They got up and headed back along a hall to a suit of rooms. Luc was in the far left corner on a bed that looked like an elevated dog bed. He had lots of bandages wrapped around his neck and shoulder, but wasn’t moving much. He whined louder as they walked into the room. Meg walked over and sat on the edge of the bed and stroked his head and nose.
“Luc, it’s okay. We’re safe and you’re all fixed up,” she said softly. She still didn’t know what he understood, but figured it didn’t matter.
“You scared the hell out of us Luc, but I still love you,” said Ginny as she patted his back away from the bandages.
Luc whined again and tried to move towards Meg. Meg looked at the doctor who nodded and she then moved up onto the bed. Luc wrapped around her as best he could with his hurt shoulder across her lap. He sighed. “Soft one safe. Now rest,” he thought and then with a shudder went back to sleep.
“Good,” said Jeff.
“How is this good? He just curled up and went to sleep on me. What am I suppose to do?” asked Meg.
“Well, I suggest that you curl up and sleep. Just don’t lay on his bandages. If you’re hungry, we can get you some food. Or, we can spot you if you need to go to the bathroom. However, if you tried to leave, he try and follow. I didn’t realize how new your mating was or how attached he was to you. I take it the wolf side of him chose you before he gave in?” asked Jeff.
“Yes,” said both women at the same time.
“Not surprised. Never thought he’d ever mate. Stubborn bastard,” said Jeff.
“You know him?” asked Meg.
“Went to school with him. We were always best of friends or worst of enemies. Depending on the day or the minute,” said Jeff with a smile.
Ginny nodded. Meg sat there wrapped in wolf taking all this information in and trying to make sense of it.
“Are you hungry?” asked Ginny.
“Yeah, it seems like breakfast was ages ago,” said Meg. “I take it your hospital food is better than regular hospitals?” she asked wondering what would be on the menu. Kibble? Peanut butter dog biscuits? Raw steak?
“It isn’t too bad. Meat for those that want it or can eat it, and we order out for families,” said Jeff, knowing what must be going through Meg’s head. He smiled.
“Oh, okay. I’d love a salad with chicken on it,” she said after a moments thought.
“Grass? You want grass with chicken?” teased Jeff.
“What?” asked Meg, knowing she was being teased, but not understanding the how of it.
“Canines eat grass when they’re sick. So eating salad is like eating grass to some of us,” he explained as he turned and walked out the door to order Meg some food.
Ginny nodded. Meg just rolled her eyes.
*
Twenty minutes later, the nurse who introduced herself as Michele came in with Meg’s dinner. The salad was huge with lots of veggies, a big piece of grilled chicken and three different salad dressings. On the side of the tray were peanut butter cookies and iced tea. Michele brought a tray over for Meg and adjusted it to the right height.
“Thank you. This looks delicious,” said Meg as she started to eat.
“You’re welcome. If you need anything, just call,” said Michele and handed Meg a cord with a call button on it. “And when are you going to eat?” she asked Ginny.
“At home. I’ve got lots to do and if I don’t get moving, I’ll be asleep too. You take care of Luc and I’ll be back later,” she said.
Meg nodded as she had a mouthful of salad. She tried to eat slowly, but she was famished. Between the adrenaline crash, the hike that morning and the drive down the mountain, she had burned up every calorie she had. She finished off the salad and started in on the cookies. She smiled when she saw that they were peanut butter. For a moment she wondered if chocolate ever crossed the threshold, or did it come with a skull and crossed bones poison label. She giggled.
Meg realized she had to get up, and tried to do so without waking Luc. It didn’t work. He woke, so Meg hit the call button. Michele came in and worked on keeping Luc in bed. Meg headed for the bathroom. Looking down, she realized that her shirt was spattered with blood as were her jeans. She’d have to call Ginny to bring her some new clothes.
He whined. Whined loud enough that Meg could hear him through the bathroom walls. She tried to hurry up and when she came back in the room, he tried to get off the bed.
“No!” she said forcefully. “You stay on the bed!”
Luc dropped back to the bed. Michele looked from one to the other and smiled.
“I didn’t think you had it in you to keep him in bed. I’m impressed,” she said.
“Thanks. I may be human, but I’m a real bitch when I want to be,” said Meg. Both women laughed.
“I’ll bring you a blanket if you want,” Michele said as Meg took off her boots and jeans.
“That would be great,” she said as she crawled back up to snuggle with Luc.
Michele returned with the blankets and turned off the lights as she left.
Meg snuggled next to Luc and eventually drifted off. It had been one hell of a day.
The wolf sniffed his mate. “Soft one safe. I safe. Hurt,” he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
*
Ginny and Duke brought them home three days later. Luc had been allowed to shift the night before. Most of his stitches held and the doctor bandaged him up adequately for a human form. Meg had a bag full of pills. Some for pain and others for infection. They got Luc in bed and Meg looked around trying to figure out what to do. Luc was already drifting off to sleep. Jeff and Michele said he’d do that for the next few days.
“Meg, just go sit with him,” suggested Duke. “We brought your camping stuff back and Ginny and Bitty put it away for you already. There is plenty of food in the fridge and we are taking care of the office. Go relax.”