by Alanea Alder
“You know, if you keep giving me looks like that, you’re going to give me low self-esteem. I’m smart, I went to college and nursing school. Give me some credit.” Felix glared at his mate.
“Sorry, you were just so hot right then my brain got stuck,” Claybourne admitted.
“Well when you put it like that, entirely okay.” Felix leaned in and kissed his mate.
“Okay, so Brayburn was the first reported case. Then Damian, then Ma. They all were sick enough to search me out on the same day. Brayburn is worse off due to her age. Whatever this is, it zaps your strength and she didn’t have a lot to begin with. It affects only shifters, regardless of animal group, not humans or vampires. Epinephrine has no effect at all. We tested on Brayburn and then later on Damian. It didn’t even increase the heart rate, which is a physical impossibility.” Claybourne read from his list.
“It has an incubation time between twenty-four and forty-eight hours. It hits hard and fast, like it means to kill,” Felix said. Claybourne looked up sharply. His small mate’s keen perceptions always seemed to contradict his sometimes spastic behavior. But he had to admit that his mate was truly brilliant. Felix simply didn’t care what people thought about him and said whatever popped into his head.
“Why do you say that?” he asked. Felix put his notes down.
“Most illnesses don’t hit this quick. The way this one affects the host. Makes it weak and tired. Not many people would go to the doctor for that, they would just go to bed. Once in bed this thing has eight to twelve hours to really spread. When they wake up and still aren’t feeling well they may go to the doctor, but there are no visible symptoms. You examined all three and came up with the same diagnosis that I would have. Dehydrated and run down. So we advise them to go home and get more rest. This thing has another eight to twelve hours to spread, but this time with a fever to further weaken the body. By the time we begin to administer more fluids and Tylenol, this thing has a solid foothold. But by then it’s too late, they are too weak to fight this off.” Felix shook his head. “I’m just guessing,” he said.
“No, that’s good. It’s really good. But we caught it, we had three people come down with it at the exact same time, which put us on alert. That alone may have saved the town.” Claybourne put his notebook down.
“Where did it come from though?” Felix asked.
“Field Day. Everyone started to get sick after Field Day,” Claybourne said, slapping his notebook. He just knew it had to be something at Field Day.
“What could have infected such a wide range of people?” Felix thought out loud.
Claybourne looked down at his empty plate.
“The food. I bet it was something in the food at Field Day,” Claybourne said excitedly.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.
“Benedict, I need you to do something. See if you can track down any of the food served at Field Day if there is any left. Bag it, label it, and leave it in the fridge at the clinic. Yeah, thanks.” Claybourne ended the call.
“Do you think they’ll find something?” Felix asked.
“I don’t know but it’s a start.” Claybourne finished eating his sandwich and stood to throw his plate away. Felix handed him his empty plate too.
“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Rebecca said, walking into the lounge.
“What did you find?” Claybourne asked.
“It’s a virus. A really nasty virus. But there’s something weird about it. It doesn’t act right. Normally, a virus hits the body and goes out to conquer, converting or reproducing using everything in its path. Under the microscope I swear I saw the virus wait for a large group of white blood cells to drift by then attack. It actually looked like it attacked.” She collapsed onto the couch, rubbing her back. Claybourne immediately went to her side.
“You overdid it. Please tell me you weren’t on that microscope all day?” he begged, rubbing her back for her.
She let out a happy sigh. “Off and on, yes. But I had to. Ma is sick, and the more we know about this thing the faster she can get better.” She looked at Claybourne, who had stopped rubbing her back, and turned to Felix.
“What? What’s that look for?” she demanded. Claybourne sat up and took Rebecca’s hand. He began to explain about Brayburn. Claybourne’s heart broke as he watched her put all of the pieces together.
“Ma is dying, isn’t she?” she asked, crying brokenly into his shoulder.
“Not yet. With what you have discovered plus our theories, we made real strides today in trying to track down what this thing is,” Claybourne reassured her. There was a knock at the door and Ms. Tully walked in with red eyes.
