Here's the next chapter, guys. I plan to post slowly because again, I am making edits and even adding things to this story. It is after all shorter than the first one. I do appreciate you guys for loving this so far and wanting more. Thank you all for the kind reviews. I love getting reviews. It's what keeps me going. Though this story is already finished. I just am taking things slow while looking it over for any grammar mistakes and adding more to it. Also, if you guys have any suggestions or want to see in this, feel free to let me know! I would love to hear it and possibly work it into the story!

And yes, the romance between Chris and Jake will start to get deeper. Don't worry. lol More to come! Until then, please enjoy the next chapter! Side note...angry Jake sounds kinda hot to me. Hee...


The next morning, feeling refreshed from last night's sleep, Jake woke up. He yawned as he stretched his muscles once he was out of bed. After getting the kinks out of his muscles, he started to get dressed in his usual work outfit. He was looking forward to getting some cars done for today. He also had some new missiles that he wanted to create. He just hoped Chance doesn't oversleep for the millionth time. Then again, even if he did, he could still get him up. All it took was patience and a bucket of cold water. He opened the door and walked down the hallway towards Chance's room. Not surprised, he saw the door was still closed. He didn't mind though.

He started to bang on the door and called, "Hey Chance! Time to rise and shine! We got work to do!"

There was a pause and Jake heard the sound of moaning on the other side followed by, "Five more minutes, please!"

Jake shook his head while chuckling and he banged on the door again, "No Chance! It's time to get up, NOW!" There was the sound of something thumping against the door, in which Jake could guess it was a pillow. He was glad that he kept the door shut or he would be eating feathers about now. Guess it was time to resort to threatening, "Look here, buddy! Don't make me get you up like last time!"

"All right! All right! I'm coming! Don't get your tail tied in a knot!" Jake heard Chance's grouchy voice through the door.

Normally Chance wouldn't have listened to this threat. Last time, he assumed Jake was just pulling his leg. That turned out to be a big mistake on the bigger kat's part. His friend came in and without a second thought poured a bucket of icy cold water over his head. This woke Chance all right. Dripping wet and shocked, he jumped out of bed. He didn't know what happened that is until he noticed Jake laughing on the floor. Because of his quick temper, Chance was not all amused and was nearly bent on beating his own friend up until Chris entered the room.

She claimed to have heard a loud screech and she was worried something happened to Chance. After his mirth, Jake managed to explain the whole story and Chance was once more on the brink of giving Jake a piece of his mind. However Chris stopped him and said it served him right since he needed to get up anyway. Seeing he had no choice, Chance complied. Since then, he got up when he was threatened to have water thrown on him.

Satisfied to know Chance will be getting up, Jake turned to head downstairs. As he moved around, he nearly ran into Chris, "Oh, morning Chris." Jake greeted, smiling in the same shy way as always.

"Hey Jake, is Chance up yet?" Chris asked, shifting her eyes to Chance's door. She had already taken a shower and was dressed to start the morning.

"Yeah, hopefully. If not, you have my permission to go in there and get him up with a bucket of water I prepared just in case." Jake offered, before brushing past her to get down into the garage.

Chris couldn't help but giggle as an unamused Chance came marching out of his room, "I heard that!" he shouted after his friend.

Jake glanced over his shoulder to give his bigger friend a smirk, and then walked the rest of the way into the garage. Chris shook her head. These guys were too much sometimes. That's probably why she loved them both. They never ceased to amuse her. She looked up at Chance, "You better get dressed, Chance. I plan on making a delicious breakfast since you got up this time without being forced." She said, giving him a sweet smile.

Despite her teasing him, Chance's face brightened at her saying she was making a delicious breakfast. He always had a soft spot for her cooking, "Great! I'll go take a quick shower!" He rushed to the bathroom leaving Chris to stare after him.

"Well that's one way of making his day." The girl said a playful smile across her face. She then turned and walked down to the kitchen to get their breakfast ready.

Once Chris was at her destination, she looked around. It was a small but well-kept kitchen. She let out a sigh before she got on her tip toes to open the cabinets. After she had everything she needed for the breakfast she was planning, she couldn't help but think about that dream again. Chris had nightmares before, but this one was just disturbing. After all, her friend was about to kick the bucket because of two evil robot kats. She closed her eyes as she tried her hardest to think of something else but it was no use. The image of Razor being blasted just couldn't be blocked from her mind.

