Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 17

That night Allie was curled up against Daniel's body, in a deep sleep when she was jolted awake by her phone. Daniel sat up first trying to make sense of the unexpected noise. Allie was shaken and fumbled in the dark for her phone until Daniel clicked his bedside lamp on. She swiped the screen to accept and said in a sleep hoarse voice, "Hello?" Chris was on the other end, words coming out in a torrent that Allie's sleepy brain couldn't immediately make sense of. She shook her head to try and wake up and said, "Chris, slow down, say all that again." He laughed which struck Allie as odd and she glanced at the clock. It was just after three am. Chris said, "I'm just looking for the contract you put together for Phillips, the transitional thing. I've had this amazing idea. If I create like a generic, one size fits all version, any country, any sector, any deal we can just roll it out whenever we need one. Where did you save it?" Allie couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Quite apart from how ridiculous an idea it was, the time and the urgency he was giving it didn't seem to occur to him as odd. More awake now she glanced at Daniel and said, "Chris, it's just after three in the morning. Why are you still up doing this stuff?" At that moment Daniel's phone rang. It was security at the office telling him Chris had arrived swinging his laptop like it was nine in the morning, and had headed upstairs. Chris was excitedly repeating what a great idea it was and ignoring her question. Allie decided she needed to humour him so she said, "Hey, Chris, let me have a few minutes to think where it is and I'll call you back."

She cut the call and looked at Daniel in concern. He explained what security had just told him and she recounted the bizarre conversation she'd just had with Chris, realising the situation was worse than him not being able to sleep and logging on at home, he'd actually gone to the office seemingly unaware that it was the middle of the night. Her face was full of concern and she said, "Dan, I think we need to get him proper medical help. I'm going to ring Jem and get Max. You stay with the girls and I'll ask them to come down with me and see if we can get him seen somewhere. Jem'll know where to call or where to take him to." Daniel ran his hand through his hair looking concerned and nodded, "Yeah, why don't you call Jem and I'll call Max and get him to collect you and Jem on the way. There's something badly wrong, I could hear how fast he was talking." Allie nodded, "I'll just call him back to make sure he stays where he is until we can get to him." She picked up the phone and clicked on the last call in the log. Daniel jumped out of bed and grabbed his own phone to call Max hearing her say, "Hey Chris, I'm going to pop down and I can find the file for you and maybe we can work on this together?" To Allie's relief Chris seemed wildly excited by the idea and she rang off.

Fifteen minutes later Max drew up outside the house. Allie kissed a worried looking Daniel and jumped in the car. They called for Jeremy and Allie moved to the back seat so he could take the front passenger seat as they headed for the office. Allie filled them both in on the strange conversation she'd had with Chris and because of the time they drew up outside the office, leaving the car on the street. Max had a brief word with security before they took the elevator. When they reached the office Chris was pacing restlessly up and down his office. He seemed genuinely pleased to see Max as well as Allie, then looked confused to see Jeremy. Allie said gently, "Shall we sit down for a minute Chris? We're worried so Jeremy's come along to help." Chris' confused look remained, "Why are you worried Allie? I'm sure we can find the file, it won't be lost." Allie smiled and pulled him to sit at his meeting table, "Chris it's the middle of the night and Dan and I were fast asleep when you rang. You shouldn't be in the office at this time. Do you get that? And you seem really agitated. Chris didn't answer so Jeremy crouched next to Allie, "Chris, you haven't taken any drugs have you?" Chris laughed, "God no! I guess it's late but we want to get stuff done don't we?" Jeremy glanced sadly at Max and Allie and said gently, "Listen Chris, I'd like you to come with us and see some friends of mine who can help you. Max's car is right outside. Is that okay?" Allie wanted to cry as he said, "Sure, is it where you keep the old files?" Max came around to pat Chris' shoulder, "Yes son, they do keep some. Let's get you over there." Chris grabbed his phone and his keys and they left. He sat in the back with Allie rambling almost incoherently about contracts and TSAs. Jeremy threw a couple of anxious glances behind. When they reached the hospital Chris didn't seem to register where they were. Jeremy had rung ahead just before he'd left the office and a doctor and a male nurse were waiting for them as they buzzed to enter the unit. As they got inside and the doctor began to talk to Chris about staying a while to help him work through what was making him so agitated. He looked confused. Turning to Allie he said, "What do they mean Allie? Why would I stay here?" They had walked towards the room he'd been allocated and Allie sat down next to Chris on the bed where he fidgeted. Turning to look at him she took his face in her hands to force him to look at her and said softly, "Chris, do you trust me?" He calmed for a minute and said, "Yes Allie. Why am I here?" His voice dropped to a whisper, "Is this a hospital?" Allie nodded, "It is Chris and they're going to help you. I know it doesn't seem like it to you, but you are really sick. You trust me, Max and Jem yeah?" He nodded but looked panicked and agitated. The doctor stepped forward and said, "Chris, what we'd like to do is get you some rest because that's the first thing that'll help. You haven't been sleeping much have you? So we'll get you into bed and then we'd like to give you an injection that'll make you feel relaxed and sleepy okay?" Max was alarmed to see him jump up off the bed and say, "No! I don't need any drugs or anything. Why would you do that?" Allie stepped forward, took his hands and said calmly, "Hey, you trust me remember, and I'm right here. Why don't you get undressed and we'll wait outside. Then I can come back in and stay with you while you get the medication, and I won't leave until you're feeling calmer." She glanced up at the doctor and nurse and said, "That's okay isn't it?" The nurse smiled and the doctor said, "Sure, not a problem at all." Chris nodded but still looked panicked.