I know you must be pretty angry with me right now."
"Not at all....Doc. Oh, you don't mind if I call you that, do you. sir?"
"No, that's what everybody here calls me. I swear, most don't even bother to learn my name, but I don't mind. It's kind of nice to have such a title! I hope you don't mind my 'son' business. It seems to be a bad habit I've acquired over the years, calling younger men that. I just seem to be older than everyone else here, except my partner! Oh!" Cooper gasped, grabbing his right leg, "Man, my legs are stiff! I guess sleeping in a chair doesn't agree with my old bones!"
"Doc, I want to sincerely thank you for all you've done for me. I'm sorry I kept you up all night. I can't imagine how I'm going to repay you...all of you, for what you've done for me. My bill must be tremendous!"
"Don't think about it, son. I'm sure when the government finds out what happened, it'll take care of all the expenses! Right now, all you have to do....."
"Is rest! I know that by heart, now! Thanks, Doc, I'll rest for a little while, but I've got to get back to my job. One thing I've never been good at, is staying in bed," Mike teasingly eyed Jeanie up and down, "unless there's been a pretty girl to keep me there!"
He laughed. Jeanie looked away, pretending to be ignoring his remark, but loving every minute of his teasing. She had the feeling Mike hadn't had much of any experience with girls, and little did she know, she was right. He had been on a few dates, but most had turned out poorly. They had found him too dull for their tastes.
"Jeanie, we may have to issue you an order like that to keep him where he belongs for awhile!" Cooper told her, and everyone laughed. Jeanie made a funny face at this statement, which started everyone into tension releasing hysterics. Their fun was interrupted however, when Dr. Horton returned, pushing Larry Daniken in a wheel chair. He was so weak, he could hardly sit up straight in the thing. Dr. Cooper caught his breath after seeing Larry's poor appearance, and noticed, too, that he was breathing laboriously. Larry managed a weak wave at his boss.
"God!" gulped Cooper.
"Hi, Doc!" Larry said, trying to sound cheerful, but failing at the task miserably.
Jeanie just stared at her friend. Mike looked nervous for a few seconds, but then shook his head and smiled at the man in the wheelchair.
"He's not doing any better?" Cooper confided in Horton after he managed to speak to him alone by the doorway.
"No, I'm afraid to report. He ate little breakfast, but I can't imagine how long he'll be able to keep it down. He's dehydrating terribly. Nothing seems to stop either the vomiting or the diarrhea. That's why I brought him back here. I want to try a little experiment."
"What?" Dr. Cooper whispered back, not imagining what his colleague had in mind.