Braving The Storms (Strengthen What Remains Book 3) (5 page)

Chapter Eight

Hansen General Hospital, Tuesday, September 22
^nd

Dr. Scott came out of the room. “Were you the soldier he mentioned? Did you come in close contact with Mrs. Colson?”

“Mrs. Colson? Ah … his wife?” Caden gestured toward the despondent man in the chair. “I helped lay her in the back of my SUV.”

Dr. Scott’s eyes narrowed. “That was her.”

Caden was certain he knew the answer, but asked anyway. “Why did you want to know if I came in close contact with her?”

“We need to do the rapid diagnostic test and get a viral swab of your mouth before—”

Movement in the doorway caught Caden attention. He locked eyes on Jake.

“You knew this would happen!” Jake shouted. “That’s why you were asking questions—you knew!” From his pocket he pulled a pistol and pointed it at Caden.

He heard those behind him move. Certain that weapons were now aimed at Jake by those behind him Caden thought it best to deescalate the situation. He spread his hands wide.

Jake shouted and waved the weapon wildly. “But you didn’t say anything or try to help—did you?”

As Jake ranted, Caden raised one arm in a stop gesture. “We’re just learning about the Kern flu.”

Deputy Wallace stepped beside Caden. “Sir, put the gun down.”

The husband stood. “Jake, when did you get my gun? Give it back. The lady doctor explained all that. There was nothing anyone could do.”

“I don’t believe that, Hugh. They could have helped. Should have helped, but nobody did anything.” Again he pointed the pistol at Caden. “He knew!” He waved the gun at Dr. Scott. “She’s known about it for days.”

“What could they have done?” Hugh asked.

The muscles tightened in Jake’s neck.

Caden had seen men snap and do crazy things under stress. Jake showed all the signs of nearing such a break. Eyes wide, veins bulging, it would come soon.

Jake gestured to Caden using the barrel of the gun as a pointer. “Soldier guy had all that information in the car, but did he help us? Did anyone help us?”

A familiar woman stepped around the corner, followed closely by a nurse and the two children from the rest area. The nurse’s eyes grew wide. Clutching the two boys, she hurried back around the corner.

“Jake, don’t be silly,” the healthy woman from the rest area said. “Put the gun down.”

“We lost our little Jessica … our home.” He shook his head as tears flowed. Wiping his face he locked eyes on Caden. “We’ve been running … starving … and … dying. We could all die and no one would care.” He seemed to stare beyond those before him. Pointing the barrel at Caden, his aim steadied. “Jessica was so little.”

Caden thought of Maria.

The woman stepped between Caden and Jake. “She was my daughter too. It’s been an awful year and we both hurt inside, but don’t harm someone because of our pain.”

Jake smiled. “I love you.” He moved the gun towards his head.

“No,” the woman screamed.

Caden and Wallace lunged. Together they slammed Jake up against the wall.

“Don’t hurt him,” the woman shouted.

The deputy grabbed at the gun.

It fired.

Dust and bits of ceiling tile rained down.

Everything stopped.

Tracing the probable route of the bullet with his eye, Caden decided the three of them were unharmed.

The deputy wrenched the gun from Jake’s hand.

“We’re dying anyway. One at a time. Just let me. No one cares.” Tears rolled down Jake’s face as Wallace cuffed and patted him down.

“I care, Jake,” the woman said. “We’ll get through this.”

Pulling on Jake’s arm, the deputy stepped away.

“Oh no. None of you are going anywhere,” Dr. Scott held up her palm. “We’ll need to do tests, but I’m nearly certain Mrs. Colson died of the Kern Flu.”

Jake shook his head and sobbed.

“I’m sorry,” Caden said, “but what can be done?”

“For her?” The doctor stepped to a phone. “Nothing. But you and the two families are the first guests in our recently-expanded, and upgraded, isolation unit.”

“Isolation?” Caden shook his head. “No. A lot’s going on. I can’t.”

“I could quote federal law, but I’ll make it simple. You have been exposed. Do you really want to infect the soldiers under your command, your mom, dad, Maria, and the babies at your house?”

