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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here's the next chapter in (what I hope has been) an exciting series thus far. As Always comments, ratings, faves, and shouts are always appreciated. If for some reason you haven't don't forget to take a look at my other series "Human Enough." You all are awesome and I hope you enjoy :) - AK

James Dulion sat in a comfortable arm chair with his cane resting on its arm. Now it was his job to act as a beacon of confidence to the Makarov family. However on the inside, Dulion was a bundle of nerves. This was the first time he would actually have to do anything really important since being at the Zoo, and the consequences couldn't be higher.

In front of Dulion, Cameron Makarov paced the floor in her human form, trying to calm her own nerves down. Her husband sat on the sofa. Josef, also in his human form tried to give a calm appearance, but Dulion had the feeling he was just as nervous as his wife. Hell, who wouldn't be? Looking at him, Dulion couldn't help but think that he didn't fit the sterotypical description of a Russian. Josef Makarov had reddish brown hair and soft facial features. He was skinnier than the tiger form he usually was in would lead one to believe. He was on the tall the side, easily standing at least a half a foot taller than Dulion. Josef rubbed his eyes.

"So what do you think Mr. Dulion?" Josef said.

"You mean about this whole thing?" Dulion asked. "I think it's ridiculous, but expected. Sadly the second I came here everyone became a target."

"You don't think they'll take Stephanie, do you?" Cameron asked.

"Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is from everything I've seen, it doesn't look like you would have a problem if you were human, which is how everyone should be treated. The bad news is that sadly you won't be treated like your human. And I've heard stories about the guy who's took this assignment. From what I hear from my friends, he's a bigot and incompetent."

"So we're screwed before we even start."

"No. Because you have me, and I'm not about to let Stephanie go anywhere."

There was a knock at the door to the apartment. Dulion took a deep breath as Josef went to open the door. Dulion couldn't see who was at the door, but could tell it wasn't the DFYS worker when he saw arms wrap around Josef's neck in a hug. After the arms disappeared from his neck, Josef walked back in followed by Ibuki.

"I just wanted to come over and make sure everything was ok." She said, giving another hug to Cameron.

There was another knock on the door, but before Dulion even had time to be nervous, he heard the Doctor's voice.

"Everyone ok here?" he asked, peeking is head in the door.

"About as well as can be expected, Matthew." Josef said.

"I understand. I just wanted to give you the heads up. The DYFS worker just came in, and he's wearing a shoulder holster."

"A what?" Asked Dulion rather surprised.

"You mean he has a gun?" Ibuki asked.

"Not just any gun," Dr. Tennant said as he walked into the room, "one of the Wolfsbane guns. They shoot out needles with the Wolfsbane compound."

The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked to Dulion like EpiPens and gave one to Cameron and Josef.

"Best be prepared, just in case. Ibuki if you need one I can always..."

"I'm fine. I keep one in my pocket at all times." Ibuki said. "And luckily, Dulion is human so he doesn't need one."

"Full moon?" Dulion asked.

"Yes. I don't want to take any chances. I don't need anyone dying here."

Dulion nodded and grabbed his cane as he got up from his chair. Any second now, he would have to play the role of the confident and capable advisor. He knew he wasn't the first, and doubted he was the latter. The sudden knock at the door almost caused him to jump. Josef went up and opened the door.

"Mr. Makarov?" said a gruff voice with just the hint of a drawl.

"Yes." Josef said.

"My Name is Brian Walkens; I work for the Division of Youth and Family Services. I have been scheduled to inspect your home."

"Please come in."

Walkens followed Josef into the apartment. He stood about as tall as Josef but was more than double his weight. Dulion thought that Walkens made him look anorexic. He wore a grey suit and a black tie. Under his jacket, Dulion could see the lump that Dr. Tennant had warned everyone about.

"I see you have the whole family here." Walkens said. "Now which one of you is the advisor?"

"That would be me." Dulion said walking up to Walkens and extending his hand. "James Dulion. A pleasure to meet you. I assure you, you don't need that gun, by the way."

"Better to be safe. I've heard stories of people getting attacked. Anyway, let's get this started. I'm gonna need everyone besides the Makarovs and Mr. Dulion here to leave so that I can conduct my investigation."

