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Entry tags:
Primeval fic: Promises Made
Title: Promises Made
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~3470
Characters: James Lester, Nick Cutter, Anna Green (OC), Bobby Green (OC), Brenda McKillian (OC), Lady (OFC)
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace. Anna, Bobby and Lady belong to Fred.
A/N: Part of my Under The Moonlight wolfverse. Occurs a week or so after Fred's Under The Trees and continues in In The News. Thanks go to the ever wonderful Fred for the beta, cheers m'dear.
Lester leaned back against the headboard of their bed and made himself comfortable as he watched his lover getting ready to go out. Nick was looking rather good in his jeans and open-necked shirt, very good indeed and James growled his appreciation. He met Nick's gaze in the mirror and noticed his lover smirking at him.
“Later, love. Hadn't you better start getting ready too?”
“I've got time.” Lester licked his lips as his heated gaze moved over Nick's body.
“Behave,” Nick almost snapped. “We don't have time for a shag.”
Lester quirked an eyebrow as his lover's uncharacteristically sharp tone, before he took a quick sniff and detected the mixed scent of Nick's worry and arousal. “Sorry.”
Nick shook his head. “No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped.” He ran his hand through his hair, ruffling it in a way that went straight to Lester's cock. “I suppose I'm just concerned about our meeting.”
Lester sighed at the reminder. He'd been doing his best to forget what the next few hours would bring. “If it was for anyone else...”
“Do you want me to cancel it?” Nick offered. “I know how much you hate –”
“No!” Lester barked over the offer before sighing heavily. “Come on, Nick. Let's get this over with.”
“James?” Nick quickly strolled over to Lester and squeezed his arm. “We don't have to. I'm sure they would understand.”
“I promised.” Lester rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I won't disappoint him. He's been through a terrifying ordeal and if I can bring a smile to his face, it'll be worth playing the dog for a few hours.”
“Good.” Nick leaned down and kissed Lester gently. “I understand Bobby's been counting the days until he gets to meet his hero dog.”
Lester groaned. He had a horrible feeling it would all go wrong. He shook his head, it was just his aversion to being considered an animal speaking. “Move, Nick. I want this over and done with.”
“James?”
Nick's voice was gentle and his concern made Lester smile. With Nick at his side, Lester knew everything would be fine. “Sorry. I just...” He shook his head.
“Don't like playing the dog,” Nick finished his sentence. “And you do it so well.”
Lester's head shot up and he growled with his teeth bared, only to meet Nick's laughing eyes as his lover chuckled at his reaction. Lester sighed as his growl died, he understood Nick was only trying to dissipate the tension, but still, that comment was hitting blow the belt. “You're so going to pay for that.”
“Yes, please.” Nick glanced at their clock. “Fuck. It will have to be later, we'll need to leave soon.”
Lester sighed again before he Shifted and shook out his fur. It did feel good to be in his wolf-form again. Free to run and play and be himself, not shackled by paperwork and the needs of propriety at all times.
“Fur!”
Lester twitched an ear and let out a querying whine. What about my fur?
“You need a brush.” Nick glanced around before he grabbed Lester's comb from the dresser.
Not with that comb. Lester shook his head and bared his teeth again, growling low in his throat.
“OK. OK.” Nick dropped the comb and raised his hands defensively. “Let me at least finger-comb it. You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards.”
Lester nodded. Nick using his fingers was far more acceptable than using Lester's comb on his fur. Besides, he could relax and enjoy the attention as Nick's fingers combed through his dense fur. He leaned against Nick and rumbled contentedly deep in his throat.
“Enjoying the attention?” Nick asked and then yelped when Lester thwacked him with his tail. “Mind that tail.”
Lester snorted. He remembered how much Nick had enjoyed having his bruises kissed better. He sighed in contentment as he leaned more heavily on Nick.
“Guh! Bloody hell, you're too heavy to sit on my lap,” Nick groused before collapsing on his back on the bed and dragging Lester down beside him, his fingers digging deeper into the fur as he sought out sensitive spots.
A rumbling growl built in Lester's throat as he squirmed away from Nick's probing fingers and turned the tables by licking Nick's face. It didn't take long for Nick to call out in surrender and Lester rolled off to lie panting beside him, a wolfish grin on his face.
Nick's laughter died as he glanced at the clock. “Fuck! We're going to be late.”
