"Hello" - speak
'Hello' - thoughts

Part 3

He woke up and everything above him was white and bright.

'Where am I', he thought and sat up and rubbed his eyes with his hands… wait hands? He slowly stretched out arms and gasped in horror and started to breath with horrified gasps. His arms were bandaged and his hands and fingers had small cuts all over them. He used his hands to feel all over his body and somehow… he'd turn human.

'This is a dream', he thought. 'It must be a dream it can't be anything else.' He looked around the room and saw other beds and he was linked to an IV, well he didn't know that only that he was linked to something. Then his eyes caught sight of a mirror and he stared into it. The face he saw was not his own. His face was that of a human, not more than 25 but none less than 20. His hair was jet black, his skin was slightly colored he looked like one of those Italian people that Skimble had told them about. His eyes were black and his face was bruised and had a few cuts. He reached up a hand and touched his cheek and now it hit him full force… this wasn't a dream and he was human. All he could do was screaming in terror. The door to the room slammed open and a woman rushed to his side.

"Sir, sir calm down", she said and took his hands. "It's okay… It's okay you're safe now."

He didn't say anything he was too afraid. She looked nice. She was blonde with green eyes and a gentle smile.

"Calm down", she said and rubbed his head as if he'd been a small child. "It's okay you're safe now. No one can hurt you anymore."

He looked around eyes big in fright and then a man dressed in a suit with a long coat entered the room.

"Aw so you're awake now son", he said and smiled friendly. "Good then maybe you can answer some questions."

"Sir he can't speak", the woman said.

"Do you know that?"

"No…"

"So John", the suited man said and sat down on a chair. "Let's call you John since we don't know your name." He grinned and "John" looked puzzled and decided that until he knew what the Heaviside was going on he'd play as if he didn't understand.

"So John", the man said. "Do you understand me?"John looked around the room with a goofy smile.

"John", the man said sternly but John didn't seem to understand him.

"See I told you", the woman said. "He's been here for three months and no one has looked for him and no one looking like him has been reported a missing person with his description."

"You watch the news a lot don't you Jane", the man asked.

Jane shrugged. "The Chief said he believe that this man has been kept in a cellar, away from other people his whole life and being brutally abused."

"That's rubbish."

"Are you sure? He was found him in an alley, naked and near death and for three months no one has asked for him."

"You think he can understand us at all?"

Jane smiled softly and sat down on the bed and put her hand on John's. He pulled away in fright.

"It's okay John", she said as she locked eyes with his black orbs. "I'm not going to hurt you."

John shook his head.

"What do you mean?" the man asked.

"Frank he can't speak", Jane said.

"Sorry. Do you mean no?"

John looked at him and smiled.

"Hey I think he means yes!"

"Good job Frank", Jane said. "It looks like he understands a bit. Maybe he's heard people talk but never learned how to speak himself."

"That's a good theory love."

"Thank you… Now John."

The man in the bed was watching the heart monitor curiously.

"John", she said sternly but he didn't react.

"Wait", Frank said. "Maybe his name isn't John and that's why he doesn't seem to answer us."

"Oh and how do we found out his name?"

Frank sat down on the bed too and patted John's shoulder and the younger man looked at him and tilted his head.

"We want to know your name", Frank said. "Can you say your name?"

The young man started to make movements with his mouth.

"He can't say the words but knows the pattern!" Jane exclaimed.

"That first movement was an A…"

"Oh then maybe", she looked at John. "Can you say yes when I say the right letter to your name?"

"You think he can spell it", Frank asked.

"Hush. An-" John pouted. "Am… Ad… Ab… Al…" John smiled. "Al!"

"Which names starts with Al", Frank asked.

"Alex?" John pouted.

"Alvin", Frank asked and John raised his eyebrows.

"Alec?" Jane suggested and John pouted.

"He looks Italian…"

"Alfonzo?"

"Alejandro?"

"That's a Spanish name."

"So?"

"Alonzo?" John smiled wide.

"Alonzo", they exclaimed.

John, now known as Alonzo mouthed the word and grinned.

"So we got a name", Frank said. "Now what do we do with him?"

"I've heard about a home outside of London", Jane said. "It's out in the countryside. They take care of people who have been misfit or have other problems. Maybe they will take him in and teach him how to speak."

"Let's go call them."

"Rest Alonzo", Jane said and kissed his forehead and then left the room.

'Finally', Alonzo thought. 'I thought they would never leave.' He looked out the window and sighed and felt tears prickle in his eyes. 'Oh Munk… I miss you… I'll find a way to come back to you my love… somehow I will find a way to become me again. Don't give up hope love.'

Given up hope wasn't something Munk was about to do. The three months that had passed since Alonzo's supposed death had been hard on him. But since no corps had been found he stuck to his hope that Alonzo was alive somewhere. Munk hid his heartache well. On the days he looked as if he was healed and had moved on… but at sundown he would go to their favorite plays and think of the tom he loved and pray for him. Someone had noticed his act and it was Coricopat. He'd been keeping a close eye on their protector but hadn't noticed anything strange except for a great sadness. Today he was going to approach his protector.

As the sun started to set Munk felt his tears drop and he sobbed quietly.

"You haven't moved on at all have you Munkustrap", Coricopat said and walked up to sit beside him.

"What do you want Cori", Munk asked and dried his tears furiously.

"I wanted to see if you were as fine as you gave sign of."

"And did you get your answer?"

"Yes…"

"And?"

"You are not fine."

Munk laughed without joy. "Ha that's an understatement."

"There is something more than friendship between you and Alonzo isn't it?"

"Yes… at least from my part. I love him Cori I've always have."

Coricopat smiled. "He loved you too."

"What", Munk's head snapped up.

