The Rabid (28 page)

February 5

As
days faded into weeks and we became even more comfortable in our environment, I
could feel the hope emanating from Lisa. She was like a different person —
finally doing what she loved and making a difference for the whole world. I was
so sure that she'd find what she needed that when she came home one day stating
happily that she'd combined two compounds that she was eighty percent sure
would help clear up the advances stages of the disease, that I offered to take
her out.

But she seemed nervous. "I really should check on my samples. There could be
some movement."

I pulled her toward the door. "It's been, like, eight minutes."

"Twelve."

"Same thing. Let's go." I was finally able to get her through the door in a
nice dress. And when we sat down to eat, I noticed she'd cleaned her ring. It
sparkled in the pale light of the nice restaurant.

"So tell me what you found."

Her eyes lit up when I asked. "Okay. I dug my way through a lot of books and
papers. Without Internet, medicine is very difficult to study. But I found that
in 2013, a drug called tafamidis was shown to unfold proteins in the Thalamus.
So that at least helps us treat the TSE. Remember when I told you about the
TSE's?"

I thought back to the day in the library at Huntington house. "How could I
forget? You were wild." I touched her hand as she smiled. Our food arrived. She
continued while we ate.

"So, I thought if we could unfold the proteins, that would give us access to at
least treat the rabies virus. Obviously the vaccine won't treat the disease
once symptoms show, but I have a hunch that using neurogliaform cells to target
the specific neurons affected and shutting them down may be able to kill the
virus. Then we can resuscitate those neurons with shock therapy."

After we shared a decadent dessert, I took her out to dance at a nearby bar.
And even when I twirled her around the floor, she kept talking about the
project. Even at home in bed, she couldn't stop going on and on.

"Can I read you my paper on Tourette's?"

"Say what?" I sat up on my elbows. The sheets tugged slightly away from her
hips.

"You said I could read you my Tourette's paper after sex."

I screwed up my face. "Wasn't that like, eight years ago?"

She was quiet, her features blank.

"Can...you even find it?"

"Jack Reynolds, are you telling me no?" While her features were serious, there
was a slight teasing tone in her voice.

"What? No!"

Shaking her head, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I suppose I
should check on my specimen."

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" I caught her waist and pulled her back in to me. "Read it
to me. I'm interested."

From the
Desk of Dr. Lisa
James
Reynolds

February 6

The
next morning, I was eager to see what had become of my specimens. While the
likelihood of anything significant happening overnight was small, I still held
high hopes for it. A miracle, maybe. I managed to go into the lab relatively
early. Only one other lab assistant was there aside form myself.

I turned on the lights as we entered at the same time. After setting down my
things, I all but ran over to the cabinet to retrieve my work. I just couldn't
wait to get everything out on the table under the microscope. I stuck a slide
in and peered through the viewer.

And saw nothing.

I checked three more times, alternating the slides out. But there was still
nothing. Had my sample been tampered with?

"Julie."

"Yes, Dr. Reynolds?" The other lab assistant approached me.

"Where are my specimens from yesterday?"

She paused, reading the label on the dish. "Those are them."

I took a deep breath, trying to assume that she knew how to read. "No, these
are not mine." I lifted them to show her the labeled tape on the outer edge of
the dish. In turn, she picked it out of my hand and turned it to face me.

"Three thirty-three?" I shook my head. "No. That can't be right. Someone
switched the labels."

"What is it, Dr. Reynolds?"

I began to scramble, rustling through scattered papers and other arbitrary
dishes of samples.

"This isn't my sample because there is no trace of the virus in—" I immediately
stopped what I was doing and looked straight at the assistant. "Call Dr. Holmes
now. I've found a cure."

***

While the lab assistants scrambled to combine the ingredients I'd discovered to
have wiped out the virus, Dr. Holmes and I worked on his daughter's blood
transfusion. It was a tedious process and we had to constantly ensure Victoria
was sedated enough. By the end of the operation, half the day was already over.

While she was resting, I pulled a vial of blood and inspected it under the
microscope. Absolutely no trace of the virus was visible. We'd done it.

"Before we contact anyone in the government, we'll need to test the vaccine,"
Dr. Holmes said.

"Of course."

"We must follow all protocols in order for this to be successful. You
understand?"

"Yes."

"Can you please check on my daughter? I'm going to bring Catherine in right
now."

"Absolutely."

As I walked down the hallway to the quarantine room, lab assistants applauded
me. It felt odd to be congratulated for something that was entirely necessary,
but I didn't want to spoil their good moods.

As I opened the door to Victoria's room, I prayed to myself that she would be
stable. And what I saw was more than any of us could have asked for. She was
sitting up in bed with her eyes open, sipping water.

"How are you feeling?" I tried to keep my excitement in check.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"Try to relax." I took a seat in the chair across from her bed. "My name is Dr.
Reynolds. You're in a town called Braycart, Colorado. About six months ago, you
were bitten by a rabid animal."

"Holy shit...
Six months
?"

"Yes." I nodded. "The virus spread and became an epidemic. The entire world has
been affected."

