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Subject: {ASSM} That One 4/4 - Erika and Dianne (zoo/best) TBD
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Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:10:12 -0400
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That One: Erika and Dianne
------

I was looking for my fourth personal companion bitch, when I stumbled
across Erika at a kennel that raised and trained protection dogs, that
was owned by my senior handler's parents.

I happened to be in the area when I remembered her nagging, so I
decided to spend some time looking things over, after all the years
that had passed since we'd saved her life.

* * *

"I'll take that one."

"That one, Mr Kimmerling?  She doesn't quite meet the breed standard,
herself."

"Yet you've used her as breeding stock, right?  Even though she's
barely mature enough?"

"Yes, we have.  She carries some good genes, that didn't get expressed
in her, for some reason."

"I won't be showing her or using her as a protection dog, except for
any protectiveness she develops on her own.  I like her personality.
I've been looking for that personality type for years.  I think she'll
make an excellent companion dog."

"That, she will.  That's the problem with her.  She's too relaxed and
easy going."

"Good in unusual situations?"

"Slept through the last earthquake.  Nothing we've done has shaken her
out of that calm, almost indifferent attitude she has."

"We both know I want her, and only her, right?"

"Yes."

"What's that do to my chances of getting her price cut, since it's
pretty unlikely you'll want to breed her again, now that you have her
puppies, and we both know they've expressed the genes she carries?"

"Done your own breeding?  Most people wouldn't have realized that."

"Different breed, and it was about twenty years ago, but yes, I used
to do some serious breeding."

"You planning on breeding her?"

"I'll keep my options open for now.  Honestly, I don't know, but if
she works out, I may get serious about seeing if I can get that
personality of hers to breed true."

"Rare, in this breed.  None of her puppies have shown it."

"Thanks for the warning."

"One thousand, for her, intact and with all her papers."

"Papers go with her anyway, and you know it.  If they don't, I'll have
a long discussion with the AKC. Try again."

"It was worth a try."

"Attitude like that, and I might start thinking you're running a mill.
Shut one down a few years back, that I stumbled across."

"No mercy?"

"Probably hate them worse than you do, for all the silly laws they
trigger."

"Got a point.  We've shut a few down ourselves, when we found out some
of our old dogs were being used."

"Worried about me?"

"Some, yes."

"Here's one of my cards.  Maybe you'll recognize my name, now."

"You!"

"Yep."

"Free, as long as you make it a point to tell people where you got
her."

"Don't want to keep your options open by asking for the possibility of
breeding her later?"

"Hell, no!  You need her worse than we ever will.  We got a good batch
of puppies from her, and there's no point in putting her at risk
again."

"Quite an attitude switch."

"One of your 'companion dogs' gave our oldest daughter a reason to
fight and live, when the Doctors gave her less than a month.  She got
married to a loving husband and has three healthy kids, now."

"Mind if I ask what her problem was?"

"Not a bit.  She turned Goth when she was fourteen, and nothing got
through after she decided life wasn't worth living any more.  We
happened across one of your cards at our vet's.  Nothing to lose, even
though we had the kennel back then, and nothing we tried seemed to
work.  Whatever you do to get those dogs the way they are, it works."

"Thanks.  Basically, we help the dogs discover ways to get strangers
to love them."

"Sounds easy."

"When the stranger keeps trying to hit and kick them, yet they keep
trying until they break through, without getting upset and trying to
attack back, or just walk away?"

"Got a good point.  Even the best dogs have limits they won't go past.
You think Erika will actually work out?"

"Not worried if she does, or not.  I want her for myself.  I need a
bitch who can travel, and not go crazy, no matter what the situation
is."

"If she works out, I'd like to use her in our ads, if you don't mind.
I'll give you equal space."

"I'll pay half of your expenses, within reason.  We can afford it."

"Even though the therapy and dogs are supplied free of charge?"

"If I asked you to pay me to take her, at the same price you
originally wanted, would you?"

"Damn right I would!  Oh.  I get your point.  How many people have you
helped, now?"

"No idea, without checking the books.   Not unusual for a dog or bitch
to help an entire neighborhood before we assign them and their handler
to the next person."

"You finish getting acquainted with her, while I go get all the
paperwork together."

* * *

I kept the handle of Erika's leash in one hand while the other one
nibbled its way down her spine to the base of her tail.

"You don't belong here any more than I do, do you, Erika?"

Her ears perked at me, then they went back to restlessly scanning the
yard.

When I got to the base of her tail I increased the pressure I applied
with my fingers, and her tail started to come up, then it stopped at
the halfway point, and wagged slowly.

"Like that, do you?  I'll remember that for later."

While we waited, I took her though her paces again, and chuckled at
her springy walk and carefree, relaxed attitude.  "You're a find, kid.
Glad I had that impulse to stop and check the place out, finally.
Things work out later, you're going to be worth ten times every dollar
I didn't have to pay for you, to me, anyway."

He came out with his wife in tow, and both of them stood there and
watched us finish up the full obedience evaluation.

When we finished I kept her by my side, and they were both smiling.

"If we had doubts, that little show would have removed them.  You
definitely have a touch of some sort.  She had a dainty, eager bounce
to her steps that I've never seen in one of our bitches.  How'd you do
it?"

"I could claim it was a secret, but I'd be lying.  All I did was tell
her I see her as herself, that she's beautiful, and I appreciate her
for what she is, not what I might want her to be."

His wife spoke up.  "She *was* beautiful, and that's something this
breed isn't noted for."

"Here's all the paperwork.  We won't be checking, but we'd appreciate
it if you keep in touch once in awhile."

"I'll do that.  Probably send some business your way, if someone asks.
Nice to give people options when they're looking for a protection dog,
and we do see that need in our clients, sometimes.  The discipline can
help a lot during the recovery, and for some, putting them in a full
training suit is what helped them turn the corner."

"Oh?  Some of those folks, I wouldn't want near these dogs."

"The way we do it, you would.  We handcuff them and tie them so they
can't hurt the dogs, then use them as a dummy."

"That helps them?  Don't they come out of it fearful, or more
aggressive?"

"Sorry.  I jumped track.  We use our own dogs for that, and all the
dogs try to do is love them.  The suits are so they can get past the
fear of being hurt by the dog.  It's voluntary on their part, too."

"The real aggressive people get to deal with one of our specially
trained 'Love Dogs'.  They think all the attempts to hit and kick are
a game, so they have fun getting in licks or things like butt snorts
when they have an opening."

"That's...  Crazy.  And it works?"

"Sometimes.  If it doesn't, we have other types we can try.  We're not
always successful, but we do pretty good.  Some of the people we've
helped, work for us part time or full time, now, and that can help
even more than the dogs do."

"What training do you think you'll wind up giving Erika?"

"All of it, I hope.  Maybe even try out some new ideas with her.  Just
have to see what happens, and as I said earlier, all those dreams
don't matter a bit, because she's for me, not our clients, and all I
really need in my life is a spoiled house pet that's willing to suck
up attention and travel a lot."

"After that display of teamwork, I think she'll work better for you,
than she ever would have for us."

"Thanks.  Hate to run, but I do have other things to do.  This stop
was a lucky impulse to kill a few extra minutes I happened to have
available."

"Thank for stopping.   Mind if we give your number to Rebecca?

"We gave it to her, of course, but you're welcome to remind her."

"We'll remind her she should find a way to thank you, if she didn't
already."

"Fair enough.  And thank you, for Erika.  She's got a home for the
rest of her life, no matter what happens."

* * *

I loaded Erika into the back seat, and she bounced into the front one
and settled on her haunches on the passenger side, as if she'd been
riding in the car for years.

"Whatever you want, Erika.  I was going to invite you up anyway, once
I got settled."

She twisted her head to look at me briefly, then went back to looking
out the passenger window while her ears kept track of where I was.

I got in, settled, and shortly thereafter, we were on our way home,
and I didn't feel a bit guilty about how I'd lied to have an excuse to
get away from what had shown signs of becoming a pretty long visit.

Any other time, I would have enjoyed something like that, but...

Well, I had Erika, and wanted to get her home, so we could relax
together.

* * *

'Home', was now a twenty acre training and support complex with six
small cottages on it.  One of those fenced in cottages was mine, and
it was all the home I'd ever need.

I triggered the gate, drove through, and parked while it rolled
closed.

"We're home, Erika."

An ear twitched in my direction while her head kept moving as she
scanned the area.  It was a methodical scan that covered the entire
complex before she turned and faced me directly.  It also made me
rethink my original impression of her lack of suitability for
protection work.

I grabbed her leash, and we bailed out to head for home.

My senior handler spotted us and came over to welcome me back.

"About time you stopped by dad's  How'd you manage to pry Erika
loose?"

"I didn't pry her loose, he gave her to me after I handed him one of
my cards and he realized who I was.  Still haven't told them, have
you, Rebecca?"

"Would you?"

"No.  Not everything.  My parents never knew how I got the idea for
the business, or some of the reasons we're so successful."

"We seldom see each other, anyway.  They're happy I'm happy and
married, and that's all they ever really worried about."

"Pretty cold."

"Do zoos have a choice, if they want to be comfortable with
themselves?"

"Just commenting."

"I know.  So.  What are your plans for Erika, if you have any, yet?"

"No plans.  Lots of dreams.  I got her for me, not the business."

"Good!  Those of us who know, have been hoping.  But...  One of dad's
dogs?"

"Two reasons he was willing to offer her to me.  Her good genes
weren't expressed in her, but they are in her puppies."

"He got what he wanted, and that's the end of it.  Some things never
change, do they?  The other reason?"

"Her personality.  She makes Ginger look like a Nervous Nellie."

"Really?  I didn't think that was possible!"

"I just got her a couple hours ago.  Only worked her once on our own
at your dad's, and talked to her and petted her some on the trip home.
I've got a good grip on the leash.  Startle her."

Instead of answering, she suddenly dropped into a menacing crouch and
screamed at Erika as she acted like she was going to hit her.

Erika's ears twitched in Rebecca's direction just before she turned
her head slowly, then she stood, walked over to Rebecca, and casually
started licking Rebecca's face.

Rebecca lost it in a fit of giggles, then reached to hug Erika before
she fended her off and stood up.  "It isn't right, that she should be
like that, even though I haven't seen her since she was a puppy, and
then it was from a distance as she played with the others.  She looked
normal, then."

I laughed and bent to let my fingers nibble Erika's ears.  "Good
Girl!"

That earned me a few wags of the tail, then she came back to my side
and sat.

"My god.  You did it!  You found..."

I nodded.  "Everything I ever wanted in a bitch, even if she never
wants to fuck."

"I know you.  You had to have done something subtle to let her know
you were interested in her as if you are a dog.  She's locked herself
into tracking everything you do, already."

"Nibbled her spine all the way to the base of her tail.  Got me a half
raised tail, and a few slow wags."

"That's it?  Most intact bitches try to flag you."

"That was before we did the second obedience set while your father was
collecting all the paperwork.  He and your mother came back in time to
watch us finish up."

"You're grinning.  What happened?"

"They both called her beautiful.  Your father said he'd never seen one
of their bitches have such a dainty, eager bounce to her steps."

"Huh.  Know how she feels!  She's head over heels in love with you,
already.  Bet she backs into your crotch on her own when she's in
estrus."

"Happens if it happens."

"True.  And you're going to do a little seduction before then, aren't
you?"

"Have to, you know that.  Someone will inevitably try to check her
out, if she's the only bitch available, which is unlikely, but I have
to plan ahead."

"Wait.  You did say 'everything', didn't you?"

"Yes.  I think I brought home our first 'evaluation bitch', in
addition to her becoming my fourth wife."

"I don't get it.  I know the bloodlines my parents have developed, and
the one thing they don't do, is act so damn calm they look like they
could go to sleep in the middle of a dog fight."

"I wouldn't go that far.  Your father did mention she'd slept through
that last earthquake."

"She *did*?"

"No reason to think he was lying."

"He wouldn't.  Doesn't say it all, a lot, but that's different."

"Reminds me.  He tried to hint I could get her without papers, by
implying they added to her cost.  Know anything about why he'd do
that?  Seemed reputable, otherwise."

"Relax.  He does that to everyone.  Calls it his 'puppy mill test'.
How'd you handle it?"

"Ah.  Now it makes sense.  Let him know I knew they come with the dog,
and if they didn't, I'd talk to the AKC.  Then I told him he had an
attitude that could make me start thinking he might be running a mill,
and mentioned I'd shut one down a few years ago."

She laughed.  "Good!  I always told him it was going to backfire on
him, someday."

Suddenly she sobered and gazed at me until I squirmed.  "I'll ask and
get it out of the way.  Ever think you might try out humans?"

"Nope.  Not even in my fantasies, these days.  And to save time, I'm
only going to gently get her used to being handled back there.  I'm
not the person I was with my first bitch. She'll always have the
chance to say no, or yes."

"I had to be sure.  I'm not the only one who knows, after all, and if
they don't ask you, they'll ask me."

"I know, Becky.  And she'll learn how to be discreet, too."

"Good on the discretion.  Speaking of that, Roy is doing a lot better
these days.  Only snorts me after he's been romping in the free area
for awhile.  We're working on the problem."

"Slow progress is better than none, and you spend most of your time
training the dogs and handlers, or in the office, anyway."

"Not much need for a dog like Roy, and by the time he *is* needed, he
doesn't need to be subtle and discreet."

I laughed.  "True."

Then I sighed deeply and met Erika's eyes before I spoke to Rebecca.
"I don't see how you can be so calm when you watch Roy initiate
someone who's curious.  Not that I'll be deliberately looking at the
possibility, but I don't know what I'll do if Erika decides to... Help
someone decide."

"Wrong way to look at it."

"Oh?"

"You said it yourself.  Evaluation, which means all she'll be doing is
helping us spot the possibility, not confirm it.  We have Ginger and
some of her daughters we already rely on for the rest."

"Point, and I'm...  So focused on Erika already, I forgot we separate
that stuff as much as possible.  Which reminds me.  Let Hester know
about Erika, and my dreams.  Tell her I'll know more tonight, when she
quits for the day."

She sighed.  "Go home and take a nap or something.  I'll bring dinner
in a little bit.  You've earned some spoiling."

I smiled.  "Thanks.  If I was, I'd hope it was you or someone like
you, ok?"

"Flatterer.  You've been saying that for years."

"True.  I forgot to ask what specialty training she's had, but based
on the way she checked the place out when we got here, she's got damn
complete situational awareness."

"Real time updates, too.  I've been watching her."

"Right.  See you whenever.  She'll be off leash once I close the gate
behind us."

"Going to let her find the dog door on her own?"

"Another good point.  I'll put her through it once each way, then turn
her loose."

"I'll let the rest of the staff know she's here, and watch for her
when I bring dinner."

I nodded my thanks, then left her standing there while I walked the
rest of the way home with Erika at my side, a place she'd apparently
decided was hers, without any prompting on my part.

* * *

I couldn't stop my laughter when she went through the dog door as soon
as I reached for the handle to let myself in.  I let go of the leash
and watched it slither through the opening, then went in to see what
she was doing.

What she was doing, surprised me, because it was nothing.  She was
facing the door and settled on her haunches, patiently waiting for me.

I just smiled, recovered from my shock, then disconnected her leash
and waved her off.  "Relax and do whatever you want."

She was almost running when she went through the dog door, so I
changed my plans and went over to the window so I could watch her.

She found her spot, then went to the bathroom.  After that, she took
the time to walk the fence before she headed back for the house.

I was a little bemused, because most dogs would have settled and
watched all the activity, until they got bored or hungry.

When I came out of my dreams, I looked to see if she was around.  She
wasn't, but when I shifted so I could look down the hallway, I saw her
nose through the curtain that closed off my den, and head for the next
room and enter it.

I waited, and sure enough, she kept repeating the process until she
got to my room.  This time she paused and looked at me, as if she was
asking permission.

I waved her in.  "Go.  It's your room, too, now."

She sneezed, then went in.

 I waited...  And waited...

Finally I got curious, so I went and checked on her.

As soon as I could see my bed, I started laughing quietly.  "Crazy
Bitch.  You look comfortable, and I'd like to join you, but I need to
get the bowls out and get things set up for a dog in my life, again."

She'd opened an eye to watch me when I started speaking, then closed
it as soon as I stopped.

It was pretty obvious she wasn't ready to move from her sprawled out
position, so I didn't say anything more, just let the curtain drop and
headed for the kitchen.

I dug the bowl and small bucket out, filled the bucket with water and
the bowl with some dry food, then set them out of the way, so she
could eat when she wanted to, while hoping she'd self regulate well
enough I wouldn't need to put her on a schedule.

By then she must have figured out something was going on that she
needed to investigate, because she'd settled in the doorway to watch
me.

I gestured at her bowl.  "Yours, kid."

She walked over and sniffed, then looked at me.

"Go ahead and eat, if you want."

She nibbled, then got a drink of water and headed back to bed, I
assumed.

I finally shrugged, grabbed a glass of water, and settled on the couch
to relax, and see what she'd do when I didn't show up.

It took her less than five minutes to show up and settle at my feet.

I was smiling when I patted the couch next to me.  "Erika.  Come on
up.  It's ok."

She looked at where I was patting, then back at me, without moving.

I nodded.  "Up to you, but it's ok.  Come on.  Easier to pet you if
you're up here.  Want some attention?"

I think it was 'attention' that did it, but it didn't really matter.
She stood, stretched, and then  put her front feet on the couch and
looked at me again. 

"Up!"

Seconds later she was sprawled on her back with her head in my lap and
I was petting her head and crooning at her.

We were still in that position when someone knocked on the door, then
shouted.  "It's me!"

Erika opened her eyes to watch me, them closed them when I didn't make
any attempt to move.

"Come on in, Becky.  It's safe!"

I started rubbing Erika's neck, under her collar, just in case she
changed her mind, but it turned out to be a waste of time, except for
her getting more attention.

Becky rattled around in the kitchen, then found us and smiled.

"She looks like she's been doing that all her life, instead of living
in a run."

I laughed.  "Attention slut, apparently, once she has permission.
Would she have spent any time in the house?"

"Here's your dinner.  I grabbed a couple servings of spaghetti from
the cafeteria."

"Thanks.  Let's see what she does..."

Which, as I was getting used to, was nothing other than a few sniffs,
as I held the plate and started eating.

Becky settled on the other end of the couch and frowned.  "All the
puppies and dogs spend some time in the house on leash, to get used to
it.  Thing is, mom is adamant about keeping them off the furniture,
period.  Even the favorites have to stay off."

"What about the bed?"

"Gods!  Both of them would go ballistic if a dog got on any of the
beds.  I tried spoiling one as a kid and got the full lecture about
how unsanitary it was, and that a dog couldn't protect me right if it
was spending all its time on my bed or in my room."

She sighed.  "You already know what happened a couple years after
that."

I sighed.  "Yeah.  I do.  You never mentioned the lecture to me.  Only
the part about not being able to let a dog on your bed once in
awhile."

"Hester heard about it.  She thinks that situation was handled wrong
and it was one of the events, other than the constant criticism, that
set me up for what happened when dad locked me out of the kennel
area."

I nodded.  "Anyway, about Erika's obvious willingness to take over my
life?"

"I can't believe she would have been made a house pet.  Did you have
to invite her up?"

"Took a couple times for the couch.  First thing she did after
checking out all the rooms without prompting, was sprawl in a similar
position in the middle of my bed.  I assume that's where she was until
she decided to see what I was doing in the kitchen, which was getting
the water and food down."

"Didn't eat without permission, did she?  Dad starts that pretty
early, to avoid problems later."

"Right.  Would he have done search training?"

"Not until a dog has proven itself in other ways.  Besides, she's too
young for some things to have finished developing."

"Old enough to be bred, though.  Must have been her first or second
estrus."

She sighed.  "Sometimes...  I grew up with it, and never thought about
it until you let me start working here.  Must have been something he
wanted pretty badly.  Couldn't have been her personality."

I held a meatball in front of Erika's nose and she shifted her head
just enough to gently remove it from between my fingers, without
opening her eyes or otherwise moving.

Becky was smiling when I looked up from doing that until I was out of
meatballs.

