| Chapter 14 Ana walked as fast as she could down the corridor. She could see the guards outside Nick's room, pacing nervously. "What is it?" she asked, as she approached them. "His highness, he's refusing to eat, and he won't get out of bed," one of the guards said. "Since when?" she asked. "He came back from his walk last night, very upset. He didn't eat supper and now he's refusing to eat breakfast," the other guard answered. "What happened? Did someone upset him?" she asked. The guards glanced at one another, the older finally biting the bullet. "We don't know. He ditched us a few minutes into the walk. He was gone for quite some time before he made it back," he replied. Ana put her hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows, "He ditched you? Can you explain how he did that?" "I apologize my lady. I don't know how he did it, one second he was in front of us, and the next he was gone," the elder guard said. Ana sighed, trying to calm down. Royal guards weren't suppose to be this stupid. "I advise you to look into the situation and make sure it doesn't happen again," she said, passing her wrist over the door sensor and walking into Nick's room. She was met with total darkness. Apparently Nick figured out how to work the lights, and had turned them off completely. The only light in the room was from the stars passing by outside the window. Ana blinked a few times, trying to make her eyes adjust. One thing Angels didn't have was good night vision. She finally was able to make out Nick's silhouette lying in bed. He was facing the window, the blankets pulled up to his chin. She took a step forward, "Nick?" He didn't answer her, instead he kept his gaze on the window. Ana moved closer, still not able to see very well. "Lights, up," she said. The lights came on and started to brighten. "Lights dim," she said, seeing Nick wince. The lights dimmed, to something resembling twilight. Ana stared at Nick. She wasn't used to seeing him like this. His blue eyes were red and puffy from a night of crying, and his blonde hair was sticking out in all directions. The sadness on his face made her heart hurt. She walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, "What happened?" Nick glanced at her and shook his head. "Please, tell me," she begged. He didn't move, his gaze still planted on the passing stars, "I miss home," he whispered. Ana watched as a tear slid down his cheek. He made no attempt to wipe it off. "Nick, I'm sorry," she said, suddenly feeling very guilty for his condition. "I just .... I wish I'd known the truth. Maybe had time to tell my friends and family goodbye .... something," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm truly sorry. I know you miss them," she said, "But what brought this on? I thought you were OK with this." "I went to the dining room last night. There were all these families and friends sitting with each other, laughing and having a good time. It just kinda hit me. I miss my brother and sisters, my mom and dad, and the guys ......." he answered, burying his face in the pillow. Ana reached out and ran her hand through his hair, trying to comfort him as he sobbed. If she had done this in public, she would be severely punished. But Nick didn't know it was against the rules, and right now she didn't care. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the heat radiating from his body. "Nick, are you not feeling well?" she asked. He shook his head. "Tell me," she said, as he glanced at her. "I'm tired, and my head hurts ... but I think it's from crying," he admitted. She shook her head, "I don't think so. You have a fever." Nick pulled his arm out from under the blanket to feel his own forehead and gasped. His arm was covered in little blue whelps. "What the hell?" he asked, sitting up and pushing the blanket off him. Everywhere he looked, he had the blue whelps. "Ana, what is this?!" he asked, alarmed. She held his arm, looking at the offending little bumps, "Oh no." Nick didn't like the sound of that, "Ana?" She got up and headed to the door, stepping out and giving the guards some orders, then coming back in. Nick looked at her with wide eyes, "Ana, what is it?!" "It's OK," she said, coming back over, "It's like your chicken pox. I never even thought that you weren't immune yet. We all get this when we're young." Nick pulled his shirt up and looked at his stomach, "Oh this is just great! I look like a freakin smurf threw up on me!" "Smurf?" Ana asked. He looked at her, "Yeah, um 80's cartoon, little blue men, ya know, papa smurf, brainy smurf?" She laughed, "Oh do remember seeing something about that." "Oh God, now it itches," he whined, starting to scratch. Ana grabbed his hands, "Don't, it'll only make it worse. The doc is on his way." "How long will this last?" he asked. "In children only a few days, I'm not sure in adults," she answered. Nick lay back in bed, Ana still gripping his hands. He sighed, taking comfort in her touch. Suddenly she realized she was still holding them, and let go, much to Nick's disappointment. He immediately started to scratch, and she grabbed them again, "I said don't." He smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, I can't help it." Moments passed with them staring at each other. Where was that doctor? "Nick, I noticed you mentioned God. Do you know Him?" Ana asked. He laughed, "That's what Krista asked me last night. I don't know Him personally, but something tells me your God and mine are different." "Could be," she said, "We know of God as our creator. The one that made the universe and the worlds, and us." Nick nodded, "So is mine, but why do you ask me if I know Him?" "We believe God to be a person, among us. And we don't mention him in normal conversation, He's to revered to," she said. "Oh, so when I do, you think I really know Him," Nick said. She nodded. "Those are expressions