Caden drew in a deep breath. “So, show me this isolation unit you’re so proud of.”

“Deputy, please bring Jake and the others.” Dr. Scott picked up the phone and tapped three numbers. “Announce a code omega. Clear the halls between emergency and the isolation ward. Tell the duty nurse to use contagious disease protocols, and bring the two boys to the ward, but she must not enter. Just send the two boys in. I’ll phone her if needed.” The doctor grabbed a box and handed out face masks. “Wear these.”

“What’s the Kern flu?” Zach asked.

Nelson shrugged.

“Are we supposed to go with you too?” Zach pointed to Ryan Nelson beside him.

“No.” Dr. Scott shook her head. “Not unless you were in close physical contact with the family or Caden.”

“Like in a Humvee?” Zach asked.

Dr. Scott’s body wilted. “Yes. Come with us. Let’s play it safe.” She handed each of them a mask.

Ryan frowned at Zach.

“What do you want us to do with the rifles?” Zach looked at Caden and then the doctor.

“Bring them with you.” The doctor said with a sigh. “You’ve been breathing all over them. You may have to decontaminate them.”

“Zach.” Nelson shook his head. “Why do you ask so many questions?”

He cast a wry smile. “Just curious, I guess.”

The group paused in front of a deserted nurse’s station. Just beyond were heavy wooden doors. The sign above read, “Isolation Ward.”

The two boys came running down. One latched on to Hugh, the other to the one woman in the group.

“Spread out,” Dr. Scott said with a wave of the arm. “In a moment I’ll start bringing you in one or two at a time.” She sat at the nurse’s station and typed on the keyboard.

Zach looked through the window into the dark ward, but saw nothing but his own reflection. Tufts of his auburn hair stood in every direction. He tried to pat them down as he pressed his face to a window. “The place looks deserted.”

“It is,” Dr. Scott said, still typing.

Private Nelson looked around. “What, no pretty nurses?”

Dr. Scott scowled. “I don’t want to expose them to Kern flu or high levels of teenage testosterone. You’re stuck with me.”

Caden leaned against the wall and thought of all the places he would rather be. The list grew long as the doctor brought the others in. Jake, his wife, and the deputy went in together, but most entered one at a time.

Finally, only Caden remained. He thought Dr. Scott forgot him until the wooden door swung open and she motioned for him to enter. Together they passed through two sets of doors and into a large open space with a nurse’s station at the center. Along the wall were rooms numbered one to eight.

“So, this is where I’ll be spending the night.” Caden looked about.

“At least tonight and probably most of tomorrow, but not much more … if we’re lucky.”

It really hasn’t been a lucky kind of a day for me.
“This place looks new.”

“We remodeled and expanded the old isolation ward.” The doctor pointed to the ceiling. “The ventilation system for this ward is separate from the rest of the hospital.”

Caden frowned. “There aren’t any windows.”

“Windows leak. We’re trying to restrict the flow of air. That’s why I had the maintenance staff construct those heavy doors you came through. I wanted sliding ones where only one would open at a time, but there were limits on what we could do.” She sighed. “I hope the wing lives up to its name.”

Glancing to her left the doctor said, “I have the deputy in room eight. I’ll put you in room one. That way you’re both close to the door and can help with security if things get crazy.”

“Things like Jake?”

“Perhaps. He’s handcuffed to the bed in room three. I’ve read of instances of delirium, so any of you could become a problem.”

“This day just keeps getting better.”

“I don’t think you’re infected. Hope not anyway.”

“Yeah.” Caden nodded. “Me too.”

The doctor pointed. “Zach is in that room. Ryan is in the next.” She continued pointing to each chamber and specifying the occupant. “But, I don’t want you, or any of the others, out of your rooms tonight. Let’s keep the spread of infection to a minimum.”

Caden reviewed the assignments in his head. “Are you staying with us tonight?”

“Yes. I’ve had more exposure than you.”

“All the rooms are taken. Where are you going to sleep?”

