{"id":333,"date":"2014-12-30T06:11:02","date_gmt":"2014-12-30T06:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=333"},"modified":"2021-12-06T19:07:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T01:07:26","slug":"part3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode8\/part3\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 8: \u00a0FANthrax<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 3<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nick thought he had gotten the sillies out of his system.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019d first put on his yellow Hazmat suit, he\u2019d announced, \u201cThat\u2019s one small step for Nick\u2026 one giant leap for Nick-kind!\u201d and proceeded to lumber around the room, pretending he was prancing on the moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick-kind is right,\u201d snorted Brian with disdain through his own Hazmat mask.<\/p>\n

Nick had then launched into the \u201cImperial March\u201d and stalked across the floor as Darth Vader, breathing loudly. \u201cNo. I am your father,\u201d he told Brian. \u201cSearch your feelings. You know it to be true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian rolled his eyes and ignored him.<\/p>\n

By the time they were ready to go into the infected area of the hospital, Nick had thought he\u2019d gotten used to the suit, which was actually kind of stuffy and claustrophobic. Jeanie led them into the emergency department, explaining, \u201cPatient zero, a teenage girl, was admitted yesterday morning. Between ten a.m. and ten p.m., so were some two hundred others. All but one of the original wave of patients have died by now, but not before infecting others. We\u2019ve isolated an entire wing to quarantine them, but the ER is still being inundated with new cases. Most of these present originally with flu-like symptoms, followed by\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

As Jeanie got into the medical mumbo-jumbo, Nick\u2019s mind wandered. He thought of Neil Armstrong again, walking on the moon, and then the Moonwalk. He thought of that little penguin down in Antarctica, doing the Moonwalk, and he giggled under the helmet of his suit. The intro to \u201cBillie Jean\u201d began to play in his mind, building gradually. He began to hum along. \u201cHm, hm<\/em>\u2026 hm<\/em>, hm\u2026 hm, hm<\/em>\u2026 hm<\/em>, hm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The tiled floor of the hospital was shiny and smooth, perfect for Moonwalking. He popped one heel up, slid his opposite foot back, and attempted a Moonwalk across the floor, right into someone who shouted, \u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick whirled around, already stammering an apology, and found himself face to face with a man who was as tall as him but lankier, with a long, crooked nose and brown eyes that blazed with anger behind the clear shield of his mask. His white lab coat, green scrubs, latex gloves, and stethoscope gave him away as a doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch where you\u2019re going, will ya?\u201d the doctor scolded, but his eyes had already softened. He was not a hardass by nature, Nick decided.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were you doing, Nick?\u201d asked Red, giving him the most intense \u201cWhat the fuck?\u201d look he\u2019d ever seen her pull. He grinned sheepishly as she went on, \u201cJeanie\u2019s giving us valuable information about the virus, and you\u2019re\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMoonwalking,\u201d Nick inserted.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoonwalking??\u201d Red repeated incredulously, shaking her head. She leaned closer to him, tilting her head back so that the face shields of their helmets practically touched, and looked into his eyes. \u201cTell me, Nick, have you ever been officially diagnosed with ADHD?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOfficially? No.\u201d<\/p>\n

She raised her eyebrows. \u201cWell, then\u2026 consider yourself diagnosed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick was just about to ask her if she could write him a prescription for Ritalin when he heard Jeanie say, \u201cAh, Carter. I was just looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He gaped at her in confusion. \u201cHuh? I was right behind you the whole time. I swear!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot you. Meet Dr. John Carter, attending physician in the ER. Dr. Carter, this is Dr. Julianne Llewellyn, CIA Officer Brian Littrell, and Agent Nick Carter. I told you they\u2019d be coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Dr. Carter nodded. \u201cWhat would you like to see first?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJeanie said there was just one patient still living from the original wave,\u201d Red spoke up at once. \u201cCould we see her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHim,\u201d corrected Dr. Carter, \u201cand of course. He\u2019s in the quarantine wing; I\u2019ll take you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