"I started the zombie apocalypse? That's kind of cool and a bummer at the same
time."

"Well, as you can tell, we've been able to bring you out. Are you feeling all
right?" I moved to check her vitals.

"Oh, yeah. A little hungry."

"Great. Your heart sounds greats and your blood pressure seems steady."

"where's my dad?" Her voice grew soft.

"He's just gone to retrieve your mother and he'll return shortly."

"Oh."

"I can get you something to eat. What would you like?"

"Ugh, anything." She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "I'm starving."

I managed a smile. "All right then."

"Dr. Reynolds."

I turned. "Yes?"

"What's going to happen to the world?"

After
a moment of silence, I said, "We're going to save it."

***

Even though Jack knew the good news, I dreaded going home that night. I had a
decision to make and it wasn't a simple one. As I walked through the door, I
could hardly contain the sting of tears when the smell of a flavorful meal hit
me.

"Welcome home, hero." Jack was at the stove with a spatula. I stayed in the
doorway until he turned around. "You ready for...? What's the matter?"

He must have seen the serious look on my face because I could feel it. "Jack."

"Hey, you got amazing news today. You aren't happy?"

I took a deep breath. "Jack. We need to talk."

"What's up? Did something happen? Did the girl relapse?"

I shook my head. "No."

He wiped his hands on a dish towel, but stayed at the stove. "What is it?"

"The only way to make sure the vaccine gets out is with animal testing then
human trials."

"Okay."

"But animal testing can take decades."

Jack's face went blank. "Lisa..."

"We have to skip straight to human trials."

There was a silence between us that stretched out too long. "Please tell me you
didn't..."

My trained etiquette wouldn't allow my gaze to fall to the floor. All I could
say was, "I had to."

"What do you mean, you had to?" Jack's voice dropped to a low tenor — a sure
sign he wasn't happy. "You didn't have to do anything. You've done plenty
already. Now tell me you didn't inject yourself with an experimental drug that
could kill you!"

"I'm sorry."

Jack put his hands to his face. "Oh, my God, Lisa. Are you...are you fucking
serious?" His voice began to rise. "You're telling me that you're totally okay
with abandoning your family for an experiment?! Did you stop for one second to
think about your own son? How I'm going to have to take care of him now? How am
I going to tell him his own mother would rather sacrifice herself to her job?"

"I did think of you." I kept my voice low and calm, but Jack let out an
exasperated laugh.

"At what point? Before or after you slid the needle into your arm?"

"Jack, please."

"No, Lisa. Seriously. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about you!" I couldn't hold my tone down any longer. "I was
thinking of you and Alex and Rex! I was thinking of all the people who've lost
loved ones to this completely preventable disease. I was thinking about how I
could fix everything with a small sacrifice."

"Small?! How is this a small sacrifice?"

"The needs of the many over the needs of the few."

Jack's eyes narrowed at me. "You'd rather break our hearts than let someone
else volunteer."

"No. I'd rather sacrifice myself than bring this upon any more people."

He rubbed his hands over his face. "That was really...really stupid." Emotion
flooded his voice as his entire body deflated. "I don't know if I can take care
of two kids on my own."

"Jack. I'm confident this will work."

He sniffed. "Your confidence usually gets me through a lot. But right now...it's
not much to bank on."

I tilted my head to one side and approached him, laying a hand on his arm.
"Will you come be with me while I'm quarantined?"

His eyes squeezed shut as a sigh escaped him. "How could I not?" His voice was
soft. "Let's go."

February 5

It
took everything I had to keep it together while the kids were with us. When we
arrived at the lab, Dr. Holmes and three other assistants were waiting. I tried
not to glare at the doctor, but it was difficult.

They prepped her by putting her in a gown and showing her to the quarantine
room. It was a tiled area with a bed and bathroom. A large window filled the
wall for viewing purposes.

Lisa stopped to say farewell to us. Alex kept as strong as she could while
hugging her aunt. But Rex was busy playing with his toy cars on a nearby bench.
She bent to speak to him.

"Rex, sweetie? Mommy is going to be gone for a while, okay? You won't see me
for a few days."

"A few days." He repeated her statement without giving her eye contact.

"I love you, baby boy." She attempted to give him a kiss on the head, but he
leaned away. I felt awkward, but it was just another day in the life of the two
of them. She stood as though it didn't faze her. But as she walked away, Rex
looked up and called to her.

"Love you, momma. Miss you, momma."

Lisa smiled then turned to me. I swallowed hard as her gaze bore into mine. The
woman I loved more than I thought possible was leaving. She might come back or
she might die. I had no idea. We had to wait three agonizing days to find out.

"I guess I'm...not allowed to kiss you, right?" I asked, touching the side of her
face.

She shook her head. "I'm fine while in the incuba—"

"Good." I interrupted her by pulling her entire body into mine for a long kiss.
It was one I wasn't going to let her forget. All my emotions flooded out of me
and into her. I wanted her to feel how much she meant to us.

"Come back to us." I whispered the words as I pressed my forehead against hers.

"I will."

The door closed in my face. I moved to the glass window. She pressed a hand
against it and I did the same on the opposite side. My chest felt hollow as if
my heart had followed her in there. I had a bad feeling.

