Had a change of heart on where I was going.
Claire looked around the table in the back of the club. Her friends and acquaintances laughing loudly, their heads spinning and blurring. The music pounded in her ears, or maybe that was her heart.
When she'd found Joe and Lynn and said she needed to get out and forget some stuff, they'd dragged her to the club Lynn danced at. Fritz, the owner, told Claire he'd give her free drinks all night if she filled in for one of the she-kats. She even got to keep half her tips. Claire did her set, knocked back several shots, did a few lines off the toilet seat, and did a few more rounds. She tilted her head and looked at Lynn. "This job is cake," she slurred.
"You wanna try something new, Claire?" Lynn smiled deviously. "Something that'll have your blood really pumping?"
"Is it gonna make me forget about the day I had?" She leaned clumsily onto the table.
"You betcha," Lynn held out a tab. "Put this on your tongue and let it dissolve."
Claire stuck out her tongue and Lynn giggled as she placed it on her tongue. It wasn't long before Claire felt it. Her pulse quickened and the temperature in the room sky rocketed. She rolled her head to face Lynn and Joe and she licked her lips. "You're both so hot," she mumbled. "I bet you taste like skittles."
Lynn looked at Joe and smiled. "Skittles?"
"I don't taste like skittles do I?" Joe's pupils were fully dilated.
Lynn kissed her, plunging her tongue into her friend's mouth. She pulled away and, licking her lips leaned over to Claire. "Joe definitely doesn't taste like skittles."
Claire felt her heart racing faster. "I gotta get out of these clothes," she squirmed out of the booth and staggered to the door.
Lynn pulled Joe. "Come on. We should enjoy this while it lasts." They followed the she-kat outside.
"Where you going, Claire?" Joe rounded on her. "Don't you wanna have some fun with us?"
Claire backed away. "I can't..." she gripped the sides of her head.
"Come on, baby," Lynn purred, taking Claire's arm. "You'll feel much better if you play with us."
Claire felt dizzy as she was pulled back inside and into a VIP room. The door was locked and she was pushed down onto the floor.
Claire could feel their paws on her, under her shirt and between her legs. But her vision was blurry and she couldn't make out what they were saying over the loud roaring in her ears.
T-Bone had gone out on patrol after he took Jake back to the clinic. Claire hadn't come home and he needed to blow off some steam. What better way to do that than expertly piloting a powerful jet above the city?
The night was quiet and the Enforcer band radio was practically silent except for the mundane chatter of the dispatcher and a few Enforcers on patrol themselves.
"What's going on at Kitty Bang Bang tonight?" And Enforcer asked. "There's an ambulance there. One of the strippers slip and hit her head again?"
"Are you nearby, Sgt. Hinkle?" The dispatcher asked. "I'm hearing about a possible drug overdose. They want an Enforcer on the scene."
On any other night, T-Bone wouldn't have cared about the actions of strippers. But for some reason, he couldn't pull his ears away from the broadcast.
"We got three she-kats involved. Jocelyn Coon, 24 years of age and Melinda Foxtail, 27 years of age with possession of cocaine and methamphetamine. Both are being taken into custody. And Claire Forgeron, 21, being taken to MKC Regional. She is suffering a severe drug overdose."
T-Bone felt his blood run cold and he turned the jet around. "I've got half a mind to leave her there." He said out loud.
Claire felt herself slipping and she reached out to hold on. She could see herself on the table with doctors and other hospital staff members around her, hooking up lines and injecting her with stuff she couldn't pronounce. There was a loud screaming sound coming from one of the machines and they started talking about a defibrillator. "What is that noise?!" Claire pushed her paws over her ears.
"You're dying."
She spun around, her eyes widening. "Mom?!"
Tessa looked down sadly and reached for her daughter's paws. "Why, Claire? Why do this to yourself?"
"Maman," Claire whimpered. "Je vous manque. I miss you." Tears spilled out of her brown eyes.
