A loud beeping woke Jack from his deep sleep.  He didn't want to get up.  He wanted to sleep more.  He was warm and comfortable from snuggling with Mark all night.  Jack sleepily shifted back farther into Mark's warmth, feeling Mark's arm tighten around him.  It wasn't enough to keep him from waking though.  With a loud inhale, Mark's arm moved off him as he sat up to retrieve his phone.  Jack groaned softly in disappointment.  Without Mark, the bed was getting cold fast.  Mark patted Jack's bare leg, telling him still half-asleep.  "Jack, get up. We've got to get dressed".  Jack shook his head, burying his head into the pillows with a muffled groan.  Mark smacked his ass lightly, saying a bit more awake.  "Come on. Kate will be here in an hour. You wanna go or not"?  Jack flinched from being smacked, but muffled out sleepily.  "Five more minutes". 

Mark chuckled, rubbing Jack's back as he replied casually.  "Ya...I should have made you turn in early last night. We shouldn't have stayed up so late...But I can't fix that now. Come on! I'll get you coffee".  Jack didn't move.  He was already starting to fall back asleep.  The bed just felt so soft and welcoming.  When a firm hand grabbed his ankle, yanking him across the bed and away from the pillows to say seriously.  "Jack, up! Now"!  Jack pushed sleepily up on all fours.  He was too tired to fight Mark.  Mark leaned in to kiss his shoulder and pat his stomach, before he told him sweetly.  "Good boy. Come on. We'll make a stop at Starbucks if you get dressed".  Jack nodded sleepily.  He was barely processing what Mark was telling him, but he was being pet and that was good... right?  Sliding back off the bed, Jack slowly followed Mark upstairs to his bedroom. 

Mark pulled out some clothes for him, tossing them on the bed as he said.  "Put these on. I'm going to get ready and by then Kate should be here".  Mark vanished out the door, leaving Jack to lazily slip into his clothes.  He hated mornings.  He was a noon and night kind of guy.  Why did they have to leave so early?  Jack pulled on the last of his clothes, before staring at the empty bed.  It called to him.  Wanted him to snuggle in for a few minutes.  Jack glanced at the hallway.  He could hear Mark in his room.  Mark was busy.  He could risk a minute or two, right?  Jack climbed over the bed and slumped across it.  Feeling himself drift away the second his head hit the pillow. 

Mark finished brushing his teeth and headed out to check on Jack.  When he crossed into Jack's room, Mark sighed lightly.  He wanted to yell at Jack... but he had managed to do what he said.  He had gotten dressed, before falling back to sleep.  Mark smirked, moving away toward the kitchen.  Mark knew Jack wasn't a morning person and Kate wasn't here yet.  So, he'd let Jack sleep a bit more.  Today was going to be hard enough on him and it was his fault that Jack didn't sleep like he should have.  Mark sat watching the news as the minutes ticked by.  When the doorbell rang.  Climbing to his feet, Mark walked over to open the front door.  Kate smiled back at him, asking sweetly.  "Is he ready to go"?  Mark bit his lip, moving aside as he answered tenderly.  "Yes and no. I'll get him, So that we can go".  Kate grabbed his arm to stop him, sternly asking aloud.  "We? Mark I told you yesterday. You're not coming". 

Mark turned to face her, defiantly stating.  "I told you that he's not going without me".  Kate rolled her eyes, snapping back.  "Damn it, Mark. He will be fine. I'll be watching him".  Mark crossed his arms over his chest, heatedly stating back.  "How many people will be there, Kate? You can't watch all them and him. You can teach him whatever you want, but I'm going".  Kate let out a groan, replying just as heatedly.  "Mark, no"!  Mark moved closer to her, saying very seriously.  "I am his Master. It's my job to watch him. I'm not letting him go there alone. So, you either take me too. Or he doesn't go".  Kate pointed a stern finger at him, grumbling under her breath.  "Fine! But that will only make him a target and you know that"!  Mark shrugged carelessly as he dryly said.  "I'm a Master. What can a few pups do to me"? 

