INNOCENTS ABOARD

AUTHOR'S NOTE: First off, my apologies to anyone who wanted to leave me a review and couldn't – I had no idea my account was set to accept signed reviews only.  That's been fixed, so please – review away!  All feedback is appreciated.

As for this story…  This was the easiest fic I ever wrote.  I don't know if it's the best, but it fought me the least – and writing is normally a torture for me.  But this one flew right onto the page, almost start to finish.  It knew exactly where it wanted to go, and why.

This fic is part adventure story, part love story, and part family drama.  But then, I think war stories encompass all of those things.  My attempt to parallel events and places in this story to actual events and places will be transparent, I'm sure, but I took some liberties with geography and timelines for dramatic purposes.  I hope the history majors out there (no names!) will go easy one me.

A Disclaimer - This story does cover some mature and difficult subject matter, and there are scenes of a violent nature - well, all that by my standards anyway.  Definitely a PG-13 rating!  I've tried to deal with this stuff in a way that's consistent with the TaleSpin universe, and to do it tastefully.  It's not my intention to offend anyone, and I don't think anyone will be.  But I did mention it, for the record... 

            "Oh I, I'm with you boy,

             If I got to ride six million miles

             Well old pal, it' still surprisin'

             How long you can go before you stay

             Do not let the mornin' blind you

             When on your sleeve you wore the yellow star

             How long will you be driven

             Relentless round the world

             The blood in the rhythm of the soul

             The loneliness which can't be spoken

             Just swings a rope and rides inside a song

             Dead limbs play with ringless fingers

             The melody that burns you deep inside

             Oh, how the song

             Becomes the singers

             May peace be ever with you as you ride

                        --- Kinky Friedman

PROLOGUE

"What's happening?" the small girl screamed, as her father rushed through the door of their tiny house and slammed it behind him.  Outside, a panicked crowd was furiously milling about, as brown-uniformed dogs marched through the streets.

"I'm not sure." her father, a distinguished looking bespectacled polar bear in his mid-30s, panted.  He grabbed the small cub and pulled her close.  "There are soldiers out there - Alemanian soldiers by the look of them.  Where's Mama?"

The girl was crying with fright by this point.  "She's outside!  She went to the market a few minutes ago!  Papa, what is it?"

"Dear God!" the man whispered.  He took off his cap and scratched his head thoughtfully.  "What to do, what to do?" he mumbled.  "I'm sure she'll be fine, Little One.  We can't go out there just now.  Let's just stay inside and wait for her, all right?"

"But Papa - what are all those soldiers doing out there?  What do they want?"she whimpered.

The polar bear said nothing, but absently placed a hand on his daughter's head and held it there for a moment, deep in thought.  With a jerk, he removed his hand and dashed over to the radio.  "Maybe they'll say on the wireless, Anna.  Let's see."  He tried to smile at the little cub, but was only able to muster a halfhearted grimace.

He flicked on the radio and flipped the dials frantically for a moment, finding only static.  Finally, a voice, crisp and emotionless, cut through the white noise.

            "Repeating - an agreement has been signed between the governments of Alemany and Bohemia.  Please do not be alarmed.  Everything is under control.  All residents of the    Polar Bear section of Brague are to remain in their  homes until further notice.  I repeat - do not be alarmed.  All residents of the Polar Bear section of Brague are to remain in their homes until further notice.  Further instructions will be issued shortly.  Peace is at hand, and there is no cause for panic.  Hail Alemany.

With a gasp, the polar bear snapped the dial counterclockwise and shut off the radio.  He sat staring, straight ahead, his face even whiter than normal.  Anna, his daughter, ran over and put her hand on his face.  "Papa!  What did that mean?  Papa?  What about Mama?"

The man stared for another instant, and then quickly turned and looked down at the small cub, as her voice broke through his reverie.  He grabbed her head gently in both paws and hugged it to his chest.  "Mama will be fine, Dumpling.  We'll all be fine." he purred soothingly.  He looked over the girl's shoulder and out the window of the sitting room, where the brown-uniformed soldiers continued to mill through the frightened throng, rifle shots occasionally audible over the shouts of fear.  "We'll all be fine, Little One......"

PART I

"You're late!" Rebecca Cunningham said sternly as her flight crew, Baloo and Kit Cloudkicker, strolled through the door at Higher for Hire.  Baloo slumped down in his easy chair, while Kit, shaking his head slightly with a rueful smile, walked over to the small yellow cub playing in front of Rebecca's desk and knelt down next to her.

"Aw, it's only an hour, Boss-lady!" Baloo said in an annoyed tone.  "Whatsay we call it close enough fer government work and give the lectures a day off?"

"Baloo-" Rebecca began, frowning, "Baloo, I just don't know what to do with you!  I suppose I should be pleased enough you're only an hour late..... But sooner or later you're going to understand that this is a business!  I pay you to deliver cargo and fly my plane back here - not to joyride around and waste time at Louie's!"

"An' sooner or later _yer_ gonna understand, flyin' is hard work!" Baloo grumbled, as Kit and Molly shared a sad smile and played with her action figures.  "If I wanna stop fer an hour at Louie's after flyin' all over creation on a deadline, that oughtta be just fine!  Right Kit?"

"Uh, right Baloo." Kit said unenthusiastically.  Baloo could never understand, but it was getting harder and harder for the cub to take his side against Miz Cunningham.  He didn't want to take _anybody's_ side.  At least the big bear hadn't asked Kit to lie for him....  As he seemed to be more and more, he tried to play peacemaker between the two.  "I know we're late, Becky, an' I'm real sorry.  But we _did_ deliver on time - the customer was happy.  Those stops at Louie's are kinda important for us, I guess.  We'll try to be on time, OK?"

"Kid!" Baloo said, sounding betrayed.  "What kinda attitude is that fer my navigator to take?"

"I'm sorry, Papa Bear.  I'm just trying to-"

"Forget it!" "Rebecca sighed.  "I don't know why I even start these things, they always end the same way."  She met Kit's eyes for a moment, and smiled.  She was bailing him out, and he knew it.  "Let's just try to be on time in future, all right?  I'm not asking you to stay away from Louie's forever - just to keep on a schedule.  Just promise me you'll try, all right Baloo?"

The pilot was trapped now, and clearly didn't want to be the only one sounding unreasonable.  "Sure Beckers, whatever.  Schedule." he muttered.

"Baloo, if you don't wants to be late, why don't you just leave earlier?" Molly piped in.

"She thinks like me already!" Rebecca laughed.

"Ain't that simple, Button-nose." Baloo grumbled, feeling very ganged-up on.  "There's pre-flights, maintenance..."

"Oversleeping!" Rebecca chuckled.

"Even ace pilots need our beauty sleep!" Baloo said indignantly.

"In that case you must not have slept in a year!" Rebecca giggled.

Kit scratched Molly on the ears and stood.  This kind of wisecracking was still a little edgy, but it was better than the stage that it always seemed to follow - the out and out fighting.  He felt safe in leaving the two of them unattended now.  "I'm gonna head upstairs and work on my homework, you guys." he said, his voice a strained squeak.  He grimaced, as Molly giggled loudly.

"Kit!  What's wrong with your voice?" Rebecca said, struggling not to laugh.

"Yeah, Kid, what's up?  I been noticin' that more and more lately.  You got a bad cold or somethin'?" Baloo asked.

Kit could feel his ears turning bright red.  His voice seemed like a live grenade lately - he never knew when it was gonna go off.  "I dunno." he mumbled softly.

Rebecca shared a look with Baloo.  "I think I know..." she said.  "Kit, how old are you, exactly?"

"Fourteen in a few months." he said softly, silently begging his voice not to crack.

"Oh yeah - sure!" Baloo exclaimed.  "That's about how old I was when it happened!"

"When _what_ happened?" Molly asked innocently.  Kit, by this time, was looking around for a hole in the floor to climb into.

"When my voice changed, Pigtails." Baloo laughed.

"Guys-" Kit pleaded, desperate for this conversation to end yesterday.  His face felt like it was erupting in flames....

Rebecca giggled and patted his shoulder gently.  "It's all right Kit, it's nothing to be embarrassed about.  It's something that happens to boys around Kit's age, Molly.  Their voice changes.  It's perfectly natural."

"But I like Kit's voice now!" Molly protested.  ~Me too, Kiddo!~ the cub thought to himself.

Her mother laughed.  "It'll still be Kit's voice, Pumpkin!  He'll just sound a little different, that's all."  She turned to the boy.  "Kit - has anyone - you know - ever talked about this with you, before?"

"Um - No, I guess not." he muttered.  If they were bound and determined to embarrass him he may as well cooperate and be done with it as quickly as possible.

Rebecca shot Baloo a dirty look and the bear shrugged helplessly.  "Hey, I hafta think of everything?"

"Well, you _are_ his father, Baloo!  Didn't it ever occur to you that Kit might be worried about it?  That he'd like to talk to someone who'd been through it himself?"

"Hey guys, really, it's no big deal!" Kit squeaked helplessly.

Rebecca seemed determined to make her point.  "Well - do you mean to tell me that you weren't curious about your voice cracking all of a sudden?  Maybe a little scared?" she asked him gently. 

"A little." he admitted grudgingly.  "I just kinda figgered, you know, that was gonna be what my voice was like from now on...."

Baloo glanced down guiltily.  "Yeah, well... ya don't hafta worry about that, L'il Britches.  It only lasts for a little while, an' then it sorta... I dunno, settles down."

"How long?"  Kit asked, a little desperately.  He didn't want to admit it, but he hated having a ticking time bomb in his larynx, just waiting to embarrass him at any moment...

"After a couple months, I guess, it kinda starts to get better." Baloo said.  "It's been a while since it happened to me, Kiddo.  I shoulda set ya down and talked to ya, soon as I noticed."

"That's OK." Kit said sheepishly.  "As long as it's not gonna be like this forever, I can deal with it."

Rebecca grinned at him.  "He's right Honey - after a few weeks it'll calm down.  Don't worry about it."

"That's good." the cub said, eager to extricate himself now that he'd actually heard what he wanted to hear.  "I'm gonna take a little walk around, OK?  See you in a while." he said, heading for the door.

"I'm comin' too!" Molly said, trailing after the boy.  "Say somethin' real funny again., Kit!"

Rebecca waited until the cubs were gone, then spun on Baloo.  "Why in the world didn't you talk to the boy about this, Baloo?  You said you'd noticed-"

"What'd you embarrass Kit like that for, Beckers?" the big grey bear snapped.  "Couldn't ya see he didn't wanna talk about it here?  You gals just don't understand guys at all, do ya?"

"Oh Baloo, it's nothing to be embarrassed about!" she said dissmissively.  "Besides - I was trying to prove a point - to you!"

"And that was?"

"Baloo - Kit's almost fourteen years old.  He'll be going through a lot of changes soon, and not just his voice.  You can't just ignore them and hope he'll get through it on his own!"

"Awww-" the pilot said, hiding his face in his hands.

"Baloo - I know that this is a difficult subject for you, but you have responsibilities.  You're the boy's father." she strode over and sat on the arm of his chair.  "I know it's not fair - most parents have twelve or thirteen years to get to know their child, and get used to the idea.  You don't have that luxury.  You happened to adopt Kit just as he's starting the toughest years of his life."

"I know..." he groaned.

"Baloo, as hard as it is for you to talk about - things, with Kit - imagine how hard it would be for him to have to go through them, with no one to help him." she prodded, gently.

"My Daddy never talked to me about none o' that!" he grumbled.

"I rest my case."

"Very funny!"

She chuckled and patted the pilot's arm.  "I know it's been a long time, Baloo, but try to remember what it's like, being thirteen.  Remember how tough it was.  Don't you the pilot's childhood.  Still, she had an idea.  "Just be honest with Kit, and talk from your heart.  You know how to do that.  Everything will be fine." she smiled, grasping his paw.  "I know Kit seems very grown up, but he's just another kid when it comes to this sort of thing - all of his experience and toughness can't prepare him for what he's going through.  He needs you, Baloo."

"Guess yer right, Beckers." he chuckled, glad, as ever to have her around when this sort of thing baffled him - which was all the time.  "Don't know how I'd do it without ya..."

The two cubs walked, hand in hand, along the water, Kit stopping periodically to pick up a flat stone and skim it along the surface of the harbor.  Molly could sense the plaintive mood that gripped her 'older brother' - she was more than adept at guessing moods, even if the older folks didn't know it.  "Whassa matter, Kit?" she asked in her blunt fashion.

