The Unexpected
Copyright© 2025 by Technocracy
Chapter 20
Fiction Sex Story: Chapter 20 - "If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it; for it is hard to be sought out, and difficult." -- Heraclitus of Ephesus
Caution: This Fiction Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Consensual Heterosexual Fiction Science Fiction Violence
Administration offices, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Ma - 10:15 AM, 17 October 2006
BID Hospital had seldom, if ever, attracted the considerations of wealthy benefactors. The BID hospital public affairs officer scrambled back to her desk phone. Her attentions were divided between watching the handsome form of the bearded blonde man, watching his ‘firm’ mode of walking, exit her office, then looking at the two six-figure checks, with incredulity. His intent was clear. He was buying premium services for a woman currently in the ICU, and the continuation of an assigned medical concierge for an employee.
Like most people in the immediate area of Needham, the public affairs officer had heard of SIG, and of the current investigative conflagration that had developed around the police department and the select committee. Looking at the man’s business card, and noting his title, she posited that he was, yet another, tech genius out of Harvard or MIT. She re-focused on making arrangements to ensure the two patients received ‘everything’ required for their treatments.
Intensive Care Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Ma - 10:35 AM, 17 October 2006
Benny re-entered the ICU, being careful to not interfere with the activities of medical practitioners and equipment movements. Andrea was in a cordoned-off area towards the end of the ICU, but close to the second of two nurse stations. Benny nodded to the plastered smile of a middle-aged nurse as he pushed aside the temporary curtain. The rhythmic exhalations, inhalations, and soft mechanical clicks and grinds of the ventilator dominated the space.
Benny went to stand over Lizzy’s semi-reclined form, softly placing his hand on her, as she slept next to her mother’s unconscious body.
“Lizzy? ... Lizzy, Mason will be here in about an hour. I told him to take you home.”
Lizzy’s reply was strained from fatigue.
“No ... No, I’m not leaving until mom wakes. Did you arrange things with the hospital, for Mom and Brian?”
“I did.”
Benny’s cell phone beeped. He kissed Lizzy’s forehead then stepped out of the area to answer. Benny plugged his earpieces and microphone into to his phone.
“What?”
Hearing Robert’s voice, Benny tensed for bad news. Robert was quick with the question that everyone at SIG was asking
“How’s she doing, Benny? And how is Brian?”
“Stable. They said they will not attempt to bring her out of her comatose state, at least until tomorrow. Did you find me an expert?”
“I did, but you may not like this. Colonel Stewart arranged for two senior navy physicians to look at her and/or her records.”
“You think these doctors are legit? Mason has not had good things to say about government medicine.”
“His reference is most likely the VA. Henry told me that the typical senior military doctors have seen twice or thrice, and of a more diverse case load, as compared to civilian practitioners of similar experience.”
“When will they arrive?”
“Later today. Probably by helicopter.”
“Why is Stewart doing this?”
“He has no choice, Benson. No choice at all. You and Harry are SIG. And he needs SIG. I told him that neither yourself or Harry would be in any condition to resume work at SIG until Brian has recovered and Andrea is well. He’s pulling out the stops. Let us take advantage of his largess and connections.”
Benny sighed. He was emotionally barren from Andrea’s demise, and physically beaten down from not sleeping for several days. He had no remaining stamina, and he had no arguments left.
“I will be waiting for them.”
“Benson, mind yourself and Isabelle. Neither of you will be able to make good decisions for Andrea’s care if you break down from exhaustion.”
“I understand, Robert.”
Benny shoved his phone back into his pocket and returned to Lizzy and Andrea.
“Where is that book?”
Lizzy pointed to the small metal stand in the corner.
“Why was mom reading that Heinlein book?”
“I suggested it.”
“Only you could get mom to read something like that. Don’t lose her place.”
“She will remember what I read to her.”
Lizzy shook her head, hoping that Benny was not reaching the ends of his limits and losing his reasoning. She thought it ludicrous that her mother would remember what Benny read to her while unconscious. Benny paused to look at the book, being careful to not disturb the paper clip that Andrea had used as a bookmark.
Benny put the plastic visitor’s chair close to the head of the bed, then leaned into his woman. His mode of speech was a soft tone, reserved for her ears.
“Andy, remember where we were, the storm at the revival tent? This, and just after that, is where it becomes quite humorous.”
The book, ‘Job, A Comedy of Justice’, had been one of Benny’s favorite escape books during his adolescence. He softly, with care to slowly form each word, continued his reading, unto Andrea’s unconscious form. He translated to Portuguese when he was able. Lizzy slowly drifted off to sleep in the reclined visitor’s chair.
ICU, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Ma - 1:30 AM, 18 October 2006
Lizzy and Benny jerked awake at the sudden sound of voices. Benny stood up, as the lamp over the bed was turned on, as a nurse gently directed him away from the bed.