"Je vous manque aussi," Tessa replied softly. "But you are doing terrible, terrible things, mon enfant. Do you really wish to die so badly that you would do it so painfully?"
"It's not fair," Claire sobbed. "It's not fair that they took you away! I was a good kitten! Bad stuff isn't supposed to happen to good kittens!"
"Bad stuff happens to everyone, no matter how bad or good they are." Tessa brushed a strand of hair out of her daughter's face. "And you are not alone, enfant. Come. I will show you."
Claire gasped as she was pulled through the walls and floors.
"I'm looking for Claire Forgeron." Chance asked the she-kat at the desk.
"Are you family?"
Chance made a face. "Not exactly, but..."
"Sorry, sweetie. I can't disclose information to anyone but family."
"But she doesn't have anyone else," Chance pleaded.
"Sorry, but..."
"Look," Chance reasoned. "I know you have rules. I know she was brought here. I know the wheres and the whys. I just want to make sure she's alright. I'll wait out here. Anything, I just, I can't leave here without knowing if she'll be alright."
"But maman, why does he care?" Claire looked confused. "He barely knows me!"
"Some kats care without having a reason." Tessa tilted her kitten's chin up. "Some do good for the sake of doing good and no other reason." She wiped away a tear with her claw. "I don't want this for you. You have a second chance at your claws. Take it, chaton. And do not squander it."
"But maman, wait!" Claire felt her slipping away. "WAIT!" She felt cold as she was sucked back through the walls and into the ER and into her body.
"We've got a pulse!" One of the orderlies shouted. "It's strong!"
"Hey Chance," Alisha blushed as she smiled at the handsome tabby. "You can go on through, the doors unlocked."
"Thanks, Alisha." Chance returned the smile, causing the receptionist's blush to deepen. The clinic resembled a mental institution more than a rehab facility. In a sense, it kind of was an institution in disguise. He walked down the sterile hallway, his feet echoing off the walls. Chance knocked softly on the door to the room Jake shared with a college kit that reminded him a lot of Claire.
"What you want, doc?" Chauncey shouted loudly.
Chance opened the door.
"Oh. It's you." Chauncey rolled his eyes and went back to playing his guitar.
Chance rolled his eyes and looked at Jake, who was curled up completely underneath the blankets on his bed. "Jake?"
"Huh?" A voice rasped from underneath it.
"You alright?"
"No. He's not alright." Chauncey broke in. "He's been hacking up fur-balls all morning. I wouldn't even be here if they weren't having some stupid seminar in the conference room."
Chance shot the teen an annoyed look before pulling the blanket back. "You feel like going for a ride?"
"Where?" Jake's voice came out in a squeak.
"To see Claire. She's in the hospital."
Jake coughed loudly and pushed himself up. "What happened?"
"I'll tell you on the way." Chance eyed Jake's messy hair and rumpled sweats. "I'll... just wait for you outside."
"Do you know what she OD'd on?" Jake wheezed.
Chance narrowed his eyes as he recalled the broadcast. "Her friends were busted with possession of cocaine and meth." He sighed. "I didn't hear if she had anything on her, just that she was being taken to the hospital. I tried to see her but they wouldn't let me in. She's stable now, and the receptionist said she was allowed visitors."
Jake let out a loud barking cough, then cleared his throat. "Ugh."
"You okay? You were fine yesterday." Chance looked concerned.
"Yeah," Jake shook his head. "I dunno. I just woke up feeling like shit."
Chance shot him a disgusted look as he sniffed loudly, drawing up mucus in his throat. Jake rolled down the window and spat outside, then cleared his throat again.
"What?" The smaller kat rasped.
"Just wondering if I should leave you at the hospital." Chance maintained his disgusted look.
For the sake of his sore throat, Jake rode the rest of the way in silence.
Claire was asleep when they entered her room. Chance hovered over her bed, taking in her pallor through her brown fur. Jake, clearing his throat loudly, walked to the end of her bed and picked up her chart.
