“Mr. Slagel? We have a problem in the field.”
“Speak of the devil.” Joe lifted the radio. “What’s up?”
“I can’t find Chester. He is gone.”
“All right, we’ll locate him. Thanks.” Standing up, Joe switched the radio channel. “George. George come in. George.” He held the radio away and waited. “George.”
“Must have it off.” Andrea suggested.
“Must. Hell, I’ll find Chester myself.” Joe walked to the door.
“Try the bakery. I here he’s been trying to seduce Josephine into making him some of her baked goods.”
“Seducing Josephine. Now there’s a task that’s not too difficult for him.”
“Joe.” Andrea gasped. “She is not the elderly slut everyone makes her out to be.”
“Now did I say that? No. I didn’t say that.” Joe winked. “Talk to you later Andrea.”
Arms folded watching Joe walk down the corridor to the main doors, Andrea saw something that made her dash into her office . . . Frank.
^^^^
Ellen embraced her phlebotomy tray in her arms as if it were a baby as she walked almost backwards into the lab. “Sorry I took . . .” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “ . . . long.” She set the tray down next to Johnny then tipped toed across the room to Dean who had his head on the empty counter space. His cheek flush to the counter, his arms dangled off to his side. His eyes tightly closed. She softly walked back across the lab to Johnny trying to contain her giggle. “Is he sleeping or dead.” She spoke quietly.
“Sleeping.” Johnny turned on his stool from the microscope. “Don’t wake him.”
“I won’t.” She tilted her head. “Do I look that stupid when I fall asleep on the counter?”
“Nah.” Johnny waved. “You at least have your arms up.”
“How long has he been out?”
“Twenty minutes or so, and is he crashed.”
“But . . .” Ellen placed her hand on her hip. “Who’s gonna do my blood counts and urine samples?”
“I will.” Johnny pulled the tray to him. “I’ve been learning this stuff for a year now. Besides, Dean says I’m better than you anyhow.”
“I’d get mad at that comment, however I’m glad I don’t have to do the samples. I was beginning to get scared that I might.”
“El!” Frank yelled to her as he bolted heavily into the lab.
Johnny and Ellen both turned at the same time with a “Shh!”
Frank slowed down, and held his hands up trying to be quiet. “Why am I being shushed?”
They both pointed to Dean.
“Oh, who cares.” He placed his hands on Ellen’s face and kissed her with a moan. “I’ve missed you.” He smiled. “Let’s go.” He began to tug her out.
“Frank wait. Where are we going?”
“Let’s just take a walk or something. Please. I feel like I haven’t seen you.”
“All right.” Ellen clenched Frank’s hand. “Johnny? Do you mind.”
“No, go on.” Johnny turned to his work.
Just before they left the lab, Frank slowed down with a slide. “One second.” He released Ellen’s hand and moved close to Dean. “Pitiful.” With his forefinger and thumb Frank flicked Dean in the side of his head. “Dean.”
Dean didn’t budge.
“Dean.” Frank flicked him again.
No response.
Placing his mouth close to Dean, Frank spoke loud. “DEAN!”
Dean sprang straight up.
“You are so lazy.” Frank, satisfied, reclaimed Ellen’s hand and walked from the lab.
Dean rubbed his eyes, then dropped his arms to his side and his head plopped to the counter. Groggily, he commented to Johnny. “Your father’s an asshole.” He closed his eyes again and went to sleep.
A slight smile escaped Ellen as she raised her face to the warm sky. “I forget how cold it is in the clinic. Between you and Dean liking it . . .”
“El, please. Don’t compare me to Dean.” Frank let go of her hand and faced her at the bottom of the clinic steps. “Let’s just take a . . .hold up.” He lifted an index finger, stepped back and held the ear piece to his headset. “What’s up.”
Ellen saw it, a look of mad. She waited and she knew it was coming.
“Fuck.” Frank stomped. “Tell him to go away. Why?” He shook his head. “Well, if he’s trouble back there shoot him.” He lifted his hand in aggravation. “I’m on my way.” He lowered the microphone. “El . . .”
