Story Notes: because so many people needed a pick me up due to family health issues i'll put this one up. it's mostly light and fluffy. i got stuck on it for three years so i just ended it where ti was. for Stephni and those who need it. Started: Saturday, January 03, 2004 9:49:28 PM Father Philip Callahan trudged to the dumpster, doing his part of the clean-up from the school's dance. He had been a chaperone so he had to help, even though all he really wanted was his bed. Two hours of listening to modern dance music - without the techno thankfully - was more than enough stress for him for a week. He hefted the large bag of garbage and started to let it go, but stopped. He dropped the bag, not caring that it had split open and spilled some of nasty wet napkins, and looked inside the metal can, smiling when he found what he did. He pulled out the little ball of fur, slowly stroking down its back. "Shh, it's okay," he whispered. "I won't hurt ya." The cat looked up at him, and seemed to smile. "You stink," he noted with a grin. He tucked the cat carefully into his jacket pocket and heaved the trash into the dumpster. He carried his precious burden into the old school, stopping in the kitchen to wash his hands, and to grab a bowl of water and some left-over liver dip for the little darling. He was stopped on his way up to his room by one of the older nuns, who peered down at the cat with suspicion. "Are you keeping it?" she asked him finally, staring into his eyes. "I'm gonna wait and see if anyone comes forward," he assured her. "If not, we'll see." He smiled. "She's just a little thing." "What's her name?" "Angel?" The nun smirked at him. "Fine, I'm probably gonna keep her," he admitted. He never got anything past her, she reminded him of the nun who had taught his primary school classes - without the ruler most of the time. He looked down at the ball of fur. "Heaven?" he suggested. The cat purred up at him, apparently she liked that name. "Be sure to get her fixed, Father Philip," the nun said, walking away, heading for her room in the girl's dormitory. "Of course, Sister Mary Anne." He completed his journey without any more interruptions, and the cat promptly plopped itself down on his pillow as soon as he let it go. "Oh, no," he told her, picking her up. "If'n you're gonna sleep with me, you're not gonna stink." He carried her into the little bathroom attached to his room and stopped up the sink. "Just don't scratch me too bad," he told her, right before setting her into the water. Surprisingly, she didn't claw him at all. Escaped twice, but didn't take it out on his flesh. When the cat was clean, and mostly dry, he brought it back into the room and sat down, watching as she sniffed at the food and water. She took a lick, then sat down to clean her paws. Within a few minutes, she was back on top of his pillow, purring at him to join her. He laughed and picked up a book to study, letting her soothe the day's stress from his head. "We'll intraduce ya around tomorrow," he told her as he fell asleep. The cat's eyes glowed for a moment, then she took a lick of his hair, eventually ending up grooming it for him. Her human would not be so messy in the morning. *** Father Philip looked over at the door as he heard the most pitiful cry, leaving his history class to go look out the window. There was Heaven, sitting there staring up at him, almost accusing him of abandoning her. He sighed and opened the door, letting her come into the classroom. "You need manners," he told her as he set her on the desk. "Ignore her and read, Michael," he ordered one of the boys. A girl stared at the little kitten, who turned and farted at her. She giggled, clamping a hand over her mouth when the priest looked at her. "Sorry," she said quietly. "She reminds me of my brother." A boy raised his hand. "Do you know what breed she is? She looks Siamese, only she doesn't have the mask." Philip shrugged. "I've not a clue. She was in the dumpster." He patted his baby gently. "We get on well enough. Now then, back to class. If'n ya want, ya can stay after and come look at her." He opened a drawer and plopped her down on top of the pads of paper. "Stay there." He turned back to his class. "Back to the revolutionary war please." Michael stood up and opened back up his book, starting to read again. "General Washington was a great leader of the armies of the Confederation..." He stopped when the cat howled. "She doesn't seem to agree, Father Philip." Philip frowned at his cat. "Quit it or go back upstairs," he warned. He looked at the boy. "She may not care for history, but you've got to know it enough to pass the test. Read." "General Washington...." HOWL. Michael cleared his throat. "Maybe if I move past that. The armies of the United States weren't a regular army like we'd think of them today. They were volunteers, without any draft and without any formal structure other than the Generals working together. The army as we know today would have helped the army during the war, but it would have also made some of the Generals unable to attempt various brave moves which set military history for centuries to come." He sat back down. "And what did you get from that?" Philip asked. "That your cat's really loud?" a girl suggested with a smile. "And that she doesn't like George Washington." The cat peeked up over the desk and glared at her. "Or maybe it was just the war." "She's not part of the class," Philip reminded her. "What else did ya learn?" "That the freedom from bureaucracy gave the Generals a lot of freedom, but a little bit of structure would have helped over all?" Michael suggested. Philip nodded. "That's about what I got too. Though, we could argue that the more structure that they had, the less the Generals would have been able to win. It was the desire of the people to fight for what was theirs that made the army fight harder. They ignored a lot of hardships to fight for what they felt was their right." "So, just like the axiom, if you back something into a corner, it's going to fight harder?" a young redhead asked. Philip nodded. "That's usually true of any fight. Whether it's a minor scuffle in the play yard or a major battle between two countries, the one that's cornered and fighting for its right to exist will always fight harder, and usually dirtier," he finished with a smile. The bell rang. "Read the rest of that chapter by tomorrow. Quiz in two days," he called as his students wandered out, many of them stopping to pet Heaven. "Go to class," he told the few lingering students who were cooing at his cat. "She's gotta go back upstairs." He grabbed his creature and tucked her under his arm, heading out to the dorms to put her back where she belonged. "Father Philip," the Headmaster called, giving his burden a long look. "What is that?" "This is the little one I found the other night," he nearly sighed. "I'm sure Sister Mary Anne has already told ya. She snuck down." The Headmaster looked down at her over the top rim of his glasses. "I see. How did she get down to your classroom?" His teacher shrugged. "I see." He looked at the young priest. "Are you going to put her back?" Philip smiled. "She seems ta not like history that much, kept interrupting one'a the students. I'll be back in a moment." "That's fine," the Headmaster agreed. "Please remember to find her a good home." He walked away, going to monitor the first lunch period. Philip sighed as he walked up the stairs to the boys' dorm. "I'm sure we'll work it out," he told her. He didn't notice her glare back behind him, or the glow that started in her eyes. If he had, he might have been quite upset; it was obvious she wasn't a normal cat. He put her onto his bed and walked out, making sure his door was shut this time. She wouldn't be getting out again. *** Philip looked up when he heard the meow, shaking his head. For the third day in a row, Heaven had managed to get free of his room and come find him. He wasn't even in his usual classroom, there was a broken window so his class had been reassigned. She had found them in the gym. He watched as Heaven wandered in, stopping to rub up against him with a purr. "You," he groaned. He picked her up and put her on the desk. "Now then, why are we concerned about how the colonies shaped up?" A girl raised her hand. "Brittany?" "Because their original reasons for existing shape the state's structure today." She smiled and waved at the cat. "Maybe Heaven has a real fondness for history after all." Philip shook his head. "She just wants ta nap with me," he told her. "Likes to sleep on my head." He pointed at one of the boys in the back. "Can ya think of another reason?" "Because she thinks you're her father?" he suggested. One of Philip's eyebrows went up. "Um, because the divisiveness between the different colonies sometimes comes back in political battles today?" Philip nodded. "That might be part of it, though we don't see as much mud-slinging between states as ya do in the states." He smiled. "Good try though." "Sir, Peter does have a point," Brittany pointed out. "With some of the colonies set up as strictly for one religion or another, you do see the majority of people still holding true to that probably, which would create some inter-state conflict. Especially when you look at some of the more conservative states." Philip shrugged. "Ya'd have ta ask your political science teacher about that. I teach