Fandom Causeway to the clinic - Evening
The truck had run out of gas a few miles ago, when it had still been daylight and Cameron hadn't had the energy to try to find a gas station that may or may not have working tanks. Not when his goal had been so much closer and he'd started walking, Ray following him on his heels. Now, he was almost starting to regret the decision. Earlier there had been the roar of the engine, but now there was nothing but the sound of his boots hitting the concrete and the soft pad of Ray's paws behind him. The world that stretched out around him was a silent one and now that everything had grown dark, the loneliness seemed to echo from it and ever house that he passed was either empty or a tomb. He tried to take comfort from it that at least, his own home wouldn't stand like that forever.
Walking was an automatic now, and he shouldn't think or he'd realise just how tired he was, his stomach empty and he still felt nauseouted. He tried not to think, just to move, just keep his goal in mind and it would be alright. He didn't believe that, but it was all he had to keep going. All he had to get back up when he stumbled. Just one foot in front of the other and he never really noticed when his surroundings started to become familiar. He just knew where he was heading. Knew it had to be there, around the bend. Just a little bit further now.
He ignored the doubts, the fear that maybe the Ori had gotten there first. Or that maybe the island still wouldn't show up and then... There was no then. It wasn't an option. It wasn't...
No, it was there. Lights shining across the water. It was there and untouched. A safe haven.
For long moments he just stood there, his feet rooted to the ground and he couldn't believe he'd made it, couldn't believe he'd gotten this far. He glanced back over his shoulder, his own world dark and cold. There was nothing left there, nothing left to save. He wished he had a prayer for them, but nothing his grandmother had taught him seemed to be fitting so he simply turned his back and headed down the causeway, knowing he'd never be back.
His knees buckled when he was almost off the causeway and he couldn't keep his balance any longer. Whatever had kept him going was gone now, exhaustion washing over him. He made it were his last thoughts before everything went black.
Xander hadn't exactly forgotten his promise to Logan that he would take a look at the ruins of the Echolls Mansion and see how feasible it would be to rebuild, but the idea had taken a back-seat after the re-construction of the school started up, and between one thing and another, he hadn't gotten back to it. But since he'd been on this side of the island anyway, working on the Closet That Ate A Medium-Sized City, today seemed as good a time as any to take a walk out that way and check the place out.
Looked like he wasn't the only one to have that idea, though he doubted the dog he'd spotted was taking the same kind of mental measurements.Xander peered into the distance. It was hanging around alone by the end of the causew-- No, wait, it wasn't alone. There was somebody next to it, lying on the ground. In the road.
He took off at a run, bag thumping against his shoulder until he reached the fallen figure.
The dog started barking as Xander approached, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as he stood protectively over Cameron.
Xander slowed down and cautiously held out one hand and he stepped nearer to both the dog and the man, somewhere in between See, I'm harmless and Please don't rip my fingers off. "Hey, guy. Take it easy, there."
The dog let out a soft growl and backed away until his hind legs bumped against Cameron's arm, making him stir.
"Ray," he warned as he heard the dog growling at someone. Then he panicked as for a moment he didn't remember where he was and tried to push up.
Relieved that the guy was alive, since that was the next thing he'd been about to check, it tookXander a second to recognize the voice. "John?" But then there was the glimpse of a face that was right-but-not, a little older or at least more worn-out. "Cam?" He crouched down, reaching out a hand.
The sound of his name made him look up and he stilled as he slowly started to remember where he was. "Xander?" he said after a moment, not quite believing it.
"Yeah. You--" That might qualify for Stupidest Question Ever, soXander turned it into statement. "--are not okay. What the hell happened to you?" Oh look, the runner up, because did he look like he was up for answering that, considering he wasn't even up?
Cameron clenched his jaw, his eyes looking past Xander. He wasn't sure if he wanted to explain it, wasn't sure he could. "It's... A lot," he said and drew in a breath. "Gimme a hand up?"
Xander set his shoulder and reached down to help Cam up. "Why don't you try just concentrating on breathing and walking at the same time? We need to get you to the clinic."
"I'd protest," Cameron managed, grabbing hold of Xander's shoulder as the world went spinning. Strange, that hadn't happened earlier. "But I think you might be right."
"Maybe we need a refresher course on the breathing thing; you can't do that and protest at the same time. Lemme get your bag."Xander added the pack to the weight of his own, trying not to jostle Cameron too much in the process.
