K-9 Trials

[Kev Allison]

Kev was just happy to be there and to laugh about things, sure the spreading the pizza across the table wasnt something he had thought about until Mattie had the napkin though he couldnt help but grin about it.

He tried to keep a straight face though gave up when she started to giggle again as he watched her lowering the napkin. “No digging up the begonias too, seriously how does Koda do it?” Kev said laughing as he saw her deadpanned face. “Woah you need to stop right there, I mean generic brand kibble, I thought I was worth more... you know that fancy stuff that all organic with no additives and makes me smell good too?” He suggested smirking lightly.

“But I’ll leave the begonias but marigolds I can’t promise and then we get to the lamp post situation too... do we pass and let the lamp post be or you know. Make that post a little better.” Kev stated smirking as he took another bite of the pizza trying to hide his face as he chuckled. Honestly he might have been two but he didnt mind at all, it was nice to just laugh and enjoy the company with Mattie.

Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

"Oh, you can have the marigolds, never did like those." She chuckled, shaking her head. "As for that lamppost, best to leave it alone...I've heard there's a bit of a short in it and, you know, liquid...electricity, path of least resistance..." There was a laugh. "Lit up dog!"

Snickering, she took another bite of pizza. "And, if you behave, then you get the good food. Too bad you're not a cat, they always get the good stuff, the tuna and salmon. Kibble for the mutts...oh, and your cookie before bed."

Lord, this was pure silliness, but it was just exactly what she needed, and the fact that he was willing to be silly too meant a lot.

"Anyway, it's better to be good and win blue ribbons...or red ones. We can build you a shelf in the den." Sighing, she took a sip of beer. "Man, I'm going to sleep good tonight. Been a long day....not that I'm done with it yet!" she added quickly.

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

“Really, you never liked marigolds?” He asked her as he grinned when the talk turned to the lamp posts. “Ouch one sore dog, I feel their pain so no lamp posts... just grass and flowers then. If anyone has a good flower bed then you’d better warn them. I’m liable to dig it up.” He joked as he took another bite of pizza. Honestly it was fun just to laugh and joke about things without thinking too much.

“Only kibble and here was me thinking you liked me. Thought I might at least get chicken?” He said grinning as he nodded, “I can live with the cookie though, nothing better than a cookie before bed. But how about two if I was really good and fetched you things?” He asked trying to bargain though sure he could fetch things and really he would do a lot for a cookie, so long as it wasnt a dog cookie.

“Sold if I get a shelf too, I mean we could win a few I think. Not so sure I’d go great with the chasing suspects though.” He offered grinning as Kev nodded to her. “I’m sure I will too and it’s okay if you are. Just maybe avoid falling asleep in your plate... it’s kinda sore and leaves marks for the next day.” Kev explained having first hand keyboard sleeping and the marks on his face to prove it. Once was enough that he never did it again as wake up with the alphabet etched on your face wasnt a cool look.

“But glad to hear you’re not done yet. I mean we’ve still to cover scratching behind your ear, chewing on things... the list is endless.” He joked as he grinned at her. Sure Kev felt tired but Mattie was the sort of person he wanted to stay awake for. She was funny, interesting and she didnt mind that he had a strange sense of conversation or humour either.

Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

"First off, you only get a shelf when you start winning trophies, and second, if you start chewing up my slippers...well, I don't think there's enough beer in the world that you could fetch me to make up for that!"

Laughing, she finished her beer, then leaned back, feeling both refreshed and exhausted. Despite the earlier drama, she was feeling more positive than she had in a long time, and it was a good feeling, a relief, actually, from all the emotions she'd dealt with for so long.

"You know, I think as long as you can just wag your tail and fetch my slippers, not chew on them, I'd be able to forgive about anything."

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

“Oh wow setting down the rules already. Who’s saying I haven’t won a few already?” Kev joked knowing he hadn’t but still when she mentioned chewing her slippers he couldnt stop himself from laughing about that one. “Okay no shelf... yet and no slipper chewing, is that is for rules? Because I can chew a fair few things.” He teased though sure it wasnt like he was going to actually start chewing on things.

Unless he was hit on the head or hypnotised to believe he was a dog. Kev was just glad for the chance to relax and to see her relaxed too. From earlier to now it was nice to just see Mattie enjoying herself again and to be there to actually see it was even better.

