Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
Well, one of the moments we all have been waiting for has arrived. Callie gives birth to her kittens. Of course, her family has to stick their noses in, somewhere. Bast is going to be an amazing Great,great-grandparent. Both she and her husband are going to pop in more often, now that there is a set of triplets to fawn over.
To all who have been reading, and commenting for all of these years, thank you!
Artemis was led into a cinderblock conference room, painted light gray. There was one window, facing the outside that was covered with rusting vertical bars. She was sat in a metal chair at a metal legged table with a white composite top, then cuffed to the table.
"Your lawyer will be in shortly," the guard said.
Artemis trusted Callista to hire a good lawyer, but with the charges against her being quite grand, she wondered if even Callista's influence would be enough to sway a decent lawyer's decision to take her case.
There was a knock on the steel door and Artemis turned her head to the left to face it, and whoever was on the other side.
As the door opened, it revealed a tall tom, with dark brown fur, wearing a bright yellow suit, and matching fedora, carrying a brown leather attache case. After entering, he took off the fedora, looked at Artemis' wrists which were secured to the table, then said, "Please removed the cuffs from my client."
"Mr Valdez, this is standard procedure for the prisoners accused of murder," the guard stated.
"Accused, not convicted," Eduardo said. "My client deserves her rights, and as her lawyer, its my job to make sure she gets them. Do you understand, or do I have to call the DA?"
The guard knew what would happen if this particular lawyer made a call to the District Attorney. The DA's office would call his boss, and he would be fired. He reluctantly went over to Artemis, removed the cuffs from her wrists, and as he was leaving the room, he said, "We are watching, don't do anything foolish."
As soon as he left, Eduardo pulled out the chair across from Artemis and sat down, gently laying his hat on the table. He looked into Artemis' eyes, then said, "I have read your file, you are being charged with four counts of Murder in the First Degree. What I didn't read was your side of the story. Were you interviewed when you were arrested?"
"Very briefly, it lasted about ten minutes before I was brought here," Artemis answered.
Eduardo knew something was off, he asked he pulled out a yellow pad and a pen from his case, "Has anyone questioned you, since you were brought here?"
"No, I've been left alone, most of the time," she answered.
Eduardo wrote something down on his pad, then face her again. "Mrs. Feral told me you were coerced into committing those crimes. I need to hear every detail, no matter how gruesome they might be. Start from when your father abandoned you, until you left the Society."
Artemis took a few breaths before she told Eduardo her story, right down to the smallest detail.
Eduardo jotted down meticulous notes onto his pad, stopped her quite a few times, asking questions to make sure he wrote down everything correctly, and in-her own words. When she finished, he slowly lowered his pen to the pad, then asked, "You were 16 at the time you were abducted, correct?"
"Yes, I was about to turn 17, when my father left me alone," Artemis said.
"My dear, you were underaged, and considered a minor. What they did to you is a crime in itself. I'm going to petition the courts, not only to have your charges reduced, or completely dismissed, I'm going to ask them to open an investigation based on your testimony. And if those allegations prove to be true, have this David brought up on charges of, kidnapping, endangering a minor, as well as rape. He will be going away for a very long time, if convicted," Eduardo said. He lifted his pen again, then asked, "Approximately, how many teenagers were with you when you were held against your will?"
Artemis had to think about how many of the cats were in the pens with her, and how many of them were teenagers, or even younger. Eventually, she answered, "I think seven of them were teenaged, but six more appeared to be younger than that."
Eduardo wrote the information down, then got up from his seat. As he put the pad and pen back into the briefcase, he said, "I'm heading over to the Courthouse now to post your bail, Miss Hughes. You should be released within two hours and placed under House Arrest until your trial. Do you have a place to stay, within the City's boundaries since you will not be allowed to return to your current place of residence?"
"There is one guy I could stay with, my fiancé," Artemis answered, as she thought of what it would be like to be in Roland's arms again.
"Very well, may I have his telephone number, so I may call him on your behalf?" Eduardo asked.
Artemis gave Eduardo, Roland's Phone number while he picked up his hat with this right paw, placed it back on his head, then said, "We will be in touch, Miss Hughes and oh, Mrs. Feral told me you are a Dance Instructor, no?"
"Yes, I am. What of it?" Artemis asked, completely unsure of where the conversation was going.
"When you are freed, I want you and your fiancé to come out dancing with me and my wife. Both Camille and I participate in Salsa Dance Competitions. I want to see with my own eyes, how good you really are, Miss Hughes," he answered and left her alone.