"Methylene-dioxy-meth-amphetamine," he sounded out quietly. "What the heck is that?"
"Methylenedioxymethamphetamine is a psychoactive amphetamine drug entacogenic, psychedelic, and stimulant effects."
Both kats were startled by the voice behind them.
"MDMA... or more commonly called 'x'." The doctor, a middle-aged kat, leaned against the door frame. "Friends of Miss Forgeron?"
"Yeah," Chance said. "But not the ones that let her get this messed up."
"She's a lucky she-kat," the doctor said. "She died on the table."
Jake's eyes widened. "She died?" His voice cracked.
"Indeed, squeaky. But she's better now, sort of." The doctor nodded his head towards her still form. "We won't know if she suffered any long term effects until she wakes up." With that, he left.
"He's kind of a jerk," Jake whispered and dropped tiredly into a chair beside her bed. "Let me know when our party girl wakes up." He slouched down in the chair and let his head fall softly against the wall. He shivered. "Why do they keep it so cold in hospitals?"
"To slow the growth of bacteria," Chance said automatically.
Jake cracked open an eye, shooting him an interested look.
"What? You know my mom was a nurse until my dad's jet went down." Chance defended.
Jake coughed as he shook his head.
"I'm gonna go grab a snack from the vending machine. You want anything? I can see if I can find you something for your cough."
Jake snorted, then dissolved into a coughing fit. "Do you want to get me admitted?"
Chance gave him a blank look.
"Just check the label," Jake made a face as he tried to swallow. "If they have something that has absolutely no alcohol in it at all, then you can get it."
"Ah," Chance looked a little sheepish. "I forgot about that. I'll be back."
Jake felt his eyes slipping shut before Chance was even out the door. His head fell sideways as he drifted off. A small moan drew him back. "Claire?" He leaned forward.
Her eye lids fluttered open and she stared with unfocused eyes at Jake. She opened and closed her mouth in an attempt to talk. Jake reached for the pitcher of water beside her bed and poured her a small cup. Raising the bed, he helped her take a couple of small sips.
"Why are you here?" Claire whispered.
"I can leave if you want." Jake started to stand up.
"No," she grabbed his paw. "I didn't mean it like that."
"What happened?" Jake settled back down, letting her hold onto his paw.
Her eyes widened. "I died."
"You remember that?"
"Yes," she looked away. "I saw it. I felt it." Her eyes clouded over. "My mother was there."
Jake felt a chill that had nothing to do with his cold. He believed in magic. He'd seen it with the Pastmaster. But the afterlife was something different altogether.
"Are you sure?" Jake croaked.
Claire nodded forcefully. "She spoke to me. Some of it was in French."
"What did she say?"
"Je vous manque," Claire smiled sadly.
"Yeah, um I took French in high school. I remember a few phrases. But not that one. I meant, what did she say in English?" Jake covered his mouth to keep from coughing on her.
Claire squeezed his paw but didn't answer. Instead, she closed her eyes and pulled his paw into both of hers and whispered softly.
"Ô mon Dieu, appuyé sur ta puissance infinie et sur tes promesses, j'espère avec une ferme confiance obtenir le pardon de mes péchés, l'assistance de ta grâce et la vie éternelle, par les mérites de Jésus Christ mon Sauveur."
Jake didn't get all of what she said, but enough to know it was a prayer. He let his own eyes fall shut as she spoke. When she finished, he reopened his eyes to find tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Um..." Both kats looked up at Chance who was standing in the doorway. "Translation please."
Claire shot Jake a look and he smiled. He repeated the first part of the prayer.
" Ô mon Dieu, oh my God... and then I'm lost," Jake chuckled softly, surprised to find his own eyes to be watery.
"O my God," Claire repeated. "Supported on your infinite power and your promises, I hope with a firm confidence to obtain the forgiveness of my sins, in assistance of your grace and eternal life, by the merits of Jesus Christ my Savior." Her voice wavered.
