Dilemma 10
By Leanna
It was late in the evening, the med bay was practically deserted save for the night nurse, who had just come on duty relieving Pumyra for the night. The lights were turned down low so the only patient in the room could rest, not that he was resting that much, more like he was lying in his bed lightly dozing. Only because of the medication the puma had given him, made him sleepy. Panthro didn't want to sleep; every time he would close his eyes images of his son lying cold and lifeless on that slab haunted him.
His son was dead, the words he couldn't fathom, those were words he shouldn't have to even think of, parents were never meant to outlive their children, the children who were part of them were suppose to live on and have families of their own. To carry on the family line, to carry on the traditions of the clan. To pass down what his father had passed down to him, from father to son, the right of passage he would have gone through at the age of fourteen, the age he would have begun to teach him to be a warrior he knew he could become, Now that was all gone along with all the hopes and dreams, all shattered like a plane of glasses dropped onto the rocks below the lair. Shattered into a millions of small splinters. If only he hadn't of take lea out that night to dinner, or if had of stayed in the beach house just a while longer, if only….
Panthro opened his eyes slightly and looked over at the empty chair that sat beside his bed, his mate had been there just a short while ago sleeping fitfully, he though maybe she finally given in and went back to their room, after he had told her many times he's was ok and to go get rest, but a few moments later he heard the med bay door slide open, and seen the lioness walk over with a small tray with two cups on it. She set the tray down on the table beside the bed and picked up one of the cups and sat down in the chair. She sat back and cradled the cup in her hands and took a small sip of the hot tea. She looked completely exhausted and vulnerable; she seemed to have aged ten years in afew short hours.
"brought you some tea" she said quietly.
"Baby" Panthro said softly, "go rest"
"Can't," she said noticing beats of sweat on his forehead and face, even his colouring was a bit off "you feeling ok? "She asked setting the cup down she stood and placed her hand on the panther's forehead, "You're burning up"
"It's nothing, go to bed woman before you end up in here too" Panthro said taking her hand gently in his.
"You know better then that!" the lioness said with a frown touching the call button with her free hand.
Within seconds the night duty nurse appeared, "He's running a fever" Leanna said standing back out of the nurse's way.
The panther glared at the two females, "you either open your mouth and let her take your temperature or I will help her turn you over and place it in an unpleasant spot" Leanna simply stated.
That's was all the convincing the big blue cat needed, he opened his mouth and growled as the nurse placed a thermometer under his tongue.
"Has he always been so cranky?" the nurse asked with a slight smirk.
Leanna rolled her eyes, "you have no idea"
"Stop treating me like a child, "Panthro growled as the nurse removed the thermometer.
"We will when you stop acting like one, you cantankerous Cat," the lioness smiled sweetly.
"You're right fever of 104," the nurse said and checked the panthers bandaged feet, she looked at Leanna and nodded," be right back," She said and went to get Pumyra.
Leanna tried not to look worried, she knew something was wrong, but she didn't say anything, instead she went and got a cool wet cloth and gently wiped the panther's face. Pumyra arrived a few minutes later and spoke to the nurse; she walked over to the foot of the panther's bed without saying a word and checked his injuries then tuned to the nurse, "get the OR ready"
"Pumyra?" Leanna questioned.
The puma sighed a bit, "we're going to have to take him to the OR, infection has set in as if feared, if I don't remove the injured flesh, it will spread and he may lose his legs" the puma explained.
"Can't you just treat the infection without having to operate?" Leanna asked.
"I'm afraid not "Pumyra said
Leanna looked at her and nodded, "ok" and left the panther's bedside as Pumyra and the nurse got the panther ready to take to surgery , surprisingly the panther never gave them much fight, truth was he felt to weak and miserable to put up much of one. Once on the gurney they stopped beside the lioness, Leanna leaned over and kissed her mate, "Promise me, you'll get some rest?" Panthro asked reaching up and touching her cheek with his hand.
"Ok, I promise" Leanna nodded and watched as they wheeled him out into the hallway and headed to the surgical bay.
The lioness went back inside the med bay and picked up her cup of tea and went over and sat on a near by empty bed and stared down in to the steaming brew, she set the cup down and began to sob, she felt like her life had completely fallen apart. She flinched when a gentle hand touched her shoulder, she looked up and seen Cheetara. The cheetah never spoke she just wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly.
