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A Companion's Heart

[Friends and Lovers](%5C)

[Companions Forever](%5C)

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All characters and storyline ©2010 Elton M. Glover.

*Note: This story has undergone a re-write from the version I posted previously. The body has changed to be better suited to a general audience. The rating is now closer to PG-13, but still depicts adult situations.

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A Companion's Heart

By

Elton M. Glover

Chapter 1

"I can't do this anymore." Tony rose from the couch and sighed as he looked out the loft window. A moment passed before he said softly, "I think you should get your stuff and leave."

Rachel sat in silence, having cried herself out hours before. Tony's declaration was the final hammer blow and she knew there would be no further arguments. He crossed the room and went down the hall. Just before he closed his bedroom door he added, "Don't call me. Just go."

She watched as the door clicked shut. She sat for a moment feeling numb and thought was this really happening? She rose from the couch and grabbed the duffel by the door Tony had stuffed with her belongings. Her lips pressed together in a frown as the finality of the situation hit her. Rachel took one last glance at the bedroom door before she left the apartment.

She wandered through the building on autopilot to her car in the parking lot as her mind replayed the last few hours over and over. She had flashes of their conversations over the last year mixed with the snippets of the argument she just came from. Rachel barely realized that she was already driving out of the parking complex, she had been so distracted. Not wanting to cause an accident, she mentally snapped out of her fog and tried not to think of anything at all.

She lived about 20 miles from Tony on the other side of town and decided to take surface streets home. She hoped that a drive would clear her head. Rachel stopped at a light and noticed the street corner projection billboard displayed an advertisement for the new fifth generation line of "personal Companions." Rachel had always found them interesting since she was a kid, but she never seriously considered adopting one since she always had other obligations. The advertisement displayed a canine and feline, each greeting their new "friends", and the merriment of the families as they accepted them into their homes. It looked so fake, but Rachel still turned at the corner on impulse, and followed the directions to the Companion agency on a detour from her route home. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity for her to get a Companion, since she did not want to be alone.

The Companion moniker the marketing company had originally come up with sounded cliché, but in true fad fashion it caught on quickly. Now the term was commonplace, and nearly 30% of the city (and 10% of the country) had personal Companions. Some families adopted in need of a nanny for their infant, others for a personal assistant role; though there had been exposes occasionally telling of "Guardians" treating their Companions like slaves. Of course, the Intellectual Horizons Corporation that created and produced the race of smart "pets" made sure to downplay any allegations that Companions were mistreated, but everyone knew it happened. The protesters were in the news lately about trying to get rights for the engineered sentient animals, and it was not uncommon to see discrimination against the Companions.

Rachel pulled into the facility parking lot a short time later. It looked like a standard office building with thick glass doors and a reception lobby. She got out of her car and walked up to the main entrance.

Once she stood in front of the doors, she hesitated not knowing exactly what motivation possessed her to come. She was reaching for the door when it opened inward and a couple emerged with their young daughter. The little girl was holding a leash and skipping along next to the father chatting excitedly.

"Can Cleopatra stay in my room Daddy? Huh?? Can she watch movies and play dolls with me? Can she come with us to the ice cream shop? You said we could get some ice cream, Daddy!" The girl tugged animatedly on the leash attached to the collar of a pretty Siamese Companion. The Siamese briefly glanced at Rachel as she strode by, and the father turned over his shoulder towards the feline.

"Can you eat ice cream Cleo?"

"Yes, sir," she intoned.

"Good!" He said. "Climb in the back seat with Betty so we can go."

"Yes, sir," she said again. The little girl ran toward the family car, and tugged the leash hard enough to nearly drag Cleopatra with her. Rachel turned her back on the scene and was immediately greeted by an associate.

"Hello! Welcome to the Chicago Companion Adoption Agency, how can I help you today?" The middle-aged man grasped her hand in a firm handshake while he pulled her inside the open door. Rachel resisted slightly, but the associate was an old pro and escorted her up to a kiosk already starting his sales pitch.

"As you can see, we have quite a selection. We currently have a pool of about two dozen fourth gens, but the fifth gens will be along any time now." He pointed to a glass-lined wall, where another reception area was and said, "All our Companions are over there. Do you want to take a look?" She felt the pressure of his hand on her back nudging her in the direction he indicated.

"Well, I...uh," Rachel stammered.

"Go on, just have a look. I'll be right here if you have any questions." The associate gave her his best smile and immediately left when she took a hesitant step towards the glass wall. She heard him call out behind her back, already latching on to a new customer. "Hello and welcome! How can I help you today?"

Rachel walked up to the glass wall and observed the occupants pensively. Aside from the furry faces and wagging tails, she would have thought she was looked upon a cocktail party. There were several little clumps of Companions engaged in animated conversations.

A pair of Tabby Companions noticed her walk up and waved a friendly hello. They resumed their conversation and their tails swished behind them idly. All of the assembled candidates wore generic cream-colored jumpsuits, which had short pants and no sleeves in order to show the natural fur coat of each.

Her gaze wandered over the short Companions milling about. They ranged in size anywhere from about 3'8" to 4'6", the tallest being a lanky Great Dane. Rachel stood head and shoulder above them all at her own 5'10" height, and remarked to herself that they all looked like grade school children on a playground. Somehow the motivation that brought her here in curiosity evaporated, and she started to turn away. Just then another occupant caught her attention.

The canine sat apart from the others and looked somehow different, but she could not put her finger on exactly why. The Companion sat in a chair along the wall turned to the side; ears and tail drooped in body language that said, "I want to be alone." Rachel's curiosity suddenly returned and she started to wave to the associate that greeted her, but he was currently pulling in another customer.

Another associate immediately recognized her questioning look and strolled up. The agent asked, "Can I help you, miss...?"

Rachel's gaze locked onto the woman's extended hand.

"Oh, uh, Rachel. Rachel Nolan." She shook her hand briefly.

"You looked like you had a question Ms. Nolan?" the agent prompted.

Rachel turned back to the glass. "Yes. How long does the adoption process take?"

"We can have you processed and on your way in just a couple of hours. Have you decided?" The associate stood next to Rachel at the glass.

When she hesitated in response, the associate chimed in again. "It's always hard to make up your mind, they are all so cute."

Rachel nodded, not really listening as the agent droned on about how different clients chose different Companion types based on how their needs varied. She interrupted the associate from pointing out their newest arrival, a female Collie, when Rachel said, "Who is that over there?"

The agent thought she referred to the Black Labrador and replied, "That is Barney. He is really a nice Companion, very bright and cheerful-"

"No," Rachel butted in again, and pointed at the Companion that sat along the wall. "Who is that?"

The agent glanced over and said in a lowered tone, "Oh, him. His name is Karson. His situation is...unique." She seemed a little hesitant to divulge more details.

"Karson," Rachel repeated softly. She thought he was handsome, though she could only see his profile from her current angle. He looked to be a German Shepard from his markings. "Tell me about Karson."

The associate eyed Rachel for a moment before she replied, "Let's go to my office and I'll pull up his file." Rachel took another glance at Karson, who now stared at the ceiling, before she followed the associate.

Closing the door behind Rachel, the two women sat on opposite sides of the desk, and the associate accessed her computer. "Let's see, here we go. Karson, age 18, second gen Companion, German Shepherd, born here at the Chicago breeding compound 2047." She turned her monitor around so Rachel could read the specifics of his file. After a moment of soaking up the info on screen, she asked the agent, "You said his situation was unique. How so?"

The woman shifted in her seat. "Well, his circumstances are uncommon. Most Companions stay with the first Guardian that adopts them. Karson's Guardians returned him for re-adoption after deciding that they no longer needed his services."

"Oh, really? After so many years they returned him?" Rachel could not hide the disbelief in her voice. She had never heard of a Companion that had been "returned".

"Like I said, it is an uncommon occurrence. His former Guardians had no complaints and gave him excellent marks for level of service."

Rachel asked out of reflex, "Then why did they return him?"

"I'm not allowed to disclose that information, but I can assure you there is nothing wrong with Karson. He has been checked out thoroughly, and passed all his examinations. He is ready for Companionship again."

Rachel looked at his profile picture. His ears stood up and his muzzle was open in a "smile", the tip of his pink tongue poked out past his teeth. She thought he looked quite amiable in contrast to the figure she saw slumped against the wall earlier. She asked without thinking, "Can I talk to him?"

The agent eyed Rachel for a moment and rose out of her chair. "Of course, I'll take you to one of our private meeting rooms. The rooms are under surveillance, but you will not be disturbed." When Rachel gave her a questioning look, she added, "It's for the protection of the Companions, of course."

They entered a plain white room with a simple square table and two chairs. "Please have a seat, I'll be back in a minute," the associate said and closed the door as she left. Rachel sat silently and glanced up at the camera in the corner of the ceiling.

Alone with her thoughts, doubt again crept into her mind. Why was she so drawn to Karson? She had never paid much attention to the myriad Companions she saw every day, so why now? She sighed as her mind replied back: because you need a friend, and he looked like he also needed a friend.

A knock on the door preceded the agent's return and Karson followed inside behind her. Rachel stood and clasped her hands in front of her, not quite knowing what to expect as she met the canine. The difference between him and the others became clearer. The newer fourth gens had plantigrade feet (to make them more similar to humans); Karson had digitigrade feet which resembled the natural canine he was modeled after. The agent gestured at him when he stood before Rachel; his ears barely came up to her shoulders. The woman said, "Rachel, I'd like you to meet Karson. Karson, this is Rachel Nolan." She guessed he was about 4'7" as he stood with his hands at his side.

He bowed slightly and said in a light, soft voice, "Hello, Rachel Nolan, it is very nice to meet you." She smiled and held out her hand, mostly out of reflex. He hesitated for a brief second and extended his own hand in return. She squeezed his delicate fingers in her own, and felt the warmth of his soft pads against her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Karson."

The agent nodded and said, "I'll just leave you two to get acquainted." They stood still as the door clicked shut which left the room in silence.

Rachel spoke first. "Uh, please sit down." Karson nodded and took the offered seat before she sat down as well. "I just wanted to talk with you a little, is that okay?" He nodded again and sat rigidly in his seat as if he were being interviewed.

Rachel noticed that he seemed a little tense and nervous. She gave him a smile and hoped he would relax if she were friendly towards him. "So, Karson, how long have you been here?"

"I have been at this agency for the past 7 days, ma'am," he said formally. When he did not add anything further, she nodded and tried another approach to open a casual dialogue.

"Do you like it here?"

He blinked a few times as he composed his answer and said formally, "Yes, ma'am. The agency provides us with everything we need to be comfortable while we await adoption."

"Ah," she said a little disappointed at his rather rehearsed answer. "Do you have any friends here?"

With his eyes downcast his ears fold back slightly, and his brow furrowed as he replied a little dejectedly, "N-no, ma'am. I have only been here a week, and have not gotten to know any of the other Companions yet." His gaze focused on his hands clasped on the table.

Rachel changed the subject quickly, not wanting to make the Companion uncomfortable, but inadvertently did the opposite with her next question. "What did you do before you came here?"

Karson shifted in his seat as his ears lay back fully, and he was unable to hide his distress as they touched on the subject of his previous adoption. "I was adopted 15 years ago to be the Companion for the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlson. Her name was Kara." He actually smiled for a moment as he remembered the past, and his tone reflected the sentiment the memory carried.

"Kara was the one who named me. I was barely more than a matured pup at 4 and she was already 5. Her father asked, 'What should we name him, Kara?' I think she intended to call me 'Carlson' after their family name, but she could not pronounce the L correctly and it came out 'Carson'. The father later decided to spell it with a K, and thus I was known as 'Karson'."

Rachel's face broke into a genuine smile as she listened to his quick story. "I like the name."

He nodded and said, "Me too."

Then his smile faded and his shoulders drooped slightly. "Before I knew it, Kara was grown and off to college, and no longer needed me as a Companion. So the Carlson's brought me back here, since the only reason they got me in the first place was for their daughter. They treated me very nice and I am grateful that they adopted me, but that is over now and I am once again ready for service." His statement sounded well rehearsed but did little to hide the fact that he was unhappy. Rachel placed her hand over his.

"You miss her." He looked up in surprise.

It was more a statement than a question. Karson looked away as he attempted to avoid her gaze. Rachel looked into his face and felt a surge of compassion for him. "Well Karson, it sounds like you need a new friend. Would you like to be my friend?" His eyes widened slightly and his ears perked up as he faced Rachel again.

"Y-you want me to...be your friend?" he said not daring to sound hopeful.

She nodded and said, "Sure. I happened to be in need of a friend. Maybe we can be friends for each other?" She patted his hands and he smiled. Rachel stood up from the table and poked her head out the door to call the agent. The woman was already headed down the corridor in her direction with a bundle of papers in hand.

Rachel said, "I'd like to go ahead and start my application-"

"I took the liberty of preparing the documents for you," the agent said, handing her the papers. "You can use this room to fill the rest out. I'll take Karson back and get him processed. Just come back to my office when you get done." She stepped in the room and motioned for the Companion to accompany her.

As he passed by, he smiled and whispered, "Thank you." Rachel sat down and began to fill out the questionnaires and forms.

About 30 minutes later, Rachel was stacking the papers again and scanning the documents to make sure nothing was missed. She had read the stipulation of the contract stating that she would now be held responsible for Karson's well being (food, clothing, shelter, etc) and also be held accountable for his behavior (public appearance, taking action on her behalf, his conduct around others, etc). By signing, she agreed to provide for him for no less than 5 years. She waded through all the legalese and did not find anything she disagreed with. She gathered the papers and went back to the agent's office.

The woman was at her terminal, and took the stack of papers and entered all the pertinent information into a new file. The agent finished everything with practiced ease, and discussed that Karson was now tagged with a locator chip linked to her personal ID. His medical records were current, but he would need a yearly examination. Rachel barely kept up as she was flooded with details, and could only think about getting home.

When the agent asked if she had any questions, Rachel could only offer her a blank stare. "There is a contact number in your packet if something comes up. There is also emergency info and Karson's profile, if he requires medical attention." She glanced at her watch and said, "He should be ready to go now, I'll show you out."

Rachel was led past the glass-lined room again and down another hallway. They entered a room that had several staff members gathered in a line. She stood at the end of the line while Karson made his way past each member. They each handed him an item for departure: a spare folded jumpsuit, a small grooming kit, a generic nylon collar, a 3 meter leash, a bag of food supplements. Karson immediately clicked the collar around his neck when it was given to him. The last in line was the female agent, holding a small duffel open for him to carry his belongings. He put his jumpsuit and food inside and she closed it, handed it to him, and said the standard goodbye.

"Farewell, Companion."

Karson accepted the bag and spoke the customary reply, "Farewell, Protector."

He turned to Rachel and attached the leash to the metal ring of his collar, then held out the other end to her. She looked at him in confusion before he nodded, indicating she should take the lanyard. She seemed reluctant to take the offered leash, but felt the expectant eyes of the staff on her. She grasped it and strode from the room, and Karson followed without question.

They met cheers and applause as they walked by the glass wall and through the reception area, and exited the building a moment later. Rachel continued down the main walkway for several paces before she stopped, and Karson obediently followed and stopped behind her. She heaved a sigh and turned to Karson, and he was surprised when she unlatched the leash from the metal ring of his collar.

She looked down at him and said, "I don't think we really need this, do we?" Rachel did not wait for a response before she stuffed the leash into his bag. "My car is just over this way," she said and continued walking.

Karson blinked for a brief second before he fell into step behind her. She tossed his bag in the back seat and then opened the passenger door for him. He looked at her with a confused expression. "Go ahead," she replied and motioned him to get in.

"You want me to ride up front?" His voice was full of disbelief. The Carlson's had never let him ride in the front.

She laughed good-naturedly. "Of course, I can't talk to you if you sit in the back."

He nodded and hopped into the car. She closed the door after him and made her way to the driver's side. She got in, buckled her seat belt, and waited for him to put on his own belt. Rachel started the car and turned the radio down when it blared to life. She looked at Karson and asked, "Ready?" He nodded and she headed for her apartment once again.

The trip passed in silence for several minutes. Rachel occasionally looked over at Karson, who watched the city pass by with a smile on his face. She fought the temptation to speak to him as if he were young, and remembered that Companions were "mature" by age 4 or 5 and very intelligent. It was hard to resist the urge though, since he was much smaller and was as cute as a real German Shepherd.

She looked at the clock, which read 6:12pm, and turned to Karson casually. "Are you hungry at all? I was thinking about picking something up on the way home, which is only a little ways further."

He shook his head and replied, "No, ma'am, I am not currently hungry. My normal eating period is at 8pm."

She grinned at him and said, "Okay, I'll just wait then. By the way, you do not have to call me 'ma'am' all the time. Just call me Rachel, okay?" She reached over and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Very well, ma'am- I mean, Rachel," he corrected himself.