He led them to the elevator, which they took to the seventh floor. \u201cNormally, this wing is where our transplant patients stay, post-op,\u201d Dr. Carter explained as they stepped onto the floor. \u201cThe rooms are all isolation units to protect our immunosuppressed patients from nosocomial infection. When we locked down the hospital, we transported those patients to other hospitals and converted this to our quarantine ward.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pair of security guards stood in front of the ward doors. They nodded to Dr. Carter as he escorted the others through. As they trooped through the ward, Nick couldn\u2019t help but peek into the rooms they passed. Every last one of them housed patients, none of whom looked well. Some appeared worse than others, with black pustules on their skin and blood seeping from their orifices.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarter?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick turned automatically, but the nurse who had poked her head out from one of the rooms was looking at the other Carter, the one with the M.D. behind his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you come pronounce the patient in 5? Coded a few minutes ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a minute,\u201d Carter replied. \u201cLet me get these guys down to 12.\u201d<\/p>\n

They only passed a couple more rooms when another nurse appeared. \u201cOh, Carter, there you are,\u201d she said, and again, Nick startled. \u201cCan I give Mrs. Alwyn another dose of morphine?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead,\u201d replied the doctor.<\/p>\n

They continued on, finally stopping outside room 712.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe patient is a twenty-two-year-old male named Terrance Phillip,\u201d Carter briefed them. \u201cHe was brought to the ER last night by his mother after vomiting blood and collapsing at home. He\u2019s the last one alive of yesterday\u2019s patients. I doubt he\u2019ll make it through the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red peered through the glass walls of his room. \u201cIs he conscious?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn and out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay we go in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. Just try not to upset him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll keep it brief.\u201d Red opened the door. Jeanie and Brian followed.<\/p>\n

Nick hesitated, not sure he wanted to go any further, but then he remembered that this was a mission, and K was counting on him to find out as much as he could. If this man was the last of the original patients infected with the virus, he might be their last chance to discover its origins. With that thought in mind, Nick entered the room and let the door close behind him.<\/p>\n

Red was already leaning over the patient. He was a large man, easily filling the width of the bed. His face was half-hidden by facial hair, lots and lots of dirty blond hair, but the visible skin was ashy gray and pocked with black pustules. Beneath the oxygen mask that covered his mouth and nose, Nick could see blood caked in his beard and mustache, where it had seeped from his nostrils and the corners of his mouth. It had run from his ears, too, and dried in his sideburns. Even at the corners of his closed eyes, rivulets of blood trickled like tears.<\/p>\n

If this was what he looked like on the outside, Nick couldn\u2019t imagine the inside. He didn\u2019t want to. Yet, somehow, Terrance Phillip was still alive. Not for long, though. His wheezing breaths sounded labored as if they could stop at any moment. He watched Red\u2019s face as her eyes panned his monitors, reading the numbers. They were meaningless to Nick, but he could tell by her grim expression that they weren\u2019t good.<\/p>\n

She reached out, her gloved hand closed into a fist, and rubbed the center of the man\u2019s chest with her knuckles. \u201cMr. Phillip?\u201d she asked as she did this. \u201cTerrance?\u201d<\/p>\n

His bloodshot eyes fluttered open. They rolled towards her, sliding in and out of focus.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Dr. Llewellyn. If you can stay awake for me, I just want to ask you a few questions about how you got sick, so we can help you. Can you do that for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Terrance opened his mouth, but the only sound that escaped it was a gurgling noise, as if there was blood clogging his throat, too. He gave a weak nod instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat. Do you have any idea what made you sick, Terrance?\u201d<\/p>\n

Terrance shook his head slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did you first start experiencing symptoms?\u201d<\/p>\n

Terrance took a few rasping breaths before choking out, \u201cLast\u2026 night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you were at home?\u201d<\/p>\n

A nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you think of anything you did in the last few days that might have contributed to this? Anything out of the ordinary? Did you go anywhere special?\u201d<\/p>\n

While Terrance seemed to collect his thoughts and strength, Nick looked around. Tubes ran beneath the sheets, going in and out of Terrance\u2019s body. Some connected to IVs, feeding drugs into his system. Others led to plastic containers that hung from the rails of his bed, draining fluids. One held blood. Another held a thinner liquid the color of eggplant.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is that?\u201d he whispered to Jeanie, motioning to the container.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrine,\u201d she replied out of the corner of her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrine? You mean pee? His piss is purple?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a symptom of the virus. It causes a build-up of blood and heme in the urine, which turns it purple.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWeird, dude\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned his attention back to the patient. Red was still trying to get an answer out of him, but he seemed unable to give it. Blood bubbled from his lips, popping beneath the mask. All of a sudden, the monitors over his bed went haywire. His bloodshot eyes rolled back into his head, and his body began to twitch before suddenly falling limp. The hospital bed creaked beneath his dead weight. The heart monitor whined as it flatlined.<\/p>\n

