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Nathan had always prided himself for being a strong husky, both physically and emotionally. But nothing broke him down easier than when it came to family matters. Like talking to his father.

Nathan was currently on the couch with the phone in paw, visibly shaking in anticipation. Luckily, Anders had always gone to work so he wouldn't have to see him like this. He knew what his father was like when Anders was involved. He just hoped it didn't come to that. Steeling himself, the husky gingerly dialed his father's number and waited. Part of him hoped he wouldn't pick up, but he knew he would. Even if it was only six in the morning, his father was an early riser.

Someone picked up on the third ring. "Hello?" The thick gravelly voice of his father sounded through the phone.

Nathan gulped. There was another 'hello?' from his father before he managed to speak. "Hi, Dad."

He could almost hear the older husky's eyes narrow on the other side. "Why have you called, Nathan?"

Still hard as ever. "I heard about what happened to Mom," he began.

His father waited for him to continue. "And?"

"I -" He stuttered. Jesus, get it together Nate. "I was wondering when our little memorial get-together for Mom is going to be. We always do one, right?"

There was an awful silence on the other end. Nathan almost thought he had hung up before he finally did reply. "Are you still with that wolf?"

Nathan's heart dropped as he sighed inwardly. It seemed the subject of Anders was unavoidable when it came to his father. "He's a coyote. And yes, we're still married."

He heard a 'hmm' of disappointment before he got his reply. "You're not coming."

Nathan shot up straight in his seat. "Wait, what? Why not?"

"You know exactly why." His father snapped. "This event is supposed to be a happy and peaceful time for everyone. I won't have you disturbing that peace with your...ways."

"What ways? I won't be disturbing anyone," Nathan protested. "I just love my Mom and want to come remember her with my family -"

"If you really loved her, or any of us, you wouldn't have become infatuated with that wolf," his father argued. "You're a disgrace to the family and therefore you will not be attending! That's final, Nathan."

"He's a coyote! And what do you have against him?" Nathan shot back. He had heard all of this before from his father, and it never failed to set him off. "He's done nothing wrong and neither have I! We're both just living our lives and nothing more!"

"I have told you time and time again, Nathan, I don't like your...lifestyle choices," said his father. He never seemed to want to say the word 'gay.' "I tried to squash it out of you when you were young, but then you went off to college and completely wasted my efforts. You're what, thirty-seven? Thirty-eight? Start acting like it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nathan demanded. "What have I done wrong? What have I actually done wrong?"

His father sighed. "Still so childish. Your mother would be ashamed."

"Mom loved me," replied Nathan. "She's the only one who ever did. And I want to come pay my respects one last time."

"You. Are not. Coming!" His father snapped.

"How come? Are you really going to refuse your own son from attending a family event?" Nathan inquired.

The older husky fell silent once again. After a moment, he stated, "You're not my son." He hung up.

Nathan froze. Gripped the phone tight. Processed his father's final statement while the disconnect tone droned in his ear. His paws clenched tight ad began shaking again as his eyes filled with tears.

He broke down sobbing on the couch, the phone lying forgotten on the floor. It had finally happened. He had been shunned from his family, as he had feared for the longest time. He had almost expected it, but now that it happened...he wasn't sure what to do. He didn't know what to do.

Nathan wasn't sure how much time had passed when his crying finally ceased. He looked up and his eyes caught the fridge in the kitchen. A beer suddenly seemed very inviting to him. The husky shook his head. No, he shouldn't. He had promised Anders he would cut that habit; plus, he needed to leave for work soon. But considering what he had just went through...

A beer or two wouldn't hurt...

.......................................

"Are you sure you didn't smell anything?"

"No, nothing. It was probably just mouthwash or something," Zack suggested as he and Charlie entered the cafeteria together. After gym, Charlie had told him he smelled alcohol on Coach Salt's breath, but Zack thought that was ridiculous. It wasn't like the coach to show up drunk; he wouldn't do such a thing.

