Mathematicians and Scientists (Saanvi×Ben)

Chapter 8: Saving Salve

Saanvi

"Well please, come in. I've been waiting for you. " I hear Alice say. 

Who's here?

"I can heal your husband. Just take me to him."

Ben? Ben is here!

Just then, he walks in. He looks me in the eye, and I know he has a plan. And it already seems Alice is going to be nicer to Ben than she was to me.. Until, suddenly, she drops her act and  aims her gun at us.

"Alice, if you want me to heal your husband, you need to have some faith. So, that gun needs to go away." Ben tells her.

I am a bit thrown back by the calmness of his voice. I am beyond grateful he's here. He seems to be much better at extreme situations than I am.

He walks over to Alice's husband and starts to say some sort of prayer.  It strikes me as funny that, Ben Stone, the athiest is praying. But I dismiss it and conceal any facial expressions.

About halfway through, I hear Michaela shout:

"Get on the ground Alice. "

She follows the command but pleads with Michalea. She cuffs her and takes her out. Ben wraps me into a hug.

"You're face. What happened? I was so worried about you."

"No, no. I'm okay! Alice hit me, but it's not a big deal."

"You're bleeding. Let me take you to a hospital and get you checked out. "

"No. Ben, I'm fine."

"Yes. I insist.  "

I give in, and he takes me to the hospital connected to the research center. A doctor looks me over, and says the only injury is the cut on my face. He gives me a salve for it, and leaves us in the room to attend to some other patients. 

"Here,  you need to put some of this on your face." He opens the salve and wipes some on the wound.  I look up at him and I can't help but smile.  He's always so sweet. 

Suddenly, I can't handle the chemistry of the moment.

I look away, and I hear it.

DON'T WASTE IT.

I try to ignore it. I don't say anything to Ben.

"So, how was the court date?"

"It went really well. I have at least half- custody of the kids, and I'm officially divorced. "

"Well that's good news!"

"Yes, it is. And you know what? The divorce wasn't as awful as I was expecting.  Seeing Grace with Danny and the way she's been acting made me realize that she isn't the same, maybe not even the same person. She changed when the plane disappeared.  "

"Grief can do that to a person- change them- whether it's for better or worse. I'm glad that it has become easier for you." I say right as my phone rings.

I look and it's Michaela.  I answer it and put it on speaker. 

"Saanvi, I have a complicated situation here. There was a man who was just pulled out of the lake. He was down there for 3 days, and he's alive. I think he might be like us so I want to get them to take him to your hospital. "

"Okay, tell them that we need to monitor breathing, and that this hospital is best. Say that he may have a collapsed lungs. Say whatever you need. Just make sure he comes here. "

She hangs up, and I see the hope in Ben's eyes.  Could this be another 828?

We go to the emergency floor of the hospital and prepare a room for the man. Michaela arrives with the ambulance and some other police officers shortly after. There's a disarray of people but I get to the man. They tell me his name is Griffin,  and I take him to the room where I begin to check his vitals. 

Ben goes to talk to Michaela and Jared. I see him occasionally look over at me . Griffin starts to wake up in a frenzy and I immediately recognize it's a calling. 

Michaela sees his panic and comes in. She starts to talk to him, and gets some information out of him. Something about a bombing.  Before he can say much some doctors rush in and give him some dopamine with a pinch of morphine. He's out like a rock in seconds.

"What did you just do? " Michaela begins to object.  They shoo her out and look at me.

"This isn't your department Dr. Bahl. "

"Yes, but I needed to be here. I can't explain. Please,  I know what I'm doing. Just let me stay. "

" I need to contact someone, but maybe. "

She contacts my supervisor. He tells them I can work in whatever department whenever I want.

"The woman cured cancer! Let her do whatever she sees fit. "

He allows me to stay, and I let Ben and Michaela in. Since Griffin is asleep, they left me to take care of him. Apparently they trust me with sleeping patients.

"Saanvi, have you had that calling again? "

"Yeah. I had it this morning. I'm not sure what it's about."

"Griffin's awake." Ben says.

Michaela begins to talk to him some more. She tells him about the callings,  and that's when it all goes wrong.  He realizes that knowing the location of the bomb is a bargaining chip, and he's not giving it up.

I see Ben go into hero mode. "I need to head back to Grace's. All my research is there. And Cal. Maybe something will show us where it is without having to make a deal with Griffin. I have to try."

He runs out. And at that moment,  I hear it.... again.

DON'T WASTE IT.

"Did you just have a calling? " Michaela asks me.

"Yeah. I did. It's the same one."

"Has Ben been around everytime you have that calling?"

"Mostly.  Not the first time. But, it was right when I was grabbing my notebook....right after I'd read a text from him.  "

"When else have you had it?"

" When you came over and were asking about Ben, when Ben and I got lunch,  when Ben showed up at Alice's house, when he put some salve on my face, and when he left just now. "

"So the calling is somehow related to Ben! But why have I been getting your calling. "

"I'm not sure, but please don't tell Ben that the calling is about him."

"Why not?" She asks with a look of confusion. 

"Because I think it's telling me not to waste this opportunity. Now that he's divorced and all."

"Saanvi, what are you saying? Do you have feelings for Ben?"

"Maybe? I don't know! I think I have since 828 returned, but he was married so I ignored it. But, I can't ignore the calling. It haunts me."

"Saanvi,  I think I know why I am getting the calling too. I'm supposed to help you by keeping you from ignoring your feelings.  By admitting them to me, you can't ignore them. Let me help you. I can find out how Ben feels about you. "

"Okay, but you can't tell him any of this. He can't know."

"Well Saanvi,  let me tell you. I know my brother, and I think he has feelings for you as well. He just doesn't know it yet."