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Sheeple

By: Jaisen



I didn't fall off the face of the earth, but life got Very Busy. However, I have a new shifter story for you. Same universe as the others, with a couple of twists. Hope you enjoy it. I plan to post about every two weeks as my schedule permits. Thanks to my partner for helping edit this story. Don't forget to vote and comment!

Jaisen



"Now be good, and don't eat any Sheeple while you're out shopping!" Kate said as she headed out the door. Behind her, Eric rolled over and mumbled into the pillow. 

Kate was off to take the children to summer school. It was the first day she had gone without Eric. He and her oldest son Zach were going off with his girlfriend Anne to do some shopping. Living out in the boonies had its advantages as well as some disadvantages. One of them was being unable to find computer parts easily. Eric was building yet another computer and had run out of memory. Computer memory that is.

Kate ran out to her beat up Subaru where Jamie and Mark waited. It was a fair drive to the school, and while the radio blared, Kate started thinking about how life had altered over the last fifteen months. She was still deep in thought when they got to the school. Jamie kissed her goodbye and Mark muttered something and slammed the door. 

"Don't slam the doors!" she hollered at Mark. 

The dust from the road rolled over the Subaru when she finally came to a halt at a picnic site deep in the valley. She stood up and stretched, smelling the breeze. Cottonwoods, pines, water and the smells of animals caressed her nose. She was very aware of just how sensitive she had become to scents.

Grabbing her water bottle and the light pack with her lunch, she headed farther up the road towards a spot where she and Eric loved to stop. Without Eric, she was hesitant to put the car in 4 wheel drive and drive up the rough road. Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting beside a stream that bisected the road. Her muscles felt good for the fast pace she'd set, and yet Kate was ready for a rest. Spreading out the blanket, she settled down for some thinking. The clouds floating by caught her attention. Especially the one shaped like a wolf's head. 

*



If anyone had told her she'd be living with Eric two years ago, she'd have said they were crazy. Widowed for nearly six years, new men in her life were a low priority. Four sons were enough, and she almost had them out the door. So, when Eric and his two children showed up at the shelter, the last thing she had on her mind was taking home strays. 

Cats, dogs, kids. You name it and Kate ended up opening her door to them. All of the boys had friends that thought of her as Mom. Even some of the girlfriends adopted Kate as a big sister or mom, and stayed in contact long after they'd stopped dating one of the boys. Then there were the ferals. Ferals is what she called the kids that had dropped out of society and into her kitchen. Dysfunctional for the most part, she helped them get on their feet. They were just like the feral cats she dealt with. You coaxed them in and tried to domesticate them. Give them a place to stay, food, warmth and cleanliness. Feeding them was the hardest part. Some days she fed just her own family and other days she stretched the chicken or hamburger to feed fourteen people. 

Granted, it didn't help that she worked at the local homeless shelter. You'd think that there wouldn't be a problem with homelessness in the rural parts of the country. However, after ten years of living here, Kate was no longer surprised by anything. The town was next to the interstate which also contributed to the shelter's population from time to time. It was Suzanne who'd asked Kate to help. She realized that Kate had a knack for dealing with some of the really lost cases. Not the ex-military nutters living rough in the hills or the drunks, but the families that were down on their luck or kids that just couldn't take the abusive home life any more. Kate had a talent for getting them to open up and discuss things that most people would rather never hear about. She also had a way of getting people to where they need to be whether it was a new house, a job or off to the next town. Most families either settled down in low income housing or disappeared in the middle of the night. 

The Cole family showed up late in the evening. It had been cool all evening and Kate was just closing the windows in the kitchen when a knock on the door drew her attention. Opening the kitchen door she found two small children and a man standing in the pool of light. 

"Our car broke down, and we've been walking for at least an hour. The sheriff that picked us up said we could stay here," he said in a quiet voice. 

"Oh. Yes. Come in. Are you hungry?" Kate asked as they moved into the kitchen. 

The two children nodded their heads. The man shook his head in a weary way that told Kate that he was hungry, but nervous or upset enough in some way that he couldn't eat. 

"Well, I was just closing up the kitchen, so lets see what we can find." Kate started towards the cupboards where the peanut butter and bread were kept. After she placed those items on the counter, she turned to the fridge to get the jelly. The man sat the two children at the table and stood off to one side. 

"You're welcome to sit. You look tired," Kate made the sandwiches.

"I've..... I've got our things outside," he started.

"Oh. What was I thinking? Please go get them. You can put them in the corner until we find you a room."

"Okay." He turned to the children. "Jamie, Mark, I'll be right back. Stay put and mind your manners." 

The two children nodded and waited for the food. Kate put the sandwiches on paper plates along with some chips and a couple of cookies. She made a plate up for their father as well who was busy bringing in bags and placing them in the corner of the kitchen. After pouring glasses of milk, she started to tidy up the counter. The man was standing behind the children again, but not eating. 

"I made you a sandwich. It's nothing fancy, but it will fill you up a bit," she said softly. She had a feeling that there was more than a broken car worrying this guy. 

"I'm okay. Really."

"Alright. I just don't want food to go to waste, and you look hungry." She put away the peanut butter. "I'll go find a room for you and be back in a minute."

The man sat down quietly and picked at the food as she left the room. Hurrying up to the front she grabbed a clipboard with forms on it and the keys. Heading up the stairs, she went down the hall to where she was fairly sure there was an unoccupied room. Ten minutes later, she was back in the kitchen. 

"Alright, I've got a room if you'll follow me. Oh, and I'll need you to fill out some paperwork so that I can make Suzanne happy in the morning," she said as light heartedly as she could. Tension was still radiating off of the guy, and the children hadn't spoken a word since she'd walked back in the room. They followed her up to the room, and she helped settle the children into bed. He'd moved their possessions up to the room as well.

"If you'd just come downstairs with me a minute, we can fill this out." She held up the clipboard. He nodded and followed her downstairs. 

Sitting at the desk she took a better look at him. Dark curly hair, brown eyes and such a serious face. He was slight of build, but looked like he'd worked outdoors a lot. He looked back at her, and Kate figured she had better get this done. Kate hated paperwork. Almost as much as she did paying bills.

"I need to know your name and the children's names and ages." She was ready to fill out the form.

"I'm Eric Cole. Jamie's seven and Mark is ten." 

"J-a-m-i-e?" she spelled out loud.

"Yes."

"Okay. You said that your car died. Is it fixable?"

"No. I think I blew the radiator, and may have damaged the block." Eric sighed. 

"Oh... do you have any means to replace it?" She totally forgot the form in her hands.

"No. That's what has me worried. I am low on cash and was on my way to try to find work up North." 

"Ah. What kind of work?"

"Computers. I'm an unemployed SysAdmin. However, I'd wash dishes if it put food on the table."

"I understand. When I was widowed, I was in the same position. My job skills just didn't meet the jobs available. So, I worked in a cafe, a hotel and a few other places to keep food on the table." 

Eric nodded in understanding. He began to relax just the tiniest bit. 

"Where are you from?" She looked back at the form.

Eric tightened back up and Kate wondered what she had said wrong. "Umm... do you really need that information?" 

"Well, we are suppose to ask. If you don't want to say, I'll leave it blank or we can put in a fake address. You'll just have to remember the answers if we do that."

"I'd rather leave it blank."

"Okay." Kate took another look at him. That intuitive part of her brain was buzzing like mad. "You're trying to disappear aren't you?" she asked almost before she had time to think of what she was saying. 

Eric gave her a look that was both hostile and puzzled. "I... Yes." He paused. "You can put Virginia as last state of residence. I did live there once."

"Okay. Not a problem. Eric, please realize that working here we see all kinds of people and situations. I understand that sometimes you just have to disappear. I don't know your reasons and don't need them. But, I do understand."

"Okay. Can we finish this up? I'm really tired."

"Sure. There are only a few more questions and then I need your signature at the bottom." She finished up her part of the form.

Eric watched her fill out the form and took it from her to sign when she'd finished. Handing it back, he stood. "I don't know your name."

Kate blushed, feeling absolutely daft for having forgotten to introduce herself. "My name is Kate. Kate Ratkovich." She held out her hand again. 

Eric shook her hand and then said his good nights. He headed upstairs to where the children were sleeping while Kate finished locking up and headed home. She didn't work at the shelter tomorrow and wondered if the Cole family would still be there. He had that feeling about him that made her think he'd disappear in the middle of the night like so many did.

*

Kate fed the dogs, cats and her household on Tuesday morning. After she dropped by the library and the grocery store, she headed for the shelter. Opening the door, she saw a few people standing around the desk. It looked like someone was trying the computer again. It hadn't worked in months. Someone had virused it and not even Zach had been able to make it work. 

She was almost in the door when someone small tackled her around the knees. Looking down she saw the little Cole girl. 

"Well, good morning. You're Jamie, right?" she asked with a light tone to her voice.

"Yes. And your name is Kate and you make really good peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And I ate mine faster than Mark ate his. And..." Jamie prattled on so fast that Kate was having trouble keeping up. 

"Whoa there dear! Slow down a bit." Kate smiled. Looking down at Jamie, she realized that she looked a lot like her father. Turning around, she realized that it was Eric at the computer. He was deep in conversation with Suzanne and figured that she'd catch up on the latest gossip in a bit.

"Now, where is your brother?" Kate said as she moved down the hall.

"He's in the room, reading a book."

"Alright. Do you need to stay with your dad?"

"Maybe. Can I go with you?"

"Not right now dear. I have some stuff to do," Kate hugged Jamie. She sent her back towards her dad and turned down the hall to her office.

Opening the door, she took a look at her office. It was topsy-turvy and all the heavy stuff was pushed away from the walls. Kate was just about to head out and complain when there was a knock on the door frame. She turned to find Eric standing there with a computer cable in his hands.

"I'm sorry about the mess. I've been trying to get your computer system online. Suzanne said it's been down for a couple of months. Your office had the phone connection I needed." He was apologetically. 

"I was wondering what had happened to my space." Kate was shaking her head at the disarray. 

"I'll have it all back in place soon. Then you can do your paperwork on the computers again. I'm really sorry about the mess."

"That would be nice," Kate turned to find her jobs list for the day. It would be so nice to have the computers working. 



A few hours later, Kate was sipping a cup of tea when Suzanne came in. Her office was still a mess, but her computer worked. 

"Where did Eric come from?" 

"What do you mean?" Kate was puzzled.

"Yesterday I came in and there was this quiet little family. The next thing I know, Eric had volunteered to fix half a dozen things, and actually got them done. He tackled the computers this morning and had them up and running before anyone could say boo."

"Oh. They showed up on the back stairs just as I was getting ready to close up for the night. They're from Virginia I think," she went on vaguely.

"Well, I am so happy that he was able to do something with the computers. He seems a nice man. Does he plan to move on, or stay locally?"

"He said that they were heading North when their car broke down. I haven't talked to the sheriff's office to see what happened. All I really know is what was said the other night."

"Okay. I just wondered if you knew anything more that I did." Suzanne turned and left the office.

*

Eric was working hard to make a good impression on those around him. He was also looking for work. It had been over a month, and the best prospect he had had been fast food counter service. Eric hadn't declined the job, but he wasn't too eager to take it either. The odd jobs on computers had given him a bit of leeway, but not much.

The sheriff that had picked them up that night helped him get the remains of his car towed into the local junk yard. It was a hopeless mess. Too many miles and a blown radiator hose was just more than the little engine could take. Realizing that there was no way to head North, he started to change his priorities. Eric needed housing, work and to get Jamie and Mark into school. School might be the hardest part as there were no records to hand over. Living up on the ranch had been good and bad. Mostly bad. Now he had to start all over. Sweeping up the kitchen, he was lost in thought and didn't hear Kate come up behind him.

"Eric."

"Geeze!" he exclaimed as dropping the broom.

"Oh! I'm sorry Eric. I thought you heard me come into the kitchen."

"No, I didn't hear you. You startled the hell out of me." He picked up the broom, and tried to take a deep breath. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner. The boys are all home and I know you don't know many people," she trailed off.

Eric looked at her, and then around at the kitchen. "Give me five minutes to finish up this job and we will be ready to go."

"Oh good. I'll get Jamie and Mark."

"Okay. Thanks." He went back to sweeping. He worked fast and was upstairs to change almost before she had gotten the children ready to go.

"My that was fast."

"Well, the idea of something besides PB J's was just too enticing." Eric smiled.

"Good. I hope you like barbecue. Andy, Zach and his buddies have the grill fired up and are sacrificing chicken and beef to the charcoal gods." It was Kate's turn to smile.

"Are there going to be hot dogs?" Jamie asked.

"Yes dear. Hot dogs, root beer, potato salad, and lots of chips."

"Oh goodie! Goodie! Goodie!" Jamie danced. 

Behind her Mark smiled, but it was like it just grazed the surface. Kate didn't know what to make of him. Jamie was so like Eric, it was almost as if Mark wasn't even his child. She wondered if he took after his mom. 

"Well, my car is out back. A white Subaru, and it's unlocked. Off you go." She turned them towards the door. Eric followed her out and made sure that the back door closed tight.

*

Kate lived in an older house. Built in the '30's, it had that well lived in look. Stuccoed walls and and flower beds complemented the old growth trees snuggling up to the walls. The gargoyle on the front porch as well as the wind chimes hanging from various nooks, branches and nails made Eric smile. He'd almost swear that the house was welcoming him. Before Kate got to the door, a blond giant opened it and welcomed them in.

"This is Zach, my oldest son," Kate said as they swept into the kitchen. It was full of people of all ages, and voices flowing faster than you could follow. 

Zach shook Eric's hand. "I've heard about your computer skills. Maybe you can look at my box later. Just got the latest processor and motherboard, and haven't gotten everything running yet."

"Sure. I'd love to have a look at it."

"Zach, you can wait until he's at least had dinner!" Kate sighed somewhat exasperated. 

"Okay mom. Just..." Zach trailed off as a petite young woman grabbed him for a kiss.

Kate smiled. "That's Anne, his girlfriend of the moment." 

Eric just smiled back and nodded. He was beginning to feel a bit lost and looked around for his children. They were busy in a corner with another little girl and a puppy. There were also cats and an older dog working the crowd, hoping for the odd bit of food to drop.

"Andy, this is Eric. Those are his two children playing with Bess." Kate introduced Eric to her son. Andy looked like a thinner, shorter version of Zach, but with flaming red hair. "Somewhere in here are Pat and Jon. They are the two youngest boys." She turned, looking around the room. 

"Mom!" A voice boomed from across the room. 

Kate looked up almost in time before a long haired young man who matched Zach in size and looks picked her up off her feet in a hug.

"Pat, put me down!"

Pat complied with a devilish grin on his face. "Want a beer mom? Or a glass of wine?"

"I'll have a glass of wine. Red please." Kate then turned to Eric. "Which would you like?"

"A beer please. Wine and I don't get along."

"Okay. Back in a second," Pat said.

Eric watched him go and realized that another young man who matched the boys was coming his way. The teen towered over Eric in a gangly sort of way. Like a puppy that hadn't grown into its paws.

"I'm Jon."

"Hello Jon. Nice to meet you. I'm Eric."

"Yeah, know that. Mom's talked about you and the kids. Said I had to say hello. So, hello." Jon turned on his heels and disappeared out of the kitchen. 

Kate just rolled her eyes. "Sorry about that. To say that he is a difficult child just so doesn't begin to describe Jon."

Eric smiled. "Who's gene pool did your sons get their height from? It certainly wasn't you." 

"Ooooh.... short jokes eh?"

"No, it's just that I've not been made to feel this small in years. And all I could think of was just how tall is their dad or your dad."

"Was. He was 6'3"," Kate said a bit quietly.

"Oh. Sorry. Divorce or death?"

"Death. He died nearly four years ago. Fell asleep at the wheel."

"I'm sorry Kate." Eric felt rather awkward as he wasn't sure where to go with the conversation.

Kate realized that Eric was beginning to freeze up and put her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. David made a choice to drive when he should have pulled over. He paid for it. I find it hard to deal with some days and others, well.... it just sneaks up on me when I think I'm okay." She took a deep breath and looked around for Pat.

"Pat! Where is that alcohol?"

"Coming Mother!" he said as he strode towards them. The crowd parted around him and the next thing they knew, Kate had a glass of wine and Eric some sort of European beer. "Hope you don't mind ale."

"No, I rather like it. Most American beers are a bit bland."


Sheeple Ch. 02



Chocolate cake... First off, this is actually the second Shifter story in my vault of stories. I've pulled this one out and cleaned it up a bit. I didn't have all of my 'Universe' set in stone, and still don't. Secondly, understand that I base many of my characters on people I know. If my mundane friends only knew! :) The character Eric is partially based on my dear partner Wolf, who I had just met. I didn't know about his chocolate allergy, which was later incorporated into the characters in MTJAFT and other stories. The allergy is also mentioned deep in the story. Can't remember if it is in this part or part 3. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Vote and comment please! It helps me as a writer and helps clear up issues. :) 

Jaisen




Eric sat back in the chair, and held the hand that Kate extended to him. 

"So what happened when all the screaming and shouting stopped?" 

"Well, she started throwing all of my stuff out of the house. I ignored her and dressed my leg up again as it had started to bleed through the bandage. I picked up my stuff and put it in the truck. Then I left the house. I had to hope she wouldn't hurt the children while I took care of business."

"Business? What did you do Eric?"

"Something I don't regret."

"Eric?"

"I went back to the big house and called the boss out onto the porch. I told him what I thought of him and then I shifted."

"Um, what happened?" Kate tried to picture this in her head.

"He had been laughing, and when I shifted, he screamed. Then he pulled his gun." 

"Oh!"

"He never got a chance to pull the trigger. I took his throat out. Then I buried him up in the hills where no one ever found him. Cleaned up the porch, threw away my jeans and went back to the house."

"Threw away the jeans? Why didn't you just wash them?" Kate was puzzled.

"If you shift in clothing, it gets shredded. There wasn't enough left of them to wash."

"Oh. So you strip off to shift," She was trying to fit things together in her mind.

"Yes."

"What happened then with your wife? The ranch?"

"By the time I got home, she had all of her stuff packed and was sitting in the kitchen. She yelled at me and said things I never expected to hear from her or any woman. I tried to talk to her and explain that I was still the same man, and...."

"And she refused to deal with it," Kate finished for him. She held his hand more firmly.

"Exactly. So, I went back to the ranch house in the morning and found the strong box. I knew that there was a fair amount of cash to hand and took it. I divided it up and gave her about $2000. That left me with about $2500 which I figured was fair. She wasn't going to take the children. I put everyone in the truck that morning and we left the ranch. Left it looking like we'd just be gone a few days."

"So, that's why you only had clothes and a few other possessions." Things fell into place.

"Yes. I dropped her off in Cheyenne and then sold the truck. Bought that little VW thing and headed South."

"But you said you were heading North when you showed up at the shelter." 

"Yes. I went clear to New Mexico and realized that I couldn't live there."

"Why?" Kate asked.

"Wolves need mountains and empty spaces. I couldn't find what I needed there. Then again, didn't realize that I'd find what I was looking for here."

"Now, why didn't she want her children? Especially Mark?" 

"She 'knew' that they'd be wolves, and that they were some sort of monsters." Disgust tinted his voice. 

"But they aren't. Jamie may shift, but certainly not Mark. I can see a lot of his mom in him." 

Eric nodded. "Jamie is certainly going to have the family trait. Mark on the other hand... he's afraid of me."

"No Eric, he is just a little boy who's been through a lot."

"No, I can smell it on him. I realized that about a week after we left the ranch. It was the same smell his mother had. She wouldn't even kiss them goodbye."

"Argh! Some people!" Kate said with vehemence in her voice.

"Yes.After we left New Mexico, we headed North, and that was when the car died. I wasn't sure what to do as money was getting really tight. So when the Sheriff pulled up, I figured it was time to let fate deal the cards. He was very nice and brought us to you."

"And now I know why you looked so wounded." Kate let go of his hand and moved forward to hug him again. He stood so that he could put his arms around her as well. 

Eric looked down at her face. "You have no idea of how nervous I was. Especially when you invited us up for dinner. I was afraid of not knowing enough about you. You're so open at work, yet very private. I was relived when the boys outed you. And yet I was still nervous."

"Yes, you were. I knew that there were things you weren't saying, but wasn't sure what." Then something dawned on her. "You shifted that night! It was you that took the bones off of my dresser!" She was smiling as she said it.

"Guilty." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small piece of bone. It was well chewed on one end. He handed it to her.

Kate took the bone and started laughing. "Oh! Oh! And that explains why your teeshirt had grease all over it. I knew it was suppose to be a clean one and never figured out how it had gotten dirty."

"I... um... I ate the bones on top of the clothes, and didn't realize it was so messy. Sometimes when you are in animal form, you aren't always as cognizant as you'd want to be," he said a bit shyly.

"Oh! And that would explain the panicked look on your face that morning when Jamie insisted that you'd been out for rabbits. Does she realize that you shift?"

"No, I know that she doesn't know on an active level. However, I suspect that she dreams of hunting. I just haven't dared bring it up. She is so precocious that I can't trust what she will say to others."

"That could be a real problem when she goes to school in a few weeks."

"Yes."

"By the way, when do you lycanthropes start shifting?"

"Usually at puberty. Girls with their first moon blood. Boys are a little harder to predict. Most of us can tell though because the pheromones change and it has a real effect on those that can smell them."

"Pheromones eh?" Kate was thinking about what he'd said. "So, just before the first shift, Jamie or Mark will suddenly start smelling really good?"

"Yes." 

"Can non-lycanthropes smell this?" 

"I'm not sure. I never got the chance to ask their mom. Although, she did say I always smelled good."

"Hmmmm." Kate moved closer to Eric. She smelled his shirt at her nose level, about dead center on his chest. Standing on tiptoes, she smelled the base of his throat, moved up behind one ear and then over to the other. "You smell like chocolate, baking chocolate. Cinnamon and...and... " she giggled. "Dog." Kate giggled harder.

Eric went red in the face. "That is so not fair!" he said. Then he bent down and sniffed her throat. No fear. She giggled as he sniffed. 

"What do I smell like?" She was still giggling.

"Onions,... sweet grass, a bit like me because we've been hugging. And, don't laugh, dog," He had a smile on his face that made her wonder what he was thinking.

"Well, the boys do say that the only time I panic is when the onion bin is empty."

It was Eric's turn to laugh. "I can believe that. I don't think that I've eaten a meal yet that you haven't put onions in. Except for that lovely cake of yours."

Kate smiled. "So, if Jamie suddenly starts smelling like cinnamon chocolate cookies, we do what?"

Eric blinked. "We?"

"Yes, we. I have to admit that I just don't see you as a single parent Eric. So, I figure that I'll probably be called to help." Then she realized that what she said could be taken another way. Too late..... so she just let the words stay.

"We... um, probably better go camping. When I hit puberty, the men took you out and let you shift. Some don't make it. Others never shift back. The rest learn to cope with a dual nature."

"How do you deal with the deaths or disappearances?" 

"It was easy back home. Most people knew which families were lycanthropic. So, if they died, we had a funeral. If they disappeared, we just dealt with it like you would if someone moved. Some people ended up with a new dog. Most importantly, no one hunted wolves."

"Now, a small change of subject."

"Alright." It was his turn to wonder where the conversation was going to go.

"Earlier this evening, we talked about our mutual attraction. And you said you wanted to tell your story before I said anything."

"Yes. And in spite of hugs and sniff tests, I still need to hear what is in your head." And in your heart he thought. 

"Eric, I will be honest with you. Part of your story sounds outrageous. And yet, I believe you. I haven't seen you as a wolf, and wouldn't go so far as to say I wouldn't panic the first time you shift. However, you are the first man in years that has even made me think to open up my life again. My boys like you. Hell, they practically told us to go get laid earlier."

"Yes, they weren't exactly subtle." He remembering hearing more than they realized.

"So, even after hearing what you had to say, I would like to see what its like to live again." She moved closer into his arms.

"Kate, are you sure?" 

"Yes," she said and brought her lips up to his. 

Eric bent down to kiss Kate. Her lips were sweet and warm. It had been far too long for both of them. Hands explored backs as they kissed. 

Eric broke the kiss first. "Kate, what will we tell the boys? My kids?" he asked as he caught his breath.

Kate looked up at him. "My boys? Well, probably that I decided to get a life." She smiled at him. "Your children, nothing yet. They are use to being here. Let's just give it a bit of time. If we need, we just tell them that we like each other a lot and see what they say."

"Sounds okay. They certainly took our move from the ranch better than I thought they would." 

Kate moved out of his arms for a moment and moved across the room. "I think we probably aught to close the door though."

"Yes."

*

He took her in his arms and just held her tight. They were laying on the bed amidst the pillows. He was trying to move slowly. It had been less than a year for him, but more than four years for Kate. 

"Are you sure about this?" he asked.

Kate rolled a little on her side to see his face better. "Yes. You have no idea of how much I miss being touched."

"Andy said something to that effect, but I didn't understand."

"I'm an empath. A healer. To not be touched is like being deaf. Like never hearing music or taste chocolate. Deprivation." She ran her hands across his shirt and down his arm.

"Like me not being able to shift." He was grasping for a comparison.

"Probably." She moved her lips to his face. "And my children know me far too well."

Eric smiled. He leaned forward and kissed her. She responded with kisses and nibbles along his lips, down his throat and across his collarbone. "Oohh," he moaned.

"You taste so good." Her voice was low against his collarbone.

Eric had a thought cross his mind for a split second and then lost all thoughts as she nibbled his ear. His hand took on a mind of its own and ran across her arm, coming to rest on her breast. Soft and warm. She moved towards him and his hand shifted towards her hip. She continued to lick and kiss his face and neck, his own lips trying to match hers.

His hand slid under her shirt and the warmth of her skin amazed him. Her own hands had found their way under his shirt. No, she had unbuttoned it. When had she done that? It didn't matter, because his own hand had just found her nipple through the material of her bra.

"Errric, hold on a minute." She moved back from their embrace. Eric worried for a split second that he'd moved too fast, only to realize that she was taking her shirt off as well as her bra. He shook his own shirt off and laid back down with her in his arms.

"This is better. I've wanted to touch your chest for weeks. Ever since I saw you with your shirt off in the yard when you were helping the boys with the front garden," she whispered. She was running her fingertips over his chest. "You're much softer than I thought."

"So are you." His hands caressed her nipple, making it tighten up. His hands then traced down her breast and across her stomach. Fine stretch marks marred the skin. As his fingers traced them, she stiffened.

"What?" 

"I...umm.," she started.

"You've had four children. Don't worry about it. Those make you beautiful in their own way." He bent down and kissed her skin.

"Its just been so long and, I'm nervous."

"You aren't the only one."They both giggled nervously. She rolled to turn off the bedside lamp which gave off soft light in the room. 

"Don't. I like looking at you." 

It was Kate's turn to blush. "Gods! I can go sky clad to ritual, and yet am finding myself shy about being semi-nude in bed.

Eric grinned. "Well, then there is only one thing to do."

"What?" Kate was wondering what he was thinking.

"Get naked." He stood up. Kicking off his shoes, he undid his belt and dropped his trousers. He was back on the bed, pulled off his socks and next to her before she could think. "I think you have too many clothes on Kate." He smiled.

"Ah, umm... yes." She swallowed hard. She stood and got out of her jeans after she'd taken off her sandals. She laid down next to Eric and tried to keep a bit of space between them. It was silly. 

"I haven't been with a man in so long."

"I know. It's okay. If you get uncomfortable, we can stop."

"Oh yeah, I doubt that." A wry smile danced across her face.

"Ok. Next question. Do we need birth control?" 

"No. I'm fixed. Unless you're worried about anything else." 

"No. Lycanthropes are a healthy lot. Plus, I've not had any partners since my marriage ended."

"Ah. okay. So, where were we?" 

"I think we were here." He started kissing her stomach and letting his hands wander down her thighs. 

"Oh yes," she moaned as his kisses reached the round bit of her stomach below her belly button. Her hands traced lazy circles across his back.

Eric stopped just short of her pubic bone and then kissed his way back up to her lips. Slow down, he thought. Their lips met and their hands on the other's body pulled them closer together. She gave a small gasp as the hard length of him met her stomach. Her hand left his waist and traveled down until she touched him. It was his turn to gasp. Her fingers were light and the touch nearly took his control.

Kate enjoyed the feel of him in her hand. So long since she had touched a man. She enjoyed the touch of soft skin and wiry hair. Her fingers drifted over his balls and back again. He quivered as her touch shifted. She began kissing her own way down his chest.

Eric felt where her lips were headed and couldn't hold back a low moan. When her lips feathered over his belly button, he reached out to touch her and found his hand on her back. Firm muscles under the soft skin moved under his touch.

Kate brought her hand up to move him aside so she could kiss the soft skin at the very base. Eric groaned. Slowly, she kissed up the shaft until she could kiss the very top of him. Her lips opened and she slowly took him in her mouth. So soft, so hard, and soon very wet as she slid up and down over him. Eric moaned and his hips arched. 

"Kate, hold on," he whispered.

Kate looked up and then turned to kiss him one last time. She moved back up to Eric's face, letting her breasts move up his body. He shuddered and then his fingers found her. She was wet and he teased her with his fingers until she couldn't lay still. He started to roll off of his side, and got as far as his back. Kate moved over him and with a bit of assistance, guided him into her. It was Kate's turn to arch her back.

"Oh. My. Gods," she moaned softly. "Too long. Oh too long."

Eric nodded in agreement as their bodies began to work together in a rhythm. With her sitting astride him, he played with her breasts. Rolling her nipples lightly between his fingers sent shivers up her body. Her thrusts became more urgent as did his. Kate felt the heat building. She had wanted this to last, but realized that neither one of them was going to do so. Eric moved his hands from her breasts to her hips, helping drive the rhythm of their lovemaking. She looked down at him, his neck arched and his tongue just licking his top lip. She smiled, realizing she was biting her own bottom lip. 

Suddenly, Eric increased his thrusts and she realized that there was no more time. Her orgasms rolled over them and brought him within seconds of her. They shuddered, gasped and moaned. Kate arched one more time and then slowly slid to one side of Eric on the bed. They laid there trying to catch their breaths.

"Do you think the whole house heard us?" she finally gasped.

"No, but we'll do better next time." That made them both giggle. Kate grabbed the quilt at the end of the bed and pulled it up over them. Seconds later, they were both asleep in each others arms.



*

Andy got up early and when he walked into the living room, he found Jamie and Mark asleep on the couch. They were covered up and snugged in, so they hadn't just arrived. He looked around and didn't see Eric. Maybe Eric had dropped them off. Andy headed for his mom's room to see what to feed the kids when they woke.

"Mom," Andy called softly. No answer, so he did as he usually did and just opened the door. To his surprise, there was Eric and his mom, curled up in the middle of a pile of pillows and wrapped in one of the quilts. "Oh... oops! Sorry Mom," Andy said before he could stop himself.

Kate woke with a start, and stared owlishly at Andy who was trying not to giggle. He had already blushed as red as his hair. "Oh!" Kate scrambled to make sure all the important bits were covered. Trying to compose herself, she only succeeded in waking up Eric. Now he too was blinking at Andy who was still giggling in the doorway.

"Andy, come in and close the door," she whispered.

Andy did as she asked, and when the door was closed, he finally got control of his laughter. "Mom, what do you want me to feed the two little ones for breakfast?"

"Eggs, cereal, I don't know." She was sleepy and still flustered.

"Ok. Oh, and what am I suppose to say about this?" Andy said as he gestured towards the scattered clothing and them.

"Umm... Nothing yet. We... we aren't exactly sure where we are going with."

"Oh Mom, relax. We don't care, but let's not shock the kids. Shall I take them to the park while you two get cleaned up?"

Kate looked relieved at the suggestion. "Yes. Please. Thank you Andy."

"Yes, thanks Andy. I owe you one," Eric said, his head still pillowed on Kate's shoulder.

Andy smiled at Eric. "You still owe me one from a while back."

"What?"

"Don't assume that just because you think you're quiet, that the guy you walk around is asleep," Andy said with a smile.

"You knew?" Eric was surprised.

"Hell yes. I sleep outside a lot, and know every animal that passes through the yard. You were new. Plus, that was a neat trick with the door. However, you loose points for crunching the bones on the back porch," Andy said with a devilish smile.

Eric slapped his hand to his forehead. "Shit!" He shook his head. "Thanks for not saying anything. Thanks for giving me the time to talk to your mom about it."

"Not a problem. I know some guys that shift like you. Hell, they're embarrassed half the time when it happens. Others are just too nervous to say anything. Doesn't bother me any. Just glad you finally told Mom. Otherwise, I'd have said something."

"Thanks again Andy."

Andy nodded and then left the room. Kate and Eric could hear him starting to cook in the kitchen. She figured he'd let them know when the coast was clear. Meanwhile, it gave them time to talk.




Sheeple Ch. 02



Kate bent down and kissed Eric. "Good morning."

Eric returned the kiss. "Morning to you. How are you feeling this morning?"

Kate stretched and took a mental inventory. "I feel really relaxed. And, a bit sore. A kind of sore I can live with... get use to... really get use to." 

"Ah, then you did enjoy last night?"He was smiling.

"Oh yes. And you?"

"Yes. In fact, I think I enjoyed it so much that I'd like to play again." He lifted the quilt to show her just how much he had enjoyed last night. 

"Ah, we will have to be much quieter. There be children awake out there," she said softly.

"Oh yes... quiet," he whispered as he pulled her under the quilt and began to let his fingers and lips explore her skin. Giggles then sighs escaped the confines of the quilt.

Down the hall, Andy turned up the radio. It wouldn't do to spoil their fun, nor the children's breakfast.

*

They showered together when Andy let them know that he and the children were headed for the park. It felt so nice to have someone else to touch as well as be touched by Kate thought. They had tried to talk over the rush of water, but soon gave up. That and all the kisses kept interrupting conversation. Stepping out of the shower, she handed him a towel and watched him as he dried off. He noticed her looking and smiled. He made sure that the towel didn't conceal too much of him. He was also taking time to watch her.

"You know, this is the first time I've seen all of you," she said.

"And I you. Not bad at all for someone who thinks of herself as a fat out of shape old woman." He teased her.

"Oh you!" She tried to snap at him with her towel. "I was just trying to be honest about the shape I'm in."

"Yes, and I told you, I think you are beautiful. Wrinkles, scars, soft bits and all."

"I know. Doesn't mean I don't have a bit of a problem with it though now and again."

"And I don't have a problem with how you look. I like how you look and how you feel in my arms."

Kate blushed. "Eric, how old are you?"

"I'll be forty-two in a few months. Why?" 

Kate looked at him again. "You certainly don't look forty-two. Thirty-five maybe, but not in your forty's. Except for that touch of gray at the temple."

"As a family, we tend to look young. You don't exactly look forty-five you know."

Kate just shook her head. "No points there dear. I know how much gray there is, and how many wrinkles."

Eric walked up to her and took her in his arms. "No, you just don't see you the way I do." He kissed her. "We'd better get dressed."

"I guess you're right." She walked out the door to her room.



*

Andy called Zach from the park. The two of them stood talking while the children played. "Just to let you know, I walked into Mom's room and found her and Eric all snuggled together under a quilt."

"All Righty!" Zach said. "Do you think this is a one night fling? Or something more?"

"Well if the sounds from the bedroom were any indication, this is something more. I had to turn up the radio to keep the kids from hearing."

"Oh my! That's great. Do Pat and Jon know yet?"

"Well, if Jon doesn't know, he's deaf. They were right over his bed. However, I'll talk to them both before tonight. I don't think Mom wants the kids knowing yet, and I can understand that. Especially if this is just a one off thing."

"Ok. Keep me posted."

"Will do." Andy wondered if they had had enough time to get showered and presentable. He hoped that they were talking and working things out. Mom had been way too long without someone in her life. Eric must have been too. Either way, it was good to see Mom happy.

*

A week later, Eric and Kate gathered everyone into the kitchen after dinner. The guys all had an idea of what was going on, but let Mom have her moment. 

"Eric and I have a small announcement to make," Kate started. Everyone gave her their attention, including the children. "We have decided that Eric and I are going to try living together." 

"That's great Mom."

"Hey! I'm not giving up my room!" Jon said.

"No one is asking you to dear. Pat moved out two weeks ago in case you hadn't noticed. The two little ones will share that room and you will still have yours."

"Oh. Ok. But they better stay out of my stuff," Jon said, still trying to sound angry.

"Are you alright with this otherwise?" 

Jon looked at her. "Yeah. I guess so."

"Good!"

"Congratulations Kate," said Anne. "You two look so happy."

"Thank you dear."

"Yeah, Mom. I'm happy for you and Eric," Zach said.

"Mom!" Pat shouted from the far end of the room. "How does it feel to have a life again?"

"Wonderful dear."

"Good! Don't forget to turn up the stereo!" he said with a laugh. Turning up the music had been a family joke for years. Especially as each of the boys had become sexually active.

Andy came forward with a wrapped parcel in his hands. "I... we... the guys all chipped in for a little present for you two." He handed it to Eric and then moved back.

Kate and Eric looked at each other and weren't certain if the box was going to bite them or explode.

"Do we dare open this?"

"Yeah Mom, go ahead," Pat said.

She and Eric both grabbed a bit and tore the wrappings. Inside was a basket full of condoms, flavored edible lotions and two red ribboned dog bones. They looked at the basket and started laughing.

"Oh you boys are so going to get it!" she said. 

Eric was laughing so hard, that there were tears in the corners of his eyes. He remembered the afternoon they had talked to the boys about lycanthrope and how nervous he had been. Instead, the boys had taken it well.... except for teasing him about dog biscuits. Now of course, it had become a running joke.

Jon turned to Zach. "See! I told you he had a sense of humor." 

"Yeah," Zach agreed, and soon everyone in the room was laughing.

*

Kate woke to the sound of the alarm going off. She swore she had turned it off at least ten times. She hated alarm clocks. Growing up, they always seemed to go off at what she thought of as oh-dark-thirty.... Which is what her dad called 5:30am. He'd been a military contractor. Then there was David. He'd been in the military for just long enough to realize that he didn't fit. So, she'd come to hate alarms early in the morning.

Kate rolled over to shut off the alarm again. This time, she realized that all prior attempts had been dreams. Looking at the clock as she turned it off, she realized that it had been going off for at least thirty minutes.

"Eric! Wake up! We're running late!" she said loudly as she scrambled for her clothes. Eric rolled over and mumbled something about getting up as soon as he found his feet.

"Come on! Its the first day of school for the kids!" Kate headed out the door to wake the children.

*



Fifteen minutes later, two sleepy children were eating cereal when Eric stumbled into the kitchen. He'd barely opened his mouth to say hello when Kate shoved a cup of tea into his hands. He looked at it oddly. It was a travel mug. 

"We don't have time to dawdle! Have some toast." She grabbed more stuff and started heading out the door. Eric watched the children finish their breakfasts and grab their bags.

"Come on Daddy! School today! I'm gonna be in first grade with Bess! Come on Daddy!" Jamie said as she started to pull Eric out the door.

"Hold on a minute. Let me get my sunglasses." Eric smiled, and tried to figure out which hand to use. He stuffed his toast in his mouth, grabbed the glasses and headed out the door behind Mark and Jamie. Kate was already getting in the Subaru.

*



In the back seat, Jamie was singing quietly to herself. Something about going to school. Mark was staring out the window as if he was going to the dentist. Eric couldn't understand that child some days. He hoped that school would open up Mark's eyes to the bigger world. He also hoped that school was ready for Jamie.

Enrolling them in school the week before had been an adventure. No birth certificates. New social security cards. Thank goodness that Suzanne knew some strings to pull. No former school records and no mom either to help explain why there were no shot records, doctor records, etc. It had been rather overwhelming. 

Luckily, Kate had a good rapport with the principal. Ms. Alexander was one of those down to earth women that made you feel that everything would be okay, if you just had enough education. She came across as a bit of a ditz at first, but then you suddenly realized that beneath that gray head of hair was a mind with a purpose. Ms. A, as Kate had called her, took everything in stride. Before he knew what was what, all the forms had been signed, and the kids were registered for school.

Next was getting them clothes and school supplies. The school had it's own school store where you could get almost everything except a backpack and clothes. Later on, Eric found out that there was a clothes bin too. Kate knew all about it as all four of her sons had gone to the school.

Clothes had been an adventure. Jamie was entranced by all things pink, frilly and sparkly. She'd been wearing Mark's hand-me-downs for many years. Mark didn't give two cents of input. He just stood there, and in the end, Kate handed him off to Zach who took him in tow and came back with the prerequisite jeans, undies, socks and teeshirts. Coats and heavy shoes would just have to wait.

*



Kate arrived at the school right behind one of the buses. Kids were pouring out as she parked and got out of the car. "Lets go meet your teachers." She herded the children towards the doors. Jamie's was first. Curly haired and bright eyed, Kelly was a wonderful loving woman. She had been Andy's favorite teacher and now was teaching first grade and art. 

"Jamie, this is Kelly. Kelly, this is Jamie Cole," Kate said introducing the two. 

Kelly shook hands with Jamie and smiled. "And who is this big guy behind you Jamie?" 

Jamie turned. "Its my Daddy. His name is Eric, and he hunts rabbits for me for breakfast." Turning towards Mark, she added, "And this is Mark. He's my brother. He doesn't like rabbits."

Kelly just smiled. "Oh, I'll remember that."

"Oh, and this is Kate. She's my mom, but not really. We live with her an she's the bestest mom cause she has Zach, an Andy, an Pat, an Jon. An I really like the cake she makes, an Ratkovich Surprise. That's dinner." Jamie spoke as fast as she could spit it out.

Everyone broke into giggles except Mark. He just stood there looking around. 

"Jamie, I'm sure you are going to like first grade. Why don't you come in and find a desk," Kelly said leading Jamie into the room. She waved goodbye over her shoulder towards Eric and Kate.

Next, they took Mark up to the fourth grade room. Lisa met them at the door, and after a brief introduction, she lead him off to find his desk and what to expect from school. Kate had already talked to her about Mark being a bit of an odd duck. Lisa promised to keep her up on any problems that might arise.

Eric was watching everyone filter into the school and almost forgot to move at one point until Kate nudged him. "Come on dear, you're acting like you've never been in a school before."

"Well, except for a few years in what I think was middle school and college, I haven't been. Especially one as friendly as this place. My memories of school fit a prison yard by comparison."

"Mountain Valley school is a special place, that's for sure. All of my boys went up here. I was just very sad that there wasn't a high school."

"I think I understand. I'm just not use to anything like this."

"The kids will be okay. If anything happens, they'll call. They always do."

"I take it that you've had your fair share of emergencies?"

"Oh, one or two. Andy was a real handful, and then of course there is Jon. He never stayed in class. Always wandering about in and out of class." 

Eric shook his head. He could see Jon doing just that and actually getting away with it here. No wonder he was having problems at the high school in town.

*

Kate had dropped Eric off to work and then headed to the shelter. She had already told Suzanne that she'd be arriving later during the school year. Suzanne had been understanding about the whole schedule business. Eric would pick up the kids most afternoons, and Kate would do the morning run. 

There was plenty to do today as there had been a bunch of college students stranded for the night. Most had been picked up by lunch, but there was still a lot of paperwork to do between Kate and the school district. This had happened before, and the schools reimbursed the shelter at the same rate as a local hotel. It helped in ways Kate hadn't expected, because the teens often became aware of the human population that wasn't so fortunate. It broadened their world view. It certainly had hers over the years. People in shelters were there for all sorts of reasons. A knock on the door interrupted Kate's thoughts. She looked up to see Suzanne standing there.

"Hey Kate, there is a Sargent here wanting to talk to you," she said with an odd look on her face. 

Kate tried to figure out what was going on, but before she could say anything, a tall man in uniform stepped into her office. Kate stood up to greet the man. "Hello Sargent." She shook his hand.

"Hello Mrs. Ratkovich. I need to talk to you about someone who might have come through here a few months ago."

"Um... okay. Sargent," she hesitated.

"Sargent O'Hare. I'm with the Army base about ninety miles north of here."

Kate thought for a moment. That would be Ft. Kit. She wondered what on earth he wanted. "What can I do for you sir?"

"I am looking for someone."

"Ok. You said that much already. Do you realize that we keep our records private and don't open them up for just anyone?"

"Yes, your boss explained that much. However, she did say that I might talk to you. Unofficially of course."

"Ah. Ok. Now, what is this about?"

"We, the military try to keep track of some of our men. Men with talents, and sometimes we need them for extra duties. Special operations."

"Ok. So, how could I help you?"

"Well, you're the admitting agent, and so we've been checking with all the shelters around here to see if one of our men and his family came through here."

"Oh," Kate was thinking to herself that she didn't like this man. He was sweating and smelled acrid. Smelled like he was lying about something.

"We're looking for a man in his mid-thirties. Curly brown hair, dark eyes, pale completion. Wife and two kids. A boy and a girl."

"That could be any of a half dozen families that have been through here in the last year." 

The Sargent shifted in his seat. "Would you recognize a name?" 

"I don't know. Besides, if I did, I couldn't really tell you. I said our records are confidential, and I abide by that."

"Well, you can't blame me for trying. The man's name is Olman. Nicholas Olman."

Kate looked at the Sargent and wondered just what he thought he was pulling. "Sir, I have not heard that name nor seen any family that fits that description."

"Alright. Thank you for your time Mrs. Ratcovich." He stood and made as if to leave. 

"Good afternoon Sargent." Kate saw him to the door. 

She no sooner shut the door and got back to her seat than Suzanne slipped into the room. "That was weird," Suzanne said.

"You're telling me! Gads. I was waiting for the storm troopers to pile in and start looking under the desk. He just wouldn't take no for an answer."

"Nope. And to be honest, I don't trust him. I think that there are some files which will be shredded today and go out in the trash at my house." Suzanne didn't trust the government any more than she had to. The local county commissioners had tried to shut the shelter down more than once. It was one of the reasons that they kept all records confidential. 

"You shred them and then re-shred them and stick them in the garbage disposal. Don't carry them home Suzanne." Kate didn't trust the man.

"Good idea! You don't think the family he's looking for has come through here do you?"

"Doesn't matter. How many times have we gotten a false name? Or address? There is just no way to know to be honest."

"You're right as usual. I'd best get cracking." 

Kate looked around after Suzanne had left the room. She tried to decide if there was anything she ought to get rid of in light of the Sargent's visit. She saw nothing until she picked up her purse and realized that it had knocked over a picture of her and Eric with the kids. She almost put it back on her desk and then thought about it again. It was already knocked over when the Sargent had entered the room. He hadn't seen it. Looking at Eric, she thought back on the man's words and the way he smelled. She didn't trust him, and put the photo in her bag. She would have something to discuss with Eric when he got home. Kate spent the next few hours cleaning up her office and raced out the door just in time to go pick up the kids.

*

The kids bounded off the bus like kangaroos. Jamie was all smiles and swirling bits of paper. Mark walked behind, like he'd just discovered the most marvelous thing, and didn't know how to describe it.

"How was school?" Kate asked.

"It was fun," Mark said. "I like it I think."

"Good. It will take a bit of getting use to, but it is fun."

"I love-love-love school. It's the bestest thing in the whole world. An I can read, an have books, an have friends, an lunch was wonderful, an the bus driver is so nice an," Jamie rambled on.

"Whoa there dear! Not so fast!" Kate said.

"Ok. An did I tell you I have two new bestest friends? An that I can write my name an..." 

"Jamie! Settle down dear. Fasten your belts so we can go home and you can tell Daddy all about it," Kate said.

"Ok!" both kids said at once.

*

Kate chickened out and headed for the basement laundry room when Eric got home. He got treated to the full bouncing craziness from Jamie and Mark actually tried to talk with his dad. She smiled and left Eric to deal with notes, homework and getting things organized for the next morning. She had the second load in the dryer and was folding towels when Eric came down the stairs.

"That was not fair dear." He leaned up against the washer and folding his arms across his chest.

"What wasn't fair?"

"Leaving me to deal with that blast of enthusiastic children."

"Oh? And where were you when they got off the bus like rockets?" 

"You mean that they've calmed down since they got home?"

"Yes. They are positively placid compared to the way they got off the bus. Jamie talked ninety miles an hour and Mark actually spoke more than two sentences!" 

"Wow. Are they always going to act like this?" 

"Hopefully not. I don't know if I could handle such enthusiasm every day." Kate smiled.

Eric walked over and gave her a big hug. "Thank you for making my children so happy." 

"You're welcome. Now, will you grab those towels?" 

"Of course."

*

Laying there in bed, Kate couldn't wait any longer. She had to tell Eric about the day's weird events.

"Eric, I need to ask you something."

"Ask away." 

Kate rolled over so she could see his face. "I had a visitor today at the shelter."

"Okay."

"He was looking for a family that he thought may have come through town."

Eric looked at her and wondered where she was going with this. "Alright, so did you tell him anything?"

"No. Not really. Our rules don't allow us to give out names. However, this Sargent was really insistent. Bent Suzanne's nose out of shape and so he came into see me."

At the mention of the word 'Sargent', Eric stiffened a bit. He looked at Kate and waited for her to speak.

"This Sargent, Sargent O'Hare, big sorta G.I.Joe type guy in an Army uniform pushed his way past Suzanne before she could finish introducing him. Then he kept asking questions that I couldn't answer. Or, should I say wouldn't answer."




Sheeple Ch. 02



"Oh. What was he asking?"

"He wanted to know if a family by the name of Olman had been through. Oh, Nicholas Olman. Curly brown haired, dark eyes, mid-thirties, wife and two kids. I said that honestly, I didn't remember any one by that name or description passing through."

Eric had gone very still. "What was your impression of him Kate?"

"He smelled bad. Acrid. Like he was lying about something. I didn't trust him."

"Anything else?"

"Yes," Kate hesitated. "He gave both Suzanne and I a bad feeling. So, she shredded a bunch of files and literally flushed the bits down the drain. Also, when I went to pick up my handbag, I saw that the picture of you and the kids with me at the park had been face down. Knocked over by my bag. So, I went to pick it up, and when I looked at it..."

"You saw something," he said quietly.

"Yes. Eric, I saw that the photo matched who he might be looking for, and worried. I brought the picture home Eric..." she stopped, not wanting to ask what was on her mind.

"Kate, did he say why he was looking for this Olman?" 

"Sorta. Said that he dealt with special operations people and that they kept track of them. And the impression I got is that this Olman was someone they wanted to find." 

Eric just nodded. "Kate, what are you really thinking?"

Kate looked at him, and found that her voice was all choked up. "I... umm... I want to ask you what your name is. What it really is, and I'm afraid of what you might tell me," she said softly.

Eric moved towards Kate and took her face in his hands. Trying to sound calm, he spoke. "Kate, my name is Eric Lawrence Cole. However, I was born in Montana forty-two years ago, as Nicholas Evans Olman."

"You... you are the man he was looking for," she said almost stammering, and moving back out of his hands.

"Yes and no. I was the man he was looking for. I haven't been that man for nearly 13 years." He was still speaking softly.

"But..... but why? Why didn't you tell me any of this before?" There was a hurt tone in her voice.

"Kate, you didn't need to know, because as far as the rest of the world knew, Nick Olman was dead." Eric raised himself up on one elbow.

"Dead? Ummm.. unless I'm missing the obvious, you are very much alive." She sat up. "I don't understand."

"Kate, remember when I said I use to be in the military and that I did things I wasn't very proud of?"

"Yes."

"Well, they were the types of things that you can't talk about. Things you can't even tell Congress about sometimes, because they didn't happen."

"Didn't happen? Like in some sort of covert 'we-weren't-here' type of way?"

"Yes. I belonged to a special ops division that doesn't exist any more. One of those that got sort of ousted a president or so back. One that sound more like a spy novel now than reality. We were disbanded and most of us were given new identities. That's when Nick died and Eric was born."

Kate just looked at Eric. "So, why would this man be looking for you now?"

"I honestly don't know. It could be anything really. I worked in electronics, computers and such, or it could be because of my combat record."

"But why now? Wouldn't the government know where you were?"

"No. I made sure I disappeared. I didn't want to be found ever again. I certainly don't want to go back into the military. At least not for their ideals."

"Oh? Do I even want to know what you did?" 

"Kate, I did what I needed to for my country. I didn't always like it or understand where it fit in the greater good, but, I was a good soldier. I did things that I know were not nice. Rabbits are a lot safer than some of the people I ran into," he said softly.

"Oh. You... shifted? For the military?" 

"No, not for the military. However, in certain situations, I did shift to save lives."

"Ok. It's just that I suddenly feel like I don't know you. I..." she said uneasily.

"Kate, I'm Eric. However, it doesn't matter what my name is. I am still the same wolf you knew yesterday and this morning. You just know a bit more about my past. A past I had hoped to leave behind.

"Yes, I'm just a bit rattled. I didn't like the smell of that man. He made me anxious. He made me worry about you and the kids."

"It will be okay. Do you want to be held?"

Kate looked at him. "Oh yes. Please hold me close. I was afraid I was going to loose you and I didn't know what to think."

"I love you Kate."

"I love you Eric," she said and buried her nose in his chest. 

*

Kate got to work the next morning to see police, lots of yellow tape and Suzanne pacing back and forth like a wet hen. "Suzanne, what on earth is going on?" 

"We were vandalized. The whole place is topsy-turvy. I don't think that there is a drawer in the place that hasn't been turned out. Furniture slashed and beds flipped. You name it, it's dumped. I am so pissed."

"Who? When? What happened to the two guys upstairs that were here?" 

"They were out at the movies and when they came back, they were the ones who discovered it."

"Damn. Do you think it was our mysterious visitor from yesterday?" 

"I don't know. However, I'm so glad we got rid of those files. Who knows what that idiot was really looking for."

"I agree. Are we going to be able to work at all today?" Kate watched the police mill about.

"No. just go home and enjoy your day off. I've got to stay around to give an idea of damage or loss, but don't worry about work. I'll call you when we can get back in."

"Ok. Call me if I can help out," Kate said as she walked off.

"I will!" Suzanne called after her.

*

Kate waited nervously for Eric to get home that night. She fed the kids early and stuck them in bed so that they might have more time alone.

Eric paled when she told him about the break-in. "I am so glad that you brought that photo home yesterday."

"Oh! I hadn't even thought about it. Oh..." She thought of the implications. "How much do you resemble Nick?... know what I mean?"

"Yes. Let's see... I've got a bit of a beer belly now and my hair is longer and grayer. Not as muscular. But, that's about it."

"Beer belly? No, rabbit belly," she said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. 

Eric smiled. "I probably have changed just enough that he could walk by me on the street and not see Nick. However, I'll be extra careful for a bit. Oh, and do me a favor."

"Yes?"

"You said he smelled bad?"

"Yeah. Like really stale sweat."

"See if you smell him in the office when you go back in."

"Oh... okay, but I didn't want to go back without you with me. Can you come with me on Friday? It is the first day we will be allowed back in."

"Yeah, I think I can take part of the morning off."

"Thank you Eric." She hugged him.

That night, Eric went hunting. However, it wasn't for rabbits. He went downtown to the shelter and did his own investigation. The back door hadn't been repaired, so he was able to sneak in under all the yellow crime scene tape. He headed for Kate's office and found that most of the stuff had been righted. Piles of papers were on the floor. Eric headed for the chair opposite the desk and took a deep whiff. An acrid scent filled his nose. He shook his head and sneezed. Then he went around the room. Yes, the dear Sargent had paid special attention to this room. His scent was all over in places it shouldn't have been if he'd just sat in the chair. It was very heavy around the computer.

Eric checked the hall and shifted back. He logged into the computer and pulled up the records he knew that Kate kept. He had helped her build the data base. What he couldn't remember was if she used names or just numbers. Numbers. A sigh of relief played across his lips. No names, just dates and numbers. Eric was relieved. He turned off the computer, shifted and left the building the way he'd come in.

Eric went hunting to release some of the tension he felt building up. He was worried that this Sargent O'Hare might be more of a problem than he had lead Kate to believe. He didn't find many rabbits this time, but caught a rattler. He knew better than to bring it home to Kate. He'd done so not too long ago, and the screams still echoed in his memory. How was he to know she was afraid of snakes?

*

Life soon fell into a routine. Up at the crack of dawn, off to school with the children, work, home, dinner and bed. Sometimes Kate thought that the sameness would drive her nuts. Other days she was so very glad of routine. Like the day she had the flat. 

Kate was on her way home from dropping off the kids when she realized she had a flat tire. Normally, this would have frustrated her no end as her hands weren't always strong enough to work the cross wrench. However, she knew that she couldn't walk home. It was just too far. She sat, hoping that someone would come along who might help. Unlike most mornings, the highway was empty of traffic. She decided to try and change the tire. She got the jack and the spare out and was trying to get things in the right place when something came up behind her. She slowly turned, to see Eric standing behind her wearing a pair of shorts.

"Hi."

"Gads you startled me! Where did you come from?" She was looking around trying to figure out how he'd gotten there.

"Oh, the arroyo over there." He pointed to it as he stepped forward to take over changing the tire.

"Eric, how did you know where to find me, or even to start looking?" She felt rather odd about the whole situation.

Eric stuck his head off to one side so that she could hear him. "I realized that you were late, and there was no one home to drive me out here. So, I put my shorts in a sack, shifted, and then came up the culvert out of town. Then, it was a simple matter of following my nose."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Following your nose?"

"Yes." Eric laid the last of the nuts down from the tire and wiggled it off the axle. "You have a very distinct scent. Especially this morning."

"Oh? And why this morning?"

"Your cycle is about to start," he said rather matter of fact as he put the spare in place.

"What? I'm not due for days." 

"I beg to differ." He sniffed at her again as he started to tighten down the nuts. "Probably about noon."

"Oh you! Just change the tire," Kate said rather flustered. 

Eric smiled and finished up the tire. He put the flat one in the back and replaced the jack and wrench. "Let's go back to town."

"Don't you want to go the way you came?" she said with a bit of a sarcastic tone.

"Nope, one cactus is enough for me today."

"Cactus?" she asked.

"Yes. Hit one coming up out of the arroyo. You can help me check for spines when we get home."

"I don't see any. She was looking at his bare chest and legs.

"That's because they are under the shorts."

"Oh." The blush crept over her face.

*

After they dropped the tire off at the garage, they went back to the house. Kate called Suzanne to let her know that she'd be late. Suzanne told her not to worry and that she'd see her when she got in.

Eric was gingerly taking off his shorts when Kate came into the room. The whole left side of his hip was pinpricked by cactus. 

"Oh, let me get the duct tape." She turned and left the room.

Eric looked at her retreating form. "Why duct tape?" he thought to himself.

"Duct tape gets the spines out easier than tweezers," Kate said as she came back in the room. "Yes, I heard you loud and clear."

Eric just smiled. He couldn't decide which would hurt more as she applied the duct tape. Removing the spines or the hair on his leg. Kate smoothed the tape down and then with a quick pull, brought it back off.

"Ouch! Ah! That hurt!" 

"Oh you wimp!" She stopped, showing him fifteen or so spines on the tape. With the tweezers, she got out the remaining three or four spines and then started cleaning off the area with a washrag and then neosporin. Finally, she put a large pad over the area and taped it down. "There you go. Just watch bumping that area for a while."

"I will. Did I ever tell you how much I hate cactus?"

"No, but I can understand." She bent over to pick up the medical supplies and then got an odd look on her face. Picking up the stuff, she moved quickly for the bathroom. 

Eric heard cussing coming from the bathroom and went to the dresser. He grabbed underwear and headed for Kate. Hanging the panties on his finger, he held them around the wall where the toilet sat.

"I think you'll need these."

"Oh just shut up and hand them over." Kate was rather exasperated. "Why do men have to be so right sometimes?" she thought to herself.

"Oh, because sometimes we are." Eric spoke from across the bathroom.

"Get out! Out of my head and out of the bathroom!" Kate shouted at Eric as he retreated to the hall.

Eric saved his laughter until he was out of earshot. He'd already been feeling the cramping sensations that he knew were much stronger in Kate. There were days that being a healer and empath was difficult as well as downright painful. He also knew that Kate would probably start to feel reciprocal pains from him if she wasn't already. He'd have to broach the subject in an easy manner. There were days that she was so much like family, that it amazed him that she wasn't. And, as much as he'd have liked to have a baby with Kate, he was very glad she was fixed. He wasn't sure he'd handle labor. Not if just the cramps felt this way.

*

Kate finally got into work near lunch time. She brought her lunch and ate at her desk as she tried to finish the job of re-organizing. Ever since that break-in, Suzanne had been paranoid about records. Not that Kate blamed her. Three other shelters had been hit in the same week. All of them in small cities along the highways. She couldn't decide if there was a pattern or just random junk. Either way, it made their lives harder. 

Eric had also come in and double passworded her station. She now had to do a number of things to get into her log-in. Eric said it would help keep out the common hacker and maybe even give them a clue as to who had done this. No luck so far, but then again, no more break-ins.

Suzanne came in near the end of the day. She looked tired. Flopping in the chair, she sighed.

"What's going on Suzanne?"

"Oh, police still wanting info, and our Sargent called again. I'd swear he was giving veiled threats if we didn't co-operate with him."

"Oh fun. But how are we suppose to know what people's names and identities really are?"

"Oh, I don't know. However, don't bother to tell that to a military mind. Rusty as a steel trap."

"I know what you mean. Dad and David were both in the military so to speak." 

"Oh, that's right. What about Eric?"

"No, not that I know of. Then again, there is a lot I don't know about Mr. Cole."

"And you're sleeping with him?"

"Yeah. I am, and I don't mind one bit."

Suzanne smiled and left the room.



Sheeple Ch. 03



Sorry this took a little time to get this chapter out to all of you. Life's been busy. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Things begin to heat up a little for Eric and Kate. And for the record, I am pagan. Which should explain to someone who asked once upon a time why I write "Oh Gods!" instead of "Oh God!" 

