Chapter 693: Sorry, We’ve Done Our Best
There were seven days left to save Jake. Soon, six days flew past. Jake’s condition was worsening. The swelling had finally gone down but he now had a recurring fever. He was coughing up blood as well.
Zess was in no better shape.
On the sixth day, Jake and Zess were sent to the emergency room at the same time.
Wendy and the rest stood in front of the emergency room again. They had lost count of the number of times they had waited there.
Over the past week, they had been there almost every single day. Sometimes, they were there several times in a day.
Michael held Wendy in his arms. He was afraid that she would be overly worried and pass out once more.
Milo received news that Jake had been sent to the emergency room again, but he did not dare to join them outside the emergency room.
"What’s the situation now with Jake?" Milo asked his assistant.
The assistant lowered his head and answered, "The doctors are still trying to save him. This time, the non-stop coughing is causing lung problems. He’s having trouble breathing."
Each time Jake was sent to the emergency room, he would be on the brink of death.
"What day is it today?" Milo asked quickly.
Milo’s assistant understood that he was asking about the deadline to save Jake. "The sixth day," he answered.
That’s right, it was already the sixth day. The doctor had said that Jake could only hang on for another week. Milo had been monitoring Jake’s condition closely, so he was well aware that Jake was not going to make it.
Jake was so young. It was already a miracle for him to have held out this long.
"How’s the progress at the lab?" Milo asked again.
His assistant shook his head.
Milo had already known the answer because there was no news from the R&D department. If there were any progress, he would have been the first to know.
Milo clenched his fists and slammed the table. After that, he walked briskly to the research lab. The lab researchers had already been working overtime for almost the entire month.
"How is it? Have you developed the antidote yet?" Milo asked anxiously. His eyes surveyed every one in the research lab. These people were the best in the medical field, and they were also his last hope.
Nobody answered Milo. Milo was furious. He grabbed onto something next to him and wanted to smash it on the floor, but he managed to control his rage.
Every single item in this lab was important, it could affect the success of developing the antidote. He should not destroy anything. There was still hope, right down to the very last minute.
Milo calmed himself down as best as he could. He lowered his voice and said, "Let’s keep working on it. Try to produce the antidote by today, please?"
"Dr. Lawrence..." After a long silence, a middle-aged man wearing a white lab coat finally spoke. "Dr. Lawrence, we’ve been working through the night over the past few days. If we continue at this pace, not only would we not be able to develop the antidote, we would all collapse from exhaustion."
"I know all of you have been working very hard. But I’m begging each of you," said Milo, his voice breaking. "Jake is not going to last much longer. Today is the sixth day. I beg of you, please, whatever it takes, please produce the antidote by today.
Aren’t you already at the last stage of developing the antidote? Shouldn’t you be able to produce it by today?"
Milo then muttered to himself, "We must have the antidote by today. We can do it, can’t we?" It sounded more like an assurance to himself than a question to the R&D team.
"Dr. Lawrence, we will do our best." Everyone sighed again. They were exhausted.
They had already done their best.
...
If they had more time, they would definitely be able to develop the antidote. They had already figured out the formula. Now, all they needed to do was to figure out the ratio of each ingredient. But this was not an easy thing to do. A little more of this, or a little less of that, the antidote could be ineffective. And worse, it could result in death.
But Jake could not wait any longer.
"I don’t want you to only do your best. I want a confirmation," Milo said harshly. "It must be done, got it?"
Everyone lowered their heads. No one said another word. None of them was able to assure Milo that the antidote would be ready by today.
Milo closed his eyes. He tried to calm himself down. He knew that the entire R&D team had done their best. He opened his eyes and gave them a deep bow. It was his way of apologizing for losing his temper at them.
And then he said, "I’m counting on all of you."
After leaving the research lab, Milo went to the emergency room. He saw that a large crowd had gathered. He could hear some quiet sobbing and some loud cries.
Milo clenched his fists and then slowly relaxed his hands.
He had been a doctor for years and had saved many lives. Yet, he could not save his good friend’s son. He could only look on helplessly as Jake fought for his life.
Wendy saw Milo and approached him. "Dr. Lawrence, is the antidote ready?"
Milo shook his head slowly. Wendy’s final hope had slipped away. Michael immediately held onto Wendy to support her. The doors to the emergency room finally opened.
