Littermates

Littermates, 41/?
by Fannie Feazell (Scribe)

Chapter Forty-One
1966--New Life, of a Sort

The next two days were peaceful for Nana. The girls lay on the bed, as still as death. *Silly me. Of course they're as still as death--they're dead.* Nana left the room only to get food, feed her cats, and attend to bathroom needs. She knitted, she rocked, she read. She'd started on the Old Testament again. She'd always found it pretty amusing. How her father expected to cow her with his belt after she'd learned about the fire and slaughter God rained down on even his favored children was beyond her. But Father never DID make much of an effort to understand anything that didn't completely please him.

Clyde and Joel arrived just before dawn of the third day. Joel held a Barbie wardrobe case in one hand, and clutched Clyde's hand with the other. As a favored and stable patient, he was allowed out occasionally--under supervision. He never went unless he was with Clyde, though. He felt safe with Clyde, but still... The world still made him nervous. Meeting new people made him nervous, too, and he was having to cope with both today. But the old lady who opened the door looked so gentle and friendly, just like Nareesha and Milda had described her, that he couldn't be afraid of her. He leaned against Clyde shyly, but he smiled at her.

Nana returned the smile. "You're Joel. Oh, you're almost as pretty as my girls."

Joel beamed, not thinking the compliment the least bit odd. He giggled and said, "Clyde thinks I'm prettier."

"Yes, I'm prejudiced," said Clyde. "Inside, dear heart, inside. We still have a bit of time till sun up, but I don't like to linger outside when it gets this close."

They went in, and Nana shut and locked the door. As she slid a latch chain shut she said, "I used to only have one chain, but after I heard from you I installed another. Just to be on the safe side."

"You're a practical woman."

"Can I see Kitten now?" asked Joel.

"Yes," said Nana. "I think she'd like that. Come along." She led them upstairs to the girl's room. "Dr. Clyde, I thought you could take the room at the end of the hall. It used to be Colin's room. There's no window, so you won't have to worry about that."

"Perfect." Clyde gazed down at the still form on the bed. "Sleeping beauty." He picked up her hand and experimentally flexed her fingers and wrists. "Nice and limber. This is going beautifully." He set her hand back down. "Yes, I think we can look forward to having her back tomorrow night." He bit his lip and glanced over at Nana and Joel. "I think I should warn you two, though. I'm not ENTIRELY sure that all of them will come back."

"What do you mean?" said Nana sharply.

Clyde shrugged. "Just what I said. This is a unique situation, Nana. I know from observation that death and resurrection sometimes changes people drastically. Not always, mind you--not even usually. But sometimes. I can't be sure of how it's going to affect the girls. It might be that only one personality emerges. I certainly hope that isn't the case, but we ought to be prepared for it."

Joel looked stricken. "Kitten might not come back?"

Nana ignored her own worry to comfort the boy. She hugged him, saying, "Now Joel, I'm going to tell you what my mother used to say. In fact, it's one of the few things either of my parents ever told me that I've cared to remember. She used to say 'don't borrow trouble'. Do you know what that means?" Joel sniffed, shaking his head. "It means everyone has enough to worry about normally as it is, so don't go worrying about something that might not ever happen. Besides, positive thoughts help, don't you think? If you want to help Kitten the best thing you can do is just BELIEVE that she'll come back. Believe it with all your heart."

"Like in Peter Pan you clapped when Tinkerbelle was sick?"

"Like that."

Joel frowned. "But Nana, that was makebelieve. This is real."

"Well, dear, there are a lot of people in the world who would tell you that Dr. Clyde being able to kill the girls and have them come back wasn't real, but that doesn't make it not so, does it?"

Joel considered this. "Maybe there really are fairies somewhere?"

"Maybe."

Clyde patted him on the shoulder. "That means when in doubt, you should clap."

The boy nodded, and said sincerely, "I'd clap really, really hard for Kitten. I'd clap till my hands just about fell off."

"That won't be necessary. Just wish as hard as you can, and be here for her when she DOES some back."

Joel's face lit up again. "Yes!" He looked at Nana eagerly. "Clyde said I can feed them! I never fed anyone but Clyde." He frowned. "I don't WANT to feed anyone but him or the girls."

"That's right, pet," said Clyde. "And you won't have to, as long as I'm around." Clyde had taken off his jacket, and was rolling up his sleeve. "Joel, I want you to have one more drink before I go to sleep. Before you say anything, yes, I know you already had some today, and yes, I've been feeding you quite a bit more than usual. Don't be worried, sweetheart. Rita Repeater and a couple of the other donors have been making sure I don't over do it." He caressed the boy's cheek. "And we want your blood to be as rich and strong as possible. The more potent it is, the less the girls will need." He pulled out the same scalpel he'd used when he Embraced the girls and unsheathed it. "Sit down, so it will be easier for you." As Joel perched on the edge of the bed, Clyde explained, "I can't pump it out, so it's easier for him to drink if it flows downhill." He made a short, deep cut in his wrist and held his hand out to Joel.

