Cats and Dogs – Enjoyment
The team decides to go to the beach. They have driven out to the nearest natural beach, covered in sand heated with the sun. Towels, blankets, picnic baskets and one huge umbrella are set up in record time.
Jack whips off his shirt and immediately runs along the sand in his trunks, overly zealous about the day off. While Bridge joins him, Sky walks after them calmly in comical contrast. Z and Syd lie out on their towels, in no hurry to do anything but lie in the sun. Syd wears huge, fashionable sun glasses as Z applies copious amounts of sun screen. While the blond is there to tan, the brunette is there to nap.
Kat and Cruger watch "their kids" with amused grins. Cruger recognized that the B–Squad has earned a break, but was dragged along on such a break by Kat. Kat, who now wears a light yellow sun dress and large hat with holes cut out for her ears. She looks lovely. Cruger remains in his commander's coat. Kat frowns upon this, "You're seriously gonna wear that the whole time we're here?" He nods.
Fifteen minutes later, Kat lies out under her own parasol, protecting her ivory skin. She wears a conservative white string bikini, but keeps the hat on (trying to preserve the 21 year appearance at 147, you know).Doggie, however, is not faring as well, panting horribly. With his lack of sweat glands, he can only try to pant the heat out. She turns to him, "Doggie, please take off that coat. We are at the beach, it is well into the 80s and I know you have swim trunks, because I bought them for you. Now, you're going to take that coat off, cool down, and join your rangers in their volleyball game."
Doggie stares at the Felina, who finishes her speech and lies back in her beach chair. Her legs are crossed as she reads a scientific journal through her sleek sunglasses. The tips of her ears are visible out the rim of her hat on the top. She looks...hot. Not in the sense of the word, but she looks delectable. He reaches and takes her sunglasses right off her face. At her confused look he smiles. "If I'm going to enjoy this day outdoors, so are you, Doctor Manx."
"I am enjoying it!" Kat protests in earnest, waving the report packet on quantum neutrinos and their newest developments on looping technology in the Zentarian sector. "I have plenty to read, the air is refreshing, and I can smell fish wherever the wind blows—I'm good!"
"Come on," as Cruger stands he has Kat's hand enclosed in his paw firmly. He lets go only to take his jacket off.
Kat can't resist staring at him. She has seen him shirtless before, and that almost gave her a heart attack. Now, under the blazing sun, with an average pair of swimming shorts sitting fairly low on his hips, her knees might give out. There's no hair to be found on him save the coarse fur at the top of his head. Kat's eyes roam from his clawed back paws, up his strong legs, lingering slightly on a certain region of his trunks, then continuing up over his hips to his abs, then finally to his face. By the time she meets his eyes she's flushed in the face and looking sheepish. He just smiles and continues to take her over to the rangers by the hand.
Jack notices them first and gestures without pointing. The rest turn and smile and wave, but once they're facing Jack again they all show shock. Syd squeals silently and Z smirks. Bridge seems vaguely confused while Sky shows no registering of anything strange. "They're holding hands."
"They're totally in love!" Syd whispers while jumping around.
"Syd, relax, you're gonna blow our cover," Jack prompts, not wanting to make the love–birds self–conscious.
"Cadets, may we join you?" Cruger asks seriously.
"Of course, sir!" Jack answers happily, tossing him the ball, which Cruger catches seamlessly. "Team preference?"
"Why don't you all test your luck against Kat and I?" Cruger asks with a smirk so small only Kat can see it.
"You're not serious, sir, that wouldn't be fair," Sky says, frowning.
"Well, if you don't think your training is enough for you to beat a technician and a stubborn old dog, we won't make you go through with the humiliation." Kat's fangs gleam in the sun with her taunts. Her hip is cocked with attitude as she examines her finely maintained claws.
"You know what?—you're on."
In 45 minutes, Jack is on his last legs, Sky is sweating profusely, Bridge holds up a finger for a breather, Z is kicking sand, holding her sides in pain and Syd has long ago given up. Now, she sits on the sidelines, laughing. Cruger stands still with the ball in his paws, giving the rangers a break. Kat stands next to him, hip still cocked. The two are smirking smugly.
