Reggie found himself back in the alleyway. The rain pounding through the trees as the only light came from a streetlamp on a nearby corner and the flashes of lightening up above. He was completely soaked, his dark feeling like weights on his body. Reggie was trying desperately to stay the bleeding of grey Ferret in his arms. His right paw pressed on the wound applying pressure, while his left arm supported the Ferret's head. Her blue eyes never wavered its gaze from Reggie, but the Weasel's eyes danced around her form. The stab wound to her abdomen wouldn't stop and the Weasel was lost in what to do. If help didn't come soon she wouldn't make it, but he couldn't leave her to try and find someone or she would surely die. The Ferret reached out a paw, brought it to Reggie's cheek and placed it gently.

"It'll be ok Crystal! I'm here" Reggie heard himself speak, but the words didn't seem to come from his own mouth. He relished the feel of her paw on his cheek, but even then he could feel the warmth leaving her body. She needed him and he couldn't let her down. Reggie promised to protect her, to keep the Ferret from harm. The Weasel had always found a way to accomplish that promise, but this was different. He heard his own shouts for help bouncing off the walls of the alleyway and into the abandoned streets.

"HELP! HELP!"

Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Every second felt like days and minutes felt like an eternity. Still the Ferret began to stroke Reggie's cheek, as he saw tears appearing in her eyes. Her lips started to move as she tried to speak. "Don't say anything. Save your strength!" Reggie could feel his own tears spilling out. It felt like his very soul was being ripped apart. He wanted to look away desperately, but couldn't bring himself to do so. She needed him and he wouldn't abandon her. Finally Crytstal smiled and spoke.

"Reg…gie…" then her eyes closed all the tension in her body gone. Her paw fell from his cheek as her arm went limp. Her head fell back against Reggie's arm. Frantically Reggie began to shake her, hoping to for the Ferret to once again open her eyes, just for her to hang on a little while longer.

"NO! NO! CRYSTAL! NO!" Reggie could once again hear the words, and feel his throat growing hoarse from screaming, yet he did not feel the words leave his mouth. Still his voice continued to echo.

"HELP! HELP!"

Reggie woke in his bed with a start. He expected to still be soaked from the rain. He expected his paw to still be covered in her blood. The dream had been too real, and while the nightmare wasn't anything new to him, this was different. He could feel his entire body shaking, and something wet was on his face. The Weasel reached up a paw to feel his cheek, and found it soaked with tears still streaming down his face. Reggie swung his hind paws to the side of the bed, and held the sides of his head with both paws. His body continued to shake as a sob left him. The mustela closed his eyes as more tears started to spill out. Reggie stayed that way until the tears stopped and the shaking subsided. He turned to look at the clock through blurred vision. It read 3:42 am. It was still the same night at the bar and he had only managed to get five hours of sleep. It was too early to leave the apartment, and all the recent training with Snarlov left him too drained to perform his nightly workout. So Reggie laid back down on the bed and closed his eyes once more. Hoping that no more dreams would come, Reggie started to drift once more to sleep.

Thankfully Reggie had off. The Weasel woke up to the sun shining through his window. The small dreary apartment starting to become stuffy from the heat emanating from outside, Reggie slowly came back to consciousness and stretched out on his bed. Glancing at his clock which read 10:18 am, the mustela was relieved that he was able to have a few hours more of sleep. Reggie also found himself in a rare situation where he had actual plans today. Granted it was simply having dinner with his aunt and uncle, but he hadn't really talked to them since before the academy. He also hoped that Mary would be able to join them as well. While they had phone conversations weekly, it would still be nice to see her.

The day passed without incident. Reggie simply went about doing the different chores that needed to be done. Laundry at the communal wash room always was difficult, but he found that being patient usually led to an open washer. As his clothes were washing, Reggie ran to local grocery store. A small predator heavy store owned and operated by a fennec fox family. There was the usual exchange of pleasantries as Reggie went about his day, buying some pre-made meals.

Eventually time passed and all the chores that needed doing were done. Reggie jumped in his shower to take a quick, and cold, shower before heading off. Duke and Duchess' place wasn't too far away, only six blocks. With the sun out and no shade around, walking six blocks could feel like torture in the Sahara Square. So Reggie headed out as the sun was setting and the shadows from the buildings stretched across the streets. It was still hot, but the shade allowed for mammals like Reggie who were not desert born t walk about. In no time at all he was standing outside of his Aunt and Uncle's apartment complex.

The building was just like the rest of the poorer section of Sahara Square. Cheap bricks with plaster slapped onto the sides of the building were painted a bright yellow. A rusted fire escape snaked down from the roof on the alleyway side of the building, looking to Reggie that it hadn't been up to code for decades. The steps leading to the front door had pieces of concrete missing, and the door itself had its paint peeling off. Still Duke and Duchess never talked about moving from the dilapidated building and Reggie never pushed it.

