After two more days, Jack was again perfectly well tended by Skye.
The two sat in the kitchen and had just finished their lunch. The vixen suggested going for a walk in the park after dinner so that Jack could regain his original skin color in the sun.
However, the plan was rejected by Skye's ringing phone.
The vixen reached for the phone, looked at the display and made a surprised face.
"Who is it?" Asked Jack.
"It ... it's Dr. Connor. "Skye spoke and answered the call.
"Hello Skye," the doctor answered. "I hope I'm not bothering you right now."
"No. No, you aren't disturbing. We're clearing away our dirty dishes, "Skye replied. "Why are you calling us?"
"Well ... I ... I'm calling you because ... because I'd like to talk to you and Jack about your fourth treatment. Is he around? "
Skye swallowed and switched the device to loudspeaker. "Jack is here next to me and I activated the speaker.
"OK. Good. "The doctor cleared her throat and continued. "As we definitely now know, the last two attempts failed only at the last hurdle."
"Do you mean Skye's immune system?" Jack wanted to know.
"Yeah, right." Confirmed Dr. Connor.
"Is that supposed to ... mean that ... that I'm inappropriate?" Skye's voice started to shake and her eyes water.
"No, Skye. No. That's not why I'm calling you. " answered Dr. Connor immediately. The doctor suspected that the vixen would react that way.
Skye exhaled her shock and wiped away her tears. At the same time she was hugged by Jack at her waist.
"Meanwhile, I know why Skye's immune system attacked her eggcells. The eggs were fertilized and incubated outside of her body. As a result, her body has identified the eggcells as alien and considered them as a threat, and the immune system has acted against them." explained Dr. Connor.
"Does something like that happen often?" Jack asked.
The two heard the doctor sighing before answering. "No, Jack. Especially at arctic vixen, this phenomenon has never occurred ... until now. "
"But?" He hacked after. The rabbit had the feeling that Dr. Connor still had a small bonus available.
"Well ... in the last days I had time to think about a theory," said the doctor. "However, my theory has a risky side effect."
By now, Skye had calmed down and asked, "What is this theory and what side effect does it have?"
"I've been thinking that if Skye's immune system is disabled for about a month, it will not attack her eggcell and so an embryo should develop without any problems. But unfortunately that would also have the following side effect: During this period, Skye would be more susceptible to diseases. This way she would infect herself rather quickly. A cough or sneeze from someone, but even a small cut with a simple sheet of paper would be enough. " explained Dr. Connor.
"What would happen to the embryo if I got sick after the procedure?" Skye wanted to know.
"I do not know that exactly. I suspect that this may influence the further development of the embryo. Not for the better, though, "replied the doctor. "That's why I'd like to meet with other professional colleagues and specialists to find out what they can tell me. I do not know any more at the moment. "
"Okay ... and what should we do in the meantime?" Skye asked.
"Every single attempt is a big burden on the body of the females. Your last two attempts were so close behind each other that I would like to advise you taking a break so that your body can recover. "
"A break?" Jack asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes. Take a vacation, go to a cinema, best visit a spa. That goes for both of you. Distract yourself with something and do not waste any thoughts on the treatment, or clinic or even me. " recommended Dr. Connor.
"Hmm. A spa ... "repeated Skye slowly. "Something like that would be ideal after Jack's illness."
"Jack's illness?" The doctor asked, surprised. "What did he have?"
"Headache and dizziness like after drinking alcohol," answered the vixen. "He felt like that for just three days, today he is healthy again."
"Even if Jack is well again, staying in a spa is certainly not a bad idea." noted Dr. Connor. "I know a great place just an hour's drive from the city. They have wonderful hay-bed sleep therapies there. Something like that will bring him back to his feet."
"But I'm doing all right again." Jack protested. "In addition, the hay scrapes so unpleasantly."
"Do you know if there are any such mud treatments there?" Skye ignored Jack's protest.
"Yes, that's there, too." Answered the doctor. "This spa offers a lot. I'll send you a link via email. I've been there a few times and can only warmly recommend it. "
"Great," the hare grumbled. "When the mud has dried, I will never get that stuff out of my fur."
"But Jack, there's no need to complain." replied Dr. Connor. "You will like it there very much and you will feel great again afterwards".
