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In Memory of John Dye

*

Hehhey, and hello!

I've been working on this for a while now, and I was considering whether to post this as a huge one-shot or a miniseries, and I have finally opted for a miniseries...maybe best to post it like that, so that I'll get a bit more feedback, and see what you guys think. I've been having a ton of fun writing, that's for sure, and I am most curious to hear how this goes down...I think it can go either way. *chuckle* Consider this a mid-season replacement for The Hockey Hunk, or something. Just having fun with writing, doing the best I do. I'm glad so many people already commented on this, and I hope you'll keep coming back for more!

As always, remember that all votes, faves and watches will help others to find these stories to enjoy as well!

*

After the service was over, the pastor stood by the doors to greet everyone on their way out, Benjamin observed, as a queue slowly formed on the nave of the church. His keen eyes looked around the crowd, men, women, children, everyone dressed in their best, for that one slightly scruffy fur among them...and found him, too, standing uneasy-looking at the front row...just where Benjamin had observed the little row of rich manes before.

"Excuse me...I, excuse me..."

He made his way through the crowd and smiled widely as he saw the lion again, and lifted his paw in a wave.

"Hello, John!" the wolf greeted.

The lion gave him a grumpy, offish look.

"Fancy seeing you here."

"Oh, I heard the bells I had to come, of course!" the wolf smiled. "There was prayer to be had."

The lion shrugged.

"Hope you got enough for the road, too."

The wolf's ears flicked.

"But I am staying...I still have to go to the diner to ask for that job..."

"Good luck with that," the lion snuffled.

"The pastor speaks with so much passion in his heart..." Benjamin mused, "and everyone's reactions...so powerful....and you, hurrying to hear the word..."

"Comes with this," the lion gave his mane a small tug.

It was not difficult to make the connection, and Benjamin's ears perked.

"Oh...oh my...is..."

"Is Pastor John Randall Senior my dad?" the lion snorted. "Do I need to answer that question, really?"

Benjamin glanced over at the robed lion who was busily kissing a baby Doberman's forehead as the little cub was held up to the Pastor by its proudly smiling mother wearing a frilly hat. The resemblance was unquestionable indeed.

"Oh, dear...no wonder you were so keen to come and hear him speak...no wonder you were upset..."

"You've no idea," the lion shook his head.

"Perhaps I do," Benjamin smiled. "I like listening to furs talk about their problems..."

"Well I'm not talking with you...you should clear the aisle...I'm expected to help with cleaning everything up here, like I always did when I was a boy...that includes showing everyone out....remember to say hi to my dad...he loves everyone who loves Jesus..."

Another glance. Now shaking paws with an elderly fox couple.

"It must be very different, growing up as the son of the pastor..."

"It's like being the son of a rock star, really..." the lion sounded sarcastic.

Benjamin frowned. The lion did not sound like someone who had enjoyed his conversation with the Lord. That was a worry for the wolf. Sometimes he hoped that he could hear and feel these fur's thoughts the same way He heard them. It was not a gift given to angels, however, he thought with a little sadness. Perhaps one day Father would find it worthy...before that, he would be doing what he did best.

He'd give compassion and love.

"I better not bother you, then," he smiled. "You must be eager to catch up with your father after being away from home for a long time."

The lion frowned.

"How do you know that I've been away for a long time?"

"You had many bags in your car...not something one would pack for a brief trip away," Ben smiled. "One notices things like this."

"You should go to work for CSI or something."

Benjamin kept on smiling, not sure what the lion meant.

"Well, I'm sure I'll be seeing you around town," Benjamin winked, "hard to forget such a handsome face."

The lion gave the wolf a very peculiar look, just as Benjamin waved goodbye and joined the dwindling queue of furs heading for the doors. Soon he was standing face to face with the tall robed lion, who held out a paw over his head.

"Walk with the peace of Our Lord in your heart, in His Name and his Blood."

"Amen," Benjamin whispered in reply.

The lion's brow quirked.

"You are new," the older male spoke in a low voice, "what is your name, child?"

"I am Benjamin," the wolf smiled, "I just arrived in town...with your son, in fact! He was kind enough to give me a ride!"

The lion's eyes showed surprise.

"Really now?"

"Oh yes," Benjamin smiled, "he was a true answer to my prayers, when I was alone on the road."

"Well that is kind of him," the lion nodded regally, "that is how my son has been raised, of course...love thy neighbor like you love yourself..."

"A very valuable lesson," Benjamin smiled.

"Walk with peace, child," the lion beamed. "I hope to see you in the sermon next Sunday as well."

"I will be there," Benjamin nodded.

"If the same could be said of everyone, indeed..." the lion shook his head softly.

Benjamin did not linger further, as he stepped out into the sunlight, and the fresh air.

