Blueblood 2: The World - 15. Not Jerry. Wayne!

We could have new possible allies with the agents of the Military Intelligence. Jerry would soon be on the serum and maybe, just maybe, he’ll be able to speak. I needed sleep! I had been up since the beginning of evening the day before. I did sleep hard. It was three the following afternoon when I woke up. Yet, I wasn’t alone. I rolled over to see Colin sitting up in bed reading.

“You didn’t have to stay in bed,” I said smiling at Colin.

Colin smiled down from his book. “No, I didn’t.” He quickly checked where he was in the book and then tossed it aside. Literally, he tossed it aside. “I also didn’t have to get up.” He stretched out beside me. “It’s Sunday afternoon and we don’t work until tonight, so I stayed with my favorite person.” He smiled kissing me.

I brought him down closer. “You’re my favorite person, too.” We began to make love. “This is a nice way to wake up.” I grinned.

We finally got up and came down at about five o’clock. Of course, Colin was ravenous.

I chuckled as he was eating. “Don’t let it get away.” I patted his hand.

Colin shrugged. “I’m hungry.”

I smiled touching his face and kissed him while he was chewing. “I know.”

“So, what’s on the agenda for Jerry?”

I smiled when he said that. “You’re really wanting to work with Jerry?”

Colin smiled a little guiltily. “I think I need to.” He looked at me. “I am still a little jealous of Jerry.” He put a hand on my arm and raised his hand to stop the objection he knew I’d have. “It’s stupid, I know. We don’t need to rehash that. I think maybe if I spend time with Jerry, I’ll see him as you do.”

I thought about what he said. “So, he’s not just a wild vampire to you now?”

“No,” Colin said. “I’m seeing him as a victim. I don’t see him as a child, but…”

I took a deep breath. “He is a child right now. He doesn’t talk, but he understands me. Since I’ve been taking his blood to him when he wakes up, he doesn’t hiss or growl or does anything aggressive.” I tried to get him to see that. “Other than Dave and Debbie coming at the time of feeding, he reacted violently to them because they are a target. Taking that urge away, he is a very nice guy…he expresses emotions. He laughed the other day! He saw me last night and he hugged me!”

Colin looked startled. “He hugged you?”

“He was glad to see me. He was worried about me coming back.” I explained. “Does a wild vampire worry about anything other than getting blood?”

Now Colin was thinking about what this meant. “I don’t know. I never tried to find out.” He looked at me again. “He doesn’t talk but he communicates?”

I shrugged. “He doesn’t have to talk. I can tell what he means or wants. He smiles now and he is calm. He’s in there, I just want to reach him.”

Now Colin’s smile softened. “I can’t imagine anyone else can, but you. What can I do to help?”

I shrugged. “He’s only been here a week, but he’s improved so much even without the serum.”

Colin laughed. “Maybe my jealousy was a little justified. You really like him.”

I couldn’t believe he said that. “I do. You will, too. Just spend some time with him.” I suggested. “And you have nothing to worry about. You’re my husband. You come first.”

Colin nodded as the others came in for dinner.

“Hi, guys!” Chuck greeted as he sat down. “How are things?”

“Fine.” Colin smiled.

Shelly also sat. “About Jerry...” She started.

I looked at her. “What about him?”

“Chuck was telling me…he may not have been that wild.” She said hesitantly.

I laughed with a doubtful expression. “He was wild. He was very wild, but he’s coming along nicely.”

She sat forward. “The reason I ask…he wasn’t hunting any person when we caught him.”

“He wasn’t?” Colin asked.

“He was feeding on a sheep.” Shelly began. “He didn’t take much to get him corralled and in the cage.”

“Really?” I sat back.

“Maybe if I’d given that other vampire a chance before…” She began.

I shook my head. “No, Shelly. Don’t start second-guessing.” I said firmly. “The vampire we encountered with that runner was after that woman and we know it.”

Colin raised his hands to stop the discussion. “We may want to rethink our patrols.” He said simply. “Give the wild vampire an option.”

“Like what?” Shelly asked.

“I suggest you take blood with you,” Colin said.

“Like Jerry, he may not recognize what a bag of blood is. There has to be available blood to lure the vampire.” I thought. “Of course, if they are clearly in pursuit of a human they need to be stopped whatever the cost. If it’s like Jerry, offer the option.” I looked at the clock. “Oh! It’s nearly sunset. There’s a vampire that needs his blood.”

