Disclaimer: The SWAt Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
I really love the dynamic between Iris and Roy. For a couple of Fill In Characters, they are taking Center Stage, At least for now.
David will be dealt with, rather soon. Trust me, there is a battle coming up you won't want to miss.
Enjoy..
Jake, Tina, and Katerina were walking down the hall of the Orthopedic ward to hear the happy squeals of young kittens from the end of the hall. The three of them entered the Common Area to see two teenagers playing a board game with a group of four Grade School kittens.
Iris spun the spinner in the center of the game with her left paw and watched it stop on a 3. She then picked up her piece and moved it three places forward to land on the same space as Roy's piece. She looked over to her right to the tom, who in a very short time, woven his way into her heart as she has done the same to him. "Sorry, Roy." Iris picked up Roy's piece, moving it back to the colorful block on the board with large white block letters saying, "Start".
The four younger kittens laughed at Roy's misfortune, while Iris and Roy both shared a smile.
Now it was Roy's turn. He reached over to the spinner with his prosthetic paw and gave it what he thought was a slight spin. The spinner spun so fast; it broke free from the holder and flew from the board to the floor.
Gabrielle one of the younger kittens who had a broken right wrist in a pink wrapped cast, said, "How are we going to finish the game now?"
"I'll get the spinner," Iris said and slid under the table to retrieve the spinner.
Roy followed her moves, sliding under the table himself. But instead of reaching for the spinner, he reached for her. He quickly kissed her, then quietly said, "Sorry for breaking the game."
"Its alright, Roy. You didn't mean to break the game," she said and picked up the spinner.
They both sat back in their seats to see all four kittens looking directly at them.
"What?" Roy asked.
"Oh, we were all wondering if you two were going to kiss the rest of the day, or come back and play with us?" The other young female kitten asked. She had a broken right leg wrapped in a cast.
Both Roy and Iris blushed quite brightly, which caused Tina and Katerina to laugh, then enter the room with Jake following them.
Roy and Iris recognized Jake, but not the two she-cats with them. "Good to see you again, Mr. Clawson," Roy said.
"Good to see you too, Roy," Jake replied. "Meet two of my best friends. The taller one is named Katerina and her mate is Tina."
Iris got up from her seat and walked over to stand in front of Katerina and Tina. She shook Katerina's paw first, followed by Tina's, and said, "Nice to meet you both."
Roy followed Iris to stand on her left. But as he extended his right paw to them, his eyes wandered over their curvy bodies encased in the tight clothing they were wearing. His body temperature rose slightly as he grasped Tina's paw, then Katerina's, and said, "You two are stunningly beautiful. I can see why you both fell for the other."
Hearing her tomfriend call them Stunningly Beautiful made her slightly jealous. She elbowed Roy's right, then stood there with her arms crossed over her chest and her tail whipping back and forth in displeasure.
Roy grimaced in discomfort from the jab. He rubbed hs side with his right paw, and said, "Who knew the girl I love would have a jealous streak."
"Not jealous, possessive of what is mine," Iris stated.
Roy stopped rubbing his side and snaked his arms around her waist, and said, "I know who I belong to." He then brought his lips to hers in a short but passionate kiss.
While Roy and Iris kissed, all four young kittens came over to Katerina and Tina, asking if they could touch Tina's fur since they have never seen a cat like her before.
Of course, Tina agreed to let them touch her.
Each one was completely fascinated with the texture of her dense but soft fur.
As Tina explained her heritage to the young kittens, Jake went over to Roy and Iris, and said, "I had a meeting with my board members. Claw-Tek will be paying for both of your new limbs, the surgeries, and recoveries."
Iris started to tear up as she said, "I don't even know what to say, Mr. Clawson."
"Its Jake, Iris and you're welcome. My wife and I don't want to see either of you held back with inferior prosthetics," Jake said.
An older she-cat entered the room. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a green sweatshirt. Her body wasn't shapely as Tina's, Katerina's, or even Iris'. Hers was pear shaped. She said, "Roy, are you going to introduce me to your friends?"
Roy turned to her, and said, "Of course, mom. Come in and meet Jake, Tina, and Katerina."
Mrs. Warrens entered the room, and said, "Nice to meet all of you. Though I wish it was under better circumstances."
"Da, nice to meet you, as well. I'm Katerina. My mate and Fiancée is Tina, and Jake is the tom which is the brains behind our little group of friends," Katerina said.
