Rosy’s story:

I whimper against Kell’s mouth and open my legs wider as I feel Conner close his lips over my wet passage. I thrust my hips up at his face as he sucks and licks at my opening. His mouth moves and his tongue flicks my clit as his fingers invade my passage opening and stretches me. I whimper against Kell’s mouth again and my eyes fly open wide as Conner stops touching me. I jerk my mouth away from Kell’s lips and look for Conner over Kell’s shoulder.

"No! No! No," I protest as I see Conner slipping a condom on.

"Ahhh come on Babe, you know you want it," Conner coaxes as he moves up over my body, his hand back between my thighs teasing me making me jerk involuntarily beneath him.

"Get off my sister," I hear Mitchell growl angrily and Conner freezes. We both look towards where Mitchell is getting out of his sleeping bag.

"Get off her, she said no," Chris orders and I look his way to see both him and Timny getting to their feet. I hear Conner groan with frustration and I push against Kell’s chest making him release me. I roll away from him and push up onto my hands.

"Stay right there Rosy," Chris orders sharply and I look towards him aiming to crawl to him. I hear Conner’s sharp inhalation and freeze to look back over my shoulder at him as I realise I am just about to get to my knees and assume the ‘present’ position in front of him. I roll onto my side and lay flat.

"Sam! You’re needed here now! Sam," Mitchell yells and then he is with me, pulling me to my feet and shoving me behind him as he faces Conner. "She didn’t mean it Conner. She barely knows of most of our customs."

"What’s going on?" Sam asks as he rushes to the doorway.

"Your sister wanted to stop playing around and then she presented to me when I stopped," Conner snarls.

"I was going to crawl away from him," I protest.

"She was on her stomach and looked back at me," Conner hisses.

"Rosy didn’t realise what she was doing," Chris interjects quietly.

"Well what is she doing playing around when she’s coming in if she doesn’t know what not to do?" Kell asks evenly.

"What?" Both Sam and Mitchell hiss.

"I tasted it on her last night when we where playing around," Kell is trying to explain.

"I’m not! I can’t be! I have another month," I protest.

"Larnie has started to come in," Kell says. "And as I was saying, I tasted it last night but not the night before."

"And Jazzy coming in, Shit! I should have known this could happen," Sam hisses quietly. "So you’ll accept this has all been an unfortunate misunderstanding?" Sam asks looking at Conner.

"Yeah," Conner says tightly after a moment’s hesitation.

"There’s a lot who would demand you step aside and let them take what your sister unwittingly offered," Kell says real quiet.

"And have her hate them?" Conner scoffs. "They’d be real stupid."

"Now you toms are welcome to keep sleeping in here but I’m coming back in and you won’t be playing around with Rosy anymore," Sam says firmly.

"What about Lotty?" Chris asks.

"That’s up to her," Sam says then glances at me. "And Rosy will be nice to her or else."

I nod my agreement and move closer to Mitchell.

"I’ll be back in a few moments," Sam tells us firmly before heading out of the room.

"I’ll get Rosy’s sleeping bag," Timny mutters and I watch as he unzips my bag from where it was joined up with Conner and Kell’s bags. I had been sleeping with them for the last three nights and we had been indulging in a lot of oral sex. I had been surprised the first night when the two toms turned their attentions on me but when they kept to the boundaries I quickly set, I enjoyed their prolonged teasing of my body. I’d had no idea that my enjoyment and drive was linked to my coming into heat. When Sam returns he has Lotty with him and she glances at me nervously. I lower my gaze and try to convey that I am no threat but she continues to stand half behind Sam. He sets out their sleeping bag and gives instructions for my bag to be put on the other side of Mitchell’s so I am well away from Conner and Kell. I settle into my sleeping bag but it is hard to try to get to sleep. My body is still humming with arousal and there is an empty ache between my thighs.

"Chris! Timny! Get up! Wake up boys," Wade’s voice startles me awake and I hiss in fear as I scoot back against the wall at the sudden intrusion.

"Boss?" Chris questions sleepily. The light is turned on and the toms lift their heads sleepily; amazingly Lotty is still asleep. I sit up and look around uneasily as Chris stumbles to his feet and kicks Timny, who is slow to react.

"All right! All right! I’m awake," Timny mutters angrily at Chris and swats at the leg that kicked him.

"Get up! We’re heading back to our compound now," Wade orders then glances at Sam, Mitchell and me.

"You three will stay here with Ray for the meeting in a few hours. When it’s over you’re to head back home," Wade is curt and snaps his orders before looking back at Chris and Timny.

"Come on! We don’t have all day!"

"Is there a problem Boss?" Sam asks getting to his feet and helping the two toms to gather their belongings.

"Wade got an emergency call from Micah that Jazzy has taken a very bad turn. One of her worst," Ray says quietly from the doorway.

"Is Jazzy all right?" Mitchell demands as he gets to his feet hurriedly, worry etched deeply into his face.

"It’s not looking good," Ray answers softly and a moan of pain comes from Mitchell.

"Boss please let me go back with you," Mitchell begs of Wade.

"You belong here with your sister and Ray," Wade snaps curtly. "This attack is most likely the result of that little stunt you and Jazzy pulled!"

"I need to be with Jazzy," Mitchell implores.

"No," Wade orders without raising his voice. I climb to my feet and walk up to Wade. I put my hand on his arm and he looks at me in surprise.

"Wade, my Alpha. Please, for Jazzy’s sake, take Mitchell with you instead of Chris and Timny. Jazzy is in love with Mitchell, if you haven’t noticed. She wouldn’t have taken the risk if she didn’t love him. She needs him. He needs to be there too," I say softly as I keep eye contact with him.

"No! It’s all his fault my daughter is fighting for her life," Wade snaps angrily.

"Well let her see Mitchell so she knows she has good reason to fight for her life," I snap at him and his eyes narrow and his nostrils flair as he looks at me, but I refuse to blink or look away. For a few long moments I worry he is going to ignore my plea but finally he seems to realise the sense of what I am saying.

"Mitchell, grab your stuff," Wade hisses. "Chris, Timny, stay here with Sam and Rosy."

"Just grab what you need Mitchell. I’ll make sure the rest comes home with us," I say without looking at Mitchell. I hear him scrambling to get his belongings but I don’t break eye contact with Wade. A few moments later I hear Mitchell hurry from the room and then Wade turns away from me.

"I hope Jazzy is better soon," Ray says as Wade walks past him.

"From your lips to the ears of the Almighty," I say the prayer.