He smiled down at her and was silent for a moment, as if considering answering her question.  Finally he stooped, picked up another stone and gently hurled it out over the water.  "Nothin', Short Stuff.  I'm perfect." he squeaked, with a grimace.

"Worried about your voice, huh?" she asked, suppressing a giggle.

"Naw!" he replied.  "It's no big deal - just my voice, is all.  I'm just glad it's not gonna be like this forever."

"I guess stuff changes sometimes, even when you don't want it to, huh?" she said innocently.

Kit arched an eyebrow at her in surprise.  The little girl had a way of cutting through all of the fluff and hitting squarely on the point.  "Never mind, Pigtails.  Everything's fine." he said, shaking his head.

"Kit - can you show me how to make the rocks skip like that?"

"Maybe when you're a little older, Molly." the boy said, sending another stone dancing along the harbor.

Molly scowled.  "Older, older!  I wanna learn _now_!" she grumbled.

Kit laughed.  "Ok, Kiddo.  But I don't think yer gonna be able to do it."  He bent over and scouted around among the pebbles and stones, finally finding what he was looking for.  "Here you go." he said, handing her a small, oval shaped flattish stone.  "You just grab it between your thumb and forefinger, like this-" he said, moving the yellow cub's paw into place, "and you kind of flick it out over the water, real low.  Go ahead and try."  The girl complied, and the rock flew in a graceful arc a few feet over the water and disappeared with a thunk.

"Good try!" he giggled as the yellow cub scowled.  "But you have to use your wrist more - that puts the English on the rock and makes it skip."  He scouted and found another rock.  "Here - watch me."  He grabbed the stone and with a whipping motion sent it out over the water.  The cub winced and grabbed at his side as the rock skimmed the surface seven times and finally settled under the water gently.

"Kit!  Are you OK?" Molly gasped, seeing the pained expression on the boy' face.

Kit stood, bent over, for a moment, breathing slowly.  Finally he grinned weakly at the little girl.  "I'm fine Molly, just a little tummyache.....  C'mon, time to head back.  Your Mom will be going home soon." He draped an arm around the girl's shoulder and the two cubs headed back to Higher for Hire.

The four polar bears sat at a large, wooden table, a slew of maps and photographs spread out on it's surface.  Each man wore a look of somber resolve.  "So we are agreed, then - our priorities are changed?" the largest of the four, dressed in a well tailored blue suit, said quietly.

Another bear, dressed in a causal tan flight shirt, answered him.  "As difficult as this is, I must agree.  I have devoted my entire adult life to exposing the injustices committed by the Thembrian government - I do not easily argue to shift our energies elsewhere.  But the facts are the facts - there are even greater and more pressing crisis' at our doorstep."

"What are our options?" a third man - the youngest, by appearances - asked.

The tan-shirted bear chuckled bitterly.  "Even if our priorities change, some things never do.  The free governments of the world continue to ignore the atrocities we see.  As ever, we must try to gather whatever evidence we can to show that action is needed urgently.  And then-" he frowned grimly, "we must hope that, even presented with that evidence, they are willing to act."

Low clouds and mist hung over Cape Suzette Harbor as a cool wind blew gently in from the west.  The lighthouse foghorn mournfully called out in the night every few seconds, it's wail joining with the ringing of the signal buoy bobbing on the water's surface.  Wildcat was working late, whistling softly as he tinkered with the starboard engine by lamplight.

Inside Higher for Hire, the radio was softly playing the music of a swing band, recorded live in a ballroom somewhere in one of the great cities of Usland.  Baloo and Kit shared the easy chair, the big bear stretched out, eyes closed, the cub reclining across his ample belly, head resting on the crook of the pilot's arm , reading a newspaper.  Baloo stretched luxuriantly, and absently scratched the boy's ears with his free hand, prompting a giggle.  "Not a bad meal yer ol' Papa Bear cooked up, huh, Kid?"

"Real good, Baloo." the cub grinned.  "You really know your way around a trout."

"Noticed you didn't eat much though, L'il Britches."

"It was great, Papa Bear.  Just wasn't that hungry is all." the cub said absently, continuing to browse the paper with interest.

Baloo frowned and peeked at what the boy was reading.  "Still don't think it's natural, kid yer age so danged interested in the news." he grumbled.  "More bad stuff outta Eporue, huh?"

Kit sighed.  "It really looks rough, Baloo.  The Alemanians are massing troops all over their borders.  They've already pretty much taken over Bohemia."

Baloo shook his head.  "Alemanians is always the bad guys, Kid.  Same thing as last time.  Make a devil outta the other guy, get ever'body riled up-"

"How can you say that, Baloo?" the cub protested.  "After everything we saw - with those shipments, all that dangerous stuff they had us carryin', without us even knowing!  And all that stuff that Michael said-"

"Michael, yeah." Baloo whispered, eyes closed.  "I guess I can't argue, Kid. It seems pretty obvious those were some bad people we was dealin' with.  Still....."

Kit shook his head sadly as he read the newspaper.  "And there's stories, Baloo - rumors, terrible things happening in Alemany - and Bohemia, now.  And maybe other places soon.  When I think about all those people... I'm scared, Papa Bear."

Baloo hugged the boy a little closer.  "I know Kid.  I guess this whole thing is pretty serious, like you say.  But what can we do?  We got our own little piece o' the world ta worry about, L'il Britches.  You can't take on every bad person in the whole world.  Ya got enough to do dealin' with the ones in yer own backyard."

"I guess." the boy said dubiously.  "But Baloo - how can we just sit back and hope?  If there's anything we can do, don't we have a responsibility to do it?  Just 'cause we're lucky and don't have that stuff happening around here, does that mean we should ignore it?"

"Yes!  No.  I mean..." Baloo said, frustrated.  "I know what I know, Kiddo.  It ain't much, but yer ol' man's been through a little more stuff than you.  I don't know exactly what's right and wrong, all the time."  The bear was finding himself less and less sure about these things, as Kit's altruism continued to weaken his defenses.  "But I know what's important - I know that fer sure.  If we can help out, we help out, but we gotta take care o' what's ours, too."

"I know." Kit said, smiling weakly at the big grey bear.

Baloo set his jaw resolutely.  "I know what's important." he said, gently pulling Kit's head to his chest.  He frowned.  "You feel hot, Kid - ya got a temperature?"

Kit sat up.  "I dunno...."

"Ya feel OK, Kiddo?" Baloo said concerned.

"I'm _fine_!" Kit said, irritated.  "Just a little tired maybe."

Baloo gently lifted the cub, stood, and set him back on the chair.  "I don't think I got a thermometer around here..." he muttered, noisily fumbling in the cabinets that dotted the room here and there.  After searching for a few moments, he stood, scratching his head.  "Dang!  What kinda father am I, no thermometer in the house?"

"You're a great father!" Kit protested.  "There's nothin' wrong with me!"

Baloo walked back to the boy and placed a paw on his forehead.  Frowning, he took off for the kitchen, where he began rummaging through the cupboards.  "A-Ha!" he shouted after a moment, returning to the living room triumphantly.  "Ta-Da!" he grinned, holding up a bottle.

"'Baer's Baby Aspirin?" Kit said, reading the label.  "_Baby_ aspirin?" he asked indignantly.  "I'm no baby!"

Baloo chuckled.  "Just a finger o' speech, L'il Britches.  Bought a bottle o' this when I had a job running Kiddygardners on field trips to Carlsbear Caverns a few years back.  Lessee - 'Expires 4/37'.  Well, that's close enough I guess.  How good a parent am _I_, huh?"

"But Baloo, I _tol'_ ya, I'm fine!" the boy protested.

"Nu-uh!" the pilot said firmly, handing the cub two tablets and retreating to the kitchen for a glass of water.  "Swallow those down and go straight ta bed.  Ain't no point in takin' chances."

"All right!" Kit grumbled, swallowing the pills.  "But I dunno why you have to be such a mother hen all of a sudden!"

Baloo smiled.  "Just doin' my job, Kid.  I know what's important.  C'mon, get ta bed now, I'll be upstairs in a few minutes."

"Status report, Major?" the uniformed dog seated behind the desk snapped at the figure seated before him.  The man had a number of medals pinned to his lapels, and the office was decorated in grand fashion.

"All is vell, Colonel." the other figure, a similarly dressed hound, replied.  His uniform bore a fraction of the decoration of his superior's.  "There is a minimal amount of dissention, as is only to be expected.  But on the whole ve are meeting with little resistance."

"Vat about the polar bears?  Are zey obeying ze curfew?" the Colonel snapped.

The Major shifted uncomfortably for a moment.  "Vell , sir - as is only to be expected, zey are giving us some difficulties....  Ze roadblocks are in place, and zey are being confined to ze ghetto.  But as you know, zey are a most stubborn and difficult people-"

"I am not interested in hearing about difficulties, Major - only successes." the large dog behind the desk said ominously.  "Zey are scum, of course zey vill resist.  Let us see how zey resist after a few veeks of starvation.  And Major - do not be bashful about making an example of a few of zem, if need be.  Do I make myself clear?"

The smaller canine swallowed nervously.  "Uh - an example, sir?"

"An example, Major.  My orders come directly from Linber itself.  I do not expect to have to address zis with you again.  You know our expectations and I expect zem to be met.  Brague vll submit, and it vill do so quickly, do you understand?" the Colonel shouted.

"I understand, sir!" the Major replied crisply, with only a tiny tremble in his voice.

"Wevy vell.  Hail Alemany.  You are dismissed."  The smaller dog stood, shot his right arm out crisply and departed.

Kit grabbed his trumpet case, scooped up his books and headed for the door, glad that another seemingly endless school day had finally drawn to a close.  Christmas break was coming up soon - what a welcome relief that would be!  Of course, that would mean he wouldn't be seeing Susie again for a while......

Susie - it was weird, how he couldn't get her off of his mind.  She'd been the reason he'd started listening to jazz at first, of course - that conversation after music class that day, when she'd gushed on about how she loved Louis Legstrong, and Bunny Hareigan.  Fortunately for Kit, he'd discovered that he liked the music anyway.

Still, every time he thought about striking up another conversation with her, he held back for some reason.  Part of it, he freely admitted to himself, was simple crippling fear, but there was something else, too, that held him back.  Something about it that made him feel as if he'd be doing something wrong.  He couldn't quite figure out for sure why, but he had an idea, silly as it seemed.

Kit paused in the hallway, wincing momentarily as he felt a pain in his gut.  "This cafeteria food is slowly killing me!" he muttered softly, leaning against a locker.  He caught his breath and headed for the doors. 

Someone had set up a small table by the exit, and there was a banner draped across it.  A smiling young tigress handed him a sheet of paper as he walked by.  "Thanks." he grinned, taking the paper.  He paused to read it.

            "Cape Suzette Junior High Boosters Club invites you to....

            TROPICAL PARADISE 1938 CHRISTMAS DANCE!

            Food, drink, fun and music under the tropical moon

            Friday, 7:00, main gymnasium

            See you there!

Kit stared at the gaily colored lettering for a moment, deep in thought.  A dance?  Who would have ever thought, Kit Cloudkicker going to a dance - what would the gang on the Iron Vulture have to say about that!  "Naw..." he mumbled, absently placing the flyer with his books and heading for home.

Baloo walked up to Higher for Hire, yawning.  It had been a long, long day - an eight hour round trip flight to Tierra del Frio, complete with a tropical storm parked smack in the middle of his route.  And all to deliver forty crates of Borscht.  He was all in, that was for sure - too tired even for a stop at Louie's.  Worst of all, he'd had to take the flight solo.  Even the long hauls were pretty tolerable with Kit for company.

Rebecca was already long gone as he stepped inside.  Upstairs, Kit was quietly playing scales on the trumpet, barely audible.  Baloo trudged over to the kitchen, rooted around in the icebox and located a wedge of pizza, which he downed in two bites.  He stepped over to the table, where Kit's schoolbooks were stacked.  His eyes were drawn to the brightly lettered flyer advertising the Christmas dance.

He picked it up and read it, chuckling.  He hadn't really stayed around long enough to go to any dances in school.....  Absently he stuffed the flyer in his shirt pocket, glancing upstairs.  Rebecca's admonishment from a few nights earlier leapt into his mind, causing an involuntary scowl to cross his face.

