Deciding it was time that I go see the doctor, I stood up, but quickly realized that that was probably a mistake because a wave of dizziness washed over me making me reach for the counter, but my fingers lost their purchase on it, and I started falling over.  I think Rufus caught me, but I don’t know because before I fell very far, my world turned dark as I passed out. 

I came to awareness and was greeted by the sound of beeping machines.  I am familiar enough with that sound to immediately know that I was in some sort of hospital room.  I must have been given some pain meds because my headache was almost all the way gone.  I tried to sit up, but I felt a strap across my chest restraining me.  My mind flashed back to when I was younger and I started to freak out.  My breathing increased and I flailed about just trying to get free.  I was shocked out of my panic when a hand landed on my shoulder and pushed me flat.  Then a face appeared above me. 

“Hush kitten, you’re fine.  Now that you are awake, I can take the strap off, just hold still for a second.  I explain everything shortly, just let me get this strap off and grab the doctor.”  Rufus says soothingly. 

Once the strap is gone, I carefully sit up, which caused my vision to start swimming again, but after a second of holding my head in my hands it clears up.  I look up to find that Rufus did get the doctor and they are now both looking at me with worry written all over their faces. 

“How bad is it?” I ask, “Last I remember we were in the kitchen and then I passed out after I stood up, but then I wake up strapped to a hospital bed and the two of you look like someone just killed your favorite pet.”

 They exchange glances before the doctor steps a little closer.  “My name is Gregory; I am the pack doctor.  You have been unconscious for almost 48 hours.  You did pass out in the kitchen, luckily Rufus picked you up and rushed you over here, or you could have been in a lot worse shape than you are.  There are a couple of factors at play which caused you to black out.  First you spiked a fever, I am guessing that because you are a cat shifter your temperature is normally higher an average human, but when I check it, your temp was reading at 104.2 degrees Fahrenheit.  This threw your body into a quick shut down so that all energy could be focused on reducing the fever before you started killing yourself from the inside out.  The other major thing, and the reason for strapping you to the bed was that you started have a seizure.  The strap was the easiest way to restrain you in case you spontaneously shifted.  A seizing human that weighs maybe 100 pounds soaking wet is a lot easier to deal with than a 130-pound cat with claws and teeth.  We were very worried about you, alpha Rufus in particular,” the doctor said shooting Rufus a teasing look.  “I am speculating that the majority of these issues stem from the heavy long-term sedation that Rufus told me that they had you under.  I suggest that you stay in the hospital for the next three days so that we can monitor you properly in case any other symptoms come up or the seizures come back.  If nothing else occurs, you will be discharged after that.  How does that sound?”

“Alright, that does make sense, better to be here in case anything else happens.” I look down at myself and see that I am now in a hospital gown.  Grimacing, I look back up and ask, “can I take a shower and get into other clothes? I have a very strong aversion to these gowns, plus I am sure that I smell quite bad at this point.  Also, some food if possible?  I am quite hungry.”

 “Yes of course.  Let me get a nurse in here to get you unhooked from those machines, then you can shower and change while I have some food brought up.  I will ask that the bathroom door be open, and someone be in the room while you shower.  There is of course a curtain on the shower for your privacy, but in case you collapse or start seizing again, I want someone to be able to grab you quickly.”

I look down to hide my blush at the idea of someone being able to hear me shower, but I agree to the doctors demands because they make sense.  He leaves to see about getting me some food that will be less likely to upset my stomach.  Shortly after a nurse comes in to unhook me from all the obnoxiously beeping machines. “My name is Faye, I will be taking care of you for the next few days, so just let me know if you need anything.  Doctor Greg said that you were going to take a shower, I will wait in here if you don’t mind, just to ensure that nothing bad happens to you again.”

Just as I was about to say something, Rufus speaks up.  “That won’t be necessary, I will be in here waiting for him.  I can make sure he gets clean without any incident.”

Faye just stares at him for a moment before saying, “of course alpha, just let me know if you need any help,” before walking out and closing the room door behind her.  I shoot a grateful look to Rufus before I swing my legs over the side of the bed and carefully make my way to my feet.  I am a little unsteady, but I manage to walk towards the open bathroom door. 

“Do you need help little kitten? I would be happy to scrub you down if you need me to.”  The cocky alpha says with a smirk. 

Just before I enter the bathroom, I look over and glare at him.  “I would have figured you won’t want to see me naked more than you already have.  I think I’ll be just fine on my own.”