“Say no more.” Ellen said. “Problem with a survivor at the gate.”
“Man, you’re good.” Frank kissed her quickly. “I have a surprise for you later. Meet you at containment?”
“A surprise. What’s the occasion? Did I . . .” She was silenced by Frank’s hand. Muffled she spoke for her release.
“Later. It’s a surprise.” he kissed her again. “Be good.” Returning to the back gate and being pulled from Ellen was not something Frank wanted to do. So just to ensure he took care of things as quickly as he could, he pulled his revolver out en route.
Alone again and Ellen decided whether to go back to the clinic or hide out. Seeing how hiding out would be more relaxing she began to do that moving from the clinic. Not far into her walk she saw Melissa walking toward her. It baffled her. She hurriedly approached her. “Melissa. Aren’t you supposed to be down in the tunnel watching the Cryo-wall till three?”
“Suppose to be, but then Dean sent Chester down to relieve me.” She spoke nonchalantly running her hands through her red hair.
“Dean did no such thing. Chester’s down in the tunnel lab now?”
“Sure, he said . . .”
“Let’s go. I need you with me.” Walking as fast as her pregnant body would carry her, Ellen headed to the main entrance to the tunnels.
With the buzz of the door, on the first try, Ellen bolted into the lab. “Chester!” She yelled to him as he stood near the edge of the cryo-wall holding a clipboard.
Chester wasn’t the least bit startled or intimidated by her. “Hello Ellen.” He flipped a page.
“What the hell are you doing down here? You know damn well you are not allowed down here without authorization.” She stormed closer to him.
“Really.” He took a deep breath slowly lifting the next page. “I am getting tired of you people telling me what I can or cannot do with my project.”
“Our project, Chester. Now I suggest to you, you leave now on your own before I have security throw you out. And I will make mention of this to Dean.” Ellen reached for the clipboard Chester held and grasped it tightly. “Let go.”
“No you let go.” Chester pulled at it fighting her resistance.
“Chester let go of the information, now!” With all of her might Ellen forcefully pulled the clipboard from his grip. However she did not realize that the edge of the wall was only inches from her, and as her hand sailed back with the board the back of her wrist smacked into the edge. Pain radiated immediately up her arm. She felt a crack upon the connection to the wall, yet her face would not give into showing her pain. “Leave.” Ellen’s face was cold.
“Did you hurt yourself, Ellen?” Chester tried not to laugh.
“Melissa grab the radio, get security down here. Wait, better yet. Call Frank. Tell him his wife needs him.” She raised her eyebrows to Chester.
Hiding behind a wall of laxity, Chester lifted his chin and snobbishly walked away from Ellen. “Don’t bother Melissa. I’m leaving.” He gave one more arrogant look before leaving.
Ellen waited a few seconds then ran to the door and looked out. Certain he was gone, she held on to her wrist and shrieked loudly.
^^^^
“Dean.” Ellen’s voice was calm as she held her wrist and walked into the lab. “Hi Johnny.” She lifted her head to him. “Dean.”
Dean, who was awake, turned his stool from his computer to Ellen. “Why are you here? Isn’t this Ellen nap time?”
“I broke my wrist.
” She rested her arm on the counter in front of him.
“You what?” He peered down at the already bruising and swelling wrist. “Shit. This is broke.”
“No kidding.” Her voice began to creep up. “Could you set it for me please?”
“Absolutely. How did this happen? Another survivor incident?” Dean asked.
“You could say so. You see I saw Melissa walking toward the . . .”
“Melissa?” Dean interrupted. “She’s supposed to be in the tunnels.”
“Exactly, so I asked her why she wasn’t. It appears Chester told her he was her relief.”
Dean could feel his temper began to rise. “Chester was in the lab? You told him to leave. Right?”
“Of course. Demanded him to leave, threatened him with security and you. Didn’t work. I got mad, grabbed the clipboard he had. We struggled over it. I won. But . . . I pulled the clipboard too hard and smacked my wrist off the wall.”
Dean stood up immediately. “Where is he?” He asked harshly.
