[Thorough dogproofing from labradors is occasionally a lesson in futility, but Angeal sets the tray on the designated spot and promptly fishes out one of the aforementioned peanut butter sticks, little more than lightly baked flour, egg and primary ingredient.

Hopefully he won't lose a finger in offering it; some dogs take gently and other dogs think the whole hand is the treat.]

.. I'll try to keep this as clean as I can.

[This was already going to be an upsetting night for Zack. Maybe the food would help later, in some fashion. Drawing things out was a disservice.

Not to himself. He deserved it and more.]

I told Shaw apologies aren't going to mean much if it's just words. There's nothing I can say that'll change the things I've done, and you deserve better than ... lip service.