The continuous thunder had gotten so loud in the few seconds we stood there that I wouldn't have known he was trying to get through the door if his form hadn't moved slightly. My gaze hesitantly left his to check, and sure enough, the handle was jerking up and down sharply. It was definitely still locked, but I had no doubt Callem would figure out how to get it open fast. So then why wasn't I running?

~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~

My hand slowly rose to the door's handle when it stopped moving. I knew his gaze was still on me, and I knew his song was beginning to take over again. It felt strange not being in control of myself. My left hand slid my badge through the scanner above the handle, the red light becoming green as it read the piece of plastic. I should have been scared. Actually, I was terrified, but as Callem slowly turned the handle down, moving my hand along with it, all I could feel was a need to get closer to him.

~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~

Heat blossomed from my wrist as he gently pulled me inside the dark room. The pools were reflecting the lightning just like in the main tank area, but there was no glass ceiling here, only a few small windows on the back wall, which kept the area relatively dim. I heard the faint click of the door as it shut behind me, then felt myself being pressed up against it. I quickly raised my hands to push him away, but my fingers just ended up splaying over toned muscle instead. Callem's body was still damp, the saltwater beginning to soak into my clothing where my body met his. Normally, once water leaves a pool, its temperature decreases, but somehow it felt far warmer than any of those pools would ever get.