"Come on, cadets, we trained you better than this. You should be able to at least get more than two points. Our combined ages equal four times yours combined!" Cruger laughs more heartily than he has in decades.
"Don't tell them that!" Kat protests in displeasure, especially seeing the rangers look between themselves, trying to figure out how that's possible. "We age differently than you, remember that."
"I knew...we had...a disadvantage...against a cat. I did not know...we would have this much trouble...with a big, blue dog!" Jack wheezes.
"No offense intended, sir!" Sky gets out, also struggling to catch his breath.
"None taken, Cadet Tate. I actually feel better than I've felt in years. Who's up for round two?" He smiles enough to show his large white fangs, spinning the ball atop his claw. After a second, though, it pops. "Oh...my apologies."
"Nah, s'cool, DC, I'm done anyway," Z waves off as she limps over to Syd, ankles screaming in protest. "Gaaaahhhh!"
"See why I decided to sit out? I could have told you that there was no way you could beat Cruger and Kat, but...oh...oh, no...no, wait—I did!" Syd smiles brightly at her slightly irate friend.
"I'm going for a swim!" Bridge declares loudly.
"Good idea!"
Soon, everyone is in the water, cooling off. The boys, feeling much better than before, are beginning to rough house as usual. Sky tries to control them but Syd jumps on his back, forcing them both down into the blue. Z, however, uses her duplicates to start a water fight with Jack and herself. Syd joins in, on Bridge's shoulder since Sky refuses to join in. He sits in the water and judges, apparently having a referee whistle he seems to have been born with. He's a little too good at using it, too, so Z manages to get him in on it with one of her duplicates.
Cruger watches with Kat onshore. Kat is not big on swimming for fun, and just watches in contentment. Cruger is seated beside her with his arms crossed and face straight. "You really have no desire to join them?"
"None," she dead pans, though her smile is still evident. "I'm just glad they're having a good time. In a way, I think Boom should have come with us."
"Kat, you know he's on probation for lighting your lab coat on fire," Cruger says sternly.
"Yes, I know, but it really was an accident," she looks up at him with big eyes.
"Of course it was, I just don't want it to happen again," Cruger says seriously still with his arms crossed. At least he hasn't put his coat back on. "Still, this day was made entirely worth it, seeing the rangers struggle so hard against us in volleyball."
Kat laughs out loud. "That was pretty great."
"Indeed," Cruger says as he finally lies back against his own beach chair. He extends his legs and relaxes his thickly muscled shoulders. "Indeed... "
"Do you know what made every minute of this day worth it for me?" Kat looks over to him and touches his cheek, forcing his soulful eyes to meet her glittering ones—her loving ones. "Seeing you, so happy. Seeing you so at peace, and relaxed, and so well after all these years. Just...seeing you happy, makes everything so worth it for me."
Cruger takes her hand in his paw and looks back at her with the same love. He guides the one palm to the lips of his muzzle. "And your happiness makes everything worth it to me, Katherine."
The two remain in the romantic position, unwilling to break away for several moments. Eventually, they lean back, though Cruger still holds Kat's hand to his chest in his paw. Kat smiles coquettishly at Cruger and makes the decision to lie her head against his shoulder. Doggie makes the decision to lie his head against hers. "Today was nice, Doggie. Promise me you'll do things like this more often, and not just for the rangers but for yourself."
"All right, Kat, I promise." Cruger's tone indicates that does indeed take it seriously.
"Good," is all Kat says as she snuggles into him and begins to purr.
B–Squad watches on with small, secretive smiles.
"I think they're sweet," Syd comments gently, seriously, rather than in a tizzy.
"I think they're good for each other," Z agrees.
"I think they're gross," Bridge makes a face. When everyone frowns at him he shrugs. "How do they kiss?—he doesn't have lips!"
Sky just pushes the green ranger over into the water.