Anders settled into his chair in the vet's office, nursing a mug of tea. As one of the junior vets, he merited a small desk in the corner, wedged behind a shelf of books. Sheaves of test results and paperwork littered his desk, and a motivational kitten poster looked angelically down at him from the wall behind the computer monitor. He switched his computer on to peruse the morning's appointments.

"Morning, Anders," Bethany said, poking her head around the door. "Morning, Merrill."

"Good morning!" Merrill said chirpily. "Anything interesting coming in today?"

"Well, my brother's bringing his dog in," Bethany said. Bethany was one of the practice's vet nurses. Anders hadn't even been aware she had a brother. "I've booked him in at ten with Anders."

"Ooh, what sort of dog?" Merrill said.

"A mabari," Bethany said. "He's only a young dog, Hawke's had him for a few months."

Anders, who had pulled up the appointment details, spluttered into his tea. "60 kilos?" he demanded. "Please tell me that is a typo. How can it weigh 60 kilos if it's only ten months old?"

Bethany shook her head. "Nope. No typo. Like I said, mabari."

"What on earth is a 'mabari'?" He typed it into google, and looked aghast at the photos that came up. "God, it's some sort of European mastiff… thing… Look at the jowls on it. What's he in for? Ugh, ears?"

"And skin," Bethany said.

Anders liked most animals. He genuinely did. He wouldn't have ended up in this job otherwise. But big, slobbery dogs? The type with enough skin for two dogs and almost perpetual issues with it? The type that always wanted to either tear Anders' face off or slather it in saliva and unreciprocated affection, one or the other, no middle ground?

He gave the other veterinarian a pleading look. "Hey, Merrill…"

"No, I'm not seeing him," Merrill said briskly. "Mr Tethras is bringing Bianca in for a recheck, and you don't know anything about what's going on with that case, so it has to be me who sees her."

"Look, I'm really more of a cat vet," Anders complained, to nobody in particular. "Give me a fractious cat and I'm fine. They're easy. Even the really bad ones can usually be bundled up in towels. I can't bundle a 60 kilo mastiff thing up in a towel."

"You're overreacting," Bethany said. "You'll be fine, Anders! Just because he's a big dog doesn't mean he'll be difficult. Trust me, Max is an absolute sweetheart."

.

"Boof! Boof boof boof! RRRrrrrRRrr boof!"

"I am so sorry. Max, sit. Sit! Sit, boy!"

The astoundingly large dog did not sit. It stayed standing, head down, ears pricked forward, tail waving slowly and stiffly from side to side.

Anders directed his eyes carefully to the side and edged across the room, trying to put the consult table in between him and the dog. "Er, hello-my-name-is-Dr-Anders-what-can-I-do-for-you," he said at speed.

"I'm Garth Hawkins," the man beside the enormous mastiff said, beaming and reaching out a hand. "Please call me Hawke!"

Anders shook the offered hand, a little limply. 'Hawke' was a tall man with a ponytail; his sleeveless shirt displayed tanned, muscular biceps. His hand was firm and strong and startlingly warm.

"Boof! Boof boof boof!" The dog lowered its head again and growled deep in its throat. "RRRRRrrr…"

Anders pulled his hand back, professional smile slipping a little. "Let's see what we have here for a… good dog," he said, fishing out a liver treat from the drawer and placing it cautiously on the floor. "What brings you and – um – Max - here today?"

There wasn't really any need to ask; the small room was already filling with the powerful, permeative odour of a large, jowly, slobbery dog with infected skin and terrible ears.

I am going to smell like the inside of this dog's ear canal for the rest of the day, Anders thought with a sinking heart. Probably the rest of the week.

"Well, he won't stop shaking his head," Hawke said, as Max made the liver treat disappear, leaving a large wet patch on the floor. The dog came over, tail still wagging stiffly, and snuffled at Anders' hand looking for more.

Anders gingerly gave him another liver treat and wiped a ropy string of drool off his hand onto his scrubs. "Ah, and there is a bit of a smell," he said.

Hawke looked blank. "Oh. Is there? I hadn't noticed."

Urgh…. Anders hoisted a smile onto his face. "Well, let's have a look, shall we?"

Max was not keen on having his ears examined.

"Oh, he's never bitten anybody," Hawke assured Anders, several minutes and an unsuccessful attempt at a muzzle later. His burly arms were thrown around the dog's chest.

"GRRrrrrRRRRrrrrgh!"

Well, I don't want to be the first! Anders grinned weakly from across the room, where he had retreated behind the table.

He wondered if he could hold the dog off with the chair for long enough to get out the door if it went for him. He had given up on getting a closer look and sent the nurse away. "Well, it's obvious they hurt a lot. If you could just – "

"Boof boof GrrrRRRRrrboof!"

"… take a sample for me with…."

"GRRRRrrrRRRgh!"

Anders, who had started across the room holding out a swab, recoiled back against the far wall again as the mastiff heaved against Hawke's arms.

"Max," Hawke chided. "I promise, doc, he's normally the sweetest fellow you'd ever meet. Just wants hugs!"

