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There is that moment they tell you your so scared, the fight or flight moment, that you force yourself to action. This was so far beyond that, terror, the kind that locks all muscles tighter than a jar lid you can never open yourself.

Oops, I suppose we should do a little better into than that. Hi I'm Ben, a cat, just a simple black an white although some spots seem more like a cream on my under arms and legs also they say that I am a fairly well adjusted young man. I have a girlfriend now and she has been a friend to me for many years but its only been the past few months that we really started getting serious. I mean really kissed and well she has even had her hand down my pants and I felt up under her skirt last time but don't and I mean don't ever let her dad know! I also graduated recently pass the fourth tier with no real problem despite what I was told. You see my mother died just over a year ago and everyone expected me to have a great deal more trouble with everything that happened afterwards but with a little help... well a lot of help I have kept my life going in the way she would have wanted to even though I didn't know it at the time. You see mom and I fought a lot, and by fight I mean scream, hiss, and claws that dug into palms in an attempt to keep it civil or at least bloodless.

We had a rather nasty argument that afternoon when I got home. That morning I was late for school and ran the whole way then decided to cut through the back street and jump the fence. The problem was even with the supposed cat reflex and land on your feet thing you can't really adjust for the slight mishaps when they happen. Like the seem of your fairly new jeans getting caught on the top of the cyclone fence catching your leg and as you start to fall it tears you pants. I landed on my front paws and did a little flip over adjusted and landed on my paws and knees. Not that anyone saw me the buzzer had sounded several seconds before I reached the fence but the real damage had been done. A four inch rip along the seam of my jeans and it flopped some as I raced towards the building where my first classes were. Mom was gonna kill me.

I'm not sure if our fight was the beginning but I think that is were it really starts or at least it should. She hissed, I screamed, I think she almost wanted to take a swipe when I tried to tell her that last night we should have gone home earlier so I could have gotten more sleep. I'm not what you call a sassy mouth or even usually have a bad attitude but when mom and I fight things come out that I never could come up with with out thinking for hours. It is funny at times when I think back how witty I seemed, but I only had such ability against my mother.

Listening to her still yelling I retreated to my room and she finally backed into the kitchen. The order was leave the pants on her bed and she would make them in to cut-offs. Not that I would ever wear them we both knew that, just as we both knew there would likely be arguments over them at a later date. It wasn't that I couldn't wear them but more the fact that she would never be caught dead wearing some home fixed item so why should I. New, nearly new, or slightly old and still stunning that was the only thing my mother ever wore. Even around the house she had on cloths that would fit for her work or out shopping. I mean I know she had nightgowns not that I had seen one on her in years but I had to guess they would all be stunning. Mom never left the bedroom unless she was prepared to face the world and many time that had made the family late.

I startled at the loud clatter that came though the wall of my room. I thought I heard my mother call my name I wasn't quite sure but with a second heavy thump I was pretty sure she would want me to come clean up some mess. In the quiet that followed I was sure I heard my mother call again but it wasn't a yell to get my attention as a matter of fact if it hadn't been so quiet I likely would never have heard her voice at all. I was almost convinced she didn't want me, after all she could easily make herself heard from outside if she wished but it was the silence that had me wondering. I mean 'bang, crash, thump and nothing?

Was it curiosity or something else that had drawn me from my room flicking my tail as I crept through the living room and dining room to approach the kitchen with her unaware. The thing was I could have brought a marching band and no one but the neighbors would have known. Remember me talking of terror? Of not being able to do anything? Fear can hit you many ways and never is it what you expect no matter how hard you prepare. The only thing preparation can do is help you to act, and I had none.

I just stared as my mom flopped and quaked on the floor, tail slapping uselessly against the linoleum. I couldn't move, or talk, my mind screaming that this wasn't real. I tried talking to her, but when I opened my mouth, nothing. I tried harder, 'mew' a sound I would never be caught dead making in front of anyone slipped past my lips. It could have been a minute or twenty there was no concept for time as I stood there. Finally a thought to call for help finally crashed into my brain, the need to call gave my life purpose, I needed to do that now. I reached out for the phone on the wall above the counter, punching in numbers on the receiver that were listed on its back. The world seemed to slow while I worked the phone I could still hear the swish of fabric and the occasional bump behind me, two rings, three... click, "Blue Shore Fire District, do you have an emergency," I listened trying to speak, the problem was it was now too quiet in the kitchen and the voice seemed to shout out of the phone. "Hello Fire Department can I help you?"