Jake was lying on the gurney, his little face was deathly pale, whiter than ever before. It was so white that it scared everyone.
The doctor sighed as he said, "I’m sorry, we’ve done our best."
Wendy felt all the strength draining from her body. If Michael had not been holding her, she would have fallen onto the floor.
"What did you say?" Mrs. Lucas could not believe her ears. "What do you mean?"
"The poison in Jake’s body cannot be purged without the antidote. I had already told you last week that he could only hold on for at most another week. Today is already the sixth day," said the doctor. "Whether Jake could survive tonight is now completely dependent on his will to live. But it wouldn’t be for very long."
At the doctor’s words, everyone lost all hope. Was there really no other way? Jake was wheeled back to his ward. Everyone crowded around his bed.
Jake was still unconscious. A week ago, he was still very much alive. He was an active little boy. Now, he was lying in bed, unable to move.
"Could you take me to the research lab?" Michael asked Milo.
Milo knew what Michael wanted to do. "I have been there before coming here. I don’t see any point for you to go there now."
"I know," Michael said. "But as Jake’s father, I can’t sit around and do nothing."
Milo understood. He nodded.
"I’m coming too," Wendy said.
Michael wanted Wendy to stay in the ward, but he knew she would refuse. So he did not even try to persuade her.
...
Milo brought Michael and Wendy to the research lab. Everyone was busy.
Tiredness was written all over their faces.
"Hello everyone, I’m Michael Lucas, Jake Stewart’s father," Michael addressed the researchers. He looked at every busy researcher and gave a deep bow. "I am sure you are all aware of Jake’s condition. He doesn’t have much time left.
"I am very grateful for all the hard work each of you has put in for Jake. Please forgive me for my selfishness. I’m sorry to push all of you to hurry up."
Wendy stood next to Michael and bowed along with him. "We’re depending on you."
"We’ll do our best," one of the researchers answered.
Michael had wanted to say more, but he saw how busy they all were. They did not even have the time to look up from their work. If he were to say any more, he would be merely wasting everybody’s time.
He bowed again and left with Wendy.
He and Wendy were of no help to the researchers. Their presence would only get in the way of their progress. Now, they could only wait. Wait for Jake to wake up. Wait for the antidote to be ready.
Jake still had not woken up when Michael and Wendy were back at the ward. Jake was having a dream. He dreamed that he was in a huge sea of fire. There was nothing except fire. He felt extremely uncomfortable. He felt terrible and he was trying very hard to escape from the sea of fire.
Finally, he saw the shore. He pushed himself to get to the shore. All he thought of was to get away from the terrible discomfort he was feeling. His hand was about to touch the shore when he heard many voices next to his ears.
"Jake, Jake..."
Daddy, Mommy, Leah, and Great-grandmother? Jake looked over his shoulder and saw them in the middle of the burning sea of fire. What were they doing there? And why were they calling out to him?
Jake turned back and wanted to swim to them. But the discomfort he felt made each move extremely difficult. He felt terrible. The shore was within reach. Once he got onto the shore, all his misery would end.
But, Daddy, Mommy, and the rest of his family were all in the middle of the raging fire. What should he do? Should he go back to them?
"Jake, Jake, please wake up..." Wendy cried as she looked at Jake.
Jake was hooked up to the vital signs monitor, which showed that Jake was slipping away. The doctor was trying to resuscitate him. Unfortunately, he could do nothing more.
"Jake, don’t you want Mommy?" Wendy held Jake’s hands tightly, hoping that he would be able to feel some warmth. "Jake, hang in there for a while more, please?
Just a while more and the antidote will be ready soon."
"Jake..." Leah burst out crying. Her eyes were red and swollen. "Jake, you promised me! You promised to take me to the amusement park. You said you’d help me with my studies. Jake, you cannot go back on your word."
Jake’s hand had already touched the shore. Once he was ashore, he would be free.
But there were so many people in the sea of fire calling out to him. Jake loved all of them very much. They all loved Jake too. If he were to be free, what would happen to them?
His mother was pregnant. He could not bear to see his mother cry over him. And then there was Leah. She was such a crybaby. Her eyes must be swollen from all the crying.
No, he must turn back. No matter how painful it would be, he must go back to them.
With his newfound determination, Jake’s hand left the shore and he swam back to into the middle of the burning sea as fast as he could.
