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A Homecoming for Hunter

By: Jenny Harlow

Hunter sat eagerly in the wheelchair, looking from one way to the other. He was so anxious to just get home to his own bed but the doctor was taking an eternity with his paperwork. He didn't even have Bridget for company, as Sarah had taken her home the night before. Tim sat by him, holding his hand. Occasionally Hunter would let out an impatient whimper, and Tim would stroke his hair gently. He couldn't really blame Hunter for his nerves, all he really wanted was for his life to go back to being as normal as possible. It helped nothing that the doctor should have returned over two hours ago. If they stayed any longer, Hunter would have to have another sugar check and another meal before leaving. Finally the mouse stepped around the door with a smile on his face, he had a short conversation with Tim and the husky started rolling his fiance out of the building. Tim loaded the wolf into the van, walked around to his side, and by the time he got in the wolf was already asleep again, this time with a content smile on his face. When they arrived home, Tim was relieved to find that Bridget and Sarah had cleaned up the night before, at least as best they could. Sarah was still sleeping quietly on the thoroughly cleaned couch. He carried Hunter, who would occasionally kiss him on the chin, into the bedroom and lowered him gently down. The wolf quickly threw his clothes off and nestled down. "Do you think I'll ever get past these dreams?" The wolf said quietly into his pillow, as Tim picked his clothing up off the floor.

"I hope so, it wasn't the shadow again was it?"

"No... It was...something else." The wolf sighed heavily, burying his face in Tim's chest as the husky laid beside his mate.

"Wanna talk about it?" Tim asked, gently pulling Hunter into him.

"N-n-no... I really don't." Hunter sat up slightly, looking Tim in the eye. "I'm sorry, but there are some things that happened that... I'm just not ready to talk about even now. I'm sorry." The encounter with Hunter's mother had set him back more than Tim had realized, even as brief as it was.

"No need to apologize babe, I understand. Have you talked to Charlie about any of these things though?"

"No, I haven't yet." Hunter said, once more placing his head on Tim's chest. "It's something I had really worked to forget."

"Okay, I'm just concerned about you holding things in." He rubbed the wolf's back gently. Before long, Hunter's eyes started to drift shut. The steady beat of Tim's heart, and his slow, calm breathing lulling him gently to sleep. The husky kissed his fiance behind the ear as he laid his head back on the pillow.

Hunter stood alone in a small space behind a Chinese restaurant. It had closed earlier in the night. The smell of discarded food drawing him closer, he paused hesitantly near a window, checking that no one was inside. Seeing nothing but an empty kitchen, he crept further in. The smell took him to a large dumpster. He felt weak, but found the resolve to climb up anyway. He managed to get up and find a foothold that allowed him to easily bend and look into the space. He started ratting through the clear trash bags, finding a rare bounty, a discarded takeout container, mostly full, no maggots inside, or other contents of the trash mingled into the food. Satisfied, he pulled the box from the dumpster and sat on the ground. The food was cold, probably from sometime that afternoon, but Hunter didn't care. It tasted alright, a little more sour than it normally should, but other than that it was acceptable. He had his back pressed against the dumpster, eyes cast down onto his food. He didn't even notice the figure approaching him. "Looks like you saved me some effort." the figure rasped. Hunter looked up, the figure was a tiger. His clothes weren't in great shape, and it was clear that he hadn't groomed in some time.

Hunter swallowed, putting an arm over his mouth. "You can have it... Please just don't hurt me... you can take it." Hunter attempted to slip backwards, away from the tiger, but his path was blocked. He was trapped. The tiger stepped towards Hunter, he reached out with his hand and set the food on the lid of the dumpster. Then, with the same hand, stroked the side of Hunter's cheek. "Please don't..." Hunter curled into himself.

The tiger didn't listen however. He grabbed Hunter's ankles and drug him violently forward, trying to roll Hunter onto either his back or belly and pin him there. "I know it's typically not right to have dessert before a meal but... In this case, I think I'll make an exception." The tiger placed his knee in the center of Hunter's back, leveraging the wolf's pants downward, Hunter was struggling and kicking as best he could. His glasses fell, one of the lenses popping free and breaking in the struggle. He could feel the cold, wet ground on the skin below his hips. Oddly, he could only think I don't remember it raining today, As his panicked brain raced to search for anything lucid. When the tiger had fought Hunter's pants completely off, he lifted Hunter from the ground. Luckily, a voice sounded behind the two of them. Hunter couldn't see anything except for a blurry yellow light and a shrinking shadow on the dumpster. He felt hands on his shoulders, he panicked, bit and clawed at them until a soft voice calmed him down. It was the voice of an elderly tabby cat, she held Hunter's head in her hands. He hugged her tightly and cried into her apron.

