“He is coming around,” a female speaking.
Nate slowly opens his eyes as he groans through the sudden headache pounding him.
“What happened,” Nate trying to get up but was stopped.
“You fell unconscious,” a doctor speaking; “the blows to your head resulted in a moderate concussion. We are keeping you overnight for observation.”
“So much for coming home,” William speaking as he looks at his son.
“But why does he have to be with me?”
Nate turns his head to see a were-lion in his fursona staring at him. The scar on his abdomen becoming covered with tawny fur; Nate winced as he realized he was in the same recovery room with Peter Talbot.
“What better way to keep you from impeding your recovery,” Regina rolling her eyes; “then by having your future brother in law bunk with you.
“This is clearly Jean’s sick and twisted idea of a joke,” Peter looking at his sister as she returns a devilish grin; Jean unable to deny herself the opportunity to troll her older brother.
“It was either here,” the doctor checking Nate’s eyes; “or back to the hospital safe room Peter. Choice is yours.”
“Never mind,” Peter grumbling; “just don’t snore Nate.”
“Am I going to miss school,” Nate giving up trying to get up off the hospital bed.
“We’ll discuss that tomorrow,” William speaking; “you just get your rest.”
“You’re the parents,” the doctor looking at William and Martha; “let’s talk outside.”
William and Martha follow the doctor outside, leaving Jean to fawn over Nate, much to Peter’s disgust.
“What is this about,” William closing the hospital room door; “is my son going to be all right?”
“Nate will be fine,” the doctor speaking; “but he did suffer from the assault he received. Him losing consciousness was the result of some damage to his inner ear, once we were able to take some x-rays and an MRI. It will heal in time; but he looking at a loss of equilibrium for a time.”
“How long,” Martha asking; holding onto her husband’s arm for support.
“Couple weeks,” the doctor answering; “your son will need to walk with a cane and refrain from shifting into his fursona for the time.”
*****
“Will you two get a room,” Peter looking at his sister in disgust; fondling Nate as he lays in bed.
“We have a room,” Jean retorting with her devilish grin; “your just in it.”
“Jean,” Regina shaking her head; “stop tormenting your brother. He doesn’t need you to pile onto his suffering anymore.”
“You and dad always take the fun away,” Jean pouting; “why can’t you let me have my fun?”
“Because if we did,” Regina sighing; “we wouldn’t have a house. You do tend to lean on the destructive side with your jokes, tormenting and teasing.”
“Hear hear,” Peter feeling relieved.
“And you should stop encouraging her,” Regina looking at Peter; “be a man and stop acting like a mouse.”
Both Peter and Jean were stunned to silence with what Regina just said. The were-lion queen letting her feelings out was a common occurrence in the Talbot household. What wasn’t common was the lack of roaring and retractable claws on display following said feelings. Both siblings knew if they spoke anymore in regards to the subject that was just broached, their mother holding back would quickly change.
“Now say your goodbyes Jean,” Regina staring at her daughter; “there will be plenty of time to visit Nate and Peter tomorrow.”
At that moment William and Martha accompanied by the doctor return to the room. They explained to Nate that his fall was the result some damage to his inner ear and that he will have to refrain from shifting into his fursona for a while.
“Is that all,” Nate asking.
“Your equilibrium is a bit shot because of this,” the doctor speaking; “you’ll need a cane to walk with for a while.”
“Those were-panthers turned my mate into a gimp,” Jean snarling at the doctor; “They better stay in jail, or else.”
“The fact that you are a werewolf,” the doctor ignoring the seething were-lionesss; “means the damage won’t be permanent. But I’d avoid standing or sitting up rapidly for a while and doing any other extraneous activities.”
“Well that is going to make things interesting,” Nate sighing.
“How so,” Martha looking at her son.
“I need to get up and pee,” Nate looking embarrassed.
*******
After getting help to the bathroom and after his and Peter’s family have left; Nate was back in his bed lying down staring at the ceiling; the silence interrupted as he heard grunting and cries of distress followed by the toilet flushing. Seeing from the corner of his eye, Peter coming from the bathroom Nate sighs as he tries his best to get comfortable.
“I know you heard,” Peter looking at Nate as he tried to sleep; “passing bone chips as you pee isn’t exactly pleasant.”
“Thank you for that lovely image,” Nate being sarcastic; “it will go great with the bright flashes I’m still experiencing as I try to sleep.”
“At least you got pummeled,” Peter scoffing; “try lying in bed after being shot and having a tube shoved up your junk.”
Nate doesn’t answer as he listens to Peter climb back into bed. All Nate thinks about was what one of the men said to him as they viciously attacked him.
“Compliments for driving Kenya into our boss’s arms.”
‘Why attack me,' Nate wonders; ‘long after I broke up with her?’