There are two songs in this chapter. The first is 'What's Left Of Me' by Nick Lachey, the other is 'I Wouldn't Go That Far' by Reba McEntire

The next day Bill was standing at the door of the White House waving goodbye to Hilary, who was going to meet her campagn manager to work on her running for New York Senator. Hunter, in dog form came running up to her with a frizbee in his mouth. Hillary smiled. "Hey boy! Where's your tennis ball?" She patted his nose gentily. "No, I don't have time to play boy. I have to meet my campagn manager. I'll play with you later." Waving a final goodbye to Bill Hilary got in the limo. Bill staid on the porch, waving until it was out of sight.

"Finally," he said to himself. Hunter barked and held the frizbee out to him. Bill petted him and threw the frizbee a few times until he paused to check his watch."Yes," he whispered. "She's home!" To Hunter he said. "Ok, boy, time out. Gotta make a phone call. I'll play with ya later promise." Bill went back into the house. Hunter sighed to himself. This wasn't the first time this happened, both of his Masters were too busy to play or spend time with him. It always felt a little lonesome, which was why he was spending longer times at Headquarters. With a heavy heart he reminded himself he wasn't gonna have that for very much longer. Sadly he went into the White House. He wandered along the halls of this big massive home..a home he had to get ready to leave soon. Soon he came to his Master's bedroom and poked his head in curiously. To his surprise he found him on the phone with someone with a huge smile on his face. Thinking it was Hillary, Hunter wandered into the room, thinking Bill might let him send her a few good luck barks.

"Yeah, yeah, Hillary just left. Naw, don't really know how long, but with these campagn managers ya just KNOW it's gonna take forever!" He laughed. "Only mean we got all the time in the world, Darlin!" Hunter stiffened up at those words. "Yeah, yeah. Well, where ya wanna meet? We got load of room here…just as many beds…oh don't worry, Dar, Hillary is NOT gonna be home for at least a few hours!" Hunter dropped the Frisbee unable to BELIEVE what he was hearing! That wasn't Hillary on the phone! Was it that Monica he had heard from the Aides and Lawyers in passing? He had heard some accusations regarding his Master but h had chosen to ignore them all, after all, being a Road Rover he had more important things to think about! But now he could hear it and see it so clearly!

His own Master, Hunter couldn't believe it! Hillary was out there, in am important meeting, trusting him, and here was her husband playing around like a jackrabbit! Hunter stared at the Master he once looked up to with a mixture of shock and disgust! Here Clinton had HIS wife right next to him, always there to help and support him, and he didn't even appreciate it, while Hunter would give anything to marry Colleen and have her be HIS wife! Bill was playing around and taking advantage of HIS "true love" while Hunter's was an ocean away, and he was here, pining away for her! It was then that Bill looked up and saw Hunter in the doorway.

"Oh, hey, Boy!" he smiled. "Hey, just let me get of this call, then we'll lay some ore, alright?" Hunter angrily picked up the frizbee and stormed out of the room, not in the mood for playing too much. He went to his doghouse and curled up in it. God, what was Clinton DOING?! Fooling around on his wife?! Didn't he know how good he had it?! At least HIS mate was THERE! In his HOUSE! In his COUNTRY! While the only dog Hunter ever truly loved was all the way in England…and God knows how much time together THEY had left!

Watch my life,
Pass me by,
In the rearview mirror
Pictures frozen in time
Are becoming clearer
I don't wanna waste another day
Stuck in the shadow of my mistakes

Hunter laid his head on his paws unhappily. It had taken all this time to admit he loved Colleen, and if the two of them could swap places with Bill and Hilary, Hunter knew he would NEVER, EVER! Cheat! If Colleen was his wife, he'd never part with her!

Cause I want you,
And I feel you,
Driving underneath my skin
Like a hunger,
Like a burning,
To find a place I've never been

Bill then wandered out into the backyard. "Hunter? Hunter? Hey,. Where are ya, Boy? Don't ya wanna play now?"

"Not right now, thanks," Hunter thought angrily.

Now I'm broken,
And I'm faded,
I'm half the man I thought I would be:
But you can have what's left of me

Bill poked his head into the doghouse. "Hey, there you are, Boy! Wanna play now, I'm off the phone!" Just then a sound was heard in the drive way. Both Bill and Hunter looked. An attractive blond haired young model-like woman stepped out. Hunter couldn't help but notice how Bill's eyes were practically buldging out of his head at the sight of her. The sight made Hunter nauscious. "Hey, Baby!" Bill said, coming over to him. Hunter tried to go inside his doghouse, but Bill pulled the woman over. "Have ya met my pet dog, Hunter? Come on out, Hunter, say hi!"

"Aw, what a sweet dog he is, Bill!" the woman, said, reaching in to pet him, but Hunter barked viciously and drove her away from him.

"Hunter, down!" Bill said. He laughed a bit. "Sorry about that, he doesn't know you yet."

"Yet?" Hunter thought.

