You Made Me Beautiful: The Sequel
Part Five
Brenna "Snakelady" Dawkins
A Jackie Chan Adventures Fanfic
Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: Jackie Chan and subsequent characters belong to Jackie Chan and associates. It'd be pretty useless to sue me since I have nothing! I've made no profit nor will see any from this fic.
Summary: With VampireNaomi's permission, I have taken it upon myself to continue her fic since she had no plans to. When we last saw Finn, he was at the mercy of the evil William and it seems no one is there to help the thief--- or is there?
(Author's Note: Jade and Finn might be just a tad OOC in this chapter, but it's necessary for the direction I want this fic to take. Hope ya'll can forgive me! Let the torment continue!)
The next day after school, Jackie told Jade that Zephyr had an appointment at the vets. Jade looked worried and truthfully Finn didn't like the sound of that either.
"Do we have to, Jackie?" Jade hung onto Finn.
Jackie folded his arms, "Yes, Jade. We have to make sure he isn't carrying any kind of disease. It will be better for Zephyr in the long run."
"But those places are scary!" Jade hugged Finn's neck.
"No more scary then fighting demons?" Jackie's eyebrow raised.
Jade laughed nervously. "Okay. Sorry, Zeph"
Finn whined and leaned into her. She gave him another squeeze. Please, not the vets, Finn thought morosely to himself. He hated getting shots! He felt Jade scratch his ear again. She always seemed to know when he needed something like that.
"Jackie-e-e-e!" Uncle called out to them as Jackie was taking Jade and Zephyr out to the car. "I need you to do research!"
"But, Uncle." Jackie protested, "Zephyr has a veterinary appointment at four-thirty."
"I'll take the horse to the vet. You go do research!" Uncle pointed in the direction of Uncle's study.
"But you hate Zephyr." Jackie said perplexed. "And Zephyr doesn't necessarily like you either."
"The horse doesn't like you either, Jackie! Now, stop arguing with Uncle and do research!" Uncle commanded and thwapped Jackie in the head with his very effective two finger slap.
"Ow! Okay, okay. Jade, you go with Uncle. Don't let the horse--- I mean Zephyr bite Uncle." Jackie rubbed his head.
Uncle scowled at Finn who scowled back.
"It's okay, Jackie. Zeph will do whatever I tell him and he wont touch Uncle!" She awarded Jackie with a grin, sensing the tension between Finn and Uncle. "Come on, play nice! Come on, Uncle, pet Zephyr! He wont bite you."
Uncle harumphed and pointed his finger at Finn, "You are worthle-e-e- ess mongrel! Don't even have papers! Eat up all our food, or rather, you don't eat what we give you! Ungrateful!"
Finn felt the urge to bite that finger that waved in front of his nose.
"Come on, Uncle. Please?" Jade pressed.
Uncle scowled and reached over. Jade held onto Finn as Uncle's hand rested upon Finn's head. Finn growled and trembled in the effort not to bite that hand. Jade gripped his fur and whispered soothing words into his ear. He didn't bite Uncle, but he never ceased his growling.
"Get him in the car." Uncle decided it prudent to remove his hand.
Jade sighed and scratched behind Finn's ear, trying to calm him. It was apparent that she was the only one Finn was going to let get this close to him. In a way, it gave her a sense of superiority.
"Come on, G-Dog." Jade slipped the rope leash over Finn's neck.
Finn followed reluctantly. He didn't want to go to the vets. He didn't want to be poked or prodded. What if they kept him in a cage? He shuddered. Some tiny cage that was worse then a jail because it was in a room full of noisy dogs and cats. Please, just let them be in and out!
The old man drove them to the nearest veterinary clinic. Jade led Finn into the clinic with Uncle leading the way. They sat there in the waiting room. A woman in one of the seats took one look at Finn and hugged her cat to her chest protectively. Finn couldn't care less and sat obediently beside Jade who sat next to Uncle after he signed them in. It didn't take long before they were called in by an assistant vet. The woman helped Jade lift Finn onto the examination table, to Finn's embarrassment. The assistant was a cute blonde who had a very pleasant scent. The woman smiled at him and Jade cast Finn a sidelong glance as he allowed the young woman to give him a vigorous yet quick head rub with no growl at all.
"You dog, you." Jade rolled her eyes at Finn who did his best to look like nothing happened. Hey, he was a guy, after all! Jade wondered why on earth she felt jealous.
The real vet was in soon enough and he and Uncle conversed as Jade continually scratched Finn behind an ear, having pulled up a chair so she could reach. Jade had to admit she was glad that the assistant had left. For some reason, she just didn't like her.
He was a big man and put his hands all over Finn. Finn took exception to his brusque treatment. Why couldn't that pretty female assistant treat him? He could take any shot as long as there was a pretty face at the other end of that needle. The man did a general examination of him. Then prepared a shot. Finn backed up and almost fell off the table.
"I'll need help holding him." The vet said.
Uncle tried to grab onto Finn but he just growled at him. Jade sighed and tried to calm him, but he was busy ducking the vet so she had trouble pinning him down.
"Calm down, Zeph!" Jade tried to get him to relax, but Finn wasn't going to have that needle shoved in him.
Finn hopped off the table and scurried over to the far corner of the room.
"Cindy! I need your help!" The vet called.
Uncle muttered angrily at how ungrateful Zephyr was and threatened to turn him into a chi ingredient. Finn wedged himself between another chair and the medicine cabinet. Jade tried to convince Finn to cooperate, but he didn't want to hear it. The door opened and the pretty vet came in. Finn noticed and Jade saw and frowned. Great, did Finn just want an excuse to get her back in there? Cindy came over and crouched in front of Finn who seemed to take an sudden interest in coming out of hiding as long as he got to be coddled by the young woman.
"Come on, Zephy!" The woman waved her hand towards her, trying to coax him out.
Jade stood back, arms crossed. Finn wasn't going to come out and suffer through a shot no matter WHO held onto him! But her eyes widened as Finn crawled out of his hiding spot and came to Cindy's outstretched arms. The young woman pulled Finn into her close and uttered soothing thoughts as Finn's nose found it's way in between her cleavage via low cut neck line as she hugged him. Jade was thoroughly annoyed.
