"-See Tyler?" Look... couch!" Richard spoke cheerfully. Tyler just moaned as Richard and Bullseye let him down onto it. "-Oh, how your enthusiasuim makes us soar, Ty," Bullseye declared, sarcastically. Buckthorne looked at Tyler flopped on the couch, and questioned the others, "-So are we gonna just leave him here, or... explain it to his parents?" Before anyone else could breathe a word, a new voice spoke out, "-Explain what?" They all froze, and slowly turned around. There stood Sir Urquhart, with a firm, solemn expression on his face. One eyebrow was arched up, while the other was creased and furrowed down. It was a look that demanded an answer, that no sane person would refuse, if he knew what was good for him. The boys all tried to answer... but instead, replied with hanging jaws and slightly open mouths of air. Now that they thought of it, how WERE they supposed to answer that? They didn't even what was wrong, themselves. Just then, Tyler groaned outloud. Urquhart's keen ears caught the sound, and moved over closer, to see his son sprawled across the couch, looking like a miserable curled up ball of agony. The father lynx blinked, wordlessly at the sight. His son then, strained his eyes open, and looked up at his father. He grimaced a fake smile on his face and croaked out, "Hi... Dad..." Sir Urquhart warily looked at his son, then cast a glance at the other young males. "-So... I'm guessing what you meant earlier was whether you should leave or explain which of you got Tyler 'hammered' tonight?" Bullseye snorted to Buckthorne, "-I TOLD ya he was gonna say that!" His wolf friend blinked, and replied, "-And he's also standing right there, and can hear what you're saying." Bullseye looked back to Urquhart, and sniffed, "-I knew that." The lynx sighed deeply, with a disapproving look. He'd always thought Bullseye was 'something else'... He knew about Bullseye's reputation, the sexual sprees with random girls, the mouthing off to adults/teachers, and his situation in the orphanage. He wondered just what kind of things the young warthog was capable of 'pressuring' his friends into... Urquhart didn't think much of Tyler hanging out with Bullseye, but he knew better than to 'forbid' his son to be 'consorting' with him, especially when Tyler's other friends were friends with Bullseye too. Besides, Bullseye DID have some good factors about him. Urquhart just had yet to witness/hear them... Also, as he'd heard from his comrade Sir Blackburn, who was Bullseye's (family) physician, the warthog wasn't all that bad... he'd dealt with some pretty harsh things in life, so it wasn't too surprising how he resulted from them. Shifting his thoughts back to the current situation, the adult lynx said, "-Well... I suppose this explains why you're all done so early... but enough of that... mind starting on how things came to this, and just who was involved?" Knowing his friend's father very well, Aaron dared to speak up. "-It's not their fault... no one did anything... not even Tyler." It just kinda.... 'happened'." Sir Urquhart asked, "-What would 'it' be?" The 'it' that happened." "-Well... see... we were all just talking and stuff, and were on like our... first or second round... and Tyler was just... not looking so great." He was just sitting there, looking all... spaced out or something... not talking." Ian touched his chin. "-Oh yeah.. didn't he say it like... 'hurt' to talk or whatnot?" Urquhart passed looks to both Aaron and Ian. "-Go on..." "-Yeah... so then I noticed him all weirded out, and asked him if he was okay... and he said something about... having to-" Aaron cringed just thinking about it. "-Go throw up." The adult took this in, and stared back at his son. There was no doubt about it, you could tell just by looking at him, that he'd puked a few times. Ian continued on for Aaron. "-Then he came back... and was looking all 'woozy' and stuff." He said he was fine... barely five seconds before he keeled over." "-Keeled over?" echoed Urquhart, meaning he wanted a more detailed explaination of it. "-Yeah... he like... walked up to his chair, put one hand on it, then his eyes kind of rolled back, and he just fell onto the floor, like passed out." But we managed to rouse him though, pretty quickly." That's when we thought we should bring him home." And he threw up two more times, I think... once on the drive home, out the window... and then one more time out on your driveway." Sir Urqhart rolled his eyes a bit, and gave a heavy sigh. He then turned to Tyler. "-Anything else to add to that, son?" You're nauseous, vomiting, light-headed... any other 'symptoms'?" Tyler suddenly shuddered, and nodded. Considering it was relatively warm in the house, his father took this shivering into concern. Sir Urquhart pressed his palm against Tyler's forehead, which was soaked with sweat. The adult frowned slightly. "-You seem to be burning up a high fever... hmmm." Ian says you said it 'hurt' to talk... where exactly does it hurt?" Tyler slowly motioned all around his stomach area. "-Abdominal pain?" asked his father. The young lynx gave a nod. Knowing that his son would not object, as it was for reasons, Urquhart leaned over his son, pulled up Tyler's shirt, exposing his abdominal area, and slightly pushed down, as he ran his hand along it. When he reached the lower right area of the abdomen, his palm pushing down, Tyler practically screamed, causing the others to jump or move back, in shock. "-OWWW!" NO!" NONONO!" STOP!" IT HURTS