Sickness
She had received a phone call from a panicky Medic as soon as Miss Pauling clocked in for work.
"I need you to come to the lab immediately! Der Kleine has fallen ill and I'm at my wits end!"
"On my way!" Quickly grabbing her office keys, the assistant made a mad dash to the Medic's lab.
Miss Pauling entered the facility and saw just how chaotic the situation was. The tables in the room where completely covered with various textbooks; some open and others dog-eared and highlighted at certain passages. Notebooks and loose-leaf papers also cluttered the space. The white sheets where not only on the table, but some had managed to fall to the floor. There was also a small equipment station set up, complete with test tubes and an automatic mixing machine.
The former doctor stood before Miss Pauling looking frazzled. His normally clean-cut appearance was now replaced by a partially untucked shirt and rolled up sleeves. Both his shirt and pants had various watermarks and stains scattered all over. The German's necktie hung loose and his hair was messy and slightly matted with sweat from his brow. Upon seeing the young woman, the Medic looked relieved.
"Oh, Fräulein!" he cried happily.
"Just what is going on with Alpha? You said he was sick."
"Yes. It started last night. Alpha had been feeling fatigued earlier in the day, but then out of nowhere, he developed a fever and it has spiked. Not only do I have to try and find an antidote, but I must administer it via syringe needle. And we know how der kleine is around needles."
Miss Pauling nodded. The human/octopus hybrid was getting into some mischief one day in the lab when he accidently knocked over a medical tray the Medic had been preparing. On the tray contained a rather large, nasty looking needle that the mercenary was planning to fill when it fell from the tray and right into one of Alpha's octopus arms. The sight of the massive needle being jammed into his fleshy tentacle sent the Medic's creation into full meltdown mode. Alpha screamed in pain, which caught the German's attention. Quickly removing the needle, the open wound then started to bleed, which made Alpha cry even more. Ever since that incident, the creature had been terrified of needles.
"I've tried everything to keep him from panicking, but alas." the German sighed in defeat.
"Don't worry. I'm sure I can calm Alpha down long enough for you to give him his medicine. How is he now?" Miss Pauling said.
"He is in his wading pool taking a nap. I'd put him in there to make it easier to treat him. Alpha will be cranky when we wake him up, but once he sees his Mama perhaps he will relax."
In the holding pen, Miss Pauling and the Medic found the sleeping hybrid curled up in the wading pool napping. Due to feeling under the weather, the creature wasn't dressed in his normal attire; he was bare chested and did not wear his balaclava. Alpha's short black hair was disheveled and stuck out in a variety of directions. It appeared Alpha had taken to sucking his thumb as a means of comfort while he slept.
"I'd wish he'd stop that." the Medic grimaced and gently removed the thumb from his creation's mouth. The oddity stirred, but didn't wake.
Miss Pauling then gently nudged Alpha's shoulder. "Kleiner, please wake up. It's Mama."
"Mama?" a sleepy Alpha mumbled, fluttering his eyes open.
"Hi, sweetie. Papa tells me you are sick."
The creature nodded. "I feel achy...and sleepy."
Miss Pauling placed a hand on his forehead. It was hotter than normal. Alpha also looked pale and gaunt.
"You are burning up! Papa has made you some medicine that will make you all better."
"No!"
"But you need to take it. If you don't, you'll get even worse." Miss Pauling explained.
"I don't want to! I hate needles!" Alpha huffed, and then coughed slightly from his sickness.
"Would you take it if I gave it to you?"
After a pause, Alpha nodded.
The Medic then led the assistant over to the table where the antidote was. Miss Pauling looked at the syringe and shot a displeased glare at the former doctor.
"You had to use the biggest needle for Alpha's medicine?!"
"Hey! The other needles are either damaged or being used for the rest of the mercenaries! Plus, this syringe can hold the proper amount of medicine Alpha needs due his unique genetic structure."
Miss Pauling picked up the antidote. The syringe was as big as her palm and the needle itself was quite intimidating. Carefully concealing it, the assistant went back to the hybrid, who was trying hard to stay awake.
