FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

This story is a sequel to "Route Seventeen." It is recommended you read the previous story before reading this one. This story contains adult sexual situations and is not intended for anyone under the age of 18.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

It was almost seven and Burleigh Fletcher was nowhere near finished dressing. He stared at himself in the mirror, wondering whether or not he should just skip this evening's festivities. The face staring back at him looked tired. Bags were forming under his eyes, and his wiry golden fur lacked some of its former luster. Lines of gray streaked his once black hair, a fresh reminder that he wasn't nearly as young as he once was. It had been only three months since the hijacking, and he felt as if he'd aged years.

The canine sighed heavily and began combing his hair. He'd agreed to attend the ceremony and always prided himself on keeping his promises. He buttoned his shirt collar, slid into a pair of neatly pressed gray slacks and finished with a blue and red-stripped tie. He donned a pair of tight fitting dress shoes and a dark blue blazer jacket, completing the ensemble. He noticed the jacket felt loose; mute testimony to his recent loss of weight. Sleepless nights and a lack of appetite were making themselves felt. Maybe it was time to buy a new set of dress clothes, or see a doctor, or both.

The honk of a car horn interrupted his thoughts. He snapped off the bathroom light and strode over to the window. A black limousine sat at the curb, its engine idling and a nattily dressed chauffer standing at the ready beside the passenger door. Burl grunted at the irony of the situation. How often was a bus driver chauffeured around the city in the mayor's own car? He grabbed his keys and wallet and calmly sauntered out the front door, locking it behind him.

The ride downtown was smooth and uneventful. Despite this, the canine found his sense of calm diminishing as they approached the hotel. It wasn't like he hadn't attended formal parties before, but this was the first where he was the center of attention. The limo pulled up to the curb and the door was opened by a white furred bellhop. Had he not been nervous, Burl would have chuckled aloud to see it was a rabbit. This second irony did bring a smile to his face and a twinkle to his eye, making him appear relaxed even though the reality was far different.

He stepped from the car and into a small crowd of people, many of whom reached out to shake hands. The canine smiled, pressing fur as he slowly made his way to the lobby door, glad the crowd wasn't larger. Once through the hotel door he was quickly grabbed by a short, tan furred female shepherd and guided to a small reception room where he met the other eleven honorees for tonight's banquet. Five of them were cops, the other six firefighters. Burl was the only civilian among them, yet they each greeted him as if he were a long lost member of their select brotherhood.

The shepherd, who had introduced herself as the mayor's chief of staff, gave each of the honorees a small tag with a number on it. "These are your table assignments. Those of you who brought spouses or guests needn't worry, I've already arranged for them to be seated with you. Those without..." she glanced quickly in Burl's direction, "will be seated as appropriate. We'll be starting the ceremonies shortly. When you hear your name called, walk out to your assigned table and take your seat." She showed them a layout of the banquet room. "Please remember to smile as you do."

"How will the presentations be made?" asked a vixen.

"Dinner will be served first, then each of you will be summoned up to the stage where the presentation of your individual awards will be made. Drinks are available and wine will be served. Please limit yourselves to only one drink until after the presentation ceremony. We have a band this evening, so after the ceremony you're welcome to trip the light fantastic to you heart's content, or until you turn into pumpkins, which ever comes last." She looked at the group. "Any questions?" When no one responded she smiled. "Okay, then, just take a seat and I'll be back to get you when we're ready to start."

Burl watched as she walked out the door, her hips swinging and her tail moving in a suggestive counter-beat. He allowed himself a momentary fantasy, then turned away to talk with the other honorees.

About ten minutes later they were all ushered to the side door of a banquet hall. A stage and podium had been set up at one end. Twenty-seven large circular tables were scattered around the room with sixteen people at each, most of whom were cops, firefighters or politicians.

"Will you look at that," whispered one red-furred vixen. "I think we've got all of the city council and half the county board of supervisors out there."

"It's an election year," Burleigh smiled. "You know the old saying... Any old photo-op in a storm."

The vixen giggled and everyone in line who heard the witticism grinned. Moments later, the introductory speaker wrapped up his opening with another introduction. "Ladies and gentle furs, I'd like to now introduce you to this year's recipients of the I.O.P.F.'s Medal of Valor award: Officer First Class Judie Bridger.

"Break a leg," whispered the vixen, smiling at the others as she strode into the hall, a spotlight following her as she made her way across the floor to her table, applause following in her wake.

"Break a leg?" the canine asked quietly.

A short, muscular badger wearing a firefighter's uniform looked up at him. "It means good luck," he replied. "Julie was an amateur actress on the dinner theatre circuit before becoming a cop."

"Engineman Second Grade Franklin Wilkes..."

And so it went, each of the honorees being called one by one into the banquet hall and taking their assigned seat. The canine already knew his would be the last name called since each award was being issued chronologically. He hoped the audience would be tired when his name was called. Such was not the case.

"...And finally ladies and gentle furs, the first civilian honoree in the seven year history of our awards, Mr. Burleigh Fletcher!"

Burl stepped into the hall and the room practically exploded in applause, people stood, some cheering as the bus driver walked slowly toward his table. He smiled and waved, more than a little self-conscious.

Sharp, pangs of guilt pulled at him, twisting his stomach into knots. Why was he here? What had he done to deserve this kind of praise? The people on the bus never would have been put in danger if he hadn't stopped to pick up that one passenger in the worst part of town.

He remembered seeing the coyote waiting at the Downside bus stop and having a vague sense that something was wrong. For months, through all the adulation and praise, he'd secretly regretted not going with his instincts and refusing the stop. It wouldn't have cost him his job and it would have spared everyone the grief and pain that had followed. The other eleven honorees were more deserving of praise than he. They were the true heroes. They risked their lives on a daily basis.

He stopped for a moment, slightly disoriented as to where his table was. With everyone standing he could not see it. A cute, feline hostess quickly stepped in and guided him to his seat. "Keep waving and smiling sir," she said politely. "The public likes to know their applause is appreciated." Burl did as instructed, feeling like a complete fraud. He waved once more and turned towards his seat, suddenly coming to a complete and total stop.

There, in the seat next to his, was a young, female mouse. She was slightly thinner than when he'd last seen her, and her blonde hair was now cut shorter than he remembered it, but she was easily recognizable.

"Nancy? Nancy Summers?"

