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"It only takes a second to alter an eternity..." --The Angel Gabriel
They arrived back at the hospital ten minutes later. As he entered,
he could hear the cries of it's patients echo through the halls as he neared
his father's room. It'd been quite some time since he'd seen him and he
was anxious to see if his condition had worsened. Before he knew it...they
were there. Dr. Slusar stood on the right side of his father facing the
door. He looked up from adjusting the tray just as Henry's face appeared.
Mr. Harrison and Mr.
Morran had already arrived and sat in the corner looking extremely
annoyed for having to waste the rest of their morning on the crazy person
standing before them. It was obvious they had told Madam Watkins not to
bother showing her face there. She was on Henry's side...something not
greatly supported by the other members of the board.
While Sir Danvers and John went to join Harrison and Morran, Henry approached the bed slowly, taking his father's limp hand in his. He knelt down beside the bed and whispered in his ear, "I know you can hear me, father...should this fail and I lose you...I love you and I will never give up...I will fight for as long as--"
"Doctor, it's best we get this started." Dr. Slusar interrupted. The group migrated over to the bed to watch. Henry rose to his feet and rested his hand upon his father's forehead as Dr. Slusar prepared him for the injection. He lifted the syringe, plunged it into the vile containing the HJ7 and withdrew the formula. After placing the syringe on the tray, he pulled Dr. Jekyll's arm forward and tapped gently to find a vein. He swabbed his skin with rubbing alcohol and lifted the needle. Before administering it, their eyes met...Henry took in a deep breath and watched as Dr. Slusar slid the needle slowly into his father's arm and injected the drug. Henry's eyes filled with tears as he waited. The minutes flew by...the governors stood shaking their heads...Dr. Slusar's face was stricken with a frown...John walked up behind him and placed his hand on his arm...and Sir Danvers stood in the door way hoping that it would work, for he feared for Henry, his father and more than anything, his daughter. Mr. Harrison shouted...
"There's your proof that this man is insane. I wouldn't be surprised if you've just injected fruit juice into his body."
"Give it time. It doesn't take immediately...please...just wait
with me."
They sat there in the same spot for over fifteen minutes...and still...nothing. Mr. Harrison and Mr. Morran rose from their chairs and started towards the door with their coats in their hands...
"I refuse to sit here any longer. It's obvious that this drug does not work. Good evening gentlemen..." They were gone...Henry was positive his fate was sealed. Dr. Slusar, John and Sir Danvers tried to get him to leave his father's side but he refused and begged them to let him stay a while longer...
"Let me stay here. I don't want to leave him just yet."
"It's hopeless Henry...the drug doesn't work...stop torturing yourself." Sir Danvers spoke those words with such a cold tone to his voice that it nearly broke Henry's heart...
"Are you sure you want to stay here?"
"Yes John...if it's alright with Dr. Slusar..."
"Of course. I'll be down the hall waiting, Henry. Let me know when you're ready and I'll escort you down to your room."
"Thank you, Christopher." The three of them left quietly, Henry was
standing over the bed hanging his head. His father was breathing...but
there was no change. He still was in the same state he'd been in when Henry
saw him last. No movement other than the rhythmic rising and falling of
his chest. "Why can't you answer me?" he shouted at his father...hoping
that his cries would startle his soul and cause him to stir...but it wasn't
working. "I know
you can hear me, father...I know you can...you have to try...you...have
to..." he broke down into hysterical sobs, his body trembling as the teardrops
splashed onto his father's icey cold skin.