Joel took hold of Clyde's hand and his elbow, pressed a kiss just above the cut, then began to drink. Clyde stroked his hair with his free hand, and smiled at Nana. "It's good to see a young one with a hearty appetite, isn't it?" Nana nodded, then giggled. "What? Tell. I love a good joke."

"Oh, I was just thinking. Here we are--a vampire psychiatrist feeding blood to a probably schizophrenic dancer, and an old madwoman who has bodies buried in the back yard, all waiting for a split personality werecat to awaken as a vampire." She giggled again. "And I think that the worst the neighbors have ever suspected was that I don't clean my house, or keep too many cats."

"The stupidity of mankind at large is an amazing thing, isn't it?" Joel had stopped drinking and was just licking at the sluggish flow of blood. "Had enough, baby boy?"

He sat back and folded his hands in his lap. "Yes, thank you."

Nana tutted. She plucked a tissue from a box on the bedside table and blotted his mouth. "You're as messy as Kitten. Joel, will you be staying up, or will you be going to sleep with Clyde?"

He glanced down at the sleeping girl, then said tentatively, "Could I sleep here with Kitten?"

"I don't think she'd mind. But are you sure, dear? She IS dead."

Joel gave her a 'duh' look. He looked at Clyde, who glanced at the ceiling, and whistled. "Nana, I sleep with a dead person all the time."

"Well, so you do. I didn't think of that. If you don't mind sharing the bed with the girls, it will be all right. There's a roll away, but I'm going to be sleeping there." She smiled almost apologetically. "I love them, but I tried it yesterday, and they're just a little too cold for me."

"That's settled, then," said Clyde. "I'm off to bed."

Joel jumped up. "I'll come tuck you in."

"No, you won't." Clyde grabbed the boy and did a fast tango with him. "You know what having you drink does to me, so I'm not having the temptation of being alone with you." He kissed Joel heartily. "Nana, I don't expect to over sleep, but if the girls stir at all I want you to either get me, or send Joel for me." He picked up his jacket and straightened his shirt collar. "They're more or less my daughters now. They haven't had much luck in the parental department so far, and I don't want to be another disappointment to them."

Clyde went off to his room. Nana said, "Now, dear, how do you sleep?"

"Usually on my tummy, unless I'm sleeping with Clyde. Then I hug him."

She smiled. "That's not what I meant. What do you wear?"

"Oh. When I'm in my own room I wear pajamas..." he blushed, "and when I'm with Clyde I usually don't wear anything."

"What do you say we compromise? I kept some of Colin's old T-shirts. You can wear one as a night shirt. It should be very comfortable. Want to do that?"

"Colin was Milda's boyfriend, right?"

Nana's smile became sad. "Yes. You know, you're a little like him--your coloring, and you're so polite and sweet. Now, let me see... I put the shirts in the bottom drawer." She opened the dresser and pulled out a soft gray T-shirt. "It seemed to help Milda a little to have Colin's things around her." She sighed. "But it would break my heart when I came in and found her lying in bed, with her cheek nestled into one of these shirts." She handed the shirt to him. "I'm going to visit the facilities one more time. That'll give you time to get into bed. Just pull that comforter up from the foot of the bed."

Nana went and made her bedtime toilette, putting on some fluffy, tiger striped slippers that Acacia had given her a long time ago, and wrapping herself in her old chenille bathrobe. She went down to the kitchen and collected a thermos of milk and a Tupperware container of danishes, and went back up to the bedroom. Joel was in the bed, wearing Colin's old shirt. He'd lain down beside Nareesha and pulled the comforter up over both of them. He was cuddled against her side, head close beside hers. When Nana came in he said, "She's not too very cold. Do you think she'll mind?" His tone became doubtful. "I know Kitten won't mind, or Milda, and I think that Nareesha would just tease me, but Casey... sometimes..."

"No, dear," said Nana calmly, setting down her burden. She removed the roll away bed from the closet and started to unfold it. "It's true that Acacia doesn't like men, but her feelings are entirely different when it comes to the innocent and harmless--and you're both. Would you like me to leave a little light for you?" Joel nodded. "I thought you might. I left the light on in the bathroom, and we'll just leave the door cracked open." She turned off the light, and a dim glow filtered in from the hall. Will that be enough?"

"Yes, thank you."