"She acts like you've been hand feeding her since she was a puppy,
instead of it being the first time in her life, probably."

I smiled tenderly and took the time to pet Erika, then I rededicated
my free hand to feeding myself.

After I finished, I managed to set the plate on the floor, then went
back to petting and studying Erika.  "Could it be the self-confidence
he was looking for?  She seems like she'll be good at working pretty
independently, the way she always seems to evaluate things before she
makes a move."

"Explain her casual indifference when I pretended I was going to
attack her."

I sighed.  "I don't...  Wait.  Let me think...  Do all of the runs
have a section that faces the training area, and does he do attack and
protection training there?"

"Yes...  And yes.  But, the whelping and breeding areas are in another
part of the yard.  I suppose it's possible she picked some of it up
from watching the training sessions, since she pays attention to her
surroundings, even when it looks like she isn't."

I laughed.  "Ears and nose, right?"

"Tail, too, but she's good at keeping the movements subtle, instead of
thumping it madly, like Roy does."

Then she frowned.  "Something about her attitude isn't right.  She's
too relaxed."

"It all comes back to that, doesn't it?"

"It does, Giles."

"I'm reaching, but could someone there be a closet zoo, or zoo
curious, the way you were as a kid?"

"With all the security cameras and motion sensors in the yard, plus
the way dad turns a pair of trained dogs loose most of the time?  Damn
unlikely they'd be able to do anything with any of the dogs more than
once.  Only reason I got away with exploring was the dogs knew me and
kept quiet."

I sighed.  "Ok.  And I already know what your father thinks of people
like us, from his web site and the way you spotted me the first time
you took a good look at me."

It was her turn to sigh.  "I think he'll be ok with me working here,
but I'll worry about it if he ever finds out."

"Probably going to happen pretty soon, now that I have Erika.  He said
he wasn't going to do any follow up stuff, but what do you think?"

She winced, and reached to pet Erika's stomach gently, which got a
slight wag of the tail tip in appreciation.

"You're right.  She's a closet attention slut.  Wonder how she
survived so long at dad's?"

"Doesn't matter, now."

"True."

Then she shuddered and sighed.  "Plans have been in place for years,
waiting.  Hand me your cordless."

I did, then we studied each other briefly, before I spoke as gently as
I could.  "You sure?"

"Do I have a choice, in the long run?  Best we do this on my terms,
not his, so we have a chance of keeping secrets."

I shook my head wearily.  "Hand it back, please, and I'll make the
announcement."

"I'll do it."

She punched buttons and we heard the alert tone over the PA system,
then she took a deep breath.  "Just the usual, folks.  Might see a
hostile inspection in the near future, so lets look the place over and
make sure we look our best, while staying relaxed about it.  And hey,
since I'm on the PA anyway, thanks for everything.  You're all good
people.  You'll know more, when we do."

She was smiling a little sadly when she entered the code to shut the
PA off.

Then she looked up and took a deep breath.  "One more call, then I go
for broke."

"Hi, Hank, Honey."

"I'm fine.  You and the kids?"

"Good.  You know me too well.  Giles stopped by dad's, and left with
Erika.  You know what it means, right?"

She giggled.  "You're crazy!  Don't you dare encourage Roy in front of
mom and dad.  Especially not *that* way."

She sighed.  "I know.  If he asks, we gotta let him come and look the
place over.  Still a little surprised he didn't ignore the paperwork
they signed, before Cindy broke through and made me want to keep
going."

"Ah!  Good thought.  We'll do that, if he asks the right questions or
makes the right observations."

"I know, Honey.  We'll do what we always do, smile and lie when people
get personal."

"Love you, too.  Hug the kids and tell them Momma might be late,
tonight.  Don't think I will be, though.  Things are normal,
otherwise."

"Love you, too.  Bye."

She made sure the phone was hung up, then she got up and drifted over
to stare out the window at the training area.

I waited her out.

Finally she spoke softly, without turning.  "Hank suggested we let
Hester give my parents the tour, if they ask.  He reminded me that
she's handled a lot of hostile parents over the years, and that she
keeps secrets by lying with a smile, if she has to."

I nodded slightly.  "And she's the one who gives the State Seal of
Approval to what inevitably happens, sometimes.  She already knows
enough to lie about us when the subject comes up."

Then I laughed.  "What if we sic Ginger and her daughters on them, as
escorts?"

She sighed.  "Good start.  They've charmed other hostiles into
listening.  Hope she doesn't flag dad if he wants to look her over."

"She's had puppies.  Should help defuse that problem.  Deal with what
happens, Becky.  You know that."

"Yeah, but these people happen to be my parents, and I've hidden from
them for almost twelve years."

"Impression I had was that he'd be proud to know you've been working
here, as a handler and trainer.  Worst might be disappointment that
you've never admitted it, as if you were ashamed, or something."

She nodded.  "Yeah. They will want to know why I never said anything,
won't they?"

She shivered, then turned to face me and raised the phone.  "You
ready?"

I sighed and looked down, at Erika, then bent to kiss her nose before
I looked up.  "You're a zoo, and married.  There's the difference in
ages, which isn't significant any more, really.  I'm glad Hank knows,
and accepts what's between us, Becky."

She was smiling.  "Love of the heart, but not the body, Giles?  We've
had this conversation before, many times."

"Of course.  Love you, Becky.  I'll be at your side, no matter what
happens.  I'm ready."

She punched the numbers firmly, then put it to her ear.

"Hi, dad.  Me.  I'm calling from work."

"Yes, I know he did. She's on his couch, with her head in his lap,
sucking up attention."

She sighed.  "I never said anything, because I didn't want you and mom
getting in the way, ok?  You'd have started trying to tell him how to
treat his dogs, and it doesn't work that way."

She got tart.  "Saved my life, didn't they, when your way just made it
worse?"

"Of course I changed.  I haven't been your little girl, ever since
they took me in and put my head back together so I'd find reasons to
live.  Working for Giles and Hester is just one of those reasons."

She sighed.  "I know, daddy.  I know you tried, but the kennel always
got in the way, didn't it?"

"We're open for inspection 24/7.  Has to be that way, because the
people we help can't be plugged into a schedule.  You have to know
that much."

"Of course we'd welcome you here.  Call Dr. Jones and make
arrangements with her for the full tour.  We handle the dogs, mostly,
and she deals with them and the people, both, so she's better at
answering people when they want to know anything.  It's part of her
job, anyway, because we're usually busy with the dogs.  You know how a
kennel is, if you want things done right."

She stiffened.  "It's been none of your business, ever since you
signed the paperwork that made Hester and Giles my foster parents, but
if you must know, as soon as I decided to live again, I asked Giles to
find a way I could start paying him back for my life.  He helped me
learn everything I needed to know to work here, and I'm his senior
trainer and handler.  Have been for years, and I earned it!"

She sighed.  "Daddy?  Of course I was fixated on him, and he knew it
from the beginning.  Happens a lot to the handlers in this business,
and we're all trained to deal with it so we don't screw up a person's
recovery.  He did nothing like that, and Hank knows about ALL of it. I
work for Giles.  I married Hank, decided to have *our* children, and
that's the end of it, ok?  I'm not a bitch you can breed, and Hank
isn't a man you can tell who he should breed with."

"Right.  I still love you, and if we're here, we'll treat you and mom
like family."

She hung up and handed me the phone, settled on the couch again, then
petted Erika while she was lost in her thoughts.

Eventually she looked up and smiled.  "Actually, that went better than
I expected.  Mostly, they were upset I never told them."

"Ok.  That's one 'I told you so'.  Anything else I need to know right
away, other than it's obvious they'll be showing up fairly soon?"

"I don't think they'll be looking for zoo stuff.  He was more worried
about anything that might have happened between *us* at the time.  I
think once he cools down, his brain will kick in again, and he'll go
back to being eternally grateful."

"Will the inspection be hostile?  I'll take thorough as a given, since
he's a breeder and trainer, himself."

She gazed out the window for awhile, then sighed.  "It's been too long
since I was around them.  I can guarantee he'll be looking to steal
secrets, but he'll be open about that.  Assuming we get warned in
time, I think I'd better leave Roy at home."

"We can do better for you.  Let's give him a vacation for a couple
weeks so he can stay home and be a family pet for awhile."

"Should help.  Just be sure you call him in, if he's needed.  Let's
keep our main goals in sight.  The kids will love having him to
themselves, and he loves their attention, too."

"And if we keep it low key, unless someone forgets, they probably
won't realize he works here too, right?"

She decided to laugh.  "Right!"

I laughed, Erika opened an eye to check on me, then she thumped her
tail a few times before she pawed me for more attention.

That made me laugh even harder, and I bent down to steady her head and
kiss her as deeply as she'd allow.

When her tongue hit my lips, I automatically opened my mouth, then
forgot about time when she started probing and licking the inside of
my mouth and cheeks.

What brought me back was Becky's laughter.  "Hey!  That hurts!"

I reluctantly pulled away.  "What happened?"

"She caught me by surprise.  Used her tail to start beating me to
death."

Before I could answer, I got pawed again and Becky's laughter got
louder.

"Looks like consent to me.  I need to make my rounds before I go home,
so I'll see you two tomorrow.  Want me to knock first, just in case?"

"I think she knows you belong here, so just knock and holler like
always, if we aren't up and about."

Then I decided it was time to make the test.  "Hang on, before you go
anywhere."

I bent down and let Erika go back to working my mouth, then I slid my
hand along her chest and down to her stomach.

Becky gasped when Erika relaxed and spread her legs..  "Any of the
other bitches, I wouldn't hesitate to say they were ready for all of
it."

I took the final step, and slowly slid until my fingers were
bracketing her vulva, and when she only paused her licking briefly,
then went back to what she had been doing, I started rubbing her
gently.

I didn't need Becky's breathy 'Incredible!' to let me know what had
happened.

Erika's hips starting humping, then she relaxed when I stopped, and
sighed into me.

I pulled back slowly, kissed her nose again, then smiled when I
realized her eyes were open, and watching me calmly.

I didn't bother looking away when I spoke in a whisper.  "Even if
nothing else happens, I think I might be spending a busy night in bed,
with my wife."

"Never seen anything like it.  Even Ginger has never been so...
Accepting?  Whatever...  Then followed it up with such a look of
deeply felt love.  Wish we'd had the camera set up."

I smiled.  "I wish we'd had the camera crew with me for all of it,
from my impulse to stop, to this.  I'll have my memories."

"And so will I.  Glad I was here for it.  If you're not up in the
morning, I'll fix breakfast and put it in the fridge for later."

"Thanks.  We might be up, though.  I miss those morning walks that
Hera and I used to greet dawn with."

She laughed again.  "Well, I won't be there.  I have a family to get
moving in the morning.  If you're here, I'll see you at the usual
time, unless you want me in the spare cottage, just in case they
decide to show up."

I sighed.  "Possibility?"

"Mood dad seemed to be in, I wouldn't be surprised if they show up in
a few hours."

"Hostile?"

"Probably not, or only pissed with me for not telling them.  This was
enthused, for him, and realistically, a better time for a tour,
because of the kennel duties."

I sighed.  "I think all of us would appreciate it if you stayed.  Tell
Hank I'm sorry for doing this to him."

"It's happened before.  I'll go warn Hester, then settle...  Damn!
Mind if I use the spare bedroom?"

"I thought number four was empty."

"I forgot we have an emergency coming in later.  Dominant mother raped
her fourteen year old virgin daughter with a dildo, then let her step
father fuck her after her hymen was gone."

"What's she doing coming here?"

"Somebody showed some sense, for a change.  Only reason the action
stopped was because the family dog took a chunk out of the guy's ass,
then cornered both of then and held them at bay until the cops got
there.  Girl wouldn't go anywhere without the dog, and stood the guy
with trank gun off, when he wanted to shoot him to calm him down so
the paramedics could check on her.  At that point someone remembered
us, and we sent Kathryn and Hester out to deal with the situation.
They should be back with the girl and dog pretty soon, if the
paperwork didn't slow them down more than usual."

I made a snap decision.  "Call your father.  Tell him we want the best
woman trainer he's got, along with the most gentle, yet protective dog
in the kennel, and we want them here yesterday.  We'll pay expenses,
if we have to.  Negotiate that point, later."

"The bedroom?"

"Yours.  Feel free to let Hank know the situation.  Then, no matter
what I happen to be doing, get me and Erika as soon as any of them
show up."

"Anything else?"

I chuckled.  "Not much.  I'm going to see if she'll share the shower
with me."

She laughed, then sobered.  "That request for a trainer and dog is
going to guarantee it will be my parents who show up."

"Thought it might, but there's more?"

"He's only got one woman trainer.  My mother.  No other woman has ever
worked out for them.  Not even me, which is what made him so proud
when I told him I was senior, here.  They tried, and so did I at the
time...  But you had the touch that worked, finally."

"Thanks, again."

Then I sighed and gently worked Erika off my lap before I stood up.
"Bath time, Erika, if you want one."

Then I casually walked away.

I wasn't surprised when she was at my side by the time I pushed the
bathroom curtain aside and entered.

She settled and watched me strip, then took over the rug and curled up
on it after I got in the shower.

I adjusted the water, then shut the hand held head off and made a
calling gesture in her direction.  "Join me?  Want a bath?"

She studied the situation, then got up and came over, to look the
shower stall over.

"Up to you, Erika."

She stepped in with one foot, lifted it and shook it when it got wet,
then held the pose and looked at me again.

"Up to you, but I need a bath, even if you don't."

She seemed to think it over some more, then went back and resettled on
the rug.

I laughed and spoke gently. "Like I said, no problem."

I left the shower curtain open and started bathing while she watched
me.

I was bent over, rinsing the soap out of my hair, and had my eyes
closed when I felt a nose nudge my left leg, then, that quick touch
was followed by the flow of fur between my braced legs.

All I could do was finish rinsing, then grope for the washcloth so I
could wipe the water out of my eyes before I opened them.

When I did that, her nose was so close I had trouble focusing on it.
"Well!  Hi, beautiful.  Want that bath after all?"

I brought the water around and when it first hit her body, she
flinched slightly, then visibly relaxed and started wagging her tail.

I laughed.  "I get the message, Erika."

She braced when I started working my hair shampoo into her fur, and
she groaned with pleasure.

Loudly.

Becky stuck her head in.  "What was that growl all about?...  Oh.
She's ecstatic.  I know I'm repeating myself, but she's a very strange
bitch, to have come from my dad's kennel.  Anyone's kennel, I think."

We ignored her, mostly.  Erika did the ear twitch I assumed was her
usual way of letting the world know she was paying attention, then she
turned and nudged my hand with her nose.

Becky laughed.  "I wonder who is seducing who, at this point."

I chuckled and kept working the soap in.  "Mutual, looks like.  Feels
good, too."

"Looks good from here.  Anyway, I got dad on his cell.  They were
already headed this way.  He agreed to turn around and bring one of
the dogs and a full field training kit.  He knows what's going on, and
was gushing, for him, to know you *wanted* his help.  Call it about
two hours until he and mom show up, because they're going to load the
camper in case they have to spend the night, or longer.  Mom will
drive the car, and one of them will commute to make sure the kennel
operations are ok, until they know if they should turn it over to the
help, like they do for their vacations."

"Got it, and I hope you thanked them for me, and apologised for the
short notice."

"I did, and he laughed, because we all know this sort of thing happens
all the time in security work.  Routine response that they can do in
their sleep, almost."

I chuckled and started rinsing Erika.  "Does he understand that except
for calling him in, our response is routine, for us?"

"I think he does."

"Good enough.  The girl?  How is she and when can we expect her and
her dog?"

"She's pretty traumatized, from what Kathryn was telling me.  Won't
let go of her dog and stares at people as if they might attack her
again.  Name's Dianne.  Chuck, her dog, is basically a ball of
bristling fur that doesn't want to trust anyone near her.  But as long
as they move slowly, and Dianne keeps talking to him, he'll let them
approach.

"Because of that, Hester and Kathryn made it a point to show her their
ID cards, and she relaxed enough to let them look her over.  She
recognized them from the radio spots on the teen station.  Kathryn
said she visibly relaxed as soon as she realized who they were."

I looked up, then nodded when I saw Becky's smile.  "You're happy
about something."

"Of course I am.  Also a bit worried."

"Oh?"  Then I shut the water off and looked at Erika.  "Good girl. All
done."

She shook vigorously, causing Becky and I to laugh, then she stepped
out and stood on the rug and shook again.  Then she turned around to
drip while she watched me...  Calmly, and now that I looked more
closely, expectantly.

"Good thing the extra towels are in here."

Becky nodded.

"Anyway, once she knew who they were, she pretty much insisted on
coming here, because she knew we'd let her keep Chuck with her, no
matter what happened."

I grabbed a towel and started drying Erika, who started that deep,
rumbling growl of contentment again.  "I know that tone, from you.
What else?"

"Dianne wasn't so traumatized she didn't keep her head.  Her phone
call to the police proves that much, but there was something else."

"Figured there might be."

"Kathryn told me Dianne whispered to her...  That she'd been saving
herself for Chuck and now they wouldn't be able to give each other
their virginity."

I groaned.  "Oh.  Wonderful."

"Yep."

"Hey, wait.  What's he doing intact, these days?"

"Don't know, yet, but a girl that age, who saved her virginity for her
dog, makes me wonder about her parent's motives, and plans for the
future, after what just happened."

"Yeah.  Exactly what I was thinking.  Well, still routine, sounds
like, except for her coming here immediately.  Hopefully, we can take
advantage of that."

"I think we can."

I picked up my clothes after I dried off, then walked past her and
headed for my room to get dressed.  "Cottage four off limits?"

"Yes.  Did that first thing."

Erika shoved past me and jumped on the bed, then rolled to her back
and wiggled enthusiastically.

Becky giggled.  "Made herself at home, hasn't she?"

"Yep.  You never said how long before they get here."

"They didn't know.  Hester doesn't think Dianne needs medical
treatment, other than routine stuff for vigorous, poorly lubed sex."

I nodded after I got my shirt stuffed in my pants.  "Something Hester
can treat here.  Problems with the paramedics?"

"Yes.  I could hear Hester in the background, and she was in her
irritated professional mode, from what I could hear."

I laughed, then sat on the bed and dug a pair of shoes out after I got
my socks on.  I had to stop and pet Erika, then I finished and stood
up.  "Well?  Are they..."

The driveway alarm had gone off.

Becky laughed.  "I was going to say 'pretty soon if traffic was
light', but they must have shaken Dianne loose more quickly than
Kathryn thought they would.  Probably them, because it's too soon for
my parents."

I chuckled.  "At least I wasn't in the shower."

I hit the kitchen for Erika's leash, hooked her up, then we went to
greet our latest guest and welcome her.

* * *

Our 'Trauma Wagon' was leading the small parade of vehicles, and we
waited while they all parked.

Becky and I were in our usual welcoming pose.  I had Erika on a
sit-stay next to me, and we had our arms around each other's waists
while we waited for the circus to come to us.

Eventually they got themselves sorted out, and after they did, Hester
and Kathryn had a young girl and a dog between them as they walked in
our direction.

The dog was obviously nervous and protective, while the girl's eyes
were wide as she tried to look everywhere at once.  She stumbled to a
halt when the others stopped, and wasn't looking at me when I held out
my hand.

"Hello, Dianne.  I'm Giles, and we've been expecting..."

Her head jerked around and she stared at me.  "Unca Gilly?!"

"Oh gods...  Nooooo...  Not you!  Not my Lady Di!"

"You remembered me!"

Then she shouted 'Airborne!" and leapt at me.

My reaction was automatic as I dropped Erika's leash and stepped into
her lunge.  Then our hands wrapped around each other's wrists firmly.

She felt like a feather when I spun her in a circle that ended with
her firmly clasped against my chest.

I kissed her forehead gently.  "How could I forget My Princess?
Gods...  I didn't know it was you.  I wish..."

She was crying, but managed to whisper through her wracking sobs.  "I
never dreamed you were *that* Giles.  It's soooo....   Perfect!"

Then she seemed to remember we had company, and turned in my arms.
"I'll be ok, now.  Uncle Giles used to let one of his dogs sleep in my
room while he and the other one stood guard outside my door to protect
me from any monsters that might try to come in.  They *never* got in
when he was there, and he was always there when I opened the door to
check."  