"Hey, Burl," she smiled, reaching up for a hug. He wrapped his arms around her briefly then took his seat.

"You're looking good. Still driving the number seventeen?"

The canine wanly returned her smile with a silly grin of his own and nodded. "Same old route, new bus. How are you doing?" His eyes focused first on her then traveled down to her chair... or more precisely, her wheelchair. Burl suddenly felt incredibly stupid, even as a much deeper feeling of guilt stabbed at him.

The emotion must have been reflected on his face and a look of sympathy flashed in the mouse's eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Sure," replied the canine, widening his smile. "I've really missed seeing you on my afternoon run. Working different hours?"

"New hours, new job... I even have a new home, over on the west side."

"Well, that explains why I don't see you. Which route do you take, the forty-one or the fifty-seven?"

Nancy looked slightly uncomfortable. "I... don't take the bus anymore. My cousin gives me a ride into work and home everyday." She nodded to her right. Burl looked over and saw another female mouse, about fifteen years older than Nancy. Her face, though attractive, was lined and hard and her eyes were dull. They lacked the tiny sparkle of humor one could see in most people's gaze.

"Hazel," Nancy said proudly, "this is Burl. He's the fur who saved my life."

The canine politely stood and reached over to shake her hand. The older mouse took his hand with a grudging hesitancy.

"So," she responded, releasing his hand abruptly, "you're the bus driver." The inflection she put on the last two words was clearly demeaning. Not wanting to cause a scene, Burl simply ignored the slight and smiled.

"A pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

Nancy looked uncomfortable, but also chose to ignore her cousin's faux pas. "Hazel's been a such a dear the past few months, helping to care for me, getting me set up at her place and finding me a new job. I don't know where I'd be without her."

Burleigh had the impression the compliment was forced and lacked a certain sincerity. He nodded understandingly. "It's nice to know you have family willing to help out where they can."

Hazel smiled at the compliment. For a brief moment, the canine though her face would shatter as the corners of her mouth moved upward in opposition to the lines etched there.

A lion sitting to Burl's left gently tapped his fork against a water glass drawing the attention of everyone at the table. "Not to complain," he started, a twinkle of amusement in his eye, "but as designated host for this table I must insist that the two loveliest ladies here please refrain from using their feminine charms to mesmerize and monopolize the attentions of our guest of honor."

Everyone chuckled good-naturedly. He then proceeded to introduce the other's seated at the table to the canine. The lion, it turned out, was an assistant city attorney. Additionally, there were two senior detectives, one deputy police commissioner, one labor union president who, not surprisingly represented the city's police and fire league, one battalion chief and one precinct captain. Burl politely greeted each.

Once introductions were completed, there followed a good deal of cross conversation, much of which was aimed primarily at him. The canine was forced to relive more of the incident with the hijackers than he cared to. Knowing that Nancy was present, he managed to avoid discussing most of the more graphic details. He also defused some of the harder questions by asking others at the table to tell their own 'war' stories. One in particular, about a huge downtown office building fire that had involved practically everyone at the table, successfully stole his thunder through most of the appetizer and main courses of dinner.

Winking, Burl focused once more on Nancy. "This is almost like trying to drive a bus and talk at the same time," he whispered. He noticed that Hazel was ignoring them completely, choosing instead to focus on sampling the various bottles of wine scattered about the table.

The mouse girl chuckled. She watched as Burl's eyes dropped involuntarily to her wheelchair. She noticed the pained look that flash briefly across his face and decided to confront the issue head on. "Do you like it?"

The canine looked back at her, slightly perplexed. "Like it?"

"Yes," she squeaked softly. "It's the latest model. Zero to five in only three seconds. I was thinking of adding racing stripes, but that might be a little too daring, don't you think?"

"Possibly," Burl replied. He paused for a moment, thinking then asked, "How...?"

"My doctor calls it hysterical paralysis," she offered, intercepting the question as light-heartedly as possible. "Everything works from the hips on up. I even have feeling clear to my toes, but for some reason, my leg muscles won't obey the signals my brain is sending."

"Is it permanent?"

"Heavens no!" Nancy said. "Regular therapy to keep my leg muscles strong and time should take care of the mental blocks. I'm even seeing a psychologist once a week to help jump-start the process. He's convinced that one morning I'll simply wake up, get out of bed under my own steam and not realize it until I'm in the middle of brushing my teeth."

Burl chuckled, relieved somewhat by her optimism. "I'd love to see the expression on your face when that happens."

"It's going to happen," she asserted. "I'm already able to get around the house for short periods with the help of a set of leg braces and a walker. I can still swivel my hips with the best of them."

"I know," Burl grinned. "I remember watching in the rear view mirror as you walked to the back of the bus every day." The canine suddenly realized what he had said and his ears flashed a bright crimson. "Well... Ah... What I mean...Oh Hell!"

Nancy almost burst out laughing as she watched the canine react to his own admission. She hastily brought her napkin up to her mouth to stifle her louder giggles. "Why you dirty old hound," she whispered, the smile spread across her face. "And here I thought you weren't even watching the show I put on for you," she joked.

"It was impossible not to," Burl said. "I lost count of the number of times you almost caused me to have an accident with that little strut of yours."

"Oh?" said the mouse girl playfully. "What kind of accident?"

"Traffic accident, of course."

Nancy smiled at the double entendre, and then her face became more serious, more sincere as she looked up at the bus driver. "You know, I never really did say thank-you for all you've done, and that includes the three days you stayed with me at the hospital after..." Her voice faded softly for a moment. "Well... you know."

"Yeah," the canine quietly agreed. "Well it was the least I could do, considering the circumstances."

"The least...?" Nancy replied in a whispered, slightly worried tone. She felt as if something was wrong but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "More like above and beyond if you ask me. You do know I wasn't completely catatonic those first three days. I can vaguely remember you spoon-feeding me when I couldn't feed myself."

"You do?" Burl said in surprise.

"Yes," she nodded. "One of the nurses told me later that if you hadn't kicked up a fuss and volunteered to do it, they would have simply stuck a feeding tube down my throat." The mouse noticed the inside of the driver's ears blush at the compliment. "But that wasn't all. What I remember most about those three days was the sound of your voice, reading to me, constantly, and telling me everything would be alright."