The dog rested his wet chin on Hawke's shoulder and rumbled warningly at Anders, beady eyes hidden in folds of moist skin. The droopy lip lifted to display an extremely large, extremely white canine.

"Well, you know how it is," Anders said, desperately wishing he could have seen Bianca instead, who was a slightly standoffish cat, but who at least wasn't capable of tearing Anders' throat out in a matter of seconds. "He doesn't understand I'm trying to help."

Later, as Anders gathered up the medications Hawke and Max needed, Hawke sat on the floor of the consult room, long legs in grubby jeans spread out in front of him, with the massive head of the mastiff in his lap.

"Got any dogs yourself, doc?" Hawke asked cheerfully.

"Oh, er, no," Anders said distantly. "I don't think the cats I already have would appreciate it. Really more of a cat person on the whole. Also I live in an apartment."

Hawke grinned, his hand tousling Max's ears roughly. "Yeah, that might get a bit cramped," he agreed. "Hell, I have a big yard and I still have to walk this big guy twice a day or he eats my furniture."

"Mm," Anders agreed. "Speaking of, you should look into some obedience training for him."

"Oh, yeah," Hawke said, looking down at the puddle of skin folds and drool in his lap. "He only sits if he feels like it… Sometimes he pulls me clear across the park, the rascal…"

"Definitely needs obedience classes," Anders said sternly, with visions of this monster barrelling across the dog park dragging Hawke behind him on the ground, knocking over children and terrorising the other dogs. In the best case scenario. "You can't let him get into bad habits, otherwise you'll end up with massive behavioural problems on your hands. It's cute now, but you'll be in trouble if you don't address it."

Hawke gave a lazy mock-salute. "Right you are, doc." He shifted the dog out of the way and hauled himself to his feet. He shook Anders' surprised hand with great enthusiasm. "Thank you so much for your help." He smiled, this time at close quarters, with a flash of white teeth and bright blue eyes, and it distracted Anders for a moment.

"No problem, Mr Hawkins," Anders said, pulling his hand back abruptly.

"Call me Hawke, please," Hawke said firmly. "See you in two weeks for the recheck!"

"Yes, quite," Anders said. "Hopefully that will have it sorted…."

.

Weeks passed. Visits from Hawke and his mabari came occasionally and then stopped, to Anders' distinct relief, and he had almost forgotten the pair existed until he came in on another morning, very similar to the first, and checked his schedule.

He physically recoiled when he saw the name on his side of the appointment book.

"I, ah, Merrill," he said quickly. "Merrill, I know I said you could do surgery today, but would you mind awfully if I –"

"Anders!" Bethany said, poking her head around the door. "No swapping. Hawke asked for you specifically."

"He what?" Anders demanded. "Why did you let him do that?"

"He says Max likes you," Bethany said, raising an eyebrow.

Anders waved his hands helplessly. "The feeling is not mutual!"

"I don't know why," Bethany said. She looked puzzled and a little hurt. "I'd understand if they were difficult clients, but they aren't. Max's very big and strong but he's fairly well behaved now. And you know my brother would do just about anything for that dog."

"I think they're very sweet," Merrill said brightly. "It's just a vaccination, Anders! It'll take you no time at all. And the dog isn't that bad!"

Anders, grudgingly, had to admit that Max had gotten better behaved since his first visit. Not having raging ear infections probably helped with that, but he hadn't growled at Anders since the first time. Hawke seemed to be taking all of Anders' training advice to heart.

"But he's just so big," Anders complained. "And loud. And drooly."

"Yes, and the dog too, I know," Bethany said, and winked.

"Anders, you can't just see the animals you like," Merrill said, severely.

Anders grumbled under his breath. "I'll remember this," he threatened, raising a finger dramatically. "Next time you have to get blood from a difficult cat, see if I come to help when you call!"

"Anders, any time there is a cat out back, I don't have to call you," Merrill said. "You materialise from the ether and are cooing at it the first time I turn around."

Anders paused. "OK. You have me there." He let his arm fall. "Guess I'd better see Max, then."

This time, when Anders opened the door and came in, Max lifted his head and approached, tail wagging gently, face wreathed in canine smiles. It seemed Anders was no longer 'stranger-manhandling-my-person-and-trying-to-poke-my-ears'. He was now primarily a source of liver treats.

Max planted himself at Anders' feet. Anders patted him on the head, a little cautiously. "Hello, Max. Hawke."

When another pat was not forthcoming, Max raised his paw and batted at Anders' thigh. His very large, heavy paw. Anders winced. He would probably find a pawprint shaped bruise there later, when he undressed alone to shower in his tiny apartment.

"Hi, doc," Hawke said, unfolding from the chair in the corner. He was wearing a t-shirt this time, the material tight across his chest. His eyes really were very blue.

Max apparently decided that if Anders' wouldn't come down to him, he would come up to Anders. He reared up in order to place truly giant paws on the counter, sending pens and thermometers flying, and leaned his head into Anders' chest.

