[ 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

[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."

[nerves_of_ice]

Alpine wiggles and makes a discontented squeaking sound, but otherwise seems resigned to his fate. Bucky's far less resigned, but it helps that the little cat isn't struggling - and that Sharon's got a comforting hand on his back in support.

"We haven't noticed anything wrong with him, or anything like that."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm glad to hear it." Kendall continues her exam, gently palpating Alpine's torso as Sharon runs her hand up and down Bucky's back as comfortingly as she can. "Well, he certainly looks very healthy. Good weight, good muscle mass... how's he eating? Anything unusual with his litter habits?"

"He eats great, and no," Sharon reports. "He's pretty playful, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Lots of energy, but nothing destructive," Bucky reports. "He's a good little guy."

"It's obvious you two are taking good care of him," the vet says cheerfully. "Have you thought about neutering yet?"

He has to stop himself from reaching to grab Alpine away from her. "Not right now."

[from_the_outside]

"I'd advise it before he gets too much older," the vet tells them. "You don't want him to start spraying inside. Even neutering might not stop that habit, once it starts."

Sharon grimaces, then nods. "We'll talk about it," she promises.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's pretty sure his expression shows just how little he wants to talk about it, but he stays quiet. It's probably for the best, he understands that, but it just makes him feel uncomfortable as hell.

"I'll give you a pamphlet," Kendall promises. "It's very safe, and he won't miss anything. I can also answer any questions, when you're ready."

[from_the_outside]

"Thanks," Sharon tells her, and the vet nods, then turns to stroke Alpine, smiling. "Ready for your shots, big guy?"

True to her word, the shots seem hardly noticeable; she pinches up his scruff and inserts the needle, cooing and stroking Alpine the whole time.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good job, buddy," Bucky murmurs, relaxing a little. "That's not so bad, huh?"

"Not at all," Kendall promises. "The blood draw's just as easy. Given how wiggly he is, though, I'll burrito him."

Bucky blinks. "You'll do what now?"

[from_the_outside]

The vet chuckles, reaching for a large, soft cloth. "Burrito," she repeats. "I'll wrap him up, just so he doesn't hurt himself or me while we're drawing blood. He should be perfectly comfortable."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay," Bucky says, dubious, but it doesn't take long for the vet to demonstrate her point. Alpine even seems to like it, snuggling down into the cloth.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon chuckles as Alpine looks around the room, apparently uncaring while the vet draws a few samples of his blood. "Pretty effective."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I guess nothing interferes with his curiosity," Bucky observes, amused now.

"He's a saint compared to some of my patients," the vet agrees. "I'll just place the chip and we'll be all set."

[from_the_outside]

"He's doing great," Sharon agrees. Whether she means Alpine or Bucky is left up for debate. "Have you been practicing here long?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Almost seven years," she says, as she opens the chip pack and gets a large needle, which Bucky eyes with misgiving. "We've seen a lot of changes in the neighborhood, of course, but it's a nice place to be."

[from_the_outside]

"I didn't realize you had adoptions, too." She watches as the vet deftly slips the needle beneath Alpine's fur to place the chip. "There must be a lot of strays out there."

[nerves_of_ice]

"There are. The Blip was hard on animals, too. So we do what we can to help out." She rubs Alpine's ears. "Just a little sting," she reassures him, and depresses the plunger.

Alpine lets out a sharp yowl and flattens his ears. Bucky reaches for him.