Jaisen





It was the big Pioneer Day Celebration at school. Everyone was dressed in jeans and cowboy gear or long dresses and sun bonnets. Jamie kept twirling her dress and Mark was enjoying playing with his two friends Cody and Todd. Kate was relieved that Mark had finally started acting like what she thought a boy should. Jamie on the other hand was pure joy. 

Eric was trying to hold Jamie's hand while they walked through the classrooms and looked at the various displays. The students had been divided up into one room schools and had done appropriate lessons. This year, the theme was Ranch Life. Jamie had just given Eric a taste of the home made butter Kelly's class had made when he made a funny face. Kate figured that he was teasing Jamie. However, Eric made a beeline for Kate.

"Kate, I think we have company," he said softly in her ear.

"What do you mean?" She was puzzled by his reaction and the grip on her arm.

"Take a whiff of the air," he said as he looked around.

Kate did as requested. Jamie was playing with another little girl, so she wasn't distracted. Without trying to seem as if she were inhaling the whole room, she slowly turned. Coming from the door, was an acrid almost rancid odor. Looking out the door, she saw Sargent O'Hare, dressed in casual clothes. "Shit," she said under her breath.

"I take it you can see our skunk." Eric said trying to move out of line of sight of the door.

"Yes, and its the same one who was in my office. What on earth is he doing here?"

"Still hunting. Is there a back way out of this classroom?"

"Yes. See the toilets over there?" she pointed to her left. "They connect to the next classroom." 

"Ok. I want you to go out and walk in front of our skunk, and make sure you turn his head to the front of the hall. I'll go out through the library and meet you outside."

"I'll see what I can find out and see you in a bit. If we leave too early, the kids will throw a fit."

"Understood. See you in a bit." Eric moved off through the class as Kate left the room. Luckily, Jamie had traipsed off with Bess and Sophie.

Kate took a deep breath and headed towards O'Hare. She was trying to think of what busy body she could ask about him when she ran right into him. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" she said as she looked up at his face. "Why, Sargent O'Hare. What a surprise to see you here. I'm so sorry to run into you literally." She turned him away from the classroom Eric was due to exit.

"Ms? " O'Hare started.

"Ratcovich. Kate Ratcovich. We met at the shelter downtown a month or so ago."

"Oh yes. I remember now," he said, taking her lead.

"Well, what are you doing up here at Pioneer Days? This is rather a local event, and we don't get many outsiders." She smiled sweetly.

"I...um, read about it in the papers, and my wife and I are looking to move down here. Looking at all the little schools and such."

"Oh. Is your wife with you tonight?" 

"No. She couldn't come, but I brought some of the boys from Ft. Kit with me. They have families too that like smaller communities."

"Oh." Kate looked around casually, wondering just who the 'boys' were. "Well, don't forget the hospitality room. There are all sorts of refreshments there. The whole school contributes, as it is a real family atmosphere up here. Everyone knows everyone. Shall we find your boys and get them some cake and punch?"

O'Hare looked around, trying to decide whether this woman was just a pest or sincere. "There they are." He pointing at two tall men and a shorter one in uniform standing by the front door. "Clarke, Degus, Hart, come over here. I'd like you to meet Mrs. Ratcovich."

They came over and shook her hand in far too firm a grip to be friendly. O'Hare introduced each one, and they all walked into the hospitality room where the men got some food.

"So, what brings you up here ma'am?" Clarke asked.

"Oh, I have children who go to this school."

"Boys or girls?" he continued.

Well, I've had four sons through here, and have one more as well as a daughter here at the moment. My youngest son is in fourth grade and my sweetie girl is in first grade.

"Why ma'am, you look far too young to have six children," Hart said.

"Thanks. Two of mine are probably just about your age. And to be honest, I started young." She smiled. The confusion on their faces was worth the effort.

O'Hare gave her a look she wasn't totally certain of. Like he was trying to puzzle something out. She wondered just how much checking up on her he had done. "Granted, it took two husbands. I sort of wore out one," she said with a grin and a wink.

O'Hare actually blushed. "Oh ma'am, certainly not." 

"Yes, indeed. We country lasses are a hardy bunch. Rough on our menfolk."

" We sure are," said Mrs. Maes as she walked up behind Kate and gave her a hug. "Who are these handsome men you're talking to?"

"Oh. Lara Maes, this is Sargent O'Hare, and his boys as he calls them, Clarke, Hart and Degus. You'll have to forgive me, I don't know their ranks."

Lara shook the preferred hands and then gave Kate another hug. "Tyree wants to know if Mark can spend the night. I think there was some discussion of midnight calf roping and other nefarious boy games."

"That's fine by me. Last time I saw Mark he was in the gym."

"I'll find him and return him by Sunday if that's okay."

"Oh yes. A weekend on the ranch would do him good!" Kate said. "Oh would it be good. That took care of the boy." she thought. Now what to do with Jamie.

"Ma'am, we need to be moving on. It's a bit of a drive back to Ft. Kit."

"Yes, it is. Hope you men enjoyed what you saw of our school and think about moving up here."

"Yes, we did. Its a very nice school. Sorry we didn't get to meet your husband," O'Hare said.

"So am I. Don't know where he went off to. Oh well. Perhaps another time," Kate said with a smile she didn't feel. She watched them leave the school and felt a sigh of relief escape her. Now she had to find Jamie and get home. Hopefully without being followed. Four of them. There had been at least four of them watching. She wondered just what they had seen. Playing the evening through her head, she realized that she hadn't seen them until O'Hare had pointed them out. Damn. Hopefully they hadn't seen Eric and her together. Or, if they did, they didn't realize that he was with her.

Nina came up to Kate and after greetings and a hug, she just started to talk when Sophie and Jamie came barreling up to them. 

"Can we? Can we? Huh? Huh? Can we please?" they said in chorus.

"Can you what?" Kate asked.

"Sophie and I want ta spend the night at her house an Nina-Moma says yes! Will you say yes? Please? Please? Please, Kate-Mommie?" Jamie babbled at light speed.

Kate blinked, looked at Nina. "Is this alright with you?"

"Of course. Sophie and Jamie get along so well. Can she stay till Sunday?" 

"If it's alright with you."

"Oh sure. See you on Sunday then," Nina finished and walked off with two skipping girls.

Kate was rather surprised. She'd come to the school with two kids and a mate and now didn't know if she'd even have Eric in the car. She said her goodbyes and headed outside. The parking lot wass odd, with only the front area lit. She'd parked way down on one side. As she walked, she sniffed the air. No acrid scent, but a dry one that didn't fit in. Looking around, she saw what she thought she was looking for. Degus was sitting on the tailgate of a sedan with a flat tire.

"Hello, looks like your buddies left you in the lurch," Kate said as she started to walk by. 

"Yeah. I drove down by myself as I'm headed off on leave for a few days. Went to look in the trunk, and I've got a spare, but no jack."

"Ah. I've got one you are welcome to use." 

"Thank you ma'am. Wouldn't want to delay you and the hubby getting the kids home though."

"Well, it looks like I've got the weekend off. Both kids off to spend time with friends, and now only a husband to find. He's probably off looking at someone's 4-H sheep or some silly cow. My car is over here." 

They walked towards her car when the interior of the car started to growl and bark. Large canine teeth showed in the back half of the Subaru.

"Oh damn. I forgot that Max was in the car," Kate said with a bit of surprise in her voice. "He's a little over protective of me. If you just back off, I'll get the jack."

Degus nodded and backed away from the vehicle which was still vibrating from the noise. Kate slowly opened the back hatch and grabbed the huge dog by the scruff of the neck.

"Max, heel. Max, lay down." She pushed him off to one side. Max finally gave in and laid down, nose pointing at Degus and growling low. Kate got the jack and cross wrench, and just barely closed the tail gate so it didn't latch. She winked at 'Max' as she did it. She hoped he understood.

"Here you go sir."

Thanks. I would have been sitting out here for hours if you hadn't been so kind."

"Oh no. Any of these farmers would have been glad to give you a hand. Some of them might even have lent you a jack." 

Degus quickly changed the tire and handed back the jack. Thanking Kate, he got in his car and drove off. Kate walked back to her Subaru, lifted the tail gate and stuffed it back in where it belonged. The dome light was off, and the interior was pitch black.

"Max? What on earth made you call me Max?" Eric asked perplexed.

"Well, I always wanted to name a dog Max, and I didn't expect to see you in the car let alone shifted. So, that was just what popped out. Granted, I didn't expect to see Degus there either. He was waiting, wasn't he?"

"Yes. I watched him and his buddies deflate his tire. Didn't think anyone was around. They knew which one was your car too. Being able to lay in the ditch unseen was a real advantage. I had just gotten back into the car when you started out into the parking lot."

"Damn. Now of course, they know I have one big mean dog. Is that going to be a problem?" 

"No. None of that bunch was with any unit I was in. So none of them should know about me. Those that did wouldn't talk.

Kate got in the car and they headed down the mountains into town. "So, what next? I know that they weren't here for what they said. They weren't looking at schools. O'Hare and company were hunting you."

"Yes, I know. And I am afraid that I'm going to have to take care of them," Eric said in a low voice.

"Eric, I don't like the sound of your voice. What are you planning?"

"I think I'm going to pay a visit to Sarge and his buddies."A midnight visit, in about five or six days."

Kate thought about it. The moon was full in just about that time frame. Oh... "Eric, you wouldn't,"

"Eat them? No. I don't want indigestion. However, being a wolf will make it easier to sneak into the barracks. Plus, Degus there is just about my size. I can sneak in, grab his uniform, put some scare on those boys, leave the clothes and sneak back out. The MP's will be looking for a man in uniform, not a dog or coyote."

"It still gives me the creeps Eric."

"Yes, but do we want these boys on our doorsteps again?"

"No. Am I driving you up there?"

"No. I'll borrow Zach's junker."

"Ok." Kate dropped the subject while they finished driving home.

*

Laying in bed after making love, Eric was running his fingers over her side. Her hipbones and ribs were more pronounced than they had been a few months ago.

"Sweetie, you need to eat a bit better. You're melting away."

""Oh great. First time I loose weight in ages and you're telling me I need to eat." Kate sighed. "I just can't win."

"Sweetie, I didn't mean it in a nasty sort of way. Just that I know you aren't eating and I don't want you sick. Eating right is different than eating junk." Concern tinging his voice. His hands moved back over her stomach. "You're also toning up. Have you noticed?"

"Yes. There are days I feel like I have muscles I never thought I knew about. And my clothes are looser. 

"Some of those clothes could go to Goodwill or the thrift store. They hang on you."

"That's what Suzanne said. And yes, I know I'm not eating as well as I could. I'm stressing about what you are planning to do. I don't want to loose you. Gads I don't." She buried her head in his chest and shoulder.

"You are not going to loose me. I don't know what they want, but I plan to find out and stop them. Tomorrow is the night. I don't work the next morning, so Zach and I will head up. We'll be okay."

"I hope so," she said as she drifted off to sleep.

*

It was hard to keep her mind on things. Zach and Eric left early in the afternoon. Ft. Kit wasn't that far away, but they wanted time to scout the area. If they got sighted, the excuse was that Zach wanted to see an Army base before he signed on the dotted line. It was plausible.

They drove around and made a good guess at where O'Hare and company were staying. Seeing Degus outside one of the buildings helped. After that, they went into town to have a light dinner and watched a matinée movie. They had plenty of time to kill before midnight.

*

Zach dropped Eric off at the back gate area. They had seen a spot that could be accessed well enough earlier in the day. Eric shed his clothes and shifted. Picking up a package containing a knife and latex gloves in his mouth, he headed towards the fence. Moving quickly, he was under the wire and loping across the quadrant towards guest housing before the MP walked his beat on the quarter hour.

Eric sniffed out where they were rather quickly. Some idiot had left the second floor door open. He was in the building and shifted in the empty hall. Right there on the doors on tape were their names. This was just too damn easy. Granted, he still had four men to scare and escape, but it was a walk in the park. He expected it to be much more difficult. Degus was the first 'victim'. Slipping on a uniform left in a chair, Eric moved over the bed where Degus slept. He tucked his hair up under the hat giving him the appearance of short hair. Using a towel, he grabbed, flipped and tied Degus up. Rolling him over, he put his nose to the other man's nose. He slipped the tip of his knife to Degus' throat.

"Stop hunting me. My family is dead. I'm dead. If you continue to hunt me, you will be dead." Eric used a low growling tone.

Degus' eyes went wide and sweat broke out on his brow. He nodded and didn't try to speak. Eric then stuffed a dirty sock in his mouth to prevent any thought of speech.

"I don't exist. Nick Olman is dead."

Degus nodded and Eric tapped him on the head with the butt of his knife. Feeling him go limp, he moved quickly to the next room. Hart was next. A bigger fellow, he tried to struggle. Eric knocked him out and tied him to his bed. Clarke was also a pain. Tried to struggle, and when Eric brought the knife tip up, the guy went pale. He gave him the same message he had Degus. Then on to O'Hare.

O'Hare had a room on the third floor. Eric had to move fast as he wasn't sure how long the men below would stay quiet. O'Hare's room was next to the stairwell. Unlocked, Eric got in and was sitting on the man's chest in a matter of seconds.

"Stop hunting the dead," Eric said in a whisper.

O'Hare nodded as he couldn't speak around the socks stuffed in his mouth.

"Otherwise, you will join the dead." Eric traced his knife across the throat of O'Hare. He cut him ever so slightly..... just enough to draw a thin bead of blood. He pushed the knife in right at the base of the throat and held it there.

"This hunt for the dead is over. Stop looking. Go back to Virginia." Eric continued in that same deadly whisper. 

O'Hare nodded, and then Eric smelled something. O'Hare had pissed himself. Eric laughed a low evil laugh and walked towards the door. He slammed the knife into the wood and left it there. He closed the door, ran down the stairwell and headed for Degus' room. Listening outside the door, he could hear him breathing. Eric slipped in, discarded the uniform and headed for the open. Last thing he did was remove two layers of rubber gloves and a pair of socks from his feet. Jamming then in a trash can, he started heading back across the grounds. Just before clearing the buildings, he shifted and loped across the prairie. 

Scrabbling under the fence, he looked for Zach. Not seeing him, he headed down the dirt road and soon found the car in the deep shadows of an underpass.

Zach was watching him and moved when he saw the wolf. Opening the back hatch, he let him in, got in himself and slowly drove off. Meanwhile, behind him all hell was breaking loose on Ft. Kit Army Base.

*

5 am came and went. Dawn came and no Zach or Eric. Kate was beginning to pace, and all the tea she had drunk had not helped her nerves. Luna and Gretchen thought she was nuts as every time she heard a car, she went to look out the back door. That was their job.

She finally gave up and laid down on the bed. It felt like she had just gone to sleep when she heard voices in the kitchen. The clock read 8 am. She'd been asleep for an hour. Stumbling out into the kitchen, she saw Eric and Zach just making tea.

"Hello Sweetie!" 

"Hi Mom."

"Hello you two. I was worried."She was sleepy-headed.

"It took us a while to get back. Apparently someone snuck onto an Army base, so they closed the whole city down. They were searching cars and everything. Of course, Zach here got cited for not having his dog on a leash, but,"

"You're joking? Right?" Kate said, coming more awake.

"No Mom. He isn't." Zach pulled a yellow ticket out of his pocket, and handed it to her. "We thought it best that 'Max' be with me than Eric. And, we were standing outside the car waiting in line when this cop shows up and gets all in a snit because 'Max' had no tags or collar or leash. I tried to explain how I'd been in the car with him and he had to go pee, and what with all the traffic, I just let him out for a minute." 

"And we almost got away with it." Eric said in a sheepish tone.

"Yeah, we would have if you hadn't peed on his tires." Zach slapped at Eric's arm with his hand.

"You what?!" 

"Well, I did have to go, and it did stop the cop from calling in the car plate." Eric was looking at the floor.

"You still got a ticket! What were you thinking?" Kate said exasperated.

"Umm... I wasn't?" 

"No, you weren't." Kate crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm sorry Mom," Zach said, recognizing it was time to get out of the kitchen. "I'm going to bed. Eric can tell you all about it." He left the room. This left Kate and Eric in the kitchen in an awkward silence. Kate was trying her best not to tap her foot. Eric was trying to figure out where to start. He knew he'd worried her and now pissed her off. 

"Kate, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it, but..." he started.

"But you had to do it anyway," Kate said with an undertone of frustration.

Eric just nodded. He picked up his cup of tea and handed her one as well. "Shall we go talk about the rest of the evening?" 

"Fine. Might as well. Nothing could be as climatic as you peeing on a cop's tires," Kate headed towards their room. She still was peeved, and no cup of tea was going to smooth it over.

Eric closed the door behind her. She sat on the bed and he took the chair as he had that very first night. He started telling her what went on, and hoped she'd let him in bed when they were done.

"And then he peed himself!" Eric said, describing the final visit with O'Hare.

"Oh my gods! Really?"

"Yeah. I loved it. Then I stuck the knife in the door and got the hell out of there. I probably ought to shower. Between all the running around and stuff, I probably stink."




Sheeple Ch. 03



Kate sniffed in his direction. "Yes, you do."

"Want to join me? I could sure use someone to scratch my back," Eric said hopefully.

Kate looked at him. "Alright, but you have to promise me that 'Max' will be more law abiding in the future."

"Yes Ma'am!" Putting down his cup, he stood and pulled her up off the bed. Taking her in his arms, he whispered in her ear. "I am so sorry that all of this happened. I never wanted to endanger you. I love you so much."

"I love you too Eric. Let's go shower. I forgive you."

It was Eric's turn to smile.

*

In the shower, he felt all his muscles relax. Even the ones that didn't go with the body in the shower. It had been a tense week since the school evening. Kate's hands on his shoulders eased more than just tension. He had been afraid that he'd really screwed up. Afraid he'd have to move fast. Fast enough to maybe even have to leave the kids behind. That was the last thing he wanted to do. As was leaving Kate. Kate said something and he didn't catch it.

"What was that Kate?"

"I said you forgot to shave before we got in the shower."

"Oh. Yeah, I did." Eric ran his fingers over the day's worth of stubble. "Kate, What would you think of me growing a beard?"

Kate looked up at him. She smiled. "I like that idea. I like it a lot." She reached up and kissed him.

*

A week later, all the fervor of an intruder on Ft. Kit Army Base was old news. No one was ever found. Some people in town said that it was just the Army trying to make itself look more important. Others figured it was just someone playing a prank. Either way, the visiting officers left in a big hurry. 

And on a quieter note, Zach appeared in court to pay his dog fine. He also showed purchase of a dog license and shots for a large Irish wolfhound. Luckily for him and Max, Dr. Fremont was not only a very understanding vet, but a family friend as well. 



*

Samhain was always crazy for Kate. She celebrated 'Halloween' on the 31st with all the kids and held a private celebration on the cross quarter day. This year they fell over a week apart. Almost on her birthday. Since they hadn't made much of Eric's birthday she was trying not to let anyone remember what date hers was. 

Jamie wanted to be a fairy princess for Halloween. They did costume parties at school. Mark wanted to be a mad scientist. Kate borrowed a lab coat from a friend who worked out at the hospital and found some plastic beakers, pipes and such to make up the outfit. Mark's mousy hair was long enough to spike with enough hair gel.

Jamie on the other hand required yards and yards of tulle and pink satin. Just looking at it was enough to make Kate gag. She had forgotten how much she detested pink. And of course, it was Jamie's favorite color. She was almost done with the dress, which was good as tomorrow was October 31st. Kate would do her usual witchy hat and cloak to hand out candy. Eric with Zach would get to take the kids out.

*

"Trick or treat!" Jamie squealed as Kate opened the door. She smiled to see her little princess holding a bulging bag of candy.

"Are you ready to come home dear?" Kate looked at Eric.

"Yes," said Eric.

"Uhuh, " echoed Zach.

Mark just looked from one man to the other. While Jamie began to bounce up and down.

"No, nonononononononno!!!!! There's more houses! I gots to get more houses!" she said and began to pull the big eyes trick on Eric. She leaned up against Zach and said, "Puuuullllleeeaze Zach? Just a little bit more?"

Zach looked down, realized he was defeated and turned to go. Eric just sighed and ushered Mark down the stairs. "See you in a bit Sweetie."

"Alright Eric," Kate said as she shut the door. She didn't want them to see her smile. Jamie was one fine little girl. She had both men wrapped around her little finger.

*

"An here's one for you Daddy. An one for Zach," Jamie said as she handed out candy from her bag after it had been checked over. Mark just sat there eating his candy. He had thanked Kate for his costume and then a few minutes later asked to go to bed.

"That is one strange kid, Eric," Zach said.

"Yeah, but I don't know how to help him be any different."

"Neither do I," said Kate as she sat down. She had tried. His teachers had tried. Granted, he was better than he was when school started, but still... he was one odd duck.



Kate woke up a few days later and knew that it wasn't going to be easy tonight. Samhain. Honor the dead. Eric and the guys planned a dumb supper. They had everything in hand they said. She hoped so, because she was afraid she'd be in no shape to help. 

Grabbing the step stool out of the kitchen, she got up in her closet and brought out a heavy black card board box. She dusted it off and set it down on the bed. Putting the stool back in the kitchen, she returned to the box on the bed. It was an eight inch cube. On the top it said,

David Henry Ratcovich

1955- 1999

She wrapped the box in dark silk. It had been one of his shirts. Out in the living room, she had the ancestors altar set up on the cedar chest. Pictures of grandparents, departed aunts and uncles as well as a few small children were scattered over the top. All the pictures were so old, they were in black and white. She sat the box down in the middle. Kate looked at the altar and went back to her room. She shut the door behind her.

*

Eric peeked into the room after work. He knew that Kate had taken the day off. She was asleep. Quietly, he closed the door. Walking down the hall, he bumped into Andy. "Oh. Sorry Andy. Just checking on your mom."

"She's been in there ever since she brought Dad down."

"What?" 

Andy motioned for Eric to follow. He stopped in the living room and pointed to the cedar chest. Eric saw what he'd meant. There in the middle was a cremation box. 

"She still has him after all this time?" 

"Yes. Wouldn't let him go. I keep hoping, so does Zach, but she won't. We even had a viking funeral send off planned. Clear down to flames and a boat. Still have the boat. She won't do it though."

"Viking funeral? I thought she was joking about that."

"Nope. The boat is in the garage." 

Zach walked in just then and saw the altar. "You know, maybe it's time we give Dad that send off. Don't ask her so much as just have the boat sitting here." 

"You think that would work Zach? She threw it at us last time we brought it in."

"Yeah, but she didn't have Eric then either. Things have changed. Maybe she's ready," Zach finished.

"I hope so. I'm tired of her mourning her birthday away," Andy said.

"Birthday? When is her birthday?" Eric was clueless. Kate had never told him her actual birthdate.

"It's two days from now. She was born on Samhain. Cross quarter day that is," Andy said. "You know, fifteen degrees into the astrological sign." Zach nodded in agreement. 

"Ah. I didn't know. She said she didn't want any fuss because we forgot my birthday in September. I just spaced asking her when it was."

"She's good at that. Makes you forget things," Zach said.

"Oh," Eric thought about it, and realized that Zach was right. Kate was good at that type of subtle magic. "Guys, I think you are right about the Viking funeral. Let's bring in the boat. Just set it in front of the altar. Do we have a plate for your Dad at the table tonight?"

"Yes. The one with hot dogs, potato chips and a big glass of coke."

"Ok. Let's get things set up. I don't know how much longer your mom will stay asleep."

The three of them got busy. Andy brought the boat in and cleaned it up. Zach set the table and the smaller one for the dearly departed. Eric finished up and placed the candles like he wanted them. Then he went down to wake up Kate. 

He opened the door to find her up and moving around. She was partially dressed in clothes he'd seen in the closet, but never on her. A straight black skirt, a severely tailored black blouse and her hair pulled back in a tight bun.

"Hi Kate."

"Hello Eric. I guess everyone is ready except me," she said quietly.

"No, I don't have my clothes changed." He moved towards the closet. He grabbed a shirt and changed quickly. 

"Now I'm ready." He held his arm out to her. She took it and they walked down the hall together. He hoped that Zach heard them and had started to light the candles. As they came closer, he could see the glow and realize that all was going to plan. At least for the moment. 

Kate stopped in front of the altar and as she looked down, she saw the viking boat the boys had made so many years before. It was full of marigolds, rosemary and sage. She bit her lip to keep from breaking into tears. She would not cry. She silently said her prayers and moved into the dining room.

She was astonished by the light in the room. Every surface possible was covered with candles. Two tables were set up and all of the family was sitting at the table. Even Peaches and Angel were quiet. Jon had cleaned up and sat nearest the door. Kate took a deep breath and took her place at the table. Eric moved to her left. There was one candle left to light, the one in front of her. 

Not use to having so many with her on Samhain unsettled her. She didn't realize that they knew what she had done for so many years. To find everything in place was overwhelming. She took another deep breath, and then picked up her taper and lit it from Eric's. Kate called the quarters, asked the gods to be with them this night and asked all of the dearly departed to join them in their feast.

Andy and Pat served dinner. Andy had cooked. Kate could tell by the spices in the meat and vegetables. Her big surprise though was dessert. Pat brought out a cake. Andy was beaming from ear to ear. He'd made a mayonnaise cake.

"Andy, how did I miss the smell of this baking?" 

"Easy. We did it at Suzie's house."

"Oh. You are too clever," she said with a smile. The first real one of the evening.

"Thanks Mom. Oh, and we forgot something." He stood up and handed her a scroll of paper. Kate unrolled it to find a single candle wrapped up in a fire burn permit. They had gotten it from the fire chief who signed it with a flourish and 'Happy Birthday Kate!'. 

Kate smiled, and then slowly started to cry. "Oh you boys."

"Hey Mom. No tears. We finally got you! Birthday cake will be eaten and songs sung," Andy took the candle from her hand. "Of course the chief would only let you have one."

Kate smiled, and wiped her eyes on her napkin. Andy lit the candle and everyone started to sing happy birthday. Kate just rolled her eyes. It had been way too long since she'd celebrated a birthday. When they finished, she blew out the candle. It stayed lit. She blew it out again. It came back. By this point, Pat and his brothers were laughing so hard, she realized that they had stuck a trick candle in the cake.

"You louts!" This time, she wet her fingers, blew it out and quickly snuffed it. "There." Everyone clapped and then from under the table, they brought out small prezzies. 

"Oh no, not prezzies too!" Kate said with mock fear.

"Yes! You hasta have prezzies on a birthday Moma Kate!" Jamie said with a big smile. She had made hers that afternoon. It was a bit sticky still, and so she hadn't wrapped it. 

"Ok. You first then." Kate sat down again. Eric reached out and held her hand for a moment and then got up to help Andy with the cake. Pat and Suzie had cleared dishes and brought back dessert plates.

"Here you go Moma Kate," Jamie said. 

Kate looked down on a macaroni, string, yarn and crayoned picture. In it was everyone in the family. Plus, there were all the cats, and three dogs. Kate looked at it and then asked Jamie a question she wasn't sure she wanted an answer for.

"Jamie, why are there three dogs?"

"Oh that's the doggie that comes to visit Luna an Gretchen," Jamie said. 

"Oh." Kate let the subject drop. Kate got prezzies from everyone. Bookmarks, books, seeds for spring, a silver wolf's paw from Eric, and then it was Zach and Andy's turn. 

"Mom, we want a favor of you. We want you to give yourself a prezzie," Zach started.

"What do you mean?"

"We want you to let a little more sunshine into your life. You have a fine start with Eric here. You are so much happier," Andy said.

Kate was trying to figure out what they were on about. Trying not to think of the boat in the next room.

"Mom, would you please light the fire for Dad's funeral barge for us tonight?"

Kate swallowed hard. She rested her chin on her hand and let the tears flow. She nodded. Eric leaned over and held her tight. She turned to him and cried. Oh this was hard. It was time, but it was so hard.

*

They all met out at the cars about twenty minutes later. David's box was wrapped in the ship, with small charges that Zach, Andy and Eric had made. Pat had his bow and quiver, as well as a small can of gas. They drove out to the lake and went in the lower end where they were farthest from the ranger station. 

Kate said her last goodbyes. Something she should have done nearly five years ago. Then she stepped back. Wrapped in her cloak, she was warm. Eric stood beside her, as this was the boys job, and not his. He had made that agreement with them earlier. Zach doused the boat with gas and soaked the rag on Pat's arrow. They said their goodbyes and then set it out to drift towards the center of the lake. Jon lit the arrow and Pat aimed high. All watched as the arrow streaked upwards and then arched and descended towards the boat. No one knew if it really hit or not. The arrow seemed to hit the boat and suddenly it was in flames. 

Zach handed Eric back the electronic igniter switch that had sparked the actual fire on the boat. Nothing had been left to chance. They stood there and watched the boat burn. It didn't take as long as they thought it would, but it was good enough. When it sank beneath the waters, they got in the car and drove home.

Everyone said their good nights, and Eric put the kids to bed. He came in just as Kate was getting undressed. She dropped the skirt and blouse in the trashcan next to the door.

"Kate? Did you mean to do that?" 

"Yes. I wore those to the funeral, and for every year since. Now its time for them to go too." She turned to him and snuggled into his arms. "Hold me please." 

"Of course. How could I do any less?. Let's finish getting undressed and I will hold you all night long." Eric tried to get out of his clothes with Kate still holding him.

She let go of him long enough to finish undressing. They crawled into bed, and Eric held her while she cried and then slept. He too fell asleep at last.

*

The ranger out at the park that night wrote of a fire out on the far side of the lake of unknown origin. He drove out there but found no signs of a fire. He chalked it up to teens.



*

Eric waited in the emergency room for the med tech to finish up with his hand. It was so stupid. It was only a splinter, but his boss had demanded he have it looked to. The last stitch was tied off, and a bandage was in place at last.

"Thanks. You do neat work." 

The med tech looked surprised at the comment. "Oh? You're welcome. That was a pretty mean splinter. Looked like half the desk in your hand."

"Yeah, it bit me a good one." Eric walked out of the cubicle. The desk in his office had a rough edge, and he had caught it just as he was getting ready to leave work. He'd been cussing up a storm and holding his bloody hand when Margaret walked in. She marched him off to the emergency room over his protests. She'd countered with the fact that working in a hospital gave you certain benefits. One of them being medical care. At that point, Eric gave in. 

Walking out to the car, he was trying to decide how he was going to handle this. Under the bandage he could feel his hand start healing. He was also heating up. He knew that a healing trance would follow. Big question was whether he would get home before he got too fuzzy. 

Driving Zach's junker was a challenge. The stick shift handle hit right at the end of the stitches. The med tech had slit the skin to remove the splinter. It had been bigger than Eric thought it was. Hurt too. Pulling into the driveway a few minutes later, he was surprised to see Kate running down the back stairs.

"Eric! What did you do to your hand?" she asked before he'd even gotten clear of the car door.

"Who called you? Margaret?" 

"No one. It's just that my hand has been hurting something fierce for the last hour and a bit."

Eric was feeling really groggy and was trying to think as he walked towards Kate. "Um, I got a splinter. A bad one. How'd you know it was me though?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "You sleep with a man, and after a while, you just know when they get hurt. Just like when the boys got hurt, I've always know. It's just with you that sense is really hyper. I've been meaning to talk to you about this."

"Ok, but if I don't get in bed soon, you're going to be carrying me." He stumbled on the steps.

"Eric? Did they give you something?" She was suddenly concerned as she realized just how out of it he was.

"No, my body is just trying to go into healing mode. Sort of a trance. And..." he stopped as he stumbled. He caught himself and Kate came up behind him to steady him as they moved up the stairs and into the house.Kate got Eric to their room, undressed and in bed as fast as she could. Even then, he was nearly asleep before she got his head on the pillow. He was shivering, and his skin was hot to the touch. Kate wasn't sure what to do, but stuck with common sense. She tucked the blankets in around him and went to check on the rest of the family. Andy was in the living room with Zach and the kids. She motioned to the two and went towards the kitchen.

"What's up Mom?" Andy asked. 

"Eric's sick. He isn't acting quite right, so I'm going to stay with him. Can you two get the kids fed and put to bed?"

"Sure Mom," Zach answered. "Is there anything we can get you?"

"I'd love a cuppa."

"I should have known," Andy said with a smile on his face. "We'll bring it to you. Go back to Eric."

"Thanks. It's just that this is the first time I've ever seen him ill, and I'm a bit worried."

"No problem Mom," Zach said as he got fish fingers and fries out for the kids. "We'll handle things. Go on."

Kate patted her boys on the back and headed off to her room. Eric was curled up tight in the quilt and looked asleep. He was so hot that Kate was concerned. She tried to move the quilt to cool him off, and he held on tight. She gave up. Grabbing her book and turning on the side lamp, she sat down on the bed. She barely opened her book when Eric rolled over and curled up around her. He was still sound asleep, but holding on to her like she was a teddy bear. After a few pages, she realized that she couldn't concentrate on her book. The boys hadn't brought her her tea, but she decided to snuggle with Eric until they did. Curling up with him, Kate realized that she too was getting warmer. It didn't make any sense, but she figured it was just because he was so warm. Wrapping him up in her arms, she closed her eyes and soon was fast asleep.

*

Zach knocked on the door a few minutes later. Not hearing an answer, he opened the door slowly. Both of them were fast asleep. He set her cup of tea next to her on the nightstand and covered it with a napkin. He turned off the bedside lamp and snuck back out the door.

Andy gave him a quizical look when he came back in the kitchen. "What's up?" 

"Mom and Eric are deep asleep. Like they've been there for hours. Plus, they had that glow around them like when Mom is doing magic. I'm curious as all get out, but I guess we'll have to wait till morning."

"Yeah. Mom had that look she gets when one of us gets sick. She must love him something fierce."

"I know. Didn't ever think she'd be happy like that again. I'm happy, but I worry too."




Sheeple Ch. 03



"Know what you mean. I want things to go well for Mom." 

Zach nodded and they both went to work on supper.

*

Dawn was peeping through the curtains. Eric stirred and it woke Kate up. 

"Oh gods are we soaked. Your fever broke and we're drenched." Kate tried to move.

"Not fever, so much as a healing trance. I was too out of it to explain last night. Something the family does," he started to explain.

"You mentioned trance when we were talking last night. I wasn't sure what you meant."

"My body goes into healing mode, like overdrive. I heat up and heal. That's why I'm soaked. Not sure why you are."

"Neither am I. Yet, I have to admit that I have been feeling aches and pains that I know aren't mine for a few months. Didn't know who to attribute them to, but now that I think on it, it can only be you."

Eric looked at her, feeling rather sheepish. "Yes. It's me. I have been trying to figure out how to bring this up with you. It's something that normally my family does. I hadn't heard of outsiders doing it, but I guess it must happen. Or, there are other possibilities."

"What do you mean?" 

"Kate, I'm not sure. It's why I hadn't talked to you about it yet. I'm still trying to figure things out. I've never had anyone fit this well with me who wasn't family. So, there are things I'm not sure of."

"Ok, so this whole feeling like I'm joined at the hip with you is a normal thing? At least for 'family'?"

"Yes." Then a thought struck him. "What else have you been feeling?"

Kate took a deep breath. She'd been afraid she was going nuts. Empath or not, some things were just too odd. "I've felt muscles I don't have, any strain or minor injury you get, when you are really hungry or anxious and..." She stopped, not sure if she really wanted to say it.

"What?" 

"Your orgasms." Kate felt her face turn red.

"Huh?"

"Well, at first, I thought it was just that I hadn't had sex in so long that everything felt so good. Then I realized that it was more than that. I was experiencing your orgasms as well as my own. It was sort of icing on the cake, and I was afraid if I mentioned it, it would disappear," she said at last.

Eric smiled, and then started to giggle. "Oh Sweetie. You aren't crazy. Very empathic and tuned into me, but not crazy."

Kate smiled in relief. She'd been nervous about bringing up this subject. "Well, that's good to know."

Eric smiled again." Oh, and by the way, you share too."

"What?" 

"You heard me. I get an extra boost from you too. It makes up for all the days I share your cramps."

Kate turned beet red as what he was saying struck home. "Oh... Oh... oh my. No wonder you've been so adept at bringing me something to deal with my..." She stopped mid sentance to bury her face in her pillow. 

"It's okay Sweetie," Eric took Kate into his arms as gently as possible. "It just means that we are tightly linked. This is a good thing most times."

"Ok, I guess. There are just some things that take a bit of getting use to."

"I know."

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"Other than sweaty and a bit achy, I feel fine. My hand itches something fierce, but that means I'm just healing fast. My biggest problem is that my healing rate is too fast, and the med tech that put the stitches in isn't going to believe me that they are nearly ready to come out."

"What?" She was trying to figure out where he was going with this. "Oh! You need the stitches out now, and they probably shouldn't come out for a week for normal people. Right?" 

"Yes."

"Hmmm, We can't leave them in. Here, give me your hand." 

Eric gave her his hand and watched as she took the bandaging off. She inspected it and then turned towards her nightstand. She had her sewing snips in her hand and began to pick at the stitches.

"Here. Give me those. I can get them out faster than you can."

"Now who is the patient?"

"I am, but I've had some medical training, and can do this fast." He took out the stitches. 

Kate watched him do one handed what she had trouble with two hands. "Wow. I guess you did. I take it that you had that training when you were.... not you?"

"Yes. One of those things that some of us learned was basic medical care. That and a few other things," Eric said with some sadness in his voice. 

Kate realized that they'd hit one of those subjects he didn't really want to discuss. Changing subjects was good. "So, are you going to have to wrap that up for a few days even though you don't need it?"

"Yes. It's a pain in the ass, but the weekend is soon and I can drop the charade then."

She nodded. "You feel good enough to shower?"

"I thought you'd never ask." 

*

Zach was getting the kids up for school when the two of them stumbled out of the bedroom. Eric was still a bit unsteady on his feet, but moving much better than last night. Kate looked tired, but more relaxed than last night. 

"Morning Mom. Eric. How are you feeling?" 

"Better," Eric replied with a yawn. "Just needed to sleep."

"Sleep's good. Are you going to shower?"

"Yeah, as soon as we can." 

"Ok, the kids will be out the door in a few minutes. Bess' mom is picking them up this morning," Zach said.

"That's good," Kate replied. "There is no way I want to drive this morning."

"You get to take me to work later. Driving yesterday was the pits. My hand and the shift knob do not like each other."

"Oh. I forgot about that. Shower time now!" she said as she moved them towards the bathroom. Zach just smiled and went to go marshal the kids out the door.

*

After the shower, Kate took a good look at Eric's hand. It looked more like the injury was three or four days old and not less than 24 hours old. "You do heal fast."

"I know. Some days I feel like one of the X-men. Just close enough to human and a whole lot different."

"Well, you are."

"Yeah, but from the sounds of it, you are more like me, than like the rest of the population."

"You lost me there."

"Kate, you are demonstrating many things that I only have seen in family before now. So, you are more like me than like Suzanne or Margaret, etc."

"Aren't these things just empathy and healing just a little more intense than normal because of our relationship? What with both of us being healers and empaths?"

" I have to admit, that I am beginning to wonder. Some of this, yes. I could honestly look at you and say it is just empathy. Just healer stuff, and due to the fact that we are lovers. However, there are things that I'm noticing that make me wonder."

"What do you mean?" She was beginning to be both nervous and agitated at the same time. She wondered what Eric dancing around and not saying.

Eric took a deep breath. "It's been talked about by my cousin and myself about how a person with certain talents can bring on latent talents in others. Like a healer can often spark the healing talent in someone who just hadn't had that part of them wake up yet."

"Ok, so how does that apply to me?" 

"Well, we are both healers. Empaths. Yet both of our talents seem to have gotten stronger in the last few months. Look how well we pick up on each other's injuries."

Kate nodded. This made sense. "Is there anything else you are thinking of?"

Eric nodded. "I'm wondering if you or Zach aren't latent shifters. He's had dreams, and I swear that you 'smell' right. I'm just not sure."

Kate looked at Eric. She thought about what he had said, and realized that she couldn't refute it. "You know, you might be right. Or, it might be that because we have such a connection that some things just flow in a way they normally wouldn't."

"Agreed. Will you keep track of dreams and such? I know you went into the same type of healing trance I did last night. Not sure if it was just because of me or what, but you did."

" I know. It wasn't a normal sleep, and to be honest, I feel really good. A bit groggy, but good. Will I do this every time you or I are ill? The healing trance thing?"

"Probably. We will just have to wait and see."

"Ok, and yes, I'll keep track of my dreams," she said almost as an afterthought.



Sheeple Ch. 04



Shifters, strangers, government issued computer programs and chocolate allergies. This chapter continues to set the stage for some action to come. Not exactly world saving, but intrigue... Vote and comment please! I do enjoy hearing from my readers!

Jaisen

*

The school holidays hit faster than Kate expected. Samhain was barely over before Thanksgiving hit and next thing she knew, it was time for the holiday program at school. Jamie was to be a goose and Mark a drummer. The school was doing a modified version of the Nutcracker. It always amazed Kate at how well all of the teachers did to integrate the whole school into one production. She knew it helped that there were only 120 kids in the school. 

Kate had finished the children's costumes and had done a final fitting. She packed the stuff into their school bags as there was a dress rehearsal this afternoon. Tonight was the big show. Kate hoped that it wouldn't snow. Almost every evening program she had ever gone to at the school had had some sort of bad weather. Snow, rain, or even hail. The last few programs had had decent weather, so she and everyone else was waiting for the weather forecast. So far it said clear, but no one ever really trusted it. 

Eric came racing through the door into the kitchen. He was running late, which was unusual for him. 

"Love you! Gotta go!" He kissed the top of Kate's head in passing.

"Don't forget that the program is tonight!" she hollered after him. She'd call him later in the day as she was pretty sure he hadn't heard. His mind was preoccupied of late with a computer project at work. The hospital administration department had finally listened when he suggested an upgrade to their system. Today was the board meeting where he'd present his ideas. Nervous didn't even cover it, although he tried to hide it.

*

She could sense that he was uptight in a way she wouldn't have expected even three weeks ago. Between more frequent healing trances and some very intense dreams, there were days Kate wasn't sure who's pains were who's. It was almost a joke with the aspirin or herbal teas as to whether it mattered who took it since both would feel better once one of them had taken something. Zach chalked it up to them just being weird. Then Kate had a migraine and couldn't keep anything down. Eric took aspirin, curled up with her and about six hours later, she was up and fine. Normally it would take nearly twenty-four hours for her to get over a migraine. That had changed Zach's mind about things just a bit.

Kate took stock of what needed to be packed and called the kids to head out to the car. There were some mornings that it was an endless stream of forgotten items and delays. Today was one of those mornings. Mark couldn't keep it together. He must have forgotten everything twice. Even Jamie was in a dither. Kate was just glad that today was the last day of school as well as the program.

After dropping the kids off, Kate went to work. The shelter was jammed as the holiday season approached. It happened every year, and this one was no exception.

"Hello Suzanne!" Kate said as she breezed through the door. 

"Good morning to you! What kind of a count do we have on the shelter this week?"

"I have no idea. Let me get the stats up and I'll bring them in to you in a few minutes." 

"Ok. Oh. Let Eric know that I'm taking his computer idea seriously. I don't know if I'll have the budget for it before Spring, but I do like the ideas he gave me."

"I will. He's presenting almost the same plan to the hospital board this morning. Oh was he nervous." Kate turned her computer on.

"I bet. That bunch is so tight with a penny!" 

"They certainly are! I'm just glad that Eric has a job out there and that they might listen to what he has to say."

"You never know. One of them might actually have a brain." Suzanne smiled as she headed back to her office.

Kate smiled too as she started pulling up information in her database. Fifteen minutes later, she kicked the data to the printer and headed out of the office to see who was making a racket in the hall.

A small family stood in the front entrance. The teen age girl was making the noise. She was whining about being at the shelter.

"But Mom, can't we go to Aunt Carol's?" she whined.

"No. They don't want us. We will just be here a few nights and then we will move one. Just shut up." The mom sounded harried.

Kate moved forward and introduced herself. Suzanne looked like she was ready to duct tape the teen to a chair just to make her shut up.

"Hello, I'm Kate. What can we do to help you?" She started into her chat she'd used a hundred times before. She deftly steered them into a small alcove and got things rolling. The family followed and the teen actually started to quiet down. 

*

Kate was just getting back to her office when she noticed the time. It was 5:45pm. Eric was going to be here any second. Gathering her stuff, she started to lock down her computer and turn off the lights when she bumped into Eric.

"Whoa! Where'd you come from?" 

"The parking lot." He grabbed some of the stuff in her hands so that she could get her coat on. He leaned forward and sniffed her neck. "You smell good." He sniffed again. 

Kate pulled back a bit. "We don't have time for this dear. And I don't know why I'd smell good. I didn't even put perfume on this morning. Not even sure if I got deodorant." 

"Well, you smell really good to me."His voice going just a bit husky this time. 

"Eric, I don't know what's come over you, but we don't have time for this. We have the children's program to go to." Kate headed out the door.

They almost were to the back door when Eric's head turned. He stopped, sniffed and then looked back to Kate.

"We need to get moving now." There was an urgency in his voice that wasn't there a few moments before.

"What now? You were ready to have me in the office five minutes ago, and now you're pushing me out the door. I don't understand."

"I'll explain outside. Let's get going." They were out the door in record time.

*

In the car, Kate turned to Eric who was sitting in the passenger seat with the window rolled down.

"Isn't it a bit cold for that?" She gesturing towards the open window.

"Yes, but I'm trying to clear my nose and my brain."

"Would you please explain what the heck is going on?" 

"There was a shifter there at the shelter. A young one, in heat. That's what was making me so... so amorous. It's why I just about took you in your office. The whole shelter is flooded with pheromones. Who did you check in today?"

"Ummm, five or six people. One family." She thought for a moment. "Oh... the whining teen." 

"About sixteen? Athletic build?" 

"Yes. And she was complaining right and left about not being able to go to some relative. The mom was really uncomfortable. I had the feeling that they wouldn't stay as long as they said. In fact, I'll be surprised if they are there in the morning."

Eric shook his head. "No, they'll be there in the morning. I'd guess the mom is a shifter and probably trying to keep the girl under control. Some relative either tried to take the girl, or knew what was going on and kicked them out before there was trouble."

"Take?"

"Kate, some people are not as ethical as I am. And when something smells that good, most men don't think with the brain on their shoulders."

"Oh, oh gods!" She gave Eric a look that showed that she'd taken the whole situation in. "That poor woman. That poor girl."

"Not poor girl. She's probably the reason they are on the road in the first place. Unless you have a good family support unit, or one hell of a mom, most girls end up with a reputation if you know what I mean."

"Eric! That isn't very charitable."

"No. Just the truth. Hell, If I'd stayed in there a bit longer, I'd have been up those stairs in about ten seconds. She was in the room to the left of the one we were in when we first got here."

Kate just blinked. He was right about the location of the family. "Well, what do we do? Just leave them alone? Fumigate the shelter? Offer them some alternative aid?"

"Just let them be. If mom is a shifter, she's doing the best she can, and knows by now that another male was in the building. If she wants to talk, she'll find us."

"Do I have to worry about you heading out the back door tonight?" She was only half joking.

Eric looked at her, reached over and stroked her face. "No Kate. I've got more control than that. However, I'd love to romp with you tonight."

"Even if I shower?"

"Yes. Haven't I told you before how good you smell to me? Especially fresh out of the shower?" 

Kate smiled back and concentrated on driving out to the school.

*

The gym was packed with parents, grandparents and people who just wanted to see the program. The weather was cold, but fair. This brought people out that wouldn't brave bad weather. Kate and Eric had given up their seats to an elderly couple. Standing against the wall, they watched Mark and Jamie. Eric was scanning the crowds. His odd motions caught Kate's attention. After the drive in and the discussion in the car, Kate was wondering what he was looking for.

"Eric,...." she started to whisper.

Eric moved his lips close to her ear. "I'm just checking out the crowd. Thought I smelled something. Something familiar." 

"Familiar?"

"Yes. Shifter. Wolf."

"Oh." She was trying hard not to sniff the air herself. Not that she'd smell much. Her nose wasn't as sensitive as Eric's. Especially not with all the perfume in the gym. 

Eric moved quietly along the wall, trying to get a better vantage point. Or, at least upwind of the old ladies bathed in lavender water and Channel. He held very still and then moved back down to where Kate stood. He leaned over her shoulder to whisper in her ear.

"It's only the boys."

"What?" Kate was perplexed.

"Zach and Anne just came in with Andy."

"But you said it was a shifter."

"Yes, and I told you what I thought about Zach. I just don't have any proof yet. However, he smells of wolf, and shifter. Just as you do."

"Oh you!" She dug her elbow at him. "I sleep with you. Of course I'm going to smell of shifter."

"No, you smell of you. Just like Zach has his own scent. And you both smell good. Now watch our little wolf in goose feathers. It's her turn.

Kate wanted to argue with him about the shifter business, but he was right. Jamie was just coming up to her part where she and the other geese did their thing. For the next thirty minutes, they stood watching the children.

*

"Wasn't it just wonderful Mama Kate?" Jamie asked for the twentieth time. They were in the cafeteria of the school, where everyone gathered for refreshments.

"Yes. You did a wonderful job Jamie. So did Mark."Kate was honest. Mark had done a good job. Betty and Sylvia had done their utmost with that child and found a place for him in the production that worked and he was happy doing. A minor miracle that Kate was happy to see. She had wondered if Mark would ever fit in anywhere. 

"I'm gonna go get some more cake!" Jamie said as Zach and Anne approached Eric and Kate. She sped off almost as if her goose wings were real.

"Hey Mom. How are you? We looked for you, but couldn't see you," Zach said.

"It was crowded in there. Eric found you. Said he smelled you before he could see you." Kate teased her son. The look on Zach's face made her stop in mid thought. "Zach, what's wrong?"

"I... um could swear I could smell where you two were, but couldn't see you," Zach said. 

Eric leaned over Kate's shoulder. "I told you so." Then he smiled at Zach. "Moms, what will you do with them?" he said in a joking tone. It took the edge off of Zach's face, and the conversation returned to the program and the bouncing geese also known as Jamie and Bess.

*

The barbecue had been a big success. The boys had wanted something different for Yule. Kate suggested pizza. Pat and Jon suggested a barbecue. That suggestion won the vote. They even fired up the grill outside in spite of freezing temperatures and crusts of snow in the shadows left over from the storm the week before. Anne made cookies and Kate made a mayonnaise cake. Everyone had enjoyed the food, and were all laying about like slugs. Presents had been passed around and there had been lots of giggles about the two foot rawhide chew Eric got from the boys. 

Eric and Kate had just tucked Jamie and Mark into bed and were coming upstairs. Zach and Anne met them in the kitchen.

"Mom, do you mind if we crash on the futon in the living room?"

"No dear. Why?"

"We both drank way too much, and don't think that driving across town would be such a good idea."

"You know you're always welcome. Do you want any blankets?"

"Yes, and a couple of pillows will be fine."

Kate nodded and headed down the hall to find the blankets and pillows. "Here you go. Sleep well."

"Night Mom!"

"Night Zach, Night Anne," Eric and Kate said almost at the same time. Kate gave them each a kiss goodnight.

Eric was opening the bedroom curtains by the time Kate got to the room.

"What are you doing?" 

"There's a full moon tonight, and I thought it would be wonderful to sleep in the moonlight."

"Oh. Aren't you going to want to go hunting or running?" 

Eric looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I, um... figured I'd go hunting later. I want to play with you before we sleep." He had a sexy silly smile on his face. Sex with Kate was wonderful, and there were times he couldn't express it enough. Thankfully, she was just as enthusiastic. 

Kate smiled. "I think we can do that." She pulled the covers back on the bed. "Sex by moonlight sounds good.

*

Kate and Eric laid in bed, trying to catch their breath and figure out what had really happened all at the same time.

"I could have sworn you were growling with pleasure."

"My throat would agree with you," she said in a hoarse whisper. She rolled over to find the water bottle and get a drink. "Something in your pace changed as well. Not that I minded, but you were a tad more vigorous than normal."

"We both were. I don't want to make you nervous or anything, but it almost felt like it does when I shift. Like both the wolf and human side were there at once."

"I could go for that analogy. We still need to look at my neck. I don't mind that you bit me, but how? Your torso isn't that long, nor my back that flexible, and yet your teeth were on my neck and we were still engaged." 

"I... I don't know. I never shifted having sex with my ex-wife. Never had this happen this intensely. Let me turn on the light and look at your neck."He got up out of bed. Kate turned over and moved her hair off to one side. Eric came back to look and put his fingers on each side of the marks on her neck. "Kate, can you feel where my fingers are?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's how far apart the teethmarks are. I... I shifted. I had to of to make those marks."

"Well, am I going to have to wear a scarf to cover them up?"

"Maybe. We'll see how much they show in the morning. I'm sorry."

"It's okay It was definitely passion of the moment." She sat, remembering the intensity of the sex. "I have a question for you though." 

"Ask"

"I don't mean to be funny, but as I don't know. Is a bite or biting going to be a problem? Will I start to turn furry?" 

Eric rolled his eyes. "No, but I understand why you asked. It is a subject we've not really talked about. Lycanthropy as we know it is genetic. There are those that shift clear to fur and fangs. There are those that shift only on the astral plain. Like your shaman friend Nick. There are those that just 'dream' along with real animals. However, no one I know of has ever become a lycanthrope via a bite."

"Ok, just one of those questions that sort of popped up."

"Alright sweetie." He kissed her bite mark. "I think I'll get a cuddle with you before I go 'ahunting'. 

"Oh yes." She snuggled close. It felt so good to bury her nose in his shoulder blades and go to sleep.

*

Eric slowly extracted himself from Kate's arms. He put his pillow next to her so that his smell was still there. He had noticed on other nights when he left that she slept better if he did that. Quietly, he left the room. Gretchen wanted to follow, but he distracted her with a doggy treat. 

At the back door, he left his sleep pants and teeshirt in a corner spot. Eric looked around to make sure he was alone, and then shifted. By now, he had his favorite trails out of the town. Tonight he followed the one through the culvert. He knew that there was a high density of rabbits out that way, and he had promised someone breakfast.

A few hours later, Eric had a fine catch of rabbits and headed back into town. He'd shifted long enough to net the rabbits together with some of the long grass and carried them in his teeth. The trip back was uneventful and when he got home, all was still quiet. Shifting back, he snuck in and dealt with the rabbits quickly. The guts went into the dogs bowls and the fur and bones into the garbage outside. The meat went into a zip lock and then into the fridge. Looking around to check that everything was clean, Eric grabbed a quick shower. 

After the shower, Eric got ready to climb back into bed. Standing there, he had a thought. He closed the door and then shifted back into wolf form. Jumping up on the bed, he curled up next to Kate. He went to sleep breathing in her scent.

*

Kate woke early the next morning. The sun was coming in the windows, because Eric had left them open for the moonlight. She was about to roll over and thump him for not closing them when he came home when she made a discovery she hadn't expected. There in the bed next to her was a very large wolf. He was sleeping soundly, head on the pillow and had obviously been curled up behind her. He was beautiful. Dark gray muzzle and fur with highlights around the eyes, paws and belly. Very slowly, she touched the fur of his paws. It was softer than she had expected. Not sure what else to expect, she moved her hand back and sitting on the edge of the bed softly called his name. "Eric. Eric, time to wake up," she said a little louder. Still no response. She was reluctant to startle him, so she tried again.

"Eric, its time for breakfast. Time to get up." This time, the wolf opened it's eyes, and Kate found herself staring into huge yellow eyes. She worked on staying calm, trying to think of the wolf as just another dog. "Hello Eric, how are you this morning?" 

This time, the wolf stretched and rolled in the bed, much like Gretchen or Luna would when they wanted you to scratch their bellies. Kate thought for a moment and then reached over to scratch the wolf's ribs. The wolf responded with the same foot jerking response which made Kate break into giggles.

"Oh Eric, you are so funny!" She stopped scratching and waited.

The wolf rolled back over and reached out towards her. He licked her hand and then sighed. Kate wasn't sure what he wanted with the look he was giving her. Canine faces are not the easiest to read. He rolled on his back again, so Kate scratched his belly some more. This had the wolf rolling on the bed to the point where he lost his balance and literally went straight off the bed.

"Oh! Eric, are you okay?" Kate moved over to the side he had fallen off. There on the floor was a stunned looking wolf. He sat up and licked Kate's face.

"Paugh! Rabbit breath!" The smell of stale blood met her nose. The wolf put his head on his paws. It was almost as if he was trying to apologize.

"Well, if you are going to cook breakfast, you'd better get changed." Sitting back down on the bed, she wasn't sure if she wanted to watch or not. However, as Eric was part of her life, she figured she aught to get to know all the bits. 




Sheeple Ch. 04



The wolf sat up on his haunches and then looked like it was trying to heave. It shuddered and then almost before she could categorize what was happening, Eric was crouching on the floor in front of her. Bits like the ears and the muzzle were still receding, but she could see most of Eric by then. She wasn't sure if she could describe it if anyone asked, but it was like the wolf melted into Eric. 

"Oh wow." She knew that sounded daft even as she spoke.

Eric stood, stretched and walked over to where she sat on the bed. "You okay?" 

"Yes. I was a bit startled when I first saw you, then I was fascinated. I couldn't resist scratching your belly."

"Oh gods that felt good! Right up until the point that I fell off the bed." 

"I could tell." She reached over to kiss him. She paused for a moment, sniffed and then kissed him.

Eric looked at her, and wondered why the sniff. Then it dawned on him. "Oh, rabbit breath. Sorry. Wolves don't brush their teeth." 

"I'll remember that. Although, your breath smells fine. Weird."

"Yeah. I showered before I came back to bed. Were you okay with my shifting?" He was trying to watch her body language as well as listen to what she said.

"Yeah. It looked different than I thought it would. You sort of melted, and then turned back into human form. Not what I expected at all. Glad it wasn't all gooey or bloody."

"No, that's more the realm of fiction writers. It does hurt a bit though at times. The feel of the bones moving and tendons stretching is a bit hard to get use to. I always figured that the panic that some people have decides just how painful it is. I don't think it's bad, and my one uncle always complained that it hurt. He was a bit of a hypochondriac though." Eric shrugged.

Kate stood. "Shall we get dressed and make breakfast?"

"Yes. And I did as I promised. There is rabbit for breakfast."

Kate laughed and started to get dressed.

*

Twenty minutes later, there was a delicious aroma floating out of the kitchen. Onions, garlic and rabbit were simmering in the frying pan. Zach was one of the first to show up in the kitchen. He looked in the frying pan and turned to Eric who had just put down the stir-fry spoon. "Rabbit?"

"Yes Zach." 

"Good." Zach smiled. "Then I wasn't totally out of my head."

"What?"

"I know how Jamie figures out when there should be rabbit in the morning." 

"Ok, now you have my attention. Spill the beans." 

Zach smiled. "I was 'with you' last night. You left the back yard by the side gate, ran up the alleys, ducked into the culvert by the school and came out by that big grassy meadow. Then you caught the rabbits. It went a bit fuzzy for a few minutes and then you were carrying the rabbits on some sort grass rope."

Eric stood there with his mouth open as Zach had described his dream. "You have it dead on Zach. When it went fuzzy as you said, was probably when I shifted long enough to make the grass net for the rabbits."

"Ok, you have no idea of how glad I am that I didn't just totally fantasize that. I thought I was loosing it right up until I smelled the food cooking this morning."

Eric laughed and shook his head. "Nope, you weren't going crazy. Anything else?"

Zach smiled again. "Oh yeah. Dreamed that this big wolf curled up with Mom and went to sleep."

It was Kate's turn to be startled and spew tea across the room. From her reaction, Zach knew that he hadn't been wrong. "Ah, so you did eh?"

"Yes," Eric admitted. "Got my belly scratched and fell off the bed too."

That made all of them laugh. Anne walked in about that point, and tried to figure out what was so funny. No one could give her a straight answer for five minutes.

*

While everyone was eating, Zach pulled Eric out onto the back porch. "I've got a question for you Eric."

"Ask."

"Remember when I spoke to you a few months ago about my dreams?"

"Yes."

"Was that you I was traveling with?" 

"I wasn't sure then. I had my suspicions, but wasn't sure. After this mornings retelling of my travels, I'd have to say it was me. I haven't smelled or sighted any other werewolves in the area. At least none that stayed." He was thinking of the teen in heat that passed through a few weeks back.

"Ok. I just wanted to make sure. I find this really interesting."

"I'm not surprised. You're an intelligent young man, and we do think alike on many levels. Let me know if anything else happens, okay?"

"Yeah, I will Eric."

Just then, the back door opened and there was Jamie.

"Daddy! Thank you for the lovely rabbits. They were really really good. I ate Mark's cause he didn't want them. Said they tasted funny. He's so stupid," she said in rapid breathy tones.

Eric picked her up and gave her a hug. "I'm glad you liked them my dear sweet little carnivore!" 

Jamie giggled in his arms.

*School had restarted at last. It had seemed like forever to Jamie who was anxious to get back to school. Mark seemed ready too, which surprised Kate. She still had trouble reading that child. It had been a busy week at work as well. Then a heavy snowstorm had dumped more than their fair share of people into the shelter. 

The boys had all come home as well this weekend. Bodies were stacked like cord wood in the living room as well as the basement. After settling everyone in, and confirming that school was canceled, Kate looked forward to sleeping in.

*

Kate woke with a leg cramp that seemed to eat her whole upper thigh and hip on the right side. Finally sitting up, she was able to ease it enough that she could walk. Out in the kitchen, she got some Magnesium Phosphate for the cramp and got a drink of water. Still a bit fuzzy, she crawled back into bed and snuggled up against Eric. It was cold. She was back to sleep quickly.

Hours later, she woke from a deep sleep. She had this feeling that she had done something wrong, and that she aught to apologize to Eric. When she realized he was still asleep, she nuzzled into his back and put her head down next to his hand. She dozed off. Eric woke a few minutes later as the covers had moved down and he was growing cold. He looked down and saw Kate. She was crouched almost like Gretchen when she'd done something wrong.

"Kate, wake up Sweetie."