"I just wanted to help," the canine said modestly, a slight note of pain in his voice. "I was surprised when I came by the second day after you'd 'woken up' and found you'd been discharged into your family's care. None of the staff would tell me how to contact you. I guess they thought I might be a stalker," he said, sardonically.

Nancy smiled at him. "You did, more than you know. I'll tell you a secret. Every since the hijacking I've been really nervous about a lot of things, things that didn't use to scare me. It gets bad sometimes, especially when I have to be around males. Occasionally it's so bad I want to scream, but you know what gets me through it?"

"What?"

"I just imagine hearing your voice and it calms me right down. That wonderful voice of yours is giving me back my life. As far as I'm concerned, you're the best medicine in the whole world." Nancy stopped abruptly as she noticed the canine's eyes begin to mist over. "Is something wrong?"

"I... I was afraid you'd hate me."

"Hate you?" Nancy asked, surprised by his statement. "How could I possibly hate you?"

"I let those bastards on the bus. If I hadn't stopped, nothing would have happened, to us... to you. Seeing what they did to you ripped me apart inside. I have nightmares about it... and it was all my fault."

Realization struck the mouse girl. She suddenly noticed things about him she'd previously glossed over. The bags under his eyes, the gray streaks in his hair that hadn't been there three months ago, his aura of tiredness and obvious loss of weight; it all came together in an instant.

Anger flashed through her. Not anger at Burl, but anger at the hijackers, at herself, and anger at everyone who had apparently ignored what was happening. They had focused on the hero, the ex-Marine, and Gulf War veteran and hadn't looked beyond the stereotype. He was a good fur, the best, the kindest male she'd ever met; yet here he was, dying slowly by inches, consumed with a guilt that wasn't his, and no one was helping. No one had even noticed!

Nancy reached down and took the canine's hand. "You listen to me, Burleigh Fletcher," she whispered fiercely. "You were NOT to blame for what happened. Those hijackers were! You did everything in your power to help us. You could have gotten away on your own, but you didn't. You could have gone with the others, hidden in the woods and left me behind, but you didn't. You faced down seven brutal furs and saved all our lives. That's why you're here tonight. You're a hero... You're my hero!"

Impulsively, she leaned over and kissed him. It wasn't a very deep or long kiss, just a simple touching of lips, but both furs were startled by the shock of electricity that passed through them, like two halves of the same soul, touching for the first time. Nancy vaguely heard the hiss of disapproval from her cousin, the sudden silence that surrounded them as conversation at the table came to an abrupt halt, but at that instant she didn't care.

Burl straightened up from the unexpected kiss, slightly dazed. In that single kiss he'd felt a weight lifted from his soul, a desperately needed forgiveness he hadn't thought he deserved. He glanced around the table, catching a variety of expressions that ranged from surprise to warm, wistful smiles. The only exception was Nancy's cousin who glared coldly at him, but at that instant he didn't care.

The rest of the evening went by in a whirl. The canine barely noticed it. Dessert and coffee were served, followed by a series of speeches on the definition of courage. After that the mayor and the city's police and fire commissioners jointly made the award presentations.

Citations for valor were read, following which a gold medal was draped around each honoree's neck. The award recipient was escorted to a bank of twelve chairs organized in two tiers of six. There they sat until the last presentation was made, then came the photo ops. Elected official uncharacteristically took their turn standing beside the heroes. Through it all Burleigh kept looking back at his table, at Nancy, drawing strength from her smile and applause.

Eventually, everyone was allowed to return to his or her seats and the band began to play a series of dance melodies. For the first time that evening, Burl seemed like his old self, relaxed, smiling, cracking jokes and trading witticisms. The bulk of his time though he spent sitting with Nancy.

They talked about family and friends, likes and dislikes and favorite memories. Burl was feeling so good he even tried to involve Hazel in their conversation. The older mouse simply ignored his overtures of friendship and continued to sip wine and brood silently.

Slowly, the partygoers thinned out as the hour became late. The canine saw the band was getting ready to play their last dance number. He looked over at Nancy, a twinkle in his eyes. "Care to dance, milady?"

"Dance," she squeaked in surprise. "But I can't..."

"You've got your leg braces on, don't you?"

The mouse nodded.

"It's easy then. We'll roll you over to the dance floor, you lock your braces and stand on my toes and I'll dance for both of us."

"What if I fall?"

"If you don't want to fall, then you won't. Besides," Burleigh whispered, "I'm not going to let you."

Nancy smiled and nodded her head and the two of them set off for the dance floor. The mouse trembled slightly as the canine offered her his hand.

"Scared?"

She nodded again, silently.

"Don't be," he said gently. "You have more courage than you think, and much more than you need." He quickly slipped the medal from around his neck and looped it around Nancy's. "Above and beyond," he said.

Nancy looked up at Burl, her eyes shining. For an instant, he though she was about to cry. Instead she smiled, reached down to straighten her legs then locked the braces stiff. The music started. The canine pulled her to her feet. She swiveled her hips and stiffly stepped up on his toes. Fortunately, the mouse was wearing a simple pair of soft flats that preserved the bus driver's shoes.

Burl moved easily around the dance floor, swaying gently in time to the music. All Nancy had to do was pull herself in close and relax so her legs naturally moved with the canine's. He stood a head and a half taller than the mouse girl so it wasn't long before she found herself resting her cheek against his chest. Her large ears allowed her to hear the strong and gentle beating of his heart and for the first time in months, she felt completely safe.

The dance ended all too soon and the couple found themselves some distance from the wheelchair. Nancy smiled at the canine. "You want to see a trick?" Burl nodded. "Okay," the mouse instructed, "hold your right arm tight against your side in an 'L' shape and keep your forearm rigid."

Burleigh did as instructed.

She grabbed his right forearm with both hands. "Here we go then, one... two... three!" Nancy stepped off his left foot and pivoted her hips until she had made a 180-degree swing and was facing in the same direction as the canine. She carefully lifted her left hip and stepped shakily off Burl's shoe. "Okay now," she said with a big smile. "Small steps, and keep your arm rigid."

Slowly, carefully the couple made their way off the dance floor. Nancy tottered slightly, swinging her weight from one hip to the other, using the pivot of her hips to force her legs forward, one cautious step after another. It was slow, hard work, but she was definitely moving under her own power.

Upon reaching the wheelchair, the mouse shakily guided herself down while Burl supported her weight until she was safely seated. There was scattered applause from the band members, servers and a few of the remaining guests who had been watching the couple in fascination.

