The Hospital

As we entered the hospital, I followed Father to the information station. I heard him ask the lady about who he should ask for information on Kyle and where triage was. I saw her point first in one direction and then in the other, as she spoke quietly to him.

I turned and marched in the first direction she had pointed but was stopped very suddenly by a large hand grabbing my wrist. I whirled around to face the Alpha.

"Where do you think you are going?" He asked me. "Triage is that way."

"I am not going through triage…" I began to explain, but he cut me off.

"My mate told me you were in shock and that is clearly your blood." He stated as he pointed to my ribs.

"But…"

"No.", He said in an authoritative tone. "I'm not listening to any thing more. I need to find Kyle."

He didn't let go of me and instead turned to five large werewolves who were with us. "You will all make sure she goes to triage. A doctor has to see to her and clear her health before she can join Kyle and the rest of us."

The Alpha then gave me such a hard look, that I couldn't meet his eye. "The more fuss you make about all this, the longer it will be before you can visit Kyle."

Then, he let go of me and walked away. I took a step forward and was blocked by my five new guards. I sighed, and then turned towards triage.

When it was my turn to check in, I told the lady my information as I handed over my medical card. When she handed my card back, she gave me my chart as well. I noticed the colour coding at the top; she had me on the priority list.

'Maybe that will be to my advantage.' I thought.

I stuck the chart in a slot on the triage door and then went to go sit in the waiting room.

'This is going to be so long and boring. How am I going to find out how Kyle is doing?' I wondered.

I looked around the room at the people who were waiting. They obviously had things wrong, but no one was bleeding out on the floor or had bones sticking out of their skin, so I figured the priority list probably wasn't too long.

I didn't have my phone with me. It was in my evening clutch that I had thrust at Kyle before rushing out of the meeting room. The only reason I had my medical card with me was a habit I had of storing both that and twenty dollars in my bra, anytime I had a night out anywhere. Better safe than sorry, I had always thought.

But what good had that done me? Our family wasn't safe right now, and I sure felt sorry. Sorry for myself as much as I did for Kyle, or for Mother and Father, who were beyond stressed and worried.

I asked one of my guards if he would go buy me a coffee. He agreed and as I told him what I wanted in it; I produced my twenty -dollar bill from my bra.

He shifted his weight uneasily from foot to foot, seeming hesitant to take my money. He looked at the floor as he said, "No, you know…that's ok. You can keep your money. I got this."

He turned on his heel and headed for the snack bar. I heard a few snickers as he left, but thankfully, if they had anything to say they mind-linked it to each other. I did not want to hear that conversation.

I bit my lip and wondered what was happening with Kyle. The thought crossed my mind to mind-link Mother, as clearly, I would get no where with Father.

'Mother, what's going on? Is Kyle ok?' I hoped Father didn't talk to her about our earlier conversation. Perhaps he forgot to, as she answered me.

'How are you, honey? Kyle is really sick right now.'

'I'm fine, it's all good.', I thought to her hurriedly, 'What is going on with him right now?'

'So, you have seen the doctor already? What did they say?'

'No. No, I'm waiting still. Tell me about Kyle.'

'Oh honey. Things got pretty rough with the situation. The doctors removed the bullet easily enough, but the bullet seems to have been dipped in some substance. He is unable to use his advanced werewolf healing. The doctors seem as worried about him as I am.'

She paused for a moment, as if she was distracted by something.

'Whatever the bullet was dipped in, it is acting on his system like a more powerful version of wolfsbane. The doctors advised the only way to save him was to but him into an induced coma…'

'What!? The doctors had to put him into a coma?'

'Shh! I know, I know. But it is the only thing we can do for now. Sam, I can't talk about this anymore. The doctors are back, and I have to talk to them.'

With that said, she blocked me off for the time being. I sat in my chair trying to process all that she told me.

I always thought of Kyle as strong. Now he was put in a coma to save his life!? What on earth was that bullet coated in? I had never heard of a situation like this before.

'They had better figure out what that stuff is and how to help him.', I thought to myself.

A shadow looming over me broke me out of my brooding thoughts. I looked up to see the werewolf guard who I had asked for a coffee earlier. Without saying a word, he held the take-out cup out to me.

"Thanks." I said as I took it from his hand. He grunted to acknowledge me and then turned and walked away.

I held the too hot coffee in my hands and thought to myself that the warmth was comforting.

Another ten minutes of waiting, and the doctor arrived.