From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   "Oh man, YES!  The Vet recommended I get carriers for them but I hate the   
   thought of putting them back in cages after just getting them out.  Won't they   
   be all right just on leashes?"   
      
   "Leashes will be fine to walk them to and from the car but you never know how   
   an animal will act in a car.  It might be a distraction to your driving."    
   Walter explained.   
      
   "Lady was calm enough when we had her in the car.  Maybe she'll be an   
   influence on Rags."   
      
   "Lady was seriously injured and out of it.  However, she does seem to be a lot   
   calmer than Rags.  But they are going to be as excited as you are to take them   
   out of there.  Maybe you could secure the leashes somewhere in the back seat."   
      
   "That's a good idea.  I hadn't thought of that.  You have a lot of good ideas   
   about dogs.  I guess you've had a lot of them over the years?"   
      
   "We always had them around the farm.  I haven't had one since I left home   
   though."   
      
   "I'd really appreciate it if you could come along with me to bring them home.    
   Now that it's almost here, I'm terrified."   
      
   "Nothing to be afraid of.  They are just animals and all they really need to   
   make them happy is food, a warm place to sleep and someone to care about them."   
      
   "I can hardly wait to get them home.  I'm going nuts here.  Do you have any   
   plans for the evening?  Would you like to grab a bite to eat?  My treat for   
   helping me get the dogs home."   
      
   "I could eat."  Walter answered and mentally kicked himself for sounding so   
   eager.  This was Alex Krycek he had to keep reminding himself.     
      
   "Great!  What do you feel like – Italian, Chinese, Mexican, steaks?"   
      
   "Actually I was thinking about Italian myself."  Walter looked at the red   
   Stouffer's Spaghetti box in his hand and put it back into the freezer.   
      
   "Italian it is."  Alex agreed.   
      
   "I'll pick you up."  Walter said as he hurried up stairs to change.  "There's   
   a great place over on west Sullivan Street.  Not all that far from you."   
      
   "Maria's?  I've been there!  I love their food!"   
      
   "Yeah, that's the place.  What time?"  Walter asked as he was going through   
   his closet deciding what to wear.   
      
   "Soon as you can get here.  I'm starving!"   
      
   "Great.  I'll be there in thirty minutes."   
      
   "I'll be out front waiting."   
      
      
   Walter cursed silently as he pulled over to the curb and took his wallet out   
   and lowered his window and handed his driver's license and I.D. to the young   
   traffic cop.   
      
   "Oh, gee, I'm sorry, Sir."  He handed them back to Walter.  "It's Friday night   
   and we get a lot of speeders out here.  Just be careful."    
      
   Walter put them back in his pocket and took off now cursing himself for   
   driving like a teenager on his way to a hot date.  This was not a date!  This   
   was just two hungry people going out to dinner – it certainly wasn't a date.    
   He looked in the mirror    
   and checked his chin at the next stop light to make sure he hadn't missed any   
   whiskers with his quick run over with the razor.  Not that it was necessary.    
   He was not out on a date.  He was just going to get some dinner.  That was all.   
      
   Alex was out front as promised and Walter couldn't still his reaction to the   
   smile that greeted him.  He leaned over and opened the door, Alex got in and   
   they headed for Maria's.  The aroma assailed them as they entered and they   
   were engulfed with dim    
   lights, tinkling dinnerware and the murmur of low conversations.  Somewhere in   
   the background he could hear some romantic ballads being played.   
      
   They were seated and opened their menus.  In minutes they were sipping wine   
   and waiting for their food.   
      
   "I can hardly wait for tomorrow morning.  It seemed so far away when I first   
   made the decision to adopt the dogs and now all the sudden here it is."   
      
   "Having second thoughts?"   Walter asked.   
      
   "No!  Not at all.  I'm just … anxious about it.  I want it so bad … and I   
   don't usually get the things I want.  I'm not used to things working out the   
   way I want them to."   
      
   "Well, it's a new life you've started.  Maybe all that will change."   
      
   "Oh, I hope so – especially where the dogs are concerned.  I dreamed of having   
   a couple of dogs but I always thought I'd have a house first."   
      
   "Still no luck in that department?"   
      
   "Not really.  I did find one that I really liked that had a big back yard but   
   it would be a forty-five minute drive to work each morning.  If I took that, I   
   wouldn't have time to take them out for morning walks before I left for work –   
   it would be dark    
   outside."   
      
   "If they had that big back yard you probably wouldn't have to take them for a   
   morning walk.  They would get enough exercise out in the yard.  Was it fenced   
   in?"   
      
   "Yeah, it was.  I hadn't thought of that.  You mean I could leave them outside   
   in the yard all day?"   
      
   "You could – as long as you had some shelter for them to get in out of the   
   weather."   
      
   "It had a big screened-in back porch.  Maybe I could prop the screen door   
   open?"   
      
   "Or get a doggie door just to give them access to the porch."   
      
   "That would be great!  Where do I get a doggie door; Home Depot?"   
      
   "You could probably pick one up at a pet store.  I don't know if Home Depot   
   carries that sort of thing but they shouldn't be that hard to find.  That way   
   the dogs would have shelter and you could still keep your house locked up   
   tight."   
      
   "That's a great idea!  I'm thinking I might have to take another look at that   
   place.  Want to come with me?"   
      
   The food was served then and conversation turned to their dinner which was   
   delicious and exactly to their liking.  After they finished they lingered over   
   another glass of wine before leaving.  Once out front of Alex' apartment they   
   chatted for a moment.   
      
   "You want to come in for a nightcap?"  Alex invited.   
      
   "No, I'd better not.  The wine was enough for tonight."  Walter answered.   
      
   "OK.  I'll see you in the morning then – early?"   
      
   "Is nine early enough?"   
      
   "Yeah – that'll be fine.  I can't believe that I'm finally going to bring them   
   home."   
      
   "Try and get some sleep.  Tomorrow will be a busy day."  Walter smiled at   
   Alex' continued eagerness.   
      
   "I will.  Try, I mean.  I doubt I'll sleep much." Alex said and then if just   
   remembering, he turned to Walter and added, "Thanks for coming to dinner with   
   me."   
      
   "It was my pleasure.  I never turn down pasta in any way, shape or form."   
      
   "I'll have to remember that."  Alex said with a smile.  He reached over and   
   gave Walter's arm a gentle squeeze and said, "Good night," and got out of the   
   car.   
      
   Walter swallowed hard and called "Good night," after him.  He watched Alex   
   unlock his door and go inside before he started the car and drove off.     
      
   What the hell was he doing?  He argued with himself.  This was Alex Krycek!    
   Not someone you go have dinner with.  He must be out of his mind!  Alex Krycek   
   – the last person on this earth that he'd want to get friendly with.  Yet here   
   he was, wishing he'   
   d gone inside for that nightcap.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)