Disclaimer and such in Chapter 1
Chapter 25
Fortunately for the pair, both of their recoveries went surprisingly well and while still sick, L could even keep himself awake long enough for them to have a little celebration of the raven's birthday and the younger raven's birth even if it wasn't at the right time of the year. A had even installed a line so B didn't have to painfully inject himself each time with a new needle.
"Happy birthday guys..." she smiled and pulled out the dog sled shaped jelly, kind of a throw back to how Bear helped save them. Said dog was even allowed back in the room with them now along with A's oddly friendly little mouse, Smudge.
B was sitting alongside the young detective on the bed and had a smile on his face.
"Thank you A. You even made us a jelly. I like it, it means a lot to all of us I think. Can I hug you?"
A put the tray down on L's legs and lean down to hug her younger brother tightly.
"Of course B!" she chirped, but sighed when she noticed that even before she had pulled away one of the sled dogs had its head bitten off by a very sugar addicted panda. The younger raven smiled, returning the embrace wholeheartedly before looking to see his friend sucking a dog head shaped jelly without a care in the world.
"Still no patience, eh Lawli?" He chuckled and waited patiently for A to give him his serving of the jelly, still smiling at his friend who almost looked shocked he'd been caught.
L tilted his head to the side like an innocent puppy and A sighed loudly.
"I guess you can have that one..." she mumbled looking down at her creation and noting that it was the red jelly dog he took first.
"Color preference B?" she asked, putting the rest of the red dog in a bowl for L who was still sucking away at the decapitated head.
"He and I both like red, but I'll have the purple one, it's close enough." He poked at it and watched in amusement at the jiggly goo.
A moved the purple dog over to B's bowl so he could see the little blueberries set inside as there where chunks of strawberry inside L's.
"Guess I get the grape one... Bear can have the sled!" she chirped, putting the yellow one into the huge canines bowl which was quickly emptied by a huge slurp of a doggy tongue.
"Come on, you didn't even taste that!"
B slowly sucked on his dog's head until there was nothing left of it before moving to the body and repeating the process. He grinned and giggled at seeing Bear being chastised by A. He swallowed his jelly and lifted his head.
"I don't think he cares, just as long as it's from you, it's better than nothing at all."
"I got you something too... It took a while to find something better then the sea monkeys, but it's still pretty cool..." With that she slowly ate her own treat.
"I admit it didn't cost me much, but I could spend a heap on something neither of you would like or I could get you something cheap I know you will..."
"Really? That's so thoughtful of you A." B smiled and returned to his treat that had missing blueberries and tell-tale finger marks that were not there before. He rolled his eyes and smiled before continuing until his jelly dog was finished. Once she was finished, the young blonde got to her feet and walked to the door, picking up a package off of the floor. Inside was a small tank with her first ever bred baby walking fish, there parents where part of her testing in the lab and now these were for them to enjoy.
"Don't shake it... water will go everywhere..."
Both raven's eyes widened at the same time.
"A... They had babies? That's... that's wonderful! This is seriously the best gift ever!" B smiled and didn't stop smiling, waiting for their sister to set the tank down before going and giving her a large hug.
"Thank you so much!" He kissed her on the cheek in gratitude. L swallowed down the rest of his treat and leaned over to hug his little sister as well.
"Yes, thank you A." He smiled and looked over to the tank now on there desk next to their albino dragon's house.
"Don't worry, I'll feed them every day until you're better!"
"You're the best. I will make you something special for you on your birthday A, you can count on that!" He goes to sit back down on the currently still shared bed.
"I don't think this day can get any better. Good feelings all around, the three of us, Bear and Smudge. Nothing better than that."
"Yes, this is quite relaxing." the older male smiled, coughing lightly at the end of his sentence.
"Soon as we are both well again we can go out into town too..."
"We can do something nice and it will be good." He leaned into his friend and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, something that he's never been able to do before, and smiled contentedly.
"Well, I have work to do!" A chirped.
"I'll come back when I'm done, and I'll bring some more of your tea while im at it!"
"See you tonight then A..." L mumbled with a smile.
"Bear can stay here with you today, he gets a little bored in the lab and he is better off here with people to talk to."