THERE, IT HURTS!!" STOP IT!!!" the young lynx hollered loudly, for his weak state. Sir Urquhart quickly moved his hand off. "-Alright, alight son, it's okay... I'm sorry... it's okay," he spoke, softly, trying to calm his son. By then, Lady Sarah walked into the room. "-Urquhart, what's going on??" Sir Urquhart looked up to his wife. "-Sarah... I need you to get that file on my desk... could you please do that?" Seeing the rather unusual look on her husband's face, Sarah quickly went to do his bidding. She then returned with the papers, and walked over to him. That's when she saw Tyler on the couch. "-Oh my goodness, Tyler!" she gasped, immediately frightened. Urquhart assured her, "It's alright Sarah, calm down... just give me the papers, please." She handed them to him, and then went over to Tyler's side, fretting. "-Oh god, what's happened??" Tyler, honey..." she cried, stroking his face and arms. Her husband wasn't paying attention. He was reading over the papers, frantically searching. Then he found what he was looking for. After scanning over a paragraph or two, he then looked up, closed his eyes, and gave sigh of aguinsh. "-Oh cripes..." he breathed. "I was hoping was I wrong..." As concerned as everyone else, Aaron asked, "What is it??" Sir Urquhart closed the file. "-I had a hunch... and I wish it wasn't-" Lady Sarah looked up. "-What's wrong with him??" Urquhart replied, "-He's got appendicitis." And a severe one, at that." Richard questioned, "-What's that?" he asked of the diagnosis. "-It's his appendix... an organ in the lower abdominal area," the adult lynx explained. "-Appendicitis is when it's infected or inflamed." If the said appendix is not treated, the infection can cause the appendix to explode or burst, which will spread the infection throughout the abdomen." They were all speechless, with the heaviness of this news. Ian slowly said, "-That sounds serious..." Sir Urqhart nodded, "-It can be, and in this case, it is, from the looks of it." ...Tyler... how long have you been feeling like this?" Tyler replied, weakly, "-Since.. yesterday..." Sir Urquhart raised a hand to his face, shaking his head. Lady Sarah cried, "-Oh Tyler... why didn't you tell us sooner??" "-I... thought it was... flu or something..." Tyler croacked, grimacing at the steady pain, as each word was spoken. Urquhart spoke, "-Well... at least there's still some good time left, I hope..." "-Time left for what?" Buckthorne spoke for the rest of them. "-He's getting worse than he should be, when going in for treatment." He'll have to get surgery, at this point," Sir Urquhart answered. Even Bullseye was concerned at this point. "-Surgery??" he repeated the physician's words. "-To get his appendix removed, yes," said the adult lynx. He then turned back to his wife. "-Sarah... he's gonna need a blanket, and I'd get your purse, and things too." It could be awhile before we get back from the hospital, tonight..." As his wife rushed off to get the things, Urquhart turned to the boys. "-I need two of you to get Tyler up," he ordered. Bullseye and Richard both came to aid. They pulled the sick lynx to his feet, as he groaned and hung in their grip. Then to their surprise, Sir Urquhart put his arm around Tyler's back, his other arm behind Tyler's legs, and seemed to easily enough, lift Tyler up in his arms, holding him like a small child. "-There we go.. thank you boys." Could one of you just open the door for me?" Buckthorne went and got it opened, and Urquhart carefully, yet slightly swift, walked outside to his car, holding his son. The guys all followed, as did Sarah, with her things and the blanket. She quickly locked the front door, and rushed to the driveway, where the others were waiting. "-Got everything?" her husband asked. She nodded. "-Good... okay... you should get in the back with him... we need to keep him warm and conscious." ...Someone open the car door, please?" Sir Urquhart requested, still holding Tyler. Ian did it for him. Lady Sarah got in first, and helped Tyler sit up, as his father laid him in on the seat. She then wrapped the blanket she brought around him, and held him against her shoulder, as any worried and devoted mother would. "-It's gonna be alright, sweetheart," she told him, soothingly, stroking his bangs. Sir Urquhart walked to the driver's side, and got in. As the window was open, he turned to the young boys. "-Thank you all for getting him home, so quickly." I very much appreciate your responsibility and wise decisions tonight." You've been so much help to us and Tyler." I'll be sure to make this up to you all, in some way." Bullseye spoke for them, "-You don't need to do that, sir... just make sure Tyler comes out of hospital in one piece." He's our friend, y'know... that's what really matters, here." His sincerity really got to Urquhart. There it was. One of those moments where some true colors of Bullseye, showed. *-So that's what Blackburn had been talking about..* the adult lynx thought. He nodded his thanks. Aaron was about to shut the back door, while the others called words of assurance. "We'll seeya soon, eh Ty?" "Get better, kay man?" "You'll be fine, dude." "Remember Ty, in terms of hospital, drugs ROCK!" Tyler gave them a wry smile. "-Thanks... guys..." Aaron looked at his best friend. "-Don't worry Tyler... you're gonna be outta there in no time... hey man?" Tyler nodded, "-Yep... no time, Aar..." Then the car door was shut, and the boys watched as the car peeled off onto the road, and was gone.
