To Love a Stray Ch. 15

"Will this do?" She asks as she forces a straight face.

I feel my face burn even brighter but I want to wear the jumper so badly, and I take a step forward as I reach for it. Jazzy hands it to me and I hold it up to my cheek to see if it is as soft as it looks. It feels warm and slightly fuzzy against my cheek and it still smells faintly like Micah. I hear the soft rustle of clothing being removed beside me and I glance at Micah. He has taken his shirt off and when he holds his hand out I pass him the jumper. I watch as he pulls it on, takes it off and then puts it on inside out as well. I try to repress the smile of approval as he takes it off and hands it back.

"You're wicked," I tell him.

"Now all you got to do is put it on," Jazzy informs me happily.

"Where the hell is my daughter?" I hear the loud yell and recognize Ray's voice.

Several moments later I hear the multiple footsteps outside. Swiftly I turn my back on the toms on the other side of the lounge and pull my t-shirt off over my head so I can slip the jumper on. I don't have time to go into a bedroom or the bathroom to change so I must make do best I can. I have no doubt Edwin will be with Ray and I don't want him being able to ogle the evidence of the child I carry or my new enhanced bust. I kick my discarded t-shirt under the edge of the lounge as I turn around to glance towards the doorway uneasily.

"Micah, can we come in?" Wade calls as the screen door opens.

"We're coming out. I will not have Edwin in here," Micah snarls as he moves around the lounge.

Sam catches hold of my uninjured elbow and guides me outside while Steven moves to walk on my other side. I am aware of Mitchell taking Jazzy's hand as they head out together and then I am in the bright sunlight of the morning. Even walking between Sam and Steven, I feel vulnerable and grab hold of Sam's hand as I long for Micah to be beside me.

Wade, Ray and Edwin are standing back by the tree that stands offering shade at the corner of the building and I look around for Marissa to see her standing well back by the house yard watching anxiously. I am slightly surprised when Donovan puts one of the kitchen chairs in the shade of the tree and Sam and Steven escort me over to it so I can sit down. Edwin is watching Micah warily, clearly expecting to have to fight while Wade and Ray clearly expect trouble.

"Jazzy, go over and keep your mother company," Micah orders firmly.

"Hello father," I say to Ray as Jazzy moves away reluctantly.

"Tawny Rosalind, I am so relieved to see you're okay," Ray tells me.

"Thank you," I say quietly.

"Rosy! I am so glad to see you! I was worried when I heard strays had taken you! I thought for sure you would lose the baby and possibly end up dead yourself," Edwin says with a rush. He is eyeing me with a worried expression and I realise that despite the distasteful manner in which he got me pregnant, that in his own way he does care for me.

"As you can see I'm alive and still pregnant," I say coldly.

Edwin switches his gaze from me to Micah and anger glows deep in his eyes.

"I see you just couldn't resist trying to make a statement," Edwin growls with a slight jerk of his head towards me. "But I can't help noticing she's not wearing a ring. Neither an engagement nor wedding, or haven't you had the balls to ask her yet?"

Micah glances my way and I see the worry deep in his eyes before he turns his attention back to Edwin.

"Right! You've seen Rosy is okay, so leave!" Micah snarls angrily and I notice his hands are clenching and unclenching.

"You have no right to stop me coming here and making sure Rosy is all right. After all it is my kitt she's carrying. I'm the father or did you forget that? Or maybe that's the reason she's not wearing a ring, you can't get past the fact she is carrying someone else's kitt so you don't want to ask her to marry you." Edwin goads Micah cruelly. Micah growls low in his throat and starts towards Edwin.

"Stop it," I cry as I get to my feet. "Micah don't! Edwin you stop it as well!" I yell angrily and rush between the two of them as Micah fails to listen to me. Someone grabs me from behind and drags me from between the two toms as they start to circle each other.

"Micah! Edwin! Both of you back off now," Wade yells but is too wise to get between the two toms. "Edwin! Back off! You do not live here any longer; it is not your right to start a fight!"

"Both stop right now or I am leaving here with Ray and I will never have anything to do with either of you again," I yell almost hysterically at Micah and Edwin and both of them freeze. Both carefully glance my way without taking their full attention off their opponent.