"Sound like a drill-sergeant," Cameron muttered, but Xander was right and the walk to the island had pretty much cost him the most of his energy. He felt Ray press against his legs, the dog having calmed now that Cameron was on his feet, but he still seemed wary of Xander. "It's okay, boy. Just going to the clinic."
"Good thing it's not far." Xander got them turned around so they were heading up Apocalypse Ave. towards the clinic building, and was hit with a wave of years-olddéjà vu , though they were coming from the opposite direction now. "You should try this from the school with somebody half passed-out from vampire bites. Good times."
At least it was something to concentrate on beside putting one foot in front of the other and how pathetic he felt needing help now that he'd finally made it this far. "At least it's down hill," he pointed out, sounding breathless. "Who got bitten?"
"Logan," Xander answered. "The night Angel got his soul back."
It felt like a lifetime ago and Cameron nodded briskly, his lips pressing together in a thin line as he leaned more heavily onXander. "Didn't know that."
"Be nice if we had that golf cart he used to get around in,"Xander said, though the building was in sight now.
Cameron didn't notice where they were, his eyes fixed on the ground to see where he was going. "Wouldn't want to owe him," he toldXander, not having warmed up to Logan during the time he spent away from Fandom.
"Could always steal it," Xander joked. "Then it's not so much debt as, y'know. Crime."
"Sure. Why not," Cameron remarked dryly. "Unless that freaky armoured sheriff came back?"
"Nope. Still the dude with the eyepatch. Which is bigger than mine. I'm trying not to draw parallels."
"It's not the size that matters," Cameron said and for some reason that made him laugh because it was a lame joke and one Ferguson would have appreciated. He really shouldn't be laughing either, he was too tired and everything was gone and for some really stupid reason he was crying.
"It's how you use it?" Xander replied, and reached up with his free hand to slip the eyepatch down to the tip of his nose. Hey, desperate times called for desperate measures. They'd almost reached the clinic doors; just a few more steps.
"Yes," Cameron reached up with a shaky hand, wiping at his eyes. When he glanced sideways at Xander, he blinked. "Don't think that's how you use it," he remarked, but he was grateful for the distraction.
"It's multi-purpose. Also makes a good slingshot."Xander shouldered the doors open, waiting until he had a free hand again to slip the patch back into place.
Ray slipped in before them, but didn't wander far, reluctant to leave Cameron alone.
"Might have to get one," Cameron was pretty much saying anything that came to mind to keep going. At least they made it to the clinic and it was tempting to just drop down now that he got where he needed to be.
Doogie had been lounging by the desk, working on some crossword puzzles and trying not to die of boredom, when he heard people approaching the doors. By the time the pair of guys came in, he was coming over to meet them, glancing at them both with careful consideration. "Hey there. What have we got here?"
The youthful face was vaguely familiar from both his time in the clinic during the plague, and the daysXander'd spent here waiting for Willow to wake up. "Cam Mitchell," Xander told him. "I found him out by the causeway. Not exactly firing on all cylinders."
"All right, then let's get him into an exam room." Doogie led them into Exam 1 and helped get Cam settled on the bed, smiling softly when he saw the dog had followed them. "Looks like you've got two friends helping you tonight," he said, before pulling out a chart and starting to examine Cam closer. "Can you tell me what happened to you?"
Cameron closed his eyes tightly, too many images flashing before him. "Long story. I'm fine, just tired," he said quietly.
"No offense, but you look a little less than fine," Doogie replied, smiling softly as he took Cam's vital stats and checked him over, stopping at the cut on his hand. "What happened here? And while we're on questions,when's the last time you ate?"
He couldn't quite bring himself to answer the first question so he skipped it in favour of the last one. It was easier to concentrate on and now that he was reminded, he realised just how hungry he was, though he doubted he'd be able to hold anything down right now. "Two days. A candy bar, don't know if that counts."
"Bouncing Buddha on a bicycle." Xander's mouth opened wide.
Doogie frowned, but kept his tone light. "Candy bars don't usually count, no matter what the manufacturers might have you think." Doogie said, taking another look at Cameron's hand. "Why don't I start by getting one of our lovely nurses to clean this up. Then we can get yourehydrated and feeling all better." He grabbed Cameron's chart and made a few slightly legible notes. "I hope you weren't planning on going anywhere for a little while. You're welcome to stay with him if you'd like," he said toXander.
