FIC: Forever Home - Chapter 95 of 100
Title: Forever Home - Chapter 95 of 100
Author: Shadowc44
Fandom: Glee
Pairing: Kadam (Kurt Hummel/Adam Crawford)
Rating: R
Spoilers: AU. If you’ve seen Kurt and Adam interact, you’re good.
Summary: Adam is bored, and realizes he needs a companion. He decides to adopt a hybrid human/cat.
Warning: Mention of past abuse (non-sexual) from other canon Glee characters. This fic is not particularly kind to most canon Glee characters.
Length: About 4,300 words this chapter. About 431,000 words so far.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Glee characters in this story; they're owned by Fox. Any non-Glee characters are my own invention.
Chapter 94
CHAPTER 95
On Monday morning, Kurt was thinking about how to spend his time that day, while Adam was busy writing. Again. They were finishing up breakfast, and he could tell Adam was anxious to get back to his laptop.
He cleared his throat, and when his boyfriend looked over at him, he said, “Adam, I know you’re going to be busy most of the day, writing, right?”
“Writing, right,” Adam answered with a grin.
Kurt matched it, then continued. “I was thinking, you probably want me kind of out of your way and occupied so I’m not interrupting you, right?”
Adam set down his fork and looked carefully at Kurt.
“That would be helpful. I don’t want you to feel like I’m ignoring or neglecting you, but the sooner I finish this, the sooner we can see how much interest there is, and I can figure out whether it will be worth April’s time and money to adapt it into a play or musical.”
“Sure.” Kurt nodded rapidly. “If I had everything I needed to work on Artie’s cart, I could do that most of the day while you’re busy. It might take half an hour - maybe an hour in the store, to get everything.”
Adam sighed quietly, but gave him a reassuring smile. “Sure. Have you got a list of everything you need, and the right sizes and everything?”
“Yeah. We have the tools here, thanks to Dad. I’m not sure where to work on it, though. I guess I can’t work in the garage.”
“No. Let me think a moment.” Adam finished the few bites left on his plate. “Let’s get a drop cloth to protect the floor. I think the biggest space is in your room, actually. As long as you pick everything up and put it away when you’re done, so you don’t get hurt on anything in your cat form.”
“That’s a good idea. I can put everything in the closet and shut the door, when I’m not working on it. Do you want me to tell you before I change, if I decide to do that?”
Adam started bringing the dishes to the sink. Kurt followed with the rest, and started washing them, while Adam dried.
“No, go ahead whenever you’re ready. And the same for taking a nap. You can sleep on the bed if you want; I’ll likely be here on the sofa.”
“What if I want to nap with you, or nap near you while you’re working?” Kurt asked quietly. He didn’t want to start an argument, but he needed his cuddle time with Adam.
“That’s fine, too. Just meow at me to get my attention before you jump up, okay? We’ll find a spot where you can be comfortable and I can still write.”
“Thanks, Adam.” Kurt knew he was lucky his boyfriend was so accommodating.
The trip to the hardware store didn’t take that long, though Adam thought it would expedite things if he asked a salesman for help. It was a good thing they did, because when they explained what they were trying to do, he had an excellent suggestion. “It would be cheaper, easier, and lighter to just use a small plastic box with fairly low sides. That way your friend won’t fall out, or tip forward.” He helped them find a suitable box, in burgundy. It should show up against the grass, or most surfaces, without being annoyingly bright.
They carried everything into the apartment, barely managing everything between the two of them. It wasn’t that heavy, just awkward. Kurt said he could bring everything into his room on his own, making a couple of trips, so Adam left him to it.
Kurt spread out the drop cloth, then his tools, and other parts he needed. He followed the diagram, and the few instructions his dad had written down for him. It took little time to attach the two wheels to an axle, and fastening that to the box. The wheels were towards the front of the box. Kurt tested it, rolling it back and forth on the covered floor. They were wide enough that bunny Artie would be able to get his front legs between them, without banging into them. The strap to keep him in place was a little trickier. He wanted it to be secure around Artie’s chest, without pressing against his neck. He was able to create a harness of sorts for Artie, with trailing ends with clips on them, that could be attached to a buckle mechanism he’d glued onto the plastic box. It would be easy enough for Gabriel to buckle Artie into the contraption, then he could lean forward just a bit, hang his front legs over the edge of the box, and use them to propel himself around the yard. Or the hallway, his room, playroom, or anywhere else.
When he was finished, he really wanted to show Adam, but didn’t want to annoy him by interrupting. He also knew the glue would need time to dry. He put everything away, cleaned up, and set the cart just inside the closet door.
He yawned, and realized he was really exhausted. He glanced at the bed. It didn’t seem as big or intimidating as it used to, though it was still a bit lonely without Adam. He debated about sleeping in the bed in Adam’s room instead, but it seemed like too much trouble to go all the way there. Besides, it would feel just as empty. After kicking off his shoes, Kurt tried to settle down on the bed, but couldn’t quite get comfortable. He tried holding one of the pillows in his arms, but it wasn’t quite what he needed. He looked around the room and finally saw something that would work. Several somethings.
Once he’d retrieved his babies, Kurt set Phoebe in the crook of his arm, with her head butting up against his chin. Bernard was in front of Phoebe, under the shelter of his arm. Harriet was resting on top of Bernard, under Kurt’s hand. He hoped they were all ready to take a nap, because he wasn’t in the mood to talk or play at the moment. Maybe after he woke up.