"Come on, baby, let's go inside, I got everything ready!' Hunter watched them go inside with complete disgust and anger.

"You're immature, Clinton!" Hunter thought to himself. "You don';t know how good you have it! Here I am willing to give ANYTHING to have Colleen next to me right here, and you're taking advantage of your wife, who IS! You couldn't POSSIBLY know how it feels to have someone you love be torn away from you! You couldn't know how I'm feeling right now!"

I've been dying inside,
Little by little,
No where to go,
But going out of my mind
In endless circles,

"Oh, Colleen," Hunter thought, "Why does everything remind me of you lately?"

Running from my self until,
You give me a reason for standing still

Cause I want you,
And I feel you,
Driving underneath my skin
Like a hunger,
Like a burning,
To find a place I've never been

Now I'm broken,
And I'm faded,
I'm half the man I thought I would be:
But you can have what's left of me

The wind started to pick up. Hunter stared at it. The flowing grass reminded him of how the wind flew through Colleen's hair when they were jogging. He stared at the nearest tre. The bark was redish-brown..almost te same shade as Colleen's hair.


It's falling faster,
Barely breathing,
Give me something,
To believe in
Tell me: It's all in my head

Take what's left
Of this man
Make me whole
Once again

Cause I want you,
And I feel you,
Driving underneath my skin
Like a hunger,
Like a burning,
To find a place I've never been

Now I'm broken,
And I'm faded,
I'm half the man I thought I would be:
But you can have what's left of me

He glanced through the window of the main room of the White House and saw Bill pour some wine for his girlfriend, talking intimately to her..and making Hunter sick.

I've been dying inside you see
I'm going out of my mind
Out of my mind
I'm just running in circles all the time
Will you take what's left
Will you take what's left
Will you take what's left of me?
Running in circles all the time
Will you take what's left
Will you take what's left
Will you take what's left of me?

Hunter stood up and ran to where the rock was. He was dieing to get to the beach at Headquarters. He had to clear his head and forget all he saw today! If he was lucky, maybe he could see Colleen there, and unlike Clinton treat someone you love the way they should!

Colleen sat on the front steps of Headquarters, staring at the tennis ball that was in her hands. Just holding it bright back so many memories of her and Hunter together., including the most recent one.

I'll never forget that night long ago
When he drove me down that old dusty road
He took me as far as I'd ever been
He wanted me and I wanted him
But I'd always been told I shouldn't give in

She just couldn't believe it, in a month and a few short weeks the only dog she had ever truly loved would be gone,. Gone forever! Sure, she might have had a few boyfriends in her life, but they were absolutely nothing, nothing like Hunter. Never had she known anyone so kinbd, so thoughtful, so sweet, brave and loyal! Dogs like Hunter didn't come along every day. There had never been anyone like him..and she had never loved anyone so much! How? How could this happen? How could Master allow it..how could SHE allow it?! Wait a minute…who said SHE had to allow it! Who said she even had to be a willing player in this?!

What was Master going to do with Hunter gone? Did Mr. Bush have a dog..and would THAT dog be the new Leader?! NO! She stood up. No! She would NOT have another Leader! She would NOT take orders from ANYONE else! Hunter was the most wonderful Leader in the world! There was NO ONE like him! Everyone else could NOT hold a candle to him!

But..what if Master didn't choose that dog? What if he chose one of THEM to take Hunter's place? But who? She sat down to think. Exile? True, Exile was big, and friendly, and kind…but did HE have what it took to lead? Exile was good at following orders….but how good was he at planning? Could he think as quick as Hunter could? Come up with good ideas? As long as she had known Exile he hadn't really come up with any plans or ideas. He was a good listener, and a good fixer, but could he really LEAD? She didn't think so. Blitz? Shag? Oh God, those two were definitely out! "What if it's ME?!" Colleen thought. "What if he picks me to lead? God, am I up to it? Can I do it as well as Hunter? " She had never come up with a plan before, she didn't know if she really could. She would be willing to try…but can she lead a team without Hunter? Could she be up to it? She could think quick…but she couldn't think as quickly as Hunter. She sighed, Who was she kidding? Hunter was the BEST! No matter how hard she tried, she would never compare at all to Hunter! Hunter was the best Road Rover…and he was about to leave them all and never return!

Colleen stood up and stared angrily at the Headquarters where Master was. How could he NOT have thought about this before?! Didn't he see what was going on? He was splitting up the team! Did he expect her to go on IN this team to even TRY to lead or to follow someone else? NO! "If you can't be on this team, Huntie," Colleen thought, reoving hr collar and throwing it on the floor, "Than I won't be either! I'm quitting! I'll march right in there and tell Master, if Hunter goes I go!" But she sank down on the steps. Go where? Back to London? And do what? Be an ordinary dog to Mr. Blair? She sighed. She did love her Master deeply…but after being a Road Rover being and ordinary dog was gonna be boring! What would she DO all day? Sit in her doghouse? Wait for her food, and wait for someone to come play with her? The Blair's were wonderful true, but they were such hard workers most of the time. Usually the Aides would come and play with her. Not that it wasn't fun, but it wasn't the same as having her Master do it.

