The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 7: Proposition

A week passed in the blink of an eye. You were adjusting back into the old routine of work. Especially the long hours you used to put in. A normal day had a minimum of ten hours, and with Dr. Katherine Walter, there was never a minimum. She always accepted client after client, patient after patient. She always took on cases even when she had too many to begin with.

Today is no exception to that. You sigh, cracking your back by shoving your hands against the center of your back and force pressure. To say you're exhausted is an understatement.

"That new pet appointment is here. Room two." Your receptionist speaks, walking back to find you now hunched over, rubbing your face.

"Great. Thanks." You speak, forcing a smile across your face. He doesn't buy it for a second. You watch him carefully, a smile twitching in the corner of your mouth and he smiles back softly.

"That smile feels more genuine." He states in a delicate matter, walking over to you and rests a hand on your shoulder.

"How can I help, (Y/n)?" He asks but you shake your head.

"Just keep doing what you're doing. I can't have you pull up any vaccines. I don't know how old this puppy is or what they've done yet." You express and he nods his head before handing you the clipboard with the client information. You look over the papers before heading into the room.

After roughly ten minutes of speaking to the wonderful lady, you scoop up the twelve week old German Shepard and return to the treatment area. Your laugh is hard to contain as the puppy scrambles in your arms, covering your face with aggressively loving kisses. You return the gesture by kissing his head and face whenever there is an opening.

"That's pretty cute." A voice startles, making you gasp and clutch the dog tighter so as not to drop him. Your eyes fly up, spotting Alex standing beside the examination table, hands stuffed in his front pockets as he studies you.

"Alex, what are you doing here?" You question, completely surprised to see the Walter boy in the clinic. He normally doesn't stop by his mother's work. None of them do, now that you think about it more. You approach the table and gently place the puppy on the exam table. Out of excitement, the puppy eagerly rushes forward to Alex. You react out on instinct, lurching forward to reobtain a hold on him when Alex reaches forward. Your hands collide, both of you with a hold on the dog's sides as he sniffs at Alex's arm, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"My mom called and asked me to come in. Something she wants to talk to us about." He answers with a smile. The puppy takes his directed gaze up to him as he speaks, making him flop his neck to one side and his ear follows in pursuit. You feel your heart racing upon the realization of one thing. Neither you nor Alex have moved your hands and are still trapping the canine in place together.

"That's a bit strange," you stammer and pull your hands back, "could you hold him? I need to draw up some vaccines before she comes back for the exam."

"Sure, no problem." He answers and immediately swoops the German Shepherd up from the table, holding him close. Your eyes remain glued on the sight as you make your way to the fridge and pull out the Distemper-Leptospirosis combo vaccine vials and a nasal Bordetella.

Your hair is pulled up in a high ponytail, tight and neat with a light blue headband pulling any stray hairs back from your eyes. It had a cute design of paw prints blipped into the lines of an electrocardiogram reading. (Like a monitor you see in hospitals). It compliments your matching light blue scrub top and pants.

You grab two syringes and break them free of their packaging before tightening the needle in place. Removing the cap of one, you plunge the syringe into the vial and draw up the liquid before inserting into the next and force them to mix, swirling it several times to ensure a good consistent mix.

"You've gotten pretty good at doing that." Alex speaks as you carefully remove any air pockets from the vial and replace the needle, attaching the vaccines sticker to it so the doctor identifies the appropriate vaccine before injecting.

"Thanks. I've been doing it long enough, I should have a good feel for it." You answer with a faint laugh. Your eyes trail up to see Alex softly watching you. When he goes to speak, the puppy steals the opportunity and lunges with his kisses aiming directly at his mouth. Alex groans loudly, sticking his tongue out with his head held away as he runs his tongue across his teeth. A laugh erupts from your chest, sending you doubling over from the sheer objection of your stomach. You laugh so hard, it nearly sends you into a coughing fit.

"That is not funny!" He protests in a hurry, glaring at you. "That was disgusting!"

"That was hilarious!" You correct, happily watching him after gathering your thoughts. "You just kissed a dog."

"Ha-ha. So funny." Alex responds, scrunching his nose up as he watches you smile before finishing preparing everything. Katherine walks in shortly after and smiles upon the sight of Alex holding her patient.

"Thank you for stopping in, Alex." She says gratefully as you take the puppy back and set him on the table.

"Anytime, Mom. What's this about though?" He questions while you turn the clipboard around for the doctor to examine and read about the dog's medical history.

"I have a proposition to run by you two... What brand of food is he eating?"

"The Hills Science puppy diet. They are starting to go up in amount." You respond with confidence, restraining the dog so she could examine the puppy's face. Alex watches from the side, curiously observing. You didn't pay much mind to it since you were working, but he seems to be keeping his eyes solely on you.

You assist wherever you need to. Once weighing him, you fill up the correct amount of dewormer into a syringe and force it into the puppy's mouth, chuckling as you wipe his muzzle clean. Katherine listened and documented his pulse, respiratory, and then, your least favorite part, temperature. He hated that the most. But, all was forgiven by sweet little Buster when you laid out a feast of treats before him as she injected the vaccine into his back leg.

"I'll be back after this appointment to talk about my idea." Katherine states before taking Buster from your grasp and heads out of the room, happily greeting the owners while shutting the door behind her.

"So," you begin, cleaning up the exam table as Alex looks to you, "that kiss from Buster - was it the best kiss you've ever had?" You question playfully, a grin widening on your face. Alex stood there for a moment before shifting in his feet and chuckles.

"It was no kiss from Jackie... But it was good." He plays along. You no longer feel playful and that familiar pain grows in your chest. Alex steps forward, grabbing the cleaning bottle and sprays the table down.

"Alex, stop. That's my job-"

"Let me help." He says gently, grabbing your hand as you reach for the paper towels and look to him. You drop the paper towel onto the table and he picks it up, cleaning the table as you step back and sit onto a nice chair, groaning as the pain in your back rattles through you.

"You look exhausted. You've been working too much."

"That's what I keep telling her," Katherine speaks as she walks back in and crosses her arms, "which is why I asked to speak with you two."

"What do you mean?" You inquire.

"(Y/n), you're a wonderful assistant. Which is why I am assigning you my most important job right now. That is to be Alex's assistant at home with preparing for the rodeo coming up in a month."