Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
They pulled up to the vet’s office and hurried in, tiny D’Artagnan still shaking and worried.
“Don’t worry, baby. We’ll help.” He went to the counter, leaving the puppy with Laird. “Hi, I’m Devon. I called just a minute ago. Dr. Gray said that he could see this little one. We found him under the stairs.”
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, so cute. Of course.” The young lady behind the counter hurried them back to a warm, if a little sterile, exam room.
Every vet’s office smelled like this weird disinfectant. He didn’t know why—his office didn’t smell like this. Human doctors didn’t smell like this.
But all veterinary offices did.
“I’m going to scan him for a microchip before anything else. He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”
“He is. A sweet little baboo.”
“Aw, hi, sweetie.” The tech took the baby from them and scanned his little back and his butt too with the microchip scanner. “It’s okay, it’s not going to hurt you. You just need to relax and let us do this.”
He had to fight back a grin because he figured if he talked to his patients like vet techs and vets talked to dogs and cats, he would get his ass handed to him. It just made him laugh to notice the differences.
“Oh, that’s a shame. There’s no microchip. I would have at least known who dumped him.” The tech laid the microchip scanner aside. “Now I’m just going to take your temperature, baby. You’re not going to like that. Okay, I know, but we have to do it.”
“Aw, that sucks.” Devon reached for Laird’s hand because he didn’t like the way D’Artagnan cried when she stuck the thermometer where the sun didn’t shine.
“All done. It’s okay. You did so good.” She nuzzled the little guy, and then handed him back over to Devon and Laird. “All righty. I’m gonna go tell Dr. Jeremy you’re ready.”
“Thanks.”
“Of course.” She gave them one last little smile before heading out and closing the door behind her.
He looked at Laird. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Well, I guess it’s good that no one’s out there looking for him, but I feel bad that somebody just dumped him. I wonder what the vet’s going to say. I bet he’s not as perfect as he looks. Not as far as maybe a breeder is concerned.”
Devon held up D’Artagnan and peered at Laird with a frown. “I don’t care. He’s amazing.”
“I didn’t say anything about him not being amazing. He’s a cute little shit. I assume that this means you’re going to want to take him home.”
Devon gave his husband an arched eyebrow.
“Yes, I mean if someone can prove that they lost him, I’ll totally let him go back home, but until that happens, you better get on your phone and start making orders.
We need a dog bed, dog food, a dog bowl, a collar, toys, puppy pads, and other dog things that I don’t know we need yet. ”
Laird pulled his phone out, teasing him. “I’m not sure that he’s big enough to even be called a dog. I think maybe we’ll just call him a rat.”
He was not listening to this baloney. “We’re going to call him D’Artagnan. I’ve already told you that. He is going to be your son’s bosom buddy.”
“He might be my son’s first chew toy. I’m pretty sure the baby is going to be three times his size when he’s born.”
“I would hope so given that he weighs a little less than three pounds.” Dr. Jeremy came in, the big man with a smile that lit up the room. “Look at this little beast, how you doing, buddy? His temperature was a little high, but that’s pretty normal.”
Jeremy took him, the little white fuzzy ball of joy almost disappearing in the man’s hands.
“So you say you found him under the porch?” Jeremy asked, checking the little pup’s eyeballs and teeth.
“Yeah, he was under there just crying away.” Laird slung an arm around Devon. “It was pretty wet, too.”
“But it looks like you cleaned him up really well. He’s pretty fluffy and dry.”
Devon nodded. “We couldn’t let him be all gross. We didn’t know if we should do flea shampoo or anything, but he didn’t seem to have ticks.”
“Flea shampoo would be a little harsh for a guy this small. I don’t think he needs it.
We don’t have a problem with that up here right now, anyway.
And you’re right, he doesn’t appear to have any ticks.
” Jeremy held the pup in one hand while he worked his back legs, his shoulders in front, his tail, and palpated his belly with the other hand.
“That’s good, right?” Devon didn’t want anything to be wrong with this little guy. He was so small and defenseless.
“Yes, that’s definitely good. He’s got a little bit of flex in his back right leg that tells me he might have a tiny bit of hip dysplasia, but otherwise, he feels pretty good.
