Love For Hire

Dr. Horton sat back in his lab chair and rubbed his eyes. He had been looking through a microscope for days. He had been trying out new drug treatment. The drug was experimental and had only recently been approved for human trials. He had organized a test group a few weeks ago. 50% received the new drug, and 50% received placebos. Of course, everyone was told they were taking the actual drug because he needed a controlled test.

It had been three weeks into the study, and he was personally working on blood workups to see if there were any changes. “Dr. Horton,” one of his lab technicians called to him.

“Yes, Nancy?” He asked, looking into the microscope once more.

“I think you need to see this,” she said eagerly.

Interested, Dr. Horton stood up and walked over to Nancy’s station. She stepped back, and Dr. Horton looked into the microscope. He could not believe what he was seeing. The white blood cell count was up, and the sample was showing signs of vast improvement. Dr. Horton pulled back and looked at Nancy. “Is the only sample showing improvement?”

“It is the third I came across. I retested all the samples to make sure my findings were correct. I have about another fifty samples to go through. There may be more.”

“Where are the files for these patients?”

searched the stack of files on her desk. She then handed three of them to Dr. Horton, who quickly skimmed all three to find they were all taking the drug.

hopefully.

breakthrough. They may have just cured Batten Disease or, at the very least, found a way to control it and prolong the patient’s life indefinably. If it was not a cure, there was a good chance that living with Batten Disease from this point on would be no worse than

only hoped it was not

***

bed next to Nicholas while he was asleep. Teegan was seated in an armchair in the corner while her father did the same in the one by the fireplace. Naya sat on the bed on Nicholas’ other side, running a cool, damp rag over his forehead and face trying to help him fight a fever. Even Octavius had chosen to stay in

when Nicholas weakly opened his eyes and began to gasp like he could not breathe. He did not have the strength to move, so he lay there gasping. Kinsley sat up and moved

hand. This was it. The moment had arrived. Nicholas was taking his last breath. Nicholas went limp, his eyes open as he stared blankly at the ceiling. He had stopped breathing. Kinsley lay her ear to his chest, trying to see if she could still hear his heart beating, but she heard nothing. No heartbeat, no breath.

door flew open, and Stephen came barging in with a phone in his hand. He was breathing hard like he had run all the way. He offered the phone to Samuel. “It is the doctor. He wishes a word with

the phone and held it to his ear. “Yes?” Suddenly he shot to his feet. “Send the helicopter immediately,” he hung up and looked at Octavius. “Revive him

the Prince signed a DNR,” Octavius