Her mind wandered as she remembered the picture Hunter showed her of his new home. It DID look nice..it had such a huge backyard and lovely hills. She could see herself running up and down those hills, having races with Hunter, swimming in the pond with him. She would definitely never be lonely at all, not with Hunter there running, playing. She smiled. Maybe later little puppies might join the picture. Sweet puppies, playing in the yard, Hunter tossing tennis balls to them, her taking them after and cleaning them…

What was she DOING?! Was the actually considering Hunter's marriage proposal?!

I wouldn't go that far
I didn't follow my heart
He said he loved me
But I wasn't ready
And I wouldn't go that far

God, she had been thinking too hard. Hunter was THE most wonderful dog ever..but she COULDN'T give up London! Not for him, or for anyone!

He was so patient, he didn't give up
With a ring in his hand and a heart full of love
He asked me for forever, I asked him to wait
To please understand these dreams I must chase
Though it was a promise I wanted to make

She DID love Hunter! Honestly and truly and completely loved him. But…London was her home. However boring that life might be!

I wouldn't go that far
I didn't follow my heart
He said he loved me
But I wasn't ready
And I wouldn't go that far

Yes, I knew he loved me,

But I wasn't ready,

And I wouldn't go that far.

Her mind thought of London. How stiff the Royal Family was when they came over to see Mr. Blair. How she had to be on her best behavior all the time. She was happy though…wasn't she? Wasn't she? London was her home…but could she really see herself there permanently happy? With a Master who really didn't play with her that much? With Aides who were paid to act like they cared…and to be alone in her big roomy doghouse…all alone..all alone, with no one there. Plenty of time to miss Hunter to death.
On the other hand, Hunter WAS always there and would always be there. You could NEVER be lonely with him! Whenever she was with him she was so comfortable, and so happy! She loved him so much….she wanted to be with him…she wanted to be in that big backyard playing forever with him, and to have his puppies…

"But IS that what you want?" a voice came to her. She loved her doghouse, she loved her Master..she would be board a lot of the time..she would think of Hunter,. If she stayed at Headquarters everything would remind her of Hunter! The pang of missing him already his her heart, deeper than any pain she had ever felt before.

She turned toward the beach. Her eyes fell on Hunter, walking along the beach quietly alone in his London outfit. He looked so handsome, yet so sad all she wanted to do was run to him and comfort him. She stood up and looked at him.

"Do I really want to live my life without him?" she thought carefully, looking at him. "NO!" she realized. "I don't!" She stood up, her thoughts finally becoming clear to her. She raced along to where Hunter was on the beach. She stopped only once to look back at Headquarters sadly and raise one of her feet in a kick.

But her mind was made up.

"Huntie!" Colleen cried out, running as fast as she could to him. "Wait, Huntie! Huntie!" Hunter quickly turned around ad smiled as the lovely form of his girlfriend came running to him on the beach. She was JUST the face he needed to see! He held out his arms as she raced into them. He held her gentily and kissed her tenderly as the water lapped at the shore. Colleen held him tightly, Held him and felt his arms that fit perfectly around her. Better than anyone else ever did! She pulled away from him and gazed into his warm brown eyes. "Huntie? Love?"

"Yeah?"

"I changed me mind," Colleen said with certainty and no hesitation at all. "I WILL marry you!" For a while Hunter just stared at her, almost as if he thought he was dreaming and this couldn't POSSIBLY be real!

"You..you WILL?" He whispered, unable to believe it.

"Yes, Huntie. I love you ore than anything. I will marry you!"

"Well…why now? I mean..what changed your mind?"

"Well, I've been giving this a lot of thought," Colleen said. "And I realized that no matter how much I love London and would miss it and my Masters..the truth is..I would miss you more! Yes, I love y Master…but they're never around too long, and all I would ever do is think of you. I finally figured out oh Huntie I love you far more than anything, more than London itself. I want to be with you, Huntie, and I don't want to be anywhere you're not. Where you go, I'll go to!"

Hunter's eyes filled with tears. "I'm almost afraid to answer that."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid I'll wake up!" He drew her into his arms and held her as tight as he could. But the pulled away quickly. "Wait, Colleen…."

"Yes, Huntie?"

"Well, call me ol;d fashioned, but if we're gonna do this…let;'s do it right!" He got down on one knee and held her hands. "Colleen, I love you. Will you marry me?"

"Yes," she said without hesitating,.

"Will you be my mate, come to Arkansas and live with me?"

"Yes."

"YES!" Hunter cried, pulling Colleen into his arms and kissing her with all the love he had. "I'm not like you at all, Clinton," Hunter thought. "Cause now that I have Colleen, I'm NEVER gonna let her go!" He gazed at her beautiful blue eyes. "I love you, Colleen."

"I love you, Hunter!"