Chapter 6: What Lies Ahead?

Jerry sat reading a book, going to lift the page. Gave a whole new meaning to page turner. Jerry went to the top and only read a sentence when he heard the door open. He saw Tom enter, shutting the door once more. He wondered where Tom had been and went to greet his boyfriend. Tom walked in and looked as though he'd seen a ghost, placing a paw to rub his eyes. Jerry placed a paw on him, startling Tom. Seeing the cat look down Jerry saw something had happened, something that shook Tom to his very core.

Tom told Jerry of the three cats and their boss, who gave him an earful. Jerry knew where the group was coming from, knowing a similar group of mice did the same. Though they didn't threaten to kill anyone for not obeying the rules. Though they would beat someone up here and there. However, when Jerry went and told them he wanted to befriend Tom, they thought it was a step in the right direction and let him do as he pleased. Yet, there were some animal groups that felt changing the rules would bring a downfall to the natural order, and the cat group seemed to be one of them.

Jerry paced back and forth while Tom sat on his bed, rubbing his chin in thought. Jerry snapped his fingers and wanted Tom to lean down so he could whisper a plan in his ear. Tom arched over and Jerry held a paw up, telling Tom of his plan. The two smirked and rubbed their paws together. They left the house and went out to find the cat group, taking weapons with them. Tom had a bat, while Jerry carried a hammer. They searched till the sun set behind the horizon when they stopped to rest, Tom leaning along a bench while Jerry lay on Tom's chest.

Jerry sighed and got comfy, feeling himself rise and fall with each breath Tom took. Before he fell asleep, he noticed eyes glowing in the dark behind some shrubs. He gestured for Tom, who sat at attention. They got up and went to see who was watching them, Tom checking over the brush while Jerry checked under it. Out from the brush came the trio of cats, leaping out and around them.

"Well looks who's back, come to turn yerself in mouse," said Tin.

"I think they came to stop us," chuckled Pan.

"Who cares why their here, let's mess them up," said Alley.

He jumped forward and grabbed Tom by the throat, slamming him into the back part of the bench. Tom struggled to catch his breath, feeling the claws pierce his skin slightly. He kicked, fought to break free. Jerry quickly slammed the hammer into Alley's foot, making him holler out in pain. The distraction worked for he released Tom, who brought the bat around and sent Alley to the ground. Tin and Pan growled at what the pair did to their brother, hissing to reveal their fangs.

"Now you two are gonna get it," said Tin.

The four charged and Tom attacked Tin, knocking him to the ground with a knee to the gut. They hit the ground, tussling in the grass. Pan tried to step on Jerry, who leaped back and forth, knocking him on the knee.

"Ouch! You rat!" screamed Pan, holding his knee while hopping on the other.

Tom threw punch after punch, knocking Tin across the face. Tin dug his claws along Tom's side, throwing him off. Before Tom could come at him again, he pulled a taser gun and stood. Tom threw a punch and felt a pock to his chest, then came the zap of the gun. His fur stood on end as the jolts coursed through his body, causing him to tremble and drop the bat. He fell to the ground, leaving Jerry to fend for himself. Tin pulled a knife and was going to kill Tom, but a hit to his foot caused him to drop the knife.

"If it isn't you again," said Tin. "Disgusting, a cat liking a mouse. You make me sick."

Jerry frowned and threw the hammer at Tin's head, wanting to strike him down. Tin went low and grabbed Jerry in his paw, squeezing him tight. "I could kill you, but where would the fun in that be. No, I'm going to take you and him back to our boss, let him decide your fate."

Tin clenched his fingers into a fist, squeezing the air from Jerry's lungs. Jerry gasped for air, feeling his world go gray. He tried to stay awake, fought hard, but passed out after a few minutes. He hoped he and Tom would have been able to take them down and tell their boss to leave them be. Yet the boss was aware of their plan and turned the tables on them, leading them into a trap.

What happened between being knocked out and waking up, Jerry couldn't say. He woke to find himself in a bird cage, having a thick lock on its door. He got to his feet, struggling to walk as the cage floor swayed slightly. He placed his paws on the bars, unable to fit through the tiny gap. He glanced around and his eyes fell on Tom, who was bound.

