Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
Thanks again to my Beta Misarae. She pushed this chapter in the direction that it needed to go and dared to follow.
Enjoy.
A brief reminder
At the antique shop, the encased amulet glowed brightly and started to bang itself against its case. It broke free of the case and landed on the floor. Callista ran from the back room after hearing the commotion to see the glowing amulet on the floor instead of its now broken case. She bent down on one knee and passed her paw over the amulet while muttering a spell. Then before her a pool of white smoke appeared. In the center of the smoke, an image of her sleeping granddaughter appeared. She was encased in a pink, magical glow. Callista was taken aback for a brief second, then she reached into the image and stroked her granddaughter's cheek. Callista said to Callie through the image, "Sleep well, my dear Callie. I will be there to help you though this. Your powers are getting stronger and stronger by the day. You are going to have to learn to control them, or they will control you. I will be seeing you sooner than I thought." She brought her paw back through the image, kissed her own paw, and then placed it back on Callie's cheek. Callie responded to Callista's touch by bringing her paw up to touch Callista's, cuddling into Callista's touch just like a kitten. Callista spent the next few hours watching over her granddaughter through the image, smiling the whole time, making sure that nothing disturbed her slumber, or worse, came after her.
Two days passed without Callie emerging from her slumber. Chance was constantly checking on her, neglecting himself in the process. He wanted to be sure he was there when she awoke. He was on the way down to the kitchen to get his twelfth cup of coffee before returning to his post right next to Callie.
Jake saw Chance go into the kitchen from where he stood in the living room. He asked, "Any change?"
"No," Chance said, although rather groggily.
"You need to eat something, buddy. You are not going to do her any good if you end up passing out from lack of sustenance. And don't tell me that the coffee I make contains enough solids to keep you going. I am as worried about her as you are. All four of us have become family over the past few weeks. Go eat something and get some shut eye. I'll keep watch over her and let you know the minute that she wakes up," Jake replied.
Chance dragged himself back into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He saw some leftover salmon from the other morning. He sat at the table with the salmon and his cup of coffee. Chance reluctantly ate everything, but could not stop thinking about what Callie was going through and how he could possibly help her. That was what bothered him the most. Knowing that there was not a thing that he could do to help Callie. All he could do was comfort her. It was driving him mad. After eating, he finally let sleep claim him. He placed his head down on the table and closed his eyes.
Jake went to Chance's bedroom and opened the door. He went in and closed the door behind him. Jake went over to the bed and the sleeping Callie. He looked at her and did not see the glow anymore. He brought his paws up and cupped her left paw between them. Jake gave her paw a gentle squeeze and placed her paw back down and sat down in the chair that Chance had placed right next to the bed. Jake said softly to her once he sat down, "Chance is going crazy with worry down there. He is so madly in love with you that he does not know what to do with himself. He has not left your side for more than five minutes. Please wake up soon, for his sake. I don't know what is going on with these powers that you are developing, but I will figure something out to help you control them." The phone in Jake's pocket started to ring. He picked it up, not wanting to wake Callie. "Hello," Jake said into the phone.
"How is the sleeping princess doing today?" Felina asked.
"She is still out. The glow is gone, though," Jake replied.
"Is that a good sign?" Felina asked.
"I don't know. What I do know is that Chance is a total wreck, and he is going to stay that way until Callie wakens up," Jake said.
"Do I need to come over and kick his tail into shape? You know I will," Felina said.
"Thanks, Lina. I will take you up on that offer if this continues for much longer. I am going to hang up. I don't want to wake Callie. I am watching her while Chance gets some much needed sleep," Jake said.
"I'll be over after my shift ends. You promised me a date tonight, remember? I bought a new dress that I know you will like," Felina said to Jake, purring the last line.
Jake's fur stood on end as Felina said that final sentence. Then he said to her, "I can't wait. See you later." He hung up the phone and resumed his watch.
Callie was dreaming that she was a kitten playing in her yard with her grandmother watching over her from the rear porch of the house. She ran around the yard as any other happy kitten would do. She had her favorite doll in her paw as she ran. Callie could not be happier. Then she tripped over a rock and skinned her knee. Callie started to cry. Her Grandmother saw her fall. She zapped herself over to Callie's side and picked her up in her arms. Then she said, "Are you hurt, little one?" Grandma looked at the crying kitten's skinned knee, then she said, "Oh, that is nothing, my sweet. Watch this." Grandma waved her glowing paw over Callie's knee and healed it instantly. "There now, all better." She kissed Callie on the cheek and wiped Callie's tears away with her paw.
"How did you do that, Grandma?" Callie asked her.
"Magic, my dear. You will be able to do that, too and more, when you are older and the time is right. Would you like to see more?" Grandma said to the kitten.
Callie was beaming with excitement. "Yes. Grandma! More please!" Callie said.
Grandma chuckled at Callie's excitement. She had not seen such a reaction since she was the Queen of the court many, many years ago and entertained all the kittens who visited the castle. She loved doing things like that. She also loved seeing their faces as she performed her magic. Grandma said to Callie, "Ok, my dear. See that flower over in the corner of the yard?"
