Sabrina is stilling on the couch with Blake. He talks to her about something, but her mind isn't there. She thinks of many things past, mostly about Miguel. A memory comes to her, of a month past. The scene changes to that time. Sabrina is walking down the hall of the eMenagerie building stretching. She passes the boarded up door and stares at it. She walks up to it and looks at it. It appears it has been boarded up many times.. it also appears the boards have been removed many times.. by force.

Miguel: I wouldn't touch that if I were you.

Sabrina:[leaps 10 feet in the air] GAAH!! MIGUEL!![grabs her chest] Don't do that!!! [breathes hard]

Miguel: Don't open that door, I'm warning you. You wouldn't like what's behind it. Trust me.

Cain:[from the other side of the door] And how do you know that?

Sabrina:[leaps back] Who.. who's in there?

Miguel: [takes her but the arm and leads her away] Oh.. just me.

On the other side of the door a black tiger with white stripes leans against the door. He hears their foots steps fade. He pounds on the door, then walks off. Sabrina looks back at the door, then looks at Miguel.

Sabrina: Did you do that?

Miguel:[sweating] Um yeah.. I threw my voice. Something I do.

Sabrina: [rolls up her sleeve] Great job if you ask me, but next time.. don't make it sound like you. Even if it is with a deeper voice. [looks up at him] Miguel… what is behind there.

Miguel: [looks at her] Something nasty.. it's where all my penned up rage and anger goes.. and becomes an awful creature of evil and destruction.

Sabrina:[plays with her hair] Um..

Miguel:[smiles] Just fooling.. it's the entrance to the basement.. but it got flooded once and with all the mold and fungus down there it reeks!!!

Sabrina: Then why does it sound like there's pounding coming from behind it?

Miguel: That room is just acoustically linked to the building. Any pounding or sound can be heard echoing from in there. But the other times it's cause we lock up Decadence in there. [smiles]

Sabrina:[smiles back] Oh I see.[looks away for a bit then looks at him] So boss, care to join me for lunch?

Miguel:[puts his hands in his pockets and looks at her] I dunno, I don't eat skunk food much.

Sabrina:[stops walking and glares at him] Skunks eat the same food you do!!

Miguel:[stops and smiles] Really? Wow, your cholesterol must be through the roof!!

Sabrina;[hits him in the arm] Funny. But really let's go eat.. I'll buy.

Miguel: Well okay you talked me into it. Who am I do say no to a free meal.

The scene changes to them at a buffet. Sabrina sits down and waits for Miguel. He comes in and sits down as well. She looks at the food on his plate.

Sabrina:[looks at him] Was there an all meat buffet that I didn't see?

Miguel: Yeah, I got one from each of my 4 food groups: beef, chicken, fish, and pork.

Sabrina: [sweating] I take it back.. skunks don't eat the same food as you do.

Miguel: You're not carnivores like we tigers are. Sides I like meat.. and so you won't complain.. see I got corn and potatoes.

Sabrina: Well don't force yourself on my account. Just never knew anyone who ate so much meat.. that wasn't from Wisconsin.

Miguel:[fixes his iced tea] Heh.

Sabrina;[watches him] And you complain about me and coffee.

Miguel: I'll have you know that an entire pitcher of iced tea has about as much caffeine as 3 cups of coffee. Besides it has antioxidants and it helps you detoxify your body. Even hot tea is better for you.

Sabrina: This was paid for by the national association of tea drinkers. [shakes her head] I need coffee, without it.. I wouldn't be my perky, chipper self.

Miguel: [raises an eyebrow] Then you need to drink more coffee if you ask me.

Sabrina:[throws her napkin at him] Very funny.

Miguel: Still, it's sad you depend on a drug to make you who you are.

Sabrina: I do not.

Miguel: Did you listen to what you said a while ago? Personally I don't think you need it, I think you're sweet and love.. erm likable without it.

Sabrina:[laughs] Can't say love can you?

Miguel: This from who's gender created the infamous " I like you.. but I don't like you like you " thing.