<><><><><><><><><><>
Adam had already checked their bedroom and bathroom, but no Kurt. The door to his room was slightly ajar, so he stuck his head in, thinking he’d find him working on his project. Instead, he saw Kurt curled up on the bed, his arms and knees cradling his pets. He was going to back out of the room and start fixing lunch. No need to wake Kurt until it was ready.
Before he could retreat all the way, Kurt woke up.
“Adam?” Kurt sat part-way up, balancing on one elbow. “What time is it?”
“It’s after 1:00. I’m afraid the time got away from me. I was just about to fix us some lunch.”
“You want some help?”
“No. You look too cozy there. Why don’t you take your time getting up and cleaning up, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen when you’re ready?” He hoped Kurt didn’t take this as an invitation to indulge in a marathon skin care regimen.
Kurt yawned, but didn’t really have a free hand to cover his mouth.
“Excuse me. I slept a couple of hours, I think. Okay, see you in a little while.”
Adam waved and started thinking about what to make for lunch. He decided on a salad, and threw in whatever leftovers he could find that might be reasonably considered salad-friendly.
They hardly spoke while they ate. Kurt, because he was still sleepy, and Adam, because he had a lot on his mind.
When the dishes were done, Adam wanted to get back to his writing. Kurt, however, had other plans.
“Adam? I know we agreed I’d leave you alone while you’re writing. But I just wanted you to know, I finished Artie’s cart.”
“You finished it? But you just started it this morning!”
Kurt shrugged modestly. “It didn’t take that long to put together. Dad wrote good directions, and I had everything I needed.”
“Can I see it?” Not that Adam didn’t believe him, but he really was anxious to see the end result, and how Kurt had accomplished it so quickly.
Kurt opened his closet door and rolled the cart out for Adam to check it out. It looked sturdy, and the wheels were aligned.
“Do you think it’s ready for Artie to try out?”
“I think so.” Kurt bit his lip. “I was wondering, do you think I should try it out first? Artie’s smaller than me, but it’s the only way I can think of to try it out before giving it to him, and then finding out something obvious that I might have missed. Like making sure it’ll hold my weight, then I know it will hold him. But I kind of need you to be here to strap me in, and to get another perspective.”
Adam decided his book could wait a bit longer. It wasn’t as though he had a deadline.
“Tell you what, why don’t you change, and I’ll help you get in, if necessary, and get you set up. If it doesn’t work, I’ll help you in any way I can, to fix it. If it does, I’ll call Gabriel and see when he wants us to bring it to them.”
Kurt flashed him a brilliant smile. “Thanks, Adam! Yeah. Let me try it out.”
Before Adam had time to say anything else, kitty Kurt was looking up at him, blue eyes blinking slowly.
Adam knelt down to pet the cat, whispering a few words of encouragement.
“I’ll cuddle you after we see if this thing works, okay?”
Kurt’s meep sounded agreeable enough.
Adam put the harness on him, and loosened it a bit. It could be adjusted, in case Artie grew bigger in the future. Kurt looked at the open front end of the cart, down at the floor to his feet, then back and forth a couple of times, before leaping into the cart. It started to roll backwards from his weight, but Adam reached down to stop it.
“Needs brakes,” he commented to himself. “When I let go, hopefully it will stay still until you’re ready to move it yourself.”
Kurt cautiously moved forward. He set one foot outside the box. It was only about an inch off the ground, so it wasn’t bad. Artie wouldn’t be at an awkward angle the entire time he was using the cart. Kurt started walking forward, and the cart rolled with him. Kurt maneuvered his way up and down the room, managing to avoid running into the bed or Buckingham Palace. He steered it back in Adam’s direction and stopped in front of him.
“Kurt, if you don’t mind trying it some more, let’s go into the hallway, then the living room, and possibly the kitchen. I want to see how you handle the different types of flooring. Maybe you can give Artie some tips on how to maneuver this thing, when you’re both human, that is, so he can understand you.”
Adam kept a careful eye on Kurt, but he was got around pretty well. Adam wasn’t so sure it would be as easy for Artie, because kitty Kurt was larger and stronger, and naturally flexible. But it seemed worth a try.
“Okay, Kurt, I think that’s enough.” Kurt stopped the cart, and waited for Adam to unfasten him, before climbing out of it.
“I’m going to move this near the doorway for now, then how about I hold you for a bit, eh?”
Kurt meowed his approval.
Once he was sure the cart wasn’t going to roll away anywhere, Adam bent down and picked Kurt up. He held him in his arms and brought him up to his face. “I’m so proud of you, Kurt. You’re being a good friend to Artie. Just think how much easier this might make his life. If he can move around almost as easily as the rest of you, he can focus more on having fun than just watching the rest of you have fun without him.”
Kurt patted Adam’s cheek with one paw.
“Let’s go sit down. I swear, you seem to be gaining weight. I suspect you may have another growth spurt soon.”
He sat on the sofa and settled Kurt on his lap. This time, Kurt didn’t bother turning around, he just curled up tightly on Adam’s lap and purred.
Adam reached for his phone, in easy reach on the nearby table. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to call Gabriel and just let him know. Do you think you can come up with a braking mechanism?”
Kurt nodded, and Adam scratched him behind the ears, then called Gabriel.
