Discovering his mate - A Silver Shifter Series 4

Chapter 14 - Todd

I found it awkward how Tobias cracked jokes all the way to the hospital. It wasn't until Nina said that Martha had given him methadone that I realised he was off his face. Tobias laughed the whole way as Nina rested her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her while we watched Martha strap Tobias's shoulder and stabilize his leg. I had never known the kind of fear and the roller coaster of emotions that I felt today. The panic of the unknown, the irrational thoughts, and the relief of finding your loved ones alive. I held on tightly to her as the Ambulance drove up the ramp to the hospital's A&E. I wondered if this was what Tobias had felt when he saw his house on fire, or what my brother had gone through with their own mates. It reinforced the need to keep them safe, to protect them, our mates.

"So, are you going to tell me how you found us?" Nina asked the following day. Nina had been rushed into surgery for her arm. As she was human, she was the priority with possible infection and muscle damage. When I saw her in the cave, her arm didn't just have teeth marks from the bit, but Dolly had mutilated it. Nina's skin and muscle were shredded with some bone exposure. She also had three long gashes on her check, which were sutures closed. Because of the extent of the damage her surgery was over two hours, with pre scans showing that she had a fractured hummus which was a surprise. Nina said that she didn't even feel it, but doctors put that down to the adrenaline. While Tobias had an MRI, and a very strong doctor forced his shoulder back into place before strapping it down. His legs were casted so that it would heal correctly, and his pain managed. They didn't do anything for his cuts, though they did scan his heart quickly to make sure nothing had changed.

"Yes, I think I would like to know that too" Tobias said finishing off his lunch. They were sharing a room together; I was sitting with Nina on her bed as Tobias was next to us. The television opposite was playing the first football game of the season. I was about to start when there was a knock on the door and Logan came in with Racer. My bear immediately launched for the surface, and I wasn't the only one. Tobias made the bed shake as Nina yelled,

"Dad!" she ignored me as I tensed my body. She wasn't worried about me shifting I wasn't as old as Tobias. When I finally got my bear under control, I saw Tobias had close his eyes and concentrated. Some of his is skin and his hand had already shifted as he tried to push his bear down. I was impressed that at his age he was still able to shift, though it must be painful.

"So... sorry" he finally got out as his skin stopped rippling.

"I should be sorry; I should have asked Logan to tell you I was here before coming in" Racer said.

"It's fine," Nina said waving away his apology, she had tried to get out of the bed, but I held her in it. I went over to make sure that Tobias was already. Tobias slapped me away, as he fixed himself up. I got back into bed with Nina as she glared at her father.

"It was just a reaction, shut up," he said repositioning his pillow and blanket.

"Impressive that an old timer like yourself can still shift like that" I teased him.

"I'm only 60," Tobias snapped back.

"You're only 60?" Logan said. I thought he would have been older to be put in an aged care centre. There were a lot of other shifters out there who were old and still doing their Jobs.

"I know, but it isn't just the heart that is weak," Tobias said sound a little uncomfortable about the topic. I looked at Nina who was looking at me.

"Dad was diagnosed with early onset dementia last year, and a year after the fight he had a stroke," Nina said, she only whispered it too me as Logan said.

"You don't look a day over 59" which made Tobias laugh. I kissed Nina's cheek, thanking her for sharing the information. I knew that he couldn't concentrate on something for very long and had issues writing, but I didn't think that because a disease. The one thing that Tobias was good at though was neutralizing the tension in the room. Which a big smile he turned to Racer.