Chapter 29

Monday, June 15, 1987-Morning

Julie watched Donovan carry vases of flowers from her windowsill into the small bathroom. He dumped the water from each, and placed them in cardboard boxes.

With her stitches removed, Julie's incision burned. Maggie had brought a change of clothes for the ride home. Julie wore a pair of loose fitting jeans and an oversized tee shirt. The bra she'd tried to wear irritated her incision, so she chose to go without. Feeling self-conscious, she folded her arms across her chest.

The nurse pushed a wheel chair into the room and glanced at the two boxes stuffed with flowers.

"I'll get a cart to put those on."

"Thanks." Donovan clicked Julie's suitcase shut and asked her, "You ready, boss?"

"Sure." Gazing at him Julie wondered, Why are you doing all this for me? You don't owe me anything.

Earlier, he'd mentioned trading schedules with a co-worker to have the next two days off for Julie. She hoped to pay him back for his kindness, and wondered how to put a price on such great compassion.

The nurse brought in a steel cart, helped Donovan load it with boxes, then pushed the wheelchair over to Julie asking, "Are you ready to show him what you can do?"

Julie took the nurses hand, pulling herself up. A tugging feeling in her chest prevented her from standing completely straight. She grunted, shuffled a few steps then eased into the wheelchair.

#

Audience chants from The Price is Right echoed through Steve and Julie's laboratory. In light of Julie's absence, TV became Steve's constant companion. He thought of how Julie had always nagged him to keep the volume down while they worked. He missed those nags. He missed her smile. He missed her company.

He placed a glass slide on the stage of a microscope, and adjusted the focus so the bacterium came in clearly. He and Julie sought to locate a specific enzyme known for its ability to destroy bacteria pili (hair-like structures which allowed it to attach to its host). Julie once mentioned experiments at Science Frontiers in which she and her colleagues gave cranberry extract to laboratory mice. For many years, cranberry juice was a known treatment for urinary tract infection caused by a particular strain of E. Coli. Julie and Steve began similar testing on Humans exposed to the Red Dust. Steve hoped the enzymes information was documented in the disks Donovan stole from Pico's lab. Longing to call Julie and tell her what he knew about the files drove Steve just as crazy as wondering about the source of Pico's demise had.

"We bring you breaking news this noon hour relating to the death of Dr. William Pico." Mellissa Foxx's grainy image appeared on the TV screen.

Finally…

"Police are reporting foul play. William Pico's body was discovered with several broken bones contributing to his death."

Donovan, you lied to me, Steve thought. His mind painted pictures of would-be scenarios of Donovan and Tyler torturing Pico.

#

Santa Monica Freeway traffic proved slower than Donovan anticipated. Westbound construction started near the Centinela Avenue Exit, forcing him to take a detour, and head north to Olympic Boulevard.

Julie sat in the passenger seat with her eyes closed. Out of the corner of his eye, Donovan saw her wipe tears away.

Is she in pain, afraid or just tired? Knowing she still found communicating difficult, he abstained from asking her questions.

He pulled into the parking lot of Ocean View Apartments shortly after noon. Behind the buildings, a sandy beach greeted the Pacific Ocean.

Maybe she thinks the view is worth the drive from L.A., he mused.

"Where should I park?" he asked.

"It's," Julie swallowed. "Four-D."

He located the spot and noticed the long flight of steps in front. After parking the car, Donovan walked around to the passenger side door then opened it.

"So, do you want a piggyback ride up those steps, or for me to carry you the old fashioned way?"

"Old… fa…shioned?" She grinned, taking his hand. "Jus… pick me up. Try not to… kill…me."

Not funny.

Julie grunted as Donovan swept her out of the car. He saw her eyes cloud over with tears.

"I'm okay," she whispered with a smile.

"Sure." With a wink, he started up the steps.

Once they reached the landing, Julie pulled a set of keys from her purse and unlocked the door. Donovan kneed it open.

Julie's French-Country decorated living room reeked of last week's garbage. She made a sour face as Donovan gently placed her on the couch.

"I think I need to open a window and take the trash out," he said.

"And… c…clean out the," she gasped. "…fridge."

What's in the fridge?

Following his nose to the kitchen, Donovan found a plastic garbage container with a dirty diaper on top of it.

CJ's…

Holding his breath, he tied the bag and lifted it out.