"Cindy's very good with animals." The vet told them.
Jade frowned. Finn was no animal. Wait. She took that back. He was a guy and all guys were animals.
"I thought you said he would listen only to you, Jade." Uncle asked her.
Jade shrugged helplessly and tried not to sound hurt, "I don't know. Maybe he just likes girls."
The vet and his assistant placed Finn back on the table. Cindy held onto Finn who only just shied slightly as the vet administered the shots. Cindy cooed and rubbed him over soothingly. Once the examination was done, Finn was allowed to hop off the table. Since he was to get new tags and didn't have a collar, Uncle had the vet add a new nylon collar onto the bill. Cindy slipped the collar around Finn's neck and secured it, then attached Jade's rope leash to it. Jade was told to take him out and wait for them in the waiting room. Glumly, she went back to the same chair she sat in before and waited quietly as Finn tried to get a look at his new collar, unaware that his little interaction with Cindy hadn't gone unnoticed.
It was a while before Uncle came out again, looking pleased. "Come on, Jade. Let's go. Will you show me how to operate that magic waffle iron of yours? I want to do some research!"
That was an odd request out of Uncle, but Jade shrugged, "Sure. You mean online, right?"
"Of course, online!" Uncle shooed them out of the vets.
Once back home, Finn found himself locked in Jade's room again while Jade showed her uncle how to do research online. She didn't even bother asking what he wanted to look up, afraid he'd pull her into his boring project. Probably something on one hundred and one uses for mung beans. She hurried back to her room where Finn was waiting.
Finn was feeling antsy. He wanted out of that room. When she came in, he wagged his tail, hoping she'd take him out. She closed her door and just looked at him. Looked at him until he felt uneasy. Great, what'd he do now? He could tell she was upset with him, but he didn't know why. He whined.
Jade did not like feeling that way. She didn't even know why she felt like that. It didn't make any sense, and yet, those feelings of being betrayed were still there. Yes, that's what it was when she thought about it, she'd felt betrayed. Finn was supposed to obey her and only her and in walks some pretty blonde bimbo and he goes running into her arms. And after she cried on his shoulder! Why did he have to do that? She felt almost like crying again and was upset at herself for feeling that strongly about it. Why was she crying over some stupid whim of Finn's?
Finn knew he was in trouble for something. She wasn't talking to him like she usually did. He'd gotten used to her continuous banter. Especially since he had nothing else to do but listen to her. She didn't talk to him all the rest of the evening. Jade grabbed up her required reading The Outsiders. Finn eagerly lay down, wanting to hear what happened to, as Jade called him, the Karate Kid, next. But she didn't crawl over to him and lean against him, instead, she jumped onto her bed, curled up against a pillow and shoved her nose in her book, reading it to herself silently. Finn hung his head. He was being snubbed. He wished he knew why. He lay his head on his front paws bored and confused. Yes, he was in the dog house for something, he was sure of it. Boy this sucked.
After school the next day, Jade decided to let Finn stretch his legs. Their walk wasn't just out to the tree and back. She took him down to the park. Finn was pleased. Another boring day had passed being spent in her room with nothing to do. She'd left on the Shopping Network for him. It left him wondering why she was still mad at him. He'd rather watched anything, even Lifetime over that. He sighed. He was never going to be changed back into a human.
They made it to the park. It wasn't that big, but it was better then being trapped in a small room. Jade still wasn't talking to him and it bothered him. It bothered him a lot. He didn't like being punished for some unknown crime he'd committed. He was so hung up about his problem, he didn't notice that Jade had stopped walking beside him. His collar choked him as he tried to keep moving forward and it didn't come along. What now? He wondered and turned his head to see what was holding her up. It looked like something had caught her eye and it didn't make her happy. He turned back to see just what it was. Just a bunch of kids, he snuffed. They looked to be around her age and were hanging out together. His collar choked him again as she turned on her heel and began to walk back the way they came. NO! He wasn't going to leave the park! They just got there! He held his ground despite being choked.
Jade discovered Finn wasn't coming along with her. She scowled at him and pulled against his leash with all her strength. He wasn't budging. Why? Why was he doing this to her? Couldn't he see how upset those kids made her? Those kids from school? First Cindy, and now this? She pulled on him again and felt angry and frustrated.
"You want to stay here in the park! Fine!" She threw the leash at him, turned and stalked away from him, hands shoved into her pants pockets and stared at the ground.
Finn stood there stunned. She was walking away from him. Why? What did he do now? Why did she yell at him when she was the one who brought him here and just decided to go back? He didn't understand and thought he deserved some answers. He took off after her. She hadn't gone very far and his long legs covered a lot of ground quickly. He ran out in front of her, blocking her with his huge body. He stared at her beseechingly. He wanted to know what was going on. He couldn't ask. He couldn't do anything as a dog.
Jade stared fiercely back at him. "You are doing all this on purpose!"
He blinked. Doing what?
"Don't play innocent with me!"
Finn had no idea what she was babbling about.
"First Cindy, now Stew and his stupid friends from school!" She spouted angrily.
He balked. Cindy? The vet assistant? She was upset over Cindy? He didn't understand. And who was Stew? He cocked his head thoroughly confused.
"I even thought you were beginning to like me, but I guess you were just biding your time instead, huh?"
Where did this come from? Did this still have something to do with Cindy and this Stew person? He wondered still feeling baffled. Finn whined at her and butted her hand with his head. She yanked it away in anger.
"Why are you doing this to me? I know, it's 'cause I'm nothing but a weird little kid. So weird that even the kids at school think I'm weird and so I'm left with no friends. Got no one to talk to except for adults like Jackie and Uncle and Tohru and Captain Black, except they think I'm just a weird kid too and should stick with kids my own age. But when kids my own age don't accept me either, I'm left looking for alternatives. You were my alternative, and yet you go running off to the beautiful blonde or to the park because it's better then spending time with the weird kid!" Jade's lower lip quivered and she refused to look at Finn as she said all of that in a rush. It hurt her to say it. But it hurt her worse to keep it in where it just festered.