“Doctor, I think it’s time,” she said softly.
“Oh no. No!” Rebecca cried. Ms. Tully went to the younger woman and held her close.
“Do what you have to do, Doc, I’ve said my good-byes. She’s no longer there, it’s just a shell now. She’s finally going to be able to see her mate again. Let’s not keep them apart any longer,” Ms. Tully said, comforting the crying Alpha Mother. Claybourne could only imagine how overwhelmed with grief and fear the small human was. She loved Aleks’s Ma like a second mother.
Claybourne stood and straightened his shoulders. He headed out the door to the small gym. Felix followed behind him. Claybourne gently began to unhook everything. He explained in a soft voice to a patient that could no longer hear him what he was doing. Claybourne leaned in and kissed the woman’s forehead in the same gesture that he had done not two days ago. He heard a soft click and the respirator stopped. The steady beep of the heart rate monitor was cut short when Claybourne turned off the machine.
“Edith Brayburn. Time of death six thirty-three p.m.,” Claybourne choked out, and covered the woman’s face with the sheet.
Chapter 6
That night news of Ms. Brayburn’s death hung in the gym like a foreboding miasma. Everyone was quiet, some huddled together, crying for the friend they had lost. More patients were being brought in which meant that their theory about the twenty-four hour to forty-eight hour incubation period was wrong. Claybourne made his rounds, administered more Tylenol, and checked to make sure those who were getting weaker weren’t exhibiting new symptoms.
Felix did what he could to help, but it was like pouring water through a sieve. Without knowing the cause, they were just fighting against time.
“Doc! Doc! Please help!” Liam’s voice shouted as he carried Sebastian in, Kent frantic beside him.
“What happened?” Claybourne demanded, running up and directing them to one of the cots.
“He said he was tired and went to bed early last night. Everything has been so crazy and he hadn’t shown any symptoms before, we didn’t think anything of it. This morning he was still sleeping so Kent and I snuck downstairs for a conference call with Grandfather, and when we went back upstairs he was still asleep, he hadn’t moved. He is in and out of it,” Liam explained, tears dripping from his chin.
“This is all my fault!” Kent exclaimed. Liam turned to his other mate and pulled him into his arms.
“No it’s not! We both missed it.” Liam’s voice broke.
“It’s not your fault, stop blaming yourselves,” Sebastian said from the cot. Liam and Kent were instantly on their knees beside their mate.
“We won’t, but you have to get better,” Liam tried to bargain. Felix felt himself begin to shake. He couldn’t lose Sebastian, he was his only family.
“Tylenol, IV, blankets! I’ll…I’ll get them, hold on!” he yelled. He ran over to the supply station and stared in shock at how little they had. He grabbed what he needed and turned around to race back to Sebastian when he ran into Claybourne’s chest. Claybourne reached out, took the supplies from his hands, and put them back on the table.
“It’s okay, Felix,” Claybourne said.
“No, he’s my friend. He needs me. I can’t lose my shit now,” Felix said and couldn’t stop the sobs.
“No! I don’t have time for this.” Felix struggled in Claybourne’s arms, trying to get back to Sebastian.
“Shuush. Baptista is setting up his IV. Love, look at your hands, you wouldn’t be able to stick him without hurting him. You have been there for everyone, let us handle this for you,” Claybourne whispered. Felix sagged against his mate.
“I can’t lose him, I can’t,” Felix whispered over and over again. Claybourne rubbed his back.
“Come on, let’s go see him. He’s worried about you.” Claybourne pulled his mate back over to where Sebastian lay looking small and weak.
“I hope you don’t think you’re to try getting a needle in me, Felix, your hands are shaking,” Sebastian joked, opening one eye to look at his friend. Felix shook his head and sniffed loudly. If his Sebastian could be brave, so could he.
“Pul-lease, having two mates I’d thought you’d welcome more holes,” Felix rebuffed. Sebastian’s mouth dropped before he began to laugh softly.
“Oh my god! I can’t believe you said that.” Sebastian grinned up at him. Felix winked.
