I decided to split the chapter in more parts seeing as it began to get a little to large for my taste and your reading pleasure. So enjoy another chapter.

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Fur cleaning in the bathroom

After a good meal, and a few burps from Bolt much to Abel's anger, all three of them, with Ratchet in his wheelchair, made there way towards there quarters. Greeting people along the way, who either wanted to ask certain things to Abel or at Ratchet. Once they reached there room Abel let Bolt loose as it quickly began to scurry for whatever it was searching for. "What's with Bolt, Abel?!" "He's searching fro something I don't know what… Oh what do you think would fit the pet? I haven't given him any clothes so far and it does get rather cold sometimes you know!" "You don't have to tell me… It's freaking cold in only boxer shorts. Thank god you gave me a blanket to keep warm during dinner!" "I couldn't leave you in just your shorts you know. Even if I liked the wrench figures on them ALOT" giggled Abel as he pointed at some of the motives he saw on Ratchet's short. "Humpfff, yes I do like those shorts, got a problem with that?" as he eyed an eyebrow towards his friend, "Hey I just said I liked them! That is all, don't need to get cocky he said as he turned towards the tv screen picking up the remote and turning the holo-vision on. "Abel I…I am sorry." He said in a sad voice, "it's just that well I'm uncomfortable with this you know. It's normally me that helps others I'm just not used to it." "Well you don't need to act like a jerk you know!" said Abel frustrated at Ratchet…

"You think it's easy for me? I was the one who freaking got you into this shit! If I didn…" he barely was able to finish of the sentence as he sank into the couch "A…bel… I, I shouldn't have it's rude of me to think… I'm sorry!" "Go away!" said Abel aggravated turning his head away. "I would if I could, alas I can't at the moment." He said laughing which made Abel actually smile as the situation was a bit ironic for both of them! "How about we get some Qwark juice? It's Qwark-o-tastic!" At the magicall word of juice Bolt jumped on Ratchet's lap, like he knew that wherever he went there was bound to be food! "Hey little guy, wanna go for a ride also eh?... Well Abel it's two to one." He blinked an eye as Abel got up from the couch putting the holo-vision off and grabbing the wheelchair. "I only wish that I was able to drive a bit! I hate this you know… Darn limbs! Can only move a bit, but it hurts like hell and I seem to have like no feeling them at all!" "Well perhaps later on the day I can fix that a bit…" said Abel with a smile giving a thumbs up to ratchet, who sadly couldn't return the favour as they went to the bar one deck lower then there own quarters.

"Gentleman, welcome to Allc Ohol's bar. So what can I get ya?" asked a orange kind of squid alien at the new gests. It seemed that the bar was almost complete full! Well who could blame the crew for wanting a little drink or in the robot's case a bit of oil. Abel took the menu card whilst making sure Bolt wouldn't go anywhere, last thing they wanted was a small Lombax pet going amuck on the drinks! Not to mention the pet never drank anything which contained even a drop of alcohol so it wouldn't work out anyway! "Let's see here, ooh seven bolts discount on the Qwark-o-tastic drink eh? That's good!" said Abel at Ratchet who was now making sure Bolt couldn't run off, the small pet didn't like it one bit. But at the least it was warm and fluffy!

"We'll take a glass each and for Bolt, what do you say Bolt? Wanna have a small drink like us? But do be careful!" "Me drink….YEY!" said the small pet very enthusiastic tough it didn't fully understand what a Qwark-o-tastic drink was. But it fine for him as long as it was food. "Those pets sure have your appetite Ratchyboy!" Ratchet couldn't care less at the moment, he was happy to not be inside that darn infirmary… Far to cold for his taste and nothing to do. But here he could talk with his fellow crew and all. Speaking of the crew, several bots from the old 41th Division came up to ask how Ratchet was doing "Seems like you've beaten yourself up pretty badly, sir!" said X45 as bots Y99 and V30 agreed. They were all bots that used to serve under Captain Sasha back in the war with Nefarious. "Ya think?" Ratchet said cocking an eyebrow at the robots. "Oh well I'll be back at work in a day or so said the doctor. And you three ready for a new adventure?" "With you sir? Any day!" "Well carry on then." He said with a small smile as the drinks were served. "Hey Ratchet what I don't understand is why do we have a freaking bar on the ship? I mean why don't we drink in the mess hall?!" asked the Lombax curious. "For starters, this place is for relaxation this entire deck is! One can enjoy games, watch holovision and it eases the guys up some more! I used to come here with Sasha back in the old day for some air hockey… Because as you can see the interior here is not like the rest of the ship." Ratchet told him as he pointed out towards the walls that had been decorated with several pictures, some new others old. Each one having there own tale to tell to the person reading the description.

