Dirk's POV

Man, am I bored. This place is really boring. I've already figured out how to get out of my cage 5 different ways and the other animals in this place are annoying the hell out of me. The dog down the way has been yapping for the last two (2) hours. Them damn birds are gonna drive me crazy and if that snake across the way don't quit eyeing me like I his next dinner I'm gonna hurt someone. Ok, I have no clue who but someone is gonna get hurt.

Ooooh, gotta itch. Aaah, that's better. God, somebody shut that damn dog up!

"Hey dog, shut your yap already."

"Aye, bite me you little weasel. I'm a dog, I'm supposed to bark, you retard."

God, he is so stupid. Stand him. There he goes again. Look, oooh some new people. I don't think I've seen them around here before.

"Hey, dog. Shut up. There are some people coming in. They haven't been in here before. Why don't you shut up for a few minutes and maybe you'll make a good impression on them and they'll take you away from here. Then the rest of us can get some peace and quiet."

"Yeah, well why don't you lick my ass. You know ain't nobody gonna take me from this place. Too many people have come in and left. You know we are the rejects. Nobody wants us."

"Dude, quit saying shit like that. Somebody's gonna pick us sooner or later."

Hey, he looks different. What's with those eyes. They look like cat eyes. Wow. And that one has some seriously blue eyes. Whoa.

"Hey, JC check this ferret out. I think I'm gonna get him. He looks awfully sad."

"Lance, you don't need another pet. Don't you have enough with those other rat things?"

"What? You mean my chinchilla's? They aren't rats JC."

"I know but I couldn't think of what they were called. Sorry." JC says with a small smile and a blush.

"It's alright. But I still think I'm gonna get this little fella. He is just too cute."

Yes, please pick me. Do you think you could pick me up or something. I have to make up my mind and the only way I can do that is for you to pick me up. That guy with the blue eyes looks kinda strange. But he sure seems to like this other guy. Oh well, pick me up already somebody. Yes, that's it. Mmmm, this is nice. Nice, warm hands. Thank you, please take me home, please, please.

"Lance, do you think that is a good idea? He might bite you or something."

"Nah, JC you gotta hold him for me for a minute. I gotta get a cage and stuff for him. Here."

"Laaance. Fine. I got him. Is it even a him? How the heck can you tell?"

"It's a him." A woman behind the counter says. "He's the last one of his litter. The rest have all been adopted. His name is Dirk and he is a Blackfooted ferret."

"Thank you. So what type of food has he been eating here? I'm thinking we should stick with the same type of food, right?" Lance asks.

"Yes. He has been eating this kind." She hands him a bag of food and a few toys. "He really seems to enjoy these. He also likes anything with feathers on it. I swear he has been eyeing them birds over there."

I have. Just let me at them noisy things. I'll rip them all to shreds. Oh, what's that. What'd he say? Damn, I guess I should listen. This guys got some long, bony fingers. At least he is warm and doesn't seem too afraid of me.

"Well, he ought to enjoy JC's wardrobe then," Justin says coming up behind them. "All those boas and that fur coat. This little fella ought to be happy as a clam."

"He better not get into my stuff. I'll have to hurt his little weasel ass." JC says holding Dirk up to eye level. "You stay out of my clothes and I won't mess with you, deal."

Yeah, what ever. Did you say fur. Hmmm. I may have to be nice to this guy after all. Oh, crap. Here comes the yappy one.

"Hey dog, what's up?"

"Not much. I see you are getting out of here too huh?"

"Yeah, it seems so. Looks like I'm leaving with that guy with the pretty eyes, the guy holding me, and that weird looking dude with the fuzz on his head. Almost looks like he has an animal wrapped up in that thing on his head."

"Oh, no. You can't be leaving with that guy with the thing on his head. That's the same guy I'm leaving with. Him and that dark haired, short guy standing next to the guy with the bright red hair."

"Nooooo. You have got to be kidding me. I can't believe my luck. What did I do to deserve this?"

"Alright little fella," JC says, holding Dirk up again. "I hope you enjoy traveling. You are going to be spending allot of time on the bus with the five of us and that little fella Chris is holding."

"Yep, hope you like dogs, little guy." Lance says. "C, you got him? Hey Joe can you help me carry some of this stuff?"

I really hope this is a big bus, whatever the hell a bus is I have no clue, but I hope it is big enough so I don't have to deal with that damn dog.

****They load the two new pets and all their stuff onto the bus****

Wow, I could get used to this. This thing is huge.

"Hey dog, what do you think of this place?"

"Dude, would you quit calling me that. I have a name you know."