"Yes, Grandma," Callie replied.
"Watch it closely," Grandma said to the kitten. Then she focused on the flower as her paw glowed. She pointed her finger at the flower and moved her finger in a circle. The flower danced as it followed her movements.
Callie was having the time of her life. She always loved being with her grandmother. Now there was another reason to love her. Unfortunately, being a kitten meant that her energy was in short supply. Callie yawned as she watched her grandmother make the flower dance.
Grandma noticed the yawning kitten. She said, "I guess it is time for your nap, my sweet." Grandma looked around to make sure that no one was watching. Not that anyone could. Her property stretched over 20 acres. She then waved her paws over herself and the tired kitten, and teleported them to Callie's bedroom. She removed Callie's shoes and placed her on the bed. Then she pulled the top sheet up to Callie's neck and tucked the kitten in. Grandma placed a kiss on her forehead and then said, "Enjoy your nap, little one." Then she waved her paw and a guardian black puma cub with white wings appeared out of nowhere with a poof. "You remember this little guy, don't you, Callie?" she said.
Callie threw her arms around the guardian cat and said excitedly, "Persival! How I missed you!
Persival responded with a purr, "I missed you, too, Callie. Now sleep, young one. I will be here when you wake."
"Persival will keep an eye on you while you sleep." Grandma knew that since she was a powerful sorceress, other magic users that used their powers for evil would attempt to use Callie against her. She would not let that happen under any circumstances. Grandma watched Callie drift o ff into a deep slumber, holding Persival close. She then closed the door.
Callie's dream ended and she started to stir. She said, "Grandma, are you still there?"
Jake heard her speak, and asked Callie, "Grandma? You were having a dream, Callie. There is no one here but Chance and myself. How are you feeling? You have been out for two days straight."
"I guess I feel a little better. I will feel better once I get out of this SWAT gear and into something more comfortable," Callie said.
"Chance will be relieved that you are finally awake. He passed out after watching over you for two days straight. He did not leave your side almost the whole time. Felina stopped by your apartment and packed you a bag of stuff that she thought you would need. The shower is just down the hall. I put a clean towel in there for you. The water is nice and hot so be careful. I am going to make you breakfast. I'll have it waiting for you when you come downstairs," Jake said to Callie.
"You are too kind, Jake. Felina is one lucky she-cat to have you," Callie said.
Jake smiled and left the room and closed the door to give her some privacy. He went downstairs to the kitchen and the sleeping Chance. Jake gently shook Chance to wake him from his slumber.
Chance woke up and said, "How long was I out?"
"About two hours. You needed it. Callie is awake. She went to take a shower. She will be down when she is ready," Jake said to Chance as he went to the fridge and took out the eggs, milk, and juice to make Callie a big breakfast.
Chance cleaned up the table and set it for Callie. He was very happy that she was awake.
Callie turned on the water and set the temperature to her liking. She stripped out of her SWAT uniform and got under the water. It felt heavenly to her after being in bed for two days. As she was washing away the past, she remembered her dream about her Grandmother. Then she had a vision of a beautiful she-cat that looked similar to herself dressed in a long pink gown with purple adornments that fell to her feet. It was tight in the bodice and showed her figure perfectly. She also had an amulet around her neck. She looked like a goddess. The she-cat said to Callie, "Meet me at the old antique shop downtown. I will be waiting for you, little one." Then the vision vanished. Callie was stunned. That she-cat had looked and spoken very much like her grandmother had in her dream. Could that dream really have happened? She turned off the water and got out of the shower. Callie dried herself off and got dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-Shirt. Then she went downstairs to the waiting toms.
Chance was the first to see her. He stopped what he was doing and ran over to her, wrapping his arms around her. Chance said, "You had me so worried." Then he released her and led her to the table.
She sat down. Chance went over and grabbed the coffee pot and the juice pitcher from the counter. Then he walked back to the table and poured her a glass of juice and a cup of coffee. Chance said to her, "Jake will have your breakfast out to you in a few minutes. Just sit back and relax."
Callie took a sip of the coffee and placed the cup back in its saucer. Then she asked Chance, "Can you take me to an old antique shop located downtown today?"
Chance was stunned to hear Callie ask that, knowing that he got her engagement ring at an antique shop also located downtown. He asked her, "Why do you want to go there, my love?"
"I had a vision while taking a shower of a beautiful she-cat in a long gown, asking me to go there," Callie replied.
Callie's explanation made Chance nervous, but he did his best not to show it. He knew that the shop owner looked almost identical to Callie. It could not be a coincidence. Could the she-cat in Callie's vision and the shop owner be one in the same? "Sure. As soon as you are up to it, we can go," Chance said.
Jake arrived with her breakfast. He placed a plate of eggs, lox, and toast in front of Callie. He said to her, "Take your time with this. You have been asleep for two days. Your body will need its nourishment, but don't eat too fast. Otherwise, you are going to get sick."
"Thank you, Jake," Callie replied and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You are so sweet," she said as she sat down to eat.
Chance just watched her eat her breakfast. He was just happy that she was awake.
