My eyes open slowly and my pupils try to dilate for the intense light I'm seeing. I'm in a hospital! My left arm was in a cast, and my head was bandaged. By the looks of the room, it seems that Clyde stuck me in a public hospital. I guess I have no reason to protest, I just hope he gave them a convincing lie on how I got injured like this. No need to drag civvies into this mess. I was alone as well. Well, that's depressing.
I get out of the bed and try to stand straight, things were still a little shaky. I only walk a few steps before realizing I was hooked up to an IV. Blood huh? Yeah, I did lose a lot of blood. I grab the stand and use it as an improvised crutch to help me over to the bathroom. I need water, and the sink was kind enough to grant me that wish. I stuck my muzzle under the faucet for an easier time, but that was debatable. Finishing up, I turn the knob shut and look in the mirror in front of me.
Yup, still handsome. The side of my head that wasn't bandaged had some crazy hair sticking out. My face had a few scratches, nothing too serious. I flip from one cheek to another, admiring my skin and green eyes. I hope my new scar won't affect my hair in a serious way! I open my mouth wide to check my teeth. I was actually grateful to have all of them perfectly aligned and normal. Honestly, I would've stared a lot longer if I hadn't heard a door open from outside of the bathroom.
"Troy?" the voice called. Immediately I knew it was Clyde. Aw, didn't think he cared enough to check on me. I walk out to greet him and hopefully get out of here too.
"Right here," I said, exiting the bathroom and wiping my mouth from the remaining water.
"Heh! What were you doing in there?" he asks, holding in some laughter.
"Getting wet."
"You seem stable enough. Are you feeling any better?"
"In comparison I suppose."
"Good, we need to hide for now, and we can't do it in a public place."
"Then why not bring me to the company's doctor?"
"I don't know, I guess I just panicked."
I walk past him and peek out of the door. Nobody in the hallway. "We can just leave?"
"Sure, just don't let any of the staff see you. We'll be fine."
Clyde unplugs the IV from my arm, letting a little blood drop on the floor. I start walking towards the exit, but then I feel the cold floor on my bare feet.
"Wait, my clothes! What did they do with them?"
"Good question."
I look around my room, but there was no wardrobe or dresser of any kind. Were all hospital rooms this bare and bleak? The bathroom only contained the sink, the tub, and the toilet. No storage in there.
"We're wasting too much time here. We need to go," Clyde ordered. With one last sigh, I gave up on getting clothes and stood next to him, waiting for his lead.
"What? Are we taking the window out of here?" I ask.
"Yeah, on the 4th floor? Good luck with that."
"It was a joke!"
"No jokes, just move!" he said. He grabs my shoulder and pushes me through the door and into the hallway. Still empty. He turns me right and proceeds down that way, where an elevator was near the end.
"We're going to use the elevator?" I ask.
"Yes, why what's wrong?"
"Aren't you worried that someone will notice us coming out of it?"
"Nope, there's nobody near this elevator. I checked while coming up." He presses the button to call the lift, and while we were waiting, he repeatedly looks down the hallway, obviously paranoid of incoming doctors. I was more worried about my clothes. The doors slid open, and we step inside quickly.
There was carpet in the lift. It was a nice change from the cold tile on my feet. We push the 1st level button and wait patiently for it to move.
"You know, usually there's music playing in these things," I said. He didn't seem amused at all. The first floor was reached and the doors slid open. As promised, it was vacant.
"Okay, we can't actually walk through the front entrance, so we'll take the staff parking exit on the west side," Clyde explains.
"Please, lead the way." I felt like I didn't get enough blood from that pack. My balance is still wobbly, and I'm completely drained of energy. It feels like I could topple at any time now, which is not a good feeling to have when you're trying to escape some place.
My vision blurred slightly, and I held on to Clyde's shirt to guide me safely. "Clyde-"
"Are you all right? You look kind of pale."
I let all my weight drop on him. "Carry me."
"Oh for God's sake! Here, get on my back."
"I can't hold on with one arm," I point out. He face-palms and turns down the hallway again. A moment later he looks back at me with an irritated expression on his face. Then he hoists me up like a damsel in distress: Cradled in his arms.
Being held like a baby must have been the best sleeping position I've ever discovered. Clyde didn't even make it out of the hospital before I passed out again. I awoke with the same circumstances as before, including the blood pack. Only this time it was a place that I recognized. Ispio Clinic Department.
*** *** ***
I've only been here a few times in the past, but that was when I was visiting Clyde after a close call. Now the cast is on the other arm, so to speak.
"Jesus, you done passing out yet?"
The sudden voice startled me, but my heart rate settled down when I saw Clyde sitting on a stool by my bedside.
I strained my groggy voice. "What day is it?"
"Tuesday."
"Oh."
"Yeah, you've only been gone for one day."
"I thought it would've been more dramatic than just one day."
"Want me to grant that wish?"
It took me a moment to realize that he meant to knock me out again. "Na, I'm good."
Our conversation was cut short when our decorated medic, Doctor Nivans, walked in. If you're looking for a first name, he never gave one. Not many know much about him, just that he's a human who's serious about his work. Oh, and he doesn't like the anthropomorphic race so much.
The good doctor looks at us, "Well, the hospital already patched you up, I'm just giving you some blood."
"Will I ever be able to walk again?" I jokingly ask, placing my good hand on my forehead in a theatrical manner. He didn't laugh.
"You got jokes, kid?" Well, that wasn't the reaction I was looking for. "Adams is coming to see you both, so stay put until she gets here."
As if on cue, Adams walks through the door frame carrying a worried expression with her. She stands next to me and kneels closer, gently rubbing my head with a motherly touch of her hand.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" she asks. I admit I don't really see this side of her nowadays. Better milk it while I can.
"The good doctor here says I'll be fine. (Fake cough) But he said that bringing me fresh baked cookies can speed up the healing process."
She stopped petting me. "Oh for Pete's sake! Tell me what happened!"
Clyde clears his throat. "There was an attack at Troy's personal habitat. One of our very own explosives was placed in his kitchen. Troy would've been toast if it wasn't for the fridge door taking in all the impact. And after the smoke cleared, two armed mercenaries jumped us with automatic fire."
"Yeah," I added, "and we dropped them right in my living room. I'm going to need some new furniture."
"I see," she began. "So we've either got a case of infiltration, or one of our own is a double agent."
Clyde scratches his chin, "My money is on the double agent. I think our security could've detected infiltration."
"You never know," I said. But I did side with Clyde on that. There's no other entrance besides the one that Amy guards, it's also the only exit. It has to be an inside job!
"Whatever it is, it's a serious leak of our information. If they pulled that bomb from our armory, they definitely have the building mapped out!" Adams explains.
I raise my head a bit. "So what would you have us do, boss?"
She sighs and crosses her arms, "You're injured, so stay safe and heal fast. Clyde, you're hereby on duty again."
"Better than sitting around all day," he said.
Adams left the room, and Clyde followed her out; leaving me to chat with the good doctor.
"So...can I get a sponge bath?" I ask in my woman voice.
Spoiler alert: He didn't laugh.