Treatment
“What on heaven and earth was that?!” Hana screeched at her mother.
“Hana, please calm down!”
“Mom, I will not calm down! That wasn’t Rosalia! Why wasn’t I told before the endoscopy?”
“We treated it, Hana. You must be prepared for everything while operating. It is the Way of Honour.”
“Damn the stupid Path of Honour!” She stormed off.
“Hana!” Her mother’s footsteps echoed after her. Hana continued down the corridor. Her blue kimono blew out behind her, adding to the angry demeanour she currently had. Nurses, doctors and staff alike all steered clear. Hana being angry wasn’t a common occurrence, and being anything like her mother, her anger was to be feared.
“Hana, don’t you dare go to your father about this! He’s stressed enough already!”
“I’m not going to vater - I know he’s stressed! God knows we all are.” She stopped and turned to her mother. Her wine-coloured eyes were blazing with fury. The intercom above her head crackled.
“Can Charlotte Blaylock-Vaughn, Harrison Blaylock-Vaughn, Hana Müller, Juliet Freebird and Jesse Williams report to Chief Müller’s office please. I repeat: can Charlotte Blaylock-Vaughn, Harrison Blaylock-Vaughn, Hana Müller, Juliet Freebird and Jesse Williams report to Chief Müller’s office. Thank you.”
“Looks like I’m going to him anyway,” Hana’s anger dissipated almost as quickly as it had appeared.
“I shall come too,” Tomoe fixed her hair and clasped her hands in front of her. She closed her eyes and muttered under her breath before opening them again. “Come on Hana. Erhard will be waiting.”
***
The five doctors who were called for piled into Erhard’s office. Tomoe immediately rushed to her husband’s side and made sure he was okay. Charlotte looked around, almost bored, before whispering to her little brother. He smiled slightly and elbowed her. Hana recognised everyone, she’d spoken to them all at least once...except the woman in the black coat who stood next to her father’s desk. She had been conversing good-naturedly with him until Hana’s mother rushed over. Now she stood, smiling at the Blaylock-Vaughn’s as if she knew them. When Harry noticed, he tapped Charlotte and gestured. Charlotte put her hand up to the woman, as if to say hello.
“Ahem,” Erhard cleared his throat. “Thank you for coming. I understand that you all are working incredibly hard and I apologise for having to temporarily pull you from your work.”
The six doctors nodded to themselves.
“Before I begin, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Stiles,” Erhard held a hand out towards the woman in the black coat.
“Hey,” she said. Her green eyes sparkled kindly.
“I’m sure you’ve heard of her parents, Mr Derek Stiles and Ms Angie Thompson. Anyway, that is irrelevant. The CIFM have kindly allowed her to work with us temporarily.
“The last few days have been...busy, to put it lightly. I am aware that you have been treating and caring for the outbreak patients to the highest possible standard. Thank you for the hard work you’re putting into it.”
“Actually, about that vater,” Hana spoke up . Her mother glared at her but she ignored it. No use shutting up now she’d started. “I did an endoscopy with mom before coming here. Whatever that patient had wasn’t Rosalia...at least not fully.”
“Yes,” Erhard sighed. “It appears that some patients who previously had Rosalia are returning with similar symptoms, tumours or a secondary infection.”
“Is it possible a form of Post-Rosalia exists?” Evie asked. “My father said they encountered PGS three years after the initial GUILT outbreak. Although there’s a bigger gap, it could theoretically exist right? RNA viruses sometimes take years to adapt.”
“That’s true,” Erhard seemed to think for a minute. “We’ll continue treating it as Rosalia for now. I will need samples from endoscopy, orthopaedics and general surgery. Swabs of bruised cells and blood samples would be of use as well, Miss Blaylock-Vaughn.” Charlotte nodded.
“Chief, if I may?” Juliet asked.
“Yes?”
“Why did you call us up here? Not that this applies to the others, but I’m not the most qualified for this job.”
“You’re more than qualified, Miss Freebird. You all have learnt from the best, and you all do the best you can.”
Erhard scanned the room. Hana found herself shrinking back under her father’s gaze.
“Is that all?” Charlotte asked.
“Not quite. I would also like you to know that my coworkers from the initial outbreak will be returning to Resurgam for a while. To help ease the load.”
Juliet groaned. “Even my dad?”
“Yes, Miss Freebird. Is there a problem?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Then that is all. You may go back to work now.”
The door was shoved open by Charlotte and they all spilled into the corridor.
“Harry, do you know what that means?! Gabe’s coming back! RONI, guess who we’re gonna see!” Charlotte was ecstatic. Hana smiled as Charlotte ran down the character. Seeing her so happy was rare, and she savoured the moments that she was. Juliet was walking down the corridor next to a nurse, reading the chart given to her. Hana sat down in the window seat opposite her dad’s office. Maybe she could wait for her mom. She needed to think anyway.