Hinata took a sip of tea. The cup clattered softly as she set it down.
"I made raspberry almond thumbprints." Mable smiled and placed a plate full of cookies on her kitchen table. "I thought I remembered you saying your mother use to bake them."
Hinata nodded. "Yes, before the divorce mother would make them for my little sister and I all the time."
This was how Hinata spent her weekends when she had off. She enjoyed spending a few hours with Mable. It gave them both some needed company. It worked out very well since Mable didn't have anyone else to talk with and Hinata's only real friend, Tenten, was miles away. Sure she associated with her coworkers from time to time, but she hardly considered any of them a friend.
"Poor things, I bet it was hard on you two when they separated."
Hinata took a bite of her cookie, the warm almond glaze mixed with raspberry jam tasted like heaven. "It was for my little sister, but honestly it was for t-the best. I was sixteen at the time so I was able to comprehend it a bit better than her."
Mable nodded understandingly. "You were very mature for your age."
Hinata recalled all the pain and arguing. She had spent many nights trying to comfort Hanabi. It wasn't that Hinata handled it with maturity, she knew better then that. She just wanted it all to end, and if it meant her parents splitting up, so be it.
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
Hinata nodded curiously
"You're, twenty-three now, right? What are you doing spending all your free time with an old woman like me? Not that I'm complaining, you're like a grandchild to me, but don't you have anyone special in your life?"
Hinata almost snorted. Someone special? That was a laugh. "Ah, no I don't have anyone like that. The lastboy I dated was a couple years ago. We got together at the end of highschool. We dated for three years, but he ending up breaking up with me."
Mable made a tsk sound. "He missed out on an amazing young woman."
Hinata's eye's dropped to the table. She knew she wasn't special, but it wasn't the break up that made her feel that way. If it were so simple... Self-confidence could be restored after a break up, boyfriends come and go. However, when it's a parent you know you will never be good enough for, that's a whole new form of self-loathing. Hinata spent her entire life trying to make her father proud, but the cost was high and she wasn't willing to pay the price.
The grandfather clock on the wall chimed seven. Hinata jump. "I didn't realize it had gotten so late. I should be getting back."
Mable agreed, "Yes, I'm afraid it won't be long till my bedtime. When you get as old as me, sleep is abundant."
Hinata laughed and stood up to stretch. From the corner of her eye she caught Jiji walking out onto the balcony.
"Jiji, get back here, you don't need to be outside this late in the day."
"I'll get him."
Mable smiled. "Thank you dear."
Hinata made it to the door way when Jiji jumped onto the balcony's railing.
Mable gasped.
He sat on the metal railing flicking his tail from side to side, taking particular interest in the close maple tree. Jiji leaned forward slightly, pawing at a nearby branch.
"Jiji, come here, kitty kitty," Hinata coaxed. She was almost to him when, suddenly, a bluejay came flying from the tree. Jiji stood up on his hind legs ready to catch the approaching bird.
"JIJI!" Hinata yelled as the bird swooped causing him to lose his footing and fall from the balcony. "NO!" She leaned over the railing hoping to catch him, but it was too late. Hinata cringed as she watched him hit below.
Mable covered her mouth in panic.
"Wait here," Hinata ran from Mable's apartment and down the flights of stairs.
Near the tree she found Jiji lying motionless. She tried easing him onto her lap, when his eyes opened wide. He hissed, scratching Hinata deep as he pounced from her poured from the side of her wrist, he scratched her pretty deep. But she paid no mind as she tried to aid the frightened cat.
Jiji's tail fluffed out as he limped backwards until he pressed himself against the maple tree. Hinata approached him slowly only to receive another horrible hiss. Blood dripped out and from his nose.
Mable joined Hinata's side with a towel in hand.
Hinata took the towel and approached the cat. Jiji started to flee before he stumbled and fell motionless on his side.
"No!" Mable cried, tears slid down her aged face.
"He's going to be alright," Hinata exclaimed. "I'll take him to the vet." She gingerly wrapped the unconscious cat. "Go back inside and I'll call you as soon as I can."
The old woman nodded, too shook up to speak.
She carried him to her car, placing him softly in the passenger seat.
From the rear-view mirror she caught site of her distraught friend. She pressed the gas harder. Aside from herself, Jiji was the only other thing she had that was close to family. He just couldn't die, not like this...
Luckily the nearest animal hospital was only fifteen minutes away. The sun was just beginning to set as Hinata jumped from her car, easily pulling Jiji out with her. She rushed to the door only to find it wouldn't budge.
"No! " Hinata cried as she knocked on the glass. There just had to be someone there.
Hope swelled up when she caught sight of a young brunette woman in scrubs approaching the door.
She took her time unlocking the bolt before barely opening it. "Sorry, were closed. Office hours end at seven. You'll have to come back tomorrow," The lady said, clearly uncaring of the blood stained bundle Hinata held to her chest.
"Please!" Hinata nearly shouted as she pushed her way past the nurse and into the lobby. There was no way she would turn back now. It was only 7:45 surely they wouldn't turn her down with such an emergency. "You have to help him."
"Ma'am again we are closed," the nurse said curtly. "We have a life too ya' know."
Tears welled up in Hinata's eyes. She knew Jiji couldn't wait till tomorrow. He needed medical treatment now. And this was the only animal hospital for miles.
"What's going on in here?"
The nurse whipped around. "Oh Dr. Sabaku. I was just explaining to this lady that she would have to come back during proper hours."
Hinata's eyes went from the nurse to the Doctor. She gasped when she realized it was the same red headed man from the pet store, Gaara.
