Chapter 10

Harry was walking home from school when he ran across a limping cat. Being the bleeding heart that he was, he coaxed the poor thing into his arms and ran for the house. He frantically searched for an adult and found Millie in the kitchen making some freshly baked cookies. She had just moved in with them but it felt more like she had always been there. Millie wiped off the flour from her hands and looked at Harry.

"What happened this time?" she asked, looking at the animal in his arms half with pity half with exasperation. While she was very proud of her future step-son for wanting to change the world, she would have preferred having fewer animals in the house.

Harry cuddled the cat closer, making sure to keep the cat's leg a safe distance from his body. He put the poor thing down on the kitchen table ignoring Millie's protests. He got the animal a bowl of milk and watched as the poor thing gulped it down. He quickly ran and got some of Beauty's dry kibble and served it to the creature.

"I think he hurt his leg Millie," Harry explained, stroking the cat on the head.

Millie smiled fondly and rolled her eyes, "Are you going to call Dr. Gerandy or should I?" she asked, because despite her preference otherwise, she knew the drill.

Harry couldn't shift his focus from the cat to Mille, "I'll do it as soon as this little guy is settled. Aero is scared," he explained.

"Of course he is." She mumbled under her breath, and then watched Harry take the cat to the 'medical shed' in the back.

Cradling the poor thing as if it were made of glass, Harry called Beauty over and walked outside once more. He put Aero into a soft wool lined cage and closed it so the thing wouldn't hurt himself further. Beauty, being the way he was, sat down in front of the cage and began to watch him. AC came to the room to greet the new comer, but since Aero was hurt, Beauty kept him away. After a few minutes of the game, Harry swore that AC walked away pouting.

AC was a playful dog and he was always up for new playmates whatever the species. DC, his girlfriend, on the other hand was rather snobbish. She played with AC only when he gave her no other choice, otherwise she preferred spending her time watching the world out the living room window. She was fiercely protective of the family and rarely welcomed any newcomers. She probably saw them as a threat to her family. Harry was not at all surprised to see her lying down in front of the open side door. Far enough to seem as if she didn't care but close enough to get in the middle of things as soon as possible.

Harry gave DC a treat and quickly ran inside to call the vet. The secretary, Scarlett, knew his voice and almost as soon as he greeted her she connected him to the phone in the surgery. Dr. Gerandy took a moment to pick up.

"Hello?" the man asked, rather distractedly.

Harry smiled, "Hello Doctor," he said, making the man on the other end of the call smile. The child had a heart of gold, and the vet knew that in the future Harry definitely would be have a job with animals.

"Harry," the man greeted cheerfully, "I haven't spoken to you in a while. I was just about to call you."

Harry laughed, "But that would have messed up our routine," he said pouting playfully.

"I'm simply not used to your not calling me every week," Dr. Gerandy said defensively.

Harry sighed and forgave the man; he had bigger fish to fry. "I found a stray grey cat. He's limping and I couldn't see why. I think his leg might be strained or broken."

Dr. Gerandy nodded, not that Harry could see that. Over the years, Harry had called him many times and his prognosis was usually spot on. For a child, Harry had a very good intuition and if it was allowed, Dr. Gerandy would have allowed the kid to become his assistant. The one he currently had was barely able to tell the difference between the head and the rear end of the animals he was treating.

"I'll stop by once the clinic is closed and check him out. Just keep the poor cat's leg elevated and try to keep him calm." The doctor needlessly ordered.

Harry rolled his eyes, wondering why every adult except for his dad treated him with kid gloves. "I did that already, Dr. Gerandy. This isn't my first hoedown."

The man chuckled, "I'll see you in an hour or two then."

"Are you going to stay for dinner?" Harry asked worriedly, knowing he had been a little rude during the call, "Millie is making a ground beef and potato casserole."

"I can't today," he said, "Not because I don't want to but because my mother is coming to town and I'm having dinner with her like I always do," the man said before hanging up.

Harry grinned in relief, and ran over to the kitchen to tell Millie to expect the doctor soon when he realized that two place settings were out. He told Millie about Dr. Gerandy not being able to meet them for dinner and she put one place setting away. He looked at his future step-mom in confusion.

"Your dad's bringing Bastian for dinner." She explained, and Harry beamed.

He loved his 28 year old paramedic uncle. The guy was cool as a cucumber, and never showed a reaction to things that would shock most people. He was teaching Harry how to play the guitar and was helping him with his drums as well. Sebastian was the only musically inclined person in the family, well at least until Harry joined. He was also Dean's best friend and had introduced him to Millie since his baby sister needed a job. Harry ran upstairs and quickly did his homework so that he wouldn't have to worry about it later. It was only a few hours later when Millie called him down to greet the vet. The duo worked well together, gently taking care of the cat. Dr. Gerandy thought it was hairline fracture from jumping down from a high height but needed an x-ray to be sure. Since the clinic was only a few streets down, they walked over, Harry carrying the feline with AC and DC following. Millie told Harry to be back in twenty since that would be when Dean and Bastian would be there.

When he returned, it was without the cat because Aero sleeping of the tranquilizer Dr. Gerandy had to dose him with. He couldn't help but give Millie the play-by-play about how they cared for Aero and as soon as Dean came he also got a good dose of his chatter. Finally they sat down at the dinner table and Millie changed the subject. It wasn't that she wasn't interested in what Harry had to say, but because they had one rule at the dinner table and that was to keep work related topics out of the dining room. Harry may have not had a proper job, but everyone considered him a junior vet.