As they drove, Sir Urquhart briefly looked in the back. "-Is he doing alright?" Lady Sarah rubbed their son's arms and face. "-Not as good as he should be," she replied, sadly. Urquhart bit his lip, trying to stay focused. "-Oh wait... before I forget..." We should give the hospital receponist a call, ahead." I think it's... Trina on duty, right now." Sarah took her phone from her purse, and dialed the hospital. After a ring or two, a young female answered. "-Trina, is that you?" the female lynx spoke, when answered. "It's Sarah... Sir Urquhart's wife." "-Oh Sarah, hello!" It's so good to hear from you, hun." It's been awhile." Trina was a good friend of hers. Sir Urquhart said to his wife, "-Ask her if Rawlins is still there." "-Oh yes... Trina, Urquhart wants to know if Dr.Rawlins is still there." "-Why, yes he is I believe!" But he's leaving in a few minutes, or so," Trina told her. "-Then tell him to stay put!" We're both coming there right now," Lady Sarah exclaimed. Her friend sounded surprised. "-You are?" Is everything alright??" The mother lynx gave a weary sigh. "-No, sadly not." It's our son, Tyler." He's gotten appendicitis, and a severe case, at that." "-Oh dear!" My goodness-" Trina said. "I'll get the message to Dr.Rawlins right away." "-Thank you so much, Trina." You're a saint," Sarah thanked her. Then both women hung up.
Several minutes later, the family came rushing in through the front entrance, Sir Urquhart carrying Tyler, and Lady Sarah hovering alongside them. From behind the front desk, Trina came rushing to them. "-Is he still conscious?" Urquhart replied tiredly, "-Barely." We've got to get him examined right now." The receponist nodded. "-Right this way, please." And she lead them down the hallway. A bit later, Sir Urquhart was in a hospital room, with Dr.Rawlins, who had just finished a thorough examination of Tyler. Trina was back at the front desk, and Sarah had been convinced to go with her. Urquhart sighed for the upteenth time that night. "-Well Joe... how's it look?" The male wolverine shook his head. "-Pretty close... like you suggested." He's going to need the surgery to get that appendix removed, and SOON." "-So who's here to do it?" Dr.Rawlins pulled his chin. "-That's the problem... the next doctors on duty, qualified for the procedure, won't be here for another thirty minutes." Sir Urquhart's shock got to him before his wits did. "-WHAT?!?" Thirty minutes??" Joe, please tell me you're joking..." His colleague replied, "-'Fraid not, Urquhart... I'll admit, it's a terrible inconvience, but-" "-Inconvience, my ass... that's putting it in polite terms," snarled the lynx. "Does TYLER even have that much time, before it gets to a critical point??" "-I don't know." But there's not much else we can do, until someone else does get here..." "-Yes there is," declared Sir Urquhart. "-If someone doesn't get here SOON, I'll just have to take care of this MYSELF!" Joe looked startled. "-Urquhart, please... you're getting yourself worked up... now you have to calm down and be professional about this-" "-Joe, my son's life is at risk, and you're telling me to calm down?!?" barked Urquhart. "-YES, for God's sake, Urquhart!" For someone with your years, and experience, I thought you'd have that sense... listen... I know... it's hard here, considering it's your SON... but Urquhart, you know the rules as well as I do." You can't attend family members... and believe me... you couldn't do this surgery, even if you tried, even though it's considered one of your qualifications!" "-How so??" Yes, I know the rules, but even I've had no choice but to bend or break them, on certain occasions." I had to deliver for my own wife, when Tyler was born!" You don't think I know what that kind of pressure and anxiety is like to endure??" "-Urquhart... you know perfectly well that delivering a infant and surgery are like oranges and apples." Being present at your child's birth, as the doctor, isn't near that big a deal." At least you're not purposely inflicting open wounds and gouges on your wife or child." But surgery... you're cutting them up by will!" Honestly... could you really do that?" Slice open your own son??" The thought of this sunk in, causing even Sir Urquhart to feel sick. "You're right, Joe... I couldn't," he agreed, finally. Just then, Dr.Rawlins' pager went off. He checked it. "-Well what do you know... Trina just sent word that Dr.Lott has just arrived." Sir Urquhart gave a sigh, that was finally relief. "-Oh thank god... well quick send her a message back!" Get her down here." "-Will do," Joe nodded. Urquhart looked to his son, weak and pained. "-I just wanna get this procedure over and done with."
