"Sorry ta make you fella's stay late." The brown furred squirrel apologized with shaking the two site leads hands. It was nearly six in the evening and due to the fall time swing sunlight was fading fast.
"It's not a problem Randy." A while rabbit of likely the same age smiled while tightly gripping the squirrel's hand back.
"Luke is right, Randy." The older opossum chimed in while now taking the squirrels hand in thanks. "We're just happy we were finally able to have you out. Today definitely seemed to be a huge morale booster for the men."
"Glad ta hear dat." Randy smiled happily. "I should have my report back ta y'all in a week or two. But I'm thinking I'm gonna take another walk around before heading out though."
"Take your time" Luke said getting a nod of approval from the other man.
"I'll be right quick." Randy waved as he turned his back on the two men and started to stroll around the inside of the fenced off construction site parameter. With the sky over him growing more dim the male squirrel pulled a small flashlight off his belt and turned it on to show a surprising bright shine coming for the small device. The man who was likely not much older than 30 poked around looking at different piles of materials and various equipment until a slight bit of movement caught his attention near a large stack of 4X4 studs.
The male squirrel pointed his light beam towards the seemingly phantom movement only to confirming that he wasn't imagining things. Between a few beams, of wood, he made out a small mud covered mess of fur shivering as he kneeled down and peered at it.
"Hey dar, fella." Randy spoke calmly as the small animal continued to shiver in it's hiding place. "Dat ain't no place ta make a home. Come on out." Randy cooed at the animal and patted his knee with his hand. "Come on now little buddy!" He cheerfully tried to call as the scared dirty mess stayed hiding it's its makeshift home. "Oh!" Randy snapped his fingers and pulled a small pack of gum out of his back pocket. "Dis ain't good fer ya, so dis has gotta stay between us, but it's better den you staying out here." Randy ripped a small piece of chewing gum from the stick and tossed it towards the small beast. His attempted worked as the small dirty creature slowly came out to get more of the once unknown treat. "Good boy!" Randy praised as he got the stray to come up and try to eat out of his hand only to have the squirrel scoop the muddy mess up and pet it while feeding it the last of the stick of gum.
"Dar ya go little fella!" Randy continued to calmly talking to the small creature as he swaddled it in his arms. "Yer all wet and icky. Ya must be frezzing!" The far more evolved squirrel kept up his one-sided conversation with the tiny site stowaway as he walked back towards the main parking area.
"What do you have there?" The older opossum site head asked as the squirrel made his way back towards site entrance.
"Found a tiny weenie trespasser, but don't fret none. I'll run dis little guy in muhself. Dar is an emergency vet hospital I passed on my way here earlier." Randy pulled his dirty find closer to him as the wind started to pick up as the sky finally became fully dark. "Gotta gets this little worker all cleaned up and feed!" He smiled at the two men and then down at the same shivering ball or tangled fur. "You gents have a good night, and I'll keep y'all posted on muh report!"
The three men nodded at each other and then picked up their pace to their different cars as rain stared to pelt down on them. Randy didn't even bother setting down his coat for the small creature to sit on but opted to let it just sit in the passenger seat, of his truck, and make a huge mess on the upholstery. "Proton's gonna kill me." He mumbled to himself but couldn't help but smile, and not worry so much, as the small passenger beside him sneezed a few times before cuddling up against Randy's leg.
After about 30 minutes into Randy's drive home did he finally pull off at the 24 hour emergency vet location. He was happy to see about he brought his new found friend into the clinic that they didn't seem very busy at the moment. He explained the situation to the young woman at the front desk who eagerly took Randy's friendly little find into the back room to get cleaned up and undergo an inspection. Randy took a seat in the waiting area, so he could pay, and hear the outcome of the little creature. He knew full well he wouldn't be allowed to take the little thing home as Proton, his newly wed husband, had a strong no pet policy, but he wanted to be able to keep tabs and find out when the small fella was finally adopted to his new home.
The young chimp behind the counter came back after only a few minutes while Randy sat and waited. In that time a few more people came in with their pets, and luckily none were hurt too badly as Randy was a sappy sucker and would have likely started to cry with any distort family that was about to lose a tiny, but still close, family member. "No wonder I turned out ta be a fag." Randy laughed to himself while still relieved his emotions didn't pour out for no real good reason.
"Mr. Cheeks?" The young chimp behind the desk motioned him to come up while a vet technician came out of the door to lead him into the back room.
The vet was waiting inside holding down a now very happy perfectly clean long white haired furball. The pink nose was and long then tail, with a large poof ball on the end, was all that could be made out besides a wet slobbering tongue. "This little guy is in surprisingly good health considering he's been on the streets likely his whole ten to eleven months of life."