Kate blinked her eyes open. "I"m sorry Eric. I really am," she said, almost before she was awake.

"Sorry for what Sweetie? I don't understand."

Blinking again, Kate looked at him. "I... I don't know. I just felt like I had done something wrong. Screwed something up and needed to apologize to you." She cuddled up to Eric.

"Well, I don't have a clue, so don't worry. It must have been a dream."

"Ok, but I still have that feeling," They began to kiss and cuddle.

*

Sex was fun, but when they finished and were laying there catching their breaths, Eric rolled over to talk. "Kate, do you realize that you were acting almost submissive?"

"Yeah, not exactly me, but I swear I couldn't get that feeling out of my head. It ran right over me. I just wish I could figure out what the hell I'd done that made me feel this way."

"Me too Sweetie." Eric moved to kiss her when there was a knock on the bedroom door. "Yes?"

"Can I come in?" Zach asked from the other side of the door.

Kate and Eric pulled up the covers and spoke almost at the same time. "Yes."

Zach opened the door and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Mom, next time we go hunting, watch out for the damned hind legs."

Eric and Kate looked at each other with a puzzled expression. "Zach, what the hell are you talking about?" Kate asked.

"You know Mom. We were hunting and you got kicked in the leg by the elk." He was pointing to her right thigh. "We were going down that arroyo after the elk, and you stumbled. Then you got kicked and rolled farther downhill. It took us twice as long to bring down that elk." Then he turned to Eric. "Although, that was a good jump you made to the damned thing's back."

"And that was a really cool move you did, coming in and under to take out the throat," Eric said, suddenly remembering the dream he had had.

All of a sudden, all three of them stopped talking and looked at one another. 

"Did we all just have the same dream?" Kate asked. The two men looked at her and then each other. They nodded. 

"Okay, Eric, what do you remember?" 

"We three were hunting. We saw this elk, and started running. Zach was going to cut it off and head it back towards us. You stumbled and then got kicked. We brought the elk down and ate. I gave you the liver to try and tell you it was okay, and that we weren't mad at you."

Zach nodded. "I was way out in front, and came in from the left. I was trying to drive it down the arroyo bank and cut under it at the same time. You were suppose to come in from the left as well Mom, but you tripped. You caught up to us after we killed it and were doing the whole submissive thing. Eric here tried to let you know it was okay, and gave you one of the best bits."

Kate slapped her forehead. "That explains the leg cramp at Oh-dark-thirty this morning and why I woke up later with an urgent need to apologize to Eric. I remember it now too."

Zach nodded. "This is kind of weird, but you know, I am so not hungry." 

"Neither am I," said Eric. Kate nodded in agreement. 

"Hmm...We need to note if this happens again. I know that Zach has followed me before, but never as a wolf. I wonder."

"Wonder what Eric?" 

"Makes me wonder if there isn't a little bit of 'family' in your heritage. We've talked about this before."

"What do you mean?" Kate was even more puzzled.

"Remember when I said that there were different types of shifting?" 

"Vaguely."

"There are those that shift totally, like myself. There are those that shift on the astral plain, and there are those that just sort of ride along with the real thing. All of these are types of lycanthropes. The real deciding factor is just how much genetic makeup you've gotten."

"What are you trying to say Eric?" Zach asked.

"Oh," Kate started with some enlightenment beginning to creep into her thoughts.

"What I'm trying to say is that you and your Mom may have a lycanthropic ancestor in the woodpile somewhere. One that has given you just enough so that you two 'come along for the ride'. Just enough that when I moved in, it awakened in you your genetic heritage."

"Sort of like when you open up those psychic centers to magic for the first time you have all this other stuff slide in?" Kate asked. 

"Yes. Like that. It's like I've awakened the wolf in each of you by being around." 

"That would make sense. I didn't start dreaming of wolves and hunting until after I met you," Zach said. "And things really started intensifying when you moved in with Mom. It makes sense."

"It also explains a few other things." Kate was looking at Eric.

"What do you mean Mom?" 

"Zach, that would fall under the realm of Too Much Information for you," Kate said sweetly.

"Awwwgh! Never mind! I don't want to know! Its bad enough just knowing your mom has sex! Nope! No descriptions! No... no! No!" Zach beat a hasty retreat out of the room. 

Eric and Kate looked at each other and giggled.

*

Kate looked at Eric as they got ready for the shower. She wasn't sure where to start the conversation that she knew they needed to have. She waited until the water was running over them. Eric had just started to rub shampoo into his hair.

"You were right."

"Huh?" He was trying to figure out what she said over the run of water.

"You mentioned this over a month ago. That we might be shifters. I think you have your proof." She stepped in under the run of water as he moved out.

"Sweetie, it could simply be a dream."

"Now don't even start. We've been tap dancing around this issue for months. First my healing rate and smelling like shifters. Then the dreams, and don't forget the sex."

Eric couldn't forget about the sex. Especially the night not long ago when he swore she'd shimmered like she was about to shift, and the way they had both reacted. Sex under a full moon was so intense. He reached for her and kissed her lips with his soapy beard.

"Ok, then I won't start." He stepped under the water.

Kate rolled her eyes. This would have to wait. The shower was a disadvantage because of the noise. However, they did do some of their best talking in the tub. Just not today.

"Oh you!" She grabbed the soap to scrub his back. He had a furry patch on his shoulder that always itched when he had shifted or tried very hard not to shift. She knew today that it itched. 

*

Out of the shower and back in the room, she sat down on the bed. "We need to talk about this Eric."

"I know. I just couldn't hear very well with all the water running." He was laying down on the bed with his head on her lap. 

"Why have these tenancies woken up in us?"

"Got me. I don't understand it. I just have the family history so to speak to go by. And as I left the family sooner than most, I'm a little short on info."

"So what do we do now?" 

"I don't know. Enjoy it? Live with it? It isn't going to go away. It may get more intense, it may not."

"So, you don't know if we will ever go totally furry or not."

"Nope. However, I don't understand why you didn't before. Especially if it is in your genetic make up. I don't know what was missing that kept you from shifting. Stress, puberty, pregnancy, birth, all those types of physical stresses tend to bring on shifting. You didn't show any signs really, until I showed up. This gives my cousin's ideas on catalysts more credence. I'll have to get ahold of her and let her know."

"I take it she is a shifter?" 

"Yes. In fact, she shifts faster than anyone I know. Married a non-shifter, but some of her children shift too. One was a real handful." He remembered the long phone calls and midnight discussions on what to do with teens.

"Oh. I know we talked a bit about this. I just never expected things to work this way. It feels really odd to go from a existential conversation to a 'this is how it works' conversation."

Eric nodded. "Welcome to my world. At least you have an adult's point of view and experience to deal with this. Just think how confusing it is to be a hormonally driven teen who gets most of this info like they do sex. Rumors, half truths and if they're lucky, one of them has a cousin or sister who's 'done it'."

"Don't the families prepare their children for this? Especially as you say it hits with puberty?" Kate was just a bit perplexed.

"Yes, many do. However, look at the rest of humanity. Some parents do a really good job of the whole puberty shift to adulthood thing. Others botch it. Some think they are doing the right thing and still miss the boat. Plus, if you aren't in an area with lots of family around, you might miss some of the signals."

"Oh... hadn't thought of it like that. I guess I just expected people to be more organized about this. I remember our conversations now. You said that some die and some don't come back. Is it worse in the cities than say out in the boonies?"

"I don't know. However, I do know that some of the marriages with non-shifters have a higher rate of divorce, deaths and such. They all seem to be centered around puberty for their shifting offspring." 

"That must be rough. One minute you have a lovely son or daughter, the next thing you know, all hell breaks loose." She was thinking of all the permutations.

"You got it. Now do you understand why I went looking for a quiet rural area to live in?"

"Yes. You have a few years before Jamie hits puberty though."

"But not so long before Mark does," he said quietly.

Kate looked at him puzzled. "You said that Mark may never shift. "That you didn't think it was in his nature or genetics."

"No, I don't think it is. Just like some of us have an allergy to chocolate. That's one I don't have. However, I can't be 100% sure about Mark shifting. Either way, I did need somewhere for Jamie to grow up where I can let her run and hunt if that is what she needs."

"Yes. And I am beginning to truly understand just what that means. However, how do we explain this to Zach?"

"Explain what to me?" Zach said from the door.

"That by living with me, you are becoming more and more active as a shifter," Eric said.

"Well, I could have told you that. After we talked about it earlier, I did a lot of thinking. I can feel the wolf rise in me at times. Plus, I find I like to bite. Good thing Anne isn't upset about it. I bit her pretty hard one night." 

"Oh my! Zach! You're blushing!" Kate was giggling. "I never expected you to go that far down the road of too much information." 

"Oh shut up Mom!" Zach said turning redder.

"Hey, you're fair game now. We aren't the only ones with bite marks or fur in the bed," Eric said, teasing Zach.

"Well, umm... yeah. Oh and great grandpa was allergic to chocolate."

"Who told you that Zach?" 

"Grandma. We were talking about cookies one night and she mentioned it." 

Anne peered around Zach. "Dog biscuit anyone?" she said, holding out a handful of dog treats. Everyone broke into giggles and laughs. 

*

The long weekend caused by the snow storm ate up most of the week. It took all the concentration Kate had to get back into the routine at work. She had just gotten settled down at her desk when Suzanne came in with that look on her face which said someone was going to die. "What's the matter Suzanne?"

"We just got hit with a ton of paperwork." Suzanne dropped a heavy folder on Kate's desk and plopped into a chair.

Kate looked at the folder. "What on earth are they starting this time?"

"It looks like we get to jump through a whole new set of hoops to get our funding. Apparently when we had that break in a few months back, some genius in the Capital decided that we weren't keeping extensive enough records."

"Oh, like they couldn't sit there and trace some homeless guy across the country? Like they really care?" Kate was being rather sarcastic.

"That's just about what it boils down to. I don't like it one bit. However, if we want to keep being funded, we have to do it. What they don't understand is that lots of these people don't have identification. Or, if they do, they don't want to share it. We won't be able to give them any real data."

"No, about the only thing we can really give them is gender and a good guess at age." Kate browsed through the folder. It looked like a lot of bunk to her. "I guess I'll get started."

"Oh, and there is a computer program that goes with it. If we can't install it, they send some geek around to do it. Do you think that Eric could have a look at this stuff?"

"Of course." Kate knew full well that Eric would want to look at this program and dig into it's guts. "I'll ask him tonight after supper."

"Thanks!" Suzanne got up and left the room.

Kate looked at the guidelines and wondered if it had anything to do with the dear Sargent that Eric had scared off last Autumn. She sat it aside to read later. 

*

"Eric, Suzanne wanted you to look at this software. It's government issue stuff. Things we have to do now in order to get our funding," she hollered down the hall towards his office space. Eric had taken over a corner of her sewing room. It was crowded, but it beat having the computer in the bedroom. That was something that Kate didn't' want to start. She'd managed for years with no TV, and she wasn't about to give in to a computer. Eric grumbled a bit, but once he got his own office space, he was okay with it.

"What?" came his voice from deep in the room.

"I have this software that Suzanne wants you to look at and install for us. The government sent it and she's got the creeps about it." Kate walked down the hall and into the room. She held out a packet of CD's to Eric.

He took it like it was a snake, and started to inspect it. He opened the package. "Did it come with an instruction book? Or just the order to install it?"




Sheeple Ch. 04



"The paperwork said start with disk one and if you couldn't cope, call this 1-800 number and they'd get some geek to come help. I think it was the idea of someone in our system that made Suzanne uncomfortable."

"No doubt. She's almost as sensitive about things like this as we are."

"I know. Can you look at it safely without causing any trouble?" 

"Yeah. I'll dump it onto my Linux box and make sure the network cable is unplugged." Eric opened the CD tray on a black computer tower named Lefty. "I'll let you know what I find."

"Okay. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes," she said as she left the room. "Love you!"

"Love you too, Kate." Eric began to run the program.

*

Kate had plated out the children's dinners and was getting hers and Eric's plates ready when she heard cussing coming from the sewing room. Kate headed down the hall wondering what was going on.

"Damn it! Forn...." Eric stopped a stream of cussing as Kate came in the room. 

"What's wrong Eric?"

"This program. It's spyware. Nasty, ugly, pissy..."

"I get the picture. What did it do to your computer?"

"Nothing I can't fix. I used my Linux box, so it couldn't get it's claws all the way in. However, if you had used it on your machines down at the shelter, Oh my."He was shaking his head.

"What would they have done? I'm not understanding why you are so peeved."

"Spyware tells companies what you look at on the net or where you go. Sometimes they also allow viruses in, and other nasties. This one did it all. Any of the stuff that you type into the report matrix's would be available to anyone who knew your address, and every time you logged in online. Oh, and this program demands that you log in online."

"Shit. What the hell are they doing this for?"

"To get information. I'm not sure what information they are after, but that is what it will do. It will turn every machine it is added to into a direct feed to whatever agency built this."

Kate looked at Eric as she thought a moment. "Could this be a tool to hunt down people?"

"Yes."

"People like you?"

"Yes. Exactly. Part of me is happy that we aren't in your data banks any more. Part of me is really freaked out that this thing has landed at your shelter."

"Okay, what am I missing?"

"Well, unless all shelters in this state got this little program, your shelter is being targeted. And if you are being targeted, the agency I worked for may still be hunting for me. The Sargent may have just lost a battle and have a new weapon."

Kate was apprehensive. Trying to figure this out, and not coming up with any answers. "Okay, so if this is too late to catch you in our data base, how could it be a threat? I don't understand."

"It doesn't read just your data. It also copies down your email, Internet usage and just about anything on your hard drive that isn't locked down tighter than a bank vault."

"What?"

"Yes Kate, this is Spyware. It can do just about anything it wants and you can't stop it once it is on your computer." 

"So they might be reading our emails? Our schedules, or anything that might lead them to you?" She wasn't sure she really wanting the answer.

"Yes. And from what I can tell, if you don't add it to your computers, they will make you add it."

"Like threaten to cut our budget."

"Exactly. Give me a few hours and I will see what I can do to work around this. Meantime, call Suzanne and have her come over to talk about this. Don't mention it on the phone either. Just ask her to come over for a cup of tea."

"And bring her tinfoil hat?" she said sarcastically.

"Oh yeah..... a great big one!" Eric 's tone had far more seriousness in it.

*

Kate brought Eric his supper and then called Suzanne. She invited her over for a cup of tea and was waiting for her to show up. Kate paced nervously. More cussing issued from the room down the hall. She wondered if Eric hadn't bitten off more than he could chew. And for Eric, that was a pretty big bite.

The doorbell caught Kate drifting off in thought. She shot straight up out of the chair and was at the door even before Luna could bark. Suzanne walked in and the two of them were off to the kitchen to talk. They brought Eric a cup of tea when they went down to talk to him.

"So, you say this is government software?" he asked.

"Yes. Apparently all the shelters in the state got it," Suzanne said.

"Did you check?" Kate asked.

"Yes, of course I did. All of them got it, and most of them are unhappy. Apparently it's worse than the phone company when it comes to messing up the computers." 

Kate knew how much Suzanne hated it when the phone company came to the shelter. They unplugged lines they shouldn't and mess up all the computers. "So, we have to use this stuff if we want our funding?" 

"It seems so. I am tempted to put it on just one machine, and only feed it select data if it does what Eric says it can."

"Oh, it will. It's nasty. Some code monkey had way too much fun with this. They must have sold their souls to the hackers to get this stuff without having to fess up about what it does." Eric was upset.

"Can you disable any of it?" Suzanne asked.

"I think so. What will be interesting is if they can spot the blocks I add and what they will do about it. As it is, I think I'll send it to some hacker friends of mine."

"You have friends in the hacker community?"

"Yes. Just because I was homeless for a while doesn't mean that I'm totally without contacts." Eric's reply was rather curt.

"Oh.... I'm sorry Eric. That was rude of me. I didn't mean it like that, its just...just that you don't seem the type to know hackers and such."

"Hackers aren't criminals Suzanne. Just people who really think out of the box." 

"Out of the box? Oh, that's a good one Eric!" Kate said as she started to laugh. The other two looked at her, realized just what Eric had said and started laughing too.

*

Next morning, Eric was fretting over his tea. They were going to install the software, but with some minor modifications that hopefully would go unnoticed. Or, if they were, they would look like novice software install errors. Little things like forgetting to click certain boxes and pathways for file access. They had also planned to notify some of the other shelters in the area that were upset to co-ordinate the same errors. This way it wouldn't highlight just one shelter. It would also let them know if any one shelter was being targeted.

"Are you sure this will work?" Kate asked.

"No. But it's better than just stuffing that disk in and letting it go. I just hope I caught all the junk." He put his cup in the sink. "Let's go and get this over with." 

Kate nodded and grabbed her keys and handbag. The kids were already at school as Zach had driven that morning. He was interesting in what was going on, but Eric said that the fewer people around the office, the better. 

It was a quiet drive to the shelter. Eric was running code through his head and making notes in his memo book. He was a meticulous note taker. Lists and notes as well as paperwork kept in files. Some days Kate didn't know what to do with him. It seemed as if he never threw anything away. He'd already filled up the one file drawer she'd cleared for him. She also wondered just how much it hurt him to just up and walk away from so much of his life. 

*

"Morning Suzanne!" Kate hollered towards her office as they came into the shelter's main reception area.

"Good Morning! Are we ready to start?" Suzanne asked.

"Yes. Did you decide which computer to put this on?" Eric asked.

"I figure that we will put it on mine. I don't do much email and most of this stuff is paperwork that I do anyways. If we need Kate to do something, she can work on my machine."

"Alright. Let's get to work."

Kate handed the software over as well as a disk that Eric had burned last night. She had her own work to do this morning while those two installed the software. Eric and Suzanne went off to Suzanne's office. 

*

Lunchtime came and went before Eric poked his head in the door. "I think we got it all."

"I hope so. Now to see if we light up any notice boards in some dark, dank office," Kate groused.

"Yeah. Let's hope that the other shelters got the stuff in like we planned."

"We should hear from them fairly soon. Brian and Abby said that they'd call as soon as they were done. Each of them are adding it to just one computer as well. I can't see the government having too much of a fit over that."

"One could hope. I'm going to head down the street and grab us some lunch. Roast beef or turkey?"

"Roast beast." Kate used the name her boys always had. Andy had accidentally said beast instead of beef one time and it stuck.

Eric smiled as he left the office.

*

Suzanne stuck her head in Kate's office just as they were sitting down to eat their sandwiches.

"Brian and Abby have checked in. All went well and seems to be running okay."

"Good. Now to see if all stays quiet," Eric said.

*

"Sweetie, I'm going out hunting tonight." Eric said as they were washing up the supper dishes.

"Alright, I sort of figured that you might. This thing has really stressed you out hasn't it?"

"Yes. It is just way too close to stuff that I use to do. And I know that our little trip North a few months ago was not probably the end of the hunt for me."

"Oh? Why?"

"Kate, I know we haven't talked much about what I use to do, but you probably don't want to know it all. Just understand that I did things that weren't nice. Moreover, they were things that only I could do."

Kate looked at him, wondering if she really did want to know, or was it just morbid curiosity. "Well, sometimes it might be something to talk about. It would certainly help me understand your moods sometimes. Or, your nightmares."

"I guess you're right. Just not now."

"That's fine. Have a good hunt." She dropped the subject. 

*

Kate lay on the bed, her heart beating like a bird in a cage, her hand over her chest and wondering what on earth had just happened. She reached for Eric, but he wasn't back from hunting. That simple movement had cramped her arms up as well as her back. What on earth was going on? Kate worked on controlling her breath when coughs wracked her body.

When the coughing finally stopped, she realized that her heart had stopped fluttering. Her body still hurt, like she had one massive cramp. Reaching for her water bottle, she tried to figure out what was wrong.

She reached out and touched the energy she knew as Eric. He was close, but not close enough. The rest of the house was asleep, so she hadn't woken them up with coughing. Stretching slowly, she felt almost as if her legs weren't her own. Neither was one hand. They felt oddly asleep and yet not. Rolling her shoulders, the left one popped loudly. Stretching again, the right one popped. Hmm...

Laying back down, she worked on relaxing and working muscles that were sore for no reason she could figure out. She was drifting off to sleep while thinking of questions to ask Eric.

*

"Hey sleepy head. Will you let me in the bed?" Eric asked in the darkness of the room.

"Oh.... Eric.... you're back." Kate was sleepy.

"Yes sweetie. And now I'm cold. Let me in the bed, and we can talk."

"Oooohka," she yawned. "I have a few questions to ask you." 

"Yes?" They snuggled close together under the covers.

Kate then described the symptoms she had earlier in the evening. Eric listened and then cuddled her and spoke quietly in her ear. "You know how we discussed that awakening shifting talent?"

"Yes, but I have to admit that part of me keeps thinking you are just joking. Or, pacifying me.

"No Sweetie. I'm not. In fact, I'm a bit concerned on just how much you have moved towards shifting."

"Why?"

"Well, partially because I don't know where it will lead. Just how far will that wolf in your soul want to show itself? Will you go furry? Will you just have very wolfy attributes? Will I have to share my dog biscuits?"

This last bit made Kate start to giggle. "Oh you! I told you you didn't have to share with Luna and Gretchen!"

"Yeah, but how do I explain to them that I get the fancy snacks? They don't understand, so I share."

Kate just shook her head. "There are days when you are just too weird. Good thing I love you. Especially on the days when you track mud and blood across my hardwood floors."

"Hey! I haven't done that in... in.... weeks! And besides, it was snowing and cold."

It was Kate's turn to smile. "You are so silly!" She coughed about then and winced. 

Eric pulled back and started checking out Kate's chest and sternum.

"What kind of cheap feel are you after Eric? That hurts."

"I'm checking something out. Hold still," he said as his fingers moved between her breasts. He moved his hands down a bit and pushed. 

"Ouch!" Kate moved away from his hands."That hurt!"

"Umm, Kate, did it feel like your chest wall was folding in half?"

Kate stopped a moment and though. "You know, I dreamed, or at least I thought I dreamed that I shifted. That I was curled up on the bed, waiting for you."

"Kate, I don't think you dreamed. I think you shifted. Not all the way, but enough for your chest to fold in half. That's why your sternum hurts. It's why your heart felt the way it did."

"Oh," Kate said with understanding dawning. "Oh... my... but what if the children had come in?"

"They would have just thought you were that other dog that shows up here from time to time. The one they know plays with Gretchen."

Kate shook her head and tried to make sense of what Eric was saying. There were times she had no trouble believing him. Other days, she wondered just how much of it was a grand game of make believe. If she hadn't seen him shift, she'd still be under the impression that he was more than just a little eccentric. "Do you have any idea of how odd this all sounds? Or even to experience?" 

"Yes. Do you know how nice it is to actually have someone to talk to this about?"

"Hadn't thought of it that way Eric. It's just that some days it is a bit hard to believe."

"I understand. There are days I have trouble with it myself."

"That I can believe. Did you ever slip? Let someone see that shouldn't have?"

Eric nodded. "It happened once when I was working for that 'agency'. I came home from the field and fell asleep at a friend's house. His kids called me Uncle Wolfie after that."

"Uncle Wolfie? What?"

"I fell asleep and shifted. When I woke up two days later, I panicked. The wife assured me that she'd keep my secret. I'd played with the kids and everything. Asked me if I wanted a steak or dog food when I woke. I must have blushed eight shades of red. She said that no one would believe the two boys if they said that their daddy's Sargent was a wolf. That kids can say the absolute truth with no one believing them simply because they are kids."

"That's for sure. Mine would have ratted me out years ago if anyone had just believed them when they said mommy's a witch."

Eric smiled at that. He loved the fact that Kate was pagan and understood so much. He bent his head to hers and kissed her forehead. "We'd best get to sleep. You'll be sore in the morning."

"Sore? Oh, because I started to shift."

"Yes, now time to sleep."

"But, I'm wide awake now."

"Not for long. Just relax." Eric said, his voice going soft. He started working the sleep energy he had on Peaches so many months ago.

"Wha....t?" Kate yawned. 

"Go to sleep Kate," he said softly. "Now."

"Bu..." Kate tried to protest, but was asleep before she could finish the word. Eric smiled in the dark, pleased with himself that he could put Kate to sleep. He curled up around her and was soon asleep himself.

*

Kate woke first, the alarm just beginning to beep. She reached out an arm, and half way to the clock, she stopped. The ache in her shoulders was enough to take her breath away. She struggled for a moment and then finally shut off the noise. "Oh, she moaned as she laid back down. "Sweetie, is there any aspirin on the nightstand over there?" she asked pointing at Eric's side of the bed.

"Of course. Just a second and I'll get it for you." Eric untangled himself from the covers and Kate to find the small bottle of extra strength pain reliever. He opened the bottle and handed her two caplets. "Now you know why I keep this stuff nearby."

Kate nodded as she swallowed the aspirin with a gulp of water from her water bottle. "I feel like I've run for miles and then fallen asleep in a heap."

"In some ways, you did. Shifting isn't easy. In some ways, I think it is harder on those that only go part way into animal form. Those of us who shift all the way get the benefits of the animal physiology. We heal faster and move better. However, there is a price to pay when we go back to human form." He stretched. Joints popped and muscles seemed to scream as he did so.

Kate put her water bottle down and tentatively stretched. Her hips and shoulder blades popped. Even her knuckles on her hands seemed stiff. "Oh Eric, no wonder some of them never come back. If this ache is just the peripheral pain, what does this do to someone who doesn't expect it or can't cope?"

"They either die or don't shift back," he said rather sadly.

"I understand so much more than I did before." She stood gingerly on the balls of her feet. Eric watched her move across the room, and when he saw how she was walking, he started to smile.

"What are you smiling at?"

"You."

"What about me?"

Eric looked at her feet again, aware that she was not conscious of how she was standing. "Oh, just looking at your feet," he said softly.

Kate looked down quickly. She saw that she was standing on the balls of her feet just like she'd seen Eric do so many times after he'd come back from hunting. With a giggle bursting from her lips, she dropped to her heels. "Oh Eric..."

They both started to laugh. 

*

Later in the shower, Kate wiped the soap out of her eyes and turned to Eric. "Have you discussed any of this with Zach? The changing and the discomfort and such?"

"Yes. So far, the only real symptoms he's had are hunger or lack thereof, and the urge to bite Anne."

"Bite?" Kate said with a slightly puzzled look on her face. Then it dawned on her, and she blushed. "Oh. Bite. I forgot he mentioned that."

"Too much information dear?"

"No, It's just that I hadn't thought about that. We've been biting and nibbling each other for months."

"Yes, and so have those two. However, he isn't having the aches. What he is experiencing is the extra muscles. That ability to run and jump faster. Something you might find happening too."

"Me? Run? You must be joking! I haven't run except in dire emergency since I grew breasts. There isn't a sports bra made that holds me well enough."

Eric looked down at her breasts which he'd gently soaped while they were talking. "Ah, I could see where that might be the case. Most of my family are rather flat chested."

"I could see where that might be an advantage. However, I like my breasts."

"So do I my dear. So do I." He helped her rinse off.

*

Kate wasn't late to work, which amazed her. They never made it to the point of drying off. Unless of course they counted rolling on the sheets drying off. Their play necessitated another shower and Kate had blasted through the second one so fast that Eric was still soaping up as she stepped out. She had dropped Eric off at the hospital and raced back into town to arrive just as Suzanne and a young woman were opening the front doors.

"Good morning Suzanne!"

"Good morning to you Kate. You look like you had a fine start to the day."

Kate went red in the face. "Yeah, I did. How are you?"

"I'm okay. Slept well, had breakfast, and I made it to work. This is Abby. She had some stuff to bring us and wanted to meet you."




Sheeple Ch. 04



"Hi Abby." Kate shook the small slim hand offered her.

"Hi Kate. I am so glad you were able to help us with that software. It just gave me the creeps," Abby said in a soft voice.

"Glad to do so. Any word back or people coming to check on you?" 

"No. Nor has anyone else who did what we did. However, I wanted to talk to you two in private." She looked around the hall as they moved to Suzanne's office. "Is this the one with the loaded computer in it?"

"Yes."

"Could I see your office Kate?" Abby moved out of the doorway.

"Sure. It's this way." Kate lead the way to her office. The door was locked and it took a moment to open the door and let everyone in. 

Abby closed the door and then turned to Kate and Suzanne. "I don't mean to sound nuts, but I swear that those computers can spy on us. Listen to our conversations."

"What on earth do you mean?" Kate asked. Suzanne nodded her head as well.

"I was down in one of the shelters northeast of here. One which loaded the software without the precautions we did. My friend who works there, Steve, was complaining of what a mess the computer was with that software. He was showing me the trouble he was having and I had no way to help him. His boss was right there, and so all I could do was nod my head and give him my apologies. We must have tried ten different fixes. Now, no one left the room or made a phone call, and yet fifteen minutes later, this tech support guy called and asked to talk to Steve. Sat there and walked him through his problems he was having and hadn't even had time to report. It was creepy."

Kate thought about what Abby said. "You know, Eric mentioned that they might monitor keystrokes or something like that. That's probably the way they knew to call. If you mess around with the innards, you probably set off an alarm once it is programed."

"You could be right. I'm just paranoid I guess." Abby melted into a chair.

"You have every right to be paranoid. Here we are, ignored by the state for how many years? And then bam! New rules, new software, and threats to take our funding if we don't comply," said Suzanne. "I'm nervous."

"So am I," chimed in Kate. "I live with Eric, and he is so anal about computer safety that he about had a coronary when the software did what it did."

"Well, I just wanted to tell you about this thing with Steve. I didn't want to write it down or use the phone. It was just too creepy," said Abby.

"We understand. If you have anything weird happen, call us from a pay phone, or drive down. You're only fifty miles north of us."

"I will. I'd best be going. Told the boss I had stuff to bring to you. Just didn't say what stuff. Thanks for listening to me," she said and started towards the door.

"Thanks for letting us know." Kate gave Abby a hug. Abby hugged her back.

"Bye," she said and was gone.

"That was a trip to the twilight zone," Kate said as she sat down at her desk. 

"I agree," Suzanne leaned on a chair. "At least we haven't had any problems yet."

"It's that 'yet' I'm nervous about."

"Me too." Suzanne headed out the door to start work. 

*

Three weeks later, the phone rang just as they were about to leave for the day. "Damn!" said Suzanne as she headed back to her office. 

Kate waited by the door. She could hear Suzanne's voice becoming more and more agitated. A few minutes later, Suzanne came storming down the hall. "What on earth is going on?" 

"We have a software engineer coming down tomorrow to 'fix' our computer. Apparently, we screwed up, and they are going to make sure it is done right."

"Oh shit. Have any of the rest of them called to say they are being fixed?"

"Yeah. I didn't even get the phone on the hook a second before Abby called. They are doing hers tomorrow too."

"Damn. Did they ask who did the install?"

"Yes. I said we did it. Got the distinct impression that the guy was thinking 'stupid women' when I said that."

"Oh fun. I guess I'll let Eric know and see what he wants to do."

"Best thing would probably be to keep clear of the building and fix the damage later." Suzanne spoke with tired resignation in her voice.

"Probably right, but this was his baby, and I can't see him just sitting by while it gets messed with tomorrow."

"Well, we'd best get some sleep. It may be quiet in the shelter, but it will certainly be stormy in the office."

Kate nodded. In spite of the cold weather, there were very few people in the shelter. It wasn't the norm. Usually the colder it got, the more people they had in the shelter.

*

Kate made a good dinner for everyone and then waited for a quiet moment while she and Eric did the dishes. "We had a phone call today, just as we were trying to head out the door."

"Oh? What about?"

"We have someone coming tomorrow to check our program install. Apparently, we did something wrong."

Eric looked at her. "Oh shit. I was hoping that we were just paranoid. I'm sorry." He was quiet while he thought. Kate almost had the drainboard filled up again when he spoke. "Kate, would you or could you take Max to the office tomorrow?"

Kate looked at him. "I'm not sure that would be such a good idea. Max isn't exactly a lap dog. What reason would I have you there?"

"Let's see. Max has a vet appointment? Doesn't like your sister who is due in town for the night and so you brought Max to the office?"

Kate giggled at that prospect. Eric had met her sister and took an immediate dislike to her. "Well, if Max did bite her, he'd never get the taste out of his mouth."

Eric gagged at that prospect, and shook his head. "No. Biting her would be a bad thing. However, I'd like Max to be there tomorrow if we could."

"Then you'd better dig up Max's collar and lead. Oh, and hope his tags are up to date." 

Eric put down the dishtowel and headed for the office. "They are! Zach and I visited with Dr. Fremont last month. Gods that man can talk. At least I just get the tags and certificate."

"Yeah, and all the biscuits you can eat! That man is fascinate with you."

"I know. Then again, so are you and I don't think it's deranged."

"Hey! I lust you. He just wants to dissect you!"

"Nah, he's just jealous that I can talk to his patients. I spend more time as interpreter down there than anything else." 

"Sure! You just like the company. I know you." Kate smiled as she walked down the hall. She figured she'd find an explanation for Suzanne in the morning.

*

Early the next morning, Kate and Max walked into the shelter. There were a few stares as she walked in with a dog nearly as big as she was. Max was well behaved and his dog tags clinked softly as she headed towards Suzanne's office.

"Hey boss! I had to bring Max in with me this morning. My sister is due at the house sometime this morning and she and Max don't get along. So, I figured it would be safer if he was with me."

Suzanne came around the desk and held her hand out for Max to sniff. Max gave her fingers a doggy kiss. She smiled and then wiped her hand on her jeans. "Thanks Max. I've heard a lot about you," she said as she ruffled his fur between his ears. "You behave and I'll buy you a hamburger for lunch."

Max wagged his tail. Kate smiled down at him. "I think he understood you Suzanne. Better hold to your promise."

"Oh, I will. And if that computer geek gives me any problems, I'll just let Max eat him." She went back to her desk.

"When is the guy due?" 

"Eleven. Just in time to screw up all the reports and lunch."

"Oh fun. Holler if you need help." Kate and Max left the office.

*

Max laid across the threshold of Kate's office. He wasn't in the way of foot traffic, but he could see and smell up the hall and out to the main door. Just before eleven, Max growled a low rumble.

"Is the guy here Max?" Kate asked softly.

Max thumped his tail on the floor. Trying to nod your head as a dog just wasn't as easy as it sounded. Kate sat quietly at her desk and tried to concentrate on her work. She was working on reports that were kept separate from Suzanne's computer and under log-in security. Eric had helped set up the computer. It was a Linux box which had taken Kate some time to learn. However, it meant that it was secure in a way the rest of the computers were not. Plus, your average computer geek would sneer at it unless they got a good look at what it could really do. That was the effect Eric had tried for. Today would be the test on just how effective that camouflage worked. Everything of importance was on a disk. Once the disk was out of the machine, all traces of it disappeared. 

Max started to thump his tail against the floor again and then got up out of the doorway. Kate looked up to see Suzanne standing in the door.

"Kate, could you come to my office for a few minutes? The tech is here."

"Sure. Let me just close out this file and I'll be right there." Kate pulled the disk out of the drive and stuffed it in a holder. The holder was full of music disks that Zach and Eric had made. The one for her computer was labeled 'Wake Up Music'. Kate looked at Max and gave him the stay put signal with her hand. Then she walked down to the office. Already seated at the computer was a man with long hair and a beard. He looked to be about mid-thirties.

"Hello, I'm Kate," she said and held out her hand. 

"Hi. I'm Keith Waterman." He shook her hand. "I hear you're the one who installed the software."

"Yeah. Did I do something wrong?" 

"No, not really."

"What do you mean by not really?" Kate sat down next to him and looked over his shoulder at the screen.

Keith minimized what he was working on and turned towards Kate. "Well, from what I can tell, you forgot to tick a few boxes is all."

"Oh. Okay. So it isn't a serious mistake?" Kate asked with a slight upset tone to her voice.

"Nah. Not really. It's just that without those boxes ticked, some of the reports were coming through all jumbled up. You aren't the only one who forgot. Several offices across the state have had issues just like this."

"Oh. I didn't realize I had missed any. Some of the stuff gave you choices and I just tried to choose the best ones for our office." Kate continued with that same tone in her voice. It was the same tone her boys had used for years on her. That 'but I really was trying to be good' tone. One that parents of children recognize but not other adults. Kate had sized Keith up rather quickly and figured he'd never had children. His responses to her confirmed her guess.

"Oh no. You did just fine, considering the complexity of this new software. It's something you really should have had installed by one of us." His tone was rather smug and condescending.

"You're probably right. I don't use Windows very much." Kate dropped the next bit of bait.

"What do you use?" He sat up in his chair a bit. His body tensed.

"My oldest is a computer geek and he uses Linux. So, when I got my own computer, he set it up with Linux Red Hat. And as we didn't have a whole lot of money, I brought my computer from home down here to use at the office."

"Oh. Would you mind if I looked at it when I'm through adjusting this machine?" 

"No. But would you show me what I did wrong? That way if there are any adjustments to make, maybe I can do them myself?" She asked with a sweet tone to her voice.

Keith smiled. "Of course. Now here is where the problems started," he said as he brought up the screen and pointed out the boxes they had left unchecked.

*

Thirty-five minutes later, they stood up from Suzanne's machine. All the problems had been fixed, and the software was now in properly. Kate hoped that she could remember everything to tell Eric later. Keith had done a few slight of hand bits that she had caught. Now for the hard part of the day. "Do you still want to see my computer?" she asked sweetly.

"Oh yes. The Linux box."

"My office is down this way." Kate hoped that Max heard them coming and would behave. She went first just in case he had fallen asleep. He hadn't. He was laying there quietly when she came round the corner. "Hello Max!" She reached down to scratch him between the ears.

Max thumped his tail on the floor, sending reverberations across the carpeted surface.

"Oh!" Keith said in a startled voice as he came round the corner and faced Max. "I... didn't know dogs were allowed in here. It is a dog isn't it?" He looking Max up and down.

"Well, normally I don't bring Max to the office. However, my sister is due in today, and he doesn't like her. So, rather than having him growling at her till I get home, I have him here. As for his parentage. We know mom was an Irish wolfhound. That accounts for his size. Daddy on the other hand was a traveling man if you know what I mean." She smiled and patted Max's head. Max bumped her hand and made to chew on her fingers. 

"Ah. So, I guess the big question is whether he will let me in the office." Keith held his hand out for Max to sniff. Max tested his fingers and sneezed a rather wet doggy sneeze.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. Here, let me get you a tissue." 

Keith took the tissue. "Thanks. I guess since he just sneezed rather than took my arm off at the wrist that I dare move?"

"Yes." Kate walked farther into the room and pointed to her computer. "This is it. No great beauty, but it works for me." 

Keith walked over to the desk. "Mind if I sit in your chair?"

"Be my guest."

Keith sat down at the computer and surveyed the ergonomic keyboard and monitor. The tower itself was on the floor. Both monitor and keyboard had seen better days. Keith bent over to look at the tower and when he brought his head up, he was face to face with Max. His eyes showed just how startled he was, but to his credit, he held still. "Kate," he said quietly.

"Oh! Max, get back." She made to move Max away. Max ignored her and just sat next to Keith as if he was going to help him out. "Max, come on. Move over." Kate said again, trying to move the dog.

Keith looked down, realized that the dog was not going to eat him and relaxed. "It's okay, Kate. He just startled me. Now, lets see what you have." He started moving his finger across the touch pad mouse. "Gads, haven't seen one of these keyboards in ages."

"My boys keep wanting to get me a new one, but I like my keyboard. It has it's finicky moments, but otherwise it is fine." 

"I understand." He began to flip through icons, opening up one here and there. 

Kate watched him as he moved through various places on her computer. There didn't seem to be an order to what he was doing, but at the same time, she didn't take her eyes off of him. Neither did Max. 

"You don't seem to do a lot of client work on this machine. What do you use it for?"

"Well, no. Suzanne and I decided a long time ago that we'd just use her machine for shelter business. At least we try to. That way I don't have any files that might get messed up between Linux and Windows. I write all the letters of recommendation, grants, and that type of thing here." Kate then reached over Keith's shoulder, tapped a file and brought up a directory of letters and other correspondence. She then clicked on and opened it up.

Keith watched, read some of the letter and then turned back to Kate. "I see. So, do you even connect to the Internet?" 

"Oh yeah, on occasion. I search for grants, information and play the occasional mindless game." She blushed a bit at this admission.

"We all do that Kate. Would you want me to install the software on your computer? We do have a Linux edition." His tone was helpful.

"Oh. No. That isn't necessary. I'd never use it." 

"Alright. If you change your mind, call me and I'll come put it in for you." He closed down various files he had opened. The last one open was her control panel, where he'd been looking at her software. He turned suddenly and knocked down her tower of disks. They cascaded to the floor, over Max and across the room in some places.

"Oh! Kate, I am so sorry!" He started to move when he realized if he did, that he would break some of them.

Kate had already started to pick them up. "Don't worry. I've done that before. They're just music." She moved the ones from behind the chair so that he could move and then concentrated on the rest of them. She was bent over, and had just picked up the Wake Up Disk when she thought that she heard keys being tapped. She ignored it and just kept picking up, wondering if Max was catching what Keith was up to.

"Ah, got them at last,." She set the disc tower back on her desk.

"I am so sorry Kate." Keith moved from behind her computer. He handed her a few disks that had fallen to his side in the chair. He had closed out her computer and it was back to the locked screen.

"No problem. Everything is here and no damage." She counted the disks. Nothing missing. What had he been up to? She smiled as she put the disks back in the rack.

"That's a nice selection of music."

"Thanks. The boys helped me make up a few disks to augment the store bought disks. I have a rather eclectic taste in music. Everything from Celtic to rock and roll." 

Keith smiled at this and took another look. "Yes, I see. Well, I'd best get going. Thank you for showing me your computer. It's a nice one in spite of being so old. You might want your son to update your version of Linux. This is a really old one, and there is a much nicer version out there."

"I'll let them know. Granted, last time they updated my machine, I didn't get it back for a week," she said with a bit of exasperation in her voice.

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Because they kept getting sidetracked. It was in pieces across my dining room table. Boys." She rolled her eyes.

"I understand. I hope dog hair wasn't a problem." He patted Max on the head as he came round the desk. Max just looked up at him with a tolerant expression on his face.

"No. Not dog hair, just a lot of dust. Let me walk you to the door." She led the way. "Max, stay." She gestured to the dog. Max of course didn't listen, and followed them down the hall. When they got to the door, he bolted out in front of them and ran into the parking lot. Running around and sniffing various bumpers and cars, he then lifted his leg and peed all over one tire.

"Max!" Kate said with some exasperation. "Get back here right now! Heel!"

"Well, at least he has good taste in cars." Keith stood behind her as she tried to get Max's attention.

"What do you mean?"

"That was my car he peed on." He began to walk to his car.

"Oh! I am so sorry. Oh..." Kate said, following him in hope of catching Max.

"Don't worry. I'll run it through the car wash later this week."

"Are you sure? I mean,"

"Really. Dogs will be dogs." He got to his car.

"Thank you for being understanding. Max can be such a good dog at times and such a handful at others." She finally got her hand on Max's collar. Max looked up at her and she could swear he was grinning. 

"Well, it has been nice chatting with you Kate. If you have more problems, please let me know."

"I will. Thank you." She backed away from the car, and waved as Keith left the parking lot. Her banishing gesture went unnoticed. "Now Max, let's go home." 

Max wagged his tail and headed towards the Subaru. 



Sheeple Ch. 05



I found all the comments about Obamacare, spies, and remarks pertaining to what is going on with Wikileaks and Snowden to be interesting. Especially as this story was originally written in about 2006. :) It proves that there is nothing new under the sun, and what goes around, comes around. I pulled parts of my story from conversations with friends that worked for a variety of TLA's (Three Letter Acronyms... ie CIA, NSA, etc.) Two snipers, a couple of 'agents' and a man who will never admit that he worked for a TLA, but use to make his children play some strange games and taught one of them to drive just as he learned some 50 years ago. The games and driving were recognizable to one of the agents enough to make him twitch. And when I needed to check the veracity of spy guy hacker games, I simply asked Wolf. :) 

Hope you enjoy this latest chapter. Lots of interesting events.

Jaisen




Eric came out of the shower and started to shake off before Kate could hand him his towel.

"Eric!" Kate was startled as the water drops cascaded over her. She had just gotten dried off and the water was cold on her skin.

"What? I just shook off. What's wrong with that?"

"You are just so..... doggy some days!" She smiled as she dumped his towel over his head.

"Yeah, and your problem?" 

"Well, I plead the Fifth!"

Eric slipped up beside her and started scratching Kate just under the ribs on her side. Her whole body started to twitch, especially her foot.

"Stop that!"

"Oh, and who's being doggy now?" He giggling and still scratching under her ribs.

"Oh! Stttooop th..th...that!" Kate finally twisted away from Eric's grasp. She stood there trying to catch her breath. Eric was still giggling. "You are such a brat!" 

"Yes. And you have such a 'sweet spot' to scritch." A wicked smile playing across his face.

"Oh, I give up! Now get dressed and come tell me what you think of our computer geek." She grabbed her towel and headed for the bedroom.

Eric followed behind her and draped himself across the foot of the bed, towel loosely wrapped around his hips. "Well, if Keith Waterman was just a computer geek, I'm a good old boy from Arkansas."

"Ah, you got that feeling did you? He sent my radar off the charts. Didn't smell right either."

"No, he didn't smell right. He smelled of a great many things, including gun solvent, cat spray, fatigues and nasty government offices." 

"What?"

"He smelled like an agent. The kind I use to work with." 

"I figured that out. It was the cat spray that got my attention. What's with that?" .

"Sweetie, he's a shifter. Turns into a big cat. And as he is an uncut tom, he smells like one. It didn't get covered up by his deodorant or his aftershave."

Kate looked at him, and thought about how Keith had smelled to her. Her nose was better than it had been. She thought a few moments more. "You know, you're right. That would be the acrid smell wouldn't it?"

"Yes. Give yourself a biscuit!" 

"No thank you. Those don't taste good to me." She pointed to a basket on the lower shelf of the bedroom bookcase. "So, we have a bad guy on the premises. Did you know him? Would he have known you?" Kate suddenly began to see all sorts of bad angles to this whole thing.

"No, there is no past history between Keith and I. Otherwise, things would have gone much differently this afternoon. The agency I worked for didn't have many uses for the big cats. At least not at that point. Most of us were wolves."

"Why was that?"

"Simple. Wolves are pack animals and cats are loners. The military is a 'pack' oriented service. Even individuals are still part of the pack mentality. So, cats didn't work."

Kate nodded, taking this into account and how it might fit. "So, whoever is hunting people, is using someone that can hunt alone and work alone." 

"Exactly. And now we know who they are hunting." Eric's voice was tinted with frustration.

"They didn't do this just to find you. Are they hunting all shifters? Or just all shifters that use to work for the various agencies that quit?"

"I'm not sure. I'd have to see if a friend of mine might have a clue. At this point, I'd suspect all ex-service shifters are the targets. So many of us left and disappeared. The bigger question is why are they hunting us?"

"Eric, this makes me nervous. Why won't they let you and the other shifters alone? What do they have planned that would need people of your talents?"

"Well, considering what I was trained for, military operations. The things that you read about in books or see in movies or violent video games. All the deep cover, scary spy guy stuff. Or, what Zach would call 'ninja stuff''," Eric said quietly.

Kate moved to Eric and wrapped her arms around him. She wasn't sure which one of them had more goosebumps. Either way, neither one was happy. "Eric, what are we going to do? You can't keep running. Nor do I know enough to raise Jamie by myself. Most of all, I don't want to lose you."

Eric hugged her closely. "You won't lose me. I want to be 95 and still teasing you about your sweet spot and making jokes about fuzzy grandchildren. Oh, and I want to be around to have you break my nose when you slam the bathroom door in my face."

This brought a smile to Kate's face. "Hey! I didn't do it on purpose! I'd had a headache and wasn't in my right mind!" She got a little defensive.

Eric laughed and held her tight. "I know you were out of it with that headache. I just didn't expect you to get up like you did, let alone slam the door in my face. Good thing my nose heals fast." He touched the bridge of his nose. 

"I'm still sorry about your nose and slamming the door. I didn't know you were right behind me. I just needed to go to the bathroom and it seemed like no one wanted to let me up out of the bed. So, I got crabby." Kate still felt a bit defensive about the whole thing.

"It's okay Sweetie. I just need to learn that when you have a headache like that that you wander."

"Oh, and what was with that business of zapping me like you did Peaches? One minute I'm awake, and next I'm dreaming of a huge feather bed with me in it. Not to mention waking up six hours later."

"You felt better didn't you?" 

"Yeah, but that's not the point. The point is that you sleepy vibed me and I still don't understand the mechanics of it."

"You'll figure it out soon enough without me telling you. Until then it's my only defense." He started tickling her again.

"Defense? Defense! Oh boy... you've had it now!" Kate started tickling back. Eric twisted and so did Kate. A second later, they fell off the bed in a heap of naked limbs. Both were laughing.

*

A bit later, dressed and sipping cups of tea, Kate got that serious look on her face again. "Eric, what are you thinking?"

"About what I need to do. About what you and Suzanne are going to have to do." 

"And what is that?"

"You and Suzanne are going to have to report things. I may have some scripts that will help hide data. I'm not sure yet. I'm still thinking about that, after what you told me of the changes Keith made to the data bases. At the very least, you two will have to keep double books. One set of data for the shelter and one for that damned program. The hardest part will be deciphering the bits that will sift out the people that they are after. As for the other, I won't go back if that is what you are wondering. However, I may have to do some things that aren't nice."

"Like?"

"I may have to disappear for a while. Or, I may have to kill someone if that is what it takes to get them to leave me alone."

"Eric." Kate felt the panic begin to creep into her voice.

"Kate, you asked. I told you. I will defend my pack. My family. That includes you, the boys, my children and the other odd members of this family. If you can't cope with it, we need to talk seriously about our relationship," he said rather coldly.

Kate set her tea down and walked up to Eric. Looking up into his eyes, she brought her hand up and touched his beard. "I love you. I'm worried about you. I understand that you will defend our pack as you put it. It's just hard to think about some of this. I know that you will do whatever is necessary. And... " she stopped for a moment. Raising up on her toes, she brought her arms around him and hugged him tight. "I will do whatever is necessary to help you."

Eric hugged Kate tightly to him. "This is so difficult in so many ways Kate. You have no idea."

"No, not exactly, but you're my mate and I'll do what I can."

"And I appreciate and love you so much." He hugged her even tighter.

"I love you."

*

Hours north, Keith sat at his computer writing a report. He'd 'fixed' eight systems in the last week. Two places gave him that feel he was looking for. They also matched the hot spots that the department he worked for had targeted months before. He had fifteen more shelters to visit before he could go home. He finished up his report and attached it to an email. Once that was done, his job was over. Others would take up the work from there. 

He closed off the connection and shut down his laptop. Standing up, he shed his clothes and stretched. Looking out the window, he decided to go for a run. The open prairies looked loaded with possibilities. All there was out here were a few mobile home parks, a cemetery and some farms. Even the highway was unobtrusive. He opened the window, and as he shifted, his last thoughts were about a certain dog getting what he deserved for pissing all over his car tires.

*

Kate woke up in the middle of the night with a cry in her throat. She sat up so suddenly that Eric startled awake.

"Kate, what's wrong?" 

"Something's happened to Nick. I can smell him in the room. Can't you?"

Eric looked puzzled, not remembering the name, but sniffed the air. There was as scent of spice and oil that was unfamiliar in the air. There was also the feel of weight across the end of the bed. Eric turned on the light, and there was nothing there. 

"Who is Nick? I can't remember."

"Nick is my friend, the shifter. Big cat, kept me company when David died." She had a look on her face like she was still trying to piece things together.

"Oh.... yes. Now I remember. What do you think happened?"

"I'm not sure. Just that he was suddenly very much in my mind."

"Okay, so do you want to get up and call him? Email him?"

"I'm... I'm not sure. Maybe I aught to just wait till the morning. It isn't like I can do anything right now. Except worry that is," Kate said as she laid back down.

"That's true. Call him in the morning." He snuggled close to Kate. "Just go back to sleep for now."

"No sleepy vibes!"

"No. You need to make yourself sleep. Just relax." In a few minutes, they were both asleep.

*

That morning over tea, Kate fretted, waiting until it was a decent hour to call Nick. Andy walked in and gave her the paper from the doorstep. 

"Hey Mom, is Nick okay?" he asked, not knowing of Kate's fears in the middle of the night.

"Why do you ask?" 

"Well, there's an article in the paper about a big cat, killed up in a field near where Nick lives. So, I sorta wondered," he said, handing the paper to Kate.

Kate started whipping through the paper until she came to the article about the cat. She was reading it when Eric nudged her.

"Read it out loud Kate."

Kate nodded. "Police were called this morning to the scene of a grisly murder. The victim was a mature male mountain lion. It had obviously been in a battle as there were multiple lacerations and bites. The death blow had been a bite across the back of the neck which had severed the spinal column. A local vet was called in and pronounced it as the product of a mating fight. He advised the local sheriff and police to be on the look out for another injured mountain lion in the area. He stated that a fight such as this often kills both males. Investigators were baffled as to why any mountain lion, let alone two would be so far out on the plains and away from the mountains. The vet cited people moving into territory and lack of prey as the probable cause. The county animal unit would haul the body off for quick burial."

Kate put the paper down. She was pale and Eric guided her to a kitchen stool.

"Kate, breathe. It might just be a wild animal. Catch your breath and then call Nick," he said in a calm voice. He certainly didn't feel calm at that moment, but knew it was what he needed to do.

"Andy, get me the portable." 

Andy brought her the phone and she quickly punched in the numbers. She tapped her foot as she listened to the phone ring. On the fifth ring, someone answered.

"Hello, this is Kate. Is Nick there? Oh.... okay." she was silent for a moment. "I'm so glad that he's alright. We felt him last night and then the paper this morning.... Yes. Okay. I'll do that. Give him my love and kisses. Oh, and a big piece of steak when he can chew. Love you!" She hung up the phone. She sat down on the stool with a look of relief on her face.

"Well? Tell us what happened!" Eric said rather impatiently.

"Nick was hunting last night when out of the drainage ditch came this lion. He called to it and told it that the field was his territory. Apparently the other lion didn't want to listen. In fact, he said the lion was way too aggressive. He wasn't comfortable, so he growled some more and the other one wouldn't leave. So, he started to leave. The lion gave him a bad feeling. He'd loped off about fifty feet when the other lion attacked him. They fought and Nick killed him with a lucky bite. Nick has some scratches that will take a bit of time to heal, but the biggest problem is a sore jaw." 

Eric sat there for a second and then got a look on his face. "Kate, let me see that paper for a minute." 

Kate handed him the paper. Eric started rifling through the pages as quickly as he could. As this was the premier paper in the state, it was a thick edition to plow through. Deep in the back of the paper in one of the regional sections there was a story that caught Eric's attention.

"What is it Eric?"

Eric started to read out loud. "Chamber maid discovers empty room at the Motel Six. A call to a small hotel off of the highway east of the airport lead to the discovery of an empty room and a mystery. Betsy Ortiz, the chamber maid went out to room fifteen to see why Keith Waterman of Virginia had not answered his phone. The phone caller demanded that she investigate, and when she opened the door with her passkey, she found the window open, clothes scattered across the floor and an empty unslept in bed. Keith Waterman was nowhere to be found. Police were called, but were slow in responding as they were busy with an animal death two exits up the highway. (see story on page two. Death of a Big Cat) The police had no clues, and are actively seeking information. If the public has any information, please call 341-489-4490," Eric finished reading with a look of amazement on his face.

"Umm...... do you think we aught to call and tell them that the guy they're looking for is up in the public dump?" Kate said with a barely suppressed giggle.

Eric broke into a wide smile. "Nope, and I couldn't think of it happening to a nicer guy. Let him just be a mystery and hope that he didn't have time to report anything he'd found down south."

"Really! Can we tell Nick who it was he killed?"

"Yeah. Email him the story link from the online version and see how fast it takes him to put two and two together." Eric had a smile on his face.

"Sounds good to me." Kate headed towards the computer in the dining room. She sat down and was typing quickly when Eric brought her tea to her.

"You don't think this is the end of our problems do you," she said as he caressed her neck. 

"No, just a delay. A very appreciated delay. Just be careful at work, and trust your nose. Our next visitor might not be so easy to deal with." He'd spoken quietly, almost as if he didn't want anyone to hear except Kate."Probably not." She hit the send key on the email. "Shall we go get some breakfast now?"

"Yes. You need to eat."

"So do you dear, so do you." 

Eric kissed her and pulled her into the kitchen.

*

It took about a week to get the gist of typing reports into that program which was augmented by Eric. He added scripts that adjusted birth dates by a random factor of ten percent and one that shuffled addresses from time to time. Eric and Zach had spent hours manipulating data on Eric's computer before editing the scripts into the computer at the shelter.

Kate kept the real records on her machine and on a disk that never stayed with the computer overnight. There were no more visits by people to adjust the program or to hassle them for not working it right. Frequent updates did occur via the Internet, but Eric checked those to make sure that they didn't interfere with his scripts. He also beefed up the firewall on all the computers at the shelter and at home. Zach and Eric spent most of a weekend making sure that things were rock solid. Eric's hacker friends Mike and Audrey tested the security from their ends. All the breeches were patched and they figured that they were safe.

Eric and Kate had gone shopping in the big city as they called it. Once a month, they didn't shop locally so that they had a chance to take advantage of the big department stores as well as the warehouse stores. Buying in bulk helped with all the people they needed to feed.

Kate called the house to see if they had forgotten anything and Andy answered the phone.

"Hi Andy. Did you think of anything we might need? No, okay. Suzanne called? What about? Oh, alright. I'll call her when we get home. No. That should be a couple of hours. See you then." She hung up the phone.

"What did Suzanne want?"

"She called because a few people showed up at the shelter and gave her the creeps. She let them in, but wanted us to check on the shelter when we got home."

"Did she call the police or the sheriff?" 

"Yes. They came by on a 'courtesy call' and made their presence known, and that's about it. They'll check by later to make sure everything is still in one piece, but she's nervous."

"You really aught to install cameras and get that night watchman to do his job." Eric was exasperated. Suzanne had hired a man to work there at night, but he wasn't the most professional of workers. He tended to go to sleep.

"I know, but Jake is just too sweet to yell at."

"No, he needs to be yelled at. What he is is a few braincells short." Jake had exasperated Eric in about ten minutes one day and continued to frustrate him. "There is just no 'sparky-sparky' between those ears!" Kate tried not to laugh, but Eric making funny hand gestures as he said 'sparky-sparky' just did her in. Pretty soon they were both laughing.

Eric took a deep breath. "So, we get to go do check-up on Jake when we get home?" 

"Yes. Good thing it won't be too late. Suzanne said that there were three of them. Had sort of a raw and edgy look to them."

"Okay." It wouldn't be the first time that Eric had played the heavy at the shelter when all else failed. Some people just couldn't behave. Others didn't want to behave and those types did show up at the shelter from time to time. Plus, with the appearance of Keith not that long ago, everyone was a bit nervous.

*

Groceries were unloaded in record time. Kate got Andy and the little ones to finish up while she and Eric went down to the shelter. It was dark and quiet when they got there. Almost too quiet.

Eric looked at Kate as they parked the car. "You stay in the car. I'll go look first."

Kate nodded. She didn't feel right about this one. In fact, she grabbed her cell phone and had it ready to dial the police. 

Eric closed the Subaru door quietly and headed towards the kitchen door. It was locked tight. So far, so good. He headed around to the front door when he smelled something wrong. Working hard to control the urge to shift, he walked carefully around the entrance. The door was partially open, and he could hear moaning from the inside. Looking around quickly, he made sure no one was around and then slowly opened the door. Jake laid across the entrance, his face beat up and blood pouring from his nose and half a dozen cuts. Eric backed out and turned to Kate in the car.




Sheeple Ch. 05



"Kate! Call the police, and don't leave the car. Lock the doors now!" he hollered at her. Then he turned back to Jake. It was the blood he had smelled when he came around the corner. Still fighting the urge not to shift, he sniffed the air around the doorway as he looked at Jake. He knew better than to move him much or disturb things. He didn't know if anyone was still there, even after he hollered at Kate. He didn't want to risk it. Checking Jake's pulse, he knew he wasn't too badly hurt. He could also smell the men who had beat Jake up. What he couldn't tell was if they were still in the shelter. He waited.

*

It took a few minutes for the first of the flashing lights to come into view. Ambulance, police and the sheriff. The paramedics took care of Jake while the police entered the building to look around. Eric stood with Kate by her car. Suzanne was on her way and they were waiting for her. Kate had called the house as well, to let Andy know what was going on. She didn't want to worry him, but knew he needed at least a heads up as to what was going on.

"This is just great. Second mess like this in less than a year. Did the police say what kind of damage was inside?" she asked after talking to Andy.

Eric shook his head. He was trying to keep an eye on the building to see if anyone fled out the kitchen door while the police went in the front. The local cops were alright, but not too bright. No one went to guard the back door. 

Suzanne walked up to them. "I guess I should have listened to my gut instinct."

"There was no way to know for sure. I just feel sorry for Jake. Busted nose, cuts and bruises and a tooth or two loosened up," Kate said.

"It could have been worse. He could be dead." Eric nearly growled. 

Both women looked at him. They sighed and then nodded their heads. Eric was right even though it was a harsh idea.

"Do we know how bad the damage is inside yet?" Suzanne asked.

"No. Just that they really tore the place up. It will be a while before the police let us in. Somebody taught them how to do finger printing and they are going dust happy." Eric's hint of sarcasm wasn't lost on the women.

Kate just rolled her eyes. She knew Eric's opinion of their local force and wasn't exactly in disagreement. "When will they get done?"

"Maybe soon. One of them just came out the back door. I would assume that that means there is no one left in the shelter." Eric pointing at the rather rotund cop standing on the back steps.

