Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned By Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
As normal, I write what I think are very emotional scenes and somehow miss the mark I was going for. My Co-Author who has been working (If you can call this work) with me for over a year now knows my shortfalls and manages to massage what I write into something that lets the emotions I try to portray fly off of the page. It still gives me goose bumps as I read her edits and suggestions.
She is getting ready to publish her newest endeavor "Two Plus Two" Please go and read it and if you leave a comment, she will actually reply.
Thank you MisaRae!
Two Enforcer patrol cars arrived on the scene to take charge and establish the chain of events. They proceeded to make their way over to the dead tom lying by the front door, none of them having any idea that Ulysses was on the scene. They noticed the remnants of a female's boot print in the bloody pavement, and started to size up the SWAT females as possibly having something to do with this tom's death.
One of the Enforcers went over to Empress and Caliber and asked, "Is it safe to assume that you ladies had something to do with this?"
Empress broke free from Caliber and replied, "I wanted to know who ordered him to shoot at my friend. I guess a little more forceful than I should have been, but then he bit down on something in his mouth, and he started convulsing and frothing at the mouth. He died soon after."
"Really, are you sure that is what happened?" the Enforcer asked in a not-so-sweet tone.
Caliber placed her paws on her hips and said, "I am not sure I like the way you are talking to my friend, officer. Are you accusing her of lying?"
"Look, lady, all I see is a dead tom and boot prints that match your friend's boots. The way I see it, she was so blind with rage after seeing him shoot her friend that she killed him. So, unless you want to join your friend here in jail and be charged as an accessory to manslaughter, I suggest you back off," the Enforcer said.
Empress overheard the Enforcer's words and immediately felt sick to her stomach. She had done nothing wrong, yet now she was being threatened with being held accountable for killing the tom
Ulysses heard the entire conversation and knew he had to put a stop to it before the situation spiraled out of control and Felina and Callie ended up being arrested. He left Callista, went over to the Enforcer, and said, "I witnessed the entire event, officer, and she had nothing to do with that tom's death. Sure, she may have been a little aggressive with her questioning, but considering that it was her friend who was shot right in front of her, her actions was justified. No judge would convict her of manslaughter."
The officer looked at Empress out of the corner of his eye. She may have looked upset, but he hadn't been born yesterday. However, Commander Feral far outranked him. He bit back a sigh and put on his best neutral expression before saying, "Very well, sir." He then walked over to Empress, who looked like she was going to vomit any second. He then said softly to her, "Don't leave the city. I might have questions for you later." He walked away from her and joined his partner.
That was the last thing Empress needed to hear. Her stomach betrayed her, and she threw up right there in the street.
Caliber went over to her, placed her right arm around Empress' shoulders, and said, "Let's get you home." She walked over to Havoc and Sniper, and then asked, "Can you two get her back to the hangar while Ulysses, Razor, and I deal with these officers?"
Havoc went to Empress' right side and supported her weight with her body, then said, "Da, Sniper and I will make sure that she is taken care of."
Caliber kissed Empress on the cheek and said, "I will be by in a bit to take you home. Don't worry; uncle and I will handle everything." She then made her way back to Ulysses' side.
Another officer witnessed Caliber kissing Empress, so he leaned over to his partner and said, "I had a feeling those two were a little too close, if you get my drift."
Sniper heard every word that the Enforcer officer said, and she was pissed. Normally, she didn't care what anyone said about her sexual orientation. She was proud of herself, and could care less what anyone said or thought. But to hear someone throwing insults at her friends was something she was not going to tolerate. She walked over to the offending officer, looked up at him, and asked, "Do you have a problem with my friends kissing?"
"No, I don't. They just should not do it in public. What lovers do behind closed doors is not my concern," the officer replied.
"You really are an idiot. They are not lovers. Yes, they love each other, but as sisters. Anyone can easily see that. You assumed that because one kissed the other's cheek that they are lovers? Can't a she-cat show her platonic affection for another she-cat around here without being labeled?" Sniper asked.
"How do you know that they are not secretly screwing each other behind your back?" the officer asked.
"They are engaged to marry T-Bone and Razor, you narrow-minded jerk. The only pair of she-cats around here that prefer females over males are myself and my girlfriend. Perhaps you should go back to sensitivity training. Obviously you didn't learn anything the first time around!" Sniper said, and then turned on her heel to walk back to Havoc.
