Hellooooooooo everyone! Guess who's back? I first want to say I am so sorry it's been who knows how long it's been since I updated. I didn't know my classes this semester were gonna be this demanding of my time (how dare they) but alas, I am now on Spring Break once again so I hope to at lest do one more chapter or two after this (and for those following One Shot Family Universe, the same applies to that as well) Second, I figured since I left you guys are wondering if I remembered this story I thought I would be nice and give you something I'm sure you've all been waiting for. Enjoy.
d'Artagnan gave a small growl as he pulled on Athos's pant leg, trying to get his master to move faster and wondered why Athos was just laughing and walking too slow. Didn't his master know what today was? It's not like they've been training in the backyard for the last four days for the fun of it. Giving one last growl, he let Athos's pant leg go and started barking and jumping up and down.
"So I see you are ready?" Athos asked him, kneeling down to hook his leash to his collar.
Bout time! Giving his best puppy smile, he barked once with confidence and walked towards the front door, nudging it open with his nose. He wanted them to get there early so he could see what and who he was up against. Waiting for Athos to open the passenger door he jumped right in and jumped up onto the seat, tongue hanging out as he forced himself to sit still. It wouldn't do them any good if he kept bouncing in the seat and have Athos crash because he was trying to keep him from jumping in his lap.
"Aramis and Porthos will meet us there," Athos said, as he started down the street. "I can give you the run down on what you're going to be doing and what is expected. You will have to complete the course within the time frame they give. It changes every year so I don't know what it's going to be. You must keep your focus and ignore any outside noise and disturbance. Which includes squirrels AND other dogs."
He heard the stress in the word dogs and bowed his head a little. All during their training, Rochefort would not stop telling him he couldn't do it, Athos would hate him if he didn't make the unit, and such, which in turn made him mess up and then run over to the fence and give the Doberman a piece of his mind. If only humans could understand what dogs were really saying. Lifting his head he gave a bark he hoped Athos would know meant he understood and would not let nothing or no one distract him.
They pulled into the parking lot and he got excited once more, knowing this was really happening. He's passed all the other tests and this was the final test he needed and then he would finally be part of the K-9 Unit. He started jumping up and down as Athos got out of the car and walked over to the passenger side door and he jumped right out, smile on his face. With his head held high, he started to walk in front of Athos, looking for Aramis and Porthos as he went, but also looking at the other dogs. A lot of them where German Shepherds and taller than him but he paid that no mind. He actually hoped they all made it and he knew most of them from the classes and they all wished him luck.
"There's our soon-to-be K-9 puppy," a voice said.
He turned his head to see Aramis and Porthos, Porthos going to his knees and smiled, and he barked happily before pulling on his leash to get to Porthos. The bigger man picked him up and he could help but lick him all over the face. He was glade his friends came to cheer him on.
"I think I should warn you," Aramis said, making him stop his licks and look at the smaller man, "that Richelieu his here with Judge Louis."
"What is Judge Louis doing here?" Athos asked, unhooking his leash.
"It would seem the judge wanted to see the finals first hand," Porthos said. "Said he just signs the commissions but doesn't actually see what the dogs actually do so he wanted to make sure that any dog he commissions is doing what they're suppose to."
"And also Richelieu signed Rochefort up," Aramis with a sneer. "Dobermans are crossing the line if you ask me."
d'Artagnan gave a growl at Rochefort's name and then sneezed. Now this was war. There was no way Rochefort was going to make the unit and he didn't. Wiggling to get down, he waited until Porthos set him down before barking up at Athos. Hoping his master understood he would pay attention, not let things distract him, and would try his hardest to make him proud.
"Either d'Artagnan is practicing his speech for when he wins, or he's cussing Rochefort out," Athos said with a laugh.
