Chapter 4: The Truth.

Topsy and Lightning were tossing Jerry back and forth between them like a football, taking pleasure in humiliating the mouse who caused Tom so much trouble. "Pass him here!" Topsy yelled as he reached out to catch Jerry, paws way over his head. "Over her fellas!" called Meathead, seeing Lightening toss Jerry over Tosy and at him instead. Lightning laughed and threw Jerry back and forth between them, chuckling as Jerry curled in on himself for protection. All the while Butch stood to the side with a grin on his face. Meathead

"All right boys, I think he's had enough," said Butch at last, coming between them. "Let's put him out of his misery."

He caught Jerry and wanted to see if the mouse learned his lesson, holding Jerry close to his face. He saw Jerry's tired eyes, bruised from being handled so roughly. Seeing the look of defeat in his eyes did Butch good, making him snicker with joy.

"Not so tough without yer bulldog, or tricks, eh?" said Butch, holding Jerry by the tail, seeing him dangle like a ball on a string. "Ya thought you could live a guilt-free life, where there'd be no consequences or payback. Well, I'm here to tell you, you're wrong and now it's yer time to suffer, to be punished instead of Tom."

Jerry was bruised and beaten up, weaving every so lightly. With black and blue eyes, he weakly looked up, seeing Butch frown at him. The cat was indeed frightening, especially compared to Tom. Tom, even in his last moments he's thought went to that stupid cat.

"Any last words mouse?" asked Butch.

Jerry:
"He left without saying goodbye, I never saw it coming,
I assumed he'd return by morning, that's usually what he does,
It's only been a week, but it felt much longer,
I've had no hunger, I could barely go on,

"If you see him tell him I'm so sorry,
No words could make up for what I've done,
For the pain I caused him, and all the tricks, all the lies,
If you see him after I'm long gone,
Tell him this,
That my heart belongs to him, my Thomas."

I'm not the only one, Spike, Tike, they miss him too,
How could Tom never knew, that he affected so many,
The women even cried, thinking he might have died,
As for me I've guilt, for how I made him feel,

If you see him tell him I'm so sorry,
No words could make up for what I've done,
For the pain I caused him, and all the tricks, all the lies,
If you see him after I'm long gone,
Tell him this,
That my heart belongs to him, my Thomas,
The end is so near, yet he is not here,
To fight or protect me, guess I can't say goodbye."

"Yer as insane as he is. Ya actually believe he cares about ya? Yer a mere rodent, a nuisance. I'm going to enjoy watching you die." He raised his paw and was ready to strike.

Jerry shut his eyes, accepting his fate. Before Butch could even move, a paw stopped him. Butch turned to find Tom, standing and glaring at him.

"Don't try to stop me, this is for yer own good."

"Butch, don't do this?" begged Toodles. "Please, put him down."

"Toodles?" exclaimed Butch. "I'm sorry, but I have to. The mouse has him under a spell. We have to free him from this demon."

When Butch went to cut Jerry, Tom drug Butch around and sent him into the closest wall he could, hissing in his face. The air was knocked from his lungs, feeling pressure to his neck as Tom pressed his arm into Butch's neck. He was lifted off the ground, feet dangling as Tom was surprising quite strong. He gasped, facing Tom's furious face. The group stood back, knowing the pair needed to fight it out.

"Ya'd really kill me to protect that filth? Turn against me, yer brother?" asked Butch, through gritted teeth. "If ya do this, we're done and you'll be in more danger than ya could even imagine. Not from me, but from someone else. It's yer choice."

Tom took Jerry in one paw and then his tail, keeping him from Butch's reach. He then threw Butch to the floor, stepping back to catch his breath. His tail lifted Jerry, Tm gently taking him in his arms. Holding the mouse close, it was clear who he chose. The three cats went to help their boss, only to feel him bat them away. Butch sat up and wiped his muzzle, clearing the blood away. He stood and gave Tom a look of disgust, spitting on him as he left.

"Come on gang, there is nothin' more we can do," said Butch.

"Butch, is it true? Will we be in danger if we side with Tom," asked Topsy.

"Yes, and I don't want to risk my neck. The guy I'm talking 'bout is, well, Tom will find out soon enough," said Butch.

Tom watched as one by one they left, giving him a sorrowful nod or smile. The last to leave was Toodles, smiling with a hit of both sorrow and happiness.

"Good luck Tom," said Toodles.

Once they were gone, Tom looked down at Jerry, who curled up in his paw. Jerry shivered and shook, tiny paws clutching tightly to him. Tom felt pity for him, guilty for not being there to protect him. Jerry was so small, so helpless against his friends. While Jerry pushed his buttons, he never wanted to see him harmed, least not like he was in that moment. Jerrys brown fur had a few cuts, black eyes, and ruffled fur. Tom went to get some medical cream to apply to the cuts, bandaging him up tenderly.

Tom:
"If you're wondering why I've returned here,
My heart was telling me it's one true home,
Was with a small mouse, the one who I've been chasing my whole life,
By the way, Jer, I was wonder if you'd be my mate,
If you would, be my Jerry, I'd be your Thomas, I'd be all yours."

Jerry gazed up into Tom's glassy eyes, happy to see the feline. He felt better, knowing Tom had taken good care of him. Jerry weakly lifted his tiny paw to hold one of Tom's fingers, looking up with soft eyes. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, unable to speak for a moment. Then, with all the strength he could muster he spoke.

"I-I L-lo-" started Jerry until he passed out.

"Jerry," whispered Tom, thinking Jerry was dying before his very eyes. "Don't leave me."

That night Tom lay in his bed, watching Jerry sleep. He tucked Jerry close to him, hoping the mouse wouldn't die. He spent the evening listening, waking when he felt himself drifting off. He had to stay awake, had to make sure Jerry didn't stop breathing. He wrapped his body around Jerry, facing the tiny mouse.

While the pair were close, a set of eyes glowed in the dark. Out on a tree limb, a yellow cat watched them through the window. With a frown he left, going off to tell his boss of what he saw.