Unjust Love

A Shepherd's Love: Part Two

By Roofles

“He's a runner!" Bradley's voice crackled over the radio.

“On it!" Tan Colt was already jumping down the flight of stairs in the bowling alley, skidding as he hit the bottom and taking off through the dark building in a full sprint.

“Target sighted!" He panted happily as the perp made a break for the front door.

The tweeker didn't even have a shirt on as his pasty skinny legs tried to outrun the K-9 in hot pursuit. “Don't bite me, bro!" The man just yelled back at him, scrambling away and nearly slipping on the floor.

Tan Colt gagged at the very idea of touching him, not even wanting to touch the man afraid he'd break the sticks he called arms if he grabbed him. Let alone catch something from him.

“Be there in a second." Bradley quickly made his way up from the basement where the drug den had been located at. Several of the employees had started up their own side business underneath the bowling alley of “10 Lane Heaven."

A good fifteen minutes earlier the two had arrived on the scene.

A tip from one of the employees during the day shift let them track the place down, coming in after closing hours where the activity had reportedly been seen. Tan Colt had sniffed things out the very second they'd walked through the front doors and proceeded to track down the hidden entrance behind the lanes like a bloodhound. Something Bradley couldn't help teasing his new partner about.

“That nose of yours really comes in handy." Bradley pulled out the beratta from underneath his arm. It scanned over his hand even through the glove he was wearing to disengage the safety locked installed onto all legal guns. “You'd make a terrible partner without it."

“Right." Tan Colt just wagged. “Like you'd catch any of these assholes without me with those small legs of yours." The German Shepherd gave him a wink, which was still off, something Bradley had been working on him with, as he moved first through the side door. Tan Colt refusing to let the human take the lead during the past several busts they'd been on together.

At first Bradley had taken it as a bit of an insult, being the far more experience of the two officers. It quickly became clear, after the two were jumped in the stairwell, why the K-9 did. Tan Colt took the metal bat to the face and still came back punching, slamming the female against the wall hard enough to crack it. Or her. It was hard to tell as his grip tightened, keeping her from screaming to warn anyone else inside.

“That. Hurt." Tan Colt snarled at the struggling woman, slowly tightening his grip as his nose dripped blood.

“Tase and release." Bradley tapped Tan Colt's shoulder as a remind. With a snort against her face, Tan Colt flicked a switch on his wrist and the gloves he wore lit up bright blue before going dark once more.

She was out cold and was left unceremoniously on the steps as the two made their way down the dark steps towards the back room. Two more employees, after hours, were taken down as Tan Colt pounced halfway up the stairs and slammed them against the floor. He dusted his hands off, nose twitching as he looked around for anyone else.

He sneezed. “Dusty down here."

The room had been designed to reset the bowling pins and for extra storage. Short ceiling that made Tan Colt hunch. It was as long as it was wide giving the workers plenty of room to go all the way down the lanes incase anything jammed.

There were plenty of things being stored down here but they weren't any bowling pins Bradley had seen before. He whistled softly as he looked over the tables set up. Each table had been placed in front of one of the ten lanes and he was already putting things together in his head.

They'd bowl the balls down the lane, get them here where they would take the drugs out and store them before transporting them after hours most likely. It wasn't exactly rocket science but it got the job done.

“Enough Bright down here to light up the entire damn street!" Bradley was already radio it in as he looked over the tables. Several brightly lit packages were sealed on them in transparent plastic sealed baggies. Each table had a different color of the street drug, glowing like neon lights in the otherwise dark room.  

Bradley had to explain to Tan Colt what Bright, as it was called on the streets, was. A powerful drug that would “light up one's life." It made colors come in crisper, made the world “brighter," and could make anyone see how beautiful life could be. It was also extremely addicting with severe side effects each worse than the last. Causing anything from blindness to death.

“What some people will do to see things better…" Bradley muttered looking over several of the bowling pins. Their tops had been cut off and the insides hollowed out. Whoever was running this was stuffing the pins with the drugs and then transporting them out unnoticed after receiving the drugs during the day.

It was still a slobby job if some janitor had tipped them off about something going on. Most people these days seemed to be turning to crime and drugs to help pay those extra bills or to take that edge off, Bradley noted poking one of the packages. It was leaking slightly, not something a big operation would make the mistake of.

He was more curious where these kids got these drugs from than why'd they'd be selling them. Motive for such crimes were obvious and apparent. No need to deduce that.

“If you take some, your eyes glow. Or so they say." Bradley shrugged, looking over several of the packages before around the room. His helmet scanned everything there sending the feed out to the car. All the evidence they'd need to lock these criminals up. “No. I've never tried it." He added, glancing over at the German Shepherd who was sniffing at several of the packages before wrinkling his nose and pulling back.

“Because you're a good boy." Tan Colt gave him that, awkward, wink again. It was like his face was having a spasm and Bradley had been worried Tan Colt was having a stroke when he kept doing it during their last lunch break that day.  

That hadn't been what made Bradley gasp though. Despite how uncomfortable it was to watch the K-9 try to wink; it was the blood gushing from his nose that made Bradley take notice.

Bradley jumped looking at his partner. “Your face!" The human quickly came over making Tan Colt stand tall and proud at the attention he was getting. He liked being noticed. The look he got though made the German Shepherd fidget. The six seven K-9 pushing his fingers together as he hunched over in front of the human so they could be, a bit, more on level with each other.

It was easier than Bradley having to reach up, sometimes jump, to grab the German Shepherd's ear to pull him down. It was better than having his partner look down on him in a very literal since of the word.

After the initial shock of having a, well, bioengineered war crime in the making as his partner, Bradley began to learn just how harmless Tan Colt could be. At least with him. He might've been pushing the limits of their budding friendship, but the German Shepherd didn't seem to mind in the least. Elating in the attention Bradley had begun giving him, even with the playful gestures.

Usually. Tan Colt must've had his pain receptors turned way down because this hadn't been the first time he'd been injured on the job and not reported it or taken note of it. The K-9 seemed more than happy to jump head first into danger with little concern for his own wellbeing. So long as the job got done.

Bradley had bought a medical kit for their apartment and had bandaged Tan Colt more times than he'd ever done for himself in his entire life.

“What's on my face?" Tan Colt whined softly, trying to cross his hazel, gold flecked eyes to look down his snout at what Bradley was looking at.