As they drove, Sir Urquhart briefly looked in the back. "-Is he doing alright?" Lady Sarah rubbed their son's arms and face. "-Not as good as he should be," she replied, sadly. Urquhart bit his lip, trying to stay focused. "-Oh wait... before I forget..." We should give the hospital receponist a call, ahead." I think it's... Trina on duty, right now." Sarah took her phone from her purse, and dialed the hospital. After a ring or two, a young female answered. "-Trina, is that you?" the female lynx spoke, when answered. "It's Sarah... Sir Urquhart's wife." "-Oh Sarah, hello!" It's so good to hear from you, hun." It's been awhile." Trina was a good friend of hers. Sir Urquhart said to his wife, "-Ask her if Rawlins is still there." "-Oh yes... Trina, Urquhart wants to know if Dr.Rawlins is still there." "-Why, yes he is I believe!" But he's leaving in a few minutes, or so," Trina told her. "-Then tell him to stay put!" We're both coming there right now," Lady Sarah exclaimed. Her friend sounded surprised. "-You are?" Is everything alright??" The mother lynx gave a weary sigh. "-No, sadly not." It's our son, Tyler." He's gotten appendicitis, and a severe case, at that." "-Oh dear!" My goodness-" Trina said. "I'll get the message to Dr.Rawlins right away." "-Thank you so much, Trina." You're a saint," Sarah thanked her. Then both women hung up.
Several minutes later, the family came rushing in through the front entrance, Sir Urquhart carrying Tyler, and Lady Sarah hovering alongside them. From behind the front desk, Trina came rushing to them. "-Is he still conscious?" Urquhart replied tiredly, "-Barely." We've got to get him examined right now." The receponist nodded. "-Right this way, please." And she lead them down the hallway. A bit later, Sir Urquhart was in a hospital room, with Dr.Rawlins, who had just finished a thorough examination of Tyler. Trina was back at the front desk, and Sarah had been convinced to go with her. Urquhart sighed for the upteenth time that night. "-Well Joe... how's it look?" The male wolverine shook his head. "-Pretty close... like you suggested." He's going to need the surgery to get that appendix removed, and SOON." "-So who's here to do it?" Dr.Rawlins pulled his chin. "-That's the problem... the next doctors on duty, qualified for the procedure, won't be here for another thirty minutes." Sir Urquhart's shock got to him before his wits did. "-WHAT?!?" Thirty minutes??" Joe, please tell me you're joking..." His colleague replied, "-'Fraid not, Urquhart... I'll admit, it's a terrible inconvience, but-" "-Inconvience, my ass... that's putting it in polite terms," snarled the lynx. "Does TYLER even have that much time, before it gets to a critical point??" "-I don't know." But there's not much else we can do, until someone else does get here..." "-Yes there is," declared Sir Urquhart. "-If someone doesn't get here SOON, I'll just have to take care of this MYSELF!" Joe looked startled. "-Urquhart, please... you're getting yourself worked up... now you have to calm down and be professional about this-" "-Joe, my son's life is at risk, and you're telling me to calm down?!?" barked Urquhart. "-YES, for God's sake, Urquhart!" For someone with your years, and experience, I thought you'd have that sense... listen... I know... it's hard here, considering it's your SON... but Urquhart, you know the rules as well as I do." You can't attend family members... and believe me... you couldn't do this surgery, even if you tried, even though it's considered one of your qualifications!" "-How so??" Yes, I know the rules, but even I've had no choice but to bend or break them, on certain occasions." I had to deliver for my own wife, when Tyler was born!" You don't think I know what that kind of pressure and anxiety is like to endure??" "-Urquhart... you know perfectly well that delivering a infant and surgery are like oranges and apples." Being present at your child's birth, as the doctor, isn't near that big a deal." At least you're not purposely inflicting open wounds and gouges on your wife or child." But surgery... you're cutting them up by will!" Honestly... could you really do that?" Slice open your own son??" The thought of this sunk in, causing even Sir Urquhart to feel sick. "You're right, Joe... I couldn't," he agreed, finally. Just then, Dr.Rawlins' pager went off. He checked it. "-Well what do you know... Trina just sent word that Dr.Lott has just arrived." Sir Urquhart gave a sigh, that was finally relief. "-Oh thank god... well quick send her a message back!" Get her down here." "-Will do," Joe nodded. Urquhart looked to his son, weak and pained. "-I just wanna get this procedure over and done with."
