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29.

The yellow glow from the frosted slit of a window brightened the cell that morning. My arms felt like there were about to fall off. In fact, I would have welcomed the loss of my arms at this point. But at least their pain took my mind off the pain in my ass and stomach.

"You'll feel better soon. You just aren't used to that kind of exertion," Dimitri said.

Was he talking about the push-ups he had me do, or the sex? I guess it applied to both. The sex was worth it. The workout, not so much.

I slept on the bunk again last night, using the tiger as a pillow. And when we woke up, he listened to me whine with a patience only Hash had ever shown me. Mostly it was about not being able to lift my arms, but I also bitched about my life in general. Dimitri grunted in sympathy.

I'd noticed a new bruise on his knuckles. Whatever business had been important enough to interrupt our postcoital relaxation yesterday must have involved a disagreement. I was cautious enough not to bring this up.

At breakfast Dimitri told me to wait at the table while he and Jake got the trays. I used my alone time to consider the problem in my cell. The hidden stash of snacks was becoming a dangerous liability. I had to get them out before Dimitri had a reason to find them. I couldn't ask Jake for help. I had the feeling I was being enough of an imposition on him already. My next closest friend in Cellblock-H was Sanders. I looked down the row of tables.

The lion was sitting with a few seats away with his own group of friends. I checked on Dimitri and Jake. They were still in the slow moving line. Now was probably the best chance I had to test the waters.

I slid along the bench, gritting my teeth at the effort. The felines had begrudgingly accepted my presence at their tables, but I was still thought of as Dimitri's annoying pet. Sanders hadn't noticed me and the lions across the table chose to pretend I wasn't there.

"Sir?" I tapped Sanders on the arm as he finished laughing at a cheetah's tawdry story.

Sanders turned to me. "'Sup, Regal?"

"Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if we could talk later. Like, if you're not busy this evening."

"Sure. We can talk now if it's important."

I glanced at where Dimitri was. He was already at the fruits and vegetables. "It can wait 'til later. Thank you, sir."

"Regal, you really don't need to call me sir," Sanders said with a laugh.

I apologized again and quickly slid back to where I was. Those displays of deferential respect had become a survival mechanism. I'm sure Sanders could not relate, but I would try tone it down when I talked with him.

Dimitri and Jake returned. Dang, Dimitri had Jake carrying two trays. The red fox did not like it when Dimitri made it so obvious that I was his favorite. As Jake placed my tray down I tried to mouth a thank you at him but he was already starting to sulk.

"Wow." I had a mountain of fruit salad and two cinnamon desserts. "Thank you, sir!" It was going to be hard feeling sorry for Jake when I had the best breakfast in the whole prison.

Halfway through my sorted stack of cantaloupe cubes, Dimitri cleared his throat.

"Got a note from Vince. I think I'm going to have you two take the day off."

Jake and I exchanged glances, both coming to the same conclusion as we thanked Dimitri in unison. I was given the note to read anyways, in case there was something Dimitri might find important. I skimmed over the sex acts Jake and I got a reprieve from. Smart move on Dimitri's part, giving us a vacation. Jake didn't look like he'd be able to lay on his back yet, and if a fur wanted anal from me, well, it would have been an unpleasant experience for all involved.

I got to the bottom, reading to a disinterested Dimitri and Jake, who was barely awake at this point, "remember to collect from Clov, if you didn't get to him yesterday. Don't tell Ellie, but Herb is getting out of the infirmary tomorrow and has been blaming the fox for you breaking his-" I stopped and looked up.

"How is that at all fair!" I whined.

"It's ok, pup. I'll talk to Vince today, and if he's not ready to move on the snitch, I'll make sure he has another accident."

My tail swished. "And I can help," I started to lift my arm to show off my still nonexistent muscle, the tightness was still there causing me to wince at the effort. "Fuck it. I can still kick him in the nuts, if you need any help."

The cafeteria seemed to quiet around us at the rarely heard sounds of Dimitri's laughter. I beamed. Maybe I wasn't the strongest fur in here, but I'd like to see anyone else able get that sort of reaction from Dimitri.

The one thing that killed my high was the lack of a note from Hash. I checked all the margins, the back, even rereading it quickly before handing it back to Dimitri, in case I missed some sort of code. Nothing. With an inward sigh, I drowned my sorrows in a pile of honeydew melon.

***

Vince was, in a word, apoplectic when he met us out on the Yard later that day. "The clients, Dimitri! What are you doing to me? I've got two disappointed gazelles and a dingo threatening to do to me what he paid to do to him," he gestured at Jake.