“You took it rather hard to the face, Tanner…" Bradley touched his nose making the K-9 wince. “It might be broken… We need to get this checked out," Bradley was already pulling out a cloth from his utility belt to dab at the bloody snout. “Tanner…" His voice was soft as he looked over the damage done. “Got to be careful on this job. You're not bullet proof…"

Tan Colt waited for Bradley to stop before shrugging it off.

“Oh, that." Tan Colt placed a thumb over one nostril and snorted out mucus tinted red with blood from the other before correcting his nose with a loud pop between two fingers. Wincing, the K-9 just smiled at him. “There we go. Good as new." He smiled with crusty blood underneath his nose and on his chin.

“Ew…" Bradley wished Tan Colt had at least waited for him to take a step back first before blowing bloody snot over him. This was why they showered after every day together. Not the kind of bodily fluids he'd planned to share with another guy. “Disgusting, T-Dog."

Bradley had accidentally used the dumb nickname, shortening Tanner down to a T and adding dog for the fact of what he was one. Someone else might've taken offense to it. It had the opposite effect on the canine who, thus, began trying to think of nicknames for the human.

“Going to make sure the coast is clear." The German Shepherd just said not seeming to notice his partner's distaste as Bradley wiped snot from the front of his Kevlar vest. He began heading for the door as Bradley secured the basement.

He pulled a can from his front vest pocket and shook it. Spraying down the two crooks knocked out on the floor, the foam substance instantly began to harden like quick dry cement trapping the two against the floor. A bit of water would easily dissolve the substance. He didn't want them waking up though as he looked around.

“Margaret was the one on duty tonight." Bradley looked over the schedule they had gotten. “That must've been the chick that jumped you on the stairs… She was scheduled to close up shop. She was dating a guy name Jell…" He shrugged at the look Tan Colt gave him at the bottom of the steps. “Don't ask me, that's just the intel we got." Bradley just laughed as he went back to documenting the packages as Tan Colt headed up the steps, sniffing out anyone else here.

“Apparently," Bradley went on. “This Jell guy was the one who got who interested in the idea of making a quick buck on the side. She has a lot of loans taken out and is struggling to keep up. Makes sense she'd try to make some quick cash underneath the table." Bradley said as he looked underneath one of the tables to make sure nothing was booby trapped.

He hated when that happened.

The smell in the room was giving the K-9 a headache and he wanted to leave the room as soon as possible. Tan Colt had only begun to trust leaving Bradley alone on duty in the past week. And even then, Bradley would get face time calls from the K-9 the entire time, even when Tan Colt was taking someone down.

The two had been partners for the past month and while Bradley was getting used to have a six-foot seven bioengineered K-9 unit living with him, it didn't make things easier. Bradley never knew someone, even like Tan Colt, could shed so much for starts. He had found clumps of the dog's fur in every nook, cranny, and corner of his small apartment after the first week! It took a half hour pulling all the fur out of the drain the last time he showered. It had gotten so bad Bradley had ordered a specialized cover for the drain hopefully in order prevent the chore of that again. The website said it was the best dog grooming drain cover and hoped they weren't lying. He spent most afternoons, after their shower at the locker, watching shows at home while brushing the K-9 to get any clumps of fur out. Tan Colt loved the brush more than anything and would lounge out over Bradley's legs on the sofa, half off it, and let the human brush him for hours.

And that was only the start of their very strange living situation.  

Tan Colt still slept on the floor near his bed, the guard dog ever vigilant for the nonexistent threats. Bradley had gotten him a futon at least to lie on. Bradley didn't realize the large rectangular memory foam bed he'd ordered online ended up looking like and serving as an oversized dog bed for the German Shepherd. It took up nearly half his bedroom. He was just glad Tan Colt was either too nice, or too ignorant, to point it out.

“We got a couple hundred pounds, at least, of Bright down here." Bradley radio in taking a couple of pictures before spying the twitching tarp in the corner. He reached out slowly, snagging it before pulling it back only to jump as a rather skinny looking employee jumped out. “Holy frack!"

The employee sprinted towards the exit, pushing past Bradley who tried not to knock over any of the product. It would be very bad if any of the bags ripped open and that stuff leaked out or got on his bare skin. It wasn't good to ingest, let alone to end up bathing in the stuff.

“Runner," Bradley had called out over the radio and Tan Colt was on the case. The German Shepherd having headed upstairs looking for anyone else in the building.

“Yes, yes, yes!" Tan Colt was all over it as he spun around and bolted towards the stairs, taking three at a time down them as he panted happily as if this were a game he and Bradley played together. Running into the wall, he turned and jumped down the rest of the stairs and into the main room instantly picking up on the movement on the other side.

It wasn't wise to run from a dog. Let alone a trained, special forces K-9 who was now in “hot pursuit." He'd nab the baddie, get rewarding head pats in success from Bradley, his partner and going to be best friend even if it killed Tan Colt! And then the two would head down to the cop bar to celebrate another day working together!

 It was the best. This was the best. And the German Shepherd jumped up to click his heels in the air before landing heavily on the floor, shaking the nearby pool tables set up next to the arcade.  

“Stop in the name of the law!" Tan Colt hollered out, reaching for his gun that he didn't feel the need to draw. The tweeker was all skin and bones. White and pasty like old toothpaste and was riddled with sores making Tan Colt hesitate to grab him as he ran past.

“Out of the way, freak!" The junkie flailed his skinny arms at the K-9 who pulled back in disgust.

“Why are so many humans so," Tan Colt muttered aloud as he snagged a nearby bowling ball. He didn't bother putting his fingers into the hole, seeing as how they wouldn't fit. He took a moment, angling the shot as the man ran straight for the front door. “So, ugly?" And the K-9 took a single step forward before throwing the ball across the floor at the man.

It hit him, hard, in the back of one of his legs and he fell like a used, wet sack of potatoes with a startled scream.

“Checkmate!" Tan Colt yipped, jumping in the air as Bradley came up behind him, slightly out of breath from taking the stairs so fast and running over to help.

“You mean strike," Bradley corrected coming on over and cuffing the crook for the German Shepherd doing a victory dance. “Checkmate is for chess," Bradley explained. He'd been slowly introducing Tan Colt to human games and culture. Something that had been far harder to do than he thought.

This was why Bradley had never wanted kids. He'd take care of his nephews and nieces happily but would never dare have any of his own.

“Eh, close enough." Tan Colt just offered with a heavy shoulder shrug, lifting both arms up and tilting his head to the side as his tongue rolled out one side. “I still knocked down the pin."

