Here's the next chap! Enjoy!
Also for everyone who has been reading No Matter What, the sequel is now up, be sure to look for Forever Loved!
The long white tail draped over his paws, sending Raph out of his daydream. Snapping his head, he glared at the smirking ice blue eyes. He'd been dozing in the warm rays of the run while watching in utter amusement as everyone around him hurried around, fixing thing, making repairs, applying a fresh layer of paint to everything in sight. Dogs were bathed and groomed, being cleaned up to be shown off to humans. Watching them hurry around for the fundraiser had been more amusing then watching Donny and Mikey together with a big red button labeled "Do Not Touch". He'd been watching them until the thought of his brothers sent him into a daze, his soul and heart hurting to be near them again - to hear their voices and feel their touch. It had been going quite well until the silky tail was brushed against him.
"You dozed off their for a minute Raphael." Sandra purred in her husky voice, blinking at him with deep ice colored orbs.
With a disgusted look, Raph pushed her tail away from him. "So what?" he snapped. But instead of the withdrawal like most dogs would have done, she simply laughed and planted herself closer to him, her white fur pressed against his.
"Oooh," she teased, grinning. "A bad boy huh?" Dropping her muzzle downwards, she let her eyes drift up to his face. Her devious smile and glint in her eyes screamed at him. "Well I can be a bad girl, you know."
"That's nice." Raph said simply. His whole body screamed at him to get away from her touch. Not only was it creeping him out that a girl dog had a deep crush on him, it scared the shell out of him how much touch she required.
"Oh come now." She pouted, but still stayed pressed close to him.
"Sandra, listen." Raph felt his patience start to slip away as he began to explain to her as he would Mikey. "I have NO interest in you, whatsoever. Now if you would kindly move away, you're invading my personal space." To emphasize his words, he pushed himself away from her. He'd hoped she would take the hint and scat, but apparently female dogs weren't too smart.
Sandra stood up, stretching herself in front of Raph, her long wavy tail brushing the air like a brush to a canvas, in pure poetic movements.
Raph watched her with a bored expression, knowing what she was trying to do. She was trying to get his attention by showing off her lean body, long legs, and silky fur that hung from her body like waves. Her ice blue pools were filled with what some people would say was innocence, but what Raph knew to be pure devious desires.
She was trying to turn him on.
Instead, he turned around.
"Oh Raphael..." She sweetly called out.
Raph sighed. She just doesn't give up does she?
His eyes went wide when he felt her tail brush across his face. With a gasp, he pulled away. The gasp was from shock, but apparently she took it as a yes.
"Come on Raphael," She stepped high over him, weaving around him like a gymnast. "You know you want too..."
With a low growl, Raph jerked away to a sitting position. Ears going flat he sent amber daggers at her. "Can ya not take a hint lady?"
She blinked, taking a step back. Her ears also went back, her tail giving a hesitant wag. "What are you saying?" she whimpered.
"Listen," Raph sighed, facing her. She wore a pitiful look, a whimper escaping her every so often. If I dog could look heart-broken, she could. "We can't be together. Besides, you're not my type." every word was forced, straining not too blow up.
Remember what Splinter said... patience is worth the reward in the end.
Her look made him want to throw up.
Never mind, patience can shove it this time.
"Listen here," he growled. "This is just-"
"I know!" she squealed.
Ears going flat, he jerked back with wide amber eyes as she literally pounced at him.
"Know what?" he yelped.
"You're missing them." she told him, her ice eyes wild.
"Wha..." He swore his face went pale as she stared intently at his tail. He could feel his tail curl under his legs, as he backed away. "Um, look Sandra..."
"That's why you don't want to be with me." she said softly. "You think that you can't give me pups... that you can't give me what I need. That I'm too good for you...."
"Umm..."
"But don't worry," all her sadness aside, she went to his side again. "Your attitude is enough to take me to heaven and back."
"Oh yeah... " Raph never ran. Raph never coward at the sight of an enemy. But the others never faced a flirting she-dog.
"Houston!"
