Obsidian—chapter two
Samson watches over his sons as they sleep content for now that they are safe from harm. The big cat closes his eyes and when next he opens them, the kittens are playing under a nearby bush, close to the fence line. He stretches as he stands up then lets out a startled yowl as the branch he's on breaks off.
Both kittens watch in horror as their father plummets to the ground. Fleck starts towards him but Obsidian grabs hold of his tail, pulling him deeper under the bush. Fleck turns to swat at his brother when they hear the sound of human voices. Both kittens peek out from under the bush not moving a muscle as they watch the humans approach their father.
Fleck starts hissing and growling about the mean humans and how he's not going to live with anyone that hurts his papa. Obsidian continues watching as he puts a paw on his brother's head, cautioning him into silence. The woman puts her paw on his papa, and a curious glow surrounds him. Both kittens are hard pressed to stay put when they see the purple aura that is now around their father.
Nothing is more curious than a cat, unless it's his kittens. Fleck wriggles out from under his brother's restraining paw; he wants to see what is going on. Obsidian pounces on him, rolling him deeper under the bush. Concerned as he is about his father, he realizes that someone needs to keep an eye on Fleck.
The humans pick up Samson and carry him inside. Fleck rounds on his brother, attacking him viciously. Obsidian lets him pounce knowing that his brother is just worried about their father; when it gets to the point that Obsidian actually starts feeling the pain, he leaps up and races for the far corner of Gibbs yard.
By this time, Samson is lying on the kitchen table as Laurie and Gibbs examine him. He hasn't forgotten his kittens and he is feeling better than he has for quite sometime. He knows that the woman who is now in Gibbs life has lengthened his own life, if only for a few more days. He rubs his head against hers, feeling the tiredness that encompasses them both. When he licks her palm he looks up into her eyes, wondering at the taste of her skin. Exhaustion washes over him and he closes his eyes, knowing that for now at least he's safe.
When next he wakens, the humans are curling up in Gibbs bed, murmuring things he doesn't understand. He knows that Gibbs is on the path back to happiness and goes back to sleep tucking his head under his paws.
Morning arrives and with it, the usual urges, mainly warmth and comfort. He tests the leg he'd wounded the night before and is pleasantly surprised to find very little pain or discomfort. His head tilts towards the bed. He can sense some movement up there but not much. He carefully crawls onto the bed and finds the female running her hand over his human's chest.
The soft hand that had set the cat's broken leg just the previous night is extended in greeting. Samson sniffs at it before butting his head against it, demanding a quick petting. The female smiles at him, as she agrees to the animal's unspoken demand.
"You let that animal on my bed." The soft grumble is half-hearted as Gibbs realizes that he'd actually missed having Samson around these past few years. Laurie lets out a delicate snort at the thought of allowing Samson to do anything. Minutes later and the cat is curled up on Gibbs chest while Laurie prepares breakfast.
Samson thinks about the days when he was a kitten, and slept on Gibbs chest. He purrs as Gibbs strokes his fur and knows that bringing his own kittens here was a good choice on his part. He hadn't planned on the female however and wonders if she'll be upset without a kitten of her own.
When breakfast is brought up, Samson is a little put out at being set on the floor again. The female surprises him with a bit of his own breakfast cut up in pieces that are easy for him to chew with his old teeth. When they all finish, Gibbs comes over and gently picks Samson up to carry him downstairs.
The humans watch when Samson goes outside. He relieves himself under a dogwood bush and then lies down under the rose bushes nearest the fence line. Within minutes, his sons have joined him and he tells them that he will be going away for a few days, with the humans. Fleck starts complaining about not having enough to eat or drink but Obsidian is watching the house.
The pet door is opening. The inner flap is once again assessable by small animals. Obsidian waits until Fleck is done complaining before pointing towards the pet door with his tail. Samson nods his head at Obsidian's unasked question. "While I am gone, use the pet door and you will find water and shelter there."
Fleck gets a mischievous look in his eyes, a look that goes unnoticed by his father and brother. He can think of many things a kitten can get into when unsupervised. He runs his pink tongue across his lips in anticipation of the chaos he's going to create.
A/N: Yep I'm leaving it there for now. Reviews are welcome. ^_^