Dead On Arrival

Pete was panicking. It was only five days until Patrick's birthday and he had got him nothing. Patrick would be back from working at the book store In about an hour, so Pete had to think of something fast. He sat down on his bed and tried to think of the things his boyfriend liked, but nothing seemed special enough. He stood up and walked into the kitchen to make some coffee, maybe that would help him think. After a large mug of coffee and zero ideas, Pete decided to go for a walk hoping that would help. As he walked he started thinking about the present, but still had no ideas. Pete wandered the street for a little while longer when he had an idea. Pete arrived home a short while later carrying a large cage covered with a blanket. He unlocked the door and heard the familiar voice of Patrick calling hello

"hey!"

Pete called back as he took his boots off and made his way into the Living room where Patrick was sitting drinking his coffee

"what's this?"

Patrick asked as Pete handed him the cage.

"An early birthday present"

Patrick grinned as he removed the blanket that was on top of the cage then gasped. Inside the cage was a small ginger kitten that meowed when he saw Patrick.

"a kitten? for me?!?"

"Yeah!"

Said Pete

"so do you like it?"

"Of course I do!"

Patrick exclaimed

"What should we call it?"

Pete laughed

"it's your kitten! You choose!"

"Ok..."

Said Patrick

"how About Declan? I have always wanted a son called Declan but a kitten is just as good!" "Declan it is then!"

Pete smiled and kissed Patrick before walking into the kitchen to find something for dinner. He called in through the kitchen door to Patrick.

"hey wanna order pizza? We basically have no food in here"

"A kitten AND pizza? Wow you really are spoiling me!"

Patrick called back. Pete laughed then got out his phone to order. The next few days were taken up by work and getting Declan settled in but Pete didn't mind because Patrick seemed really happy with his present. Patrick always seemed happy and with Declan in the house, he didn't seem to stop smiling! That is, not until Declan fell ill. Pete woke that day to Patrick calling up the stairs for him to come quick.

"What is it?"

He grumbled as he walked into the living room but asked again more seriously when he saw how worried Patrick looked.

"It's Declan"

he said.

"he keeps making strange noises and I think at one point he stopped breathing!"

By this point, Patrick's eyes had teared up and he looked like he was about to burst into tears. Pete hugged him and said he would take Declan to the vets. Pete drove while Patrick sat in the passenger seat with Declan's cage on his lap. Patrick didn't say a word the whole car journey, he just sat there watching Declan, eyes full of tears. Pete realised he had never seen Patrick cry before today. Well, not sad tears anyway and Pete just wanted Patrick to be happy so he let Patrick have his silence. As they sat in the vets waiting room, Pete could hear Declan's breathing getting worse and for the first time since they got him, Pete wondered if Declan was going to die. Finally the lady at the counter said they could go in. They walked into the vet and Patrick, who now had tears streaming down his face, placed Declan's cage on the table. Patrick had started properly sobbing so Pete suggested they wait in the waiting room until the vet had finished and Patrick reluctantly agreed. After what seemed like hours of waiting (but was probably Only a few minuets) the vet emerged holding Declan's cage and told them that Declan had lung cancer and probably only had a few days to live. At these words Patrick broke down and cried into Petes shoulder. All Pete could do was take Declan's cage and hug Patrick until he had calmed down enough to walk back to the car. Pete hadn't noticed until he sat in the car and looked at his reflection in the wing mirror but he had started crying too partly because of Declan, but mostly because he couldn't bare to see Patrick this sad