Xander nodded. "No place I need to be that won't still be there later."
"You don't have to," Cameron said quietly with a whole lot of bravado. "I'll be fine." He flexed his hand experimentally, having almost forgotten about the cuts there as it seemed the least of his worries.
Xander eyed him with a look that didn't quite reach bitch, please levels, but was definitely a member of the same species. "Humor me. Pretend I'm hanging around to ogle the nurses."
"Doc said they're pretty," Cameron replied, too tired to argue as he leaned back against the pillow.
"Very pretty," Doogie replied. "Your dog can stay too, as long as he's quiet."
As if he'd understood Doogie's words, Ray lay down beside the exam bed, one eye open just in case.
"Thanks," Cameron said. "Do you maybe have something to eat for him too?"
Doogie laughed lightly. "I'll see what I can find. We wouldn't want him going hungry too, after all."
"Thanks, doc," Cameron said. The adrenaline was starting to wear off and he could feel the tiredness in his limbs. The clean sheets beneath him were almost enough to lull his mind and he wanted to sleep, but there was chance that if he did, he might just wake up somewhere else.
"You're welcome," Doogie replied. "Just relax, and get some rest, all right?"
Cameron nodded obediently; the academy did drill some things into him and watched as Doogie left the room before he glanced at Xander. "Thanks for the lift."
"Hey, it beats the exciting afternoon of site surveying I had planned,"Xander answered, waving a hand. He leaned against the wall, studying Cameron carefully. "You want me to call somebody?"
He didn't quite meet Xander's eyes, thinking of everyone here who he'd missed. Two years was a long time and it didn't seem fair to drop from the face of the Earth and expect anyone to deal with this. "No, it's fine."
"...Uh-huh." That was not Xander promising not to call anybody. It was Xander-speak for 'You're clearly delusional and I'm calling somebody the second you fall asleep.'
Cameron looked up, not completely unaware of the underlying tone. "It's fine," he repeated. "It's not... It's been too long."
"Since May?"
"Yes," Cameron said slowly, glancing up at Xander and wondering what was so strange about that. "May 2007."
Xander wasn't always the most perceptive human being around, but some things, you notice, especially when they sound like they could've come out of your own mouth last year. "That was ten months ago," he said carefully. "Not for you?"
"No," Cameron swallowed and he'd heard it happen to enough people. "It's not December 2009?" he asked in a soft voice.
Xander shook his head. "February 08." He frowned slightly. "So it's been more than two years for you."
"Yeah," he nodded and glanced down at his hands. As if it wasn't all enough. "I couldn't get back at first. The island was just gone."
"That's how it was for me, too."
He let out a breath and shook his head. It felt impossible, but then... "I shouldn't be surprised, huh? I almost forgot how weird this place is."
"Definitely takes its own sweet time about showing up again,"Xander agreed. He wanted to ask what had happened between then and now to leave Cam in this condition, but it so wasn't the right time.
"Yeah, it does," Cameron agreed blankly and he sagged back against the pillow. It was all too much for a moment and he tried to hold on to something, something that would keep him from losing it. "Maybethere'll be spongebaths," he suggested hopefully, trying to keep the conversation light and keep his mind from wandering.
"Those, I'm not staying for," Xander answered immediately.
Cameron snorted. It was a tired sound, but it beat thinking and none of this felt actually real anyway. "Wouldn't ask you," he assured him.
"I'd get frowned at." Which is why he wasn't actually ogling the nurses, either. Much.
Doogie made his way back into the exam room, carefully carrying some supplies. "Still alive, I see. That's a good sign," he said in a joking tone. "As soon as I mentioned 'dog' one of the nurses volunteered to go out and get him some food, so he'll be well taken care of, I'm sure."
"Tell them thanks," Cameron said gratefully and he hesitated as there was a question burning at the back of his mind. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, go ahead," Doogie replied.
He shot Xander a nervous look and he couldn't quite hide his worry as he was suddenly scared that he'd messed up by coming here. And maybe he should have just gone with Fischer instead. "If you've been vaccinated against a certain virus and it's left you immune during a breakout, is there a chance you can still infect people?"
