The Elusive Treasure
Chapter Twelve
Scared Stiff
Oliver was a picture of uneasy calm. Getting that sub together and operational had been a big headache, and he wasn't about to see his aspirations vanish in litigation. He scanned the submarine's insurance policy, satisfied that both he and the club were covered, and any passengers needed to rely first on the public medical plan or their own resources first. He wasn't very comfortable with the idea of agreeing to assist the Lopez's on their treasure chase, but the opportunity to beat Sammy was, he admitted to himself, irresistible. He called his first officer to his side.
"Jack, keep an eye on the situation in the channel. Make doubly sure that the diving sets are ready to go, and message me the minute the channel is reopened." He drew a breath. "I have an idea where Lopez wanted to go."
Iggy was wheeled into an examination room. Izzy tried to get in too, but he was stopped by one of the paramedics.
"Please stay in the waiting room. We'll perform some procedures on your brother. Will call you when we have any news."
Izzy growled but nodded. "Fine. You better make him better."
The paramedic closed the door. A luminous sign lighted by the door, indicating that procedures were being carried on inside the room.
"Iggy..." The brunet sighed as he leaned back into his chair.
Inside the examination room the standard neurological procedures were performed on Iggy. Pupil dilatation, encephalograph. But everything seemed to be OK. At last, after nearly two hours of probing, one doctor and a social worker came to the waiting room.
"I'm looking for the relatives of..." The doctor started. He looked at the chart in his hands. "...Iggy Lopez."
Izzy stood up instantly. "I'm his brother. How is he?"
"We did all the studies, and we haven't found anything wrong with your brother. But we are still concerned by his condition. The symptoms he presents are consistent to those caused by a shock or a severe traumatic condition."
"A shock?" Izzy held his chin.
"Yeah. Like a huge impression or a very big fright."
"A fright?"
'What could've happened to him?' The boy thought.
"We thought you could help us find the reason of his trauma. Could you answer some questions about his health?"
"Hmmmm... I'll see if I can." Izzy answered uncertainly.
"Ok. Let's see…" The doctor began.
'Aw man... I wish Mom was here.' He thought with a gulp. He then blinked. 'Yeah right! She'll kill me if she knew what happened to him!'
He thought with a gulp. He then blinked."To your knowledge, does he suffer from nightmares, nervousness, anguish, fear?"
"Nightmares, I wouldn't know." The boy answered. "Nervousness and fear, however... Heh, heh..." He snickered before remembering the situation. "Erm... He may have been afraid in some cases."
The social worker, a kindly old gentleman who thus far had been quiet, had a few questions as well. "Mr. Lopez, has anyone been bullying or abusing Iggy at home, or at play?"
"B-bullying...?" Izzy swallowed a lump in his throat. He started to sweat a bit. "W-well..." He had to think of something. What if they blame him for what happened to his brother? He took a deep breath and prepared to answer.
"I think he might've been bullied outside." He answered.
"That would explain it, or so I think. Any idea for how long he has been bullied?"
"Oh, it's been years." Izzy replied. "Poor guy's been getting roughed up for the longest time." He suppressed the urge to chuckle.
"I see. So this seems to be a case of repression, Dr. Sanchez" - said the doctor to the Social Worker - "We might need to get a child psychologist. He might help Iggy better than us."
"Ah hm," the man nodded. "And as for why his right hand has been balled into a fist."
"Yeah. We are very curious about that strange object. It seems to be a very strong magnetic source. It could have something to do with his condition."
"And are you sure it was that thing that caused it?" Izzy asked, referring to the mushroom. The doctor then turned towards him.
"Well, the device caused some difficulty when we used our devices. That's why it caught our attention. As for the effects of strong magnetic fields on the human mind, there is not any conclusive evidence, but they might affect a certain kind of electric pulse produced by the brain, called the Alpha waves. They seem to be of significance to the control of basic functions of the body."
"You could be right, Miguel," the Social Worker agreed. "A few nights of peace and quiet would probably do the poor lad a world of good." He turned to ask Izzy. "What does he like to eat?"
"Hmmm..." The boy tried to think. "Well, he likes to eat burgers, and fish, and chocolate ice cream, and onion rings. Oh, he'll eat the occasional thing of broccoli, but not without complaining."
Doctor Mike smiled and looked to Dr. Sanchez. This was the typical pre-teen, huh?
"Hm. Okay," the social worker said, jotting down some notes. "Miguel, I read a paper by a Dr. Sullivan regarding a case rather similar to this. Turns out she'll be giving a seminar here in two days. The boy will be in excellent hands."
"Good, Scott. I say we might wheel Iggy to a room and make him comfortable. Izzy" - Mike said, turning to the eldest Lopez - "Your brother will have to stay here for a couple of days, in observation. Could we contact your parents or an adult relative to inform them, so they can make the necessary procedures?"
"Contact?" Izzy clenched his teeth.
'Mom can't know!' He thought with a gulp.
"Ummm... Is there a way I could take care of those procedures?" He laughed nervously.
'I'm dead...'
"Certainly." the Social Worker said, handing the youth his cell phone.
"Well, while you take care of the administrative procedures, I'll see that Iggy is taken to a room. Hum... let's see..." The doctor started, looking at his notebook. "I think there's a bed available in room 226. I'll have Iggy installed there." He saluted and left the room, giving orders to a gurney crew to take Iggy to Room 226. The same room Lou was in.
