Chapter 35

Friday, June 19, 1987- Afternoon

Blowing with all her might into a long, plastic tube, Julie watched the spyrometer's needle make marks on paper. It reminded her of a lie detector test. Though in this case, she wished it didn't show the truth. She wasn't doing as well as she'd hoped.

After the test, the attendant took her into an examining room where a nurse inventoried her symptoms. Julie waited a while before Dr. Graham examined her then shared the breathing test results.

Julie inhaled and exhaled as he listened to her lungs. Each deep breath Dr. Graham instructed her to take brought with it a cough.

Dr. Graham withdrew his stethoscope. "There's no congestion."

"But?"

"Have you been taking it easy?"

"Yes." She didn't consider staying up once past her new bedtime and making Donovan's breakfast not taking it easy.

Dr. Graham lowered himself to a rolling stool, scooted to a small counter then wrote in Julie's chart.

"You're seeing our therapist a couple times a week now, but perhaps it isn't enough. The center is open every day except Sunday. I'd like you to come as often as possible."

That'd be a total inconvenience to Donovan.

She swallowed. "I'm sorry, Doctor. Maybe I have been doing a little more than I should."
"I still think you should come."

"Thank you. I'll try." She hopped down off the table, not intending to try. She wouldn't add to Donovan's responsibilities.

Tearing off a sheet of paper Dr. Graham said, "I'm prescribing an inhaler. Have you used one before?"

"No," Julie said, though she'd instructed many who suffered Red Dust induced asthma symptoms on proper use.

Dr. Graham pulled an inhaler down from a cabinet. "This is to start with. You'll need to use it three times a day." He handed her a billing chart. "See you next week."

#

For Donovan, being a famous journalist and Resistance hero had its drawbacks. A young man, not older than twenty, had approached him in the waiting room, asked him for his autograph, then proceeded to explain how the Resistance once helped reunite his 10-year-old sister, Jennifer, with their family.

Donovan remembered the child well, especially since Ham took a liking to her. The Fixer showing a display of fatherly and compassionate affection toward anyone was a sight to be held. He'd even dressed up like Santa Claus to the delight of Jennifer and the other orphans.

The pleasant memory brought a smile to Donovan's face. His joyous countenance faded as he saw Julie approach the checkout counter crying. Donovan excused himself from Jennifer's brother then walked over to Julie.

He watched Julie write out a check, give it to the receptionist and schedule the following week's appointment.

Slipping his arm around Julie's shoulder, Donovan escorted her outside.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She shrugged his arm away. "I'm fine."

They headed for his car. He unlocked Julie's door then opened it for her. She ducked inside.

A moment later, Donovan turned the key in the ignition and glanced over at Julie. She stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him. Her tears flowed freely.

"Wanna tell me about the exam?" he asked.

She shook her head again.

If I'm responsible for her, she has to be straight with me so I'll know what to expect. He put the car in drive.

Donovan drove several blocks, trying to ignore Julie's sniffling before he pulled over and stared at her.

"Just…drive," she said in a low growl. "I'll be…oh… kay."

Cupping his hand under her chin, he tried to get her to make eye contact with him. "C'mon, what are you afraid to tell me?"

"I don't want to," her voice cracked. "Inconvenience you… anymore."

"You're not an inconvenience."

She gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Not yet, huh?"

He withdrew his hand. "What does that mean?"

She looked at him with a pained expression. "Just drive."

Shifting the vehicle into gear, he waited for a couple cars to pass then pulled out into the street.

#

Steve spent his morning at the Los Angeles County Public Library, searching for scholarly articles on the development of antidotes used in the destruction of certain variants of intestinal E. Coli, but found none. While his mind wondered to the articles Pico kept on Julie, Steve's curiosity got the best of him and he found himself looking up past stories published in the L.A. Times. He wanted to see if any of the ones featuring Julie's heroics as a Resistance Leader and early research at Science Frontiers hinted at a relationship with Mike Donovan.

Eventually, Steve stumbled across a story featuring the photo of Julie looking moony-eyed at Donovan. Again, Steve wondered how long she'd dated Donovan and why they'd split up.

#

After Donovan insisted on carrying Julie into the house, he made her lie on the couch, and plead with her to eat before he left for work. He placed a plate of food and can of Diet 7-Up on the coffee table, but Julie was in no mood to eat. She didn't touch it.

"Did I make it wrong or something?" Donovan asked.

She shook her head. Her eyes glazed over with tears. "I'm not trying to be difficult."

"I didn't say that."

Feeling a tug in her throat, Julie held back her tears.

I don't have to tell him. He doesn't have to know the truth… He'll know… He's not going to leave me alone. More tears came. Stop it… He'll worry.

Donovan stared at her.

To hell with respecting Sean's privacy. She wanted to go into his room and close the door.

"What did the doctor say?" Donovan asked.

Julie wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I'm not doing so great."

"Yeah, well we knew that. I told you, you've been overdoing it. You're just going to have to—"

"He wants me to have treatment everyday. At least everyday except Sunday. They aren't open then."

"Okay. Whatever it takes. You have to do what you have to do."

"That's too… much for you," she protested.

"No, it isn't."

The phone rang. Julie drew a breath and rubbed her eyes as Donovan picked up the receiver.

"Hello?... Oh, hey Tyler. You still coming on Sunday? No, I'm going to see Sean… When were you planning on coming?... I need a favor from you. Julie really needs someone to look after her, you know, make sure she doesn't over do it. Can you get here a little earlier?... About ten? I'll be back before four. Can you handle her for six hours?... Thanks, I appreciate it… You too." He disconnected then looked at Julie as if he knew he'd said something he shouldn't have.

"Handle me?" Julie scowled at him. "What am I, a bad kid or something?"

"Just a little too rambunctious." He simultaneously winked and gave her a smug grin. "If anyone can keep you in bed all day, it'd be Ham."

"I guess it beats you keeping me in bed all day," she retorted.

"Thanks," he said, looking hurt.

Julie swallowed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"How 'bout you make it up to me by eating this wonderful meal I made for you?"

"Okay," she whispered.