*

They didn't have long to wait. The sheriff and chief of police came up to them together. The sheriff did all the talking which was a good thing. James was a good man and a much better officer than his cohort.

"Suzanne, Kate, sorry about all this. We need you to help us go through the wreckage and see what's missing. You can come along too Eric." James motioned for them to follow him into the building.

Moving past the blood stained entrance was the easy part. Furniture was tipped over, shredded and in some places broken up beyond recognition. It looked like a war zone. The previous break-in was a far cry from this mess.

They went to Suzanne's office first. It was in much the same condition as the front entrance. Furniture turned over or broken. Pictures smashed or at least thrown to the ground. File cabinets trashed and the desk had every drawer dumped. Suzanne's computer was gone. There were a few power cords left and the box of back-up disks was gone as well. "Shit." Suzanne said and just walked out. Without a computer, the shelter was shut down. The new regs demanded that all information be entered on a computer with that software they all detested. She went off in a corner to use her cell phone and call her supervisor to let him know what had happened. 

Meanwhile, Kate and Eric decided to go see what was left of her office. It looked like a tornado had touched down on her desk. No file drawer or desk drawer had been left untouched. Computer disks littered the ground in tiny pieces. Her monitor had a crack down the center of the screen where it had been kicked. The keyboard was smashed, and the machine itself was gone. 

"Oh..... Eric..... do you think?" 

"No. I don't think. I know. Can't you smell it? They pissed in here." 

Kate looked around, sniffed and realized that someone or something had pissed all over her chair and in the corners of the room. 

"Oh gods. I am so glad I took that disk home yesterday. I wasn't going to but changed my mind at the last minute." 

Eric looked at her with relief playing across his face. "Thank goodness for small favors. I was just thinking of where to start looking for that disk. Especially as all of Suzanne's were gone, but most of yours seem to be broken up on the floor."

Kate and Eric were still trying to assess the damages when James stuck his head in the door. 

"Can I talk to you two for a minute?" 

"Of course James. What do you need?" Eric asked.

"Um..... well, there's something written on the wall back here that we need to know if you two understand. Suzanne didn't have a clue." James started to head down the hall.

Eric and Kate looked at each other and followed James. In the hall back by the kitchen written in what first looked like blood, but was really ketchup was one sentence. 'Come out Nic.'

"Now, do you two have any ideas?" 

Kate and Eric looked at each other. Kate just shook her head, not knowing what to say. Eric stepped closer to take a better look at the scrawl.

"James, I don't know. Nobody by the name of Nic works here. I'm sorry I can't help you." Eric shrugged his shoulders and started to head back down the hall. He turned half way. "If I think of something though, I'll give you a call." He headed back to Kate's office. Kate followed.

*

Once they were back in the office, Kate finally took a deep breath. 

"Eric," 

"Stop. Not here. Not inside. We'll come back in the morning and see what we can do. Right now, I want to get home. Fast."

Kate nodded in agreement. As they passed Suzanne, they said their goodbyes and told her they'd see her in the morning. She waved them off as she was deep in conversation with one of the police officers.

*

The ride home was fast and silent. Eric still wouldn't talk about anything. He wanted to get home and make sure everything was okay and the family safe. Flexing his hands to try and stop the shifting he so desperately wanted to do was more than occupying his mind. Kate drove as fast as she dared. When they got there they both shot out of the car and up the back steps. The barking of Luna and Gretchen was reassuring. Andy was waiting for them in the kitchen, and had just put the kettle on.

"Everything okay Mom?"

"No. Everything is not okay. Is everything quiet here?"

"Sure. Not a peep from the kids or even an odd bark from Luna." 

That was reassuring as Luna barked at anything. Birds, lightning, doorbells, cats three yards over, and even her own dog dish. Noisy was good. Eric looked around the house. "I'll be right back," he said as he headed downstairs to check on the kids and the back door. Kate was getting cups out for tea. Anything to not think about the shelter.

"What has you spooked Mom?"

"There was another break-in at the shelter."

"Yeah, you told me that over the phone."

"We think it was the same people Eric had trouble with at the beginning of the school year."

Andy thought for a moment, and then understood why both of them looked so nervous. "Oh. Alright. So what are we going to do?"

"Nothing at the moment except try and stay calm," said Eric who had just come up from the basement. "The kids are asleep and the back door is locked. I made sure the bells were on the door so we'd know if it opened."

"Good. What are we going to do though. They know 'Nic' is somewhere around, and..." she started to say.

"Yes. And they will probably take a day or so to see if they flushed him out or if they will start hitting houses."

"Hitting houses...... like this one?" Andy asked.

"Yes. They obviously didn't get the information they wanted out of Jake, otherwise we'd have had visitors already," Eric said.

Kate tried not to let the panic rise to the surface. "Eric, do we need to get the kids out of here?"

"That would probably be a good idea, but we have to make it look like a normal thing, and not them fleeing. Otherwise we will attract the wrong kind of attention." 

Andy got a thoughtful look on his face. "Mom, it's the weekend. I could take the kids out to the farm Pat's working at in Levette. It wouldn't look out of place."

"He's right. It wouldn't look odd." She looked at Eric.

Eric thought for a moment. Kate swore she could see his braincells firing ninety miles an hour. "Yes. Andy, get things packed now and have everything ready to go. Don't call Pat until you are about half way there. I don't want any calls going out from here."

"Okay Eric. I understand. I'll get right on it. I'll wake up Jon and get his help as well." Andy started downstairs to get the kids clothes together.

"I am so glad that Zach and Anne are down at her mom's this week," Kate said.

"Me too. I'm glad Andy is so responsible and doesn't fluster easily." 

"I trained him right?" She tried to joke to ease some of the tension.

Eric smiled at her and took her in his arms. "Yes. You did a wonderful job with him. With all your boys." He hugged her more tightly to him. 

Kate looked up at Eric. "And what are we going to do?"

"Get ready. If it is who I think I smelled, we are going to be busy in the next few days. I am going to get the shotguns out of the closet and make sure they are operational."

"You think it will be that rough?"

"It might be. I'm also really glad that Zach and I taught you how to shoot. Even better that you are a good shot."

Kate gave an involuntary shudder. "I... I never really expected to have to shoot someone."

"Not a person. A wolf. Hopefully not me."

"Eric, I... Don't you think we aught to talk to James about this?" She didn't want to think about just how serious this might become.

"No. Not right now. By the time we got him comfortable with the idea that there are shifters, that the government uses shifters in military and non-military operations and that I'm one; it would be next week. It would be too late. No, we'd be better off calling the dog catcher and telling Ronny that there's been a stray dog hassling our dogs. Better off asking him to keep an eye out for strange dogs or coyotes than to call James." Eric brought the shotguns and rifles out of the one closet and placed them on the bed to inspect them.

Kate thought about Ronny. He made Jake look brilliant. Great with animals, and absolutely no social skills with people. He'd spend his entire paycheck buying food for the local stray population and forget to buy food for himself. Ronny had been one of the first people to come to the shelter and their first success at integrating a homeless person back into society. "You know, you might have been jesting, but I think that is a great idea. It's not too late to call Ronny at home. I'll be right back." She headed for the phone.

Eric had finished with the guns and was just coming back into the kitchen when Kate came back in with a smile on her face.

"All taken care of. I talked to Ronny and let him know we'd had some strange dogs hanging around and that Max, Luna and Gretchen were going nuts."

"What did he say to that?" 

"Said we weren't the only ones calling up. So, he'll keep an extra eye on the house first thing in the morning and just before he goes off duty at supper time."

"Great. I can see it now. Animal control officer defeats terrorists." Eric smiled halfheartedly. "Although, I'm glad you did call, I'm not sure he will be much help."

"Well, it doesn't hurt now does it?"

"No. Let's lock up and get some sleep. I don't expect them tonight, but tomorrow is wide open." He wrapped his arm around Kate's shoulder.

*Early the next morning, Andy and the kids left for Levette with a reluctant Jon in tow. Andy promised to let him drive his jeep once they were out at the farm. Kate and Eric waved them off from the back steps. 

"So far, so good. Nothing in the breeze." He smelled the air as they stepped back into the kitchen.

"Nothing in the pee-mail you mean." Kate managed a little smile. 

Eric shot her a look. "I didn't think you'd notice."

"Oh yeah. You walking around the yard sniffing the air. No one else might notice, but I did. So, what's on the agenda?"

"Well, You need to go to work." .

"Wait a minute. The 'bad guys' are due to show up and you want me to go to work?"

"Yes. Normal routine. The last thing you want to do is not act normal."

Kate thought about this for a moment and knew he was right. "Okay. So I go to work. What will you be doing?"

"Me... I'm going to be a good house mate and clean house. Do a little gardening work, fix the fence... watch the dogs, that kind of thing. Oh, and drive you to work, bring you lunch and pick you up." 

Kate gave him a look that the boys called the hairy eyeball. "So, you'll keep guard on the house and me, eh?"

"Yes."

"And take care of the bad guys, if they show up, all by yourself."

"Um... well... if necessary," Eric said, knowing he was caught.

"I don't like this."

"Kate, I don't like putting you or even that damned cat that pees on my shoes in danger. So, yes, I will do my best to guard you and keep you out of the way." Eric had a bit of a growl in his voice.

"Alright." She knew that she had lost the battle. "I"m still not used to being taken care of I guess." Between being a widow and the wife of a traveling man, Kate had gotten use to being in charge. Some of their biggest points of contention had been over Kate not dealing well with Eric's desires to be in charge, or at least help out. The boys joked that he'd have to take her clothes to keep her in bed when she was sick. They were very close to the truth. Lifting heavy objects, getting the car worked on or even taking out the trash were often bones of contention. Zach and Andy commiserated with Eric on more than one occasion over Kate's overt sense of independence. 

Eric smiled. He hugged her to him. "You'll get used to me being here and taking care of you some day," he whispered in her ear. 

"Yes. I guess I will. I love you." 

"Good. Now get ready for work." 

*

Eric dropped Kate off at the shelter. It was a beehive of activity. Suzanne was supervising from the doorway as trash and broken furniture was dumped into a skip in the parking lot.

Kate walked in and had the smell of cleaning fluids smack her in the nose. Being more sensitive to smells wasn't always a bonus. 

"Gads! What are they using Suzanne?" 

"Carpet cleaner and some sort of green gunk that is supposedly environmentally safe. Those idiots peed on the walls in your office," Suzanne said in disgust.

"We noticed that last night. I came down to see what was salvageable today. There was just too much broken glass and stuff in there last night."

"I had some of the cleaners put unbroken stuff in a box when they started in your office. There isn't much. Most of the paperwork is a loss as well. Wet, if you know what I mean."

"Yes. I do." Walking up close to Suzanne, she whispered in her ear.

"You did what?" Suzanne said softly.

"I have some of my files on a disk at home," Kate said again in a whisper.

Suzanne hugged her. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are a lifesaver."

"They'll stay hidden for a bit I think though." 

"I agree. We're officially shut down for two weeks, so no use letting them get lost again."

"Two weeks?"

"Yes. That is how long it will take to clean up, get furniture and a new computer as well as reloading that dratted software."

Kate nodded in understatement. "I guess I'll go see what the crew left of my office."

"Okay. Talk to you in a bit." Suzanne headed towards her own rather empty office.

*

The box of possessions that Kate had to go through was depressing. A few knick-knacks off of her desk, pens and desk clutter, the photo of Eric and the kids, and a few odds and ends. She was picking up the photo when she realized it was thicker than it should be. Turning it over, she found an envelope taped to the back. It was labeled Nic Olman.

Kate's blood felt like ice as she called the house. Eric answered on the fourth ring. 

"Eric, you need to come pick up my stuff from the office," she said, trying not to sound too odd on the phone.

"Stuff? What stuff Sweetie. Can't it wait till lunch?" He wondering what was going on.

"No, I think you'd best come get it now. They are really cleaning up my office and I don't want my pictures and stuff getting messy." She stressed the word pictures.

Eric caught the inference that something was wrong. "Okay Sweetie. I'll be down in a few to pick up your pictures and other things. Do you want me to bring your lunch?"

"No. It stinks so bad down here that I couldn't eat here. All the food would taste of cleaning fluids." 

"I'll be right there," Eric said and hung up the phone. He grabbed the car keys and made sure all the doors were locked. 

*

Five minutes later, Eric was being hugged by Kate in her office. He pulled back a bit, made sure no one was near, and then waited.

"Well?"

"Look." She handed him the picture of him and the kids. 

Eric flipped the picture over and saw the envelope. "Okay Kate, I think we can get this all in one box. If you'll grab the picture frame over there, we can make this just one trip. Does Suzanne know you are going to lunch now?"

"No, I'll tell her as we go out the door. There isn't much more I can do anyway until the cleaners get done. Plus, I haven't any real furniture." She turned, looking at her broken desk and chair. Even the file cabinet was dented beyond use. "I just don't understand some people. They ruin it for everyone."

"Yes they do. Now let's get going." He headed down the hall.

"Alright, let me tell Suzanne." Kate headed off to the other office while Eric headed for the car.

Kate joined Eric a few minutes later. "I have the rest of the day off. She has a headache from all the fumes and sees no reason for both of us to be sick."

"Good. I feel better with you here."

"I feel better being with you. At least I'm worrying only half as much." 

Eric nodded. "Lets go home and see what that note says. They have obviously figured out where I was, just not where I am. Yet."

"Yeah. That's what has me on edge. I want to know why they want you so much that they'd destroy my office twice. Or worse yet, why are they hunting shifters in the first place."

"That is something we may never know. The guys hunting us might not know. Need-to-know information protocol can be a real handicap at times." Eric finished just as they pulled up to the house. The local Animal Control truck was sitting next to Zach's car. Ronny was leaning up against it, obviously waiting for them.

"Hello Ronny," Kate said, not feeling as cheerful as she tried to sound.

"Hi Kate. I been lookin' round the yard and such. Luna and Gretchen barked at me, but I didn't hear Max. He okay?" Ronny said.

"Yes. He probably is asleep in the basement." 

"Oh. I just dinna' want ta pick him up on accident. Make sure he's got his collar on. Not like last time. Okay?" Ronny said, shuffling his feet a bit in the dirt.

"No problem Ronny. We'll make sure he has it on," said Eric, who was going a bit red around the neck and ears. 

A month or so back, Eric had been out hunting and came back down the street just in time to be captured by Ronny doing a net sweep in the alley. Luckily, Kate had been waiting for Eric and saw Ronny catch him. She'd had to go inside, find the collar with tags and bring it out. Kate had had to do the whole 'bad dog' routine while putting the collar on 'Max'. Worse yet, 'Max' had eaten something bad that night and chose that moment to hurl it back up. So, on top of the lecture about letting 'Max' out without a collar and or supervision, Kate got a lecture on letting dogs eat roadkill. It had been a poor morning all the way around.




Sheeple Ch. 05



"Well, I'll be stoppin' by in case those dogs show up. Or, jus call me on da radio," he said as he finally got back in his truck. 

"Will do Ronny. Thanks!" Eric and Kate said together.

*

Inside, Eric put the box in the dining room while Kate locked the back door and then started the kettle. They both needed a cup of tea.

"That was a close one. I am just glad he didn't want to see 'Max'." 

"I know. We'd better find that collar though. Thinking about it, it may be the only way to tell the good dog from the bad dogs if things go wrong." Eric dug the picture out of the box. Tearing off the envelope, he opened it up as he headed into the kitchen.

Kate looked up to see him intently reading an official looking bit of paper."What is it Eric?"

"It's a not too nice letter telling me to get my ass back to Virginia and the agency or else."

"What?"

"Apparently, the division I was in was reactivated. So this is sort of a recall letter." He handed her the letter.

Kate took it, and after getting over the oddness of seeing Nicholas Olman on it perused the rest of the letter. It was a rather formal demand of his presence. Not a total 'or else' type of missive. Not a warrant or subpoena. Just a really nasty way of getting someone's attention. "What are you going to do Eric?" 

"I'm going to call Mike and see what he knows about this. I have to admit that I don't think this is a sanctioned action." Eric moved to his desk in the den. 

"I didn't think you ever called Mike, only emailed him." 

"Well, I don't have time to wait. I'll call his pager and he will call me." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

Kate nodded and left the room to give him some space. Mike knew him from before the name change. Mike knew things about Eric that Kate never would know. Some days she wanted to keep it that way. After reading that letter, she really wanted to keep it that way.

*

Kate went back to finishing up the tea. She started on the dishes when the phone in the den rang. It seemed like an eternity before Eric came back into the kitchen. Eric picked up his tea and sipped at the lukewarm drink. 

"Well?"

"He said he'd get back to me."

"It took that long to say that?" 

"No, I had to explain a few things, and he gave me some information." 

"So, we wait?"

"Yes. I won't go back Kate. This isn't legal. Problem is that it is secret, so people can be manipulated. Bad guys don't play fair. I just have to see what I can do."

"I understand. Or, at least I think I do. Will you dry the dishes while we wait?"

"Not a problem." Eric started digging a dish towel out of the drawer.

*

They were almost done with the dishes when the den phone rang. Eric dropped the cloth on the dish drain and went for the phone. Kate sat down and waited. Eric was back faster than she expected. He sat down next to her and actually had a smile on his face.

"What are you smiling about?" 

"Well, Mike found out that these guys are on the agency's shit list. Some rogue general about ten years ago decided he didn't want to give up his little toys. His toys being the bad ass shifters that couldn't pass a psych evaluation with a cheat sheet."

"I take it you weren't one of these."

"No. I was not. In fact, I was already gone from the agency by that point."

"Okay, go on."

"Apparently, I am not the only one being hassled, nor hollering for someone to stop this bunch. In fact, there have been over fifty complaints in just the last month. They have subverted government agencies all over the place in their hunt for more shifters. Including your own oversight committee for shelters in this state."

"Oh, the software! Does that mean it's going to go away?"

"Could be. It was illegal. What will depend on it leaving is the state deciding if it is useful or not. In the meantime, it isn't important. What is is the fact that these guys are out there and the good guys are just now catching on to what's happening."

"So, the calvary has just left the fort and the wagons are circling against the Indians with no support in sight."

"That's about it. We are on our own for probably the next two or three days."

"Oh wonderful. Can't they just call the local police and let then in on it?"

"No, because of the same issues we discussed earlier when you suggested telling James."

"Damn."

"Plus, they don't know if the local cops are in the pay of the bad guys or not."

"That makes sense. However, if the news is rather glum, why were you smiling when you came back in?" she asked.

"Um, well... Mike did a check on you. If you think I'm anal about some things, you need to meet Mike. He had to make sure you weren't a bad guy, and came across a picture of you."

"Oh?" 

"He said you were damned cute and that I was one lucky dog." Eric had a smile breaking out across his face.

Kate just rolled her eyes. "I should have know. Only another computer geek could get sidetracked like that. And, make a bad joke in the process."

"Well, he's right. I am one lucky man." Eric stood to take Kate in his arms. Hugging her to him, he kissed her forehead, nose, then lips.

"Dog," Kate said in a whisper.

"Okay. One lucky dog," Eric acquiesced.

*

The phone rang a few more times over the course of the afternoon. Eric would take the call, and then come back and tell Kate of the developments. Most were minor. Some she swore was just the two of them playing with the novelty of actually talking on the phone to one another. The boys called as well. Everyone was having fun out on the farm. Pat's new girlfriend Tammy was busy feeding everyone. Pat, Jon and Andy were also taking turns with the rifle. They were taking potshots at any coyotes that showed their noses. So far the count was six rabbits and one coyote. Jamie was delighted that there would be rabbit for breakfast.

Kate laughed when Eric reported this to her over dinner. They were having left over stir fry from the night before. Kate had used ham in it and of course Jamie had glued the words together in her own special way and turned ham stir-fry into hamster fry.

After supper, Eric took the cayenne pepper and liberally sprinkled it on window frames and doorways. The smell of it burned Kate's nose, and the thought of what it would do to others sniffing it made her smile. They went to bed early and made sure Luna, Gretchen and all the cats were safely inside.

"Eric, is there any chance that they might just go away?"

"No, I don't think so. I figure that they will come. I just hope that it's just one or two and not a whole pack." He snugged close to her in the bed.

"A whole pack? You don't think..."

"No, I hope not. I'm hoping it is just the three jokers that trashed the shelter and delivered the note. They have to know where we are by now. I'm just not sure when they will come."

"You'll remember to grab the collar won't you?" she asked, looking at Max's collar on the night stand.

"Kate..."

"Eric! You know it is the only way anyone is going to be able to tell you from them."

"It will give them a handle."

"Not if you're careful. Besides... if Ronny catches four stray dogs, I'll have hell to pay to get you out of the kennel. And by then, it might be too late. If he throws all of you in the same pen, you're done for," Kate said rather heatedly.

Eric nodded. She was right. Damn it. "Okay. I'll put the collar on, but we have to tape down the tags. I can't have them jingling."

"Fine." Kate reached over and grabbed the collar and pulled out the medical tape she had in her nightstand. She taped the tags down quickly and handed the collar back to Eric. "There. Just don't forget it."

"I won't. Now we need to get some sleep."

"I love you Eric."

"I love you too Sweetie."



Sheeple Ch. 06



Things heat up a lot in this chapter. Plus you find out a little more about Kate. Please be sure to vote and comment! I love hearing from my readers.

Jaisen.





Sunday went quietly. The boys called to update Eric and Kate on rabbit and coyote hunts and to see if everything was still quiet. Eric checked the alarms he had set around the house and Kate tried to stay busy with what housework she could muster. After dinner, they sat down and watched a movie before finally heading to bed. Eric was getting antsy. He wasn't sure if waiting for the attack wasn't worse than actual battle. He knew it would be ugly, but felt he could handle that. He'd been in combat before. Kate was nervous and when they finally did go to bed, they snuggled close. Kate fell asleep first, while Eric swore he woke up at every tick of the clock. 

It was just after four in the morning when there was a clatter by the French doors. Eric had piled empty tin cans up on the inside out of sight of the windows.

"Eric," Kate whispered.

"I hear them." He was slowly getting out of bed.

"Be careful!"

Eric shot her a look that said of course he would.

"The collar!" she whispered.

Eric rolled his eyes, grabbed the collar and dropped it over his shoulders. He really didn't want to take the damned thing, but she had a point. If this did spill out into the street, she at least deserved the right body to bury if things went wrong.

He grabbed the handgun off the dresser as well. Opening the door slowly, he slid around the corner. Peering down the hall, he didn't see anything, although his nose told him that there were at least two of them in the house. Luna was beginning to woof and Gretchen was barking in that odd half choked noise she made. Eric moved farther down the hall. Andy's door was still closed and the paper was still stuck in the frame. No one had come in that way. 

He was almost to the kitchen when one of the cats came ripping around the corner all fuzzed out and hissing. Eric could hear other growls as Polo the big Siamese tomcat confronted whatever was in the dining room. Polo wasn't afraid of dogs, which in this instance might not be a good thing. Eric used the noise as cover to move into the kitchen. Near the stove was the pot rack, which gave him a chance to peek across the rest of the kitchen and into the dining room without being seen. He could see the wolves trying to decide whether to eat the small fuzzy grey cat or just smack it out of the way. Luna and Gretchen were starting to bark louder downstairs. The basement door reverberated with the sound. 

Eric knew he could shoot at least one wolf. Question was, could he hit the second one? Either way, he had to give it a chance. They were both still distracted by the myriad of cats in the room. He braced himself on the stove, aimed through the pot rack and squeezed off the first shot. He aimed and fired again before the retort of the first shot had finished ringing in his ears. Waiting a second, and not taking his eyes off of the wolves, he slowly moved forward. Neither wolf moved. From the vantage point of the doorway, he put two more bullets into the heads of the animals laying on the floor. 

*



Kate jumped when the first shots went off. She was out the door with the rifle in her hands at the second set. She moved down the hall like Eric had showed her, looking before stepping out. When she got to the kitchen, she could see the smoke from the gunshots still in the air.

"Eric?" she said softly.

"I'm in the dining room." 

Kate walked around the corner and saw the two dead wolves on the floor with Eric kneeling over them. Fluff, the grey cat was still hissing from the window frame.

"Is it over?" 

"No, I think there is still one more..." he stopped suddenly, realizing that Luna and Gretchen were no longer barking. They were whining. "Shit! Kate, get back to the bedroom fast." He was starting to move towards the basement door. 

Kate had almost made it back across the kitchen when the basement door splintered into a million pieces and the biggest wolf she'd ever seen appeared on the landing.

Eric was moving fast, and trying to shift. Kate was in the way, and he refused to fire. He didn't know if he would make it in time.

Kate saw the wolf head towards them and froze for a second. Realizing that she didn't have time to aim the rifle, she used it like a club. She brought it up in the path of the charging wolf. The rifle caught it across the bottom of the jaw and upper chest. The wolf spun to the right, taking it away from her and Eric. The impact was enough to jar the rifle out of her hands. The wolf moved back towards them, shaking it's head. Kate moved towards the hall door, moved through it and slammed it. She braced against it as the wolf hit it hard enough to rattle the teeth in her head. 

Eric had seen Kate club the wolf and was part of the weight that impacted the door as she slammed it shut. He was on top of the other wolf trying to bite it's neck. The two wolves, one with a dark blue collar, rolled and fought. There were breaking dishes, knocked down pans. The two wolves trashed the kitchen. 

Eric slipped in something sticky, and the other wolf broke the hold. It took that moment to run down the stairs and out the basement door which it had broken through earlier. Eric was in fast pursuit. The two started to fight again in the far corner of the back yard where Eric caught up to the other wolf just before it jumped the fence. The snarls and growls were causing lights to flip on in neighboring houses.

Kate had gotten to her feet and headed towards the bedroom to look out the window. She got there just in time to see Eric's tail sail over the fence in pursuit of the other wolf. 

Still shaking, she went to see if Luna and Gretchen were okay. Both were downstairs cowering in the corner of the laundry room. Luna had a cut on her muzzle and Gretchen had bites on her muzzle and front paws. Kate knew she could wait to treat these injuries. She gave them each a dog treat and then headed back upstairs.

*

Looking at the carcasses in the dining room made her head spin. Neither had shifted back into human form which made things easier. Eric said that they wouldn't, but she still hadn't been sure. Now to call the police and Ronny. 

Dialing the police had been the easy part. They were actually already on the way. The neighbors had reported the gun shots. James was at the back door before she had time to hang up the phone. He walked in and they met in the kitchen. Kate literally flew right into him. He gave her a quick hug, and asked her what happened. Kate lead him to the dining room and pointed at the dead animals on the floor.

"What the?...." he started to say and then turned back to Kate.

Kate by this time was trying to be calm, and yet not vomit. There was blood seeping everywhere as well as bits of brain on the floor.

"Kate, what happened? Where's Eric?" James said softly.

"They... they broke through the doors." She pointed to the remains of the French doors. "Er... Eric heard the noise and grabbed his gun. The cats were howling and hissing and the dogs were barking and..." She stopped, as another sheriff came in the dining room at this point. 

"Go check downstairs. Now," James told his deputy. He had seen the remains of the basement door, and wondered what on earth had come through that door if this was what was in the dining room.

"Then what happened Kate?" he said in a low voice as he moved her back towards the kitchen. 

"Eric shot the dogs. They were about to attack him. Then a man came through the basement door with another dog. The dog came for me and I hit it with my rifle. It moved away, and the man attacked Eric. Max ran through the door while I was trying to get out of the way. The door got slammed and then it got quiet. I could hear noise out in the back yard, and saw all of them going over the fence. Eric and Max chasing the man and the dog. Then I went to see where Gretchen and Luna were. When I came back upstairs, I called you."

"Sir, here's the gun that probably killed the two dogs in the dining room. It was under the edge of the kitchen counter," said a deputy who had been checking out the scene.

"Kate, why were the guns out? Did you expect something?" James asked.

"Well, you know the shelter got trashed. It made Eric nervous. So, we were going to go shooting today. He and Zach have been teaching me to shoot. The rifles were by the coat rack and his pistol. I think it was on his night stand. I... I don't remember." 

"Kate. I've called Ronny to come get the dogs. Now, what were the others wearing. I've got cops out looking for them."

"Um...... Max had his collar on. Eric, I think his sweats. I don't even think he managed shoes. The man was dark... dark clothing I think." She was shaking more now that the shock of what had happened was seeping in. 

"Where are the kids? Kate? Where are the kids and Andy? Zach?"

"They... they all went out to visit Pat yesterday. Zach's with Anne at her mom's house."

"Do you have a number to reach Zach? Kate, concentrate. Is there a number to call?" James said softly, realizing that Kate was a bit shocked. Hell, he'd be shook up by what had happened.

"Um..... 839-2948 I think is the number," she said at last.

"Okay, I'm going to call Zach for you. Andy is too far away if I'm remembering where the farm Pat works on is located. You need someone here while we find Max and Eric." He walked to the hall to use the phone.

*

Eric was glad he knew the local area so well. The other wolf was running blind, and that made Eric's life easier. He knew that there was a deep arroyo over the next hill, and that was right where they were headed. 

Patches of snow and ice made for uneven footing. The wolf missed his step and rolled down the steep sandy embankment. Eric slid down carefully and launched himself on top of the other wolf. The impact sent them both rolling. Teeth snapping, claws gouging, they rolled and fought in the sandy pitted bottom of the arroyo. The wolf closed its jaws on Eric's fore paw and bit down hard. Eric gasped and then bit down hard on the edge of the other wolf's jaw and ear. His bottom canine slid along the jawbone and his upper canine followed across the ear and then punctured the eye. The wolf howled in pain and let go of Eric's fore paw. He whipped up trying to break the hold. Eric held on and tightened his bite. The upper jaw bone began to crack with the pressure. The wolf started scratching at Eric's belly with his back legs. The pain of the rakes across his belly almost caused Eric to open his mouth. However, he realized that if he did, it would be his throat exposed. Grimly he held on.

*

Kate sat on a stool in the kitchen. Her house was over run with deputies, cops and suddenly Zach was standing in front of her.

"Mom! Are you okay? Where's Eric?" 

"I'm alright Eric and Max went after the others," she said softly. 

"Eric and Max?" Zach said, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Yes. They went over the fence chasing the others." She was hoping that he would understand and that no one else would. In more than one discussion, she and Eric hadn't figured out how to have Eric and Max in the same room. She wasn't sure she could think right now anyway. Zach might be their only chance of working this out. He and Eric might think of a way. Meanwhile, she was scared to even think about what was happening with Eric.

Zach gave his mom a hug. "I'll go looking for them now. I know where Max usually runs. I'll find them." He went looking for the sheriff. Anne had finally gotten in the kitchen and was hugging Kate as Zach went out.

*



"James, has there been any sign of Eric or Max?" Zach asked.

"No. Two dogs were seen running across the school play ground, and that might have been them, but no men." 

"I'm going to go looking. Mom is all kinds of upset, and I can't just sit here."

"Alright. You might have better luck than us anyway. Luna bit one of my deputies earlier and he's known her since she was a pup. Who knows how Max would react. You've only had him a couple of years isn't it?"

"Yeah, he came to us about a year ago. Great dog, but a little wild at times."

"Do you want some help?"

"No. I've got my cell phone and will call if there's a problem." 

"Okay. Good luck Zach." James watched Zach lope out the door in sweats and a teeshirt. He was shaking his head at these boys that ran around in cold weather and no coats. His own son was the same way.



Zach hopped into Anne's little ford and headed out to highway 39. He had an idea of where Eric might have headed, but wasn't sure. About two miles down the road was a huge arroyo. He parked the car off on the shoulder and started looking for tracks. He headed south for about fifteen minutes and found no sign. Turning around, he headed back the way he came and up the arroyo.

*

Eric was getting tired. The other wolf was still trying to stop him from closing his jaws. Back paws scrabbling as they could and raking Eric when they made contact. Eric was doing his best to put his own front paws on the throat when they both rolled. Eric's hold broke and the other wolf scrabbled up to attempt an attack. One eye socket was a bloody hole and the jaw on that side didn't work right. Eric had broken it. 

The wolf charged and impacted on Eric's right shoulder. Teeth scraped across fur and the wolf had his foreleg. Eric tried to bite down on the exposed neck and shoulders when the wolf changed tactics and went for Eric's own throat. Eric felt the teeth start to tighten on his throat and scrabbled his own back legs hard against the chest of the other wolf. He got a paw in the way of the other wolf's jaws and pushed as hard as he could.

*



Zach could hear the fight before he saw them. Blood was everywhere on the sand. He hoped that there was only the two of them. Zach had the baseball bat from the car as he hadn't dared grab one of the rifles. He approached the wolves at a run, not knowing which was which.

*

The wolf had gotten his teeth caught in the collar Eric was wearing. It had stopped the wolf from crushing Eric's windpipe. It gave Eric an advantage and he moved back from the jaws as best he could, shoving with his feet and trying to bite all at the same time.

Zach was close enough at this point to strike one of the wolves, but wasn't sure which one was Eric. Then he saw the glint of blue in the dark fur of one wolf. 

Eric! Zach swung the bat at the hind quarters of the other wolf. The impact rocked him back and sent the wolf flying. 

Eric looked up, saw a human shape in silhouette. He realized that the human had attacked the other wolf who was whimpering and dragging his hind leg. Eric turned to the other wolf and dived for it's throat. They struggled, but this time the other wolf couldn't use his hind legs to shove Eric away. Eric rolled his shoulders and let his weight help shred the flesh between his jaws. The other wolf struggled and then died as Eric bit through the throat, ripping the jugular and tearing the windpipe. He spat out the bloody mouthful of fur and then collapsed next to the body. He watched the human come towards him, and wondered if the human would kill him next.

*

Zach approached the wolf quietly. He put down the bat and held out his hand and spoke softly. "Eric... it's me. Zach. Come on Eric. It's Zach. Come on." 

The wolf rolled his head, trying to make sense of the human. He raised his head and sniffed. The human smelled familiar. He tried to stand up and almost made it. He fell over again and the human was there cradling his head. Licking the hand, he tasted someone he remembered. Zach. This was Zach. Oh gods he hurt. 

*



Zach held the wolf's head in his lap. There were bites, blood and gouges all over the place. With his other hand, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed the number James had given him.

"Hey James. This is Zach. I found Max and the other wolf. No sign of Eric or anyone else. Max is hurt. Yeah, I'm gonna stay here until you show up. Highway 39 about two miles out there is that big arroyo. You'll see Anne's car. Take the north side and I'm about a mile up. You'll see the blood long before you see me. No, it isn't mine. Max and the other wolf fought it out. Yeah. See ya soon."

Zach then dialed another number. "Hey Dr. Fremont, this is Zach. Max got hurt. Can I bring him down to you? Sure. Be there in an hour or so." Zach put the phone back in his pocket and started talking to Eric again.

"Hey Eric. Can you hear me?"

The wolf didn't respond. 

Zach shook his paws a bit. "Eric, if you understand me, wag your tail. Come on. The police are coming, and I got to get you to Dr. Fremont. Come on. Wag your tail dammit!"

The wolf tried to understand Zach. He understood 'wag your tail' and did as best he could. He just wanted to go to sleep.

Zach kept shaking Eric. "Come on! You have to be Max. Remember Max? You're Max. Wag your tail for me." 

The wolf tried and this time his tail wagged enough that Zach hugged him. The wolf yelped. 

"Sorry Max. Didn't mean to hurt you. Gods, Mom'd kill me if you die." 

The wolf perked up at what the human said that time. Mom.... that was the smell on the human's clothes. His mate. The wolf remembered his mate and wagged his tail.

"Good Max! Hang on Max!" 

*



The highway at mile marker 2 became a parking lot of emergency vehicles. Lights flashing and men moving to direct whatever traffic might head down the road as well as starting to move out in search patterns. Ronny and James were running down the arroyo Zach had mentioned on the phone. The blood on the ground lead them to where Zach sat with Max in his arms. Ronny reached the two first. 

"Damn!" was all Ronny could say. He looked at Max and then at the wolf. "Damn!"

"Hey Ronny, we gotta get Max to Dr. Fremont," Zach said, trying to stand up. The wolf whined. Zach put Max down so that he could stand up. 

"Yeah, sure. I'll help you carry him," Ronny said and took off his coat to help make a sling to carry Max. 

James was looking at the dead wolf. "That is one mess of a dog. Hope Max will be okay."

"So do I James. Have they found Eric yet?" Zach asked, desperately trying to think of how they'd get Eric/Max home safe. 

"No. Your mom is some kinda worried. Get Max to the vet and then come help. We're going to extend the search up and down this arroyo in case they came the same way as these two dogs."

"Sounds good. Gotta run. I'll call your cell." Zach and Ronny moved as fast as they could towards Anne's car.

*

Fifteen minutes later, Max was safely in the back of the car and Zach was heading down the highway to Dr. Fremont's. Ronny was going back to get the wolf. 

Zach was churning thoughts in his head as fast as he was driving, trying to figure out how to deal with Eric. Dr. Fremont knew Eric was a shifter. Being a family friend, he'd helped them out of a problem or two before. Never had anything this serious though. Nothing like this. He was in town before he had much time to think. Zach maneuvered through the streets on the hill and up to the vet clinic. 

Art Fremont was waiting at the back door of the clinic with a rolling cart. He knew how big Max was from previous visits. "What the hell happened?" 

"He was in a fight with another shifter. The other one died, and I'm not sure how much of Eric is still in there." Zach voice was filled with worry as the moved Eric to the clinic treatment room.

"What a mess! I hope that this isn't all his blood," Art said, grabbing supplies.

"No, I don't think so. Should we get him to shift back? Would that help?" 

"I... I don't know. It might. Bigger question. What the hell happened, and will we have to make Eric appear any time soon? Or Max?" 




Sheeple Ch. 06



"Umm... We gotta get Eric somewhere where he can be found. Max," he thought for a moment. "Max could stay here. You've got him in quarantine to makes sure he's okay or something. No visitors." Zach watched as Art was cleaning Max up a bit.

"We need to get some fluids in Max, or should I say Eric?" 

"I don't think it matters. What are you going to do? I'm not sure an IV would work." Zach had a year's training as an EMT, so had some idea of the frustration Art was going through trying to treat Eric.

Art shook his head. He didn't know enough of Eric's physical nature to do more than guess. He looked around, grabbed a syringe, needle and bottle of saline. He filled the needle and stood over the table, trying to decide. 

"Oh to hell with it. Either way, it's going to hurt. Either way it will help." Art grabbed Max's fur between his shoulders and injected saline. He almost had the syringe and needle clear of the fur when Eric growled and torqued off of the table in reaction to the fluid in his body. Blood, bits of sponge and fur went everywhere. Zach and Art backed up, not knowing if Eric would remember that they were friends and not foes.

"Zach, call to him," Art suggested in a whisper.

"Eric! It's me, Zach. We need you to come back to us. You gotta shift." Zach hoped he could be heard over the growls.

The wolf growled and then looked at the human talking. He'd almost been asleep when the cold fluid entered his body. They'd woke him up. Hurt him. This wasn't right. He gathered his wobbly hind legs under him and launched himself at the human that was making noises at him. 

Zach saw Eric leap at him, and put his hand up in reflex over his face. The impact of the wolf knocked him back against a counter. Objects went scattering across it and onto the floor. He felt the teeth close over his arm and realized that he had only seconds to get through to Eric before he too was injured. He grabbed the ear closest too him, twisted it and shouted.

"Eric! It's Zach! Stop it!" He shouted as loud as he could. Zach swore he saw the big yellow eyes blink and start to turn brown.

*



The wolf suddenly remembered who he was. Who the human he was biting was. A shudder ran though him. The pain of the injuries was secondary to the shifting on the fly that he was doing for the second time that day. He dropped the arm in his mouth and tried to get to the floor before he totally lost control. A second shudder ran through his entire body. The world around him swirled, went dark and then there was cold hard floor under his back. 



*

It was hard to tell who was more confused or embarrassed. Art was still backed up against the counter, breathing hard and trying to take in what he had just witnessed. His brain was whirling ninety miles an hour, and the one thought that actually surfaced was that there was no way he could ever explain this to his fellow veterinarians.

Eric was on the floor dealing with the final bits of shifting back into human form. His entire body was bloody, bruised and ached. He was nude on a cold hard floor with no way to move at the moment. His arms and legs were still not his own.

Zach was dealing with the adrenalin rush of having Eric attack him and then watching him shift for the first time. He was cradling his bleeding forearm and was the first to actually move. Grabbing a towel, he wrapped his arm and then bent down to the semi-conscious form on the floor. Pulling off his teeshirt, he dropped it over Eric's lap.

"Tttthannks..." Eric stuttered. "I thh..in..k."

"Oh Gods Eric! I'm so sorry," Zach started. 

"Ddddon't... Jus.. just gggett mee off thisss fflooor. Colddd." He shivered as he spoke.

Art and Zach suddenly unfroze and started to help Eric up off the floor and back onto the exam table he had so recently fallen off. Art had the presence of mind to throw a towel on top of the table before Eric sat down. 

There were bruises everywhere, and a lump of fluid from where Art had injected the saline. Blood splashed his skin. The cuts and scrapes were almost too many to count. Art grabbed a wool blanket from a bedding box and wrapped Eric in it to help him warm up. 

Zach in the mean time went out to Anne's car. He was so glad that they had thrown their bags in the car when the sheriff called. He grabbed out his jeans, a clean shirt, boots and socks. He had a plan forming in his head, and he hoped that Eric would be coherent enough to make it work. 

Coming back in, he found a corner to change clothes. Taking off his sweats, he set them aside. Eric would need those, as well as the shoes he was wearing. Zach was really glad that he and Eric wore nearly the same size clothing. After he got dressed, he came over to where Art and Eric were. 

"Eric, are you going to be able to hold on for a bit?" Zach asked, breaking into a conversation between Eric and Art.

"Hold on for what?" Eric was still confused and out of sync.

"We have to get you back over towards the house so that you can wander into town and be found. I can't just take you home. I can't find you. I need to be with James and the search party, or at least at home with Mom." 

"Oh god! Kate! Is she okay?" Eric said, coming almost up off of the table in panic.

Zach grabbed him by the shoulders which made him wince. "Yes, Mom is okay. I don't even think she has a scratch. However, we have to get you back with some plausible story."

Art nodded as he helped Eric sit back down on the table. "It's true. I can hold 'Max' in quarantine for a bit. No one will need to see him. Especially as he was bit by an unknown dog. Oh, plus, he bit you Zach." Art pointed to Zach's bleeding forearm. 

Eric went red in the face. "Zach, I'm so sorry." 

"It's okay. Really. But if I have to get rabies shots because of you, then you'll have something to apologize for." Eric was trying to bring a bit of humor to the room.

Eric laughed as best he could with sore ribs, shoulders, everything. "At least I didn't bite the vet," he said trying not to laugh too hard. "And, I'm up on my shots!" he reached up and shook the remains of the collar still around his neck.

Art even started to laugh at this point. "Yeah, but you made a mess of the treatment room. No dog biscuit for you."

Eric stuck his rather swollen bottom lip out as far as he could. "But I like them."

Art did a double take, then started to laugh. Seeing the faces of the two men, he faltered for a moment. "No, not really?"

"Yeah, we both do Art." Zach reached into the bowl by the door and grabbing a few. He handed one to Eric and then took a big bite of his. 

Art just shook his head. "No one, ab-so-lute-ly no one, is ever going to believe me." 

Eric and Zach just smiled. "We believe you," they said together.

*



Zach explained his plan to Art and Eric. Zach used his knife on the sweats to cut them to match were Eric had gouges from the fight. Eric then put them on and dropped the teeshirt into the trash. It was too recognizable as Zach's for him to wear. 

"So, I'll drop you off on the frontage road as I head back to where James is searching for you. You walk to the big truck stop and fall down, call Mom, whatever. You look like shit as it is, and no one is going to make you talk or anything.

"I think this will work, but what about my feet?" asked Eric as he tightened the drawstring on the sweats. They covered enough of him and yet showed off the marks of the fight. 

Zach held up his bloody, scuffed and muddy sneakers. "You'll wear my shoes. With no socks, you'd have probably gotten as much cactus as you already have in your feet. Plus, they are dirty as all get out. So, who's going to notice? What they will see is your face and that mess of scratches on your chest."

"That's for sure. Oh. You better keep this," Eric said as he handed the collar to Art. "Dammit, Kate was right about that darn thing. I didn't want to wear it this morning when everything started happening, but it saved my life in more than one way." 

Art was looking at the state of the collar and Eric's throat. "Yes, that was a close thing. If it hadn't been for this, you might be a dead wolf."

"Or, if I hadn't known which wolf to hit with the bat, things could have been a lot worse," Zach said.

"Yeah. Oh yeah. That guy was someone I knew. A real psycho. A killing machine is too nice a title for what he was. He is dead isn't he?" Eric asked, suddenly doubting his memories.

"Yes. You ripped his throat out. It's his blood that was all over you."

"Good. We'd better get going. I'm feeling dizzy again." Eric swayed slightly.

*

Art helped Eric get into Anne's car and said his goodbyes. They'd planned to bring 'Max' home in a week or so. In the meantime, they needed to get Eric out of here.

Zach peeled out of the parking lot and then thought better of speeding. He slowed down a bit and then hit the highway north. He kept an eye on Eric who was beginning to fade. Still bleeding from half a dozen cuts and scratches, he looked horrid. Art had bandaged up Zach's bite. However, they couldn't even clean Eric up for fear of the paramedics catching something odd about Eric's appearance. The puncture from the IV looked like just another bite mark. 

Zach passed town by sticking to the interstate. At the one exit, there was a tunnel underpass for the frontage road. This is where Zach was headed. This way, he could drop Eric off unseen, and then head down the frontage road to find James.

Zach got his cell phone out and dialed James' number just as he took the exit.

"Hey James, it's Zach. Have you found Eric yet? No? Damn. Where are you? Alright. Be there in a few minutes. I'm up on the frontage road. Figured I'd give it a look on the way back from the vet. Yeah, Max will be fine. Just needs to stay in isolation for a while. Routine. Yeah. Uhuh. See you in about ten minutes. Bye," he finished and clicked off the phone. 

Eric rolled his eyes at Zach. "I hope this works."He got out of the car in the cool of the tunnel. I'll wait until you are gone a few minutes and then head across the fields." 

"It will. If nothing else, I'll head them your way." Zach headed off to meet James.

*

Eric waited until Zach had been gone nearly ten minutes. There was no traffic noise above and so he headed out of the tunnel. Crossing into the open fields, took more concentration than he thought. He didn't want to be seen yet. Walking was difficult, but he didn't dare shift. 

He fell into the stock pond. Luckily for him, it was dry. However, the cactus was a bitch. Picking bits out of his hand, he continued walking. The dirt and bits of plant that stuck to him helped the way he looked in ways neither Zach or he had thought about. He really looked as if he'd been running after two fighting dogs as well as fought with them.

Twenty minutes later, he could see the truck stop and hotel complex outside of town. Eric veered towards the truck stop. He'd almost made it into the store when a woman screamed. It startled the hell out of him. Clenching his fist, he willed himself to walk in. Standing at the counter he started to ask for the phone.

"Oh my god mister! Just sit down! What happened?" the counter clerk was asking questions in rapid succession.

"I need to call home," Eric said through swollen and dry lips.

"I've called the police," another clerk hollered. 

The first clerk had come round the counter with a stool and was trying to get Eric to sit down.

"Phone. I want to call Kate," Eric said again. He and Zach had decided on the least information approach when he was found.

"Here. Call her on my cell phone," a lady in line said, handing him a slim phone.

Eric nodded and started to dial. He had trouble getting his fingers to work, so it seemed forever before he hit the send button. It rang once and was answered by a male voice.

"Kate? It's Eric..." was as far as he got before the voice changed. Kate was on the other end, crying and happy all at the same time. "Y...yes. I'm okay," he said slowly. "I'm at the truck stop. Come take me home," he said, and then hung up the phone as Kate had answered him and slammed the phone down at the other end.

*

Out in the fields near the arroyo, two phones rang almost at the same time. James and Zach answered their phones. Both smiled, turned to the other and said, "He's safe!". Both men ran towards the vehicles as fast as cactus and barbed wire fences would allow.

*

Eric returned the phone to the lady with his thanks. A bottle of water was put in his hand next, and he was slowly drinking from it as police cars, an ambulance and a beat up white Subaru pulled into the truck stop with all disregard to speed.

Kate shoved past the cops and people standing around in the store. "Eric!" she hollered, and saw a dirty hand raise up from the people hovering. Pushing through them, she grabbed him and hugged him tight.

"K,..k..kate, not so hard," he gasped.

"Oh... oh.... I'm so sorry. Just so glad to see you. I though," she was rambling.

"Shush Sweetie. I'm okay. Just a little sore." He was holding her as close as he dared.

"Could you people please step aside?" came a voice from the back of the crowd. It was the paramedics. Some people moved. The counter clerks went back to their posts and two paramedics started checking Eric over. Kate was reluctant to let go of him, and held his hand. 

James and Zach walked in a few seconds later. They came up and stood behind Kate. 

"Mom," was as far as Zach got before Kate dropped Eric's hand and turned into Zach's arms. He hugged her tight, realizing that she was trying very hard not to cry. Her chest was heaving and he could have sworn her heart was fluttering. "Hey Mom, Calm down. He's going to be fine. Really." He brought her face up to his and met her eyes. He winked once.

Kate caught the wink. "Really?"

"Yes. And Max is at the vets. Dr. Fremont is taking care of him,"

Kate took this information in and then noticed Zach's arm. "Oh Zach, what happened?"

"Max bit me when the vet tried to give him a shot. I'll be alright, but it also means that Max gets to stay at the vet's a little while longer." He winked at his mother again.

Kate nodded and then turned back to Eric who was being treated by the paramedic.

"Ma'am, he really aught to go up to the hospital. Says he won't go without you. Can you help us?"

"Of course." Turning to Eric, she took his hand again. "Eric, they need to take you up to the emergency room and check you out. I'll go with you. Okay?"

"Uhuh, just stay with me," he said softly. She nodded and the paramedics started getting him in the ambulance.



*

Forty-five minutes later, Eric's wounds were dressed and he was fighting the idea of being admitted to hospital. Kate understood why. He was fighting the urge to go into healing trance. He didn't need to accidentally turn fuzzy in their nice white hospital beds.

"Look Nurse Hale, he doesn't want to stay. He's promised to go see our doctor in the morning if he feels worse. We've all had a rough day and we don't want to be separated. So, unless you are ready to have Eric, myself, Zach and his girlfriend, two dogs and eight cats in your hospital, please let us go home. You said his blood pressure, temperature, and breathing were all fine. If anything happens, we will come straight back."

Nurse Hale rolled her eyes. Some people. "Fine. I'll go talk to the doctor. She isn't gonna be happy."

"Too bad," said Zach.

The nurse whipped her head back around, saw who spoke and then hurried down the hall.

"Gee, what kind of history do you two have?" Kate asked.

"I aced her IV class in college in two hours. Plus, I wouldn't ask her out." Zach laughed.

"Oh."

*

Fifteen minutes later, Eric and Kate were getting into her Subaru while Zach and Anne followed in her car. James followed them home. He wanted to make sure everything was okay.

The house still looked like a holiday display with cop cars, lights, crime scene tape and tons of people still milling about. One of the cops was trying to lure Fluff out of a tree where she was enjoying the attention. Kate parked the Subaru and helped Eric out of the car. Going up the steps was no easy job. Eric was sweating by the time he got in the back door. 

Cries of joy from Luna and Gretchen echoed through the house as they smelled Eric and Kate. "Shut up! Settle down!" Kate was trying to get past them and all the way in the door. 

Eric shushed them and they finally settled down when they smelled and licked his hand. He could see that the remains of the basement door had been removed. Walking into the kitchen and looking out towards the dining room, he could see that clean up had been going on there too. Now all he really wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep.

James was coming back into the kitchen and saw that Eric was getting paler. "Give me your arm Eric. Let's get you to bed. I still think you should have stayed in the hospital, but I understand." He helped Eric down the hall. Kate started to follow them and got sidetracked by a deputy.

Eric pointed the way, and James nodded. Eric turned on the light to find Polo, and three of the other cats on the bed. "Shoo! Get off the bed." Eric watched the cats ignore him.

James laughed behind him and then after letting go, moved the cats off the bed. "There. You better move fast, otherwise they'll be back."

"Isn't that the truth. Thanks for all you've done today. I don't know what we would have done without you."

"Hell, I'm not sure you needed us at all. Those were some great shots you took on the dogs in the dining room. Ex-military?" 

"Yes. Just between you and me, special ops," Eric said quietly. "I don't even talk to Kate about it much." 

"I understand. Makes a lot of sense with that information. Thanks for sharing. Now, get some rest. We'll talk later." James headed out the door. Kate was just getting to the door. "You get some rest too, lady." 

"I will James. I intend to snuggle with Eric and once that door is closed, not come out till we are both rested."

"Sounds good to me. Have that boy of yours bring you some breakfast."

"Oh, I will."

*

James walked out into the dining room. He kept looking at the room, trying to figure out what it was he had missed. There was something niggling at his brain. Looking at the floor, he noticed a red powder. Touching a finger to it, he brought a bit up to his nose. A sharp scent told him it was chile powder of some sort. More puzzles. No answers. Straightening up, he saw the tin cans that had rolled under the side board and the table. He thought about them and the chile powder a moment. Walking around the house, he noticed chile powder on other doorways and a few windows. He also noticed bells set to ring. Leaning against the kitchen door, looking at the gaping hole where the basement door had been, it came to him. They'd been expecting trouble. Trouble on four legs no less. James shook his head and called to his deputy. As the man walked over, James thought about the fact that he and Eric were going to have a long talk once Eric was all healed up.

*

Kate slipped into a teeshirt that hung nearly to her knees and then crawled into bed with Eric. Under his teeshirt, he was bandaged and covered in antibiotic creme. His face was bruised and scratched. The gash on his neck and the bite on the forearm were the worst. Those had required stitches. She pulled him next to her and he curled into her arms. Each breathed a sigh of relief to be by themselves at last. 

"Oh Eric, when I saw you go over the back fence, I though I'd lost you," she said softly.

"No, Sweetie. I told you that I want to be here when we are both old. I didn't want to die today either."

"It nearly came to that from what Zach and Ronny said."

"Oh?"

"Yes. They both saw the other wolf. Or what was left of him."




Sheeple Ch. 06



"Well, I'm alive and he isn't. Hopefully this will be the end of all of this."

"I hope so. I love you so much." She held him as gently as possible.

"I love you too," he said sleepily.





Zach went into check on them after most of the people had left. There was still a cop in the driveway, but otherwise it was quiet. He opened the door slowly when no one responded to his knock. There they were, curled up almost nose to tail the two of them. A blue glow covered them both. Zach smiled and closed the door.



*

Kate woke up not knowing what time it was. The curtains were drawn and it was dark. She stretched, feeling every muscle in her body pulling as she moved. How long has she slept? She was so stiff. Looking at the nightstand, she realized that someone had unplugged the clock. There was no glow of digital numbers. Kate fumbled for the lamp cord and turned it on. The light was so bright in comparison, that she thought of Eric and Zach's jokes about photons and phasers. She sat down on the bed, rubbing her eyes and trying to adjust to the brightness. She wondered where her nightshirt had gone.

Looking over to the other side of the bed, Kate saw that Eric was still in wolf form. The bandages were hanging from him in tatters. She also noticed that someone had put a water dish as well as a water bottle by the side of the bed. The water bowl was nearly empty.

"Oh gads!"

The wolf blinked yellow eyes at her and sniffed the air trying to figure out what had alarmed his mate. Not sensing any danger, he started to go back to sleep.

"Eric, come on. Time to come back. I don't know about you, but I need the bathroom." Looking around for a teeshirt or sarong, she didn't see anything. Standing up, she pulled open a drawer and found a teeshirt and sweat pants. She also grabbed a pair of sleep pants for Eric and tossed them on the bed.

"Hey you! Let's get up." She started moving towards the door. Soon after Eric had moved in, all the door knobs had been replaced with handles. This made it easier for paws to open the doors. As Kate reached for the handle, she realized that it was open. She speculated on whether or not they'd been out prior to her waking up this time. She didn't remember.

Kate opened the door all the way and was almost out the door when the wolf brushed past her. He was checking out the hall, sniffing to see what was out there. Kate just rolled her eyes. He was still sniffing about when she came out of the bathroom.

"Eric, it's time for two legs." By this time they had reached the kitchen. The clock on the stove read 2:34. It was the middle of the night. Bigger question was which night? How much time had passed since they came home from the hospital?

The wolf had reached the back door and pawed the handle open. He was out the door before Kate could stop him. He was down the stairs and into the back yard before she even made it out the door. The stairs were cold on her bare feet. 

"Eric! Get in here!" She called out as loudly as she dared. Looking around she didn't see any police cars. She went down the steps until she was on the back walk. Eric was examining the back fence perimeter. He peed on the corner fence posts as well. Kate just shook her head. 

"I'm going inside Eric. No dog treats for you." She turned to go up the steps. She hadn't gone far before the wolf breezed past her and sat at the top of the stairs.

"Well, the least you could do is open the door for me. I'm freezing." 

The wolf cocked his head and then pawed the handle of the door open. They went inside.

*

Zach was standing in the kitchen half awake. He looked at the wolf wagging it's tail and his mom standing next to the door. "I wondered who was up." 

"Just us. Eric here had to go check the boundaries and add to the pee mail. I don't understand why though. Especially with 'Max' in quarantine."

The wolf stopped wagging his tail. Zach looked down at him. "You know, if I were you, I'd get shifted back fast. I think she's peeved."

The wolf looked at both of them and headed down the hall. Zach smiled. "You know Mom, I think that's the closest I've ever seen to you two having a disagreement."

"It isn't even that. I'm just tired, stiff and don't even know what day it is. I've tried to get him to shift, and instead I got the trip outside," She tried to stifle a yawn.

"Well, it's been about thirty hours since you got home from the hospital. It isn't the first time you've been up either. At least one of you has done the pee mail thing since you've been home."

"What?"

"That's right," said Eric as he came back through the door dressed in the sleep pants she had tossed on the bed. His scratches and other injuries were well on the way to being healed. The bruises were even beginning to turn from deep blues and purples to greens and yellows in some places. His neck still looked the worst.

Kate looked from Zach to Eric and back to Zach. Puzzled by the two of them, she grabbed a stool and sat down. "Are you trying to tell me that either Eric or I checked the fence line prior to just now?"

"Yes," Eric and Zach said at the same time.

"Oh come on! I think I'd know if I walked down the hall before now." 

"Umm.... Kate, are you sure?" Eric asked.

Zach just smiled. "You know Mom, you've got really nice gray fur with some white highlights."

"Zach! You're just saying this to tease me. Right?" Alarm tinged her voice.

Eric walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "He's right Sweetie. You look really nice in fur." 

Kate thumped her forehead with the palm of her hand. Leaning her head into Eric's chest, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Mom, when I went to check on you two after you first came home, there were two wolves in the bed. You were curled up nose to tail." 

Kate looked at him, and a memory suddenly played across her thoughts. "Oh. Ooh my, oh gods... I thought that was just a dream!"

"No Sweetie, it wasn't. I woke up a time or two and you were just as sweetly furry as I was. Oh, and it was me that checked the yard. I can still smell all the strangers and it's hard to rest. I can detect so much more in wolf form than I can human. So, I didn't shift back at first when we woke a bit ago. Sorry if I annoyed you." His breath softly caressed the top of her head and then he kissed her hair. Kate was still trying to take this all in and just turned to hug Eric. He held her close while she sat quietly. 

"Zach, how about a cup of tea?" 

"That sounds like a good idea. You know Mom, you're taking this a lot calmer than I thought you would."

Kate looked over at Zach who was filling the kettle. She thought about what he said. "Yeah, I guess I am. There is more disbelief than panic I guess. It's just that I don't remember turning furry. I don't know if I'd know how to do it consciously. Or turn back for that matter."

"Kate, many of us never do. It's why life can be so hard for some of us. Control is a big issue. It was part of the reason I have been concerned about you and Zach as well." Eric was looking from one to the other.

Kate remembered the conversations that they had about this. She stood up and went to get the cups. Thoughts were flying ninety miles an hour through her brain and she was trying to make some sense of any piece of it. "So, not only did you awaken the latent shifter in both of us, but now at least I have totally shifted? And I don't remember it?" Kate sat the cups on the table and tossed teabags in each cup.

"Yes. You may also never shift again, or get better at it. I don't know. Like we discussed, this is new territory for me. I would guess that the stress of what went on pushed you over the barrier that has kept you more human than wolf all these years. It could also have been part of the healing trance."

"Oh yeah Mom. You two were covered in the deepest blue haze I've ever seen. It was darker than that time Pat crashed his bike and cracked his head." 

Kate remembered that particular trip to the hospital. Pat had a head on crash with a car and flipped over his handlebars on to the pavement. Even the nurses at the hospital had noticed the energy field.

"It also isn't the first time you two have had that kind of haze over you," Zach added.

Kate looked at Eric and recognized that he had been doing a great deal of healing. That took energy. Looking within herself she realized that she too had done some healing. Lots of it. She had also helped Eric. "Oh gods," she said, trying to take it all in.

Eric wrapped his arms around her again. "It's okay Sweetie. I've already promised to share my dog treats. We'll even get you a nice purple collar if you want. Complete with tags." He was trying to make her laugh.

Kate looked at him and then started laughing. They were still laughing as a very sleepy Anne walked into the kitchen to see what the noise was all about.



Sheeple Ch. 07



Sheriffs, sheeple, skunks, sneaky bastard bad guys, and some vaguely familiar places in this chapter. Before you ask, no this is not the same Bed and Breakfast from MTJAFT. It's about an hour south on the map in my head. I'm working on editing MTJAFT for publishing. Yes, Wolf and others finally convinced me I should. I'll let you know when it is ready. 

I hope you enjoy this latest chapter. As always, please vote and comment!

Jaisen

*

"Breakfast is ready," said Anne as she went to get plates out of the cupboard. The phone rang and Eric went to answer it. He talked quietly for a few moments and then hung up the phone. He walked back to the kitchen where Kate and the rest were having breakfast.

