“I need an incubator. Which means I’m going to need someone to go to the hospital.”
“The deserted hospital that’s been boarded up?” Daniel asked.
I got up then. I was kind of pissed Rebecca hadn’t told me that. I knew she had been leaving something out, but I had a right to know what I was dealing with.
I found them standing just beyond the curtains surrounding my bed.
“Were you going to tell me?” I asked.
Rebecca looked at me and sighed, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure if it was the right choice to tell you.”
“How could it not be the right choice?”
“You were tired and in pain. The stress you’re under isn’t helping, I didn’t want to make it worse.”
I looked at her, her expression was genuine. I was still annoyed, but I let it go.
“So, Japan is a no go?” I asked.
“For now. Plus putting you on a flight I know isn’t the best option.”
“Then we send a group to the hospital. I’ll put together a group,” Daniel said.
It didn’t surprise me he would immediately volunteer but the fear pierced through me at the thought of him risking himself.
“Shelly,” Rebecca said. “The baby will survive if you can make it a few more weeks as long as we have the incubator. And maybe it’s not necessary. But I want to have everything ready in case it comes to the worst-case scenario. I’m worried too, as to what may happen to you if you go full term.”
“I don’t care what happens to me,” I said.
Daniel looked at me, “I do. If this is the way to keep you and the baby safe, it’s worth it.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ve done pretty good so far, and for you, I can do this.”
I was about to protest but he wrapped me in an embrace and whispered in my ear, “We’re going to be alright.”
Chapter 16
Daniel walked me back to the bed and helped me into it. I looked at him and noticed the lines on his face. He looked extremely stressed. I wondered then how much he’d been sleeping.
“You doing alright?” I asked him.
He smiled and kissed my hand. “Never better.”
I had my doubts he was being completely honest. His eyes seemed sad. I decided not to press the subject further.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked him about going to the hospital.
“It has to be done; I can’t ask someone else to do it.”
“Because you’re the one who knocked me up?” I asked.
He laughed, “That does factor into my feelings of responsibility yes.”
“I should help.”
“No! Shelly just no,” he replied.
“I’m the one who’s pregnant, I shouldn’t be asking people to risk their lives in this situation.”
“You know as well as I do, that is far too dangerous.”
I sighed but stopped arguing. I knew he was right, but I really didn’t want him to go without me. But I’d be a liability. I couldn’t really help.
“For now, we rest,” He said.
He climbed in the small bed with me. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. The soothing rhythm of it calmed the nerves taking me over. With his arm wrapped around me, I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
Daniel got busy planning to check out the hospital. Luther and Gerald volunteered to go with him. He was able to get floor plans and Rebecca told him what he needed would be on the eighth floor.
It took him three days to come up with a plan he was satisfied with. He wouldn’t tell me the details. I was sure it was because it was dangerous and reckless.
By the time him, Luther and Gerald set out to go forth with the plan, I was back in the room where we were taken when we first got to the base. I was on bed rest, but Rebecca felt it was best for me to be somewhere I could relax.
Lasa and Brian were in the room with me since Luther was assisting Daniel. Richard had brought us some board games and coloring books for them both. They were thrilled to get the items. I was also relieved since the board games would also help keep my mind off what was going on in the hospital.
Daniel kissed me bye and told me he would be back soon. My heart went with him as he walked out the door.
Phoebe was gone to do more tests. They didn’t need her at the hanger anymore, but it felt like she was there all the time anyway. I was worried about the tests they were running because she seemed tired and weak, but she insisted it was the most important thing she could be doing. She had offered to stay with me and the kids, but I told her we would be alright. I figured she would probably be back before Daniel as it was.
There was no word on if and when she would be going to Japan. It wasn’t that Japan wasn’t interested; they were. It was just getting the means to pick her up was not easy. Everyone was on lock down. Several planes had gone down when the outbreak had begun. There was a real fear as to what would happen if they approved a flight. What the consequences would be if it went down.
Though Rebecca had mentioned to Phoebe that it was going up the chain of command. They were accessing the risk because if it led to a cure, it would be worth it.
“At this point, the cost is too high not to try if you ask me,” Phoebe said.
Rebecca had told me she had asked that I be approved to go with Phoebe as well as Lasa and Daniel. In
