The Rabbit's Den

Father WOLF

Trixie's stunt with the book and lamp from the night before had Dr. Mullens irritated. When he arrived at the hospital that morning it was clear that he was feeling edgy. Dr. Peterson notice this when Dr. Mullens suddenly exploded at Sadie for taking too long with Petra, his reason was because she wasn't the only pregnant woman on the floor. Sadie, the sturdy older woman held her ground, shouting back at him that Petra was sick, and the other women knew she would be around. He thought perhaps he should go talk to Dr. Mullens once the young doctor was finished with his morning rounds.

Petra was actively throwing up into the pink bean shaped bowl when Dr. Mullens entered her room. He didn't even say anything, just turned and walked down to the room where the medications were kept. Grabbing two vials and some syringes he walked at his usual fast pace back into her room. "I'm giving you the vitamin shot as well as some ondansetron." He said as he drew back the plunger on one of the syringes. While injecting her the second time he touched her skin, she was incredibly hot. Quickly tossing the needles into a sharps bin he came back to her and put his hands on her cheeks, then her forehead. "Petra how are you feeling?" He asked, he wasn't even trying to hide his concern.

She was clammy, at first glance Dr. Mullens had assumed it was because she was throwing up. "I don't feel good at all doctor." She said weakly. He rushed to the hallway and hollered for Dr. Peterson, who was with another patient. He excused himself and came out, "What?" Dr. Mullens shook his head, "I don't know, something is wrong with Petra. We need to run some blood tests and start her on some IV antibiotics."

Dr. Peterson sat across the table from his younger counter part. "Can you tell me what happened Jacob?" The young doctor looked defeated and completely disheveled; he shook his head and said, "When I was running the labs for the virus, I completely overlooked checking for elevated white counts. I can't believe I did that. I could have killed her." Dr. Peterson nodded calmly, "I'm concerned for one reason Jacob, and this is an infection that can occur with anyone in this procedure. The infection started from the egg extraction. It happens, not a lot, but it happens. Where are you right now?" His fists balled up on the desk between them, "I don't know. It won't happen again. Leaning back in his char he rested his hands on his stomach, now the younger doctor was looking at him.

"How are things at home Jacob? I saw the fight you started with Sadie. Sadie, of all people." He gritted his teeth slightly, "She's as much of a pain in the ass there as she was in here. Just in different ways now I suppose." Dr. Peterson chuckled a little, his belly made his hands shake. "You expected to unwrap something different than what you had?" The young doctor cracked a grin, "Pretty foolish huh?"

Waking up again to the sun blaring in her face, Trixie rolled to her side and covered her face with Jacob's pillow. She was starting to suspect he was doing it on purpose. She had finished the book she was reading the night before and was excited to start the new one, what else did she have to do? Wandering into the kitchen she scanned the shelves, she wanted to find something to make around dinner time, so the Doc wasn't so emotional. Opening up the freezer compartment of the refrigerator she saw ground beef. Tossing the solid meat onto the island she walked out of the room, shepherd's pie it would be. Settling herself on the chair she felt the fluttering start. She laughed, "Okay my little butterfly, rabbit's it is." She grabbed the children's story book and began reading out loud.

The hours trickled by as she read the book aloud, stopping to grab a handful of granola here and there that she had found in the pantry. When the fluttering stopped, she climbed the stairs back to the larger of the two bathrooms. She hadn't been in a bath in years, they had shower units in the Den but she hadn't had a real bath. Plugging the tub, she began filling it with hot water. With the door closed the bathroom quickly filled with steam, she breathed it in. The whole feeling was comforting and nostalgic. She lowered her naked body in, slowly laying back and closing her eyes. Okay she thought to herself, this is one thing that the Den didn't have. Her belly, and knees stuck out of the water, and this made her laugh.