"Good... I miss the big lug and... giving him... ear... rubs..." He kept his eyes closed before letting himself fall onto his back and even out his breathing before falling into a short nap. A smiled and slipped out leaving L to watch his new walking fish bob around in the water. A half hour passed before B woke himself from his nap to see L petting Bear and keeping his attention on the little Axolotl babies.
"Hey Lawli..." he yawned stretching briefly before sliding to the floor to give the large dog an ear rub.
"Good morning again Beyond..." L mumbled, "Do you want me to give you your medicine."
"I can handle it myself, thanks," he murmured, standing up to get a new vial and let it go into his system.
"I am so happy that we got Axolotl babies with us now. I want to name one of them Lawli."
"Lawli and Beyond." L smiled happily.
"Those little things have done us a whole world of good without even knowing it."
"Very true. They've helped to save our hides more than once. We need one called Angel for A, because that is what she is. She's an angel."
"I have to agree with you there Beyond..." The boy smiled and ran his fingers through the red eyed male on the ground's hair.
"We are lucky to have our own personal angel."
B leaned into the touch and smiled.
"Soon she'll be an angel to everyone else soon enough, the world will stat calling her that... but she was our Angel first."
"She always will be our angel... for saving you." L had taken to sleeping with his head on the others chest, listening to his newly smooth and now relaxing breathing. The younger raven petted his friend's hair tenderly and lovingly, holding him close and protected. He let his thoughts drift to their birthday. Lawli was now 13 and he was now 12. Many changes were on their way and he had to wonder if any of them were good or not.
"I love you Beyond..." L purred and pulled his friend back up on the bed again.
"I love you too," he hummed back, letting himself be pulled onto the bed.
The boys spent the rest of the day together like that, only moving once to go to the bathroom and to give Beyond his medicine. It was another week and a half before L was back to his old self but for Beyond, he felt better then ever.
B was back in the lab, working on more plant compounds and creating a variety of tea's, skin care products and shampoo additives. He was peppy as usual since making a full recovery and worked at a much faster, but no more meticulous pace. He was still patiently waiting on L's surprise for them both, letting the anticipation send good feelings into his person.
The older raven opened his case file for the day, happy to see a note from Watari pinned onto the middle page. The note was only two words long but to him, it was no less exciting.
'Its ready'
Finally after all the waiting, today was the day that his pet shelter would be ready to be opened and best yet, to give to his friend.
"Beyond..." L mumbled, "I was wondering if you would like to come out for lunch with me as a late celebration..."
The younger raven turned his attention to the young detective and smiled.
"Sure, let me put my things away first." He proceeded to pack his items away and store them away properly. When he was done, removed his lab coat and washed his hands.
"Alright, I'm ready to go," he said with a smile. L packed away his files and met his friend at the door, leaving the filed out on the table seeing as A would be the only one coming in here.
"Watari promised to drive us when we where ready..."
"Let us go to the office then and let him know." He smiled and led the pair to the elder male's office before knocking and letting himself inside.
"Watari... We're ready."
"Oh, so your going to lunch today?" Watari smiled kindly.
"I found a nice place that is perfect."
"I am sure it is Watari."
B followed their father outside and to the renovated black car and got into the back seat with his friend and buckled himself inside. He didn't know what to expect, so he only smiled and let his feet dance. L smiled and enjoyed the ride, resting his head on his friend's shoulder. It was a ten minute drive before buildings started coming into sight, eventually leading into an industrial area.
"I have a surprise for you Beyond..." the detective purred.
"Close your eyes."
The wild raven obeyed, closing his eyes and covering them with his hands while beginning to breath faster in excitement. He knew Lawli was hiding something, but he wasn't sure as to what it was. He giggled and shivered in happy anticipation. As soon as the car was parked he slipped out the door, leading his friend out and to the door where a huge sign was lit up waiting for him.
"Alright..." he whispered, kissing his friend on the cheek innocently.
"Open them..."
Scarlet eyes opened slowly before seeing an animal shelter, but this one was special. "Griffin Animal Rehabilitation Center." He let it soak before it hit him. Tears of happiness free themselves before L was hugged tightly.
"Lawli... T-thank y-you..." he sniffled, burying his face into the older's neck and kissing it. "Th-this m-means so m-much to me... T-thank you s-so much..."
"I'm glad you like it Beyond..." L purred, holding his friend tightly to his chest.
"Now Griffin will be remembered for a long time to come... and it's all yours..."