Doogie got thoughtful for a few moments, running through the possibilities in his mind as he tried not to think too hard about the plague. "I suppose it's possible, but it's highly unlikely. The whole point of getting a vaccine is that it makes you immune to whatever virus it's for by recognizing and killing the virus as soon as it enters your system. You would have to be infected and then spread the virus through a lot of blood contact within a very short period, and if the virus is weak, even that might not work."
That matched up with what Xander had been told while he was traveling through Africa, right before they put half a million needle-holes in him, but that was before he'd seen a whole island go down from a centuries-old plague.
Cameron drew in a breath and closed his eyes, looking relieved. "You might still want to be careful," he said softly. "This thing... It kills in a matter of days."
Xander winced, but said nothing, vague fever-images of the plague-week swirling through his head.
That was the sort of thing Doogie would be perfectly willing to never think about again, but he managed to look calm in the end and simply nod at Cameron. "I will be, and I'll make sure the nurses are too. I appreciate the warning," he said.
Cameron just nodded, unable to maintain the banter he'd tried to keep up earlier. "Do your worst, doc," he said softly, not looking up at Doogie or Xander and he just felt tired now that he didn't have to keep moving.
Doogie smiled softly and wondered about what might be going through Cameron's mind. "I'd prefer to do my best, actually. Kinda goes with the job description."
"Lousy expression," Cameron said gruffly, giving Doogie an apologetic smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Doogie gave Cameron another smile as he went about starting the IV to get him rehydrated. "This might make you a little sleepy, but you'll feel a lot better when it's done," he said. "Is there anyone else I can call to come in for you? Anyone who needs to know where you are?"
"No," Cameron said, watching Doogie work, feeling strangely detached from it. "There's no one left."
Xander frowned, because he knew that wasn't true - but also because it made him wonder again what Cam had walked away from. "I can make some calls," he said quietly toDoogie. "There's people here who'll be glad to know he's okay."
"I'd appreciate that," Doogie said. "It might help to have some more familiar, friendly faces around."
Cameron was barely registering what Xander and Doogie were saying. He blinked, trying to focus on Doogie's hands, but everything was blurry and suddenly it didn't feel so hard anymore to close his eyes. He didn't want to sleep, didn't want the nightmares that came with it, but themeds only seemed to bring blackness and no reminders of houses like tombstones. He made it to Fandom, somehow things had to be alright now. They could fix this.
((NFI, but oh so open for OOC comments. Finally made it.
Preplayed with the awesome needsaparrot and geniusdoctor who deserve many, many thanks.))
Walking was an automatic now, and he shouldn't think or he'd realise just how tired he was, his stomach empty and he still felt nauseouted. He tried not to think, just to move, just keep his goal in mind and it would be alright. He didn't believe that, but it was all he had to keep going. All he had to get back up when he stumbled. Just one foot in front of the other and he never really noticed when his surroundings started to become familiar. He just knew where he was heading. Knew it had to be there, around the bend. Just a little bit further now.
He ignored the doubts, the fear that maybe the Ori had gotten there first. Or that maybe the island still wouldn't show up and then... There was no then. It wasn't an option. It wasn't...
No, it was there. Lights shining across the water. It was there and untouched. A safe haven.
For long moments he just stood there, his feet rooted to the ground and he couldn't believe he'd made it, couldn't believe he'd gotten this far. He glanced back over his shoulder, his own world dark and cold. There was nothing left there, nothing left to save. He wished he had a prayer for them, but nothing his grandmother had taught him seemed to be fitting so he simply turned his back and headed down the causeway, knowing he'd never be back.
His knees buckled when he was almost off the causeway and he couldn't keep his balance any longer. Whatever had kept him going was gone now, exhaustion washing over him. He made it were his last thoughts before everything went black.
Xander hadn't exactly forgotten his promise to Logan that he would take a look at the ruins of the Echolls Mansion and see how feasible it would be to rebuild, but the idea had taken a back-seat after the re-construction of the school started up, and between one thing and another, he hadn't gotten back to it. But since he'd been on this side of the island anyway, working on the Closet That Ate A Medium-Sized City, today seemed as good a time as any to take a walk out that way and check the place out.
Looked like he wasn't the only one to have that idea, though he doubted the dog he'd spotted was taking the same kind of mental measurements.Xander peered into the distance. It was hanging around alone by the end of the causew-- No, wait, it wasn't alone. There was somebody next to it, lying on the ground. In the road.
