Alex just managed to hold on to the sheet covering him as the security people dragged him along the hall and to the elevator. He tried to get answers, but even once in the elevator, his captors were silent. When the doors opened he realized it hadn't been one of the main elevators, It was the one leading to the loading area.

    A black, featureless transport waited there for them. They pushed him in the back and closed the door. It had no windows, and in the complete darkness exhaustion claimed him. He woke when he was grabbed and dragged again. He dropped his sheet as they forced him to move. They pulled him along a gray corridor. His nakedness should have embarrass him, but it didn't. He didn't feel anything right now. They entered a gray room, where they dropped him on the bed.

    He should be scared, but that didn't come either. His mind didn't seem to work. He didn't know where he was, or why he was here. But at least the bed had covers.He'd started shivering again so he pulled them over him. Then he slept.

    His sleep was fitful. he often woke, and each time all he could do was wonder why Jack hadn't come back yet. Then he would look around, remember he'd been taken and he would worry Jack wouldn't know where he was. Darkness would claim him again then.

    Alex stirred when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Jack?" 

    "I'm afraid not, son." The hand touched his forehead, then his throat and his chest.

    He opened his eyes, then blinked at the harsh light in the room. When he could see he looked up at an older man. "How are you feeling? He passed a medic's sensor over Alex's chest.

    "Crappy," he croaked.

    "I'm not surprised." He checked the results. "You've caught a nasty bug." He reached down out of Alex's line of sight and came back up with a hypodermic injector. "This is a generalized immune booster," he said applying it to Alex's neck. "If you'd seen a doctor earlier he could have given you something more specific. I've also added something to help you sleep. Rest will help you get over this."

    He stood and Alex closed his eyes. The doctor walked a few steps and stopped.

    "Well?" a woman asked.

    "Make sure he gets plenty of rest, fluids as well as proteins. Actual meat would be ideal, the body processes that better than the synthesized ones. Give him an immune booster every day and he should be functional in a week at most."

    "What does he have?" Her tone was cold and Alex shuddered. 

    "As best as I can tell, He caught Sirfin. Probably this year's mutation, although it's early for it." "How did he get it?"

    "How do you think? He was exposed to it in a crowd. You're going to want to immunize his coworkers who haven't fallen sick yet."

    "So he didn't give that to himself?"

    "What? Of course not. How could he? He just caught the bug nothing more. He'll get better."

    They continued talking, Alex could tell, but the words lost their distinctions, becoming random sounds. Then even that went away.

    For the following days, Alex wasn't conscious of much. He was awakened and made to eat by armored security. In his state they didn't register as individuals, simply forms propping him up while he ate. Then he lay back down and fell into unconsciousness.

    At some point, he woke on his own. He opened his eyes, looked around and wished for the darkness of sleep again. He didn't want this reality where Jack wasn't with him. At least when he dreamed he was happy.

    Try as he might, sleep wouldn't come. When the armored woman came in with food, he thought about not eating, not to spite her, but because he wanted to die. The smell of the meal hit him and his stomach growled. He smelled a sweet sauce, and grilled meat.

    His stomach won the battle of will and he sat up. as he ate his hunger increased, and when the plate was empty he wanted more. He also felt fully awake now. The woman took the plate and left.

    He looked around, for the first time realizing he was in a bedroom. He was seated on the bed. There was a dresser against the wall to his left, with a desk and a chair. on the right wall was a door. He stood and needed a moment to stop wobbling.

    In the process he noticed he stank. He checked the door, it led to a bathroom. He took a long shower; a long, scalding shower. He wanted the heat to burn away the memories. He wanted to forget that Jack was gone. He wanted to forget Jack entirely.

    No, he didn't want that. He wanted to hold on to him forever. He wanted him back. He started crying again, but he forced the tears to stop. He didn't know where he was, or why he was here.

    Wait, the Samalian, the Not-Jack had said people would come for him. It had to be why he was here. Why did they take him if they were after the Samalian?

    He dried himself, not feeling any better, then tried the other door. It was locked. He saw a set of clothing on the desk, and was surprised to find they were his. He dressed and sat down, unsure what do to, other than wait.

    When someone entered carrying food, he wasn't wearing armor.

    The man wore a suit.