Artemis replayed Eduardo's last statement in her mind. She smiled when she realized he said, "When," not "If", meaning her lawyer was confident her charges would be dismissed, or at least, she would be acquitted. Artemis waited patiently for the guards to return, to bring her back to her cell, while she tried to remember those Latin Dance moves she learned a long time ago.
Marissa and. Jasmine returned to the hangar to change back into their street clothes before heading over to the hospital. Since Jasmine was the only one with a car, she drove them both. Marissa had to hang onto the door, quite a few times, when Jasmine took a number of turns, quite aggressively.
"Jasmine, I know they are family to us, but please, take it easy! I want to see the kittens as much as you do, but I don't want to see them from an adjoining room!"
Jasmine jerked the wheel to the left, causing her car to skid around the corner, then she slammed her right foot onto the accelerator. Her car responded instantly, forcing both occupants into their seats.
Marissa slowly turned her head to the left, facing Jasmine with a very serious face, then said, "Jasmine, you and I are partners; and we make an excellent team."
"Thanks Marissa, I feel the same way about you," Jasmine said, with a large smile on her face.
"Jas, I know what we do comes with risks. But if you keep driving like this, the only risk is there is going to be, my fist hitting your face!"
Jasmine slowly turned her head to the right to face Marissa. Then noticed, her displeasure with her style of driving. "You wouldn't really hit me, right?" She asked, before focusing on the road again.
"If you keep driving like Chance and Katerina, I might. Now, are you going to slow down, or do I have to prove my point?" Marissa asked, while rubbing her left fist.
Jasmine did slow down, as she imagined her friend and partner's left fist, connecting with her cheek.
Marissa's facial expression lightened, loosing the deep frown she once had. "That's much better. I want to see Chance and Callie's kittens as much as the rest of SWAT, but I don't want to do it from a gurney." She rested her right arm on the window sill, then said as she looked out of the windshield, "Jas, Jake mentioned to me he was going to partner us up with the hopes you and I, would become a team who would knew what the other was thinking, without having to say a word to the other. We are well on the way of making his hope a reality. As much as I like the rest of the crew, over the past few weeks, I've gotten closer to you, than anyone else. You are more like a sister to me, than just a partner."
Jasmine let Marissa's speech resonate in her head for a few seconds, letting the meaning behind each word sink in. She realized, Marissa was correct with her statements, they were becoming a team with an unbreakable bond. And with a little more work and practice, she probably could tell what Marissa was thinking, without her stating a single word. "Marissa, I feel the same way towards you. Its too bad that Kevin, Sean's other brother is dating Felicia, I think you and he would have hit it off, quite well. Both Kevin and Sean aren't as built as Mark is, but both of them are not hard on the eyes either."
Marissa laughed at Jasmine's statement. She had met both Sean and Kevin already, and knew, they both were quite good looking in their own way. "No, they aren't as built as Mark is. However, I wouldn't mind seeing their tails in some racy swimwear. All three of them have butts, us she-cats want to tame, all night long, if you get my drift, Jas."
"You can fantasize about the Samuelson's tom's backsides all you want, Marissa. But the second you lay a finger on either Sean or Kevin, Felicia and I will come after you, with our claws bared, ready to carve that face of yours up!" Jasmine stated.
Marissa turned in her seat to face Jasmine and noticed her blushing, quite deeply. "You're in love with Sean! You want to marry him!"
"Slow that train down, Marissa!" Jasmine said. "I do love Sean. He makes me feel special, like my father makes my mother feel, every time he kisses her. But, am I ready for marriage and kittens? I'm not sure."
"Jasmine, I've seen the way Sean is when he's around you. His focus is on you, and you alone. I know he's ready to settle down, he's waiting for you to be ready, as well," Marissa said.
"You are the second one to tell me that Sean wants to ask for my paw," Jasmine said as her stomach began to churn. She did love Sean, more than she ever thought possible. He always took the time to be with her, took her calls, no matter the time, and treated her, better than any other tom she dated. "What is it about Mark and his brothers that makes it so easy to fall for them?"
"I don't know, I haven't had much luck in that department, Jasmine. Every guy I've gone out with, was more interested in my legs and tail, rather than points north, if you get what I'm saying. I want what my brother has with Stacy. What Chance, Callie, Jake, and Felina have," Marissa solemnly said, before facing Jasmine, and saying, "And now, what you have with Sean." She grasped Jasmine's right paw with hers, on top of the gear shifter, then said, "Guys like Sean don't come around too often, Jasmine. If he's as serious about asking you to be his wife, as I think he is, and you love him as much as he loves you, you might want to say, yes, when he asks."
