Title : You & Me & a Dog Named Flea/Chapter 21 "Flea's Army"
Author : fridayblues
Pairing : Ennis/Jack
Disclaimer : Annie Prouxl owns the timeless characters in BBM. I'm writing from love and making no profit.
Summary : AU!AU set in San Francisco ; Jack Twist had a chance encounter with a veterinarian one day, didn't know the shy vet, and his black and white terrier, would have a permanent place in his heart.
My Deepest Thanks always to Judy (judybluecat), the ultimate beta!
Feedback : means the world to me:)

Chapter 21 "Flea's Army"

Ennis woke up on his stomach feeling cold at his feet and he took the moment to just lie there unmoving, listening to the sound of everything around him; the clock ticking, soft music from the neighbor—instrumental, the sound of scooters, a couple of them, from outside the curtain-covered window and Jack's steady, warm breath on his shoulder.

He shifted slowly and carefully to squint his eye up at the clock on the nightstand. Eleven, just two hours after they got back from Grant's place, and Ennis would have gone back to sleep if the thought about Flea hadn't crossed his mind. There was no sound of Flea in the room, and he missed him so badly.

Needed to go to pick up Flea today, needed to call Martha.

With a quick glance at Jack who was still sleeping, Ennis fumbled with the pile of clothes on the floor and took out his cell phone from the jeans pocket. Shit, it had been shut off since last night. He turned it on and the phone blinked to life and told him that he had three messages. The first one was from Carol, wishing him a happy New Year and saying that she'd call again. The second one was also from Carol, more like K.E. 'cause it read Happy New Yr, man. I'm gonna get a cell soon. Talk 2u later. Ennis had an image of K.E., looking like a hippy the way he was with long hair and beard, talking on the cell, and had to chuckle. That sure was a sight. Ennis leant back on the bed, pulled his feet into the warmth of the blanket and Jack as he read the next message, the third, and the last one, which was from Mona.

Happy New Year, Tiger. We keep on missing each other's calls. You doing anything tomorrow? Call me.

Ennis read the message again and without thinking, he punched Mona's number. He didn't expect the voice mail service saying she wasn't available to take the call. It took him a quiet moment before he finally snorted into the phone.

"You're right," Ennis chuckled softly, "…our timing sucks. Let's just meet, ok? Um…can you go to the clinic tomorrow? It's my day off but I have something to do there. I have so many things to tell you and…" Ennis swallowed. "It's been a long time since we last hung out together. I have a lot of things to tell you. And…ah…happy New Year to you, too."

He hung up and stared into the emptiness. Jack shifted to his side and Ennis instinctively stretched out his arm so Jack could snuggle closer to his chest. He looked down when Jack murmured something only to find those huge blue eyes looking at him. Ennis frowned a little. Jack looked too focused, eyes gleaming and bright, unlike someone who had just woken up. "Have you been spying on me?"

A slow grin on his lips. "Not intentionally. But I can pretend to go back to sleep."

"Smartass."

Ennis growled, halfheartedly, and pinned Jack back on the bed, a laughing Jack who took the phone away from his hand and bent Ennis's neck down for a kiss.

"Um," Jack hummed. "You talked to Mona?"

"Left her a message, again. Our timing sucks, it seems." Ennis shifted onto his side. Jack did the same and propped himself up on his elbow, looking down at Ennis.

"Tell me about her."

"Mona? Well, she and Carol are best friends, so similar and so different at the same time. Carol is like a man, never fussing. She would just observe you from far away, like a mother horse looking at her foal that had just been born, not giving it a single nudge until it could stand by itself."

"U-huh" Jack stared at him.

"But Mona is…what should I say…she pushes, for my own good, I know. She's concerned and it's good to know that she cares. But sometimes, she pushes me too fast, and too hard, and I have a feeling I want to step back rather than to walk on. You know what I mean?"

Jack smiled. "Carol told me that you're like a turtle."

"A what?"

"A turtle. She said you would shrink back into your shell when someone nudges you with a stick."

Ennis groaned. "Nice."