The wolf woke up, drenched in sweat, crying so hard that he felt like he was drowning. After a few minutes of calming down, he realized something. Tim wasn't there. He looked toward the bathroom, the door was open and the light off. Hesitantly, the wolf stood, taking the crutches the hospital had provided for his temporary use. He stood at the bedroom door, staring out into the dark living room, he turned and looked towards the kitchen. The light was on and there were faint sounds of scuffing within. Hunter approached as quietly as he could and leaned around the doorframe. Tim was still in his underwear, on his hands and knees, a bucket of soapy water next to him, a scrub brush in his hands. He was furiously scrubbing at one spot in the kitchen tile, Hunter could see tears dropping down his face as he did so. He growled quietly, as he readied the brush once more. "Tim..." Hunter said quietly, stepping into the kitchen.

"Don't step there!" Tim shouted. He saw Hunter flench, Tim never yelled at him.Even during their most heated arguments.

Sarah walked around the corner sleepily. "What's going on?"

"I thought you and Bridget cleaned this place." Tim growled, scrubbing even harder. Hunter noticed small red drops occasionally mixing into the soapwater, where Tim had cut his hand at some point. "What do you call this?"

"Tim, I don't know what to... We tried our best. It was a lot of work for just two people in one night. Especially since one of them was injured."

"I know what happened to her," Tim sighed, throwing the brush into the bucket. "I know what happened here. All I wanted was to come home and find it clean!"

Hunter walked into the kitchen, slipping on the wet floor and falling face first before Tim. The dog looked horrified, but the wolf pulled himself up, gently taking a hold of Tim's fur. He pulled the husky into him and wrapped his arms around the dog. "It is clean Tim, come back to bed."

"I can't Hunter, it's so... It'll never be clean enough. Not for you, not now." Tim hung his head on the wolf's shoulder, sinking further on his knees.

"You've done plenty Tim, come on and get some sleep."

"I should have been here. I should have made her leave, I should-" Tim hugged the wolf tightly, Hunter felt himself beginning to cry. "I almost lost you. Do you know what that would have done to me? I don't think I could take it. It would've been all my fault."

"You couldn't have known. It was my choice for her to be here. It isn't your fault."

"I should have been there for you."

"Be there for him now and go back to bed with him. Didn't you hear him screaming? He needs you as much as you need him." Sarah said, putting her hand on Tim's shoulder, the edges of her pink nightgown draping into the water on the floor. She helped Hunter up first, making sure he was stable on his crutches. "Go back to bed, I'll send him in a moment. Let me talk to him first." She walked Hunter gently back to the room, and helped him back into bed. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I thought Tim had kicked that a long time ago. When he gets stressed his disorder gets worse. When he was a kid, shortly before coming out, we found him in the bathroom, scrubbing the sink like he was the floor, we couldn't get him to stop." She shrugged, rubbing Hunter's back gently. "He'll be okay, I know he will. He just tries to hold everyone else's world up while his is falling apart sometimes." She left Hunter, slowly reaching up and stroking his face before going out the door. She walked out into the kitchen. Tim was still on his knees, staring at the floor. He had, at least, stopped scrubbing. "Tim," the husky didn't respond to his sister at all. "Tim, look at me." Finally, he looked up at her, he looked exhausted. His eyes were red and bleary, and his right hand was bleeding relatively steadily. Sarah grabbed a paper towel and pressed it gently onto his hand. "Tim, you need to sleep, do you hear me?"

"But I-"

"No. Sleep tonight, if you still feel the urge to clean tomorrow, do it then. Go be with your wolf."

"I almost lost him."

"I know Tim, you know what that means?" The larger dog met her eyes. "You should hold him closer.... You still have him, go let him know he still has you too." She rubbed the back of her brother's head softly. In a swift motion, he pulled her into a hug before standing from the floor. He looked at the bucket and the soapy water around it. Sarah grabbed his shoulder. "I'll clean it up, just go." She said, patting him. He stumbled off, his knees stiff. Only he was aware of exactly how long he had been in that same position.

