The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “I’m going to go check on Patrick.”

  Dean nodded. “Let me know. Oh, and El. Not a word about him until we know.”

  “I won’t say a word.”

  He returned to staring at the image on the screen and was locked in a train of thought, broken when Joe called his name.

  Dean reached up and turned off the monitor.

  “What’s going on, Dean?” Joe asked stepping into the lab.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know you. I know how you act. You are not with us mentally. Plus you shut off that monitor when you heard my voice. Even though you know damn well, I have no idea what I’m looking at.”

  Dean exhaled and turned the monitor back on. “Our bacterium.” He showed the image. “I know it’s from the future, but Joe it is like nothing I have ever seen. It’s natural too. Made by nature. And the more I examine it, the more I am starting to think it’s viral.”

  “Viral?” Joe asked. “Does that mean it’s contagious?”

  “It could be. This image …. This bacterium. It’s changed. Our LEP are built to withstand the elements. Hank’s white blood cells are built to withstand infection. This … this is built to manipulate and change, to overcome and survive. To get stronger. This …” he tapped the screen. “Was from Robbie this morning.”

  “So it’s not the Rheumatic Fever he had.”

  “Oh, I think the Rheumatic fever is what compromised his immune system. Made him even more susceptible. I have a feeling it didn’t matter who it was, this bacterium was going to do its damage.”

  “So Hank’s blood isn’t working?” Joe asked.

  “Yes, it is. It’s is helping immensely. It’s battling the bacteria and keeping it at bay, but it’s not gone. It’s not defeated. Plus, looking at this image, this bacterium is adapting. Changing. We need to crush it in Robbie’s system. Robbie needs to help beat it too. Right now, even though he looks great, he was weakened by this.”

  “And I know we can’t keep giving him Hank’s blood.”

  “Hank can only supply so much. We are working to try to replicate it, that will take time,” Dean said. “We need to boost it internally on Robbie. I’m thinking bone marrow transplant.”

  Joe nodded. ‘That makes sense.”

  “The engraftment from the transplant, meaning it taking hold can happen as soon as one day or as long as thirty.”

  “Will the infection … change by then.”

  “It’s possible. We’ll keep hitting him with anti-infection and what we can give him from Hank. Ideally, Hank would be the best, But he’s not a match. Technically he has a different mother. . Know Joe, I am doing everything I can.”

  “I know. I know. So … we all need to get tested to see if we’re a match.”

  “I have samples here,” Dean said. “I already ran match tests on you, Hal and Jimmy. I should have results in an hour.”

  Joe crinkled is brow. “What about Frank?”

  “I can try, but I doubt it. Hal or Jimmy is the best bet.”

  “I don’t understand,” Joe said.

  Emotionally exasperated, Dean looked down with a heavy exhale. “Come on, Joe. It’s slim. You know this and I know this. They may have the same mother. Frank may be a Slagel, but he isn’t your biological son.”

  The heavy silence of the moment was broken by the unexpected.

  Hal.

  “Oh my God.” Hal stood in the doorway.

  Dean closed his eyes tightly.

  “Son of a bitch.” Joe brought his hand to his face.

  “Father?” Hal stepped in.

  “Joe!” Jolting the moment even more was Danny Hoi when he rushed in. “Joe, Frank’s back. He’s on his way to the clinic.”

  Joe sighed out in relief. “Thank God. Is he okay?”

  “Jason said he is. Just dressed weird.”

  “Good. Good.” Joe nodded. ‘I’ll meet him in Robbie’s room. Thanks.” He walked toward the door.

  “Dad?” Hal stopped him.

  “Not now.”

  “When?”

  “That will be for me to decide, now won’t it.” Joe brushed by him.

  Hal collapsed against the doorframe. He peered at Dean. “All I want to know is if Frank is aware?”

  Dean shook his head. “No. And there is no reason to tell him. Is there?” After shutting off the monitor, Dean walked from the lab.

  <><><><>

  Robbie laughed as he looked at Frank’s phone. Frank leaned into him from the side of the bed. “That’s Dr. Vesna.”

  “She was like the Zera?” Robbie asked.