"From your lips to God’s ears," everyone else in the room says at the same time as me. I hear Wade pause a moment then hurry away. I take a deep breath and then my legs collapse with reaction, and someone catches me before I hit the floor. My head rests against a hard chest and I can smell Sam as he holds me.

"Don’t ever question an Alpha’s decision like that again," Ray orders and his voice comes from somewhere close by level with my head.

"Oh Rosy, you are a foolish, foolish brave little thing," Sam scolds gently as he rocks me.

"She’s right you know," I hear Lotty say quietly. "Jazzy has been crazy for Mitchell for as long as I can remember, and if she is as sick as Wade says then she’ll need Mitchell to be there for her to see that he cares about her as well."

"Rosy, lie down and try to sleep. We have a very important meeting to attend in a few hours," Ray tells me quietly. "And there are a few important cats I want you to meet."

I nod against Sam’s shoulder and allow him to put me into my sleeping bag like a baby. Chris moves his bag to cuddle against my back and I lay staring at the space where Mitchell had been.

I sit in the front passenger seat of the four-wheel drive and watch out the front windscreen as we travel. Sam is driving with a white knuckled grip on the wheel while Chris and Timny sit in the back wearing grim looks.

As we drive through the dappled shade from the trees, I can’t help but remember the conversation Lotty had with me. She’d offered some female advice since she figured I didn’t have any female I felt I could turn to. She explained that all the young she-kitts worked out an arrangement with a tom they liked or trusted and the tom was given an invitation to be at the family compound while the she-kitt was in seclusion in her heat. If there were no special toms in attendance, then the tom that the she-kitt had made the arrangement with would receive the invitation into the cage. It was how the she-kitts managed to ensure they had someone acceptable when needed.

I frown as I look out the passenger side window and realise I have made no such arrangement. I had wanted to speak to Sam after talking to Lotty so he could let Conner and Kell know that they would be receiving invitations to be at the Williamson Compound during my heat. But in the rush to get back home I had forgotten to speak to Sam. The atmosphere in the vehicle is tense. Both Chris and Timny are upset with me. I can understand Chris being upset with the attention I received from Conner and Kell, but I am at a loss as to the cause of Timny’s annoyance. I can only guess it has something to do with his sister Donna. When word had gotten around that I was coming into heat the morning after Wade and Mitchell’s hurried departure, Donna had hung around me always within sight. For some reason she seemed hostile towards me but not game enough to confront me with whatever was bothering her. I heave a deep sigh as I worry about the entire situation and jump in surprise when Sam speaks.

"Don’t worry. Jazzy will be fine. She has to be," he tells me and I hear murmurs of agreement from the back seat. I realise they have forgotten about my coming into heat early with the news of Jazzy’s illness, and I am slightly relieved that Micah and Steven won’t be alerted to what is happening as I don’t know if I can handle their attentions at the moment.

"Only another hour and a half before we get home," Sam comments with a glance at his watch. The time travelling home went fast but at the same time has dragged on for what seems like an eternity. The toms have only stopped for food because I am with them, and we all chaffed at the small delay this caused. Toilet breaks have been few and far between despite the amount of fluids we have consumed.

The time away as well as interacting with other werecats has let me see many things more clearly. I now see all the things Micah’s done to try to start a relationship with me: getting me to feed at his kills, the constant touching, and the way he cut both Edwin and Steven out of a lot of things to do with me. I close my eyes miserably and lean my head back against the headrest while I try to push all thoughts from my mind. I shouldn’t be thinking about my problems when Jazzy is so sick.

"How long has Jazzy been sick like this?" I ask.

"She was about two and a half, maybe nearly three when she started getting sick. She had bad turns every four to six months for years but she’s been much better the last two years. She had been much better." Sam’s voice goes quiet.

"Doc says it’s her heart, congit ... congeeknee…" Chris stumbles over the words.

"Congenital heart failure?" I guess.

"Yeah," Sam mutters and I clench my teeth in anguish. I am silent the rest of the journey, managing to doze for half an hour and find relief from the stress. I am wide-awake when Sam parks near the quarters and I get out of the car to stare across at the main house.

"How is Jazzy?" Sam asks and I look to see Malcolm has come out to greet us.

"She’s changed to cat form and is unable to change back. Mitchell has been with her since he got back. Doc says it’s making her a lot more calm and relaxed but she is in a real bad way," Malcolm says quietly.

"You are to eat then go to the house so you can go in and see her when she is awake," Steven says as he comes out of the quarters.

"We’ve already eaten," Sam tells him.

"When and where?"

"An hour after we started out at …" Chris begins.

"Inside and eat. Micah’s orders," Steven says flatly. I head inside hoping the others will follow. After all, the faster we eat the faster we finish and get to see Jazzy. There is cold pizza on the table and I grab a slice and bite into it chewing quickly. I eat half a pizza and wash it down with soda before turning and heading outside. Sam, Chris and Timny are still eating as I push past Steven, growling threateningly when he tries to stop me. I jog over to the main house and knock on the front door. Marissa opens the door after a minute or so and pulls me into a quick hug, clinging for a few moments before letting me go.

"This way Rosy," Marissa tells me and leads the way to an area of the house I have never been. She shows me to a room decorated in pretty pastel colours with all kinds of frills and bows. Mitchell is sitting on the floor with Jazzy curled up half on his legs, while Micah sits against the bed on the floor, looking seriously out of place in the very feminine room. Jazzy lifts her head and I move to sit on the floor near her. She moves to push her furry head against my chest and I scratch behind her ears as she snuggles close. Even without a stethoscope I can hear her laboured breathing and see the way her uneven heartbeat shows against her ribs. I put my arms around her shoulders and bury my face against her neck as I hold her. She snorts and lifts her head to look me in the face. I see her knowledge of what is happening to my body in regards to my heat in the twinkle of her eyes. I rub her neck roughly making her purr and I laugh at her.

"You’re a fine one to talk," I tell her.

"What?" both toms ask in unison.

"You wouldn’t understand. Just girl talk," I say with a wink at Jazzy and she snorts again before taking a sniff of me. Micah moves over to sniff and growls low in his throat. I guess he can smell Conner and Kell from their goodbye hugs.

"Oh by the way Micah, Belladonna Stephan said to say hallo," I say.

Lotty had informed me Donna invited Micah into the cage with her twice. Micah flushes red but says nothing as he moves back to where he was. Mitchell glances at my face and I give him a tight smile before turning back to Jazzy.

"Donna, Celeste, Larnie, Lotty and Adriana said to say hallo," I tell her. Jazzy lies down with her head resting on Mitchell’s lap and I can’t help but notice how laboured her breathing has become. I glance towards the door at the sound of footsteps and want to beg Doc to help Jazzy as he walks into the room followed by Wade.