Mrs. Warrens looked over to Tina, then back to Katerina, and asked, "You're both lesbians?"
"Niet. Tina is a lesbian, I'm Bi. I hope our preferences will not be an issue?" Katerina asked, her tone changing to a slightly defensive one.
"Not from me, my husband, or my son," Mrs. Warrens stated. "I raised him better than that."
"And she did her job, very well," Roy said. "If I wasn't in love and I knew you were available, Katerina, I would be begging you to go out with me."
Iris shot him a look of displeasure again. But before she could say something, Roy's mother asked, "Who are you in love with, Roy?"
"Mom, I'm in love with this goddess standing next to me. Please meet, Iris Murphy," Roy answered.
His mother narrowed her gaze at Iris. She walked over to stand in front of her and peered down at her. Then asked, "Do you love him, Iris?"
"Mrs. Warrens, I do love him, just as much as he loves me," Iris answered.
"And that's only one of the reasons, I offered to give them both new prosthetics that are much more advanced than anything out there," Jake said.
Mrs. Warrens whipped her head around to face Jake, and asked, "And who are you?"
Jake extended his paw to her, and answered, "I'm Jake Clawson, owner of Claw-Tek Industries. My team has developed a series of Advanced Prosthetics which behaves like a regular limb. In time, Iris and Roy won't even know they have prosthetics."
Mrs. Murphy entered the Common Room, expecting to see her daughter, reading by one of the windows. Instead, she walked in to see Iris standing next to Roy, with his good arm around her waist. They were both talking to a tom she didn't know. "I thought I would find you alone in here, Iris. Not with your so-called tomfriend, and who are those two she-cats? They aren't dressed like any Nurse I've ever seen?" She asked.
Iris faced her mother, and answered, "Mother! Roy IS my tomfriend! Those two are Tina and Katerina. They are friends of Mr. Clawson, the tom who is going to pay for my new limb and all the costs which go along with it."
Jake went over to Mrs. Murphy and said, "I'm Jake Clawson, owner of Claw-Tek. My wife has met Iris a few times. She considers her a friend as well. She and I don't want to see Iris or Roy held back with outdated prosthetics. Which is why I have made the offer to give them new ones, which will appear and behave like a natural limb."
"Iris' prosthetic is the best our insurance company could provide! She doesn't need another prothesis!" Mrs. Murphy stated.
"With all due respect, Mrs. Murphy, have you noticed how Iris is walking? Her current prosthetic doesn't fit her well, causing her to walk with a limp. She currently can't run, she can barely dance, and with time, her favoring her other leg will cause other medical complications. Both Iris and Roy will have detailed measurements of their bodies performed so their new prosthetics can be custom made for their bodies alone. After the surgery, and time, she will be able to have a normal life, instead of having to limp and eventually rely on mechanical support to assist her with getting around," Jake said.
Mrs. Murphy looked over to her daughter, and asked, "Is this true? You are having difficulty walking?"
"Yes, mother," Iris responded. "Even Dr. Earnheart has commented on how poorly my prosthetic fits. I want to accept Mr. Clawson's offer. I hate not being able to walk properly and I really hated not being able to dance with the tom I'm in love with."
Mrs. Murphy ground her teeth together, let out a low growl, and said, "Once you are separated from that boy, you will forget about him. I'm completely against this whole thing! Your father will call another Orthopedic and have you re-fitted, Iris!"
Roy pulled Iris closer to him, and asked, "What do you mean, she will forget about me?! I'm sorry, Mrs. Murphy, but I will not forget about her, ever! Since we had our meeting with Dr. Fang, where we declared our feelings for each other, she's all I have been thinking about! You can try to separate us, but I will never stop loving Iris!"
"And I love Roy, mother! I don't want to be separated from him either! We were talking about what our plans are after graduation and we want to attend the same college!" Iris said.
"You will do no such thing, young lady! He can go to any school that will accept him. You have already been accepted at your father's Alma-Ata, and you're going there! And maybe you'll find a nice tom of pedigree and settle down with him," Mrs. Murphy said.
"No, I won't!" Iris yelled. "I want to go to school where I want! I want that new prosthetic; Mr. Clawson has so generously offered! And I want to be with Roy though it all! I'm almost eighteen, I don't need your consent!"
"Ladies let's calm down before someone says or does something, they will regret," Jake said.
"You're right. You are almost eighteen! If you don't want to listen to what your mother has to say, you can get out of my house!" Mrs. Murphy stated.