Nick turned to Red. \u201cCan you bring him back? Shock him or something? We didn\u2019t get anything out of him!\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head. \u201cHe\u2019s got blood coming from every orifice. That\u2019s a sign of massive internal hemorrhage. This virus has eaten away at his organs until there\u2019s no function left. His insides are probably like soup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick felt his stomach turn. \u201cThanks for the visual there, Jewel.\u201d Beneath his helmet, Brian\u2019s face looked rather green as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d said Red. \u201cBut he\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother casualty,\u201d sighed Jeanie. She exchanged glances with Red, then shifted her eyes to Brian and Nick. \u201cWe\u2019re working around the clock to find an antidote here. But we need you to figure out where this started, where it all came from. Until we know the origin, we may not be able to discover the cure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick looked at Brian, who nodded. \u201cWe\u2019ll find it, Dr. Boulet. You\u2019ve got the best of both agencies on the case now\u2026 oh, and Nick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d sputtered Nick. \u201cFuck you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust kidding, Carter,\u201d Brian chuckled. \u201cI figured someone had to lighten the tension in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave a little respect, Littrell, geesh!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike you should talk, Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Carter suddenly strode in. \u201cDid someone say my name?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick groaned. \u201cAnd this is why I insist on being called Double-0 Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr just 008,\u201d Red put in.<\/p>\n

Nick glared at her. \u201cDid K pay you to say that? Shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

To further his annoyance, Brian laughed.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Rolling her eyes at the neverending bickering between Brian and Nick, Red knew that only she could get their attention back on the mission. She made a mental note to inform K not to send Nick on any mission that involved the CIA again. Not unless it was absolutely necessary, a matter of life and death. Their testosterone and completely different personalities were too much to handle under the same roof.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get out of here,\u201d she said as nurses came inside to collect the body of Terrance Phillip. Thankfully, the others followed suit. No one really wanted to stare at the damaged form of a victim.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Terrance Phillip was one of the first patients to be admitted with symptoms?\u201d Red asked once they were out of the room and into the corridor.<\/p>\n

Dr. Carter nodded. \u201cWe didn\u2019t really know what was wrong with him until the other victims showed up with the same complaints: flu-like symptoms, shortness of breath, blood in the sputum or vomit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Purple pee,\u201d Nick inserted, making a face. \u201cMan, this is the nastiest virus I\u2019ve ever heard of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Carter eyed Nick for a second and gave a brief nod before continuing. \u201cI have to say, we\u2019ve never encountered such a disease before, but I believe all of them were exposed to the same virus at some point in the last few days. But we took a history on all the casualties and couldn\u2019t find anything they had in common. They don\u2019t go to the same school or job; they don\u2019t live in the same neighborhood or attend the same social activities. We feel like we\u2019re trapped. Don\u2019t even know where to start to search for the virus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got an idea,\u201d Nick spoke up again.<\/p>\n

Brian sighed with exasperation. \u201cDo you even care about what the doctor\u2019s been saying? At all? Have you heard even one sentence he said?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I was listening, though, thanks to Red here, I have just been diagnosed with a severe case of ADHD–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor which you need an immediate treatment–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c–and I\u2019m about to offer up some ideas if you could just hold your temper for a second.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red looked apologetically at a baffled Dr. Carter and Jeanie. She was embarrassed by their behavior, bickering like an old married couple. She had to step in. Again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pretty sure we all know what\u2019s been going on with these victims,\u201d she piped up loudly in hopes of capturing their attention. \u201cWhat we need to know now is where the virus originated and how it spread. We need to focus on finding the source of the infection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian frowned. \u201cHow are we going to find the source when the first wave of victims are all dead?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the victims can\u2019t be interrogated, and we don\u2019t know of any source where they might have been exposed to the virus, we need to go to their homes, talk to their families and neighbors and friends, and look for any kind of evidence,\u201d Nick suggested. \u201cWe might as well start with this guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Carter cleared his throat to speak. \u201cI believe Agent Carter here is right about investigating Mr. Phillip\u2019s house. I don\u2019t know what you might come up with, but you can talk to his mother and get more information about the last things he did before getting sick. It may lead you to another clue if all else fails.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red nodded slowly. \u201cYeah, I think that could help.\u201d She eyed Brian, who looked bewildered by the fact that Nick had come up with a solution — a rational one, at that. Red laughed inwardly. It looked like the CIA officer was battling with himself over his preconceived notions about Nick. That was why Nick was one of the best in the agency: he wasn\u2019t only about mischief and great looks. He was a Double-0 agent because of his talents, his quick thinking, and his ability to handle even the toughest missions with ease… well, most of the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat Carters think alike,\u201d Nick said cockily, punching Brian playfully in the shoulder. \u201cHow do you like that, CIA? Ha!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, 008,\u201d Brian replied through clenched teeth as he turned to leave the hospital. \u201cI\u2019m driving.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ride to Terrance Phillip\u2019s house went pretty smoothly, much to Red\u2019s surprise. They found the right street without any hassle. Red was thankful that the rented Hummer had a GPS and that Brian was driving.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t hard to locate the house, since it had been put under quarantine. Under orders from the health department, the police had sealed the windows and doors with large sheets of plastic and surrounded the property with barricade tape and keep-out signs.<\/p>\n

