Author's Notes:

No copyright infringement intended. I do not have a beta so this story is raw. I apologize for any and all grammatical mistakes and errors. Enjoy.

Every Living Thing

by

smalltowngirl24

I.

The horse lay deeply bedded in thick straw, her sides heaving with the strain of each contraction. Her soft black coat was slick with sweat, and every so often she moaned as another painful convulsion racked her body.

Laying beside it, elbow deep in mucus and muck, was a slight woman in her late twenties. From her position at the back end of the inky black mare, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was going to be a difficult delivery.

Plastic gloves were pulled up and over the woman's thin muscular arms, and they crinkled as she reached inside the mare's birth canal. There, with a twist of her arm, she felt two perfect forelegs and the tiny hooves that were softer than one would expect.

A cold wave of disappointment hit her as she felt the abrupt backward turn of the little foal's neck. It was turned around and and its head and neck were facing toward its hindquarters, causing the poor thing to be about as stuck as a cork in a bottle.

Even worse, most foals asphyxiated and died in this position if it was not remedied quickly and effectively.

"How's she doing, Dr. Karnstein?" asked an old man from his perch atop a three legged stool.

Dr. Carmilla Karnstein looked up from her work with a grimace, brushing back a dark brown curl behind one delicate ear with the curve of her shoulder before wrinkling her nose with worry. "Not too good, Abbot. I'm afraid the position of the foal is wrong. There is retention of the head and neck."

Abbot Normandy was a good man, a local farmer who relied on the few horses he kept to help run his family farm. Tractors were too new age, he often said, and the mare currently caught in the complicated delivery was one of his very favorite horses. He removed the old cloth cap from his head and ran his fingers over his mostly balding scalp before saying hoarsely, "What's that mean for her, Doc?"

"Well," Dr. Karnstein kept her voice business-like, trying her best to explain things in a clear manner without too much medical jargon or condescension. "We can try a head snare, which means I will place a device behind the ears and into the mouth and try to bring it around along with her contractions. If I am unsuccessful, then we are looking at a cesarian which could be costly and dangerous. The foal may not survive in this position very long, but if it does not survive then that would open up a few more options to save the mare."

Abbot placed the cap back on his head while nodding. His eyes fell on her with an air of confidence. "Whatever you think is best, Doc. You know I trust you."

A tiny frown touched the young veterinarian's lips as she heard his words. The thought of failing Abbot Normandy when he considered her his personal champion-well, it made her that much more determined to succeed.

She rose for a moment, reaching for the device she referred to as a head snare, a long pole-like gadget with a noose at its end. As she maneuvered it into the mare's uterus, careful to lubricate it fully before insertion, she relied on feel as much as instinct as she tried desperately to capture exactly the right position. It was so very rare that she got it on the first try, but a few years worth of experience and a natural talent helped her hook it over the tiny ears and through the small delicate mouth.

A tiny bell of joy rang through her as she felt the device secure the little foal and the strong surprising motion of the little one in response. It was a sure sign the foal was still alive and fighting. Her spirits high, she waited for the next contraction to come through.

She didn't have to wait long, the mare's sides heaved with the next spasm and Carmilla was able to direct the foal's head and neck, providing guidance without traction. Too much force and she could fracture the mandible, or where the incisors or teeth of the foal would eventually be.

Together, she and the mare worked to free the foal from it's tight spot and with a sudden easy sliding motion, the foal's neck bent round and it's head came into proper position on top of the forelegs. With a tiny yelp of delight, Carmilla moved her hands to the shoulders of the little beast, helping guide the foal out with each push from its mother.

With a great rush, the foal came sliding out into the straw in a tangled heap of too long legs. Dr. Karnstein rose to a kneeling position, her smile spreading across her face as she admired the slippery little body. "A fine colt," she declared looking up at Abbot.

He returned her smile with a confident beam. "That he is! And look!"

He gestured to the mare, who had lifted her head to smell her newborn. A soft grumble started deep in her chest as she stared over at the seal brown form, recognition reflecting in her eyes that this little one was hers and hers alone.

Dr. Karnstein watched the little scene play out with a warming in her heart, as this was her favorite part of these long tiring nights. The little miracle's first few moments of life, and the happiness in the mare's expression as her long tiring delivery ended and her journey of being a mother began.

She stayed only for a few minutes more, before standing up and expressing her goodbyes to Abbot, who insisted she wash up inside his house and have a cup of tea before leaving the old weather-beaten farm. She waved him away, telling him she had a metal pail inside her truck and some good soap meant just for this type of occasion. She informed him while she appreciated his kindness, she really ought to be getting back home to her bed, and try to gather any precious few hours sleep that she could before she was called out again on another emergency.

