Chapter 12: Roots

Taming his phobia of bugs and learning how to swim were two things Chance had never imagined doing in his lifetime. Perhaps 'taming' wasn't the most accurate term to describe it. The presence of creepy crawlers still made him uneasy, but he had learned to manage his fear and panic. With swimming, he was comfortable enough to join his mate in a pool, though he would not soon jump into the deep ocean. Either way, it brought him to the other thing he never imagined himself doing - cooking for the McFurs.

The sizzling sounds of the grill filled the air as he prepared their meals. The powerful aroma of the hot, thick pieces of meat hissed, wafting the spice he sprinkled on them and mixing with the meat juice. Chance flipped them over, letting them slow-cook as he put the cover on.

"Interesting way of cooking them," his unofficial assistant said.

Chance glanced at Murray, who sat nearby on the cooler with another open can. "I prefer it like this. It keeps the juices inside," he explained. Glancing down, he counted the number of beers on the floor. "Are you sure you'll be up to driving later?"

"What are you? My mother? Calm yourself, tail swiper," Murray said, letting out a loud burp. With a gesture, he showed the spot where Burke and Jake were laboriously clearing the mess from earlier. Burke will drive. Just click the modification button, and BAM… the car seat will shift to his height."

"Good to know," he mused. As he looked around, Chance saw the kids enthusiastically playing a new game near the garage entrance.

The kids engaged in a game of following the leader, with the little molly taking charge and giving orders to the boys. Sarah received different reactions from the boys, with Oliver obediently following instructions and Jonathan expressing dissatisfaction over her prolonged leadership. They would bicker, with Oliver acting like the unofficial wall and trying to soothe them. Yet then Oliver became a ping-pong, with both telling him to follow them, appearing utterly stuck on what to do and who to listen to.

Chance hoped his kid didn't become a pushover. He wondered if he should lay some Furlong wisdom. Then again, it would be his mom's wisdom, as his father was a pacifist. His father possessed the remarkable quality of laughing and staying calm, even when faced with hostility. Despite their stark differences, Chance couldn't picture his parents with anyone else back then. Freya's vibrant personality sparkled like a firecracker, and Edward's tranquil demeanor was like a comforting rain that could settle her. Chance could remember when he dealt with his first bully. Correction, it was Richard's bully. His brother didn't want to tell their parents, nor did he want Chance to do anything. After it got worse and the picking intensified, Chance asked his parents what he should do, completely lying that it was he who was getting bullied.

He could remember his father offering to talk to the parents and solve the issue peacefully. His mother disagreed, saying Chance should put them on the ground and show them whose boss. They disagreed and argued their points, with his mom saying bullying only stops when you defend yourself and his father saying there might be a reason it is happening. Of course, Chance had already decided what to do the next day, even with his parents' advice. He beat the primary aggressor in the playground and told everyone present that day that if anyone so much as touched Richard, he'd beat them.

It would have been simple for him to go to the principal's office and his parents to get called about it. However, it didn't go as hoped, and Richard was mad at him.

Then it got bad.

"You're not going to deck me, are you?" a nervous voice cut in.

Chance blinked. He glanced to his side to see an anxious and tense Murray. He must have been glaring for some time, though he is unsure for how long. "Sorry. I'm just thinking about the past."

Murray eased up. "I thought I finally pushed your button with the last tail-swiper comment," he said. After fixing his hat, he turned his attention back to Chance. "Must have been some poor memory, eh?"

"Something like that," Chance admitted, pinching his nose. He shook his head, putting the tool down and a hand on the table near Murray. "I'm okay with you calling me that. However." He moved closer so they could be face to face. "You better keep it to just me. If I hear you calling Jake that, I'll send you flying. Injury or no injury. Got it?"

Giving a quick nod, Murray shifted back and held his hands up. "Alright. You made your point."

Satisfied, Chance looked up at the sky, wondering if his dad was proud of him. The lovely golden orange skies had some clouds drifting lazily around. The night would come later, but a warm, golden glow bathed the sky for now. Sometimes, he imagined his father watching him as he flew around the Turbo Kat and protected the city with Jake.

"So," Murray cut in. He patted his seat, glancing nervously everywhere else before returning to Chance, his discomfort palpable. "You gonna tell me what the stare was about?"

Chance couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "What? Are we friends now?"

"Fuck no. Just asking," Murray said, playing with the can.

Chance sighed, wondering what was Murray's deal. As he prepared to respond, a soft crash caught his attention, and he turned to witness his mate assisting Burke, who had tripped on an object. Concern filled Jake's face as he gently patted Burke, who appeared miserable and ready to throw something. Occasionally, Chance longs to emulate Jake's ability to remain calm and composed amid disappointment or something infuriating. Yet Chance can't sometimes, and he lets the tiger in him loose. And he almost seriously hurt Murray because of it.

Looking back at Murray, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of self-disgust. His father wouldn't have been happy with that. He felt his lips getting dry, and he licked them. Taking a moment, he exhaled and let it out. "I was thinking about the time my brother got bullied. One day, I let them have it. I dared anyone that watched that day to touch my brother again and see what happens."

