Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
Lisa's finally had her daughter and Mark couldn't be happier
Thankfully, a pair of lovely doctors were there to deliver the kitten.
Now, Lisa gets to head home with little Katherine Let's see what happens next. Oh, of course Raphael is already head over heels for his little sister.
Enjoy..
It was time for Lisa and Katherine to be released from the hospital. She was still in her hospital gown with Persival sitting on the floor to her right, and Katherine in her bassinet on the far wall.
"Thank you, Persival for your constant watch, over me and my daughter," Lisa said.
"It was my pleasure," Persival said. He walked over to the bassinet, which held the little kitten. He looked at the tiny form, as she looked back at him, and said, "Be good for your mother. Tonight, I may come by with my daughter, so you two can play."
"She's only a few days old, Persival. I think she's too young to be playing with Artemis, no matter how gentle she is," Lisa said.
"Possibly," Persival said. He hoped the bassinet was sturdy enough to support his weight, right before he lifted his upper body, placing his front paws on the edge of the bassinet, and leaned forward to give Katherine a gentle kiss. He lowered himself back to the ground and started walking towards the window to leave.
"Persival, can you come here, for a minute?" Lisa asked.
He stopped and went over to Lisa and put his front paws on the bed, lifting himself up.
Lisa leaned forward and placed a light kiss on the bridge of his muzzle, then leaned back against the pillow.
Persival's face turned bright red, then lowered himself back to the floor on all four paws.
"I'd never thought you would be embarrassed from a simple kiss, Persival?" Lisa asked.
"There aren't many she-cats, with radiant beauty such as yours, who do kiss me," Persival said. "I must take my leave, farewell. I will see you soon." He then darted out of the window, just as the sun rose.
Lisa watched him leave, then said, "I hope so, my galant protector."
Later, Henry and Mary were in her room, with Mary sitting in a chair, holding the tiny girl in her arms. "She's so precious, Lisa!" Mary said, gazing at Katherine. "I don't want to give her back."
"She is just as gorgeous as her mother," Henry said.
Daniella walked in and saw her parents, with her mother holding Katherine in her arms. "Mom, eventually, Cheryl will give you great-grandkittens you both can gush over."
"She just started dating, that Feral tom, I'm not expecting her to be telling us, she's pregnant anytime soon, daughter. Now, let your mother be," Mary said.
Daniella rolled her eyes and went over to Lisa, pulled over a chair and sat down. "Your lucky, you're only their friend," she said.
"I love your parents, Daniella. They have treated me, and my family, as part of theirs. I am glad they are in my family's life," Lisa said.
"You're more than welcome to take them," Daniella said. She slipped the ear pieces of her stethoscope into hear ears, and said, "Let's see if you are ready to get out of here. Lower the blankets and let's give a listen."
Lisa lowered the blankets to her waist, then pushed the shoulders of her hospital gown down to her forearms.
Daniella placed the stethoscope over Lisa's heart, listening to it beating in her chest. "Very good," she said, moving it to the other side of her chest, and listening again. She held it there for a few seconds, then said, "Please sit up and lower the gown to your waist, I want to listen to the back."
Mary heard her daughter and lifted her head away from Katherine to her husband, and said, "You don't need to be here, Henry."
"Its nothing I haven't seen before. Remember, I removed the bullet from her shoulder," Henry said.
Daniella's head whipped around to her father, and said, "Dad! She is not your patient! Out!" Pointing to the door.
"Alright, alright! I'm leaving. I'll be out in the hall, someone let me know, when it's safe to come back. I still want my turn, with holding Katherine," Henry said and left the room.
"Now that my father, has left, let me get a listen through the back, Lisa," Daniella said.
Lisa lowered her gown to her waist, leaving her upper body completely bare.
Daniella placed her stethoscope just below her left shoulder blade, and listened. "Breathe deeply, Lisa."
Lisa took in a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
"Good," Daniella said. She moved the stethoscope to the opposite position on Lisa's back, then said, "Breathe again."
Lisa again took in a deep breath, and slowly released it.
Daniella moved the stethoscope to Lisa's lower back, where her right lung was, and said, "I want you to take in a deep breath, hold it for three seconds, and slowly release it."
Lisa did exactly what Daniella asked, and waited for her next instruction.
Daniella heard something that sounded like a gurgling in the lung and lifted her left eyebrow in question as to what she was hearing. She moved the stethoscope to the other side, and said, "Once again."
Lisa breathed in once more, held it, and, slowly released the breath.
This time, Daniella heard the gurgling once again, but it wasn't as acute as the other lung. She removed the ear pieces from her ears, then said, "Mom, can you get dad?"
"Didn't you just, ceremoniously, throw him out of here?" Mary asked.
