The walk back up to his room was pleasant as they chatted about the hospital. "Thank you for the dinner, I'll find a way to pay …" Meredith held up her paws.
"No, it was my treat. It was interesting to learn more about you and where you are from." Smiling. "I may not understand everything or agree with everything that is done there. But I'm sure there are things around here you will feel the same about."
Chuckling softly. "Oh I don't think so. That's very open minded of you though." Limping a little as he made his way back over to his bed, so that he could sit. "I assume you have to go to your shift then?"
Lifting her paw to check the watch on her left wrist. "Yah, should get down there." Clearing her throat. "Any way, I'll see you later Leon. And .. "
"Yah I know, get some rest." Chuckling.
"I was going to say leave the window closed." Giving him her father's patented sly smirk before turning with a swish of her tail behind her as she left. Something that kept the skunks attention before he turned towards that window to peak out, half expecting to find the rabbit still outside. There was however no sign of rabbit or rope.
Securing the window, and double checking the lock he went back to his bed to lie down. "Jack … " Thinking about the name, and the image in his mind from a couple of hours prior. ".. Savage … that's his name Jack Savage." Mumbling to himself, as the more troubling thought that he actually did know the bunny who had him at gun point was distracted away from him as his mind ran through the evening. The enjoyable evening with eggs, jello, and a hybrid. That last thought brought a smile to his muzzle.
For the most part the conversation was enjoyable, light even. When the conversation turned to talk about his home though, it felt uncomfortable. His fresh slate brain having difficulty processing some of the things that he remembered from his homeland. The control over food, news, wages, where people worked, what people did and when they did it. Who they could marry, and when. The sinking feeling in his belly that he was a part of that very machine.
Deep down he knew what would happen in his country if there was a pairing such as Meredith's parents, and it was worse then just 'not being allowed'. If one or both of the parents were of importance to the government, they would be separated. Otherwise, they would be disposed of. As for any child produced, there was only one fate for a hybrid. In his current state it disgusted him.
With a huff he laid his head on his pillow and drifted off to sleep.
*oOo*
In the ER it was a quite evening. Two drunks that had gotten into a fight, one needed stitches and the other had to have his arm casted, both with officers standing over them the entire time. The only other patient that came through the doors had been complaining of chest pain but turned out it was just heart burn. Now Meredith sat at her desk with her feet up and talking to one of the Nurses on duty. "I mean, it sounds like their entire lives are controlled from the beginning. How can anyone live like that."
The older Nurse that sat with her sipping a cup of tea, a white furred tigress in probably her early sixties who had worked in the ER since before Meredith was born just hummed in thought for a moment. "Yes, but is it for us to judge them Meredith? We don't live there." Always playing the devils advocate. She liked to push others to think, even if she agreed entirely with her colleague assessment. "They weren't always all closed off like they are now. I even remember when there was at least some travel allowed, though I was maybe thirteen at the time."
"Oh were you ever really that young Donna."
The tigress chuckled, which was more of a rumble. "You be careful young lady or you wont live to be as old and beautiful as I am." Donna smirked. "Truthfully though, I do agree. But sometimes we just won't understand why people do what they do. Sometimes because its what they know, and what they know is safe. We can't all be a fox and bunny that foils a plot by the assistant mayor against all odds afterall." Smirking at Meredith.
"Point well taken." Sighing as she leans back more in her chair. "I still don't know how he ended up the way he did. Though I am starting to think he remembers more than he is sharing now. You don't get one over on a fox after all."
"Half fox."
Rolling her eyes. "Half fox. Ahh he's probably going to be discharged tomorrow anyways. Leon was back on his feet faster than I ever would have expected. I mean the patients in good shape usually do get out faster but, two days."
Donna leaned forward in her chair with sudden interest. "Oh, keeping an eye on a patient after leaving the ER that closely are we? Taking him to dinner too." Making a tsk tsk noise with her tongue. "Seems to me like a little more then Doctor Patient interest to me." Quickly noting the blush in the hybrids long ears before they pinned back. "Oh come on now, the last two shifts all you can talk about is him and who you think he is. Plus, I'm old not dead. The stinky butt has a nice ass." Chuckling.
"Donna!" Meredith acted shocked with a smirk on her muzzle. "Even though he nearly burned it to a crisp." Giggling. "Ahh damn it what am I doing."
"Same thing your mother did. Family of misfit mammals." Donna said without hesitation. They had worked together for years, and she had known Judy for some time as well. Night shift in the ER and you get to meet most of the officers in the closest precinct. "Meredith, little bit of advice unsolicited as it is. A little risk in life can lead to a lot of joy." Smiling as she stands up from her chair. "Time to go give those idiot wolves their pain meds. Maybe they'll sleep through the rest of the evening." Walking off towards the room currently guarded by the officers.
Meredith chuckled as he sensitive ears picked up on the Nurse mumbling about at least keep them from howling at the damn moon all night.
*oOo*
The following morning after breakfast a male porcupine joined Leon in his room, holding his chart and looking over the progress paperwork. "And how's the pain?"