Two naval officers stood over Andrea, reading medical notes and charts. One officer wore the same eagle rank insignia as Stewart, and the other wore two stars. A third man, the hospital’s chief resident, stood at the foot of the bed, with several files and large envelopes at ready. Lizzy arose to stand behind the two men, listening carefully.
“ ... then that would be contraindication. Do we have the latest?”
The civilian doctor extracted x-ray negatives, PET scan and tomographic images, and others.
“Chest series, please.”
Benny and Lizzy did not understand the terminology, or if they two navy doctors had reached a conclusive diagnosis.
“The lab cultures?”
“Negative, except for a neutral gram-negative.”
“Atypical, then. Is he the husband?”
“Uh, I guess that is me...”
Benny’s unusual response gave the three physicians pause. The doctor with the two-star rank insignia was terse.
“Describe her work environment.”
“A small grocery and meat market.”
“And the type of heating and cooling to the building?”
“Yes, sir. There are HVAC systems in the building.”
Both navy doctors were obviously frustrated with Benny’s non-sequitur. Lizzy recognized the purpose of the question, thus interjecting her reply.
“A small water-based heat exchanger, and a furnace, are on stands between two buildings. It is shared between the market and the business next door.”
“Common ducting?”
Both Benny and Lizzy were confused as to the basis for the questions.
“Uhmm, we got a ‘T’ with thermostatically-controlled flapper valves on each side of the forced-air inlet. Otherwise, the ducting is separate.”
“Does she have immune or allergenic issues?”
“Very allergic to cats. Nothing else.”
The two navy doctors exchanged looks of concern. They addressed the question to the patient’s daughter, as they perceived the ‘husband’ to be mentally deficient from the stress.
“Who else works in the store?”
“Sometimes I do, he does, and we have two other part-timers.”
The navy admiral turned to the civilian doctor to issue a gruff command. He pointed to Lizzy and Benny.
“Obviously, this should be positive from one of the gram-negatives. Repeat lab cultures. In any case, assume Legionella pneumophila. Get your local health authority out there and shut the place down. Get these two tested.”
The chief resident snapped his fingers at the attending nurse.
“Tetracycline, IV,...”
The navy captain interrupted the chief resident’s instructions to his nurse.
“No. Doxycycline.”
The two navy officers set the medical reports and images on the bed, then made haste in their exit.
Benny and Lizzy turned to the hospital’s chief resident for an explanation.
“They suspect Legionnaire’s Disease. And we will need to test both of you.”
As the nurse returned with an IV bag, the doctor continued with an unusually clear elucidation, using an atypical modicum of care to explain and field their questions. The staff had been warned to provide the ‘gold-plated’ treatment, as the hospital administrators had dollar signs in their eyes.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Ma - 7:55 PM, 21 October 2006
Harry Spoons, Benny Harrison, and Robert Northrup hovered between the nurse and the bed, blocking any direct observation of the conversation. Benny sat in a chair that he had moved to be close to Brian Mulhairain. They talked quietly as the nurse moved about in the private room, adjusting the infusion machine, making notes to log his vitals and the myriad of medications they were pushing into his veins and down his gullet. Brian considered the medicos to be a general nuisance.
“ ... so you believe that the police shot him intentionally? Mason said that they were simply incompetents.”
“Aye, Robert. That they were. But one does not pull the trigger when the top cop on the scene says to jump on him.”
“And you are certain that is what you heard? Anything else after he was shot?”
“My mind was gone after the shots were fired. But the memory before that is strong and clear.”
Benny pondered the ramifications, then asking the obvious.
“Did you inform Henry?”
“He has been to visit several times. Henry recorded our conversations; We all are aware what this means, Benson.”
Robert’s legal mind stated the limits of the external influences that could be pressed on the local investigations.
“While none of this is good. It should please all to know that, so far, three police have been suspended, and two more were put behind a desk pending the staties investigation.”
As the nurse exited, Harry made a sound of disgust.
“That particular nurse is a busy-body. They all like that, Brian?”
“Only this lass. She asks of me, one too many questions. Always bustered about during her duty hours. Not to worry, my boys. Nigh, gentlemen, Henry knows. He’s looking up the young lady. Did the Texas team arrive?”
Harry nodded grimly as he replied, still uncertain about the new additions to the SIG security team.
“Yep. Haven’t seen them, but Henry put ‘em next door to those Marines. So how long we gonna run our private little army, Benny?”
“Don’t know. That would not be our concern. Let Henry and Robert determine such matters ... Why? The Marines causing problems?”
“Nah. But they’re no fun. They keep to themselves. They go running before the sun’s up, seem to have two shifts per day, have meetings with their officer and a statie supervisor every evening ... Ya know what, Benny? This patrolling stuff they do, it can’t be legal. Robert, doesn’t the governor have to authorize the state guard or the use of federal troops?”
