Just a short 24 hours later and Kit was ready to enter the private clinic where Bane was being treated. She was nervous. Very nervous. She had already asked Barsad what to expect and he had told her that his brother remained mostly confined to bed, only allowed to rise under the supervision of his doctors and physiotherapists. He was also tied full-time to the mask for the time being, as the extra strain on his body from his most recent injury left even a constant supply of intravenous morphine less than useless.
They first met with the medical staff so Barsad could receive the latest update on Bane's health and then, she was shown to his room. "He's asleep at the moment" explained a pretty asian nurse as they stood outside the door to his room "But he know's you were arriving today and was really looking forward to seeing you". The nurse, who introduced herself to Kit as Mae-Ling, also explained that when the time came for Kit's baby to be born, she would act as her midwife, with the doctor's being on call should anything untoward occur.
Mae-Ling had been appointed by the League as Bane's personal nurse and whilst the title had initially caused Kit some concern, due to Mae-Ling's outstanding beauty, the nurses welcoming nature to Kit led to her considering the younger girl as no threat for Bane's attentions. That, and the fact that when Barsad appeared, Mae-Ling blushed like a timid schoolgirl, showing her obvious affection for Bane's brother. Kit smiled to herself and wondered if she would have these types of feelings ever again, especially for the father of her child.
Her question did not remain unanswered for long though, as when Barsad opened the door to reveal a sleeping Bane hooked up to various machines, the butterflies she felt when she first saw him Sal's place immediately returned. Although he had lost some weight due to months on inactivity and was horizontal at the moment, Kit saw that Bane was still an imposing figure. She longed to see his face however, especially his lips, but contented herself with sitting next to the bed and taking the hand that was free of tubes and needles and placing in gently on her tummy. She sat like that for a good fifteen minutes, until Barsad gently cleared his throat to make her aware of his continuing presence. At his gesture, Kit wiped the tears from her cheeks and asked "When will he wake up Barsad?, I need to talk to him, tell him...".
She couldn't finish the sentence, as she suddenly felt his hand on her stomach moving slightly. "Looks like you won't have to wait much longer" said Barsad gently, as he walked out of the room. Kit looked at Bane's face and saw his eyes slowly flicker open and focus on her. "Hello" she said weakly. In response, he simply said "My Kitten" in a metallic and wheezy rasp. She placed her hand on top of his that remained on her tummy and felt her child kick. She wasn't sure if Bane had felt this or not, as he had already drifted back into sleep.
Four days later and Bane had shown a marked improvement since Kit was first reunited with him. He had spent increasing time in physiotherapy and already, his former build was returning, The doctors has explained to Kit that the mixture infused by the mask not only relieved pain, but contained a compound to increase his body's ability to restore and regenerate cellular function. The result of this was that Bane was expected to make a full recovery within two weeks, any unforeseen circumstances being precluded.
He was currently sat up slightly in the bed, one hand holding Kit's and the other in Mae-Ling's, as she changed the cannula and restored the saline drip. He had a feeding tube inserted at the side of his usual mask and was currently receiving a protein supplement through it. When she was finished with his hand and had removed the feeding tube, Mae-Ling took his temperature via an automated ear-piece thermometer and his blood pressure and recorded all details on his chart. As she turned to leave, Bane sought her attention by waving his hand at her and she returned to the side of his bed. "Please Mae-Ling" he gasped "Could you provide a dose of Morphine so that I may take of my mask for a moment?"
"I'm not sure my superiors would be happy with that, Sir" she responded. He could have threatened her, cajoled her more or reminded her that as leader of the League of Shadows, he was her employer and ultimate superior. But instead, his dejected look spoke to Mae-Ling's romantic side, as she knew full well why he wished to be free of the apparatus.
She quickly moved the machines and tubes located at his right side and ensured that everything was still in place and attached as required. She then instructed Kit to lay alongside him on the bed, lowering the bar that was designed to prevent a patient from falling and assisted Kit in placing herself next to him. Mae-Ling then moved to his left side, took hold of his arm and administered a dose strong enough to provide pain relief for a short while. She took off his mask and looked at them both. "I'll be right outside the door to prevent anyone from entering. I'm coming back in here in exactly five minutes to put the mask back on, whether you both are ready or not, so make your time count" she continued with a smile on her sweet face.
When on the other side of the door, Mae-Ling immediately spotted Barsad making his way towards her, but stopped him as he attempted to grasp the door handle. "Give them a few moments Barsad?" she pleaded with him.
"As you wish my sweet" he responded, quickly pecking her on the nose after furtively checking that no-one else was around.
Inside the room, Kit and Bane lay together with their lips barely touching, but it was all either of them needed for the moment. She looked directly into his eyes and while her mouth still rested on his, she mumbled "I need you to get better very, very quickly you know?"
"I...am trying...my Kitten. Why are you so...anxious? Are you...concerned about the birth of...our child?"
"Not in the slightest, the facilities here are much better than those I found at home. No, I'm not worried about anything other than you at the moment. However, are you aware that during the last trimester of a pregnancy, a woman can experience an remarkable increase to her sex drive?"
His lips began to smile and he replied "I have heard...of this, yes"
"Well, in all honestly, I'm currently horny as hell and I need a big, strong, healthy man to ensure that my sexual cravings are satisfied" she advised him in a mock coy tone.
"Then...my Kitten...we will have to...ensure that your...needs are met, won't we?".
Kit licked both his top and bottom lips and then took a quick playful bite of the bottom one. "Yes, we should ensure that as soon as possible" she stated. With that, there was a light rap on the door, which was then opened to reveal Barsad and Mae-Ling entering the room.
Kit rose from her position alongside Bane, with Barsad's assistance and Bane turned to Mae-Ling. "Summon the doctors in...if you please Mae-Ling. I wish to discuss...with them how my progress...can be further expedited"
"Certainly, sir" she said and immediately left the room.
Barsad smiled to himself and asked "I take it you grow impatient to leave the hospital Brother?"
"You are correct...Barsad. I wish to situate...myself and my Kitten in our new home fully...before our son arrives. I take it...you have seen to the... arrangements we previously discussed?"
"Yes Brother. Your home is waiting, fully equipped with everything you could need". Barsad turned slightly to Kit and continued "You have an indoor and an outdoor pool, four bedrooms, all en-suite, a fully stocked kitchen and food storage area and the remaining belongings from your home have arrived and been placed in your dressing room. If you wish, we can visit the property later today so you can peruse it and request any amendments you see fit?".
"Thank you Barsad" Kit said. She had begun to like the man very much. His devotion to Mae-Ling was only matched by his unwavering loyalty to Bane and she had no doubt that he would do whatever he could to ensure the safety of her and her child, while Bane was unable to.
"Take her now Brother...I have no doubt that Kitten is most anxious...to see where our son will reside. Besides, I wish...to speak to my doctor's without...her delightfully distracting presence...to ensure they know how much I wish...to return to her side" Bane requested. The skin at the side of his eyes crinkled slightly with these words and over the course of the last few days, Kit had come to recognise this as a reflection of him smiling beneath his mask. The thought that he was just as anxious as her to return to some form of normal life pleased her greatly.
She bent over and kissed Bane on the forehead and when she was upright again, she said "Come on Barsad, show me our palace then!".