Change (Kitsune)

by Melissa Stevens

  "That's pretty much what I've determined." I heard a door open in the back of the building and I looked at Alexis to see if she knew who it might be. "That'll be Caden; he's one of our enforcers. He's supposed to be here any time I am, but he was running late this morning."

  "So he's like your Gabriel or Terry?"

  "Kind of, but for different reasons. Bill and Karen have Gabriel and Terry because they’re Anikitos and Alekto, and their rank all but demands they have them. I have Caden not because I'm Harmonia but because I'm one of the few in the pack with any healing Talent, and the strongest. Anyone in that kind of position would be assigned an enforcer to guard and assist them regardless of their rank."

  "Is healing a talent that endangers you?" I asked, confused.

  "Not in the way you're thinking. No one is out to get me or would really hurt me on purpose, and nothing about my talent does more than take energy. But when someone is hurt, emotions run high, or even the animal form steps to the forefront, and the injured person could inadvertently injure me. Most often though, it's not the patient I have to worry about, it’s their nearest and dearest. Caden is here to handle that so I don't have to worry about it. So I can concentrate on my patient. Sometimes though I physically need his help. I have the strength to set most bones but sometimes it takes two people to get the right leverage, that kind of thing."

  "I see. That makes sense." I nodded.

  "Caden, there you are." She looked past me down the hall at the man who had just come in. "This is Nickie Daniels, she's going to be spending some time with us here, and seeing if I can teach her to call animal forms." Turning back to me she finished the introductions, "Nickie, this is Caden Bradley, he should be here anytime we are, and if he can't be here, he's to arrange for a replacement. The rule for me, that I'm going to extend to you, is you never work a shift here, or go out on a healing call without an enforcer present. If something happens that you get called out without me, not something I foresee, but just in case, call Bill or the Theron and request one to go with you."

  The man headed our way up the hall was huge, easily 6'6" with chiseled features that accented his ice blue eyes. His hair was pale blond and long enough to be pulled back into a low pony tail, but since I had to look so far up at him, I wasn't sure how long the pony tail might be.

  "Nice to meet you, Caden." I said , extending my hand toward him.

  He shook my hand firmly, but without crushing it as he said "Nice to meet you too. Are you the Anikitos' Nickie?"

  "That's not the way I would put it, but yeah, I guess I am."

  "How would you put it?" He wanted to know, his deep voice was suspicious but not unfriendly.

  "I don't know. Bill's like a second father to me, but I just don't think of myself as his."

  "Okay, I see what you mean. You're not trying to scorn the Anikitos, you just don't automatically relate yourself to him."

  "Exactly."

  "That may change in time, or it may not. Being able to claim such a relationship to the Anikitos is a rare thing and you may want to take advantage of it, at least for a while.”

  "But taking advantage of something like that will make me seem weak, won't it?"

  "Maybe to some, others would see it as smart. It would depend on how it's done and whether it's done to protect yourself from those who would take advantage of someone who's new to the pack, or if it's used to shield you from any threat that might come along. Also, how long one uses such a relationship for protection is a big factor. If it's just used until you learn how things are done and maybe establish some of your reputation, it wouldn't be taken as an abuse, however if it's never given up, that would be."

  "I see what you mean. I'll keep that in mind, thank you." I said sincerely, my mind spinning with what he was saying to me as I turned back to Alexis. "Are we through with the tour?"

  "Almost, we only have the front room left." She told me.

  "If you're done with me for a while I'll be in the back reading for now." Caden put in.

  "That's fine," Alexis said, turning back to finish my tour, "You may not have noticed when you came in but we have a screen in here, it's hooked to the net, and you can find pretty much anything you care to watch there. You're welcome to read, or study or pretty much do whatever you want until someone comes in. The computer on the desk isn't hooked to the net; it's where we keep our records. We also have a room with some gym equipment if you get bored."

  "I'll remember that, and I'll bring something with me to occupy myself next week."

  "That'll be fine. As for today, I was afraid you might not be prepared for as much doing nothing as we do around here, but I thought we could use the time to get to know each other a little better.

  "I'm sure that Bill and Karen have done their best to ease you into how things work in the new world that you've found yourself thrust into, but I want to know I'm more than willing to answer any questions you might have. Maybe something you'd rather ask someone a little closer to your own age."

  "I do have a few questions, but they're not really urgent, more that I'm curious and nosy." I laughed.

  "I'll answer what I can."

  We spent the rest of the day chatting and visiting, I asked a few of the questions that had occurred to me and I was glad to be getting straight answers from Alexis. She spoke to me as an equal and I appreciated that. We spent some time with Caden as well, and we were becoming fast friends and it was nice to have discovered a woman among the Kindred who was kind of near my age, one whom I could ask all the more personal and embarrassing questions that I had.

  Chapter 10

  It was mid-morning on Saturday and I'd already spent over an hour in the pool doing laps, my main form of exercise in the summer. I was lounging in a chair next to the pool enjoying the nice day when I heard my PCD signal an incoming call. I picked it up, checking the screen when saw that it was Izzy. I hit the accept button put the device to my ear.

  "Hey, Girl, how you doing?" I said.