Tina put one of the kittens down, took Katerina by the paw, led her over to the conversation, and asked, "You're seriously going to throw your daughter out, because she wants to live her own life!?"
Mrs. Murphy face Tina, and answered, "If she doesn't want my opinion, then yes. She can live on her own and find her own way. Oh, and what type of Friendship do you and that other tramp have with Mr. Clawson? From the way both of you are dressed, I'm assuming its nothing his wife would approve of."
Tina barred her claws from her paws and was prepared to tear into Mrs. Murphy. But Katerina held her back. Her head whipped to Mrs. Murphy, and said, "The Clawsons are two of our dearest friends, if not family. My mate and I were heading to the gym when Felina, his wife called to ask us to be with her before she had her surgery! We dropped everything to be with her in her time of need! That's the type of relationship, Tina and I have with our extended family! We are willing to drop anything and everything to be what they need!"
Iris was now crying into Roy's shoulder, with his mother comforting them both. She said, "Mrs. Murphy, you're being quite selfish about your daughter's wishes. Please reconsider your words."
"I will not!" Mrs. Murphy stated. "If my daughter thinks she can live her life better than I have planned. Then she can do it, without me or my husband. Once she turns eighteen, she can leave. The choice is hers." She stomped out of the room, almost knocking Daniella over in the process.
"What was that truck, in a very ugly pantsuit who hit me?" Daniella asked. She looked to her left and saw Iris crying into Roy's shoulder and went over to her. "Hey, why are you crying, Iris?" She asked.
Iris didn't stop though. She continued crying into Roy, completely soaking his shirt with her tears. Roy answered, "Doctor, her mother more or less threw her out of the house, once she turns eighteen just now because she wants to be with me."
Daniella scowled, let out a frustrated growl, and said, "Give me a minute, and I'll be right back." She turned around and left the room. With her fists clenched at her sides, she briskly walked down the hall to the elevators, where she found Mrs. Murphy. She stopped in front of her and spat, "You're seriously going to kick Iris out, over her relationship with Roy?"
"Who are you? You're not her doctor. Why should I listen to anything you have to say?" Mrs. Murphy asked.
"I'm Iris' doctor's mother! Iris and Cheryl have grown close during her stay. Cheryl has told me, Iris really likes the way Roy makes her feel, and doesn't want those feelings to subside. I've witnessed the type of relationship, Iris and Roy have. Its very similar to mine and my husband's. If my daughter and I are right, when they graduate college, Roy is going to put a ring on her finger, with your blessing or without it."
"What occurs between me and my daughter, is not your concern, doctor. However, since you seem to want to put your nose where it doesn't belong. Iris should be dating a tom who's worthy of her affections, and not some mangy thing that crawled in from the street," Mrs. Murphy said.
"Roy is not some mangy tom, as you have stated, Mrs. Murphy! He might not have the same pedigree as you, but he gave up his arm, to help another, he cares for those around him, since he's been here, I've seen him playing with the younger kittens in the ward, just for the fun of it, and he really loves your daughter! He's more than worthy of your daughter's affections! Just watch how the two of them interact with the other! They are like two peas in a pod! If they weren't paired up together for PT, I doubt either one would have excelled the way they have! I doubt any tom of pedigree has those qualities!" Daniella said and rested her weight on her haunches.
"You're entitled to your opinion, doctor as I am entitled to mine! That boy will never amount to any good, and I will not allow Iris to follow him! If she chooses him, over me, she can leave! The choice is hers alone!" Mrs. Murphy yelled.
Daniella stood up as straight as an arrow, and said, "You're right. You are entitled to your opinion as I am to mine. And my opinion of you is, you're a stuck up, self-centered she-cat who when she gets cornered, she threatens those who corner her. Glad you're not one of my patients, cause if you were, I'd neuter you, just so you can't reproduce again! Good day, Mrs. Murphy and good riddance!" She walked away with her head held high and her tail swaying.
She returned to the Common Room to see Iris sitting on one of the couches, with Roy on her left, his arm was around her shoulders, Tina was sitting to her right, Katerina was sitting next to Tina, and Jake was crouched down in front of her. She approached the group and said, "I'm not sure if I made the situation better or worse. However, I hope I knocked some sense into your mother, Iris."
Iris looked up to her with a tear-stained face, and asked, "What happened?"
