I blame Abigal completely for the following story! It was a bit of a challenge. It is set post 5.5 as Ruth has just sailed off into the sunset.

Fidget was manhandled out of the cage and released into her new world. She didn't know as yet that it was her new world , she just knew she was somewhere different.

She didn't know why she had been ripped from the comfort of her world and she didn't know where in all this chaos her lovely Ruth was.

All she knew was that this man had taken her and brought her and Cobweb here. To this place, this place where there was a dog!

The man had let her free and then sat down. She thought she had seen him before briefly. He sat in a chair and did nothing.

They say that cats know when something is wrong with a person, that they can sense distress or sickness. Fidget knew there was something wrong. She jumped into the stranger's lap and miowed loudly. His hand immediately went to her and started stroking her back. She thought it was probably soothing him more than her. "I know," he said, "I miss her too."

Scarlett was unhappy about the arrival of two ridiculous cats invading her space. As much as she made her displeasure felt it seemed to make little difference. In fact one of them was already trying to displace her and comfort her master. She padded up to him and licked his hand. He was far away and didn't even react. She nuzzled his hand and gave a small bark. It had the desired effect and he looked at her. "Hello, Scarlett. I'm sorry, I should be walking you, shouldn't I?"

She barked again.

"I will, but later. It's been a hard day."

She continued to lick his hand but got nothing more from him.

They were dancing around each other, cats and dog in the same space. Scarlett warning them off, the cats defending themselves and he, the man, still just sitting there, immobile, unreachable.

He poured himself another drink but not them, they were going thirsty, not that he seemed to notice.

After a couple of hours of whining and miowing he eventually stood and fed them. It was dark and cold but he didn't seem to notice. Cobweb settled by his feet and Fidget jumped back onto his lap. Scarlett, usurped somewhat but sensing something was badly wrong continued to sit at his side and occasionally nuzzled his hand to let him know she was there.

It was the middle of the night and none of them had moved.

Fidget's was suddenly alert. Cobweb too.

Suddenly they were seeing their Ruth. The man held her in his hands. She was smiling like she did when she made a fuss of them, when she fed them. He was looking at her and they sensed he was upset.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you Ruth, I just know I'll miss you. Always," he said out loud to the photo.

Scarlett barked and Cobweb wound herself around his legs. "We all will," said the man, aware of them for the first time in a long time.

"I promise we won't forget you."