Chapter2

Karson quietly observed the rest of the trip, and took note of the location when they arrived. The Companion shadowed Rachel through the complex to her second floor unit and was surprised again when she held the door open for him to enter first. She smiled and said, "After you." He nodded and entered into her living room.

He stood just inside the doorway and waited to be instructed what to do, his bag clutched in one hand and the other held behind his back. Rachel held her own duffel and was suddenly reminded of the incidents earlier that day. Her detour to the adoption agency had temporarily put it out of her mind, but it all came flooding back as she held the bag. She moodily flung it onto the couch and walked into the kitchen, just off the living room space. She filled a glass with water and reached into a cupboard for some aspirin. Rachel noticed that Karson still stood holding his bag as he looked around.

"Karson? Do you want some water or something?"

He nodded and said automatically, "Yes, ma'am- er yes, please Rachel."

She filled another glass and took it to him. He gladly accepted and attempted to take a drink, though his muzzle was not designed to use the glass. "Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized quickly and realized that he needed a different glass.

He made no complaints at all, but merely suggested, "I can use a bowl if you have one?" She blinked at him.

"Oh, okay, let me get one."

She rummaged through another cabinet and poured the glass of water into a shallow bowl. Karson noticed that she looked uncomfortable as she handed him the bowl and he thanked her. He lapped the water for a moment before he handed the bowl back. She took it and looked at him. Rachel noticed that his muzzle was slightly longer and pointed compared to the other Companions she had seen at the agency.

"Does that ever bother you?"

Karson looked at her confused and replied, "I do not understand, ma'am."

She held up the bowl and said, "Having to drinking like that. Does it ever bother you?"

He looked at her and then the bowl still confused. He finally replied, "I guess I never thought about it."

She looked dejectedly at the bowl. "Well, tomorrow I'll try and find you a glass you can use, okay?" He simply nodded at her and wondered why it mattered so much. "Ah shoot! I guess I should start making a list of stuff you need." Rachel shook her head as she made a mental list and looked for a pen and paper. When she jotted down "glass for Karson" and "bed", she looked up and saw that he still stood there. She made a motion for him to go to the living room. "Go ahead Karson, you can check the place out. This is your home now too."

He bowed his head and said, "Thank you."

He slowly wandered around the living room and took in all the details: the entertainment center with its display and rows of videodiscs; the shelves lined with photographs and assorted knickknacks; the large potted plant in the corner next to the couch; the coffee table littered with magazines, papers and several remotes. He took a tentative glance out the window through the parted blinds, which looked over the courtyard and pool below. Karson saw another Companion escort a young boy up the flight of stairs across the complex and his tail wagged briefly.

Rachel wrote a few more items down on her list and watched Karson silently. He felt the softness of the couch and nearly jumped when she said, "Go ahead give it a try. I'm afraid that will have to be your bed until I can make better arrangements." The Companion sat down hesitantly, surprised at how comfortable the couch was.

Rachel went over and flopped down beside him. "Nice huh?" He nodded and smiled. She nudged him on the shoulder, "Not the talkative type, eh? Don't worry I won't bite." He sighed lightly before responding.

"Sorry, I am trying to adjust. This is so different than where I came from." He smoothed his hand over the couch cushion and smiled again. "They never let me sit on the couch."

Rachel giggled slightly and said, "Trust me, you'll get used to it." Just then her stomach growled and she blushed. "Guess it is time for some dinner?" The clock on the entertainment center read 7:30pm and she turned to Karson and asked, "What do you usually eat for dinner?"

"Normally, I have a can of processed meat and some suppliments."

Rachel pulled a face. "Canned food? Seriously? Look, I know you resemble a dog, but I am not going to give my new friend canned meat for dinner. You need some real food. How about spaghetti and meatballs? You can eat spaghetti right?"

He replied automatically, "Yes, ma'am, err Rachel. I can eat just about anything a human can eat. I am happy to have whatever you provide me." She laughed at his reflexive response.

Her tone softened and she put her hand on his shoulder again. "Listen, Karson. I am probably not the type of person you are used to being around. You do not have to be so formal with me, I want you to be my friend not my pet, okay? Do you understand?" He nodded slowly in response.

"Okay, Rachel. It may take some getting used to."

She smiled and said, "Good! Now, I'll go ahead and fix Italian tonight, but I want you to think of something for tomorrow night, okay? I won't take no for an answer."

He nodded and she got up. Rachel pulled out pots, pans and ingredients, and was soon involved in the meal preparation. Several minutes passed by, and when she turned back to start making the meatballs, she saw that Karson stood at the threshold of the kitchen. She smiled and gave him a wink as she rolled gobs of hamburger into golf ball sized mounds. The Companion watched for a moment before he ventured a question.

"Rachel?" he said with a little urgency in his voice.

"Hm?" she replied, not looking up from the spaghetti she was dumping into the boiling water.

"Um, I'm sorry, but I need to...relieve myself. Can you show me where I can go?" His tail was half curled between his legs in a reflexive display of submission.

"Oh! Yes of course, I'm sorry Karson! I just assumed...well, anyways, yes. Just go down the hallway there, it's the second door on the left.

He seemed to regain a little bit of composure and said, "Thank you!"

He swiftly made his way down the hall and into the bathroom. Rachel went back to her meal with a smirk. A few minutes later when she put the garlic bread into the oven, Karson appeared again looking refreshed. She asked, "Everything good?"

He smiled and said, "Yes, thank you."

She indicated for him to sit at the small kitchen table and called, "Dinner should be ready in just a few minutes. I hope you're hungry."

He watched with interest as Rachel dished up the meatballs, poured sauce into a bowl and set them on the table before she retrieved the bread. She plunked a plate down in front of Karson and handed him a fork. When she sat down across from him, she grabbed the spaghetti and told him, "Dig in before it gets cold!" He smiled and took the bowl of meatballs, and shoveled a few onto his plate.

Karson was no stranger to dinner at the table, since in his previous service he was expected to eat with the family. He was not used to the casual and open table manners that Rachel employed. She giggled when she noticed him scoop up a bite of food, dish it into his mouth, set his fork down, chew till he swallowed, and then repeat the process. Meanwhile, Rachel ate like she was raised in a pack of wolves, and shoveled food into her mouth rapidly as she got another fork full ready. When her plate was half empty, she reached for the meatballs and sauce.

"You want some more?"

He politely refused, but she pushed a few more meatballs onto his plate anyway. "Come on, I don't know anyone who says no to more meatballs." She took several more herself and set the bowl back down. He smiled and made an attempt to eat more casually, and consumed the extra meatballs she had given him.

For the most part they ate in silence, Rachel not really knowing how to strike up a conversation with the Companion. Karson had never been in a situation to speak before spoken to, and was content to enjoy the meal. When it became obvious Rachel was finished with her meal, Karson reflexively stood and gathered the dishes in preparation to wash them. She watched him for a moment, but when he filled the sink with water and soap she said, "You don't have to do that you know."

He hardly realized he was doing the chore automatically and replied, "Oh, yeah. I am used to doing the dishes after the evening meal, I guess it is a habit."

She giggled at him and said, "Okay, I'll let you do them this one time. But I do have a dishwasher." Rachel walked over to the sink and gave him a quick squeeze of the shoulders and said, "Thanks for doing the dishes."

He turned and smiled. "My pleasure, Rachel. Thank you for cooking dinner."

"No problem! I'm going to watch some TV for a while, just come to the couch when you get done, 'kay?"

He nodded and resumed washing the dishes.

Several minutes later, Karson dried his hands and went back to the living room where Rachel watched the national new feed. There was a report on the recent lobby of Congress to extend the basic rights of Companions and grant them certain freedoms. The commentator explained that under the current laws, the Companions were not considered "human" and therefore not subject to the same rights and privileges. The reporter finished the report with a quote from the Intelligent Horizons Corporation CEO, stating that they were "exploring the viability of granting citizenship rights to Companions."

Rachel looked up and noticed that Karson also watched the report. She flicked the TV off and said apologetically, "Sorry. You probably don't want to hear any of that, I know Companions have had a hard time in the past."

He smiled and spread his hands disarmingly. "It is okay, Rachel. It does not bother me." She looked at him, and still seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"You must think about it though."

He looked away before he replied.

"I used to think about it. I have not thought about the issue of Companion rights until just recently." She saw his shoulders slump slightly and his ears droop.

Rachel felt guilty for bringing up the subject. Even though it was relatively early, she stretched and said, "I think I'm going to get ready for bed. I'll get you a blanket and a pillow so you can sleep out here. Do you think you will need anything else?"

He turned back to her and said, "No, thank you Rachel that will do nicely."

She disappeared down the hall for a minute, as Karson stood there lost in thought. She came back just as quick, and held out the large blanket and somewhat flattened pillow for him. Rachel smiled sheepishly and said, "Sorry, the pillow has been in the closet for a long time, it's a little squashed."

He tossed it onto the couch and took the blanket. "It will be fine, thank you."

She helped Karson move the cushions and waited until he got settled. As he lay there, he barely took up half the couch. Rachel smiled at him from the hallway door and said, "I'll leave the hall light on so you can find the bathroom." He did not feel the need to point out that his night vision was sufficient enough to see the room without the light on.

She said simply, "Good night, Karson."

He replied, "Good night, Rachel."

His hearing was also much better than a human's, and he listened as she closed her bedroom door and sighed heavily. Karson lay there sorting his thoughts and soon heard Rachel click the light switch off and the TV on. He sighed and tried to settle down to get some sleep, and wondered what he might face tomorrow.

Chapter 3

Rachel did not sleep well that first night, and contributed it to the fact she had been through a breakup and also brought home a new friend. When her alarm finally went off at 6:20am, she had already been awake for an hour. She reached for her phone, punched up the number to call her manager, and expectantly got his voice mail.

"Jerry? Hi, it's Rachel. Listen, I need to take a sick day. Call me if there is an emergency, but you can just hand off my file to Lisa if it needs to get done today, 'kay? Seeya Monday." Rachel was glad it was Friday and looked forward to getting to know her new Companion.

"Might as well get up," she said and followed her usual morning routine, but instead of business casual attire she went with worn jeans and a loose t-shirt. She laced up her tennis shoes and made her way to the living room. Karson was already up and flipping through the channels on the display.

"Good morning!"

He quickly dropped the remote out of surprise and his ears lay back out of reflex. His response was somewhat timid. "Good morning, Rachel. I hope you don't mind that I was watching the TV."

She dismissed his apology with a wave of her hand. "Nah, it's cool. You want some breakfast?" She went into the kitchen and dug through the cabinets in search of something to fix.

Karson got up from the couch and followed her into the kitchen as his tail wagged behind him. "Yes, breakfast would be wonderful."

Rachel noticed that his jumpsuit was zipped down about halfway, from collar to stomach and his fluffy fur coat peeked out around the gap. She paused in her rummaging and focused on his fur.

"Karson, your fur looks...Can I...? Oh, never mind." She pulled out a bowl and box of pancake mix.

The Companion looked down as his chest and realized he had forgotten to zip his jumpsuit closed. He self-consciously ran a hand over the fur that poked out around the zipper. He had rarely ever been seen outside his jumpsuit when he lived with the Carlson family, but Kara had asked him once to take it off so she could see his full fur coat. He of course complied without hesitation, and now it seemed Rachel wanted to ask the same thing but held back.

Most Companions did not have any qualms about being "nude", but Karson had grown accustomed to always wearing clothing and found it an awkward feeling to be "in the fur" in the presence of someone else. In this instance, he guessed that she merely wanted to have a closer look at his fur. He walked over to Rachel and stood next to her.

She seemed preoccupied as she mixed up the pancake batter. He looked up at her and asked, "Would I be correct in guessing you were going to ask me if you could feel my fur?" Rachel stopped mixing but did not look him in the eye. He could sense her hesitation and said, "It is alright, I do not mind. I am yours now, you can ask anything of me." Rachel dropped the spoon in the bowl and turned to him, a strange look on her face.

"Karson, please. You are not mine. I do not own you. Sure, you depend on me to take care of you now, but you are your own person; you have your own free will. I will not treat you like a dog just because you happen to look like one." Karson saw that she was a bit flustered and they had somehow entered into a touchy subject. He reached up and took her hand and guided it to his chest.

"It is alright Rachel, I do not mind, really. If you had fur, you would know that it actually feels nice to have someone stroke it." He smiled and nodded when she hesitantly touched the thick fur of his chest. She brushed her fingers through the fluff and saw that he did enjoy it. His fur was quite soft, and she felt his strong heartbeat under her fingers when she touched his chest briefly.

"You are so soft, Karson. Thank you for letting me touch your fur."

She quickly resumed her mixing, and tried not to make a big deal out of it, though to her it actually was. Karson nodded and zipped up the front of his suit. Rachel attempted to distract herself and hopefully the Companion. "How many pancakes do you want?" She was happy to see his tail wag at the mention of pancakes.

"How many will you have? Just fix me the same amount."

"'Kay," she replied.

Rachel finished the preparation, and soon had a stack of four pancakes each. She set a plate in front of Karson as he wagged his tail in anticipation. She handed him a fork and sat down with her own plate, and poured a large amount of syrup over her stack. Rachel was already on her second bite when she noticed that Karson still held his fork and looked at her. She giggled at him through a mouthful and mumbled, "Eat silly!" He instantly attacked his stack of pancakes and stuffed a forkful into his mouth in enjoyment.

Rachel finished her pancakes long before Karson, and watched him in amusement as he curled his long pink tongue around his food before he chewed it. She marveled at the pattern of his fur, now that she had time to look at his features more closely. His nose twitched and his ears swiveled with a mind of their own as he focused on his breakfast. She also noticed that his tail wagged the whole time, an obvious sign that he enjoyed the pancakes. Rachel waited until he was on his last bite before she spoke.

"I think we'll need to go to the shopping center down the way, they have a Target and a Companions and More store there. Bet we can find you some stuff you'll like?"

Karson nodded and said, "Okay, is there anything you want me to do while you are out?"

Rachel blinked at him before laughing. "No, you're coming with me!"

"Oh!" He looked surprised but happy.

A short time later, Rachel pulled into the shopping center and parked between the two stores she wanted to visit. She got out and waited for Karson to exit before clicking the door locks closed. She started off toward the Companions and More building when Karson fidgeted with his hands and looked at her.

Rachel turned to him and asked, "Are you okay? You look uncomfortable." His tail was tucked between his legs and he looked around nervously.

"You did not attach my leash." He looked up at her as if he expected to be admonished for forgetting the lanyard.

"I thought we did not need that anymore?" Rachel looked slightly annoyed.

"It is highly unusual for a Companion to follow his Guardian without a leash," he replied as if quoting regulations. "I need a leash," he said and fidgeted with his hands again.

"Crap. Well, I forgot the leash at home. Guess I'll have to pick up another one for 'in public'. Come on." Rachel grasped his hand to lead him to the store.

He followed reluctantly and said in a hoarse whisper, "What are you doing? Human's never hold hands with a Companion."

She grinned back at him and said, "So? I told you I'm probably not what you're used to." He seemed to be very uncomfortable with the situation, and she let his hand drop after a few seconds. She sighed and said, "Okay, we'll play it your way. Just follow me really close and pretend like you are wearing a leash."

Karson seemed to relax a bit with his new instructions, and followed closely in the wake of Rachel as they made their way into the store. The first thing she looked for was a replacement leash, and the Companion relaxed visibly as soon as she had clipped a new one onto the metal ring of his collar. She realized that this was another thing that Karson was so used to from his previous providers, that its presence actually set him at ease.

With the leash in place, Karson was now less rigid and actually helped Rachel look for items on her list. When they came across the isle with specifically designed drinking and eating utensils for Companions, he picked up a cup from the shelf and said, "I used to have one of these. Kara got-" He stopped abruptly and set the cup back down. "Anyway, these will be sufficient for my needs."

Rachel picked up the transparent red cup Karson set down and asked, "You like this one? Is red your favorite color?" When he nodded, she picked up two and set them in her basket. They continued around the store and gathered up the items Rachel had written down, and made their way to the check out. The cashier smiled at both of them.

"Did you find everything okay?"

"Yes, thank you," Rachel replied.

"How do you like our store?" She directed her question at Karson as she scanned the various items.

Rachel watched him as he replied politely, "It is very nice, thank you."

The young girl turned back to Rachel and said, "He is so courteous! He's a second gen right? Haven't seen a second in some time." Karson stood quietly at Rachel's side with his eyes downcast submissively. Rachel glanced at the cashier with a slightly annoyed look but held her tongue.

"That will be $28.58."

The cashier handed her the receipt after she finished the transaction and said, "Have a nice day! Come again soon." Rachel took her bag without a second glance at the girl, and Karson followed automatically a couple of steps behind. When she had rounded the corner, she stopped and turned to him. Karson waited patiently, his eyes still downcast.

"Does that happen a lot for Companions?"

Karson shifted his feet slightly and replied, "What do you mean?" Rachel could tell that he knew exactly what she meant, but she put it in more specific terms.

"Do people treat you like you are not there? I have never known any Companions personally before, but I have never ignored them. I guess I just never realized how people look at you." Silence stretched between them.