<><><><><><><><><><>
Adam told Kurt what the vet had said. “So we’re going to go over to the office late this afternoon so Artie can try it out. Gabriel thinks he might be able to put together some brakes from things around the office. He’s got a lot of medical equipment there, and some samples of things. But we still have a couple of hours. How would you like to spend that time?”
Kurt immediately flopped over on his back, spreading his limbs wide to indicate he wanted his belly rubbed.
“Not quite what I had in mind, but okay. I’m not going to pull back a stump, am I?” he asked cautiously, before taking Kurt up on the invitation.
Kurt gowled and shook his head.
“That’s not terribly convincing, you know.”
Kurt sighed, and turned his head to lick Adam’s hand.
“Okay, I guess your intentions are peaceful.”
Adam spent some time cuddling Kurt, then took him into his combination bedroom/playroom to work off some excess energy. He threw Kurt’s ball, then got an idea.
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
When he came back, Kurt was sitting right where he’d left him, washing his face with the back of one paw. He’d lick the back of his paw, then run it over his head. It reminded of human Kurt fussing over his hair.
“Tell you what. Why don’t you play with this for a while, then change when you’re ready. I’d imagine you’ll want to change clothes and brush your hair before we go to Gabriel’s office.”
Kurt leaped up and started to run to the bathroom.
“Wait! You’ve still got time. Unless you need to go -“
Kurt returned to his side, and waited patiently.
Adam held up the bright blue plastic egg Lily had given him. He held it up, then tossed it away from him, towards Buckingham Palace. Kurt tore off after it, and when he found where it had come to rest, he batted it away, towards Adam.
He’d actually hoped Kurt would be content to play on his own, to give him some more time to write. On the other hand, he’d have some time while human Kurt was getting ready.
After a while of tossing the ball to the cat, who batted it back to him, Kurt got tired or bored. He couldn’t quite fit the egg into his mouth, but he got his paws around it and deposited it into one of the little rooms in his tree house.
“Alright, I’ll let you get yourself ready.”
Kurt ran into the bathroom, and rushed out a few seconds later, apparently having remembered that most of his things were now in the bathroom he shared with Adam. He didn’t allow himself to laugh until Kurt was out of sight. Still, knowing how sensitive his hearing was, especially as a cat, Adam kept it to a quiet chuckle. One thing he had to admit, life with Kurt was never dull.
<><><><><><><><><>
Artie was awake after a nap, waiting impatiently in the patient resting area, anxious for Kurt and Adam to get there. Gabriel had come in and told him they’d be there soon. He was lying down on the cot, and tried to calm himself by listening to the iPod Gabriel had given him the day before, which was already filled with quite a bit of music in different styles. He’d found a number of familiar songs, and there was still a huge number of songs and artists he’d never heard. He couldn’t wait to hear them all.
He did manage to distract himself enough that he was slightly startled when Kurt and Adam arrived. He pushed himself up on his elbows and sat up.
“Hey, Artie!” Kurt called out.
Artie waved, but barely looked at his friend, because he was too fascinated with the object Adam was carrying. That had to be it!
Gabriel followed them in and greeted them.
“Hello, Artie. Were you able to nap for a little while?”
“Yes, sir.” Artie rolled his eyes. “I mean, yes, Gabriel, I slept for a little while.”
“Good. I’ve seen my last patient for the day.” His owner rubbed his hands together as he looked at the cart. “I have a feeling you’re going to be using up a fair amount of energy trying this out.”
“I hope so! I mean, I can’t wait to try it!”
Kurt explained what he would need to do, once in rabbit form. It sounded pretty easy, actually, once Gabriel had him strapped in correctly.
“I tried it out earlier, as a cat, I mean. It worked fine for me, and I think it’ll fit you as well. You just need to adjust the straps, Gabriel. I wanted them to be adjustable in case you get bigger.”
Artie was offended, and couldn’t stop his expression from showing it.
Kurt hurried to explain. “I mean, you might not be finished growing yet. I’m still growing, and I’m a couple years older than you. But this way, it should still fit you.”
“I doubt Artie will ever, in rabbit form, be as big as Kurt is in cat form,” Gabriel commented. “I have no idea what Kurt’s human height or weight might be, but when he’s fully grown as a cat, he should be anywhere from 15 to 20 pounds. I think you’ll only be around 12 pounds maximum, a little less than the weight Kurt is now when he’s a cat.”
He felt better, now. It wasn’t like Kurt to deliberately hurt his feelings, anyway. “Okay, that makes sense. I can’t wait to try it out! Can I, Gabriel?”
“Sure,” his owner agreed. “Let’s test it out.”
Artie switched to his rabbit form. Gabriel lifted him out of the chair and set him into the cart. Kurt showed him how to adjust the straps, and he was soon ready to test the cart.
Adam decided to wait in the room outside, and watch from the glass wall. Sara was there, too. He didn’t mind; she would probably be the one to help him in and out of it if Gabriel was with a patient or something.
“Are you ready?” Gabriel asked.
Artie twitched his nose and lifted his ears a little. He couldn’t wait to try it out.
“Go!”
