A/N: Hello there I am proud of my readers for sticking with me this long,
it has been a long road for Jack and the others. But not to worry for this
shall be the second last chapter of the series. I am reaching the end of
the story and the last chapter could be anything, long or short, so I hope
you have enjoyed my work.
Family Forgotten
Chapter 9: New Discoveries of a Doubting Mind
"I cannot believe what has happened, it seems like a curse from above how it has come down and crushed my hopes of remaining an unknown mutant. I could sense when Kitty tried to comfort me that night, that she had an uncertainty to her, whether she should be near me at all. I can't blame her look at me, I'm not human I'm a seven foot, bipedal wolf with adamantium claws and a human consciousness," I told myself as the main elevator transported me down into the bowels of the mansion.
I was off to see Hank, about my new form and what the mutation had truly affected. Hank is our local doctor; he treats us for in the public's world we wouldn't be touched by any medical institution outside of our own. I guess the public just isn't ready for us yet. The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened revealing the silver hallway before me, littered with doors. Right at the end of the hall was Cerebro the professor's search engine for mutants; I was heading to the door just before that over to the left. As I entered the room I found that Hank was performing a check up on one of my students, her name was Jessica, she was 16 and had a physical mutation as well. Her mutation was that more of a cat, she obtained their eyes, fur, tail, and senses not to mention their balance and agility.
"Hi there Mr. Howlett," said Jessica giving me a quick look over.
"How did you recognize me, there are only a few that have seen me?" I asked the young one.
"Oh it wasn't hard, your shape may have changed but your scent hasn't," she replied.
"Right the shnoz, gotcha," I told her taking a seat on the table next to her.
"So what are you in here for Mr. Howlett?"
"Oh nothing much just a look over to see what really changed from before," I told her as Hank finished up.
"Well there you go Jessica, all in working order," hank told her as she hopped off the table and left to head back upstairs. "So, Jack how have you been feeling?"
"Oh I guess as normal as I can be," I replied as he set some of his stuff away.
"That's good, I'm sorry I have to do this but I have another appointment out in Texas, emergency call you know and I have to go but I have asked that Gene have a look over you and we will go over the analysis either today or tomorrow. Is that alright for you?" he asked.
"Sure why not as long as it gets done right?"
"Yep you got it," he said throwing on his coat. "Yeah Gene should be here any minute now so you won't be waiting long."
"Oh, ok, hope you have a good trip and I'll talk to you when you get back," I told him as he gave me a wave just before exiting the room.
No sooner he was out the door when Gene walked into the room with a binder under her arm. "So I guess it's just you and me eh?"
"Yeah," she said putting on some rubber gloves.
"So what is that binder for anyway? That is if you don't mind me asking that is?"
"Oh it's just a med book for canines. It's a back up just incase I have to treat you like the family dog," she told me while looking into my ears.
"So what you're saying is, you get to scratch my belly while I get to hump your leg," I told her chuckling a bit.
"Well lets hope we don't have to go that far, I might have to neuter you then," she replied taking a stethoscope from the wall.
"Oh ok proved your point no further we shall go, I like my testicles right where they are thank you very much."
From there we continued with the examination, she looked over my general areas and deducted that everything was fine and dandy. My heart rate was lower, my nose was cold, and my tail was swinging like nobody's business so I would take that as being good. From there we went down the hall a bit to the lab where in the center was the scanner thingy. Give me a break I know what it does just not what it's called alright, it takes a full body scan, allowing the doctor to examine the whole person to look for illness, damaged bones, that sort of thing. I removed my shirt and laid down on the table face up; to be honest I don't know why but even though the room could be 20 above, that table was always cold. You can lay there and just chill your ass off, it's really creepy. She powered it up as I awaited her signal to remain still. Finding a comfortable spot, if there was such a thing, I laid there and seen her give me the thumbs up. A large robotic arm began the scan taking reference points of my large frame, once it finished that it began to rotate around my body slowly gathering images of my body from on the inside and the out. Ten minutes had passed and the machine was finally done with what it had to collect. Waiting again for her signal I lifted my chilled back from the steel table and proceeded to put my shirt back on.
"Well I have the results and I will give them to the professor, he will call you when he decides to talk to you," she told me walking out of the room, computer disk in hand.