Rachel turned again to head off in the direction of Target. "Well, come on, let's get the rest of the stuff on the list so we can go back home." She made her way down the walk, Karson at his usual two paces behind.

They passed several stores and dozens of people along the way. Many of the people had their own Companions in tow, the majority of which were the fourth gen type. They ranged in appearance wearing anything from the generic jumpsuit like Karson's to human clothing like a business suit. A leash led every single one she saw.

As they neared the entrance to Target, they came across a rather uncomfortable scene. A man was berating his Companion, a smaller canine, in front of a crowd of people. His harsh verbal outbursts could be heard clearly.

"Do you know how much money you just cost me? I have to pay for every one of those bottles that got broken because of your stupid tail!"

The Companion in question cringed as the man pointed his finger at him with every accentuated word. His ears laid flat against his head and his tail curled around his leg. It was difficult to tell what breed of Companion he was modeled after, but he had fuzzy brown fur and looked to be a new fifth gen by the shape of his muzzle and feet.

When the man's Companion made no move or reply other than trembling, it infuriated the man even further. "Dammit! There goes my ski trip! I can't take you anywhere. Come on, Buster." The man turned and tugged forcefully on the leash causing "Buster" to lurch forward.

He squeaked in surprise and fell in step behind the man who made his way through the crowd as it dissipated. A few feet away, Rachel heard Buster mutter, "I'm sorry master, it was an acci-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses mutt! Just shut up!"

He tugged none to gently on the leash again. Buster followed in mute submission and looked like he wanted to curl up in a ball. Rachel looked down at the leash in her hand, and then looked back at Karson. His ears were laid flat and she knew that the display affected him more than he would ever admit to her. She tried not to notice the look of fear in his eyes as he glanced around at the crowd.

"Come on Karson, I want to get out of here as soon as we can." She led him into the store, and as always, he followed silently.

Rachel attempted to pick out a simple small futon for Karson to use as a bed, but she could not coax any opinions out of him. She finally chose the one with a wooden frame and fluffy down filled mattress pad. When she pointed to her selection and asked him if it was okay, Karson gave his practiced response.

"Whatever you provide will be sufficient for my needs, thank you."

Rachel shook her head slightly and wondered how long it would take for him to come out of his shell. When they went over into the linens isle, she picked out a nice bright red set of sheets and pillowcases. She held them up and was happy when she saw his tail wag briefly at her choice. They moved on to look at pillows, and Rachel held up a full sized fluffy model.

"This one looks good, what do you think?"

She turned to get his approval, but noticed him pick up a smaller square patterned ornamental pillow and squeeze it. Rachel dropped her pillow back on the shelf and walked up next to him. He quickly placed the small pillow back and his ears lay back as if he was caught stealing.

Rachel smiled at him and asked, "You like that one huh?"

She picked it back up and admired the patterned red squares as she gave it an experimental squeeze, and found the pillow was firm but soft. Karson seemed reluctant to admit that he preferred this one to the one she had picked. Rachel made the decision for him and said, "This one is cute. We'll get this one, 'kay?" He looked up and his tail wagged. Rachel winked at him.

They were once again at the checkout stand and soon had everything paid for. Rachel needed to go to the pick-up counter to get the futon she purchased. "I'll be back in a second. Can you watch our stuff?" Karson nodded and Rachel handed him his own leash as she walked over to the window several yards away. He merely stood by the cart motionless. A moment later, a store security guard walked up and addressed Karson.

"Sorry, you can't wait here. This area is for customers picking up merchandise. There is a waiting area over there." He started to take the Companion by the arm and escort him to the designated waiting area. Karson, used to such acts, complied without hesitation. The guard had just turned away when Rachel called after him.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

The guard turned back and said in a business-like tone, "Is this your Companion?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Rachel's tone told the man that she was ready for trouble. She eyed him as he continued to hold the Companion's arm; Karson stood there and awaited his outcome in submission.

The guard cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah sorry. I did not see him with you. Just try not to leave your Companion alone next time." He shuffled away as Rachel stared after him. She turned back to Karson and took the leash when he held it out to her.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded once, and she sighed with relief.

"I got the futon. I can't wait for you to try it out." Karson did not look up, but spoke so softly she almost did not hear him.

"Can we go home now?"

She nodded and patted his shoulder. "Of course. Come on, you can help me push the carts to the car." His tail wagged at the suggestion and they made their way out to the parking lot with the two carts.

Chapter4

It took more than one trip to get all the stuff from the car, the last being the large box of the unassembled futon, which required both of them to carry it. It was already past 1pm when they finally got everything unpacked (except the futon). Rachel fixed them both sandwiches and some raw carrots for a late lunch. She pulled out one of the new cups for Karson and handed it to him.

"Give this a try."

The cup had a special lid that snapped onto the rim, which resembled a kind of open-ended spout. Karson filled it with water, and took a sip as he tipped the spout into his muzzle. It fit his mouth shape perfectly and he did not spill a drop. He smiled at Rachel and said, "Perfect." He joined her at the table and clutched his cup in his hands. She noted that he seemed happy, even after the incidents of the morning.

They made some small talk as they finished the luncheon, and Rachel asked Karson to describe some of the things he did when he lived with his former tenants. He mentioned that he was allowed to read when he was not busy with Kara, and that he did a lot of housework.

"I can do the housework here too, if you would like?"

Rachel was non-committal on her response. "We'll see. What did you do for fun? Surely they let you have some fun every now and then?"

He smiled and his ears perked up, "Yeah, there was one thing. Kara bought me a kite and we went out to her ranch to fly it in the spring. It was so much fun!" His tail wagged at the memory. Rachel giggled.

"Wow, a kite! I have not had one of those since I was a kid. There is a park down by the river that would be perfect for that. I'll look into it." She got up from the table and turned to him. "You want to help me put together that futon?" He nodded and joined her.

They went down the hall into the spare bedroom, which was adjacent to the bathroom. This was Rachel's "office", which consisted of little more than a computer desk and chair, a terminal, a metal shelf with various office components, and a small TV. The rest of the room was relatively empty space, with a small coat closet in the corner.

Rachel, assisted by Karson, pushed the futon box to the middle of the room. "I guess this will sort of be your room now, if you don't mind my computer junk staying in here?" Karson was surprised and could not hide his disbelief.

"M-my room? I get to have my own room?" He looked at the blank walls and the computer desk in wonder. "I do not know what to say. I have never had my own room." Rachel tried to stifle her giggle at his shocked reaction.

"Sure, why not? You are my roommate now." She tapped her chin as she pretended to ponder a thought. "Although, it might be nice to just have you sleep at the foot of my bed..." Karson's ears drooped slightly but he gave another of his formal replies.

"Of course, Rachel. Whatever you decide is sufficient for my needs." She poked him in the shoulder.

"Karson, that was a joke."

She laughed as his relieved expression washed over his face. "Thought I was really pulling your tail for a minute huh?"

He smiled and replied, "Yeah, sorry. I am not used to such light humor. Kara was the only person that I could talk to without having to worry about being formal."

"It's okay, Karson. If you ever want to talk about..." she almost said 'Kara' but changed her mind before she continued, "anything, I will listen."

"Okay, Rachel. Thank you."

"Alright! Let's get this put together. I think I have a screwdriver around somewhere." She tore open the side of the box and pulled out the instructions, and handed them to Karson. "Here, look this over while I find the screwdriver."

She left the room for a moment while he unfolded the booklet and quickly scanned the assembly order. It seemed straightforward as he proceeded to unpack the contents and organize them. Rachel returned with two screwdrivers and a hammer. "That's all I could find."

The Companion picked through the bag of assorted bolts and pulled out a hex wrench. "It looks like this is all that is needed, but thanks for the tools."

"Oh, cool!" She started to reach for a piece of the wood frame but the phone rang. She stood and picked it up without looking at the number. "Hello?" Karson's keen hearing heard the other female through the receiver.

"Rachel sweetie, how are you?"

Rachel mouthed my mother to Karson before she replied, "Hi mom. I'm fine. Can you hang on for just a sec?" She turned back to the Companion and asked, "Can you handle this? I have not talked to my mom in a while." He nodded and went to work assembling the pieces of the futon, while Rachel went to her bedroom and closed her door slightly.

The Companion could hear the one sided conversation as he continued to work. "No, mom," she said and then a long pause. "Because he said...look does it matter? The point is that he broke up with me."

Another long pause, then she said dejectedly, "I don't know mom...I really don't want to talk about it right now, okay? Why are you reading his FaceBlog page anyways?" Karson heard her laugh. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'd probably be bored too if I had to listen to Daddy talk all day about his car selling days."

He continued to listen as Rachel talked with her mother. The Companion had the frame of the futon assembled a few minutes later, and he worked on the hinge that would allow it to turn into a bench rather than a bed. His ears perked up as he heard Rachel say, "I got a Companion the other day."

Karson paused briefly as she continued. "You would like him, he is so nice. He is a second gen. Remember? Like the one your neighbors had before I moved out? Yeah, but he is a German Shepherd. His fur is so soft!" Karson resumed his work on the futon.

He momentarily stopped listening to focus on finishing the bed, and before long he tightened the last of the bolts. He heard Rachel open her door, and looked up when she came back into the office bedroom. She grinned at him and let out a soft but surprised, "Ooh! Cool, you finished it!" She was still on the phone, and Karson clearly heard her mother.

"Can I talk to him Rachel?"

She hesitated slightly and replied, "Uh, yeah sure."

"What's his name?" the receiver asked. Karson heard the note of tenderness in her voice as she spoke his name.

"His name is Karson. Hold on." She held out the phone to Karson and his ears perked up. "My uh, mom would like to talk to you."

"Oh, okay." He took the phone and held it up to his ear. "Hello?"

"Oh hello! Is this Karson? How are you dear? This is Rachel's mother, Vanessa."

Karson's voice was friendly as he spoke. "Very nice to make your acquaintance Vanessa. I am fine, how are you?" Rachel giggled silently as she watched the Companion.

"Just fine," Vanessa replied back. "How do you like your new place?"

"It is wonderful, thank you," he replied politely.

"Well, good! You will have to come and visit us sometime. Okay dear, I'll let you go. Can I speak to Rachel again?"

"Yes of course, hold on please." Karson handed the phone back to Rachel. He went back to putting the final touches on the futon, and heard her mother speak again.

"He is adorable! You have to send me a picture."

Rachel smiled at Karson, and replied to her mother, "I know, and I will. Listen mom, I need to go for now. I'll talk to you soon, 'kay? Love you!" Her mother said her farewells and hung up the phone. "Sorry about that, I had no idea she would insist on talking to you. We'll go for a visit soon enough."

He gave a nod and stood up. "I think it is done. Where should I put it?"

She looked at him and said, "I dunno, where do you want it to go?"

He stared back uncertain. Rachel told him, "This is your room now. You can put the bed where ever you want, you're the one that has to sleep in it." She laughed, as he looked a little confused at the simple decision of where to put the futon.

"Okay, okay, I'll help you decide." He relaxed a bit and pondered about the placement. Rachel pointed to the wall opposite the desk, in between the closet and the window. "How about there?"

Karson nodded in approval, "I think that would be fine."

The two moved the futon into position and Rachel got the mattress and the sheets. Karson helped her make the bed, and while he was occupied with smoothing out the comforter, Rachel bopped him in the head with the little square red pillow.

Rachel laughed and yelled, "Pillow fight!" She dashed into her own bedroom and snagged a bed pillow. When Karson did not follow, she came back into the office bedroom clutching her pillow. "Pillow fight?" she asked him.

He sat on the futon and held the red pillow in his hands. She went to sit next to him. "Is everything okay? Sorry I got a little silly there, just thought it might be good to have a little fun."

Karson spoke softly in reply. "You are so different Rachel...you really are a friend. I've been treated like a pet so long, I don't know what it's like to be treated like a person."

Rachel set her pillow aside and wrapped an arm around his petite shoulders, and drew him into a hug. "Hey, come here." She squeezed his frame briefly in a friendly manner before she let go. "What are friends for, right?"

His spirit brightened and he said, "Thank you." Then he picked up his little pillow again and grinned at her. "You should not let down your guard. Pillow fight!" He bopped her on the shoulder and hopped off the futon. Rachel let out a startled gasp and grabbed her pillow as she grinned furiously.

"You little scamp!" She aimed a swing at his fluffy tail as he dodged nimbly. Karson retaliated with a blow to her back and laughed. Rachel caught him by surprise as she tossed her pillow in his face, which threw him off balance.

"Oh!" he cried and fell over. She snagged her pillow again and raised it over him for a final blow, and he held out his hands and feet laughing. "No, please! I surrender!" She gave him a wicked grin and tossed the pillow over her shoulder. Rachel changed tactics and tickled him relentlessly.

"There is no surrender my friend, only defeat!"

Karson tried his best to fend off Rachel as she tickled his sides, belly and neck. He soon squealed in delight though, when she broke through his defenses. After a few moments, she let up her attack when he had nearly curled up in a ball. She let him catch his breath as he panted lightly but held a friendly and amused expression. Rachel stood up and held out her hand for him, and he gladly let her pull him upright.

"See? That is what we call 'fun' my friend."

Karson nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, that was fun!"

Rachel looked at her watch and sat at the computer. "I need to check my email."

He said, "Okay," and sat on the futon and watched her.

She said over her shoulder, "Did you ever get to use the computer?"

"Not really, but I watched Kara plenty of times. She let me play on one of those websites a couple of times. It was that one where you get to feed your virtual pet? She of course made a German Shepherd named 'Karson'." He laughed lightly.

"Oh, right. Well, I can show you how to get around on mine here. I guess you will need something to do while I am at work." She sighed as she was faced with the sudden realization. "Will you be okay alone here during the day? I don't want you to think I'm just keeping you around to entertain me..." She suddenly had doubts again as to why she adopted Karson, without even considering how the situation would affect him. She felt like it was a selfish thing to do on her part.

Karson stood next to her and said, "Yes, I will be fine. You have books right? I can read or do chores."

"Eh...well my book selection is pretty limited. I just have a lot of those Dragon Adventure books from when I was in college. I've got a few classics, and some self help books, and a random collection of science fiction."

Rachel went back to checking email and scanning a couple of the forums that she frequented. She hardly noticed when Karson no longer stood next to her, as he had gone to lay down on his futon. Rachel replied to a work email and read threads on a forum she kept a close eye on, which discussed new ways of implementing database merges. She got so distracted that she nearly knocked the mouse off the desk when a snore from Karson startled her.

Rachel swiveled her chair and looked at the Companion with his legs curled up to his chest and his hands clasped under his chin. His tail was curled over his legs and his ears twitched occasionally. She sighed softly with a smile and thought that he was indeed adorable. She went back to her work on the computer.

Some time later, she shut down the computer and stretched her arms. Karson blinked and raised his head as she stood up. "Hey sleepy head," Rachel said with a smile. He yawned and stood up as well.

"Sorry, guess I fell asleep." She giggled at his sleepy expression.

"It's okay. You feel hungry? Remember it is your turn to decide what to eat."

He scratched his ear and said, "Oh, yes. I have never had Chinese food, would that be okay? I have always wanted to try some of those egg rolls."

"That sounds good!" Rachel said in agreement. "I'll go dig out a menu and show you some of the stuff you should try." She led Karson to the kitchen and soon had an order placed to the take out restaurant down the street. "I think we should watch a movie over dinner. You get to pick though."

Karson replied a little flustered, "Well, I will watch whatever you-"

Rachel laughed at him again, "Oh come on Karson? You never got to watch movies either?"

He fidgeted with his hands again, "Yeah, I got to watch movies but only when Kara did, and it was only what she was interested in."

"Then what are you waiting for, a stamped invitation? I've got a ton of movies; just go grab something you want to see. I've seen them all a bunch of times, but it will be a treat to watch something with you. It will be like seeing it the first time again." He went to the videodisc shelf when she pushed him toward the living room.

The phone rang while Rachel was making another quick list of supplementary items to get for Karson. She picked up and buzzed in the delivery guy, and went to grab her purse. A moment later she greeted the knock at the door and paid for the food. Karson followed her into the kitchen, and his nose worked overtime as he sampled the aromas of the various dishes they had ordered.

"That smells very nice!" He could not resist the temptation to poke his nose in the different containers, and Rachel laughed and playfully pushed him out of the way.

"Patience grasshopper! Let me get some plates."

She handed him a plate and a set of chopsticks. He looked at the utensils and back at her. She giggled and said, "Don't worry, I'll teach you how to use them. Help me move this stuff to the coffee table."

With his assistance, she transferred all the food to the cluttered table and they sat on the floor to eat. She gave him a crash course in Chinese take out and the use of chopsticks. After Karson sampled each dish, he loaded his plate with some spicy Kung Pao chicken, sweet and sour pork, mixed rice and a couple of the egg rolls she had gotten especially for him. Rachel took a bite of her own spread.