"I did. Now I need his opinion," Daniella said.
"I'll get him," Mary said as she rose from the chair she was sitting in. She walked over to the bed and passed Katherine to Lisa, and said, "I so miss holding a baby in my arms." She then went to get her husband from the hall.
Lisa brought Katherine to her chest and asked, "Is everything alright?"
"Lisa, I'm not going to beat around the bush. I heard some fluid buildup in your lungs. Nothing to be concerned about, I think. But that's why I want my father to give a listen. He's the one who took the Advanced Pulmonary courses," Daniella said.
While Daniella was speaking, Katherine's little mouth, latched onto her mother's left breast, and started feeding.
Lisa's eyes fell onto her daughter. She smiled at her as Katherine's suckling increased, and said, "Not even your father gives my breasts, this type of attention."
"Considering her condition, when she was born, this is a very good sign, Lisa. She's feeding, quite well. She's going to be strong, when she gets bigger."
"I sort of expected that, you've seen her father," Lisa joked.
"How could I not?" Daniella asked. She made sure her mother hadn't returned, then asked, "How does he get his tail into those tight jeans he wears, Lisa? I thought, Max had a nice backside, but Mark's looks like it was formed by Bast."
"Trust me, it feels even better in my paws," Lisa said.
Henry knocked, then opened the door, entering the room. He walked a few feet around one of the walls, hiding the bed from the hall, "What did you need…" he started to say, then his eyes fell on little Katherine, feeding from Lisa, and said as he covered his eyes, "Why did't you tell me, she was breastfeeding, Daniella? I would have waited outside until she was done!"
"I wasn't expecting Katherine to start feeding, dad!" Daniella said. She grabbed her father's left arm, pulling him past Lisa, then said, "I heard some gurgling in her lungs, indicating a minor fluid buildup. I need you opinion on the best course of action, dad." And handed him her stethoscope.
Henry took the stethoscope from his daughter, slipped the ear pieces in his ears, and went over to Lisa. He placed the other end of the device on her lower back, on the left side, carefully listening to Lisa's breathing, hearing the gurgling sound, his daughter heard. He moved the device to Lisa's right side, and continued listening. After a few more breaths, he removed the stethoscope from Lisa and the ear pieces from his ears. "Can I talk to you, outside, Daniella?"
Daniella didn't know what to make of her father's tone. He was always, certain with everything he did. To hear him, sound defeated, concerned her. "Sure.. Dad," was all she could reply. She gently placed her left paw on Lisa''s right shoulder, and said, "I'll be right back."
Henry turned around to face Lisa, and said, "You have nothing to worry about, Lisa."
"Where have I heard that before?" Lisa asked.
"Not from me, I assure you," he said before turning to his daughter, and saying, "Let's give mother and daughter, a few minutes of privacy, while she finishes feeding."
The two doctors entered the hall, where Mary asked, "I don't like the look on your face, Henry. What's wrong?"
"Nothing I hope a simple Nebulizer treatment won't fix. Before Lisa's mind starts thinking the worse, can you go in and sit with her, while Daniella and I discuss the path of treatment?" Henry asked.
"You didn't even need to ask, dear. Lisa could have very well been our daughter or granddaughter, if she were slightly younger, and our daughter, was home more often," Mary said.
"Mother! I was very young, when I had Cheryl and was nearing the end of my Residency. I would have loved for Cheryl to have a sibling, but with mine and Max's schedules, it wouldn't have been fair to either of our kittens," Daniella stated.
"So you say, daughter," Mary said before entering Lisa's room.
"Don't fret about what your mother says, Daniella. She simply adores being around little kittens and wants one, running around our house again. Like you and Cheryl used to do, when you were little," Henry said.
"Then she should volunteer at the Hospital, dad and not expect for Cheryl, or me to start pushing kittens out of our uteruses," Daniella said.
"That is something, I don't want to think about." He paused for a few seconds, then said, "I heard the fluid build up. I want to give her a treatment of Albuterol and hope it clears up. I'm leaning towards the Bed Rest being the cause of the build up, do you agree?" Henry asked.
"Its quite possible, dad. However, I don't regret putting her on Bed Rest. Her Blood Pressure was all over the place and didn't need the extra stress of working in the busiest precinct in the city," Daniella said.
"I would have prescribed the same thing," Henry said. "Her's and the baby's health is more important, than paperwork."
"Agreed. I'll write up the order for the Nebulizer and hand over to the Pharmacy myself to get the medication and supplies, while you stay with mom, and prevent her from convincing Lisa to give birth to a small army," Daniella said.
"I can try, but no promises,"Henry said.
