Vicki stared down at the dog. She wasn't quite sure where or when the stupid mutt had become so important to her, but for some strange reason she had come to love and care for it. It had been quite some time since she had first found the dog sitting outside her apartment and had offered it some food. After that first meal, the dog had come back every day for a week and Vicki had taken to sitting outside while the dog lapped water from a bowl and devoured whatever food she had brought it that day.

Not having found a tag, Vicki had taken the dog to see a local vet and had finally succumbed after two weeks of feeding to taking the dog in. It had been awkward at first. The first day, the dog just sat at the door and stared at her. She had tried to coax the dog to come relax, even placed some food and water out. She wasn't sure why, but something about the dog seemed familiar. Kind of like a long forgotten memory.

But try as she might, the dog didn't take the bait. He spent the next several hours just sitting and staring at her. She had finally given in and spent some time staring back. She noted the eyes the dog had to go with his long coat. With all others options gone and feeling defeated, Vicki had gone to sleep.

It had been pleasant to wake up to the dog curled up on her bed at her feet.

VXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVX

Vicki had ended up leaving Dimmsdale to make her way to Phoenix. 'The Valley of the Sun' or simply the Valley as many residents called it. It was a busy area, but it had worked for her. She had moved there shortly after high school. She needed an escape from her parents and her sister. They had all become a tad overbearing when she had foregone college. Instead of sitting around listening to their complaining, Vicki had packed up everything she owned and made her way out to the Valley. She had suffered through a few different jobs ranging from a grocery store to nanny duties before getting what she felt had been her luckiest break of all.

She'd spent some time writing, which was where her true passion lay. Nothing much came of it. She had started her own blog where she gave her "rant of the week" along with some other random tidbits she felt like raving about that week. It had developed quite a following and somehow she ended up picking up a few celebrity endorsements. Her blog soon was getting millions of hits a day and she found she was able to live comfortably on the income from the work.

So she had turned to writing. She'd written a few fiction pieces, but nothing really went too well. She got them turned down quite a bit. So she had sarcastically written a self-help book for life. For some reason, that was the piece that publishers had fallen in love with. When it reached number 4 on the New York Time's Bestseller list, they asked for a follow-up. Vicki had obliged, submitting a manuscript for her self-help book on love. It became an even bigger hit than her first, topping out at number 2 on the list.

And it always made Vicki chuckle a bit when one of her adoring fans would come up at a book signing and talk about how much Vicki's book had changed their lives. Vicki never felt guilty about it, but it did make her smile. Now if only she could manage that for herself.

But it never seemed to really work out. No matter the case, her boyfriends always ended up being jerks. Some wanted the money and fame, others wanted her body, and she never really mattered. Vicki began to hate it and turned to eating. She wanted to put on some weight and scare them all off. And she did put on some weight, becoming pleasantly plump as opposed to the obese she sought. It did manage to deter several of the guys after her body at least. But that seemed to make finding love even more difficult.

So Vicki had focused on her blog and her books. She had started on one last book, this one a bit more seriously. She was entitling it 'What to do when life is nothing but broken.'

It had been a depressing few months when Vicki had come across the mutt, but after just one week in her life, she loved that dog. Even with no good reason. And the dog seemed to love her, so that helped.

That had been about 5 months ago.

VXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVX

Vicki had just gone out for a walk, trying to clear her head after another long night of writer's block. The warm air (Let's face it, even early October in Phoenix is hot, no matter what time of day or night) almost felt refreshing on her skin. She felt strange in her tank top and jeans, but she just needed to get away. So she had walked for about an hour before turning to head back to her apartment.

And as she turned the corner, she saw it happen. The mutt had gotten out of her apartment and had been sitting, waiting for her to get back. When he had seen her come around the corner, he had jumped up and started to cross the street.

And Vicki felt it happening in slow motion. She watched the dog just as she heard the horns and screeching tires. And the next thing she knew, the dog was lying flat on the ground as she rushed to its side. Vicki began calling for help. She picked up the mutt and was directed to an emergency animal hospital just around the corner.

So she had run. She sprinted her way there, trying not to jostle the dog too much. She was so worried and concerned, that nothing else mattered. All she was worried about was having the dog curled up at her feet ever again. And as she thought about the mutt not being there, she felt herself begin to sob and a tear fall down her cheek.

What the hell was this? She was Victoria Valentine. How could she, of all people, be crying over a dog. What. The. Hell.

But then she heard a small gurgling sound from the dog and it didn't matter. She found the hospital and rushed in screaming.

"HELP!"

The lady behind the counter seemed shocked as the red-haired woman rushed in. After staring at Vicki for a moment, she jumped to her feet and brought a gurney over for Vicki to lay the dog on before rushing behind some swinging doors.

She returned a moment later with a short white-haired man in scrubs with an unruly beard dancing around his face. He had a kind, if crazy, Santa look about him. He stalked over to examine the dog while drilling Vicki for information.

"What happened?"

"He got hit by a car." Vicki felt herself sniffle again. She thought she might cry.

After sitting in a panic for a few moments, Vicki saw the vet's shoulders sag. She wasn't sure what it meant. He mumbled something under his breath before turning to the lady from behind the counter.

"Best give him to the new guy, he's one of the best I've ever seen. And this poor boy is going to need the best."

Vicki felt her breath hitch in her chest at that. If the mutt needed the best, that did not seem positive. She tried to control the sobbing she now felt in her chest. She watched as the Lady sprinted off through the doors once more, shouting for someone.

The old doctor looked at her before coming over and leading her carefully to a seat. He sat her down before pulling her chin up to look at him.

"Don't worry, my dear. I promise you the old boy is in the hands of the best vet I've ever seen in my 38 years. If anyone can save him, that youngin' can."

Vicki tried to smile at the doctors attempt to make her feel better, but it didn't help. After attempting a smile, she let her eyes fall again. The doctor stood up and let out a sigh.

"You relax my dear. We'll let you know as soon as we know anything."

As he walked away, Vicki felt herself being taken by sleep. The adrenaline rushing through her was too much to stay awake and focused. So she faded into the embrace of sleep.