“Oh no, I can’t get enough of your delicious body.  I’ll happily scrub down your creamy white skin any time,” he practically purrs with a devilish smirk.  I quickly duck into the bathroom while my face flames with embarrassment.  I close the door a little bit, just making sure that there is enough that I can hide behind while I pull off the stupid gown and hop into the shower.  I turn the water all the way to hot and enjoy the relaxing warmth for a while before I thoroughly scrub myself down from top to bottom.  I haven’t had a chance to wash myself at all since my capture.  Normally I would be able to at least groom myself in my cat form, but due to being unconscious the entire time, that too was not an option for me.  I was just about to get out of the shower when I hear a voice that is far closer than it should be. 

“Are you almost done in there? I don’t need to come in after and rescue you, do I?”

I stick my head from behind the shower curtain to find Rufus leaning against the counter with that same cocky smirk from before. “Oh my goodness, you scared me.  I’m just fine you creep, get out.  I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Oh, and what exactly will you be coming out in? I don’t see any clothes in here for you to wear.  Are you just going to wear the towel?”  The increasingly bold alpha just popped my happy bubble.  I was so relaxed after my shower, and now I just realized that I didn’t have anything to put back on besides a towel or the horrible hospital gown.  He must have seen the sadness and panic on my face because he dropped the flirtatious act and took pity on me.  “Don’t worry, I have some clothes that you can wear. They may not fit the best seeing as you are almost half my size, but I can promise that they are clean. Let me go grab them really quick, you enjoy the rest of your shower.” 

I pop back in and spend a few more minutes in the shower before turning off the water and reaching through the curtain to grab the towel that is hanging up.  I wrap it around myself before I pull back the curtain.  Luckily, Rufus had just placed a pile of clothes on the counter and then pulled the bathroom door mostly shut behind him on his way out.  I dry off and put the clothes on, but leave the towel wrapped around my hair as I walk out.  The shower helped level me out, so I am feeling a little more stable, but now I am just hungry and tired.  I start walking towards the bed but slow when I see some something sitting on top of it.  I glance over to Rufus who is trying to act like he is busy looking over at his phone, but I see that self-satisfied grin playing across his lips.  I break into a smile myself when I get to the bed and wrap myself up in the amazing fuzzy blanket from before. I love this blanket so much!! 

Once I get settled back in bed, with the blanket wrapped firmly around me, I look back to Rufus.  “Thank you for sharing your amazing blanket with me.  I don’t exactly know what it is, but this blanket makes me feel so relaxed, not to mention that is the softest blanket I have ever felt.”

The Alpha chuckled softly before saying, “You are welcome kitten.  I saw that you liked it so much and figured you might like something more comfortable to snuggle with while in the hospital.” 

“Yes, it’s great.  I don’t particularly like hospitals.  I have been in them too much for my liking, so thank you.” Rufus looked like he was going to say something, but then Faye walked in with a tray of food. 

“Doctor Greg asked me to bring this up to you.  He said to eat slowly and not stuff yourself.  If you feel like you are going to throw up, definitely stop eating, even if you only manage to eat a little bit.  It is better for you to just eat a little and keep it down, than overindulge and end up having it all come back up.” She brought the tray over and put it on the table that swings over the bed.  It looks delicious with some scrambled eggs, bacon, and a pancake.  There is also a bottle of orange juice as well as a glass of water.  I started eating, keeping the doctor’s orders in mind to eat slowly so I didn’t make myself sick.  Before eating I felt like I was starving, so I was surprised when I couldn’t even finish half of the small meal.  I did manage to eat all the bacon, because I absolutely love bacon and that would be just a terrible waste, but there were still eggs and more than half the pancake sitting on the plate when I decided that I should stop.  Looking over to Rufus I asked, “Would like the rest? You look like you are pretty hungry yourself.” 

He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed as he quickly finished off the food I couldn’t eat.  It only took four bites for him to finish.  While it was only a little bit of food, I was glad that it didn’t get wasted, and that I could feed Rufus, since he has been so kind to me and has help take such good care of me.  Moving the table try away, I stretched my back to try and relax a bit.  Rufus was still sitting on the edge of the bed, and when I looked at him, I go this overwhelming urge to hug him.  Looking up as him, I timidly asked, “Can I hug you?”

Without saying word, he opened his arms, and I curled up into him, wrapping my arms around his back.  Closing his arms, he pulled me in tight, and I just savored the warm of his body.  I quickly found myself getting quite tired, but I didn’t what to move away just to lay down, so I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep in his embrace.