Chapter 19

Tuesday, June 9, 1987- Morning

After undergoing a high-tech laser procedure, adopted from Visitor technology, to break up mucus, Julie experienced some relief from her congestion, but the pain and shortness of breath remained. At 8:42, Joe Akers stood at the foot of her bed flipping through her chart. Steve and Connie were also present.

"How are you feeling?" Joe asked.

"It's," Julie gasped, "hard to…breathe."

"Well, that's to be expected." He winked at her. "You have bronchitis and you're recovering from a gunshot wound."

The gunshot wound alone requires a six-week recovery period. Hopefully, Mom won't want to stay for the duration and Steve will continue the project without me.

"I'm afraid we're going to have to cause you more misery today. But in a few days, you'll be grateful."

More x-rays? She loathed being jostled around for procedures.

"She needs to sit up to ward off pneumonia." Joe addressed Connie.

"Do what you feel you need to do," Connie said.

That's easy for you to say. Julie stared at her.

"Cooperate and they'll have you up in no time," said Connie as though she could read Julie's thoughts.

"I'd also like to start you on a bland diet today. If all goes well, we'll take the feeding tube out this evening," Joe said.

Julie nodded. "Oh-kay. Can I ask… a favor?"

"What?"

"Donovan… and Maggie." She paused. "List them as fam… so… I can see them." She'd noticed Maggie outside her ICU room window yesterday and watched her mother turn the woman away. It made Julie angry.

"Honey," Connie said. "The more people we permit to visit you, the more germs you will be exposed to."

"Mag…s my friend," she sputtered.

"Fine and what about Mr. Donovan? Stevie said he hasn't been around in over two years."

She drew a breath. "It's… not your say."

Connie sauntered out of the room.

Julie thought Steve would protest, but to her astonishment, he remained silent.

"Okay, I'll add them," Joe said. "Is there anyone else you consider family?"

"Chris Faber." She swallowed. "Ham Tyler… Willie and Thelma."

"You can't have all of them in the ICU, Julie," Steve said. "You'll need time to recuperate."

"He has a point." Joe smiled.

"…kay, then. 'Jus Donovan and… mm-Maggie."

#

Walking out of Julie's ICU room, Steve glanced at his watch. As he passed the nurses station, he overheard Connie adding two more names to Julie's "approved" guest list.

"She said she wants them listed as family." The tone in her voice stated her displeasure.

Steve didn't wait for her, hoping she wouldn't follow him as he ambled into the lounge. Donovan sat on the couch, reading a copy of the L.A. Times. The headline read:

FORMER RESISTANCE LEADER JULIET PARRISH REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION: ASSAILANT STILL AT LARGE.

"Congratulations, Donovan. You're officially Julie's big brother," Steve said.

Startled, Donovan looked up at him. "What?"

"Julie's having you and Maggie listed as kin so you can visit without Connie's interference."

"She's getting back to her old self again." Donovan folded the paper and laid it aside.

"Would you like to know what the prescription bottle contained?"

"You bet."

"Lithium." Steve lowered his voice, taking a seat adjacent to Donovan.

"Lithium? That's not an antibiotic."

"No, it isn't. And Julie is infected with the same bronchitis as Pico's subjects. Now I'm curious as to why Pico was modifying bacteria that doesn't usually affect Sirians."

"I dunno."

"I need directions to his facility. I have no intent to inform the police. You have my word."

"Do you think maybe you can perform an autopsy and find out what killed Pico?"

"And that's another matter. You need to name your accomplice."

"Why?"

"You expect me to assist you, yet you cannot be frank with me?"

"Ham Tyler!" Donovan snapped. "And I still can't find him."

Well, there's a revelation. All those cookouts Julie and I attended at Maggie's… I had an uncertain feeling about Mr. Tyler. This validates his untrustworthiness…

"Did you check his home?"

"Maggie and Chris wouldn't give me his address."

"You mean you didn't inform them about your little escapade with Ham?" Steve mock pouted.

"Not exactly."

You're not exactly accommodating in sharing information with me either. Perhaps a little persuasion will do… "Will you escort me to Pico's place, or shall I inform the police instead?"

Donovan glared. "That's blackmail."

"Label it whatever you desire. It's a certain method to obtain what I need from you."

"And what is that?"

"The truth."

"Fine. I'll take you there. I'd like to see Julie before we leave. Is her Mom with her?"

Steve smiled. "You'd better hope the hell not."

#

Eyes closed, Julie felt the warm touch of a latex-gloved hand on hers… a man's hand. She stirred, gazing up into Donovan's green eyes.

"How ya doin' there, Kid?"

She smiled. "Mmm…issed you."

He grinned. "Maitland said you wanted to see me again. You know, you keep asking for me and he's going to think there's something going on between us."

Pain tugged at her chest as she giggled. "Mmmaybe… there …is."

He blushed then closed his eyes briefly…

Same eyes as the child with Ruby. Was he our child?... She'd miscarried Donovan's baby three summers ago, at eight weeks. Why would the child appear as a toddler instead of a… fetus? Do miscarried babies have souls?

"Julie, there's something I want to do for you, but I think I need to ask your permission, first." Donovan sat in the bedside rocking chair.

"What…" She wheezed. "Is-?"

"KDHB's asking me for an interview about you. I already said I'd do it, but I don't want to say anything you don't want me to."

She shrugged her shoulders. "Are… you… g…ng talk." She gasped. "'bout us?"

"No, it's nothing like that. I just want to talk about what a wonderful person you are. You know the other news outlets are airing pieces, and they each have their own view of you. I want the real story told."

"What are you going to… talk about?"

"Your work with the Red Dust since its inception. About the tests you ran, even before we decided to use it. That you didn't make that decision alone."

Wish I could see the interview. There was no TV in her ICU room.

"Will you… g-get me a copy of-"

"You bet."

"C-an ask you… favor?"

"Anything."

She smiled. As a do-gooder, Donovan had a reputation for helping people in need. "Do you know where my… c-car is?"

"You feel like going for a spin?" he teased.

Same sardonic sense of humor."Nnn.. F-funny."

"It was at Science Frontiers when I left there."

"C-can you see if it's still there? I don't want Pic-o." She coughed. "Messing with… or some other… bum."

"Bum?" He grinned. "Apparently, you don't think I'm a bum, after I got you into this mess."

"Nn-". She swallowed a little mucus away. "But… I might… if y'don find my… car."

"You love your car?"

"Mmm hmm." She'd won the Limited Edition Camaro Sport Coupe in a contest last summer, replacing the Mazda RX-7 she'd leased with her generous salary from Nathan Bates.

"I'll need keys," Donovan said.

"A-Ask, my Mom."

He flashed a grin. "I'd rather you consider me a no-good bum."

Julie snickered, and coughed again. "Yeah, it would be… easier."

"Do you have any idea where your keys might be?"

"Check my purse. I th-think it's here… somewhere."

"If I rummage through this place, security will throw me out."

She drew another breath. "Said… you'd do anything for me."

"Yeah. Yeah." He started searching cabinets.