Chapter 11

The little tabby enjoyed himself. These bipeds were calm and friendly, and warm. They were hurt though. It was good to have company, good to be warm, good to have something in his tummy. He could smell the hurts under bipeds' thin skins and he tried to be most careful. It was good to be touched and he gladly touched too, telling with his purring and gentle care that he was friendly and wanted to be a part of this group. Hurt as these two were, there was no smell of illness and these were hunters and had allowed him to have a share. He desperately needed the nutrition and the feeling of safety... so he did all he could to be accepted by these strangers. He knew that the one with wounds was more dangerous and he should make sure he was accepted by him. The one with breaks under skin and less breath, didn't move as much, but he talked with a friendly voice and he belonged to the same group with the bleeding one, and the two liked each other, so the kitty should make friends with him too. It looked like the bleeding one was helping the broken one but also the broken one tried to make the bleeding one feel better. It was a good group.

Tabby had lost a lot of energy trying to make himself accepted. He started to feel weak, and quietly pulled back from Ray who suddenly woke back to reality when the licking stopped. Ray saw the kitty crouch and half shut his eyes. When kitty noticed he was being watched, he tried to purr as hard as he ever could.

"Hey little one... what's the matter?"

Bodie opened his eyes from his half-doze. "What, what's the matter with whom?"

"The kitty... look at him. He's not doing well, looks like he's shaking."

Bodie noticed Ray was right. He frowned. "Oh bloody hell, what can be the matter with him? I'm not any damned veterinarian."

Ray thought. "Well... he's tiny. And he definitely looks very young. He should be on milk, more or less, in that age. He hasn't eaten for a couple of days, and it's been cold out there... and maybe he hasn't got enough to drink either." Again Ray was out of breath.

Bodie watched the kitten. He didn't look ill really, was following their movements with clear eyes, but he certainly looked worn out and weak. Against his better knowledge Bodie moved his hand to touch the kitty and rubbed him gently with one finger. Kitten's skin felt loose in a funny way, and when Bodie gently rubbed his neck and pinched him a little, a fold of skin was left up for a moment. Bodie didn't know the first thing about cats and didn't care to either, but even for him that looked strange. "Jesus... Ray, should their skin stay standing up when you pinch it?"

Ray looked worried. He hadn't had pets since his childhood, but that didn't sound good. "Maybe he's dehydrated. Can't much imagine him going to drink from the river and if he hasn't got mice he hasn't got fluids in his food either."

Bodie sighed. "I knew I should have kicked that miserable rodent down the bloody stairs." He sounded so annoyed that Ray couldn't know what his mate might do.

"Bode, -"

"Oh be quiet..." growled Bodie, painfully and slowly hoisting himself up from the mattress. Now Ray realised that his mate's other shoulder had a red, seemingly very irritated patch. That rope – and Ray's weight on it – must have almost excoriated the skin of his mate even under the clothing. And what it had done to the muscles under the skin, Ray didn't even dare to imagine. So Ray kept quiet and decided to stay so, whatever it was that his mate had in his mind.

Bodie made it to his knees and grabbed the startled kitten in his hand before getting on his feet. "Get here you little nuisance..."

He headed away from Ray, so Ray wasn't able to see how carefully his mate secured the kitty against his chest. Although Bodie's first reaction had been a flash of anger, to feel that tiny, almost weightless little animal in his hand and the rapid heartbeat against his fingers, made the anger disappear just as quickly. Hell it wasn't the tabby's fault he had got into his mess, kitten only... Bodie took the kitty into the kitchen and left him on a table when he filled a small cup with water. The kitty didn't really seem to know what to do about it... oh bugger... "Oh you little miserable pest, this is water and you're bloody supposed to drink it!" Bodie thought for a moment he would simply push the kitten's face into the water but that pitiful purring stopped him. Without further ado, he simply put his finger into the water and lifted it dripping in front of kitty's nose. After a moment of wondering, tabby licked the finger. Bodie dipped his finger again, and again, after a couple of seconds, kitty licked the water from it. "Well yeah I know, this doesn't taste like milk but we don't have any so you'd better get used to this..." What the hell, I'm talking to a damned cat, Bodie thought. This sure is fucking pathetic. And yet, he dipped his finger again, this time tabby licked the water without hesitation. Bodie sighed but continued.

Watching the cat, it occurred to Bodie that Ray might need some more to drink he too. He should keep the kidneys working properly even if Ray didn't want to drink. It would also mean that he maybe had to use the catheter first thing in the morning, but better safe than sorry, thinking of the medicine also. Hell Ray wouldn't like that, at all. Bodie felt a pang for his mate.

