Everyone had accepted Nick's offer of a celebration. They all met at a pub and grill near Cameron's apartment.
"I thought you said no alcohol." Clawhouser says
"I may have a drink or two, I can walk home." I say
We enter the grill and sit at the bar.
"What can I get y'all?" The bartender says with a thick southern accent.
"Mississippi?" I ask
"Georgia."
"I'll get a vodka and sprite." I say as the bartender points at me
"Root Beer." Nick says
"Root Beer." Judy says
"Rum and Coke." Bogo says
"Grape Fanta." Clawhouser says
"Water." Wolford says
The bartender begins to fill our orders and I make a comment. "You know, Fanta was originally created by the Nazis because they didn't have the ingredients to make Coke."
"I actually didn't know that." The bartender says
It was then that I saw Grim standing near the bathrooms.
"Hey Nick, follow me." I say nodding towards Grim.
"Yea Cameron, what's u..." He begins
Grim leads us into the bathroom and locks the door after he makes sure it's empty.
"Cameron would you happen to know a Shawn Hagler from your past life." He says
"He die too soon?" I ask
"Yep. He's currently waiting in my office, he is not very accepting. Thought that you could help."
"Yea, I can help."
"Nicolas, stay here. Keep the door locked, to you this will only be 30 seconds."
With that I am engulfed in the same white light that brought me here and I arrive in a place I thought I would never see again.
"Really?" I ask
"You know this place?" Grim asks
"It's the hallway outside room 608 also known as the home of The Sound of Roaring Thunder Marching Band. He inside?"
"Yep. Wait for my cue, and look at your hands."
I look at my hands and see that I am human again.
He walks into the room and enters the teachers office.
"Hello again Mr. Hagler. Any luck coping?"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN COPING? I'M JUST IN A BAD DREAM!" Shawn's voice screams.
"So no. I have someone that can help you with that."
I take my cue and walk in.
"See you died prematurely Shawn." I say
"Cameron? Your..." He begins
"Dead?"
"Yea."
I walk over and slap him.
"Ow! Why?"
"It hurt, your not dreaming. What happened before you woke up here?"
"It was at the shooting range. We were shooting, and my dad brought out the 50. cal I wanted to look cool so I tried shooting it standing up."
"Where did you put the butt of the rifle when you shot it?"
"My shoulder."
"I know how you died. Confirm me if I'm wrong Grim. The recoil of the 50. cal firing caused your body to knock back so violently that your brain cord broke."
"Yep that's exactly how he died." Grim says.
"Okay. I accept that I'm dead. Now what?" Shawn says
"Now I send you with Cameron."
"Send me where?"
"A new life."
"Where exactly."
"He's going to send you with me." I say "Remember that movie Zootopia that cam out in 2015/16."
"Oh No. No, no, no, no, no."
"Suck it up buttercup. What's your favorite animal?" I ask
"Uh... Grey Fox?"
"Good enough for me." Grim shrugs
We are engulfed in the white light again, only to reappear in the pub bathroom.
"Wow that was like 30 seconds." Nick comments "This Shawn?"
"Yep. I gave him Police training memories, he's a transfer from Panama City FL. Lieutenant." Grim says before disappearing.
"I feel funny." Shawn says sitting up. "Why the fuck are you a wolf Cameron?"
"Look down." I say
He looks down and just stares.
"Well flip me over and f..." He mumbles
"What's a 10-80?" I ask him
"Pursuit in progress." He says
"Yep. He got the training memories." Nick says "So... How to explain it to the others?"
"Wait in the corridor." I say as I leave.
I return to the bar to find that our drinks have arrived. I chug mine and begin to talk to everyone in a quiet voice. "We have a new member of the team."
"What team?" Wolford asks
I text Grim to give him the memories.
"Oh." He says
I signal Nick over.
"Everyone, Shawn Hagler. Shawn, Everyone. He died by accident and Grim told me to watch him. Gave him PD training so he's a transfer from Panama City."
"Howdy y'all" Shawn says
"Drop the accent Shawn. I know you are from North Carolina." I say
"Okay. Hello everyone."
Everyone introduces himself and we continue the celebration with one extra member.
After we leave the bar, I walk home with Shawn, Nick, and Judy while Clawhouser again drives Bogo home, and Wolford takes the train.
As we enter my apartment I catch Shawn playing with his tail.
"Really Shawn?" I ask.
"What? It's fluffy." He replies
"You get the second guest room Shawn."
"You have Three guest rooms? He asks
"No. They are both in one." I say pointing at Nick and Judy.
"Didn't see that one. You guys do you." Shawn says as he walks upstairs.
"He seems nice."Judy says
"He is one of the only people I have ever told my biggest fear." I say
"Who else knows?" Nick says
"My immediate family, Shawn, and my High School Vice Principal" I say "Good Night." Going upstairs thinking about tomorrow.