"How are you feeling now Jazzy?" Doc asks quietly. "Ready to try to change back yet?"

"Jazzy has tried not too long ago. She only managed to wear herself out even more," Micah tells Doc, trying to hide the concern in his voice.

"She’s happiest like this," Mitchell tells Doc and my heartaches for the pain in his voice.

"Why don’t you change to be with her?" I ask Mitchell and a hard hand descends on my shoulder pulling me to the doorway away from Jazzy.

"My daughter is still on heat! Your brother is not going to get another chance to jeopardise her health," Wade tells me pushing me out of the room.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry," I say desperately, but Wade refuses to let me back into the room.

"Shhh!" Doc snaps and I look past Wade to see Doc listening to Jazzy’s heart then her lungs and her heart once again. "If I didn’t know better I’d say there was some kind of growth in her heart causing a partial blockage," Doc mutters to himself.

I watch as Jazzy yawns, noting the colour of her mouth and gums, her laboured breathing and the evidence of her heartbeat on her ribs. An idea slowly begins to form and I back away before hurrying from the house. A faint memory teases at the edge of my mind and I frown as I try to remember the details more fully.

"Are you okay," Sam asks quietly making me jump nervously and I grimace unhappily.

"In trouble again I’m afraid. I can’t seem to stop putting my foot in my mouth. Look I need to go somewhere. Can you take me?" I ask.

"I’m not going anywhere until … one way or the other. Whatever it is it can wait," Sam tells me coldly and pushes past me to head to the house.

"Sam …" I am just about to tell him where I want to go and why, but he turns around outraged.

"No Rosy! And I mean it! Now get to your room! We are going to have serious words when I get back," Sam snaps and I am left to stare after him shocked by his temper.

I stand there silently as Chris, Timny, Malcolm and Steven file past and head into the house. I turn away disheartened but resolved to do whatever I have to. I decide against going back to the quarters and start looking for a vehicle with keys in it or one I can easily hotwire. Unfortunately the only one I find with keys in it is Wade’s personal car, a neat little sports model in shiny metallic blue. Deciding it will have to do and that what I am about to do will either earn me total forgiveness or end my time here. But if Jazzy dies I don’t want to be here to see Mitchell’s pain so I swallow my misgivings and slip behind the wheel of the car.

I hesitate a moment as my hand hovers over the key in the ignition and I look at the quarters and then at the main house one last time. Micah and Steven are coming out of the house and I bite my bottom lip as I turn the key and the engine roars to life. I see both of them turn towards the sound and I fumble nervously as I slip it into first gear. I hear Micah yell and then I gun the engine and send gravel flying as I shift quickly through the gears. I am halfway down the driveway when I look in the rear view mirror and see Micah’s car speeding after me. I chance a bit more speed on the unpaved road and groan as a four-wheel drive turns in the drive way. I lean forward over the wheel glancing between the vehicle behind me and the vehicle in front of me. At the last second I drop the sports car back a gear and rev the motor as I take it off road and around the four-wheel drive with Dwayne at the wheel.

The car fishtails dramatically as I speed out of the driveway and onto the main road, heading in the opposite direction to where I want to go. I refuse to look in the rear view mirror as I push the car faster and faster. I speed through intersections relying on my cat reflexes and begin to take a far ranging round about route to where I really want to go.

Micah’s story:

I look towards the doorway as I recognise Rosy’s footsteps. She follows Marissa into the room and with a quick glance rushes straight to Jazzy who is curled up in cat form against Mitchell in human form. It is astounding to see how close Jazzy and Rosy have become in the short time Rosy has been here. It is obvious in the way Rosy carefully cuddles Jazzy who is now extremely weak. So weak that the scent of her heat is nearly non-existent and all of us are able to visit with her. Jazzy’s soft laugh in cat form catches my attention.

"What?" I ask.

"You wouldn’t understand. Just girl talk," Rosy dismisses. Jazzy gives an insistent snort and sniffs Rosy. Realising she wants me to know something I get to my feet and walk over to sniff Rosy, she flinches away with a frown and a glare. But not before I catch the scent of Connor Stephan, Kell Lancaster and an underlying cinnamon sweetness.

"Oh by the way Micah, Belladonna Stephan said to say hallo," Rosy’s words fill me with embarrassment. What had Donna been saying to her? Had she told her we had an understanding prior to an engagement?

"Donna, Celeste, Larnie, Lotty and Adriana said to say hallo," Rosy is talking softly to Jazzy and it hits me that Rosy probably doesn’t realise we are loosing Jazzy. That Doc holds no hope of her recovering from her illness this time.

The evidence of the strange ailment is horribly clear. Her laboured breathing and the way her heart beat, already frighteningly weak and irregular, is steadily getting worse. I watch as Rosy and Jazzy seem to draw comfort from each other. I think they both know. My heart is breaking a tiny piece at a time as Doc comes into the room. Jazzy is too weak now to change back into human form and I am aware we will be forced to cremate Jazzy in cat form, unable to bury her beside our brother.

"Why don’t you change to be with her?"

I glance towards Rosy startled by her words. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Shouldn’t what time Jazzy has left be as happy as possible?

"My daughter is still on heat! Your brother is not going to get another chance to jeopardise her health," Wade tells Rosy angrily as he forces her out of the room.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry," Rosy is apologising, clearly wanting back into the room and I get to my feet to try to reason with Wade.

"Shhh," Doc snaps.

I turn my head and watch as he repositions the stethoscope, shaking his head slightly before standing up from kneeling beside Jazzy.

"If I didn’t know better I’d say there was some kind of growth in her heart causing a partial blockage," Doc mutters.

Jazzy yawns and I realise that Wade removing Rosy from the room has upset Jazzy. She is too weak; I don’t want her to waste what strength she has fretting for Rosy. I glance past Wade and realise Rosy has left, I move to stand in front of him and Wade frowns as I catch hold of his arm to stop him brushing past me.

"Wade, let Rosy come back in. Let Jazzy have some time with Mitchell … this time," I can’t bring myself to voice the horrible truth. "Don’t deny Jazzy that. Just let her be happy. If it means Mitchell changing to a cat, if it means Rosy being in here … let Jazzy have what she really wants."

I can feel the tears well in my eyes and see them reflected in Wade’s eyes now that he is aware I know the truth. He gives a brief nod and I move past him and go looking for Rosy. I pass Sam in the hallway. Near the front door Chris, Timny, Malcolm and Steven pause as they glance between me, and the door I just came out of.