Even with Greg's attempt at intimidation - that worked on me and Jake - Dimitri was unperturbed. "They need the day off. Jake," he snapped his fingers and the red fox meekly scampered to his side. Dimitri turned him around so his back was to Vince, then lifted Jake's coat and shirt.

I couldn't see from where I was, but given my vivid imagination and Vince's blanch, I could imagine a grid of purple and blue whip marks discoloring the red fur everyone was so inexplicably crazy about.

"Fucking hell!" Vince muttered. "I don't care how much extra he pays, Hash, make a note, we're not doing business with that damn hare again."

"No," Jake spun out of Dimitri's loose hold. Becoming the sudden center of attention seemed to rob him of his speech. He looked helpless, his jaw opening but nothing coming out.

I stepped in. Regal to the rescue! "You can't do that to him," I said to Vince.

Greg reached in his pocket and took a step forward, halting at Dimitri's growled words, "back off, Greg."

Vince's enforcer took his hand out of his pocket and took a step back, much to Vince's annoyance.

"He likes it," I said, moving to place myself between them. "I won't pretend to understand why, but it's seriously like the only thing he looks forward too in here. Let him keep having this once a month and I promise I'll take his jobs while he recovers."

Jake nodded in fervent hope.

Vince's ear twitched. "And why exactly, do you need an 'off day,' then?"

Dimitri rumbled, "because I said he does."

My back to the tiger, I casually held up my hands, giving Vince an approximation of Dimitri's length. He rolled his eyes and seemed to understand my point.

"Alright," Vince pinched the bridge of his muzzle, fighting off the beginnings of a headache. "we can work something out. I've got bigger issues we need to talk about anyways."

The one eared wolf looked around for potential eavesdroppers. I guess the prostitution rings were so normal in here that they didn't warrant the discretion of Vince's other enterprises.

"Clov," he said.

"I got him to transfer the funds," Dimitri said dismissively.

"You had to knock out one of teeth to do it," Vince gesticulated. "This is the worst fucking timing. The scalies are already pissed over that raptor that got sent to solitary after you thrashed one of Piter's pack. They stopped using the Pack's bookies. And worse, they're not paying up on the shit they already owe."

"The lizard's problem is with Piter."

Vince's ear twitched again. "You know that, and I know that, but those scaly fucks must not have got the memo."

"What do want me to do about?" Dimitri's patience was running out. "Stop collecting?"

Vince picked at the stub of his missing ear, sheepishly looking at the rest of us for support. "I was kinda thinking you could explain the situation to the scalies in your cellblock. If they stop the boycott, so will the others."

"No."

"I got the ok from the Alphas, and they agree that if you just tal-"

"No."

"You were there! They'd listen to you if you told your side of-"

"Vince, I swear to God-"

The wolf held his hands up in appeasement. "Alright! Fine. Be responsible for a gang war if that's what you want. I'll just leave it out there, that if you have the time, the Pack would really appreciate it, and some sort of a bonus would be in order."

Dimitri growled and stormed off, too angry to address the issue of Herb. Once he was out of earshot, Vince turned to me. "He's your cellmate, see what you can do. Otherwise we go with plan B. Jake tries to explain things tonight," he looked to Jake, "avoid eye contact with the dragons, they might view it as a challenge."

I was shocked. "Wait. Jake outranks me?"

Vince gave a half shrug. "He's been here longer."

That was a blow to my slowly healing ego. "Dimitri will take care of it." I had no way of backing that up, but it sounded better than saying, maybe I can sweet talk him, or I'll see if I can throw enough sex at him. "Why can't you just go over and talk to them right now?"

"Protocol," Vince said. Then he pointed to one of the guard towers, "plus, if they think we're about to start a riot, they'll shoot first and ask questions later."

The activist in me wanted to organize a mass protest where the four major factions march to the center of the Yard for a nonviolent sit-in. But the realist in me called me an idiot. "Ok. I'll talk to him this evening."

"Good luck, Ellie. Try not to get too fucked up. A lot of paying furs would miss you."

"Thanks for the concern," asshole.

With the business taken care of, Hash and me, and Jake the third wheel, were left to ourselves.

Hash grabbed my arm, "what happened yesterday? You had me scared to death. I thought Dimitri noticed the note and, and..."

"It's ok," I put my hand over his. "Dimitri was just teaching me how to fight." Hash's worry turned to confusion. Then more confusion as I tried to explain how that all came about, but his relief that I wasn't in trouble was palpable. His hand never left my arm. It was the most intimate display we could safely have alone in the open.

