Back in the Twist home, Samantha and the others continued to clean up dinner. Alex left before they got dinner started, his parents called to ask why he wasn’t home by now. He was reluctant to leave, but Ben promised him he’d send him an update if anything happened.
The group was just finishing up washing and stacking the dishes when there was a knock at the door.
“I wonder who that could be,” Francis said as Ben went to answer the door.
“Nate!” Ben exclaimed, very surprised to see his friend on his doorstep. As embarrassing as it was, the Andersons and Twists forgot about him in lieu of recent events. Nate had a big smile on his face from his wonderful weekend with his new girlfriend (fiancé).
“Hey. Figured you guys were here. What’s up?” Nate asked, setting his bag down.
“Uh…” was the only response he got from anyone. They weren’t sure where to begin. Nate gave everyone a confused look, and asked if someone died while he was gone. He wasn’t too far off.
“No one died, but maybe you should sit down.” William told his son. Nate’s brow furrowed, but he sat beside his dad on the Twists’ couch.
“What the hell did I miss?” he thought. He had come bearing good news, but suddenly felt like his news wasn’t going to be very interesting to the others.
“You guys go on ahead, I’ll stay here and explain things to Nate.” William said.
“Go where?” Nate asked. He didn’t realize it until just now that everyone looked like they were ready to go somewhere. And what was with Eric? He looked like he had to pee really badly. So anxious.
“Are you sure Will?” Martha asked.
“Ya, go on. Send my regards to the Lawsons. Besides, it’s better not to create a crowd in a hospital.” William said.
“What are you guys talking about?” Nate demanded, his confusing mounting. All he was able to absorb from that sentence was Lawsons, and hospital. And while Maggie Lawson did work at one, he seriously doubted his entire family, plus the Twists were going to pay her a visit.
“I’ll see you later then,” Martha bent over to kiss William, and then poor confused Nate. After they’d gone, Nate looked at his father for some answers. And boy did he get them…
--------------------------------------------------------
Back at the hospital, Spencer was bored out of her mind. Her aunt and uncle went home, and her dad went to pick up a few things from their house. Her mom was who knows where, off doing doctor things probably. Which left Spencer alone, without so much as a TV remote.
She was in no mood to get up. She had an IV jammed in her good arm, and her other one in a sling, numb from pain killers. And a lot of them. Enough to take down a grizzly bear she suspected. Since Spencer was still in her panther/wolf form, she needed stronger doses of medicine in order for them to work. The measurements were guesstimated, and a little overdone just to be safe.
“Good god will someone please just give me some of that sleeping juice so I can at least pass out. I’m sick of staring at the ceiling.” Spencer muttered, knowing there was no one around to hear her. She began to get restless again.
She kicked her legs out, and stretched her paws. Spencer watched as she made her tail swing off the side of the bed. Again, there wasn’t much else to do. She couldn’t reach the “call button”, and knew if she started yelling for someone they’d think she was dying. And in a way she was, of boredom.
“One sheep, two sheep, red sheep, blue sheep.” Spencer said, pretending the dust bunnies stuck to the end of her tail where sheep.
“Three sheep, four sheep, my sheep, your sheep.” she continued. And after rhyming her way to twenty five sheep, twenty six sheep, for the love of god, kill me sheep, she’d had enough. Spencer tried to get up, but the IV kept her tied to the bed.
“I might just change back so I can feel something.” she groaned, moving the pillow from under her head to over her head.
“Is this some kind of divine punishment for all the crap I’ve pulled in the past? Isn’t the arm enough for you?” Spencer growled at the ceiling (not really the ceiling, much further up if you get it).
“Uh, is this a bad time Spencer?”
Spencer turned her head to see Ben, and Eric, and their mothers’ in the doorway. Behind them was her own mother.
“No, perfect time. I was about to rip this IV out of my arm and start skipping down the halls singing, ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’. Care you join me?”