(Thursday, 03 July, 2003. 1900 hours.)
"I don't see why you can't get someone to cover for you," Steve pouted as he helped Jesse clear the table.
"Son, there is no one else," Mark explained while loading the dishwasher. "People have been dropping like flies for the past two days. The ER will be understaffed as it is."
"Yeah," Jesse agreed as he got a cloth to wipe down the table, "and you know Amanda's not gonna leave the path lab until she figures out what this bug is."
Laughing, Mark added, "She won't rest until she finds the source of the infection." He opened the refrigerator and got out the banana crème pie Jesse had brought for dessert.
Taking down three clean plates, Steve looked at his father and asked, "You don't think this could have been deliberate, do you? Poisoning, maybe? Not disease?"
As he cut three generous slices of pie, Mark dismissed the idea out of hand. "Nah. Bugs like this are fairly common in large institutions like hospitals, office buildings, schools, and dormitories."
"And police stations," Jesse added, grabbing three mugs and the coffee pot. "It's really warm tonight," he said. "Let's have dessert out on the deck."
"Yes, on the deck, and yes, in police stations, too," Mark agreed, chuckling as Steve glared at his young friend. "Every so often, you'll hear about something like this blowing through a place like an ill wind. People get sick for a while, productivity drops, people get better, come back to work, and it's business as usual."
"I suppose," Steve hedged, "but isn't it odd that not one patient has it, even though half the staff is home hugging the toilet right now?"
"Not necessarily, Steve," Jesse replied. "If it's not highly communicable, it could have come from a source the staff comes in regular contact with, but patients and the general public don't have access to."
"I realize that," Steve said, "and it makes me wonder why someone is targeting hospital personnel."
"Nobody is targeting anybody, Son," Mark said with a frustrated sigh as the three of them settled down round the table overlooking the beach and the Pacific Ocean. "You just have a suspicious mind."
"It comes with the job, Dad."
"I know," Mark conceded, "But now, I want you to stop inventing conspiracies. You have a well-deserved four-day weekend ahead of you, and that cabin has been reserved since before Christmas. Just go, relax, have a good time, and be ready to tell us all about it when you get back"
"Yeah, Steve," Jesse encouraged him, already cleaning the last of the crumbs from his dessert plate. "Look on the bright side of this. You and Elaine will have the place to yourselves."
Steve smiled slightly. "I know, Jess, but the whole point of taking her along in the first place was so you and Dad could meet her. It just seems every time we make plans, something goes wrong."
"So we'll meet her another time, Son," Mark placated as he poured them all some coffee. "Amanda tells me she's a lovely girl, and if she's half as good for you as you say she is, I am sure she's perfect."
"Yeah, but knowing Steve, she could be a perfect nut case, too," Jesse said. "You gonna eat that or what?" he asked, eyeing his friend's pie.
"Jesse, that's enough," Mark admonished.
"Ow," Jesse yelped as Steve whacked the back of his hand with his fork when he attempted to steal a bite of the pie. Nursing his stinging hand, Jesse looked at Steve pathetically and said, "Ok, so it was a bad joke. I'm sorry. But really, Steve, think about it. You have three days in a beautiful rustic cabin in the wilderness, just you and your girlfriend. It's the perfect excuse to go native. Come on, Steve, just a bite. Please?"
"I'm about to go native and spear your hand with my fork if you don't get it away from my dessert, Jess," Steve growled. "There's half a pie left in the fridge. Go help yourself if you're still hungry."
"But I'm not hungry," Jesse said.
"Then why do you want my dessert?"
"Because it was good and I'm not really full yet either. Please, can I have some?"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Please?"
"NO!"
"Children," Mark warned them with an indulgent smile, and the two friends left off their bickering game with a laugh.