Close enough. He turned his head when he heard a whistle and saw other dogs start to walk over to an officer with a clipboard. Pulling on Athos's pant leg once more he got his masters attention and walked over to the other dogs. Sitting in front of Athos he listened as the officer told them, or telling their masters the rules because humans didn't think dogs could pay that much attention, all the rules. He would have three minutes to complete the course, no potty breaks or they would be disqualified, if they knocked any poles down they would be disqualified, and if they left the course marked by the white lines, they were disqualified.
"Come d'Artagnan, lets take you potty before it's your turn."
He followed Athos to a clearing that was clearly meant for them and did his business. Once he was done, he followed Athos back to where Aramis and Porthos sat under a tree in the shade. He was now starting to get nervous that he literally jumped into Athos lap and laid his head down. Maybe taking it easy will calm his nerves down, but of course Rochefort decided to walk over to them, Richelieu nowhere in sight.
Why did you even bother coming? You know you'll never make it. There's a high wall jump and since you're too small you'll use up all your time to make it over.
Go to hell Rochefort. I'll make that wall jump with time to spare.
Really? And what if you don't make it? You know Athos will be the laughing stock of the department because he believed in a runt like you.
Athos will not be the laughing stock of the department because everyone else believes I can do this.
We'll see about that. I'll be sure to show you my vest when I make the unit and you don't.
Isn't that your master calling you? Not a good way to start your day by leaving your masters side in front of all these officers.
"Um, should we break up this fight?" Aramis asked, listening as d'Artagnan and Rochefort barked and growled at one another. "I swear they're talking to one another."
"I'm sorry gentleman," Richelieu said, walking up to them with Judge Louis behind him. "I didn't notice Rochefort walked away from me."
"No harm done," Athos said, making sure to keep his voice in check. Louis wasn't just the Judge but he was also the one in charge of the whole precinct. He was the one who hires, fires, commissions, and closes down the precinct. "Judge Louis, very good to see you today."
"Officers Athos, Aramis, and Porthos."
"Come Rochefort, we must get you ready."
d'Artagnan gave once last low growl so only Athos could hear, and of course got cuffed upside the head slightly for it but it was totally worth it. He listened as the officer in charged called names and dogs one by one started the obstacle course. From where he watched, it seemed all the dogs each made it to the finish line in the amount of time and none of them left the white line. Then came Rochefort. He lifted his head to see better and watched as the Doberman started. So far he was doing great until he got the high wall.
"It would see that high wall is giving all the dogs a challenge," Porthos said. "Even Rochefort is having trouble getting up it."
"Yes, they do put in one big challenge all dogs will have to see how they handle the situation," Aramis said, rubbing his chin. "I believe last year they dug a large hole, filled it with water, and the dogs had to swim."
"d'Artagnan!"
d'Artagnan lifted his head at his name and looked up at Athos. This was it. He got out of Athos lap and before he would walk over to the course, Aramis and Porthos patted him on the head and scratched him behind the ear and wished him luck. He walked in front of Athos, head held high as he passed Rochefort, and stopped at the starting line.
"God luck d'Artagnan. I'll be down at the finish line."
Giving a small bark, d'Artagnan watched as Athos left to go down to the finish line. Looking at the all the obstacles he would have to go through, he realized it was bigger than he thought.
"Ready?"
Of course he was.
"Set."
Just keep focus.
"GO!"
He took off over the line and went to the first obstacle, the weave poles. Being the smallest dog, he had no problem weaving in and out of the poles, not once did those poles bend down like they did with the other dogs. Second obstacles were about five single jumps. Keeping his speed up he made the first jump with space between him and the poles but as he jumped the others, he saw they were getting higher and higher. The last single jump one pole was close to the ground while the other was near the top. Of course the bigger dogs were able to make this jump but there was no way he would so he hoped for the best and jumped right between the poles, not touching or knocking them down.