"Sure thing," I replied making my way behind her.
It was from the lab I then made my way upstairs and into the courtyard of the mansion. As soon as I had step foot out of the doors my lower back felt oddly tense, I belt over putting my hands on my thighs and the tension disappeared. That got me curious, I soon bent over all the way until my hands touched the ground and I felt oddly natural. Bending my knees a bit I decided to try walking and to my surprise it felt really good. From there I took it as a sign that maybe I should really get out, I rushed back up to my room changed into a pair of shorts and made my way out of the mansion complex. I looked back and decided that a run through the woods wouldn't hurt, and besides that it had also been a while since I had gone out for a relaxing run.
I made my way out of the mansion close to the highway so that I wouldn't lose direction of where I had come from. Judging from the speed of the cars I was moving around 60 to 70 mph and it was cool I wasn't really straining myself either, I could probably move quicker than that if I pushed myself. I watched as the trees and the sky moved past my face and it seemed like almost instantly I missed being in the mountains, back in my little hut with few if any possessions to my name. Back there I was a ghost, a hermit; all had heard about me few knew me. It was quiet and I seen no bother, then came the question "Why not go back?" I halted in my tracked right then and there, sure I could go it but look at all that I would be leaving behind. I would be giving up my family, friends, and the one that I love. But if I stayed and not left then what? I'd get caught staying in the mansion because I couldn't walk in the outside world, I would have to face ridicule and fear just for my appearances. Funny how this didn't bother me before and I really couldn't see why Kurt and Hank made such a big deal about it, well Hank not so much but Kurt finds it hard to go in public for the simple risk of being caught without his image inducer turned on. Ironic how fast viewpoints can change when you're put in the hot seat. Looking now I think that I will have to choose one or the other and that will have to be my final decision.
Clearing my thoughts I continued on and moved upon my path, before too long I found my path leading me into Bayville itself. I realized that I should play it safe, but then again there was that voice in the back of my head telling me that maybe I should just creep in and have a look. Now that I looked at it I would simply look like a really big dog and if I played my cards right no one would think otherwise. Taking a second glance I realized that if the professor was in my position he would turn around and use a different method for getting into town, so I decided to do the sensible thing and go home. If I truly wanted in then I would have Kitty put a leash on me and walk me in.
I arrived back at the mansion late in the afternoon, I found out that Kitty was looking for me and that the professor and Hank had made it back from Texas early due to a false alarm. I walked through the door and stood back up on my hind feet, feeling refreshed from my nice run. Making my way upstairs I caught the professor calling me to his office, I told him I would change into some better clothes and get there ASAP. As I walked into my room there was Kitty sitting on the bed and she seemed troubled.
"Hey honey, what's wrong?" I asked her.
"Well it's my parents they want to meet you and with this latest turn of events I think that it seems more and more like a bad idea," she replied holding one of the many photos of the two of us.
"If they know that you are a mutant maybe they will accept my appearance as I am and look beyond this fur and teeth and see the real me, your husband to be, your new pet dog," I told her chuckling a bit, and I could tell that she found it amusing by the way that her shoulders bounced. "See, I don't think that it will be that bad we will just have to watch what we do."
"Maybe you're right," she replied.
"Who cares what your parents think, you are your own person, remember that," I told her taking a seat beside her and placing my arm around her waist. "I love you and that's all that matters."
"Yeah, I love you too," she said giving me a hug. "You wanna think about something weird?"
"What?"
"Just think about what our kids are going to look like," she said looking me in the eyes.
"You're right, that is a scary thought," I replied giving her a kiss. "Come on the professor wants to talk about my scan results maybe you should know what your husband is all about."
"Sure."
We made our way out the room and down to the professor's office; I completely forgot to change of course, so I ended up walking into a room with three professionally dressed people and there was me in bicycle shorts. In the room was the professor, Hank, and my Father.
"Ah Jack glad you could make it, have a seat," said the professor.
"Thank you," I replied. "So what did the scan uncover?"
