As Ava limped back up to the trail, the two techs took the rest of the bags so that Elizabeth could help Ava back down the trail, and though the walk was quiet, it was difficult to traverse for the two of them. Finally, after what felt like an excruciating amount of time, they made it back to the van. Ava was so glad they had chosen to take the enormous vehicle. Elizabeth set her up across the back bench seat, outstretching her leg and elevating it slightly.
They made the trip back to the hospital in relative silence, though Elizabeth kept her hand on Ava for the entire journey and when she moved to help Ava from the van, she found herself longing for Elizabeth’s touch to return. Once outside the van however, everything started moving very quickly.
Ava was immediately quarantined, though she didn’t think it was necessary, and a battery of tests were run on her. She tried to tamp down the anxiety that surrounded her, but the worried faces and constant reassurances were grating her nerves. All she needed was a few stitches.
Taking a deep breath, Ava tried to slow her heartrate. This was all just precaution, and she knew it. Still, she knew that the samples were already being taken to the lab, and she was likely missing out on important updates while being stuck in this room. The most frustrating part was that no one would tell her anything, they all just gave her reassurances and told her everything was fine. She knew that it was not fine, though. She knew that she needed to be out there figuring out what this was and how to treat it. By keeping her in the dark she was becoming more agitated, not less. They all meant well, but she was having a difficult time not snapping at the nurses and staff who came into the room with her when they refused to answer her questions.
Ava settled herself into the bed, but she couldn’t get comfortable. She wanted out of there, but she still needed the stitches. She couldn’t believe how much of a mess she’d made of things at this point.
4
ELIZABETH
Focus. Elizabeth told herself as she tried to process the samples they’d pulled from the campsite. Her mind kept drifting back to Ava, though. She should have known that Ava would take offense to her when she suggested that she could have gone anywhere else. She reminded herself, again, that not everyone grew up like her. Not everyone’s self worth was tied to their accomplishments, and even if they were, Ava had more than enough to show for it.
The close nature and community of this place were almost foreign to Elizabeth. The women in power structure even more so. Even her past relationships were closer to professional acquaintances than actual romantic interests. She simply did not have time for the drama and recklessness that would come with intimacy, the vulnerability.
Elizabeth shook her head and focused again on the samples underneath the microscope. So far they had not found anything that would indicate how this virus would have gotten into their system, but they had barely processed anything so far, there was still hours worth of research to go.
A machine behind her made a pinging sound and Elizabeth watched the lab technician go and pull the results from the machine. It was Ava’s bloodwork. She turned to the tech and lifted her eyebrows as they read over the results.
“She’s clear, she’s negative for everything,” the tech said, Elizabeth thought her name was Lindsey, and the relief in her voice was palpable.
“That’s good to hear,” Elizabeth said. She took the slide she was working on and filed it away. Nothing helpful there. She left the rest of the samples to the techs in the lab. Doctor Mars had called all hands on deck, so there were several technicians working through the samples. She informed them that she was going to check on Ava and to page her as soon as they found anything at all. They each gave quick nods, though none of them looked up at her.
She headed for the elevator and pushed the button for the second floor. Anticipation flooded through her. She wasn’t sure how Ava would feel about her checking in; she had done a pretty good job of putting her foot in her mouth earlier. The worst part about it was that she really didn’t mean to offend. If it had been anyone else, she may have felt differently, but she truly wanted to know what made Ava tick.
The orderlies were taking down the quarantine signage from Ava’s room as Elizabeth approached. A doctor she hadn’t been introduced to yet was in the process of stitching up Ava’s leg and ignoring all her questions about the patients. She smirked slightly at Ava’s annoyance, but the doctor took it all in professional stride.
“How are you feeling?” Elizabeth said as she softly knocked on the open door.
“I would feel much better if I knew what was going on out there,” Ava grumbled and Elizabeth stifled a chuckle.
“It’s much the same,” she answered for the doctor. The doctor looked up at Elizabeth from behind her mask with an expression of gratitude. “The patients are holding on, and we haven’t found anything from the samples, yet.”
“Even that would have been nice to know,” Ava snapped at the doctor. “Doctor Bond wouldn’t answer anything.”
Doctor Bond shrugged as she finished the stitches. “I’m going to assume that I don’t need to tell you how to care for this?” she asked, lifting her eyebrows.
Ava gritted her teeth at the doctor and Elizabeth had to hold her breath to keep from laughing.
“I thought so,” Doctor Bond said and gathered her things. She left the room and Ava glared at Elizabeth.
“How are you, really?” Elizabeth asked, trying to avoid Ava’s heated gaze.
Ava took a deep breath and blew it out. Elizabeth could see her working to compose herself. “I’m fine,” she said finally, her tone cool. “I’m assuming since you’re in here without a mask that my bloodwork is clear.”
“Yes, for now, but we should keep checking, and maybe start you on a prophylactic antiviral,” Elizabeth said and stepped closer to the bed. She took Ava’s leg in her hand and examined the stitches. Her fingers lingered on her calf, and she felt a warm sensation flow through her. She wet her lips and looked back up at Ava, her dark eyes felt like they were boring a hole into her.
“Ava, I…” she trailed off. She wanted to apologize, to explain why she had said what she did, but she didn’t know how to put it into words.
“It’s fine,” Ava said quickly, though her tone suggested that it very much was not.
“No, it isn’t,” Elizabeth countered, but she kept her hand resting gently on Ava’s leg. “I never meant to insinuate that I thought less of you, and I can understand why you would feel that way, but I just struggle to understand the power of the community here. That’s my problem to deal with, of course, but I’m genuinely curious about you and I want to know more about you, about who you are.”
“I-I don’t know how to respond to that,” Ava said, her voice tight. “I would probably be better equipped to handle this conversation if I was… well… dressed.”
Elizabeth felt the blood rush to her cheeks as she took in Ava’s hospital gown. She gave Ava’s leg a light squeeze, though Ava probably couldn’t feel it due to the local anesthetic that she had been given by Dr. Bond. Elizabeth pressed her lips together to keep from smiling and said, “Of course.” She stepped back and went to the door. “I’ll see you upstairs.”