"How is she?" Steven asks quietly.

"Doc’s in there at the moment. Jazzy just keeps getting weaker," I say hollowly. "She changed to cat form for some reason and now she can’t make it back." I swallow hard and look away. When Jazzy dies I want to be able to bury her, not cremate her, I know she’d hate that. I realise the others have left and only Steven is still with me.

"How are you holding up mate?" he asks gently.

"I think about the same as all of us," I say and give a bitter laugh. "Staying strong until that last little fragment falls and nothing standing is left."

Steven doesn’t say anything, he simply hugs me tightly and I hold onto my best friend as if he can keep the inevitable at bay. I want my sister with me, not for what time she has left but for years and years.

"I need to go and find Rosy," I say huskily as I push away from him, a small laugh escapes me as I remember her smell. "Rosy is coming into heat. I smelt it on her,"

The sound of a car starting as we head for the quarters makes me look, as everyone should be inside. It is Wade's little blue sports coupe that begins to move and I can just make out Rosy at the wheel.

"Damn it, no Rosy!" I yell angrily as I spin on one foot and head for my car as she sends gravel flying out behind the car.

Steven is right beside me as I reach my car and I slide across the bonnet as I use the quickest route to the driver’s door. My car roars to life and I jam the car into reverse swinging around backwards in a large arc. Tyres squeal and gravel sprays wildly when I change to first gear. I breathe a sigh of relief as Dwayne’s four-wheel drive appears at the start of the drive way but Rosy avoids it with surprising skill and then she is speeding out onto the highway. I stop just outside the driveway, I am breathing heavily as if I had just raced here on foot as I glare after the fast disappearing car. I pull my phone from my pocket and hit autodial for Wade without taking my eyes from where the car has disappeared from sight.

"Yeah what’s wrong?" Wade asks.

"Rosy just stole your sports car and hightailed it out of here," I say without preamble.

"Damn! I can’t worry about that now," Wade says and I hear a door shut quietly. "Can you call Edwin, let him know he needs to come home. Call Baxter Barnes too would you? I could do with my old friend here."

"Yeah, will do." I say and grasp the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger as I close my eyes. I can feel a headache building behind my eyes as I close the phone and take several deep breaths. It will be good to have Baxter here. He had been more like a father to me than Wade had been during my teenage years and when I had started training as a warrior.

The call to Edwin is quick and to the point, Wade says come home. Jazzy is sick again and Doc doesn’t hold out any hope she’ll recover. I already have what I’ll say to Baxter worked out in my head when I press the autodial button that will call him. Jazzy is dangerously sick and Wade needs him. I hear the click as the call is answered and his deep familiar voice.

"Baxter speaking, that you Micah?"

"Yeah," My voice chokes up and I am forced to swallow before I can continue. "Come back to the compound, we need you. Jazzy … Jazzy is dying, Rosy just stole Wade’s car and took off God knows where …" I choke up and no further words can make it past the lump in my throat.

"I’ll be there," Baxter says reassuringly. "Just hang tough for a few more hours."

I feel Steven’s hand on my shoulder squeezing it hard and I bow my head as I close my eyes. I lift both hands and bring them down hard on the steering wheel as I take out my pain and frustration on something that won’t feel pain. My world is disintegrating; nothing makes sense anymore. Why does someone as young and vital as Jazzy have to die? Why does Rosy choose to run away when I need her with me?

Rosy’s story:

As the sun sinks below the horizon I slow as I fumble for the headlight switch. I turn them on and concentrate on which roads to take as I speed through the countryside. It is well into the early hours of the morning when I slow the car to turn down a familiar street and slip the car into a dark building out of sight before turning it off and getting out. I slip along in the shadows and find the key in its normal place to let myself into the building. Once inside I make my way to the office and turn on the computer waiting impatiently for it to load. I snag a drink from the fridge and a packet of biscuits from the staff room cupboard before sitting myself at the computer and search through old files. The drink and biscuits are long gone when I find the file I half remembered seeing once. I am reading it intently when the light in the room is turned on and there is the sound of someone clearing his throat angrily.

"Now why doesn’t it surprise me it is you who tripped my new silent alarm?" The voice startles me from my deep concentration.

I turn around to smile weakly. "Hallo Unca Dunka."

"I take it it was you near on eight months back who broke in and stole some drugs," he tells me sternly. "And here I was believing your Dad raised you better than that!"

"I only took what I believed I needed and only because I was desperate," I say contritely.

"What are you after this time?" he asks sternly.

"Information. I need information so that maybe I can help someone," I say faintly.

"What? Speak up child," he snaps impatiently.

"Information. I need information so that maybe I can help someone," I say firmly.

"Let me guess. You are looking up the Black Panther I treated ten or more years ago," he states firmly. I am silent from shock and Don Caruthers takes the chance to sit down in the chair opposite me.

"I know what your mother was. I can guess what you have become, what you were meant to become all along. Can you tell me the symptoms you are experiencing?" he asks kindly.

"It’s not … shortness of breath, heart palpitations, all the general symptoms of congenital heart failure but it sounds like there is some kind of blockage in the heart. It goes in cycles, every five or six months as if … as if whatever is causing the blockage goes away," I say quietly.

"You’ve never been sickly," Don Caruthers states.

"It’s a little girl. She is about eighteen but looks like she is twelve or thirteen. She is the only daughter in a family where girls are so rare they are worth more than all the gold in the world. And if she dies it is going to tear the heart out of one of the most wonderful people in the world … it will hurt a lot of good people but several people who have been so very good to me," I tell him taking care to remain facing him as I speak clearly despite the tears that start down my cheeks.

"Now if you had been talking about an exotic cat I would have hazarded a guess of heartworm. A rare thing, but possible by what you described - if we had been talking about a relative of your mother," Don Caruthers says gently.

"How would I go about treating her if I could get to her?" I ask.

"You need a vet, a vet you can trust with the secret they have kept for you all your life. Someone who loves you as if you were the daughter of his nephew."

"I can take you there but I don’t know if they’ll let me near her. I stole the Alph … I stole a car to get here and there will be some mighty pissed off people there. They’ll probably drag me off, lock me up and throw away the key," I say with a nervous laugh.

"In front of a human?" Don Caruthers asks doubtfully.

"They’ll tell you they’re calling the cops on me probably…" My voice trails off as it sinks in he is willing to help. I nod as I wipe at the fresh rush of tears. "Just help her. Promise that if I can get you to her, you’ll help her."

