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Subject: {ASSM} That One 2/4 - Giles and Jackie (zoo/best) TBD
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Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:10:05 -0400
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That One:  Giles and Jackie
---------------

I leaned on the shovel and sighed wearily while I stared at the
headstone I'd just put in place.  "Well, Ginger's dead, and we'll know
in a week, won't we?"

Hester and Cynthia looked at me, then matched my sigh before Hester
spoke sadly.  "I've done what I can.  Now..."

I faced her at last, and she shrugged.  "Now we'll find out if it was
enough.  I'll have dinner ready for you, if you want any, if you come
home."

I nodded slightly.  "Thank you, for everything you've done, Hester."

"You're welcome, Giles."

She turned and walked away, and her shoulders were slumped, as if she
was carrying the world on them.

I finally turned back to Cynthia, and she sighed again.  "Ok, Giles.
If you'd allow it, I'd wrap you in my arms and hold on until I was
sure you'll stick around to see where all this..."  She waved a hand
and took in the compound and all its activity.  "Eventually leads."

I nodded.  "I wish I could let you, or anyone, do that, long enough
for it to make a difference."

She smiled bitterly, then stepped into me and hugged me briefly before
she let go and sighed.  "We love you, Giles.  If we could, we'd do
this for you.  We've done all we can.  It's Jackie's turn, now.  Don't
let your pain close her away from you, ok?"

She knelt to hug Jackie.  "It's up to you, girl.  Time to be the best
Love Bitch you can be, for Giles."

Then, Cynthia stood, shook her head sadly, and walked away without
another word, or looking back.

I shuddered, then went to my knees and wept while I let my sense of
loss overwhelm me, at last.

* * *

It was dark when I felt a nose nudge my side.  I turned my head, and
sighed.  "What?"

Jackie turned her head and pointed her nose in the direction of home,
then sneezed at me.

"Go, girl, I'm staying here."

She looked, turned back to me, then tilted her head slightly.

"Go on."

She sneezed again, then grabbed my left hand and tugged gently.

I shook my head.  "I'm staying here.  If you need to go, go!"

She sighed, then settled on her haunches and watched me steadily.

I slumped wearily, then  let myself fall to my side, and I curled into
a motionless ball as the pain of losing Ginger, my only reason for
living, wiped out all rational thought, again.

* * *

When I woke at dawn, Jackie was settled with her head on my side.  I
assumed she'd spent the night keeping watch over me.  After all, it
was something she'd been trained to do for others, when she was
working as a Love Bitch, and Cynthia was her only other handler, so
Jackie would have stayed until Cynthia told her to quit.

It was all part of the game, for her.

I sighed, started petting her, and wished we hadn't trained her so
thoroughly, because what I needed, was for her to have stayed with me
for love.

Jackie allowed the attention for awhile, then she stood and stretched
before she looked at me and shook herself enough to rattle her tags.

"Want your morning walk, huh, girl?  Sorry.  I need your leash."

She glanced to her left, then went over and bent her head to the
ground so she could pick something up.

It was her leash, and there was a note attached.

I sighed, took the leash from her, and read the note.

'I released her at midnight, when I brought her leash, and some food
and water for her.  You've helped a lot of people, Giles, so you know
how it works.  Like Hester tells everyone else, take the first step on
your own, and we'll help you with the rest of them.  Love, Cynthia and
Hester.'

I shivered, then rolled to my back and touched her lightly.  "You
didn't have to stay, Jackie.  Thank you."

I hooked her leash to her collar, then, reluctantly, the first thing I
did was head for one of the restrooms so I could relieve myself.

After that, I left the compound and took a long, aimless walk for half
the day, until consideration for Jackie made me head back so she could
eat.

I turned her loose and told her to go eat, then I headed back to
settle at Ginger's grave, and once I was there, I lost myself in my
memories.

That became our routine for the next four days.  Cynthia would bring
food and water for Jackie, and I'd take Jackie on a long walk in the
mornings, before I came back to settle and focus on Ginger's grave,
and my past.

When I felt thirsty, I drank water, and ignored the hunger pangs and
my growing weakness.

On the sixth day after Ginger died, everything changed when we got
back from our walk.

Instead of leaving my side to eat, after we got back, Jackie nudged me
and tried to push me towards home.

I refused.  "I'm not going back, Jackie, so forget it."

She nudged again, and I yelled at her.  "Forget it, Bitch!  It's over!
Go find someone else!"

She looked at me, then her front feet hit my chest and she snarled at
me, before she dropped, got behind me, and shoved so hard I fell over.

Once I was down, she grabbed my foot and started moving backwards,
dragging me home.

When I tried to fend her off, she let go and got in my face, snarled
at me, then stood back to see what I'd do.

I watched her closely and got back to my feet.  "Crazy Bitch."

Then I started to head back to Ginger's grave, and she blocked me,
then let me see teeth again while she snarled from low in her chest.

When I stopped moving, she stopped growling.

I started to step, and she growled again.

I sighed bitterly.  "Tired of being subtle, huh?  You want me to go
home?"

Her tail wagged slightly, and I turned and headed for the house.  "You
win.  I can die as easily there, as I can with Ginger."

She settled at my side, as if nothing had happened, and as long as I
was headed for the gate to our yard, she left me alone.  I
experimented, once, by trying to step in a different direction, and
this time she clamped on my calf and started adding pressure, until I
winced.  "Ok.  let's go home."

We went inside, and I went straight to the bathroom, then collapsed on
my bed without taking my clothes off.   I knew I stank, but I couldn't
see any point to stripping and taking a bath, since I was going to be
dead fairly soon, anyway.

On the morning of day seven, I woke to something being jabbed at my
lips.  When I opened my eyes, Jackie sat back and waited.

I spoke wearily.  "I'm not hungry.  Forget it."

She ignored me, and came back with the food in her mouth, then jabbed
at my lips again.

I turned my head away, and all she did was reposition herself, and
keep attempting to force me to eat.

I don't know how long it went on, only that eventually, I opened my
mouth and let her shove the food in.

She sat back, and I spat it out.

She picked it up, and started jabbing again.

Eventually, I gave up and let her watch me eat it, and swallow.

I thought that was the end of it, but she came back with some more,
and we did it all over again.  
She kept it up until I was taking the food from her as soon as she
offered it, and eating it, after which she finally stopped and curled
up on the bed next to me, with her head across my chest.

That evening, I woke up and went to the bathroom, and when I turned to
go back to bed, she blocked me.

I sighed.  "Ok.  Where do you want me to go?"

She nudged my leg, and got me moving down the hallway.  She stayed at
my side, and since I was too weak to fight her off, I let her nudge me
wherever she wanted to.