“They're two very different games!" Bradley just laughed though. He couldn't recall a time in his life that he was actually, what, smiling? During work no less! It was crazy how much of an effect Tan Colt had on his life in this past month alone.

Even when he was acting dumb, Tan Colt knew how to make things light hearted and fun. Bradley had only known the K-9 for a month now and it felt like he'd known Tan Colt his entire life.

It wasn't that Tan Colt was stupid, no. In fact, the German Shepherd was extremely sharp and intuitive, picking things up almost instantly after Bradley taught him it. Be it a game or, even, something as simple as the proper way to wash dishes. Tan Colt was extremely adaptable to nearly any situation and with his training at the facility, he easily put Bradley to shame in the field.

The K-9 didn't need him for half the cases but, gladly, involved him in each one. So long as it didn't directly put Bradley in danger, Tan Colt would work with the human instead of just solving or taking care of the problem by himself.

He even stopped biting people!... for the most part.

“Bite that bro!" Tan Colt pointed at the whimpering man on the floor, practically laughing at him. He really couldn't see a criminal past the crimes they'd committed despite Bradley best efforts too.

However, it was also becoming abundantly clear Tan Colt didn't have the basics of… life, down. It was like he'd been deprived a childhood. Unfamiliar with general things from proper forms of greeting an average day citizen off duty, to what certain holidays meant or were about. He didn't even know what a birthday was…. or tipping! Tan Colt had been utterly confused why Bradley had left the extra couple of dollars at Bill's Diner the previous week when Bradley bought them dinner. Tan Colt had gone out of his way to fetch the extra bills for the human, wanting praise after. It took some time to convince Tan Colt it was proper custom to tip after a meal.

The K-9 both understood and didn't. He got what Bradley was saying but didn't see the reason behind it. “He's doing his job and getting paid, already isn't he? Why would you give him extra money for… working? We don't get tips and we literally save lives." Tan Colt hadn't let it go for the rest of the day and Bradley ended up talking to him about it late into the night. Bradley on the bed, Tan Colt lying down on the floor looking up at him. The two shirtless in nothing more than boxers as they chatted the hours away.

Bradley hadn't minded, though. When he used to argue with his old partner, Andrew, things got heated fast. The two wouldn't talk for the rest of the day after the subject that had started things up. It would just be dropped halfway into discussing the issue, forgotten and ignored. Festering between the two like a bad sore left untreated. With Tan Colt… it wasn't anything but.

The German Shepherd seemed to hang onto every word Bradley had to say. He laughed when Bradley did. He smiled and wagged his tail when Bradley got into it, sitting up in the bed and talking about how most people couldn't afford living on a minimum wage job and how, even a couple of bucks as a tip, truly helped make their lives better.

“Simple acts of kindness." Bradley said, honestly. He was so used to clipping his own words, pulling in his feeling, and tapering it off. Just due to the fact Andrew hadn't been as receptive as Tan Colt was. Afraid of even trying to have a genuine conversation with the man.

“What if they're trying to just get free money?" Tan Colt had countered with a low growl, getting mad at the idea of someone trying to rip off his partner.

“Gut feeling." Bradley would just answer with a shrug and leave it at that as the two talked about something else.

His new roommate, partner and friend was everything Bradley had wanted to be paired up with since he started this job. Idolizing the new police force being instated in New York and how it could possibly change things across the country! He wanted to be part of something big and world shaking! In a way, he was now with Tan Colt here with him.

Tanner Colton wouldn't just leave it there, though. He didn't just let the conversation drop off or end. He'd sit up, matching Bradley's posture and continuing the conversation with that smile on his face and a wag to his tail. Tan Colt would branch out from the original subject onto others. Latching onto things Bradley had mentioned in passing, recalling how the human felt or what he'd said about something else and ask about that too. Wanting to know about Bradley's thoughts on other things than just tipping or birthday parties.

They'd talk late into the morning even if the two had to work the next day. Bradley felt… young again. Talking with Tan Colt like this. It was like he was back at college one second. Then in high school the next. At times in middle school during his first sleep over and then even imagined elementary school learning the basics together. The two would talk about each and everything the other could think of until finally crashing for the night as if it were just that, a sleepover, keeping their voices down so their parents didn't find out.

It was a silly but heart-warming thought to have as Bradley tucked into bed just the other night. Still, he always ended up wondering about Tan Colt and the other K-9's. These things they'd talk about were things you'd learn about as you grew up. Life experiences you couldn't just learn from a book. Things you'd experience in kindergarten or preschool or even at church. Bullies, friends, people moving away, dealing with loss… For good or for bad. Things that they had been deprived of. These things simply weren't a part of the education Tan Colt and the other K-9's had received.

Bradley hoped he could at least teach his partner a few things just in case the day ever came where the two were split apart. It was a bittersweet thought that maybe he'd be a pleasant memory in the K-9's mind if they were to ever separate.

Bradley quickly joined Tan Colt in the bowling alley after securing the runner to the floor with the foam spray. Tan Colt, who was still patting himself on the back, was already talking about the capture. More like bragging about it. The somewhat timid, nervously excited K-9 over a month ago was now a full-blown show off.

“You see that? Perfect strike." Tan Colt wagged, beaming proudly as he pushed out his chest tilting his still bloody muzzle upwards with a large smile. Show boating for the human in front of him. “I'd ace the game!" Not exactly the right thing to say but Bradley let it slide, not wanting to pop Tan Colt's bubble of excitement yet.

Sometimes he worried the K-9 would float away with how he got.   

“Yes, we'll have to go bowling sometime together." Bradley rolled his eyes with a shake of his head, unable to help smiling at his partner. Tan Colt really was such a breath of fresh air. He made it fun taking down these wannabe drug dealers.

It also made it easier to call it in. Able to ignore the blight of society a bit easier when the friendly K-9 was with him to throw someone in the slammer. Most people these days were just trying to get by… well, as Tan Colt had pointed out, so were they. Just trying to survive until tomorrow as the world itself seemed to burn around them.

“He broke my leg, man!" Jell moaned loudly, playing it up a bit… or maybe Tan Colt really had broken his leg. Either way, he was being taken in and Bradley just stayed where he was until the vac would show up out front to collect the two dealers and their cohorts.

“Right, right. Anyways, if you tell us any info? Like maybe your supplier…? Maybe I can put a good word in for you and your gal, how does that sound?" Bradley said, bending down on one knee near the junkie. Bradley kept a friendly smile on his face, his tone soft as he spoke always playing the good cop.