On the other side of the room was a huge jukebox playing one of the newest hits of Courtney Gears, and the people enjoyed themselves, Abel figured out that whilst working was the top priority, having a day off or so once in a while was good for anyone. And what better way then to have a deck devoted to such activities?!

"Umm Abel a little help here?!" Ratchet asked as he tried to sip from his drank. It hit Abel like a brick that ratchet was still unable to move his limbs properly let alone drink something. He quickly went to the bar requesting a straw for his friend. Once he returned he saw that Bolt had already finished his drink and even was busy drinking the one that was ordered for ratchet! "Hey Bolt shoo… that's not yours!" Bolt hearing Abel's voice angry towards him quickly took a defensive stand as if he was holding a stick or something till the small creature noticed he did not have anything. He stood in front of the glass screaming MINE and AWAY towards Abel. "Bolt that's not yours and you know that!... Now give it back." The small pet sighed as the drink was lifted away still not happy about it. He liked it and he wanted more "Abel… Me (hic)" The small pet had gotten a hiccup from all the gasses in the drink. It began to ran across the table wanting to have it go away, all the while Ratchet looked in disbelieve at how fast it could run almost not able to hold in his own laugh at the same time… "(hic) NO (hic) BAD (hic)" cried the poor pet who did not know what was happening to him. Whatever it was it had something to do with that darn liquid he was given. "That happens when you drink to fast Bolt. It will fade away in a while." Said Abel with a caring voice, putting the straw in Ratchet's glass, brining it to his mouth so he could drink. Bolt sadly was not happy at all but if Abel said something it was most of the time true. Still the pet would have his revenge against the Qwark or whatever it was! Ratchet let out a sigh of relief once he had drank the entire glass. "You know this drink is not that bad… Once you get used to the bubbles!" he said as the holovision above the bar went static until the screen turned back to normal much to the anger of several viewers. "We interrupt your daily program to bring you a special live report… Is that not right Juanita?!" "It sure is Dallas" hitting the green alien in the face as he tried to put on a cigar right in front of the holovision. "Just moments ago the Blargian home world, Orxon, has been brutally attacked by what is now known as the GIRL… We go live towards the planet." Said the female robot as both she and Dallas took out a cup of coffee before realising they were still on "DALLAS were still live!!" she whispered as Dallas quickly hid the muck. "It seems we are having some difficulty people… Wait I just hear it has been fixed. Nice work Joe!!!" he screamed towards someone off-screen before again noticing the blinking red light. "This is so gonna get me fired!" As the screen finally jumped towards what looked like Orxon, the first glimpse of it was horrible. Buildings had caught fire or had been completely destroyed or vaporised. As hundreds of Blargs fled for there lives… It was true the planet had been cleaned up so that people could live there. But even so it still looked like hell for many species, the things they saw however shocked everyone in the room including Ratchet and Abel. "This is Darla Gratch reporting to you live from Orxon for Channel-64 where the siege is still going on by what people have began to call the GIRL." As the bot tried to get one of the screaming citizens on screen she herself was almost blasted by a green beam that was coming from the air.