Eventually I was standing next to the dinner table, and she sat and
waited.

"You're being damn obvious, Jackie.  Ok.  I'll sit at the table."

I sat, she studied me briefly, snarled softly, then turned and left me
there.

Ten minutes later, she came through the dog door, and I heard the door
open.

By then Jackie was watching me again, and she finally moved when
Hester and Cynthia entered the kitchen.

When she nudged Hester towards the stove, I laughed weakly.  "Ok.  I'm
too weak to argue with her any more.  If I don't eat, she'll just feed
me herself, and I know it."

Cynthia settled on the other side of the table.  "Good.  Took me most
of a day, three days ago, to convince her she should eat, even though
you weren't.  For the last two days, one of us has had to order her to
eat, and then she's been gobbling it and heading back to keep an eye
on you.  If anyone got in her way and tried to stop her, they got
teeth and a warning snarl.  She even did it to me, once she'd eaten
and gone to the bathroom."

I sighed.  "I get the message.  Trained her too well, and she's not
going to let me die, is she?"

"Not unless she dies first.  You planning on killing her, as well as
yourself?"

"I can't do that, and you know it."

"Wasn't sure.  It was like looking in a mirror and seeing myself,
after Klaus dies, if everything we did for you, doesn't work."

I nodded, and then caught myself on my elbows as the nod took me
forward when I couldn't keep my balance.

After I settled with my head resting on my crossed arms, I sighed. "Do
what we discussed, Hester.  I'll stick around, for now."

Hester kept preparing food.  "After you eat, then I'll do what I have
to do, Giles."

"Thank you."

I forced myself up again, then turned to reach for Jackie.  "Time for
a hug, girl."

Her feet hit my lap, and I hugged her as tightly as I could, then
cried into her fur until Hester set a plate of food in front of us.

I offered Jackie the first piece, like I always had, and she turned
her head away.

"Ok, girl.  I'll eat first."

After I'd eaten about half of it, I tried again, this time by putting
a piece of meat in my mouth and offering it to her.

She took it daintily, swallowed, then touched my lips with her nose in
a gesture that made my heart start to thaw, because it was a gesture
that was hers, and not her mother's.

We finished what was on the plate, then she took off and went outside.

I had watched her, and after she was gone, I sighed.  "Ok.  Hester.
Whatever you need to do."

* * *

When I came out of it, I was in my robe, and felt clean.  I was also
sitting at one end of the couch, with Jackie next to me.

Hester was sitting sideways, at the other end, and Cynthia and Klaus
were at my feet.

I reached and touched Cynthia's hair lightly, and she grabbed my hand
and held it against her cheek briefly, before she let go and went back
to grooming Klaus.

I turned and studied Hester, who smiled back.  "How are you feeling,
Giles?"

I took inventory.  "Weak.  Wrung out, and...  Numb, but willing to go
on with my life."

She nodded.  "Good.  Glad to have you back.  By the way, you look a
lot better.  You lost about fifteen pounds."

I winced.  "Not a weight loss program I can suggest for everybody.
Costs way too much."

She sighed.  "True.  Now that you know you can love another bitch as
deeply as you loved Ginger, do you think you might someday love a
woman as much?"

I thought about it, then sighed.  "I guess it's remotely possible.  I
can't do it right now, but the possibility doesn't make me want to
curl up and shiver with fear."

"What about sex with a woman?"

"No!"

"Relax, Giles.  You've had a setback, but you're still further along
than when we first met."

I shivered some more, then focused on Jackie.  "Slow progress is
better than none?"

"Exactly."

"Thanks, Hester.  Maybe, someday, I'll be able to thank you with a
good hug."

"You're welcome.  Just remember, I want to do the same to you, so we
both have incentives to keep working at getting you as far along as we
can."

I finally chuckled.  "You're a good friend, Hester.  So are you,
Cynthia.  Sorry about the last seven days.  I just realized I must
have put the two of you through Hell."

They shared a look, then Hester sighed.  "You'd find out soon enough,
anyway.  It's been nine days since you buried Ginger.  It took me two
days to set the blocks and do the other things we discussed.  If you
ever want to know what I did, you can ask me when you feel you need to
know."

"I'll pass, for now."

"Ok."

She yawned.  "Excuse me.  I need to get some sleep before I get up and
go take care of everything I put on hold for the last week."

I winced.  "Sorry."

She spoke firmly.  "Don't be.  Have you forgotten my obsession for
doing whatever it takes to save lives?"

"Oops.  I did.  I'm so used to you obsessing about helping others, I
forgot that you've been doing that for me, all along."

"It's ok.  I'll leave you and Cynthia alone.  You're still weak, but
at least you've caught up on your sleep.  I made sure of that before I
brought you back."

She left, and the silence she left behind was companionable, instead
of oppressive, and I knew that whatever Hester had done to get me
there, I'd never be able to fully repay her for the gift of my life.

Cynthia got up and settled on the couch so we could see each other
more easily.

It was obvious she wanted to say something, so I sighed.  "Whatever it
is, say it."

"Hester offered to block some of my memories.  I turned her down."

"Probably a good choice.  Or was it?"

"I don't know.  Only time will tell.  I couldn't leave Hester all
alone with hers, mostly."

I winced and looked away, while idly petting Jackie.  "Thanks.  She
let me remember we spent a lot of time over the years, discussing the
details of what she should do.  All she left me is the memory that we
had the conversations, not the content.  I also see a lot of stuff as
if it were blurred by time.  Plus, she left me feeling numb and
emotionally detached, as if I'd already lived years after Ginger died,
not barely more than a week."

"I know.  She didn't put me under, and I wasn't there, but she did use
me as some sort of control, by consulting with me when she needed help
deciding how to do something."

I turned back.  "I hope we find a better solution for you."

She smiled.  "Well, she's confident that neither one of us will need
drugs of any kind.  She also learned that a lot of your inner calm
about it was because of your martial arts training.  She asked me to
tell you that being able to redirect some of that ability to focus and
ignore distractions helped quite a bit."

"Good."

She smiled.  "It was effective enough that I'm going to get more
serious about my meditation."

I chuckled.  "Can't let a man do it better?"

"Partly.  What's helping me the most though, is something more basic.
You survived, so I know it's possible, as long as I want to."

"Yeah.  There is that, isn't there?"

Then I deliberately changed the subject.  "Hester said she put some
stuff on hold?"

Cynthia nodded tiredly.  "Pretty much shut the place down.  Had to,
because none of the dogs were willing to work.  If we hadn't kept them
to other fenced areas, and if Jackie hadn't backed them off, you would
have been mobbed by worried dogs.  As it was, if they could see you,
they settled and focused to the point of ignoring everything else."

