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With a huff, I went to watch T.V. How could Alan not back me up on this? I was protecting the poor dog! It's one thing to put down a very sick, and in pain animal, but a healthy animal with slight behavioral problems was a different thing entirely. Too boot, he starts to sound like Don in the distrusting department! What the hell? I'm, except in rare cases, honest with the caregivers of my patients! Besides, being a daughter myself, I would never keep the boys out of the loop. We'd fight, sure, but everything would be shared.

The next morning, I braced myself for a visit from either Don or Mr. Grot. Niether came.

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The next evening I had a night mare.

Dad is in a coma for mysterious reasons, at the hospital,while Charlie, Natalie and I talk to a doctor who popped pills ;He recommended a risky surgury that involving killing dad for two seconds, to see exactly what was wrong, then reviving him soon after.

I asked, "Isn't it risky?"

"Isn't your shirt brown?"

"Hey!" I snapped,

The prick shrugged."I thought we were playing a state the obvious contest"

"Come on!"I turned to Natalie furiously"You told us that he was brilliant!"

"He is! Just unconventional"

"The man's a junkie!" Charlie yelled.

"I need the pills for pain management" the doctor insisted.

Natalie told us"Like it or not, I'm signing the consent form"

"Are you insane?" I demanded as Charlie tried to grab the consent form from her. She fought him for it.

"Let it go!"

"I'm challening you in court!" I threatened.

"I've got every right to make this decision!"

At that moment, I woke up in a sweat.

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I sighed,while flipping channels. Alan had spent most of the evenng working on something with Stan, then we kinda talked, and he went to bed. Seems like I fell asleep because the next thing I knew, daylight poured through the curtains, a blanket was over me, and I heard Alan puttering in the kitchen.

"Morning" he said, and gave me a cup of coffee"

"Morning..." Things were still strained between us. That was one of the disadvantages of living with someone, as opposed to just dating them.

"I was thinking..." he began.

"What?" I sipped my coffee.

"That maybe we should look into getting a lawyer." he said. "In case he does decide to sue"

"I'll cross that bridge,if have to" I said. "But I've got a friend, who might know someone."

"I still keep in touch with my wife's former co workers" he nodded.

"Look, Babe, the dog is thriving, no jury is going to side with him" I argued.

"Maybe you should tell the new owners of the situation?" he suggested. "I mean he might want to take it back."

"I don't want to worry them unless I have to. Besides, he wanted to get rid of the dog in the first place!" I countered.

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"Nat, I respect that you wanted to protect the dog, but you crossed the line" I told her. "I've fought against injustice, myself, but never comitted a crime in the process"

"My hands were tied, Alan. There was nothing I could do legally. Believe me, I tried to talk him out of it."she insisted.

"If that dog bites someone you could be liable" I reminded her.

"That won't happen!"

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

TBC