“In theory, and notwithstanding the various adjudications per the Patriot Act, I would agree. But Henry did say that the governor’s office wanted someone to get a handle on the situation. That is about as an official order as I have heard. Why?”
“I dunno, Benny. Having federal troops patrolling the city, it creeps me out. This is America.”
“Perhaps, but you voters did elect the people that passed the Patriot Act, and the people that extended it. So we live with it.”
Harry shrugged at his friend, knowing that Benny was, at best, apolitical. He supposed that Benny was the most non-political person that he had ever known.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Ma - 11:25 PM, 21 October 2006
The private room was relatively spacious, and had an adjoining restroom and an unusual open shower station in the elongated bathroom.
As Benny entered the room, he saw Mason and Lizzy to each side of Andrea, asleep in chairs. His lover remained comatose, remaining on the intrusive ventilator.
Lizzy stirred, wakening, seeing Benny’s form in the dim lighting.
“How’s Brian doing?”
“Better. They got the sepsis under control. If no other problems, they estimate that Brian will be released within a week.”
Lizzy got up, merged with Benny, wrapping her arms around his lower torso. Once again, Lizzy noted the similar bodies, in both size and build and general appearance, of Benny and Mason. Albeit Benny did not have the numerous bullet and shrapnel scars, and was not a light-complexioned blonde. She was thankful for the comforts and support from two good men.
Benny bent down, gently kissing Lizzy’s forehead, then delivering a softened edict.
“Go home, Lizzy. Have Mason drive you. Leave your truck here, I will have someone drive it back.”
“Benny, we can just go to school from here in the morning.”
“You will not. And do not come back here tomorrow night. I will call you.”
“No, not going to wait for your call. I will call you after we get back from school. I love you, Benny.”
Mason was standing and ready. He nodded to Benny as he gave a soft push to Lizzy, directing her through the doorway.
Benny pulled out the Heinlein book, and sat next to his beloved, starting to read to her, at not much more than a whisper. After 20 minutes of reading to Andrea, the book dropped onto Benny’s chest as an exhaustive sleep over-ruled his awareness.
Benny gently massaged the shampoo into Andrea’s scalp as she pushed her body into his. When Benny moved her under the shower to rinse her hair, Andrea pulled her man down for a kiss. As they kissed, the waves of the eastern Atlantic Ocean lapped at their lower legs.
Benny picked Andrea up, carrying her into the ocean, until they were past the surf and floating off-shore. They drifted down the coast, watching the people playing along the Sesimbra beach. Above the booming sea-side cliffs stood the foothills of the Arrábida mountains.
Benny pulled Andrea in for a kiss as they floated parallel to the beach, wondering how he knew that this was Portugal. Benny’s meta-mind accepted the pleasant experience as a dream-scape, most likely fueled by Andrea’s frequent descriptive narratives of her native land.
As Benny’s meta-cognition kicked in further, he realized that this may not be REM sleep, as he was too self-aware. Or perhaps this was simply a dream manifest of stress and exhaustion. Regardless of the physiological source, Benny did not desire a return to consciousness. He did not want to release this time ‘with’ Andrea. And he liked that he could understand her speaking in Portuguese in the literal sense, without the intermediate mental step of translation, and also with the sense of the figurative; that is, Benny could understand the nuances of Andrea’s native tongue.
“Is this not beautiful, my love?”
“Very much so, Andy. Somewhat similar to coastal California, north of LA. Is this where your father ran his fishing boats from?”
“It is. I went out with his crews during the summer season. Sometimes we went all the way to the Azores or Madeira.”
Andrea’s description was interrupted by her coughing and gagging.
“Andy? Did you inhale some water? ... Andy?”
Benny’s conscious mind was jerked back into awareness. Turning on the overhead light, Benny stood over Andrea, not understanding her brief movements.
“Andy, I will be right back. I’m going to get a nurse.”
Benny quickly kissed Andrea’s cheek as he withdrew in search of a medico.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Ma - 8:40 AM, 22 October 2006
Benny’s eyes did not leave his lover’s supine body as Harry attempted conversation, while Doris sat next to Andrea. Doris’ soft speech to her friend was unheard to Benny and Harry.
“Benny, you don’t look good. Let’s get something to eat. We need to talk about stuff.”
When Benny did not respond, Doris looked up at the bedraggled man, adding her thoughts.
“Benson. Listen to me, dear. You can’t help her if you drive yourself to exhaustion. Go with Harry. I will stay with Andrea.”
Benny’s only reply was to slump his shoulders and egress the depressing room. Harry gave his wife a resigned expression before following Benny out the room.
“ ... I was there, Benny. I heard what the internist and neurologist said ... Benny ... what if she don’t wake up?”
Benny looked away as he gave a terse reply.
“She will.”