history, not modern politics." He smiled. "By all means though, ask her today. I'm sure she'd like to debate that issue." "And hey, if you can spread it out, no test," Peter pointed out with a smile. A few of the kids laughed. Philip shook his head. "I doubt she'd forget," he reminded them with a tolerant smile. Heaven reached over and swatted him on the hand. "Oww. I'm gonna clip those for ya tonight." "Sir, you should probably do that every few weeks anyway," a girl told him. "We have to clip our dog's at least every month. I bet you'd have to do hers about as often." "Maybe. She's got a checkup today anyway, I'll ask." He stroked the soft fur, then looked back at his students. "Go ahead and pack up a few minutes early." They all packed their things and waited on the bell. As soon as it rang, they ran out, going to their next classes, and Philip gathered up Heaven to go put her back into his room. Of course, the Headmaster met them in the halls. "Sir," he said, trying to hide her. His cat was removed from his hands, and the nun who had grabbed her from him walked around him, petting her. "Sorry, she snuck down again." The sister looked over the cat. "Well, she *seems* healthy enough," she pronounced, handing her back. "When are you getting her fixed?" "We're makin' arrangements today," Philip told her. "After school but before soccer practice." "Good." The Headmaster reached over to touch her, but Heaven moved her head, sniffing his fingers instead. "Ah, a cautious little one." He looked at Philip. "I take it you're keeping her?" "If it's all right." "That would be fine," the nun said. She was in charge of the dormitories so she probably had final say. "What's her name?" "Heaven. She didn't like Angel at all." He smiled and pulled the cat up to hold her easier. "Will ya behave today?" he asked her. "No more sneakin' down." The Headmaster snorted. "It's too late for that. She's set the precedent for your relationship and she believes that you're her charge. I doubt she's going to leave you alone." "I'll help you make a basket later," the nun told him. She nodded and walked away, going to separate a couple holding hands. The Headmaster reached out again, and Heaven barely let him touch her ears before pulling away. "Quite a strong personality, that one has." He smiled. "Just keep her out of the halls. The janitor nearly swatted her earlier when she was sneaking around. His eyesight is going you know." He walked away, leaving him alone with his cat. Philip looked down at his cat. "Are ya gonna come ta practice too?" he asked with a touch of humor. "Maybe pick up some poms and cheer the girls on today?" Heaven purred in his hands, snuggling into his chest to rest comfortably. Philip guessed he had his answer. **** Philip looked the vet over, smiling because he had some students that looked just about as old as her. "I found her in the dumpster one night," he told her. "Cleaned her up, fed her some liver." The vet listened to the cat's heartbeat, then looked up at him. "She seems really healthy. Do you want us to do the whole workup? I do have to warn you that a few of the tests are a little bit expensive." "I've got some cash saved," he admitted. "For the next time I'm moved and I have to ship my books." She nodded. "That's great. We can do a blood test today to see if she's got any bugs, and if you're willing to leave her for a few hours, we can even get a stool sample to check for worms." She made a note on Heaven's chart. "I see you want her fixed? That's great." She smiled at him. "Let me check her abdomen and we'll see if we can work her in this week." She gently pushed on the cat's abdomen, then chuckled. "I think someone's beat you to it," she told him. "She's already fixed, I can feel a surgical scar in the right spot," she explained at his clueless look. She picked Heaven up and tucked her under her arm. "Come back in a few hours and we'll be able to tell you the results of the tests," she said cheerfully. He waved at his cat as she was carried away. "We'll talk later," he called after her. "Behave." He sighed and grabbed his leather jacket, leaving the clinic so he could go coach soccer practice. His girls' team was doing really well this year. In the back room, the vet was sucking on her injured finger, staring at the cat in the cage. "If you were nicer, we'd give you treats," she told Heaven. "He'll be back in a few hours." The cat started to howl. A vet tech looked at the cat. "If you'd take a shit, you could go home faster," she told the cat. The cat turned her tail towards her and farted. "Yup, you're one of those." She patted the young woman on the shoulder. "Don't worry, she'll do it just as soon as she figures out her father can't collect her until she does." The cat promptly walked over to the litter box and squatted, producing a very smelly load. "See, I told you cats understood humans perfectly." She cackled as she walked away. "This one probably talks too," the vet muttered as she walked away. Heaven watched her go. Some humans annoyed her. She would have to do something about that half of humanity some day. *** Philip gathered his little darling to him as soon as the vet put her down. "Were we good?" he asked her. "She was fine," the vet lied. She carefully kept the bandaid-covered hand out of his sight. "She's free of all pests, and we gave her some flea medicine just in case." She handed over a small bag. "This was generously donated by one of the local cat food companies to make you want to buy their products at an outrageous price." They both smiled. "I prefer to give my cats a multi-flavor mix, just so they don't get bored with the food. Any of the generics are usually good enough, just read the labels. Oh, and she doesn't like fish flavored treats. She spit one back at our vet tech when we tried to give her one." She checked the chart. "Other than that, everything looks fine." She closed it. "Do you have any questions?" Philip nodded and pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket. "I wrote 'em durin' practice. How often do I clip her claws?" The vet took the paper and looked it over, then grabbed a nearby pamphlet. "Here, for new cat parents," she told him. "It should help a lot." She pointed at the last question. "As for obedience training? Good luck." She gave him one last smile and handed back the paper, then went to take something for the pain in her hands. Philip stuffed the pamphlet into the bag and decided to take his darling to one of the local pet specialty stores. Maybe they'd help him some more. *** Philip opened the gold envelope carefully. Another reassignment. It always happened whenever he got too comfortable. He sighed in relief when he saw the new assignment. He was assigned back in San Francisco to help the diocese there with a bequeathal they'd just received. A small private family library had just run out of heirs, and their collection of journals dating back to the first missionary missions to the New World had been given to the Church. Not a bad assignment, and no hormonal teenagers anywhere nearby. He smiled and picked up the phone next to his desk, dialing the number. "Father Edmunds please." He listened to the tinny music while he waited. "Father Greg," he said happily. "You sent for me?" He listened as the other priest gushed over his new collection of journals. "Tha's fine. I can be there in about a week or so, if'n you can find me housing." He looked over at the headbutt he received. "And my cat." He laughed. "Yes, I know I'm supposed ta not love anything above God, but she's special ta me. Very calming. Even helps me teach." His smile got brighter. "Sure. Just give me a note where. I'll be there in about a week." He made a note on the letter and hung up, going to tell the Headmaster. Hopefully the man could find someone who would coach the soccer teams until he got back. Heaven looked at the paper and frowned. This would not do. Those people wouldn't accept her like her pet human did. She glared and considered her options. Eventually, she nodded and laid her head back down. It would be fixed. She had said so. Philip picked up the phone as quickly as he could, not wanting to interrupt the test he was giving. "Hello?" He listened, then sighed. "Am I to stay here then?" He shook his head. "Fine. You tell 'im." He hung up and noticed everyone was staring at him. "What? My new assignment got changed a bit. Go back to your tests." He sat down and thought about his options. He really didn't want to go back to the house. It'd only cause him more stress. He looked at his cat, who was giving him an innocent look for some reason. He picked her up and looked at her, then at the paper she had been laying on. He gave her an appraising look, then shook his head. "Fix it," he whispered in her ear. "No goin' back there, they won't like cats." He put her back down on the paper, watching her carefully. Heaven decided it was time for a bath. Her will would be done. *** Philip tapped on the door and walked in, smiling at his friend. "Got it all fixed?" he asked hopefully. "Actually, we've had to pony up for an flat for you after all," Father Greg told him with a strong British accent, frowning at him. "It's not much, but it's got a bed, a desk, and they accept cats." He noticed the moving lump in Philip's bag. "That's her then?" Philip pulled his cat out to show her off. "Heaven, this is Father Greg. We went ta seminary