That brought a chuckle from Jack. "Don't you think Mona knows you, too? I think she does but for whatever reason, she doesn't want to follow in Carol's footsteps. She nudges you with a stick anyway, like I did."

"Like you did?"

"Ennis," Jack's face softened. "You have any idea how I've been trying to get inside that thick head of yours? It's like pushing a rock up a mountain."

"Then why did you do it?"

There was no sarcasm in Ennis's voice. His golden eyes were full of doubt and something else; a flash of hurt that he was trying to conceal.

"Cause it's beautiful." Jack scooted over and lay down on Ennis's pillow, gazing at him close and steady. "Why do you think people risk their lives to climb the Himalayas? It's worth it once they reach the top."

"Is it?"

"Damn right." Jack grinned and squeezed Ennis with his strong arms. Ennis pushed his chest away a little so he could look at him, eyes round in pure wonder.

"How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Being so…" Ennis shook his head, trying to find the right words for what he wanted to say. "…strong and optimistic."

Jack had on his sad smile. "I just try to be strong. I've been growing up alone. I don't have a Carol or a Mona, or a K.E. to back me up. My dad is mean and I feel so sorry for my mom that I don't have a heart to blame her when she let Dad hit me."

"Shit, Jack."

"I'm just trying to be strong, stick to my guns and reach for what I want, things that are important in my life."

"Like how you got on the Ferris wheel to feel the stars closer."

Jack mock-grimaced. "Jesus, you make me sound like a girl."

"Hmm."

"And you should know by now I'm not at all strong when it comes to you. You practically make me weak in the knees."

Ennis smirked. "Now you sound like someone in a soap opera."

"Desperate Housewives?"

Ennis laughed and flipped Jack on his back, ending the small wrestling match with him on top. Jack's laughter faded a little as seriousness eclipsed the smile on Ennis's face. He caressed Ennis's lips and jaw with the pad of this thumb. Ennis exhaled. "Jack."

"Yeah?"

"You're my best friend and…something more. What I'm trying to say is…"

"You don't have to say anything," Jack whispered, parting Ennis's lips with his thumb. "Remember what I said in Riverton? We're going to go slow. You're not ready to say…whatever you wanna say to me, but you're ready to hear it from me. That's good enough for now."

"Really?"

"Really." Jack surged up to kiss him and Ennis suddenly wanted Jack to know how he felt. He pressed Jack down on the mattress and deepened the kiss, letting his body speak for him. Did Jack know? Ennis felt Jack's smile on his lips.

Yeah, he did.

- - -

"Think we have to get up soon. I don't have shit in the fridge. Need to go shopping." Jack stretched and rubbed his eyes.

Ennis pushed himself up to sit on the bed. "Need to pick up Flea from Martha, too."

"Yeah." Jack squeezed his arm and jumped off the bed. Ennis scrabbled with his phone, could feel the heat on his face when he caught a glimpse of Jack's naked back as he searched for Martha's number. She greeted him with her usual loud voice after several rings.

They decided to meet at one o'clock, at Martha's place just outside Hayes Valley. Flea was barking in the background as if he knew she was talking with him and Ennis suddenly felt sad. He must have sighed or simply stopped talking without noticing it 'cause now Martha was comforting him like he was a small kid. "Ennis, we will talk about this Flea situation, ok? I know you don't want to hurt Tommy but we have to do something right. And the right thing is you and Flea together."

"I know…" Ennis grumbled, flicked his eyes to the bathroom where he heard the water running behind the closed door. "Still…"

"And I won't let him go that easily. If you're Flea's daddy, then I'm his freaking aunt. I've been with him almost every night. If you're going to give Flea away, then we have to talk, young man." Martha paused for a few beats and went on in her motherly tone. "Not to mention Drew will kill you, and I have the feeling Dr. Brown might have something to say about this."

"Martha," Ennis stopped her, laughing low at the way she talked about Flea like he was the clinic's official mascot or something. He and Jack weren't the only ones worrying about Flea last night for sure. "I get it, ok? Actually, I want to find a way to keep Flea. We, I mean Jack and I…will think of something."