"I promised your mother long ago I would do all I could to help you when the time came for you to go back to where you belong," he tells me gently. I watch as he starts collecting drugs from his drug cabinet and gathering what he thinks he might need.

"Have I missed anything do you think?" Don asks.

"One of those injections to prevent cats getting pregnant when they’re …" I stop in embarrassment. "Providing it can be given up to two or three weeks ahead of time and still be effective. Females cycle like normal cats and …" I look away in embarrassment.

"I understand what you mean. Your mother made sure we knew what we would be facing when you got old enough to attract boys. But I don’t know of anything I would say could be safely used," Don Caruthers says sounding worried.

"Well then we need a dart gun and some bad ass drugs," I mutter to myself. He mixes several different drugs and fills syringes and gets an eerily familiar gun from the locked drawer of his desk. I eye it uneasily and move away. I hear him laugh and I glance his way apprehensively.

"It looks like you been on the wrong end of one of these," Don Caruthers comments dryly.

"One or twice," I admit.

"If you are coming into your oestrous then you need to consider if you really should go there if there will be male cats around," Unca advises me in concern.

"I can’t not help," I tell him unhappily.

"Well come on. Time is vital," he says and I follow him outside. "We’ll take my vehicle. Someone can come get the vehicle you ‘borrowed’ later. Directions please."

I give him clear directions as I settle into the passenger seat and close my eyes; I have been awake since the early hours of the morning two days ago with only a few hours sleep.

"We should get there somewhere around mid afternoon," Don Caruthers tells me.

"Would it be possible to delay it until after dark?" I ask, "I don’t know how they’re going to react to me bringing you there," I admit. "The cover of darkness may just give us a few seconds advantage before they realise it’s me."

"You’re scared of these people?" Don Caruthers says gently.

"I’ll show you something but you have to remember it wasn’t these people who did it - just others of our kind," I mutter hating calling strays my kind. I turn my back to him and pull my shirt up over my head exposing my back, thankful I am not wearing a bra. I hear his sharp intake of breath and go to pull my shirt down but he places a hand on my shoulder halting my action.

"You look like you’ve been mauled by a big cat!"

"If things go pear shaped I won’t be waiting around for them to get hold of me. They won’t do that to me but I believe I will be locked up and they’ll claim it’s for my own good. If things go bad, once I know you’re safe, I will be out of there as fast as I can go, and if I am in the vehicle with you the vehicle will be stopped," I turn around to tell him.

"Well why risk going back at all?" Don Caruthers asks.

"Because the guy who loves this girl means a lot to me," I mumble.

"What? Look at me when you speak girl," Don Caruthers scolds me.

"Because the guy who loves this girl means a lot to me," I repeat as I look at him careful to annunciate properly.

"You’re in love with a guy who is in love with someone else?" Don Caruthers wants to know.

"When Jeddah left her husband, she left her two young sons with him," I tell him.

"And this girl is the girlfriend of one of your brothers?" he guesses. "You’re risking this for your brother."

"And Jasmine, Jazzy. She’s the most wonderful girl," I say quietly.

"Okay, after dark it will be. How many are likely to be there?" Don asks.

"Too many but I have to chance it," I say as I curl my legs up on the seat and scrunch down to try to sleep. I hear Don Caruthers mutter something about always seeming like a cat but I am already nearly asleep and I shut my eyes. I doze fitfully through the trip, waking often to look around warily and stretch before going back to sleep. When Don stops on a secluded road I get out of the vehicle and walk behind several trees to relieve myself before walking back to the vehicle.

"I’m going to grab a couple of hours sleep," Don Caruthers tells me.

"I won’t be far," I promise before fading into the shadows and finding a tree, a tree I can perch in a fork of or lay along a branch. I settle in the fork of the tree and close my eyes as I listen intently the wind blows only sweetly scented air to me from across a freshly mown hay field. I rest in the tree but don’t stay there long before sliding down and quickly stripping to change and hunt. It doesn’t take long to gather enough mice and rabbits to satisfy my appetite and I manage to surprise several plump bush turkeys in the brush near some trees. I am sitting on the ground near the passenger door when Don Caruthers wakes and I stand up to peer in the window at him.

"I’m ready to go anytime you are. I don’t feel too comfortable this close to their home," I say quietly.

"I need to take a walk before we go," Don Caruthers tells me as he gets out of the vehicle and heads towards the trees. I don’t tell him he hasn’t gone far enough to be out of my hearing so I turn the radio on and fiddle with it on a very low volume for the few minutes before he returns.

"All set?" he asks.

"Let’s get started. The sooner we do the sooner it’s over," I say pulling my hooded jacket on and flipping the hood over my head before reaching for his spray on deodorant and using it liberally.

All too soon we are turning into the driveway of the Williamson compound and I nervously scan the grounds as we drive towards the house. I point the way not wanting to speak and possibly alert any of them to my presence. I see Pete’s car parked near the quarters and when Don Caruthers comes to a stop close to the footpath, I am quick to follow him out of his side door grabbing the extra equipment as I go. I see Steven, Sam, Malcolm and Chris come out of the quarters and head our way at a human pace. A quick glance towards the house shows lights come on at the front and I grab hold of Don Caruthers’ arm and urge him forward.

"Excuse me! This is private property! I’ll have to ask you to leave," Sam calls and I feel Don Caruthers hesitate a moment.

"Well excuse me, young chap but I have been asked to come here," Don automatically uses his ‘professor voice’ and I grin to myself as the four hesitate for a moment. The front door of the house opens and I shiver as Micah, Dwayne and Edwin come out of the house.

"I’m sorry sir, but I believe you have the wrong place," Micah says firmly and Don Caruthers stops.

"No he doesn’t," I say as I push my hood back and slip one hand into the box that contains the dart gun. I don’t miss the low growls that come from the three toms in front of me and even though I move uneasily, I set my face into serious lines as I shake my head at them.

"You’ve got a hide coming back here after stealing my car," Wade growls low in his throat as he walks through the door behind his sons. I jerk in fear but step forward so I am between them and Don Caruthers.

"We think we know what’s wrong with Jazzy. All it will take to know if we’re right is to look at some blood beneath a microscope," I say firmly despite the quiver of fear in my voice.

"You can’t go near her," Micah warns and I hear the unspoken warning that she is still in cat form.

"Did I hear you say you think you know what is wrong with Jazzy?" Marissa asks as she steps out into sight.

"Marissa, go back inside Darling. Let us take care of this trouble," Wade tells her gently.

"Rosy! What have you done?" I hear Sam’s worried voice close behind me and I pull the gun from the box and point it towards Micah, Dwayne and Edwin as I glance over my shoulder at Sam. I hear Marissa’s frightened gasp but don’t take my attention off either set of toms.

