Calvin groaned and set his head down. "Great. That’s just great. What makes you think someone at the studio is involved with this? We’ve always been like family." Obviously feeling hurt, the tiger looked up with an expression Alex readily interpreted, a pain from within. "You know, you really ought to get that cut on your forehead looked at. We are at a doctors office."

"What do ya say, Doc? Can you stitch me up?"

"Well, I don’t usually work on humans, but I guess stitches are stitches. Come over here and sit down."

Alex gave Calvin a scritch behind his ear and a reassuring smile. The stitches were only a minor inconvenience, and he thanked the veterinarian when he was finished, shaking his hand. "You do good work, Doc. Thanks for everything."

"You may not be so appreciative when you get my bill. Now, let’s talk about this amazing animal you have here. Has he always been able to talk? I’ve treated him before, but had no idea he was, uh… Intelligent.

"I really wish you guys wouldn’t talk like I wasn’t here. I can speak for my self you know." Feeling mostly recovered; Calvin leapt from the examination table and walked over to the conversation. "Dr. Hudson, It’s a long story, but I wasn’t always a tiger. I may have the body of a tiger, but my mind is just as sharp as it always was."

The vet scratched his head, looking somewhat confused. "I guess I’ll have to take your word for it, Calvin. It’s not like I can think of any other explanation. You make sure and take it easy for the next day or two, and if you start feeling any worse, don’t hesitate to call me."

"Sure thing, Doc. Can we go home now, Alex. We have some stuff to talk about."

*****

The trip home was a quiet one, not counting the new noises coming from the now damaged van. After entering the house, they sat close together on the couch. Both feeling depressed, they naturally moved closer together, Calvin resting his head in Alex’s lap.

"Do you really think someone from the studio is behind this?" Calvin asked in a hurt voice.

"I don’t know for sure, but I caught a strange look from the guard at the gate; then we got jumped by those two goons. Maybe the cops can get some information out of them, but I’m not holding my breath." Alex stroked the tigers fur as he let out a sigh. "It just seems so hard to believe."

"I know. I really thought we were all friends there."

They sat together like that for over an hour, comforting each other as best they could, but speaking little. The lateness of the hour, and the fact that tomorrow was a workday, gave good reason for going to bed. As usual, they climbed into bed together, Alex wearing only boxer shorts. Soon Alex could feel the rhythmic breathing that he knew meant Calvin was asleep. With Calvin lying on his side, Alex held him even tighter with his arms around the big cat’s neck. The soft fur helped soothe his troubled mind, and sleep followed moments later.

*****

Sunrise came much too soon, and neither wanted to rise from their comfortable bed when the automatic shutters opened right on queue. Alex coughed slightly, and pulled a few strands of fur from his lips. "Calvin? Was I kissing you in my sleep again?"

"I’ll never tell." The tiger chuckled. "So, shall we get up, or be lazy and just lie around for a while?"

"I know cats like to sleep a lot, but my stomach is running on empty. We didn’t have any dinner last night you know. Think I’ll get up and make some breakfast. How about you? Should I cook enough for you, too?"

"That sounds like a proposition I can’t pass up. I am pretty hungry."

"All right, you big furry feline. Let’s get out of bed and see what we have to cook."

Alex got out of bed and threw on a robe while Calvin eased his way down to the kitchen, Alex following soon after. They stood before the refrigerator with its door wide open, staring at several empty shelves, and a half loaf of bread.

"Crap, that’s right. I meant to go shopping yesterday. Guess I kinda forgot, with all the stuff going on. Well, there’s only one thing to do. Why don’t you keep yourself occupied for a while, and I’ll drive over to the market for some chow."

"Okay, you do that. I’ll just take a little catnap while waiting for you to get back."

"Ha ha… Very funny. I’ll try and hurry." Shrag dressed and cleaned up before leaving, taking time to give Calvin a kiss before walking out the door. Calvin went to the living room and turned on the television. Lying down with the remote in front of him, he used a single claw to run through the channels, looking for something worth watching. Settling on the local news, he tried to pay attention, but the mundane droning of the newscaster only made him sleepy. Just as his eyes were starting to close, the doorbell rang. Calvin wondered who could be ringing his doorbell this early, and thought how funny it would be if it turned out to be a couple of Jehovah’s Witness guys. He raised up on his rear feet, and leaned against the door to look through the peephole. He was more than a little surprised to see Jeanette’s smiling face there, and quickly pawed the door lever to open it. She stood there in her Hali costume, the head in her arms. "Why, Jeanette. What brings you out here? Especially dressed like that."

