Nathan walked into the examination room to find an empty bed and walked towards the desk. He waited for the nurse to finish talking to another patient and looked around the ER. Things seemed to have gotten busier since he’d gone to stay with Chris and he was reminded of just how hard the staff in this department worked. They dealt with sick and injured patients, their distraught family members and most of the time they never got the praise they deserved. Cutbacks were affecting hospitals throughout the country, yet the doctors and nurses did the best they could to look after those in need. He watched as a young boy was wheeled from one of the examination rooms. An IV ran into his left arm and tears ran down his cheeks. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he heard the father’s attempt to sooth his son by telling him he’d sleep through the surgery and that he wouldn’t feel a thing.
“Can I help you?”
Jackson turned back to the counter and smiled at the nurse there. “Can you tell me where Vin Tanner is.”
She looked behind her at the board that told her where patients were, what rooms they were in and who their attending physician was and finally turned back to the man standing in front of the desk. “He’s having his CT scan done. He should be back shortly and he’ll be in room three,” she told him and turned to the person hurrying towards the desk, calling for help.
Nathan walked back to the examination room and walked inside. He sat in the chair and let his shoulders slump. Something about Chris’ illness bothered him, but he couldn’t quite grasp what it was. The toxin could’ve been caused by a bacteria and could be explained as food poisoning, but the inflamed mouth pointed to other things. Things that Jackson hoped were not true. He shivered as he felt a touch on his shoulder, yet the touch itself was warm. A soft whisper made him turn, but he knew there’d be no one there. The words registered in his mind, but he didn’t quite grasp them, as the door to the room opened and he stood up. He moved the chair out of the way as an orderly pushed a wheelchair into the room.
The first thing Nathan noticed was the way the younger man held his head in his left hand. He knew the headache was worse as the sharpshooter didn’t protest the hands helping him from the chair and back to the bed. The medic watched the orderly leave and moved to the bed.
“Vin, how are you doing?” he asked worriedly.
“C...c...cold.”
The tracker shivered under the thin sheet and Jackson move to the cupboard in search of something that would provide warmth for the injured man. Finding nothing that would come close to providing the comfort he knew was needed, he left the room and found the supply cart. He searched through the shelves, but only found the same thin sheets that covered patients in every ER room in every hospital he’d ever entered. He turned away in frustration, spotted Vin’s nurse and hurried towards her.
“Excuse me, Judy.”
The nurse looked up from the chart she was reading and smiled tiredly. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“Yes, Ma’am, least I hope so. My friend’s cold and I’m looking for a blanket.”
Judy finally recognized the handsome man and smiled as she led him to a back room. She opened a cupboard and handed him two flannel blankets. “These should help,” she told him.
Jackson smiled as he took the warm blankets in his arms. “Thanks, Judy, this is perfect,” he answered as he hurried back to room three. He pushed open the door and frowned as he saw the tracker huddled under the thin sheet. Vin Tanner was a man who hated the cold and always needed extra blankets when the others were comfortable with what they had. Nathan knew it had to do with his childhood, but he’d never been able to get the full story from the younger man. He took the blankets and spread them over the patient and smiled at the muffled ‘thanks’ and the heavy sigh from the tired man.
“Better?”
“Y...yeah...so damn c...cold in here.”
Jackson touched the sweaty forehead and had his hand batted away for his efforts.
“Quit it. I’m f...fine.”
The medic smiled as he moved back to his chair, pleased that he hadn’t felt any fever brewing there. ‘Maybe it is just exhaustion, lord knows you haven’t been eating or resting,’he thought tiredly. He picked up a magazine from the tiny table and began reading, not really interested in the words on the page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josiah watched as Larabee moved on the bed, a soft moan leaving his mouth before he settled down to sleep once more. The ex-preacher knew the younger man was in more pain than he let on and he wished he could ease some of that torment. For now all he could do was provide a soft voice, and a willing ear for anything Chris Larabee wanted to hear or say.
Chris moved as if through a fog, slowly turning his head to the right until his eyes met those of the ex-preacher. The older man always seemed to have a soft smile and was always a welcome sight when confusion seemed to dominate his mind. He shook off the thick tendrils of sleep and reached for the button on the bed. He bit his lip as the head rose a few inches, affording him a better view of the room, but setting off a small fire in his hip.
“Hello, Chris.”
Larabee frowned as he realized Jackson was no longer there. “Josiah, whaf fime is if?” he asked, hating the way his voice sounded.
“It’s a little after nine. Can I get you anything?”
“Ice,” the blond answered and sighed as the cold made the flaming interior of his mouth diminish to a more bearable level. “Fanks, shif, sound like carfoon characfer.”
Sanchez couldn’t help smiling at his friend’s comment. “You do at that, my friend, but it won’t stay that way.”
“Hope nof,” Larabee said sheepishly. “Where’s Nafan?”
“Nathan is with Vin.”
