Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
Ok, this device is smarter than I am and I admit it! It knows what I want to type before I do.
New chapter time! Tina is worried about the whole situation with the Diamonds to the point she is asking for help from her family. And wait until you read who pays a visit to Raphael.
MisaRae, You mean the world to me. Let me know you are alright. Big Bro!
That evening after everyone returned home, Tina kissed Gwendlyn and Katerina before excusing herself to make a phone call not only to her father, but to Felina.
Her parent's phone rang a couple of times before their answering machine picked up the call. "You have reached the Cassidy residence, we are very busy enjoying our retirement. If you get what I mean," Gary's voice stated on the message. Followed by Meridyth's yelling at her husband, "You can't say that Gary!" Then there was a scuffle, followed by a beep. "Mom, dad, I need to talk to you, please call me back, if you two can separate yourselves long enough," Tina stated before she called Felina.
Felina was in the middle of cooking dinner for herself and Jake as well as Chance and Callie. She was actually enjoying herself as she prepared the whole chicken, potatoes, and greens. With the skills and techniques Katerina taught her, she found cooking and preparing fresh food quite enjoyable.
Jake entered the kitchen and noticed the large smile of Felina's face as she wielded a large kitchen knife, slicing up a few potatoes and placing them in a square glass baking dish. "You are a natural at this Felina," he stated.
"I'm no where as good as Katerina dear, but thank you. Can you get me the Rosemary from the basket on the counter please?" Felina asked.
Jake walked over to the counter to get the herb Felina asked for. He held up a green leafy object from the small basket of herbs on the counter to silently ask her if this was what she wanted.
Felina looked over her left shoulder at her fiancé who was holding up a thing of Sage. "Nope, try again dear." She said.
Jake put the Sage back into the basket and picked up what appeared to be a plant with long and pointy spikes. "Is this what you wanted?" He asked.
Felina looked over at the spice Jake was holding in his right paw, then answered, "Yes, please wash two stalks and bring it over." Before she ground up some fresh Black Pepper onto the potatoes.
Jake did as he was asked and as he washed the Rosemary, a very pleasant odor hit his nose originating from the herb. "This smells wonderful Felina, how are you going to use it?" He asked as he walked over to his fiancée.
Felina put the knife down in time for the kitten to give her a very healthy kick. She almost fell to the floor from the pain.
Jake was at her side instantly, trying to support her. But in her condition, she was too heavy since she was carrying their kitten. "Chance! I need you in here now!" He bellowed.
The other happy couple were in the living room sitting on the couch. Callie had her legs draped across Chance's lap while he rested his right arm across her thighs. They were smiling at each other as they fed each other some of the appetizers.
Chance was about to lean forward to kiss Callie, when he heard Jake from the kitchen. He lifted Callie's legs from him and said, "I'll be right back, then we can continue where we left off."
Chance ran through the kitchen door and saw Jake trying to lift Felina back to her feet. "Care to give me a paw here?" Jake sarcastically asked.
Of course, Chance was over at Felina's side in an instant and as he helped Jake bring Felina to her feet, he asked, "What happened? Are you alright Felina?'
"I'm fine Chance," Felina answered as they assisted her to her feet. And as she braced her body against the counter, she continued, "Jake's kitten is taking lessons from Felicia and is practicing."
"Wait! My kitten?" Jake asked. "I'm very sure we both had a part in making the kitten Felina."
"Yes we did Jake, However, its educational activities are all your doing!" Felina said.
Chance chuckled at his two best friends. He knew they loved each other almost as much as he loved Callie. "Alright Felina, we can all agree, your kitten is going to inherit your attitude and Jake's mind. Now what happened, without the commentary Felina?"
Felina placed her paws on her expanding abdomen, smiled, and said, "He gave me a very hard kick. I never thought I would be the motherly type of she-cat. But now, with every passing day, I want to hold and nurture him to the best of my abilities."
"Dear, I always knew you were going to be an awesome mother from the day you told me you were pregnant," Jake said as he put his paws over Felina's.
The phone in the kitchen started to ring and Chance went to answer it, instead of ruining the moment for them. He picked up the receiver, brought it to his ear, and answered, "Hello."
"Chance, its Tina. We had a small incident here a few nights ago," Tina said.
Chance's concern for his friend grew inside of his body. "What happened Tina?"
"After we went to bed, one of the Black Diamond's gang members tagged our house. Elizaveta caught him red pawed and took care of the situation the only way she and her squadron knew how."
Chance gulped as he thought, 'That poor guy didn't have a chance.' "What did Elizaveta and her crew do?" He asked.
"I'm not 100% sure, all I do know is Galina has a date with him this Friday evening," Tina answered.
"Wait, what? Galina has a date with a street thug?" Chance asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"That's not what is important now Chance! They are either extremely brave or very stupid coming after Gwendlyn! She is my life Chance! If something were to happen to her, I would not know what I would do!"
"Tina, we all love Gwendlyn like our own, what do you want us to do?" He asked.