“I’m probably not.” She shook her head. “Get settled in your room. Change into the hospital gown and I’ll be around to check on you and perform a rapid diagnostic test, get a swab, and a blood sample in a few minutes.”

Caden watched as the doctor collected vials, tubing, and needles.
Just keeps getting better.
As soon as he was in the room he spotted the pajama-like clothing he was supposed to wear. Being sick and needles were his top two reasons to avoid hospitals. Third would have to be the flimsy hospital gowns. After changing, Caden retrieved his phone and called Brooks.

“Did you find the carjackers?”

“Yes, and they might have the Kern flu.” Caden explained the situation. “When is the LEPC meeting?”

“Six tomorrow evening.”

“I think Dr. Scott will let me out of jail by then. Unless you hear otherwise, keep the meeting as scheduled.”

After he ended the call, Caden started to dial Maria, but stopped. He hadn’t told her about the Kern flu and now there was a remote possibility that he was infected. He considered telling her he would be working overnight. Duty required it sometimes. Caden shook his head. She had said more than once that she wanted the truth.

With a sigh he phoned.

“Where are you? Are you okay?” Maria nearly shouted into the phone.

“I’m at the hospital—but I’m fine.” He then explained everything that happened up to finding Hugh Colson and meeting Doctor Scott at the hospital. “The doctor thinks I
might
have been exposed to the Kern flu.” He left out most details of the carjacking, Jake waving a gun at him, and that he was in an isolation ward. When she didn’t ask about the Kern flu he continued. “This flu thing is spreading across—”

“I know about the pandemic.”

“Who told you?”

“Lisa. David told her. She assumed I knew all about it. Imagine her surprise when I hadn’t heard a word.”

I’ll need to review security procedures with my XO.
“I was going to tell you about it.”

“When?”

“Probably tonight…or tomorrow.” Caden spent several minutes smoothing things over with Maria and then, since he was stuck in a hospital room with nothing to do, they had one of their longest conversations in months.

The door squeaked and Dr. Scott entered carrying a tray with vials and needles.

Caden sighed. “I’ve got to go, the doctor is here. I’ll call you in the morning. I should know a lot more then.”

After getting a swab and a vial of blood Dr. Scott attached adhesive tabs to Caden’s chest that led back to a heart monitor and then clipped a sensor over one of his fingers.

“I’ll never get any sleep with all these wires and beeps.”

As she turned to leave Dr. Scott said, “Try.”

* * *

Hansen General Hospital, Wednesday, September 23
^rd

The sound of footsteps caused Caden to wake. His eyes opened to Dr. Scott holding a syringe. “Need more blood?”

“No. I think you’re fine. I’ll take another swab to be sure, though.”

“What time is it?”

“Nine o’clock.”

“In the morning? Why did you let me sleep so late?”

“You weren’t going anywhere so, why wake you up before I needed to?”

Caden grunted. There was logic to the doctor’s reasoning.

When she finished he stood looking for his phone.

“Sit. I need to take your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.”

Caden obeyed. “I feel fine. When can I get out of here?”

The doctor wrapped the blood pressure cuff around his arm. “If you remain asymptomatic perhaps we can release you later this evening. It depends.”

“On what?”

“The samples from last night and this morning.”

“Like I said, I feel fine.”

“Right now you’re fine,” Dr Scott said flatly. “So were the two little boys, but now they’re dead.”

Chapter Nine

Hansen General Hospital, Wednesday, September 23
^rd

Caden knew the woman had died, but news of the children came as a shock. “The two boys? Dead? When?”

Dr. Scott wilted into a nearby chair. “About four hours ago.”

The words were not spoken callously, but flatly, without emotion. Looking at the doctor, Caden thought she appeared older than her years. Sadness lurked in her eyes. Of course she was tired. Death had visited the isolation ward twice in one night.

Perhaps she had seen too much death this last year or perhaps the gloom was because death had come for children. Perhaps both were the cause. “What about the others, Hugh, Jake and his wife?”