"Jack, you and I will think of something," Martha said, leaving him no space to feel awkward from referring to them as 'we'. Ennis nodded. "Ok."

"Great." There was a smile in her voice, a relieved smile, he guessed. "See you then, Ennis. Take a walk, smell the air of the New Year. It might help clear your head."

"Yeah, ok."

And they actually took a walk after a quick brunch of hot dogs. The grocery shopping had to wait until later in the day because now they were already late. The street was pretty empty and they chose to walk past St. Mary's Cathedral, something that was not in the plan, and that was why they were fifteen minutes late.

Jack looked up at the mistletoe above his head as he stepped inside the small townhouse with a big red parrot in the cage at the front door. His eyes swept around the comfy room that smelled of home-made bread. He spotted Martha in her green clothes, so colorful, very different from the normal blue scrubs she always wore at the clinic. She was holding a basket of bread and hugged Ennis with her free hand and then turned to him. "Happy New Year, Jack."

"Happy New Year, Martha," Jack said and gave her a hug. "You look great."

"Looking great on the first day of the year would bring great luck." She patted him hard on his back and clutched his wrist as soon as she saw the bead bracelet. "Oh, my, this is gorgeous!"

"It was a present." Jack could hardly prevent his face from breaking into a stupid grin. "They're African beads."

"I know. I have a bead necklace, too, not as beautiful though."

Jack heard Flea's bark echo in the small room before his little body rushed out of the corner, which Jack assumed led to the kitchen. He stood on his back feet and scratched Jack's calves like crazy. Jack had to bend down to stroke Flea, trying to calm the little dog from the excitement of seeing him.

"Hey, buddy. How're you doing?" Jack whispered and flopped down to sit Indian-style on the floor. Flea still ran around, barking as he kind of pawed Jack's back, asking for more attention. Jack laughed. "What? It's been only three days since you last saw me."

Yep!

Another sharp bark. Maybe that was his way to say no, three days had already been too long.

Ennis sat in front of him and Jack looked at his soft expression when Flea jumped on his lap. He wondered if the father of the boy had looked at Ennis when he asked to take Flea back. Maybe not or else he wouldn't do what he did unless he was a heartless man.

Jack sighed and that switched Ennis's attention his way. He thought Ennis was going to say something but somehow Martha's footsteps stopped him. The next thing he knew, she flopped down on the floor with them, forming a small circle of three people and a dog. "So? What're we gonna do about Flea?"

Jack turned to Ennis as if he wanted to ask the same question. Ennis pressed his lips tightly into an unwavering line. "Need to find a Boston terrier puppy. But I doubt if someone's going to sell us one at this time of the year."

"We don't know yet," Jack said. "It's New Year. Maybe someone wants a pup for a present."

"Nobody's selling anything today, Jack."

"It doesn't have to be today." Martha tossed in her thought, then she looked at both of them with wide, horrified eyes. "God, what if his house is ready like tomorrow? No, Flea can't stay at the clinic. We can't let that man find him before we can think of something. You have to take him, Jack." She snapped her fingers as another thought crossed her mind. "How about we find this David Mills and talk to him first?"

"How?" Jack wondered.

"I think we have Tommy's mother's phone number at the clinic. Remember once when he stayed so late we had to call his mother to pick him up?" Ennis nodded, forehead creased with worry, but he didn't say anything, just stroked gently on Flea's belly. "If we can't find the mother's number, we'll move heaven and earth to find him."

"I'll help," Jack said, redirecting Ennis's attention with a squeeze around his wrist. "I'm gonna take him to work with me. Screw my boss. And I'm going to help you find a pup. It's going to be ok, Ennis."

Ennis looked slowly back and forth between them, his heart expanded, and he nodded again, stronger this time. "Ok. I'll talk to the father as soon as we find him. I'm damn good with talking, you know it. Christ."

He groaned and earned a gentle shove from Jack whose blue eyes were now shining with affection. Martha's laughter drifted in the air. The heavy tension that had been lingering around them abruptly departed.

