The Rabbit's Den

Red Rabbit Brings Good News

Petra paced in her hospital room, she was shaken when the doctors pulled the girls away from her. She was now nearing hysteria, nervously chewing on her fingernails. When the door opened two nurses came in pushing the girls in plastic hospital bassinets. She ran to them, carefully she looked the sleeping babies over. Dr. Peterson walked in with Dr. Mullens at his heal; Petra pulled the rolling carts with the girls with her as she backed away from them.

"What did you do to my babies?" She demanded. Dr. Peterson's eyes widened with surprise, Mullens turned to him and said, "She wasn't like this until Trixie sank her claws into her. Her attitude is contagious." Petra kicked the small metal tool tray towards the doctors "What did you do?" Peterson back up a step as Mullens walked toward her, "Took some blood, gave them some vaccinations, and looked them over Petra. That's it." She looked from one doctor to the other. "I get to keep them?"

His cavalier shrug was infuriating, "For now, we will have to run more tests. We usually don't take the infants until they start on solid foods, I'm guessing you are still breastfeeding." Shock colored her face, "You're going to take them?" Dr. Mullens nodded, "In a few short months they won't need you anymore and will be given to a nice family who will be able to care for them. Then you can have more." Petra was getting ready to object when Dr. Peterson began, "If you don't calm down we will be forced to sedate you. We still need to run some tests on you." She backed up more, pulling the carted babies with her. Shaking her head her red hair fell around her face, "No, no." "Think about it Petra, your girls can have wonderful lives here in the city, away from the struggle and lawlessness of the Desolates. Don't you want them to have wonderful educations, and lead stress free lives?" Dr. Peterson pleaded. This struck her hard, she was forced to think about her own life, she was still a child herself.

"Come with me child, we'll run the tests. The babies will be fine, and they will be right here when you return." Dr. Peterson held out his hand to the terrified girl. Hesitantly she took it and let the older doctor lead her out of the room.

The bag hanging from her bedside had been vacuum sealed to itself for a while when Dr. Mullens breezed in. "Sorry Trixie, that took longer than expected. Ready for more?" She sat silently, staring off into nothingness. He waved his hand in front of her face, "Trixie?" She blink, then with an confused expression turned to him, "Was any of it real?" His expression now matched hers, "Was what real?" "At the Den. I just keep thinking, all those months. The time, the small talk, the effort. Just because Kaleb didn't come through in you plan. Was any of it real?" Her voice was low, and her tone slow.

He pulled the chair and adjusted it beside her bed, then he took a long breath before answering her, "Does it matter?" "Yes Jacob it does." "Why?" She cocked her head slightly and smiled, "You tell me, and I'll tell you." Trixie knew the sheer curiosity would compel him, he like these head games. "I admire your tenacity, your courage, and your ability to compartmentalize. You help others without expectations and try to see the good. Your artwork is fantastic and skilled." Narrowing her eyes at him she stated, "That doesn't answer my question." "Trix, the day in the river, real. The day that Milly died, yeah that was real. But when you dig down deep into what is Trixie, you're weak; desperate and childish. Your attitude is something only a mother could love and I really have no interest in the rode hard and put away wet look, honestly it's sloppy. It took so much concentration and effort to get off, I'm actually disappointed it was for nothing. Now why the sudden need for validation?" She bit her lip, "I'm trying to decide how you're going to die."

The doctor sat back in his chair and studied her. Trixie held his gaze, "Jacque told me something when I was little that stuck with me ever since. He said to me once a Rabbit always a Rabbit. Doc you're a Rabbit." He snickered, "So what does that mean for me Trixie, is that some half assed way of saying you can't kill me?" Smiling she clarified, "Did you know rabbits scream as they die? You're going to die screaming Doc."

Laughing at her again he leaned to her with indigence in his voice, "How are you going to pull that off Trixie, I'm not the one who is going to be strapped to a bed till I die." She only smiled as she lay back against the bed. He stood suddenly and yanked the bag off the line, replacing it with another.

After Dr. Peterson had collected what he needed from Petra he began to lead her back to her room. She stopped, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket, "Is there a girl named Trixie here?" Dr. Peterson blinked at her not immediately answering the question. Petra continued, "She's small, black hair has a really bad attitude?" He only nodded at her then tried to continue walking. Holding fast to his sleeve she asked, "Can I see her?" He scratched at his chin then said, "Only for a little while, the electronic monitor on your ankle will sound an alarm if you try to go outside, or any restricted areas. So mind yourself." She shook her head rapidly in agreement.

As she slowly opened the door and stepped onto the room her eyes fell on Trixie. Sorry sight for sure, strapped to her bed with a long tube protruding from her face. Her eyes lit up when she saw Petra. She ran to the bed, "What's going on, why are you tied up?" Trixie smiled, "Just being myself." Petra didn't smile, "And the tube?" Glancing over at the hanging half empty bag she sighed, "Doc's forcing me to eat. I just haven't felt up to it lately." Petra laid her small hand over Trixie's, "They have the girls. They have my babies, they're going to give them away when their old enough."

Trixie clenched her teeth, "I was hoping you would have gotten away. I hoped you were far away from the Den and the safe house before they came. I'm sorry Kaleb didn't make it to the hutch. He really tried." Squeezing Trixie's hand she uttered, "I know." The tears that had built up on Trixie's eyes were quickly blinked away with a startled expression, "What do you mean?" Petra glanced behind her, Dr. Peterson was standing in the doorway. Leaning in she whispered to Trixie, "I found him." A wave of confusion and anxiety came over her, "You went back to the Den? What good did that do? That's why you're here." Petra softly shook her head, still whispering, "Trixie, I found him." The look in her eyes insinuated something more. Trixie's heart leaped, she lowered her head and whispered, "He's alive?" The smile that spread across Petra's face was the most beautiful thing Trixie had ever seen.

"You need to return to your room miss." Dr. Peterson exclaimed from the doorway. She turned and acknowledged him, then back to Trixie. "I'll visit again when I can." After the door closed behind them the fire that was snuffed out in Trixie slowly started to burn.