Colin smiled. “I’ll be with Jerry and Devon tonight.” He told them and came with me.

I got the blood and we just made it before the last of the sun went below the horizon. We watched as Jerry began to wake and stretch. He sat up and looked around, not anxious at all. His gaze came to me and he smiled.

“See?” I said to Colin as I waved at Jerry. “He smiles!” The cage door was open all the time now and I just walked in taking the blood bags out of the canister. “Hi, Jerry!”

I was stunned when he opened his mouth and attempted to reply.

I touched his shoulder. “That’s okay. You’re trying. You will talk when you’re able.” I said handing him the blood. “No pressure from us.”

I used association with him. Showed him pictures of things and waited for a response we could see. I watched as Jerry kept looking at Colin. He wasn’t sure about Colin. Perhaps because Colin was always seen with me, Jerry thought he should risk trust.

George was continuing to work with what he could get from Jerry. He came over to me and tapped me on the shoulder. “I need to speak with you.”

“Sure,” I said getting up. I always left Jerry with a touch. “I’ll be right over there.”

George got me away from Jerry. I smiled as Colin moved closer to Jerry and began talking to him.

“I don’t know how he will react to the serum,” George confessed.

I frowned. “Was there a problem with the sample you took? You put the serum with the sample, right?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Will it work?” I asked.

He gave a hesitant nod. “Maybe.” He sighed. “The human parts of his venom may help the reaction. Ours does. He just doesn’t have that much.” He explained. He looked at me. “It will hurt.”

I nodded. “It did with us.”

He shook his head. “I mean, it may hurt longer, perhaps more.” He shrugged. “I tell everyone before and they accept the chance. How do I ask Jerry if he wants this?”

I looked at Jerry. “He doesn’t deserve this,” I said sadly and sighed. “I can get through to him on some level. I’ll tell him.”

George nodded. “You may want to wait until Monday night.”

“Because of the doctor Dave and Debbie are bringing?”

George shrugged. “Seeing Jerry will add credence to our claim.”

I nodded. “I’ll wait until then.” I smiled as I saw Colin laughing at something with Jerry. “I’m glad Colin is relating with Jerry. I’m glad Jerry is relating to Colin.” I looked at George. “He tried to speak tonight.”

George’s eyes widened. “Did he?” He smiled looking at Jerry. “I’d love to do a brain scan.”

My eyes widened. “You mean like a CT or MRI?”

George shook his head. “Nothing that traumatic for Jerry. I have a skull cap he can wear. It will measure the areas that are active in his brain when we stimulate him.”

I shrugged. “We can do that. There are a few hours left. Do you want to do it now?”

George nodded. “Why not?” He went to his lab table and brought out this soft, cap thing. It had electrodes on it. “You put it on him.” He handed me the cap. “This goes in the front.”

I shook my head. “He won’t hurt you, George.” I reminded George.

George smiled. “He probably won’t, but I know he won’t hurt you.”

I held the cap up. “No wires?”

“Wireless,” George said going back to the computer.

Going to Jerry, I sat by him. “Jerry.” He looked at me. “We are still trying to help you.” Jerry smiled and nodded. “Good. What we’d like to do, is find out what’s going on in your head.” I had to laugh when he looked puzzled and covered his head with his hands. “No, we’re not going in your head.” I held up the cap. “I’d like to put this on you. It will tell us what’s going on. No pain.” Jerry relaxed and nodded. “Thanks, Jerry.”

We again used some pictures and things to see if he’d react. After a few hours of this, I saw Jerry yawn. I looked at the clock and realized it was nearly sunrise again.

We had a good night. Colin was more relaxed and Jerry was, too. I grinned at Jerry. “It’s nearly bedtime.”

Colin looked at me. “Aww.” He said disappointedly.

I chuckled. “You boys can play again tomorrow.” I shook my head.

Jerry smiled and stood up. We watched as he struggled, his mouth was working. A second or two later… “…ank ou.”

I was startled, but then… “Holy SHIT!” George exclaimed suddenly. He turned to us. “What did you just do?”

Colin looked puzzled. “Jerry just said something!”

George looked back at his screen. “That explains it.” He pointed. “The scan was pretty active, but just now the area of his brain…the speech center went crazy!”