"Mom she's on the floor and stopped..." Gasp. I had been holding my breath with out realizing it and now felt lightheaded, my vision blurring at the edges as a sucked in several breaths.

"Sir I need to know where your are." the phone said.

After I had gathered my breath I was able to repeat my address. "Now sir. I know you need help and we're coming. But we need to know exactly what is wrong." It was a calm and steady voice probably the only reason I didn't just stop/breakdown/collapse to the floor.

"My mother she was on the floor shaking and now she isn't." I told the voice.

"Is she still breathing?" I was asked.

"I, I don't know." I was far to scared to turn around and look.

"Can you see her from where you are now?" There was the question that sent more fear into me building it back up to terror status.

"She's, behind me I... I can't" "Okay." the voice interrupted me, "It's okay, I'm going to ask you to look, but if you can't it's alright." Again there was that terror creeping over me, can't move, speak, think. 'Mew' again that was all I could force past my lips.

"Alright relax now do you know if the front door is locked?" the voiced had paused for a full moment, "Your still there I can hear you breathe now try to answer is the door locked?"

"hhh I uh, it's" again the voice stopped me. "Listen to just me, try blocking out everything else." Well that was easy listening was the only thing I seemed able to do. "Now take a breath and tell me your name."

Simple easy. "Ben"

"Now you last name Ben." the voice asked. "Kalson." I answered

"Now how about your age." "It's fourteen." Question, then Answer, this suddenly seemed like the easiest test in the world where the answers are littered on the ground like popcorn outside a circus tent.

That's why the thump behind me came as such a shock. "Ben did you hear me? Is someone there yet?"

"No, Mom moved, I think she moved." I said.

"You need to turn around and look, see if her eyes are open, or if her chest is moving, Maybe she's sitting up waiting for you." The voice urged.

I know that wasn't the case but at some point I was going to have to turn around, and at that moment it didn't seem quite so terrifying. I turned with hope, but no real belief, she was still laying on the floor. I watched as she moved not quite like a twitch, more like a little jitter that ran down her arm through her fur till I could actually see a finger move. I looked to her eyes definitely closed, her chest now more than half pressed to the floor seemed to just move under the rumpled blouse. "She is breathing." I told the phone.

"Is she awake?" He asked. "No."

"Can you try to wake her up call her name and shake her."

"No, the phone doesn't reach that far Mom, Mom doesn't let someone eat and talk on the phone it won't reach the table." The cord in question was the shortest she was able to find at barely three feet when it stretched out, it only allowed you to look around the corner in to the dining room and living room, to call out who the phone call was for. You even had to be careful passing it off otherwise it might snap back towards the holder and letting the phone go to cross the room never even went though my mind.

Part of me I'm sure heard the siren while the rest of me was just staring watching the tiny slow breaths she was taking while trying to figure out what to do next. I guess I had froze again, "BEN! Are you still there!?"

".. yes." Was my weak response. "Listen to me." Again something that it suddenly seems I am good at. "You need to wait, someone is going to be there soon you just need to hang in there. It's gonna be okay." Okay, ok, ok it seemed like that was some special chant or prayer that would eventually make life normal again.

Most of the afternoon and evening passed in a flash what little I can remember; people rushing through the house; my mom rolling out on a stretcher; more people; more talking; more blurs. I remember sitting on my bed with no clue who was around me or anything the voices were trying to tell me. I wasn't sure of anything till I realized I was being carefully almost cautiously hugged and the blue patterned skirt on the bed next to me seemed some what out of place.

"Shelly?" came out as more of a shocked gasp. She was the girl next door but more than that she was a friend I had known for years. She was some one my mother always allow to play in the house or out back in our yards and she was sitting on my bed. Shelly was one of my few friends that my mom had treated as an extra child or cousin but the one place she wasn't ever allowed to be in was my room. She was still giving me a sideways hug as I heard my father speak across the room.