“Hey I’d fetch your slippers any day and wag my tail too.” He said as he shuffled in his seat as he tried to wiggle his butt. “Maybe even cook you dinner too and take you on walk but if you’ll forgive anything then I can at least tell you if I broke anything, you know tails. They get everywhere and knock stuff over so if you can forgive that then I think we have a shot. I swear I won't chew anything though.” Kev said with a grin.

Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

"Tail-wagging can be solved easy enough by lopping it off, right?" She wiggled her eyebrows at him. "And one less thing to step on, too."

Grinning, she added, "I'd give you a nice, fluffy bed in front of the fire to curl up on so you'd be nice and warm, at least until Koda chased you away!"

She stifled a yawn. "Man, I've always been a light-weight with drinking, I should probably get home before Mom burns the place down." She hated to break up the fun, but she was exhausted both physically and emotionally after all that had happened, and she still had a few things to take care of at home.

"At least you'll have some left-overs for breakfast, right?"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

“You would lop off a guys tail? How could you?” He said laughing as he watched her wiggle her eyebrows at him. “You really know how to make a guy wince.” He said smirking, “But then we can’t wag it at you anymore, surely that would be a loss.”

Kev grinned and nodded about the nice fluffy bed in front of the fire, if anything he would have dived right onto that if was there then. “Me and Koda could share I’m sure, we’re house trained, don’t chew so I’m sure we can share a fluffy bed.” He said though yeah he could imagine there might be a tussle for the best spot there.

“Sure I’ll drive you back and I think you’ve had more excitement today so maybe the alcohol has just you know, quickened the process.” He said grinning at her, Kev couldn’t deny he was tired and it felt like a rollercoaster. One minute terrified that a child might not make it, meeting their parents that he wanted to help and then laughing and joking over dinner with one of the best women he had the privilege to know.

“Yeah, can’t beat cold pizza in a morning.” He said grinning, “But I vote that you take it for breakfast that way I can at least say I got you breakfast tomorrow.” He joked as he motioned for the bill to come across so he could get it. After today there was no splitting it or anything like that, Kev would pay simply because he wanted to and of course Mattie deserved a night off on him after everything that had happened.

Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

"You can take some pizza, too," Mattie insisted, laying out napkins and dealing out the remaining slices. "I mean, unless you're going to spend the night, and then my mom will have something to say about that! She won't let me have boys in my room."

She laughed, teasing, then stood, holding the bundles of pizza. She wasn't exactly serious, mostly because she wasn't ready to inflict her mother on the poor man yet. She liked him and didn't want to scare him off just yet.

"Anyway, one day we can have a slumber party. Of course, camping will be kinda like that, and you won't need to worry since my snoring will scare off the bears!"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

Kev smiled and nodded as he watched her lay out the napkins and deal out the remaining slices. “She wont? Wow that has to be a tough set of cards to be dealt, here was me thinking that Koda would be the scary one but your mum sounds tough.” He said grinning though he didnt want her to feel like she had to ask him to spend the night.

Kev followed her as he paid for the meal glad that they had finally gotten out and had enjoyed the evening. At least he had more than he had ever expected to after the events of the day. “Yeah sounds great and good job you snore. Me I’m silent as an elephant so as long as you can snore to keep the bears away, we will survive.” He said laughing.

“Here was me thinking we needed bear repellent, bug repellent, all things camping ish and of course if we do see a bear. Expect me to scream and run.” He joked though sure running was the worst thing to do he knew that but then again, he saw enough bears with sore heads at work to know that you just stayed out of their way to coexist in the world. “Camping will be great and I look forward to a slumber party one day.” He said smiling. “Can we invite Koda too?” He asked grinning.

Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

“Here was me thinking we needed bear repellent, bug repellent, all things camping ish and of course if we do see a bear. Expect me to scream and run.”

"Just don't outrun me and we're good!" She grinned.

“Camping will be great and I look forward to a slumber party one day.” He said smiling. “Can we invite Koda too?”

"Oh, of course Koda, he has all the good gossip!" Actually, a slumber party sounded fun, just getting in jammies, watching movies and eating popcorn while playing MST2000!

"Of course, when he needs to go potty, we all have to accompany him, and we can't forget the bags, but camping will be a good trial run."

She looked at him a little more seriously. "You have just been camping before, right? Like National Parks, campfires, singing 'Kumbya'..."