He took off at a run, bag thumping against his shoulder until he reached the fallen figure.
The dog started barking as Xander approached, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as he stood protectively over Cameron.
Xander slowed down and cautiously held out one hand and he stepped nearer to both the dog and the man, somewhere in between See, I'm harmless and Please don't rip my fingers off. "Hey, guy. Take it easy, there."
The dog let out a soft growl and backed away until his hind legs bumped against Cameron's arm, making him stir.
"Ray," he warned as he heard the dog growling at someone. Then he panicked as for a moment he didn't remember where he was and tried to push up.
Relieved that the guy was alive, since that was the next thing he'd been about to check, it tookXander a second to recognize the voice. "John?" But then there was the glimpse of a face that was right-but-not, a little older or at least more worn-out. "Cam?" He crouched down, reaching out a hand.
The sound of his name made him look up and he stilled as he slowly started to remember where he was. "Xander?" he said after a moment, not quite believing it.
"Yeah. You--" That might qualify for Stupidest Question Ever, soXander turned it into statement. "--are not okay. What the hell happened to you?" Oh look, the runner up, because did he look like he was up for answering that, considering he wasn't even up?
Cameron clenched his jaw, his eyes looking past Xander. He wasn't sure if he wanted to explain it, wasn't sure he could. "It's... A lot," he said and drew in a breath. "Gimme a hand up?"
Xander set his shoulder and reached down to help Cam up. "Why don't you try just concentrating on breathing and walking at the same time? We need to get you to the clinic."
"I'd protest," Cameron managed, grabbing hold of Xander's shoulder as the world went spinning. Strange, that hadn't happened earlier. "But I think you might be right."
"Maybe we need a refresher course on the breathing thing; you can't do that and protest at the same time. Lemme get your bag."Xander added the pack to the weight of his own, trying not to jostle Cameron too much in the process.
"Sound like a drill-sergeant," Cameron muttered, but Xander was right and the walk to the island had pretty much cost him the most of his energy. He felt Ray press against his legs, the dog having calmed now that Cameron was on his feet, but he still seemed wary of Xander. "It's okay, boy. Just going to the clinic."
"Good thing it's not far." Xander got them turned around so they were heading up Apocalypse Ave. towards the clinic building, and was hit with a wave of years-olddéjà vu , though they were coming from the opposite direction now. "You should try this from the school with somebody half passed-out from vampire bites. Good times."
At least it was something to concentrate on beside putting one foot in front of the other and how pathetic he felt needing help now that he'd finally made it this far. "At least it's down hill," he pointed out, sounding breathless. "Who got bitten?"
"Logan," Xander answered. "The night Angel got his soul back."
It felt like a lifetime ago and Cameron nodded briskly, his lips pressing together in a thin line as he leaned more heavily onXander. "Didn't know that."
"Be nice if we had that golf cart he used to get around in,"Xander said, though the building was in sight now.
Cameron didn't notice where they were, his eyes fixed on the ground to see where he was going. "Wouldn't want to owe him," he toldXander, not having warmed up to Logan during the time he spent away from Fandom.
"Could always steal it," Xander joked. "Then it's not so much debt as, y'know. Crime."
"Sure. Why not," Cameron remarked dryly. "Unless that freaky armoured sheriff came back?"
"Nope. Still the dude with the eyepatch. Which is bigger than mine. I'm trying not to draw parallels."
"It's not the size that matters," Cameron said and for some reason that made him laugh because it was a lame joke and one Ferguson would have appreciated. He really shouldn't be laughing either, he was too tired and everything was gone and for some really stupid reason he was crying.
"It's how you use it?" Xander replied, and reached up with his free hand to slip the eyepatch down to the tip of his nose. Hey, desperate times called for desperate measures. They'd almost reached the clinic doors; just a few more steps.
"Yes," Cameron reached up with a shaky hand, wiping at his eyes. When he glanced sideways at Xander, he blinked. "Don't think that's how you use it," he remarked, but he was grateful for the distraction.
"It's multi-purpose. Also makes a good slingshot."Xander shouldered the doors open, waiting until he had a free hand again to slip the patch back into place.
Ray slipped in before them, but didn't wander far, reluctant to leave Cameron alone.
