Ted and Jessica had discussed the bacteria for almost an hour when Jessica finally decided to ignore Ted’s warning and administer an antibiotic. Ted’s anger was hard to understand, and Jessica finally told him to shut up or leave. He opted to stay and keep his opinions to himself.
Jessica wiggled Ian’s shoulder. “Can you hear me, Ian?” she asked.
He opened his eyes slightly and tried to lick his lips. “So thirsty,” he whispered.
“It’s the fever. Listen—I’m gonna give you a powerful antibiotic and a saline drip to keep you hydrated. I think it will help you, Ian. But I have to tell you—I’m just not sure. It’s the bacteria from the tube worms. You got infected with it.”
Ian’s eyes fluttered. “Ian? I want your permission to give you the antibiotic.”
He nodded slightly and closed his eyes. He was burning up. Jessica hooked up the IV and ran two separate drip bags. Ted folded his arms and watched in silence as the antibiotic dripped slowly into Ian’s vein.
Jim and Tony had each taken a precautionary shower, scrubbing hard before putting on new uniforms. They bagged up their old clothes and sealed them in a bag, just in case. Jim ordered the rest of the crew to do the same, and then updated them on what had happened to Ian.
Jessica called up from sickbay and told Jim that Ian was asleep, but seemed to be holding his own. His breathing was slightly labored because of the throat inflammation, and she had run a breathing tube up his nose to make it easier. Normally, the hose would contain a higher mix of oxygen, but because they were under slight pressure, she was afraid to over-oxygenate him. Oxygen was toxic at high pressure, a problem divers had to deal with all the time, and it complicated her already stressful situation. While they weren’t at very high pressure, it was higher than normal, and Ian was already in rough enough shape.
For now, it was time to just wait and see.