She tilted her head back and grinned at me.  "Caught you sleeping
sometimes, but you always woke up and smiled at me, so I knew no
monsters would sneak past you."

Everybody laughed, then Hester sighed.  "I remember you, now.  Sorry
for not recognizing you when I heard your name.  You need to explain
that 'Uncle' to everyone else, Dear."

Dianne frowned while she kept watching me.  "May I still call you
'Unca Gilly'?  I sorta need that right now, I think."

"You can call me anything you want, My Princess."

"Thanks. Can I tell them why you're my uncle?"

"Sure.  You always could tell stories better than I could."

"Cannot!  I still wish I was as good as you are when you tell about
the dog that saves the..."

"It came true!  I really am a Princess!  Just like you always
promised, a dog saved me from the evil monsters!"

I hugged her gently.  "People are waiting for The Princess to speak,
Dear."

"Uhh...  You always said only girls could be princesses.  I'm not a
girl any more.  I guess it didn't happen the way it was supposed to,
but I'm a woman, sorta."

I nodded and smiled.  "Guess that makes you a Queen, now.  Am I still
your Champion?"

"Of course you are, silly!"

Then her eyes got a haunted look them.  "Thanks, Uncle Giles.  You
always did know what to say to make it better.  That why your business
is so successful?"

"One of the reasons, yes.  I've taken special classes since then, so
I'm even better and don't make as many mistakes as I used to. Everyone
here has taken classes like that."

"Even the dogs?"

"Especially the dogs.  After all, they do all the work.  We just help
them a little, when they need it."

"Can Chuck and I take those classes, now that we're here?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

She faced Hester and the small crowd that was waiting.  "He really is
my Uncle, even though mom never married his brother.  She had a DNA
test done to make sure, because she tried to get him to support her,
even though she'd shacked up with...  The jerk she helped rape me. She
lived on what he gave her for me.  I never saw much of it.  I figure I
was lucky to have clean clothes that weren't rags, after we moved away
without letting Uncle Giles know we were moving, about..."

She looked at me.  "Was it really almost ten years ago?  Seems like I
was older than four!"

I had to think about it, then I nodded.  "Closer to nine years.  I
still remember knocking on the door and seeing a stranger open it.
Tried to find out what had happened, but nobody knew a thing."

Then I sighed and admitted something I'd never told anyone except
Becky and Hester  "Your fifth birthday present is still on a shelf in
my closet, waiting for you to open it."

"Really?!"

"My word."

"Thanks.  Sometimes...  I wished my Knight would find me and take me
away, but he never did, and I knew it was silly, but I couldn't stop
from dreaming."

I smiled.  "Your Knight *did* rescue you, you know.  Chuck was there
when you needed him, right?  That's what a Knight is supposed to do."

"Yeah, you're right.  Never thought about it that way, before."

She refaced the others and sighed.  "So he really is my uncle, ok?"

Hester nodded.  "It will make some things easier, some harder.
Easiest, is that you'll be allowed to stay here.  Hardest will be that
you won't be allowed to see your uncle alone.  I think it's a stupid
rule sometimes, but we can't make an exception, not even for a Queen."

"What if you're with us?  Will that make it ok?  I really, really want
to talk to him privately.  I..."

"What is it, Dear?"

"He always kept the monsters away at night.  I don't think anyone
except maybe Chuck could do that, now."

"'I understand."

She turned to the others and spoke with the voice of someone who
expected to get no arguments, or she'd verbally flay the person who
disagreed with her..  "Everyone satisfied she'll be ok, here, under my
personal supervision?"

They all looked at each other, then nodded.  One of the paramedics
spoke up.  "Off the record, we're relieved it was you, Dr. Jones.  You
folks have a reputation for saving the hard ones, and if you'll
forgive me this observation, Dianne's case is pretty routine."

He looked around again, then turned back to face me.  "Giles?  None of
us are going to protest or cause problems.  It was a fluke that
brought Dianne here, but you being her uncle doesn't change our
opinion of you folks.  I'll sleep a lot easier tonight.  What we
saw..."

He shuddered and I nodded slightly while hugging Dianne as she
shivered.  "I won't say we've seen it all, or saved everyone we've
tried to help, but we'll do our best, and whatever it takes."

"That best...  Is damn good.  Thanks.  We'd better get ourselves back
in service.  The problems never stop, and they need us out there."

Then he looked directly at Dianne.  "Sorry about the pressure.  It's
something we have to do.  Rules, when stuff like this happens.  Glad
Dr. Jones was there to take over from us."

Then he simply turned and walked back to his truck, with his partner
at his side.

That seemed to break the awkward silence, and everyone else expressed
their support, and left.

When it was only staff, I hugged Dianne again.  "We're probably
private enough.  Hester is the staff Doctor and psychiatrist, Kathryn
is one of the staff who has had special training so she can help rape
survivors, and Becky..."

"You love Becky, don't you?  You never let anyone hug you like that,
that I remember.  She your wife?"

Becky laughed easily.  "A lot of people ask that question.  I'm one of
the people he and his dogs saved.  I'm his senior trainer, and his
best friend.  I'm married with three kids, now, and can't have more.
We love each other, but not like husband and wife.  It's only our
hearts, and not our bodies, too."

Then she sighed.  "It's never easy to do this, but...  Kathryn told me
what you told her and Hester, about you and Chuck, and I told Giles,
of course, because we had to know everything we could, so we could
help you as much as possible."

She turned in my arms and looked at me with a sticken look in her
eyes.  "Unca Gilly?  You really do know?"

I went to one knee and bent my head in a ritual we'd done every time
we met after she was four years old.  "I know, and I am at your
service, My Queen.  If you still desire his comfort, we will help you
make it happen, even unto helping Chuck learn the ways of a woman, so
he may fully satisfy you and act as a husband would."

I looked up, saw startled eyes, then reached to pull Erika into my
side before we gave each other an open mouthed kiss.  "Erika is my
wife, My Queen.  Ask, and we will help Chuck become your first true
husband, if that is what you wish to happen."

I bent my head again.  "Speak your will upon us all."

There was a long silence, finally broken by Diane's hushed questions.

"Becky?"

"Yes.  My husband knows, and his love is not less, but greater.  Our
children do not know, of course."

"Kathryn?"

"No.  But I have been trained to help, should it happen as part of the
recovery process, as have we all been trained.  You already know I am
one of those who has had the special training to help rape survivors
come to terms with what happened."

"Dr. Jones?"

"No.  As Sir Giles noted earlier, I am the staff Doctor and
psychiatrist.  Were I to participate in those joys, for joys is what
they are, the actions would taint me in the eyes of those who are
willing to accept us, and what we do.  I am also the person who
organizes the training for the human staff members."

"Sir Giles.  Raise your head, that I may see your eyes and seek the
truth in these matters."

I lifted my head and smiled.  "What truths do you seek, My Queen?"

"Who is Erika to you, and for how long?"

"My fourth wife in my heart, and someday, I dream, she will agree to
share the pleasure of her body with me.  She arrived in my life this
afternoon and we have had very little time to make those decisions."

Becky laughed.  "You dodge.  She already lives with you as if there
has never been a time you weren't in her life.  I believe the sharing
of the bodies is inevitable, but only time will see if it becomes
reality."

Dianne's lips twitched into a smile.  "Thank you, counselor.  I am
quite capable of seeing truth on my own, but your clarification has
been appreciated.

"Sir Giles."

"Yes?"

"Truth for truth.  *They* attempted to force Chuck's attentions on me,
but I remained silent about the matter when I was asked if such had
been attempted.  They who attempted to force the love of our bodies on
us could not have known that we have already shared physical contact,
except for the deed itself.  I was waiting for my fifteenth birthday,
is all.  Chuck knows he should not show his love, except in the
privacy of my bower, and when they chastised him for his refusal, he
grew very, very angry with them, because they were demanding he
disobey the Princess he loves with all his heart."

"I understand."

She placed her hand on my head in a gesture that made the years vanish
for both of us, then she spoke in a trembling voice.  "Do what you
must, My Champion, to help me become myself, again."

"The memories will never truly vanish, My Queen.  The best anyone can
do is create so many happy ones, they overwhelm them.  That, and time,
are the only cure known to man and beast."

"Chuck is no beast.  He is my consort, whom I love."

"I abase myself before your greater wisdom.  Forgive my presumption."

"Forgiven.  Now, rise, and become 'Unca Gilly' again, whom I know
loves me."

I stood and drew her into a hug, then waited patiently while she let
go of her poise and sobbed the deep, wracking sobs of a young girl who
has seen Hell from the inside.

* * *

Eventually she shuddered in my arms and sighed.  "I still can't
believe it's you, after all these years."

"It's good to see you, Dianne.  I missed you a lot at first, but there
was nothing I could do, really, so I hoped you remembered me, and
might someday realize I'm the Giles who created the companion dogs
that help people...  Who have problems."

She turned in my arms again and looked at Hester and Kathryn.  She was
shaking, and I hugged her slightly.  

Hester spoke gently.  "Don't force it.  We don't do that, here."

"Is if ok if I scream?  I was gagged."

I hugged her.  "Not yet."

"Not yet?  What's that mean?"

"What do you think the neighbors will think and do, if you scream the
kind of pain I know you must need to let the world know about?"

"Oh.  They'll call the cops, won't they?"

"Yes.  It happened once, soon after we started the business.  We had a
swat team overrun the place, and all of us got hauled downtown and
grilled, in spite of Hester's adamant insistence it was only a young
girl who was venting her agony as part of her recovery."

"I need to scream, Unca Gilly.  I don't think I can wait much longer."

"You don't need to wait very long, just long enough to get inside the
special 'agony room' we have.    It's a special one that can be made
to look like any room in a house and it's sound proofed so you don't
have to worry about setting off the dogs, or having the cops raid the
place."

"Can you be there with me and Chuck?"

I looked at Hester and she nodded calmly.  "As long as he's wearing a
full protection suit, just in case you lose control of Chuck."

"Umm...  It's really sound proof?  If I left Chuck outside, he
wouldn't hear me?"

I sighed.  "Do you think he'll let you out of his sight, willingly,
right now."

She sighed.  "No.  Any ideas?"

"Do you think he'd let you put a basket muzzle on him?"

"Maybe.  Can we try it first?"

"Yes."

"I gotta scream real bad, but I don't want him hurting anyone, and I
want you there to hold me when I'm done, so I hope he lets me muzzle
him."

Suddenly she grinned at me.  "He took a *really* big bite out of
Jack's butt.  I was watching, and he just missed his balls."

She hugged herself and looked around.  "Is it ok if I admit I was
hoping he'd rip them off?"

Hester spoke gently.  "It's fine, and a normal reaction.  Don't worry
about it."

"Ok.  Why'd they do it?  Why'd my mom hit me like that, then jam that
dildo in me before she let him rape me?  My own mother raped me!"

I hugged. her, then picked her up in my arms and started walking
towards the building that held the agony room..  "Come on.  Let's
start making you feel better about yourself, and your body."

She looked at me with wonder.  "How'd you know I orgasmed?"

I sighed.  "Experience.  You aren't the first raped virgin we've dealt
with.  So far, every one of them that orgasmed while it happened, has
wanted to scream.  I was guessing, based on how close to the edge you
are."

"Unca Gilly?"

"Yes, Dear?"

"You ever...  You know, with a woman?"

"A few times, when I was still in high school and a few years later."

"Was it good for you?"

"What do you mean by good?"

"It wasn't, was it?"

"I orgasmed every time, so it was good that way."

"I'm not stupid, you know.  Not after being around mom.  She didn't
hide or anything.   She was...  Well, she wasn't as bad as dogs and do
it in public, but in the house, she didn't care what I saw.  The girl
fucked up your head, didn't she?  That's why you do bitches, isn't
it?"

I sighed and glanced at Hester and Kathryn, who both nodded for me to
keep her talking.

"Yes, Lady Di.  That's mostly why I fuck bitches and haven't fucked a
woman since.  Not even Becky, when she tried to get me to make love to
her during the time she was recovering and was living with Hester and
me."

"Can girls rape guys?  I mean, you know, keep them hard so they can
fuck them?"

"Yes.  You want to do it to Jack, don't you?"

"Yeah.  Never could hide anything from you.  Don't know why I'm
trying, now."

"You want an answer, or are you thinking out loud?"

"I already know the answer.  You'll keep the monsters away.  Can I
come live with you?  You know. Can you adopt me or something since I
can't go home?"

"I don't know."

I raised my voice.  "Hester?  What are the options we have?"

"Mixed.  You can prove a genetic match, so that helps.  On the other
hand you're still single and never been married. That's a big
negative.  That might be offset by all the times we've acted as foster
parents."

I chuckled.  "I have you on my side, right?  That might count for
something, too."

She laughed.  "So does that performance in front of everyone who was
with us."

Then she sobered.  "Where's your head at, right now?"

"Angry, of course.  Feel pretty miserable that I wasn't there to
prevent what happened."

I looked down and watched Dianne's eyes.  "Still feel like Dianne is
the daughter I know I'll never have."

"Anything else?"

"Of course.  Let her have cottage four until she's legally responsible
for herself, then she can decide what she wants to do."

Dianne spoke before Hester could.

"Could I help out, somehow?"

"Always ways to help.  We're used to people doing it while they
recover, and sometimes they decide to work here, like Becky did."

"I gotta confess something, Unca Gilly."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  Promise you'll try not to laugh at me or get upset?"

"If I laugh, it will be with you.  Is it something silly?"

"Sorta.  Mostly serious, though, and something I think would get me in
a lot of trouble if the wrong people found out."

"You sure you should tell me?"

"I think you would have found out in time for my fifteenth birthday,
anyway, because I was going to confess, if I found you."

"Up to you."

"I gotta tell you, now."

Becky moved so she could study Dianne, then spoke gently.  "Should the
rest of us be here for this?"

"Yeah.  You really love him?"

"I do."

"Good.  Can you like...  Act like you're my mother?  It would help.  I
need a real one, you know, not..."

She took a deep breath and sighed.  "I might as well say it, but this
isn't what I want to confess.  My real mother is a whore, and my step
father was her pimp.  They thought I didn't know, but I have, for
years, ever since I overheard them talking about what they had planned
for my fifteenth birthday, after I started puberty.  We didn't have
Chuck yet, but they talked about getting a dog, too."

Becky visibly winced and Hester and Kathryn sighed.

Kathryn spoke bitterly.  "It never stops, does it?"

Dianne lifted her head slightly so she could look at Kathryn, then she
lowered it and resnuggled.  "Yeah, I kinda figured that out by
watching the news.  So, I sorta knew I was gonna get fucked anyway, so
that's why I started doing the stuff with Chuck, to make sure somebody
loved me when it happened, if I was still around.  Guess I didn't run
soon enough."

Becky reached and touched her face.  "It's hard to run, Dear, when you
don't know what's going happen next.  It's ok.  I stayed at home too
long, too."

"Were they gonna rape you?"

"No, Honey.  All they did was keep telling me I was wrong about
something.  No matter what I did, it never got me praised, only
criticised., so I gave up and was letting myself die, until they made
arrangements for one of Gile's handlers to bring Cindy and Oscar with
her one day, and the next, then I was here and it was Giles keeping an
eye on them and me, and he kept doing it until Cindy and Oscar
convinced me I should live, because they loved me no matter what I
did."

"Wow."

"Indeed.  But you were going to confess to something?"

"Yeah.

"I knew I needed money when I ran away, so I was doing stuff to earn
it and then I put it in a savings account nobody knew about.  Been
doing it a couple years, and I got almost ten thousand dollars saved."

I smiled down at her.  "That's a lot, for someone your age, in only a
couple years."

"Yeah, I know, but I needed to be able to go anywhere in the world
when I ran because..."

I nodded.  "Because?"

"I was going to get me a motel room and start calling every Giles I
had on my list.  You were on it, but not at the top.  You were in the
right city, but so were a lot of others.  Anyway, it's not the running
away I want to confess to.  It's how I earned it, ok?"

"Go ahead."

"I made kids pay to watch me let Chuck lick me off and pretend to
mount me.  Am I a whore like my mother?"

I sighed and didn't bother trying to hide the pain I felt.  "I don't
think you are.  You did what you felt you had to, to survive.  Lots of
girls have done something similar.  I can't think of any who managed
to do it the way you did, or earn as much in such a short time."

I took a deep breath and said the words that best expressed how I
felt, because I'd always been honest with Dianne.

"I'm proud of you.  You made a decision no girl your age should face,
then you stayed with it.  Things didn't work out the way you wanted
them to, but you did your best, and that's what's important."

"Thanks, Unca Gilly."

"Welcome.  We're here.  I need to set you down so I can put on the
suit."

"Ok."

I set her down and looked at Hester, who nodded slightly before she
spoke.

"Do you want to hurt them, like they hurt you?"

"Yes!"

Hester sighed and looked at me for a long time, then shook her head a
little sadly.  "We have male and female dummies we can put in the
room.  They are only somewhat realistic looking, but they do have the
proper sexual equipment.  We can have them waiting for you, if you
want the catharsis of doing to them what was done to you.  They won't
bleed, of course, but they can be damaged."

"What's catharsis mean?"

"Getting it out of your system."

"Sorta like role playing?"

"Yes."

"Can I have Chuck there to help me if he wants, like he did when it
happened?"

Hester smiled.  "Nobody is going to try to separate the two of you."

Dianne thought about it for awhile, then it was obvious she reached a
decision because she looked at me with a hunger I'd grown familiar
with, because I'd seen it in a lot of girls and women, over the years.
"You were going to be there anyway, right?"

"As long as you want me there, yes."

She smiled.  "I want you there."

Then she gathered herself and straightened to look at me.  "Would My
Champion kill to protect his Queen?"

I knelt before her, then raised my head.  "It would be a great honor,
My Queen, to protect you in such a manner."

Her eyes grew wide, then she smiled hungrily.  ""Thank you, Sir Giles.
Rise, and prepare yourself."

I stood and waited..  Dianne hugged me and spoke clearly.  "I want
them, and I want a dildo big enough to rip my mother open while I show
her what it's like, to be raped."

Hester answered calmly.  "Anything else?  Lubricant, perhaps?"

"Do you have anything that looks like blood, that you can put inside
her before I see them?  I want to see her bleed like I did."

"Yes,  It isn't catsup."

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Help your Knight prepare for battle, then.  I will tell you when
everything is ready."

I shivered and sighed.

Dianne pulled away slightly.  "Something wrong?"

"No, and yes."

She hugged me tightly and pressed her cheek against my chest.  "Can
you tell me?"

"I must.  Someone has to tell it to whoever decides to use the
dummies."

"I think I understand."

"Doesn't matter if you do or not.  Since you trust me, I get to tell
you."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  You need to do this, and to be honest, so do I.  But."

"But, what?"

"It will feel good, and it's ok if you lose control.  You need to
speak from the heart when it happens, as if it were real. But, no
matter what you do, no matter what happens in that room, when it's
over, and you can see the world clearly again, you will feel cheated,
because it wasn't real.  You might even want to do it again, but we
will not let that happen, because a second time would be mindless
revenge, and it would lock you into your past even more than you are
now.  That's the lesson the agony room forces you to see.  You must
let go, and move on with your life, no matter what happens to you, no
matter what you might do to others, deliberately, or accidentally.  If
you can't do that..."

I sighed and hugged her as tightly as I could.  "Please don't seek to
do it a second time  I don't want to have to attend my Queen's funeral
, because it will most likely lead to that, very soon, if you can't
let go."

"You seen it happen, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"What about you?"

"I don't know."

She surprised me.  "I never believed in ghosts, remember?"

I couldn't stop my laughter.  "I do, now."

"Good!  Well, if we kill the monsters that managed to sneak in and
hurt me, they'll be dead, and they can never hurt me again, because
they can't become ghosts, right?"

"True.  But there will be other monsters."

She sighed and put her cheek against my chest.  "I know, My Champion.
I know.  But until I learn enough to face them alone, you'll be there,
won't you?"

"I'll do my best to be, yes."

"Good enough."

She hugged me fiercely, then pulled away.  "Let's go gird you for the
tournament, Sir Giles.  I've never seen your armour, before."

