Human Blend (19 page)

“Yes, I'm sorry,” she said, wiping her
face.

“What seems to be the trouble? Is it female
problems? I remember back when I was your age, I would cry at the
drop of a hat,” Nurse Hacher recalled.

“Something like that,” Julie replied with a
forced smile.

“Well, come along now. Work is good therapy
for what ails you,” the nurse said. Julie nodded in agreement.
“Good girl,” Nurse Hacher praised. “Now go down to room 510 and
bring an extra blanket. Mr. Kendal is complaining that he is too
cold,” she ordered.

“Yes, ma'am,” Julie said, and went to get the
blanket.

She did a few more mundane tasks. Julie was
feeling better, having something else to focus her mind on.
“Julie,” Nurse Hacher called to her. “Be a dear and fetch the metal
tray and latex free gloves from examining room two. I left them in
there,” she stated.

“Sure, no problem,” Julie said.

Inside room two, Julie found the tray and box
of gloves. She jumped and dropped the items when a voice spoke
behind her. “Well, I can tell that you do not have the awareness
ability, otherwise you would have known I was following you,”
Doctor Samson spoke. Julie spun around and stared questioningly at
him. “It's nice to run into one of my own kind,” he said,
approaching her.

The closer he got, the more anxious Julie
became. “Own kind?” she asked.

He smiled and took her hands. The electricity
she felt when he grabbed her hands traveled through her entire
body. “You're a healer, like me,” he commented. He raised one hand
and brushed his fingertips across her forehead. “A numera, too,” he
said. Julie was captivated by his voice. “Your lure is almost as
strong as mine,” he said, his face only inches from hers. She
wanted to ask him so many questions, but when his cheek brushed
hers, words failed her. “It's been a long time since I've been with
one of my own,” he whispered, his lips brushing hers. “Too long,”
he added, his kisses increasing.

“Wait,” Julie's voice was barely a whisper.
His thumb brushed her lips as he locked his eyes on her.

“Talk later. I'll help you focus,” he said,
resting his hand on the side of her face. His eyes bore into her as
her breathing became labored. This is what she had felt in the
conference room with Eli. She slid her hands up his chest and
around his neck. “This is my favorite part of being a human blend,”
he said, although Julie didn't hear him. She began kissing him
aggressively as his hands pulled their bodies together. Both lost
in an ever increasing urgency, neither of them heard someone enter
the room.

Eli grabbed the doctor by the collar and
pulled him away from Julie. He pushed him against a metal cabinet
and held him there. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, doc. What the hell?” Marcus
asked, surprised at the interference.

“I could ask you the same question, Doctor
Samson,” Eli seethed.

“I'm just getting to know her a little
better,” Marcus said. His response caused Eli to pull him forward
and slam him back against the cabinet.

Julie was regaining her awareness. She saw
Eli holding Marcus against the cabinet. “Eli,” she called out to
him.

Eli released the doctor and went to help
steady Julie. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” Eli asked.

“He knows me... he knows what I can do,”
Julie managed to choke out. “He said he is like me,” Julie said.
Both Eli and Julie looked at Marcus, who remained silent. “Please,
talk to me. I need to know. How... why... are we...” Julie tried to
form a question.

“Fine. We can talk, but not in front of your
elven guard dog,” Marcus said. Julie looked at Eli. “What did he
just call you?” she asked.

Marcus headed for the door. “Come find me
when you can talk without him,” Marcus said.

“No. Wait, please,” she pleaded. She moved
toward Marcus, but didn't get very far. The room began to spin. She
lapsed into unconsciousness.

Marcus was able to catch her as she fell. He
placed her on the gurney in the room. “How long has she been like
this?” Marcus asked. Eli didn't reply. He wasn't sure how much
information he should give to him. “Do you want to help her or
not?” Marcus asked.

“Of course,” Eli replied.

“How long has she been this weak?” Marcus
asked him.

“A few days, “ Eli answered.

“I need to go in and see what's wrong,”
Marcus said. He rolled Julie to the side to unzip her uniform.

“What are you doing?” Eli asked.

“I told you, I need to go inside. Do you even
know her?” Marcus questioned.

“She goes in through an arm or leg,” Eli said
through clenched teeth.