"There I figured that would at least get some response and shake you up." He was leaning against my desk near the door to my closet. "I was wondering if we had totally lost you."

I had tried to say 'Mom?' but still just the little mew started to come out ending in more of a squeak this time as I tried to cut it off staring as my father's jaw worked slowly up and down like he was chewing on his tongue. I'm sure he knew what I was trying to ask and was working out an answer to give me.

"They're not sure yet. She is having several tests done and there is a lot of work they need to do so we are going to have to be patient for a little while. She had a serious seizure and they are doing their best to help her out. I'm sure by tomorrow we'll know how things end up." Even before Dad had finished I had started trembling, shaking. I wasn't sure why but as the he kept speaking became harder to stop it.

Shelly gripped me tighter and tighter, "Ben, Ben come on. Hey!" She pulled me back as I had almost quaked myself off the end of the bed. It was a mixture of several things but most of all something inside was afraid again. I stared crying, no balling, grabbing on to Shelly and sobbing. My Mom had been unfair and hard on me the past few years but I loved her. So much of my life growing up had been good times and happy family memories, all the shouting matches and screaming arguments seemed like nothing at the moment. True I was supposed to be grown up but at that moment I didn't want my friend holding me I wanted my mother, I wanted her to be alright, safe, and telling me that everything was fine.

As I cried the strongest memories and feelings were my mother holding me. When 'Brow' my favorite teddy had been accidentally tossed, when my training wheel on the bike had snapped and I ended up with stitches, even a two years back when I ended up trying to fight a much older kid and lost. The worst moments of my life she had always been there making me feel safe and warm as she scratched my head and gently tweaked my ears waiting as I finished crying either curling up into her lap or dozing off to sleep and waking later in my bed.

I did wake up in bed, the light from the desk was on trying with a simple 45-watt bulb to light up the room and failing. I groaned trying to sit up and also failing falling back to my pillow. It took only a short time to realize my head was pounding harder than my heart and everything seemed to ache.

Another migraine, likely brought on by stress this time, I had gotten many over the past year and a few more this year. It had taken only a few to have doctors tell me that sometime teens just get them for no reason or it could be simple chemical imbalances. Vitamins, less stress, and medication only when absolutely needed was what they said. It never really stopped the arguments with Mom...... ugh.

I pushed the covers off and rolled over so I could slowly sit up. Just that movement left me dizzy and thinking this must be the worst migraine ever. Sitting there I decided it was far more important to go to the bathroom now then to keep resting here. 4:40 flipped to 4:41 as I watched the glowing red from the alarm clock at my nightstand. Carefully standing upright I ended up using every ounce of my agility and balance to not topple forward or backwards on to the bed. My whole body felt sore and ached horribly like I had slept on the floor instead of in my bed. With a paw out that hit the wall far sooner than I expected I slowly walked or was it stumbled along to the bathroom leaning heavily on the wall in the hall to make it there.

I pretty much dropped on to the toilet relieving myself. In near darkness with just a small glow echoing down the hall from my room and a dimmer gleam rippling through the frosted glass from the street lamp near the corner I tried to think of the place where my medication might be and how to get to the kitchen to search for it. I already knew it wasn't in the bathroom the medicine cabinet here never contained any actual medicine.

It wasn't till I startled awake that the realization hit me, I was sleeping on the toilet. My next thought was it was a good thing I hadn't stayed standing to go otherwise I might have either made a mess or ended up with my head in the bowl. Rolling myself forward I tried straightening my legs while keeping a grip on the towel rack for an assist and I got back to my feet. I didn't even bother with the tail hole as I slowly worked my jeans back on and left the bathroom.

I stayed as close to the wall as possible as I went down the hall to the living room. From there I kept my hands in front of me I traversed across the room making it to the far wall somehow with out hitting the coffee table or stumbling to my knees. From there it was a simple path past the dining room and into the kitchen keeping close to the wall.

Gripping on to the counter under the phone I fumbled open the drawer hoping this was the place it had been returned to and not some where else. Thankfully it was easy to find even for my fumbling paw since the bottle was long and had a strange cap and I set myself the new task of trying to prying that off. With pill in hand I moved across the kitchen pulling open the fridge only to almost fall back blasted by the appliance light. My head pounded even harder as I tried reaching for the carton of milk the only thing I seemed to be able to focus on since the rest of the fridge seemed blurry.