Sabrina: [glares at him] Do you have a comeback for everything I say?

Miguel: Yup, I practice in front of the mirror every night.

Sabrina: Spare me.

A bit later when they finish their meals they go and get frozen yogurt and go sit down. Miguel comes in with a wobbling tower of frozen yogurt and sits.

Sabrina: You gonna eat all that?[stares at it swaying side to side]

Miguel: Why do people ask that? As if I'd get this much if I wasn't going to. [starts eating]

Sabrina: Sorry. Just seems like a lot.

Miguel: Yeah, but I bet I can still finish before you do.

Sabrina: [pulls the spoon out of her mouth] You're on.

Miguel starts to work away at the tower of frozen yogurt as Sabrina eats hers. Just as she's about to finish she grabs her head in pain.

Sabrina: ARGH!!! Ice Cream headache!!!

Miguel:[done] Don’t you mean frozen yogurt head..

Sabrina: [pounding her fist on the table] WHATEVER!!! [lays her head down]

Miguel: Aw come on you big baby.[Miguel gets up and begins to rub her temples] Better?

Sabrina:[closes her eyes] Yeah.. thanks. How come you aren't affected?

Miguel: You build up an immunity to it after a while. [smiles]

Sabrina: I take it you do this a lot?

Miguel: Yeah, I love fondling the heads of pretty girls. [Miguel grabs her head and twists her neck from one side to another. Then he probes his fingers into her neck and throat]

Sabrina: This.. should hurt.. but it feel great.[relaxes]

Miguel: Yeah well it feels like you’re a big ball of nerves. Every muscle in your neck and shoulders is tense.. even when you're relaxed like now.

Sabrina: Yeah well..I have a lot on my mind.

Miguel: Like the check?[looks her in the eye]

Sabrina: Oh geez!![opens her eyes and lifts her head knocking Miguel on the head.] OW!![grabs her head]

Miguel:[holding his forehead] I think you knocked the part of my brain that's in charge of rational thought back into place!!

Sabrina:[gets up] Sorry. [grabs him by his shirt and leads him away]

Later, they arrive back at the eMenagerie building. Sabrina sits back in her chair and turns her computer back on. Miguel walks in behind her and massages her shoulders.

Miguel: See, tense. You could deflect bullets with the tension you got here. [fingers dig into her fur]

Sabrina:[takes her glasses off as she sits back] That feel good. [looks up at him] You always do this for you employees?

Miguel: Only those I know WON'T press charges. [smiles]

Sabrina: [closes her eyes again] I won't. Just watch your hands.

Miguel: [glares at her] Geez, like my hands are gonna get lost and end up on your butt or something!!

Sabrina:[opens one eye] I don't know that.

Miguel: Well, not unless you ask me to. And even then it take a large dose of alcohol. And a waver saying you can't charge me with sexual harassment.

Sabrina: Why?!

Miguel: Guys gotta watch his own back nowadays. That dog on the sunscreen can be sued by that little girl who's swimsuit he's pulling down. Sad really.

Sabrina: Miguel…. You can turn into SUCH a jerk sometimes you know that?

Miguel: Sorry. Just venting.

Sabrina: About what? [leans her head back and looks up at him]

Miguel: I hate women… in general.. I can't stand them. In high school I saw them corrupt the system … and get their way.. do things they shouldn't have.. and get away scott free. [starts to dig hard into her shoulders]

Sabrina: Miguel, have to learn to let go of this anger inside you….mainly cause you're close to breaking my collar bone!![winces]

Miguel:[looks down then lets go] Um sorry. [sweating]

Sabrina:[rubs her neck] S'okay. [leans her head back] You okay?

Miguel: No I feel bad.. could have killed you.

Sabrina: I doubt that.[smiles]

Miguel:[gets close to her face] I can't give you a kiss and make it better.. against union rules.. but I can do this.

Miguel rubs his nose against hers. Sabrina pulls away giggling. She rubs her nose and sees Miguel red as a beet. She puts her glasses on and looks back at him.