"Oi, what are the two of you up to?" Ray hadn't heard what Bodie said to the cat, and got worried as the minutes went by without him seeing his mate.

"Trying to make this idiot cat of yours suck water from my finger."

"You... what?" Ray was dumbfounded. Bodie must have got brain-damage. Or then, the kitty had really put a spell on his mate.

In the kitchen Bodie filled a jug with water. He gingerly managed to put the kitten on the floor and took their mugs and the jug into living-room, managing those with his better hand when the kitty's cup was in his other one. He poured some water into Ray's mug and ordered strictly his reluctant mate to drink it. He didn't see the kitty and when he went back to search for him, he saw tabby sitting in front of the door, and allowed him to slip out. Bodie added still some firewood and thought he might let the fire die during the night as it was nicely warm in front of the fireplace, the heaters would manage after the fire died and the quilts were nicely warm. Ray was startled when Bodie moved his quilt, and pinched him again. And again Ray's feet – yes, both of them – twitched a little. Bodie was content, it looked like the situation hadn't at least got worse.

Ray noticed the smile. "Do you get some special kick out of pinching me?"

Bodie actually managed to raise his eyebrow and give the mischievous scoundrel look Ray had seen thousands of times. "Dammit Bodie, you'd better mind that skull of yours if you come into my arms' range."

Bodie grinned. "Sounds like you're feeling better, mate. And looks like that too, you're getting some colour back."

Ray thought for a moment. "Yeah, I don't feel as drowsy and I have more feeling all around. And the back... it's kind of tolerable. When I don't try to move anything, that is."

Bodie was happy to hear that. "Didn't I tell you not to worry? See now, things are not that bad anymore." Bodie struggled back to his feet to check on the kitty, and sure enough, when he opened the door, the little creature sneaked back in and timidly followed Bodie when he started to put off lights for the night. It wasn't that late actually, but he felt he could hardly stay on his feet, so totally and utmostly knackered he was. There was a lamp standing in a corner which he left burning so that he wouldn't fall on anything if he needed to get up during the night. He made sure the medicines were at hand, as well as the water, and he even took the kitty's cup on the floor close by the mattress so that he wouldn't necessarily need to get up to offer more water to the tabby, who had sneaked carefully onto the mattress now, watching him from Ray's side.

That should do. Bodie sighed and carefully manouvered himself on his own mattress and put his head on the pillow. His head still hurt and he felt somewhat wobbly, but now he was finally able to let go and relax.

Ray watched his still pale mate. "So... you tried to make the kitty suck water from your finger? They're never gonna believe that at the HQ, your hard-arse reputation is at stake, mate!" Bodie threw him with an ugly glance but held his tongue.

Tabby was watching them both. He still didn't look much if any better, but at least he had got some fluids. And Bodie, tough, rough Bodie, had taken care of him. Just like he had taken care of Ray himself. Bodie had shifted closer to tiredly watch the tiny feline. Ray couldn't even imagine how tired his trusted mate must be.

"Hey little fella, don't you think that big villain is worth a little purring still?"

Bodie looked at Ray, surprised.

"Don't get used to this, though. I'll bang your head the first given opportunity for pinching me. And no, it's not my cat. Looks like he has picked his numero uno mate" said Ray, noticing the tabby shyly sneaking at Bodie's side, and pressing himself against Bodie's throat and chest, his head right under Bodie's chin.

Bodie felt embarassed for that... well, almost intimate touch, but the quiet purring did give such cozy feeling... without even realising it, he pulled his quilt over the little cat who after a couple of licks to Bodie's jaw, turned his back against his giant mate's warm body and fell asleep in the middle of washing his own face, his paw over his eyes in a most funny and strangely moving way.

"Go to sleep you too, Bodie," Ray whispered.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm fine and I wake you up if anything happens." Bodie looked at him suspiciously. Ray sighed. "Or if I feel I need to move or if I feel bloody anything else whatsoever. I promise Bodie. I'm not sleepy but you are, so join your baby and just close your eyes. You look just as knackered as he is."

To Ray's surprise, Bodie reached for him with his sore arm and put his hand over Ray's wrist. "Will know if you move too much," came the muttered explanation and finally satisfied with the precautions, Bodie was able to allow his mind drift away from his aching body.

Ray listened to Bodie's breathing get slower and deeper. And although he had feared the moment he'd be alone with his thoughts, the weight of that big hand on his wrist made him feel... safe.