Kate locked stern eyes with him, replying seriously.  "They can do nothing to you. But they can hurt him"!  Mark stared her down, before he turned away, saying over his shoulder.  "They'll have to get through me first".  Mark casually walked into Jack's bedroom, leaning over the bed to run his hand through Jack's long green bangs.  Jack moaned sleepily as Mark told him sweetly.  "Jack, It's time to go".  Jack opened his eyes slowly, then jerked up onto all fours, yelling out a bit spooked.  "I wasn't asleep"!  Mark smacked Jack's ass lightly as he started to leave the room, saying smugly.  "I know. Now let's go".  Jack rolled off the bed to stretch, then quickly followed after Mark.  How long had he been out?  Wasn't Mark mad at him?  Out in the kitchen, Kate nodded to Jack. 

Her eyes seemed to linger on his black shirt, when she told Mark a bit shortly.  "Most of the pups will barely be dressed... They won't have collars either. But I guess, you'll be alright in that".  Mark took Jack's leash off the counter, telling Kate bluntly.  "It will be fine. They'll get to see what having a Master looks like".  Kate huffed sarcastically, turning to leave as she answered swiftly.  "Last time I checked, he had a long way to go".  Mark rolled his eyes, then looked at Jack to say comfortingly.  "You'll be fine. I'll be there to help walk you through this".  Jack nodded and waited for Mark to start walking before he followed him.  He knew pretty much what he was expected to do.  He just... felt nervous about doing it in front of people.  Mark locked up the house, then lead him back to Kate's van.  Kate stood watching them like a hawk. 

So, Jack did his best to look like he knew what to do.  Normally, he would have tried to open the van door himself.  However, he didn't think that was right in this situation.  Instead, Jack just stood still waiting.  That was a safe thing to do, right?  Mark smiled warmly at him, moving closer to open the door.  Even when the door was completely open, Jack refused to move until Mark gestured for him to get in.  Quickly, Jack climbed inside, listening to Kate tell Mark a little surprised.  "What did you do? Practice all night"?  Mark shot him a smirk, answering her without looking at her.  "We just wanted to make you look good".  Kate replied with a hearty laugh.  "I don't believe that for a second. I appreciate it though".  Jack sat on the cushion, feeling butterflies swarming in his stomach. 

What would it be like at the academy?  He had only ever seen what Orson had done to him under the school.  He was excited, but terrified.  He didn't want to make Mark look bad.  He wanted him to be proud of him.  They stopped at a drive through at Starbucks and Jack took a deep breath.  He loved the smell of fresh coffee.  Mark ordered for him and after receiving everything, Kate parked for a moment.  Mark couldn't hand the stuff back to him.  So, he had climbed out and hop into the back with him.  To Jack's surprise, Mark closed the van door and stayed back there with him.  Together they sipped their coffee, while Mark broke off pieces of bread and cookies for him to take from his hand.  Jack vaguely remembered something about Mark telling him that he could only eat or drink what he'd give him.... Yet, he was allowed to hold his own coffee. 

Jack brushed it off and just accepted it.  Mark was happy.  They were sharing a sweet moment together.  Why ruin that with questions?  It wasn't long after that, that they pulled into a parking lot.  Mark suddenly stiffened up, looking out the window with an uneasy glare.  Jack shifted around onto his knees to look out the window himself and took a deep breath.  He remembered this location.  The back entrance to the academy.  This was the spot Orson had stopped the van to drag Dusty, Claire, and himself out.  Fortunately, Kate kept driving through to a bigger lot out in the front of the academy.  When the van stopped, Mark asked him cautiously.  "Jack... This is your last chance. Are you sure you want to do this"?  Jack looked back at Mark with a smile, excitedly telling him.  "Yes, Sir".  To Be Continued...