Lester started. Bloody hell, as much as he enjoyed the attention, he had a little boy to meet and time was getting on. Lester jumped off the bed and trotted out of the bedroom, pausing on his way to bark at Nick to hurry up.
“Coming.” Nick watched with envy when Lester easily bounded down the stairs with a speed and agility he couldn't reproduce. He smiled, not that Lester could either when he was in his humanform. Nick was still smiling when he grabbed his coat and keys on his way to the front door. “Ready, love?” he held open the door for Lester before spending a few moments activating the alarm and locking the door behind them.
Lester leapt easily into the back seat of the Hilux when Nick opened the door and he quickly settled down for the journey on the fleece blanket covering the back seat. He couldn't help worrying something would go wrong. He shook his head. He was just anxious about his acting skills, close up and for several hours. That and having to pretend to be an animal, being thought of as an animal. He wasn't an animal.
“Right. Here we are.”
Nick's voice woke Lester from a doze and he sat up to peer out of the window at the nondescript house. The grass was neatly cut and the car on the drive was about five years old. As Nick parked the car, Lester took the chance to glance around and shivered with a sense of foreboding. Why had he ever agreed to this? Because a little boy had asked for him, and he'd do anything he could to bring a smile to that little boy's face. He growled almost subconsciously as he remembered that afternoon. What had almost happened. What would have happened if they had not been there. If he had not needed to be outside, in the woods.
The click on the car door opening drew Lester's attention back to the present as Nick said, “J... Shadow?”
Lester jumped out on to the pavement and luxuriated in stretching his muscles. He also took the opportunity to sniff the air for scents but the only ones he recognised belonged to Nick, Bobby and Lady.
“Ha-humph.” Lester looked up at Nick's cleared throat and saw his lover standing at the end of the path leading to one of the houses. Nick's expression was amused as he asked, “Coming?”
Lester quickly bounded over to Nick and walked at his heels as they strolled up the path to the house. When Nick rang the doorbell, he sat down and leaned against Nick as they waited for the door to be opened. He was enjoying the attention as Nick stroked his ear when the sound and scent of a squirrel drew his interest. He whined softly but now was not the moment to give chase. The snick of the door being opened brought Lester's attention back to the matter at hand and he looked up at the unknown woman who had opened the door.
Lester tilted his head slightly as he considered her: average height, shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. She was attractive and knew it. Smartly dressed, comfortable shoes, minimal make-up and jewellery, the subtlest hint of perfume. Every inch a professional. She also set his inner-wolf growling. Something about her was untrustworthy. Who was she and what was she doing there?
“Yes?” She sounded annoyed at being interrupted.
“I'm Nick.” Nick gestured at Lester. “I... we're expected. I arranged with Ms Green for Bobby to meet Shadow.”
“Oh God. Yes. Come in.” She stepped back to let them past and closed the front door. “Bloody hell, he's huge.” She stared at Lester for a moment before seeming to remember herself and thrust her hand out at Nick. “I'm Brenda McKillian. I'm writing the story for the Evening News.”
Lester sighed, just what he needed. Yet another journalist to deal with, and even better, from the same bloody newspaper. If he hadn't already been in the house he might have been tempted to run away. That squirrel would have been a good excuse and Lester wished he had trusted his inner-wolf that something was wrong and chased after it. But he was inside now and he had agreed to meet Bobby. Even the presence of a bloody journalist couldn't make Lester break his promise to that little boy.
Nick took a moment to gather his wits before he shook the proffered hand. “Er. Right. I didn't realise the press would be here.”
“Not a problem, I hope.”
Lester's ears flickered at the interest in the journalist's voice, but Nick recovered well. “No. I would have put on a suit, that's all.” He looked around before asking, “Where's Anna?”
“She's in the front room. First door on the left,” McKillian answered as she rummaged through a bag. “Go on ahead, I'll be there in a moment.”
Nick nodded and followed her direction, exchanged a glance with Lester who bared his teeth and flattened his ears for a moment. Nick's voice was barely a whisper, “I'll be careful.” He had barely walked into the front room when he gave a yelp and found himself hugged hard.
Lester grinned as he recognised Anna Green and watched as his flustered lover tried to regain his composure. He pressed against Nick's leg and whined as tears slipped down Anna's face. “I can never thank you enough for saving Bobby. If you hadn't...” She sniffled and Nick quickly passed her his handkerchief.
“It was Shadow...”
