An Incredible Journey
 
Author: muggs
 
Email: muggs_snpl@yahoo.com
 
Rating: G
 
Summary: Nick gets a surprising Christmas Eve visitor.
(Part of the Scratched Coffee Table series but did not get up the courage 
to post this until now. It's a first for me.)


Author's Note: Apologies to Sheila Burford and Walt Disney. 

Author's Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of a
character in this story to any person living or dead is purely
coincidental

--+--

It was Christmas Eve and Nick Fallin was home alone. He had intended
to work late, thinking of how much he could get done with no
distractions, but the weather had made him change his mind. Freezing
rain had already started to fall and six inches of snow was predicted
before the storm passed through the area and moved further east.
So, he had selected a few papers that needed his attention, shoved
them into the briefcase and headed for home.

Forbes Avenue was already slippery as he drove to Shadyside, and it
took him twice as long as usual. When he got home, he really was
glad he had decided to leave the office. After changing into
comfortable clothes, he opened a can of soup, poured himself a Coke
and then carried his "dinner" into the living room. He thought he
might listen to some music or see what was on television while he
ate.

When he set his dinner down on the coffee table, he noticed the
scratch there. He ran his finger along its length. Bart! He let
his mind wander to thoughts of Bart. He was remembering the night
last Spring when he had found the dog again, in front of the Stanton
home. With a nod of his head, he had invited the dog to follow him
home.

Bart's feelings of devotion were written all over his face as he had
followed Nick into the house. He had even joined Nick in the
bedroom. Nick had discarded his suit jacket, tie and taken off his
boots. Bart had watched as he rolled up his shirt sleeves, and
slipped into a more comfortable pair of loafers. Bart had been on
his heels as he descended the stairs and went to the kitchen in
search of something to eat. He had found the makings for a ham
sandwich, and had made one for Bart, too.

He had gone into the living room that night to eat also. Bart had
finished his sandwich in three bites. Wondering if Nick had anything
else to offer, Bart had jumped onto the coffee table to get closer to
Nick. His claws scratched the table in his exuberance.

Any thoughts of keeping Bart had vanished from Nick's mind. He had
lost his temper and yelled at Bart. Instinctively, Bart had spent
the rest of the night in the kitchen, tail between his legs and with
sorrowful eyes. The next morning Nick had driven Bart to the family
in Washington County himself.

Nick shook his head, as if to shake all thoughts of the dog out of
his mind. Nick picked up the television remote and he thought he
heard a thump, thump. He turned on the set and the sound persisted.
Nick got up to look outside, through the window that overlooked his
porch. There sat a chocolate lab, covered in snow, tail wagging.
Thump! Thump!

"Bart?! It couldn't be!"

Nick rushed to the door and swung it open. The dog walked inside,
tail wagging, and circled Nick.

"Bart? Bart!" Nick was incredulous. "What are you doing here? HOW
did you get here?" But Bart's story remained his secret. Nick bent
and petted the dog. But Bart was cold and wet, so Nick pointed his
finger at Bart. "Stay." The dog obediently stayed in the foyer
while Nick went to get some towels.

As Nick dried him off, he noticed a rake of claw markings down his
muzzle and a small cut over his right eye. He could feel every
rib. Nick rose and inclined his head ever so slightly at Bart as he
headed for the kitchen. Bart joined him. Bart watched patiently as
Nick searched his freezer, found and then fried a hamburger patty in
a small skillet. He put a bowl of water in the kitchen but invited
Bart to join him in the living room.

"No table," Nick said stearnly, and Bart readily complied. Bart and
Nick finished eating in companionable silence. As Nick relaxed into
the cushions of the couch, Bart laid his head in Nick's lap.

The ringing phone startled both Nick and Bart. Nick reached to the
portable, lying near by.

"Mr. Fallin?" came the voice on the other end.

" Yes," said Nick.

"This is Mr. Myers, the man you gave that chocolate lab to. Well, I
know this is a long shot, Mr. Fallin, but our family went away over
Thanksgiving, and Bart got away from the pet sitter. He has been
missing ever since. We have done everything to find him, but to no
avail. I was calling, because, because…I thought maybe there was an
off chance that he might have…turned up there. Have you seen him?"

Nick let his right hand rest on Bart's head.

"Uh, no, Mr. Myers, no, I haven't seen him. I haven't seen him in
the neighborhood." He hung up.

Nick smiled. Maybe his father was right.
 
THE END