Angry whispers and replies in Deatons soothing voice woke Jess from one of the best naps she could ever remember taking. Something about the presence of the quiet vet had been so calming. Combined with the warmth from the cuddling dog Jess had drifted off to sleep leaning up against the wall with Raggedy Anne in her lap as the last of the adrenaline had drained from her system.
Opening her eyes and stretching carefully in an attempt not to wake the still sleeping dog Jess concentrated on the angry voice coming from the waiting area. Leanimg to one side Jess looked through the open doorway to try and see who Deaton was speaking to.
A young man, no not even a man, a teenager was pacing back and forth in front of Deaton. "I just don't understand why you would hire another person! If you need more stuff done I can work more hours. You didn't need to hire some random chick off the street to do my job!" The teen grumbled angrily to Deaton. Suddenly the teen stopped pacing and hung his head. His voice lost the angry edge and instead sounded he sounded confused and hurt. "I'm good at my job aren't I? I thought you said I was doing a good job. You've never had to tell me off about anything. I thought you were happy with the work I did."
Deaton smiled fondly at the teen and reaching out he rested a hand on his shoulder. When he spoke his voice was soothing and calm. "Of course you do a good job Scott. And I am very pleased with the quality of the work you do here. Hiring Miss Black had nothing to do with that. But you just started a new semester at school, you're trying to get on first line on the lacrosse team, and you do a lot to help out your mom at home. You are a busy kid with a lot going on. I needed someone who could do daily early morning chores while you are busy with lacrosse practices and school. And I hired Jess specifically because she has training to handle some simple medical treatments around here and her schedule is a lot more flexible then your's is. Honestly I thought you would be glad to have a chance to have a little more flexibility with your work schedule."
The teen stood blinking slowly as he took in the words Deaton spoke. He started to nod the his face scrunched up in confusion and her blurted out. " Wait! So you hired a random chick off of the street because supposedly she is more flexible then I am? I can't believe this. You know I am always willing to work more hours if you needed more done."
Jess had stayed silent throughout the exchange slowly untangling herself from the soundly sleeping dog. Jess managed to stand up and step out of the pen just as the teen made a comment about her supposed flexibility. The comment caught her completely by surprise and Jess couldn't quite manage to keep a loud snort of laughter from escaping. "Do you know what I can't believe?" She questioned loudly walking out of the exam room and into the waiting area, her eyes dancing with suppressed laughter. "I can NOT believe you just spoke that sentence out loud." Jess came to a stop beside Dr. Deaton and across from the young teen. "Do you even hear yourself ?"
The teen stared at Jess with his mouth hanging open and his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Oh...well...I...I didn't mean anything bad...I..." The young man stuttered and stammered and turned pleading eyes to Dr. Deaton.
Deaton took pity on the teen and stepping forward he placed his hand on the teens shoulder and turned him to face Jess. "Miss Black, this is my young assistant Scott McCall. He has been helping out around the animal clinic for a few years now. First as a youngster just volunteering then when he was old enough I hired him to help out around the place." Pausing while Jess and Scott reached out and shook hands Deaton continued this time speaking to Scott. "Scott this young lady is Jess Black. I came back from lunch today to find that a patient had been brought to the clinic while I was gone and was in urgent need of medical attention. Jess had come in around the same time to see about the job opening. When she saw that the animal needed urgent care and realized I wasn't here at the clinic she stepped up and began treating the dog. By the time I got back all the urgent treatment was nearly completed and I watched and assisted when needed as she finished treating the dogs major injuries and got the dog settled comfortably. She has been sitting with the dog all afternoon helping it through the roughest few hours of it's recovery." As he finished speaking Deaton walked with Scott over to the pen on the exam room and showed him the sleeping dog and the patient notes explaining what exactly Jess had done for treatment.
Scott blushed harder and turned to Jess rubbing the back of his neck his voice tinged with embarrassment. "Sorry for the way I went off earlier Miss Black. I just really love this job, and honestly, I need all the hours I can get. I am just staring to learn how to do some of the simple treatments. But there is no way I could have handled a case like this on my own." Turning to look down at the sleeping dog Scott added softly. "I'm really glad you were here to help her."
Looking Anne over one more time Jess checked the I.V. pump and line and turned to Scott with a smile. "I'm glad I was here too Scott. This little ball of fluff is just too sweet of a dog to have left to suffer when I was around and able to do the work." Picking up her bag Jess continued. "And I will accept you apology with one condition. "
Scott tilted his head slightly to one side like a confused pup and Jess was hit with the sudden thought that the boy gave off a similar feeling to most young large dogs she had worked with. He had great strength and size but wasn't quite sure how to use it. "What condition?" Scott asked sounding slightly unsure of himself.
Hanging her bag on a hook on the wall out of the way Jess turned to Scott and had to suppress the sudden urge to ruffle his hair. "The condition..." Jess began seriously leaning slightly forward and speaking softer and softer with each word. "...is that you call me, Jess. And that you show me around and teach me how you boys do things around here." Jess finished loudly with a smile. Turning to Dr. Deaton Jess continued. "If it is alright with Dr. Deaton, you can show me how Dr. Deaton likes things done with the animal care and cage cleaning. And if you also show me where everything is stored, then in exchange..." Jess paused and turned to Scott. " Anytime I have a simple medical job that needs doing and you are here at the clinic I will call you over and teach you a bit about it. I have been learning and doing animal first aide since I was a little kid. One of the things I enjoy almost as much as helping the animals is teaching other people how to help animals. The more people who know how to do animal first aide the less that animals have to suffer waiting for treatment." Jess looked back and forth from a quietly smiling Dr. Deaton, to a beaming and bouncing in place Scott.
Scott turned to Dr. Deaton with a pleading look on his face and again the head cocked slightly to one side and he bounced slightly in place waiting for the vet to agree or disagree with Jess plan.
Turning away Dr. Deaton simply grabbed his coat of the coat hook and said to the pair over his shoulder. "Sounds like a good plan to me. And since you both have seem to have everything handled I will go home and have an early night for once." Pausing suddenly by the door the vet turned to look back with concern at the pen with the sleeping dog.
Seeing his look Jess stepped forwards and assured him. "I don't have any plans for the night since I just moved to town, and as long as Scott can handle watching Anne for a short bit so I can run to a store and grab something for my supper I have no issue staying here for the night to monitor Anne." Grinning ruefully at Dr. Deaton Jess continued "I had a really good nap earlier today. So having a night of interrupted sleep won't do me any harm."
"If you are sure..." Dr. Deaton replied locking eyes with Jess. He must have liked what he sensed there because he smiled widely and turned to Scott. "Make sure that you show Jess the break room, pull out couch, and the shower room Scott. Once this last bag of fluids finishes Anne here can have the I.V. detached for the night and wander freely around the office. Poor girl seems a little clingy. I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to join you on the couch for the night. But at least it will make her easy to monitor." Pulling on his coat the Dr. gave the pair one last smile before he stepped out of the door.