Tan Colt did not play nice. His bite was far worse than his bark and that was saying something with how loud the German Shepherd could get.

“I wanted to go bowling. Just not this place! It stinks. Of rats…" Tan Colt snarled down at the skinny white boy before going to fetch his girlfriend and two goons from the back room. He dragged their unconscious body into the front room and toss her next to her boyfriend without even looking. Bradley winced as her head bounced on the floor.

“Like I'd want to help her out." The junkie just glared at his girlfriend, ending up blaming the whole thing on her and how he was going to toss her under the bus to save his own skin once he got a hold of his lawyer.

It irked Bradley. That blatant betrayal. It was nothing compared to how Tan Colt reacted.

The German Shepherd's fur around his neck began standing up as he towered over the constrained perp glued to the floor. The K-9's arms were flexing; he was gritting his teeth and a low deep growl was filling his barrel sized chest as he glared down at the human with nothing but hate in his eyes.

“Tanner…" Bradley took a step forward before flinching back as the German Shepherd barked out at the man on the floor.

“She's your girlfriend, you sick fuck!" Tan Colt began with, holding nothing back as spittle flew in the air as he snapped his jaws. “She was here because of you! You were the one who wanted to deal this shit onto the street, taking some yourself no doubt." Bradley winced at the tone he used. Such accusations were well founded after what they'd heard from their coworkers. “She was paying for your damn college, and this is the thanks you show her!" Bradley gave the German Shepherd a look at that.

Tan Colt went out of his way to acquire any kind of knowledge they could before going in on a case. He was extremely thorough and would spend hours in front of a screen looking things up in their database, online and through any social media apps he could get his hands on. Most people were dumb enough to post their entire lives online.

“Tanner." Bradley used his stern voice, or his dad voice as others in the office teased him about. Tan Colt was breathing heavily, drool running down the side of his muzzle as he just glared at the human on the floor.

“Disgusting piece of…" And Tan Colt turned away, marching off to the side as he stomped his feet angrily. His heavy boots thudding against the floor as he went.

“Uh, just stay here." Bradley almost apologized but couldn't bring himself too as he ran over to check on his partner. “Everything alright… buddy? T-Dog?... Tanner?" Bradley hesitated and didn't reach out for his partner, leaving a good arms distance between the two.

There were only a couple of times Tan Colt had done this. And it usually always involved the same thing…

“You know I wouldn't do that to you, right?" Tan Colt ended up asking looking over at him. His breathing had evened out but the look in his eyes were pleading, begging as if his partner had suspected he held such thoughts inside.

“What? Of course not-," Bradley tried to assure him but Tan Colt quickly turned on him, taking a step closer before taking hold of his hands with his large meaty ones.

“I'd never do that!" Tan Colt voice rose, shaking a bit as his ears laid back down from where they stuck out of his helmet. “You know that, right? I'm not going to do that." Tan Colt lowered his voice and Bradley noted how the K-9 covered the camera on his chest with a hand as if that'd block it from recording sound.

It had been the same thing since the first week living together. A subject Bradley tried to never touch on. It was the one thing left unspoken between the two, both knowing it couldn't be.

“Everything's fine, Tanner." Bradley just assured him in that soft, comforting dad voice he tended to use on the job. “Let's just turn them in, let the system do its job… then go get some wings!"

“Wings… right… yeah." Tan Colt nodded once, then sniffled before nodding again and wagging his tail. “Right. Let's just get this done. This place stinks."

“Your nose going to be, okay?" Bradley brought up.

“By tomorrow it will be." Tan Colt just nodded with another sniffle and a snort.

“Good. I'd hate to get a new partner." Bradley teased, getting a look. “What? That nose of yours is too good to lose!" And he gently tapped a finger against it, having to stand on his tip toes to do so.

“Right…" Tan Colt tail tip wagged as he looked down meekly, fussing with his hands. “Brad?" He asked after his partner turned away.

“What's up, T-dog?" Bradley tried to keep up the humor in his voice, joking that discomfort off. That lingering discomfort was still, weighing between the two.

“You wouldn't… replace me… would you?" Tan Colt voice was no more than a whisper as he picked at his gloved hands, most likely trying to get to the fur underneath to pick at. A nervous habit he had ever since Bradley knew him.

“What? No." Bradley rolled his eyes. “It's not like you broke the law or something, T." He motioned with a hand for the German Shepherd to follow him. Tan Colt did, keeping several feet behind the human he was watching closely.

“Right… I haven't broken any law… yet." Tan Colt swallowed heavily as he watched the human as the vac came up out front.

“You have the right to remain…" Bradley started up, reading the two the new Miranda rights as he pushed them outside, leaving the other two for the German Shepherd to get.

Tan Colt watched from the side lines as Bradley took command and control of the situation. Dropping both of them off to be taken in before calling over the car. The automated vehicle hovered over before both the doors opened and he finally turned back to look at the K-9.

“Come on, wings are waiting!" Bradley just winked and climbed inside.

“Right…" Tan Colt followed after, hoping these days would never end and worried, if they did, that it would be his fault…

…

Over in Queens near Kissena Park was a small stone stairwell that led downwards, inwards and then back up underneath a large red brick building. A sign out front had read The Blues. Even before Bradley had opened the door, for the first time Tan Colt had been invited along to the place, the K-9 had picked up the blues music coming from within.

It had a nice tempo and matched the place perfectly.

The lights were a bit dim. There was freshly polished hard wood floor with several small tables set up near a stage where someone was playing. Off to the corner was a long bar. All the stools at the counter had been taken by officers and several K-9's, some even Tan Colt recognized from the facility he had come from.

The place was, in itself, a breath of fresh air from the hectic city outside and the work they all came from.

Food was served, drinks were prepared, and the relaxing atmosphere did wonders for the tension that had been building up since the end of their shift. Tan Colt was just glad to have stripped off that heavy uniform and into something far less constricting, allowing his fur to breathe.

He had a tight-fitting sleeveless t-shirt on with a pair of sweats as if he'd just gotten back from working out. Tan Colt slipped on a pair of sandals before leaving the locker room after a quick rinse off in the showers with Bradley.

His human, as he saw it, went for something far more casual. In fact, Bradley had even done up his hair before he left and, from the smell of it, had put deodorant on. That made the German Shepherd's nose twitch as he followed him up and into the cop bar, or blues club depending on which day of the week it was.