"OK Alpha. I have your medicine. But you have to be brave for Mama, alright?"
"I'll try."
Slowly Miss Pauling revealed the syringe. She then tenderly grabbed Alpha's arm and gently patted for a visible vein. When one appeared, Miss Pauling took a deep breath and prepared to insert the needle. Alpha started to tense up and just before the metal tip could pierce his skin; the creature jerked his arm away and started to panic.
"No, no, NO!" Alpha wailed. He then started to throw his bath toys as both the assistant and the Medic.
"Stop it this instant, Alpha!" the Medic scolded. The creature hissed back.
"Don't hiss at Papa!" Miss Pauling retorted back.
But Alpha wouldn't listen. With no other option, the two adults hastily exited the room, leaving the creature to his temper tantrum.
"Now I see what you are dealing with." Miss Pauling told the Medic.
"Ja, and I are at a loss on how to deal with his behavior!" He let out a frustrated grunt. "Oh, do you still have the needle?"
The assistant held it up. "Safe and sound."
They needed to regroup and try to figure out a better plan. Miss Pauling sat at the table, hands folded up to her chin deep in thought. The Medic leaned against the counter, arms folded across his chest, eyes forward as he concentrated on a plausible answer.
"I got it!" Miss Pauling announced after some time had passed. "Do you remember the time Alpha was acting out when you were trying to take a picture for your research file?"
"I do." the Medic replied.
"And what did I do to calm him down? I placed Alpha on my lap, kept him quiet and then you took the picture without any problems. I think if I do the same thing, then you can give him the syringe without any issues."
"It's worth a shot."
When they entered the room once more, Alpha had his back turned away from the mercenary and assistant.
"Kleiner, are you still mad at us?" the Medic asked his creation. The hybrid huffed back in response.
"We know you don't feel well and your Papa and I are sorry we keep pestering you." Miss Pauling said. "I was wondering if you like to lie in my lap and try to go back to sleep."
Alpha turned around and looked at Miss Pauling and the Medic. The two adults had sympathetic faces, letting the creature know that they were indeed worried about him.
"Ok, Mama."
Miss Pauling removed her dress shoes and stepped into the wading pool. She carefully sat down in the low water, not caring if her light purple skirt was going to be completely soaked. She motioned for Alpha to come over to her. He crawled over to the young woman's lap and snuggled against her, soon becoming quite comfortable. Miss Pauling then began to sing quietly as she stroked Alpha's back lovingly. Alpha liked it whenever his Mama sang; it always helped him go to sleep.
As the creature was drifting off to slumber, the Medic quietly tiptoed over to the wading pool. Like Miss Pauling, he removed his socks and shoes before entering the water. Kneeling, the German gingerly inserted the needle's pint into the sleepy creature's arm and injected the antidote into his vein. As soon as the Medic was done, Alpha was fast asleep and cuddling against Miss Pauling as she finished singing.
"Finally! Glad that's over." the Medic quietly told Miss Pauling as he sat next to her in the wading pool, thus completely soaking his pants.
"If I knew I was going to spend part of my work day being water logged in a kiddie pool, I would have brought a change of clothes." she said with a soft chuckle.
"You and me both." the German said. He looked down at the sleeping Alpha, lying gently against the assistant sucking his thumb once more. But this time, the Medic let his creation be instead of forcefully removing the hybrid's thumb from his mouth.
"Der Kleine, he is such a handful, but he continues to amaze me with just how far he grown. Alpha certainly is developing quite a personality."
"And will continue to do so. For now, let's just treasure moments like this, for they won't last." Miss Pauling said, to which the Medic agreed wholeheartedly.
"You know," the Medic said, changing the subject, "You have a lovely singing voice, Fräulein."
Miss Pauling blushed at the compliment give to her. "Thanks." she sheepishly said.
The Medic then placed an arm around the assistant's waist and pulled her close to his side.
"I'm so lucky to have you." he told her and kissed her forehead.
"Me too." Miss Pauling then leaned her head against the German's shoulder, happy and at ease.