*

It was not difficult to locate Annie's Diner, since going down the road from the church, its sign was easily visible, offering a Sunday discount on their "famous coffee and pecan pie". The thought made Benjamin smile, and feel hungry. He hadn't eaten since...well...since he they had been doing that case to help that depressed local radio host find God again. Radio station food wasn't such a treat, though. Maybe some country hospitality and comfort food would be an interesting experience for him, Benjamin smiled, tail flicking about as he walked along the curb. Upon entering the place, it was easy to tell that others had the same thought after church. The little diner was positively packed, chattering furs, clanking utensils, the sipping sounds of coffee. Benjamin smiled again as he made his way to the counter. All the seats were taken for now, but as he approached, a swinging door with a circular window opened behind the service counter, and a busy-looking squirrel entered, carrying at least three plates.

"...madness...total madness..." the squirrel muttered to herself as she busily rounded the counter and entered the main floor..."alright...Jock, here's your pecan pie...here's yours, Alice...and a portion of macaroni and cheese for Rob..."

Benjamin smiled, and looked at the squirrel as she was on her way back.

"Excuse me..."

"Just hold on a sec, honey," the squirrel waved a paw as she rounded behind the counter again and then leaned on the swinging door, "hey, newbie, come out here for a sec, let's see how you deal with the floor, I'll start a new batch of stir fry while I'm at it, alright?"

Benjamin's ears flicked curiously as he watched the pink-uniformed one bellow into the unseen area of the diner. It took only moments before the large form of a bear emerged, clad in a pink uniform similar to the squirrel's, wearing an apron, and brandishing a big kitchen towel in her paws.

"Yes, ma'am," the bear rumbled.

"Oh, and fetch the plates from old Mr Silversmith, and remember to check the flowerpot because he always leaves the tip there, and it's a fifty-fifty share, remember!"

"Yes, ma'am," the bear replied in sotto voice.

"Good job, Carmel!" the squirrel said quickly before she disappeared through the door into what Benjamin now presumed to be the kitchen.

The wolf looked at the bear, and smiled when their eyes met across the floor. Carmel gave him a look he knew well - the subtle recognition, everything they could afford at this phase that they used to refer to as the infiltration during his basic orientation...settling into their routines in their chosen disguises.

"May I order soon?" Benjamin asked the bear just as she was bustling forward, her lips moving with unheard mutterings.

"Wait for your turn, kiddo," the bear replied in her larger-than-life voice and walked straight past. "This place is loaded!"

"I can see that..." Benjamin mused, watching his supervisor move away quickly.

"Just try to find a seat when you can get one!"

He had to wait a whole five minutes before a coyote finished up his coffee and vacated one of the bar stools in front of the counter, upon which Benjamin then planted himself, smiling softly to himself. The swinging door opened once again, and the squirrel appeared with another load of plates.

"Here's your pancakes, Earl!" the squirrel cheered as she placed a plate in front of a moose sitting a little way from Benjamin.

"Thank you, beautiful!"

"Thank you!" the squirrel winked before she waddled along the counter, and then stopped in front of Benjamin.

"What's it for you honey?"

"Hello, I would like to have some coffee and a cheese roll, please," Benjamin smiled, "and I was also wondering if you could help me with something, I was told to come here to ask for a job and I was wondering if you could help me."

The squirrel gave him a surprised look.

"A job, huh?" the bushy tail behind her made an expansive wave.

"I was told there's work to be done here," the wolf continued. "And I was told by the pastor's son to come here to ask for some work."

"Well there ain't anything here, kid, with the new temp Carmel...though not sure how long she's gonna stand it...seems to be all thumbs..." the squirrel snorted.

"So you don't know any jobs?" the wolf sounded disappointed.

"If you're that desperate, go see the mayor," the squirrel retorted. "Maybe there's something to be done."

"Should I go to the town hall, then?" the wolf recalled seeing an official-looking building as they had driven through the small town.

The squirrel let out a hacking laugh.

"On a Sunday?" she waved her russet paw, "who're you kidding, boy? The mayor is of course entertaining her guests at the after church tea in her home. It's a grand day I hear because even Johnny's back! Everyone's talking about it!"

"Johnny..." the wolf repeated, the thought dawning on his mind, "oh, you mean John, the lion, the pastor's son? He is the mayor's son too?"

"You really aren't from around here, kid, aren't ya?"

"Benjamin," the wolf smiled patiently. "I'm Benjamin."

"Well nice to meet you, Benjamin...your order will be ready in a few...if that sloppy-pawed Carmel can manage it, hah!"

"Oh I'm sure!" Benjamin replied.

"You wish," the squirrel grumbled before disappearing through the swinging door.

