Alerted by the sound of paper rustling, Jennyanydots lumbered to the office as fast as her cumbersome midriff would allow and peeped in at the door. "Jazzie, dear. What are you doing?"

The Snowshoe didn't look up. "Tidying."

"Oh, no no no!" The Gumbie hurried in, looking flustered. "You can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Well… I-I-I…" she spluttered. "I might not be able to find anything."

"You can't find anything at the moment," Jazzie complained, as she continued to stack up paper and files. "This place is chaos!"

"It's organised chaos!"

"It's harming patient care! I'm going to organise everything so that we know which paperwork belongs to which patient, and make sure all notes are filed and up to date. Or else, sooner or later, the wrong patient will get the wrong treatment, which would be disastrous. Is that what you want?"

"Well, of course not... but… but… it's never happened before."

"That is not a guaranteed safety net, Jenny! The fact that that HASN'T happened greatly surprises me."

Jennyanydots puffed herself up to her full height, just a tad shorter than Jazzie. "With all due respect, Doctor, but as Matron of this establishment, I really-"

"Ought to have the patients' best interests at heart. I'm sorry to sound brusque, but I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation."

"I-I-I... do-"

"Then you must trust that I know what I'm doing and let me get on with this. You can either help, or else, stay out of my way. You're choice."

"Well, really!" The Matron turned on her heel and marched out of the office, muttering crossley to herself as she did.

Sighing, Jazzie pulled out a chair and sat down heavily at the desk. She'd managed to clear a small space and started to go through one of the huge piles of risk assessments and notes that she'd neatly stacked up.

After about fifteen minutes, she started to yawn. She put the pen down and took off her pince nez. "Merde! I'm so tired!" She groaned, rubbing her eyes.

Sighing again, she picked the pen back up, returned the specs to her nose and carried on writing.

She yawned for a second time.

Her head began to droop. "Maybe could… lie down… Just for... a minute…"


Munkustrap arrived at the Infirmary a full minute before the hour, but almost had a serious collision with a pregnant torbie in his zeal to get to the office. "Good evening, Miss 'Dots," he said good naturedly, catching her before she went A over T. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Oh, Munkustrap! Thank goodness you're here!"

That was not the cheery response he'd expected. "Is everything alright? What's happened?"

"I was just on my way to see my sister about it!" she cried woefully. "But seeing as you're here-"

"See Jelly about what?"

She started to explain. "It's the Doctor..."

"Who? Jazzie? Is she ok?"

"Yes, she's fine, dear! Oh! You need to come and see!"

As she walked with him, she regaled her grievances. "... don't know how I shall ever find anything… I don't like the way she is changing things…"

"Maybe she's changing things for the better," Munkustrap muttered. "Give her a chance."

They looked in. "Oh my…!" Jenny started to exclaim, but Munkustrap pulled her back out again.

"I'll take care of this. You go and get some rest."

"But-but-!"

"Uh uh!" He held up a paw. "I think those kittens are making you just a tad emotional, wouldn't you say?"

"Well... perhaps… I-"

"...think a lie down would make you feel so much better." He fixed her with a knowing look and she sighed, having to admit that she was exceedingly tired.

"I must say, a lie down does sound good. But what about-?"

"The infirmary is quiet. You only have to lie down for a short while."

"Yes… a short while..."

He gave her a light push towards her sleeping quarters. "Off you go, then."

As soon as she was gone, he quietly entered the office. Seeing the Snowshoe fast asleep, he gently shook her arm. When that failed to produce a reaction, he tried a polite cough. He didn't want to wake her, since there was something endearing about the way her head was resting on her arm, with her pince nez slightly askew, but at the same time-

"Oh!" She cried, sitting up. "I'm so sorry, I must've-!"

"It's ok." He grinned. "I told you you'd be exhausted."

"Oh no! I'm fine-! Honest."

He looked doubtful. "You should rest. We can always meet up another time."

"I'm not that tired," she insisted. "Look-" To prove it, she stood up, and immediately felt herself being helped back into her seat as she came over all light headed.

"Bast!" He exclaimed, as he felt how boney her shoulders were. "When's the last time you ate something?"