There was a moment of silence until Murray spoke. "Jeez. Must've been a sight," he commented, taking a swing. He slapped his shin and laughed. "I bet you made those suckers wet their pants."

Chance nodded. "Yep. I got the leader good. Almost too good to the point he was crying and begging me to stop." He stopped, remembering how terrified the kid was of him. The same look that Murray had. "I felt proud. I thought I did my brother a favor by taking the fat kid down a peg or two. But…"

"But what?" Murray asked, shifting closer. "Did your brother not appreciate the help? Don't tell me that's what happened."

Exhaling, Chance felt the shitty feeling he felt that day coming back to him. "Nope. Let's just say I discovered why my brother didn't complain or report it. It sure didn't excuse what the kid did to my brother, but it made me think that I could have done things differently."

"Well, don't tease me," Murray huffed. "What made you think?"

Chance licked his lips. "We get called to the principal's office—your standard routine. Mom defends me because she found out that the kid was bullying Richard, and my dad was trying to soothe my very pregnant mom and the principal. My dad wasn't happy with me but tried his best to fix things before the kid's parents came. Then came the parents of the kid… it was… it was the first time I saw spousal abuse," he drawled. He felt himself clenching his fist and feeling a rumble escaping his throat. "By the gods. The room got so silent, so quick. That poor molly had such an ugly bruise, and it looked like a balloon was in her eye. She tried to smile away like nothing was wrong… I didn't know what was happening since I was a stupid kid, and my mama taught me never to stare. But I saw my parents eyeing her injury with such dismay and anger towards the fucker next to her."

Chance felt a shiver in his spine and took a breath. "I thought the kid feared me back in the playground. Oh boy, he was a ghost when his father came in. That piece of shit did nothing but glare at his kid and wife throughout the tense meeting. I got suspended, and so did the kid. It was late afternoon already when we were walking towards our cars when the fucker got confident. My mom would have been on that tom if not for her condition. Of course, she tried to do something, but my dad stopped her. I'd never seen my dad furious until the day. Imagine the happy-go-luck pilot who cracks jokes, gets quiet and holds a dark look. He scared the hell out of me that day. With one simple word, he told my mother to stay in the car and went towards the other family's car. My father could have arrested the tom then and there. But he didn't. He was furious but knew he could get away with what he wanted to do if he got the tom to swing at him."

Murray sent an understanding nod, staying silent and letting him finish.

"Crud. My father beat the shit out of the guy, almost to where he nearly killed the guy if Mom didn't stop him. The enforcers came and took my dad and the guy into custody. It surprised me when I saw the wife begging my dad to stop and when she cried at the enforcers that her husband wasn't a bad guy. I didn't get it till later," Chance said.

A long silence followed, with only the cooking meat sounding off and the kids playing nearby.

"Shit," Murray let out, taking a swing of his beer. He settled it down before scratching his neck with his other hand, looking unsure. "Do you know if she and her kid got out of it?"

"I'm not sure," Chance whispered. He shook his head. "The only thing I know is that Dad got temporarily suspended from the enforcers, and my brother didn't talk to me for a while afterward."

"I would like to believe they did," Murray said.

"Me too." Chance wondered if he would have done things differently if he had known like Richard. He comforted himself with his mother's words that night.

"Sometimes, bad things happen. We can't get too hung up on it. What's done is done. You were protecting your brother. That's it. What happened to the mother and his kid is not your fault," Freya said.

Chance took that advice to heart and kept it to adulthood, especially when working as the city's protector. Accidental injuries to civilians shouldn't weigh on their minds, considering the more significant number of lives at risk. If they did, it would have life-threatening consequences for him, his partner, and the city. Jake's slight descent was proof of that when he thought he injured those 'old' kats. Then again, if he asked him his father's opinion, would he have the same mental state? He didn't dare ask his father when he returned the next day.

"Say," Chance let out almost automatically. Maybe it was his father's words or the story. He is not sure. Shaking the last bit of hesitancy, he continued. "Since we're yapping so openly. Why have you been giving my mate and me such a hard time?"

Murray froze mid-swing. Settling the drink, he refused to look at Chance and kept his eyes forward. He said nothing and kept staring until he finally let it out with a frank tone. "Because you piss me and Burke off."

Taken aback, Chance scratched his cheeks. "Huh? For what?"

"Chance Furlong. Ace pilot of the enforcers. The best they ever had in decades," Murray announced. He leaned on one of his paws. He waved the other hand around and muttered the following. "A promising future, already making strides in becoming lieutenant despite his age, along with his gunner and partner, Jake Clawson. Only to… piss it all away… and get dumped here."

"Okay, thanks for the history lesson," Chance said, gritting his teeth. He paused before he snapped. "What does that have to do with us?"

"I'm saying that Burke and I would have killed to be in your shoes. Unlike you guys, you had nothing stopping you from reaching your goals," Murray mumbled. He rubbed his face and growled. "Damn it. Look at me. I'm sounding like a tail swiper. Jealous like the little shit that I am."