Finn finally understood and felt guilty. He'd never known that was how it was for Jade. Sure he'd always wondered why she hung around Jackie and company when she should be playing with her friends. He didn't know she HAD no friends. Of course, at the time, he hadn't cared. Now he was finding out he DID care. Damn! He nuzzled her stomach with the top of his head, whining and hoping like crazy she wouldn't turn and walk away from him. Please let her forgive him! He thought anxiously. Please! He heard one stifled sob from her and braced for a volley of tears. None came, thankfully. But he felt her trembling hand reach up to his ear and scratch it. He pressed into her more, hoping she could see he was sorry. Trying to apologize for being stupid. She continued to scratch in his favorite place and he stayed right where he was unmoving.
"Hey, it's Ninja Girl!" Called out a shrill and annoying voice.
Jade groaned and gripped Finn's ears on either side, holding his head close to her.
"That is the UGLIEST dog I've ever seen!" The same voice sneered as the kid approached.
Ugly??? Finn took exception to that snide remark and tore away from Jade's grip to get a look at who was taunting them. It was those same kids that had made Jade want to leave the park. Great.
"That's not a dog, it's a mutant." Called one of the other kids.
The kid with glasses who seemed to be in charge of the group cackled, "Yeah. Can't even find a real dog, huh Ninja Girl? Is this your Teenage Mutant Ninja Dog? What, is it a cross between a horse and a bear?"
"It's a giant rat." Another kid jibbed.
"Zephyr happens to be a purebred Irish Wolfhound straight from Ireland!" Jade replied stoutly. "And if you aren't careful, he'll bite your butt off!"
Finn had to admit that sounded like a swell idea. These kids were punks. He didn't understand why Jade didn't take them out herself. Who knows how many times she's taken him out by one of her kicks? Why doesn't she do the same to these brats? They most certainly deserve it!
"It's nothing but an overgrown rat." The lead kid sneered and adjusted his glasses. "Phwew, and it SMELLS."
"Zephyr does NOT smell!" Jade retorted, "I gave him a bath the other day!"
"So," the lead kid ignored her, "weren't you going to show us some of your ninja moves? I don't see your dark pajamas. And here I was so hoping to see a show!"
"Shut up, Stew!" Jade commanded.
So THAT was Stew? Finn proceeded to growl low and took a threatening stance in front of Jade. The kids had the decency to back up.
"If that mutant bites us, my dad will sue your stupid uncle!" Stew whined.
Jade was pleased at Finn's response. Even when he wasn't growling, he still looked threatening. Growling and taking up that stance kicked everything up several notches. The kids thought it was prudent to hit the bricks at a run. Jade smiled and stroked Finn's back.
"Thanks, Finn." She sighed. Still feeling the sting of being ostracized by her peers. She felt Finn lick her hand and smiled down at him. Her anger melting away. "We're a pretty good team."
Finn was relieved that he was no longer in trouble with her. It perplexed him why she took those two incidences so personally. Jade took him for a walk around the park and talked to him this time. Finn felt better. They even jogged some, which helped even more. He was a big dog and needed room. He supposed if he HAD been turned into something like a Welsh Corgy, even though he wasn't Welsh, he wouldn't be having the same problems as cramped legs and what not.
They also took breather and relaxed on the grass. Jade laying on her stomach and Finn beside her laying on his. She talked to him, imparting secrets he was pretty sure not even Jackie was privy to. Didn't she remember who he was? Why was she telling him all this? Shouldn't some of that stuff go into a diary or something? But she went on and on talking about personal stuff. Some of it made him want to blush if he could. It was girl stuff, after all. He wasn't used to talking about girl stuff. When he was with a woman, girl stuff was not the topic of conversation.
"You're very easy to talk to, Finn."
Finn rolled his eyes. Possibly because he couldn't talk back.
"Perhaps we should get going. Still got to get through another chapter of The Outsiders." She led him back to Section 13.
Finn followed. Does that mean she was going to read to him tonight? Was she going to let him know what happened or just leave him hanging? She'd read a chapter silently to herself the night before. Once back in her room, she gave him a summary of the previous chapter. Wasn't the same as reading it, but at least the chapter she read him made sense. She had curled up with him as she read and it didn't bother him like it had earlier. It felt nice to be trusted. He didn't like her to be angry at him. He didn't like anyone to be angry at him, technically, but it was becoming more important that Jade didn't get angry at him. Finn was worried. Was he turning more into a dog and leaving his humanity behind? Was he getting attached to Jade because she was his mistress? Or was he simply enjoying her company for a change?
Jade seemed unaware of his worry. She played her video game in his 'lap' after reading. He rested his chin on top of her head and she didn't mind. He tried to think of something else. But there was nothing to think about. Jade only had words at her video game. He sighed. Was it really so bad being Jade's pet? With the exception of being locked in her room while she was away at school and having to deal with the rest of the Chan family, it wasn't so terrible. She was much kinder to him then he deserved.
That night, Jade pulled her pillow and blanket off her bed and propped the pillow against Finn's side and then curled up with her blanket. Finn couldn't believe he was going to just let her sleep next to him like that, but considering the alternative, he decided he didn't mind.
"Good night, Finn." She called to him and tugged the blanket up closer.
Finn whined and lay his head down feeling more confused then ever. Maybe Jade intended to keep him as a dog forever.
When Jade got back to Section 13 from school, she eagerly went up to her room. She knew Finn had taken to watching for her return and it made her feel needed. She liked that feeling. When she opened her door, she expected to be greeted by the huge animal, but found her room distressingly empty. Anxious, she inspected her room closer, maybe he was hiding? But after further inspection, it was clear Finn had somehow gotten out. Oh no! Jade bit her lip. He'd finally done what she knew he was always itching to do, roam freely around the facility with no one being the wiser a member of the Dark Hand was amongst them. Great! She was going to get it from Black for this! He didn't appear to like Zephyr and if he found the big dog snooping around without her in the more secure parts of the lab, she was going to get into so much trouble!
