Emerging Compassions
Chapter 25: The Cure
(Carl's POV)
The following day didn't look any better for Sheen. This time, he could barely sit up, let alone stand. I was becoming even more anxious with each passing moment for Jimmy to make that antidote so Sheen could feel better again. If my genius friend couldn't pull through for him, we'd have to get used to a gang of just 4 of us instead of 5, & Libby would miss him terribly. Luckily, he could still talk with us, though weakly.
Libby almost constantly stayed by his side the entire day, obviously concerned about his well-being.
"Neutron, don'tcha have any STRONGER medication for him?" she persisted for the seemingly 20th time that day.
"Like I told you before, I'm working on the antidote, Libby! That's the best thing for him now! We just have to keep giving him fluids & the strongest medication we currently have for him, which is Ibuprofen, until I finish it so we can cure him," Jimmy strongly informed her.
"I hope that's today...," I added anxiously.
"I hope so, too, Carl, I hope so, too," she told me, worried as she was about Sheen.
"According to Jimmy's information," Cindy helpfully put in, surveying his notes carefully, "If his condition continues to deteriorate at this rate, he'll be unconscious by noon tomorrow! Uh-oh!"
"Don't worry, sweetie!" he reassured her, "I've already created the chemicals I need; I just need to isolate certain tissue samples from each ingredient, then combine the chemicals with them to form the antidote! It should only take me 2 more hours, at the most!"
"Please... hurry..., Jimmy...," I heard Sheen whisper in a hoarse tone.
"Don't worry, Sheen," Libby told him, stroking his forehead lovingly, "Neutron's almost finished with it."
About an hour later, we heard Jimmy exclaim, "I've got the tissues isolated! It'll take 15 minutes for them to dissolve into the chemicals, then I'll combine the mixtures to form the antidote!"
Fifteen minutes later, he combined them, then waited 30 minutes until the mixture turned purple. Then he announced, "Finally, it's finished! I'll just put a straw into it so Sheen can drink it easier."
With that, he got one & stuck it in the antidote, then brought it to him, stooped to his level, & brought it to his mouth. Sheen leaned over & sucked it up, seeming to become more revived as he drank each bit of it. As he finished it up, he sat bolt upright & exclaimed, "I feel as good as new! Thanks a LOT, Jimmy!" He then lept out of bed & gave Jimmy a huge bear hug, which he gladly returned, saying, "You're quite welcome, Sheen! You know I'd do anything to save my friends' lives!"
"Hooray, Sheen's cured!" I proclaimed, giving Cindy a big hug.
She gently pushed me away & replied firmly but gently, "Okay, Carl, that's enough."