The Veterinarian and the Werewolf

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 – Jessie

The soft translucent steam wafted up from the cup of coffee warming up Jessie's hands. She had been called out in the middle of the night to a cattle ranch to help with the birthing of a cow in distress. She was grateful that Joe was still staying with them as she had been able to wake him to go with her. Together they had helped the cow deliver twins, one had been breech, and they had to help manipulate it to turn.

That had been 5 hours ago, and on returning, Joe washed up and went back to bed. But Jessie had too much adrenaline rushing through her system. Instead, she used this time, the stillness of the kitchen, the soft early bird calls outside, and the clicking clock on the mantle to help her calm down. To process what had happened over the last few days.

Yesterday had been so eventful, full of fear, anxiety, joy and then sadness. Henry had finally managed to change back to his human form and just in time mind you. Her fear that they would make her kill him had driven her to desperately call to him. When he turned the relief that flooded her body had been enormous. It was followed, however, with another kind of fear, this Henry didn't recognise her, or where he was. In fact, she had surmised this consciousness was still that young man that fifteen years ago had come searching for her. In one way that was great, he recognised she was his mate and was not fearful in her presence. But she was left with the horrible task of reminding him that his family were all dead. That his nephew was living with another pack, and unless he remembered where the pack was, there was no way of finding him.

On top of that, she had a young man to worry about. When the trio had returned last evening after shopping for clothes for Henry, she noticed that Tom was very quiet. Joe was his bratty self, proclaiming that he had told her that Wolfy was a were all those weeks before. Dillon was accepting of this unusual event more than she thought was right to be. But Tom, he was quieter than normal. He didn't run away or hide in his room, but his body language was closed off, he held himself aloof no longer playing with Joe. The whole evening and night Henry had slept, so the boys had not been able to question him. But she knew it would happen and wondered what the conversation between Tom and Henry would look like. They had been so close when he had been in wolf form, that she was worried that the young man would struggle now that Henry was a 31yr old man.

She heard a creak on the stairs and looked up just as the man in question walked into the kitchen. Tom's hair stuck out at all angles, his skinny yet toned chest and arms were bare, giving him an almost manly look, if it had not been for the Pokémon PJ bottoms he was wearing. He walked to the coffee pot, pouring himself a cup before he turned, leaning his bottom against the bench. He took a sip of the black brew and almost dropped the mug when he recognised Jessie sitting at the table. She chuckled at his sleepy self. "Didn't sleep well, Tom?" He shook his head and then lowered his eyes, staring into the mug as if it held all the answers to life and the universe.

She went back to her own coffee, she wasn't going to push the young man to talk, it wasn't her place. The only thing she wanted to do was give him a safe place to land, and a family to belong to. Now that Boyd was dead, the ranch was safer, but his father was still an unknown part of the equation. She wasn't really sure even of his mother who had made no contact since he had been staying with them. It broke her heart to see that the young man had not grown up in a loving home, instead one dominated with proving you were good enough for affection.

He pushed himself off the bench and placed the now empty mug in the sink. "Are you going into the clinic today?" his soft voice seemed hesitant in the stillness.

"I will yes, but not before I get some sleep. I've been out most of the night at the Happy Saddle's Ranch. Helping birth twins."

He nodded at that. "I'll stay here with Henry when you do so you won't have to worry."

She smiled a small soft smile. "I would like that, thank you. I don't think he is ready to get out of bed for too long yet. His shoulder will take longer to heal... Well, that's what all the were books say. They take longer to heal when human. At least that's what Joe was talking about all the way to the ranch and back again this morning. And Tom, don't push him on his memory. Just give him what he wants ok?"

A big yawn caught Jessie by surprise. Tom walked forward and took her empty mug. "Ok, Miss Jessie. Why don't you head back to bed? I will field any calls that might come in. You just rest."

Standing she yawned again before handing him her phone. "Thanks, Tom, you really are amazing, don't let anyone tell you any different." She lent up and kissed him on the cheek, red blossomed across his face at her action and he coughed a little.

"Thanks, Miss Jessie, I'll remember that." She touched his arm to affirm her words, then headed upstairs for bed.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she heard a whimper coming from her room. Inside she found Henry had tossed around claiming her side of the bed, burying his head in her pillow, and now his body was star fished on his stomach taking up the whole bed. Lack of sleep created anger in her chest. Agitated she stiffened her shoulders and wondered how the hell she was going to get into the bed. A new whimper interrupted her frustrated thoughts. Deflating, she slumped and walked over to where his head was, gently running her hand through his hair, then the tips of her fingers down his furrowed brow. His eyes slowly opened. There she saw a lost empty look before recognition and then peace. "Hey," his deep rough voice broke out. "You were gone."

"Sorry, I had to go to work. How about you scoot over and I'll tell you about it." He rolled onto his side and moved back as she wearily slid between the sheets. Just as she was about to lift her arm and invite him into a hug, she felt her body being pulled into his hard warm physique. Her face tucked into his furry chest, the familiar scent of his musk, and his thick arms wrapped around her. She didn't want to, but at that moment all her memories of their time at the tree came flooding into her brain, causing her to begin to weep. She had missed him, missed his touch, missed his confident warmth. As she began to unravel his hands soothingly ran up and down her back. Eventually, she wore herself out, the comfort she felt lulling her into a deep sleep.

A few hours later she awoke in the same position, soft voices speaking around her. "Are you sure she has to be woken? Can't we just cancel her work for the day?" his voice rumbled softly.

Before anyone had the option to answer she spoke up, "I'm up, it's ok." She tried to push out of his arms, but he held fast growling at her movement. "Henry, Love, you have to let me go. Tom will stay with you while I'm at work, it will only be for two hours then I will be back again." She felt the hesitation at first until Tom's name was mentioned.

"You mean the tallboy?" she stifled a laugh by burying her head in his chest.

She made a move out of his arms. Looking at his face, irritation laced across his brow. "Yes Henry, the tallboy. When I get home, I will cook you up some nice large pieces of steak, ok?"

That bought a smile to his face. "OK." Chuckling at the now boyish look on his face she climbed out of bed, grabbing some clothes then left to shower.

Joe was in the car ready to leave. Dillon had left to get more clothes from their house as it seemed Joe was unwilling to miss out on any werewolf interaction. Tom stood at the front door, Henry leaning gingerly against the door frame holding his head high even though she could see the strain on his face. "You two be good, ok? Why don't you watch a movie? By the time it finishes, I will be home."

Tom smiled and reached an arm around Henry, helping to prop him up, his tall lean body towering over the shorter, well-built man. "Don't worry Miss Jessie, I'll take good care of him." An odd look crossed Tom's face as he spoke, and Jessie felt a niggle in the back of her head. But she had to leave, and until now Tom had been trustworthy, he had put his body on the line for Jessie and Wolfy. Dismissing the thought, she smiled back waved at Henry and jumped in the truck. Only a few hours she mused as she looked in the revision mirror at the two men waving at her as they drove away.

A/N Hey shes back, sorry guys but here is three more chapters - Lockdown is almost out so chapter are slowing - Comment and Vote please any feed back is appreciated