They said their goodbyes before she headed out to her truck, shivering in the cold morning air. Her watch said it was 2:03 am, and her eyelids felt like they had lead-weights attached to them. What a night! First a horse sick with colic, a painful sickness of the stomach that was lethal to some equines, and now a difficult delivery. She hoped this would be her last call, as she really did want to take a nice hot shower before curling up in her nice cozy bed. She had put fresh sheets on it just yesterday, and it would still have that coarse feeling and sweet clean smell.

As she climbed into the Ford F-350, all of her tools safe inside the numerous utility storage bins serving as her truck bed, she started it with a yawn. The rumbling engine burst to life immediately, and her computer's screen glowed with a soft hum as it reminded her of the paperwork still left to do.

Her least favorite part of these calls, typing up a novel's worth of notes and charges. Thankfully Abbot would be happy to receive his bill via the mailing service, his check coming back immediately with the old man's shaky cursive writing. She always wrote him a discounted amount, something Lola Perry, her office assistant and only other employee of Dr. Carmilla Karnstein DVM, frowned upon greatly. "You can't keep cutting people deals, Carm," she would say with a roll of her eyes, "we can't keep the lights on if you're only making enough to cover the materials used."

Carmilla shook the thought of Perry away as she buckled her seat belt. She made okay money, being a country vet certainly had it's perks. She specialized in horses although she saw the occasional farm animal. People were past considering horses as livestock and instead saw them as pets or companions. This made them more inclined to spend money on the horse's general comfort, and being an equine vet often had its monetary gains.

She understood the expense of maintaining such a large animal and tried to keep her prices fair and her diagnosis to the point. She wanted people to think she was spending their money like it was her own, and this had made her the most popular vet in her district, something that was both a blessing and curse. It kept her very busy, but since she refused any extra help, she was run ragged weekly.

It also kept her romantic life and friend circle rather… empty, something that Perry was always quick to point out. Perry was pretty much the only friend she had, besides her clients and she wasn't so sure those counted as friends.

She drove the miles back to her practice and home, a large farmhouse set in the country hills of Central Virginia. The cheery yellow clapboard reared up in front of her truck's headlights. Stifling a yawn, she cut the engine and climbed out before gesturing to the sleeping dog sitting in the seat beside her. "Come on, Jack," she said to the red and white husky, "let's get some sleep while we can."

He yawned and then stretched slowly, staring at her through piercing blue eyes. He hopped down from the truck's bench seat with an agile bound, landing and racing off toward the porch with an easy gait. As his nails clipped up the first two stairs, he stopped and turned and lifted his leg, peeing all over Perry's plants lining the stairs with a glint in his pale eyes.

"Jack!" Carmilla reprimanded as she followed behind him, "bad dog!"

He finished his business with a snap to attention, before climbing the last three steps and doing a little dance at the door. "You can bet," she called after him, "Perry's going to know it was you when those flowers die."

He regarded her with his red brows, a permanent quizzical expression on his face from the fire colored mask ringing his eyes before wagging his tail slowly.

She climbed the steps with a tired drag before opening the unlocked door and following Jack through the dark empty foyer.

A light glinted from the kitchen and Carmilla frowned, following its glow as she passed through the hardwood covered hallways and coming to stop at the swinging white door. Pushing it open, she found Perry standing with her back to her, brooding over a steaming cup of tea. Hearing Carmilla approach, Perry turned round with a start before relaxing as she realized it was just her old childhood friend.

"Hey Carm," she said quietly, "how was the call?" Her blue eyes were distant, betraying her emotions.

"Fine. Foal made it. What's wrong with you? Why are you up?"

Carmilla wasn't known for her subtlety. Some people found it endearing, others… well, not so much.

"Good about the foal. Nothing. Well, I mean, you know."

Carmilla quirked an eyebrow, "Uh, no, I'm afraid I don't."

"Don't tell me you've forgotten what tomorrow is." Perry's voice was a little surprised and maybe a bit miffed.

Carmilla paused. Tomorrow was October 20th, and that was exactly eleven days before Halloween, her favorite holiday. And then it hit her like a sucker punch to the jaw.

Tomorrow was the anniversary of her wife's death.

Right.

That.

She regarded Perry with a guarded expression. "I spend a lot of time trying not to think about what happened on that day. Also, a lot of money. In Therapy. Which you made me go to for two solid years." And I also spend a lot of time trying now to think about how I couldn't save her.

