"Wakey wakey." I looked up at Roland's voice.

"What time is it?"

"7 o'clock."

I sat up and Roland smiled offering me a cup. "Thanks." I said as I took the hot coffee.

"What do you think you will be doing if that car is still broken?"

"Paperwork probably."

He sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. "Something wrong?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "I can't hide my relief at you being behind a desk."

"Roland I got stabbed while I was at work once..."

"Even now in this place, you could be stabbed" I nodded. "I can't stand the idea of you being hurt again."

"I always wear my vest, Roland. What more could I do?"

He sighed. "I know.. I've made the chief a cake, don't forget to take it with you."

He stood. "You opening the shop today?"

"Of course. We can't afford to live off you bring in."

He left the room and after a few minutes, I heard the door to the flat. I sighed finishing my drink then got up had a shower, ate the breakfast Rolland made me and got ready for work. I was just about to leave when the phone rang.

I sighed turning back to answer it. "Hello?"

"Maverick I'm glad I caught you before you left."

I rolled my eyes looking at the clock. It's half 8... I'm going to be late. "Janna, what do you need?"

"We have run out of some things. Can you pick them up on the way in?"

I grabbed the sticky notes by the phone and the pen. "Alright, what do we need?"

"Teabags, milk, sugar and if you can... some biscuits?"

I chuckled. "Chief ate them again huh. Right, I'll see you there."

"You're a sweetheart! Bye."

I took the sticky note, and my keys and I left the house. The shop is in the opposite direction to the police station which meant arriving at work after doing some shopping, I was late.

The chief looked up from his report saying. "You're late!"

"Sorry chief I was picking up supplies."

He grinned at me. "Did you get the good biscuits?"

I left one of the bags on the desk. "Something better."

He opened it smiling. "Your brother makes the best cake."

"Yes, he does. Is old Betty ready for pickup?"

He shook his head. "Nope, you're on desk duty."

I stood up from putting the milk away. "I don't know whether to be relieved or disappointed."

The chief laughed. "Old Betty isn't that bad, I used to drive her. She is always given to the newbies in this force. It gets them used to the idea we don't have much." I put my things away and sat at the desk. "Well, I'm off to do that welfare check."

"On who?"

The chief picked up the key to the newest car. "That odd lady with the dog. We had someone call us saying she was unwell."

"I saw her yesterday and she seemed fine."

The chief nodded. "Anything I need to know?"

"Be nice to her dog and she will be more friendly. Other than that no." He nodded and left the station.

I started the paperwork for the work I'd done yesterday. After an hour the chiefs voice crackled over the radio. "Welfare check done she's fine. She was sitting on the porch, she thought Edith called us."

Janna picked up the mic. "How is she?"

"Tired by the look of her. She says she's not ill, but she looked sick to me. She assured me she is going to the doctor tomorrow."

Janna smiled. "That's good. Speaking of Edith..."

"Yer yer, on my way."

That was the last we heard from the chief on the radio. The day passed slowly with my whole world being the glowing rectangle of the CRT monitor in front of me. Reports and solitaire are my only work. I watched the clock tick away the minutes as the boredom set in. It was almost a relief when it was time to leave, almost.

Roland walked into the reception area. "Roland, what are you doing here?" Janna said coming back to her seat.

"Inventory day, I thought I'd pick my brother up."

Janna smiled at me and I walked out the back. "How's the shop doing?"

"I always wanted a pet supply shop, now I own one I can say I had no idea it was so much work."

Janna laughed. "Can't be that bad. You have staff to help you."

"True. Better than picking up my brother off the floor, bleeding."

"Yer. That was once Roland! " I yelled from the back. I walked out to the reception area. "Ready to go?" I asked.

Roland was smiling as I made my way past the desk. "Come on let's get Chinese on the way home," Roland said rubbing his hands together.

I smiled back at him. "Night Janna."

"Night you two, enjoy your dinner."

I sat inside trying to read my book after the policeman left. I had slept only an hour before I woke up finding Burt barking at me. I'd tried reading on the porch and the police had interrupted me, so I'd moved inside. Brut was whimpering and pacing.

I put my book down and Burt stopped his whimpering I sighed and picked up the phone. I called the taxi service to take me and Burt to the next town over. Burt sighed as I hung up the phone. "Better now?" He whimpered. "Dinner and bed I think." Burt barked and I stood.

We ate and went to bed. Burt jumped on the bed and laid his head on my chest. He whimpered again.

"Will you stop that, I'm fine. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow." Burt sighed again and I tickled his ears. "I know. You're just worried about me." He grumbled in answer.

Sleep was slow in coming, but when it did it was restful with Burt next to me.

***

He moved and I woke up. It was dawn and Burt was looking down at me. "Don't you dare."

He wagged his tail and I knew he was going to do it anyway. He licked my face and I squealed. He jumped off the bed and darted downstairs.

"Oh, you bugger." I grumbled as I sat up.

I went downstairs made breakfast for us and opened the front door. Burt darted out and started chasing a squirrel. "Burt, leave him alone will you."

Burt looked at me and ran at me. "I swear you act too much like a puppy sometimes." He grumbled and I stroked his head. "You're allowed to have fun yes. I know you have to be on your best behaviour today but..."

He whined at me giving me a sad look. "Eat your breakfast then you can play until the taxi gets here." He barked and I put his bowl in front of him. "And don't guzzle that ether." He huffed and ate slower.

I ate slowly watching Burt play. I kept half an eye on the time, and when I had only an hour left I got myself ready. When I was done I saw the taxi making its way up the road. "Burt come get your harness on." He trotted up to me and put his harness on.

I walked up to the taxi. "Is that your dog?" I nodded. "He has to go in the boot."

"He is a service dog. He can't do his job from the boot." The driver sighed and agreed like it was all a big trouble.

I got in the back with Burt. We started the long journey to the next town over.