"Well hello to you too. Can I come in?"

"Oh, of course. Hello Jeanette. You really surprised me there. What’s up?"

"I was at the studio, but there was a schedule change. I was all ready for today’s shoot when I was told they wouldn’t need me today. I got a little angry, and just jumped in my car and took off. Didn’t even bother to change into my clothes. Is it okay if I stay here a while? I’ve really missed you since you took that trip overseas."

"Sure, Jeanette, you’re welcome over here any time. I was planning on being lazy, and not going to work till later anyway. I was just watching the news, but it was putting me to sleep. Why don’t you join me in the living room." Calvin led the way with Jeanette following close behind.

"I love your house. It’s so big and beautiful. Kind of like its owner."

Calvin was surprised for the second time that morning, and he fumbled a response. "Uhh… Thanks. Feel free to look around if you like."

"Maybe later. Why don’t we just sit and talk for a while."

"Sure. That sounds good." Calvin sat on the couch, then stretched out a little, leaving room for Jeanette to sit down.

"Would you mind if I take off this costume? It’s getting a little warm."

"By all means, make yourself comfortable."

"Thanks. I really love being Hali, but sometimes it’s nice to just be myself." She found the hidden zipper in the back, and started to climb out of the costume. As the fursuit fell to the ground, a totally nude Jeanette stood there for a brief moment, then sat down close to Calvin. She moved up against him and started to laugh while she stroked his furry body. "What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

Surprise could not begin to describe what Calvin felt. He had always been very fond of her, and thought she was of him. But this, this was certainly something he never thought would happen. "Jeanette. I am very flattered, but… I can’t. I’m already in love with someone, and I won’t be unfaithful. I hope you understand."

She gave a sigh as she backed off. "Yeah, I understand. Is it your roommate, Alex?" I knew you guys lived together, but didn’t think it was that way. Guess I didn’t want to think that. I’m sorry."

"It’s all right, Jeanette. No harm, no foul. I guess I should have been clearer last time I was at the studio. Friends?"

"Friends. I don’t really want to leave, if that’s all right. I meant it when I said I wanted to talk with you. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring any real clothes with me. Do you have a towel I could borrow?"

"Yes, there are some hanging up by the back door to the pool. Just walk through the kitchen. You can’t miss them."

*****

Alex decided to just buy some things for breakfast, instead of doing any major shopping. He had a hungry tiger back at the house, and was very hungry also. Still, it takes a lot of food to feed a hungry cat that large, and he ended up with two bags of groceries. After returning from the store, he noticed a strange car parked in the street in front of the house, and wondered if they had company. "Good thing I bought a lot of food." He said to himself as he parked the van next to his car in the driveway. Alex entered the house from the garage entrance, and set the bags on the kitchen table. As he walked to the living room to tell Calvin he was back, he stopped dead in his tracks with his mouth open, his greeting stuck in his throat. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, Calvin with a naked Jeanette, and her pawing him and laughing. They had their backs to him, and he didn’t feel like making his presence known. Alex returned to the kitchen, and leaned heavily on the table as he caught his breath. The initial shock was starting to wear off, and a flood of mixed feelings began to attack him all at once. The only thing he could think to do was to get out. He left the way he had come, not really thinking, just wanting out of there. He got in his car, leaving the damaged van in the driveway, and drove down the long road that led from the house to the highway. When he got to the highway he stopped by the side of the road, unsure about where to go, unsure about everything in life right now. Alex felt like screaming and crying at the same time, but just didn’t have it in him at the moment. The only thing he had in him at the moment was a painful knot in the center of his chest.

*****

Jeanette stood up and saw the way to the kitchen. When she walked in she saw the two bags of groceries on the table. "You know, you really should put these groceries up before they spoil. Want me to do it for you?"

Calvin's ears stood straight up as his head turned towards the kitchen. "What?" He asked as he quickly padded his way to the kitchen. Seeing the bags of groceries, his eyes and head dropped. "Oh shit…"

"What’s the matter, Calvin? Did I do something wrong?" Jeanette said as she found a towel, and wrapped it around herself.

"Alex went to the store. He must have come back a little while ago."

"And saw me… Oh no. I feel just awful. This is all my fault. I swear, Calvin, I didn’t know you guys were in love. What are we going to do?"