After pushing the pill past my lips I took several large chugs trying to swallow the rather large tablet making sure it didn't stick in my throat. Remembering all the warnings I had each time I took a pill my hand groped across the shelf after replacing the milk until I found tinfoil and claimed a left over hot dog from days before. I don't really remember eating only that I closed the door and stumbled in the new darkness back across the kitchen. By the time I reached the doorway again there suddenly seemed to be a contest between my stomach and my head. Both call out for attention and both very upset.

With several swallows trying to force down bile that was rising I leaned over the counter and tried to fight the only battle I hoped I could win. With several more swallows I let my body lean across the counter until my head was actually resting on the cold metal of the stove top and tried with what little concentration I had to keep the hot dog, milk, and pill mix inside while my stomach tried to eject it.

I woke up to the new pain in my knee having jabbed it into the side of the counter everything was still dark and everything still seemed to be pounding but at least I no longer felt like I was going to lose what was in my stomach. I still felt a little queasy when I stood but after a few seconds of making my way back to my room I felt better. The only other incident was bumping hard into the side of he couch as I tried crossing the living room. Finally back to the dim light of my room I used the red glow of 5:39 to guide me back to bed.

I literally crawled back onto the bed flopping down and trying to pull the covers back over me. I thought I would be asleep in seconds but I ended up spending a great deal of time with my head pressed in to the pillow trying hard to ignore the pounding of my head. Never before had it been quite this bad and it felt like laying there as quietly and silently as possible wasn't helping one bit in fact more of my body seemed to protest and ache as I rolled to my side.

Doing my best I tried to ignore the constant shaking and voices in my ear. That failed but when the words Mom and hospital finally registered I made the attempt to wake up. I tried rolling over only to find something preventing my mid turn with a heavy pressure on my back and butt.

"Other way unless your interested in laying on the floor." Dad my brain told me. "We'll skip the shower but change your cloths and get down to breakfast." With that the pressure was gone and in a moment of vertigo I was sure that the floor was my next stop. Arms wrapped around me adjusting me pulling and turning till I was sitting at the edge of the bed. "Come on we need to get going. I'm not gonna allow you to just lay in bed today." He told me crossing the room. I could hear the light click from the desk lamp which seemed to reignite the pain and pounding of my head.

I wasn't sure if I laid back or flopped back onto the bed either way I could feel the heavy shake which brought forth a loud groan and my dad spoke loudly. "Ben UP Now!"

"Can't hurts." My mumble wasn't much but thankfully he was listening.

"What? What hurts."

"Migraine." I got out fingers felling over the indentation on my stomach where my pants button had been resting trying to find the stupid thing so I could get them off. I felt hot really hot and I wanted them off. Half rolling I was able to yank on the back clasp above my tail and it popped undone. After several moments of struggling I finally freed enough of myself to push the jeans towards my knees. There was a strong tug yanking them out of my hands and sending them to the floor.

I was able to take a moment and think past the pounding in my head. I wasn't that hard in fact the headache was much less than I expected as I realized everything else ached more it was like my body was throbbing instead of my head. I felt hands moving me again to a sitting position then my own paw opened and something placed inside.

"Take it!" the order was given to me. As I lifted the pill to my mouth my other hand had a cold glass pressed into it and after a few seconds was able to make my fingers grasp the glass and hold on. Taking several swallows felt refreshing and suddenly my hand tilted and I was guzzling down the rest of the cold water savoring the chill it brought as it went down my throat. It was enough to help me pry my eyes all the way open and look at my father blinking several time to adjust to being awake.

"Alright you can stay home. I'll call later." He helped me back into bed after pealing the shirt over my head and it wasn't more than a minute later that I drifted back off feeling my fathers claws scritching the top of my head.

