Chapter 15 -- Finale
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Max only realised that he was asleep when the dense infinite darkness of unconsciousness slowly gave way to swirling lights and colours. He could hear dull noises around him, but couldn't make out what they were saying. He was just aware that things were happening around him, but he couldn't quite get his brain to focus on any one thing or even open his eyes. He tried to push himself to break out of the state of unconsciousness, but the little strength he could muster wasn't enough and the dizziness from exertion made him pass out again, the darkness filling his vision once more.
The dreams were wild and confusing. Max didn't know where or even what he was. At times he ran on all fours, other times he saw himself walking on his hind legs, or two feet as he had known them in his past human existence. The images swirled and changed, his body becoming muddled and his sense of self uncertain. At times, people talked to him from above like a pet, other times at eye level like people in conversation. He drank water from a bowl on the floor in one dream and ate dinner at a table in another. An owner walked him on a leash in one scene, and his husband held his hand while walking in the next. The images flashed before him in a quick succession, too fast to take in, whizzing by at the rate of his heart beat, until they melded into a bright light and he realised the light was sunshine.
Max's eyes were slowly opening and they soon adjusted to the brightness that was the morning light streaming in through the window. Turning his head, he gathered his bearings. He lay in a bed, all too clinical to be his own bed at home. No, it was a hospital bed. The sterile room came into existence around him: the fluorescent overhead lights, the linoleum floor, the blinds on the windows. On the bedside locker were flowers and cards with cartoons and messages of 'Get Well Soon'.
'So, I haven't died,' Max thought with relief, suddenly aware of the pains and aches in his body. He reached up with his paw and touched his head, wincing at the brightness of the room. He rubbed his hair, feeling his fingers pass through his mop of hair. 'Ugh', he groaned.
'Wait,' he said aloud and nearly jumped out of bed from the surprise of a human word tumbling from his mouth. 'Hair? Fingers? Speech?' his thoughts took him a minute to process and put the pieces together.
He threw his hands in front of his face, gazing at them. Yes, indeed! They were hands. Human hands! Not fur-covered paws. Turning them over, he gazed at his skin, his lovely skin he hadn't seen in ages. He passed his hands down along his arms, the human appendages a welcoming sight.
'I'm human again!' Max thought as he checked out his old body, human chest, torso, legs, face, ears, nose. His human dick a sight for sore eyes! He could've leapt for joy if he weren't so fatigued. Now that he thought about it, he laughed at how slow it had taken him to realise he was back to his old self. 'I mean, a dog in a hospital bed?' he chuckled to himself. He breathed in the air. It seemed a lot less exciting than when he had dog smell. But the colours of the room and view outside the window were a lot more vibrant. He had to rest his head against the pillow after a while. Adjusting back to his old senses was overwhelming. Sleep soon took over again.
When Max woke again, the light was a lot more bearable. The sun was beginning to dip ahead of sunset. He could process his surroundings better now. The air was more breathable, the light less blinding, the colours less dizzying, he was more at home in his human body. His strength had returned a bit, though little grunts escaped his throat when he moved too much.
He looked around and spotted a figure asleep on one of the seats beside the bed, all wrapped up in a very uncomfortable-looking position. Who knows how they managed to get any sleep? A smile came to Max's face as his gaze rested upon his boyfriend's unconscious face. It had felt like years since he'd woken up to that handsome face.
'Thiago,' Max grumbled, his throat gravelly.
The other man stirred awake and leapt from his chair when he saw that Max was awake.
'Babe, hi! I can't believe you're awake. How are you? I was so worried about you,' Thiago hugged and kissed him in between the stream of questions and comments.
'Shhh, easy. My head,' Max winced at the barrage of noise and affection.
'Sorry,' Thiago's brows were furrowed in worry at overwhelming his boyfriend.
After Thiago had gotten over the initial shock of being reacquainted with his boyfriend, he seemed to settle, and the two men talked about everything that had happened and what had since gone down, never letting go of each other's hands.
Over the next few days, various visitors popped in to see Max as he recovered. His detective partner Chris was, of course, the first. He was recovering from the shot wound in his shoulder and the bite in his arm. They were overjoyed to see that they had both made it out alive. It had been a mission that had almost taken both of them out, but they had survived, just about.
Chris explained that the forensics team had taken the phial from Xander's hands and reproduced the antidote in the lab. Once completed they had given some to Max while he was recovering and soon he reverted back to his old self. Chris himself had been given some to prevent transformation.
Chief Holloway almost made an appearance at the hospital. He wanted to have a stern word with both Max and Chris about undermining the police and detectives by going behind their back and going about their own operation. He quickly followed this up with a personal apology for not believing in the pair and wanted to commend them on their valiant work in taking down the cartel and its leader. The latter gesture had taken both detectives by surprise. The Chief was not one to give any type of thanks or apology, so they were both chuffed.
The Chief went on to explain that as punishment Xander would be spending the rest of his days as a police dog. They hadn't given him the antidote so he had been transformed into a dog, and due to his crimes, he'd be working with detectives to investigate on other cases. The irony of the punishment didn't go unnoticed on Xander's part, but he seemed to be doing well in the K-9 training.
The last of Max's visitors was a blonde man who seemed to be recovering from some deep wounds. He couldn't make out who the man was. That was until a twinkle in the man's warm eyes jogged his memory. It was Hugh, back in human form! Max was glad he had made it out, and was happy to meet Hugh in his old form. They reminisced about their escape plan and what had gone down at the cartel's hideout. Hugh explained that he and the other dogs (now turned back into humans) who had worked for the cartel were to receive sentences for their involvement, but were given some leniency due their help in taking down the cartel. Their sentences were reduced down to community service.
After he had been caught up on the events, Max was ready to go home. He was eventually allowed to be released from hospital and return home. He was never so glad to see his house again: his warm bed, his comfy couch, his photos with Thiago. He relished just cozying up to his boyfriend and wrapped his arms around him as they lay in bed or watched a movie on the couch. He'd take it easy for a while to recover, both physically and mentally. But, as with all detectives, he had an itch that only being out on the streets or working on a case could scratch. He wondered what new adventures Chris and he would get up to...?
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Epilogue
"Max, you better eat all your food. Chris will be here soon," Thiago said from the table, tucking into his dinner. They had invited Chris over for a few drinks. It was the first time Max would be seeing his detective partner since the hospital.
