Jen Decker was beside herself as she raced to the emergency room of Moon Lake General Hospital.
This was the type of call she always feared.
Her dread was proven right once before when she received the news that her husband had been murdered, but now...
Surprised that she didn't run into a ticket issuing cop along the way, Jen parked her car in the Visitors' lot and hurried inside.
There, she went straight to the front desk and said, "I'm Jen Decker. I got a call that—"
"Yes ma'am. I'm the one who called you. Right through there," said the nurse on duty, pointing to a pair of double doors on her right.
Jen thanked her, then ran as fast as she could in her human form through the doors.
In less than a heartbeat, Jen's werecat senses zeroed in on who she was searching for.
"Oh darling!" Jen cried, rushing over to wrap her arms around the patient sitting up on the edge of the gurney.
"I'm okay," promised Claire Jacobs, before the women exchanged a passionate kiss.
"What happened?" Jen wanted to know, staring at the woman she inducted into were society and was now engaged to.
"Well, I was taking a late lunch break at the college, and I was sitting outside enjoying the fresh air and my meal," began Claire. "Near me there was a bunch of students... debating the town council's decision to reveal were existence to the world. At first it seemed relatively peaceful, although definitely heated. You can imagine how feelings are running on the subject."
"Yeah, I know. Go on," prompted Jen.
"Well, anyway, the debate kept going on but as it did so, the voices started getting louder. Tempers started rising. Like I told the campus police, I have no idea who actually threw the first punch, but I found myself in the middle of this large fight just trying to get the hell out of everyone's way when this rock hit me on the head," added Claire, pointing to her bandaged head.
"You poor dear," said Jen, pulling Claire close before kissing the top of her head.
"I'm told it'd be a lot worse if I wasn't already a werecat," said Claire. "But as it is, it did require a few stitches, which the Campus Dispensary wasn't prepared to do, so they sent me here."
"That's pretty much the extent of everything," said Doctor Tora Tachibana, walking in on the ladies. "The dressing is just mainly for show at this point because unless she displays any signs of a headache, dizziness, or blurred vision; she should be all right by bedtime. But if she does show any signs of those potential symptoms, call me immediately," added Tora, handing Jen his card, "and no transforming tonight," he told Claire. "Not that you're not capable of doing so, but we don't want the euphoric rush of changing to risk creating any potential after effects."
"Can I..." began Claire, rubbing her head lovingly against Jen's arm.
"Are you in heat?" Tora asked her.
"No. Just love," said Claire, staring longingly at her fiance.
"Take the night off and just do something more emotionally romantic," advised Dr. Tachibana. "You'll still have tomorrow and the rest of your lives for that. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I've got other patients to see. They'll process your discharge at the nurses station."
With that, Tachibana turned to leave as both ladies called out "THANK YOU!"
"My campus employee insurance should cover things here," said Claire, getting up off the gurney. "But I rode here in the ambulance with a couple of other wounded students. You'll have to drive me home tonight and back to the college in the morning where my vehicle is."
"I don't mind," replied Jen, hugging her again. "I'm just glad you're all right. If I should ever lose you or Tad..."
"You won't my love. I'm yours. Now and forever," promised Claire, before kissing the love of her life. "Now let's wade through all the red tape and get home," she added, once their lips finally parted.