Chapter 7

Jack gently picked her up and grabbed another blanket. He carried her down the hall and carefully opened the door to the garage. Once inside the truck he quickly turned the heat on.

-Boy, it sure is cold.

-This time I agree with you.

-I hope you never do again.

He pressed the button to open the garage door. Surprisingly there was absolutely no snow falling and no wind carrying around what was already there. Jack started the car and backed out into the driveway. Katie closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat.

-Hey, Kit Kat, you gotta stay awake.

-But it's so cold.

-Um...how about we play a game.

-OK, what?

Jack bit his lip and searched his memory for a game to play in the car. He vaguely remembered playing a game with his sister on long car trips.

-How about Geography?

-I love that game.

Inwardly he groaned. He remembered now that he hated the game, but Annie loved it, so they would play, every vacation in the car.

-You start, Kiddo.

-Colorado.

-Oregon.

-New Brunswick.

-Kentucky.

They continued playing, 10 minutes, 15. Jack was searching back in his memory trying to think of the great ones Annie always used.

-Yugoslavia.

Annie was so smart, so pretty, so young. Katie reminded him of her.

-Argentina.

-Kit Kat, we're here.

-Can I take a nap now?

-Sure.

She closed her eyes. Peace was evident on her features. As they arrived at the base he saw some of the guards shoveling the snow. When they saw his truck they shoveled out a place for him to park and shoveled the way to the door. As he got out they saluted. He hastily saluted back. He was really worried about Katie. He opened her door and gently scooped her up. The guards were startled and quickly ran to open the door for him. He nodded his thanks. Jack walked down the hallway and pressed the button for the lift. As he waited for it to arrive, he looked down at Katie. She was pale and her lips were quivering.

-Hang on Kit Kat.

Her eyes fluttered open.

-Dad?

-Yeah Kate?

-What's wrong with me?

-I don't know, but I sure hope the Doc does.

The lift arrived. He got in and punched the button to go down to the infirmary. After what seemed like ages the door opened. He got out and ran down the hall and into the infirmary.

-Doc!

Dr. Fraser looked up from her computer.

-What happened?

-She got cold, then collapsed.

-When?

-About an hour ago. I had to wait for it to stop snowing.

-Set her on the bed.

As he did so, Dr. Fraser hollered for a nurse. Wendy came running in.

-Hook her to an IV.

-Yes, Doctor.

Jack stepped away from the bed to let the nurse work. He heard voices in the hall. Jacob and Jonas were walking by, chatting. As they passed the door they noticed that he was inside. Jacob ran over to him.

-Jack, what happened? What are you doing here?

Jack silently pointed to the bed. Jacob and Jonas both gasped in alarm.

-What's wrong with her?

-Don't know.

The three of them stood there in shock as more nurses came in and did Dr. Fraser's bidding. Dr. Fraser drew a vial of blood and handed it to one of the nurses.

-Run that down to the lab.

She walked over to where Jack, Jacob and Jonas stood.

-Colonel, at this point I don't know what to tell you. We've got her as comfortable

as possible. Right now we've got to wait for the lab results.

-Thanks Doc.

She nodded and walked over to the computer. 10 minutes later the nurse came running back in with a manila folder. Doctor Fraser read it quickly. Then, she ran over to the counter, opened the drawer and pulled out the syringe. Then she ran over and inserted it into the IV.

-Talk to me, Doc.

She walked over to Jack.

-Here's my best guess as to what happened. When Katie went outside she came into contact with an airborne pathogen that for whatever reason wasn't in the air in her universe. So, she didn't have a natural immunity to it. From her blood tests I isolated the pathogen and gave her an antibiotic. Katie should be fine now. My only concern is to whether this could happen again.

-Is she awake? Can I talk to her?

-Yes, but I'd like to keep her here overnight.

-That's fine. I didn't figure we were going home tonight because of the snow anyway.

-That's probably wise.

-Thanks Doc.

Jack walked over to the bed. Katie opened her eyes and lifted her head groggily.

-Dad?

-I'm here Kate. You're gonna be ok.

-What happened?

-Well, Doc said you got sick 'cuz there's some...thing that wasn't in your universe but is in ours.

-Hmm. So, I wasn't naturally immune.

-Yah, somethin' like that. Listen, Doc wants you to stay here tonight.

Katie groaned.

-Isn't this lovely? I get to spend my first night in a new universe in the infirmary. Not exactly how I wanted to start out.

-Take it from me, the infirmary's better than the quarters here.

-That bad huh?

-Let's just say that interior decorating is the least of their problems.

She laughed. Jack sighed.

-Well, it's late. I'm gonna let you get some sleep. Sweet dreams.

He bent over and kissed her on the forehead.

-Night Dad.

-Good night Katie.

She fell asleep, dreaming of days gone by and days yet to come.