“Hugh Coulson is critical and Debra, Jake’s wife, is in serious condition. We’ll know in the next few hours if they’re going to make it.”

“What about Jake?”

“He isn’t showing symptoms, but I had to sedate him during the night.” She shook her head. “If he wakes up and discovers the others are dead…I just don’t know what he’ll do.”

“What about Zach and Private Nelson?”

“They’re not displaying any symptoms. If you continue to be asymptomatic, I may release them in a few hours.”

“Why is their release contingent upon me being okay?”

“Because they would have been infected by you. If you don’t get sick they almost certainly won’t. I’ll let you know soon, but right now I’m waiting on the results from the tests last night.”

“How long does it take you to get a test done?”

“We flew the samples to the lab at Washington State University. They’ll call us when they have the results.”

“You can’t do a flu test here?”

“Sure I can,” the doctor’s voice sounded irritated. “But I need to know if it’s the Kern variant.”

Caden leaned back onto the bed. “Okay, I’ll wait and hope for everyone’s sake I stay healthy.” Alone in his room he stared at the walls and wondered who the Grim Reaper would visit next. Wanting to change the direction of his thoughts, he grabbed his phone and called Maria. He wasn’t going to get caught holding back information from her again.

* * *

Brennon Trailer Home, Wednesday, September 23
^rd

“Hi,” Vicki said as she greeted her brother at the door of the rusty single-wide trailer they called home. “Where have you been?”

Since he wasn’t infected, Zach decided not to tell his sister, or DeLynn about his stay in the hospital isolation unit. “Armory stuff. They needed me.”

“You missed school. I was worried.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

“Well, I guess you heard the rainstorm last night and this morning.” She stepped away from the door.

He hadn’t, but he had seen the puddles on the way home. “What about it?” He stepped into the trailer. Seeing buckets, towels on the floor, and a mop he stopped. “What happened?”

Vicki grasped the mop. “The roof leaks.”

His sister had pushed much of the furniture out of the living room, which was a soggy mess, into the kitchen. The threadbare carpet was soaked. Parts of the home were dry, but the whole place smelled like a wet dog.

“Are you hungry?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Good I’ll make us some dinner.” She handed him the mop. “And you can wipe up for a while.”

Zach took the handle. A huge weight descended upon him. With his father a fading memory and his mother now gone, sometimes he felt more like a parent to Vicki, instead of an older brother. However, right then he really wanted a parent with answers because the rainy season would soon be upon them and he had no idea how to repair a trailer roof or where to find the money to get it done.

* * *

On the road to Morton, Wednesday, September 23
^rd

As if waking from a long and restless sleep, Fletcher blinked open his eyes. He squinted at the sun coming through a window. He was in a Humvee moving along smooth terrain, probably a road, but why? His body protested every move with aches and stiffness. Struggling, he sat up.

“Oh, good, you’re alive.” Private Spencer said from the front passenger seat.

“Alive.” The words came with difficulty from Fletcher’s dry throat. On the seat before him was a body bag. He struggled to organize thoughts and memories.

“How is Harper?”

The private laid beside him in the rear of the Humvee. Fletcher clutched his wrist. Harper’s skin was clammy and the pulse weak. “Barely alive. What happened?”

“I have no idea. Monday a lot of the guys woke up ill. We started getting people into the vehicles, to head out, but more got sick until there weren’t enough healthy people to move them. Then they started dying. For more than a day most everyone was sick or treating the sick. This morning there were enough people well enough to load the sick. So, we left Grim Reaper lodge.”

“Grim Reaper lodge?”

“That’s what we call the place.”

Feeling light headed, Fletcher slumped. “What day is it?”

“Wednesday.”

“Are we on the way to the armory?”

“No,” Spencer replied. “We’re going to Morton hospital.”

Fletcher nodded, even though no one could see him. “How many dead?”

“Six. Harper, and Deputy Morris are really sick. We weren’t sure about you. I’m glad you’re getting better.”

Fletcher wasn’t sure he was feeling better, just conscious, but he wasn’t going to argue the point either.

“Report in?” he asked, breathing deeply for each word.

