Chapter 12:

~8 Days Later~

The early afternoon sun shined over the city's dog park on a crystal clear day. Jack was sitting on a bench along with Yusei, Bruno, and Crow. Crow was staring at the sky with a soda in his hand, obviously bored, Yusei and Bruno were typing away at a new program for the runners, and Jack was staring angrily out into the field. Magnus was happily bouncing around, chasing an over-inflated beach ball with a pack of other dogs. They pushed and nosed the ball over their heads, keeping it airborne while the pack blindly chased after it. Now and again the dogs would trip and fall on top of each other, but they would just get up and chase the ball again. If Magnus could "talk", he would be laughing and giggling to himself.

Yusei lifted his eyes from the computer and spotted Magnus from the pooch crowd. He glanced at the grumpy Jack and smiled. He leaned over to Bruno and whispered loudly, "Dogs sure are happy creatures. Yup. Man's best friend. They enjoy the peaceful little things in life, can give lots of affection, and are very loyal. Wouldn't you agree, Bruno?" Yusei winked.

"Huh?" Bruno started as Crow elbowed him from behind. "Oh! Yeah! You're so right, Yusei. Why, those dogs must be having the time of their lives! Magnus sure looks happy to be out here! Just look at him run. Isn't that right, Crow?"

Crow snickered. "Mmm-hmm. Wow, dogs sure are something else. You know, Magnus looks like a pretty special dog. And I'm sure he must be a handful for Carly all by herself. I wonder if Magnus would enjoy staying in our garage for a few weeks or-!"

"DON"T. YOU. DARE!" Jack said abruptly. "You want that THING in our house? Magnus, the same dog who's been causing me grief, misery, and loveless nights from my girl for the past few months! Are you people mad or just plain stupid?"

The three friends glanced at each other; Bruno dared to speak up. "Um, is that a trick question? Or are you just being mean again?"

Jack shot him a glare that could melt the skin off a tree. Bruno shrugged back fearfully and gulped. "Eh, never mind."

"Calm down, Jack." Yusei intervened, "We were only messing with you. You made it very clear back at the garage that you and Magnus hate each other's guts."

Crow shrugged and sipped his soda. "I don't see why, though. You two know zilch about each other, and yet you carry on like you two have been together for years. I just can't see why you have to hate a dog that barely did anything to you."

"What?" Jack was furious now, and not only because everyone was talking about Magnus in a good way. "Has everyone forgotten that your 'wonder pup' over there nearly used me as a chew toy from day one!"

Bruno gets his composure back and sits up straight on the bench. "Easy, Jack. Calm down. I think Crow has a point."

"What the-? You're taking sides with Carrot-Top?"

"Not really. I just think bird brain is on to something."

"Hey!" Crow broke in, "Just because I'm a red head with a love for birds don't mean this isn't an insult!"

"Sorry, Crow." Said Bruno, "Anyways, Jack, maybe you and Magnus are judging each other a little unfairly. I know you haven't exactly had the best life around, but what about Magnus? Didn't you tell us that Carly said that he crashed into her one night and he looked scared to death?"

Jack, now calm and listening, sat back down and scratched his chin. "Mmm…Yes, she did mention that. So?"

"So? Poor Magnus could be an abused dog who escaped from a horrible owner. Or worse, he was dog-napped from his home and forced to become a working dog to pull heavy objects or risk being whipped to death!"

As Bruno stops, everyone stares at him like he grew a second head or something. Bruno coughs nervously and continues. "All I'm saying is that it won't hurt anyone to get to know Magnus a little more, especially you. See life through his doggy eyes and you might learn something."

Jack just rolled his eyes and sighed. "Okay. One, from beginning to end, you sounded no different from Carly. Two, you're only saying that because he didn't bury any of your shoes in the backyard during a thunderstorm. And three, I'm only praying that the walking throw pillow over there will keep his razor sharp jaws closed long enough for me to drop him back at Carly's after I take him to the vet!"

Once again, all three of Jack's "friends" blinked at each other. "You're taking him to a vet, Jack?"

"Unfortunately. Carly asked me to drag that beast there at 3 o'clock to check for bruises or heartworm or something. Personally, I hope they snip his 'dog bones' off."

Yusei laughed silently. "That's a very interesting way to look at it, Atlas."

"Whatever." Jack stood up from the bench and pulled out a red dog leash from his pocket. "I'm off to drag the mutt there and get it over with. Wish me a lil' luck will ya, guys?"

"Luck?"

"Luck that I come back with all my toes and fingers. Bye."

Jack strolls over to Magnus, who was rolling belly up in the tall grass. Jack straightens out the leash and takes the lock in his hand. However, once Magnus hears Jack coming to him, he stands up and starts growling at him. Jack shivers back defensively and bends down on one knee.

"Easy, boy." Jack coaxes, "I'm not here to attack you. I just need to walk you over to the vet clinic for a few vaccines. It will keep you healthy and make Carly very happy. Understand?" Magnus blinks at him several times before sitting down and barking once. "I'll take that as a yes." Jack fastens the lock on the back of Magnus' collar, and gently leads him to the sidewalk. Magnus follows behind silently, too tired from the rough playing he's done to bark or complain. All Magnus can do is pant merrily and wag his long furred tail.

