Cat studied the photos and trophies lining the shelves and walls. She tilted her head slightly, in thought at the high arrest awards Sasha and Tim had won.

"What happened to her?" Cat asked without letting her eyes off the awards. Her sharp ears caught an almost inaudibly mournful sigh. She turned to her partner, as she smelt his sadness and anger. She wanted to apologize, but Tim began talking.

"We were responding to a domestic disturbance call," Tim began sadly. "It started off as usual, she said he beat her, he said she hit him, neither pressing charges, but she had already said he was a dealer and had drugs but didn’t know where. Sasha and I had just gotten there. The second he saw Sasha he got an arm free from the officer, punched him in the face and bolted."

Tim was looking down instead of at her as he continued to tell his story. Cat stepped over to him; distressed that Grady was so distrait.

"I let Sasha go after him. The guy must have been on his product because he was distancing her. The perp ran across a street, Sasha followed him."

Cat reached out to her officer in the stall in his story. Tim looked up to her with a weak smile. Lost when he continued

"Sasha chased him across a street. The perp made it... A speeding car hit her."

Cat winced, knowing how hard it is to loose a partner.

"The car didn’t even stop."

Tim shook his head and broke away from Cats comforting paw, he made his way to the couch he looked as if he were going to fall on the couch but sat slowly and easily down. Cat followed him laying her head on his lap his hand settling on her head his fingers playing with one of her velvety ears.

"I’m sorry," Cat whimpered.

Tim smiled at Cat. "It’s not your fault." Tim ruffed between Cat’s ears.

"You just stay safe, Cat,"

Cat nuzzled his arm in canine fashion " you are my officer"

Tim chuckled, petting her head softly.

* * * * *

Tim woke to his alarm clock, surprised to find himself in his bed. The warm spot on the floor was now familiar. Cat was waiting for him, breakfast ready. He looked into her bright blue eyes and could almost swear off coffee, Almost. On the way to the station he caught Cat looking at him almost a study.

"You okay Cat? Do I have something on my face?"

He wiped his chin with his hand. Cat seemed embarrassed and shook her head, "No, I was just looking at you."

Tim smiled, "Well I guess its only fair, with the way everyone looks at you."

Cat gave him her lopsided smile and he ruffed her ears.

Soon Tim and Cat were wandering the station’s corridors to their offices.

Cat dropped her duffel bag in front of the chair she usually sat in.

"Dogs can’t be on the furniture," Greg threw at Cat.

Cat turned in her chair. "Well officer, sodomy is not allowed, but I don’t say anything about the stick in your ass," she retorted.

Brenda, Tim and mark looked as if they were choking. Greg looked shocked and glanced over to Tim’s way. As if by divine salvation, Captain Harris walked through the room on his way to the briefing room.

Tim smiled at Greg, "I taught her well."

* * * * *

Harris looked at Cat and smiled as he did with the rest of his officers.

"Alright people, we have word that a serial robber has been hitting mom and pop stores in our area..."

The brief was anything but; it seemed crime was on the rise. Tim watched Cat when the missing child report came out, the sadness in her eyes and a determined squaring of her shoulders. There were some wants and warrants the bench sent up to them and they were dismissed for duty.

The morning passed uneventful until they broke for lunch. Tim went through the drive through burger palace when the chirp of their computer alerted them to a call. Backup on a traffic stop. Tim ran low code to location. Two men were arguing with the officer that stopped them. Grady stepped out.

"Stay here for a minute, I just want to assess the situation, kay partner?"

"Alright," Cat agreed reluctantly.

Grady no sooner stepped next to the other officer than one of the suspects bolted across the hood of the officer’s car and into an empty field.

"Cat!" Grady yelled

The officer ordered the other person to stay as he and Tim quickly caught the second man and were wrestling him to the ground

Cat was halfway out the door to cover the second suspect when he reached in the back of the truck and pulled out a 45. He aimed it at the two officers wrestling with his comrade. Terrified to loose Tim Cat barked aloud her asp extended and ready to bludgeon the gunman.

