Chapter 7: A Gathering Storm
T-Bone raced back toward the salvage yard and home in ten minutes flat. Signaling the secret doors to open he drove into the hangar. Shutting off the cyclotron, he climbed off and dropped his helmet onto the seat. He went to his locker to change and was soon climbing the ladder toward the garage above.
He found his partner closing up shop. Staying silent, he joined him and together they shut the gate and locked the doors then went up to their apartment.
"Didn't know if I was going to see you at all today," Jake said quietly as he headed for the kitchen.
"Oh, I intended to stop by to talk to you, I just didn't know when that was going to be. Why don't we order some dinner and we'll talk, okay?" Chance asked his partner as he took the milk Jake had handed him.
"Alright...pizza okay?" Jake asked as he reached for the phone.
"Sure. Make mine with tuna topping," Chance answered easily then wandered into the living room.
A few minutes later, Jake joined him. They sat for a moment staring at each other then Chance sighed. Jake looked so uncomfortable.
"It's alright buddy, just start asking and I'll try to answer as best I can," Chance coaxed his friend.
"Though you told me on the phone that everything had gone okay, I still got the impression that it wasn't that easy, so why don't you to tell me what really happened," Jake murmured quietly, settling back to listen.
"Well you saw how he reacted when we reached the plant and you heard what Callie said even though she didn't come right out and say what she meant. At least I had a forewarning that things might go bad beyond just the fact we hated each other. However, never would I have guessed just how complicated it was going to get in reality between Feral and me nor how dangerous," Chance began his tale.
"Yeah, what was with that? What did she mean by 'knowing how bad Feral felt about being mated'?" His partner interrupted, bothered by the statement and worried what it meant for his partner.
Chance shook his head and took a swallow of his milk. "I don't think even she was aware just how bad the 'problem' was," Chance made quote marks in the air when he said that. "I was the unfortunate one to discover how screwed up Feral's kittenhood had been. I tell you buddy, that tom needs a shrink badly! He truly thinks mating means becoming a slave and losing all his rights to his body."
Jake spewed the mouthful of milk he'd just drunk all over himself. "What?" He blurted in shock, dragging out his handkerchief and wiping himself off.
"You heard me! I was in just as much shock as you are now only I was the one stuck with an emotionally damaged Sabren whose energy load was through the roof. There was no time for me to try and get into his head and, anyway, he lost it completely when I pinned him to the bed."
Jake gave him confused look. "Say what?"
"Well, I had to do that! I couldn't get his attention. He completely ignored me and began this frantic pacing, like a runaway train. So to be able to talk to him, I had to yank him onto the bed and pin him there. However, I got a shock when he suddenly quit fighting me and broke down sobbing like a lost kitten. I tell you buddy, that just made me sick inside. I didn't know what to do to help him."
Jake could only gape at his friend then shook his head. "Then how did you manage to get him to mate with you? I know you did since I saw the evidence on the power grid and the fact you're sitting right here." he exclaimed, amazed his friend hadn't died.
Chance grimaced unhappily, "well..." suddenly the door bell rang. "Hold that thought while I get our dinner," he said quickly, jumping up and heading down to the garage then out to the gate for their food. Less than five minutes later, he returned with two pizza boxes which he plopped down on the table, quickly pulling one open and grabbing two huge pieces, beginning to eat them hungrily.
Jake reached over for his favorite one and did the same. After their hunger was assuaged a bit, Jake demanded, "Come on, Chance what happened next, I'm on pins and needles here."
Chance quickly chewed the bite he'd taken and went on with his harrowing tale. "Here's this huge tom, sobbing and curled in a tight ball on the bed. His body was so bright I really couldn't see him clearly anymore. The only thing I could do was what we were in there for...sex. So I went to him and began pulling his clothes off. I managed to get everything but his damn shirt and tee off. He came out of it enough to cling to that like a kitten with his favorite blankie," he shook his head at the image still in his mind.
"Anyway, I let him keep that on and began a little seduction even though I could see we were running out of time. That's when I discovered the secret of what it means to be with a Sabren...by the way have you ever been with a Sabren?" Chance paused to ask his buddy.
