Tuesdays, of late, had become Emily's favorite day of the week. It had become something of a routine that Alucard would come and join Emily for lunch at the resort restaurant. Emily still couldn't manage food, but insisted on having a plate of fruit or salad in front of her to keep up appearances. As weeks had gone by and her condition still hadn't improved she was becoming more frustrated with her physical limitation and how weak she was, and seemed to others. Alucard, however, was different, and their lunches were a welcomed respite. He already knew everything, so she had no need to hide anything.

As he finished the last bite of his meal, Emily leaned forward, grinning with an eyebrow raised.

"So, what do you think of the salmon? I've heard nothing but rave reviews from guests. The salmon comes in every week, straight from the bay and delivered by the man who catches it."

She cut a sideways glance at her friend.

"A very handsome man who catches them, if I do say so myself."

Alucard couldn't help but smile as he sat eating his lunch with Emily.  These Tuesday lunches were quiet and relaxing intermission from his usual daily duties.   Emily had quite quickly become an integral part of not just his operations in Seattle, but also of his life in general.   A few of his bodyguards looked in awe at how close the two were, commenting that they were surprised Integra never got jealous of the time he spent with Emily. He always just smiled and explained that was just the depth of the trust he and his wife shared.   

After finishing his meal he looked a little sullen at the fact the food was now gone, but he was snapped out of it when hearing Emily ask him about how it was.  He beamed at her, "The revies you've heard are no tall tales Em, the salmon is absolutely to die for.  The ginger sesame glaze is perfection.  I dare say it's better than The George,  back in London.  It's an old lil' pub, William Shakespear used to regular there actually, and his plays frequently performed in the courtyard."  He gave a soft laugh, "Sorry, I'm sure you don't care much to hear us talk about silly London tidbits" 

He caught her sideways look, and raised an eye brown.  "A very handsome man? If you do say so yourself?  You fancy this bloke..."  and he grinned at her.  He planned to ask her about something but instead shoved the letter back into his pocket, she was happy about something, and he wasn't going to take away from that.  "So, tell me more." 

From the peripherals of her vision, Emily saw him begin to reach for something in his jacket before suddenly shoving it back in. She cocked her eyebrow curiously.

"For one, you can never talk enough about London until I've been there and seen it all for myself. For another thing, you know I saw that. We've known each other plenty long enough for me to pick up those little cues of yours. Or did you forget that I used to make a living reading people?"

She chuckled. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she'd been that woman. Emily may be staying out of information brokering, but the skills were old-hand and probably always would be. 

Wiggling her fingers, Emily held out her hand.

"Hand it over, then I'll tell you about Jimmy."

He gave her a knowing grin, with a heavy sigh.

"I was hoping you wouldn't see that, just maybe.    Figured you would though, you're just as good at reading people as I am.  But I promise you, it's probably nothing. I'm not gonna detract from your happiness about this fisherman...  So go on, just tell me about Jimmy." 

He attempted to give her an assuring smile, but the look on her face told him he wasn't gonna get away with it.  So he pulled the envelope out of his pocket, pulled out the letter and slid it across the table to her. 

Alucard,

My boy.  Word has reached us; not only of your marriage to the one and only Integra Fairbook Wingates Hellsing, of the infamous Hellsing family and organization, but also that the two of you have just had a child.  A baby girl named Seras if the news to hit my desk is to be believed. 

I hope I am the first to congratulate you such important milestones in a man’s life. For we all know how important family, especially one’s children, are. 

So, how about it son?  Would you like to meet up, I can give you some fatherly advice on how to properly raise a child, especially since we both know YOU don’t know anything about it.  You can meet me in Vegas, if you’re brave enough to.  If not, I will find my way to you, one way or another. 

Cheers,
CMT

"This arrived for me a few days ago. Nothing but a Vegas postmark on the envelope.  I have some of my contacts looking into it, I don't know who CMT is.  I know a CM, and god help us all if it's him. Logically though, the initials could be anyone's.   It seems threatening to me, but lately, everything seems like a threat.   Tell me, in your mind, what do you make of it?  I know I should show Tegs, but I don't want to alarm her if its nothing, I want to know more first."

He looked across to her, his eyes carried a look that was just as earnest as his voice.  Outside of Integra and Suna, there were none whose thoughts and opinions on such things mattered to him.