At her bark the gunman looked at her, fear contorted his features and he turned the pistol on Cat and fired. Cats breath exploded from her lungs, she felt airborne, her chest was aflame she wanted to cry out but her lungs were empty. She hit the ground her ears ringing still when more shots were fired. Cat braced waiting for the pain of bullets striking her.

A shriek of terror ripped the air and a shot rang out Tim looked up just in time to see Cat jolt back to the ground then another shot and the suspect fell lifelessly to the ground. The highway cop cautiously approached the fallen suspect covering him with his pistol. Tim was yelling in his talk set for paramedics. He wrenched a pair of handcuffs on the downed man and began dragging him toward Cat when she slowly sat up. The highway cop turned to the fallen canine after disarming the corpse of the gunman. Cat peeled the Velcro closure to her armor and took it off soothing a spot on her chest. Tim smiled and sighed stopping in his tracks to the gratitude of the dragged suspect.

"You all right," Tim yelled. It was more statement than question.

Cat looked up to him with a bit of pain in her eyes; "ooh it’s a long soak bath night tonight."

Tim still looked concerned he put his knee on the cuffed mans back and ordered Cat over to him. He unbuttoned her shirt from the bottom and lifted her T-shirt inspecting the tender spot of ribs just under her left breast. He pulled her shirt back down the highway cop put his hand on Tim shoulder letting Tim know he was there.

"I’ll put this one in the back of my unit," the highway cop referred to the cuffed suspect.

"Watch it, I haven’t searched him yet," Tim warned.

The highway cop took the warning and took the perp from Tim’s custody. Cat started to stand sniffing the air.

Hold on Cat stay down, that was a large caliber bullet, I don’t know if you have any broken ribs."

Cat looked excited regardless of her pained ribs. She went to the truck her nose twitched a few times. She opened the door to the cab and began sniffing Tim got there to scold her just as there was the sound of tearing fabric and an exited yelp from Cat. She spun around to Tim who was dumbfounded at the large plastic covered package.

"Its heroin," Cat excitedly said, wincing at the pain of her ribs. Tim caught her and sat her on the ruined drug filled seat. Again he felt a hand on his shoulder as a paramedic pulled him away from Cat. The paramedic look confused as he drew back. Tim elbowed him in the back.

"Go ahead check her out."

The medic and now his gurney pulling partner looked at Tim stupidly then went to work; setting her on the gurney and loading her in the back of the ambulance. Tim patted the highway cops arm in passing. "I’m following my partner."

Cat lay on the gurney looking at the paramedic who was watching her intently. She smiled at him but he only leaned back more.

"I wont bite you," she gave him a lopsided smile.

The paramedic smiled slightly. "You’re the GESA all over the news all the time, aren’t you?"

Cat smiled and nodded, "the same."

Cat sat up starting when she saw Tim’s car behind the ambulance. She watched the flashing lights of the car behind the ambulance until they arrived at the hospital. Tim was at the ambulance doors when the medic opened them. Cat smiled, as she was gurnied out. Tim followed her to triage. A few reporters with scanners had already arrived. Cat waved at them happily before Tim ushered them away. Dodging questions as he sent them grudgingly away. Cat saw the concern on Tim’s face as he returned.

She smiled at him, her soft blue eyes locked to his, he could only smile back.

"Don’t worry, I’m fine," Cat explained. "All they want to do is see if I have some broken ribs."

The paramedics gave her over to the ER staff who also prevented Tim from following.

Cat laid her ears back as she found herself away from Tim. She sighed; the memories of her life in a lab ebbed on her mind. She sighed heavily and lay down feeling suddenly tired and afraid.

