![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/banner_guestpost.jpg?resize=500%2C208&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Paula_PrettyPlease.jpg?resize=640%2C612&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Title: <\/b>Pretty Please ***<\/p>\n Sitting on the private patio they\u2019d built on the back side of the old firehouse he\u2019d turned into two nightclubs Jeremy\u2019s mind wasn\u2019t on the success of his nightclubs. Tonight he was winding down from a busy night by enjoying the cool spring evening with a glass of his favorite wine. He was also thinking about his Mate. Ray had spent the evening moping through the clubs like some brooding bad element drawing the attention of men and women alike, who wanted to <\/span>\u2018help\u2019<\/span><\/i> ease his mood. Making sure everyone knew that the black clad blond belonged to him, Jeremy sent him to the teen club in the basement. The kids loved when the ex-cop spent time with them sharing memories of being the gangly son of a butcher with thick black rimmed glasses, going to school with the rich kids that lived on Chicago\u2019s Gold Coast. By closing, Ray was back to his usual brusque, dancing self, and Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief. <\/span><\/p>\n Looking out across their large yard that kept the two Vampires from feeling hemmed in by city living, he felt his muscles relax from the vibrations of the thumping music that filled both clubs at peak hours. Other than his years in New York, he\u2019d lived in Chicago since the city was young, Jeremy missed the days when houses set on large lots with kitchen gardens and stables. Ray Kowalski was a true child of the city but was always relieved when they could escape into their private oasis. Buying the large lots adjoining the firehouse gave them plenty of parking for the clubs and a half acre of grass that guaranteed when Clan members had to travel on short notice, they felt comfortable letting <\/span>Lost Children of the Blood <\/span><\/i>be home away home for their dogs. <\/span><\/p>\n Benton Fraser and his Mate, Ray Vecchio had returned yesterday from a weeklong law enforcement seminar in Toronto, and when the Rivera had pulled in the parking lot, both Diefenbaker and Ray had pouted about the end of their time together. <\/span><\/p>\n Diefenbaker had been spending a lot of time at the firehouse lately, leading Vecchio to tease Benton about joint custody with the half wolf. Not wanting to take the look of expectation off Kowalski\u2019s face at the idea, he rubbed his thumbnail over his eyebrow, a sure tell he was uncomfortable. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll discuss it later. For now, I need to check in at the Consulate before we go home.\u201d Fraser urged Ray and Diefenbaker out the gate. He\u2019d stopped to tun his fingers across the laser cut pattern on the gate, impressed with how secure they\u2019d made the building with it\u2019s green coated security fence backed by the decorative patterned stainless panels. Not even Diefenbaker\u2019s best escape attempts had gotten him through the double fence. <\/span><\/p>\n Drawn out of his thoughts by a kiss on top his head and his glass being refilled, Jeremy remembered something he\u2019d seen in this morning\u2019s paper. It would be the perfect solution for Ray\u2019s case of the blues. It was good they already planned to have the next couple days off.<\/span><\/p>\n ~ \u2022 ~ \u2022 ~<\/span><\/p>\n Ray wasn\u2019t quite up to his usual levels of Smarties flavored caffeine when Jeremy shoved him in the front seat of their Yukon with a tall travel mug of coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhy we taking the SUV? It\u2019s a beautiful day. We should take the GTO.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBy the end of the day I think you\u2019ll be glad we have SUV.\u201d Jeremy\u2019s goofy smile got Ray\u2019s attention.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s up? You\u2019ve got that sappy look on your face you get when you\u2019re planning something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have to wait and see.\u201d Jeremy hit the control to open the gate on the parking lot. <\/span><\/p>\n Keeping to the side streets, they stopped at one of their favorite neighborhood diners for breakfast. A more alert Ray was watching the streets trying to guess where Jeremy was taking him. They were almost to the north side when Jeremy pulled into a strip mall. After parking the SUV, Ray finally noticed the PETCO and PAWS adoption center.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJere \u2026\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEvery time we pet sit for someone you mope around for a week afterward, so I thought it would be nice to have one of our own. They\u2019re having an adoption faire this weekend in honor of National Rescue Dog Day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremy was starting to get nervous when Ray froze in his seat. Green eyes blinked slowly like he was trying to cypher Jeremy\u2019s words. Bracelets jingled as Ray flipped up the console and grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him across the front seat into a searing kiss. When the kiss broke, Ray bounced out of the vehicle and was around to the driver\u2019s door before Jeremy could gather his wits.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI only request you choice be smaller than Diefenbaker.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Jeremy shook his finger at Ray, who promptly grabbed the offending digit with his teeth before running his tongue over the sensitive tip then pulling off with an obscene pop. A pink tinge colored his cheeks as he followed his Mate across the street.