Jake stood uncomfortably, tugging occasionally at the collar of his one good shirt. Every minute or so, he unnecessarily peeked out the window of the garage.

"She'll be here," asserted Chance for the fourth time.

"Yeah, but when?"

"I don't know. But she'll be here."

A few seconds later, they heard a car roll up into the parking lot. Chance stole a glance out the window. "That's her." They stepped out of the garage into the fading sunlight. Bev stopped her car and rolled down the window, as Chance leaned down to talk.

"Hey," said Bev.

"Hey backatcha. You mind driving? It'll be a tight squeeze in the pick-up."

"No, that's fine. Climb on in."

Chance held the seat up for Jake, who slid into the back seat.

"Bev, good to see you again," said Jake cordially.

"Likewise." Bev gave Jake a smile, then turned her attention back to Chance, who was situating himself in front. "Where to?"

Jake offered, "Anyplace without a drive-thru window."

Bev considered. "How about Mexican? There's that new place, Sanchez's?"

"Fine by me."

They drove the short distance in silence, although Bev and Chance exchanged a few goofy smiles along the way. Once they parked, they filed into the restaurant. The hostess told them there'd be a wait, so Chance left his name, and they settled themselves in the bar.

Chance asked, "Usuals all around?" Jake and Bev both nodded, and Chance flagged down the waiter. "One gin 'n' tonic, one lemon soda. You got Sheboygan Special?"

"Oh, yes."

"One of those, too."

The waiter nodded, and as he left, Bev turned to Jake. "You don't drink, either?"

Shaking his head, Jake said, "Not since New Year's a few years back."

Chance smiled as he recognized the start of Jake's story. It wasn't entirely made up, but it was rather well-embellished. It sure beat telling people the real reason they didn't drink.

Jake went on, "It took me an hour to figure out who owned the apartment I woke up in, another hour to figure out where it was, and three more hours to make it home." Bev laughed, and Jake went on. "Since then, it's pretty much been lemon soda."

"Well, at least you figured out there was a problem. There's a kat I work with - Frank - and it looks like he'll be the last to figure it out."

"Hittin' the bottle pretty heavy?" Chance asked.

"Yeah - and we're usually stuck picking up the slack. Like we don't have enough stuff to do each day."

They each accepted their drinks from the waiter, and Chance stood up. "Here's to Jake, the best friend a kat could have, and Bev, best gal a kat could have." They clinked glasses, and as they took their first sip, they heard Chance's name called.

"Wow, quicker'n I thought. After you two."

"See ya tomorrow." Chance kissed Bev, then stepped out of the car and held the seat open for Jake. They watched her drive off, then Chance spun around to look at Jake.

"So?" he asked excitedly.

Jake half-smiled, then unlocked the door to the garage. "She's...very nice."

"I told ya."

"Yeah." Jake stepped in and headed towards the sofa. Chance stopped to lock the door, then walked over and sat across from Jake.

"And...?"

Jake's smile became crooked. "Um...I don't know. She's not really your type, is she?"

Chance shook his head. "Yeah, so what? Maybe she's my type now."

"Hm. Could be."

Chance sat looking at Jake, who sat quietly staring off into the distance, a small frown on his face. Finally, he nudged him again. "And...?"

"Um..." Jake thought for a second, then decided to get to the point. "Maybe I should get to know her a little better."

"What? Why you say that?"

"Chance, don't get me wrong. She seems great. You're right - she's real nice."

Chance gritted his teeth. "There's a 'but' comin'."

"Yeah, here it is. Tell me about Frank."

"Frank?" Chance stopped dead. "Who's Frank?"

Jake shrugged. "I dunno. Some guy she works with."

"Frank? Heck, Jake, I dunno anything about him. She's mentioned him a couple times. What does that matter?"

"Yeah, well, I know exactly one thing about him. He's a drunk."

"Yeah, so? What's that gotta do with anything?"

"Nothing. That's just it. It's got nothing to do with anything. Chance, Bev and I just met. I shouldn't know this about him." Chance didn't say anything, so Jake went on. "And do you remember when we talked about the news programs, and she told us about some friend of hers who dated that news guy? Remember what she said?"

"That he was no good in bed?"

"Well, yeah. But before she told us that, she said, 'Now don't tell anyone I told you.'" Jake paused, and then added, "Those words really really made me nervous."

"You mean you think she'll blab," Chance growled.

"I don't know, buddy. Maybe she won't. But we've gotta be really sure about this before we head into this. 'Cause there's no backing out once we're there." Chance looked unconvinced, so Jake went on. "Look, buddy, think about it. At least twice tonight, she told me stuff she probably shouldn't've. You? OK, maybe - she knows you pretty well. But me? She just met me."

Chance waved that aside. "She was nervous - meetin' you 'n' all."

"Yeah, maybe. But she'll get nervous again sometime." Jake leaned closer to Chance, and jerked a thumb back at the hangar. "Listen, you know as well as I do that this has got to stay a secret. We let Marc in on it 'cause...well, 'cause he made us. But we know he can keep it quiet."

"Bev won't talk."

"Y'know, you're probably right. She probably won't talk. But I need to know for sure."

Suddenly Chance jumped up and headed for the back door.

"Hey, where you goin'?" Jake asked.

"Out." Chance walked into the hangar and slammed the door shut.

T-Bone, no matter how screwed up his brain got, never let it get the better of his piloting skills. He planted the TurboKat down near the edge of Chooser's Cavern and shut down the engine. He unstrapped his helmet, but didn't move for a minute. Finally, he sighed and climbed out of the cockpit. Leaning against the landing gear, he looked back towards MegaKat City. It was more or less a blur, a building or two jutting out of the bright maze.

It's not fair, he thought, kicking the wheel with his heel. It's just not fair. I finally meet somebody special, and Jake doesn't like her. Chance shook his head. No, wait, he likes her, he just doesn't think we can trust her. Can I trust her? Of course I can. Well, I'm pretty sure I can.

What if I can't trust her? What if she blabs? What then? It all comes out - Feral takes our plane away - we'll prolly go on trial for something or other. But I'd still have Bev...and Jake. Or will I? Jake wouldn't get it. He'd prolly never talk to me again.

She won't blab. Not if I tell her right. Not if she knows how important it is. To us, and to the City. And Jake's right. I don't have to tell her right away. I'll give it some time, and when Jake and Bev feel more comfortable together, then I'll tell her. Then she'll understand.

T-Bone jumped back into the cockpit, tossing his helmet back on. He smiled. Jake better stop bein' right all the time. He's startin' to piss me off.