Chapter 33
“Because it wasn’t serious enough in here.”
-Aaron
Camellia has been in and out of consciousness since she arrived at Flamingo Cove hospital. Doctors have no idea what caused her to pass out, and she’s getting sicker by the minute.
Celia worked her Saber Security magic to get me back into the room with Camellia, where I’m holding her hand, listening to the doctor go over options with the family.
I’m struck by how young the doctor looks, barely older than Dahlia.
Dr. Binford has dark red hair that she’s pulled back into a take-no-prisoners bun. Her green eyes hide behind thick black glasses, maybe in an attempt to make people take her seriously.
I’m taking everything she says seriously.
“We’re doing everything we can to figure out what caused this,” she offers a forced smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “But until we know what we’re fighting, we’ll have no idea how to fight it.”
“I don’t understand. We saw her four days ago, healthy as a horse,” Carmen Saber hasn’t stopped crying since she arrived. “What happened?”
Everyone looks at me.
“I feel fine, so it’s not something we ate,” I explain. “And the bomb squad said those improvised explosive devices in the woods weren’t dirty.”
“It could be viral or neurological,” Dr. Binford continues. “I’ve scheduled an MRI, so maybe that will give us a better idea of what’s going on.”
“Maybe?” Luis Saber has taken the opposite stance as his wife, getting mad at the whole situation. “Aren’t you doctors supposed to be smart or something?”
“Papa,” Celia pats him on the back. “Let’s not get mad at the doctor for doing her job. There are no guarantees that an MRI will find anything, though. Right?”
The doctor agrees with Celia, then passes on the orders to a nurse who looks like she’s the one in charge around here. She’s slightly taller than Carmen, thin as a rail, but has aCatholic nunair about her. She checks Camellia’s vitals, adjusts IV lines, then turns to the crowd around the bed. “All right, family. It’s time to take a break for coffee or food in the cafeteria.”
No one moves.
“I apologize,” Nurse Nun looks five seconds away from breaking out a ruler and slapping it over our knuckles. “I made that sound like it was optional. It was not.”
Celia, Carmen, and Luis get the not-so-veiled hint and head out of the room. I stay put.
“You too, Chief,” Nurse Nun clucks at me.
“I’m going with her,” I level a Do Not Fuck With Me look at the nurse.
Her eyes widen in what may be a sign of respect, or it could be a sign she’s about to unleash holy hell on me. I hold my breath. I’m not scared of her, but I’m also nervous she’ll kick me out. That’s not going to work for me. I’ll fight this woman to remain at Camellia’s side.
The nurse gives me a nod, then readies Camellia for transport to the Radiology Department.
I don’t know how much time passes before the orderlies arrive. I do know I’ve been holding Camellia’s hand, and now my palms are sweaty.
They roll Camellia downstairs to Radiology, and I don’t let go of her hand. I’m not letting go until they put her in the machine.
But it seems life has other plans.
The second we roll through the door, a blaring alarm goes off as if we tried to shoplift something. A red emergency beacon rotates in the hallway. White strobes flash along the ceiling.
“What the fuck is going on?” I scream over the commotion.
The orderlies have gone pale and are staring at me with their eyes wide as the fire doors slam shut in our area of the department.
“Code Orange - Radiology,” a dispassionate voice announces over the hospital speakers. “Code Orange - Radiology. Code Orange - Radiology. This is a shelter-in-place emergency. Shelter in place.”