Jake's eyebrows shot up at the sudden question. "Uh...no but that's because I've never met one until now. Why? What's so different about them besides the obvious?"
"That energy they throw off makes you horny as hell...or maybe that only happens with their mate...I don't know! I've never been so hard so quickly in my life. Even if my mind wasn't ready, my body was miles ahead and ready to go. That actually saved me some time because that energy didn't do the same for him. But as you saw by the power surge, I did succeed," the tabby said triumphantly, taking a healthy bite of his pizza.
"Huh! Well that' a handy trick alright. But how come you two took so long after that? I thought you'd just be another hour then leave to...you know... take it up again at home," Jake asked, curious.
"Unfortunately, that first orgasm was so powerful it pushed him into an early heat cycle," Chance said, shrugging.
"Whoops! Say no more," Jake said making a warding off gesture. "So did he settle down emotionally after that first time?"
The tabby sighed and shook his head. "Not really, it was a bit of a struggle for a little while longer but finally he went with it and relaxed. By the time we could finally stop, we were exhausted. I have never been that wrung out in so short a time just having sex. Those orgasms nearly turn you inside out, they are that powerful."
"I never heard anyone complain about a world turning orgasm before," Jake snorted in amusement.
"Oh yeah? Well you haven't been at the receiving end of something like that, but I'm not complaining. The multiple rides were incredible."
Jake chuckled at that then a more serious thought slid into his mind and the smile disappeared as he asked, "How do you feel about all this, Chance? You hated Feral but now you're mated to him. Has that messed with your mind?"
The tabby eyed his friend for a long moment as he thought about his answer. "You'd think it would, right? But this bonding thing ensures you feel how your mate feels. There are no secrets, emotionally, from each other. It's an indescribable feeling knowing I'm no longer alone...there's someone else always there in my mind sharing emotions, especially during sex. However, the down side is when one of us is feeling really bad then both feel it. Weird, huh?"
"I would say so. Though, I'm more concerned about how this will effect us as a team. Can you explain more about what this bond is like for you? Is it telepathic?" Jake asked in concern.
"No, not telepathic...uh...more empathic...if that's the right term. We can't actually see or hear what each other is doing but we can certainly feel what the other feels. Right now, Ulysses is severely conflicted...his emotions are all over the place and it hurts me by extension," Chance said seriously. "And the sad thing is, I'm afraid it's only going to get worse until he gets some help."
Frowning, Jake said, "I don't like this! If he's as ill as you say, it could seriously interfere with you and put us both at risk."
"I understand , Jake. If he has an episode of severe depression, I'll be so distracted it will put us both in danger, I get that, but, luckily, if you can call it that, I found I have some control over our problem. I can block him somewhat and am able to send soothing thoughts to him to help overcome his pain. However, I'm going to need some training on how I can make this blocking and helping technique stronger. Right now, I'm just fishing in the dark on what little information I know about Sabrens," Chance said seriously.
"Don't worry!" He said when he saw Jake's frown. "That's one of the first things I'm taking care of as soon as I can...finding an expert. I also insisted, during our discussions this morning, that he get immediate counseling," Chance assured his concerned friend.
"I'm glad to hear it and I hope he doesn't drag his feet on it and you're right, you need all the information you can get on these guys," Jake said with some relief. "And speaking of discussions, what did you guys decide about our SWAT Kat personas and does he know who we are?"
"No. I told him that wasn't my decision alone to make and he respected it. As for how we're going to be treated by the enforcers, the watch word is 'tolerate'," Chance smiled at that. "If we don't cross the line into true law breaking, Feral and his enforcers will not harass nor try to arrest us. However, there is one thing I had to agree to so his enforcers won't resent what he's having to do for the sake of his mate," he paused to finish his pizza and drink his milk down in one go.
"Oh, and what was that one thing?" Jake asked carefully.
"I'm permitted to be at his side at any time but you don't have the same privilege. What the enforcers must learn is my access to Feral is not negotiable. His biology demands his mate be able to reach his side at a moment's notice when he's used energy for whatever reason. I am the only one that can help him dump it and it must be done immediately. In Feral's case, he's far more powerful than any known Sabren alive today so his power levels are much higher and more dangerous," Chance said gravely then flashed a sudden smile.