The officer was about to say something in retort when Ulysses got in his face and said, "If you say one more word to her, you are going to be on meter duty for the next year. She is right. You need to go through sensitivity training again. So, if you are not signed up for that class by the end of the shift, consider yourself suspended without pay. Got it?"
The officer was now fuming that the Commander had backed a vigilante over of one of his own. The officer turned tail and went back to his patrol car to call for the coroner to pick up the dead tom.
Callista was still in a state of shock. In all her years, she had never seen someone get shot right before her very eyes.
Angel sensed her queen's distress and went over to Callista. She then placed her left paw on Callista's right shoulder and asked, "Are you alright, my queen?"
Callista focused on the ground at her feet, closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and replied, "No, I am not alright. My family is being threatened by a very powerful but twisted tom, and my newest friend gets shot saving my life. How am I supposed to feel?"
"My queen, I don't know how you are feeling. However, I can imagine that it is not at all pleasant. You must have had a great impact on her in order for her to be compelled to act with such heroism. There are not many who would place themselves in harm's way for another. She must care for you more than you know," Angel said.
"I sort of knew that she was going to be special, but I never expected her to actually risk her life for me," Callista said.
"My queen, your new friend would have been right at home in Megalith. She could have worked right by my side, not only as your protector, but as your friend. In the future, she and her husband are going to be a very large part of your family's lives," Angel said, and smiled at her.
"I certainly hope so, Angel, but it still does not explain something. Why are you here?" Callista asked as the tension left her frame.
Angel removed her paw from Callista and replied, "My lord has ordered me to help Callie's fiancé recover, as well as assist in protecting you. She knows how much you meant to me a long time ago, and also knew that I would not be able to live out my afterlife in peace if something were to happen to you, and I could have done something about it. I guess she was wrong, at least when it comes to the latter. You don't need me here to protect you." Angel looked around at Callista's friends and family before turning her attention back to Callista and continuing, "You have an ever growing circle of friends and family that are more than capable of protecting you. I will complete my task of getting Chance on his feet, and then return to my place by my lord's side. It was good to see you again, my queen. I only wish it was under better circumstances. Farewell." Angel opened her wings and took off into the sky.
Callista watched as Angel flew away, and wondered if she would ever see her again.
Tim and Candice finished their walk and managed to have their little talk. Not without incident, of course. As they walked, a group of younger toms made a few lewd comments about Candice's tail, which she took objection to. Tim was going to teach those toms a lesson, when Candice stopped him and said, "Let me handle this."
She walked over to the group with an extra sway in her hips and tail.
All of the toms were perched on a large rock, and they became speechless as they watched her graceful yet seductive movements.
As she drew closer to the toms, she licked her lips and ran her paws down the sides of her skirt. Once she was in arms reach of the toms, she let out a fierce roar, and then yelled, "That is no way to talk to a she-cat, especially one who has claws and is not afraid to use them." She then bared her claws to the toms and raked her right paw down a tree, shredding the bark as it fell victim to her sharp claws.
The toms all watched Candice's display with a mixture of shock and horror. Once she was done, they fled in all directions, their previously easy target having turned into much more than they could handle.
Candice returned her right arm to her side, retracted her claws, and turned back towards Tim. She started walking back to him and inspected her claws. She said, "Those toms made me mess up my manicure. I will have to get another one tomorrow. I hope you don't mind being seen with a she-cat who is less than perfect?"
Tim could not believe his eyes and ears. Not only could she defend herself without a problem, but she was still gorgeous in his eyes, no matter what her claws looked like. He replied, "Candice, you will always be perfect in my eyes."
Candice blushed ever so slightly at his remark. She brought her right paw up to his face and gave it a very gentle caress as she said, "You really know how to charm a she-cat, don't you? Keep talking to me like that, and I might just have to keep you around."
Tim let out a very soft purr as Candice touched him, and then he replied, "If you keep touching me like that, you won't be able to get rid of me." He then took her paw in his, brought it towards his mouth, and kissed it ever so lightly.
It was now Candice's turn to let out a soft purr, which Tim heard loud and clear. He kissed her paw again in attempt to get her to purr one more time.
Candice was falling in love with him. Every minute she spent with him, was another step down the path towards wanting to spend the rest of her life with him by her side. When he kissed her paw again, her heart jumped in her chest, and her mind whispered that she had better not screw this up. She brought both of their paws down to her side, turned away from him, and hid her face. She was not ready to let her feelings for him be known, and they were written all over her face for anyone to plainly see.
