Chapter Text
[muffled voices]
Sasha
Over here!
Doctor 1
Over there, survivors!
Sasha
Yes, they’re really hurt. I think I got all the worms out but… well, I don’t know?
Doctor 1
Thank you, ma’am. Head over there towards the decontamination tent to be checked for worms.
Sasha
On it - thank you
(muttering) Oh, please let them both be okay. And Martin, wherever he is. G let them all be okay.
…
Jon
[groaning, half-conscious] Ughhhh…
(fully awake, panicked) Ahh!
Doctor 1
Easy, easy -
Jon
(panicked) Get off of me! Get off me!
Doctor 2
Need some help over there?
Jon
(panicked) Tim! Tim! What’s going on? Where are we? Wha-
Doctor 1
Yes, please
Doctor 2
Sir, just calm down, we’re the ECDC and -
[sounds of struggle]
[stumbling footsteps]
Jon
Tim! Timmm! Where are you?
Doctor 1
Sir, please come back! You’ve lost a lot of blood and inhaled a lot of CO2 so things might seem confusing right now -
Jon
Tim!
Tim
(groaning) … Jon?
What’s… what’s happening?
Oh… everything hurts…
Jon
(panicked) I don’t know! I don’t know what’s going on! Just… worms there were worms they were… they were everywhere and -
Doctor 1
Sir, please come back over here. We need to finish checking you for worms
Jon
And I, I - I woke up and… and my clothes they’re all gone and -
Doctor 1
Sir, we’re checking you for worms -
Jon
Worms? WORMS! Please, no, no more worms!
[stumbling footsteps]
Help, help, somebody help! Tim, get up! Get up!
Tim
(groaning) Oh G, Jon. Please just… just calm down
It sounds like they’re here to help us
Doctor 2
Is he normally this… excitable?
Tim
(groaning) I don’t… maybe a bit?
But not this bad, no
Jon
(pleading) Tim, please!
Help me!
G I’m so scared!
Doctor 1
(gently) Sir, come here. Everything’s going to be okay.
Let us get you checked for worms so we can get you cleaned up and into a gown.
Sasha (from a distance)
Is everything okay over there? Jon?
Jon
Sasha!
Sasha
Yes?
Jon
You’ve got to get me out of here!
Sasha
Jon, what’s wrong?
Jon
They’re… there were all these worms and… and… so much pain, so much… so much squirming, blood… I woke up on a table… all my clothes were gone and there were… there were people touching me… all over… bright lights… darkness all around…
Tim
(somewhat annoyed but trying to be helpful) That’s because it’s nighttime, Jon.
Sasha
(reassuringly) Jon, it’s okay. They’re only checking you over for worms so they know you’re not infected. I know it’s unpleasant but it’ll be over soon.
Jon
(near tears) I - I - I…
I want to go home, I want to go back to the archives!
Doctor 1
Sir, please come with me
Jon
(panicked) No, no, everything… everything’s wrong! Wrong, bad, something… very, very bad… I can’t… I can’t think…
Doctor 2
I’m going to give him something to help him relax - can you hand me that IV?
Doctor 1
Good idea
Here.
Doctor 2
Thanks
Jon
Wait, what -
What are you doing?
(panicked) Get that thing away from me!
Doctor 2
(soothing) Easy, easy, can you just hold still for me a minute?
Jon
No! What - what are you - stop, I don’t -
Doctor 1
I’ve got him steady.
Doctor 2
Thank you
Jon
(pleading) Please, no! I don’t - I don’t want -
Ow!
Doctor 2
Shhh, easy
Jon
(near tears) I don’t - I don’t understand -
Doctor 2
(to other doctor) Okay, it’s in. Let’s give him a minute or two for it to kick in then move him back to his bed
(to Jon) Try to relax, okay? You should start feeling calmer in just a bit.
Jon
(pleading) Please, I - I’m scared - Sasha, Tim, what’s… what’s going on?
…
Doctor 2
Okay, there we go - all finished. Do you need help putting on your gown?