  “Yep.”

  “What are you wearing Frank?”

  “Prison clothes. I stopped and grabbed clothes from security on my way here. They smelled funny and were itchy.”

  Jimmy sulked. “I can’t believe you went to the future on a brother trip without me.”

  “It was last minute,” Frank said. “We tried to call you but you were sleeping. Oh! Oh!” Frank swiped picture.

  Robbie laughed high pitched and out of control.

  “These are the Elders,” Frank explained. “Look at the surprise look on their faces when I took the picture. Deer in the fucking headlights. I can’t wait to post this one on Hoi Book.”

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “Don’t you dare put that picture on Hoi Book.”

  “This one?”

  “Any of them.”

  “Why?” Frank asked.

  “Because they are from a future you weren’t supposed to be at.”

  “Oh.”

  “Did you post pictures already on Hoi Book?”

  “Um… no.”

  “Asshole, you did.” Joe waved a finger at him. “I know you did.”

  “Did you take any more?” Robbie asked. “Let me see.”

  “Oh, I took a bunch more.”

  “Where’s Chaka and Rufus?” Robbie questioned.

  “Chaka is gonna stay for a little and see his family. Rufus, I don’t know.” Frank shrugged. “I wanted to bring him back for Hal. But …” Frank looked at Hal. “Hey, Hal, you okay?”

  Hal sat quietly in a chair. “Yes, I’m just in thought. That’s all. And don’t try to read my mind, please.”

  “Knock. Knock.” Danny Hoi poked his head in. “Hey, Frank, I have someone I want you to meet.”

  Robbie lifted Frank’s phone to get a picture of Frank when he saw Hank.

  The reaction was not what anyone expected.

  “Frank,” Danny said. “This is Nine-B.”

  “Nunbee, huh?” He extended his hand. “Frank. Nice to meet you. Are you from Africa? The name sounds African.”

  “No,” Hank replied. “And they call me Hank here.”

  “Hank. Good name.” Frank stared then snapped his finger. “You look really familiar.”

  Robbie laughed loudly.

  “Have we met before. Because I know, I know you.” Frank pointed.

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “what the hell is the matter with you. He came from the future.”

  “Then I met him.”

  “No! You said he looks familiar?”

  “Yes.”

  “Familiar, Frank.”

  “Yes.”

  “Wanna know why?”

  “Because we met?”

  “No!” Joe shouted. “Because he’s a clone Dean made.”

  “Of?”

  “Who do you think?” Joe asked.

  “If I knew I wouldn’t ask.”

  “You.”

  Frank looked at Hank. “No. He looks nothing like me.”

  “Oh my God.” Joe brought this hand to his own face with a slap.

  Robbie laughed. He laughed so hard he started to cough. He coughed continuously.

  Frank spun to him. “You okay?”

  Robbie nodded, coughed again with a smile, then froze.

  There was a second of quietness, then he made a noise, a deep dry wheezing sound. No air was getting in our out of his lungs. He struggled again as his chest
arched out.

  “He can’t breathe,” Frank called out. “Get Dean! Get some one.” He leaned down to Robbie. “Calm. Calm. Look at me. Look at me little brother. It’s gonna be alright.”

  Robbie struggled to breathe his body jolting with every diligent attempt he gave.

  “Where’s Dean!” Frank yelled, then brought his voice to a calming one, he had one arm behind Robbie’s back bracing him as grabbed Robbie’s hand. “Look at me. Just watch me.” He felt Robbie’s fingers grip tightly around his.

  Robbie reached up his other hand. His eyes locked in a deep stare with Frank, his fingers trailed across Frank’s chin, a single tear rolled from the corner of his eye, as he strained a whispering, “Frank.”

  Silence.

  Robbie went motionless.

  A gut wrenching, “No!” came from Frank as his little brother went still in his hold. “No!” His hands reached frantically to feel for a pulse, then he pushed the bed flat.

  Dean was just walking out the door when Danny Hoi screamed his name.

  He ran as fast as he could to Robbie’s room and felt as if he were hit with baseball bat when he arrived at the room. He couldn’t breathe, or move and an instant ache radiated through his entire being.

