Day 31
Delalieu was standing outside the quarantine window. Not Warner's, but Alice'. Eyes glued on the white bed inside the window.
Everything was white in there. The walls, the doctors moving to and fro the bed; their masks, gloves and gowns; the sterile white bedding. With the pillow that was so big that she almost disappeared into it. Though there wasn't much to see of it underneath the oxygen mask anyway. It almost looked too big for her face.
The only notable color was the gray in her eyes, aimlessly searching the ceiling for some something that wasn't there, and the tired blond in the curls, falling around her face. Exhausted.
And the occasional red that flashed by in the slim tube that disappeared into her mouth.
"Poor thing, huh", someone said next to him.
He turned his head, startled, and saw one of the soldiers. It was the one that insisted on causing ruckus in the dining area every once in awhile. Kishimoto.
He was resting an arm against the glass, studying the movement within like an aquarium.
Delalieu blinked. Slightly stunned.
"S-sorry?", he asked.
Kishimoto shrugged then nodded at the girl.
"She's sick. Kids her age should be running around playing in the snow this time a year."
Then Kishimoto looked at the older man and made a motion with his hand that looked like a salute.
"Lieutenant."
Then he looked into the window again.
Delalieu returned his gaze to Alice. Then he felt himself nod in agreement.
"Yeah, they should..."
Then he remembered something. Kishimoto had no business being there. Unless he had some sort of medical service as a punishment for something he had done. But who would put such a soldier among medical supplies?
"What are you doing here?", he asked, giving the soldier a suspicious look.
"Well, since Warner was let out of quarantine I hadn't had anything to do during my breaks!", the soldier protested.
"Well that's good to know soldier. I'll make sure all your future breaks are assigned to polish my shoes, Kishimoto", someone said down the corridor.
Kishimoto spun around at the sound. And doing the same Delalieu saw that Warner wasapproaching them.
"Warner!", Kishimoto started, as if he was greeting an old time friend. Spreading his arms as if preparing for a hug.
"Get back to your duty unless you're looking for a permanent break."
And then Delalieu watched as Kishimoto quickly left the hospital corridor.
Warner joined Delalieu by the window. There was only a nurse in the room now, and she was changing the bag for the IV therapy.
Warner followed her with his gaze as she moved around the bed.
"How is it to be back from quarantine, sir?", Delalieu wondered.
"Quite nice actually. Since I had nothing to do I caught up with paperwork. Though I haven't finished the report concerning this particular concern." He nodded into the room.
There was a pause in the conversation.
"Are they planning to remove the tube anytime soon?", He asked Delalieu. Turning his head to look at the man.
"N-not that I've heard, Sir. But I haven't asked...", Delalieu replied.
"I thought you were to oversee her progress, Delalieu", Warner remarked.
"O-of course, sir! I'm sorry…", Delalieu started, but stopped when he saw that Warner was staring at something. Delalieu followed his gaze and saw a pair of gray eyes looking at him.
Tired and glossy, but looking at him.
Or them.
Looking at them.
He felt like a deer in the headlights.
She raised a small hand to wave at them. A small, fluttery wave by the fingertips.
The spell broke but it took a second for him to wave back. The nurse noticed him as well, asked Alice something. Who made a small nod. And then gave Delalieu a wave as well.
Warner didn't wave. He just watched.
Alice let down her hand to lay over her stomach, her eyes still aimed at them, but it looked like she was falling asleep.
"I'd say that's an improvement", Warner commented as Delalieu returned his attention from within the window.
"I agree sir", Delalieu nodded.
Then they were both quiet for a few seconds. Then Delalieu blew some air through his mustache.
"Sir?", Delalieu asked.
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"How did the scan of the family and classmates go?"
"They showed no signs of infection", Warner replied. Then he cleared his throat a little before continuing.
"It's remarkable really how no one even caught it. According to the host mother, Martha Nelson, the girl had coughed up very small amounts of blood before I arrived that day. I can imagine Alice went outside because the cold air eased the pain. I'm not sure if I should report her for withholding that information from me..."
He paused.
"I didn't show any signs either, and I was exposed to the blood directly…", he said, more to himself.
"Remarkable", he repeated, his chin moving up and down, when Delalieu didn't contribute to the discussion. The man just stood silent, seeming to be deep in thought.
"I'll see you at dinner Lieutenant. Make sure to ask about the removal of the tube", he concluded.
"Sir", Delalieu saluted.
I might add a chapter featuring "Warner's wonderful quarantine adventure" sometime in the future, but I need the plot to forward right now (and I couldn't come up with anything to write about :P)
Thanks for reading!