Bradley had explained it was their old boss, now retired, whose brother owned the bar that had originally set the whole thing up to be a cop bar. Or at least, it ended up being once their old boss ended up showing up with half the day shift one day for someone's retirement party. It had stuck since and gave those of the NYPD+, the new police force with their K-9 associates joining, a place to able to let their guard down for once and just relax with their friends and even family.

“During the day," Bradley motioned over to the side booths that no one was currently using. “You can reserve those for birthday parties and such." And that was how Tan Colt and Bradley had spent that previous evening discussing what a birthday was on how great it could be and yet what a social obligation it was at the same time.

The two had even sat in one of those very booths, just the two of them, talking over a sampler platter of food and drinks late into the even until they headed home. Thankfully the car was automated and could drive them safely there seeing as how Bradley had passed out halfway home.

Tan Colt wouldn't mind such an exchange today. In fact, he was looking forward to it! The very idea made his tail wag as he looked around, trying to think up how to start it up. They could get drinks, find a quiet spot in one of the corners and the two could just talk and talk and talk until the sun rose. They didn't work tomorrow so why not just stay out all night?

“I'll grab us some beers and we'll," Tan Colt began, only to see Bradley heading off towards the front without him. Tan Colt thought nothing of it at first as he quickly caught up.  

“Bradley!" Darcy Michelle came running up to great Tan Colt's partner. “You made it! I thought you were going to skip out, again." She teased, playfully punching his arm. Bradley still winced at the mean punch Darcy had.

“I was training the newbie," Bradley thumbed over a shoulder as Tan Colt walked up to join him. “And working. A lot." He just offered with a weak shrug. They all knew what it was like to work overtime these days.  

“Oh. OH!" Darcy said looking up at the K-9 slowly before looking over at Bradley. “You mentioned you had a new partner…"

“Yup." Bradley had a shit eating grin on his face and didn't elaborate.

“And you neglected to mention he was a…" Darcy pointed out with a glare.

“K-9?" Bradley laughed though. “Like I'd miss the chance to see that look on your face!"

“Ass." Darcy rolled her eyes before turning back to Tan Colt. “Darcy. Believe it or not, Bradley was my first love."

“Tanner Colton." Tan Colt said politely, taking the hand carefully and giving it a strong, single shake before letting go. Bradley had worked on that with him. Don't shake for too long. Don't grip too hard but don't have a limp wristed handshake either. It had taken a whole day to go over it all. “I'm Brad's partner."

“Brad?" Darcy gave Bradley a look as he just shrugged, shaking his head. “I thought you hated being called Brad."

“Can't get him to stop. You try and get a six ten K-9 too." Bradley didn't seem to mind though.

“Six seven." Tan Colt corrected, glad to be able to jump into the seemingly private conversation the two had been having together. He was beginning to feel like an unwanted third wheel which made his tail dip slightly.

“I was counting the boots." Bradley gave him a wink. Tan Colt felt a shiver run up his spine making his fur stand up on end. The tone of voice, the smell coming from his human… Bradley was clearly in a good mood though Tan Colt wasn't sure why.

“Are you going to get on stage?" Darcy just asked, turning towards the bar, and already ordering them a couple of drinks with a wave and call. “The usual!"

“Just a beer for me," Tan Colt tried to jump in seeing as how Darcy had only ordered to platinum twist margarita for her and Bradley. She either didn't hear him or was… ignoring the K-9.

A lot of humans did that.

Once they found out the K-9 unit wasn't dangerous and were basically civil servants and nothing more… they were promptly ignored and overlooked. This might also be due to the fact that the K-9 training had taught them never to stand next to a human but slightly back and off to the side, out of the way, of their partner so they could take the lead on any case they were on together.

Bradley hadn't though. Even telling Tan Colt to come on over and stand there, by his side. He hadn't been sure how to react and ending up standing a bit too close to Bradley due to the building, increasing anxiety inside.

It wasn't like he was breaking the law. No! He'd never break the law! Tan Colt was a good dog and obeyed the law. He just… was doing something he wasn't supposed too. Bradley did that a lot. Got him to do things that Tan Colt hadn't even thought to ask permission for. Including him in his conversations, talking about him as if he weren't just a fixture on the wall but maybe, possibly… a real person.

Tan Colt didn't work for Bradley. He wasn't his servant or steward. He was his partner and, dare he say, friend?

“On stage?" Tan Colt cut in, once more, not wanting to be some third wheel that was supposed to just… stand there and shut up. Darcy seemed annoyed with his interruption, butting in on her time with her friend she hadn't seen in some time.

Tan Colt could smell the alcohol on her breath and the… arousal? He wasn't sure what that was about as she turned back to Bradley.

“Yeah! Get up there and show this dog," she said the word vehemently as a wry smile played across her face, glancing over at the K-9 butting into their time together. “How it's done."

“Fine, fine. Don't got to twist my arm." Bradley chuckled lightly, his cheeks flushing a bit at the idea of getting in front of everyone. “Hold a table for me, partner." Bradley motioned towards a nearby empty table. Pointing it out after the couple there was heading out for the night.

“Yes, sir!" Tan Colt practically saluted and quickly moved over to do so. Darcy seemed to ease up at that, following after him and taking a seat at the same table without further complaint. “Table secured!" Tan Colt called over to Bradley who was talking to someone next to the stage.

Bradley winced at that, laughing in embarrassment as the German Shepherd, leaning against the table, waved over at him.

“Brad. Bradley. Hey Brad!" Tan Colt called over making the human finally turn around to acknowledge him fully. “I got the table restrained!" The German Shepherd pointed down at it, grabbing it with both hands and shaking it. “I'm securely holding it for you!"

“Make sure it doesn't get away!" Bradley just called back before standing off to the side in a forming line of people waiting to get up onto stage.

Tan Colt quickly put two and two together that today, a Friday, must be something akin to open mic night as people were getting up on stage to sing or play instruments. Performing dumb skits like a talent show. They varied greatly in skill and Tan Colt winced several times as the wrong cords or notes were sung from the last contestant.

There were plenty of cheers, boos and laughs shared as everyone ridiculed them with friendly jests and jabs.

“So, you and Bradley, huh?" Darcy brought up suddenly making one of the German Shepherd's ears flick as he glanced over at her. He didn't like her tone at all. Or her, for that matter. “Partners, right?"

“Correct." Tan Colt gave a single nod in confirmation. “We have been working together for a month now." Tan Colt was polite and respectful even if his fur stood up slightly at her provocations.