"Nice trick," Burl complimented.

"Yeah," panted the exhausted mouse. "I'll have to do that again, once I practice it some."

"You mean this was the first time you tried it?"

"Why not?" Nancy grinned. "I knew the theory well enough and thought this was an ideal time to test it."

"So what made this such an ideal time?"

"Because," she said, "I didn't want to fall, and I knew you wouldn't let me."

Burleigh shook his head, smiling. "Lady, when you get bold, you're positively dangerous." They went back to their table to collect coats, purses and such. The canine spent a final few moments talking with one of the other honorees and wound up invited to a 5th precinct barbeque, two weeks hence.

Turning back toward Nancy, he found the young girl looking up in frustration at her older cousin. Hazel was on her feet, but just barely, having sampled at least one glass of wine too many.

"You promised," the younger mouse was saying, her voice filled with disappointment. "Now what do we do? I don't have enough cash for a taxi and neither of us can drive."

"Don't worry," the older woman said, her voice thick and more than a little slurred. "Just give me a couple minutes to rest and we're good to go." She sat down at the table again and rested her head on her arms. Within seconds, she was asleep.

Nancy bit her lower lip. She took a deep breath trying to suppress her nervousness and anger. She should have known this would happen. Hazel was not the most dependable person in the world, but she was the only family Nancy had within a thousand miles.

Burl came up behind her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You wouldn't happen to have a wheelchair accessible van in you hip pocket, would you?"

"Actually, I think I can go one better than that," the canine responded, smiling,

* * * *

The two-car convoy exited the freeway and turned left at the first light. Burl drove the small minivan while Nancy sat beside him, navigating. The passenger's side seat had been removed, replaced by a set of high impact wheel clamps that locked the mouse's wheelchair in place. The mayor's limousine followed close behind; its raccoon chauffeur careful not to loose sight of the lead vehicle. One right, two lefts then another right brought both cars into a small cul-de-sac. The mouse pointed to a house on the right and Burl quickly maneuvered the van into the driveway. The limo pulled up to the curb and stopped.

Nancy pulled a small lever that unlocked her wheelchair and pressed a switch on the dash that automatically opened the side door and lowered a ramp. The mouse scooted down the ramp and rolled up to the front door steps. Burl followed after closing up the van.

"I'm afraid I'll need some help here," the young girl confessed. "Hazel still hasn't arranged for a contractor to come out and put in a ramp."

"No problem," responded the canine.

Nancy swung the chair around so her back was to the porch. Then she disengaged the drive motor. Burl got behind the wheelchair grasped the two handgrips and pulled it up the three steps leading to the front door, much as he would have maneuvered a cargo dolly. The mouse handed him a key, which he used to unlock and open the front door before repeating the process.

Once she was safely inside, the canine went out to the limo and, with the chauffeur's help, gently carried Nancy's cousin up into the house and to her bedroom. At the mouse's direction, they carefully laid her diagonally across her bed and removed her shoes. They left, quietly closing the door to Hazel's room behind them.

"I'll be in the car, sir, when you need me," the raccoon reported before exiting the house and closing the front door behind him.

Nancy looked up at the canine. "Would you like something to drink? Coffee, juice, tea?"

Burl shook his head, smiling. "Thank-you for the offer, but I have to be at work early tomorrow. Perhaps another time, I mean if you'd like?"

"Yes, I'd definitely like that... How about next weekend?" She asked hopefully.

"Next weekend?" the canine asked, trying to hide his disappointment. "I was kind of hoping this weekend would be okay... I mean if you don't have any plans."

"Oh! No, I don't. How about Saturday?"

"Saturday's wonderful. Do you like jazz?"

"Yes." Nancy nodded.

"Good! There's a live concert in the park. We can make a day of it." Burleigh smiled nervously. "Say about ten A.M.?"

"If you wanted, we could make it eight and have breakfast together?"

"Eight A.M. it is then,"

Nancy took a piece of paper out of her purse and scribbled her phone number on it. She handed it to the canine, leaning forward in her chair. "Thank-you for all your help this evening."

"It was my pleasure," Burl said, bending over to take the scrap of paper from her hands. His eyes focused on the mouse girl. "You're being at the dinner made this whole evening wonderful." He leaned into her, touching his lips with hers. The kiss was much deeper and much longer this time, and the electricity they felt was about ten times stronger. It left them both dizzy.

"Saturday, then," said Nancy.

"Saturday," repeated Burl as he left, closing the door behind him. His walk to the limo seemed almost surrealistic.

Nancy watched as the car pulled away, then locked the front door and rolled silently toward her bedroom. She glanced at herself as she passed a hallway mirror and noticed a glint of gold. She looked down and saw Burleigh's medal, still hanging around her neck. She stopped and examined it more closely, running her fingers gently over the engraved metal, whispering the single word stamped there... "Valor."

* * * *

Saturday morning couldn't come soon enough for the canine. It had been years since he'd felt this way and it both thrilled and scared him. Upon rising he quickly showered and dressed, choosing blue jeans, a red and black checked shirt, black suspenders and a tan photographer's vest. Brown shoes completed his wardrobe. He was out the door by seven-thirty, having grabbed a small camera bag before locking the door behind him.

It was a short drive to Nancy's and Burl arrived with plenty of time to spare. He glanced at his watch as he shut off the SUV's engine, deciding to wait a few minutes before going up to the door. He noticed that a temporary wooden ramp of sorts had been installed above the porch steps, though the canine thought it didn't look all that sturdy. He began tuning the car radio, searching for some soft rock. Without warning a shrill, feminine voice drew his attention towards the house.

"Don't you fucking turn your back on me..."

He recognized the voice as belonging to Nancy's cousin, Hazel, and wondered what was going on.

"Who gives a rat's ass if the neighbors hear," said the voice.

Again, it was Hazel. The canine guessed she was responding to something Nancy had said, but which couldn't be heard outside the house. The voice dropped in volume and became unintelligible except for a few, harsh words."

"Bastard... fuck... worthless..." There were a few moments of silence, followed by "whore... ungrateful... useless..."

A door suddenly slammed from somewhere in the house and it grew abruptly quiet. Burl looked at his watch and climbed out of the car, intending to knock on the front door. He'd only gotten halfway across the lawn when it opened and Nancy rolled out She awkwardly closed the door behind her and stopped on the porch, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.