<\/span><\/p>\n They had looked at, picked up, cuddled, and scritched nearly every animal at the adoption faire, without Ray finding \u2018the one\u2019. Running his hands through his hair, causing it to go in more directions than usual.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just not feeling it, Babe.\u201d He sadly looked back down the row of animals. <\/span><\/p>\n Before Jeremy could answer, they heard on the volunteers yell. \u201cWHISKEY! Get back here young man!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n The young man in question was all black with a startling white bib and toes. He ran straight at Ray and jumped \u2026 Expecting the man to catch him. His jailbreak started several of the other dogs backing, including one who\u2019s strident bark sounded like it didn\u2019t want to be left behind.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry.\u201d The young woman reached to take the pup, but Ray stepped out of her reach. \u201cWhiskey\u2019s a terrible escape artist.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Whiskey had cuddled into Ray\u2019s chest like there was nowhere he\u2019d rather be. Seeing his Mate\u2019s immediate infatuation with the spunky little dog, Jeremy drew the volunteers\u2019 attention. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not going to be cute when he weighs fifty \u2026 sixty pounds.\u201d He reached over to scratch the pup\u2019s ears. \u201cWhat kind of dog is your little Houdini?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe people that brought him in said he\u2019s a Mountain Cur. They moved here from Georgia for her job \u2026 Didn\u2019t know their dog was pregnant. The condo they\u2019re renting only allowed one dog, so they had to get rid of the puppies when they were weaned. They couldn\u2019t find a home for Whiskey. He\u2019s very picky about who he lets handle him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat can you tell us about Mountain Curs?\u201d Watching Ray and Whiskey, Jeremy figured the pup had found a home.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey figured out the father \u2026 Her brother\u2019s dog when he was dog sitting, and they\u2019re both around forty pounds, probably twenty-four to thirty inches at the shoulder. His mother\u2019s build was slender, the father a little stockier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll take him.\u201d Ray informed the volunteer.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh. Okay. There\u2019s a little problem with that.\u201d She kept looking back the pen with several other pups. All had gone back to playing except one. A small blue merle pup with striking china eyes stared intently.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s promised to someone?\u201d Jeremy was confused.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh no, he\u2019s available for adoption, but he\u2019s part of a bonded pair.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The two Vampires shared a look of shock. \u201cBonded pair?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt happens sometimes. Two animals just click when they\u2019re dropped off. If we separate them, they refuse to eat, get depressed \u2026 They just don\u2019t flourish like they should.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Greens eyes pleaded with his Mate. \u201cPretty please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremy rolled his eyes before surrendering gracefully. \u201cTell us about Whiskey\u2019s Bonded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d Eyes wide at the thought of finding both dogs a home, she was more than happy to introduce them. Handing the other pup to Jeremy, she began to tell them about the pup. \u201cThis is Fand, after a Celtic sea goddess. Her mother was a Rat Terrier and her father was a long haired travelling salesman. You know the type.\u201d She chuckled at her little joke. She\u2019ll likely be smaller than Whiskey \u2026 Maybe twenty, twenty-five pounds at the most. She really is a sweet girl she just doesn\u2019t like being separated from Whiskey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Fand planted her white feet on Jeremy\u2019s chest and looked him in the eye. After a minute or so of looking, she tried to crawl inside his vest. \u201cUh,\u201d he looked at Ray for help, but his Mate only laughed at him. This would be his first time actually owning a dog. His parents were always so involved in their work even a child was a distraction, never mind a pet, and Jeremy hadn\u2019t wanted the responsibility of a pet in New York City. \u201cLooks like we\u2019ll be taking them both home.\u201d He gave the volunteer a weak smile.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is so cool. If you\u2019ll follow me, we\u2019ll get the papers signed and since they\u2019re still too young to neuter, we\u2019ll set up with you an appointment for that, and get you on your way.\u201d She practically danced as she led them inside to handle the paperwork.<\/span><\/p>\n An hour\u2019s worth of paperwork, two hours across the street at PETCO, and they were finally on their way home with the new members of their family. Back at the firehouse, they unloaded the Yukon. One set of dog beds, harnesses, leashes, bowls and food went in their apartment upstairs while a second set were set up in the great room\/kitchen combination they\u2019d had built when they remodeled the club. It made a nice place for the Clan and visitors to escape the noise of club after grabbing a quick snack from the patrons that thought being bitten by a Vampire was part of the club\u2019s ambiance. With the patio and the large yard, and excellent sound proofing, Benton, Ray, and Diefenbaker often stopped by after work to escape their Clan duties for a few hours. <\/span><\/p>\n Now, they were sitting on the patio with several cartons of food from their favorite Chinese restaurant enjoying the antics of the two pups as they investigated their new home.