"Right, Mr. Big Talker," Martha snorted. "Alright. Let's get back to our original program. We have pork ribs in gravy and mash potatoes. Be ready in ten minutes."

"Martha," Ennis called out before she walked off. "Thanks."

She simply shrugged and looked down at Flea who was stretching his front legs and rolling on his back, exposing his white, fluffy tummy for more tickling. She chuckled. "You spoiled, little brat."

She walked to the kitchen with louder chuckles, Flea barked and followed her as if to ask 'What's so funny?'

Jack gazed after Martha until she disappeared with Flea. The suspicion that she knew about the true relationship between him and Ennis was beyond question now. He swore she saw their matching bead bracelets and there was a faint smile on her lips when their eyes met later.

"Are you sure you can take Flea to your office?" Ennis asked out of the blue, bringing his gaze back.

"No," Jack grimaced. "I'm pretty sure pets are not allowed into the building. But Grant could help 'cause he works only at night. Besides, Flea and Pepe get along just fine." Ennis made a sound in his throat which Jack assumed was something between 'good' and 'bad'. He shook Ennis's knee. "But Ennis, are you sure this is what you want? I know you don't want to hurt Tommy."

"Yes," Ennis bit his lip. "There're so many memories with Flea, about you and me. You love him."

"I told you I would be with you no matter how you decide. You don't have to do this for me."

"I have to, I want to." Jack's heart skipped the beat at the simple admission. "And this is not just for you. I'm doing this for me, too. I love Flea…"

Jack flicked his thumb on Ennis's cheekbone. "Ok, then. Let's do this."

After lunch and a brief stop to grab Ennis's clothes and personal belongings at the clinic, they went grocery shopping, got back to Jack's place at seven and started searching for info on Boston terrier breeders from the internet right away. They curled and rolled on the bed, working on Jack's laptop, taking notes, the sound of Flea playing with his squeaking stuffed friends echoing in the small room.

Ennis stopped once to feed Flea and to warm up the frozen beef lasagna they had bought from Trader Joe's for dinner. He called one of the puppy farms in Berkeley while he waited for the microwave to beep, but hearing the message that the farm would be closed until January 5th, something he had prepared for, was still very disappointing.

"So?" Jack asked from the bed. Ennis sent him a sad smile when the microwave beeped. "Shit. Didn't someone want a pup for a New Year's present?"

"They'll open on the fifth," Ennis said, and took the lasagna to the table.

After the meal, Ennis went back to the laptop, gluing his eyes on page after page of Google hits, while Jack rinsed the dishes. Jack called a few dog farms in Oakland only to find out that they didn't have Boston terrier puppies. When he asked for help, they suggested the farms in Boston; what a bad joke.

He must have fallen asleep at some point because now the room was dark, and Ennis was tucked under his chin, his body still a little stiff. Jack tightened his arms around Ennis, suddenly wanting to be the thick, comfy shell, keeping Ennis safe and sound at least for a night.

- - -

It was seven the next morning when Ennis woke up on his stomach feeling cold at his feet. He opened his eyes just above Jack's ruffled head, withdrew his feet into the blanket and buried his nose into the soft strands of Jack's hair. He closed his eyes again and listened to the sound of the clock ticking, soft music from the neighbor—different from yesterday, but still instrumental, the sound of cars and motorcycles from outside the curtain-covered window and Jack's warm breath on his neck. It was almost like yesterday morning except that he heard Flea shifting in his little bed at the corner of the room. And it was like the last piece of the puzzle that completed the picture of a perfect morning to wake up to.

Ennis snapped open his eyes. He had a feeling a fighter Ennis wanted to act early today.

"Jack?"

"What?" A half-irritated murmur and Jack buried his face deeper in Ennis's chest. He groaned when Ennis shook his shoulders.

"Come on, you have to go to Grant's."

Yawning, Jack rolled to hug the pillow and listen to the sound of the water running in the bathroom. It was far better than the music coming from his Mozart-crazed neighbor. Jack smiled and greeted Flea who was wagging his tail at the side of the bed. "Hey, come up here."