"Darn you, Finn!" Jade was angry.
Why did he have to do things like that? She sighed. Well, he WAS still a criminal. Being turned into a dog didn't make him any less of one. Why did she think she had the power to change all that? Maybe she thought that since Tohru had seen the light, maybe Finn could do the same as well. After all, Jackie was always into giving people second chances. She thought maybe she could make Finn into one of them too. Great, she thought to herself, that was the same problem Obi Wan Kenobi had with Vader. She was foolish to think that she alone could turn Finn to the good side.
She hurried out of her room and began searching the lab.
"Heh, Kepler, you seen my dog lately?" She asked the scientist who always had his attention on whatever the newest invention of the week was.
The older man didn't bother looking up, "You mean the Wolfhound? No. By the way, you may want to step away from the atomizer."
Jade backed up from the machine warily. "Um, thanks." She took off to look for the runaway. She looked high and low. On a hunch, she decided to see if he had found the chamber that held the talismans. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found he hadn't discovered their whereabouts as she inspected the door and found that all the talismans were accounted for. Where on earth was he? She wanted to know. Was he getting into some other kind of trouble? There were other things just as secret as the talismans that were kept in Section 13, things that could help out the Dark Hand if they managed to get their mitts on them.
Great. Well, she looked everywhere important she could think of. Time to go to Jackie and let him know Finn was missing. She wasn't looking forward to that. But she had to tell him. Maybe Jackie would help her look after he got mad at her for being so irresponsible for letting him get out. She found Jackie soon enough. He was sipping coffee and reading the newspaper in the kitchen.
Jade kicked the ground with the toe of her shoe nervously and clasped her hands behind her back. "Um, Jackie?"
"Yes, Jade?" Jackie set down his coffee mug.
"Um, I went into my room and I can't find Zephyr. I looked EVERYWHERE in Section 13 and he just isn't anyplace!"
Jackie didn't look upset at all. "That is because Uncle had made another appointment for him at the vet. They are over there now."
Jade blinked. "Another appointment? Why? He got all his shots yesterday."
"Uncle liked the idea of breeding him. The vet had told him Zephyr had all the points that made him a purebred, just lacked the papers. He's found a breeder that is looking for a stud in San Jose."
Jade's eyes widened with horror. "You're sending Zephyr to San Jose to breed?"
"No."
Jade sighed in relief.
"They are taking samples and are going to use the process of artificial insemination." Jackie said unconcerned.
The horror came back. "Why didn't anyone ask me if that's what I wanted to happen to my dog?"
"Uncle was taken by the stud fee offer and the price the puppies will fetch. You know Uncle, how he is when his mind is made up. Why are you so upset? I thought you'd be pleased."
"Does Zephyr know?"
Jackie laughed, "Why would we tell a dog? It wont care. Don't worry. He'll be back later this evening."
Jade wrung her hands together nervously. This was worse then she thought. Finn was going to freak.
"Um, Jackie? How do they get the, well, samples?"
"I don't know, Jade. Don't worry about it. Zephyr will be fine." He laughed, "You can tell him all about it if you want to when he comes back."
Jade paled, but Jackie didn't notice because he went back to reading his paper. She didn't want to tell him.
"Heh, you're right. What he doesn't know wont hurt him." She laughed nervously. "I wont tell him if you wont."
"Um, okay, Jade." He took another sip of coffee and straightened the paper he was reading with a flick.
"Great!" Jade beamed at him then backed out of the room. She'd run to her own room and sat on the edge of her bed. She bit her lip. Oh, Finn wasn't going to like this if he found out! She wasn't going to tell him, she decided. There wasn't anything he or she could do about it. So she wasn't going to plant one more strain on the guy. Jackie said he'd be back sometime this evening. She wondered if he'd have any idea what had happened. She felt the pang of jealousy return when she thought of Cindy. He was probably drooling all over her. Jade sighed. It didn't do her any good to think about it either. It only upset her and there was no way she could direct her nerves. Every time she was thinking 'poor Finn', the image of Cindy killed that thought. Jade grabbed a video game and tried to use that as a way to distract her from those distressing thoughts. It didn't work very well, but she continued to play if just to pass the time. She'd save reading her book once he got back.
She had to wonder how Uncle got Finn to cooperate enough to go along with him. Finn made it very clear he didn't like Uncle or Jackie. Maybe Uncle used some sort of chi spell to calm Finn?
Jade's door opened and Uncle was leading a groggy Finn into her room. Jade jumped up and rushed over to him. She knelt in front of a dazed Finn who could barely walk straight.
"What did you do to him?" She asked upset and stroked the side of his head.
"Horse was not cooperating. Anesthesia ve-e-e-ery potent! If all goes well, in two months, we'll have puppies!" Uncle sounded pleased at the last.
"Why didn't you ask me if you could?" Jade wanted to know.
Uncle gasped, "You taking exception to Uncle's wisdom? Aiya-a-a-a! Uncle and owner of Wolfhound bitch in San Jose was going to give you pick of the litter! I may have to reconside-e-er!"
Jade clamped her hands over Finn's ears, but he was too out of it to pay attention to what was being said. "What will happen to the rest of the puppies?"
"Sell them, of course!" Uncle said feeling peeved. "What else you do with puppies?"
"Sorry, Uncle! You're right, of course. Can I still have pick of the litter?" Jade hoped she could save at least one of Finn's possible puppies from being sold across the country to complete strangers. Of course, who's to say the insemination would produce anything?
Uncle put a finger to his chin in thought, "Maybe, if you prove you worthy of it!"
Jade tried to grin big for him even though she didn't feel like it, "Sure thing, Uncle! You wont be sorry!"
"Take horse. Uncle feeling like making mung bean sandwich." Uncle handed her the leash.
Jade took the leash and sighed. She stroked Finn who flopped to the ground. She felt guilty for choosing to not tell him about what had happened at the vets that day. She sat cross-legged on the floor and pulled Finn's head onto her lap and pet his head. Finn closed his eyes and fell asleep. She continued to scratch his ears and tried to think of some way to make it up to him.
