Chapter 3: The Plan.

Back at the group, the cats went on as if nothing had changed. Butch glanced around and stood, breaking up the conversation and causing a silence to fall upon them.

"Look, guys, we need to address the elephant in the room... Tom is here with us, but for how long?" said Butch. "It's clear he's missing home."

"He seems to be having a good time, and by the looks of it, he don't intend on leaving anytime soon-" started Meathead.

"Oh Cat in the sky! Wake up ya fools! It's only a matter of time before he gets mouse sick and runs back home. He's a house cat and sooner or later he'll leave us." said Butch.

"Well, if having an owner makes him happy, I see no problem with him leaving," said Toots. "Why Toodles and I have owners who love and pamper us. Tom's a house cat, he can't help it."

"The point is, he has an attachment to that no good little mouse. He's the one we need to take care of," said Butch darkly. "With him out of the way, Tom will have no reason to go home. His owner won't miss him, I doubt she even noticed he's gone. Ya know how humans are, they don't care about us animals or anything for that matter."

"What are ya sayin'?" asked Topsy.

"What do ya think I've been sayin'! We need to kill the mouse," said Butch.

There was silence as no one knew what to say.

"But, the fighting is between them, not us," added Lightning. "I mean, unless Tom tells us- asks for our help, we really shouldn't intervene."

"Yeah, cat code bro. Don't kill the mouse in another cat's house," said Meathead.

"It also says help a fellow cat in need," said Butch. "Guys think about it, what cat catches a mouse and never eats 'em? What kinda cat cares for a mouse's well being? I'll tell ya, a crazy cat. Somethings just not right with him. We're the only ones who can save him from himself. What do ya say, will ya join me?"

The group slowly agreed, knowing Tom really wasn't like them. Toots seemed to be the only one who didn't like where the conversation went. She hoped that Toodles would come back so she could give Tom the heads up.

Tom and Toodles stood on a small bridge, looking down at the creek that ran under it. The moon and stars lit up the night with a white glow, only adding to the beautiful evening.

"So, you do miss Jerry?" asked Toodles with hesitation. He nodded and rested his chin on his paws. "I figured, I can see it in your eyes. There's a sparkle in them when you talk about Jerry... You hate it when other cats go near him, it's like if anyone's going to bug him or catch him, it's going to be you."

Tom turned to her and she gave him a wink.

Toodles:

"Nice smile, lovely eyes, you've got it going on in all the, right ways, Really nice, chivalrous, the kindest guy I've ever met, You said I set your soul on fire, I was someone you really admired, Yet you are a lire, you can't deny the truth,"

"You like mice, I rolled the dice and lost the bet, You like mice, I noticed the first moment we met, You like mice, no don't go see the vet, You like mice, oh, oh, oh mice,"

"Jealousy, protective, you hate it when Jerry is not around, Messy, confusing, I know you don't see it at all, How you two can't stand to be apart, how you can't follow your heart, If only you could see, what everyone else sees,"

"You like mice, I rolled the dice and lost the bet, You like mice, I noticed the first moment we met, You like mice, no don't go see the vet, You like mice, oh, oh, oh mice."

The two danced as she sang, Tom, lifting her and spinning her around and round. Through the park they went, Tom, realizing she was right and what he would have to do next.

The pair went back and there was an odd silence among the group. Tom glanced around and looked at Butch, who had a different air about him.

"Say, Toots, maybe ya and Toodles should head home," said Butch.

"What? Why we just got here?" said Toodles.

"Look, babe, the boys and I are gonna go do some stuff, ya know, guy stuff," said Butch. "I'll stop by tomorrow, I promise we'll hang out then."

"Okay, well I guess this is goodbye, Tom," said Toodles. She gave him a pat and went to hug and kiss Butch. "All right, maybe another time, ready Toots?"

Toots quietly stood and rushed off, brushing by Tom. He turned as they left and she gave him a look, a look that was full of fear and sorrow. He watched as they left, turning back to the group. Before he could say a word.

Bame!

A trash can lid smacked him in the face, sending him tumbling into a pile of trash. For a moment, Tom opened his eyes to see Butch's silhouette standing over him, holding the can lid. Unable to move, Tom's head fell back.

"By the milky way! What have you done, Butch!?" exclaimed Meathead.

"Are you with me or not!? We agreed it had to be done!" shouted Butch, slapping some sense into Meathead. "Now, tie him up, we can't have him follow-stop us from exterminating that little pest."

The three shared a worried glance but did as they were told.

"Don't worry Tom, we're only doing this because we care," said Topsy.

"You know he can't hear you," added Lightning.

"All right, let's go," said Butch.

The three left Tom and joined Butch, disappearing into the dead of night. After a few moments, Tom woke, finding his paws tied behind his back. He was propped against the wall and tried to move his feet, only to feel them bound as well. He wondered why Butch had hit him and why none of his friends were there. Whatever the case, he knew he had to get free of his restraints.

Meanwhile, in the still of the night, Jerry heard the woman working on something. After a while she went to bed, leaving her work on the table. Jerry walked out, wondering what she was up to. On the table was a picture of Tom printed on a missing poster. He stared at it, wishing to see the real cat instead of the picture. The light from the window dimmed as something darted by it. Jerry turned and saw there was nothing, assuming it was a bird.

He jumped down and went to his hole, only to walk into something hard. He rubbed his head and got up, feeling a piece of glass covering his home's entrance. He then saw a paw holding it, but it wasn't Tom.

"Oh, having some trouble?" asked Lightning. "I don't know if you remember me, but you gave our friend a lot of headaches and heartache."

Jerry stumbled back and felt someone standing behind him.

"Why don't you just try to outsmart us," added Topsy.

Topsy tried to catch Jerry in a cup, but Jerry ran away. He fled to the kitchen, thinking he could find a good place to hide. From the side, he felt a blow to his body that sent him rolling across the floor and into the wall. He leaned up and saw a black cat, standing over him with his claws out.

"Well, well, looks like three against one really works... Like I've been tellin' Tom, ya gotta break yer prey down," said Butch. "I can't wait to cut ya down."

Jerry gasped and saw the other two cats join the leader, chuckling as they surrounded him.

Tom seemed to be having no luck untying himself, unable to claw the ropes off, due to how they were tied.

"Tom!" cried a female.

Tom saw Toodles and Toots rush to his side, working to help him.

"What did I tell you," said Toots.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," apologized Toodles. "Are you hurt Tom?"

He shook his head and rubbed his free writs, thankful for their help.

"I'm afraid that's not all, we have to get you home before it's too late," said Toots. Tom gave her a curious gaze. "They didn't say anything to you about why they were doing this?" He shook his head. "Oh my, well they're planning on killing the mous- I mean Jerry."

Tom gasped and stood, knowing they had to get home and in a hurry.

"There's no way we can catch up to them, they've had plenty of time ahead of us," said Toodles sadly.

Tom took her paw and the three went to an auto shop, where several cars sat.

"Oh, Tom we can't, this is wrong," said Toots with worry.

Tom paid her no attention and broke the glass to unlock the car door. He adjusted the seat and went to start the engine, hotwiring it with ease. Toodles and Toots sat on the passenger side as the car vroomed to life. Tom sat back and shifted the car into gear, hitting the peddle to the metal. With a squeal of rubber, the car swerved on the road and headed home.