The hospital staff was very kind to her many came over just to talk with her and even to get photos with her. Soon her fear abated and she was smiling and joking with the staff who was surprised by her knowledge of medicine. Surprisingly Dr. Deeks came to see her. He was nice but Cat was still very nervous. She calculated her answers to Deeks seemingly innocent questions. She dare not answer a question wrong, fearing being taken from Tim’s care.

Finally Deeks got up from the corner of her bed "well, I suppose these things happen in police work. Take care Cat."

Yes sir" she weakly responded as he left the room.

Soon a doctor came in with Tim who carried her armor and equipment. Cat smiled to her handler who smiled back.

The doctor lowered the lights in the room and brought the x-ray up on the wall monitor. Showing no broken bones but suggesting taking a few weeks off.

After being discharged, Tim and Cat were mobbed by reporters. Still uncomfortable of the sensation he and Cat were, he started to push his and Cat’s way clear, but was stalled as reporters shouted questions to Cat. Seeing no way to escape the media throng, Cat stopped and the silence was only broken by the sound of cameras.

"I was shot in the line of duty, the protective armor I was issued saved my life while protecting my officer, as it was made to do. I would die to protect Officer Tim Grrady." Cats crystal blue eyes fixed admirably on her handler. "But now the doctors said I must rest and Tim must take me home so please excuse us."

Most of the reporters retreated the more sharky ones were easily shouldered aside by Tim. Cat sat in the passenger’s side of the cruiser. Tim rounded the vehicle and took the driver seat. He looked at Cat intensely. "You had me scared shitless Cat!"

Cats ears folded, her eyes lowered but his hand cupped her jaw lifting it, bringing her sight to his intense green eyes. Concern fear and anger was held in that gaze.

"I’m sorry" Cat whimpered trying to avert her gaze.

Tim let her jaw go and stroked her folded ears up again. She looked up at him timidly, to be greeted with a worried smile.

"Thank you for helping Cat. I owe you"

Cat giggled wincing a little at her bruised ribs.

"You’re welcome Grrady."

Tim pulled away from the reporter-infested hospital to return to the station, and then home. Brenda and mark were there at the station to greet them, concerned.

Cats smile relaxed them and they patted her giving her encouragement. Tim ushered Cat to his car; mark took up the cruiser maintenance. So Tim could just get Cat back home.

Cat walked in the house embarrassed Tim was fussing over a few bruised ribs and went to her room. She carefully stripped her uniform off slung a towel over her shoulder grabbed her Walkman and headed to the bathroom. She saw the look on Tim’s face, and then he turned away. She looked down on herself. She sighed sadly. He never looked at her without clothing. Maybe he thought she was ugly. She closed the door to the bathroom setting her towel and Walkman and looking in the mirror. She looked at her teeth her eyes, scrutinized every feature of her form. She had heard someone say dog ugly. She was a dog. So she was told. But she had the shape of a human, a human body in dog’s skin.

Only the ache of her ribs brought her back from her thoughts. She began running hot water in the tub, put the earphones over her ears, she tested the water, it was hot, but bearably so. She submerged herself in the water her toes under the flow of the faucet. She sang with the lyrics as her muscles soothed. Soon she forgot her aches and worries in the bliss of song music and comfort. She continued to sing as she stepped out of the tub, letting it drain as she dried herself off. She wiped the fog off the mirror and began brushing her fur out, forcing the water in her undercoat out and drying with the towel. She began singing in the mirror, doing a few dance steps before giggling at how silly she thought she looked. She opened the bathroom door and instantly tripped on something; Tim’s arms went around her steadying her. She smiled up at Tim and brushed some ruffled fur picked her towel off the floor and walked toward her room she made a casual motion of looking back at Tim. By the look on his face the dog ugly saying didn’t apply to her. She smiled to herself. She was attractive.