"I've got two weeks vacation. With pay no less." He was still trying to wrap his brain around the conversation he just had. Apparently, the ER staff had talked to his boss about his injuries. She had almost demanded he take the time off. The pay was icing on the cake that he just couldn't turn down.

"That's great Eric. It'll give us time to straighten up around here and get 'Max' home," Zach said.

"Getting 'Max' home might not be as easy as you think Zach," said Kate. Eric nodded in agreement.

"Why? I just take off with Eric under a blanket or something and come back with Max. Then later Eric can show up."

"I don't know. I'm afraid that the cops or at least James will want to talk to us and see Max all at the same time. That could be really difficult." Eric was thinking of James' face the night he came home. He knew he was going to end up explaining things to James, and was not sure where to start.

"Eric, maybe you and I aught to go out of town for a few days. That way Max can come home and we just won't be available. I've got nearly two weeks off as well. The shelter isn't going to open before the end of the month."

"That may be a good idea. I'm still not sure what to do about Max though. He's gotten rather well known," Eric said.

"There is that," said Andy who had come home that morning. "Oh, and in case you were wondering Dr. Fremont got given the head of the arroyo dog. He called and made mention of it being the oddest skull he'd seen in a long time. No rabies or distemper, by the way. The skull was heavier than normal and the brain weighed a bit more than average for a dog or wolf. Or at least by the charts he had."

Eric looked at Andy as he talked. "Did he say whether he had to report his findings?"

"Just the rabies thing. Normal stuff. He asked if you wanted the skull. It's really beaten up, and not just from the fight."

"No. I might want to see it out of morbid curiosity, but I don't want it." Eric shuddered. 

*

Everyone helped themselves to eggs, hash browns and sausages. Tortillas were in the warmer and tea was brewing. Most of the family dispersed to the living room or the dining room. Eric and Kate were the only ones left in the kitchen.

"Eric, what are you thinking?"

"About a lot of things. I think it would be a good idea if we went out of town, and then let Max come home. I'm just not sure how to accomplish that at the moment."

"I know what you mean. My brain is in a bit of a spin too." Kate was still thinking about the fact that she had shifted.

"We'll get it figured out." Making a burrito of his eggs and a tortilla, he dug into his breakfast. This was the first food either he or Kate had had since the night before the attack. Zach said they had gone through three pans of water, but hadn't eaten a thing. Eric was chewing slowly. His jaw hurt as well as all the muscles from the fight.

Kate watched him chew. "Does your jaw still hurt that much?" she asked digging into her own food.

Eric nodded as he had a mouthful. Teeth and bones seemed to heal the slowest, and his jaw was no exception. He swallowed and then took a sip of tea. "Yes, it hurts. You try cracking bones and see how it feels. It'll probably hurt for a month to be honest." 

"Ow. No thank you. I ache enough from just shifting and healing. I'd not want to be dealing with your injuries on any level. Do you need more aspirin?"

"Yes. I've never decided if it is just me, or shifters in general, but there are times I eat aspirin like it was candy. This is going to be one of those times. It also seems to work the best of all the pain relievers."

Kate thought about it as she opened the cupboard and dug out the aspirin bottle. She realized that they had gone through a lot of aspirin over the last year. Normally, she was the only one who touched it. Everyone else used Tylenol or ibuprofen. "Could it be that aspirin is such a low tech pain med?" 

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you can get it from willow bark. No hassles. No major drug companies needed. Know what I mean?"

"That makes sense. Plus, we have rather 'older' biological make-ups if you think about it." 

"Yes, that whole genetic thing. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of things that work that way because of your cellular structure. I'm also surprised that no one has commented on your bone structures before." 

"I think that they probably have. Figured we were some throwback to Neanderthal or some weird mix I bet. Or, some regional variety caused by lifestyle." 

Kate nodded. She put her plate in the sink. "How about we take that regional variety off to the shower?"

"That sounds good. Nice hot water." Eric added his plate to the sink.

*

After their shower, Eric and Kate started packing clothing for a few days away. They had decided to head west into an area they hadn't explored much yet. Their plans were to get a hotel room, put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door and sleep for a few days. They'd almost finished when the den phone rang. Eric looked at Kate and then went to answer it. 

Kate could hear bits of the conversation through the doorway and across the hall. From the sounds of it, she figured it was Mike or Audrey. Probably checking in with Eric and getting an update. She finished packing and was grabbing a few books off the shelf to read if they got the chance. Eric walked back in with a rather serious look on his face.

"What's going on?" 

"That was Mike on the phone. He was letting me know that there were some 'reinforcements' on their way here to make sure things got cleaned up." 

"Reinforcements? Cleaned up? What do you mean?"

"People from a branch of Special Ops will come check things out. Make sure that the bodies are gone, and that the local cops are clueless. That sort of thing," Eric said softly.

"You look worried. What else?"

"They want to talk to me."

"Okay, and why does that have you all uptight?"

"I haven't spoken to anyone voluntarily for over ten years. I left in bit of a rush and didn't want to look back ever."

"How do you leave the military in a rush?"

"You fast track yourself. Walk everything through and don't let anyone push you into a chair. I processed out in less than forty-eight hours."

"That's fast. So you don't want to talk to these people. Can we just call Mike back and say no?"

"Not an option. However, I can say where and when I want to meet them." 

"Okay. That works with our plans of going away. You can meet them somewhere public, like the library." 

"That's a good idea. However, it's both of us they'll want to talk to, and I would rather they didn't talk to you. I don't want them near you." 

"Why?"

"Because I don't want them sniffing you out. I don't need them discovering that latent shifters can be woken up by other shifters." Eric's voice had gone quiet.

Kate looked at Eric and thought about what he had said. "So, you want to protect me." She stopped for a moment as another realization hit. "...and Zach."

"Yes. Just because they are the 'good guys' doesn't mean that they aren't looking for people. That they wouldn't find a way to acquire people with special talents."

Kate thought some more. "How are we going to stop them talking to Zach or me? We were there. I'm your mate, partner... whatever you want to call me. And how would they know anyway?" Kate was puzzled.

"Sniff you out. They will have a shifter with them."

"Well, that guy Keith didn't figure it out. He didn't say anything."

"He may not have said anything, but he must have sent some kind of report. The best I can hope is that they figure you just smell of me."

"There is that. So, when are we going to do this? I'm nervous about leaving the house now." 

"Kate, I'm going to call Mike and see what I can do. I may be blowing this out of proportion, but it still makes me twitchy."

"I can understand. Plus, we have James and Ronny to worry about too don't we?" 

"Oh gods...I forgot about them. Yes. In a way. Ronny, they will just ask for the dump spot. Hopefully he will be his uncommunicative self like he usually is with strangers. James on the other hand," he paused for a moment. "I may have to have a talk with sooner than I wanted."

Kate nodded. She didn't totally understand Eric's reluctance and nerves, but she accepted it. It wasn't like there was anything she could do about it anyway. "Let's get going then. You call Mike and see what he has to add and I'll finish packing."

It was Eric's turn to nod.

Kate had just finished talking to Anne about running the house while they were gone when Eric came into the kitchen. He had that look on his face that she had come to read as stress. Anne took the list of chores and headed out to the dining room. 

"What's up Eric?"

"I've got the details. Talked to Zach and explained what was going to happen. Talked to Doc Fremont too. All that's left is to get in the car and go find James." 

"Oh. That isn't what you wanted, was it." Kate turned to Eric and putting her arms around his waist.

"Not exactly. I wanted to be the one that told him though and not them. So, I have about three hours to do so."

"Three hours? They'll be here that fast?" 

"Yes. I just hope it's been a quiet day at the office for James." Eric picked up the phone to call James.

Kate walked down to the bedroom to see if there were any last minute details she had overlooked. She knew that Eric would want to do this alone. However much she wanted to be there, she knew she'd just have to wait. Wait until Eric or James wanted to include her in the conversation. There was nothing left to pick up or take care of so she picked up her book and curled up on the bed. She lost herself in historical romance for a bit.

*

Eric hung up the phone. James would meet him in fifteen minutes out at the local coffee house. It was the kind of place that where you knew everyone and yet had total privacy while you ate. Too much back ground noise and lots of people. Eric figured it might be good to be in a familiar place and he knew James ate there most days.

"Kate, I'm headed out to Henry's to meet with James. I'll be back in a bit."

Kate dropped her book on the bed and headed for the door. "Wait a minute!" she hollered after him. Eric stopped. "I get a kiss don't I?" 

Eric smiled, kissed Kate and gave her a quick hug."Of course. I'll be back." He headed out the door. Kate watched him pull out of the driveway and wondered just what James would make of this whole thing.

*

James was already at a booth in the back of Henry's Cafe when Eric got there. Eric sat down and took the menu the waitress stuffed in his hand. He took a quick glance and then ordered tea and a pastry.

James sat his cup of coffee down, looked around and turned to Eric. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Me, and the events of the last few days." 

"Okay. I've had some questions myself that I wanted answered. Off the record of course."

"I figured you might. Hoped to have this conversation a bit later, but I don't have any choice. Not if I want to be the one who explains things." 

"What do you mean Eric? Who else would explain? Kate?"

"No, government agents." 

"What?" James said with more curiosity than anything. "Eric, what the hell is going on?"

"I guess I'd better start about twenty years back. You can believe me or not, just like you can believe the men who will be in your office later today or tomorrow. Either way, I wanted you to hear this from me first. I consider you a friend and want to keep it that way."

"Go ahead Eric." James took a sip of his coffee. He wondered for a moment if this would explain all the odd things he had seen the day of the attack at the house. That and a few other oddities he'd come across lately.

"I use to be a part of a special forces team in the military." 

"I remember you told me about that. It makes sense considering some of the things you've said and done since I've known you. Like the way you drive."

"Yes. Passing up your deputy twice that day was fun."

"He didn't think so. Still doesn't understand why I didn't haul you in or ticket you though."

"Oh well."

"You also handle yourself... carry yourself like you're ex-military, but not regular army as I'd think of it."

"There is that. I wasn't regular anything." Eric stopped and decided to move things along. "I'm also a shape-shifter." 

James nearly spilled his cup of coffee all over the table.

*

Forty minutes later, James added sugar to his fifth cup of coffee. Stirring it gave him a few moments to collect his thoughts. If it hadn't been for some coincidences that he couldn't explain, he'd think Eric was nuts. A bona fide tin hat conspiracy chasing, ex-military nut. He looked at Eric, noting his face and body language as he had the entire time they had been talking. James had become rather adept at reading people. It helped in his line of work. Eric was nervous, upset, but he wasn't lying. James didn't know if that was more upsetting or the content of the conversation.

"Okay. Let me make sure I have this all in my head. You are a shape-shifter. A lycanthrope, and you change into a wolf. You and Max are the same being." James paused.

"Yes. If you want, I'll show you at the house," Eric said softly, knowing that this was difficult to deal with. He remembered how hard it had been to explain to Kate, and she deals with the weirdest things on a daily basis.

"The rest of it is sounds like a movie script, Eric. These things don't happen to real people." James was trying to reassure himself even though he wasn't totally sure anymore. His world had been more than just a tad shaken since he walked into Henry's earlier this morning.

"I know it sounds far fetched, but it's the truth. There are shifters. They do have them in the military. In fact, they often choose the military because of their talents. Those people who attacked Kate and myself were part of an organization made up of people who should have been imprisoned or locked up a long time ago. They were ex-military, mercenaries so to speak. An unsanctioned government group within the military. A part that is being dealt with as we speak."

"Alright." James paused again, still trying to wrap his brain around all of the information. "Kate knew all of this? She understands this?"

"No, not at the beginning. However, she does now. When we started falling in love, I was just a guy who landed at the shelter. That's it. A computer geek with two kids. There had to be trust between us before I could say anything. Hell, I almost ran from the entire situation because I was uncertain of how to deal with her. I wasn't sure I wanted another relationship, nor was I altogether ready to explain myself. I certainly didn't want to hide it from Kate once I got to know her. I'd made that mistake with my wife and didn't want to repeat it."

"I can understand that. Had to be that way between Leanne and I. Her first husband had been abusive and I had to gain her trust slowly." James took a deep breath. "I am beginning to understand just what it took though to tell Kate all of this."

"It was difficult. Frustrating too, when I realized that my past was following me. The first time this bunch showed up at the shelter, I figured I'd finished the job. That it wouldn't happen again. Oh was I wrong.""That was the first time the shelter got trashed right?"

"Yes."

"And where you went up to Ft. Kit to deal with the Sargent."

"Yes. And I had hoped it would be the end of it. I hoped that it was just one isolated incident."

"I'm sorry you were wrong about that. I still don't know if I understand why they returned so viciously though. Wouldn't it have been easier to try the polite way?" 

"Like I said, I didn't exactly treat them nicely the first time. They figured I was just as big a psycho as the three that broke into Kate's house."

James just shook his head. "You know, I knew that there was something odd about that whole thing, and couldn't put my finger on it. It was driving me nuts." 

"Okay, what seemed odd to you?" Eric wondered just what had set James' internal warning signals off.

"The state of the doors, the tins on the floor, the chile powder. Now that really had me puzzled. Oh, and no human tracks in the arroyos or anywhere else we looked for you." James listed off the items on his fingers.

"I can see that. Most dogs wouldn't blast through doors like that. It's why Kate said that there had been a man with them. Taken with the tin cans and such, I can see why they'd make you curious."

James nodded. It did made sense now in an odd sort of way. Especially in light of the bits and pieces Eric had explained earlier. James realized that in spite of the bizarre story, it was making sense. He wasn't sure how comfortable he was with that yet. He had another thought. "Eric, if I ran you through the computers down at the office, would I find anything? Or, would I be looking under the wrong name?"

"As far as I know, you shouldn't find anything. However, there might be a note in there about me. I had my house broken into about seven years ago and scared the heck out of a cop who found himself staring down the barrel of my gun."

"What?" 

"I was still in the military, fresh in from field exercises and was the kind of guy who slept with a gun under his pillow. The police had the wrong address and broke my front door down. I just heard noise, and gun in hand went down the hall as they came up. We stopped with my gun almost up the cop's nose. He squeaked 'police' just in time and everything stopped. The senior officer who was at the back came forward and we talked. Discovered that they were a block off. Right number, wrong street. Apologies were made, I got a new front door and the officer said he'd note that I was a good man to have in an emergency, and bring the entire force if they had to arrest me. Never did find out if that was a joke or not."

James nodded and made a mental note to check the files. Plus, add his own note about Eric. Definitely a man to have on the right side of the law. Or at least on his right side. "Eric, What will these men be talking to me about? Do you have any idea?"

"I figure that they will just ask you cop type questions. Looking to see if you noted anything odd or if you just mark this off as an oddball occurrence in the county. That sort of thing. They will be looking to see if they need to swear you to secrecy about the shape-shifters or that type of thing." Eric was hoping he was right and that they wouldn't ask any more than that.

"So, they will want to keep this hushed up?" 

"That's what I understand. Oh, and probably to check and see if they can recruit me."

"Recruit you? Because you took down the other shifters?" James was trying to puzzle things out.

"That is one possibility. They were none too happy when I left in the first place. As I mentioned, lots of shifters aren't too stable. They let the animal run too long and forget how to be human. As far as they see, I'm a lovely stable man with a family. Someone they think they can impress enough to want to do his civil duty and help them out." Eric's voice held a tinge of sarcasm.




Sheeple Ch. 07



"So, do I play dumb? Or let them know I talked to you?" 

"That's up to you. They have their own ways of knowing things and second guessing them is a pain."

"Are you going to let them talk to Kate?"

"I wish I didn't have to, but they will want to talk to her and probably most of the family. We made the papers, so it isn't like we can just disappear." Eric had been rather upset when he had seen the papers. Nothing too graphic, but there was a small two column article in the local papers about a break-in and Eric's appearance at the gas station. 

"Yeah. No pictures at least. Those wolves in your dining room would be enough to give the ranchers all they need to start lobbying the capital for new hunting laws." 

Eric smiled. James was trying to be humorous, which was a good sign. He hadn't gotten too twitchy about all of this. "James, do you have any ideas on how we can get 'Max' home?"

"Quiet would be best. Ronny doesn't know does he? About you?" James was suddenly aware that this could get out of hand if the wrong people started running their mouths.

"No, I don't think so. Ronny is a bit odd, but I think if he had figured it out, he'd have said something. Kate is as close as he has to family and anything that dealt with her would be talked about."

"You're probably right." James set down his empty cup. He was about to say something when his pager went off. Looking at the number, he excused himself and went out to his blazer.

Eric watched him go and wondered if their time was up. He realized that they had been talking for nearly three hours. He collected their bills and went to pay at the front desk. James was still talking when Eric walked up next to the vehicle. James acknowledged him and made a wait motion. Eric stood by the fender.

"Sure. Be there in a few minutes. Okay. Yes. Marcy, I said I'd be there in a few minutes. Bye." James closed his cell phone. "Darn dispatcher doesn't trust that I'll head into the office. Drives me nuts."

"Marcy? About 4ft nothing and lots of beehive hairdo?" 

"Yes. Seems that some men are tap dancing on her desk and wondering where I am. Sounds like company is here already."

Eric nodded. "Guess I ought to head home then. They may want me soon too."

"Alright. Hope that this is short and fast. I'm going to just let them talk and not volunteer anything. Oh, and thanks for paying the tab. I'll treat you to lunch next time." James climbed into his blazer. "And before I forget. Want a job? I need a deputy."

"What?" Eric stood there with his mouth open not sure he heard James correctly.

"Do you want a job? Hell, I'd even employ Max if I could figure out the budget line." He smiled as the blazer backed out of the parking spot.

"Umm... Could I think about this? Are you serious?"

"Yes. Been thinking about it for about the last forty minutes. I don't have enough officers. I don't have enough search and rescue men either. It also might be a way to keep your buddies out of your life. Give it a thought and let me know." James finished and then pulled out of the parking lot.

Eric watched him go and ran his hand through his hair absentmindedly. Deputy eh? James might just be right. Being part of the local sheriff's department might be just enough to keep the Ops guys out of his life. Another thing to talk to Kate about after he got home. Home! Eric suddenly remembered that Kate might have visitors by now, and the last thing he wanted was for her to talk to them alone.

*

Eric made it home in record time. He pulled up in the drive to find no extra vehicles. That made him feel a bit better, but he was still on edge. Mike hadn't said who exactly was coming, but made it clear that Eric had better be available. Mike normally didn't talk like that. Eric locked the Subaru and bounded up the stairs. Gretchen and Luna were barking when he reached the door. "Kate! I'm home! Any company yet?" he called as he waked into the kitchen.

Kate came into the kitchen from the hall. She had been in the back of the house. "No, but Marcy called here looking for James. Did she find him?"

"Yes. How does that woman do it? I called James privately." Eric was wondering just how the dispatcher had tracked James to the house or the family.

"I don't know. She's always been like that. Never could win if she played hide and seek." Kate wondered if Marcy had some talent or was just so much of a gossip that she just knew too much of anyone's business.

"Well, James was heading to the jail to talk to some people." 

"How did he take it?"

Eric smiled. "He did pretty well. Almost wore his coffee a few times, but on the whole, did okay. It isn't every day that you get told such a fantastic story."

"No, have to agree with you on that. Do you think you'll have to shift for him to believe all of it?"

"Maybe. Then again, he saw 'Max' after the fight and my arms have bite marks in the same spots." He held out his arms that were poking out of rolled up sleeves. Scratches, bites and bruises covered his arms in no set pattern. "Then again, maybe not. He offered me a job."

"What?"

"You heard me. He asked if I wanted to be a deputy. Or, failing that, search and rescue. Even said he'd hire Max." Eric had a smile on his face.

"You're teasing me!" 

"No. Really... He said if he could figure out how to put Max on the payroll, he would." Eric was smiling at Kate.

Kate just shook her head. She walked over to Eric and wrapped her arms around him. Putting her head on his chest, she just stood there holding him.

*

Forty minutes later, the front door bell rang. Gretchen and Luna started barking like it was the mail man. Kate and Eric both headed for the door. Kate to intercept the dogs and Eric to answer it. Kate had shut the dogs in Andy's room and turned around to see Eric letting four men in suits into the living room. She walked in and stood by Eric, waiting to be introduced.

"Sorry about the dogs. They've been a bit on edge what with everything going on," Eric said as he walked further into the room and motioned for the men to sit down. 

"I understand," said one of the men 

"You know why we are here Eric. Are you two the only ones home right now?" said another man.

Eric nodded. "This is Kate."

"Hello," Kate said, waiting to learn their names or at least some way of identifying the men.

"Hello Ms. Ratkovich. I'm Mr. Greene, and this is Mr. Davis, Mr. Ortiz and Mr. Farr." Greene pointed to each man in turn.

Kate nodded and looked to each man as they were introduced. She wondered if these were their real names or if they were aliases. She'd didn't really care. She sat down next to Eric who sat facing the men on the couch.

"Eric, we've talked to the Sheriff and some of the deputies and such that were here that morning. As far as they understand, there was nothing more going on here than some mercenary group trying to settle an old score with you," said Greene. "They've agreed to write it up as a break-in and leave it at that."

"Alright, so what do you want from us?" Eric asked.

"We're here to extend an apology from the government and their thanks. You did us a service that can't be acknowledged nor spoken of to anyone. We need you to understand that this officially never happened. Those men didn't exist and that you are just an average citizen who had your house burglarized." Greene sat back a bit as he finished. 

Ortiz moved forward calmly taking some paperwork out of a briefcase at his feet. "We'd like you to sign some disclaimers and forms insuring that you won't discuss this with the press or write about it forty years from now." 

"I don't think those are necessary. If the local police are going to write it off, I don't see any reason for there to be a paperwork trail leading back to me over an incident that never occurred." 

"Now Nic," Mr. Farr started.

"I go by Eric here. Nic is dead." Eric had a bit of an edge in his voice.

Farr blinked, and took a deep breath. "Sorry. Eric, I don't see why you'd object to complying to this arrangement. It's standard practice."

"That is exactly why I object. I have never been in the military. Nic was. I am just a citizen who had a run-in with some thugs. No, no paperwork. No disclosure papers, nothing. I agreed to talk to you men. I agreed to let you talk to Kate. That's it. If you don't like it, I'm sorry." Eric put his arm around Kate as he noticed Davis moving to the balls of his feet even though he was still seated. "I'd appreciate it if you would stand down Mr. Davis."

Davis looked taken aback. "I... I wasn't doing anything."

Eric looked at him like he would one of the boys when they were lying. "I am just a bit on edge to be honest, and your body posturing is sending every nerve on alert. As a fellow shifter, you aught to know just how intense this situation was. The scent markers are still rather pungent in here. Please have some respect." Eric's voice was taking on a sub vocal growl.

"Please gentlemen, we've had a very rough time. We said we'd talk with you. We've delayed our time set aside to heal and get past this to do so. Can we please get on with this interview?" Kate asked, trying to diffuse the tension filling the room. She was very glad of Eric's arm around her.

Greene cleared his throat, and glanced around at the other men. "Ma'am, You are right. We did come here to talk and apologize. I am sorry we lost our perspective. Now, would each of you give us your version of the events?" 

Eric took a breath, and started with the Sargent and worked through to his arrival home. Then it was Kate's turn. She gave a much shorter version of events. Both of them edited out details they had agreed on in advance. They were doing their best to cover up any evidence that either Zach or Kate had any shifter talent. An hour passed.

"I think that about answers all of our questions," said Greene. He had taken over leading the interview and was now wrapping it up. "You still won't entertain the offer to come to work for us?"

"No. I've had more than my sufficiency of the military and the type of work done by your branch." Eric's voice was still gruff.

"You know, if you'd stuck around, there might not have been an incident like this to clean up in the first place," Davis said rather defensively.

Eric felt the muscles in his shoulders twitch. Davis had pushed his buttons once too often. He felt Kate's hand rest rather heavy on his shoulder.

"Mr. Davis, Eric doesn't need you antagonizing him. Nothing short of a firing squad would have stopped the men who attacked us in our home. Better yet, a training program that deprogrammed soldiers would certainly have been a better idea than just letting them loose." It was Kate's turn to let just a bit of heat creep into her voice. Her hand still gripped Eric's shoulder.

"Besides, I have a perfectly good job here working at the local hospital. On top of that, I have been offered a job with the sheriff's department." Eric was trying to calm down.

"You? At the sheriff's department? What as? A search and rescue dog?" Farr said with a sneer in his voice. 

Eric came to his feet dragging Kate with him as she tried to stop him. Farr stood too, and Davis was balancing on the edge of the seat.

"Enough!" Greene said in a voice loud enough to make the dogs start to bark down the hall. He moved between Farr and Eric.

"Enough is exactly right. Mr. Greene, you and your men have worn out your welcome. I hope you got what you needed as I can't see either Eric or myself talking to you in the future." Kate picked up the pile of papers on the coffee table and shoved them into Ortiz's hands. She then moved towards the door and opened it with the express desire that they leave as quickly as possible.

Farr and Davis were out the door before Eric could reach Kate's side. Ortiz was mumbling apologies for everyone as he cleared the steps. Greene stood at the door for a moment.

"Kate, Eric, I apologize for that. Farr was out of line. So was Davis. In future, I will not have them on my team." He dug in his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. "I meant to keep this as a last ditch attempt to get you to join our efforts to work with the military and shifters. However, I realize I was wrong. You have a life here and deserve to enjoy it without our interference. If you ever do need us again, please contact me." He handed Eric the envelope and headed down the steps.

Kate closed the door and turned to Eric who was looking in the envelope.

"What's in there?"

"You wouldn't believe me. Look for yourself," Eric said as he handed her the envelope. 

Kate took it and looked. Her eyes went wide, and she pulled a check out of the envelope. Pinned to it was a note explaining that it was for damages done to the property as well as compensation for their time and personal injuries. 

"Eric, this can't be for real."

"No, it's real. I cashed way too many of those in my time to be mistaken." 

"But... " Kate looked at it again to make sure she wasn't misreading it. "This is a check for $25,000. How..."

"Don't ask, just accept it and hope they never show back up." Eric went to get his coat and the car keys. "Shall we go deposit this?"

Kate nodded as they headed out the door.

*

After depositing the check, they had grabbed their bags, and loaded up the car. It was too late to head out, so they climbed into bed to sleep for a bit. Kate woke up at dawn and the two of them showered quietly. After a quick bite to eat, it was time to go. They gave Zach and Anne some last minute instructions, and headed out of town. 

Eric was behind the wheel of the Subaru, and they were headed up into the hills at last. Kate was laying back in the seat, something she normally didn't do. Her eyes were closed and she was almost asleep. Yesterday had been the final straw for both of them. It was time to get away from everyone and everything. Eric glanced over at Kate and smiled as he realized she was snoring ever so softly. He went back to concentrating on his driving. They stopped for gas a few times and were back on the road quickly. A stop for lunch afforded him a chance for a brief nap. Kate read or dozed the rest of the trip.

It was dark with just a trace of moonlight as Eric pulled into the hotel parking lot. They had chosen the place because it was so off the beaten track. There were no street lights, just the main light over the entrance. 

"Kate, Sweetie... Wake up. We're here."

Kate yawned and stretched. She looked around and then at Eric. "We're here already?"

Eric nodded. He started to unload the car and headed towards the front entrance. "Come on Kate, let's get checked in. I don't know about you, but I want to crawl into a bath and then bed."

"I'm coming!" she called after him. Kate grabbed her bag and the backpack she had her clothes in. Both she and Eric packed light. Following him into the entrance, the first thing she noticed was a large sign. It read, 'Pets Welcome'. It brought a smile to her face, especially as she knew Eric had planned to go hunting. Eric was talking to a gentleman at the desk.

"Yes, we'll be just fine with that arrangement," Eric said.

"Ah, this must be your lovely wife," the man said.

"Hi, my name is Kate." She held out her hand. 

"I'm Henry. Glad to meet you." His handshake was firm and yet oddly familiar. She took a better look at him, but didn't have a clue as to what was tweaking her senses.

"Our room is up this way." Eric pointed as they took the key and headed out of the lobby. Kate picked up her backpack and followed.

*

Their room was almost at the end of the hall. Eric slid the key into the slot and opened the door. Neither of them really needed the light on as moonlight flooded the room. However, Kate flipped on the light which was soft and easy on the eyes. She looked around and was surprised at the layout of the room.

"Wow."

"Yeah, I thought you'd like it. When I saw it online, I figured it was the place to go." Eric smiled as he put his stuff down on the bed. 

Kate looked around. There was a low queen sized bed, a love seat, desk, chair and a huge sliding glass door. She walked over and looked outside. There was a patio area and an open meadow that was skirted by the woods. She looked down at the corner and started to giggle. There in the corner were two empty animal dishes. 

"Gee, they think of everything." She giggled.

"Well, umm... Kate, it did say pets were welcome."

"Yeah, but I honestly didn't expect those." She turned to unpack. "Oh, that reminds me. Did you notice anything odd when you shook Henry's hand?"

Eric looked at her, and smiled. "No. Nothing odd at all."

"What are you smiling about?"

Eric walked up and went to kiss her cheek. His lips were almost to hers when his tongue flicked out and caught her on the end of the nose. He smiled.

"Eric!" Kate dried her nose off with the back of her hand. She looked at him trying to figure out what had brought on his sudden playfulness. Then it struck her. "Oh... Eric, is he a..."

Eric nodded. "Yes. This hotel is a shifter's haven so to speak. No one will bother you, and if you forget to dress, there are robes by the back door."

"I don't believe you." 

"Go look for yourself." He opened the sliding glass door. Kate stuck her head out and looked to the left. There on the wall in a cubby were two generic robes. She giggled. 

"Oh my. How on Earth did you find this place?" Kate turned back to putting clothes away.

"Well, you could say that I have a few connections left."

"So, if you knew that there were shifters in this part of the state, why didn't you head here in the first place?" Kate was rather confused by this point.

"I didn't know that they were here. I found this place after a comment my cousin made when she called to check on my a month or so ago."

"And you didn't say anything to me?" Kate was puzzled, as Eric was usually so forthright.

"I was hoping to save it as a surprise until our anniversary." 

"Our anniversary? Oh Eric, and then all this happened." Kate left off putting stuff in drawers and walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. He bent to kiss her, their lips meeting as their hands caressed. Kate was the first to break away. "Eric, we have too many clothes on." A wry smile crossed her face.

"Oh yes." His voice went all husky. His clothes were dropping to the floor as fast as he could undo them. Kate was down to her panties when Eric pounced and knocked her back on the bed. He was kissing his way down her stomach and when he got to the panties he grabbed them with his teeth and growled. 

"Eric! Wait a minute!" Kate was trying to get him to stop long enough to shimmy out of them. There was a tearing noise and then they slid down her hips and were off. "You are just too damn rough on clothes some days Eric!" Kate said in a chiding tone. 

Eric just smiled, his canines showing rather predominantly. He lowered his lips to her knees and started kissing his way up. Kate scooted farther up on the bed when he grabbed her leg and held her still. His kisses moved up and in until his lips caressed the curls her panties had hidden. 

"Oh, Eric." Kate moaned as his tongue teased her lips. His fingers followed and soon Kate was wriggling under him. Her fingers ran through his hair which had come loose of it's leather band. The curly hair twined in her fingers as she tried to pull his head closer to her. Eric concentrated on licking and kissing Kate until she couldn't talk as orgasms began to wash over her. She arched and then collapsed on the bed. Eric brought his head up and smiled at Kate as she lay there with a silly grin on her face. He laid down beside her.

Kate rolled on her side and started to run her fingertips over his skin. That cinnamon chocolate smell drifted off of his skin. She stuck her nose up against his ear and inhaled. The scent seemed to tickle down her throat and heat her up straight down to her crotch. Kate kissed his ear and Eric couldn't hold still any longer. His fingers went for her ribs and that sweet spot that she both loved and hated to have scritched. 




Sheeple Ch. 07



"Oh no you don't Eric!" Kate moved away from his fingers. Eric grabbed her around the waist and pulled her closer to him. Kate bit his neck and shoulder with small nips. A growl of pleasure started deep in his throat, and he relaxed his grip on her. She then started kissing down his chest. Her hands preceded her lips and found him hard and wanting. Her fingertips touching him made everything twitch. Kate smiled as she kissed farther down. When her lips touched the head, she thought he was going to come straight up off the bed. Her lips moved down the shaft and he groaned with deep growls of pleasure. Kate's lips and tongue soon had him slippery and wet. Eric's hips began to move with her wanting to push deeper. His own fingers found the cleft between her legs, wet and hot. He began playing with her nether lips and soon she was having trouble concentrating on what her mouth was doing. Kate came up for air and Eric pulled her to him. Kissing her lips, the taste of one another blended. He pulled her closer and she moved her legs so that she was sitting astride him. Eric moved his hips and thrust deep into her. Kate moaned as he slid back and forth. Her hands braced on the wall as his hands gripped her hips. They moved together in a fast hard rhythm. 

Eric slowed his pace down and whispered in Kate's ear. She nodded and moved off of his lap. He got up and moved around until he was behind her. Kate bent forward and Eric slid back between those hot wet lips. He held onto her hips and they moved together in increasing intensity. He bent forward and bit her neck where it joined the shoulder. She growled and moaned as his thrusts increased as he began to orgasm. Kate responded and moved her hips to match his pace. He let go of her neck, grabbed her hips again and thrust hard as the orgasm washed over him. Kate growled and felt herself arch and shudder with orgasm as well. They froze as everything came to an overload of pleasure. Kate shuddered and then felt the weight of Eric on her back as he began to loose control of his muscles. They lowered themselves to the bed and laid there spooned up to catch their breath.

Eric smiled in the dark as his hands moved towards Kate's crotch. His fingertips began to tease that sensitive button of flesh until her hips arched again as another orgasm washed over Kate. Kate moaned and started to say something when he brought her to orgasm again. This time, the feeling was so intense that she felt as if she was going to pass out. 

"Er..." was all she managed to say before he did it one last time. This time, she did pass out. Eric smiled and wrapped her in his arms. He pulled part of the covers up over them and they slept. 

*

Moonlight flooded the room as Kate woke some time later. She was cold, and it took her a moment to realize that Eric was not in the room. The sliding door was open just the slightest bit. It was the breeze from there that had woke her up. On the pillow was a note. 

Kate,

Couldn't wait, gone hunting.

Love, 

Eric.

She smiled as she read it. Kate pulled the covers on the bed straight and then crawled under them. Sleep was the best way to pass the time until he returned. She needed it too.

*

Eric had left the hotel grounds and headed up into the forest. He loped with ease he didn't expect after the wounds he received in the fight. He had healed up faster than he expected. Following a game trail, he came across two scents in the breeze. Wolf and elk. There was a hunt on. Eric was cautious as he wasn't local to this area. He wasn't sure if the wolves he scented were shifters or just a local pack. Coming around the corner of a clump of bushes he was met with growls. Standing very still, he stiffened as a large wolf met him muzzle to muzzle. They sniffed and then the other wolf made to move off. He looked back at Eric and made it clear that Eric was welcome to follow. Eric glided down the path with the other wolf. Two more joined at various branches in the game trail. They were following the scent of an old elk. 

The elk burst out of the undergrowth followed by a wolf. Eric and the others moved in to take down the elk. Eric took flank and tried to keep the animal from turning back to the underbrush and thicker trees. The large wolf that had greeted him launched himself at the elk's throat. His teeth tore into the flesh and as he twisted. Another wolf had bounded up on the shoulders to bring the elk to the ground. Eric and another smaller wolf moved in as well. Eric grabbed the muzzle and the first wolf finished ripping the throat out of the elk. The elk shuddered and then died. Five wolves howled in victory. 

Eric stood back as the first wolf began to rip into the belly of the elk. He ripped into the under skin and soon had the liver in his mouth. He took it over to the smaller wolf and shared it. The other wolves moved in to take their bits. Eric waited. The first wolf looked up from his shared treat and motioned to Eric to help himself to a share of the hunt. Eric moved in and slowly took a chunk of the foreleg. The wolf who had jumped on the back of the elk growled, but didn't move. The first wolf growled at the other one and it backed down. Eric moved off from the elk to eat his share. 

Finishing his bit, bone well gnawed, Eric got up to leave. He went and bumped noses with the first wolf again and then moved out into the forest. He had a lot of questions to ask Henry in the morning. 

*

Kate thought that she heard something. Grabbing Eric's shirt off of the floor, she looked around the room. On the floor near the door was a piece of paper. Written in pencil with blood smears daubing the paper was one word.

Sheeple

Kate was puzzled, as she wasn't sure what the term meant. Checking to see that the door was still locked, she curled up on the bed to wait for Eric's return.

*

Eric ran until he could run no more. It felt so good to move. A few field mice had sufficed as dessert after his meal of elk. Loping around the back of the hotel, he was surprised to see the lights on in their room. He shifted and stepped onto the decking. Through the glass he could see Kate sitting on the bed reading something. He opened the door and stepped through, latching it behind him. "Hello Kate, I didn't expect to see you awake."

"I got woke up by a noise."

"Oh?"

"Yes, and when I got up, I found this had been shoved under the door." She handed him the piece of paper.

Eric took it and read the scribble. He sniffed the bloodstains. Elk, and the odor of one of the wolves from the hunt. A low rumble was starting in his throat.

"Eric, what does it mean, and why are you growling?"

"Sheeple. It's a derogatory term some shifters use for non-shifters. Sheep-people. Sheeple. Someone decided that you were a sheep. A non-shifter. Then, also decided that you didn't belong here and that I'm rather lacking in judgment by bringing you here." Eric still had that undertone growl to his voice. His eyes were shimmering to yellow. 

"What? Me? A sheeple? Eric, who would do this?" Her own voice was taking on a bit of a growl.

"One of the guests from what I can tell. I met him on the hunt. He was rather hostile earlier. He must have come straight back here and sniffed about. Probably figured the wolf smell was all me. Idiot." Eric started to move towards the door.

"Umm, Eric, you're nude." 

Eric looked down, and just shook his head. "Gods, got so peeved I forgot to dress."

"Can't this wait till morning?" Kate tried to wrap her arms around him. "It's almost dawn, and neither one of us has slept much."

"No, this isn't going to wait. I won't be able to sleep. Just too much has gone on this week and I'm not in the mood for this. Get your clothes on, We'll go see if Henry is back." Eric grabbed his jeans and went looking for his shirt when he realized that Kate was wearing it. He reached into the drawer and grabbed a teeshirt. Pulling it over his head, he started towards the door. Kate pulled on her jeans and followed him, the note in her hand. Both of them headed down the hall barefoot.

*

They found Henry talking to a small woman near the entrance to what looked like the kitchen. Henry looked up smiling, an expression that faded quickly when he saw the look on Eric's face.

"Eric, what's wrong? Didn't you enjoy the hunt?" 

Eric handed the scrap of paper he took from Kate's hand and gave it to Henry. Henry looked at it, read it and sniffed it. He then handed it over to the small woman in the doorway. She too read and sniffed it. 

"I am very sorry about this. Mike is an idiot." Henry turned to Kate. "Kate, I don't know you, but I am sorry about this." As he spoke, he looked from Kate to Eric, silently asking something Kate missed.

"Well, I'm no bloody sheep," Kate said, a growl present in her voice. 

Henry looked to Eric again with that unvoiced request hanging in the air between the two men. Eric nodded. 

"Kate, would you mind if Henry sniffed your neck?"

"Why?" Irritation leaked into her voice and her eyes were graying out of their normal blue.

"To smell you better. To prove to me that you aren't a sheeple."

Realization dawned on Kate, and she stepped forward to Henry. Turning her head to the side, she stood still while Henry and then the woman came forward and sniffed. The hot air on her neck tickled and made a giggle rise in her throat. She looked at the two of them and was rather surprised to see Henry's eyes changing color like Eric's did. The woman just looked at her and smiled.

"Kate, I deeply apologize for Mike's stupidity. You are certainly no sheep. Just a bit new to shifting aren't you?" Henry asked.

"Um.... yes. I don't do it voluntarily."

"No, but your eyes are graying out, just talking about it," the woman said. "My name is Josie, since Henry isn't going to bother to introduce us."

"Sorry dearest!" Henry slapped his hand to his forehead. Both women laughed. 

"We met Eric out hunting last night, and I forgot that he didn't know people in two legged form. Mike was the aggressive idiot and Dave was the other one. He's a guest, but Mike." Josie paused. "Mike is just a distant relative I wish would just go away. His only talent lately is trouble."

Henry nodded. "He use to do handy-work around here, and now all he does is run four legged most of the time."

"Too bad his handwriting is better than his nose," Kate said with a smile.

That made everyone laugh.

"And it's too bad I can't just shift when I want, so that I could tell him just that with a bit of fang." 

Eric smiled. "You don't have to." He pointed towards the hall they had come down earlier. Kate turned to see a scrawny man wearing jeans coming down the hall. Henry visibly bristled and Josie pulled Kate off to one side so that the two men could bring Mike to Kate. He started to head back down the hall, but something on the men's faces stopped him in his tracks. Moving each to a side, they bracketed Mike and came all the way down to the doorway where the two women were standing.

Henry took Mike by the scruff of the neck and gave him a shake that would have rattled teeth loose in a normal human. "You owe her an apology," he growled. "Now!"

Mike looked from Henry to Eric, who was also growling. Kate didn't want him to get close enough to her neck to sniff, so she rubbed her fingertips behind her ear, where she knew the others had sniffed earlier. She held her hand out to him. Mike looked like he was holding his breath, when Eric let out a sub vocal growl. He took a sniff. Then another. Mike's eyes went a bit wide, and then his entire body posture seemed to visibly collapse. Henry let go of him and crossed his arms over his chest. Eric took Kate's hand and kissed her fingertips. 

"How the hell was I suppose to know? She didn't come out on the hunt. Just laid there sleeping while the rest of us were out under the moonlight," Mike mumbled into his chest, as Henry had him by the scruff of the neck again.

"Just because you have no manners, doesn't mean that others are instantly prey. Just because she didn't shift and come with us doesn't mean she is a sheeple." Henry shook Mike again. "Most of us have been wolf a tad too much and have lost most of the manners we ever had, but it doesn't mean we have to be rude. You disgust me. Apologize to Kate."

Mike looked from Henry to Eric and then finally to Kate. He could have sworn she was not a shifter. Newbie, damned odd smelling newbie. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. Eric growled and even Josie was shooting him dirty looks. 

"I'm sorry for the note. Just didn't think you belonged here," he said at last. Henry shook him one last time and shoved him down the hall all in one motion.

"Now get the hell out of here. Be gone by noon," Henry shouted after him. He turned back towards Kate who was shaking her head. "That was the lamest apology I've ever heard. Sorry Kate."

"It's okay. If nothing else, I learned a new bit of vocabulary."

"Yeah, and a bit about wolves and pack behavior," Josie said.

Kate looked at her and thought for a moment. "Pack behavior?"

Eric nodded. "Yes. Technically, I was lowest member of this 'pack' at the hunt,. Henry here greeted me and let everyone know I was okay," Eric started to explain. "You would have been low wolf when everyone met you. Social pecking order and all that entails."

"Oh, I get it. Like Luna being beta dog at the house," Kate said.

"Exactly. However, by attacking the beta wolf before anyone met you, he erred in more ways than one," Eric continued.

"I'm not sure I follow. Besides being rude, I'm not seeing something am I?" Kate asked

"Not only are you a stranger welcome in our house, but technically you're a baby." Josie had a smile on her face.

The thought of being a baby, or in this case a puppy just cracked Kate up. She began to giggle as everything began to slip into place. "Never thought of myself in that way.

"No one ever attacks a baby. Mike also disobeyed 'house rules' which very simply state that anyone staying here is welcome. Shifter or not," Henry said rather firmly.

Josie began to move back towards the kitchen. "Anyone hungry? I have some nice elk steaks all sliced and ready to grill," she called back over her shoulder.

"Oh that sounds good." Kate didn't realize how hungry she was until food was mentioned. 

Henry and Eric nodded and the three of them headed for the kitchen to see if they could help.

*

Kate sopped up the rest of the juice from the steak and eggs with a bit of toast. Eric and Henry were still stuffing themselves with bites of steak. Josie was starting to clean up the table when Henry put his hand out to stop her.

"Take a break Josie. You've been up just as long as I have. Let that food settle a minute."

Josie looked at Henry and then sat down. "Just for a moment. Considering that my dishwasher should be leaving any minute now, I'll have to get to work before too long." 

"I'll help with the dishes in a bit," Henry said, and turned back to Eric and their conversation. They'd been discussing various events and Eric had just finished telling about the shifter attack at the house.

"You two were lucky that things didn't go more seriously. I'd read the story in the paper and wondered what the truth was."

"I agree. Especially with Kate here new to all of this. She could have found herself a widow twice over," said Josie.

"I try not to think of that," Kate said as she pushed her plate to one side. "Nor, to think what would have happened if Eric had been more injured. Hospitalization was just not a option. One that I am only just beginning to understand in all it's ramifications."

The other three nodded. The more Kate discovered about this world, the more complicated it became. She wondered just how much of this Zach had begun to puzzle out as well. They would need to talk when everything was said and done. He tended to act first and think later at times. Zach would have to deal with this and a few other issues that were descending hard and fast on his world. She hadn't even mentioned to Eric that she suspected Anne was pregnant. She wasn't sure Anne knew. All this talk of babies had reminded her. She'd have to talk to Josie later. 

"Kate? Are you falling asleep?" Eric was bending towards her.

"No, just lost in thought. However, I am tired."

"Well, Let's go take a nap."

"That sounds like a great idea." Stretching upwards made all sorts of bones and tendons pop. 

Henry smiled. "Kate, you may not shift at will, but parts of your body sure do. You sound just like Josie in the morning."

"That's just old age you mutt!" Josie said as she reached for his empty plate.

"Neither of you two are that old. And don't tell me you don't have waring muscles and bones. I've known you way too long." 

"You have eh? Ah well, then I guess it must be true. Now tuck that tail back in and give me a hand with the dishes." Josie took a handful and turned back towards the kitchen.

Henry almost stopped himself from looking in time. Eric started to laugh, and so did Kate. She grabbed the last of the dishes and followed Josie to the kitchen. Josie was at the sink running hot water.

"That was well timed. Henry did look."

"Oh, I knew he would. He's forgotten often enough that it's almost not a joke," Josie said.

Kate smiled. "Eric's eyes and eyebrows tend to give him away. I have a picture of us at a costume dance and if you look really close, he has pointy ears."

Josie laughed. She had the dishes in the sink fast enough that all Kate could do was hand her the last few pieces. 

"I think I'll take Eric up on that nap."

"Sounds good. We'll probably nap too. Most of us who run at night take long naps. Luckily, we have a gal who keeps the desk for us during the day." 

"That's good. I don't think it would be good to try and sign someone in in fur."

"Nope, No opposable thumbs. Makes writing real difficult." Josie smiled and turned back to the last of the dishes.

Kate left the kitchen and saw Henry and Eric talking quietly and rather seriously. They moved apart before she could hear any of what they were saying. She'd ask Eric later.

"Are you ready for that nap?"

"Oh yes. It was a long night and this morning is already way too long." Eric smiled and wrapped his arm around her as they headed back to their room. 

*

Kate woke up and couldn't move. She was wedged between what she thought was Eric and the wall. Untangling herself from Eric, she went to roll over when she realized that it wasn't a wall behind her. It was a wolf. Smaller than Eric when in fur form, but still a wolf. Kate reached back and tapped Eric on the check, and woke him as gently as he could.

"Eric, there's a wolf in bed with us," she whispered.

Eric opened one eye, looked over Kate's shoulder and sniffed. He blinked a time or two and then opened his eyes again. "That should be Josie," he said quietly.

"Why is she here?" Kate was just a bit confused at this point.

"She was worried that Mike would be stupid. They both were. I think that's Henry over by the door." Eric pointed with his hand in the general direction of the door.

Kate looked and then heard the low snoring noise. It was a combination of snores and low growls. Snore,,, grrrowl....snoooorrre..... gggrrrrowwwl.... snooore. It was hilarious. Kate started gigging and then so did Eric. They tried to muffle it under the covers and when a particularly loud snore/growl combination hit, they both just broke out laughing. The wolf next to them on the bed woke up with a look of confusion on her face. The wolf looked from them to the door where a huge wolf lay curled up snoring and growling in his sleep. The wolf jumped off the bed and went over to nuzzle the snorer. All Eric and Kate could do was laugh.

*

Fifteen minutes later, bath robed and sleepy eyed, Henry and Josie sat on the end of the bed while Eric and Kate were still curled up under the covers. Henry was still trying to wake up and deny that he snored or growled in his sleep.




Sheeple Ch. 07



"It's really cute Henry. I'll have to see if Eric growls in his sleep now."

Eric went to bat at her with his pillow and she dodged him and started tickling his sweet spot.

"Nnnooo fair!" he said as she continued to tickle him. This made Josie and Henry start laughing too. After a few minutes, they both stopped to catch their breath.

"I take it that guarding me was what you two were talking about this morning when I came back in from the kitchen?" The two men nodded.

"Henry was concerned because in two leg form, you are at a disadvantage. You don't shift voluntarily and so if Mike decided to be an idiot and attack us while we were asleep, you'd be defenseless. Henry mentioned moving rooms, but I didn't want to alarm you in case it was just nerves on our part. Josie decided later that they ought to just sleep in here with us. You were already asleep when she hopped on the bed. It was funny, because you two curled up tight. It gave me a look at what Zach and Andy have seen from time to time when they've come to wake us up." Eric smiled at Kate and then kissed her.

"The idea was to be up and gone before you woke." Henry yawned as he spoke.

"I am a light sleeper most of the time, and I remember that something woke me up. I just don't know what that was. Next thing I knew, there was an extra body in the bed and then the snory-growls made me laugh." Kate smiled as Henry started to turn red. 

"Hey Josie, is there any of that elk left? I'm hungry," Eric asked as his stomach growled. It was so loud that they all could hear it. Laughter broke out again.

*

The rest of their day flew by. Eric and Henry went a-hunting again that night and Josie curled up with Kate in front of the big fireplace. Cups of tea and fresh oatmeal cookies were slowly consumed while the two women chatted.

"He what?" Josie asked.

"Eric took the rib bones off of my dresser. Ate them on top of his clothes and didn't notice the grease stains he left. I still have the bit of bone he kept in his pocket for weeks. I figure I'll give it back to him as an anniversary present."

Both woman laughed. Josie added a log to the fire. They really didn't need it, but it was nice to listen to the crackle of the flames.

"Where did you meet Henry?"

"Up here. My ex and I had bought this place and were fixing it up. He was going to cater to the rich and famous ski bums. Too bad they tend to play about two valleys over from here. We hired Henry as day labor. Big biker type who needed a job, didn't care what he did as long as he never had to work nights."

"Did you know he was a wolf?"

"No, just thought he was your typical loner. Stinky, leather wearing, beer drinking jerk. Hell, my ex didn't know about me, so I never even thought to look beyond the rather crusty exterior of Henry."

"What? You've got to be kidding?"

"About Henry? No."

"No, I mean that your ex didn't know you were a wolf." 

"Oh him..... Hon, I could have shifted full on and he wouldn't have noticed. Talk about stuck on himself. That and the fact that he had a real pair of blinkers when it came to reality other than his own."

"I find that hard to believe. But, Eric said his ex didn't know either."

"I wondered about that. About him having an ex."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, seems that lots of us shifters have ex's before we find mates." 

Kate thought about that for a minute. "I guess you'd have to include me in that statistic. Although my husband died, and I wasn't shifting. However, I was pagan for years before he really got a clue about that. I guess blinders come with all sorts of subjects."

Josie nodded. "Henry disappeared one evening right before supper. I didn't think much of it, and as the ex was going into town, I had planned to go hunting. It had been a while, and I really needed to shift. So, with everyone gone, I figured I could slip out the door. Forty minutes and a rabbit later, I ran into another wolf. Big male. He was shy, and so I figured he was probably a local that I didn't know about. Never even thought about the possibility that he might be a shifter. We have a big wolf-dog rehab sanctuary just up the valley." She pointed her hand in the general directions of the sanctuary. "We ran around the meadows and then I came home. He didn't follow past the forest edge, so I figured he was wild." 

"Okay, so how did you discover that the wolf was Henry?" 

"I didn't."

"What?"

"Mike came up to sponge off of us and run wild for a weekend and he said after about an hour that Henry was a shifter."

"Okay,"

"Well, I didn't believe him. Asked him what the hell he was basing that assumption on and what proof did he have."

"So, what did he say?"

"Mike went on about how he just looked like a wolf, and that I should have smelled it and things like that. Granted, if I could have gotten past the unwashed biker stench, I might have. Then again, who knows."

"Said he looked like a shifter?"

"Yes."

This made Kate start to laugh. Josie gave her an odd look, and waited for her to stop laughing. Kate finally got her giggles under control enough for Josie to ask what was so funny.

"If Mike could tell just by looking, how did he miss the wereprairie dog down at the gas station?"

"What are you talking about?" Josie was totally perplexed.

"On the way up here, just before the turn off to this valley, there is a gas station. We stopped there and when we went in to pay, we woke up the attendant behind the counter. He was asleep. He was sitting up with his hands curled up on his chest. Great big coke bottle bottom glasses, short buzz cut hair, no teeth and a pot belly. The guy woke with a start and popped up just like a prairie dog out of his hole. Hands stayed right at his chest and just bobbed in place." Kate demonstrated, with her hands cupping her fingers forward like a puppy or dog when they stand on their back legs to beg. " I swear the guy barked. It was a riot. In fact, it was all we could do not to burst out laughing."

Josie thought about it and then started laughing. "You're right! I know who you're talking about. The gas station is about fifty miles down the valley, and all out by itself. Right?"

"Yes." 

"Oh god! I'll never be able to look at that guy again without thinking of him as a prairie dog." Josie started to laugh, and both women dissolved into giggles. A few minutes later, conversation won out over giggles. 

"So you have Mike telling you that Henry is a wolf. Did you just go up and ask him?"

"Oh no! I was way too much of a chicken at that point to do that. Hell, Mike was the only one who knew I was a shifter. I wasn't about to tell the ex. No, I just started watching Henry. Hell, I even suggested he take a nice long shower in hopes that I'd catch a bit of scent." Josie took a sip of tea. "No such luck."

"Josie, how did you find out?"

"Well, Mike as you know can be a real asshole. He went out hunting the same night that Henry went out. He was stupid enough to try and steal Henry's kill."

Kate shook her head, she thought she knew where this was going. "Just how stupid was Mike?"

"Stupid enough to almost get himself killed. Mike attacked Henry and Henry fought back. By this time, Henry had a few friends running with him. Real wolves. He tore into Mike, and they tore into each other. When they'd both come home, neither was surprised to see wounds and they had a talk."

"I take it that it wasn't a friendly one."

"No, it wasn't. In fact, Mike was stupid enough to try and threaten Henry's job. Said that I'd fire him for being a shifter, and other such bullshit."

"So, Henry didn't know you shifted?"

"Not at that point."

"Oh gods."

"No, oh shit! I was so far in the closet, that the last thing I wanted was for anyone to know I shifted. Dad had been killed by hunters and mom wasn't a shifter. Mike and I had both been raised by an Aunty that wasn't too stable herself, but she at least shifted."

"Oh... So, how?"

"Henry came storming into my office as soon as the ex left for town. Started yelling and pounding his fists on the desk and in general, scaring the hell out of me before I had a clue as to what was going on. I finally got him to settle down and talk to me. Without explaining anything, he just asked me straight out if I had any problems with shifters."

"Okay."

"I said no, I didn't. He asked me why I let meat heads like Mike up here. Then I had to explain that Mike was distantly family I had to put up with from time to time. At that point, he shut up and just sat there."

"And,"

"He looked at me, sniffed and then got a funny look in his eyes." Josie took a sip of tea. "I knew then that he had probably caught my scent at last. So, I very cautiously said that I was a shifter too."

"What did he do then?" 

"He started laughing!"

"Laughing? Why on earth was he laughing?" Kate was totally puzzled by this point.

"He was laughing because all this time he had been looking for a lady friend, and here was one literally under his nose and he had missed me." 

"How could he smell anything? From the sounds of it, he was the great unwashed."

"He'd been rolling in 'things' to try and cover his own smell. A habit he'd gotten into a long time ago apparently, and so when he smelled wolf up here, he just thought it was him, or one of the wild things from up in the valley. Henry had totally missed that it was me."

"Oh, that is just so wrong it's silly!"

"I agree. After that, we had a long talk. Discovered that we had a lot in common, and one of them being that neither of us really liked Mike. We also discovered that we found each other rather attractive. Especially once he washed." Josie grinned.

"He is a rather striking man. Especially with those eyes and that hair."

It was Josie's turn to smile. "Eric is a handsome man as well. In both fur and flesh."

Kate smiled. "I agree. Furry is so different. Although, the first time I really took a good look at Eric, we were in bed. I had just woke up to see this rather large animal next to me in bed."

"It is startling at first." Josie had a knowing smile playing over her face.

Kate nodded in agreement. "So, did you two go hunting?" Kate asked, when she really wanted to ask more and wasn't sure how to broach the subject.

"Yes, we went hunting two nights later. Made sure Mike knew that he was beta wolf too. We had a wonderful night. So nice to run and hunt with another wolf."

"How long did it take before you two became lovers?" Kate finally asked. She felt herself blushing and was glad that the room was only lit by the firelight.

"It was a couple of weeks. My ex had a real jealous streak, so we tried to stay apart during the day. He wasn't the worlds nicest person. I knew that going into the relationship, but... you know, you always think you can fix things. It took me a while to realize I couldn't fix my ex. He was just breaking me. The turning point in the whole relationship was when I hit that midpoint in my cycle. It was like Henry couldn't concentrate to save his soul. Too may pheromones for one nose to handle. He excused himself from work and said he was going to town. I did my work and then headed to bed. Waited for the ex to fall asleep and then slipped out the back door. I shifted and wasn't forty yards away from the building when this big wolf came tearing out of the trees."

"Henry?"

"Yes. He was all playful and nipping at me. We had a wonderful time." Josie's eyes lit up.

"So, the first time you made love was as wolves?"

"Yes. I'd never had anyone fit to me so well in my life. I won't say that Henry is perfect, but he is the best mate I could have. Next morning, I showered and had teethmarks on my neck. That was trouble. I tried to cover them up, but the ex noticed and had a fit. Wondered which one I was fucking, Henry or Mike. He was yelling and hitting the wall with his fists and moving towards me when Henry came tearing around the corner."

"Oh shit." 

"Oh yeah. He demanded to know what the hell all the yelling was about. The ex accused him of screwing me under his nose, etc. Henry let him know that the night before had been the first time, and if I didn't mind, it wouldn't be the last."

"Then what?"

"He tried to punch Henry and Henry took him down. Just grabbed him and put him on the floor. I'm not certain, but I think he let his eyes shift just a bit and growled in his ear that if he didn't like it, he could just leave. Take his stuff and no questions asked. Even said he'd pay him his share of the hotel." 

"Henry had that kind of money?"

"I don't know, because the ex got up, packed and left. Divorce papers showed up three weeks later and I signed them. I got the hotel and the land and that was all I wanted."

"And you got Henry."

"Oh yes. You'd have thought that the man had never had sex!" Josie giggled. "Didn't think I'd be able to walk after the first week."

Kate laughed. "Eric and I were the same way. It had been nearly five years since I'd last had sex, and about two for Eric. I'd forgotten how wonderful sex could be. Then I realized just how good sex was with Eric. So very different than with my husband." 

Josie nodded. "Henry cleaned up really well. He trimmed his beard, and stopped rolling in things. Plus, he treats me so well." She stopped to get another cookie. 

"I understand what you mean. Eric just kept getting better looking as his hair grew and he lost that haunted look. The beard was just icing on the cake. Oh, and the sex..."

It was Josie's turn to laugh. She knew exactly what Kate meant. Sex with the energy of the wolf was something that took just a little getting use to. She washed down the last of her cookie with the tea and then set the cup aside.

"When was the first time you noticed the wolf shifting in Eric during sex?" 

"Beltaine I think. There was a full moon, and we had the curtains open. I swore he got heavier, and then he bit my neck and oh my..." Kate was remembering how things felt. She smiled. "It wasn't too long after that that Eric and I started discussing the possibilities that I might be a latent shifter."

"I was wondering about that. Like I said, my aunt that raised us wasn't a shifter in the same way Mike and I were. She only shifted under stress. Even then, she still seemed more human than wolf. That was the first time I really thought about the fact that not everyone shifts in the same way."

Kate nodded. "I don't know if I will ever shift at will. I don't worry about it. I'm more concerned about growling at people who annoy me or smelling things that others don't."

Josie nodded. "Oh do I understand that one. Trying to hide wolfish behavior is so hard some days. Especially when something smells." 

"Speaking of smells, what is that?" Kate asked, as Josie turned to smell the odor Kate had noticed. 

"Oh god! Skunk!"

"No... They wouldn't have? Would they?" Kate started to stand up. 

Josie grabbed the cups. "I don't know, but there are only two reasons for something smelling that bad. One is a live skunk. The other is a skunked wolf." She started down the hall, and the smell got stronger. Kate was following behind her and had put her hand over her mouth and nose by the time they reached the kitchen.

Josie opened the kitchen door to see two naked men digging through the pantry cupboards. "Oh you two stink! Get out of my kitchen! Out now! On the back porch! I'll find the hydrogen peroxide. Just get out!" She was shouting and pointing at Eric and Henry. The two men departed the kitchen without saying a word.

"Oh the smell." Kate had forgotten just how rank skunk could be inside. "What the hell are we going to do with them?"

"Make them bathe in this mix we've got to make, and then scrub them till the skin comes off. Digging around in my kitchen. Smelling up the place. Ooohh." Josie was getting more and more upset, and the stench was getting worse. She had an armful of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, a big mixing bowl and shampoo. She headed out the back door that the two had exited a few minutes earlier. Kate followed.