The driveway alarm went off before I could say anything and I turned
to see who it might be.

Becky sighed.  "I'll deal with them.  I wish they'd been an hour
later."

She turned back to Dianne and studied her briefly.  "There are
cameras, and an observation mirror.  We will be watching, of course.
as part of what we need to do and know so we can help you.  Only you
and your therapist can decide who should see the video and audio
records, ok?"

"Ok."

"Thank you.  The people who just arrived are my parents, and they have
a fully trained protection dog with them, plus a full training kit.
The dog is here to protect you until Chuck is trained enough to take
its place, or you decide to keep it here.  My mother is here as a
trainer, for you and Chuck, if you want to protection train him.  May
I let them watch you, Chuck, and Giles through the observation mirror?
They've never been here before, and I think they need to see what
happens, so they can begin to understand how you feel."

"Would you let strangers watch if it was one of your kids?"

"Yes. If I could make everyone in the world watch, I wouldn't hesitate
to let them."

"Let them watch."

"Thank you."

Becky hurried off to greet her parents.

Dianne watched her, then turned back to me.  "What's wrong with her?"

My eyebrows went up.  "They don't know she's a zoo and she doesn't
want them to find out, so she never told them she works for me, until
this afternoon.  Her father doesn't like people like us."

"You think they'll figure out about me and Chuck?"

"I hope not, but I can't guarantee they won't.  We do have something
we can tell them if it happens."

"Oh?  I can't think of anything that would help."

I smiled.  "We can prove that it's not unusual for abused kids to
start fucking their pet dog as a part of the recovery process, and it
should be encouraged instead of stopped, because all but a few of them
eventually stop and have fairly normal sexual relationships with
people."

"Really?!"

"Yes, and Hester will prove it to you when she starts working with
you."

I sighed.  "We'd better go get my armour on."

I turned, remembered Erika, looked, and found her at my side.

Kathryn laughed. "She's been there all the time, or as close to it as
her leash would allow, until I disconnected it."

She held the disconnected leash up.  "All the other dogs are put away,
and she was focused on you, so I took a chance.  She's done nothing
but stay within about six feet of your left side, except when she
acted like there might be danger, then she moved to interpose herself
between it and you.  Only people she seemed to ignore completely were
Rebecca, and of course, Dianne."

I finally shrugged.  "I'll see if she'll let me put a muzzle on her,
then we'll find out if she'll let you handle her in the observation
room.  Wish I'd had more time to work her, but she needs to get used
to this happening."

Then I had a thought.  "Get someone to use a portable camera, and keep
it on her.  I want a record of everything she does in there."

"Consider it done.  Be back in a few minutes, to collect her."

"Thanks."

Dianne giggled after we got to the dressing room.  "This is sorta like
a movie set, isn't it?

I chuckled while I was positioning the first item.  "Sort of, but
we're not supposed to be acting.  We have to do whatever feels right
to us at the time.  If you feel like you should do something, do it."

"What about you?"

"You're the star.  I won't do anything until you ask me to."

Once I had everything on she walked around me, then giggled when she
was back in front of me.  "All you need are some bolts stuck in your
neck and you could be Frankenstein."

I laughed.  "I suppose I could.be.  Honey?  I hope you aren't afraid
of me when this is all over."

"Why would I be afraid of you?"

"Because I've had enough training that I really could kill someone if
I had to.  If you tell me to kill them, get out of my way, because I
really will act like I'm killing them, and my blows *would* kill a
real person, it they weren't wearing protection like this."

She shivered.  "That's...  Scary, Uncle Giles."

"Is to me, too."

"Ever killed anyone?"

"No."

"Hurt them?"

"Yes.  Broke a woman's arm when she tried to kill the therapy dog that
was with her."

"What happened to the dog?"

"She was fine.  She was a 'Love Dog', so she thought it was a game and
distracted the woman by cold nosing her butt every time she had a
chance."

"If she was ok, how come you broke the woman's arm?"

I sighed as I remembered what had happened.  "She had martial arts
training, and nobody had told us.  Every blow she tried to land was
lethal in intent.  I had to stop her before one of them landed, so I
did, and let her know we weren't happy with her deception, when she'd
promised to be honest with us."

"She recover?"

"No.  She died less than a year later.  Suicide, of sorts."

"Couldn't let go?"

"She was an alcoholic and refused to quit.  Liver failure."

"Oh."

Kathryn came in, followed by Hester, who spoke gently.  "The room is
ready.  We set it to match your bedroom as best we could with what we
have, and based on our memories."

Dianne shivered then nodded.  "Thank you.  You ready, Uncle Giles?"

"Leave Chuck's leash on, no matter what else you do.  I'll explain
when it's over.  We tell that to anyone who has a dog with them, so
I'm not doing anything we don't usually do."

"Ok."

"Good.  I'm ready."

* * *

When we reached the door I touched Dianne's shoulder and spoke gently.
"No matter what you do in there, I'll still love you, and not think
you're a Monster."

She answered without turning her head.  "Thanks, Uncle Giles."

She reached and put her hand on the handle. "Come on.  I can't hold it
in any more."

She opened the door, walked through it, and was screaming in rage
before I had the door closed 

I leaned against it and sighed while I watched what was going on,
which wasn't scientific, but very, very honest, as she and Chuck
started savaging the dummies.

Everything was typical, and it wasn't until both of them slowed down a
little that the situation changed.

Chuck must have been on a hair trigger, because he suddenly focused on
me and snarled menacingly.  Dianne noticed, checked out where he was
looking, and spoke casually.  "No, Chuckie.  He's a friend!"

Ears twitched, and he took a hesitant step in my direction...

And the observation mirror rattled as a deep, rumbling, warning growl
seemed to shake the room and my body.

Chuck flinched and froze, looked over his shoulder at the mirror, then
turned back to me and snarled again.

Dianne lunged and screamed.  "Chuckie!  No!"  Then she hit him and
they both tumbled off the bed.

While that was happening I'd shouted without thinking.  "Erika!  Down!
It's OK!"

Then everything stopped and there was silence.

It was Hester's voice that finally broke the strained silence.
"Dianne?  Are you ok?  Are you done?"

Dianne looked at the bed, shuddered, then shook her head.  "Hang on."

She stood, looked around as if seeking something, then went over and
picked up the cordless phone and looked at it before she walked over
and put it in the male dummy's hand.  "Here ya go, Jack.  When ya wake
up, call the cops if ya want, or the paramedics.  I don't care.  Self
defense, ya know?"

Then she looked at me and there was a wisdom her eyes that didn't
match her age.  "It's weird.  I was getting ready to tell you, but...
Was that *really* Erika?  Anyway, whoever it was, it was like they
woke me up and I realized killing them wouldn't make me feel better.
It's scary, to have that kind of power over someone, isn't it?  I was
wondering why you had that sort freaky-sick look when you told me
about breaking that woman's arm."

She broke off and stared at me, then sighed and opened her arms.  "Now
I know.  I need a hug, Uncle Giles."

We hugged, and I was very, very happy when I realized the tears she
shed were ones of release.

She'd let go of her past, and I still had my Lady Di.

Hester let us have some time, then she spoke.  "Giles?  You'd better
open the door.  Someone wants to check on you."

I laughed.  "Erika?"

"Yes.  Becky has her, now.  Only person she'd listen to."

As soon as I had it unlatched, it was forced open.  A bristling body
followed the nose, and as soon as she was inside completely, she
gunsighted Chuck and growled.

He shivered, then rolled onto his back and suddenly the room reeked as
his anal glands let go.

Dianne wrinkled her nose.  "Ugh!"

"Don't do anything.  They both still have their muzzles on."

"Huh?"

"Watch and keep quiet."

"Ok."

"Erika.  It's ok.  I'm fine.  It's over."

An ear twitched, then she refocused.

Eventually she sneezed and relaxed.

She then settled on her haunches and looked up expectantly.

I took off the mask, and smiled tiredly.  "See.  I'm really fine,
Love.  Thanks."

Her paws hit my chest and then her tongue was trying to force my mouth
open.

I looked at Becky.  "Enthusiastic bitch, isn't she?"

"Dad thinks he made a mistake, getting rid of her."

"You?"

"She never belonged there  She belongs here, with us.  She wouldn't
let him or my mother near her.  Only went down when I told her to."

Then she turned to Dianne.  "Tell Chuck it's over and you're ok, then
grab his leash and let's get out of here."

"Can I go with you and Uncle Giles, for now?  You know...  Can we go
home together?"

"Hester will be there."

Dianne sighed.  "Yeah.  I know all about that stuff.  People I'm
supposed to worry about the most, are my family.  Makes sense, now."

She looked at the mirror and spoke with a new maturity.  "The Monsters
are dead, Dr. Jones.  Chuck and I killed them.  Will you come and have
dinner with me and my new mom and dad?"

"I think you should meet your new grandparents first, so they can give
you a gift.  Then, yes, I'll be happy to have dinner with you and
them."

"Ok.  I gotta listen to you anyway, right?"

"Yes, Dear.  I'm afraid so."

"It's ok.  I know all about mood swings."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  My mom.  I was real young, but I kinda think I remember that
she wasn't always a whore and she didn't like what she was doing. Then
she gave up, and...tuned it all out, ya know?  If she was really a
whore, then, would she have let Giles be my Uncle and protect me?"

"You're a very observant and wise young woman. Dianne.  May I mention
that to the proper people?"

Dianne laughed. "Kids aren't stupid, Dr. Jones.  Especially ones who
have a whore for a mother.  I grew up fast, ya know?  I wanted to stay
a kid, but...  I knew I couldn't be one anymore, a long time ago.  I
remember signing the release form, and I said I understood what
signing it meant.  I already gave my word you could do whatever you
felt was right, with anything I tell you."

Hester let us hear her sigh.  "I'm sorry, Dianne.  I'll try not to
insult you again, ok?"

"Yeah, it's ok.  Can I blame it on stress?"

"Yes, you may.  Now, about your grandparents?"

"Yeah.  I'm pretty tired, so can we do it quick?"

"Yes.  Giles, keep your suit on."

"What about Erika, Hester?"

"They brought her mother."

I laughed.  "I should have expected that.  Meet in the training area?"

"Yes."

I shifted my attention and reached for Erika's leash.  "Come on,
Dianne.  You need to see this, so you can decide if you want Chuck to
be able to do it when you want him to."

* * *

They were waiting for us.

"Hello, Dianne, I'm Robert, and that's my wife, Karen.  You already
know our daughter, Rebecca."

She shook their hands.  "Yeah.  Hi.  Becky's going to be my mom for
awhile, because I need a real one pretty bad.  That makes you my
grandparents, right?  You be ok if I call you Gramps and Gram once in
awhile?  I've never had grandparents, so I don't know how it works,
except everyone says you're supposed to spoil me, but it will be ok if
you don't, because Uncle Giles already does that, or he will, again,
anyway."

He blushed, then laughed.  "We do know about how it works.  We have
three grand kids already, and we won't mind having a fourth one to
spoil.  And speaking of spoiled..."

He looked at his wife and she nodded, then pointed at Dianne.  "Kit!
Dianne's family.  Guard!"

Nothing seemed to happen, except her ears came forward, then she went
back to keeping track of everything going on around her.

Dianne watched her, then looked up.  "Nothing happened."

Robert spoke to me.  "You know what to do, Giles.  Dianne? When he
raises his hand like he's going to hit you, just whisper 'help', like
you're real scared."

"That's silly.  Uncle Giles would never...  Oh.  I get it.  Yeah, I
can *act* real scared, for you, Grampa.  Just this once, ok?"

"That will be fine.  Giles?"

I raised my arm as if I was going to swing it at her and Dianne
stepped backwards.

Kit growled warningly and I stopped and grinned at her.  "No mangy
bitch is going to stop me."  I swung, and Kit hit me with everything
she had and took me to the ground, then stood over me and growled from
deep in her throat.  I fought her briefly, she clamped on an arm and
started shaking me as violently as she could, until I went limp.

Karen spoke easily.  "Kit.  Out.  Friend."

Kit froze, then started trying to lick my face, even though I was
wearing the mask.

Dianne giggled.  "Just like a switch, isn't it?

Robert laughed.  "Yes, it is.  If you want to, we can help Chuck learn
how to do it, but there's something you have to remember once you
start training him."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  'Sic 'em' quits being a game you can play, because to him, it
won't be."

Dianne looked stricken and Becky spoke up before I could.  "You're
wrong, dad. Chuck can learn to separate the game from reality.  We do
it all the time with our Love Dogs."

He stiffened and studied her.  "Prove it.  Even though you're my
daughter, your word isn't good enough."

She laughed easily.  "It never was before, father.  Or have you
forgotten I could never do anything right, for you and mom?  Never
mind.  I expected it, so one of them is already being held, waiting."

She grinned at me, then shouted.  "Douglas!  Heel!"

I laughed.  "Nothing but the best, for family, huh?"

A barking mixed breed was running towards us and he was still barking
happily when his feet hit Becky's chest. and she started rubbing his
ears.  "Get yourself some room, Giles."

I was laughing when I headed for a spot about fifty feet away.

I was still walking when I heard Becky speak calmly.

"Doug.  Sic Giles!"

Seconds later his nose hit my ass and he shoved, knocking me over.
Then he backed off and waited.

I got up, then lunged at him  "Damn dog!  I'll get you for that!"  He
held his ground, then scrambled clear when I tried to swing and hit
him.  Before I recovered, he danced in and licked my face, then
scrambled backwards to see what I'd do next.  We did that sort of
stuff for a few more minutes, then Becky suddenly shouted.  "Douglas.
Hit!"

He froze, glared at me, then put everything he had into a lunge that
hit me in the chest and took me to the ground.  When we stopped
moving, he had my arm in his jaws and he was shaking me like he would
a rag, so I went limp, and he stopped, but held on.

Becky laughed.  "I think he got the message.  Doug!  Love Dog!"

He changed into the world's biggest puppy and started licking my face
while I laughed.  I managed to get the mask off and he got serious
about his licking, so I hugged him.  "Thanks, Doug.  Good job!"

I shoved him to one side gently.  "Let me up, guy."

He woofed happily, then fell into a heel while we walked back.

When we got back, Becky hugged me, then faced her father.  "Well?"

He had the look of a man who'd finally seen the real person he was,
when he looked in the mirror.

"I was wrong."

Then he focused on Dianne, but spoke to Becky.  "All that, and yet you
trust us with your children?"

"I can't forgive you for what you did to me.  But people, even you,
can change.  If you weren't a good grandfather and a good grandmother,
I never would have let you near our children, after I found out the
truth."

She stood behind Dianne, put her arms around her and pulled her
backwards protectively while she watched him with all the focus of an
attack dog.  "Still want the job with my new daughter?"

He sighed and looked at his wife.  "After today, I don't know if we
should be.  Suddenly, the job scares me."

Dianne suddenly spoke up, startling all of us.  "You've never stopped
trying to do the best you can, have you?"

"That was my mistake.  I never had any doubts, so I never asked anyone
else for help, even when Rebecca tried to tell me I was wrong.  I
can't promise I'd listen to you, either."

"What about Chuck?  Would you listen to him?  I bet you've always
listened to your dogs, when they said you were wrong."

"What makes you say that?  And...  You're right, of course.  How did
you guess?"

"They love you, and you love them."

"I... "

She held out her hand.  "Will you help Chuck learn to be a Love Dog?"

He sighed and looked at me.  "Rebecca probably told you I'd try to
learn your secrets?"

"Yes.  They're free for the asking.  Always have been, but you just
learned the most important one."

"Oh?"

"Love. With that in their heart, anyone can perform miracles.  I think
Erika proved it already."

He looked at his watch and sighed. "Less than twelve hours ago, I gave
you a bitch that I *knew* was...  Useless as a protection dog.  She's
had no formal training, yet when she felt you were being threatened,
she ignored me.  Faced me down, in fact, because I reached for her
leash."

He shivered, and looked me full in the face.  "For the first time in
my life, I saw death in a dog's eyes.  Mine, if I'd tried to do
anything more.  Yet, when Rebecca whispered 'down', Erika dropped and
didn't move, in spite of wanting to do anything she could, to protect
you."

He sighed again and faced Dianne.  "We'd like to help, but we don't
know how."

Her head tilted slightly, reminding me of a dog's thoughtfulness when
they were pondering something.

Then she smiled sadly and looked at Hester.  "I think he needs to use
the agony room, real soon.  Maybe even while the rest of us have
dinner, ya know?"

Hester nodded thoughtfully and looked at Rebecca.  "What do you
think?"

Rebecca looked at me and I sighed.  "I don't know, either. Personally,
I'd rather sic Ginger and her daughters on him, but I don't think he's
ready for such drastic treatment yet, if ever."

Rebecca sighed.   "I agree with that much, anyway."

Then she flinched.  "We call it the agony room, but some folks use it
as the 'apology room'.  Parents, usually."

She shifted her focus.  "Hester?"

She nodded.  "A definite possibility.  Would you want to be there?"

"No.  I have a daughter who needs me more, right now."

"I understand."

She turned to Robert.  "I'm not your therapist, but I am speaking
professionally when I say I think it would help both of you, even
now."

"How soon can it be ready, and would you take us both as patients?"

She smiled.  "That's the main reason I live here.  Pain, and
catharsis, don't keep to a schedule.  I do my best to be there, when I
am needed.  Love is the same way, of course.  Thirty minutes, at most,
depending on what you need."

He looked at his wife and she nodded, so he faced Hester again. "Let's
do it.  Can we have a working internet connection?"

"We have full WiFi coverage, anywhere in the compound.  Will you need
a computer?

"No, We have a laptop with us.  I'll get it while we wait."

He looked at his wife again.  "Would you help them do their best to
match the den?"

"Of course."

She made a shooing motion.  "Go.  Best done quickly, Honey.  I need
this too, as you knew already."

He smiled and hugged her.  "Thanks, Love.  Much married."

Then he walked away.

Karen watched him, and smiled.  "There's a spring to his step I
haven't seen since he was courting me.  Thank you, for both of us,
Giles, Rebecca."

Becky answered for both of us.  "You're welcome, mom.  We never turn
anyone away.  We fail a lot more than we want to, but when we do, we
know we've tried, and done our best, and we learn from the experience.
The truth we need to hear can be spoken by anyone, so that's the
reason we listen to everyone we meet, including the dogs."

Karen nodded, then faced Hester.  "Dr. Jones?  Please. We'd...  We'd
appreciate it, if you'd help us both."

Hester held out her hand and spoke as if she was speaking to a
frightened child.  "It's ok, Karen.  Come to me.  You can do this.
Take the first step on your own, and I'll be there to help with the
rest of them, until you learn how to run on your own, again."

Kit was at her side when they headed for the 'apology room'.

We watched them out of sight, before anyone spoke.

Dianne pulled away from Becky and then turned around and studied her.
"This still feels a little awkward, but it's still right  for me. Mom?
How come you don't want to be there?  You were pretty tense when you
said I was more important."

"Sorry.  Did I hurt you?  I know I squeezed pretty firmly."

"Nahh...  I felt real protected..  Hey!  Do you think you could adopt
me for real?"

"We'd have to talk it over with my husband, but...  It's a
possibility."

"Thanks.  I'd rather stay with Uncle Giles, though."

"You're going to be living here, for now, remember?"

"Yeah, but it won't be with him."

"Best we can do, for now."

"Ok.  Does it have to be a woman who watches me when I want to fuck
Chuck?  It can't be Uncle Giles?"

"You know the answer as well as I do."

"Yeah, thought so.  Had to ask to make sure I was right."

"Good way to think.  You want to be loved by someone you trust,
right?"

"Yeah.  I've been fucked.  Don't I need to be loved, now?"

"Yes."

"You're not going to try and convince me it's too soon?

"It's a decision only you can make."

"What do you think?"

"Happens a lot.  Chuck isn't a human, and a dog didn't rape you. Plus,
he loves you.  It's normal for you to want him to comfort you by
fucking you to cover the bad memories of sex with good ones."

"I bet a lot of people wouldn't say it was normal."

"I'm not 'a lot of people'.  I'm a survivor who knows the truth, and
the truth isn't what most of the world believes."

