CARTER AND SAMMY WERE TRYING to work as quickly as they could, aware that the longer they stayed in the hospital the more they exposed themselves to getting caught. Xavier was also aware that using Deacon’s credentials likely set off a red flag with the bureau, so he was already working on borrowed time. Carter had no doubt someone was coming to get him, so he had to move quickly and try to get out of there as soon as possible. After administering the inhaler to the patients that were in the isolation wing, he was glad to see there were no seizures or side effects with these patients. Chances are they were reacting well because most of the patients in this wing were between the ages of twenty-one and forty, an age group that seem to have no problem issues taking the cure in small doses. Carter was taking a chance being here, considering the national spotlight and attention from the authorities that was being cast upon this hospital. He had seen dozens of new vans and media crews trying their best to get the scoop on what was going on. Not even the threat of getting a terminal illness would stop those parasites from getting a scoop, Carter thought to himself as he left the room to find Sam. He walked down the hall and found Sam in a room with a single patient, and it was quick to see why she had chosen to wait in there. The patient was over sixty-five and while the serum was being inhaled rather than taken directly into the blood stream, it was wise to keep watch and make sure nothing bad happened.

“How’s she doing, Sam?” Xavier asked as he came closer.

“She’s doing alright,” Sam answered. “I gave her a few puffs about thirty minutes ago. If something bad was going to happen, I’d say it would have shown by now, right?”

“Let’s hang around and keep watch for a few more minutes.” Xavier said, as he started to check her vitals, “I’ve already taken care of everyone else in this wing, and we don’t have to worry about the medical staff. Chances are they took vaccines before coming into work as a precaution.”

“So, we’re almost done?” Sam asked.

“You have no idea how true that is,” A voice called from the back of the room.

Carter and Sam turned around to see a man standing there. He wasn’t wearing a hazmat suit to protect himself, but Carter knew why. If the guy took a vaccine before coming over Xavier concluded he’s probably with the people who released the virus and waited for Carter to come running to the rescue. All this effort, just to take him out and try to bury his cure.

“Nice mess you made here,” Xavier said as he partially held his hands up. “Are you actually going to shoot me in the middle of a hospital?”

“Not exactly,” the man answered. “I have orders to take you in alive so we can make sure all materials related to your serum are collected and kept away from the public. Now be a good boy and don’t try anything.”

“What about her?” Xavier inquired, “She’s not with me.”

“Your conversation would suggest otherwise.” The man said as he pointed the gun at her. “She needs to be eliminated.”

Before he pulled the trigger, the woman in the hospital bed began to have what appeared to be a mild seizure. Out of sheer habit the man looked over at the old woman to see what was wrong with her. In that one moment when he wasn’t looking their way, that’s when Carter made his move. He lunged for the gunman and managed to grab his weapon before he had a chance to use it, pulling it away from himself. They started to struggle and while Carter did his best to fight, he didn’t think he was strong enough to overpower his opponent. As they were struggling, another man dressed in a hazmat suit came bursting through the door and before the goon had a chance to respond, he was pistol whipped by a gun the suited man had carried in with him. The devastating blow sent the thug to the floor hard.

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Carter looked up at the man who had just saved himself and Sam. “Thank you.”

Before he could say anything else, the man produced his own credentials.

“Bruce Kern, FBI.” He called out.

Carter looked at the face inside the suit and knew who it was the moment the he looked into the eyes. He recognized that big man who had chased him into the parking lot with June when they were at the hospital in Florida. Carter had hoped the man didn’t recognize him and tried to play it cool.

“Well, I’m…” Xavier started.

“I know who you are Dr. Carter,” Bruce replied as he lowered his weapon, a clear sign that he wasn’t an immediate threat. “We need to talk.”

“About what exactly?” Carter asked, a bit impatient considering what had just happened with the man that was on the ground. He was a little worried that the man was not alone, and they could have more company sooner rather than later.

“About your cure,” Bruce answered. “Does it really work?”

This was the first time someone in law enforcement had shown a shred of sympathy towards his side of the story. Carter was a little shocked at first and while a part of him was cautious, he jumped at the chance.

“What do you know about it?” Xavier asked him.

“Just what your friend from Florida has been telling us.” Bruce replied, “Dr. Zaun has been making your case to our people, telling anyone who wants to listen about this miracle cure that you’ve made. Is that why you were in Florida, to help the Senator?”

“I was,” Carter confirmed, “How is the Senator holding up?”

“He’s never felt better,” Bruce informed him, “As a matter of fact, he looks better now than before he went into that hospital.”

“Good to hear.” Carter confirmed.

“How many diseases have you tested it on?” Bruce asked.

“I’ve tested it on quite a few,” Carter answered, “So far, it hasn’t met a disease it couldn’t cure.”

“How is that possible?” Bruce asked.

“In a nutshell,” Xavier continued to explain “It was originally made to combat a disease that is known to mutate a lot. The serum I developed mutates to fight whatever ails you and it has successfully fought off everything we’ve thrown at it so far.”

“What about cancer?” Bruce then asked.

“What kind?” Carter replied with a question of his own.

“Pancreatic,” The agent answered.

“Yep, I’ve beaten that one too.” Carter answered.

“Are there any side effects?” Bruce asked.

“Just a few seizures but that’s about it so far.” Carter said, thinking about it. “I have had some people over the age of 75 pass away but that was because their systems were too weak to handle it. We’ve been using inhalers instead and that seems to have a better effect on seniors Who do you know has pancreatic cancer?”

“My sister,” Bruce answered. “She’s only thirty-five and has been told she’ll be dead in less than a year.”

Carter got to his feet after grabbing the gun from the guy lying on the ground.

“We’ve already treated everyone here,” Xavier informed the agent, “While we’ve been using an inhaler to treat the patients, what your sister has needs is this.”

Carter reached into his bag and pulled out two vials of the serum in their purest form. He reached out and offered to give the them to Bruce.

“This needs to be delivered straight into the blood stream, preferably in the arm near the elbow,” Xavier told him, “Split these in half and give her one treatment a day for four days and her cancer will be gone in less than a week along with anything else that’s bothering her.”

“That’s it?” Bruce asked, reaching out to take the two pink vials from him. It seemed too good to be true to the big man.

“That’s it,” Xavier said with a smile, “But it doesn’t come free. I need something from you in return for this.”

Bruce looked back at Carter after putting the vile in his pocket.

“What do you need?” Bruce asked.