XXXXV.
Cora lifts her arm to press the palm of her hand against the door controls to the Nexus Medical Centre, watching the panel light up green as it gives her access to this wing of the station. She hears the quiet hiss as the doors slide open and she steps inside, noticing that there are a lot of doctors and nurses in the room and they all appear to be chatting animatedly with each other. Cora's eyes immediately move past them and focus on the other side of the room where Scott's isolation chamber is still set up and has been since they arrived back at the Nexus two days ago. She doesn't spot Scott, frowning to herself when she can't see him inside or on his hospital bed and that the medical bot that had previously been monitoring him stands motionless in the corner.
It had been a few days since Scott had been confined to the chamber and despite all of the tests that the Nexus medical teams and his own doctor were running, they still hadn't yet found the cause of his illness or how to treat him. Because they were still unsure if he was contagious Scott hadn't been allowed contact with anyone, as per many Initiative Protocols. Cora fixes her eyes on the chamber trying to see where he is.
"His temperature is too high." Cora hears Lexi's voice and notices that she is one of the doctors that are crowded around the glass and she is frantically scrolling through the results on her screen. "He's going to fit if we don't get it down." Lexi huffs and Cora sees that her words only make the nurses around her seem to be working faster.
"Scott?" Cora whispers more to herself than anyone else when she realises why she can't see him and that something has happened. She'd only been gone for what felt like a few moments to update Sara on how he was and to change her clothes. She can see that in the time she's been gone how much he's deteriorated. "Scott!" She shouts quickly moving across the room and pushing past the medical team to reach the glass.
"Scott, you need to turn onto your side." Lexi raises her voice and Cora watches her crouch down and that her eyes are on Scott, who is currently laying on his back on the floor. "Can you hear me?" She adds as Cora reaches the glass and notices Lexi looking up at her.
"Scott.." Cora sobs quietly when she looks at him, his body completely red and covered in what had stopped looking like an allergic reaction on his skin a couple of days ago and had progressed into what could only be described as burns. Scott's skin was bubbling and blistering. "What happened? Why isn't he getting better?" Cora huffs wiping the tears from beneath her eyes.
"His body isn't responding anymore," Lexi replies making her blink away the tears and lower herself to her knees so she can get closer to him. "I don't know what else to do." She whispers making Cora glance at her. "I've tried everything.." Lexi adds and looks at her.
"I need to go in there." Cora says trying to stand but Lexi places her hand on her shoulder.
"You can't go in there. I'm sorry, Cora." Lexi huffs and tries to keep her in place. "You know we can't risk anyone else getting sick. Not until we know what this is. It would wipe out the whole station." She continues and Cora nods again, part of her not caring if she got ill but knowing there were a lot of people that would be at risk if they let Scott out.
She had hardly left his side for the last few days and watching him deteriorate had been frightening, what had at first seemed like a reaction had soon turned much worse for Scott. He'd been so sick that he couldn't stand, he'd been so hot he felt his body was on fire, he'd had fevers, the rash turning to painful whelps and then he'd been in such a deep sleep that he'd been slipping in and out of consciousness they'd been worried for his wellbeing. She'd seen his health decline so quickly that Sara and his uncle Raymond had been told to prepare for the worst.
"I can hear you." Scott coughs as she watches him trying to roll himself onto his side, using the legs of his bed to try and help him. "Cora are you there?" He groans and she sees his face screw up in pain.
"I'm here, Scott." Cora replies, feeling a sob trying to escape her when she remembers the day that Alec had died and she'd heard him in pain like this. "I'm here, sweetheart." She adds and pushes that thought away and presses her hand against the glass until she notices his eyes find her.
"Cora.." He groans as she watches him finally roll himself onto his side but is too tired to move anymore. "I think I'm dying." Scott huffs and curls his legs towards his body and she can see the pain in every breath he makes.
"You have to let me in, Lexi. Please?" Cora says pleading with Lexi again. "I can't leave him like this.." She continues and can see all the reasons why they weren't allowed to do that on Lexi's face. "He can't just die in there." Cora huffs quietly and sees Lexi sigh and nod in agreement.
"Cora.." Lexi sighs quietly. "If you catch whatever this is, you could both die. Not to mention that this is against every rule and regulation we've ever had." She continues making Cora glance at her. "Contain the threat and stop it spreading. I can't risk our Pathfinder or his successor." Lexi nods but doesn't look so sure anymore.