"Put that down Tawny," Don Caruthers tells me sternly. "Your Dad would be spinning in his grave if he knew what you’re doing!"

I turn my head so I can see Unca if I was to look his way, but I don’t take my eyes off Sam and the others or those on the other side of me.

"No, he’d be crawling out of it to kick my butt if I didn’t try to do the right thing. You know that Unca. Sam, this is my uncle, Donald Caruthers, my Daddy’s uncle. Unca, that fellow," I motion towards Sam when Don Caruthers glances his way worriedly. "Is Sam, my oldest brother. Now enough introductions - I want to see Jazzy. Correction, I am going to see Jazzy," I say firmly.

"I don’t think this is such a good idea Tawny," Don Caruthers tells me in a whisper.

"Oh shit Rosy! Tell me you didn’t," Sam begs and I have to clamp my teeth together not to respond to his anguish.

"Tawny didn’t have to tell me a thing, I already knew. Some years back now my nephew called me out to his place saying he had acquired an injured animal. It turned out to be a shape shifter of our legends. I treated Jeddah. I delivered her daughter months later and treated my nephew’s child as she grew up. I never revealed this secret that was not mine to speak of. We, our faith, we have our own traditions and respect others as well," Don says as if his honour has been questioned.

"You said you think you know what is wrong with Jazzy?" Marissa asks tearfully.

"There is a parasite that can affect the heart. It’s not very common in felines but it is possible," I answer.

"And you would need a blood sample?" Doc asks as he comes out of the house.

"Yes, eggs and immature larvae will show up in a sample of approximately five mils. It is treatable and medication would be needed for up to a year to ensure all of the parasites are destroyed," I explain.

"Wade, is it alright if I get a blood sample?" Doc asks.

"Yes! Anything that might help Jazzy," Marissa rushes to answer.

"Yes," Wade agrees after several long moments. I roll my head on my shoulders trying to ease some of my stress without lowering my arms. I glimpse Edwin edging a fraction closer and I glare at him.

"I owe you for your attempted manipulations so don’t tempt me. My uncle here can attest to the fact I got a most nasty temper when stirred," I tell him coldly.

"Tawny, you know he is trying to get your attention off those behind you," Doc Caruthers tells me and I nod as he glances at me.

"They’re not going to let me go Unca," I communicate using a type of single-handed sign language for the deaf. "I have broken a major law in their eyes."

I can tell by the little glances between the toms that no one understands what is being said and they are moving into position to try to stop any tricks and to prevent me from leaving.

"I got the blood sample?" Doc says as he comes out holding a syringe with blood in it.

"I need a table or something to set my field microscope up on. And I need you all to take a few steps back so my assistant here can help me. My old eyes aren’t as good as they once were," Doc Caruthers says firmly.

"Just set it up Unca. It’ll only take me one quick glance with each slide," I tell him quickly.

"You sure?" he asks quietly.

"She is the one they’re worried about at the moment. They know she is dying and that is disaster for the family," I fall into the sign language again.

"Ahuh," Unca answers as he watches Dwayne easily carry a heavy table out for use. I glance around uneasily as he quickly begins preparing slides before setting up the microscope. I wait for him to prepare a dozen or so before I inch closer.

"Set it up and focus it," I say. I wait until the microscope is set up with a slide in place before taking a careful look around so I know exactly where everyone is.

"Malcolm, Steven, you need to get a bit nearer to Sam and Chris," I tell them firmly. I’m not sure they’re going to obey until I catch the slight motion from Micah. The two toms move where I told them to and I motion with the dart gun at Micah, Dwayne and Edwin and they immediately take several steps back.

I take one long suspicious glance around before taking a quick peek in the eyepiece of the microscope. I quickly switch to the next slide as I glance around again. It is on the fifth slide when I glance quickly at Unca and nod towards the microscope. He moves into place to look in the eyepiece and whistles softly.

"I take it you’re a Doctor of some kind," Unca says as he looks at Doc. "Come and have a look at this slide. It is exactly what we suspected."

I move aside nervously as Doc moves to take a look and I glance around quickly at all the toms making sure they haven’t moved.

"The oval things are heartworm eggs, the thin string like things immature larvae. That stuff that looks similar to skin flakes is the outer husk of dead mature adult worms. It builds up in the heart along with live mature worms, before breaking down like that. It causes blockages and in severe infestations, death," Don Caruthers explains.

"Can it be treated?" Doc asks.

"The blood needs filtering to clean it. Drugs will break down the dead adults, different drugs to destroy the immature larvae and any worms. Continued treatment to kill the larvae as they hatch from the eggs that don’t get filtered out," Don Caruthers lists the various individual treatments that will be needed.

"What do I need to get?" Doc demands.

"I got enough with me to start treatment and filter the blood but I need Tawny’s help and I won’t get that while she is expecting to be attacked at any second," My uncle states with a look straight at Micah then Wade.

"How do we know she won’t try to run off to escape being turned over to the police for car theft?" Micah asks.

"Being turned over to police means being locked up and made to pay for my crime, even if my actions saves her life," I motion quickly with the one hand.

"Would you mind repeating that in English?" Wade asks.

"When you speak to my uncle have the respect to look at him so he can see what you’re saying. He is profoundly deaf," I say flashing a savage smile at Wade. The sharp slap from Unca catches me off guard and I squeal in surprise as I duck and move out of his reach.

"I always said your Dad should have put you across his knee each week. It would have taken some of that smartness right out of you! You keep a respectful tongue in your head young girl!" I send my uncle a hurt look before glancing around at the toms, indignant that they saw me get hit.

"Well I plead self defence Unca," I motion with my hand...

"Do you promise not to try to run away if we are allowed to treat the sick girl?" my uncle asks me.

"Once you’re headed home safe and sound, I promise to be a good girl and do as I’m told," I sign.

"In English so you are understood," my uncle tells me.

"Once you’re headed home safe and sound, I promise to be a good girl and do as I’m told," I say flatly as I look straight at Wade making sure he knows I understand exactly what will happen once my Uncle is gone.

"Can I see my patient?" Don Caruthers asks.

"As soon as Rosy puts down the gun," Micah says looking directly at me.

"None of you are to touch me," I say and glare at him.

"Tawny, just do as you are told so we can help your friend," my uncle says firmly.

"I can’t work if I have to keep dodging being touched," I mutter softly.

"No one will bother you. You have my word," Marissa says firmly. "Now can you please help my baby?"

