"As you can see by the initial MRI scan, this discolored area here is where the aneurysm in Julie's brain occurred," said Doctor Tora Tachibana, while pointing to the spot. "I'll be receiving the more detailed image as soon as it develops, but I've already contacted a colleague of mine. While she has yet to become a were herself, or at least, she was still a normal the last time I saw her; Doctor Mera Curry* is pro-were and a marine life expert. She'll be flying in from Hawaii tomorrow afternoon. We'll consult then, and accompany your daughter when we transport Julie to Seattle Monday night for the Tuesday morning surgery I'll perform with her input and assistance."
"I see. And Julie will be better afterward?" asked her mother, while Martin Stovall continued to stare at the brain image.
"Physical recovery will take time, but on that front, yes. But either Doctor Curry or Frances Twist are better qualified to answer in regards to the mental front," admitted Doctor Tachibana. "Now that your daughter has seen HER Eric," he added, reminding them of the ruse the younger Anderson lad participated in to calm Julie down, "she has become more cooperative and responsive to treatment. Her vital signs are improving and now closer to where they should be for both a 14 year old girl and a 14 year old were-mermaid."
"Hmmm..... I wonder," said Julie's father, while still staring at the picture.
"Yes?" asked Doctor Tachibana.
"While I can't explain it in medical detail, you know that the concepts of love at first sight and soul mates are scientific facts for were-mers," began Martin Stovall. "That might be the part of the brain involved in that, at least for Julie."
"Meaning?" asked Doctor Tachibana, wondering what her father was leading to.
"When a were-mer thinks they have discovered their soul mate and they're right, in time a bond forms between them. That builds into true love. If a were-mer actually has found the right person for them, in time the other's eyes alternate color as a sign of recognition and confirmation, even if the other isn't aware of that," explained Mister Stovall.
"Like you said mine did going from blue to sea-green before I became a were-mermaid on our wedding night," realized his wife.
"Yes. Now, what if that bond really was starting to form between Julie and Eric Anderson, but it got severed somehow?" asked Martin.
"You mean like the traumatic experience of Eric Anderson losing his father**?" realized Doctor Tachibana, having heard the story.
"Exactly," said Mr. Stovall. "Eric unfortunately lost that connection, and never fell in love with Julie. Yet it was still going strong in our daughter, waiting for a reply that never came, until..."***
"Well, it's an interesting theory, and one I will certainly run past Doctors Twist and Curry when I see them next," promised Tachibana, unable to suppress a yawn. "But it's getting late and we all need to at least attempt to gather a few hours of sleep. The sedative we have given Julie, combined with our ruse, are having positive effects now, so she should sleep until morning."
MEANWHILE...
Although Julie Stovall was asleep in her room, there was one thought swimming (no pun intended) through her dreams.
She and her fellow were-mer Eric Anderson living their lives together. Going to high school, sharing Freshman lunch break, him walking her home every day, the stolen moments when they could at least kiss if not enjoy more physical pleasures, and everything else two normal 14 year old were-mers deeply and truly in love with each other did.
ELSEWHERE...
After finally being able to put aside his thoughts and concerns for Julie Stovall (at least for now), Eric Anderson had a relatively peaceful but short night's sleep thinking about his she-wolf Cassie O'Sullivan, and the wonderful life they would have together in the future with him as a werewolf for the Moon Lake Police Department and she as Doctor Cassie Anderson.
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*My apologies to any comic book fans. I couldn't resist the name.
**Which is where history for the Moon Lake of Earth-3 deviates from the history of Earth-1's Moon Lake.
***BINGO! Mister Stovall has it EXACTLY right!—tmw.