Knowing I needed to pay for the services, I quietly ask, "How much do I owe?"
Derek still is putting items away in the trunk, looking busy as he can instead of looking at me.
"Four hundred silver for the medicine and visit."
I rest my feet upon the floor and slowly stand up to fetch my purse. I take the coin counter and start filling it with silver coins so that they are divided up into stacks for easier transactions.
As I fill the machine, Derek's hand comes into view on the table, setting something down.
"Your broach, I thought you might like it back." He says causing me to look up at him in alarm.
His face scrunches up in disappointment and disdain, "I know it's you Lady Cog. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. You may think poorly of me, but I am a better man than you give me credit for. I may not compare to your beau, the diplomat, but I am a man of my word. "
I'm stunned in silence looking at him, shaking my head slightly, about to deny everything when he cuts me off raising his hand to pause me.
"I'm not a fool, Ms. Langridge. Your eyes, those lips, your voice just now.... The fact that you recognize the broach.... I did not know that someone else already held your affections, other wise I would have never did what I did last night. I apologize for that. I will not force the issue any longer."
I leave the broach where it is and continue with getting the silver coins counted in the machine. We stand there in silence, except for the clinking of coins and the machine. When it finishes, I turn to him, "You're bag?"
He hands it over and in the process informs me, "I knew you would be beautiful under that mask. Your beau really is a lucky man."
I clear my throat and get the coins into the bag. I turn to hand them to him, my head starting to spin. "Here yogo..." My words were thick trying to get them out and my vision went black again.
When I came to again, I was in my bed, Derek was pacing along with Etty. The Doctor was pulling a needle out of my arm with my blood in it.
"What are you doing?" I groan out.
"I may be wrong on this being ague. I'm going to do some tests to rule out anything else here quickly. Don't fret young lady, I'll find out what is wrong. Although, I have commandeered your desk for the moment." He pats my shoulder as he takes the blood filled syringe to the desk.
Etty rushes to my side, "Mr. Chambers caught you before you fell, when I came up you were having a seizure Rakara! I was so worried and with no way for me to contact Mr. Fairchild for you!" Etty was wringing her hands anxiously.
I put my hand on hers, "Etty, you won't get any water from wringing your hands in that manner. I'm alright for now."
Derek goes into the kitchen and suddenly we all hear something being knocked over.
*BANG*
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
"My name is Viekar, Ms. Langridge knows that I come here. NOW WHO ARE YOU SIR?"
Etty runs out and calms the situation down. Viekar enters in to the room, seeing the doctor working at my desk and me laid up in the bed.
"Ms Langridge!" He rushes to my side, "What ever is the matter?!"
The doctor turns and looks at me, "Young lady you have a bacterial infection of sorts, but I don't recognize it."
"Bacteria infection?!" Viekar and I exclaim. Viekar looks shaken and takes off out the door, yelling he'd be back shortly.
"Did that fellow have hoofs for feet?" The doctor scratches his head confused at what he just saw.
"Yes, he's a satyr, doctor Eli." I answer him to which he just shrugs, turning back to the optical enhancer.
"Etty! What's going on downstairs?" I call out, making me wince as my head begins to throb.
Etty comes back in a little flustered, "Elaine is downstairs closing up. With your health I took the liberty of closing up an hour early, I was about to head down there to help her finish up."
Derek walks past her and Etty's eyes follow him admiring him. Her face flushes when she realizes I have caught her.
Giving her a knowing smile, "Go ahead and finish your duties, Etty. Just come back up before you leave please." She nods and heads downstairs.
I lean back against the pillows feeling rather thirsty. "Could I trouble you for some water?" I look to Derek, who sighs loudly.
"Yes, you could. Where's a pitcher so I can leave some by your bed?"
"In the kitchen, above the left side of the stove."
He is quick to make it back with the water and I drink down the glass like someone who's been in the desert for days.
"This bacteria is unlike anything I have ever seen before, Derek! Come look under the optical enhancer." He pulls his son over to look under the optical enhancer and even Derek is shocked.
"What in the world!" He exclaims. "Dad go wash your hands, I'll take care of these samples and get them sealed and taken care of. When we get home, I'll sterilize your equipment immediately."
"I apologize for all the trouble I am putting you and your father through. I do appreciate it though."
I comment to Derek who waves it off, "Don't think nothing of it. It is what doctors do. They find the illness and do their best to treat or ease the suffering of the patient."