"You know what's freaky? He actually glows after every orgasm and, from what little I know about the subject, that is not normal for the average Sabren. My mate is one of a kind. So if Ulysses needs me only I can blithely walk up to him anytime, anywhere including Enforcer Headquarters without being challenged."
"Oh, FYI buddy, I really didn't need to know that. Anyway, the stricture is okay with me and completely understandable though it will make responding a bit more challenging when we're needed as the SWAT Kats but nothing we can't handle. I take it you're going to need a comm device for him?" Jake asked.
Chance flashed him a grateful smile. He'd been afraid his friend might be upset at the stricture and was glad he wasn't. He was also pleased Jake had thought of the comm before he had to ask.
"Yeah, I do. I was going to ask you about that but like always, you're a step ahead of me."
"I try. So due to the bond, you and he are lovers instead of enemies?" Jake asked, finding this really hard to accept considering their long history of animosity.
"Yeah, though we're not 'in love' yet. Surprisingly, we do get along alright...so far. I doubt things will be all sweetness and light all the time but the bond will insure we can't hurt each other too badly nor leave the other for any reason except death. That much I can feel with certainty deep within me," Chance said thoughtfully.
"Wow! I don't know if that's really cool or creepy," Jake said, shaking his head.
"Huh! You should see it from my side of the fence," Chance snorted. "There are fringe benefits though. Feral is really a great lay and I can get him to blush for me all the time," he snickered in very male amusement.
"Feral blush? You've got to be kidding," Jake snorted in disbelief.
"I kid you not! He's actually very shy about sex but I can make him a puddle of goo in an instant with just a kiss and he never says no," he chuckled at first but then his face slid into a pensive frown. "I just wish he could get over what his past has done to him. It's so painful to feel him in so much anguish and feeling lost."
"Then make sure he doesn't put off getting help for both our sakes," Jake warned quietly. "Now, how are we going to manage the garage if you have to nursemaid Feral until he's better?"
"Oh, sorry, I hadn't really had a chance to figure that out yet. I'm so wrapped up in his immediate problem..." Chance began, spreading his paws helplessly.
"I know. Fortunately, we aren't that busy but you know as well as I do how quickly that can change," his friend warned.
"Yeah, of course. Well, look...he and I are expected at a press conference tomorrow morning. I don't know the time yet because Callie is setting it up. When that's over, I should be able to let him go to work and I'll return here. At night and weekends, I'll be with him...at least until he's more stable. Will that work for you?"
"Okay, that's sound doable. I just hope no SWAT Kat emergency comes up," Jake said worriedly.
Chance sighed and said, "So do I. I'm not ashamed to say I feel a tad overwhelmed right this moment. But then my life has just been turned upside down and I really haven't had time to adjust to it yet."
Jake reached out and patted his friend's shoulder, comfortingly. "I know, buddy. I'm here if ever you need me...you know that!"
Chance gave his best friend a wane smile. "I know, thanks. Oh, there is one other thing or maybe two other things. Because of who and what Feral is, once his emotions aren't clouded by his current problem, his nose is going to recognize me the instant he encounters me in my civilian persona. The jig will be up and I want you to be prepared for that. There isn't anything I can do about it except to try and keep this side of me from him as long as I can."
Jake grimaced but said resignedly, "Honestly, I had forgotten about that. You know he should have picked up on us long since but it probably didn't occur to him however, now that you're mated, it soon will. I'll get used to it since I certainly don't have a choice anyway. Luckily, there's no way he'll do anything to me since it will hurt you. It will just be weird is all. You do know this will place Feral in an even worse position...knowing who the SWAT Kats are but being unable to do anything about it." He smirked a little at the thought.
"Huh! I hadn't realized that. That could put his career in jeopardy!" Chance exclaimed, not really amused by this as his friend was. "We'll just have to be very careful not to slip up in that direction. His career is everything to him."
Jake blinked in surprise and lost his smile. "I'm sorry, Chance, of course I'll do my part in protecting him from getting into trouble. I may not like him but he's your mate and I do care about what happens to you."
