Disclaimer: This original story is not authorized or endorsed by Warner Bros, ABC, Lors Thornwald Inc, Edelson Productions, William Schmidt, or anyone else having rights to "Prey". It is not intended infringe on any rights or copyright and is not written for profit. Any characters not recognizable from the series "Prey" belong to the author.
"I got rid of most of the mess" Alex stuffed the last bit of debris into the trash basket. "And Room Service will be up in a little while to get the cart. So, what got you so worked up anyhow?"
Steve tore his eyes off the sleeping figure and strode over to Alex. Grabbing him by the arm, he dragged him closer to the door and away from Tom.
"Shhh! I don't want to wake him. I think he just fell asleep and I want to make sure he stays that way for a while. Look, I've been under a lot of pressure with this assignment. You of all people should understand that. I got no sleep last night and before I even had anything to eat, I had to run around this god-forsaken country looking for a store that carries the remedies I needed for him. All I expected from you was a little cooperation, but did I get it? No! First you gave me a-song-and-a-dance about coming over here. Then, when you did, I couldn't get you to pry yourself away from the TV. I was the one who was cold and tired, not you and yet you told me to shut up. Me!!! I expected a little more from you, Alexander."
"I know." Alex dropped his head. "I lose my focus sometimes. You know that." He looked at Steve, his excuse almost child-like. "I didn't want him to stay up but he insisted on watching TV and talking to me. He actually seemed to, umm, ... to understand me. I never expected that from his kind, from a chameleon, that is. I guess I forgot the reason we're here. It won't happen again." Alex walked to the desk and lifted the phone receiver. "Do you want me to call Room Service back and order you something to eat?"
Steve cocked his head and studied Alexander's apologetic face, then softened his own. "No, that's OK. I'm going down to the restaurant for something. Can I trust you to stay with him while I'm gone and make sure he stays in bed this time?"
"Sure. But what do you want me to do if he wants to sit up again, like before?"
"You're bigger than he is. Sit on him if you have to." Steve added quickly, "I don't mean that literally. Look, if he gets up, let him only go to the bathroom but make sure he gets back in bed when he's done. He really needs to sleep a little more. I left his medicines on the night table. Give him another dose from the unsealed blue vial - three pellets - and then four pellets from the larger white bottle. That should help him sleep. And see if you can get another glass of water down him. Do you think you can do that much?"
"I think I can handle it. You planning on coming back any time soon?"
"No, I need to make a few phone calls. I'll probably go back to your room for that. Let me have your key."
Alex dug into his pocket and handed the cardkey over to Steve.
"I also want to get a street map from the shop downstairs," added Steve as he stuck Alex's key in his pocket.
"Why? Can't you use the Auto-Map in the car?"
"No. I want to see what hospitals are in the local
area. I should've gotten a map before I went out on my little excursion to Connecticut. I'll kick myself if I find there's a store five minutes from here."
"Why do you need to know where the hospitals are?"
Steve just motioned in Tom's direction.
"Oh, you think he's that bad? But, do you think it's a good idea to bring him to one?"
"Who said anything about bringing him to a hospital. I just want to know where they are, just in case ..." Steve let his voice trail off as he walked to the closet and grabbed his wallet and room key out of his coat pocket. He stepped out into the hall but turned back to Alex and said, "Don't forget what I said about watching him and remember, keep that TV low."
"No problem, boss."
Steve stuck his head back in the door. "And don't call me that!"
"OK ... boss, I mean ... Steve." Steve scowled at him and then closed the door. Alex listened to Steve's footsteps grow fainter as he walked down the hallway and laughed to himself. Steve might be tough and in charge of this operation, but he still enjoyed irritating him just the same. Come to think of it, though, he couldn't remember when he'd seen Steve this keyed up. Maybe he should really try to be more helpful. After all, the whole mission did depend on Steve's abilities and if he was too frazzled to make good decisions, then everything could fall apart. Just look at what happened to Tom Daniels already. Yeah, Alex thought, he'd just have to settle down, focus his mind on work, and be ready to do whatever Steve asked of him. After all, he owed his job to Steve and probably everything else. He would have to remember that from now on. If Steve failed, he did too. Then where would he go?
