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Chapter 11: Emotional Aftermath

Back at Enforcer Headquarters, Feral paid very little attention to things around him. He moved his body by sheer willpower to his office. The Sergeant had eyed him in concern and had suggested he go home but got no response. He decided, despite how tired he himself was, he would wait and see if the Commander went home soon.

Feral went to his desk and stared blindly down at it for several moments, lost in an emotional turmoil he didn't know how to deal with. It took him many more minutes before he actually realized there was a letter laying in the center of his desk. Puzzled he picked it up and began to read.

"Commander Feral,

I know you're upset right now but all those that cared for you and the SWAT Kat felt this was the best way to save you both from a path of self destruction.

Please don't be so hard on yourself, get counseling to help you deal with what has happened to you for your sake and your kittens. Take care of yourself.

I admire you! You are a great Chief Enforcer and it was an honor working with you. I especially enjoyed your company and the interesting conversations we had together. I'm returning home now, my mission accomplished. Hope to see you again sometime in the future.

Sincerely, Major Reece Jaynard."

Feral lowered the letter and sighed. He was going to miss Jaynard. He had been good company. He was a little angry that the Kat had taken matters into his own paws but he understood duty and Jaynard's need to finish his assignment.

A yawn caught him unaware and he blinked sleepily. He realized he was very tired and should go home. With the serious threat to the city gone at last, he felt he could actually get some real rest for the first time in months. Yawning again, he closed and locked his office taking the letter with him.

The Sergeant sighed in relief when he spotted the Commander leaving headquarters at last. Yawning himself, he followed at a discrete distance to insure his superior reached home safely then finally, made his own way home.

When Razor finally reached home, T-Bone was already there waiting for him. He'd changed back to Chance and was sitting on a stool near a work bench as Razor roared in and shut off the cyclotron. Taking his helmet off slowly, he left it on the seat and walked toward his partner.

Chance just stared at him without a word. He decided to wait and see how Razor would react and respond accordingly.

"That was a very underhanded thing you did." Razor finally said flatly, his paws clenched in fists.

"Maybe, but it was for yours and Feral's own good so I don't feel guilty about it. Jaynard convinced us that this was the best way to solve our problem and his. He was tasked with finishing his mission by taking out those two permanently. Jaynard simply had a better chance of accomplishing it by using your inventions. He said they worked flawlessly and complimented you on your talents. He wished there were more of you to help them fight crime better. I said there's only one Razor and he's mine. He laughed and said I was a lucky Kat." Chance said quietly.

"Felina told Feral and I that. It still feels...I feel cheated somehow...but at the same time relieved. I'm confused!" Razor said distantly as he stripped off his uniform and moved to his locker.

Chance followed him and stood near as his friend changed clothes. "I know buddy. But it would be better if you just let that go. They are gone, concentrate on moving forward now." He said soothingly.

"I can't! Feral is still pregnant with my kit!" He said in a choked voice.

Chance moved forward and wrapped his arms around his partner. Jake wouldn't cry but accepted his partner's attempts to comfort him. They stood that way for some minutes before Jake finally pulled away.

"I'd appreciate it if you would let me handle this alone." Jake said flatly.

"Okay. If that's what you want. You know I'm here for you if you should change you mind." Chance said quietly.

"Yeah, I know...thanks." Jake said, his voice tired.

"Let's go to bed. Tomorrow's a new day." Chance said softly, coaxing his friend to head for bed. Jake didn't protest as they headed back upstairs.

A few weeks later...

Chance watched his partner continue to brood. Felina and the Sergeant, watched Feral spiral emotionally out of control. Despite repeated attempt to coax him into counseling, he stubbornly refused. Because of their identity issues, Chance didn't even have that option and was at his wits end at how to help his emotionally distraught partner.

The Commander just wasn't the type to unburden himself to a stranger so continued to tough it out. The kittens very real presence was a constant reminder of the true state of affairs for him. He could no longer hide his very obvious belly so he grimly went about his day, firmly ignoring the whispers and looks he got from his enforcers.

Meanwhile, Jake retreated within himself to Chance's dismay. He was worse now than when he'd been seeking revenge.

On top of that, the three watched helplessly as Feral and Razor clashed nearly all the time. It felt like a storm was brewing which seemed odd since Feral didn't blame Razor for his condition but every time they met it was with barely restrained fireworks.

It was confusing to the outsiders to understand what was going on in the pair's mind and why they seemed ready to go for each other's throats. It made for a strained atmosphere that was wearing on the ones that cared about them.

Things came to a tragic head some days later when Hard Drive made a run on the vault at a small bank on the outskirts of town. Apparently, he was short of cash and thought his chances of getting some and escaping with it would be easier at a smaller bank. Seems, with Dark Kat and Viper gone, he thought it best to get out of town. However, his clever plan was sabotaged by an alert night guard.

Before Hard Drive could get away with some ten thousand in loot, the enforcers were there as well as the SWAT Kats, who happened to be making an evening patrol. Feral should have been to bed but insomnia plagued him too often now so he heard the alert over his radio and quickly went down to the flight line.

The Sergeant and Felina were on day shift so they could monitor him hence, they were not on duty when the call came in and Feral was still at headquarters. Since he wasn't allowed to take a combat position, he ordered a pilot to take him to the site.

He arrived just after the SWAT Kats took down the techno crook with a trick that had worked before. Trapping the crook in an insulated missile. His enforcers were already taking it into custody when he pulled up.

Growling angrily, he stopped the pair from leaving and lit into them. Razor's ears flattened to his head and a low growl was emanating from his chest. T-Bone sighed mentally, surprised he wasn't giving in to anger as was his wont in the face of one of Feral's tirades...he just felt sad.