"Um… this morning?" She'd heard the dinner bell go off at midnight, but had been too busy to go to the kitchen and had subsequently forgotten about it.

"Ok, tell you what," said Munkustrap, making up his mind. "There's a place nearby. I'll take you there and get you something to eat, then I'll walk you back afterwards. How does that sound?"

He offered her his paw and she took it with a smile. "Sounds good."

"Jazzie? What are you doing?"

They both froze and turned, to see Hortenseya not looking best pleased.

The Snowshoe instinctively snatched her paw out of Munkustrap's, looking sheepish. "I… um… we were…"

"I'm just taking her to get something to eat," he calmly informed the suspicious looking Korat. "Do you have a problem with that?"

Hortenseya was about to open her mouth to explain that she did, in fact, have a major problem with that, when Lucitana appeared, looking as tired as Jazzie felt, but had apparently overheard everything. In her exhausted state, her Galway accent was as broad as ever. "Tense! Lighten up, wid yer? Let the poor beure go have sommat to eat. He ain't gonna hurt her."

"He'd better not!" Hortenseya growled. Then directed a claw at them both. "Be back by sunrise, or I'll come out to find you!" She kept her glare fixed on Munkustrap for some considerable time, until Luci had to forcibly drag her away.

"Come on, you! I'm shook as a hand at mass! I wanna get me some shuteye before I pass out!" She bundled the disgruntled Hortenseya off to their dorm, but not before winking back at Jazzie. "Go on, girl! Have a craic! And be sure to tell us about it later."


For a fish restaurant, the Seashell of Lisson Grove was certainly no downmarket chippy. From its clock above the door, to its sleek exterior, it boasted a welcoming elegance and familiarity, which had remained largely unchanged since 1965, when it had moved to its location on the corner of Shroton Street, just a stone's throw from the Scrapyard.

Jazzie stared in awe at its smooth Art Deco style surfaces, the chequered marble floor and bold, nautical paintings on the walls. She'd never dreamt of ending up in a place like this, but couldn't help feeling a little out of place, dressed as she was in her doctor's getup!

"Good morning. Have you booked a table?" Asked the waitress.

Munkustrap smiled politely and said that he had.

After checking the name, the waitress escorted them to a table, which was situated next to a huge fish tank, and handed them their menus once they were seated.

"Are you ok?" He asked, offering her some water, before pouring some for himself. She'd hardly said a word since they'd left the Infirmary.

"Yes. Um… I just... didn't realise you were taking me somewhere so fancy!" She chirped, admiring the tropical fish.

"Would you have preferred a greasy spoon?" He suddenly wondered whether this was too much.

"Oh no. I love fish!" She quickly assured him. "I just feel like I ought to be more dressed up, that's all."

He gave her a complimentary smile. "You look lovely as you are."

"Oh." She blushed under her fur. "So do you."

He chuckled. "I've just come from training. I don't usually look this scruffy."

Well, maybe his fur could have done with a bit of a brush, but other than that, he was looking more handsome than ever, wearing a utility belt of sturdy leather that matched his collar quite nicely, and contrasted with his glittering fur. "I quite like the rugged look," she remarked jokingly.

"Aw. Thank you." He tried not to look embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "So, what are you having?"

Tearing her eyes from him for a moment, she opened up her menu. "Um… I don't know. There's so much choice."

"How about the daily special?" He pointed towards a board that was advertising a sharing platter for two, consisting of the finest catch, fresh from Billingsgate market.

Jazzie didn't look too sure. "Wouldn't that be too much?"

"Well... I'm starving," he admitted. "So probably not."

"Ah, tant pis!" she thought with a smile. "Ok, let's do it!"

After they had ordered the food, something suddenly occurred to her. "Munk?"

"Hm?" He was taking a sip of water, convertly watching her as she glanced around at the fancy restaurant again.

"Is-is this a… a date?"

"What did you think it was?"

"I don't know. I've never been on one before."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Did your late… um…?"

"Theos?" She shook her head. "Oh no. He never took me anywhere. I mean… he would take me to pubs and order snacks at the bar and things, but I don't think that really counts."

