Adam expected to see Sir Robert Collins lying weakly in bed when he stepped into the patient room. Instead, he stopped short, startled to find Patrick Collins there, slouched against the pillows, breathing heavily through a nasal oxygen mask.
For a moment, Adam just stood there uncertainly. They'd already guessed that Patrick was probably sick and hence had approached them, but he had not expected to see him like this.
Patrick lifted one trembling hand and gestured toward the chair beside him. Wordlessly, Adam crossed the room and sat down. He kept his eyes on the older man, who shut his own and drew in several laboured breaths before pulling the mask off as he asked Adam in a slow voice, "Adam, have you made a decision yet, regarding Adir?"
Despite the calm way he asked, it did not hide the urgency in his voice and in his eyes.