"How dare you come here and start making trouble between Micah and me! Which is it? Do you hate your brother or do you just want to make sure my life is a living hell? You come here pretending to be concerned for my welfare but spout stuff calculated to upset me and try to cause trouble between Micah and me! Do you think a wedding hasn't been discussed?" I demand franticly. I am not about to say it had been Sam who had spoken about Micah marrying me.

Edwin opens his mouth as if to speak but I hold one hand up and look away. "Don't even bother! I don't want to hear it! As for this jumper I'm wearing, did you stop to think I might be making the statement? Or it could just happen to be something warm to wear that smells like a member of the clan who is capable of protecting me and my baby! And you, Micah! You promised there'd be no fighting," I turn away from both of them and head for the door of the quarters. I want to get somewhere quiet and dark where I can curl up and let the world go by.

"That is my kitt you're carrying," Edwin yells after me and I whirl around to face him so angry I can't find my voice for a few seconds.

"Your kitt? Fucking bullshit! This is my child! I am the one carrying it! I am the one who will give birth to it! And I am the one who will raise it! You gave up all rights to this baby the day you walked away from both of us, as far as I am concerned. Or didn't you notice I had the baby with me at the time? Possession is nine-tenths of the law Edwin, and the other one-tenth happens to be my claws," I snarl furiously.

"I want to know that kitt will be looked after when it is born," Edwin shouts at me.

"So you come here trying to make trouble between me and the tom that is willing to give a kitt he didn't father everything he'd give his own kitt? If that's your attempt to help this child, then walk away Edwin, because frankly we don't need that kind of help," I say tiredly and turn away.

I pull the screen door open and walk inside to find myself making my way to the lounge room. I find myself at Micah's mattress and I kneel in the centre of it suddenly too tired to lie down as I let my chin fall to my chest. I feel tears trickling down my cheeks as I sit back on the calves of my legs and I listen to Micah stomping into the quarters angrily. I lift my head and turn my face towards the doorway to look at him as he storms into the room.

"Do not ever threaten to leave me," Micah roars angrily as he comes to stand over me. Even though it is anger in his voice, I can smell the fear rolling off him in waves.

He hesitates a moment before moving swiftly to kneel behind me and cuddle me from behind. He nuzzles against the side of my neck and I close my eyes as I lean my head into his, his lips brush my earlobe and his breath is harsh against my neck. His hands slip beneath the jumper I am wearing and rise to cup my breasts. I realise he is scent marking me and I move up onto my knees to make it easier for him.

His hands trace patterns down over my rounded stomach and I feel the baby roll over and move as if it is pressing against the front of my womb trying to get closer to Micah's hands. I place my hands over his and move his hands so he is cradling our baby from outside my body causing him to take a deep breath and hold it as the baby lies still, not moving under his touch.

"See, he wants you to hold him even while he's inside me," I tell Micah softly.

"God I love you," Micah groans against the side of my neck, "I don't know what I'd do if you ever left me."

"Good one, hand her your balls on a silver platter," Steven says dryly as he walks into the lounge room.

"Well I'll know where they are when it's time for a playmate for this little one," I say and turn my head to glance at Micah. His gaze is intense and he catches my lips in a demanding kiss making me smile against his lips as I kiss him back.

* * * * *

Micah

"Doc, I'm worried about Rosy," I say as I approach Doc where he is sitting at the kitchen table with Donny.

"She's been sick again?" Doc asks with a frown.

"Yeah," I admit as I pull a chair out and sit at the table. The only reason I am out here instead of resting on my bed with Rosy while she sleeps is because of the serious concerns I harbour for her health.

"She lost her breakfast as well, most if not all, of what she drank," I tell him.

"Rosy has been sick since before we were rescued," Donny tells us with a worried frown. "I can't remember her being able to keep food in her stomach since Vaygar Darnel told her she was going to be his mate, not his son's."

"How many days ago was that?" Doc asks as he leans forward with a worried look on his face.

"We were rescued yesterday," Donny frowns as he stares at the table top in front of him. "Before that ... and ... five? Maybe six days? I think it got real bad after Terry and his friends came in to get me just after we heard Kendal Darnel was shot."

"Who was this Kendal Darnel to you and Rosy? Did he ever come near you when you were locked up?" Doc asks with a frown.

"He said Rosy was his mate. Told most of the other strays he would kill them if they touched her," Donny says looking away from us both. "He used to ... Rosy would cry and cry after he left when he came to do things to her."