To Be Continued---
Part Five
Brenna "Snakelady" Dawkins
A Jackie Chan Adventures Fanfic
Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: Jackie Chan and subsequent characters belong to Jackie Chan and associates. It'd be pretty useless to sue me since I have nothing! I've made no profit nor will see any from this fic.
Summary: With VampireNaomi's permission, I have taken it upon myself to continue her fic since she had no plans to. When we last saw Finn, he was at the mercy of the evil William and it seems no one is there to help the thief--- or is there?
(Author's Note: Jade and Finn might be just a tad OOC in this chapter, but it's necessary for the direction I want this fic to take. Hope ya'll can forgive me! Let the torment continue!)
The next day after school, Jackie told Jade that Zephyr had an appointment at the vets. Jade looked worried and truthfully Finn didn't like the sound of that either.
"Do we have to, Jackie?" Jade hung onto Finn.
Jackie folded his arms, "Yes, Jade. We have to make sure he isn't carrying any kind of disease. It will be better for Zephyr in the long run."
"But those places are scary!" Jade hugged Finn's neck.
"No more scary then fighting demons?" Jackie's eyebrow raised.
Jade laughed nervously. "Okay. Sorry, Zeph"
Finn whined and leaned into her. She gave him another squeeze. Please, not the vets, Finn thought morosely to himself. He hated getting shots! He felt Jade scratch his ear again. She always seemed to know when he needed something like that.
"Jackie-e-e-e!" Uncle called out to them as Jackie was taking Jade and Zephyr out to the car. "I need you to do research!"
"But, Uncle." Jackie protested, "Zephyr has a veterinary appointment at four-thirty."
"I'll take the horse to the vet. You go do research!" Uncle pointed in the direction of Uncle's study.
"But you hate Zephyr." Jackie said perplexed. "And Zephyr doesn't necessarily like you either."
"The horse doesn't like you either, Jackie! Now, stop arguing with Uncle and do research!" Uncle commanded and thwapped Jackie in the head with his very effective two finger slap.
"Ow! Okay, okay. Jade, you go with Uncle. Don't let the horse--- I mean Zephyr bite Uncle." Jackie rubbed his head.
Uncle scowled at Finn who scowled back.
"It's okay, Jackie. Zeph will do whatever I tell him and he wont touch Uncle!" She awarded Jackie with a grin, sensing the tension between Finn and Uncle. "Come on, play nice! Come on, Uncle, pet Zephyr! He wont bite you."
Uncle harumphed and pointed his finger at Finn, "You are worthle-e-e- ess mongrel! Don't even have papers! Eat up all our food, or rather, you don't eat what we give you! Ungrateful!"
Finn felt the urge to bite that finger that waved in front of his nose.
"Come on, Uncle. Please?" Jade pressed.
Uncle scowled and reached over. Jade held onto Finn as Uncle's hand rested upon Finn's head. Finn growled and trembled in the effort not to bite that hand. Jade gripped his fur and whispered soothing words into his ear. He didn't bite Uncle, but he never ceased his growling.
"Get him in the car." Uncle decided it prudent to remove his hand.
Jade sighed and scratched behind Finn's ear, trying to calm him. It was apparent that she was the only one Finn was going to let get this close to him. In a way, it gave her a sense of superiority.
"Come on, G-Dog." Jade slipped the rope leash over Finn's neck.
Finn followed reluctantly. He didn't want to go to the vets. He didn't want to be poked or prodded. What if they kept him in a cage? He shuddered. Some tiny cage that was worse then a jail because it was in a room full of noisy dogs and cats. Please, just let them be in and out!
The old man drove them to the nearest veterinary clinic. Jade led Finn into the clinic with Uncle leading the way. They sat there in the waiting room. A woman in one of the seats took one look at Finn and hugged her cat to her chest protectively. Finn couldn't care less and sat obediently beside Jade who sat next to Uncle after he signed them in. It didn't take long before they were called in by an assistant vet. The woman helped Jade lift Finn onto the examination table, to Finn's embarrassment. The assistant was a cute blonde who had a very pleasant scent. The woman smiled at him and Jade cast Finn a sidelong glance as he allowed the young woman to give him a vigorous yet quick head rub with no growl at all.
"You dog, you." Jade rolled her eyes at Finn who did his best to look like nothing happened. Hey, he was a guy, after all! Jade wondered why on earth she felt jealous.
The real vet was in soon enough and he and Uncle conversed as Jade continually scratched Finn behind an ear, having pulled up a chair so she could reach. Jade had to admit she was glad that the assistant had left. For some reason, she just didn't like her.
He was a big man and put his hands all over Finn. Finn took exception to his brusque treatment. Why couldn't that pretty female assistant treat him? He could take any shot as long as there was a pretty face at the other end of that needle. The man did a general examination of him. Then prepared a shot. Finn backed up and almost fell off the table.
"I'll need help holding him." The vet said.
Uncle tried to grab onto Finn but he just growled at him. Jade sighed and tried to calm him, but he was busy ducking the vet so she had trouble pinning him down.
"Calm down, Zeph!" Jade tried to get him to relax, but Finn wasn't going to have that needle shoved in him.
Finn hopped off the table and scurried over to the far corner of the room.
"Cindy! I need your help!" The vet called.
Uncle muttered angrily at how ungrateful Zephyr was and threatened to turn him into a chi ingredient. Finn wedged himself between another chair and the medicine cabinet. Jade tried to convince Finn to cooperate, but he didn't want to hear it. The door opened and the pretty vet came in. Finn noticed and Jade saw and frowned. Great, did Finn just want an excuse to get her back in there? Cindy came over and crouched in front of Finn who seemed to take an sudden interest in coming out of hiding as long as he got to be coddled by the young woman.
"Come on, Zephy!" The woman waved her hand towards her, trying to coax him out.
Jade stood back, arms crossed. Finn wasn't going to come out and suffer through a shot no matter WHO held onto him! But her eyes widened as Finn crawled out of his hiding spot and came to Cindy's outstretched arms. The young woman pulled Finn into her close and uttered soothing thoughts as Finn's nose found it's way in between her cleavage via low cut neck line as she hugged him. Jade was thoroughly annoyed.