Sabrina: That was different.[raises an eyebrow] Didn't know you had it in you.

Miguel: Um well..[sweating like crazy] I won't let it out anymore.[runs off]

Sabrina:[watches blinking] Aw shoot!![lowers her head] I have to remember he frightens easy like a small woodland creature. Sigh.[turns back to her computer] Makes you think he's a fawn and not a tiger.

The flashback fades as Sabrina snaps back to reality. Blake looks at her, she looks back sweating. She scoots away a bit then takes a sip of tea from her cup.

Blake: You weren't even listening to a word I was saying were you? [glares at her]

Sabrina: Um yeah I was… and I agree.

Blake: So you will go with me to visit my parents in Denver?

Sabrina: Um.. yeah.. sounds good to me.[looks down]

Blake: Get him out of your mind, it's for the best.[Sabrina looks at the engagement ring on her finger] After all, you're both different. It's always best you stick to your own kind. Can you imagine what your kids would look like? Ain't that right Amy? [looks at her]

Amy is sitting at the table reading from a book. She looks up at him and puts her book down. Blake smiles at her as he repeats.

Blake: She should stick with her own kind right?

Amy: [raises an eyebrow] I wouldn't know.. I'm seeing a wolf.. and not the kind you find on Hollywood and Vine either.

Blake: Oh.. I see. Well that's good I guess. [looks at Sabrina] Anyway, it's still for the best, I mean the guy does nothing but write stories on a web site for free, where does he get the money for all of that? Kind of suspicious if you ask me.

Sabrina: He sells old Star Wars toys and such on-line.[drinks her tea]

Blake: Huh?

Sabrina: You wanted to know where he got money from… that's where. He also does writing commission work for others.

Blake: I see. And how long do you think that's going to keep him going?

Sabrina:[sips her tea again] Till he starts selling eMenagerie stuff.. I saw some of it.. pretty nice too.[shows him her Maneki Neko mug]

Blake: [glares at her] ARE YOU GOING TO DEFEND HIM ALL DAY!?!?

Sabrina: [looks at him] You didn’t say I couldn't do that.

Blake: Yeah well remember, tomorrow is your last day. After that, you won't be seeing him again. [gets up] Then .. try to keep your mind here where it belongs okay?[leaves]

Amy:[walks up to Sabrina and leans on the couch] Hmm, good thing I didn't show him the sketch Miguel did of me huh?

Sabrina:[looks at her] He did a sketch of you?[drinks from her mug]

Amy: Yeah.. and I'm totally NEKKID!![smiles]

Sabrina;[spits out tea everywhere]WHAT?!?!?

Amy:[laughs] Just kidding. It's just of me on the phone. I was talking to Thomas and well he got bored and when I got off he showed me this.[hands her a piece of paper] Nice huh?

Sabrina:[looks at it] Yeah.. and to think he thinks all of his artwork is garbage.[smiles] That's why he doesn't draw comics on his site. Sigh.

Amy: Miss him?

Sabrina: No.[looks down]

Amy:[places one hand on her hip and smiles] Anyone tell you you're a rotten liar?

Sabrina: Amy, I gave him a chance, and he just blew me off. [shoulders droop] Why is it getting to me so!! [spills some tea on her lap] AW GEEZ!!!

Amy:[hands her a paper towel] And yet you drink tea.. instead of coffee…why?

Sabrina: [rubs her lap with the towel franticly] Don't start with me Amy!

Amy: I won't. But Blake is wrong.. I think tiger-striped skunks would be cute.

Sabrina: [glares at her] You've been hanging with that black bunny again haven't you? Sigh. I feel I'm too young to have offspring.. or to even think about them right now. [looks at Amy] Amy? What am I doing?

Amy: Got me.

The scene changes to Miguel at his home, he's laying on the floor looking up at the ceiling. His thoughts wander to a day a while back, Sabrina was wandering around at work. She finds a scale and eyes it for a bit. She steps on it and weights herself. She then takes her coat off and looks at her weight. She reaches into her pockets and takes out her keys and some loose change and puts it on a nearby table and looks at her weight again.

