Portland, Oregon.
Chapter 1: Will's Fourteenth Day.

Will followed his father down the hall, going in his tiptoes to see everything. The smell of sickness was one that any could smell if it were strong enough, and in this case, it was.

The hospital beds were so many that there may have been a few in each room. His father brushed past people who were complaining about the lack of privacy. Will winced when one of the nurses ran into him as she rushed into one of the rooms.

Will honestly hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected the scathing glares set at his father, the unbearable smell, the small bodies of children that were too frail and weak to survive the sickness. It was all overwhelming to Will.

He was used to a calm life down at his dorm with his roommate, Mitchell, and his usual studying. But now, he barely had time to get his work done with all of the volunteering he had signed up for.

Will knew the lives of half of his city was more important than his career, and he knew this was the right thing to do, but it was hard. It was hard to face the fact that he may have to drop out of college. The college he had worked so hard for, and the college that would make him a real doctor, unlike his illegal volunteering.

Will yelped as he tripped over a wire in the ground. Luckily, he managed not to unplug it, so the patient only gave him a hateful glare. Will flinched, and scratched the back of his neck.

"Come on, kiddo." His dad called back to him.

Will jumped at the sound of his voice and hurried after him.

"Doctor-" someone approached hesitantly.

"Yes, Larissa?" His father asked gently.

"You wouldn't happen to know where Theodore was put, would you?" Larissa tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

She looked about Will's age, nineteen. She had chocolate brown eyes, that looked shattered and scared. Will stared at her for a moment before he registered that his dad was talking.

". . . be in room twenty-three B."

"Thank you, Mr. Solace. Is this your son?" Larissa asked, cocking her head.

"Yes. Will, this is Larissa. She's been awfully helpful. Just a little bad at keeping track of young Theodore Atlas."

Larissa blushed. "He runs away at the sight of a needle! The other doctors keep having to put him in other rooms!"

Will grinned. "I was taking care of him yesterday. He's a pesky little one."

Larissa smiled. "Well, I don't suppose you would want to help me with him for a bit?"

Will stared at the pretty girl. "Oh. Um. Sure, if my dad can handle my other duties?"

"'Course, kiddo. Don't get sick. Remember your shots."

"I will, dad."

~

Theodore was playing with Legos when Larissa and Will got to his room. His pale skin stood out against his dark brown hair and dark eyes. Though they looked tired, they somehow managed to keep their glow of happiness.

Larissa leaned closer to Will. "He's been eating well. I just don't think we'll be able to give him shots."

Will frowned. "He's going to need them."

"I know," Larissa frowned.

"Hey, Theo." Will grinned, squatting down next to him.

"Doctor Will?" Theodore narrowed his eyes.

"That's me," Will smiled gently.

"Are you here to poke me with those weird knives?" Theodore's lip trembled.

"No, of course not. We know you don't like that. I have a question for you, buddy."

"What?" Theodore said curiously.

"You want to get better, don't you?"

"Of course! I'm always tired! And my tummy always hurts! Sometimes I can't even breathe, Sir." Theodore exclaimed.

Will frowned. "Then you might need a few shots, buddy."

Larissa winced.

"No! That's what they did to my daddy before he left me alone! They forced him to leave!" Theodore sobbed.

"Theo, buddy." Will said gently. When Theodore continued to yell, Will grasped the last straw. "Theo! Do you want to leave like your dad? Do you want his death to be for no reason? He's watching right now. He wants you to live a long happy life. Do you want to dishonor his wishes and leave just because that's what he did?

"I understand you would want to be like him, that's all I want; to be like my dad. But you can't leave just because you think you're on your own. He wants you to live as long as he did; even longer if you can. You are not alone in this fight, Theo. Everyone in the hospital is behind you."

Larissa stared at him, and Theodore frowned. "Really?"

"Really, buddy."

Theodore was silent for a moment. "I want the shots."

Will smiled. "You're doing your dad a big favor, Theo. He's proud of you."

~

Larissa followed him out of the room, closing the door behind her gently. The other two patients in the room were sleeping, fortunately not awoken by Theodore's yells.

"Nobody's ever managed to get him to even take his pills. They normally have to wait til he's asleep. And if you tried shots while he was asleep. . ."

"Yeah. Well, I guess I've just always been good at convincing people not to die."

But not my sister.

"I guess so. Are you busy tonight-?" Larissa started.

"Will Solace to the Emergency Room, please." His dad's voice came from the intercom.

Will looked at Larissa apologetically, before jogging down the hall to the elevator, and down to the E.R.

It seemed as though the elevator couldn't move any faster as Will jammed the button. When it finally dinged, Will hopped out and slid down the hall.

When he entered the Emergency Room, the smell almost made him gag. He made his way over to his dad, stepping carefully over wires.

"Why-?"

Before Will could finish, his father pointed to a decently skinny boy, who was holding a girl with olive skin and dark hair in his arms. The despairing look on the boy's face caused Will to quickly walk towards him.

He was wearing a black t-shirt underneath and aviator jacket, and black jeans. His hair hung in his eyes, so Will couldn't see their color.

"What's your name?" Will asked immediately, grabbing a clipboard out of one of the cupboards.

"Nico di Angelo."

"And who's this?"

"My sister, Bianca."

"Do you know of her condition?"

"She's dead."

Will froze. Looking up from the clipboard, Will saw tears on the smaller boy's face.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly.

Nico just shook his head. "Can you take her body?"

Will nodded and gestured for one of the official workers to come over. "James here will take her."

Nico nodded, hesitated before handing her over. Will studied the boy. "I think you're sick, Nico."

"Excuse me?"

"No! Erm. I think we need to get you a room-"

"No. I-I don't want to stay here. I want to go home." Nico said shakily.

"I don't think I can let you. We need to stop this from spreading as best we can."

Nico just stared at Will for a moment, before nodding and biting his lip.

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This entire story is dedicated to emotionallypizza because Pizza Mon is probably my most encouraging friend >.<