Out on the back porch were the two men. Kate was doing her best not to gag. Josie handed her a paper towel. It was soaked in vanilla. 

"Hold this over your nose and you won't throw up. Vanilla hides the smell," Josie said as she began pouring things into the bowl. She mixed it up until it was a thick viscous fluid. She turned to the men. "Come here. I don't know if I even want to hear how you got this way. However, you two can explain yourselves once you don't smell. "

"Hon, I'm sorry..." Henry started to apologize.

"Don't. Just don't." Josie gave him a look that stopped him cold.

"Kate, " Eric started.

"I agree with Josie. I don't know what you did to get skunked, and I don't want to know until you smell better," Kate's voice was muffled by the paper towel.

Both men visibly slumped. They took the bowl and started rubbing the stuff on their skin. Josie mixed up more as they used it up. Each man helped the other reach their backs. Kate handed them washrags. When they were as soaked as they could get, Josie went back into the kitchen and came out with a hose that trailed behind her.

"Josie, please," Henry began. Before he could even close his mouth, Josie had turned the nozzle and let loose a stream of water over the two men. Kate could see that it was warm water, as the steam rose up from the puddles. Once the men were rinsed off, they looked around for towels.

"Eric and Henry, you know we are only half done. Get on with it."

Kate wondered what she was talking about when the two men shifted back into wolf form. The smell wafted up almost as strongly as it had when they started cleaning. Josie headed towards the two wolves and started working the mix into their fur.

"Can you give me a hand?" 

Kate nodded. She grabbed a handful of the mix and started slathering it on Eric. She remembered having to do this for Luna one time as that dog just couldn't stay away from skunks. "This is the pits. They get skunked, and we have to do all the work to clean them up."

"Isn't that the truth!" Josie said rather sharply. She was on her second handful of the mix. Henry was a large and very furry wolf. "And, if you don't do them in both forms, the smell won't go away." 

"I'd have never thought of that. Makes sense though." Kate went back to smearing goo on Eric.

Thirty minutes later, the wolves had been hosed down and shampooed. They shook off while Josie hosed off the porch. Kate had rinsed her arms and was standing off to one side. Josie took the hose back into the kitchen. Both wolves just sat down in a dry spot on the porch. A few minutes passed and then Josie came back out with towels. 

"Okay Henry, I've brought you a towel." Josie held out a towel towards the wolf. He sniffed it and then began to shift back to Henry. Josie handed Henry a towel and then one to Eric. Both men dried off and wrapped the towels around their waists.

"Modesty at this point?" teased Kate. 

"Kate, please," Eric was turning red under the porch lights.

She smiled and then took him in her arms. "You know, I never knew you blushed from the toes up before." Kate was giggling.

Henry started laughing and Josie joined him. Kate hugged Eric too and they all had a good laugh.

*

"I still can't believe you startled a skunk. Let alone got sprayed by it," Kate was laughing as she said it. 

"We were hunting a deer and it crashed through this thicket. What we didn't know was that there was a skunk on the other side, " said Eric.

Henry nodded in agreement. They were all lounging next to the fire with tea and cookies for everyone. The men had put on their jeans and nothing else. Josie and Kate were sitting near them, but not cuddled up as they still whiffed faintly of skunk.

"Yeah, and the score is Skunk 2 and Wolves 0," Josie said with a smile. "I hope you two gentlemen have aired out by bedtime. Otherwise, I think Kate and I will just curl up by ourselves."




Sheeple Ch. 07



"Hey now! We scrubbed! And shampooed!" Henry said.

"Yeah, you try taking a bath in hydrogen peroxide, shampoo and baking soda. Oh, and don't forget getingt blasted by a hose. I think you'd be a bit more sympathetic Kate." Eric almost whined.

"I would be if my nose didn't burn every time you moved. I understand that your noses are dead at the moment, but ours aren't." Kate waved her vanilla soaked handkerchief towards Eric.

"Oh. Yeah, forgot about that. But still..."

'You men are pitiful!" Josie hurled pillows at them. Henry caught the one tossed at him and lobbed it back. A pillow fight commenced that lasted until Kate caught one just before it hit the fireplace.

"Eric, I think I've had enough excitement for one night. Care to go to bed?" 

Eric smiled. "Yes, it sounds like a good idea." They said their good nights and headed to bed.

*

Thirty minutes later, they were cuddled up in bed, relaxing. Eric reached over and kissed Kate's neck where he had bitten her. "Is it tender Kate?"

"Not too bad. I was enjoying myself to much to care." She rolled over and snuggled into the crook of his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "In fact, I find myself waiting with anticipation for that moment when you do bite."

"And what about those times that the wolf stays out of our sex life?"

"Sometimes I miss the wolf, and sometimes I don't." She snuggled closer and pulled the covers up over them.

"That's good to know. There are times I feel like the wolf takes over too much of my life. It makes me understand how various members of my family forget what it is to be human." Eric sighed and moved farther under the covers.

"Eric, I love you for you. Not the wolf, you. I enjoy what the wolfish part of both of our natures brings to our lives, but it is not the sum total of our lives." Kate reached up and stroked Eric's jawline.

"Thank you Kate. Life has gone on so quickly as of late that some days I don't know which end is up."

Kate moved up and kissed Eric. As they kissed, they snuggled deeper into the covers and were soon asleep. 



Sheeple Ch. 08



This is round two for this chapter. I don' t know what happened. However, we will try again. Life has been a little hectic around here. Okay, Really hectic. Extra work for Wolf and very little time to write for me. Sigh... Hope you enjoy this next chapter. Sheriffs, and Bars and Cowboys, oh my...Please comment and vote.

Jaisen

*

Kate and Eric went for a hike the day after the skunking. He showed her where the pack hunted as well as were he and Henry had startled the skunk. When they reached the peak of a nearby mountain, they sat in the lee of the summit and ate lunch.

"Oh Eric, it is so beautiful up here. I don't know if I will want to go home." Kate sighed and leaned against Eric.

"I feel the same way. So quiet after the chaos of the last week. I'm still trying to take it all in."

"Last week or the scenery?" she asked with a smile playing across her face.

Eric chuckled. "Both if you must know." He wrapped an arm around Kate. "Last week was so stuffed full of tension and pain. I feel like I lived a whole year in six days. Now I'm just trying to grasp it all and heal as well."

"You still have some bruises and cuts that are rather red. I still marvel at how fast you do heal. Most men would still be in hospital with nurses and doctors fussing over them."

Eric nodded. Turning to face Kate, he brought her face nearer to his. "And how are you doing? We haven't had much of a chance to talk about how you are doing with all that happened," he inquired softly.

Kate looked down for a moment at the grass and lichens near her and then back up at Eric. "When it all happened, I didn't have time to think. Just act. When the police got to the house, I still didn't have much time to think about it because they were asking all those questions, the dogs were barking, and there were dead bodies all over my dining room. It wasn't until Zach came and they all went looking for you that I had a chance to think instead of react. "

"What went through your head?"

"Fear. Fear of loosing you. Fear of being alone. Fear of having to explain to Jamie and Mark what had happened to you. Fear of that creature coming back for me and you not being there to defend me. All I could do is cry. I know I was in shock, but that doesn't help matters. The deputies were trying to comfort me, and all I wanted was you. I crawled into the bed and just held your pillow because it smelled of you. Oh gods! I was afraid I had lost you forever and I didn't want to go down that path ever again. I did it when David died and I swore then that I'd never get attached to anyone that much again in my life besides my children. Then you came along with Jamie and Mark and I couldn't help myself but to fall in love with you." Kate buried her face in Eric's shirt. The tears streaming down her face soaked the material.

Eric wrapped his arms around Kate and held her tight. He knew that she had been bottling up all the emotion from the last few days. Knew that he had to wait for her to let it out. He'd gone through things like this before and knew what to expect. Eric had done some of his catharsis under the midnight sky the first night they were here. He knew that neither one of them was finished either. 

"W-w-waiting for Zach or James to call and say that they had found you was worse than hearing that David was dead. There wasn't any waiting in terror with him. Just poof and he was gone. But I had to wait for what seemed like forever until the phone rang. Even then I didn't know what the news would be. To hear your voice on the phone, Oh Eric. I, I wanted to cry and scream and yell all at the same time. I couldn't get to you fast enough. Poor car, I think I drove it in third gear all the way. Once I got there and saw you... My heart stopped. I swear it did. I didn't realize until much later that some of the pain I had been feeling was yours. You were so hurt and I just couldn't do enough. The paramedics were moving too slow and too fast all at the same time. I know that sounds stupid, but it is how it felt." Kate stopped to blow her nose on a hankie Eric handed her. 

"We all get that time distortion when things like that happen. I had it happen in combat more than once. Things are so confusing and so clear all at the same time." Eric remembered incidents that he had tried hard to forget. He pulled Kate closer to him, so that she was almost in his lap. "What else Kate?"

" I felt helpless. While the medics were cleaning you up, I kept replaying the whole event in my head. I kept thinking that I should have been able to do better. That if I had, you wouldn't have gotten hurt. No matter how I replayed it, I wasn't good enough. You still got hurt." 

Eric took her face in his hands and looked straight into her eyes. "Kate, you did the right thing. There was no other way for things to work out. If you hadn't done exactly what you did, I'd be a very lonely man and your sons would be without their mom. That beast didn't care which one of us he killed. He was going for you because you were nearer and I couldn't shoot. That you got out of the way is a miracle. In the back of my mind as I chased that wolf, I hoped that you were unhurt. I didn't know. I didn't know until the morning after. I woke up and sniffed you all over while you slept. That you have whimpered in your sleep told me that your hurts were mental and not physical. Things like this have a way of burrowing into our brains and instead of letting them scab over, you have to talk about them."

"You, you've been through this type of thing before." Kate was hiccuping as she tried to stop crying.

"Yes. More times than I want to admit. It isn't easy, but talking about it helps. Kate, you did the right thing. So did Zach. So did I. Bad shit just happens some times and we can't do anything except deal with it. I am so sorry that my past endangered our family. I am sorry I hurt you. I love you so much Kate." Eric wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. Kate's arms came up around him as well. The two of them sat there for a long time. Kate cried until she had no tears left. Eric felt tears roll down his face as well. 

Kate was the first one to break the embrace. They had been holding each other long enough for her leg to fall asleep. As she moved it, it was full of the pins and needles sensation. "Eric, I need a drink."

Eric reached into his pack and got out his water bottle. Kate took it and drank half. She handed it back to him and he finished it off. 

"Thank you. I feel better now." Kate smiled through the tear streaks on her face. "Better in a way I haven't felt in a week. I didn't realize just how much I was bottling up inside. I kept telling myself that everything would be alright and that I was handling it okay."

"You've done a good job of keeping everything together. Most women would have been in hysterics for the last week. Then again, you have surprised me time and again over the way you handle odd situations."

"Yeah, well it isn't every day that you find yourself in love with a werewolf who has more spy-guy connections than a James Bond movie." She smiled. "Besides, the boys always did say I was 'Super-Mom', the tree hugging, dirt worshiping goddess of the kitchen." Kate started giggling and both of them laughed until they could barely breathe.

*

The sun was setting just below the trees as they came within sight of the hotel. Henry was standing on the porch with a pair of binoculars. Eric waved at him and Henry waved back. Nice to know that they'd been missed. 

"Beginning to wonder where you were. Josie was getting anxious."

Eric knew that it was Henry that had been anxious, but didn't say anything. "We climbed that peak over there and got lost in conversation for a few hours." He pointed back over his shoulders. 

"Ah. Well, supper is in about thirty minutes. There's time for a shower if you hurry."

"That sounds good." said Kate. "I'll go get started and you can join me as soon as you tell Henry all about the big horn sheep we saw." She smiled as she walked away. 

"Sheep? You two saw sheep?" Henry asked with curiosity.

"Yeah. Half a mountain away, but we saw them. Kate first to be honest."

"Cool." Henry watched Kate enter their room from the deck and turned back to Eric. "How did the rest of your hike go?" Henry's tone was more serious.

"Good. We had a long talk up on the mountain. It was like Josie figured. Holding in a lot of pain and too afraid to share it. I'm just glad that Josie noticed she was whimpering in her sleep. I certainly hadn't noticed. Should have but didn't." Eric was still a bit miffed with himself for not seeing it as clearly as Josie had that Kate was hurting. Then again, he knew that he was still dealing with all the emotional stuff as well as physical aches and pains. 

"Josie said to tell you not to be too hard on yourself. You two have been through a lot more than most lately. You're bound to miss a few things. And to be honest, Kate is a very strong little lady. Not surprised that she kept things buried where you didn't see them," Henry finished and then put his hand on Eric's shoulder. "Now go get cleaned up before dinner." 

*

Dinner was roast venison, potatoes and green beans. Eric ate more than he should have, but didn't care. He was happy, full and sleepy. He woke up to the sound of laughter at one point and realized that he had fallen asleep mid-sentence. 

"Eric, I think it's time for Kate to haul you off to bed," Josie said with a smile.

"But what about dessert?" Eric remembered that Josie had made a berry pie.

"It'll be in the kitchen if you wake up in the night. I don't think you could stay awake long enough to eat it." 

"You're probably right Josie." Eric took the last bit of venison off his plate and stood up. "Are you ready?" he asked Kate.

"I've been finished for ten minutes. Just been watching you try to eat that last bit and not giggle too loudly."

"Oh great..... some mate you are!" Eric said teasingly.

Kate kissed him on the head and then offered her hand to help him up from the table. Henry grabbed the plates and Josie got the silverware and napkins. "See you in the morning," Kate said as they left the dining room. 

They walked down the hall and were in their room in a few minutes. Kate started to get undressed, but Eric just flopped across the bed. He was tired. It had been a long exhausting day in many ways. The last thing he remembered was Kate pulling off his shoes and saying something about getting undressed. 

Eric woke up in the middle of the night cold and on top of the covers. He realized that his clothes were still on, and that Kate was under the covers. He finished getting undressed and crawled in to snuggle Kate. She pulled his arm around her as he touched her side. Spooned up tight, he fell back asleep.

*

The few days reprieve ended all too soon. Eric had taken the packs down to the car and was coming back up the stairs when he met Kate and Josie on the deck. The two were talking and didn't stop when Eric joined them.

"Oh, I know this place down by you. It's even shifter friendly," Josie said.

"What?" Kate asked, rather puzzled.

"Yeah. They don't know that they are shifter friendly, but it's a great place to go." Josie smiled. 

"What are you two talking about?" Eric asked.

"Josie said that there is this pizza place she and Henry go to down by us. Said it's about an hour's drive south. I've just been trying to figure out where. She can't remember the name of the place though."

"Henry will remember." Josie turned and went looking for Henry. She didn't get far as he was coming down the hall towards them. They walked back over to Eric and Kate.

"Henry, what's the name of that pizza place we go to down towards Eric and Kate's?"

"Umm... I don't know it's real name, but everyone around there calls it the Dog Bar," Henry said. He put his arms around Josie as he spoke.

"The Dog Bar?" Kate asked with a funny look shadowing her face.

"Yeah. Up in that little ski resort town with dirt roads."

"Kate, do you know the place?" Eric looked at Kate, trying to figure out the expression on her face. 

"Oh yes. I just never thought of it being shifter friendly. Zach and Andy go there all the time. The reason they call it the Dog Bar is because you can take your dogs in there. They even have things on the menu for your mutts." Kate began to smile as she thought about the whole idea of taking Eric there in wolf form. "It's also known for it's wild parties and back alley fights."

"I take it that Zach and Andy are sons of yours?" Henry asked Eric.

"No, not mine. Kate's. Kate has four sons and those two are the oldest. I thought we'd mentioned that before."

"No, I must have missed that. I know that there are two younger ones, but missed that there were any others." Henry shifted from foot to foot which rocked Josie back and forth.

"I have a daughter and a son. Jamie and Mark. Kate has Zach, Andy, Pat and Jon. She also has a bunch of feral children." 

"Feral children?" Henry was really confused by this point.

"It's what I call the kids that have drifted into my life via the boys or my work with the homeless shelter. They are like feral cats," Kate started to explain.

Henry nodded as the concept caught. "So, do all of the kids get along well?"

Kate laughed. "Not exactly. Jamie and Mark are eight and ten. My youngest is fifteen and the oldest is twenty-five. Mine tend to see the two youngest either as pests or babies."

Henry blinked and took another look at Kate. "Are you sure you didn't just adopt them? You don't look old enough to have a son that old, let alone four."

"Henry, you are a sweet man. I'm nearly forty-seven. I think I'm more than old enough. Besides, if my guess is correct, I'm going to be a grandma in about seven months." Kate smiled, and watched Eric's face as he digested this information.

"Kate, which one?" Eric asked.

"Anne. She smells pregnant if that makes any sense."

Eric thought about it. "You know, I think you're right. Does she know yet?"

"I think she suspects. Zach is clueless, but then again, what male isn't at first?"

Henry laughed and Eric nodded. 

"So, if we head your way, we can all head out and enjoy the Dog Bar?" Josie asked, redirecting the conversation back to where it had been.

"Sounds good to me. I figure the last of the stuff should be cleaned up in a week or so. I go back to work then and maybe one of the weekends after would be a good time," Kate was calculating things in her head. "School will almost be done by then too."

"Hey... Wait a minute. Do we get to go as four-legs or two-legs?" Henry asked as he let go and stepped away from Josie.

"Well, Josie and I were speculating that she and I could go in with two beautiful wolves and then if you wanted, the two of you could show up later. Especially as I don't shift very well."

"That sounds like a possibility. We will get ahold of you before we head that way. Our vacation time is limited, but we do run away for the odd weekend," Henry looked around as he spoke. "Are you two all packed?"

"Yes. It has been an interesting and relaxing couple of days. Thanks for everything Henry, Josie," Eric stepped forward and started to shake Henry's hand. Henry pulled him into a bear hug. Eric returned the hug. Josie and Kate hugged and then turned to the men. Kate barely came up to Henry's chest. Josie hugged Eric and then tousled his hair. 

"It has been wonderful getting to know you. Especially after such a rocky start," Josie said.

"I agree. We'll keep in touch," Kate said as she turned to go. 

Eric and Kate climbed into the Subbie and with some final waves goodbye headed down the mountain.

*

Eric and Kate took the back roads home. It was a lovely drive that saw them pulling up to the house long after dark. Try as they might though, the minute the car door opened, they could hear Luna and Gretchen barking. Eric smiled and Kate just shook her head. Out of the back door poured Jamie, Mark and Andy.

"Hello Mom. Hi Eric. How was your trip?" Andy asked as he took Kate's pack.

"It was very interesting. I'll tell you all about it after we've gotten in the door." Kate smiled and pointed her chin towards the children. Andy understood that she didn't want to talk in front of them.

"Mama Kate! Mama Kate! We've had lots of fun and people in the house!" Jamie was bouncing up and down in front of Kate. "An the doorses are all fixed and the floors. Oh Mama Kate! The floors are pretty! An Andy cooked and cleaned and we helped!"

"Whoa! Slow down Jamie! You're talking so fast I can barely keep up with you." Kate took her hand and started heading towards the door. "Now what was this about the floors?"

"Andy oileded them! With lemony stuff and we mopped it all around and now they are all pretty! An the house smells like lemon pie!"

Kate smiled. Thank you sweetie." She turned towards Mark. "Did you help too?" 

"Yes. I did the sweeping before Andy oiled the floors." 

"Thank you too then Mark." Kate took a good look at him and realized that she couldn't see his eyes as his hair was covering them. "You know, I think you need a haircut. When did that grow so fast?"

Mark blinked. "Umm, I guess last night."

Kate and Jamie broke into giggles. Everyone moved into the house.

*

Kate was pleased with the way the house looked. The floors had been oiled and all the doors replaced. Andy had done a good job matching the old stain and varnish. Eric put the children to bed while Kate unpacked. She threw the last of the dirty clothes into the hamper as Eric came up the stairs. 

"Kate, do you want a cup of tea?" 

"Yes Eric. That would be nice. How about Andy?"

"I've already got one Mom! I'm waiting to hear all about your trip," Andy called from the kitchen. He had put the kettle on earlier and had all the cups out. He smiled at Eric as they stood in the kitchen. Kate came down the hall and found the two working on tea and toast.

"I thought you might want a snack." Eric looked up from buttering toast.

"Oh, that does sound good." Kate took some jam out of the fridge to go on her toast.

"So, did you have fun?" Andy asked.

"Yes. It was a very nice hotel, and Henry and Josie have become good friends." Kate took a bite of toast.

"I take it that it was 'friendly' like your cousin said?" Andy asked Eric.

"Yes. Although one of the guests was a bit of an arse." Eric sipped at his tea and then smiled at Kate.

"Yeah, Mike was, but getting skunked was more of an adventure for you Eric." 

"Now Kate! That's not fair. We didn't plan to get skunked." 

"What?" Andy asked.

"Eric and Henry went hunting and instead of catching a deer, they startled a skunk." Kate began to giggle.

"Oh... I bet that was a mess!" 

"It was. They had to be de-skunked in both shapes."

"You know, you two weren't the ones slathered in that damn mixture and naked on the back porch either. You could have a little compassion." Eric was turning red around the ears.

"Yes, but you two smelled so bad that Josie wouldn't let you into the house, and I don't blame her. Besides, we had to bath you two in wolf form. That wasn't so much fun. Worse than doing Luna or Gretchen."

"Oh gods, that must have been a sight!" Andy was imagining the whole thing.

"I give up!" Eric sat down and drank his tea while the two of them giggled.

Kate finished her toast and was drinking her tea when the phone rang. Andy went off to answer it, because as far as the world knew, Kate and Eric were not home. Andy came back in a moment later.

"That was Zach. He just wanted to know if you were home yet. I told him you were." 

"That's fine. I wondered where he and Anne were. I half expected them to be here too."

"It was a coin toss. I won. They went off to get groceries."

"Ah. Okay." Kate took another sip of tea.




Sheeple Ch. 08



"You mentioned Henry and Josie. Are they the owners or other guests?" Andy asked.

"They own the place," Eric said.

"Okay. I take it that at least Henry shifts?"

"Josie does too. It was my turn to feel the odd one out," said Kate.

"Sweetie,"

"It's alright Eric. I guess that it bothers me more that I shift when I don't expect to rather than the other way around." 

"Sweetie, the important part is that you can deal with me when I do shift and understand what is going on." Eric reached out and took her hand.

"Yeah," Kate put her cup down and kissed Eric. "Oh! Andy! Guess where we will be going in a couple of weeks?"

"Umm, Hawaii?" Andy was totally thrown off by Kate's question.

"No. A little closer to home."

"Camping up in the mountains?"

"No, but you're closer."

"Okay, Mountains. You're going somewhere in the mountains." Andy thought for a moment. "Mom, I don't know."

Kate smiled. "We're going to the Dog Bar with Henry and Josie."

Andy digested this information and then a smile broke out on his face. "You? And Eric? At the Dog Bar? With other..." He stopped as the full picture hit him. "You're going to take Eric and Henry as dogs?"

"Yes!" Kate smiled and then broke into giggles.

"Yeah, but if we behave, we get to shift back and come in as guys," Eric said with a smile to his voice.

"Oh that will be a riot. I'll have to try and be there just to see the effect." Andy smiled at the thought of it. "I hate to break this up, but I have to be up early in the morning."

"Okay Andy. Sleep well." Kate kissed him goodnight.

"Almost forgot! James called and said as soon as you wanted to 'bring Max home', he'd help you." 

"Thanks Andy," Eric said as everyone headed off to bed.

*

"It feels good to be home," Kate said as she walked into the bedroom.

"Yes, it does Kate. I guess I had better call James in the morning. We need to get this taken care of and try to get back to normal."

"I agree. Are you still going to shift for him, or just do it privately?"

"I am going to have to shift in front of him. Not my first choice, but a necessary evil." Eric sat down on the edge of the bed to pull off his boots.

"A necessary evil? Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"No. Just something that I'd rather not do, so I can't view it as a good thing."

Kate thought she understood Eric. Some days his mind twisted in ways she thought she understood, and other days she was totally off kilter. She dropped the teeshirt over her head and then crawled under the covers. Eric had gotten as far as his socks when he started to hunch his shoulders.

"Itchy?"

"Yes, could you please scratch my back?"

"Of course," Kate said as she started moving her hand across his back. "There are days I think a curry comb would be more appropriate."

"Don't tease me!" 

"No, this is teasing," Kate said as she reached around and found the sweet spot which made his legs twitch.

"Nnoo... Not fair!" Eric squirmed under her fingers. He reached around and tried to get to Kate's ribs. She squeaked and they were soon rolling around on the bed.

In the next room, Andy smiled. It was good to have them home.

*

Eric had called James the next morning and made arrangements to meet him at Dr. Fremont's office. Zach went with Eric. The drive to the vet's was short and they were waiting in the parking lot for both Art Fremont and James to show up.

"Glad you and mom had a good time," Zach was saying as Fremont pulled up. The men nodded at each other and got out of their cars. Fremont had the back door open and let the two of them in. James was the only one missing.

"Well, you look a darn sight better than the last time I saw you," Dr. Fremont said.

"I feel a lot better too Art." Eric extended his hand to the vet. The men shook hands and Art looked at Eric's arm. 

"You know, you can barely tell you took any damage at all. Your healing rate is tremendous."

"Art, it has it's price. I spend at least 24 hours asleep for any serious injury. I was asleep for almost 36 hours to heal from that fight. Even then I wasn't totally myself." 

"Yeah, you kept pissing mom off with the pee mail patrol." Zach smiled.

"Oh shush!"

"Pee mail?" Art asked.

"Yes, checking the fence to see who'd been by and peed on it," Eric said with a slight glare directed towards Zach.

Art smiled. "Pee mail. I like that."

"Good morning all." James came into the office and nodded hello to everyone. "Are we ready to do this?"

"No, but we need to get things done," said Eric.

"I agree. If Ronny asks me one more time how Max is, I may just lose it."

"I'd forgotten about him. He is friends with Max." Eric sighed. "I guess we'd best get on with it." Eric closed the door to the office and then after tuning his back, he started to undress.

"Umm, Eric, do you..." James started.

"Kate would kill me if I shredded my clothes. Most shifters get undressed first," Eric started to explain.

"Oh. Okay. I just didn't know."

"It's okay James. I'll be done in a second." Eric had his boots off and was working on his socks. He stuffed the socks in his boots. Teeshirt was next off and then the jeans. Eric hesitated at removing his underwear. He still had his back turned to the rest of the men. Uncomfortable didn't cover it. Kate was one of the few people he actually changed in front of, and that was a lot different than now. One pair of underwear wasn't that much. He shifted. 

The wolf's tail popped free of the bikini underwear that Eric wore. They didn't drop, so he brought his right hind leg up trying to catch it with his foot or dew claw to pull them down. It didn't work. He tried again. This time, he caught the front claws in a bit of the side, but that only served to move them up, and not down. He reached back to try and bite them off. No luck. He scritched at them as if he had the worst case of fleas and the only result was to move them back down to where they had been to begin with. He tried shaking and wagging his tail. It did no good. Finally in utter frustration, he sat down on his haunches and grabbed at them with his teeth. It was a most undignified pose. He grabbed the elasticated edge and pulled. There was a slight tearing sound as they gave way under his teeth. A moment later, the shreds of underwear were dropped to the floor. The wolf didn't understand the sounds that the men were making. All three of them were doubled over with their arms around their waists. The wolf didn't know if he'd done something wrong or not. He just sat and watched.

*

James was wiping his eyes and trying to stop the laughter that had erupted over watching Eric/Max trying to remove the offending underwear. Zach was still giggling and Art had just given over to belly shaking laughter. 

It had been rather quiet in the office while Eric had stripped off. When he paused just before shifting, there had been a bit of suspense building in the room. Art and Zach had both seen Eric shift. James had not, and in his own way was skeptical. Watching Eric melt... there was no other way to describe it, into a large wolf had brought everyone to a standstill. Right up until they realized that they were looking at a wolf with bikini underwear on. That had started the giggles. When Eric/Max reached around and started tugging at the underwear, that had been the last straw. James started laughing as did Art. Zach sniggered and then joined in the laughter. Especially when Eric/Max stood there with the last shreds of underwear hanging from his canines.

"Oh my god!" James finally gasped out. "That was hilarious. The last thing I expected was to be laughing. Oh my." He was still drying his eyes as he finished speaking.

"Max, mom's gonna be mad at you!" Zach said with a giggle to his voice as he picked up the shreds of underwear. He tucked them in the pocket of the jeans as he picked up Eric's clothes. 

"That was just too funny. Much better than last time. Granted, no one would ever believe me if I wrote it up in the Vet Weekly." Art smiled. "I got Max a new collar with tags for the occasion." Art pulled out a deep blue collar with tags attached. "Come Max." He motioned to the wolf so that he could put the collar on him. 

The wolf looked at the one man with his head turned to the side. He knew Art, and so stepped forward. Art put the collar on and the wolf shrugged his shoulders to fix the fit. Zach patted him on the head. He could smell the biscuits on the counter. Jumping up on the table, he walked across to the counter and batted at the jar.

"Hey Max! Wait a minute!" Art called when he realized where Max was going. He reached in and gave Max a big dog biscuit. Peanut butter flavored. 

"Do I get one?" Zach asked.

Art just shook his head. "I do not understand how you two can eat these things." With resignation, he handed one to Zach. Turning to James who was watching the whole show he asked, "Do you want one too?"

James smiled. "No thank you. I had breakfast." He shook his head as he watched Zach and Max eat the biscuits. If Art was going to have trouble trying to explain this to the veterinary world, there was no way he could explain this to the doughnut eating bunch down at the station. 

"I'll take Eric's clothes home and meet you there in a while," Zach said as he swallowed the last of the dog biscuit.

"Okay. We'll get the papers in order and head home in a bit. See you there."

"Bye Zach. Say hello to your mom for me." Art waved goodbye. 

"He's a good kid, even if he does have strange tastes in food." Art smiled as he said it.

"Yeah. Now to get Max home. I take it you made up some paperwork for me?"

"Typical bureaucratic stuff. Same thing I give you for every rabies check. Plus, the bill."

"The county clerk is going to love this one."

"I know, but if I didn't charge you, they'd think I was going crazy."

"You're probably right." James tucked the paperwork under his arm and fished in his pocket for the keys to the Explorer. "Come on Max. Let's go home. " He motioned to Max who was laying on the counter amidst the last of the crumbs. "See you later Art."

"Bye James. Bye Max!"

Max gave a broad yawn and then jumped off the counter and followed James out the door.

*

Max jumped into the seat of the Explorer. He found the remains of James' breakfast and gobbled it down before James could stop him. "Good thing someone likes a cold egg and sausage biscuit," James said to Max as Max licked the wrapper. Max turned around three times and then sat down on the seat. He bumped his nose against the window and then looked at James. James opened the window for him and he stuck his head out. James just shook his head and smiled.

"Just how much do you know of what's going on eh Max?" James spoke to the wolf, but didn't expect a reply. Max just turned and gave him one of those wolfish grins.

James laughed and started the SUV. In a few minutes, they were out on the highway. James with his elbow out the window and Max with his head out and tongue lolling in the breeze. They took the first exit and turned onto the main road through town. Max was delighting in the smells. James watched him out of the corner of his eye. It was hard to think of Max and Eric being the same person. It brought a smile to his face as he remembered the underwear shredding.

Turning onto a side street, and then up a block brought them to the side of Kate's house. Zach's beat up Subaru as well as Kate's newer one sat in the drive. Across the street was Ronny and the animal control van. James just shook his head. He gave up a long time ago trying to figure out how Ronny or anyone knew where he'd be at any given moment. James parked the SUV and got out. He was going to go around when Max leaped through the open window. 

"Hey-ya James!" Ronny was hollering as he crossed the road.

"Morning Ronny."

"See ya bringin Max home ta-day."

"Yes. He's a free dog." James ruffled Max's ears.

Ronny crouched down and gave Max a hug. "Din't think you'd make it Max. You was one beat up dog."

Max took the hug and then decided to give Ronny a wet tongue upside the head. He smiled one of those wolfish grins.

"Aww Max!" Ronny wiped at his face where it was wet with slobber.

James laughed. "Good thing he likes you Ronny. After what he did to that wolf, I'm not sure I'd let him that close to my face." 

Ronny stood up and patted Max's head. "He's a good dog. Wouldn't hurt me. Oh! Almost forgot." Ronny left them and went back over to the van. He pulled a bag out of the front. Kneeling down in front of Max, he opened the bag. 

Max could smell the meat before Ronny had the bag all the way open. He stuck his head in it and grabbed at the chunk of steak. Pulling away, he had it out and was merrily chewing on it.

"Geeze Max! You was suppose to have that for yer supper." Ronny watched as Max made short work of the meat.

"I think he just had breakfast instead. That was nice of you Ronny." James watched Max and wondered what it did to Eric when he shifted back. He hoped that Eric had a strong stomach. First dog biscuits then an egg and sausage biscuit and now a chunk of steak that didn't look the freshest. 

"Its okay. Martha gived me a piece for him. She saved it from dinner." Ronny looked up and saw Kate coming down the stairs and out to the cars. "Mornin Kate. Max is home."

Good morning gentlemen," Kate held out her hand and shook James' and then Ronny's hand. Then she turned to Max. "Morning Max. How was your breakfast?"

Max jumped up and put his paws on Kate's shoulders. His breath was heavy with the smell of meat and peanut butter dog biscuit. He belched.

"Oh Max! Get down!" Kate shoved the big paws off of her shoulders. "Dog breath!" 

"Good morning Kate," James said.

"Thanks for bringing him home. How is Art?"

"He's doing well. Especially now that Max won't be eating him out of dog biscuits."

"Apparently Art has the best biscuits in town. Both Max and Zach agree." Kate smiled.

"You know that Zach eats dog biscuits?" James asked.

"Ever since he was about three. Andy too. I thought that they did it just to gross me out, but they actually like them." Kate shook her head not knowing what else to say about her sons and their weird food habits. "Thank you for the steak Ronny. I'm sure that Max appreciated it."

"Yeah, he ate it fast. Sort of wolfed it." Ronny smiled at the joke he'd made. "I better go work. Don't want the mayor mad at me cause I din't catch no dogs." 

"Bye Ronny. Come by any time." Kate waved goodbye to him.

"Bye Ronny. See you downtown," James said.

The two of them watched Ronny head off. Max had gone into the yard and was sniffing the fence line. He stopped once or twice and peed on the fence at one point.

Kate just shook her head and smiled. "Pee mail."

James looked at her, and then to Max. It dawned on him what she was talking about and smiled. "I get it now. Zach was talking about pee mail this morning."

"You've had a long morning. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" 

"I'd love one." James followed Kate up the stairs. Max worked his way past the two of them and nosed the lever handle open. He waited for them to reach the top of the stairs and then headed into the kitchen. James closed the door behind him and watched Max head down the hall.

"He'll be back in a minute." Kate put the kettle on. She got three cups down out of the cupboard. 

"Okay." James wasn't sure if it would be Max or Eric that came back into the kitchen. He sat down on one of the kitchen stools and took a moment to collect himself. It had been an interesting morning.

"Hello James," Eric said as he came back into the kitchen. He was just buttoning up his shirt that he had had on earlier.

"Hello Eric." James turned towards Eric. He smiled when he realized that out of the corner of the jeans pocket was hanging a shred of underwear. 

Eric caught the look and followed James' stare. He tugged at the scrap of cloth and pulled out the shredded underwear. "Oh no."

Kate looked over from where she was adding teabags and sweetener to various cups. She smiled and shook her head. "Another pair gone eh?"

"Umm, Kate, I'm sorry. It's just that it was a bit embarrassing..." was as far as Eric got. He was turning bright red around the ears.

Kate walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It's okay. They already had holes in them from a time or two before where you've bit them off."

James smiled as he watched this exchange. "Did Zach tell you the laugh we all had over those underwear this morning?"

Kate nodded. "Said it was great fun. One minute Eric was standing there in his undies and next minute there was a wolf all tangled up. Rip... Shred.... No undies." 

Eric walked over and put the remains in the trash. "I got myself into that one didn't I?"

"Yes. However, if you hadn't shifted in front of me like that, I'm not sure I would have believed you. It certainly proves what you are. Undies and all." James smiled and then laughed.

Kate and Eric joined him.

*

"Thanks for the tea. I best be going before the dispatcher has a fit." James stood up and took his teacup to the sink. "Thank you too Eric. Not many men would be as honorable as you were this morning. I appreciate your trust."

"Not a problem James. Thank you for all of your help." Eric extended his hand and shook James'.

"Thank you James. For everything."

"You're welcome Kate. Eric, I was serious about that job offer. If you want to be a deputy, I'll swear you in in a heartbeat." 

"I'll think about it James. In the meantime, if you need Max, just let us know." Eric moved towards the back door to open it for James.

"Alright. Have a good day you two." James waved as he left the house.

"I'm glad that's over," Kate said as Eric closed the door.

"So am I. I feel like I've spent a little too much time as a wolf lately."

"I could agree with you on that. You were in fine form this morning." Kate smiled as she watched Eric's face. "You were just a tad playful today. Licking Ronny on the face and jumping out of the car window. Thought James flinched when you did that.

"Now if we can just keep Ronny from bringing steak to Max too often." Eric winced as a belch escaped.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"Yes. It wasn't off or anything. I just ate it too fast."

"Okay. I was proud of James not turning green when Ronny gave that to you."

"Oh?"

"I was watching from the top of the stairs. I think if he could have stopped you he would have."

"It was okay though. Ronny was just being nice."

"Yes, but James didn't know that you could eat that and be alright. He was just trying to watch out for you. I guess you and Zach freaked him out a bit when you had dog biscuits at the vets."

"But they smell and taste so good! I don't know where Art gets them, but it would be worth finding out." Eric licked his lips, thinking about them.

Kate laughed.

*

Life returned to normal. Or, about as normal as life ever got around Kate. Eric went back to work and so did she. Jamie and Mark went to school and Pat decided to stay out in Levette. He said that he and Tammy planned to marry. When that would happen would be anyone's guess. 

Zach and Anne announced that she was pregnant and they were still not getting married. Kate just shook her head over that bit of news. Everyone teased Anne about having puppies. Zach went red around the ears and mumbled. Anne didn't know what to think. In the end, everyone had a good laugh.

Kate was taking mental inventory and was trying to get her mind back to work. The last week had been so busy. Coming home just accelerated things and work was at least quiet.

"Collecting dust bunnies?" Suzanne asked from the door.

Kate looked up to see her boss. "No, just trying to sort out a few things. I still can't get into the swing of work. You wouldn't think that two weeks off could scatter the little gray cells so much."




Sheeple Ch. 08



"Oh yes I would. Why do you think I'm standing here in the door?" Suzanne smiled. "Want a cup of tea or a blueberry muffin?"

"No. Eric said that he'd stop by for lunch. He had to be downtown this morning. Apparently James wanted him to come by and fill out some paperwork."

"What kind of paperwork?"

"A job application."

"Huh?"

"James wants him as a deputy, but will settle for Search and Rescue." Kate shook her head. She and Eric had discussed this for a long time. They decided that S&R was fine for right now. Being a deputy was out.

"I can see Eric doing S&R work. He loves being out in the mountains." 

"He does. Granted, I do too, and I'm not signing up."

Suzanne smiled. "Nope. Not your thing. I hear you are going to be a grandma."

"Yes. That was interesting. Zach and Anne are happy being together sans paperwork, so who am I to complain?"

"They've got you there don't they. What about Pat and Tammy?"

"Yes. Can't fuss when Eric and I don't have anything more than a kiss between us for legalities. As for Pat and Tammy, they want to get married this Autumn. I'm glad he's settling down. I like Suzie, but she isn't a good match for Pat."

"Being picky?"

"You bet!" 

"I don't blame you one bit." Suzanne stood and started to move out of the door. "Sure I can't bring you anything?"

"No. I'm fine. Unless you can find a cup of brain starter."

Suzanne laughed. "Okay. See you in a bit."

"Bye." Kate waved and then started back to work. The state had pulled the programs that had invaded the computers at work. Only to set new ones in place that were just as frustrating in new and different ways. No spyware, but lots of data blocks. Kate was wondering just how much they could get away with leaving blank before someone at the capital got pissy.

She had just installed the last of the software and was importing data across the network that Eric and Zach had installed on Monday. Something made the hairs on the back of her neck tingle and she turned around slowly. Eric and Henry were standing in the doorway.

"Look who I found." 

"Hello Henry!" Kate stood and came around the desk. She hugged each man in turn. "Where's Josie?"

"She's holding a table at that cafe you recommended in town. We thought we'd come get you for lunch," Henry said.

"Ooooh, that sounds good. I love eating there." Kate grabbed her handbag and they headed out the door. 

As they passed Suzanne's office, Kate peeked in. No one was there. Kate took a moment to write a note to let Suzanne know where she was going. Placing the note on the monitor, she turned back to the two men.

"I'm ready. Are we walking or driving?"

"Walking. It took longer to find a parking space than it did to walk here." Eric shook his head. Parking was becoming an issue as the town grew. Downtown was tight on parking spaces. 

The three of them walked down the main street towards the Firefly Cafe. Kate and Eric ate there often as it had decent sandwiches and the best desserts in town. Henry opened the door and Kate saw that the place was packed. Looking around, they saw Josie in the corner. They looked at the chalk board menu and then joined her at the table.

"I hope this place is as good as you say it is," Josie said. "It took me ten minutes to snatch this table."

"Oh, it is well worth it." Eric looked around for the waitress and waved at her when she saw him.

"Heya Eric. How are you?"

"Just fine Cindy. Busy today isn't it?"

"Oh yeah. Good to see you though. What'll you have?"

"A firefly special with chicken and raspberry iced tea."

"Got it, and you Kate?"

"Grilled tuna and raspberry tea."

Henry looked at the waitress and then to Josie. "You first."

"I'll have the French dip and a coke," Josie ordered.

"And you Hon?" Cindy asked as she turned to Henry.

"Umm... The prime rib sandwich, and a beer."

"Thanks Hon. I'll be back with your drinks in a minute." Cindy finished writing the order and headed off in the direction of the kitchen.

Josie was looking around as was Henry. Both were rather surprised to see all the art on the walls. Paintings were everywhere. "This is some place Kate."

"We like it. Leigh is from back east and has brought a breath of culture to this part of the state. And, some of the best cooking in town."

"The first time Kate brought me here, I thought she had some sort of time machine and had warped us to a different reality. It's a nice change from burgers and burritos." That brought a smile to everyone's face.

Cindy interrupted the conversation by bringing the drinks. "I didn't know what kind of beer you wanted, so I just brought you a Newcastle Ale. Is that alright?"

Henry blinked a moment and then just nodded. Eric smiled and suppressed a laugh.

"I had that same deer in the headlights feeling when we first came here Henry." Eric handed him the bar menu that was on the table and showed him the long list of micro-breweries and imports on the beer side. 

"I... I didn't think they'd have anything besides your basic Bud or Coors." 

"Not in here. Those are probably the least favorites." 

Henry just shook his head and tasted his beer. "This is good."

Cindy smiled and walked back towards the kitchen. 

*

Their food arrived a few minutes later, and everyone dug in. Bites were traded and it was decided that next time they came to the Firefly, it would be for dinner.

"You have got to try the lamb. I don't know what Leigh does to it, but it is the best I have ever tasted," Eric said around a mouthful of sandwich.

"If it is as good as this steak in my sandwich, I'll be amazed. Kate, we will be stopping by more often, if it is only to have lunch here."

"I agree. Too bad we can't get Leigh to move up to our neck of the woods," Josie said. 

"You'd have to stand in line. You aren't the only ones who would go out of their way to eat here. Dessert anyone?" Kate asked. 

"Oh damn." Henry looked across the dining room to the smaller board with the desserts written on it. "I don't know what to order."

"How about we order four different ones and trade bites?" Josie asked.

"That sounds good. Kate?" Eric smiled at Kate, knowing that she loved the desserts.

"Fine by me, Eric."

Cindy was waved over and Kate ordered four desserts. Fifteen minutes later, Eric and Henry were drooling as the plates were set before them. Josie wasn't sure she wanted to trade bites after she had her first bite of the rich chocolate cake with its own sauce. 

"This stuff is just decadent."

"Umhmm..." Kate mumbled around a spoon of apple torte.

Reluctantly, they all traded plates and then couldn't decide which was the best. Eric and Henry jostled to get the check when it arrived. Eric lost, and left the tip. The four of them walked slowly out of the cafe, and back towards where the men had parked Henry's Volvo. 

"I'll need to run all night to work that off," Henry said as he stretched. Josie nodded in agreement. 

"Well, I figured we could all go out later tonight. The moon will give us plenty of light," Eric mentioned.

Kate sighed. "There are days I wish I changed with the ease of you lot. I guess I"ll just wait till you get home."

Josie turned to Kate. "Don't fret. It either will happen or it won't. In the mean time, don't let it upset you." She wrapped Kate in a hug. Kate hugged back. The guys had reached the car and were waiting for the two women. 

"Thanks Josie. It just frustrates me some days." The two of them moved on towards the car.

Eric reached his arms around Kate as well. "Sweetie, I don't care if you ever change. I love you for who you are."

"I love you too." Kate kissed him.

"Well, if you three will get in the car, we can go home and relax. I for one need to get rid of my belt." Henry unlocked the car and climbed in. Everyone followed suit and Eric gave Henry directions to the house.

When they got home, Kate called Suzanne and let her know that company had show up unexpectedly. Suzanne was fine with her being gone the rest of the afternoon. It was a quiet day and she understood that Kate was having trouble getting back into the routines at work.

*

The four adults were in Kate's kitchen. It has been a loud homecoming. Luna and Gretchen barked their fool heads off and half a dozen cats joined in with various hisses, growls and purrs. Mark poked his head up from his homework long enough to say hello and then went back to writing. Jamie on the other hand was chatting ninety miles an hour and Eric had finally sent her off to shower so that the adults could have a breather.

"I see what you mean about the differences in the two children. Are they really both yours?" Josie asked Eric.

"As far as I know. Granted, there are days I do wonder about Mark. He is a lot better though than he was when we first got here. This was very sociable in comparison to how he use to be."

"Jamie is a sweetie though," Henry remarked. She had wrapped herself up in his lap ten minutes after they had been introduced. "She is also going to give you a run for your sanity once puberty hits."

"If she doesn't shift, I will be very surprised," said Josie.

"I know. I am also very glad that I have Kate here to help me," Eric said.

Kate nodded. "She is precocious and I just hope we can manage to go camping often enough." She and Eric had discussed the possibilities more than once of what would be needed if Jamie shifted like her dad.

"Well, if you need to, you can always come up to the hotel," Josie offered. Henry nodded in agreement.

"I hadn't thought of that. Thank you both. That may just be a lifesaver." Eric looked down the hall as he spoke. "I know we have a few years to go, but..."

"No reason to be caught short eh?" Henry smiled.

"Exactly."

"Anyone for a cup of tea?" Kate asked. 

"A cup of tea would be nice," Josie said. Henry nodded in agreement. Eric smiled and started opening the tea cupboard while Kate got the cups.

*

Andy walked in thirty minutes later. Henry and Josie were introduced and soon the conversation turned to the Dog Bar.

"So, you four are really going to go up there?" Andy asked. He was smiling.

"Yes. Josie and I have gone up there before and have enjoyed ourselves. Granted, the food is nothing compared to the Firefly, but the pizza is good." 

"Yeah, it is. I've worked both places. Been thrown out of the Dog Bar for fighting. We all have I think, except for Jon."

"I didn't know that." Kate wondered what else she had missed.

"We didn't tell you everything Mom. A guy has to have some secrets." Andy had a smile playing across his face. 

Kate just shook her head. "No, I guess I shouldn't expect you to tell me everything. Although you did tell your dad far more about your early sex life than he ever wanted to hear."

"He was so much fun to shock."

Eric looked at Andy and then remembered the stories that Kate has shared. He was not looking forward to Jamie and Mark being teens.

Henry was smiling and Josie just looked puzzled. "What are you smiling about Henry?" 

"I was a teenage boy once." 

"Andy use to give detailed reports on his dates to me. I ignored him because I knew he was trying to shock me. However, one night I was gone and David got the brunt of the date data. You should have heard the yelling when I got home," Kate explained.

"Oh, I can imagine. I did something similar one time and thought my mom was going to have a stroke." Josie smiled. 

Eric and Henry looked at one another and both decided that silence was their best ploy at the moment. 

Josie looked over at them with a quizzical look. "Okay, what on earth did you two do that neither one of you will say a word?" 

"Can I plead youthful stupidity?"

"Henry, whatever could you have done that would make you blush like that?" Kate asked with a smile in her voice.

"I'd... I'd really rather not say."

Eric started to laugh, as he realized that Henry was caught. "You'd better fess up. These two look like they just caught themselves a real treat."

"Yeah Henry. What did you do?" Josie stepped a little closer as she spoke. She ran her hand up the side of his neck and under his hair at the back. She knew this just melted Henry's brain. 

Henry put his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. He realized that he had little choice but to talk. "I, umm..... When I first shifted, I tended to be a bit reckless. I chased anything in heat, and a couple of times, I had to get bailed out of the pound," Henry finished and stared at the floor.

"The pound? As in the dog pound?" Kate asked.

"Yes."

"How on earth did your mom or dad know you were in the pound?"

"Well, the first time, I realized I didn't have any choice, so I shifted back and had to try and talk my way out of the situation."

Eric started laughing. Josie and Kate joined him as they all visualized Henry crouched naked in a dog kennel. Andy just smiled.

"Yeah, go ahead and laugh. It wasn't funny. Luckily, I was able to convince the guy that some college friends of mine had gotten me drunk, taken my clothes and dumped me over the top of the fence into the dog pen." 

"Oh Henry!" Kate gasped between giggles.

"I"m just glad my mom finally believed me and brought me some clothes. The guy still charged her the dog fee, and I had to work it off." Henry's face colored pink.

"Mine too," Eric said quietly.

"What?" Kate looked at Eric as if he'd just grown a horn on his forehead.

"My mom baled me out too. Threatened to let them neuter me next time. Oh, and give me shots and tags," Eric said softly.

"No wonder you were so resigned to getting tags that time from Doc Fremont." Kate suddenly had things fell into place.

"Yeah. After that, I was a lot more careful."

"So was I," said Henry. "I had to remember to take that damned collar with me when I went out. Saved my balls more than once."

They all dissolved into giggles. 

"Damn, and I thought I was a mess as a teen. At least I never ended up in the dog pound Mom." 

"No, just the drunk tank. I think I'd take the pound over that any day." Kate smiled.

Andy leaned over and kissed his mom on top of the head. "Glad to know you love me." 

"Yes, I do. Good thing, otherwise you'd have been the terror of the local jail."

Andy nodded. "Where is everyone sleeping tonight? Do I need to head for the back yard or are we making up a guest bed?"

Kate looked at the rest of them and shrugged her shoulders. "I hadn't thought about it. They showed up this afternoon and to be honest my mind just didn't go as far as bedding people down for the night."

"Kate, we won't be here for the whole night, so there is no reason to put your son out of his bed. We can sleep on the floor if we have a pillow or two."

"Mom, I thought you said they were spending the night?" Andy asked rather confused at this point.

"Andy. Henry, Josie and I are going out for a bit and then we will come home for a nap," Eric started to explain. 

Josie and Henry nodded in agreement. "We really don't mind sleeping on the floor," Josie added.

Suddenly the light dawned on Andy. "Oh! You three are going hunting! Mom, do you want me to bring up the dog pillows we use for Luna and Gretchen when we go camping? We could toss them in the living room or even a corner of your room."

"Andy, that sounds like a great idea. Those pillows are nice," Eric said. "Used them myself more than once."

"Pillows are fine by me. What about you Henry?"

"That will do just fine."

"Are you two sure? I can make up a bed. It's really no trouble," Kate said suddenly feeling a bit uncertain.

"Hon, we've slept outside more than once. To share your room on pillows? That would be great," Josie said.

"It isn't like we haven't puppy piled before. Best way to sleep sometimes, " Eric said, putting his arms around Kate.

Kate nodded. She remembered the second night up at the hotel. It had been a very cozy night. "Okay, if pillows on the floor are alright, we'll set that up while you three go out on the town."

Andy headed downstairs while the rest of the adults headed down the hall towards Kate and Eric's room.

*

Well after the sun set, Kate watched the three of them bound over the back fence and head up into the hills. She took a last look around the yard and closed the door behind her. Heading through the kitchen and down the hall, she turned lights off as she went. After checking the other doors, she headed to bed. There was a book waiting for her attentions. Crawling over the pillows on the side of the bed, Kate settled into a nest of pillows. Reading glasses perched on her nose, she settled into her book. 

*

The three wolves bounded across alleys and streets as they edged closer to the school yard and the culvert that Eric used as an exit to the land outside of town. He enjoyed being back on familiar grounds with someone else to accompany him. Henry and Josie followed close behind him with Henry getting distracted by a good smelling husky until Josie growled at him. He dropped his head and turned back to the other two as they headed out. 

Ducking into the culvert, Eric sniffed the air. The last thing he wanted was to meet a skunk. Nothing tickled his nose except the dust and scent of cats. He headed through the culvert and out onto the open fields beyond the houses. Henry and Josie followed.

Clear of the houses, the three wolves ran as fast as they could while navigating around cactus, rocks and the occasional startled rabbit. No one was hungry enough to bother with the cottontails bounding out of their way. They headed across open land until they came to a hill that dipped down into an arroyo. Eric headed down the arroyo that had been the scene of the horrendous fight a few weeks previous. No evidence of the battle was apparent. Rain had washed away all traces. The sand gave their paws strong purchase and they delighted in the speed of their passing. 

Popping up out of the arroyo some miles west of where they entered, Eric stopped to catch his breath. The other two flopped to the ground to rest. It had been a good run. Henry looked to Eric and grinned a toothsome smile. He then turned to Josie, sat on his haunches and threw back his head. A long low howl issued from his throat. A second later, he was joined by Josie and Eric. The sound echoed across the arroyo and surrounding hills. Off in the distance, coyotes joined in the song and farther off, dogs began to bark and howl. It was beautiful noise. 

Once the last of the howls faded, they began moving again. Eric took them to a local stock tank. He took a long drink at the overflow pipe and then moved aside for the others to drink. Then he carefully walked around the tank making sure to leave prints in the mud. Josie and Henry looked at him and then followed suite, leaving a braid of tracks for the local rancher to find and puzzle over in the next day or so. 

Sniffing the air, Eric recognized that the other predator in the area was out. He had no desire to cross the large mountain lion that came down to the stock tank. It wasn't a shifter, just a very nasty tempered feline. He growled a low rumble to get the other two's attention. Coming around the stock tank, they headed back towards town. Paralleling the highway, they traveled quickly and soon found themselves nearly to the gas station at the junction. Eric veered off to the south and headed through the back paddocks of a ranch and up to the ridge between them and the town. A whimpering behind him made him stop and turn around. Josie was pulling cactus spines out of her paw with her teeth. She has stepped too close to a prickly pear. Tentatively, she put her paw to the ground. No sharp prickles, so they headed out once more.

Ten minutes later, they crossed the front yard and headed for Eric's back door. Up the stairs and onto the porch they went. Eric pawed the door handle and they were in the kitchen. Eric shifted back and caught the light. Josie and Henry shifted back as well.




Sheeple Ch. 08



"You'd better let me see to that foot of yours. Cactus is nasty."

"I think I got it all Eric. " Josie turned her foot towards him.

Eric took her foot in his hand and ran his thumb across the red spots. As he felt the one rough spot, Josie flinched. "You missed one."

"I know that now."She gritted her teeth.

Eric reached for a basket in the cupboard and brought out a set of tweezers. "I'll have that out in a moment." He held her foot to the light and after a second, pulled the offending spine from her foot. He daubed the area with neosporin and then turned to put the stuff away.

"You're pretty handy with that stuff," Henry said.

"Yeah, as much cactus as I've hit over the last year, I had better be. Kate was the one who finally put a kit up here in the cupboard." Eric finished putting things away and closed the door.

"What was near the stock tank that you didn't want to run into Eric?" Henry asked.

"There is a mountain lion that also drinks there. Nasty temper. Not a shifter, so I steer clear of him as often as I can." 

"I can understand that. I don't like to tangle with big cats," Henry said.

"Neither do I," added Josie.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready for a nap."

"Lead the way. " Josie hobbled towards Eric and Henry.

"Skin or fur dear?" Henry asked.

"Oh, Fur dear. I didn't bring a nighty."

Eric laughed and then shifted. Three wolves passed down the hall, toenails clicking softly on the wooden floors.

*

Kate woke as they came into the bedroom. She realized that her glasses were still on and the book had fallen to the side. She set the book and glasses on the nightstand and barely got turned around when Eric leapt up on the bed. Josie and Henry came in and quickly curled up on the pillows next to the bed. Eric turned around three times and then plopped down next to Kate.

"Oh, is that the way it is tonight?" she asked Eric, knowing she wouldn't get a real answer. She scritched him under the chin and along the jawline where she knew he liked it. He extended his head to get more scritches and then put his paw up on her arm. She stopped and then snuggled down onto the pillows. By this point in their relationship, she knew that he wanted her to lay down. Eric put his head across her stomach and closed his eyes. In a few minutes they were asleep.

*

Andy was the first one up. Walking towards the bathroom he saw that the bedroom door was open. He reached over to close it and had to smile at what he saw. Kate was curled up around the dark wolf he knew as Eric. Across the foot of the bed were two more wolves. Each of them snuggled next to Eric and Kate. Gretchen and Luna had taken over the pillows on the floor. Snuggled in with the dogs was Jamie. As quietly as he could, he pulled the door almost closed. He couldn't wait to hear the conversation that ensued from that slumber party.

*The Subbie rolled up the highway into the mountains. After a pleasant breakfast of sausages, eggs and French toast, the four adults had packed up stuff for a picnic and a day hike. Eric planned to show Josie and Henry one of their favorite spots high up above Levette. 

After an hour of curves and hills, Eric turned off the highway onto a dirt road. It wound up the side of the mountain in deep forested pockets of shade broken up by brilliant slashes of sunlight. Eric rolled down the windows and everyone was sticking their heads or noses out the window to smell the scent of warm trees and moist earth. When they reached the top of the pass, everyone got out. 

"So, this is where you two go when you run away from home?" Josie asked. She was taking in the view of mountains raising up across the valley.

"Yes. One of the places. This area is cool even when the valley is baking. At nearly 12,000ft, it has it's own weather." Kate pointed to the clouds rolling up the backside of the mountain in front of them. 

"Very nice. Do we have to hike far? Or, are there too many people to shift?" Henry asked.

Eric looked at the campground around where they parked. "Today we could probably shift right here. It's late enough in the afternoon that I doubt more people will show up."

Josie looked around and caught Kate's face out of the corner of her eye. "You guys can go running, but I think I'll stick with Kate. Someone has to carry the packs."

"Thanks Josie." Kate gave Josie a hug. Most days it wasn't too hard to deal with her partner shifting. However, with the other two here, she felt a bit left out at times.

Eric came up to Kate and gave her a hug and kiss. "We won't be long. " 

"I know. If you are, we ladies will go to the Dog Bar by ourselves," Kate smiled a little smile as she spoke.

"Hey now! That wouldn't be fair!" Henry exclaimed.

"Oh, I think it would. Especially if you two men stay gone too long. It isn't fair to Kate. She just doesn't have the hang of shifting and we can't leave her to be the token two-legs all the time."

"Josie, please." 

"No, it's true. I've been at that end of things. It's hard enough to get use to living with a duel nature that gallops into your life. It is even harder when that duel nature is whimsical in its appearances," Josie finished with her hands on her hips.

"She's right Kate. We shouldn't be so inconsiderate," Eric said as he tucked the stray wisps of Kate's hair behind her ears. He smiled and then bent closer to her so that he could whisper in her ears. "Besides, your ears are fuzzy today, and I don't want to be too far away."

Kate startled at what he said and reached a hand up to her ears. Feeling them, she realized he was right. There was downy hair covering the very tips. She just shook her head and smiled. Josie was right. The serendipity of her shifting was difficult to deal with. Most times she realized she shifted only after she had come back. One benefit of her latent shifting was the mental dialog between her wolfish and two-legged nature. Kate's wolfish side had spent a long time dealing with the human side and Kate's human quirks. Eric had explained that new shifters who were younger had a great deal of trouble integrating the two halves. Often to the determent of both sides. Control and the lack thereof was much of what caused issues from both perspectives. Kate needed to let loose of the control that held her human. That was a lot more difficult that she realized. It was why moments of shifting snuck up on her at odd times.

"Well, if you two are going to go run, you'd better get. We will meet you up at the lookout point."

"Alright Kate. Love you," Eric said as the two women headed up the trail. He took a last look around and then started to undress. Both men put their clothing in the car and shifted. Moments later, they loped up the trail and headed across the big meadows. 

*

Kate and Josie headed up to the scenic lookout. It was a three mile walk, but an easy one. Neither said much until they got to the top. Both were far too interested in looking around. The sky was bright blue with wisps of cloud. No thunderheads in sight. This was a good thing as lightning was almost an afternoon regular in these mountains. Kate reached into her pack and pulled out the blanket. She and Josie spread it out and made themselves comfortable. Josie sniffed the air and smiled.

"The guys are close. Can you smell them?"

It was Kate's turn to sniff the breeze. She smelled grass, warm air, pine trees and then that faint doggy smell. "Yes, I do smell them, but they seem rather far away."

"They are probably two miles away. Downwind for the most part. Probably tried to peek to see if we were here yet."

"They are so silly sometimes." 

"Yes, and together, they are just big puppies."

"I agree. It was a riot this morning to wake up and find all of you on the bed."

"Oh, I don't know. I think it was funnier to find the two dogs all wrapped around Jamie."

"There is that. She thought it was wonderful that the dogs had other dogs to sleep over. "

"Yes. That was fast thinking on your part. I'd have just froze." Josie was thinking of what a shock it had been to be woke up by Jamie petting her nose. She had smelled the little girl, and therefore not growled, but it wasn't the morning wake up she expected.