"That's it!" Doc exclaims excitedly getting to his feet. "I am pretty sure I know what is making her sick!"

"Then you can fix whatever it is, give her some medicine or ...?" My voice dies and refuses to be heard as the excitement dies from Doc's face to be replaced with a carefully blank expression.

"Remember Rosy almost went insane after Alex died, just a few days after the stray Jasper was accidentally killed? Wade says he claimed to be the father since Rosy was pregnant, even though her pregnancy wasn't mentioned to Wade's memory?" Doc says in careful measured tones. "There would have been a matebond for him to know for sure. His death destroyed the bond. And if Darnel was..."

"He kept saying they were mates," Donny exclaims jumping to his feet with fear on his face. "Rosy's not going to go crazy and run away again is she?"

"I hope not," Doc says quietly. "But now I think I know what's wrong with her, I might be able to help her both mentally and physically."

Doc watches me silently for a few seconds before glancing towards the lounge room, then back at me.

"Did you notice earlier when Edwin was here Rosy's reaction seemed out of proportion, inside before anyone even went outside? That to ensure there was no fight she used the one threat sure to stop everyone involved?" Doc asks only to continue without pause. "Rosy isn't acting like herself. From what Conner and Lance said she kept clinging to Donny, alternating between being defensive and outright aggressive. A matebond with the younger Darnel wouldn't keep her balanced but he would have been able to control her if he was close enough to assert his will. If there was a matebond, it's gone now and Rosy would be feeling its loss. She is probably feeling very alone and vulnerable, disconnected."

"How would he have been able to control Rosy?" Donny asks in a strained voice. "He mostly didn't say much to her after the first few days. He'd just come into the room and shut the door, and then he'd stand there staring at Rosy. Rosy would be shaking her head and trembling but she always walked over to him so he could ..."

Donny's voice trails off and I turn my head away as he takes several deep breaths; obviously the memories trouble him deeply - as does my knowledge of what Darnel would have done to a female he claimed as his mate.

"Did he ever scent mark her?" Doc asks quietly.

"Every time, just before he left the room," Donny mutters close to tears.

"Rosy needs to change to her cat form," I state firmly. I know she always copes better when she has been a cat for a while.

"Yes, that would most likely help her, but first I want to explain about matebonds to her," Doc says with a thoughtful frown. "She probably doesn't understand what happened. She probably feels she is going crazy. So I will try to explain it to her, and give her something to stop the vomiting so she can rehydrate, eat and get some strength to change to her cat form. Then we see what she needs from there."

"Doc," Donny says sounding hesitant.

"Yeah Donny?" Doc asks gently as Donny looks away from both of us, uncertainty clear on his face.

"Rosy said she was going to kill her kitt as soon as it was born. Can you fix that?" Donny asks as he turns his face towards Doc. Tears are trailing down his cheeks but he doesn't make a sound, making his pain all the more horrible to see.

"Some young first time mothers will reject their kitt when it is born if the pregnancy was hard or the birth particularly difficult, but few actually try to kill their own baby," Doc says gently. "But after the trauma Rosy has gone through we won't take any chances. I'll make sure I am here when she gives birth and if she shows the slightest sign of wanting to harm the kitt, there are measures we can take."

I remember Rosy's tears only this morning when Jazzy asked if Doc would be uncovering Rosy's stomach again. Were her tears because she felt she had to kill the baby when it was born?

"Did the ones who held you prisoner pay a lot of attention to Rosy's pregnancy?" I ask with an uneasy feeling.

"Both of the Darnels did. They were always touching her belly even though she didn't like them doing it. And Terry used to go on and on that he wanted to be the one the baby was handed to when it was born. Well he did go on about it when he wasn't telling Rosy how she would never see outside of the room again." Donny falls silent as he looks down at his hands where he is gripping the edge of the table tightly. "I thought she'd go crazy before someone rescued us. Sometimes when he left she'd start mumbling that the walls were closing in on her."

"That Terry was a nasty bastard?" Doc asks evenly.

"Yeah," Donny says with a sigh. "I think he hated Rosy as much as she hated him."

"Donny did any of the strays touch you?" Doc asks quietly.

"No," Donny says between gritted teeth as he looks away from us.

"Donny, it's nothing to be ashamed of if they did," Doc tells him gently.

"They didn't," Donny yells jumping to his feet and running from the building.