Marissa felt Jasmine's paw, shaking under hers. But before she had to ask, why, Jasmine, asked, on the verge of tears, "Why would he even think about asking me to marry him? I'm the daughter of two of the most wanted burglars out there. My parent's mask covered faces are in every precinct, post office, and some Billboards. I'm nothing but a spoiled rich brat, who got almost everything she wanted! The only thing my parents and I disagreed on is their profession. And even after I arrested them, they still make sure I'm well taken care of! So, why would a great guy like Sean want to be saddled with someone like me?!"
"Stop the car, and I mean now!" Marissa ordered.
Jasmine brought the car to the side of the road, and stopped.
Marissa unbuckled her seatbelt, reached across the console, and hugged Jasmine for all she was worth. "Don't you ever think you are not worthy of being loved again, Jasmine! I've seen the way you behave around Sarah, Evelyn, and Gwendlyn. You opened you heart to those young kittens, and in return, they opened their hearts to you. You greet everyone with a smile on your face, you are kind to all, and you are a great friend. Those are only some of the reasons, Sean fell for you, and I'm sure there are others, Sean tells his buddies, when you aren't around."
Jasmine hugged her back, then said, "You mean, 'Jasmine has a smoking hot body and an ass that rivals any swimsuit model out there,' is that what you mean?"
Marissa pulled back and looked into Jasmine's smirking face, then asked, "He actually said that to his friends?"
"That, and I'm sure there is more I've yet to hear,"
"You haven't slept with him yet, right?" Marissa asked.
"Yes, I did sleep with him, but that was all we did, sleep together. It felt so good, having him hold me close, feeling the heat from his body, keeping me warm. Plus, he's very well, endowed."
"As big as Mark's?" Marissa asked as her tail slowly whipped back and forth in anticipation of Jasmine's answer.
"I don't personally know how big Mark is. But gathering by the size of the bulge in his SWAT uniform, Sean's close, but not quite as large." Jasmine was now really blushing as she discussed Sean's anatomy to her friend. She put the car back in gear and continued on the way to the hospital.
"Maybe one day, Lisa will allow Mark to show us what he's been hiding under his uniform, or at least, have him wear a tiny little swimsuit, just for us girls?" Marissa asked as she envisioned, what Mark and his brothers would look like in racing styled swimwear. Then the hospital appeared in front of them, and she said, "We can fantasize about Mark and his brothers; later, we are here."
The sounds of two crying, healthy new-horn kittens filled the Birthing room. Two nurses examined the baby's thoroughly, making sure their lungs were clear of any amnionic fluid and their temperature was in a normal range.
"I can't push anymore," Callie said on the verge of exhaustion, her face was covered in sweat from giving birth to two of the three girls.
"Come on, Callie," Daniella said from her spot between Callie's legs. "You only need one final big push, and the last one will be out."
Chance gave Callie a quick kiss on her left cheek, then said, "You can do it, Callie."
Another contraction hit her, hard. Callie moaned in pain as she pushed as hard as she could to get the last kitten born.
The kitten's head and shoulders emerged from Callie and Daniella grabbed ahold of the kitten, helping it slide out of Callie.
Almost as soon as it was free, she started crying. Now the sounds of three very healthy kittens filed the room.
Daniella brought the third kitten over to the warmers, gently placed her down, and examined her. What she couldn't believe is she assisted in the birth of three girls, and all of them are very healthy, without any signs of any birth defects. She turned around to the parents, then asked, "Would the father like to cut the cords?"
Chance got up from his seat, made his way over to Daniella, then finally looked down into the warmers and saw his daughters for the first time. All three were not much bigger than the palm of is paw, their ears were pressed tightly to their heads, and their eyes were closed. But what he did also notice was their light colored fur, with slightly darker striping covering their bodies. 'Looks like Felina was right. My daughters are the perfect blend of Callie and me. Oh boy am I going to be in trouble as they get older.' He thought.
Daniella handed him a pair of scissors, and showed him where to cut the umbilical cords, which he did. She took the scissors back, then asked, "Would you like to hold your daughters, Chance? I'm sure Callie wants to see them."
Chance was a little apprehensive at first, but when Daniella handed him one of his daughters, something inside of him told him exactly what to do. He held the tiny form to his chest, cuddling her, and cooing to his daughter.
"Chance, I know you love her already, but can I see my daughter as well?" Callie asked.
Chance slowly walked over to Callie, and gently placed their daughter in her arms. She instinctively brought the baby to her chest, looked at her for the first time, then said through a tired smile, "Hi, I'm your mommy."
Chance went over to the warmers, and was handed his two other daughters. He brought them back over to Callie, with a large smile on his face.
