To Kath: First off, congratulations on figuring out the title. Secondly, yes, Iggy dying doesn't go with the title, but I never meant it for non-human animals. I didn't even think of non-human animals when I created this fic. Yes, it's rough to see a dog die like that, but the fact of the matter is, even if Iggy had lived a full life, he would have been dead by 2002 and there would have been an angsty MY DOG DIIIIIIIIIIIIIED chapter anyway, just a bit further along. Plus, it helped move the plot along. So I'm sorry that Iggy dying screws up the title for you. But for me, Iuro Omnes Vivere is not a lie. Iuro Omnes Vivere is still true.
Chapter 9: Nero
July 1990
The laurel wreath still hung on the tree, tattered and worn from weather and wind. Some of the leaves had fallen off, and the ones that remained were faded and ragged. It was a lonely site in the garden, one that filled Mark with guilt if he looked at it too long. They had long stopped discussing the death of Iggy, but Mark still felt as though it was his fault.
He stirred milk into his tea, watching it turn the brew opaque, before moving to where Sarah sat on the sofa. Their bond was a strong as ever, but since April last year, it had really felt like they were missing someone important.
Sarah was reading the newspaper, and he set a mug of tea in front of her, settling on the couch next to her, turning on the television to the news. It was more to provide noise than anything else. He spent too much time staring at the anchor, wondering if what they were reporting was a lie or not to pay actual attention to the news.
"Anything interesting?" Mark asked as Sarah put down the newspaper.
"Actually, yes," she said, smiling at him.
"Oh? Interesting to me?" he asked, smirking.
She slapped him playfully. "Yes, even to you. The man that I got Iggy from has another litter of pups for sale. We could get another."
"A replacement?"
Sarah shook her head. "Of course not a replacement. No one could replace Iggy. But you know, we do have all those dog toys still just sitting in a box upstairs. I know you miss having a dog."
"No," Mark said grinning. "I told you when we got married. I didn't like dogs."
Sarah just rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll go buy a dog and you'll have to deal with it."
"I can't even pick?" he whined.
"Thought you didn't like dogs," Sarah replied, folding her newspaper.
Mark sighed, looking at her. "Fine. I love them."
"Well, that doesn't sound convincing," she said, leaning into him.
"Should I do a song and dance routine all about my love for them?" he said as he put his arm around her.
"Please no," she laughed. "You're a terrible dancer. And your singing isn't much better."
"You've wounded me to the core," Mark said flatly. "I don't know how I'm going to live now."
"Neither do I. What am I supposed to do if I want to be serenaded?" she asked.
"Buy tickets to see Barry Manilow."
Sarah made a noise of disgust. "Never. Phil Collins."
"Him?" Mark asked exasperatedly. "God, I'm lucky Iggy jumped on me! Otherwise you would have kidnapped and married Phil Collins instead!"
"Is that why you wouldn't let me have a tape of him at our wedding?"
Mark just raised his eyebrows and winked.
"I knew it," she muttered, crossing her arms.
Mark smiled at her. "So this dog..."
"I think we should go look at the puppies at least."
Mark sighed. "I suppose you're right."
"Iggy's memorial will still stay up," Sarah said matter of factly. "We don't have to take that down."
Mark smiled. "So when are we going?"
"Well, I suppose I'll have to ring him. If you don't mind..."
She got up from the sofa and walked to the phone. Mark heard her mumbling through the wall, but ignored it, instead stretching across the sofa. He rolled his face to the wall, so his back faced outward. He could hear Sarah hanging up the phone.
"The man said that we could... Oh what are you doing?"
"Sleeping," he said.
"Well wake up. He said we could come over now."
Mark rolled over, looking at her with fake grumpiness. She just kissed him on the cheek. "Have I ever mentioned that you're the bestest husband in the whole wide world?"
"Only when you want a piece of jewellery," he remarked.
Sarah smirked. "Let's go."
Twenty minutes later, they were at the man's house. The man smiled at Sarah. "I remember you. Coming to get a companion?"
Sarah looked down sadly. "Unfortunately, Iggy passed away last year."
"Oh no! How did that happen?" the man asked, concerned.
"He was hit by a car," Mark said stoically. "The lead snapped, and before I could catch him, he wandered into the street. I ran out after him, but..."
Mark left the sentence hanging. He could see the man immediately start debating about whether or not to sell them another dog. "We miss him a lot," he continued. "Losing Iggy was like losing a child. Nothing's been the same since then. And, you know, getting another dog won't replace him, but it'll be a nice addition to our family."
He looked at Sarah, who had tears welling in her eyes. The man was starting to look sympathetic, so Mark knew just how to win him over.
"I just keep telling myself that if I'd been just a little bit faster, maybe I could have caught him before he got into the road. If..." He had a genuine lump in his throat now and swallowed, trying not to let his voice break. "If that damn car hadn't have hit me, maybe I could have gotten there in time to save Iggy. We put up a memorial to him in our back garden."
"You were hit by a car?" the man asked, dumbfounded.
"All I could think about was saving Iggy," he replied.
The man scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I've got the pups in here," he said quietly.
"What was that all about?" Sarah asked quietly as the followed the man.
"He wasn't going to sell us one," Mark replied. "Thought we were irresponsible."
Sarah gave a nod of understanding as they looked at the pups.