"Where's the dumpster?" he called.

Julie didn't answer.

Passing into the living room, he noted Julie's closed eyes. Great. She's exhausted.

He went outside, walked around the brick building, but failed to locate a garbage dumpster. Instead, he found it behind a second building, then headed back to his car to retrieve Julie's suitcase. Julie was still asleep when he returned to her apartment.

Clean out the fridge, Donovan reminded himself. I shouldn't need her help with that.

The fridge contained a half-gallon of milk, past its expiration date, some wilted romaine lettuce, a slimy onion and tomato. The refrigerator's remaining contents were unspoiled. Donovan discarded the rotten vegetables and milk container. Once those tasks were complete, he returned to the living room and rubbed Julie's arm.

"C'mon," he said softly. "I need your help."

She opened her eyes. "Wha?"

"We're getting your stuff together, remember?"

She nodded.

He carefully picked her up again then carried her into the small bedroom.

#

An hour overdue for her lunch and medication, Julie felt nauseated as Donovan carried her into his house that afternoon, then laid her on the couch.

Her last visit to his home was in the spring of 1984 when they'd shared their final uninterrupted, romantic weekend together. The state had recently shipped Sean off to the school in Ojai.

Donovan disappeared down the hall and returned a couple minutes later with several pillows. Julie recognized the white embroidered pillowcases she had helped him pick out after he'd purchased the house. The decor of his living room remained unchanged. A Spanish-Colonial theme carried into the dining room.

Donovan returned to the car, carried Julie's suitcases and flowers in, then returned to her side.

"Are you still hungry?" he asked.

"You should be… hungry… after all that work."

"I'm great."

She knew he was lying.

"I'll fix you something to eat. What do you want… salad?"

She felt nauseas, but realized she shouldn't take her meds on an empty stomach.

"Soup."

He moseyed into the kitchen. Julie closed her eyes to rest while she waited.

#

Donovan found an old, Star-Wars-themed dinner tray he'd purchased for Sean a few years ago. He remembered his disappointment in learning not only was Sean no longer a baseball fan, he didn't favor the same superheroes he had in his younger years. Seldom used, the metal tray remained sandwiched between the refrigerator and cabinet. By the time Donovan reached the living room with his lunch offerings, Julie was sitting up, looking pale. Donovan placed the tray on the coffee table.

"You all right?" he asked.

"I need… a bucket."

"A bucket?"

Her eyes met his. She frowned.

"Hur-" She'd barely finished the word before she vomited on herself, the blanket and couch.

He turned away from the sight. What have I gotten myself into? I'm not exactly nursing material.

He looked at Julie again.

Not making eye contact, she mumbled, "S-sorry."

"It'll be all right." He sprinted into the bathroom, trying to recall the last time he'd cleaned up someone else's vomit. Margie had always played nurse when Sean had the stomach flu. Donovan grabbed a small trash can, but didn't return to Julie in time. She heaved onto the carpet. Donovan quickly shoved the bucket under her mouth.

#

Donovan turned his back as Julie raised her arms above her head. Getting the shirt off caused her more pain. She slipped on the nightgown, silently praying she wouldn't throw up again. She felt ashamed.

"Oh…kay."

Donovan turned around, gathered up the soiled blanket then marched into the kitchen. Julie remembered the laundry area was in a hall between the kitchen and garage. Careful not to step in her own puke, she crept over to the other side of the couch. Unfortunately, Donovan would have to clean that mess too. The telephone rang, but Julie couldn't reach the table.

It's not for me anyway…

Donovan came and answered it on the third ring. "Hello... She's not feeling well right now… No, I haven't given it much thought actually. I kind of have my hands full right now." He turned away and softly said, "I don't want to upset her."

Upset me? Julie wondered. It's probably Steve.

"Yeah, I do plan to tell her eventually. Why don't you give her a couple of days to get settled in?" Agitation edged in his voice. "All right then! Wednesday at noon!"

"Who was that?" Julie asked as Donovan knelt on the carpet, wiping up the mess with towels.

"Guess."

"I'm really… s-sorry about all… this." She dabbed at her eyes.

"It's okay. You've had a rough day." He patted her thigh. "If you feel up to it, I'd like to get you settled in Sean's room."

"Tonight," she said. "I don't want to be alone… right now."