“We’re still out of range. We’ll get everyone to the hospital and then report.”

“Okay,” Fletcher mumbled. Gradually sleep overtook him.

It seemed like only moments later that shouts and hurried movement intruded upon his fitful slumber. As Fletcher opened his eyes, two soldiers hoisted Private Harper onto a gurney. Another two pulled the body bag from the seat in front of him.

Private Spencer offered Fletcher a hand as he slid himself out the rear of the vehicle. He waved off the assistance. Fletcher leaned against the Humvee, stood for a moment, and then shuffled toward the emergency room door.

Fletcher rested a hand on Private Spencer’s shoulder. “Is Corporal Franklin okay?”

“Yes, First Sergeant. He was in the other Humvee. We were the only two that didn’t get sick.”

“Find him. Tell him to make sure everyone gets seen and treated.”

Inside the building Fletcher found the men’s room and leaned over a sink. He splashed water on the gaunt face that greeted him in the mirror and then, cupping his hands under the flow, drank.

Fletcher felt, and now knew, he looked like a zombie. People starred at him as he dragged himself across the busy emergency room. He knew he looked like the living dead, but several others in the waiting area looked as bad.
Whatever this sickness is, could it already be here, ahead of us?

He plopped down in a corner seat. His stomach grumbled, but he didn’t feel hungry. All he wanted to do was sleep until he fully recovered—or died.

Private Spencer sat beside him. “All the sick have been brought in. Corporal Franklin is staying with them. I really think you should see a doctor.”

“No, I’ll live.”

“They cleared a ward and moved Harper and Deputy Morris in. They seemed to have some idea of what is going on.”

“I’m sure they do.” Fletcher slid low in the chair. “When did we last report in?”

Spencer shrugged.

Fletcher cursed, fumbled for his phone, and called the armory.

* * *

Hansen General Hospital, Wednesday, September 23
^rd

Caden awoke. He never slept during the day, but without a television, radio, or even a clock, it was easy to drift off. Wires and a tube still clung to him, but he stood and looked for his phone.
Why do I leave it in random places?
Such mysteries were unfathomable.

The door creaked and Dr. Scott entered.

“Do you need more of my blood?”

“No. Your tests came back negative.” She wrote on a notepad. “You’ll be fine.”

Caden knew he was fine, but it felt good to hear it from the doctor. “Can I go?”

Without looking up from her writing, she nodded.

“What about everyone...?” He wasn’t sure how to phrase the question.

“Hugh Coulson died early this morning. Debra is recovering. Jake is asymptomatic, but still sedated. I want his wife awake and healthy when he wakes.”

“What about Zach and Private Nelson?”

“I released them two hours ago.”

“Why did you keep me longer?”

“Because you were resting, and even sleeping, two things you need to stay healthy.”

He shook his head, found his pants, and slipped them on under the hospital gown.

Dr. Scott walked toward the door.

“Where is my phone?” Caden mumbled.

The doctor stopped, turned to a locked cabinet, and pulled out the phone. Handing it to Caden she said, “Wouldn’t want you to lose this.”

“Huh?” Had the doctor purposely hid his phone? She walked from the room before he could ask. After dressing, he turned the device on and called the armory. When Brooks answered Caden asked, “Any word from the First Sergeant?”

“No, but Second Squad should be near their last reported position, so we should know something soon. Are you okay?”

Caden walked from the room. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Dr. Scott sat at the nurse’s station in an otherwise dark and empty isolation ward. They nodded at each other as Caden left. As he pushed through the heavy wooden doors, he asked, “What’s the situation at the … hang on I have another call coming in … its First Sergeant Fletcher.”

He poked at his phone and accidently disconnected Brooks. “First Sergeant, where are you.”

The words came slowly. “The Morton hospital.”

“What happened? Are you okay?”

“Most of us have been sick, sir. Some have died.”

Caden’s heart pounded. He stopped, and returned to the isolation ward. Dr. Scott still sat at the nurse’s station typing on a computer, but looked up as he entered. “I think we have a problem.”