It was hours later, after Dr. Caveman's and Dr. Heart's rounds that Lifeline and First Aid returned to the Infirmary to switch shifts with them. Lifeline was complaining of stomach pain and First Aid knew that he would be responsible for most of the shift, which he already dreaded.
Cayden entered his office and looked around the golden tint room as the sun had begun to set and soon, the darkness would spread. He walked over to his desk, shut off his computer and put away the files that had taken over, by safely locking them in the file cabinet in the corner, until he would retrieve them the next morning!
A thumping sound came apparent and he turned toward the sound's way. The rabbit! He had forgotten about the animal as he had become so engrossed in his afternoon's work! He picked up the crate that he had placed near his chair and opened the door, checking on his new patient.
"Don't bite me!" Cayden requested to the animal, knowing that from the pain and fear, the rabbit could indeed sink its teeth into his skin! But, he was lucky. The rabbit allowed him to be picked up and take him out of the safety of its carrier. He examined the animal once more, making sure he had not any other injuries or was in distress but found the animal much calmer than hours ago. And that gave him hope! Maybe the rabbit would get better!
A large grin developed on his features. Earlier, it dawned to him that only one person would be a perfect owner for the rabbit! And that owner also held a similar name to the animal. Bunny! His Bunny! Colleen would adore this rabbit! He hoped! They did not have any pets on base, and maybe Rabbit here could become part of their family! And since the animal could not be released back into the wild, it was meant to be!
"Come on, buddy," Cayden said to the rabbit, placing him back in his crate. "Let's go home and meet your new mommy!"
He picked up the rabbit's crate and left his office, switching off the lights and closing the door behind him.
Walking out of the Infirmary, the cold blistering wind hit him like a brick wall. The weather report had said to expect rain and wind. He strode quickly toward the barracks, so the animal in the crate would not suffer the cold wind.
The barracks seemed quiet, too quiet and he wondered if anything was amiss. Did he miss out on a Cobra attack? Or a meeting!? He had not received any alerts on his communication link and no sirens had gone off. Maybe Duke grounded the entire base! That must had been it!
He entered the building and headed for the very back, until he came to a familiar looking door. Duke had gifted him and Colleen General Hawk's old quarters when they were married and he still could not believe it! He missed Hawk. They all did. And he hoped that Hawk would visit the base soon, it had been a long time since any of them had seen him.
Taking out his passkey, he opened the suite's door and entered the place he wanted to be more than anything! Home!
He placed down the carrier, and made sure that the door to the carrier faced the wall. He wanted the rabbit to be a surprise! He took off his doctor's coat and hooked it on the coat rack next to the door. A shower! He needed a shower and to get the dirty scrubs off! But first, he needed his wife!
He immediately spotted Colleen typing away on her laptop in her little nook. A smile curved on his face and looked around for the twins, but did not see them in the living room. Where the girls taking a nap? At this hour!?
Walking deeper into the room, he noticed that his wife had not noticed him, as her fingers swiftly clicked away on the laptop's keys. Her concentration to her writing could not be disrupted by anything! A unit of Vipers could had entered the suite, and she would not even paid attention! He quietly walked behind her, wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders and nuzzled her neck.
In a blink, his entire body rose from the floor, he felt the entire room twist and twirl around, and then felt the solid floor with an, "Ughhh!"
"Oh! Cayden! I'm so sorry!" Colleen bent over her husband, staring down at his painful features.
"No… you're.. not.." Cayden managed to grind out in pain. He rose himself on his elbows.
Colleen sent him a forgiving smile. "I didn't hear you come in! You took me by surprise!" She stood up and kneeled next to him on the floor.
"Liar!" Cayden smirked at her lovely face. "You can hear a mouse walking with your martial arts skills."
"But, I didn't hear you! Honest! I was really into writing the chapter!" Colleen explained, her eyes turning sorrowful. She watched his lips turn into an evil grin and she slapped her hand on his chest. "Oh, you!"
"Hey!" Cayden grabbed both of her arms, pulled her against his chest, and then wrapped his arms around her back, holding her in a tight grip. "My turn."
"And what are you planning to do to me?" Colleen asked, leaning closer to him.
Instead of answering her, he pulled her toward him, locked eyes and their lips met, sending them both to a world only they knew. His kiss was slow, passionate and filled with hunger. He missed her touch and he knew that she missed his! He could feel her hunger matching his and his breathing escalated. All too soon, and not wishing it to end, their lips parted and they both were left breathless.
"Cay?" Colleen's voice came extremely close to his ear, sending more sparks down his body.
