Positive (a Solangelo AU)

How to Say Thanks

Date: November 10, 1981

Hazel has been released from the hospital two days ago and Will was now sitting at her dining room table beside Nico. Dr. Asclepius was sitting opposite of Frank who smiled as he gestured at the mashed potatoes and green beans he had cooked. The savory smell of these dishes mixed with the sweet smell of the sweet potatoes casserole Hazel had made. It was not yet Thanksgiving, but it felt like it.

      "Hazel and I wanted to thank you both for all of your help," Frank said.

     "We couldn't be more grateful to you guys for giving us the chance to raise Sammy together," Hazel said.

     Sammy, their one-week old baby daughter was sleeping in a small basket on a chair beside Hazel. If she woke up and needed to be fed, Hazel could easily do so.

     "That's all we have to say," Frank said. "Dig in to the meal!"

    Will was happy to follow Frank's instructions. The food smelled delicious and he had been working extra hours this week. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and he felt as ravenous as a wolf as he filled his plate with a bit of everything.

      "The food is good as always," Nico said in between bites of the sweet potato casserole.

    "You'll have to tell me what spices you put in this casserole," Dr. Asclepius said. "It's magnificent."

     "Ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and clove," Hazel said.

      "It's really good," Will said.

      This was not empty flattery. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the conversation stilled as the guests and hosts alike curbed their appetites. Only when Frank brought out the pumpkin pie for dessert did the conversation grow back. Will enjoyed the sweet treat as Frank asked Dr. Asclepius about the happenings at the hospital.

     "Three nurses quit last week," Dr. Asclepius said. "Lyssa, Alecto, and Pomona. They were all getting near retirement age, but it's a shame."

      "What will they do now?" Nico asked.

       "They all got jobs at Jupiter Hospital," Dr. Asclepius said.

      "Why?" Hazel asked.

     Dr. Asclepius put down fork. It clanged against his plate. His eyes were stormy as he spoke in an uncharacteristically flat tone.

     "They don't want to treat patients with gay cancer," he said.

     "Gay cancer?" Frank asked.

      "That's the layman term for it," Will answered.

     "Oh," Hazel said. "What is it?"

      Will noticed Nico stiffen. He was chewing his food very slowly and his gaze was firmly on his own plate.

     "It's a new disease that seems to be striking gay men," Dr. Asclepius said. "Hence the name. We're still trying to figure out exactly how it's transmitted, but it's really deadly. It attacks the immune systems of those with it. They don't die from the disease; they die from other really awful illnesses that people with healthy immune systems rarely get."

     "That's horrible," Hazel said.

      "Is it just found in gay men?" Frank asked.

       "We're not sure, but it appears to be that way so far," Dr. Asclepius said.

    Hazel and Frank exchanged glances and Will could tell they were both relieved they wouldn't be affected. Neither of them knew that two men sitting at their same table could be.