Anna wiped her eyes and smiled as she turned to Lester. She carefully put her hand out and he equally carefully sniffed and then licked it. She gently stroked his ears, smiling when he tilted his head for her to give him a scratch. “Good boy. I've got some chocolate drops if he likes them?”
Nick had to bite back a laugh when Lester's tail started to wag. “He loves them.”
McKillian knocked on the door, a camera in one hand. “Is everyone ready?”
“Um. What do you want us to do?”
“Nick. Can I call you Nick?” When Nick nodded, McKillian continued, “What we'd like is to hear what happened and then get some shots of Bobby with Shadow.”
Anna looked up, “Oh. Couldn't Bobby meet Shadow first? He's been dying to meet his hero dog.”
Nick agreed, “That's what we're here for.”
Bobby frowned in confusion when Lady flattened herself to the grass instead of chasing the ball he had just thrown. He turned to see what was scaring her and his eyes widened at the sight of the huge, dark-furred dog walking towards them. His voice wavered as he called out, “Mum?”
Anna smiled at him. “Bobby. This is Shadow.”
Lester gave a low whine and Lady suddenly flung herself at him, all wagging tail and floppy ears. She dashed around him before fetching her ball and dropping it at his feet. His ears flicked as he heard the sound of a shutter and knew a photograph had just been taken. Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound. He dropped his nose down and had his face washed by the enthusiastic little dog.
“Aww, mum. They like each other.” Bobby lost his reluctance to approach Lester and cautiously reached up a hand to stroke his head. He laughed when a large tongue licked his face. Quickly losing all inhibition, Bobby wrapped his arms around as much of the huge dog as he could and hugged him. “Thank you for rescuing me, Shadow.”
Lester settled himself beside Nick and whined softly. He wanted to go home now he'd seen Bobby, but leaving this soon would raise too many questions, especially from the journalist. He felt Nick stroke the soft fur on his head and could only hope his lover kept his wits and remembered their cover story. He sighed softly, of course Nick would. He was just over reacting to the presence of a bloody journalist. Bloody hell, if he'd known she'd be there... who was he kidding, he'd still have come.
McKillian cleared her throat and switched her recorder on, “I hope you don't mind if I record this?” When no one objected, she began, “Ms Green. Anna. Could you tell me the events leading up to the abduction?”
Anna nodded and glanced over at her son, now leaning against his hero dog and stroking both dogs' ears. “Um. I thought it was the perfect weather for a picnic, so I took my children to the park.” She paused again to look at Bobby. “We had a lovely time, except for those terribly-behaved Labradors. They knocked my Katie over and made her cry.”
McKillian nodded, obviously wanting to get to the story. “Some people just can't control their dogs. Then what happened?”
“Bobby had to... um, he needed the loo. It was a long walk to the toilets and I had the picnic all set out, so I told him to go behind a bush.”
Lester kept his eyes on McKillian as the story of that afternoon was told. He was proud of Nick as his lover fielded a few tricky questions. They might have spent time perfecting their story, but it was a different matter in the face of a journalist's persistent questioning.
“You're been to Russia?” McKillian queried, sounding far more interested now than she had previously. Lester took a cautious sniff and could smell the curiosity and anticipation rolling off her.
“Oh, yes. I was doing field work with my college mentor, Professor Rina Suvova. It was there that I first met Shadow's breed as guard dogs.” Nick smiled as he ran his fingers through James' fur. “It was where I feel in love with them.”
“So, you've owned... um, what is he again?” McKillian asked.
“He's a Caucasian Mountain dog.”
“Right. Caucasian Mountain dog.” McKillian made a note of that. “So. You've owned his breed before?”
“Oh no.” Nick shook his head. “I've only recently been able to give one a home. Several months ago I met Rina on another field trip in Russia and she gave me Shadow. She remembered how much I had loved them as a student.”
Lester breathed a sigh of relief when McKillian appeared to accept the story. Not that he was worried if – make that when – she checked it. Connor had already put the documents in place for just such an occurrence, documenting a stay in kennels for quarantine and even a DEFRA issued dog passport, complete with photograph. He'd have to remember to thank Connor for that foresight later. But for now, Lester could only fret and worry that something would go wrong. He just couldn't relax, not until he was home. He whined and felt Nick's fingers dig into his ruff.
“Is he OK?” Anne sounded concerned as she asked. “I've got some food if he's hungry.”
“Dog food?” Nick asked. “He won't touch the stuff. He was raised on fresh meat.”
“He was?” McKillian scribed in her notebook. “Why was that?”