"Does it have to Dr. Jones all the time, or can it be any woman?"

"Any woman.  Better if it's someone who has worked with rape
survivors."

"Have you?"

"Yes."

"Good."

She started walking in the direction of the cottages.  "I can see the
number four from here, so you can show me my new home and be there so
everybody knows what Chuck and I do isn't fucking, it's making love to
each other, finally.  Besides, Unca Gilly needs some time in private
on his honeymoon, right?"

Becky laughed.  "You're right.  The polite term for it, if you're
interested, is consummate their marriage vows'."

"Yeah, really?  I like 'make love', better.  You coming, or not?
Because if you aren't, I hope the door is unlocked."

"I like it better, too.  It's unlocked, and of course I'm coming."

She glanced at me and winked, then her eyes went wide and she blushed
before she turned away without a word.

I started to turn and a hand hit my shoulder, then tightened its grip
to hold me in place.  "I heard.  Relax, Giles.  That's part of what I
want to apologize for, and I'm man enough still, to do it in person.
It's not easy to say this, but I want to delete a certain area on our
web site, and replace it with some special links I have.  Until today,
I've used them to learn how destroy lives.  I'm sorry.  That will
never happen again.  Go, and love your new wife in any way she'll
allow."

"What about Becky and Dianne?"

"I'm not that much of a man, yet.  Will you tell them for me?  Tell
them... Tell them it's a grandfather's gift to his granddaughter."

"And Rebecca?  What should I tell her?"

"Tell her I want to learn how to train 'Love Dogs' from the best dog
trainer and handler I've ever met.  She always has been, even when she
was a little girl, and I hope I can someday be at least half as good
as she is.  She'll understand."

"The criticism?"

He sighed and his hand clenched again, so tightly I knew I'd have a
bruise in the morning, but I didn't do anything to let Robert know
what he'd done.  "I was jealous, and couldn't let myself admit she was
better than I was."

"Tell her, later."

"I can't.  I'm not man enough."

"You don't need to be a man.  Just be her father.  The real one you're
going to be after you leave the past in that room.  She'll
understand."

"Will she accept me?"

"I don't know, but I think she'll finally accept herself, completely."

"I don't understand that."

"You're not the first father, Robert, who has felt such pain he's
unconsciously tried to break my shoulder.  You'll understand it,
someday, with her help."

His hand unclenched.  "I'm sorry!"

"Apology accepted.  You needed to do it to someone, eventually, and I
was here for you when it mattered."

"I'm scared.  I have to force myself to move.  You can't be my father,
you're too old to be my son, so will you be the brother I never had?
Will you and your wife... Help me in spite of what I've done to people
like you?"

I finally turned, and I was smiling.  "Was it really so difficult, to
ask for help, My Brother?"

Then I hugged him and held on while he cried on my shoulder.  I spoke
gently, soothingly.  "It's ok for a man to cry on another man's
shoulder, as if he were a child seeking the comfort of his father."

He finally stopped and pulled away.  "You do this a lot, don't you?
How did you learn you had so much love inside you that you wanted to
share it with people who'd been so hurt they decided to give up?"

"Yes, I do it a lot.  Rebecca and I become 'father and mother' more
often than we'd like, but once you perform the role in any capacity,
it becomes a duty, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does, and the pressures can be overwhelming for a normal
father.  I can only try to imagine what the pressures must be like for
you and Rebecca."

"To answer your other question, the Ginger who was my first bitch, and
wife in all ways, taught me I had more love inside than I had dared to
dream, and then she showed me, by example, how to share it.  The
business was something that happened because of her.  She gave her
support as naturally as she breathed, and I decided to see if I could
create a bloodline that carried that legacy.  The current Ginger and
her daughters are her direct descendants."

"What about Erika?"

"If I decide to try, it will be by in vitro fertilization and with a
host mother.  We have proven maternity bitches we use, so we don't
risk the special ones."

I smiled, turned, then looked back over my shoulder at Robert.  "Come,
Brother.  It won't be easy, even now, and I cannot be there when it
happens, for your sake, but I will help you take the first steps, and
be there in spirit, as I am for anyone who has made it this far."

"Thank you, Giles, My Brother.  You a good man, one of the best, and
I'm sorry I ever thought you might be otherwise."

"Thank you."

We made the rest of the trip in silence, he sighed and looked at me
when he put his hand on the door to the agony room, then turned back
and entered it without another word when I nodded at him and made a
slight shooing gesture.

After the door closed, Hester looked at me with knowing eyes.  "What
happened out there?  That was the look a son gives his father when
he's scared and seeks support."

"He told me of his hate for people like me and Rebecca, and I gave him
back nothing but love and acceptance.  He's going to replace the anti
zoo section of his site with a support area that has the links he's
been using to learn about us, so he could destroy us."

She smiled.  "No wonder he's terrified.  Where are Dianne and
Rebecca?"

"Cottage four, of course.  Dianne understands that I cannot be the one
to help, if she needs it."

"Good!.  When a mother figure is available, there's no need for me to
get involved, yet.  So.  That leaves you and Erika.  May I assume
you'll manage to walk a few hundred yards without letting duty
distract you, or should I escort the two of you?"

I laughed at her tartness, then hugged her.  "You have a greater duty
than us, right now, and you know it. I appreciate the offer, but I
think we can manage the walk on our own, and if not..."

I looked down to see a smiling bitch watching me.  "We'll do what we
have to do."

When I looked up, Hester was wearing a wry grin.  "I thought you
were...  Unreasonably confident when you asked if I would be willing
to go to work for you."

"It was a memorable experience.  I remember your reactions quite well,
Hester."

She made her own shooing motion.  "Go!  It's your honeymoon.  Make
time for yourselves, or I'll prescribe a vacation for both of you!
Now, I have work that needs doing."

We grinned at each other, then she headed for the observation room.

When she was gone I bent and disconnected Erika's leash.  "Just you
and me, finally, Erika.  Let's go home and relax."

When I stepped, she was at my side, and stayed there until the gate
was closed and I waved her off with a gently spoken "We're home.
Relax, Love."

She took off, and I went inside, to fix a second dinner, for both of
us.

While the pot of vegetables simmered, and the chops baked in the oven,
I settled on the couch with a glass of tea, and some dog biscuits.  I
heard Erika eat, then she was out the dog door, again, but  I was too
comfortable to move, and besides that, I wanted to deal with the
emotions that had roared through me ever since Dianne had reentered my
life, as a rape survivor.

I growled from somewhere deep, and wished I could do one as deep and
angry as Erika's had been.  Something shook the cottage, and at first,
before I got myself fully back from where I'd been, I thought it was
an earthquake.

Then I realized the source was local.  Erika was standing at the
window and looking out, as if she was seeking what had angered me, and
that incredibly deep rumble was coming from...  Somewhere inside her
chest, I assumed.

"It's ok.  Nothing we can do this time.  Out, girl."

It was like I'd thrown a switch.  She sneezed, then came over and...
Flowed onto the couch and settled on her back with her head on my
thigh again, then reached with a paw and touched my cheek in a display
of gentle affection I'd never seen in *any* dog or bitch.

I couldn't stop my grin.  "Know what you want, don't you, Bitch?"

She sneezed delicately, and I had the impression it was agreement with
my tones, or something similar, and she didn't want to be...  I
searched for a way to describe it and settled on 'blatant', because
one thing I'd noticed was her subtlety in everything she did, as if
she'd evaluated things, knew herself, and then did the minimum needed
to get the job done.

In any case, she was definitely more mature than her age would imply.

I scooted my hips forward slightly so I could settle into the back of
the couch, then I made a two pronged attack on her by using the
fingers of my left hand to nibble at her forehead and between her
ears, while my right hand was flattened out and making long, slow,
pressure filled strokes across her ribs and from there across her
stomach, until each stroke ended with my finger tips spreading and
sliding past both sides of her vulva.

This time, the rumble that echoed off the walls was the same one she'd
voiced when I was drying her after the shower.

I lost track of time, and it was the kitchen timer that brought me
back from a stroke that had ended with a fingertip inserted in her
vulva enough she'd arched her hips slightly and started a slow wag
with her flopped tail.

I sighed, worked her gently for a few seconds, then withdrew and
looked at her now open eyes.  "Sorry, Love.  Dinnertime, but I'll make
it up a little by eating in bed, naked, ok?

She surprised me by sighing deeply, watching me while she sneezed her
disgust, and when I shook my head as I sighed my own frustration, she
suddenly made a twisting motion that rolled her off the couch, onto
her feet and looking at me, without the usual sliding and scrambling
most dogs got involved in when they decided to roll off a couch
instead of finding their feet first, then stepping down to the floor.

"Neat trick, Erika."

I levered myself up, grabbed my glass, and she followed me into the
kitchen, until she got to the doorway, where she settled on her
haunches with the obvious intention of waiting to see what I'd do
next.

'Next' was taking the time to load a plate and do all the cutting
chores in the kitchen, as well as applying the usual condiments.

I refilled my glass, put my utensils and a cloth napkin in the fingers
of the same hand , then grabbed my plate of food and gestured at the
doorway with my head.  "Bedroom, this time, and I'll spoil you some
more."

Since once she was out of the doorway, she was ahead of me, she stayed
there while we walked down the hallway.  She stopped at the curtain,
looked at me, and I smiled.  "Go ahead."

She stuck her nose past one edge, then flowed though and I heard the
thump when she landed on the bed.  I grinned as I twisted so my back
hit the curtain and then let it slide over me as I went through the
doorway.

When I stopped moving, I was facing the bed, and my grin got bigger,
because this time she was in the center, and on one of the best downs
I'd ever seen.

I stuck my food in the small microwave I had for those odd times when
I was feeling too lazy to leave the room, then stripped and tossed my
clothing in the usual places.

Then, I finally took the time to study my new wife, and think about
the way she kept her ears focused on me, while I sipped at my tea.
"You know, for any other bitch, this would be way too soon, but, I'm
not going to get mad if you screw this up, because this is your home
and I won't make you act like the trained bitch you are.  But, I have
to know, after the way you reacted in the observation room."

I pointed the bed and spoke firmly.  "Stay!"

Then I smiled and spoke normally.  "My turn to 'do my thing'.  Be back
in a few minutes."

Then I turned and walked out.

Some things take time no mater how much a person wishes it were
otherwise, so it was about five minutes later when I casually came
through the curtain again.

Apparently, she hadn't moved.

I laughed, then fell on the bed next to her.  "Dinner can wait. You're
more important, anyway, Love."

I rolled and repositioned myself until I was stretched out on my back
next to her, then I twisted enough to wrap her neck in a hug. "C'Mere,
My Love."

Her head twisted and her nose hit my lips just as her tongue entered
my already open mouth and started exploring eagerly, and firmly.

I closed my lips on her tongue and she paused to see what I'd do, so I
released the pressure and she went back to what she'd been doing.

I lost track of the world, and time, except for Erika and my hunger to
learn everything I could about her.

Emotions that had been unsatisfied during the two years since Hera's
death, surged to the front of my awareness, and without thinking, I
gently rolled Erika on her side and snuggled myself between her hind
legs until my penis was pressed against her vulva and I was humping
her slowly, without any real pressure.

It wasn't until later that I realized  she'd not only accepted the
unusual attention, she'd anticipated me by spreading her legs as soon
as I moved to settle between them.

Eventually I came back from wherever I'd been and I realized I had my
arms around her in a hug, and she was still working my mouth.

I freed my upper arm, then scritched between her ears lightly while I
pulled away so I could watch her eyes and ears.  "Oh gods...  I never
thought it could be like this, Erika.  You mean so much to me,
already.  Thank you."

I kissed her nose, and then held the pose and waited to see what she'd
do.

Her tongue hit my lips almost immediately, and she demanded access
again.

I laughed, then rolled to my back, leaving my arm pinned by her body,
then closed my eyes, opened my mouth, and waited to see what she'd do.

Once again, she surprised me.

I felt her shift and the pressure left my arm, so I kept waiting,
since I could tell she was still on the bed and only repositioning
herself.

Her nose hit my penis first, then her tongue started exploring and I
couldn't stop my gasp, or the opening of my eyes to a sight I'll never
forget as long as I have the wit to have memories.

She was standing next to my left leg and facing me so she could watch
my face, I guess, because as soon as our eyes met. she nosed me
firmly, like she would a dog if she wanted his sexual attention, then
she turned away, did that little dance with her hindquarters that
seems to send intact male dogs into a mounting frenzy...

And flagged me!

"No way!  You've been bred, and had puppies, but you can't be that
sure about this!  You're not in heat!  There's no hormones to trigger
it!"

She sneezed without looking, and danced again while she held her pose.

"Oh gods...  The one action I can't resist, Love."

I rolled until I could put my lips and tongue on her vulva...  And
started making love to my wife.

Her response was immediate.  She started that low, rumbling growl of
contentment again.

Once I had her wet enough, I pulled away and she turned her head to
look at me.  "Relax, girl.  Only moving into position."

She turned her head until it was facing away from me again.

I positioned myself behind her, checked to see if her vulva was still
raised into position, and when I saw that it was, grabbed myself with
one hand while the other went to hook her hind leg to steady us both
as I moved to insert myself.

I found her entrance and I felt her muscles tense as she braced, then
I slid home as if we'd been fucking for years, instead of this being
our first time together.

She held still and let me do all the work, for which I was grateful,
later, when I realized what I'd done had been gently loving for the
most part, but implacably driven, to the point I wouldn't have been
able, or willing, to work with her if she'd decided to move for her
own pleasure.

Anyway, I fucked her lovingly, yet selfishly, and I will never know
how long it took before I grabbed her other leg and held her when I
drove as deeply as I could, while she kept up that rumbling growl
that, I suddenly realized, had never really stopped, only changed
timber and volume according to how she must have been feeling.

So I froze in place until I was done, then unclenched my hands and
savored her heat again, before I let myself fall sideways, and onto my
back.

"Gods, Erika.  It was...

"Wonderful.  Thank you."

I fell asleep while she was cleaning me.

* * *

A rumbling warning growl, followed by laughter, woke me up.

"Good almost afternoon, Giles."

I finished waking up, and flinched.  "Hello, Becky.  Are you telling
me I slept all night and most of the morning?"

"And Mrs. Possessive hasn't moved, either.  She did allow me to hand
feed her, though.  As long as there was food in my hand, she allowed
me to approach the altar of her love."

I laughed, then reached without looking, to nibble Erika's ears with
my fingers.  "Good morning, Love.  I'm awake, and I bet you have some
things you need to do, so go!"

She launched over my body, and I heard a quick 'Hey!' that was
followed by laughter, so I finally turned my head to see what Becky
was doing.

She was leaning on the door frame, and laughing so hard she was
crying.

I chuckled.  "What happened?"

"I didn't get out of her way fast enough, so she ducked her head and
slithered between my legs!"

"She almost knock you down?"

"No.  She slowed her rush and sort of oozed between them.   She gave
me enough time to widen them and maintain my balance.  It's ok."

I smiled.  "Ok.  I was worried that I had a problem we needed to fix."

"She surprised me, is all.  I know better than to take up the whole
doorway in the morning.  I'm used to dogs that move a little slower,
too."

We grinned at each other, then she came over and sat on the edge of
the bed.

"Tell me?"

My stomach rumbled as if it was answering her.

"Never mind.  I noticed the food in the microwave when I got here, so
I put it and the rest of your food in the fridge."

Then she looked at me and sighed.  "We have company."

"Who?"

"Dianne, Chuck, and Hester."

"Robe?"

"We don't know, and even Dianne admits it.  I told her you're a nudist
when you aren't expecting business related company.  We're leaving it
up to you."

I looked at her.  "Got time to relax with us and be a mother?"

"Of course.  Robes for both of us?"

"You read my mind.  How's Chuck doing, now that he's done the deed?"

"Relaxed, some.  A little possessive, but ok as long as Dianne is
relaxed about the other person.  Wary, but I think that's more the
unfamiliar surroundings than anything else.  I don't anticipate any
problems between him and Erika.  He knows who is in charge.  He
refused to get on the couch when Dianne insisted he get next to her.
She took it well, and decided to settle in front of it so they could
be close to each other."

"Good.  Hester say anything, yet?  I assume she's had time to do her
full evaluation?"

"She hasn't said anything, but she's been in an odd mood all morning.
She did the evaluation after she took everyone on the full tour. After
the evaluation, she took Dianne and Chuck to her office for a couple
hours.  When Dianne finally came out, she...  Well, dad said she and
Chuck reminded him of the way you and Erika worked together when you
did that second evaluation.  Same feeling of partnership and
confidence in their movements. He didn't say it that way, of course.
He's...  Changed.  He watched them, then turned to me and told me I'd
be working with a pair of champions, and I deserved to."

"I don't have to ask how Dianne's doing.  You're as radiant as when
you talk about your kids, or Hank.  So, that leaves you."

"I know I promised I'd never bother you again, and I haven't."

"Something's wrong?"

"I don't know.  Definitely something I can't do until I talk to you. I
gave my word I would."

I sighed.  "You understand, that even if you want more, I will refuse
you?"

"That's exactly what I need.  Hank can't be here, and I need to be
held by a man, preferably one who will spoon and hold me protectively.
He gave us his blessing, already."

I snorted.  "And he still thinks I'm being overly stubborn about it,
doesn't he?"

"Of course he does.  So do I, even though Hester tried to explain it
to me.  All that you have to give, and it...  Something has blocked it
off enough that you freeze when a woman goes past a certain point."

"Hester knows why."

"She never told me."

"Close the door and set the security bolt.  I don't think I'll flash,
because Hester set a  lot of hypnotic blocks, but we haven't checked
them for years.  I might, though, and I don't want Erika doing
something stupid if I scream."

She did as I asked, then waited.

"I know you've looked at my crotch, but have you ever taken the time
to really study it?"

She blushed.  "Not as closely as I've wanted to."

I chuckled, then shifted so I was lying with my legs spread.  "Don't
try to touch me.  I'll move things if you want a better look, but get
as close as you want, otherwise, and take a real close look at the
base of my penis and at my scrotum."

She saw my shivers, and she didn't move.  "You sure?  I know the
signs.  You're pretty close."

"Do it.  I can feel the blocks, and they're working.  I shouldn't
flash or lose control and scream with fear."

"How come you never told me?"

"Later!  Look, damnit!  Then maybe you'll start to understand why I
can love you, but I never let myself go to sleep when a woman is
around me!"

She deliberately put her hands behind her back. then settled on the
edge of the bed and bent so she could study me.  I watched her, she
frowned, then spoke carefully.  "I need to see the other side of your
scrotum."

I moved it and twisted it until she told me it was fine, then waited
again.

"May I get on the bed and move to the other side for a better look at
something, or do you want to shift?"

"I'll shift.  How do you want me?"

"So I can see the base of your penis as you stretch it as far as you
can.  Bend it towards your knees.

I resettled in the new position, then did as she asked, and waited
again.

Eventually she sighed.  "One more thing.  Grab the base of your
scrotum and squeeze so the skin is stretched."

I did, and she winced.  "I've seen enough.  Too much, I think.  I'm...
Sorry."  

She finished simply and her voice was leached of enough emotion that I
knew she was holding back a rage that was close to making her lose
control, so I spoke carefully.  "Well?"

She sighed and looked away.  "The scars are faint, but it looks like
someone put a knife through your balls and tried to hack off your
penis."

"She did.  The first Ginger had just reached her full growth when it
happened.  The pain woke me up and I screamed.  Ginger took the knife
across her throat when she lunged and knocked the woman away from me.
Just missed her jugular vein.  I nearly lost her anyway, because she
refused to let anyone near us until I managed to grab her collar and
convince her it was ok.

"Animal control wanted to put her down as vicious, until they got the
real story, because she nearly tore the hand that had been holding the
knife, from the woman's arm, before she collapsed."

"What happened to the woman?  I already know what happened to you."

"She died before she went to trial.  She made the mistake of bragging
about the fact that now, no woman would have me as a man after I'd
refused to marry her.  

"When the other inmates found out I hadn't tried to rape or abuse her,
they came down on Ginger's side, and finished the job she started. The
ones who did it were already in for murder, so they had nothing to
loose.  Some of them had good reasons to hate men, but even criminals
have their own code of honor."