I sighed.  "I'm too weak to get there on my own.  Would you get one of
the wheel chairs and take me to the runs?  I guess I'd better let them
know I'll be ok, since they were that worried."

"I'll have to go get one, but after that, I can take you there.  I
know you're likely to protest and insist you aren't worth all the
effort, but right now, you're the most important person in all of our
lives, and you will be until you are recovered enough you can resume
your usual work."

I bent my head and stayed silent for a long time, then I whispered
sadly.  "I can't believe Hester shut the place down, just so everyone
could try and help me survive."

She sighed,  "Giles, she didn't do it, the dogs did.  All she did was
admit the obvious, that nothing was going to happen until the dogs
knew if you were going to live, or if you died."

"And all that was probably focused though Jackie in some way."

"Maybe.  One thing is certain, though, and that's the fact that in
their minds, you're their pack leader, and they do what they do, for
you, and you alone, mostly."

"Ok.  Something I never realized.  We'll have to start modifying the
way we do things, if it's possible, so they don't do it again."

"I've been looking at training guides, but it seems that nobody has
had the problem, before, on the scale that happened here."

"Ok.  Worry about it later, when I can think more clearly.  In the
meantime, please?..."

She stood and stretched.  "On my way.  I'll warn them we're coming."

* * *

I got myself to the runs, and we spent several hours with me in the
chair and talking to, and petting all of the dogs, who were happy to
see me.

Eventually they calmed down, and since I was too tired to do it,
Cynthia pushed me home while Jackie escorted us.

She helped me settle on the bed, then smiled.  "One of us, at least,
will be back in time for dinner.  Any preferences?"

I chuckled.  "Jackie, but that wouldn't help me get any physical
strength back, so I'll let you two make the decisions until I have the
energy to cook my own food again."

I sighed, and she waited.  Eventually I looked away.  "It's times like
this that remind me of what I lost that day

"Ginger?"

"No.  Before that, when *she* convinced me women can't be trusted in
my bedroom."

"Ah."

"Yeah.  What's that saying?  'Zen hugs' or something like that? You'll
have to wait until I get in the living room again, before I can let
you hug me.  Wish I could go the other way..."

She sighed.  "I wish I didn't understand you, sometimes.  I'm just
glad you didn't lose that.  Like Hester always tells everyone, slow
progress is better than none."

"True.  I'll keep telling myself to be glad I outlived Ginger, so now,
maybe, I can focus on making progress in other things, instead of just
surviving.  I didn't really have any personal long term plans, because
I never expected to be around.  Anyway, Cynthia, thanks for
everything."

"You're welcome.  Don't forget to spend some time thanking Jackie."

"I won't forget.  Don't think she'll let me forget she's here."

She left, and I turned my attention to Jackie, then fell asleep while
I was spooned against her back, with my arms around her, as if I never
wanted to let go.

* * *

Eventually I was able to see Ginger's grave and not lose myself in my
memories.  By then I'd recovered my strength physically, and only
relapsed part way into my apathy, when I was exhausted.

Jackie seemed able to tell when I was headed down that path, and she
usually managed to find ways to distract me into paying attention to
her.

Since she was my second bitch, I didn't make a lot of the mistakes I'd
made with Ginger, and not too surprisingly, now that she had me to
herself in the bedroom, she blossomed and got more intense about what
she wanted, and when she wanted it.

She went into heat a few months after Ginger's death, and instead of
holding herself back, she went the other direction, and flagged me so
often I was told to quit working, and spend the time at home with her,
on a 'vacation' that, as most of the staff and volunteers reminded me,
was years overdue.

* * *

Hester and Cynthia were waiting for us, and Hester was the one that
pointed at the door I'd just entered.

"You might as well turn around, Giles, and go home."

"Oh?  What makes you say that?"

"Two things, mostly, and a third reason that helps it along."

I sighed.  "Any of this 'female conspiracy'?"

"Not this time.  We're saving that for later, if you don't listen to
your therapists."

I chuckled.  "Ok."

"Doesn't matter if it is, or not.  We're ahead of schedule on things
that have to be done this year, so there's no need for you to work
yourself into collapse, right?"

"You know why I've been working so hard."

"We do.  But, now, it's my opinion you've gone too far, and you need
to slow down to savor what you have at home.  Forget about our long
term plans for the business, and worry about your own."

I sighed,  "It's hard to believe it's safe for me to make any."

"It is."

"Thanks.  The other reason?"

She pointed at Jackie.  "Jackie's going into heat, and she's been
flagging you almost constantly.  You need to deal with that, for both
of your futures.  Take her home, and I don't want to see either of you
in the compound until she's out of season."

I winced.  "That's clear enough.  A vacation, right?"

"Exactly.  Take some time to go visit some of your favorite places.
Finish bonding with her.  Quit telling her you love her, show her, and
do more than crying yourself to sleep when you're done.  Give
yourselves a better future than memories,  by creating new ones,
together."

"Got it.  Anything else?"

She sighed and glanced away, then back.  "It's not just the dogs who
care, Giles.  People do, too.  Even women.  I care what happens to
you, and so does Cynthia.  When you're ready to see us as people,
again, we'll be there.  I promise."

I bowed my head.  "I guess you'll have to keep waiting.  I know you
both think something is holding me back.  Is it something you already
know about?"

Cynthia sighed and spoke up.  "Hester doesn't want to admit it's only
one thing.  She keeps digging for more, even though I've told her
there's nothing to find.  Fear.  Maybe you can work on it some.  I
don't know.  Wish I could help, but I have the same problem, and I
haven't found a way past it yet.  If I do, I'll let you know, ok?"

"Yeah.  Thanks.  You two done with us?"

Cynthia smiled.  "Only one more comment, Giles, then you can go.  You
said 'us', and not 'me'.  Pretty significant progress, right?"

I looked up and read their bodies, then allowed myself a tight smile.
"You both think it's a major step in my recovery, don't you?"

Hester smiled and reached to touch my arm lightly.  "Of course we do.
You're looking outward again, and including the one you love in your
thinking.  You're not all the way back to where you were, but you're a
lot closer, and this time, you can plan for a future that isn't as
self-centered."

Her hand dropped away and she smiled.  "Go.  You and Jackie need each
other more than we need either of you."

I nodded.  "Thanks, Hester.  Cynthia.  Since I'll have the time,
expect a special dinner of some sort."

Hester blushed.  "You don't..."

I shook my head and she fell silent.  "I do have to, and you know it."

"Yes, I do.  Thank you."

"You're welcome."

I turned away, glanced at Jackie, then gestured.  "Come on, girl. Time
to go home and relax."

Her ears went vertical, then she lunged for the dog door and was
halfway home by the time I got down the ramp.