"Naw - yer too tired." he grumbled under his breath.  Almost instantly he felt ashamed.  There would always be excuses, if he looked for them...  They were here, by themselves - there would never be a better time.  He hadn't though about exactly what he was going to say, but maybe that was better.  With a deep breath, he started up the stairs.  "Time to earn yer father o' the year points, Buster!" he muttered.

Kit was sitting, cross-legged, on the bed, playing the trumpet very softly when the pilot walked in.  To Baloo's eyes the boy looked a little pale - maybe still under the weather, he thought to himself.  "Hey, L'il Britches - feelin' better today?" he asked Kit cheerfully.

"Yeah, I'm fine." the cub replied with a smile.  "How was that haul to Tierra del Frio?"

"Don't ask, Kid." Baloo groaned, sitting next to Kit on his bed.  "Tropical storm right smack in my flight path.  Cost me an extra hour just ta fly around her."

"Gee, I'm sorry, Papa Bear.  I sure wish I coulda been there - sounds like you really coulda used me."

"No problem." the pilot grinned, clapping the cub on the shoulder.  "Ol' Baloo did a lot o' solo flights before he was Papa Bear.  You have dinner?"

"Naw - wasn't hungry." the boy squeaked, carefully placing the trumpet back in it's case.  "If you

want, I could make you somethin', if you're worn out-"

"That's OK, I just had some pizza!" Baloo chuckled.  "So Kid... rumor mill says there's a dance at yer school, huh?"

Kit groaned and leaned back on the bed.  "How'd you find out about that?"

Baloo pulled out the flyer and held it up.  "Found this little beauty downstairs.  So - you gonna go?"

Kit lay back and hid his face with his hands.  "No."

Baloo frowned.  "Why not?  Sounds like fun to me-"

"Sounds dumb to me - just a bunch o' kids standing around, sweating and nervous, listening to some square music.  Who needs it?" Kit answered scornfully.

"Well-" Baloo began thoughtfully. "If I'd been in school long enough, I sure woulda liked to go to a few dances...  What about that girl, from music class - the one you said liked jazz?  Wouldn't ya like ta ask her ta go?

"Aw, just mind yer own business, OK Papa Bear?" Kit scowled.  "I said I didn't wanna go!"

Baloo felt a few pangs of guilt as he saw the normally confident cub flustered and defensive.  "Um - well... Kit.  I - that is...."

"What?" the boy asked, uncovering his face and sitting up.

"I was thinkin', maybe... uh, maybe it was time - you know, that we...  talked." the big grey bear stammered.

"Oh no!" Kit moaned, hiding his face again.

Baloo grasped his cap and fumbled with it, trying to regain whatever momentum he'd started out with.  He'd known this wouldn't be easy...  "L'il Britches - I know this is kinda, uh, embarrassing - but yer gettin' older, and I am yer Dad, after all..."

"Stop, just stop!" Kit begged, both bears' faces bright crimson by this point.  "Listen, I dunno what you think it was like on the Iron Vulture, but I wasn't exactly living with nuns, y'know.  It's not like I didn't hear anything-"

"Aw!" Baloo interrupted sharply.  "C'mon Kiddo - you wanna rely on what those dumb pirates told ya?  I may not know much about... stuff, but I ain't no pirate.  An' I've gone through it Kit, what yer goin' through..."

"I know." the boy sighed.  "It's just - I dunno, it's really embarrassing to talk about... It's not like I'm gonna start dating or anything-"

Baloo breathed an internal sigh of relief.  "I know, Kid.  But it's pretty obvious yer startin' ta - well - notice stuff - girls - an' ya never used to I'll bet, didya?"

"No." the cub admitted.

Baloo took a deep breath.  Harder than ditching a dozen air pirates, this was...  "Um - well, first of all - the main thing I want you ta know is, if you _ever_ have any questions you wanna ask, about... anything, you kin always ask.  Even if yer embarrassed, or if ya think I'll be.  I want ya to promise me you'll ask.  OK?"  The boy stared straight ahead, saying nothing.  The pilot gently grasped the cub's chin and pulled his face around to his own.  "Promise?"

"Promise." Kit said reluctantly, then smiled. 

Baloo playfully punched him in the jaw and took another deep breath.  "Now then, Kid - you know, what's goin' on with yer voice, an' all.  Well, that's just a part o' somethin' bigger goin' on.  Yer' goin' through a bunch o' stuff right now-" to his immense frustration and guilty relief, the phone rang.  "Who's callin' here at this hour?" he grumbled.

"Better get it Baloo - could be important, who knows?" Kit said, also seemingly relieved.

"OK." the bear said reluctantly.  "But hold that thought - we ain't done!"  He leapt down the stairs and picked up the receiver.  "Higher fer Hire - we're closed!"

"Is that how you always answer the phone at night?" Rebecca's voice asked indignantly from the other end of the line.

Naturally, it _would_ be Becky, calling just at that moment...."Yer timing's perfect as ever, Boss-lady.  What's up?" Baloo sighed.

"I need you to meet me at my place right away, Baloo.  There's an important potential client in town, and he's leaving tomorrow morning.  I managed to get him to agree to see me tonight, but he wants to see the pilot, too."

"Right now?" Baloo groaned.  This day was never gonna end...

"Right now, Baloo.  It's Leghorn Chicken Farms - the third largest poultry producer in Usland. We could get the entire south Pacific distribution contract, if we're lucky.  But we have to act immediately."

"Awright, Becky, I'll grab a cab and be right over..." Baloo sighed.

"Baloo - bring Kit too.  I need him to sit with Molly while we're at the meeting.  And put on a dress shirt and tie, please!"

"Right Beckers.  Be right over."  The big grey bear wearily hung up the phone and headed for the stairs.  Kit was halfway down, staring at him expectantly.  "Don't get comfy, L'il Britches.  We gotta head over to Becky's place.  We're meetin' some kinda high-falootin' chicken guy.  You gotta baby-sit Molly.  And I gotta put on a tie." the pilot said, trudging slowly up the stairs.

"I'll call a cab!" Kit said with a tired smile, heading for the phone.  "Oh, an' Papa Bear?"

"Yeah?" Baloo said expectantly, paused on the top step.

"Thanks!" Kit grinned sheepishly, and headed for Rebecca's desk.

"Baloo, your tie is crooked!" Rebecca barked, frantically dashing about the apartment and scooping up papers.  "And comb your hair!"

"Yeah yeah, don't get yer fryers in an uproar!" the pilot grumbled, wearily trudging over to the mirror to adjust his cravat.

"Kit?  Where are you?" Rebecca called, touching up her makeup and grabbing her coat.

"Right here." the boy said from behind her.  Molly sat on the sofa, looking perturbed.

"All right Kit." Rebecca said, hand on the cub's shoulder.  "Molly's already had her dinner, and her bedtime is nine o'clock, but we should be home by then.  If she's good, you can take her to the corner for some Frosty Pep - but I don't know, it's dark out..." she said, glancing out the window.  She saw the slightly hurt look on Kit's face and grinned.  "Never mind, I'm sure you'll be fine.  Here's three dollars for the ice cream, and you can keep the change.  But just the corner store, understand?"

"Understand." Kit answered solemnly.  "You can count on me, Miz Cunningham."

"I know!" she smiled, tousling his hair.  "Allright Flyboy, haul your gizzards out here and let's get going!  I don't want to keep Mr. Fowler waiting!" she shouted, bending over quickly to kiss Molly on the forehead  "And you be good, Young Lady.  Don't give Kit any trouble!"

"I'm _always_ good!" the yellow cub huffed indignantly.

"Keep yer feathers on, I'm comin'!" Baloo grumbled, his tie worse than before

Rebecca sighed grandly.  "Never mind, I'll fix it in the cab!  You kids be careful - Remember Kit, corner store, and don't let anyone in the apartment, all right?  Be careful!  See you later!"

"We will!" Kit shouted as the two adults hurried out.  With a tired sigh, the boy sat down on the sofa next to Molly.

"This ain't fair!" the little girl grumbled.  "Mom an' me was gonna make brownies tonight for Lucy's tea party tomorrow."

"Sorry Kiddo - I dunno how to make brownies." Kit said quietly.

"I know - let's play tail gunner!" the girl said excitedly.  "There's all kinds o' pirates around here!"

"Molly, I gotta ask you something - real serious, ,OK?" Kit said, wiping his brow.

"What?" the girl said, annoyed.

"Molly, I don't feel so good tonight, OK?  I've got a bad tummyache.  So please, be real good - I'm kinda tired out an' I don't think I can play any games right now."

"Awww..." the yellow cub complained.  "Yer just tryin' to trick me-"

"I'm serious Molly!" the boy snapped, eyes closed.  "I need to rest for a few minutes, and then I'll take you for some Frosty Pep, if you're good.  OK?"

"OK.." Molly said, frowning.  It wasn't like Kit to try to use an old grown-up trick like that....

The cab slowly worked it's way towards downtown Cape Suzette, fighting the last vestiges of the evening's rush hour traffic.  Rebecca leaned across and adjusted Baloo's polka- dotted necktie.  "Honestly, Baloo!" she grumbled.  "I don't know how you can fly that airplane all over the world and you can't tie a simple knot!"

"Hey - in my line o' work we never need these useless things!  I dunno why this guy wants to see me anyways - yer the one that's supposed to be makin' deals."

Rebecca sighed and finished straightening the tie.  "We're a one-plane operation, Baloo.  This guy has a ton of money - he wants to be thorough.  So do me a favor - _try_ not to be a doofus tonight, all right?"

"Hey, I'll be Mr. Professional!" Baloo grinned.  "You know me."  Rebecca scowled at him.  "Well, I'll still be Mr. Professional!"

Rebecca started to retort, then frowned thoughtfully.  "Baloo, did I tell Kit where we were going to be tonight?"

The pilot scratched his head.  "I dunno, Beckers - don't think so.  What's it matter, Kit can handle things."

"I should have told him, in case anything happens with Molly.  Maybe I'll stop and call when we get to the restaurant..."

"Naw!" Baloo scowled.  "You worry too much, Beckers.  Besides - they'll prob'ly be out getting the ice cream when ya call anyways."

"I suppose." she sighed.

Kit, _come on_!" Molly said impatiently, tugging on the cub's hand.  The ice cream stand was only a few dozen yards away - she could see it!  "Whassa matter?  Keep up!"

"Sorry." the boy whispered, walking a little faster.  Something just wasn't right, he felt - strange.  Why was he having trouble breathing?

Molly continued to tug at Kit's paw impatiently, and finally felt him release her hand.  Gleefully, she raced ahead, waiting for the inevitable command to slow down and wait for him.  When it didn't come, she turned around, only to find the boy doubled over, holding his side.  "Kit!" she squealed, rushing back to him.

Kit blinked rapidly, tears of pain blurring his vision.  The hurt was terrible, burning.  "I... I have to sit down, Molly..." he gasped, frantically feeling around for a bench or even a fire hydrant.  Finally, he could support his own weight no longer, and fell to the grass with a groan.

"Kit!" Molly screamed again.  "Whassa matter?"

The cub gritted his teeth, trying to suck in enough air to talk.  He opened his mouth to speak, but only a strangled groan came out.

Molly was crying by now, realizing that this was no game.  "Kit!  What should I do?" she begged frantically, but the boy only groaned again, sweat beading on his forehead.  She closed her eyes and thought for a moment.  "I'm gonna get help!" she panted, and took off at a run.

Kit heard the cub's last comment through the screeching pain, and saw a yellow blur streak off. "No!  Wait, Molly.." he croaked, trying to stand and follow her.  The effort was rewarded by a tremendous shot of agony in his side, and he fell back to the grass with a yelp.  That was all - he could move no more, and lay back on the turf, holding his gut and moaning.  He knew he should be looking for Molly, but couldn't even muster the strength to open his eyes.  Finally, after what could have been a minute or an hour, he felt strong hands grasp his shoulders and heard voices speaking gently to him, their words a jumbled blur.

"Honestly, Baloo!" Rebecca scolded as she and the big grey bear rode the elevator to her floor.  "Imagine telling the President of a poultry company that you're a steak and potatoes man!"

"Well, I'm sorry Becky, but it's true!  I like burgers, an' stuff - and last time I checked they weren't makin' burgers out o' chickens or turkeys!" the pilot said defensively.

"Well, a business meeting is no place for honesty!" she barked as the doors opened.  "Besides, maybe they _will_ make burgers that way someday."

"Don't make me laugh, Becky - who over heard o' turkey burgers?" Baloo grumbled as Rebecca fumbled with her keys, finally opening the door.  "Hi-ho, L'il Britches!" Baloo called as they entered the apartment.

