Bulfie paced around the waiting area. Checking the wall clock he could feel his heart beat all the more. His son was supposed to have finished his surgery twenty minutes ago, yet no word had come. Bulfie wasn't sure if there was a delay, or something had gone wrong. His mind reeled with a thousand possibilities. Chewing on is lip he continued pacing until a familiar set of paws wrapped around his middle.

"Papa, here you are!"

He looked down to see his eight season old daughter Raddi clinging to him. She was a lighter furred ferret, much like her mother. Raddi was also small for her age, so she was no trouble for Bulfie to scoop up into his paws.

"Is Rinn in trouble?" she asked, behind her innocent eyes, Bulfie could sense that a part of his daughter hoped her little, and sometimes annoying brother was in trouble.

"No Raddi, yer brother ain't in any trouble. 'e just needs t'watch what is put in that gob o' his from now on." He sat down and placed his daughter on the chair beside him. Glancing up he nodded to his parents.

"Nanny and Granddad took me for ice-cream." She announced happily.

"They did, did they?" He gave a look towards his father, the likely culprit for making that decision. "Well I hope they didn't spoil yer dinner."

His parents sat beside him, each looking as worried as he was, while trying to keep things cheerful for the sake of Raddi.

"Has the little fella come out yet?"

"No Da, he's still in there. 'Suppose to be done. But no word yet. " Bulfie sighed.

His mother took his paw squeezing it gently. "I'm sure everything will be just fine. Ye'll see soon enough Bully. " She spoke gently using the pet name for her only son.

As if on cue a doctor emerged from behind the door that barricaded the waiting area from the recovery room. "Mr. Daclaw?" He asked as he approached the assembled ferrets.

Bulfie strode forward and nodded, bracing for the worst possible news.

"Your son is out of surgery, he did quite well. He's up now in the recovery room, he's a bit groggy. We had to give him a larger dose of pain medicine, as he was in a great deal of discomfort. He's going to be quite sleepy for the rest of the day, but that is just as well. Would you like to go see him?"

Needing no second bidding, the ferret anxiously followed the doctor.

Rinn looked so tiny lying on the stretcher, covered in warm blankets. On one side the IV lines dangled, the other a heart rate monitor had been fixed to his paw. A nurse was seated beside the little creature letting him take a few sips of water from a straw. Wiping his chin the kindly looking hedgehog took the cup away. "There you go little one, don't want to give you too much. Look your daddy is here to see you."

Rinn tried to raise his head, but on account of the medication pumping though his system, found he couldn't do it. "Papa?" He spoke weakly.

Bulfie rushed to his son's side. Taking his right paw he stroked the soft dark fur. "I'm here Rinny, I'm here."

"Me belly hurts." Rinn uttered softly. His voice distant as if he were asleep.

"Sure it do. We're going to go up to your room in a little bit. Raddi is here now, so is Nan and Granddad."

This news seemed to cheer up the little ferret. He settled back, and unable to keep his eyes open any longer closed them.

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The meal had concluded at the garden party. Dan and Beth excused themselves to go back to their room and freshen up. Following the winding hallways the pair of squirrels found their way back, but not before asking, no fewer than three hares for directions.

Once inside, Beth flopped back on her bed. Her father frowned, watching his daughter allow wrinkles to form on her very expensive dress. Beth didn't seem to notice and unpinned the hat from her headfur. "I've never eaten so much in my life!" she exclaimed.

"Hares do know how to eat." Dan chuckled. "The day isn't over yet, there is still a dance if you're up for going."

Beth thought about it a moment, she wasn't overly fussy with the idea. But then remembered that her handsome prince may be in attendance. "Sounds like a plan." She grinned.

Dan loosened his tie, and went to brush his teeth in the washroom. While he was in there, Beth realized she had left her paw-bag down at the table. Explaining this to her father, he shrugged.

"If you need it, go get it. I'm sure you don't need me to hold your paw."

Leaving her hat on the bed the young squirrel re-traced her steps back to where they had eaten. There were still many hares there, some even still eating. Although, Beth couldn't fathom where they had found the food. Weaving around the tables she spied the one she had been sitting at earlier. The Group Captain and his wife had already departed. There were only the last three still conversing. Beth strolled up behind them. While not intended, her paws were almost silent. They continued their conversation not realizing the squirrel could hear them.

"All we're saying m'dear is that perhaps interviewing Tussock isn't the way to do this wot. After all the chap's been through he isn't likely t'open up after all these seasons. "

"But don't you think it is a story worth being told. He did help all those other prisoners escape. "

"Yes, yes, but what Berty is trying to say is, the dear Group Captain doesn't wish to relive those days for any beast. Great seasons, he hasn't even talked about it to his own wife. Everything she knows came second paw. If it wasn't for the burns covering most of his chest she might not even suspect that he was shot down, much less captured. "

Beth, hearing the last bit gasped. She had seen the slight scar peaking from under the hare's uniform, but she never imagined the story behind it. The three heads turned spying her. Beth pretended she hadn't heard a thing. "Silly me, left my paw-bag behind."

Quickly picking it up from the chair, she scurried off. While she was curious as to what had happened, she really didn't want to hear any more.

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Rinn was brought up to the room and made to feel as comfortable as possible. The doctor suggested not letting him eat anything too heavy, but to stick to fluids. Bulfie's father immediately left to go pick up some popsicles which would no doubt help cheer the ferret up.

Raddi sat on the window ledge beside her grandmother. She watched her brother with a bored expression on her face. "How long does we have to stay here?" She grumbled.

Her grandmother flicked the maid's ear lightly. " Hush now, yer brother is resting."

Bulfie sat beside his son, realizing that his young daughter did have a point. "Rinn 'as t'stay here tonight. I'm going to stay with him. That means you're going to be staying with Nanny and Granddad."

This perked Raddi up. She clung to her grandmother. "Can I stay up late t'night. An' can I have popcorn an' sweets an' more ice-cream." To her disappointment the older ferret shook her head. But, Bulfie new once Raddi was back at his parent's house all her whims would be met.

A knock on the door came. Standing in the doorway was Wally, carrying a large paper bag. He nodded towards the older female ferret. He fully expected the whole clan to be in attendance. "Hello. Hope y'got room for another visitor matey."

Raddi waved a pay to the friendly otter. "Hello Mr. Wally. Whatcha got there?" Of course her attention was fully on the bag.

"Oh this." The otter swayed his rudder to the side. "May thought y'might need a bit of something fer supper. So she whipped up one o' her casseroles. "

Bulfie nodded. "Obliged t'ye mate."

Wally shrugged his shoulders modestly. "I'm sure y'would do the same fer me if one o'me young uns was in such a way."

Bulfie's mother relieved the otter of the paper bag. "Come along Raddi, let's warm this up in the microwave. I thinks I spotted one earlier." Taking her granddaughter by the paw they went off in search together.

Wally nodded towards the resting ferret. "'ow's he doing?" From the looks of the near comatose child not well.

"Far better than he looks let me tell ye. Should be home by tomorrow. I think I'll take a few days off work. Just till he can get back t'day care."

Having found the microwave Bulfie's mother returned with the warmed meal. Dishing out portions the ferrets and otter sat, or stood where ever they could around the hospital room eating the hasty meal.