Chapter Eleven
They did the first sample transfusion as soon as the blood was ready, and the solution streamed slowly into Jonathon Richards body.
Sheila had requested that she stick to the diet, and so Laurie sat nibbling at the roast lamb, which was put before her at the evening meal.
The purified vegetable tower that stood proudly on her plate did not taste so bad but she came to the conclusion that she was definitely not a red meat eater -- despite her would-be carnivorous alter ego.
Michael sat across from her again and he waited for his highlight of the evening meal.
The moment she popped that small chunk of chocolate into her mouth.
Her eyes closed and her nose wrinkled slightly, and she gave the most delicious little shiver, as she absolutely savoured that melting delight.
It gave him all sorts of fantasies to store up for the nights when they could be together again.
Dr Grey and Dr Phillips had stayed by the patient since beginning the treatment, but now the two of them came sauntering into the room together looking very pleased with themselves.
"Well we are pleased to announce that the serum and DNA mix has been fully administered and Mr Richards body shows no sign of rejecting the antibodies that we have introduced into his system." Dr Phillips said with a wide smile. "And we took a small sample just before we left him, and the virus seems to be diminishing slowly but steadily."
"Is he improving then?" Michael asked hopefully.
"Well, he is still unconscious, and we aim to keep him that way overnight."
The two men sat down at the table and plates of food were quickly placed in front of them, and both men tucked into the hot meal enthusiastically.
"Yourself and your uncle will be required to come in to our makeshift clinic in the morning to give the blood that we will need to flush and purge his system... we hope to do that as early as possible so if you could be ready to donate by seven o'clock, we dare not keep this foreign DNA in his body for any longer than we have to, especially once it is saturated with the viral spores."
"We could start tonight if you wish?" Michael said eagerly.
"No, we need to give him time to rest and we need to give the antibodies time to do their job. It's a fine line and someone will be monitoring him constantly. The moment it looks like he is in distress we will begin the purge; so please forgive us if we knock you up in the middle of the night baying for your blood!" Dr Phillips chuckled at his little joke, but he meant what he said.
"I will be ready should you need me," Michael nodded. "And I shall make sure that my uncle is as well."
Mathew had not been at the dinner table for the last two evenings; in fact, Laurie could not remember the last time she saw him... it was almost like he was avoiding everyone.
Michael and Laurie took their evening walk together again, and they strolled towards the little bridge with their hands clasped loosely together.
She loved the feeling of her hand in his; his was so large and warm and comforting, she felt held and protected, but not stifled.
She gave a happy little sigh as she stepped onto the bridge. This for now was their spot, their little bit of privacy, their little bit of heaven.
She leaned back against the rail and looked up into Michael's face.
Unable to resist she reached up and stroked a finger gently down his cheek and across his jaw line.
Michael closed his eyes at her featherlike touch, and gave a shudder, and when he opened them again there was a distinct metallic cast to their blackness.
"There were times," he whispered huskily, "when I thought that I would never feel your touch again."
Laurie's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away impatiently. "I am so sorry that I made you feel that way. It was the only thing that kept me going, the certainty that I would be with you again. I can't imagine what it must have felt like, for you to think that I had chosen another."
"It wasn't the best day of my life!" he forced a short laugh, as he tried to break the sombre mood.
"No, mine neither."
He bent slightly and their lips met in a gentle promise of better things to come, they would always value what they gained now, since they had come so close to losing it all.
He held her tight to him, and they simply stood there for a while, enjoying just being together.
**
When Laurie went down to breakfast the next morning, her aunt was the only one at the table.
"Good morning Aunt Trudy... where is everyone?"
Trudy was sipping coffee, having just finished her breakfast, and the shadows beneath her usual bright blue gaze said that she had not slept well for a while now.
Laurie thought perhaps it was the stress and the strains of the last few days -- it was enough to make anyone lose sleep!
"James and Iris had an early breakfast and went out for walk." Trudy smiled as she thought of the other couple, so deeply in love and with a baby now on the way.
"Your father is taking breakfast in his room -- I believe. He said last night that these constant large gatherings for every meal were starting to exhaust him."
"Poor daddy!" Laurie commiserated. "He's still not entirely well himself."
"No, and usually it's just him at his house -- with the odd one-off invasion from one or two of us."
"Yes, and we haven't even done that for a while," Laurie sighed.
"And Michael and... his uncle have gone up to the clinic room, to start the donor transfusion." Trudy finished explained the absence of everyone.
"I wonder if Michael needs his hand holding?" Laurie murmured thoughtfully as she poured herself a cup of coffee and took some toast from one of the hot plates.
"He's a grown man and I am sure he can handle a little needle." Trudy shrugged indifferently.
"He didn't fare too well when they stuck it in me yesterday," Laurie giggled. "For a minute I though he was going to pass out on me!"
Trudy's lips twitched into the semblance of a smile, but it did not reach her eyes.
