FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter Seven Separation Anxiety

Roger woke up, feeling drained, he half hoped yesterday was all a dream. The day started just like any other. He didn't know what Lena was going to do about his son, though, he had made his mind up that he was going to defend him. He knew Lena was brought up in a strict, christian family. The kind that that teeters on dysfunctionality. It was no secret that she hated all things that her news told her to hate and to fear what her parents feared. Roger generally ignored it. His parents were hippies. Lena had rebelled against her parents when they met and they stayed together, despite the fact that some of her parents views stuck with her. She was a stubborn, persistent woman. Roger Never cared about the way she thought. He was more focused on his own goals that it didn't matter. Nothing ever really came up until now. Sure, he would disagree with her when their home town grew less and less populated with canines. He shrugged it off. Never telling her that he didn't mind all the diversity. He weakly got out of the shower, heading into the kitchen. Someone was up and making something for breakfast. It was Nick. He was in a pair of Adam's pajamas, he looked disheveled. That first morning they had rushed through his head. As it appeared to be for Nick as well, who was looking up and down Roger's body, sporting a slight tent in the pajamas. Roger sat down. There was already coffee made for him. Something told Roger that Nick had planned this out. "Good morning, Daddy." Nick said, walking over to the husky, putting the plate of eggs and toast down on the table. Roger nodded, there was something unsettling about Nick, now. He replied, "Good morning, Nick. Are you alright?" Nick got up behind Roger, draping his arms over the older male's shoulders. He whispered into Roger's ear, "Never been better.. Or hornier.." His tongue lightly ran across husky's ear. His bulged pants rubbing up against his back through the gaps in the chair. Roger stood up and faced Nick, "What are you doing?!" He hissed, trying not to raise his voice. Nick looked hurt, in a overplayed, false sort of way, "I need you, Roger." He opened his arms, looking as though he were sincere, "I need you so bad, nothing feels right since we've been together." Roger shook his head, "You need to lay down, is what you need." Nick crossed his arms and snorted, "What I need is resting between those legs of yours." Roger sighed, "That was one night, Nick. You have Adam, now. You're not thinking straight." He thought for a moment, "You've been through a lot, you need to seek help." "Stop telling me what I need." Nick hissed. He then lunged at Roger, kissing him fiercely on the lips. Roger pushed him away, "Nick, I'm letting you stay here because Adam loves you. If you break Adam's heart because of this.. This episode you're having, you will no longer be welcome in my home. You got that?" Nick went silent. The cougar nodded solemnly, "I understand, sir. You're right, I'll behave. I'm just a little crazy right now.." With that, he made his way out of the kitchen, mumbling something to himself. Roger sighed, something felt wrong. He felt like he were being watched. He looked to the hall, where Lena was standing, her maw open, staring like a deer in headlights at him. Roger's heart sank. All his life he was a perfect husband, and now, in a matter of a day everything turned upside down. "Lena.. I can explain.." They were the first words he could think of, regretting them instantly. She didn't say a word, she just backed up into her room. Roger's lowered his head, falling down onto the chair, the now cold eggs sitting there, his coffee left neglected. Tears were forming on his eyes. I fought them with all his might, barely escaping becoming overwhelmed. He shook his head and grabbed the plate of eggs and threw them out and poured himself another cup of coffee. Lena walked out of her room, carrying a few bags of luggage as the Adam came down the stairs in his jersey. Roger almost panicked. Lena glared at her son and looked over to Roger and said, "I'm going to my sisters. Don't call me, I want nothing more to do with you, any of you!" She glanced at Adam, who looked now like he was going to cry, Lena continued, "I'll be back for the rest of my stuff later, Roger!" Then headed out the door, where a car and another female husky was waiting for her. Both husky's had a look of shock on their faces. They looked at each other, not knowing what else to do, Roger walked over to hug his son, tight. Adam started to cry, overwhelmed with emotions. Roger kept strong, not wanting to see his own son seen him break down, as well. Neither of them could speak. All Roger could say was, "Everything will be okay." Or, "This is not your fault." Though, Adam strongly believed himself to be the reason. He couldn't help but feel to blame with all that's been going on. Without really thinking about it Roger said, "Do you need a ride to school.. Don't you have a game today?" It was an attempt to distract Adam from what was going on. Adam took a step back, "Yeah.. Nick is in the shower.. I'll tell him I'm going, then." With that, he nearly ran upstairs and returned a few moments later with a duffel bag, "I'm ready to go, dad. Nick said he'll see you at the game, later." Adam said, in a soft, defeated tone. Roger wished he could better cheer Adam up. He didn't like seeing his kid so down. He made a personal note to take the two out for a nice dinner someplace. And to insure Nick got his senses back. He was worried Nick was losing himself. Roger drove Adam to the campus. It was a quiet and uncomfortable trip towards the school. Roger could see that Adam was on the verge of tears the entire ride. They eventually got onto campus and Roger stopped the car, "Good luck out there, champ." Adam faked a smile, "Thanks, dad. Will you be there to watch me?" Roger nodded, "Yeah, of course. Wouldn't miss it." "Thank you." Adam nodded, opening the door. "I love you, Adam." Roger blurted it out. It was something he felt they both needed to hear. "I love you, too, Dad." Adam smiled, "I'll see you later, then." He closed the door and Roger started his car to drive himself home.

