Driving Force by Jo Andrews Page B

lung with the broken ends. His cat chest is different from his human one. Any bindings would get in the way when he shifts.”
    “And the other internal injuries?”
    “Don’t want to mess with Shifters, Sierra. They refuse to let me research them the way I want to, so I don’t know enough about them. Might do more harm than good. I’ve given him painkillers and antibiotics. They should help and I know they won’t harm. But his own Shifter healing has to do the rest. Just like with the others.”
    “What others?”
    Doc sighed and Sierra finally saw how weary he looked. “Told you there was trouble. There’s others of them hurt as well and I’m the only doctor in town who knows Shifters exist. Kinda run ragged here.”
    To her own surprise, she found herself saying, “Then why don’t you leave him with me?”
    She should be totally freaking out. Maybe she would have if Doc hadn’t been with her when Ian had gone leopard. Doc acting as if it were all in a day’s work and completely natural made her calm down and think instead of screaming hysterically and running for the hills.
    Doc bit his lip, frowning. “Don’t know whether that’s such a good idea.”
    “Does he need special care?”
    Doc shook his head. “Nothing we can really do for him. He has to heal himself. All we can do is keep him comfortable and swab him down with cool water if the fever gets too high.”
    “I can do that. Mom worked at the care facility for seniors, remember? She did show me the basics. And I nursed Peter a couple of times when he was sick.”
    Doc looked her over thoughtfully. “Must admit I could use your help. I’ve got too much on my hands already. He’ll probably get more attention from you than I’ve got to spare for him. He’s going to shift a lot. Does the leopard scare you?”
    “Yes, of course, but that won’t incapacitate me. I’ll still be able to function.”
    Doc smiled. “You always were a sensible child. Don’t go near him when he’s in cat form. Too dangerous. And never take those manacles off until I tell you, no matter how much you dislike them.”
    “I promise.”
    He handed her a tube of ointment. “Put that on those cuts and bruises once he’s human, but don’t put any Band-Aids or such on him. Don’t want them pulling on his fur when he turns. I’ll be back tomorrow to see how he is and take those stitches out.”
    Sierra looked at him in surprise. “They’ll be ready to come out that soon?”
    “They should. Shifter metabolism is amazing and shifting between forms speeds the healing process. The gashes should knit by tomorrow. It’s the rest of his injuries that’ll take time.” Doc frowned down at Ian. “Problem is the constant shifting and the fever. They’re necessary, but they can take a toll, weaken him too much before he can fully heal. It’s always a race which one wins, the fever or the healing.”
    “Is there anything else I can do?”
    “Not much. He’ll be thirsty. Give him as much water as he wants. Swab him down every now and then to keep the fever from getting too high.” Doc shrugged helplessly. “The rest is up to him. Call me if it looks like it’s getting worse.”
    “Right.”
    She walked Doc out and locked the door firmly after him in the unlikely event that some unexpected visitor might come barging in. The last thing she wanted was for someone to find a leopard in her guest room. Try explaining that!
    Ian was back to being the leopard again when she reached the bedroom. She leaned on the doorjamb and stared at him. It was hard to believe she wasn’t dreaming. She pinched herself and it hurt. That had been a silly thing to do, but the whole situation was so crazy.
    Six feet of pale-gold cat with black rosettes lying on its side on the bed. The yellow of its fur had shades of brown and red mixed in as well. Well, that explained his hair. And there was a tail now, almost four feet long.
    She inched over to the foot of the bed and very carefully, at the