Nick shrugged. “He was born in the mountains, Ms McKillian.”
“Call me Brenda, please.”
Lester's ears twitched in amusement. Flirting? Not that it will get her far.
“Um, OK,” Nick almost stammered for a moment before he recovered. “They didn't have processed dog food up there so he was fed on natural food. It's what he's used to.”
“And he's grown up so big on it.”
Lester couldn't help himself as he snorted, he'd have fun teasing Nick at home later. Speaking of home, Lester sat up and put a paw on Nick's thigh as he whined again.
“Sorry, Anna, Bobby, but Shadow needs to have his dinner and go for a walk.” Nick stood up and held his hand out to Anna. “It's been good to see you, Anna, under better circumstances.”
Anna nodded as she shook his hand. “And you, Nick.” She bent down to hug Lester, “And you too, Shadow.” Lester lifted his paw up and had it shook.
Bobby pouted. “Does Shadow have to go?”
“Sorry, Bobby.” Nick crouched down to speak to him. “Shadow needs his dinner and then a walk.”
“Will he come and visit again?”
Anna sighed as she hugged Bobby as she looked at Nick with an expression half-hopeful and half-apologetic. “I'm sure Nick's busy, love.” Bobby's lip wobbled before he launched himself at Lester, hugging him tight. “Come back and see me? Please.”
Lester sighed before whining softly. Nick turned to look at him and met Lester's gaze before Lester nudged Bobby gently and licked him to the boy's laughter. Nick smiled. “Maybe. We'll have to see what happens.”
Anna smiled, “I don't want you to feel obliged to come over, Nick.”
Nick shook his head. “No trouble, Anna.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It depends on how work goes.”
“Oh.” McKillian spoke up again, “What sort of work do you do, Nick?”
Nick smiled, “I'm a professor at the CMU. I lecture on Evolutionary Zoology. It's a fascinating subject.” He shook his head in amusement. “Although my students don't always seem to think so. They always need advice and prodding to get their work done on time.”
“Don't you have a teaching assistant?” McKillian queried.
Nick's face fell. “I did. We had a number of disagreements about how to teach parts of the course and he left to continue his studies elsewhere. I haven't heard from him in months.”
“I'm sorry to hear that.” McKillian didn't sound sorry and Lester felt the subject was straying far too much for comfort, he whined again with an edge of desperation before McKillian could ask any more questions.
“Right, sorry, Shadow.” Nick straighten and nodded to Anna again as he ruffled Bobby's hair. “Nice to meet you, Brenda.”
Lester looked out the back window as Nick pulled away. Anna and Bobby waved goodbye and he noticed McKillian packing up to leave too. He would have to keep an eye on her, maybe see what his contacts could tell him. She had seemed far too interested in Nick's trips to Russia and what he did... he couldn't help the feeling that Harper had spoken to her. If he'd heard Nick's name he might have remembered Monty on the M25. Fuck. Of course, he'd remember. Bloody hell, if Lester had known McKillian would have been present he would have chased that squirrel. He sighed softly. No he wouldn't. He wouldn't, couldn't have broken the heart of that little boy.
He was so deep in thought that Nick had to clear his throat again before Lester realised they were home. He leapt out of the car and was impatiently waiting at the door, dashing inside as soon as it opened and up the stairs before Shifting. He stood at the window and stared out, unseeing.
Lester could hear Nick's footsteps but didn't react as his lover kneaded his shoulders. “James? I'm sorry, I didn't know McKillian would be there.”
“Brenda, you mean?” Lester asked with a wry tone.
“Not my fault she was flirting with me.” Nick pressed a kiss against the back on Lester's neck. “I couldn't very well tell her I was with you, she was already too interested in what I do.”
“Hmm.” Lester sighed as Nick continued his ministrations. “I wouldn't be surprised if Harper's involved in all this.”
“Harper?”
“The journalist from the M25. Same newspaper.”
“Ah.” Nick sighed. “Bloody hell.”
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~3470
Characters: James Lester, Nick Cutter, Anna Green (OC), Bobby Green (OC), Brenda McKillian (OC), Lady (OFC)
Rating: 18
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace. Anna, Bobby and Lady belong to Fred.
A/N: Part of my Under The Moonlight wolfverse. Occurs a week or so after Fred's Under The Trees and continues in In The News. Thanks go to the ever wonderful Fred for the beta, cheers m'dear.