  Joe stood gripping the foot of the bed. Jimmy faced the wall, arms folded tight to his body while Frank and Hal frantically performed CPR on Robbie.

  Dena spun around to get the crash cart just a few feet away, when he did, he slammed into Ellen.

  “What’s going on?” she asked rushed.

  “Get the PCRS.” Dean spoke fast. “Get the PCRS now!”

  “Oh my god, Robbie.”

  “Now, Ellen!” Dean grabbed the cart and wheeled it into Robbie’s room. “Watch out.” He moved the cart near the bed, whipped out his stethoscope and placed it to Robbie’s chest. He tossed it off, opened the top draw of the cart and grabbed a syringe. He injected the fluid into the IV line. He looked at Frank across the bed.

  “One second he was fine, the next…” Frank spoke through hyperventilated breathes. “He stopped breathing … he stopped. He just stopped.”

  Quickly Dean exposed the defibrillator and placed monitor pad on Robbie’s chest.

  A single tone emerged. After putting a bag valve mask on Robbie’s face, Dean returned to the defib. “Frank, do compressions while this gets read. Hal do the breaths...”

  Immediately, Frank and Hal began.

  “Paddles ready,” Dean approached Robbie.

  Behind him, he heard Joe. “My God this isn’t happening.”

  “Clear.” Dean placed the paddles on Robbie.

  His body jolted. He looked at the monitor.

  Nothing.

  “Again. Compressions.” Dean instructed and changed the voltage. “Ready. Stand back.” He brought them down. “Clear.”

  Click. Jolt. Nothing.

  “PCRS.” Ellen called out as she raced in. “Direct cardiac and intravenous…”

  “Direct one.” Dean held out his hand for the syringe,

  Ellen handed it to him. “Please, let this work.”

  Dean focused. He lifted the syringe, felt for the correct placement and delivered the PCRS.

  He waited.

  Still nothing.

  “Clear the room,” Dean said. “Everyone clear the room. I need space.”

  “I’m not leaving my brother,” Frank said.

  “Frank.” Hal called him.

  “I’m not leaving Robbie!”

  Dean lifted his eyes to Frank. “Compressions. Now.” He turned back to the defib and adjusted the voltage again.

  Thirty-six minutes. Joe knew this because he stood in the hall back against Robbie’s door, staring at the clock. He couldn’t be in there. His heart was crushed. Ellen sat on the floor with Jimmy. Danny Hoi paced. Hal kept going in and out.

  Joe held his position. He didn’t move.

  Andrea had arrived, she was emotionally unable to help Dean. She tried to give Joe comfort, but he didn’t want it. He didn’t want to be touched.

  He just stayed there listening.

  In his mind, he prayed. He prayed harder than he had ever done. “Please, God. Don’t take my son. Please don’t take my son.”

  It wasn’t happening, it couldn’t be real.

  “Please, God, not Robbie.”

  He listened to the sounds of the room. The noise of Frank delivering compressions. The clicking of the machine.

  Dean calling out commands. “Compressions. Clear. More PCRS. Compressions.”

  “No, no, no. God, please. No. Not my son. Not my son.”

  Joe knew no amount of prayers would make a difference. It was out of his hands. It was out of everyone’s hands.

  Thirty-six minutes.

  Dean reached for the machine again.

  “Compressions. I’ll try another round of PCRS.” His hand grabbed the paddle.

  “Dean,” Frank’s voice cracked.

  “Do compressions.”

  “Dean.” Frank grabbed his hand, stopping him. “He’s not coming back.” He shook his head emotionally. “He’s not … he’s gone.”

  Dean gripped the defibrillator tightly. Wanting to crush it. “How do I tell your father?” he lifted his eyes to Frank, speaking in a whisper. “How do I go out there and tell him? How do I look him in the eyes and tell him I couldn’t save his son? How do I look at anyone again? It was Robbie.” He took a deep breath, choking on his emotions. “God! I’m so sorry, Frank. I am so sorry.” His hand slammed down on the machine. Slowly he faced the bed and Robbie who lay peacefully. He removed the IV and the monitors, straightened the covers, and ran his hand down Robbie’s arm. “I’m sorry.” He turned and walked out.