"Cindy's very good with animals." The vet told them.
Jade frowned. Finn was no animal. Wait. She took that back. He was a guy and all guys were animals.
"I thought you said he would listen only to you, Jade." Uncle asked her.
Jade shrugged helplessly and tried not to sound hurt, "I don't know. Maybe he just likes girls."
The vet and his assistant placed Finn back on the table. Cindy held onto Finn who only just shied slightly as the vet administered the shots. Cindy cooed and rubbed him over soothingly. Once the examination was done, Finn was allowed to hop off the table. Since he was to get new tags and didn't have a collar, Uncle had the vet add a new nylon collar onto the bill. Cindy slipped the collar around Finn's neck and secured it, then attached Jade's rope leash to it. Jade was told to take him out and wait for them in the waiting room. Glumly, she went back to the same chair she sat in before and waited quietly as Finn tried to get a look at his new collar, unaware that his little interaction with Cindy hadn't gone unnoticed.
It was a while before Uncle came out again, looking pleased. "Come on, Jade. Let's go. Will you show me how to operate that magic waffle iron of yours? I want to do some research!"
That was an odd request out of Uncle, but Jade shrugged, "Sure. You mean online, right?"
"Of course, online!" Uncle shooed them out of the vets.
Once back home, Finn found himself locked in Jade's room again while Jade showed her uncle how to do research online. She didn't even bother asking what he wanted to look up, afraid he'd pull her into his boring project. Probably something on one hundred and one uses for mung beans. She hurried back to her room where Finn was waiting.
Finn was feeling antsy. He wanted out of that room. When she came in, he wagged his tail, hoping she'd take him out. She closed her door and just looked at him. Looked at him until he felt uneasy. Great, what'd he do now? He could tell she was upset with him, but he didn't know why. He whined.
Jade did not like feeling that way. She didn't even know why she felt like that. It didn't make any sense, and yet, those feelings of being betrayed were still there. Yes, that's what it was when she thought about it, she'd felt betrayed. Finn was supposed to obey her and only her and in walks some pretty blonde bimbo and he goes running into her arms. And after she cried on his shoulder! Why did he have to do that? She felt almost like crying again and was upset at herself for feeling that strongly about it. Why was she crying over some stupid whim of Finn's?
Finn knew he was in trouble for something. She wasn't talking to him like she usually did. He'd gotten used to her continuous banter. Especially since he had nothing else to do but listen to her. She didn't talk to him all the rest of the evening. Jade grabbed up her required reading The Outsiders. Finn eagerly lay down, wanting to hear what happened to, as Jade called him, the Karate Kid, next. But she didn't crawl over to him and lean against him, instead, she jumped onto her bed, curled up against a pillow and shoved her nose in her book, reading it to herself silently. Finn hung his head. He was being snubbed. He wished he knew why. He lay his head on his front paws bored and confused. Yes, he was in the dog house for something, he was sure of it. Boy this sucked.
After school the next day, Jade decided to let Finn stretch his legs. Their walk wasn't just out to the tree and back. She took him down to the park. Finn was pleased. Another boring day had passed being spent in her room with nothing to do. She'd left on the Shopping Network for him. It left him wondering why she was still mad at him. He'd rather watched anything, even Lifetime over that. He sighed. He was never going to be changed back into a human.
They made it to the park. It wasn't that big, but it was better then being trapped in a small room. Jade still wasn't talking to him and it bothered him. It bothered him a lot. He didn't like being punished for some unknown crime he'd committed. He was so hung up about his problem, he didn't notice that Jade had stopped walking beside him. His collar choked him as he tried to keep moving forward and it didn't come along. What now? He wondered and turned his head to see what was holding her up. It looked like something had caught her eye and it didn't make her happy. He turned back to see just what it was. Just a bunch of kids, he snuffed. They looked to be around her age and were hanging out together. His collar choked him again as she turned on her heel and began to walk back the way they came. NO! He wasn't going to leave the park! They just got there! He held his ground despite being choked.
Jade discovered Finn wasn't coming along with her. She scowled at him and pulled against his leash with all her strength. He wasn't budging. Why? Why was he doing this to her? Couldn't he see how upset those kids made her? Those kids from school? First Cindy, and now this? She pulled on him again and felt angry and frustrated.
"You want to stay here in the park! Fine!" She threw the leash at him, turned and stalked away from him, hands shoved into her pants pockets and stared at the ground.
Finn stood there stunned. She was walking away from him. Why? What did he do now? Why did she yell at him when she was the one who brought him here and just decided to go back? He didn't understand and thought he deserved some answers. He took off after her. She hadn't gone very far and his long legs covered a lot of ground quickly. He ran out in front of her, blocking her with his huge body. He stared at her beseechingly. He wanted to know what was going on. He couldn't ask. He couldn't do anything as a dog.
Jade stared fiercely back at him. "You are doing all this on purpose!"
He blinked. Doing what?
"Don't play innocent with me!"
Finn had no idea what she was babbling about.
"First Cindy, now Stew and his stupid friends from school!" She spouted angrily.
He balked. Cindy? The vet assistant? She was upset over Cindy? He didn't understand. And who was Stew? He cocked his head thoroughly confused.
"I even thought you were beginning to like me, but I guess you were just biding your time instead, huh?"
Where did this come from? Did this still have something to do with Cindy and this Stew person? He wondered still feeling baffled. Finn whined at her and butted her hand with his head. She yanked it away in anger.
"Why are you doing this to me? I know, it's 'cause I'm nothing but a weird little kid. So weird that even the kids at school think I'm weird and so I'm left with no friends. Got no one to talk to except for adults like Jackie and Uncle and Tohru and Captain Black, except they think I'm just a weird kid too and should stick with kids my own age. But when kids my own age don't accept me either, I'm left looking for alternatives. You were my alternative, and yet you go running off to the beautiful blonde or to the park because it's better then spending time with the weird kid!" Jade's lower lip quivered and she refused to look at Finn as she said all of that in a rush. It hurt her to say it. But it hurt her worse to keep it in where it just festered.
