Sorry for such a short chapter, but my computer is acting up and I didn't want to lose it.

Chapter 4

Vincent's world coalesced into a single moment as he stared down at the miraculous sight in front of him. His whole body shook as his mind struggled to make sense of what he was seeing. He was about to reach for the vision when a tiny whimper too soft for any ears but his drew his attention to a bundle clutched desperately to her. Slowly, Vincent reached down and scooped it into his large, furred hands. As he unwrapped the small object, he gaped in awe. There, dwarfed in his large grip, a tiny face almost identical to his own stared back at him. As he regarded the little form, the second most beautiful pair of grey-green eyes he had ever seen opened up and looked up at him in desperation. Stunned, he was again immobile with shock.

"MY GOD!" Father breathed in astonishment as he stood behind Vincent. Instantly though, the healer in Father recognized that something was terribly wrong with this tiny child. "Vincent, I think you'd better let me see the infant. I think the child is ill." Father urged his son. But Vincent didn't seem to hear. It didn't take much for Father to guess that Vincent was in some sort of emotional shock and would be of little help.

"Vincent!" Father demanded, speaking in a stern parental tone to get through to his son. "Hand me the child!"

Distractedly, Vincent complied and handed him the little bundle. Quickly, the physician turned to the other occupant of the room and went into action. "Mouse, hand me my stethoscope."

Vincent was oblivious to everything taking place around him. All his attention was focused on the woman in front of him. Gingerly, he lifted Catherine and cradled her close as great racking sobs began to shake his large frame. Tenderly, he rocked her in his arms as he buried his face in her hair, tears streaming unchecked from his eyes. Events unfolded around Vincent unheeded. With Mouse's assistance, Father soon set up an oxygen tent over a small cot and had an I.V. line into the baby.

Satisfied for the moment, Father turned again to Mouse. "Mouse, listen to me carefully. This is very important. I need you to get on the pipes and summon Mary immediately. Then I want you to go get Peter at once. He was headed home a short while ago. Tell him it's a matter of life and death. Can you do that?"

"Call Mary. Get Peter. Life and death. Got it." Mouse replied. "But what about…" He looked past Father to Vincent, still kneeling on the floor holding Catherine.

"I'll look after Vincent. On your way, Mouse." Father ordered. As Mouse departed, Father had no doubt that the young man would carry out his instructions. While Mouse could be a little troublesome and willful, he was always reliable when it truly mattered.

Father quickly went back to his critical patient and his son. "Vincent, is Catherine all right? Is she hurt or injured? Vincent, I need to know if Catherine needs to be treated. Answer me!" Father demanded as he reached out to touch his son's shoulder.

Vincent gave one last great shuddering sob and finally found his voice. "No, Father. Catherine doesn't need medical attention. She's not injured or sick, just deeply asleep."

"How can you be certain?" Father protested.

As Vincent finally lifted his head, Father knew he would remember the expression on his son's face for the rest of his life. The smile there was blinding, filled with a happiness the tunnel patriarch had never seen before and Vincent's eyes shone so brightly, the candles in the room seemed dim by comparison. He virtually glowed from the pure joy radiating from him.

His canines flashed brightly as he spoke. "Because, Father, I can feel her."