"Your mother stated her opinion on the situation, and I stated mine. Let's leave it at that," Daniella answered. She focused on Jake, took a deep breath, then said, "Jake, Felina is in recovery. But before you head there, there is something you ought to know."
Jake got up and faced her, and cautiously asked, "Is she alright?"
"She is, now," Daniella answered. "There was a complication with the procedure, resulting in Felina to require a Hysterectomy. Hate me all you want. However, I did what I had a to do in order to save her life."
Jake was visibly shaking. He wanted to vomit, right there. But after letting the news about the she-cat he loved; almost more than anything; almost dying digest and knowing she's alive and recovering. He regained his faculties, and said, "We could never hate you, Daniella. You're a great doctor, and even a better friend. Can I see my wife?"
"Of course, come with me," Daniella said.
As the two started to leave the room, Jake stopped, turned around to face Iris and Roy, and said, "If your mother decides to kick you out, we'll think of something together."
The two walked back to the Operating Suites floor and to the Recovery Room. Daniella opened the door and entered. The sounds of several EKG machines beeping behind the curtains and some Ventilators was the only sound present. Daniella checked the board mounted on the wall to find out which curtain Felina was behind. She then led Jake through the room to one of the last curtained off sections in the room. She turned to the right to Jake and said, "She will have two IVs, an EKG, and a Pulse-Ox monitor attached to her. She might still be out from the Anesthesia as well. I had to open her up further than I planned. So, she will be in some minor discomfort as the wound heals. My father should be in there with her."
Daniella pulled back the curtain to reveal Felina's sleeping body, and Jake's stomach dropped. Seeing her lying completely still with an Oxygen mask on her face, covered with condensation with every breath she exhales, shook him to the core.
Daniella grabbed a chair from the adjacent area and guided Jake to it.
Henry was holding Felina's left paw in both of his. He rose when Daniella guided Jake to sit down and walked over to him. "She'll be fine, Jake. That I promise. This appears much worse than it really is."
"Thanks, doc," Jake said. He looked back over to Felina again, and said, "She means the world to me. I'm not sure what I would do, if she wasn't here."
"Stop thinking like that, Jake," Henry said. "You and she are going to have long lives together."
Felina's eyes fluttered and focused on the Overhead Fluorescent Light. She tried to speak, but the Oxygen mask impeded her speech. However, her EKG's beeping increased, signaling the change in her consciousness.
The change in rhythm alerted Henry and Daniella. They returned to Felina with Henry on her left and Daniella on her right.
Daniella gazed at the monitor, checking Felina's Oxygen saturation and her heart rate, while Henry asked, "How are you feeling?"
She tried to respond, but once again, the Oxygen Mask prevented her from speaking.
Daniella said, "Let me get that for you." Then removed the mask from her.
Felina took a deep breath, then asked, "Can I get some water?"
Henry was already anticipating her request. In his paws was a light blue plastic pitcher containing ice water and a plastic cup with a straw in the other. He partially filled the cup with water, placed the pitcher back on the End Table, and brought the cup over to her. "Sip, slowly."
She took a few small sips through the straw, then said, "I feel like I've been shot in the abdomen with a large caliber bullet."
Daniella took a breath, and said, "That's my fault. I had to open you up, much further than I anticipated to remove your uterus."
Felina's eyes shot open, then asked, "What happened?"
"I must have nicked a Blood Vessel hidden behind one of the Fibroids. That vessel started hemorrhaging. In order to stop the bleed, I was forced to perform a Hysterectomy," Daniella answered. She started to tear up, and said, "I'm so sorry, Felina. This was supposed to be a simple procedure, not something which will have consequences for years." She slumped forward and bawled into Felina's right arm.
Felina lifted her left arm and gently placed in on the back of Daniella's head. She stoked Daniella's hair, and said, "I know, you did what you had to do. There's no reason to appologize."
Daniella lifted her head from Felina's arm, and asked, "You're not mad?"
"No. I can never be mad at you over something you did in the heat of the moment to save my life," Felina replied.
Jake stood to the right of Daniella, and asked, "I'm grateful you saved Felina, but what are these consequences you mentioned?"
"She's going to need hormone replacement therapy for the next twenty years. Depending on how she reacts to the treatment, she might have severe mood swings," Daniella answered.
"You mean, she'll act completely normal?" Jake asked and laughed for a few seconds, then said, "My wife's mood changes with the wind. If that is all we'll have to deal with, we'll be perfectly fine."
End of Chapter