Tim watched her turn away from him and asked, "Candice, did I do something wrong? Please talk to me."
Candice didn't move an inch. She laced her paws in front of her and replied, "Tim, for the first time in my life, I am scared of being with another. Every single touch from you makes my heart race. Hearing your voice makes me smile just a little bit wider, and your kisses? You already know how they affect me. I have dated countless toms in the past, and I mean at least 30. Some I thought were keepers and had the potential to make me happy, while others only wanted me for my aggressive behavior in the sack. None of the toms I have dated make me feel the way that you do, Tim, and that is what scares me the most. We have only known each other for a couple of days, and I can't picture my life without you in it."
Tim's heart was slamming in his chest as he listened to Candice. He was feeling the same way towards her, although he was not as frightened as she claimed she was. He went to her and put his arms around her, drawing her to him, and said, "Candice, I am sorry if I frightened you. That is the last thing I ever want to do. When I first met you at Make Out Point, you were acting like a tiny kitten in a horror house. I only wanted to comfort you and keep you safe. However, when you latched onto me and would not let go, I began feeling real good having you in my arms, and I didn't want to let you go, either. The next morning in your apartment when I first saw you, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was looking at an angel right in front of me. And when we kissed in your office, well, the only thing I wanted to do was claim you for my own, right then and there. Now I may have not have dated countless numbers of she-cats like you have, but you are the only one that has made me purr. You think that you are scared of being with me? Candice, right now I am so nervous, I feel like a teenager with his first crush again. You said that you can't picture your life without me in it? I can't picture my life without you, Candice." Tim pulled her tighter to him as he stirred up every little bit of courage he had in his body. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her hair and body, and then said, "I love you, Candice."
Candice's body went rigid when she heard Tim say that he loved her. She had never had a tom tell her that before, and here was this tom that she had only met a couple of days ago, telling her that he loved her. Candice just knew he was not lying to her at all, and that scared her even more. She wriggled out of his embrace and walked a few feet ahead of him with her head hung low. She then turned to face him and asked, "You.. love.. me? No one has ever told me that they loved me before. Sure, some of the toms I have dated claimed that they loved me in order to get me in bed with them, but not one of them truly loved me. My last relationship went south after I caught the tom I thought I cared deeply about with my so-called best friend in my bed. I thought there was something wrong with me, or that I was not capable of loving anyone. So Tim, what makes you think that you love me?"
Tim did not even have to search for an answer to her question. He instantly replied, "Candice, as I said earlier, from the moment that I saw you, I was intrigued. The first night I spent in your apartment, I could hardly sleep. My mind kept wandering and thinking about how soft your fur was, how good you smelled, and most of all, how great you felt on my arm. The next morning, not only was I infatuated with your body, which rivals any magazine cover model out there, but I became captivated with your mind. You are smart, have a great sense of humor, and know how to speak your mind. Most of all, I love how you can act like a teenager who is curious about the world around her one minute, then become a fierce lioness who won't back down when threatened or protecting her own the next. Candice, I have been looking for a girl like you to spend my life with for years, and now that I have found you, I am not afraid or ashamed to tell you how I feel. I love you, Candice, and I always will."
Candice closed her eyes and thought about what Tim had told her. She thought, "He really does love me. After years of useless relationships, I have finally found someone who loves me!" Tears of happiness fell from her eyes as she quickly spun around and crashed into Tim, throwing her arms around his neck, looking into his eyes, and saying, "I hope you can handle dating a part-lioness. We are very possessive and real aggressive, when we want to be." Her lips crashed into his as she gave him a searing kiss, which he was more than happy to return. Before they both were arrested for being a public nuisance, she pulled back ever so slightly and whispered, "I love you, too."
Tim had never felt so relieved and happy at the same time. He now had a girlfriend that loved him as much as he loved her. He reluctantly backed out of their embrace and started walking away from her.
Candice caught up with him and walked on his left side. As they walked, they talked about their past love lives, and where they went wrong. Before long, it didn't take long for the lack of physical contact to make them yearn for each other's touch. Candice searched for Tim's left paw with her right, while he searched for her right paw with his left. After a few clumsy moments where their fingers grazed against each other, they finally found where they were meant to be, sliding along each other and locking their paws together.
