When they pulled up in front of what was considered the best hospital in Macapa, Heather was shocked at first. The building had clearly been there for a very long time and seemed much too small to have any of the modern equipment needed to run a first-rate hospital, but then she looked closer. Behind the old building, and through the trees she could see where a huge addition had been added and breathed a sigh of relief, they’d simply kept the old and added the new.
Once inside the hospital, they went straight to the information desk, only to discover that none of them could speak Portuguese. “Damn, we’re going to need a translator.” Theo said, then added, “I should have thought of that.”
Much to their relief, as they were trying to communicate what they needed to know to the woman behind the desk, a nurse came up and asked them if they needed help in English. Theo explained their situation and before long the nurse was leading them to the elevators and the intensive care unit where Brian was being treated for acute Malaria. She didn’t know anything about his case but agreed to stay with them for a while until they could find a translator.
When they got to Brian’s room everyone but Heather went in to see him even though he was still unconscious. Instead she spent some time with the nurses who, once they learned that she was Brian’s doctor, were more than happy to share what information they had. After only a short wait, the specialist who had been called in to treat Brian met them outside his room and explained the situation.
“He’s extremely dehydrated, but the strain of Malaria he has is easily treated so I’d expect a full recovery. He’ll have to stay here with us for at least a week, then we can think about sending him home.” The nurse translated, as happy as they were to hear that Brian was going to be okay.
Heather spent some more time with the doctor asking questions and assuring herself that everything that could be done was being done, then suggested that they take turns sitting with Brian, who could only have limited visits. Theo took the first shift, sending the rest of them off to the little villa they’d rented for the week. “I expect something wonderful to eat when I get there,” he said, kissing Amanda on the cheek.
Heather felt a little stab of jealousy when she saw the love between them, but pushed the feeling away, she didn’t have time for love right now. Someday she’d find that kind of happiness, but right now her happiness lay with the samples that she’d told Josh not to ship after all. He’d been surprised when she'd called and told him to hang onto them, but she’d blown off his questions, promising to explain when she got there. Now she had to find him and those samples, then find a way to stabilize them until she could get them home next week.
Chapter 2
Brian slowly came awake, every muscle in his body aching, his head pounding. When he tried to open his eyes, the pounding in his head became almost unbearable and he immediately shut them. Breathing slowly and evenly, he waited until the pain had subsided to a level he could tolerate, then tried to figure out where he was. Listening he heard the sound of beeping machines, the mummer of voices and decided that he was in the hospital in Macapa. But when he tried to remember how he’d gotten there, he could only produce vague memories of burning fevers followed by chills that racked his body, exhausting him.
He didn’t remember arriving at the hospital, but now that he could think just a little more clearly, he did remember hearing his brother’s voices. Again, he tried to open his eyes, relieved when it didn’t hurt quite so much this time and he was able to look around the room as long as he didn’t move his head. He was staring at the door when it opened and a nurse in a starched white uniform came into the room, she took one look at him, saw that he was awake, turned and walked back out of the room.
Only a few minutes later a man and woman walked into the room and approached the bed. “It’s good to see you awake.” The man said, then introduced himself as Dr. Andrelly. “And this is Dr. Snyder.”
Brian opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. “Don’t try to talk, you’ve been though a rough experience, but we’ve identified the strain of Malaria you contracted and begun treatment. You should start feeling much better in a few days.”
Brian managed to nod his head, but that was it, then exhaustion overtook him and he feel asleep. When he awoke next, there was a shaft of sunlight coming in through a crack in the blinds and he knew that it was daytime but he had no idea what day. The pain in his head was gone, but that was the limit of the improvement, his body still hurt more than it ever had in his life and he knew that he still had a long way to go before he was better.
He lay awake for what felt like a long time, hoping that someone would come into the room, and was finally rewarded with the sight of Theo walking through the door. “Well, it’s good to see that you’ve decided to join the world again, you had us pretty worried there for a while,” Theo said, pulling a chair up next to the bed and settling down in it.
Brian swallowed, feeling like his mouth was full of cotton, then managed to croak, “I just needed a vacation.”
Theo, slid a piece of ice into his mouth, then said, “I think you could have found a better way to get some time off.”
Brian smiled at his brother and said, “I’ll remember that next time.” Then closed his eyes and went back to sleep, the effort of talking completely wearing him out.
Brian was sitting up in bed, a new accomplishment that made him feel almost human again. He knew that he’d be tired soon but for now it was nice to see things from a different perspective and he knew that it meant that he was finally on the mend. The research project was never far from his mind, but Dr. Andrelly had forbidden any talk about work, advising that he needed only to rest. He was getting tired of resting. His mind, unlike his body, had already returned to normal and he was bored.
“So, when do you think I’ll be able to get out of here and go back to work?” he asked Theo who was sitting in a chair by the window.
Theo considered his question, then stood up and came over to the bed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t ask for a few more days, but the doctor says that you’re going to need at least another week here.”
If Brian had been capable of getting out of the bed, he would have. “A week?” he asked, shocked.