“Well that's not how I do it. I go in through
the abdomen. It is closer to the vital organs,” Marcus explained,
and finished unfastening her uniform.

Marcus lifted her blouse and exposed her
stomach. He placed his hands gently on her and dove in. “How long
ago did she take the cancer?” he asked Eli.

“A few days ago,” Eli responded.

“Why didn't she release it?” Marcus
asked.

“What do you mean?” Eli questioned.

“What do you mean, 'what do I mean'? She
can't take this enormous amount of cancer and not release it. Why
would she keep this inside of herself? It is spreading to the human
parts of her body,” Marcus said.

“I don't think she knew. Julie doesn't know
much about herself,” Eli admitted.

“I have to get some of this out of her. Do
you have a patient near death?” Marcus asked.

“Why?” Eli questioned. Marcus removed his
hands and sighed. “Look, I am not supposed to discuss our ways with
outsiders, even if they are non-human,” Marcus said. Eli and Marcus
stared at each other. “I need to take the cancer from her and put
it in someone else, and it will most likely kill that patient. Now
do you, or do you not have a patient near death?” Marcus asked. “If
I do not do this, it will kill every part of her that is human, and
she will die,” Marcus added.

“Yes,” Eli said, pain filling his voice.

“Okay, here is what I need you to do. I'm
going to take as much as I can without incapacitating myself. I
will need your help getting to your patient. Once there, I can do
the rest. Now come stand behind me,” Doctor Samson ordered. Eli
took his position.

Marcus placed his hands on Julie's stomach
once again. He began to pull the cancer out of her. Julie's body
reacted by arching upward. “Change of plans, doc. You're going to
have to hold her down. She is fighting me on it,” Marcus said. Eli
went to hold Julie's body still.

“Why is she fighting you?” Eli asked.

“Forced release. She's stubborn, isn't she?”
Marcus asked.

“A bit,” Eli answered, and both men
smiled.

Marcus removed his hands. “Okay, that's all I
can handle,” he said. “She'll have to do the rest when she wakes
up, “ he said, steadying himself. “I don't know how she took as
much as she did,” he commented. “Okay, show me the patient. I would
make sure someone is with her in case she wakes up,” Marcus
instructed.

Eli opened the door as they slowly made their
way out. Doctor Elsworth saw Neal in the hallway. “Mr. Kane, I need
your assistance,” Eli called to him.

“Yes, Doctor,” Neal said.

“Please wait with Miss Miller. She took a
spill but will be fine,” Eli told.

“Sure, no problem,” he said and entered the
room.

Eli and Marcus made their way down the
hall.

“Hey screamer, or should I call you cras...”
Neal began to say until he saw Julie's prone, half-dressed form on
the gurney. “What the...” Neal paused, then approached. “Julie,” he
spoke her name as he got closer. “This looks bad,” he said.
“Julie,” he called again, lightly shaking her shoulder.

“Mmm,” Julie moaned and shifted on the
gurney. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times, puzzled
by who she saw. “Neal?” she asked.

“Hey, yeah... um... I... um... I had nothing
to do with this, I swear,” he clarified.

“What are you talking about?” she asked as
she attempted to sit up. “Why is my uniform undone?” she asked as
she began to fix herself.

“This is how I found you. I mean, Doctor
Elsworth asked me to come in and, like, watch you,” Neal
explained.

“Zip me up, please,” Julie said adjusting her
uniform.

“Uh... yeah...sure,” he said as he helped
her.

“Was Doctor Samson with him?” Julie
asked.

“Yeah but, he was walking like he had a load
in his pants,” Neal confirmed.

“Which way did they go?” she asked.

“Down the hall, that way,” he pointed.
“Julie, what's going on?” he asked.

“That's what I'm gonna find out,” she said
and started off down the hall.

Marcus and Eli entered room 521. The room was
dimly lit. Mr. Kimmel's machines blipped slowly. A nurse had just
got done writing in his chart. “His pressure dropped again. It
won't be much longer,” the nurse updated Eli.

“Has the next of kin been notified?” Eli
asked.

“Yes, everyone was here earlier and said
their goodbyes. Father Sheightower was in as well and administered
last rites. The family asked that he have a quiet passing,” she
instructed.

“Understood,” Eli agreed. “That'll be all.
Doctor Samson wants to do one final examination” he explained.

