Call On Me

Chapter Twelve-Caitlin's Accident

I felt so content at that moment with Remus sitting beside me.

I checked my watch.

"It's getting late," I said. "I should be heading home."

Remus checked his watch also.

"Yep, me too," he said.

I went to take off the leather jacket and hand it back to him, but he shook his head and held up a hand.

"Keep it," he said softly. "I'll walk you home."

We began walking side by side and then crossed the street. Suddenly, we heard tires screeching of a Muggle car. A pair of twin headlights was locked on me. I froze.

"Caitlin!" Remus yelled.

The front of the car slammed into my side and from the force, I was thrown up onto the hood and windshield, cracking the glass before I rolled off the side of the hood and landed on my side on the ground hard. One arm was draped over my side and the other was stretched out. Blackness swallowed me up.

REMUS.

The sedan kept going down the street and didn't even stop. The taillights disappeared around the corner. Thunder clapped and lightning streaking across the sky, illuminating the park.

I rushed over to Caitlin and dropped to my knees beside her.

"Caitlin?" I demanded anxiously as I gently turned her over onto her back and hovered above her.

She had gash on her temple which was bleeding. Her eyes were closed.

"Caitlin, please wake up," I pleaded anxiously as I gently shook her.

She didn't wake up.

Panic began settling in. I didn't know what to do. We were in the middle of a Muggle neighborhood and I knew I couldn't use magic here.

Rain began pouring down. Caitlin was getting drenched and her hair was soaked and sticking to the gash.

The familiar pain shot across my abdomen.

"God no!" I growled. "Not now!"

I hid in an alleyway behind a dumpster and changed.

THE WOLF.

The wolf shook its body, sending rain water flying, only to get drenched again. It trotted over to the girls' body. It frantically licked her face, but there was no response.

The girl was absolutely soaked from head to toe at this point.

Finally, the wolf gently but firmly clamped its jaws on the sweater and shirt the girl was wearing and began tugging with all its strength.

The wolf began dragging the girl all the way up the block. It knew its home was close by. If he could just get her there, she would be alright.

The wolf kept tugging with all of his strength.

Finally, it reached the home. It laid down protectively on top of the girl and began barking.

MRS. LUPIN.

I hear a familiar barking outside.

"Remus?" I asked incredulously as I got up and looked out the window.

Sure enough, Remus was in wolf form, lying on top of a girl who appeared to be wounded. She wasn't moving.

"Oh dear," I said as I quickly rushed outside and over to them.

Remus got up off of the girl and continued barking.

I gently reached down to feel the girls' neck. There was a pulse.

The wolf wouldn't stop barking and kept lightly nipping at me with urgency.

"Relax," I scolded. "She'll be alright."

I picked her up and brought her inside and laid her down on the couch. Remus followed me into the house and shook the rainwater from his fur.

I shielded myself from getting sprayed with the water. Remus tucked his hindquarters into a sitting position right at my feet while I took out my wand and waved it over the girls' body.

"She needs the hospital," I said. "I can't fix her."

The girl was absolutely soaked from head to toe. Her shirt was sticking to her. Her bra clearly visible through the material. Her hair was soaked as well and she had a gash on her temple.

Remus shook himself again and sat down at my feet again, gently nudging the girls' hand that was dangling off the edge of the couch.

"I'm going to have to Apparate into the hospital. I can't get her there any other way,"

Remus growled at me.

I sighed.

"I'm not sure you're going to be able to come,"

He growled again, more pronounced.

"Fine," I muttered.

I gently took the girl's hand in mine and touched the top of the wolfs head. We shortly Apparated to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

CAITLIN.

I felt a weight on top of me as I groggily opened my eyes. I was lying on a cot and stared up at panel ceiling lights.

"She's awake," a female voice said relieved.

I blinked and looked down. A gray wolf was lying on top of me. The wolf was panting and his forepaws were resting against my chest. His hindquarters were resting on top of my lap.

I looked to the left. Mrs. Lupin was sitting in a chair.