In response, he rolled his eyes and grumbled something incomprehensible before agreeing. "Alright. Whatever. I do not seem to have much choice anyway. "
"That's right, Jack." Skye chuckled. "You have no other choice. I'll call the spa right now, hopefully there are still places for us so soon. "
"Very good," said the doctor. "As I've said before, I'll be talking to the specialists. In the meantime, I wish you both a relaxing stay. Please call me when you are back. "
The call has ended.
"Scratching hay and dried bits of mud pulling my fur out," Jack groaned. "That sounds like a total recovery - not."
"Oh, come on Jack." Skye nudged him. "It's not that bad. You will certainly like it there. At least let's take a look at the link. "
The hare rolled his eyes with a sigh and gave in. "Okay, let's have a look at the website of this spa."
The two sat in front of the computer and looked at the many pictures and possible activities. Skye was immediately impressed by this spa.
Jack, however, was still a bit critical. "I don't know Skye ..."
"But Jack. Look at the pictures. "Skye pouted and dropped an ear. She wanted to go there. "You know how long I've wanted in such a spa."
He sighed and looked at a few pictures again. In fact, he was already a little impressed, but he did not want to show it.
However, when the rabbit looked into Skye's pleading face he could not help but give in. "All right, you persuaded me. Let's go "
Cheering and with bright eyes she hugged him gratefully and immediately called the spa.
A male receptionist told them that only the deluxe suite would be free.
Skye looked questioningly at Jack and he nodded his head affirmatively.
"I just can not deny her a wish if she makes that face," he thought and smiled slightly.
The two weeks stay at the spa went by in a flash. They have participated in all the activities: various massages, hot-stone therapies, Japanese acupuncture, even hay-bed and mud-baths - albeit with vain protests from Jack, whirlpool, wave pool for fun in between, hot thermal saltwater, and more activities such as regional trips with local tastings, or sporting activities. The two even took a couple of golf lessons. They had never played golf before. Skye was pretty good for her first time but Jack was happy when he hit the golf ball at all. Still, they had a lot of fun doing it. Later at the mini-golf the bunny was a little luckier than Skye. But at tennis, however, the two fought mercilessly.
In the evening they spoiled themselves in the hotel's own restaurant and afterwards they took a few cocktails in the 'Moonshine-Bar' outside on the terrace.
When Skye and Jack arrived back home after their spa visit, the vixen contacted Dr. Connor, who invited the two in her office next day.
The next day, the vixen and the hare arrived at the doctor's office.
"Skye! Jack! How was your stay?" the doctor greeted them.
"The spa was really amazing." Skye answered brightly, happily reporting on the past two weeks.
"And you Jack? How did you like it? " Connor know.
"That was ... yes, it was alright." He answered dryly
Skye pushed him into his side and he quickly corrected his mind. "The spa was really great. It was not a bad idea to spend two weeks there. "
"I know what's good for my patients." smiled Dr. Connor, but then became serious again "But now the real reason for our meeting."
"You said something that you want to disable my immune system," the vixen recalled.
"Correct, Skye. In the meantime, I have talked to some good professionals and colleagues. " began Dr. Connor to speak. "We believe that your immune system should be disabled for 4 weeks, so your Eggcell won't be attacked and develop an embryo."
"But does not that mean that she's much more susceptible to illness and infections?" Jack asked.
"Yes, Jack. Unfortunately that is true. "Answered the doctor.
"What would happen if I caught a disease or infection after getting inserted my breeded eggcell?" Skye asked.
"Well, we are pretty sure that this will affect the development of the embryo negatively. Even a miscarriage is likely. " spoke Dr. Connor.
That answer disheartened Skye. "I do not know what to think about it ..."
"How ... how would this procedure actually go?" Jack asked.
"Well ... first Skye would have to go to the Zootopia General Clinic." The doctor began to explain. "There she would be injected with a remedy that deactivates her immune system for 4 weeks. Two days later you, Jack, would as always, make your donation. One week after the injection of the serum, that's the time it takes for the deactivation, Skye would come to my clinic so that I can insert her incubated eggcell. If Skye manages to stay healthy for the next three weeks and does not catch any infection, then the embryo would have to be developed so far that Skye's body no longer sees it as a malignant foreign body, and thus her immune system shouldn't attack the embryo any more."
