[ 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]

"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."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good boy," the tech praises, glancing at the display. "And a good healthy weight, too, looks like - nine-point-seven pounds."

Alpine doesn't seem to care, stepping cautiously along the table. He comes to a stop between Bucky and Sharon, looking up at them. When Bucky reaches down to pet him, he seizes his chance, leaping to his forearm and climbing nimbly to his favored shoulder perch.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon laughs and reaches up to retrieve him, shaking her head. "Sorry, buddy," she tells the bemused Alpine. "They can't give you a checkup all the way up there."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Extra treats later, I promise," Bucky tells him. The tech laughs. "Bribery always works. Here, hand him over. I'll give him a physical."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon collects the small cat and hands him to the tech, who sets him back down on the exam table and begins his assessment, stroking and chatting to Alpine all the while. Alpine, clearly bewildered and none to happy about his situation, submits to it but does his best to wriggle away when he sees a chance as Sharon laughs.

"That's our little escape artist."

[nerves_of_ice]

"He's pretty clever," Bucky agrees, and turns sideways toward the sound as the door opens.

"How're we doing in here?" the white-coated vet asks. Her smile is cheerful and warm. "Hi, I'm Dr. Kendall, and this must be Alpine, which makes you two his caretakers, right?"

"All vitals normal," the tech reports, and Kendall beams. "That's what we like to hear."

[from_the_outside]

"Us, too." She makes her way back over to Bucky, standing close to his side in the hopes that her being near will help alleviate his anxiety. "So, will he be getting any shots today?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’d recommend it,” the doctor says, and Bucky tenses like spring steel. “You’d said when you called that he was feral before? At least the core vaccines, and some blood work to make sure he’s not picked up anything.”

“It won’t hurt him, will it?” The question bursts out of him.

[from_the_outside]

She puts a comforting hand at Bucky's back as the vet shakes her head, sympathetic. "No," she promises. "A little pinch, that's all. And then he'll be protected, and we'll have an idea if there's anything he'd picked up that could cause problems later."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay," he murmurs, as Alpine wiggles free of the tech and comes over to butt his head against Bucky's hand, clearly picking up on his stress. He strokes his hand over the little cat's back and scratches him under the chin. "Okay. Let's do it."

[from_the_outside]

"We'll do those last," the vet promises. "And get all the rest out of the way first."

She reaches with gentle but implacable hands for Alpine, drawing him back to the middle of the exam table, and continues by pushing up his lip to study his teeth. "Teeth and mouth look good."