  "Pretty good, how has your week been?" I heard her voice on the other end.

  "Busy. I had some stuff come up and I ended up taking the week off. I thought I'd have a chance to get together but I swear, I've done nothing but run around like a chicken with my head cut off all week. I'm gonna need to go back to work to get some rest. How's your week gone?"

  "Busy as always. You interested in going out tonight?" I scrambled for an excuse. What could I say that wouldn’t sound like a lame excuse to ditch her? She’d know if I outright lied to her.

  "Sorry, I'm just gonna relax tonight. After my crazy week, I don't feel like going anywhere, or being social with anyone." I felt guilty for not going but I knew I couldn't handle another club, not this soon.

  "Okay. Maybe we can get together for lunch one day next week?"

  "That sounds like fun. If I forget to call you, can you call me near the end of the week and see what my schedule looks like?"

  "Sure, no problem. I guess I'll catch you later then."

  "Later, bye"

  "Bye" she said, I heard the click of her disconnecting before could hit the button myself

  Sunday morning I was in the kitchen working on putting together a couple of casseroles when I heard a knock on my apartment door. Walking into the living room to answer it I realized I could smell Brandon. I felt a smile form on my face as I opened the door.

  "Hey, how you doing?" I asked, happy to see him.

  "Good, I thought I'd stop in and see what you're up to this morning."

  "Come on in. I'm getting a couple put together for during the week. So that when I come in from work, and I don't feel like cooking something I can just pop them in the oven. That way I'll get enough to eat and not be tempted to just do without, just because I don't feel like cooking."

  "That's a good idea. Why is it that women have all these great ideas, and execute them too and men have take-out and frozen pizza?"

  "We got the brains and beauty both, I guess." I quipped, grinning. He just shook his he
ad at me and let the smart remark go.

  "So, how did the rest of your week go?"

  "Pretty good I guess. I spent Wednesday morning working with Bill, and then I met his enforcers. That evening I had dinner with Bill and Karen, and I met the Lysandros and Harmonia, after we discussed what happened with you on Tuesday, it was decided that I should start spending time at the clinic on Fridays so that hopefully I can learn to call animal forms. Thursday morning was mine but I spent the afternoon with Karen working on shielding. That evening I went to dinner with Gabriel and he told me more about the Kindred. Day before yesterday was my first Friday at the clinic and I met Caden. We didn't do much of anything but from what Alexis told me, we just kinda have to be there in case someone shows up. And yesterday I did a whole lot of nothing... A little swimming, a bit housework but yesterday was the most normal day I've had since we went hiking."

  "I'll bet. You've had a lot of changes to deal with in the last week, are you really okay with it all?"

  "A lot is just a bit of an understatement..." I laughed.

  "Did you say you went out on a date with Gabriel?" Brandon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  "No. I said I went to dinner with him. I made it clear to him that I've got enough to deal with in my life and I'm not interested in a relationship right now. My whole world has been turned upside down and I am still trying to decide if it was in a good way or a bad way, the last thing I need is to try to juggle a romance right now."

  "I guess that makes sense. And which way are you leaning right now?" He seemed to relax some.

  "To the good, I guess. I mostly try not to think about it too much. I deal what what's in front of me right now and try not worry about what might happen later. I’m sure it's gonna all hit me sometime, but I'll deal with it when it happens. Other than not being able to tell my family and most of my friends I don't see a whole lot of bad in the whole thing, but I expect I'll find out some of the more negative aspects soon enough."

  "Is there anything I can do to help?"

  "Are you capable of rewinding time and making things not happen?"

  "Nope, sorry,"

  "Then, no, I just have to learn to deal with what comes my way. And I will, eventually. It's just going to take some time. I'm certain I'll manage, you know I'm not one to give up."

  "A truer statement was never said," Brandon acknowledged, "What are your plans for tonight, do you wanna go do something?"

  "Dinner with my family."

  "Oh, that's right. I'd forgotten that Sunday nights are your mandatory family dinner. How are you dealing with keeping a secret like this from them? I know you guys normally share everything."

  "Well, Bill's told me I can tell my parents, if I want to, but not my siblings. I just haven't decided if, or when, I'm going to tell them yet. I'm having a hard enough time dealing with it, and it's me it's happening to. I don't know how well they'll take it, and if they'll be able to deal with it all, especially while I'm still trying to deal with it all."

  "They'll probably take the news better than you think."

  "I don't know, and I think for now at least, I'm gonna keep quiet. Hopefully tonight'll be better than last week, especially since I've been practicing my shielding; I shouldn't be getting bits and pieces of their thoughts. That was more than a little disturbing."

  "I'll bet it was, especially when you had no clue how to stop it."

  "But I do now. I haven't picked up anyone's thoughts on accident for several days, so I'll see how it goes."

  "But you don't have to be there till late this afternoon. Do you want to do something between now and then? We could go for a run, see if we could get together enough to play a game of basketball, or we could go for a swim if you want?"

