One Shots and Challenges

In the Rain

A/N: This is in response to a challenge from TheoneRae Lee.  I hope you enjoy!

In the Rain

Just finished with working at the Diner. It's 4:00, I have a hour until Dr. Sean gets to Nathan's to pick me up for our date. I need to hurry back. I am happy that the Boys boys have become a little less protective. I fought them to be able to walk home from the Diner by myself.

The woods are quiet today. I can't hear any of the normal noises that are usually flooding this area. I can't hear the squirrels chittering or the birds fluttering from branch to branch. It is eerie. The air feels heavy.

BOOM

I jump as the thunder reverberates around me, and the first drops of rain splatter on the leaves above. I really wish I had Luke's weather sense right about now, ; then I would not be out here in this mess.

The rain and wind whips around me as I make my way toward Nathan's house. The wet leaves are slippery, and I need to take my time so I don't fall. The Boys boys would never let me live it down, nor would theny let me walk home alone again.

I keep my head down, trying to protect my face from the onslaught of rain. My hair is plastered to the back of my neck. Movement off to my right causes me to jerk my head and peer into the underbrush. Maybe it is an animal, a squirrel, a rabbit, something. I try to move past, but something calls to me to come closer.

I inch closer, ready to run if needed. The rain is creating a small river to run down the path into the brush. More movement is seen where the water flows under the brush. A blur of brown darts out from under the brush knocking into my legs as it races across the path to the opposite side, causing me to yelp in fright. I spin around, looking for the culprit and see a small animal soaking wet and covered with mud huddling near the base of a big oak tree.

I stare at the little animal, unable to shift my gaze from the sad, frightened, chocolate brown eyes of the small puppy. Kneeling down in the middle of the path, I make myself as small as possible, hoping that the pup will feel more at ease. After a few minutes, my knees are feeling stiff, but my patience has paid off. The pup is slowly inching its way toward me. As I reach out my hand, another flash of lightning and crash of thunder rumbles through the sky. The small pup flees to the safety of the oak and cowers, whimpering .

I resume my stance and wait for the pup to come closer again. Once again, my patience pays off and a cold nose pushes against my hand snuffling. I open my fingers and rub the small, dirty, wet head before I wrap my arm around its middle. I can count the ribs on the poor little thing as I carry it home to Nathan's.

I fill the bathtub in Nathan's dad's room while I continue to hold the pup in my arms. Making sure the water is not too hot, I put the pup, a little girl I figure out now that the mud is being washed away, in the tub. Rubbing gently, I wash away the grit and grime that covers the poor animal. She seems to revel in the attention. Taking one of the swim towels, I dry the soft gray fur paying special attention to drying the long floppy ears.

Once she is somewhat dry, I take her to the kitchen to get something to eat. I find a bit of leftover chicken from last night that Luke made for dinner. I heat it up just a bit and hand feed it to the ball of fur. As I am feeding her, I hear the front door open.

"Pookie, I'm home!" I am not even close to being ready for my date with Sean. What can you expect when you find something so wonderful in the rain.