With your permission, I’d like to take some blood and test him for all the various parasites and stuff like that to make sure there’s no evidence of worms or of diseases like distemper and that sort of thing. He seems to be pretty healthy though.”
“Of course.” He looked at Laird, then back at Jeremy. “Would he get his first round of shots today if he’s otherwise healthy?”
“He will. And then you’ll have to come back twice after that to finish everything off.
” Jeremy held the little guy up and nuzzled their noses together, which was just the cutest thing ever.
“You’ll have to keep him out of other people’s yards and away from other people’s dogs and not board him until after he’s had all of his shots. Then he should be safe.”
Laird was still clicking on his phone with the hand not wrapped around Devon’s wrist, where it had slid down from his shoulders. “Is there anything I need to get him health-wise, along with all the things that he needs to be safe and happy in the house?”
“I don’t think so. I think you’ll be fine. I wonder if somebody didn’t open a door on their way back and forth from the river, or someplace, if maybe he just bounced out.”
Devon shook his head. “He seems really little.”
“Well, he’s not brand-new; this breed type is tiny.
He’s a puppy for sure, but who knows? He could have been lost from a camper and then just wandered and wandered until he found someplace safe.
I’ll check the boards and make sure there’s nothing that says Missing Puppy.
” Jeremy smiled at him. “I suggest you put up some signs to see if somebody is missing a dog. But honestly, guys, they’re gonna call here, and they’re gonna call the pound in Montrose and ask if we’ve seen him. ”
“Okay, then he can hang out at our place and wait to see if somebody comes. If they don’t, we’ll keep him.” Devon was very certain.
Laird rolled his eyes, and Devon figured it was okay because the dog was cute, and honestly, the cats had not tried to kill it immediately, so he supposed that was a good thing.
“I’m kind of in love with him already.” Devon’s cheeks heated a little bit.
“Then we’ll work with it,” Laird said. “Maybe I’ll have somebody on my side for a change. Not that the cats hate me anymore, but they’re still not my best friends.”
“Yeah, they’re kind of standoffish, my cats.”
Jeremy blinked at both of them. “Standoffish does not begin to cover what those cats are.”
“Hey, they’ve never shredded you.” Devon wagged a finger at Jeremy. “They’ve been very polite.”
“Only because you bring them in wrapped in towels.”
That had Laird cracking up, shaking against him. “Being a vet sounds a lot like being an EMT. It’s weird what people will do when they’re in an ambulance.”
“You know it, and at least people you can communicate with. There’s lots of times I get a critter, and it can’t tell me what’s wrong, and it just—I hate that. I mean…” Jeremy shrugged and smiled. “I love it when I can fix it, but it’s hard sometimes.”
“Yeah, I understand. I hate every time that we end up having a baby in the bus, and they can’t express themselves.”
They all had a moment of understanding, of knowledge that they all had those moments where they wanted to help, and they couldn’t.
Finally Devon sighed. “Do we need to go pick the puppy’s stuff up?”
Laird nodded. “We do because, even if for some reason, this little guy’s owner shows up, somehow I have the feeling there’s going to be a dog in our future.”
Devon grinned. “Well, yes. As long as the cats approve of him or her.”
“Yeah.” Laird chuckled too. “They like this one, so I have a feeling it will all work out.”
“I know you guys will give him a good home given the chance.”
“We’re gonna try. We’ll make the calls and all, but…”
“But why was he alone out there if he has a home, you know?” Laird finished for him.
“Exactly.”
“Okay, let me take him to the back and get those blood tests and such.” Jeremy winked. “We do that so you don’t have to see.”
Devon had to bite back a protest. “Okay. Sure. Cool.”
“It’s better this way. You know that.”
Devon nodded. Jeremy always took the cats back, and everyone came back whole and safe.
But this little guy had to be so scared. Unlike the cats, he had no idea what was going on…
“It’s okay, babe. He’ll be fine. It’s good practice for the baby getting shots.”
Devon put his hands over his belly like he was defending his little boy. “Don’t talk about that! What’s wrong with you? Why would you talk about that?”