I went to the computer and watched the scan. “Sorry, I can’t read that.”

He pointed to the computer screen. He pulled up the 3D image of Jerry’s skull. “The areas active is highlighted in red. When he spoke, the areas of the brain, the area that controls speech lit up like the fourth of July!”

I nodded. “His brain is working!”

“It’s working overtime,” George said nodding. “This so interesting!” He sat down and began looking over the scan.

“It’s almost sunrise,” I said. “Jerry is tired.”

George nodded and waved. “That’s okay, I’ve got hours of information to sort through.”

Colin came up behind us. “George.” He said putting his hand on George’s shoulder. “Do not forget Burke.”

George looked torn now. “But this is…” he looked at the screen.

“…not going anywhere.” I finished. “It’s saved on the computer, isn’t it?”

George looked disappointed. “Yes.” He said sadly. He stood. “Fine. I’ll do it this afternoon.”

I walked back to Jerry and pulled the cap off his head. I grinned at Jerry. “You did great, Jerry!” I hugged him. Jerry smiled at me.

“…ank ou.” Jerry said again.

I hugged him again. “You are so welcome, Jerry.”

Jerry smiled and this time struggled another time. “No…erry.” He said. “I…ayne.”

I smiled more. “Duane?”

He shook his head. “No…w.w.wayne.”

I looked in his eyes. “Your name is Wayne?”

He nodded.

I took his hand and shook it. “It’s nice to meet you, Wayne.”

Colin had come up behind me. He was smiling at Jerry…or Wayne. “You can talk!” He smiled at Wayne.

Wayne was working to get it out. “Hard.”

I smiled. “But it seems to be getting easier.” I looked at the clock. “I’ll be back, but you need to rest.” I pointed to the clock. “It’s sunrise.”

Wayne nodded.

“I look forward to hearing more,” I said to Wayne.

After Wayne was resting as peaceful as a vampire can, we went back upstairs. Once Colin had consumed a good meal, we went upstairs to bed.

I waited for Colin to finish in the bathroom. When he came out he was smiling.

“You were right,” Colin said as he came to get in bed. “Wayne is a nice guy.”

I smiled as Colin stretched out beside me. “I’m glad you see that.”

“He spoke,” Colin said amazed. “I have no doubt that was because of you.”

I shook my head. “He did that on his own. I may have helped him get to that part of himself, but it was all him.” I sighed. “This is one of the first times…other than Gabriella…I feel like I’m doing something positive.”

“Later today, we have people coming from MI5,” Colin said, but his face was not saying it as a necessarily good. “I hope I was right trusting Dave.”

“We need their backing.” I nodded. “We should contact Ruben, Congresswoman Chance, and Senator Cook. Get them ready.”

“Good idea.” Colin smiled as he kissed me. When he quit, I chuckled as he yawned.

“We’ll pick things up from this point after a few hours’ sleep,” I suggested kissing Colin.

At dinner…or in our case, breakfast. We gathered waiting for Dave, Debbie and whomever they brought with them to see what we were doing. It was decided to not go patrolling tonight. We had asked Dave to make it as near sundown as he could make it.

It was Nigel that brought not three guests, but four. We all rose as the new guests arrived.

Dave Burrows smiled, but he was a bit…cautious. He waved at a woman who was…almost a little plump. She was in her late fifties but tried to look forty. Her hair was grey done in an attractive style and she was about five feet and five inches. The word matronly was the best descriptive term. The other was a man…the word for him…was bored. “This is Doctor Hathaway. Dr. Jolene Hathaway. She’s been utilized from everything from Forensics to possible contagions and germ warfare.” Then he turned to the man. He was in his late forties, balding with hair that was turning grey at his temples and dusted in his formally black hair who wore a nice suit I knew wasn’t off the rack. “This is Eric Maddingly. He is…my Unit’s Director.” Dave looked at us. “He insisted on being included.”

“Why, may I ask, was it important that we come at this hour?” Director Maddingly asked gruffly.

I didn’t need Colin’s abilities to sense this would be a tough man to convince. “Boy, you don’t waste time,” I growled.

Director Maddingly frowned. “My time is valuable.”

Colin nodded. “And so is ours.” He said with equal gruffness.