Hunter was quiet as Tim came into the room, he watched him walk across the floor and climb in next to him. The husky wrapped his arms around his partner and pulled him as close as possible, placing his muzzle on Hunter's head and taking a deep, gentle sniff of the wolf's hair. He kissed him behind the ear and nuzzled his head between Hunter's ears. He was still sniffling slightly. However, he suddenly started giggling. "Hunter..."

"Yes babe?" The wolf placed his hand on the dog's chest.

"You weren't wearing a shirt when you came out into the kitchen." Hunter and Tim both lay in bed laughing softly. It only stopped when Tim pulled Hunter into a passionate kiss, which lasted for several long seconds.They broke apart, staring into each other's eyes. Hunter turned off his lamp, and the two lay in the dark. Hunter's head tucked under Tim's chin, feeling his warm breath tickle the back of his neck as the husky held the wolf close to him. Tim was shivering slightly, occasionally letting out a soft sniffle as he rubbed his face between Hunter's ears. Hunter placed his hand on the dog's chest, stroking upwards, feeling the musculature gently. He kissed Tim's chest, letting his hand rest on the side of Tim's body. It was quiet and dark, just a peaceful moment between two souls so deeply in love with one another. Eventually, Hunter and Tim's eyes both closed, still embracing each other, Tim falling asleep with his forehead against his mate's. Sarah opened the door carefully, hearing no protest she opened it a little further. A small smile crept onto her face, seeing the two content for right now. She shut the door and flopped back on the couch.

Tim barely woke up at the door closing and winced at the clock. It was midnight. He gently kissed the small wolf in his arms, and smiled. "Happy birthday Hunter." He said, gently hugging the sleeping canine. Hunter giggled in his sleep as Tim gave him several more kisses to the face. "I love you babe."

"I love you too." Hunter said quietly, rubbing his face deeper into Tim's chest fur.

Tim woke up before Hunter. He took a moment in the dim light to just drink in the sight of his sleeping mate. His hair disheveled, a small smile on his face, his white coat shining in the gray light. Rain pattered gently on the window, and the husky was thankful for the blankets and his mate's warmth. He kissed Hunter behind the ear, and gently nuzzled him awake.. "Hey birthday boy." Tim said, giggling slightly. "So, are you feeling up to actually doing as planned today? If not, that's okay too. Always next week, I have next Sunday off too."

"I think next week would be better." Hunter said hoarsely, rolling in the blankets. "Is it bad if I just want to spend all day here like this?"

"Not at all... I would like to get your sugar and fix you something to eat though. Anything you want. Maybe watch movies here, later with Sarah since she flew out to see you."

"That sounds good. I think I want more mimus and rice, with garlic toast and broccoli."

"You got it." Tim moved over his partner, Hunter turned to meet his muzzle and they pecked each other briefly. Tim stood up off the bed, his knees still aching from the night before. He closed his eyes, and walked forward out into the rest of the house. He could hear Sarah snoring on the couch. He smiled as he walked over, stroking her back gently before heading into the hallway. He picked up Hunter's backpack which had been left by the door, and retrieved the small glucose meter from inside. He sat on the bed, gently holding Hunter's hand. The wolf whimpered slightly as the lancet clicked. Tim pecked him on the lips as the meter took it's readings. "You're a little low, guess it's a good time for breakfast." He nuzzled the wolf, passing his bag of candy to him. The wolf popped one of his favorites into his mouth and curled up once more into the blankets. Tim stroked the bundle of fiance affectionately, Hunter smiling up at him. The wolf blew a kiss. Tim kissed his fingers and pressed them gently to Hunter's nose before walking into the kitchen.

As Tim was getting bowls down from the cabinet to start cooking, Sarah wandered into the kitchen, leaning heavily on the island. She smiled at her brother sleepily, her tail sliding gently into his side. "I don't suppose you have any coffee do you?"

"I still have some microwave pouches from the last time you visited."

"That stuff could take the paint off of walls. It's so bitter... But it's better than nothing. Give it here." Tim handed his sister a mug and the small box. She filled the mug and set it in the microwave. "You weren't about to use that were you?"