She was wearing a very loose fitting pair of blue sweat pants, a bright red college team sweatshirt and her flats. Beneath the bulkiness of her pants Burl could see the vague outline of her leg braces.

Nancy spotted the canine's approach and smiled. She quickly pulled a pair of sunglasses from the 'saddlebag' hanging off the side of her chair and put them on, dabbing one last time at her nose pad before putting the handkerchief away.

"Morning Burleigh," she called, trying to sound as carefree as possible.

"Hello yourself," he replied, quickly deciding to adopt the same tone the mouse had. There was no sense in ruining the day with obviously unwanted questions. "Are you hungry?"

"Starving."

"Good! Then I know just the place." It took only a moment or two to load Nancy into the front seat and her wheelchair into the back. Burl noticed she had substituted her motorized chair in favor of a lighter, more traditional one.

Fifteen minutes later they had pulled up to a small café. The mouse pointed toward a blue lined parking spot and handed him a handicapped placard, which he hung from the rearview mirror. Burl backed into the stall so Nancy wouldn't have to go around the car to get to the café door.

"Could you be a darling and get my walker? It's hanging on the back of the chair."

"Wouldn't the chair be easier?"

"It would," said Nancy, "but I need to get some exercise, and I can't think of a better opportunity than now."

Burl nodded and moments later brought the mouse her walker. She quickly unfolded it, locked her braces, and with his help slid out of her seat to stand next to the car. It took her about two minutes to 'walk' the twenty feet to the café door.

Once inside they were quickly seated and had their orders taken. Nancy removed her sunglasses and looked around, taking in the simple décor.

"What time does the concert start," she asked.

"About twelve-thirty. Most of the performers are local, though I've heard that it's not unusual for a headliner or two to show up and jam with everyone else, just for fun."

"Do they have seating?"

"Some," Burl replied, "but they charge an arm and a leg for it. Most people just bring blankets and lawn chairs and find a comfy spot to camp out."

"Sounds like there's going to be a bit of a crowd."

"Nothing to worry about," he said. "I've already got this really great knoll staked out. You can see everything from there."

"Really?" she said. "So how does one go about reserving a spot in a public park?"

"Landmines."

The mouse was sipping her coffee and choked for a second before bursting out in laughter. Burleigh simply sat there with a look of pure innocence. His expression amplified the effect and it was almost a full minute before she could regain any semblance of control.

"You bastard," she gasped and chuckled. "I haven't laughed that hard in months."

"You've got a beautiful laugh," the canine chuckled. "You really should use it more often. It's good for you."

"I'm sure to get a good workout, hanging around with you." Nancy went quiet for a moment. "It's been kind of hard to laugh much the last few weeks."

"Family problems?"

She nodded. "You heard?"

"Some," he admitted. "You want to talk about them?"

The mouse sighed. "I've always hated having people tell me what to do, or how to live my life. I guess that makes me a bit of a rebel." She took a moment to sip some water. "Don't get me wrong. I don't mind friendly advice or constructive criticism. I often use it, but I've always wanted to make my own decisions, my own choices in life."

"I don't see anything unusual in that," said Burl.

Nancy smiled slightly at the unsolicited support then her face became serious. "I think that's what freaked me out after... after I... was... was raped. I lost all sense of control in my life. Hazel was kind enough to take me in afterwards. I pretty much surrendered my life to her. I let her make all the decisions, tell me what I had to do, where to go, whom to see. That lasted about eight weeks."

"Let me guess," Burl said. "You started taking back your life and she didn't like it."

"Not in the least. I didn't how much of a controlling personality she had until last month. We've been arguing every couple of days about one thing or another. I usually wind up giving in, not because she's right, but because when I don't Hazel drinks."

"I take it you argued over going to the banquet."

Nancy nodded. "She was perfectly fine with the idea up until that day, then she suddenly changed her mind. She decided the stress might be too much for me. She only gave in when I threatened to take a taxi and go alone." The mouse shivered. "Boy, did that idea ever scare me."

"I'd wondered why she was so hostile that evening," Burl said.

"That's also why she got drunk." The mouse said. "It was her way of getting back at me, of trying to control me." She sighed. "As much as the thought scares me, I've started wondering if perhaps I should try moving out on my own again."

"Are you ready for that?" the canine asked.

"Spiritually... yes. Mentally... maybe. The hang up is this," she said, tapping on her braces. "I still need help from time to time. I'm not really as independent as I sound. I hope that changes... soon."

"It will," Burl assured her. "From what you said the other night you sound like someone who's proactive. You're not going to wait for a cure. You'll go searching for one."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Nancy said, her face softening as she smiled. Her eyes and her smile drew the canine in. He felt a gently tug on his soul and was on the verge of leaning across the table and stealing a kiss when the food suddenly arrived.

The two furs ate and talked for nearly three hours, unaware that several complete sets of customers had come and gone while they lingered over breakfast. When they finished, Nancy insisted on paying. Burl agreed, providing he was allowed to leave the tip.

* * * *

It was only a short drive to the park. Thanks to Nancy's placard it wasn't difficult to find a spot for the SUV. The canine grabbed the wheelchair, some blankets, his camera bag and a small cooler from the back. The mouse offered to hold the cooler on her lap so Burl could push. He hung a couple of beach chairs onto the back of her chair and they were off.

The two made their way along a cement path until they were opposite the grandstand. Furs of all types were spread out, relaxing, talking and waiting for the concert. He pointed to a small hill shaded by a stand of nearby oaks. Pushing the chair off the path they headed up the gentle slope.

Three young, nearly identical skunk kits were wrestling with each other on the hill. When they saw the canine approaching the contest came to an immediate halt.

"Hey! Uncle Burleigh!"

"Hey, guys!" he called. "Thanks for holding my spot. Where're your parents?"

"They're over on the other side of the bandstand. Dad says you're welcome to join us later, if you're not too busy."

"Nancy laughed. "You weren't kidding when you said landmines."

Burl's ears blushed and he chuckled. "May I introduce you to our neighborhood variation of Les Enfant Terrible: Timmy, Tommy and Tubby."

"That's TOBY," one of the kits protested loudly.

"My version scans better," the canine said. "Boys, this is Nancy."

"Hi!" all three said in unison. Timmy looked up at Burl. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"You look a lot like my English teacher," observed Tommy, "except you're a lot prettier."