Benjamin smiled softly to himself and pulled out his wallet from his back pocket. He was never sure how much money he would find there, since Father always made sure that there was just as much as he'd need for the moment to do his job...and to Benjamin's delight, there were at least three hundred dollars in small bills. Enough to support a drifter for a few days between jobs, he thought, with a small smile of thanks.

*

Chiming laughter echoed from downstairs while the Pastor paced his office, paws behind his back, eyes resolutely on the burgundy red carpet and not the younger, thinner lion standing ill at ease by the large mahogany desk.

"A disgrace," the Pastor grunted, paws stomped on the carpet, "an utter disgrace!"

"The weather was bad, dad, there was no way to be here in time for the sermon..."

"Walking in like that to His room..." the lion shook his head, his deep, rich mane waving with the dismissive motion.

"At least I was there," John replied in a low voice. "At least I was there, sitting next to mom..."

"Looking like that..." the lion was still not seeking his son with his eyes.

"I did not have the time to change, dad," John huffed. "I came as quickly as I could."

"There will be talking," the Pastor declared in a sharp growl, "they'll talk about my son who could not respect Our Lord's house...."

"I drove four hundred miles to get here, dad, some of it through a goddamn thunderstorm - "

The elder lion spun around, a finger pointed at his son passionately.

"Do NOT use His name in vain!" the lion spat.

John's neckfurs bristled. His paws tensed against his hips, going almost as far as to curl into fists. His tail seemed tense, too, against the floor.

"I'm sorry, dad."

"You should ask His forgiveness, not mine," the Pastor replied. "It is not for me to decide whether it will be given or not."

"Funny that you say that now..."

"How dare you?!" the Pastor grunted. "Has the college truly corrupted my oldest son so that he no longer respects his kin? Slouching like that, driving that terrible car, picking up hitchhikers..."

"I've just been living my life like I could never live it here, dad."

"There has never been anything else but love for you in this house and you disrespect it with your words and your thoughts!" the Pastor boomed.

"Hush, dad," the lion replied from by the desk, "the women might hear downstairs."

The Pastor's lips made chewing motions as he stared at the younger lion with dark eyes.

"Do not speak up to me..."

"Oh Carmel, when he speaks like that, he does not sound like a father who loves his son, even if he claims to do so," Benjamin whispered to the bear standing next to him on the other side of the room, the wolf and the bear both obscured from earthly view by the gentle golden glow of His secret, now encompassing the angels engaged in their observation.

"Baby, there are many kinds of love between these furs He created, but sometimes they have great difficulty showing it in the right ways," the bear replied, her face impassive.

"Why does he sound so angry with John?" Benjamin asked. "Simply being late for a sermon surely cannot be so serious, even for a Pastor..."

"Oh baby, it all goes much further than that here, " the bear replied softly, "like it so often does...they forget how to love their kin and then they are unable to see their own mistakes..."

"Maybe I should have a long time ago," John grunted.

"I will not have influences of this kind in my house," the Pastor growled at his son. "When your brother comes home next week, he won't be needing to hear any of this."

"So how about you stop arguing with me and we'll have nothing to fear, dad?" the lion snorted.

The Pastor bared his teeth.

"I am simply telling you how to behave in your OWN home, son!"

"And yet you have to yell!"

"YOU are yelling!"

"Oh, Carmel...so much anger..."

"Angry old men...angry young men..." Carmel replied.

"So much pain..."

"And you have only seen a little of it yet, baby..."

"I do NOT yell!"

Knock knock.

Both lions looked almost jumpy, heads turning for the door that then opened to reveal a slim lioness in a flowered dress and still wearing white gloves from the church.

"Oh, John, excuse me, but the new deputy sheriff is downstairs and would like to meet the pastor," the smiling lioness explained.

The Pastor gave the woman a dark look.

"The new deputy? Are you seriously saying that we managed to find someone this quickly after old Payne retired?"

"Oh, it's only on temporary basis for now, but he seems very capable, and Sheriff Cooper is very happy with him. He's having coffee with everyone downstairs!"

The Pastor glared at his son before he turned to face his wife.

"I suppose I have no choice but to come and meet the latest member of our little community..." he turned to look at his son again, "and we'll be talking more soon..."

"Fine," John replied.

"Come on, John, let's not keep the man waiting!"

The couple disappeared through the door, leaving the younger lion to stare at a framed painting of Virgin Mary on the wall.

"Father has a lot for us to do here, baby," Carmel whispered.

"I can see that much," the wolf replied.

Carmel touched the wolf boy's arm and smiled.

"Come on. We must go now. I have a dinner menu to prepare, and you need to find a place to sleep in."

Softly, they faded away.

*

Hehhey, and thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this second chapter in my miniseries, and hope you'll tune in for more! Also remember that all comments, votes, faves and watches will help others to find these stories to enjoy as well!

See you soon!