"Oh, thank da lord... I didn't call a little lady a little boy." Randy grinned as he came up to pet the now very adorable furball. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised he's still just a baby given his size."
"Oh, he won't get much bigger. Seems he's mostly what is known as a mop-end." The vet didn't seem shocked at Randy's questioningly look. "It's a fairly under evolved canine rodent mix. Thus, the primitive canine body and more rodent like tail."
"Ah." Randy said still not totally understanding. "His little tail does look like a bean sprout." The male squirrel smiled as the brown bear vet nodded his head in agreement.
"Sounds like a good name." He sighed while handing the small patent back to the man that found him. "Heather will be able to put together a take home package, so you'll be able to properly take care of him until you can find him a permanent veterinarian."
"Oh... uhh... wait!" Randy called out before the vet could fully turn his back. "See... I ain't allowed ta have pets, so I was hoping y'all could find him a good home." Randy smiled large in a begging manner.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we're already beyond capacity, and if you did leave him here, he'd be shipped off to the pound come morning. Most that go there are euthanized within 48 hours if not adopted, but if that's really what needs to be done..."
"NO!" Randy cut in while holding the little Bean Sprout close. "I'll take him home until I can find him a real home. It's ok. I'll take da home package." Randy started rocking the little animal again as the vet tech lead him back to the front desk.
$780 USD later Randy was on his way home with his newest roommate, and all the so-called needed accessories. "Now when ya see Proton ya gotta give him yer cutest look." Randy stressed getting a small few yips out of his overly excited temporary pet. "YES!" Randy smiled in awe." Dat's it!" He praised as he pulled up and waited for the garage door to open before pulling in.
Randy pulled the large box of items out of his truck as his new friend happily jumped down on the floor himself. "Be careful dar Sprout! Ya ain't near as big as ya seem ta think ya are." He chuckled while opening the door leading into the house.
"Randy!" Proton called out nearly panicked. "I was so worried! Why are you so-" Proton trailed off as the two men came into full view of one another, as did the small white blob of fur that was running around the laundry room they just entered.
"Hey, babe!" Randy called happily knowing full well he was in trouble even before Proton gave him his extra disappointed angry glare. "Sorry ta keep ya waiting, but I came across a freeloader at the site I visited today." He continued to grin as he felt his husband's eyes rip him apart as he sat the box of pet supplies down.
"And why..." Proton took a long breath to try to calm himself before going on. "Did you bring it here?"
"Now baby, please let me explain before ya go and bust out a few ulcers!" Randy held up his hands as the small creature continued to explore the large laundry area. " Da emergency vet was full, and dey said dat they'd send him ta da pound tomorrow where he'd be put down in two days if not adopted." Randy now kneeled down having his little friend run right up to him. "I didn't go out of muh way and spend all dat money just ta have him killed!" Randy pushed only right after realizing he shouldn't have brought up he spend money on the small pet to his boyfriend.
"Money?" Proton asked obviously very annoyed. "Tell me, Randall... How much money did we spend on this little pest?!" The older squirrel sneered as Randy kept his focus on his new little friend in his arms.
"He ain't no pest! And it was muh money! I work hard too ya know?!" Randy now looked up at his lover obviously upset and offended. "I'm gonna find him a good home real soon, so ya don't gotta get all pissy! Ok?!" Randy shouted as he stood up, still holding his little Sprout in his arms and walking into the kitchen and living area. "Just give me a week, and den ya don't gotta worry 'bout him no more!"
"How can you be so sure it's a him?" Proton asked under his breath as he followed Randy in the other room and then looked down on the unwelcome guest as it continued to walk around this new location, after Randy set him down again, and explore.
"It's your responsibility, and I don't want to have to deal with it at all." Proton groaned giving in far more than he'd thought he would. "And if it messes in the house, I will be rubbing your nose in it!" Proton grinned as a warning only getting a more amused grin out of Randy.
"Jokes on you! I love it when ya humiliate me!" Randy giggled getting Proton to roll his eyes and walk off towards their bedroom.
"Fine! I'll just spank you!" Proton called backing knowing full well that was hardly a threat.
"OH! Oh!" Randy called out while tailing behind him. "Can't we do both?! Teehee!" Randy giggled as he hugged his husband from behind after entering the room with him. "Fast, Sprout! Pee on da carpet!"
"God no! Don't encourage it, Randy!" Proton groaned glancing back as his husband and finding himself unable to not smile at the younger man's happy face. "But you definitely need punished... but only after to put that thing away for the night."
"Yes, sir!" Randy stood up straight and saluted before setting up his new pets sleeping area for the night. The two men didn't think much about the small animals crying until after they were done making love. Randy had fallen fast asleep but Proton stayed awake with the whining of the small terror ringing through his head.
"Val was right... I have ended up in Hell."