The doctor looked Hinata over. "You're that girl I helped last week."
Hinata nodded, acutely aware of how much time was being wasted. "Please, my friends cat fell from three stories, I'm scared he might really be hurt."
Gaara walked over to Hinata, swiftly but gently, taking the wrapped cat from her.
Hinata wrapped her arms over her chest, hoping all the blood on her shirt was from her arm and not from Jiji.
"Come with me." He commanded.
Her stress eased as she quickly followed behind.
"Jessica, I need you to prep the X-ray room."
"Oh no," the nurse said as she crossed her arms and leaned her weight onto one hip. "My shift ended forty minutes ago."
"You can leave early tomorrow, now do as I say," Gaara said sternly.
"No," the nurse bucked up. "I have better things to do, that cat can wait."
Gaara stopped abruptly causing Hinata to walk into his back. He cocked his head, facing his nurse with a sharp glare. "Jessica, if the well being of this animal means that little to you then I no longer need you. Don't bother coming back tomorrow."
"What!" The nurse said with dismay. "You can't fire me!"
"I own this clinic," Gaara stated hard. "I can do whatever I feel is best. Clearly I misjudged your want to help animals when I hired you. Now get out."
Jessica stared back at her former boss with disbelieve. "Fine," she sneered before storming off. "Fuck this place. I only wanted this job because I heard the Doctor was hot. But clearly that was a waste of time."
"Yes. Clearly," Gaara faced Hinata. "You can wait in my office while I see what I can do."
"Thank you so much Doctor!" Hinata nearly cried as Gaara took her to his office.
"It could take awhile so make yourself comfortable." he said before shutting the door.
For an hour Hinata paced too worried to relax. Eventually, exhaustion set in. She wondered if he would mind if she sat in his chair. He did say to make myself comfortable. Hinata thought as she rested her body into the black leather seat.
"Miss?"
"Huh?" Her voice was thick with sleep. "OH!" Hinata shot up embarrassed. How long had she been sleeping? "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to pass out like that. That was really rude of me."
"It's fine," Gaara said. "I apologize you've had to wait so long, it wouldn't have been so if my nurse had stayed."
Hinata stood up, a white lab coat slid from her to the floor. She picked it up. "Is this yours?"
"I keep the temperature turned low. I came to check on you and you looked cold. That's all. Just lay it on my desk."
Her heart skipped a bit. "How's Jiji?" she placed the coat where she was told. "Please tell me that he will be alright."
"Your friend's cat will be fine. He's currently resting, though I'd like to keep him over-night for observation to make sure he doesn't have any internal damage."
"That's fine, whatever you need to do. You have no idea how much this will mean to my friend," Hinata paused. "How much it means to me."
Gaara kept a stoic expression. "I did it for the animal's sake. He took quite a fall."
"What's wrong with him?" Hinata could sense a strong antisocial side to him.
Gaara crossed his arms. "It's a common misconception that cats can fall from high places and come out unscathed, however that's not always the case. In his situation, the moment he hit the ground his face hit first causing his chin to be thrust upward. It resulted in a few shattered teeth along with his upper pallet to be split open."
Hinata covered her mouth. "His teeth, will they grow back?"
"Unfortunately no, just like we can't regrow our adult teeth, neither can cats. Luckily only a few were damaged, he won't miss them."
Hinata nodded.
"We're not open tomorrow since it's Sunday, however," Gaara pulled a business card from his desk. "feel free to stop back by noon, just call before you do. If I believe he is doing well enough you may take him home."
"Thank you again Dr. Sabaku," Hinata said as she reached for the card. "I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble."
"That blood on your arm," Gaara said before handing her the card. "Is it all the cat's?"
Hinata looked uneasy "He scratched me before I could get him here. Nothing major."
Gaara grabbed her arm causing Hinata to gasp. "It needs to be disinfected, a cat's claws can carry bacteria. If you don't treat it, it could make you sick. Follow me to the bathroom, I'll wrap it for you."
"N-No," She tried to pull away. "that's alright you don't need –"
Gaara cut her off as he guided her to the restroom and instructed her to sit on the toilet. She sheepishly did as she was told while he left to get some supplies.
Hinata couldn't help but notice how white and shiny the small restroom was. She recalled Gaara saying he owned this clinic. It seemed he did a very good job with keeping it clean.
A moment later Gaara returned with an alcohol pad, some gauze, and medical tape. He turned the faucet on, pulling out a few brown paper towels from their metal dispenser as he waited for the water to warm up.
Once the water was to his satisfaction he placed one of the napkins under the water and wrung it out so it wouldn't drip. He then got down on one knee and gently took hold of Hinata's arm. He had to dab somewhat hard since the blood had already dried but after a moment he finally rid the wound of any remaining residue.
"This is going to sting," Gaara told her as he ripped open the tiny paper wrapper, pulling out a wet alcohol cloth.
She grit her teeth as the cold cloth disinfected her wound. Gaara didn't say a word but worked swiftly. It didn't take long before Gaara had her armed wrapped and placing a few pieces of tape to secure the gauze.
"Thank you," She moved her arm up and down to test for pain.
Gaara looked into her eyes before standing back up. "You're welcome."
"Well ," Hinata hesitated. "I guess I'll be back by tomorrow."
Gaara nodded as they stepped back to the lobby. He walked ahead to open the door. She thanked him for the hundredth time that night and finally climbed into her car. It was a few minutes after eleven, way too late to call Mable. I'll stop by her house first thing in the morning, Hinata thought as she drove home.
A/N Hopefully everyone enjoyed this chapter, I had fun writing it. Thanks for those who have reviewed :)