Artie scooted up to the front of the box, which tilted it a little so the back end of the cart was off the floor. He shifted around slightly to get more comfortable, then lifted his front legs out of the box. He set his feet down on the carpeted floor, and started walking forward. He kept his pace slow, like Kurt had suggested, until he got more comfortable. Then he intended to race around the room as fast as he possibly could. It was very easy to move, but he didn’t feel like the cart was going to get away from him. He didn’t think it needed brakes. He wasn’t going to go that fast, and he could always put his paws down firmer and just stop. Like…that. He chirruped to let Gabriel know he’d done something cool, since he couldn’t high-five in this form.
“Did you stop on purpose?”
Duh. Artie nodded his head.
“Okay. Do you want to keep on going?”
That was easy enough to answer. He just started walking again. It was a little difficult to maneuver around the cot and other things in his way, but he soon got the hang of it. Then it really hit him…he was moving, on his own, without either dragging his legs behind him, or having someone else carry him or using the chair. It felt freer than the chair, because he had his front paws on the ground. He wondered how it would feel on the grass.
After a while he picked up speed. He glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window, and saw Kurt and Adam both grinning like loons. Sara didn’t look much more dignified. He supposed his face would look the same if he were human at the moment.
He finally slowed down again and came to a halt near Gabriel. It was fun, but he was starting to get tired, and he had a feeling his arms might be a bit sore later.
Gabriel knelt down and unfastened the strap, and lifted him out. Then he did something he didn’t do nearly enough, and hugged him close. He petted Artie, stroking his hand from his head down his back, murmuring things like, “Good boy.” It was unusual, but he wasn’t going to complain. He just settled deeper into Gabriel’s arms.
Instead of putting him back in the chair, Gabriel continued to carry him in one arm as he opened the door and went out to talk to Kurt and his human. He tried to pay close attention to what they were saying. It sounded like they were very impressed, and happy for him, and Gabriel was concerned about him being tired.
Gabriel spoke to Artie. “Tell you what, sport. Why don’t you rest for a while in here, as rabbit or human, whatever you want. Take a nap, if you can. I’ll come get you when I’m ready to go home, but I have a couple of things to finish up first. It won’t be very long.” He set Artie down on the floor, and waited to see what he would do.
Even though he hadn’t been a rabbit very long, Artie wanted to talk to Kurt and thank him again. He changed back to human. Gabriel helped him get up onto the cot. There was a large wedge-shaped pillow that Gabriel arranged behind Artie, so he was sitting upright, but was slightly reclined. It was more comfortable than having nothing at his back, but he thought he’d probably move it and lie down soon.
Sara went back to her desk at the front office.
Gabriel turned his attention to their guests. “Thank you both so much for doing this.” He shook hands with both of them. “I need to finish writing up some notes, then I’m going to take Artie, and his cart, home. Would you like to join us for dinner? Julia and Mandy will be there.”
Kurt looked at Adam, who looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Thank you, Gabriel, I appreciate the invitation. But I’m not sure we should be showing up if they’re not expecting us.”
Kurt bit his lip, then spoke up. “I was thinking the same thing. If Mandy is as uncomfortable around strangers as Artie says, she might want to have more notice, instead of it being a surprise. I’m thinking it might not seem like a nice surprise to her.”
Gabriel nodded. “Thank you for thinking about that, and you’re probably right. Well, perhaps you’ll take a rain check. And I’ll see you both tomorrow for your appointments.”
Adam nodded, and took Kurt’s hand. “Maybe we’ll get to meet Mandy in the reading group. I’m hoping the first class will be this Friday afternoon, and normally it will be Tuesdays and Fridays. I just want a little more time to prepare.”
“Okay. Let me know when you decide the exact time, and I’ll make sure to get Artie there.”
Adam only hesitated briefly before suggesting, “Since I know your schedule is very busy, maybe we can pick Artie up on our way, and bring him back when we’re done?”
“Sure, if you want to, I’d appreciate it. I was thinking, though, I’d like to attend the first meeting, just to see how it’s going to go.”
“I thought everyone might want to do that. It’s probably a good idea, so you’ll have more peace of mind. But I’m hoping once everyone is more comfortable, we can just have as few authority figures there as possible, so the pets will feel more comfortable expressing themselves.”
“That sounds like a good idea. We’ll see how it goes.”
Gabriel left them with Artie.
“Kurt, thanks again for the awesome cart! I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” Artie confessed.
Kurt grinned. “I wasn’t entirely sure it would work, but I thought it was worth a try. I’m so glad it’s going to work out for you.”
“I think you were right about Mandy, but she’s a really nice girl. I just don’t want her to get upset when it’s not - she has enough to -“ Artie stopped talking, as he could feel his face getting warm.
“That’s okay. We’ll see her later this week,” Kurt assured him.
“We’d better get going. We’ll let you rest now. Maybe we’ll see you tomorrow after Kurt’s appointment.”
Artie’s face lit up. “I’d really like that. It’s been okay, today, but I’m kind of used to being around somebody, you know?”
“If Gabriel says it’s okay, we’ll come see you. Or Kurt can, if you’d prefer, and I can wait, in the waiting room,” Adam suggested.
“Okay. See you both later. And thanks, both of you.”
Artie kind of wanted to hug Kurt, but wasn’t sure how it would be taken. He was relieved when Kurt impulsively moved forward to hug him instead.
He watched them go, and was thinking about how complicated his life was getting. In a good way, but it was still very different than he was used to. Sara came in with a small plate of snacks, and Artie realized how hungry he was, from transforming so quickly. He was also very tired, but food came first.