"That was not mouthwash," Charlie insisted, grimacing. "And even if it was, the freshness would have worn off by now anyway."

"Charlie, I really don't think he looked drunk," said Zack as they sat down.

"I didn't say he was drunk," Charlie responded. "I just said he smelled."

"Look, if we discuss this much longer, a rumor might start. Let's talk about something else," suggested Zack.

"Fine..."

Zack pulled out some folded sheets of paper. "Remember when I suggested doing a collaboration for the art show?"

Charlie perked up at that. "Yeah."

"I did some sketches to come up with some ideas." He handed them to the wolf. "Tell me what you think."

Charlie had only just unfolded the paper when they were interrupted by the arrival of Jamie. "Hey guys - oh crap!" The cat accidentally bumped Zack and spilled his milk all over the sketches in Charlie's paws.

Zack saw this and jumped up, fuming. "Hey, watch where you're going, cat!"

Jamie stammered and backed away. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't -"

"Look what you did!" Zack interrupted, gesturing toward the now soaked papers. "You -"

"Zack, it's okay!" Charlie cut in. "Really, it's fine."

"It's not fine," Zack argued, never taking his glare off of Jamie. "He ruined our sketches."

"Your sketches," Charlie corrected him. "It's not a big deal - Zack!" Zack continued to advance on Jamie, getting into his personal space. He suddenly felt someone grab his shoulder and spin him around. Before he knew it, Charlie had given him a quick peck on the lips and sat down again looking embarrassed.

The kiss was just enough to take his mind off Jamie. "What was that for?"

"I just wanted you to stop being so angry," said Charlie with a blush. "Please just sit down?"

Zack glanced back at Jamie, who still looked scared, then shrugged and complied. "That wasn't fair. Although," he said teasingly. "If that's what happens every time I get angry, I might have to do it more often."

"Don't count on it," Charlie grumbled. He looked up at Jamie, and Brandon and Lonny who had just arrived and seemed hesitant to approach. "You can come sit down, guys. We're fine."

"If you say so," Jamie said nervously as he and his friends sat down.

"Are you sure this isn't a bad time?" Brandon inquired. Then in a joking manner, he added, "You sure he'll stay on his leash?"

Leash?! I'm no dog! Zack opened his muzzle to retort, but Charlie cut in again. "Let's drop it, okay? What'd everyone do this weekend?"

"Not much," Jamie replied. "I'll be working on a couple articles for the school newspaper, but that's about it."

Boring. Zack started eating his lunch with disinterest.

"You seem really invested in the newspaper," Charlie observed. "Do you think you'll make a career of it one day?"

"I hope so," said Jamie. "I'm gonna do journalism in college, so I'd hope to get a good job with it. How about you? What do you want to do?"

Charlie responded, "Not sure, really. I might do something with art. I dunno."

Zack chose this moment to speak up. "Well, whatever you do, make sure it's something you enjoy. Not point doing it if you don't like it."

Charlie chuckled. "What are you, my dad?"

Zack shivered. "Don't remind me..."

Charlie nudged him. "Oh come on, I was just joking."

"I know. I'm just still not sure if he likes me or not," said Zack. "Speaking of which, do you think he'll still let you come over on Saturdays?"

"I don't see why not," Charlie replied thoughtfully. "He hasn't said anything about it, so I assume so."

"Cool," Zack approved. "The fitness test is coming up soon after all. You think you're ready for it?"

Charlie snorted. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"That bad, huh? Maybe I'll have to start working you extra hard when we train."

Charlie must have gotten the wrong idea because he promptly started coughing into his drink. Jamie groaned. "Come on guys, get a room."

"I didn't mean it like that," Zack insisted.

"I know, but...I know what you were thinking," said Jamie. "Ew."

Zack kept going. "That's not what I -"

"Zack, it's fine," Charlie sighed. "Jamie, what's it like writing for the newspaper? Does it take a lot of time or...?"