Alex walked over to the TV, turned it on low, then looked over at Tom. The guy was out cold and would probably stay that way for a while. He moved the chair so he could see Tom better and then sank into it and began to surf through the channels again.
***********************************
The sound of the lock being tripped woke Alex up and a glance at the door confirmed that Steve was back. He rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. He'd been asleep for almost two hours, which meant Steve had been gone for over three. He stood up as Steve motioned for him to come over to him.
"Is he asleep?" Steve said in a low voice.
"Yeah. He hasn't moved since you left." Alex confirmed.
"Not even to get a drink or anything?"
"No."
Steve walked past Alex and stood over Tom's bed, listening to the deep, rhythmic breathing. He turned to Alex who had followed him into the room. "I think maybe it's time he did wake up. He needs to move a little and I think it's time for some more medicine, anyway."
Sitting on the bed, Steve shook Tom's shoulder until he heard his breaths become shorter and more rapid. Soon, Tom moved, coughed a few times and rolled over.
Tom looked up to see a very blurry Steve looking down on him. He ran his hand over his head and stretched as he tried to figure out where he was. As he looked around the room, he started to remember what happened and finally dragged himself up to a sitting position.
"What did you give me? I feel like I've been hit by a truck." Tom squeezed the bridge of his nose with his fingers, hoping it would help clear his head. It didn't.
"You know what I gave you."
"Oh yeah, ... poison."
"You're still alive, if you haven't noticed. The poison comes later." Steve felt Tom's head with the back of his hand. "I can't believe you still have a fever." He reached over and grabbed the belladonna vial off the night table, shook three more pellets into the cap and handed it to Tom.
Tom eyed it for a second, then took it, tossing the pills into his mouth. He maneuvered the small, round pellets under his tongue so he could speak. "You're lucky I trust you," he said with a weak smile, as he handed the cap back to Steve.
"No, you're lucky that I care enough about you to take care of you."
Tom winced. "You sound like a Hallmark card."
"Hey, first you accuse me of trying to poison you and now you compare me to some over-emotional greeting card. You do like to live dangerously, don't you?" Steve replied as he capped the vial and set it on the night table.
"I call them as I see them," Tom laughed. Then he stretched around to grab for the water pitcher and almost knocked it over.
"Wait, I'll get that for you." Steve poured a glass of water and then reached for the bottle of chlorophyll.
"No, not that - just the water." Tom grimaced as he recalled the earthy taste of the dark green liquid.
"Chlorophyll first, then you get the plain water."
Tom took the glass in his hand and closed his eyes as he downed the contents. "Water. Now." he gasped as he handed the glass back to Steve.
"Some chameleon. It doesn't even taste that bad."
Steve chided as he filled the glass with clear water and handed it back to Tom.
"That's a matter of opinion. Chameleons are allowed to have their likes and dislikes too, you know. And I know that I don't like this." Tom swallowed the whole glass of water before coming up for air. "Besides, I don't see you drinking it," he wheezed, as he placed the glass on the table.
"I'm not the one who's sick. Now, while you're up, is there anything you need?"
"I could use the bathroom," Tom said as he started to toss the covers aside.
"OK." Steve looked up and saw Alex standing in front of the TV watching the news. "Alex, come over here and help Tom to the bathroom."
Tom grabbed Steve's arm. "No, not Alex. You."
"Why Tom, I can't believe you're that attached to me, "
Steve teased as he looked at Tom's hand on his arm and gave him a wink.
"I'm not!" Tom quickly pulled his hand off Steve's arm. "It's just that he won't leave me alone in there."
Steve looked at Alex and then backed at Tom and laughed. "Well, Mr. Daniels, I guess you've met your match." Motioning to Alex, he said, "Walk Tom to the bathroom but please, give him a little privacy this time."
"OK, bo ..., Steve, but don't blame me if he falls in there." Alex reached down and hauled Tom to his feet before Tom knew what was happening. The quick movement made him light-headed and, if it wasn't for Alex's strong arm holding him up, he would've fallen. "See?" Alex smirked.
"Just the same, leave him alone." Steve watched as the unlikely pair teetered their way to the bathroom and waited until he saw Tom close the door and lock it. Alex positioned himself outside the door, leaning against the wall, with his arms folded across his chest. At least Alex was being more cooperative than he'd been and Steve was grateful for that much.