"Where are they?" Rebecca frowned, looking around the empty living room.

"Dunno - maybe he's puttin' Molly ta bed." Baloo said quizzically.

"At eight thirty?" Rebecca frowned, glancing at her watch.  She walked over to Molly's bedroom and peeked inside.  "They're not here, Baloo!"

"Well - maybe they're still out gettin' ice cream." Baloo said dubiously.

"At this hour?!  They'd better not be!  I though Kit knew better than that!  Maybe hanging around you so much is finally starting to rub off."

"Hey!" Baloo complained.  "That ain't fair - besides, Kit's responsible.  He wouldn't do anything that weren't safe."

"He'd better not." Rebecca said ominously, looking around the apartment.  "If anything happens to Molly...  Help me look for a note or something."

Baloo started checking the tables and counters.  "You know Kit better'n that, Becky!  If he took Molly out after he was supposed to there musta been a real good reason, like he had no choice or somethin'!"

"Oh, _that_ makes me feel better!" the bearess said sarcastically.  "Still - I don't think Kit would take any chances with Molly.  Oh Baloo, what if something happened?"

"Don't panic Beckers, I'm sure there's a good explanation..." Baloo said, starting to worry himself.  "Maybe I should go out and take a look around, see if I kin find 'em."

"Maybe..." Rebecca said dubiously.  The phone rang, causing both bears to jump.  "Oh my..." Rebecca mumbled, picking up the receiver.  "It's Wildcat!" she said, surprised.  "Wildcat, is Molly all right?  What?  Oh my God..." she gasped, turning pale.

"What?  What is it?  Is she OK?" Baloo asked frantically.

"Yes, yes...  Suzette Memorial, all right.  We'll be right there!" Rebecca said, hanging up the phone.

"Whassa matter?" Baloo yelled.  "Is Molly all right?"

"Molly's fine." Rebecca said gently.  "But Kit's in the emergency room."

Wildcat hung up the phone and walked back over to where Molly sat, crying quietly, on a couch in the waiting room.  "Yer Mom an' Baloo are comin' right over, Mollycat." the mechanic said, gently patting her head.  "Ever'thing's gonna be OK, man."

"It was terrible, Wildcat!" the little girl sobbed.  "He was so sick, he couldn't even talk.  I was so scared!"

"I bet!" Wildcat said sympathetically.  "Don't you worry, Kiddo, like, Kit's gonna be just fine, you'll see.  Kit's as tough as a nickel steak.  Uncle Wildcat's never wrong about these things..."

"Calm down, Baloo!" Rebecca chided as she and the big grey bear rushed up the steps and into the hospital.  "Your panicking isn't going to help Kit right now."

"Easy fer _you_ to say!" Baloo snapped.  "But it ain't your kid in the emergency room, and they don't even know what's wrong!  So don't tell _me_ ta calm down, lady!"

"You're right, I'm sorry." she said soothingly, patting his arm.  "But just try to keep cool, OK?  For Kit's sake."

"I bet it was the pills!" Baloo groaned, whacking himself on the forehead.

"What pills?" she asked, puzzled.

"Awwww!" the pilot moaned.  "Kit seemed like he had a fever last night, and I gave him a couple o' baby aspirins that expired last year!  I bet that's what did it, Becky!  I put my own kid in the hospital!"

"That's silly!" she admonished.  "I'm sure that wasn't it, Baloo.  Don't blame yourself - kids get sick sometimes, no matter what we do."

Baloo shook his head angrily.  "Don't ya see Becky?  Even if it wasn't the pills, the kid was still sick!  I shouldn't've let him go to school today - I shoulda stayed home and took care o' him!  What's a fat, stupid ol' pilot like me know about lookin' after a kid, Beckers?  I let him down - I ain't got no right bein' a father..."

"Baloo, that's enough!" Rebecca said firmly as they approached the emergency room desk.  "You can't blame yourself for everything that happens to your child.  Sometimes things just happen , and it's no one's fault.  The important thing is that Kit's all right."  She placed her paws on his shoulders.  "Now - you need to pull yourself together and be strong, for Kit - all right?"

The bear nodded gently, eyes closed, and approached the nurse at the window.  "'S'cuse me M'amm, I'm here about my kid, Kit Cloudkicker is his name-"

"Miz Cunningham!" Wildcat called softly.  Turning, she saw the mechanic sitting with Molly on a sofa in the waiting area.  She rushed over to them.

"Wildcat, what's happened, exactly?" she exclaimed, as Molly crawled into her arms.

The mechanic scratched his head.  "Well, like, the hospital called me, an' said that Kit got brought in on an ambulance, man.  An' Molly was with him.  So I came down here, and they'd already put Kit in some kinda room, an' Molly was here, an' she said you guys was, like, out, so's I figured I'd better keep callin' you every few minutes til' you got home.  So that's what I did."

"How's Kit?" she whispered.

"I dunno, man.  They wheeled him in somewheres, an' said they were gonna check him out, an we been waitin' ever since."

"Molly, honey - what happened?" Rebecca asked her still tearful daughter gently.

"I - I dunno, Mommy." the girl said quietly.  "Kit's real sick  He got sick and fell down when we were goin' for ice cream."

Baloo walked over, looking angry.  "These clowns won't tell me what's wrong with L'il Britches!" he fumed.  "Said they're checkin' him out, and the doctor'll be out in a little while.  I don't got a little while!  That's my son in there!" he snarled, collapsing wearily into a chair.

"Molly said he got sick when they were out getting ice cream." Rebecca sighed, cradling her daughter.  "She said he just fell over...."

A tall goose in a white lab coat walked over to them, carrying a clipboard and wearing a practiced smile.  "I'm Dr. Gosselin.  Are you the Cloudkickers?"

"I'm the boy's Daddy." Baloo said quickly, not feeling in the mood for explanations.  "What's up, Doc?  How is he?"

"Well - the boy has acute appendicitis." the goose said, looking down at his clipboard.  "He's being prepped fer surgery right now."

"My goodness!" Rebecca exclaimed.

"Acute...  Is that serious?" Baloo whispered.

"It can be." the goose said somberly.  "Actually, this little girl probably saved his life." he said, tweaking Molly's nose gently.  "Apparently they were outside when the boy collapsed.  She ran and got help right away, and we were able to get him to the hospital quite quickly."

"You did that all by yourself?" Rebecca asked the yellow cub.

"I got the ice cream man to help me." the girl said softly.  "Is - is Kit gonna be OK?"

"Yeah, Doc - cut to the chase.  Is my boy gonna be all right?" Baloo asked urgently.

"Well - "the doctor said, sitting on the armrest of Baloo's chair, "Surgery is never completely without risk.  Unfortunately, the boy's appendix has burst, so we have no choice but to operate right away.  Under ideal conditions, we prefer to plan for surgery, obviously - keep the patient off solid foods, bring his fever down.  But once the appendix has burst, we have to operate immediately.  The boy is running a fever, but we've given him antibiotics, and he appears to be in generally excellent condition.  All of those things will help him pull through something like this."

"P-pull through?" Baloo stammered, hiding his face in his hands.  Rebecca hugged him gently.

The doctor smiled.  "I know you'll worry, but this is a very common procedure.  We're fortunate that we've caught it as soon as we have.  We won't know until we operate, but assuming there are no further complications Kit will be in surgery for about two and a half hours or so."

"Kin I see him first?" the pilot asked desperately.

"No - I'm sorry, he's in a sterile area, and surgery will begin in a few moments.  As soon as we're finished I'll come out and let you know, and you can see him a few minutes after that.  All right?"

"OK." Baloo said with a weary sigh.  "Did - did the kid say anything, when you brought him in?"

The doctor clapped Baloo on the shoulder softly.  "He was in a lot of pain, Mr. Baloo.  But he's a pretty brave kid.  He asked if Molly was all right, and he said to be sure we called Mr. Wildcat.  Even remembered the number.  I'm amazed he was that coherent, considering his condition.  As I said, he's a very brave boy."

"You don't know the half of it." Baloo whispered.  The doctor stood, smiled at the little group and was gone.

The clock on the wall of the waiting room had nearly reached midnight as Baloo sat on the sofa, silently staring straight ahead, his necktie wrapped tightly around his right fist, which he beat softly into his left palm repeatedly.  A weary looking Rebecca was at his side, hands wrapped around his arm, Molly curled up asleep in her lap.  Wildcat too had dozed off, and was snoring gently in the large armchair.

"I can't take this." the pilot said softly, without interrupting his mantric palm-punching or his hypnotic stare.

"What?" Rebecca said groggily, as Molly shifted on her lap.

"I can't take it, Becky.  Sittin' here, not bein' able to do anything - I'm a bear of action!  If I see a problem, I fix it.  If air pirates are on my tail, I lose 'em.  If I bust an engine, I bring the plane down safe.  But I'm sittin' here, and I can't do nuthin'!  I'm tellin' ya Becky, I can't take it!"

"Get used to it Baloo." she replied, resting her head on his arm.  "It never changes."

Baloo shook his head angrily.  "Ya know what makes it even worse?  I'm sittin' here thinkin', why didn't I see it comin'?  Why wasn't I more careful?  What if I'd paid a little closer attention to L'il Britches yesterday?  What if I'd looked past his tough act and seen as he was really sick?  He wouldn't be here now, Becky!  And what if he... he-"

"Get used to that too." she sighed.  "That never changes either."

"Yer not being too encouragin' here, Beckers!" the big grey bear said with a bitter laugh.

"Baloo, this is what being a parent is really all about.  It's about worrying for your child's safety all the time.  It's about going crazy because you can't control everything that happens.  It's about blaming yourself every time something goes wrong - and second-guessing yourself about what you should have done differently.  It all goes with the territory, Baloo."

The pilot ran a hand over his face wearily.  "Does it ever get any easier?"

Rebecca laughed softly.  "I'll let you know!"

"Is it worth it?" he whispered.

Rebecca said nothing for a moment, and looked down at Molly, gently stroking her cheek.  "Do you even have to ask, Baloo?"

Baloo stared straight ahead.  How could anything possibly be worth all this agony?  He thought of Kit's expression after he'd landed the Sea Duck for the first time, and he smiled.  He thought about comforting the tearful cub in New Fedora, after the boy had nearly broken his heart by leaving him for a week to travel with Daring Dan's airshow.  He thought about sitting back at Higher for Higher on a quiet evening, after dinner, Kit snuggled into the big old armchair next to him, the both of them lazily reading the paper, or talking, or slowly falling asleep.  He knew he'd endure a lifetime of nights like this one to experience even one of those moments again.  And he'd have a lifetime of those moments, if only...

"Beckers - if anything - I just don't think I could take it, if-" he croaked, voice breaking with emotion.

"He'll be fine." Rebecca said clearly and confidently, hugging his arm.  "He's got the heart of a lion, Baloo - if he didn't have the will to survive he wouldn't have made it this far.  He'll be fine.  He'll pull through - for you."

A door opened, and Dr. Gosselin stepped out, a surgical mask dangling around his neck and the front of his smock dotted with blood.  Baloo and Rebecca looked at the smock in horror as the goose approached.  Seeing their concern, he smiled apologetically.  "Sorry about that!  I came straight here from recovery, I didn't think you'd want to wait any longer than you had to-"

"Damn right!" Baloo gasped urgently as he stood.  "How is he, Doc?"

"He came through surgery just fine Mr. Cloudkicker-"

"It's Baloo actually." the bear interrupted.  "Sorry -go on please!"

"Sorry, Mr. Baloo.  He came through surgery just fine.  He's a strong little guy, I'll tell you that!  We removed his appendix, or course, and our major concern in cases like this is infection in the surrounding tissue due to the rupture of the organ.  However, in this case, we appear to have operated in time, and cleaned out the area sufficiently.  He'll be on antibiotics for a time, of course, but I don't expect any major problems."

"Oh, thank God!" Rebecca exclaimed, as Molly and Wildcat stirred awake.

Baloo impulsively hugged the goose, who laughed.  "That's great Doc - just fan-dang-tastic!  Kin' we see him now?"

"Certainly." Dr. Gosselin grinned.  "He's been out of surgery for about twenty minutes - I stayed with him in recovery for a while, just to make sure he came through the anaesthesia all right.  He'll be pretty groggy, but you can see him if you like.  Follow me."