Now even Jack had to swallow. "Oh boy!"
"You know, usually the act of natural fertilization in similar species occurs so that the fertilized eggcell of the female can develop into a species-pure embryo in her body because of the common genome. The body of the female recognizes this process as wanted and accepts its further development to the actual baby. The mother's immune system even protects the embryo." told Dr. Connor. "However, if an eggcell is taken from the female, this egg is fertilized and incubated outside her body, and the parent pair, like both of you, is an interspecies, then the eggcell's characteristics change so much that after inserting, the body of the female no longer recognize her own eggcell and alarm her immune system."
Skye and Jack sat silently in front of the doctor and tried to work on the new information.
"If need be, there is another method ..." the doctor continued and Skye looked at her attentively. "... but Jack would not be included."
"What does that mean?" The vixen wanted to know.
"You could get a donation from a male arctic fox. This would cause a species-pure fertilization of your eggcell and be a guaranteed success, without having to deactivate your immune system. So while your child would be an arctic fox by 100%, that also means that Jack will not be the biological father. He would just be the raising father and nothing more. " explained Dr. Connor
"A ... a donation ... from ... another ... male?" Jack stuttered worriedly. He did not like this suggestion at all.
"Right, Jack. However, you both would not know who that donor is or what he looks like. Only a few details of his body are photographed: eyes, ears, tail, arms and legs." Remarked the doctor.
Jack dropped his ears limp and looked at Skye. The vixen stared emotionlessly into the air.
Dr. Connor looked the two in the face and spoke calmly. "Listen. Take your time with this decision. Sleep about it, okay? I do not need an answer from you right away. "
They nodded silently and said goodbye without words. When returning to their apartment, no word was exchanged.
It was a very restless night for Jack. He had an unpleasant dream.
He dreamed that Skye became pregnant by a donation of an arctic fox. Shortly after the baby was born, of course the little one was through this method to 100% of an arctic fox. The hare took the little one in the arm but it seemed strange, the baby was unusually large. When the child opened his eyes and looked at Jack, the rabbit got scared. The not-so-small fox aggressively snapped at him, jumped to the ground, and began to chase the hare across the room like a savage animal with bared teeth and extended claws, as if the baby had eaten the dangerous 'Night-howler' flowers. Jack screamed desperately at Skye for help, but she just stood laughing in the room, saying that the kid just wanted to play with him. After the baby had finished 'playing' with him, the rabbit lay bleeding on the ground and could not move. Skye, however, called for the baby and the child jumped into her arms. The little one was not so wild and aggressive anymore, instead it laughed and squeaked as it was common for babies.
When Jack woke up gasping, it was not even 3:00 in the morning. He sat down on the bed and had to calm down, his heart was still racing.
His movements in the shared bed also made Skye awake. She seemed to have had a more comfortable sleep.
"Jack ... what's up?" The vixen mumbled sleepily and slowly straightened up in bed.
"I ... I had a bad dream." He sighed.
She climbed up to him and sat down beside him on the bed. "Do ... do you want to talk about it?"
The hare swallowed and began to tell the vixen of his dream.
At the end of his story, the vixen hugged the rabbit tightly.
"Oh Jack," she whispered in his shoulder. "I am sorry that this topic oppresses you so much."
"It ... it's already good Skye." He answered softly. "It was just a dream."
"Are... are you sure?" The vixen asked uncertainly.
Jack nodded silently.
She knew it was wrong but did not want to say anything.
After a few seconds, she said, "How about we lie down again? It is not even 3 o'clock. "
"Alright." Jack sighed and they both lay down again. Jack turned his back to her and Skye gently put her hand on his side.
Toughtless and unenthusiastic Jack chewed on his breakfast. He had no appetite at all. Skye held her coffee cup in her hand, but had not made a sip of it. The vixen has been thinking about the conversition with Dr. Connor the day before ever since getting up.
The ringing of Skye's phone tore the two out of their trance. The vixen looked at the illuminated display, it was the doctor.
"Good morning Skye. I'm sorry to raid you so early, but I want you and Jack to come to my office this afternoon. There will also be a few of the experts with whom I met during your vacation. If there are still any questions, these experts can answer them better. "
The vixen looked questioningly at Jack. The hare could overhear the phone call because the speakers were activated on the phone and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we will come," Skye replied.