  "Nah, not today. I'm gonna finish this and get it in the fridge. Then I'm gonna work on finishing the laundry I started yesterday and never finished. And then about 3:30 or so I think I'll head over early and help Mom make dinner. I like that extra bit of time I get to spend with Mom and Dad when I have the time to go help. Plus this way, Mom doesn't have to make the whole meal by herself."

  "I understand, I guess I'll go find someone who wants to go have some fun. I'm looking to get out for a while. I've been feeling a bit restless."

  "Sorry that I have other plans. I hope you find someone to play with, good luck." I said, washing my hands so I could walk him to the door. "I'll catch you later this week sometime, and we'll get together. Okay?"

  "Sure, I'll catch you later." He said turning to head down the stairs from my front door. I went back inside and finished what I was doing.

  Chapter 11

  I'd only been off for a week when I decided that I was ready to go back to work. I had pretty good control of my new strength. After quite a bit of practice and a couple dozen broken eggs, I'd gotten to the point that I almost never broke a glass item I was handling, or crushed a doorknob in my hand as I tried to open the door.

  I got up early Monday morning and was sitting at my desk getting started for the day when my boss arrived.

  "Nickie! How are things going?" He asked.

  "Good, I got everything that needed my attention taken care of. Are you ready to have me back, Mr. Willowby?" I asked.

  "I sure am. I've missed you, and even if I was able to survive without you it wasn't easy. I appreciate what you do for me all the more now that you've spent a week gone. And don't think that it hadn't occurred to me that if I had such a hard time now with school out, how bad would it be if I had to do without you while school had been in session."

  "Maybe I'll have to take a week off during the school year and then you can really appreciate what I do for you." I teased.

  "No, please, I'm not sure I would survive such a thing." He said, his tone pleading, before breaking into a laugh.

  "Then maybe now is the time to approach you about that raise I was hoping for…" I grinned.

  "Hmm… I'll see what I can do; I certainly know you deserve one." He said, taking me seriously.

  "Sir, I was teasing."

  "You may have been, but I still think you deserve it, and I'll see what I can do." He said with a smile. "I would hate for someone to come along and steal you away from me simply because I failed to recognize your value to me."

  "If you insist, I won't argue. Let me see what we have here. I'm sure there's a back log of things to get done and I'll be busy all day getting caught up and earning that raise."

  "I'll let you get to it. I'm now quite certain that I couldn't live without you long term." He said. I just smiled at him and waited for my computer to finish its boot sequence as he walked into his office and closed the door. It took me most of the day to catch up on everything that had come in since I had last been in the office, but I soon had things in order and was back to my normal routine.

  When I arrived at the clinic on Friday morning for my second shift with Alexis and Caden I was far more comfortable than I had been the week before. I felt like I had some idea of what to expect, and what was expected of me. If there had been anyone come in with serious injuries or injuries they just couldn't heal well enough to go home they would be staying at the clinic. I parked my car on the street in front of the house again but this time I bypassed the front door and went directly to the gate at the side of the house and followed the stone path around the house to the building in the back yard. I walked in the unlocked front door and headed into the kitchen to put my purse in the cabinet Alexis had shown me, noticing that hers wasn't there yet. I was closing the cabinet door and turning to leave the room when the door on the other side of the room opened. Turning to see who had opened the door, I saw Caden entering the room through the door behind him I could see a small parking lot that I hadn't known existed.

  "Oh!" I exclaimed, "You startled me." I held one hand flat against my chest and could feel my heart beating fast beneath it.

  "Sorry, I didn't mean to." He stepped inside and closied the door behind himself. "Is Alexis here yet?"

  "I don't thi
nk so, I just got here myself but her purse isn't in the cabinet."

  "That means she's not in yet, but she'll be out soon, I'm sure."

  "That's fine." I said, and then it occurred to me to ask, "Do we have anyone here this morning?"

  "You mean overnighters?" he asked, when I nodded, he continued, "Not that I know of, there was no one when I left last night and the Lysandros probably would have called and let me know if someone had come in overnight."

  "Alright, if you don't mind I think I'll make a quick walk through, just to be sure."

  "Knock yourself out." He said, "I'm gonna start a pot of coffee. Do you want some?"

  "Don't make it on my account, but if you're gonna make it anyway, I'll probably have a cup."

  "I'm making it anyway, I make it every morning. It's good to have around, whether for me, or anyone who might come in."

  I nodded again stepping out of the room and starting my walk through, "Makes sense." I said over my shoulder as I stepped down the hall and looked into the bedroom at the end of the hall. The bed was neatly made, and nothing appeared to have been moved in the week since I had been here, but everything was clean, not a spot of dust in sight.

  I quickly walked through the rest of the building, looking into each room as I passed it, but I didn't seen anything obvious that needed to be done. I was walking into the front room, where the small reception desk sat, when the door opened and Alexis walked in.

  "Hey! You beat me here!" She said with a smile.

  "Yep, been here maybe five minutes."

  "And I can tell by the smell of coffee brewing that Caden's here too."

  "Yeah, he came in just after I did. He startled me, I was putting away my purse when the door opened."

  "That's right; I forgot to tell you last week. We have a small parking are in the back if you want to park your car there, then you can either use the back door like Caden does or you can use the rear gate and this door, your choice."