"Miss miss, can you tell us what happened?" the robot asked to a Blargian women. "They just came out of nowhere firing at everything… I ran… OMG!!!" as the screen went static for a few seconds after a large flash of light had enveloped the entire screen. "As you can see the planet cannot hold there own against these Robonoids attacks as the local Galactic rangers are no match, still putting up a valiant struggle… This was Darla Gratch for Channel-64 news." Gasps could be heard from the bar as people both organic and robot alike could not believe what they had seen. "Those damm Noids are gonna pay!" said one of the robots who got support from others. Abel and ratchet also could not believe what they had seen. An entire planet to waste and for what?

"They need to pay for that!" Ratchet shouted as another surge of pain came up his spine, Abel immediately reacted to it by holding his arm around the poor Lombax. Bolt himself got frightened resulting in the breaking of a glass and the soaking of Ratchet's upper body by the juice that was in it. As quickly as Bolt figured out what he did he jumped on ratchet licking at the fur whilst giving large eyes to Ratchet pleading not to be angry with him. "It's alright, Bolt, it was a mere accident. Nothing to worry about" as Abel smiled at the pet, whilst trying to hold his laugh as the captain was now turning a bit purple greenish like on the fur. "Well this sucks! First I land in the infirmary, then those darn nanotech and things, thirdly not being able to do anything and now this." He said as he tried to lift his arms up, but to no avail. "Wait I'll get some tissues to clean you up. Tough that might not work you know." "Just hurry up Abel, the longer this stuff is on me the more sticky it gets. And how much I like the fact Bolt is helping me, he's getting a bit to close to private parts!" he said as Abel turned around to see what was going on, Bolt had made his way from Ratchet's chest all the way to the rim of the poor captain's boxer as the blanket had fallen down as soon as Bolt had jumped on Ratchet.

The pet was smelling at the strange piece of clothing as he was trying to find more of the juice to help Abel with the cleaning, well he only managed to get Ratchet under a lot of saliva which in a way was as worse as the juice. "Oooh no little buddy, that's a no no, just stay on here on the table!!" Abel said picking Bolt up who had almost managed to get into ratchet's underwear (literally!). Ratchet sighed a sign of relief as Abel quickly made his way back with some tissues cleaning the Lombax a bit better then Bolt had whilst making sure to at least keep an eye at his pet, because who knew what it was going to do next!

"Seems like I can't clean you up very well, the darn juice has already soaked you to much…" "Yea I figured that out a minute ago. …Pfff, I can't clean myself sadly. And this mess needs to be cleaned up!" All the while the people in the room had there gaze shifted towards there captain who had now been covered under the Qwark juice, and partially of Bolt's saliva, who himself was now coughing up a small hairball from the fur it had ingested.

"Back to work people… Nothing to see here!" said a large alien, it was All he had seen what happened and quickly came to Abel's assistance. "Hehehe, seems like your all wet again Ratchet why don't you two go clean yourselves up? I'll be happy to pay the tab. " "Thanks All." Said ratchet caringly "I owe you one!" said the other Lombax as Both he and Ratchet and Bolt made there way towards there quarters, getting some strange views from people who wondered why the captain looked a bit greenish. As if he was sick to almost being well contagious most personnel, crew and bots tried not to get to close. This atleast made Abel's job a lot easier! As it meant clear hallways and free elevators the moment he got anywhere. Several minutes, and hallways, later they finally arrived back at there quarters. "Bolt you stay in the room you hear?!" Abel said strict to the small pet who only nodded. Quickly running of to the holovision. Much to Abel's surprise the creature had learned how to turn on the holovision by jumping on the buttons of the remote. "Well what do you know! He figured it out." "What?" asked Ratchet who was turned the other way around hearing something on the holovision but well he couldn't quite hear what was being said. "Bolt figured out how to get the holovision activated, Ratchet!" said Abel happy at him. Well why he is busy watching, what do you say about cleaning that fur of yours eh?" Ratchet smiled at the idea of having his fur cleaned, Lombaxes had a nature of getting dirty but evenso they never liked being filthy! Ok well ratchet did not like it. He never saw any Lombaxes anywhere, as far as he knew he, Abel and his brother Caine were the only ones he knew that actually were Lombaxes. Sure Angela Cross looked like one but she was way to tall for a Lombax, had no tail and well her stripes didn't match his own!

