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Xander towed Neal behind him. "Why are you so mean, Oliver looked super stressed I

could have helped... Pence should have given me a pill for him too," Neal said."Wait what pill?" Xander snapped."Just a couple sedatives, or three," Neal said

pulling himself away from Xander to Pirouette still moving to the stairs."A sedative when did he give you a sedative and why

didn't he tell me?" Xander asked."Momma Xander worries too much, and cause it's bad

to choke someone... oh yeah I was supposed to apologize," Neal said then

tried a leap of some kind shaking the hall."I wonder if he'd feel it if he broke something

right now?" Xander thought."So are you going to apologize?" Xander asked."For what?" Neal asked. Neal took Xander's paw as he skipped next to Xander with

the same dopey grin plastered on his face he had had for Oliver."Oh nothing... I'm going to kill Pence," Xander

said quietly then louder asked, "So when did he give you the sedatives and

do you feel better?""He gave me them when you went pee... Tiger pee,

ooh! Water sports, let's go back!" Neal said giddily then he turned

around."Nope nope, Fred wants you to come to bed," Xander

said catching Neal's arm."You're right I should cuddle him he's a good

ram," Neal said.On the way back to Fred and Neal's place Xander learned

all the best ways to cuddle Fred and how to order leather gear online getting

it in your actual size."That's great Neal, I'm glad they do custom

orders," Xander said when he got Neal inside. Neal headed to his bedroom

and Xander plopped down on the couch but just for a moment he still needed

too-."Xander... Xander, do you need coffee," Fred said

to him shaking his shoulder."What where?... oh, crap I was going to Sean's,"

Xander said, then asked, "wait what time is it?""It's a bit after four," Fred said, "So

Neal woke me up, just to tell me; he likes sedatives, that he choked you, that

he wants a three-way with a hot tiger, and that you're on the couch... then he

passed out.""Well I got him to open up about the conversion

therapy stuff... everything else is the sedatives I hope," Xander said

rubbing his muzzle."So like, I said coffee? Well or you can crash here

I can get you blankets," Fred said.Xander checked find a friend then thought about how

sleepy he was, "yeah can I just crash here, Sean's at home.""So Sean's ok, I was busy with the legal briefs and

haven't heard anything?" Fred asked."Yeah well Sean hit his dad about the conversion

therapy and Neal Choked me so Millers-O'Connells Zero conversion camp scars

two," Xander said."If he hit his dad I guess he is fine... uhm, you're

not planning on sueing are you?" Fred asked, "cause I have enough on

my plate.""Oh no, I botched that chance by admitting I kinda

provoked him into it before someone... yeah, he would testify we were both

idiots," Xander said."Ah yes, Pence," Fred said."He sure drugged Neal fast, I was only in the

bathroom a minute.""Yeah that little guy is fast," Fred said,

"I'll grab those blankets.""So if I can ask, how is everything looking for

Ashley, and Rachel?" Xander asked."Really good, Rachel's brother being the biological

father and Ashley the mother is helping but Mr. Miller requesting the case be

dropped went a long way as well... he may be forced into retirement for

it," Fred said."What did he say?" Xander asked."He wrote a letter to the judge as Male Alpha of the

Northern convention, that if a single mother can raise a child, what business

of the pack is it if there are two moms. He then said my family and our pack

friends raised all our children together and we are all better for it,"

Fred said."Oh Alpha, that's amazing, can I have a copy, I want

to show my dad I think it would help them patch things up?" Xander asked."It's in the case... but yeah I'll text you a copy,

and Xander thank you for getting Neal to open up and still watching out for him

after..." Fred said gesturing at his throat."I'm just glad I can help," Xander said

snuggling into the blanket.Fred leaned down and kissed Xander's forehead,

"everything will work out.""Thanks Fred," Xander said. Then they both went

to sleep.In what merely felt like minutes the morning sun was

shining in on Xander while his phone buzzed by his head.Xander yawned glanced at the time, eight forty, and

accepted the call, "morning Paul.""Hey, you didn't come home, is Sean ok?" Paul asked."Yeah he is home sleeping, I think," Xander said

then stretched and rubbed his eyes."You think... what does that mean?" Paul asked."Well he hit his dad then left and I had to watch

Neal after Pence drugged him, one sec I'm going to make some coffee," Xander

said.Xander loved Fred and Neal's espresso machine, he ground

the beans and set the milk for steaming. Xander headed to the bathroom to avoid

the shrieks and hisses the machine would make. He peed and heard it working

away in the other room.He poured the cream in the cup with the coffee and

relaxed at the smell. Then got back on the phone, "I'm back.""You're a turd," Paul said."What!" Xander said, "What did I do?""You just leave the call after saying all

that," Paul growled."Well you woke me up I needed to pee," Xander said."And a coffee?" Paul said."Yes that was crucial," Xander said, "I

don't own an espresso maker.""Fine fine, so Sean hit his dad and why was Neal

drugged?" Paul asked."Oh he tried to choke me out," Xander said then

checked that he had everything. There was silence from the line, "Paul did

I lose you?""No I was waiting for you to continue," Paul said."Continue what?" Xander asked while he hunted

through the cushions for his keys. The line was silent again."Hello? Paul... oooh found um," Xander said."Fucking dogs!" Paul growled."What's wrong?" Xander asked."Tell me the whole story or where you are so I can