Steve straightened Tom's bed and then sat on the bottom of it, watching TV, and waited for Tom to get back. All he wanted now was to fall into one of the large armchairs, put his feet up and watch TV for a couple of hours before bed. He had no idea how much rest he'd get tonight, but he didn't count on getting much.
*************************************
"Alex. It's me. ... Alex, are you with me? ... Wake up. I need you. Get over to the room. ... Now.... No! Don't go back to sleep. Alex! Get up! ... You awake now? ... Good, stay that way. ... Just listen to me. I said, get here now. ... Yes, right now! And bring the car keys." Steve hung up the phone and went to open the door. He peeked down the hall and saw Alex's door opening. Good. At least he learned something after their earlier talk.
Alex stumbled down the hall, his hair tousled and plastered to one side of his head. His eyes were slits.
"What's the matter?" croaked the dazed man. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Ssshhhh! Of course I do!" Steve whispered, reaching up to cover Alex's mouth. He grabbed Alex's arm and yanked him in the room, locking the door behind him.
"I need you to stay with Tom while I run out."
"Again? Where are you going now?" Alex strained to see into the alcove where the beds were. "Is he worse?"
"Yes. He's worse. I have to get more medicine."
"At this hour? I doubt if that store is open now."
"It isn't," Steve said as he donned his coat. "I'm not going to the store. I'm going to the hospital."
"I hate to tell you this, Steve, but I doubt if they're going to give you medicine for him. Doesn't he have to go there himself?"
"Alex, listen for a minute. I'm going to the hospital to get the drugs he needs. I'm not going to ask them if I can have them. Understand?"
"Oh. You're going to steal them?"
"I have to. There's no other way to get them without leaving a trail."
Alex tiptoed toward Tom's bed and stared at him. He called to Steve in a loud whisper, "He doesn't sound any worse. Why don't you wait 'til tomorrow. He might be better in the morning."
"No. I need to get the drugs now. It'll be easier to get in and out at night anyway. Look, I'm going. Give me the car keys and then lock the door behind me. I'll let myself back in. Go head and take my bed for now."
Walking back to the bed, Alex just shook his head. Things were moving a little too fast for him. He stood over Tom and touched his head. It was hot but, then again, he'd been hot all day. Well, Steve probably knew what he was doing. After all, he did check out those hospitals earlier, in case Tom got worse, so he must've been expecting this. There was nothing else to do until Steve got back, so Alex crawled into the other bed and fell asleep.
******************************************
Something was tickling his arm and Tom tried to brush it away but his hand was shoved aside. He pried open one eye and tried to focus it. He saw a black figure leaning over him. O god, not another nightmare, he prayed, and forced his other eye open. As his eyes became ccustomed to the low light, he was able to discern who the figure was.
"Steve?" he mumbled through dry, parched lips. "What are you doing?"
"Giving you a shot." Steve got Tom's sleeve up over his elbow and started to swab his upper arm with an alcohol wipe.
"A shot? The health food store sells that too?" Tom tried to sit up to see what Steve was doing when he felt a small prick in his skin.
Steve pushed him back down with his elbow. "Hold still, will you?" he chastised, as he injected the contents of the needle into Tom's arm. "You're worse than a kid."
Tom raised an eyebrow at Steve's remark. "You know, I was sleeping a minute ago and now I have no idea why you just did that. Am I allowed to ask what's going on?"
Steve put the empty syringe on the night table, swabbed the entry point, and then pulled Tom's sleeve down. "Your fever skyrocketed and the homeopathic drugs weren't working fast enough. You needed something stronger. Antibiotics. Special ones that had to be blended for you. So I got them from the hospital."
Tom looked at him. "They wouldn't just give them to you." Tom looked at the time on the alarm clock. "Not at this hour." He thought a little. "Not at any hour - you stole, them, didn't you."
"Could you think of another way?" Steve paused as he waited for Tom's reply. None came. "I thought so. It wouldn't be the first time you had to do something like this either. Right?"
Their species had to do a lot of unorthodox and unpleasant things to survive in a human world, stealing being the least of them. Just the same, Tom was never comfortable when he had to do it, anymore than he was comfortable with this. He grabbed Steve's arm. "What if you had been caught or followed? You might've put yourself and the whole mission in danger for the sake of one person."