"Mmm, yummy! It's been a while since I ordered from that place. Good choice!"

Karson nodded in agreement and took a bite of his egg roll as his tail thumped lightly against the couch. Rachel said in sudden thought, "You know what would go really good with this? Beer!" She looked over at the Companion who happily munched on his rice. "You ever had beer?"

"Alcohol?" he said questioningly, and she nodded. "I've had wine once, but I was not used to it and I was...sick. I have not had any since." His ears drooped in embarrassment.

"Oh," Rachel said a little disappointed. "Well, do you want to try it? You don't have to drink it if you don't like it."

He looked at her hopeful face and replied, "Okay, I will try it. You said it would go good with this food, which is wonderful by the way." He took another bite of the egg roll.

"Yay!" Rachel exclaimed and disappeared into the kitchen, and came back a moment later with his red cup and two Bud Lights. She cracked one open and poured about a half cup for him, and he took the glass to sniff it. He nodded at the crisp scent and took a hesitant sip. Rachel watched in interest as he tasted the beverage, and then took a bigger sip. He smiled at her and put the glass down.

"I like it. It is not as strong as it smells. I did not know it was so fizzy like a canned soft drink." She poured the rest of the open beer into his cup and cracked the other one for herself. She held up her can to him.

"Cheers! To my new friend!" He looked at her confused, but mimicked her motion and held up his cup. She laughed again, "Am I going to have to teach you everything? You never had a toast?"

He smiled at her and said, "I've eaten toast?"

His response made her laugh harder.

"Good one. A toast is a friendly salute to someone or something. It's supposed to be a compliment. You raise your glasses and touch them together and take a drink."

"Oh," Karson said in understanding. He held up his glass and said, "To Chinese food!" Rachel clinked her beer against his glass and took a sip.

"Here, here! Now, let's pop in the movie. Where is it?"

He pointed to the disc case at the edge of the table. Rachel tried to not look as she inserted the disc into the player, wanting to be surprised by his choice. She quickly resumed her seat and flipped on the TV and sound system. "Aw, how sweet! All Dogs go to Heaven, I have not seen this in ages!" They watched as they finished their meal.

Right about the time Charlie B. Barkin was returning from heaven in the movie, Rachel shifted to the couch to get comfortable. She had gotten each of them a second beer through the course of the meal, and felt pleasantly buzzed now. When she got situated, Karson looked up at her and asked, "Can I sit on the couch with you?"

She smiled back and said, "Yeah, of course."

She patted the cushion next to her and Karson happily sat down. It was not long before the two instinctively cuddled up next to each other, as they got absorbed in the movie. Karson giggled happily at the scene at the racetrack and, before she realized what she was doing, Rachel's hand pet his head and stroked his ears. After a few minutes, the Companion sighed and leaned closer to her.

Rachel suddenly realized what she had been doing, and yanked her hand away as if she had touched a flame. Karson's tail stopped wagging and he said, "You do not have to stop...it actually feels nice." She hesitantly put her hand back on his head and smoothed his fur down his neck, and his tail thumped again. She stopped again. The motion reminded her too much of petting a dog and she folded her hands into her lap.

Karson turned to her in confusion. "Why did you stop?"

She avoided his gaze. "Karson, I don't want to treat you like a pet. You are more than just a 'smart dog'; you are a person with feelings. It makes me feel like I'm degrading you or something."

He turned fully to Rachel, the movie now forgotten. He put his hand lightly on hers and said, "Can I share a secret with you?" He did not wait for her reply before he continued. "I have had time to learn some things about the interactions of Companions and humans. We both have feelings and fears, assumptions and stereotypes.

"I have learned that this gesture," demonstrating as he reached up and stroked Rachel's cheek softly with his fingers, "means the same as this one." He took her hand and made her pet his head and smooth back his ears. "At least to Companions it does. To us, it is a sign of affection. What should it matter that it resembles petting a dog?"

Rachel looked into his eyes and saw his sincerity. "Oh. I had no idea Karson. I will remember that." He just smiled briefly and lay his head down in her lap and she guessed that he wanted her to continue to pet his head. She stroked his soft ears and when his tail started to thump again, Rachel stared at the video not really watching.

Soon the credits rolled as she yawned and noticed Karson asleep in her lap, his hands folded under his chin. She shook him gently, but when she could not rouse him, she scooped his smaller frame up and carried him to the futon in the next room. She guessed that the alcohol knocked him out and should let him sleep it off. Laying him down with his head on the new red pillow, she pulled the covers over his warm body. Rachel smiled at him as he instinctively curled up into the position she saw him in earlier, and bent down and kissed him on the forehead. She returned a brief moment later with one of his cups filled with water, and set it down by his bed. "Good night, Karson," she said softly and turned out his light.

Rachel cleaned up after their meal and stuffed the leftovers into the refrigerator. She shut off all the electronics and made a couple more notes on her scrap of paper before she turned out the kitchen lights. She was almost past Karson's room when she heard a strange noise. She quietly looked in on him and heard him whimper softly. Curious, Rachel walked up and knelt by the bed. She faintly saw the outline of his hands as they covered his muzzle. He shivered and whimpered again.

Her heart melted and she tenderly stroked his head as she had done earlier. He seemed to calm down slightly and sighed in his sleep. She watched for a moment longer before she made a quick decision. Rachel slipped into her bedroom and returned with a plush teddy bear she received as a Valentine's Day gift several years ago. She pulled back the covers from Karson and slipped the bear between his arms and chest. He immediately clutched the plush in his sleep, and his breathing became more relaxed. She smoothed his ears one more time and left his room.

Rachel lay in bed for some time that night. It finally came to her why she was so drawn to Karson. She felt compelled to give him what she had missed for so many years of her life: compassion. She drifted off to sleep as she remembered the touch of his soft fur on her fingertips.

Chapter 6

The next morning Rachel awoke to the sound of coughing. She groaned and looked at the clock, which read 10:54am. She flopped back down on her pillow for a brief second, but heard another bought of coughing and determined it came from the bathroom. She reluctantly got herself out of bed and tossed on a robe, and walked to the bathroom in the hall. She heard running water and knocked on the door. "Karson? Are you okay? Is everything alright?"

There was a brief pause and a muffled, "Yes, I'm fine." There was more running water and the door opened a moment later. Rachel looked at the bedraggled form of Karson. His eyes were red and his ears and shoulders drooped, his tail hung limp. She stifled a laugh.

"Good morning sunshine!"

He winced and scrunched his eyes closed, and moved past her back into his bedroom with a hand held to his head. She suddenly felt very guilty. She quickly caught up to him and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Are you okay? You don't look so good." Her tone was full of concern.

Karson groaned but tried to sound cheerful, "Yeah, I guess I just have to be careful with alcohol. My head is killing me."

Rachel nodded in understanding; she knew a hangover when she saw one.

"You poor baby. Well, the best cure for that is sleep, and lots of water. Let's get you back to bed and you can sleep as long as you need." She escorted him back to the futon and had pulled back the covers. Karson unzipped his jumpsuit and attempted to slip out of it and not loose his balance. He never noticed her surprise as he stripped and stepped out of the clothing. His eyes were still scrunched closed as he wobbled to the bed.

She stared at the Companion's lithe frame, now that she could see all of him. His resemblance to a German Shepherd was startling, and if had not walked upright she might have mistook that he was a Companion. His black fur ran along his back and mixed with the golden tan of his legs and shoulders, which also covered his torso and belly. His legs and arms where thin but muscled, and she almost gaped at the sheath and testicles nestled between his legs. Karson nearly lost his balance as he knelt to get back into bed and Rachel snapped out of her reverie.

She helped him climb under the covers and again thrust the teddy bear into his arms. He muttered, "Thanks," with drowsiness and was asleep before she had even left the room. She refilled his cup with fresh water and bent to pick up his jumpsuit. Rachel quickly noticed there was a damp pink spot on the front where he had obviously been sick. She sighed in sympathy for the Companion and silently apologized for letting him get drunk. She promised to make it up to him later.

Rachel stared at the soiled jumpsuit in her hands. She would not only need to have it washed, but also get him some additional clothes. The spare jumpsuit from the agency was all he had left clean. As much as she would get a kick out of having him walk around in the fur, she knew he would probably never agree to it after having lived in that other house for so long under strict guidelines. She decided to make a quick trip out while he slept and recovered.

She guessed that he would sleep for another few hours, but still left a note next to his glass of water. Rachel quietly left the apartment and made her way down to the dry cleaners she used for her office clothes. The clerk greeted her as she entered quickly.

"Rachel! Don't usually see you in here on a weekend. Need a rush job for Monday?"

"Hi Becky, uh no, no rush job. But I do need this cleaned," she said and handed the jumpsuit to the clerk.

Becky took the garment and pulled it slightly out of the plastic grocery bag. "Oh! This is a Companion suit. You got one? Congratulations, I hear they are really cool to have around."

"Uh, yeah, thanks," she said distractedly. "Do you think you could do a quick check and tell me what size that is?"

"Sure, sure," Becky said and laid it out on the counter. She whipped out a tape measure and quickly calculated dimensions, and wrote them down on a pad. "Well, I'd roughly say her shirt size is a medium, and her waist is a 26."

"His," Rachel said. "Karson is a male"

"Oh, okay. Anyways, this will probably be ready by Tuesday." Becky handed the claim ticket to Rachel. She snatched it and left.

Rachel went back to the shopping center from yesterday and started to go into Target again, but changed her mind and went to Companions and More instead. She guessed she would have better luck finding clothes that fit Karson there. Rachel wandered to the clothing section and soon found the "male" assortment. As she combed through the racks for shirts that Karson might like, another female patron began looking at the section as well. The two women eventually ended up at the same rack, and the other pointed at a shirt and said, "That one is cute. What type is your Companion?"

Rachel blinked for a second and replied, "Oh, uh, he is a German Shepherd type." She returned her attention to the rack, and the other woman pulled out a short-sleeved buttoned shirt and held it up.

"Oh, Jeffrey would look so cute in this! I love this yellow color, it would go lovely with his brown fur."

Rachel was curious and asked, "Jeffrey likes yellow?"

The woman shrugged. "I don't really know," she said offhandedly, "but this color compliments his fur perfectly!" The woman looked through the next rack over and muttered, "Now is there anything that would go with this?" Rachel felt annoyed at the woman and could not control the urge to question her.

"How could you not know what Jeffrey's favorite color is, have you ever asked him? How do you know he likes that stuff?"

The other patron simply shrugged and said, "He likes the clothes I buy him." The woman took her items and moved off, and Rachel glared after her.

Rachel spent several more minutes in the section as she picked out some shirts for Karson. She ended up with a simple brown tee, a green tee, a buttoned white and blue striped shirt, and her personal favorite, a red polo shirt. She moved through the section further and found a couple of pairs of cargo shorts that resembled the lower half of his jumpsuit; one black, one cream. Rachel made her way back through the store toward the check out stands, and just happened to pass an isle that had a few plush toys. She remembered last night and decided to take a look, and was surprised when she immediately found a German Shepherd stuffed toy. The plush was roughly the size of the teddy bear she had. Rachel put the toy in her basket and went through the checkout.

She glanced at her watch when she returned to the car, and saw it had already been over an hour since she left. She made her way back home, and ate a quick lunch while she cleared the garments of tags and folded them neatly. When she finished, she sat on the couch watching the news and promptly fell asleep.

When Rachel woke again, she noticed that Karson sat on the couch flipping through channels. He munched on a left over egg roll, and dropped the remote when she startled him.

"Feeling better?"

He stuffed the rest of the egg roll into his mouth and nodded. "Yes, much better thank you."

Rachel yawned and said, "Good. I'm sorry about last night. I should have listened to you more carefully. You said you got sick the last time you drank."

He smiled and said, "Do not worry about it. Thank you for the great evening, it was fun." She noticed he was once again dressed in the jumpsuit and it reminded her of the items she had just purchased.

"I got you something." She rose from the couch and retrieved the stack of clothing. "These are for you."

"Ah, okay. I thought they were your clothes."

"Nope, all yours I'm afraid. Besides, they won't fit me," she said with a laugh.

His tail wagged and he picked up the red polo shirt, "Oh this is nice!"

"You should try them on, uh you know, to make sure they fit?"

"Okay!"

He took the clothes to his room and emerged a moment later wearing the black shorts and red polo. Rachel stared at him open mouthed as she sat on the couch.

"Wow! You look great in those clothes. Oh! Hold it right there let me get my camera."

She jumped up and dug through her purse, and pulled out the little digital camera she always had with her. She held up the camera and said, "Smile!" Karson held up his hand in a wave and gave his best smile.

The flash blinded him and he blinked in a daze as Rachel squealed in glee. "Mom is going to love it!" Rachel motioned for Karson to come to the kitchen table. "We need a group shot, just stand here for a sec."

She placed the camera on the table and set the auto timer, and looked to see that he was ready before she punched the button. She quickly bounced over to join Karson and put her arm around his shoulder. They smiled as the flash blinded them both this time. The Companion rubbed the stars out of his eyes and Rachel checked the picture. "Perfect!" she exclaimed and showed it to Karson. He had to admit it was a good picture of the two of them.

Rachel circled around Karson and admired the way the clothes fit him. "You really are handsome, you know?"

He seemed bashful but replied, "Thank you for getting these clothes for me. I really like them."

"You're welcome, Karson. That reminds me, I have one more present for you." Rachel pulled out the plush and gave it to the Companion. He grinned and held up the stuffed German Shepherd.

"You got this for me? It looks just like me," he said with amusement. "Thanks."

Rachel giggled as he hugged the plush and it suddenly reminded her of how he clutched the teddy bear last night. She set the camera down and stood next to him. "Karson, can I ask you something?"

He was still focused on the plush and did not notice that Rachel's expression had changed. He replied, "Sure, what do you want to know?"

"Last night when I tucked you in, you were shivering and whimpering in your sleep. Were you having a nightmare?"

Karson's ears drooped and his tail sagged, but his voice was steady as he said, "Yeah, sometimes I have nightmares. I try not to let it get to me."

"Can you tell me about it?" Rachel asked with concern.

Karson looked at the plush, but his attention was focused elsewhere.

"I can tell you what I vaguely remember. In my dream I am in a bright white room and I am cold. I have fuzzy images of someone holding me and speaking softly in my ear, and I feel comforted." His voice quivered slightly as he continued, "But then strong hands are taking me away from the soothing voice and I am crying." He shivered at the remembered dream and shook his head as he tried to clear the memory. "That is all I remember. Most nights I do not recall dreaming at all."

Rachel's eyes welled up at the description of his traumatic nightmare, which she suspected was really a forgotten memory. "I'm so sorry, Karson. I'm here for you if you ever need to talk about it." She pulled him into a hug and he relaxed in the comfort of her embrace. He even put his arms around her waist and squeezed briefly in return.

"Thank you, Rachel, that means a lot to me." They hugged for a moment longer.

Rachel said, "I took your other jumpsuit to the cleaners today while I was out. By the way, how often do you have to uh...bathe?"

Karson replied automatically, "Once a week is usually sufficient, as long as I brush my coat every couple of days. That is unless I do something to get dirty."

"Okay. Do you need any kind of soap or shampoo?" Rachel could not believe she had not asked these things before she already made two trips to the store.

"My grooming kit has enough shampoo to last for a month. I can show it to you if you want to get more." She nodded, and he smiled up at her and said, "You can help me groom if you like?"

When she gave him that uncertain look from the other night, he added, "It actually would help me out. I can brush my own fur, but it goes faster if someone else does my back while I do the front. It is much more efficient that way." Rachel giggled at how he made it sound so scientific.

"Well, okay. I guess we'll have to just make it a regular thing." He nodded and wagged his tail, happy that she agreed to help him. "So when should you take a bath again?" He thought for a moment.

"Either tonight or tomorrow would be sufficient."

"Do you need me to...help?" Rachel seemed hesitant to even ask.

Karson started to respond with 'If you want', but instead chose to say, "I can manage, thank you." He sensed that Rachel was still unsure about her role as Guardian, but relaxed at his answer.

"Okay. I think we will just have leftovers tonight. I really don't feel like fixing anything, so just grab whatever you want when you get hungry. The microwave is on the counter. I'm going to send these pics to mom, so I'll be on the computer."

Chapter 7

Some time later she had finished the email to her mother that included the pictures. Rachel set the group shot to her desktop image, and got sidetracked with the forums again. Before she knew it an hour had gone by and Karson stood by the desk. He held his grooming kit and wagged his tail.

"Do you want to help me groom?"

"Uh, sure. Where do you want to do it?"

"The kitchen is a good place," he said and led the way.

Rachel pulled out the two brushes and comb from Karson's bag. She held them out and asked, "Which one should I use for your back?"

He pointed at the bigger brush with stiff bristles. "That one is better."

He pulled off his shirt and set it aside, and took the smaller brush. "I use this one for the front." Karson turned his back to Rachel and began methodically brushing the fur on his neck and down his chest. She timidly ran the brush over his fur a couple of times before he spoke up. "You have to brush harder than that, or it won't get out all the stray hair."