Brian parked the Hummer next to a couple of police cars and ambulances, trying to ignore the stares they received from the officers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho will even take three agents in Hazmat suits getting out of a bright yellow Hummer seriously anyway?\u201d he muttered under his breath as they all got out of the Hummer and made their way towards the entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI find your lack of faith disturbing, young Jedi,\u201d said Nick in a bad impersonation of Darth Vader.<\/p>\n

Brian didn\u2019t need to turn around to see the smirk on the blond agent\u2019s face. Instead, he continued walking towards the tent that was set up in front of the house for the officers and the medics.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re supposed to meet another officer who\u2019s been assigned to investigate the situation,\u201d Red spoke up, following Brian closely.<\/p>\n

A pretty brunette approached them with a broad smile the minute they walked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Force is strong with this one,\u201d Nick spoke in his Darth Vader\u2019s voice behind Brian. \u201cNiiice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian scoffed. \u201cShe\u2019s way out of your league, 008.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick let out a soft laugh, which came out as a loud Darth Vader breath through the mask. \u201cDon\u2019t underestimate the Force, young Jedi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello. We\u2019ve been expecting you,\u201d the woman said in a firm voice. \u201cI\u2019m Officer Julilly Hawk, CSIS.\u201d She shook Brian\u2019s and Red\u2019s hands through their suits.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet you, Officer Hawk. I\u2019m Dr. Julianne Llewellyn, head of the medical department at HimTak, and this is Officer Brian Littrell from the CIA. And this is–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCarter\u2026 Nick Carter,\u201d Nick jumped in, taking Officer Hawk\u2019s hand and trying to bring it to his lips as much as the Hazmat suit allowed. He meant to kiss it but only succeeded in knocking her knuckles against the visor of his helmet. \u201cAlways a pleasure to work with the local government,\u201d he continued quickly in his most charming voice, offering a suave wink to make up for his blunder.<\/p>\n

\u201cPleasure working with the government? Give me a break!\u201d Brian\u2019s loud scoff sounded more like a grunt through his helmet.<\/p>\n

Officer Hawk responded with a brief laugh and managed to turn her hand in Nick\u2019s palm to shake. \u201cNice to meet you too, Agent Carter. I\u2019m pleased to work with the finest agents your agencies have to offer.\u201d She looked at Red and Brian as she spoke, but then her gaze landed back on Nick.<\/p>\n

\u201cI blame Canada for not noticing such a fine jewel in their ranks,\u201d Nick replied with a seductive eyebrow wiggle.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me?!\u201d Red\u2019s jaw dropped when she heard Nick call the Canadian officer a \u201cjewel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t blame them for being less forward and desperate, as a matter of fact,\u201d Julilly Hawk said, laughing.<\/p>\n

Nick folded his hands over his chest, feigning a wounded look. \u201cStraight through my heart! You shot me. I just can\u2019t believe it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOhh\u2026\u201d crowed Brian in amusement.<\/p>\n

Julilly rolled her eyes. \u201cNot as bad as you\u2019ve done with God knows how many other women.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t judge a book by its cover if I were you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, can we go investigate the house now?\u201d Red tried to cut in, eying Brian, who had already given up on making any progress amidst the flirting. He walked toward the medics to collect some information himself.<\/p>\n