"Hmm?" He mumbled, holding her closer, just wanting to never part, rubbing her backside with one of his hands.
"You need a shave!", she whispered in his ear.
"Oh, you!" Cayden glanced up to find her smiling down at him, "You so going to get it, wife!" His grip changed and he lowered one of his hands to her side and began ticking her.
Colleen giggled. "Uncle!"
"Sorry, Aunt Brody is not here, but I am!" Cayden whispered, and pulled her down for a second dose of his lips. And once again, their lips separated and Colleen lowered her head against his chest.
They remained on the floor for a few moments, enjoying just being near the other.
"So where are the girls?" Cayden asked. The suite seemed too quiet. He rubbed his wife's back, watching her eyes closed, relaxing from his touch.
"The Baroness came to pick them up with a playdate with Destro's grandson. They will return them tomorrow," Colleen answered in a serious tone.
"Cute. Where are they?"
"Who? Destro and Baroness? They are probably at their Scottish castle that is near yours," Colleen answered, trying to tickle his side.
He grabbed her hand. "Oh, you don't have authorization for that."
Colleen's head snapped up and stuck her tongue out at him.
"I may take my scalpel and cut that off," he playfully threatened. He patted her back. "Now, where are the twins?"
Colleen rose up and placed her elbows on his chest, looking down at him. "You can torture me all you want! But I am not giving you that classified information!"
"Fine.." Cayden looked defeated and watched her features change when he attacked, ticking her on both of her sides.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell! Stop!" Colleen plead with giggles as her eyes turned teary.
Cayden stopped immediately and he sat them both up on the floor, holding her still in his strong grasp.
"They are with my parents. The entire base is at the Theater Room. They are going to watch some new released movie," Colleen explained.
"Oh? Which movie?" Cayden inquired. "And why didn't you go?"
"I don't know what movie they were going to watch," Colleen admitted. "And I didn't feel well enough to go."
Immediately, Cayden straightened up. "What's wrong?!" He looked at her with deep concern.
Colleen gently placed her hand on his cheek. "Don't worry, it just pregnancy stuff I guess. I felt a little tired today, that's all."
He pulled her closer to him. "Just don't over do it, please!" He begged. "And tell me when you are feeling unwell!
Colleen leaned against his chest. "I promise."
He hugged her tightly. "So, are we going to stay here all night, or do you want your surprise?"
At this, Colleen glanced up to him with curiosity. "What surprise?"
He gave her a quick kiss and stood up. "Close your eyes and wait here!" He walked to the entrance of the suite and kneeled down to the carrier, he quietly opened the crate's door, not wanting to scare the rabbit, and reached in, taking the new family member out of the crate and held him against his chest.
He stood up, turned toward his wife, who indeed had her eyes closed. He walked over to her, and slowly and gently placed the rabbit in her lap.
Colleen's eyes snapped open and glanced down. "What in the world! Cayden!"
Cayden's eyes sparkled. "A sweet bunny for my Bunny!"
"Where did you find him?" Colleen asked impressed. She slowly stroked the rabbit in her lap who was trembling and noticed his splint. "Oh, he's hurt!"
"Apollo found him. Reena brought him in this morning. So we patched him up and I thought you may want a new friend," Cayden said tenderly.
"Oh Cayden! I love him!" Colleen looked at her husband, her smile wide and eyes shinning. "And we can teach the girls how to be around him, so he doesn't get hurt."
Cayden leaned once again and kissed his wife. "I'm am so happy you like him!"
He reached and stroked the rabbit's back, making the animal relax. "So what are we going to name him?"
"Got any ideas?"
"How about Gior?" Cayden suggested. "Giorria means hare in Gaelic, but we can call him Gior for short!"
"Perfect!" Colleen agreed. "And we need to set him up a place to live. He can't just roam all over the suite!"
"I also have another surprise, but that is going to have to wait!" Cayden teased, a sparkle in his eyes. He could not wait to surprise her with going out during the weekend with her brother and his wife.
"You not going to—", Colleen went to say but she placed her hand on head and closed her eyes.
"Colleen!" Immediately, he touched her arm, his face filled with concern.
Colleen shook her head quickly. "I just got a little dizzy, that's all."
"Come here, let me take you to the sofa and get something in you!" Cayden helped her up, which she continued to hold the rabbit in her arms and escorted her to the sofa. "Are you feeling a little better?"
"Just don't poke me with needles!" Colleen sent him a smile. "I'm fine, it was just a little dizzy spell. You don't need to worry!"
"Bunny, I will always worry," Cayden told her. "Let me get you some juice and some marshmallows." He then looked closer at her features. "Have you taken the prenatal vitamins I prescribed for you?"