“We’re giving you extra fluids since you’re pregnant, evidently.” Claybourne raised an eyebrow. Sebastian winced.
“We were going to tell you…” Sebastian started.
“How can I help?” Nic asked, running over. He had been bouncing between Kate and Damian, helping to care for them since the temporary clinic was set up.
“Make sure that you keep refreshing his fluid bag, just like Kate’s. It’s important for them to stay hydrated with them both being pregnant,” Felix explained.
Nic pushed his curly bangs out of his eyes, exhausted.
“Nic, you need to make sure you take the time to rest. It won’t do them any good if you collapse,” Felix admonished. Nic nodded.
“Claybourne!” A majestic voice shouted, and waves of power and panic drifted through the gym. Baptista dropped the blanket he was holding for Sebastian and sprinted over to his prince, directing him over to an empty cot.
“Oh my god, that’s Ashby!” Felix gasped. All of the blood drained from Nic’s face before he ran over to his best friend.
“Go, go help him,” Sebastian insisted. Felix felt torn as he watched his mate race over to the vampire prince.
“He’s not awake, Felix, he’ll need you more.” Sebastian yawned.
“You stay awake, fight this, Sebastian. You’re all I have,” Felix whispered and hugged his friend fiercely.
“I will. Go.” he pushed him toward Ashby. Felix ran over to see Baptista taking deep breaths before attempting an IV. Carefully he took the bag and needle from him.
“You did the same for me. I’ve got this. See?” Felix said, showing him steady hands. Baptista nodded and swallowed hard.
“Hang on, Ashby!” Nic wept and held his friend’s hand tightly. Felix watched as Nic became unglued. After the IV was in, he went to the locked supply closet they had brought in. He unlocked and opened the door and pulled out the small glass bottle he was looking for. He took out a syringe and measured the dosage he wanted. When he got back to Ashby’s cot, Nic was incoherent.
“He’s my family! I can’t lose my brother, oh please don’t be sick, don’t leave me!” Nic screamed. Claybourne stepped forward and Felix, standing behind Nic, held up the syringe and pointed to Nic. Claybourne and Gabriel grabbed the shifter’s arms as Felix jumped forward and stuck Nic in the leg and pushed the plunger.
“What…?” Nic asked before his eyes fluttered shut. Baptista lifted the smaller man and lay him close to Ashby. In their sleep the two men turned to one another. Gabriel sighed.
“How did he get sick? He’s been at the coven house the entire time,” Gabriel demanded.
“I don’t know! We know so little about this virus,” Claybourne said, reaching over to check Ashby’s vitals.
“I missed the signs. I thought that he wouldn’t be affected. We don’t live with any shifters. Hell, he didn’t even go to Field Day.” Gabriel paced in front of Ashby’s cot. Felix pulled the blanket up over the two men and froze as his words sunk in.
“What did you say?” he asked in a horrified whisper.
“He wasn’t exposed to other shifters.” Gabriel looked confused. Claybourne looked over to Felix, fear and impotent frustration flooding their mating bond.
“Prince Gabriel, we have set your mate up like the others, with extra fluids and a low dosage of Tylenol. That is the most effective treatment that we have at the moment. Please excuse me.” Claybourne barely managed to get the clipped words out. With clenched fists he walked away from the cot before going over to the supply table. With a roar of frustration he flipped the table, spilling everything across the gym floor. Everyone stared at the normally composed doctor in shock.
“Goddammit!” he yelled, then kicked the gym door off its hinges before leaving.
“What is it, Felix? You know, don’t you, why he’s so upset?” Gabriel asked.
“After days of treating this thing, we were going on the theory that this virus had a twenty-four to forty-eight hour incubation period and that the source was something at Field Day. With Sebastian and now Ashby coming in, the incubation period and the Field Day theories are out the window. We’re back to square one, which is with no answers and people dying.” Felix ran a hand over Ashby’s soft blond curls.
“Go to him, Felix. We need him. Ashby needs him functioning,” Gabriel ordered.