She put on the jersey Tim had given her and wandered into the livingroom. Tim was on the couch watching television. She wandered over to the couch and sat next to him, laying her canine head on his thigh. His scent was strong his firm gentle hand pet her head idly. She closed her eyes happy to have her life with Tim. She felt herself being lifted but was too weary to react. Her ribs hurt again so she tried not to move. She recognized her own scent; she was in her room, in her bed. Tim lay her down and covered her up. She felt him ruff between her ears before leaving. She took the jersey off and curled up to it under her head and to her nose. Tim’s faint scent was still there and she soon fell asleep again from the stresses of the day.

She woke up late the next morning her ribs still hurt. She took one of the pills the doctors had prescribed for her. She found Tim outside cleaning his SUV out when he looked up to her.

"Hey there, you feeling any better?" Tim asked

Cat nodded, "still a little sore though."

"Better than the alternative"

Cat shook her head and headed back inside returning with her book in hand. She laid in the yard reading while Tim continued some home repairs he never would have gotten to if he didn’t get the time off. She had finished her book and headed inside as the sun reached its apex. She went to the computer room. She looked up dog and human relationships on the Internet. Each site she visited sank her heart and soul. The image she found, one of a man and a dog, the man looked nothing like Tim, but the dog could have been her sister sat in a window tagged for top. Other windows held texts of law and opinions, Tim would be wrong to love her but the love of a pet was all right. Others would think Tim was a pervert for loving her. But then who would love her? She wanted Tim; she had no feelings toward dogs. She realized she could never have a relationship with Tim, other than canine and handler. Distraught she merely flipped the power switch to the computer and wandered past Tim and into the yard. Thinking. What was she? Why was she given feelings she could not act on? Nothing at the lab or training school prepared her for these things, what of love for her. She cried softly. She started when Tim’s hand clasped her shoulder

"Are you okay Cat?"

She wiped the wetness from her muzzle. "I am fine, just my ribs hurting."

Tim left her and came back shortly with a glass of water with a straw and one of her pain pills.

She wanted to cry again but could not let her feelings for Tim be known. None must know how she feels. It’s her secret. She took the pill, they did make her drowsy fortunately and she excused herself to the floor in the livingroom. Tim sat beside her and softly rubbed around her bruised ribs. Soon she closed her eyes in sleep.

She woke suddenly, a new strong scent filling the room; she was confused at first but suddenly realized it was food. Pizza?

She sat up looking at Tim. "Hi there sleepyhead," Tim toasted with a slice of pizza, "want something to eat? I was hungry, lazy, and you were zonked."

Cat smiled and got up already alert and awake. She took a slice from the box and fixed a glass of coke.

They watched TV during dinner. Cat went to take a shower and Tim went to the computer room and flipped the power switch. Getting a now cold slice of pizza and a fresh glass of coke he sat down at the computer and nearly dropped his glass and pizza like he did his jaw at the image in a small square of the computer after it booted. Then he saw the articles. He read and studied everything on the computer. Then looking finally at the image again he understood Cat now. He felt sorry for her. He had Alicia she had no one. He didn’t suppose one of the other GESAs would be suitable for her, but then they were going to make more like her. Then she would be happy. But until then, he moved the mouse to remove the image from the monitor when he thought of Cats body, she saved him many times. She was loyal and always there for him. He looked at the picture; the dog looked a lot like Cat. He reached down and hit the power switch, perhaps its best Cat not know he discovered her feelings. He reminded himself she was not his per say, and could be reassigned at whim. Torn he left the computer and sat in front of televisions mind-numbing bliss. But the image, Cats body haunted him. Her voice and the test scores, she was smart. He remembered her smile. He thought of her more and more.

Cat flopped beside him with her jersey. Tim reached up and ruffed her damp ears. Cat leaned her head on his shoulder and watched TV with him. The time grew later and the shows cheezier. Cats head lay on Tim’s chest. He slept soundly. Cat looked up on his sleeping form illuminated by the flashing light of the TV. She nuzzled his chin with her nose and licked him softly before she drifted to sleep.