Chris was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't hear Jake come walking in. He was about to say something when he noticed she was staring off into space. She had a few things to make breakfast surrounding her but she wasn't making any attempt to start it. He frowned before he held up his paw like hand and placed it on her shoulder,

"Hey Chris?" She jumped in surprised and turned to see Jake staring at her.

"Jake? Sorry, what's wrong?" She questioned a little too quickly and tried to calm her racing heart. He did scare her a little since she never heard him coming. Either it had to do with his years of being a SWAT Kat that made him quiet. Or she was too busy lost in her thoughts.

"You okay? I was just about to ask you when breakfast is going to be ready. Cause, knowing Chance, he would want to start eating as soon as he's done with his shower." Jake said as he observed Chris, his amber eyes full of concern.

"I'm fine…really. Just, a little dazed that's all. Don't worry, breakfast will be ready soon." Chris assured her friend as she continued to get the things she needed to make their breakfast.

Jake stared at her for a second longer. It was clear he wasn't buying in on her excuse and wanted to question it. He nearly did, but at the last second he decided against it. She would probably deny there was anything wrong, making the conversation go nowhere and a waste of time. He needed to get the day started so in the end he will let this go for once.

"All right, if you're sure. I'll be outside if you need me." He said.

"Thanks Jake. It should be ready in at least twenty minutes." Chris replied, trying to keep a smile on her face.

He nodded before he turned and walked back outside to the garage. Chris watched him go before she looked back down at the counter and let out a heavy sigh. She wondered if she should have told him about the nightmare. She hated that she was keeping something from him but she also didn't want to worry him. Besides, it was just a nightmare. She can probably sort it out by herself.

She decided to focus or she was going to get a certain cranky tom kat on her back because she didn't make breakfast yet. Lucky for her, once she started cooking, her nightmare began to fade into the depths of her mind once more. In no time, she put in her earbuds to listen to music while she continued to cook and her mood improved.


Once she made the breakfast and served it, she forgot all about her dream. While eating, Jake and Chance both were planning on fixing up a couple of cars which should put them way ahead of schedule. The two toms were thinking of doing more training once their work was done.

"Oh training huh?" Chris questioned in curiosity.

"Yeah, we have to keep ourselves in shape to go against the bad guys. We can't just slack off," Chance replied and he grinned while he held up his arm and began to flex it, "With muscles like mine, there's no way I will ever lose my edge."

Jake rolled his eyes and Chris laughed, "Someone sure is full of himself." The girl said and Chance gave her a dirty look,

"Oh yeah? Want me to prove it later today?"

Chris narrowed her eyes at him, "Are you going to bench press me or something?"

"What? No! I wanted to demonstrate for you that these muscles just aren't for show." Chance rebutted and Chris's curiosity was piqued.

"I have to admit, I only ever seen you guys invent or work on the Turbokat. Who knows, maybe I should start working out since I feel a little out of shape." Chris shrugged and Jake smiled,

"That sounds like a great idea. We even use the Salvage Yard for our own practice course." The smaller tom said and Chris smiled,

"Somehow, I can see that. This yard is big enough for something like that."

"Yeah, we can set it up and I will show you that I can beat Jake at it." Chance grinned confidently and Jake gave his friend a look,

"Really, Chance? Last time I remember, I was the one who won the course."

"That's only because the rope snapped and I nearly drowned. If that hadn't happened, I would definitely have won." Chance retorted and Chris frowned at this mentioned,

"You nearly drowned?"

"Yeah, I uh…can't swim. But Jake has been helping me with that when we have time." Chance started to rub the back of his neck in slight embarrassment.

Chris let out a sigh of relief. "How about this, whoever wins the course, gets to pick what's for dinner?" Jake questioned and Chris laughed once more while Chance smirked at his friend,

"Oh you are so on!"

Chris couldn't help but smile at her two friends. She felt right at home with these two tom kats. She loved their interactions between each other. She was lucky to be living with them and didn't wish for anything more. It was never boring when it came to Jake and Chance and she was glad for that.


Despite the morning starting pleasant, it took a turn of the worse. They were about done eating when a loud car horn could be heard from outside. Chris was curious of who it was until she saw the looks of displeasure across both Jake and Chance's faces, "Great, it's Burke and Murray." Jake said, the tone in his voice showing he was very annoyed.

Chris was confused, "Who's Burke and Murray?" She questioned for she never heard of them before.

"A couple of stupid jerks," Chance replied, his fangs bared.

Chris frowned and glanced at Jake, "Let's just say they're a couple of bullies who take pleasure of making us miserable." The cinnamon colored kat explained and Chris's frown deepened.

