A Moment From the Childhood of Nikola Tesla

Damien watched with interest some time later as Spikey came in with a rattling box. He set the box down on the table. Damien watched in fascination as the box began to move away. Spikey caught it and pulled it back to him. "Shhh. Careful." he whispered. The box shook again. "No stop that."
Damien came to the front of his cage, sniffing the moving box. "Stop that now. We need to figure out-" Spikey looked to the door and curled his lip. Mom and Guest were returning. "Guess it has to wait... hold still wont you?" Spikey picked up the box and turned to go when the door opened.

"Here you are." Mom smiled and tilted her head to one side.

"You left the table so early. Barely touched your dinner. Is everyting Alvrite?" Guest asked, looking Spikey over.

"I'm fine, Mother." Spikey nodded and held the box tighter. Guest nodded and kissed Spikeys cheek. "I came to zee you Und I have barely had time wiz you. Ve vill haff to set some time azide yes?"

Spikey nodded and moved to the door.

"Nikola. I am proud ov you."

Mom turned toward Damien and looked him over, but he suspected it was to give Guest and Spikey some privacy.

"I haff alvayz been proud. I am zorry I do not tell you that often enough."

Spikey set the box down and walked back over to Guest. "Thank you, Mother." he smiled and kissed her cheek. "Ive always admired you. I have something I need to take care of..." Mom and Guest looked over to the box as it rattled again. "Its nothing dangerous, Helen. I promise." He smirked and kissed Mom on the cheek and picked up the box before leaving.

Mom shook her head and picked up Damien, taking a blood sample. "Shh. Don 't Worry Damien I wont hurt you." She cooed softly and patted his head. "I wonder what Nikola had in that box?"

"Nuzzing dangerous. Dats good enough for me. I recall vhen he vaz ztill a baby. Ve had a Cat."

"Macak. He told me about him. Well he was always good with animals. If he hadn't gone underground in the 40s I would have made him the head of Munich's Sanctuary. His interpersonal skills could use some work though."

"He had such ztrange ideaz about ze Cat." Guest smiled and shook her head. "Und der Rubbit too."

Mom looked uncertainly at Guest. "A Rabbit? He never told me about a pet rabbit."

"It vaz not a pet; It vaz a toy Rubbit. He had a look in hiz eyez frum de day Dane brought it to him. Nikola dragged ze Rubbit everyvhere wiz him for all hiz youth. Evryvhere he go, he took zat Rubbit. Evan to school."

"I never saw it and we were together all the time in Oxford."

Guest shook her head softly. "It vaz burned. He fell ill at 12 und everyting he owned vaz burned. Books, toys, inventions. He vaz devastated about losing hiz Rubbit. Do you know Vhy I tell you diz?"

Mom frowned and set Damien back in his cage. "No. I cant imagine-"

"Because vhen he looked at ze Rubbit he had a soft light in hiz eyez. The same look he haz vhen you valk into ze room." Guest smiled softly. "He haz been in luv wiz you for a great meny yearz. Zomething to tink about yes?"

Mom looked at Guest and nodded. "Certainly is something to think about. Well I need to get some tests done." She said, holding up the vial of Damiens blood. "If you'll excuse me..."

Guest smiled and waved her hand. "Yes of course. I had best get myself to bed. Guten Nacht."

The two women left the study and Damien settled into sleep, resigning to the fact he was spending another night alone.