"I'm not violent Chance, I only want to scare the crap out of them so they leave my family alone," Tina answered as she looked down the hall to where Gwendlyn was playing with Inna and Nadia.
Callie entered the kitchen, went over to her best friend, and listened to the single side of the conversation her fiancé was having.
"Don't you think that having five mercenaries living in your home is enough to scare off one street gang?" Chance asked.
"I don't think they knew about them, that is until a few nights ago. I'm sure you heard about what happened at Lisa's studio by now. They seem very determined in their task," Tina said as she wiggled her fingers at Gwendlyn.
"I'm with Callie, Felina, and Jake right now. Let me talk to them and we'll come up with something,"
"Thank you Chance, I know this is not something SWAT normally engages in. Katerina and I owe you all for this," Tina said.
"You two owe us nothing. Besides, I want to see the look on their faces when you and Katerina blaze into their stronghold in the TurboKat 2. Go and enjoy your daughter Tina, we'll be talking soon," Chance said then hung up the phone.
"What's going on over at Tina's?" Callie asked.
"Some street gang is giving our sisters and their daughter some problems. I don't know all fo the details," Chance said as he went to his fiancée's side and embraced her.
Felina moved away from the counter, stood in front of Chance, and asked, "I read Mark's report about what went down at Lisa's, I'm actually surprised Tina and Katerina didn't tear into them and Felicia didn't decapitate them. What does she want us to do?"
"She wants SWAT to convince them into leaving Gwendlyn alone," Chance answered.
"Chance, this is not what SWAT does. As much as we care for Tina's family, I'm torn about involving SWAT in this," Jake said.
"Then what does SWAT do then Jake?" Felina asked. "They are our own family. If SWAT doesn't take care of their own, then why do we go out there, protecting strangers?"
"I'm not disagreeing with you Felina. Chance and I started SWAT to protect the city in ways the Enforcers can't. We kept our lives completely separate from those of T-Bone and Razor to keep the ones we cared about out of the line of fire. What do you think will happen when all of SWAT busts into that warehouse on behalf of a little girl who happens to be the daughter of not only two Enforcers, but two of the SWAT Kats? Apparently, they are not as dumb as normal thugs. It won't take long for them to put two and two together and figure out that Tina is Sniper and Katerina is Havoc. Then we might as well flush everything down the toilet because they are going to make damn sure to tell anyone who will listen to them exactly who we are." Jake answered.
"Jake is right, we can't risk being found out," Chance said as he let go of Callie. He stood next to Jake then said, "Therefore, Katerina and Tina sit this one out."
"Do you really think Tina or Katerina are going to sit on the side lines, especially when its their own daughter being threatened?" Felina asked.
"She's right Chance, they are going to spay you as soon as you suggest it," Callie stated.
"What do you want me to do? Let them go out there, blow the place sky high, and have them recognized? Katerina's hair is very unique and don't get me started on how Tina is one of a kind. They are too recognizable, its too much of a risk," Chance said.
"What if they stayed in the jet?" Jake asked.
"You can't be serious Jake?" Chance rebutted.
"Deadly, between their helmets and the canopy of the jet, there is no way their faces can be spotted," Jake answered.
"I'm not liking this at all Jake, we are taking way too big of a risk. All it will take is one glimpse of either of them, then its Good Bye SWAT Kats," Chance said.
"I don't like it either buddy. But if we suggest they stay out of this one, they will probably go out on their own as Havoc and Sniper. We'll be in the same situation either way. Might as well give them the back up they are going to need to convince the Black Diamonds to leave them alone," Jake said.
Chance turned to Callie who was pretty much silent throughout the discussion and asked, "What do you think?"
"The day Nora made Sarah disappear, I was madder than hell. I told everyone in that alley no one fucks with my family. This is no different. Tina, Katerina, and Gwendlyn are our family. If they are in trouble, we should help them in anyway they see fit!" She stated.
"Then its settled. Tomorrow, we'll meet in the hangar and come up with a plan. Dinner will be ready in about forty minutes, can we discuss the modifications I want to make to my jet?" Felina asked.
The sounds of a baby crying was heard through the Samuelson residence. They were trying to put Raphael down in his crib for the first time since they brought him into their home.
Raphael became more and more attached to Mark with every day that passed. Lisa didn't mind since Mark took to fatherhood quite well, plus she didn't have to change Raphael's diaper. However, she silently wished Raphael would bond with her a little more.
"Mark, dear. This isn't working. Please go and get our son," Lisa pleaded.
"Lisa, the book states to let him cry it out. He'll eventually calm down and go to sleep. If I get him, again. He'll never learn to sleep without us," Mark said.
Raphael let out another loud wail which could wake everyone up in a apartment complex. Then Mark's resolve gave way and as he stood from his seat on the couch, he said, "I'm going to get him."
He went upstairs to his son's room, opened the door, and saw Raphael, standing with the help of the crib's walls.
As soon as Raphael noticed his father, he calmed back down and cooed like a happy kitten again.