"I did what I had to do - for the sake of the mission. You are part of the mission and we need you." Steve stood up and looked at Alex sound asleep in his bed, and decided to let him stay there. "I'm going next door to sleep in Alex's room. That injection also has a sedative in it so you should sleep pretty good. I'll see you tomorrow."
Tom watched as Steve grew hazy before his eyes. He started to ask how Steve knew so much about medicine but the sedative was acting quickly. He barely heard Steve's reply that Tom had forgotten that he was a Jack of all trades. Steve got up, collected the syringe and his other paraphernalia, and then walked wearily down to Alex's room. Maybe he could get a few hours of sleep with what was left of the night.
*********************************
The curtains were drawn tight against the bright, afternoon sun and the room took on a strange eeriness as thin shards of light hit the walls and furniture creating sharp angles and patterns against the shadows. Steve sat on the edge of Tom's bed and poured water into an ice bucket. He swished it around with the ice already in there, chilling the water thoroughly, while Alex just paced nervously back and forth between the alcove and the bathroom, not sure of what to do. He stopped every other lap to see what was going on with Steve.
"Alex, give me that bottle of alcohol on the dresser, will you, and then bring me a bath towel and a face cloth." Steve reached for the alcohol bottle Alex offered him and poured it into the ice water. Alex watched for a moment and then walked into the bathroom.
"Here's the towel and face cloth." Alex handed the items to him and watched as Steve soaked the face cloth in the alcohol mixture. "Why are you doing that?"
"His fever's still too high. He needs an alcohol bath which will hopefully bring it down." Steve explained. Then he pulled Tom upright and yanked off his shirt. He then gently laid him back on the pillows and covered him with the towel. He squeezed out the cloth and pulled down one side of the towel, exposing half of Tom's chest. He began to wipe Tom's burning body with the cloth and watched as his skin quivered into goose bumps. Steve had to hold him down once the cold cloth hit his skin but soon Tom's struggling stopped as his body became accustomed to the cooling relief of the alcohol.
Once he was done with the left side, Steve dried Tom off, covered that side with the towel and exposed his right side for the same treatment. Steve kept that up until he felt Tom's body temperature go down. Then he put the cool cloth on his forehead and let it stay there.
"I don't understand how he got so sick. He wasn't outside that long." Alex ran both his hands through his hair. Things like this made him nervous. He functioned a lot better when things went as planned. That's why he liked working with Steve. He was good at what he did and things always went the way they should. Until now, that is.
"Look, if you're just going to hover over me like that, I'd prefer if you just went outside for a while. Take a walk, then have something to eat downstairs. The restaurant will probably be still serving lunch for a while. You can bring me a turkey sandwich and some coffee when you're ready to come back." Steve motioned toward the closet. "Go grab the room key and some money out of my coat and take off for now. I can do this better if you weren't here anyway."
That was the first thing Alex heard Steve say that appealed to him. He ran to the closet and searched Steve's coat for his wallet. "Should I get something for Tom when he wakes up?" he called to Steve before leaving the room.
"No. And, take your time." Then Steve turned back to Tom as he heard the door click shut. He removed the cloth from Tom's forehead which had now grown warm He refreshed it in the alcohol before placing it back on Tom's head and then lightly tapped Tom's cheek. "Let's go, Tom, wake up," he said. "Come on, you can do it."
***********************************
Tom looked around at the stark, sterile-looking room. He was sitting in a chair, shirt off , with his arms strapped down to the arms of the chair. Another strap around his chest prevented any further movement. It was tight ... too tight, and he struggled to breathe. A guard, or a doctor, Tom's couldn't be sure who it was, had just given him an injection of who-knows-what and he felt the liquid burn a path up his arm. He was trying to piece together where he was and then, in an instant, he knew.
There she was - the one he hated - pacing the room, like a hungry tiger, sizing up her prey, impatient for the hunt to begin. She was smoking a cigarette and blowing the smoke in his face. Funny. He'd never seen her smoke before, but her smoke was stinging his throat and making it even more difficult to breathe.