"Tom!"

Tom glanced up and seemed to get his act together, shaking his head a few times. He tried to move and find chains instead of rope, tying his writs together. "Well, crap. This is bad Jer, what do we do now?"

"I don't know." Jerry shook the cage and tried to bend the thick wires, finding they were too strong.

"I warned you about the mouse," said the boss's voice.

He walked over to the pair and looked from Jerry to Tom.

"They said you weren't the brightest cat, I thought it was only a rumor. But judging by what you did, you really are as dumb as they say."

Tin, Pan, and Alley chuckled, walking over to the birdcage with sticks in their paws. They chuckled, peering in with mischievous smiles. They leaned on it, adding to Jerry's fear. They pocked at Jerry and he shrank down, trying to keep the pointy objects from hitting his eyes. He went left to right, being unbalanced as they tipped the cage this way and that. Jerry gasped and cried out when he felt a sharp pitch to his side, reaching a paw to feel blood.

"Leave him be you, jerks!"

"Oh, so you do speak, and here I thought you were mute," said the boss, rubbing his chin. "Listen, Thomas, it doesn't have to be this way. You have the power to stop all of this."

"How? What do I have to do to keep you from hurting Jerry?"

"That's a tough one, let's see. Well, you could leave your home and join us. You're a tough fellow, compared to most cat's. I dare even say you're superhuman with the injuries you've healed from. You've been smashed, beaten, even killed a few times. Yet you always come back, always heal good as new. I wonder." The boss pulled a knife and drove it into Tom's gut, making him gasp with surprise.

"T-Tom!" screamed Jerry with agony. He covered his eyes, unable to watch his cat die.

"Boss! What have you done, I thought we wanted him alive," said Tin with shock.

"I do, but I wanted to see for myself if what they said was true."

"If what was true?" asked Pan.

"Thomas's father was a cat who escaped from a lab before he met Thomas's mother. They say he was tough, a car couldn't kill him, not even a bullet to the head. Like father like son, eh Thomas."

The boss drew the knife out, Tom's head slumping forward. After a few moments, the gaping hole slowly closed. Tom, to everyone's surprise, sat up and the wound was only a cut. He breathed and stared with wide eyes, never realizing himself what all he could withstand. However, it did explain how he could never die in his and Jerry's violent fights.

"You see, we could use him on our team." said the boss. "What do you say, Thomas? Join us and the mouse lives. If not, I'll have him killed."

"It was bad enough you threated my life, but it's another when you threaten Jerry's," hissed Tom, a spark glistening in his green yellow eyes.

"Am I too assume, that was a yes? You'll join me?" questioned the boss.

With no answer from Tom, the boss snapped his fingers. Pan and Alley picked up the cage and Tim opened a trap door that had a tub of water under it. Jerry clung to the wire as it was placed over the water.

"I think he could use a bath." The cage was lowered and Jerry floated to the top, keeping his head above the water. Slowly it went under and cage was completely under the surface, bubbles floated to the top. Jerry wouldn't be able to hold his breath long, finding himself struggling to keep from breathing.

"No! Don't please!" The boss smiled and waited a while longer, wanting to get his point across. Tom screamed as Jerry was held under for a few more seconds that felt more like hours. "He'll die, pull already! You crazy cat!"

"So, you'll help us?" asked the boss.

"I will, just please, bring him up already!"

"Good, all right boys. I think he understands."

The cage was brought up and Jerry coughed and sputtered, gasping for air. He shook fur soaked through. The water collected in a puddle under his form, droplets trickled down his fur. The three laughed and shook the cage before roughly dropping it, giving it a swift kick. It rolled and stopped, Jerry laying motionless along the bars. Tom gritted his teeth and the boss grinned, happy he got his way.

"We'll leave you here to think it over. Sleep well, Thomas."

Tom felt helpless, wishing he could get up to check on Jerry. After they left, Tom watched Jerry sit up. "Jerry! You okay?"

"I'm fine, clean too."

"No time for joke, you all right, seriously?"