It had been such a part of her growing up that it had never occurred to her that it wasn't something everyone did at one time or another.

Kev Allison ,

[Kev Allison]

“Of course there’s no way I would outrun you, you know throw myself under the bus to save you and Koda. I would do it just remember say that I didn’t scream or run.” He joked though sure he had no issue with getting involved in anything to help the two of them or simply stand if the way of anything that meant to harm them.

“Even better then can’t beat the fireside gossip.” He said grinning liking the sound of it, honestly he hadn’t had as much fun in a long time and sure house camping was all kinds of good fun. Raiding the fridge, playing games, gossiping about everything in life. “Oh sure I mean nothing like a good hunt around the woods for bags of you know what but it would be great.” He said grinning, though going hunting for that didnt bother him at all.

Kev saw Mattie’s more serious look as he grinned and nodded. “Sure, camping out with the scouts and such but didn’t really do the national parks until I was mid twenties... parents were a bit, camping was a hotel that was four stars.” He said jokingly even though it was more of the truth of his childhood than he cared for. He hadn’t enjoyed that side of it much as nothing was real to him but now, camping was great.

Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

"Well, we'll see what we can do about getting some dirt under those fingernails!" Mattie's smile deteriorated into another yawn. "Sleeping on the hard, damp ground, sand in your food, fire-blackened marshmallows...what more could you want?"

She smiled at the fond memories, wondering if she could still enjoy it. The few times she and her father had gone after Annie had drowned hadn't gone well, but that might have been due more to the fact that Annie wasn't there but her presence was, and they had never really talked about it, which, in retrospect, probably wasn't good.

"Well have ants and bees, raccoons, maybe even a bear! Best time ever!" She laughed.

[Kev Allison]

“Oh not sure how I will handle dirt, you know me paperwork only kind of guy.” Kev teased though sure he had been outdoors before. The Navy had pretty much fixed the dirt side of him without any issue at all. “You know, you’re really selling this to me... sand in my food, burnt marshmallows, soggy sleeping conditions... all sounds like a lot of fun to me.” He said as honestly it did.

Kev often wished he could have done more as a kid, sure his parents might have had a panic attack about it but then again what he thought was normal turned out not to be. What he wanted was just normal and now at his age, acting like an eight year old again, well it was really any excuse and camping was fun no matter what. Even better when it was with Mattie he was sure about that.

“Sure best time ever, just tell me how to scare a racoon, not to step on an ant hill and keep away from bees. Seen those movies and they don’t end well for the people in the woods.” He joked chuckling, “But any excuse to get to spend more time with you so no matter how big the racoons or bears are, I can deal with it.” Kev said with a grin.

Mattie Chappel

[Mattie Chappel]

Had she not been exhausted, Mattie might have blushed deep red, but she was, indeed, half-asleep, and somewhat jaded, so she merely grinned at the compliment.

"Well, we can see what we can do for that," she murmured. "I think it will be fun and we both deserve it, right? I'll look around in the morning, once I'm awake, find a place for us, inventory what I have...so, when do you think we can do this? I'm pretty flexible, just need a couple days warning."

Plans were already swirling in her head, muddled as it was, and she was smiling inside at the thought. "I bet I can even remember some of the ghost stories Dad used to tell...if you aren't afraid?"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

“Yeah I will let you know what I have too or I might be imagining a full blown pop up tent with all the amenities in it.” Kev said with a grin as he thought about when they could get away. “Well me too, I’ve not taken much leave this year so as long as I’ve a couple of days to sort things out around work, I can make it any time.” He said knowing there were no big cases that he was required for in the near future. It wasnt like he couldnt pass over his work load and his boss was married to the Sergeant he worked with so.

Well that all kind of worked out for the best. “Oh so you’re that one with the ghost stories trying to terrify everyone else then huh.” He said smirking as he nodded, “Bring it on, let’s see what you can do just remember if I run off screaming into the woods... it might be a bear or a ghost story.” He added chuckling, “But let’s get you home before you fall asleep, not that I’m saying you don’t look great just the way you are.” He added not wanting to put his foot in things as to him she looked fantastic no matter how awake she was.

“But I’m pretty sure your mum might have something to say if I drop you off asleep. Not that I wouldnt but you know... I’d rather stay in the good books.” He said grinning though it had been a fantastic but long day.

Mattie Chappel