Laird’s eyes went wide. “So I’m assuming I’m the one taking him in for the shots?”
He couldn’t believe this. His sweet son wasn’t even born, and Laird was talking about poking him with a needle?
He understood it was necessary and important, but just the thought of someone causing his unborn baby pain was enough to make him want to vomit.
“Don’t talk about it! Oh my God, he’s not even here! What is wrong with you?”
Laird looked a little constipated, and then he grinned. “Nothing. Nothing. I must have temporarily lost my mind. That’s all.”
“Right. Christ. He’s not even here yet.” He began to cry, the emotions pouring out of him.
“Hey. Hey, it’s okay.” Laird grabbed him and held on. “I’m sorry. Don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t just be—Hormones.” He was going to blame everything on hormones for the next month, two months, possibly the next rest of his life.
He was going to blame it all on hormones.
“I never just cry.”
Laird shook his head and kept holding on. “Shh! It’s okay. I’m sorry I upset you. I swear it was just me talking out of my ass. I ordered a bunch of stuff for the puppy…”
He frowned a little bit. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“God, yes.” Laird nodded! “I absolutely, one hundred percent am trying to distract you. Is it working?”
“Not yet, but there’s definitely a possibility it will.” He chuckled through his tears. “God, I feel like an idiot, Laird.”
“I’m sure it’s just instinct, right? This deep, deep, internal thing. Like I can’t imagine being in a position where you are the sole protector of this tiny life. It’s all you. You’re creating and growing—”
He shook his head. “Well, no, I’m growing. We created, and you better be doing your part of the protecting.”
He waggled his finger and Laird nodded. “I’m on it.”
“Good. I get what you mean, though. He is inside me for a while yet.”
“Exactly. We’ll focus on keeping him healthy, and on potty training this little guy we have coming home today.” Laird waggled his eyebrows. “And picking up the things I ordered.”
“Did you get cute things?” He did love his fun pet supplies.
“You’re going to be so tickled. I got matching bowls for the cats too.” Laird winked at him and whispered. “And there’s a collar with his name on it. Because you know he’s the fourth musketeer.”
“Oh, he so is.” Devon just loved Laird so much for thinking ahead and doing stuff for him that Laird would never do just for himself. It gave him the warm fuzzies. “I love you. I’m sorry for freaking out.”
Laird hugged him tight. “Babe, I would be surprised if every so often you didn’t. I’m glad you trust me enough to share it with me.”
“I trust you enough to share everything.” He lifted his face for a kiss. “Is it awful to hope that he doesn’t have a family who’s looking for him?”
“No, it’s not awful. If they were really taking care of him, he probably wouldn’t have been under our porch. I’m not saying dogs don’t get lost, they do. And I’m not judging that, I’m just saying.” He hugged him close and gave him the kiss he was asking for.
“Oh, good. I don’t want to be a bad person.”
“I know, baby. Don’t worry about that. It’s not gonna happen.”
Jeremy came back into the room a few minutes later and handed him the puppy. “He did great. We’ve done the blood test; it won’t be but a few minutes, and I’ll have somebody come in and tell you what the results were if I’m in with another patient.”
“Thanks, Jeremy, we really appreciate you fitting us in today,” Laird said.
“Not a problem at all. Also, after a good bit more examination back there, I decided to just go ahead and give him his shots because he doesn’t seem to be suffering from anything that would preclude them.”
Devon could feel Laird’s embrace tighten around him, and he knew he was hoping there wasn’t going to be another meltdown. He chuckled lightly because he understood that had been something of a surprise for him, too. “That’s perfect. This way I don’t have to watch the poor little guy get them.”
“Exactly. No worries.” Jeremy shook hands with him and Laird, and then headed out, waving over his shoulder as he went.
The tech came back in about five minutes later telling them all the tests had come back negative, and he was good to go, little D’Artagnan. So they headed out to let him potty and then go pick up the things that they could do curbside service on.
On the way, he made calls to all the major animal control places to see if somebody had reported D’Artagnan missing, and then told them he would be sending them pictures via email that they could post on their bulletin boards.
But honestly, by the time they got home, he was fairly certain they had themselves a dog.