The next morning, every member of SWAT had converged in the hangar and were dressed in their uniforms. As they boarded the Turbo Fortress, Sure-Shot asked, "Why exactly are we going to the hospital?"
Empress had already buckled herself into her seat and as she tightened the harness, she answered, "We are going to help Gwendlyn's orphanage with their Kitten Adoption drive Sure-Shot. Apparently, the Hospital's Nursery is overloaded with newborn kittens that desperately need homes. I have already called Kats Eye News and they are going to be there."
"So how does SWAT tie into this?" Pirouette asked as she cuddled into her husband's body in the seat to her left.
"We are going to step into the Lime Light again in order to help get these kittens into loving families. For today, we are going to be Kitten Cuddlers and smile for the camera," Empress replied.
The drive to the hospital was a short one and as T-Bone parked the Turbo Fortress in an alley to the left of the hospital, they were greeted by Dr. Feldman and Nancy.
The side door to the Turbo Fortress opened and everyone got out of the bus and stood next to it.
Dr. Feldman and Nancy looked at the vigilantes in full uniform, looking like they were heading into battle rather than going to hold and play with a bunch of infant kittens. "Is there anyway you can look a little less, menacing? You all are going to scare the kittens the way you are dressed," Dr. Feldman said.
"This is our uniform doc, they are designed to strike fear into our enemies," Razor answered.
"These kittens are NOT your enemies Razor. Some of them are barely a few days old. As much as I appreciate SWAT helping out, I don't need a nursery full of kittens having nightmares!"
Sure-Shot quickly examined her fellow SWAT Kats and determined that if they removed their helmets and disarmed, their appearance would be more appropriate for the task at hand rather than running into danger. "Guys and gals, remove your helmets and leave your weapons in the Turbo Fortress. I highly doubt we are going to need them."
All of them removed their helmets and most of them took off their weapons, with the exception of Sensei. She still had her two swords strapped firmly to her back.
"Sensei, are you forgetting something?" Caliber asked as she pointed to her swords.
Sensei reached behind her with both of her paws and withdrew the two razor sharp swords from the sheaths on her back. She laid the two swords on her seat and returned to the group before she said, "I apologize, I forgot they were there."
Dr. Feldman nodded with SWAT's appearance, then said, "It's time to get a kitten or two into each one of your arms. Once you look into those little angelic faces, your hearts are going to melt."
They entered the hospital through a freight elevator and rode up to the Maternity floor. Dr. Feldman opened the elevator's doors and motioned for them to exit and wait in the Service Corridor while he and Nancy checked to make sure the hallway was clear. Not seeing anyone, he motioned again for them to follow him to one of the storage rooms where the scrubs were held.
After everyone entered the room, Dr. Feldman said, "As much as you like your uniforms, they are not sanitary enough to be near the newborns. Please put on some scrubs over them."
"Doctor, we washed our uniforms last night in preparation for this event. They are as clean as the scrubs, plus the media is expecting SWAT to be here in all of its glory," Empress said.
"I appreciate that Empress. However, I must put the kitten's health before any Grandstanding," Dr. Feldman said.
Empress thought about what Dr. Feldman said, then quickly came up with an idea. "What if I sanitized our uniforms with a spell?" Empress asked.
"That will work," Dr. Feldman responded. "Nancy and I will be waiting outside the door.
Empress waited until the door closed before she turned to face her comrades. "Ok, this shouldn't hurt a bit." Empress said as she raised her paws high in the air and the entire room wears bathed in a bright white light. The light faded away to reveal everyone and everything in the room to be completely sanitized. She lowered her paws to her side, then asked, "Is everyone alight?"
Everyone examined themselves and Caliber actually brought her left forearm up so she could sniff her uniform. "Whatever you did worked. There was a funky smell in my uniform I couldn't get out no matter how hard I tried," Caliber said.
Everyone in SWAT, minus Caliber laughed for a minute, then left the room.
Nancy quickly examined their uniforms, crossed her arms under her chest, then said, "They will have to do, the news crews are already here. Let's see how well you handle a bunch of newborn kittens."
Nancy and Dr. Feldman led them into the Nursery and as soon as their eyes fell on the bassinets, everyone of them started smiling. In all, there were close to twenty kittens in the nursery, waiting to be adopted.
Pirouette was the first one to break free from the group and make her way over to one of the bassinets that held a tiny little tan furred kitten. "Its so adorable! Adonis, come over here and take a look at the kitten!"
Adonis went over to his wife's side and peered down into the bassinet. He saw the tiny form that was no bigger than the palm of his paw. "I'm going to be a father to something so small and fragile? I hope I don't accidentally hurt it?"
Pirouette turned her head to the left and saw her husband's face, bathed in worry. She stroked the fur on his left cheek with her paw as she said, "You are going to be a great father dear. You are a gentle giant, you would never hurt your child."
"I hope not Pirouette," Adonis replied as he flexed his paw. "The kitten could fit easily into my strong paw."
Another nurse came over to the couple, then said, "He's a favorite of the staff but he is too small to be held at this point. Come with me and I'll bring you over to a couple of kittens that are waiting to be held."
Pirouette kissed her fingers, then brought them gently down to the kitten's lips before she followed her husband and the other nurse.
The nurse stopped between two bassinets, then said as her paws ran down the sides of the bassinets, "These two are ready to be adopted." She looked up at Adonis, then asked, "You look like you can handle more than one kitten at a time, care to try to hold two at once?"