together." Heaven carefully looked him over, then sneezed. Philip smiled. "That's better than some she's done recently." Father Greg snickered. "I'm sure it was in the best of all possible taste." He stood up and handed Philip an envelope. "That's where your flat is. The keys are in there, and they're expecting you sometime today." He sat down again. "Your friends seem to think that they're very busy right now and that you'd get sucked back into doing their work for them if you went back." Philip sighed. "Personally," he said, his voice dropping. "I think that their present bout of *good work* is going to harm them all. The little boy that they're trying to help nearly killed the exorcist the Church sent to his family." Philip groaned. "They did invite you out if you wanted to go." Philip nodded. "I'll call 'em later tonight." He stuffed the envelope into his jacket pocket. "Is there anything else I need ta know?" "Just that the journals are all authenticated, they came that way. They won't be unpacked until tomorrow, that's when we officially get them." He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Other than that, you're allowed free run of the library, as usual. Just please keep your personal research away from the normal people, Father Philip." He smiled. "You seem to have scared a novitiate last time." Philip nodded. "I remember. I'll bring the books home with me this time." He put Heaven back into his bag. "We'll be off then. Dinner later this week?" "Sure. Give me a ring. I'll bring something over." He watched as his friend left. Then he shook his head. He wasn't sure how Philip had gotten involved with the occult, but he was thankful that the man knew what he was doing and was on the side of Good. He looked down at his desk and signed a form laying there, allowing the Church to pay for Philip's apartment. It would keep him out of trouble, and keep his cat away from the allergic people at the rooming house. A useful expense, much less than the allergy treatments would be. *** Philip put down the phone, smiling in relief. The Legacy house had an exorcist standing by this time, he didn't have to run and save anyone. He relaxed on his cot, looking around the spacious loft the landlady had given him. Maybe it was a good thing that the other apartment had a lot of smoke damage. This place actually had enough room for him to stretch out in. And it had furniture, real furniture, not second-hand pieces with sharp springs sticking out of it. And she promised him that this one wouldn't cost the Church any more than the other would have, even though it was nicer. The landlady had even split her phone line so he could get calls. She was a sweet and kind old lady, who had sworn at the other tenet when he had come in. Heaven had already examined every single inch of the place and had shown her approval of where he'd put the litter box. Yes, this would be a nice break for them. Someone knocked on the door and he went to answer it, frowning at the priest standing on the other side. He hadn't known he was going to be sharing it. "Yes?" he asked. "Father Philip Callaghan?" Philip nodded and the man handed over a small trunk. "These have been left specifically for you in the Bottom Library," the priest said grimly. "I was told to come give them to you and to ask your intentions." Philip opened the trunk and his mouth fell open. "Who sent these?" He looked up, but the man was gone. Apparently he had his answer. He closed the door and put the small trunk on the bar, looking through the small books. All occult in origin, and none he'd ever seen before. He picked back up the phone and dialed the island. "Derek, did ya send me some books? No, I've just been handed a small fortune in ones I've never seen." He looked around. "Sure, whenever you've got time. I'll be here tomorrow in the mornin'." He smiled and hung up. His friends would be there for him this time too. Heaven rubbed up against his leg, purring at him. "Are ya hungry?" he asked her, reaching over to grab the small bag of food. He found her bowl and poured some into it, putting it on the floor for her. She nudged his leg, then delicately ate a bite. Yes, her pet was very well trained. She would enjoy staying with him. *** Derek and Nick looked around the spacious, for city standards, studio apartment, then back at the priest sitting at the table reading. "This is nice," Nick agreed, sitting across from him. A small furry head peeked at him around the book. "Who're you?" he asked, letting it sniff his fingers. "You're pretty." "That's Heaven and she'll bite," Philip warned absently, taking a drink of his water. The cat moved around the book, coming over to investigate these new possible pets. Nick smelled bitter, like those exploding caps that the boys sometimes set off. She walked away from him swishing her tail in his face. "Kitty butt, great," Nick said dryly. "I guess she doesn't like the smell of gunpowder on my hands." Derek let her sniff his hand and she growled, her ears flattening against her head. "Calm down, I like cats," he assured her. "I used to have one of my own." He pulled out a chair and sat down as well. "Are those the new books?" "I left them in the trunk, they're in the kitchen," Philip said, putting down the journal he was reading. "I wasn't going to touch them without someone telling me something about them. The priest who dropped them off said they were left for me in the Bottom Library." Nick looked confused. "The occult section of the local Diocese archives," he explained. "It's in the basement of the old archive building in the very back." He petted his cat when she walked up to him, earning a few purrs of contentment. "He walked up, knocked on the door, handed them over, and then left again." His cat licked his fingers so he graciously used them behind her ears to help her clean there. "There ya go," he told her. She walked back to Nick and sat in front of him, staring at him. "Want me to pet you too?" he asked, holding out his hands again. She sniffed then laid down, staring at him. "I promise, I'm not going to harm your father, Heaven." "She's a very interesting cat," Derek said gently. "Is she normal?" Philip looked at him. "There's no such thing as a normal cat," he reminded him. Then he smiled. "If I think she's a bit more supernatural than other cats, then I'm also sure she's harmless. After all, she's the one who seems to have gotten me back here." "Have you tried the holy water test?" Nick asked. "No, and I'm not about to either," Philip said firmly. "She's not demonic, she's a cat." "There are those who would argue they're one in the same," Nick pointed out with a grin to show he was joking. The cat batted at his fingers, making him wince. "You need to trim her nails." "I did that before we traveled," Philip told him. He looked at Derek. "She's a normal cat, Derek." "I'm sure you think she is. Whatever she is could be clouding your mind." He pulled out a small vial. "We could easily check." "Try it," Philip sighed, leaning back to watch him. Derek uncorked the vial and poured a few drops onto the cat, making her hiss and bat at his hands. Nick stood up and grabbed Philip's glass of water, doing the same with normal water, which earned him deep claw marks in his hand. "Oww!" Derek helped him to the sink so they could be cleaned off quickly. Philip reached over to scratch that special spot in front of her tail. "They wanted to make sure you're a cat and not a demon," he told her. "Relax. Groom the water away." She licked his fingers then started to groom herself, getting that nasty wet stuff off her. Her pet might be able to give her a bath, but she would not let another smelly human do it. She glared at the two men when they came back, hissing again. "I think we've proven that she reacts to holy water better than to regular water, wouldn't you?" "Yeah, I think she's a normal cat," Nick agreed, holding the towel over his hand. "You've got to clip those claws, Philip." "I did two days ago." He held out her foot, letting him see the blunt points. "She wanted your skin badly," he said with a smile. "Can't blame her. She'll only accept me giving her a bath." "I see," Derek said, staring at the cat. The cat looked at him then turned her back to clean her other side. He looked at Philip again. "Do you think she's supernatural?" "I think all cats are," Philip pointed out. "I agree," Nick put in. "Now what? Those books?" "We probably should," Derek agreed, standing up to get them and bring them back. The chest displaced the cat and she showed her displeasure with that fact by taking a chunk out of his hand as well. "Hey!" Philip warned. She curled up in front of him, letting him pet her. "Thank you. You don't attack those two unless they provoke you." She sniffed again but kept her head down. Derek shook his head as he opened the chest, pulling out the first layer of books. "These are diaries," he said finally, having flipped through them. "People who have been possessed and diaries of those who have dealt with the occult one way or another." He picked up the next book and flipped through it. "This one is by someone who gave themselves up cheaply. The one underneath it is by someone who dealt with it as we have." "A Precept?" Nick asked. Derek let him see the name embossed on the cover. "Hey, I remember learning about him," he said fondly. "Precept of the Paris house when it nearly went to hell