Next: Chapter 96
Author: Shadowc44
Fandom: Glee
Pairing: Kadam (Kurt Hummel/Adam Crawford)
Rating: R
Spoilers: AU. If you’ve seen Kurt and Adam interact, you’re good.
Summary: Adam is bored, and realizes he needs a companion. He decides to adopt a hybrid human/cat.
Warning: Mention of past abuse (non-sexual) from other canon Glee characters. This fic is not particularly kind to most canon Glee characters.
Length: About 4,300 words this chapter. About 431,000 words so far.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Glee characters in this story; they're owned by Fox. Any non-Glee characters are my own invention.
Chapter 94
CHAPTER 95
On Monday morning, Kurt was thinking about how to spend his time that day, while Adam was busy writing. Again. They were finishing up breakfast, and he could tell Adam was anxious to get back to his laptop.
He cleared his throat, and when his boyfriend looked over at him, he said, “Adam, I know you’re going to be busy most of the day, writing, right?”
“Writing, right,” Adam answered with a grin.
Kurt matched it, then continued. “I was thinking, you probably want me kind of out of your way and occupied so I’m not interrupting you, right?”
Adam set down his fork and looked carefully at Kurt.
“That would be helpful. I don’t want you to feel like I’m ignoring or neglecting you, but the sooner I finish this, the sooner we can see how much interest there is, and I can figure out whether it will be worth April’s time and money to adapt it into a play or musical.”
“Sure.” Kurt nodded rapidly. “If I had everything I needed to work on Artie’s cart, I could do that most of the day while you’re busy. It might take half an hour - maybe an hour in the store, to get everything.”
Adam sighed quietly, but gave him a reassuring smile. “Sure. Have you got a list of everything you need, and the right sizes and everything?”
“Yeah. We have the tools here, thanks to Dad. I’m not sure where to work on it, though. I guess I can’t work in the garage.”
“No. Let me think a moment.” Adam finished the few bites left on his plate. “Let’s get a drop cloth to protect the floor. I think the biggest space is in your room, actually. As long as you pick everything up and put it away when you’re done, so you don’t get hurt on anything in your cat form.”
“That’s a good idea. I can put everything in the closet and shut the door, when I’m not working on it. Do you want me to tell you before I change, if I decide to do that?”
Adam started bringing the dishes to the sink. Kurt followed with the rest, and started washing them, while Adam dried.
“No, go ahead whenever you’re ready. And the same for taking a nap. You can sleep on the bed if you want; I’ll likely be here on the sofa.”
“What if I want to nap with you, or nap near you while you’re working?” Kurt asked quietly. He didn’t want to start an argument, but he needed his cuddle time with Adam.
“That’s fine, too. Just meow at me to get my attention before you jump up, okay? We’ll find a spot where you can be comfortable and I can still write.”
“Thanks, Adam.” Kurt knew he was lucky his boyfriend was so accommodating.
The trip to the hardware store didn’t take that long, though Adam thought it would expedite things if he asked a salesman for help. It was a good thing they did, because when they explained what they were trying to do, he had an excellent suggestion. “It would be cheaper, easier, and lighter to just use a small plastic box with fairly low sides. That way your friend won’t fall out, or tip forward.” He helped them find a suitable box, in burgundy. It should show up against the grass, or most surfaces, without being annoyingly bright.
They carried everything into the apartment, barely managing everything between the two of them. It wasn’t that heavy, just awkward. Kurt said he could bring everything into his room on his own, making a couple of trips, so Adam left him to it.
Kurt spread out the drop cloth, then his tools, and other parts he needed. He followed the diagram, and the few instructions his dad had written down for him. It took little time to attach the two wheels to an axle, and fastening that to the box. The wheels were towards the front of the box. Kurt tested it, rolling it back and forth on the covered floor. They were wide enough that bunny Artie would be able to get his front legs between them, without banging into them. The strap to keep him in place was a little trickier. He wanted it to be secure around Artie’s chest, without pressing against his neck. He was able to create a harness of sorts for Artie, with trailing ends with clips on them, that could be attached to a buckle mechanism he’d glued onto the plastic box. It would be easy enough for Gabriel to buckle Artie into the contraption, then he could lean forward just a bit, hang his front legs over the edge of the box, and use them to propel himself around the yard. Or the hallway, his room, playroom, or anywhere else.
When he was finished, he really wanted to show Adam, but didn’t want to annoy him by interrupting. He also knew the glue would need time to dry. He put everything away, cleaned up, and set the cart just inside the closet door.
He yawned, and realized he was really exhausted. He glanced at the bed. It didn’t seem as big or intimidating as it used to, though it was still a bit lonely without Adam. He debated about sleeping in the bed in Adam’s room instead, but it seemed like too much trouble to go all the way there. Besides, it would feel just as empty. After kicking off his shoes, Kurt tried to settle down on the bed, but couldn’t quite get comfortable. He tried holding one of the pillows in his arms, but it wasn’t quite what he needed. He looked around the room and finally saw something that would work. Several somethings.
Once he’d retrieved his babies, Kurt set Phoebe in the crook of his arm, with her head butting up against his chin. Bernard was in front of Phoebe, under the shelter of his arm. Harriet was resting on top of Bernard, under Kurt’s hand. He hoped they were all ready to take a nap, because he wasn’t in the mood to talk or play at the moment. Maybe after he woke up.