After the conversation ended, she stared quietly at the dark display for a few seconds and put sighing the device on the kitchen table.
Jack looked at her and then looked down at his breakfast again.
"So ..." he began hesitantly. "Do you know what ... option is ... eligible for you?"
The vixen took a deep breath and leaned against the back of the chair, looking past the hare through the kitchen window.
She swallowed briefly and answered "No, I do not know yet. All options have their advantages, but also disadvantages. The method of deactivating my immune system requires me to be careful not to catch or infect for four weeks. No idea how I will do that.
The treatment used in the last two attemps does not seem to work because my immune system is struggling against it.
However, the method with the donation of a male arctic fox has the best chance of success. "
Skye leaned her elbows on the tabletop, buried her face in her hands, shook her head slightly, and sighed loudly, "I do not know, Jack. I do not know anything."
The hare nodded silently a few times with his head and thought. "Skye has the best chance with the donation of a male fox. She will probably decide for it. I would have loved to become the biological father, but I also want Skye to be happy and the treatment to be successful in the end. Who knows, maybe the donation does not go as wildly as I dreamed it, and the fox baby finally accepts me as a father? But what if the child gets older then and asks why I'm not the biological father? Of course I would try to explain it, but would that be enough? "
With this last thought, the hare feared that in later years, the fox child would turn away from him as a teenager or would even reject him.
As agreed, Skye and Jack met at the clinic with Dr. Connor and two other doctors in the office of their doctor. One of the two doctors was a Jaguar with almost black fur and the other doctor was a female skunk with big glasses. The Jaguar introduced himself as Dr. Devon Miles, an expert on immune system treatment, and the female skunk as Dr. Sabrina, a specialist in male donations for artificial insemination.
Skye and Jack took the opportunity to ask more questions to the additional doctors.
After three hours, the vixen and the bunny had no questions left. Dr. Connor put three pieces of paper in front of them on the table.
"Even before the meeting, I thought about the three possible options and made a list of the advantages and disadvantages to the respective options." explained the doctor. "Both of you are welcome to amend or change this listing."
Dr. Connor gave the couple time to look at their listing and then spoke in addition. "However, I would advise against choosing again the method that has been used in vain in the last two attempts. We are sure that it would come to another failure as before. The risk is too high. "
Skye looked at the other doctors and both nodded in agreement. The vixen looked again at the list of this method and pushed the note away from her, the paper scratched the rough tabletop. "I think you are right. We can not afford such another failure. "
"There are still two methods left: disable the immune system or make a donation." Jack sighed.
He leaned against the back and looked at Skye. The vixen looked at the rabbit and stared helplessly.
Jack recognized her situation, took her hand and leaned over to her, saying softly, "I'd love to take the decision, but I can not. It is entirely up to you which option you choose, because you will be the one who has to deal with the consequences in the end. The only thing I can offer you is my full support- no matter what you choose. "
Skye released his hand and silently looked at the remaining two options. The hare now rested his elbows on the table top, clasped both hands, put his chin on his hands and closed his eyes. His heart was racing with excitement and he lost all sense of time.
He did not know how much time had passed when he heard Skye pushing one of the two pieces of paper across the rough table top away from her. The vixen had made a decission.
"She certainly chose the donation. The odds of success are clearly best, "he thought, his eyes still closed and his posture unchanged. "Too bad, I would have loved to become the biological father too. Although the child will become a pure Arctic fox, I will still love it as if it were mine. "
"You have made your decission, Skye?" the rabbit heard Dr. Connor asking.
Jack did not move a muscle and waited for Skye's answer with his eyes still closed.
"Yes, I have decided." He heard the vixen take a deep breath and answering. "The option of donating a male Arctic fox is very tempting, because the odds of success are very high ..." Skye had to swallow. "... but ... I went to the clinic with the aim of having a baby by Jack, my partner."
Jack opened his eyes, blinking. Was he listening just right?