Perry nodded. "I know. I don't like reminding you. You asked, and she was my friend… I know she was your - your partner but she was important to me too and it's hard to mourn someone when one of the only other connections to her acts as if she doesn't even exist."

Perry's tone wasn't judgemental or accusatory but still Carmilla bristled.

"I don't like talking about it but it doesn't mean we can't talk about it."

"Right." Perry said a little soothingly. "I know. I just… It's just hard. I found some of her old things in a box in the shed. A few ribbons from horse shows, a photograph of the two of us at the annual Mayson Fair…" she trailed off, her voice broken by the roughness of choked back tears.

Carmilla's answering reply came out like chunks of gravel. "Yeah. It's hard to remember the happy times without feeling sad. It's why I-I try not to think about it all."

Perry nodded, her red curls bouncing with the movement, and acquiesced. "I get it. I do. I don't mean to make you feel bad or guilty. I just miss her. That's all. I wish there was something we could have done… Made her go to the doctor more or something."

Carmilla nodded unhappily. Perry didn't need to point anything out. Carmilla knew there was a lot more she could have done. For example, she could have asked her wife how she was feeling, instead of focusing every ounce of her energy on vet school and her own career. All the while, the love of her life was wasting away, eaten up by breast cancer. It had metastasized everywhere before they even found it… But it didn't stop the guilt or the what if's for Carmilla, not even by a long shot.

"Ell loved you, you know that." That was all Carmilla could say. All she could give.

Perry looked up, tears brimming but not falling. "Yeah," she agreed, "but she didn't love anyone like she loved you."

Carmilla turned away, unable to take anymore of this conversation, calling Jack with a snap of her fingers. He followed at her heels obediently before making a half-hearted snap at one of Perry's indoor plants as they passed through the swinging kitchen door together.

"I know one thing," Perry called after them, "she would NOT have loved that demon dog!"

Carmilla couldn't help herself. She laughed. It was true Jack made himself the bane of Perry's existence. Eating the tops of her flowers, peeing on them, and placing freshly killed moles and voles on her pillow were just a few of his favorite past-times.

But it didn't mean Ell would have disliked him. She would have loved him. He was unique and fiercely independent, if not a bit mischievous and full of sass. The best kind of dog, Ell would say with a grin, as she described the perfect dog they would have some day.

Carmilla's laugh died on her lips as she realized…

The perfect dog that Ell never even got to meet. He was born five days shy of the first anniversary of her death. A gift given to Carm by Ell's father after she spent that awful first death-a-versary (what she and Perry came to call it) with him and Perry at Ell's favorite place in Ashville, North Carolina.

She swallowed. It would be a long night. A sleepless one. She should have accepted Abbot's offer of washing up and tea. At least while she was working, she wasn't thinking about the true horror that was her life.

A life spent without Ell. A life spent without her best friend, partner and lover.

She was rudely awakened by the forceful blow of a pillow again her face.

"Get up, Hollis! It's the last day of term and we're free for a whole month." A short-haired impish freckled face hazily came into view as Laura Hollis blinked away the blurry shroud of drowsiness.

"Did you really just smack me awake with my own pillow?" she muttered grumpily as she clutched at her bright yellow blanket.

Her roommate cocked a devilish grin. "Of course. How else to wake the dead?"

"You're an ass, LaF." Laura responded, raising up a hand in a rude gesture.

Susan LaFontaine or LaF as their friends called them had been Laura's roommate since freshman year. They were fast friends as Laura remained respectful of LaF's gender pronouns and general obsession with all things biology, and LaF remained respectful of Laura's obsession with social justice crusade after social justice crusade.

"Come on you lazy lesbian," LaF cajoled, "we have so much to do today."

"Go away." Laura replied. "All I wanted to do is sleep and forget about the fact that in exactly one semester I'm done with college."

"Why?"

"Because then I have to look for a real job, get married, and have kids. Be an adult. Clean my room. Get up before 9am. You know, exist or whatever."

LaF frowned. "Whoa, buzzkill. Ever since you and Danny called it quits, you're like the come-to-life version of Eeyore."

"Thanks." Laura replied wryly. Although she had to admit LaF was right, she was more melancholy than usual, but you break up with your girlfriend of three years and try to be bright ray of sunshine.

"So get up! Face the day! Come on, we were gonna go look at houses for rent and then visit Kirsch at his new digs in downtown Richmond."

"Ugh," Laura replied. "Okay. Give me like a year and I'll be ready."