"Manageable."
"Good, good. Looks like here Doctor Wilde noted you were able to walk down to the café and back without much assistance." Taking a small booklet out of his lab coat pocket and placing it on top of the metal clipboard, filling out three of them in doctor scribble before putting the pad back into his pocket. Looking over the skunk briefly. "Good the IV is out. Well Mr Forest I see no reason to keep you here. The nurse has instructed you on how to take care of those burns. I expect your fur to start growing back in a few weeks." His slow nonchalant drone could put a caffeine hyped chinchilla to sleep. "Nurse," turning slowly until he saw the nurse standing by his side. "Bring him his clothes and I'll have his discharge paperwork ready by the time he is dressed." Turning slowly back to Leon. "Fill these, you have a steroid, a pain killer as needed, and an antibiotic. Take the entire course of antibiotic."
"I will doctor, I promise."
"Yes .. yes good good. Fair well Mr Forest." Walking slowly out of the door and back to his office.
The nurse came back in with a suit in a dry cleaning bag, as well as a black cane and plain undergarments. Hanging them on a hook on the wall the nurse smiled and left the room shutting the door on his way out. When Leon made his way to the suit, a dark blue suit jacket, three button, and matching pants. A black belt and black banded collar oxford shirt with dark wood buttons were also in the bag. His attention was quickly caught by a small folded note attached to the outside of the bag. Taking it in his paw, the card was of textured paper stock, on the outside in cursive writing was his name. Opening the fold of the card the inside note read.
Be in touch, enjoy the suit. Jack S.
P.S. Stay out of trouble
He shook his head as he slipped the card into a pocket of the suit jacket. He instinctively ran a paw over the material of the jacket collar and smirked as he felt a hard round something between the layers of the material. A part of him wanted to break the device, but he decided to leave it alone and instead got dressed.
Once dressed he took a look at himself in the mirror on his bathroom door. It wasn't so bad, clean at least. He took one look around the room before grabbing the cane and walking out into the hall. Leaning on the cane a little heavier than he actually needed to, but not enough to cause concern by the medical staff. He made it to the nurses desk, picked up his discharge paperwork and was given instructions to the pharmacy.
After the annoyingly long wait to fill three bottles of prescriptions he walked towards the front of the hospital. He had stopped by the entry way to the ER but, there was a commotion in there involving a couple of wolves, and at least one officer. "Stupid idea anyways." He said to himself.
When he walked out the front door he wasn't sure if it was good to see the red fox in his cheap suit and aviator sunglasses or not. "Well at least you clean up well." Nick said as he leaned against the unmarked cruiser. His partner nowhere in sight. "Come on bub, the Ambassador wanted you to have a ride to your home for a few days."
Looking around as he made his way over to Nick. It was nice to be outside and feel the morning sun, fresh air, and the natural scents that were suppressed by the sterile halls of the hospital. Savana Central was a bustling place, mammals of all sizes and species walking around and going about their business. "Good to see you again Detective Wilde." Walking around to the passenger side of the cruiser. "Front seat?"
"Yup." Opening his own door and climbing into the driver's side. Once the skunk was in next to him he started the cruiser. The radio in the car set low, with the light chatter of officers doing their work, and pulled out into the morning rush traffic.
The first few minutes were spent in silence. Both mails sizing each other up before Leon decided to speak up. "I appreciate the ride Detective."
"Just doing what I'm told to do." Nick glanced over to him from behind his glasses. "Judy has a lunch appointment and I wanted to see what you might have remembered so far." His ear flicking for a moment as he came to a stop at a stoplight.
"Well, I do remember more about where I'm from, perhaps a little more about who I am. I am sorry though Detective I do not remember what happened." He said honestly, though not elaborating on what he did remember beyond that. Something he knew Nick was taking note of. "Look detective I get the feeling you don't like me all that much."
Nick looked over at the skunk for a moment, slipping the glasses up as they waited for a line of gerbils to cross in the crosswalk. "I neither like you nor dislike you Mr Forest." His sharp eyes looking at him directly. "I don't know you." His glasses slipping back down to cover his eyes as the light turned green and his focus was back on the road.
"Emm hmm, and the ear twitch and raised fur on your neck every time we talk?" Note even completely realizing he had noticed the details himself until he said it.
"See now that is exactly it. Who notices those sorts of things?"
"Police officers like yourself." Leon responded flatly.
"Well I guess I can't argue with you for that." A slight smile gracing his muzzle, one that caused Leon to chuckle.
"And what is it you find so funny about that?" Nick started to relax a bit as they talked.
"Meredith has that same smirk when she's entertained." Leon said as he was looking out of the window. If he had been maintaining his attention on the detective, he would have noticed the very distinct change in the fox next to him.
Nick abruptly pulled the cruiser to the curve and slammed the break, locking both of their seatbelts up and catching Leon a little off guard as his back slammed back into the seat, causing him to wince in pain. When he turned to look at the fox, he noticed the snarl gracing his muzzle. "Doctor Wilde." Nick said through a clenched jaw.