The Rabbit's Den

A Sick Kitten

Over the last two months Trixie had forced herself to mellow and become the subservient Mrs. Jacob Mullens that the Doc wanted. It was all a façade, and at times it killed Trixie, after he would leave for the day, she would break down in the shower crying until the water turned cold. Her baby had evolved from a butterfly into an all-star soccer player; sometimes the forceful kicks and stretches took her breath away. The Doc had begun to lose interest in her sexually as she grew, which didn't bother her in the least. She spent her days reading when she wasn't with Ester. Ester was sweet but naïve, she thought she was spending quality time with her new sister-in-law when in fact Trixie was getting a complete idea of the lay out of the city.

Ester loved shopping; spending her brother's money was nothing to her. Trixie was a wild breath of fresh air, telling her of the world behind the walls. She had never left the city, it wasn't allowed, and Trixie filled her head with the fantastic and the fearsome. They took walks often in the neighborhood that laid on the outskirts of the city, visiting parks she hoped to someday take her niece to. Trixie had found during these visits that Ester wasn't fond of her brother in the least; he was controlling and manipulative even to her. Her heart bled for Trixie, knowing that the pregnant woman hid the truth about her relationship with her brother.

Dr. Mullens often picked fights now about Trixie's outings, ridiculing her for not obeying his bed rest orders. Along with her choice of reading materials, no matter what she brought home it was grotesque, ludicrous, or pointless. She ignored him on both, which only added fuel to the fire. She was permitted to visit Petra once a month when she went in for regular check-ups, never being permitted to visit Yana due to her infection from the virus. Trixie would tell Petra about the city, and how it was surrounded by neighborhoods and houses.

It had been over a week since Trixie had been to the clinic when she felt the hard cramp in her back, ignoring it she finished dinner and sat down to eat while reading. She was only a little over six months, so it was probably just from walking so long that day. At the library she had found another children's story book, about a stuffed rabbit that was abandoned. She read it aloud to the rolling bump that stuck well over her feet now. While reading the cramp persisted, growing frustrated she continued to read as she tried to stretch it out. But as the hours crept by, she began to pace, nothing was relieving the cramp. She was still alternating between stretching and pacing when the Doc walked through the door.

He looked at her with curiosity, "What are you doing? Why are you still up?" Irritation heavy in his tone. Clearly Trixie was in serious discomfort, "My back hurts, it won't stop." The doctor came out at that moment, he sat her down and tried to assess her situation. "Did your water break?" He asked, she gave him a sardonic look, "No Jacob my water didn't break. I think I'd notice." He stood up, standing her up as well, "I want to take you in, I think you're going into labor." Her heart fluttered, "It's too soon." "No shit." He snapped back, pushing her out of the door and into the street.

Trixie's mind raced on the short ride to the clinic in the electric bus, going to all the horrible outcomes she could imagine. Cyrus met them at the curb, wheelchair in hand. Sadie stood at the door waiting with her ankle monitor blaring; she really didn't care if they yelled at her for this infraction. Once inside she was rushed to the care unit, so many people were buzzing around, she didn't even think they had that many people at one time on the floor. After a quick exam Sadie squeezed Trixie's hand, "Honey you're in labor, the doctors are going to give you some medicines to try and stop it. I need you to stay as calm as possible." Her head spun, she sucked in air, trying to keep from crying.

Dr. Peterson stood in the hall talking in a low voice with Dr. Mullens. "We need to start steroids." Dr. Mullens shook his head violently, "We don't know what it will do with the serum." Keeping his low cool voice Dr. Peterson urged, "But we do know what the risks of undeveloped lungs will do." Dr. Mullens knew as well, he braced himself against the wall with his eyes closed knowing what he needed to do. In a sudden burst of rage, he struck the wall several times, growling incoherently. Dr. Peterson was the first one to return to the room, he leaned down to Trixie, "We already started you on magnesium sulfate and we are going to start steroids to help the baby, I need you to stay calm." She nodded silently.