It was around noon when Ben Twist after spending the morning on the sofa watching television in his werewolf fursona, decided to get dressed. Standing in his room he looks at the mirror in his bedroom; seeing his lupine reflection staring back at him, he can’t help but smile a wolfish smile. Putting on some underwear he bought from Awareness he begins reverting back to his human form; turning around to grab some socks and pants he stares at his reflection once more. Fully human but sporting a set of abs that would make any girl swoon, Ben smiles; he knows if his boyfriend Alex saw him, they would both be at it like a couple of rutting wolves. Putting on his socks and pants he decides to leave it at that for now; Walking downstairs bare chested he is about to grab the vacuum when is mom Frances walks by with her phone in her ear.
*****
Frances and Samantha Twist were in their kitchen admiring the sleeping kittens curled up upon each other to the kitchen table. After having their usual breakfast of fruit with a muffin and coffee; they engaged in a bit of small talk. The two kittens curled on the table napping after sharing a saucer of cat’s milk were brother and sister. The male was white fur kitten with orange reddish eyes named Saffron. The female was a grey tabby with blue eyes named Jasmine.
Giving the kittens a gentle scratch behind the ears; Frances was completely oblivious to the fact that it was around noon; her concertation with the kittens was broken when her work phone rings. The ring tone also wakes the two kittens who immediately start mewling. With Samantha comforting the tiny critters as Frances gets up she answers her phone.
“Hello?”
“Doctor Frances? This is Doctor Abigail Robinson, how are you today?”
“Fine doctor,” Frances answers; “what can I do for you?”
“Actually, I’m calling to refer a patient to you;” Abigail responding. “Do you have a pen and paper handy?”
“Just a moment,” Frances responds as she walks out of the kitchen; passing by her adoptive son Ben as she heads to the small table by the front door. “Okay Doctor Robison, I’m ready with the details.”
“The patient in question had some tests done and we diagnosed him with Bi-polar disorder,” Abigail Robison stating on the other line; “he is a were-panther.”
“A bi-polar were,” Frances looking ashen; “Does he know the risks for not taking the proper medication?”
“Yes Frances,” Abigail answering; “I believe doctor Tora Tachibana explained that to him yesterday as he was visiting his wife in the hospital. He was shown the secured ward in the sub-basement; the feral ward. I think that convinced him to agree to being tested; what with his erratic behavior of late.”
“And what is the patient’s name,” France quickly writing down some notes; “As well as the medication you started him on.”
“Are you sitting down,” Abigail asking; “I’m referring Benton Knight. I already have him prescribed the usual medication to treat Bi-polar, but with each person different we will both need to see what works best and what doesn’t.”
Frances not wanting anyone to hear what she is about to say rushes to her car for some privacy; “you got to be kidding. The man who tried to have my licensed revoked and Samantha removed from her job just because we are lesbians. That same Benton Knight?”
“The very same,” Abigail answers; “also while I found this strange when I was about to give him a list of therapist to see, he asked if any of them also did anger management therapy.” Abigail continuing, “you were the only one on the list that had the qualifications and knew what could happen to a were if they left their bi-polar disorder untreated.”
Frances was thinking for a bit; with her schedule the way it is she would have to rearrange her current patients to accommodate the new emergency. ‘What do I tell Martin and Melissa Stovall that I might not be able to see them for a few weeks? What do I tell the other patients?’
“So much for a Christmas break,” Frances sighs; “I take it the elder council will want Benton to be a priority case?”
“I would assume so,” Abigail wondering; “but since this revelation only happened this morning, I doubt all are aware of the matter yet. Benton’s brother Lance was present and from what I heard he is sitting on the elder council as the were-panther representative until Benton’s daughter is old enough to take the seat.”
“So I should expect a scroll with the elder council’s seal on it in a few days,” Frances sighing; “You know how protective I am in regards to doctor patient confidentiality.”
“So am I,” Abigail answering; “but if said patient is a risk to exposing existence of weres to the whole world, we have a duty to inform the council.”
“Well, have his file sent to my office on Monday so I can review it;” Frances sighing. “I’ll contact him to set up an appointment soon after.”
“Okay Frances,” Abigail responding; “and thank you.”
Hanging up; Frances is sitting in her car thinking ‘how can this week get any worse?’
Minutes later Frances re-enters the house to see Samantha with her purse and holding two active kittens.
“Problem,” Samantha seeing the long look on her life partners face.
“Just a new patient referral,” Frances sighing.
“I thought you weren’t accepting any new patients until the New Year,” Samantha asking.
“Yeah,” Frances grabbing her purse and collecting Jasmine; “but this patient is going to have elder council written all over it.” Looking at the kitten named Jasmine as she mewls and purrs at the attention; “Now let’s take these adorable little critters to the vet to get a checkup.”
Both Frances and Samantha walk out the door, leaving Ben to do his vacuuming chores that his moms asked him to do earlier today.