Lester leaned back against the headboard of their bed and made himself comfortable as he watched his lover getting ready to go out. Nick was looking rather good in his jeans and open-necked shirt, very good indeed and James growled his appreciation. He met Nick's gaze in the mirror and noticed his lover smirking at him.
“Later, love. Hadn't you better start getting ready too?”
“I've got time.” Lester licked his lips as his heated gaze moved over Nick's body.
“Behave,” Nick almost snapped. “We don't have time for a shag.”
Lester quirked an eyebrow as his lover's uncharacteristically sharp tone, before he took a quick sniff and detected the mixed scent of Nick's worry and arousal. “Sorry.”
Nick shook his head. “No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped.” He ran his hand through his hair, ruffling it in a way that went straight to Lester's cock. “I suppose I'm just concerned about our meeting.”
Lester sighed at the reminder. He'd been doing his best to forget what the next few hours would bring. “If it was for anyone else...”
“Do you want me to cancel it?” Nick offered. “I know how much you hate –”
“No!” Lester barked over the offer before sighing heavily. “Come on, Nick. Let's get this over with.”
“James?” Nick quickly strolled over to Lester and squeezed his arm. “We don't have to. I'm sure they would understand.”
“I promised.” Lester rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I won't disappoint him. He's been through a terrifying ordeal and if I can bring a smile to his face, it'll be worth playing the dog for a few hours.”
“Good.” Nick leaned down and kissed Lester gently. “I understand Bobby's been counting the days until he gets to meet his hero dog.”
Lester groaned. He had a horrible feeling it would all go wrong. He shook his head, it was just his aversion to being considered an animal speaking. “Move, Nick. I want this over and done with.”
“James?”
Nick's voice was gentle and his concern made Lester smile. With Nick at his side, Lester knew everything would be fine. “Sorry. I just...” He shook his head.
“Don't like playing the dog,” Nick finished his sentence. “And you do it so well.”
Lester's head shot up and he growled with his teeth bared, only to meet Nick's laughing eyes as his lover chuckled at his reaction. Lester sighed as his growl died, he understood Nick was only trying to dissipate the tension, but still, that comment was hitting blow the belt. “You're so going to pay for that.”
“Yes, please.” Nick glanced at their clock. “Fuck. It will have to be later, we'll need to leave soon.”
Lester sighed again before he Shifted and shook out his fur. It did feel good to be in his wolf-form again. Free to run and play and be himself, not shackled by paperwork and the needs of propriety at all times.
“Fur!”
Lester twitched an ear and let out a querying whine. What about my fur?
“You need a brush.” Nick glanced around before he grabbed Lester's comb from the dresser.
Not with that comb. Lester shook his head and bared his teeth again, growling low in his throat.
“OK. OK.” Nick dropped the comb and raised his hands defensively. “Let me at least finger-comb it. You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards.”
Lester nodded. Nick using his fingers was far more acceptable than using Lester's comb on his fur. Besides, he could relax and enjoy the attention as Nick's fingers combed through his dense fur. He leaned against Nick and rumbled contentedly deep in his throat.
“Enjoying the attention?” Nick asked and then yelped when Lester thwacked him with his tail. “Mind that tail.”
Lester snorted. He remembered how much Nick had enjoyed having his bruises kissed better. He sighed in contentment as he leaned more heavily on Nick.
“Guh! Bloody hell, you're too heavy to sit on my lap,” Nick groused before collapsing on his back on the bed and dragging Lester down beside him, his fingers digging deeper into the fur as he sought out sensitive spots.
A rumbling growl built in Lester's throat as he squirmed away from Nick's probing fingers and turned the tables by licking Nick's face. It didn't take long for Nick to call out in surrender and Lester rolled off to lie panting beside him, a wolfish grin on his face.
Nick's laughter died as he glanced at the clock. “Fuck! We're going to be late.”
Lester started. Bloody hell, as much as he enjoyed the attention, he had a little boy to meet and time was getting on. Lester jumped off the bed and trotted out of the bedroom, pausing on his way to bark at Nick to hurry up.
“Coming.” Nick watched with envy when Lester easily bounded down the stairs with a speed and agility he couldn't reproduce. He smiled, not that Lester could either when he was in his humanform. Nick was still smiling when he grabbed his coat and keys on his way to the front door. “Ready, love?” he held open the door for Lester before spending a few moments activating the alarm and locking the door behind them.
