~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

Hiding in the blue

"Where is my son? Where is my son?"  

Smoke practically blowing out of her ears, Neytiri came storming into the lab with a rageful look in her eyes. As her tail waved wildly behind her she knocked down stacks of papers off the tables and strewn a mess all over the floor. 

Jake rushed towards her and put his finger on his lips, "Shh, shh. He's asleep--he's asleep." 

Neytiri's eyes softened and that familiar pout in her chin announced itself. She analyzed the lab carefully and took a deep, agitated breath. "Where is he?" 

Norm stood a good distance between Jake and his wife. It had officially been almost six days since Neteyam was moved here, and Neytiri had lost patience and flew all the way to her Omaticayan home. She was panicked and scared for her son, and to be honest, Jake's worry was only continuing to grow as well. Dr. Max told him Neteyam had now gone septic, and there was really only one option that could work fast enough for him to recover. 

Norm pointed to the room around the corridor. "He's down there." 

As Neytiri stamped off, Norm and Jake shared a concerned look. Neytiri wasn't fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. She didn't know what they were going to have to do. 

Inside Neteyam's room, the fifteen-year-old was lying on his back, his head tilted to the side a little. There was a mask over the lower part of his face that gave him oxygen, but nevertheless, his breathing still sounded like a revving chainsaw and his chest rose and fell raggedly with the struggle of his lungs. The sight of him hooked up to all those tubes and machines made Jake feel sick. 

Neytiri closed her eyes briefly and kissed her firstborn on the forehead. Dr. Max was already standing in the room, ready to break the news to the fierce mother. He cleared his throat and held out his hands, "So, now that were all gathered here... we should probably discuss the elephant in the room."

Each head turned his way. Jake already knew what he was preparing to say, but his insides pooled with dread because he loathed having to hear it again. 

"Neteyam hasn't been able to shake the infection, no matter what we do, and he's now gone septic. And I hate to be the one to say this, but if we don't do something, there's a likely chance he won't survive." The doctor's words were laced with a tense emotion. He watched Neteyam grow up. This was easily just as hard for him as anybody else. 

Glistening tears fell from Neytiri's striped cheeks. "What can be done?" she asked, her voice breaking. 

Jake reached out and clasped her hand between his fingers. He looked down at his son. Their son. His joy. 

"We believe if we remove his lung he will survive. It's really the only option at this point, unfortunately." He waited for the mother's reaction. Ultimately, they couldn't do anything without the parents' consent. But it was actually Neytiri who made that decision, because when it came to her children, she had a say in everything. 

Jake looked at her, a desperation in his eyes. "Neytiri, we have to do this. If not--" he broke off, his gaze falling onto his son's unmoving body. It was almost impossible to except this had all taken place so quickly, but he knew Neytiri would have a harder understanding on why this was happening. She was scared, and rightfully so. 

Neytiri's ears fell back, and her eyes were downcast. "This is the only option?" 

Dr. Max nodded. "I'm afraid it is."

She took in a long, deep breath and wiped her eyes. "Very well. Whatever it takes to help my son."