"What happened?" the cheetah asked
"Panthro is quite sick, Pumyra had to rush him into surgery, "Leanna said wiping her eyes, "she said infection has set in and if she doesn't operate it could spread"
Cheetara sat down beside the lioness, "I'm sure he'll be alright Lea, He's in good hands"
"that's what I thought about Kale, "she said quietly then lowered her head, "I'm sorry Tara , I didn't mean it like that, I know Pumyra and Sabar both did what they could for him"
Cheetara placed her hand on her fiends shoulder, "I know Lea, you're worried about Panthro, it's understandable"
"I couldn't handle losing him too" Leanna said" I feel as if the walls are crumbling down around me"
"Well you have us here with you to make sure that don't happen" The cheetah smiled, "and don't worry about Panthro, you know he's too stubborn to be kept down for long"
"But I've never seen him so sick before" Leanna said with a slight sigh, "In fact don't think he's ever had so much as a cold".
"that's because viruses are too scared to go near him," Cheetara smiled, "Believe me Lea, he will not be going anywhere, come hell or high water that man will, will himself better if he has too, he loves you too much to leave you on your own"
"True, " Leanna said with a slight chuckle, "well I promised my husband I would get some rest and I suppose I better, I'm so tired I can hardly move"
"Please do, "Cheetara nodded, "rest well my friend and I'm not far if you need me,"
Once the cheetah left Leanna looked around, "well he said rest but didn't say where, "she smiled to herself and laid down in the empty bed beside the panther's at least she would be here when he came back. As she laid back and closed her eyes a slight smile lit across her lips, as some silly random memory surfaced, it was the day after he had first kissed her, Leanna had walked in to the dining room, it was late and breakfast was done, everyone was gone but Lion-O who had purposely stayed behind. Soon as she seen the lion her face went as red as his scarlet mane.
"Good morning Leanna," the lion smiled and took a sip from his cup, it was the look he gave her which made her blush even more, it was as if he could see into her mind and knew what went on the night before.
She tried to act normal as the lion's amber eyes bore into her, "Morning, "she said with a quick nod, "any food left?"
"I think Snarf saved you and plate" the lion answered, giving her a shy grin, "he also saved one for Panthro too, he must be starving , not like him to miss breakfast, unless something important kept him busy" the lion said eyeing the lioness even more.
The look on the lioness face made him smile even more, but she quickly composed herself, "is that so?" she remarked and made herself a cup of tea.
"It's a fact" Lion-O nodded and set down his glass.
"Well Panthro is a very busy man after all he has a lot of work to do down in the hanger and such" Leanna said nonchalantly as she could.
"Oh lioness, you don't fool me for a minute," Lion-O chuckled, "your cheeks are nearly as red as my hair, "he smiled broadly, "all I have to say in the matter is about time, that panther has been mooning over you for months but all joking aside, Panthro is a good man and you will be good for him"
Leanna just shrugged, "I will try my best"
"No need to try, just be yourself" Lion-O smiled and stood and left the room.
*****************************
The sound of heavy boots thumping on the floor woke the lioness form her slumber, she opened her eyes and sat up, in the doorway of the med bay stood a man she had never seen before his size nearly filled the door frame. He stood dressed head to toe in black leather, his long mane done in multi colour dreads that hung mid way down his back and fell over the front of his shoulders reaching mid chest. She wasn't sure what kind of cat he was; he had a mixture of markings, from stripes and spots, framing his smile was a goatee which was neatly trimmed.
"Can I help you?" she asked, "are you lost?" she wondered maybe he had taken a wrong turn, if he was new to the lair one could get easily lost.
"Depends, "He said, "I'm looking for Panthro"
"Panthro isn't here right now, can I help you, I am his wife" Leanna said standing up.
"Ah, so you're Leanna" the ligerlynx smiled, "the name is Therja" he said walking into the room and extending his hand.
"What do you want with Panthro? "Leanna asked curiously.
"Nothing little darling, "Therja smiled, "I'm here to help you"
Leanna looked at him completely confused, "forgive me, but help with what?"
"I'm a friend of Thane's, he told me what happened and well I'm here to help"