift isolation chamber had been constructed. She was the only one who went around the Penthouse without a biohazard suit. She let out a crazed laugh. In the past twenty-four hours, her whole world had been tipped upside down. They still didn't know what it was that Logan had. However, from his symptoms and the slight chance that it could be contagious, everyone had been cautioned. They did know that whatever it was, it was painful and deadly.
Logan lay on the bed immobile. His body was covered in a rash, small red spots covered his body and his fever ran high. She'd bathed him for as long as she could, refilling the bowl with cool water and repeating the process continuously. She couldn't do it any more, she was too tired. An anguished moan escaped his lips and she immediately got out of her chair and went to his side. "What is it Logan?" Pressing the back over her hand to his forehead, she could feel the heat through the gloves. "You're burning up, hang on." She was about to go to the bathroom and fetch water again when a hand gripped her wrist.
"Buck-" He tired but failed. He wanted to tell her what he needed but didn't get the chance. His stomach retracted and dark vomit spilled out of his mouth. It was so humiliating, his throat burned and he felt sure his face did too. "Sorry. I'm sorry-" he whispered. Falling back into the pillow, exhausted.
Her pants were covered in the blackish substance, and it reeked like a slaughterhouse. She wanted to tell him that he didn't need to be sorry, that it was not his fault but she was just so shocked that she couldn't even move.
The door opened. Sam and a woman entered the room; they weren't wearing suits or masks. And the woman dropped her bag and moved straight towards her. "Are you alright?"
Asha managed to nod and the woman helped her move to the bathroom. "He just…what's happening?"
"I'm Josie Lu. The doctor from Dallas City. What Logan has is not contagious. It was a virus engineered to react specifically with his DNA sequence. Somebody really didn't like him and I have a feeling that whoever it was is probably on their way to Seattle right now. If they aren't already here." She glanced up to see Sam standing beside her. "I'll need to get to a lab, for now if you could just work on keeping him around, I'm be in touch."
Sam took her place kneeing by Asha and offered the distraught woman, a cold washcloth. "Why don't you grab something to change into and take a break? I'll watch him, okay." He nodded to Josie as she walked toward the door. "Take my car, the security pass is in the glove compartment. The hospital is in Sector twelve and my office is level one. You should be able to find everything you need there."
It took her an enormous amount of time to find her way around the city and she was held up at ever sector checkpoint. Frustrating didn't come close to describing it, at one stage she came close to getting out and walking. It certainly seemed that you could get through quicker that way. When she finally made it to the hospital, it took less than three minutes to find Sam's office. It was early morning, so the place was mostly deserted except for the night staff crew. A nurse smiled at her as she walked by. Opening the door to his office, she slipped inside and she didn't even get a chance to turn around. The overhead lights flipped on and illuminated the entire room. She felt cold hard metal press into the base of her neck.
"Don't turn around, just stay where you are. Don't move." He hissed.
In the window, she could see four other men, besides the one standing behind her. Who were they? What did they want? They obviously wanted something, was she getting in the way? Wrong place, wrong time? Had they followed her all the way from Chicago? No, it couldn't be.
"Where is he?"
Josie shivered as the gun pushed deeper into her skin. "Who? Dr Carr?"
The man laughed and swung her around to face him. "No lady, I'm just standing in his office, I'll ask you again." He pointed the gun to her face, "Where is he?"
"I don't-" The butt of the gun met her face as he struck her across the cheek. The soft tissue inside her mouth bleed as her teeth cut the skin. She straightened, not touching her fast swelling cheek. Staring at him, a defiant look flashing in her eyes. "I told you the truth." She spat; she would really die before trading in a friend. Inside she knew that he was the one who killed Adam. And he probably wouldn't hesitate to kill her too once he got what he wanted.
"Listen bitch, I'll ask you one more time-"
"Put the gun down, Ames." Another man had entered the room; how he had managed, that Josie couldn't tell. She didn't dare look in his direction because she didn't want to risk being shot. Staying still at this point was the best bet.
"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. Stupid move, Dean. The cops are looking all over for you and you dare show your face here." He lowered the gun. Josie sagged in relief but she still stayed put. "I know that they got you out. Causing trouble all over, don't you see? This is what we're supposed to prevent."
"NO. I don't see Ames. You trade me in. Traded me to suit yourself. I did some digging will I was in. Yeah, thanks to you I had a whole lot of time on my hands. And unlike you, there are real friends that I have. Ones that knew the truth. What are you doing? Do you really think that the NSA would back something like this? Who are you really workin' for here?"
The crackle of a voice commlink, cut through the tense atmosphere. Josie wondered just who this Dean was. All the men must know him because not one of them dared to draw their guns or challenge him. "White, there's activity at the site. 104, 52. A small aircraft began decent over the area about ten minutes ago."
Ames White grinned. "You two do whatever you like. I'm off to get what I've been chasing." He signalled and all the men filed out of the room.
Dean walked toward the woman, slumped against the door-jam. "Are you okay?" He helped her to a chair, casting a worried look over her.
"I'm alright, thanks to you." Josie managed to a nervous smile. "Dr Josie Lu, I'm working with Dr Sam Carr. It's why I'm here."
"I know, a friend told me what was going down. Helped me get here, if he hadn't. Never mind. I'm just glad he got me here in time. Listen, I need to get hold of Max. Do you know of her?"
Josie shook her head, "No, I don't know her. Why do you need her?"
"Where those guys are headed, my-" He hesitated for a moment, pondering if she really was or not. Or what they were? Smiling to himself he continued, "My girlfriend's going to need help. Max is her friend, she'll want to know. I just thought you might know her. Seeing as your treating her man and all-"
Josie blinked, it clicked in her brain, the woman with the strange blood. The woman who'd been at Logan's bedside when he'd been first admitted. "Do she have dark hair curly hair, attractive, kind of blunt attitude?"
"Yeah, that could be her."
"Sam might know her? I can call him."
Dean smiled. "Thanks, I'd appreciate it."