Jon
(dazed) I… I’m probably fine.
Thank you.
(woozy) I - I - whoa-
Doctor 1
I’ve got you
Here, let’s do this one sleeve at a time. Can you put out your left arm?
Your other left - nevermind, sure. Here.
[rustling sounds]
Jon
(soft groaning)
Doctor 1
All done. Do you need to lie down?
Jon
I’m… I’m good
[yelling in distance]
Martin
I found a corpse! I found Gertrude’s corpse!
Jon
(extremely woozy sound)
[thump]
…
Martin
(gentle) I still really think you should be getting home, Jon. Tim and Sasha already left.
Jon
I need - to talk - to Elias.
Martin
(relenting) Fine.
But I’m coming with - it’s not like you can walk on your own right now anyway.
Jon
I’m fine, Martin!
Martin
Jon. The doctors put you in a wheelchair because you’re a fall-risk and there’s no way you can move around in it yourself right now.
Jon
(annoyed) I only fell twice!
Martin
(sigh)
Jon
… It was only twice.
Martin
(placating) Yes, well, I’m just going to try to make sure it doesn’t happen a third time, okay?
Jon
(annoyed grumble)
Martin
Look, there’s Elias. Let’s go see if we can grill him for information, shall we?
Jon
(perking up a bit) Yes
…
Martin
Want me to drive you home?
I mean, I normally take the bus but… well…
Jon
(sigh) Yes please. You can drive my car - my keys should be in my office. Just… don’t die, okay?
Martin
(nervous chuckle) I won’t - at least, I’m pretty sure the ECDC already cleared out all the worms? And didn’t they die in the CO2 anyway?
Jon
(wincing) I think?
Martin
(concerned) Do you need more pain relief?
Jon
I’ve already taken all I can for the next three hours.
Martin
(sympathetic sound)
I’ll be back in a few. Just, uhm, sit tight?
Jon
(whimper that he’s clearly trying to hide)
Right.
…
Martin
Do you need help getting to your apartment?
Jon
(gruff) I’ll be fine.
Thank you.
Martin
Okay, well, text me if you need anything.
Jon
(non-commital sound)
[departing shaky footsteps]
Martin
(softly) Just… I’m just going to sit here and watch to make sure he gets inside okay.
…
Did he seriously go towards the stairs?
[rushing footsteps]
Martin
Jon!
Jon
What, Martin?
Martin
When I asked you if you needed any help and you said no, I assumed it was because you lived on the first floor!
Jon
… and?
Martin
And you shouldn’t be taking stairs alone right now so the fact that you don’t live on the first floor means that you do in fact need help!
Jon
(annoyed) I’m fine, Martin!
Martin
(stern but kind) Jon. The medication they put you on makes you unsafe to go up stairs by yourself for the next eight hours or so, and that’s without the worm injuries!
Jon
I’m fine!
Martin
Sure. Well I’m going to watch and make sure you get to your apartment okay anyway.
Jon
(annoyed) Martin…
Martin
It’s for my own peace of mind, okay?
(tearful) You think I’m doing fine mentally after watching two of my colleagues get nearly killed by worms?
Jon
(gentle) Martin -
Martin
I… I’m not, okay! You, and Tim,…. just…
(choked sob)
I’m just glad you’re alive, okay? And I want to make sure you stay that way.
And besides.
(forced bitter laugh) Sasha’s helping Tim right now so you’re the only one not accounted for.
Jon
(sigh) Fine. If it’s for you
I’m not about to stress my employees out if I can help it.
Martin
(sigh of relief)
Okay, let’s go. What floor are you on?
Jon
Third.
Martin
(stifled protest - how could he have been seriously planning on walking all those stairs by himself in his current state?!?)
Okay, let’s get you home.
Jon
… Let’s?
Martin
Just take my hand - it’ll be quicker. I’m really tired and would like to get to bed.
Jon
(relenting sigh) Fair enough.
I would like to get to bed as well.