Mouse & Clarissa
Mouse had tried to pretend it wasn't true. She could feel it...growing. Living. Damn it, she thought women who were breastfeeding weren't supposed to get pregnant!
She rested her hands over her stomach and wept silently. Bets cuddled up against her side and whined, nudging the girl's hands with her nose.
Pack should not have more pups now. Must let other pups grow up first. Let your body take it back into you.
"I can't..." Mouse whispered.
What if it was Taylor's? She loved him, still. Despite everything that had happened. But what if it was Zac's? Oh god oh god oh god...
She couldn't deal with this.
Mouse closed her eyes and tightened her hands around her stomach, trying hard not to cry and shatter, breaking again. She was too stressed already to deal with this. SHe couldn't...and her kids were draining. She was too young. This was all wrong.
Everything was screwed up. Everything she touched turned to ashes in her grip. Nevyn was lost, probably dead. Sparra had died, but her chicks were still around which was nice. Fafnir was dead. That...that was the biggest hole in her soul. At a time when she'd nearly died from loneliness, he;d taken her into the Pack and saved her mind from breaking because of her empathy. He'd sheltered her, rescued her from countless situations. And he was dead, because she had stopped running.
Running was looking very attractive right now...running, running and not stopping. Taylor would take her child from her, if he could. She knew that with a sick sort of twisted unreasoning fear. She just had to get away before that, that's all. Get away before anyone knew.
~*~*~*~
Clarissa opened her eyes and twisted her fingers through the phone cord as she picked up the phone.
Steel better be there. And she hoped he had some ideas.
Kirk
Kirk spun his mobile around his fingers in somewhat of a good mood for once before answering it.
"Yo Riss! How are ya babe?"
Clarissa
"Oh, just fine," Clarissa said dryly.
"Living in a house with someone who's losing her mind is just so comfortable for me."
She sighed slightly.
"Mouse is preggers."
Kirk
Kirk stood stock still for a moment and raised his eyebrows.
"Come again?" he began, "oh, nevermind. I guess the next obvious question is to who, exactly?"
Clarissa
"Well, there's exactly two candidates for that," Clarissa said.
She took two painkillers for her increasing headache.
"Taylor and Zac Hanson."
Kirk
Kirk scratched at the stubble on his chin for a moment.
"Ok. I guess you can't tell how far along she is right now, and the only way to identify the father is through DNA testing."
He rolled his eyes.
"And won't that be fun for all parties involved. Let me know if they eventually agree to one and I'll set it up."
Clarissa
"Depending who it is, I could tell you almost to the day," Clarissa said.
"If it's Taylor's, she concieved the 18th of January. If it's Zac's, the 17th of March."
Kirk
Kirk ran his fingers through his fluro blue spiked hair and licked his lips.
"See if you can get her and Zac to agree to a DNA test - don't even try with Taylor, because you won't get far. Depending on the outcome, we'll know who the father is either way. But this has to be done in secret. I don't need anyone finding out where you guys are."
Clarissa
"I'll ask Mouse," Clarissa said.
"Can you get Zac? I really don't want to leave the house. Her shields are crumbling without the wolf, and if she decides to run, which she's on the verge of doing, Bee may not be able to stop her. She's sneaky."
Kirk
"I'll see what I can do," Kirk scratched his head.
"But you might want to find out if Mouse is willing first... Don't need him showing up on the doorstep and freaking her out even more."
Clarissa
"I'll see what I can do," Clarissa said.
"But the whole thing is...she's afraid that they'll take her baby from her. I know they won't, you know it, but she's not very stable."
Kirk
"Well Zac wouldn't," Kirk agreed.
"But this would be Taylor's first child, and you can guess his state of mind at the moment."
Clarissa
"Oh man..." Clarissa sighed.
"I'm doing my best to hold this up, Steel, but I'm no head shrinker. And despite the flaws, her mind has one of the best natural mental shields I've met in a long time. Has to be, she's never been prooperly trained to use her empathy. So, she blocks most everything out. I force the shields, even a little, and I could kill her."
Kirk
"Well do you want some help? The offer's always there," Kirk insisted.
"I could give you whatever you wanted. Animal empath, an expert telepath, any species..."
Clarissa
"Whoever you think is best," Clarissa said.
"Someone with a knowledge of psychaitry at the least. Are there any animal empaths like that?"
Kirk
"There are," Steel nodded.
"Do you remember Jonah? I know you haven't seen him for a few years. The reason is because he's been studying psychiatry at college. I think he graduated last year actually... want me to give him a call?"
Clarissa
"Well, I doubt it would hurt," Clarissa said.
"May be good."
Kirk
"Hey babe," Kirk managed a smile.
"Just chill, ok? I'll give him a call as soon as I hang up, and send him over. Depending on how busy he is he'll get there tonight or tomorrow, early."
Clarissa
"Fantastic," Clarissa sighed.
"Hey, Steel? Next time, can I get an easy job? And nothing with children. Bleah, kids."
Kirk
"Riss, you know your skills led me to choose you for this project," Kirk couldn't help but smile.
"And I believe the kids are mainly Keltie's problem. If things get too tough just remember that you're only there for Mouse."
Clarissa
"I know, I rock," Clarissa said.
"And I'm cute too. Yeah, she takes care of them most of the time but the little girl is...she's a predator. She wants to eat my mind, it's slightly unnerving being around her."
Kirk
"I'm sure Jonah will help you work it out when he gets there. I'll call him now."
Steel pulled out a large address book and went sifting through for his number.
"Be good Riss."
Clarissa
"I try my hardest, or I won't get any presents from Santa," Clarissa quipped.
"See ya, Steel. I'll keep you informed."
She hung up and sighed.