humans have. We have sayings, like when we're surprised or shocked or scared we might say, �Oh my God!' or �Oh God!' There's expressions for when you're angry or frustrated too, like �God damnit', " he explained. Ana was blushing, "Oh I understand now." Nick blushed too, "Sorry, I was just explaining." "I know," she said, laughing. Nick smiled, "I'll have to be careful what I say, huh?" "Yes, I think if the queen heard that she'd faint," she said. "Ana, the King and Queen are my birth parents, right?" he asked. She nodded. "Can I see them? What they look like?" he asked. Ana smiled, letting his hands go and grabbing the hologram machine from the table, bringing it over. She punched a few buttons and suddenly they were both standing in front of him. Nick studied them, finding himself in both their reflections. The King was tall, muscled. Nick had his cheek bones and height. The Queen was shorter with long curly hair. Nick found his smile in hers, and the kindness that shown through her eyes, matched his own. "What are they like?" he asked. Ana smiled, "They are like you. Kind and gentle, and always fair. They have been very good for Celeste." "What's her name?" Nick asked, staring at his mother. "LaDonna," she answered. "Was she born into the royal family too?" he asked. Ana shook her head, "She was a member of the high class. It is permitted for royals to marry into that class, but rarely done." "Are you in that class?" Nick asked, blushing as soon as the words left his mouth. Ana blushed too, looking down, "No I'm not. I'm a few classes below." Nick sighed, staring to scratch again, "I'm never gonna get this class thing. How come there's classes anyway? Earth did away with that ages ago." Ana opened her mouth to answer, when the door hissed open and the doctor and a couple nurses came in. Nick looked over at them, seeing the look on his face when he saw his arms. It was one of surprise and humor. This wasn't funny! Just because Nick was blue from his neck down, and itching profusely was no reason to laugh. Ana moved so the doctor and nurses could examine Nick and administer some well needed anti-itch medication. "Doc, how long am I gonna look like this?" Nick asked. "Should only be a few days, unless you have the stronger virus," he answered. "Stronger virus?" Nick asked. The doctor nodded, "Yes, there are two versions of this virus. The more common one, is the one the children get. But you could have the stronger version. If you do, it's more serious." "Like how much more serious?" he asked. "There have been some that have died from it," he answered. Nick looked at Ana, concern in his eyes. "How will we know if he has this stronger virus?" she asked. "If he gets red whelps on the palms of his hands, he has it," the doctor explained. Nick looked at his palms, all clear. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Your highness, it may take a while for the marks to show up. I will leave someone here to monitor you. If the marks appear, we will move you to the medical wing," the doctor said. "I will stay," Ana told him. The doctor smiled and nodded, "Let me know if you need anything," he said, leaving the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin finished washing the last of the breakfast dishes and dried his hands, walking over to Howie. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Trying to make this crap edible," Howie answered, as he dashed a few more spices into the mystery meal of the day. "Well don't let the �chef' see you doing that, you'll get in trouble," Kevin warned. Howie laughed, "It'd be worth it if this stuff would actually taste like food." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. smiled, looking down at his freshly mopped, and shining floor. It looked clean enough to eat off of. He picked up his mop bucket and started to head to the next hall, when several soldiers marched through. Each of them glared at him as they passed, leaving a trail of dirty floor after them. A.J. sat his bucket down and stared at the boot tracked floor. "Dirty sons of bitches," he muttered, slamming the mop back down in the bucket and starting all over again. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian stood below one of the transports, handing tools up to Bert, the chief mechanic. He knew Bert wasn't very happy that he was there. He could hear him muttering as he worked. "Hand me the 9/16ths conduit," Bert said. Brian looked down at the tools in front of him, "Um which one is that?" Bert stuck his head up from the engine and glared at him, "That one, by your hand." Brian picked it up and handed it to him. "You don't belong here, squirt," the man said. "I know that, but I'm trying to help. And don't call me squirt, my name's Brian," he said. Bert stared at him for a moment, "Spunky little squirt aren't cha? We might have some use for you yet," he laughed. Brian wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ana and Nick had spent the day in his room, going over lessons. They would work for a while, then Nick would sleep for a while. He had completely broken out in blue whelps, even getting a few on his face, and they itched like hell. Ana was constantly reminding him not to scratch, and Nick was constantly forgetting. Nick lay back in bed and shut his eyes. "Are you tired again?" she asked. He nodded his head, "My head hurts worse too." "I can call the doc and get you something stronger for it," she offered. He shook his head, bringing his hand up to run through his hair, and stopping in mid gesture. Ana watched as the color drained from his face, and he started to look panicked. "What is it?" she asked. Nick stared up at her and turned his hand around so she could see his palm. Several red whelps covered it. "Oh my," she said, "I'll call the doctor." Nick let his hand drop to his side and sighed, "Yeah, that's a good idea." Chapter 15 |