Zack tuned them out as they continued to converse amongst themselves. Meanwhile, his mind returned to his previous exchange with Charlie. The wolf didn't seem all that confident that he was going to pass the fitness test. According to Coach Salt, he had improved a by considerable amount, but was it enough to pass? Perhaps he could just ask...

Zack got up. Charlie noticed and watched him pleadingly. "Zack, come on..."

"I'm not mad," Zack reassured him. "I just need to check on something. I'll be back, I promise."

"Okay..." Charlie replied confusedly. Zack could feel his worried gaze on him as he strode out of the cafeteria.

.........................

The gym was empty when Zack arrived, alleviating his doubts that the coach might have a class during this lunch period. Then it occurred to him that maybe the coach was having his own lunch elsewhere. However, the faint sound of talking from within his office confirmed that he was indeed present. Zack walked over to the closed doors to hear Coach Salt talking to someone on the phone.

"No, I didn't swipe a beer from the fridge," Coach Salt was saying gruffly. "You'd have known if I did...no, I promised you I'd stop doing that. Yes...no. Andy c'mon, listen. Do you trust me or not?"

Zack frowned at the conversation. It seemed like a very personal discussion. Perhaps he should leave? Why was he still here eavesdropping?

"Andy, please stop pestering me about this...what are you doing home anyway?" A sigh. "Listen, can we talk about this later? I'm still at work. Yes, I promise we'll talk about it. Bye." The phone clicked back into place, followed by another frustrated sigh.

Realizing he was now effectively lurking behind the coach's door, Zack knocked firmly three times. He heard the coach's chair squeak as he got up and the door opened, revealing a shockingly frazzled Coach Salt. Or perhaps 'frazzled' wasn't the right word. The large husky seemed...deflated, as if having a bad day or having gotten little sleep the previous night.

"Oh, Zack," the coach said in surprise. "Can I help you?"

There was a stern quality to Salt's voice that he had never heard before. "Uh, yeah," Zack replied. "It's about Charlie."

Salt's muzzle screwed in contemplation. "Charlie...what?"

"Chance Argent," Zack corrected.

Salt blinked. "Oh. Oh! What about him?"

"I remember you said he's improved in class, but I was wondering if it was enough," Zack explained. "Do you think he's good to pass the test?"

Salt nodded. "Yes, he should pass the test. I've got his notes here." The coach turned around to find something in his office, and that's when Zack smelled it. Just before the husky turned, there was a wave of rancidness that permeated the air, one that greatly offended the jackal's sniffer. Zack managed to cover up his gasp of disgust with a cough into his arm.

That's definitely alcohol.

Zack shook off the feeling and stood alert when the coach returned with a clipboard. The husky flipped it over and showed him his notes, little numbers depicting Charlie's improvement.

"He's improved noticeably since you started training him," Salt stated. "Like I've said before, your assistance is definitely helping."

"So you'd say he's on track to pass the test?" Zack inquired.

Coach Salt nodded. And then said nothing. He just continued to stare, waiting for a response.

Zack scrambled for a response. "Cool," he said lamely. Normally, the coach was a lot more talkative about his students, but his silence had caught the jackal off guard. "And...he's got a good grade in the class as well?" Wait, is he even allowed to tell me that?

Salt nodded again, and kept staring. The coach was certainly acting very strange.

Zack had to ask. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, it's fine," came the short, unconvincing reply.

Another cloud of alcohol-breath attacked his nose, and Zack had to cough again to try and stay polite. "Okay, well...I should probably get back to lunch anyway..."

"Okay," Salt responded simply. "No problem. Have a good one."

Zack gratefully stepped back from the coach's offending breath. "Yeah, you too."

Coach Salt stepped back into his office and closed the door without another word. Zack exited the gym bewildered. That have been extremely awkward. Coach Salt was usually enthusiastic and full of energy, but now he seemed like a completely different person. And Charlie had been right; the coach reeked of booze. Zack had a feeling that something was terribly wrong with Coach Salt.

He owed Charlie an apology. And perhaps Coach Salt as well.

Should I have asked what was wrong?