"Mrs. Lupin? Where am I?" I asked.

"St. Mungo's dear," she replied. "I Apparated you here. What on earth happened?"

"I was hit by a car," I cringed. "Why didn't you bring me to Aeirotus Memorial Hospital? They treat these kinds of injuries as well."

Mrs. Lupin's face drained of all color.

"I didn't know how," she admitted sheepishly. "I only thought of this place. You're healed. Besides," she said gesturing to the wolf. "I don't think that Muggle hospital would've let him in."

"I'm really grateful, Mrs. Lupin. Thank you so much," I said earnestly.

"No problem dear," she said. "You're Caitlin right?"

I nodded.

"Thought so," she said pleasantly. "You are very pretty. Remus has told me all about you."

I beamed and easily pulled myself up into a sitting position. The wolf remained in the same position.

The tail began wagging now, beating against my thighs. I scratched an ear affectionately.

"He wouldn't leave you alone," Mrs. Lupin said. "Where exactly did you get hit?"

"By the park," I replied rubbing the side of the wolfs' neck.

"Oh my God," she said suddenly as realization dawned on her face. "Remus changed and dragged you 3 blocks!"

I looked at the wolf in shock.

The amber/gold eyes were locked on me as the wolf panted.

Just then, a female witch entered the room. She was dressed in a lime green robe with a wand and bone crossed embroided on the chest.

"Hello," she said pleasantly. "I'm Healer Anne Drawling. How are you feeling Caitlin?"

She stepped forward, keeping her eyes on the wolf.

The wolf kept his eyes locked on her every movement, but made no attempt to show aggression or anything.

"Fine," I replied. "I wasn't sure St. Mungo's would be able to heal my injuries. I was hit by a Muggle car."

Healer Drawling shook her head.

"We're up on everything Muggle and magical," she replied. "Your parents have been called. They're on their way."

She smiled and took my pulse before writing everything down on a chart. She clipped it to the end of my cot and then left.

The head part of the cot was moved upward so I was able to lean back against it. I sighed and leaned back.

I kept gently stroking the wolfs head. He put a foreleg over my arm as I scratched an ear.

"How long was he with me?" I asked curiously.

"Well," Mrs. Lupin said chuckling. "He was hell bent on coming when we Apparated. I wasn't sure they would have let him stay but they did when they saw him nearly freak out when one of the Emergency Healers tried to touch you."

"What happened?" I asked as a grin formed.

"He went ballistic and barked like mad, growled and tried to get to you. It was all I could do to restrain him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, but he broke loose and charged at the Healers. They saw how he was and once they said he could stay, he calmed down,"

I chuckled myself.

"He's such a good friend," I said gently and affectionately.

The wolf looked at me with those beautiful eyes.

He rested his head on my thigh and closed his eyes.

My parents arrived shortly. They entered the room.

"Caitlin! Oh my God!" Mum gushed as tears formed in her eyes.

She went to rush toward me with opened arms, but froze when she saw the wolf.

"It's okay," I said reassuringly.

She looked skeptical as she came over and hugged me tightly. The wolf got up from the cot and stretched, stretching out his hind legs before jumping down off the cot.

He went over to Mrs. Lupin and sat at her feet and watched everything.

Dad hugged me next.

"We were so sick with worry when you didn't come home," Mum gushed.

She turned to Mrs. Lupin.

"Thank you so much for helping her!" Mum said. "We don't know what would've happened to her had you not brought her here."

Mrs. Lupin looked pleased.

"I'm not the real hero here," she said and looked down at Remus. "He dragged her 3 blocks in the pouring rain."

"Is that…?" Dad's voice trailed off.

"Yes. It's Remus Dad," I said softly.

Mum's temporary fear of the wolf seemed to vanish when she heard that he dragged me 3 blocks.

She dropped to her knees in front of the wolf.

"Thank you," she whispered to him. "You saved my baby."

She gratefully hugged the wolf quickly before standing up again.

