[ Brooklyn ] a visit to the vet

[from_the_outside]

Getting Bucky to agree to the chip had been like pulling teeth, but he'd eventually given in. Neutering had been a whole other conversation, and she's still not sure he's totally on board with the idea. 

But agree to the chip he had, and an appointment had been made, and now she's waiting by the door of the apartment, checking the time as Bucky wrangles an unsuspecting Alpine. "Baby, do you need some help getting him in the carrier? We've got to get going."

Picking the vet had been a whole other adventure, but they'd finally settled on one nearby that had glowing reviews from multiple pet owners. Still, she thinks Bucky's more nervous about the whole idea than Alpine himself.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

She heads in, then waits for the door to close behind Bucky before she goes to the reception desk, where a young woman looks up to greet her with a smile. "Here for an appointment?"

Sharon grins back at the receptionist. "We sure are. It's under Barnes, I think? We've got Alpine here for his first visit."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Of course, Alpine - we're happy to see him! It's always nice to make a new friend," the receptionist says. Bucky raises the carrier so the receptionist can see him, and can't help but smile a little as she beams at the little white cat. "He's a darling, isn't he?"

"He's a good little guy," Bucky agrees.

[from_the_outside]

"It's his first visit, and he's our first pet," Sharon explains to the receptionist.

The goats don't count. "We're all a little nervous."

[nerves_of_ice]

It's just another one of the many reasons he adores her, the way she says 'we' without thinking about it, without making him feel ridiculous for how stressed he is over this. The glance he turns on her is warm, and says everything without words.

"Don't worry about it," the receptionist assures them. "That's normal. You're in good hands, I promise. Dr. Kendall's one of our best."

She looks around the waiting room, then points to another door a little way down the hall. "We're a little full in here, but if you'd like to wait in there, we have a cat-friendly space on the left side of the room. I'll let her know you're here."

[from_the_outside]

"Thanks," Sharon tells her, and heads with Bucky toward the room in question. As she pushes open the door, a delighted laugh bubble up past her lips. "Uh oh, Alpine. Look, you have company."

Specifically, company of a distinctly doggy persuasion. The right half of the room features a few large plexiglass cages, some of which contain furry bodies. The dogs get to their feet as they see the door open and press their noses to the plexiglass, red tongues lolling tails wagging. On the wall nearby is a sign pointing to a Doggy Daycare; around it are posted advertisements. Sharon goes to look through them, curious. "Wow, they run adoptions out of here, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Friendly company, at that," Bucky reassures Alpine, who looks distinctly unimpressed. He brings the carrier over to a cat tower in the corner and sets it on a higher level so the little cat can have a good view of the room, then turns to watch Sharon.

"They do?"

[from_the_outside]

"Looks that way." She crouches in front of one of the cages, where a chubby gray pitbull is wagging so hard his whole body sways mightily back and forth as Sharon laughs, her eyes light and her smile breaking across her face.

"Hi, buddy. Are you just so excited to see someone back here? Shouldn't you be out in daycare, having fun?"

The pitbull wags harder, licking at the plexiglass in an attempt to get to her face.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky grins at that. "Oh, he likes you." And to judge from the look on Sharon's face, she likes him too.

[from_the_outside]

"I think he probably likes everybody." She scratches at the plexiglass, and the pitbull responds by doing his best to lick her finger straight through the barrier. Nearby, an older Labrador mix moves into a corner of his area, tail waving gently as he noses at the plexiglass, hoping for attention that Sharon is happy to provide.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky stays where he is so that Alpine won't feel abandoned, and watches as Sharon lavishes attention on both dogs through the barrier. "Looks like the feeling's mutual."

[from_the_outside]

"I've always liked dogs," she tells him, as she coos at the two currently competing for her attention. She wishes there were a way through the plexiglass so she could pet them and play with them the way they'd so clearly enjoy. The pit, in particular, is smiling widely as he rubs up against the glass.

"I've never been able to have one, though. Too much traveling around."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I remember you telling me before that you wanted a puppy as a kid," he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah." Reluctantly, she gets to her feet, giving the dogs a last wave before she comes over to Bucky and Alpine. "It just never worked out."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yeah." Alpine meows imperiously, clearly tired of being confined, and puts a paw up to the mesh. Bucky chuckles. "I guess he's got a couple of opinions about that."

[from_the_outside]

She huffs a breath of laughter as she comes to scratch at the mesh. "Well, he doesn't need to worry. The dogs can't get to him."

A nearby door opens, and a volunteer comes through, holding a couple of leashes in his hand. "Don't mind me," he says, cheerfully. "Just taking these two for a run-around in the yard."

Sharon watches as he opens the door to the pit's cage, how the sleek gray dog wags and wags, licking at the volunteer's hands as he fastens the leash onto its collar. "Some owner's pretty lucky to have that lovebug," she says, smiling. "He sure is friendly."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Someone will be," the volunteer agrees. Bucky slides the zipper and works a couple of fingers into the small space to pet Alpine while he listens. "He's one of ours who's available for placement, hoping to find his forever home."

"How long has he been with you?" he asks.

"Almost a month now. Sometimes it's hard to place these guys, even when they're sweet like this fellow is, aren't you?" the volunteer says, snapping the leash into place.

[from_the_outside]

"A month?" She comes back to visit the gray dog, who wiggles in delight and reaches his head up, trying to lick at her face as she kneels down to pet him. "You don't look so scary to me."

The pitbull's short fur is silky under her fingers, and she laughs as she tries to fend off his advances while the volunteer goes to retrieve the lab. "Maybe you should set up a kissing booth for him. That ought to get some applications in."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's a good idea!" the volunteer laughs. "I'll pass it along. Dog adoption carnival, or something like that."

From Alpine's side, Bucky watches the two of them together, idly turning an idea over in his mind.

[from_the_outside]

The pitbull manages to wash her face a few times before the volunteer returns with the lab mix, and Sharon laughs as she gets back to her feet. "If you need a character reference, let me know," she tells the young man. "He seems like a sweetheart."

[nerves_of_ice]

"He definitely is," the volunteer says, gathering one dog's leash in each hand. "And if--"

"Mrs. Barnes?" A vet tech peeks in the door. "Dr. Kendall's ready for you and Alpine."

Bucky swallows a laugh.

[from_the_outside]

"Huh?" She turns, bemused, only to realize what must have happened. Mrs. Her mother would be thrilled.

At least Bucky looks amused, and not like he's panicking internally. She gives him a fondly exasperated glance and turns her attention on the tech. "It's just Sharon. And this is Bucky."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Hi," he says, cheerful now. "And this, of course, is Alpine. Come on, buddy."

He picks the carrier up gently and cradles it on his arm again as he moves to follow the tech.

[from_the_outside]

She gives the gray pitbull a last glance, then turns to follow Bucky, the tech letting the door swing closed behind her. "So, we're in today for a check up and a chip, right?" the tech says, cheerfully. "How about we start by getting Alpine's weight?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Right." He glances around and doesn't see anything that looks like a scale. The tech spots this and pats the exam table. "It's built in here. All we need is to get him out of the carrier."

"Right," Bucky says again, with more certainty. He sets the carrier down on the table and unzips it. "Come on, buddy."

He's not sure he's ever seen as skeptical a look as the one the little white cat gives him.

[from_the_outside]

"Come on, Alpine," Sharon coaxes, holding out her hand. The little cat sniffs at her fingers, then turns an unimpressed glance on her, but as she gently lifts the carrier, he steps out onto the metal table.

"There you go."