"Oh, sorry! I've never done this before. Just tell me if I'm doing it wrong." She pushed the brush through his fur with more force and he sighed happily. "Like that?"

"Yes, exactly like that. That feels good. Just keep doing that all the way down."

Rachel focused on her task and tried not to think about how soft his fur was as she continually ran her fingers through it. She stopped a few times to clean the fur-loaded brush, and let the shed clumps fall to the floor. Karson was done with the front by the time she made her way down to the waist of his shorts. She grabbed his tail and started to brush it when he stood rigid. He stammered, "I c-can d-do the rest, th-thanks."

She quickly let go of his tail and wondered if she had done something wrong. He turned and flashed her a smile, and grabbed the brushes. He shifted around nervously as he edged his way out of the kitchen.

"I'll just finish in the bathroom."

He hurried off and Rachel heard the door close and the shower start up a few moments later. She was curious about what just happened, but she dismissed it and swept up the discarded fur. She figured that he would be in the bath for a while, so she fixed some food and watched TV.

Karson felt flushed. He did not know why the simple act of grooming had made him amorous. Rachel having grabbed his tail certainly did not help. He stripped off his shorts and hurriedly brushed the rest of his fur, as he tried to ignore his bulging sheath. He started the shower and sighed as he felt his erection grow. Karson took a deep breath and attempted to convince himself that it was a natural reaction to grooming and his sensitive tail.

He adjusted the shower to a suitable temperature, and was about to get in when he remembered that he left the fur shampoo in his kit, which was in the kitchen! The Companion silently cursed himself for being so distracted. He thought about wrapping up in a towel and going to get it, but his arousal made that nearly impossible. A whine escaped him before he opened the door a crack and called out in what he hoped was a steady voice.

"Rachel?"

She heard him call and punched the mute button for the TV. "Karson? Did you need something?"

"Yes! Uh, sorry, but I left the shampoo in my bag. Can you get it for me please?"

"Yeah, sure," Rachel called back and retrieved it from the kit. She walked up to the door and held out the bottle. "Here you go."

There was a pause before Karson's hand shot out as he made a grab for the bottle, but he was a little too hasty and caused Rachel to drop it. She pushed the door open a fraction more as she stooped to pick up the bottle, and started to hand it back when she caught a glimpse of Karson in the mirror. She met his reflected gaze for a fraction of a second before her eyes flicked down to the pink erection that jutted out of his pelvis. He quickly took the bottle and practically slammed the door in her face. She heard a muffled, "Thank you."

"Uh, no problem." Rachel could not get the image out of her head, as she saw Karson stand there in the fur in that state of arousal. She giggled softly and mumbled, "Well, at least I know he is a normal guy," and went back to watch more TV.

Karson knew for sure that Rachel had seen him, and seen...it! He knew he would probably have to talk to her about that eventually, but right now he had other matters to take care of. It had been a long time since he pleasured himself, or actually felt the need, but he knew the quickest way to get rid of his erection was through masturbation. Karson hopped into the shower and let the water soak into his fur as he took care of business. He concentrated on the sensations of his finger pads, and soon humped his own hands. He growled softly as his needs increased and he was momentarily lost is his own satisfaction. The release approached and he squeezed his hands tighter. That pushed him over the edge, and he let out a sharp yip as he finished. He panted for a moment, and let the climax rush over him before his head cleared and he scrubbed shampoo into his fur.

Rachel thought she heard a bark, but dismissed it after a moment. She watched one of the many crime dramas on the networks and got completely absorbed in the show. Right about when the show ended, she heard the bathroom door open and Karson walked into the living room in his shorts as he toweled his damp fur.

Rachel asked, "Feel better?"

He hesitated to answer, thinking that she referred to his tension reliever. When he did not respond, she asked another question. "How long does it usually take for your coat to dry?"

"Oh, uh...a while. Do you have a fan I can use? It might make it go faster." He was glad she did not ask him about the other thing.

"Yeah, actually. In the closet in your room, there is an old box fan I only use in the summer. You can use that whenever you need."

"Ah, excellent, thanks!"

He disappeared into his room, and Rachel heard him dig out the fan and the hum of air when he turned it on. She shook her head and smiled. It would definitely be a new experience to have a furred Companion as a roommate.

Some time and a couple of shows later, Rachel felt sleepy even though it was only around 10pm. She turned off the TV and straightened the kitchen briefly, before she picked up Karson's new plush. She made her way down the hall and knocked on the partially closed door.

"Come in," Karson said.

She entered and tossed the dog plush at him. "Don't forget about this guy." Rachel noticed he had changed back into his second jumpsuit, but had not zipped it up. She leaned on the desk and watched him for a moment as he squeezed the plush in his hands.

"How are you settling in?"

"I'm doing fine, thank you for asking," he replied cheerfully.

She smiled and said, "I'm glad to hear it. Tomorrow I'll show you the computer and give you a rundown of where everything is in the apartment. Then I'll have to go back to work on Monday." She sighed at the last statement.

"Sounds good," he replied as his tail thumped on the bed.

Rachel yawned and made her way out, "I'm going to bed. G'night Karson."

"Have a good night, Rachel." She closed his door on the way out, and Karson heard her click her own door closed. "Sweet dreams," he said softly and also went to bed.

Chapter 8

The next morning came bright and clear, and Karson hopped out of bed after a brief stretch. He scratched an itch on his tail and looked at the clock on the computer desk, which read 9:30am. He opened his door silently and found Rachel's still closed, so he quietly made his way to the living room. He got a drink of water and went to scan through the meager bookshelf in the corner. A wide variety of titles sat on the shelf in no apparent order. As he went down the row of spines, he pulled out a thin, worn book that seemed older than the rest. The cover was faded and bent with use, and there was a painting of a man and woman holding hands on the front cover. He did not recall ever seeing the title: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. He decided to give it a try when he saw the words "classic tale of romance" as he scanned the back cover description.

He curled up on the couch and began to read. The morning passed quietly, with an occasional noise outside from another tenant coming or going. He was well into the second act of the story when he heard a distinctive shuffle from Rachel's room, and she emerged a few minutes later.

She passed through the living room and into the kitchen straight to her coffee maker. Karson listened as she went through the process of setting a pot to brew, and she appeared at the threshold of the living room. She yawned and looked over at him as he held the book.

"Hey Karson. What'cha got there?"

"I found this among your books, it's called Romeo and Juliet. It is very interesting."

"Ah," Rachel said smiling. "I had to read that in high school. I take it you've never read Shakespeare?" He shook his head no. "I won't spoil the ending for you then. What kind of stuff do you like to read?"

Karson pondered a moment and shrugged his narrow shoulders. "I am not sure, I guess I never gave it much thought. I have just read whatever is available." Rachel went to sit next to him on the couch.

"Well, sure but I mean you can't like everything you read, right? There must be some things you liked more than others?"

"Oh, well if you put it that way, yes. I actually like the romantic stories the best. I enjoy it when the story has a happy ending."

He smiled as he said 'happy ending'. Rachel giggled lightly.

"So you're a romantic softy, eh?" she teased him.

He seemed a little self-conscious about having revealed his tastes to Rachel, so she added, "I like those stories too." He relaxed a little and his tail thumped behind him.

"There is nothing wrong with a little sci-fi though," Rachel continued. "I guess I'm more into that lately. Have you ever read Isaac Asimov?" He again shook his head. "Ah, well, there is plenty of time for that." There was a loud beep from the kitchen and she jumped up.

A moment later she sat back down with a steaming cup in her hands. "I don't suppose you drink coffee?"

"No, I do not care for it."

She took a sip.

"Mm, too bad. But if there is anything in particular you want, like tea or something, just let me know, 'kay?" He nodded.

"Shower time! I'll show you the computer after lunch." She left for her bedroom again and Karson resumed reading.

He got absorbed in the book and did not notice when Rachel was once more in the kitchen. She asked him a question, which brought his attention back to reality.

"I'm sorry, what was that again?"

Rachel appeared at the threshold as she held up two packages and asked again, "Ham or chicken?"

Karson dropped his book and looked at her embarrassed that he had not heard her the first time. "Oh, uh, whichever you are having is fine with me." She smirked at him and went back to finish preparation of the sandwiches.

"Alrighty, but one of these days you'll have to make a decision for yourself," she called back good-naturedly.

The two sat at the dinner table and ate their food. Rachel crunched on a carrot and pointed to the book. "How is it so far? Looks like you read pretty fast!" She noticed that he was past the halfway mark.

"It is very engaging, I like it! Their speech is a bit antiquated, but it gives a certain art to the dialogue. It is like a dance with words." Rachel noticed he was quite animated as he talked about the book, and it genuinely surprised her as his intellect surfaced.

"Wow, Karson. I had no idea you were so articulate." She looked at him in a different light, and wondered what other facets of his personality were hidden behind his soft brown eyes.

He turned bashful at the compliment and muttered, "I guess it comes from reading a lot, not that I've really read all that much..."

"You don't have to apologize. I would encourage you to read more. As a matter of fact, come on, it is time I showed you my computer. You can use it to read stuff online. We can get you set up with your own log in profile." She rose from the table and went down the hall as Karson followed close behind.

Rachel sat down and turned on the system as the Companion stood next to the desk. "For the most part just hit the power and the computer will do the rest." When the desktop image of the two of them appeared, she made a few clicks and soon had a user profile created for Karson. "Your user name is 'Karson' and every time you log in it will remember your settings, in case you decide to change the wallpaper or make bookmarks in the web browser."

Over the next couple of hours, Rachel showed him the basics and he picked it up quickly. Before long he was web surfing like a pro, and with her help he set up his own free email account and a screen name for the instant messenger.

"Now I can chat with you while I'm at work," Rachel commented. "Oh, that reminds me, I'll leave you a list of contact info in case you need it. I should probably get you a set of keys as well." Rachel used the opportunity to check her email and scan the forums quickly while he sat on his futon. As she got wrapped up at the computer again, Karson went back to reading his book.

Later that evening, Karson finished the book and returned it to the shelf. Rachel lounged in front of the TV by then and saw him put the book back. "You really do read fast! So how was it?" He seemed a little melancholy in his response.

"It was good. Tragic story though, which meant no happy ending."

Rachel nodded and said, "I know, maybe I should have warned you, but I did not want to spoil the story." He sighed and placed the book back, and scanned the spines for another one to start.

Without thinking she quoted a line, "What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!" Rachel smiled and said softly, "I've always thought that line was romantic."

Karson stood with his eyes closed and recited the rest of the verse from memory, his hands clasped at his waist.

"Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief that thou her maid art far more fair than she. Be not her maid, since she is envious. Her vestal livery is but sick and green, and none but fools do wear it. Cast it off. It is my lady; O, it is my love! O that she knew she were!"

Rachel looked at him in stunned silence. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"You remembered that?" she asked in disbelief. He nodded once.

"I have a very good memory, especially things I read."

"Wow, no one has ever quoted Shakespeare to me before." She winked at Karson and teased him, "I think it's sexy."

His eyes widened and he shifted nervously, not really knowing how he should respond. Rachel giggled at his unease and said, "Relax, lover boy, that was supposed to be a joke." He relaxed visibly and she chided him in a friendly tone, "You have to learn to loosen up."

"Oh...yeah, I will." He quickly picked out another another book at random.

Rachel called after him as he went back down the hall, "I'm going to fix dinner shortly, and I'll let you know when it's ready."

"Okay, thank you," he said and disappeared into his room.

Karson looked up from his book when Rachel knocked. "Come in." She entered holding a plate of food and a cup of water for him.

"Room service!"

He set the book down and jumped up to take the offerings from her. "You don't mind me eating in here?"

She laughed and said, "Nah, it's fine. I actually eat in here when I'm on the computer all the time. I don't see why you should be any different."

He sat at the computer desk and set the plate down. "Where is your food?"

She laughed again and replied, "I actually already ate. I just kind of figured you were busy reading and didn't want to interrupt." She shrugged her shoulders and waited. When he made no move to eat the food, she motioned at him.

"Go ahead, eat silly! It's going to get cold."

He stared at her and seemed suddenly surprised, as if the plate of food had magically appeared. "Oh! Uh, right, thank you!" Karson shoveled bites of the casserole into his muzzle and made sounds of enjoyment. Rachel stood and watched him for a few moments before she looked around the small room.

"Hrm, I think I might need to get an extra chair for in here, then both of us could sit down. Guess I didn't think about that when I was sitting at the computer." She laughed lightly as Karson made a motion like he was going to stand up, but she quickly stopped him.

"Oh sit down, will ya? I'll just sit on the futon for now."

He watched her as he finished his food. Rachel sat on his bed and picked up the plush. She ran her hands over his soft head and tail, and held him up in front of her face pointing the little German Shepherd at Karson.

"Have you given this little guy a name yet?"

Karson looked at her confused. "Was I supposed to give the toy a name?"

She laughed and waved one of the plush's paws at him. "Well, yeah! He is so cute, he needs a name."

He shrugged and replied, "I had not given it any thought."

Rachel sighed in mock exasperation, "I gotta do everything around here. Oh! I got the perfect name. From now on, we will call him 'Romeo'!"

Karson smiled and his tail wagged, "That sounds perfect."

Rachel held the little plush up again and rubbed his nose against hers, and she talked to it in a cutesy voice. "Well, hello there Mr. Romeo. How are you today?" She changed her voice and spoke for the little German Shepherd.

"I'm very good thank you, very nice to meet you."

She changed voices again, "You are so nice Romeo. And who is this guy over here?" She pointed the plush at Karson who watched in amusement.

Romeo said, "That is my bestest buddy Mr. Karson. His fur is sooo soft, he tickles me when we sleep."

Karson could not contain his mirth any longer and he burst out in a fit of laughter. Rachel loved the musical sound of his voice and joined him, which made Karson laugh even harder. He clutched his stomach and his eyes were scrunched closed. A moment later, he regained his composure and calmed down.

His ears drooped in embarrassment and he said, "Sorry, I don't know what came over me. That was really funny though."

Rachel was highly amused and glad that Karson was able to open up, even for just a moment. "You have a wonderful laugh." He grinned at her. She looked at the clock and stood up.

"I'll take your plate if you're finished?"

"Yes, thank you for bringing me the meal, it was very nice!"

"Sure no problem. I should probably try and get settled in, since I have to go to work tomorrow. I'll just leave it to you to get anything if you need it, okay?"

"Oh, yes. Thank you Rachel."

She smiled at him and left the room. Karson sat at the desk for another moment before he went to the futon and picked up his book again. In a few seconds he was completely absorbed in reading.

Rachel put the accumulated dishes in the washer and got the coffee maker ready for the morning. A moment later she clicked off the light and lightly walked back down the hallway. She paused outside Karson's bedroom as she heard him softly speak. He imitated the voice Rachel used for the plush perfectly.

"It is really nice here, isn't it Mr. Karson. You are my very best friend and I love you!"

He replied in his natural voice, "Yes it is very nice here! I love you too, Romeo." Rachel grinned from ear to ear, and crept as quietly as she could manage into her own room.

Karson's ears perked up as he heard her door click shut, but relaxed when she turned her TV on. He held up the plush again and spoke for Romeo. "Rachel is a really nice lady and a good friend!"

He smiled and said, "Yes, she is. But now it is time to get to bed." He turned off the light and snuggled under the covers with Romeo and was soon asleep.

Chapter 9

Karson was awake by the time Rachel rushed out of her room, and knew it would probably be best for him to stay out of her way. She poked her head into his room when she noticed him awake and said, "Hi! I gotta run, but I left a paper on the table for you with all my info just in case. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Oh, and I'll be online during lunch (at 12) if you want to hop on and say hi, 'kay? Okay, I'm out!"

She came in and gave him a quick hug, and just as quickly left the room. "I'll see you later," she called over her shoulder, and Karson heard the door locks click a few seconds later. The apartment was suddenly very still and quiet.

Karson could not recall more than a handful of times in his life when he had been left completely alone. Even when Kara would leave, he had still been left with either the Carlson's or their housekeepers. He had to admit it felt a little strange. The last time was when Kara had left for a weekend vacation, prior to her move to the college dormitories.

The Carlson's were already out of town on a business/vacation trip and it was a holiday weekend. He had spent most of his time quietly reading during the day, and got lost in his own thoughts at night. Karson remembered being so happy to see Kara when she returned 3 days later, but it was a mixed happiness.

He found out that she would soon move away to college and leave him. The Companion was of course happy for her, but could not realize how much the move would impact his life. Before he knew it she was gone, and he was left in the care of her parents.

The Carlson's were nice, but they treated him like a temporary visiting house guest, and not the Companion who had been their daughter's best friend for the last 14 years. He tried not to show it, but it affected him deeply. Now, as he sat alone in Rachel's apartment, it was hard not to feel a twinge of that same sense of abandonment. Karson knew that she would be back in a few short hours, but the anxiety was always present at the edge of his awareness. He decided to try and relax, and read to occupy his mind.