Miguel: Before you start stripping, I'd like to warn you anyone can walk in and see you.

Sabrina:[turns and then her face turns red] Um.. I wasn't going to do that. [steps off the scale] Sigh. I gained weight.

Miguel: You sit at a computer most of the day.. not that big of a surprise really. But [Sabrina raises an eyebrow] you do a great job of hiding the weight.

Sabrina: As if!! I mean look at my hips!![holds her hands out in front of her at the supposed width of her hips] They're THIS wide!!

Miguel:[walks up to her] Well, more like this.[closes them a bit] That's about right I'd say.

Sabrina: [holds them up to her hips and sees the width is correct] HEY!![looks at him] And how do YOU know the exact width of my hips?![glares at him]

Miguel: I'm shy Ms. Sabrina, NOT blind. And hey, nothing wrong with a gal with childbearing hips my mom always says. Then again.. her hips are wider than yours so don't take her or my word for it. But still nothing wrong with your cute shape.

Sabrina: Well it's my shape!!!

Miguel: Then be proud of it, after all those toothpicks they call models starve themselves to look "beautiful", but in the end.. they only look beautiful in their own minds.[shakes his head] Sad really. You earn beauty with what you do.. and what you express. Caring.. and warmth.. their glow always give you the right lighting. And..

Sabrina: You're making this up as you go aren't you?[rolls up her sleeves]

Miguel:[lowers his head] Yeah. Sorry.

Sabrina: Yeah well you had me going for a while. [smiles] Still it's sweet. [stands on her tip toes and rubs her nose against his] GOTCHA!!!

Miguel:[turns red and backs away] Ms.. Ms. Sabrina!!!

Sabrina:[rubs her nose] I owed you one. [giggles] So, you got a thing for gals with child bearing hips? [looks at him coyly]

Miguel: I'd answer you, but my heart hasn't started beating again.

Sabrina:[laughs] Well don't die on me. [looks around the room and notices a door] What's in there?

Miguel: Azul's office.

Sabrina: Huh?

Miguel:[grabs his chest] The pool room.

Sabrina: And what kind of office has a pool room?[looks at him]

Miguel: The kind that has girls complaining about not having anything fun to do.

Sabrina: Can I see?

Miguel: Well let's knock first.[walks towards the door] Last time I just went in.. Azul was as God created her.

Sabrina: [sweating] Yeah let's knock.

Both knock but there is no answer, Miguel pokes his head in with his eyes closed. He opens one and sees Azul staring at him.

Azul: I'm dressed!!

Miguel: [walks in with Sabrina] Thank heavens for that.

Azul: [sees Sabrina] Am I part of the tour now?

Sabrina: Huh? Um no..just looking around.

Sabrina looks at this blue-gray manta ray girl looking at her very cross. Dressed in a skin tight wetsuit cut at her knees and elbows. Sabrina looks past her and sees the shimmering water of the pool. It looks so inviting.

Azul: I'm busy right now.[glares at both of them]

Miguel; Well don't worry we won't keep your from your hard work at water frolicking.[takes Sabrina by the arm and leads her to the edge of the pool]

Sabrina: [dips her foot into the water and swirls it around] Ooooooo, the water is warm.

Miguel: Yeah.. it's heated.. to keep someone from getting homesick for the tropical waters of Costa Rica.[looks at Azul who sticks her tongue out at him]

Azul:[walks to the shower and turns it on] Just don't get any fur in the pool thank you.[lets the hot water pour over her]

Sabrina:[whispers] Boy is she joy. You'd think she doesn't like l fur bearing mammals.

Miguel: She's just very picky about the condition of her water.. she swims and breathes in it. Can't blame her much.

Sabrina:[smiles] But we can try.

Miguel: Yeah we can.

A little later, Miguel and Sabrina have their pant legs rolled up and have their feet dripped in the pool. Azul is sitting at a table sipping iced tea as she watches them grumbling.

