While Mark was gone with Maxie the doctor came in and put Arinia on an IV. Arinia woke up with a start as she felt a surge of pain in her left hand. She winced as the doctor worked to put her on the IV.
Once the doctor had her on the IV, he turned to her and said, "That was the only way to keep you alive…… I'm sorry it hurt, but I don't have many options if I'm going to save you from death."
Arinia merely nodded, and the doctor smiled and pulled the covers up around her. Then he said, "Try to get some more sleep, at the moment that's the best cure."
Arinia closed her eyes and fell back asleep, and the doctor left her.
~*~
Meanwhile, Maxie was having Mark cook the team dinner. As soon as the meal was finished, he made some soup for Arinia at Maxie's urging. Mark ladled the soup into a bowl and got a spoon; then Mark and Maxie left the kitchen and walked up to the infirmary. Arinia was just starting to come to as they entered. Maxie pulled a chair over to Arinia's bedside for Mark, and Mark walked over and sat down beside her with the bowl of soup.
"Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Mark asked her.
Maxie walked over to the doorway, he didn't want to watch a mushy scene unfold.
"I'm feeling somewhat better……. The doctor came in earlier and put me on an IV. It hurt like crazy when he put me on it……." Arinia replied.
Mark felt Arinia's pain, "Ouch! That doesn't sound like it was a good experience……. Oh, by the way, I have some soup for you……."
Maxie now walked over to Arinia's bedside, and he helped her sit up. Maxie piled her pillows behind her so she would have some support while she was eating. Now Mark dipped the spoon into the soup, and then he lifted a spoonful of soup and brought it towards Arinia's lips. Arinia was so hungry that she accepted the food without hesitation. Maxie stood near Arinia, and he saw how glad she was to be fed once again. He continued to watch Mark feeding Arinia until all of the soup was gone, then he moved her pillows so that she could lay back to rest. Arinia lay back, and Mark took her left hand.
Now Maxie said, "Now see here, boy……. I'll let you stay with Arinia overnight, but don't try to escape. If you do, Arinia will die at my hand."
Mark looked at Arinia and said, "I understand, I won't go anywhere……." But in his mind Mark was planning the exact
opposite. He was planning to take
Arinia to safety while everyone else was sleeping.
"Good, now take care of her……. You know what to do if she needs medical attention during the night…….. I'll see you in the morning, good night…….." Then with that Maxie left the infirmary, and Mark coaxed Arinia into sleeping some more.
Arinia asked, "But I've been sleeping all day! Why do I have to sleep some more?"
Mark replied, "You need to sleep because it's the only way for you to get well……."
Arinia opened her mouth to protest, but Mark shushed her. "Now sleep, I'm going to take care of you tonight. You're in good hands, I won't let anything happen to you while I'm here with you……"
Arinia gave up trying to convince Mark that she didn't need sleep, and closed her eyes. Then Mark kissed Arinia on the cheek, "Sleep well, Arinia……"
Arinia heard him, and she smiled. Then shortly afterward, she slipped into a deep sleep.
Now Mark thought, "Don't worry, Arinia, as soon as the coast is clear I'm going to get you out of here……"
Mark decided that when he escaped with her that he'd head to the desert, and create a secret base in the top eastern corner of the desert (close to the area where you find the fossils in the game), where the sand swirled really heavily. Now all Mark could do was wait until the proper time to take Arinia, and make a break for it. Arinia, knowing none of what Mark had planned, slept on.