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Ch.19 Movement 2. Moving.

**

"Move back from the screen mom....I can barely see you...."

"He's where?" Dalten stared at the video screen not really able to think much after the last sentence. His mother's resigned sigh was all he really heard.

"You're dad is in jail. He attacked Mr. Carson" Dal ran his hand through his mane. None of this made sense. His dad? Attacked? The bull? The best fighter in the county? His dad? Dalten Samuel Taylor Senior? The taciturn poetic stallion?

"They took him to the hospital first. He was gored pretty badly, but it was only a collapsed lung and some stitches. They took him a few hours after that. I was wondering why it was taking him so long to get home. Mr. Carson isn't pressing charges, but they are keeping your dad overnight."

Dalten needed Rick right now, but the canine had stepped out with Val and Seth for some dinner before their flight left in the morning. Dal had gotten them a room at the airport.

Dal's mom looked strained. She ducked her head. "I just wanted you to know Dal. Rall....Mr. Carson said some pretty hurtful things. You know your dad. He's fine unless someone really touches a raw nerve. Never bring up his grandfather, never tease him about poetry, and never threaten his kids."

Kids....me? Oh no....

Dal closed his eyes. This is all my fault.....

"Dal?"

All my fault....

"Dal!"

Dalten snapped his head up. His mother looked worried. He gave her a grin.

"I'll be ok Mom, just, let me know what happens."

She nodded and turned the Video Screen off.

"Oh man, this is my fault....all my fault...."

The door opened quickly. Dal winced remembering last night. Rick padded over to him quickly, a deep look of concern on his face, and reflecting in his cool blue eyes. "What happened?"

Dal quickly outlined the story trying to keep himself from going into a spiral of depression. If his mind latched on one thought, he knew he'd be ok, he just had to have the right thought....

Rick shoved something at him.

Dal looked in his hands. His composition book and a pencil. He flashed a quick grin to Rick, opened the book and began taking notation furiously.

**

Rick sighed. He glanced over his shoulder. Val and Seth stood side by side still at the door. He patted Dal on the head absently. "I'll be back Dal." The equine nodded absently.

The door closed to the room. The three made their way back to the elevator and the lobby and their quickly abandoned meal.

"You knew something was wrong didn't you?" Seth stared Rick in the eye. The cheetah's own eyes locking. "You just knew something was wrong with Dalten and had to go help. How?"

Rick shrugged. He was getting used to going shirtless, but other people weren't. It was obvious now to others as to who he was. Luckily at this hotel, no one was giving him or his friends any hardship. Some of the patrons didn't look happy, but at this point Rick could care less about those less than thrilled with his presence.

"I don't know how I know, I just know. There's something there inside of us. Sometimes I can even tell what he's thinking, and he can do the same to me. I can't explain it any better than that." Rick nodded sitting down at the table and resuming the meal they had left.

"So what are you two doing now?" Val asked cocking her head to one side. She'd ordered the fish, and had finished before Seth or Rick, and now only had a single piece of dessert, some pie.

"Well, since Dal...I'm sorry, since we have a photo shoot next week, and Dal has that voice recording to make we figured we'd head to the west coast somewhere. The offices of the publisher are there, and there's a denser population. We're hoping on trying to be as anonymous as a Soul Touched and Soul Bound dalmatian and Clydesdale male couple can be really."

Seth nodded. "As if it would be easy to hide you two."

"I know, that's why we're hiring guards. Just two, but hopefully it won't be forever. They're supposed to meet us when we get off the plane. Then right after that it's off to London for a while."

Val shook her head. "All this within just a few short months. What happened to that quiet reserved barista dalmatian I knew and loved?"

Rick chuckled. "I think he got lost somewhere in Germany. Seriously I just think people will need some time. How much staying power could this possibly have? All it will take is some political scandal or uproar and the classical musician stallion and his dalmatian lover will fade back into obscurity."

Seth sighed finishing his dinner.

"I hope you're right."

**

Rick and Dal stood at the gate to their flight, waiting to board. They avoided the gazes of people. Rick was finding this hard. A teenager female dalmatian walked up and asked Rick for his autograph. It took him a minute to figure out that she wasn't joking.

"Did it hurt?"

She looked at him shyly.

"Um...did what hurt?" Rick cocked his head at her.

"That." She pointed at the mark on his shoulder.

He grinned back at her. "No. It felt kind of nice actually."

She giggled, thanked him for the autograph and left. A few people snapped pictures of him and Dal waiting. Some of the older folks openly stared while younger furs seemed to be more shy.

Finally boarding began. Dalten had splurged and gotten them first class tickets in the hopes that the smaller cabin would give them more privacy. It was also a good bet it had a lot to do with the fact normal seats were hard for him to squeeze into.

They sat in their seats as the stewardess (a white feline) took their drink orders. Two coffees black. Rick sighed a bit as he realized that the people in First Class were less likely to make a scene. He thought one of the members in their cabin was one of the capital's ministers and his wife, but he couldn't be sure.

The Sub Orbital Flight took less than two hours to get them to the coast. The land known as "California" back when the United States had existed along with parts of Oregon and Washington and Canada were still there. The plane came to a halt at the exit. Rick could not wait to get off of the plane.

**

Dalten sighed as the door was opened to the plane. Ever since he'd boarded he'd been thinking of his father. True to his mother's word, she'd let him know he was fine and back home, however, the fact that the event even happened worried him. He'd been forced so far out of his comfort zone he was amazed he was staying sane.

Rick and Dal were two of the first off of the plane, and they found their two guards waiting for them at the baggage claim. A few people took pictures of Rick and Dal.

"Mr Taylor?"

Rick stared. Dalten understood why when he glanced over at the figure. The stallion could be Dal's twin, the only difference was the green eyes. The other guard was a hulking canine that screamed rotweiler. Dal had gone to school with a few "rotties" and the guys always seemed to hold a perpetual grudge to the world.

Easy there Dal. Don't make judgements or you're no worse than those guys that attacked you.

Dal took the stallion's hand and shook it easily. He recognized all of the telltale equine signs that said this guy meant business, and was dead serious. He inclined his head slightly. "I'm Roland, and this is Dwight." The rottie gave a firm handshake to Rick and Dal. "Where are we headed?"

Dal grinned. At least the publishing company is paying for part of our lodging bills.

"The Royal Arms."

**

Rick stared out of the window down at the city and ocean bellow. He felt lost and lonely. Dal slipped in behind him and put his hands on his shoulders. Warmth filled him. "Feeling out of your depth huh?" Dal made it a comment, and not a question. Rick still nodded, turning and burying his muzzle into the equine chest.

They had a suite. It wasn't a full on penthouse suite, but it did have a full kitchen, dining area, and private bedroom. The living room area had two huge couched that could be turned into beds. That would be where their protectors would be sleeping. This way anyone would have to go through them to get to Rick and Dal.

"I feel more like a prisoner." Rick concentrated on the sweet musky horse in front of him, one claw tracing a delicate line across the dappled trail on Dal's abs.

Dal nickered softly. "I know what you mean." Dal pulled Rick over to the bed. They sat down side by side for a bit in silence.

**

Dal reached down and pulled out Rick's guitar from next to the bed, handing it to the canine. Rick gave him an inquisitive look.

"Can you play for me?" Dal asked softly. In all the time they'd been together, the only time Rick had played just to play and not practice had been at his parents. "...and sing?"

Rick blushed. Dal was getting good at reading canine, but he sensed this blush was from pride, and not embarrassment.

The guitar was cradled in Ricks arms as he tuned it. Dal laid back on the bed and listened to his mate play and sing.

**