"So," Millie started, "Have you thought about what you wanted to do for your birthday this year?"

Harry nodded, thinking back to his last birthday party.

Flashback

It was Harry's ninth birthday and he couldn't help but be excited. While he didn't really remember his first years with his maternal aunt, he still couldn't believe it when his dad threw him a party for his birthday. The previous year was just a family affair since they had just moved to Lawrence from New Orleans, but he enjoyed it anyway. This year Harry invited everyone in his previous class and while some were on vacation, most were able to attend. His dad had also called Sam and invited the man over along with Molly, Sebastian, Isabelle, and Andy. Millie had gone all out and booked a clown, a petting zoo and a bounce house for fun.

The day of the party, everyone had a wonderful time, even Sam who steered clear of the clowns. He received many presents and helped polish off the enormous cake Millie had made with her mother the previous day. Harry's favorite part of the party had to have been the animals. At the end of the day, Harry was sleepy but very happy. He considered it to be his second best party, the first being the one his dad threw him just after they found each other. While Millie, Sam and the rest of the family were cleaning up, Dean tucked Harry in.

Harry couldn't help but hug his dad, "I love you dad," he said before yawning.

"I love you too Hare-bear," Dean relied, "How did you like your party?"

Harry smiled sleepily, "It was awesome," he admitted, "Thank you!"

Dean smiled and walked out of his room not knowing that the thank you was more for him rescuing Harry as a young child than for throwing him the grand birthday. Harry fell asleep with a large smile on his face

End Flashback

Harry shrugged, feeling modest all of a sudden. He hadn't really thought about asking for anything for his birthday. In his opinion the one last year had been enough for the rest of his life. He didn't want to seem like a burden.

Bastian smiled teasingly, "Come on Hazza," he said, "I'll bet that this year you want exotic dancers and a pool filled with whipped cream, is that right?"

Harry turned bright red, immediately protesting. Sebastian was never fazed, but that didn't stop him from doing it to other people. He claimed it was amusing. Harry called the man plain sadistic.

"I don't care," Harry protested, "Last year was enough,"

Dean smiled at his son, amazed at how selfless the boy was, "Harry," he said, "It's only once that a kid enters his double digits. We don't mind celebrating with a big party. It is, after all, the only time when Bast can act his age, you know."

Without missing a beat, Bastian agreed making Millie slap him over the head. Harry couldn't hold back his amusement and found himself bent over, holding his stomach from laughter. When he finally calmed down he took a sip of his cola.

Harry was silent for a moment, but then said, "Would it be okay if I had two parties?" he asked.

Dean smirked, "Oh, so one party isn't enough, now you have to have two of them?" he asked teasingly.

Harry smiled at his dad, "No," he said rolling his eyes, "I want one with my friends and one with my family." He explained.

Millie smirked, "Don't want your old man messing up your rep then?" she asked, sticking her tongue out at her fiancé.

Harry laughed but shook his head negative, "I just don't want you guys bored at a kid's party. I don't need two if you don't want."

Millie smiled her future step-son, "We don't mind honey," she said, "As long as it's reasonable."

Harry nodded, "I was thinking about inviting my friends to the water park for the day. My birthday is always so hot that I thought it makes sense to go somewhere fun and cool." He explained.

Millie beamed at him and kissed him on the forehead, "That's a great idea, Harry! Even better that there's virtually no planning or preparing involved. What do you think Dean?"

Dean smirked, "I'm thinking that I may just have to crash this party if they're going to Splashville. I love that place and would never turn down the opportunity to go."

Harry glared at his dad for a second before sighing and rolling his eyes, "Burst my bubble why don't you. Here I thought I'd be able to get rid of you for a couple hours but instead I find out you'll be joining us." He said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Dean smiled, "Hey," he said, "There has to be a chaperone anyway, to make sure you kids keep it PG, so why not the cool parent?"

"Dude," said his best friend, not being able to hold back his laugh, "The words cool and parent are not allowed to be in the same sentence, except for it there's a not in there. Why don't you let me do the babysitting?"

Dean glared at Bastian, "Just because I have a kid does not mean my cool factor went down. If anything its boosted because I have this awesome mini clone now as well. It's like the big guy up stairs wanted two of me around because he liked me so much." Dean boasted.

"Or you're a failed experiment and Harry's your replacement." Bastian replied.

"Hey!" Dean called out, "Not cool, bro!"

"I'm just saying it how it is."

"Guys," Millie interrupted, "We're talking about Harry's birthday, not having a pissing contest here. Behave!"

The boys glared at each other but complied with Millie's demand. They spent the rest of dinner hashing out the details of Harry's birthday and before they knew it, it was late and time for the evening to come to an end. As Millie cleaned up, Dean was regaled by Harry's rambling about Aero, the cat he had just found. Dean looked pained at the thought of having another pet, but did not see any other options. He knew how Harry got whenever he came across some animal and named it. That was how they ended up with Beauty, AC and DC. They also had a cat named Ozzy but he died of an illness almost a year prior. It was late when Harry finally drifted off to sleep and Millie and Dean soon joined his ranks.