White simple walls.

The smell of disinfectant.

Baloo hated hospitals. The fact that Kit might be seriously sick drove the pilot crazy. For one hour he had been sitting onto a small bench in front of the ICU.

The examination couldn't take that much time!

Baloo ran his hands over his face and jumped up. He had to move now, otherwise he would go crazy because of all the worry.

When the ambulance had raced to the hospital with its siren and lights flashing, a sudden image of a life without Kit had appeared in Baloo's mind.

It was a horrible image and it was haunting him.

When the paramedics had been hurrying to the emergency room with the cub lying on the stretcher and told Baloo to wait outside, he suddenly had realized that he wasn't able to live without Kit anymore

The pilot walked up and down the corridor. It was awful to be so powerless. He wanted to go in there and help Kit but he didn't know how.

Suddenly a nurse, a blonde squirrel, appeared beside him. She smiled. "Do you want to call someone? There's a phone at the end of the corridor."

"Call...," Baloo mumbled confused when he realized that Rebecca still had no idea what was going on. "Uh... yeah. Yes, thank you! I... I hafta call Becky!" He hurried down the corridor and stopped when he saw the phone at the wall.

He was slightly surprised to find a few coins in his pocket which he needed for the phone.

"Hello?"

'Becky... Becky it's me,' he tried to calm himself down a little bit.

'Baloo?' she asked surprised 'At this hour? What's wrong?'

'Kit... Kit collapsed,' Baloo said and felt tears well up in his eyes.

Rebecca's voice got worried. 'What? What do you mean he collapsed?'

'I don't know! He just got unconscious... and...,' the pilot noticed that he was shaking with concern and swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears.

'Oh my god... Which hospital?'

'Suzette Memorial.'

'Okay, I'll be right there.' With that she hung up.

Baloo leaned against the wall and sighed. As soon as Rebecca would be here, he wouldn't have to wait all alone.

...

----

...

Rebecca hurried down the corridor and saw Baloo nervously walking around.

'Baloo!'

The big grey bear turned around. 'I'm so glad you're here,' he said.

Rebecca walked up to him and hugged him tightly. 'Hey, it's all gonna be alright, you'll see.'

No matter how angry and annoyed he was sometimes because of Rebecca, right now at this moment he loved her and silently thanked her for standing by his side.

'What about Molly?' Baloo asked.

'I told Wildcat to watch her.' Rebecca pulled the pilot down onto the small bench and grabbed his hand. 'How is he?'

'I don't know! That's what drives me nuts! Kit is in there and I don't know what's wrong with him! I...,' he buried his face in his hands.

Rebecca put her arm around his massive shoulders. 'You have to calm down, Baloo. You're not going to help him with your panic.'

Baloo inhaled deeply. 'Okay.... you're right, Becky. But tell me, why isn't anybody telling me what's going on?'

'I don't know,' Rebecca had to admit. 'But I'm sure as soon as they found out what's wrong with him they will tell you.'

'And what if they don't know what's wrong?' Baloo looked at her.

Rebecca was glad that in this moment the door to the ICU flew open and a thin polar bear entered the corridor.

'Good evening, I'm Dr. Frank,' he introduced himself.

Baloo jumped up. 'I'm Baloo. How's Kit?'

Rebecca got up as well and grabbed the pilot's arm.

'Well, the boy collapsed because the Burn-Out-syndrome,' the doctor explained.

'What? What does that mean?' Baloo's heart raced with fear.

'Please sit down, Mr. Baloo,' Dr. Frank said and waited until Baloo and Rebecca had taken their seats again. 'The Burn-Out-Syndrome is usually the result of too much stress. The body doesn't cooperate anymore and just... collapses. Not enough sleep can also be a reason.'

'Oh no...' Rebecca said.

Baloo swallowed hard. 'And... how is he now?'

Dr. Frank looked at his clipboard. 'He's in a deep sleep right now. We don't know yet when he's going to wake up.'

'Deep sleep? Ya mean like... coma?' Baloo's heart sank.

'Yes, but with the small exception that it will not last more than two weeks.' When he saw the worried look at the pilot's face he added. 'But don't worry. It may also be possible that he wakes up tomorrow. His body just needs to get back his strength and sleep.'

'This is all my fault,' Baloo mumbled and ran his hand over his face.

'No, stop talking crazy!' Rebecca protested.

'Becky, I knew how stressed out he was! I knew it and I didn't do anything! It's my fault that he's in the hospital!' he yelled.

'Please, calm down, Mr. Baloo,' Dr. Frank said. 'It's certainly not your fault. Did the boy say anything about having to much stress?'

Rebecca shook her head. 'I did notice that he was having problems but when I asked him about it he said it was nothing.'

'That's the point,' Baloo said. 'He never tells us when something's bothering him. Why? Doesn't he trust me?'

Rebecca didn't know what to say. Instead she looked at Dr. Frank. 'Can we see him?'

'Sure.' The doctor nodded. 'Follow me.'

Baloo and Rebecca got up and followed Dr. Frank into the ICU. They walked down another corridor and Dr. Frank opened a door on the left side.

Kit lay in a bed in the middle of the room, a IV in his left hand and a breathing tube in his mouth. A regular bleeping from a unit next to the bed showed his heart tones.

Baloo grabbed a chair from the wall and sat down besides Kit. Rebecca took a seat on the other side of the bed.

The pilot grabbed Kit's hand and whispered 'L'il Britches... I dunno if you can hear me but... you're not alone. I'm here for you... and I'll always be...'

...

to be continued...