Miguel: [looks at Sabrina's legs] See now I'd believe you were wearing pants.

Sabrina: [makes a face and kicks water at him] Just drop it.

Azul:[calls over to them] You two planning to go back to work anytime soon?

Miguel: [looks back at her] Are you?

Azul: [crosses her arms] I'm drying up over here.

Sabrina: Oh I'm sorry.[gets her feet out of the pool]

Miguel: [gets his out as well] I'd believe that.. before we used to go through 5 gallon bottles of water like crazy in our water cooler cause of her. Coarse now.. we just run up a high bill having the pool guy visit us almost everyday.[smiles at Azul]

Sabrina:[watches Azul walks towards the pool] That much water huh? Where does she keep it all?

Azul: [stumbles then glares at Sabrina] NONE of your business!!!

Miguel: Let's just say.. [laughs] she's the only one here who made more trip to the bathroom than you.

Azul and Sabrina glare at him, then look at each other and smile. Then they look at him wickedly. They both grab him and toss him head first into the pool. Miguel pops back to the surface and makes a face at them.

Azul: Well that was fun.

Sabrina:[crosses her arms] He had that coming.

Miguel:[pulling himself out of the pool] Just for that, I'm going to throw in a whole crate of Alka-Seltzer into the pool.

Azul:[runs in place and panics] NOOOOOOO!!!

Sabrina; Oh come on he wouldn't do that..[looks at Miguel] you wouldn't right?

Azul: [pulls on her ears] He did once already.. I was hiccuping for days.

Sabrina:[stares at Miguel] MIGUEL!?!?!?

Miguel: It was an attempt to get her back to work… and it was the lemon flavored one.

Sabrina:[walks up to him] That was cruel.. I'm surprised at you! To think I thought you were a sweet guy and..

Miguel:[pushes Sabrina into the pool] Enough out of you short stuff.

Sabrina:[pops up to the surface] GAH!! [glares at him] WHY YOU!!!![swims over to him]

Miguel: Note to self.. best way to shut girl up is to throw them into..[[Sabrina grabs his leg and pulls him in]

Azul:[laughing]Oh that was good!!!

Miguel: [pops up] Yeah laugh it up.

Sabrina is pulling herself out of the pool as Miguel swims towards her. He grabs her by the waistband of her pants and yanks her back in. Miguel pulls himself out as Sabrina pops back up and glares at him. She pulls herself out and walks up to him.

Sabrina: I take back ANYTHING nice I ever said about you.

Miguel: Yeah well I think you've been in the pool too long. The chlorine has bleached you hair.[thwacks her on the top of her head]

Sabrina:[stops on his foot] JERK!!

Miguel:[winces] BIGGER JERK!!!

Sabrina: No talent hack!!!

Miguel:[makes a hurt face] Ouch. [walks off]

Azul: [in the pool watching them] Oh, you had to go there didn't you?

Sabrina: [brushes her wet hair away from her face] Yeah well.. he had it coming. [continues to look towards the exit where Miguel left] Aw shoot, [walks off] even when I'm right, I'm wrong.

Sabrina walks into the bathroom, she hears a humming and follows the sound. There she sees Miguel sitting under the automatic hands dryer.. all four of them aimed at him. She giggles then walks towards him.

Sabrina: Mind if I join you? [Miguel looks up at her and says nothing just rests his head in his hand.] Fine. [sits down next to him]

Miguel continues not to look at her. She looks at him and glares. She then reaches over and yanks his head closer by his ear.

Sabrina: You gonna talk to me?

Miguel:[wincing] NO!!!

Sabrina: [lets go] Fine then. You stay there..[looks at him] and I'll strip out of my wet clothes.

Miguel: [glares at her] You wouldn't dare!!!

Sabrina: [takes her glasses off and places them on the sink area] Oh I will. You just watch me.[pulls her shirt down in the front as she reaches behind her and unzips the back of her pants.] Gonna talk?

Miguel:[sweating] NO!!! And that doesn't count cause I was just telling you I'm not speaking to you.