He had always enjoyed it when he was bathing making sure to get every patch of fur clean as good as possible. Alas not always did he have that luxury. A year or two back when he was captured by Gleeman Vox and put in that darn armour he never had the chance to bath not even wash his ears! He was half dead once the armour had been removed by All, only to show his body had been almost completely destroyed, his fur had gone more brownish, perhaps cause of the facia, his tail had been bent in every possible way imaginable and beyond. So being able to bathe was a luxury found the green eyed Lombax. Abel took the wheelchair into his hands as he began to drive them out of the room. Bolt had found a cooking program, drooling as he saw all the delicious food in front of him. But cried once he had realised it wasn't real.

Once outside the room, Abel drove Ratchet to the main hallway, but instead of going towards the bridge, he made his way to the elevator. He pressed the button to call for it. All the way humming a small song which Ratchet seemed to recognize. "Abel what are you humming?" asked the Lombax to his friend. Curious of where he had heard it before! "Ooh this? It's just a small thing I learned from…" he immediately went quiet as if he was petrified. "Ooh right you aren't allowed to say that. Sorry it was rude of me." He said in a very sad voice "Ratchet… It's not your fault it's just that I… I can't tell you everything even tough I would like nothing more." Said Abel as the lift stopped and the doors opened. Abel began to push it again, his white clothes dangling over his body as the wheelchair made it's way ever so close towards the bathing area. Sure ratchet had his own personal shower, but showering with him in a condition like this?! It would not be a good option for him. Besides Abel had never been in the real bathing area before! He had heard Qwark say there was a sauna, hot-spa and other grand things. But he never went there before. It was one of the relaxation area's ratchet had told him. As ratchet told Abel where the drive. Being captain had one advantage tough grinned the Lombax… "I get to "boss" people around." He said chuckling as Abel just gave him a "huh?" look on his face. "It's nothing Abel just keep driving straight trough! It's over there." He said trying to point towards the large sign hanging above a closed door. As the door opened warm suiting air enveloped both males as Abel pushed the wheelchair even more into the room. It was a very damp and hot environment, something Lombaxes preferred. If it was hot then they liked it!

"We're in luck buddy… Everyone is busy with getting the ship ready." Said Ratchet "Tough I do feel a bit guilty for not helping them." "Oh chin up Ratchet, they need you once the ship is ready. Besides you're the best guy on this thing you know." This made Ratchet look up "Thing? It's called the Phoenix you know!" as he began to laugh with a confused Abel. "Ok Phoenix then. Jesus! You sound like Qwark when you misspell his name!" said the blue eyed male as they went further into the rooms. "So what would you like to do? They have sauna's, hot-spa's, a swimming pool even eh? Even whirlpools, steam baths, Blargian bubble makers! Ooh even a massage!" cried Abel like a high school girl. He was in for a nice massage. But he quickly regained himself as he knew that it was Ratchet that needed his attention and not he…

"Well what do you say we first go into a sauna sweat out the dirt. And then get ourselves cleaned up eh?" Ratchet said happy at the mere thought of finally getting clean again. With that said Abel pushed the chair towards one of the larger locker rooms. Ratchet himself was only in a boxer so that shouldn't take to much trouble of getting him out of them! Abel thought to himself as he began to pull his shirt over his head. Revealing the many blue tattoos on his back to Ratchet.

It made him wonder what they meant, but Abel would never tell him it anyway. The markings themselves were between his dark fur patorns. His ears for instance had three brown strips, and between each of them ran a similar blue one. Same for his arms, tough unlike on his ears these gave the effect of being like a ring around the body. Whilst those on his stomach stopped as soon as they reached the chest. Ratchet giggled a little as Abel took his pants of, revealing a small blue dot just above his tail. It looked kind of cute on the Lombax. Then again blue stood him perfectly. As soon as Abel had taken of all his clothes he grabbed a white towel and put it around his waste before making his way to Ratchet. The other Lombax just sat in the chair enjoying the heat that was all around them… Sure it was a bit wet, but it helped him relax more. It was soothing on the muscles at the very least.

