Nella woke with a gasp as cool water hit her face. "Wake up Nella, please wake up." Frank was hovering over her.
"Is it the Infected? I don't think I can get to the farm house." It sounded wrong in her ears. As if she'd already said it.
"No Infected, we're safe. In the lab, remember?"
Nella tried to turn her head to see but she became dizzy and she shut her eyes again. The cool water splashed her again. She shivered.
"You have to do something!" She heard Frank yelling at someone. He was so angry.
"There's nothing I can do. She's got a massive dose of antibiotics already." The woman's voice was nasty and cold.
Nella opened her eyes again. "What do you want me to do, Frank?" Her voice was dry and her throat felt as if it held the sun. He bent over her again. "You don't need to do anything. Just rest." He passed a wet cloth over her face. She felt her shirt being unbuttoned and he pressed the cold cloth against her chest. She shivered again.
"It's too cold," the woman's voice floated over them again. Nella tried to remember whose it was but she couldn't. "If you make her shiver her temperature will only go up more. You need to put her in a warm bath."
"Is there a bath here somewhere?"
"Down on the clinical floors. There are a few patient rooms. I don't know if the water runs anymore."
The world tilted as Frank lifted her. "Let's go." Nella looked up at his face. It was pinched and menacing.
"Don't be mad, Frank," she said.
He looked down at her and brushed the sweaty hair from her forehead. "I'm not mad at you Nella." The world lurched as he walked toward the elevator. Nella tried not to vomit. She heard the elevator chime.
"Not there," she whispered, "not there, the dead people will get you." She drifted off again into a thick drowze.
Water crawled under her legs and Nella woke up again in a dusty tub.
"We have to turn the lights off," hissed the woman's voice. Nella forced herself to focus. Dr. Schneider looked even more wild and angry than yesterday. "The Infected or the Looters will see."
"Shut up. If you're that worried go find some blankets to cover the windows. Otherwise stay out of my way. You already told me there's nothing else you can do." Nella tilted her head back and saw Frank kneeling by her shoulder. Dr. Schneider slammed the door on her way out. Frank looked down and saw she was awake. He smiled and held up a white cup. "Can you drink something for me?" He tilted the cup toward her before she could answer. It was cool and soft on her throat. The bath water was warm and pooling around her lower back. She vomited up the mouthful of water he'd just given her.
"Sorry," she said.
He wiped her mouth with the cool cloth. "It's okay. We'll try again in a minute."
"Why are we here?"
Frank stroked her hair and she let her cheek cool on the dusty porcelain. "I have to cool you down. Your shoulder is infected very badly and you have a bad fever."
"Is there a tooth in there?" she asked and immediately knew that was wrong.
She saw a tear roll down Frank's long cheek. "No, the tooth is gone. I took it out, remember?"
"Don't cry. I'll try to drink again."
He held the cup for her. She swallowed a little and it stayed. Frank shut the water off. He splashed her stomach and chest with the warm water.
She closed her eyes for what seemed like a moment. When she opened them, she was back on the sleeping bag and Frank was pacing the room. She didn't see Dr. Schneider. She was half lucid and sweating through the fabric underneath her.
"Did you find it?" she said, still not understanding why Frank was so worried.
He sat down beside her and pressed the damp cloth to her neck. "Find what?" he said.
"The lock. No the key. Dr. Pazzo's key. Or was it Dr. Schneider's? No. She broke out."
Frank went pale. "Nella, are you really awake?"
"Yes, I think so. I'm still confused."
He held up a cup and she swallowed some water. "Tell me what to do. I'm not a doctor and Schneider won't help. What do I do?"
Nella tried to think. She was so hot. "About the fever?" she guessed.
"Yes, what do I do? You have antibiotics already. We gave you another dose."
She tried to sit up but couldn't force herself up. Her shoulder blazed with pain. Frank caught her and held her up. She took the cup from him and swallowed another mouthful. Everything hurt, even her teeth. She looked at his worried face. "Nothing to do Frank. It's old medicine, no good any more."
Frank shook his head. "She said it should still work."
Nella shrugged and then winced in pain. "Maybe it's not the right medicine. The fever means my body is working. It has to get the teeth out." Nella shook her head. "No, that's not right. Take me to the shower. It's too hot. I have to cool down."
He looked doubtful but he lifted her up. "Not the elevator. There's Infected in the elevator," she said, fading.
She woke up in the shower. He was holding her and the water was cool on her skin. "Don't die Nella," he was saying.
"Everything dies Frank." Her eyelids felt heavy and sore but she was truly aware this time. "It's okay. The world will keep going."
"Mine won't."
She lifted her face with an immense effort. "I love you," she said.
She felt a soft rumble in his chest as he laughed. "Tell me again when you're better and I'll believe you."
She heard the water turn off and he wrapped her in a towel. He carried her to the sleeping bag and she fell into a deep sleep where nothing chased her.
She woke up in the electric light of the office. Frank was sleeping beside her. She shifted to see if Dr. Schneider was there and Frank woke up. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"How many days has it been?"
"Only two. Don't worry. We have time. I should have made you stay at the farm house. You need to rest."
She reached an aching, heavy arm to touch his face. "So do you. Go back to sleep."
He turned and kissed her palm. "No," he said, shaking his head, "Schneider said you need to eat if we're going to move you in the next few days. Do you think you can?"
"I think so. Will you go to sleep if I do?"
He sat up and rummaged through the pack. "Only if you'll sleep some more too." He found a can of beans. Nella made a face. "You need the protein," he said.
She smiled at him. "Thank you for taking care of me," she said.
Frank blushed and cranked the can opener.
The Medical Revolution
After the Cure Page 39