The woman sighed and glanced at the door, then back at Zandy. “I’m not sure what you were told but you do work for the NSO so I’ll assume you can be trusted. Some of the drug cocktails discovered in Mercile’s files were experimental. That’s what they did. They created drugs to test on New Species. Some of them have reacted quite violently when the drugs were given to them. They were aggressive to the point of being dangerous, while others have had some unique side effects that range from blackouts to severe personality changes while under the influence of some of the drugs. Was whatever he said normal or something you would expect him to say?”
“I don’t think so.”
“There’s your answer. If it’s bothering you, ask Tiger. New Species are known for their honesty. I’m positive that he’ll want to clear up whatever issue you had with him. Did he threaten you or try to attack? I have spent a lot of time with him and that isn’t normal for him. He’s actually a sweetheart.”
A bit of jealousy rose. “Have you two dated?”
Dr. Allison shook her head. “No. You’re not just an employee, are you? I’m guessing you are involved with him?”
“We were before his accident. He…um, kind of ended it with me when he woke up. He said he doesn’t remember saying any of it and apologized.”
“You have your answer already. Talk to him. The drugs are out of his system but he’s going to need to go back on them. They accelerate their healing.”
“How?”
Dr. Allison hesitated. “You’re with Tiger? I thought those were bite marks when I was examining your shoulder.”
“Yes.”
“You’re in love with him. I see it in your eyes when you talk about him.” She smiled. “They were genetically altered. Their DNA was spliced with various animal genes. Mercile was able to manipulate them enough to, well, in layman’s terms, make their bodies go into hyperdrive with certain body functions. Their immune systems are amazingly resistant to illness, disease, and they heal very quickly. The drug cocktail we discovered in the records causes rapid healing. He’ll need more doses if he did in fact break his leg again. It will heal in days rather than weeks. They hate being down and are terrible patients.” A wistful look softened her eyes. “In most cases. I have one patient the drug doesn’t seem to work on at all. He’s in a coma and we haven’t been able to wake him.”
“I’m sorry. I hope he recovers. Was he in the helicopter crash with Tiger?”
“No. 880 was rescued and brought to Homeland some weeks ago. I hated to leave him in the care of others but they needed help here. I still have my hospital privileges in this area. Most of the other doctors who have worked longer for the NSO don’t since they were brought in from different parts of the country. That’s why I was called in.” She turned away for a moment then faced her again holding a syringe. “I need to give you this. You have some cuts and this is an antibiotic. I’d feel better giving it to you. I can tell those aren’t fresh, probably happened when you were taken, and germs fester in a matter of hours. When did you have your last tetanus shot?”
“Okay. I’m up to date on all my shots. I never miss an annual checkup.” Zandy winced and looked away as the needle sank into her arm. She hated shots.
“That was a strong antibiotic and it’s going to mess up your birth control.”
“I’m not on anything.”
The doctor’s eyebrows rose. “You aren’t?”
“No.”
“Okay. I’ll spare you the lecture about condoms then since Tiger is already using them. These shots have been known to mess up your cycle. You could skip a period or have two back to back.”
“I don’t have any diseases. Tiger doesn’t have to use condoms.”
The other woman turned away to dispose of the syringe and alcohol swab she’d used to clean the injection site. “I wasn’t informed you were his mate. They really need to tell us these things.”
“I’m not mated to Tiger. I know what the bites usually mean but he just lost control.”
The doctor spun, a confused look on her face. “Are you guys trying to get pregnant? I’ve never heard of one of the New Species trying that before being mated.” She shrugged. “I guess they are getting more and more modern in their thinking.”
Confusion filled Zandy. “He can’t get me pregnant.”
Dr. Allison’s eyes widened.
“What?” Zandy asked.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Son of a biscuit.” The doctor looked angry. “Rules state that he has to use condoms if you aren’t mated and he has to inform you that you could get pregnant if he stops using them after you are mated.”
Zandy was stunned.
“I’m going to talk to Tiger about this and then I’ll have to inform Trisha. She can take this to Justice.”
Zandy’s arm shot out and grabbed the doctor when the woman tried to leave. “What are you saying?”