"So Ratchet, now it's your turn. Can you life your legs a bit?!" Abel asked not knowing if he was capable of doing anything actually. Because his feet must have been the same as his arms were, paralyzed to make sure he wouldn't feel to much pain. "Why would I care at this point? I mean you already helped me at a far more awkward situation so I'm fine with it." Said Ratchet as the last doubts in Abel's mind faded away like snow in the sun. As Abel made sure ratchet could rest on his arm, he undid him of the last piece of clothing, making sure the Lombax was the same as the day he was born. He even went as far as dragging the poor lad towards the sauna setting him in a corner whilst fetching some water. Tough ratchet couldn't care, he was alone with one of his best friends so what could go wrong? "This is heaven Abel!" he said as soon as Abel had returned pouring some water on the hot coals, which now emitted a lot of heat and steam. Abel did not seem to be effected by the heat even enjoying it as much as the other Lombax did. Tough unbeknownst by both of them was the figure that had entered the room making way towards the sauna.

"Yo dudes, you two here to chill as well eh?" it seemed like Skidd had also decided to take a small sauna. "Skidd????! Wha…what are you doing here?!" Ratchet said very ashamed of his current situation. "Yo Ratchet dude what's the big problem?! It is a sauna ya know." Skidd said as he noticed the captain wasn't wearing anything unlike him and Abel… "Well Abel mind if you grab a towel? I don't umm well you know." He said nervously at his friend as Abel quickly went to fetch a towel and cover Ratchet up. "So Skidd, hehehe, I never knew you took sauna's." "Well you know me I like to chill!" this made Abel and Ratchet laugh at the irony of the situation. The three of them began to chat about various topics, from the GIRL towards work, free time even towards girls. A subject that Abel just found weird to say the least. Tough Ratchet and Skidd never noticed it!

"Well dudes, I'm leaving ya both… I need to help Helga and Qwark adjust some gizmothingamaging ya know. Very important stuff! Orders from Clank!" Well unbeknowst to Skidd was that the gizmothingamaging was nothing more then fix the bathroom sink at All's quarters! A few minutes later Abel dragged Ratchet outside as they had spent around half an hour inside the sauna and both were getting tired. Still ratchet's fur which was now very damp was still messy! And Abel himself could do with a nice bath himself. Making there way towards the communal bathing area only several rooms far from where the saunas were, Abel let warm water fill up the bathtub. It was a large square one, there had even been several "seats" placed for people to sit on. Something Abel liked a lot as this would make his job a bit easier.

"Well time to clean that fur of yours Ratchet!" said Abel as he put Ratchet on one of the seats in the bathtub. The warm water engulfing his skin and making his fur wet whilst taking away part of the smell of soda. Abel entered from the other side into the tub, having disposed of his towel as soon as he had set one foot into the warm water. He was never used to bathing other people, but this was ratchet and they were alone so it did not bother him. He grabbed some soap and smeared it over his hands making it foam, his hands barely visible trough the white bubbles that had formed. He made his way towards Ratchet who was waiting to be groomed from top to bottom. As Abel's hands made contact with the wet fur Ratchet moaned a bit as the sop itself was warm via Abel's body heat. He welcomed it as the hands began to work there up and down his back, not missing a single part! His shoulder blades were cleaned the fastest as Abel made his was more downwards concentrating right above the tail. The tattoo that Abel noticed on ratchet's back unnerved him a little as if it was a sign of danger for him. But he ignored it nonetheless. "I'm going to do your tail first ratchet then your arms." Said Abel to his friend. Whose only answer was a low purr as he was enjoying being washed like that. Ratchet had his eyes closed as his body was feeling Abel's hands working there way over his back towards his tail not missing an inch of fur or the skin beneath it!