"Alonzo confessed to me and Mil that he's loved you since you were kittens and-"

Cori didn't get any further as Munkustrap hit him in the face so he tumbled backwards.

"You bastard", Munk yelled.

"What did I do", Cori asked angrily.

"I'll suffer but be happy because of it! Do you call this happy?!" Munk flew at the Siamese.

"Sweet Everlasting cat", Tantomile gasped when she saw her brother limp towards her, Demeter, Tugger and Admetus. "Coricopat!"

He looked at her and collapsed on his side.

"RICO", she shrieked and hurried over and fell to her knees beside him. "Rico, Rico are you okay?"

"I'm fine Tan", her brother mumbled weakly.

"Damn", Tugger said as they got up to the twins. "What happened to you?"

"We ran into some trouble…"

"We", Demeter asked and gasped when she saw Munkustrap limp towards his den. He wasn't half as bad as Coricopat was.

"What happened Ori", Admetus asked as he rubbed Tantomile's back trying to sooth her.

"We ran into some trouble…"

"What kind of trouble", Tugger asked.

"Some trouble…"

Demeter looked at him and then back at Munk. "Cori… what did you do?"

They all turned to her.

"I did nothing Demeter", he said softly and rose with help from Tantomile and Admetus.

"Then I'll go ask Munk." With that she stormed off.

"Fuck", Munk hissed as he cleaned one of the gashes from the fight. Coricopat wasn't a bad fighter he had to give him that. Fighting with him reminded him of fighting with Alonzo. The both of them had fought when they were younger for something… he didn't remember why… and it had resulted in a real tom fight. Coricopat may look thin and rather small compared to himself, Alonzo, Admetus, Asparagus or even Mungojerrie but damn he was strong and a great fighter. He knew how to defend himself if needed.

"Must have come with being a stray cat", Munk mumbled.

"What are you talking about", Demeter asked as she entered the den and Munk jumped then hissed in pain. "Oh my what happened to you? Cori said you ran into some trouble. He came out worse than you though."

"I know he did Deme I was there remember."

"Why are you so grumpy?"

"I don't handle being injured very well. You know that."

"Then let me help you." She sat down behind him and started to clean one of the gashes on his back.

"You really don't need to do that", Munk said after cleaning one of his wounds.

"I know… but as agile as you are you can't reach your back. And who do you prefer doing this, Tugger?"

"No", Munk mumbled. "Alonzo."

"What was that", Demeter asked as she hadn't heard properly. "Did you just say Alonzo?"

"Deme… He's been my-"

"He was your best friend since forever Munk."

"He's alive Deme I know it… I can feel it."

"Munk", Demeter said exasperated and sat down in front of him. "Is this what it's all about? Is this why you and Cori looks as if you've been fighting each other?"

Munk didn't answer he just glared at the ground.

"You did fight each other", Demeter said shocked. "Didn't you?"

"What's it to you?"

"Munk", she took his paws in her own. "What happened?"

"Cori was being… an ass. A complete jerkish bastard."

"Jerkish isn't a word."

"Who made you queen?"

"I was born as one."

"Will you stop sounding like your brother?"

"What for? Munk Alonzo was my brother and even me and Tumble is taking this better than you! What about Tumble Munk? What would he think if he knew you still believe and are telling people that our brother", tears started to fall from her eyes. "Our big brother is still alive out there somewhere?! You would crush him Munk and I won't let that happen!"

She rose to leave.

"I love him Demeter", Munk confessed and she froze and turned back to him.

"What did you say", she asked.

Munk looked up at her with a determined and angry look on his face.

"I love him", he said strongly. "We have a special bond and I feel… I feel that Alonzo is not dead. He's out there… somewhere and one day he will come back."

Demeter's tears started to fool.

"Then you are a fool", she said and left him and he angrily slammed his fist into the wall and looked at the silver chain and black leather band around his wrist. He touched them both gently.

"I'll never give up hope Zo", he said. "I know you're out there and fighting to get back. I don't know what horrible things you have to endure but I know you will conquer it."

Alonzo held his small suitcase with clothes Jane and Frank had provided him and looked at the big white mansion. He'd been brought here by Jane and everywhere he saw nurses, doctors and patients.

"It will be fine Alonzo", Jane said and clapped him on the arm and as if he was a small child she took his hand and lead him to the mansion.

'Deal with it', Alonzo thought. 'Just hang on… stay for a while and learn how to talk and then leave.'

A nurse met them inside and she beamed at them.

"This must be Alonzo", she beamed happily. "It's okay I am Daisy and I will be the one to look after you as my own child.

'Please kill me', Alonzo thought as Daisy took his arm and pulled him down a hallway.

"This will be your own room", she said happily. "You will have a little brother across the hall. His name is James but we call him Jimmy. He is nice and will be like a little brother."

"Uh Daisy", Jane said.

"Yes my dear?"

"Don't talk to him as if he was a small child. We've figured that he understands what we say. All he need is to learn how to speak. If he says yes he smiles and he looks sour when he means no."

"Oh dear… well I'll try then. Come on Lonzie", she said and led Alonzo into a white room with only a bed and a dresser inside. Alonzo looked around and sat down on the bed.

"You'll feel so good here", Daisy said. "I'll come and get you when dinner is ready. Don't walk out or you get lost and we all have to find you. If you get lost don't be scared. Just stay where you are."

With that she left and Jane smiled apologetically at him.

"I'm sorry Alonzo", she said. "But it will better for you here. I'll come and visit okay?"

Alonzo managed a tight smile and she walked out and he fell down on the bed.

'This. Is. TORTURE!' He screamed in his thoughts. Then he saw a small boy in the door. He looked to be ten years old.

"Hi kitty", he said.

TBC