The vixen spoke on. "I know that the method of temporarily disabling my immune system is very risky, but it is also important to me that Jack will at least be the biological father. That's why I opt for the variant of deactivating my immune system and against the option of a donation by a male fox. "
Dr. Sabrina straightened her big glasses and began to smile. "I understand your decision Ms. Winters and wish you good luck in your further treatment. I think my presence is no longer necessary from now on. "
The female skunk packed her documents in a leather bag, said goodbye to Skye, Jack and the other doctors and left the office.
The hare looked at Skye and his expression was totally stunned. His nose twitched wildly, his ears dropped limply and he leaned against the table with trembling hands. He opened his mouth to say something, but he could not speak. It seemed to him that the world was standing around him. He saw how Dr. Devon Miles handed over a form over to Skye that the vixen signed, but he did not hear what was going on between them.
Only after the Jaguar with the dark fur had also left the office, Jack's mind did return.
As Skye and Jack left the clinic, the vixen headed directly to the parking lot to get to their car. However, before they could reach the parking lot, they first had to go through a small park.
The hare discovered a free park bench, took a hand of the vixen and went with her to the bench.
When he arrived at the park bench, he sat down and leaned with his forearms on his thighs.
"Jack?" She asked in surprise. "What's the matter?"
She stood directly in front of him and as she looked down into his face, the vixen realized that Jack's lips were trembling and his eyes were watering.
Skye knelt down in front of him, so that both were now at eye level, took one of his cheeks with her hand and asked again softly. "Jack? What do you have?"
He swallowed and answered stuttering. "I ... I thought that ... that you would ... decide ... for the donation. The ... the chances of success are ... are the highest. "
His stuttering changed into a crying. "I ... I did not expect ... anymore ... that ... that ..." he could not speak anymore because he was crying.
The vixen sat next to him on the park bench and hugged him lovingly.
"Shht, it's okay, Jack." She began. "Even if the chances of donating are seductively high, it's worth the greater risk for our child to be descended from you."
These last words were too much for the rabbit. He began to bawl so much in her embrace that his whole body trembled.
"It's okay, Jack. It's all right. "Whispered Skye, trying to reassure him. "I know how important it is for you that you look at yourself as a biological father of our baby. I am sure that we will make it this time and that you will take care of me, if it worked. I know that you will always be there for us and always love us. "
The vixen had now also tears in her eyes, but she fought successfully against starting to cry like Jack.
The two remained so for a few minutes on the park bench. Skye hugged the crying hare, who slowly calmed down, and stroked his back lovingly and gently.
When he finally stopped crying, he spoke softly. "Skye, I love you. I will always love you. Also, I will always love our child, even if it were evolved by the donation of a male arctic fox. "
"I know, Jack. I know, "answered the vixen" I love you too, and our child will love you, too- for sure."
A few days later, the two went to see Dr. Miles in the Zootopia General Clinic to deactivate Skye's immune system for the next 4 weeks. To protect against possible diseases, the vixen now had to wear disposable surgical masks at this time so that she could not catch anything by inhaling. In addition, she also had to wear disposable latex gloves, and was not allowed to rub her eyes or scratching, for example. Nasal cleansing was not allowed as usual.
It looked as if the vixen herself had an infectious disease, and people responded accordingly. They kept a large distance from Skye and stared at her as if she had an infectious disease.
Jack was annoyed with these people's stupid behavior, but it also had a small advantage: the increased distance enabled Skye to get as few bacteria and viruses from the people.
But also in other life situations, the two had to adapt during this period:
Skye was no longer allowed to go to restaurants, cinemas, or other places where many people were in close quarters. If she wanted something to eat or drink, she always had to use a previously freshly disinfected harness and nobody was allowed to be near her. The food should always be frozen finished products, because in their production, the hygiene conditions were the most ideal. When they were at home, she was only allowed to remove the mask when Jack was wearing one. While sleeping, both had to wear their mask in bed in case the mask slipped off one of them. Tenderness such as kissing was absolutely not allowed.
After a week without complications and Skye's immune system was proven to be completely disabled, the two drove to the fertility clinic, so that Skye could have inserted her last, incubated eggcell. Jack had already made his donation.
The treatment room looked like a crossing of operating room and intensive care unit. The doctors who performed the procedure were completely wrapped up and down in disposable surgical clothing. The doctors' noses, ears and even tails were wrapped up. The eyes were hidden behind large plastic goggles. All of these measures were necessary because of Skye's deactivated immune system. No one wanted that even the smallest bacterium could penetrate into the body of the vixen.