Colleen continued to stroke the rabbit in her arms and nodded. "I did, but I forgot yesterday and today."
Cayden shook his head. "Vitamins too then!" He headed for the kitchen, and opened the top cupboard, taking out a glass and placed it on the counter. He then opened the side cupboard where they had placed medications on the top shelf, away from little hands. He placed the medicine bottle on the counter. When he had poured some juice in the glass, he opened the pill bottle and two blue pills dropped in his palm.
Cayden blinked. He did a double take! These were not the pills he prescribed to his wife! He turned the bottle over to the sticker. It had her name! It said the correct medication! But the pills that he prescribed were pink not blue! Panic rose to his chest! These pills were naproxen! And his blood turned cold. His wife could have a miscarriage with this medication! All the blood drained from his face.
"Colleen!" Cayden cried out, loud enough to make both his wife and rabbit jump. He raced to the room, trying to conceal the panic in his heart. "How many of these have you taken!?"
Colleen glanced up at his panicked expression and the rabbit jumped out of her arms, and scattered across the sofa, trying to hide itself behind a pillow.
"Answer me!" Cayden said loudly, his eyes wide, showing her the pills in his palm.
She tilted her head as if thinking. "I just picked up the refill yesterday morning."
"Did you take any of these pills from this bottle?" Cayden asked her, his mind whirling.
Colleen shook her head. "I don't think so, I forgot to take them both yesterday and today."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Colleen, can you remember what color the pills were before the refill?"
"Yes, they were a light pink color, if that is what I remember," Colleen answered him, still giving him a curious glance. "Cayden, is there something wrong?"
But Cayden did not answer her, his thoughts twisted and turned. There was no way any of his staff would do such a critical mistake! His thoughts came to the medicine supply room! In seconds, he charged out of his suite, at a full run, adrenaline in his veins, racing toward the Infirmary.
Panic and anger consumed him! He charged into the Infirmary, avoiding the surprised looks of the nurses and other doctors, and ran full speed toward the medicine supply room! He banged open the door with a force so strong, that it created a new dent on the wall.
He started grabbing boxes and pill bottles and started opening them, as fast as he could! He checked and rechecked, making sure that the pills matched the medicine on the stickers. Making sure that the supplies were not tampered with, his gaze locked to the prescription area of the room.
"Oh, God!" His mind reeled. In seconds, he was unlocking the cabinet and started opening the prescriptions bottles. And his heart nearly stopped. Most had the wrong medications inside them! Duke's high blood pressure pills, Scarlett's! Beach Head's, Cover Girl's! He kept opening one bottle at a time to find the wrong medication!
"LIFELINE!" He heard himself bellow at the top of his lungs.
In seconds, Lifeline entered the room, followed close by First Aid. And before the other two doctors could ask what was going on, the young doctor started explaining.
"Someone tampered with the prescriptions! None of these medications we even carry!" Cayden explained.
Lifetime immediately took charge. "Get on the intercom! Get everyone who had any prescription to bring it to the Infirmary now!", he ordered First Aid, who had already turned and left the room.
Cayden then took notice of some bottles missing and paled. His father must had taken his mother's prescription bottles before he left! Instantly, he charged out of the room, ignoring Lifeline's "Where are you going!?" and ran down the hallway, and out of the building and headed straight to the barracks toward his parent's quarters.
He jumped the stairs two at the time, and ran at full speed down the hallway and banged open the room, which made the warrant officer jump from his chair as he was reading a book.
"Cayden!"
He ignored his father's surprised cry and headed straight where they kept their medications. He swung open the cabinet door and started taking out the medication bottles he had prescribed to his mother. As the pills fell to his palm, he lost all the color on his face. These medications were not what he had prescribed to her!
"Where's mom!?" Cayden called out to his father, who now was standing close to him.
"Danny, what is goi—" Flint tried to speak but was cut off from his son.
"WHERE'S MOM?!"
"I think she is at the Hausers, they had gone to watch—"
But Cayden did not allow his father to finish, he already had raced passed him and headed straight to his In-law's quarters and barged inside, not even bothering to knock.
He spotted his mother with Scarlett, sitting on the couch with the twins, and the other children near by.
"Mom!" Cayden cried out, trying to remain calm. He had to get her to the Infirmary. He walked over to her, his palm open. "Are these the pills you have been taking!?"
His heart pulsed quicker, praying that they weren't but when she nodded, his entire body felt numb.
"Yes, those are the pills," Jaye said, looking at her son quizzically.
He took a step closer and took her hand. "Mom, we need to get you to the Infirmary right now!"