"Well looking at it there was a significant influence toward canine change, your bone and muscle structure are views to that. Internal organs seem to have shifted around a bit but nothing has changed really except they have scaled up a bit to accommodate the larger body. Now we get to the complicated part of it, we know that adamantium in it's set state is practically indestructible, during your mutation your body contorted and shifted and ultimately stretched the metal to fit your new skeleton. That feat in all attempts should be considered impossible, how your body did it I guess we will never know but the fact that it happened is baffling," explained Hank setting the charts and photos down in front of him.
"That's pretty much all that we found over the scan so, if you might like to input anything as to what you have noticed over the past two days," noted the professor.
"Well I have noticed a strength increase and definitely a speed increase as well, today I went out for a run and noticed that will no real effort I can keep up with highway traffic on all fours anyway. I don't really know what would happen if I tried to run standing up but I imagine that I would be able to keep good pace," I told them.
"What kind of strength increase have you gained?" asked Hank.
"I would guess that I'm now 70% stronger, of course due to the different muscle groups."
"I see," said Xavier. "Now I think the question should be, what is going to become of you two, being together that is?"
"Well I believe we can still go ahead with this, I know it will seem weird but I think one the wrinkles are worked out then everything will be alright," I told them taking Kitty's hand into mine.
"You know Jack I can give you an image inducer like Kurt's if you like?"
"I think that I'll be fine looking like the family pet. I know that there will be some hurtles that we will have to cross but I believe that we will be able to cope with them."
"As you wish but I will keep the offer open, should you come into a circumstance where you do happen to need it," replied the professor.
"Thank you."
We then closed the meeting and went back to our normal days tasks, I went back to my room and had a shower, a real long one. It felt really good but Kitty is gonna beat my blue ass. Why you ask, I used all of her really good, really expensive shampoo and conditioner. Believe me one handful will not do the kinda fur I got goin' on. Add in the conditioner and I have one silky, soft, and strong coat of fur, which in my case will be chased all over the damn mansion for this little deed. Now of course since I have gotten bigger I need bigger clothes and that little wardrobe set me back about 400 bucks, ouch eh? But what you gonna do? I can't run around in bike shorts all the time, or can I? Better not, we have frequent outside visitors and I wouldn't want to give the wrong impression when I tell them that I am a teacher. Hehe that would be great to see, hi I'm the housedog, I also teach graduate level social studies and history I'll let you walk me around, here hold my leash.
I walked back downstairs to see what everyone else was up to and I found Kitty and Ororo sitting in the viewing room looking through dresses and decorations, lord only knew what was going through their heads. Which reminded me we still had to shop for the cake, hey just the two of us and I could be out in public, this would be great. I kind of trotted off into the garage where I found a chunk of chain that would work great as a collar. I then found another chain, lighter but still effective; that would work as a leash. I then put it on and walked just into the doorway of the viewing room, just kinda held it there in my hand.
"Ungh Kitty," I said just to get her attention.
"Yes," she said turning her head around to se me at the door.
"I think we need to go for a walk," I told her in kind of a seductive manner, dangling the leash between two of my fingers.
It was then that she put on kind of a goofy smirk and said, "alright, you wanna go for a walk, we'll go for a walk."
"If you're wondering why I want to go it is because I wouldn't mind shopping for the cake today just to get it out of the way," I told her leading her to the garage.
"Well why not, I could use some time in town for awhile," she noted hopping in the drivers seat of my car as I hopped into the passenger seat. "You wearing your shorts?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well you're not going to walk around on all fours in a pair of khakis and a casual shirt are you? What happened to the family dog bit?" she questioned.
"Well no but to answer your question, yes I do have my shorts on so don't worry about it," I told her as she started the engine and rolled off the property.
While on the path to Bayville I got undressed and sat there like a good dog waiting to be let out of the car, this was going to be either a bunch of fun or a trip to hell and back. I was prepared for it I had to tell ya but as for her well shit anything could happen. We pulled around that last corner coming onto the main street where all the small shops and stores were established. Cruising slowly around I already noticed that people had begun to look at us, I have to admit I was one huge looking animal but then again this was Bayville everybody notices things. We parked the car and she came around to put my leash one me and let me out. People started to back away a bit as I came out of the car, there were looks of fear and amazement as she began to walk me down the street towards the bakery.
"You know I should just sit on your back, I think that would make it more comfortable for me," Kitty said to me in a sly tone.