"How'd you find out what happened?

"It was about a year after we opened this place.  One of the women
involved, and her second husband brought their son here for treatment.
She recognized my name after I couldn't touch her when she wanted to
shake hands.  She worked for us, part time, until they moved away
because he was given a chance at a better paying job.

"The part time work was how she  repaid us for saving their marriage
and son, when it turned out it was the kid's father who was the real
problem.  We never needed any repayment, of course, but...  She was an
honorable woman who always paid her debts, somehow."

I smiled bitterly.  "She understood my fear, and never offered any
physical contact after that first day."

I sighed, relaxed, then smiled when toenails scratched the door.
"Better let Erika in before she goes through the door."

The tension in Becky's shoulders vanished when she giggled and got up
to open the door.

It slammed against the wall as Erika forced it open, then she stepped
into the room and froze.  She looked at me, then at Becky, then back
at me and sneezed a question.

"It's ok.  I'm fine."  

She sneezed again, then bounced on the bed and settled with her head
on my chest.  

After that she closed her eyes, let out a contented sigh, and relaxed.

I petted her briefly, then sighed and watched Becky's face.  "Anyway,
now you know."

She sighed.  "That story you used to tell Dianne.  You cleaned it up,
and the Princess was really a Prince, right?

I smiled.  "She wanted a story about Knights in armour, and I didn't
know a damn thing about them, so I improvised."

"Did a good job."

"Thanks.  Now, I don't think it would be wise in here, but I'm pretty
sure Erika will be ok about sharing the couch with you, or maybe even
let you settle on the floor between my legs.  Is it something you can
share in front of Hester and Dianne?"

"Hester already knows, and thinks we should say yes."

"Oh?"

"Dad wants us to absorb his operation  He's already left it to me in
his will, something I never expected.  But, the main reason he wants
us to take it over is...  He wants to change the focus of his
protection training.  He's convinced there's an untapped market for
'safe' protection dogs who think stopping someone is a game.  He
called them 'individually tailored Love Dogs'.

"Then...  He frightens me, Giles."

"Oh?"

"If we do it, he insists the dogs should be freely given to admitted
zoos, if they want one."

I nodded.  "We give them away, already.  Anything else?"

"Something really, really strange happened.  When I asked what had
made him change his attitude, he smiled and told me he wanted His
Brother to be proud of him.  I could hear the capital letters when he
said it.  It's strange, because he doesn't have any brothers, only
sisters."

I was grinning by the time she finished, and she gasped.  "You?"

"Yes.  He'll tell you what happened when he's ready.  It was after you
and Dianne were far enough away you couldn't hear us, then I was at
his side while he walked to the agony room.  He asked for my help."

She studied me, then gasped again when I absentmindedly rubbed my sore
shoulder.  "You're bruised."

"He's got a strong grip for his age, and he was terrified.  It had to
happen."

She sighed.  "Someday, you're going to get it broken."

I chuckled.  "And someday, you're going to have some cracked ribs and
someone will collect the betting pool we're not supposed to know
about."

She giggled again.

I sighed and looked at Erika. "Ok.  I'm willing to do it, so it's up
to you, now.  Whatever you decide.  You're the senior trainer, so I'll
let you work out all the tedious details involved, if it happens."

She sighed again.  "Let's give things a few weeks before we decide.  I
want to, but I know everyone's emotions are doing most of our thinking
right now."

"Ok."

I tried to lift Erika's head off my chest and she kept pressing
harder, until I gave up and spoke to her.  "Sorry, Love, but we need
to get up for the day, and I really do need to go, then get some
food."

This time she let me lift it and she held it up while I rolled to the
edge and sat up.  She watched while I got a robe out and put it on,
then she was at my side when I headed for the bathroom.  

Becky smiled and touched my arm to pause me in the doorway.  "I'll go
change into one of the spare robes.  Since you have food already
cooked, I'll reheat and serve you in the living room?"

"Thanks.  You going to start asking for extra pay for 'non business
related services'?"

"No.  We help anyone who asks, for free, remember?"

I nodded.  "If I could have, Love, I would have most likely asked as
soon as you were old enough, if you hadn't already decided you wanted
to marry Hank, in spite of our age difference."

She blushed.  "You hid it well."

I shrugged.  "The blocks were fresher.  Hester designed them to fray
around the edges, over time, and under the right conditions.  I never
asked her what those conditions were, even though she left me that
option."

"May I tell her I know about them?"

"I'll tell her, and ask her to open the records to you and Dianne."

"Thanks.  Go.  I'll start getting your food ready."

When Erika and I finally showed up in the living room, we were greeted
by three smiling faces and a thumping tail.

Erika casually stepped up and settled at one end of the couch, then
looked at me expectantly.  I chuckled and looked at Hester, who was at
the other end. " I guess I get the space that's left?"

She smiled.  "If you can stand sitting next to me.  I'm not moving."

I froze, because there was something about the tones and firmness of
her voice, then I looked again.  "Don't want to make Dianne and Chuck
move?"

"Something like that, but mostly, I'm comfortable, need a break, and
people will leave me alone here, so I can hide while I have lunch
without doing my own cooking."

Becky touched my arm.  "Sit.  I have a class to run, then I'll be back
to check on you."

I turned, looked into her eyes for the truth, found it, and sighed.
"Am I seeing a female conspiracy?"

"Yes."

"Ok.  Just wanted to make sure."

I sat, she handed me the plate of food, then went back to get Hester's
lunch, and left for her class after she delivered it.

We ate in silence, then Dianne offered to put things away, so we let
her.

When she came back, she casually reached down and shoved Erika's head
to one side.  "I need his lap, ok?"

Erika didn't protest, just shifted so her head was along my thigh,
instead of on it.

Dianne giggled, then settled and got comfortable.  Once she settled, I
put my arms around her and kissed the back of her head.  "You're a
little heavier than you were."

"Yeah.  You be able to handle it?"

"Of course."

"Thanks, Unca Gilly."

We stayed like that until Chuck came over, sat, and pawed her leg.

Diane giggled.  "Dr. Jones.  Will it be ok if I spread my legs for
Chuck, so he can...  Do what he wants?"

Hester sighed, and I knew what she was thinking.  "I can take my arms
away so it doesn't look like I'm holding her and making it happen."

She sighed again, and touched my nearest arm.  "No.  Don't do
anything, just keep holding her gently.  You're Chuck's arms and
hands, right, Dianne?"

"Yeah."

Hester smiled, then moved to stroke Dianne's face.  "It's ok if you do
whatever you want to, with Chuck.  I promise."

Dianne didn't answer directly, just spread her legs and spoke in a
whisper.  "It's ok, Chuckie.  Love me real good, like you always do."

He stood, moved forward, and went to work.

Eventually she pushed him away, and he curled up at our feet.

Erika had surprised none of us when she'd ignored it all, and gone to
sleep.

Hester moved so she could check on Erika after it was over.  "Reminds
me of the first Ginger."

Dianne giggled, then touched my hands.  "Thanks, Uncle Giles."

"Welcome, Dianne.

She gasped, then shifted so she could see my face.  "You used my real
name!"

"So?"

She froze and looked Hester, who nodded.

Dianne turned back to me.  "That story you used to tell me.  You
changed things a little, didn't you?  The dog was really a bitch, and
the Princess was really a Prince when it happened for real, right?"

I sighed and turned to face Hester, who smiled.  "I let her read the
records, and see the pictures.  She was...  Euphoric when she
understood her Uncle really did understand what had happened to her,
because something worse had happened to him."

I sighed.  "Did you figure out why I never cuddled you in your bed?"

"Yeah.  I never would have guessed, because the way you avoided doing
it made so much sense.  When you let Hera or Jackie stay with me, it
was like one of your wives was keeping me safe, huh?"

"Yes."

Then she went innocent on me.  "When you gonna marry Hester?  Haven't
you made her wait long enough?  Do that, and you can adopt me and be
my daddy instead of my uncle."

When I unfroze, it was like another wall had gone down, and I could
see things about myself and the world that I'd never known could
exist.  "What about Becky?  She loves me, too, and I love her."

"She's already married and..."

She looked at Hester without saying anything.

Hester sighed.  "Remember what I told you about people seeing only
what they want to see, so there are a lot of things you can do in
public that are zoo to you and Chuck, but ordinary people will see
them as normal, because they don't feel the way you do when they do
them?"

It was my turn to sigh and they both turned to me.  "Was she as bad as
Erika is, about keeping track of me?"

Dianne giggled.  "Worse!  And you're just as bad, you know."

"I am?"

"Uh huh.  Your feet are like a dog's nose and ears.  Sorta pointed in
the direction of what interests you the most while you're doing
something else."

I looked back at Hester.  "Eyes of a child, wisdom of a woman?"

"Caught me by surprise when she asked me why we hadn't married each
other.  I decided to let her see your case file, for that, and other
reasons."

"I was going to ask you to open it to her and Becky, anyway.  I
finally let Becky see the scars, just before I got up for the day, and
gave her enough of the story to tell her why I can't go to sleep with
a woman in the room.  Told her you'd put a lot of blocks in place,
too."

"And that includes you, Dianne.  Not even a cuddle if we're in a
bedroom."

"Sucks."

"True."

"It's ok right now, isn't it?  I remember we used to go to sleep with
me on your lap, sometimes."

She giggled again.  "I'm a woman now, right, so I can talk about sex
and other adult stuff?"

Hester spoke sternly.  "Tell him the rest."

"Yeah.  Ok.  I just wanted to see his face so I could remember what it
looked like when I did it."

She took a deep breath and let it out, then turned away and slumped
against my chest.  "Dr. Jones says that in a case like mine, I'm old
enough that the paperwork is usually approved right away.  I'm
divorcing my parents, Unca Gilly.  I gotta, but it hurts."

I winced and hugged her without saying anything.

She touched my hands in a strangely mature way, and sighed.  "I know
Becky is willing to adopt me, but what about her kids?  I think they'd
eventually figure out I'm letting Chuck fuck me, and then a lot of
people will know.  That's why I always made it sort of a game when I
let others watch, and never let Chuck actually fuck me.

"Anyway, I'd rather live with you if I can, and if I'm really an
adult, I can rent a room from you or something, to make it look right.
If you were married, they'd let you adopt me, right?  I really do want
it that way, but...  If you can't be my dad, you can stay my uncle,
ok?"

Hester spoke gently.  "You forgot something, Dear."

"I did?  Oh.  Yeah, I did, didn't I.  If you and Hester get married,
and adopt me, that would make two of the cottages available so you can
help more people when they need it."

I sighed.  "Is the female conspiracy done with me, and how much of
this was Becky's idea?"

Hester giggled.  "Never be done with you, but we'll let you recover a
bit before we do it again.  Becky had nothing to do with any of it."

"Hmmph.  You know that even if I want you in my bedroom, Erika may not
allow it to happen, there or anywhere else?"

"We're on the couch and she's asleep.  I'd say that's a good start.
Maybe I could someday replace Dianne, on your lap."

I thought about letting her on my lap and shivered.  "Forget it.  Have
to be a snuggle from the side, like Becky does."

She shifted and leaned against me.  "Like this?"

"Yeah.  That's ok."

"Good.  I've waited almost twenty years for this to happen."

We still hadn't moved when Becky got back from her class.

Hester looked at her face, shuddered, then sat up.  "What's wrong?"

"Mind if I replace you before I say anything?  I need Giles...  Really
badly."

They switched places and Becky shivered for awhile before she sighed.
"Bad one, Hester."

Hester nodded.  "Should Dianne hear this?"

Dianne spoke up.  "Can I still be your assistant, to see if I want to
take over your job, someday?"

Hester sighed.  "I wanted to ease you into it slowly, but...  You've
been to Hell twice in less than twenty four hours, so if you think you
can handle a third time, I'll let you try it."

"Thanks, I guess... That doesn't sound good."

"Never is, when Rebecca shivers like that.  I've never seen her demand
that Giles hold her, so this one must be...  Worse than we usually
see."

Becky slumped.  "I need an arm around me, if you have one to spare."

We managed to get my arm around her in a half hug, and then she looked
at my face and smiled wearily.  "Thanks.  It happened too soon after
you telling me about what happened to you.  I might have been able to
handle it better, otherwise."

I stiffened.  "Worse?"

"Yes and no.  Gang of girls about Dianne's age caught a twelve year
old boy jacking off in a park.  They held him down and started raping
him.  He screamed, his dog tried to help him, and some of them grabbed
the dog, cut his balls off, then killed him as a warning to let him
know what they'd do if he told anyone what had happened.  Then they
finished having their fun and left him there, unconscious, with his
dog across his body, and the dog's balls in his mouth.  Passerby found
them when her dog went crazy and drug her in the brush.  Kid was
basically unhurt except for a raw penis and swollen scrotum. They'd
tied a cord around it so they could watch it turn red, and...  Because
of the pain it caused him while they rode his prick."

Hester sighed.  "At least they left them attached, and didn't beat him
until he was one big bruise?"

"Just raped him and killed his dog.  He woke up in the ambulance and
was screaming about what had been done to him.  That's the reason we
know what we do, by the way, then he whispered his dog's name and
suddenly went catatonic."

"So how'd we get involved?"

Becky laughed. "Another fluke.  Same paramedics who delivered Dianne."

I felt Dianne shift on my lap.  "Something wrong?"

She finished shifting and when she was done she was looking at Becky.
"Would Kit attack someone if you called her by another dog's name?"

"Maybe, if they did the right training.  I'm sure she'd attack on her
own if she was on guard, like they did for you."

"Would she drag a dummy off if she thought it was hurting someone?"

"I don't know.  You'd have to ask, and tell them exactly what you want
to do, to find out."

"Thanks."

She resettled so she could look at Hester.  "Can I make some
suggestions about what I think you could do?"

Hester laughed.  "We listen to anyone who has an idea, Dianne.  Nobody
cares who it comes from, if it works.  We're listening."

"Uhhh....  Thanks.  Catatonic is like he's a zombie, right?  Just sits
there no matter what you do?"

"He's hiding from the world because it hurt him so badly.  Sounds like
it will take something special to get him to come back and deal with
the pain.  He's probably not going to be as strong as you were."

"Would he come back if he saw his dog save him?"

"Maybe.  I think I see where you're going, but continue."

"Yeah.  Figured you would.  Give him Kit.  I don't need her.  Then set
up the agony room so she can rescue him and protect him until the good
guys get there.  Make sure she kills the dummies and tears them up
real good.  You know more about that stuff than I do."

"Not from the inside, like you do.  You're inside his head, so what
else do you think might help?"

"He shy or a geek or anything like that?"

Becky sighed.  "Just a kid going through puberty, and exploring, I
think."

"Uh huh.  So he was jerking of in the park and not at home.  Afraid of
what his parents would do?  Or was he just horny?  What's he think of
his parents, anyway?  Any idea?"

Hester smiled.  "We don't know, yet, but they're both in the ambulance
with him."

"Worried, huh?  That's good..."

She froze.  "Yeah!  Set it up like a park and he's leaning against a
tree with his pants partway down and his hand on his dick like he's
jacking off.  Have Kit on guard behind him, where he can't see her.
Maybe facing away like she wouldn't see the girls coming, and then, if
you got them, put maybe six teenage girls in suits outside the door.
Have the paramedics there, too.  Then let the girls go in and pretend
to attack him.  Let Kit keep going until she's won by taking them all
down, then let the paramedics take over.  Just make sure his dog wins
this time, ok?  If you don't, I think he'll get worse, not better."

She looked up suddenly.  "I think it should be you who sees him first,
Hester.  He's gonna be in a real strange mood and if his parents show
up too soon...  Well, you know better, when that should happen, than I
do."

"I do indeed, young woman, and we'll try your ideas.  I was going to
use dummies, but you're right.  It has to be real people, this time,
and Kit has to really savage them while they try to fight her off. I'm
sorry, I'd honestly like to have you there so he knows not all girls
are like the ones who raped him."

Dianne sighed.  "It's ok.  Maybe later he can find out who helped.  I
want him to know, but..."

She sighed again and turned in my arms.  "Uncle Giles?  I know you
didn't really recover completely, and you probably never will."

I winced, then sighed.  "I think I know what you're thinking.  What if
Erika and I find him while Kit is still active?

"The miracle?"

"Yes."

She thought about it, then sighed.  "Won't work.  He already knows he
wasn't rescued in time.  It's gotta be the paramedics.  I was thinking
of something else."

"Oh?"

"After it's over, if he comes out of it, take Erika and Kit with you
and talk to him about what he can do, since he's gonna be afraid of
girls maybe for the rest of his life, now.  Uhh...  Show him your
scars so he knows he'll still be able to get it up."

She looked at me seriously, then whispered.  "Make love to Erika in
front of him, if you have to, then tell him you can't give him Kit,
but if he wants, there are bitches available for him, to explore, or
to marry, if that's what he wants."

"What about his parents?  What if he's gay already?"

She glared at me.  "Fuck his parents!  We gotta do what's right for
HIM!"

Then she slumped and whispered her next words.  "Just like you're
doing for me."

When I looked up, Hester was looking at Dianne and smiling.  "And a
child shall lead us all.  I want you there when we meet him, as my
assistant, and it doesn't matter if he's paying attention, or not,
because you're going to show him the pictures we had to take of you,
to prove you were raped yesterday, yet still want to help him.  You
can shout it if you want to, and say it any way you like.  Cuss him
out if you want, because when the paramedics 'show up', you and I are
going to be with them.  Don't forget to yell your name at him when
you're trying to get him to respond, if he doesn't come out of it
then.  He'll hear you, and part of him will remember, even if he never
consciously remembers it was you."

I squeezed her.  "Do it.  If a woman had been one of the people who
rescued us, I might not have wound up the way I am, because I would
have *known*, from the beginning, that not all women were like the one
who tried to emasculate me.  Don't forget to have Chuck with you, so
he knows you like dogs."

They left, with Erika as their escort, and a few minutes later Erika
returned and resettled.

* * *

An hour later the driveway alarm went off, and thirty minutes after
that, Hester was back on the couch, without Dianne and Chuck.

Becky said it for both of us when she handed Hester a glass of water.
"That was quick."

Hester sipped, then smiled oddly.  "Kids.  Their resiliency never
ceases to amaze me.  Two success stories in just over twenty four
hours.  Stays this easy, I may start thinking I know what I'm doing,
every time."

Becky settled on the floor, between my legs.  "What happened?"

"A happy ending, so far.  Dianne and Karen are giving him the tour.
Don't know if he's paying much attention, though."

"Oh?"

"She didn't know it, but someone took some pictures and printed a lot
of copies, then started passing them around to his friends.  She and
Chuck are well known masturbation fantasies for several schools, and
the kid recognized her when she introduced herself and Chuck.  When I
left them, he was still babbling at her about what happened to him,
and she was nodding in all the right places and taking it in stride,
as if she heard that sort of stuff all the time."

I laughed.  "So she's a porn star, with her own fans.  How'd she take
it?"

Hester giggled.  "Regally.  She put on that Queen persona she uses to
hide her embarrassment or confusion, then graciously signed the
tattered and stained picture he had folded up and buried in his
wallet.  Robert handed him Kit's leash, and took his parents aside, on
their own tour.  He did it so smoothly I don't think they realized he
was doing it to give them time to come to terms with their son's
preferred masturbation fantasy, and that bestiality really does
happen."

Becky sighed and leaned her head against my leg.  "Dad's...  A
stranger.   He was waiting for me, and walked with me to the training
area.  You know those serious father-daughter talks that are supposed
to happen in a normal family?  We had one.  He started to apologise
and I hit back with everything I hadn't said and he...  Took it all,
then held me so he could look at me, and sighed...

"And I broke down and he held me and I cried like a little girl, right
there in front of everybody.  After I was done, he pecked me on the
forehead and told me to quit using the past to define who I was,
because if he could do it, I certainly could, since I was a far better
person than he was.

"Then he walked away."

I sighed.  "Did you tell him you're a zoo?"

"I shouted it at him, and blamed him for it.  He knows."

"And?"