She leaned down, holding the cigarette dangerously close to his eyes and laughed at him. He hated being laughed at, especially by her. He strained at the leather bands holding him locked to the chair and prayed he could get just one arm free. That's all he would need. He'd have her in an instant, before she even knew what was happening. He envisioned his hand choking that bony, gaunt neck of hers and silencing her voice forever. But no matter how hard he squirmed, he could not free his arm and the drugs were making him too weak to keep fighting the straps any longer.
"So, Tom. What do you know of Lewis' whereabouts?" She was pacing the room again. She paused to look at him. "What? Nothing comes to mind? Come on, you can't still possibly have any loyalty to him now? Not after he reprogrammed you to kill Dr. Parker. And, not to mention what he put you through before that."
"He escaped, remember? How should I know where he went," Tom glared at her.
"Yes, but you must have some idea of what escape route he would take. Some alternate safe house. Your kind would never do things without having a back-up plan." She kneeled close to his face and ran a long, manicured nail down his cheek. "We can do this hard way or the easy way, you know. It's up to you, Tom."
"Apparently, nothing is up to me. If it was up to me, you'd be dead where you stand."
"Oh, are you threatening me, Tom?" She dug her nail into his cheek. "Well, you're right about one thing. You're not calling the shots here. I am." She caught the eye of one of the guards and nodded to him. Immediately, he took the room in two strides and smacked Tom across the face so hard that he fell into unconsciousness.
Once again, she repeated her questions to Tom, not realizing he was incapable of answering her. When she got no response, none of his usual sarcastic retorts, she motioned to the guard.
The guard stooped to look at Tom's face and then shook his head. "He's out."
"Well, wake him up. I'm not done yet. It cost me enough money and manpower to get my hands on these drugs and he's not going to sleep through them."
The guard grabbed a bucket of ice water from the corner of the room and flung it at the unconscious man. Tom sputtered as the water forced its way up his nose and down his throat, threatening to choke him. As he felt his awareness return, he kept his eyes closed, trying evaluate his situation. He body was still restrained but as he pulled at his arm straps, he found that his right arm was now loose. The water had probably stretched the leather enough for him to move. He slowly worked his hand free as he studied her through barely-opened eyes. She was finally getting close enough for him to grab. "Take your time," he told himself. "Don't rush. You have only one shot at this, so make it count."
Tom barely breathed as he watched her come closer to him. He didn't so much as blink as she bent down and grabbed his face in her hand, yanking it up so she could see into his eyes. When she did that, Tom's eyes flew open, catching her by surprise. In another second, he had her by the throat, wringing the life out of her with all the strength he had left. Yet, despite the fact that he was crushing her windpipe, he could still hear her call his name. Could nothing shut this woman up? He squeezed harder but the voice only grew louder.
*****************************************
"Tom. Tom, not again! Tom, stop this." Steve was fighting to keep Tom down on the bed and at the same time preventing him from breaking his arm. Tom had a death-like grip on Steve's forearm and it was getting tighter with every second that passed. If he couldn't break Tom's grip, Steve was going to have to knock him out and he didn't want to do that, now that he'd practically gotten him awake.
Tom eyes sprung open as his name grew louder in his head and he realized it wasn't 'her' voice any longer nor was this still his dream. His grip released instantly as he recognized Steve practically sitting on him. He looked around in a daze and realized that he'd had another nightmare. And the second one that he now could remember.
"Steve?" he said, his voice barely audible and still hoarse from the sedative he had been given.
"Yes, the one and only." Steve lifted himself off Tom and sat down on the other bed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Tom may be sick but he was still strong and extremely determined to kill whatever ghosts showed up to haunt him. "You know, Tom. We have to stop meeting like this. Alex is going to wonder about us."
"Sorry. I don't know why this is happening."
"Yes, you do." Steve said matter-of-factly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you know you have unresolved issues concerning what happened to you and apparently they are not going to go away until you face them. I hate to see you struggle with them this way."
"I'm not struggling with them." Tom voice was somewhat clearer and more defensive. "I must just be hallucinating from the fever and whatever voodoo medicines you've been pumping into me."
"Voodoo medicines? Hey, those medi ... "
Tom cut him off. "Look, I appreciate what you've done for me. But, like I told you before, I have a few 'scars' that will take some time to heal. Besides, I thought you said you understood."