First thing on my list of things to do was make love to Jackie until
one or both of us was unable to continue, which, as long as I was
being honest about it, was until Jackie decided to take a break,
because when I couldn't get an erection, I still had my fingers and
mouth.

The first time was on our sides on the bed, and more or less
leisurely, because once I was inserted, I focused on working her quite
a bit, before I worried about my own orgasm.

Eventually, I couldn't hold back, and I pulled her against me and
drove firmly, until I ejaculated.

Then, since she was in heat, and her scent was helping, I deliberately
humped until I knew I still had a good erection, and this time I
didn't worry about being gentle, and I took her again, and drove
quickly and solidly, until I orgasmed again.

This time, I relaxed and petted her some, until she decided she was
done with the attention and pushed herself away so she could clean up,
before she nosed me and cleaned me up.

She decided to take off and go outside, so I used the break to set my
alarm so I'd wake up in time to cook dinner, then stretched out and
went to sleep.

I was slightly aware of her settling with her head across my thighs,
so I reached to pet her slowly, until I fell asleep again.

I was having a wonderful dream, about a bitch who was insatiable, and
I was getting ready to fuck her until I passed out, when I realized I
was waking up, and Jackie was nosing my crotch very firmly, and
licking my erect penis.

When she realized I was awake, she stood and flagged me.

I laughed.  "Ok, Girl.  But this is going to be it for awhile.  There
*are* other things in life I have to do, besides fucking you all day.

I got to my knees and took her dog style, and without much in the way
of finesse or foreplay.

Since it was my third orgasm in a very short time, it took me awhile,
but eventually I drove as deeply as I could, and held the pose until
my orgasm was over.

She finally tugged gently, so I let go and she bounced away, settled
briefly to clean herself, then nosed me and took her usual few cursory
swipes...

And I couldn't stop my resigned sigh when she took off to go outside
and announce that she was very happy bitch.

I checked the clock and decided there wasn't any point in trying to
nap until the alarm went off, so I got up, did my own thing in the
bathroom , then grabbed a robe and headed for the kitchen to see what
I could come up with for dinner.

After I took inventory, I decided on bell peppers stuffed with a
mixture of chopped vegetables, fruit and lettuce salads, and boneless
skinless chicken breasts that I'd baste with a mix of garlic, parsley,
onion powder, and California chili powder in olive oil for a binder,
then slow bake them until they were done.

By the time I was putting the chicken in to bake, I had company, and I
laughed at her.  "I've set a couple aside without any seasoning, just
to keep you happy, Love."

She settled to watch me, until I finished preparing everything, then,
when it was obvious I was done and ready for more important things,
she stood and stretched, then waited  to see what I was going to do
next.

I set the timers, then got myself a glass of tea and headed for the
living room.

I turned on the radio to some relaxed mood music, then settled on the
couch.

Jackie bounced up without needing an invitation, after I was settled,
and with her usual directness, stuck her nose in my robe.

I chuckled and opened it, then smiled.  "Maybe I should teach you how
to undo it on your own."

She paused, looked at me, then went back to licking me with the kind
of focused determination that told me she wasn't going to quit until
she'd finished, which, when I thought about it, meant she was probably
going to lick me until I orgasmed, or she got too impatient, and
decided she wanted to be fucked again.

I went with her attention, and eventually I was helping her by
masturbating while she licked me.

When I arched, she focused on watching me spurt, then she started
cleaning me up.  I was too tired to do more than cover my tip until
I'd come down a little, then, when I felt I could handle the contact,
I slumped into the couch and let her do whatever she wanted, until she
finally nosed me and crawled forward before she rolled to her back,
with her head in my lap.

I smiled and started petting her stomach, and instead of teasing her,
I went directly between her hind legs and stuck three of my fingers in
her and started working her, until I couldn't feel any spasms.  I
stopped working her, left my fingers inside her, and petted her head
while she sighed and went to sleep.

Dinner was a relaxed success, and very little business got discussed. 
That was how I spent most of the next two weeks, unless I had Jackie
in the van and we were off exploring somewhere.

Eventually, though, she was out of heat, and it was time for both of
us to go back to work, and back to making slow progress in overcoming
my fear of intimacy with women I loved.

* * *

The next year was as routine as one of our years could be, and I spent
more time searching for a dog to breed Jackie, to see if she would
have any puppies that carried her personality traits.

In the meantime, though, we kept up our normal relationship, and when
I noticed she was in heat again, it was time to deal with what was
important to both of us.

"Come on, Hungry Butt.  Time to go relax."

Jackie took off, and was settled on our bed, on her back, with her
butt facing the door and her legs spread, by the time I caught up with
her.

I laughed, stripped, then knelt and suckled her eagerly, before I
looked up and smiled.  "Love you all the time, Jackie, but even more
when you're in heat."

Her tail wagged slightly, then I moved up so I could do what we'd come
in for.

I lined my erection up, slid home easily, then started fucking her
urgently, because we were both past the point of cuddling or wanting
foreplay.  Time enough for that, later.

Sex was all both of us wanted.  Rut.  Lust.  Mating until we were so
exhausted we'd fall asleep with me inserted.

Or, as the old fashioned folks would call it, I topped my bitch until
I couldn't any more, then I rolled us on our sides and let her kiss
the inside of my mouth with her tongue.

Then we fell asleep.

* * *

I woke when Jackie shifted slightly and growled a warning.

"Easy, girl."

I raised my head slightly and smiled.  "Hello, Hester.  Important?"

She smiled and leaned on the jamb to study us.  "Only to me.  Cynthia
said you and Jackie took off like you had important business, after
Jackie flagged you in front of her.  I gave the two of you a couple
hours, then decided to take a break and check on you at the same time
I got something to eat, before I go back to work.  How are you?"

I winced when she asked.  "Better.  I know she's in heat, so she's
more likely to flag me, but it still helps quite a bit to have it
happen.  It helps me a lot when I know she's initiating our sex."

"Good.  I'm glad she worked you past that first week.  Since the two
of you are fine, I'll leave you alone unless there's an emergency."

"Thanks, Hester."

She left and I turned back to Jackie and kissed her hungrily.  "Thank
you, Love."

I was erect again, and still inside her, so I moved gently, and made
this time a leisurely fuck that had lots of attention to her body
added, which was something she let me know she enjoyed, by beating her
tail on the bed.

Eventually, though, my sexual hunger took over and I drove into her
for a few more minutes, until my orgasm took away my senses.

I came back from the blankness, and let myself roll to my back.

Jackie rolled to her other side and cleaned herself, then got up and
resettled between my legs so she could clean me.

Her estrus made her focus more than usual, and because her musk
inflamed me, she was able to lick me to a third orgasm, then she
cleaned me up again and went to sleep with her chin on top of my
pubes, as if she was not going to let my penis escape until she was
done with it.