"He accepted the blame, then told me he knew of some really good
support forums, if I was interested, and said there were a couple that
needed a good zoo trainer available.  He...  Admitted he's been
lurking for years, so he could...  Find ways to help us get fixed so
we wouldn't abuse our animals any more."

"Anything else?"

"I confronted him about his miracle conversion, and he shrugged and
said 'The Truth shall set you free.  I already knew the truth, and the
way you accepted Dianne, forced me to stop denying that I did.' "

"How are you feeling?"

"I can't answer that one.  Give me some time."

"As much as you need, Love."

I shifted my attention to Hester.  "Mind if we talk about one of your
failures?"

She shook her head.  "Not a failure.  An incomplete success."

"Whatever you say.  You saw how I reacted earlier, and you must know
how Erika feels, right?"

"Yes."

"If we got married, I don't think you'd ever get the use of my prick,
even if Erika was ok with it."

"Gone without it for this long, I can go the rest of my life without
it, if I have to.  I really don't have a sex drive.  I know how it
works, of course.  I'm not a virgin, and was quite active while I was
in school.  I wasn't hurt or anything.  I just...  Decided to turn it
off until I met the right man, after I met you."

"Am I the right man?"

"You could be, someday.  Doesn't matter.  I never did want your prick.
I wanted the afterglow, without all the sweat, because when I'm done
for the day, I need someone who is strong enough to absorb everything
I've soaked up, and dissipate it so I can do it all over again the
next day."

"So you'd settle for your own room, knowing you're married to a man
who will never do more than let you snuggle into his side?"

"I want what I already have, in the open, so *we* don't have to hide
how much we love each other, behind a wall of misdirection."

"What about Becky?"

"To misquote my assistant, 'You're being silly!'  There's no need to
change anything, because of a piece of paper.  Don't try to fix what
isn't broken."

I sighed and settled to think about it for awhile, then nodded. "Those
blocks you set when all this got started.  I think it's time I found
out what you did, and what some of those conditions are that causes
them to fray."

She sighed and shifted until she was more comfortable.  "We spent
weeks talking them over, and deciding what those conditions would be.
You were fixated on me, by then, and we both knew that needed to be
dealt with.  I muted it quite a bit so you'd have time to work into
caring for me, if it was going to happen.  Give it a few days, and all
your memories about that should start coming back to you, because
there was no point in keeping it in place if we'd had a talk similar
to this one."

"I'll take your word for it.  Was there a trigger phrase or something,
to let me start getting my memories back?"

"In a way.  I had to tell you your current bitch reminded me of
Ginger."

"Thank you.  What else?"

"We decided that since it was unlikely you would ever meet a woman
that could make you comfortable enough to fuck her, I...  Deflected
that drive to find a human mate into something else.  It was your
idea, and I fought you at first."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  'Stupid, arrogant, protective bitch who was wasting her time if
she thought she could get *me* to ever sleep with a woman again' was
only one of the things you said to me."

"What did we agree on, finally?"

"That there was only one way you'd be able to relax enough to give
yourself a chance to love a woman again.  I gave you  a mild
compulsion, to search for another Ginger, then blurred your memories
of Ginger just enough  that I could add some qualities we both felt
your ideal bitch should have.  Neither one of us thought you'd find
such a bitch.  It was the search that mattered, to keep you from
giving up completely.  If you *did* find her, the blocks and
compulsions would slowly unravel and eventually be gone.

"We hoped by then, you'd be able to deal with it all and put it in the
past so it didn't control your life again.  Be prepared for some
pretty...  Intense memories, maybe even some flashbacks, again."

I sighed.  "I must have been pretty arrogant at the time."

"Not arrogant.  Terrified, because you knew that if Ginger died too
soon, you'd commit suicide because you couldn't make yourself believe
you'd ever find another bitch who would love you the way she did."

I looked at Erika.  "So you're saying that essentially, Erika is a
reincarnation of the first Ginger, with some of my fantasies added?"

"Yes.  You made her so ideal, both of us *knew* you'd never find a
bitch like that, so you'd keep on living, no matter what happened."

"I know there was a lot of other stuff you must have done, but right
now there's only a couple more things I want to know about.  When I
decided to get Becky to look at my scars, it was like I was driven to
see it through.  When she hesitated, I yelled at her.  Another
compulsion?"

"Yes, to keep *you* from backing out, so you'd find out a woman could
know what happened, and still love you.  It was another unlikely
possibility we planned for."

"What about the marriage?  Did we plan for that, too?"

"We planned for the possibility of *a* marriage, nothing more."

"You and Dianne plot all the marriage stuff while she was in your
office?"

"Yes."

And there it was, stark and simple. Hester and I had already spent
years falling in and out of the various types of hetero relationships,
usually when we ran into one of the really difficult situations, so we
already knew that those stresses probably wouldn't drive us apart.
That left one thing that might drive us away from each other, so I
mentioned it.

"That piece of paper has destroyed a lot of the people we've had to
deal with.  Do we really need it?"

"I'll put it on my office wall, with all the other pieces of paper
I've collected.  That way it will be available to the people it means
something to, and it won't conflict with the decor at home.  We've
already got plenty of pictures of the happily committed couple,
hanging on the walls, to prove our love for each other."

I laughed at her tartness, because she had very little patience with
people who insisted that her certificates meant more than her
experience.

"Set the date."

"About two months.  Dianne's birthday.  Us in the morning, then we
spend the rest of the day doing what it takes to adopt our daughter.
Her divorce from her parents should have been approved long before
then, but this will allow for the bungling incompetents who can't find
their rubber stamp--on a good day."

"Where?"

"Here, of course.  Can't do it without Erika by your side."

"That's it for my questions.  Rest of it's the bride's headache."

"I just delegated it to Becky.  She's been through it once, so she
knows what needs to be done.  Don't move unless you have to.  I need
the snuggle."

Becky laughed.  "Don't I have a say in the matter?"

"You do.  It's that or head Bride's Maid."

"I'll plan the wedding, thanks.  Dianne can be in charge of the silly
stuff, like bride's maids and ring bearers.  Give her the chance to do
that regal walk in front of an audience. Otherwise, I agree with
Hester, and I imagine, Erika.  Don't move unless you have to."

I was asleep when the intercom tones sounded from the handset.  By the
time I woke up enough to reach for it, Hester already had it and was
answering.  "What is it?"

Dianne's voice came through the speaker phone.  "Me.  I got company,
and Erika won't let them in.  I can get past her, but she growls if
they try to go through the gate."

"Which one of us do you really need?"

"Uncle Giles, for certain.  You, too."

"What about Rebecca?"

"Might as well, Jason's mom and dad have some training questions they
want to ask someone.  They want to set up some appointments, too, if
you say it's ok for Jason to go home with them, but they're ok with it
if he has to stay a little longer."

"They listening?"

"Yes."

"I still need to do that exam, so they can figure he'll be here at
least another couple of hours.  You've been with him all the time,
haven't you?"

"Yeah.  Me and Chuck had to escort him to the bathroom  He needed us
pretty bad, Dr. Jones.  Scared, you know?"

Hester's eyebrows went up, then she lowered them.  

"Were his parents there, too?"

"Not the first time.  They were, the second time."

"Any of the other staff members with you?

"Robert and Karen."

"Good.  I need your help with something, then we'll take Jason to my
office and get that over with."

"Ok...  Hang on."

After a brief silence she spoke again.  "Jason wants to know if he has
to have his parents there, and if I can be there, instead."

"The parents are never there when I do an evaluation and exam.  It's
my patient's decision if he wants my assistant there, or not.

"Ok.  Everyone said that's ok."

"Good.  Come on in so you can help me, then we'll take Jason to my
office.  Giles and Rebecca need to change out of their robes, so they
need a little more time, then they'll be out to answer any questions
his parents have."

"Ok."

Hester hung up and sighed.  "Was that second time because Dianne had
already done it once, or was there a different reason?  That bit about
wanting Dianne and not his parents there.  That worries me, too."

Erika was escorting her when she entered the living room.  Hester
pointed at the floor in front of her.  "Get comfortable.  We need to
talk."

"Yeah, thanks.  I couldn't figure out a way to get us in private
without them suspecting something."

"They probably do anyway, but all parents are suspicious of
psychiatrists when they want to talk to their kids privately.
Skeletons in the closet that the kids might know about, usually."

"Makes sense."

"So, Medical Assistant Dianne.  Talk to me.  I need to know what's
going on before I go out there."

Dianne shuddered, looked at Chuck and petted him briefly, then faced
Hester.  "The girl that killed his dog was his cousin.  He's afraid to
say anything to any adults."

"More?"

"I think so, but I didn't try to question him about it, just let him
ramble, ok?"

"That's fine, and what you were supposed to do, if he opened up."

"Good!  I was worried, because you never had a chance to tell me what
I should do."

"None of us expected what happened, so don't worry about it.  So far,
it's worked out, and that's what matters."

"Ok.  That other stuff.  I don't think he realizes it, but I'm pretty
sure he was set up, and he wasn't the first kid they raped.  If I had
to guess, it's some sort of initiation thing, to break your cherry by
raping a guy."

Hester sighed.  "Ok.  What makes you think he was set up?"

"A few days earlier, his cousin showed him where he could masturbate
and it would be 'their secret', so he wasn't expecting anyone except
her to ever show up, and she was ok with it, because she'd shown him
some good ways to jerk off.  Even let him feel her up a long time, so
he'd know what a girl felt like, before she'd shown him her special
place in the park "

Hester studied Dianne thoughtfully, to hide her anger, but Erika
sensed it somehow, and began a low rumble.

I sighed.  "Relax, Erika, nothing you can deal with."

She stalked over to the window anyway, then headed outside, probably
to check the yard.  That made my decision for me.  "People have seen
us in our robes before. And it will make it all look casual and
informal.  Let's go.  Becky, get your parents to take Jason's parents
to dinner somewhere while they wait.  You know the drill.  See if you
can find a way to let them know what's going on."

She sighed and levered herself up.  "Wish it wasn't a routine drill.
Don't forget Erika's leash.  You going to make the calls?  I'll grab
dad and familiarize him with the trauma wagon."

"Yes.  Hester?  Think we'll need the room, and if so, how do you want
it set up?"

She turned to Dianne.  "Where's his head at?  Any hints about where
he'd think he was safe from everyone?"

"He showed me what happened to him, in the bathroom, but I think
there's a better place than the room."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, before his parents got back from their tour, I took him inside
the kennels and  he sorta flinched at all the noise when all the dogs
went off, then he just turned into a real kid again and had to check
it all out.  I think he would have loved to have all the dogs just
cover him so he could pet them.  He'd never seen so many friendly dogs
in one place before and he tried to pet all of them through the wire,
when he found out they wouldn't hurt him.  He definitely trusts dogs."

"One more question, then we'd better get out there."

"Ok."

"What do you think made him trust you, alone and in the bathroom?"

"Chuck was there.  He really grilled me about what I do with him.  Way
he figures it, any girl who likes dogs as much as he does, is a
friend.  I told him I let Chuck lick me off, but the picture he had
was what happened when I pretended to be a girl dog when I was playing
with Chuck.  He wasn't really fucking me.  Umm...  I don't know how
important this is, but apparently his parents let him wander the net
unsupervised.  He told me he has lots of pictures hidden on their
computer and some of them are of kids doing some 'really weird stuff',
to use his words."

Hester pounced.  "Pedo?  And 'their computer'?"

"He was bragging about being able to show me stuff so I could see what
it looked like when a dog really fucked a girl.  They only have one
computer, and his dad gave him a user account on it so he can do his
homework.  I don't know if it's real pedo stuff.  He got nervous and
changed the subject before I could try and find out anything.  I never
asked questions unless it was obvious he wanted me to say something."

She sighed.  "Good job.  Thanks.  It's not enough, but more than I
expected to find out.  Let's go."

I moaned, stopping everyone as they looked at me.  "We're *stupid*! We
don't have any, but maybe...  Becky?  Your dad have any certified
tracking dogs?"

"Oh!  God!  Of course he does!  There must be blood everywhere, and
those kids probably wouldn't have thought about any that got on them,
because they'd clean up somewhere else.  He has the access so he can
find out where it happened, because he used to get called in for stuff
like this, all the time, when I was little."

She was off at a run, and had her father off to one side so she could
whisper in his ear by the time the rest of us got to the gate and
introduced ourselves.

Jason's parents were watching Becky and frowning.  I couldn't blame
them, so I diverted them.  "Relax. I imagine he told you he owns a
kennel?"

They both nodded, so I went on calmly.  "Rebecca is asking him if he
will use his dogs to see if he can track down the girls who raped your
son."

Jason screamed.  "No!  I promised I wouldn't tell!"

Robert came over and knelt in front of him.  "You didn't, and you
won't.  But Kit never promised that.  May I borrow her so I can see if
she'll be able to help me find them?"

Jason stared at him.  "They said they'd kill me like..."  His voice
choked off and he shivered before he whispered.  "They'll kill me, I
know it.  They know who I am."

Robert glanced at me, so I nodded and joined him.  "No, they won't,
Jason.  Look around you.  Do you think they could sneak in here
without getting caught?  We have over two hundred dogs that live here,
plus a full alarm system on the fences and gates.  Cameras, too.  You
can stay here until they're caught, and you'll never have to see them
or tell us who they are, because once she finds out who she has to
look for, Kit will find them."

"Uhh...  Would it be telling on them if I said Garth bit one of them
real bad, and that was why they got angry enough to kill him, because
she'd have to get treated somewhere?"

"No, because the police check for that sort of stuff when they know a
dog is involved somehow."

"I wish he'd killed her!"

"I felt the same way when Ginger attacked the woman who tried to cut
my dick off when I was sleeping.  Tell you about it later, if you want
to hear the story."

Dianne spoke up.  "I know it.  I'll tell it to him."

He looked at her.  "He told you something like that?"

"No.  I'm Dr. Jones' assistant, and she showed her case notes to me so
she could show me what I'd need to get used to, if I was going to take
over her job, someday."

She held out her hand.  "Come on.  I'll tell you part of it while we
walk to her office.  You have to go there anyway, then, when she's
done, I'll show you where you'll be staying."

He looked at me.  "Did your dog get hurt when it happened?"

"Yes, she did, the woman managed to cut Ginger's throat when she
knocked the woman away from me.  She lived, but she almost didn't,
because she wouldn't let anyone near me when the paramedics showed up,
until I told her it was ok."

He turned back to Robert.  "I need Kit."

Robert smiled.  "I understand, and I have many other dogs I can use. I
thought it would be better if she was the one to find them for you,
since you trust her, right?"

Jason shook his head.  "I can't let her do it.  She might get killed."

"No problem.  I had to ask and give you the chance to decide."

He stood and shared a look with his wife.  "I'll take the camper so
you have the car and can take Jason's parents out for dinner somewhere
while they wait for Dr. Jones' report."

She finally nodded.  "Business or personal account?"

"Personal.  The write off for the dogs will cover it.  Take them
wherever they want to go, or use your own judgement."

Then he looked at Jason's parents again.  "You saw our facilities. The
paramedics wouldn't have left him here if he'd had any injuries we
couldn't handle."

He left, and his wife took over.  "When he says anywhere, he means it,
and I'll get in trouble if I let you settle for fast food, to save us
money.  Indulge yourselves.  You need to relax."

They looked at each other a long time before Jason's father sighed and
nodded.  "Thank you.  Will Black Angus keep him happy?"

Karen smiled.  "Yes.  Ready?"

"Let's go.  If we stay here, we'd just wind our nerves tighter."

They left, and after the gate closed behind them and the car was out
of sight, I sighed with relief.  "Becky?  How much did you manage to
tell your father?"

"All of it that we know.  He said something interesting."

"Oh?"

"There's at least one adult involved.  Count on it, because those
girls were taught how to be predators.  Kids don't make adult threats,
then act on them.  They must have practiced those moves somewhere,
too.  He's going to take several teams and search the whole park to
see if he can find evidence it's happened before.  He's pretty sure it
has.

"And there's one more thing he spotted."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  Those kids are hardened killers, and he's going to make sure
every one he sends in is armed and wearing full protection, especially
the dogs.  He didn't say it, but he didn't need to.  He's expecting at
least one of his teams to get ambushed."

She looked at Hester.  "He'll make sure the authorities hear the words
'female cousin."

Hester nodded, then looked at me.  "Will you tell them Jason said they
know him?"

"Of course."

"Thank you.  And if you have a spare moment or two, Med School isn't
cheap and it's never too soon to start saving for our daughter's
college expenses, even though I know of some specialty grants she will
qualify for when she's ready."

I chuckled.  "You're that certain?"

"Dianne is."

"Point."

We linked arms with me in the middle, then Hester spoke our deepest
fear so softly I had to strain to hear her.  "Someone's going ask us
if we will try to help those girls."

I sighed.  "Deal with that after the system gets done with them, and
we've never worked with prisoners.  I don't care how much pressure we
get to try, that isn't what we're set up for, and I'm not going to
start now."

Becky sighed.  "If any of them stay out, then yes, we swore to help. I
don't like it this time, but I don't want to see a hypocrite when I
look in the mirror.  If it happens, and Jason is still here, it will
have to be somewhere else."

Hester sighed and stopped us so she could move to stand in front of
us.  "Listen to me.  We.  Will.  Not. Attempt. To. Help. Any. Of.
Those. Girls."

She bent her head.  "I'm not qualified, for one thing, but there's
another reason, one you'd better accept and internalize.  We can't
help them.  Nobody can, now.  It is my professional opinion that
someone out there is collecting young girls who are on the edge of
becoming sociopaths, and they are pushing them over the edge, for some
purpose of their own.  Rebecca, you'd better call and warn your
father, so he can arrange police escorts for his teams until those
girls are found.  Best, of course would be to turn everything we know
over to the police and concentrate on Jason."

Rebecca looked stricken.  "I can't order him to drop it.  I'll tell
him I want him to.  But what are we going to do about my mother?  If
Jason's parents are involved..."

I looked at Hester.  "Has anyone said anything to Jason's parents
about signing paperwork so we can let him live here?"

"I haven't.  Rebecca?"

"I didn't.  We can keep him until Hester releases him from treatment.
We don't need anything signed, other than the usual consent forms
they've already signed.  You know that."

"I know.  I need an excuse to get Karen to turn around and bring them
back."

Becky smiled.  "I have one."

She called her mother.  "Hi, mom.  We need you to come back for a few
minutes, since you're closer than dad."

"It's Kit.  She's so nervous she won't let any of us near Jason.  Need
you to calm her down, that's all.

"Yes, I know.  We should have muzzled her first, but we're not used to
working with protection dogs.  We'll do that after you calm her down,
then you can go have dinner.

"Thanks for apologizing to them for us, and see you in a few minutes."

She hung up. "She's on her way back and we have an excuse to get her
away from them."

She sighed.  "I think I know a way to call dad off."

Her phone rang, she looked at it, and her eyes went wide.  "It's dad."

She put it on speaker phone.  "Hi,  dad.  You're on speaker phone."

"Good.  Karen just called me about a problem with Kit.  Was that an
excuse to get her back without alarming Jason's parents?"

"Yes.  Did she suspect anything?"

"No, and I explained it away by the unusual circumstances, so I'm
pretty sure she's ok.  I was already turned around, so I might be
closer.  I'll park about a mile away and only come in after you call
me, ok?

"Ok.  What changed?"

"They found the girl Garth bit."

"You're angry dad, I can hear it."

"Dead.  Throat cut.  Shallow grave."

Hester sighed.  "Can you hear me, Robert?"

"Yes.

"Do you know where the nearest Black Angus is?"

"Yes."

"Good.  It is my professional opinion that someone is creating
sociopaths.  Make sure you are not on the route between us and that
Black Angus, then park immediately.  Best would be if you can hide
somewhere until things settle."

"I'm parked.  There are plain janes headed your way already, and they
will act like they're there about Dianne's rape, ok?  Behind them is a
swat team, in case things get out of hand."

I spoke up.  "Thanks, Robert.  We'll let you know as soon as we can."

"Thanks."

He hung up and Hester sighed.  "I'd better be in my office when they
get here."  She turned and headed off.

