'Silent Lucidity'
"Just another day in the office." Rei sighed wearily, exchanging her thick stack of folders for her bag. It was going to feel so good to get home and put her feet up. She didn't get too far, however, pausing in her steps at the anxious voice coming from the lobby.
"Can't I just see the doctor? Please?"
She heard her assistant shift in his chair and clear his throat. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we're closed. There is an emergency vet just down the road."
Rei frowned and cast a glance at her watch. She was already supposed to be out of here an hour ago already, but something in the woman's tone...
"Please?"
Alright. Just a quick look. It couldn't hurt, right? With a nod, she straightened out her white coat and tossed her bag on the counter. Before James could turn the woman away again, Rei turned the corner and approached the front desk to assess the situation. A young blonde woman stood near the computer, looking rather distraught, protectively cuddling a tiny white kitten in her arms.
"Hi." Rei offered quietly. "What's going on?"
James jumped. "Uh, Doctor Hino. I was just explaining to this young lady that we're closed already."
"I know you're closed," the blonde tried, "but I think this little guy really needs some help."
"He's not yours?" Rei questioned, leaning forward and giving the kitten a quick once over.
"No. I found him, and he doesn't have a collar."
"How long ago?" the veterinarian asked, gently running a finger along the sleeping kitten's jaw, eliciting a rusty purr.
"Just a few hours ago."
Rei glanced up, locking eyes with the woman and sighing quietly. She just looked so desperate and lost, and there was something in those pleading blue eyes that she couldn't ignore.
"Alright. Bring him back."
"Thank you." the blonde murmured gratefully as Rei led the way back to the examination room.
"It's not a problem." the vet replied, flicking the lights on and gesturing for the woman to have a seat. "I'm Rei."
The blonde smiled crookedly. "I'm Minako, and this little guy doesn't have a name."
"We'll have to fix that." Rei replied, holding out her hands.
Minako nodded solemnly and carefully deposited the kitten into them as though he were made of glass.
The vet set the kitten down on the examination table and pulled on a pair of gloves. The cat, meanwhile, had not made a single noise of protest or discomfort, though he did seem extremely sluggish for a kitten. He merely lay in the center of the table, curling his tiny tail around his body.
"What seems to be his issue?" she questioned, gently checking teeth, gums, and eyes for signs of abnormailites.
"Well, since I found him, he has hardly moved. He won't eat, or drink."
"Where did you find him?"
"Outside my apartment building."
"Hm." Rei gently ran skilled fingers down the kitten's side, frowning slighty as she traced the lines of his ribcage. At least two broken ribs. Not good. He showed no outside signs of trauma, but she had seen just about everything involving animals one could imagine, and cats were known to hide pain. "I think I'm going to take some x-rays." she murmured, studying the rise and fall of the kitten's chest.
"Is it going to hurt him?" Minako asked quietly, chewing on her lower lip nervously.
"No, I'll be extra gentle." Rei assured her, scooping the kitten up once more. "I'll be right back."
-------
In the back of the lab, Rei let out a frustrated sigh as she clipped the newly developed images onto the lightboard. The poor little guy. His x-rays showed massive internal injuries, indicitive of heavy trauma. Hit by a car, more than likely. With the amount of bleeding and damage done, he would probably survive a day or two at most.
The vet pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers and exhaled deeply. There was nothing she could do now, aside from making the kitten comfortable. In situations like this it was best to put the animal out of it's misery, but something about the woman's face made Rei dread the very thought of mentioning it. It was no different from the hundreds of times she had done it before, so what made it any harder now?
Behind her, the kitten let out a tiny sigh as it shifted on the table, and Rei could feel her heart break. How could she go out there and tell that hopeful young woman that this tiny creature was going to die?
Violet eyes stung, and she had to force herself to blink back tears. She had to compose herself. It just wasn't like her to get emotional like this, and she still had a job to do. But as she turned back to the table to pick the kitten up, the tears fell freely.
She reached out, tenderly smoothing down a tuft of fur. "I'm sorry little guy."
Delicate green eyes fluttered open, and the kitten let out a quiet mew.
"I'm so sorry."
--------
Minako listened quietly as Rei explained the extent of the kitten's injuires, and cast blue eyes downward as the vetrinanrian explained the options available, sniffling softly as she stroked his fur.
"Do you have any questions?" Rei asked gently.
The blonde fell silent, head still cast down, and Rei caught a tiny glimmer of tear drops rolling down her cheeks and disappearing into white fur. "I've decided." she said at last, her voice cracking. "His name is Chance."
"Chance?" the raven haired woman repeated quietly, feeling her heart crack.
"Yeah."
Rei swallowed hard, desperatly fighting to ignore the knot in her throat. "Chance."
"Will it hurt him? The drugs, I mean. To make him go to sleep."
"No." the vet replied, nearly a whisper. "It'll be quick."
"Okay." Minako nodded slowly, though her voice shook.
"Is there anyone you'd like me to call?"
The blonde shook her head.
"I'll give you guys a few minuets, alright?"
Rei had barely made it out the door when she heard Minako burst into sobs. In the hallway, outside the supply closet, the vet slumped against the wall, pressing a hand over her eyes. God, why did this feel like it was the hardest thing she had ever done?
-------
Minako cradeled Chance's head in her hands as Rei administered the last of the barbituates, tears flowing as the kitten's chest rose and fell one last time. "I'm sorry." the blonde whispered, leaning forward and kissing the top of his head. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry." Rei choked out. "I wish I could have done more."
Minako smiled up at her crookedly, despite the tears in her eyes. "We're both thankful to you today, for what you did for the both of us."
Rei shook her head, unable to control herself as she covered the kitten with a blanket.
The blonde rose to her feet and tried in vain to dry her eyes. "Do...do you think I could get a hug? I don't know about you, but I'm in desperate need of one right now."
Wordlessly, the raven haired woman pulled her into a tight embrace.
It was just supposed to be another day at the office, right?
-------
Notes!
Oh. Wow. I even upset myself with this one. ;_;
Song : Queensryche - Silent Lucidity