The more he got into the course he took note the harder the obstacles. He ran through a tunnel and on the other side were two platforms that he jumped onto and ran down a long board only to be greeted with a tire jump. He had to slow down going down the board but he was able to pick his speed back up and jumped right through the tire. He didn't know how much longer he had but he could see the finish line and about three more obstacles in front of him. He just made it to the teeter when Rochefort made his presence known.
Give up runt. There is no way you're going to make it. The time is going down and you only have a minute.
He ignored Rochefort, though he wanted badly to go over there and bite the bigger dog. The second biggest was the dog walk. It wasn't that big of a deal, going up a large board and balance on a thin board going across to another large board to go down, but like before, he had to slow down going down the board and the high wall was the very last obstacle.
You're not going to make it runt. Athos will want to give you up after this and who would blame him? Who wants to have a dog who can't even do a simple obstacle course? No one will want you anymore.
Taking a deep breath, he picked up his speed a little and made his jump up the high wall. It felt like slow motion for him but he had watched the other dogs and saw their mistakes. They all looked down half way up the wall and, therefor, didn't make it because they lost their concentration. Keeping his eye on the top of the wall he dug his nails into the cracks of the wood and before he knew it, he was jumping from the top if the wall, running across the finish line, and running right into Athos waiting arms.
"Good boy d'Artagnan! You did very good."
Breathing hard d'Artagnan couldn't help but lick Athos on the face. He did do it. He made it across the finish line and kept his focus. He felt someone pat him on the head and then he was suddenly being lifted in the air and he looked down to Porthos laughing face.
"That's a good boy!"
Aramis just patted him on the head and poured some water into a small bowl and set it on the ground. Boy does water sound good right now. Wiggling and whining to be put down, he attacked the water the moment Porthos set him down.
"So what do you think?" Porthos asked.
"I'd say he made a very good impression on everyone," Aramis said. "I don't think I've heard a louder cheer for a dog that made it over the high jump in one try."
"I was keeping time myself and d'Artagnan is the only dog to make it across the finish line with a minute to spare," Athos said, kneeling down to pet d'Artagnan once he was done with his water.
"Attention everyone!" Judge Louis said, clapping his hands and getting everyone's, human and dog, attention. "I first want to say I am very please to see how much training went into your dogs for this final test. Never before have I seen such hard work and dedication. Second, I am sorry to say but right now I can only fill one place in the K-9 Unit. Rest assure, however, that when more spots are open to me I will pick from the dogs that tested today, so masters you do not need to re-schedule them next year since their files will be open."
"Well, that is a plus," Porthos said.
"Yes, so even if d'Artagnan doesn't get picked, he doesn't have to go through this again," Aramis said. "Ow." He looked down when he felt small teeth bite into his leg and he saw d'Artagnan glare at him and even growled. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Shesh, I think Athos's glare is rubbing off on d'Artagnan."
"So, without further ado, the dog that made it's place in the K-9 Unit is…d'Artagnan!"
YES! d'Artagnan started barking and jumping up and down in excitement. He made the K-9 Unit! He finally made it. He felt himself being picked up once more and smothered in hugs, kisses, and pats. It would seem all the officers came over to congratulate him and even the other dogs came over and congratulated him. All except Rochefort, who was glaring and staying by Richelieu. Such a sore loser.
"Congratulation d'Artagnan," Judge Louis said, walking over to them. "I am very happy to see you over come everything that has happened to you these past few months."
Giving a bark in thanks, d'Artagnan held his paw out, hoping the judge would understand and literally smiled when he grabbed his paw and shook. Soon everyone started to go their own ways and only then did he finally relax into Athos arms.
"It would seem a nice nap is in order for you," Athos said with a smile. "You've had a long afternoon."
"And a nice movie night is the just the thing to end this exciting day," Aramis said.
Giving a sigh, d'Artagnan laid his head on Athos shoulder as his master walk over to the car, Aramis and Porthos arguing over pizza or wings for dinner, when Athos whispered in his ear.
"I'm very proud of you, d'Artagnan."