Baloo hugged Rebecca, who kissed him on the cheek, and they followed the doctor down a long hallway, Wildcat trailing close behind.  Gosselin opened a door, and they entered a dimly lit room, with a large bed in a corner, surrounded by two intravenous units.  They approached the bed quietly.

Baloo looked down, where Kit lay breathing slowly, deeply, looking for all the world like he did any morning before he woke up.  Kit didn't know, but Baloo had the habit of staring at the boy as he slept , sometimes for an hour at a time.  He leaned over and gently grasped the cub's paw, as the others crowded in behind him, Molly still in Rebecca's arms.

Kit stirred slightly, and blinked once, twice, looking disoriented.  "Shhh!" Baloo whispered.  "Yer OK, L'il Britches.  Yer just fine..."

"Where am I?" Kit whispered, barely audible.

"Yer in the hospital, L'il Britches.  Ya had a bum appendix - scared us all real bad fer a while!  But they took it out, and yer just fine now!" Baloo grinned.

"Molly." the boy whispered.

"She's right here, Kit!" Rebecca smiled, holding the sleepy cub over the railing on the bed, where she reached out and touched Kit's paw.  "She got help for you, when you were sick!"

Kit smiled slightly, looking up at the yellow cub.  "Good work, Kiddo.  Guess you were _my_ baby-sitter tonight." he said, his voice a little stronger.

"Hey Kit - how ya feelin', man?" Wildcat grinned down at him, grabbing his paw.

"Hey W.C." the boy answered.  "Pretty tired... and my gut hurts a little."

Dr. Gosselin put a hand on Baloo's back.  "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the young man needs a lot of rest right now.  We'll want to keep him here for a couple of days, and after that he can recuperate at home.  Now, if we could just leave him to sleep..."

Rebecca bent over and kissed Kit gently on the cheek.  "I'll come back and see you tomorrow morning, OK?  Get some sleep, Sweetie.  We love you!" she smiled.

"Thanks, Becky." he smiled weakly.

"Kin' I have a minute, Doc?" Baloo asked softly.  "Just a minute?"

"Just one minute, please." the doctor said sternly, then smiled.  He left with the others.

Baloo quietly slid a chair over and sat next to the bed, grabbing Kit's paw in both of his.  "So - how ya doin', Kiddo?" he asked gently.

"I'm fine." Kit smiled.  "As long as you're here."

The pilot delicately stroked the cub's hair for a moment, as if he were afraid that he might break him if he weren't careful.  "Boy, I don't mind tellin' ya, Kid, I was pretty scared there, fer a while.  If anything had... well-"

"Sorry I scared ya." Kit grinned wearily.

"Naw L'il Britches - I'm the one who's sorry!" Baloo answered huskily.  "I don't - I'm sorry ya had to go through this.  I shoulda seen... shoulda known you was sick.  I shoulda taken better care of ya-"

"No!" the boy protested, with as much verve as he could muster, which wasn't much.  "I didn't tell you anything, I didn't know either.  It just hit me real sudden.  It wasn't your fault, Papa Bear. I was thinkin' about you, the whole time I was sick.  I never felt too scared, 'cause I knew you'd be there..."

"Mr. Baloo - it's time!" the doctor whispered quietly but firmly, as he cracked the door and poked his head through.

Baloo chuckled and wiped away a tear.  "They're makin' me go, Kiddo.  They seem to have some idea you could use some sleep -doctors, huh?"  He bent over the boy and kissed him on the forehead.  "I'll be here when ya wake up, OK?"

"OK." the boy grinned.

"Love ya." the big grey bear said with an embarrassed chuckle, and squeezed Kit's paw gently.

"Love you too." Kit answered, as sleep began to overtake him and his eyelids fluttered, then closed.

Isaac Walschinsky stormed into the office and slammed his briefcase to the table in frustration.  "I swear to you now gentlemen - if the cause were not so dire, I would pack it in right now!  The intransigence-"

"I take it your meeting with the Secretary of State did not go well?" one of the several other polar bears seated at the table asked in a droll voice.

"Is it that obvious, Jonah?" Walschinsky asked with a smirk.  "They are not interested - all they can keep saying is 'No immediate national security threat'.  It's like a mantra with them.  They will not act until the hounds are barking at their very door."

"Which they will be soon enough." the bear sitting at the head of the table said darkly.  He was obviously the leader of the group, and controlling the direction of the meeting.  "Well, now that Isaac has arrived, albeit without the news we had hoped, let us hear from Pavel.  What have you

been able to determine about the situation in Brague?"

Pavel, a bearded bear in an ill-fitting brown suit, shifted nervously in his seat.  "You will forgive me, I am not good to the public speaking, yes?" he began in a faltering voice.  "Ahem - I am most apologetic, but I must report that the situation in Brague is very grim indeed.  No one is being allowed in or out of the ghetto.  There are the military - what is word - cordon? - on all sides.  And there is no food or medical supply allowed inside either.  It is a siege."

"Damn!" the bear named Jonah cursed.  "It's as we feared.  Why?"

"Because they wish to break their spirits." Walschinsky answered softly.  "So that they may do with these people as they please, later.  Without resistance."

"But what do we do now?" a heavyset bear asked.  "If the governments will not help-"

"Simple." the leader said grimly.  "If those to whom we go for assistance will not assist, than we must go to other sources - and act alone, if necessary..."

Kit blinked once, twice, and was awake, momentarily disoriented.  He looked around the room and placed himself - still in the hospital.  His sense of time was still a little off, due to the fog that shrouded him after the surgery, but this felt like the third day he'd been here.  He glanced to his right, and saw Baloo slumped over in the chair, snoring gently.  Kit smiled - ~Must have slept here again! ~he thought to himself.  ~He did it for me....~  The cub, still weak, tried to pull himself into a sitting position, causing an involuntary yelp from the pain his still very tender side.

Baloo, normally a sound sleeper, jolted awake immediately at the small sound, and looked around frantically for an instant before settling his eyes on Kit.  "Kid - whassa matter?  You okay?"

"I'm fine." Kit grimaced.  "Just tryin' to sit up...."

"Stop that!" Baloo admonished.  "Ya know yer still to weak fer that.  Lemme help ya."  Tenderly, the big bear propped a pillow behind the boy's back and with immaculate care lifted the cub into a sitting position.

"Thanks, Papa Bear.  Sorry to be such a bother-"

"Nuthin' I'd rather be doin'!" Baloo replied with a yawn.

"You shouldn't have slept here, Baloo.  That chair looks really uncomfortable, I woulda been OK-" Kit protested.

"Stop it!" Baloo interrupted testily.  "There's no way they were gettin' me outta this room, L'il Britches."  Both bears looked up as a smiling nurse, a young brown bear in a white skirt and blouse, walked in carrying a tray laden with red gelatin, dry toast and a mug of tea.

"Good morning, Sweetheart!" she said, setting the tray in front of the boy.  "Dr. Gosselin said you should try to eat some solid food today, so I want to see you make a dent on that tray, all right?"

"Thanks!" Kit grinned up at her.  "D'you think you could bring some breakfast for Papa Bear too?"

"I don't know, guests are supposed to eat in the cafeteria..." she said thoughtfully, then winked at the cub.  "But for you, I think I can make an exception!" she grinned, and headed back out into the hallway.

Baloo looked down at his young charge, whose gaze had followed the nurse outside.  "Pretty cute, huh?" he chuckled.

"Yeah!" Kit said, then appeared to catch himself.  "Aw, she's OK, I guess."  The pilot chuckled and tousled Kit's hair fondly as the boy tentatively took a nibble of toast.  "Becky!" he said happily, as Rebecca walked into the room.

"Morning!" she called cheerily, leaning over to kiss Kit on the cheek and patting Baloo on the neck fondly.  "How's our patient this morning?"

"Fine." Kit answered, sipping his tea.  "Still a little sore, but I guess there's somethin' in the I.V. that keeps the pain down.  Thanks for coming, Miz Cunningham."

"Yeah, thanks Becky - you been down here a lot.  Real nice o' ya." Baloo added.

"Happy to!" she smiled, pulling up a chair and sitting next to Baloo.  "Here, Kit - I stopped on the way and got you the new issue of 'Scarf and Goggles'."

"Wow - thanks Becky!" he smiled, grabbing the comic.  "The last issue was a cliffhanger, too!  Thanks a lot!"  Baloo smiled gratefully and clasped her paw.

"And - " she continued, "I ran into your doctor outside, and he said, if there are no complications and you have no fever, you can come home tomorrow!  Isn't that nice?"

"Great!" Kit said.  "I miss bein' home.  People are real nice here, but it's - depressin', y'know?"

"Sure will be good to have ya back, L'il Britches." Baloo smiled.

"Miz Cunningham, I know I been kinda out of it an' all, but it sure seems like Baloo has been here a lot." Kit yawned.  "Who's been doin' all the deliveries?  I hope you didn't shut down the business 'cause of me-"

"Stop worryin' Kid!" Baloo scolded.

"He's right Kit - stop worrying!" Rebecca added.  "Wildcat has done a couple of the really important deliveries - he's no Baloo, but he's adequate in a pinch.  Some of the others could wait.  Just get better and don't concern yourself, all right?  Higher for Hire will be fine - you're the important thing right now."

"OK." the boy said reluctantly, closing his eyes.  Even this small amount of talking had worn him out.  He couldn't help but think of the times when he'd been sick, like the chicken pox, in the orphanage - waking up alone, in the middle of the night, his skin itching and burning terribly.  He'd been sick in Port Wallaby, too, out on the streets.  Alone, with a fever, his throat raw and burning - and no one to tell him to get better, to comfort him as he lay awake in the middle of the night.  He felt very warm and safe, all of a sudden.  He tried to open his eyes again, to look at Baloo and Rebecca, but found that he was too exhausted, and fell into a peaceful sleep.

The four figures, three walking, one in a wheelchair, slowly traversed the walkway and towards the curb, where a taxicab stood waiting for them.  "Doc..." Baloo started.  "I just wanna tell ya - I'm real grateful for ever'thin ya did for L'il Britches.  We all are."

"That's quite all right." Dr. Gosselin smiled.  "I'm only doing my job.  Now remember - Kit is to have bed rest for at least three days - I can't stress that enough!  He's still very weak and he has to mind his stitches as well."

"Bed rest, got it." Baloo said obediently.

The goose handed him two bottle of pills.  "These are Kit's presciptions.  It's quite normal for a patient to have some pain after surgery.  He's to have one pain reliever before he goes to bed and one after lunch.  Only if the pain gets very, very bad may he have an extra - they're very strong, and they'll make him quite drowsy.  And he's already had his pill this afternoon, so along with what's already in his system from the intravenous he should be fine for the rest of the day.  The antibiotics are four times a day, for ten days.  Understand?"

"Understood." Baloo replied solemnly.

The doctor bent over and put a hand on Kit's shoulder.  "Get well soon, young man.  I didn't put all that work into you just to have you screw it up.  You take it easy!"

"OK - thanks Doc!" the boy grinned sheepishly.

"All right then, I'll see you when we take those stitches out.  And lay off the cloudsurfing for a while!" he laughed, clapping the boy on the shoulder gently.

"You know about that?" Rebecca asked, surprised.

"Yeah, Kit told me about it yesterday." Gosselin chuckled, holding open the car door.  "I can't say it sounds safe to me - but I can already tell that this boy does what he wants!  Just not for a couple of weeks at least, all right?"

"No problem there, Doc." Baloo answered, lifting Kit out of the wheelchair with extreme gentleness.  With exaggerated care, he tenderly set the cub down on the back seat of the cab.  "You OK, L'il Britches?"

"Fine." the boy smiled, then yawned.  "Thanks again Doc."

"Here, don't forget this." Gosselin said, handing the boy a cane.  "Remember to use that when you get out of bed - which I stress again should be only when absolutely necessary for at least three days."  The doctor shook everyone's hand, and with a wave turned to return to the hospital.  "Good luck to all of you!  Remember - bed rest!" 

The doctor took Baloo aside.  "The boy may be in a lot of pain, Mr. Baloo.  Just stay with him and don't panic, all right?  It's a natural part of the healing, but it can be a little scary."

"OK, Doc, natural, right."

"See you soon."  He shook Baloo's hand and was gone.

Baloo stowed Kit's bag in the trunk and climbed in next to the cub, Rebecca sliding in next to him, and the taxi started for Higher for Hire.  "Excited to be comin' home, Partner?" he grinned at the boy.

"You bet!" Kit yawned.  "These darn pills just make me so tired..."