Mark lifted Raphael out of the crib and cradled him on his arms, then asked, "What's wrong little guy? Your mother and I are trying to relax a little before we head off to bed."
Raphael looked up into his father's eyes, meowed, then fell asleep.
"So much for sleeping alone tonight," Mark said as he left the bedroom and retuned to Lisa.
"I see letting him cry it out worked well for you Mark," she said when she saw Raphael curled up in Mark's arms.
Mark sat back down next to Lisa, turned to face his wife, and asked, "No it didn't work as I expected. But what am I going to do? Let him cry all night long? We will never get any sleep like that."
Lisa reached out and took Raphael from Mark, she cuddled him into her body, and looked down at her son's angelic face. That was when he scrunched up his face as if he was in pain. Lisa took her left index finger, swiped it across Raphael's gums, and discovered Raphael was teething. "No wonder he's crying, the poor thing is cutting teeth." Lisa stated.
"He is?" Mark asked. "Isn't he a little young to be teething already?"
"The adoption agency never told us how old Raphael actually was. He could be old enough to be teething," Lisa said.
Mark got up off of the couch and went into the kitchen. He quickly returned with a small bag of shaved ice and a bottle of clear liquid. He sat back down next to Lisa, put the objects down on the coffee table, and said, "Let me take him Lisa."
Lisa handed Raphael back to Mark and as soon as he had Raphael cradled in his arms, he picked up the bag of ice and gently placed it on the young kitten's mouth. After a few minutes, he picked up the bottle with his right paw, tipped the bottle just enough for him to dip his index finger into the neck of the bottle, and returning the bottle to its place on the table. "Open up Raphael," he sweetly said.
Raphael looked up at his father, then opened his mouth.
Mark swept his index finger over the kitten's gums and withdrew it. "That should make you feel better Raphael."
Raphael smiled at his father before falling fast asleep.
Mark lifted himself from the couch and said, "I'll be right back." Before walking away.
Lisa picked up the bottle and gave it a sniff. She winced and put the bottle back down.
When Mark returned, she asked, "What is in that bottle Mark?"
Mark returned and sat down on the couch next to Lisa again and answered, "Very strong vodka. My mother used the same trick on me and my brothers when we were teething. Works wonders."
Lisa turned her body to face her husband and folded her right leg under her. "I'm not sure I like you giving Raphael alcohol as a teething remedy Mark."
"Lisa, it was only a drop. Just enough to sooth his gums and allow him to sleep comfortably. I prefer the vodka to giving him something artificial," Mark stated.
"I guess," she answered, looking away from Mark. She returned her gaze to him and said, "We have a inspection coming up in a few days. Frankly, I'm nervous since Raphael hasn't bonded with me as much as you. Are they going to think of me as an unfit mother?"
Mark turned to face her and grasped her shoulders. "Don't ever think you are an unfit mother Lisa! We've only had Raphael for a few days. Yes, he bonded with me instantly, but he loves you. I've seen the way he lights up when you hold him and dance around the house with him in your arms. I think its adorable the way you call him your 'Little Prince'. Lisa, they are going to come here and see the wonderful and nurturing home we have created for Raphael."
"I hope so Mark. I love Raphael, I don't know what I'll do if they take him away from us," Lisa said as she rested her head on Mark's left shoulder and wrapped her arms around him.
Mark's body responded and held his beautiful wife. "There is no way they are going to take him away, we might not be the best parents in the world, but we do the best we can. Come on, let's go to bed before Raphael wakes back up in a few hours to be fed. I swear, he eats more than I did at his age. I wonder what the future has planned for him?" He asked.
"Only Callista's mother really knows Mark and I can guarantee she is not going to tell us, that is if we ever see her again," Lisa said as she lifted her head from Mark's shoulder and kissed his cheek.
Mark pulled Lisa into his arms and stood up, carrying her back to their bedroom.
"Mark, what do you think you are doing?" Lisa asked.
"I'm taking my beautiful wife and mother of our kittens back to our bedroom so I can make her purr," he answered as he climbed up the stairs.
A half hour later, they were blissfully asleep in their bed, holding each other tightly.
While Raphael slept soundly in his crib swaddled in a light blue blanket a lone figure materialized. Her long white robe didn't even touch the floor as she slowly drifted towards the crib. She looked down at the sleeping kitten and smiled. She looked around the room and noticed all of the books, toys, a semi-large dresser, and changing table. Everything a parent needs to nurture and care for an infant. She turned back to Raphael again and said, "You be a good boy for your parents." She bent over the side of the crib and kissed Raphael's left cheek, then said, "Mommy loves you." She righted herself and walked over to the dresser. She withdrew a small note from her robe and gently placed it on the dresser where it can easily be seen before she turned back to the crib and said, "Mark, Lisa, My lord and I have made the right decision in having you raise my son. Lisa, you have nothing to fear, you are an excellent mother, and you are going to be an even better grandmother." She quickly disappeared into the night.
End of Chapter