I touched her head lightly and stroked it for awhile, and at some
point, my relaxed afterglow and satiation changed to sleep.

* * *

It was hunger that woke me up, so after Jackie let me move her head, I
got up and headed for the kitchen to make us both some snacks while
she went outside.

By the time I was ready to head for the living room, she was settled
in the doorway and waiting.

She moved out of my way once I had our food in my hands, and I heard
Hester's laughter, then a thump when Jackie hit the couch.

Once I settled at the end opposite where Hester was settled, with
Jackie between us so she could get double the attention while she
shamelessly begged my food after I'd fed her the snacks I'd brought
for her, Hester spoke up.

"I got glared at when I poked my head in to check on you."

"Oh?  That's something new, isn't it?"

"No.  She started doing it about a month after Ginger died."

"News to me..."  I sighed.  "Never mind.  I'm sure you had a good
reason for blocking my memory, right?"

"I did.  I've honored her limits ever since the first time."

"What happened?"

"Jackie made it clear that when you're in your bedroom, she doesn't
want me putting you under, or going past the doorway.  I don't know
how she does it, but she call tell the difference.  Anywhere else in
the house, she's ok with it.  I haven't put you under in your bedroom
ever since she let me know I shouldn't."

"You going to let me keep the memory of this conversation?"

"I am."

"Why?"

"You've finally decided to live for something other than Jackie."

"I have?"

"Yes.  Give yourself some time, and you'll figure out the reasons."

"Ok.  Just knowing you're sure, helps a lot.  Thanks."

She laughed.  "Helps me a lot, too, because I've developed the habit
of leaning on you, when I run out of strength."

I chuckled, then sobered a little.  "Glad to help.  Wish I could offer
more than moral support."

She sighed.  "You're getting better.  A few more years and you might
be able to handle it when a woman wants to snuggle against your side."

I matched her sigh.  "Still that stuff about being able to hold a
girl, but no one past their teens, except for Cynthia?"

"Yes.  If you ever look at her like she's a potential lover, there's a
good chance you'll have the same problems you have with me, or any
other woman."

"I thought it was the other way around.  Has something changed?"

"A little.  You're starting to see woman as individuals, finally."

"Good!  I was afraid I'd never get to that point again.  Anything
else?"

She laughed.  "No.  Go make passionate love to your wife."

I blushed, then laughed and looked down at Jackie, who had her legs
spread invitingly.  "She *is* being a little more obvious than usual,
isn't she?"

I stood, stretched, and then spoke softly.  "Come on, Jackie.  Let's
go relax."

She scrambled off the couch and led me back to bed, with her tail high
while her hips swayed seductively.

Since she was in heat, she had her own ideas about how she wanted to
be fucked, and I usually honored them, if I wasn't too tired to keep
going.  This time she jumped on the bed, then froze and flagged me,
like she would a dog.

So I took her like a dog would, by pulling her back to me as I
entered, then I held on while I fucked her with deep strokes that
slammed me against her.

Eventually, I drove harder, then jerked us together while I pulsed my
semen into her.  

I held us together until she tugged to let me know she wanted loose,
then she  licked herself a few times before she took a few casual
swipes at my penis.  After that she looked at me and yipped happily,
then took off.  A few seconds later I heard her happy barks from
somewhere outside, and smiled wryly while hoping she'd calm down
someday, and quit telling the world when she was freshly fucked and it
had been good for her.

While I waited, I settled in the living room and thought about finding
a dog, finally.  I was still putting the ideal dog together in my head
when Hester and Cynthia called it a day and came home to relax.

Hester took over the kitchen while Cynthia and I settled in the middle
of the couch with the dogs on either side of us.

She put it in perspective when I described what I was looking for.

"Giles?  Is there some reason you haven't let Jackie be bred by
Klaus?"

"Not really."

"So let them have their fun, and see what happens, if you aren't
worried about winding up with mixed breed puppies."

I finally shook my head and chuckled.  "So busy thinking about which
kennels to check, I forgot we have our own proven dogs I should be
looking at first.  If you're ok with it, so am I."

She giggled.  "He's so used to coming to me, I may have to encourage
him a little."

I laughed.  "At least they already get along with each other.  Now,
how do I tell Jackie it's ok for her to flag him instead of me, after
all these years?"

"Put her on a stand, and let me bring Klaus to her?"

"Might work.  I don't know how she'll react to his knot, though."

"What if I hold him back from the tie, while you hold on and keep
telling her it's ok?"

"Worth a try.  Better than artificial insemination."

"True.  I just hope I can react fast enough to keep him from the tie,
since he's so experienced."

"Hmm...  They're used to sleeping together, and you've taken him while
he's on his side..."

She smiled.  "So we get them on their sides, and then I unsheathe him
and insert him in her?"

"I'm willing to try it if you are.  At least we'd be taking away most
of his leverage if they cooperate with us."

"That leaves one question.  Where?"

I sighed.  "I wish it was my bed, but...  No.  Any ideas?"

It was her turn to sigh.  "I feel the same way about using my bed..
Too close to a human of the opposite sex, and I don't know how he'd
react to having you in the room with us."

Then she looked down and smiled.  "What if we try it right here?  If
we move, and I get him to turn around and resettle, the rest might be
easy..."

I laughed.  "Since you're the one doing all the work, I won't feel a
bit guilty about moving to the end of the couch and having her head in
my lap."

She giggled.  "And if Jackie decides to do more than lie there, your
penis will be available, right?"

"Of course."

"Huh!  Any other time I'd say you're going to owe me for my
frustration, but if Klaus is his usual laid back self, once we get
them settled, I'll have a free hand."

I snorted and looked down while I stroked Jackie's stomach and admired
her vulva.  "I really hate to leave this view behind, but it's for a
good reason.  Stay, girl."

I kept my hand on her to let her know she shouldn't move, then I held
it there while I repositioned myself with her head in my lap. and went
back to slowly petting her again, and working her stomach before I
inserted a finger and started working her that way.

Cynthia eased herself from under Klaus' head, then, instead of asking
him to get up and resettled, she gently turned him around in place,
until his butt was next to Jackie's, and he was on his back with his
legs spread.

We looked at the dogs, then at each other, and I nodded.  "Let's do
it."

I refocused on Jackie.  "Time for you to do some relaxing with Klaus,
girl.    It's ok..."

Cynthia stroked him a few times, then expertly unsheathed him until
she could direct his penis towards Jackie's vulva.

She got it started, and when neither one of them reacted, she put one
hand on his stomach to keep him from moving, then quickly masturbated
him to his full erection, with his knot outside Jackie's vulva.

