Blind Touch: Part Two
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Over the last few days Max's condition deteriorated. Unknown pathogens were wreaking havoc on her immune system. Delirious with fever Max had talked in her sleep. From her scattered sentences, they gathered enough pieces to put together a picture of what happen in the six months she'd been gone after turning herself in.
Ames White must have had operatives in the Seattle police force. Either that or he simply waltzed in spouting jurisdictional crap and viola Max had been turned over to his custody. She had been made to believe that her friends were dead because she refused to give up White's son's location. It must have taken an incredible amount of torture to crack Max's resolve. They still didn't have an explanation for her return or the truce but right now they had to fight to keep Max alive because she wasn't fighting at all.
In her state of mind, Max was unconsciously suppressing her immune system; she wanted to die.
Luckily Alec was finally persuaded to leave the isolation ward and take care of himself just before her first system wide crash. She wasn't breathing on her own and had to be placed on a ventilator. Kara hooked her up to heart and brain activity monitors. They were set to go off if there was any change in pattern, good or bad. Although Alec would most likely kill her when he found out, Kara removed his clearance to this level.
Kara, Biggs, Dix and Dalton followed Alec's example and spent time with her. Joshua kept them in good supply of books. Mole surprised them by sending down a functional CD player complete with a mix of Max's favorite songs. Biggs' read the daily reports to her. He felt that she should hear the day in day out workings of headquarters. He thought it would give her hope.
Sunlight filled the hallway outside Alec's apartment. Micah arched his back and stretched to ease the ache that had developed during the night. He glanced down at his watch and noted that his relief should be showing up soon. Two days of silence and Micah wondered what could have happened to make Alec sleep so long. Max, that one name came to mind and he smiled sadly.
He'd prayed to the Blue Lady every night since she'd left them. If it weren't for her, Micah would have never been given a chance at life. At Manticore, they tended to cull soldiers who weren't quite up to speed in the intelligence department. It wasn't that he was retarded his IQ matched that of any ordinary, but mediocrity wasn't in Manticore's master plan.
Grimly he shook his head remembering the rumors that began to spread like wildfire. He had done his best to squash any suggestion that Max was reindoctrinated and will more than likely turn on her people. Fights broke out occasionally between Max supporters and Max doubters. If only command would rethink its tight-lipped policy. As sure as he was of where Max's loyalties lie, the rumors were persistent and a sliver of doubt inserted into his conscience.
Squeaky hinges shook him from his personal reverie. He caught sight of Alec's retreating back and hurried to catch up with him. "Hey boss," Micah greeted and fell into step. They were walking so fast it was almost a run.
"If you tell me I supposed to be resting, you'll be pulling latrine duty for a month." Alec smiled to take the sting out of his tone but meant every word. Energized by his much needed extensive nap, Alec increased his pace anxious to see how Max was doing.
Wisely Micah remained silent and wondered what was taking his brother so long. "Lexan, what is your twenty? I'm dying here."
"Right behind you." Lexan matched his stride to their break neck pace on the other side of Alec. "Sorry boss, but we have higher orders," he apologized and nodded to Micah. They each grabbed an arm and dragged Alec toward the cafeteria. "Doc said and I quote 'I don't care if he's King Tut. I outrank him when it comes to transgenic health. You are to get him to eat a decent meal and have my permission to sit on him and stuff it down his throat if he refuses'."
Alec dangled inches off the ground and he knew it was no use. These two had bear DNA, both standing close seven feet tall. Before they entered the cafeteria they set him down and gave him the dignity of walking in under his own power. When he pushed through the double doors all action stopped.
Dozens of transgenics and a few transhumans forgot their meals and stared at the newcomer. Some of them hadn't seen Alec in two weeks and were quite surprised at his appearance. Sharp creases alternated with tears in the front of his untucked shirt. Stains dribbled down his collar and onto his wrinkled pants. His hair was a mess of spikes; half of them flattened to his scalp, classic bed head.
They watched him square his shoulders and assume an air of authority despite his appearance. There was a communal sigh of relief; that was the Alec they knew and loved. Noise abruptly returned to the cafeteria. Forgotten conversations picked up where they left off with added fervor.
Micah and Lexan relaxed, happy that they didn't have to dispel a riot, and patiently waited while Alec gathered a plate of food. They parked him at an empty table and took turns getting their own. When the last morsel disappeared, two more slabs of meat were deposited on Alec's plate. More bread followed and he frowned at his two 'body guards'.
Savory aromas of the spiced meat made Alec realize just how hungry he was, so he didn't argue. He chewed contently under their watchful gaze, mopping up the extra juices with bits of bread.
A pungent cloud swirled around him and Alec had to pinch the bridge of his nose to keep the tickling sensation from turning into a full-blown sneeze. His clothes smelt so bad even he was offended.
Lexan noticed Alec's appalled look and brought out a bundle from his carry-sack. Scribbles that passed for Joshua's handwriting stood out in bold red across the brown paper wrapping. 'Medium fella clean, that's the plan' it read.