I was awakened again to shaking and this time a concerned sounding voice. The voice got louder and higher as the shaking became somewhat more violent making me feel like throwing up. "Stop. uuunh"

"Ben, Ben are you okay? You didn't wake up, and your hot and your fur is soaked... BEN?" Again there were hand gripping me trying to help me into a sitting position. That only seemed to make it worse I leaned forward feeling my stomach rise and fell straight off the bed. Pain jarred my wrist as I landed with my face in the carpet and crumpled with my ass sticking up in the air. With a choke I started to heave feeling my guts clench, but nothing came out but a strong acid taste. Gasping for breath between the contractions I felt like I would pass out from lack of air as my gut continued to squeeze for what felt like minutes before it relaxed.

I was unable to process anything but the shaking of my body, the pounding in my head, and the heat which seemed to be slowly cooking me. I knelt there trying to gather my breath and myself although I still wasn't really able to understand what was being said over me just that there was a paw that was rubbing up and down my back. I slowly moved from my elbows to my paws pulling the one that hurt more off the floor as I finally could hear what was being said.

"Ben I can't stay. I'm going to be in trouble for being late if I don't leave now." It took two tries but I was able to get upright on my knees I finally confirmed that it was Shelly who was again in my room. "Izz okaayh." Was what I blurted out.

"NO no it's not okay! I can't leave you like this." I could really hear the worry in her voice now not just concern.

"Dad." I mumbled out.

"He's gone. His truck is here but he isn't." She interrupted.

"Mom's car." I muttered. It was all strange I couldn't stop shaking and shivering even though I had leaned back into the bed for support. All I could really feel beyond that was the dampness of my fur against my back and other places where fur felt dirty and icky and how I was suddenly feeling cold even though it still felt so hot.

"Listen Dad's gonna freak when he finds out that I was here especially with you like this." I didn't understand what she meant exactly my only thought was that she was in the house with me alone and that was not something either of my parents would be happy with.

My Dad might be a little upset but he wouldn't freak, "Wait... Dad phone." It was the only thing that seemed to make sense to me at the moment.

"What?" She asked puzzled.

"Dad he's gonna call." I gave the answer. It was something I came to quickly regret as I was dragged upright with several hard yanks from Shelly. Even upright I could hardly stand still wobbling and shaking as she held me close. I wasn't sure what she was planning but I tried keeping my paws under me as she guided me out of my room. I concentrated entirely on my feet trying to keep them moving feeling my stomach begin to protest again as we waded through the house.

I guess I wasn't expecting the fact that I was now laying over the counter in the kitchen again, this time with my face actually on the grill over the gas burner. Somehow the counter and I seemed to be becoming close partners. I was to weak to try to move and barely aware to really care anyway. The one thing I did feel was the cool metal when I tilted my head slightly allowing the back of my cheek to rest against the smooth surface. I was still shaking and now it seemed hanging tongue panting as I heard wood scraping across the floor behind me.

I think it was finally about this time that I realized this wasn't a migraine something was wrong. I was sick, hot, ached, and could barely move. Suddenly my body was shaking more violently now as I tried struggling up. Images of my mother flopping on the floor quickly resurfaced and fear gripped me thinking that I was moments away from being the next to fall victim to what ever was happening. In the middle of nearly working myself into another fit of terror I was yanked back and landed heavily in one of the solid wood chairs that sat in front of the small kitchen table where we usually ate.

"I'm sorry Ben but it's already past four. I am already in trouble especially if Dad is home now. I'm sorry really." I heard her voice and was trying to answer but by the time I uttered 'Wait' and looked up the kitchen was empty. 'What was I supposed to do now?' I wondered as I gave a glazed glance over the room failing to figure out why I was here. I couldn't reach the table, fridge, sink or stove from here. In fact the only thing was the counter which had the drawer and the phone over it. Whether it was the thought of the phone or some sort of sub conscious inspiration I found myself a few moments later trying to keep a hold of the receiver in my hands. Several times I think I blacked out and remember being startled or maybe awakened by the loud voice or what followed. "The number you have dialed has been disconnected or is no longer in service. Please hang up and try your call again. EHH...EHH...EHH...EHH...EHH"

"Hello is someone there?" It was only a soft voice but it seemed loud and it jolted me to alertness again and made me drop the phone. It slid down my leg and off the chair before swinging back and slapping the painful part of my lower leg. Carefully gripping the cord I reeled in the receiver and gripped it tight moving it to my ear.

"Hello." I breathed into the lower circle hearing my faint voice reach my ear.

