Chapter 130: County Hospital
*Never trust your fears, they don’t know your strength. – Athena Singh*
Seriously, could they not come up with something more original? Were these the bad guys that got their plans from the Mad Magazine? Their plan was so badly laid out that he half expected them to pass a lit bomb back and forth.
They punctured two tires on a car with sensors and enough programming to drive itself back to the factory if the owner missed a payment. Did they really think that there would not be a response?
And they had no plan for anyone else being there. Tru had told him that the gun they pulled off the driver had been empty. Unsure of what else to do, they took Terry with them.
And the drug that they had used on Jolene had to be the absolute most unoriginal choice of all their decisions.
Chloroform.
That’s what the doctor had told Neo. They used freaking chloroform.
Neo knew it was easy to make. Just the right mix of bleach and acetone. You didn’t even have to go to the dark web for the ratio. A quick Google search and he had several YouTube videos on it. There was even something from PBS, but he didn’t click on it.
That search probably should have been done in private mode.
Too late now. It was there for the world to see. If anyone did a good search, they would see that it was done *after* she was taken and had arrived at the hospital.
The oxygen candela had been placed in Jolene’s nose on the ambulance and was still in place. The doctor said that the effects should be wearing off soon. He also warned that she would probably be nauseas and dizzy when she came to.
Neo couldn’t think about what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten to her in time. Or if Terry had not walked with Jo to the car. Or if she had not triggered her alarm. If he had not already been on the way to her.
The universe had smiled at him tonight.
So many little changes could have made a huge difference. If they had gone the other way down the state highway, they would have hit the interstate. Instead, they ended up between the K9 training facility and the temporary IGYS vehicle lot.
He knew that was how Zack and Childs both got there so quick. Along with being guards, they both were amateur mechanics. The armored truck was a new addition and they both wanted to be the first to use it. Neo was just glad that they didn’t crash it.
He was also glad that Tru did not ask for insurance on either vehicle. The grin that she gave him as she told him to get “that damned beast off my road” told him that she suspected there was no insurance on it.
Not for the first time, Neo wondered if they had turned the wrong way. Going the direction that they went; you would eventually hit the loop that would take you back to the highway. If you didn’t understand the signage, it was easy to take the long way around.
Jolene stirred in the bed and his eyes flew to her face. Neo stood up from the stool and moved up along the side of the bed. Keeping one hand in hers, he cupped her face with his other hand.
“You’re okay, pet.” He whispered.
“Neo.” she murmured as her eyes fluttered open and closed a few times.
“I’m right here, Jo.” He answered against her temple. “You’re safe, baby.”
“Why is the world spinning?” she asked, squeezing her eyes closed tight.
“It’s always spinning, pet.” Neo replied with a smirk.
“Not like this.” She swallowed hard. “I’m gonna be-.”
Neo shifted them and grabbed the kidney shaped bowl off the counter. Rolling to her side, she emptied the contents of her stomach. As she laid back against the pillow, he pushed the call button on the side of the bed.
“Nurses station.” Came over the intercom.
“She’s awake and has been sick.”
“I’ll let her nurse know.” Was the crackly response.
“What happened to…. I don’t even know his name.”
Neo gave a light chuckle. “Terry.” He kissed her temple again. “He’s fine. They already released him, but him and his wife are waiting to see how you are.”
“They didn’t hurt him?” concern was thick in her soft voice.
“No, pet, they didn’t. Scared the hell out of him, but he’s not hurt.” Neo assured her as the nurse came into the room.
“Good evening, Mrs. Neosho.” The nurse said and at Jolene’s look, Neo just shrugged. “I’ve let the doctor know that you’re awake and he’ll be around in just a little bit.”
As she spoke, the nurse took down Jolene’s vitals and moved around the room effortlessly. She took the bowl from Neo and rinsed it out in the small sink. The doctor entered the room, and the nurse gave him the vitals.
“Sounds like your body is getting rid of everything just fine.” The doctor smiled at Jolene. “If you feel up to it, we’ll release you to go home tonight. I do advise you checking in with your regular doctor.”
Thirty minutes later, Neo was pushing a wheelchair out through the waiting room. Terry and his wife were sitting with Helen and Reese. As they walked out, the small group stood up and approached the wheelchair.
“Momma.” Jolene sobbed as Helen walked over and hugged her.
“You’re okay.” Helen murmured as she cried.
Jolene wasn’t sure if her mom was asking or telling. Either way, it was a comfort.
“Hey, princess.” Reese kissed the top of Jolene’s head before he and Neo stepped off to the side to talk. “Are you going to take her home? Or do you want us to take her?”
“It’s up to her. Tru told the hospital that I was her husband.”
“Yeah. She told me.” Reese gave a light chuckle. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”
“Never.” Neo grinned.
Jolene assured Terry and his wife that she was fine and would be back at school on Monday since she did not have any Friday classes. Then Neo took her to get some dinner and took her home. As they stood outside the two apartments, Jolene looked at Neo.
“I want to stay with you tonight.”
“Anything you want, pet.”
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