* * *

Roger got home after work early, he had arranged it so a week ago. The place was empty. Something felt wrong in the air of his house. An odd sort of silence. A resonance of what has happened earlier. He walked into his room. The drawers had been emptied. He looked around the room to see what of his she took. Even his stuff had been ransacked. His desk had been searched thoroughly. He shook his head, she took the handgun he got years ago. He didn't even know she knew he had it. He had always kept it secret. Taking it out to go shooting with the guys from work every once in a while. A small part of him thought that she might come back to kill him with it. The half emptied box of bullets was still there. He gathered that maybe she was scared he would come at her with it. He shrugged it off. She took money, his class ring, and a few other things of his that she would most likely pawn. He didn't have much time to go through everything. He dressed in a hurry, not wanting to be late to Adam's game. The stadium was crowded when he got there. There was a rush of people making their way into the gym. Nick was there, in the crowd. He was staring at the ground, with his hands in his jacket pockets. Roger tried to say hello to the cougar, but it went unheard. Roger felt bad for the feline, he hoped things got better. For everyone. Even he was feeling hopeless with all that was going on. It was refreshing seeing Adam holding it in as he was talking to the other athletes. Their eyes met, briefly, which brought a feint smile to Adam's muzzle. Somewhere deep inside, Roger could feel their bond as father and son grow. After a while of pushing through the mass of furs he found some place to sit down. It was front row, being the father of the star player had it's perks. Nick was nowhere to be seen. The court was cleaner than he remembered it. There were cheerleaders huddled in the corner, or talking to their boyfriends in the seats. Banners and music played, people were chatting excitedly, while the coach and players were all either coming out of the locker rooms or talking to one another. The game had started a few minutes later. Adam was noticeably off his game. He missed a few shots, threw a couple bad passes and air-balled on a penalty shot. After a brief scolding from the coach, Adam started to get his act together. The first half of the game passed quickly. Roger never cared for basketball, so he felt it was rather uneventful, sometimes wishing his son had picked up football. All he watched was his son, hoping he wouldn't mess anything else up. There was a break before the next half of the game. Some people got up to stretch their legs or get a snack to eat. The husky stretched and sat back down, waiting for the game to start again, making idle chit chat with some of the other student's parents or some of his co-workers. He knew he wouldn't have long before they all knew what happened. About his wife leaving him. He knew to enjoy it while it lasted. A woman he knew, a canine, one of his wife's friends asked where Lena was. Roger told her she wasn't feeling well. By the time Roger tired of being asked about his wife, the game was getting back to starting. An announcer was back on talking about things getting ready to get started. Though, something was wrong. Adam wasn't around, his coach looked around confused. There was an awkward moment of silence before the game started anyway. Just as the game took off, there was a load bang. A gunshot. There were screams and a rush of people leaving the gym in a hurry. Roger looked at the source of the noise. Nick. Roger stood there in shock as everyone rushed out of the building. It didn't take long to empty out. There stood the cougar. Naked and dripping wet, like he had been in the shower and never bothered to dry himself off. He was holding a gun, which was now pressed against the head of the husky in his arms. Adam was struggling to break free, he looked scared. Nick's eyes were bloodshot, he was practically sobbing. Nick slowly approached Roger, panting, almost hyperventilating. Roger had his paws reached out to the feline, "Nick.. What are you doing?" "Look what you made me do!" Nick screamed, his voice hoarse and a bit crazed. "Nick, I didn't make you do" "Yes! Yes you have!" Interjected Nick. His paw was shaking, finger was on the trigger. Roger was scared. His son was one twitch away from dying. Roger tried to keep calm, "Now, Nick, please calm down. You don't want to kill anybody.. Just put the gun-" "Don't you tell me what I want!" the cougar yelled, "Love me! Or I'll fucking kill him!" Roger's heart sank. He couldn't begin to grasp what was happening. Without thinking, Roger shook his head and said, "Nick, you have my son at gun point, you know that's not possible." He could feel tears rolling down his face. He'd never been so scared in his life. He didn't want to lose Adam. Nick pointed the gun at Roger, "I said love me!" There was a bang and the sound of a bullet whizzing past his ringing ear. "Nick, please, let him go!" Roger screamed, "I will never love you if you kill him." Nick put the gun back against Adam's head, Adam winced as the smoking gun burned some of his fur and skin. He frowned, "Not until you tell me you love me!" Roger was getting frustrated, "Ok.. Nick, I love you." He said, blankly. "Don't lie to me!" Nick roared. "I'm doing everything you ask! What do you want from me!?" Roger said, his patience thinning. Sirens from the police were starting to be heard from a distance. Nick looked like he was seriously trying to think of what to say, "I.. Don't know!" His paw shook more now. Police came in and yelled to Nick to put the gun down. Startled, Nick looked up to the police officer, a look of panic on his face, then a loud bang came from Nick. He accidentally shot Adam through the head. Blood and brain splattered on the floor beside him. He dropped Adam, looking up at Roger, a look of terror on his face as he backed up, shaking his head. It was then that something inside Roger snapped. His instincts took over him. He stopped thinking, he just ran towards the cougar with every ounce of strength he had with every intention of ripping the feline limb from limb. Nick pointed the gun at Roger. The police ran in, aiming to shoot at Nick. In a flurry of rage, Roger lunged, hearing the bang of the gun. He fell to the ground beside Adam, clutching his chest. He was coughing up blood, groaning in pain as Nick backed into the corner of the gym. Roger was half conscious, trying to stand up, slipping on the pool of blood beneath him. There were police officers shuffling all around him, screaming things he could no longer understand. Someone pulled him over to the bleachers. Somewhere in the distance, before he blacked out, he heard another gun shot. Roger woke up in a hospital bed. The constant beep that must have been his heart was the only thing he heard. He looked around the room. Empty. He was in some pain, though he knew he was heavily drugged. He could feel the effects of the morphine. He looked at his chest. It was shaved, bandaged and bloody. As Roger lay there, he thought about what he had done wrong. Why everything had spiraled out of control so quickly. His son was dead, his wife had left him. If there was a rock bottom, this was definitely it. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling of an empty hospital room with only a steady bleep to tell him he was still alive.