Frequent Patient Discount - Chapter Three

It was some time later that a cleaned and bandaged Steve limped into the precinct with a plastic tub under one arm, a pillow and book about turtles under the other. He had an appointment at the twenty-four hour vet clinic for later in the evening. Steve felt he owed it to the little guy to get him checked out, after all he had been through a lot. If he had been less focused on balancing the container of water he might have noticed the smirks and smiles that greeted his arrival into the squad room. As he approached his desk he lifted his head and stopped dead in his tracks. He had never seen so many turtles in his life. They hung from the ceiling, they were sitting on top of his computer monitor, they were everywhere and as he forced frozen feet to move forward he found that he wouldn't be needing his pillow, his seat was covered with a large turtle shaped pillow and sitting on the floor just in front of his chair were the largest, fluffiest turtle house shoes he had ever seen. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, he should have known Jesse would have called, when he opened them he looked down at his desk and saw what looked like a newspaper article that detailed the adventures of two police detectives, Clumsy and Latch Clumsy being the uncommonly inept human partner and Latch being his snapping turtle partner who used his latching ability to subdue criminals. Though Steve knew the article was fake he suddenly broke into a cold sweat at the prospect of the story actually ending up in print somewhere. He carefully lowered himself into his chair and placed the tub directly on the offending piece of paper. Steve suddenly became aware of the sounds around him, giggles hidden behind hands or outright laughter. Cheryl stood in front of him with merriment dancing in her eyes, her hands suspiciously behind her back. Steve looked at her through narrowed eyes.

"Detective Banks."

Reciprocating his use of rank, Cheryl responded, "Lieutenant Sloan."

Steve tried to peek around her back. "What have you got in your hands?"

Cheryl giggled and Steve grew more uncomfortable.

"You mean this?" Cheryl asked as she brought her hands around open and palms up to show him the contents.

Steve's mouth fell open in shock. He couldn't believe it, Jesse must have called them while he was still at the hospital, there was no other way they could have gotten all this done. Cheryl's hand contained the smallest badge, handcuffs and gun Steve had ever seen.

"If I had known you wanted another partner, Sloan, I would have asked for a transfer," Cheryl spluttered out as giggles finally consumed her and she dropped into the chair by his desk.

Steve groaned dropped his head into his hands and prayed for the day to be over.

………………..

Cheryl had insisted on accompanying Steve to the vet's office and so here they now sat Steve trying to fill out paperwork on his new pet.

"I don't know the answers to this stuff," he grumbled.

"Well, maybe you ought to just concentrate on a name, you can't just keep calling him the turtle, all pets need a name."

"I know that," he responded testily. "I'm just not sure what to name him."

"Are you really going to keep him? And, have you considered the fact that he might not be a he?"

Steve looked suddenly startled, he hadn't even considered that. And how exactly did you tell the sex of a turtle, anyway? A frown creased his brow as he responded. "How do you tell the sex of a turtle?"

Cheryl frowned back. "Do I look like I know? Look it up in your handy, dandy little turtle book. What is that by the way 'Turtles for Dummies'."

She received an impressive scowl for her comment. "Well I certainly can't name him---errr…it until I know for sure, I mean that could be traumatic, being a girl and having a guy's name."

"Steve it's a turtle, I think its day probably goes something like this, gonna swim for a while, then sleep, then eat and hey then maybe I'll swim, sleep and eat. I don't think it cares what its name is."

"I think that's a little harsh, besides that sounds more like a day at the beach with Jesse."

Cheryl laughed. "At least your sense of humor is intact."

As Steve started to respond, they were interrupted by voice at the door of the waiting room.

"Mr. Sloan, we can finish the paperwork in the exam room, the doctor is ready to see you and your turtle now."

Cheryl couldn't help herself she snorted loudly, no way no how would she have thought she would ever hear a sentence like that. She mumbled it to herself as Steve pushed himself upright with a grunt.

"Shut up and watch my pillow," Steve grumbled as he limped towards the door.

Cheryl grabbed the turtle shaped pillow and held it up close to her mouth to muffle her laughter.

………………..

Steve eased himself down into the chair in the examining room and the door opened almost immediately revealing the doctor. He moved to stand by the table and looked down at his next patient before looking up at its owner.

"And how did you come across this little guy, Mr. Sloan?" the vet asked.

Steve sighed. "It's a really long story that I'd rather not go into."

The End

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