He knew it was a bad habit to let a dog stay in your bed. But he couldn't help it. He loved playing with Flea's soft hair and he was so damn cute. God, what would he do if he couldn't see him again?

Jack sat up at the thought as the reality gripped his heart. The time was running short and they only had four days until Saturday. This was so like Armageddon.

After a quick make-out session in front of the bathroom, an inevitable one 'cause a wet Ennis looked so sexy, Jack rushed to take Flea to Grant's, who didn't ask much (they would talk on the phone later, the way they always did) and spent the whole morning at Newsome Publishing searching for info about dog farms. He decided to have a look at dog rescue and adoption, too, just in case they couldn't find any pups.

Alma was at her desk, peering at him once in a while; the tension between them was as heavy as a 16-wheel truck. He knew he had to talk with her, but Jack had priorities. At this moment, Flea came first.

He called Ennis after lunch only to find that the pup farm in Boulder Creek, too, had no Boston terrier for sale at this time of the year. Jack sat still, e-mails were waiting to be checked, stories were waiting to be edited, but he couldn't care less. Jack couldn't spare his attention for anything else, hard as he tried anyway.

Grant called later in the afternoon and Jack told him all about Flea. His desperation must have rung clear in his voice 'cause Grant suddenly agreed to help. He would hunt for a Boston terrier pup from the pet shops in town. "I'll call if there's progress."

"Thanks, Grant." Jack let the air out from his lungs. "We need all the help we can get right now. Ennis doesn't want to give Flea away. I'll help him."

"I think he's doing this for you. Don't need a brain to know you adore the dog."

"But he said he loves him, too. I think he's doing this for himself this time, hanging on to something he loves."

"He's doing this for you, Jacky." Grant's soft chuckles could be heard from across the line. "He's a changed man now, can't you see? You know what I saw in him the first time we met?"

"What?"

"I saw this man with a fragile soul, waiting to be found and handled with care, 'cause with one small touch at the wrong angle, he would shatter to pieces." Jack leant back and looked at the miniature Golden Gate Bridge outside the window, hearing Grant continue. "But he was…he's changed. The Ennis I saw yesterday was…how should I say it…I don't know. But he looks more charming, like he knows he exists and wants to prove it. And you know how a man trying to do something with his sweaty forehead and nerve-wracked, shaking body could be so damn adorable."

Jack laughed. "Man, you sure have imagination. Does Lee know you have a crush on Ennis?"

It was Grant's turn to laugh. "I think he kinda likes Ennis, too, saying he is tall and that he should date someone taller than Jacky-poo and all."

"That shithead," Jack growled, only half-serious.

"Anyway, I'll bring Flea to your office at 5, let's cross our fingers for good news on the pup."

"Thanks, Grant."

"Stay tough, boy."

Jack still looked at the Golden Gate Bridge even after Grant had already hung up. What had happened during the past few days was rewinding inside his head again like the reel of a movie; the fireworks, the slumber party at Grant's, two days of waking up with Ennis and mirror-sharing in the bathroom before a major make-out session that followed this morning. He still couldn't believe how they had been acting like a real couple, like lovers. Jack winced, feeling a bit fuzzy and funny at the thought, so that he let out a nervous chuckle.

Damn, he needed to gather himself together and get back to work now. Time is running out.

- - -

"Is she home?" Martha asked, irritated when Ennis just listened to his cell quietly. "Well?"

Ennis sighed before his body jerked like he had touched fire. "Oh, hi, hi," Ennis stuttered into his cell as a woman's voice broke the dial tone in his ear. "Mrs. Mills? No? Oh, I'm sorry. You're divorced…"

Martha rolled her eyes.

Martha and he seemed to have connected brains for they both went to the clinic even though it was the day off, and spending all day searching for Tommy's mother's phone number which they had finally found written on the back of the wall calendar just a minute ago.

"I'm calling from the vet clinic…" Ennis's stutter continued. "I'm Ennis Del Mar um…Mrs…ah Ms? Oh, Ms. Pickelwhat? Pickelwartz?" Martha snorted but schooled her face to stay serious. Ennis rolled his eyes at her this time.