"I don’t know. Alex’s a pretty emotional guy. I bet he’s really freaking out right now. We’ve got to find him, and explain what happened before he does something stupid." Calvin looked at Jeanette, and could tell she felt lower than pond scum. "Don’t feel too bad, Jeanette. You didn’t know."

"Thanks, but I still feel like shit. I have to tell him it was all my fault. That I was the one who came on to you."

"That would probably help a lot, but first we have to find him." Calvin sat on his haunches, trying to think of what to do. "Hadn’t you better be getting back to the studio so you can change out of your Hali suit and get back into your street clothes? Maybe you could give me a ride. Alex might show up there."

"Okay. Just let me get dressed, and I’ll drive us there."

*****

After about fifteen minutes of sitting in his car, staring at the highway with his motor off, Alex decided to drive into town. Los Angeles was a big city, and he felt like getting lost at the moment. Turning left on the highway, he started driving towards the city. Once he got into the heart of the city, he started looking for some place he could sit and think. The thought of hitting a bar entered his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Alcohol was not an answer, but the numbness was tempting, even if it was still morning. Alex kept driving, even though he had left the city behind. Eventually he approached the ocean, and figured it was time to find a place to stop. Seeing a rest stop ahead, he pulled in and killed the engine. A short walk later, he found a large pine tree with a carpet of fallen pine needles under it. With his back against the tree, Alex pulled out his pocketknife. Finding a fallen piece of branch nearby, he opened his knife and started whittling. He wasn’t trying to carve anything, just something to occupy his hands and mind. When the branch was nothing more than a two-inch piece of shredded wood, he threw it at the closest thing around, another tree. He folded his knife and returned it to his pocket, then just sat with his legs pulled up, his arms crossed over his knees with his head resting on them. A strong breeze blew through the treetops, loosening a pinecone high in the branches of the tree Alex was sitting under. It hit him square on the head. He grabbed the pinecone as he scrambled to his feet, and hurled it with all his strength. "GOD DAMN IT!!!" He yelled for all he was worth. Breathing hard, he fell to his knees and cried.

*****

They decided to leave Jeanette’s sports car at the house, and take the van to the studio for obvious reasons. Once there, Jeanette went off to change, and Calvin walked about seeing who was around. Most of the cast and crew were there, and he soon found Charlie. "Hey, Charlie. You seen Alex around today?"

"Nope. Why, you loose him or something?" Charlie chuckled.

"Not funny, Charlie. Something happened. Something serious. If you do happen to see him anywhere, please tell him I need to talk with him."

"Sure thing, boss. Oh, while you’re here, I was wondering if we could go over some editing later. Say around six o’clock, when things wind down around here?"

"I’ll try, but I may be busy." Calvin sighed, knowing he needed to take care of business. A lot of people were relying on him. "Okay, Charlie. Six o’clock." The depressed looking tiger walked off, looking in all directions, hoping to see Alex somewhere on the lot, but not expecting to since Alex’s car wasn’t in the parking area. He asked everyone he came across, but without results.

Jeanette came running up, now dressed in a colorful blouse and pants. "Is he here? Did you find him?"

"Fraid not. No one’s seen or heard from him that I can find."

Jeanette knelt on one knee and threw her arms around Calvin's neck. "Don’t worry, we’ll find him. Let’s start driving around. Maybe we will spot his car."

"Yeah, your probably right. Let’s get out of here."

They drove around the city for hours, trying to cover every street there was. They used nearly a full tank of gas, and filled it again before giving up and returning to the studio. The hour was late, and Calvin remembered his promise to Charlie. "I have to see Charlie for a while. Think you can hang out for a little while, then give me a ride home? Maybe Alex will be there, and you still need to pick up your car." Jeanette agreed, and they walked into the studio together. As was usual for Charlie, he was there after the rest of the crew had gone home, waiting by the door to the editing room. "I’m here, Charlie. What have you got to show me?"

"Right this way, boss." He said as he opened the door for Calvin.

As Calvin walked through the door, Charlie shoved a syringe into his rump and quickly closed and locked the door. Jeanette tried to stop him, but Charlie’s strength was much more than hers and he punched her squarely in the jaw. She fell instantly, limp and unconscious. Then he leaned against the only door to the editing room, waiting for the drug to take effect. Calvin was confused at first, but became enraged seconds later as he realized what was going on. "Charlie, you son of a bitch! Open this fucking door!" He yelled at the door. The conventional doorknob made it difficult for his paws to turn, but he was sure it was locked anyway. Calvin threw his weight against the door, but the heavy metal-reinforced door wouldn’t budge. Kindly old Charlie had planned this well.