"You were pretty froze as it was. Henry was funny though. Almost falling off the bed while having his stomach scratched."

"He is just a push over for girls. Big girls, little girls, it doesn't matter. "

"I've noticed that. He could get whiplash from all that eye candy in town." 

Josie just laughed. She reached into one of the packs and got out the water bottle. After taking a drink, she handed it to Kate. They sat quietly chatting and looking out over the valley waiting for the guys to show up for lunch.

*

The two wolves startled a deer and chased it for nearly a quarter mile. Their chase stopped rather abruptly when they found themselves coming close to a cliff. The larger wolf skidded to a halt on his haunches. The dark wolf turned and veered to the left. The deer headed off to the right and out of sight. Together, the wolves headed back towards the big open meadow. The breeze carried the scent of the two women. They moved at a faster pace and were soon to the boulders at the base of the hill. Coming around the boulders, they slowed to a walk. The women were the only people in sight. The wolves shifted.

"About time you two showed up. We were about to eat without you," Kate teased.

"Yeah. We figured you caught something and ate without us."

"Josie, you know we'd never do that!" Henry protested.

"Besides, he nearly went off a cliff chasing a deer," said Eric.

"Yeah, and my butt's still sore." Henry was trying to look at his rear to see if it had sustained any damage.

Kate and Josie started giggling. It was rather comical watching a naked man try and inspect his own rear end. He realized that they were laughing at his antics and sat down gingerly.

"You know, it isn't very fair," Henry said.

"What isn't fair?"

"You two have clothes on and we don't."

"We aren't the ones who decided to scamper all over the mountain on four feet either." Josie crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, you could take your clothes off," Eric suggested.

Henry nodded. He liked that idea. Josie and Kate looked at each other and then the guys.

"Oh... what the hell," Kate said. She unlaced and removed her boots. Then she stood up and stripped off her shorts and top. Josie followed suit. 

"You know, if I thought we'd be sitting here nude, I'd have brought sun screen," said Kate.

"Well, we will just have to keep an eye on things," Henry said with a leer.

Josie and Kate pelted him with their clothes and boots at nearly the same time. Eric just laughed. He got his fair share of clothes too. 

The picnic was sprinkled with conversation as well as good food and the occasional flying sock. As the sun began to sink towards the western mountains, the girls got dressed and the guys shifted. The four of them headed back towards the parking lot where they left the car. 

*

Back at the Subbie, the guys got dressed while the girls packed the lunch stuff into the back. It had been a wonderful afternoon. Laying in the sunshine had felt so good. Henry had fallen asleep for a short while. Josie teased him that he'd have a funny suntan with a white hand print over his crotch. 

"I will not!" Henry said rather indignantly. 

"Umm, Henry. I think you'd better reconsider," Eric said delicately.

Henry stopped lacing his boots back on and looked at the rest of them. All three of them had that smug look on their faces. 

"Okay, Just to satisfy you three," Henry paused, turned his back and looked. He zipped up his pants, turned and was red in the face. "Fine. You're right, I probably will have the whitest bits this side of the mountains. Can we go have a beer now?"

"Of course dear," Josie said as she reached up to kiss Henry. Everyone was laughing as they got in the car.

*

Eric drove down the mountain enjoying the turns and twists in the road. They got back onto pavement and he drove a bit faster, but still dealing with curves and downhill grades that make handling the car more of an art than just an automatic process.

They entered the small mountain resort town just as the stars came out. He parked the car a block or so away from the Dog Bar and the four of them got out. The bar was loud and noisy with lots of people inside as well as out on the patio.

"Are you two sure you want to do this?" Kate asked.

"Yes Kate. You afraid to take two wolves into a bar? Or afraid to be in a bar full of two legged wolves?" Henry smiled as he asked.

"Oh you!" Kate answered in reply. "I'm just making sure you two don't mind leashes and collars." 

"Who said anything about leashes or collars?" Eric asked.

"We did," answered Josie as she pulled two sets out of a bag that had been in the back. "The last thing we want is for you two to end up in the local pound."

Henry and Eric looked at each other. Sighing, they each grabbed their collar and moved towards the trees that Eric had parked next to. The trees were in darkness and that is where the guys had planned to shift.

"You'd have thought we were asking them to eat one of the cats or something." Kate said.

"I know. Then again, I hate wearing a collar too."

Kate looked at Josie and then off to where the guys had gone. "I haven't had to, so I can't really say much. However, if it hadn't have been for a collar, I might have lost Eric." She was thinking back to the mangled piece of collar that Eric and Zach had shown her when he came back from seeing Doc Fremont. Seeing how close Eric had come to having his throat ripped out had made her a bit more adamant that Eric keep the collar close by.

Two wolves came up to the girls and bumped noses to hands. Josie looked back and couldn't see where they had hidden their clothes. She was satisfied and took one of the leashes and hooked it to the big wolf's collar. Kate did the same to the dark wolf.

"You ready to go boys?" Josie asked as she ruffled the big wolf's ears. He yipped and then stood up on his hind legs, draping his paws on Josie's shoulders. "I guess so." She tried to shift his paws off of her so they could move.

They took the leashes in their hands and headed towards the bar. It must have been a sight to see two rather petite women walking dogs who's heads passed their waists and probably outweighed them. They walked up the steps and into the bar without much effort. The blast of music washed over them. One of the local bands was playing tonight. Guitars, drums and of all things, a harp. It made for rather interesting tonal combinations. The faint Celtic flavor was very nice. Josie and Kate made their way to the bar and sat down on the stools. The wolves sat at their feet, taking in the smells of the place.

"Two Bud's please," Kate ordered over the noise.

"Sure! Nice dogs you got there," the barkeep said.

"Yeah, Max and Henry are good buddies," Josie said in reply.

"Big too. Are they mixed breeds?"

"Irish wolfhound and we think wolf or husky," Josie answered.

"Ah, that'd explain the size. Would they take a dog biscuit?" the barkeep asked as he pointed to a jar full of dog biscuits. 

"Yeah, especially if there are any peanut butter ones," Kate said as she paid for the beers.

The barkeep dug in the jar and came up with two caramel colored ones. "I think these are. You want to give them to them? Or, could I?"

"Go ahead, Just make them sit," Josie said with a smile. 

The barkeep came around th counter and looked at the two wolves. "Hello boys. Sit for a biscuit?" he said as he held out the biscuits. 

Max cocked his head to one side, sniffed towards the biscuit and then sat. Henry looked at the barkeep with big sad eyes and then finally heaved himself to a sitting position. 

"Good boys," the barkeep said and handed each of them a biscuit. Henry took his and plopped to the floor. Max gave the man a grin as he gnawed the biscuit. As it broke in half, he too laid down to finish off his treat.

"Those are two very nice looking animals. Well behaved."

"Most times," Kate said. She wondered just how long that would last if the bar got any busier. The two of them took their beers and headed off towards a table to one side of the room. It was near the patio and had a bit of breeze to keep things cool. They listened to the music and were making small talk while drinking their beer when two tall cowboys came up to their table. 

"Mind if we share?" one of them asked.

"No, just mind Max and Henry," Kate said.

The cowboys looked around and then followed Kate's finger as she pointed to the wolves in the shadow of the table. 

"Why lookie here. You little ladies done caught a couple of wolves," said the second cowboy as the two of them sat down. 

"Caught is an interesting choice of words. More like live with them," Josie said.

"Well, as long as you ladies ain't dancin' with 'em, I'm fine. My name is Jake and this here is Bill." He pointing at the man who had sat down next to Josie.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kate, and this is Josie."

"Howdy ma'am. Could you two ladies take to another beer?" Bill asked.

"That would be very nice. Bud please," said Kate. Josie nodded. 

Bill went off to get the beer. Jake tried to move his chair a little closer to Kate when Max poked his head up and almost stared Jake straight in the eyes. 

"Whoa boy! I ain't gonna hurt her, I just wanna sit a little closer." He reached his hand out and let Max sniff it like he'd do to any strange dog. Max sniffed it and then sneezed all over the preferred hand. 

"Oh! I'm sorry," Kate started out apologetically.

Jake took a red handkerchief out of his back pocket and wiped his hand off. "No problem ma'am. Dogs sneeze. I got it taken care of." He looked more carefully at the two animals on the floor. Big dogs and he didn't want to get on the wrong side of them.

Bill walked up with the beers. "Here you go ladies. If you want, you can let the dogs off the leashes. The barkeep has some scraps for all the dogs that he is gonna put out and he wanted to let you know that these two were welcome."

"Okay." Josie leaned over and unclipped the leashes. She glanced over to Kate with a look of apprehension. "Max, Henry, be good dogs!" she said as she watched them lope over towards the barkeeper and the big bowl of scraps he was randomly tossing to half a dozen dogs at the end of the bar. The two big animals joined in and were very patient about waiting their turn.

"So, what you two fine ladies doing up here?" Bill asked over the music.

"Just out for a day on a hike. Went up to the pass, let the dogs run and then came back here for a drink," said Josie. Kate nodded in agreement.

"You live up here or are you two summer people?" asked Jake. He moved his arm up and draped it over the back of Kate's chair.

"Josie is visiting. I live down in the valley," Kate said rather nonchalantly. She hadn't seen the two animals come back, but she could smell that they were very near. "What about you two?"

"We work up at the dude ranch about five miles from here. Take turns showing the Texans and city folk what it's like to live on a ranch," said Bill. He too reached back to swing his arm up around the back of Josie's chair and met with Henry's head which appeared as if by magic.

"Oh! Hey dog, good doggy." He ruffled the wolf's ears. Henry just cocked his head to one side and looked at him with big dark eyes.

Jake looked over and watched the dog. He didn't trust that animal, and couldn't put his finger on why. Maybe it had just been too long of a day. In the meantime, the band started playing dance music. "Would you ladies like to dance?" 

Kate and Josie looked at each other. "Yes," they said almost at the same moment. 

The four of them moved out onto the dance floor and began to dance. It was a slow starting two-step that sped up. The two cowboys held Kate and Josie snugly in their arms as they turned on the dance floor. Kate was enjoying herself, as it had been a long time since she had danced. She wondered if Eric knew how to dance. Glancing over at the table, she saw two long faces in the shadows. Both watching every move. She wondered what on earth they were thinking.




Sheeple Ch. 08



The music stopped and the dancers separated. Kate started back towards the table when Jake caught her hand for another dance. This went on two more times. The last one was a fast two-step that left them breathless.

"Oh.... Jake, I think I need to sit for a bit."

"Me too," said Josie as she moved back to the table. She noticed that Max and Henry were nowhere to be seen. She wondered where they had gotten to. Josie could swear that they had been there only a minute ago.

"Kate? Do you see Max or Henry?"

Kate looked around. "No, but they were here just a minute ago."

"Maybe those two fine males found themselves a little female company," Jake said.

"I wouldn't worry about those two. Looks like they could take care of themselves," added Bill as he put his arms around Josie once again before she could sit down.

"Um.. ," Josie started to say.

"You know you are one fine looking lady," Bill said.

"Thank you dear, but..."

"Wouldn't you two ladies like to visit us up at the dude ranch? We have our own bunk space and no one to bother us," Jake said as he moved closer to Kate. 

Kate realized that they had better put the brakes on this conversation real fast. Question though was how to do it so that these two cowboys would get the point. It was pretty clear that they figured a few beers and a dance or two lead to bunking with them. "I don't know. We barely know you two."

"Ah, but if you come up to the ranch, you could get to know us a lot better," Jake said as he put one arm around Kate.

Kate was just about to say something when Jake dropped his arm and yelled.

"That damn dog pissed on my leg!" Jake was hopping about next to the table and trying to look at his jeans which were showing a large dark stain starting from just above the back of the knee. Max was standing behind him looking very pleased with himself.

"Oh! I am so sorry Jake! I don't know what came over him. I apologize." Kate tried to sound as sincere as she could and trying not to laugh at the same time.

"Dogs are strange sometimes," said the barkeep. He had come up behind them with a mop for the puddle on the floor. "Looks like they think you two cowboys done trespassed on their territory." 

"I think we probably aught to take the two of them out to the truck. I am so sorry about the mess," Josie said.

"No problem. Happens all the time," said the barkeep. He smiled to himself as he walked back to the bar.

"Jake, Bill, sorry about this. The dancing and company was really nice," Josie said as she and Kate headed out the door with the two wolves.

*

The two of them barely got clear of the bar before the giggles hit. They let the two wolves off of the leashes and they sped off down the street.

"Oh my! Do you think they knew? Or, was it just sheer luck?" Kate asked.

"Knowing those two, just sheer cussedness. Although it was pretty good timing."

"Yeah, five more minutes and those two would have been drooling on our shoulders."

"The cowboys or those two?" Josie said pointing towards the shadows where she knew the guys were.

"Either set." 

Both women laughed and were still laughing when they got to the Subaru. It only took a moment for the two men to walk out of the shadows carrying a collar in their hands. 

"Did you two enjoy yourselves?" Kate asked.

"Oh yes. Especially the part where Eric peed on the guy. He sure was a bold one." 

"Now Henry, what did you expect?" asked Josie.

"Well, I expected it to take more than a few beers and a dance or two before they decided to make a play for you."

"I can understand that. How were the biscuits and scraps?" 

"Oh man. Same brand as Doc Fremont's. And the scraps were steak," Eric said, remembering the taste of the scraps.

"So, what made you pee on the guy? You could have just growled or something," Kate said.

"He just set my fur on edge. Besides, I didn't think you liked things that smelled of horse shit."

"Ooohh,... A little jealous?"

"Well, yes," Eric admitted. "Besides, I wanted to dance with you."

"I didn't know you danced."

"I don't much, but... " he hesitated. "You looked so good out there that I didn't want to share."

Kate smiled and wrapped herself around Eric. "I do love you. Even if you are silly enough to pee on a rival's leg."

Henry laughed. "Hell, you aught to see what we did to their truck!"

"What?" both women said in unison.

"Yeah. Can't wait to hear that conversation," said Eric.

"What did you two do?" Josie asked.

Henry scuffed his boots in the dirt. Eric looked up at the stars, whistling slightly.

"Henry, fess up!" said Josie.

Henry looked at her and then Kate. "Well, we noticed a change in the smell of the two and decided that they had other plans."

"What smell?" Kate asked.

"Testosterone," said Henry. "So, we went out and found their truck. Peed on the tires, and left something else on the ropes in the back."

"Don't forget that you tore up the seat covers Henry."

"Oh yeah. Almost forgot about that."Henry smiled.

Kate just shook her head. Josie smiled and then turned back to the guys. "Are you two in the mood for a beer?" 

"I thought you'd never ask!" said Henry. Eric nodded and the four of them moved back towards the bar. As they got nearly to the entrance, they could hear Jake singing his woes to a pencil thin blonde. His voice drifted and they heard him complain about the big ass dog that peed on his best jeans. Henry slipped his arm out of Josie's and walked up to the bar where Jake stood. He ordered beer, and while he was waiting for the beer to arrive, he leaned towards Jake.

"I'd have done more than piss you your leg," he said softly and smiled a very fang filled grin at the cowboy. Then he picked up the beer and headed off to where Eric sat with the two girls.

*

The music stopped and so did Eric and Kate. Kate leaned into his shoulder and took a deep breath. They had been dancing for at least four or five dances in a row. 

"Eric, I think I need some water or a beer."

"Me too." He lead Kate from the dance floor. Henry and Josie were already at the table. They had stopped dancing a few minutes earlier. On the table were two tall glasses of iced tea.

"Thought you might be a bit thirsty what with all that twirling and whirling," said Josie.

"You are so right. I'd forgotten how much fun it was to actually dance with a beautiful woman." Eric smiled over the top of his glass at Kate.

"I have to admit that you surprised me. I thought you were just joking earlier when you said you danced."

"Well, I'm not sure if 'Cowboy Bob' over there thinks much of my dancing." 

"Yes Eric, tell me just how did you manage to step on his feet so many times?" Henry asked with a smirk.

"Ah, that was easy. The hard part was not stepping on the blonde's feet. Those high heels of hers were a very tiny object to avoid."

They all giggled, because Eric had made it almost a game to step on the feet of the two cowboys that had been flirting with Kate and Josie earlier in the evening. Each time it had happened, it had looked like an accident. The cowboys had finally retreated from the dance floor and left the bar with dance partners in tow.

"Wonder what they thought of their truck?"

"Oh. You missed that. While you were out on the dance floor, the sheriff went by and they were hollering about someone trashing their truck. Tried to blame it on two dogs, but couldn't explain to the sheriff how the dogs had opened the truck doors, made a mess and then relocked the doors.," Henry said with a smile. 

Eric laughed. He sat his empty glass down on the table and stretched. "Think it's about time we went home?"

"Yeah. I think so," said Henry as he stood up.

Kate and Josie linked their arms with the guys and waved their good nights to the barkeeper and the band. They walked out to the Subbie and headed home.

*

Kate and Eric waved from the driveway as Henry and Josie left the next morning. It had been a short but lovely visit. When they had gotten home last night, they recounted the tale of the trip to Andy, Zach and Anne. Everyone laughed about Eric peeing on the cowboy's leg. 

Henry and Josie took Andy's offer of a bed for the night and Kate had giggled when Josie asked later for the aloe lotion. Henry's sunburn was more tender than he cared to admit in public. Jamie of course had been disappointed when there were no extra dogs in the morning for Luna and Gretchen to play with. Henry promised that he'd bring them back next time they came to visit. 

Kate and Eric went back into the house and started to look around to see what needed done for the day. The repairs to the house were adequate enough for the time being. Kate still needed new curtains for the doors in the dining room, but that would have to wait for one of their out of town shopping trips. Mark and Jamie were finished with their homework, so they all decided to go out to the park for some family time. 

Everyone had been very careful to not let the children know what happened at the house. While the work was being done, Pat and Tammy kept them out in Levette. The only explanation they got was that Kate wanted new doors and her house cleaned up. Luckily, Mark and Jamie were young enough for this to work. 

At the park, Kate and Eric sat while the children played in the tall grass. After a few moments, Kate realized exactly what Jamie was doing. "Look, Jamie is stalking Mark," she whispered in Eric's ear. 

Eric turned and watched the two of them for a moment. Sure enough, Jamie was down in the grass on all fours while Mark wandered from plant to plant picking up bugs or something. Jamie zigzagged behind him and then pounced.

"Gotcha!" she hollered.

"Stop it!" Mark yelled. 

"But I gotta hunt you Mark. You're a rabbit and I'm a wolf!" she said, with her hands on her hips. 

Eric clapped his hand over his mouth trying not to laugh. Kate couldn't help but giggle. Both of them gave up and fell about laughing. 

Jamie came over to her dad and with hands on hips. "Daddy, you gotta tell Mark to let me hunt him." 

Eric smiled. "Okay. Now, let's do it this way." Eric waited until Mark had gone back to gathering bugs and then started to crouch low in the grass. Jamie matched his every move, a tiny shadow to his big one. Eric stopped a time or two and gave her pointers. She followed his directions and then Eric moved aside and let her finish the hunt. A moment or so later, Jamie was wiggling her butt back and forth in anticipation of pouncing on Mark. She pounced and brought him down flat on the ground. Sitting on his back, she raised both hands in victory.

Eric and Kate cheered. "I think Henry is right you know." 

"I agree. I think we aught to buy an ice cream for Mark for being such a good rabbit too." 

"Yes, although, we can do it when he gets done trying to run Jamie down for dropping him so well." Kate watched Mark trying to catch Jamie. The moment Jamie had gotten up off of his back, Mark had run after her in hopes of pummeling her for treating him like a rabbit. He was woefully slow in comparison with no hope of catching her.

They finally got the children back in the car and into town for an ice cream. Jamie wanted rabbit flavored ice cream, but settled for strawberry. Mark had chocolate. Both of them reminded Kate and Eric that the Spring program was next week. It fell on the same day as Ostara. Kate had to get into town to buy candy and egg dye. It had been years since she had done so. Jon had outgrown egg dying at about ten. 

After Spring Break, there was the honor awards and then 8th grade graduation. The time was just flying past. Jamie also reminded Eric that they had summer school this year.

"What is so special about summer school Kate?" Eric was still finding the children's school a surprise with all of it's family style activities.

"It's half a day of school with all kinds of nature walks, special projects and a big hike up into the mountains. My boys all loved it. In fact, they wanted the whole year to be like that. For me, it's a chance to run away to the mountains for the morning. It just isn't worth the gas to run back and forth."

"Ah, and do I ever get to go up with you?" 

"It depends on whether your boss will let you off for the morning. It's a month long and every day, just like school." Kate could see Eric trying to figure out how to wrangle the time off. She had already discussed it with Suzanne and had cleared her time. 

"I guess I'll have to see what I can do." Eric made a note to ask his boss for the time off. 

*

Kate got the kids through the shower and into bed. The alarm would be ringing way to early, but she knew that everyone needed to get back into a routine. Especially herself. She was still having trouble sleeping if Eric wasn't in bed. She knew he'd had his share of nightmares as well. It would just take time to heal. 



Sheeple Ch. 09



Now, there was some confusion when the last chapter posted. Not only was it not Sheeple, it wasn't even my story. We got that fixed. Also, somewhere along the way, someone thought I had ended the story with the last chapter. No, that's this chapter. Yes, gnash teeth, cry, wave pitchforks. It needed to end. There is a surprise in this chapter. Hope you've enjoyed the story. I'll be taking a break for a bit. It's NaNoWriMo season. Please comment, and vote! I love to hear from you. BTW, there were more comments when it was the wrong chapter than I've had on any story. Sigh...

Jaisen.

~*~*~*~

Spring break was finally over. They hadn't managed more than a few picnics out to the park because of cool weather. However, it gave Eric and Kate a bit of extra time to get life back into a schedule. 

Kate hurried into the house from picking up the kids at school. They had heard the phone ringing from the driveway. Kate hoped it wouldn't stop ringing before she got to it. They hadn't replaced the answering machine after the attack and Kate wouldn't get a cell phone. Eric had chided her about getting a cell phone, but she just couldn't bring herself to do so. Kept saying it was too expensive and that she'd never use one. She dodged the dogs at the door and grabbed the phone mid ring. 

"Hello?" she said trying to catch her breath.

"Hey Mom!" said a voice on the line.

"Hello Pat. What do you need?" 

"Don't need anything. Tammy and I called to tell you we drove to town this morning and got married by the justice of the peace."

"W-w-w-what?" Kate stammered.

"We are married. Today. We decided we couldn't wait." 

"Pat, I.... I don't know what to say. I thought you two wanted a big family wedding," Kate was still stunned by the news. 

"Well, we decided that we didn't want all that fuss. Tammy's family and all of us. Just too much when all we wanted was to be together. So, we went ahead and did it."

Kate just laughed. "I guess congratulations are in order then. Are you two going on a honeymoon?"

"Yeah. I called your friend Henry. He and Josie are expecting us in about an hour."

"An hour? Wow. I guess you didn't wait. Thats a six hour drive on a good day."

"I know. Tell the rest of the family for me. Okay?" 

"Okay. Does Tammy's family know?" Kate wondered just how off the cuff this wedding had been and if Tammy's parents were alright with this.

"Yeah. We called them first. They weren't too happy, but not much they could do. Tammy's mom wants to give us a party when we come home. We said we'd think about it. Gotta go Mom! Love you!"

"Love you too Pat! Kiss Tammy for me." 

"I will!" Pat hung up the phone. 

Kate leaned against the wall and just smiled. She realized that the dogs were barking again and turned around to meet Eric coming in the door.

"Hello Kate. What's up?"

"That was Pat on the phone. He called to tell me that he and Tammy got married down at the courthouse today and are nearly up at Henry and Josie's for their honeymoon."

Eric stood there stunned. He knew that Kate and Tammy's mom, Sara had been planning a June wedding. He put his briefcase down and hugged Kate. "Are you upset?"

"No, to be honest, I'm rather relieved. It was the first wedding and I was so not looking forward to getting all the kinks worked out of the plans. Sara is a wonderful person, but she stinks when it comes to planning."

Eric just laughed. "Well then, shall we go out to dinner in celebration of your liberation from wedding planning?"

"Yes! Barbecue or Mexican?" 

"Barbecue sounds good to me," Eric said as he turned towards the living room. "Mark! Jamie! Want to go out to eat?"

"Yes!" the two of them answered in unison as they came barreling into the kitchen. 

"Sounds like we are going to Deke's then for supper," said Kate. "Let me write the others a quick note and off we go."

*

Deke's was a smoke house barbecue cafe that had opened up two weeks ago. It was good food with nice variety. It was almost as big a favorite as the Firefly. The waitress smiled as they came in and set down on the pine picnic table.

I bet you want the usual?" she asked Eric. 

Eric blushed and nodded. 

Kate just smiled. "Eat here a lot lately?" She knew full well that the hospital computer geeks had a standing lunch order here.

"Yes Kate. It's good. Lots of meat and the sauce is wonderful."

"Okay, then I'll have what he usually has, only make my drink iced tea."

The waitress nodded, took the children's orders and brought out the drinks a few minutes later.

"So, Pat and Tammy are married," Eric commented.

"Yes. Now if we can just convince Zach and Anne to decide where they want to live, I'll be happy." 

"I can understand that. They must have changed their minds twenty times in the last few weeks. You'd think they were having a baby or something." Eric smiled. 

Kate laughed. After everything last month, Zach's inability to decide where to live was frustrating, but almost trivial. 

The waitress brought their food and Kate found that Eric's regular was a small shredded pork sandwich with pinto beans, and potato chips. The small sandwich could easily have fed both of the children. The barbecue sauce was hot and savory.  

"Mama Kate, this is so good I could eat it every day!" said Jamie with enthusiasm and a barbecue sauce covered face.

"Yeah, it's pretty good," Mark chimed in. 

Kate just smiled. Both children had grown so much over the last year. Hard to believe they were the same two shy waifs she had met almost a year ago. She was so glad that neither child knew what had happened last month. Andy's idea of taking them to the farm out in Levette was perfect, except for the fact that both children loved to go out and help Pat or Tammy clean up the barn. She drifted off in thought as she ate her food. Eric was right. The sandwiches were excellent. 

"Kate."

Kate was startled out of her thoughts by Eric tapping her arm. "What?"

"I started to tell you about my interview with James and you didn't answer. Wool gathering were you?"

"Yes. Sorry Eric. Tell me again." Kate could feel the blush creep over her skin. 

"James cleared it with the Sheriff's department to have me attached to the Search and Rescue teams. He also approved the process to borrow tracking dogs and the like from their owners. Oh, and Zach is on the team too." Eric smiled, knowing that Kate would pick up on what he was trying to say.

"Ah, so Zach and Max could go out in the field if needed?" she asked with a broad smile playing across her face.

"Exactly. Or, it could just be Zach and I." Eric finished the last of his sandwich and reached for some chips off of Jamie's plate.

"Daddy! Stop it! I huntedted those chips!" Jamie said.

"You did? I thought the waitress hunted those rascally potatoes." Eric teased Jamie as he snatched another chip from her plate.

Jamie reacted by trying to fork Eric's hand with her silverware. "Go eat Mark's tater chips!"

Mark moved his plate back away from his dad's reach. "These are mine." 

Eric reached around Jamie and grabbed a chip off of Mark's plate as well. "Nope, I think that this one is mine." He ate the chip and then smiled at Kate.

"There are days I don't know which one of you is the adult and which are the children," she said in mock disdain. Then she reached across and took the pickle from Eric's plate and ate it slowly.

That made everyone laugh. 

*

Three weeks later, Kate and the children were driving home from the school carnival when the doe jumped into the road. Kate was startled by the sudden appearance of the doe in the headlights. There was no time for evasive action. Kate hit the brakes, and the doe crashed over the top of the Subaru. Kate pulled to the side of the road and hit the emergency lights. After making sure that the kids were okay, she got out of the car and looked at the damages.

The doe was dead. She was off the road on the shoulder. Her neck was broken and there was damage to her forelegs and chest. Kate then took a look at her car. The windshield was smashed on the right side in a huge spiderweb of cracks. The front right fender and that part of the hood was dented and smeared with blood. There was also a large smear of blood across the top of the car which trailed off just after the passenger doors. Kate thought that it might be alright to drive until she saw that the front right tire was flat. Part of the bumper had bent inwards and pierced the tire. There was no way for her to change the tire because she couldn't bend the bumper back out of the way. She was just walking around the front of the car trying to decide what to do when a car pulled up behind the Subaru.

"Kate! Are you okay?" asked James. 

"Yes. We are all okay, except for the deer. "

"Is the car drivable?" 

"No. It has a flat caused by the bumper bending into the tire."

"Have you called Eric or Zach yet?"

"No. I don't have a phone. I was just trying to figure out what to do when you pulled up."

"Kate, I'm surprised that Eric hasn't gotten you a phone. Especially after all the fuss a bit ago."

"It's my own fault. Figured that I didn't need on. I think I'm going to have to apologize for that attitude now. He was fussing about it only last week." Kate sighed. 

"Don't worry about it. Leanne didn't want one either. I finally just gave her one for her birthday. Let me call the guys for you so they don't worry about you being late. I think I have a tarp for the deer too."

"Tarp? What do you mean?" 

"Well, you did make a fairly clean kill. There is plenty of meat there and I know what your household is like. You could use the meat. Zach knows how to butcher." He walked back over to his car.

Kate went to check on the children. They were sitting quietly. Kate told them that James was calling Eric and that they would be going home soon.

"Mama Kate, did the deer die?" Jamie asked.

"Yes."

"Are we gonna take it home to eat?"

"We will if James has a tarp. Are you okay with that idea?"

"Ewwww!" Mark said making a face. 

"Poor deer. It will make yummy stew," said Jamie with a tinge of sadness in her voice. "But there is more of it than there is rabbits."

Kate just shook her head. She never knew where Jamie would go with a conversation. "Yes, it will be more meat than a rabbit. Mark, if you don't want to eat the deer, I am sure we can make you a hamburger or a peanut butter sandwich." 

"You eat dead cow Mark! What's wrong with deer?" asked Jamie.

"I don't want to eat Bambi!" he shouted.

"Okay you two. Shush! Settle down and we will talk about this more later." Kate closed the door and turned to find James heading her way.

"Just talked to Zach. He and Eric are on their way. I'll stay here with you. Are you doing okay? Any aches or pains? Anything?" 

Kate blinked. "Umm.... I'm okay. A bit upset that I couldn't stop quick enough, and worried about the car, but I'm okay." She leaned back against the car wondering just how long it would take for Eric and Zach to get to her.

*

Eric and Zach piled into Zach's car so fast that Anne was left wondering what on earth had been said over the phone. She followed them out the door only to watch the car pull out of the drive and head out of town.

She went back in to wait for them to come home. 

*

Zach headed up the highway at speeds that even made Eric nervous. Once they got past the fifteen mile marker, Zach turned on the high beams and slowed down. They both saw the police lights at the same instant. Zach pulled off to the side of the road and they got out to check on the damages.

"Kate! Are you okay?" Eric asked as he loped up to her.

"I'm fine. A bit shook up, but fine." She wrapped her arms around Eric. 

"Where are the kids?"

"In the car. We figured it would be the safest place for them."

Eric went over to the car and peeked in on the kids. "Hey there! Hear you went hunting with Mama Kate's car."

"Oh Daddy! The deer jumped out and got hit cause she didn't look both wayses," said Jamie.

"And I'm not eating Bambi. Yuck!" said Mark.

"Not a problem Mark. Glad to hear that you are okay. We will be getting into Zach's car in a few minutes and Zach will take you home. Get your stuff together." Eric closed the door and inspected the damage on the car. Then he went to find James. James and Zach were behind the Subaru wrapping the doe up in a piece of tarp. 

"Hello James. Thanks for stopping and helping Kate." 

"I didn't do much. Just made a phone call really. Is she going to be okay?" 

"Yes. She just seems shook up."

"I figured, but sometimes strong women fall apart when you least expect it. Kate is a strong woman and I've known her a long time. Just don't want her to surprise you by falling apart all of a sudden." James crouched down to help Zach lift the doe.

"Thanks James. I'll keep an eye on her. Which car are we putting the doe in?" 

"The back of her Subbie," said Zach. "I figure the tow truck can carry it as well as the car. That way we can get everyone in mine."

"Makes sense. When is the tow truck due?" Eric asked James. "Is it too late to call it off? I'm pretty sure that we could pull the bumper out and put the spare on it."

"I already thought of that, and the spare is really low on air. Not flat, but like it has a slow leak. So, I called the tow truck. Greg's should be here any time now. I called them right after I called you. Where do you want it dropped off?" asked James.

"Well if we are putting the doe in the back, it had better be the house. Zach and I will have some work to do tonight before we go to bed." Erik knew it wouldn't take more than an hour to get the doe cut up, especially with the two of them working. Zach had worked with a local butcher for a few summers and was very handy with a knife. Eric was glad that the freezer wasn't too full either.

"Alright. Then let's get the children moved over and this in the back." James lifted his end of the doe. Zach moved with him while Eric went to get the children.

"Come on kids," he said as he opened the door. "Let's go get in Zach's car. Kate, grab your bag and let's get moving." 

Kate nodded and grabbed her bag out of the car. She got the kids settled into Zach's car while Eric went back to help the other two maneuver the doe into the back. They were struggling with the one end. She decided to distract the children who were watching the whole process. Kate asked them to see how many constellations they could see out of the skylight of Zach's car.

The guys got the deer into the Subaru and the tail gate shut just before the tow truck pulled up. Zach gave the driver directions to the house and then he and Eric said their goodbyes to James. 

Zach turned his car around and they headed home. He drove slower this time as they passed open fields where they could see deer cropping the grass in the scattered beams of the headlights. 

"You go slow Zach! We can't have no more deers gettin' hit tonight," said Jamie as he took one turn a bit fast.

"Okay Jamie." 

She sat back with a smile on her face. 

*

Twenty minutes later, Zach pulled into the drive. Both children were asleep. Eric carried Jamie in while Kate roused a sleepy Mark. Once in the house, they explained what happened to Anne and Andy. It took a few minutes to get Jamie and Mark into bed and then they had a moment to themselves.

"Kate," was as far as Eric got before she buried her face in his chest.

"Just hold me for a few minutes. I couldn't be weepy in front of the two little ones. And James is too reserved to just hug someone, no matter how long he has known them. I just want held." Her voice was muffled by his shirt.

Eric held her close. He found himself brushing her hair away from her face. There were a few tears, but she was quiet.

"I'm sorry. I should have been more careful. I-I-I," she stammered.

"Shush... It's okay. Just shush." Eric held her close, grateful that she was unharmed and that a bent bumper and a flat tire was the worst of it. 

After a few minutes, she loosened her hold on him and looked up towards his face. "I'm sorry about the car. I'm."

Eric interrupted her. "Stop. It was an accident. We can fix the bumper and get a new tire. Zach and I need to butcher the deer tonight and I want you to take a shower and get in bed."

"But..."

"No buts. If you don't, I will make sure you sleep. Understand?" He gave her a look she recognized as one that brooks no disagreement. 

"You wouldn't." 

"Yes, I would. I'll check in on you in fifteen minutes. If you aren't in bed and at least trying to sleep, I'll be in to make sure you rest." Eric was serious. He didn't like to pull the sleepy vibes trick too often, but he knew Kate was still upset and would worry herself into a headache if she didn't sleep. 

Kate knew she had lost this battle. "Alright. Just don't be too long." She kissed him and then headed off to the bathroom.

*

Eric and Zach wrestled the deer onto the makeshift butcher rack. It was a good thing that Kate still had an end pole from an old fashioned clothesline in the back yard. The heavy steel pole with a crossbeam held the deer up so that they could gut it. The front quarter of the deer was a write off. The dogs would get a good meal or two out of it if they could remove enough of the bone splinters. Zach had just cleaned the cavity and Eric grabbed the liver.

"I'm going to take this in the house. The dogs can have the rest of the offal." He headed back into the house.

"Fine by me." 

Eric's real reason though was to check on Kate. He had seen the bathroom light go off, but the bedroom light was still on. He hoped that Kate had just fallen asleep with the light on, but he wouldn't put it past her to still be awake. After putting the liver in a zip lock in the fridge, he headed quietly down the hall. Peeking into the room, he saw that she was sitting up in bed, still awake. She was writing on a pad of paper and didn't see him.

"I thought I told you to get some sleep."

Kate looked up guiltily. "I... I just had to figure some stuff out before I could sleep. I..."

Eric walked over to the bed and took the pad from her hand. On it were numbers, dates and a rough schedule. "Trying to figure out how to do without the Subbie?"

"Yes. I don't know how long it will take to fix it and I have to be able to get everyone to work and school and..."

"Kate, it's a simple fix. We will have it done tomorrow." Eric put the pad on the nightstand and moved closer to Kate. He ran his fingers through her hair and cupped the side of her head in his hand. "You on the other hand are not an easy fix. Especially when you stay up when you should be sleeping. You've had a rough evening and you will go to sleep," he said firmly. He took a deep breath and pushed the energy that had been building towards Kate.

"Eric, please. I just can't sleep yet," she protested. 

"Yes you will. Now lay down," he said and put his hands on her shoulders to make sure she laid down. 

Kate complied only because she had no choice. Eric was a great deal stronger than he looked, and she was getting very heavy. "Eric, no..." was as far as she got before her eyelids began to flick closed. "I wan..." was as far as she got before she fell asleep. 

Eric tucked the covers around her and sat with her for a few moments to make sure she stayed asleep. She started to wake up and he gave the energy another push. Her breathing slowed and she was deeply asleep. He tucked a pillow next to her so that it gave the illusion that he was still sitting next to her on the bed. Then he turned out the light and closed the door.

Eric walked back into the kitchen and got himself a drink of water as well as some trays for the meat. When he got outside, he found Zach taking a break. The deerskin was off and to one side rolled up to take down to a local tannery. 




Sheeple Ch. 09



"Mom was still awake wasn't she."

"Yes. I figured she was when I saw the light on. There are days I just don't understand her. She was worrying about the car and schedules and work instead of resting." 

"You're a fine one to talk. I've seen you up late on the computer trying to balance 50 cents or working on some client's computer at 5am. You both have this incredible drive to get things done or fixed. You wear me out some days. And to be honest, the two of you are so alike at times it's funny. So, if you were out here fussing over a carcass, I'm not surprised that Mom was inside trying to get everyone to work or school on time. Just be glad she hasn't figured out how you do the whole sleepy vibes trick. If she ever does, you'll loose your only weapon." Zach smiled and turned back to the deer.

Eric thought about it for a moment. "You're right Zach. I also suspect that if I had sat with her for a few minutes when we first got home instead of coming out to help you with the deer, she would have gone to sleep. There are days I just get too wrapped up in the oddball stuff and forget the more important things."

"We all do. We're guys." Zach chuckled. "Let's get Bambi cut up and in the freezer. It's nearly 11pm and we both have work in the morning."

"Sounds good to me. Oh, by the way,.... She has you doing all the driving until the Subbie is fixed." Eric picked up the boning knife.

"What!" 

"Yep. Had it all written down. You get up an hour earlier than I do tomorrow for a change." Eric smiled at the thought of Zach being an early riser. 

"Oh no! I'll give her the keys." Zach paused. The thought of letting anyone drive his new car gave him the shivers. Mom had him pegged. "Damn. You are so getting that car fixed tomorrow. I am not doing this two days in a row!" Zach shook the knife in his hand at Eric for emphasis.

"Fine! Just watch where you point that thing!" Eric ducked in mock horror from Zach welding the knife.

The both laughed and went to work butchering the deer. 

*

Zach took his shower first while Eric finished packaging and then loading the meat into the deep freeze. He kept a portion of steak out for breakfast in the morning and put it in the fridge next to the liver. Eric was tempted to slice off a bit of liver, but knew if he started, there would be an empty bag left in no time. So, he closed the fridge and turned off the kitchen light. 

Eric finished his shower and then crept into bed with Kate. She was warm and he snuggled up close to her. When he put his arms around her, she barely sighed. Eric kissed her on the back of the neck and was asleep in a few moments. 

*

Kate woke to the sounds and smells of breakfast being cooked. She wrapped up in a flannel shirt of Eric's she had liberated earlier in the year. It hung on her, but was warm and comfortable. Walking into the kitchen, she found Eric at the stove and Jamie sitting at the table watching intently.

"What's cooking?" 

"Bambi libber an unyuns," said Jamie before Eric could even turn to greet Kate.

"Liver and onions eh? That sounds good." 

"Good morning sleepy-head." Eric reached over to kiss Kate. 

Kate stood up on tip-toes and met Eric mid-kiss. "Morning." The kiss smelled of fried onions.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Sore and still tired. That was not fair last night,"

"No, what wasn't fair was staying up when you said you'd go to sleep," he said as he turned the liver and onions in the pan.

"I was going. Just not as soon as you wanted me to," she started in self defense of her actions.

"Next time, go to sleep when I ask, and I won't have to put you to sleep. From the look of you, you could use another few hours of sleep."

"I have work to do, so don't you dare."

"Don't worry. I know you have work to do. However, I will at least ask you to take it easy this week."

"I can try, but no guarantees. Why?"

"I just have this feeling that you will have a busy week."

"Great. Is breakfast ready? It smells wonderful."

"Yes, it is. Jamie, get some plates."

"Okay Daddy." Jamie bounced off the stool and climbed a second one to get out four plates. "Mark! Bambi's ready!"

"I'm not eating that!" Mark hollered from the dining room. 

"U huh!"

"No way!"

"You are! You are! You Arrrrrre!" 

"Enough you two!" said Eric in a loud voice. "Mark, if you aren't having liver and onions, get some cereal. And no complaints later in the day if you are hungry."

"Alright." Mark came in and got a bowl for cereal. 

Kate just shook her head. That boy was still the oddest creature on the planet at times. She held the plates while Eric portioned out the liver and onions. She couldn't wait much longer as it smelled so good. "I'm surprised that you didn't eat this last night."She savored the first bite.

"I almost did eat it last night. I figured if I did though that I'd have a mutiny on my hands."

Kate smiled at him and ate her breakfast.

*

Eric and Zach had fixed the bumper and gotten a used tire to replace the flat. Friday they had to go do the big monthly shopping trip and as usual, everything took twice as long. The weekend came and went before Kate even had a chance to think. Kate realized that part of the problem was that her heart just wasn't in it. Still tired from the car wreak she tried to compensate by shuffling responsibilities. All it really did was get less stuff done and leave her just as tired. 

As if to complicate things more, work at the shelter was becoming extremely hectic. Suzanne had called her in early on Monday. When Kate got there, she found a bus load of kids from Oklahoma and two families all trying to find a place to stay. It took three hours to find a mechanic to fix the transmission on the school bus. One of the families had a medical emergency and the last was a family of six very small children and an exhausted mother. Kate felt that she no sooner got one crisis fixed than three more popped up. Wednesday saw the arrival of both the father of the family with all the little kids and the grandparents. The ensuing argument over who was picking them up was finally settled by James and three sheriff's deputies. The father went to jail for the night and the grandparents took everyone home. 

Kate sat in her office on Saturday and tried to get all of the paperwork in order. It was stacked up in piles all over her desk. She had two folders in her hands trying to figure out where she was going to put them for the moment when Suzanne stuck her head in the door.

"Hi Kate."

"Hello Suzanne. What can I do for you?" 

"Umm, could you work tomorrow? The paperwork is up to my eyeballs and I can't do intakes as well as get all of the paperwork into the computer."

Kate thought for a second. "Yeah. Jody won't be in until Wednesday at the earliest, so I guess so." Jody was a temp in Suzanne's office that might eventually work out. She was just a bit scattered when it came to schedules.

"Thank you dear! I'll buy you lunch." Suzanne called over her shoulder as she walked back towards her office.

Kate put down the folders and called Eric. He picked up on the second ring. "Hello Eric, I'm fine. Can you pick up the kids for me today? Yeah, busy doesn't even begin to cover it. I have paperwork up to my eyeballs and Suzanne wants me to work tomorrow. No, I'll be okay. Thanks for getting the kids. See you this evening when I get home. Bye!" she hung up the phone and went back to sorting her folders.

The double books necessitated by the state intervention drove her nuts some days. Eric had streamlined it a bit, but it still meant hours of computer data entry. She managed to arrange the folders on her desk so that she could evaluate, edit and enter the information in about twenty minutes per folder. There had been fourteen folders to start with and she was down to three. Kate looked over at the clock and realized it was nearly 8:30pm. Another hours worth of work to do, and she decided she must be tired as she could swear she smelled barbecue sauce. She looked at the folders and almost put them in the drawer for the morning. Instead, she opened the next one and started to enter the data.

"Hey! You do exist!" came Eric's voice from the doorway.

Kate jumped and almost tossed the folder. "Gods! You startled me!"

"Well, when you didn't come home, I decided to bring you something to eat." He held out a take out box from Deke's.

"Oh my, I wasn't imagining things when I thought I smelled barbecue sauce." 

"No, you weren't. And if you want, I'll enter data while you eat." He gestured for the two of them to trade places.

"Deal!" Kate said as she took the box. Inside were two pickles, barbecue sauce, a shredded pork sandwich and some chips. "A feast! Thank you Eric. I was just beginning to despair that I had another hour to go before I could get home." 

"Well, you eat and I'll type. I'm a bit faster at data entry, so maybe we can get out of here in thirty minutes instead of an hour." He sat down at the computer and began to tap away at the keyboard in rapid strokes.

Kate sank into the other office chair and ate her sandwich. She added extra sauce and practically inhaled it. "This is so good. Thanks for the extra pickle."

"Don't thank me. That waitress remembered you snatching my pickle and gave you an extra one."

Kate just smiled and continued eating her dinner.

*

Twenty-five minutes later they were out the door and on their way home. Jerry, the new night desk guard saw them out and locked the door. They got home to a sleeping household. Not even the dogs barked as they came in. Kate and Eric took a quick shower and then snuggled into the bed.

"What are you going to do tomorrow?" They had discussed her plans in the shower.

"I have some computers to repair, and then I think I'll curl up on the couch and watch a movie with the kids for a bit until you get home."

"Sounds good. Wish I could be home with you."

"So do I. You haven't had ten minutes to yourself all week. From what you say, next week won't be much better."

"No, it won't Eric. This time of year is just crazy. You remember how it was when you got here."

"Yes, I do. Hard to believe it was a year ago."

"So much has happened."

"Yes. Some of it wonderful and some of it enough to give you nightmares."

"I'll agree with you there. Oh. Before I forget. I asked for Monday and Tuesday off."

"Oh? Because you're working tomorrow?"

"That, and it's Beltaine!" A smile played over her face.

"Gods! I'd almost forgotten. Have I told you I love you lately?" 

"I think you just did." Kate turned and kissed him. "I love you too." 

The two of them snuggled up again and were soon fast asleep.

* 

Andy watched the kids so that Eric and Kate could celebrate Beltaine with a bit of privacy. They indulged in dinner at the Firefly and then came home for a long bath. Eric got out of the bath first and said he'd go make sure the dogs were out of the bedroom while Kate soaked for a few more minutes. Kate didn't mind as she stretched out in the tub. She soaked for another ten minutes and then realized that Eric hadn't come back. She figured he must have laid down on the bed and fallen asleep. So much for some playtime. She got out, dried off and wrapped up in the flannel shirt she had come to use as a nightgown. She piled her hair up on her head with a clip and headed for the bedroom. 

When she got to the bedroom door, she found a sign that said: Please Turn Over. Curious, she turned it over and stuck it back on the door. The reverse side said: Do Not Disturb. So, she left the sign and opened the door. Kate was surprised to find the room awash in candlelight. Eric was sitting on the bed amidst the pillows. On the nightstand was a bottle of ginger beer and two glasses. Next to that was a plate of their favorite peanut butter cookies.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd fallen asleep in there."

"I thought the same of you when you didn't return to the bathroom. I certainly didn't expect this."

"I don't see why not. It is Beltaine. We have a babysitter and a Do Not Disturb sign on the door." Eric stood up and Kate could see that he was nude. 

"Oh my. Am I overdressed?"

"While a Montana nighty is a sexy item, I do think you are a bit overdressed for the occasion." He walked over to her and began to unbutton the shirt.

"Montana nighty?"

"Yes..... a man's flannel shirt on a beautiful woman is very sexy for those from my neck of the woods. We call it a Montana nighty or negligee." He finished unbuttoning it and slipped it off her shoulders.

"I'll have to remember that." Kate smiled at the idea of a flannel shirt being sexy bed attire. 

Eric smiled and poured them each a glass of ginger beer. Kate took her glass and a cookie off the plate. Anne had been baking. She knew that Eric loved peanut butter cookies. Pregnancy had really brought out Anne's sense of domesticity.

"So, how do you plan to have your wicked way with me?" She had a giggle in her voice. 

"Once I've intoxicated you with ginger beer and peanut butter cookies, I think I'll see if you're edible. I didn't eat enough supper and you may just have to suffice." Eric smiled and finished off his cookie. 

Kate giggled. Finishing off her ginger beer and dusting the cookie crumbs off of her skin, she got up on her knees and crawled towards Eric. When she got to him, she sat astride his legs.

"Oh? You do? And just how will you manage that with me sitting on your lap?" 

"Well, I'll just have to use my superior intelligence to overcome your sneak attack." Eric put his arms around her and rolled them both over onto the pillows. Kate squeaked as they went over and then dissolved into giggles as he began to kiss her neck and shoulders. She couldn't keep from wiggling as the kisses tickled the lower down Eric went.

Eric let go of her and moved so that he could get to her breasts and stomach. When he got near her ribs, he nipped them gently.

"Oh! Hey!" Kate squeaked, more from surprise than pain.

Eric grinned at her and she realized that his canines were beginning to show. His kisses began to move over her stomach and down to the cleft between her legs. His breath tickled as he slowly began to lick the soft skin. 

Kate opened her legs more as Eric began to nibble up and down the inside of her thighs. He stopped at that point where her legs joined her body and began to slowly lick, kiss and nibble the sensitive skin. Eric's tongue moved to the outside of her lips and slowly drew across them. Kate gasped and her hips started to arch towards his face. His hands held her hips to keep her still. Then his tongue slid between her lips and touched that button of flesh at the very top. 

"Ohh," Kate moaned. 

Eric's tongue licked her again and again, until Kate arched her back in orgasm. He looked up at her and smiled to see the closed eyed smiling face. Eric slowly started kissing his way up her stomach. As he neared her breasts, her hand reached up and grazed his thigh. He moaned as her fingertips brushed his head and shaft.

Kate felt how hard he was under her fingertips and moved to get out from under his arms. She got half way there when he nibbled her ribs and made her twitch.

"Not fair... you had your fun, let me kiss you." She moved her lips towards his hips.

"Fair? We play fair? When?" he asked in playful tones.

Kate thought about it for a few seconds and then before she spoke, she reached up with her hand and cupped his balls, pulling him towards her. She moved her head forward, licked the very tip of his head and then blew air across the wet flesh. Eric bucked forward, the intensity of the sensation taking away his motor control for a moment. Kate smiled.

"Okay, I won't play fair." She slid her mouth over the hard flesh and took him in as far as she could.

Eric groaned. He had nowhere to brace against other than Kate's side. She was laying on her side and propped up on one arm to kiss him with those wonderful lips and tongue. He couldn't help but want to thrust against her mouth. It felt so good as she slid the roof of her mouth across the top of his head and then ran her tongue all over the shaft. His hand landed on her hip and from there, he slid his hand down between her legs and found that her cleft was soaking wet. Warm and wet. His fingers delved in and began to stroke and play with that soft flesh. Kate moaned against his shaft, almost undoing what little control he had left.

"Kate.... I," he started. 

Kate knew that he was close to orgasm, so she slowed her tongue down and slid her lips off of his shaft. It was left quivering in the air next to her nose. At the same time, he took his fingers from her cleft and pulled her to her knees. Kate knew what he wanted and turned so that he could slide into her from behind. She braced herself against the pillows on the bed. 

Eric took a breath and then guided his shaft into Kate where his fingers had been a moment before. She was so hot, wet and tight all at the same time. He began to thrust slowly, hoping he would last as her kisses had almost melted his reserve a few moments before. Kate moved with him and in spite of good intentions, their hips began to move faster and faster. Eric could feel the hair along his spine prickle and itch. He knew in the back of his mind that he was beginning to shift and at the same instant, didn't care. It all felt so good. Eric's hands tightened on her hips and he realized that the backs were covered with soft gray fur. His thrusts increased in intensity.

Kate was wrapped up in the deep pleasure of Eric's strokes when she realized he was getting heavy. His hands became hotter and more insistent in their grip on her hips. She pushed back against him more and felt him push deeper inside of her. It sent waves of pleasure across her whole body. She was almost to orgasm when she felt him lay across her back. His thrusts were faster and deeper if that was possible and then his teeth bit into her neck where it joins her shoulder. The waves of orgasm rocked over her. Eric orgasmed as well and the two of them shared the intense emotion, almost freezing them in place for a second.

Eric shuddered from the release and did his best not to fall on top of Kate. He wrapped his one arm around Kate and rolled them to their sides on the bed. Still engaged, the orgasms slowly played over their senses. Eric moved his one arm from around Kate's waist and let his fingers find that sweet button of flesh between Kate's nether lips. Before he lost all control of his hands, he worked his fingers so that Kate orgasmed again and again. Each time her body constricting around his shaft it sent waves of pleasure up his spine. Kate arched one last time in orgasm that shuddered across to Eric. They collapsed against the pillows and slipped into sleep.

*

Kate was the first to wake up. Something didn't feel right and she couldn't put her finger on it. Literally. When she raised her hand to rub at her eyes, she realized that it wasn't a hand with fingers that she was seeing, but a rather large paw covered in silver white fur. She turned to Eric to say that she shifted and all that came out was a yip.

Eric opened his eyes and saw what his ears had told him was next to him in bed. He blinked and then bumped noses with Kate. They exchanged tongue kisses and then Eric stood up and shook all over. He turned back to see Kate tentatively standing up on the bed. She stumbled and then walked off onto the floor. Kate had a sheepish grin across her face and her tail was slowly wagging. Eric turned towards the door and pawed the lever so that it opened. He left the room hoping that Kate would follow. He went down the hall, turned into the kitchen and pawed the back door. It swung open and Kate shot through. He nosed the door closed and followed her down the steps.

Kate loped down the back stairs, marveling at the rich scents in the night air and how bright it all seemed to her. Especially as she knew somewhere in her mind that it was a new moon. She turned to see Eric come down the stairs and then motion for her to follow him out of the yard.




Sheeple Ch. 09



Eric followed the sidewalk and then headed up the alley. He hadn't jumped the fence as he wasn't certain of just how co-ordinated Kate was yet on four legs. Kate peered around the edge of the garage, saw where Eric was and joined him in the alley. They moved down the alley, Eric pausing at the road edges, knowing that cars in town were his worst enemy. They got to the school playground and he led her to the culvert. Eric sniffed, found no one in it and headed through it. Kate paused at the entrance and then ducked into the culvert. 

The two of them exited the culvert and started across the fields and out into the prairie. Eric had to keep waiting for Kate as she stopped to sniff and investigate almost every bush or hole she passed. It reminded him of the time he had taken a pack of puppies out so that their mother could hunt. Her curiosity was slowing them down. He let it go on for a few minutes and then moved around behind her and nipped her haunches.

Kate had been nose deep in a bush, smelling mice when Eric bit her on the left hip. She turned with a yip and then realized that he was trying to get her to run with him. He pranced in place for a moment and then ran off towards the hills. Kate followed. They ran and ran until they reached Eric's favorite spot. The rocks were cool, but not cold. Eric flopped down on the rock and caught his breath. Kate laid down next to him. Her senses were still on overload, and she was trying to process all of the input. The world was shades of gray, brown and blue. Her sight was so precise that she could see the mice off in the field and the antelope down in the arroyo at the bottom of the hill. Her nose was also much more sensitive. She was amazed at the richness. Two legs were so sensory deprived.

Eric stood and decided to be playful. He bumped noses with Kate and then nipped at her shoulder and then stepped back. She rolled away from him to start to stand up and he dived in to nip at her ribs. She tried to nip back, but found that he had already moved away again. He moved around behind her and nipped at the base of her tail.

Kate tried to use her teeth to nip back at Eric, but he was faster than she was. The nips didn't hurt. In fact, they felt good. She stood up and he had moved around behind her and she felt him nip the base of her tail. That sent shivers down her spine. 

Eric nipped at her flanks again and then stuck his nose between her hind legs. His tongue licked her and then he moved back. 

Eric's tongue felt so good that Kate moved her tail off to one side. Eric moved closer, putting his paws on her back. She felt him enter her at the same time his teeth sank into her shoulders. The rhythm was fast and it was over before she had time to think about much more than how good it felt. The both plopped panting to the rock.

Eric felt good. So alive. He couldn't help that his tongue was hanging out and he was panting and drooling all over Kate's fur. Kate turned towards him and he could see that she was doing the canine version of a silly grin. They both laid there recovering. Eric didn't want to be out too long as he wasn't certain when Kate would shift back to two leg form. He nudged her and motioned with his head back towards town. 

Twenty minutes later, they were back in town and walking through the culvert when Eric froze. The culvert echoed with the sounds of stones striking back and forth against the walls. Behind him Kate whimpered as the scent of the rattlesnake struck her nose. The snake had been seeking warmth, and the culvert offered a bit of cover. Eric and Kate slowly backed out of the culvert. When they got a few yards away, Kate was visibly shaking. Eric wasn't too sturdy himself. That was a close call. Instead of using the culvert, he moved them down the streets and back alleys. 

While crossing the main road, Eric saw a truck moving. It was big, white and reminded him of something. He sniffed the air and realized that it was Ronny, the man who sometimes brought snacks by for him. Kate whimpered again, and he figured he better get moving. It would not do to be caught by the dog catcher tonight. He moved into the alleys and headed home as fast as he could. They got to the yard and up the stairs just as the truck passed the house. Both of them held as still as possible. When the truck had finally passed, Eric pawed the door open and in they went. 

Kate moved down the hall to their room and jumped up on the bed. Turning around three times, she settled in amongst the pillows. Eric stopped to get a drink out of the dog bowl and then followed her to bed. He curled up with her and was soon asleep.

*

Light coming through the window curtains woke Kate. She stretched and was happy to see that she once again had fingers. At first, as she laid there Kate wondered if it had all been a dream. She went to roll over and talk to Eric when she realized that there was sand in the bed and a fine coat of dust on her skin. It hadn't been a dream. Her hands and feet also felt as if she had run barefoot all night long. Well, she had...

"Eric,... Eric, wake up." 

Eric moaned, rolled towards her and stretched. He opened one eye and then smiled at Kate. He leaned forward as if to kiss her. Instead, his tongue shot out and licked the tip of her nose.

"Oh Eric!"

"What?" he asked with a smile on his face.

"You are just so... so.. doggy some days." 

"Like you aren't?" Eric rolled over, noticed the sand and sat up to dust it out of the bed.

Kate just sighed and shook her head. "Okay, you have me there. Did that really happen last night? I didn't dream it?"

"Nope. You shifted. Must have been right after the last orgasm, because last thing I remember was you sharing the whole emotional mix and sort of passing out. Next thing I know, you are bumping my nose with yours and we went out to play."

Kate nodded. "That's what I though. What an experience. I remember things in snatches. Scents, noises and running. Oh, and the snake. That was just as scary on four legs as it is on two."

"With good reason. The bite that would make me sick as a human might kill the wolf. That was a close call last night."

"Oh yes. Other things from last night aren't as clear. I don't understand all of it."

"There will be disparity between memories. You and your wolf self aren't integrated very well yet so there are bits that don't translate. Hell, I've been doing this since I was a teen and still have days when we cross communicate."

Kate stretched again and realized just how grimy she was. "Shall we go shower?"

"Sounds good." Eric got up out of bed and the two of them dusted out the sheets. Sand, bits of sagebrush and grass were swept to the floor. 

*

After a long hot shower, Kate was cooking breakfast and Eric went to take the dogs out for a mid-morning romp in the back yard. He let the dogs out and was getting ready to turn back in when he saw a bag hanging on the door lever. It was a bag from the local pet store. Eric took a look inside and began to laugh.

Kate heard the laughter and turned to find Eric holding a bag and a note. "What do you have there Eric?"

Apparently, Ronny has paid us a visit and left us a gift."

"You mean he left Max a gift." Ronny had made a habit of leaving things for Max on the back door ever since the big fight.

"No, not just Max." He handed a note to Kate. It read:

Deer Kate an Eric

heer is a nuw colur for Max saw him wifout one this mornin heer is one for hiz nuw gurlfrend to got the tags on um. dont furget um. i dont wants to pik them up for no shots.

Ronny



"Oh my gods. He did see us this morning." Kate sat down on the kitchen stool. 

"Yes, he did. Lucky for us, he didn't pick us up. Me showing up naked in the pound can be put off to a prank. You naked at the pound would be a whole other story." Then Eric reached in the bag and pulled out two dog collars. Both of them for large dogs. One forest green and the other purple with a sliver and blue pattern wove into it. Tags jangled from each one. 

Kate just looked at them and didn't know whether to laugh or not. Eric took advantage of her lapse of conversation and dropped the purple collar over her head. "Oh thanks Eric.".

"Well, at least it fits."

"Yeah." Kate took it off and turned it over in her hands. That's when she noticed that the tags were more than just the normal city license. She looked at hers and then at Eric's. "Did you notice the extra tag?" 

"No." Eric looked at his collar and then laughed. On his was a tag marked MAX. On Kate's was one marked LADY. The two of them dissolved into laughter.



*

School was finally over. Mark and Jamie had each participated in the 8th grade graduation ceremony. Mark had held a pole marking the archway for the graduating students to pass through with one of his classmates opposite him. Jamie had tossed confetti along the path that had been taped across the gym floor. Jamie looked so cute in the dress Anne had made her. After the ceremony, there was the usual reception with refreshments provided by the community. Zach had almost spewed punch clear across the cafeteria when he noticed Jamie 'hunting' her brother. She had stalked him from across the room using various groups of adults for cover. Eric and Kate just smiled. 