The injured man grew serious as he stared at the older man. “Do they know wha’s wrong wif him yef?”
“Not yet. Nathan said he’d come up as soon as the results of the tests are back.”
“He don’ fake care of himself.”
Sanchez’ eyebrows rose and his eyes grew serious as he folded his arms across his chest. “And you do?”
“Ah, Hell, Josiah, guess you gof me.”
“Guess I did,” he watched as Larabee’s eyes grew heavy with sleep and knew the man still had a lot of healing to do, especially with the setback he’d had that day. “Why don’t you go on back to sleep?”
“Need...know abouf Vin.”
“I’ll wake you as soon as Nathan gets back.”
“Nof sleepy.”
“Then just rest your eyes and I’ll read to you.”
“O...kay,” Larabee said and let his eyelids drop closed. “Fanks, Josiah.”
“Anytime, Son,” the ex-preacher vowed as he opened the book once more.
In spite of his vow that he wasn’t tired Chris drifted towards sleep, content in the deep voice of the man seated beside him. The words were meant to comfort, but it was the steady familiar tones that made him feel secure enough to give into his body’s demands for rest.
~~~~~~~~~~
Nathan looked up as the door opened and Milano came into the room. She had a chart in her hands and he watched as she walked up to the bed. He looked at the pale tracker, not surprised to see the blue eyes open and looking at the doctor.
“Mr. Tanner, I have the results of your tests,” the woman said as she stood beside the bed and placed the chart on the table.
“Everything’s fine right?” the sharpshooter asked.
“Well, the blood test and CT scan were negative...”
“So I can get out of here...”
“Vin, let her finish!”
“Thank you, Mr. Jackson,” she said and turned her attention back to the reluctant patient. “The tests were negative, but you are showing signs of dehydration and with everything you’ve been through over the last couple of weeks I want to keep you...”
“Hell no!” Tanner swore.
“Overnight for observation,” the doctor continued, used to obstinate patients and knowing this one would rank in the top five in that category.
“I don’t need...”
“Mr. Tanner, if you continue to ignore your own health, you’ll end up in here for a lot longer than overnight. If you give us a day, maybe two...”
“I...”
“Vin, would Chris want you endangering your own life?”
“Hell, Nathan, that’s not fair and you know it!” He saw the smile on Jackson’s face and realized the medic knew exactly what he was doing. ‘Shit! Shit! Shit!”
“I take it that means you’ll be staying?” Milano asked, smiling at the three words the reluctant patient used.
“I don’t seem to have a choice, at least not with the guilt maker around,” Tanner hissed, but the anger had left him and the words were said as a jest.
“The nurse will be in as soon as she’s made arrangements for a room...”
“I want to be with Chris!” Tanner said.
“Chris is in a private room, Vin,” Jackson said.
“We don’t usually do this, but I’ll have the nurses check to see if there’s anything close to your friend, Mr. Tanner, but there’s no guarantee.”
The tracker smiled his appreciation at the doctor and said softly. “Thanks, Doc.”
“You’re welcome. Judy will also bring you something to help settle your stomach and ease that headache. I want you to get a good night’s sleep, Mr. Tanner and we’ll see how things are going in the morning.”
“Headaches...”
“Still there!” Jackson finished and smiled at the glare sent his way.
“See, Mr. Tanner, you’re not fooling anyone. Goodnight and please don’t be making any late night trips to your friend’s room.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll make sure of that,” Jackson promised as the doctor left.
“Shit, Nathan, I could rest at the hotel.”
“You said that before, Vin, but you didn’t do it,” the medic said seriously. “Now why don’t you rest until they get your room ready?”
“I’m in the hospital, Nathan, never get any rest here,” Tanner drawled. “Always coming in to wake you up and give you a sleeping pill.” Jackson’s laughter was just what the sharpshooter hoped to hear and he was glad he’d cracked the small joke JD had told them the last time the kid was in the hospital. The two men looked towards the door as Vin’s nurse walked in with a syringe in her hands. “Damn!”
Judy smiled at the soft curse as she uncapped the syringe. “Mr. Tanner, this should help with the headache and the nausea. It’ll probably make you sleepy, so please don’t go getting out of bed on your own,” she explained as she injected the medications into the IV line. “I’ll be back when they have a room ready for you. So just try to rest. Okay?”
“Yeah, don’t seem to have much choice.”
“That’s right,” Jackson laughed and sat down to wait for the tracker to be moved upstairs. The nurse left without a backwards glance and the medic knew the ER had gotten busier as the night went on.
“Nathan?”
“Yeah?”
“What’re you gonna tell Chris?”
“The truth. That the doctor admitted you for observation, but the tests were negative and that’s a good sign.”
“He’s still gonna worry.”
“And you wouldn’t if the roles were reversed? Go to sleep, Vin, I’ll go see Chris after you’re settled in your room.”