Daniella embraced her father, and said, "Thank you, dad" She let go of her father, turned around, and started walking down the hallway, with her fluffy tail, swaying in time with her hips. And as she passed a few of the male staff of the hospital, they had to stop and stare at the beautiful doctor.
Henry entered the room, knocked on the wall, and asked, "Is she done feeding?"
Lisa had already burped Katherine and pulled her gown back up, while Mary was happily cradling the kitten in her arms again. "Yes, she's done and I'm decent," Lisa answered.
Henry walked further into the room, saw his wife with Katherine, and said, "Daniella is going to give you a Nebulizer, Lisa. We both heard a fluid build up in your lungs, probably from the lack of activity, due to the Bed Rest order."
"Is this a Chronic condition?" Lisa asked.
"I'm hoping not, Lisa. My hope is after a couple of treatments, the fluid will clear up on its own, and now we know you might be susceptible in the future, if you plan of having more kittens. The worst case would be to write you a prescription for a mild Expectorant for you to take daily. Nothing which will impact your daily life," Henry said.
"That's a relief," Lisa said.
"While we are waiting, can I finally have a turn, holding, Katherine?" Henry asked.
"Of course,"Lisa said. "Mary, can your husband hold my daughter?"
Mary of course didn't want to give her up. She held the tiny kitten tighter to her body, and asked, "Do I have to?"
"Mary, Henry deserves a turn, with holding his Goddess-Daughter," Lisa said.
Both Henry and Mary's eyes lit up, when Lisa mentioned she wanted them to be Katherine's Goddess Parents. "We'd be honored, Lisa. But why us, instead of one of your, younger friends?" Mary asked.
"Without even really knowing us, you both make Mark and I feel like part of your family. Henry, you took care of me, twice now and my husband once. Each time, you made me feel, like I'm one of your daughters, or a granddaughter. And Mary, Mark thinks of you as a Surrogate Mother, considering you told him you would take him over your knee, no matter how big he was. If something were to happen to us, we couldn't think of a better pair, than you two to raise our daughter," Lisa answered.
Mary passed Katherine over to Henry, then rose out of the chair, and hugged Lisa. "Thank you, Lisa. You know how to make an old she-cat happy."
Lisa hugged her back, and said, "You're welcome. Of course, this means you can come and see her, anytime you want."
"Then, I guess we will have to find a condo, or something, so we can be closer to you, and your family, when Henry doesn't have to work," Mary said. She raised her head to look at Lisa, then asked, "What about your son? If something were to happen, who's going to watch him?"
Lisa gazed at the ceiling for a second, then answered, "I'm quite positive, he will be, well taken care of."
As Lisa was speaking, Mark entered the room, cradling Raphael in his left arm. When he heard his wife's statement, he asked, "What are you two, ladies gossiping about?"
Lisa's eyes lit up as soon as she saw Mark and their son. Mark was wearing a pair of jeans, that were a hair too tight for him, which accentuated his lower half, perfectly and a maroon polo shirt. "I just told Henry and Mary about our decision to have them be Katherine's Goddess-Parents."
"Of course, we are thrilled!" Henry said.
Mark walked over to Henry and looked down at his daughter. "As my lovely wife probably told you already, we couldn't think of a better pair to raise and nurture our daughter. Speaking of my daughter, can her father hold her?"
"I just got my turn. I'm not ready to give her up, quite yet," Henry said.
"I'm her father, and I'm not allowed to hold her?" Mark stated. He looked at his wife, and asked, "Can you do something about this?"
"And interrupt, Henry bonding with Katherine, I don't think so. Besides, you have one of our babies in you arm already. So don't be greedy," Lisa said.
Mark looked at the sleeping kitten, cradled safely in his left arm, smiled at him, and said, "You're right, dear." He then gently lifted Raphael from his arm, and kissed him.
Raphael's eyes fluttered open, then said, "Daddy, Kathy play?"
"In a few minutes, Raph. She's with Dr. Feldman, right now," Mark said.
Daniella entered the room, carrying the Nebulizer and a small plastic vile of Albuterol. She went over to the small end table by Lisa's bed and set everything down. She picked up the Nebulizer again and opened the device, before reaching out with her right paw and snapping open the vile with her thumb, before emptying the contents into the device. As she closed the Nebulizer, she said, "This will help dissipate the fluid, Lisa. Take the flat end, put it in your mouth, and breathe normally."
Lisa took the device from Daniella and put the flat part into her mouth. While Daniella connected a clear thin tube to an Oxygen port on the wall, and adjusted the flow of Oxygen to the device. The Nebulizer started making noise and emanating what appeared to the steam from the end of the device that wasn't in Lisa's mouth. And as she inhaled, she took in some of the vapors, then exhaled through her nose.