I stopped and looked up to her, shifting my eyes a bit to see that no one was near, "don't even think about it," I said to her then continuing my path to the store.
"Well I guess that you're in no place for argument now are you?"
"Not really but you have to remember I'm doing this for the school not my own welfare, if I have to come out and expose myself then so be it," I told her making a turn into the front door of the bakery immediately catching the attention of the baker behind the counter.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa what do you think you are doing?" he demanded while we walked through the door. "There are no pets allowed in this building, we produce food products here you should know the health code. Just put him outside and then you can get him once you are finished."
"Don't worry he won't do anything I'll just sit him here in the center of the floor and that way he won't be a pest. Besides I need him here to make some decisions on the type of wedding cake we will be purchasing," Kitty told him as I moved to the center of the room.
"What do you mean you need his approval, he's a dog; I don't think that he'll be eating any part of your wedding cake my dear," the baker told us as he took a second look at me. "But if you can promise me that he will not move an inch then I guess he can stay for a bit."
"Good, lets start making something up," Noted Kitty after she set down the leash beside me. "We were thinking the standard three layer cake with the bride and groom figurines on top. The icing will be white with blue trim and several blue roses," she told him looking back at me to get my approval.
"I don't think we should go for the roses it might seem cluttered," I said aloud not really realizing what I just did. "Oh shit did I just say that out loud."
"Did, did that dog just talk?" the baker asked shakely.
"No I didn't," I then said hoping to save myself.
"You did, you did say that, what the hell are you?" he demanded.
"Well honey looks like our covers blown," said Kitty seeming a bit disappointed.
"Yeah I guess so, no use just sitting on the floor then," I told her standing up to my full height and unclipping the leash from my collar.
"HOLY SHIT!! You're a big son of a bitch aren't you?" the baker said backing up a bit. "What are you?"
"Well I'm the groom, and that's why she needed my input so lets get this over with shall we," I told him placing my hand on the counter.
"Sssure, wh why not," he replied obviously frightened.
We continued on and planned the rest of the cake out, and all the while the poor man's hands wouldn't stop shaking, and he probably perspired over a liter of water. When it came time to leave I simply got back down on all fours and Kitty hooked the leash back up to my collar and we left.
"Have a good day, try not to work too hard," I told him before leaving.
"Yeah sure thing," he replied flopping down into his seat and grabbing for a rag to wipe his forehead off.
We left the bakery and made it back to the car where we were met by a police officer.
"Do you have registration for that...dog of yours?" he asked staring down at me.
"Well I don't think I need any seeing as I only look like a dog," I spoke up staring right back at him.
"What the hell? You talked to me."
"Yeah and I can do more than talk you oaf..."
"Hey there's no need for that Jack just watch who you talk to!" Kitty exclaimed giving me a bat across the head.
"He's one of those freaks isn't he?" the officer questioned setting his hands on his sides, his left being real close to the holster.
"Not a freak a mutant, now you don't have to go waving your gun around just let us leave, we have a wedding to finish planning if you don't mind," I told him pulling the chain from Kitty's hands ands making my way into the passenger seat of the car.
"Eh what you gonna do, the man's over a hundred I don't think he'll change now," she said walking to the driver's door and getting in.
We left the officer there standing stunned by what he had just witnessed, a really big dog just went and told him to go fuck himself, and headed back for home. The drive back was quiet but I know Kitty was a little disappointed in the fact that I had not held my tongue back there at the bakery and with that officer. But that's just me, I speak my mind and she knew that soon after we first met. I was so happy that I was able to put my clothes back on and feel normal again, and be able to sit like a normal human being not like some dope ass canine. Pulling into the garage, she turned off the car and turned to look at me...
"What will I ever do with you?" she asked me.
"I know obedience school won't work," I told her. "The whole old dog and ndew tricks things just don't fly hun."
"Yeah tell me about it," she replied giving me a kiss. "I figure it's getting late, we get some grub and go to bed, sound good to you?"
"Yeah why not I am getting pretty hungry, and then tomorrow we can keep working on the wedding plans. That little even is only a month away," I told her stepping foot out of the car.
And with that we left inside to do our things awaiting the day when it would finally happen.
