7 Days & 7 Nights: Comfort, Pain and Missions
Ch 4
It took Larry and Teddy about 10 minutes to finish their tasks. During that time the silence of the room was only broken by Ahk's occasional gasps of pain and the miniatures soft voices comforting him back into a calmer state of unrestfull unconsciousness.
Larry learned through online resources radiation exposure poisoning that high was usually fatal; the Tablet must have healed him vastly the night before. If the Tablet had healed him, it might've been close enough to wake him…
Larry was disturbed by the idea that he may have been awake, trapped in a dark coffin suffering even more than he had tonight.
With that disturbing thought he continued and learned that getting the victim out of their contaminated environment and clothing then washing them down was the first step, followed by vomiting to expel any fluid that might have absorbed the radiation so it didn't continue to poison his system. Or risk poisoning those around him.
'Well, atleast those two are done already. Teddy's washed all the blood of him and vicariously the radiation on his upper body. The heaving episode he'd had earlier was both bad, but might've been a good thing since he got out all that contaminated blood pooling...' He thought and read on.
He'd found that the body will expel blood in the stomach if too much is present. But he's also read that as long as the vomiting didn't continue ceaselessly then the ulceration must have clotted over. He may be sick once or twice more but now all that was left should be the blood that was there before it clotted.
Glancing at his watch he noted it had been about 40 minutes since the bloody and terrifying episode in the Pharaoh's personal room and he hadn't gotten sick yet.
That was good because Larry had a feeling it was going to happen again soon.
On the bed the Pharaoh laid slightly on his right side and groaning weakly while attempting to curl away from Teddy who was treating his left arm, and instead into himself around his stomach. Near Ahk's head Larry heard Jed say 'Whoa whoa partner, take it easy! I know it hurts, we sorry Ahk but Teddy's almost done."
Teddy's gentle grasp on his shoulder kept the Pharaoh in place. A statement in of itself.
Glancing back to his phone he re-read the last part and thought
'As soon as he's moved to change out of his current clothes, hell chuck...'As long as it's not continuous', and its dangerous for everyone to leave him in those contaminated clothes.' he repeated to himself as he approached the couch to assist Teddy.
"I'm ready for your help Lawrence, what did you find out?" Teddy announced wiping his hands on a clean cloth and pulling the sweats from the bag.
Larry had felt hollow as he repeated what he'd read but Teddy gave him a firm clasp on the shoulder
"We'll get through this Lawrence my boy, we'll search the museum for any medicine that may help." Teddy said and Larry felt reassured by the older man's words and presence.
"We need to get him out of anything he was wearing while he was away and we need to wash any skin that was exposed" Sighing he continued. "Pain killers, fever reducers, skin treatments for burns and ingesting anything to aid his stomach bleeding is highly recommended to ease the pain and fever."
Teddy nodded solemnly gaze casting down onto the injured teenager.
From the couch he heard Jed call to him "Like you said Gigantor, it'll be just fine." Jed said, reverting to the old nickname again in fondness for once while Octavius bowed noblely next to him.
Larry steeled himself and reached forward to help the former President gingerly lift the Egyptian as so he could peel off his rust stained and soaked cloth pants. With great care and speed he wiped down Ahk's legs and feet fatherly care before slipping the readied sweats on. Larry was sickened by how similar the Pharaoh was to his son at times. This night especially had been bad, and while he was reminded of scared nights caring for a very sick Nicky, he also knew the next time Nicky was sick he'd be reminded of this.
The Former President had held the limp teen the whole time, steadying the King who remained unconscious and aside from wincing or gasping, had been still the whole time.
"Not so bad Teddy, not as eventful as I expected. Let's get him back down." The Guard said as Jed and Oct looked relieved from the opposite arm rest..
Encouraged they began to lower him gently when suddenly the young man surged forward, his eyes wide and unseeing in pain and panic .
"Damnit! Teddy, quick turn him over!" Larry swore loudly and barely grabbed the nearby trash can awkwardly before thrusting it under them as Teddy lifted and turned Ahk over so that he wouldn't choke. 'Call it, I knew moving him would make him sick..'
Within a few seconds he'd gone from limp, seemingly clinging to what consciousness he could to being held by Teddy on his right and Larry on his left. Between them he hung over the edge of the bed where he heaved bodily and threw up rounds of dark crimson blood.
Even after seeing it the first time, Larry was still deeply disturbed by the sight and for a moment in his mind he was back in the Egyptian exhibit, trapped and unable to help. Forced to watch as he sobbed and choked on his own blood.
Shaking he reached 'Not fresh atleast' Larry thought darkly as he held the teen.
Ahk in turn was trying to take gasping breaths in-between heaves that ended in choked sobs.
Larry couldn't imagine the pain the teen was feeling and it was heart breaking to watch, he knew by the look on the others faces that they felt the same.
Teddy's hand was rubbing small comforting circles on the Egyptians back while Larry helped support him by wrapping an arm under his chest and taking the weight off the Pharaoh's limbs.
The episode didn't last more than a few minutes before finally Ahkmenrah sagged in their hold weakly. His frame shook as he struggled to stay conscious and get his breathing under control between sobs.
"I sorry Ahk I know just breathe." The Egyptian coughed and his anguished cries began to die down.
"Ahk, shhhh its ok just breath it's over, yeah that's it sshhhhh just relax." He pulled the teen against his chest and supported his weight while Teddy shifted to get up. He rested his on the top of the young man's head and gently stroked the hair back as he spoke soothingly.
Teddy extracted himself and disposed of the cans contents in the office's restroom. When he returned moments later Larry was in the same position with the teenager only Oct and Jed had managed to work their way over to comfort the boy as well. Ahkmenrah's breaths had ceased their heaving motion and instead seemed almost even now, as he lay still against the sitting Guard his eyes were closed and his body somewhat calm.
For a moment Teddy was frightened that his condition had worsened when Larry caught his face and shook his head.
"I think he's asleep.." Larry mouthed quietly and Teddy nodded in relief and let out the breath he was holding.
"Let's lay him down." Teddy mouthed back and together the two of them moved glacially slow, lowering the Pharaoh until he was laying on the mattress comfortably.
"Let's see if we can find anything that might help him, I think that's where Sacajawea may have run off to. General, will you accompany me?" The former President said while motioning towards Octavius.
Larry was startled as he realized he had completely forgotten about the Native woman as soon as he'd seen Ahk.
It wasn't until her name was mentioned that Larry found himself wondering what had happened to her. The only reason he remembered Teddy and the two miniature men was due to the fact that they'd all three voiced their presence during the commotion. And honestly, it had only been a little bit since he started this job and sometimes he still thought of the former President when in a panic. The man was always in such control, and so calm. Now Larry felt guilty for forgetting about the kind and medically knowledgeable Sacajawea, he wished she'd been there the whole time.
"I'll stay here with Jed, someone needs to watch Ahk and I think you'll find her easier." Larry said while nodding. As the former President picked up Oct gingerly then stood to leave, Larry grabbed his forearm and said "Could you please make sure everyone is atleast slightly behaving while you out there?" The wax man smiled reassuringly.
"Of course my boy. I shall return soon with Miss Sacajawea and the General!" He said and left the office with the Roman General on his shoulder, mask of Roman determination on his face.