Indecision flickered in the other woman’s eyes but she sighed. “You work for the NSO so I know you had to sign and read a stack of confidentiality clauses. This is classified information. It’s entirely possible that Species males can impregnate us. Humans. Tiger should have used condoms or warned you that it was a possibility. I shouldn’t have told you anything but I assumed you knew. Damn. I could get into serious trouble for this but it angers me as a woman that he put you at risk. You have the right to know since you’re sleeping with him.”
“I don’t think so.”
“There’s your answer. If it’s bothering you, ask Tiger. New Species are known for their honesty. I’m positive that he’ll want to clear up whatever issue you had with him. Did he threaten you or try to attack? I have spent a lot of time with him and that isn’t normal for him. He’s actually a sweetheart.”
A bit of jealousy rose. “Have you two dated?”
Dr. Allison shook her head. “No. You’re not just an employee, are you? I’m guessing you are involved with him?”
“We were before his accident. He…um, kind of ended it with me when he woke up. He said he doesn’t remember saying any of it and apologized.”
“You have your answer already. Talk to him. The drugs are out of his system but he’s going to need to go back on them. They accelerate their healing.”
“How?”
Dr. Allison hesitated. “You’re with Tiger? I thought those were bite marks when I was examining your shoulder.”
“Yes.”
“You’re in love with him. I see it in your eyes when you talk about him.” She smiled. “They were genetically altered. Their DNA was spliced with various animal genes. Mercile was able to manipulate them enough to, well, in layman’s terms, make their bodies go into hyperdrive with certain body functions. Their immune systems are amazingly resistant to illness, disease, and they heal very quickly. The drug cocktail we discovered in the records causes rapid healing. He’ll need more doses if he did in fact break his leg again. It will heal in days rather than weeks. They hate being down and are terrible patients.” A wistful look softened her eyes. “In most cases. I have one patient the drug doesn’t seem to work on at all. He’s in a coma and we haven’t been able to wake him.”
“I’m sorry. I hope he recovers. Was he in the helicopter crash with Tiger?”
“No. 880 was rescued and brought to Homeland some weeks ago. I hated to leave him in the care of others but they needed help here. I still have my hospital privileges in this area. Most of the other doctors who have worked longer for the NSO don’t since they were brought in from different parts of the country. That’s why I was called in.” She turned away for a moment then faced her again holding a syringe. “I need to give you this. You have some cuts and this is an antibiotic. I’d feel better giving it to you. I can tell those aren’t fresh, probably happened when you were taken, and germs fester in a matter of hours. When did you have your last tetanus shot?”
“Okay. I’m up to date on all my shots. I never miss an annual checkup.” Zandy winced and looked away as the needle sank into her arm. She hated shots.
“That was a strong antibiotic and it’s going to mess up your birth control.”
“I’m not on anything.”
The doctor’s eyebrows rose. “You aren’t?”
“No.”
“Okay. I’ll spare you the lecture about condoms then since Tiger is already using them. These shots have been known to mess up your cycle. You could skip a period or have two back to back.”
“I don’t have any diseases. Tiger doesn’t have to use condoms.”
The other woman turned away to dispose of the syringe and alcohol swab she’d used to clean the injection site. “I wasn’t informed you were his mate. They really need to tell us these things.”
“I’m not mated to Tiger. I know what the bites usually mean but he just lost control.”
The doctor spun, a confused look on her face. “Are you guys trying to get pregnant? I’ve never heard of one of the New Species trying that before being mated.” She shrugged. “I guess they are getting more and more modern in their thinking.”
Confusion filled Zandy. “He can’t get me pregnant.”
Dr. Allison’s eyes widened.
“What?” Zandy asked.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Son of a biscuit.” The doctor looked angry. “Rules state that he has to use condoms if you aren’t mated and he has to inform you that you could get pregnant if he stops using them after you are mated.”
Zandy was stunned.
“I’m going to talk to Tiger about this and then I’ll have to inform Trisha. She can take this to Justice.”
Zandy’s arm shot out and grabbed the doctor when the woman tried to leave. “What are you saying?”
Indecision flickered in the other woman’s eyes but she sighed. “You work for the NSO so I know you had to sign and read a stack of confidentiality clauses. This is classified information. It’s entirely possible that Species males can impregnate us. Humans. Tiger should have used condoms or warned you that it was a possibility. I shouldn’t have told you anything but I assumed you knew. Damn. I could get into serious trouble for this but it angers me as a woman that he put you at risk. You have the right to know since you’re sleeping with him.”