Munkustrap carefully put down his drink and clasped his paws on the table. "Then, I suppose I have to ask. Do you want this to be a date?"

The question took her by surprise.

"Because... if not, it could also be two friends, simply getting to know each other over some food. I don't want you to think I'm forcing you into anything."

She was quiet for a time, making out that she was mulling over what he had just said, when in actual fact, she was trying to calm her jittering nerves. Finally, she looked at him, her eyes searching his. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

She took a breath and folded her paws in her lap. "Do you… like me?"

He laughed quietly. And then reached over the table for her paws, which she automatically placed into his. He rubbed her knuckles with his thumbs, and after a minute, confessed, "I think I more than like you."

The tired look in her eyes suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a bright beam of joy. "I think I more than like you too!"

The food arrived a little later, at which point they had begun to talk away about everything and anything. Jazzie couldn't really remember what they talked about, only that she seemed to spend most of her time laughing.

"... All he had to do was learn a word," he was saying. "One, simple word! But oh no." He rolled his eyes. "How those two haven't put me in an early grave or vice versa, I'll never know."

"They sound like fun."

"You're quite right. I don't think they've ever taken anything seriously in their lives."

Time went by so quickly, and before she knew it, it was time for them to leave.

"Thank you. That was lovely," she said, as they walked together along the quiet street.

"Good. I'm glad you enjoyed it," he replied, smiling.

"I don't think I've ever eaten so much lovely food."

"I don't think I've ever eaten in more lovelier company." He offered her his arm, and she took it. It felt so natural, like she'd been doing it for years. She'd loved Theos passionately, but she'd never felt this safe around anyone else before. She held onto him more tightly, and before long, her paw was interlocking with his.

"I don't want to go back just yet," she whispered.

"We can stay out for a bit longer, if you like?" He led her to a nearby building and helped her to climb up.

"It's a bit high!" She said when they were almost to the top, her voice quavering as she nervously peered over the rim of the window ledge, seeing the dizzying blur of the street below.

"It's ok." He had a firm grasp of her paw. He wouldn't let her fall. With the balance of an ibex, he guided her to footholds and grooves in the brick for her claws to latch onto, being her support in case she slipped and murmuring encouragement when her limbs began to ache. And the effort was worth it, because soon after, they were resting on a rooftop, watching the sun slowly rise over the city.

It was markedly cooler up here though.

"You cold?" Noticing her shivering, he wrapped an arm around her. "Better?"

She nodded and nuzzled into his shoulder, letting his tail wrap around her too, like a fluffy, warm scarf. "It's beautiful."

They sat like that for a while, staring at the horizon and the birds beginning to wake up and go about their business. Then she felt him shift a little so that he was turning towards her. Her eyes were drawn to his lips. That serious straight line, that smiled only sometimes and only for certain people. And then to his eyes, and saw that they were locked onto hers, sparkling as though they'd stolen a piece of the flaming sky. She leaned in. He started only slightly, but then reciprocated with a delicate kiss and a gentle stroke of her chin.

"Munk?" She whispered.

"Hm?"

"There is something I need to ask you."

"Yup?"

"Your mate. Does she know about this?"

It took him a few moments to reply. "Demeter is not my mate," he said finally. "We broke up three weeks ago."

"Oh. Sorry to hear that."

He shrugged. "It's all rather depressing, really. I'd much rather talk about you." He gazed at her, unable to believe that this was really happening, and realised there was something he had neglected to ask her. "Tell me. Do you go by any other names?"

"Well... my full name is Jazzimoré... but I don't really like it."

He looked surprised. "Why not?"

She made a face. "Only my mother calls me that. My humans named me Claudette, after a physician who supposedly worked for Louis XIV."

"Jazzimoré?" He repeated. "I think it's a beautiful name." He also thought how remarkable it was the way she spoke, the way she had difficulty in pronouncing her 'th's', so that 'mother' came out sounding more like 'muzzer'...

"Really?"

"Yes. Do you mind if I call you that, sometimes?"

She smiled shyly. "Maybe I won't mind so much if you do!"