I haven't given up on this story! Life is just kicking my butt. Between working full time, taking a graduate class, and being an adult I don't have the time to write like I used to. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be, but I am working on it when I can :)
Edit: I was fighting with Ch. 11 and decided to tack what was supposed to be the start of that chapter here since it fits better
The journey to the hotel had been painfully silent for the most part. Even when they arrived and entered the suite to find Marlene there waiting anxiously, few words were uttered.
Kowalski moved mechanically through stripping, showering, and dressing, processing while not really processing the events of the last few hours. And the file that bore Doris's name continued to taunt him from where it sat on the end table next to the bed he was currently sitting on. He had considered calling Doris again but feared that there wouldn't be an answer for entirely different reasons than before. It was hard to shake the fact that she hadn't gotten on her flight like she was supposed to and that was something he had yet to find a way of justifying. He looked at the file again with deep disdain but ultimately knew that the information inside wasn't only about Doris.
Skipper had wanted him to see something in that file, see if there was something that could give them a better answer for Rico. Still, he refused to believe, let alone think that Doris would be capable of something so horrific, regardless of her connection to Blowhole.
There was a soft knock on his door, followed by Private's soft voice, "K'walski, we ordered room service. It'll be here in about 30 minutes if you want to join us."
"Thanks, I'll join everyone in a bit," Kowalski called back and internally winced at the unnecessary thought that it wasn't everyone out in the living area of the suite. And that was the hardest fact to swallow, that Rico was trapped in the medical wing on base with an expiration date practically stamped across his arm. Rico was dying- Rico had nearly died earlier that night and had been given a few weeks at most to live. Kowalski's heart clenched painfully thinking about how closely he probably had come to getting court-martialed. How could anyone think that he'd turn against one of his teammates? Especially Rico. How often had it been joked that Rico and Kowalski were Manfredi and Johnston 2.0? How often had they jumped in front of danger to protect the other? Except this time it really did seem like Kowalski had led Rico to danger instead. Kowalski desperately hoped that Rico didn't believe that he'd ever knowingly put him in danger or had anything to do with the nanites.
He reached for the file and opened it doing his best to ignore the information on Doris. There wasn't anything in the file that he hadn't known. Doris had been entirely truthful, only leaving out who her brother actually was which made Kowalski believe that Doris hadn't known about the connection his team had to Francis. Not that it made the situation any less painful.
Finally Kowalski found what he had suspected he would find. Skipper had slipped a copy of the report on the nanites found in Rico's blood between Doris's college transcripts. He began to skim the document for anything that could be the potential thread that would unravel the damage being inflicted on Rico's system.
Invasive tissue forming over the surface of the heart- it is believed the tissue is created by the nanites bonding to the heart muscle
Emotional duress potentially accelerates invasive tissue growth
-subject feels significantly fatigued and experiences sharp chest pains when under emotional duress
Invasive tissue estimated to spread over several weeks
Drops fell onto the pages and it took Kowalski a moment to realize that he was crying. The information presented on the page was far worse than what was said in the medical wing.
"Hey, how are you holding- oh. Kowalski, " Marlene's voice went soft and she hesitated at the door, heartbreaking at the sight before her. She crossed the room and took the file from his hands, she hardly needed to glance at it to know that it was related to Rico. And part of her could kick Skipper's ass for giving the file to Kowalski even if he was their best shot at finding a solution.
"Sorry, it shouldn't be this hard," Kowalski wiped his face embarrassed that Marlene had found him crying.
"Why shouldn't it? You're human and your best friend is hurt," Marlene softly scolded, but knew she was making the understatement of the century. "No one would be able to separate themselves from this type of situation and you're connected to this far more than is ideal."
"I know," Kowalski looked at the file in Marlene's hands. "And in my heart, I know that Doris wouldn't do something like this. She probably never knew that there was bad blood between her brother and us. She probably had no idea what her brother actually did. But I also know now that she lied to me today so maybe she did know."
Marlene hummed in thought, "I know you don't have a lot of experience when it comes to relationships, but sometimes people lie because they don't want to hurt the person they love and that can include lying by omission. If you really think that she didn't have a part to play in this, then she could just be scared about what happened."
"I suppose you're right and there's nothing I can do about that now. I can only focus on what is in front of me and right now that's Rico," Kowalski internally winced as his voice wavered.
"Actually what you should focus on now is getting something to eat and getting a decent night of sleep. Maybe tomorrow there will be some good news."
