Ocar-

I was ready when they came for me. Three doctors were present, one to play the good guy and the other two held electric poles. I didn't suspect that Parker would bother to use his, but I knew that the other doctor, the one that I'd overheard earlier, would gladly knock me out if I gave him a reason. 

My temper had died down a little once Callem had left, but I was still seething that he would even think to care about such a worthless human. Not worthless. He can help Fri if he really wanted to, or if Hice made him. He was nothing besides a body that knew how to heal and hurt. Once he healed Fri, if he could even do that, I pray that Hice would just kill him. 

"We need to do that exam I told you about earlier. Would you mind coming with us please, Ocar?" Parker said as he offered a small smile. He held his weapon lazily by his side. Clearly, it was off, or he'd be zapping himself as it brushed against his pants. 

I thank you for showing your trust to try and make me feel more relaxed, but I will be dangerous if I'm threatened... and if you get in the way, you will get hurt. 

"I would mind, but the choice doesn't seem to be mine." I replied as I stalked toward them, keeping my eyes on the doctor I trusted the least. When I stopped in front of him, he raised his pole a little and nodded toward the door. 

"You will walk in front." I told him as my eyes narrowed. 

The man gave a haughty laugh. "Yeah, right. So you can attack me?" 

Tilting my head, I smirked and crossed my arms over my chest. "You have two other doctors here that you clearly trust, but I don't trust you the most out of all three of you. I'm not stupid, human. I see the hate in you, and I don't want you anywhere near my back." 

The man was about to open his mouth and respond when the other doctor, whose name I didn't know, either, spoke up. "Just walk in front of him, Bart, we had planned to have one of us lead, anyways. And besides, Parker has an electric pole, too. If he tries anything, we can easily take him down." 

Bart. What a boring name. 

"Yeah, right! That guy goes to bed with one of them every night! Like I would trust him to knock this one out if it came after me." 

Logical worry. I bet he doesn't even know that Parker doesn't even have his weapon on. I can sense something from Bart's, but nothing is coming from Parker's direction. 

"It's not hard," Parker said with a raised eyebrow. "It's not like these can kill him, so yeah, I can and will knock him out if he tries to hurt anyone." 

The determination I saw behind Parker's narrowed eyes was quite entertaining. I thought he was always a happy, yet foolish guy. It seems that I was mistaken. Somewhat. 

"Fine, but if I hear a single thing, he's getting it." Bart growled as he stomped in front of me. I bit back a laugh, because I had a feeling that it would set him off and I didn't feel like being shocked just yet. 

We walked for a short time before I was brought into a small but bright room. There was a steel table set up in the middle with a few small tanks along the wall with random fish inside. Little notes were fastened to most of the tanks. Callem was standing in the corner, his arms folded over his chest and a surprisingly serious look on his face.

"Up on the table." Bart said as Parker slipped off to the side to get a few things situated. I didn't like the look of the needles he was dealing with, but I figured that this wouldn't be all that fun from the beginning. 

I did as I was told, even though the table was uncomfortably cold on my backside. Bart told me to lie down so that they could start taking some samples to test, for my health, of course. "No thanks. Surely you're skilled enough to take them from someone sitting up. You are a fish doctor, are you not? I doubt any of your other patients even have the ability to be as manageable as me." 

He wasn't happy with the answer, but when Parker walked in front of me and gently wiped a foul-smelling piece of cotton on my arm, then grasped it with one hand while the other moved a needle close, I glared over his shoulder. I've had to deal with needles at Cal-Waves and a few times while here, but that didn't mean that I liked them, at all. 

To my surprise, I barely felt the shot. Even when Parker removed the needle, there was barely any pain. I looked down at my arm, eyeing the faint blot of blood building on the surface. Parker wiped it away with another wet piece of cotton, then picked up another item with a needle on it. 

"This one has to go a little deeper, I'll try to be fast." He said as he wiped another we piece of cotton over my skin and then slipped the needle beneath. It was a little more uncomfortable than the first one, but really wasn't bad. 