"Better." Jerry gave him a weak smile, pulling up the keys. "Even better now."

"How?" gasped Tom.

"When they carried me back, I got them," said Jerry, spinning the ring on his finger while the key jingled. "Now, let's get out of here."

He unlocked the door, opening it to hope down. He went to Tom and climbed the chair, unlocking the cuffs. Free, they glanced around for the cats. Seeing they were alone, Jerry took the lead to leave. Tom took a step, only to stop and think.

"Wait," said Tom.

"Why?"

Tom gave him a mischievous. "Let's juts say this dumb cat has an idea."

"Tom, the best thing to do is leave."

"No, they'll come after us. We'll never be free, unless we stand up for ourselves."

Jerry saw a seriousness in Tom's eyes, nodding. "Fine, what's your plan."

The next day the boss and the three came back, thinking Tom would join them. Tom was still in the chair, Jerry sitting in the cage. It was juts as they left them. The boss leaned on his cane, looking Tom directly in the face.

"Good morning Thomas, ready to come with us?" Tom frowned and turned away. "Oh don't be like that. You'll love being a member of our group. Good food, any pick of he females, if you know what I mean."

"Just because I said I'd join you doesn't mean I'll be scum like you."

"You're funny too. I like that in a cat, I really do." As the boss spoke, Jerry slipped the keys back to Pan.

"All right, Pan you bring the cage. Tin, Alley, pick him up." ordered the boss.

Tom was forced to his feet and walked with the two, making sure the cuffs were still on. The boss followed them out and gestured for Pan to take care of Jerry, running his finger across his neck. With them out of sigh, Pan opened the trap door and threw the cage in, snickering as he thought Jerry was drowned. He walked a few steps but felt something grab his tail. Before he could call for help, he was pulled into the water and Jerry quickly shut the lid, going after the rest of the group.

As they walked Tom looked from Tin to Alley, waiting for the right moment. In a quick move, he headbutted Alley to the wall, knocking him out. He turned to Tin who grabbed him and tried to restrain him, only to be sent to the other wall. With them out cold, Tom glared at the boss, who backed up slowly.

"But how? You traitor" growled the boss.

With a clang, the chains dropped and Tom cracked his fists. The boss tried to flee but tripped, hitting the ground harshly. He looked up and saw Jerry standing right in his face. Tom with one arm grabbed the cat by the collar, hauling him up to hiss in his face.

"You dare threaten me, Jerry," said Tom, bearing his fangs. "Just because we're not like everyone else, doesn't make us evil."

"I won't stop! The only way you'll never hear from me is to kill me," hissed the boss.

Tom and Jerry shared a glance and knew what they had to do. They were near a bridge over looking a river. Tom held the boss by the tail, seeing him dangle. The boss screamed and flailed, feeling Tom lower him.

"Okay guy, if you don't leave Tom and I alone, we'll drop you, got it."

"Yes, please, don't kill me! I have a litter of kittens, spare me I beg you!"

"I don't know, looks like Tom's grip is getting weak."

"Fine, I promise, swear on my life I'll leave you be!"

"Really, you sure?" asked Jerry, admiring his paw lazily. "I mean, who's to say you won't try to hurt us again?"

"I mean it fellas! Tomas, you can live how ever you want. You won't ever have to worry about my boys and I again. Just put me down!"

"Fine," said Tom, flipping the boss back to the ground. "But should you break the promise, we'll be sure to pop by and finish this."

"I understand, you won't hear from us again."

Tom gave a nod and leaned down for Jerry to hop into his palm. They turned and left the boss in the back round, heading home. Jerry nuzzled into Tom's soft fur, glad to be safe and sound once more.

"Now what?"

"Well, Jerry," said Tom, holding Jerry to his face. "I umm, well. I really care about you and want to spend the rest of my nine lives with you. There is no one, nothing that will ever keep us apart. I love you Jerry Mouse. Will you, marry me?"

Jerry felt his eyes well with tears. "Yes." Jerry managed to chock out before her hugged Tom's face. "I'd love to marry you, you stupid cat."

"But I'm your stupid cat."