I take a deep breath and put the gun back in the box and place it on the table before grabbing up the heavy vet bag and heading for the door. I can feel fear sweat trickling down my back as I walk past the toms and step into the house, and I know they can smell it on me.

"This way," Marissa instructs and I follow her quickly knowing my uncle is right behind me. Unca gives a soft gasp of awe as he steps into the room and sees Jazzy sprawled out on a mattress on the floor with her head in Mitchell’s lap. She rolls her eyes towards us and hisses in fear but I move to kneel beside her and I stroke her side gently.

"We know what’s making you sick Jazzy, and this man is my Unca Dunka, Uncle Donald. He knows how to make you better," I tell her softly. Jazzy rolls her eyes towards him again but makes no protest when he comes and kneels beside me.

"Hallo little one. You can call me Unca Dunka too if you like. When Tawny was just a little thing she couldn’t say Uncle Donald properly so I became Unca Dunka." His voice is soft and he quickly uses his stethoscope attached to a small dial with a needle that flicks with each heartbeat. He nods as he watches the meter then he looks at Mitchell. "And you must be another of Jeddah’s children. You have your mother’s eyes."

Mitchell looks from me, to my Uncle and back to me. "Rosy, you should never let a human know what we are. Our very survival depends on it," he looks away before looking down at Jazzy.

"What are you talking about young man? My niece has merely asked me to help some people who have raised an extremely rare exotic cat from a tiny baby. That little kitten is now sick," Don Caruthers shrugs. "I am a vet. I can not let a creature that God has created suffer."

I watch as he turns away and starts getting the blood-filtering machine set up. I move to help him but he waves me aside.

"Start a nutrient drip. You do it just in case having a stranger touching her upsets our little friend there," he instructs me. "Use a shunt so we have a port for later," he adds very softly.

I set about doing as instructed and soon have a drip steadily feeding nourishment to Jazzy’s wasted body. I pause to dribble some water on her mouth and she licks at it thankfully.

"I can do that," Mitchell tells me and I leave him to feed the moisture to her slowly.

"Do we have a set of figures on heart rate, temperature and blood pressure to use as a comparison?" Unca asks me.

"Dwayne, go get Justin and Donny," Micah orders. I glance up; other than Wade, Marissa, Mitchell, Doc, Unca and myself, he is the only one in the room with Jazzy.

"Unca means cat readings," I inform him.

"Unca, that is Micah, I suppose you could call him a foreman or managing director," I say turning my face to him where he is double-checking the tubing of the machine.

"You will take the observations. I am sure they will be more comfortable with me knowing as little as possible about them," Unca tells me in a whisper.

"No need to whisper, we have remarkable hearing. Cat hearing," I say as I get a second stethoscope, a thermometer and a note pad. We work in silence until we have the machine set up and Unca turns his attention to Wade while I go to the doorway and take physical observations off both Justin and Donny who are in cat form. Micah is standing close by and Steven and Edwin are a little way back in the hall watching me intently.

"This machine will filter any toxins from the blood stream and hopefully it will also filter many of the parasites out as well as the remains of the adults that have finished their life cycle. Hopefully this will relieve a lot of the stress on the little one’s heart and we can start treatment," I hear Unca explaining.

"How long will this take?" Wade asks.

"Approximately six to eight hours on the machine and then a critical forty eight hour period of treatment," Unca advises.

"You got that long?" Wade demands with a look my way.

"I should have a week," I say.

"What do you mean should have? You should bloo …you should be aware of those things," Micah snaps angrily at me. I look at Unca as he clears his throat noisily. He has a worried frown on his face as his eyes search my face.

"The joys of being a female cat. I am in the process of coming into heat and will need to be kept away from the males," I sign.

"Barbaric," Unca snaps and I laugh.

"English," Micah growls angrily.

"We were talking about a matter in regard to our family, the Caruthers," Unca says with a hard look for Micah. "Now whatever you were harassing my niece about, please leave her alone so she can concentrate on the task at hand."

"I have the right to choose a male, if my hormones drive me to it," I sign rapidly.

"Ahhh, the need for some form of contraception. I wish I had been able to supply it for you," Unca signs.

"Thanks anyway," I make the simple sign.

"English," Micah demands. I hear the low growl starting to build in Mitchell’s throat and glance his way to see him. He gives me a tight smile before looking down at Jazzy again.

"We haven’t got any plasma or transfusion supply to start …" Unca looks at me as he realises, and I take a deep breath as I shrug out of my jacket.

"Doc has Jazzy ever had a blood transfusion or blood products for any reason," I ask as I reach into the equipment bag for a tourniquet.

"No, it’s not a technology I have," Doc says quietly.

"So go ahead with this?" I ask aloud with a glance at Unca.

"Best solution," he agrees and takes the tourniquet. In a moment my blood is flowing into the tubing of the machine.

"We don’t have any blood product that I would use for your daughter or any substitute, so we’ll use fresh living blood to fill the tubes so your daughter’s weak system isn’t stressed in any way." Unca says with a kind smile for Marissa. "I am using my niece as the donor since they are both female and in a similar stage of their hormonal cycle. I do not know if it makes any difference but I would prefer to error on the side of caution,"

A few minutes later and Jazzy is attached to the machine as it starts filtering her blood while I sit not far from Mitchell with my arm bent as I apply pressure to where my blood was taken.

"Ma’am, would I be able to inconvenience you for a cup of coffee and perhaps some kind of refreshments for my niece and myself? We haven’t stopped for anything to eat since lunch time and I don’t want my niece fainting on me," Unca says directing a charming smile at Marissa.

"Oh of course! You should have said something sooner," Marissa exclaims as she hurries towards the door.

"Marissa, Uncle is a vegetarian. He does not believe that a living creature should give its life so he can eat of its flesh. Eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products are fine though," I explain.

Let them make what they want of that, I think exhaustedly as I lean back against the edge of the bed and close my eyes.

"Is there something I can do so you two can rest?" Doc asks quietly.

"We will take it in turns. Tawny first because she will need to be awake when the filters need checking and changing. I no longer have the eyesight for such work," Unca says softly and I open one eye to look his way.

Micah’s story:

I watch as Rosy and her uncle, a vet, move around quietly setting up equipment to treat Jazzy. I still can’t believe she is here, that she has returned. The love and respect they have for each other is evident as they work together, and in the soft exchanges between them. Often they lapse into that sign language and I watch as emotions animate Rosy’s face. Tight lines of worry have become etched on Wade’s face while worry and stress has left Marissa pale and fragile looking. Now hope is burning in Marissa’s eyes and I can see the fear that help has come too late in Wade’s eyes.

