Chapter 2

Smelling the strong scent of alcohol slowly brought Laurie to her senses. As she opened her eyes to slits, harsh florescent light invaded her vision. She slowly sat up, but let her head fall back on to the pillow where it had been; it head was killing her. After a few minutes she tried again, but this time supporting herself with the metal railings that were on either side of the bed. As her eyes focused, she saw she was in a very neat hospital room. Next to her on the wall a few feet away was a mirror. She saw her forehead was wrapped in gauze and wound tight with medical tape where she had hit her head. She was in a blue hospital gown and noticed her wrist and her left leg had been covered in castes. Seeing the only company in the room was a bunch of flowers and "Get Well" cards, she pushed the call button above her head and sighed.

Moments later, a short, fluffy nurse walked in, clip board in hand. "Hello dear, feeling better?"

Laurie tried not to laugh as she spoke; the aged she cat in front of her had so much make-up on it looked like it would weigh her face down. "Fine, thank you. How long have I been here?"

"About two day's child; you hit your head pretty hard. You just missed your mother. She left a few minutes ago along with your boyfriend." The nurse answered.

"What time is it?" she asked, looking to the window.

The nurse checked her watch. "Around Eight thirty in the morning; would you like me to get ahold of your mother?"

"Yes please." Laurie said, sitting back on the pillows behind her. "Oh, and could I maybe get something to eat, I'm starving."

"Certainly." The nurse called as she exited the room.

Laurie sighed and closed her eyes, and before she knew it, had fallen asleep.

As light filtered through the one window in Chance's room, he sat up, stretched and winced at the muscle he had pulled in his shoulder the day before. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he got up and put on his uniform. Yawning, he made his way downstairs.

Jake sat sprawled on the couch, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. The cat swore under his breath as the picture on the T.V. stalled and changed to fuzz. "Stupid thing." He said as he got up to adjust the antenna. "Morning." He called over his shoulder.

After getting a warm cup of milk, Chance sat down on the recliner across the room and watched his partner bang on the top of the television. ""Ya know, it's never gonna work if your touching it." He teased.

"Go choke on a sardine." The red cat growled as the picture finally returned. "See, you just have to work at it."

"Whatever you say pal." He said, taking a sip of his milk.

As the day wore on, Jake could see Chance's mind was not on their work. He would walk into things and drop tools, leaving them there until later. Wiping some oil from his paws, he walked to where Callie's car was and saw Chance's feet sticking out from under it. "Okay, your acting weird. What's up?" he asked.

The tom slid out from under the car, wiping sweat from his brow. "Nothing."

"Liar. It's about that she kat we saved yesterday isn't it?" Jake said.

"Go away! I have to fix Callie's transmission before she gets here tonight." He growled.

"Fine, have it your way." He said, turning and returning to his work on the other side of the shop.

Chance felt bad about snapping at him and sighed. As he tightened a few bolts, Laurie Purrston's face flashed into his mind.

Just before dark, Laurie's mother came to take her to stay with her for a few days while she recovered. She insisted she could take care of herself just fine in her apartment across town, but her mother wouldn't allow it.

As they pulled into the driveway, her mother hurried to the passenger side door to help her into the wheelchair the hospital had provided.

"Mom, please. Just give me the crutches and let me walk." Laurie complained.

"I think you should try to use them tomorrow. You just were in a plane crash; you need to take it easy for a few days." Her mother urged.

"I'll stay here until I can drive, which will probably be in a few days. But could you take me home since my car isn't here?" she asked.

Her mom smiled and fiddled with her keys at the front door. "Sure honey."

"You didn't hear anything from Luke today did you? I would call him but my phone is at the apartment." Laurie asked as she was wheeled into the living room.

"I'm afraid not. He told me he would come by when you got home. He said he was working late." She said.

"Weird, he never works late." She said as her mom helped her on the couch, which she had made up with a pillow and sheets.

"I assume you're pretty tired. Just yell if you need me. Good night dear." She said, walking down the hall and closing her bedroom door.

"First of all, I am not gonna sleep on the couch when my old room is right down the hall." Laurie grumbled. Grabbing the crutches her mother had placed near the coffee table, she hoisted herself to her feet and limped away from the living room. She came to the last room at the end of the hall and pushed open the door.

He room from her childhood smelled of cheap perfume and paint. She had painted it several times as she got older and the walls ended up being several different colors. Boy band posters and pictures of her friends covered them, sending memories floating back. She spotted old dolls and teddy bears on her dresser and smiled at the things she used to be into to.

She pushed a few blankets aside and gently eased herself on to her bed. On her ceiling was her most favorite posters; one of the enforcers. Ever since she was a little kitten, she dreamed of flying with them. When she turned ten, her new idols became the Swat Kats. After seeing them save the city countless times, she felt she had to do something to help. She joined the enforcers when she graduated college. Commander Feral had almost fired her when she accidently tripped him while walking past. He then had been watching her like a hawk for the next six years into her service. When he promoted a new pilot before her, she quit and decided to go to work at the local auto parts store downtown. Still having her flight experience and her father's old plane, she would go flying all the time. Now that her plane was destroyed and still stuck up in the bridge, she felt like an idiot and was pretty sure she wouldn't get her place back with the enforcers.

Snuggling into the sheets of her bed, she let her mind wander. The tom cat that had saved her life walked in her dreams that night, whispering to her.