in the 1870's," Derek agreed, tossing it back into the chest. "These are very important books, Philip. Do you have any idea who saved them out for you?" Philip shook his head. "Then I would suggest you look upon it as a learning experience. You can only be helped in your own studies with them." He put everything back and closed the chest, but didn't close the latch. The cat hopped up on top of it and stared at him. "That is not a normal cat." "Yeah, don't cats usually sit on top of opened books?" Nick asked, looking at Derek. "Mine always did," Derek agreed. Philip shook his head. "She only does that when we're in bed together and she thinks it's time for me to go to sleep," he said, giving his cat a fond look. "She takes care of me." "You need someone to," Nick agreed. Philip swatted at him. "Hey, don't give her any ideas. I'll have scars from this set. It's a good thing I don't have a pet anymore." Heaven walked over and looked at him, then bumped her nose against his chest and sat down. This one knew her pet well enough, she could tolerate him until she had him trained better. She didn't like taking in strays, but she would this time. "Gee, thanks," Nick said, petting her gently, a long stroke down her back. "You are rather pretty." "I found her in a dumpster after a school dance," Philip told him. "She got famous for sneaking down to sit in my history classes, especially those on the Revolutionary War. Seemed to hate most of what was in the books." Derek laughed. "I'm sure it will be fine, Philip. She seems darling." He kept the rest of his opinion to himself. "I think the books should be safe enough for you to go through and learn from. If nothing else, they'll help you deal with the amount of strangeness that happens in this city." He stood up. "We'll let you get back to your studies." Nick didn't stand up, he was still petting the cat, staring into her eyes. "Nick?" Nick started then stood up with a grin for his friend. "Call me and we'll do supper, I'll even buy," he told Philip as he followed Derek out the door. Philip grabbed his cat, scooting her back across the table. "C'mere, you. Suckin' up ta Nick now?" She purred. "I guess you do like him after all, huh?" He scratched her ears for her, earning a lot of loving attention. He liked his cat. *** Philip looked up, noticing his cat was swishing her tail angrily as she walked toward the door. "What's happened now?" he asked, heading that way himself. He opened it and found Nick collapsed on his doorstep. "Nick?" he called, bending down to check him. "He's living. Heaven, get out of the way." He drug Nick into his apartment, then hoisted him onto the couch. It was the nearest soft surface. He left to get some cloths and water, and found his cat trying to lick one of the wounds closed. "None of that yet," he told her, shooing her off Nick's chest. "We'll do it this way for now and then we'll do it the other way." He cleaned him as best he could, bandaging the few open wounds he could find, then picked up the phone to dial the house. No answer. He hit redial, nesting the phone between his ear and shoulder as he cut Nick's shirt off him. "Come on," he muttered, listening to it ring. Finally, the answering machine picked up. "It's Philip, I have Nick and he's injured. I'll keep trying back." He hung up and gave it five minutes. Again with the machine. He started to pace, trying to remember anyone else's cellphone numbers. Heaven frowned then nudged Nick's pocket, making his keys drop out of them. "Of course," Philip said, going over to check him for his phone. He'd have the most current numbers on there. He found it, but it wasn't working. He could access the phone book though and wrote down all the numbers before trying Derek's. He got an answer, a nurse at the hospital. "Hello, I just found the person who the cellphone you're on's best friend bloody and bleeding. How is Derek Rayne?" The nurse said something about knowing it was him and handed the phone to someone else. Alex. "Alex," he sighed. "I've got Nick, he's bleeding and beaten. Where do you want him?" He looked at the body. "No, he's unconscious, but not badly off. Yeah, for a bit. No, the cat's loving this, she's trying to wake him up." He laughed nervously. "What happened?" He frowned at the silence. "Better yet, do you need me?" He sighed. "Fine, I'll stay here. A what?" He searched Nick again, coming up with the small coin. "Yeah, he's got it." He smiled and hung up. "All right, Nick, now you'd better tell me what's going on this time. Alex seemed like she's become a clam." He checked on Nick, then went to brew himself some tea and fill up his water filter pitcher. Nick would need one and he needed the other badly. Heaven didn't like this, strays weren't supposed to be sick this way. Had he been hit by a car? He smelled like a nasty, dirty car. She started to howl in misery. Her other pet hurried over and picked her up, hugging and soothing her. She told him about the car, but he apparently didn't understand cat. Stupid humans, they were all illiterate. She huffed in disgust, wiggling to get down. Then she jumped back onto the stray's chest, watching him to make sure he didn't slip away on them. "Good, you watch him, I'm having some tea," Philip told her. She would howl again if something happened to Nick, he was sure of it. He sat down in his chair, staring at Nick's body as he sipped his tea. When he moaned, Heaven sat up and looked down at him, looking like she was encouraging him to open his eyes. "How are you feeling? Should I call an ambulance?" "I feel like shit, but I don't think I need a hospital," Nick groaned, turning his head and opening his eyes. A cold nose made him look at his rider. "Hey, Heaven," he said, scratching her gently. "I'm sorry I worried you." She settled herself on his chest, cleaning her paws. "Thanks." He looked at Philip again, noticing what was in his hand. "Shit, give that," he said, holding out a hand. Philip tossed it over. "What is it?" "It was being held by the church, but the person holding it was a bit too pure. Only the corrupt can use it. It burns you and it could release the thing that this is the lock to." Philip looked at him. "Then what am I? It didn't burn me." "No, it didn't," Nick said, looking at it. "I hope Derek didn't switch them." He tried to move, but the sharp claws dissuaded him. "Fine, I'm laying here," he told her. "Philip, may I have some water?" "Of course. Want a straw too?" he asked with a touch of humor as he walked into the kitchen to get his friend some. "I guess since she's not letting me up. Where is Derek? Did you call him?" "He's in the hospital and Alex knows you're here," Philip told him as he came back with the glass of water. He handed it over. "May I? Since it didn't burn me." Nick handed back the coin and he looked it over, translating the words. "This isn't what Derek thinks it is," Philip said, going to get one of the journals he had been given. "One of the former Precepts left in the Church's care." He found the journal and brought it back, flipping to find the right section. "Here it is," he said, handing them both over. He took his cat so Nick could sit up, with many moans of pain. "You sure you don't want the hospital?" "I'd rather not have that around a lot of people," Nick told him as he read. He finished his water, putting down the glass, so Philip got him some more. Nick put the journal down. "Then Derek was wrong and we've got false information," Nick told him. "Where's my cell?" "Not getting a signal. I called using my phone to Derek's cell, which Alex was given." He tossed over the phone. Nick hit the redial button, listening to the ringer. "Alex," he sighed. "We've got the wrong information. No, the journals Philip were given have it in there. No, it didn't burn him." He smiled. "That's good to know. No, I'm at Philip's still. Sure, I'll stay here until the boss gets out of the hospital. Yeah, I'm fine. Bit banged up. The car was going slow when it hit me. Thanks." He hung up. "Car?" "Car, going about twenty miles an hour," Nick admitted with a grimace. "Came around a corner, out of nowhere. Had a parking sticker for the Diocese lot." He grimaced. "I think someone doesn't like this coin being out of their grasp." "Of course not, it makes them feel like they can't control the beast," Philip said as he sat down, after having removed his cat from his seat. "We've got to deal with that thing." "If we destroy it, then the spell holding the demon in situ will be broken." "If we don't, then we're putting a demonic entity into the hands of the Legacy," Philip pointed out. "Has anyone called London?" "We don't like the guy who took up after Sloan went to hell," Nick admitted with a faint smile. "He hates Derek with a passion." "Hmm, I wonder why. There's so few annoying traits there to hate," Philip said dryly. Nick laughed, grabbing his chest. "Sorry." "It's okay, it's nice to laugh. Things have been a bit stressful these last few months." He laid down again and Heaven jumped up onto his free side. "Hello, you. Are you adopting me?" She purred and nudged him to get some loving. Loving a cat always made one feel better, no matter what was wrong with you. He gently stroked her, which suited her just fine. "If she does, I'm sure you'll break it to her gently why you can't stay," Philip pointed out with a smile for his cat. "He has a home to go to, he's just running away." She