*****

Alex had long since cried himself out, and was thinking more with his head than his heart now. He knew Calvin loved him. That was the main thing. Calvin and Jeanette had been friends for a while. So she wanted to get a little more intimate with him. It wasn’t as if they were screwing, he thought. The image of them together, Jeanette naked, came back to him, and he had to fight off the feelings that followed. "The hell with this. Nothing’s going to get settled if I don’t talk with him." The drive back to town gave Alex a little more time to think, and he remembered some scripts he was supposed to pick up earlier that day. With the studio only a little out of the way, he decided to stop and pick up the package. Using his key card to get through the main gate, he drove to his usual parking place. As he pulled into his space, he saw Charlie just closing the rear door to his van. "Hiya, Charlie. If you’re leaving, there must not be anyone else here."

"Yeah, everybody’s already gone. I’m just packing it in myself."

"Okay, I’m just going to pick up a script I was supposed to get earlier. You seen Calvin around?"

"Not since this morning. He and Jeanette were here looking for you."

"Oh. All right, see you later, Charlie. I’ll lock up when I’m done." Alex walked into the studio, and turned on the lights. Almost immediately he saw Jeanette’s body lying on the other side of the building. He ran over and knelt down beside her, checking her neck for a pulse. She stirred at his touch, and started to struggle. Once she realized it was Alex, she tried to sit up, but only managed to prop herself up on her elbows.

"It was Charlie. He did it."

"Did what? What happened?"

"Calvin. I think he took Calvin."

"Shit." Leaving Jeanette on the floor, Alex ran back to his car. His hands shook with anger and fear as he fumbled for the proper key to unlock his door. Once inside, he started his motor, just as Jeanette came stumbling out of the studio door.

"Wait! I’m coming too." She climbed into the car, and Alex burned rubber as he sped towards the main gate. From across the lot, he could see Charlie’s van just clearing the gate, and the arm going down. Alex’s car crossed the lot in seconds, and he slowed just enough to make the turn onto the street in front of the studio complex, crashing through the barrier arm. The van was still in sight, but more than a block away with three cars between them.

"Alex. I need to tell you about Calvin and I."

"Not now, Jeanette. Just shut up and hold on."

Charlie must have either known he was being followed, or that he soon would be chased after, because he was paying little attention to traffic laws. His van sped past two cars, weaving radically between lanes along the four-lane boulevard. Alex was gaining on the van, but his thoughts of Calvin's safety kept him from just ramming the van or forcing it into a collision. Where were the cops when you need them? Alex thought to himself. If I can just stick with him, maybe one will show up and call it in. The distance continued to close between the two vehicles until they were side by side, Alex’s car on the left of the van. Jeanette looked at Charlie with flames in her eyes, and was surprised to see how desperate he appeared. She yelled at him to pull over, mostly out of anger because she knew that surely would not happen. They were nearly out of the city limits, and Alex’s hopes of being seen by a policeman were fading. Deciding to take more direct action, Alex out-accelerated the van, and locked his brakes in a slide that put his car sideways in front of Charlie. The van stopped before hitting Alex’s car, but Charlie was not ready to give up just yet. He threw his transmission into reverse and floored it, backing straight into a patrol car that had just pulled up behind him.

Alex jumped out of his car, and ran to the driver’s side of the van. He yanked open the door and punched Charlie’s face as hard as he could. The limited space between the open door and the body of the van did not allow him to put his weight into the punch, but it busted Charlie’s nose, and blood flowed freely from it. "What the hell are you doing!? It was you all along, you bastard. Those other two guys were hired by you. Why!? Why are you trying to kidnap Calvin?"

The stunned policeman was now getting out of his car and approaching the scene. He grabbed Alex and pushed him away from Charlie. "I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m going to get some answers right now."

Thinking fast, Alex told the officer the only thing that he thought would make sense.
"This man just stole an extremely valuable animal from the Zeitgeist Studio. I found out just in time and was trying to stop him."

The officer looked at Charlie suspiciously. "You sure looked like you were trying to get away when you slammed into my car. What do you have to say?"

Charlie spoke through his hands as he held his bleeding nose. "I work for the studio, officer. I was just taking this tiger to the vet when this guy started chasing me. I thought he was trying to steal it."

Jeanette walked up with an angry scowl on her face. "He’s lying officer. That man attacked me and drugged that tiger before stealing him. See what he did to my face?" She said pointing to the bruise on her face. "I want him arrested." She looked at Charlie and asked. "Why, Charlie? Why were you stealing Calvin?"