"Ack," Anders said, pressed back against the counter, the handle of the drawer digging uncomfortably into his spine. He put his hand on the dog's head reflexively. Max nudged closer and snuffled wetly at Anders' armpit.

"Down, boy!" Hawke said sternly, and the dog hauled himself back to all fours again and did a lap of the small room.

"Boof boof!"

"Sorry," Hawke said. "He's getting better, though! He's just excited to see you. Must be nice to see him when he's not sick!"

"Um," Anders said, drying his hands on his scrubs, "Yes, it certainly is." There was – yuck - saliva all over his keyboard. He mopped it up with a hand towel.

Max returned to Anders and sat on his foot while they talked, and gazed up at him in canine adoration, tongue lolling, drool everywhere. He scratched Max around the shoulders and ears periodically, because really, what else could he do?

"One other thing," Anders said. His foot had gone entirely to sleep. "Max's not desexed. I understand waiting till he's got more of his adult growth, but he's over one and a half now and there's no reason why he should keep those unless he's a breeding dog."

"Oh," Hawke said. "Well… he's not a breeding dog, specifically, but… I was thinking of leaving it… I don't know, now you mention it, a friend of mine has a girl dog, and I was thinking that puppies might be really cute!"

Anders pressed his lips together. "Do you know anything about breeding dogs?" he said, coldly. "Do they?"

"Well, no," Hawke said, looking taken aback. "But I mean, it can't be that hard… can it…? Just one litter, I mean, not a whole lot…"

Anders gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. "That is a very damaging attitude," he said. He took a moment to shift Max off his foot. "Let me tell you some of the reasons why. First of all, 'I thought it would be cute' is an extremely poor reason to bring a group of living creatures into the world. Do you know how many puppies are in shelters right now because of the over-population of -"

Annoyance took over for a while and Anders launched into a lecture. It wasn't malicious; he knew it wasn't. God knew there was no malice in Hawke's honest blue eyes and ebullient attitude. But it was just so frustrating…!

Max nudged Anders' hand and whuffed hopefully, and caught up in what he was saying, he forgot to feel disgusted at the drool and the doggy breath. He automatically fed the dog tiny chips of liver treat as he spoke.

"… has nothing to do with it. I just wish people would think about what's best for the animals," Anders finished heatedly, "Instead of only what serves their own egos or their own desires!"

Hawke, amazingly, had not interrupted; nor had his eyes glazed over. He was listening intently, his eyes fixed on Anders' face. "Wow," he said, when it was clear Anders had finished talking. "I'll admit I hadn't ever thought about it that way. I'll definitely give the question some serious thought."

"Er… good," Anders said, a little feebly. People didn't normally respond like that. "Animals are a responsibility, not a right."

Hawke nodded. "Oh, yes. Absolutely."

"Anyway, moving on," Anders said quickly. He was blushing. He hadn't meant to get carried away. He wasn't supposed to speak to people like that; he knew he wasn't. They got angry, and complained, and most of the time they didn't do what he'd been recommending they do anyway.

Hawke had just managed to unerringly hit one of his buttons. I say that as though I don't have a multitude of buttons that are very easy to hit, Anders thought ruefully. How embarrassing. Well, maybe if I lecture him like that enough times, he'll stop asking for me.

I bet he doesn't get him desexed, anyway.

.

"Anders," Merrill sighed a week later, spinning around in the chair to face him behind the reception desk. "I had to smooth a lot of ruffled feathers because of you yesterday! What in the world did you say to Mr Fenris?"

Anders scowled and collected the paperwork he needed. "I simply told him that if he didn't know anything about dachsunds then he shouldn't have got one. Honestly, can't people do the slightest bit of research…"

"It was a new puppy consult! You're supposed to be telling him the things he needs to know! We're lucky he's still willing to come back and see me."

"Well, he wasn't listening to me – "

"Anders, you can't talk to people like they're morons. There is a time and a place for lectures on the ethics of breeding chondrodysplastic dogs," Merrill said, with a roll of her eyes. "New puppy consults with clients who already dislike you are not it. Can't you save it for your blog?"

"I don't have time to blog," Anders said sulkily. "I worked fifty hours last week…"

"Only because you keep agreeing to the extra shifts – "

They cut off their conversation as a client came out of one of the rooms, laughing loudly and hanging back in the doorway. "Thanks, Beth, you're the best. See you this afternoon!" Hawke turned around and saw them behind the reception desk.

"Hey, doc," Hawke said, with a smile like the sun. "Had a think about what you said and you're right, as usual. So Max is in for desexing today."

"Uh," Anders said, flustered. "…Of course. Good."

"Will you be doing the surgery?" Hawke asked. "He likes you."

"Well, he'll be asleep, so I doubt it will matter to him," Anders said without thinking, and then added hastily, "But yes, I'm doing surgery today, I can do his."

"Great! He's in good hands." Hawke raised his hand in a little wave farewell, and left.

"Ooh," Merrill said, with a wicked grin. "You're right, as usual, Anders? Looks like you've got a fanclub now, just like the bosses do. How do I get people to say that about me?"

Anders made a face at her. "Honestly, Merrill, I wish I knew."