"Cameron is on a rampage. Things appear to have gone very wrong, but I'm not exactly sure what or why."
Her eyes went wide as he reached out and took her hands.
He struggled and she heard a noise pass his lips. My God, was it possible? Had cutting back really made such a difference already? He blinked in frustration and squeezed her hands again, stronger this time.
"Take your time," she encouraged him.
He made a sound, as if clearing his throat and then in a barely audible croak asked, "Paige?"
A sob escaped her and she quickly wiped at her threatening tears. She nodded slowly.
"Yes. I..."
He again took her hands and squeezed encouragement. She couldn't believe it, he was trying to give her strength.
"She...she ran into her husband from two or three years ago."
He squeezed almost enough to hurt her and she saw his eyes more full of life then she had seen in years. She was torn. Without question, hearing this was likely ripping him apart inside and yet it was also pulling him out. And she needed him to fight.
"I don't know the details, but he ran into her and somehow he has convinced her to go with him. It definitely was not something Cameron was prepared for. He's losing it. I don't know what he is intending to do, but it is not good. However, I am partially grateful. We need to move things up. I want to use this situation as a diversion."
He squeezed again. "P..paige, help Paige."
She shook her head.
"We can't. I wouldn't know where or how to begin. Besides, right now we need to focus on us. This might be the best opportunity we ever get. The only one we ever get."
"Help, Paige," he said again. It was still barely a whisper, but she could feel the force behind his words.
"Still so damn stubborn," she said and he managed a smile. She melted inside and nodded.
"Fine. We, you hear me? We will try to help Paige if we can, but I will need your help."
He squeezed an affirmative.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" She knew the answer, but felt the need to ask.
He returned yet another affirmative squeeze.
"Okay then" she said as she reached into her purse. "You need to hold it together. If it hurts you can't show it. If it...when it works, you need to keep up appearances. Cameron gets the tiniest bit suspicious and who knows how he might react."
She watched as he patted his right leg.
"Exactly," she said, relieved and amazed to see just how much he understood.
She looked around slowly and when she was as certain as she could be that no one could see her, she pulled the small syringe from her purse. She quickly uncapped the needle and jammed the syringe through his pants and into his leg, depressing the plunger. A moment later the needle was recapped and the now empty syringe back in her purse.
She watched as his leg twitched for a moment. She prayed that would be the worst of the side effects, but didn't believe it was possible that they could be that lucky.
"How are we doing?"
The sound of the approaching voice made Julie's heart skip a beat and she nearly screamed. Not far down the path, Sarah was working her way toward them.
Jason squeezed Julie's hands once again and he repeated, "Help, Paige." He fell silent as the footsteps from behind came to a stop.
"I was starting to think you'd run away," Sarah said.
"Sorry?"
"You've been out here nearly an hour."
Julie looked at her watch and saw it was true.
"I guess we lost track of time," she said, not willing to look Sarah in the eye.
"I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just worried."
Julie could tell she meant it. Sarah had been watching over Jason for years and while at work, it was rare for her to be very far away from him. That was true of almost every resident and their caregiver, but even more so for some.
"I can leave you if..."
"No, Sarah. Actually your timing is perfect. As much as I hate to, I have to get going. You'll make sure he gets back in okay?"
It was a meaningless question. Of course she would get him back to the house okay, it was her job. But Sarah understood all the unspoken meaning behind her words and nodded. She would look after him.
Julie leaned forward and kissed Jason on the cheek. "You behave yourself now," she admonished. She sat there looking at him, but he didn't meet her eyes this time. He was staring off in the distance, his eyes focused on nothing at all. She wasn't sure what that meant and a sudden rush of fear filled her. What had she just done? Try as she might, she couldn't stop a tear or two from rolling down her cheeks.
"I'll look after him, Julie. I promise," Sarah said, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Julie shocked Sarah by grabbing her in a tight hug.