"Oh." I turned to find the bag she'd brought with her. After rifling through
it, I brought out a book and handed it to Dr. Holmes. "Her journal. She likes
to write it in and document everything. Will you make sure she gets it?"

He nodded. "Of course."

***

The next day, I pulled the kids out of school and called in sick to work. It
was useless, though since the entire town knew what was going on. I felt like
an experiment myself. Everyone was watching us and trying to give their
support. But I didn't want it. I wanted my life back. It got to the point where
I was wallowing in so much self-pity that Alex made me go to the lab to see
Lisa.

At first, they told me she needed to rest, but I told them that was bullshit,
so they let me watch her on a grainy monitor. She seemed okay — she mostly
walked around aimlessly or laid in the bed.

"Your wife's a very brave woman." Dr. Holmes stood next to me.

I sighed. "Yeah. We're not so much. Honestly, Doc, I don't know how you let her
do this."

"Me?" He looked at me as though I'd called him a terrible name. "I told her not
to mess with it. I told her we had to follow protocol. She did this of her own
accord."

We were silent for a moment, watching Lisa fiddle with the tray of food she'd
been given.

"As a matter of plain fact, I was on my way back here to do exactly what she'd
done."

I looked at the doctor. "You should learn to drive faster."

He hummed a half-agreement. "I understand your frustration. You may see her
for a moment, but I'm afraid we need a controlled test area."

***

A loud clang echoed through the garage followed by a loud curse from me.

"MacGuyver, that is the third time you've dropped that wrench in twenty minutes
and it's getting on my fucking nerves. What the hell is wrong with you?" Kelli
stood over me like the Great Wall of China.

She screwed up her face. "The fuck did you just say to me?"

Oops. Guess I'd said it out loud.

"And why the hell are you back here? This car just needs an oil change!"

I waved her off and trudged toward the front of the car. Alex must have heard
the commotion as she'd left Rex with his book and came over to help.

"And just what do you think you're doing, little lady?" Kelli's angry toned
turned down to a stern motherly scolding.

"Uncle Jack taught me how to change oil. I can help."

"Is that so?" Kelli looked at me.

"Yup. Better believe it." I patted the girl on her head.

My boss eyed me. "Have you...have you been drinking, movie boy?"

"Me?" The wrench slipped out of my hand again. "I'm gonna change my last name
to Daniels."

I
thought it was funny. But she didn't. So, I spent the next thirty-six hours
either sitting by the phone waiting for that fateful call or wallowing in
self-indulgence. Kelli even took the kids to stay with her until, in her words,
I got my shit together.

I hated to tell her that "my shit" left when Lisa injected herself with a
deadly virus. Then I got called selfish. Then I got slapped. I think. I can't
really remember. I do remember my face hurting pretty badly once I got back to
the house. But that could have been because I tripped on the sidewalk or
something.

My entire body was starting to feel itchy. I had to do something. So I left the
house and walked until the lab came into view. Then I marched straight up to the
fifth floor and into the viewing room. There, I watched the most beautiful
woman I'd ever met throw things at the glass window inside the quarantine room.

And I immediately sobered up.

"What the hell is going on?" I burst into Dr. Holmes's office.

He stood. "Mr. Reynolds. Please calm down."

"Don't tell me to fucking calm down! My wife is rabid, isn't she? Isn't she?!"

Dr. Holmes put up his hands. "Relax. She's fine. She's just a bit irritated at
being cooped up. She's still eating and drinking fine. There are no signs of
the virus. Not even a fever."

That quelled my anger enough to sit in a chair next to his desk.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"No." I spotted the journal sitting on the corner of his desk where I'd left
it. "Wait...why haven't you given this to her?"

He looked at it, pondering its existence. "Well...I didn't quite see the point."

I stood up again. "You didn't? And why not? No, no, wait. Don't tell me.
Because you don't think she'll make it out of there."

The doctor cleared his throat. "Mr. Reynolds..."

"Stop treating me like I'm a baby who needs a bottle."

He straightened. "If you insist. With our track record of mishaps in this lab,
I truly give the situation about a twenty-five percent chance of succeeding."

"Oh, Jesus Christ." I gripped the side of his desk.

"Until your wife came along. With her track record, I'd say there's an eighty
percent chance."

I pushed my hair back with both hands while groaning. "You should probably have
led with that, doc."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't they teach you bedside manners in medical school?"

"Well, I actually wasn't a doctor before the outbreak. I—"

While holding a hand to my chest, I held the other in front of me. "Please,
doc. No more revelations. I don't think my heart could take it. I also don't
think your face could."

"Duly noted." Dr. Holmes put both hands behind his back. "Now then, Mr.
Reynolds, you've got...twelve more hours. Would you mind terribly...?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, sure..." I turned to leave right as his office door
slammed open. One of the lab assistants stormed in.

"Dr. Holmes! Dr. Reynolds has lost consciousness!"

I didn't even hesitate. I didn't even ask. I just followed them all down the
corridor. There was no way in hell I was going to let my wife die.