Still confused, Chance would ask what Murray meant until he focused and followed Murray's eyes. There was a particular building miles away, but you could see the point of it if you squinted enough. It was hard to miss. "You two wanted to be enforcers?"

"Ding dong! Tail swiper tiger gets a point," Murray grumbled.

"Oh," Chance said. He was not expecting this. He wasn't sure what to say and just let out the first thing that came to mind. "How so?"

"Maybe I should talk to your mate instead of you. He is the brains of the two of you," Murray snapped. He growled, hitting his chest. "Do I really have to spell it out?"

Chance blushed, feeling bad for asking. Of course, he knew why. "Sorry. I'm just a bit lost for words at the moment. Huh. Go figure. I didn't expect you guys to want to be enforcers. But Burke could—"

"Is a bit of an idiot," Murray cut in quickly. He looked so defeated, his ears folding and glancing toward where his brother was at. "Wouldn't make it if he tried. He's not like a retard, where he can't think for himself, just slow. Plus, he refused to join after knowing I couldn't go. Freaking idiot."

"Kind of sweet," Chance said, getting a glare from Murray. He put his hand up. "Okay. Okay. But hey, that's what brothers do! They have each other's back. Hell. I'm kind of jealous."

"Sure you are," Murray said, looking at his hands with disgust. If only I were born differently. Then maybe I would have a shot or, at least, the opportunity. But the gods sure like to make fun of me."

"Aw, that explains the hate," Chance said. He ignored the glare from the tom and sat on the nearby chair. "I was the same as you at one point when I lost my dad. Also, when I got dumped here, as you said."

Murray snorted, shaking his head. "Sorry to hear about your dad, but you and I are different."

"How so?"

"I got more downhills than you." Murray glanced towards the kids' playing area. "Say, did you guys adopt him?"

"In a way. We consider him ours already, but legally, we're in a trial run with kitten services."

"Trial run? Wait, do you mean like a stray situation?" Murray said, turning back with a surprised look. His face softened, and he frowned. "Those are only for severe cases."

Chance grimaced, nodding his head.

"No wonder he looks so unsure and lost with those two," Murray said. He shook his head. "At least he looks comfortable with you two. I hope he stays with you."

"Thank you," Chance said, surprised to hear that.

A slight awkward silence followed, as Chance didn't know what else to say. He bet Murray didn't know either. While they weren't friends, he questioned whether their conversation had changed their antagonistic relationship. Maybe not. So, he shifted up and checked on the burgers. They were about to be ready. The beef fat smell made him drool, and he would chow down on a few once he finished serving everyone else.

"Tail… crap. Furlong," Murray said with much effort.

"Yeah?" Chance said, glancing at Murray.

Just as Murray appeared poised to speak, he abruptly looked away. "Never mind."

"Alright," Chance said, shrugging his shoulders. He was about to call everyone over when Murray spoke again. It was faint, like a whisper, but enough to hear.

"I'm sorry."

Hearing that shocked Chance. As he was about to open his mouth to speak to Murray, he suddenly realized that continuing the conversation would only add to Murray's embarrassment. The macho tom mindset is not to talk about feelings or apologize. Granted, he was guilty about that. Jake slowly chipped his shield with their talks in bed or around the house. It felt weird, though pleasant. "Accepted if you accept my apology."

"Fine."

"Great."

"Still hate your guts for getting kicked out."

"And I do, too, for all the dumpings you did."

Chance and Murray shot a look at each other, though snorted and shook their heads. Chance couldn't help but grin, feeling more comfortable with Murray. About to gather everyone, he noticed his mate pausing and touching his right pocket with a grim expression. By looking at him to confirm, Jake signaled they were required.

"Crud," Chance muttered.

"Something wrong?" Murray asked.

Yeah, the Swat Kats are getting called, Chance thought bitterly.

Melvin hissed, feeling his shoulder throb and get hot, wishing he could just rip the thorn out of him. However, unless he wanted to bleed to death, then it was staying on. He hoped for another burst of adrenaline to shoot through him, but there was no hope as he bit into his leather belt. The sensation was unbearable as Lou used gauze to cover the injury, applying pressure quickly and precisely. He focused on his lover more closely.

Maybe it was the loss of blood thinking now, but Lou looked captivating. His lover's orange fur shifted around, with his wavy hair moving out of the way, revealing that lovely gray bandana-like pattern on his face. Lou's appearance was predominantly masculine, but from specific angles, they had a strikingly feminine look. He loved it all, wishing for Lou to stay with him.

There was a quick snap. Lou was snapping his fingers at him.

"You okay?" Lou said, shifting closer and touching Mel's face.

"Never better," Mel said, grinning. A sudden, hard slap landed on his face, leaving a stinging sensation. With a hiss, he cupped his aching cheek. "Babe. The hell? I'm injured!"

"Yeah, you're doing better." Lou ignored him, stood up, and headed towards the window. "Should we stay put here or move?"

Rubbing his face, Mel used his legs to stand up, coming close and peering down the same window.