"Might have to get one," Cameron was pretty much saying anything that came to mind to keep going. At least they made it to the clinic and it was tempting to just drop down now that he got where he needed to be.
Doogie had been lounging by the desk, working on some crossword puzzles and trying not to die of boredom, when he heard people approaching the doors. By the time the pair of guys came in, he was coming over to meet them, glancing at them both with careful consideration. "Hey there. What have we got here?"
The youthful face was vaguely familiar from both his time in the clinic during the plague, and the daysXander'd spent here waiting for Willow to wake up. "Cam Mitchell," Xander told him. "I found him out by the causeway. Not exactly firing on all cylinders."
"All right, then let's get him into an exam room." Doogie led them into Exam 1 and helped get Cam settled on the bed, smiling softly when he saw the dog had followed them. "Looks like you've got two friends helping you tonight," he said, before pulling out a chart and starting to examine Cam closer. "Can you tell me what happened to you?"
Cameron closed his eyes tightly, too many images flashing before him. "Long story. I'm fine, just tired," he said quietly.
"No offense, but you look a little less than fine," Doogie replied, smiling softly as he took Cam's vital stats and checked him over, stopping at the cut on his hand. "What happened here? And while we're on questions,when's the last time you ate?"
He couldn't quite bring himself to answer the first question so he skipped it in favour of the last one. It was easier to concentrate on and now that he was reminded, he realised just how hungry he was, though he doubted he'd be able to hold anything down right now. "Two days. A candy bar, don't know if that counts."
"Bouncing Buddha on a bicycle." Xander's mouth opened wide.
Doogie frowned, but kept his tone light. "Candy bars don't usually count, no matter what the manufacturers might have you think." Doogie said, taking another look at Cameron's hand. "Why don't I start by getting one of our lovely nurses to clean this up. Then we can get yourehydrated and feeling all better." He grabbed Cameron's chart and made a few slightly legible notes. "I hope you weren't planning on going anywhere for a little while. You're welcome to stay with him if you'd like," he said toXander.
Xander nodded. "No place I need to be that won't still be there later."
"You don't have to," Cameron said quietly with a whole lot of bravado. "I'll be fine." He flexed his hand experimentally, having almost forgotten about the cuts there as it seemed the least of his worries.
Xander eyed him with a look that didn't quite reach bitch, please levels, but was definitely a member of the same species. "Humor me. Pretend I'm hanging around to ogle the nurses."
"Doc said they're pretty," Cameron replied, too tired to argue as he leaned back against the pillow.
"Very pretty," Doogie replied. "Your dog can stay too, as long as he's quiet."
As if he'd understood Doogie's words, Ray lay down beside the exam bed, one eye open just in case.
"Thanks," Cameron said. "Do you maybe have something to eat for him too?"
Doogie laughed lightly. "I'll see what I can find. We wouldn't want him going hungry too, after all."
"Thanks, doc," Cameron said. The adrenaline was starting to wear off and he could feel the tiredness in his limbs. The clean sheets beneath him were almost enough to lull his mind and he wanted to sleep, but there was chance that if he did, he might just wake up somewhere else.
"You're welcome," Doogie replied. "Just relax, and get some rest, all right?"
Cameron nodded obediently; the academy did drill some things into him and watched as Doogie left the room before he glanced at Xander. "Thanks for the lift."
"Hey, it beats the exciting afternoon of site surveying I had planned,"Xander answered, waving a hand. He leaned against the wall, studying Cameron carefully. "You want me to call somebody?"
He didn't quite meet Xander's eyes, thinking of everyone here who he'd missed. Two years was a long time and it didn't seem fair to drop from the face of the Earth and expect anyone to deal with this. "No, it's fine."
"...Uh-huh." That was not Xander promising not to call anybody. It was Xander-speak for 'You're clearly delusional and I'm calling somebody the second you fall asleep.'
Cameron looked up, not completely unaware of the underlying tone. "It's fine," he repeated. "It's not... It's been too long."
"Since May?"
"Yes," Cameron said slowly, glancing up at Xander and wondering what was so strange about that. "May 2007."
Xander wasn't always the most perceptive human being around, but some things, you notice, especially when they sound like they could've come out of your own mouth last year. "That was ten months ago," he said carefully. "Not for you?"
"No," Cameron swallowed and he'd heard it happen to enough people. "It's not December 2009?" he asked in a soft voice.