A/N: This is the second last chapter remember that, but I do have another story in the works that will follow after this one so it might make it's debut here in approximately 3 weeks to a month.
Next... chapter 10 Two Weddings and a Funeral
Family Forgotten
Chapter 9: New Discoveries of a Doubting Mind
"I cannot believe what has happened, it seems like a curse from above how it has come down and crushed my hopes of remaining an unknown mutant. I could sense when Kitty tried to comfort me that night, that she had an uncertainty to her, whether she should be near me at all. I can't blame her look at me, I'm not human I'm a seven foot, bipedal wolf with adamantium claws and a human consciousness," I told myself as the main elevator transported me down into the bowels of the mansion.
I was off to see Hank, about my new form and what the mutation had truly affected. Hank is our local doctor; he treats us for in the public's world we wouldn't be touched by any medical institution outside of our own. I guess the public just isn't ready for us yet. The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened revealing the silver hallway before me, littered with doors. Right at the end of the hall was Cerebro the professor's search engine for mutants; I was heading to the door just before that over to the left. As I entered the room I found that Hank was performing a check up on one of my students, her name was Jessica, she was 16 and had a physical mutation as well. Her mutation was that more of a cat, she obtained their eyes, fur, tail, and senses not to mention their balance and agility.
"Hi there Mr. Howlett," said Jessica giving me a quick look over.
"How did you recognize me, there are only a few that have seen me?" I asked the young one.
"Oh it wasn't hard, your shape may have changed but your scent hasn't," she replied.
"Right the shnoz, gotcha," I told her taking a seat on the table next to her.
"So what are you in here for Mr. Howlett?"
"Oh nothing much just a look over to see what really changed from before," I told her as Hank finished up.
"Well there you go Jessica, all in working order," hank told her as she hopped off the table and left to head back upstairs. "So, Jack how have you been feeling?"
"Oh I guess as normal as I can be," I replied as he set some of his stuff away.
"That's good, I'm sorry I have to do this but I have another appointment out in Texas, emergency call you know and I have to go but I have asked that Gene have a look over you and we will go over the analysis either today or tomorrow. Is that alright for you?" he asked.
"Sure why not as long as it gets done right?"
"Yep you got it," he said throwing on his coat. "Yeah Gene should be here any minute now so you won't be waiting long."
"Oh, ok, hope you have a good trip and I'll talk to you when you get back," I told him as he gave me a wave just before exiting the room.
No sooner he was out the door when Gene walked into the room with a binder under her arm. "So I guess it's just you and me eh?"
"Yeah," she said putting on some rubber gloves.
"So what is that binder for anyway? That is if you don't mind me asking that is?"
"Oh it's just a med book for canines. It's a back up just incase I have to treat you like the family dog," she told me while looking into my ears.
"So what you're saying is, you get to scratch my belly while I get to hump your leg," I told her chuckling a bit.
"Well lets hope we don't have to go that far, I might have to neuter you then," she replied taking a stethoscope from the wall.
"Oh ok proved your point no further we shall go, I like my testicles right where they are thank you very much."
From there we continued with the examination, she looked over my general areas and deducted that everything was fine and dandy. My heart rate was lower, my nose was cold, and my tail was swinging like nobody's business so I would take that as being good. From there we went down the hall a bit to the lab where in the center was the scanner thingy. Give me a break I know what it does just not what it's called alright, it takes a full body scan, allowing the doctor to examine the whole person to look for illness, damaged bones, that sort of thing. I removed my shirt and laid down on the table face up; to be honest I don't know why but even though the room could be 20 above, that table was always cold. You can lay there and just chill your ass off, it's really creepy. She powered it up as I awaited her signal to remain still. Finding a comfortable spot, if there was such a thing, I laid there and seen her give me the thumbs up. A large robotic arm began the scan taking reference points of my large frame, once it finished that it began to rotate around my body slowly gathering images of my body from on the inside and the out. Ten minutes had passed and the machine was finally done with what it had to collect. Waiting again for her signal I lifted my chilled back from the steel table and proceeded to put my shirt back on.
"Well I have the results and I will give them to the professor, he will call you when he decides to talk to you," she told me walking out of the room, computer disk in hand.
"Sure thing," I replied making my way behind her.