"Wildcat and Molly sure will be happy to have you home, Kit." Rebecca smiled.  "Higher for Hire just hasn't felt the same without you there."

"Don't know how you'd know." Kit giggled tiredly.  "You've been at the hospital so much..." the cub leaned over and rested his head on Baloo's chest, eyes closed, and yawned again.  Within a minute he was sound asleep.

"Well, if that isn't trust, I've never seen it." Rebecca whispered, squeezing the pilot's arm gently.

Baloo said nothing, just stared down at Kit's peaceful face, his expression unreadable.  "Penny for your thoughts." Rebecca giggled softly.

Baloo smiled over at her.  "I just love to watch the kid sleep, Becky.  Dunno why, can't really explain it-"

"You're a parent." she grinned, patting his hand and joining him in looking down at Kit.  "We all do that - no one knows why."  With a tired sigh she leaned back on the seat.  "Thank God that's over, Baloo.  I'm exhausted - and if I'm this much of a wreck, I can only imagine how you must feel."

"Lucky." Baloo answered, his gaze unwavering.  "I can't even imagine if anything would have happened, what I would've-"

"Well, it didn't, thank goodness.  I suppose we should talk about what the schedule will be like, back at work, and all...  Kit will need someone to stay with him for the next few days.  Maybe we should bring in a temporary pilot..."

Baloo sighed.  "L'il Britches is gonna bug me to go back and fly."

"Well, I'm in the office all day anyway, Baloo - I can stay with Kit." Rebecca smiled.  "It's really up to you."

"We'll see." Baloo said wearily, closing his eyes.  "Let's just play it by ear, huh?"

"Excuse me." the driver whispered, having assessed the situation in the back seat.  "We're here M'amm - Higher for Hire."

"Thank you." she answered quietly, handing him a bill.  "Keep the change.  Will you bring the bags from the trunk please?  I'll take the cane and the medicine, Baloo.  The bedroom is all ready."

"Thanks Beckers." the big grey bear whispered, gingerly shifting Kit's head from his chest without waking him up.  He slipped out of the cab and, placing one massive arm under the boy's knees and one under his neck, tenderly lifted him out.  The cub stirred slightly but did not wake up.

Wildcat walked over, carrying his wrench and grinning a mile wide.  "Hey - Kit's back, huh?  How's he doin'?  Looks like he's quieter than the Sea Duck when she's outta gas!" he whispered.

Baloo grinned.  "He's great, Wildcat.  Strong as an ox, he is.  Uh, Wildcat, I never tol' ya but - thanks fer everythin'.  You were great, that first night, when it all happened..."

"No problem!  Like, the ground crew's job is ta take care of the flight crew, right?  Boy, he's all conked out.  Better get him ta bed, man!" the mechanic grinned.  Baloo walked inside, and Rebecca and the mechanic shared a smile. 

Slowly, carefully, the pilot ascended the stairs and entered the bedroom.  Rebecca hadn't been kidding - the room was prepared.  A stack of Kit's comics sat on the nightstand, the gramophone and a pile of records sat next to the boy's bed, within easy arm's reach.  The covers were even turned back.  Baloo gingerly lay the cub down in the bed and pulled the covers up to his chin.

Kit stirred, and blinked his eyes awake.  "Hi Baloo.  Did I conk out again?" he said, a little irritably.

Baloo sat on the bed and smoothed the boy's hair with a grin.  "Can't keep ya awake, Kid!  It's them pills, I think.  Just get some more sleep, I'll be here when ya wake up and I'll get ya some dinner if yer hungry.  OK?"

"K." Kit replied with a monstrous yawn.  "I'm home, huh?" he said, rolling his eyes around the room.

"Yer home." Baloo chuckled, and picked up the latest issue of "Bullethead" as the boy drifted off.

Kit's mind still felt as though it was engulfed in a massive fog.  Between the blinding pain of his appendix bursting and the lingering effects of the anaesthetic and pain medication, his sense of time was extremely distorted.  Every time he felt like he was breaking through into clarity, his short bursts of energy would tire him out again, and he'd feel the compelling need to close his eyes and sleep once more, preferably resting against Baloo.  Fortunately, the big bear had rarely left his side since the ordeal began - three days ago?  Four?

The cub picked at his food, finding that his appetite was very spotty.  Baloo hadn't even wanted to leave him alone for the time it took him to prepare dinner, but the boy had persuaded him that he'd be fine.  He took a small bite of chicken and glanced over at the bear, who was engrossed in one of Kit's back issues of 'Bullethead', and smiled.  He knew Baloo was smothering him with concerned attention, but somehow the cub felt immeasurably better when the pilot was around when he opened his eyes.  There was usually even a moment of panic before he spotted the big bear, which Kit felt rather silly about.

The boy took a few more small bites of his food, and leaned back, no desire to continue.  The pain in his side was returning, as Dr. Gosselin had warned him it would as the powerful pain medication from the intravenous slowly left his system.  "Papa Bear, I'm just gonna take my pain pill and go to bed now, if that's OK." he said with a weak smile.  "I'm not very hungry, and that pill's just gonna knock me out anyways."

"Sure yer OK, Kid?" the pilot asked, a worried look on his face.  "Ya didn't eat much-"

"I'm fine." Kit smiled, the pain in his gut growing a little stronger.  "The doc said I wouldn't have much appetite for a little while."

"OK, yer the patient." the big bear chuckled, handing the boy a pill and a glass of water.  "Lemme just head downstairs and do the dishes, and I'll be up in a little while." he said, picking up the tray.

"Uh, Baloo?" the cub said sheepishly, blushing a little.

"What, L'il Britches?"

"Umm.... would ya mind stayin' in the room - y'know, until I fall asleep?" Kit asked with a embarrassed grin.

Baloo stared for a moment, then grinned.  "Sure, Kiddo, no problem."  He put down the tray and sat on the edge of Kit's bed patting the cub's paw.  Kit squeezed the pilot's hand and closed his eyes.  Silly, he knew, but it made him feel better.

Baloo had been asleep for a time - he wasn't sure how long - when he was startled awake by a sound, in the dark.  He glanced over at the clock, which read two A.M..  He stared at Kit's bed, and saw no movement, heard no sound, for a moment.  Then the boy called out, softly.  "Baloo!"

The big bear leapt up, alarmed at the uncharacteristic tone of fear and vulnerability in the boy's voice.  "Whassa matter, Kid?" he asked urgently, flipping on the light.

The cub's eyes were clenched shut tightly, and he was scrunched up at the waist, hands on his gut.  "It hurts!" he said simply, through gritted teeth.

"My gosh!" Baloo gasped helplessly, grabbing the boy's clammy paw.  "What should I - I'll call the doctor!"

"No!" Kit said urgently.  "H-he said this m-might...  It's the pain stuff, it's out of my system.  The pills aren't s-strong enough..."  The boy breathed in, out, quickly.

"Lemme give ya another pill!" Baloo said hoarsely, racing into the bathroom for a glass of water.  ~Natural part of healing.~, he told himself.  "Kin' ya sit up L'il Britches?"

"Yeah." the cub whispered, trying to slide up in the bed, only to fall back with a yelp of pain.

Baloo bent over, trying to raise the boy up enough to swallow the water.  Inch by inch he slid the cub back in the bed, Kit's teeth gritted tightly and tears streaming from his eyes.  Finally, Baloo reached over for the pill.  "Open up." he panted, and slipped the tablet into the boy's mouth.  He gently tipped a swallow of water into the cub, some if it spilling out onto his chin, but the boy managed to swallow the pill down.

Kit grabbed his side.  "Baloo, it's horrible!" he panted.

"I know." Baloo answered helplessly.  Natural?  How could this be natural?

Kit moaned again, through clenched teeth.  "Where are you?" he said, sounding panicked.

Baloo slid up onto the bed and lay back next to Kit.  "I'm right here, Pardner." he said soothingly, grasping the boy's hand.  "I'm right here, ever'thin's gonna be fine."

"S-sorry to be such a baby." Kit whispered, squeezing Baloo's paw so hard that the pilot winced in pain himself.

Baloo forced himself to laugh.  "Stop worryin' about that, L'il Britches.  You've been real brave through this whole thing.  That pill's gonna work any minute now and you'll feel just fine."

Kit lay silent for a moment, breathing quickly.  Then a sob escaped him, followed quickly by others.  "It hurts so much!" he groaned, now sobbing uncontrollably, all traces of his toughness and independence washed away in a sea of pain and fear.

"I know." Baloo whispered, trying desperately to retain his composure.  "I know it hurts..."  The boy continued to sob, tears squeezed out through clenched eyes.  Baloo wrapped his arms around him and pulled his head next to his own.  He could feel the boy trembling in his arms. 

"You cold, L'il Britches?"

The boy said nothing for a moment, but continued to cry softly, and shivered.  "Baloo - it hurts!  Don't leave." he panted in quick breaths.

Baloo squeezed his eyes shut, forcing tears down his cheeks.  This was the worst - the hardest.  Nothing that had happened could compare to it.  "I ain't leaving." he said fiercely, cheek to cheek with the boy, their tears mingling.  He wrapped his arms around Kit more tightly.  "It'll be OK, I promise.  You hear me?  I promise.  I'm gonna stay right here and yer gonna feel better."

"OK." Kit sobbed, snuggling closer to the pilot.  He was so cold, and the pain was tremendous.  He didn't see how he could stand it, how he could survive another minute of it.  "Oh God - it's terrible, Papa Bear!" he managed to sob through the pain.

Baloo softly stroked the boy's hair as he held him, the cub continuing to shiver slightly as he cried.  Baloo felt as if he were being slowly tortured, his insides being eaten away.  "We'll get through it." he said, trying to project some strength and confidence into his voice.  "Yer not alone, Kid.  I'm right here with ya."

Kit could only feel the pain, for long moments, although he was at some level conscious that he must look like a complete babbling infant to Baloo.  It didn't matter - he clung to the big grey bear, stealing warmth from him, holding on to his comforting presence and using it to keep his spirit from completely despairing.  Slowly, infinitesimally slowly, the pain began to recede.  It was still there, a lurking, ominous presence, but it ceded some portion of his perception, allowing tiny snatches of coherent thought to creep back in.

The two lay in the same position for several minutes, Baloo's arms wrapped tightly around Kit, hugging the boy's face close to his own, as the cub's frequent sobs slowed to occasional ones, and his shivering receded.  "Feelin' better?" Baloo whispered gently.

Kit sobbed softly.  "Yeah.  It's still terrible... but it's not as bad."  He sniffled several times and wiped his eyes.

"I know." Baloo whispered, reaching into a pocket and pulling out a handkerchief, which he used to wipe the cub's face.  "I wish I could make it all go away, L'il Britches.  D'you think yer gonna be able ta go to sleep soon?"

"Don't go!" the boy sobbed urgently, hugging the big bear closer.

"Easy, Kid, easy, easy!" Baloo replied hastily, forcing himself to chuckle.  "Papa Bear's right here for the duration, don't you worry.  I just want ya to be able to get some rest, that's all.  I'll be right here all night, don't worry."

"Thanks." Kit sniffled.  He didn't care how he looked right now - he just knew he needed Baloo to be there right next to him.  Even the next bed would feel like a thousand miles away.  His entire consciousness was focused on the fire in his side, and the comforting presence that held him, which he clung to like a life preserver.  The pain continued to subside maddeningly slowly, and Kit felt his exhaustion overtaking him.  Just surviving the agony had used up all of his energy, and the effects of the pain medication were beginning to kick in as well.  Slowly he allowed himself to drift off, the slow, steady breathing of the pilot next to him a soothing refrain.

Baloo was exhausted as well.  In all of the terrible nights he'd experienced, all of the pirate attacks and crashes, even the terrible nights not knowing where Kit was, he'd never felt anything like this.  It was excruciating.  He felt like crying himself, but was simply too tired, although he'd be unable to sleep, scrunched up on Kit's small bed.

As he held the boy tightly in his arms, Kit began to breathe more slowly, easily, his warm breath falling on Baloo's cheek, and his shivering stopped.  Asleep, or soon would be, the big bear thought.  There was no justice in a world, he mused bitterly, where an innocent kid would have to suffer like that... - and he realized that nothing else mattered - only the welfare of the fragile young life in his arms - his child, his son.  He would never let anything harm the boy again, not while he had a breath left.  That was all that mattered.  Thank goodness Kit could sleep now...