Daniella called her father and gave him the good news. He told her, he would bring Felicia and Nancy up to the ward, as soon as the new parents were settled in a room. She turned around to face Callie and Chance, holding their daughters, then said, "We need to clear this room for the next birth, let's get both of you set up in a Private Room. Per my father, you have a small army waiting downstairs for the good news."
Chance had to return his daughters to the warmers, while Callie was transferred to a stretcher. She was wheeled out of the Birthing Room, followed by their daughters, and finally Chance. They were set up in one of the more private rooms, which allowed several visitors at the same time.
Chance now sat on the left side of Callie's bed, holding two of his daughters in his arms, while Callie held the other.
There was a knock on the door before the door opened, revealing Henry. He smiled, then asked, "Can we come in?"
Chance answered, "Sure, Doc."
Henry entered, followed by Nancy and Felicia. Both she-cats went over to Callie and Chance, peered at their daughters, then Nancy said, "They are so precious!"
"They are little angels!" Felicia stated.
"Would you three like to hold them?" Callie asked.
Both she-cats looked at each other, then said, simultaneously, "Definitely!"
Chance slowly handed Felicia and Nancy one of their daughters, followed by removing the third from Callie and handing her to Henry.
Henry teared up as he remembered how he used to hold his own daughter and granddaughter when they were just as little. "They are so beautiful, just like their mother. I miss being able hold a new-born in my arms, I wonder when Cheryl is going to give me and Mary great-grandchildren?"
"Dad, you know Cheryl isn't in a relationship as of now," Daniella stated.
"I know that, but I can't help but dream what it would be like to do this on a regular basis," Henry said.
Daniella rolled her eyes at her father, before saying, "The kittens need their rest, come on you three, hand the kittens back to their parents, and let's leave them alone."
Both Felicia and Nancy handed the kittens they were holding back to Callie and Chance, but Henry held onto the one he was holding, and said, "I'm the Chief of Staff of this hospital, its my job to make sure that the patients are in the best of care, and right now, this little one's best interest is to be with me!" He rubbed his cheek against the baby's, then cooed, "Isn't that right, little one?"
"Yes you are, dad. But I'm the mother's doctor, and I'm the one who gets to decide what's best for the parents and the kittens, right now, not you!" Daniella stated, with her paws on her hips.
"You know, I could remove your rights to practice in this hospital, daughter?" Henry said.
"You do, dad, and mom with throw you out on your tail! I know you adore holding a new-born in your arms, dad, but hand the kitten back to its mother, and let the new family be! That's an order!" Daniella said.
Henry reluctantly handed the kitten back to Callie, then left the room.
Daniella shook her head at her father, then said, "My father loves being around kittens, more than he loves his job here. I'm sure he will find a way to get back here to check on all five of you."
"Its alright if he does, Daniella. Henry is family to us," Callie said.
"I'm sure he will be back, sooner rather than later, come on girls, we have a hospital to keep going and patients to see," Daniella said to Felicia and Nancy.
The three she-cats left the room, leaving the new parents alone with the triplets. Then Chance asked, "We now are the parents of three little girls, did you happen to pick out names for them, cause I'm clueless?"
"Sarah and I were discussing that, when she visited us at the house, Chance," Callie said as she looked at her daughters. She noticed one of the kittens, Chance was holding had a Birth Mark on her left cheek, very similar to Callista's. "I wanted to name one, after my grandmother, the daughter you are holding in your left arm, is going to be named, Callista."
"Your grandmother will love that, what about the other two?" Chance asked.
Callie looked at the kitten in her arms, then the kitten let out a yawn, and curled up tighter in her arms. "I wanted to name one after one of my teachers, who gave me the strength to be who I am today. This little one is going to be named, Kate, after her."
"Two down, one more to go, my love," Chance said.
"The third, I wanted to name Clarissa, cause I liked the name. But no, after meeting Henry and Mary, the name doesn't fit. Mary is such a loving she-cat. She opened her house to us, without thinking twice. She and her family, are as much a part of our family, as everyone in SWAT is. How would you feel if we named our third daughter, after her?"
"I think Mary, would love it, and so do I," Chance said before he lifted the two kittens to his mouth, kissed them both, then said, "Welcome to the world, Callista, Mary, and Kate." He focused on Callie, then said, "You know, all of our family is in the Waiting Room, downstairs. Shall we invite your grandparents and Jake and Felina up? Before he realized, his paws were full. "Mind taking another one, dear?"
Callie chuckled then answered, "I'll take them both, can't have my girls, bonding with their father more than their mother, can I?"