The mustela passed through the same drab hallway that hadn't changed since his youth and ascended the stairs to the fourth floor, Reggie couldn't help but wonder if the building would ever change. T he Weasel stopped in front of an eggshell blue door that looked slightly better than the rest of the hallway. He knocked on the door twice and waited. Just like clockwork he could hear his Aunt and Uncle.

"Is dat Reggie?" asked the shrill voice of Duchess.

"How should I knows?" responded Duke.

"Well look?"

"Why shoulds I?"

"Cause if it's Reggie he's waitin'!"

"You's closer!"

"I'm cookin'!"

"Cookin' what? Poisen!?"

Reggie knew that left unchecked this argument would continue for hours. So instead he tried the door knob, and found that one of them had left it unlocked. He turned the knob and walked right in. What greeted him was a very brown room. Brown fake wooden walls, an off colored brown rug lining the floor and a light brown couch and love seat combo sitting in front of an old television that was perched on an old wooden coffee table. The mustela couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his muzzle. The apartment had always been an eyesore, and being away from it for so long dulled the memory of how bad it actually was.

Reggie stepped through the door way and glanced left at the couch and love seat, where is Uncle was sprawled out on the smaller of the two. His paws resting on one side of the love seat and his head resting on the other, Duke looked the dictionary definition of comfortable. Add to that his sleeveless white shirt and dark blue shorts, and a mammal could be forgiven to think that the older Weasel just got up. Duke stood and headed over to Reggie, his eyes not leaving the television until he was standing right in front of Reggie. Then he turned his gaze and gave a crooked smile.

"Glad you here" Duke said, holding out a paw for Reggie to shake. Reggie accepted it and gave a quick shake before both Weasels headed over to sit in front of the television. Some news program was on that Reggie couldn't care less about, his mind wandering.

"It's like I never left."

Reggie hadn't seen his Aunt and Uncle in so long he was worried about how they would react. Granted Duke's first reaction to being confronted about Reggie being a cop was still in the back of the young Weasel's mind. As they sat watching the television though, Reggie couldn't but feel at home. Working odd jobs since being rejected the first time from the Academy Reggie was able to save up enough for his apartment and thrift shop furniture. He had been able to have everything moved in after putting the safety deposit down, but didn't move in officially until after graduating. Still it was his place, and eventually he would feel comfortable there.

"Oh Reggie!" the voice of his Aunt cried. She came strutting over, paws spread wide for the hug that they both knew was inevitable. Reggie stood up and allowed himself to be enveloped by Duchess. Unlike Duke, Duchess was a bit of an eccentric. While Duke went for comfort and simplicity for his clothing, Duchess went for color and overabundance. She was wearing what Reggie would almost guess was a poncho from the size of the sleeves, with vibrant blues, greens and reds playing throughout. Both of her wrists were loaded with what Reggie knew to be fake gold bracelets and large fake pearl earrings dawned both of her ears.

"I missed you's so much my little nephew!" Duchess said, hugging Reggie with all her might. Reggie couldn't help but snort at that. His Aunt came up to just below his neck. He tried to tell her in the past not to call him 'little', but it just seemed to invigorate her to say it more.

"I missed you too Duchess" Reggie replied. As much as he wouldn't admit how much he did, he really did miss his family. "Will Mare be joining us?"

Duchess finally let go of Reggie "She'll be here soon." She then started squeezing Reggie's arms "My you grown haven't ya?"

Reggie shrugged at his Aunt "I think so." Duchess let go of Reggie and walked back towards the kitchen. Similar to his own apartment, there was no space separating the kitchen from the rest of the apartment. Unlike his apartment, there was enough room for a small round table with four chairs surrounding it.

"I'm makin' my Cricket Stew so's be ready Regg!" Duchess shouted, continuing her way to a pot boiling on the stove.

Reggie's eyes narrowed "Didn't we all get sick from it last time." Four weasels fighting over the toilet was not a fond memory the mustela had. Reggie heard Duke cackle behind him.

"I says it was poisen!"

"I don't wanna hear it!" Duchess shouted back.

Reggie found himself standing in the middle of his bickering Aunt and Uncle. Shaking his head, Reggie walked towards the hallway that connected four rooms and the bathroom to the rest of the apartment. Lining the walls were pictures. Many from Duke and Duchess's youth, with his father present in them as well. Some were of Reggie's childhood, though most of them were before he turned ten. Pictures of Mary were on the wall as well, including her proudly standing in a cap and gown after she graduated High School. Reggie didn't have the money to pay for any of that, so he skipped his own graduation. What little he did have went towards him taking the first entrance exam for the Academy.