Summer school started in two weeks. Pat and Tammy had promised to take the kids for a week so that Eric and Kate could relax a bit. It was a good plan, but between Eric's first call out on a Search and Rescue mission that required 'Max' and Suzanne taking a week of vacation, life stayed hectic. Before they knew it, it was Sunday night.

"Jamie and Mark, get into bed!" Eric hollered for the third time. Both children were bouncing up and out of bed like jack-in-the-boxes.

"What happened to your great 'sleepy-vibes'?" Kate asked Eric as he plopped exhausted into a chair. 

"Shush you!" 

"How about a cup of tea?" 

"I'd love one." He headed downstairs one last time to try and get the kids in bed.

*

By the time he was back, Kate had tea and gingersnaps on the kitchen table. 

"Heaven in a cup," he said between sips. It had taken what seemed like forever to get Mark and Jamie settled down. In the end, Eric did resort to sleepy vibes for Jamie. It was the only way to get her to stop talking.

Kate smiled and handed him a cookie. Tomorrow they were going to drop the children off at school and then head up into the hills for the few hours of summer school. Both of them were looking forward to running in the hills. They finished their cups in silence and then headed to bed.

*

"Oh that was fun!" Kate exclaimed. They had just rounded a tight curve and stopped for a moment before continuing down the valley.

Eric looked over at her and smiled. They had been taking the Subaru higher and higher up the valley each day. He usually drove, but today had been Kate's turn. She was nervous about driving the narrow rutted road, but was gaining confidence. "Told you it was doable." 

"For you, yes. However, I never thought I'd get past that one really steep part where it feels like the road falls away."

"You did really well. When we get down to the big meadow with the old cabin, let's park."

Kate nodded and started down the road. It wound down the western side of the valley and through thick stands of aspen. A small meadow opened up and then a bigger one appeared as they rounded to the east. Here Kate pulled off the road and they got out to stretch.

"That has got to be one of my favorite views in the whole world." She looked back up the valley they had just driven down. 

"It's one of mine as well. I'm so glad that I was able to get the time off to spend with you up here every day. It's worth the chatter we have so early in the morning." He was thinking of Jamie and her non-stop monologues on the morning drives.

"Yes, it is." Kate leaned up against Eric. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. They had had some lovely picnics over the last two weeks. Kate had even managed to shift with Eric one morning and they had run clear up the valley. The only unsettling bit had been Eric trying to explain where Kate was when he went to pick up the kids. After dropping them off at the Maes ranch, he'd gone back up the valley to pick her up. Kate had managed to shift back and was wading happily in the river waiting for Eric. He was glad that he'd had enough forethought to leave her clothes with her.

Eric let go of Kate and turned to reach in for the water bottle on the back seat. After taking a drink, he handed her the bottle. She finished off the last of the water and handed it back to Eric.

"Are you sure you can't have Zach pick up the computer parts in the morning?" 

"Yeah. The supplier is being a pain in the ass. Something about Zach changing all of his passwords to Satan last time he was in the shop."

"That was three years ago! You'd think the man would get over it." Kate was exasperated. 

Eric just smiled. He glanced at his watch and saw that they had thirty minutes before summer school was over for the day. "We need to get moving Kate. I'll drive." They moved to get into the car.

Kate smiled as he re-adjusted the seat. He was trying to pretzel himself in before moving the seat back. In the end, he gave up and got back out to adjust the seat. Kate looked away before she burst out laughing.

*

The trip down the valley to the school was fast and bumpy. Kate swore that Eric tried to hit every puddle possible. It was a contest lately to see who could muddy the Subbie the most. Eric was winning as usual. They pulled into the parking lot of the school just as the kids were lining up by the front gate. Eric and Kate got out to meet the kids. Other parents were doing the same thing. 

"Don't forget to be careful tonight," said a voice behind Kate.

Kate turned to see one of the older kids grandpa behind her. He smiled at her and she returned the smile. "Now why should we be careful tonight Joe?" 

"Ah, it's a full moon tonight, and there will be werewolves and witches out you know," he said in all seriousness. "Them creatures come out on nights like that and you never know what'll happen."

Eric who had been listening bit his lip trying not to laugh. He managed to turn towards Joe and nod. "That's the truth Joe. You never know what you'll find up in the hills around here."

"Yep." Joe turned to grab his grandson by the shoulder and headed off down the road.

As he walked off, Kate turned to Eric. She rolled her eyes and bent over giggling. Eric joined her and they were still giggling when Jamie and Mark ran over to them.

"Why ya laughing Mama Kate?" 

"Oh, Grandpa Joe said something funny."

Jamie smiled. "He came and tolded us stories about peoples who turn into wolves and coyotes today and ghosts and witches."

"Ah, that sounds interesting." Eric scooped Jamie up and carried her upside down to the car.

Jamie giggled and every time she tried to talk, Eric gave her a bit of a shake. When they got to the car, he turned her upright.

"Shall we hunt triffids on the way home?" 

"Yes! We gots to hunt triffids! Lots and lots of them got away last time," Jamie said excitedly.

They all got in the car and prepared to keep an eye out for triffids. Kate wondered just how many sunflowers, also known as triffids they would be pulling out of the grill this time. So many of the yellow flowers were hanging over the road edge that it made it almost impossible not to hit them. On the way home the first day of summer school, Eric had started making a game of it to hit the sunflowers and send the heads bouncing across the hood of the car. Kate had made a comment about triffids and the name had stuck. Every afternoon they tallied their 'kill' and wrote it up on a piece of paper in the kitchen. As Eric swerved close to the edge of the road to bag the first triffid of the day, Kate though about how tomorrow would be a victory for the triffids as Eric was headed to town while Kate came up here by herself. The thudding of a large triffid across the windshield caught her attention and she started to tally hits and misses as they drove back into town.



Sheeple



Pat nodded in agreement and looked up as the door behind them opened. Suzie walked in with Peaches and Angel. He kissed Kate and headed towards Suzie. "Suzie!"

Kate turned to look who had come in the door. She smiled when she saw Suzie and the kids. "Those are my feral grandchildren," she said as she turned back to Eric. 

The look of puzzlement that played across Eric's face made Kate break out in a smile. He looked towards Pat and the woman he was hugging, and tried to understand what Kate was talking about.

"Here, take a plate and we can talk as we eat." Kate handed him a plate, and started filling her own.

"What about Jamie and Mark? They'll need plates."

"Eric, if you turn around, you'll see that they've been fed."

Eric turned to see Zach had just handed them plates as well as Bess. All three children were thanking him and started to dig into the food.

"I guess you're right." Eric filled his plate with food and then turned to Kate. "Where shall we sit? Is there anywhere to sit?" He looked around the crowded kitchen and living room. 

Kate smiled and made a motion for him to follow. She lead him down the hall to a room full of books, computer parts, fabric, yarn, records, 8-tracks and other odd bits. Kate sat behind the computer desk and pulled the sewing table chair out for Eric.

"It isn't the easiest space to sit in, but at least it is a little bit quieter."

"Yes. I could do with a bit of it for a few moments. I haven't been in such a tight space with so many people in a long time." Eric balanced his plate on his knee and started to eat.

"Well, it isn't always like this. The boys wanted to cook and I couldn't say no. Then of course, all the friends follow." Kate smiled over the top of her wine glass.

Eric just shook his head, not knowing exactly what to think of Kate and her household of people. "I hope you don't expect me to remember any of the people you introduced me to. I'm bad with names."

"Oh, no way. There are too many people in there. However, I owe you an explanation."

"Ah yes. Ferals..."

"That's what I call the people who are like stray cats. The ones who don't have a place to call their own."

Eric stopped eating. "I guess you'd class me and the kids as ferals then." His voice had lost some of its cheerfulness.

Kate looked at him and realized that she'd inadvertently hurt his feelings. "Yes, in some ways, you'd be a feral. However, you are not so out of it that you can't connect to society. You aren't living rough. You aren't dysfunctional, and you don't miss the social clues that so many of my ferals do." She took a deep breath and was about to continue.

"Okay. I was just a bit worried. I've run into some prejudices and so I'm a bit sensitive I guess."

"I'm sorry Eric. Let me give you an example. Take Suzie, the woman Pat was greeting with such enthusiasm. She's a feral. Even after living in a house of her own for nearly a year and holding down a job at the local burger joint, she still is just that one step away from dysfunction."

Erin looked at her trying to understand.

"She was the middle kid of a large family. Her mom isn't all glued together right, and has had about five or six husbands. Suzie ran away from home when she was 17. Had Peaches when she was 18. Has no idea of who the biological dad is. Angel came along eighteen months later. No parenting skills, no life skills, nothing." She stopped to let this sink in as she ate a bit of her burger.

"Suzie was in and out of housing, the shelter, her mom's house and my house. She came here, because Pat was her boyfriend for a while. And no, I'm not sure if Peaches or Angel is one of his or not. I gave up worrying about it. My biggest concern has been trying to help her be a better mom and a responsible adult." Kate took another bite of burger.

Eric ate the last bit of his food and set the plate on the floor. "Okay, I understand a bit more of what you mean now. Wow. How do you cope?"

"How could I not cope? How could I turn any of them out? I'm just not built that way." 

"Is that why you work at the shelter?" 

"Yes. Suzanne recognized I had a talent for working with the odd ones. She's been here often enough that I'm not sure if the boys know she isn't a relative. She came to be with me when David died." She took a large sip of wine. "I started out as a volunteer and then realized that I really wanted to work there. When a spot opened, Suzanne put me in it."

"Well, only knowing you for a short time, I think you are very good at it."

"Thanks Eric. Do you want anything else?" She pointed to his empty plate.

"No, I'm fine. I'm..."

"MOM!" A voice hollered from the kitchen.

"What Jon?" Kate asked as she gathered her plate and glass. She headed back to the kitchen where Jon stood there with his arm wrapped around his neck, and forced back at an odd angle with his older brother Zach keeping it there. 

"Tell him to let go of me!" Jon said as his face got redder the more he struggled.

"What did you do?" Kate asked.

"Me? I didn't do nuthin!" Jon gasped.

"Oh? Trying to sneak out with the cake was 'nuthin' eh? You illiterate lout!" Zach said rather loudly.

"I was takin it to Mom."

"Oh sure you were. Try again fish bait!" Zach lifted him a bit higher off the floor.

"Zach, put him down. Where is the cake?" Kate said quietly

"I've got it Mom. I'm serving it up to the little ones first," Andy said from the other side of the room. He was busy cutting cake and putting it on small paper plates. Jamie, Bess and Mark were waiting patiently.

"Alright. Now, as for you two," she said even more quietly than before. "I want you to stop it and let it go. Now." 

"But Mom!" Jon started to argue. 

"Shall I just take him outside?" Zach said as he tightened his grip.

"No, just let go of him. You two need to not start wrestling like paratroopers every time one of you disagrees with the other." Kate's voice was still soft.

Zach let go of Jon so fast that he fell to the floor. "Fine by me Mom. I'm just trying to keep some order here." 

"Thank you dear, but sometimes you two just go too far. Don't wrestle in my kitchen." 

Jon got up from the floor blustering still and took a swipe at Zach. Zach caught his foot and carried it up until it was level with his shoulder. The rest of the people in the room just moved out of their way and were heading for Andy and the cake. 

"Boys..."

Jon and Zach looked at their mom and realized that she had had enough. Any quieter and she'd be whispering, and that was a bad sign. Mom whispering meant that people were going to wish she'd been yelling. Zach dropped Jon's leg and moved back.

"Sorry Mom," Jon said as he moved forward to give her a hug.

"Me too Mom" Zach snagged a piece of cake. He snapped a wrist at Jon as he too got a piece of cake and then disappeared into the living room where music was getting louder. 

"Here Mom. Have some of your cake." Andy handed a piece to her and Eric. "Maybe some day those two will grow up," he said as he turned back to the cake pan.

"One could only hope." Kate took a bite of cake.

Eric wasn't sure what to make of the whole thing. Horseplay gone wrong and Kate had dealt with it with a voice so quiet he could barely hear her. However, her body language read like she was ten foot tall and made of steel. Funny when you really looked at her. Eric took the opportunity to study her while she dealt with her own cake and one of the people she'd introduced him to earlier. 

*

Kate was petite. 5'3" if that, and round soft curves. Nowhere near the model thin type, yet she looked as if she could out walk just about anyone. Long reddish blond hair streaked with white moved like it was alive. She had a pale complexion and blue eyes that gave him trouble meeting their gaze when they talked. They were blue with darker blue rings around them. Kate had a confidence about her that he liked.

Finishing his cake, he put the plate in the trash and the fork in the sink. He moved towards the people in the living room. He hadn't been in there before and smiled when he got a good look around. First off, books lined the walls, just like they had everywhere he looked. Photos of people he figured were family were scattered amongst more books, knick-knacks and dust bunnies. One photo showed Kate standing in the arms of a very tall man. David he guessed. A TV entertainment unit stood in one corner. It was covered in DVD's, VCR tapes and more knick-knacks, candles, obscure clay items obviously made by the boys over the years as well as alabaster nudes, and cats. One cat was sprawled with his head resting on the thigh of one statue. 

Eric scratched the cat's ears and continued to look around. Couches, tables and a fireplace with ashes still in it although it was late Spring. He turned as his children's voices caught his attention and he froze for a moment. Deep breath, he thought. He looked around and realized that there were things he had missed in the rest of the room. The thing that had made him freeze was a low chest. It was partially obscured by the door. It was covered with a lace cloth and had a cup, candle holder and two small statues on it. There was also a tall pointy hat nestled in the rocks of the ficus next to the chest. He was just trying to figure out how to politely ask if Kate was pagan when a voice spoke in his ear.

"Mom's a witch ya know."

It was Jon. Eric turned and smiled at him. Jon had obviously picked up on Eric's interest in the altar and had decided to see if he could shock Eric. 

"Well, that's nice to know." Eric tried to sound calm. The last thing he wanted was this teen having any kind of oneupmanship on him. "I'm pagan too." 

Jon looked disappointed. "Damn, I was hopin' you'd get all squicky about it and we could tease you about dead guys on sticks."

"What?" Eric was a tad perplexed.

"Never mind him. He's just a brat." Pat came up on the other side of Eric. "And a dead guy on a stick is a crucifix."

"I caught that one. Its just been a while since I've heard that phrase." 

"Okay. You just never know. We're a famtrad. Or as famtrad as you can get around here. Lots of closet pagans and oddball wannabes. But Mom's the real thing."

"I'm famtrad too," Eric said quietly. Not exactly what Pat might expect, but it was a family tradition he followed. Looking back around the room, he realized that there were star shaped votive candles and elemental colored votive holders around the room. What really gave him the giggles when he noticed it was the sign saying "Bewitched" hanging over the door he'd come through earlier.

"So, I see that the boys have spilled the family secret." Kate had come up behind him. 

Eric turned and looked at Kate who was smiling up at him. She had Peaches in her arms and was rocking from side to side with her. 

"Peaches is tired and can't relax enough to sleep. So, I said I'd rock her to sleep." Kate swayed.

Eric looked at her and had an idea. He reached out his hand and put it on Peaches shoulder. He sent a stream of sleepy energy to Peaches and watched as she gave a brief shudder and then fell asleep.

Kate looked at him as she felt the tingle as well as Peaches going limp in her arms. "You're good at that." 

"Lots of practice with those two." He gestured towards Mark and Jamie. 

Kate smiled. She didn't have any secret handshake to give Eric, but it was nice to know that he was some flavor of pagan. She liked him and she always felt better around people she didn't have to watch her tongue around. It was also easier when the boys ferreted out the information. If there was a bad reaction to Jon's little taunt, she could always do the cover up. Kate was glad that this wasn't necessary.

"I need to put Peaches on Pat's bed. Can you give me a hand?"

"Sure. Where are we going?"

"Just down the hall, through the kitchen, down the stairs and to the left," she said as she moved.

"Here, do you want me to carry her?"

"No, I can do it." 

"Are you sure?" He moved in front of her.

Kate looked up at Eric. The thought of carrying a toddler downstairs didn't appeal to her. "Okay. She's heavy though." Kate handed Peaches over to Eric.

"Not a problem. I'm stronger than I look." He smiled. If they only knew.

Kate smiled. "You look strong enough for me."

Eric shifted Peaches up a bit and turned to Kate. "Lead the way." 

Kate headed through the kitchen to a door he'd seen earlier. She opened it and there were a set of stairs that turned right half way down.

"Watch your head. There is a wall here that is too low for 90% of my household." 

Eric ducked just in time. He wouldn't have hit it by much, but stucco style walls are rough on the skin. Kate turned on lights as she walked and they went from a short hall to a large open room which looked like a boys dorm. Shoes, clothes, dishes and trash all over the place.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't know it was such a mess down here. Heads will roll. Damn." Kate spoke as she did her best to clear a path to the bed in the far corner.

"Don't worry. I was a boy too you know."

"No! Really? I'd never have guessed. You're so polite and have manners and everything!" Kate was sweetly sarcastically. 

Eric smiled and just nodded. Peaches was still sound asleep when he laid her on the bed. He hoped that she didn't need a diaper. 

"Don't worry, Pat can just change the sheets in the morning."

"Umm... I didn't say anything." 

"Yes, you did. You said you hoped she didn't need a diaper."

"No, I thought that. I didn't say it."

"Oh..." Kate looked a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I usually have better control."

"Don't worry. We all do it, even those who aren't magical." Eric tried to reassure her.

"Yeah, but I pride myself on having that edge of control. It doesn't do any good to be screaming mentally when you are trying not to bother the clients."

"I can understand that. However, if we share a random thought, I don't think that the world will end."

Kate looked at him and smiled. "Yep, I think you're right." She reached down and pulled the covers up over Peaches. Angel was already asleep in the bed, just the top of her head peeped out over the bedding. Pat would just have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight.

*

Upstairs, the party had quieted down. Andy and the three kids were in one corner talking quietly. Jon and his buddies were still outside playing with the grill. Pat and Suzie were nowhere to be seen, and Zach was talking quietly with Anne in the kitchen eating the last of the cake.

"Well, glad to see that things have settled down. Where's Pat?" Kate ran her finger around the edge of the cake pan to get the last of the frosting.

"They went to get some soda at the Corner Store," Anne said.

Kate nodded. Probably a good idea to escape for ten minutes while they could. Peaches and Angel could be rather exhausting to deal with as Kate knew all too well.

"Okay. I guess everyone got enough to eat?"

"Yeah, and your cake was a hit as usual," Zach said.

"That was a good cake. Devil's food?" Eric asked.

"No, mayonnaise." Kate smiled.

"Mayonnaise? But, it was chocolate." Eric was perplexed.

Kate smiled, because it always confused people the first time they had her cake. "It's made with mayonnaise instead of eggs and oil. It's also called Depression Cake. During the Depression when you couldn't get eggs, you could buy mayo. So, some smart woman figured out the cake recipe. You get a really rich chocolate cake in the end. My mom gave me the recipe and it's the only cake I make."

"It is very good. Did you make the frosting too?"

"Yes."

Eric looked to Zach. "Does your mom know how rare she is?"

"Don't inflate her ego too much. She's already trying to save the world and humanity. Don't tell her she really can cook," Zach said with a smile.

Kate took a towel off the stove and snapped it at Zach. He caught the end and pulled it from her hands. 

"You're slow tonight Mom."

"Oh poo!" Kate looked around for another weapon. She caught sight of the Monster Spray bottle and grabbed it. She took aim at him and nailed him good before he could move. The scent of lavender filled the room. 

"Mom!"

"Yes dear?"

"You know I hate that stuff!"

"It could have been salt water."

"Uggh!" Zach dried himself off with the towel. "Next thing I know it'll be bells and incense. Arrghh!"

Kate just laughed. Anne joined in and Eric just stood there perplexed and amazed, trying to follow the interplay between Kate and Zach. Pat walked in behind Kate and picked her up before she could douse Zach with anymore Monster Spray.

"Put me down Pat! Now!" Kate said loudly.

"Aww Mom. You never let me have any fun. Besides, what did he do to deserve being doused with Monster Spray."

"None of your business."

"Oh Gawds Zach. Did you make short jokes again?"

"No, but I was about to call her a tree hugging dirt worshiper." Zach smiled. Kate was still trying to get Pat to put her down, and her feet were a good eighteen inches off the floor. 

Kate finally wiggled enough of her arm free to aim at Zach again. She missed, and caught Eric in the ear. 

"Oh! Eric! I'm sorry". She blushed with embarrassment.

"Not a problem," Eric said taking the towel from Zach and trying to dry out his ear.

Zach was laughing so hard that he had to sit down. This started Pat laughing too, and he dropped Kate rather abruptly. Kate turned and in rapid order hit Pat and Zach again with the Monster Spray. The boys retreated, laughing and smelling of lavender. 

"Well, someday I'll get some respect." Kate sat down on a stool, bottle still in hand.

"What is in that bottle?" Eric asked.

"Water and lavender."

"So, why is it called Monster Spray?"

Kate smiled again. "When Zach was little, he was afraid of monsters under his bed. So, we made Monster Spray. Lavender for calm and water. Mix it up and you have Monster Spray. It works great. I squirted them, and they left." 

From the living room, Zach hollered something unintelligible. Kate laughed. "See, it worked... can't understand them either." This made both Eric and Kate break into giggles. They were still laughing when Andy came into the room.

"Mom, the kids are drooping. Shall I put them in on the guest bed?"

"Yes, but where will you sleep?"

"I can kick it on the couch. Bess' mom called and she had already asked if we could keep her for the night. I said yes."

"Ok. As long as you are alright with that. Make them go to the bathroom and stick them in bed." Kate realized that she should have asked Eric what he wanted to do.

"Umm... I'm sorry,.... should have asked if it was alright if the kids spent the night."

Eric had only been partially following the conversation. "I, um.. Ok. I guess it's okay with me. Will they mind us not being at the shelter for a night?" 

"No, Especially as it's my house you're at. Suzanne says I should just rename the house because I end up with as many strays here as at the shelter." 

"Oh. Ok. Yes, sure. Let me go talk to them and let them know it's okay," He started following Andy out of the room.

He found his children sitting in a corner with a husky puppy and a tabby cat snuggled in with them.

"Jamie and Mark, Kate says you can spend the night here if you'd like. Bess is staying and you can all snuggle into Andy's bed. Sound okay to you?" Eric asked.

"Yeah. Can I have a pillow?" Mark asked.

"Yes. Of course," Eric said, not understanding where Mark was coming from with that question. 

Jamie and Bess were jumping up and down with glee singing. "We get to sleep at Kate's! We get to sleep at Kate's! We get to sleep at Kate's!"

"Enough you two!" Andy said coming up to the girls. "Get ready for bed. Bathroom is down the hall and we'll get you tucked up fast. Kate says you can take Gretchen and Tabitha to bed with you."




Sheeple



Eric gave Andy a puzzled look as the kids headed down the hall. "Gretchen and Tabitha?"

"The dog and cat."

"Oh. I can understand the enthusiasm for sleeping over, but I gather that Bess sleeps here often. So, why the big deal?" Eric was trying to understand the girl's joy at a sleep over.

"Yes, Bess is here a lot. Mom's a barkeeper. However, don't knock my mom's hospitality before you've tried it. This is the type of place where you get chocolate cake for breakfast and all the cartoons you can choke down until the adults wake up." Andy laughed.

"Ah, if it were more of that cake Kate made tonight, I can understand. Was it like this all the time when you were growing up?"

Andy nodded. "Unconventional sort of describes it. Dad was gone a lot on business, but that never stopped life going on here. There were always lots of people about and even when money was short, Mom managed. She did really well after Dad died."

"What did your dad do for a business?" 

"Dad was a consultant for business computers. He did the install and update work. He liked it."

"Is that why Zach and the rest of you are so computer savvy?"

Zach, Mom and Pat are. I could care less for the damn things. I don't even do email."

"Wow. That's a bit of a surprise. I'd have expected all of you to be rather up on computers." 

"Yeah, but to be honest...I'd rather be out climbing or hiking. I work in a cafe downtown at night so that I can climb. Hell, I can't even find a girl who likes to hike as much as I do." Andy was a bit exasperated. "Had one once, but she started asking me to stay home and go shopping rather than go hiking. Got on my nerves. So, we split. Now, I just do my own thing. Mom lets me stay here, but who knows... I may just move on someday." 

"I can understand the whole outdoors thing. I'm rather partial to being in the mountains myself," Eric said.

Andy nodded. "Maybe we can go hiking some afternoon. I know most of the trails."

"That sounds good. I've only seen what's out there from the skyline. Haven't had the time to even walk to the edge of town yet."

"That sucks. At least we live in an older part of town where there are still lots of trees and open spaces," Andy said just as the kids came back down the hall.

"Bedtime! Bedtime! Luuvly luubly bedtime!" Bess was singing. 

"Yes it is!" Andy shooed them into the room. Eric followed them, determined to tuck his two in bed. It was a nice room. Once again, bookcases lined the walls. Science fiction, spy novels, text books and some on the local hiking trails. Boots spilled out of the closet as well as a worn backpack. Eric smiled. 

Andy got the three of them nearly on the bed when he looked to Eric for help. "Umm..... could you?" he asked pointing to the other side of the bed where Mark stood.

"Mark, get into bed. You've got a pillow. Climb in." 

"But Dad, will we still have our stuff in the morning?" 

It took Eric a moment to figure out this latest oddball comment. "Mark, we are only spending the night here. All of our stuff is still in our room downtown. Don't worry."

"Oh. Ok. I just wondered. Night Dad." 

"Just sleep. Goodnight Mark."

"Da-dddddy,..." Jamie said in a sing-song voice.

"Yes Jamie?"

"Are you going to go hunting rabbits? Cause last time we stayed the night somewhere, you went hunting." 

"No. I'm not hunting rabbits tonight. Silly girl," Eric said rather quickly. 

Andy gave Eric and Jamie a look in turn and decided that he wasn't sure where this conversation was going. Maybe he'd ask later.

"Now go to sleep. Sweet dreams." Eric kissed his children goodnight. "Night Bess."

"Nite!" Bess said to everyone. 

Andy and Eric left the room after turning out the light. Andy closed the door.

"Hey Eric, why'd Jamie think you were going hunting?"

"Probably because when we lived up on the ranch, I'd go hunting at night." Eric hoped that that would be enough of an explanation to satisfy Andy. 

"Oh. Ok. Just wondered. It isn't the normal sort of bedtime comment ya know."

"No, it isn't. And yes, it does sound weird." Eric turned and almost walked right into Kate who was coming down the hall to meet them. "Oh! Sorry!"

Kate stopped quickly and moved out of the way fast enough that they just missed. "Not a problem. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?"

"What kind of tea?" 

Andy started giggling. "Oh man. What a loaded question! It's more like which of the 47 kinds of tea in the cupboard do you want. Mom, if you've got the kettle on, I'll have regular tea."

"Of course. I figured that there'd be at least four of us wanting a cuppa. Come along Eric. I'll show you the cupboard and you can choose. We have all sorts as Andy hinted." She turned into the kitchen and opened a cupboard. The entire top shelf was full of teas. Herbals, green teas and black teas.

"Umm...... I don't know where to start." 

"Well, what do you like?"

"Mom, just give him the regular stuff. None of the fancy crap." Andy pulled down cups from the cupboard.

Eric looked at Kate. "What is 'regular'?"

"Regular is English black tea. Like Typhoo or PG Tips. Strong enough to make coffee look wimpish. Most of us drink ours with milk or creamer and various amounts of sugar."She waited for the kettle to pop.

"I'll try regular. With milk and two sugars." 

"Ok." 

Kate poured the water into the cups. None of them were small and soon there was tea brewing. Kate got the milk out for Eric and the creamer for her. She dumped the prerequisite sugars in the cups and then finished up the tea. Kate handed Eric his cup and sat back with her own cradled in her hands. Andy had his black, and his mom shuddered as he picked it up and started drinking. "Don't know how you can drink it that way."

"Well, I don't like sugar Mom, and you know it."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... and who use to eat all of his Samhain candy in one night?"

"Me. And it did me in. Can't stand it now."

"No, but you eat my cake." 

"That's different Mom. Nothing beats your cake."

Eric was watching the two of them and tentatively sipping his tea. It was hot, and the first sip singed his lip. Blowing on it, he tried again and was surprised at the flavor. He'd expected it to taste like the stuff you got in a cafe or diner. Oh was he wrong. "Hey! This is great tea!" 

Kate smiled at him. "Glad you like it. Fair warning, it has more caffeine in it than coffee."

"Ok. Where'd you get this? Find this?" 

"At one point, David worked in England. I went to stay with him for part of the time and fell in love with England. Especially the tea. For years, I depended on friends to send me tea. Then I found a British import store online. Now I order a couple of boxes a month."

"Oh my. And there are people who come to visit you who don't like this?" 

"Well, there are some that don't do caffeine. Others who won't drink anything but certain brands. So, I cater where and when I can. Plus, some of those teas in the cupboard are more medicinal than pleasurable."

"Yeah, like that bloody bone set tea," Andy said with disgust.

"Hey! Don't knock it. It helped you heal up that broken arm didn't it?"

"Ok, it did. But does it have to taste so nasty?"

Eric laughed. "I think it must be part of the contract. My mom use to brew stuff for colds that would knock you off your feet. I always thought she made them so nasty so as you'd not want to be sick."

It was Andy's turn to laugh. "Your mom and mine must have gone to the same school. The last thing any of us boys wanted was to smell chamomile tea."

"It worked though didn't it?" Kate asked.

"Yes. Still didn't have to like it. Granted, I'm not sure you didn't think anything could stand up to chamomile, mint and lavender."

"Well, they worked too."

"Yeah... but still..." Andy hesitated.

"But still what?" Kate teased.

"Oh, never mind. Good thing I love you Mom. Some days I thought you were just trying to make me sicker than I was."

"Nah,...... that would have been easy. Curing you was the hard part."

"I take it you don't go in for traditional Western medicine?" Eric asked.

"Not exactly. Never had the money to just run to the doctors for every sniffle or cough. So, I learned about herbs. We also had a really good common sense doctor one time. Saw him when the boys were young, and he helped form my opinions on certain things. Especially antibiotics."

"Ah. I understand. Same with my family. You had to be really ill before anyone would even consider a hospital. My grandma was the local 'doctor'. She'd have a decoction or a tincture for just about anything."

Kate smiled. "I think your grandma and I would get along just fine. Would you like to come see my herb garden? The porch light throws enough light."

"Yes, I would," Eric stood up. Kate motioned for him to follow and lead the way out the door. This time, they went out the door opposite the basement stairs. The door was midnight blue and covered with hand painted silver stars. Eric smiled. He could smell the mint and sage as they walked down the steps. 

"It isn't the biggest garden, but it survived the drought we had." Kate pointed out the various herbs.

"It works and that's what counts. I like the low wall business. Raised beds are really nice."

"Yes. I also like the fact that I can sit out here at night and enjoy the garden." She sat down on one edge.

Eric sat opposite Kate wondering if the conversation was going to stray from herbs or not.

"I heard you say you were a famtrad. What kind and where from? If you don't mind me asking?" 

Eric took a sip of tea to give himself time to think. "I was born in Montana. Most of the families around there were 'family' if you know what I mean."

"I understand. So, how would you style yourself?" Kate 

Eric took another sip of tea. How to explain without freaking Kate out before he'd had time to get to know her. He'd made that mistake before, and was tired of running. "Well, the family has been around for a long time. Came over from Europe at some point. I don't have the history down pat, so I can't give you dates, but we'd been in Canada for at least 175 years."

"Oh my. Let me guess.. French at some point?" 

"Bretagne."

"Ah.... a subtle difference."

"You could call it that."

"So, is the family still up North?"

"No, most of them left the area about twenty years ago. Politics being the main problem," Eric thought about just what politics had driven most of them away.

"Oh. Do you keep in contact with your family?"

"Some of them. Run into family in the oddest places too. Mostly cousins and such."

"Ok. You never did define your 'flavor' though."

Eric drank more tea. Kate was astute and was following the conversation and not just asking idle questions. Damn. "Umm... I guess you'd call it a combination of shamanism and European folk witchcraft." He hoped that was a broad enough definition to give him some breathing space.

Kate nodded. "I was one of those kids raised to believe in G.O.D."

"God? Like in Jesus? I though your boys said you were pretty much famtrad yourselves." He was perplexed.

Kate started laughing. "Oh no.... not God, but G period, O period, D period."

"I'm lost..... I don't understand."

"Dad was a mountain climber. We spent 90% of our weekend in the mountains on hikes, camping or rock climbing. It stands for Great Out Doors."

Eric suddenly put it all together and started laughing. "Oh my! Now I understand. Were your parents hippies?"

"No, they left that to me." They both laughed this time. 

"So, how'd you get from naturist to witch?" he asked.

"Well, never did fit in with the Christian crowd, so I went looking. Tried to find a balance between what my parents taught me, what I felt and what I knew." 

Eric nodded. 

"My searching explained a lot of things that I'd never understood as a child, but that my parents and grandparents accepted. I'm a precog. I appreciate my parents not going nuts when I'd try to tell them something was going to happen. My teachers weren't so sweet. Plus, I can find just about anything lost. Not people, but things. Like your keys or a pen. That kind of thing."

"I'm a precog too. Some days it is really frustrating to try and figure out what you're seeing," he said.

"I agree. Film clips or sound bites out of context are a pain in the ass."

"Yes. So, what kind of a heading would you put yourself under?" He was trying to keep Kate talking.

Kate downed the last of her tea and set the cup on the wall next to her. "Ummmm... don't laugh, Kitchen witch. You know, the kind that lived at the end of the lane with all the herbs in the garden, half a dozen cats and three quarters of the town sneaking in the back door to see her. I'm a healer, herbalist, mom, shoulder to cry on, etc."

Eric smiled. "Any other bits?"

"Well,... I'm so not a fluffy crystal worshiping follow any author and his/her book type. I guess you'd say that there is a heavy Celtic influence in my mind, but there are guest appearances by a variety of key players from other pantheons."

"Why Celtic?" 

"That's what most of my heritage is. Welsh, Irish, Scots, English and a bit of Swedish and Croatian thrown in too." 

"Ah, I understand. And I take it that David was pagan too? And the boys were all raised that way?"

"David became pagan. The boys were raised pagan. Each of them has found their own 'flavor' so to speak, but definitely pagan. That's where the business of being a famtrad comes from with them."

"Well, according to some, they are. You probably are too, if they don't get snotty." 

"I've run into the snotty ones. Prejudice is just as ugly in a pagan as it is in a Christian or any other religious persuasion. I don't like it in any form."

Eric was relieved in a way he couldn't explain to Kate now. She had gained points with that statement. He didn't feel as nervous as he had been earlier this evening. You just never knew how people would react to some things. He yawned to cover his silence. 

"Kate, I hate to say it, but I'm fading," A second yawn following the first.

"Oh. What was I thinking. Sorry Eric, but its been so long since I've had someone to really talk to that understood things without too much explanation." 

"I understand. Me too." He stood up and headed for the kitchen.

Kate followed, feeling like she'd missed something.

*

"You're welcome to bed down here. The one couch turns into a bed and its really comfy. Zach and Anne have gone to her house for the night and Pat's downstairs with Suzie. So there is room."

"I thought Andy was sleeping on the couch because the kids have his room?"

"He decided to sleep outside. That boy is my wild one, and not in the tear up the world kind of sense."

Eric nodded. He'd felt a connection with Andy when they talked and wondered about him on many levels. "Well, its just..."

Kate gave up. "Do what you want Eric. You're welcome to the couch. I don't lock the doors, so If you decide to come back, just walk in."

Eric gave her a look of concern. "You don't lock your doors? Isn't that a bit on the dangerous side? Don't you worry about break-ins and such?" 

"No, not really. I've got the dogs as noisemakers, and to be honest I've had more trouble from people invited in than from those coming in on their own. I only lock the doors if I'm going out of town for a long time." 

"Oh." He didn't know what to add. The idea of not locking doors made him rather uncomfortable. He didn't know this area well enough to feel that kind of ease. "Well, I'd still like to go down to the shelter to get clean clothes for the kids for the morning. Maybe I'll sleep there, maybe I'll come back."

"Ok, you've got keys for the shelter. Just make sure the back door is shut tight." Kate moved towards Eric as she talked and gave him a hug. "Good night, see you in the morning." 

"Goodnight Kate." Eric returned her hug. He headed out the back door and down the stairs at a quick pace. One matched by his heartbeat. What in the world just happened he wondered as he moved swiftly down the street.

*

Kate closed the door behind Eric and watched him through the window as he ran, no loped down the street. It was the only term that fit. Just like when Gretchen or Luna ran in that liquid way dogs do. She turned and moved towards her room. What on earth had possessed her to hug him? Well, besides the fact that he so obviously needed one. She barely knew him and yet, there was that feeling that she had known him all her life. Strange.

Kate peeked in on the kids in Andy's room. They were all sleeping, curled up with Gretchen the puppy, and about half a dozen cats of various colors. It brought a smile to her face. Walking down the hall, she thought again of the feeling she had when she hugged Eric. It had been like hugging an old friend or one of the boys. She shook her head. Perhaps being alone for the last four years was just getting to her. 

Luna was on her bed, looking guilty. Kate wondered why until she saw the bones at the end of the bed.

"Aw Luna! When are you ever going to learn." Kate spoke out loud as she picked them up and put them on top of the dresser. Rib bones from the barbecue. She'd dispose of them in the morning. Kate dropped her clothes to the floor and grabbed a teeshirt to sleep in. Never did to shock the house guests, especially as her door never managed to stay closed. Crawling into bed, she fell asleep listening to music and feeling Luna climb up on the bed.

*

Eric entered the shelter by the kitchen door and ran up the stairs to their room. He grabbed clean clothes for the kids and a new teeshirt for himself. Pulling off his old one, he put the new one on and then picked up the pile of clothes. He stuffed them in a bag and headed back down the stairs. He locked the back door and headed back up the hill towards Kate's house.

He slowed down as he got to the top of the hill. All the lights were out, but Eric kept looking, searching. No, no one was awake. He walked quietly up to the house and in a corner put the bag with the kids clothes down first. Then he added his own clothes to the pile. After a moment of checking, he turned and headed off down the road towards the edge of town.

Eric took an easy pace as he headed down the alleys. A few dogs barked at him as he passed, but most just sniffed the breeze and headed back to their dog houses. He loped across the school football field and found a huge culvert. Cats, dogs, foxes and others had used this as a way into and out of the town. Eric used it too. It was cooler in the culvert and there was the occasional puddle. As he came to the other end, he sniffed the air. Smelling nothing more than grasses and a skunk, he exited out onto an open expanse of field. After getting his bearings, Eric plotted a course and just ran. Ran like he hadn't done in months. He hadn't had a safe place to leave the children since they'd left the ranch. Not that the ranch had been that safe near the end, but at least he'd been able to get out at night. Late at night.

Eric scared the hell out of rabbits and prairie dogs as he ran through the scrub oak and sage brush. Almost ran into a chola cactus too. He'd forgotten that there were cactus in this part of the country. That was stupid. He'd brushed past it and continued on his run. 

He stopped on top of a sandstone rock outcropping. Low pines were all around it as well as more sage and cactus. It afforded him a beautiful view of the valley just outside of town. He laid there and caught his breath. It felt so good to be out. So good to run. The heat of the day radiated from the rock even this late at night. Eric rolled over and looked all around him. He rested for a while as the stars had begun to shift in the sky.

Eric felt his muscles stiffening up and decided that he'd better head back. Stretching, he found a few sore places, but overall, he just felt good. Heading down the rocks, he decided to change course just a little. This time he ran down an arroyo that was parallel to the highway for a little bit. This brought him in on the other side of the older part of town. Loping down the back alleys, he came up to Kate's house from the other side. The house was still, and as far as he could tell, no one was awake. Over the fence, he walked across the back yard and froze. He had forgotten that Andy was asleep in the yard. Quietly, he walked around Andy and headed up the stairs. 




Sheeple



Eric shoved the door and it opened. He took a quick tour of the house. Peeking in the one room he saw the children asleep. Gretchen saw him and started wagging her tail. He quickly left the room and headed down the hall. Kate's door was wide open. Luna was on the bed, snoring. Kate was asleep, curled up in a ball around her pillow. Sure that all was well, he turned to leave when he spied the rib bones on the dresser. He carefully took them off the dresser and headed down the hall. 

*

In her sleep, Kate dreamed that Gretchen had come into her room. She half woke, wondering why she had. In the hall, she could have sworn she heard the click of nails against the wooden floor. Glancing over at the dresser where the clock was she saw it was 4:45am. Way too early to be up. Her head was almost back on the pillow when she realized what was wrong. The rib bones were gone! Gretchen must have been in the room. She made a note to check the puppy in the morning and fell back asleep.

*

Eric slipped back outside and took care of the bones. He retrieved the pile of clothes and headed back in the house. Slipping into the bathroom, he cleaned up as quietly as he could and then silently headed for the living room. He was relieved to see that the couch was empty. Curling up on the futon, he fell asleep quickly.

*

"Well, nice to see that you decided to spend the night," Kate said as she stood over Eric with a cup of tea and a plate. She had started talking to him from the end of the couch. David and her father had both been the type of men who startled easily from their sleep. Eric was a light sleeper and had nearly sat straight up when Kate spoke.

"Kate! You startled me!" Eric tried to compose himself. She was smiling and held out the cup and plate.

"It isn't chocolate cake, but will scrambled eggs and toast do?"

Eric took the food, smelled it and looked up. "Oh yes. It smells wonderful. Thank you Kate." 

"Don't thank me till you've eaten. Who knows, I may have screwed up for once."She turned and left the room. It made Eric think of the comments her sons had made about her cooking last night. Her cooking must be good so much of the time that when she does mess up, it was memorable. Enough so that they teased her. Hmmmm...

Eric took a bite of the eggs. Bacon, onions, bell pepper, cheese and spices. He ate two more bites before he had a chance to think about anything else. Swallowing, he stood and grabbing his cup, headed for the kitchen. "Kate, this is wonderful."

She smiled. "You've just been without good cooking for too long. These are okay, but they were meant to be an omelet."

"Oh Mom, shush and take a compliment!" Andy said from behind his own plate. He was eating quickly. 

Kate glanced back at him and stuck her tongue out. Andy returned the gesture. They both laughed. Eric was amused by the whole thing and didn't notice the whoosh of air that alerted Kate to the fact that the kids were barreling into the kitchen.

"What's for breakfast?" Jamie asked. "Are we having rabbit?"

Kate looked at Jamie with a puzzled expression on her face. "Now what on earth would make you think we were having rabbit for breakfast?" 

"Well, Daddy went out last night, and he always brings us rabbits." 

Kate was even more puzzled now and Andy was laughing while Eric tried to decide where to step into this conversation. Jamie in the mean time was looking into the skillet and when she saw nothing but scrambled eggs with lots of bits in them and cheese, she turned around to her dad.

"Daddy, where's the rabbit?" she asked in almost an accusatory tone.

"Sweetie, I didn't go hunting last night. I went for a run. No rabbits. So, you're just going to have scrambled eggs."

"Oh poo!" Then went over to where Bess and Mark were waiting at the kitchen table.

Kate decided to wait and ask Eric what that was all about until after the children had their breakfast. She plated out their food, handed them juice and grabbing her teacup, motioned for Eric to follow her. They stopped in the dining room and Kate turned to face Eric. "What on earth was that all about? I heard something about hunting last night too."

Eric took a deep breath and decided to continue with what he had said last night. "When we lived on the ranch, I'd go hunting at night after the kids went to bed. So, often there would be rabbits in the morning to have for breakfast."

Kate looked at him. He didn't seem to be lying, but he was just a bit nervous. She didn't understand why, but left it at that. "So, oh great rabbit hunter, do you plan to continue hunting rabbits around town?" 

"Not if I can help it. I'd rather buy bacon from the store. Less mess, more meat."

Kate laughed and Eric joined her. He was relieved that this was over so easily. 

"Oh.... meant to ask you later, but I'll do so now. Luna got into the trash last night and had some rib bones in my room. I put them on my dresser and figured that I'd throw them out this morning. However, Gretchen must have come in my room in the middle of the night and taken them. Have you seen any bone fragments anywhere?"

Eric stuck his hand in his pocket. "No, I haven't seen any bits laying about," he said as he fingered a piece at the bottom of his pocket. "I'll keep my eyes open for any though."

"Thank you Eric. Puppies are so stupid sometimes." She walked back into the kitchen. Eric followed her and sat his cup in the sink.

"I'd better be off. I have a job interview this morning out at the hospital."

"I'll give you a ride out there if you want," Andy said. "I'm headed that way myself." 

"That would be fine," Eric answered. "Oh..... I forgot. Kate, can you watch the kids while I go for the interview? I forgot that I'd need a sitter."

"Go ahead. Only stop by the shelter and get a clean shirt. There's grease and barbecue sauce on that teeshirt of yours."

Eric looked down and saw that she was right. Damn. "Yes, I guess I'd better. Can we head out now Andy? I'm due there in about 45 minutes."

Andy downed his tea and grabbed his keys. "Let's go."

Eric turned to his children. "Behave for Kate. I'll be back in a bit. Love you both!" Eric turned as he finished and headed out the door.

*

Eric started working at the hospital that week. Computer data entry wasn't a great job, but it put money in his pocket. Plus, on the side he was starting to do a decent business in computer repair work. He had a sliding scale for payments that really helped garner clients. Word of mouth was a wonderful way to do business. After six weeks, he'd already made as much from repairs as he had working at the hospital. 

Today he was suppose to be moving into an apartment about a block away from Kate's house. No more shelter. Suzanne and Kate had helped him get the place. It wasn't too shabby, and came furnished which was a real help. Most of their possessions were clothes. Eric had a few books, and the kids had a few toys and that was it. For once, he couldn't wait for work to be over.

"Hey there! You ready to go move into that apartment?" Zach said from the door.

"I sure am."

"Good, cause I have your stuff and the kids in the car with Anne."

Eric looked a bit panicked. "What? You packed all my stuff?" 

"Yes. It wasn't that hard. I even got the stuff you had under the mattress."

"I... umm..." Eric tried not to be upset. "I... "

"Eric, it's okay. Nothings lost. I made sure I had everything and then asked Jamie if we'd missed anything. She's the one who showed me the stuff under the bed. She got it out and put it in the box, so just relax."

Eric took a deep breath. "Ok. Sorry. It's just that..."

"Don't worry. I understand. Remember, I have little brothers... who stole everything at one point or another. I'm not the snoopy type anyways."

Eric relaxed. He realized that Zach was honest and not out to get him. "Thanks. Let's go okay?" He stood and headed towards the door. The time clock was by the back entrance which Zach breezed out of ahead of him. Eric punched out and followed Zach.

*

They had most of the stuff up and in the apartment in less that twenty minutes. It helped having Zach there. Jamie and Mark were trying to put their clothes away when Zach came up to Eric.

"I have a question to ask you that Mom said you might be able to help with."

"Well, ask. I'll help if I can," Eric said. 

"I feel a bit stupid asking, but...... I keep having these dreams where I'm a wolf. Or, at least I'm running with a wolf. Do you have any idea of what they could mean?"

Eric sat down. He thought long and hard about what to say. "Zach, I'm not sure. Tell me a bit more about them."

The two men talked for twenty minutes. Eric realized that Zach was having very intense realistic dreams. Ones that echoed things in his own realm of experience. "Zach, have you done any shamanic work?"

"No, but I've had fun with a friend of ours who is a shaman. He shifts."

Eric tried not to stiffen. "What do you mean by shifts?" 

"Well, he goes to sleep and changes places with an animal on the astral plane. Or, he takes on the attributes of an animal, and you can't hear him or see him at night. Freaked me out the first time he did that. And, Mom swears that he slept across the foot of her bed when Dad died. Stayed there almost every night for a week to keep an eye on her."

Eric nodded. He was trying to buy some time as he wasn't sure where to go next with this. "Zach, it could be that you are just tapping into some of that same energy that your friend does. Or, you could be astrally traveling with a real lycanthrope." 

"Real lycanthrope? What do you mean?"

"There are people who really do become wolves or bears or even cats. They shift on more than just the astral plain." 

Zach took a moment to let his words sink in. "So, you're saying that there really are werewolves, and that might be who I'm visiting on the astral?"

"It's one possibility. Or, you could be tapping into the lives of real wolves." 

"Ok. So, how am I to know which this is?" 

"I'm not certain. You probably aught to keep a dream diary and see what you can match up from your dreams. Like if you see any areas in your dreams that you recognize. Mountains, rocks, etc."

"That sounds logical. Thanks. Oh, and before I forget, Mom says come over for dinner. There's chocolate cake too."

Eric took about thirty seconds to decide. "We'll be there as soon as the kids get done."

"Ok, see you in a few minutes." Zach called back over his shoulder.

*

"Dinner was great Kate." Eric put his plate in the sink. 

"Glad you liked it." She she sat down next to him. "You know, I've missed seeing you at the shelter."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, you know how you get use to seeing people, and then when they're gone, it makes a difference."

Zach walked in the room about then, having heard part of the conversation. "Mom, why don't you just say you missed Eric? Wouldn't that be easier?"

Kate went red in the face. "Zach, you have no tact!"

"Yeah, and you have no life outside of work. Get a life!"

Eric decided to study the dishes in the drain. No way he was stepping into this conversation. Not that he didn't find Kate attractive, because he did. However, he didn't know if he was ready for anything in his life besides his two kids. He still felt like he was walking on tenter hooks with everyone in town. 

"Eric, you could say something you know!" Kate was exasperated. 

"I... umm... I think I'd better go check on the kids." He got up and headed for the dining room. 

Kate watched him go and wasn't sure if she should be mad at Zach or Eric. She sighed deeply and turned back to Zach.

"Mom, you know how you always told us kids when we were really screwing up our lives?"

"Yes." She wondered where he'd take this.

"Well, take it from me, I think you are screwing up your life. Stop mourning, and get on with living. Its been over four years. Dad wouldn't have wanted you to be a dried up old biddy."

"Zach!"

"Mom!"

"Oh! You are impossible sometimes." She got up to do the dishes and hoped that Zach would disappear. 

"Mom, Zach's right. Get a life," Andy said as he entered the room. "You need people in your life. People you can touch. We all know that. Little hugs at work and sleeping with the cats and dogs isn't enough."

Kate rolled her eyes. Its frustrating when your kids know you better than you are willing to give them credit for. "So, what do you expect me to do?"

"Start by treating Eric as if he was a possible date and not one of us boys," Andy said. Zach nodded in agreement.

"Haven't you noticed that he is here at the drop of a hint of chocolate cake?"

"I just figured he liked the cake. Not me."

"Well, how are you ever going to find out if you don't ask?" Zach thought mothers could be almost as frustrating as girlfriends. And there was no way he was going to mention that it was Anne who first made the comment that Eric and Kate would make a good pair.

"Mom, the kids are falling asleep in front of the TV. Take Eric out back and talk to him. Not about the weather. Not about anything but you two. See what happens. Give it a chance," Andy said. "Hell, give him a chance."

Kate put her head on her hand as she leaned on the counter. She knew she wasn't going to win this fight. No more so than when the boys all agreed that David wanted a Viking funeral. Especially after they had figured out how to fix it. She sighed. "Alright, I'll take the first step." Shaking her head, she went towards the other room. Oh hell. Eric was bending over the two little ones who were fast asleep. He'd been covering them over with the blanket off the back of the couch.

"Eric,"

"Kate, sorry, they fell asleep. Do you mind if they stay here?" he said in a rush, not realizing that she had started talking to him first.

"No of course not Eric. But that isn't what I came out to talk to you about."

"Oh," Eric was afraid that this was not going to be easy for either of them. "You want to talk about what went on in the kitchen?"

"Yes, and what the boys said after you left."

"Ah, okay. Can we have a cup of tea?"

"Sure." Kate headed back to the kitchen. It was empty of course. Andy and Zach had headed out for parts unknown. She put the kettle on and got tea mugs out of the cupboard. After the kettle popped, she made tea. Neither of them said a word as it brewed. Kate finally spoke as she handed him his cup. "Do you want to go sit in the garden?"

"Yes. That would be fine."They walked out the door and down the stairs.

"Eric, I.. I have missed you. The boys were right. I've been doing a real good job of lying to myself." She was staring down at her cup.

"Kate, its okay. I enjoy coming over here, and it isn't just for the cake. I enjoy your company."

Kate looked up. "Thank you. When you first got here, I had the weirdest feeling. One like I'd known you forever and I couldn't explain it. So, I shut it off. I figured that I was just being a nosy and lonely widow when the last thing you needed was someone barging into your life. You were hurt on some level I didn't understand, and was afraid of making worse. So, I dealt with seeing you at the shelter and that was fine for a while." She took a sip of tea.

"I felt the same way Kate. And yes, you were right. I was hurt. Hurt and didn't know how to share any of what I felt. That first night when you opened the back door, I felt so lost and there was this beautiful woman welcoming us in and not caring who we were. Just that we needed help."

"I am not beautiful."

"Yes Kate, you are. You are beautiful on so many levels."

Kate blushed. Felt like she was glowing in the dark. "I'm not. I'm a short, fat, 45 year old woman with gray hair." She was trying not to let this go further.

Eric sat his cup down and moved closer to Kate. "Yes, you are all of those things and you are still beautiful. Not in a glamorous way, but in every way that really counts. You are beautiful in here." He reached up and touched her face. 

"Eric..."

"Shush." He took the cup from her hand and then hugged her. Slowly, tentatively, she brought her arms up and hugged him back. 

"Eric..."

"Shush, just for a minute." He held her. 

*

They had come into the kitchen and were brewing more tea. Neither of them spoke, just stole glances at each other and then looked away. Each was waiting for the other to break the silence. Kate finally spoke.

"Eric, we need to talk. Not sure what about, but we..."

"Yes Kate, and I think now would be a good time. Where do you want to go sit? Outside is a bit cool now."

"Let's go sit in my room." 

"Ok. If that's alright with you."

"Its the only place to sit. Everywhere else has someone sleeping in it." She smiled.

Eric smiled and followed her down the hall. He wondered just how much to tell her. He could risk it all, or he could tell just enough and engender a whole different set of risks. Decisions...

Kate pulled the pillows off of a chair and tossed them on the bed. Eric had the feeling that they were meant to be on the bed, but hadn't been in a long time. He took the chair and she sat on the bed, propping herself on the pillows.

"Eric, do you want to go first?"

"No, but I don't think that there is much choice. Whatever you have to say will depend on your reactions to what I tell you."

Kate gave him a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that once you hear my story, you might feel differently about me." He was nervous. He knew he had to tell her the whole truth, and that was something he hadn't done in a long time.

"Oh." Kate was wondering just what he could say that might change the way she saw him.

Eric took a deep breath and tried to figure out where to start. "We talked before about how I was born in Montana and such."

"Yes."

"Well, that is the truth. And that I am a famtrad. However, in our family is another tradition, and that part of my history has shaped my whole life. In fact, it defines who I am more than anything else."

Kate took a sip of her tea and looked at Eric, trying to figure out where this was going. "Ok, go on."

Eric couldn't figure out an easy way to say it. "Umm, Kate, I.. " he couldn't say it. Deep breath, he thought. Just tell it straight through. "I left home thinking that I could get away from it all. Or, at least part of it. I went to college and joined the military. That was both good and bad. In the end, I felt that I wasn't doing the right thing."

"Ok. Lots of people join the military and then decide it wasn't a good thing."

"Yes, but I was in a sort of special forces team and did things that I'll never tell anyone about." He said it with a finality that made Kate realize he was serious. He took a sip of tea and cleared his throat.

"I fell in love at one point and married a girl. She was not pagan. Thought she wanted to be pagan, but it wasn't her thing. She was what I think of as a festival pagan. Fluffy, lite and no depth. Unfortunately, I needed depth and understanding. Something she didn't have to give. Something I didn't learn until it was too late. What she did give me was Mark and Jamie." He stopped for a moment.

"So what happened?" Kate sensed that he was beginning to close up.

"Well, I had trouble holding down a job. We moved around a lot and she got tired of it. When an old friend offered a place for us out on their ranch, I thought it would be the ideal thing. So did my wife. We sold everything we could and moved to the ranch about four years ago."

"That sounds good. You seem like the type of man who would enjoy being up in the mountains."

"Yes, I do. It was a ranch in the northwest corner of Wyoming. Cattle, hay meadows, hunting and enough work for everyone. My wife started out working in the kitchen while I became a ranch hand. I was back doing things I'd done as a kid. Riding horses, working with livestock and hunting. The kids were fine and she home schooled them."




Sheeple



"So, what went wrong?" 

"The ranch changed hands. The older brother took over and we didn't have an option to quit. We hadn't been paid in months, and had no savings. So, we had to keep working. Things got a bit stressed and I lost my temper one day."

"What was wrong with loosing your temper? Everyone does that."

"You don't understand. I... Do you want to know why I lost my temper?" He changed subject in mid sentence.

Kate blinked. "Um, sure." She didn't understanding him at that moment.

"I got shot. I got shot because the jerk was conducting an illegal hunt."

"What?" Kate was totally lost. 

Eric took a sip of tea to calm himself down and try to arrange his thoughts. "We lived in Wyoming. Near Yellowstone National Park. They had reintroduced wolves to the area about six years before we got there. The older brother decided that he'd be real smart and earn some extra money by holding an illegal hunt. A wolf hunt, all because he'd seen a wolf or two on his property."

"Oh shit. And you got caught in the crossfire somehow?"

Eric shook his head. He never thought this would be so hard. "No, I was... I was not caught in the crossfire, I was the target." There, he'd said it. Or at least started to.

Kate looked at him. "What?" She was puzzled. "You said he was hunting wolves." she stopped. Her face took on a look that Eric hoped was not panic. "Eric, what are you?" she asked in a calm tone.

Eric put his empty cup down. "I'm... I'm a lycanthrope. A werewolf." He waited as the silence in the room grew. He waited for Kate to scream or throw things. All the reactions that his wife had shown that day he'd come home with a bloody leg.

Kate just looked at him. She wasn't sure what to think. She knew that lycanthropes existed. Her friend Nick shifted on an astral level. He'd been her comfort when David died. Hell, there'd been times she'd swear she'd shifted on the astral level. Plus, Zach's dreams. She realized that she'd been silent too long. Eric had that look of a man waiting for the ax to fall. What to say? For the moment, there was nothing to do but believe him. 

"Eric. I'm a little rocked by what you just said, but I have a friend who shifts, so I'm not totally in disbelief. I just... I've never met anyone else who's said they were a lycanthrope."

Eric let out a long slow breath. He didn't realize he'd been holding it. "I know I sound crazy, but its true. Its the other family tradition. Some of the people are lycanthropes and it follows bloodlines." 

"Now tell me what happened." Kate really wanted, no... needed to know what had happened. 

"I was out riding fence. I'd finished my work, and decided to slip forms and go hunting."

"Oh my Gods! Rabbits!" It all dawned on her the real significance of Jamie's fussing.

Eric blushed. "Yes. Rabbits. I had a family to feed." He was as matter of fact as he could. "Jamie just never realized how I hunted the rabbits."

Kate smiled and reached out a hand to Eric. He took her hand, and held it as he continued his story.

"I had four or five rabbits and was just heading back to the spot I'd dropped them with another when riders appeared over the hill. I froze, but it was too late. One of them had spotted me. I could smell the guns and ran. I heard the crack of the rifle and felt the pain in my back leg. I kept going, because I knew if I didn't, I'd be dead. And what they'd find wouldn't be a wolf, but me. I hid in a dead fall pile. They crisscrossed the area, and didn't find me. Didn't find the rabbits or the ranch horse either. They were so stupid."

"So, what did you do?"

"I waited until they left, and went back to the rabbits. Shifted and dressed my wound as best I could. Luckily the guy was a lousy shot, and it went clean through." He let go of her hand. Eric pulled up his left trouser leg and showed her a dimple with a matching one on the other side of his calf. 

Kate reached out and touched his leg. Her hand went instantly hot in the way it always does when she does healing work. "It still bothers you doesn't it."It was her turn to speak in a matter of fact tone.

"Yes. Nerve damage that never got set straight." He pulled down his trouser leg.

"What happened when you got home?"

"I got home late, and the minute I walked in the door, she was yelling about how the boss had been looking all over for me. So, I went up to the big house. I got there, and they were all drunk. What they wanted me for was the last straw."

"Go on." Kate prompted.

"They wanted me to dress the rest of the animals they'd killed. Two coyotes and a wolf." He went quiet.

"Oh... oh..." Kate's, hand went to her mouth. "What did you do?"

"I gritted my teeth and told them I would. I took the animals out of the truck and put them in the back of my farm truck. Said I had to go out away from the barn because they were carnivores and the smell would bother the horses."

"What did you really do?" 

"I gave them an honorable burial," he said quietly.

"Then what did you do?" Kate asked, not sure she really wanted to know.

"I went back and told them it would be a bit before the skins were cured. So, the city hunters climbed in their cars and headed back to town. I went back to my house for a while. I had to wait and see to my leg."

"What did your wife say? Did she know you were a wolf?"

"No. She didn't. That was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. I didn't tell her. I hid it from her for nearly 12 years. Hell, I did my best to hide it from the military. I never should have."

"I take it that she took things badly."

"That's putting it sweetly. She reacted badly to the fact that I'd been shot. She over reacted to me telling her the truth. Screamed that I'd eat her or the children and a hundred other stupid prejudiced things. Screamed that I'd deceived her all those years. If she had known how to drive the truck, I think she would have left me that night, taking the kids with her. Granted, once she thought about it, she didn't want the kids either. Said I'd polluted them. Said that I'd made more filthy monsters by tricking her into having children!" He shuddered with the memories of that night.

Kate moved forward, and put her arms around him. She pulled him towards her so that she could hug him. He started to pull away, and she held on tighter. 

"Kate,... aren't you..."

"Shush," she said, and held him until he stopped quaking.