CSI: Braden Sanders-Stokes: Fast Forward

A/N: Posted simultaneously with Chapter 18, entitled "Saying Goodbye, One More Time", because of its short length.

Summary: Epilogue.

Two years out of veterinary school Braden Sanders-Stokes began his own veterinary practice and asked his highschool sweetheart, Patty O'Doole, to marry him.

Now, Patty Sanders-Stokes, she works for the city of Las Vegas as an animal police officer, handling cases of animal cruelty, and in general, giving a voice to those who cannot otherwise be heard.

Currently, they live together with their adopted daughter, Annabel, and their Greyhound, Mars Landing.

Proud grandparents, Nicholas and Gregory Sanders-Stokes finally retired after forty-five years of working for the Las Vegas Crime Lab.

When they're not babysitting Annabel, they're often helping the Greyhound Underground Railroad(GUR) by driving dogs part way on their journey across the country to adoptive homes and shelters.

Nick enjoys fostering needy Greyhounds and getting them ready for adoption while Greg takes quiet pleasure in his fame as author of the series Bear, Private Detective, set in the 1930's. (Some say the main character, Bear, is based on someone he used to work with, but these rumors have never been confirmed.)

Together, they're currently owned by brindle Greyhound, Good Luck Charm.

A/N: The character Bear is based on, is of course, Jim Brass. He may be a hard-as-nails cop and you sure as hell wouldn't want to meet him in a dark ally on the other side of his gun, but inside we all know he's just a big teddy bear. Here, I used Bear as a last name for Greg's character.

Of course, none of the ex-racing Greyhounds mentioned in this story actually exist. If names do match real ex-racers, it's only coincidence.

If anyone is looking for a great book about gay parents check out this memoir: The Velveteen Father by Jesse Green. It's fantastic, truthful, and I love the title which has a large significance for the author. It shows how hard it actually is for real gay men to adopt children, as I painted a little different picture here.

If you're looking for more information on Greyhounds check out the magazine Celebrating Greyhounds which can be found online at www(dot)adopt-a-greyhound(dot)org.

Also, if you want automatic updates on my work join my wiki! Www(dot)QueenOfTheUniverse(dot)wetpaint(dot)com. I'll let you know when the next new story comes out!

BTW: The next story I write will either be Vampires Picnic or Sanctuary, I haven't decided yet.