He ended up explaining the situation to Ms. Pickelwartz and she gave the phone number and address of Tommy's father to him, with an earful of complaint on how impossible it was that the man would be able to take care of a dog since he couldn't even take care of his own son. Ennis's heart fell. He couldn't let Flea live with that man. But how the hell he could say no to him?

Martha wondered the same thing and was asking what he had just asked himself as soon as he put his phone down. "What're you going to say to him?"

"The truth, I guess." Ennis rubbed his eyes. "That I can't give Flea away. I'll propose the puppy deal to him."

Ennis grabbed the notepad with Mr. Mills' number and retreated to call him outside the clinic, hoping the cold would help chill his mind.

As expected, Mr. Mills didn't handle the news very well. But he agreed to meet with Ennis at the café called Steps of Rome on Columbus Avenue in an hour.

He must have stayed rooted to the pavement for a long time because when Mona showed up, with her newly-cut short hair, he found himself shaking from the cold. Ennis summoned a weak smile at her but Mona didn't buy it. "What happened, Ennis?"

Ennis straightened his back and looked her in the eye. "Many things happened, Mona. And I want to tell you everything. Can you go with me for a couple of hours?"

The Steps of Rome café was pretty crowded today, but their table was in a private corner. Ennis didn't tell Mona everything like he had promised, not now. He just told her about Flea, how he would try to persuade Tommy's father to agree to the puppy deal. Mona was patient. She was quietly drinking her coffee and just looked at Ennis with huge eyes and a puzzled stare.

Mr. Mills arrived on time. He looked tired and they shook hands awkwardly, sat back on their respective chairs and just stayed silent.

Ennis looked down at the bead bracelet and inhaled deeply. Looked like he would have to start first. "Mr. Mills. I have to confess that I've been trying to figure how to talk to you. I'm not…I'm not very good at talking. You might think this is no big deal, just about a dog. But this is very important so I think I'm going to be honest with you."

David Mills looked at him square in the eyes. Ennis was aware of Mona's stare on him, too, and his palms started to sweat. He had to clap them together between his thighs.

"I'm listening, Dr. Del Mar."

"Ok." Ennis swallowed. "I can't let you have Flea. You might think I'm a selfish guy, taking a dog away from your son. But this dog is special. He…" He sighed. "I'm in love with a man, Mr. Mills. I met him just about a month ago and I am scared to death about the feeling I have for him. But this feeling, whatever you may call it, a curse, a disgrace, a…a humiliation, whatever, is making me feel alive. It's like I've been waiting for someone like him to fill the hole in me. This dog is our bond. He's always been with us, when we're happy, sad, even when we fight. And he loves Flea. I…so I can't give Flea to you, Mr. Mills."

Ennis paused and tried in vain to stop his bouncing legs. Damn it. He took a deep breath as David's face turned blurry from the sudden tears. Ennis cursed himself for being a crybaby now when he had to be strong. He swallowed, took another deep breath and plunged in.

"I love him, Mr. Mills."

Mr. Mills looked…he didn't know what to call it. It was shock laced with surprise. Ennis didn't dare to look at Mona. Taking yet another deep breath, Ennis decided to pour out everything to this stranger.

"I love him, as much as a man can love someone. I know it can't be compared with the love you have for your son…"

"Don't say that," Mona hissed. "Don't compare love. You can't compare something like that."

"Mona…"

"You can't do that. It's not right." She turned all serious.

Mr. Mills, who looked awakened by Mona's small outburst, held out his hands. "Please, now please, let me say something, ok? I have to say I'm shocked. You don't have to tell me this, it's, it's very personal and it's a very sensitive topic to even discuss with someone you know. I'm almost a stranger to you, Dr. Del Mar. I'm tongue-tied right now but since you're being honest with me, I'm going to try to do the same."

He gathered his thoughts, looked pretty wrecked when he met Ennis's eyes.