He was over half way through the book when his stomach reminded him of its needs. Glancing at the clock, he saw that it had not hit 12 yet and he had time to fix a meal before he got on the computer. He busied himself in the kitchen and ate a quickly fixed sandwich, before he returned to the computer desk.

Karson remembered everything Rachel had shown him and was logged on a moment later. Out of curiosity, he accessed the web mail he set up the previous day and discovered an email waiting for him! His tail wagged as he opened it and saw that it was from Rachel. It read:

"Hi, roommate! Just thought I'd send you a quick note so you can make sure your email is working. You can reply to this if you like (and add it to your address book, you remember how to do that?).

Don't forget, I'll be on chat around 12. I hope to see you!

Bye for now, Rachel"

He hit the reply button and typed a response. Since he was not used to the keyboard, he had to use the hunt-and-peck method. He basically said a thank you and that the email worked fine. He pressed the send button as the computer clock hit 12pm. A few clicks later he had the chat program open and signed on.

Almost immediately the computer made a bonk! sound and a little window popped open. Karson saw that it was Rachel: "Hi Karson! How are you?"

He slowly responded: "Fine, sorry I'm slow. Not used to typing."

They carried on their conversation and Rachel asked him about what he was doing, if everything was okay, if he needed anything, etc. He tried his best to keep up with the conversation, but before he finished his last answer she sent another message that said her lunch was over and would see him around 6pm. He watched as her status changed to "user offline", and again felt that twinge of fear from earlier.

He tried to take his mind off his anxiety and opened the browser. He searched for an online tutorial about typing, and was soon lost in the exercises. Several lessons and a bathroom break later, he still typed slowly but he no longer had to hunt for the right keys to press. From now on it would take practice, and he made a mental note to do just that. Karson decided to stop when he felt a shoulder cramp, and shut down the computer before he returned to his book.

He passed the rest of the afternoon reading and nearly launched off his bed when he heard the door locks click open. He flung his book aside and ran into the living room as his tail wagged madly. Karson knew he should not be so excited, but he could not control his body and almost jumped at Rachel when she entered the door.

"Hey, Karson!"

She greeted him warmly as she closed the door and tossed her purse on the coffee table. She watched as he visibly struggled to keep from grabbing her in a hug, and his tail wagged rapidly.

"Hello Rachel! Welcome home!"

She eyed him for a second and then opened her arms, as it was quite obvious he wanted to hug her. He leaped into her arms and latched around her waist squeezing enthusiastically. She laughed in friendly amusement.

"Did you miss me?"

It took a second for her statement to filter through his brain. He quickly released his embrace and stood back, and his ears and tail suddenly drooped in embarrassment. "Uh, yeah, a little bit."

She giggled at his behavior and said, "Cheer up kiddo, I'm home now." He perked up a bit and his tail wagged again. "I hope you weren't too bored today?"

"No, everything was fine. I started learning how to type."

"Oh, cool! Good for you. It will make it easier to chat and do email." He nodded. "I'm going to change, then we'll see about some dinner."

"Okay," he said and patiently waited for her on the couch.

Dinner was soon on the table and Rachel talked to Karson about the goings on at work as she babbled about deadlines and projects. He listened enthusiastically and she was glad for once to be able to blow off some steam about work. After dinner, Karson joined Rachel as she watched some TV to unwind. All too quickly it seemed, Rachel yawned and the Companion wished the day were longer. Then they both prepared for bed again.

Chapter 10

Time seemed to blur together for Karson, as his routine changed very little from day to day. He read a lot and chatted on the computer with Rachel at lunch. His typing improved rapidly, and he looked forward to time spent in the evening with her when she got home. Karson began doing simple chores like the dishes, vacuuming and dusting.

When the next weekend came up, Rachel decided to take Karson for a picnic in the park, and made sure to visit one that people flew kites at. He thoroughly enjoyed the day, and they even saw a few other Companions there on similar outings. The rest of the weekend passed happily as Rachel spent more time with Karson. They played board games or cards after dinner, which soon became a regular occurrence. Rachel found it far more entertaining when she talked to the Companion, rather than when she sat in front of the TV all night. Karson opened up more to his new friend as the days passed, and before long the two talked like life long pals.

One evening as they played gin rummy, Karson asked Rachel, "Would you mind if I go in your room? I wanted to vacuum and dust, I just thought it would be better if I got your permission first."

Rachel discarded before she replied, "Oh, yeah sure that is fine." Karson drew her discard, and then knocked on the table as he laid down his last card.

"Ah, crap," she muttered as she drew the next card. "Guess you win this one." He grinned as he laid down his hand.

"Good game. I'm going to check the forums before I go to bed," Rachel said.

"I still need to load the dish washer." Karson busied himself in the kitchen.

"Thanks for doing the chores, I know I can be a little lazy about it sometimes."

He gave her a friendly smile and replied, "It is my pleasure."

The rest of the night passed quietly, and Rachel finished up on the computer a short time after Karson sat down to read. He enjoyed her company even if they were not engaged in conversation.

The next morning was much the same as Karson was used to by now. Rachel rushed off to work and left him alone in the apartment. He accessed the computer to check some of the daily news sites before he tended to the chores.

His routine took him from room to room lightly dusting the furniture and pictures before he followed with the vacuum. This time however, he entered Rachel's room and began his cleaning. The whole time he had lived with her he only entered a couple of times, and only after she asked him to come in. Her room, being the master bedroom, had its own bathroom and shower (no tub). Karson briefly peeked in and saw the cluttered array of things on the counter and several used towels. He made a note to grab them for the next laundry run.

The Companion was soon lost in his work as he went about her room. He straightened things and dusted her numerous pictures, as well as the large dresser that took up one corner. He was amazed how much stuff she had littered about on the dresser and her make-up table, and decided not to even attempt to organize the myriad collection of jewelry and make-up. He eventually came to the simple metal shelves opposite her bed that were also piled with assorted boxes and random items. Her small TV sat on the third shelf, and he nearly sneezed when the duster produced a cloud of particles from the screen.

Karson grumbled for a brief second and wondered why he had not come in here sooner to clean. He took a few moments to clear the accumulated layer of dust off the shelves and the items piled on them. When he reached the bottom tier, he found a large shoebox that stuck out at an angle, so he pulled on it to find a better location. As he attempted to extract it, he lost his grip and the box fell on the floor and spilled its contents. A brief whimper escaped his throat at his blunder, but he quickly started to scoop the items back into the container.

The Companion could not help but glance at the collection as he picked each item up. There was a concert ticket stub, a key chain in the shape of a heart, a tiny little pink teddy bear that said "I luv U" on its tummy. With great interest, Karson slowly examined each item before he put it in the box, and did not yet comprehend what this strange assortment meant to Rachel. The next item he picked up was a photograph of Rachel and another man. She had her arms around the guy and wore a sparkly hat as she kissed his cheek. The man held up a glass and winked at the camera. A sign in the background said "Happy New Year."

Karson could not recall that Rachel ever spoke of this man. Actually, the only thing she had ever mentioned about other people was her recent break up, and even that was just in passing because it happened on the day she picked him up from the agency. It slowly dawned on the Companion that this box held a lot of private memories for Rachel, and he suddenly felt ashamed for having looked at the collection. He quickly piled the rest of the stuff in the box and closed the lid. Karson tried to clear a spot on the lower shelf to return the box, but he heard the phone ring.

He stood up and cocked his ears toward the living room where the answering machine was. After four rings, the voice mail picked up and he heard Rachel's voice.

"Hey roomy! I did not see you online, so I thought I'd give you a quick call. I want to pick up some food on the way home since I'm feeling lazy! It's going to be Italian from that place down the street. Just email me before the end of the day with what you want, 'kay? Bye!"

Karson's tail wagged at the thought of the food, as he remembered the first time Rachel had ordered from the Italian place. He went to the kitchen and retrieved the menu, and was soon at the computer as he wrote an email with his order. Since he was on the computer again, he decided to check one of the public forums he found with posts from other Companions. A while later, he received a reply email from Rachel that said she would be leaving soon, and that she got his order. He looked forward to dinner and lost track of time as he continued to scan the forums.

He heard the door locks open a while later as he looked up from his book, and went to help Rachel with her parcels. They had their usual greetings, but Rachel wasted no time getting the food unpacked and they launched straight into dinner. The food was just as wonderful as he remembered. Karson had chosen the chicken Parmesan and Rachel the eggplant lasagna.

After the meal was done, the pair sat and talked about news and whatnot. When Rachel noticed the time she rose from the table. "I can't believe it's already 9, I need to get out of this suit and take a shower."

Karson nodded, "Okay, I think I'll read some more."

"'Kay," she called, already walking down the hallway. He cleaned up the remains of the dinner and retired to his bedroom.

A little while later, he was absorbed in his current book when Rachel knocked on the door frame. He looked up at her and started to smile, but his ears lay back when he saw the frown on her face. Rachel held her box of private things in her hands.

"Karson? I found this sitting in the floor."

His heart hammered in his chest at the look in her eyes, and he feared she would scold him. "Did you find this when you were cleaning?"

His eyes looked at the floor as he stammered out an apology, finding it hard to form a coherent sentence. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...it was an accident...I was dusting, and the box...I tried to put everything back and I-"

"Karson," she said softly as she interrupted him, "I'm not mad at you." He looked up at her again and saw her expression had softened. "I had nearly forgotten about this box, actually." She looked at it wistfully.

"You're not mad at me?" he asked in a tiny voice. She sat down next to him on the bed.

"No, of course not." She laughed lightly and said, "Trust me, you'd know if I was angry." He seemed to relax a bit, but was still wary and silent. "Do you know what this stuff is?" Rachel opened the box lid and held it for him to look inside. "This is what is left from several failed attempts at love." She sighed.

Karson looked into her face. "L-love?" he asked timidly.

"Yeah. This is the junk that I've kept for some reason to remind me of the good times I've had, but in the end never worked out. I should probably just do myself a favor and chuck it in the trash."

"Why?" he asked without thinking.

Rachel sat the box in his lap and stared at him for a moment. She looked into his brown eyes and searched for something, some kind of answer. Karson found he could not pull his gaze away.

"Have you ever been in love, Karson?"

Her question finally broke him out of his trance, and he turned away.

He looked at the items in the box again, and carefully took in the details of the random items. "I'm not sure," he said with a distinct note of sadness. "How would I know?" She laid a hand on his shoulder.

"I think you would know. It's hard to describe. The feeling is different for every person. I can honestly say that I've been in love and it is the most wonderful thing in the world. But it can also be the most terrible thing in the world, if the other person does not love you back."

Her words struck him like a bolt of lightening to his chest, and he suddenly had a clear flash of Kara in his mind. Karson realized with stunning clarity, that he had indeed known the feeling of love; that he had possessed that feeling in his heart. He had loved Kara.

Rachel's words rang in his ears, as he too realized that Kara had never really returned his love. She had given him that kind of love a child has for their favorite toy, which was casually cast aside when a new toy comes along. Karson felt the sting of his past life again, and was surprised when he felt a tear land on his hand. He returned to the present when Rachel squeezed his shoulder.

"Karson? Are you okay? Why are you crying?"

He blinked as another tear fell down his cheek. He hastily wiped his eyes and held the box back at Rachel.

"I'm f-fine," he said and turned his shoulder away from her. He could not get the image of Kara out of his head, and his heart ached at the memory. All those days he spent drawing pictures for Kara, and the nights he spent curled at the foot of her bed. All those times she came home and squeezed her arms around his neck happy to see him, and how he secretly wished those days would never end.

Rachel set the box aside and put her hand on Karson's back. "I'm sorry, Karson, I did not mean to upset you. I just thought, you know, that you were curious about my stuff. It's no big deal." She closed the box and started to get up to leave.

"Don't go," he said softly.

She turned back to him. "Are you sure?"

He nodded once and she sat back down next to him.

"Rachel?" Karson looked up at her with his soft brown eyes and a pleading look. His voice quivered slightly as he asked, "Will you hold me?"

Rachel gathered him into her arms. He pressed his cheek into her neck and sobbed quietly. She spoke soothingly in his ear, "Shh, it's okay Karson. Everything is alright." She stroked her hands over his back and tried to calm the Companion.

He mumbled out between sobs, "I miss her so much. Why didn't she want me? Why didn't she love me?"

Rachel's heart went out to him as he cried in her embrace for a few moments longer. When he finally pulled away from her hug, Rachel ran her fingers over his cheeks and smoothed his tear-streaked fur. He seemed to get his composure back.

"Are you going to be okay?" she asked him with a friendly smile. He nodded and gave a weak smile in return.

"Sorry, I guess I've been keeping that buried for a while," he sniffed and coughed.

"Remember what I said? I'm here if you ever want to talk about anything."

He nodded, and she patted his hand.

"You never knew you loved her?"

He stared at his hand and put his other hand over hers. "Yeah. I guess I just never admitted it until now. What is that saying? 'You never know a good thing, until it is gone.'"

"Ain't that the truth," Rachel replied with a dry chuckle. "Well, one of these days we can order a pizza, drink some beer and talk about relationships." She nudged him, "Do you need to talk about it?"

"I do not think so. I believe I am alright for now," he said.

"Okay, well I need to get to bed, but I promise we can talk about it more later, 'kay?" She grabbed her box of stuff and headed for the door.

"Good night, Karson. Sweet dreams."

"Thank you Rachel, good night."

With that, she closed his door and he relived his memories of Kara while he slept.

Chapter 11

After that night, Karson could talk about his feelings a little easier with Rachel, and at times Rachel would talk about her past relationships. The two fell into a comfortable friendship as they came to know each other better. She made her best effort to treat Karson like a very close friend, and she enjoyed his company in return.

It was not long before Karson exhausted Rachel's small library, and soon she made a weekly habit of buying him a new book. He scanned the Internet for titles to read, and kept a "wish list" ranging from fiction to romance to how-to books. Rachel was amazed at the amount of information her friend remembered, and he often interjected useful facts into their conversations. She got the distinct impression that not all Companions were quite as intelligent as he was.

Weeks turned in to months, and Rachel made it a point to take Karson on outings whenever possible. She once took him to a hockey game, and it was both an exhilarating and frightening experience for him. The sheer number of strangers and the noise terrified him, and he clung to Rachel at times. But he also got caught up in the emotions of the crowd and the excitement of watching the sport. Overall, he enjoyed the event. Occasionally, Rachel caught a disgusted look from other spectators that did not care for Companions attending the game. At the time, she simply hoped Karson had not noticed.

It was of course not the only time Rachel had experienced the sideways glances and rude behavior when accompanied by Karson. She chose to ignore the negativity as best she could, and hoped that Karson would not take it personally. She knew that he had plenty of previous experience in being confronted with prejudice, and he always handled himself very calmly in public. But Rachel also saw the more subtle signs, since she lived with him and had learned his mannerisms.

Sometimes, Karson was very quiet and Rachel found him curled up on his futon holding his plush. She often left him to his own thoughts during these periods, but always offered that she would listen if he needed to discuss anything. He always politely declined and said he was fine, but she knew better. However, she never pressured him and just kept herself open in case he needed her company.

It was nearing the end of the year, and Rachel had secretly been planning a surprise for Karson. She knew from his personal file that his birthday was on December 14, two weeks away. Rachel did not know if the Carlson family ever celebrated his birthday, but she felt it was important to show Karson that she remembered.

In hopes of distracting him from the event, she often talked to him about celebrating Christmas and asked what he wanted for a present. He never gave her a straight answer. He believed that she did not need to get him a present if he could not return the gesture.

Rachel insisted and Karson relented, finally asking her to get him clothing if she must get him a gift. She liked the idea and said that he would need to pick out an item for her to buy as a present so they could exchange gifts. The logic of the plan did not make complete sense to Karson, but he finally agreed knowing that it would make Rachel happy. He played right into her plan as it took his attention away from thinking about his birthday.

Meanwhile, Rachel made her secret plans. She booked a reservation at an upscale restaurant downtown that sat on the waterfront. Since his birthday fell on a Tuesday, she was able to get a table for two without too much trouble. She planned to take a half-day and surprise him with an evening out on the town. She admitted to herself that it felt like a date, but decided to think of it as a friendly dinner with a close personal friend.

She had already gotten two presents for Karson that she kept hidden in the trunk of her car, since he knew every corner of the apartment. The first was a framed picture of the group shot she took that first weekend, and she had signed the corner of it with "Best Friends" and a heart symbol next to her name. She thought it was cute and hoped it would give him a sense of camaraderie with her.

The second item, she got the impression it would be important to Karson even though it had never been expressly mentioned. It was a leather-bound personal journal that he could write in. She could not wait to see his reaction.

A couple of days before the dinner plans, Rachel called to confirm that her reservation was still booked, and the maitre' d gave her a seat time of 8 pm. She found it increasingly difficult to hide her excitement about the upcoming dinner, and knew that Karson detected her mood but never inquired.