Down below, the Enforcers have set up a barricade and were already fighting off a wave of random assortment of mutated plants. The pyro team unleashed their fiery arsenal with their flamethrower, reducing the monsters to ashes and sending plumes of black smoke swirling toward the clouds. Melvin could only whistle and appreciate the sight.

"Thank god for our new mayor," Melvin muttered.

Although he wanted to go back with the enforcers in the field, he decided against it, not wanting to give his wife any more material to use against him in court. He thought they would end things amicably, but they seemed destined to fight till the bitter end. The uncertainty and inquiries of the eldest of his two sons caused him the most anguish, as if they preferred to stay with their mother if things didn't work out. Then again, Melvin couldn't blame them since he worked a lot, and his kids spent more time with their mother. His youngest didn't seem bothered. Too young to understand, he thought.

Melvin shook his head. He didn't have time to worry about that and needed to protect Lou and his unborn kitten. A particular crack made him look to the side, and he saw some plants emerging from the window's lower part. Doctor Viper's plants were spreading fast. Taking it as their cue to leave, he grabbed his lover's arm and tugged it towards the door.

"Come on, let's go. We'd better keep moving than stay in one place. Viper's monsters are too erratic. Hopefully, the enforcers deal with them," Melvin said.

"Or the Swat Kats," Lou chimed with excitement.

Melvin didn't respond, keeping them moving out in the hallways. Of course, deep inside, he hoped they showed up too, but no good enforcers would admit that. Imagine being the supposed sword and shield of the city, only for its citizens to prefer a rag-tag of vigilantes to solve the biggest problem. It stung deep, especially in the first year, until they silently accepted the Swat Kats as a vital defense for the city. The last time he was in the locker room showers, he heard the younger recruits whispering, wishing to be like the Swat Kats or getting trained by them. Those two radical kats are the heroes kids want to be when they get out of high school. Melvin didn't mind the Swat Kats as much, maybe because he was between the age group of the old-school enforcers and fresh blood.

As they kept moving, they carefully went around multiple hallways. Some hallways remained as they were supposed to look, while others gradually transformed into a mini jungle. When gurgles and sounds came, they took cover, watching various plant monsters moving around. Once clear, they kept moving toward the atrium section, ducking down when they heard a cackle. They looked around to ensure no one had seen them, but nothing happened. Melvin tugged his lover to move it but felt some resistance. Looking back, he saw Lou carefully peering over the covered rail from where the cackle came from.

"Lou!" Melvin hissed softly.

Lou ignored him, squinting hard.

Melvin huffed, shifting closer to his lover's side. They were so close to the next emergency stairs on the other side that he touched Lou's shoulder. "We got to move."

"This is bad," Lou said, keeping his eyes on what he was looking at.

Melvin turned to look down. At the very bottom, covering the first floor entirely, a considerable green plant covered the first floor, pulsating from each sack and spewing spores from its opening. On it, in the middle of a gigantic plant, Doctor Viper was mixing chemicals and checking on some pink files.

"What? It looks like he's doing the usual MO," Melvin asked.

Lou pointed at Doctor Viper. "He has our files. We color-coded them depending on how severely they failed and if we could attempt it again. Based on the sheets on the ground, he's been pumping that plant with everything. That mad tom. I hope he didn't find black or—" He stopped as Doctor Viper pulled solid black sheets. Like a spring, Lou stood up and gripped the rail. "Stop! Those files are unstable."

Melvin winced, getting up fully and tugging his mate. However, he felt a cold sweat and his spine shaking before he could tell Lou anything. As he turned back to Doctor Viper, the mad scientist's piercing yellow eyes and furious expression met his gaze, unsettling him. Plant-like bats emerged from the sacks, flapping toward their master and waiting for command.

"And that's our cue," Melvin said, pulling Lou down the hallway. He heard Doctor Viper shouting commands, followed by quick flaps heading their way.

Rushing towards the emergency door, they entered and took a few steps down when a sizeable pod-like creature suddenly broke inside from a floor below. The pod creature spewed gooey green-yellow liquid on the floor from its gaping mouth, slithering up the stairs like a snake. Melvin grabbed his lover's hand, hurrying them up the stairs as fast as possible.

The thing below them roared, hurrying its ascend.

It was getting close with every second.

Luckily, they arrived at the top door before it got too close. Melvin didn't hesitate to barge into it and get them out to the ceiling. He urgently pushed his lover to safety, desperately trying to shut the door as the relentless monster charged towards him. After closing the door, he immediately felt the weight of the door pushing back against him, creating a solid impact. Soon, he flew briefly up into the air until he felt the cold, hard floor the next second, followed by a screeching sound in his ear. With gritted teeth, he felt the thorn from earlier pushing out from its original position, causing his blood to trickle out. From his vantage point on the floor, he watched as the monster futilely tried to escape through the rooftop access door, its massive size hindered by the steel supports. However, it was exerting its sheer force, shattering the cement and causing the beams to twist like taffy.