Reggie settled on a picture when he was nine. His parents had taken him and Mary to the Canal district to swim in the shallows. They were standing on the edge of the water, sand between their toes and the blue water reflecting in the background. Mary in a tiny white and pink polka dotted one piece holding onto his mother's leg. His mother was wearing an all white piece herself with her long tail just peaking out behind her shoulder, the black tip reminiscent of his own. Reggie was standing next to his father, both of them in matching blue and green swim trunks. Nine year old Reggie was looking up at his father, who had his arm around him. His father and Mary looking directly at the camera while his mother looked down at Mary, and if any mammal passing by would have looked at this photo they would have thought it was perfect.

What they wouldn't know is that the lessons his father was teaching Reggie had reached its second year. That his father was starting to find solace more and more in drinking and smoking. That Reggie had seen his mother crying at night at their kitchen table and wouldn't understand why until several months later. If anything the picture didn't show the perfect family, but one right on the edge of deteriorating. Reggie's gaze eventually focused on his own reflection, on how much him and his father looked alike.

"We share more than our tempers…"

He always considered Mary lucky. His sister looked like their mother in features, including as set of brown eyes to match. Reggie's black came from his father. His sister also had their mother's patience and caring personality. Both his mother and sister were nurturers. That's the reason Reggie believed she started trying to take care of his injuries and what eventually led her to become a nurse. While the Weasel heard the sound of the door opening and closing, and chatter from a different voice, Reggie didn't react until he felt a paw push his shoulder. Glancing over, Reggie saw Mary standing next to him, looking tired and still in scrubs.

"Bout time you came by" Mary teased. Unlike Duke and Duchess, Mary would call or text Reggie throughout the week bugging him to come around. He may have been a year older than her, but Reggie always felt like a kit with Mary.

"I would have come over sooner Mare, but work is killer" Reggie responded "you know that feeling."

Mary let out a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes "You aren't that far away, and I know you don't have a social life." Reggie turned back to his sister.

"I definitely have a social life."

"Really?" Mary retorted folding her arms.

"Really" replied Reggie with a nod of his head "just yesterday I went out with some co-workers to grab drinks after work." The fact that he was dragged out by his tail was not something that Mary needed to know.

"Oooo Look at you Mr. Social!" Mary exclaimed sarcastically "any lady cops that catch your fancy." Mary then started elbowing Reggie in the gut while winking nonstop. Reggie snorted at the idea.

"Ninety percent of my co-workers could step on me and not even notice. My chances for a work place romance are nonexistent."

"Not that it matters."

Reggie didn't like going out on dates. He had tried before and found that he was terrible at small talk. Also his lack of experience early in life compounded the issue by making him feel self-conscious about asking a female out. Besides, Reggie didn't want to hook up with someone and play grab-tail. When the thought of grabbing a tail came into the Weasel's mind, the image of a certain gray and black striped tail appeared. Giving his head a quick shake, Reggie tried to push the thought away before Mary caught on. He then turned back to the picture.

"That was a great day" Mary said, Reggie could feel her lean her head against his shoulder "it's the last memory I have of you smiling before dad died." Reggie tensed up. This was not a conversation he was about to have with Mary, he needed to deflect quickly.

"You tend to stop smiling when you join a gang Mare" Reggie said, turning to look at his sister "though I definitely smiled after that day."

"I wouldn't know" Mary retorted, her paws landing on her hips, "you wouldn't come around for days, sometimes weeks!" Reggie waved a paw at her.

"I took care of myself. That's all." The expression on Mary's face changed from a playful frown and deepened into a serious look. Reggie could see the gears in Mary's head turning. She had something on her mind.

"Regg…you know you can tell me anything right"

"Of course!" Reggie quickly lied. One that he had told her many times before, one more time wouldn't hurt. "What do you think I'm not telling you?" His sister gave a shrug and looked away.

"I don't know…but sometimes I feel like you're holding back. Like I should know something, but I don't" Mary then turned back to Reggie "maybe it's nothing, maybe it's something." Reggie frowned, but quickly turned it into a smile. The male mustela sometimes forgot how smart his sister was. Reggie and his mother always did their best to shield Mary from what was happening with Rick, but maybe he should tell her.

"No…there's no reason."

Instead Reggie turned towards his sister and hugged her. "Don't worry Mare. I'm a big weasel now, but if something ever bothers me I'll let you know." The male weasel felt Mary's arms wrap around him and return the hug. "Now then sister of mine I'm starting to get hungry."

Mary giggled "Then let's go eat! No reason to wait for the food to go cold!" Mary exclaimed happily. Reggie chuckled and shook his head.

"Didn't know you were a fan of Dutch's cooking?"

"Oh I'm not" Mary replied "I got us Bugburger instead." Reggie couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Have I told you I loved you recently Mare?"

"Yes, but you could tell me more often." With that the two mustela's made their way to the table. Reggie feeling lighter now than in the last year, and reminding himself to come to family dinner's more often.

The idea of Duchess I will admit to stealing from Kittah4 and the Partner Series. I believe i have made this Duchess more closer to my own, but admit that the idea was nowhere near originally mine. Criticism is always welcome.

-CG