Nicole marveled at the results. Could those pills have truly worked wonders?

Eager for confirmation and intrigued by the potential implications for her health, Nicole quickly called Roscoe. After a few rings, he picked up.

"Nicole?" Roscoe answered, his tone reflecting surprise at her call.

Nicole hadn't been in touch with Roscoe for quite some time, mostly due to the complications in her life and Jarrod's watchful eye. She hesitated to involve Roscoe, not wanting to draw him into her troubles.

However, she found herself in need of his medical expertise, particularly in genetic testing, an area where he far surpassed her knowledge.

"Roscoe, could you review my medical report? ALl my test results are now normal. Does this mean that those pills worked? And more importantly, could Austin consume those pills?" Nicole's voice crackled with cautious optimism over the call. The possibility that the same pills might help Austin filled her with a mix of hope and anxiety.

Roscoe responded promptly to Nicole's request, "Send over the details and we can discuss this more comfortably over voice chat."

As they switched to a voice call, Nicole forwarded the test results.

Remembering her previous oversight, she inquired about his health, “How have you been holding up, Roscoe?"

Roscoe paused, a hint of hesitation in his voice, perhaps indicating he preferred to keep his ordeal private. “I'm managing quite well, Nicole. Thanks for asking," he reassured her, his tone steady.

Relieved to hear Roscoe was doing well, Nicole continued, "That's great to hear. Now, about my report..."

Roscoe reviewed her medical data briefly before responding, "Nicole, the results suggest your body has nearly normalized, which is remarkable."

The conversation then turned to Austin. "What about Austin? Is it possible for him to use the pills?" Nicole asked, her tone laced with concern.

“How did you come across the pills?" Roscoe inquired, recalling the chaotic circumstances previously unmentioned by Nicole.

Nicole explained how she discovered the porcelain bottle before Alec's incident, an oversight in her earlier explanation due to the tumult.

Pleased yet cautious, Roscoe considered the implications. "It's promising, but every case is unique. We can't assume Austin will respond identically." Contemplating further, he asked, “How many pills remain?"

Nicole checked. "There are five left in the bottle," she informed him.

Reflecting on their shared history with taking the pills, Roscoe commented, "You had taken three, and the witch forced me to take four. We need to plan carefully. Austin might need up to four pills."

Roscoe explained, "Nicole, to be honest, about a quarter of my brain was consumed by the parasites. If it had been anyone else, they would likely be paralyzed and bedridden. But Emerie kept me alive with medicine. Although it wasn't as potent as the pills you found, it kept me functioning. During the ritual, she gave me four of those pills. While the missing parts of my brain didn't regenerate, they formed a closed gap, allowing me to live normally, except for some headaches. We both experienced positive results after taking the pills, but I can't be sure if Austin can use them, so I need to study one pill first." Roscoe hadn't planned on sharing this information. As a man, he didn't feel obliged to expose his scars and didn't want to burden Nicole.

He knew Nicole inside out. Despite her tough exterior, she had a soft heart and always went the extra mile to help those who had extended a helping hand to her.