Finally, the morning of his birthday, Rachel got up a little early and ate breakfast with Karson before she rushed off to work. He was pleasantly surprised, and blushed to his ear tips when she presented him with the framed picture. He was so overcome with happiness that he could barely speak, and Rachel hugged him tightly before she left. She found her thoughts lingering on Karson during the rest of the day.

Karson was overjoyed at the picture Rachel had given him, and he was in high spirits. He was momentarily disappointed when he did not see Rachel online at lunch, but figured that she had gotten caught up in work. He was shocked when he heard her come through the front door, and found himself happy but confused at her appearance.

"Hello birthday boy!"

"Rachel! I thought you were at work?"

"I took the afternoon off to be with my best friend, if that's okay with you?"

He nodded and his tail wagged as he said, "Of course."

Rachel could not contain her secret any longer. "Karson, I'm taking you out to dinner for your birthday!"

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. But it is only early afternoon; you did not have to take off work."

"Come on, don't pretend that you're not happy to see me. Besides, I didn't want you to spend the day alone. I thought we could go out early and have a little fun first."

A short while later, they were down at a public outdoor ice-skating rink. Rachel had occasionally ice-skated, but had not tried it in many years. Karson had never been himself, but had seen others skate and was a bit reluctant to try. It was a popular enough place that the equipment rental counter had skates Companions were able to use. Rachel finally convinced Karson to give it a try, and pointed out that there were other Companions skating around the rink.

As his friend wobbled her way around the ice rink, Karson discovered he possessed a natural ability to skate. It only took him a moment to get the hang of gliding across the ice, since he had an exceptional sense of balance. Before long he literally skated circles around Rachel.

"You big showoff," she teased her friend in mock annoyance.

He skated by with a huge grin, quickly spun, and joined her.

"What can I saw? Having a tail makes it easy to keep my balance."

"Yeah, and I'm sure all that fur helps keep you warm too. Ooop!"

Rachel suddenly lost her footing and fell on her bottom. Karson was not quick enough to catch her, but he knelt to help her stand again. Just as she got to her skates again she wobbled and flailed her arms, and grabbed Karson in panic. Between the two of them, she managed to stay standing. They looked into each other's face and burst out laughing.

Rachel was bumped from behind by a passing skater and promptly fell again. Karson swiveled his head briefly to try and locate who had knocked her down and saw an older man give him a smirk over his shoulder. He quickly turned back to Rachel, who struggled to stand up again. With his help, she made it back over to the side of the rink with a bench.

"Owwie," Rachel said as she leaned on Karson and rubbed her bruised rump. He helped her sit down before he took the seat next to her.

"Maybe we should give up on skating for now?" He looked around the rink and was suddenly glad he could not see the man who had knocked Rachel down as she winced at her bruised backside. A cart outside the rink caught his attention and he made a suggestion to his friend. "Hey, look! Would you like to get some hot chocolate?"

Rachel was loosening the laces on her skates and looked up. "Oh, that sounds nice. Let's get our skates turned in and we can get some."

When the two had returned the skates and Rachel had her shoes fastened, they made their way into the courtyard that overlooked the rink. Karson helped his friend sit at a nearby table and she seemed no worse for wear after the multiple falls, but he noticed she had a bit of a limp.

"Give me a little money and I'll go get you a drink, you just sit here." Rachel started to protest, but he laid his hand on her shoulder and she relented. She watched as he ran over to the cart, and after a little bit of gesturing to convince the vendor he was getting a drink for her, returned with two steaming cups. He handed the hot chocolate to Rachel who accepted it gratefully and took a sip.

"Mm! This is good."

Karson nodded and took a sip of his drink and burned his tongue, but he hid it well. "I'm sorry you got hurt, Rachel."

She dismissed the ice rink with a wave. "Ah, don't worry about it. I never was any good at skating. You seem to be pretty good at it though." She smiled at him over her cocoa.

"Thanks," he said slightly embarrassed.

After they finished their drinks, Rachel took Karson home so they could get dressed for dinner. Over the months the Companion had lived with his new roommate, his wardrobe had increased bit by bit. Now he had several outfits to choose from. Rachel had a fun idea she offered Karson.

"How about I pick out what you will wear, and you can pick out something for me?" Karson seemed a little reluctant in his reply.

"What if I pick out something you don't want to wear?"

She laughed and teased him as she said, "Yeah, but I don't like any of my clothes. I'm secretly hoping you'll pick out something that you like, because I know exactly what I want to see you wear." He laughed at her answer.

"I am starting to suspect that you had this planned." She just nodded and ran to his closet.

"Go ahead and pick something for me, you know where everything is already," she called from his bedroom.

"Right," he said to himself as he went to Rachel's closet.

Rachel picked the outfit for Karson rather quickly, since she knew exactly what he had in the closet. After all, she was the one who had purchased his clothing. She decided on a salmon long sleeve button up shirt for him, and a pair of dark brown khaki pants with matching belt. To complete the outfit, she also picked a simple black jacket.

Karson had a harder time deciding, since Rachel's wardrobe selection was much larger. He picked out a nice pair of black slacks for her, and some functional black dress shoes. Since the weather was quite cool, he also picked out a long sleeve knit forest green sweater for her to wear over a cream-colored turtleneck. He was pleased with the outfit combination, and imagined how Rachel would look.

The pair went to their respective rooms to don their outfits, and agreed to meet in the living room. Karson was dressed first, and brushed stray hairs from his jacket while he waited. His back was turned as Rachel emerged from her room and appeared in the hall doorway. She took a moment to look at the Companion dressed in his fine clothes, and saw his tail wag idly. His clothing accentuated his lithe and trim figure, and Rachel found him quite attractive.

"Have I ever told you that you have a sexy tail?"

Karson turned to face her and grinned in admiration. Rachel looked fantastic in the outfit! Her slacks fit snugly and she filled out the sweater nicely. She looked very comfortable and very pretty. He noticed that she had her camera in hand as well.

"You look very nice Rachel!"

She walked up and stroked Karson's ears in that tender gesture she learned from him long ago. "You too, birthday boy. You are quite handsome! Speaking of which, I think this calls for a picture." The Companion nodded in agreement.

Rachel set the camera in the usual spot, since they had taken group photos from time to time after that first weekend. She set the timer and they smiled at the camera. They both shouted "Cheese!" but at the last second, Rachel turned and kissed Karson on the cheek. The flash went off and caught his shocked expression.

Rachel checked the camera and squealed in glee. Karson was curious and wanted to see the picture, but she could not pass up the opportunity to tease him. He was a modest person most of the time and generally shrugged it off good-naturedly, but this time he played Rachel's little game.

"Oh my goodness Karson your expression is priceless! I might have to kiss you more often."

"You will huh? Think you can deal with getting fur in your mouth?"

Rachel laughed at his come back. "Well maybe I'll just kiss you on the lips next time and avoid that cute furry cheek?"

"Nah, I have terrible dog-breath."

"I'll be the judge of that."

Rachel surprised them both when she grabbed Karson by his shirt and pressed her lips to his snout. The move left the Companion startled and speechless. It was not a long kiss, but long enough for her to show that it was more than just a friendly peck. She pulled back and was suddenly embarrassed, as she feared that she had crossed some unspoken line. Karson stared at her with his eyes wide, but his body betrayed his shock as his tail wagged in a happy display. He raised his hand to his lips.

"Rachel..." He said her name more out of surprise than objection, but she had turned her attention to the camera and tried to avoid eye contact with Karson.

"So, how about that picture, huh? I'm telling you, you are going to laugh when you see the expression on your face. Maybe I should get one of you alone, you know just to remember the occa-"

"Rachel," Karson said softly but with more confidence this time. Her gaze was still on the camera when he took it from her and set it on the table. He turned her chin to face him and met her lips once more. This time the kiss was soft, tender and lingering. He pressed his muzzle against her mouth, and felt her lips twitch and change shape against his. Rachel put her hand around the back of his neck and squeezed. Karson closed his eyes briefly and was lost in the moment of her closeness.

A few heartbeats later they broke their kiss, which left an awkward silence between them. Rachel spoke first as she cleared her throat. "Well, maybe we should get going? I don't want to lose our table."

"Yes, of course Rachel," Karson responded automatically. The remembered feel of her lips distracted his mind as she flashed him a quick smile. The two slipped on their jackets and were on the way to the restaurant a few minutes later.

Chapter 12

Rachel pulled up to the front walkway of the restaurant and took the ticket from the valet as she hopped out. She was excited and took Karson by the arm as the two walked into the foyer. She had never eaten at the establishment, but was told by several people at work that it was a very nice place, which meant it was expensive. Rachel wanted to celebrate the special occasion though, and hoped that Karson would not object to her doting on him.

She had to wait briefly for the maitre 'd to seat a couple ahead of her. She noticed that Karson seemed cheerful as he looked around, and gave her a brief smile as the host returned. She scanned the dining area and saw that there were a number of open tables.

"Good evening, I have a reservation for two under Nolan."

He looked past her at Karson a few feet away, who was occupied with looking over the menu, and replied, "Yes, Ms. Nolan. Let me see what we have available. Will you need an additional seat for your Companion?"

"No, there is just the two of us," she said curtly but politely.

"Ah."

The host scanned his table chart before he looked up and said, "Excuse me for a moment." He promptly disappeared into the kitchen. Rachel went to join Karson and tried to hide her annoyance.

"See anything good?"

Karson was absorbed in reading every dish on the menu. "Perhaps. This restaurant has Shepherd's Pie. I've never heard of that dish, but it sounds tasty."

"Oh, yeah. That is good. Do you think you'd want to get any dessert? Traditionally, cake is for birthdays, but you can get whatever you want."

"I have not looked at desserts yet, but yes I think I'd like something sweet."

She smiled and said, "Cool." They both looked at the menu for a couple more minutes.

The maitre 'd returned and called over to Rachel, "If you will just have a seat, it will be a few more minutes." She gave him a frosty glare, but motioned Karson to the bench in the waiting area. The two engaged in some small talk as a few more parties entered and were seated. After 20 minutes had gone by, Rachel went back to the host.

"Is there a table ready yet?"

"No, I'm sorry we had a couple of reservations running late. I will be sure to let you know when the first is available." She noticed his glance at Karson as he sat in the waiting area, and decided to change her approach. She reached into her purse and deftly pulled out a folded $20 and held it between her fingers.

She lowered her voice and said, "Look, I know it is an uncommon thing, but it's my friends birthday. Do you think you could cut me some slack and get me a table?"

The host looked at the tip as if she offered him a dead fish, and replied formally, "I'm sorry miss, but we do not currently have anything available. I will be sure to inform you the moment we have an opening."

Her gaze hardened and she nodded her head in disappointed understanding. "Yes, I'm sure you will." She turned on her heel and joined Karson again.

When she stood next to him, he pointed out the window at the boardwalk that looked out upon the river. "Look Rachel, there is a boat passing by with people waving and dancing." When she gave no response, he looked up at her and saw her frown. She seemed about to comment but was silent.

Finally, Rachel said, "Karson, would you be upset if we went somewhere else?"

He smiled at her and replied, "No, of course not. Did you change your mind?"

She looked away ashamed. "Yeah, something like that. Anyway, let's get out of here. I think I know somewhere else to go that is probably way better than this place."

He stood and held his hand out. "Lead the way."

Rachel felt like she owed Karson an apology, but when she attempted he steadfastly brushed it off and said that he did not mind where they went as long as she was with him. His attitude raised her spirits again, and by the time she had driven them to their alternate destination the two were joking in their playful banter.

The new location was an old Irish pub Rachel had been to on a couple of occasions several years ago. She chose that location because she remembered it was a "Companion friendly" establishment. It was a nice homely place named The Grinning Bulldog and was a traditional pub, which served alcohol as well as food. Rachel knew this was a better choice immediately, because when they entered more than one friendly 'hello' rang out along with a bright tingling bell at the door. Karson returned a couple of friendly waves from other Companions as he followed his friend to the bar.

Rachel caught the attention of the female barkeep and she greeted the pair enthusiastically in her thick Irish accent. "Good eve to ye! What would you like?"

She looked at Karson and turned back to the hostess before she asked, "Do you have Shepherd's Pie?"

The barmaid laughed, "Sure we do. I take it you and your friend here come for a spot of dinner then?" Rachel grinned and nodded her head. The maid gestured to a booth toward the side of the bar, "Go ahead and take that spot, I'll be along in a tick." Karson was still looking around when Rachel escorted him over to the table.

"There is another second gen over there. I'd really like to go say hi. Would you mind?"

Rachel made a shooing motion, "Go on, scoot! Go make a new friend."

He squeezed her hand and grinned before he replied, "Thanks!"

While he made his new acquaintance, the bar maid appeared with two glasses of water, one of which was in a cup for Companions. She gave a friendly smile at Rachel and asked, "So you'll be having a Shepherd's Pie then?"

"Make it two Pies please."

The maid winked at her and said, "Of course. Welcome to the Bulldog." She had almost left the table when Rachel grasped her arm and motioned her close.

In a low voice she quickly explained that it was Karson's birthday and asked if she could get a surprise dessert brought out after the meal. The maid gave her a knowing look and said, "Don't worry lass, I'll take care of everything. As I'm sure you can see, we are Companion friendly around here. I know just the thing. By the way, I'm Molly and I run the bar." She held her hand out. Rachel grasped it in a friendly shake.

"I'm Rachel. That is Karson over there." Molly took a look and giggled before turning back to her new friend.

"Very nice! He is a handsome lad. I see he has also met Bobby, my pride and joy." It was not hard to miss the affection in her voice as Molly mentioned the other Companion Karson spoke with. She gave Rachel a nod and said, "You should go say hi as well. Don't worry about the food, I'll let you know when it gets done." Molly promptly disappeared into the kitchen.

Rachel took Molly's suggestion and went to join the pair of Companions. As she walked up, Bobby spoke to Karson.

"Oh, aye. I enjoy watching the people come and go, and Molly lets me hang out here anytime I want. There is always an interesting character willing to share a pint, and we are never short of stories around these parts!"

Karson smiled when he saw Rachel and made the introduction. "Bobby, I'd like you meet Rachel. She is my-"

"Good friend," she cut in and thrust her hand out to Bobby, who shook it gladly. Now that Rachel was closer she got a better look at Bobby. He was a second gen just like Karson pointed out, and saw that he was modeled after a Beagle with black and brown spots on white fur. She thought he looked quite at home as he sat at his stool, dressed in a simple vest and a floppy checkered cabbie hat. He hoisted his special glass and said, "To Karson and Rachel!" Rachel giggled when he took a swig of ale.

"Bobby here gets to talk to people all day long," Karson commented.

"Is that so," Rachel said. She was relieved to see that Karson was completely relaxed in the pub setting and made a mental note to stop by again sometime soon.

Bobby grinned at them both. "So what brings you to the Bulldog on this fine eve?"

Rachel pointed at Karson. "Well, actually it's his birthday."

"You don't say!" Bobby exclaimed and jumped up on his stool. He called out in a clear and loud voice to all the patrons. "Ladies and gents! Can I have your undivided attention?" The dozen or so people in the pub turned their gaze to the Beagle. "This fine lad next to me is celebrating his birthday tonight. Let us raise a glass in salute. To Karson! Hip hip!"

"HOORAY!" was the enthusiastic response from the rest of the pub as everyone took a drink. Karson's tail wagged happily though his ears drooped in embarrassment. Rachel grinned and patted Bobby on the shoulder as he sat back down.

"That was sweet Bobby!"

He ducked his head and said, "Aw go on, 'twas nothing for a new friend."

She could not help being curious as Bobby drank his ale. "Do you drink much? I know alcohol can have a big affect on some Companions."

He laughed merrily and winked at Rachel. "Aye, Rachel, it took me years of practice to get used to it. But that's what happens when the love of your life owns a bar." He took another sip from his cup.

Rachel said, "Ah, I see," but was confused by Bobby's statement. She found that his words suddenly struck a chord with her, but before she was able to ponder them the new friend asked her a question.

"So missy, how long has this gent been with you?"

"Oh, uh, let's see...it's been about 7 months?"

Bobby smiled and said, "Very nice, very nice. And does she take care of you, my boy?" He winked at Karson.

"Yes," he said with complete sincerity, "she is the best friend I've ever known."

Rachel blushed slightly and tapped her fingertip on Karson's nose playfully. "It's only because you are so cute." Karson knew she played coy in front of their new friend, but he also saw a glint in her eye he had never seen before. Bobby burst out laughing at their antics, and soon all three laughed and joked like old friends.

A few minutes later, Molly strolled up behind Bobby and tugged lightly on one of his floppy ears. He wore a huge grin as she draped her arms around his neck and hugged him. She smiled at Rachel and Karson.

"What kind of stories are you feeding these young ones now?"

"Naught but the truth love. Ain't that right?" He winked roguishly at the pair.

"Right, I know what your version of the truth is," Molly replied laughing. She lent over and kissed his cheek before she turned to Rachel. "Your dinner is ready my dear. Head over to the booth and I'll bring it out. What would you like to drink?"