“If you’ll come with us?” I said coming around the table. “I’ll show you why it was important you came at this hour.” I smiled. “I need to get something.” Nigel and his wife knew to have the canister needed ready which I got. I was hoping Wayne would react to these people true to his nature. We began walking to the barn.

“What have you been told about what we’re doing here?” Colin asked.

Director Maddingly was outwardly appearing put upon. “David said something about a contagion? That you were working on something to battle it? His lack of information about what sort of contagion was trying my patience.”

“Seeing is believing,” I said leading them down to the storage area. I smiled to see that Wayne was up and looking for me. I wasn’t disappointed as Wayne’s nose twitched and he caught their scent immediately. He instantly threw himself violently against the bars and hissed reaching to grab them. George had locked Wayne’s cage when he went down for this reason. What I liked was Dr. Hathaway’s lack of reaction. She didn’t scream or even jump, but Director Maddingly did jump back.

“Good GOD!!” Director Maddingly said in shock. “What the devil…”

“Not the Devil, Director Maddingly,” I said. “This is Wayne. He is a vampire.” I waved at Wayne who was now hissing and showing his fangs.

“Intriguing!” Dr. Hathaway said and even came closer to Wayne. She was fascinated. “A real vampire.” It wasn’t a question. She knew what Wayne was.

“He’s dangerous!!” Director Maddingly said and looked like he would go forward to stop Dr. Hathaway.

“Don’t be silly, he’s in a cage.” Dr. Hathaway said logically. “These people seem to have him controlled.”

I grinned at her. “I’m glad you see that.” I looked at Wayne. “What did I ask you not to do, Wayne?”

Wayne looked at me and sort of stopped hissing, but he still bared his fangs and was still silently hissing.

“His name is Wayne?” Dr. Hathaway asked.

“I’d called him Jerry before I found out,” I said. “I’ve made some good progress with him the past week.”

“Progress!?” Director Maddingly asked stunned. “He should be destroyed!”

I looked at the man. “Why?” I backed up until I was next to Wayne’s cage. Wayne was right next to me. “He’s not threatening me.”

Colin walked next to me as he smiled. “He doesn’t threaten me, either.”

I opened the canister. “I have what he needs,” I said as I offered a bag of blood to Wayne who simply took the bag and started consuming the blood.

“But he would have attacked you,” Colin said. “You are a target. We’re not.” He smiled at Wayne. “He is a vampire. We’ll show you the evidence. He would be dangerous.” He said watching Wayne consume the whole bag and I offered him the second bag. “There are other vampires here.” He said, “…in this room.”

Director Maddingly was looking around to see another like Wayne. “Where?”

Colin smiled. “That’s the point. You can’t tell.”

George came up to us. “We’ll tell you when you’re ready to listen.”

“He should be in a controlled lab at least!” Director Maddingly said still unnerved.

“He is,” George said. “In my lab.”

“What credentials do you have?” Director Maddingly asked.

I smiled. “He has quite a few.”

Colin nodded. “Anyone who knows me, knows I hate this period where there are questions to get up to speed. So, here it is. Vampires are a worldwide problem. They are in the United States and in every corner of the globe. They aren’t monsters, but victims of a venom. Innocent people who were bitten and now carry this condition. There is no one better to deal with it than we are.” He patted George’s back. “This is Dr. George Holm and he has worked with this all his life. No one is more acquainted with what’s going on than he is.” He looked back at Director Maddingly. “You have them in England.” Colin laughed. “You have a lot of them in England. We’re treating them.”

Now Director Maddingly was again the proud man he appeared to be when we first met him. “Well, if you’re expecting any government funding…"

“Wrong,” Colin said. “We’re not asking for a dime. We’re simply wanting government awareness.” He explained and went to George’s table and got some papers. “Here is the contact number and email addresses for Congressional contact in the United States; also Senatorial contact and FBI. Have them checked out, but contact them, they will tell you. They have been backing us for some time now.”

Director Maddingly took the pages as he read them.

Dr. Hathaway was still more interested in Wayne. “You have a treatment? Can he be cured?”

George shook his head. “No, but we can take away the threat.” He then explained about the venom, how Wayne’s venom was working as far as he had found out. He explained about the others that were being treated. They began to talk about more scientific findings and treatments. Director Maddingly was listening, but he still wasn’t quite there.

“Your knowledge is good.” He said. “You could assist Dr. Hathaway.”

