One-Shot: Zillah's Vendetta

Prompt: 023 Lovers

Summary: Zillah doesn't approve of Don's latest girlfriend.

Timing: Sometime in season one.

-ZV-

"I don't think your dog likes me."

Don let out a chuckle as he wrapped an arm around Melissa's shoulders, then paused as he looked over at Zillah. He was looking after her for the week while Charlie was out of town, and had forgotten to mention this to Melissa before bringing her home for the first time. Now, the large dog was… glaring, that was the only word for it, glaring at Don's new girlfriend. He looked at her for a moment, then shrugged.

"She did that to me first time I met her, too. And she's not actually mine, she's my brother Charlie's. I'm just looking after her for a while." Don tried to reassure Melissa, but she still looked sceptical. "Hey, I know how to smooth things over between you two. C'mere." He pulled Melissa into the kitchen, where he handed her a bowl and a bottle of beer. "Pour some of that out for her, she'll be your best friend in no time."

"Really?" Melissa raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow in disbelief. "You have an alcoholic dog?"

"She's not alcoholic," Don immediately leapt to the hound's defence. "I just give her beer now and then as a treat."

"Right," Melissa still looked doubtful, but squared her shoulders and went back to Don's bedroom, where Zillah was laying stretched out in the middle of the bed.

"Here, girl," she spoke with a false brightness that grated on Don's nerves. He could only imagine what Zillah thought. "I've got some lovely beer for you. Yummy!" Melissa poured the beet into the bowl and put it on the floor.

Zillah raised her head, then slowly stood, and Don thought for a moment that she was going to get down and accept the peace offering. Until she turned around a few times and curled up with her back to Melissa.

Don couldn't help the snort of laughter that escaped, which earned him a glare from Melissa.

"It's not funny," she snapped at him. Don bit his lip to refrain from contradicting her – he found it highly amusing.

"Hey, it's no big deal," he eventually offered when he was sure that he wouldn't laugh again. "It's not like you'll come across her that often anyway. Just leave her be, and she'll get used to you eventually."

"I doubt it," Melissa muttered and glared at the dog, before turning and leaving the room. Don glanced at Zillah, and stifled another laugh. She was looking right at him, with an expression that plainly said 'get rid of her'. He then looked back at Melissa, who had her arms crossed over her chest and was glaring at him. He turned back to Zillah and gave her a weak smile.

"You might just be right about her."

Zillah laid her head back down on her paws, quite content as the sounds of an argument floated through from the other room. The interloper would leave soon, which was good. She wasn't good enough to be Don's mate.

A few minutes later, the front door slammed, and Don came back to his room. He quickly undressed and climbed into bed, struggling a little to get under the covers until Zillah got up. She waited until he was settled, then curled up with her head on the other pillow, within easy reach for patting. Don smiled and started to stroke her ears, earning himself a tail-wag.

"So, are you going to do that to every girl I bring home?" He asked in a soft voice, already half asleep. Zillah looked up at him, with a clear 'well, duh,' expression. Chuckling, Don closed his eyes, and soon after the patting stilled. Zillah continued watching him for a while, making sure he was safe, before closing her eyes as well and going back to sleep.