"I am a bad father. I was never home and I'd never realized it until my wife wanted to divorce me three months ago. When I look at my own son, I see a stranger, some people's kid whom I know nothing about. I don't know what his favorite food is. But he's been talking about Flea a lot and I never cared to listen until, you know, his mother wanted a divorce. So you can say I'm a selfish bastard but now if Tommy wants Flea, I'm going to do anything to fulfill his wish."

Ennis's heart sank and he buried himself in the chair with a defeated sigh. But he felt a tiny kick in his guts, nudging him to try again. He was just about to open his mouth when Mona kind of hit the table with her palm. He wasn't the only one who was in shock for now Mr. Mills looked at Mona like he was seeing a ghost.

"Please excuse me," she growled, swear to God, she did. "It's time for me to step in, Mr. Mills, I think you misunderstand something. You want to make up to your son, you do it. Don't have a dog do it for you."

Ennis observed the two people in front of him staring at each other. He reached his cold hand for his cup but ended up sipping the emptiness. The waiter slipped close to fill the cup and slipped off just as quietly.

Finally, finally, Mr. Mills moved. He rubbed his face and looked up at them again with bleary eyes, his whole face crumpled and for a minute Ennis thought he was going to cry. And that scared him.

"Mr. Mills," Ennis started but Mr. Mills held up his hands.

"David, please."

"O…ok…" Ennis cleared his throat. "David…"

His hands went higher. "Actually, I haven't finished with my confession yet. Please let me continue." Numbly, Ennis nodded. Mona crossed her arms, looking at David with her fierce psychologist stare, a sight Ennis hadn't seen for a long time. "I don't know crap about dogs. I don't know how and when to feed or bathe them and I doubt if Tommy knows. We've never had dogs before. We used to have goldfishes though. But I don't want to hurt Tommy's feelings any more than I have done with the divorce. Your friend is right. I'm using this dog, but I don't know what else to do."

Mona was looking at him now. Ennis scooted his chair closer. "Have you thought about finding Tommy a puppy?" From the look of David's face, the answer was no. Ennis scooted even closer, his chest now bumped against the table, rocking their coffee cups. He wet his lips nervously. "How about we do this together, David? I don't want to hurt Tommy either. I'm going to try to find puppies and we'll look at them together. Tommy could choose the pup. I can tell you how to take care of it, where to buy the food and stuff, how to bathe him. I would go with you. And I can be his vet and…"

"Dr. Del Mar…"

David stopped him and for the first time Ennis realized that his body was shaking. Mona's hand had been resting on his arm since God knew when. "I'm sorry. I was just…damn. I'm sorry."

"No." David threw his hands in the air. "I'm the bad guy here. God, I can see how close you and Flea are. He can't even remember Tommy and he didn't even lick my hand." He held Ennis's eyes and gave him a wary smile. "So, deal."

"What?" Ennis gasped.

"I'll try to find a way to talk to Tommy. Call me a coward but I might need your back-up. I can't lose my son, Dr. Del Mar, but I want to do the right thing this time. I hope it's not too late." He turned to look at Mona. "So, yes, deal. Let's find a puppy for Tommy."

Ennis heard it; what David said rang clearly in his ear, but somehow he couldn't move. He wouldn't lose Flea. He and Jack would still have Flea. Mona's face was animated when she turned to him. Ennis tried to smile but he couldn't. His hands were still cold and shaking a little, his throat dry like he had swallowed sand. "Come on, Tiger," she pushed his shoulder. "Isn't it too late now to faint?"

Slumping from relief, Ennis felt like he really was going to faint. Everything turned white for a few beats and he had to close his eyes to compose himself. Soft chuckles escaping Ennis's mouth at last, as he said thank you and finally clasped hands with David who startled a little. It must be his icy hands that were grabbing his all too powerfully. But David didn't say anything, just looked at him and shook his head slowly. "How do you do that?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You have guts, Dr. Del Mar. You're a very strong character. I'm ashamed of myself."

Ennis thought back to when he had asked Jack the same question. And for the first time, he understood why Jack had said what he did. "I'm not that strong, David. But I'm trying to be. When we have important things in life, we all have to try to be strong enough to take hold of them. I guess…that's what I'm trying to do."

