Chris's Chronicles Book 3: Part 6:
One Sweet Day...
The next night- Seacouver
Joe paced up and down the floor of the ER waiting room. He had a look on his face of anger, confusion, and worry. Duncan, Richie, Methos Chris and Cat sat in chairs watching the Watcher pace the floor.
"How could this have happened?" Joe kept asking. "How could he collapse just like that? He's in better shape than most of the Watchers put together."
"He was just like working out, then the next thing I know he was out cold on the floor." Richie said.
Duncan looked at Joe and Methos "I know you guys don't want to think about this as a possibility, but could Rick have been using drugs?"
"Never." Methos said. "Rick's been a field agent for the past 4 years and before that he was an undercover narcotics officer. Saying Rick used drugs is like saying I'm mortal."
"Well, we'll just have to wait then. Anne's in with him now." Duncan said.
Joe kept pacing the floor tapping his cane as he walked. Chris tried to get him to sit but he wouldn't.
"He's going to be ok, Joe, just sit down. I'll go and try to find Anne." Duncan said, as he stood up. He walked down numerous hallways and looked into several rooms until he found the one Anne was in.
"Anne?" Duncan said, as he walked up to her. "How is he?"
"You shouldn't be in here Duncan." She said as she walked him to the door.
"Anne please. Joe's outside worrying himself to death. Is Rick going to be ok?"
Anne started to twist a loose strand of her long dark hair. "I don't know." She said flatly. "It's too early to tell."
"Can you tell me anything? Were there drugs involved?"
"I can't give out that information Duncan, you know that."
"Anne, he collapsed on my dojo floor. If one of the people working out there is using drugs, I have a right to know. Were there any drugs found in his system?"
Anne looked hesitant for a moment than walked Duncan out into the hallway. "Just one." She said as she sighed.
Duncan looked taken aback. "Steroids?"
Anne shook her head. "Duncan please don't make me tell you."
"Anne please. I want to know."
"I could get in trouble for this."
"I know Anne. You know I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important. Please." He said in almost a begging tone.
"Ok." She said giving in. "There were traces of AZT in his blood stream." She whispered.
"What?" Duncan could barely hear her.
"AZT." Duncan turned pale. "He doesn't have much longer."
Duncan hugged her and turned to walk back out to the group. Everyone looked as Duncan returned, and they knew instantly by the look on his face something was wrong.
"Well?" Methos asked. He was the closest of any of them to Rick and had worked with him since Rick started in the Watchers. They had all become friends with him since he helped Chris out, but Methos had been closer.
Duncan just shook his head and sat down in one of the chairs. "I can't believe it. I just can't believe it."
"Believe what?" Chris asked as she got up and kneeled in front of her teacher.. "Duncan, what is it?"
Duncan looked up at his friends and a tear rolled down his cheek. "Rick has AIDS." Everyone got extremely silent. "Anne said there were traces of AZT in his blood."
"That doesn't mean he has AIDS. I mean, AZT is used for a lot of things isn't it?" Cat asked.
Duncan shook his head. "Anne said he doesn't have much longer."
Just then Anne walked into the waiting room. "Chris, Rick is asking for you. You can't stay long, he needs his rest."
Chris nodded and stood up. She followed Anne down the hall to the room he was in. "Anne, how much longer does he have? Honestly?"
"Honestly? I'd say a few more days at most. How he was able to do his job without anyone knowing is beyond me."
"The Watcher's do not care what kind of health problems you have, just as long as you get the job done."
Anne opened the door to his room and led Chris in. "Remember, only a few minutes."
"Thanks Anne." She said as she turned to see Rick laying in bed. He looked so much skinnier and paler than the last time she had seen him. "Hey." She said as she pulled up a chair and sat next to his bed.
"Hi. I just wanted to say I'm glad things worked out for you." He said as he started coughing.
"Why did you not let us know? Why did you keep it a secret from us?"
"So you know?" Chris nodded. "Would you have treated be the same way had you known?"
"Of course. Just because you have AIDS, does not mean we would think you are weird and hate you. Hell, you saved my life. I would not be here if it were not for you. I owe you, and AIDS or not, what you did for me will never change that."
Rick smiled. "Aren't you curious about how I got it?"
Chris shook her head. "It is none of my business. I just wish there was something I could do for you."
"Take care for me, watch your head, and never forget me." He said as he took her hand and smiled weakly.
"I will never forget you, or what you did for me."
Anne stuck her head in the room and paused for a moment watching as Chris lightly touched his hand to her cheek. "Time's up, sorry."
Chris looked up at Anne and then back at Rick. "I will come back to see you."
"I'd like that." He said as she stood up to leave.
Chris never got the chance. On her way to the hospital the next night, she was confronted by another Immortal, and as she was taking his life force out of him, Rick slipped away from the world.