"Not quite yet, you should have plenty of time to brew your coffee." Tim took a sip of juice that he had poured for himself. He washed out the old container for the mimus and rice and began making a new batch of it. Sarah rubbed his back gently as she walked out of the kitchen again.

"Tim, can you help me out for a second?" Hunter called from the bedroom.

"Sure, give me a moment!" He called back.

Sarah walked through the bedroom door, turning to reply to Tim, Hunter sat on the bed, holding his favorite night shirt in his hands, having an issue getting his arms over his head. The husky sighed, and Hunter looked up embarrassed, attempting to pull the blanket up over his exposed chest. Sarah calmly took his hand. "Lean down sweetie." She said. The wolf cast his eyes away from her at first, but slowly lowered his head for her. She took the blanket gently out of his hands and laid it back on the bed. She slowly reached for Hunter's shirt, feeling him tense momentarily as she did so. She took the edge of his shirt, carefully inched it over his head, and pulled it down his front. The wolf sat for a second, his head turned to the side, eyes focused into space.

"Thank you..." He said quietly.

"No problem sweetheart. I didn't mean to embarrass you. Are you okay?"

Hunter turned his eyes first, then his head towards her. "I'm alright. I just-" He sighed. He bent forward, wrapping his arms warmly around her. "I don't mean to-"

"It's okay, it's okay. You don't have to explain anything to me. I'm glad you let me help you." Hunter very much considered her his sister. "You need anything?" She said, returning Hunter's embrace, before gently parting it.

"I would like a lemonade, if you don't mind." He said, pulling his knees up to his chest.

"Sure," Tim watched her as she came out of the bedroom.

"Everything okay?" He said, concerned.

"Yeah, he was just having some difficulty getting dressed, nothing too major." She gently tugged Tim's tale, making him jump. "I'll take over if you want. Only right that you get to spend your boyfriend's birthday WITH him and not in the kitchen."

Tim smiled, accepting the bottle of lemonade from her, and making his way back under the warm blankets. Sarah, like their mom, was a professional chef and he had no problem turning the kitchen over to her capable hands. Tim wrapped his arms around the wolf, who was sitting up and flipping through a selection of cartoons, he kissed him just above the hip as he laid his head in the wolf's lap. Hunter reached down and idly rubbed Tim's ears as he finally selected something to watch. Tim took Hunter's hand in his. After several long blinks, he closed his eyes again. Hunter's tail swayed gently, rubbing slightly against his partner's back. Overall, it wasn't the day the wolf had planned, but it was nice to just be home and resting. Plus, he couldn't complain about having Tim and Sarah spend the whole day with him. He looked down at the tired dog in his lap, Tim had barely slept over the past few days, he had a small smile on his face as he nuzzled into the wolf's lap in his sleep. Hunter pulled another blanket up around his shoulders, and sat in a warm little tent of pure happiness. "I love you." He said quietly, kissing his fingers and placing them on the dog's nose.

Sarah walked into the room carrying a tray with two plates of food laid out on it. She paused for a second in the doorway to appreciate the scene in front of her. Hunter in his blanket tent watching cartoons, one hand in Tim's the other gently rubbing the dog's ears. Tim completely asleep, all care and worry gone from his face. "I almost hate to wake him." She said, setting the tray down on the bed. "He can eat later if he wants to stay asleep now. That is if you can eat around him."

Tim's eyes opened slightly, he rubbed them with the palm of his free hand. "I'm okay, I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep. Sorry babe, not much company on your birthday am I?"

"You know what? I didn't mind a bit." The wolf said, nuzzling into his partner as the dog sat up.

"You two are just so damn cute together. You're making me jealous!" Sarah said, smacking her brother gently on the shoulder. He stuck his tongue out at her before kissing Hunter on the lips. Hunter slid over, closer to Tim, allowing Sarah room to join them under the blankets. The wolf sat happily, happy to be home and with family to enjoy his birthday. Even if it was only a quiet day of movies and good food. Sarah leaned over, hugging the wolf gently from the side. "Happy birthday, I was hoping at some point we could go out and do something just the two of us before I go home. If you want to, both of you."

"That sounds fun." The wolf smiled happily. Tim nodded quietly, resting his head on Hunter's shoulder. It wasn't long before the food was cleared away, and the wolf rested his head in his partner's lap while they sat around just talking, listening to the rain and gentle thunder.