"Don't you think I know that?" Cora snaps at her and immediately feels guilty. "I don't care about their rules. That is my Scott in there. I don't care if I get it sick." She continues and stands noticing that Lexi does too. "I love him, and he needs me." Cora adds and glances at Scott. "Even if all I can do is just make him comfortable." She sighs when she watches him struggling on the floor.
"They could dismiss you over this. Disciplinary action.." Lexi continues but Cora just shakes her head lightly, she didn't care anymore. All that mattered was him. "Okay, if you are certain." Lexi finally nods and looks around them. "You all need to leave, right now." She says raising her voice and motioning towards the doors. "I want this whole wing locked down." Lexi adds and Cora watches her begin swiping on her Omni.
"Thank you." Cora gives her a grateful smile before noticing that they are all starting to leave. "You should leave too. I can manage if you tell me what I'll need to give him. I don't want you to get in trouble because of this." She adds but notices Lexi falters.
"I'm staying.." Lexi nods lightly. "He's my Pathfinder, and you are both my friends." She adds and gives Cora a small smile. "The least I can do is help you even if I don't go in." Lexi continues.
Cora knew there were even more reasons as to why they shouldn't be putting their doctor at risk than there were about her going in there, but she was grateful that Lexi was always there and willing to help her. She watches her raise her Omni again to lock the doors to the medical centre so that no one will be able to leave or enter before beginning to go through her trays of equipment and medicines.
"Thank you, Lexi.." Cora whispers and sees her nod lightly and give her a reassuring smile.
"Thank me when we get him better." She smiles at her and goes back to collecting her vials together. "I could try something unconventional for the pain." Lexi nods lightly as if trying to decide what to do. "I need to focus on his temperature." She continues making Cora nod in agreement, she knew a little field medicine but she wasn't an expert like Lexi. "Maybe those together would work?" She hums to herself as she gathers the medicines.
"Whatever it takes." Cora nods again.
"Administer each vial directly into his shoulder and forget using his Omni." Lexi continues and shows the vials to her before placing them in a tray. "I also need you to take some more samples." She adds making Cora falter. "I need blood, skin.. Anything you can get." Lexi says and lifts the small tools to show her what they look like.
"I'm not sure.." Cora says quietly and notices her words draw Lexi's eyes to her.
"You can do this, Cora." Lexi nods and holds the vials and equipment out to her. "We aren't giving up on him." She adds with another nod. "I'm going to figure this out, but I need samples." Lexi continues so Cora nods.
Cora looks over her shoulder when she hears another quiet sob coming from Scott, knowing nothing would make her change her mind about going in there. She'd promised she would always be there for him, and this was no different. Cora knew she was breaking every rule there was but his life was more important than that and she'd face the consequences. Even if that meant her being left in there with him. She approaches the glass again and steps towards the door, noticing the locks click as they open and she can access the chamber.
"Cora.." Scott groans as she steps inside, immediately being overwhelmed by how small and claustrophobic it feels in here and that the air is stale from someone who has been as sick as he has.
"I'm here." She whispers as she quickly moves toward him and lowers the vials and tools to the ground, dropping to her knees so she can get closer to him. "I'm here, Scott." Cora says again and notices his eyes meet hers and he doesn't like he's sure that she really is there.
"You'll get sick." Scott pants and tries to drag himself away from her.
"I don't care," Cora replies and follows after him, noticing he doesn't get very far before he has collapsed from exhaustion again. "You are more important and would do the same for me." She whispers as she glances up to see that Lexi is standing watching them.
"Start with the pain relief." Lexi begins making Cora nod in agreement and reaches for the first vial.
"Stay still, my love." She adds as she looks down at his body, trying to find a place on him that isn't red and painful, but not managing it. "This will help." Cora carefully presses the vial into his shoulder and does not let the sobbing sound that he makes make her hands shake.
"Cora.." Scott cries quietly as she watches him bury his face into the ground and knows she's hurt him even more, willing the vial to work quickly to relieve him of some of it.
"I need to do another one.." Cora whispers and sees that he's shaking his head and trying to get away from her again. "Please, Scott. Please, hold still." She says as she reaches for him and places her hand on his arm to keep him still.
"Fuuuck.." Scott cries out as she watches the pain rip through his body and every muscle tighten as he thrashes, desperate to get away from her.
Cora quickly moves back from him when she hears him sobbing and howling in pain, she'd never heard anything like the sound he was making in her life and it was breaking her heart. She watches Scott curl into a ball again and he places his palm on the space where she'd touched him. Cora glances at Lexi and then back to Scott who continues to sob, feeling the tears rolling down her cheeks when she realises she's hurt him.