“Oh, he went back to the fields. I finally frightened him. So can you . . .”
“Johnny.” Dean set down his glasses, took off his lab coat and flung it across the room. “Take Ellen, double lead shield her front and back. X-ray that arm, show Andrea, and prep a room. I’ll set it when I get back.”
Johnny moved to Ellen. “Sure Dean, where are you going?”
“To deal with Chester.” Without another word, Dean stormed from the lab.
Johnny stood amazed, he had never seen Dean that angry. Nodding his head approvingly he began to escort Ellen. “Go Dean.”
Dean huffed his way from the clinic. As he stepped on to the street he could see Henry’s maintenance jeep a few feet up. Without saying anything, without asking for its loan, Dean jumped in and started it, driving off with a screech.
He was so unlike his mild mannered self as he drove to the edge of the fields. Chester had over stepped his last boundary. Seeing Chester walking from Miguel sparked an outrage in him he hadn’t felt in a long time. Dean halted the jeep and jumped from it.
He merely lifted his eyes to Miguel who was reading off a clipboard as he stormed by him. Just about three feet or so past Miguel, Dean stopped, backed up and pulled the clipboard from Miguel’s hands. “Thanks.” He muttered, and continued his march toward the field workers. “Chester!” He called out to him.
Chester knew what it was about. He laid back down the tools he was picking up and began to meet Dean. He was armed and ready with his verbal defense for being in the tunnel lab. “Yes, Doctor?” He spoke snidely.
“Were you down in the tunnel lab?” Dean asked with demand.
“I was.” Chester crossed his arms.
“And were you struggling with Ellen over a clipboard?”
“I was.”
“That’s all I wanted to know.” With both hands grasping tightly to the clipboard, Dean revved back with all of his strength and swung forth at Chester crashing and breaking the board off the side of his head. The force of the blow and the pain, sent Chester to the ground. Dean took the half of the clipboard he held in his hand and tossed it onto Chester. No more needed to be said. He immediately left the field, jumped back into the jeep, and headed toward center town.
“Good picture Johnny took.” Dean spoke calmly as he walked directly into the examining room, past Ellen and to the x-ray on the light. He placed on his glasses that he had stopped to retrieve, and let out a silent breath as he looked. “Broke. Clean though.” Dean flicked off the light board.
“Looks like it. Johnny has everything ready for you.” Ellen pampered her wrist and swung her legs back and forth as she sat on the table. “So what happened with Chester?”
“Not much.” Dean moved the prepared tray closer to the table and sat down on the stool before her looking up to her. “I took care of him. He won’t be in the lab anymore.”
“Do you think he’ll listen to you?” She asked as she laid her arm more accessible to Dean.
“I guess.” Dean wrapped the sock like cloth over her arm.
Ellen felt the heavy dampness of the first wet plaster strip. “So what exactly did . . .”
Miguel cleared his throat and tapped on the examining room door. “Dr. Hayes?” He and another field worker held up a very bloody Chester. “What should we do with him?”
“Um . . .” Dean only lifted his eyes while he continued setting Ellen’s arm. “Take him in the other room, then tell Andrea . . . no wait, tell Johnny to stitch him. It’ll be good practice.”
Miguel smiled. “Got it.” He and the other worker dragged Chester away.
Ellen snickered in a sneaky manner. “Wow, Dean.” She lowered her head closer to him. “Did you come to my rescue?”
“Ellen.” Almost embarrassed, Dean paused in his work, lifted his eyes, then smiled with a shake of his head. After a brief moment of eye contact he finished with her arm.
^^^^
Frank straightened up Josh’s appearance as they stood in the hallway just outside of Ellen’s office. He placed his finger to his own lips as a quiet sign to Josh and spoke in his lowest voice. “Stay right here until I pull you in.” He waited for Josh’s nod, then gave him the thumbs up. Excited and nervous he poked his head into Ellen’s office. “Hey.”
Ellen lifted her head from her work with a smile. “Oh! My Surprise.”
