6

Nine Lives

They rushed Nala to Dr. Doolittle, Storybrooke's vet, which happened to be just across the street, and as it was an emergency, she was seen immediately. The vet told them she was in shock, had some cracked ribs, but her vitals were good and she was lucky to be alive.

"How's that possible?" Bae asked in awe. "I mean, my . . . uh . . . Mr. Gold saw the car hit her."

"It could have just glanced off her. But cats . . . well . . . they're amazingly resilient . . . give them one chance out of ten and they usually make it," the vet said. "I've seen it before . . . you know the old saying, cats have nine lives? Well, this one proves it."

"How soon can she come home, doctor?" asked Gold shakily, still reeling from the fact that the cat he thought died in his arms was still among the living. It was truly a miracle.

"Uh . . . I'd like to keep her overnight for observation, give her some antibiotics and fluids with an IV, just in case . . . but I really think she's going to be fine, Mr. Gold. I'll call you in the morning when she's ready to come home," Dr. Doolittle smiled. "Cats really are amazing creatures . . ."

"Yes. They really are," Gold agreed, and he gave the vet a smile. "I think I need to call my wife and tell her that everything's going to be okay now."

Doolittle nodded. "You know, Gold, since I can speak to Nala directly, I need to tell you something. She told me how you rescued her from that vicious dog that nearly killed her before Regina ran her over. Said it was the bravest thing she'd ever seen, you standing up to that nasty brute. She considers you a hero."

Gold blushed in embarrassment. "She does? Umm . . . well, I had to do something . . . I mean, I couldn't let that mangy thing hurt her . . . so I just . . . drove it off with my cane . . . and I was so angry I didn't really think too much about what it could have done to me, just about saving her . . ."

"And that, my good man, is true courage," Doolittle said. "I'm happy I could save her. She's a most lovely animal, and she says she loves you very much, as well as the rest of her human family."

"And I . . . I love her too," Gold said, coloring further at that admission.

"I'll be sure to tell her you said so. It always helps the recovery process if those who are sick know they are loved and wanted at home," the vet said.

Then Gold added, "But you're not to mention I said that to anyone."

"Of course not. Patient confidentiality, you know. It exists between me and my animal patients and their human companions, so have no fear," Doolittle laughed.

Bae stared at the portly man in the white lab coat. "Hold it. You . . . really can talk to animals? And you . . know it?"

Doolittle nodded. "I do. Just as I know about the curse over this town . . . and who you all are."

"How do you know that?"

"We have a mutual acquaintance, Jefferson. He brought me here, but it was my idea, I figured I might do some good as vet here, since Regina has no care for animals, and I . . . I've been here before, long ago. Different method of travel though. Jeff and I have been friends for years and he keeps me posted on what's new here since Emma came. So I know that you're Gold's son, Baelfire, and that he's regained his memories. That doesn't surprise me, since he's the most powerful sorcerer in the realms, or was once. And well . . . truth like love, is always difficult to keep locked away. Someone always finds out." Doolittle's eyes twinkled. "Surely you didn't think I told all my patients I could talk to animals, did you?"

"Uh, no . . . but they've got a book on you here. I've read it," Bae told him.

"Wonderful! I wrote that," Doolittle smiled. "Under a pseudonym, of course. I published it as a children's story, because children believe in things better than adults, who doubt everything and have forgotten how to look with their heart and not with their eyes."

"Please excuse me, I need to call my wife, " Gold said, and walked over to the other side of the office.

As he dialed Belle on his cell, Doolittle turned to Bae and said, "Y'know, I never would have figured Gold for a cat person."

"I don't think he would have either. But Henry bought that cat as gift for Alina and well . . . I guess she kind of chose him," Bae told him.

Doolittle chuckled. "That's the funny thing about cats, they can take you or leave you, but once they decide they like you . . . they own you, not the other way around. You know how they say dogs are man's best friend? Well, man's a cat's best friend . . . if the cat chooses to be one. Nice talking with you, but I must get back to my patients."

Bae wondered if his father would agree with that philosophy. As he eyed the older man, now looking much more relieved and happy as he talked to Belle, he thought how ironic that the former Dark One's heart had been captured by a tiny black kitten. Cats really were magical animals, he smirked.

Page~*~*~*~*~Break

Gold was at the vet's bright and early the next morning to pick up Nala. He listened carefully to the instructions the vet tech gave him on Nala's care and made a follow up appointment in two weeks than he placed a rather groggy kitten in his car and drove home.

Belle and Alina were there to meet him as he got out of the car.

"Where do you want to put her, Papa?" asked his daughter, carrying the carrier. "Mama and I set up her cat bed and toys in the den near the fireplace."

"No. Not there. I want her to be where I can keep an eye on her," Gold disagreed. "Bring her upstairs, Alina."

As they walked down the hallway past the green guest room, they heard Rhea call, "So how's the patient, Rumple?"

"On the road to recovery, thank God," he called back.

"Good. But I already knew that," the Seer laughed.

"Then why'd you ask me?" he called back.

"To confirm it," she replied.

Gold rolled his eyes. "Smartass sisters. Put Nala in my room," he told Alina.

Alina's eyebrows rose. "In your room? But . . . I thought she wasn't allowed in there."

"I changed my mind," her father answered.

So Alina opened the door of the carrier and Nala walked out, still a little woozy from the pain meds they'd given her. "Poor baby," Alina crooned, petting her. "Do you feel sick?"

"Probably. They shot you full of all those nasty drugs, didn't they?" Belle said sympathetically.

Nala blinked, then walked slowly over to Gold and meowed softly.

And Storybrooke's pawnbroker got down on one knee and picked up the little black kitten and crooned, "Okay, baby. Don't get excited. Your papa's here."

Mother and daughter watched in shock as Gold cradled the kitten to him and limped over to the bed and sat down, placing the kitten in his lap. "No broken deals for you, sweetheart." Then he stroked the kitten gently, moving his fingers lightly over the bandage wrapped about her torso, down her back to her tail.

Nala purred loudly, her green eyes at half mast. Then she curled up on his knee, tucked her nose into a paw, and fell asleep, safe and sound where she belonged, in the lap of her human.

"Thought you didn't like cats, Papa?" Alina queried.

"I didn't . . . but I changed my mind," her father answered, and ran his hand lightly across Nala's fur, happy beyond words that his fuzzy miracle was home to stay.

And when he happened to wake up the next morning to a black tail curled about his face and tiny paws patting his cheek, all he said was, "Okay, Nala, I'm up, give me a minute and I'll get you breakfast," to the sleek kitten curled up next to his head on the pillow, where all well-trained human pets let their cats sleep.

It wasn't long before word got out that if you wanted to see the most spoiled cat in Storybrooke, all you had to do was knock on the door of Gold's salmon-pink Victorian, which bore a sign on the entrance—A Spoiled Rotten Cat and Her Pedigreed Human Family Live Here.

And so this furry tale has ended. I'd like to thank my sister's cats-Utley, Vladimir, James, Hobbes, and Khaleesi, for providing me with the inspiration to write this, extra treats and milk for all of you! And thanks as well to all my readers and reviewers!