The Dehumanization of Ethan Brown

Ethan removed two pies from the pantries. “Sugar always cheers me up.” Ethan handed his wife a knife and fork.

Ria ate the pie then got another from the pantry to eat. “I don’t want to know our food bills.”

“We have five incomes and everyone contributes to groceries. We always have more than enough food.” Ethan threw the two empty pie tins and three boxes away. “Join me in the nursery.”

“We can’t fuck there.”

“You need to heal from having a baby.”

“We can use another orifice.”

“The guest room?” Ethan asked as Ria finished her second pie. Why didn’t he take off his clothes at the door like the other people in the house? He wasn’t even aware they were naked. He had made an effort to strip at the door. Ria kissed him and pulled him on top of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist turning her hips to give him access to her asshole. Ethan opened her up with his fingers feeling the hemorrhoids she got giving birth. “You’re tender.”

“I can take it.” Ria insisted then bit his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him sticking her nails deeply into his back.

“If that is what you want,” Ethan said before using a finger to guide himself into her tender opening. He wondered if her pussy would be less tender, but she did have a baby a few hours before. He kissed her deeply before going in.

Ria screamed when she was penetrated.

“You have some good size hemorrhoids. It can wait. I can rim you instead.”

“That will be better,” Ria agreed.

“Then, we’ll cuddle in the nursery until Anna needs to be feed. You should return to wolf form and let your body heal.”

Ria changed to wolf form and Ethan followed suit. They walked to the nursery. Camilla was in human form nursing the twins. Ethan cuddled near Ria on the floor and licked her watching her birth canal heal with remarkable speed. He licked around it as she moaned lightly. As Ethan’s tongue moved over her body, Anna started to cry. Ria returned to human form so she could handle the delicate human looking baby. Ethan went to the living room to sleep, curling up next to the others in wolf form and fell into a deep sleep.

Tuesday afternoon the bust went down like planned. The cocaine was in the shipment like Ethan had said. The cocaine was impounded and three men were arrested. Everyone involved in the bust congratulated themselves. Ethan told his captain that he wanted family leave. It was his right to take twelve weeks unpaid leave after the birthhis his child.

“You aren’t married to her.”

“The law doesn’t require me to be married to her. I can get it for you if you don’t believe me. I signed the papers. I carried out my responsibility. I lead you to the drugs when they came in. My baby needs her father home with her.”

“Brown, leave the papers. Can you finish as much as you can tonight? I don’t want the perps to walk because you left some small detail undone.”

“After tonight, I’m fucking gone.”

“Leave the paper on my desk. The leave will be approved by tomorrow morning.”

Ethan went to Major Crimes when he needed a dinner break. He hoped Leslie could join him. Wallace put his hand on Ethan’s shoulder and handed him a cigar. “I hear you’re a new father.”

“Gossip travels fast.”

“So?” Conner asked.

“A girl. Anna Louisa Brown, eight pounds two ounces,” Ethan said. “I was hoping Leslie was around.”

“She had to go to the hospital,” Rogers said.

Ethan started to cry. “She told me that she was feeling better.”

“She has pneumonia,” Wallace said. “With her drinking, she could die from it.”

“With all the germs in a hospital, she’ll die. Tell Carl to check her out this instant,” Ethan screamed before heading over to the hospital himself.

Leslie’s room had a book of gloves and masks at the door. There was a warning on the door to be careful in handling all bodily fluids. Ethan was so angry. They could have as just broadcast that Lt. Leslie Douglass was dying. He didn’t put on the gloves or mask when he entered the room, but did don a protective robe. Leslie was receiving oxygen. “It’s good to see you.”

“You have to check yourself out and stay with my family. The germs in this hospital will kill you.”

“I’ll stay with you as soon as the doctors let me go. I want to touch you.”

Ethan touched Leslie’s hand. Ethan leaned over Leslie and kissed her on the mouth. Ethan put his hands through Leslie’s hair as their kiss deepened.

The nurse shouted. “Mrs. Douglass, stop that at once.”

Ethan broke the kiss.

“Visiting hours were over long ago,” the nurse said. “I was concerned for Mrs. Douglass’s health. Your mouth is a warehouse for germs.”

“How did the bust go?” Leslie asked.

“As planned. I’m good.”

“I trained you.” Leslie blew Ethan a kiss.

Alice Whitehead, an older detective, was at Ethan’s terminal when he returned from the hospital. “I found the few places in your paperwork that I need clarification and then you can go on your paternity leave.”

“I’m exhausted.” Ethan pulled up a chair near Alice. “On top of everything, my best friend is in the hospital with viral pneumonia.”

“I’ll help you finish this paperwork so we both can call it a night,” Alice said.

“Thanks.”

“I got us both coffee. The guys at Major Crimes told me that you like the granola bars from the snack machine and peanuts.”

“I spent my dinner break at the hospital so I didn’t eat. Thanks, again.”