The Doctor nodded and he and Ibuki left the apartment.

"That was the landlord and one of the other tenants." Dulion said. "She babysits for the Makarovs when they are at work on the weekends."

"I see. So you are often away from your child?" Walkens asked.

"Not at all." Josef said. "It is a rare day when we are both called into work on the weekends. And if we aren't working, we're here with Stephanie."

"I see. Now this babysitter, you are aware, is a stripper?"

Dulion looked surprised. How could he know that? As far as Dulion knew, the only people who knew Ibuki's profession were living in the apartment. And no one in the apartment would even dream about taking Stephanie away...would they?

"We are, but Stephanie isn't." Josef said.

"If I may interrupt," Dulion said, "I have it from Stephanie herself that she is not aware of her babysitter's profession. The most she knows is that she is a dancer of some kind."

"And isn't it true that your daughter wants to be a "dancer" too?"

"A ballroom dancer." Cameron said, clearly angered by Walken's implication. "We enrolled her in dance classes."

"I see. Very well, I'd like to begin an inspection of the house if I may."

Walkens took down a few notes and began a walk through the house. He started in the kitchen and inspected the pantry and refrigerator. Dulion had told the Makarovs that they should go grocery shopping before the advisor came so everything looked full. He was rather happy to see they took his advice.

"How are Stephanie's grades?" Walkens asked as he peeked in the pantry.

"Very good." said Cameron. "She got an 'A' on her last Science test.

"So you drive her hard then?"

"No...Not at all. We just encourage her to study hard and do her best."

"Do you help her with her school work?"

"Of course. If she ever has a problem, we're always there to help."

Walkens nodded.

"If you would please show me to her bedroom."

Josef nodded and led everyone into Stephanie's bedroom. It looked much as Dulion expected a little girl's bedroom to look. There were posters of some band Dulion never heard of hanging on the wall. A small dresser sat in the corner adjacent to a closet where Dulion could see coats hanging. The room itself was neatly kept and the bed was made.

Dulion thought everything was going well. The answers that Cameron and Josef were spot on. If Dulion had known them, he would have thought they were normal, everyday parents: and that's exactly what they needed to be. Walkens examined the bedroom. Like before he made a few notes.

"So do you encourage Stephanie to interact with humans or Lycanthropes?" Walkens asked.

"We encourage her to interact with anyone she may want." Cameron said. "We don't believe her friend pool should be limited by...species. In this world diversity should be embraced."

"Yet you live in an apartment building which only houses lycanthropes."

"With all due respect, Mr. Walkens, that's a decision left up to the landlord. And it can be difficult for lycanthropes to find apartments with people...well being who they are."

"Stephanie goes to a public school." Josef said. "She has plenty of human interaction there with her teachers and classmates."

"Does she have many friends in school?"

"She...she doesn't talk about people in school very much." Cameron said, defeated.

"She did to me. When I interviewed her, she told me that a few children didn't like her because of the two of you. Any idea why."

"She told me the same thing," Dulion added quickly, "but she also told me that it was because they were lycanthropes. Not because of anything they did. She also said that she was happy to have Mr. and Mrs. Makarov."

Walkens nodded.

"Yes, she did say that as well to me. I believe I've seen all I needed to. Now I would just like some time with your advisor to discuss a few things. Is there a place we can talk in private?"

"Well, we could talk in my apartment. It's downstairs."

"That would be fine. Will you be ok with the stairs?"

"I'm handicapped, not crippled. I'll be a bit slow, but I can do it."

Dulion and Walkens made it to the stairs. Dulion hobbled down the stairs painstakingly slow. His leg would not be happy with him later that's for sure. With every step he took, he kept telling himself that this was all to make sure a little girl would stay with her parents. That made the pain manageable. After what seemed like an eternity to Dulion, and probably longer to Walkens, they were inside Dulion's apartment.

"Sorry about the mess." Dulion said. "You can have a seat at the table."

Walkens nodded and took a seat. Quietly, Dulion hoped Walkens would break one of his chairs.