Callie finished her breakfast and placed her utensils on her plate. She got up to clear the plates from the table, but she stopped. She thought to herself, "Let me try something." She concentrated on the dishes in front of her, willing them to float over to the sink. Her paws started to glow and the plate started to float over towards the sink, just as she had planned. The plate softly landed in the sink with a plink. Her paws stopped glowing.
Chance was sitting there watching her with his mouth hanging open. He had no idea Callie could do that. He asked her, "Did you know you could do that?"
With a proud smile on her face as a result of her first conscious attempt at using her powers, Callie replied, "Nope. I just figured that I would try something, and if it didn't work, the worst that could happen was I would have to clean up a broken dish."
Chance got up, placed his arms around Callie, and said to her, "I guess I am going to have to watch what I do around you. You can probably turn me into a frog or worse if I am not careful." He gave her a playful kiss on the nose after he spoke.
"I can think of better things that I can turn you into, or do to you, if you make me mad enough, Chance," she said, kissing him and giving his backside a playful squeeze.
"Not to interrupt you two, but no 'Hanky Panky' in my kitchen. Understood?" Jake said, staring at the two love birds.
Chance looked at Jake as he said, "You are such a Buzz Kill, Jake."
Jake said, "Sorry, but my kitchen is spotless, and it is going to remain that way. Felina will be off duty in about an hour. Why don't we wait for her, and then we all can go to this antique shop together?"
"As much as I love spending time as a group, this is something that I have to do alone with Chance," Callie said to Jake.
"Ok, Callie. Felina and I will be waiting here for you both to return," Jake replied.
"Thanks for understanding, Jake." She went over and gave him a hug after she spoke. Then she said to Chance, "Shall we go meet this she-cat?"
"Just let me grab the keys to the truck, and we will be off," Chance said.
Jake looked at Chance and said to him, "You aren't going to put Callie in the Tow Truck, are you?"
"We don't have another vehicle that is un-related to SWAT. What else am I going to use?" Chance asked Jake.
"Wait out in front of the garage. I'll be right back," Jake said as he ran off.
"What does he have planned, Chance?" Callie asked.
"I don't know, Callie. I guess we will find out together," Chance replied.
The two walked out in front of the garage and waited.
Jake ran to the right side of the garage and took the tarp off of a fully restored 1968 Barracuda. He jumped into the driver seat, placed the key into the ignition, and started the car. It started with a roar.
Chance and Callie heard the roar of the engine coming to life. The two looked at each other, then towards where the roar came from.
Jake placed the car in gear and let out the clutch. He drove the car around to the front of the garage and parked it right in front of Callie and Chance.
Callie placed her paws over her mouth as she stared at the car. Her tail was swishing back and forth in excitement.
Chance was also stunned at the sight of the car. He walked over to it and glided his paw over the deep purple metallic paint. It felt like glass under his paw. Then he looked over at Jake and said over the purr of the engine, "You did this?"
"Yes. You can't take a pretty she-cat out on a date in a dirty tow truck. No she-cat deserves to be treated in such a manner. Consider it an early birthday present," Jake said. He then opened the passenger door for Callie and said to her with a deep bow and a flourish, "Your chariot awaits."
Callie walked over and got into the passenger side of the car. Jake closed the door, while Chance got into the driver's side. The two strapped themselves in as Jake said to Chance, "The engine has yet to be broken in properly. Take it real easy with her."
"Understood, buddy, and thank you," Chance replied as he put the car in gear and drove off. Once out of the yard, he could not help himself, opening the throttle up and leaving a set of tire stripes down the street. He grinned from ear to ear from the sound the motor made as it would up and the tires squealing.
Callie and Chance arrived at the antique shop about fifteen minutes later. Chance got out first and closed his door before walking over to Callie and letting her out. Callie looked at the store and started to feel nervous. Chance wrapped his arm around her, pulled her close, and said to her, "You don't have to do this. We can get back in the car and leave. We can figure out your powers on our own."
"Thanks for the offer, Chance, but no, we can't. This vision came to me for a reason. The way the she-cat spoke to me, I sensed that she means no harm at all. I know it sounds crazy, but I feel as if we've known each other forever, and that I can trust her with anything. I feel that I am going to need her guidance if I am ever going to gain control over these magic powers that developing," Callie said as she and Chance walked over to the door of the store. They opened the door and walked in.
The same bell from before signaled their arrival. The shop owner heard the bell and said to herself, "Let's get the introductions over with, then we can go on to more pleasant matters." She got up from her seat and walked out of the back room to the awaiting couple. She looked at Callie and smiled.
Both Callie and Chance looked around the store and noticed that most of the items that adorned the walls were really old. The shop owner emerged from the back room. Callie heard her arrival and turned to look at her. Callie could not believe what she was seeing. The she-cat she was staring at could easily be her twin, except for the beauty mark on her left cheek. She was even dressed exactly the same as in her vision, long gown, amulet, and all.
The owner spoke to the pair, "Welcome back, Mr. Furlong. It is nice to see you again." Then she turned her attention to Callie, who was fidgeting nervously. She said to Callie, "You have nothing to be nervous about, my sweet granddaughter."
End of Chapter.