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Doc could only sigh, "Based on what I'm reading, I know of no cure but that doesn't mean that there isn't hope. There is ALWAYS hope. Sometimes, we just need to work at it."
He then began looking up some medical information on gene therapy. It wasn't something he dealt with much and it was still a mystery to the medical field.
"Ian, I'll be honest. I don't know how long this will run it's course, what will happen or anything. DNA is a tough field. You change or remove even one gene, it may well alter who someone is. This is also something that I'm not specialized in but I do have a man on Med.Force.One who studies it. I will forward this information to him. For now, I can either give you a place to stay here or you can return. It's up to you, really."
As he listened carefully to to what the Doc said, he nodded and looked back at the ground with a sigh. Rubbing his forehead, he just sat there, thinking. He then slowly stood up and looked at the Doctor.
"I will stay here for a while, I think. Unless there are not other circumstances I need to go after, I am...fine here, probably."
He then reached him a card with his contact data on it.
"In case there is something...that might help, could you call me?"
He stepped away a bit after he gave him the card and walked to the door, turning around before he would exit the room.
"I am thankful for every help...I honestly hope there is a way..otherwise...*He shrugs slightly*...well..not everyone can live forever."
Speaking the last words with a rather low voice, barely hearable, he then made a move to turn around to the door, opening it.
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Doc sat in his office behind a locked door as he spoke with Dr. Rejean Lemelin, a genetic specialist aboard Med.Force.One. The samples were sent and at this point, the fate of Ian rested with him.
"Rej, I just don't know enough about this," said Doc, "I'm a surgeon, dentist and pediatrician, not a gene specialist."
Rej responded with a laugh, "John, you're resume is more vast than mine if it makes you feel better."
Rej worked, studying the genetics provided. The two men made small talk for the three hours they discussed, Doc himself working on a bottle of Coalition Vodka." A mutated gene, transformed from some unknown exposure turned out to be the culprit. Now to find out what and neither man had much of a clue.
"I could figure it out, John, but I need some time," stated Rejean, "give me a day or two and I'll tell you something one way or the other. In the meanwhile, talk with Ian and see what you can learn about recent exposures.
With that, an under the influence John Holliday ordered a ride back to Tombstone and would meet with Ian the following day.
Ian stood outside the medical center, leaning against a wall while his arms were crossed. He just stared infront of him, not thinking about something particular. The only question he asked himself over and over again was why he was here and why Concordia would have followed him. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, trying to wipe away the fatique of his eyes.
He didn't know if he should really wait for the doc to come with a cure while he could save lives in Liberty, he thought. He shook his head and hits the wall with his fist, cursing, not knowing at all what to do. He checked his PDA if there was anything or anyone, that could help him but then shrugged and looked into the direction of his ship, thinking, nobody would be able to do something for him anyway.
A young, attractive red head walked out the front door dressed in a pair of slacks and flowered shirt. Her long, red hair, freed from it's barret, fell over her shoulders. She carried her medical bag in her left hand as she began making her way home for the day. It was then she noticed the man standing outside the doorway in obvious despair. She noticed who the man was. Not really knowing what to say, she just placed a caring hand on his shoulder and tried her best to re-assure him.
"If it means anything, Sir, John Holliday doesn't give up when it comes to his patients," she said softly with a re-assuring smile, "I owe him not just my life but everything I know."
She increased her smile a bit, wanting to help him, "You know, there's a nice but quiet cafe not far from here if you just want to get away for a bit." She shrugged, "it might get you mind off of things for a bit."
As he felt the hand of someone on his shoulder while still cursing, his eyes fixed on the wall, he first thought it would be Concordia. He slowly turned around and looked a it surprised by the woman, who was talking to him kindly. He couldn't do anything else than just forcing a friendly smile at her, though, sighing.
"I did read about his will to help others..he is one of that rare sort of people."
He said with a sigh and looked on the ground for a few seconds.
"Thanks for the offer...but I think it doesn't matter where I am at the moment...it all looks to me the same way."
He said as he looked up at her again, nothing but a neutral expression on his face.
The girl got bored to wander around in the center. People working there told her numerous times to stop bothering them.
In the end, she came out, tilting her head in a bored fashion.
That's when she saw Johnson and that receptionist she saw earlier together.
She smiled cheerfully and sneakily approached them until she was close enough to ask teasingly :
"You're trying to hit on my Ianie...?"
At which Johnson raised an eyebrow in surprise and, finally recognizing Concordia, frowned.
He allowed himself to sigh quickly.
"Oh come on... Don't look sooo sad..."She pondered tenderly.
Laughing, she then proceeded to mess with his hair a bit.
"I'm kidding, i'm kidding!" She said cheerfully.
Concordia then smirked and gazed at Doreen.
"Ianie... You should totally accept her invitation, though! She's really cute, nooo?"
Johnson indistinctly mumbled something, giving a side look to Concordia, and then to Doreen...
He indeed just frowned and looked at Concordia briefly before walking away a bit, shaking his head, not really liking the situation at all. He looked at his ship again without looking back at first. Then he turned around though.
"Why do you follow me? Didn't I make it clear in Liberty, Concordia? Do you think you will do any good by...stalking me? Seriously...I came here to care for other things."
He said, slightly being angry. He then looked at Doreen and sighed.
"I am sorry...but it seems it's better to go somewhere, where I can stay unwatched and untouched..."
He then turned around again and walked to his ship, opening the cockpit.
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Doc found his way outside the front doors at the advice of the receptionist as he searched for Ian. He only had a time for a quick glance at Concordia before he intercepted Ian at his ship.
"Ian," he said sharply, "I can't stop you from leaving but I can better help you if you stay. My geneticist on Med.Force.One is working on your case right now and he had some questions."
Doc got a bit closer to him so that he could talk in confidence, "Ian, any information you can provide will help such as how long have you had this? If it is fairly recent, when and where did you first notice it? If it is recent, do you remember any exposures to anything that may have triggered it?"
He put a hand on his shoulder, "Seriously, anything will help, no matter how small you may think it is."
He looked at the man who was talking to him and sighed. Ian knew he never was aware of the sickness before he first visited a doctor. In addition to that, he wouldn't remember quite much. But instead of denying anything at first, Ian began, talking with a bit quieter voice.
"It's not like I would care more about my own health, than about those in Liberty...anyway. The only thing I know about this disease is, that I probably already had it in my very young years. Also...I first noticed it when I went to a doctor on Manhattan, who confirmed strange...'matter' in my cells. He said the virus would be inactive...some kind of sleeping. However...it would begin to tear apart my body around the 30th till 35th age."
He looked away, shaking his head, then turned away, putting his hand on the hull of his Eagle.
"There isn't more to know about it...that's all I have...and I don't know if it will do any good..."
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