"Why thank-you," replied Nancy.

Toby was determined not to be outdone. "Mom thinks it's about time Uncle Burl got back into circulation."

"HOKAY!" Burl interrupted, reaching into his wallet and pulling out a five-dollar bill. "Why don't you three go and get yourselves some ice cream and rejoin your parents."

The kits cheered and quickly snapped up the money before racing away. Nancy saw a male skunk waving his hands at the canine from across the way. Burl responded by throwing his hands and arms around in a series of controlled, rhythmic gestures. The skunk responded with some frantic gestures of his own, then went dashing off in pursuit of the kits. Burleigh stood for a moment, laughing heartily.

"Was that semaphore?" the mouse asked.

"Yeah. Terry and I were Navy signalmen before I decided to transfer to the Marines. We've been friends for years."

"So what did you say?"

"Not much," the canine shrugged. "He wanted to know where the boys were headed, so I told him."

"He looked slightly upset."

"Called me a bastard, " Burl chuckled.

"Why?"

"Those kits are the reason ice cream trucks won't drive through our neighborhood anymore."

Nancy laughed. "You're terrible, you know that, don't you?"

"Hey, I'm everyone's favorite bachelor Uncle. It's my job."

The canine spread out several blankets, placed the cooler next to the blankets then lifted the mouse out of her chair and into one of the beach chairs. They both sat back and relaxed as the first performer came out to warm up the audience. For the next ninety minutes the program jumped back and forth between hot rhythms and slower blues melodies. The day began to warm as well. It wasn't long before Burl had tossed his vest aside and stripped down to a tee shirt.

Seeing the canine make himself more comfortable, Nancy decided to join him. She pulled off her sweatshirt, revealing a stylish pink tank top. Then, with Burl's help, she slid out of her sweat pants, pulling them carefully over her leg braces. The white gym shorts she wore matched the tank top perfectly. She tossed the clothes carelessly into her wheelchair and leaned back, smiling at Burl.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked.

"What did you bring?"

"Well, I've got soda and ice tea, or if you'd like something a little more exotic I've got wine and cheese."

"Isn't it against the law to drink in public," she whispered conspiratorially.

"Only if they catch you."

He brought out two small glasses and filled each about halfway, passing one to Nancy. He then unwrapped a small dish with several different kinds of cheese on it. The mouse carefully selected a slice and nibbled at it.

"Mmmm... Brae! You know this reminds me of a frat party I went to in college?"

"It does?"

"Yes," she said. "Only instead of Brae and Zinfandel, it was Cheese-Whiz and beer."

"I thought higher education was suppose to teach culture and sophistication." Burl said.

"No, that's what life does," she giggled. "College is where you go to party before getting serious about life." They continued nibbling and sipping until the bottle was half-empty and there was no more cheese. "If you keep feeding me like this, I'll wind up one of those plump little office girls you see all over the place."

"It won't happen," the canine said."

"And why not?"

"Happy people don't get plump. They're always laughing their troubles away. People only get fat if they hold things in, like a blowfish. You're entirely too happy."

"Tipsy, you mean. It's all part of a deep dark plot you have to render me insensible," Nancy said, smiling. Moments later the smile twisted into a grimace as the mouse hissed in pain.

"What's wrong?"

"Leg cramp," she gasped, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Which leg?" asked the canine.

"Right leg... Calf muscle! GOD! That HURTS!"

Burleigh quickly examined the leg brace, undoing it easily, and began gently massaging Nancy's leg. The muscle was rock hard and it took a good minute or so to get it to unclench. As it did the mouse sighed in relief.

"Thank-you."

"No problem," the canine said. "You want me to take the other brace off while I'm at it?"

"Please."

Burl quickly unlatched the second brace and lifted Nancy's leg out, smoothing it flat on the blanket. "When you think of it," the canine said, "leg cramps are a good thing."

"Come again?"

"Well, it means the leg muscles are still working. All you need to do is overcome a few mental blocks and you'll be up on you feet in no time."

"That's true, but it's not easy to remember when you have to sit groaning you way through one for five minutes."

"Sorry."

"What for?"

"I didn't mean to be insensitive," the canine said.

"You aren't," Nancy insisted. "You're one of the nicest furs I've ever met." She brought her arms up and gently wrapped them around Burl's neck, drawing him in so she could kiss him. Their lips touched and the world around them faded into a soft, blissful background. They separated for a moment then came together again.

Unconsciously they stretched themselves out on the blankets, their arms wrapped tightly around each other as if they were trying to merge as one. Burl felt her breasts pressing against his chest, her nipples hardened beneath her shirt. The shock of electricity they'd felt before was still there. It seemed to pull at them, drawing them in. Time passed, but they took no notice. It had ceased to have any meaning.

Their lips parted once more. Burl looked into the young mouse's eyes. "What's happening," he whispered.

"I don't know," she muttered, "but I like it."

The concert ended and the applause of the audience brought them back to reality. The pair sat up and looked around to see everyone else picking up blankets, chairs and the rest. Burleigh helped the mouse girl put her leg braces back on and lifted her into the wheelchair. He quickly cleared away their spot, leaving only a square of crushed grass to hint that they had ever been there.

Nancy balanced the cooler on her lap as Burl carefully maneuvered the wheelchair back to his car. He quickly had everything loaded and the couple left. The canine reached across and took her hand in his as they drove. She affectionately squeezed his hand, watching him as he wove his way through traffic. It had been months since she'd felt this happy and she wished it would continue, on and on. Such was not to be the case.

Pulling up in front of the house Nancy suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. She looked across the lawn and saw a stack of hastily packed cardboard boxes, her luggage, and about three garbage bags filled with clothes sitting out on the front porch Noticeably absent was the motorized wheelchair and the handicapped van, both of which had been rented from a medical supply company.

Burl slowly wheeled the mouse up to the front porch. Sitting atop the pile of boxes was an envelope addressed to her. Nancy opened it with shaky fingers and carefully read the contents. The canine watched helplessly as she folded in on herself and began crying. He knelt in front of her and gently embraced the girl, letting her tears soak into the fur on his neck.

He held her that way for about ten minutes then the mouse straightened herself. They separated and Nancy reached into her 'saddlebag' once more for the handkerchief. She wiped her eyes, softly blew her nose and looked at Burleigh for a full minute, studying his eyes.