Lester leapt easily into the back seat of the Hilux when Nick opened the door and he quickly settled down for the journey on the fleece blanket covering the back seat. He couldn't help worrying something would go wrong. He shook his head. He was just anxious about his acting skills, close up and for several hours. That and having to pretend to be an animal, being thought of as an animal. He wasn't an animal.
****
“Right. Here we are.”
Nick's voice woke Lester from a doze and he sat up to peer out of the window at the nondescript house. The grass was neatly cut and the car on the drive was about five years old. As Nick parked the car, Lester took the chance to glance around and shivered with a sense of foreboding. Why had he ever agreed to this? Because a little boy had asked for him, and he'd do anything he could to bring a smile to that little boy's face. He growled almost subconsciously as he remembered that afternoon. What had almost happened. What would have happened if they had not been there. If he had not needed to be outside, in the woods.
The click on the car door opening drew Lester's attention back to the present as Nick said, “J... Shadow?”
Lester jumped out on to the pavement and luxuriated in stretching his muscles. He also took the opportunity to sniff the air for scents but the only ones he recognised belonged to Nick, Bobby and Lady.
“Ha-humph.” Lester looked up at Nick's cleared throat and saw his lover standing at the end of the path leading to one of the houses. Nick's expression was amused as he asked, “Coming?”
Lester quickly bounded over to Nick and walked at his heels as they strolled up the path to the house. When Nick rang the doorbell, he sat down and leaned against Nick as they waited for the door to be opened. He was enjoying the attention as Nick stroked his ear when the sound and scent of a squirrel drew his interest. He whined softly but now was not the moment to give chase. The snick of the door being opened brought Lester's attention back to the matter at hand and he looked up at the unknown woman who had opened the door.
Lester tilted his head slightly as he considered her: average height, shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. She was attractive and knew it. Smartly dressed, comfortable shoes, minimal make-up and jewellery, the subtlest hint of perfume. Every inch a professional. She also set his inner-wolf growling. Something about her was untrustworthy. Who was she and what was she doing there?
“Yes?” She sounded annoyed at being interrupted.
“I'm Nick.” Nick gestured at Lester. “I... we're expected. I arranged with Ms Green for Bobby to meet Shadow.”
“Oh God. Yes. Come in.” She stepped back to let them past and closed the front door. “Bloody hell, he's huge.” She stared at Lester for a moment before seeming to remember herself and thrust her hand out at Nick. “I'm Brenda McKillian. I'm writing the story for the Evening News.”
Lester sighed, just what he needed. Yet another journalist to deal with, and even better, from the same bloody newspaper. If he hadn't already been in the house he might have been tempted to run away. That squirrel would have been a good excuse and Lester wished he had trusted his inner-wolf that something was wrong and chased after it. But he was inside now and he had agreed to meet Bobby. Even the presence of a bloody journalist couldn't make Lester break his promise to that little boy.
Nick took a moment to gather his wits before he shook the proffered hand. “Er. Right. I didn't realise the press would be here.”
“Not a problem, I hope.”
Lester's ears flickered at the interest in the journalist's voice, but Nick recovered well. “No. I would have put on a suit, that's all.” He looked around before asking, “Where's Anna?”
“She's in the front room. First door on the left,” McKillian answered as she rummaged through a bag. “Go on ahead, I'll be there in a moment.”
Nick nodded and followed her direction, exchanged a glance with Lester who bared his teeth and flattened his ears for a moment. Nick's voice was barely a whisper, “I'll be careful.” He had barely walked into the front room when he gave a yelp and found himself hugged hard.
Lester grinned as he recognised Anna Green and watched as his flustered lover tried to regain his composure. He pressed against Nick's leg and whined as tears slipped down Anna's face. “I can never thank you enough for saving Bobby. If you hadn't...” She sniffled and Nick quickly passed her his handkerchief.
“It was Shadow...”
Anna wiped her eyes and smiled as she turned to Lester. She carefully put her hand out and he equally carefully sniffed and then licked it. She gently stroked his ears, smiling when he tilted his head for her to give him a scratch. “Good boy. I've got some chocolate drops if he likes them?”
Nick had to bite back a laugh when Lester's tail started to wag. “He loves them.”
McKillian knocked on the door, a camera in one hand. “Is everyone ready?”
“Um. What do you want us to do?”
“Nick. Can I call you Nick?” When Nick nodded, McKillian continued, “What we'd like is to hear what happened and then get some shots of Bobby with Shadow.”
Anna looked up, “Oh. Couldn't Bobby meet Shadow first? He's been dying to meet his hero dog.”