“At least, then you’re going to need some kind of supportive care for a while after that,” Theo said calmly.
“That’s not going to work, I need to get back to the village and my work. I can’t afford to take that much time,” Brian said, his eyebrows dropping into a scowl.
Theo knew that look all too well, “You can just get that look off your face right now Brian. Nothing you can do will change the fact that it’s going to take you some time to recover. You almost died, in case you’d forgotten that little fact.”
“I did not,” Brian said stubbornly, but deep down he knew that Theo was right and when Theo just stared at him he added, “I can’t take this place for another week.”
“Well, I might have a solution.” Theo said, dragging the chair from the widow and sitting down. “You could come back to Homestead with us.”
Brian hated the thought of traveling so far away from the Amazon, “That’s a long way to go for just a week, and who’s going to take care of me, not you I hope.”
“It’s going to take you more than a week to recover Brian, more like months,” Theo explained.
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll be on my feet long before that,” Brian said, waving his hand in the air.
“I don’t think so, you can’t even go to the bathroom by yourself right now. Do you really think things are going to change that much in a week?” Theo spelled it all out to try to get through Brian's stubbornness. .
Brian didn’t answer, knowing that his brother was right. “You didn’t answer my question. Who’s going to take care of me?”
“We have an excellent doctor in Homestead, in fact she’s been here the entire time so she knows all about your case,” Theo said.
“A woman doctor, you want me to let a woman d
octor treat me?” Brian asked, not caring how bad it sounded.
“I know how you feel about women doctors but Heather is one of the best doctors I’ve ever known, you’ll be lucky to have her taking care of you,” Theo said.
“I’m not doing it. I’ll just stay here,” Brian said stubbornly, feeling like a little kid and not caring.
“Suit yourself, but we can’t stay much longer, we have lives to get back to.”
“Where’s Josh.” Brian asked, thinking that his assistant would be on his side.
“Forget it, Josh isn’t going to help you. You scared him pretty bad and he thinks Homestead is a good idea. I’ve invited him to come and stay for a while too and he’s agreed.” Theo said.
“Fine. I’ll go to Homestead, but just know that I’m leaving as soon as I can.”
*****
Heather closed the vial then slid it into the protective case, then slid the case inside the thermal bag that would keep it at a constant temperature for the next 48 hours. “Okay, we’re all set. Now all we have to do is get the samples back to Homestead and begin the testing,” she said, tuning to Josh who had been watching her every move but not helping.
He was silent for a second, then said, “Heather, you know I can’t help you when we get to Homestead, in fact I might have told you more about the project than I should have. I was rattled when I called you and it all just came pouring out.”
When Heather just looked at him, not sure what he was getting at, he continued, “You weren’t supposed to know anything about why we were testing the mushrooms, or the fungus. Brian wants to keep this a secret until he’s sure, that way he can control who has access to the information. The other satellite labs all think we’re studying the life cycle of the mushrooms.”
Heather thought back to what she’d been told when she’d joined the project and realized that no one had ever exactly told her what they were studying, she’d figured it out on her own. “It wasn’t hard to figure out,” she said, defensively.
“Yeah, for a doctor. The other labs are run by botanists, they missed what you didn’t,” Josh said, respect in his voice.
“Why all the secrecy?” Heather asked, reaching for the camera they’d used to record what she’d done with the samples.
“Can you imagine what would happen if word got out that there’s a fungus that can cure cancer? People would flock to the Amazon and do even more damage than we’ve already done. That mushroom only grows a few months out of the year and only in a small area of the jungle, they could destroy the mushroom beds and then we’d be done,” Josh explained.
“But it can’t be a total secret, there have to be people he had to answer to, the grant holders,” Heather said, wondering if Brian was a bit of a... well she wasn’t sure what to think.
“Oh, there aren’t any. Brian provided all the funding for the project, he’s worth billions you know, all the Taylors are. He answers only to himself, he has complete control,” Josh said.
“I still don’t see why you can’t help me, you know what we’re looking for,” Heather said, beginning to clean up the mess they’d made.
“The satellite labs are supposed to be completely independent of the main lab, that way your results won’t be tainted by anything,” Josh said. “I’m afraid, I’ll just be a regular old tourist when I’m in Homestead, you’re on your own. Honestly I’m looking forward to some down time and I’m really looking forward to getting out of this heat and humidity.”
“Well, regular old tourist Josh, leave some time in your schedule for me, I’d love to take you to my favorite beach, maybe catch some fish,” Heather said, smiling at Josh who she realized was quite attractive.
“That’s a deal,” he said.
*****
Brian wanted to hide his face as he was wheeled out of the airport and onto the tarmac. It was embarrassing to be pushed around like an invalid. He’d refused to be transported on a stretcher like the doctor and his brothers wanted, but was now beginning to regret that decision as exhaustion began to set in. When they finally got onto the plane, he was never happier to see a bed in his life and even let his brothers help him into it, something he normally would have never done. He even smiled at their good-natured teasing, glad that it was them and not his mother there with him.
