Two hours later, Sam and Donna left the operating room and met John and Sir Richard in the medical conference room. Sir Richard sat at the head of the table. Sam and Donna sat to his left while John sat on his right. “How did it go, Sam?” Sir Richard asked.
“About as well as we expected. Due to the trauma and repeated blows to her head, there was some cerebral haemorrhaging. As a result, this caused the brain to swell. If it had been treated sooner, we might have been able to limit the amount of damage done to her neurological system. Had it not been for the immediate care of her attending physician, we probably would have lost her on the operating table. However, Missy is in a coma.”
“When can I see her?” John asked.
“She’s on the respirator, John,” Donna added. “Although she’s breathing on her own, Sam and I decided it was best.”
“She’s on assisted breathing,” Sam said. “What that means is this. If Missy can pull enough oxygen into her lungs, the machine allows that, but, if for some reason, she can’t, that’s when the respirator breathes for her.”
“How long will she be on the machine?” John asked.
“That’s hard to say. Missy’s trachea was crushed, John. From the markings on her neck, it was probably due to strangulation. However, there are also indications that she may have been hit in the throat, by the same object which caused her head trauma.” Sam glanced down at her chart, sighed and continued. “Her left mandible – her jaw bone – has been badly fractured. In order for that to heal properly, her teeth have been wired shut to prevent movement. Missy’s right forearm had to be set and casted. She has some cracked ribs on the left side. One of which perforated her lung and will also cause her some breathing difficulties and considerable pain, if she were conscious. Another major factor is blood loss. Missy’s face and throat were sliced with either a razor or surgical scalpel. I did my best, but I’m afraid there will be scarring.”
“Not necessarily,” Donna interjected. “We can use my CTZ5 treatment, but, I’d rather use it as a last resort.”
John frowned. “Why is that?”
“Although I’m confident of my CTZ5, I’m not confident enough of the enhanced healing gene or EHG as we’ve decided to call it. The way Jared explained it to me….”
Sam glanced at Sir Richard. “Jared Thundercloud? The Indian from Raging Storm?”
Donna frowned at the interruption. “Yes, Sam. That Jared Thundercloud.” She opened her mouth to continue, but was again interrupted.
“What does he know? He’s not a specialist.”
“Yes Sam!” Donna snapped. “As a matter of fact he is, and a damned good one, too. He’s also an extremely talented artist and carpenter. Now will you stop interrupting me?”
Sam swallowed hard and arched an eyebrow; taken aback. “Please, continue, Dr. Rigden.”
“Thank you. I will. As I was saying,” she said, turning her attention back to John and Sir Richard. “The way Jared explained it to me, the mother’s milk, which is what I believe altered my DNA, doesn’t work for everybody. In fact, if the person is not genetically compatible, it can kill. That’s not a chance I’m willing to take, at this stage. Not until we’ve had a chance to run some more tests.”
“You didn’t say anything to me about this,” Sam forced through his teeth. “It sounds to me like this stuff could mean a death sentence, for Missy.”
Donna rolled her eyes and groaned. “Yes Sam. That’s exactly what it could mean. That’s why I want to do some more tests and make sure Missy is genetically compatible. I have to warn you,” she said to John. “Unless Missy has Native American ancestry, there’s an extremely strong chance she won’t be.”
“This Native American gene you’re referring to, that’s Jared’s bloodline – correct?”
“Yes, Sir Richard. Mine, and Jared’s, and Gary’s bloodline.”
“Then what do you suggest we do, Donna?” Sir Richard asked.
“I suggest we monitor Missy’s condition and keep testing the CTZ5 with the EHG. If Missy progresses, we may not need to take the risk. If she gets worse or we see there’s no other alternative, then we risk using it.”
“Can I go and see her? I mean even if she doesn’t know I’m there, I’d like to sit with her.”
Donna glanced at Sam and studied John’s eyes. “I don’t see that there would be any harm. I know if I were in her condition, hearing the voice of a loved one would help to keep me from crossing over.” She closed Melissa’s folder.
“Could I just point something out here?” Sam interjected, irritated. “If any of you had bothered to look, you would know that Missy has a living will. She doesn’t want to be kept alive by artificial means.”
