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?”

have found a drug therapy that will manage and keep the disorder

“In check?”

long as you take one injection a day, you will live a long and normal life,” he could hear the pride and joy in

will still be like this

and once you have some time to heal from the arsenic poisoning and build up a reserve of the

take to recover from the arsenic

to 12 months,” that was a long time. “So I know we went against your wishes, but with this new information, perhaps

about this new

thus far

“And the side effects?”

is perfectly safe. Will you

he did not consent, he had a feeling his family would inject him while he slept. For some reason, no

“Fair enough,” Samuel said.

the team in Chicago,” Dr. Horton said. “You would, of course, have to set up residency there. You could pay to stay in the

said. “We will find

are willing to go, I will call ahead and