When Dr. Rudersdorf returned, Ria noticed the bandage on his hand. Jareth noticed it too, and grinned inwardly.

**That is what you get for messing with the Goblin King,** he thought smugly.

"I'm going to give Jay a sedative so I can give him the vaccines," the vet said.

"Do you really think he needs a sedative?" Ria asked.

Dr. Rudersdorf glanced at his injured hand then glared at Jay. "I assure you, he definitely should be sedated."

**Over my very hot body,** Jareth thought.

The vet picked him up and cradled him like Jay was a baby. He put his thumb and index finger on either side of Jay's mouth and forced it open. When Jay's mouth opened, Dr. Rudersdorf popped the pill into his mouth and let go of his head.

Jareth spit the pill onto the floor then jumped out of the vet's arms and hid behind the examination table. **Not the most dignified thing I could do, but I have to get away from that quack.**

Dr. Rudersdorf picked up the pill then picked up Jay again and cradled him in his other arm. He tried the same maneuver, but Jay spit it out again and jumped into Ria's arms.

"Dr. Rudersdorf, I think you should forget about the sedative," she said, trying to hide a smile.

"He needs to be sedated," the vet said. "Just hold him."

He threw the very soggy pill out then got a new one. Dr. Rudersdorf forced Jay's mouth open again then pushed the pill deep into his mouth. The vet held his mouth closed, but Jay yanked his head away. He spit the pill in Dr. Rudersdorf's face then jumped out of Ria's arms, landed on the floor, and jumped onto the counter then on top of the tall cabinet.

"Go, Jay!" Ria said under her breath, grinning widely.

Dr. Rudersdorf decided enough was enough. He pulled a protesting Jay from the top of the cabinet then opened an empty cupboard, stuck Jay in, and closed it so that only Jay's head was sticking out. The vet forced another pill into his mouth.

Jay spit it out and bit Dr. Rudersdorf's nose before jumping onto the counter then onto the floor. Ria picked him up and they watched as the vet grabbed his nose and started swearing.

"I suggest you take him to another vet," Dr. Rudersdorf said when he finally managed to calm down. "One more experienced with feral cats."

"He's not feral, just feisty," Ria defended.

"He's a menace."

**I'll show you a menace,** Jareth thought. He jumped from Ria's arms to the floor then walked over to the vet's very expensive leather shoes. Jareth was about to lift his leg when Ria quickly picked him up again.

"I think we'd better be going," she said. Ria put the carrier back together, then stuck Jay in it, and closed and locked the door. She said good-bye to the vet then they left the animal clinic.

**So is the fate of all who meddle with Jareth the Magnificent,** he thought, grinning to himself. **Mwahahahaha.**