"You wouldn't happen to be in need of a room mate?" she asked quietly.

* * * *

It took the canine about fifteen minutes to load Nancy's things into his SUV. She owned few material possessions. Clothing, toiletries, books, CDs and a few DVDs made up the bulk of it. Her only electronics consisted of a laptop on which she played both her music and movies and a small I-Pod, but not much else.

When he finished, Burl climbed into the driver's seat and looked over at Nancy. She was starring straight ahead. Her face was expressionless and she was focusing neither left nor right. He'd seen her like this once before in the hospital and it scared him.

"Nancy?" he asked quietly.

She looked over at the canine and saw the concern in his eyes. She smiled weakly. "It's okay Burl. Why don't we just get out of here?"

He nodded, starting the engine and the SUV pulled away from the curb. The mouse did not look back. The drive to his place started quietly, but the further along they got the less pensive the girl became.

"I suppose I should have seen this coming," she sighed. "Hazel's been over the top since the banquet, accusing me of being ungrateful and selfish. I think she even considered you a threat."

"I don't see how."

"I have a hard time opening up to guys anymore. Hazel knows that. Put me next to a strange male under the wrong circumstances, say an elevator, and I have to focus on not panicking. With you, though, it's different. Around you I feel safe, protected, and free to open up without fear of criticism or rejection. I instinctively knew from the first time we met that you could be trusted. I guess Hazel saw that as a threat to her control over me. If I wasn't afraid of any one male, then how could I continue to be afraid of the world?"

"I'm sorry things didn't work out between you two."

"I'm not," said Nancy quietly. "It helps me move forward. I only wish she hadn't been so cruel about it."

Burl turned a corner and pulled up into an old style, two-track driveway. "We're here," the canine announced. The mouse looked up and her jaw dropped. The single story California style bungalow looked like something out of an architectural journal. Dark green gingerbread shingles covered every wall. The eves, window and door frames were all trimmed in black and a large picture window looked out onto a wide, comfortable porch. Hazel's house was a cracker box compared to this place.

"How on earth can you afford this?"

"It belonged to my parents," Burl said. "They paid it off years ago and left it to me. I pretty much grew up here. It's home." He looked over at Nancy. "Care for the twenty-five cent tour?"

It took a few minutes to break out the wheelchair and get the mouse girl up to the front porch. The canine quickly unlocked the front door and wheeled her into the house. The front room, a combined living room with a dining alcove, was spacious. Wide doors let into a well-designed kitchen. The rest of the house proved to be equally as comfortable. One of the three bedrooms had been converted into a combination office library, complete with a computer.

"Dad used this as his home office," Burl explained. He owned a couple of small hardware stores. This room was mom's idea. By running the stores from here, he could spend a lot more time at home with us."

"Smart lady."

"I've always thought so." The canine spun the chair around and rolled it into the master bedroom. "This is your room," he said with a grin.

Nancy looked at Burl in surprise. "I though you'd have the master bedroom. After all, it's your house."

He shook his head. "I sleep where I always have, though the décor has changed slightly since I was a pup. I use this as the guest room because it has its own bath." He wheeled Nancy back into the living room. "Would you care for some tea?"

"Yes, thank-you," said the mouse.

Burl disappeared into the kitchen, filled the kettle and dropped it onto the stove. As the water was heating, he started bringing Nancy's things in from the car. It was much easier unloading, than loading, so by the time the kettle was singing he'd managed to transfer everything into her new room.

He disappeared into the kitchen again, emerging several minutes later with two steaming mugs of tea. The canine pulled one of the dining chairs aside so the mouse could roll right up to the table.

Nancy took a sip of the tea and was startled by the strong flavor. "What is this?"

"Grandma's old recipe. I call it Earl Grey with an attitude."

"Attitude?"

"Basically its just Earl Grey with a half teaspoon of honey, one teaspoon of lemon juice, and a jigger of peppermint schnapps. Mom said it was good for all manner of sniffles."

"With that much peppermint schnapps I'm not surprised," giggled the mouse. She took another sip on the tea. "Would it be okay if we moved over to the couch? This chair is starting to numb my backsides."

Burl gently scooped Nancy out of the wheelchair and walked her over to the couch. Once there, he helped her undo her leg braces and set them under the coffee table. Then he retrieved their mugs. Turning around, he found that Nancy had pulled her legs up on the couch and was patting a spot for him to sit next to her. The canine obliged and the mouse girl snuggled up against him, using him as both a prop and pillow.

Burleigh began to feel slightly warm, both from the tea and Nancy's closeness. They talked and joked for several minutes, their voices getting softer with each passing minute. The blinds and been drawn closed and they could feel dusk approaching as the room slowly darkened.

Nancy grew silent then drew the canine's free hand down until it rested against her cheek. "Burl...?"

"Hmm?"

"Would..." She bit her lip nervously. "Would you do something for me?"

"Your wish is my command, fair lady," he chuckled.

"No... Seriously. Would you do something for me?"

"What would you like?"

She hesitated for a moment, afraid of what might happen in the next few seconds. "Would you make love to me... Tonight? Right now... Please?"

"Now?" the canine asked, frightened and thrilled by her request.

She nodded silently.

"Can I ask why?" he whispered softly.

"Because I want you. I want to know what making love really feels like. I want to feel safe again, in your arms. I want you to help me erase my nightmares." The mouse looked up at him. "Because... I love you and I want to know what its like to be loved by you."

Burleigh carefully set both tea mugs on the coffee table then pulled Nancy into his lap. They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed, slowly, gently at first, then more passionately. Their tongues danced together briefly, tasting each other, even as the canine began to slowly knead his fingers through her fur.

Nancy couldn't reach Burl's crotch, so instead she used one hand to push her leg over until her thigh rested against his sheath. She could feel the tightness of his jeans as his manhood grew, searching for a way out. It excited her and she could feel the moisture as her juices began soaking into her panties.

Burl moved a hand down slowly to the mouse's hip, then up along its rounded shape until his fingers danced into the base of her tail. Gently he wrapped his fingers around it and began stroking. Nancy moaned softly, breaking away from his lips to gently nibble at his neck.

The canine moved his muzzle next to her ear and blew softly into it. His warm breath made her squeak and her whole body shuddered. He moved his hand away from the thin, whip-like tail to fumble briefly at the buttons on her gym shorts. Opening them he pulled the cloth down as far as he could then began pulling gently at her panties, sliding his fingers around underneath them and across the softer fur of her butt.

