As I took off my belts near the front door, Denise walked to the kitchen to heat up some water for me to bathe with, using an electric heating element run by a car battery. I asked Denise “Where are your mom’s dogs?”

“They’re in the side yard on the other side of the house in the dog run. Whatever this is has made them grow larger and there’s not enough room for six overgrown Chihuahuas to be constantly in the house.”

“Good, I said. I have a small surprise for you in the van.”

“Van, Denise asked. Since when do you have a van?”

“We took it from a couple guys once we got into town, I replied. They were up to no good, started making trouble in the neighborhood,” I added in song with a big grin.

“Haha, smart guy’s a rhymer. Denise said sarcastically. Ok, what’s in the van?"

"You'll see," I replied, and headed out the kitchen door.

When I returned, I was preceded by Dog, who strode into the kitchen. The first thing I heard was a loud intake of breath by Denise with a giddy “OH. MY. GAWD.”

Chad’s response was quite different, hearing a panicked “OH SWEET JESUS.” Chad and Frank had moved into the living room and were sitting down talking. Frank, presumably telling Chad of our journey over the last two days.

Frank started laughing telling Chad “it’s ok, he’s tame.”

Dog instantly walked to Denise wagging his tail and trying to lick her face as she bent down to hug him. I just slapped my hand over my face saying, “holy hell, I knew this was going to happen.”

"What?" Denise asked.

“You know, just yesterday that guy was a feral dingo trying to attack me for the goose I was prepping for dinner. Thankfully I have a tame animal spell and got him under control. And now he’s acting like a lap dog that only has eyes for you.”

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“Well?” was Denise’s only response as she grinned up at me.

“Look, he’s a working dog and you’re not going to steal this one like you did my first working dog I had on duty. And he will never sleep in our bed. You see this?” I said as I stomped my foot. “I’m putting my foot down.”

“Your water should be warm enough, go clean up. Your clothes are already in the bathroom. This little guy will stay here with me for a bit.”

“LITTLE, I exaggerated. That guy is a horse.”

“Same difference.” Denise replied. Knowing I was defeated, I walked down the hallway to the bathroom and got undressed.

Sure enough, as promised there was a change of socks and underwear folded on the bathroom counter. There was also a black t-shirt and my black BDU’s. I just shook my head. “That woman really knows me,” I said to myself smiling. I finished getting undressed and stepped into the shower. In what is referred to as a navy shower in the military, I used a little bit of water to wet my hair and body and soaped up. Using the rest of the water, I poured it over myself rinsing the soap off my body and out of my hair. I stepped out of the shower, dried off and started dressing again.

The whole time in the shower couldn’t have lasted more than five minutes. However, when I returned to the kitchen, there were two sandwiches and a coke waiting for me on the table. Frank, likewise, was eating a sandwich in the living room. My belts, along with my tactical vest were sitting on a chair next to the table. I looked over to my wife and said, “You take care of me so well, what would I do without you?” I looked over to the floor by the sink and found Dog sitting there eating a big ham bone. “Probably would have a loyal working dog for one,” I finished in a lower voice.

“Oh, you love it,” Denise said as she chuckled to herself.

“You know I do baby,” I answered with a grin.

As I sat down to eat, Denise asked, "You didn’t tell me what you named him.”

“Dog,” I replied.

“Oh Jesus fucking hell, John Wayne? Seriously,” Denise chided.

I started laughing hard “got it in one,” I said as I choked on my sandwich.

“I knew you’d name him something like that.” She replied,

“Well, it’s better than naming a cat after the movie Top Gun,” I responded.

“Hey, Denise said. Maverick is an adorable boy.”

“Yes he is, he’s a pretty pretty princess.” I agreed, chuckling.