"Parker..."

~~~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~

His song rang out hauntingly as he spoke, making me register in the back of my mind that he had the ability to sing and talk at the same time. Normally that would have ignited the scientist in me to try to figure out how it happened, but my mind was way too cloudy and Callem's hands felt much too nice as they squeezed my backside, claws easily cutting at the fabric of my pants.

"Parker."

~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~

His tongue scraped from my jawline to beneath my eye as his right hand slid down my leg just enough to lift it up. The motion threw me off-balance slightly and I dropped my badge, but Callem's left hand had such a strong hold that I easily stayed on my feet... well, foot. His hips gave a slight nudge between mine, immediately eliciting a moan I hadn't planned to give. He didn't hesitate in giving another nudge after hearing it, and unfortunately, I was unable to stop another sound from slipping free.

"Parker... Callem's."

His hot breath against my neck forced a strong shiver to run its fingers down my spine. My heart thrummed to the tune of his song as he began rubbing against me. I knew he was trying to mate, and the thought was scary, but the song made me just want to give him what he wanted. Thank god he just wanted to mate and didn't understand that I was wearing pants.

I let him use me until he had finished, staining the front of my pants and shirt. Hell, I was extremely close to following him right over the edge, but he had gotten so into breeding that he had stopped humming his song, freeing the reasonable side of my mind.

"C-Callem?"

He gently set my leg back down before licking my cheek and walking toward the closest research pool. I think it was actually Smithson's where he was working with shade and how fish reacted to changes in light, but now the fish had to worry about changes in mermen because Callem just climbed over the barrier and slid into the water.

"Callem!"

Several big tuna flopped beneath the water, splashing as they tried to get away from the large predator. I saw his tail break the surface, then seconds later he was climbing up and out of the pool with a large fish in one arm and a big fistful of... seaweed in the other? The poor fish was gasping from fear and need for oxygen as I watched Callem calmly walk back over to me. He offered the fish... and I just stared at it.

"Huh?"

He seemed to think for a minute, just nonchalantly holding the dying fish, before he smiled and replied.

"Parker Callem's, Callem fish... f...for Parker."

The excitement in his voice made me push aside what we had just done and smile, taking the large fish from his outstretched clawed hands.

Ergh! It's heavy!

He noticed I was struggling but instead of helping, he just laughed.

Wait... mermen don't laugh.

My gaze darted up to meet his now-electric blue ones, and I gaped.

"Y-You laughed."

His head tilted curiously, and I quickly remembered that he didn't know the word.

"Okay, uhm... fish... thank you..."

His brows knitted together, telling me, again, that he didn't understand.

Dammit!

"Yes fish."

Callem shook his head and pointed at me, then nodded at the fish before pointing back at himself. I was trying to figure out the gestures when he suddenly wrapped the seaweed he had grabbed from the pool around the top of my head.

Wait a second, he isn't just wrapping it, he's weaving it into my hair?

"C-Callem?"

He barked, making me jump and drop the fish as the loud sound echoed in the dark room. I was still trying to figure out exactly what he wanted when he grabbed my wrist and started to pull me toward his pool. A rumble of thunder boomed just outside, lightning quickly following to illuminate the room just long enough for me to realize that he'd grown.

Holy crap, does that rule apply to him, too? The one where, if you keep feeding the fish, it will keep growing? But maybe he was just so malnourished that it affected his growth? Oh man, he is taller than me now.

The sudden blaring alarm from the emergency exit snapped me out of my thoughts right as I stumbled outside and into a deep puddle.

"Ah!"

A second boom of thunder overhead made me jump to my feet right before Callem grabbed my arm again and started pulling me toward the woods at the back of the complex.

"Callem. No."

I had to shout to be heard over the storm, but thankfully it got his attention. I quickly pointed toward the parking lot and tugged him in that direction.

"Safe."

He hesitated for a second, then nodded and followed. Our steps were uneven with our injuries and the saturated ground, but we managed to get to my truck as police cars were pulling in. There were only three since it was just an emergency exit alarm and no fire or poison alarms had been triggered with it, so I quickly yelled for Callem to get in, then shoved him over to the passenger's seat before slamming my door shut and flooring the truck.

I half-expected the cops to try to follow us, but they were more focused on what had triggered the door, most likely calling up to the security room to ask what happened on the cameras as they ran inside. Needless to say, I was very happy we were already on the road. Glancing over at Callem, I watched as he eyed the vehicles passing us, biting or growling at the window whenever one came or went too fast.

Haha, just like a dog.

He looked over at me a moment later, and I smiled, then turned my attention back to the road as I got us headed toward the beach. My attention was so focused on trying to see in the bad storm that, when Callem leaned over and licked my cheek, I nearly swerved right off the road.

"C-Callem! No."

He leaned back abruptly, sitting in the seat like a dog with his legs spread and hands between then on the cushion, and that gave me a full view of... err. Shaking my head, I slowed for a stop sign, then turned left, then right before heading down a hill to the beach's parking lot. No one was there, considering it was likely close to midnight and a thunderstorm was raging.

Damn, the waves are really high.

Parking my truck across several spaces, I took a shaky breath and looked over at Callem.

"I know I shouldn't have brought you out of the water, but I won't say that I regret it. I just hope you're healed enough to make it now."

He tilted his head, and I just grinned before shoving my door open. He mirrored my actions, doing the same on his side, and I shook my head.

"You are too smart to be caged by humans."

Of course he didn't hear me in the storm, but that didn't matter. Nodding to myself, I walked to the front of my truck and took his hand, then gently tugged him down the beach toward the churning surf. We got about five feet from the water before I stopped and released Callem's hand. He smiled but looked a bit puzzled. So, with a shaky breath, I pointed toward the water.

"Callem, go."

He blinked, then replied.

"Go?"

I walked forward a few feet until the cool water brushed up against my ankles, then walked back to him and pointed again.

"Callem, go."

He looked at the waves, then back to me.

"Parker go...Parker Callem's..."

He grabbed my hand softly and pulled, making me walk a few feet before I dug in my heels.

"No."

Callem turned, eyes wide and clearly confused.

"P-Parker Callem's."

He stepped up to me, our chests nearly brushing as his hand nudged the seaweed woven into my hair.

"Callem to Parker fish."

His hand motioned toward the ocean as he continued.

"Parker go Callem."

He tugged my hand again, making me step into the churning water. My heart rate quickened as I tried to back up, but he wasn't letting go.

"C-Callem!"

I frantically searched my brain for some way to tell him that I couldn't live where he could. When I thought I figured out something, I quickly pressed my fingers to my lips, then pointed at the waves and shook my head. I knew right away that he didn't understand.

Dammit!

Stepping closer, although it made me go deeper into the water, I carefully pressed my fingers over his gills, then mirrored the action on my own neck before pressing my lips again.

"Parker no," I said as I pointed at the water. Callem seemed to finally understand at least half of what I was saying, but the solution he showed definitely wasn't going to work. He pressed his fingers to his own lips, then to mine. I quickly shook my head, soaked hair splashing water about and making some of the strands get stuck to my face.

"Callem, it won't work."

My gaze rose to meet his before I pointed behind him.

"Callem, go."

His eyes slowly dimmed, and he shook his head fast.

"Darn it."

Leaning up, I pressed my lips to his and was instantly wrapped up in strong muscled arms.

"I'm... so sorry, Callem."

His lips were curved into a hurt frown when I leaned back to look at his face.

"But please, go. I want you safe, and this is the only place they can't get you."

I watched as his breathing hitched and he blinked repeatedly. Everything in me wanted to tell him that he could come home with me, that he could have the pool there, but that was selfish. He wasn't a pet fish or something that should ever be experimented on.

"You deserve to be free."

His fingers pressed beneath my jaw and lifted it so that our eyes met. His were now a dark purple, the color churning like the ocean in different shades around his black pupils. I tried to keep eye contact, but his head dipped and I soon felt his tongue licking at the water on my neck.

"Parker Callem's."

A light breath slipped through my parted lips before I nodded slightly.

"....yes."

I felt his teeth skim along my skin, then snap down, making me gasp. We stayed like that for several seconds before he hesitantly released me and stepped back.

"B-bye, Callem."

I lifted my hand and gave a small wave gesture, then took a step back. It was obvious that he wanted to follow me, but I shook my head when he started taking a step forward.

"No, you need to go."

He pursed his lips, but I just pointed toward the ocean, then turned to walk away. I thought he would grab me and pull me back against him for another hug, or just, I don't know, something. But moments later, I heard a loud splash and whipped my head around. Rubbing my left arm across my eyes, I cleared my vision just in time to see his gray tail splash out of the water one more time before disappearing beneath the waves.