Candice smiled and leaned her head onto Tim's left shoulder and swished her tail in time with their steps. They eventually made their way to the harbor, where they found a restaurant with outdoor seating and a romantic view of the river.
Tim opened the front door for Candice. She entered and made sure that her tail brushed against Tim's leg as she went by, sending a shiver through Tim's body. He then entered the restaurant and closed the door behind him.
They made their way down a plush, red-carpeted hallway to the Hostess' stand, holding each other's paws tightly.
The hostess smiled as they approached and asked, "Welcome to D'Agostino's. Care to have an outside table?"
Candice turned her head to Tim and asked, "Do you want to sit outside?"
Tim turned his head to her and replied, "Whatever you want, my love."
Candice faced the hostess again and said, "You have to excuse him; he can't make a decision without me. Sure, we will take a table outside, and if one is available, we'd like one by the railing so we can look out over the water."
The hostess could not help but let out a light chuckle at Candice's remark. She then grabbed two menus from the holder attached to the left side of the stand, as well as a copy of the wine list. She nestled them into the crook of her left arm and said, "Please follow me." She slid out from behind the hostess' stand and started walking towards the main dining room.
Both Tim and Candice followed the hostess though the dining room and out to the patio. The hostess led them through the maze of tables stationed on the patio and to a table off in the corner with a perfect view of the harbor and the city's skyline. Tim pulled out one of the chairs for Candice and motioned for her to sit.
Candice took her seat, and Tim gently pushed her in. He then took his seat on the opposite side of the table and slid his chair in.
The hostess gave them both their menus and handed Tim the copy of the wine list.
Tim asked Candice, "Do you prefer red or white?"
"White," Candice replied.
Tim looked over at the hostess and replied, "A bottle of the house white, please."
The hostess took the wine list from Tim and said, "Certainly. Your server will be with you shortly. Enjoy your evening." She then walked away.
Once again, the lack of physical contact became too much for them to bear. Tim reached across the table and took Candice's left paw in his right, then gently started stroking it with his fingers. She smiled in return and looked deeply into Tim's eyes.
Tim focused on Candice's beautiful face, but what drew him in was the reflection of the retreating sun-light in her eyes. With the light reflecting in them, they seemed almost magical. Then his gaze traveled down to her lips. The light coating of gloss made him want to lean over the table and capture her lips with his. Tim's body responded to his wants and desires, very favorably.
The server arrived with a silver ice bucket, which contained a tall, green glass bottle. She placed the bucket down on the table, and removed the bottle from the bucket. She opened the bottle and poured a very small amount of wine into Tim's glass before she uprighted the bottle and waited for Tim's approval of the wine.
Tim acted like he knew what he was doing and lifted the glass to his nose, took a sniff, brought the glass down to his mouth and took a sip, then finally lowered the glass to the table and nodded in approval to the server.
The server topped off his glass with the wine, and then filled Candice's. She placed the bottle back into the bucket before walking away.
As soon as she was gone, Tim said, "I had no idea what I was doing. I mimicked what I saw in a movie once. I hope the wine is to your liking?"
Candice took a sip from her glass, and liked the taste of the wine. She placed her glass down before she replied, "I have so much to teach you." She then brought the glass back to her lips, but before she took another sip, she licked her lips, slitted her eyes, and then said, " I am going to enjoy every minute of it, and so will you." Candice took a drink.
Tim had never dated a she-cat that was as aggressive as Candice before. However, he knew he was going to enjoy what she had to teach him, no matter how many times he had to repeat a lesson.
The server returned, smiled and asked, "May I start you with an appetizer?"
Both Tim and Candice were feeling warm, not just from the wine, but from the subtle signals that they both were giving off. Candice replied to the server, "I think that we will start with the main course."
"Of course, miss, but what would you like from the kitchen?" the server asked. She had seen couples come and go before, but she had never seen two cats more obviously or intensely in love. She had a feeling that if she didn't make her question perfectly clear, the she-cat's order would have been her tom-friend on a bed of lettuce.
Candice replied, "I have not had a good piece of halibut in a long time. I'll have an order of that, please."
"Very well, miss. And for you, sir?" the server asked.
"May I have an order of the chicken masala, please?" Tim replied.
"But of course," the server replied. Then she lifted the wine bottle from the ice bucket and refilled their glasses. She placed the bottle back in the bucket before she said, "I will be right back with your order." She then walked away.
