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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[greenhaired]

At first it hadn't been a big deal; the aching, the nausea, the dizziness. It wasn't the first time Lorna had gotten a bug, wasn't the first time she'd suffered from the drastic change in weather -she'd gone from California to Washington overnight, naturally there would be a backlash, wouldn't there.

But then her powers started messing up. A flick that would normally push the metal door handle became a conscious push, trying to lift anything was a battle of wills, pushing herself through the air was completely impossible. Sometimes she couldn't even feel the magnetic energy in the air, leaving her feeling cut off and sidelined. She didn't enjoy it at all.

Logic finally won out against stubbornness and Lorna ventured to the medical area, looking for a doctor. She was led to a small bed, asked to sit and wait, the doctor would be there shortly. Feeling just a little vulnerable, Lorna ended up staring at the ground, curling her green hair around her finger while she waited.

[a_soul_awake]

"Hello, I'm Doctor Chandler," she said as she spied her patient. She had never met the woman before. She would've remembered and not just because of her distinctive hair.

"What seems to be the problem today?" she asked with a reassuring smile. Most people on base were afraid of doctors. Hope did her best to be non-threatening.

[greenhaired]

Lorna wasn't the type put off by doctors -her father was a cosmetic surgeon, while it was wildly different there were similar aspects to it. She knew the gross stuff, she knew the invasive stuff, she was cool with the white coats and the medical equipment. But it was her first time getting ill in a long time.

Ill enough to go to a hospital at least.

"Um, well, it started off as just being like a flu bug or something, headaches, dizzy spells, some sickness. I ah, I got some muscle aches in my legs and arms, but I figured that's just weather change right? Anyway," she's aware that she may be babbling, but some things are just a little too out there, "I seem to have, well, my powers. I sort of can't use them. Mostly. They come and go, and right now, well, they're gone." And frankly, she didn't think the flu did that.

[a_soul_awake]

"That sounds very serious."

And not what Hope had been expecting at all. Flue sympthoms that led to a loss of mutant ability? That meant something was acting on the woman's genetic code itself. That was unheard of. Until now that was.

"Well, I'm going to admit you here and draw some blood for a few tests," she said, "After a quick examine. Do you still feel like you have the flu or did that disappear?"

[saywhatiplease]

Jubilee hadn't expected to get so sick so rapidly. But in her stubborn, anti-social nature as of late, she refused to see the doctor. Instead, she guzzled orange juice like it was water, slept all day, and kept layers on. Typical flu, right?

Well, she was wrong.

After several days of a growing fever, she stumbled toward the Mess Hall while pulling her yellow trenchcoat shut around her small frame. It wasn't until she could've sworn she saw Wolverine that she made her way to the Med Bay.

"Wolvie! Wait up! Don't go!" Jubilee yelled weakly, nearly colliding with a nurse on her way inside the building. After a few more steps, she collapsed into a heap on the floor.

[a_soul_awake]

As she approached the bed, she noticed the nurses working quickly to hook the girl up to monitors and place and IV. Considering how calm the nurse had been when she came to Hope's office, she wasn't expecting such a scene of activity.

"I want two vials of blood, start her on a basic antibiotic and keep monitoring her," Hope ordered, standing back to watch the nurses work. "And someone get me the Captain and Miss. Frost."

[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

[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.

[cantseethis]

Not having to shield the camp anymore, there was rarly a time when Atticus had to use his cloak. Not that he wasn't, because there were certainly times (and definitely not ones where he was spying), when he needed to.

But in the duration of the time he did not have it on his body became vulnerable to whatever it was that had infested the air and was beginning to turn the camp from healthy to sick. Of course he'd only thought it to be a cold at first. But as time passed Atti could feel that it was something...much more than that. So much more it had driven him from his bed to go and seek Hope.

He didn't want to bother her with what would seem like a simple cold. But Atticus had never felt a cold like this. One that struck him to the core. The journey from his room to the medical building seemed to take years. And the invitation to take up a bed while he waited for Hope was gladly appreciated. Letting the weight from under him flop onto the bed, Atti lay back against the pillow and closed his eyes.

[a_soul_awake]

"Atticus."

No, not him. He couldn't be sick as well. If he had the same symptoms, if this mysterious unknown illness was fatal. Good Lord, she didn't even know if it was. She had no idea what she was dealing with and it had gotten Atticus. Panic flared, wild and completely unhelpful, before she stamped it down. She had to help.

"The flu?" she asked, already heading for the blood draw kit.

[cantseethis]

A small, weak smile came to his face, but his eyes remained shut still. "I was hoping you could tell me, doctor."

Atticus had the flu before, and this did not fell like it was that. But he was no doctor. And he most certainly wasn't going to try and figure it out. His brain felt like it was in a liquid state at the moment. Trying to formulate a simple sentence was taxing enough.

[a_soul_awake]

"I need to run some tests," she said, going to his side and taking his arm gently. "Which will require some blood and I'm going to insist you get admitted here."

She worked on autopilot as she drew the blood, taking two vials like she had from everyone else. She was definitely bringing this to the Captain's and Ms. Frost's attention as soon as she got Atticus set up comfortably.

"I'll get some books from your room so you'll have something to do and start you on some antibiotics."

[mongrelverine]

Most of the patients had been voluntary. Predictably, Daken was not one of them. It had taken bodily force from the Captain to drag him in. But just because he was there didn't mean he was going to stay. "Fuck it," he muttered to himself, hopping out of the bed he had been lying in.

A nurse who had just walked in made the mistake of trying to convince him to stay. For her troubles, she got a tray with all sorts of medical equipment thrown at her head. The sound of her screaming voice only increased the throbbing in his head. "If you have any sort of self-preservation instinct, I suggest you run." He sat back down on the edge of the bed, thumbs massaging his temples, as the nurse beat a hasty retreat. What was the point of staying in this useless facility again?

[a_soul_awake]

"Sir, you'll treat my staff and my equipment with respect or I'll have the MPs make sure you do," Hope said, a hard edge to her voice. She was more than a little annoyed with this patient already.

She recognized him as the man who attacked Ric, who she was rather fond of. If she remembered his file correctly, and she always did, he had a healing factor. If he was in the medical center, it was worse than she imagined. Damn.

"Now, let me guess, flu like symptoms?"

[mongrelverine]

Daken didn't pay any attention to Hope's warning. Like a temperamental alley cat, he had the bad habit of doing what he wanted when he wanted. He turned to face Hope. For all his bad temper, he was pretty bad off, face pale and eyes glassy with a feverish look to them.

"No shit, Sherlock." He cleared his throat for a moment so that he could speak clearly. "Staying here is pointless unless you can inject something to heal me, and I'm sure you have many more patients to deal with, so if you'll excuse me, I'll be heading for the exit." He got up from the bed and staggered towards the door.

[a_soul_awake]

"Chandler," she corrected, sounding bored. She had dealt with this sort of temperamental behavior before. Ferals always seemed to snarl and bite. She could ignore it, though it was annoying.

"Well, when you fall over from exerting yourself it will certainly make you easier to deal with. Although, I suspect if I nudged you you'd crumple like a house of cards." She continued to sound bored as she got the right vial from a shelf and went to get a needle. "Your healing factor is blocked, which will make this much easier."