Without another word, Emily took the letter and read over it. Within just a few lines, her expression went grave. Further down the page, her eyes narrowed, and her lips creased to a thin line. When she was done, she looked up at Alucard with just her eyes, still holding the paper up slightly.

"Alucard, this is...an open threat."

She lowered the paper and her voice.

"Whoever this is- they know you, and all too well I would imagine. Now, I know only what you've told me about your growing up, but I don't like this at all. Not one iota."

Refolding the letter, she handed it back to him.

"Come on, let's talk about this in my office. Too many people around."

Taking the napkin from her lap and placing it on the table, Emily stood slowly. 

Everyone has moments when they forget what they walked into a room to do, or where they laid their glasses or car keys. Rarely, however, do people forget how to move; but that's precisely what happened to Emily when she got to her feet. It was as if half her brain went dark, like a power outage, leaving the other half stunned and not sure what to do.

Without even a chance to reach for something to grab, Emily collapsed to the floor. She was conscious- very much so- but had absolutely no ability to move anything below her neck. Even her lungs seemed to be caving in, and she gasped for breath. Wide-eyed, she looked up to Alucard, trying to speak. All that came out were jumbled sounds barely above a whisper.

He quietly put the envelope back into his pocket and sighed. Alucard got the confirmation he needed. She didn't know half of the darker details of his past. He'd only explained he'd lived on the streets about half his life before being taken to be a servant at the Hellsing Estate, and eventually a solider in the organization.  Yet, she still knew the 

"Right, your office is probably a better choice for this..." 

His words trailed off as he helplessly watched his dear friend collapse to the ground. He was next to her in half a second.  He instantly wanted to just pick her up and carry her to a room, but his time working the mines in Liverpool taught him that moving someone without knowing the cause of the injury could do more harm than good.   

"COLLIN!  GET CHLOE AND JEN, THEN CALL THE PARAMEDICS. NOW!"  Alucard called out to the man at the bar.

Barely audible garbles escaped Emily's lips, and the Don took her hand in his. "I'm here Em, it's gonna be alright.   I wish you could properly tell me what to do to help."

n her entire life, Emily had never been so afraid and angry at the same time. A few of the guests had crept near to see what was happening. Colin, a man of 56, launched himself over the bar and rocketed down the hallway toward the offices. 

"I can't move. I can't move anything."

Over and over, she tried to speak, but the sounds she heard made no sense. Emily's eyes darted around as she tried desperately to think of what to do. Though she could breathe, it was hard, and she could only open her mouth to increase air flow. She could feel her heart beating hard and fast, but not unusually. 

"I'm here, Em. It's gonna be alright."

Unable to do much more than blink, Emily looked straight into her friend's amber colored eyes. In her mind she could only reply "but will it really?" 

It was Jen that arrived at Emily's other side. She took one look at her employer and began barking orders with a stern, Estuary British accent.

"Everyone please step back! We have things under control. Please return to your meals."

She looked back to Emily. 

"Colin is calling the medics. Yes, I told him that they are not to take you to Bayfront or anywhere Dr. Clark is. Chloe is off today, but I'll go and get her. Just be calm, now."

The darker blonde woman looked to Alucard. 

"Tell me what happened."

Alucard took a deep breath, and let his thoughts clear so he could be as helpful as possible. 

"We were talking.  She wanted to discuss some things a little more privately in her office. She stood up from her chair just fine, but she just stood there for a bit, then collapsed.  When she tries to speak, it's just a garbled whisper."

His eyes locked to hers,

"Tell me what to do to help her...." 

Alucard paced the waiting room of the Mercy Medical, he was taking deep breaths trying to keep his temper under control.   They just had Emily in a room, but they were refusing him access because he wasn't family.   He walked back up to the nurse's station.

"Emily Renfroe. You need to let me in to visit with her."  Alucard said as calmly as he could.

A talk woman with short brown hair, just looked at the man in front of her and said calmly, "I'm sorry sir, we can only allow family to see her at the moment." 

A deep, low, guttural growl escaped his lips before he ran his fingers through his hair, taking another deep breath attempting to stay calm.  "She is family, not all family is blood. Hell by your rules, you'd let me sit a room alone."

"I'm sorry sir, but rules are rules.  I wish there was a way to help you, but you aren't her immediate family or loved one."  Her eyes looked sadly into Alucard's

His eyes flared at her last comment, glowing as hot as his temperature was getting.  "You think just because I'm not fuc..." He took a deep breath once again, "You think... because I'm just a good friend, and her boss, that I'm not a loved one to her?"  

