The tests came back just after one o’clock in the morning. Simba did have a stroke, but because he was otherwise healthy, it was predicted that he would be able to make a full recovery as long as he took it easy the first couple of weeks.

Simba still needed to stay at the vet’s over the next few days for observation, but I would be able to pick him up Friday night. The only problem was that the team was scheduled to be in Vegas on Friday. I didn’t care about paying extra to have him boarded an extra night, but I did want him home as quickly as possible so that he could relax and sleep on his own bed rather than in a metal cage.

I was scheduled to fly out with the rest of the team Thursday night, and I didn’t want to call Rose and have her watch him. I knew she would. She cared about him almost as much as I did, but I didn’t want to call her. I didn’t want to ask her any favors. We weren’t together anymore and I needed to make sure she understood that, not that she was trying to win me over. It wasn’t like she regretted the decision that she had ultimately made, but I needed to cut her out of my life.

“What are you still doing here?” 

I looked up to see Kira standing there in her white lab coat, staring at me with curious, kind eyes. There wasn’t sympathy in the green irises, but there was compassion.

I could see the worry in her eyes, the pain reflected there at having to witness my pain. Rose had always been sympathetic, but she never just let me be. She would want to distract me from it, usually with good sex. Kira seemed to be fine wallowing in the pain with me, ensuring I didn’t experience it alone.

“I just...” Honestly, I didn’t know how to answer that question without being ridiculous. “I’m worried, and I just want to be there for Simba if he needs me.”

She smiled, nodding her head in understanding. “No need to be ashamed, Drew,” she said. “I have patient owners calling every hour to check on their pets. You’re actually one of the more tame ones.”

“Only because I didn’t know that was acceptable,” I said with a grin.

She took a seat next to me. Even though she hadn’t said anything, I could tell this had been a long week for her as well. She was exhausted. I was only worried about Simba. She had a variety of patients that I was sure she worried about on a consistent basis.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

Typically, I would have responded that I was fine. It was a safe response and people didn’t push, even if they could see through it.

“Worried,” I murmured. “I know it’s silly. Simba is a pet, but I can’t even concentrate during the morning skate. I just... Once I have him home, I’ll be better.”

“That’s not silly at all,” she told me. Her hand was next to mine and part of me wanted to extend my pinky and touch hers. “If it was Sherlock, I’d be beside myself, and I’m a vet who knows that he’s probably going to be okay.” A small smile touches her face. “Don’t apologize for your feelings. Feel whatever you want to feel, especially about someone as important as Simba.”

“Huh.” I didn’t think anyone had ever told me that before: don’t apologize for my feelings. I felt like the majority of my life, I was apologizing for my feelings, whether it was to my parents, to Rose, even to myself. “I never thought of it in that way.”

She shrugged. “I wanted to tell you that he can probably be discharged tomorrow,” she said. “Unless he takes a turn for the worse tonight, which doesn’t look like likely.”

“I play in Vegas tomorrow,” I said, furrowing my brow. 

“Oh, that’s right.” She brushed some of her hair away from her face. “Well, that’s not a problem. You can always board him here for another night. I won’t charge you the fee.”

“I would gladly pay it,” I reassured her before dropping my gaze to the door that led to the exam rooms. “It’s just, I don’t want Simba here if he can be at home. I also know that he needs someone to watch him though if he does go home.”

She nodded her head. “Do you have someone who can watch him?” she asked. “I understand the importance of bringing him home as soon as possible. Simba needs comfort as much as possible right now. He needs people he loves surrounding him, but being here another night isn’t really a detriment either. You do have that option.”

“I know.” And I did, but that didn’t mean I wanted him here. No offense to the clinic and what Kira had done for Simba, I just wanted him home. 

“Can Rose watch him?”

“No.” My voice was sharp and she flinched backwards a bit. “Sorry, it’s just -“ I shook my head. “I know she would. I just don’t want her to, if I can help it.”

“I get it,” she said. 

There was silence between us for a moment before I felt her shift in her seat and clear her throat.

“I don’t want to be presumptuous,” she said, “but I’d be happy to watch him tomorrow for you, if you’re comfortable with that.”

I stared at her for a long moment. I wasn’t contemplating whether or not to trust her being in my house with my dog. I trusted her. I just couldn’t believe she would offer to do such a thing.

Before I could stop myself, I leaned forward and gently placed my lips on hers. I felt her stiffen under my touch. I didn’t blame her. I hadn’t expected to kiss her at all. I did it though because I really wanted to, because I just couldn’t help myself.

When she relaxed, she started kissing me back. It was gentle, intimate but soft. I pulled away before things started to get too hot. I wanted to go deeper, but I didn’t want to scare her, either.

“Yes,” I breathed out. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would appreciate it if you could do that.”

She nodded, but couldn’t speak. I nodded back. That seemed to be enough for the both of us.