“Anniversary then, huh?" She teased and only got a look in return. “You know… one month anniversary? What? Didn't last that long with your last human."

That made Tan Colt's eye twitch, if only for a second and he restrained baring his teeth at her as he swallowed his growl.

“My only human, as you put it, is Bradley Nichols of the NYPD+." Tan Colt just said coolie, hoping those drinks would arrive soon. His metabolism could process it to the point he might as well be drinking water but hoped some liquor would help pull the stick out of Darcy's ass.

Bradley was far more friendly with him after a couple of drinks. A lot more touching, playful teasing and he didn't mind when Tan Colt sat close to him. He'd even rested up against the K-9 at one time, talking with one of their other coworkers about their K-9 and how things were going with them. Bradley just… resting up against Tan Colt, no worries or fear or concern. Because he trusted the German Shepherd, knowing that Tan Colt would have his back.

Or at least that was how Tan Colt had seen it.

Maybe it was the German Shepherd blood in him but the need to protect and watch over the human was almost overpowering, dominating everything else. Having Bradley near by eased his worries and calmed that irrational fear something might happen to the human when he wasn't looking. A touch here, a brush of a hand there.

The way Bradley had focused on his snout, cleaning it off for him that very night and double checking on it in the locker room to make sure he was okay.

That warm thought, those memories lingering as his eyes slowly drifted back over towards the human standing in line. For someone who claimed to be so average and boring… Bradley seemed to know a lot of people. He was on friendly terms with seemingly everyone there and Tan Colt could pick up a couple of things he was saying.

“…oh yeah, he's great…" Bradley voice was almost lost in the buzz of the crowd around them this night as the K-9 focused and centered his ears on the human's voice above everything else. The place was far more packed than it usually was. “…best partner I've ever had…" That made Tan Colt's toes curl and that warm funny feeling build up in his stomach again. “A breath of fresh air." And his tail wagged at that.

Bradley loved saying that about him. Tan Colt couldn't help but eavesdrop on his partner from time to time. No matter who Bradley talked to, he had always treated Tan Colt with respect and kindness. Something that was… lacking in these other humans.

Bran Dan, a rather large mastiff, had lost his partner. The human officer, a Jacob or Jeffrey… something with a J, Tan Colt hadn't bothered to remembered. Whatever that fucks name was, hadn't wanted to hang around a “stinky mongrel" during the day or night. Ending up returning Bran Dan back to the station as if he were some stray lost dog he'd picked up on the street.

It wasn't Bran Dan's fault, Tan Colt knew. His musk was a bit strong, sure, even for a K-9 to have. During these hot summer days, cramped inside a vehicle, forced to wear thick bullet proof vests it was no wonder the K-9 was sweating by the end of it. Tan Colt suffered the same thing but Bradley had politely never gotten on him about it.

“And I thought your breath smelled bad!" The human had teased, had joked with him about, nudging his side after. “I got some extra deodorant that might help." Bradley voice, his tone, his face, the smell coming off the human told Tan Colt that Bradley wasn't offended in the least. No matter how much he sweated.

One of those nifty little genetic tricks the scientists had given them. Whereas their dog counter parts couldn't sweat, not in the same sense, the K-9's could. It helped regulate their already high body temperature and add panting into the mix and Tan Colt knew he could outlast Bradley any day, even after eating those spicy wings.

“Hey, I asked you a question." Darcy brought up but Tan Colt was already standing up, nearly knocking his chair over as the lightbulb flicked on over his head.

“The wings. Fuck, I forgot." Tan Colt just grumbled bitterly to himself, picking at the fur around his fingers as he accidentally bumped the table and spilled Darcy's drink over her shirt.

“The fuck!" She cursed, getting up to wipe it off as the German Shepherd quickly made his way over towards Bradley without apologizing.

Tan Colt knew exactly where his human was in the crowd. He'd kept an eye and nose on the human ever since he'd gotten in line, and it took him all of ten seconds to push his way over to join him.

“And then he," Bradley stopped though seeing the look on Johnson's face. He glanced over at Tan Colt standing there. “Oh, hey T-dog." Bradley face broke into a large smile. “Funny seeing you here. I didn't know you came here. What are the chances, right?"

“Oh yeah, you know, I saw it and figured I'd drop by and like check the place out." Tan Colt played along with a smile and a wag as he took up the walkway. Not that he seemed to mind. And Tan Colt's playful antics rewarded him with a warm bubbly laugh from his human whose belly shook a bit with the motion.

“Ah, see what I was telling you. He's great." Bradley was bragging about him. Bragging about him! To who? Well, that didn't matter, Tan Colt was included and that made his heart swell.

“Uh, sure." His colleague just looked the large German Shepherd over before excusing himself. Saying something about using the restroom and didn't come back. Tan Colt took his place in line, for the most part.

“What's up, T? Or do you like T-dog? Or is that too on the nose?" Bradley rambled a bit and Tan Colt could smell the alcohol on his breath. He wasn't sure who had given Bradley some but from the looks of things it must've been a couple shots worth with how it was effecting his human. “Do you like me to be on your nose?" Bradley just stammered on.  

That last thing made the K-9 glance around. Thankfully, most were paying attention to the guitar player on stage who was far better than the last four combined than to worry about some friendly human talking with a K-9. Touching one. Stepping closer and letting his hand linger on Tan Colt's chest. Feeling him through the tight shirt he had on…

“Heh, yeah. No. I don't mind you in my nose at all…" Tan Colt muttered softly, keeping his voice down as he took a slow sniff of his partner. Standing so close like this. There was that deodorant again. Sandalwood, Tan Colt nodded recognizing it from the sniff charts back at the training facility.

But there was more than just that.

He could smell how at ease Bradley was. That was good. That made him happy to know his partner was having fun out like this. There was a bit of sweat, musk and that male smell Tan Colt was getting very familiar with living with the human. Then there was something else. Something that, for some reason, annoyed the hell out of the K-9.

That scent of arousal.

Tan Colt looked around, nose twitching as he tried to find the source, what was causing his partner to be THIS friendly, but didn't need to look far.

“Is he watching?" Bradley asked, not to Tan Colt, but another man in line.

“Yes. He has to watch the shows. He runs the place." Dale just rolled his eyes, giving Bradley a friendly bump with his shoulder.

“Well, he might be in the back! The last time I got on stage…" Bradley tried to keep his voice down as he fumbled with the words before taking a breath and holding it, blushing as he glanced over at the bar.