Healer Drawling came back in.

"Caitlin needs rest," she said gently. "She'll be allowed to go home in the morning."

"We'll see you in the morning," Dad said gently.

I got hugged and kissed again before Mum and Dad left.

"I'll leave him here with you," Mrs. Lupin said. "Good night, dear."

She gave me a hug as well before she got up and left.

The wolf jumped back up onto the bed and curled up with me. I felt safe and content knowing that Remus was here with me.

THE NEXT MORNING.

I sleepily opened my eyes. Warm sunshine poured in through the window.

"Morning sleepyhead," Remus' voice said beside me.

I turned my head to the right. Remus was sitting in a chair in human form. He was dressed in dark blue robes.

"The hospital gave these to me after I changed back," he said slightly blushing. "I don't exactly have clothes with me."

I grinned.

"How are you feeling?" he asked standing up and leaning down a bit.

I sat up and threw my arms around his neck. I pulled him close to me and my chin rested on top of his shoulder. I felt his arms slowly encircling me.

"Thank you so much," I said quietly shutting my eyes. "You saved my life. You dragged me 3 whole blocks?"

"Yeah," Remus said just as quietly. "It's no big deal."

I only squeezed him tighter

"Aww, isn't that sweet?" a familiar female voice sang from the entranceway.

Remus and I pulled apart to see Lily standing there with a smug expression on her face.

"LILY!" I cried happily.

She rushed over to me and we hugged.

"Your parents sent Asia with a letter telling me what happened and where you were. I had to come and see you!" Lily gushed hugging me again.

Lily finished hugging me and turned to Remus.

"Come here, you lovable canine," she said and hugged him as well.

Remus shyly hugged Lily back as well.

She pulled back from the embrace.

"You're all set to go home today," Lily said. "Your Mum and Dad are just signing the release papers. They sent me in to help you get dressed."

She held up a dark duffle bag and turned to Remus.

"Scram," she grinned. "Unless you want to help me with Caitlin."

Remus blushed.

"I'll wait outside," he said and looked at me before leaving the room.

I pulled the covers off of me and swung my legs over the side. I felt a bit weak though.

Lily began helping me get dressed.

"Did you tell him how you feel?" Lily asked, dropping her voice down to a whisper.

"I haven't been able to," I said raising an eyebrow. "I was kind of preoccupied with getting hit with a ton of metal."

"Ooh," Lily said excitedly. "I almost forgot…Remus told your parents what kind of car hit you and the Muggle police arrested the owner! He was drunk."

"Figures," I snorted.

"That's not all," Lily grinned broadly. "Remus threatened that if they didn't find out who hit you, he was going to rip then a new hole."

I had to grin at that.

"He really loves you, Caitlin," Lily said dropping her voice down again. "You'd better tell him how you feel soon."

"I will," I said earnestly. "I just need to find the right time."

"Right time? Just go 'Remus, I'm madly in love with you'. How hard is that?"

"Lily trust me okay?" I said shaking my head. "I will tell him. Chill out."

Lily grinned and nodded.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," we called in unison.

Remus entered, followed by my parents.

"You all set?" Mum asked.

I nodded. Because I was weak a bit, Lily draped on arm around her shoulders and Remus immediately rushed to my other side and draped my right arm around his shoulders. He put an arm around my waist and they let me lean on them for support as they led me out of the hospital.

We dropped Remus and Lily off at their homes before continuing to my house.

That night I slept peacefully. I was really happy now knowing that I still had a chance with Remus.

In the morning, Mum helped me get dressed and downstairs.

Remus came over in the afternoon. He was dressed in jeans and a black long sleeved shirt. He seemed nervous for some reason.

Mum was staying home from work for this week to help take care of me until my strength came back. She also worked in the Ministry for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Division.

Mum was in the basement doing laundry. Remus and I sat down on the couch.

"Caitlin? C-Can I ask you something?" he stammered staring at his hands.

"Sure,"

"Um, er…W-Would you like to…er, go out sometime?"