"Cora, look at his arm." Lexi begins and bangs lightly on the glass to get her attention. "It looks like a fresh burn." She continues making Cora look at Scott, noticing the blisters that are covering his bicep that is in the shape of her hand.
"What have I done to him?" Cora cries and backs further away from Scott.
"I think I know what this is." Lexi suddenly shouts as Cora sees her quickly move around the glass and towards the door. "This isn't an allergic reaction." She continues and pulls the door to the chamber open.
"What are you doing?" Cora asks, beginning to panic that they are now both in here and at risk. "What's wrong with him?" She asks as Lexi approaches Scott and places her own hand on his face which doesn't burn him.
"This is Element Zero poisoning." Lexi gives Cora a positive nod. "He's had Ezo exposure.." She adds when Cora notices her eyes on her face. "I think it's from you, Cora." Lexi continues as Cora feels all the blood drain from her face when she considers the possibility that she's done this to her love.
"From me?" Cora mumbles which makes Lexi nod.
"You need to get out of here." Lexi begins so Cora quickly climbs to her feet and retreats back towards the entrance to the chamber. "Close the door." She adds so Cora does as she's told and closes the door behind her.
"How has this happened?" She asks and fixes her eyes on Scott and then looks at Lexi who is giving him the last of the vials.
"Alec told me that Ellen died from AEND." Lexi begins making Cora nod, he'd told her that too. "Scott and Sara were exposed when she was pregnant. Sara ended up being a Biotic but Scott didn't." She adds with a light sigh, a common reason for children to be born as Biotics. "I think his constant exposure from his twin has left Scott more susceptible to the side effects of any further exposure." Lexi continues but then stands and exits the chamber again.
"And I've been exposing him?" Cora sighs quietly and lowers her eyes. "Every time I'm with him? Every time we touch? Every time we.." She adds and looks up at Lexi who nods. "Oh, no." She sobs quietly.
"Yes, and I think he's reached his limit," Lexi says as she steps past her and towards the medical cabinets, Cora noticing that she opens them and begins looking for something. "I need to completely flush his system." She continues and begins collecting more supplies together. "Get him on an intensive course of antibiotics and an anti-exposure treatment into him, and fast." Lexi hums and Cora wonders if she is talking herself through it.
"Will he be okay?" Cora whispers and notices Lexi glances at her.
"Yes, I hope he'll be fine." Lexi nods and picks up one last bag of saline. "Can you contact Sara? Ask her to meet me here." She continues making Cora nod and raise her arm to contact his twin, she types out a short but concise message and sends it to her. "I probably won't be able to use her blood. But, I'll try and it would be better than the replacements we have in storage." Lexi adds with a nod so she does too.
"Okay." Cora lifts her arm to access her Omni when she hears it pink. "She's on her way.." Cora whispers and sees that Sara isn't far away.
"Cora, I'm sorry to ask you this.." She sighs quietly but Cora nods as she already knows what she is going to say, she had to leave and stay away from Scott. She was doing damage to him and she knew she had to keep away.
"Just, tell him I love him." Cora replies as Lexi nods that she will.
Cora gives a final look to Scott before turning away and walking back towards the door, she lifts her hand to unlock it again but doesn't let herself look again. She knew she'd break down again and never be able to leave him. Cora feels the tears on her cheek so she puts her head down and leaves to go and hide away in their room.
—/—
Cora leans back against the headboard of their bed trying to get more comfortable, she lifts her arm so that she can see the screen of her Omni better and tucks her hair behind her ear as she fixes her eyes on him.
"You are looking better." Cora smiles as she watches the image of Scott on her display, seeing him grin at her words and that he nods. She lowers her eyes from him for a moment, trying to ignore the nagging feeling of guilt that he'd been so unwell and partly because of her.
"I feel much better." Scott replies which draws her eyes to him. "I just miss you so much.." He sighs as she watches him scratching the back of his neck and noticing that he has wires hooked up to him. "I miss you," Scott says again making her sigh. "You are all I can think about.." Scott smiles lightly at her.
"You almost died because of me," Cora whispers. "Again." She sighs and notices he shakes his head and that he is looking intently at her.
"It wasn't your fault." She hears his reply and he looks past his screen and knows someone in the medical centre has approached him and is checking his stats. "It's just one of those things. We didn't know.." Scott continues making her sigh again and wonders how he can be so unfazed by what happened to him and how close he'd come to death.