"There's a snack on the table beside you if you need it. I know you'll be a good boy and try not to spill anything."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good night, Joel."

"You mean 'good day'."

"Teaser."

The boy giggled.

In a few moments both were sleeping peacefully.

Nana awoke at about one o'clock. Joel was up and dressed, sitting in the rocking chair and rocking slowly as he ate a pineapple danish. "You're drinking milk with that, aren't you, dear?" Joel didn't stop chewing, but silently pointed to the thermos cup sitting on the table beside him, then the white rim over his upper lip. Nana laughed softly. "Get a tissue and wipe your mouth, dear." While he did so she got the robe off the foot of her cot and got into it. "Now, is that going to fill you up, or would you like to come to the kitchen for a sit-down breakfast?"

Joel swallowed. "I wouldn't mind. I'm s'posed to eat a lot, to be ready for tonight."

"Good. I like feeding people. You can go down while I get dressed if you like."

"I could wait."

"That would be fine. But you know, I'd appreciate it if you'd go down and check on the kittens for me--just make sure they're all right."

Joel's face lit up, and he stood quickly. "Can I touch them?"

"I think Lulu will let you. She's an old hand at being a mama now, and she's gotten very clever at telling who will be good to her babies."

When Nana went down to the kitchen, Joel was sitting cross-legged on the floor. Lulu was curled in his lap, and her three babies were crawling all over the delighted boy. "There," said Nana. "I knew that if you got along that well with my girls, my kitties would have to like you. Have you ever had pork chops for breakfast?"

Joel looked at her, round-eyed. "Pork chops?"

"You eat ham, bacon, or sausage for breakfast, don't you?"

Joel thought about it. "You're right. I like pork chops."

"Then I'll fry you a couple, and you can have them with home fries and some biscuits."

"Can I pop the cans open? I promise not to jump."

"Joel, I don't use canned biscuits. I make mine from scratch."

"Scratch? You mean..." He hooked his fingers at her and meowed.

Nana laughed. "I don't suppose your mama baked very much."

Joel was so interested in the baking that Nana agreed that he could help. He put the kittens back under the sink and washed his hands, then carefully measured out the milk for her. When she had the dough mixed he was allowed to knead it. He liked that, saying it was almost like playing with Play-Doh. Then he cut out the biscuits and carefully arranged them on the baking sheet, talking excitedly about saving some so he could show them to Kitten that evening.

The short afternoon passed quickly, and soon dusk began to fall. Before the sun touched the horizon, Joel went into Clyde's room and sat on the bed beside his lover. Joel liked to do this--watch Clyde while he slept. Clyde was always so animated, sometimes bordering on manic. But times like this he was peaceful, and Joel indulged himself in simply studying the older man. To Joel Clyde was the most beautiful thing on earth--because he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Clyde loved him, and loved him just as he was.

Clyde's eyes snapped open, startling Joel. "I didn't think it was time yet."

"It's not, quite." Clyde yawned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "Remember, I CAN be up daylight hours, as long as I'm protected from the sun. It's just SUCH a strain. But I wanted to be up and ready before the girls come back." He leaned over and kissed Joel. "Did you have a nice day with Nana?"

"Oh, yes! She let me make biscuits, and they're good! You can have one, if you want. I made enough."

"I look forward to it." Clyde stood and took Joel's hand, pulling him to his feet. "But it's time to go greet my new children." Clyde caressed Joel's cheek. "Are you sure about this, sweetheart? I can let them have more of my blood if you aren't."

"No, I want to do it. I'm not afraid."

"I know you aren't, my brave boy."

Nana had drawn her rocking chair up close to the bed a half hour before the sun started to go down. She didn't rock, but sat still, hands folded in her lap, watching the girl on the bed intently. She didn't move when Clyde came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder, saying softly, "The waiting is almost over, dear lady. Just a little more patience and you'll have your girls with you again, stronger and more beautiful than ever before."

"I've been waiting so long," Nana whispered.

"It's going to be worth it, believe me." Clyde perched on the edge of the bed beside her, taking her hand. "I should be the first one she sees. Joel, go and sit on her other side. Many sires let their childre find their own way back." He grimaced. "I've known some to just leave them where they fall, taking no precautions, declaring that if they don't survive then they simply weren't fated to survive. Sadistic assholes. They just enjoy the power of life and death. I'm going to be here for the girls." He reached out with his free hand and stroked the pale, cool forehead. "Nareesha. Acacia. Kitten. Milda. It's time to come home. No, I don't care what any white robed, feathered, shining idiot might have told you--wherever you are now is NOT your home. Your home is here." He smiled as he felt the hand tremble slightly. "And you are going to RULE!"