"Thanks. The other thing is, since he did go into heat, he's probably already pregnant. That's going to really send him over the edge, so I want you to be prepared for me having to do some major paw holding and emotion-controlling at that time. Hopefully, he'll have had enough therapy by the time he gets the news that he'll handle it okay...I hope."
"Why would being pregnant upset him that much?" Jake asked confused.
"Because the first kit is always another Sabren and the way he feels about mating it will just make him feel guilty to have brought another one into the world knowing what it faced," Chance said grimly.
"Ugh! That's just going to be ugly. Crud Chance, you really have your paws full," his friend said in commiseration.
"I'll get through it, I don't exactly have a choice," Chance sighed. "I better go pack a few things for my stay with him," he said, getting up from the couch and heading upstairs.
Jake could only watch his best friend leave, shaking his head at all the changes Chance had been forced to endure and the new relationship he would have to learn to get used to, himself included. It will be really weird having his partner so close to their once fiercest antagonist. Fate was really strange at times. Letting it go for now, Jake decided to go to his workshop and get a comm tuned for Feral's use.
Chance returned a short time later, dropping a bag onto the couch. He noted Jake's absence and guessed where he'd gone. He went down to their hangar and there was his friend holding two devices in his paws.
Jake turned when he heard Chance arrive. "Well here you go, buddy. I have a lot of these on hand since Callie is always having them broken and needing a replacement. All I had to do was change the frequency in this pair so now they are set for just you two," he explained, handing them over.
Chance took them and smiled at his friend, "Thanks Jake. This will set my mind at ease a bit when I'm not with him."
"You're welcome. You going to leave now?" Jake asked getting up from his work bench.
"Not yet! I'm betting Uly went back into his office and is working on reports so I'll stay and watch some TV with you for a little while longer," Chance said, putting the comms in his G-suit to take to Feral later.
The two headed back upstairs and turned on the TV.
While Chance was bringing his partner up to date, Feral was doing exactly what Chance had suspected, clearing reports that had accumulated during his absence. It kept his mind occupied and away from his emotional turmoil.
He'd been able to keep his anguish at bay by trying to get to know his new mate but that hadn't lasted long. Now as he worked at his desk, the emotions kept trying to disrupt his concentration.
'What is wrong with me? I've never had a problem handling my emotions before yet now I feel all my controls slipping from me like sand through a sieve. Something's very wrong but I don't know what it could be,' he thought worriedly.
Again he pushed the sudden wave of emotions that tried to swamp his weakening control to the back of his mind. Refocusing his attention, he was shocked to realize he was holding a report in his paws in a death grip and he was panting as if he'd run a marathon.
Forcing his paws to relax, he dropped the file and whirled his chair violently around until he faced the window and the gradually darkening sky. Forcing his mind to blankness, he concentrated only on breathing in and out slowly and deeply. He did this for over fifteen minutes until he felt in command of himself once more.
Turning slowly back to his desk, he refused to allow his mind to wander and focused on the work still waiting for him. Working diligently, he soon cleared his desk just as dusk fell completely.
He cleared the desk, putting work that still needed more information, in a locked drawer while picking up the rest of the files and taking them out to his secretary's desk. Returning to his office, he pulled his jacket off the coat rack and pulled it on. Turning out the lights, he stepped out of the room and locked it. His mind still carefully blank, he walked to the elevator and took it down to the main lobby.
He walked down the stairs to his hummer, unlocked the driver's door and climbed in. Soon he was pulling out and driving for home. Keeping one's mind blank takes hard work and he was very tired. Because of that, grief was trying to slip through his controls again. He gasped and shuddered, his paws gripping the steering wheel hard.
'No!' He cried loudly in his mind. 'No, I will not lose control...not now when others could be harmed," he said over and over again, trying to breathe slowly and focus while attempting to get home as quickly as he could.
Back at the garage, T-Bone prepared to leave. He strapped his bag to the bike and was about to say goodbye to Jake when he froze.
"Uly! Take it easy, breathe through it, don't let it overwhelm you! I'm coming...hold on!" He called to the air, his mind instantly with his beleaguered mate.