"Reminds me of my place." Walkens said. "So, let's get down to business. We both know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that apartment or with that little girl. So, were going to need to get our story straight. I'm thinking we both say that the girl's babysitter has been stripping creating a morally depraved environment and that her social skills are lacking thanks to her parents being lycanthropes. Should be an easy case, and the girl will get a good human home."

Dulion stared at Walkens for a moment. It took all of his will power not to punch Walkens in the face.

"So let me get this straight." Dulion said. "There's nothing wrong with either parent or the apartment or the environment and you still are going to take Stephanie away?"

"Well I never said there was nothing wrong. You of all people should know. Everyone here is a lycanthrope. They don't belong in an apartment building, they belong in cages. They're nothing but freaks wearing fur coats. I thought those bastards who dress up in those...mascot outfits were bad but this, this is the real thing. Real animals living right next door. We can't let some innocent little girl be subject to these monsters. So, all you need to do to make sure this girl gets a good, human home, is just sign off on my report."

Dulion took of his glasses and took a deep breath. Under the table he gripped his cane tightly in order to calm himself down.

"I have a better idea." Dulion said. "How about you file on that report that the allegations you received are completely baseless and that the Makarovs are fine parents. And I won't call DYFS and tell them you're asking a governmental employee to lie."

Walkens laughed.

"You're pulling my leg."

"I'm dead serious." Dulion said, glaring at Walkens. "I find it reprehensible that a social worker whose main responsibility is to make sure that children are safe would use his position to advance his own ridiculous social beliefs."

"I don't like your tone, Mr. Dulion."

"And I don't like the fact that you're trying to take a little girl away from the only parents she's ever known when there is absolutely no reason to. "

"Be careful, Mr. Dulion. I have friends in high places. You might want to adjust your attitude and see that it's for the best that I take this little girl. Hell, between us, it wasn't even a human who called me. It was one of your lycanthropes. These things will eat each other. You know it as much as I do. Do you really think that this is the best environment for a child to grow up in? A literal dog eat dog environment. Besides her babysitter is a stripper."

"Who cares!? I'm sure DYFS doesn't otherwise at least half of the people working in strip clubs would lose their kids, and we both know that doesn't happen. I'm not asking you to like lycanthropes. But I am telling you that if you want to take this girl away from her parents because they are lycanthropes, I will not rest until she is back in their home and you are out of the job and labeled for what you truly are. And as for your "friends," I have friends too, and I'm sure they would love to look at every case you ever handled; talk to every parent you took a child from, and read every report you've ever filed. Now if I were you, I'd be terrified of that. Your best option, and the only option that leaves all of us happy and employed, is that you actually, for once, tell the truth about these parents."

***

Cameron Makarov was practically in tears when she heard the knock on the door. She was afraid. Afraid that she would have to lose her daughter; who, along with her husband, was the person she loved most in the world.

"Don't worry." Josef said kissing Cameron on the cheek. "If they take her away, I will fight God himself to get her back to us."

Josef got up and opened the door. Dulion was the first person to enter, followed by the DYFS agent. Cameron looked towards Dulion for some sort of sign that would betray what would happen, but he gave none. It seemed that there was something that was troubling him. Walkens didn't look too happy either. That couldn't be good. Cameron closed her eyes and uttered a silent prayer, begging God to not let them take her daughter. Walkens wrote down a note on a piece of paper and gave it to Josef.

"Well, everything is done." Walkens said. "This is where your daughter is staying. I have already called them and told them that you will be picking her up to come home shortly."

Cameron looked up, shocked.

"Wait you mean...?"

"He means Stephanie is coming home." Dulion said. "And isn't going anywhere."

Cameron leaped to her feet and grabbed her husband. She knew she was going to cry at the end of this, but she didn't expect it to be for a happy reason. From his shoulder, Cameron could even hear Stephanie crying.

"DYFS may contact you for a follow up meeting to make sure everything is going well." Walkens said. "But other than that, everything is fine. Have a good day."

Walkens left the apartment, almost in a huff.

"Good riddance." Dulion said when Walkens was gone. "Everything they said about him was true. Oh well, at least..."

The moment he turned around, Cameron near tackled him in a hug.

"Thank you!" She said in between crying. "Thank you so much. I...I can never repay you."

"You don't have to." Dulion said. "I did my job."

