Love For Hire

Nichols could hear the steady beat of the heart monitor in the room with him. He knew he was in a hospital. “Motherfucker,” he growled. He recalled the moment he knew he was finally dying, and now he finds himself in a hospital hooked up to monitors and, from the feel of his hand and IV of some sort. He had specifically signed an order forbidding this. He was furious, and someone was going to pay dearly for this.

Nicholas felt around until he found the call button. When he finally had the button in his hand, he pressed the end. A few moments later, he heard footsteps enter the room. “So nice to find you awake,” he heard a familiar voice.

“Dr. Horton, you answer call bells now?” He asked with annoyance.

“Only for my special patients. Actually, I was filling out some paperwork when I heard your call bell go off. I thought I would come to see how you are doing. I must say, though, your vital signs are very good. It is very promising.”

“What am I doing here?” He demanded. “I specifically stated, do not resuscitate. You signed it. You went against a legally binding document. I could have your medical licence revoked,” Nicholas growled.

“Nicholas,” he heard his mother’s voice as more footsteps entered the room. It was more than one person. It sounded like a group. “You are awake. How wonderful.”

“Why am I here!” He yelled, pissed off that he was still in this world.

“Nicholas, give us a moment to explain,” he heard Samuel say. “It was my decision to revive you. Dr. Horton called at the last minute to say he has had a breakthrough in his research.”

Nicholas did not know what to say. Was it true, and if so, just what kind of progress had he made. “What exactly do you mean by progress?”

not a cure,” Dr. Horton said, right off. “However, we have found a

“In check?”

It is not a cure, but so long as you take one injection a day, you will live a long and normal life,” he could hear

be

some rehabilitation and physiotherapy, you should be able to regain the use in your legs once more, and once you have some time to heal from the arsenic poisoning and build up a reserve of the medication in your body, it

will it take to recover from the arsenic

was a long time. “So I know we went against your wishes, but with this new information, perhaps you

sure about this

research thus far has

“And the side effects?”

It is perfectly safe. Will you give

would inject him while he slept. For some reason, no one cared

“Fair enough,” Samuel said.

of Chicago. It is the best physical rehabilitation program in the country. If anyone can help you put yourself back together again, it is the

said. “We

will call ahead and set up your intake and get your therapy