"I guess that's good news. Just don't go picking fights with everyone now," he teased.

"Only if I need to keep you safe." I loved that coyote. "Hey, how are your racing roaches coming along?"

"Great! I've got everything all set. Now I just need to get Vince's permission, and work out what his cut is, and how much I need to give the guard to turn a blind eye."

Hash told me about the track he can fashion with rolled pages from some magazines. The conversation even managed to draw in Jake. The red fox was particularly interested in how Hash was going to determine odds. The talk of numbers had me glazing over, but for Hash I pretended math and gambling was fascinating.

Before our Yard time ended I told Hash about my lawyer's plan to put me the Green Horizons program. He hesitated, "I think the Pack can get me enrolled in that too. If you want me to."

"Of course! Why would you even need to ask me?" More Hash time was always a plus.

He touched his jacket buttons, snapping and unsnapping them. "It's just that those kinds of programs can get pretty personal. You might not want me distracting you..."

"Hash, if there's one fur in here that I want in my personal life, it's you." I ignored the mock gagging coming from Jake. "Please, if you can be there with me, I want you."

Hash took my hand. "I want you too. I will have Vince get me in, but promise me that you will tell me if my being there makes you uncomfortable."

"You-"

"We'd still have the Yard and church. And anything else I can come up with. Now promise me. I'm not going to stand in the way of you getting out of here early."

I sighed. "Ok. I promise." He mouthed a silent, I love you, and I mouthed it back just as the klaxons sounded an end to our time together.

***

The cell was thick with Dimitri's smell. He must have had quite the workout. I sat quietly on his bunk while he dried himself, waiting for just the right moment.

"Sir?"

Dimitri turned from putting the soap and towel back on his shelf.

"Can we talk? I mean, without you getting upset?"

His eyes narrowed. "What did you do, pet?"

"Nothing! It's nothing I did. I just wanted to talk about what Vince said."

I heard his low growl, but he plopped next to me on his bunk. He took a minute and finally, "go on."

"You know I'm always on your side, so if you still say no, I'll be ok with it. But after you left, Vince said if you weren't going to smooth things over with the scalies, Jake had to try this evening."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "Jake?"

"That's what I thought." I got a little creative, "I asked him why he doesn't go over and talk to the Scalies out on the Yard, but he's such a pussy compared to you, sir. I know you wouldn't let Jake get hurt, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't even make it to the scaly table in the common area unscathed. So..."

That disquieting growl again. "So, my options are to forbid Jake from doing something stupid, and deal with the fit Vince'll throw... Or, fuckin' do it myself." I stayed silent, letting the tiger think. "You see why I like to keep out of everyone's business, pet?"

"Yes, sir. Sorry."

Dimitri reached over, his hand cupped around the back of my neck as his thumb rubbed in small circles at the base of my ear. "It's not your fault, pup. I guess I'll talk to them." He gave a deep sigh. "Remind me what the fuck Vince wanted me to tell the lizards."

***

I did what I could to suggest what Dimitri should say, and how he might want to phrase it without using any casual speciesism, but in the end Dimitri was going to do whatever he wanted. I just hoped any violence would be minimal.

I popped into Jake's cell and told him the good news that Dimitri was going to talk with the scalies. In his own way he was thankful, but I don't think he quite knew how to express it. He just sort of sat there and blinked. I think I was starting to earn his trust.

Jake took advantage of this unexpected continuation of his off day and stayed in his cell to sleep while Dimitri and I went down to the common area. I was pleased to see Sanders at the feline table. He was playing checkers with a lynx that I didn't know.

Dimitri and Sanders exchanged nods. "I don't know how long this is going to take. Try not to get into any trouble while I'm gone." He pointed me towards the felines table and headed off towards the group of scalies.

I looked at the table claimed by the scalies. Two raptors were playing cards with a scaly that looked at least partly draconic. All three of them had a fair share of scarring on the scales I could see. The prison tried to regulate the sharpness of any of the inmates natural armaments, but it was hard to keep up, especially when it came to species whose survival once depended on how fast a missing razor sharp tooth or a broken claw could regrow.

Speaking of teeth, I could see one of the raptors face was swollen, with a dark bruise about the size of the one on Dimitri's knuckles. That must be Clov, assumed. I wonder how Dimitri's meeting was going to go and if Clov would hold a grudge about his tooth. I'm glad he didn't take me with him.

Shaking off my concerns, I cautiously approached Sanders and his companion. The lynx ignored me, focusing on his game, but the lion was much more welcoming.

"Hello again, Regal."

"Hi, si-anders," I caught myself before calling him sir again.

