The next morning Lara rolled over to see that she was by herself. She quickly sat up, looking around for Cell. She hopped out of bed and went down the hall. She noticed that Seru was still in bed sleeping. Where could Cell be? As she entered the kitchen, she noticed that only the screen door was shut. The other door was open. She walked over to the door and looked up. Cell was fighting an invisible opponent in the air. She went out side and waited to see if he noticed her. When he didn’t she yelled up to him. “So I take it you’re feeling better?” Cell didn’t stop right away, but when he did he gently landed on the ground in front of her. “Never felt better,” he said. “You scared me last night, Cell,” she said. “Why?” “Why; because you’re not one to wake up in such pain like that. I thought something was going to happen to you.” Cell laughed and walked over to her. He took her head in his hand and kissed her cheek. She smiled and started heading back to the house. As she stepped through the doorway, Cell’s chest started to hurt him again. It wasn’t as severe as the last time, so he just ignored it. Later, as Lara was leaving for work, Cell couldn’t ignore the pain as much. It started getting stronger. He didn’t want to worry Lara again, so he continued to try to ignore it. As usual, after Lara left, Cell and Seru left for the dessert. They were almost to their normal spot when Cell stopped in midair. He felt as if he was going to pass out. Seru, seeing this, flew right over to him. “Daddy, are you okay?” “Seru…I don’t feel like training you today…” Cell said breathing heavily. “Okay…” Seru didn’t quite understand why, but he didn’t argue. Something must be really wrong if Daddy won’t fight, he thought. They slowly flew back to the house. As the house came into view, Cell started flying towards the ground. As he landed he tripped and almost fell. Seru ran over to him. “Are you sure you’re okay?” “Fine,” Cell said. “Go play or something.” Seru obeyed and left his father leaning against a tree. What in the world is wrong with me, Cell thought to himself. It was almost time for Lara to return home for the day. Seru was tired of playing with his action figures. He hadn’t seen nor heard from his dad since the came home. Curious, he went outside looking for him. When he got to the door he didn’t see his father. He figured he was out in back. As Seru turned the corner around the house, he saw Cell lying on the ground. He ran over as fast as he could. “Daddy? Daddy are you okay?” Cell’s eyes were shut and he was breathing hard, but he didn’t answer. Seru started to get scared. He didn’t know what to do. He started shaking his dad, but he still didn’t get a response. He got up and ran to the house. He picked up the phone and looked at the refrigerator for his mom’s work number. When he called, the lady on the other end told him Lara had already left for the night. Seru hung up and looked out the window, hoping to see his mom’s car. However, there wasn’t a car in sight. He looked at the emergency number list and called Mrs. Thomson. She picked up the phone and said in a sweet voice, “Hello?” “Mrs. Thomson,” Seru panted, “Daddy’s in trouble…he’s on the ground and he won’t answer me…and Mommy isn’t home yet…” “Oh Seru, hold on. I’ll be right over!” Seru hung up and ran back outside. It wasn’t long before he heard a car roar into the driveway. He got up and ran over, thinking it was his mom. But it was Mrs. Thomson. The two of them ran over to where Cell still lay. Mrs. Thomson called Cell’s name, but she didn’t get a response. By this time, Cell’s face cringed in pain. “Seru,” Mrs. Thomson said, “help me turn him onto his back.” They both rolled him over. Cell put his hand to his chest and gave a cry of pain. Mrs. Thomson put the back of her hand to Cell’s cheek. “He’s got a fever…” I don’t think we would be able to carry him inside; he’s just to big. Luckily, Lara returned home before they had to make any more decisions. She saw Seru and Mrs. Thomson kneeling on the ground, and yellow feet next to them. She dropped her things and ran over. “What happened!?” She yelled. Seru got up, “Mommy! Something’s wrong with Daddy!” Lara fell to her knees when she reached Cell. “Cell? Cell what’s wrong?” “He hasn’t answered any of us. He’s got a fever too,” said Mrs. Thomson. “Let’s get him inside,” Lara said. Lara and Mrs. Thomson picked up Cell’s shoulders, and Seru grabbed his legs. They managed to get him to Lara’s bed. Lara tried to get Cell to respond, but it was no use. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t just call a doctor, they’d think I’m nuts when I told them Cell was here. Or they’d run away when they got here.” “I would try to forget about that, Lara. It’s obvious he’s in pain,” Mrs. Thomson said. Lara tried to think. Then she it came into her head. “My friend at work’s husband is a doctor; maybe he would be willing to help.” She ran to the phone and called the Capsule Corp. office. She asked for a Cindy and waited. Finally, another voice came on the other line. “Cindy?” “Lara! What’s up?” Cindy said cheerfully. “Cindy, would your husband be willing to come to my house like right now?” “Eric? Why? What’s wrong?” “Cindy, I need a doctor, and Eric’s the only one I can trust. I have someone here and he’s in a lot of pain. Can you call him please?” “Well, it’s his day off, so you can just call my house. Tell him I said to go over, and he will.” “Thank-you so much Cindy.” Lara hung up with Cindy, and then dialed the other number. A man answered the phone. “Eric? This is Lara…” “Oh hello Lara,” Eric said. “Eric, can you quickly come to my house?” Lara explained the situation to him. “I need a doctor that I know can keep a secret…I’ll tell you more when you get here.” Eric agreed and said he’d be right over. About twenty minutes later, he arrived and knocked on the door. Lara let him in. “Thank you so much for coming…but please, when you see the patient…you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone else.” Eric agreed and followed Lara to her room. When he saw who was lying on the bed his mouth dropped. “Lara…is that the monster from the tournament?” “Yes, but please ignore who he is…he needs help fast.” Eric got to work examining Cell. He listened to Cell’s heartbeat. “He’s having trouble breathing…when did this start?” Lara explained what had happened and how Seru found him this afternoon. Eric thought for a moment. “Lara, I think it’s the heart virus that has been going around.” “Heart virus?” Lara thought the worst. “Yes, it started hitting people about five years ago. And I’m sorry to say it was fatal.” Lara put her hand to her mouth. No, no…not again…I won’t lose him again, she thought. “However,” Eric continued, “they think the found a cure for the virus. I’ll have to run to the hospital to get it though.” “Please do it then!” Lara cried. Eric didn’t waste any time. He left and headed for the hospital. Lara sat on the bedside and watched Cell breathing in pain. He started letting out cries of pain again. “Cell, please hang on.” Eric returned an hour later with a small bottle. He wasted no time giving Cell the first dose. After five minutes, Cell started calming down. He started breathing more easily and he no longer cried out in pain. His hand that was on his chest fell to his side; he had fallen asleep. A sigh of relief came over Lara. “That should help him,” Eric said. “It’ll take about ten days for him to recover. I just hope it works for your sake. Now if you’d be so kind, what is Cell doing here?” “It’s a long story.” Lara told him she had met him and it started from there. He didn’t ask any more questions. “Well, that is an amazing story. I’ll come back in a few days to see how he’s doing. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” “Thank you so much Eric.” Lara walked him out and then returned to Cell’s side. “Is Daddy going to be okay?” Seru looked at his mother. “I hope so, Seru.” Lara brushed her hand against Cell’s cheek. “Oh, I forgot about his fever. Seru, get me a washbasin and a washcloth. Fill the basin with cold water.” Seru returned with what his mother asked for. She dipped the cloth in the cold water and patted Cell’s face. “Hopefully we can get his fever down.” Mrs. Thomson stayed there to help. She made dinner for both Seru and Lara, and tried to keep Seru’s mind occupied so he wouldn’t think of his father’s situation. From time to time, Cell cried out in pain and Lara had to give him the medicine. Each time he did that it scared her. She prayed that he’d be okay. That night, Lara sat on a chair she brought next to the bed. She tried to stay awake, but she couldn’t help but drift off to sleep. However, when Cell needed her, she immediately woke up and tended to him.