Knowing he was cold busted, Charlie dropped the façade. "Money, why else? There’s a guy in Southern Mexico that told me he’d pay a million bucks for Calvin. I told him about how intelligent he is, and he wanted to hunt him. He’s tired of hunting jaguars, and wants something more challenging."

Jeanette spit in his face. "You sick bastard. How could you do that to a friend?"

Alex had gone to the back of the van while the others were talking, and climbed in back with Calvin. The tiger was still unconscious, and appeared to have sustained no injuries from the ordeal. "Oh, Calvin." Was all he could say, and wrapped his arms around the tiger’s neck.

The policeman was quite satisfied that Charlie was guilty of several crimes, and had him in handcuffs. It took a while to straighten everything out, and Jeanette drove Alex’s car back to the studio to retrieve Calvin's van. A tow truck and another patrol car came to take away Charlie and his van. By the time Jeanette came back, Calvin was regaining consciousness. He was soon able to sit up and speak. "I think I’m developing a tolerance for tranquilizers. Alex, it’s you. I’ve been worried about you lately. Are you all right?"

"Let’s not worry about me right now. How are you feeling? Should we take you back to see Dr. Hudson again?"

"No, get me home. I just want to go home."

*****

Jeanette and Alex helped Calvin into his van, and made sure he was comfortable before driving home. Jeanette was obviously tense during the drive, but remained quiet. Calvin dozed during the ride, but woke up when they stopped in the driveway. Escorted on either side, Calvin walked tiredly into the house. "I could use a drink. We have any milk?"

Alex reached inside one of the grocery bags sitting on the kitchen table and pulled out a gallon container of milk, holding it up. "Sorry it’s not cold. I didn’t put the groceries away when I got back from the store."

A wave of tension moved over the room like darkness covering the waters from a summer squall. "Aw, screw the milk. Alex, we need to talk." Calvin looked at Jeanette. "All three of us. Let’s go into the living room."

After Calvin walked from the kitchen, Alex gestured with his hand for Jeanette to follow. Calvin was sitting on the floor in front of the couch when Alex walked in, and he and Jeanette took seats at opposite ends of the couch. Calvin looked from one to the other, then cleared his throat before talking. "Alex, I have a pretty good idea what you saw when you got back from the store this morning."

Alex’s stomach tightened as he prepared for the worse. "Yeah, I saw you two. Ya’ll were… You know."

The tiger nodded his large head. "Alex, you know I love you, but I think Jeanette needs to tell you something right now."

Looking over at the fidgeting Jeanette, Alex waited for her to speak. She tried to lick her lips, but her mouth was dry from nervousness. "I’m really sorry, Alex. I did something very foolish, and I feel just terrible. I made a play for Calvin. That’s probably what you saw when you came in. Honest. I didn’t know you guys were lovers. I just thought you were roommates. Don’t blame Calvin, he told me right away that he was off limits, but I guess you missed that part."

The news came as a combination of surprise and relief to Alex, but he didn’t hesitate to move from the couch to the floor and give Calvin a very tight embrace. "Damn, I should have known it was something like that. I should have trusted you. I love you so much, Calvin."

"It’s okay, Alex. I can imagine how it must have looked."

Alex stood up and walked over to Jeanette, holding out his hand. She accepted it as he neared, but seemed apprehensive. "It’s all right, Jeanette, you didn’t know. But, if you ever try to steal my man, eh, tiger again…" He chuckled as she started to smile at him.

Jeanette stood up and gave Alex a hug. "I promise. Right now I think I’d better be getting along. I have a feeling you both have some things to talk about. Good thing my car’s still here." She scratched Calvin's head as she walked by him, and he purposely let out a short purr. "See you guys at work." She said as she walked out the door.

Alex looked down at Calvin. "I don’t know about you, but I haven’t eaten anything all day. How about that breakfast I was going to make before this whole mess started?"

"Sounds great. I haven’t had a bite all day. Though I felt like taking a bite out of Charlie. Did he tell you why he wanted to kidnap me?"

"Yeah, and you aren’t gonna believe this."

*****

Alex explained Charlie’s motive, and about the mysterious sick hunter from Mexico while he cooked a huge breakfast type meal. The hunter was still out there, and that was a potential problem, but they both put it out of their minds for the time being. Later that night, they showed each other how much they truly loved each other, and slept together in a warm comfortable embrace.

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