sniffed and settled in more firmly on his side. "I don't think she likes that answer," Nick offered, smiling. He grunted as he tried to move. "Sorry, dear." He settled in again. "So, what is your idea?" "Putting the token somewhere it can't be found," Philip told him. "Nor used." "Philip, there are people all over this earth. There aren't places like that anymore." "There are," Philip said with a slight smile. "At least for the next seventy years or so." "Underwater?" "It's not going to disintegrate." "We don't know that," Nick told him. "We never tried to put it into water, and especially not saltwater or water that's had chemicals dumped into it." "We can waterproof it," Philip reminded him. "One of those vacu-seal things like they use in the kitchens. Then a large lead box and bury it under some of the sand." "Yeah, I guess we could," Nick agreed. "I'll suggest that when Derek comes back." He started to pet the kitten again. "This would have been so much easier if you had been back. This, and the last three cases." "I'm a priest, Nick, I go where God calls." Heaven looked at him and meowed. "You're a Goddess, not a God," Philip said tolerantly. "Besides, that means we'd have to live at his home. With Derek and a few women." She settled in again, grumbling. Women smelled nasty. All that fake shit they wore annoyed her. Why couldn't they be clean? "I don't think she likes women," Nick said dryly. Heaven nudged him to tell him he was right. "Probably the perfumes they wear or something," Philip said as he shifted so he could cross his legs. "Want some more water?" "If you wouldn't mind," Nick agreed. "Filter pitcher?" "It was left for me," Philip said with a shrug as he stood up, getting himself some more tea and Nick some more water. When he came back, his cat was resting with her eyes closed, though not asleep, on Nick and he was looking like he was going to join her in a nap. He set the water on the floor beside Nick's head, then sat down to reread the section on that coin. He had only skimmed the journal earlier. *** Alex knocked on the door, scanning the hallway. Philip and his cat opened the door and she gave one a hug. "How are you? Where's Nick?" "Sleeping," Philip told her. "Get Derek, there's some information you don't have." She looked stunned. "I've got the journal of a former Precept and in it he even says why he put in false information." She jogged down the stairs, going to get Derek and help him back inside. Philip left the door cracked while he went to make tea. "Heaven," he warned, not looking. He knew she had her nose stuck out the door. She trotted in to help him, she was fascinated by the loose tea he used. Liked to play in it too if he left it open. He hadn't made that mistake after the first time. The door closed and Philip put on the water. "Journal's beside the chair. Nick's resting," he called. "Thank you," Derek called weakly, sitting down with a sigh of relief. He ached. The journal had three ribbons, obviously played with by little claws, marking spots. He turned to the first one and read. Philip poured some tea, setting out the bottle of milk and the box of sugar packets on the table, then brought the tea over. "Tea," he called. "Thank you," Alex said, giving him a hug. "What happened to Nick?" "He said a car going about twenty. Came out of nowhere. Belonged to the Church he thinks." She grimaced but then jumped when the cat seemed to appear in front of her. "What are you?" "Derek asked that same question," Nick said dryly from his resting spot. "She's a normal cat, I saw her jump." He looked at Derek. "You look rough." Derek looked over at him. "I could say the same. Do you still have the coin?" "Yes, and I found it and touched it and it didn't burn, smoke, or hurt me," Philip told him. "Verifying the information in that journal." Derek grimaced, but flipped to the next ribbon, reading it, his face falling. He went to the last one and shook his head. "Was that in the trunk?" "Second layer on the left," Philip told him as he brought over a cup of tea. "There you are." "Thank you." Derek sipped it, watching the cat as it stalked back to Nick's side and hopped up on him. "No broken ribs?" "Thankfully not, she's been using him as a seat for the last few hours," Philip told him, sitting on the floor. "Philip, want me to bring one of the dining room chairs out?" Alex asked. "No thanks, I could use the floor. Good for my back and all that." He smiled at her. "It's still frozen." "I see." Derek took the coin from Alex, who took it from Nick, and looked it over. "It does seem to be frozen. Have the words changed?" "One letter but that's not the freeing sign," Philip reminded him. Derek nodded. "Nick and I came up with a plan." "Really?" Alex asked. "What?" "We want to use one of those vacuum suck machines to waterproof it, put it in a lead box, and bury it under the sea," Nick told her. "Philip came up with it." "You helped," Philip told him. "You figured out where." "Where?" Alex asked. "At the Barbados dig we're doing of that wrecked galleon." "That would work," Derek agreed. "We wouldn't be able to use lead though, it would pollute the water. Silver might work." "It'd make it look valuable," Alex pointed out. "Steel?" "Iron," Philip said before taking a sip of tea. "Traditional, so anyone would recognize it. Inscribe it in Aramaic or something similar as a warning." "Easily done," Derek agreed, nodding. "I like that idea. What about until we can get it down there?" He looked at the coin again. "The pictures are starting to move." He handed it to Philip when he held out his hand, hissing when he saw it was stopped. "The information we got was counter," he admitted. "He gave you half-truths," Philip pointed out. "It must have been spinning with all that suppressed lust at the Diocese." He tucked it into his pocket. "It can stay here with me and the cat until you've got the box ready." "That's fine," Derek agreed, smiling at him. "I'm sure your cat will be an excellent guardian of it." Alex looked at the men. "Huh?" "Derek thinks my cat is demonic or somehow supernatural," Philip told her before finishing off his tea. "Tried the holy water test and everything." "Is that where you both got the scratches?" Nick and Derek nodded. "Good! You deserve it. Cats hate water." "I know, but this one liked holy water better than regular water," Nick told her. "That's why I got deeper ones." He stroked her again. "I'm sorry about that, we were trying to figure you out." She gave him a steady look and he laughed. "I think she just gave me a 'you stupid idiot' look, Derek." "She's been known to give those to my students as well," Philip agreed lightly. "The day after helping me grade a test actually. Got the two brightest students in there as well. Didn't like them at all. Hates females." Alex laughed. "I guess that's why I'm not getting loved." "Probably," Derek agreed. "Nick, did you want to stay and guard him?" Nick shrugged. "Either is fine with us." "Then I'll stay. She seems to think that I needed to run away from home." Derek shook his head. "You have a very nice home, Nick, you don't have to run away from it." He looked at the cat. "Really, he does. We have all sorts of space for him to roam." The cat sniffed and cleaned her nose. "Fine, you adopt him as well. I'm sure you'll give him up after a night of his chili." He stood up with a moan and Alex helped him. "Philip, seal that token. I'll have the box ready in two days." He walked out, taking the journal with him. Nick looked at him. "It okay if I sleep here?" "Sure. I'll get you a sheet." Philip heaved himself up, going to get things to make Nick comfortable. "I'll sneak into the Diocese kitchen tomorrow to seal that, we've got a machine in there." He came out with a pillow, sheet, and blanket. "Here you are." "Thanks, Philip. I'll wait in the car, they'll know something's up if I go in." "They probably already know if they hit you near my place," Philip pointed out. He smiled and took his cat. "Come along, it's time for us to be in bed as well. I need you to purr me to sleep again." He walked behind the changing screen and then went to bed. His cat firmly nestled herself on his pillow, purring in his ear. At least until the pet was asleep, then she went to check on the other pet. He was nearly asleep, so she hopped up to sit on his head and purr at him as well. It seemed to help these fragile pets. She'd have to remember that. *** Philip strolled into the Diocese kitchen, nodding at the nun making herself a sandwich. "Just up for a bit," he assured her with a smile. "Bringing back the first set of translations for the first few journals." "How are they coming, father?" "Good," he assured her, making his own sandwich. Then he casually pulled down the vacuum-sealer machine and inserted the coin into a bag. He slopped together his lunch while it worked, watching it now and again. She craned her neck to see. "Found it in a box of stuff and wanted it appraised," he told her. "Ancient I think, if it's not a copy." "Oh. That's a wonderful discovery." She gave him a warm smile. "Have fun with your new coin." She left him alone, going to eat outside. He smiled and nibbled on his lunch, cutting off the bag once it was done and putting the machine away. He wrapped everything up and headed back to the car, where Nick was resting again. "We're done for the day. Want some chips?" Nick took the bag with a smile