Containment ⊗ Jake Riley

Medicine Run

"Everything has a beginning and an end. Everyone has a weakness, its all about who can overcome all of there bad parts and become who they need to be"

"You OK?" Jake says pressing the speaker button. " I spent my life hunting for a virus like this...Perfect. Now it's destroying us and It won't respond to the drugs I have." Cannerts said looking over at the screen. "And the ones I need are tangled in a web of bureaucracy trying to find their way to me...Nothing gets in or out." he pauses "Good patrol?" he asked looking at Jake through the window. "Found more bodies over at Renaissance Park. It seems to be a popular place to drop them." Jake said looking over at him. "Did you burn them?" the Dr asks which earns him a nod from Jake. " Good." He adds.

"Hey, uh earlier with Kelsey, I heard you saying you you couldn't find something a medication?: Jake ask remembering back to when he spotted Kelsey talking to the Dr. " I doubt she would appreciate my discussing it with you." Cannerts said remembering the look on Kelsey's face. "I- I wasn't prying." Jake says looking away "Just, there's a pharmacy across the park." He says holding his helmet. "It's probably pretty looted, but I could check it out on my next patrol." He adds looking back at the Dr. "Maybe they have what she needs." Jake said and looked down at his fingers. "That's very kind of you...I could use a few things myself." the Doctor says and looks at Jake "Yeah." Jake says showing thats its okay. "I'll make a list... "Cannerts pulls out some paper and starts writing. "Thank you." he adds.

***

Jake comes back after trying to find everything he needed only to find Dr Cannerts where he left him. He taps on the glass to get the doctors attention. "How did it go?" the Dr says once turned. "I found everything, except for, uh, nuclovir and trivinquill." Jake says holding the back up. "That's wonderful news." Dr says "Do you think you'll be able to make some sort of vaccine out of this stuff?" Jakes asks now intrigued, "I wish it were that simple.. Vaccines are very difficult." Cannerts says "If there were a gene known to be resistant or a subject who showed immunity, we'd have somewhere to start." he explains "For now, we're flying blind." he finishes looking over at Jake.

"What's all this stuff for, then?" Jake asks confused. "My hope is to slow the virus down."Dr Cannerts says pausing "If I can find an effective antiviral agent, maybe we can keep people alive long enough to find a permanent solution." He continues. "Come back by in a few hours, You can see how it's working." He says looking over at him, "Yeah. OK. " Jake says and pauses "Hey. I'll bring Katie whatever she needs." continues, "Which one's hers?" He asks. "That's fine... You can leave it. - I'll make time. -" the Dr stammers "You've got enough on your plate." Jake cuts him off "I won't ask any questions, I promise." he finishes a small smile on his face.

On the other side of the cordon the nice little hope where Leannes shop was being attacked yet again by a different group of people, Teresa was sacred not for herself but for the baby the people where ruthless and looked like the cop and the girl from before weren't coming to there rescue again...

Outside of the cordon Lex was preparing his speech looking at his reflection. "I'd like to commend each of you inside the quarantine on your bravery...I understand how difficult it is to accept circumstances which are beyond your control to feel helpless... Many of us are separated from our loved ones... We're scared... We're frustrated.... And it takes strength to be able to set those emotions aside... But if we can remain calm But if we can remain calm and do exactly what is asked of us But if we can remain calm and do exactly what is asked of us, everything will be f- "He cut himself off throwing the paper he was reading of in the bin and walked out into the car that was waiting for him. "I can't do it" he said getting in and closing the door. "What are you talking about?" The man opposite him questions him. "Everything will be fine" he continues." "There's people dying in there left and right." Lex says.

"I understand why the cordon went up...I do." he adds. " And I will enforce every rule that the suits pass down, but I am not a politician." He explains. "What do you want to do? You want to get up there and tell everyone how how scared they should be, how we're not any closer to figuring this thing out?" The Chief explains. "Chief, I bean-bagged a kid for trying to make the birth of his daughter.." Lex pauses " I nearly broke his ribs. I'll live with that because I was doing my job... But when he wanted an apology, I couldn't give him one.... Because I was staying on message... That ain't right.... It's not me." Lex goes on to say. " You do this, there will be consequences." the Chief threatens. "Lommers will cut you out no access, no information." he continues. "You sure that's what you want?" The Chief raises his eyebrow. "That's her choice to make...This is mine.." Lex says standing is ground.

Back in the Cordon Quentin, Katie and Kelsey where sitting on the ground making a board. "Mom, it goes Indiana, Illinois." Quentin speaks up as Katie writes down. "I'm pretty sure Illinois is first." All of a sudden a knock appears on the door, "Nice board." Jakes voice makes Kelsey look up supper quick, she hasn't really spoken to him. "I got the idea from the map you made." Quentin says as jake walks up to them. "Smart kid." Jake adds. "Hey... I, uh, I hunted down that medication you were asking about." Jake stammers and looks down at Kelsey not knowing how she would react, "H- How did you- Did Cannerts tell you about that?" She says panic feeling her eyes. "No!" Jake adds quickly seeing the look on her face he adds "I-I just asked if I could help." He adds, "He didn't ... he didn't say what it was for or anything" He explains. "OK."Kelsey pauses "Thanks" she smiles ever so slightly.

"Oh, you got your railroads mixed up" Jake says looking over at Katie turing to defuse the tension. It's, uh, it's Reading, then Pennsylvania, then B&O and Short Line." He continues still stuttering. "You know the whole board?" Quentin questions smiling. " I mean, come on...Who are you talking to, huh?" Jake smirks and adds "Let me help." and sits next to kelsey leaving enough space. "Oh, thank you."Jake says as Katie passes him the pen, Kelsey on the other hand tenses up, she wasn't sure how to handle all this. Jake, the medicine, so she quickly gets up and walks out. Jake feeling her quick movement he excused himself and followed behind. "Kelsey wait" he says and grabs her arm pulling her back...

- unedited, Merry Christmas ( or whatever you lovely people celebrate ) everyone!! And have a lovely wonderful New Year ❤️ -