LOST HEARTS RETURN HOME
Written by Tucker Cloudkicker
Edited by Tom Cloudkicker
Disclaimer:
Kit Cloudkicker and names of other characters from TaleSpin are copyrighted by the Walt Disney Company. No commercial exploitation is intended, nor should it be inferred.
Chapter One
Spartan, sanitary and completely nerve-wracking; Baloo had always hated hospitals, though he had a good reason. His father had passed on in a hospital like this many years ago and now Baloo was sitting in a doctor's office discussing the health of someone he cared for once again. Twisting his cap in his hands nervously, Baloo stared down at the floor not wanting to see the pity in the doctor's eyes. That same look of pity another doctor had given him when he was a cub. It was that look people were often given when they became a victim of terrible circumstances.
Blinking again Baloo wondered how it had come to this sad state. Having known the boy for at least six months, Baloo figured he should have known how to tell when something was bothering the cub by now. Unfortunately, due to this latest incident it may have been a moot point anyway. Still, Baloo silently cursed himself for not seeing this sooner. Looking next to him, Baloo glanced to the person who had been there for both of them throughout the crisis, a bearess who Baloo had called an employer and quite recently began to call his friend, Rebecca Cunningham.
Sighing he watched her as she tried not to cry, which seemed to be a losing battle to say the least. Six months ago Baloo would have never thought he'd feel so bad about seeing Rebecca Cunningham hurt like this. Shaking his head, Baloo knew that she felt as guilty about this as he although he truly could not understand why. Feeling a need to break the silence finally, Baloo cleared his throat and put his paw on her shoulder. Baloo opened his mouth to speak but never got the chance.
"I...I let him downWhen Kit needed me the most, I let him down. Iin my own way let him know that he could come to me when he had a problem. I made a promise and I broke it." She had remembered when she had sang that lullaby to Molly the first night they had spent at Higher for Hire and had noticed Kit standing at the window with that look that said he needed a home as well. Feeling the guilt hit again, Rebecca started to break down.
Shaking his head Baloo sighed. "Becky you can't blame yourself. You had Molly to take care of and angry customers and..." Scratching the back of his head Baloo winced. "I know I haven't
been very helpful. Besides...if anyone is to blame it's me. I take care of the kid. I should have seen that something was wrong."
Clearing his throat the child psychiatrist Scott Gerald finally spoke up. "Baloo didn't you say Kit was good at hiding his problems and had a problem coming to you and Miss Cunningham for help?"
Both nodded.
Rebecca sniffed a bit. "Yes but...we both knew Kit wasn't sleeping well and when he did his dreams were never sweet. We both also noticed he's had bouts of depression not long before what happened. Kit didn't know we heard but…there were nights we'd hear him out by the plane crying alone. I...just can't understand why he's so afraid to trust us. Now...now we might never...get that chance."
Walking around the desk with a box of tissue Scott knelt in front of Rebecca holding it out for her. "Miss Cunningham, I know this seems bleak but from what I've heard Kit's a strong child. I'm sure with time and support we can find a way to bring Kit back."
Tossing his cap to the floor Baloo got to his feet and headed to the door. "All you doctors are all the same! You give us false hope and then the only thing that comes out of it is pain!" With a frustrated growl, Baloo stormed from the room.
Watching with shock Jonathan shook his head. "Baloo obviously has had a bad history with doctors, I'd say".
Shrugging Rebecca looked to the door. "Baloo sadly, has also been a bit of a mystery as well...I suppose there're a lot of things all three of us are afraid to talk about. I only hope you're right
doctor. I just hope we do get the chance."
Walking along the psychiatric ward Baloo grimaced at hearing patients many screaming others crying in different rooms and felt his stomach tie in knots.
Sadly...many here had deep emotional scars that seem fated to torment the souls of those who occupied these halls. Now...Kit, his friend, navigator, and possibly closest thing to family was now an occupant to this sad fate. "Li'l Britches...you don't deserve this."
Finding himself in front of Kit's door, Baloo scratched his ear and took a deep breath. He wasn't sure he was ready to do this but, he knew he had to be strong for Kit. "Well...here it is." Not really knowing what to expect Baloo opened the door and stepped in to find Kit's bed...empty?
Looking around frantically Baloo could not see the small cub anywhere. Heart racing, Baloo prayed Kit had not somehow wandered off in his confused state.
Turning to call for help, Baloo stopped short hearing small breaths from the corner beside the bed. Worried Baloo followed the sound, finding his best friend and partner curled up in a ball shivering on the floor. The nurse had told him and Rebecca earlier that they had found Kit like this on a few occasions.
Leaning down beside the boy, Baloo placed a gentle paw on Kit's shoulder and spoke gently. "Li'l Britches? What are you doing on the floor?"
Kneeling there Baloo waited for a response but never got one. Leaning closer Baloo looked into Kit's face and saw the boy's eyes shut, his face twisted in agony. "Kid?"
"He's... He's still like this?" Baloo asked no one in particular.
Baloo jumped slightly when he heard a female voice behind him.
"Poor kid has been in and out of it since they brought him in."