Raph perked his ears at the sound of Kevin calling his 'name'. "Sorry sweetcakes, my "master" is calling me." and with that said, he bounded away, ignoring the pathetic calling of Sandra behind him.
Kevin was standing near the entrance to the farm, a large rope in his hands. Both heels were dug into the ground as he heaved backwards, attempting to bring up his part of the sign that was to hang over the entrance to the farm. The large, thick gloves on his hands were slick with sweat.
Sitting a few feet away, Raph watched his boy strain and sweat, grunt and groan as the stupid sign refused to move.
With a chuckle, Raph walked over to him, letting out a low whimper. Kevin looked down at him with a strained smile.
"Mind helping boy?" He gasped out. Taking the end of the rope, he held it out to Raph. "Come on boy, I know you're strong enough. Take it..."
With a low grunt, Raph accepted the rope in his mouth. The fibers cut his tongue as he bore down hard, his amber eyes narrowing. And with a low deep growl, he hurled himself backwards.
The rope went taunt almost immediately as Raph backed up more. Muscles trembling, he bit down hard. His fangs drove deep into the rope as he growled again, shaking his head around, trying to find a better grip. His paws shook under him and every step back felt like weight was attached to them. He was dimly aware of Kevin helping, the boys grunts low and almost undetected.
Raph was about to give up and spit the nasty tasting material from his mouth when he heard the sign groan as it was slowly lifted. The folks on the other side helping started to pull harder, lifting their side as well.
"Come on Houston," Grunted Kevin. "Good boy... pull, that's it!"
With a deep, animalistic growl, Raph threw himself backwards, the weight of his body bringing the sign to a standing point. For a second the rope went limp in Kevin's hands as he stared in utter shock as his dog lifted it up the rest of the way.
Hearing the cheers of the rest of the family, Raph spat out the rope to the ground. He could taste the blood in his mouth where the rope strands had cut his gums, but he didn't care. It was done. He could hear the footsteps of Kevin as the boy walked up to him, the soft hands that stroked his fur, and the whispers of praise.
"Is he okay?" Ben asked, coming up to the pair. Kneeling down, he gently lifted the edges of Raph's lips, revealing torn flesh and blood oozing out. "Shoot, he's going to need these cleaned up."
"What happened?" Rebeca asked, also coming up.
"Houston sliced his mouth on the rope." Kevin explained, holding up the material to his mouth. Rebeca examined the blood-flecked strands.
"He's lucky he didn't do more." She said seriously. "This rope is like giving a dog a can that has just been opened - the sides are sharp as all get out." Laying the rope back down, she examined Raph's mouth again. Ben had to hold his head, since Raph kept jerkin away. "Well, the bleeding has almost stopped, which is a good sign. I guess the best we can do is watch him and make sure there's no infection."
"Are you sure he's not ready for adoption Ben?" Four heads swung towards the new voice. When Raph saw who it was, his hackles raised and he fought down the growl in his throat. It was the officer from the school... the one who was interested in breeding.
"Hello Officer Cook." With a smile, he stood and shook hands. "Wait can I help you with?"
Cook laughed, sending shivers down Raph's spine. Well if that ain't a bad guy laugh, I don't know what is.
"I was here to check out some of your dogs..." his eyes trailed down to Raph, his eyes glinting in greed. "I help train the dogs for the academy. Sometimes we take in strays..."
"That's good to hear." Rebeca smiled, standing beside her husband. "We have tons of good dogs that will be excellent K9 dogs. What are you looking for?" she smiled warmly as several more cars pulled into the lot.
With a sigh, Ben straightened his shirt. "I'll go help them."
With a chuckle, Cook took Rebeca aside. "You see, I am very, very interested in one of your dogs." he told her.
With a puzzled smile, Rebeca looked at him. "Well any dog on this lot is available for adoption."
"Any dog?" he pressed.
"Yes...."
"Excellent." with a greedy smile, he rubbed his hands together. "Then I want like to adopt Houston."
Leave a review please! The next chap is being worked on now :D