She clenched her fingers around him to keep him hard, then, while she
focused on keeping them 'tied', I gently worked the area around
Jackie's vulva, and slowly massaged her stomach.

Neither one of us knew how long we stayed like that, but eventually
Cynthia couldn't keep him erect any longer, and she gently removed him
while I held Jackie's vulva closed and spoke softly and encouragingly
to her.

Once he was free, Klaus decided to clean himself a little, then he
wanted to nose Jackie, so I removed my hand and waited to see what
they'd do.

Jackie hunched a few times while he licked her, then, she rolled to
her side and to all appearances, went to sleep after she curled her
head off my lap and settled in against my thigh.

Klaus sorted himself out and got off the couch, then headed outside.

Cynthia resettled at the end of the couch and spent some time watching
us before she sighed and spoke quietly.  "I thought Jackie was a
barker, after she's been fucked when she's in heat."

"So did I.  Wish I was inside her head right now."

"Makes two of us...  Umm...  Giles?"

"What?"

"Dangerous question.  How do you feel about the possibility of helping
Klaus repeat that performance, with me, instead of Jackie?"

I thought about it, then smiled a bit wryly.  "Remember when you first
got Klaus, and I helped the two of you get used to each other?  As
long as Hester is there to 'supervise', I shouldn't have any
problems."

I took a deep breath and admitted something I'd always wanted to do.
"Ever since we started doing that foursome thing after we'd fucked our
dogs in private, I've dreamed of helping each other and then doing the
snuggle."

She blushed.  "I've always wanted to do that, too.  Let's wait until
Jackie's out of season, ok?  We need to give her every chance we can
to get pregnant, before I divert Klaus back to me."

"Ok."

* * *

When Jackie started rooting around in my closet to make herself a den,
I took everything off the floor, then built a barricade across the
opening and put a couple of extra blankets on the floor for her.

She was happy with the arrangement, and when the time came, that was
where I helped her give birth to six puppies.

Once it was over, I waited until she went outside to go to the
bathroom, then I carefully swapped the used blankets for her favorite
one.

When she got back, she sniffed it carefully, then seemed to accept the
change and settled to nurse her kids.

She turned out to be a good mother, and I lost my night time bed
partner until the puppies were old enough to fend for themselves for
longer periods of time.

As soon as they started wanting to wander, they all got put in the old
run where Ginger had taken care of her puppies, and Jackie had to make
a decision about where she wanted to sleep.

Much to our relief, she opted to spend most of her time with the
puppies, and only checked on us rarely, until the puppies were weaned,
then she made it clear to them that she wasn't to be bothered when she
was inside.

However, one of the bitches adamantly refused to take her seriously,
even when Jackie grabbed her by the scruff and deliberately took her
all the way back to the run.

And that was how Hera adopted me, by refusing to listen to her mother,
or anyone else, about where she was supposed to spend her time.  I
tried to give all of them plenty of socialization, but it was clear
from almost the beginning that Hera was the chief puppy.

As it turned out, all of the puppies grew into dogs and bitches that
did well enough at their training that several of them, we kept, and
the others were quickly placed with people they attached themselves
to, and by the end of their first year, everything was almost back to
normal.

The exception, of course, was Hera, and her adamant refusal to live
anywhere except at the house, and be at my side when I was home.

She did, finally, accept Jackie's restrictions about sharing me, and
contented herself with sleeping on the floor when we were in bed and I
was loving Jackie, or curling up at my feet when I was on the couch.

But it was normal for me to wake up as the middle of a bitch sandwich,
no matter where the two of them started out when I went to bed.

From there it was the most natural thing in the world for Hera to
explore us during sex, and by the time she was two years old, we were
a definite threesome with her as the junior partner who had learned to
settle for me working her with my fingers instead of fucking her.

Jackie did, eventually, relax enough during that second year that she
allowed me to fuck Hera, but any fucking was only after she'd been
fully satisfied and shifted position enough to let us know that Hera
could have me.

I made some mistakes, Hera made more, but eventually we got the
hierarchy sorted out and the three of us settled into a new routine,
with Jackie as the clearly dominant one of the three of us.

It also helped that Hera turned out to be willing to spend most of her
time in the reception area sucking up attention, and that let Jackie
mostly 'retire' to being my personal bitch and the one who traveled
with me.

* * *

Hera was about six months old when I got a surprise call from my
brother.

I'd lost track of him, and mostly forgotten how useless I considered
him, and when I found out his reason for calling, I didn't see any
reasons to change that opinion.

One of the women he and a bunch of other men had fucked at a party had
gotten pregnant and had a daughter.  DNA testing proved he was the
father, and she was after him for child support.  He was willing to
pay for his daughter, but he refused to give her anything for herself,
because, in his opinion, she was a whore who'd spread her legs for
anyone with a dick, so if she started charging for what she used to
give away, she'd be able to support herself by making more money than
he did.

Further on in the monologue, he admitted that neither one of them had
any intention of marrying the other, and besides, she was already
living with some guy she felt comfortable with.  Mostly, he felt she
was trying to suck him dry so she and her fuck buddy wouldn't have to
find real jobs.

Surprisingly, the lawyer he'd hired managed to get everyone to see his
side of it, so all he was paying was enough to take decent care of his
daughter's needs.

But, as he freely admitted, he'd sweetened the deal quite a bit by
pretty much assuring everyone that his older brother would provide
free day care services any time they were needed, which meant we'd
have her during weekdays, and sometimes on weekends.

I wearily cussed him out for his presumption, then agreed that we
offered our services for free, and that there would be room for her,
somewhere, probably with the rest of the day care kids, or, most
likely, she'd spend time either with Cynthia, or at home with me and
Hester.

And that was how Dianne briefly entered our lives.

Luckily, she got along well with the dogs, and since Jackie was
clearly mine, but willing to tolerate her presence, she gravitated to
Hera, who enthusiastically transferred a lot of her affection to
Dianne, when I wasn't available.

* * *

"Unca Gilly?"

"What is it, Princess?"

"How come you never stay in my room and watch for monsters after you
kiss me good night?"

"It isn't proper for a Knight to be in his Lady's bedroom when she's
sleeping alone.  My job is to stand guard outside your door while
Jackie guards the inside."

"How come you never let Hera stay with me?"

"She still thinks everyone is her friend.  Jackie has been trained to
keep monsters away."

"Oh.  Ok.  Do you think someday Hera will learn how to watch for
monsters, so she can sleep on my bed with me?"

"Maybe, someday.  Right now, she's still learning how to be a Love
Dog.  Becky thinks that in another six months or so, we can start
teaching Hera how to protect people from monsters."

"Good."