Tanner yawned and nodded slowly. “Hate th...this...” he mumbled.
“Yeah, we all do,” Jackson said softly as he watched the younger man drift towards sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josiah looked up from the book he’d been reading and placed a finger in front of his mouth as Nathan Jackson entered. The two men looked towards the sleeping man and were glad to see he hadn’t moved.
The medic signaled for Josiah to follow him outside, but the two men were stopped by a soft scratchy voice from the bed.
“How’s Vin?” Larabee asked, surprised that it didn’t hurt so much to talk.
“Sorry, Chris, didn’t mean to wake you,” Jackson said as he moved to the bed.
“Didn’t, wasn’t really sleeping,” the blond told him. “How’s Vin? What did the doctor say?”
“Vin’s gonna be just fine,” the medic said. “Dr. Milano said he was just exhausted and slightly dehydrated.”
“Did you take him back to the hotel?” Larabee asked and saw the quick glance between his friends. “Nathan, what’s going on? Whaf aren’t you felling me?” His voice grew worse as worry made him speak faster.
“Chris, Dr. Milano wanted to keep Vin overnight for observation,” Jackson told him. “He’s just two doors down the hall.”
Larabee frowned at the news and looked uncertainly at the two men. He knew they wouldn’t lie to him, but he needed to know that his best friend was all right.
“Nathan...”
“Chris, he’s really okay,” the medic assured him. “You know Vin, he just doesn’t know when to stop and this time his body finally made sure he did. I’m sure he’ll be down here as soon as he wakes up.”
Larabee smiled tiredly as he looked at his friends. “He’s okay?”
“He’s fine or he will be after a good night’s sleep and a healthy meal.”
“Healthy meal? You’d beffer nof give him any salad. Las’ one I had was a little hof,” Larabee said, glad to hear the soft laughter his comments caused the two men.
“I’ll make sure to let the nurses know of your dislike for salads, Chris,” Jackson said.
“Only hosfital, salads Nafan. God, s’ill soun’ like a carfoon.”
“Is it feeling any better, Chris?” the medic asked.
“Yeah, if is. Jus ‘ired.”
“Go on to sleep, Brother,” Sanchez said.
“Think he already has, Josiah. I called the others to let them know what was going on. Buck’s still sleeping and JD and Ezra were playing cards.”
“Hope the kid doesn’t lose his shirt.”
“If he does it’ll be his own fault. We all know Ezra is a pro, but I don’t think he uses slight of hand when he plays with the rest of us.”
“Most of the time he doesn’t need to,” Sanchez said and the two men laughed softly.
Ezra Standish was a man who’d grown up in a gambling family. He’d spent more time in private casinos than most kids spent at school. Josiah cornered him one day, after catching him cheating in a friendly game between the seven of them, and quickly found out why the younger man cheated. It wasn’t because he needed to, it was because that’s what he’d been taught. It didn’t take long for the conman to realize his friends didn’t blame him for the cheating and he vowed not to do it when playing against them. As far as he knew Ezra Standish played a straight game with those he considered his new family, but others were fair game.
“Yeah, Ezra knows how to play poker.”
“I’d say it was bred into him.” Sanchez thought of the men they’d seen the day Maguire was killed and knew it was more than just talent that made Ezra who he was. It was something that was passed down through generations, a sense of pride in one’s accomplishments, and more importantly, in one’s self.
The two men grew quiet as they watched the sleeping man. Sanchez looked away from the bed and saw the frown on Jackson’s face. He knew the Medic was worried about both men, but there was something else he couldn’t quite place.
“Nathan, what’s wrong?”
Jackson frowned and walked away from the bed, knowing the older man would follow him. “I don’t know, Josiah,” he whispered. “There’s just something not right about Chris getting sick like this.”
“What are you getting at?”
“The salad being changed after the tray was taken. What if it was done on purpose. Not once but twice.”
“Why would anyone in Washoe want to hurt Chris? He’s a stranger here.”
Jackson paced in short strides before stopping in front of the window.
“I know that, Josiah, but something about what happened just doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Too many coincidences?”
“Exactly. The salad dressing, the new one placed on Chris’ tray, the toxin in the blood work, his mouth being affected, nausea, pain, everything points to some kind of poisoning.”
“It could have been accidental,” Sanchez said, beginning to realize there could be an unknown threat to Larabee’s life.
“Yeah, it could be, but something tells me that it isn’t an accident. That whoever is doing this is gonna strike again.”
“I guess we need to watch his back in case this threat is real.”
“Yeah, Josiah, we’d better, because I have a feeling it is and Chris is still in danger.”
“You think maybe Maguire has relatives or friends who might come after him.”
Jackson shook his head as he looked towards the bed. “No. I don’t think this has anything to do with that animal. Don’t ask me why, it’s just a gut instinct.”
“Then we treat it as a real threat,” Sanchez assured his friend as he took the seat beside the bed once more.
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