"I'm going to check he didn't just wake Rosy," I say as I get to my feet. Donny's reaction doesn't look promising and I have to wonder what both he and Rosy were forced to endure see being done to the other.

I hear someone enter the quarters and I meet Dwayne and Justin in the lounge room as I am about to head out into the sunroom.

"Should someone go after Donny?" Justin asks worriedly.

"It might be an idea," Doc says behind me and I can hear him talking to my brothers as I head for my room.

Rosy is still asleep when I reach my room. She is curled up in the middle of my bed in the foetal position and I pause in the doorway as I drink the sight of her in. I make my way to the chair beside my bed as silently as I can, but Rosy sits up with a start and looks around startled before she focuses on me.

"Hey Rosy," I say quietly, "I didn't mean to wake you."

"Micah?" Rosy mumbles sleepily and I realise she isn't awake properly.

"You thirsty? Want something to drink?" I ask her quietly as I sit on the edge of the bed.

"What time is it?" Rosy asks as she lays down facing me.

"Nearly eleven-thirty. Someone will be starting to get lunch ready soon. You hungry?" I ask hopefully. "Doc can give you some more of that stuff so you don't loose your lunch."

I watch Rosy as she frowns for a moment before giving a slight nod. I reach out to brush a few stray strands of hair back off her face but she jerks as if I went to strike her.

"Sorry," Rosy mumbles against the pillow she has turned her face into and I content myself with stroking her hair lightly instead of touching the side of her face. I don't say anything to acknowledge or deny her apology; I know she didn't mean to flinch from me but she did. I let it slip by, hoping the less I make of it the less it will upset her.

"How about I go ask Doc to come in here?" I say gently.

"Mmm," Rosy mumbles against the pillow.

"I'll go send Doc in and I'll make you some poached eggs with toast," I say getting to my feet.

I pause in the doorway to glance back at her; she is still in the same spot but not curled up as tightly as before.

"Rosy is awake and is agreeable to you giving her another injection to stop her vomiting," I tell Doc as I walk through the lounge room to the kitchen.

"Okay, I'll also have a bit of a chat with her," Doc says.

"I'm making poached eggs and toast for her for lunch," I tell him as he retrieves a bottle of medicine from the fridge and a syringe from the cupboard where we keep medical supplies.

"Give me about half an hour for this to start working so she doesn't bring the food straight back up," Doc says firmly. "And that will also give me a chance to explain what I think is making her so sick as well."

"I'll come back in with you then," I say as I turn to head back to my room.

"No, I think this might be something Rosy will need a bit of time and space to process," Doc says as he shakes his head.

"Is Rosy okay? Or should I ask will she be okay?" Dwayne asks with a glance between us.

"Where's Justin?" I ask in avoidance of his question when Doc doesn't answer.

"He's gone to see if Donny wants some company for a while," Dwayne answers. He glances at Doc with a worried look, then at me before settling his gaze on Doc once again.

"Rosy's going to loose the kitt isn't she?" Dwayne asks softly. "Look I know you want the kitt just as much as if it were yours Micah, but maybe it would be kinder for Rosy if she lost it now. None of us know what she really thinks or feels about having been forced into having a kitt by what ever tom ..."

"What the hell do you mean forced?" Doc snaps sharply cutting Dwayne off.

"Shit!" Dwayne swears softly under his breath.

"Wade decided Rosy should settle down and start a family, that it would stop her running off or doing things like bring outsiders here," I say tightly.

"We could hear Rosy screaming the day Edwin went into the cage with her," Dwayne informs Doc. "As far as we know Rosy didn't ask for him; Wade ordered him to go into the cage and get her pregnant."

"Why the hell didn't you tell me what happened?" Doc demands in a hiss. "This should have been reported to the Board for disciplinary action. It sounds like it was nothing more than rape!"

"No one think to tell me you were telling Doc?" Mitchell asks as he walks in from the hallway followed closely by Sam.

"I accidentally let it slip," Dwayne says apologetically.

"It sounds like Edwin raped Rosy to me," Doc snarls in disgust. "Are you okay with some clan cat raping your baby sister? Mitchell? Sam?"

"Are you trying to turn us against each other?" Sam demands quietly with an uneasy glance behind him. "Is Rosy awake? Is she likely to overhear us or walk in on us?"

"Rosy is curled up on my bed," I tell them, "she was awake a few minutes ago."