"Sire's name was Baxter. Bitch is Lula. They're purebred Black Labs."
Sarah smiled. "Iggy's litter had the same parents," she murmured.
"You're right," the man said. "Why, you could consider yourself getting Iggy's brother or sister."
Sarah smiled. "Can we play with them?"
The man nodded and let them out. The dogs all ran toward them at once. One little one got halfway there, before seeming to be surprised by his own legs and falling over.
Mark looked at Sarah to see that she had immediately picked that one up. The puppy immediately started to lick her, and when she sat him down, it wagged its tail so hard that it promptly fell over again.
She looked at him and he sighed at her jokingly. He could see in her eyes that she knew he was joking, but she picked up the dog and brought it over to him.
"He says 'Please give me a home, Arthur. Pretty please?'" The dog suddenly started to urinate, getting wee all over Mark's shirt.
Mark glared at the dog as Sarah started to laugh.
"We'll call him Nero," he said.
Sarah wore a smile like the Cheshire Cat the whole way home. "You're doing potty training," he said. "I don't need more dog piss all over me."
"When did you turn into such a grump?" she admonished, holding Nero in front of her face. "You're just adorable, aren't you?" she asked the dog.
The dog reached out its tiny tongue and licked her face. "He's such a sweetheart, Arthur!"
Mark finally smiled as the pulled into the house. "Let him out into the back," he said. "That way if he has to wee, he can do it out there."
"You were great at training Iggy," Sarah said. "And you're getting him younger. You'll have him taught in no time."
Mark raised his eyebrows. "I will be delighted if it doesn't take me three months to teach him how to sit," he said, laughing.
"We can start taking him out on runs once his legs get longer," Sarah said excitedly.
"We have to get a different lead," Mark said softly. "And leave Iggy's collars up in storage."
Sarah gave a soft smile. "Well then, do you want to go shopping?"
"After I change my sodding shirt," Mark said, feigning grumpiness. Sarah just smiled and kissed him.
"Don't swear in front of the puppy," she smirked.
Mark just stared at her in disbelief before going upstairs to change his shirt. He smirked as he changed his shirt. He was glad that they had gotten a dog, no matter what he was acting like around Sarah. Maybe this would take away some of the guilt he still felt about Iggy. No matter what Sarah told him, he still felt that he should have caught Iggy before he ran into the street. He shouldn't have called Iggy's name. Iggy probably would have been fine if he hadn't yelled his name.
Mark shook his head. He needed to stop blaming himself for what happened to Iggy. It was over a year ago now. He couldn't control the lead snapping anymore that Sarah could have. And it wasn't like the lead was showing signs of wear either.
He sighed as he took off his shirt and looked into the mirror. How could Sarah stand to look at him? He had so many scars. There were bullet wounds on his body, ugly puckered scars that he hated to look at. There were scars from being hit by cars, being tortured for information...There was no doubt, he had a Spook's body.
"Arthur, are you alright up there?" Sarah called.
Snapped out of his reverie, Mark nodded before realising that Sarah couldn't see him, as she was downstairs. "Er...yeah. Be down in a second."
He hurriedly buttoned up another shirt and walked downstairs to see Sarah cleaning a mess up on the floor.
Mark raised an eyebrow. "He shat on the floor."
"He's a puppy. You still have to potty train him."
Mark gave her a playful glare. "At least it wasn't on me," he said, picking the puppy up. The dog started to wriggle in his grip and lick his face. Mark couldn't help it; he had to smile.
Sarah came back into the room at that moment and looked at him knowingly. "Well, would you look at this. Mr. Grumpy Gills likes his puppy."
"I paid for the damn thing," he said.
"You're turning into a crotchety old man," Sarah joked.
"I'm in my mid-forties. It was bound to happen sometime," Mark said with a wink.
Sarah smirked. "Are you ready to go?"
"Let's get this guy a box or something to piss in. I have a feeling that his accidents are going to be happening frequently along the way."
Nero started wagging his tail furiously and licked Mark again.
"See, now if that isn't a confirmation of what he's planning, then what would be?"
"You make him sound like he's an evil mastermind, Arthur."
Mark looked at the puppy, which promptly sneezed.
"I wouldn't put it past him," Mark said. "He's probably just waiting...and then one day, he'll take over the world!"
"Well, it's a good thing you're an ex-Spook. You'll be able to figure out what he's up to before he does it."
"Yes, I am the sole protector of this country," Mark said, pretending to gloat. "Bow down before me."
Sarah gave him a light slap on the back of the head.
"Is that close enough?"
Mark tucked the dog into one arm and rubbed the back of his head. "That really hurt," he complained.
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Too bad. Get your arse into the car. I want to get this collar and lead before the shops close."
Mark sighed as Nero started to vigorously lick his hand.
Sarah placed a kiss on his cheek and they went out to the car, putting Nero in a box. The dog immediately yawned and settled down, looking ready for a nap.
"He is too adorable!" Sarah said. "Can we get another?"
Mark looked at her in disbelief. "You're like a three year old!"
Sarah smiled. "Watch out there. You're a crotchety old man, I'm a three year old... we're married..."
Mark was very tempted to smash his head against the steering wheel. Instead, he shook his head, grinning, and said nothing.
"Let's get him that collar, shall we?"