come strangle you myself," Paul said."Someone's grouchy. So, well let's see... it all

comes down to that camp Sean was sent to, Neal was sent there too. I made him

talk about it and he didn't want too, and while we were trying to get Neal less

hysterical after he kinda choked me, Sean yelled at his mom and dad about it,

hit his dad when papa Miller tried to get him to stay at the hospital... oh and

I didn't know Neal was drugged that happened while I was in the bathroom, then

he tried having sex with Oliver, so I took him home and passed out on Fred's

couch," Xander said hardly taking the time to breathe.Paul sighed, then said, "I'm starting to think

you're more high maintenance than you look.""What do you mean I was just being there for my

friends," Xander said."Maybe we have different techniques and strategies

cause I hardly ever get assaulted by my friends, you know, for being there for

them," Paul said, "And your explanation sucked, did Sean choke you or

Neal?""Neal did, and aren't most of your friends

women?" Xander asked."Maybe...""So they just crush you emotionally," Xander said."That's sexist," Paul said."But statistically accurate based on gendered

conflict strategies," Xander said."For what species?" Paul asked."Most of them," Xander said."Fine... you're not allowed to be both dumb and

smart, pick one and stick to it," Paul said."What's that supposed to mean?" Xander asked."Oh nothing, just wishful thinking for consistency

in my life," Paul said."Try Metamucil," Xander said."Oh haha, are you gonna make it to the baby shower

brunch," Paul asked. "It's at ten

thirty right? I should be able to make it. I'll head out right after food and a

shower, this is for your coworker, yeah?" Xander asked."Yeah see you there," Paul said.Xander peeked into the fridge to see what he could eat.

Neal startled Xander from behind with Xander's head still in the fridge saying,

"I'm sorry... for last night and everything.""Yeah it's ok man," Xander said."No it's not ok, I tried to hurt you," Neal said."You didn't, well nothing more than a bruise

anyway," Xander said."It was like a switch flipped and suddenly I wanted

to fuck you and hurt you. Like us yelling and being angry just got sexy

somehow," Neal said.Xander's hackles rose knowing it was just the two of them

at the house."Like I said, I'm sorry Xander," Neal said

after a while."I forgive you... but what's good for

breakfast?" Xander, "It's all looks like fish or veg in there.""This is an otter and ram's house, it is mostly

grains and seafood," Neal said."So I can expect oatmeal with Cod?" Xander asked.Neal opened his maw, and stood there."Please tell me you're not considering that?" Xander

asked."For you, no, but I might try that," Neal said."Bleh, no thanks.""What's wrong with cod?" Neal asked."Nothing it's all those unnecessary grains," Xander

said."Well I have some I can't believe it's not pork

sausages in the freezer neither Fred nor I liked them," Neal said."Sweet I love the I can't Believe brand," Xander

said."So cod oatmeal for me and utter secretion protein

sausage for you," Neal said."You make it sound horrible," Xander said."How we get our food is horrible, but we can't really

change that, anyway... I remember while I was loopy that Sean hit his

dad," Neal said then plopped three sausages in a pan on the stovetop."Yeah but he is meeting with the media team we're

working with, I was going to track him down after that," Xander said."Good... good, you know hugs and making others feel

good is important to me, just like it is for Sean. Hurting you... I'm really

really, sorry Xander. And I think Sean will beat himself over it more than his

dad will," Neal said popping frozen cod chunks in a bowl and microwaving

them."Yeah his dad seems different then when Sean and I

were kids," Xander said, "More, ok with who we are.""Can you grab the maple syrup from the fridge?"

Neal asked."For your oatmeal?!" Xander said lip curled."Oh shut it," Neal said, then he tapped Xander's

wrist, "and grab the mil-"Xander flinched at the contact and they both fell silent."...I'm not a time bomb Xander, or at least I don't

want to be," Neal said."I know but I... I've been on edge I mean you did

attack me," Xander said but failed to sound calm, "Anyway, what else

did you need?""Could you grab the milk?" Neal asked.They ate in silence after the food was ready, like a date

where both sides know it wouldn't go anywhere."Didn't Sean hit you once?" Neal asked."Yes?... whats your point?" Xander asked."Oh, it's just that we have been friends for over

nine years now, is that long enough? I mean you forgave Sean, didn't you? But

you two have always been friends... did I fuck things up?" Neal asked his

small ears thrown back."We are still friends I know you better now, but let's

not develop an abusive relationship here," Xander said, Neal looked

worried till Xander forced a grin."You're the only one I've ever told... I wish I

hadn't," Neal said.Oliver's words came back to Xander about being there."I'm glad you did, it's not an easy thing. I...

well, Sean never talked about it, I just don't know what to say and never

expected... I am your friend Neal, no matter what," Xander said.They ate in a happier silence till they finished clearing

the table."How was your Cod-meal?" Xander asked."I think there's a reason Cod and maple syrup aren't

served together," Neal said."I'll leave the otter meal ideas to an otter from

now on," Xander said."Oh, I was the one that added the syrup," Neal said,

"thanks Xander for everything.""Your welc-"Neal hugged Xander, and this time the contact didn't make

Xander flinch.

With that Neal headed to work while Xander showered and

brushed his fur then headed to Purrfection.