Tegan Chronicles
Intuition and Lies 23
Tegan was on the couch listening to the conversation between Janet and Cassie over the kitten. Janet had a point, they didn't need a cat. It was during that thought that Tegan heard tiny claws on the couch and felt them grab a hold of her sweatpants. The tiny kitten pulled its self up onto the couch. He was beautiful with the most gorgeous markings Tegan had ever seen. He had a white under belly that faded into a golden tan, he had dark brownish black stripes on his legs tail and chest, with light and dark brown rosettes on his body. His yellow eyes regarded her for a second before he made his way to her chest. He kneaded just above her right breast right below her collar bone for a few seconds before her curled into a purring ball.
Janet was just about to tell Cassie to find the cat and put it back in it's box when the door bell rang. She was certain it wasn't anyone from base. "I've got it."
Cassie threw her hands up in surrender.
Janet walked right past Tegan without glancing over, when she made it to the doorway she peered through the peep hole to see Maggie Scully on the other side. She opened the door hoping she didn't look as haggard as she felt. "Hi Maggie."
"Janet." Maggie smiled as Janet tucked some escaped hairs behind her ear. She held up a basket full of wonderful smelling foods. "I thought you could use dinner."
Janet smiled in relief. "I was trying to decide what to fix when the doorbell rang."
It wasn't entirely untrue, she'd been looking in the cabinets when Cassie had come in bearing mail and a furry animal. "Please come in."
"I don't want to intrude, I just wanted to drop some dinner by."
Janet took the proffered basket and peeked inside. There was enough food to feed a small army, even if Jack and Teal'c were a part of the army. "Please." She hoped she wasn't begging. "I'm sure Tegan would love to see you, and it'd be great if you'd stay for dinner."
"I really don't want to intrude."
"You're not." Janet pointed to the couch were Tegan was on her back with her arm thrown over her face. "Please."
"Alright, but the minute I become and intrusion please let me know."
Janet nodded.
"I didn't know you had a cat." Maggie stood by Tegan's feet.
Tegan lifted her arm and looked at Maggie and then the cat. "We don't."
"How are you?" Maggie asked sincerely even as she realized it wasn't the best question.
Tegan grunted and picked the kitten up by the scruff and placed him on the floor. "Make yourself at home."
Maggie looked at the chair Tegan had pointed to with her eyes before sitting.
"Not you." Tegan spoke to the kitten who was already repeating his earlier kneading ritual on her chest before he laid down and commenced purring.
"He's a pretty cat."
"You found my cat." Cassie walked into the living room and plucked him off Tegan's chest. "Hi Mrs. Scully."
"Hey Cassie."
"He's not your cat." Janet reminded as he wormed his way out of Cassie's hands again. "He looks wild."
"He's not." Tegan responded in unison with Cassie's much more urgent insistence.
"Maggie was kind enough to fix us dinner, and I think enough other things to last us the entire week." Janet looked over at her. "Thank you. I put the lasagna in the oven to keep warm until we're ready to eat."
"You're welcome."
"So," Janet turned to Tegan and the cat that had returned to her chest. "Do we even know he's a he?"
"Yes." Tegan bent her knees making room for her to sit down, which only caused the kitten to shoot Janet a dirty look before he stood up and turned so his back was to her. "He's a male Bengal cat."
"Like the tiger?" Cassie asked.
Tegan shook her head. "It's entirely a domestic cat, not wild at all. I'd guess he's right at eight weeks old. They sell for anywhere from six to nine hundred. And I'd guess with his markings he'd be at the very top of that scale."
"I told you someone lost him." Janet looked at Cassie.
"And he always runs around with a box to take a nap in." She rolled her eyes.
"I didn't see the box." Janet pointed out.
"I left it on the porch."
"It's still out there." Maggie's comment earned her a smile from Cassie and a look only a mother can make from Janet.
"So can we keep him?" Cassie looked at her mother, her eyes pleading. "I promise to take care of him."
"I've heard that one before." Janet thought back on the gold fish that lived all of a week.
"I was ten, give me a break."
"He has to be an outdoor cat."
The cat lifted his head and glared at Janet.
"No." Tegan disagreed. "It's too dangerous with the National forest in our backyard."
"Yeah," Cassie agreed. "Remember the grizzly that got into our trash in the fall? And what about the wolves?"
"So I take it you're on board with this?" Janet looked at Tegan who gave a slight nod. She returned her gaze to Cassie. "His litter box has to be cleaned twice a day, and you're responsible for him. If he starts scratching on furniture it's coming out of your allowance."
"Twice a day?"
"I don't want to smell it, I'm serious. And the litter box stays in your bathroom."
"Ok." Cassie smiled. "So, are you going to let me go get cat supplies?"
"Not by yourself." Janet put her hand on Tegan's knee. "Are you sure you're ok with this?"
"He needs a name." She didn't want to outright commit to keeping the cat.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"His name is spots." Cassie announced.
"Spots is a stupid name for a stupid dog. He doesn't look like stupid, or like a dog to me. Think harder."
Cassie nodded.
"Will you be ok if I run to the store with her?"
"Is Maggie staying?"
"I invited her to stay for dinner." Janet looked to her for confirmation.
"I"m staying."
"I'll be fine." Tegan cleared her throat disturbing the sleeping kitten.
"Cassie, can you grab my purse and keys?"
"Can I drive?"
"Yes, but we're not getting him any of that smelly canned food."
Tegan slid her foot under Janet's rear getting her attention. "Get him something organic, not any of those name brand cheap foods they can lead to Kidney problems. And some toys."
"Something for fleas?"
"He doesn't have any fleas on him." Tegan closed her eyes as he snuggled in deeper into her chest.
"We're going to eat as soon as we get back."
Tegan nodded.