<><><><><><><><><><>
Adam had already checked their bedroom and bathroom, but no Kurt. The door to his room was slightly ajar, so he stuck his head in, thinking he’d find him working on his project. Instead, he saw Kurt curled up on the bed, his arms and knees cradling his pets. He was going to back out of the room and start fixing lunch. No need to wake Kurt until it was ready.
Before he could retreat all the way, Kurt woke up.
“Adam?” Kurt sat part-way up, balancing on one elbow. “What time is it?”
“It’s after 1:00. I’m afraid the time got away from me. I was just about to fix us some lunch.”
“You want some help?”
“No. You look too cozy there. Why don’t you take your time getting up and cleaning up, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen when you’re ready?” He hoped Kurt didn’t take this as an invitation to indulge in a marathon skin care regimen.
Kurt yawned, but didn’t really have a free hand to cover his mouth.
“Excuse me. I slept a couple of hours, I think. Okay, see you in a little while.”
Adam waved and started thinking about what to make for lunch. He decided on a salad, and threw in whatever leftovers he could find that might be reasonably considered salad-friendly.
They hardly spoke while they ate. Kurt, because he was still sleepy, and Adam, because he had a lot on his mind.
When the dishes were done, Adam wanted to get back to his writing. Kurt, however, had other plans.
“Adam? I know we agreed I’d leave you alone while you’re writing. But I just wanted you to know, I finished Artie’s cart.”
“You finished it? But you just started it this morning!”
Kurt shrugged modestly. “It didn’t take that long to put together. Dad wrote good directions, and I had everything I needed.”
“Can I see it?” Not that Adam didn’t believe him, but he really was anxious to see the end result, and how Kurt had accomplished it so quickly.
Kurt opened his closet door and rolled the cart out for Adam to check it out. It looked sturdy, and the wheels were aligned.
“Do you think it’s ready for Artie to try out?”
“I think so.” Kurt bit his lip. “I was wondering, do you think I should try it out first? Artie’s smaller than me, but it’s the only way I can think of to try it out before giving it to him, and then finding out something obvious that I might have missed. Like making sure it’ll hold my weight, then I know it will hold him. But I kind of need you to be here to strap me in, and to get another perspective.”
Adam decided his book could wait a bit longer. It wasn’t as though he had a deadline.
“Tell you what, why don’t you change, and I’ll help you get in, if necessary, and get you set up. If it doesn’t work, I’ll help you in any way I can, to fix it. If it does, I’ll call Gabriel and see when he wants us to bring it to them.”
Kurt flashed him a brilliant smile. “Thanks, Adam! Yeah. Let me try it out.”
Before Adam had time to say anything else, kitty Kurt was looking up at him, blue eyes blinking slowly.
Adam knelt down to pet the cat, whispering a few words of encouragement.
“I’ll cuddle you after we see if this thing works, okay?”
Kurt’s meep sounded agreeable enough.
Adam put the harness on him, and loosened it a bit. It could be adjusted, in case Artie grew bigger in the future. Kurt looked at the open front end of the cart, down at the floor to his feet, then back and forth a couple of times, before leaping into the cart. It started to roll backwards from his weight, but Adam reached down to stop it.
“Needs brakes,” he commented to himself. “When I let go, hopefully it will stay still until you’re ready to move it yourself.”
Kurt cautiously moved forward. He set one foot outside the box. It was only about an inch off the ground, so it wasn’t bad. Artie wouldn’t be at an awkward angle the entire time he was using the cart. Kurt started walking forward, and the cart rolled with him. Kurt maneuvered his way up and down the room, managing to avoid running into the bed or Buckingham Palace. He steered it back in Adam’s direction and stopped in front of him.
“Kurt, if you don’t mind trying it some more, let’s go into the hallway, then the living room, and possibly the kitchen. I want to see how you handle the different types of flooring. Maybe you can give Artie some tips on how to maneuver this thing, when you’re both human, that is, so he can understand you.”
Adam kept a careful eye on Kurt, but he was got around pretty well. Adam wasn’t so sure it would be as easy for Artie, because kitty Kurt was larger and stronger, and naturally flexible. But it seemed worth a try.
“Okay, Kurt, I think that’s enough.” Kurt stopped the cart, and waited for Adam to unfasten him, before climbing out of it.
“I’m going to move this near the doorway for now, then how about I hold you for a bit, eh?”
Kurt meowed his approval.
Once he was sure the cart wasn’t going to roll away anywhere, Adam bent down and picked Kurt up. He held him in his arms and brought him up to his face. “I’m so proud of you, Kurt. You’re being a good friend to Artie. Just think how much easier this might make his life. If he can move around almost as easily as the rest of you, he can focus more on having fun than just watching the rest of you have fun without him.”
Kurt patted Adam’s cheek with one paw.
“Let’s go sit down. I swear, you seem to be gaining weight. I suspect you may have another growth spurt soon.”
He sat on the sofa and settled Kurt on his lap. This time, Kurt didn’t bother turning around, he just curled up tightly on Adam’s lap and purred.
Adam reached for his phone, in easy reach on the nearby table. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to call Gabriel and just let him know. Do you think you can come up with a braking mechanism?”
Kurt nodded, and Adam scratched him behind the ears, then called Gabriel.