"This is Blue Shore Fire, do you need assistance." The voice was female and seemed very annoyed or seriously irritated. "Who?" I knew I had asked that I don't know why maybe I just couldn't stay coherent any longer and confused tried to listen again.

"Who is this?" The voice demanded. "Ben." That was at least automatic. "Ben WHO?" I squeezed my eyes shut flinching from the suddenly louder word. "Kalson."

"Listen Ben Kalson you just can't go calling the Fire Department for fun. We have..." I had tuned out or maybe passed out the phone slipping from my hand dropping to my chest where it stopped while my hand fell to the side of the chair.

"Ben. BEN. BEN!" My name was being called loud enough to make me open my eyes. The phone was calling me and sudden short flashes of the day before played in my head as the new voice and the same from yesterday continued to call my name. Glancing across the kitchen I think I still expected to see her there body prone and slightly twitching.

"BEN!!" the shout came out crackling out of the ear piece causing my arm to move back up.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Ben are you okay?!" Yesterdays voice was now full of concern that came out clear over the line.

"Hot so hot." I mumbled out. The voice and words kept coming only this time I couldn't find the will or effort to listen. "So hot." came out again and I couldn't say what really happened next.

###

I of course know much of what happened from later but at the time it was like being wrapped in a fog a super hot wet fog blanket. Everything was blurry when my eyes opened, every voice seemed like it was spoke through a long tube stuffed with a rag. There were so many things going on but I wasn't participating.

When I finally did wake up again I was unsure where I was or what had happened. I was weak that I knew, it took a great deal of effort just to make my hand move and push the sheet off. There was something else a sort of heavy cloth or towel that that was also tucked in around me that started under my armpits and ended at my crotch.

I didn't have the strength to pull it off heck I barely could pull myself into a sitting position forcing myself up with both arms with several grunts and a gasp as my body tried to obey. It was a moment before I could look around body still aching slightly but compared to before it seemed like a simple bruise. To my right was a full white wavy wall which somehow seemed to glow not reflect the light. While staring my ears dropped the low rumble to pick out a steady beep and quiet voices that echoed from a television that I zeroed in on above my head and across the room.

"Ahh good you're awake." Turning to the voice the figure was already retreating out the door that was behind the white curtain that was to my right.

It still took a few minutes but I finally realized the hospital setting. A long white curtain across the right side hiding the other part of the room and to my left was a wall with a heavy curtain that was nearly closed and was blocking what could have been strong morning or afternoon light. There were several metal chairs against the wall along with cabinets and shelves that took up the rest of the space.

A shadow in the doorway had me looking over before I was blasted with florescent brilliance. Pressing my eyelids closed I flopped backwards with an arm to cover my face. The knowledge that I still had a fairly good headache became apparent by the background throb. Landing back on the bed had also let me know there were other parts of my body that wanted to protest what we had been through.

"Feeling better today Ben?" A male questioned.

"No." was my answer.

"Well since your able to sit up and talk I'd say that is a huge improvement." I tried paying more attention and answered the few question I could about what I could remember. They told me I had been sick and fevered with a temperature running so hot that they had to put me in an ice bath on arrival. Topping out at nearly 108* I had spent the night and next day unconscious and it was now Saturday morning. "Well I think we can keep you another day, build up your fluids before we send you home. So just relax watch some television and keep drinking."

For the next few hours I dozed, watched T.V., and sipped water before I had the total shock of suddenly remembering my mother. Pressing the call button repeatedly and waiting what seemed like days I barraged the nurse the moment I saw a shadow. "Mom, where's my mom? How is she? Is she sick too? Can I see her?"

I probably would have continued pestering her if it wasn't for a slight head shake she gave. Now I was sure I didn't want her to answer just from that little look. "I'll get the doctor. It will be a few minutes."

I kept assuming the worst of course sitting there T.V. droning some western movie thing as I wrapped my arms around myself and tried not to cry. When the doctor did show I was crying, not much just the sniffling tear leaking. The nurse having come in first was quickly around the bed and rubbing my back and shoulder. "Hey what's wrong?" Not looking up I just shook my head.

"Ben? Listen your mom's alright for now. She gave us all a good scare just like you did but for the moment she is just fine." For some reason hearing the doctor say that didn't seem to make it much better.