Then she giggled.  "Hera is already real good at waking you up when I
try to catch you sleeping on guard duty.  I guess that makes up for
not being able to have her on my bed, too.  I bet the monsters will
never get past both of you, huh?"

I smiled.  "All three of us, remember?  Jackie has to watch the closet
and window."

"Yeah.  I hope she gets lots of rewards after I wake up and go home,
because she has to work twice as hard as you do, right?"

"Yes, Dear.  They both get lots of special attention and rewards."

"Good!"

She yawned.  "Ok.  I'm ready to go to sleep.  Kiss me before you go?"

"Of course."

I kissed her lightly on her forehead, she hugged me briefly, then I
told Jackie to guard 'Lady Di'.  I put a leash on Hera and led her out
before I closed the door and leaned against it and looked down.

"Time for you to suck up some undiluted attention, girl.  I'm just
glad Jackie is willing to let the two of us have a couple hours
together like this."

After I settled on the carpet with my back against the wall, Hera was
all over me.

"On the other hand, I can see that Jackie probably enjoys the extended
break from your enthusiasm."

She cocked her head while I was speaking, then, after I stopped, she
decided to finish giving my face a tongue bath.

Eventually, as suddenly as if she had a switch, she collapsed next to
me and went to sleep, leaving me with my thoughts.

* * *

After over two years of taking care of Dianne, I felt my brother's
original assessment of her mother, Magda, and her live in lover, Jack,
had been charitably conservative.

I'd felt like he'd no sooner hung up, and she'd showed up with her
less than two year old child, dumped her on us, and blithely said
'I'll pick her up in a few days.  Jack and I are going on a quick
vacation.'

Then she was gone, and we had no contact info, no idea if Dianne had
seen a pediatrician, or if anything else responsible had been done.

I called my brother, and he sighed, then agreed to come over and sign
the proper paperwork so we wouldn't get into trouble for making sure
Dianne was properly taken care of in case of an emergency.

He also surprised me by giving us a donation to help cover some of the
expenses, because as he wryly admitted, since Dianne was *his*, and he
trusted us to put the money to good use, he'd rather give it to us
directly, and be able to document it as a legitimate child care
expense he could deduct from what he gave Magda.

During the next year I saw my brother more than I had in the last ten
years, and while I still didn't have much use for him, I had even less
use for Magda and Jack.

They'd go weeks without bringing Dianne over, then I'd get a call to
come spend an evening 'babysitting', or they'd drop her off and just
tell us they'd pick her up in a few days, or whenever.

Sometimes those 'few days' turned into weeks, but Dianne never seemed
to notice, and she quickly started calling me 'Unca Gilly'.  Hester
and Cynthia were impartially called 'mom'.  After Rebecca moved in,
she became 'Big Sissy', and Dianne, when she was there, lived with
Cynthia when she wasn't in the day care area.

I idly petted Hera, and smiled.  Somehow, in spite of the haphazard
meetings and unpredictable time we spent in each other's company,
Diane had become the daughter I had always wanted in my life, even
though to her, I was always her 'Unca Gilly'.

And now, in a few months, she'd be five years old.  It was time to get
serious about finding her a special present, since Magda had agreed to
let us hold her fifth birthday party at my home, so she could invite
some of her playmates over to share it.

* * *

After my repeated calls to remind Magda and Jack about Dianne's party
went unanswered, which wasn't unusual, I decided to stop by and remind
them, a couple weeks before her birthday.

When I knocked on the door, it was answered by a stranger, which
hadn't been unusual.

"What do you want?"

"Just wanted to remind Magda that Dianne's birthday is in two weeks,
and don't forget about the party I'm hosting."

"Must have the wrong house, bud.  Don't know any Magda."

"Been coming here for almost three years to see my niece.  It's the
right house."

"Oh.  Them folks.  Didn't know they had any relatives or friends.
Moved out a couple months ago, then we moved in."

"Oh.  I know it's a lot to ask, but did they leave any forwarding
info?"

He sighed.  "Mister, if you ain't a cop or something like that, I
ain't saying anything more, ok?  If you are, I want a lawyer."

I sighed.  "No problem.  I'm only Dianne's uncle, Giles Kimmerling,
and I help run the day care center where they sometimes left her."

I dug out a couple business cards and handed them to him.  "If you see
them, or find out what happened, please pass one of these on."

Then I shrugged.  "Probably doesn't mean anything right now, but we
help people who need psychological help, for free, if they ask us.
Anyway, sorry to have bothered you.  Thanks for your time."

"Sorry.  Not sure I'd help even if I did know something, even though
you act decent.  Landlord was happy to see them go, even if they did
owe him six months of back rent."

I sighed.  "I understand better than you might think.  Takes a lot for
me to think people are more useless than my brother, and Magda and
Jack managed to do that the first time we met.  Going to miss my
niece, not them.  Thanks again."

Then I left and got back in my car, where I let myself slump briefly,
before I touched Jackie to remind me that I still had something good
in my life.

After a few minutes I sighed again and headed home, while promising
myself I'd put her present away, just in case we met again, no matter
how many years it might be in the future.

Hester found us in the living room, and I was staring out the window
while I petted Jackie.

"You look terrible, Giles.  Bad day?"

"Might say that.  Dianne's gone.  Magda and Jack left a couple months
ago, and as best I could find out, never told anyone they were
leaving, or where they were going."

She sighed. "You going to file a missing person report?"

"Wasn't planning on it.  From the little I was told by the new tenant,
they skipped out on six months of overdue rent, so I figure they were
doing it to evade creditors.  Tom never mentioned anything, so I
assume he still hasn't seen her except for the one time he signed the
paperwork."

"And we haven't seen him for over a year, and Dianne for what?  Five
months?"

"Something like that, I guess.  CPS already knows about the situation,
so unless they contact us for some reason, I can't think of anything
we could do, except wait."

She sighed again.  "Let Tom know, and leave it at that.  I'll make
some notes tomorrow, and pass it on to CPS in the morning.  I doubt if
anyone is going to get too concerned about them moving like that.
Happens all the time.  Dianne will become another file number, and
maybe they'll stumble on her whereabouts, but I doubt it.  Magda and
Jack have always impressed me as people who are good at living in the
cracks."

"Yeah.  They are.  Would have been nice to say goodbye to Dianne, and
give her present to her.  I've decided to stick it in the closet, just
in case I see her again."

"You never did tell anyone what it was."

I snorted.  "I took a picture of her snuggled on a blanket with Hera,
then commissioned a painting based on it.  Closest I could get to
giving her Hera to watch over her and keep the monsters away at
night."

She bent and touched my arm.  "I'm sorry, Giles.  I'll keep your
secret, ok?"