Xander shook his head. "February 08." He frowned slightly. "So it's been more than two years for you."
"Yeah," he nodded and glanced down at his hands. As if it wasn't all enough. "I couldn't get back at first. The island was just gone."
"That's how it was for me, too."
He let out a breath and shook his head. It felt impossible, but then... "I shouldn't be surprised, huh? I almost forgot how weird this place is."
"Definitely takes its own sweet time about showing up again,"Xander agreed. He wanted to ask what had happened between then and now to leave Cam in this condition, but it so wasn't the right time.
"Yeah, it does," Cameron agreed blankly and he sagged back against the pillow. It was all too much for a moment and he tried to hold on to something, something that would keep him from losing it. "Maybethere'll be spongebaths," he suggested hopefully, trying to keep the conversation light and keep his mind from wandering.
"Those, I'm not staying for," Xander answered immediately.
Cameron snorted. It was a tired sound, but it beat thinking and none of this felt actually real anyway. "Wouldn't ask you," he assured him.
"I'd get frowned at." Which is why he wasn't actually ogling the nurses, either. Much.
Doogie made his way back into the exam room, carefully carrying some supplies. "Still alive, I see. That's a good sign," he said in a joking tone. "As soon as I mentioned 'dog' one of the nurses volunteered to go out and get him some food, so he'll be well taken care of, I'm sure."
"Tell them thanks," Cameron said gratefully and he hesitated as there was a question burning at the back of his mind. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, go ahead," Doogie replied.
He shot Xander a nervous look and he couldn't quite hide his worry as he was suddenly scared that he'd messed up by coming here. And maybe he should have just gone with Fischer instead. "If you've been vaccinated against a certain virus and it's left you immune during a breakout, is there a chance you can still infect people?"
Doogie got thoughtful for a few moments, running through the possibilities in his mind as he tried not to think too hard about the plague. "I suppose it's possible, but it's highly unlikely. The whole point of getting a vaccine is that it makes you immune to whatever virus it's for by recognizing and killing the virus as soon as it enters your system. You would have to be infected and then spread the virus through a lot of blood contact within a very short period, and if the virus is weak, even that might not work."
That matched up with what Xander had been told while he was traveling through Africa, right before they put half a million needle-holes in him, but that was before he'd seen a whole island go down from a centuries-old plague.
Cameron drew in a breath and closed his eyes, looking relieved. "You might still want to be careful," he said softly. "This thing... It kills in a matter of days."
Xander winced, but said nothing, vague fever-images of the plague-week swirling through his head.
That was the sort of thing Doogie would be perfectly willing to never think about again, but he managed to look calm in the end and simply nod at Cameron. "I will be, and I'll make sure the nurses are too. I appreciate the warning," he said.
Cameron just nodded, unable to maintain the banter he'd tried to keep up earlier. "Do your worst, doc," he said softly, not looking up at Doogie or Xander and he just felt tired now that he didn't have to keep moving.
Doogie smiled softly and wondered about what might be going through Cameron's mind. "I'd prefer to do my best, actually. Kinda goes with the job description."
"Lousy expression," Cameron said gruffly, giving Doogie an apologetic smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Doogie gave Cameron another smile as he went about starting the IV to get him rehydrated. "This might make you a little sleepy, but you'll feel a lot better when it's done," he said. "Is there anyone else I can call to come in for you? Anyone who needs to know where you are?"
"No," Cameron said, watching Doogie work, feeling strangely detached from it. "There's no one left."
Xander frowned, because he knew that wasn't true - but also because it made him wonder again what Cam had walked away from. "I can make some calls," he said quietly toDoogie. "There's people here who'll be glad to know he's okay."
"I'd appreciate that," Doogie said. "It might help to have some more familiar, friendly faces around."
Cameron was barely registering what Xander and Doogie were saying. He blinked, trying to focus on Doogie's hands, but everything was blurry and suddenly it didn't feel so hard anymore to close his eyes. He didn't want to sleep, didn't want the nightmares that came with it, but themeds only seemed to bring blackness and no reminders of houses like tombstones. He made it to Fandom, somehow things had to be alright now. They could fix this.
((NFI, but oh so open for OOC comments. Finally made it.
Preplayed with the awesome needsaparrot and geniusdoctor who deserve many, many thanks.))