  Frank gripped the edge of the bed, leaned down and placed his lips to Robbie’s forehead. “Goodbye Little Brother. I love you. I love you so much.” His eyes squeezed tighter when he heard the sob from the hallway. It was Hal.

  He didn’t hear Dean’s voice. Just the reaction.

  He felt their sobs, their heartbreak, he knew it because he was feeling it. He also, as a father, knew what it was going to do to his Dad.

  Frank heard Joe enter the room.

  “Can I…” Joe walked to the bed. “Can I have a moment with my son?”

  Frank nodded and stepped back.

  Slowly Joe approached the bed. He sat down, then lifted Robbie into his hold. Robbie’s back to his chest, Joe wrapped his arms around him tightly and embraced his son. “Oh Robbie.” Joe clutched him tightly, pressing his cheek to his. “My Robbie. What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do without you?”

  Danny Hoi was still there. He just couldn’t leave. His feet wouldn’t move, his body wouldn’t function. How? How could this happen? So fast. So unexpected.

  When Dean stepped into the hall, he said nothing. He just shook his head as the deliverance of the news. It was hard to watch what happened to the Slagels to that moment. Each and every one of them holding on to hope that somehow, someway, that machine would start beeping, That Dean would pull a miracle and bring Robbie back.

  He couldn’t.

  It was out of his hands.

  It was agonizing to watch Dean looking defeated. Danny expected Ellen to lose it, instead she handled it calmly, as if in shock. That would change, Danny was certain of it.

  The worst was when Joe walked in the room.

  A man who projected a wall of strength was broken.

  His sounds of heartbreak seeped into the hall and delivered the final crushing blow. Danny wanted to crumble. It hurt to hear Joe lose it.

  It was a huge loss. Not just to the family but the entire community.

  As second in charge, Danny knew it was his responsibility to step in. To inform every one of the tragic and incomprehensible loss Beginnings had just suffered.

  He knew he wouldn’t be able to speak the words without choking on his own emotions. Saying it made it real and more than anything, Danny didn’t want it to be real.

  Out of respect for Joe and
the Slagels, for the multitudes that loved Robbie, the news had to be shared.

  Danny thought of the best way to do it. A way to reach everyone, yet, Danny would never have to vocalize the words.

  He didn’t think much about it, after lifting his phone, he wrote from the heart and delivered the painful announcement.

  ‘Nothing will ever be the same. No smile will ever be as bright. The world just stopped spinning. Robbie Slagel … has passed away.’

  <><><><>

  NEXT UP: AFTERMATH

  AFTERMATH

  Beginnings Book 29

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘Nothing will ever be the same. No smile will ever be as bright. The world just stopped spinning. Robbie Slagel … has passed away.’

  Danny Hoi wrote those words.

  They came from the heart without having to think about them, that was how he felt..

  He wrote the message to tell all those who lived in Beginnings and her provinces the news of the tragedy.

  He had recreated the powerful tool of social media and he wanted that news to be out as fast as possible. Plus, Danny didn’t want to speak the words. He found he couldn’t utter the simple sentence, “Robbie is dead.”

  As hard as the news was, the words came easy …. Sending the message was another story.

  How long did Danny hover his thumb over the word ‘post’? Each time he believed he would do it, he peered up to another person whose heartache hit him like a tidal wave.

  Danny was there, not in the room when Robbie left the world, but he was in the middle of it all.

  Standing outside the door with Robbie’s family. Waiting for the news that the incredible Dr. Dean Hayes had saved Robbie.

  Waiting for that moment when they could all exhale and say, ‘whew that was close.’ Or ‘that was scary.’

  That moment never came.

  Dean emerged from the room after what seemed like hours, sadly shook his head and without making eye contact with anyone, briskly walked away.

  No one followed Dean.

  No one could move.

  Danny wanted to scream. He wanted to shout out, ‘how could this be?”

  It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real. He kept repeating in his mind until he walked by the room and after a quick shift of his eyes he saw Robbie.