<><><><><><><><><><>
Adam told Kurt what the vet had said. “So we’re going to go over to the office late this afternoon so Artie can try it out. Gabriel thinks he might be able to put together some brakes from things around the office. He’s got a lot of medical equipment there, and some samples of things. But we still have a couple of hours. How would you like to spend that time?”
Kurt immediately flopped over on his back, spreading his limbs wide to indicate he wanted his belly rubbed.
“Not quite what I had in mind, but okay. I’m not going to pull back a stump, am I?” he asked cautiously, before taking Kurt up on the invitation.
Kurt gowled and shook his head.
“That’s not terribly convincing, you know.”
Kurt sighed, and turned his head to lick Adam’s hand.
“Okay, I guess your intentions are peaceful.”
Adam spent some time cuddling Kurt, then took him into his combination bedroom/playroom to work off some excess energy. He threw Kurt’s ball, then got an idea.
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
When he came back, Kurt was sitting right where he’d left him, washing his face with the back of one paw. He’d lick the back of his paw, then run it over his head. It reminded of human Kurt fussing over his hair.
“Tell you what. Why don’t you play with this for a while, then change when you’re ready. I’d imagine you’ll want to change clothes and brush your hair before we go to Gabriel’s office.”
Kurt leaped up and started to run to the bathroom.
“Wait! You’ve still got time. Unless you need to go -“
Kurt returned to his side, and waited patiently.
Adam held up the bright blue plastic egg Lily had given him. He held it up, then tossed it away from him, towards Buckingham Palace. Kurt tore off after it, and when he found where it had come to rest, he batted it away, towards Adam.
He’d actually hoped Kurt would be content to play on his own, to give him some more time to write. On the other hand, he’d have some time while human Kurt was getting ready.
After a while of tossing the ball to the cat, who batted it back to him, Kurt got tired or bored. He couldn’t quite fit the egg into his mouth, but he got his paws around it and deposited it into one of the little rooms in his tree house.
“Alright, I’ll let you get yourself ready.”
Kurt ran into the bathroom, and rushed out a few seconds later, apparently having remembered that most of his things were now in the bathroom he shared with Adam. He didn’t allow himself to laugh until Kurt was out of sight. Still, knowing how sensitive his hearing was, especially as a cat, Adam kept it to a quiet chuckle. One thing he had to admit, life with Kurt was never dull.
<><><><><><><><><>
Artie was awake after a nap, waiting impatiently in the patient resting area, anxious for Kurt and Adam to get there. Gabriel had come in and told him they’d be there soon. He was lying down on the cot, and tried to calm himself by listening to the iPod Gabriel had given him the day before, which was already filled with quite a bit of music in different styles. He’d found a number of familiar songs, and there was still a huge number of songs and artists he’d never heard. He couldn’t wait to hear them all.
He did manage to distract himself enough that he was slightly startled when Kurt and Adam arrived. He pushed himself up on his elbows and sat up.
“Hey, Artie!” Kurt called out.
Artie waved, but barely looked at his friend, because he was too fascinated with the object Adam was carrying. That had to be it!
Gabriel followed them in and greeted them.
“Hello, Artie. Were you able to nap for a little while?”
“Yes, sir.” Artie rolled his eyes. “I mean, yes, Gabriel, I slept for a little while.”
“Good. I’ve seen my last patient for the day.” His owner rubbed his hands together as he looked at the cart. “I have a feeling you’re going to be using up a fair amount of energy trying this out.”
“I hope so! I mean, I can’t wait to try it!”
Kurt explained what he would need to do, once in rabbit form. It sounded pretty easy, actually, once Gabriel had him strapped in correctly.
“I tried it out earlier, as a cat, I mean. It worked fine for me, and I think it’ll fit you as well. You just need to adjust the straps, Gabriel. I wanted them to be adjustable in case you get bigger.”
Artie was offended, and couldn’t stop his expression from showing it.
Kurt hurried to explain. “I mean, you might not be finished growing yet. I’m still growing, and I’m a couple years older than you. But this way, it should still fit you.”
“I doubt Artie will ever, in rabbit form, be as big as Kurt is in cat form,” Gabriel commented. “I have no idea what Kurt’s human height or weight might be, but when he’s fully grown as a cat, he should be anywhere from 15 to 20 pounds. I think you’ll only be around 12 pounds maximum, a little less than the weight Kurt is now when he’s a cat.”
He felt better, now. It wasn’t like Kurt to deliberately hurt his feelings, anyway. “Okay, that makes sense. I can’t wait to try it out! Can I, Gabriel?”
“Sure,” his owner agreed. “Let’s test it out.”
Artie switched to his rabbit form. Gabriel lifted him out of the chair and set him into the cart. Kurt showed him how to adjust the straps, and he was soon ready to test the cart.
Adam decided to wait in the room outside, and watch from the glass wall. Sara was there, too. He didn’t mind; she would probably be the one to help him in and out of it if Gabriel was with a patient or something.
“Are you ready?” Gabriel asked.
Artie twitched his nose and lifted his ears a little. He couldn’t wait to try it out.
“Go!”
