Farrow let out a relieved laugh. She had already been silently thanking God for the skills of that little girl and now she giggled at her spunkiness, too. That’s what Cole got for spending every moment with her. She was obviously a fast learner and Cole was inadvertently teaching her to be like him.
“Thank God you’re okay, Alik. You scared the hell out of me, you know.” Farrow smoothed Alik’s long bangs back first with her bare hand then with the washcloth wet with ice cold water. He offered a weak smile and blinked slowly. Those brilliant violet eyes stared back at her.
Wanting desperately to keep him focused on staying awake until Sloan returned, Farrow started chattering away.
“You’ve been out of it for two days, Alik. Evan is sure you’re going through your evolution. Everyone’s wondering what your enhanced gifts will be,” She looked back into his even more beautiful eyes. “But I don’t think anyone was expecting your eyes to change color.”
Alik’s eyebrow rose slightly.
“Yes, it’s true. You used to have blue eyes. They’re definitely a different color now. They’re striking—a bright violet Caribbean blue.”
Alik looked incredulously at Farrow.
Sloan walked into the room just then with her IV supplies in hand. She walked around to look at what Farrow was talking about.
“Wow, that’s different,” she commented over Farrow’s shoulder. “Unusual eye color is caused by genetic mutation. His eye color is proof that he’s going through his evolution. I would love to study your blood. Do you mind if I take a sample later?” the young doctor asked. Most little girls her age were excited about the newest album from their favorite boy band, but not Sloan Mor. She was giggling enthusiastic at the prospect of studying Alik’s blood under a high-powered microscope.
“A genetic mutation? How could that happen at age fifteen?” Farrow asked.
“That’s what I want to know.” As Sloan spoke, she was taking away the old IV bag and setting up the fresh one. “I really want to stimulate him to keep him awake for a while, but I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize his evolution. So instead,” she pulled something out of the pocket of her cargo pants. “I brought him a caffeinated soda.” She handed the cold drink and a straw to Farrow.
“Try to get him to sip a little of this every few minutes. The caffeine should be enough to keep him going but not too much to cause him harm.”
Farrow nodded at the girl and took the soda, popping the pull-tab open and adding a straw.
Sloan busied herself taking his blood pressure and pulse. She wrote her findings on the spiral notebook they started using as his “chart” and left the room with a reminder to “yell if you need me.”
Farrow watched as Alik took the straw she offered with his lips and the dark liquid fill the straw as he sipped. “There, it probably feels good to have some cool liquid in your mouth.”
“You…” Alik’s voice came out raspy at his first attempt to speak. He swallowed hard and tried again, “You gave me CPR?”
“Well,” Farrow blushed. “Sloan did the compressions. I just did the breathing part.”
Alik’s pale lips smirked.
“I know what you’re thinking Alik Winter and it wasn’t like that! I was trying to save you!”
“With the kiss of life?” he teased. He raised his hand to her face and stroked her smooth cheek with his trembling finger.
“You must be feeling better if you’re ready to tease me,” Farrow feigned frustration with a scowl, but held his hand in place against her cheek, nuzzling into it as though willing him to feel how much she cared.
“I am feeling better, thanks to you. Have you been here the whole time?” Alik noticed the dark circles under her beautiful round eyes. And she had given up on her pixie hair. She was wearing a pink bandanna tied at her nape.
Farrow shrugged softly, “Where else would I be?”
Alik’s eyes closed for just a moment. The conversation was wearing him out. “Where is everyone else?”
“Everyone’s at the hospital with your mom except Cole, Sloan, you and me. But I have some good news and some bad news and some more good news. Dr. Andrews proposed to your mom and she said, ‘yes’!”
“Wow, that’s awesome.” Alik tried to put some of the enthusiasm he felt into his voice, but it still came out weak.
“Yes, it is. But then Dr. Gentry, your mom’s surgeon, came in and gave her a neurological exam. She showed no improvement. Dr. Winter has lost the use of her legs. I’m so sorry, Alik.”
“I bet mom will still do amazing things, and give God the glory for it.” Alik was barely speaking above a whisper, now feeling so drained.
“She already has,” Farrow smiled remembering Meg’s retelling yesterday’s events at the hospital. “Her faith makes her stronger than any metahuman I’ve ever known,” Farrow complimented. “She’s coming home tomorrow Alik. So you have to be well enough to greet her, okay?”
“Um—I’ll try my best.” Alik gave up trying to stay awake and gave in to the body-healing sleep it demanded.