Another note was taped under the last word. Kara's swirling script contrasted the succinct message it delivered: 'THAT'S AN ORDER'. Okay, okay I get it, Alec grumbled in his mind and proceeded to the men's locker room. It was closer than his apartment. The sooner he followed orders the sooner he could resume his place at Max's side. She needed him.
Joshua rushed out of the isolation ward howling. In his haste he bowled Dix and Dalton aside and jumped into the lift before they could question him. Dalton slammed hard into the wall and got the wind knock right out of him. Dix swatted him between the shoulder blades, relieved when his partner took in a huge breath of fresh air. They were about to follow Joshua when Max's monitor alarms began to wail.
"Double 'Ds'! Here! STAT!" They blurred to Max's room all too aware why there were called so urgently. Max was crashing again.
Kara sat on top of Max's legs and held her shoulders down while she seized violently. Her head wrenched around so suddenly it ripped the breathing tube from Max's mouth. Blood flicked onto Kara's face but she couldn't worry about any damage to the throat. At the moments she had to concentrate on clamping the tongue down so Max wouldn't swallow it.
"A little help gentlemen?" she asked wondering how long they were going to stare. Dix scooted up behind her, taking charge of Max's legs. Once Dalton had her shoulders, Kara was free to move.
Two syringes threatened to roll off the table but Kara rescued them in time. She removed the needle caps and inserted each one into a vial of Epinephrine. Don't leave us Max, she prayed and administered the shots. Her emotions would have to wait.
The E.K.G. monitor abruptly slowed, the spikes started to space out further and not as high. Vital signs on the other screen bottomed out. Max shuddered and her eyes flew wide open. "ALEC!" she screamed in agony and arched her back. Her breath caught as she suddenly relaxed. All monitors flat-lined; Max left them again.
"MAX!" Alec wailed precisely at the same time as Max called out his name. There was no possible way for him to hear her but he knew the moment she was gone.
Joshua burst into the shower room tears dampening the fur on his cheeks. He was out of breath and panted heavily. "Little fella," he cried between pants and pulled Alec out of the shower stall. He dressed the surprised transgenic, picked him up by the scruff of his collar and marched out of the locker room in record time.
Biggs caught sight of Joshua and Alec on their way to the medical building. He fumbled for his walkie-talkie and pinged Dix. "Isolation ward, incoming. I repeat, incoming. Alec eta your position: 10 minutes. Do you copy?"
All he got was static in return and quickly went from run to a blur. He had to beat them to Max's room. He had a feeling something was going terribly wrong.
Biggs did indeed arrive before Joshua and Alec but he hated being right. He stayed out of the way and let them work on Max but remained close at hand in case the doctor needed further assistance
"Charge to 300!" Kara called over the added noise and stepped back rubbing the defibrillator pads together. Dix continued to palpate her chest and Dalton held a billow bag over her mouth. "CLEAR!" she yelled and zapped Max. Her heart beat once but didn't hold. The line flattened again.
"400!" Zap! Again nothing.
Fifteen minutes later she waved the guys away and succumbed to her tears. Tired, Dix pawed at his eyes and turned away. Dalton found it hard to remain standing and used the far wall for support. Quietly both men gave into their grief. Only Biggs noticed the new arrivals.
Alec stood immobile by the doorway not wanting to believe what he was seeing. Joshua let out a piercing howled. Biggs' joined him in the corner and bravely put his arms around the big man's shoulders. The grieving man nearly squeezed him to death in his desperation to be consoled.
Dazed and somewhat lost, Alec closed the short distance to Max's bed and searched her face. Tentative fingers peeled away the tape that trapped her tongue. He brushed sweat and blood off her chin and used the back of his hand to push hair from her cheek. Slowly he bent down and rubbed his cheek against hers then touched his forehead to hers.
No one was prepared for his next action. He pulled Max up by her arms and fetched several slaps across her face. Tears poured down his cheeks thickening his voice. He began screaming in at her and shook her lifeless form.
The others forgot their personal pain and closed in on Alec. Biggs had to put Joshua in a full nelson. He thought Alec was actually harming Max and went berserk. Kara realized what he was trying to do and warned Dalton and Dix off. Hopefully she was right.
"YOU BITCH! YOU NEVER BACKED DOWN FROM ME ONCE! NOW FIGHT!" He slapped her again. "FIGHT!" and again. His throat pinched off his last entreaty for her to fight and he folded her against his chest sobs racking his entire body.
Beep. That small sound thundered through the room and Kara held her breath. She willed the monitor to do it again. Seconds later it beeped once more then began a steady rhythm. Tearing her eyes away from that beacon of hope, Kara saw Max squeeze her eyes tight. She was doing it; she was fighting.
Max gave a single choking cough and took her first shuddering breath. Alec released her back onto the bed and pulled her blanket up over she shoulders. He placed the oxygen mask Dix offered him over her nose all the while talking to her. Not a single eye in the room was dry but they were tears of joy this time.
"Little fella stays. That's the plan!" Joshua barked happily and Kara couldn't agree with him more.