As Jack and Magnus jogged quickly down the street, there was a loud rustle from a couple of bushes on the side of the road. From a green-leaf and white-flowered shrub, Mr. River slowly popped his head out and watched Jack and Magnus pace up the street. Before they were out of sight, he took out a black high-powered camera and silently snapped pictures of the two as they ran. He especially took pictures of Magnus, who hopped happily along the trail without a care in the world. A second commotion from the bush next to him revealed Mr. Boulder, who was unusually shaky and itching the skin underneath his clothes like crazy. His movements were causing loud noises from the fuchsia colored bush he was hiding in, more noise than River could take.

"Boulder! Will you stop!" hissed River, never taking his eyes away from the two."You want the whole area to know we're spying on a man and his dog from bushes?"

"Sorry, runt! I can't help myself! For some reason, I...can't...stop...being...itchy!" Boulder squealed as he struggled to scratch every portion of his sensitive body, which was becoming an uncanny dark pink color. "I'm itchy and hot all over! Even my moustache is prickly!"

River ignored Boulder and continued surveillance until Jack and Magnus are out of sight, then Agent River jumped out of the bushes and straightened himself to his full height. He was wearing a tight black vest with a large gold zipper dangling from the top of the collar, clean-cut long blue jeans, and dark red-and-black sneakers. Agent Boulder, still scratching, just toppled out of the bushes and began to rub his back on the round. He was wearing a beige long sleeved shirt, open gray jacket, matching gray quarter pants, and blue shoes. Boulder also had a pair of black sunglasses hanging from the front of his shirt. As Boulder flailed on the ground, River rolled his eyes and dragged his "commanding" officer by his shirt to his feet.

River gave a very disappointed look at his mentor. "Sir, I told you to stay in the bush next to me! I even tried to stop you from going in that shrub! And now, you're scratching like crazy and breaking out in a rash because of it."

Boulder fell back down and was whimpering silently, sitting on his hands to prevent himself from grating his flesh off. "B-Because of it? W-W-Wh-What makes you such a smarty pants, Smarty Pants?"

"You don't have to be a 'smarty pants' to know what poison oak is."

"Poison what?"

River rolled his eyes. "Never mind...Come, sir! We must pursue in silence before we lose visual on the target."

Boulder stood up shakily and blinked. "Right! Of course! Uh...which target are you talking about?"

"...The dog, sir."

"Oh! Oh, good! I thought you meant the female because, 'Ha!', I was thinking, 'Why were we trailing this guy you're so afraid of for the past four hours?"

River twitched lightly and turned back at Boulder, which made him shiver a little. "I am not afraid of Mr. Atlas! I can totally handle someone who's taller than me, taller than you maybe! Besides, Atlas and Carmine are only the secondary objectives in the mission. Hurry! We must follow the dog!"

River and Boulder rush into their white van, Boulder sobbing in the passenger seat and River jamming he key in the ignition. The van roars to life and speeds after man and dog. River turns the corner sharply and speeds up the road towards the targets. Once Jack and Magnus were in sight, River releases the gas and presses a blue button on the dashboard. In a heartbeat, the van's engine suddenly dies down to a low murmur and rolls its wheels on the gravel; The van's special stealth mode allows the agents to sneak behind Magnus and Jack in broad daylight in absolute silence.

Almost...

There was a loud barrage of scratching noises that were penetrating River's right ear.

"Boulder! I told you to stop fussing around so much! You will give away our position!"

"Don't yell at me! I'm dying over here!"

River moaned heavily, then instructed Boulder to reach into the glove box and take out the first aid kit. Inside, Boulder found a new bottle of rubbing alcohol and a bottle of calamine lotion with mugwort plant oil. "Listen carefully, sir. I'm going to drop you on a bus stop, where a bus that will be heading near our house will be arriving within 5.2 minutes. When you get home, take a long, cool shower for about an hour or two. Use the rubbing alcohol instead of regular soap, and make sure you dump all of your clothes in the wash. Apply the lotion after you air dry your body to...!"

River turns his head sharply to see that Boulder has not only completely ignored his instructions, but he is now dumping both the lotion and the alcohol over his head. Boulder only stops when he realizes that, instead of relief, the burning sensation on his body seems to be slowly getting worse...

River gave Boulder a look that, if he talked, said 'Not again, Boulder...' . "Okay, new plan. I'm going to make a U-turn and drop you off to the hospital we just passed a few blocks down. While your treated for a hopefully...eh, possibly severe infection, I will pursue the targets to the veterinary clinic and continue with the rest of the mission solo. Agreed?"

At this point, Boulder's face was red and swollen to twice its size, tears and saliva was dripping uncontrollably down his face. "Okay." was all he was able to mutter through his inflated lips. River turns the van a full 180 degree turn and sped back down the hill to the infirmary at the end of the road. Meanwhile, Jack and Magnus enters the veterinary health center in unusual sync. As the door slammed behind them, Magnus suddenly stops and whips his head around. A soft whine that escapes his mouth catches Jack's attention.

"What?" Jack asks, "What is it?"

Magnus uncurled himself and shook his shaggy head. Jack guessed that was doggy talk for "Nothing". With a thoughtless shrug, they continued to the front desk to sign Magnus's papers.