Julilly turned to Red and offered an apologetic look. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Dr. Llewellyn, but before you go inside the house, the medics want to brief all of you on the virus and the victims. You can also check out their records; I just went through them, and I believe they contain some important intelligence about the victim.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nodding, Red turned around to examine the files that were sitting on a table near her. Any more information she could take in before investigating the house itself would be a bonus.<\/p>\n

She picked up the first piece of paper in the pile and pored over it. It contained notes from an interview with Terrance Phillip\u2019s mother. According to her, he had seemed totally normal up until the previous night, when he\u2019d been in his room, busy with\u2026 scrapbooking? Red laughed softly; it was quite odd for a man to have a scrapbook. Then his mother had heard him collapse upstairs and come up, only to find her son lying in his own vomit, full of blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a stick, you know. Gotta have finesse in your fingers when riding a delicate car\u2026 or a delicate jewel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red glanced at Nick when she heard him use her nickname again.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, not that I don\u2019t appreciate the offer,\u201d she heard Julilly saying, \u201cbut you gotta try harder than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI like a challenge.\u201d Nick leaned forward with a grin. \u201cEarning a precious jewel is half the fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red slapped the papers down on the desk in frustration. \u201cThis is getting too annoying,\u201d she muttered. She wasn\u2019t sure which one was more nauseating: a victim dying in a pool of his own bloody vomit or Nick and a Canadian officer flirting shamelessly — in Hazmat suits. With her years of experience as a doctor, she would pick the latter in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019ve learned that the victim\u2019s mother is still in the house, basically refusing to leave.\u201d Brian reappeared at her side, dragging her attention away.<\/p>\n

Red sighed with relief. \u201cYou have no idea how happy I am to see you.\u201d She pointed at Nick and Julilly. \u201cI\u2019ve been really getting sick of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian cackled, only to be met with Red\u2019s stern look. \u201cI never understood how Nick could impress any girl with his flirting, but I bet this time, he really won\u2019t get his way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs much as I don\u2019t like him flirting during a mission,\u201d Red muttered and eyed the CIA officer, \u201cI have to quote, \u2018Don\u2019t underestimate the Force, young Jedi.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, she turned around to walk towards Terrance Phillip\u2019s house.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The four investigators slowly made their way up to the house. Brian knocked, and they all waited. Suddenly, the door swung open. A woman stood before them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, ma\u2019am. My name is Officer Littrell; I\u2019m with the CIA. We\u2019re here on behalf of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and we\u2019d like to ask you some questions about your son if you have a moment,\u201d Brian said softly, flashing his badge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI already spoke to the police. What\u2019s left to be said?\u201d the woman asked, wiping at her eyes with a tissue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know, ma\u2019am, and we don\u2019t mean to bother you\u2026 We just have some follow-up questions for you. It\u2019ll only take a few moments.\u201d Julilly smiled sympathetically.<\/p>\n

The woman turned, making her way inside. The four followed her, Nick closing the door behind them. Terrance Phillip\u2019s mother ushered them into her living room, and they all sat down.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it that you want to know?\u201d Mrs. Phillip asked, eyeing them skeptically.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we know you said that your son Terrance didn\u2019t seem different; you noticed no changes. Did he mention places he was going? Or maybe some new people he was hanging out with?\u201d Brian questioned.<\/p>\n

She shook her head. \u201cNo, like I said, everything was fine. I mean, he ate earlier, just some cereal — he loved Fruity Pebbles — and then he went out for a bit, and he came home from the store with some new things for his scrapbooking — oh, you know, he just loved to scrapbook. One year, he made this really nice one for me for my b-birthday, and n-now\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick suppressed a smirk, imagining the big guy they\u2019d seen in the hospital, with long, ZZ Top hair and a heavy metal beard, eating Fruity Pebbles and scrapbooking. Never judge a book by its cover,<\/em> he supposed. If he\u2019d learned anything from the business of espionage, it should be that. Trying to focus back on the conversation, he turned a sympathetic eye towards the kid\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very sorry for your loss, ma\u2019am. We know how hard this must be for you,\u201d Julilly said softly. The other three nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think it would be possible for us to see his room?\u201d Brian asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I suppose. Just don\u2019t\u2026 don\u2019t move anything. I\u2019d like to keep everything the way it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll try not to, ma\u2019am. We just want to look for any evidence, any clues as to where he might have contracted this virus,\u201d Red explained.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Phillip led them upstairs and pointed out her son\u2019s door. They all managed to squeeze into the small bedroom, which was, surprisingly, lined with posters of the Moffatts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just loved the Moffatts; he\u2019d play those songs over and over and over\u2026\u201d Mrs. Phillip sniffed as she retreated to leave them to their investigation.<\/p>\n