Despite Lou being frozen at the side, the monster didn't notice him. It kept snapping its mouth to where Melvin was. Before Lou could do anything, Melvin put his hand up to stop him. It was over for Melvin. He couldn't move or get up, but he could serve as a decent distraction for his lover to get out. Ignoring Lou's desperate look, he attempted to get him to understand.

'I love you,' Melvin mouthed to Lou, letting his best grin he could muster despite the pain.

Finally, the monster broke from the beams and bounded towards him, its wide mouth ready to swallow him whole. It felt like the world was going slowly for Melvin. He saw his life flashing before him and wished he could keep going. From birth to now, his mistakes and accomplishments. Throughout his life, he experienced the trials of a failed marriage, memorable academy days, intense court battles, the joy of his children's birth, and countless passionate nights and wonderful dates with his one true soul mate.

Now, it was over.

The monster's mouth was a foot away from him. It was getting dark thanks to its gaping mouth covering the sunlight. The sight of Lou's tear-streaked face, filled with desperation, consumed his vision as it slowly got obscured by the monster.

Something ripped, almost like the sound of paper. Maybe he was imagining things, or the monster was breaking his bones with its mouth. Suddenly, the light invaded the darkness like a sweater's zipper being opened. He felt something splash on him, and it tasted like sour salad. Then, a hard thud echoed nearby, a few distances below his feet, followed by the roar. He saw something black zoom across his view before turning around and heading towards him. However, he couldn't focus on it when Lou slid into view and said something. It sounded like he was underwater, and Lou's voice sounded muddy.

Melvin was feeling tired, though the few moments he opened his eyes, he could swear to see the smaller of the two Swat Kats coming towards them. He wondered when they landed their jet, but it felt too hard to think, and breathing was difficult. He closed his eyes once more. Then T-Bone appeared, helping and leading him to the ramp to their cargo bay. They were shouting about something, and his lover was explaining to them. Lou's voice cut off at certain parts, but Mel heard, 'Doctor Viper… stop him… need to… explode… center… Oh, Mel. I love you.'

Melvin felt giddy hearing that. It felt like a pleasant dream to have. It's much better than getting eaten by a vegetable. He eased up and let his eyes close.

Razor focused on his panel, waiting for the perfect moment as his finger was on the trigger. His mate kept them moving, avoiding the flying creatures emerging from the center of the building. Doctor Viper was mixing chemicals, and it seemed like he was almost ready to feed whatever he planned to give that spore. The young chemist explained they needed to work fast and stop Viper from finishing it, or they could say goodbye to Megakat City. An unstoppable plant that could spread like a disease and attack kats. He wondered why good intentions always attracted these scum, exploiting them for their gain.

"Razor, he's about to do it!" T-Bone shouted. "You got to take the shot now!"

"Only a few more…" Razor replied softly. His cross-hair finally cleared and aligned with his target. "Subzero missile deployed!"

The missile shot out, zooming ahead and avoiding the plants. It crashed into the glass ceiling and headed straight between Doctor Viper and the plant's opening. Before his mate shifted up, Razor saw the bomb go off, and soon, a large gust of wind spewed upward. Crystal ice shards formed everywhere, breaking and freezing the entire building.

"Bingo!" Razor announced.

"Nice shot, Razor," T-Bone said. Razor could hear him shifting gears, and they were now heading towards the nearest hospital. "Let's drop these love birds off at the hospital. Doctor Viper shouldn't be able to move until the enforcers thaw him out."

"Hope the big guy is alright," Razor mused, shifting his panel to look at the jet's bomb bay. He could see his strapped passengers were okay, apart from the still-bleeding tom. Quickly changing his channel, he clicked to open his mic. "This is Razor. We are approaching Megakat Major Hospital with an injured kat. He's bleeding pretty bad and needs a transfusion."

"Roger. We'll be ready for your arrival," a tom said over the com.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the hospital's landing path. T-Bone turned the jet to hover mode and landed them on it. When they touched down, Razor shifted his seat and jumped to the bomb bay. He punched the button, lowered the ramp to the floor, and saw hospital personnel appearing at the end. Signaling for them to approach, he watched them head up with a stretcher, putting the black-white fur tom on it.

"He's 'B' negative," the young chemist shouted. He stopped, wincing and putting his hands on his knees.

"You injured?" Razor said, getting close and putting a hand behind the orange tom.

The young chemist shook his head, looking sick. "I'm fine. Just the joys of early pregnancy and a bumpy ride."

Razor silences himself. Looking at the tom, he noticed a few hidden features and understood. He gently kneaded the young tom's neck. "I see. Sorry about that. You should follow them and get checked out. The big fellow would love to hear that his kid is okay."

"Melvin… I mean Mel. That's his name. I'm Lou," he said, tapping his knees and standing straight. An unsure look plagued him as he looked down the ramp. He bit his lip and turned to face Razor. "I'm not sure. I mean, it's a long story. Gosh, what should I do?"

Though it seemed like Lou was asking himself, Razor patted Lou's back and guided them down the ramp. "I can't help you when I don't know the story. Plus, it's none of my business. However, think about it and place yourself in two situations where you decide the opposite of each. How does it make you feel if you place yourself in one or the other?"