Consciousness came very slowly, gradually to Kit, as he lay in bed.   He could hear Baloo gently snoring close by, and could feel the warmth from the big grey bear next to him.  He lay still, eyes closed, for several minutes, unwilling or unable to open them, he wasn't sure which.

As wakefulness returned he felt a twinge of pain in his side - a dull ache, but it was enough to jerk his mind back to the events of hours earlier, and he began to breathe quickly and felt frightened, just from the memory of it.  He lay still, willing himself to regain composure, telling himself that it was all over, he'd survived it.

He blinked his eyes to openness gradually, squinting from the bright sunshine in the bedroom.  His head was resting on the crook of Baloo's left arm, and the pilot's right arm was draped over Kit's shoulder.  A few details of the previous night's ordeal crept back to him, but all that really stood out was blinding, searing pain, tears, and Baloo's presence next to him.  It felt like a nightmare, but the memory of the pain - and of Baloo's presence - was sharp and clear.  Slowly, gently, he extricated himself from the weary bear's arms.

His mind felt sharp - sharper than it had felt for days, maybe.  His body was sore, and his muscles ached, but he was awake and alert.  He looked down at Baloo, even in sleep looking exhausted.  Kit swallowed and winced - his mouth felt dry, sour.  He turned, and noticed that he was in Baloo's bed - the pilot must have moved him during the night.  He looked over at the clock - seven A.M.  He gently slid his feet off the bed and onto the floor, and pushed himself upright, grunting with the effort.  He started to slide slowly across towards the cane.

Baloo stirred, heightened senses awakened by the cub's efforts.  "Kit... whaddaya doin?!" he protested sleepily.

"Nothin' Papa Bear, go back to sleep." Kit said, not wanting to exert the energy to turn.  "I'm just gonna go brush my teeth-"

"No dice!" Baloo said sharply, fully awake now.  He rolled out of bed and knelt down in front of the cub.  "Grab on."

"Baloo!" Kit protested sheepishly.  "I gotta walk sometime-"

"Grab on!" Baloo demanded.  With a sigh, the cub wrapped his arms around the big bear's neck, and Baloo lifted him, using exaggerated care to support the boy's weight and exert no pressure on his stitches.  He walked him over to the sink and set the cub down gently.  Kit grabbed the basin for support as the pilot stood expectantly by.

"I think I can handle this part myself." Kit said pointedly, and Baloo grudgingly walked over and sat on Kit's bed as the boy gingerly brushed his teeth.  Baloo watched him, noticing that the cub was noticeably thinner from his ordeal.  He looked weak and frail - even more so than he normally did to Baloo, who encouraged him to eat heartily every chance he got.  But the boy's cheeks were ruddy, and his eyes were brighter than they'd been since before the illness.

Kit rinsed his mouth out and splashed water on his face, then reached for a towel and dried himself .  "All set." he said, feeling rather silly and helpless.

Baloo propped up the pillows on the small bed and walked over to Kit, kneeling down again so the boy could grasp his neck.  He carried him over to the bed and gently set him down in a half-sitting position.  "How'd I get in your bed last night?" the cub asked.

Baloo smiled.  "Well, you was pretty... well-" Baloo chose his words carefully, not wanting to embarrass the boy.  "I didn't want ya to wake up an' be alone, L'il Britches."

"With that pill in me I coulda slept through a thunderstorm." Kit giggled softly.

"Yeah...  Well, I didn't wanna take no chances." Baloo said, looking away.

Kit started at Baloo for a moment.  "Thanks." he whispered, holding out his arms.  Baloo needed no explanation - he wrapped his arms around Kit and they hugged, silently, for several moments.  "I - I..."

"I know.  Me too." Baloo whispered.  "Now!" he said loudly, keeping his emotions in check, "You hongry, L'il Britches?"

Kit grinned.  "Actually... I'm famished!"  It was true - for the first time that he could remember in days he had a real appetite.

Baloo's face lit up.  "Great!  I got some pancake mix downstairs - howz flapjacks and fried potatoes sound?"

"Great!  Oh, and a cup of coffee, too?  Please?"

Baloo chuckled, shaking his head.  "OK, Kiddo - coffee."

"Thanks, Papa Bear!  How 'bout some music while you're cookin'?" Kit beamed.

"Sure Kid." Baloo replied, headed for the door.  He paused in the doorway.  "Ya sure yer gonna be OK while I'm downstairs?"

"Baloo, I'm _fine_!" Kit replied, slipping the absolute last copy of 'I Got Them Flat Broke, Sticky Shoes, No Banana Boogie-Woogie Blues' on the gramophone.

"Yer playin' my song, Pardner!" Baloo laughed, snapping his fingers as he headed down the stairs.  "Man, whatta beat!"  Kit grinned and leaned back, arms behind his head.  Right now, he felt like nothing in the world could hurt him - his fear was gone, chased away into the dark corners of his mind.  Amazing, the impact one person could have on your life!

"Fives?" Baloo asked.

"Go fish!" Kit giggled, as Baloo picked a card up off the bed.  "D'you have any sevens?"

Baloo sighed and extracted two cards.  "I dunno why I even play cards with ya Kid, I never win..."

"Halloo!" Rebecca called from downstairs, barely audible over the Lenny Goodfellow record on the gramophone.  Kit reached over and turned down the volume.

"Up here Beckers!" Baloo called, but the woman was already on her way up the stairs. 

"Of course you're up here - where else would you be?" she asked Baloo sarcastically as she entered the room, Molly in her arms.  She sat next to Baloo on Kit's bed as Molly reached her paws out to the boy, who grasped them with a grin.  "Goon morning, Kit!  You look chipper today!"

"Mornin' Becky.  Mornin' Pigtails.  I feel pretty good." Kit answered with a smile.  "How's my baby-sitter today?"

"Fine, Kit!" Molly beamed.  "Are you still sick?"

"Sick?  They just cut me open three days ago, Short stuff!" Kit chuckled.

"Ewwww!" the yellow cub groaned, screwing up her face.  "That's gross!"

"Sorry Kiddo!" Kit apologized.  "I'm doin' fine, but I won't be playin' tail gunner with ya for a while!"

"That's OK." the girl grinned.  "Just so you get better."

"That's sweet, Button-nose!" Baloo grinned, snatching the girl in his arms and tickling her gently.  She reached over for Kit, but her Mother stopped her.

"Nuh-uh, Molly!  No tickling Kit - he could pop one of his stitches - understand?" she admonished.

"Aw, I'm not _that_ ticklish!" the boy protested.

"I'm serious, Molly!" Rebecca repeated.

"OK, I get it." Molly grumbled.

"Good.  Now Baloo - what about the schedule today?  Do you want to fly, or not?"

"Yes!" Kit replied.

"No!" Baloo answered simultaneously.  "Last night - well, never mind." the pilot said, meeting Becky's eyes for a moment.  "There's no way I'm leavin' L'il Britches all day today, Becky.  If he's feelin' good I'll fly tomorrow."

"But Baloo-" Kit protested.

"But nuthin'!"  Baloo said firmly, arms crossed.  "This bear's grounded today.  OK, Kit?"

"OK." Kit acquiesced, grabbing Baloo's paw.  Secretly, he didn't want the big bear to leave him today, though he'd never admit it.  "Thanks."

"That's fine, we don't have anything that can't wait until tomorrow." Becky said, standing.  "Baloo, we'll still need to talk about the schedule, though.  Come on downstairs, and we'll take a look at it."

"Kid?" Baloo said, looking at Kit.

"I'm fine!" Kit frowned.  "Go ahead - don't worry."

"OK.  I'll be back in a few minutes." He answered, setting Molly down on the bed.

"Don't you play rough with Kit while we're gone, young lady!" Rebecca admonished.  "He's still very weak - understand?"

"OK, Mom." Molly said, crawling over to sit next to Kit at the head of the bed.  She still had a lot of scary thoughts from a few days before, and her normal exuberance was tempered by relief at seeing the boy smiling and happy.  She sat quietly next to Kit and he tickled her gently.

Once Baloo and Rebecca were downstairs she turned to the pilot with a frown.  "What's going on, Baloo?  Did something happen?  You're obviously shaken up..."

The big grey bear collapsed into the easy chair wearily, his facade of nonchalance gone now that Kit was out of earshot.  "You don't know the half of it, Lady.  Last night was the worst night o' my life - and I've had some rotten ones, believe me."

"Baloo, my goodness!" Rebecca exclaimed.  "What happened?  Kit seems fine-"

"He's OK." The pilot sighed, running a hand over his eyes.  "Don't tell him I tol' ya, Becky, 'cause I know he'd be embarrassed, but L'il Britches had a terrible night last night, jus' terrible."

"What happened?" she gasped, sitting on the arm of the chair.

Baloo took a deep breath.  "Well, he started out OK - he didn't eat much, but he seemed fine...  He took his pill an' went to sleep about eight, I guess.  I kinda watched 'im fer a while, then I guess I fell asleep too.  When I woke up, it was about two o'clock, an' Kit was - he was - it was real bad, Beckers."

"What?" she whispered.

Baloo covered his face.  "He was in terr'ble pain, Becky.  I guess the one pill wasn't enough - he couldn't even breathe right, it were hurtin' him so bad.  He jus' kept sayin' 'It hurts!' over an' over, and he was cryin' somethin' awful."

"Oh, my!" she gasped, closing her eyes tightly.  "Oh my...  What did you do, Baloo?"

The pilot took a deep breath and spoke, choking back emotion.  "I - I gave him another pill, but it didn't work right away.  I went over to 'im, an' I just held 'im, real tight.  He was shivering, Becky - like he was freezin'.  He kept sayin' 'It hurts, It's terrible!' and he was beggin' me not to go, not to leave him.  He was shiverin' and cryin', and he was white as a ghost, from the pain..."  The big bear sobbed, overcome by the memory.  "I just held him real tight Becky, tight as I could.  That's all I could do...."

Tears rolled down Rebecca's cheeks as she listened, and saw the strong figure before her overcome by pain.  She squeezed his arm in both paws. "I'm so sorry, Baloo.  I'm so sorry... I've never had to go through anything like that with Molly.  I don't know what to say."

The pilot composed himself, and a look of resolution, even anger crossed his face.  "I ain't never been through anythin' like that.  Never.  Never.  All I wanted ta do was take that pain away,. Becky.  I wanted that pain, I wanted it in me, so Kit wouldn't have to go through it.  But I - I couldn't.  All I could do is hold him, an' it was like he was a thousand miles away, even though he was right there.  That look on his face..."  Baloo covered his eyes again.  "It's the worst thing I ever felt, Becky.  I ain't never felt so useless."

"But - he got through it, Baloo.  He's up there smiling and happy right now.  Because of you-"

"I'll tell ya somethin', Becky.  It really cleared things up fer me.  I ain't never lettin' nuthin' happen to Kit as long as I'm alive.  I'm gonna be with him, protectin' him, all the time.  All the other stuff, it ain't important to me no more.  All that stuff's outta my hands, and it don't matter anyhow.  But I'm makin' sure Kit's safe, and he never has ta go through another night like that again."

"Oh Baloo." Rebecca said sympathetically.  "You know that you can't be there, every second.  I know you love Kit, and you want to protect him.  But you have to let him live his life, too-"

"Never again." Baloo said resolutely.  "Not as long as I'm alive.  I know what's important."

Rebecca patted his arm and wiped her eyes, standing.  "All right Baloo.  It sounds like I should call in a replacement pilot, for a little while-"

Baloo shook his head.  "Don't do that Becky.  I think the worst is over - I just kinda sense it, somehow.  Last night was - well, it was what it was, but I think Kit's over the hump now.  I gotta fly sooner or later, so tomorrow's as good a day as any.  I just wanna be with the kid today - all day.  Besides," he smiled, "I trust Kit with you.  He loves ya.  You'll take care of him.  I just - I just couldn't leave him today, Beckers."

"I understand." she sighed.  "All right, you fly tomorrow.  Now, why don't you go back up there and be with your son - I know you want to!  I'll make you boys some lunch in a couple of hours."

"Thanks Beckers, yer allright." Baloo grinned, sprinting back up the stairs.

"Uh, I think you have to king me, Wildcat." Kit said sheepishly to the mechanic, who sat at the edge of the bed, on the opposite end of a checkerboard.

"Oh yeah man, yer right!" the mechanic giggled.  "That's like, weird, 'King me', man - cause if ya got all yer pieces to the end, they'd all get kinged right?  And then you'd have a whole _buncha_ kings runnin' around, en' everybody knows that you kin only have one king, y'know?  Cause otherwise one of 'em would have all the other's heads cut off!  Chop chop!"