Finally, Detective Whitehead told Detective Brown that they were done and they could go home for the night. Detective Whitehead said to come back in the morning and his leave would be approved.

“I don’t mean to run out on everyone. I mean everyone in this department has been like family.”

“But your real family needs you. Get some sleep and enjoy that new baby on yours.”

“Tell Captain Brooks thanks.”

After Ethan stripped at the door and put his clothes in a neat pile to be worn again, he walked up to the nursery, hugged Ria lightly as she was nursing their baby, and changed shape and fell asleep. Ethan dressed early and went to the station to get his paperwork for his paternity leave. Half of it would be paid if he insisted on taking the full twelve as provided by law.

“Brown, how much leave do you want to take?”

“I have the wedding and everything. I really would like the whole twelve weeks.”

“The city will only pay you for six weeks.”

“I understand that.”

“I can’t deny you the time off. Enjoy the time with your new baby.”

“Thanks for approving it so fast.”

Ethan drove to the hospital not caring if it was visiting hours or not. He walked to Leslie’s room not stopping at the visitors’ desk. He didn’t do sterile procedure again. Leslie wasn’t there. He asked a nurse if Mrs. Douglass had checked herself out. The nurse was silent.

Ethan dialed Carl’s number on his cell phone. “Leslie wasn’t in his hospital room.”

“She’s with me,” Carl said. “I signed her out this morning.”

“Thank, God.” Ethan screamed closing the cell phone. Ethan ran out of the hospital and got into his car afraid that he would hurt someone in his relief.

The cell phone rang again in a few minutes as Ethan sat in the Saturn trying to calm himself. “Carl, I’m sorry that I screamed.”

“Would you like to talk to her?”

“In a moment, we’re having a small wedding here at the courthouse. Do you think she’ll be able to go?”

“Ask her yourself.”

Ethan drove to the convenient store that Ryan worked. He brought a case of candy cigars saying, “It’s a girl,” to distribute to the pack. Ethan started crying at the register.

“What is it, man?” Ryan asked.

“Leslie nearly died late night.”

“I’m sorry. I know that you love her.”

“I have a wife and baby that need me.”

“You can have compassion for a friend, too.”

“Ryan, I’m sorry that I fucking blew up at you.”

“You had reason, man.”

Ethan paid for the candy cigars. “See you at the house.” Ethan took off his clothes at the door and put them in a hamper. He wanted over to Juan who was sitting on the back step watching the girls put the first rabbits in their cages. “I came to a decision.”

“I’m listening.” Juan put his hand casually on Ethan’s hand and looked into Ethan’s eyes.

“I want to be your second in command.” Ethan licked Juan’s neck.

“What changed your mind?”

“Leslie almost died last night.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Does my reason matter? This is my family now and I’ll do my best to protect it. I’m the most qualified to lead the pack in case of your absence.”

“How did the bust go?”

“Great. The bad guys will probably go to prison a long time and the city took a ton of cocaine off the street. The distributor will find another fucking location and the war on drugll cll continue. I have twelve weeks of paternity leave. During that time, I’ll find a job that I love. Who knows I might become a shepherd?”

“A shepherd? You know about wolves minding the sheep.”

“Here I am, a fucking genius, working as a cop. All the big boys are patting themselves on the back because we took out a supplier. It’s fucking nonsense. The drugs will be out on the street from another location. Not a fucking thing has changed.”

Juan stroked Ethan’s hair. “You can’t expect to change the world.”

“I would do the world more good if I built houses, drove a truck, or taught school,” Ethan shouted, waving his arms around.

“So what do you want to do?” Juan licked his ear.

“Fuck, I can’t think when you’re touching me.”

“That’s the idea.”

Ethan pulled Juan’s hands off him. “Talk now. We’ll fuck later.”

“As long as we agree on that.” Juan met Ethan’s eyes. “So what do you want to do with your life?”

“Don’t laugh. I want to drive a truck. I love being on the open road with the wind in my hair, listening to my tunes, having time alone with my thoughts.”

“Do it.” Juan planted a kiss on Ethan’s lips.

Ethan wrapped his arms around him and returned the kiss allowing himself to enjoy the moment. “I will.” Ethan returned to snuggling with Juan as the children left the rabbits in the cages to chase each other. Ethan laughed as he watched the two girls darting in the muddy yard unconcerned about getting mud on their flimsy clothes. Ronaldo, Carlos and the younger children were unaware of their nudity. Children didn’t need many toys, clothes or even a structured school to go to.

Ria came on the porch carrying the infant. “Honey, why are you home?”

Ethan put an arm around her shoulder. “I have twelve weeks paternity leave and I’m not going back.”

“What are you going to do?” Ria asked.

“He’s going to become a shepherd,” her father said.

“I’m going to drive a truck,” Ethan said. “I have had my CDL before. My captain wants me to get it again. So I’ll get it and then I’m quitting the police force.”

“Good for you,” Ria said.