B began to cry, falling to his knees and shedding tears of happiness, sadness and fond memories. A few tears escaped L's eyes as well, but soon they had calmed down enough to pull away with a small smile.
"Come look inside..."
The younger raven stood up a little shakily and followed, still letting tears with mixed emotions fall gently. This was something he was not expecting, no, it was far from it. This was an entire animal clinic for him... for him... from his greatest and closest companion whom he loved more than life itself. L led him into the front rooms; it was all a beautiful robin' egg blue with little flying griffins jumping through silvery clouds at the top. There where two big doors at the back on either side of the counter, one labeled 'cats' with a picture that B once drew of Griffin all curled up on their bed and another labeled 'dogs with a picture of a slobbering Bear just below.
B was speechless, just plain speechless as he let himself be led through the building. He was positively glowing with happiness, letting the tears fall freely. He held onto the older while the tour continued. He leaned in to give the older raven a kiss on the cheek, though it was more heartfelt than usual.
"Th-thank you for this L-Lawli.." he whispered, sniffling and placing another heartfelt kiss to the same cheek.
"I'm glad you like it..."
The older raven had to slink around for a long time to get B's art books and find the right pictures. The whole thing was quite hard to pull off, but now it was done it was worth it.
"There are no animals here yet but there is going to be a vet on staff as well as 2 vet nurses, 2 cleaners and volunteers. Most of the people that will be working here are from Wammy's and want to work for the animals rather than for the money..."
"Good..." It was better that the animals would be cared for this way; that way both sides would get something out of it and the animals would be a lot healthier. It was still a job, but a more satisfying one.
"I d-don't think I c-could ever equal this g-gift L-Lawli... I-it means a lot... y-you know how m-much it m-means t-to me..."
"Good because it was very hard to get many of these pictures behind your back..." The detective smiled happily, leading his friend into the cat enclosures. Each was a decent size, with plastic toys that could be easily sterilized and separated by a solid wall so they could not spread infections between each other. The front was glass so that people could look in and pick their pet without touching them and again spreading infections. The younger raven felt calmer in here and took in a slow breath and exhaling.
"I like this space... I think that I'd like to come here and visit often..." He smiled and looked at each enclosure, seeing if they would suit their purpose well, mentally putting Griffin into each one. He reached out to touch the glass, envisioning their cat interacting with his hand as if she were really there.
"And once they pick their cat, they can take it into the lounge at the end of this hall and play with it to decide if its right for them or not..." he mumbled.
"There's also a place here for other animals, like ferrets..."
"There are really not enough 'thank you's' that can cover how much I am grateful for this Lawli. I don't know how to thank you enough."
"You can thank me the best by enjoying it." L smiled happily and wrapped his arms around his friend.
"We're going to have a sausage sizzle for the opening and we are taking 5 cats and 5 dogs from the kill shelters in the area to start," he informed him, "and it starts in roughly an hour..."
"Then let us go back home, get ready and bring A and Bear along with us. They should be here to celebrate as well." He leaned into the embrace and smiled brightly.
"Watari is already doing just that, he is picking up those that are to work here, A, Smudge and Bear in the bus right now." He smiled.
"I think you will like the ones I have picked out to be our first guests here, there is a three legged dog who was on death row, a dog that has had its ears cut off by its last owner, A blind kitten... I tried to pick those who wouldn't normally find homes so they can get the extra help here..."
"Griffin was one such cat. I found her by chance and she looked like no one would take her... and I thought she looked like a baby Griffin at the time... This will be where the ones who cannot find homes are fixed up so that they can find homes." L nodded and cuddled into his friend.
"It is also for those too sick to find homes yet. There are those at Wammy's who will learn a lot from treating them and one of the teachers has volunteered her time to train them each afternoon... I have set up a fund to pay for this for the next year and I'm going to keep adding money when I can..."
"I'll make donations of my teas for the animals as well as a few topical medicines for those with skin conditions. In fact, I'll sell a good portion of my animal medicines to veterinary institutions, but only to this place will I do that for free." He leaned his head back and to the side so he could kiss a cheek.
"Let's go look at the dog cages," L smiled, "I haven't seen it myself yet, I had to do all the designs from the house and I want to see how it came out!"
"Lead the way, Watson," he said with a smile. He followed his friend into the next section of the building, feeling happy tingling sensations throughout his person.