Rachel turned to Karson to get his opinion, but Bobby interjected.

"Trust me Karson, you'll want a tall glass of the wheat ale like I've got here. It hits the spot with the Pies that Molly makes. And don't worry none about the side affects, if you know what I mean." He raised his glass at Karson and took another drink.

"I'll give it a try," Karson said to Molly.

"Make that two," Rachel added.

"Will do!" Molly said before she again disappeared into the kitchen.

Rachel and Karson sat down at the booth, and smiled at the other. Karson's smile turned into an open-mouthed grin and Rachel had to ask.

"What?"

"I'm really glad we came here, Rachel. Thank you so much."

Rachel could not contain her affection as she replied, "You are welcome, Karson. I'm really glad I could be here for your birthday."

"Me too!" he said just before Molly plunked down two large plates in front of them. Bobby followed closely behind with a drink for Rachel. She took the glass and tasted the ale, giving a nod of approval. Bobby stood next to Molly and held something behind his back. He directed his attention to Karson before he spoke.

"Karson, on behalf of The Grinning Bulldog, Molly, and meself, I'd like to present you with a special glass in honor of your birthday." He handed it to Karson and patted him on the shoulder. It was a special pilsner glass with the Companion modification.

"Thank you! This is a great surprise." He cradled the glass in awed silence.

Molly took her turn and patted him on the shoulder as well. "Another special treat, when you bring in that glass I'll give you a drink on the house. Speaking of which..." She held out her hand expectantly and Karson relinquished his new glass to her. She brought it back full. "Enjoy your meal you two! I'll be right at the bar if you need anything, alright?"

They both said their thanks as Molly and Bobby went back to the business of socializing. Karson sniffed the aroma of his dinner in anticipation. "Oh, this smells so wonderful!" Rachel already had her silverware in hand, but waited for Karson to take the first bite. She had eaten Shepherd's Pie before, but wanted to see his reaction to the new experience.

Karson scooped a large forkful and ate the bite with relish. He 'mmm'd' and shoveled the delicious meal into his muzzle. Rachel went to work with her usual skill, and for once Karson actually kept up with her. At first he was a bit reluctant to drink the ale, but soon found that the taste complimented the meal perfectly and had nearly finished the glass by the time his plate was empty. The two enjoyed the Pies so much they barely spoke, but made up for it with meaningful glances and facial expressions.

Karson found he had to restrain from licking his plate, and Rachel giggled at him as he licked his chops clean instead. "That was excellent," she said patting her stomach. "What did you think? Ever had anything like it?"

"Nothing even close! I think this is my new favorite food." Rachel laughed and agreed with him.

A moment or two passed while the two let their food settle. Rachel held out her hand and Karson grasped her fingers. "Karson, I have another present to give you. I was going to wait 'til we got home, but I think now would be better. I left it in the car though. Sit tight and I'll go get it."

"All right, I'll be here." She squeezed his hand and quickly went out to her car. Bobby noticed her leave and looked over at him with a questioning glance."Birthday present," he said and Bobby grinned and raised his glass again.

She returned just as quickly with a thin, flat package wrapped in sparkly red paper and a red ribbon. She laid it on the table in front of Karson. "Happy Birthday," she said simply and waited for him to open it.

He smiled and untied the ribbon first, and started to methodically unwrap the gift when Rachel laughed and said, "You're supposed to just tear the paper off silly! Think of this as practice for Christmas." He took the hint and tore into the wrapping enthusiastically, and many of the bar guests looked on in interest at the sound of the tearing and crumpling paper.

Karson pulled out the leather-bound journal from the remains of the paper. His eyes took in every detail as he asked, "What is this book, it has no title?"

"That is your book. It's a journal, to write your thoughts in."

Dawning lit his face and his fingers brushed the cover as he replied, "My very own journal. I've never had anything like this." His gaze met Rachel's. "You have no idea how much this means to me." She suddenly got up and sat next to him on his side of the booth.

Rachel put her arm around his shoulders and hugged him. "It means a lot to me too, Karson. There is more. Look inside the front cover." She waited as he opened the hardbound cover reverently, and softly read the inscription Rachel had written aloud.

"To Karson,

They say the eyes are the gateway to one's soul, and that you can paint a picture with words. I wonder at what masterpieces lie behind those beautiful, compassionate eyes of yours? I will always cherish the times I've gotten to see your soul in those eyes, and in return I wanted to give you a canvas so you may one day share it with others.

Your Friend Always,

Rachel"

Karson stared at the page for a moment speechless. Rachel's words were so touching; it took him a couple of tries before he could speak. "Rachel, I...I don't know what to say. 'Thank you' seems hardly sufficient..."

She smiled and leaned her head against his, "I had a feeling you would like it. I just wanted you to know that it makes me happy to see you happy."

He smiled and she could feel his tail wiggle behind her, since there was not enough room for it to wag. "Thank you," he said softly.

She hesitated for a moment, and by now Karson knew her well enough to see she pondered something. He waited for her to speak.

"There is something more I wanted to say to you Karson. I know this has been a night of surprises, but I feel like I need to tell you."

She pulled back from him slightly and turned her shoulders to face him better, but before she uttered another word Molly burst through the kitchen doors followed by a procession that sang happy birthday. The spell was broken as Rachel and Karson turned to the oncoming group.

Molly sat down the bowl of cake and ice cream that had a single large lit candle as the group finished the last notes of the song. She grinned at Karson and said, "Make a wish and blow out the candle!" He scanned the group and looked at Rachel before he took a quick breath and puffed out the candle. Everyone cheered and clapped.

The crowd broke up as many people wished him a happy birthday. Rachel and Karson enjoyed the dessert together. When they finished, Bobby asked if he could join them and they gladly accepted. He chatted with them for a while and shared some of his humorous stories. Rachel listened as he and Karson compared notes about their schooling before adoption, and found their experiences fascinating. She also discovered that Bobby was 22 and had been through two previous Guardians before Molly had adopted him.

"How did you meet Molly?"

Bobby laughed, "That is an interesting story, actually. But I've told enough stories for now. I'm sure you don't want to hear about me."

Rachel smiled and replied, "Actually, I'd love to hear your experience."

"Oh, all right," he said and launched into his tale. "So there I was at the downtown agency, after my second owner decided to ditch me and get married. Apparently, his girl had given him the ultimatum of me or her, and well...you can figure out the rest." He huffed and took a quick sip of his drink before he continued.

"Anyway, I had been at the crummy agency for about a month. No one seemed to want an old has-been second gen, preferring to take one of the newer third gens. This was only about 8 years ago mind you before those fancy pants fourths came along. One day Molly and her smile walked in. She watched the dozen or so of us for a bit (I was the only second gen), and decided to give us a 'test' as she called it. I was intrigued.

"She asked us to all gather in a circle before her and she held a very large pink bow in one had and a silly miniature bowler hat in the other. Molly simply asked 'Would you wear these if I asked you to?' to which all the third gens nodded enthusiastically and offered all their compliments on how pretty the bow was or how cute the hat was." He pulled a funny face when he mentioned the hat and bow.

Bobby grinned as he leaned over the table and jabbed his thumb at his chest. "I was the only one that shook my head no. Little did I know that there was a second part of the test. Molly looked me up and down and simply asked 'Why?'"

"'Because I would not respect myself if I wore those silly things.' I told her. She nodded and left, and before I knew it I was going home with her. Seems Molly wanted a companion that could think for themselves and someone not afraid to speak their mind, so she got me." Molly had quietly walked up behind Bobby again while he recounted his tale.

"He is never shy about offering up his opinions, that's for sure. But that is why I love him." She scratched Bobby's neck below his left ear, causing him to close his eyes in pleasure.

"Oh, that's the spot right there!"

Molly giggled as his ears twitched. She stopped a few seconds later and sat down next to him. Bobby sighed and looked at Karson. "This girl could play me like a fiddle! Be careful if Rachel ever finds that 'spot', you'll never want her to stop." Molly and Bobby shared a secret little giggle and Rachel smirked in amusement. Karson sat quietly suddenly blushing, as he seemed preoccupied with the memory of the first time Rachel had grabbed his tail and his reaction that followed.

He had been careful about leaving himself open to such incidents. Rachel had helped him groom on a number of occasions since then, but after the two found a routine that worked, she had never grabbed his tail again. She had 'pet' him a couple of times, and of course hugs were frequent, but nothing had ever gone beyond friendly boundaries. Karson suddenly remembered the forgotten touch of her fingers running through his fur.

"Earth to Karson?"

He was jolted out of his memory when Rachel tapped him on the nose lightly. Karson looked confused as he said, "I'm sorry, what was that again?"

"Molly invited us out next weekend. Do you want to go?"

"Oh, yes, of course that sounds wonderful."

Rachel laughed and said, "You have no idea what I'm talking about do you? You were a million miles away just then. These guys want us to go with them to a little coffee shop where a friend of Molly's has a band playing."

"Yeah, it's a nice little folk group. My friend Karen has the best singing voice. You will love it."

"Oh, okay," Karson said, still embarrassed.

Rachel glanced at the clock and saw that it was already 10pm. She sighed before speaking. "I think we need to be heading out. I have to get Karson back home and get some beauty sleep before work tomorrow." She scooted out of the booth and helped Karson up. He took his new glass and journal. Rachel waited until Molly and Bobby stood up before bidding them farewell.

"It was so nice to meet you both," Rachel said as she hugged each in turn. "Oh my goodness, I almost forgot! How much do I owe you for the dinner, Molly?" She started to dig through her purse.

Molly put her hand on Rachel's arm and said, "This one is on me. Seriously, my treat." Rachel was stunned and hugged her again.

"Thank you so much!" Molly beamed at the surprised reaction of her new friends.

Bobby hugged Karson in a friendly embrace. "I trust I'll see you soon?"

Karson smiled warmly and replied, "I look forward to it." He turned to Molly and she crushed him in a hug as well. "Thank you for the wonderful evening, Molly."

"My pleasure Karson, take care!"

The friends waved goodbye as the two wished them farewell, along with several other patrons. When the door closed behind them, Bobby looked wistfully after the pair and turned to Molly. "Those two make such a lovely couple."

She nodded and kissed Bobby on the cheek. "Aye, they surely do. That's what happens when you're in love." Molly winked at Bobby before she returned to the bar.

He raised his glass and said, "I'll drink to that!"

Chapter 13

Rachel and Karson made their way through the chilly December night. The journey home passed in comfortable silence. Once back at the apartment, Rachel sat with Karson on his futon as they recounted the evening.

"Well, I think we found a new spot to visit. Molly and Bobby certainly were nice!"

Karson agreed, "Yes they were. I like them a lot, I look forward to seeing them again." Now that they had a quiet moment, Karson recalled that Rachel wanted to mention something. He spoke softly and asked, "Rachel, what were you going to tell me earlier?"

She suddenly became embarrassed and looked away distractedly. "Oh, yeah...that. Well, maybe I should just wait..." She turned back and looked at his face, and saw the bedside light reflected in his soft brown eyes. Rachel was momentarily lost in his gaze as she saw his fear, his concern, his intelligence and his warmth all held in that look. Her heart melted and she wondered why she had been afraid to tell him.

"I have wanted to tell you for so long, I just did not know how. I needed to tell you. I did not want to turn it into a big deal, but..." She could not turn away from his questioning gaze, and she did not want to. Rachel gently traced her fingertips along his cheek.

"Karson, I..."

"You love me."

He finished her sentence for her, and she nodded. He smiled and took her hand and kissed it. The two stared into each others eyes for a moment.

"I was unsure whether to tell you or not. I did not want to make things complicated, and after all of my lousy relationships I did not want end up losing you too. All those times we spoke about our past lives and how much Kara meant to you...I just did not want to intrude on that. I don't how it happened, I just found that I thought about you all the time and how great it would be if things worked out, but I was scared and didn't know what to do..." Rachel babbled nearly on the verge of tears after she opened the floodgates with her confession.

Karson simply placed his fingers on her lips to stop her from going on. He spoke his next words softly but with absolute sincerity.

"Rachel, you are more than just a Guardian. You are the most sincere friend I have ever had. As I've come to know you, my feelings too have grown. I can honestly say that I love you, and now I know what it is to be loved. You have shown me that with every action you take."

"I do love you Karson, and I don't ever want you to leave." She pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss, and smothered whatever he was about to say. They continued for several moments as Rachel's tongue pushed past his lips into his muzzle. Karson found the new experience intoxicating.

They broke their kiss and Rachel unbuttoned Karson's shirt. He let her hand roam over his chest and stomach as she nuzzled his neck. He had not seen or expected this side of his friend, but he enjoyed it. Rachel found the touch of his fur suddenly arousing as her fingers combed through the softness under his clothes.

Karson shifted nervously when Rachel slipped his shirt off. He was torn between his apprehension and longing for his new lover to continue. When Rachel nuzzled her face into his neck ruff again, he squirmed and pushed her gently away. Rachel gazed at him in confusion as he looked away distractedly.

"R-rachel? I've never been...intimate with anyone. I mean I've never had..." She grinned back at him with an affectionate smile. Rachel leaned close to him and cooed in his ear softly.

"Karson, I know. Don't worry; you'll know what to do. Just let it happen, we can take it slow."

He nodded as she looked into his eyes. She again pressed her lips to his muzzle. This time he ran his hands over her shoulders and squeezed her arms. Rachel gently pressed him back until he was lying on the futon.

Karson again felt a twinge of panic when she gripped his belt and unbuckled it, and tried to remain calm when she unzipped his pants. He knew that he had nothing to fear, but it was hard to quell his nervousness. As she tugged his pants off, he thought with amusement that not even Kara had seen him in this type of position.

Rachel smiled at him when he was fully stripped of his clothing. After tossing his garments beside the bed, she stood and likewise stripped to her underwear. He waited until she crawled along side him before he turned to her. She pressed her body next to his enjoying the feel of his soft fur against her skin.

Karson stuck his nose into the crook of her neck below her ear and inhaled her scent. She giggled slightly and said, "Your nose is cold!" Rachel murmured and pulled him closer when Karson licked her neck. Her hands roamed over his back and encouraged him to continue.

The Companion stiffened slightly when Rachel's hand reached down to his rump and grasped his tail. He did his best to relax, but when she stroked his tail a second time he quickly uttered, "Rachel, my tail is a bit sensitive. It, ah...gets me..."

Rachel had a flash of the first night she helped groom Karson and everything was suddenly clear. When he squirmed next to her, she glanced down and saw the result of her attentions. "So that is your 'spot', hm? Well, I can stop if you want me to."

Karson's head swam with desire and he muttered, "Please don't stop, I just want to make sure you know what you're doing."

Rachel nodded. "I think I have a pretty good idea what I'm doing. Karson, I want to be your first time."

The Companions inhibitions melted away when she said those words. He knew she was sincere and at that moment he wanted her more than anything. With Rachel's guidance and encouragement, he managed to stumble through his first time with a woman. She was patient and let his instincts kick in, and soon Karson lay spent next to his lover.

Rachel leaned over him after their union was finished. Karson's head was in a daze and he wore a dreamy expression. She ran her fingertips through the fur on his chest and smiled down at him.

"It looks like you might have enjoyed that?"

He simply nodded slowly, his body still remembering all the new sensations. Rachel lay her head upon his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat. Karson stroked her hair back from her face and sighed happily.

"I love you, Rachel."

She sighed as well and said, "I love you, Karson."

The two explored each other's body and cuddled together for a short while. Rachel slowly sat up and rose off the bed. She held a hand out to the Companion.

"Come here lover." Karson extended his hand and she pulled him upright. The two stood and pressed their bodies together. The Companion felt secure in Rachel's embrace and they swayed in a silent dance. Karson pulled away every so slightly when Rachel gave an unhappy grunt. When he looked into her face she wore a frown.

"I have to be getting to bed sweetie." The disappointment in her voice was evident, and a tiny whine escaped Karson's throat.

He stroked her cheek and said, "I know. You have to work tomorrow."

Suddenly, her face broke out in a wide grin and she replied, "Well, I don't have to go to work tomorrow..."

Karson already knew what she planned as she broke their hug and grabbed the phone. A brief moment later, she called in and left a voice mail that said she would take tomorrow off as a personal day. Karson grinned at her as she walked over and leaned seductively against the door frame.

"Come on fuzzball."

He looked at her in amusement. "Where are we going?"

She waited till he wandered within an arms reach before she grabbed him and picked him up. He let out a surprised yelp and she laughed. She turned to her bedroom and kissed him.

"I'm taking you to bed, of course. From now on, you are sleeping with me."

He grinned and licked her cheek. "Anything you say, Rachel."

The two made love again and cuddled intimately. Eventually, they tired each other out and fell asleep. Karson smiled in his slumber as he curled into his usual position, and Rachel cradled him in her arms with a tender embrace. Karson found his frightening dreams replaced with the warm smile of the loving woman next to him. He felt completely at peace wrapped in the comfort of her love.

~End~