"What I understand is that your 'scars' are beginning to show up on my body." Steve pushed up his sleeve and extended his arm to examine the dark bruises Tom had left on it.
"I did that?"
"Well, I didn't do it to myself." Steve pulled his sleeve down, then shifted back to Tom's bed and touched Tom's arm. "Look, I know how this must make you feel, but there's no reason to be embarrassed at what you're going through. No one thinks less of you for it. I'm sure that Sloan and your other friends, as I do, only view it as a testimony of your strength, that you were able to survive the treatment they gave you. Only you seem to feel it's a weakness."
"I do not have a weakness!" Tom pushed himself up on his elbows, his survival instincts starting to kick in.
"You're right. You don't. I didn't say that. But, you do have a problem. It's normal for anyone, even among our species, to end up with problems after undergoing what you did. But you can't seem to convince yourself of that, can you? Maybe it hurts your ego to find out that you're not as tough as you thought? Well, Mr. Daniels, I hate to tell you this, but you're no better than the rest of us. You're not perfect, so stop acting like you are."
"I am not acting like that." Tom gritted his teeth.
"Then admit you have a problem."
Tom felt his blood boil. Why won't this man just leave him alone? Why was he pushing him like this? Did he really want to see Tom shut him up? Because Tom would, if he kept at him. Even with his fever, he was sure he still had enough strength to whip Steve. Look what he did to his arm, and he was asleep at the time. Tom allowed his eyes to glaze over from blue to steel, as he started to get up from the bed, attention focused on Steve.
"Hey, don't get mad at me!" Steve was on his feet in an instant, feeling his own instincts rising to meet Tom's threat and managed to push Tom back down against the pillows. "I am not your enemy and there's no need to get defensive. I am not a threat to you because I found this out. I am your 'blessing in disguise'. So, settle down and let's think about this rationally. You are having a normal reaction to what you went through and you are not weak because you were affected by it. It is not a weakness. Say it!"
Tom narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists, preparing to silence Steve once and for all. But Steve was quicker than he was and put his knee into Tom's chest, holding him down. A wave of coughing ensued as Tom gasped for air and Steve let up on him. Tom glared at Steve but soon his eyes returned to normal and his anger faded as he realized he wasn't going to be able to fight this anymore.
Tom averted his eyes from Steve steady gaze and said in a resigned voice, "It is ..., it is a weakness. Look what it's doing to me."
"That's because you're allowing it. But, look, we're making progress already." Steve sought out Tom's face and forced him to look at him. "You just admitted to me that you at least have a problem. A day ago you would've killed me or anyone else for saying that, let alone admitting it yourself to someone else."
Tom blinked several times as he digested the meaning of Steve's words. Maybe he was right. A few days ago, he almost turned on Sloan for pushing him to admit it. "So, where do I go from here?"
"Actually, you just came pretty far. Admitting it was a big step for you. Now we have to get you to realize that it's a not a weakness, not at least, in the shameful way you think it is. Of course, you are particularly stubborn, even for a chameleon, and who knows how long it will take. But, I think this was a good start."
Tom gave Steve a weak smile. "I guess we need to add 'psychiatrist' to your list of many talents. We may just have to change your name permanently to 'Jack'.
Steve mulled that around for a minute and then said, "Yeah, but then I'd have to change my last name to Ofalltrades. It lacks a certain savoir-faire, don't you think? I think I'll just keep my own name. Besides, 'Hart' has so much ... heart. Just like me." Steve grinned.
"I'd say heartless was more like it." Tom replied.
"Well, you must be feeling better since you're starting to take cheap shots at me again." Steve leaned over and felt Tom's cheek. "Hmm-m, you're a little cooler, but you still have a fever. I thought that the alcohol bath would've brought it down more than that. Maybe you need another one."
"Alcohol bath?" Tom looked at himself and noticed for the first time that his shirt was gone and his chest was covered with a towel. A wet face cloth that smelled strongly of rubbing alcohol lay next to him on the bed. Well, at least he understood why he was dreaming about being doused with a bucket of ice water. "Can we hold off with that for a while?"