Nick agreed, “That's what we're here for.”
****
Bobby frowned in confusion when Lady flattened herself to the grass instead of chasing the ball he had just thrown. He turned to see what was scaring her and his eyes widened at the sight of the huge, dark-furred dog walking towards them. His voice wavered as he called out, “Mum?”
Anna smiled at him. “Bobby. This is Shadow.”
Lester gave a low whine and Lady suddenly flung herself at him, all wagging tail and floppy ears. She dashed around him before fetching her ball and dropping it at his feet. His ears flicked as he heard the sound of a shutter and knew a photograph had just been taken. Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound. He dropped his nose down and had his face washed by the enthusiastic little dog.
“Aww, mum. They like each other.” Bobby lost his reluctance to approach Lester and cautiously reached up a hand to stroke his head. He laughed when a large tongue licked his face. Quickly losing all inhibition, Bobby wrapped his arms around as much of the huge dog as he could and hugged him. “Thank you for rescuing me, Shadow.”
****
Lester settled himself beside Nick and whined softly. He wanted to go home now he'd seen Bobby, but leaving this soon would raise too many questions, especially from the journalist. He felt Nick stroke the soft fur on his head and could only hope his lover kept his wits and remembered their cover story. He sighed softly, of course Nick would. He was just over reacting to the presence of a bloody journalist. Bloody hell, if he'd known she'd be there... who was he kidding, he'd still have come.
McKillian cleared her throat and switched her recorder on, “I hope you don't mind if I record this?” When no one objected, she began, “Ms Green. Anna. Could you tell me the events leading up to the abduction?”
Anna nodded and glanced over at her son, now leaning against his hero dog and stroking both dogs' ears. “Um. I thought it was the perfect weather for a picnic, so I took my children to the park.” She paused again to look at Bobby. “We had a lovely time, except for those terribly-behaved Labradors. They knocked my Katie over and made her cry.”
McKillian nodded, obviously wanting to get to the story. “Some people just can't control their dogs. Then what happened?”
“Bobby had to... um, he needed the loo. It was a long walk to the toilets and I had the picnic all set out, so I told him to go behind a bush.”
Lester kept his eyes on McKillian as the story of that afternoon was told. He was proud of Nick as his lover fielded a few tricky questions. They might have spent time perfecting their story, but it was a different matter in the face of a journalist's persistent questioning.
“You're been to Russia?” McKillian queried, sounding far more interested now than she had previously. Lester took a cautious sniff and could smell the curiosity and anticipation rolling off her.
“Oh, yes. I was doing field work with my college mentor, Professor Rina Suvova. It was there that I first met Shadow's breed as guard dogs.” Nick smiled as he ran his fingers through James' fur. “It was where I feel in love with them.”
“So, you've owned... um, what is he again?” McKillian asked.
“He's a Caucasian Mountain dog.”
“Right. Caucasian Mountain dog.” McKillian made a note of that. “So. You've owned his breed before?”
“Oh no.” Nick shook his head. “I've only recently been able to give one a home. Several months ago I met Rina on another field trip in Russia and she gave me Shadow. She remembered how much I had loved them as a student.”
Lester breathed a sigh of relief when McKillian appeared to accept the story. Not that he was worried if – make that when – she checked it. Connor had already put the documents in place for just such an occurrence, documenting a stay in kennels for quarantine and even a DEFRA issued dog passport, complete with photograph. He'd have to remember to thank Connor for that foresight later. But for now, Lester could only fret and worry that something would go wrong. He just couldn't relax, not until he was home. He whined and felt Nick's fingers dig into his ruff.
“Is he OK?” Anne sounded concerned as she asked. “I've got some food if he's hungry.”
“Dog food?” Nick asked. “He won't touch the stuff. He was raised on fresh meat.”
“He was?” McKillian scribed in her notebook. “Why was that?”
Nick shrugged. “He was born in the mountains, Ms McKillian.”
“Call me Brenda, please.”
Lester's ears twitched in amusement. Flirting? Not that it will get her far.
“Um, OK,” Nick almost stammered for a moment before he recovered. “They didn't have processed dog food up there so he was fed on natural food. It's what he's used to.”
“And he's grown up so big on it.”
Lester couldn't help himself as he snorted, he'd have fun teasing Nick at home later. Speaking of home, Lester sat up and put a paw on Nick's thigh as he whined again.