"Thanks.  I'll tell Becky what I know, so she can cancel her plans for
the party.  Maybe we can still let her plan one for someone else's
kid, so she can let Sandi and Samson show off in public."

Becky took the news well, then surprised us by settling on the floor
at my feet and calling her dogs to her for some attention while she
cried.

We waited her out and finally she sighed.  "We might as well have a
party of some sort.  Hank and I were saving it for a surprise, so we'd
already made arrangements for a Justice of the Peace to be there to
marry us.  We can't change that, this late."

I sighed.  "We never guessed.  Sorry."

"I was going to make her my ring bearer."

I smiled.  "I had it on good authority that she was a pesky,
interfering, brat."

Becky sighed.  "Yeah.  She could be, but she was adventuresome, too,
and fearless when it came to helping me try new things with Sandi and
Samson.  Hera, too, when she could coax her away from her vigil over
you when she wasn't working in reception.  I figured I owed her for
all the help she gave me when she was learning how to walk and run,
with Juno's help."

"Thanks, Becky, for helping keep an eye on her while she was here.
We've been wondering when you and Hank would get married.  Glad to
hear you set a date.  Thanks for making it Dianne's birthday.  Maybe
you can tell her that, someday."

"Maybe.  I'm not going to hold my breath while I wait.  Folks like
that don't show up around people they used to know, once they're done
using them.  Have to be Dianne, I bet, if she remembers us."

It was my turn to sigh.  "Yeah.  I'm hoping she does, but
realistically, her remembering any specifics of this is unlikely."

Becky hugged her dogs and then stood and turned to hug each of us.
"Been a busy day, again.  Got my finals to study for, too.  See you
folks in the morning.  Oh, that reminds me.  Hank's business is doing
good enough that with what we both make, we'll be able to afford our
own place.  I'll be moving out later this summer, if we can find a
place we both like."

I smiled and reached to stroke her face.  "Well, at least you're
warning us, and I'm glad to hear it.  I know we say it too much,
sometimes, but we're proud of you, and Hank, too.  From the way you
said that, may we assume you're going to keep working here as our
trainer?"

She captured my hand and held it to her cheek.  "Thanks, dad.  You and
mom mean the world, to both of us.  Of course I'll be working here.  I
can't picture myself doing anything else, and we're kind of counting
on the steady income from the projects Hank does here."

Hester laughed.  "You're as practical as ever, aren't you, Dear? Since
you've already made your plans, we'll stay out of your way. Just let
us know where you want to hold the ceremony, and we'll be there, since
we penned in that day on the calendar a long time ago. What about your
real parents?"

Becky shook her head.  "No.  I don't want them here, ever.  They're
too dangerous to have around.  You know that."

Hester sighed.  "Perhaps.  We've weathered hostile inspections,
before."

"Yeah, I know.  But what about me?  They've screwed up my life before,
and I don't want it to happen again."

"Good point, and we'll respect your choice, of course."

"Thanks.  I know you always have, and it's hard, because part of me
wants them to be there, but Hank and I have already figured out the
story we'll tell them when I decide to let them know we're married."

Hester sighed and nodded.  "Let us know, and don't forget to include
Cynthia in your planning for when that happens.  As far as I know,
she's confident she's going to be here until the day she dies, just
like Giles and I plan on being here."

Rebecca nodded.  "Me, too.  Sounds stupid, but I figured out a long
time ago that this place wouldn't work right if we weren't who we are.
Aren't you always telling everyone they shouldn't mess with something
that isn't broken?"

Hester and I both laughed, then Hester smiled.  "So you have been
listening, and understanding what I've been telling you.  Thank you."

"Yeah.  I don't think I could ever overdose on being told I'm doing it
right, ya know?  See ya in the morning."

She turned and walked away, and her dogs followed her without being
asked.

After she left, I turned back to Hester.  "Win some, lose some.  I'm
upset because outside some of the people here, Dianne was the nearest
thing to close family that I'm likely to ever have in my life."

Hester leaned against the arm of the couch and studied me carefully, a
scrutiny I was used to.  "You resent losing your 'daughter', without
any warning, don't you?"

"Yeah, even though I know it was eventually likely to happen.  Dianne
is one of the people who was giving me a reason to keep going, when
the pressure got to be more than I thought I was able to handle."

"But you'll keep going, right?"

I sighed and lost myself in thinking while I stroked Jackie for a few
minutes.  "Of course I will, Hester.  Ginger may have been a fluke, a
lucky find, but Jackie has been even better for me, and I know Hera is
special, too.  None of them have been 'perfect', but they've been
right each time I've needed them, so I feel confident I'll always have
the right bitch, or bitches, in my life, when I need them."

I looked up and smiled sadly.  "Right women, too.  You, then Cynthia,
and now Rebecca.  As long as you three put up with my quirks, I'll
stick around, too."

She leaned and touched Jackie, then slid her hand until it was
touching mine before she raised her head and watched my face.  "Good.
Thanks for the tenth anniversary present.  I feel confident I can
finally add you to my list of successes."

"Tenth anniversary?  Has it been that long, already?"

"Yes, Giles, it has.  I'm glad you convinced me to reach for my
dreams, by helping you with yours.  Because of that, even if we lose
the corporate donation we've been counting on for the last ten years,
which, according to Cynthia and our lawyer, is unlikely, I plan on
keeping this place in operation until I decide to retire, and
hopefully, by then, I'll have someone who can take over from me at
that time."

I rotated my hand and clasped hers.  "Haven't found anyone in ten
years."

"Haven't looked that hard, either.  Cynthia could do it, if she wanted
to get the paperwork she's earned with her experience, but I know
she's content doing what she does.  You could do it, too, but we need
you as the general manager who keeps us all focused."

I sighed.  "And Becky is doing exactly what she's best at, overseeing
the dogs and people who work with them.  Let's hope for long lives,
for all of us, right?"

"Exactly.  I've waited twelve years to be able you call you a success
instead of a failure.  I can wait the rest of my life, if I have to,
for someone to take over from me."

"Thanks, Hester.  Going to take me some time to adjust my thinking.
Too used to thinking I'm a delayed failure."

Then I decided it was time to do something I'd never done before, and
although my hand trembled and I shivered...

I lifted Hester's hand and pressed it against my cheek.

Then I let go and reached to do the one thing I'd waited twelve years
to try doing.

I touched her cheek and without another word, brushed her tears away
from her eyes, while she slowly explored my face with her hand, and
brushed my own tears away.

Eventually I stopped and left my hand in place while we studied each
other.

When I spoke, it was softly, but filled with a promise, too.  "Happy
tenth anniversary, Hester.  I think I'll stick around and see what
number twenty is like, ok?"

She nodded  "I'll be there.  Wouldn't miss it for anything, now."

* * *

End of chapter two

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