It was from the lab I then made my way upstairs and into the courtyard of the mansion. As soon as I had step foot out of the doors my lower back felt oddly tense, I belt over putting my hands on my thighs and the tension disappeared. That got me curious, I soon bent over all the way until my hands touched the ground and I felt oddly natural. Bending my knees a bit I decided to try walking and to my surprise it felt really good. From there I took it as a sign that maybe I should really get out, I rushed back up to my room changed into a pair of shorts and made my way out of the mansion complex. I looked back and decided that a run through the woods wouldn't hurt, and besides that it had also been a while since I had gone out for a relaxing run.
I made my way out of the mansion close to the highway so that I wouldn't lose direction of where I had come from. Judging from the speed of the cars I was moving around 60 to 70 mph and it was cool I wasn't really straining myself either, I could probably move quicker than that if I pushed myself. I watched as the trees and the sky moved past my face and it seemed like almost instantly I missed being in the mountains, back in my little hut with few if any possessions to my name. Back there I was a ghost, a hermit; all had heard about me few knew me. It was quiet and I seen no bother, then came the question "Why not go back?" I halted in my tracked right then and there, sure I could go it but look at all that I would be leaving behind. I would be giving up my family, friends, and the one that I love. But if I stayed and not left then what? I'd get caught staying in the mansion because I couldn't walk in the outside world, I would have to face ridicule and fear just for my appearances. Funny how this didn't bother me before and I really couldn't see why Kurt and Hank made such a big deal about it, well Hank not so much but Kurt finds it hard to go in public for the simple risk of being caught without his image inducer turned on. Ironic how fast viewpoints can change when you're put in the hot seat. Looking now I think that I will have to choose one or the other and that will have to be my final decision.
Clearing my thoughts I continued on and moved upon my path, before too long I found my path leading me into Bayville itself. I realized that I should play it safe, but then again there was that voice in the back of my head telling me that maybe I should just creep in and have a look. Now that I looked at it I would simply look like a really big dog and if I played my cards right no one would think otherwise. Taking a second glance I realized that if the professor was in my position he would turn around and use a different method for getting into town, so I decided to do the sensible thing and go home. If I truly wanted in then I would have Kitty put a leash on me and walk me in.
I arrived back at the mansion late in the afternoon, I found out that Kitty was looking for me and that the professor and Hank had made it back from Texas early due to a false alarm. I walked through the door and stood back up on my hind feet, feeling refreshed from my nice run. Making my way upstairs I caught the professor calling me to his office, I told him I would change into some better clothes and get there ASAP. As I walked into my room there was Kitty sitting on the bed and she seemed troubled.
"Hey honey, what's wrong?" I asked her.
"Well it's my parents they want to meet you and with this latest turn of events I think that it seems more and more like a bad idea," she replied holding one of the many photos of the two of us.
"If they know that you are a mutant maybe they will accept my appearance as I am and look beyond this fur and teeth and see the real me, your husband to be, your new pet dog," I told her chuckling a bit, and I could tell that she found it amusing by the way that her shoulders bounced. "See, I don't think that it will be that bad we will just have to watch what we do."
"Maybe you're right," she replied.
"Who cares what your parents think, you are your own person, remember that," I told her taking a seat beside her and placing my arm around her waist. "I love you and that's all that matters."
"Yeah, I love you too," she said giving me a hug. "You wanna think about something weird?"
"What?"
"Just think about what our kids are going to look like," she said looking me in the eyes.
"You're right, that is a scary thought," I replied giving her a kiss. "Come on the professor wants to talk about my scan results maybe you should know what your husband is all about."
"Sure."
We made our way out the room and down to the professor's office; I completely forgot to change of course, so I ended up walking into a room with three professionally dressed people and there was me in bicycle shorts. In the room was the professor, Hank, and my Father.
"Ah Jack glad you could make it, have a seat," said the professor.
"Thank you," I replied. "So what did the scan uncover?"
"Well looking at it there was a significant influence toward canine change, your bone and muscle structure are views to that. Internal organs seem to have shifted around a bit but nothing has changed really except they have scaled up a bit to accommodate the larger body. Now we get to the complicated part of it, we know that adamantium in it's set state is practically indestructible, during your mutation your body contorted and shifted and ultimately stretched the metal to fit your new skeleton. That feat in all attempts should be considered impossible, how your body did it I guess we will never know but the fact that it happened is baffling," explained Hank setting the charts and photos down in front of him.