Kowalski shook his head. "I doubt it. It's far worse than I realized. I'm not sure if we'll find a solution in time or if Rico is going to be able to fight long enough for us to find a solution."
This time it was Marlene who shook her head and let out a soft humourless chuckle. She reached over and put a hand over Kowalski's as she shared the one thing she was sure of in all that was happening. "Rico loves you too much to give up. Now how about we go get something to eat before Skipper starts thinking that we ran away together?" She joked and was relieved to get a small smile in return.
"Food does sound amazing," Kowalski remarked, trying to remember what or rather if he had eaten anything since they had arrived at the gallery. "I'm pretty sure I haven't-" a chirp from his phone cut him off. He leaned over and grabbed his phone off the nightstand. I couldn't wait for you to find out what your present was. "Sorry, it's from Doris. You go ahead, I'll be out in a bit. I promise."
"I'm going to hold you to that," Marlene lightly threatened, taking the file with her.
That fact didn't go unnoticed by Kowalski, but he supposed that Marlene was right. He was overtired and hadn't eaten and wasn't in any shape to help anyone including himself in navigating the tangle of emotions smothering him. For a moment, he debated on responding to Doris at all, but then he noticed that there was a video attached.
He opened it and after taking a moment to load he was treated to a shaky shot of a figure haphazardly prompted against a plastic covered wall. The sight made his heart drop into his stomach recognizing the room instantly as Rico's studio space and he knew who the figure was long before the camera found its focus after being set on a solid surface.
"Do you like my little device? Almost full body paralysis in under 10 seconds." A familiar voice purred as a figure began to walk into the frame. "You can still breathe and blink, but other than twitching a few toes or fingers you can't move."
Kowalski watched as if detached from his body as it registered that the figure was Doris. She kneeled down next to Rico so that both of them could be clearly seen on camera. She caressed his face almost lovingly and ran a thumb down the scar that cut across his cheek and lips. "I didn't get the appeal before, but now…" she ran her thumb across Rico's lower lip, "the things I could do to you."
After caressing his lip, the hand slid down his neck and splayed across the center of his chest. "The things I want to do to you," her hand continued its path down his abdomen. Even at a distance it was clear Rico's breathing was starting to quicken as her fingers skimmed under the hem of his shirt and hooked the waistband of his jeans. She thumbed the button of Rico's jeans as if to undo it and Kowalski felt sick.
"Then again," the hand moved suddenly and the hem of his shirt was violently pulled up to reveal the 'Y' shaped scar hidden underneath, " you're damaged goods."
For a brief moment relief washed through Kowalski, but it didn't last as he recalled Rico's feelings on the scar and what it meant to touch such a vulnerable part of the man. The pure fear in Rico's eyes said everything as he watched Doris use her other hand to trace the scar, the act was clinical rather than sensual compared to the other touches. Doris spoke again, her nails pressed into the scar ,"I can't even begin to imagine how much scar tissue I'd have to work around. Or if I'd have to put you back together before I could do anything worthwhile."
Confusion filtered through Rico's eyes and the woman laughed and pulled the shirt back down. "Oh, I read all about how everything isn't quite where it's supposed to be and how it catches a lot of people off guard when they go for vital organs. Certainly explains how you've survived the things that should have killed you, but that's not the only thing is it?"
Dori leaned closer so that her lips barely brushed Rico's ear. There was a hushed whisper, not loud enough to make out what was being said. Kowalski could only imagine what had been said as he watched the emotions flirt across Rico's face: anger, shame, and finally betrayal.
As she pulled away, she glanced at the camera and pulled a syringe from the coat she was wearing. "Not many people know this, but there is a neurotoxin that when injected into the bloodstream can stop a heart instantly?" Doris removed the cap of the syringe and set it beside her as she turned one of Rico's arms over exposing the veins that sat close to the surface of his elbow and wrist. He held his arm in one hand and grabbed the syringe again with the other. "Now this isn't the same neurotoxin, but it that one was certainly an inspiration for what I created. Of course, I wouldn't have been able to finish it without a little help," she looked back at the camera for a moment, "thanks Kowalski." Then with practiced precision the needle slid into the vein she located in the crook of his elbow and then she pressed the plunger sending the unknown liquid into Rico's bloodstream.
