Jenner walked up and down his
room, swinging his cloak over his right arm. He paused to take a look out of
the window. It overlooked the Valley, but most of all; ‘the Castle'. He was so
close to his daughter, so close that he could almost taste her scent. But he
had to be patient, otherwise his plan would fail. His plan to have his daughter
back with him. Being so close to her made him feel frustrated so bad that he had
taken it out of his new wife; Gloria. Yesterday he completely lost it. Gloria
just told him that she was expecting a child, but Jenner doesn't want a new
child, he only wants his daughter. Gloria said he should let go of Wendy, to
concentrate on the new unborn baby. When she spoke the words Jenner had hit her
so hard that she had to be treated in the improvised infirmary. He didn't
regret his action. He didn't care about Gloria. Not even while it was her who
rescued him in the first place. She was part of a barn-rat colony. Jenner was
taken to the barn where he was treated for his injuries. So was Sullivan, but
the bastard didn't want to join the new army. Even though the barn-rats weren't
at all as huge as the Rats of NIMH and half as intelligent, they were vicious,
mean and had an everlasting taste for blood. But Jenner's position wasn't at
all as strong as he hoped it would be. By hitting Gloria he made himself rather
unpopular. He just didn't realize that yet....

 

Wendy and Justin stayed in bed
until late in the morning. They made up their argument and experienced a
wonderful night full of passion, love and tenderness. During their wonderful
night they had forgotten everything around them. But screams in the Hallway
brought them back to earth in an instant.

‘What was that?' Wendy whispered.

‘Stay here, I'll check it out.'
Justin whispered. He put on his bathrobe, took his knife and slowly opened the
door. 

‘Oh my God, not again.' He
muttered and started running.

 

‘Sorry Justin, he didn't make it.'
Gabriel was washing his hands after endlessly tried to bring Simon back to
life. The young sentry guard had been totally taken by surprise. He was stabbed
in the back... several times.

Justin took a deep breath and
shook his head. He was wearing his dark brown uniform again and he was leaning
on Simon's bed. Gabriel had already pulled the blanket over Simon's face.
Justin suddenly felt a squeeze in his shoulder. Brutus stood next to him and
without saying a word, they mourned they're respected friend.

 

A while later Brutus and Justin
took a walk outside. Wendy stayed at Arthur's, as did the Brisby family, so
Justin was able to breath for a while. Brutus was doing a lot better and wanted
to go back to work as soon as possible.

‘Over my dead body.' Justin said,
but he was smiling.

‘Then I guess that is a ‘no'.'
Brutus teased.

‘Oh, that's a ‘NO' alright.'
Justin answered casually.

‘So, how's Mrs. King?' Brutus
said, changing the subject.

‘She's fine, but far too careless
to my opinion.' Justin sighed.

‘Careless?' Brutus asked.

‘Well, yeah... she's just
rebellious....' Justin answered.

‘Don't talk to me about women....'
Brutus said and he started smiling.

‘Women?' Justin said. ‘I guess we
are talking about other women besides Mrs. King, now are we?' Justin teased.

‘Actually... Justin, can you keep a
secret?'

‘Sure!' Justin said with a naughty
smile on his face.

‘Swear it!' Brutus said, pointing
his finger on Justin.

‘I Justin, swear it on the eyes of
my beautiful wife.' Justin said while he was trying not to smile, putting to fingers
in the air.

‘Okay... okay, you've proved enough.
I'm in love.'

‘I kind of figured that out.'
Justin said.

‘Oh... right... well, Isabella has
been seeing me a lot lately. I thought she was just there because she's
interested in an internship in the infirmary, which she is, but... she's actually
interested in ME! Can you believe it?' Brutus yelled with open arms, but
immediately grabbed his injured area.

‘Careful now, you wouldn't want to
die before your first kiss, now would you?'

‘We've already kissed... a lot.'
Brutus said with a blush on his face.

‘Wow... it took me over ten years
before I dared to kiss Wendy!' Justin said with large eyes.

‘Well... yeah, I guess things went
quick between us, but we are both ready for this adventure.'

‘I'm really happy for you my
friend. I wouldn't quite say that you are the perfect match, but hey... who am
I?' Justin said and he gave his friend a wink. ‘Shall we get back inside? To
our women?'

 

Brutus went up to Isabella's
family, while Justin walked up to Nanny's and Arthur's room.

‘Is it true that Simon died?'
Justin was so overloaded with questions that he didn't even had the chance to
say ‘hi'.

‘Eh... yeah, he did. Gabriel did
everything he could, but it was too late.'

Wendy got up and embraced Justin.
She took his hand and placed it on her stomach.

‘She's been really active today.'
She softly said.

Justin smiled at her as he felt
the movement of the baby. ‘I guess we are going to have our hands full with the
little guy.' 

‘You really think she's
going to be a he, huh?' Wendy teased.

‘I'm convinced of the fact that
this is a boy.' Justin whispered.

‘Sorry to break this happy family
up, guys... but we have serious problems here.' Arthur said.

Justin nodded and kissed Wendy's
forehead.

‘You couldn't be more right,
Arthur. I have a few plans to help put an end to this.'

‘Well, shoot!' Arthur said and the
two men sat down to talk things through.

 

‘So... what kind of plans did you
come up with?' Wendy asked. She and Justin were back in their room again.

Justin looked at Wendy and gave
her a wink. ‘Don't worry, I'm not planning to lock you up anymore. Arthur and I
decided NOT to use sentry guards anymore. Families will be responsible for
themselves. Nicodemus will be staying with us and the Brisby's will stay with
Nanny and Arthur, just in case.'

Wendy nodded but gasped for air.
‘What about Isabella's family? She only got a mother and a little sister!'

Justin looked at Wendy with a
naughty smile on his face. ‘Don't worry Sweetness, Brutus will cover that.'

‘Brutus? Is he completely cured
yet?' Wendy softly wondered.

‘Oh yes, he's cured alright.'
Justin laughed.

‘What? Brutus and Isabella's
mother?'

‘Nope... Brutus and Izzy herself.'
Justin said with a huge grin on his face.

‘Brutus and Isabella? No way...
Could it be?

‘You'd better believe it.' Justin
said and he added: ‘But don't tell anyone. It's a secret.'

‘My lips are completely sealed.'
Wendy said and she kissed Justin softly on his lips. ‘But still I wonder... If
Brutus wants it to be a secret, then why did you tell me?'

‘You're my wife, I'm supposed to
tell you.' Justin whispered and he returned Wendy's kiss.

‘This plan of yours... does that
mean that we get to spend more time together?' Wendy softly asked.

Justin nodded and gently stroke
through her neck fur. ‘Yeah, but we won't be alone....'

‘I think it's great that Nicodemus
will stay with us.' She said and ran her fingers through his neck- and chest
fur.