and started the small car. His was in the shop and he hated this rental. "Home?" "Sure, or a park," Nick agreed. "Park, it's a pretty day and Heaven can handle herself for a bit." Nick headed them that way. "How are you feeling?" "Better now that I've had some medicine," Nick admitted, turning them toward the water. "Riverfront area?" "There's a beautiful park down there," Philip agreed. "I missed it while I was gone." When they got there, they took their lunches out to sit beneath a tree, nibbling away as they watched the people go by. By the time they were done, they had only received two or three funny looks. A priest and a normal guy in jeans eating lunch together under a tree was apparently a little odd even for San Francisco. They went back to Philip's place, where the coin was put into the trunk with the books, and the cat was fed because she was rather pissed at the empty state of her food bowl. Philip settled in to clean the litterbox while Nick read a magazine. "They make self-cleaning ones," Nick pointed out. "They're eighty bucks each and I can just as easily do it by hand," Philip told him. "I'm getting you one for Christmas," Nick said, going back to his reading. A little furry body wormed past the edge he was holding and settled into his lap. "Hello, Heaven. Not helping the daddy?" "She'll use it in a moment." Philip tied the plastic bag and took it down to the dumpster, waving at the Church official sitting in the parking lot across the street. He walked back upstairs. "The Bishop is across the street." Nick looked at him. "Us or a mistress?" "Nick," Philip warned. "What? It's even caught some news attention. She's in her thirties, has a daughter, and everyone's sure it's his." He turned the page, ruffling the cat's fur. She huffed and got up, going to sit with the other human. "Sorry." "She wants to play and we're not obliging her," Philip told him, petting his cat gently. "Go play with the jingly things the landlady gave you." The cat hopped down, heading for the door. "Visitors." He stood up to answer it, surprising the Bishop. "Sorry, sir, but she's a wonderful alarm." The Bishop looked down at the cat. "Hello. Who're you?" "That's Heaven," Philip said as he let the older man in. "Nick, you probably know the Bishop?" "Hello, Mr. Boyle. How are you today?" "All right. We're waiting on word from a friend to see if he's going to end up in the hospital or not," he said in a bored tone of voice. "Heaven, bring me a toy and we'll play." He slid to the floor so the other man could have the seat. She scampered off, bringing him a ball. She liked to chase the balls. He rolled it past the Bishop's feet. Philip shook his head. "Heaven adopted me at my last post. Loved the children." He sat down. "I'd offer you something, but I don't have much. I had to eat out of the Diocese kitchen for lunch." "That's fine," the Bishop said with a smile. "I had forgotten that you used to work for the Luna Foundation." "I still do, I do some translation work now and then when they need it," Philip told him. "Derek's supposed to be getting tests run today," Nick told him. "Which means he's probably at home in bed whining about the injustice of being sick," Philip agreed. He looked at the Bishop again. "Why were you over this way, sir?" "I came to check on how you were doing." "I handed in my translations today for the first few," Philip told him. "They were relatively easy, I'm sure a few others could have done it." "So did I," he said grimly, "but they thought differently. They said it had to be you." He shrugged and looked around the place. "This is nice." "I was originally supposed to have the room downstairs but it had smoke damage. The landlady is giving us this one for the same price," Philip assured him. "Very efficient and all, authorized by you if I remember right." "More like my assistant, Marcus," the Bishop told him. The cat came back. "Are you keeping her?" "She keeps me company while I do my lonely work," Philip told him. "She likes books and we get on well enough." "I see." The Bishop looked at Nick again, then at Philip. "Would you happen to know anything about an accident in the area last night?" Nick raised his hand. "That was me they were trying to kill, the other reason I'm here. This way I get watched much closer." The cat nudged his hand so he rolled the ball again. "Mostly by her." "Ah." The Bishop smiled at Philip. "Were you aware that there was a theft in the library recently?" "No, I haven't been down there. Someone handed me a few books, some older journals in my area of expertise, but I haven't had to go into the actual building itself," Philip told him. He handed over the one he was reading. "This was one of them." "Why isn't this one in the Special Collections room?" the Bishop asked as he examined the book. "Because the author was possessed and that's her counseling journal," Philip told him. It was quickly handed back and the Bishop wiped his hands on his pants. "I made sure it was consecrated first, Your Holiness, I'd never hand you a book like that without it first." "Thank you, Father Philip. You've always been thoughtful that way. Odd, but thoughtful." He stood up. "How long do you think it will take you?" "Maybe another month to get through all them. The journals are in a form of Latin, the dialect the Church used for centuries. I'm doing about three a week or so." "That's fine. Thank you for your help." He glanced at Nick again, who looked up and smiled. "Father, I have to ask this, are you involved with him?" Nick and Philip both burst out in laughter. "I'd no more have him as mine than I would Derek Rayne," Philip assured him. "We only share a few interests. We're friends, nothing more." "Good. Thank you, my boy. Have fun with your work." He left, heading down the stairs as quickly as he could. Philip went to get the coin and put it under the mostly clean litter. "I'd like to see him search through that," he said with a smile for Nick's benefit. "I'd like to see that too," Nick agreed. Heaven did her part by dirtying the litter a little more. *** Derek knocked on Philip's door, smiling as it was opened by Nick and the cat. "I see she still adores you. Haven't made chili yet?" "I made some last night and she ate some of the meat," Nick told him as he let him in. "Philip, it's Derek." "That's fine," Philip called from the bathroom. "Let him get the coin out." Nick walked over to the litterbox and picked up the scoop. "Here you go, bossman." "Why do I get all the glamorous jobs?" Derek joked, getting down to shift through the litter until he found it. "Ah, there we are." He popped the plastic pouch into the box and sealed it. "We're having it soldered shut in an hour." "Cool," Nick told him. "Does that mean we're done?" "Nearly." Derek looked over as the bathroom door opened and fumes came out. "That's a strong cleaner." "The diocese cut housing funding," Nick said bitterly. "The bishop showed up yesterday to talk to him and announced the cut today." "Philip, you know you always have a room at the house." "For him and the cat?" Nick asked. "If he wants to bring her, he may," Derek conceded. Philip smiled and stamped down all his objections and worries. "I'll be out tonight. Thank ya." "You're welcome. Simply keep the litterbox in your room." "I can do that," Philip agreed. He looked at his cat. "Want to go to Nick's home, make sure it's a proper place for your pets?" She rubbed against his legs, purring at him. "Good girl." He smiled at Derek. "Give me an hour and I'll be packed if you can wait." "That's fine. I have the Range Rover with me." He sat down, holding the box tightly. The cat came over to stare at him. "Yes, little one?" She meowed but didn't move any closer. "You'll like the castle. It's very large and you'll have room to roam. Possibly even some mice to hunt," he told her. She seemed satisfied by that answer because she hopped into the chair and groomed herself. "I'm sure Rachel will adore you," he told the cat. Nick coughed. "Please, don't let them meet yet. Take that meeting slowly," he pleaded. Derek looked at him. "You know how she is about strange things, Derek, and Heaven is nothing if not strange." "True," Derek agreed. "We'll have to slowly integrate her into the house." Philip walked over from his packing. "Do you think Rachel will hurt her?" "No," Derek said firmly. "She'd never hurt an animal, but I can't see her tolerating strange behavior either. You might want to have a talk with your cat about leaving her alone for now." "At least until Alex and I can give her stories about Heaven," Nick put in. Philip nodded. "That's fine. I'll try to make her behave." He walked back and brought out his bag. "Nearly done." "You can leave the food," Nick suggested. Philip looked at him. "Or donate it." "Good point." Philip grabbed a small box of things he definitely wanted and everything else went into plastic bags so it could be donated to a shelter for children. They always needed more stuff. He washed the few dishes, then swept the floor while they were waiting. When it was time to go, he emptied the litter box and took out the trash, then packed everything of his into the back, including his cat, who went into the special carrier Nick had gotten for her, a large cardboard box. "Think she'll be all right?" "She'll be fine," Nick agreed. "You'll be waiting out here anyway." "Good point." Philip climbed into the back and tapped