Donna frowned. “Sam, why are you talking about something like this now? Missy may very well pull out of this. John already has enough on his mind. He doesn’t need to think about something like that!”
“I’m just stating the facts, Donna, but since you or nobody else here seem to be interested in my opinion, I’m going to get a cup of coffee. If you need me,” he said, shoving his chair under the table. “I’ll be in the cafeteria.”
Donna stood. “Sam!” she called out as he slammed the door. “Come on,” Donna sighed. “Let’s go check on Missy.”
------------
As soon as Donna read over Melissa’s chart, she and Sir Richard left the room so John could have some time alone with Melissa. “So how was Linda Wilson?” Sir Richard asked as they walked down the corridor.
“I’m not an obstetrician, Sir Richard, nor am I neonatologist. I don’t mean to offend you, but I find it unusual that a facility, such as yours, doesn’t have at least one of these, if not both.”
Sir Richard stopped and turned. He studied her eyes. “Donna… has Sam, or Gary, or maybe even Ricky explained our reasons for wanting to identify and eradicate the death gene?”
Donna leaned her back against the wall and folded her arms across her chest. “Not entirely, no,” she sighed. “I assumed it was to extend the human life span.”
“What was the purpose of your research at D’Netics?”
“I was using stem cell therapy to cure fatal and debilitating diseases, such as….”
“…Alzheimer’s and others that affect older people,” he interjected. “Am I right? Your aim was never to eradicate death, but to make it less painful and less feared.”
“Yes, but you already know that. I don’t understand.”
“Let me put it another way. Do you believe it’s possible to stop the aging process and end death altogether?”
“Well, yes, I believe it’s possible, but….”
Sir Richard held up a hand. “…But you don’t believe we should.”
“Sir Richard, I’ve already had this argument with Sam and with Gary. If people stopped dying, our economic system would break down. We would suddenly find ourselves dealing with overpopulation and famine. Nobody wants to die – I… don’t want to die, but until we can better manage our resources, I’m just not sure immortality is the answer. I certainly wouldn’t want to know someone like GW Forrest was going to be around forever.”
Sir Richard softly chuckled. “I can’t say I would either. OK, let’s leave that discussion for another time. I’ll talk to Sam about your recommendations. We don’t deal with everyday medical conditions at the Centre – pregnancy being one of them – but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. We will eventually have to deal with it, and a lot of other things,” he mused.
Donna furrowed her brow. “Pardon?”
Sir Richard waved a dismissive hand. “Never mind,” he sighed. “I knew Linda Wilson had been having complications, but I never bothered to find out more. What kind of complications is she having?”
“As I’ve said, I’m not a neonatologist, but I believe there’s something seriously wrong with this baby. The ultrasound, to say the least, was disturbing.”
“In what way?”
“The foetus’s structural development is out of proportion to its internal development.”
Sir Richard arched an eyebrow and scratched the back of his neck; clear hints to Donna that he didn’t understand. She softly chuckled. “I’m sorry. I’m going over your head. What I’m trying to say is the baby’s body appears to be growing at a much faster rate than it should be in comparison to its brain, heart, lungs and other internal organs. Sir Richard, I haven’t mentioned this to Sam or the Wilsons because I’m waiting on the test results. I don’t believe in abortion, but if I’m right, Linda’s doctor has deliberately put her life in danger. This baby should have been aborted, long before now. In fact, I’m surprised Linda hasn’t had a spontaneous abortion, already. I think Linda’s doctor has been giving her drugs to keep her from aborting, but I don’t know why.”
“And you haven’t discussed this with Sam?”
“No. I was going to, but he stormed out of here before I got a chance to bring up the subject. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do that tonight, when he’s cooled off. I’ve never seen this side of him. Unless it’s because I challenged his professional judgement, I don’t know what’s brought this on.”
Sir Richard suspired. This is probably because Jared is here. “Sam certainly doesn’t like to be challenged.”
Donna looked surprised. “Really? Sam said he liked challenges.”
“Who knows? Sometimes Sam can be a bit… perplexing.”
Donna sighed and shook her head. “Tell me about it, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. He seems to know them all. There was something I meant to ask you. Were you in the observation area during Missy’s surgery?”
Sir Richard softly cleared his throat. “I was there for a while.”