Jack wanted to accompany her into the treatment room, but he was not allowed to be in the room this time. He offered to wear protective clothing like the doctors, but Dr. Connor did not give in. So the rabbit had no choice but to throw a kiss to Skye by hand just before she disappeared through the door from his eyes.
A short time after the door was closed, red flashing letters appeared next to it on a small display: 'Do not enter! Room is sterilized! '
From now on, Jack could do nothing more than wait.
The timing of this procedure was chosen so late that when it was over, as few people as possible were still in the fertility clinic. The cleaning staff was instructed to work especially thoroughly in the part of the clinic where Skye would be located.
During the seemingly endless wait, Jack walked up and down the hall several times, read all the newspapers and magazines until he could almost memorize the text, drank so much coffee that he felt almost sick and almost emptied the battery of his smartphone from surfing the Internet. Luckily he had a small charging cable.
It was almost midnight when the door of the treatment room was finally opened and Skye was taken out of the room in a wheelchair. She looked very worn out and tired. Jack jumped up worried, but was immediately calmed down by Dr. Connor.
"Do not worry, Jack. Everything went well. "The doctor said. "Skye lay on her back with her legs lifted and spread so that she can not take a safe step at the moment. If she fell and injured herself, it could be very dramatic. I have requested a patient transport that will bring Skye home. Jack, I want you in the meantime to go to your apartment and prepare everything there for the arrival of the patient transport. The sooner Skye gets into her bed, the better it is for her. "
Jack nodded intelligibly, sighed, glanced quickly at Skye, and hurried home.
A short time later, Skye was taken to her bed in their shared home with the help of transport personnel. Fortunately, the elevator car was big enough for the wheelchair and the two escorts.
As soon as the vixen lay in her bed, she fell asleep immediately. The hare quietly closed the bedroom door and went into the living room. There he made another makeshift bed on the couch, climbed on it and sighed. He had decided to sleep on the couch again, not to wake Syke unnecessarily.
"The next three weeks we have to be very careful." Thought the hare and closed his eyes.
For the next three weeks, Jack was careful that Skye could not catch anything or infect. He was described by his behavior as a 'scaredy cat', but he just ignored that. The hare knew that she was not serious and besides, his over-cautiousness would be rewarded with the corresponding result - hopefully.
Skye, too, knew what was at stake and asked Dr. Connor for ultrasound scans to make sure everything went according to plan. The doctor, however, did not agree because she did not want the vixen going unnecessary and too often to a medical facility where a risk of infection, despite the high hygiene standards was still possible.
After those three weeks and a few more days, Skye and Jack finally had an appointment with Dr. Connor.
"Have you had any cramping or bleeding in the last few weeks that you did not have during your first pregnancy?" The doctor asked the vixen.
The Arctic vixen frowned for a moment, then said no.
The doctor nodded in satisfaction and asked a few more questions. Skye's answers sounded promising.
"I have good news from Dr. Miles." spoke Dr. Connor. "Your immune system is fully active again. Apparently, you have managed to stay healthy for the last 4 weeks. "
"That's great to hear." Jack answered, relieved.
"But we still have to do a little test." Informed the doctor
"What test?" Skye asked
Dr. Connor opened a drawer and took out a small, elongated pack and put it in front of Skye.
"I think you know exactly what kind of test this is, Skye," the doctor smiled.
The vixen nodded silently, took the packaged pregnancy test and went to the ladies room.
After a few minutes Skye returned to the office of Dr. Connor where the doctor enabled a countdown of 10 minutes on her smartphone.
"So ..." the doctor began to talk. "... how was your holiday in the spa?"
The holiday calls were interrupted by a shrill ringing, the countdown had expired.
"Alright magic wand. Show us two bars. We need two bars. " breathed Dr. Connor and took the pregnancy test in her hand so that only she could see the display.
Like a poker face, her eyes wandered from the test display to Skye, then back to the display and then to Jack.
Skye's heartbeat raced with nervousness and she took Jack's hands with shaky hands.
"Dr. Connor? "Asked the vixen and had to swallow "What is the result?"