The flare in his eyes scared the nurse at the desk, but she managed to keep her calm and once again repeat herself, "As I said sir, rules are rules."

"Tell me,"  Alucard said, "If I were to buy this hospital, I'd be able to see her right?" 

The nurse looked shocked, "Buy... the hospital?" She thought the man across from her looked rich, but enough money to casually buy a hospital, JUST to gain access to see a friend who was there.  Who IS he?

Alucard managed to pick up the phone, called up his lawyer and accountant.  "It's Alucard.  I want to purchase Mercy Medical.  Yes, the hospital.  Whatever they want, you give it.  I want it done, and the deed in my hands, in less than two hours.  I'm currently in the waiting room of the hospital.  Bring me the papers to sign here." 

He gave the nurse a smile and a nod, then patiently sat back down and waited for his lawyer to arrive with the paperwork.  The lawyer was back to him in a little over an hour and a half, and it was barely over two hours when all the paperwork was signed.

"You never cease to amaze me Geralt. What should have taken days, you accomplished in hours.  You're a miracle worker." Alucard smiled and laughed as he clamped the man on the back. "Make sure we have the nations best doctors here, I don't care what they want in pay, they'll get it.  Also, we accept everyone here no matter their ability to pay.  If they can't we'll set up a fund to help those less fortunate. We'll figure out the details in a meeting later.  Thank you once again Geralt, I owe you, expect a nice bonus coming up with your retainer here soon."

Geralt laughed and pushed his glasses up on his square face. "Well, sir it's easy to get things done when your employer is one of the most powerful men in Seattle, and has a reputation for being a demon."  He snorted when he laughed.

Alucard, laughed as he smacked the lawyer lightly on his back. "I can't argue those points, I guess that reputation can come in handy from time to time.  Get me the best neurologist here ASAP, please." 

With that, he smiled at the nurse, and calmly asked, "May I have her room number, and your name, please?"

The nurse just looked with her mouth slightly agape, "It's Joan and Miss Renfroe is in room 314, just down the hall." 

"Thank you Joan.  And good job today, even if I was getting frustrated." Alucard smiled and winked at the nurse.  He felt something wet dripping from his nose and when he sniffed, he found the familiar smell and taste of blood in his mouth.  "Damn stress," he muttered to himself as he continued on his way to Emily. 

As he made to the room he opened the door, he noticed Emily appeared to be resting and he quietly asked, he didn't care if Jen or Chloe answered him, "So how is she?"

Both women just stared at him for a moment, and it hit him.  He quickly wiped his nose, "Oh this, just dry air, I'm fine.  Tell me, how is Emily?"  His voice somber with concern. 

"She's alright. I guess they were able to access her records from her visit with that Doctor Clark. They re-ran the same tests he did, plus a few new ones. In the mean time, she regained some movement in her fingers and toes. The doctor seeing her now says that's a good sign- that maybe it was just like an attack rather than something permanent."

Jen had gotten up while Chloe spoke, and got a rag from the small bathroom and put a few chips of ice in it. Silently, with an obvious worry in her eyes, she handed the ice to Alucard and took her seat again, watching Emily. Chloe glanced back at her, then to Alucard again.

"She is just sleeping now. The doctor is supposed to come back in a little while with the results they have so far."

Chloe looked at her watch, concerned.

"We've got to get back to the resort and close out for the night. Can you stay? I know you're a really busy man, so if you can't I completely understand. I just...don't want her to be alone when the doctors come back."

Alucard gave a sigh of relief in hearing Chloe talk about how Emily was doing better.   He pinched the top of his nose, glad of there is some good news.  He had been so worried as he paced the waiting room, some good news was exactly what he needed to hear. 

"Oh, thank goodness." He quietly uttered. 

He gave Jen a weak smile, and placed the rag under his nose. "Thank you Jen.  I'm be fine, I promise.  You two ladies can go and close for the night, I'll stay here with Emily, it's no problem.  Just give me a quick minute to give Tegs a call to let her know that I'm going to be staying here with Emily."

Another hour passed after Chloe and Jen left before the door of the room quietly opened. Rather than a coat-clad senior physician  leading a parade of fellows, a young man in gray slacks and a russet colored knit sweater crept inside by himself. He held a clipboard under one arm. He glanced first at Emily, then his eyes traveled to the man sitting in the straight chair beside the bed. His face was young and perhaps a little timid, but he stepped over to Alucard and held out a hand. 