Kit laughed, causing a small pang in his stitches.  "I guess, Wildcat!  I never really though about it."  That was the thing about Wildcat's ideas - you never really though about most of them until he brought them up.  The scary thing was, some of them started to make sense after a while.  Kit moved his newly kinged piece, deftly leaping the lion's last two checkers.  "I think that's the game, W.C.."

"Yeah man, yer right.  That's six in a row.  Wanna go again?  Maybe you could set a record!"

"That's OK." Kit chuckled.  "We can just sit here and talk."  Kit looked at the mechanic out of the corner of his eye as he yawned.  He could never tell what Wildcat was thinking, which was odd because the mechanic was the least deceptive person Kit knew.  "Uh, thanks for sittin' with me Wildcat.  I know you've got work you could be doin', or somethin'."

Wildcat grinned and set the checkerboard and pieces on the floor.  "That's OK, Kit.  I been sick too.  I know what it's like, man.  Ever'body treats ya real nice, but they're real careful, like they're scared yer gonna break.  Sometimes ya just wanna sit and talk, ya know?"

"Yeah." the cub said nodding.  "That's right.  How's - how's the Sea Duck?" Kit asked, unable to think of anything else to say.

"It's great, man!  Engines are all trimmer than a race horse, man!  She had, like two days off.  I think she misses ya though, Kit."

Kit arched an eyebrow in surprise.  "Misses me?"

"Sure, man." Wildcat said thoughtfully.  "Like, the Sea Duck knows how Baloo feels, right?  Cause the Sea Duck an' Baloo are pals, y'know?  An' the Sea Duck knows, see, that Baloo's been a lot happier since you been around, man.  She knows Baloo likes to fly even more now that yer here.  So why you don't fly, she misses ya, 'cause she knows Baloo ain't as happy.  Plus, she likes you now too.  See?  I been takin' care o' the Sea Duck fer a long time, Kit.  I know what she's thinkin'."

Kit was oddly touched by the lion's comments.  "Thanks, Wildcat.  I miss - the Sea Duck, too."  Kit sat back, looking over Wildcat's shoulder, out the window.  He'd been cooped up for so long - he wanted to be active, alive!  This was the longest he'd gone without flying since he'd joined up with Baloo.  He felt bold, suddenly.  "Say Wildcat - I was curious. You never talk much about yourself.  What were your folks like?  When did you start workin' for Baloo?"

Wildcat grinned.  "Sure man, I'll tell ya!  It-"

"Hi boys!" Rebecca interrupted, walking into the room with two trays of food.  "I brought us some lunch, Kit.  I'll stay for a while, Wildcat.  You can head back to the workshop if you want."

"Sure, Ree-becca.  Talk to ya later, Kit.  Feel better, man!" Wildcat grinned, walking out of the room.

"Thanks Wildcat." Kit waved, a little disappointed.  Still, he was already famished, as his appetite seemed to be making up for lost time.  "Thanks for lunch, Miz Cunningham."

"You're welcome." she said jovially, setting a tray down on the cub's lap.  "You know how I feel about cooking - me and kitchens go together like Baloo and neckties!  So it's nothing too fancy, just some soup and a turkey sandwich."

"It's terrific!" Kit grinned, taking a large bite of the sandwich.  "You always say that, but I never hear Molly complaining, so you must be a better cook than you think!"

Rebecca chuckled.  "Molly doesn't know anything different..."  She took a dainty bite of her sandwich and watched Kit for a moment.  "It's certainly good to see you eating again, Kit.  We were all pretty worried, when this first happened."

Kit slurped down several spoonfuls of soup.  "I know, it's like my body's tryin' to make up for not eating for so long!  I'm always hungry now.  This soup is really good, Becky!" he slurped.

"Don't thank me, thank Hampbell's!" she laughed.  "How's your side - is it still hurting you?"

The boy ran his fingers lightly over his stitches.  "Yeah, some.  It gets worse when I haven't had a pill for a while.  But it's nothing like that first day, when I got home..."  A dark shadow crossed the boy's face for a moment, and he silently returned to his lunch.

Rebecca stared at him sidelong, debating whether to ask Kit for his version of that night's events.  She decided on a different tack.  "I never thought we'd get Baloo to leave today!  I thought for all the world that I'd have to fly the cargo myself."

Kit winced.  "Yeah - I'm sorry about that Miz Cunningham.  I've never seen him like this before."

The bearess laughed.  "Well, it's pretty understandable, Honey!  After what you've been through, he doesn't want to leave you alone for a minute, and this was the first time since you came home.  He's a father now, whether he likes it or not.  I only hope he isn't driving you too crazy."

Kit smiled.  "Naw.  Actually, I, uh, think it may be kinda my fault." he said sheepishly.

"_Your_ fault?  What in the world do you mean?"

The boy looked down.  "I've kinda been - I dunno.  I guess I really didn't want Baloo to leave, at first.  I know it sounds like I'm bein' a baby-"

"No!" Rebecca protested.  "Kit, after what you've been through it's perfectly understandable.  It's all right to feel scared when you're sick.   It's the most natural thing in the world to want Baloo there with you."

"I guess." the cub replied softly.

"Kit - I don't know if I should tell you, but Baloo blamed himself, a little, for you getting sick-"

"What?" Kit exclaimed.  "Papa Bear?  That's nuts!  Why?"

Rebecca smiled gently and squeezed his paw.  "That's the most natural thing in the world, too.  Try to understand - a parent always want's to protect their child, at any costs.  They always blame themselves if anything goes wrong.  He thought that he should have seen that you were ill, kept you home from school-"

"Aw, Papa Bear!" Kit grumbled, almost angrily.  "Why would he do that?  I didn't even tell him I was feelin' bad!  He even gave me aspirin and sent me to bed early, the night before.  If it hadn't been for him, I'd - well..."

"I know.  But you'll understand, someday."

Kit looked down.  "I never told ya, Becky, but that first night back...  It was - I was pretty bad...  The pain pills weren't working, and - and.."  the cub closed his eyes tightly at the memory.  "I don't remember all of it, but I wasn't makin' too much sense, and I worked Papa Bear over pretty good.  If he hadn't been there, I don't - I don't know if I could've got through it."  He took a deep breath, even the memory of the pain and the emotion overpowering.  "Don't tell Baloo I tol' ya, OK Miz Cunningham?  He'd be embarrassed..."

"Promise." she answered with a sad smile, amazed again at the bizarre bond between Baloo and Kit.  Each not wanting to embarrass the other by talking about an emotionally vulnerable moment - a moment that was so genuine and honest for both of them.  They were such - males!  It was powerfully moving for her, this strange pairing.  Impulsively she sat on Kit's bed and enveloped the boy in a hug.

"What's that for?" he giggled.

"Just to let you know I'm here." she grinned.  "Anytime you need a hug.  Are you finished with your lunch?"

"Thanks." he smiled.  He wolfed down the last of the sandwich.  "Yeah, I'm done.  It was delicious, Becky!"

She took the tray.  "You get your pain pill now, and another antibiotic." she said, grabbing the bottles off of the dresser. "Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine." he replied, swallowing the pills.  "Can you just stay, and talk?"

"Of course!  You didn't think I was going to leave?"

"No, I guess not." he smiled, grabbing his cane.  "I'm gonna go brush my teeth." he said, sliding his feet onto the floor gingerly, more anxious for the excuse to get out of bed and move around than anything else.

"Are you sure?  Can I help you?" she asked concerned.

"Naw, I'm fine!" he replied with a grin.  "It's good for me, and I'm feeling better."  Rebecca stood and watched as the cub walked, slowly but steadily, to the sink, her heart rising and falling with every step.  She certainly didn't remember this being in the air cargo manual - but then, very little of her life at Higher for Hire went by the books anymore...

Rebecca blinked and looked around the room, getting her bearings.  Kit was asleep, having nodded off after a half-hour or so of conversation with her, the pain medication having it's usual effect..  Apparently she'd nodded off too, as the sun was sinking low in the western sky outside the window.  She walked over to the cub's bed and pulled the blanket up over him, just as the Sea Duck splashed in for a landing on the water outside.

Kit stirred as the yellow seaplane engines arched, then died.  He lifted his head slightly and looked over at the other bed, then spotted Rebecca standing by the window, staring at him.  He smiled sleepily.  "Hey."

"Hey to you too." she grinned, sitting on the bed and tousling his hair.  "How do you feel?"

"Fine.  Sleepy." he yawned.

"Your Papa Bear is home." she said softly.  "Do you want to get up?"

Kit smiled.  He'd never heard her refer to Baloo that way before.  "Sure.  He'll wanna talk an' everything." he mumbled sleepily, as she helped him slide up to a sitting position.

The front door opened noisily and Baloo's heavy footfalls were soon audible on the steps.  "Hiho!" he called, and a second later popped through the bedroom doorway.  He took off his cap and nervously clutched it in his paw.  "Everythin' OK?"

"Fine."  Kit smiled wearily.  "How was the delivery?"

"Hey Becky." the big grey bear said absently as he walked over to the bed and sat next to her. He leaned over and gently hugged Kit to his chest.  "I swear Kid, that was the longest run I ever flew, an' it was only four hours!  I thought I'd never get back!  How ya feelin'?"

"I'm fine." Kit smiled, obviously delighted to have Baloo back.  "The flight was OK?"

"I guess." Baloo said, not wanting to release the cub from his gentle grasp.  "Couldn't concentrate.  You guys have fun here?"

"Yeah.  Me an' Wildcat played some checkers, and Becky made lunch, and then we - talked, for a long time.  Before that stupid pill knocked me out." Kit replied with a yawn.

"Didn't ya miss me, L'il Britches?" Baloo asked, sounding hurt, as he leaned back on the bed next to his son.

"Oh, Baloo!" Rebecca chuckled with a shake of the head.

"I sure did." Kit grinned wearily, resting his head on Baloo's shoulder.  "But I wasn't lonely."  The boy yawned and closed his eyes, obviously still drowsy.  His breath came slowly and evenly, and within a moment he appeared to be asleep.

"Well, I think I'm going to head downstairs and get a little work done before I leave." Rebecca whispered.  "Looks like things are well under control up here."

"Thanks Becky." Baloo grinned.  "Thanks fer takin' such good care o' Kit.  I sure do appreciate it."

"Don't mention it!" she smiled, squeezing the pilot's paw and turning to leave.  She stopped in the doorway, pausing to watch bear and cub on the bed.  Baloo looked contentedly down at his son, softly stroking his hair as he slept, head on Baloo's shoulder.  She couldn't help but be moved by the scene.

Still, there was another part of her that was uneasy.  This terrible experience was clearly nearing it's close - the worst was over.  Kit was on the mend, the incredible recuperative powers of youth already hard at work.  The ordeal had obviously brought the boy and his father even closer together, which Rebecca would have hardly thought possible.  The emotional bond between them was as solid as an oak.

But she had seen a change in the pilot, in these last few days.  His devotion to Kit was burning, almost fanatical.  He hadn't been a parent long enough to know that he couldn't control every facet of his child's life.  Kit was hopelessly, utterly dependent on Baloo emotionally right now, but he was growing up.  His own strength of will and intellect was growing all the time.  He would, inevitably, seek to stretch out, to walk on his own legs, under his own power.  And she wasn't sure Baloo was emotionally prepared to deal with that. 

The tough, independent, but skittish child that had shown up at Baloo's Air Service was gone, replaced by a young man who had opened his heart and been changed forever by the knowledge that there were people who would love him and not betray him.  There was an openness to the boy that hadn't existed before, but the toughness and independence was still there - it was a part of Kit's psyche, and it would never leave him.  And he was, surely as the sun rose every morning, growing up, seemingly faster every day.

Baloo had changed too, of course.  He was no longer the cavalier, irresponsible suspended adolescent that had run his business into the ground and lost his plane.  He had matured as well, as surely as Kit was.  And the events of the last week had deepened his feelings of parental protectiveness tremendously.  He had simplified his life down to it's bear necessities.  And Kit, surely, unstoppably, was growing up.

But those were thoughts for later on, she supposed.  Right now, the important thing was that they had each other.  As she watched Kit smile slightly in his sleep, utterly contented, and Baloo chuckle softly as he watched his son, it was hard to see how anything else in the world could possibly matter.  Smiling, she tiptoed out of the bedroom and headed downstairs to finish up at work, anxious to get home to Molly.

To be continued…