The Badass Protector

COLT

“I THOUGHT you were dead, man.” Frost wiggled his brows. “And I can finally have Iris all to myself.”

Lois stared at him in disgust while Iris was amused.

I snorted and gave him a brotherly hug. “I hate to break it to you, man, but you’re not her type. And she’s taken. So, don’t let your hopes high.”

“Burn,” Darick reacted.

“Ah, Darick, Darick.” Frost smirked. “You don’t understand because you don’t have a sex life.”

“Does it matter? My hand is just fine.”

We burst out laughing.

“That’s the fucking burn,” I countered. “You should stop bullying Darick, Frost.”

“You okay, Gael?” Iris asked since Gael had not said anything since I joined them.

He smiled, relaxed, and then pulled me into a hug for the first time. “I couldn’t be any happier, son.”

“Thank you for taking care of her.”

“That’s what family does, Colt. You’re welcome, and welcome back.”

“Thank God! I thought we lost you.” Lois squeezed me hard and cried. “I’m so happy right now you’re awake.”

“I’m not that easy to get rid of, Lois. You and Iris are my girls, and you’re stuck with us for a long time.”

“Thank you, Dr. Hull. For not giving up on me.” I gave the old man a hug.

They let me catch up with what I missed while I ate something after five days of lying like dead, with only IV fluids that sustained my body.

“How does it feel?” Frost asked.

“Of knowing you were about to die?”

“Nope. If I finally have Iris,” he joked. “Of course of waking up, man.” He slapped my back playfully.

“Great. Like I loosened up. How will I even describe the feelings, especially seeing you all here? Still, nobody wants to give up on me. I don’t know how I can ever repay you, guys. And for not leaving Iris behind.”

“So, are we gonna miss the scary and tough look on you?”

“Probably. It only needs a little poking before it emerges from that surface,” I laughed. “You haven’t changed, asshole.”

“Okay. Let’s talk about something more serious matter since Colt is back. Do you think Otis knew something about you, Iris?”

“About a cure?” Dr. Hull asked.

“I don’t know. I just thought, maybe I am immune,” Iris replied cautiously.

“Have you been ill?”

“Like critically sick?” Iris thought for a moment. “My parents had been, yeah, but not me. I received all the vaccines when I grew up, just like every other kid.”

“Who gave you that necklace?” Darick asked.

“Again. We’re back to the necklace,” I snorted.

“My mom. My real mom.”

“Just curious, man. Do you mind?” Darick lay his hand. “Maybe Iris developed quadruple helix.”

“A what?” Iris gave it to him and leaned her head against my shoulder.

I would be dead if it was not because of this woman. I always knew she was tough with or without me. That was who she was without even noticing she had that in her. She made the biggest decision of her life alone, and I owed her big time.

“Is that even possible?” I asked.

“What’s quadruple helix?” Lois gave me a confused look.

“I don’t know either. Humans like us have double helix strands in our DNA. Don’t listen to Darick. He probably watched too many sci-fi movies.”

“I honestly don’t know. I’ve been treating patients and haven’t encountered a case like this, so forgive me if I haven’t been much of a help,” Dr. Hull answered, scratching his growing white scruff.

“Did you forget you helped me pull through this shit?”

“It was my duty, son.”

“You could just give up, Doc. As far as I know, no one has ever survived this virus. Yet, here I am, the living proof.”

“As a part of this family. And may I remind you how many times you saved our lives. The least I could do was to do something-”

“That was not something,” Iris said. “We owed you our lives.”

“Okay, let’s get back to the necklace,” Gael interjected.

“Let us say or consider Darick’s idea that you developed quadruple helices or triple or whatever. So, the other strand could be,” he hesitated. “The virus. I read an article about it, but that had not proven anything, and they had been studying it for years. Until now, nobody knows what those two helices were. Could be cancer or a new disease or genetic disorder or Neurodegenerative disease.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Let us think something less complicated,” Gael suggested, scratching his head.

“Through your gene, the scientist could possibly create a cure out of it or a vaccine. We don’t have any news about the breakthrough, though. It is possible that they haven’t figured out about the virus. Because it’s hard to work when you’re used to the digital age, it’s like back to basics using the old version of the microscope. If you have an immunity to this virus, I had a feeling that this is genetically modified.”

“Genetically modified? You mean my parents created the virus that killed millions or billions of people because I am sure I don’t even know how to use a microscope?” she bellowed defensively.

“We don’t know, Iris. It’s just my theory,” Dr. Hull answered respectfully. “Because if you are immune, you can’t treat an infected patient, can you? Unless-”

“I am carrying the virus and the cure itself?”

“Then how come Colt did not become immune when you know-” She shrugged. Everyone waited for her to continue until she blushed.

Frost groaned and rolled his eyes. “While they were sleeping together, Heloisa. Everyone knew they were having sex.”

“Your mouth is just unfiltered, Templeton.” Lois glared at him. “Not everyone wants to broadcast their sex life.”

“Okay, you two, enough. I just came from dead, and you haven’t sorted out your issues.” I focused back on the matter at hand.

Dr. Hull continued, “Possibly a cure. Your blood has a cure. We can take your blood sample if you allow me while we are in the clinic.”

“You said yourself you’ve never encountered a case like this,” she refused, pulling her hands off the table.

“Hey. Calm down, twig.” I gripped Iris’ shoulder. “We are just sharing ideas, okay?”

“My parents were not killers. In fact, they died treating people. And they were just doctors and not bioengineers capable of creating the virus.” She studied the old doctor and everyone’s reaction.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean like that. I’m thrilled that Colt is alive, and whatever cured him, it doesn’t matter anymore.” Dr. Hull squeezed Iris’ hand and smiled sadly. “I don’t mean to make you feel like that.”

“Have you tried to open it?” Darick was still inspecting the pendant.

I groaned louder.

“A sweater chain necklace with a personalized pendant-it’s not a perfume bottle.”