"Yeah, well what is it then? Hmmm?"

"It's… Well… Shoot, I don't have any idea, but I know I have one."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Let me know when you think of it Dog."

"Ok, little fella." Lance says, taking him from JC. "This is your new home. You have to be a good boy and no terrorizing anyone, you hear. You be a good boy. JC. Could you set his cage up over here? That way he won't get dumped over everytime we make a turn."

"There. Is that good, Lance?"

"Yeah, thanks. I don't suppose you'd be willing to give up at least one of the boas for him so he will have something to keep him warm. Those toys and stuff that the gal gave us at the store don't look that comforting to me."

"I suppose I could give up one for him. Hold on, I'll be right back." He heads to the back of the bus where the bunks are.

"Well, Dirk. You are one lucky little ferret. That man won't part with those things for anything and he is giving one to you. You better treat it well little man. I wish he were giving it to me. That way I could sleep with it and smell him. Oh, well. Guess I'll just have to keep wishing on that one. Huh?"

What, what was that? You like that guy. Well, I'll have to see if I can't do something about that. He is kinda cute and since you got me out of that place and away from them damn birds I guess it would be the least I could do.

"Hey dog, you around here?"

"Yeah, what do you want now, Rat?"

"Rat? I'll have you know I have a name, thank you very much."

"Oh, really? And what may that be?"

"Well, for your information, it is Dirk. Some of us pay attention when our owners are talking about us or to us. You should try it sometime."

"Here Busta, come on boy. Now where did he go? Oh, there you are fella. Come on. I got you a bed made up." Chris says as he picks the little dog up.

"See, I told you I have a name."

"Yeah, but I bet you don't remember it in the morning."

"Yes, I will."

Man, I hope I don't have to spend too much time with him. He's annoying.

"Ok. Here Lance. This is the only one I have in my carry on. The rest of them are under the bus. This should do for the time being. When we get to the hotel I'll lay them all out on the bed and he can pick which one he wants how's that sound?"

"Thanks C. I really appreciate that. You don't have to give him another one though."

"Nah. That's ok Lance. You and I both know I have a ton of these things and don't need half of them. Besides, he's so cute." JC says, "and he belongs to the cutest guy I've ever met."

"What? What was that last part? I didn't quite catch what you said there C" Lance said with a smile because he had heard.

JC walks back to the back of the bus where Chris, Justin, and Joey are all fawning over Busta.

"Man, I think I'm glad I got you Dirk. You're gonna come in handy I think" Lance says as he puts Dirk in his cage.

Ok, what was that all about? They like each other so why aren't they together? I don't get it. I wonder if those critters over there know anything?

"Hey, you. New guy! What's your name?" The chinchilla number one yells.

"What? Who? Me?" dirk responds.

"Well, yeah, I don't see any other newbies around here." Chinchilla number two says.

"Well, that shows how observant you are. There's a dog here too now. He came on with me. He belongs to the guy with the strange things sticking out of his head."

"Reeaally? Well, that would be Chris. I can't believe he broke down and bought a dog. Shit what's next? If JC comes in with something we'll all be in trouble." Chinchilla one sneers.

"Why do you say that? He seems pretty nice to me. He even gave me this." Dirk holds up his nice pink boa that JC gave him.

"And why do you think he gave that to you? I can't believe he gave up one of those fluffy snakes of his. What is that thing anyway? It must be pretty snuggly for him to have them around all the time." Chinchilla two questions.

"It might have something to do with the fact that he thinks the Lance guy is cute. I think he was trying to impress him or something." Dirk responds.

"Well, maybe you are a bright one. It took dingbat over here two months to figure out that those two had a thing for each other. It took you what, less than two hours." Chinchilla one states.

"Hey, I'm not a dingbat. At least I know that dumb dogs' name. I'm not the dumbest animal on the bus anymore." Chinchilla two boasts.

"Hey what's going on? What happened to the lights? How come it got dark in here?" Dirk asked panicked?

"Relax man. It's just time for bed. We ride on this thing for a while then we get drug up to some room, spend a few nights there and then back on this bus thing for more of what they call driving. Just relax and go to sleep." Chinchilla one states in between yawns.

"Yeah, night dude." Chinchilla two says.

I can't sleep. I wonder if I can get out of here and find one of the humans to sleep with. I wonder if they'll mind? Oh well. Only one way to find out. Let's see. If I push with my nose here, and my feet here. Yes, it worked. I'm free!!!

"Dude, get back in your cage. If you get caught you're gonna get in trouble. Especially if JC finds you loose."