"Yeah, guess you're right," David murmured and reached for his coffee. Ennis observed how he put in two spoonfuls of sugar, took a sip, and cursed under his breath either from the hotness or sweetness of it. "And your friend is right. We can't compare love."

Ennis looked down at the black espresso. Jack was kind of grinning at him from there. He breathed, "No, I guess not."

- - -

"Can you stop pacing?" Martha said calmly but Jack saw her brows knotted with annoyance. Who wouldn't be annoyed? He was annoyed at himself, too, but he couldn't just sit still and wait for Ennis, who was talking with Tommy's father now, somewhere, alone. How the hell could he be calm…like someone?

Jack sneaked a look at Martha, who was fucking knitting behind the counter. He rolled his eyes, careful not to let Martha see it, and slumped his body next to Grant near the aquarium, which startled Flea from his biscuit-chewing on the floor. Grant looked amused. Jack groaned. "Why am I the only one worrying here?"

Martha shrugged. "He'll be doing just fine, Jack."

"Yeah," Grant chuckled. "Why don't you just sit back and relax? And is Flea supposed to eat more of that stuff?"

Jack looked down at Flea and blinked at the rings of excess flesh around his neck. "Whoa, Flea, man, you're getting chubby. Come here. You need exercise, you know?"

Jack loosened Flea's green collar and had begun to really relax when the door of the clinic opened. Ennis, with a big bag in his hand, walked in. Mona followed with a small man in his thirties. Flea barked, startled them all, and they looked at the dog that seemed to be the center of the universe now.

David grunted. "Does he have any idea what is happening?"

"If he does then he is a fine actor." Mona tugged the bag Ennis was holding. "Tiramisu? Anyone?"

Jack was helping David unloading tiramisu from the bag and onto plates when voices were heard from outside the kitchen. It seemed they had started to share the info of what they had been working on; Grant and his hunt for baby Flea from pet shops, Martha and her discovery of a Boston terrier farm in San Diego. Jack could just picture Ennis, and maybe Mona, too, listening with solemn faces.

"This is the last one," David said, putting away the bag. Jack handed the plate of tiramisu to Martha who poked her head in and turned back to meet David's eyes."

"Thank you, Mr. Mills," Jack said, and sincerely meant every word.

"You guys have been very polite and patient with me, I'm so ashamed." David shook his head regretfully. "I was just finding the easy way out. But I'm struck and inspired by what Dr. Del Mar said. I think he deserves all the thanks you all have been expressing to me."

"What Ennis said?"

"Yes." David rinsed his hands. "He said he couldn't give Flea away because the dog is the bond between you two, and he loves you. That takes some guts. It breaks and warms my heart at the same time."

Jack wasn't sure he'd heard right. "He said what?"

"I felt like a villain. I can't take away your precious dog."

It seemed David didn't hear what Jack had asked, for he was now heading out of the kitchen. Jack stood still lost in his thoughts… Jesus Christ, Ennis had told a complete stranger that he loved him.

"Damn, Ennis," Jack closed his eyes, letting the words seep into his soul. You like making me weak in the knees, don't you?

The Flea discussion went on around tiramisu and more coffees but Jack still couldn't bring his brain to think. He just sat there, on the floor, next to Ennis, counted his freckles, smelled his faint aftershave and sneaked a kiss or two on his cloth-clad shoulder when nobody was looking.

Flea's Army's meeting, as it was called by Martha, ended about fifteen minutes later without a solid conclusion. But maybe the tiramisu had worked the magic through its heaven-in-your-mouth sponge biscuits, because everyone seemed to be strangely composed, parting with promises to keep the mission of Flea's Army going.

And maybe there was more magic from the little black and white dog that was jogging and sniffing the pavement in his extremely red doggie sweater. Because during the quiet trip back home, Jack found his hand buried in Ennis's coat pocket, their fingers lacing and rubbing, the deadly cold January night an excuse for them to lean in even closer.

Jack swore it was the only thing that kept him from floating to the moon.

TBC

- - -

On to the next chapter...