the box. "Behave, it'll only be for an hour or so," he told her. She scratched pitifully. "Derek won't let you run around in the car, Heaven, so behave. I'll get you out when we stop for a bit." She meowed and scratched again. "As long as you hold her," Derek told him, turning around to see the cat as she emerged. "If she gets loose, back into the box she goes." The cat gave him a pathetic look. "That doesn't work with me, I had a Persian." She settled down to knead her father's legs for him. She would get that man later if her master allowed. *** Philip set down the litterbox and filled it with the clean litter he had bought her. "There you are," he told her, watching as she scampered into it. She hadn't used it in over three hours and she needed it. Then he sat down, watching as she explored the room. "As soon as you're comfortable, I'll bring you downstairs with me," he assured her. "The house is very large and I don't want you to get lost." She sniffed at the closet, going inside there and coming back out. He picked her up, looking into her eyes. "You pick your hiding spots up here," he said firmly. "No hiding in the rest of the castle." She licked his nose so he let her down onto the bed. "Explore, Heaven, I'm gonna be right here." She explored the bed, kneading a pillow to make sure it was firm enough, then hopped down and went to look over the rest of the room. There were some fun spots she could get into, but the room suited her overall. It was more than clean enough and she was happy enough with it. She padded into the bathroom, examining it as well. She noticed the other door and wandered through it, startling her other pet. She sniffled around his things, letting him laugh for now. He had a few interesting things as well, plus more comfy napping spots that got sun. She headed back to her main pet's room, liking this idea a lot. Now she wouldn't have to search all over for her pet. She scratched, without using her claws, on the door, making her pet look over. She meowed for him to open it. "Fine, let's go see Nick's room then," Philip told her, picking her up and walking to the next room over. Nick opened the door and she meowed at him. "She's already seen mine, we have a connecting bathroom," Nick told him. "Come on, sweetie, let's show you the library so you can find your daddy whenever you want." Philip shook his head but followed Nick down the stairs, taking her to the library. Heaven jumped down, heading to examine the soft things under the windows. Then the tables were looked over. Then the bookcases. Then she found the stairs and the ladder for the higher shelves. "Heaven, no," Philip warned as she tried to climb the ladder. He rushed up to get her. "You're not allowed on the top shelves. Derek won't let ya." She struggled but he wouldn't put her up there. She went limp, seeming to acquiesce. He put her down onto the floor and she headed for the window seat up there. It was amazing, she could see all sorts of birds from up here! She heard footsteps and ran off, going to play on the bottom level again. "Kitty!" a childish voice said in joy. "Mom, look, a cat!" "It's my cat," Philip called, smiling at the young girl. "Katherine, meet Heaven. Heaven, this is Katherine. You behave with her." The cat sniffed her hand then trotted off to nap in the bright spot of sunlight on the table. This was nice. She stayed there even when the adults came in, she had claimed this spot, it was hers. One human sneezed. "Are you allergic?" Philip asked. "No, summer cold," Rachel told him, smiling at him. "Good to see you back, Philip. How long are you here for this time?" "At least a month, I'm translating the journals the local Diocese got donated to them." "Ah." She nodded, pointing at the cat. "Yours?" "Heaven," he told her. "She's very pretty. Is she fixed?" "The vet she first saw said she had already been fixed," Philip told her. "I figured she'd know." He smiled at Kat. "You've got to be gentle with her. She doesn't like sudden movements." "But if you roll a bell-ball, she'll instantly be your friend until she's bored," Nick quipped, taking his usual seat. "So, bossman, how long before the box reaches Barbados?" "Six hours." He looked at the cat, who was in his way. "Philip, please move her." Philip grabbed Heaven and shifted her out of Derek's way, putting her in front of him. She sighed and got up, going back to the sunny spot and flopped back down again. She glared at Derek, daring him to try and move her. "Heaven," Philip warned. "Keep it up and have to stay upstairs. This is Derek's house." "That's why I never had a cat, I never wanted to have to play dom against one," Rachel told everyone. Most everyone laughed. Derek pulled out a squirt gun and hit her with a short spray, making her hiss and jump up. "I said move." She glared at him but didn't move. He hit her on the nose and she scampered back to her pet's side. "Thank you." He wiped off the table and put the folder down in the sunny spot. She walked back over and plopped down on it with a sigh. Nick stood up and grabbed the cat, holding it this time. "Don't do that, he's mean, he'll give you a real bath," he told her, petting her gently. She relaxed into his arms, letting him hold her for now. The annoying human would get his later. Since he thought he owned the house, let's see if he liked her host's gifts. Derek shook his head. "Try to keep her off the top of the bookcases if possible as well, Philip." "We've already had that discussion," Philip assured him. "Someone left the ladders down." Derek snorted. "I'm sure we'll figure out how to get her down soon enough. The squirt gun is open to any of you who need it." He tapped the folder. "The next case was waiting on us when we came in. It appears to be a possessed house." "Like haunted?" Nick asked. "More like in that movie Poltergeist," Alex told him. "Things turn on and off, the lights blink, the house shakes." She got comfortable. "I went out there last night and looked at it, but there wasn't anything I could find. The records search didn't indicate anything unusual either. A new house in a formerly treeed over lot. Built by the current owners, who are both in psychiatric care, reputable firm doing the contracting. Nothing reused in the construction from somewhere else according to the contractor." Rachel cleared her throat. "Have we proven it's not a prank?" "No electrical signals anywhere," Alex told her. "As a matter of fact, the owners had the power turned off because they were afraid it was something in the wiring and the lights still go on and off." "What about the lot?" Philip asked. "Anything on it?" "Not a thing," Alex told him. "The usual transfers of deeds and those sorts of things, but nothing that indicated anyone ever lived or died there." "What about the owners?" Nick asked. "They've got some background, that's why they called us directly when the strange stuff continued," Alex admitted. "I used to work with the wife. The husband wisely invested in Microsoft when it first went public. Cashed out six months before the big collapse. They're comfortable, carefully give to charity, and pretty much keep to themselves. She had a few enemies from the time she worked in Social Services. Most of them check out as still living and those that don't their cases aren't flagged for violent letters or threats. She checked that and gave me the list. I'm running it right now, but so far I have nothing." "What about children?" Rachel asked. "None," Alex told her. "She had rheumatic fever as a child and he didn't like them." She looked at Derek again. "They don't play with the occult, they don't even read their horoscopes." "Hmm. Could we have someone targeting them as a joke, or as practice?" Philip asked. "Some teenaged user who just figured it out and they're not the best givers of Halloween candy?" "I've looked for neighbors, but there hasn't been anyone living in the houses near there for years," Alex told him. "That's why they moved out to that community." "Why haven't people lived out there?" Nick asked. "The community as a whole was built back in the fifties, one of those 'we want to be rich next to nature' sort of places," Alex explained. "The community was full, but when the dot-coms crashed a lot of the people lost their life savings so they sold their expensive houses and moved into something more modest." "But because the money was slowly leaving the Silicon Valley, and therefore the city, no one's bought the houses up," Nick finished. Alex nodded. "Is there anything in any of the other houses?" Rachel asked. "Maybe a spirit decided to move over because it was bored." "I checked. There hasn't been a single registered violent death in that community. Two heart attacks, six strokes, and a died in the middle of the night, but nothing else," Alex told her. "No prior reports of anything." "Then could it be someone out of their body?" Kat asked. "I know that puts a big strain, but we've seen it happen." "Very goot point," Derek agreed, smiling at her. "That is a plausible explanation, especially if they're stuck out of their body." "That might work," Alex admitted. "One of their neighbors, on the other side of the community commons, had a car crash and is in a coma. Fairly standard accident, someone drunk ran into her. Drunk person walked away and she didn't." "Have there been any neighbors reported missing?" Kat asked. "One, but that was nearly ten years