Lou blinked, looking towards where the medical kats were taking Melvin before looking at the ground. Exhaling, he lowered his ears and nodded. With a small smile, he faced Razor once more. "Have you ever been in a situation where your partner isn't sincere?"

Before Razor could reply, he heard his mate shouting at them.

"Razor, move your tail! Remember, we must do a quick check and get home soon!" T-Bone said, using his thumb to point angrily at the back seat. "Let's hit it."

Letting out a snort, Razor patted Lou's back. "Of course. It frustrates me sometimes, but I let it slide because I love him."

"Him?" Lou said, cocking an eyebrow. He shifted his attention toward both of them before his eyes widened.

Razor slapped himself internally. He smiled and put a finger up before Lou could ask. Thankfully, the orange kat seemed to understand, giving a nod before hurrying towards the door leading to the hospital. With that, Razor hurried and jumped towards the cockpit, landing on his seat and clicking a button to return the ramp up. His mate ascended the Turbo Kat before shifting into its normal flight mode.

"Think my ma is going to kill me after this?" T-Bone said.

"I'm more worried about Burke and Murray," Razor added.

He remembered the utter bullshit excuse they came up with. While Burke seemed to believe it, Murray seemed unconvinced, being the only one to ask why they both needed to help Freya in a ditch somewhere. Some more reasons finally made the munchkin let it be. One long drive and auto-piloted Turbo Kat, they rushed to the scene, changing inside the Turbo Kat and storing their things in the secret compartment. Luckily, they made it in time and saved those two kats from the ugly pod.

Suddenly, a loud tremor was going on, shifting the nearby buildings for a second before stopping.

"The heck was that?" T-Bone shouted, glancing around.

Razor shifted his panels, seeing the seismic activity from where they stopped Doctor Viper. Before he could tell his partner to hurry, he heard a gasp, making him look up to see something from a fairy tale.

Where the building once stood now held interlocked thick green stems that stretched almost a hundred stories tall upward. Above, the closed petal bloomed, opening up and looking like a boutique of flowers. Smaller plants and vines nestled inside them, looking like a private park in each humongous flower. Marigolds acted like a base with roses, dahlias, and other flowers on top. It looked so beautiful, like a forbidden garden.

Razor felt unsure, scanning around for any enemies or if the beast of plants moved. A second passed, then a minute, and finally long enough to know nothing was happening. He looked to the side and saw Commander Feral and Felina standing nearby on the streets with the other enforcers and civilians.

"Hey, T-Bone. Take us down. Maybe they know what happened," Razor said.

"Roger," his partner acknowledged.

Soon, they landed on the open spot on the street, jumping out and hurrying towards the two Ferals. Their former commander paused his orders to glare while Felina approached them with a smile.

"What happened here?" Razor asked, waving his hands towards the plant.

"We were about to secure the frozen popsicle stick when he broke free momentarily and threw chemicals our way," Felina explained. She grimaced and exhaled. "Unfortunately, it seems he got away during the fire. We got out when the building shook, and this sprung out of nowhere."

"Huh? It looks like Megakat City will have a new spot for weddings," T-Bone said, tapping his chin and looking above. He whistled. "It looks nice."

"There won't be any weddings here soon," Feral barked, getting close. He pointed at it. "You two knuckled heads caused this."

"Bite me, Feral," T-Bone snarled, stepping closer and glaring. If we had done nothing, Doctor Viper would have turned the entire city into his personal garden."

Before these two could go at it, Callie's car appeared. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Callie stepped out with her deputy mayor, George Whisk. She looked so amazed at the beautiful sight, taking a moment before she shook her head and approached them. "Commander, what's the situation, and how many fatalities were there?"

"Mayor," Feral said respectfully, nodding his head. "Unfortunately, Doctor Viper's arrival resulted in the death of some civilians. We can't tell how many at the moment. My enforcers and I will work on getting a better picture and letting the next of kin know once we verified it." He exhaled, turning towards where the entrance of the building used to be. "The standard procedure, as always, and Doctor Viper escaped."

With a grim nod, Callie silently conveyed her agreement. Her ears perked, turning towards where enforcers were keeping a barricade. The media already hungrily wanted answers as they pestered the guards. "And I have to do mine. George, can you please handle it for a bit? I'll be there soon."

"Of course," George said, with a hint of concern. He had a square-like face and an oval body that betrayed him, making him look fat despite being fit: white fur, orange spots, and short brown-orange hair. Eager to help, but sometimes Jake thought George needed more work. As he walked towards the media, he gave himself a pep talk. "I got this. I got this."

"He knows we can hear him, right?" T-Bone asked, shaking his head and looking at George. "He looks ready to throw up."

"Like a walking train wreck," Feral added.

"Hush, you two," Callie said, returning their attention to her. "George is good. He might not be great initially, but he shines when he gets going. But enough about my deputy mayor. We got a huge potted plant to deal with."

