First off, I'd like to thank every last one of my readers/reviewers for enjoying my story so much and for leaving such awesome comments! You guys are the best!

I'm sorry I was gone for so long and left you all hanging. A lot of bad things piled up in real life for me, and it was a lot to deal with. Suffice it to say, romantic stories were the furthest things from my mind. But I'm doing much better, and I'm happy to finally bring you the next chapter of my story, and I promise it won't be months until the next one! I hope you continue to enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lion King or any of its characters, they are all copyrighted to Disney. Molly is my own creation. I do not make any money from the writing of this fanfiction.

Important AN: Yes, the fanfic is a rated M romance and Molly is human and Scar is a lion, but there is NO bestiality in this fanfic. Trust me, they get around it.

...

Chapter 4

Molly wasn't sure if most of what she saw was real or not. Slipping in and out of consciousness, Molly watched a warped Africa rush past her as the lion carried her. She hoped he had some sort of plan. She wasn't sure what a lion's version of a doctor was, but she needed one, now. They entered a stand of trees, the lion slowing his pace now as another wave of pain washed over Molly. Leaves shivered in the branches above and a thud sounded off the lion's head. Snarling, he came up short and sent Molly tumbling into the tall grass. Moaning, she held her stomach as mad chattering sounded from the tree the lion now paced under.

Glancing up, Molly couldn't help but giggle hopelessly. She was going to die... The lion had brought her to his doctor...a baboon...

...

"A human?" Rafiki ceased his chattering and flinging of rocks at Scar at the sound from the girl, "Where did YOU get a human, Scar?"

"She was lost," Scar skirted fully answering the question. He didn't want to explain to his brother's monkey that he'd rescued a human woman.

Raising his eyebrow, Rafiki shrugged and didn't pry, "What has she eaten? You didn't let her eat raw meat, did you?"

Making sure to remember never to give her what he himself could eat, Scar shook his head and turned back to the girl, nuzzling her outstretched hand, "She ate fruit that I've seen you and those like you eat. She didn't become sick until after she drank water."

Coming up behind Scar and placing a gnarled hand on the girl's burning forehead, Rafiki pulled back and pursed his lips. Scooping some leaves and grasses into a pile, he lifted her head gently and placed it on top of the mound. Clambering back up into his tree, the baboon returned with an assortment of gourds and his staff. Placing the tools next to the girl, he nudged Scar away with one arm, but it was done gently. Scar disconnected himself from the oddly familiar contact from the monkey, snorting.

"Can you help her?"

Shrugging his narrow shoulders, the baboon looked up only a moment from his patient, "If I can, what will you do with her?"

Frowning, Scar sat down on the other side of the girl, "What I do is my business, monkey."

Fussing over one of his mixtures, Rafiki spoke as if Scar was still a cub, "She cannot stay with you. What would she do against predators or sicknesses like the one already in her?"

"Heal her, old baboon, and I'll leave you alive. That's all you should concern yourself with. What happens to her once we leave here is nothing to you." Scar's claws dug into the dirt as he glared across the girl at the stupid ape.

"Very well," the monkey tossed his head towards the plains, "Go and hunt, Scar. I will watch over her until you return."

Hesitating, Scar flicked his tail, "If I return and she's dead..." he let the threat hang between them.

"I'm sure I'll be in for a very bad end."

Snorting, Scar bent his head to lick the girl's cheek. She tasted horrible, not like she did when she was healthy, "Be safe," he rumbled so she could hear him whether she understood him or not.

A mere flutter of the eyes was all he got in return, the girl too far gone to acknowledge him. Bounding off into the night, he knew the hunt would not be good, his heart was not in it, but he had to do something other than sit there and possibly watch her die.

...

Molly tried to open her eyes and look at what had licked her face, she knew the lion had to be there, but her eyes were heavy and her stomach was a roiling mass of pain. A hand lifted her head and she found something being pressed to her lips. Opening them, she sipped at the cool liquid, feeling it ease her stomach a little. Had she been mistaken when she'd thought she'd seen a baboon? Had the lion actually taken her to a human doctor? Another liquid was forced between her lips, this one tasting like tea that's been left out too long. Choking, Molly turned her head to spit it out when a large rough hand clapped over her mouth and nose. Another hand came up and rubbed at her throat like she'd seen people do with cats to get them to swallow pills. Swallowing so her 'care-giver' would let her breathe again, Molly took a huge breath as soon as he pulled away.

"What are you," coughing, she turned away again, "doing to me?"

A few monkey noises was all she got in return, answering her doubts of what kind of physician she had been handed over to. He left her alone for a long while, only touching her to place cool, damp leaves on her forehead. The bad tasting medicine took longer to work than the first kind, but it was much more effective. The monkey brought another drink over, and this time she sniffed it before she let him pour it down her throat. Water. Pulling away, she shook her head, she wasn't going to let him pour more poison down into her. One hand gently rubbing her cheek, the baboon made soothing 'ooh' noises until she lifted her head again and, trusting him, took a drink.

...

Blundering yet another sneak attack on his prey, Scar cursed the stars above him and was about to return to Rafiki and the girl when he heard a very distinct laugh.

"Hey guys, look," Shenzi's voice cried out, "It's the boss!"

The three hyenas pelted towards him, Ed trailing behind with that eternal look of idiotic joy on his face, tongue lolling out of his mouth. Banzai and Shenzi were neck and neck, but the female pulled forward in the end and skidded to a halt at Scar's feet first.

"Hey Scar," Shenzi grinned up at him as the other two came up behind her, Ed's giggling cutting in for a moment, "How's it hanging?"

Arching an eyebrow, Scar looked away from them, "What are the three of you doing here?"

Two of the smiles faded, Scar knew Ed wouldn't pick up on his displeasure unless he made them afraid, but as long as the other two understood, Ed would follow them.

"Hey boss," Banzai's tail was tucked between his legs, "We're sorry, we were just hungry."

Nodding, Shenzi backed up, "We'll go straight back, Scar. We're sorry."

Their rears bumped an oblivious Ed and he blinked at them, then followed, still grinning at nothing. Scar rolled his shoulders uncomfortably and stood, trotting after them, "Wait."

Eyes widening, Banzai and Shenzi must have thought he'd changed his mind about punishment, but instead, Scar nodded his head down towards the herd of gazelle he'd been stalking half the day.

"If you're hungry, you'll eat."

Hesitant smiles reappeared on their faces and they exchanged a look, then followed Scar through the grass towards the herd, stomachs growling in anticipation.