"Can I.. *erk * see her?" I asked clearing my throat so I could be heard.

"That isn't a very good idea right now." Was the reply. "WHY?"

"Well you shouldn't be out of bed yet and your mom certainly does not need to see you like this." I looked over staring at him trying to make sense of what he said while he continued. "You were seriously ill, you mother was upset enough by that news that you ended up in the hospital and she needs her rest. And so do you. Tomorrow if she is feeling well before you leave you can have a visit, a short one. You need a lot of rest to get you strength back up, slow and easy, otherwise you might end up sick again."

"Is she sick?" I finally asked the question.

"She has several medical problems we are addressing at the moment and no I'm not going to tell you what they are right now. You need to rest not worry just like your mother." The conversation was ended not because of that but instead Shelly had entered the room at that moment.

I stared at her while she stared at me. She was dressed in her normal school clothes which today were a light yellow blouse and a cream skirt. Shelly had told me she didn't like any kind of pants because the always seemed to pull and catch on her fluffy fur which seem to poof out. I knew she canine, or mainly canine, but unlike her father she didn't have his sleek black and brown coat although she did have the same long tail and some golden fur along with black and brown. Shelly stopped our small staring contest by walking over to the bed and gently taking my muzzle and with a handkerchief pulled from somewhere wiped up what was left of the tear tracks on my cheek.

"Doctor." The gruff grunt at the door told me that Mr. Thaner was the one that brought Shelly.

"I was really worried they wouldn't let you have any visitors yesterday." She told me.

"And today's should be short as well I want him to keep resting and drinking." With that both the doctor and nurse left leaving me with Shelly and her father.

"They said it could have been really bad. I'm so glad your okay." She leaned in a little closer and whispered. "I am sorry I left."

"So did you hear anything, can you tell me what's wrong?" I asked her as she moved around the bed to sit in one of the chairs.

"Well you had a really high..." "NO! No." I interrupted her. "About mom, did they tell you anything about my mom." Shelly shook her head and as I looked over to Mr. Thaner, he shook his head as well. "Please, could you ask?" I kept looking at him. With a grunt he walked into the doorway and began looking down the hall.

I was more than surprised, shocked really as Shelly quickly slipped to the bed dipping down to kiss my cheek and lick my muzzle tip before slipping backwards and sitting down. "So when do you get to go home?" She asked as she pulled the chair closer.

"To..*gulp * Tomorrow, he said I could go home tomorrow." I tried to keep my voice steady

"Well I got your school work from your teachers. There was a math test or something you have to retake but tomorrow is Sunday so I could try to help you." She told me reaching out an arm to place her paw just on my wrist.

"He probably doesn't need your help Shelly. Besides your a tier lower you won't likely be able to help." With that Mr. Thaner stepped out into the hall and began speaking with someone.

I looked back at Shelly to see a fake smile on her face as her eyes watered and she looked close to crying with a sniff that only confirmed it. "What's wrong?"

"I shouldn't have left. I should have called the police or something. Dad wasn't even home and I got all my homework done quick and then he was home and the ambulance showed up again and, and I tried to go over but Dad wouldn't let me." She got the story out with her voice slowly climbing octaves and turning more towards a squeaking rush. Mr. Thaner and the nurse had rushed back in with the noise but as I sat up and tried to reach my arms out he pulled Shelly back into and embrace.

"It's okay honey. Everything turned out fine." He said rocking her gently back and forth.

"I'm sorry but you both will have to leave now." The nurse spoke crisply.

"Wait! Shelly?"

"I'm sorry." She said sniffing, "They had you in an ambulance and your dad was there yelling." She had gained more control of her voice and tears. "I thought maybe.. that I wasn't gonna see you again."

"It's alright Shelly." Her father spoke again keeping her in a tight hug as he glared at me. I wasn't sure what he was trying to convey but he simply announced. "We'll go." and turned Shelly guiding her towards the door. "Tomorrow." was the last thing I heard him utter to me, or to some comment Shelly had made I wasn't sure. The nurse refilled my tumbler with more water and almost forcibly helped me to lay back down before she left.