When he removed the needle, he wiped off the blood that rose to the surface, thanked me, then gathered his samples. The other doctor whose name I still didn't know, stepped in front of me then and did a few simple tests. He said that they tested my reflexes, but I could have just showed him by knocking him out. His little tests didn't hurt, but they were quite annoying. After what felt like forever, he stepped away, eyes stuck on his board he'd written everything he'd found out on. 

I expected Bart to try his luck now, and he didn't disappoint. He started getting his own needles ready to take samples and I considered how much trouble I could get into by killing him. I knew that he wouldn't be nearly as good as Parker, even if he tried to, which he wouldn't. 

The first time he wiped my arm, I narrowed my eyes on him, my upper lip twitching. He didn't even try to be careful. He jabbed me with the needle and I couldn't help but Snarl loud enough to vibrate the table. He jumped back to grab the shock stick he'd leaned against the wall, but it wasn't there any longer. 

The sound of something clattering to the floor brought everyone's attention to the far door. My heart dropped into my stomach and I was off the table before I could even think. I scooped Oliver into my arms with an excited, loud hum. Normally I wouldn't sing around others. At least, not humans who were so close, but I couldn't believe that he was here right now. 

"He's attacking him!" 

I knew what was coming. He'd gotten his chance to try and knock me out. Whirling us around, I snatched part of the electric pole where I wouldn't get shocked, then yanked hard to the left. The stick impaled in the wall beside us and I felt the power coming from it die. He wouldn't be getting it out or be able to use it even if he did.

"Parker, knock him out!" Bart yelled. 

I didn't even bother looking at Parker as I nuzzled my face hungrily into Oliver's neck, inhaling his scent as I hugged him tighter and tighter to me. His arms wrapped around my neck was the best thing I'd felt all week. I slowly allowed my back to slide down the wall until he was nestled in my lap. My tongue licked a tiny bit at his cheek in between little bites. It was a childish thing, acting like a human dog to show your affection, but I couldn't help myself. Thankfully, Oliver seemed perfectly okay with the gestures. 

When I'd finally managed to calm myself, I looked around the room. All eyes were on us. The unknown scientist was blushing slightly, Parker and Callem were grinning and looked as if they'd just given each other a bit of attention, too. The person who didn't look happy at all, was Bart. 

Sucks to be you, with your horrible name and even worse attitude. 

I wouldn't let him ruin my mood. Scooping Oliver up into my arms easily, even with his metal leg adding weight, I eagerly carried him from the room. 

"You can't leave, your exam isn't over!" Bart yelled, though his words fell on deaf ears. I was done, and since I didn't hear him running after us, I knew that he wouldn't try to drag me back there. 

That other scientist didn't seem to be nearly as much trouble. Perhaps I'll try to make an ally next time I see him. 

It couldn't hurt. If Bart was going to go after me so obviously, I would need all the help I could. 

The moment we got to my pool I began pulling off Oliver's long coat. His shirt was next, though I wasn't as careful with it and perhaps it would not be wearable again. He didn't seem to mind. I held him firmly as he worked on the buckles for his metal leg. The second it came off, I took a deep breath plunged us both into the water. 

I didn't hesitate to dive, pulling my human with me. He was the only one worth anything to me. As we settled near the bottom, I sealed my lips over his soft ones and allowed us to drift comfortable in my makeshift home while I breathed for him when needed. Our arms remained tangled around each other and I felt an urgency in my body to keep him with me beneath the water's surface forever. Unfortunately, I knew that I couldn't, but I was going to enjoy this time I had with him and not dwell on what would have to be. 

My human. 

I rose one of my hands to sift through his flowing hair, only to cup the back of his head and push our lips together a little harder. 

I love you. 

When I blinked, his eyes were suddenly open. My pool was saltwater, but it didn't have so much in it to really rival the ocean. His eyes would hurt later, but I couldn't look away, because it almost seemed like he was projecting the same words to me through his beautiful gaze.