"That's pretty much all that we found over the scan so, if you might like to input anything as to what you have noticed over the past two days," noted the professor.
"Well I have noticed a strength increase and definitely a speed increase as well, today I went out for a run and noticed that will no real effort I can keep up with highway traffic on all fours anyway. I don't really know what would happen if I tried to run standing up but I imagine that I would be able to keep good pace," I told them.
"What kind of strength increase have you gained?" asked Hank.
"I would guess that I'm now 70% stronger, of course due to the different muscle groups."
"I see," said Xavier. "Now I think the question should be, what is going to become of you two, being together that is?"
"Well I believe we can still go ahead with this, I know it will seem weird but I think one the wrinkles are worked out then everything will be alright," I told them taking Kitty's hand into mine.
"You know Jack I can give you an image inducer like Kurt's if you like?"
"I think that I'll be fine looking like the family pet. I know that there will be some hurtles that we will have to cross but I believe that we will be able to cope with them."
"As you wish but I will keep the offer open, should you come into a circumstance where you do happen to need it," replied the professor.
"Thank you."
We then closed the meeting and went back to our normal days tasks, I went back to my room and had a shower, a real long one. It felt really good but Kitty is gonna beat my blue ass. Why you ask, I used all of her really good, really expensive shampoo and conditioner. Believe me one handful will not do the kinda fur I got goin' on. Add in the conditioner and I have one silky, soft, and strong coat of fur, which in my case will be chased all over the damn mansion for this little deed. Now of course since I have gotten bigger I need bigger clothes and that little wardrobe set me back about 400 bucks, ouch eh? But what you gonna do? I can't run around in bike shorts all the time, or can I? Better not, we have frequent outside visitors and I wouldn't want to give the wrong impression when I tell them that I am a teacher. Hehe that would be great to see, hi I'm the housedog, I also teach graduate level social studies and history I'll let you walk me around, here hold my leash.
I walked back downstairs to see what everyone else was up to and I found Kitty and Ororo sitting in the viewing room looking through dresses and decorations, lord only knew what was going through their heads. Which reminded me we still had to shop for the cake, hey just the two of us and I could be out in public, this would be great. I kind of trotted off into the garage where I found a chunk of chain that would work great as a collar. I then found another chain, lighter but still effective; that would work as a leash. I then put it on and walked just into the doorway of the viewing room, just kinda held it there in my hand.
"Ungh Kitty," I said just to get her attention.
"Yes," she said turning her head around to se me at the door.
"I think we need to go for a walk," I told her in kind of a seductive manner, dangling the leash between two of my fingers.
It was then that she put on kind of a goofy smirk and said, "alright, you wanna go for a walk, we'll go for a walk."
"If you're wondering why I want to go it is because I wouldn't mind shopping for the cake today just to get it out of the way," I told her leading her to the garage.
"Well why not, I could use some time in town for awhile," she noted hopping in the drivers seat of my car as I hopped into the passenger seat. "You wearing your shorts?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well you're not going to walk around on all fours in a pair of khakis and a casual shirt are you? What happened to the family dog bit?" she questioned.
"Well no but to answer your question, yes I do have my shorts on so don't worry about it," I told her as she started the engine and rolled off the property.
While on the path to Bayville I got undressed and sat there like a good dog waiting to be let out of the car, this was going to be either a bunch of fun or a trip to hell and back. I was prepared for it I had to tell ya but as for her well shit anything could happen. We pulled around that last corner coming onto the main street where all the small shops and stores were established. Cruising slowly around I already noticed that people had begun to look at us, I have to admit I was one huge looking animal but then again this was Bayville everybody notices things. We parked the car and she came around to put my leash one me and let me out. People started to back away a bit as I came out of the car, there were looks of fear and amazement as she began to walk me down the street towards the bakery.
"You know I should just sit on your back, I think that would make it more comfortable for me," Kitty said to me in a sly tone.
I stopped and looked up to her, shifting my eyes a bit to see that no one was near, "don't even think about it," I said to her then continuing my path to the store.