“There you go all tucked in snug as a bug in a rug,” his brother Daniel said, throwing a blanket over him and tucking the sides in as if he were a child. “I just hope I don’t have to change your diapers.”
“I think I can make it to the bathroom,” Brian said, gesturing to the door to the bathroom which was only a few feet from the bed.
Daniel opened his mouth to reply, but they were interrupted by the sound of laughter. Josh appeared in the doorway followed by a woman he didn’t recognize but quickly decided was the doctor his brother had been talking about. She had her hair pulled back in a severe style, was carrying a medical bag, and actually had a stethoscope hanging around her neck. Instantly on his guard he scowled at the woman, wondering what she and Josh could have possibly been laughing about.
When Josh saw him, his face lit up and he rushed over to the bed. “You have no idea how good it is to see you out of the hospital. For a few hours there, I was afraid I might lose you,” he said, pumping Brian’s hand.
Brian returned the handshake knowing that a hug probably would have been more appropriate but unable to bring himself to give him one. “You saved my life and for that I thank you,” Brian said, formally. Then grinned and added, “Don’t think this means that I’m going to go any easier on you though.”
“I’d be disappointed if you did,” Josh said, still grinning from ear to ear. “This is Heather, from what I hear she’d a pretty good doctor.”
Brian was prepared to dislike the woman, but when she stepped up to the bed a feeling of comfort washed over him, momentarily leaving him speechless. Finally finding his voice, he said, “I guess I should thank you as well.”
“No need for that, I’m happy to help. You’ve been a very sick man,” Heather said.
“So everyone keeps telling me. I suppose you want to check me over and make sure I’m okay to fly,” Brian said, realizing with another shock that he didn’t mind the idea so much.
“No, I don’t think that will be necessary,” Heather said, putting her stethoscope away. “I only had this out because I was helping out in one of the free clinics in town and the kids love to hear their heartbeats.”
Brian was a bit disappointed, but felt exhaustion beginning to take hold. “Well, then I think I’ll take a little nap.”
“I’ll be here if you need me but rest is what you need the most now,” Heather said, then disappeared into the back of the plane.
Brian’s last thought before he fell asleep was that it might not be so bad to have that woman as his doctor, she was nothing like what he’d expected, nothing like the other one. But that thought quickly changed as the memory of one woman surfaced in his exhausted mind, reminding him that women just couldn’t be trusted, no matter how good she made him feel when she was near him.
*****
Heather got up from her seat to check on Brian again. They’d only been in the air for a couple of hours when his temperature had begun to rise. Before long it had spiked dangerously high, and she’d had to give him an injection to bring it down, which had helped but not completely. He’d spent the rest of that flight as well as the next one tossing and turning, alternating between a fever and the chills, making it clear that he’d had a mild relapse. The doctor in Macapa had warned them that this might happen, but seeing the reality was worse than she’d expected, and part of her wished that they’d insisted that Brian stay in the hospital longer.
The transfer to the smaller plane that would take them to the harbor at Homestead only made Brian’s condition worse, and by the time they landed Heather was truly worried. It was a relief to see her Physician’s Assistant, Matt, when the plane floated up to the dock. He’d brought their little ambulance and it
didn’t take long to get Brian loaded up and on the way to the clinic, where Heather knew she’d be able to treat him more effectively. When they got to the clinic, she was pleased to see the entire staff there waiting for them, and between them all it didn’t take long to get Brian settled.
She quickly put in a new IV, started fluids and then gave him several injections, part of the treatment plan Dr. Andrelly had given her in case of a relapse, which was quite common with Malaria. She took some blood and gave it to Matt, then joined Theo and Daniel out in the waiting area of the clinic. “We knew that it was a possibility that he could relapse on the trip. I’m following the treatment plan Dr. Andrelly and I worked out and he seems to be responding, but I don’t know how far this is going to set him back,” she said.
“Can we see him?” Theo asked, obviously concerned.
“Just for a few minutes, he needs to rest,” Heather said, then added, “Don’t worry I’ll sit with him until I’m sure he’s stable.”
By the time she finally managed to shoo Theo and Daniel out of the clinic more than an hour later, Brian was sleeping more soundly. He was still feverish but the chills had stopped and he was no longer thrashing around in bed so she pulled a chair up next to the bed and prepared for a long wait. Matt had promised to come and relieve her in a couple of hours so she could get some rest but she’d had so little sleep in the last twenty-four hours that before long her eyes were drooping and she just couldn’t fight off sleep.
When Matt came to relieve her, the sound of the opening door woke her, and she immediately jumped to her feet a bit disoriented. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were asleep,” he whispered.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she said, trying to clear her head.
“Well, I can’t blame you. How long has it been since you slept?” Matt asked, going over to the bed and checking on Brian.
“Too long,” she said, joining him at the bed, relieved to see that some of Brian’s color had returned to his cheeks. “He looks better.”
Unbreak My Heart_BWWM Romance Page 2