"Uh, isn't that behavior more towards young kids? I mean what have you guys ever done to them?"

"Nothing. I think they're jealous because Chance and I used to be the best pilots of Megakat City. Once we were kicked off and forced to work here, they took it upon themselves to give us a hard time every chance they take." Jake shook his head and Chance let out a growl,

"And it looks like they're in the mood to be doing it again today." He got up and marched outside. Sure enough, it was Burke and Murray and they were dumping the garbage from their truck in front of the garage, "Hey!" Chance cried in frustration.

Jake got up and followed after his friend. He paused before looking back at Chris, "Maybe you should stay inside, Chris." He began but he couldn't continue since Chris had pushed the button on her right earring to turn herself into her kat form and she stood up.

"No way. I want to see these bullies who enjoy making my close friends miserable." Without wanting to hear a retort, Chris hurried by Jake.

He wanted to refuse but it was too late. Chris was already in the garage. He sighed before following after her. Besides, he might need her in case they had to hold Chance back from beating Burke and Murray up.

"Special delivery!" Murray joked before he and Burke let out a big belly full of laughter as soon as they got out of their truck.

Chris peered at the two kats in front of her. They both look like a couple of brutes with personalities to match. Jake and Chance weren't kidding. These two were taking a joy of giving her friends a hard time. And that was something she will not stand for. Just seeing Burke and Murray laughing at the mess they made was making her blood boil. She always hated bullies since she used to be picked on a lot back when she was a small child. It really annoyed her that there are some people or kats across different universes that never outgrow their immature state.

"Come on, fellas!" Jake said, trying to be calm and mature about the situation, "We have a job to do, and dumping all this trash in front of our garage isn't really helping us in the slightest."

"Oh boo hoo, you ex-Enforcer pilots are just a couple of lazy bums! This is our way of making sure you're working! You're welcome by the way!" Burke stated, before he and Murray started laughing again.

Chance snarled and started forward, but Chris held onto his burly arm, "Chance, don't, they aren't worth it." She whispered, giving him a warning look.

"Who cares? Just let me pound their faces in, right now!" Chance growled, trying to get out of Chris's grip.

Chris shook her head and turned to the laughing dimwits, "Hey you two. Can't you both just act your age for once? How old are you supposed to be? From how you are behaving, I'm guessing like maybe five years old? I mean, leaving that trash only shows YOU are the lazy bums. It wouldn't kill you to dump this stuff at more convenient place would it?"

Burke and Murray merely laughed at her, "What are you saying, babe? We haven't seen you around before. Where did you come from and why do you hang out with low-lives like these two wanna be pilots?" Murray asked, folding his arms.

"First of all, don't call me babe and where I come from falls under the category of none of your business. Second, these two are the best pilots you will ever meet and they are not low lives. And third, I can let Chance pound you both if you don't stop insulting him and Jake. Normally I don't resort to violence but you two are certainly making me lose my patience, especially with you being discourteous towards my two close friends." Chris reported, while Jake and Chance stared at her.

No one has ever really stood up for them before. Chance was impressed that he gave her a small smirk. Jake, on the other hand, was worried. He can see how the bullies were eyeing Chris and he didn't like it one bit. He opened his mouth to tell Chris that he and Chance got this covered but Burke and Murray laughed again, "You can try to let Furlong at me, sweetie! But I can take that fatso any day!" Burke announced.

"Fatso? Why you!" Chance started forward again, his green eyes flashing with anger and his fangs showing.

But Jake and Chris put their paws on his shoulders to stop him from advancing any further towards them, "No Chance!" Jake warned in an effort to calm his best friend down.

"Yeah, listen to your scrawny friend, Furlong! Be a big wimp like him!" Murray chuckled, for he and Burke were on roll today; they were laughing their tails off.

Chris gasped to see that now Jake was the one getting upset. She was certainly annoyed that Burke and Murray were going too far with their petty insults. She hated seeing both Chance and Jake so distressed. Deep down, she knew no matter what she said it wouldn't make any difference. Burke and Murray have shown they took joy of making fun of her friends. Still, she had to try in an effort to keep a fight from breaking out.

She rushed forward to stand in front of her two friends and shouted to the bullies, "Hey Burke, Murray, calling them names only shows how much you are asking for it! So I suggest you just back off now!"

"Oh yeah, Angel face? If you come with us, we'll stop bothering these two! And maybe stop dumping garbage in front of their garage." Murray offered all the while he and Burke was snickering. It was perfectly obvious they weren't going to keep their promise.