Tim asked Candice, "Are we being that obvious that we are in love with each other?"
"I guess, Tim, but I really don't care who knows. I'm finally in a real relationship with a tom who loves me for who I am, and not for what I can do in the bedroom," Candice replied.
"Oh, and what can you do in there that has the toms lining up?" Tim asked, and then took a sip of his wine.
"Wait until we are alone back in my apartment, and you will find out first hand," Candice replied.
Tim almost choked on his wine. He managed to swallow what was in his mouth before he replied, "As much as I would like to find out, I don't want to rush into anything. Can we take this slow? Let's let this relationship build. That way, when we finally do take this relationship to the physical level, the experience will be that much more enjoyable. Ok?"
Once again, Candice was stunned. Every one of the toms that she had dated before had wanted nothing more than her tail. However, Tim had just told her that he not only wanted her, but he wanted to let the relationship build. She placed her wine glass down on the table and reached across to take Tim's paw in hers. Candice then said, "I am willing to play along with that to a point. However, a lioness takes what she wants, when she wants it. So stay on your toes, Tim. You will never know when I might decide to pounce."
Tim nervously smiled back at her. He had never been with a lioness before, but he had heard tales from a buddy of his. Tim remembered one particular night; his roommate came back to their college dorm with his shirt shredded and deep claw marks on his back. He had been dating a tigress, so Tim could only imagine what a lioness would be like.
Candice gave his paw a gentle squeeze and asked, "Is there something wrong, Tim?"
"Nothing really. I was just remembering when my college roommate was dating a tigress. I met her once, and she seemed very nice, but she was not built like a she-cat that you would find in the city. She was bigger, but still had these feminine curves that drew the toms to her," Tim replied and squeezed Candice's paw.
"Tigresses are very similar to lionesses, Tim. Both are very strong, and built for hunting their pray. However, a tigress is ten times more aggressive than a lioness. I will have to take you to meet my grandmother. You will like her, I promise," Candice replied.
"You want me to meet your family? Are you sure, Candice?" Tim asked.
"Remember what I said in my office, Tim? Lionesses are very possessive of their mates. If we didn't love each other, I would have not have suggested that you meet my family, because they are very protective of me and will eat you alive if they sense that you are using me." She took a sip of her wine and continued, "You have nothing to worry about. My grandmother will take one look at you and know that you are in love with me. The rest of the family will fall in line with her and welcome you. I promise."
The server returned, balancing the tray carrying their orders on her left shoulder. She grabbed a tray stand from a nearby table as she strode past, perfectly poised and confident. She set up the stand with one paw while balancing the tray between her shoulder and her left paw. She crouched down and placed the tray of food onto the stand, then righted herself. The server said, "Miss, you had the halibut?" At Candice's nod, the server grabbed the plate of halibut with a white towel and placed it in front of her. "Please be careful; the plate is very hot," she added before taking Tim's order from the tray in the same way and setting it before him. The server gave Tim a friendly smile, which Tim returned. "Enjoy your dinners!" she said, then placed the tray under her right arm and grabbed the stand with her left, before walking away.
Both Candice and Tim started eating their dinners, pausing only to take a drink or feed each other bites of their meals.
By the time dinner was over, the bottle of wine had been drained, and the two newfound lovers were feeling very warm, indeed.
Candice had a very predatory look on her face that could only be one of a lioness on the hunt, and Tim was her prey.
Tim saw the look on her face, and figured that he was going to be the dessert course when they got back to her apartment.
The server arrived back at the table and asked, "Would either one of you like to see the dessert menu?"
Candice took a sip from her water goblet and replied, "No thank you. I am going to need to walk off that dinner if I want to maintain my figure and keep my tom-friend here interested."
The server held back a bout of laughter, but managed to giggle and smile at Candice's comment. She then said, "Very well, I hope you both enjoyed your dinners." She left a billfold on the table with the check for the evening.
Tim reached into his pants and withdrew his wallet. He opened the billfold and quickly scanned the check. He withdrew a few bills, placed them in the billfold, and closed it before tucking his wallet back in his pants pocket. He then stood, walked over to Candice, pulled out her chair, and once she was on her feet, he pushed her chair back in. After that, he extended his paw to her, and she gently placed her paw in his. Tim led her out of the restaurant, and they started walking back to her apartment.
End of Chapter