Adonis followed the nurse to the bassinets and looked down at the two kittens. One was swaddled in a blue blanket and the other in a pink one. They both had the same dark brown fur and similar facial features which caused him to ask, "Are they twins?"
"Yes they are. We are hoping they get adopted by the same family so they are not separated." The nurse answered as she reached into the bassinet to pick up the baby boy. She cuddled him in her arms as she brought him over to Adonis.
Adonis looked at the kitten and cautiously extended his arms out to the nurse.
She watched Adonis' nervous movements and said, "He's not a ball or a rifle, he's a lovable little boy. Bring your arms back in close to your body like mine are."
Adonis did what he was asked and brought his arms back in close to his body, mimicking the nurse's posture.
As soon as he was ready, the nurse transferred the kitten into Adonis' arms. "That's not so hard."
Adonis couldn't believe he was actually holding a baby in his arms. His mask covered eyes locked onto the baby as it curled up in his warm arms.
"You're doing very well Adonis, now for his sister," the nurse said as she reached into the other bassinet and lifted the other baby and placed it the crook of Adonis' other arm.
Adonis turned his head to face his wife, who was already holding another baby boy in her arms, then focused back on the two babies he was holding and admitted to himself, that holding them felt so right.
The rest of SWAT had babies put into their arms and each one of them felt very good.
Nancy quickly took out her phone and took a picture of the SWAT Kats holding the babies. She knew she was never going to see this again and wanted to remember this moment. After she put the phone away, she said, "Kats Eye News is waiting in the adjoining room, let's get these kittens into loving homes!"
Nancy and Dr. Feldman opened a set of gray steel double doors and instantly, flash bulbs fired in front of everyone's eyes.
They all walked into the other room, led by Dr. Feldman and Nancy and once they all crossed the threshold, Dr. Feldman and Nancy stepped aside so the press could get photos of the SWAT Kats holding the babies.
"Empress, Caliber, Pirouette, I heard that you are pregnant. Care to comment?" Anne Gora asked.
"Yes we are pregnant Anne. In a few short months, we are going to give birth to the next generation of the city's protectors," Caliber answered then nuzzled the kitten she was holding.
"Why help this hospital and why this particular orphanage?" Another reported asked.
"Havoc and I have a vested interest in this orphanage and as for this hospital, two of us wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for the skilled work of Dr. Feldman and his staff, " Sniper answered.
One more question please, then the kittens need to be returned to their bassinets," Dr. Feldman said.
"T-Bone and Razor, when are you planning on marrying Empress and Caliber?" A reporter in the rear of the room asked.
"As soon as possible," they both answered then nodded to each other.
"Thank you all and please feel free to mingle with the rest of the potential adoptive parents. But please, don't get in their way, if they are trying to adopt," Dr. Feldman said.
The SWAT Kats returned to the nursery and returned the kittens to their bassinets. They continued to watch over the kittens and as they were about to join the crowd outside, Adonis heard a kitten crying over in the corner of the nursery. He went over to see what might be troubling the kitten and saw that his blanket had slipped from his body. Instinctively, he reached into the bassinet and brought the kitten into his strong and warm arms. "I've got you little one. I'll keep you warm and safe."
Another nurse came over to Adonis to see if the baby was alright. At first all she saw was his muscular back. Then as she came around to face him, she saw him holding onto a baby boy. "You are a natural, do you have kids already?"
Adonis answered without removing his eyes from the baby, "No miss, my wife and I are expecting our first."
"Congratulations, I'll let you get back to holding your new friend," The nurse said before she walked away.
Pirouette put her baby down and swaddled it up before she looked around for her husband. She found him over in the corner, holding another baby in his arms, smiling down at it, and bouncing ever so slightly. Trying his best to keep it calm. Seeing him caring for the baby like a father warmed her heart to the point she started to tear up in happiness.
Caliber noticed Pirouette and went over to her and as she placed a paw on her shoulder, she asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Caliber. Actually more than fine. Watching my husband holding the kitten over there and how well he is doing, solidified in my mind that he is going to be a great father to our kittens," Pirouette answered.
Caliber turned her head ever so slightly to see the rock of the SWAT Kats, holding this tiny baby in his arms and showering it with attention. "There was never any doubt in my mind that Adonis was going to be a great father Pirouette," Caliber said as she gently pulled Pirouette into a sideways hug.
The kitten opened it eyes and saw Adonis as well as his loving smile for the first time. He wasn't scared at all of the large tom holding him. He reached up with his tiny paws and let out a few mews, letting Adonis know he wanted to touch him.
Adonis heard the kitten's request, loud and clear. He said, "You want to touch me? Alright." He brought his face down so the kitten could touch his face. And when the kitten's tiny paws touched the fur on his cheeks, it felt like heaven and so right to him. He let a deep purr escape his throat then brought his nose up to touch the kitten's nose.
The kitten let out a giggle before letting a tiny purr leave his throat as well and falling asleep in Adonis' arms.
Pirouette broke free from Caliber's embrace and almost ran to her husband as quickly as she could. She looked at the tiny kitten in his arms, then asked, "Who's your friend?"
Adonis didn't answer her question but instead asked one of his own, "Pirouette, how much do you love me?"
"With every fiber of my being, why?" Pirouette replied.
"As much as I am going to love our kitten when its born, I want to be a father more than anything. How would you feel about adopting this little guy and giving him a loving home?"
End of Chapter