"If you want. I guess you've been through enough. But you'll have to take more of this antibiotic." Steve reached for another syringe and unwrapped it. "I only took injectable medications. Sorry. But, they're easier for me to mix into the combinations you need and much simpler to administer if you were unconscious." With that, Steve filled the syringe, swabbed Tom's arm and injected the clear liquid. "We might as well give you the homeopathic remedies along with the antibiotics. It can't hurt."
"OK, but not that green stuff again." Tom wrinkled his nose at the thought of drinking the vile green water. He did, however, consent to take the belladonna and another glass of plain water.
"Fine." Steve didn't bother pushing the chlorophyll. Hopefully the antibiotics would do their job. Then he helped Tom on with his shirt. "Do you feel like eating anything?"
"No, not really. I feel like I need to go to sleep again. My last nap wasn't particularly restful, especially after some sadist decided to send my body into shock with an ice bath."
"Very funny. Well, the sleep will be good for you. Besides, with you out, I'll be able to concentrate on some of the legal issues that are bound to come up in our meeting with Mr.Nkounkou. I only have about a week to get it ready. One of us still has to do the work around here."
"Legal issues? Don't tell me you're a lawyer, too."
"Sort of."
Tom laughed as he found himself drifting off to sleep. "A doctor, a lawyer. Next he'll be telling me he's an Indian chief."
Steve raised an eyebrow at Tom. "Enough already. Go to sleep." But Tom had already done just that.
**************************************
The next day was rough on Tom and for the first time since he'd gotten sick, he thought he might not pull through. Still in the grip of the fever, he asked Steve for a favor.
"Promise me you'll let Sloan know what happened to me in case I don't pull through this. I don't want her to wonder for months where I am or why I didn't return."
"Hey, don't get melodramatic on me, Tom. You're just sick, not dying." But Steve wasn't absolutely sure about that and he knew Tom had sensed it. "Besides, why wait until you're dead. Give her a call now. It could actually be good for you." With that, Steve got up and rummaged through Tom's coat for his cell phone.
"Alex installed the dampening devise from the car in his room and it's been on the whole time we've been here. No one, if indeed there is anyone in the area looking for us - which I doubt will be able to pick up your signal and trace it. So, Sloan will be safe," he assured Tom as he handed him the phone.
Tom looked at the key pad on his phone but had a hard time focusing on the numbers. He looked up at Steve and asked him if he could put Sloan's number in for him.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Tom. That's her private number. Her whereabouts could be traced through it."
"But you just told me it couldn't be traced with the equipment dampening the field."
"That's right. But, if you give me Sloan's number, it won't be private anymore."
Tom smiled weakly at Steve, "I think Sloan and I can trust you after everything you've done for me."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence but I wouldn't trust myself with it. There's no doubt that you would choose to die first before you'd reveal it to anyone. Your stay at the facility proved that. But, I'm not so sure about myself. I've never been tortured or even grilled over, except by you, that is. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to Sloan because I revealed her location." Then, Steve reached down and held Tom's hand steady for him so he could see the numbers clearer. "So, just take your time and concentrate on what you're doing."
Tom blinked his eyes to clear them after each key that he pressed, but finally Sloan's number was in and he could hear the phone ringing. He smiled at his achievement. However, he realized that he had no idea what he was going to say to her once she answered.
"Hello?" Sloan's voice glided through the receiver and clung to Tom's ear in a verbal caress.
"Sloan?" Tom took a deep breath as his voice caught in his throat. "It's me. Tom."
Steve motioned to Tom that he was leaving the room now and soon Tom heard the door close. He was alone with Sloan. At last.
"What's wrong, Tom. We agreed that you wouldn't call unless things were serious. Are you OK? Your voice sounds strange."
"Must be the dampening equipment we're using to mask the call. Nothing is wrong. I'm fine," Tom lied through his teeth. He realized that he couldn't tell her the truth. There was nothing she could do about it anyway and it would only make her worry all the more. "The ambassador's aide got pulled to another assignment and had to cancel the meeting until next week. I wanted to give you a call while I had the time."
"Your meeting canceled?"
"That's right. For the past few days we've been guests at a hotel with great room service and pay TV, courtesy of Steve's expense account."
"So, you and Steve are on vacation while Walter, Ed and I are slaving away getting the lab set up! What's wrong with this picture?" Sloan laughed.