"Sir, my name is Evan Sloan. I'm the doctor on Emily's case. I, uh, hear that you've recently acquired the hospital. As in, a few hours ago?" 

To the young doctor, it seemed like a strange thing to say, as if a hospital purchase was something so easy as a sandwich. 

Emily stirred, hearing the doctor's quiet voice. She opened her eyes slowly and let them focus. She saw Alucard sitting right beside the bed. Managing a sleepy smile, she spoke quietly. 

"Hey boss. What's a classy guy like you doing in a place like this?" 

He words were clear now, but she spoke slowly and with some effort.

He quietly sat, the bleeding to his nose stopped about 20 minutes after Chloe and Jen left. He kept the now wet rag on the table to him, instead he replaced holding the rag, with keeping her hand in his. He waited for Emily to awake, for some news on how she was doing.  Every minute felt like an eternity, he was so focused on Emily that he didn't even notice the doctor enter until he was right upon him.  Alucard shook his head, to focus his mind, began to take his hand from Emily's when he felt her begin to stir.  At that moment, of feeling some movement and hearing her voice, she became his prime focus.

His couldn't help breaking into a huge beaming smile, the relief and joy read clear as day across his face. "Hey Em.  A classy guy like me?  Well either... I heard there was a sleeping beauty who needed the kiss of a prince to wake her up, or I just bought the hospital and had to visit my favorite patient." 

It wasn't until the doctor coughed, that Alucard even remembered the man was there. He turned to face the young doctor.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Sloan was it? Forgive me.  I am Alucard Hellsing, a businessman here in Seattle.  What you heard is correct, I did purchase this hospital, it was the only way your nurses would let me in to visit with my friend here."  Alucard turned to Emily, and softly smiled, "The things a person will do out of love for a friend, am I right?  So tell me Doc, how is Emily?"

From the looks on their faces, it would have been hard to tell who was more bemused, Emily, or the doctor. Nonetheless, Dr. Sloan shifted his weight and took the chart into his hands, flipping it open. 

"Well, I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than the both of you already know."

He perched on the foot of the bed and spoke directly to Emily. 

"Of the test results we have back, I can tell you that I concur with your suspicions. It's not poliomyelitis. However, that doesn't mean it's not a form of mylelitis. I'd like to do a secondary blood panel and look at a few things in a laboratory setting. The problem is, we don't really have the proper facilities. We'd need a university grade research lab. But we'll come back to that."

The doctor went through a few physical tests with her, observing what movement she'd regained. Emily was now able to move her arms and legs, though only with great effort. 

The young doctor nodded, seemingly pleased.

"So, here's what I'm thinking, Emily. Something is attacking your nervous system, whether through your brain or your spinal cord. If it's a virus, we hit it with steroids and antiviral medications. If it's not viral and it's some sort of degeneration, we can try different therapies to try and slow it. Unfortunately, we're shooting into the dark without a research facility."

Emily nodded, working out her reply slowly. 

​​​​​​"University of Washington?"

"You need a university grade research lab?"  Alucard turned and questioned Doctor Sloan.  "If you need one, just tell me what you need.  Sit down with me and we will discuss the specifics.  A facility like this can not only help Emily here, but possibly countless other people along the way.  Trust me when I say that money is not a concern here.  I am an incredibly successful businessman, who also happens to have an unwarranted albeit, occasionally useful alias. Whatever you need, it will be yours."

He turned for a moment to face Emily, he softly smiled at her. "I will help you get this figured out, I promise Em.  Whatever it takes."  And he softly kissed her hand.

"Tell me Doc, if you know some experts in their respective fields, I can have them all here with-in a week.  People, lab equipment, tools.  Whatever the best is, it will be yours."

Evan Sloan blinked a few times as he looked at Alucard. Part of his brain was sure this was a very strange dream. Still, he didn't seem to be waking up, so he'd have to see how far it goes. He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. 

"That's...unbelievably generous of you, sir. It would be a great help to many. I'm...not sure how it would work. I'm hardly a senior physician here, and there's the board of trustees to...well, I'm sure you and your attorneys will iron all that out."

He looked back at Emily with a kind smile. 

​​​​​​"What do you think, Nurse Renfroe? Shall we give the steroids a try?" 