Artie scooted up to the front of the box, which tilted it a little so the back end of the cart was off the floor. He shifted around slightly to get more comfortable, then lifted his front legs out of the box. He set his feet down on the carpeted floor, and started walking forward. He kept his pace slow, like Kurt had suggested, until he got more comfortable. Then he intended to race around the room as fast as he possibly could. It was very easy to move, but he didn’t feel like the cart was going to get away from him. He didn’t think it needed brakes. He wasn’t going to go that fast, and he could always put his paws down firmer and just stop. Like…that. He chirruped to let Gabriel know he’d done something cool, since he couldn’t high-five in this form.
“Did you stop on purpose?”
Duh. Artie nodded his head.
“Okay. Do you want to keep on going?”
That was easy enough to answer. He just started walking again. It was a little difficult to maneuver around the cot and other things in his way, but he soon got the hang of it. Then it really hit him…he was moving, on his own, without either dragging his legs behind him, or having someone else carry him or using the chair. It felt freer than the chair, because he had his front paws on the ground. He wondered how it would feel on the grass.
After a while he picked up speed. He glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window, and saw Kurt and Adam both grinning like loons. Sara didn’t look much more dignified. He supposed his face would look the same if he were human at the moment.
He finally slowed down again and came to a halt near Gabriel. It was fun, but he was starting to get tired, and he had a feeling his arms might be a bit sore later.
Gabriel knelt down and unfastened the strap, and lifted him out. Then he did something he didn’t do nearly enough, and hugged him close. He petted Artie, stroking his hand from his head down his back, murmuring things like, “Good boy.” It was unusual, but he wasn’t going to complain. He just settled deeper into Gabriel’s arms.
Instead of putting him back in the chair, Gabriel continued to carry him in one arm as he opened the door and went out to talk to Kurt and his human. He tried to pay close attention to what they were saying. It sounded like they were very impressed, and happy for him, and Gabriel was concerned about him being tired.
Gabriel spoke to Artie. “Tell you what, sport. Why don’t you rest for a while in here, as rabbit or human, whatever you want. Take a nap, if you can. I’ll come get you when I’m ready to go home, but I have a couple of things to finish up first. It won’t be very long.” He set Artie down on the floor, and waited to see what he would do.
Even though he hadn’t been a rabbit very long, Artie wanted to talk to Kurt and thank him again. He changed back to human. Gabriel helped him get up onto the cot. There was a large wedge-shaped pillow that Gabriel arranged behind Artie, so he was sitting upright, but was slightly reclined. It was more comfortable than having nothing at his back, but he thought he’d probably move it and lie down soon.
Sara went back to her desk at the front office.
Gabriel turned his attention to their guests. “Thank you both so much for doing this.” He shook hands with both of them. “I need to finish writing up some notes, then I’m going to take Artie, and his cart, home. Would you like to join us for dinner? Julia and Mandy will be there.”
Kurt looked at Adam, who looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Thank you, Gabriel, I appreciate the invitation. But I’m not sure we should be showing up if they’re not expecting us.”
Kurt bit his lip, then spoke up. “I was thinking the same thing. If Mandy is as uncomfortable around strangers as Artie says, she might want to have more notice, instead of it being a surprise. I’m thinking it might not seem like a nice surprise to her.”
Gabriel nodded. “Thank you for thinking about that, and you’re probably right. Well, perhaps you’ll take a rain check. And I’ll see you both tomorrow for your appointments.”
Adam nodded, and took Kurt’s hand. “Maybe we’ll get to meet Mandy in the reading group. I’m hoping the first class will be this Friday afternoon, and normally it will be Tuesdays and Fridays. I just want a little more time to prepare.”
“Okay. Let me know when you decide the exact time, and I’ll make sure to get Artie there.”
Adam only hesitated briefly before suggesting, “Since I know your schedule is very busy, maybe we can pick Artie up on our way, and bring him back when we’re done?”
“Sure, if you want to, I’d appreciate it. I was thinking, though, I’d like to attend the first meeting, just to see how it’s going to go.”
“I thought everyone might want to do that. It’s probably a good idea, so you’ll have more peace of mind. But I’m hoping once everyone is more comfortable, we can just have as few authority figures there as possible, so the pets will feel more comfortable expressing themselves.”
“That sounds like a good idea. We’ll see how it goes.”
Gabriel left them with Artie.
“Kurt, thanks again for the awesome cart! I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” Artie confessed.
Kurt grinned. “I wasn’t entirely sure it would work, but I thought it was worth a try. I’m so glad it’s going to work out for you.”
“I think you were right about Mandy, but she’s a really nice girl. I just don’t want her to get upset when it’s not - she has enough to -“ Artie stopped talking, as he could feel his face getting warm.
“That’s okay. We’ll see her later this week,” Kurt assured him.
“We’d better get going. We’ll let you rest now. Maybe we’ll see you tomorrow after Kurt’s appointment.”
Artie’s face lit up. “I’d really like that. It’s been okay, today, but I’m kind of used to being around somebody, you know?”
“If Gabriel says it’s okay, we’ll come see you. Or Kurt can, if you’d prefer, and I can wait, in the waiting room,” Adam suggested.
“Okay. See you both later. And thanks, both of you.”
Artie kind of wanted to hug Kurt, but wasn’t sure how it would be taken. He was relieved when Kurt impulsively moved forward to hug him instead.
He watched them go, and was thinking about how complicated his life was getting. In a good way, but it was still very different than he was used to. Sara came in with a small plate of snacks, and Artie realized how hungry he was, from transforming so quickly. He was also very tired, but food came first.
Next: Chapter 96