“Yes, Doctor,” the nurse said and left them
alone.

Marcus checked the patient's pain medication.
“He appears to be adequately sedated, let's get started,” he
said.

“Wait,” Eli put his hand on Marcus' arm. “I'm
not so sure about this,” he explained.

“There is no turning back. I need to release
this,” Marcus stated.

“Try it... in me first,” Eli suggested.

“Doctor, with all due respect, you're not
human. It won't work,” Marcus said.

“Doctor Samson, with all due respect, I have
some human-like parts, just like you,” Eli countered. “I've been
around a lot longer than you as well and have survived just fine,”
Eli continued. “Let's try it my way first,” Eli said firmly.

“It's your life,” Marcus replied, rolling up
his sleeves.

They pulled the curtain between themselves
and Mr. Kimmel. “Let me see if I can even get inside you,” Marcus
said doubtfully.

Eli had removed his coat and rolled up his
sleeves.

“Abdomen, remember?” Marcus reminded.

Doctor Elsworth undid his shirt.

“Just relax, I'm going to look around,”
Marcus explained putting his hands on Eli's stomach.

“Fascinating,” Marcus exclaimed once inside.
“You have a complete human body, but most of the organs are
inactive. How is that possible?” Marcus asked, pulling back
out.

“I do not need most of them,” Eli
replied.

“Your body is like one big storage unit,”
Marcus commented. “This could work,” he added.

“Then do it,” Eli instructed. “You might want
to lie down, just in case,” Doctor Samson suggested.

Eli sat down on the empty bed that occupied
Mr. Kimmel's room and stretched out. Marcus placed his hands on
Eli's stomach and began the release of the cancer into him. “What
are you feeling?” Marcus asked him.

“I feel a little tingling,” Eli answered.

“I wish you could see what I see,” Marcus
said. “The cancer has nothing to attach itself to, it's dying the
minute it enters you!” he exclaimed. “I've never seen anything like
this before,” Marcus said as the door to the room opened.

Julie was asking every person she saw if they
had seen Doctor Elsworth or Doctor Samson. “They are in with Mr.
Kimmel,” Nurse Green said.

“Thank you,” Julie replied.

She opened the door slowly and heard Doctor
Samson's voice, but didn't see him. Hearing the quiet blips of the
machines, she ventured further. Walking past the pulled curtain,
Julie stopped at the scene she encountered. “What are you doing?”
Julie asked, finding her voice. Doctor Samson removed his hands
from Eli's stomach.

“Something you should have done,” Marcus
replied. “Come over here, I'll show you,” Marcus ordered.

Julie looked at Eli. “Julie, it's fine,” he
reassured her. She walked tentatively over to them.

“Stand here,” Marcus instructed, taking a
step back. Julie stood facing Eli as Marcus stepped up behind her.
He took her hands and began to place them on Eli's bare
stomach.

“Wait,” Julie said pulling back and moving
away. “Tell me what it is I am doing.” she commanded.

“Julie, I don't have time to explain all of
this to you. You need to get rid of the rest of the cancer,” Marcus
said.

“Why? My body has always healed everything on
its own. What do you mean, 'get rid of'? You are not making sense,”
Julie was getting flustered.

“Who the hell raised you? You should know all
of this.” Marcus was getting frustrated with her. Julie felt tears
welling in her eyes. She felt so lost. Eli was by her side in an
instant. She allowed herself to be wrapped in his protective
embrace. Her face rested against his bare chest.

“As a doctor, you are lacking in patience,”
Eli said to Marcus.

“Well, you're lacking a pulse. Guess we both
have our weaknesses,” Marcus replied.

Julie pulled out of Eli's embrace and faced
Marcus. “I was taken as a child from my father and raised by bad
men who used my abilities to further their own agenda. No one ever
told me anything about why I am the way I am. I'm sorry if my lack
of knowledge puts you in a bad mood. You are the first person I
have met that knows anything about my abilities. I'm trying to
understand, but a little patience goes a long way,” Julie said.

“Do you go by another name besides Julie?”
Marcus asked her curiously.

“I did... before I ran away,” Julie
replied.

“That name wouldn't happen to be Laney, now
would it?” he asked.

She felt Eli's hand on her shoulder. “Yes,”
Julie's voice was but a whisper.