George smiled. “No, she could assist me.”

“She has two doctorates!” Director Maddingly said.

Colin grinned. “George has six.”

George smiled. “Well, really seven, but that field was unrelated.”

“Seven!?” Dr. Hathaway asked as her eyes grew. “But you’re so young! Even exceptionally bright people need time.”

George smiled scratching his ear. “Well, I’m not that young. I’ve been a practicing physician over ninety years. I’ve been working on this for about sixty years.”

Director Maddingly frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m a vampire, too,” George said.

Colin smiled. “So am I.”

“Me, too,” I said waving.

Now Director Maddingly was looking more astonished. “But that’s…you were eating! You were in the sun!”

George nodded. “And under treatment.”

Director Maddingly was still trying to accept this new information and was struggling. “We’ve come to weddings here. There were vampires here all along?”

“Not just here, but in London, too,” Colin said. “We rescued a young woman, a vampire, Saturday night that was in London. There is a few there as well.”

Now Director Maddingly had almost reached his limit. “All this can be proven?”

George nodded. “I have the readings, scans, and findings.” He waved at the computer. “Not only here in the database, but in my head.”

“Wayne will be treated, but we need more information to deal with this threat,” I said. “He is not going anywhere. If we let you have him, you’ll be starting at the beginning. By next week, I hope he will take the treatment well and be like us.”

Dr. Hathaway was now looking at Wayne more intently. “But he’s very primitive. If you were the same as he is, how could you come up with this?”

George smiled. “Well, Wayne’s venom is different.” Then he went on to explain the differences he found and theories.

I smiled and went to the door to the cage of a now much calmer Wayne. I opened the door and saw Director Maddingly look in fear as I entered the cage. “Hello, Wayne.”

Wayne looked at me and smiled. “De on.” He said.

I smiled at his attempt at my name. “We’re going to be doing something soon.” I began. “We have medicine for you,” I said sitting on the cot by him. “We need to talk about that first.” Wayne nodded.

Colin came in with us. He knelt in front of Wayne. “This medicine should help. I took it. Devon took it. It made us better.”

George came in as well. “I’ve studied what we got yesterday. Whatever venom he got…it seems to block neurotransmitters in the brain. The venom enhances his visual and motor control, but inhibits his speech center.” He sighed. “It is amazing he can talk at all. I guess when the venom isn't needed to find the blood, it relaxes. That’s what helped Wayne to be able to use that previously unused portion of his mind.”

I took Wayne’s hand. “I won’t lie to you, Wayne,” I said softly. “It hurt me. I watched it hurt Colin. It will hurt you, too.”

“Understand,” George said to Wayne. “We’re not talking about a short run pain. It will last several hours. We’ll have to do it every day for a while.”

Colin nodded. “But, if it works…it did for me…it will take away this hunger for blood. You’ll be able to go outside in the day.” He smiled. “Perhaps even think clearer.”

“We want to give you a life back,” I said.

Wayne looked from George to Colin and then to me. I’ve said it before, if he had the tears that could come, he would be crying. “..ease.” He begged.

I nodded. “Then, we’ll get ready. We’ll begin tonight.”

Before I could move, Wayne grabbed me in a hug. He then grabbed Colin and did the same and with George.

“I’d say he knows and wants this over,” I said to George as I was hugging Wayne.

George explained what we were going to do to Director Maddingly and Dr. Hathaway. He picked up a bottle of the serum and a syringe. “This will be hard for Wayne, but he knows what, but just not the extent. You’re welcome to stay and watch.”

Dr. Hathaway looked at this as exciting. “I can’t wait.”

George smiled at her and went back in the cage. He opened Wayne’s shirt and prepped his chest. “Okay. I have to stick this in your heart the first time. It needs to restart your heart.” He explained. “It will hurt,” George said sadly. “I’m sorry.” Wayne nodded. George took the syringe and inserted the needle and pushed the serum in.

I had seen others react, but this time, Wayne arched his back it hurt so much. Colin and I both were instantly by Wayne’s side each taking a hand of Wayne’s each. It was so extreme and like others like Colin and Gabriella, it hurt me to see. “We’re not leaving you, Wayne,” I assured. “We’ll be here the whole time. You’re not alone.” I had tears and I was crying. I saw that Colin’s face wasn’t dry either.