“I hope . . . what the hell happened to your arm?” Frank noticed the obvious white cast. Concerned, he walked to her.
“I banged it off a wall. Long story, I’ll tell you at home. My surprise?”
“Did it hurt?” Frank asked as he lifted her cast.
“Yes! Frank! My Surprise.” She snatched her arm back.
“And why is Dean’s name written so big across it?”
“He wanted to be the first to sign it. Another long story. My surprise?”
“All right. All right.” Frank fiddled nervously with his goatee. “Ready?” He stepped to the door.
Ellen dropped her pencil and stood, afraid to ask the question. “It’s not like an animal or something, is it?” Ellen watched him reach to the hall. “I don’t want . . .” Her mouth dropped open when she saw. “Oh my God.” She moved slowly to Josh, breathing in almost with a tremble as she reached her hand to him. “Oh my God.”
Josh smiled brightly at her. “Ellen.”
Frank was proud of the moment. “Tell her Josh.” He smacked Josh’s arm.
“Frank’s cool.”
“No not that.” Frank smacked him again. “Tell her, you know the other thing.” He tilted his head to him.
Josh cleared his throat. “I’m home.”
Ellen gasped loudly with laughter, she turned to Frank. “Where did you? What . . .”
“Go on, El.” Frank motioned his head. “Give him a hug. I told him you were gonna give him a big hug when you saw him.”
“Will he let me?” She asked.
Josh didn’t let Frank answer, he answered for himself by reaching out to Ellen and touching her.
Ellen immediately threw her arms around him, holding him tightly, rocking him. “Look at you.” She stepped back reaching out her hands and cupping his face. “You’re so different. And I know Frank’s had a hold of you. You have no hair.” She rubbed his buzzed head.
“Josh and I have been hanging, huh Josh? We’re pals.”
“Frank’s cool.” Josh commented.
“See El.” Frank nodded.
Ellen smiled widely. “Frank’s cool. Frank is cool.” She stepped back from Josh and turned toward her husband. “How did this come about? I’m speechless.”
“He came to the back gate. Smelled really bad too. I let him in. We didn’t know what he’d be like or I would have told you earlier. My dad said I could work with him and I did. He’s different now. There’s some details that are special from other survivors, but I’ll talk to you about that later.”
“You did this for me? You went against everything you preach about survivors, and worked
with him?” Ellen moved closer to him.
“He’s a kid, El. And he was a special kid to you.” He ran his hand down her face.
“Do you know how much I love you Frank?”
“Oh, yeah.” He closed his eyes as he felt her lips on his cheek.
“Well.” Joe spoke upbeat as he walked in the office. “I see Ellen likes her surprise.” He laid his hand on Josh’s shoulder.
Ellen stepped forward kissing Joe on the cheek. “Ellen loves it. Thank you for letting him back in.”
“It was all Frank.” Joe said complimentary. “But before he boggles you with the new details. I wanted to talk to you about this incident with Chester you had.”
Ellen cringed holding up her hands, she knew what was coming.
“What incident?” Frank spoke sternly.
“Ellen’s arm. How it got broke.” Joe saw his son flare up. “She didn’t tell you?”
“He broke my wife’s arm?” Frank took a deep breath and began to bolt from the office. Joe bodily blocked him.
“Frank. Stop.” Joe told him calmly. “It’s already been dealt with. Dean took care of it.”
“Ha!” Frank laughed still trying to get by his father. “What did he do quiz him to death?”
“No.” Joe shook his head. “He smashed him upside the head with a clipboard. Johnny had to put, what was it? Thirty stitches. Dealt with.”
Frank stepped back, his mouth opened. “Dean did that?” He nodded. “I’m impressed.”
Ellen had to interrupt. “But, you and Dean have to keep in mind, he didn’t break my arm. I was struggling with him and I whacked it off a wall.”
Frank didn’t want to hear it. “Same difference.”
“I believe so too.” Joe interjected. “And that’s the reason I’m here. He won’t . . .” Joe motioned his head to Josh. “Say anything, will he? Josh?”
Josh looked up and smiled. “Frank’s cool.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 96