Chance handed her the two kittens he was holding, then kissed her before picking up the phone and calling the Main Desk.
"Would Mr. and Mrs. Feral along with Mr. and Mrs. Clawson, come to the desk?" The Receptionist asked over the PA.
Ulysses, Callista, Felina, and Jake rose from the hard plastic seats in the Waiting Room and went over to the Reception Desk.
The Receptionist, looked up into the four faces, then said, "The New Parents requested your presence, please head up to the Maternity Ward, take a left, and head to Room 10."
They thanked the Receptionist, then headed to the bank of elevators. They reached the Maternity ward and followed the Receptionist's directions to Room 10.
Ulysses softly knocked on the door with the back of his left paw, and waited for a response.
Chance heard the knock, went over to the door, and opened it. "Come on in, the girls are waiting to meet their family."
The four of them entered the room and the first thing they noticed was the silence. Then they looked upon the bed, at the happy mother, holding her daughters, all three swaddled in pink blankets.
Jake latched his right arm around Felina's waist, then said, "That's going to be us, in a few weeks."
"Yes it is. Callie, can we see the little angels?" Felina asked.
"In a second, Felina, there is something I have to do first," Callie said. "Grandma, would you like to hold your Namesake?"
Callista left her spot next to her husband and made her way over to the left side of the bed. She sat down on the edge, folding her right leg under her left, and waited for Callie to hand her one of the girls.
Once Callista was settled on the side of the bed, Callie said, "The one in my left arm is named after you, Callista."
Callista reached out, took her Great-Granddaughter into her arms, then kissed her. "I'm your great-grandmother, Callista. You and your sisters are going to have so much fun, with me and my husband."
Callista let out this tiny, mew, then fell back to sleep.
"She's so precious!" Callista bubbled. "Ulysses, come and meet our great-granddaughters."
Ulysses sat beside his wife, and looked at the tiny form she was holding. "She's so small, I might accidentally hurt her."
"Nonsense dear," Callista said as she handed Ulysses, the kitten.
Ulysses took the kitten from his wife, and cuddled her in his arms.
Callista reached out with her tiny paws, grabbed onto Ulysses' thumb and held onto it, as tightly as she could.
"See, you're a natural, Ulysses," Callista said, watching her husband hold his great-granddaughter.
"Felina, come, meet your nieces," Callie said with a smile.
Felina and Jake came over to the right side of the bed. Jake pulled over one of the chairs so Felina could it, if she wanted to, which she did.
"Sister, please meet, "Kate and Mary, your nieces."
Both Felina and Jake looked at the tiny forms, Callie was holding, then she said, "They are so beautiful, Callie."
"That they are," Jake said. "Felina and I were talking a few nights ago, and we decided to give the girls' rooms a make over. With the help of Artemis, we had the three bedrooms done over with cribs, dressers, and changing tables. Nothing is to good for my nieces, so we are not taking no for an answer."
"Jake, that was so sweet of you to do, but you didn't have to do that, Chance and I could have done the girls' rooms, ourselves," Callie said.
"The only thing Felina and I want you both to focus on, is your daughters," Jake said.
Daniella returned to the room to check up on the kittens, then said, "The kittens and their mother, need rest, please say your so-longs, and head home. You can come back tomorrow."
Callista kissed little Callista one last time before removing her from her husband, and returning her to her mother.
Felina got up, kissed Callie on the forehead, then said, "Motherhood suits you, perfectly, Callie. I will see you tomorrow." But before she left, she took out her phone and took a picture of the mother holding her daughters for the rest of SWAT to see. Then she and Jake left the room.
After they all left, Chance said, "I should let you rest as well, I'll be back in a few hours to help you with the feedings." He kissed her, then his daughters, and left.
Soon after he left, Callie fell asleep herself.
Bast, Ptah, and Amelia watched everything unfold from the heavens. But Bast wasn't content with simply watching. She appeared in the room and went over to the three cribs, where the three kittens were sleeping peacefully. Bast leaned over each of the cribs, kissed each of the kittens, then returned to her great-granddaughter. "Callie, your daughters are going to do so much in their lives. All three of them are going to bring magic into this world in their own special way. But don't fret too much, they are going to need the love and guidance from you and your husband, as they go on their journeys from kitten-hood to teenagers, to finally being adults, and when you think its getting too much for you to bear, Ptah and I will be there, to help you. After all, family comes first." She went to leave, but stopped and said, "Oh, my father wanted to give the girls a little something." She twisted her right paw and three tiny amulets appeared around the girls' cribs. "These amulets will connect your daughters to their family in the heavens. We are all watching."
End of Chapter