The German Shepherd

Disclaimer

GSG is not mine.

Dedications

To you, Danjo3. From Triela the Bitch, I've gone on to Triela the Tease.

Also, Sintendo, having inspired me by Bianchi and Claes' psychotherapy session in The Lighter Side.

Finally, to Nachtsider and Deathra, who gave me priceless encouragement and beta read.

To you four, and all others: Thank you.

"Good morning, Triela."

"Good morning, Dr. Bianchi."

"How are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm fine."

"How is Hilshire?"

"The usual, I guess."

"That's good to hear. Now, Triela, I want you to write on this paper what you think of Hilshire."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Take as much time as you need."

"…can I draw instead of write?"

"Well, sure…"

"Okay. Thanks, Doctor. Don't look."

"Why?"

"It's a surprise." After a few minutes: "Done!"

"May I see it now?"

"Sure."

"All right… ah, Triela?"

"Yes?"

"This… this is a dog…"

"It is."

"Why a dog?"

"It fits Hilshire well. Don't you think so too, Doctor?"

"…and that means?"

"It's not just any dog. It's a German Shepherd."

"…please explain…"

"Well, they're both German, obviously…"

"Okay…"

"They're both big, gruff, they bark a lot–"

"Bark?"

"You know…" A supple hand elegantly formed a dog head. "Triela, do this. Triela, do that." The dog-hand's mouth opened and closed. "Triela! Kind of like a dog barking 'Wan! Wan!' at everything that moves…"

The dog-hand bayed like mad to an imaginary moon.

"… I… see… ah, any other parallel... trait of note?"

"… I don't know…"

"Ah… how about, protective?"

"Overprotective… but yeah…"

"Brave?"

"… uh, huh…"

"Ruggedly… handsome?"

"Handsome?!"

"Well…"

"…fine, I guess handsome works, too..."

"… hairy?"

Cherry pink won over light russet in coloring Triela's cheeks.

The beet-faced Hilshire could not decide what to do first: increase Triela's conditioning, or kill Bianchi.

Note: "Wan" is how the Germans translate the sound of dog barks.