“Sorry, Anna, Bobby, but Shadow needs to have his dinner and go for a walk.” Nick stood up and held his hand out to Anna. “It's been good to see you, Anna, under better circumstances.”
Anna nodded as she shook his hand. “And you, Nick.” She bent down to hug Lester, “And you too, Shadow.” Lester lifted his paw up and had it shook.
Bobby pouted. “Does Shadow have to go?”
“Sorry, Bobby.” Nick crouched down to speak to him. “Shadow needs his dinner and then a walk.”
“Will he come and visit again?”
Anna sighed as she hugged Bobby as she looked at Nick with an expression half-hopeful and half-apologetic. “I'm sure Nick's busy, love.” Bobby's lip wobbled before he launched himself at Lester, hugging him tight. “Come back and see me? Please.”
Lester sighed before whining softly. Nick turned to look at him and met Lester's gaze before Lester nudged Bobby gently and licked him to the boy's laughter. Nick smiled. “Maybe. We'll have to see what happens.”
Anna smiled, “I don't want you to feel obliged to come over, Nick.”
Nick shook his head. “No trouble, Anna.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It depends on how work goes.”
“Oh.” McKillian spoke up again, “What sort of work do you do, Nick?”
Nick smiled, “I'm a professor at the CMU. I lecture on Evolutionary Zoology. It's a fascinating subject.” He shook his head in amusement. “Although my students don't always seem to think so. They always need advice and prodding to get their work done on time.”
“Don't you have a teaching assistant?” McKillian queried.
Nick's face fell. “I did. We had a number of disagreements about how to teach parts of the course and he left to continue his studies elsewhere. I haven't heard from him in months.”
“I'm sorry to hear that.” McKillian didn't sound sorry and Lester felt the subject was straying far too much for comfort, he whined again with an edge of desperation before McKillian could ask any more questions.
“Right, sorry, Shadow.” Nick straighten and nodded to Anna again as he ruffled Bobby's hair. “Nice to meet you, Brenda.”
****
Lester looked out the back window as Nick pulled away. Anna and Bobby waved goodbye and he noticed McKillian packing up to leave too. He would have to keep an eye on her, maybe see what his contacts could tell him. She had seemed far too interested in Nick's trips to Russia and what he did... he couldn't help the feeling that Harper had spoken to her. If he'd heard Nick's name he might have remembered Monty on the M25. Fuck. Of course, he'd remember. Bloody hell, if Lester had known McKillian would have been present he would have chased that squirrel. He sighed softly. No he wouldn't. He wouldn't, couldn't have broken the heart of that little boy.
He was so deep in thought that Nick had to clear his throat again before Lester realised they were home. He leapt out of the car and was impatiently waiting at the door, dashing inside as soon as it opened and up the stairs before Shifting. He stood at the window and stared out, unseeing.
Lester could hear Nick's footsteps but didn't react as his lover kneaded his shoulders. “James? I'm sorry, I didn't know McKillian would be there.”
“Brenda, you mean?” Lester asked with a wry tone.
“Not my fault she was flirting with me.” Nick pressed a kiss against the back on Lester's neck. “I couldn't very well tell her I was with you, she was already too interested in what I do.”
“Hmm.” Lester sighed as Nick continued his ministrations. “I wouldn't be surprised if Harper's involved in all this.”
“Harper?”
“The journalist from the M25. Same newspaper.”
“Ah.” Nick sighed. “Bloody hell.”
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Very interesting me thinks.
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Thanks, glad you liked it.
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Fabulous stuff.
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Thanks, glad you liked it.
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Very good addition to the series. :-)
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Hee, of course the journalist is going to be trouble ;)
Thanks, glad you liked it.
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Enjoyed this latest instalment very much.
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Thanks, it is great fun to write.
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Hee, James doesn't think he is adorable as Shadow. He also points out he only hates being thought of as an animal ;)
Thanks, glad you liked it.
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*sharpens claws*
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Thanks for reading.
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;)
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And Lester might hate it, but he does play the part very well.
Great chapter.
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Lester is not happy and you are getting glared at for that comment ;)
even if he doesThanks, glad you liked it and thanks again for the beta. *hugs*
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Hee, Probably ;) Lester and Nick do, but I'm sure they will be fine *nods*
Thanks for reading and glad you liked it.
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I wonder if Mick Harper will be poking his nose in!
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Um... maybe ;)
Thanks for reading.
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Fabulous chapter.
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Thanks, glad you liked it.