I spent the rest of the day as before, dozing and half watching the television getting the nurse to flip channels every once in a while. My father stopped in for a while in the evening promising I could see mom tomorrow before he took me home. The only other information he gave me was that mom was not sick like I was but had a rather complicated problem that we could talk about later. The rest of the evening and night was uncomfortable and nearly unbearable. With little room to toss and turn like I normally do on my large bed I was stuck trying to sleep or watching muted old black and white shows. It wasn't until after breakfast that my body finally crashed and I slept through the morning and into the afternoon.

With lunch served rather late I only ended up waiting an hour for my father to arrive. I was forced to sit in a wheel chair which I soon realized was an necessity. I had been allowed out a bed a few times to use the restroom but after letting me push the chair to the end of the hall and wait for the elevator I was feeling weak and wobbly even after sitting down to ride up one floor. My father pushed me the rest of the way, down a side hall and into the next wing of the hospital.

I had no clue what to expect when I finally saw Mom. My imagination had though up several possibilities like a dim room with lots of beeps or her laying there with tubes and wires connected always seeming like a few steps in front of death. The room instead was wide and spacious single bed room. Several sets and various bouquets of flowers sat on a long table under a wide triple sectioned window one end which was opened letting in a light breeze and a great deal of light as well. My mother was leaning back but still half vertical thanks to the bed that kept her up, and smiling! It had been a long time since I had truly seen her smile at me. I had to blink back tears that blurred the fact she was a little shabby and her eyes seemed red and puffy and she had a drawn tired look as well.

But for the most part she looked to me like she had just gotten over being sick like I was. Just resting in bed regaining her health. Remembering what the doctor had said the day before I stood to make sure she could see I was better too as I walked the few feet to the bed. She had a hand out as I approached and helped to draw me forward into a hug. I did start to cry a little but so did she. I rocked us back and forth some and she gave me a rough rumble resembling a purr.

We all talked for several minutes about the few small things she expected from me. Back in school by Wednesday, which the doctor was agreeable to as long as I took it easy, and how I would be allowed to cook hot dogs or mac and cheese for myself for dinner if dad wasn't home. I tried asking how long it would be before she was back home but the only answer I got was there was still a few last tests to be done before they were sure but to not worry.

I was all ready to try and press to find out what had happened and fully ready to get what I wanted when she pulled me close and held me tight. She was apologizing to me and telling me she never ever wanted me to be so scared or worried. "There are things kids should never have to see." She told me, "Watching your mom laying on the floor... I'm sorry Ben I really really am." She continued to tell me that more than anything she didn't want to see me hurt. I had been unable to bring up the subject or argument after that and in a few more minutes Dad suggested we leave and let her rest.

It seemed like no time at all before I was leaning against the doorway of my bedroom seeing two textbooks set out on my desk along with a small stack of papers. I would have missed the little butterfly card that said 'Here's your homework' if I hadn't stepped closer to see what exactly would be required. I dropped the card in the top drawer and closed it about the same time my Dad entered with a pitcher and a tall glass.

Groaning I slowly sat down in the chair while he simply said, "Doctors orders. Although you may be in for a treat." Looking into the glass he was filling I could see red not the clear liquid. I reached out and drained the glass in one go. Cool, fruity and only just a touch of sugar. Certainly not as sweet as I would have made it but way better than the glass after glass of water I have been forced to drink yesterday and today. "Take it easy," he told me, "if you want you can watch television in the living room or relax but I don't want you going outside." He refilled the glass and set the pitcher on my desk far enough that it wouldn't endanger any of the papers I had to do. "You don't have to go back until Wednesday, but you do have to finish the week and next two weeks are testing weeks. I was told if you miss any more days you might have to restart the tier." I looked at him shocked there was no way anyone wanted to fail a tier. I was always brought up to believe you either started a specialized school at sixteen or got a job anything less looked really bad later in life. I had plans on a job since I really wasn't sure what kind of career I wanted. "Although," my father stated almost seeming to snicker, "if you really wanted to be in the same tier as Shelly there are easier ways to do it."

"DAD!!" It was a joke that had us both grinning something that felt really good as he reached out and ruffled my ears to my mock frown. I took several more sips of fruit juice before I set the cup down and began really checking on how much work was involved at my desk.