"Oh my gosh, that is so terrible." Elaine said.
"Yes it is, and the worst part is, there is some sort of rift between mother and son. A lot seems to be going on right now. Things that were probably hidden came to light, I guess, his mom is really, really furious." Mirabel said. Elaine shook her head. "Do you want to see them now?" Mirabel asked. "Well now does not exactly feel like a good time, I will probably call and return when they are much more settled." Elaine told Mirabel resting her hand on her shoulder.
"Oh okay, I will have to take my leave now, it was nice catching up with you. Keep doing what you are doing and look as ravishing as ever." Mirabel said.
"Oh alright but just take this so we could keep in contact and maybe catch up some other time." Elaine said handing Mirabel her business card. Mirabel looked at the card and read the title 'Editor-in-chief.' She looked up at Elaine in surprise, "Wow, big title you have got there." She said.
"Yes it is." Elaine answered smiling with pride. "Oh well I have got to go now okay, byee." Mirabel told Elaine tucking the card safely into her scrub pocket. "Alright, bye." Elaine waved as she watched Mirabel leave. She picked up her phone and called Victor.
"Victor," she said, her voice low, "I have completed the task. I have sent the information to Jonah's parents."
"Excellent work, Elaine," Victor replied, his voice filled with satisfaction. "I knew I could count on you. You a quick one, although I wonder what took you so long." Victor said.
"I told you I had plans and they have been effectively carried out." Elaine said. "Oh wow." Victor replied nodding. "Here is the information on ground." Elaine said, her voice turning serious. "He is in the hospital. His father had a stress induced heart attack. I think sending the information to his parents caused it." Victor chuckled lowly.
"Wow Elaine, I am starting to think you that you might actually be worse than me. You are the real devil, I am just an apprentice. Damn. You nearly killed his father."
"Well I have proved to you, that I can deliver a perfect job." Elaine said proudly.
"Crazy, you are cold." Victor laughed.
"I am nothing, I just like money, Victor." Elaine said.
"But don't you think you went too far? Almost killing an old man. I mean..."
"Too far? Victor, you are becoming soft. Don't tell me you are getting sentimental."
"No, of course not," Victor replied "But this just feels diabolical. I actually like the guys parents you know."
Elaine laughs. "You, Victor are the definition of diabolical."
"Oh well the deed has been done, I will send you your compensation as promised." Victor told Elaine.
"That would be lovely." Elaine replied and ended the call. She looked around, trying to navigate her way out of the corridor.
*****
Jonah walked around the lab floor bored and restless while waiting to be attended to. He walked towards the large glass window facing the road. From the window on one of the higher floors, Jonah saw Elaine leaving the hospital. He frowned, his mind racing.
"Why the fuck was she here?" He thought to himself. "She always seemed to show up whenever he was in distress in awkward places." He said to himself. He watched as she drove away, a sense of unease settling over him. He was beginning to realize that she was always around when something bad happened. Elliot walked up to him and touched his back startling Jonah. Jonah turned and saw it was Elliot and let out a sight of relief.
"Are you thinking about what the doctor said?" Elliot asked him. "Well not really." Jonah said.
"Then what is it? You seem lost." Elliot asked. "It is everything, every little thing, Elliot." Jonah said his voice cracking slightly again. Elliot sighed, "Jonah," he said softly, his voice coated with concern, he carefully picked out his words. "Let us sit down." Jonah numbly allowed Elliot to guide him to a chair. He sank into it, staring into an empty space.
"She hates me, Elliot," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "She said she never wants to see me again."
"Jonah, she is obviously hurting," Elliot replied, his voice gentle. "She is scared and angry. She does not mean it."
"How could you tell, you have never had toexperience something like this before." Jonah said.
"I know I have not experienced anything like that but what I do know is that she is still your mother at the end of the day and she does not hate you." Elliot told Jonah. "She does," Jonah insisted, his voice trembling.
"She looked at me like I was a stranger. Like I was nothing." Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision. He blinked them away, trying to maintain some composure.
"I do not understand," he choked out. "How could she say those things? How could she?"
"People say things they do not mean when they are in pain," Elliot said, his voice soothing. "She is terrified of losing your father, Jonah. She is lashing out."
"But me, I am also terrified about losing my father. That does not mean she should treat me this way." Jonah asked, his voice breaking. "She blamed me. For everything."
"She does not understand," Elliot said, his voice firm. "She does not understand what we have, what we mean to each other. But that does not even matter right now. What matters is your father. She will come around later." Jonah nodded, his stare dropping to his hands.
"What if he does not make it, Elliot?" he whispered, fear gripping his voice.
"What if…"
"We can't think like that," Elliot interrupted, his voice strong. "We have to stay positive, Jonah. We have to believe he will pull through."
"But the doctor said…" Jonah began, his voice trailing off. "I know what the doctor said, I was there." Elliot replied. "But doctors don't know everything. They can't predict the future. We have to have hope." Jonah looked up at Elliot, his eyes filled with a desperate plea.
"How can you be so strong?" he asked, his voice shaking. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I have to be," Elliot replied, his voice unwavering. "For you, Jonah. For both of us. We can't give up. Not now." He reached out, taking Jonah's hand in his.
"We will get through this, Jonah," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "We will face whatever comes, together. We always do." Jonah squeezed Elliot's hand, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"Thank you, Elliot," he whispered.
"I do not know what I would do without you."
"I guess you will never have to find out," Elliot replied, his voice soft. "I am not going anywhere."
"What are we going to do, Elliot?" Jonah asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"About everything?"
"One step at a time," Elliot replied, his voice soothing. "First, we focus on your father. Then, we will deal with everything else. We will figure it out, Jonah. I am here for you." He gently stroked Jonah's hair, offering silent comfort. The weight of their situation pressed down on them.