Title: Outbreak
Author: Anne
Rating: PG
Category: Drama, Mystery, Jack/Jo (engaged), Ben/Tess, PJ/Isabella,
Jacob/Lucy and Tom/?
Summary: There is a man-made disease spreading around Mt Thomas like the
plague. But can the Heelers stop it before its too late?

'Jo, Lucy, Mel says there is some problems up at the hospital. Can you go
see to it?' Tess asked.
'Right on it,' Jo said, grabbing the keys. She threw them to Lucy. 'You
can drive.'

When they arrived at the hospital, Mel greeted them in a full on suit with
mask and glasses.
'When are you blasting off Mel?' Lucy asked.
'I wish I could laugh but I can't. There's an outbreak of a man-made
disease in Mt Thomas. The man-made part was confirmed two hours ago. We've got seven victims and the mortality rate is 100%. We need your help to contain people who may have been exposed. Find out where it's coming from and nail the people.'

'A man-made disease?' Tom asked, rubbing his forehead.
'Yep. 100% mortality rate so far,' Jo sighed.
Okay. Jo, Lucy, do a patrol one the southside, see if there is anything
suspicious. PJ, Jack, Northside and Ben and Tess do the middle. Let's see if we can find this out.'

'Well?'
'Apart from a couple of dogs missing two doors away from each other with
impossible circumstances to get out,' Tess began. 'Nothing.'
Lucy raised an eyebrow. 'That makes sense.'
'Are you being sarcastic?' Tess asked.
Lucy shook her head. 'This is sick but if you wanted to test a virus on
someone...or something...wouldn't it be something easy to get and with a beating heart?'
'That is sick,' Jo said, 'but an extremely likely thing.'
'And if the people wanted to test it,' Ben said, 'they'd need somewhere
out in the open.'
'Right. Ben, PJ, check out all the properties. Jack, I'll come with you
and check out the others.'
'And if they wanted to spread it, they'd just have it somewhere where
everyone would be,' Jo said.
'The Imperial,' Lucy said quickly.
'The Imperial?' Tom asked.
'Think about it,' Lucy explained. 'Nearly everyone would be there.'
'She's right,' Tess said. 'We need everyone who was there to go there now
and we need to contain the area.'
Jo sighed. 'Chris is going to love this.'

'I'm spreading the bacteria?' Chris cried.

'Not you personally,' Lucy answered. 'Someone's planted it here to get the
maximum amount of people infected.'
'Like the plague?' Chris asked.
'Kind of,' Jo replied.
'We need everyone who was here, back here and anyone whom they have been
in close contact with. And whoever is here now, can't leave,' Lucy explained.
'Great,' Chris sighed.

'Dogs!' Ben cried.
Tess screeched the car to a halt. 'Dead or alive?'
'Dead,' Ben said, getting back in the car.
'Let's go find out why,' Tess answered, starting the car up again.

Chris frowned. She hadn't seen Lucy or Jo for awhile. Neither had most of
the patrons. She decided to
try a parlour and opened the door.
'Len! Call an ambulance!'

'What!' PJ asked, widening his eyes.
Chris repeated herself.
'Right. Thanks Chrissy.'
PJ hung up the phone and turned to Jack. 'Jo and Lucy have got it.'

Tess clicked the phone off crossly. 'Jo and Lucy have it.'
Ben sighed. 'Well, there's nothing in this house to suggest foul play.'
'What about that hut over there?' Tess asked, pointing to the tiny hut.
'Worth a try,' Ben said, following Tess over.

'How bad are they?' Jack asked Mel Carter, who had fitted them in suits.
Mel moved them down the corridor. 'Jo isn't too bad. She's pretty sick,
but she's holding her own. Lucy's worse. Her blood pressure skyrocketed earlier but is pretty stable. She has a horrendous fever and is getting help to breathe. Jo had help to breathe earlier but now she just has a fever and the other usual things that go with this.'
'Chance of survival?' PJ asked, staring into the room.
'You know as well as I do PJ, that I can't do anything for them except
make them comfortable at the moment. I have no idea what's causing this.'
PJ nodded and picked up his mobile. 'Chris? Can you put Isabella and Alex
on?'

'How many cases?' Tom asked, as Mel spoke to him.
'During this hour, not including Jo and Lucy, ten.'
Tom sighed. 'Any deaths from that lot?'
'Two. Not your members Tom, let that breath out.'
'Okay. Thanks for the update Mel.'
'Oh geez,' Ben grimaced, entering the hut. 'It stinks in here.'
'There's why,' Tess replied, pointing to the two bodies in the corner.
'God,' Ben said, looking at them. He picked up a jar. 'Maybe their virus
leaked?"
'Looks like it,' Tess agreed. She noticed two other jars in the corner.
'More virus?'
'Can I suggest we take it to Mel? See what she thinks.'
Tess nodded. 'Let's go.'

Chris sighed as two more people were carried off. 'This is becoming a
nightmare,' she moaned, sitting down.
Tom walked in. 'Chris.'
'Hi Tom.'
'How are you doing?'
Chris sent him a look. 'Well, my bar is under quarantine, everyone here
blames me for not discovering the virus. I'm doing well.'
Tom nodded. 'Stupid question.'
Chris answered the phone and turned white as she hung up. 'Two more dead,
and Jo now needs help to breathe.'
'Boss!' Tess cried, entering the room.
'Anything?'
'Yeah. Two jars, Ben's taking them up to the hospital. How's it going
here?"
Chris sighed. 'Look around you. Everyone is depressed.'
Tess put a hand on her shoulder. 'Everything will be over soon.'
Jacob and Jack sat in their spacesuits watching the girls sleep.
'I hate not being able to do anything,' Jack groaned.
Ben entered the room. 'Hey guys.'
'Did you find anything?' Jacob asked.
Ben nodded. 'Two jars full of stuff. Mel's taking a look at it now. But
the problem is, whatever the stuff is, is untested.'
'Great,' Jack sighed, slumping back down into the chair.
'Why don't you test it on us?' Jo asked, as she had been listening to the
last part of the conversation.
'Are you nuts?" Jack asked.
'I thought you knew that,' Jo answered.
'It's the only way it will work is for someone to test it,' Lucy replied.
PJ came into the room. 'Mel just called. Not only has Alex got it, but the
virus is spreading rapidly.'
'Test it,' Jo growled at Jack.

'Are they nuts?' Mel asked.
'Yes,' Jacob replied. 'But they demanded it.'
Mel looked worried. 'Okay.'
'Me first,' Lucy motioned.
Mel nodded and inserted the liquid into the IV. 'Now, we just wait.'
Lucy opened her eyes an hour later and watched Jacob pacing. 'Tell Mel it
worked. I feel okay.'
Jacob grinned and kissed her soundly. 'Inject away Mel!'
Mel nodded and put some into Jo's IV. 'I'll be injecting.'

2 WEEKS LATER
Lucy smiled as Jo admired the ring. 'It's gorgeous. Although mine does
have a better look.'
Lucy groaned. 'Give it up Jo.'
Jo grinned. 'Mhm.'
Jacob looked at them and shook his head. 'Geez. Two weeks ago they were at
deaths door and now they don't even look worried.'
Jack nodded. 'It's scary.'
'They just don't worry as much,' Tom smiled, watching Isabella and PJ.
'Lucky them,' Ben sighed, watching Tess come through and beckon to him.
Tom chuckled as the two other men headed towards their respective others.
He turned to Chris who handed him a beer.
'Here's to many more nights like this,' Tom smiled at her.
'Many more,' Chris answered, raising her glass.