I had writers block when I wrote these next few chapters, so bear with me.

Disclaimer, Enjoy and...

Let The Chaos Ensue...

Chapter 15: Pride

July 16th, 2:09 am, Merced CA

"What are we doing at a zoo at this hour?" Indi yawned, rubbing her tired eyes.

Jim had woken her up and then after jumping off the semi, carried her until they had reached the Merced, Applegate Zoo.

"You'll see," he said. They walked through the maze of pathways to the lion enclosure. Jim picked Indiana up and jumped down into the enclosure.

"Jim, what are you doing? This is the lion's enclosure." She said, glancing at Mace and the other lioness.

Jim smiled and untied his cloak, draping it over a branch. "It's fine, this is my pride." He moved to his hands and feet and gave a small roar. After a second, Trouble barreled out of the cave and ran up to Jim, nuzzling him.

"Trouble, you've gotten so big. And you look like you're feeling better too." Jim smiled, then looked back to Indi.

"You can't be serious," she said.

Trouble pounced Jim and jumped on his back, beginning to harmlessly gnaw on his horns.

Two dangerous growls drew the three's attention. Jenna and King, looking rather displeased about the human in their enclosure.

Using his tail, Jim soundlessly removed Trouble while keeping his eyes on the two lions. He moved in front of Indi and snarled.

Her voice shaky, she spoke. "Jim? What's going on."

Through his growl, he answered. "They don't particularly like humans. Don't worry."

"Don't worry? Jim, they're gonna kill me," she whispered in panic.

Instead of saying anything, Jim circled her and his tail coiled around her leg, he sat down and gave a snarl.

Mace, who was off to the side, stood.

Jim's head turned in his direction and he simply glared before the lion sat back down. Turning back to King and Jenna, Jim crawled forward with Indi in tow. He stopped just within reach of both creatures then repeated his previous actions.

Jenna took a step forward, and Jim gave a warning snarl. She paused then continued forward.

"Uh, Jim, what's she doing?" She said. He could feel her body trembling through his tail.

Jim smiled up at her, and purred, nuzzling her leg. Then Jenna slowly did the same.

Cautiously, and tentatively, she stroked the lioness, then slowly lowered to her level. She smiled and Jenna licked her face.

"Oh, uh, ow, oh my gosh! Sandpaper," she said, giving a pained giggle.

Jim laughed then turned to King, giving a whine. As if he were sulking, he slowly walked over to her and acknowledged her before walking away.

"He likes you," Jim said.

"Really? I couldn't tell." She laughed.

"He's got a funny way of showing affection," Jim said as he watched the lion walk away. "But Jenna and Trouble…"

Indi fell forward, the cub on her back. Jim caught her and helped her get him off her back. "Careful, my brother likes to play. Woah…" The lioness was dragging him by his scruff back into the cave. "Jenna!" He whined. Jim rolled his eyes and motioned for his girlfriend to follow.

She stood outside for a minute, not daring to enter a literal lion's den, but when mace moved threateningly toward her, she stopped hesitating.

Running inside, she found what looked to be Jim getting a cat bath from Jenna, the lioness trying to get his shirt off, and Jim was resisting.

"Jenna," he gave a whine. "Not in front of Indiana."

"Oh you did not just call me…" she huffed. Marching forward she used the fact that the lioness had Jim pinned to get his shirt off.

Walking toward the back wall, she tossed the shirt behind her and sat down on a rock. "Go to town Jenna."

Jim rolled his eyes and settled down. "Trator."

"Why didn't you tell me your family was lions?" She asked.

Jim shrugged. "I didn't want to weird you out. Besides, this is my pride. I'm the alpha."

Indi raised an eyebrow. "I don't think you could weird me out at this point. Also, shouldn't you have like… killed Trouble then?"

Jim snarled. "No. This may be my pride, but I am not a lion. The only thing I kill is trolls and the like." Trouble came in and began pouncing around Jim's tail. "Besides, he's too much fun. He really did get bigger though. He's twice the size I last saw him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he was really sick when I met him. But I was able to help Jace, the lion's handler, get him his medicine. He's doing well now."

Indi laughed, trouble was licking Jim's face again. "I can tell."

Jim made some growling noises and used his head to gesture to Indi, the cub gave a happy growl and ran over to her and jumped on her lap.

"Awe, he's so soft," she cooed.

Jim laid his tail out for Jenna, then stretched his arms and legs out before walking over to Trouble and Indi.

"So, the lion keeper will be here at 8, and he knows who I am. But he doesn't know who you are. So you can either sleep, and I'll just hang out till after he gets here, then go to sleep, or if you'd rather we can just leave."

"Hmmm, no, I think I'd like to stay. These guys are fun," she said as Trouble licked her hand.

"I just hope you like my human family, as much as you like this one," he said, his ears drooping.

"Jim," she scooted off the rock and sat next to him. "I think you're more worried about your family, then I am."

"Maybe because you're still human."

She took a deep breath then dramatically draped herself over his lap. "Maybe because you're bringing home a new girl." She smiled up at him.

"Oh." Jim said, eyes wide.

"What? I'm not right am I?"

"You are now," he said, panicking slightly. "Claire probably thinks we're gonna get back together and…"

"Jim, calm down. Don't make it drama."

"But…"

Indi sat up. "It's a fact of life, that there is too much drama between friends. If we keep it simple, we can avoid drama, because I'll tell you now… I. Hate. Drama."

"Noted."

"Anyways, I like being your girlfriend. You're sweet, caring, protective, and there's never a dull moment so far."

Jim raised a brow in question at her last statement.

"Piledrived my father, ate my father's fingers, jumped on several semi's, stayed at a total stranger's house, and am now sitting in a den of lions with my half troll boyfriend," she said. "And those are just the highlights."

…

July 16th, 8:01 am, Merced CA

Indi had fallen asleep, and Jim curled around her shortly after. Then joined Trouble, then Jenna. Jim slipped out from the pile as soon as he could hear Jace coming on the other side of the door.

As he turned around and saw Jim he screamed, waking Indi and the other lions.

Jenna put a paw over both Trouble and Indi, and growled at the threat until she saw it was just Jace. She gave a huff and pulled both closer to her before laying back down while purring.

"Hi," Jace said with enough lackluster to kill a crowd.

"Nice to see you too," Jim replied.

"Sorry," he sighed. "You just kinda startled me."

Jenna finally relented and got up, moving to Jace, giving him her full attention and finally wrapping him in a bear hug.

Jim smiled. "She looks like she's warmed back up to you."

"Yeah," he said, struggling to stay upright. "After you left she got all lovey dovey on me again."

Indi looked at Jim and Jace and shook her head. "What's going on?"

Jim snorted. "You don't wake up very well do you?"

"I'm not a morning person, no."

"Jim who's this?" Jace struggled to say as he stepped away from Jenna.

"Jace," Jim smiled. "This is my girlfriend, Indi."

"Hm, you know. If I got a girlfriend, I'd probably bring her to see the lions too," he smirked.

"Yeah yeah, we'll be gone later tonight. If you don't mind would you just let Indi hang out while I sleep?"

"This is getting old," Indi muttered.

"Yeah, sure. But remember, the zoo is open so stay out of sight this time, please."

Review Please