They discussed what they should do, their voices filled with a cautious agreement that they shouldn't take action until they could confirm it wasn't dangerous. Feral had already called his bio division, and Doctor Konway arrived shortly after with the other enforcer scientist. Knowing they had nothing else to do, the Swat Kats left with the Mayor, thanking them for help and saying she'd call them if anything that needed their skills happened.

During the flight, Razor called Freya to confirm that she was in position. He got a confirmation, though, albeit a grumble one. They skipped the salvage yard and zoomed miles away toward the thick forest near the mountains. Upon arriving at the precise spot, they dropped into the bomb bay and began changing back into their regular civilian clothes. They left the Turbo Kat and headed towards the nearby parked tow truck.

There was a bit of nervousness between them as they were leaving the Turbo Kat here. There's not much they could do since they already played it risky when getting out of the hangar. Hopefully, no kat went deep into the forest today. Jake clicked his mini device, locking and securing the Turbo Kat for extra measure.

Chance drove them out, following the sketchy dirt road until they reached the main road. Once they cleared the forest, they saw Freya standing close to her car. The mud on her and her vehicle got more visible as they got closer. When they stopped, Chance lowered the passenger window, and Freya leaned on it.

"I'm glad you boys are safe," Freya said, looking miserable. She lay her head on the window opening and groaned. "I'm too old to be playing in the mud."

"Sorry about that, mama. Hop in. We'll take care of the rest," Chance said.

It didn't take long for Jake and Chance to tow Freya's car. It hurt to put Freya in the middle of nowhere, especially with the heat coming in already. Plus, Jake felt terrible for his soon-to-be mother-in-law as she was driving her precious car when she got the call from them.

Soon, they were heading home with Freya, asking them for an update on what happened in the city. They talked about it and then spoke of Oliver's first day. That put a smile on the older Furlong, mentioning how Chance cried when he started kindergarten, crying for Mama to return. With a chuckle, Jake found himself alone in amusement, his mate turning crimson and desperately requesting his mother's silence. They kept mainly talking about the kids, with Cale starting strong this year and Conner keeping himself out of trouble. Pops was watching them back at Freya's house.

It took a while, but they were back at the salvage yard. They entered, making their way down the dirt road. Turning around the corner, the big dump truck and garage were coming into view. The setting sun casts a warm, golden light on the behemoth flowers in the distance, creating a stunning highlight against the darkening sky. As they slowly approached and went around the dump truck, another vehicle appeared that wasn't theirs. A familiar she-kat stopped her conversations with the two older McFurs to stare at them as they arrived.

Jake could hear his mate whispering under his breath, "Crud."

Something within Jake tensed up. Seeing Cassandra eyeing them carefully made him wonder if they messed up by leaving Oliver with the McFurs. Before he stepped out, he pinched himself to muster a smile and prepare for whatever Cassandra would say. The tow truck stopped, and he hopped out with the rest, heading toward the three waiting adults.

"Ms. Pawding," Jake said. He reached out for a handshake. "Sorry about not being here. We'd had a bit of trouble to take care of."

Cassandra shook his hand, taking a glance behind him. Her eyes were sharp as ever as she scanned them. With a flat and unemotional response, she said, "It seems so." She nodded toward Chance and Freya.

Jake licked his lips, waving towards the entrance. "Need a glass of water or milk?"

Cassandra shook her head. She had her pad out and tucked it in her bag with her pen. "I'm fine, thank you. I'm heading out already," she said, heading towards her car.

"Really?" Chance snorted, crossing his arms. "Aren't you going to ask us how things are going?"

Cocking an eyebrow, Cassandra paused as she opened the door. "Unnecessary. I've concluded today's visit." She turned to the McFurs and then back at Chance and Jake. "I've gotten much today, thanks to them."

Jake felt nervous, wondering what the two kats said about them. Before they left, he'd been pretty good with Burke as they cleaned the pile, though the big fella seemed unsure and still wary about them. He saw his mate talking to Murray, though there was some awkward silence between the two, mostly. The McFurs could have been bashing their character or saying something negative that would make Cassandra more inclined to look for another family by the end of the year. He felt lightheaded and couldn't decide what to say to save this situation.

"You got some pretty good friends," Cassandra said simply. Without another word, she got in and started her car. As she passed by, she said. "I'll see you guys on the next visit."

"Bye, Ms. Pawding," Burke quickly said before anyone, waving at her with a big goofy grin. He watched her go, lifting his beanie slightly up. "She's pretty."

"Huh? Now you wanna say something?" Murray chimed, slapping his brother's leg. He let out a chuckle. "You couldn't say anything the first ten minutes."

Burke blushed, scratching his neck. "But she's so pretty, and I didn't know what to say. It's your fault for not letting me talk with all your yapping about them two," he huffed, slapping the back of Murray's head.

Murray growled, shifting his hat back to its original position. "Well, next time, speak up!"

Jake was at a loss, watching the two brothers snap at each other. Yet, his curiosity won out, and he cleared his throat. "You two helped us out?"

Murray stopped, glancing at him. He looked uncomfortable before he clicked his tongue and looked up. "It's getting late. Sarah! Get your tail out here. We're heading home before your mama gets mad at us!"