"Ohhh!" she moaned, her voice a silky breeze. "More, please more."

One of the canine's fingers found her tail hole, circling and gently massaging it before plunging in suddenly. He did not go very deep, but still Nancy gasped and bucked. She tried pushing her way further up Burl's chest but could not because her legs refused to move. Instead the mouse took Burl by the shoulders and pulled herself up until his muzzle rested firmly against her tits. Her legs dragged themselves along the crotch of his jeans as his rod strained for release.

Burl gently pulled the mouse girl's tank top over her head, then undid her sports bra and slipped it off. His tongue danced along the underside of her breasts then slowly worked its way up to her nipples. They were already rock hard. The canine suckled gently, first on one, then the other, moving skillfully back and forth even as Nancy clutched at his hair, squeaking and moaning in ecstasy.

"More," Nancy squeaked softly, "I want... I need to feel you in me, please... Pleasssee! Oh! OH! She bucked again as the canine gently stabbed his finger a little deeper into her tail hole then withdrew it. He cupped her rear in one hand and pressed her to him with the other as he slowly raised himself from the couch. The gym shorts slid from her legs as they dangled loosely above the floor. Nancy lay her head atop Burl's, twining her fingers in his hair and running them down the back of his neck as he carried her from the living room to her new bedroom.

He laid her gently atop the bed and pulled off his tee shirt. Though he lacked the chiseled tone of a younger fur, Burl was still in reasonably good shape. He lay beside Nancy and tenderly kissed and licked his way down her body, kneading her fur as he went.

Reaching her stomach, he pushed aside her fur and blew warm air into her navel. His fingers danced across her hips and twined themselves in her panties pulling them down and working them slowly, sensuously along her legs before depositing them on the bedroom floor.

One hand reached up and lightly began rubbing against Nancy's mound. She shuddered and squeaked, panting as she felt the heat rise in her loins and spread throughout her whole body. "Huff! Oh... Oh... Burleeeeeee! Ooohh... Huff, huff, huff. I can't.... I can't hold it...OOOOHHHHH!"

Love's nectar seeped from Nancy's sex as she trembled and bucked under her first orgasm. The wave went on and on, carrying the mouse girl along with it, washing away her old pain in a tremor of ecstasy. This was what it was supposed to be like; this was why people wrote poems and songs about love. The other was a perversion, an act of hatred, not love. Now and forever she knew... she knew, or so she thought, for there was much more to come.

Burl began licking at Nancy's juices with his tongue, diving into her sex and gently lapping at her inner walls. She shuddered and moaned as her pleasure started all over again. The canine paused long enough to strip out of his jeans and shorts, then he resumed lapping, working his way up her slit to the nub. This he took in his mouth and gently rolled it with his tongue, suckling on it and causing the mouse to writhe. He continued squeezing her rump and massaging the base of her tail until she was on the verge of another explosion, then he withdrew.

Nancy gasped. "Why... Huff, huff... why did you... huff, stop?"

"Do you trust me?" Burleigh stroked the fur on her face soothingly

The mouse girl bit her lip and nodded.

The canine carefully laid Nancy out on her side so she was facing him, pulling her closer to the middle of the bed. He laid his left leg out and pulled Nancy's right leg across his. He poised his unsheathed rod at the entrance to Nancy's sex then pulled her left leg across his right so they were spooned together.

"Ready?" he asked the mouse.

"Yes, please... yes," she whispered

Slowly, inexorably, Burl began sliding his cock into Nancy, inch by inch: clamping her right leg between his so there was little chance he would slide out. The mouse shuddered as her walls spread to accommodate the canine's rod. Deeper and deeper he pushed in, hissing at the tightness of the mouse even as she bucked and tremored to feel him inside her.

He hilted himself at his knot, unwilling to force the bulging appendage in lest he hurt the smaller girl. He began thrusting, carefully, unhurriedly. Working to build both of them to a powerful climax. Burl was surprised to find that there was an odd sort of ribbing along the walls of her sex. It heightened his sensitivity, plucking at his cock; stimulating it more than any other female had ever done before.

"Yes! Yes! Oh... Oh... Oh... Oh..." Nancy began writhing in time to each thrust; trying in spite of her handicap to match Burl's movements with her own hips. She clutched at him, raking her fingers through the fur on his back. Whimpering squeaks of pleasure blended with the huffing of her breath

"Faster," she begged.

The canine obliged, increasing the speed at which he thrust into her. They were both caught in an upward spiral of passion and need, attraction and electricity. The world faded from their senses. The only thing that mattered now was pure sensual desire. A minute passed, then two, then four. They each felt locked at a peak, unable to quite cross over, unable to find the release they both wanted.

They breathed in counterpoint to each other, Burl silently panting and Nancy moaning and squeaking. They continued for another few minutes then the canine felt himself start to tire. In a last desperate effort he increased his pace until he could hear the slap, slap, slap of his sack bouncing against his knot.

That did it.

Burl exploded into Nancy's sex. Thick, ropy jets of cum splashed against her walls, filling her with his hot seed. The throb of his cock sent the mouse over the edge. She shuddered, and thrashed and screamed.

"BURLEEEEEE! OOOHHH! BURL... EEEEEEEE! GGGAAAHHHHHH!

* * * *

Silence descended on the house. The two lovers lay on the bed, panting, exhausted, but filled with a glow that seemed to stretch beyond their physical bodies and unite them soul-to-soul. No words were spoken. None were needed.

Burleigh looked at the young mouse thoughtfully, gently brushing her hair aside, letting his fingers linger on her cheek. She was the most beautiful, intelligent and courageous fur he'd ever met. It didn't matter that she was less than half his age. She loved him, and he knew it.

Nancy looked at the middle-aged canine thoughtfully as she softly held and kissed his hand. He was the wisest, most noble and courageous fur she'd ever met. It didn't matter that he was more than twice her age. He loved her, and she knew it.

The mouse's eyes filled with tears and she began crying softly, not the wracking sobs of a broken soul, but the gentle, healing tears of happiness.

Burleigh sat up and took the girl in his arms, rocking her gently back and forth stroking her hair and whispering to her how much he loved her. Everything was going to be all right. He knew it with absolute certainty

He was still cradling her twenty minutes later as the moon rose into the night sky.

The End.