The moment Cameron released him, her husband shook his hand, almost ripping Dulion's arm out of his socket before also pulling him into a hug.

"You are a great man." He said, also starting to cry. "You helped keep our family together."

He released Dulion from the hug. Dulion rubbed his shoulder, but smiled.

"Now go pick up your daughter. I have some paperwork to take care of. I'll see you all soon."

Cameron went up and hugged Dulion one more time before he left their apartment. She and Josef wasted no time getting in their car and driving to get Stephanie.

***

Dulion sat in his messy apartment, still troubled by the whole day. Yes, the desired outcome was achieved, but there was still one thing that needed to be taken care of. There was a knock at his front door.

"Come in, it's opened."

Into his room walked Claudia Jordan in her avian form. Dulion couldn't help but notice the way she was dressed. She wore a very tight and low cut shirt which showed off her cleavage. She also had a very short skirt on that left little to the imagination as they say. Just what the hell did this woman think was on his mind?

"Mr. Dulion, how can I be of service?" she said playfully.

Dulion pointed at the seat across from him with his cane.

"Have a seat. We need to talk." Dulion said.

Claudia took her seat and Dulion took of his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm sure you've heard of the problems that the Makarovs went through today."

"Oh yes." Claudia said. "I heard poor little Stephanie was being taken away. It's such a pity really; she always seemed like such a nice...

"Actually," Dulion interrupted. "She isn't going anywhere."

Claudia looked surprised.

"She's not."

"No. It took some arm wringing, but I made sure the right outcome occurred. However, something the DYFS agent said to me gave me a bit of concern."

"Oh? Do tell. Perhaps, I can help ease those concerns." Claudia said leaning in closer to Dulion.

"I think you could actually." Dulion responded stoically. "First of all, the agent knew Ms. Ibuki's profession, which as we all know, is an apartment secret. Secondly, the DYFS agent claimed that it was a lycanthrope that called them, not a human."

Claudia sat back in her chair.

"I don't understand how this concerns me."

"I think we both know it does. The DYFS agent told me everything; about how you called, about how you claimed the Makarovs were unfit parents. The works. "

Sure it was a bluff, but it was the best he had. Besides, Dulion was sure he was right. Especially considering the rumors he heard about Claudia. Dulion saw Claudia glare at him.

"Now, all I want to know is...why? Why would you lie to DYFS and get Stephanie taken away? What did she do to you? After all, if you were really that concerned, you could have come to me. After all my job is to see what's going on."

"I...I thought I was acting in her best interests. After all, her babysitter is a slut who I'm sure is cheating on Cameron with Ibuki."

"And why do you think that?" Dulion said, not taking the allegation seriously.

"Why else would they trust her with Stephanie as opposed to me, for instance? Josef doesn't love Cameron anymore; he's just stuck with her because of Stephanie. Now that isn't fair for her or for him so I thought it for the best to remove her and let Josef finally leave Cameron."

"And he'd have no need for Ibuki."

"Right!"

"And he could go to you."

"Exact..."

Dulion grinned. His suspicions were right and Claudia knew she was found out.

"I'm not going to report you for filing a false claim with DYFS, even though I should. " Dulion said. "And it is none of my business who Josef Makarov is sleeping with, be it his wife or someone else. That being said, I'm more than sure he's not sleeping with Emi. And I think you just want to break them up so you can have him."

"What's it to YOU anyway?" She said.

"As I said, it's none of my business...until you interfere with their lives. Don't pull another stunt like this again, or else I will have to report it. You want to get Josef to leave Cameron, you can try all you want to seduce him or persuade him. But the second you get that little girl involved, you're going to have a problem with me. And you don't want that."

"Who the Hell are you to make threats?"

"It's not a threat, it's an advisement. Don't interfere with the girl; otherwise you will be in a world of trouble. You can leave now. "

Dulion pointed to the door with his cane. Claudia got up, gave Dulion a dirty look, and slammed the door on her way out. Dulion smiled. If he was pissing people off, he was doing something right. All in all, he was just happy that he could keep the Makarov family together. They were good people. So were most of the people here. He liked them and maybe, just maybe, he was beginning to like the Zoo after all.