Sabrina: Fine. [pulls down her pants one side at a time] Seems I'm always getting wet or something around here. I should start bring extra clothes with me. [throws her pants at Miguel and pulls her shirt down again in the front] Ready to talk?

Miguel: [VERY red and sweating like mad] NO!! N..[swallows hard] NEVER!!

Sabrina: Okay.. [grabs her shirt] That was you last chance. [pulls it up]

Miguel:[shuts his eyes tight] OKAY OKAY!! I'll talk I'll talk!! Please don't do this Ms. Sabrina.. I promise I'll speak till I'm out of breath!![Sabrina's shirt lands on his head. He beings to tremble like mad] Please don't let that be what I think it is!!!

Sabrina: [walks up to him] Miguel…..you can look.

Miguel: [shakes his head like mad] NOOOOO!!! I can't!! Not while you're in you're unmentionables!!!

Sabrina: [smiles] Well you just mentioned them, and for you information.. I'm not wearing any!!!

Miguel:[tries to scoot away but slams into the wall] NOO!! I can't!!

Sabrina:[kneels down and snatches her shirt away] Miguel will you look!!!

Miguel, with the shirt pulled away, now sees. His eyes focus on Sabrina and they open wide at first, but then his face looks puzzled.

Sabrina: [strikes a pose in her swimsuit] TADAAAAA!! Let's hear it for swimwear!![laughs]

Miguel:[falls over] Why? [gets up slowly] Why did you do that? And why are you wearing swimwear under your clothes?

Sabrina:[adjusts her suit] Ah well remember when the gals turned the fire hose on me last time, and I had to borrow you're clothes? Well I decided to be a bit prepared, should they decide to have a repeat performance.

Miguel: [face still pink] You're cruel.

Sabrina: [looks at him] You're still blushing? [smiles] Boy you are sensitive.[sits down next to him] So.. talk away.. as you said.

Miguel: This is why you wanted to see the poolroom huh?

Sabrina: Yeah, but it's freezing outside.. still a heated pool would be nice. However Azul would never let me use it.[puts her glasses back on] Still the heater is making this place rather nice.

Miguel: You do know I was THIS close to having a heart attack?

Sabrina: S'okay. I know CPR.. but then again me giving you mouth to mouth might send you on your way rather than save you huh?[smiles and punches him in the arm] but, I am flattered that you wouldn't peek at me.. even when given permission.[rests her head on his shoulder] That's sweet. [looks at him] That shows respect.

Miguel:[slicks his wet hair back out of his face] I do respect you Ms. Sabrina.. even when I'm mad at you.

Sabrina: Sigh. You're not a hack, okay. Geez you draw pretty good, but you throw away a lot of your best work. [pushes his glasses back on his nose with her finger] You just have to stop being so hard on yourself. Besides it's not like you borrowed someone else's character and wrote a story on your site.[Miguel looks at the reader sweating then looks back at her] You have talent.. take that pic you have of me in your drawer for instance…..

Miguel: [in a flash on his feet as Sabrina falls over] YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT!!!!????

Sabrina: [gets up] Yeah, I found it one time looking for a pen.

Miguel: But I have tons of pens on my desk!!

Sabrina: And they're all empty.

Miguel:[looks down] Man, mom was right, my procrastinating would be my downfall. [looks at her] Ms. Sabrina, I..

Sabrina:[gets to her feet] Hey, I'm not mad. It's a nice pic.. and framed nicely. You can keep it. I signed it for you.[winks as she goes into one of the stalls. Poke her head out] Off with you.. I need time alone… and it's not cause of the coffee [glares at him or tires to but sees the door swinging open and closed as he had already left. She shakes her head and closes the stall door] Boy, that guy's going to give himself a heart attack someday.

The flashback ends as Miguel continues to stare up at the ceiling. He turns his head and brings something close to his face. It's the picture of Sabrina he had, frame and all. Written on it is "Thanks for not having a naughty pic of me in your desk. XOXO Sabrina"

End of Chapter 12