“Benny, ya know what that neuro-guy said. You and Lizzy gotta think about the various possibilities.”
Benny refused to acknowledge any other possibility than Andrea’s recovery, repeating his terse reply.
“She will wake up.”
Harry knew that this was more than simple denial. Regardless of the man’s brilliance, or perhaps because of it, Harry knew that Benny had been forming a logical and principle-based premise of why and how he would get Andrea back to consciousness. Harry knew that once Benny formed a rationale, he would pursue that path until he crashed and burned, or until he succeeded with all the attendant glory.
Recognizing Benny’s inability to deal with the loss of Andrea, he directed Benny back into his leadership role.
“Okay, we’ll set that aside, Benny. Let’s assume we get Andrea back. In the meantime, we got a few problems.”
“Such as?”
“The store. Needham Health shut it down, and Leo’s shop also. What do we do with all of the stuff?”
“Have Miguel give it away to the regular customers. and have him tell everybody that we will be back open in a few months. What about Leo’s?”
“They found some of that bug in the ducts to his shop. He shut his place down before the city health department could cancel his cert.”
“Tell Leo that we have a contingency plan. Have Doris find a contractor to rip the HVAC stuff out, replace the whole reefer, and take down the meat counter and put in something bigger.”
Harry smiled at Benny, thinking that he had brought his friend a step closer to reality.
“Okay, now what are we gonna do ‘bout our three REIT funds?”
“You tell me. You are the economist. I am just an engineer.”
“Jeezus, Benny. Horse feathers and hockey pucks! You know damn well that you are the only one that can tweak the outer feedback loop. And don’t forget about the parallel setup at your hacienda ... uh, ya gonna eat them fries?”
Benny pushed his half-eaten plate to his friend with a glint of a sneer.
“Have Mason and Lizzy run those systems. And Lizzy can explain the hardware drivers to him. It will give them something to do other than hang around this dismal place.”
“Mason? Ya sure about that, Benny?”
“Mason has become more of an electrical engineer than Mike. Put Mike on the specs and designs to replace the stuff being removed at the store and Leo’s ... In fact, have Mike run a building re-build project. We do not want to task Doris with that. In parallel with all of that, start the approval process for a four hundred amp drop to the building.”
“Okay. What about the farm?”
“What about it?”
“Michelle drew up plans for two ranges. I want you to look at it before you say no again.”
“I still do not like the idea, Harry. Noise, lead pollution, angry neighbors, tearing up a nice area, and other unknowns.”
That 270 acre parcel next door is still up for sale. He reduced the price. That will be provide a big buffer from the neighbors. And Henry wants to put in a lighted helicopter pad.”
“We do not have any aircraft, and we do not have a pilot.”
“We have two pilots.”
“Whom?”
“Henry’s security team in Texas. We’re moving them out here. One of them owns a small civilian helo.”
“I want a rationale for such equipment from Henry ... On second thought, tell me, why does SIG needs an airplane?”
Harry, caught unprepared by the question, was been forced to ‘come clean’ by Benny.
“Well ... mostly, just a quick way to get outa town.”
“Is that Henry’s rationale? A method to quickly flee the area? Think about that, Harry. The people we care about are spread across Norfolk County. Lizzy and Mason are at BU, you and Doris are in Cambridge, and myself and Andy are at SIG or the store. And where would we land it? We cannot all travel to the farm - it defeats the purpose of a timely departure. Might as well just drive north somewhere than attempt to head west.”
“We would land it on the SIG roof. We did it once.”
“Perhaps. But we now have additional equipment mounted on the roof. More construction work, more cost, more lost time ... Let us do this, Harry. Maybe we can soothe yours and Henry’s savage beast. I want Henry to write up scenarios and contingencies with corresponding mitigation or solutions to all of this stuff. Then we will sit down with Robert and Brian. Put the farm at low priority, focus on the store and getting a 400 amp drop to our servers above the store. Okay?”
“Good enough, Benny. Wanna take a walk with Michelle and me around the block?”
Benny noticed Michelle eating something and reading a book at the next table.
“What?! There is no one with Andy and Doris?”
“Geez, relax your spurs. Jerri is with Andrea and Doris. Get your butt in gear, we’re gonna walk.”
“Who is Jerri?”
“She’s on the Texas team, or was. You’re gonna have a fun time with that woman, Benny.”
Benny could not imagine how he could be having ‘fun’ with another former soldier.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Needham, Ma - 10:40 PM, 24 October 2006
“Doctor Harrison, I will be in the next room for the remainder of my watch. Just hit the button for anything.”
“Call me Benny.”
“Good night, Benny.”
Benny watched the ‘newest’, at least for him, arrival, adding another body to Henry’s team. Benny had not bothered to regard or consider the woman, and knew nothing of her background. But he appreciated that Jerri Cleever had been discrete, circumspect, and had made an effort to stay in the background.