Raphael wanted to play with his baby sister. He started fidgeting in his father's arms, and said, "Kathy play."
"Kathy is with, Dr. Feldman, Raphael. You can play with her, in a few minutes," Mark said.
"Mark, if Raphael wants to play, I'll gladly bring them both over to the Play Room down the hall. Lisa's treatment will take about ten minutes to complete," Daniella said.
Raphael turned his head to the right and his eyes fell on Daniella for the first time. "Pretty," he said.
"Yes, Dr. Feldman is a very pretty lady, Raphael," Mark said.
Even though Lisa was getting a treatment, she heard her husband compliment Daniella on her looks. She shot him a Death's glare, letting him know, she was not happy with him at the moment.
Daniella came over to Mark, and said, "While you explain to your wife, why you are calling me, pretty. I'll take this handsome gentletom from you."
Raphael reached out with his small arms out to her.
"See, he wants to go, with me," Daniella said, taking Raphael from his father.
Raphael cuddled into Daniella's left shoulder, then gave her a kiss on her cheek, which she wasn't expecting. "You've got a little charmer on your paws. When he gets older, he's not going to have any issues with finding a date," Daniella said, then kissed him back on the right cheek, which caused Raphael to let out a giggle. "Come on, Casanova, we've got a date down the hall." She then left with Raphael.
"Our daughter, always had a way with toms. Once she set her sights on one she liked, he was done for. Max never had a chance of getting away from her," Mary said.
"Max didn't want to get away, Mary. He told me, when we first met, he was completely infatuated with Daniella." Henry said.
Katherine made a mess of her diaper. She scrunched up her face and started to cry from being uncomfortable.
Mark focused on his daughter, and said, "Let me have her, so I can change her, please."
Henry passed Katerina to her father, who slowly brought the tiny kitten into his large frame, and kissed her. "Daddy's got you, my princess." He walked over to the Changing table, gently placed her down, and changed her diaper, without blinking an eye. Once she was comfortable again, she reverted back to being a happy little girl. "All better," Mark said, picking her up in his arms.
"He's amazing, Lisa," Mary mentioned, after Mark changed Katherine. "Not only is he a good father, he's got a body, most she-cats dream about."
Mark turned so his back was facing Mary and brought Katherine over to look out of the window.
Mary leaned over to Lisa, then asked, just loud enough for Lisa to hear, "How do those cheeks feel, Lisa?"
Lisa removed the Nebulizer from her mouth, then answered, "You know, I had a very similar conversation with Daniella, not that long ago."
"You still didn't answer my question," Mary said.
"Like two pieces of stone," Lisa put the Nebulizer back in her mouth.
Down the hall in the Play Room, Daniella sat on the floor with her legs crossed, gently rolling a ball to Raphael, who crawled after it, quite quickly, for such a young kitten. Once he caught the ball, he batted it back to Daniella.
"You're quite good at this game," Daniella stated as she rolled the ball towards Raphael again.
Raphael leaped at the ball, pinning it under him for a second. But unfortunately, the ball was bigger, which caused him to roll forward and onto his back. He lifted the ball with his little arms and legs and managed to get the ball to spin. This new game went on for a few seconds, then he stopped the spinning and shoved the ball towards the ceiling with all his might. However, he didn't know his own strength and managed to crash the ball into the light fixture above him, breaking it.
Daniella watched as the ball hit the light and the debris falling towards the kitten. She leaped to her feet and covered Raphael with her body, shielding him from the falling debris. Once all the shards had fallen, Daniella opened her eyes, lifted her head, and quickly examined Raphael, not finding a single scratch on him. "Thank Bast," she said. She took hold of him, rose to her feet, and brought him to her chest. That was when she felt a light trickle of blood on the right side of her neck. She brought her right paw up to the spot, feeling the warm wetness soaking her fur, then said, "I'm going to have to get that looked at."
Raphael smelled the coppery scent and looked over at her right paw. "No good," was all he said, then his body started to heat up and glow.
She felt very warm, like being wrapped in a Down Comforter on a cold winter's night. She initially thought the Hospital's heating was malfunctioning, until she caught a glimpse of an ethereal glow out of the corner of her left eye. She slowly brought her focus over to the origination of the glow and was stunned, that the glow was being produced by Raphael. "What are you doing?" She asked.
The glow faded, just as quickly as it appeared, as well as the warmth she was feeling. Then Raphael looked at her face again, and said, "Pretty again," and fell asleep in her embrace.
She brought her paw back up to the wound to discover, it was now completely healed, with no traces of it ever being there. She slowly lowered her paw brining it to Raphael's lower back, and said, "I think I need to have a long talk with your parents. You are one very special kitten."
End of Chapter