Both Scarlett and Lady Jaye glanced at each other.
"Cayden, is there something wrong?" Scarlett asked, now getting concerned, watching his behavior.
"I can't explain now, but please come with me!" Cayden begged. "I need to give you a thorough examination!" His green eyes plead.
"Allie, go with him!" Scarlett told her friend, sensing something was wrong. "I'll take care of the kids."
Before Lady Jaye had even a chance to even respond, she was pulled from the couch and dragged out of the suite at full speed.
"Cayden! What is going on!" Jaye demanded, being pulled down the hall and out of the building.
And once again, Cayden ignored his mother as he led her toward the Infirmary.
"Allie! Cayden!" Flint's voice sounded from near by.
"Dash!" Jaye cried out to him.
In moments, they were inside the Infirmary and Cayden led them toward one of the unoccupied rooms. He helped his mother sit down on a bed, before he went to the doorway and called for one of the nurses.
"Cayden, tell us what is going on!" Flint asked, looking at his son, who was running back and forth in the room.
A nurse entered and began getting needles and other equipment ready.
Cayden turned to his father. "I need to draw some blood."
Flint glanced toward his not amused wife and sighed. Here we go! In two strides, he walked over to the bed and sat down on Jaye's lap. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a tight grasp. "I'm ready!"
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Jaye shouted.
Cayden let out a long breath. "I need to run some tests! To be sure." He began to explain.
"Why!?" Both Flint and Jaye looked at their son.
"Because someone tampered with the medications!" Cayden slowly released.
"WHAT!"
"Allie, be good for Cayden!" Flint requested, now trying his own panic in his voice.
"Fine," Jaye grumbled, allowing the nurse to take, not one but three bottles of blood!
All too soon, the doctor and his medical staff were coming and going in the room with machines and more blood to be drawn.
From the doorway, a panicked looking Colleen entered. "Cayden! You scared me! What is going on!"
Cayden turned to his wife, took her by the arm and escorted her out, before he turned toward those fear filled eyes and said to her, "I'll explain everything later. But do not take any medication and don't give any medication to the girls!"
"Something is wrong, isn't it?" Colleen realized."I won't take anything!"
He bent down and his lips met hers. "Go to the suite. When I am done here and make sure everyone is safe, I'll come home."
Colleen placed a supportive hand on his arm and nodded. She rose to the balls of her feet and kissed him on the cheek, before she left the Infirmary in confusion. She returned to their quarters and found their new family member in his crate fast asleep.
A yawn escaped her throat. "You may have the right idea!", she murmured to the rabbit. Her mother was taking care of the twins for another hour and she did not feel like eating or writing. The entire situation made her worried and nervous! Something was wrong! She could feel it in her bones.
She rested on the sofa and covered herself with the blanket, before resting her head against the pillow. Her eyelids felt heavy and soon, she found herself fast asleep.
A knock on the door jolted her awake. She glanced around the suite and found it dark. Night had covered the suite like a blanket. A yawn escaped and she stood up. Maybe that was her mother dropping off the twins.
She opened the door but found nobody there. Then, her eye caught on a long box on the floor, just outside of her door.
"What's this?" Colleen asked the unknown, picking up the box and closing the door behind her. She placed the long box on the dinning room table and opened it. A gasp escaped as her nose became filled with the sweet aroma. Roses! A beautiful bouquet of roses filled the box and on top of the wrapping was a card.
Meet me in my office for a surprise! C.
"Oh Cayden!" Colleen murmured placing the card to her chest and closed her eyes. This had to be the surprise he mentioned before! She felt herself blush. And this is why her mother had not dropped off the twins! He had likely planned everything!
She quickly changed to a cream colored sweater and black pants, freshened up, put on a coat and headed out of the suite. She looked around the quiet looking base. No Joe in sight! No dog in sight either! before she entered the quiet Infirmary. How late was it? From her excitement, she forgot to check the time!
Heading for Cayden's office, she noticed that the Infirmary was also quiet! What had her husband planned? Was everyone in on the surprise?
"Cayden?" Colleen called out, opening her husband's office, entering inside, finding it dark and eerie. She pulled off her coat and placed it on the coat rack.
The door suddenly clicked shut behind her, concealing the light from the hallway and enveloped her in total darkness! But before she had a chance to turn around, something grabbed her from behind and a cloth covered her mouth, as she inhaled the chloroform. She tried one of her martial arts moves, but felt a sharp pain pierce the skin on her arm before the room began to spin. She cried out but it was muffled from the cloth over her mouth before she felt her body fall and darkness covered her like a blanket.