Losing a friend
Part 18
Susan watched as Dr. Johnson entered trauma one, and then swiftly emerge with Kerry. This could mean only one thing, but she didn't want to jump to any conclusions. She turned to face them. "What's wrong?" Fist she looked at Kerry then Dr. Johnson. "We've found something, we're not entirely sure how it can help us, but we've sent some stuff off to the lab in New York" "Found what?" "There's a link between blood group and severity of the virus. Those with blood group A and AB are in a worse condition than those with blood type O or B. The virus attacks the A antigens and attaches itself to the red blood cells in their place. And then they're carried around the body and affect other organs. The virus is less effective in destroying the B antigens or attaching to the surface of O type blood cells" "That's good news, right?" There was a hint of uncertainty in Susan's voice, as much as she tried to hide it, it was still noticeable. "It depends on the way that you look at it." "Meaning what?" "Well it's the first" There was a pause as Dr. Johnson replied. "The only lead that we have, but it doesn't look good. It's going to be hard to destroy the virus, without destroying the red blood cells. If we can isolate the protein in the B antigens, then there is a chance" "So, really, we're no nearer to helping these people yet?" There was a short pause before Dr. Johnson offered a reply. "All we can do is wait." Susan couldn't hold her anger in anymore. Her emotions had finally started to boil over, and she wasn't about to hold them back. "We've been waiting all day Dr. Johnson. We've been stuck in here for nearly 24 hours, powerless to help. Abby is in there dying," she motioned towards trauma one, "we waited for you then and look what happened. If she was up on that quarantine ward she might have had a chance" She stormed past him, heading into the lounge and slamming the door behind her.
Susan's outburst had hit Kerry hard. She knew that it was the truth, but Hazmat weren't the only ones to blame. It fell back to her. If she hadn't encourage Abby into helping in the first place then she wouldn't be in this condition, and if she had just checked, for god sake she knew Abby was infected, but she didn't once check to make sure she was ok. Her relief at escaping its clutches had consumed her, and she turned her back. And now she was paying the price, and so was Abby.
She stood by the door to the lounge, her hand once again on the handle. She took a deep breath, pushing her guilt to the side, and slowly turned the handle. She closed the door behind her. Susan was stood in front of the window, staring out into the chaotic outside world. Kerry stood by the door, not wanting to intrude. The situation took her back several hours, to the moment when she admitted her guilt to Luka. But this was now, this was the present. Susan continued to stare out of the window, not acknowledging Kerry's presence. She didn't want to be there, but then no one did. "Look, Susan" She paused, closing her eyes for a brief moment, "I'm sorry" There, she said it. Susan turned to face her, "Sorry for what?" Susan's reply surprised her. "I'm sorry because all this is my fault, I forced Abby to help" "This isn't your fault Kerry. Abby did what she always did, put others before herself" A few second passed before she realised what she had done, hoping to god that Kerry hadn't noticed, but she did. "Abby's not dead, Susan" "But time's running out" Kerry knew that she was right, that it wouldn't be long. She pushed aside her emotions and tried her best to comfort Susan. "Don't lose hope, because once that's gone, then so is everything else" "I'm not losing my hope Kerry, I'm losing my friend"
Well that's part 18! The usual apologies, sorry it's short and sorry it's been so long! Just had loadsa stuff to do, but thanx for hanging in there, and thanx for all da reviews! Ur stars! Part 19 will definitely be here sooner, just watch this space! Rainbow345uk, ; )
Susan watched as Dr. Johnson entered trauma one, and then swiftly emerge with Kerry. This could mean only one thing, but she didn't want to jump to any conclusions. She turned to face them. "What's wrong?" Fist she looked at Kerry then Dr. Johnson. "We've found something, we're not entirely sure how it can help us, but we've sent some stuff off to the lab in New York" "Found what?" "There's a link between blood group and severity of the virus. Those with blood group A and AB are in a worse condition than those with blood type O or B. The virus attacks the A antigens and attaches itself to the red blood cells in their place. And then they're carried around the body and affect other organs. The virus is less effective in destroying the B antigens or attaching to the surface of O type blood cells" "That's good news, right?" There was a hint of uncertainty in Susan's voice, as much as she tried to hide it, it was still noticeable. "It depends on the way that you look at it." "Meaning what?" "Well it's the first" There was a pause as Dr. Johnson replied. "The only lead that we have, but it doesn't look good. It's going to be hard to destroy the virus, without destroying the red blood cells. If we can isolate the protein in the B antigens, then there is a chance" "So, really, we're no nearer to helping these people yet?" There was a short pause before Dr. Johnson offered a reply. "All we can do is wait." Susan couldn't hold her anger in anymore. Her emotions had finally started to boil over, and she wasn't about to hold them back. "We've been waiting all day Dr. Johnson. We've been stuck in here for nearly 24 hours, powerless to help. Abby is in there dying," she motioned towards trauma one, "we waited for you then and look what happened. If she was up on that quarantine ward she might have had a chance" She stormed past him, heading into the lounge and slamming the door behind her.
Susan's outburst had hit Kerry hard. She knew that it was the truth, but Hazmat weren't the only ones to blame. It fell back to her. If she hadn't encourage Abby into helping in the first place then she wouldn't be in this condition, and if she had just checked, for god sake she knew Abby was infected, but she didn't once check to make sure she was ok. Her relief at escaping its clutches had consumed her, and she turned her back. And now she was paying the price, and so was Abby.
She stood by the door to the lounge, her hand once again on the handle. She took a deep breath, pushing her guilt to the side, and slowly turned the handle. She closed the door behind her. Susan was stood in front of the window, staring out into the chaotic outside world. Kerry stood by the door, not wanting to intrude. The situation took her back several hours, to the moment when she admitted her guilt to Luka. But this was now, this was the present. Susan continued to stare out of the window, not acknowledging Kerry's presence. She didn't want to be there, but then no one did. "Look, Susan" She paused, closing her eyes for a brief moment, "I'm sorry" There, she said it. Susan turned to face her, "Sorry for what?" Susan's reply surprised her. "I'm sorry because all this is my fault, I forced Abby to help" "This isn't your fault Kerry. Abby did what she always did, put others before herself" A few second passed before she realised what she had done, hoping to god that Kerry hadn't noticed, but she did. "Abby's not dead, Susan" "But time's running out" Kerry knew that she was right, that it wouldn't be long. She pushed aside her emotions and tried her best to comfort Susan. "Don't lose hope, because once that's gone, then so is everything else" "I'm not losing my hope Kerry, I'm losing my friend"
Well that's part 18! The usual apologies, sorry it's short and sorry it's been so long! Just had loadsa stuff to do, but thanx for hanging in there, and thanx for all da reviews! Ur stars! Part 19 will definitely be here sooner, just watch this space! Rainbow345uk, ; )