"That...that voice sounds so familiar," Baloo thought to himself. Turning his head to see who spoke, Baloo paled slightly and blinked. "Elizabeth?"
The bearess smiled warmly and nodded. "It's good to see you Baloo. How have you been?"
Trying to speak, the grey bear found himself dumbfounded. How long had it been since he had seen her beautiful face? Sighing, Baloo shook his head. "Why? I thought we were happy? I thought you said you wanted…"
Elizabeth shook her head; a tear fell from her cheek. "Baloo things happened I couldn't explain and I couldn't find you to if I could."
Baloo fumed .He knew the real reason and he was hurt by her unsaid accusation. "You still blame me don't you? You blame me for losing our…"
"Can't, I can't do it any more."
Barely hearing Kit's whisper, Baloo turned his head. "Kit?"
Realizing he needed to take care of Kit at the moment, Baloo turned back to Elizabeth and began to speak, only to discover that she was no longer there. Shaking his head Baloo sighed. "Disappearing when things went rough; why does that seem so familiar?"
Waving it off, the bear quickly made his way over to Kit's side; who was murmuring quietly, "Can't do it...I can't do it anymore. So...c-c-cold and alone..."
Baloo winced and felt hurt again. Didn't the kid know he was there? Gently shaking the
small boy's shoulder Baloo tried to get him to look at him.
"It's...it's no use Baloo he can't hear you."
Turning his head Baloo scowled fiercely at the doctor who leaned in the doorway.
"I'm sorry. I wish I didn't have to tell you, but Kit could no longer deal with reality and his mind could not handle the stress."
Baloo looked confused and frustrated.
"I hate this part of my job," Jonathan murmured to himself. He never liked having to tell people that their loved one may never recover. "Baloo, being down the well for a week without food or water and not hearing a voice beside his own, Kit believed he would die cold and alone. His mind slowly started to shut down. Having been traumatized so badly, Kit...Kit lost all touch with reality and slowly slipped into his mind trapped in his worst fears."
Baloo looked lost and unsure. He had wanted this shrink to tell him the honest truth, what was happening to Kit. Now that he had heard the cold hard facts, he wished he could have lived with the sugar-coated version.
Trembling, Baloo begged whatever forces out there to end this nightmare. It was not fair for them to do this again. He couldn't lose yet another that he cared about.
"Baloo?"
Not answering, Baloo gently scooped the boy into his arms taking care as if afraid to break him. Lifting him into his arms, Baloo slowly walked off to find a quiet place to think.
Having found a quiet out of the way unused waiting room, Baloo made himself comfortable as possible. Cradling the cub in his arms he looked down into Kit's face: thankful that he had fallen asleep finally.
Brushing the bangs from Kit's eyes his mind wandered slightly back to Elizabeth and how he had once lost his chance at a family. Laughing weakly, Baloo started to realize how much
Rebecca was like her. Both were almost always by the book when it came to details. Then again they also shared that love for their child.
Finally returning his gaze to Kit he smiled warmly, though his eyes showed the sorrow and guilt he felt. "I...I know you can't hear, Li'l Britches, but...I promise you things'll be different if...no. when you get better. No more secrets and no more hiding problems. Just come back to me okay?"
Yawning a bit, Baloo realized that he had been awake for a majority of the last two and half weeks. He had promised himself that he would not sleep until he had found Kit.
Propping himself up on the couch, Baloo rested Kit on top of him, the cub's head on his shoulder. With a weak smile Baloo wrapped his arms around the cub's small frame, kissed him on the top of his head and closed his eyes. "G'night...Baby Bear."
Unseen by the grey bear, Elizabeth sat watching the whole scene. Smiling sadly, the bearess wiped a tear from her eye. "He always was good with children" she whispered to herself. "If only he could learn to control that temper; not to mention that inflated ego. I just hope they both realize how much they need each other".
Watching quietly, she studied how loving Baloo had quickly become with Kit and wondered to herself what it would have been like to have raised hers and Baloo's child. Would he have been a kindhearted handsome young man like Kit? Looking back on the two, Elizabeth blinked when she heard Baloo call Kit "Baby Bear." Having to stifle a gasp, she remembered how he had called their child that. "Could...could he be...?"
"I think I saw him come this way doctor."
Stepping into the waiting room Jonathan looked around waiting for his eyes to focus. Or at
least he made it appear that way until he could take a second to think. "There's no one he...ah there he is." Turning his head to look at the nurse he shook his head and put his fingers to his lips. "Let them sleep, they both need it."
Looking nervous about it all the nurse whispered, "But doctor the patient should be..."
"Nurse Bea!" Lowering his voice, "Nurse, may I remind you why he's here? He needs to be in the company of people to help snap him out of this. It's okay. I'll take responsibility if anything happens. Just let Mr. Baloo be with his..." Jonathan knew Kit was not Baloo's son but from what he was seeing he knew the bear could not see Kit as anything but. "Let him be with his kid."
Nodding the nurse quietly walked off.
"Poor kid...and to think...if I had gotten to meet him weeks ago this may not have happened."