Jake could hear Sarah groaning from the waiting room. The young she-kat appeared from the entrance, bounding towards them. She momentarily halted halfway out of the garage to turn around and yell goodbye to Oliver. An offended Jonathan yelled back to ask if she had forgotten about someone but got a sharp 'no' from Sarah. The little she-kat continued towards Murray, grabbing his paw and following them to the tow truck.

Just as Murray was about to head towards the passenger side, he nodded in Chance's direction. Jake caught his mate nodding back, making him wonder what happened between them. As the dump truck turned on, he faced his mate for answers.

Chance winked. "I'll tell you later. How about you and Mama head inside? I'll clean her car and whip whatever is left on the grill for us," he said, heading towards the tow truck.

Jake shared the same confused look with Freya, but both exhaled and gave up. He would have to wait till later to get answers. As he headed inside, he saw Jonathan watching TV on the waiting room couch. His son was dead asleep beside the white tabby, curled up in a ball. He quickens his steps, heading towards Oliver. Lowering himself, he put his head on his son and purred, letting his emotions and worry flow out.

"Everything okay, Uncle Jake?" Jonathan's concerned voice whispered nearby.

"Yes," Jake whispered, pushing his son closer. Even after facing off against Doctor Viper and his terrifying creatures, the mere sight of Cassandra filled him with a more profound sense of fear than anything he had encountered thus far, no matter how brief the encounter was. "It's just been a long day."

Oliver let out a sleepy groan as he shifted and snuggled closer to Jake.

Lou rubbed his stomach, eyeing the entrance to the hospital and wondering if he should enter. Whenever he musters the courage to go for it, he heads back towards the direction of his car and retries again. At this point, he could bet security would be on him and ask why he acted like a weirdo if the passing eyes were any clue.

It's been a few days since the incident, and so much has happened. The news was filled with inquiry and amazement with Megakat City's new attraction. Lou could bet some wealthy philanthropist would jump on it once the enforcers cleared it. He grimaced, knowing most would glance over the lost lives of his co-workers. In this city, kats had grown numb to the constant trouble or learned to adjust.

With a groan, Lou pushed aside any hesitation and boldly entered the hospital. No matter how much anger consumed him, his mind inevitably wandered to the tomcat every day since the incident. After receiving clearance, he couldn't stay on the first day, but he received news that Melvin was alright and was advised to come back the next day to see him. But he didn't, and he regretted it ever since.

Once he entered the elevator, he punched the number and let it take him to the floor where Melvin was. It didn't take long for him to arrive at the floor and weave through the maze, arriving in the hallway where Mel's room was. The door leading to Melvin's room opened, and a young middle-aged she-kat exited with two teenage boys with the same light coffee fur as her. She seemed so tired and looked as if she cried moments ago. She paused as she walked down the hall, and her eyes widened slightly. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out, so she stared at Lou, almost like she was inspecting him.

Lou watched as the she-kat turned away abruptly, her footsteps echoing down the hall. The two boys glanced at Lou with inquisitive eyes. As they turned the corner, they disappeared from his sight.

Lou had a feeling he knew who she was. Shaking his head, he continued and arrived at the door. Taking one last breath, he knocked and waited for a response. The door opened, but instead of his black and white tom, a smaller one looked at him curiously with thick square glasses. He looked so adorable, like a mini Melvin.

"Oh. Hi there," Lou managed to say.

The little kitten blinked before shifting his head, tapping his ear, and making a cross sign.

"You can't hear?" Lou whispered. He scratched his ear and hummed, trying to remember the small amount of signs he learned in college. Lowering himself to be eye level with the kid, he put his hands up and signed, 'I'm… L-O-U.'

'S-Y-L-V-E-S-T-E-R… F-L-U-F-F,' the kitten signed back.

Lou felt lost as he realized this was Mel's kid. He slapped himself as he should have known, as he did see Mel's wife pass him just moments ago. So many questions came to him, but he couldn't think anymore as his voice cut in.

"Lou?"

Lou looked up to see Melvin dressed in regular clothes. The shoulder had a slight bumpiness where it was pierced, and the edges of the bandages were visible. Mel had a yellow folder tucked under his armpit, with papers neatly tucked inside. "Mel."

Melvin's face expressed so many conflicting emotions, the most prominent being happiness mixed with surprise. "Lou," he whispered.

Just then, Sylvester tugged his dad's pants, getting his attention. Sylvester and Mel signed something. A sheepish smile escaped Melvin as he carefully looked back at Lou.

"We were about to grab something to eat. Maybe a burger," Melvin said. He scratched his neck and pushed his son closer to his side with his other hand. "Do you… want to join us?"

The world around her felt like a blur, moving at an incredible pace. Lou tried to process everything and wondered what was the best thing he could do for himself. That's his go-to method for resolving issues. Unfortunately, his mind was short-circuiting, leaving him unable to form coherent thoughts. Instead of relying on his usual approach, he embraced pure emotion and saw where it would take him. His mouth opened, and the words flowed effortlessly from his lips.

"Yes."