There are hopeful whispers outside the room, it seems all of the toms have gathered in the house. I don’t tell them to leave, Jazzy is as important to them as she is to us - her brothers and parents. The way Rosy’s uncle answers questions and phrases remarks show great compassion and wisdom. He seems respectful of our true nature but not intimidated by us. The way he talks softly and soothingly has clearly put Jazzy at ease, as does the fact it is Rosy who puts in a needle to start IV fluids.

I think of the gun Rosy had pointed at us. It is now locked in Wade’s office but I still have to repress a shudder as I remember how the fear had rolled off her in waves as she had effectively held us all at bay with the gun. No one had been game to make a move. We hadn’t known if it held tranquilliser darts or real bullets. Either way we had had no inclination to try it out.

When normal heart rate, blood pressure and temperature readings are wanted I ask Dwayne to get Justin and Donovan to change to cat form and come to the door so Rosy can get the information. When Rosy moves to the doorway to take the needed reading I notice both Edwin and Steven are close by watching her intently. Edwin doesn’t even try to hide the fact he is sniffing the air for her scent but luckily Rosy is too busy listening to Donny’s heart to notice. As she turns back into the room I see the strain on her face and remember she still isn’t comfortable around toms in cat form while she is human. She looks away from me hurriedly; she knows she is likely to be in trouble for what she done. Does she have any idea of how much trouble?

"You got that long?" Wade demands tightly. I rouse myself from my thoughts to glance at Rosy.

"I should have a week," She answers.

Ah, they are discussing how much time before she will need the secure room.

"What do you mean should have? You should bloo …you should be aware of those things," I snap angrily hoping no one noticed my lapse in concentration.

Don Caruthers clears his throat noisily. He has a worried frown on his face as he looks at Rosy. Again they lapse into sign language. Rosy gives a nervous laugh and my irritation with their secretive talk grows.

"English," I growl.

"We were talking about a matter in regard to our family, the Caruthers," he says with a hard directed my way. "Now whatever you were harassing my niece about, please leave her alone so she can concentrate on the task at hand."

There is more signing between them and my patience begins to rapidly wear out. A quick glance at Wade and Marissa tells me they are worried as well.

"English," I demand.

A low growl comes from Mitchell and Rosy glances his way cautiously. Clearly she is aware she is in trouble and expects no help from him.

"We haven’t got any plasma or transfusion supply to start …" Caruthers is talking to Rosy and she immediately takes her jacket off.

There is a short discussion with Doc and then Rosy offers her own arm to Caruthers. I want to protest as the needle slides into her flesh but I bite back my words, it’s not up to me.

"We don’t have any blood product that I would use for your daughter or any substitute, so we’ll use fresh living blood to fill the tubes so your daughter’s weak system isn’t stressed in any way." Caruthers says with a kind smile for Marissa. "I am using my niece as the donor since they are both female and in a similar stage of their hormonal cycle. I do not know if it makes any difference but I would prefer to error on the side of caution,"

Within minutes the medical equipment is working and Jazzy is receiving the treatment that will hopefully save her life. Caruthers asks for food and drink for himself and Rosy, his manner with Marissa is both gentle and compassionate. Another time, another place and I am sure I would like the man. Rosy is leaning against the bed not far from Jazzy and Mitchell, she has her eyes closed and a soft sound comes from her. I walk over to her and lift her into my arms, she opens her eyes and for a moment I am lost in their sleepy depths as I place her on the bed.

"She’ll rest better here," I direct my comment at no one in particular. Her eyes flutter open and I reach out to close them gently before stroking her temples. Her lips part slightly and a soft sigh escapes her as she rolls onto her side and pulls her legs up towards her stomach.

"Please excuse my niece, she stayed up all last night researching your daughters ailment." Caruthers says quietly to Wade.

I head out into the hallway and the area becomes alive as everyone gets to their feet from where they were sitting.

"How is Jazzy?" Edwin demands.

"They’ve just started treating her. Baxter, can you take everyone back to the quarters. There’s not a lot of room in this hallway." I say quietly. "I’ll come let everyone know what’s happening once we have some indication,"

"All right, you heard your boss. Back to the quarters," Baxter orders firmly and I am once again thankful he is here to help.

"I’m not going anywhere," Edwin snarls. "Not while Rosy is here and so close to coming into full heat."

"I’ll stay and watch Micah’s back," Steven says as he moves to stand beside me.

"Come on lads, let’s get a move on." Baxter orders firmly.

"I want to stay here," Donny protests.

Baxter walks over and puts an arm around Donny’s shoulders, "Anyone ever tell you about the time Micah there knocked Edwin out of the hayloft?"

I watch in silence as Baxter moves everyone away before I turn my attention back to Edwin. He is staring into Jazzy’s room and I can’t help but notice the way he is staring at Rosy.

Rosy’s story:

I come awake with a start as strong arms lift me and I open my eyes to see Micah’s face above me as he places me on the bed. I glance at Unca who is checking on the tubes attached to Jazzy.

"I will wake you when it’s time for you to take over," Unca says quietly. I look around and notice that most everyone is sitting down and asleep or very close to it. Only Unca and Micah seem to be fully alert. Micah strokes my eyes closed and I give a soft sigh before drifting off to sleep once again.

"Tawny, Tawny I need your help," Unca’s words wake me and I crawl off the bed down to where he is checking the tubing. I glance at the tray he has set up and with a few deft movements, change the filter unit letting the new one fill with blood before connecting the end so the filtered blood passes down more tube and back to Jazzy’s body. When I have all four filters changed, I turn my attention to cleaning them out so we can inspect what has been removed.

"More successful than I had hoped," Unca states as he runs a magnifying glass over the contents of the dish. I take the dish and tilt it as I watch the red tinted mass wriggle and squirm.

"At least one mature live adult," I comment.

"Her chances just improved immensely," Unca whispers.

"What’s going on?" Doc asks as he looks at us sleepily.

"This treatment is working," Unca says with satisfaction and we go back to checking the filters.

Hours later I replace the last filter and check its contents but nothing more comes from it than a few drops of blood. I glance at the half a dozen dishes of filtered matter and smile to myself. I pick up my stethoscope and listen to Jazzy’s chest. There is some congestion in her lungs but her heart is beating regularly and strongly once again. I look at Mitchell who is asleep, and other than Jazzy no one else is in the room. I yawn and stretch and get to my feet to work a few kinks out of my legs before setting about detaching Jazzy from the machine. The room seems strangely quiet without the steady hum but I smile as I stretch out on the bed once more for some much needed rest.