"Hollis! You gotta cut this shit out. It's only making you look like Danny was the only thing you had to be happy about!"

LaF had a point there. Danny had been the only thing she had to be happy about, as her degree in journalism wasn't exactly going as planned. She managed a lousy GPA and refused to think about life beyond graduation and being the girlfriend of the Summer Society President. It was only when Danny unexpectedly and without explanation dumped her that she found herself staring at a life full of uncertainty.

"Fine!" Laura snapped as she sat up and the blanket fell away to reveal a soft white camisole that clung to her skin in exactly all the right ways.

LaF averted their eyes immediately and Laura heaved a sigh. It wasn't a secret LaFontaine had been crushing on her a little-well, a lot-since ever, but they both studiously ignored it. Best friends was all Laura ever saw for her and LaF, and this of course made things super awkward should they ever broach the topic of their romantic feelings for Laura.

Laura broke the awkwardness by saying sternly, "but if Danny is there, I'm leaving!"

"Why would Danny be there?" LaFontaine asked with a quizzical look.

"Oh come on, don't play dumb. We both know Danny and Kirsch are sleeping together. It's not some big secret. It's been six months. I get it. She's moved on, and I don't hate her for sleeping with him. I just don't particularly want to see evidence up close and personal."

It was LaFontaine's turn to sigh. "It happened once after you two broke up and Kirsch practically got down on his knees to be forgiven about it. They were both drunk and you and Danny had horrific hate sex over it afterward so he's not even the last one to have slept with her. Believe me, these walls are thin. You guys may be 'broken up' but you sure do sleep with each other a lot to be EXs."

Laura's eyes widened. She didn't know that LaF knew about her escapades with Danny. They'd been so careful. Sneaking each other in, refusing to admit it to anybody, and relentlessly hating each other in public. It made things exciting… and rather dysfunctional but who wants to focus on such negativity?

"Well I- I just -" she sputtered, "We are just friends!"

"Yeah," LaF said, "and you and I are gonna get married next month and have children and name them Darwin and Hillary."

Laura frowned at her before getting up, her bare legs tanned from time spent out in the sunshine, and her short little yellow gym shorts revealing muscular thighs. She ran daily for those legs. She loved running, it cleared her head and left her body toned and fit.

She tossed her caramel colored hair up into a low ponytail before bouncing toward the door, leaving LaF standing in her wake.

"Come on, LaF, let's go to Kirsch's before more ridiculous things come out of your mouth."

They arrived just in time for Kirsch's house warming party to really start warming up. It was a small cramped apartment on West Grace St, and an eclectic group of people made up the party. There were typical Richmonders with their hipster clothes and haircuts, and then others like Laura who subscribed to their own style.

Laura was sort of a warm summer breeze when it came to outfits, sticking to bright colors that stood out against her naturally tan skin and fell loosely against her lithe frame.

LaF on the other hand dressed like a typical Richmonder, their clothes were dark and tight, and fashionable men's bags always thrown over their shoulder while cute little ballet flats hugged their tiny feet.

They mingled among Kirsch's group of friends before standing in a small group that included him. He greeted them both with a warm smile, his blue eyes bright with childlike happiness and infectious innocence. "Hottie Laura and LaFantastabro! How goes it?" This greeting was usually followed by Where's D-Money? in the past but that particular person was an off topic subject between Kirsch and Laura these days.

"Doing great Kirsch," LaF returned, "LOVE the new place."

"Thanks!" He returned, gesturing to the fresh paint and modern furniture. "One of the bros from the Zetas totally did the decorating. He's like, definitely, one of the best interior designers ever to go to VCU."

"It would be better if it wasn't crawling with the Zetas," a sultry voice behind them mocked, and Laura turned around to see Danny Lawrence standing there. Her thick voluptuous red hair fell down nearly to the small of her back, and she was so tall her presence practically filled the room. Laura's heart skipped a beat as it always did whenever she saw Danny, but lately it was more from anxiety than happiness.

"D-Money," Kirsch greeted carefully, his smile fading a little, "I don't remember putting you on the e-vite. You know Hottie Laura doesn't, like, want to see you and I feel it is my honor as a Zeta to honor the wishes of a hottie."

Danny eyed him with a glower. "I'm not here for you idiot, I came as an official representative of the Summer Society."

Laura looked desperately at LaF who regarded her with a weak shrug. Neither of them understood the petty politics of the local Greek Clubs beyond the fact that they hated each other.

Kirsch rubbed a hand behind his head with a grimace. "Already?" he asked unhappily.