Donna pressed her lips into a thin line and forced air through her nose. “That must have been what it was, then.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I walked in the operating room, I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched. It must have been because you were there.”
“Does being observed bother you?”
“Oh no – it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s just – well. When I asked Sam, he said – oh never mind. It was probably just my sixth sense. Have you had any luck with the investigation?” she asked, changing the subject.
Sir Richard frowned. “Investigation?”
“You said you’d help me look into my mother’s….”
“…Oh – yes – that. No, I’m sorry petal. With everything that’s been going on lately, I haven’t had a chance.”
“I see. Well, I’ll see you later then,” she smiled. “I think I’ll go to the cafeteria and check on hothead. Maybe I shouldn’t have been quite so forceful.”
“OK, petal. Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten about helping you. I’ll look into it, as soon as I have a free moment.”
“Thank you, Sir Richard. I’ll see you later,” she said as he stepped into the private lift.
------------
Sir Richard walked into his office. “Jared. Juanita. I was hoping to put this off for a while, but I’m afraid we need to move you to the complex.”
Jared grinned. “She knows, doesn’t she?”
“She suspects something is up. She asked if anyone was in the observation area. Sam lied because he didn’t know I was in there, so I don’t think that scored a lot of brownie points for him. Donna disagreed with his professional judgement, and he took it kind of hard. I don’t know what’s going to happen between them about that.”
“Knowing Donna, she’ll apologise even if she knows he was wrong,” Juanita said.
“No, Juanita. I don’t think she will. I think it’s likely they’ll have a row. Knowing Sam, he may come home tonight, and then he may not. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Where is Donna now?”
“I left her in the infirmary. She said she was going to the cafeteria to talk to Sam. Anyway… we need to get you two back up to the roof. Tim is flying you to the complex. He’ll give you your new cell phones and show you how to use them. I’ve assigned you quarters next to the infirmary. Jared, yours and your daughter’s are across from Sam’s at the moment. If you’d like to be somewhere else, in case Donna decides to move in with Sam, that’s fine. We’ll move you to another area, but since you won’t be joining us permanently for a while, we won’t worry about that right now.”
Jared chuckled. “I can take being next door to Sam and Donna, but I’m not sure that Sam can. If things work out the way I’m hoping, it won’t matter anyway.”
Sir Richard smiled. “No, I don’t think it will, but you never know. Juanita, yours, and what will eventually be your mother’s are on the other side of Jared and his daughter’s. Just in case Donna wants her own quarters, I’m keeping the one next to yours open. I figured you two might want to be neighbours again.”
Juanita smiled. “Yes, Sir. I’d like that. I miss her.”
“Well, maybe you won’t have to miss her much longer. All that’s left for you to do now is sign the contracts. Once you’ve done that, Mildred will give you your black Triplet International MasterCard, and then you and Jared can find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
“What about clothes, Sir Richard?”
“That’s already sorted. Jared, I tried to match your black BMW as closely as possible, but I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to getting in on the opposite side. Until you make the permanent move, and unless you object, you and Juanita will have to either ride together or share the same vehicle.”
Jared laughed. “Gary was right. You do cover all the bases, but I haven’t agreed to a permanent move.”
Sir Richard grinned. “After you see the complex, I think you will.”
Jared picked up the pen and glanced at Juanita. “Sir Richard, before I sign this,” he stalled, glancing at Juanita again. “I think there’s something I need to… show you. I’m not exactly what you would call, normal.”
Sir Richard laughed. “Jared, not many people in my organisation would be considered normal. When you see the complex, you’ll understand. It’s… very remote.”
“Yeah – well,” Jared snorted. “That’s not exactly what I was talking about.”
Sir Richard studied Jared’s eyes. “Son… I know you’re different. I just don’t know how. Right now, I think the important thing to do is get you and Juanita out of here, before Donna figures this out. John and I will make a trip to the complex, and we’ll discuss this further. Since he’s my head of security, I think he should hear what you have to say. We can discuss your uniqueness then.” He stood. “You’ve signed your contracts. Get to the roof! Consider that my first order, as your new boss.”
Jared raised an eyebrow. “Um, Sir Richard…” he paused and cleared his throat. “I’d prefer to think of us as business partners if you don’t mind.”