<\/span><\/p>\n Ray laid down his chopsticks and grabbed Jeremy\u2019s hand and kissed his knuckles. \u201cThank you, Mi\u0142o\u015b\u0107.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGetting me a gift I\u2019ve been wanting for long time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJust don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to do this every year on National Rescue Dog Day.\u201d Ray laughed as he danced across the yard and scooped up both pups. \u201cOh and Ray \u2026\u201d Jeremy took Fand and started up the stairs. \u201cIf they need to pee at five in the morning, you\u2019ll be the one getting up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not buddies, Jere.\u201d He growled as he chased after his Mate.<\/span><\/p>\n ~ finis ~<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[850],"tags":[704,591],"class_list":["post-14068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-posts","tag-guest-post","tag-writer-yanzadracan"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Da1M-3EU","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6185,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/sylum-advent-2016-december-11th\/","url_meta":{"origin":14068,"position":0},"title":"Sylum Advent 2016: December 11th","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"December 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Title: A Place For Those Not Seen and Voices Unheard Author: Paula Cas Characters: Jeremiah Parks, Ray Kowalski, Javier Esposito, Eric \u2018Blade\u2019 Brooks, Lady Heather, Evelyn Callahan, Benton Fraser, Ray Vecchio, Peter Parker, Alexandra Eames, Robert Goren, Tallikut Clan members, Sylum Clan members, Original Characters Rating: PG-13 Summary: When Jeremiah\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sylum Advent: 2016"","block_context":{"text":"Sylum Advent: 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/sylum-events\/sylum-advent-2016\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"bar-banner_advent2016","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/bar-banner_advent2016.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15652,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/guest-post-bootleggers-day-by-paula-cas\/","url_meta":{"origin":14068,"position":1},"title":"Guest Post: Bootleggers Day by Paula Cas","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"January 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bootlegger-Day.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bootlegger-Day.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bootlegger-Day.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bootlegger-Day.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13703,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/guest-post-nurses-day-from-paula-cas\/","url_meta":{"origin":14068,"position":2},"title":"Guest Post: Nurses Day (From Paula Cas)","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"March 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/banner_guestpost.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14070,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/guest-post-red-cross-founders-day-by-paula-cas\/","url_meta":{"origin":14068,"position":3},"title":"Guest Post: Red Cross Founders Day by Paula Cas","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"May 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/banner_guestpost.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17019,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/throwback-thursday-guest-post-pow-recognition-day-by-paula-cas\/","url_meta":{"origin":14068,"position":4},"title":"Throwback Thursday: Guest Post: POW Recognition Day – by Paula Cas","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"October 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Link to Post\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/bar-banner_ThrowbackThursday.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13805,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/guest-post-thomas-jefferson-day-by-paula-cas\/","url_meta":{"origin":14068,"position":5},"title":"Guest Post: Thomas Jefferson Day by Paula Cas","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"April 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Enjoy Sylum Snippet by Paula Cas Title: My House Is A Museum, So \u2026 Fandom: Sylum Clan Universe: Historical Figures Characters\/Pairings: Thomas Jefferson, Lady Rogue Rating: Gen Summary: April 13 \u2013 Thomas Jefferson Day Disclaimer: Except for the work noted as being originally mine, all works of fiction\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/banner_guestpost.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14068\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/span>Fandom:<\/b> Sylum Clan Universe: \u00a0Due South, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
\n<\/span>Characters\/Pairings:<\/b> Jeremiah Parks\/Ray Kowalski, Benton Fraser\/Ray Vecchio, Original Characters
\n<\/span>Rating:<\/b> PG
\n<\/span>Word Count: <\/b>1,801
\n<\/span>Summary:<\/b> Ray has been in the doldrums, but Jeremy knows just the thing to get his Mate back to his usual energetic self.
\n<\/span>Disclaimer:<\/b> Except for the work noted as being originally mine, all works of fiction and characters thereof belong to their original creators\/studios\/producers\/publishers. No money is being earned, and they are used without permission. Beta by Grammarly.<\/span><\/p>\n