"How are the meds?" Cora asks and sees him shrug lightly. "Still making you sick then?" She continues and can tell he isn't going to tell her that himself. Cora already knew the medication he was taking to block high amounts of Ezo exposure was making him unwell, but at least he was alive and he was healing.
"I don't care." Scott smiles making her smile in return when she sees it. "It's worth it to touch you again.." He adds with another smile but she lowers her eyes from the screen. How could she ever allow that to happen again? Especially when her every touch had been hurting him.
"Scott.." Cora sighs as his eyes meet hers through their screens.
"Please, don't say it." Scott whispers as he cuts her off and he shakes his head at her. Cora sees the hurt behind his eyes and she can tell he knows exactly what she is going to say. "Please, Cora." He sighs.
"Maybe we shouldn't be close again." She sniffs and lifts her hand to wipe her eyes on her sleeve so they don't turn to tears. "We can't risk it. Something might happen to you.." Cora whispers and hears him sigh. "I can't see you like that again and your job is too important to risk you. Everyone is counting on you.." She continues and wonders why he is suddenly so quiet.
"I'm better now." Scott smiles but she notices it doesn't reach his eyes. "I'm taking the meds and I'll be discharged in a few days." He continues with a positive nod. "Are you going to break up with me?" Scott asks so she just sighs lightly, she had to admit part of her did wonder if it was better for him if she did.
"No, but I think you should break up with me." Cora whispers as he huffs and lowers his eyes. "You can't be with someone like me." She continues which receives another sigh.
"Someone like you?" Scott asks and she just nods, a biotic and someone that would slowly poison him again if his medication didn't work. "You mean the person I'm completely in love with? That I'm going to spend the rest of my life with?" He adds as his eyes fix on her.
"Someone toxic to you." Cora replies and he just shakes his head again.
"We're not splitting up, Cora," Scott mumbles. "This isn't going to come between us." He adds and gives her another smile. "Besides, you aren't toxic to me. It's all Ezo not just yours. It's better we find out now and we can do something about it." Scott nods again.
"Scott.." Cora sighs quietly and returns his gaze, knowing he was right. He was the love of her life, her soul mate, and being without him wasn't an option. "What if we can never touch again?" Cora says and sees him smile lightly.
"I can love you at a distance," Scott replies making her scoff at his answer. "You don't think I can?" He grins and she can't help but return his smile and shake her head, his positivity making her feel a little better. "Well, good job I've got those meds and can get back to being in your personal space." Scott grins again.
"You'd risk your life to be with me?" She asks him and notices he nods and smiles at her.
"You'd do it for me.." Scott replies making her remember what she had said to him and that she'd gone into his chamber without knowing what would happen to her. Yes, she'd risk her life for him a million times over and she knew he would too.
Cora sighs lightly and lowers her eyes for a moment, she knew how much she wanted to be with Scott forever and the thought of being without him hurt more than anything. But could she really risk him like that and potentially hurt him again? Wouldn't she be saving him in the long run by ending it and walking away? He'd hurt for a while but at least he wouldn't be exposed every time he was with someone else other than her. He could have a normal future with someone other than her. Cora feels her heartache when she thinks of him with anyone else, anyone else but her. She lifts her eyes to him again and sees him give her a small smile, maybe this was his decision to make and his risk to take if they were to ever touch again. He wanted her, and no one else.
"You have to be certain, Scott.." Cora sighs and sees his smile widen.
"Cora, I love you." Scott smiles again. "I'll do whatever it takes for us to be together. I'll take the medication, I'll have them monitor my levels. I'll let them prod and poke me whenever they want." He continues making her nod slightly.
"I love you, too." Cora replies and feels herself touching her fingers against her screen, wishing she could touch him. It was only a few more days until she could see him face to face. "Just promise me you'll let them take care of you." She adds and sees him nod positively.
"I promise," Scott whispers. "I'll be the best patient, ever." He adds making her return his smile, she'd never known him to be that before, but maybe this time was different.
"I missed you so much." She whispers as he smiles and nods in agreement.
"But you never left my side when I was sick." Scott smiles and she watches him lift his own fingers to touch where hers are. "It has been a really long week without you. It feels like we just stopped hiding, and then this." He nods and she notices his smile wavers. It felt like the longest week of her life not being able to visit him, and just having video calls through their Omni's.
"So, the leaders gave me a final warning today," Cora says noticing that he raises his brow in surprise at her words. "Apparently I broke at least a dozen regulations when I went in there with you." She sighs but notices he laughs and shakes his head in disbelief. "Really, really important ones." Cora adds.