Felix stepped back and his eyes met the prince’s. He hadn’t seen hopelessness like that in a man’s eyes since he had been stuck in that cage.
“Lots of fluids. Don’t hesitate to come get me.” Felix ran after his mate.
* * * *
When he entered the teacher’s lounge, Claybourne was breathing hard and staring out the window.
“Meredith Wade slipped into a coma today,” Claybourne said quietly, not bothering to turn around.
“I know,” Felix said and stood behind his mate. He reached out one hand and placed it in the center of his mate’s back.
“I was the one who delivered her. I delivered most of the children,” Claybourne whispered.
“It has to be Field Day.” Claybourne shook his head.
“Not everything fits into neat little boxes, my mate. You know it can’t be Field Day, not with Ashby and Sebastian getting sick. You’re too intelligent to continue beating your head against that wall.” Felix felt his mate’s back muscles flex as he took in a deep, ragged breath.
“It has to be, Felix, because otherwise I don’t think I can save them. All the time we spent gathering samples cannot be for nothing.” He continued to stare out the window.
“It hasn’t been for nothing. Every time we test something, we eliminate a source. That is a lot of work done. It’s not for nothing.” Felix leaned forward and placed his forehead against his mate’s back.
“I acted like an idiot,” Claybourne admitted.
“No, you acted like a man who has the weight of the world bearing down on him. We’ve all had so much to deal with today, you more than others. No one is blaming you in the least.” Felix wrapped his arms around his mate and held him tight so that his chest was flush with the hard contours of his mate’s body.
“Remind me to light a candle for Fate. She knew what she was doing when she brought you to me. I don’t think I could have gotten this far alone.” Claybourne turned so that Felix was staring up into his eyes.
“Having a nurse around was a help too, huh?” Felix smiled. Claybourne shook his head.
“Not just any nurse. You, my love. I have come to lean on you so much, so fast. It’s because it’s you.” Claybourne hugged Felix tightly. Felix closed his eyes and buried his face in Claybourne’s chest, breathing in the smell of his man. No matter what happened, he would find a way to protect this. This gentle and amazing man.
A knock sounded at the door. A sheep-faced Emmett stood there.
“I really hate to interrupt, but Pint-Size has called a meeting. She is calling all the le
aders in and we need you, Doc,” Emmett explained.
“I’ll be right there. Where are we meeting?” he asked. Emmett sighed.
“The principal’s conference room.” He shook his head and shut the door.
“Is Rebecca seriously calling all the leaders to the principal’s office at two o’clock in the morning?” Felix asked. Claybourne shook his head.
“Thank whatever gods that are listening for that small woman. Come on, Felix, one thing I have learned about Rebecca, is that you never, ever want to piss her off.” Claybourne wrapped his arm around his mate’s waist as they headed to the principal’s office.
* * * *
“All right, gentlemen. Sit down. Let’s get started,” Rebecca said when they walked in. Felix and Claybourne quickly found seats around the long table where the town’s leaders sat. Aleks, Caleb, Bran, Liam, Kent and Gabriel, along with all of Aleks’s brothers, Baptista, Roman and Riley.
“My ma and every single member of my Inner Court is laid out in that gym. What do we know?” Rebecca started.
Everyone looked to Claybourne. Rebecca spoke up.
“I want answers and observations from everyone. Claybourne can explain some of the medical symptoms, but he’s been up to his eyeballs in treating people. You gentlemen have been out in town, talking with people and helping to gather data. Everyone needs to speak up,” Rebecca said. Felix wanted to do a fist pump. Pint-sized or not, Rebecca knew the score.
“None of the vampires are infected. Not one. Ashby managed to contract this illness with no contact with any other shifter. I think that is a huge piece of the puzzle,” Roman pointed out.
“Excellent. Next,” Rebecca ordered.
“Did anyone bring anything back from Field Day for Ashby to try?” Claybourne asked. Felix gave him a look.
“I’m not trying to fit things into neat boxes, but the timing is too close to be coincidental and easily discard,” Claybourne explained. Rebecca nodded and turned to Gabriel.