Danny nodded. "You know that eventually we would have to discuss this. What better time than a public party so no one can say it wasn't… civil."

Kirsch gestured toward his closed bedroom door. "Okay then, let's get this over with." Danny stepped in front of him with a haughty frown before turning her eyes on Laura. Her gaze softened for a moment and she made a gesture with two of her fingers, a soft and inaudible hello.

Laura returned the signal grudgingly. Danny was a part of her and it was hard to forget that, even though she knew she should.

"Can we talk… later?" Danny mouthed.

Laura considered, knowing exactly what Danny meant by 'talk', before nodding.

LaF kicked her in the shin but Laura ignored it. Let LaF try resisting the only woman they had ever been with when the sex was better than ever-see how successful that went for them!

Danny and Kirsch disappeared behind his bedroom door, and Laura couldn't help but wonder what exactly they were having to meet about… Probably some stupid turf war discussion. Idiocy! She never understood Danny's obsession with the Summer Society, but then again, there were a lot of things about Danny she couldn't quite get.

The party was dying down by the time Danny and Kirsch emerged from behind the door. Danny looked annoyed, Kirsch looked confused (but this was a normal expression for him), and Laura found herself seated on his plush leather couch without anyone to talk to.

Danny's blue eyes scanned the room before landing on Laura, and she began to walk over before her steps were halted as a dark haired girl plopped down in the empty seat next to her ex-girlfriend.

Soft dark curls spilled out over the strange girl's shoulders, while dark eyes regarded the room with a stony expression, before she pulled out her iPhone and began to stare at it like she was willing it to ring with all her might.

Laura caught by surprise by the sudden appearance of someone else on the couch, greeted her in the typical Laura way. "Hello!" she said too brightly.

The dark-eyed girl looked up from her phone with a start. "Hello," she mumbled back, returning the greeting about as prickly as a porcupine's quill.

"I'm Laura."

"Oh. Nice to meet you." She returned her eyes to her phone, sliding the unlock tab and hoping to send not so subtle signals to be left alone.

"And you are?" It would take more than that to shut Laura up.

"Carmilla. Dr. Carmilla Karnstein." The response was short, curt, and formal.

"Doctor?" Laura asked curiously.

"I'm a vet." Carmilla remained stubbornly abrupt.

"Oh how cool!" Laura returned. "What kind of animals do you work on?"

"Horses."

"Oh I don't like horses," Laura wrinkled her nose, "they're big and dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle."

That statement got Carmilla's attention and she looked away from her phone, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Crafty in the middle?"

"Yes. I went on a trail ride once in the girl scouts. My horse wanted to eat the grass on the side of the little path thing, and when he wasn't doing that and yanking my arms out of their sockets, he was running up the butt of the horse in front of me… And that horse didn't like him, kept trying to kick him with his back feet the whole time. It was not only terrifying but made me appreciate solid ground more than I ever have before."

Carmilla laughed. "Every non-horse person has a story like that. My wife used to say-"

She cut herself off suddenly. Frowned, and stood up before offering a brief goodbye. "Sorry, have to go. It was nice to meet you, Lauren."

"Laura," Laura found herself automatically correcting her but it didn't matter. Carmilla was already retreating within the throng of people. Laura watched her walk up to a girl talking to LaF and rudely interrupt them, gesturing toward the door while dragging the other girl behind her like a hostage.

"Something I said?" Laura heard herself whisper, before Danny slid into the empty seat beside her with an obviously unhappy expression.

"Who was that?" the amazon-sized woman demanded perhaps a bit too quickly.

"Huh?" Laura asked with mild surprise. Usually Danny never cared about, well, anything Laura did.

"That girl. Who was she?" Danny explained slowly as if Laura were being incredibly thick.

"Oh. Dr. Carmilla Karnstein." Laura explained as if it were obvious.

"What did you two talk about?"

"Horses."

"Horses? You hate horses."

"Exactly."

Danny regarded her with a thoroughly confused expression before saying. "Um, okay, you ready to go… talk?"

Laura studied the door that Dr. Carmilla Karnstein had so abruptly stormed out before finding LaF's eyes.

"Actually, no. I've got to go… do something."

Danny looked at her with incredulous expression. "You've got to do what?"

"Be anywhere but here." Laura returned absentmindedly before standing up and simply walking away, leaving Danny open mouthed in her wake.

A/N:

I know I'm doing a lot of boring setting up in this chapter and introducing characters. Stay with me-it's about to pick up the pace a bit.

Leave a review on your way out if you enjoyed it. You should be able to find the story over on AO3 someday soon. Same author's handle.