As Abel took the Lombax tail between his palms he gently rubbed it from the base to the tip. The soap enveloped it making it seem as if he had white tail instead of gold like one with brown stripes on it! The tail was easy as it had suffered almost no damage except a cut or bruise here or there. But the arms and legs were a different matter! Besides the broken ribs his limbs had received quite a beating by the intense speed, so Abel had to be careful not to hurt his friend. Tough ratchet would not know because of the sedative it would still hurt once it wore off.

He took the left arm and washed it as did he with the right one. Being very strict to himself to not rush things, after a few minutes he began to turn around Ratchet facing him from the front. He took some water in his hands as he let it stream down of the other male's chest getting it wet from the warm water. A small whimper escaped ratchet's lips from the cold that replaced the warm water as it evaporated from the fur taking with it some of the heat. All the while keeping his eyes shut enjoying the feeling, the moment. As Abel was careful not to put to much pressure he sopped in Ratchet's chest and stomach. When the Lombax was fully sopped in from the waist up Abel couldn't stop but laugh, it looked as if he had created a sop snowlombax! "Oh man you should see yourself! It's hilarious" he said to ratchet who could only sigh as he saw himself including parts of his tail completely covered in soap. Abel then grabbed water with his hands letting it fall from Ratchet's shoulder onto his body. The soap falling away as it was replaced by water. After his upper body had been cleaned, Abel took ratchet to a higher plane, which actually was not to ratchet's pleasing as the water was now replaced by cold wind! Making him shiver a bit. "Don't worry I'll only need a few more minutes!" said the Lombax as he grasped one of the feet. Rubbing his own hands with soap again the again washed the other one. His hands making there way to a somewhat more private sector, but ratchet did not complain and thus Abel continued washing. He went over the thighs, the legs, everything was washed, even the groin, (something that ratchet seemingly hadn't noticed by the shivering.) once that was done he grabbed him under the arms before letting him sink back into the water. "Thanks Abel! I needed that." said Ratchet opening his eyes to see Abel washing himself now. "Don't think of it… I was glad to help you out, that reminds me it's almost 21:00 right? You need another nanotech session. I'll finish myself first and then I'll help you get out ok?" The actual reason Abel wanted to stay in a bit longer was because he had gotten a small erection from having to bath ratchet fully like that. He knew he liked Ratchet but this was just a bit shameful and even he, not bothered with being naked, found it a bit too awkward! Even for his taste…

After having taken care of his inconvenience and having washed himself, Abel dried him off with a large white towel. Whilst afterwards doing the same with a wet ratchet. He dressed the Lombax in clean clothes he found and put his own white outfit back on. "So let's see for that nanotech shall we?" asked Ratchet to Abel, he did not like to boss Abel around, but he did feel a bit sick. So some nanotech would do him good.

Back at the infirmary, doctor Helsing had already prepared the nanotech for Ratchet. "Aah there is my favourite patient. And with Abel!" The doctor seemed to be very happy at seeing the both of them for a weird reason. Neither one cared for it tough, ratchet was happy as he got his nanotech and Abel was happy to see it went better with ratchet. The nanotech bonded some of his wounds again, and he had less pain in his ribs! "So, you only need around three more treatments and then you'll be back as new. And not a moment to soon it seems from what I've heard on the holovision." "FUCK!" cried Ratchet as he had completely forgotten about that! "Well let's hope I'll be better soon doc!... As we have important things to do." "Calm down Ratchet you just concentrate on getting better first. Then we can deal with the bad guys." Abel said with a happy tone at his Lombax friend. "I'm sure both of you will now hup hup, get out of here! I have another schedule with let's see here… Aah Qwark!" With that the Lombaxes , with ratchet still in his chair but now capable of pushing it himself, saw that Qwark entered the infirmary not asking him why he was needed there.

"Aaah Captain Copernicus Leslie Qwark! You're just in time for your treatment." The doctor said grinning to himself. "Well doctor as long as you know that I, Captain Qwark, don't want to hear my full name… Now what can you do about my…"

Meanwhile back at Ratchet and Abel's room, they were greeted by Bolt. Before Ratchet made his way to his bed, Abel helping him in it. Before going to his own bed falling asleep, tired from the many things he had done that day.