He grinned at my catch and invited me to sit. The lynx grumbled under his breath at my daring to be there, but he knew I was under Dimitri's protection. If I wasn't preoccupied with what I wanted to ask Sanders, I probably would have taken more offense at the way the lynx kept looking at me like I was the one being an asshole.

"Jake's not joining us?" Sanders asked.

"No. He's resting."

Sanders double jumped the lynx's pieces. And as the lynx swore, he turned to me, "not hurt, is he?"

"Um... Not too bad. He said it always takes him a couple of days to recover after a session with Kalvin."

"Damn. And everyone's ok with this?"

I shrugged. "It's not really up to me, but I guess everyone involved is ok."

"I can talk to Kalvin, if that's the issue."

"No! That's not-" I wasn't sure how much Jake would want me talking about it, but this was Sanders. "Dimitri already offered, but Jake says he likes it."

"He likes getting the shit whipped out of him?" He asked incredulously.

The lynx knocked on the table, "get your fucking head in the game." Then he glared at me.

"Pretty sure you lost this one," Sanders said.

I looked at the board. The lynx was down to three pieces, compared to Sanders's seven. The lynx saw this too. He stood up angrily and stormed off. "Fuckin' dog is bad luck," he called back as he entered his cell.

"Don't forget the dessert you owe me tomorrow," he yelled after him. "Don't mind him. He's just a sore loser. So, you said you wanted to talk?"

"Yeah... I'm saving up to buy a bag of chips. I've got two candy bars and some mints, so I'm real close to having enough to trade, but I was wondering if you could keep my stuff in your cell. Just for, like a week? Please?"

Sanders scratched his chin. "Dimitri doesn't have much of a sweet tooth. I don't think you need to worry about him eating you snacks."

I looked away, more than a little embarrassed I even needed to have this conversation. "He doesn't know I have them."

Sanders let out a low whistle. "Going behind Dimitri's back? That's potentially hazardous."

"I know!" I gave Sanders my best puppy dog eyes, the kind that occasionally worked on Dimitri. "It's not for me. I swear it. I'm just trying to get my friend a gift. He's more than a friend actually. And he's in a different cellblock, which really sucks. But he's been so nice to me since I got here. I don't think I would have made it this long without him, and I just want to give him something in return, even if all I can do is get him some spicy chips." I let my ears flatten. "I can pay you for your help. Take one of the candy bars. I'll work extra hard this week and get enough to make the trade by next friday."

Sanders picked up one of the checker pieces and spun it like a coin. I watched it wobble across the table.

"I'll do it. But I'd like something other than a candy bar."

"The mints?" That was the most valuable item I had to trade. It would set me back by two candy bars.

Sanders shook his head.

"I don't have anything else. Unless you mean-"

"No," he waved away the idea of sex. "Information. And a favor to be named latter."

Shit. Everyone told me to avoid owing other furs anything. I should have been more careful, but the thought of how happy Hash would be when I gave him the bag of Volcanic Ultra Hots had me feeling reckless. "W-what sort of information?"

The lion put his hand over the checker piece as it wound down, and leaned close. A glance at the upper cells, "Jake. Does he have the same," he searched for the right word, "arrangement that you have with Dimitri?"

"You mean, does Dimitri consider him his pet?" I felt the warmth in my cheeks, This wasn't an area I felt comfortable talking about.

"Yeah."

"No. Not the same as with me, at least."

"Do you know if Jake's serious with anyone?"

It hit me. Sanders had a thing for the quiet red fox. My earlier concerns for Jake's privacy took a backseat to my sudden interest in playing matchmaker for him. "As far as I know, he's only ever had one boyfriend. It was a one sided kind of love that ended up with Jake getting locked in here."

"Love?" Sanders asked with a hint of distress.

"Yeah, but it's ok. The wolf he was with is dead." I probably shouldn't have smiled at that.

"Jake didn't kill him, did he?"

"What? No. Nonono, Jake was in this unhealthy relationship, but he says it really was love. He never told me how the wolf died, but it must have happened after he was locked up. Since then, I guess he's kept to himself when he can."

Sanders nodded thoughtfully, fiddling with the checker piece. "Thanks, Regal. Do you know who you're going to trade with?"

I shook my head. "C-could you, maybe, recommend someone?"

"I'll buy you the chips next time I do some commissary shopping. You can just drop off whatever you've got and we'll call it even. No sense risking getting more furs involved."

"Thank you, Sanders. You're one of the nicest furs I've ever met." That was true. Even counting before I ended up in prison.

"Don't go spreading that around," he said with a smile.