It was good to hear her laugh, thought Tom. How he missed that sound and the warm smile that usually followed it. He closed his eyes as his mind drew a picture of her from memory, taking the extra time needed to add that rich fullness to her lips and the sparkle in her eyes. When it was done, all he could do was take a deep breath and hold it, before he was able to speak again.
"I miss you, Sloan. I almost wish I hadn't come. I want to be there with you, making sure you're safe."
"I miss you, too." Tom heard the catch in her voice and smiled. A few seconds of silence passed before Sloan was able to compose herself again. "Hopefully, things will go well and you can come home soon. Do you have any idea of how long these meetings will take?"
"No. But, if it's going to be a while, I'll try to fly home for a visit."
"I'd like that, Tom. Or maybe I could come there."
"I don't think that's a good idea. You could be followed and I'd hate to put you in danger."
Sloan laughed. "I'd be fine. You should see all the security Ray's been setting up around the lab. Once we all find new places to live, he's going to extend it to cover those as well. I doubt that I'll be able to go to the bathroom without an armed escort."
Tom winced. It was way too real an image for him.
"So, what have you been doing with yourself, now that you're a man of leisure?" Sloan teased.
"Just relaxing. I saw movie with Alex the other day ... Independence Day."
"Alex? Who's that?"
"The driver who met us at the airport. He's a strange sort of guy but likable. I'll tell you all about him when I see you."
"So, how did you like the movie?"
"It wasn't bad. Very imaginative." Tom threw out the bait to Sloan. Would she take it?
"Imaginative? Don't tell me you actually had to use the imagination you swore you didn't have."
Tom laughed to himself. Sloan now opened the door for him to brag a little. "I think I do have one after all." Then, he went on to relate to her what he thought about New York City, about the fireworks he'd seen from a distance, and his view of the universe. Of course, his dreams, the most imaginative part of all, remained his secret.
"My, you have come far. This is the same Tom Daniels I used to know, right?"
It delighted Tom that she was impressed by his recent forays into the world of fantasy and daydreams. He was going to add a few more details that he'd missed when he saw the time on the alarm clock on his night table. He couldn't stay on much longer. The electronic damper would only mask his call for just so long, before they risked penetration. He'd have to hurry. He wanted Sloan to know how he felt about her before he had to end the call.
"Sloan, I lov ...." Suddenly, Tom was caught in a coughing spasm and nothing he could do would stop it. He held his hand over the receiver, trying to prevent Sloan from getting the brunt of it.
"Tom, Tom. What is that? Are you OK?" The panic in Sloan's voice streaked across the miles and stung at Tom. This was the last thing he wanted to do - to upset her. He tried desperately to regain control of himself. He reached for his water and forced down a swallow. Hopefully that would help.
"I'm fine," he rasped. "I took a drink of water and it just went down wrong. Sorry."
"Oh. You had me worried for an instant. I thought you were sick or something."
"Sick? I'm too tough for that," he lied, again. It was getting way too easy to lie to Sloan but he was afraid of the truth right now. If he made it through this, he would tell her the truth. Every word of it. He looked again at the clock. He was running quickly out of time.
"Sloan, I have to go now."
"What were you saying? Before you started choking." Sloan's voice sounded desperate.
Tom smiled and he knew she wanted to hear it as much as he wanted to say it. "I said ... I love you," his voice almost a whisper.
"I love you too," replied Sloan. Her heart pounding harder at the sound of those words.
Tom felt the intensity of her feelings, right through the phone and allowed her love to drench him. His body absorbed it like a tonic. And it was a tonic for him - one only Sloan could give. Already he was feeling better. It was then and there that he knew he would get well, even if he had to forcibly will himself that way.
"I have to go." he sighed reluctantly. "I've stretched the electronic masking to its limits. I'll try to call you again but hopefully I'll be home before that occurs."
"I hope so, too. I'll be waiting for you."
Tom closed the connection and smiled. This had been the best remedy yet. He would have to thank Steve for suggesting it. But, as rejuvenating as the sound of Sloan's voice had been for him, he was still not out of the woods. He tossed his phone on the night table as a wave of tiredness swept over him. He snuggled down under the covers and fell asleep instantly.