"Well I guess that you're in no place for argument now are you?"
"Not really but you have to remember I'm doing this for the school not my own welfare, if I have to come out and expose myself then so be it," I told her making a turn into the front door of the bakery immediately catching the attention of the baker behind the counter.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa what do you think you are doing?" he demanded while we walked through the door. "There are no pets allowed in this building, we produce food products here you should know the health code. Just put him outside and then you can get him once you are finished."
"Don't worry he won't do anything I'll just sit him here in the center of the floor and that way he won't be a pest. Besides I need him here to make some decisions on the type of wedding cake we will be purchasing," Kitty told him as I moved to the center of the room.
"What do you mean you need his approval, he's a dog; I don't think that he'll be eating any part of your wedding cake my dear," the baker told us as he took a second look at me. "But if you can promise me that he will not move an inch then I guess he can stay for a bit."
"Good, lets start making something up," Noted Kitty after she set down the leash beside me. "We were thinking the standard three layer cake with the bride and groom figurines on top. The icing will be white with blue trim and several blue roses," she told him looking back at me to get my approval.
"I don't think we should go for the roses it might seem cluttered," I said aloud not really realizing what I just did. "Oh shit did I just say that out loud."
"Did, did that dog just talk?" the baker asked shakely.
"No I didn't," I then said hoping to save myself.
"You did, you did say that, what the hell are you?" he demanded.
"Well honey looks like our covers blown," said Kitty seeming a bit disappointed.
"Yeah I guess so, no use just sitting on the floor then," I told her standing up to my full height and unclipping the leash from my collar.
"HOLY SHIT!! You're a big son of a bitch aren't you?" the baker said backing up a bit. "What are you?"
"Well I'm the groom, and that's why she needed my input so lets get this over with shall we," I told him placing my hand on the counter.
"Sssure, wh why not," he replied obviously frightened.
We continued on and planned the rest of the cake out, and all the while the poor man's hands wouldn't stop shaking, and he probably perspired over a liter of water. When it came time to leave I simply got back down on all fours and Kitty hooked the leash back up to my collar and we left.
"Have a good day, try not to work too hard," I told him before leaving.
"Yeah sure thing," he replied flopping down into his seat and grabbing for a rag to wipe his forehead off.
We left the bakery and made it back to the car where we were met by a police officer.
"Do you have registration for that...dog of yours?" he asked staring down at me.
"Well I don't think I need any seeing as I only look like a dog," I spoke up staring right back at him.
"What the hell? You talked to me."
"Yeah and I can do more than talk you oaf..."
"Hey there's no need for that Jack just watch who you talk to!" Kitty exclaimed giving me a bat across the head.
"He's one of those freaks isn't he?" the officer questioned setting his hands on his sides, his left being real close to the holster.
"Not a freak a mutant, now you don't have to go waving your gun around just let us leave, we have a wedding to finish planning if you don't mind," I told him pulling the chain from Kitty's hands ands making my way into the passenger seat of the car.
"Eh what you gonna do, the man's over a hundred I don't think he'll change now," she said walking to the driver's door and getting in.
We left the officer there standing stunned by what he had just witnessed, a really big dog just went and told him to go fuck himself, and headed back for home. The drive back was quiet but I know Kitty was a little disappointed in the fact that I had not held my tongue back there at the bakery and with that officer. But that's just me, I speak my mind and she knew that soon after we first met. I was so happy that I was able to put my clothes back on and feel normal again, and be able to sit like a normal human being not like some dope ass canine. Pulling into the garage, she turned off the car and turned to look at me...
"What will I ever do with you?" she asked me.
"I know obedience school won't work," I told her. "The whole old dog and ndew tricks things just don't fly hun."
"Yeah tell me about it," she replied giving me a kiss. "I figure it's getting late, we get some grub and go to bed, sound good to you?"
"Yeah why not I am getting pretty hungry, and then tomorrow we can keep working on the wedding plans. That little even is only a month away," I told her stepping foot out of the car.
And with that we left inside to do our things awaiting the day when it would finally happen.
A/N: This is the second last chapter remember that, but I do have another story in the works that will follow after this one so it might make it's debut here in approximately 3 weeks to a month.
Next... chapter 10 Two Weddings and a Funeral