***

This ... creature, this ... thing, it is the most unusual sight Greg has ever seen. Created for a purpose so it could be a possession, it could have ownership, but it is also alive, a living entity, it is both ugly and magnificent though shouldn't it have some sort of freedom.

It is an animal, so is it ... could it be ... dangerous? Yeah, it may seem docile, though how much of a threat can something unconscious be? After all, how many animals, creatures, like to drink and pass out. It may actually be something more human than what anyone is willing to believe or suggest.

Greg gets as close to Sartorius as he is currently willing to get and crouches a little, just watching this thing rest and breathe ever so gently. There is something very ordinary here as there is really something truly magnificent. Life can be glorious; it can also be cruel. Thing is ... what now? Greg has no idea.

The home landline phone rings suddenly and loud. It startles Greg to a point he almost falls over. It also startles Satorius on some level, he turns in reaction though stays unconscious. Greg watches the animal for a second or two. The phone still rings. He needs to answer, more so to keep the creature from waking than anything else.

'Greg ... they're coming ...'

It's his brother.

'What?'

'They know where Satorius is, don't let them take him ... listen to the music brother, don't let them take him ... listen to the music.'

'Simon ...'

The call ends before Greg can get another word out. And before he can even begin to consider anything, a knock comes to the patio door in the kitchen at the back of the house. Who could that be, especially at this time of day. Greg moves slowly. He sees her through the glass panel as she does see him. He cannot simply just no respond. He can hardly pretend he is not in.

He unlocks the door, and she steps inside as pretty as he has ever seen her, even with the fact that little or no time has literally passed since he last saw her. Katleen is not dressed to look pretty. She is dressed for business, for she means business, did she alter her appearance for him? This is not a social call, as if she has ever paid one of those to Greg. He wishes she had or would but not at this particular moment. It is what is happening that has her here.

'Where is he? Is he here?'

'Is who here?'

'You are too smart to play stupid, Greg. Your brother may have many PHD's, that doesn't mean you lack anything in the smarts category ...'

Footsteps can be heard, the slapping or large bare feet against uncarpeted floor. Sartorius is awake and has manoeuvred himself to be in the company of the other two. This is the first time Greg has seen the creature like this. He is still a creature to him. They have not had any time to bond in a way a man might with a pet. Sartorius is no pet; he is something so much more.

'It's up to you, Greg. Do you think you can care for something, someone like him?'

In utter amazement ... 'he truly is ...'

'Glorious, right?'

The phone call, the listen to the music reference was a reference to tell Greg to listen to his heart and do the right thing. What is the right thing? If there had been time to bond with the animal, then there may be only one response. There had been no bonding. Greg and Katleen lock eyes for a moment before Greg looks back at Satorius. He then turns away. Katleen holds out her right hand.

'Come Satorius, let's go home.'

He goes to her willingly. By the time Greg decides to move, he can do nothing more than find that is once again ... alone. Oh, what could have been. He did listen to the music, not in the way his brother may hoped, still, things are how they are.

Oh, I listen to the music ... all the time ...

A couple weeks pass, and Kathleen is in a discussion with a little girl named Sarah, who has her parents either side of her. There is a new experimental treatment Kathleen is hoping to trial on Sarah, all going well it will improve her immune system and it is a matter for this discussion to decide if the trial should go ahead ...