Finn finally understood and felt guilty. He'd never known that was how it was for Jade. Sure he'd always wondered why she hung around Jackie and company when she should be playing with her friends. He didn't know she HAD no friends. Of course, at the time, he hadn't cared. Now he was finding out he DID care. Damn! He nuzzled her stomach with the top of his head, whining and hoping like crazy she wouldn't turn and walk away from him. Please let her forgive him! He thought anxiously. Please! He heard one stifled sob from her and braced for a volley of tears. None came, thankfully. But he felt her trembling hand reach up to his ear and scratch it. He pressed into her more, hoping she could see he was sorry. Trying to apologize for being stupid. She continued to scratch in his favorite place and he stayed right where he was unmoving.
"Hey, it's Ninja Girl!" Called out a shrill and annoying voice.
Jade groaned and gripped Finn's ears on either side, holding his head close to her.
"That is the UGLIEST dog I've ever seen!" The same voice sneered as the kid approached.
Ugly??? Finn took exception to that snide remark and tore away from Jade's grip to get a look at who was taunting them. It was those same kids that had made Jade want to leave the park. Great.
"That's not a dog, it's a mutant." Called one of the other kids.
The kid with glasses who seemed to be in charge of the group cackled, "Yeah. Can't even find a real dog, huh Ninja Girl? Is this your Teenage Mutant Ninja Dog? What, is it a cross between a horse and a bear?"
"It's a giant rat." Another kid jibbed.
"Zephyr happens to be a purebred Irish Wolfhound straight from Ireland!" Jade replied stoutly. "And if you aren't careful, he'll bite your butt off!"
Finn had to admit that sounded like a swell idea. These kids were punks. He didn't understand why Jade didn't take them out herself. Who knows how many times she's taken him out by one of her kicks? Why doesn't she do the same to these brats? They most certainly deserve it!
"It's nothing but an overgrown rat." The lead kid sneered and adjusted his glasses. "Phwew, and it SMELLS."
"Zephyr does NOT smell!" Jade retorted, "I gave him a bath the other day!"
"So," the lead kid ignored her, "weren't you going to show us some of your ninja moves? I don't see your dark pajamas. And here I was so hoping to see a show!"
"Shut up, Stew!" Jade commanded.
So THAT was Stew? Finn proceeded to growl low and took a threatening stance in front of Jade. The kids had the decency to back up.
"If that mutant bites us, my dad will sue your stupid uncle!" Stew whined.
Jade was pleased at Finn's response. Even when he wasn't growling, he still looked threatening. Growling and taking up that stance kicked everything up several notches. The kids thought it was prudent to hit the bricks at a run. Jade smiled and stroked Finn's back.
"Thanks, Finn." She sighed. Still feeling the sting of being ostracized by her peers. She felt Finn lick her hand and smiled down at him. Her anger melting away. "We're a pretty good team."
Finn was relieved that he was no longer in trouble with her. It perplexed him why she took those two incidences so personally. Jade took him for a walk around the park and talked to him this time. Finn felt better. They even jogged some, which helped even more. He was a big dog and needed room. He supposed if he HAD been turned into something like a Welsh Corgy, even though he wasn't Welsh, he wouldn't be having the same problems as cramped legs and what not.
They also took breather and relaxed on the grass. Jade laying on her stomach and Finn beside her laying on his. She talked to him, imparting secrets he was pretty sure not even Jackie was privy to. Didn't she remember who he was? Why was she telling him all this? Shouldn't some of that stuff go into a diary or something? But she went on and on talking about personal stuff. Some of it made him want to blush if he could. It was girl stuff, after all. He wasn't used to talking about girl stuff. When he was with a woman, girl stuff was not the topic of conversation.
"You're very easy to talk to, Finn."
Finn rolled his eyes. Possibly because he couldn't talk back.
"Perhaps we should get going. Still got to get through another chapter of The Outsiders." She led him back to Section 13.
Finn followed. Does that mean she was going to read to him tonight? Was she going to let him know what happened or just leave him hanging? She'd read a chapter silently to herself the night before. Once back in her room, she gave him a summary of the previous chapter. Wasn't the same as reading it, but at least the chapter she read him made sense. She had curled up with him as she read and it didn't bother him like it had earlier. It felt nice to be trusted. He didn't like her to be angry at him. He didn't like anyone to be angry at him, technically, but it was becoming more important that Jade didn't get angry at him. Finn was worried. Was he turning more into a dog and leaving his humanity behind? Was he getting attached to Jade because she was his mistress? Or was he simply enjoying her company for a change?
Jade seemed unaware of his worry. She played her video game in his 'lap' after reading. He rested his chin on top of her head and she didn't mind. He tried to think of something else. But there was nothing to think about. Jade only had words at her video game. He sighed. Was it really so bad being Jade's pet? With the exception of being locked in her room while she was away at school and having to deal with the rest of the Chan family, it wasn't so terrible. She was much kinder to him then he deserved.
That night, Jade pulled her pillow and blanket off her bed and propped the pillow against Finn's side and then curled up with her blanket. Finn couldn't believe he was going to just let her sleep next to him like that, but considering the alternative, he decided he didn't mind.
"Good night, Finn." She called to him and tugged the blanket up closer.
Finn whined and lay his head down feeling more confused then ever. Maybe Jade intended to keep him as a dog forever.
When Jade got back to Section 13 from school, she eagerly went up to her room. She knew Finn had taken to watching for her return and it made her feel needed. She liked that feeling. When she opened her door, she expected to be greeted by the huge animal, but found her room distressingly empty. Anxious, she inspected her room closer, maybe he was hiding? But after further inspection, it was clear Finn had somehow gotten out. Oh no! Jade bit her lip. He'd finally done what she knew he was always itching to do, roam freely around the facility with no one being the wiser a member of the Dark Hand was amongst them. Great! She was going to get it from Black for this! He didn't appear to like Zephyr and if he found the big dog snooping around without her in the more secure parts of the lab, she was going to get into so much trouble!