Tan Colt followed his gaze slowly, looking over the counter to see a rather burly man watching the stage. With thick hairy arms, a tangled mess of black hair and a mustache that looked as if it were trying to eat his face… was the bar owner. Roberts? No, it was Italian… Roberto! That was it.

Tan Colt did not like him one bit.

“Which song you going to try and woo him with this time?" Dale just asked with a roll of his eyes. Like Darcy, he all but ignored the large imposing force that was Tan Colt and focused on his partner, Bradley, instead. Tan Colt noted the rather large, gaudy cross hanging from Dale's neck and frowned knowingly.

Several religious sects had condemned the K-9 unit since they first made an appearance over a couple of months ago. They had turned their eyes away from the LGBT+ communities and began focusing on the “heathens" walking amongst them. Animals pretending to be men. It had been a whole thing and, just the other day, someone had thrown an actual bible at Tan Colt's head.

It was better than a bottle, he supposed.

“Well, he likes whiskey…" Bradley said. The only thing he really knew of the mysterious, handsome, older bartender that had some kind of connection to their old boss. His half brother or step brother, he wasn't sure. Maybe he could ask him… tonight? Over dinner?

“Is that why you were trying so many different kinds?" Dale asked, leaning against the wall, and crossing his arms. Tan Colt wanted to do the same but there was barely space for him to stand where he was, let alone just… fit in like that.

Like a human…

“Well, I don't know whiskey well. So, if I tried some? Maybe I could act like I did!" Bradley just reasoned out with a half-shrug and a laugh. “Tanner," he suddenly brought Tan Colt back into the conversation. Usually this would make the K-9 swoon happily but knowing where this was going, it didn't. “What kind of whiskey should I get next?"

“I don't know…" Tan Colt kept the growl from his voice, shooting a glare towards the bartender.

“Why are you asking him?" Dale was confused over the matter. “They don't drink."

“Tanner does." Bradley pointed out.

“Isn't that a waste?" Dale's brow furrowed showing the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead from the long, stressful days of work.

“What do you mean?"

“They can't get drunk." Dale just pointed out as if they were going to be tested on it. “So, it's kind of a waste. They're taste buds aren't as strong as ours either…"

“Wait, you can't get drunk?" Bradley asked Tan Colt and the German Shepherd suddenly wished he stayed back at the table.

“Well, no. Not technically. We can get sick if we drink too much… sure." Tan Colt didn't mention that due to his biology he'd throw up, first, trying to purge the toxins from his body before he got drunk. That didn't paint a pretty picture though.

“Oh…" Was all Bradley said and Tan Colt felt instantly guilty.

The last time the two had managed to come out here he'd pretended to get drunk with Bradley. Talking about birthdays, then kids, then marriage and then the whole movement that had allowed someone like Bradley to get married, legal that was. It had been a wonderful night and the two had drunk throughout it. But no matter how many beers Tan Colt chugged; his body didn't feel the same effects as Bradley did. Not wanting the human to feel bad, he ended up pretending along with him and had even helped him to the car as well as inside their apartment.

Tan Colt had even undressed, washed, and carried Bradley to bed. Letting the human… sleep down on the floor with him, lying close by and watching over him as he slept it off. Making sure Bradley was okay and got plenty of sleep. It had been one of the best nights since Tan Colt had showed up.

And now, it had all been a lie.

“I guess that makes sense, yeah." Bradley nodded. He didn't have that warm bubbly, whiskey encouraged smile on his face anymore. His cheeks were still flushed but now only in embarrassment. “Sorry, Tanner Colton. I didn't mean…"

The simple use of his full name hit Tan Colt like a truck and the German Shepherd quickly tried to remedy his mistake. Only for Bradley to be pushed onto the stage by Dale before he could.

“He's watching. Quick. Lay the charm on as thick as Tennessee molasses." Dale laughed, teasing him about the very song Bradley had in mind.

“Right. Right. I got this." Bradley didn't even look at Tan Colt as he made his way over to take the mic, sitting on the bench provided.

Tan Colt wanted to drag his human away and explain things out, apologize and not let this fester and linger between them. Like it had with Bradley's old partner. It had been one of the reasons why Bradley had gotten rid of Andrew and, for a moment, Tan Colt worried he might end up like Bran Dan and be left at the station, replaced, by someone else…

Bradley took a breath as he snagged a nearby guitar offered for the night. He tested it out, adjusting it slightly to make sure it had a good sound and though things had just grew heavy between the two of them, when Bradley spoke again it warmed any fears Tan Colt had inside.

Bradley always had a deep, warm voice but hearing him now, it might as well have been the first time Tan Colt had ever heard it.

“Used to spend my nights out in a barroom," Bradley sung slowly as the music picked up and played behind him. Singing a song he recalled from his father, his time in Tennessee before moving to the big apple away from his family and home. Looking for something. Someone, out here, in the big apple. “Liquor was the only love I've known, but you rescued me from reachin' for the bottom and brought me back from being too far gone."

The words hung in the air as his hands moved over the guitar provided for those up on stage. It added only just enough to the music already accompany him. Adding his own touch to a song that was near and dear to his heart for what it meant to him.

And to Tan Colt, it would mean something special to him too after this night. Despite it clearly being song to someone else, at first, the words of the song changed with meaning, and it filled the whole room as Bradley continued to play, to sing for everyone with closed eyes until finally he glanced up and, if by coincidence or fate, his eyes rested on Tan Colt who was standing there, near the stage, as he went on.  

“You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey. You're as sweet as strawberry wine. You're as warm as a glass of brandy. And honey, I stayed stoned on your love all the time…" Bradley just went on, finding himself looking at Tan Colt for the rest of the song as it went on.

Where it had been for someone else, the bartender Bradley had a high schooler's crush on, it had changed and turned and in those last moments the two might as well have been there, alone, together in the room as he sung the final lyrics out and ended with a somber, if sad, note…

Bradley gave a mock bow, a wave before quickly ducking off the stage and heading towards the bar. Tan Colt quickly caught up, even pushing a chair out of his way to do so. Heart pounding, voice catching in his throat, he could feel his pulse racing as shivers ran up and down his spine to settle in his belly. That warm fuzzy feeling he'd only known sine he'd met and talked to the human sitting there, now, at the bar was back again in full force.

And Tan Colt didn't know what to do with it. These feelings inside.  

“Brad," Tan Colt came over.