Jake came to his friend's side and watched the anguished face in worried concern. He dared not disturb Chance as he struggled valiantly to help his distant mate.
In his hummer nearly half way home, Feral felt his mate's touch and he frantically reached out for it, allowing his mate to help him push the sorrow back yet again. Trembling, his eyes beginning to tear, he managed to keep control of his vehicle and make it to his parking garage then to his space where he put the vehicle in park. Returning his paws to the steering wheel, he didn't move while his hummer continued running.
Coming back to himself, his heart pounding in panic, T-Bone quickly started his cyclotron.
"T-Bone!" Jake shouted.
His face frantic with worry, T-Bone whipped his head around toward his partner, a questioning look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Uly, he's having a break down. I've managed to help him control it until he got home but I've got to get to him as fast as I can. Tonight is going to be bad, Jake!"
"Call me if you need me," Jake said anxiously.
"I will!" T-Bone promised, then turned his bike and roared out the exit. Soon he was racing through the city at a dangerous rate of speed, everything streaming by him in a blur, his mind totally focused on reaching Uly in time.
Sitting in his still running hummer, Feral rubbed his face and clung desperately to his tenuous connection to T-Bone. He held onto his emotions as if they were some heavily filled bowl teetering on a shelf that could fall at any moment if he turned his attention away. Peripherally, he could just sense his frantic mate hurrying to his side, sending a constant stream of warmth and encouragement that was spoiled by T-Bone's own fear and anxiety.
Somewhere in his mind, he felt hysterical laughter welling up at this incredibly ridiculous situation. Of all the things fate could do to him, this was the height of hubris, the Chief Enforcer of this city, needing his former enemy to help him keep from losing his mind. If it wasn't so real, he'd think this whole thing was just a nightmare that he'd wake up from any minute now.
Suddenly, his door opened and a gentle finger caressed his cheek. He swallowed hard as a rush of relief poured through him making it easier to hold those deadly emotions at bay a little longer.
A warm voice spoke softly, carefully in his ear, "hey big guy, it's going to be alright, I promise. We'll get through this together. Breathe nice and slow."
Feral felt a large body lean against him while a familiar arm reached across his chest to turn off the engine and pull the key out of the ignition then undo his seatbelt. Suddenly, there was silence except for his loud breathing and the sound of his mate's light panting beside him.
That same arm withdrew then slid along his shoulders, the fingers gently pulling on him. "Come on love, turn yourself and get out of there. We need to get up to your apartment before anyone sees us," T-Bone urged.
Trembling a bit but much steadier than he'd been moments before, Feral kept a death grip on T-Bone's link to him and forcibly moved his body from his seat until he was standing beside his mate.
T-Bone closed the car door, set the security alarm then, taking Feral's paw in his own, he tugged the tom over to his cyclotron so he could set its security too. He wouldn't worry about covering it, no one could really tell it belonged to a SWAT Kat since no one ever got close enough to get a good look at them. Close up it simply looked like a souped up bike.
With that task done, T-Bone released Uly's wrist and wrapped his arm around the tom's waist instead and guided him toward the elevator. Luck was with them, they met no one on their way up nor when they walked down the hall to Feral's apartment.
Relieved, T-Bone searched his mate's pockets and found the apartment key. He quickly unlocked the door and hustled them both inside where he relocked the door. Finally out of view of everyone, he released his mate and quickly divested him of his coat, weapon, harness, and tie, placing them on a nearby chair, not wishing to take time to put any of it away right now.
He guided a nearly catatonic Feral to his bedroom and stripped both of them of their clothing. During the whole process, Feral made no sound and moved to his mate's whims like a rag doll. It was very disturbing to T-Bone. He prayed a hot shower would help because he didn't know what else to do and there was no time to call for help even if he knew who to call in the first place.
He tugged Uly toward the bathroom where he started the shower. The next few hours were not going to be fun. He hugged his mate closely as he waited for the water to get hot.
Feral felt detached from his emotions at the moment. It felt rather good, actually, and was much better than that heavy lost feeling laced with sharp stabs of pain that was his grief. He wished he could stay here until he gained some kind of control but in some far recess of his mind he knew this was only a lull before a very nasty storm.