He comes and sits in the seat next to the bed, filling up my water glass for me again and handing it to me.
"I know we have never seen a bacteria that's like this one, which concerns me. I worry if you will be alright." Derek's eyes furrow in frustration, but his eyes show nothing but concern.
"I believe that concern belongs to me, sir. Are you the doctor?" Bav walks over to us, Viekar right behind him, breathing hard resembling a runner who just ran a 5K marathon.
"Bav." My heart catches at the sight of him, but starts to beat rapidly because Derek Chambers is in the same room as him.
"I am not the doctor, I am his son and assistant though." Derek stands sizing Bav up, which Bav does not back down or cower and sizes Derek right back.
"Would you two like a measuring tape for this little show?" Doctor Eli comes back in and shakes his head in annoyed disdain.
Derek sighs and looks away, " No need, father." He steps away and begins to put the rest of the equipment away carefully.
"Doctor, what seems to be the problem with my Kara? Viekar said something about a bacterial infection?"
The doctor holds out his hand to shake in greeting, "Doctor Eli Chambers, and you are Mr. Fairchild I presume?" Bav nods, shaking the doctors hand.
"Good, we took a blood sample and under the optical enhancer, we found a bacteria in her blood, but it doesn't look like any I have ever seen. Do you know anything about it maybe?" Doctor Eli, stands as straight as he can with his cane placed center front of him.
"I believe I do, I just need to ask her a few questions and take a look at your micro.. I mean optical enhancer."
"Right there on the desk." The doctor points to his equipment that is still out, and Bav looks and nods.
"May I have some privacy with Ms. Langridge please?"
"Of course, Derek, come on son." Doctor Eli motions for Derek to help him as his legs begin to shake from standing too long. Viekar closes the door behind him as the step out.
"Bav." My voice is weaker than it was prior.
"Oh Kara! I'm so sorry." Bav drops his proper and reserved manners and rushes to my side. Taking me into his arms like I was a fragile doll.
"You don't have to apologize. You didn't do this." I shake my head at his silliness, and rest it against his chest listening to his beating heart. It's like a lullaby to my ears, and my exhaustion grows stronger as I listen.
"But I did. When I visited you. I forgot in my hurry to see you, to decontaminate my body so nothing from the other world would infect anyone here. I'm so sorry, my dear."
Weakly, I flutter my eyes open, "Am I dying?"
Bav clenches me tighter against him, "No, not now that I am here." He pulls a bottle and a syringe from his pocket after he lays me back down.
"I'm going to have to ask you to lift your skirt, I have to inject this into the flesh of your upper back thigh. It's going to hurt, but you will get better by the time I come back."
I roll over and pull my skirt up for him to give me the shot. I feel the poke and then the burn.
"BLOODY HELL!" I cry out as he rubs the spot around the injection site and pulls my skirt down.
Derek comes running in, pushing past Viekar. "What are you doing to her?!" He growls at Bav.
"Mr. Chambers, it's alright." I tell him. Bav throws the syringe away and hands the vial that still is practically full.
"I suggest, your father, you, and those two ladies down stairs get one dose of this, injected into the upper flesh of the back of the thigh. As soon as possible."
"What's in it?" He asks taking the clear vial.
"Antibiotic, it will kill take care of the bacteria. Since you all have been in close contact with her, I suggest you take it as a precaution, even if you do not feel ill." He informs Derek, "Oh and it burns when it goes in, that's normal."
Derek looks up at Bav anger clear on his face, "Did you get her sick?"
Bav doesn't even bat an eye, "It was unintentional, but yes. Now, I highly suggest you go take care of those injections. I would like to spend the remainder of the time I have left to be here with Ms. Langridge. Alone. Viekar will handle any debts you may be owed." Bav turns and walks over to me as Derek fumes but leaves with the vial.
Bav climbs onto the bed and opens his arms for me to rest against him. I fall into his arms life he's a life raft within the ocean and cling to him just as desperately.
"I missed you too, Kara." He holds me closer to him. Kissing my forehead and breathing in my scent from my hair as he holds me. We hear some a few yelps of pain as everyone gets a shot.
"I have a gift for you. Would you like it now or when I get back?" Bav asks me.
"That depends, will I like it or love it?" I ask grinning up at him, resembling a little girl about to play her favorite game.