Chris felt disgusted that these two bullies had the gall to ask her out let alone flirt with her. Not in a million years would she ever consider going out with either of them. They insulted Chance and Jake, the closest friends she can ask for. And if that wasn't enough, they were bullies. There was no way she would ever want anything to do with Burke and Murray. She never had the opportunity to express her loathe at these ill-mannered kats, however.

Jake stood in front of Chris, his amber eyes flashing with an unspeakable anger that hardly ever showed, "Not even in all your nine lives will that ever happen. I would certainly never let it." He said in such a chilling voice this caused Chris to stare at him in amazement.

She had never seen the gentle kat get so livid. The way his eyes flashed made her see him in a whole different way. Whenever it was good or bad she did not know. The only thing she could do was be prepared to hold him back as well if she truly must. She never thought she would have to do so with Jake since Chance was usually the one to lose his fuse. Seeing Jake looking this peeved was making her curious of what made him get this way. It wasn't like Burke and Murray had never insulted him and Chance before. What was so different this time?

Jake's actions didn't go unnoticed by Chance either. He too was shocked to hear his best friend be so riled. Though he had a good idea of why that was. He made a mental note to ask about it later. Luckily, Burke and Murray had their fun today. Maybe they had an inkling that if they tried to go any further, a fight would certainly break out or they got bored. Either way, both Burke and Murray merely scoffed and headed for their truck.

"Suit yourself! Later!" Burke laughed as he and Murray drove off. Once the truck was out of sight, the trio of friends took this moment to calm their tempers down as well as take a breather.

"Oh man… I just want to beat the crud out of those two so much!" Chance growled rubbing his paws together.

Jake shook his head and placed his right paw behind his head. He tried to cool the fire of anger inside of him while replying, "I know, buddy. But fighting with them probably would make it a whole lot worse."

Chris let out a deep sigh that caught the attention of the two kats. She gave them both an apologetic look as if to say she was sorry for not being anymore helpful. Before another word could be exchanged, she turned and walked back inside. Chance and Jake watched her go before glancing over at each other,

"Sure was nice of her to help us though," Chance pointed out and he started snickering, "I mean did you see the looks on their faces when she told them to grow up? Man I wish I could have taken a picture of that."

"Yeah, though I wish she didn't," Jake replied as he wasn't as amused as his friend, "Now she has to watch out for Burke and Murray hitting on her every time they come around." He sighed, rubbing his head and he turned to walk back to the garage with Chance right behind him.

The bigger kat remembered seeing his friend looking downright pissed when Burke and Murray were flirting with Chris. His smirk grew bigger, "Why? Because you wanna make sure she's tom-kat free so you can have her all to yourself?" Chance inquired, his good mood returning quickly.

This question caught Jake completely off guard and he whipped his head around to look back at his friend, "Huh? Of course not! Why would I…? I mean, why would I even consider…" Jake started to stammer as Chance nudged him hard in the side.

"Huh, huh! I knew it! Ever since she came to live with us, you've been itching to ask her out! Heck, maybe even way before that!" Chance accused, pointing at his smaller friend.

Jake gave his bigger friend an unamused look, "Chance, please think logically about this whole thing. She's a human, I'm a kat! Wouldn't that be weird in retrospect? Or better to describe downright impossible?" He asked rationally.

"In other words, you don't think you can go out with her because you two are totally different species." Chance said, as the two tom-kats walked into their garage.

"Bingo." Jake answered and he grabbed a wrench to start working on a car.

It was pretty clear that he wanted to let this subject go as soon as possible. Chance however didn't want to give up just yet. He knew the feelings Jake had for Chris was certainly deep and personal. The way he was bent on protecting her from anything such as Burke and Murray was a sign he did like her that way. And Chance wanted his friend to admit it.

"Awe, come on Jake! I think you and Chris would make a cute couple! You just godda tell her how you feel, buddy! Who cares about the different species thing anyway?" Chance urged, as he watched the cinnamon tom-kat opened up the hood on the customer's car.

"Chance, just drop it. Chris and I are not together and we never will be." Jake warned patiently and then added, "Now let's get to work and then deal with the trash Burke and Murray left us before this day ends. Or we're going to be very behind."

Chance sighed, and decided not to pressure the issue. But he was going to keep thinking on this and not bring it up for the time being. Plus Jake was right that they had a lot of work to do today. He went to his own car to work on. It was not long until the encounter with Burke and Murray as well as the conversation slipped away from their minds.