The smile on Emily's face was surprisingly bright for his she felt. Just to have someone ask her opinion, professionally, made all the difference. She nodded, then looked over at Alucard. 

​​​​​​"I like this one."

Alucard beamed a smile back to Emily, relieved to see the brightness in her smile and a sparkle in her eyes. 

"You like this one?  Then I think we will keep him."

He gave his friend a wink, before turning back to the doctor. 

"Doctor Sloan, I know very well what it's like to go without, nearly half my life actually.  If there are ways my current good fortune can help prevent people from suffering as I did, then it's only right that I do it.  Neither I nor my family goes without, my daughter will have a good savings as she grows up.  The excess does me no good, so I give back in the ways I feel I can do the most good. Now, doctor, I am not concerned about your age, or anything,  I'm not exactly a senior businessman, but I'm very capable, just as I know you are too.  My friend here likes you, and that's good enough for me.  Now about the senior physicians, they can either accept and be a part of the changes that will happen here, or they can find jobs elsewhere."

Alucard slightly chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.

"I, unfortunately, don't know the first thing about the equipment or tools that you'll need.  So I will need both you and Emily to assist me in that regard. As long as my friend here is up to it.  How 'bout it Em, if these steroids work, are you up for helping a clueless fool out?"

One Week Later

With what could only be described as daggers in her eyes, Emily glared at the wheelchair that was placed in front of her. Her sensible side knew it was necessary- and only for now- but the rest of her was none too pleased that it was, in fact, a necessity. Fully dressed for the first time in eight days, it was nice to feel human again. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she waited for Alucard to return while a nurse took one last check of her vitals. The nurse was maybe only 20 or 21, and very sweet. 

"It was very nice to meet you, Miss Renfroe. I hope to see you again soon. Well, not as a patient, of course- but for the new lab! It's all very exciting, isn't it?"

Smiling, Emily gave the girl a nod and looked away from the stupid chair.

"Yes, it is. I'm still kind of stunned that my boss purchased an entire hospital because one shift nurse wouldn't let him see me, but I suppose it's worked out for the best for the whole city, hasn't it?"

The young nurse finished up and jotted a few things on the chart, then stood behind the chair and held it still for Emily to get into.

"Ready when you are, Miss."

Internally, Emily rolled her eyes so hard that she could have swallowed them; but she maintained a cheerful expression as she moved from the bed to the chair. As much as she hated it, being confined to a wheelchair was just fuel to her fire. The new lab, when it was ready to go, would help her, Dr. Sloan, and several other medical professionals learn what was wrong with her- then who knew how many more they could help.

Alucard smiled, happy that Emily was able to finally come home, as he shook Doctor Sloan's hand.

"Thank you for your help with Emily doc.  Keep me up-to-date with the progress of the lab, if you run into any issues just give my office a call."

After speaking with the doctor for a few more minutes, he made his way back to Emily and the nurse.  The young blonde nurse, he had called in from Detroit.  He met her during his own hospital stay in Detroit. 

"Alice, thank you, once again for coming all the way here from Detroit.  I do hope you'll consider staying."

The young nurse laughed with a slight blush to her cheeks, "I could go back to Detroit or work for a man who buys a hospital just so he can sit at the bedside of his sick friend.  There is no question the better person to be working under." 

Alucard smiled, "It is good to have you with us then."

He turned to Emily, "Hey there beautiful, are you ready to go home?" 

He leaned down and softly kissed her cheek, before walking around and wheeling her out of the room. "Tell me Em, what are your thoughts on Alice?"

Emily gave Alucard a smirk after he pecked her on the cheek, then glanced at the nurse and gave her a winkl

"I like her just fine. Smart lady, this one. I say we take her and leave the wheelchair."

Nothing was said in reply, but Emily could feel Alucard roll his eyes. That made her chuckle as the three made their way down the long hallway toward the exit.

Dr. Sloan rounded a corner and met them just before the doors leading to the lobby. He smiled warmly and greeted them, then held the swinging doors to the lobby open. 

"Well, you look much better than you did when they brought you in. Let's keep that upward trajectory, shall we?"

With a nod, Emily reached out and shook his hand.

"That's the plan. I'll see you in five days?"

The doctor shook her hand and nodded once.

"I'll be ready. In the mean time, I'll have someone send over the requisition requests before they go to the business office. Oh, and don't forget what we talked about...Dr. Renfroe."