"Only a dozen?" Scott grins which makes her smile in response. "Are you in trouble with Tann?" He asks so she nods which makes him sigh and shake his head again. "I'd be dead if it wasn't for you." Scott continues and she sees that he lowers his eyes for a moment and that he's feeling overwhelmed about that.
"Scott.." Cora whispers which makes his eyes reach hers again. "Don't think about that, okay?" She continues and sees that he gives her a genuine smile, full of love for her. "Your alive and I upset the leaders. I'd say that is worth it." Cora giggles quietly as his smile widens.
"I've missed that laugh.." Scott smiles and she notices he bites his bottom lip.
"Four days, six hours and thirty-eight minutes to go.." Cora smiles at him which makes his return to his face. "Not that I've been counting, of course." She adds and notices he chuckles. "I've been dreaming about touching you again." Cora giggles quietly and she sees him grin.
"I can't wait to touch you, and kiss you.." He adds and she notices he lowers his voice slightly because he is surrounded by medical workers. "I think my heart rate is going up just thinking about it." Scott grins at her.
"Yeah?" Cora smiles at him. "You need to be careful. You don't want Lexi to come running thinking you are unwell again." She giggles and leans closer to kiss her screen and hears him laughing. "I hope that will satisfy you for now." She whispers and hears his sigh.
"Speaking of Lexi.." Scott laughs and Cora notices that Lexi appears on the screen beside Scott. "Here she is." He smiles and glances at her. "Do you think Cora could visit tonight, Lexi?" She sees him asking his doctor. "Please? Just for a few minutes? I promise I won't touch her.." Scott adds with his best smile.
Cora watches as Lexi appears to be thinking about it and she can see that Scott is definitely giving her the best pleading eyes she thinks she's ever seen. She did have to admit the thought of actually seeing him in person made her heart race too, but every day that Scott had asked Lexi had said no. He needed to recover and rest she'd said, and wait until they were certain he wasn't at risk anymore. He'd been allowed other visitors like his uncle and friends, just not her.
"Did you ask me now thinking I couldn't say no?" Lexi replies and Scott just laughs. "I'm sorry but the answer is still no.." She continues which makes Scott sigh and then fix his eyes on Cora.
"I guess we have to wait.." Scott smiles lightly and lowers his eyes for a moment.
"Did you hear that Cora?" Lexi asks and leans closer to the screen. "Scott still needs to finish building up his resilience to exposure." She continues and Cora nods in agreement with her. "So no visits allowed yet. I'm sorry, I know it's hard." Lexi smiles making Cora return it.
"I know it's to keep him safe." Cora nods and places her fingertips on the screen again, so wishing that she could at least feel the warmth of him even if they couldn't touch. For now, that would be enough, until the moment she could be back in his arms and sharing her life with him.
"Goodnight, Cora." Lexi smiles before she watches her move out of the picture. "Oh, Scott before I forget.." She hears Lexi's voice and knows she hasn't left yet and notices Scott glances away from the camera. "I'm heading off for the night and I've asked the staff to give you some privacy for a couple of hours." Lexi continues and Cora sees Scott's smile widen.
"Really?" She watches Scott ask Lexi before he turns his attention back to her.
"Goodnight, Scott." Lexi replies and Cora is sure she hears the sound of her moving away and then notices that the lights above Scott begin to lower.
"Are you alone?" Cora asks as she watches him shake his head lightly and lift his finger to his lips. "Scott.." She says but notices he is distracted and thinks he is watching the last of the staff leaving for the night.
"Okay, I am alone.." Scott smiles. "Now." He sighs and she sees his smile stretch even wider. "Now I miss you even more." Scott laughs lightly and she feels his eyes on her again.
"Well, we haven't been apart for this long." Cora begins and smiles at him. "Maybe you should take advantage of it.." She giggles quietly. "Go and take a shower on your own or something. Without all those people watching you." She adds but notices he shakes his head and grins at her.
"We have two hours and I'm spending them right here with you." Scott laughs. "Although.." He hums quietly and she watches him glance around the room. "We could take a shower together?" He adds making her own smile widen and she bites her bottom lip when she looks at him. "Virtually of course." Scott laughs.
"Do you have enough hands?" Cora giggles and sees his flirtatious smile as he nods, sure her cheeks are flushing at the thought of what he was suggesting. "Alright, Ryder." She laughs. "If we can't have our hands on each other.." Cora nods and lets her own eyes glance towards the bathroom door in their room.
"Exactly." Scott grins at her when their eyes meet again. "Race you there." He laughs as she watches him scramble out of his bed and begin running towards the shower.