"Yeah, whatever. I have never slept in a cage and I ain't startin' now. See you two in the morning."

Hmm, now I wonder where all the humans went?

"Hey dog, where you at. I know your back here somewhere."

"What are you doing loose. I heard the humans saying that if you did anything to there shoes or clothes they were gonna skin you. You better get back into your cage."

"No way. You know I can't sleep in those things."

Whoa. Watch where your stepping there buddy. Uh oh, guess I got busted.

"Hey, little guy. What are you doing out of your cage? Hmm? Still trying to get used to this place. That's cool. Why don't we go get your little feather boa and you can just bunk with me. We can't tell Lance though. He'll be mad at both of us if he finds out." JC whispers.

JC walks back down the bus and pulls the boa out of Dirk's cage, returns to his bunk and climbs back in. "You piss or crap in here and your dead. You be good and you can sleep here when ever you want. You understand that? Good. Now get comfy and go to sleep."

Lance rolls over in his bunk and hears JC talking. "JC, who are you talking to?"

"Your new friend. I found him wandering the bus. I think you're gonna have to rig that cage a little better if you want him to stay in there."

Lance gets up and peeks his head into JC's bunk. "You two ok up here, or do you want me to take him?"

JC looks up from watching Dirk and meets Lance's eyes. "He's ok. Unless you don't want him to get used to it. I don't think he's gonna stay in that cage though."

"No, as long as he's not bothering you he can stay."

"Why don't you climb up here too? He needs to get used to you being with him and he seems pretty comfy where he is. I don't really want to bother him."

"You sure? I don't want to crowd you?"

"Nah. We got the wide bunks on this side remember. Just and Chris got the narrow ones. I still haven't figured out how Joey got the big bed in the back."

"I do. He has too many women coming in and out of here all the time and none of us wanted to hear that all the time. Remember?" Lance says as he climbs up and gets comfortable trying not to disturb Dirk.

*****There is silence for a while.****

"Lance, are you still awake?" JC asks in a whisper.

"Yeah, barely. What's up?"

"I have something I want to tell you but I don't want you to freak out or anything."

"C, you know there is nothing you could tell me that would make me freak out."

"Yeah, well. We'll see."

"What is it, Jayce?"

JC smiles in the dark at the nickname. "Lance, I'm gay."

"Yeah, I sorta guessed that Jayce, but I'm glad you told me."

"I'm glad I did too. I have something else to tell you though Lance. This is the part that you might freak out about."

"It's ok. What is it man?"

"I think I'm falling in love with someone."

"That's great C. Do I know them?"

"Yeah, you know them. Quite well actually."

"Oooh, is it one of the guys?"

"Yeah." Small quiet voice.

"Well, are you gonna tell me or do I have to guess?"

Silence.

"Ok, I guess that means I have to guess. Hmm. It can't be Chris. You two can barely stand each other half of the time. Can't be Justin, that would be too weird. He's too much like a little brother. Right? No on Chris and No on Justin?"

"Uh huh."

"Ok, that leaves Joey."

"Nope."

"What. Well who else…." He drifts off as it hits him. "Oh."

"Yeah?"

"Wow, um, I don't know what to say." Lance stumbles. "I don't know what to say."

"Just say you don't hate me, please." JC says with desperation in his voice.

"Oh, Jayce." Lance says with a tearfilled voice. "I don't hate you. In fact I have something I think I should probably tell you too."

"What's that?" JC asks nervously.

"Well, I've been in love with you for a long time now. Like since I met you." Lance says blushing in the dark.

"Wow. That's great."

Yes, I didn't even have to do anything and they admitted this themselves. I'm soooo happy. Now all they need to do is kiss and all that smoopy stuff. I better squirm out of the way. Gotta keep it from looking obvious though. Scrunch up and scoot closers to the feathers.

"Now what do we do?" Lance asks quietly.

"Well, I don't know." JC responds. "I'd like to kiss you though. If that would be ok with you?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea to me." Lance whispers breathlessly.

JC leans over and lightly brushes his lips over Lance's then pulls away.

"Mmmm. That was nice." Lance breaths. "Now my turn."

He reaches up and slides his fingers to the back of JC's head, pulling him down gently and kisses him. JC pulls back a little and says, "That was really great, but I don't want to rush into anything. Do you think we could just take this really really slow?"

"That sounds like a great idea. As slow as you want." Lance smiles up at JC.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I did it and I didn't even have to try. Whoo hoo. Now I can finally get some sleep. And I get to sleep between two nice warm bodies. That shows what those damn chinchillas know. Hummf.