“Whiskey. Please." Bradley was flushed in the cheeks as he talked to the assistant bartender. He ordered one for himself, before stopping glancing back at the K-9. “Make that two." He said as he took a seat at an empty spot soon provided by someone as if understanding what was going on. That or they just really needed to go pee.  

“Two…?" Tan Colt dared to ask coming over to take a seat with him. Neither of the two faced each other, instead focusing on the wood carving hanging up on the back of the bar.

“It looks like… a pigeon taking a crap on a car." Bradley just said.

“Sums up New York well enough." Tan Colt snorted a laugh before looking down at his folded hands on the counter. “Sorry about…" He brought up.

“My parents live in Tennessee." Bradley brought up catching the K-9's attention. “They said it'd be dangerous to move to the big city. More crime here. More jobs too." He noted taking the crystal glass slid towards him. There was a single round ice cube in the middle floating in brown liquid. “Everyone used to want to move here, did you know that? New York, back in the day, was the place to be! I wanted to be… where the people are." Bradley was the one to snort a laugh before downing the whiskey in one good. “Not as smooth," he noted looking over at Tan Colt. “Or as warm… Are you going too…?" He nodded down at the glass placed in front of the German Shepherd.

“I won't get drunk." Tan Colt said a bit sheepishly sliding the glass back and forth in his large hands. “No matter how much I drink. I'll end up throwing up before I black out," he shrugged a shoulder. “There are a lot of… things, I can't do. That human's can."

“A lot, in turn, you can do we can't." Bradley lifted the glass, tipping it towards his partner slightly. “We should focus on the good not the bad… Tanner." He took a second on that, mulling that over. “There was another shooting in Tennessee. At a concert there. I called my parents to make sure they were okay…"

Tan Colt ear twitched at that.

“They were. They hadn't gone. Something came up… there were still seventeen killed, another thirty wounded and just…" Bradley sighed heavily, slouching over the counter, and running a hand through his short brown hair and fussing it up. “I hope… this program is successful. Then K-9's could go everywhere, even to farming towns in Tennessee… to make sure people are okay. That they stay okay…" Bradley set the glass down harder than he meant too and took a second. “Even if they wouldn't approve." He half-laughed at that.

“Of the K-9 program?"

“Despite the year, there are plenty of people who don't adapt as well as you do, Tanner." Bradley spun the glass around with a finger, balancing it with his index slightly tilted. “You could run into a burning building…"

“Like last week." Tan Colt frowned recalling it. The smell of burned fur took the rest of the week to air out their apartment.

“And people still won't give a damn. They won't… care. You could win the freaking lottery and donate it all to charity and still…" Bradley sighed once more, setting the glass down. “This is why I don't drink whiskey anymore."

“No more warm feels?" Tan Colt teased, resting on an arm facing towards the human now. “What's this all about?"

“I wanted to hook up with Roberto." Bradley nodded towards the bartender and owner at the end of the bar now breaking up a fight. “But I got distracted…"

“Distracted?" Tan Colt arched an eyebrow but didn't go on.

“For the past month now." Bradley cheeks flushed as he spun the glass around. “I need another drink before saying more." And sure enough, Tan Colt provided it. Stealing the glass right out from under Bradley's nose, the German Shepherd skillfully placed his own into it.

“There you go." Tan Colt winked. “Tell me all about it."

“Hey, you almost did it that time." Bradley smirked, downing the next shot. “Better don't think of taking advantage of me if I get too drunk." He added placing the drink back down far slower this time, his fingers lingering on the glass.

An uncomfortable silence set between the two and that tension, that fear had resettled in, over them like a heavy canvas weighing them down.

“You know… I can't." Tan Colt brought up in a low voice, turning away from Bradley to look down at his hands again.

“I know…"

“It's illegal for a K-9 to… pursue… that kind… that type of relationship with a human." Tan Colt just gave him a look as he kept his voice low, no more than a whisper that was nearly drowned out in the crowd around them.

“I know." Bradley just shrugged. It wasn't like this was the first time they had this conversation. “That's why I'm going to ask Roberto out. Big daddy like that, must be able to have some fun with him, right?" Bradley gave him a look. His voice didn't sound as hopeful as it had been a couple minutes ago. “Unless you want to break the law, Mr. Colton…?" Bradley asked but the two knew the answer.

“It's… the law." Tan Colt just muttered in reply, turning back towards the counter and away from his human… no, Bradley wasn't his. No matter how much he wished otherwise.

“I know." Bradley said slapping his partner on the back, hard, before standing up. “I know… And you'd never break the law. Because you're a good boy… And I'll never fault you for that, ever, Tanner." He added, walking down the bar towards the man in charge of the place and away from the German Shepherd. “You're as smooth… as Tennessee whiskey. You're as sweeeett….. as strawberry wine." Bradley hummed to himself as he walked down the bar.

Tan Colt couldn't help but watch him, the human, his partner… go off to hit on and possibly hook up with another man as he sat there at the bar. Fidgeting. Pulling at the fur around his black finger paw pads as Bradley walked away from him.

He knew he'd be there, at the apartment, the following day. It didn't make it any easier as he sat there like a good boy. A good dog. Following the law that had been written and strictly forbid them from having such a relationship as the one Bradley was now pursuing of the beefy, hairy bartender at the end of the room.

And still, Tan Colt could hear it. That soft humming voice as Bradley rested against the counter looking at the ugly wood carving picture on the wall behind the counter Roberto insisted of hanging up.  

“You're as warm as a glass of brandy… And honey, I stay stoned on your love, all the time…"

And Tan Colt knew, that song had been for him…

“There are a lot of things, I'd like to do but I can't... That humans can." Tan Colt noted looking up at Bradley walking out of the side door with the bartender, flirting him up. Touching his arm, leaning in a bit closer as the two disappeared. “You're the one whose as smooth as Tennessee whiskey…"

“Looks like you need a drink too, huh, doggo?" Darcy sat next to him, motioning for drinks for the two. “Some guys are just out of our reach… No matter how badly our guts want it…"

“Does it get… any easier?" Tan Colt dared to ask her, still just staring at the side door, now closed, as if hoping… praying… begging for it to open and for Bradley to come back out and rejoin them. To talk, late into the night, about anything. Everything. Or nothing at all.

So long as he returned to him.

Darcy just patted the K-9's arm, knowingly, without another word as Tan Colt sat there, in the bar, waiting for his human to return…

And knowing he wouldn't, at least not that night. Because the thing Bradley needed, Tan Colt couldn't give him. Because sometimes, love couldn't be kind…