Chapter Four
"Is He Dead?"
Around noon on the day after Seth was released Rick had calmed down. He went through a massive attack similar to a heart attack, he was yelling painfully and could barely breath. His temperature skyrocketed and his vomiting was more often. After that he was calm, almost dead. His sweating stopped and his breathing wasn't normal, he was breathing but it seemed as though he really wasn't.
Evelyn walked into the room to check up on her husband. He looked as if her were asleep, dead even, but he was awake. His eyelids wouldn't open and he couldn't move because if he did try the pain would be unbearable, even for him. Ardeth walked in behind Evelyn. She felt tears come to her eyes and she cried on Ardeth's shoulder. Ardeth gave her a comforting hug, she looked at him.
"Is he dead?" she asked. Ardeth looked at Rick.
"NO, Evelyn, he's very much alive. My sources say that the illness he has doesn't affect temperature anf just the sweat glands and stomach. Most men who get this disease are usually dead by the third day but your husband has survived it for three weeks! Now the illness is going into hiding, leaving him in extreme pain to even breathe, and he won't talk, it would also be painful, very painful," Ardeth said.
Alex came in and looked at his dad. His faith in his father surviving this ordeal was thinning. He sadly looked at his dad's still form then he turned to Ardeth.
"Ardeth, if my doesn't survive this than will you be my next day?" Alex asked. Both Evy and Ardeth were both speechless. Evy couldn't believe her son was loosing faith in his own father!! And Ardeth, oh what doozie that puts him in. True, Ardeth was kind of attracted to Evy but he never though of being her son's step father!
Alex watched Ardeth, he could tell that Ardeth didn't know what to say. Alex turned back to his dad and just stood there looking at his dad's lifeless form. Ardeth and Evy left him alone in the room.
"Dad," Alex whispered, "Dad don't die. I don't have anything to bring you back with like I did with Mum." Alex paused, hoping his dad would reply, but he didn't. Alex continued, "Dad, I know that you probably heard me ask Ardeth to be my next dad, but he can't replace you!" Alex started to talk in between sobs, "Dad.. Please live! I don't want you to die! Please don't die daddy!" Then Alex just broke down crying. He rarely cried, he only cried when his Mum died, even as a baby he rarely cried. But, here, even though his dad wasn't dead it was very close. Besides, it was his dad, the brave, undaunted, and strongest (well to Alex at least) man in the world!! He couldn't help but cry, and the rain cried with him.
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Mai: Whew! It's been awhile. I hope you review please! Please review!