As if that was a signal inside him, grief slipped through his numb mind making him whimper suddenly and his body to shake, his eyes were tightly closed but he could hear and feel his mate murmuring to him as he was pushed toward the shower. The next moment hot water streamed down his body, destroying his last tiny hold on his shield against his raging emotions.
T-Bone pressed his mate against the far wall then reached up and turned the shower head toward them. He wrapped his arms around the tom and held on, every now and then nuzzling and nipping the tom's neck, all the while he tried desperately to fill Uly's mind with soothing thoughts.
Uly's body began to shake and tremble harder as tears ran down his face. Sobs broke free next then roars of anguish came after with him pounding the shower walls to try and get rid of the soul destroying feelings he couldn't bear. Screams replaced the roaring as rage and grief conspired to rip him apart but all the while a warm voice continued to pour words of comfort over and over against the storm. He struggled to let it all go and just listen to that welcome voice, clinging to it like a life preserver.
T-Bone held onto his badly out of control mate while tears of sorrow poured down his own face at his own helplessness at being unable to do more for Uly. But he didn't' give up as he poured every good thought and emotion he could into his struggling mate's mind. It terrified him and hurt like knives plunging into his own brain at all that anguish pouring into him from his mate. He didn't now how Uly was bearing it.
Just as the tabby thought he couldn't take anymore and was growing exhausted, the emotional storm finally began to abate. He heaved a sigh of relief, shuddering slightly as the water began to cool. Reaching out blindly to the side, he hurriedly turned off the faucets then tugged on his mate to leave the shower stall.
He managed to get the limp and exhausted tom under the dryers. He grabbed a towel and hurried the process by rubbing down the tom's lower body while his own fur dried, untended, due to it being short.
Finally dry, the tabby wrapped a steadying arm around his mate's waist and walked him to the huge bed. Using one hand, he yanked the bedding down then tucked Uly under the covers. Leaning down, he gently nuzzled the tired cheek.
Feral really looked like hell! It was shocking what an emotional storm of that magnitude could do to someone.
"Have you eaten at all tonight?" He asked quietly.
"No, I... my stomach was in knots," Ulysses whispered, his voice hoarse from the screaming.
"Let me see what you've got in the kitchen and I'll rustle something up. You can't sleep on an empty stomach. Rest but try not to go to sleep yet," T-Bone murmured then left for the kitchen.
Ulysses felt burned out and his throat was raw. He didn't want to think what might have happened if T-Bone hadn't been here with him. He shuddered and turned his mind quickly away from that direction and tried to keep it blank until his mate returned.
T-Bone found the makings for a tuna sandwich and some tomato soup. He also found some chamomile tea adding some honey and lemon to help soothe Uly's throat. Finding a tray, he loaded it up and carried it into the bedroom.
"Here you go," he said as he set the tray down then helped Uly to sit up. He placed the tray in front of the tom. "Here, drink some tea, it'll soothe your throat so you can eat," he encouraged, picking up the cup and holding it so the exhausted tom could drink it safely.
Feral sighed gratefully after drinking a healthy amount of the tea not resenting the tabby keeping hold of it as he knew he wasn't very steady. His throat did feel so much better afterwards.
Seeing Uly looking a little more alert, T-Bone set the cup down and thrust a sandwich into the tom's paw. "Okay eat up now. We both need our sleep after that session," he said with a wane smile, rubbing Uly's back in soothing circles.
Not arguing and realizing he was hungry, he ate the sandwich without complaint except he found he couldn't finish it, his emotions having played hell with his stomach.
"That's alright, at least your stomach isn't empty. Here finish the tea and we'll hit the hay," T-Bone said easily. When Feral had finished the tea, T-Bone set the tray out of the way then crawled under the covers with his mate.
Feral slid down until he was laying flat once more and sighed gratefully when he felt T-Bone press himself against his back then wrap one arm around his waist. He felt so very drained but at least it seemed the storm was over for now. He prayed it wouldn't return and allowed himself to fade away into deep slumber.