Jake felt his gut twist at the words. It was as if a part of him had just been removed and replaced with something unfamiliar. He pulled his paw from hers and left the room.
Claire gave Chance a strange look. "How did you know I was here last night?"
Chance returned the look. "How did you know I knew you were here?"
"I saw you." She breathed out. "At the desk, talking to the receptionist."
"That's impossible." Chance blinked at her.
"I was with my mother," Claire closed her eyes. She sounded exhausted. "I need to get a message to a Swat Kat."
Chance's eyes widened. "And what would that be?"
"Je vous pardonne," she whispered tiredly. "Je vous pardonne, Razor."
Chance gently patted her paw before leaving her to rest. He found Jake leaning against the wall outside her room.
"These are for you." The tabby pulled a pack of lifesavers out of his pocket.
"Thanks," Jake replied.
"You okay?"
Jake didn't respond as he worked open the roll of cherry flavored candies.
"She said she needed to get a message to a Swat Kat." Chance leaned against the wall beside him. He narrowed his eyes before clumsily repeating what she just said. "Je... uh... je vous pardonne, Razor?"
Jake dropped the candy. Luckily, he hadn't managed to get it open yet. "You know," he finally freed a piece of candy and popped it into his mouth. "I was raised Catholic and we had a similar prayer we would say. Hers is a lot nicer though." He had a stunned look on his face, as if he was still reeling from her message.
"What was yours?" Chance shoved his paws into his pockets.
"Forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy." Jake managed to wince as he said it.
"Hard to believe you, as science minded as you are, were Catholic. I mean, that's a pretty heavy religion." Chance gave him a sideways look. "Tell me, mister 'I took French in high school', exactly what did I just say to you a few minutes ago?"
"I forgive you." Jake looked down at his feet. He sniffed loudly, an action that had nothing to do with his cold, and quickly wiped his eyes. "I think I need to call it a day."
The next time Chance visited Jake, he was waiting for him outside the clinic, curled up tightly against the cold and rubbing his paws together. "Weren't you just sick?" Chance glared at the slender kat.
"Yeah and I've been stuck inside the past week. I knew you were coming. I haven't been out here long." Jake followed him back to the truck and relaxed into the warm interior. "How's Claire?"
"Clean," Chance replied. "That's about all I can tell you. She's been really quiet. I think her near death experience scared her."
"From the way she told it," Jake shivered. "It was more than just near death."
"Yeah." Chance sighed and they drifted into an awkward silence.
"So, um..." Jake looked down at his knees. "I got a couple more weeks and I can go home."
Chance's ears perked up. "That's great news, bud."
"Is it?" Jake gave Chance a wary look.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"What if I screw up?"
Chance took his eyes off the road for a moment. "You can do this, Jake. You've done great, only slipped up a couple of times."
Jake nodded stiffly.
"So where are we going? To the park? To get some lunch? What?"
Jake sucked in a deep breath. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Chance he wanted to see his parents. But he pushed it down. "Lunch is good."
Chance gave him a funny look. He'd been sure Jake was about to ask to do something else but couldn't tell. "Alright. Lunch it is. Hope you don't mind eating at Chet Furlong. It's been kind of slow lately."
"Are you kidding?" Jake smirked. "That place has the best sandwiches."
Claire looked up from the couch in the lobby when the tow truck returned. She'd been working on some of the books since they didn't have any customers. She nodded at Chance and fixed Jake with a slightly awkward grin. Chance returned the nod while Jake sort of stared at her before hurrying through to the stairs that led up into the home.
Jake made his own lunch and sat down at the table. "This place is really clean."
"We'll see how long that lasts now that she doesn't have anything winding her up." Chance replied quietly. "So, am I just getting my brother back or am I getting my partner back too?"
Jake bit his lip. "Um well, I've thought about it and... I still have to think about it."
Chance shrugged. "No rush. I'm just glad you're coming home."
"Me too," Jake replied quietly.
tbc...