I reached for the handset on my belt and brought up the PA system.
"Everyone inside, folks.  People and dogs, then make yourselves
comfortable, just like we've practiced.  Seconds count, so run if you
have to.  Hopefully it's nothing, but if it isn't, there's a swat team
ready to hit with everything they've got, so we want to be out of
their way.  Let you know, when we do."

I shut it down and looked at Becky, then down at Erika, who was
restlessly scanning the yard.  "Thanks, but you need to stay out of
it. girl, so you can relax."

She sat, but she kept her head and ears moving.

Becky smiled at me.  "Well, she believes you, a little."

"Yeah.  I can tell.  You ready to do some acting to get your mom
clear?"

"Yes."

Everyone checked in, and a few minutes later Karen pulled in and got
out of her car, then headed for us. .Jason's parents got out,
stretched, then followed her.  I sighed with relief.  "Would your
mother pull the keys in a situation like this?"

Becky laughed.  "She's the security expert in the family.  They were
in her purse before she reached for the door handle."

"Good."

Karen reached us and looked down.  "Looks like Kit isn't the only
nervous dog you have.  Where's Kit?"

"Hester's office.  Let's go."

As soon as they moved, I headed the other direction to meet Jason's
parents before they had a chance to get very far.  To help the process
I raised my voice.  "They'll be right back.  Kit's a good girl,
usually, but she's never been here before, so that makes her nervous
until she's had a chance to get used to where she's working.  Sorry we
had to call Karen back, but she was the closest."

By then I was next to them so I lowered my voice.  "Thanks for being
so patient with us.  My niece was raped yesterday and we were still
sorting that out when you and Jason showed up."

He smiled.  "So you know what we're going through, don't you?"

"Yes.  Unfortunately, I can't get away yet to settle my own nerves,
since I'm one of the people helping her come to terms with..."

I sighed.  "Hang on to that thought.  It never ends, sometimes.  More
company.  Let me find out what they want."

I raised my voice again.  "I'm Giles.  What can I do for you folks?"

"Good!  Just the man I wanted to talk to.  Got some good news for
Dianne.  Your dog looks nervous."

"She's under control. Haven't had her that long and she's not used to
this much activity.   Come on in so I don't have to shout."

"Thanks."

He and his people walked through the gate and when they were standing
close enough, the man who seemed to be in charge held out his hand.
"Heard a lot about you, Giles.  All of it good."

Jason's dad spoke up.  "Should we be here?"

He turned sideways and smiled.  "It's good news, so as soon as he
takes me to Dianne, he can relax with you folks again.  We can't stay
long, anyway."

"Ok."

"Giles?"

"No problem.  Don't tell me yet.  I want to be as surprised as she
will be."

He laughed easily.  "Ok."

I started to turn.  "Erika!  Heel!"

We were about fifty yards away when  he spoke in a lowered voice.

"Robert tell you about the dead girl?"

"Yes.  Dr. Jones thinks someone is creating sociopaths."

"She knows her job.  She's right."

I sighed. "And Jason's parents?"

"We're not sure yet.  They're involved, but we haven't found out if
they're victims or perps."

I was going to say more when Erika hit me and knocked me to the
ground.  Then she hit the end of her leash when she knocked my
companion down.  After that she spun to face back the way we had come.

"Erika!  Down!

She dropped.

By then he'd rolled and was reaching for his weapon when he froze,
then relaxed.  "Good working dog you have.  If things had gone a
little differently, what she did might have saved us some serious
injury, or even our lives."

Suddenly someone shouted.

"Shit!  Man down!  Man down!  Someone call a Doctor!"

I grabbed for my handset and hit the page all button.  "Hester!  Field
trauma kit.  Main gate, stat!  Lockdown's over, folks.  Trauma squad,
report to the main gate with the full kit.  Inside team, prep surgery
and stand by.  Police are already here, so someone call 911 and get
the paramedics moving."

Then I took a deep breath and looked sideways, at my open mouthed
companion.  "Do us a favor and call off the swat team.  They'd only
get in the way, now.  Right?"

"Uhhh...  Yeah.  You're right."

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small radio.  "Stand down,
folks.  Someone's down, but there's a Doctor and trauma squad on site,
so relax and go home."

"Got it.  Glad we weren't needed."

Then he sighed and stood.  After I joined him, he looked at Erika.
"How long did it take you to train her to protect everyone she's with,
and not just you?"

"I didn't.  I just got her yesterday afternoon, and she's never had
any training.  She makes her own decisions about stuff like that, I
guess."

I looked down.  "Relax, Erika."  Then I bent and disconnected her
leash.  "Good girl.  Go check it out, if you need to."

She looked around, then got up and after she settled at my side she
looked up expectantly.

I laughed, then knelt and hugged her before we kissed each other.
"Thanks."

People started running past us, and I saw Hester, with Dianne next to
her.  One of the men pointed, and she dropped, reached, then froze and
her shoulders slumped before she finished her movement.  She did all
her Doctor stuff, then shook her head and pulled Dianne into a hug.

I sighed and looked at my companion.  "I never got your name."

"Larry.  Otto was a good man to have at your back.  I'll miss him."

"It's inadequate, I  know, but we will, too.  He died protecting us,
and that means a Hell of a lot.  How much do you know about us?"

"Very little, other than the fact you help all types of survivors,
somehow.  Got a Hell of a good rep with a lot of the paramedics."

He sighed.  "Whatever happened, it must have been quick.  I know how
to read Doctors and that was a 'he never had a chance' head shake, but
she checked anyway, just to be certain."

It was my turn to sigh.  "I know. We lose two or three a year, on
average.  By the way, that young girl helping her is the Dianne that
you used as an excuse to get in here and do your job."

"You mind explaining the response teams, and how professional they
are?"

"Hang on."

I raised my voice.  "Hester!  Any more?"

She shook her head slightly, without looking at me.

"Thanks, Love."

Her head jerked around and I smiled.  "Unintended consequences.  Go
finish up with Jason and take a break.  That goes for you, too,
Dianne, after you settle Jason and Kit in cottage four, with someone
to keep an eye on him."

I hit the paging button while thinking the action was getting boring,
then spoke calmly.  "Situation over, folks.  Business as usual except
for the trauma team.  Set up the agony room for a policeman's wake. He
was a good man, and he died while  he was protecting us.  We owe it to
him."

I shut the PA down and refocused.  "We help those who need it, Larry.
The agony room is just what it sounds like.  A place that can be set
up so a survivor can act out whatever scenario they need, for
catharsis.  Law requires us to tape everything that goes on, so we'll
donate as many copies as are needed, to you folks, and his family, if
he has one."

He nodded  "Thank you.  My other questions?"

"Depending on the time of day, we can have twenty to several hundred
people scattered in the compound.  We also have over two hundred dogs
who live here when they aren't working.  People get hurt, and so do
the dogs.  We also get survivors right after they've been...  Damaged,
and Hester needs to do what she can for them, immediately.  Lot of
stuff we can't do, of course, and we seldom see survivors with that
much damage, until they've recovered enough to come here, or go
wherever they wind up, for treatment."

"I'll pass the word to my men.  You folks accept donations?"

"Yes, whatever a person wants to give.  We never charge for anything
we do.  You can't put a price tag on someone's life, so we refuse to
try."

He turned slowly as he studied the complex.  When he stopped, he was
facing me again.  "All this, on donations?"

"Only takes a hundred pennies to make a dollar, and a dollar buys two
to three days of food for a dog.  We get a lot of pennies, these days.
I wish we didn't, sometimes, or at least not for the reasons we
usually get them."

Larry's eyes suddenly went wide, then he smiled.  "I think you're
about to be very busy, and I need to go back to work."

He held out his hand.  "Thank you."

After we shook hands he knelt and offered the back of his hand to
Erika  She sniffed it, then looked at him calmly.

"Thank you, Erika.  Take good care of Giles.  The world needs more men
like him."

Then he stood and walked away.

When I finished turning I was face to face with Hester, who leaned
forward to kiss me.

When she pulled away she was smiling.  "Both of you have paw prints on
your sides.  Erika?"

"Yes.  I don't know why, yet, but she took us down to protect us from
something."

She sighed.  "Guns."

"I didn't hear any gunfire.  What happened to Otto?"

She turned and backed against my chest.  "Hold me."

I wrapped my arms around her and waited.  I was scanning things when I
realized someone was missing.  "Where's Dianne?"

"I sent her back to keep Jason busy until I get there.  Karen was
helping do that when I left.  She makes a good universal grandmother."

She sighed.  "I know I'm hiding.  Otto died from a knife in his heart.
He was probably dead before he hit the ground.  It was a very
professional kill."

I winced.  "Anybody know what was going on with the girls?"

"The police have a theory.  Assassins.   They think Jason was a trial
run, to test their control.  That's all I know."

A few minutes later Robert pulled in and got the usual 'you can't
enter a crime scene' run around, until he suddenly yelled.  "Larry!
Tell your Goddamned people to lay off and let me through!  My wife's
in there somewhere!"

"Let him in!  He's on our side!"

"Giles!  Where?!"

"Hester's office, with Dianne, Jason, Kit and Rebecca!  She's fine!"

He went past us at a run, head down, like a dog who had the scent, and
his target was in sight.  That made me think of Erika, and when I
looked down she was watching all the activity by the gate, but her
ears were tracking Robert.

I kept silent, but Hester was smiling when I looked up.  "She's a good
match.  Both of you are self taught, and you don't make many
mistakes."

I blushed, she laughed, then she turned me and wrapped an arm around
my waist.  "Let's go.  Nothing you can do, this time, except
paperwork."

"Yep.  So how much did you get from Jason?"

"Thanks for reminding me."

She turned her head.  "Larry!  I need to talk to you.  Now."

He trotted over.  "What can I do for you, Doctor?"

"Your people talk when they are stressed, and I listen even when it
might not be something I need to know, but I definitely did this time,
since Jason is in my care."

"Got it.  Should I tell my people they need better operational
security?"

"Maybe, But that's not what I have to say, since because of what your
people were talking about, something Jason said to Dianne while he was
quizzing her about her rape, takes on a new meaning."

"Oh?"

"He asked her if she was pregnant, and she said she didn't know, and
hadn't been checked yet.  Before she said anything more, he looked
around, then whispered 'Mom and dad think abortions are evil.  Do
you?' 

"Don't assassins need targets?"

He looked sick.  "Young girls.  Consciousless killers.  It fits.  I'll
pass it higher.  Thank you, Doctor."

"My name is Hester.  Use it, please.  I don't isolate myself from my
patients, behind formality."

"I'm not your patient, Hester."

"You're alive.  That's enough, isn't it?  I took an oath, and I prefer
preventative treatment to supportive, when I get the chance to make a
choice."

"You're a very unusual woman, Hester.  Makes sense though.  Giles is
an unusual man.  Takes a miracle to take a girl who was raped by her
parents, and turn her into a steady assistant who runs to a problem,
instead of away from it, a day later."

Hester was smiling.  "Runs in the family.  She's Giles' niece.  We're
adopting her as soon as we get married, if her divorce from her
parents has been finalized by then."

His eyebrows went up.  "You're not already married?  You have 'the
look'."

"Giles hired me to help him start his business.  That was almost
twenty years ago."

"When's the wedding?"

"About two months, on Dianne's birthday."

"Planned, yet?"

"No."

"Place picked out?"

"Here, of course.  Where are you going with this?  If it's your way of
asking if you'd be welcome, yes, you will be.  We're not shutting the
business down."

"Thank you.  Where I'm going, is that donation I mentioned.  We'll
take care of it.  All of it.  All you two will have to do is show up,
Hester.  We'll bus our people in, so we don't block your parking.  It
will be crowded, but I think we'll all fit.  If not, we'll close the
street, then apologize and invite your neighbors.  Any preferences for
the style?"

She looked me and I shrugged.  "Up to you."

She turned back.  "Secular."

"Know just the man.  I can give you twenty four hours before we send
in the teams to take statements.  Need any lawyers?"

I laughed.  "Have our own on call, thanks, and thanks for reminding
us.  I'll call then as soon as I deliver Hester to her patients."

He smiled.  "I'll get back to work.  Thanks for the tip, Hester.  I
wanted a handle on those two, and I think I have it, now.  I'll shake
them a little when I get the time, and see what falls on the ground."

Hester turned back to me and she had an odd smile on her face.  "This
isn't part of the female conspiracy, ok?"

"If it isn't that, what is it?"

"Payback.  Let's make something else official, and file the paperwork
to dedicate a couple of the cottages to raising foster kids, with us
as the house parents."

I laughed.  "We do it already."

"They'd pay us more, if we had the piece of paper on the wall."

I looked around and finally decided to grin.  "Jim's been making
noises about selling out, and he was worried about what kind of
neighbors we'd wind up with.  I'll get serious when I talk to him,
next time.  Time for us to expand, anyway.  Place is getting crowded
again."

"You!  Been planning for something like this, haven't you?"

I sighed.  "Of course I have, and I know you're in heaven, to finally
know someone is going to be there to take over from you when you
retire."

"What about your replacement?  Jason?"

"Too soon to tell.  We'll let Dianne make that decision, when she's
ready.  Infatuation, right now."

She shook her head.  "Fixation and rebound, for both of them.  I
already warned her it was normal, and she shouldn't do anything to
encourage it, but I don't know.  She didn't hesitate to let him get a
close look at what had been done to her, as one survivor to another.
Nothing that hasn't happened before, except she's my assistant and our
future daughter.  Worry about the complications later, like we always
do."

She stepped, I did, and so did Erika, of course.

* * *

Three days later, things had settled, and all of us were having lunch
in the kitchen when the intercom went off.

I sighed.  "Never ends, does it?  I wonder what the crisis is, this
time?"

I activated the intercom.  "Giles here.  What's the problem?"

"Courier.  Couple of deliveries for Giles and Erika, that have to be
delivered in person."

My eyebrows went up, and Erika launched herself for the door. "Larry?"

"Yeah.  I see Erika's on her way.  I need you, too."

"Be right there."

I stood and sighed.  "Man likes his games, doesn't he?  Wonder what he
wants, this  time."

I let him in the yard, and once he was through the gate he handed me a
flat package.  "Open it in front of your family."

"I assume you know what it is?"

"I do.  I was told that if you don't accept it, to tell you that it
would be presented at your wedding, with the media present."

"Right.  I'll find out who did the encouragement, when I open it?"

"Yes.  Please get Erika on a sit-stay, on your left side."

I did, and kept my questions unasked.

He reached into his pocket and removed a small case, then knelt and
opened it.  He carefully removed what had been inside and looked at it
before he held it in front of Erika.

"For actions far beyond what is expected of you, and your willingness
to sacrifice your life for others, I wish to present you with this
small token of appreciation."

He held it open, started to lean forward and his eyes opened wide when
she leaned forward and gently stuck her head through it.  Then she
resettled on her haunches after she touched his nose with hers.

He recovered from his shock, straightened the medal, then stood and
looked at me soberly.  "The 'guns' were disguised dart throwers.  They
both had them, and they were moving to line up on us when she took us
down.  Before they could adjust, my men took *them* down, hard.  The
darts were covered with a lethal poison.  Professionals, working deep
cover, both of them.  Jason really is their son.

"Erika's newest toy is the Police Medal of Valor.  Not many civilian
dogs earn it.  She's the first one, here, in my lifetime.  I checked."

"My package?"

"Two items.  One is the certificate of appreciation that goes with the
medal.  The other certificate is for you.  They said you'd probably
want to toss it or hide it somewhere.  If you do, you get another one,
complete with the usual media circus."

I sighed.  "Whatever it is, we'll figure out a place to display it.
We're familiar with the type.  Have been for years, since they insist
on trying to replace Hester's paisley wall paper with framed
certificates."

He laughed.  "I don't mind using them to hide institutional white."

He held out his hand.  "Love to be there, but it never stops, and they
want me in the middle of it, when lives are at stake."

I shook his hand.  "Be careful.  I want to keep seeing you and your
people here as friends, not patients, or when you need to deliver
one."

"How many dog teams can you have on standby?"

"Depends on how soon you need them, and for how long."

"Got it.  Immediately?"

"Fifty, at least.  I've got around thirty I can't pull away from what
they are doing, and another fifty or so who are relaxing between
jobs."

He sighed.  "I don't think we'll need all of them, but be ready.
Things could break at any time.  I can't say much more, mostly because
my briefing was about an hour ago and I've been damn busy.  Day care
center.  We have no idea how many of the bodies on the ground are
bodies.  Can't get to them to find out.  She's inside, and armed to
the teeth.  We're working on getting the outside kids and staff out
for treatment, but...  We try for one kid, she shoots another kid so
she can watch it scream, and to frustrate us.  As long as we don't do
anything, she doesn't either, so far."

"Response to what happened here, maybe?"

"Being looked at, of course, but nobody really thinks so."

He must have known what I was thinking, because he cut me off.  "Quit
thinking about it.  Plenty of trained people there already.  Only
people in danger are the kids and staff that didn't get out in time.
While you wait, turn on the news.  My people are waiting for me."

He turned and left without saying more.

Erika and I watched him until his car was out of sight, then we looked
at each other.

"The medal looks good on you, girl."

She strutted on the way back, then waited for me to open the door
before she headed in to go show off.

I stopped, tossed the package on the counter, unopened, then grabbed
my food.  I looked at my plate, sighed, and faced Hester.  "Larry told
me to watch the news, and to put all our teams on standby."

Hester studied me.  "All of them?"

"Armed woman at a day care center, somewhere.  Bodies in the yard,
kids and staff inside.  Only things new about it are the numbers and
the fact we're going in at the beginning, instead of waiting for them
to be brought to us."

She sighed, stood, and picked up her plate.  "Never stops, does it?"

She glanced at the clock.  "Well, we had almost twenty four hours of
relative peace.  It will have to do."

Her head turned slightly.  "Dianne?  Deep end, again?"

"They need us, Hester.  Probably help a lot of them, to see a kid and
her dog, first.  I'm in."

She turned to Jason.  "Ever been in a day care center?"

"Yeah.  Hate them.  Scary places at first, because you don't know
anyone.  They say it's all fun, but they lie a lot.  Lots of
discipline, and you can't really have any fun, because they're always
making you do something for your own good."

"How many you been in?"

"Dunno.  Lots.  They all look the same, after awhile."

She nodded.  "You think we should do stuff so it doesn't look like one
when they get here?"

"Yeah."

Dianne looked up.  "I think we should let him be in charge of the
decorating."

"Me?!"

Hester smiled.  "You know what shouldn't be done.  Sometimes, that's
more important than knowing what to do.  The job is yours, if you want
it."

He turned to me.  "Giles?"

"You don't have to, of course.  We have other kids who can help.
You're the newest, and you know the most recent stuff about day care
centers, and how they are run.  That makes you the closest thing to a
current expert that we have available, and you know it all from a
kid's view, not an adult's."

He turned back.  "A page does whatever he has to, Lady Di.  Maybe I've
been to this one, and that will make it easier for me to make sure we
don't do anything that would give them a flashback."

Then he grinned a little impishly.  "Besides.  Even if you are my big
sister and supposed to know more than I do, I'm not going to let you
get away with being able to do something I can't do.  If you can do
it, I can, too."

She giggled.  "Thanks, Jason."

Then she looked at him slyly.  "I can think of something I can do that
you can't."

"Yeah?  Prove it!"

"Already did, and you still have the picture in your wallet,
remember?"

He blushed, then headed for the living room, with the rest of us
following him.

We'd had a longer break than usual, and we needed a longer one, but...

It was time to go back to work. 

* * *

Rebecca found the forgotten package when she came in to relax, late
the same evening, after everyone had loaded up and gone to the day
care center to see what they could do.

After she got a quick snack, she grabbed the package and settled on
the couch.

She took the contents out, smiled when she saw Erika's framed
certificate, then set it aside so she could remove the large envelope
that covered the front of the other one.

She started to grin, then gasped and whispered:  "It's not honorary!"

She touched it reverently, then read it out loud.  

"Doctor of Psychiatry, Giles Nathan Kimmerling."

Then she opened the envelope, and giggled after she read the note that
was inside.

"Whoever you are, frame Giles' license to practice, and make sure it
gets put next to Hester's."
---------

The End...

Or is it really just another beginning?

Only time will tell.
====

End: part 4 of 4
End: That One

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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