"Thanks a lot, Doc." Izzy said before looking down at the phone in his hand. "Ok, let's see..." He tried to think of someone he could call. Anybody would do! ...But who?
'Blast! What am I gonna do? If I don't call Mom, I'm gonna be in big trouble! But if I do call her, I'm gone anyway! If only I had a dad in this story...'
He blinked and sweatdropped.
'I suppose I do have someone...' He sighed as he prepared to dial. 'I'm so gonna regret this...' He finished pressing the buttons and put the phone to his ear.
He sighed as he prepared to dial. He finished pressing the buttons and put the phone to his ear.Meanwhile...
The four authors in the room were toiling away at their computers, working on the difficult and ever-changing plot of the fic. One of these authors, Prince Izzy, was rubbing his sweaty forehead.
"Whew... I need a drink..." He sighed as he stood up. He turned to his fellow authors. "I'll be right back, guys."
Mike2000 turned to him. "Huh? What's wrong, Prince Izzy?"
"I'm parched. I'm just gonna get me some pineapple soda before I get back to work." The author in the crown replied before walking over to the nearby vending machine.
Mike2000 raised a confused eyebrow and turned to Salsipuedes. "Since when we have a vending machine in that aisle?"
The blond, noodle-locked surfer turned to his comrade. "Very interesting. But I actually prefer orange soda. But I must admit, we're at a crucial part in the evolution of the story."
Then, one of the telephones started to ring.
The "Prince" reached the soda machine and took out some change. He inserted the necessary change and was about to press one of the buttons when he heard the ringing.
Mike2000 was the one to pick up the phone. "Hello? Who? Yes, he's here. No... He went for a soda... Pineapple soda, that's right... Is that so? Whoa! Don't worry. I'll call him. Hold on a sec." Mike put the handset away and called. "Izzy! Prince Izzy! Phone!"
"Who could it be?" whispered Salsipuedes as he clicked into the line.
"Sanchez," he answered...
"Really...You don't say...
"Hmmm... Now where's that pineapple soda...?" Prince Izzy looked all over for the button for the right flavor, but was coming up empty. "Ugh..." He then heard Mike's voice. "Phone? For me? I'm coming!" He ran back into the room.
"Oh my god. What happened? ... Hang in there bro..."
The "prince" ran up to Mike and held his hand out. "So who is it?"
"Your son" announced the pasta-head.
"And I have Roderick on the line. It seems something happened to Iggy!"- added Mike2000
The dark haired one raised an eyebrow. "'Son...?'" He blinked. "Something happened to Iggy? Let me see!" He took the phone and held it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Boss! It's me!" Izzy cried into the phone. "I need your help with something!"
Izzy cried into the phone.Prince Izzy sighed. "What'd you do now?"
"Whaddya mean, 'What'd I do!'" Izzy roared in response. "You're the one writing this, along with those other guys! Of course you know what's happening!"
Izzy roared in response."What? The deal with Iggy? Whew..." The author in the crown sighed with relief. "For a second there, I thought something else happened. So what's the problem?"
"Uhhhh, hello! I have to deal with the forms and stuff! What am I gonna do when they have to call my Mom!"
"Hmmmm... Good point..." Prince Izzy said, rubbing his chin. "Yeah... What are you gonna do?"
A slap on the head was heard soon after.
"You gotta help me!"
"And just what am I supposed to do?"
"Well..." Izzy gulped, thinking of the next thing to say. "I kinda need a parent to deal with the bill... And since I can't call my mom in this..."
Izzy gulped, thinking of the next thing to say.The author grinned in response.
"So let me get this straight. You want me to handle the bill since I created you?" He snickered. "Since when did you acknowledge me as your dad?"
A low cursing was heard on the other end.
Salsipuedes handed the prince a note: "The democrats won in that universe. State sponsored medical care."
The brunet covered the mouthpiece. "And what does that mean? I don't know anything about medical care."
"No, but it means that he won't have to worry about a bill."
Prince Izzy blinked in response.
Mike2000: "That means you just need to fill up the forms, and Iggy will receive an excellent medical care at no cost."
"Ohhhhhhhhhh..." Prince Izzy nodded before removing his hand. "Hey son..." He smirked when Izzy shouted at him. "You don't have to worry about a bill after all."
"You mean I went through all that worrying for nothing!" Izzy shouted. "I thought those guys were gonna get me for abuse or something!"
"No, but he does need an adult to fill out the forms. And that's your part." Mike told the princely author.
"Ah ok." Prince Izzy said to Mike before returning to the conversation. "Listen, I'll deal with the paperwork, alright?"
"Hmph! Fine." Izzy replied. "Don't scare me like that ever again!"
"Why? It's so much fun." The author smirked.
"Just wait until this is over..." The fan character growled before hanging up.
Back at the hospital...
"Ugh... That cheap little..." Izzy muttered, closing the phone and handing it to the social worker. "Anyway, I have everything taken care of. My dad..." He cringed at the word. "Will take care of any and all paperwork."
"And we'll take good care of Iggy, don't you worry," said Dr. Sanchez.
"That's good to know." Izzy sighed with relief. "Can I go see him?"
"Perhaps in half an hour or so," Sanchez replied. "He's under sedation, and will probably be pretty much asleep for the next two hours."
The boy put on a thoughtful glower as he nodded. "Alright."