Another surprise! A metal dude who liked boybands? Well, there was no accounting for taste, Nick thought. He looked around, noticing a few comic books here and there. His eyes widened when he saw a rare Spiderman<\/em> he\u2019d been trying to collect for months. Maybe the mom wouldn\u2019t notice if he\u2026 He reached out until Brian smacked his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just gonna look at it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re supposed to be looking for clues. You\u2019re gonna get us thrown out! Show some damn respect!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s worth nothing to him when he\u2019s dead,\u201d Nick muttered under his breath but moved away from the comic books to probe another corner of the room.<\/p>\n

After a brief search, in which they found nothing remarkable, they thanked Terrance\u2019s mother and left. They headed to the hotel at last. After they got settled, they congregated in Nick\u2018s room to debrief, go over what they\u2018d found, and discuss some possible causes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what do you all think?\u201d Red asked, perching beside Nick on the edge of his bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. It\u2019s all so weird.\u201d Julilly sighed as she sank down onto the couch. \u201cNothing to go on that would give us any hints as to what caused this.\u201d She ran a hand through her hair in frustration.<\/p>\n

Nick watched. Her hair was short but shiny. He bet it was soft, too. He imagined running his own fingers through it.<\/p>\n

Julilly suddenly turned and caught him looking at her. He offered a sheepish grin, giving her a small wink.<\/p>\n

She blinked. \u201cYou got something in your eye there, Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick felt himself redden. He swiped at his eye. \u201cNope, I\u2019m good now,\u201d he muttered, looking away. When he glanced back at Julilly out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw her smirk.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026 Maybe it\u2019s geared towards one type of person or people, ya know? Like\u2026 I dunno, maybe just young people — a lot of the victims seemed to be young — or\u2026 or people\u2026\u201d Brian started.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith no taste in music? I mean, c\u2019mon, the Moffatts?\u201d Nick reasoned.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick\u2026\u201d Red warned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe dude kept a scrapbook, for crying out loud!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re an idiot,\u201d Brian muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re an idiot!\u201d Nick exploded. \u201cWhat kind of virus only targets young people? Aren\u2019t young people usually the ones who survive these things?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you tell us, Sherlock, if you\u2019ve got all the answers?\u201d Brian retorted sarcastically. He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, gazing coolly up at Nick with raised brows as if waiting for answers. Nick rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a good point,\u201d said Red thoughtfully. \u201cUsually, it\u2019s the very young, the very old, and the infirm who have the most casualties in an epidemic. But Brian\u2019s right too: according to Jeanie\u2019s notes, a lot of the original victims were young — teenagers and early twenty-somethings. It goes against the norm. That has to be significant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick stood up, his mind spinning with this information, trying to churn it into answers. All he had now were questions. He wandered around the room, lost in thought, while the others sat in silence, apparently deep inside their own minds as well. Then he caught sight of Julilly again and lost his train of thought. He tried to act nonchalant as he sat down next to her, brushing up against her body.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa there, partner\u2026 ever heard of personal space?\u201d Julilly said, giving him a nudge. \u201cAll kinds of room on that side of the couch, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starting to wonder if Officer Julilly Hawk was a lesbian, Nick scooted. Yet, he noticed her eyes follow him as he did. Mystified, he glanced over at her again, but she was now looking at Brian.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway\u2026 it\u2019s too early to tell, but there\u2019s gotta be some reason it happened to him, to all those kids. What made them different from their next-door neighbors or the people across the street?\u201d Julilly questioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne word: scrapbook. I\u2019m just sayin\u2019,\u201d Nick stated, holding his hands up in surrender.<\/p>\n

They all groaned.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 4<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 8: \u00a0FANthrax Part 3   Nick thought he had gotten the sillies out of his system. When he\u2019d first put on his yellow Hazmat suit, he\u2019d announced, \u201cThat\u2019s one small step for Nick\u2026 one giant leap for Nick-kind!\u201d and proceeded to lumber around the room, pretending he was prancing\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":141,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-333","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-5n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":915,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333\/revisions\/915"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}