ago," Alex told her. Derek looked interested. "She went missing on a hiking trip in Big Sur. They found her body during the spring rains, washed down from a place that had an avalanche during that time." She checked her notes. "Her family moved out of the area after her death and moved to Connecticut to be with the rest of their family. The woman who died was a devout Muslim. Again, no children of her own. She was a stepmother and had only been married eleven months." She looked up. "If it's her, then she's in the wrong house, on the wrong street, and is bothering the wrong people." "Why didn't our victims buy one of the empty houses?" Nick asked. "They said they didn't like them. A few needed some maintenance work. Two needed new roofs. A few weren't in styles they liked. It was cheaper to build their own and the community board is thinking about tearing down those houses." "What about natives?" Philip asked. "Could this be that?" "As far as has been documented, there wasn't a tribe who lived there. On the other side of the city, but not directly in that area. It may have been a hunting ground, but no one thinks any Natives ever lived there." "Then we're back to haunting the wrong house, trapped out of their body, and a user who's using them as a test case," Rachel sighed. "Or an interdimensional portal," Nick offered. "We've seen one of those, a mirror but it could be that they're seeing a phase-shifted existence." Rachel looked at him. "You can't prove that and we can't fix that. Why even bring it up?" "I don't know," Nick said, looking down at the cat staring up at him. "Was that you?" She pretended to go back to sleep. He let her go and she immediately went to plop down in the sunny spot again. This time it had moved so she was only half on the folder. Nick, Philip, and Kat laughed at her antics. "Nick, cats aren't telepathic," Rachel reminded him. "But we have seen it before and it is a possible explanation," Derek agreed. "Kat, have you seen anything?" "Not a bit, Derek, sorry." She shrugged and looked at Philip. "You think she'll talk to me?" "I don't know, she doesn't seem to like girls as much as she does boys," Philip told her. "I think it's the perfume stuff," Nick told him. "Girls wash with scented soaps, put on scented deodorant, then put on perfume or scented powder. She's got to be sensitive to the stench." "Hey!" Alex protested. "To her nose, you probably do smell," Philip agreed. "Cats are have very sensitive noses." "Then why can they clean their butts with their tongues, and then lick their fur?" Rachel snorted. "Because they know how they're supposed to smell and they don't use toilet paper?" Nick suggested. "Speak of, where is the litterbox?" Alex asked. "My room," Philip assured her. "It'll be the only one. She can run for it if she needs it." "That's good. I'll tell Dominick to leave your bedroom door open," Alex said, making herself a note. "Tell him I'll clean up any mess she makes," Philip said easily, grinning at her. "She's very clean. Not even a hairball yet." "Give it time, you'll all be covered in cat fur soon enough," Rachel said wisely as she stood up. "Want me to go back to the house with Alex?" "No, I'm going," Kat told her. Her mother stared down at her. "If it is a spirit, maybe it'll talk to me. They *do* like me, mom." She smiled at Alex. "When are you going back?" "Tomorrow after lunch. I'll swing by your school, it's on the way." Alex looked at Rachel, who nodded, but didn't look happy. "Thanks, Kat." She looked at Derek. "That's as far as I've gotten." "That's fine. Tell me if you need anything," he said with a smile. She nodded and got up, taking Kat to brief her and ask her suggestions on a new coat she wanted. He moved the folder, which pissed off the cat, but she only glared at him. Sleeping in the sun was a pleasure she wasn't going to give up for *him*. *** Heaven looked around the empty room. Then up at where her pet was still reading. She got up and went to make sure he got proper rest. After all, humans were pitiful creatures because they didn't nap. She plopped down on his book, staring at him. He smiled and petted her ears, which was nice, but still! She swatted him when he tried to get the book back, getting frowned at. She yawned and settled down, still staring at him. "What?" Philip asked. She flipped onto her side. "Bedtime?" he asked, looking amused. She meowed and he checked his watch. It was one in the morning. "Fine, come on then." He got up and marked his spot, taking her with him up to bed. The night butler gave them a smile. "Is her food in my room?" "I put it in the kitchen since she's allowed to wander. She's already found it. She spent most of the evening watching the birds in the garden." Philip smiled at that and continued on. That was an adorable little one and she was determined to take care of the wayward priest it seemed, something they had all worried about. Philip would work himself to sleep every night if they let him. She would make sure he got proper rest and hopefully ate more often. Philip let them into his room, putting her down next to the litter box, which he noticed she had used. "Try covering it, Heaven?" he suggested, doing that for her. Then he went to clean his hands and face, stripping down to his t-shirt and boxers to sleep. She curled up on top of his head again, making him smile. It was a good thing she loved him. He reached up to pet her, falling asleep that way. Heaven stood guard. She could feel the bad thing that was watching him, hissing lightly at it when it came closer. Nick came out of the bathroom to look at her. She meowed and walked over to the bad spot, meowing again. Nick stared at her, then around. "Something's after him, isn't it?" he asked quietly. She meowed more frantically and he grabbed her, putting her back on Philip's pillow while he sat on the foot of the bed. Philip looked up and glared at him. "She's worried something's in here." "Probably one of our mice." "Maybe not." "It's fine." He flipped onto his side and curled up again. "I don't need a guard." She swatted him. "Ow." He glared at his cat, who stared back. "Fine. You two can sit up all night if'n you want. I'm not." He closed his eyes and thumped his head on the pillow, forcing himself back toward calm and relaxed. Nick stroking his foot helped, his mother used to do the same thing. Nick and the cat shared a look and she got up to pace in that spot again. He came over to see what was bothering her. It wasn't a cold spot so no ghost. It wasn't a really warm spot that would mean some other entity. He found something under the dresser and pulled it out, making her hiss and arch and fluff up. "Huh." He looked at the locket then put it in the bathroom. She calmed down. "Still there?" She was still wandering the same spot. "Okay, let me go lock this up and I'll be right back," he said quietly, taking the locket away. He ran into the butler downstairs. "Have you seen this before?" "No, I hadn't. Where was it?" "Philip's room, under his dresser. The cat sniffed it out and went spastic." He brought it into the control room, finding Derek up and scanning the grounds. "Heaven's upset too and I found this under Philip's dresser. It made her fluff and hiss." Derek looked at the necklace, then put it into a locking case. "We'll see what it is in the morning. I've been feeling watched all night." "She's pacing a spot in his room," Nick admitted. "That was the only thing I found." "So something's coming for him?" Derek suggested. "Could be. If we piss the Dark Side off, he's got to make them puke in frustration." "That's fairly graphic," he complained but it was probably true. He nodded. "We'll be on alert. Tell me if he cat reacts worse to other things." "Sure." He went back up there to check on them, finding Heaven staring at the window. He looked outside, only seeing some birds. "They're birds." She hissed. "Okay, so maybe they're not." He called down there. "Turn on the lights outside Philip's room? She's hissing at the tree with all the birds." A spotlight got turned on and he looked at the shape outside. "We've got ravens, Derek," he said grimly. He hung up and petted her. "It'll be fine, Heaven. Nothing will happen to him." Philip moaned. "Ravens, Philip." He sat up and looked, then flopped backwards and covered his head. "Kat here?" "No, she's at home and they're staring in here. Derek said he's been feeling watched all night." He looked at his best friend then outside, going back to petting the cat. The three ravens took off and he smirked. "Now we know." He looked down, the cat was relaxed again. "Come get me up if it happens again," he ordered, putting her back onto the bed. She curled up next to Philip's armpit and he went back to his own room, leaving the connecting door open. The lights were cut off and he smiled. They'd be able to protect Philip again. With the help of a semi-supernatural cat, it'd be even easier. Because he was one of the original trouble magnets. The End. The End.
voracity is the author of 65 other stories.
This story is a favorite of 2 members. Members who liked Philip's Cat - List Only Story. also liked 125 other stories. This story is part of the series, List Only Stories. The previous story in the series is List Only: Needs of the Family vs. Needs of the Masses.. The next story in the series is Possessions Of A Knight.. |
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