Feral's rant ended abruptly when a sharp and agonizing pain sliced through him. He gave a sharp cry of pain and doubled over. Razor quickly reached out to the dark tom as his legs slid out from under him and he went down.

Afraid of what might mean, T-Bone called out urgently to the enforcers nearby. An officer responded quickly, calling medical aid as he and a few others ran to their commander's side.

Razor held Feral in his arms as the big tom writhed in intense pain.

Feral grit his teeth but couldn't stop his cries from escaping. It felt like a knife was being plunged into his belly along with strong, intense cramping making him writhe in agony.

A siren was heard getting closer and moments later, the medics arrived. The SWAT Kats explained what happened when asked by the pair of medics that climbed out of the ambulance. Their faces were grim as they knelt down beside the stricken tom.

The older of the two EMT'S took Feral's vitals. "Blood pressure is dropping, he's sweaty and diaphoretic. He's obviously going into shock. Let's get an IV on board quickly. We've got to package him and go. I don't like how's breathing nor how pale he's getting. " He said tensely as he injected things to help with pain and shock.

His partner quickly got an IV going then pulled the gurney closer so they could lift Feral on it. The SWAT Kats and two other enforcers took a section of Feral's body.

"Alright everybody, lift at the count of three. One...two...three!" He barked. Everyone lifted at the same time and lowered the big tom gently onto the gurney. The drugs hadn't had time to ease the pain yet so Feral couldn't help but yowl when he was lifted and laid down again.

"We'll take you in the Turbokat. It'll be faster!" T-Bone said quickly as he helped move the gurney to the jet as Razor opened the cargo hold.

Feral was rolled in and Razor cinched the gurney into floor cleats to hold it steady. The medics took jump seats Razor had pulled down. He closed the cargo doors then climbed back up to his seat, giving T-Bone the go ahead to take off.

T-Bone sent the jet into a gentle lift so as not to put too much pressure on Feral then went into forward motion. It took him ten minutes to reach Megakat Trauma Hospital. The trauma team was waiting for them as soon as the Turbokat touched down.

Feral was quickly rolled out and rushed inside. His clothes were cut off as a team of doctors and nurses swarmed around him. He was barely aware enough to answer all their questions as a cold and heavy feeling began to drag his body and mind down. The pain was dulled somewhat by the drugs but he sensed he was dying.

"He's miscarrying and bleeding far too much!" The lead doctor said urgently as he packed Feral's vagina to try and slow the bleeding enough to get him to surgery. "Start two plasma packs now! Have at least four more sent to the operating room." He ordered.

Feral was wheeled upstairs to a waiting surgery suite. That first whiff of gas was all it took to send him to sleep.

Razor had Insisted on staying. He had be sure Feral would be alright so T-Bone didn't try to argue with him about how it would look...the SWAT Kats staying around in concern for their antagonist. Instead, he left for a few minutes to remove the Turbokat from the hospital's landing pad.

While T-Bone was gone, Razor contacted Felina. She had given them her phone number in case they had need of her. She was upset to learn of what had happened and told him she would be there as fast as possible. T-Bone returned and kept vigil with him. Only fifteen minutes later, Felina arrived and stood with them. No one felt like saying anything.

It was two hours later when the doctor responsible for Feral's case and the surgeon came out to speak to Felina.

"Your uncle will be alright. It was a good thing he had been brought in so quickly since he apparently had been bleeding unknowingly for possibly thirty minutes when his body went into premature labor. The contractions sped the bleeding up so that when he arrived he was in severe shock and near death. The placenta had detached from the uterine wall causing the crisis. I did a D & C to clean out the remains of the failed pregnancy, gave him another two units of blood and now he's stable. He should recover fairly quickly now." The surgeon explained quietly.

"The kitten..." Razor blurted before he could stop himself.

The trauma doctor looked at him in surprise but answered. "I'm sorry but the pregnancy wasn't viable. The foetus wasn't properly formed. If not for the placental abruption, he might have carried it to term and delivered a dead kitten. Believe me, it was kinder this way. Nothing he did or didn't do could have changed the outcome." He said gently.

Razor swallowed his pain and nodded unable to say anything more.

"Thank you! I appreciate all you've done for my uncle. When can he have visitors?" Felina asked softly, grief settling over her for her uncle and the loss of his kitten.

"He's going into recovery now. When he's stable, he'll be taken to a private room on the surgery floor rather than the maternity ward where he normally would have gone. I'll be checking on him later this evening but you can see him in about an hour. Go to the fourth floor and the nurses will know what room he's going to and you can wait there." The doctor said.

Felina nodded her thanks and the doctors headed off down the hall. She reached a tentative paw out to Razor's shoulder but the smaller SWAT Kat suddenly shot away for the exit. Felina stared after him sadly.

"I keep wishing this would be over but with the loss of the kitten, I don't think things will get any better." T-Bone said tiredly, a deep sadness lacing his voice.

"No, I'm afraid you're right there, T-Bone." Felina said sighing. T-Bone gave her a pat on the back and went after his partner.

He caught up to Razor who was standing on the hospital roof, just staring blindly off into the distance. T-Bone gently placed a comforting paw on his partner's shoulder.

"Let's go home, buddy. There's nothing we can do here now." He said quietly. He pushed his friend toward the part of the roof that was across from where he had parked the jet. Shooting out his grappling hook toward the other roof, he wrapped a powerful arm around his partner's waist and swung them over. He hadn't wanted to take a chance on Razor trying to do this in his upset emotional state.

He pulled them up onto the other roof. Razor made no complaint as his partner deposited him on his feet. He followed T-Bone to the jet, hopped aboard and stayed silent the whole way home.