The Doctor Is In - For the Sick

[a_soul_awake]

St. John’s test results had come back after a few hours and Hope ran them again just to make sure there wasn’t an error in her machines. Of course there wasn’t. The second results were the same as the first and it made her wonder. While the white blood cell count was slightly elevated it wasn’t anything that screamed to her obvious infection. It

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[angelica_jinx]

Every time a nurse left her alone for more than a few minutes, Angel was falling asleep. Since she was fairly sure that the clear liquid in the bag attached to her IV was saline (apparently she was dehydrated) it had to just be her body's natural reaction to being sick. Just sleep it off.

Truth be told, other than the occasional seasonal hay-fever or menstrual cramps, Angel didn't really get sick too often. Thanks to the radiation her body absorbed and her unnaturally high white cell count, most infection didn't stand a chance. Granted, it was the same stuff that was slowly making her sterile but it did have it's up side. However, all that was gone now. The last couple of days her power had been flickering. It wasn't something she was consciously aware of but there were times like when the power goes out in an already dark room, there wasn't that hum and things were just too quiet.

When the door opened to her room, her eyes fluttered open. She thought maybe Ethan was back but it was Dr. Chandler. "Hi." She said with a little smile. Her throat was sore and raspy from the coughing, her main symptom so far though she did have a headache and she'd get nauseous if she moved around too much.

[a_soul_awake]

"Hello," she said pleasantly. Hope thought Angelica was one of the nicest people in the camp. She honestly liked the girl, which she could say for very few people. "That sounds like a pretty nasty flu you have there."

She picked up the file the nurses had put together at the end of the bed and read over what they had done and what Angelica had told them about her symptoms. She made sure to control her frown. Lots of people with flu like symptoms and power loss. Something in the back of her mind tingled, but she set it aside to work.

"Well, I'm going to get a blood sample and run a few tests."

[angelica_jinx]

"Yeah, it kind of came on me suddenly. I mean I've been tired for the last couple days and I woke up sore but the cough just started a few hours ago. I guess I was coughing too hard. I started coughing up blood. That's why the Captain brought me here so quick." She was talking too much and the coughing started again.

"Ow" She whined a little bit and brought her hand to her chest like it would ease her lungs. When Hope said she needed a little blood Angel just nodded and held out her arm. She wasn't a super big fan of needles so it was better to just get it over with. "When the nurse comes back, do you think she can bring me some ice for my throat?"

[a_soul_awake]

"I'll have her bring some tea with honey. It's better than ice." She got the blood draw kit out and started to prep Angelica's arm.

"Have you noticed anyone else sick around the camp?" she asked while she worked. She wanted to get a better idea of what was going on around here. So many mutants turning up sick, but as far as she knew none of the guards had come in.

Something was going on.

[angelica_jinx]

Angel smiled again. "Thank you."

The doctor's question made her eyes dart back to the woman and stare a little bit. "No, why? Have there been others?" Did she make them sick? Maybe Ethan was right. Maybe it was the other way around. Maybe she didn't bring it on base.

[a_soul_awake]

"Oh, don't thank me yet," Hope said with a sardonic smile. "I'm going to have you admitted here for observation. If there's a book you'd like, I'll have someone bring it for you."

She was gentle about drawing blood, taking two vials before she put a bit of gauze over the site and folded the girl's arm. At her question, Hope waved a hand and went to get a juice box from the mini fridge.

"I'm merely curious. The flu has a nasty way of spreading." She didn't want to alarm the poor girl.

[angelica_jinx]

"Admitted?" Angel replied trying to sit up but only accomplished making herself guilty. Of course, she was going to be admitted. She was coughing up blood and Ethan said it was some strange mutant illness. It made sense that she would be admitted but Ethan said only little kids and old people were dying. She thought when she got rehydrated and ran a few tests she'd get to sleep in her own bed. It wasn't as if she lived far.

Was she really that bad?

[a_soul_awake]

"Yes, admitted and there's no way out of it either so don't try to protest."

No one who was sick was getting out of here right now. She was keeping everyone in bed and separated. She needed to keep them from spreading this which was a hard thing considering she had no idea how it was spread.

[angelica_jinx]

She didn't try and argue. Angel just shook her head and laid back against her pillow. "I won't argue. I know you know what you are doing. It just surprised me."

Stopping to cough again, she took a deep breath but it only hurt and made her cough again. It was hard to convince someone that you were okay when you couldn't take a full breath. "How long before we know what I have?"

[a_soul_awake]

"Soon," Hope said, knowing it wasn't really an answer but she didn't have one to give. "Like I said, I need to run some tests."

A lot of tests and she could only guess at how long that would take. She wasn't going to give anyone a rough guess. Estimations bothered her.