"Darn you, Finn!" Jade was angry.
Why did he have to do things like that? She sighed. Well, he WAS still a criminal. Being turned into a dog didn't make him any less of one. Why did she think she had the power to change all that? Maybe she thought that since Tohru had seen the light, maybe Finn could do the same as well. After all, Jackie was always into giving people second chances. She thought maybe she could make Finn into one of them too. Great, she thought to herself, that was the same problem Obi Wan Kenobi had with Vader. She was foolish to think that she alone could turn Finn to the good side.
She hurried out of her room and began searching the lab.
"Heh, Kepler, you seen my dog lately?" She asked the scientist who always had his attention on whatever the newest invention of the week was.
The older man didn't bother looking up, "You mean the Wolfhound? No. By the way, you may want to step away from the atomizer."
Jade backed up from the machine warily. "Um, thanks." She took off to look for the runaway. She looked high and low. On a hunch, she decided to see if he had found the chamber that held the talismans. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found he hadn't discovered their whereabouts as she inspected the door and found that all the talismans were accounted for. Where on earth was he? She wanted to know. Was he getting into some other kind of trouble? There were other things just as secret as the talismans that were kept in Section 13, things that could help out the Dark Hand if they managed to get their mitts on them.
Great. Well, she looked everywhere important she could think of. Time to go to Jackie and let him know Finn was missing. She wasn't looking forward to that. But she had to tell him. Maybe Jackie would help her look after he got mad at her for being so irresponsible for letting him get out. She found Jackie soon enough. He was sipping coffee and reading the newspaper in the kitchen.
Jade kicked the ground with the toe of her shoe nervously and clasped her hands behind her back. "Um, Jackie?"
"Yes, Jade?" Jackie set down his coffee mug.
"Um, I went into my room and I can't find Zephyr. I looked EVERYWHERE in Section 13 and he just isn't anyplace!"
Jackie didn't look upset at all. "That is because Uncle had made another appointment for him at the vet. They are over there now."
Jade blinked. "Another appointment? Why? He got all his shots yesterday."
"Uncle liked the idea of breeding him. The vet had told him Zephyr had all the points that made him a purebred, just lacked the papers. He's found a breeder that is looking for a stud in San Jose."
Jade's eyes widened with horror. "You're sending Zephyr to San Jose to breed?"
"No."
Jade sighed in relief.
"They are taking samples and are going to use the process of artificial insemination." Jackie said unconcerned.
The horror came back. "Why didn't anyone ask me if that's what I wanted to happen to my dog?"
"Uncle was taken by the stud fee offer and the price the puppies will fetch. You know Uncle, how he is when his mind is made up. Why are you so upset? I thought you'd be pleased."
"Does Zephyr know?"
Jackie laughed, "Why would we tell a dog? It wont care. Don't worry. He'll be back later this evening."
Jade wrung her hands together nervously. This was worse then she thought. Finn was going to freak.
"Um, Jackie? How do they get the, well, samples?"
"I don't know, Jade. Don't worry about it. Zephyr will be fine." He laughed, "You can tell him all about it if you want to when he comes back."
Jade paled, but Jackie didn't notice because he went back to reading his paper. She didn't want to tell him.
"Heh, you're right. What he doesn't know wont hurt him." She laughed nervously. "I wont tell him if you wont."
"Um, okay, Jade." He took another sip of coffee and straightened the paper he was reading with a flick.
"Great!" Jade beamed at him then backed out of the room. She'd run to her own room and sat on the edge of her bed. She bit her lip. Oh, Finn wasn't going to like this if he found out! She wasn't going to tell him, she decided. There wasn't anything he or she could do about it. So she wasn't going to plant one more strain on the guy. Jackie said he'd be back sometime this evening. She wondered if he'd have any idea what had happened. She felt the pang of jealousy return when she thought of Cindy. He was probably drooling all over her. Jade sighed. It didn't do her any good to think about it either. It only upset her and there was no way she could direct her nerves. Every time she was thinking 'poor Finn', the image of Cindy killed that thought. Jade grabbed a video game and tried to use that as a way to distract her from those distressing thoughts. It didn't work very well, but she continued to play if just to pass the time. She'd save reading her book once he got back.
She had to wonder how Uncle got Finn to cooperate enough to go along with him. Finn made it very clear he didn't like Uncle or Jackie. Maybe Uncle used some sort of chi spell to calm Finn?
Jade's door opened and Uncle was leading a groggy Finn into her room. Jade jumped up and rushed over to him. She knelt in front of a dazed Finn who could barely walk straight.
"What did you do to him?" She asked upset and stroked the side of his head.
"Horse was not cooperating. Anesthesia ve-e-e-ery potent! If all goes well, in two months, we'll have puppies!" Uncle sounded pleased at the last.
"Why didn't you ask me if you could?" Jade wanted to know.
Uncle gasped, "You taking exception to Uncle's wisdom? Aiya-a-a-a! Uncle and owner of Wolfhound bitch in San Jose was going to give you pick of the litter! I may have to reconside-e-er!"
Jade clamped her hands over Finn's ears, but he was too out of it to pay attention to what was being said. "What will happen to the rest of the puppies?"
"Sell them, of course!" Uncle said feeling peeved. "What else you do with puppies?"
"Sorry, Uncle! You're right, of course. Can I still have pick of the litter?" Jade hoped she could save at least one of Finn's possible puppies from being sold across the country to complete strangers. Of course, who's to say the insemination would produce anything?
Uncle put a finger to his chin in thought, "Maybe, if you prove you worthy of it!"
Jade tried to grin big for him even though she didn't feel like it, "Sure thing, Uncle! You wont be sorry!"
"Take horse. Uncle feeling like making mung bean sandwich." Uncle handed her the leash.
Jade took the leash and sighed. She stroked Finn who flopped to the ground. She felt guilty for choosing to not tell him about what had happened at the vets that day. She sat cross-legged on the floor and pulled Finn's head onto her lap and pet his head. Finn closed his eyes and fell asleep. She continued to scratch his ears and tried to think of some way to make it up to him.
To Be Continued---