Kowalski swallowed thickly as he watched Rico's fingers twitch uselessly. After a moment, they stilled and he watched Rico's eyes close, body going far to still, even with temporary paralysis.
On camera, Doris capped the syringe and gave one last look at Rico before approaching the camera. For a moment he thought that she was going to say something, but instead, the video ended abruptly.
He looked at the screen for a moment before shutting his phone off and slipping it into his pocket, knowing that he couldn't share the video without compromising himself. Even if he hadn't had a direct hand in what Doris had created he was still at fault for the situation that Rico was in now.
The next morning Kowalski was a bundle of nerves as they approached Rico's room. "I don't know if I can see him," Kowalski admitted softly and was glad that Skipper had been called to meet with Alice upon arriving leaving the pair on their own.
"What? Why?" Private stopped one hand on the door lever, confused by the admission.
Kowalski hesitated for a moment, knowing he would have to tread carefully. "I just wish that there was something more that I could do."
"You'll figure something out, Kowalski. You always do." Private reassured him and opened the door without further discussion forcing Kowalski to enter first.
Like the night before Rico was sitting up in bed dressed in sweats with a notepad in hand scribbling away. And just like before Rico practically lit up upon seeing him, but this time Kowalski couldn't shake seeing the pure betrayal he had seen Rico's eyes in the video.
"I'd ask how you're feeling," Kowalski started as he approached Rico's bedside with Private only a few steps behind, "but after reading your file I can't imagine you're anywhere close to okay."
Rico snorted at the remark and shrugged as if having heart failure wasn't a cause for alarm.
"Blimey, I think I'm going to need a minute to get a hold of myself. Sorry, Rico, I just need to pop out for a bit."
"He didn't start reciting poetry, so I'd say that is progress." Kowalski couldn't help but joke as the door shut behind Private.
"There's time," Rico replied softly, looking away for a moment as if he couldn't bring himself to meet Kowalski's eyes.
Kowalski frowned at the behavior and couldn't help but wonder if Rico recalled more about what happened than he was letting on.
"You okay?"
Shame washed over Kowalski yet again at Rico's question as it pulled it from his thoughts. He should be the one worrying about Rico, not the other way around.
"I-" Kowalski stopped for a moment to consider his answer. It would be easy to lie, but Rico would see right through it and he was very much not okay with trying to make sense of everything that had happened. "I'm not okay. In less than 24 hours you're dying and I have no idea how to fix it or if I can. And it's all my fault."
For a moment Rico just stared at him with wide eyes before his expression shifted into something more neutral or was it more guarded. He reached out and took Kowalski's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "It's not."
"I wish I could believe that," Kowalski swallowed thickly, hoping he could hold it together just a bit longer, just long enough for Private to get back so he could excuse himself. "I really wish I could."
Rico's lips parted, but before the man could reply the door opened as Private returned with Skipper in tow, the man looking far from pleased.
"Your meeting wasn't any good news, was it?"
"Depends on what you want to consider good news. They decided to clear Rico to leave, but that's because there is nothing else that they can do at this point. And Kowalski's girlfriend seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth entirely except for a video that came in this morning," Skipper paused trying to figure out how to explain the worst news yet to come. "She's willing to make a trade. One of her brother's projects for the antidote."
Private frowned when the somber mood continued. "CENTRAAL isn't going to make the trade are they?"
"No," Skipper looked at Kowalski, eyes dark and brimming with anger. "Alice told me that the higher-ups would rather lose an asset than give up Project Collar."
Kowalski inhaled sharply at the name and was grateful that Rico had yet to let go of his hand, it seemed to be the only thing grounding him at the moment. "I thought anything on Project Collar was destroyed."
"Not everything, there's enough that someone like Doris could piece it back together, especially if she has any notes from Blowhole that we didn't know about."
"So what do they expect us to do?"
"Nothing. In fact, Alice told me that we're benched for the foreseeable future. In her exact words, she told me to take Rico home, make sure he's comfortable, and hope that the lab team will crack something sooner rather than later."
"Wot? That's ridiculous!"
Kowalski merely looked at Rico as Private expressed enough anger for both of them. He was expecting Rico to appear outraged or heartbroken, instead, he only smiled softly and huffed a small humorless laugh. And Kowalski had to remind himself that reacting would only worsen Rico's condition faster.
"I don't like it any more than you do, but this isn't the time or place to fight them on it. Let's just get Rico home first. Marlene's going to check us out and be here to pick us up in the next hour or so."