Chapter 14:

Inside the clinic, Dr. Ediug's door was closed and, for some reason, locked. When Mackenzie and Madison were both eyeing Dr. Ediug's door warily because, for the first time in almost five years, the door to his office was locked with the patients still inside. Dr. Ediug doesn't normally lock his door; he's confident that the animals are well behaved and will not try to run away, so he felt that there was no need to. The twins stared at the door, curiously wondering what could be so important about a tall blonde man and a blue-gray dog…

"Okay, okay, hold him gently…"

"YIPE!"

"Mr. Atlas, I said GENTLY!"

"That is being gentle! To me, anyways..."

"(Sigh) Just, put your hands over his muzzle and I will administer the anesthetic."

"Hold still, Maggie."

"Grrrr! Woof! Woof!"

Inside the enclosed examination room, Jack and Dr. Ediug were holding down Magnus on top of the examination table. Dr. Ediug has his entire body over Magnus' flank and hind legs, while Jack held onto Magnus' forelegs with one hand and his snout in the other. Magnus was lying on his side and wiggling underneath the two men, fruitlessly trying to escape; the two grown men's weight combined was just too heavy for him to push off. Amidst the struggling, Dr. Ediug manages to gently pinch together a fleshy area on Magnus' side and hold it. "Okay, big boy, I understand you're not a fan of needles, bit I assure you that this will only take less than a second."

Magnus wasn't comforted by Dr. Ediug's words. As a matter of fact, he even began to struggle twice as hard and shook his head violently. Jack had to pin him with most of his body while Dr. Ediug quickly administered the sedative. Magnus yipped as the needle pricked his skin and then whined as he felt the anesthetic enter his bloodstream, worming underneath his skin like a tight school of fish in a pond. After what felt like forever, Magnus soon stopped struggling, and then slowly became limp. As Dr. Ediug removed and recycled the needle tip into a hazard container, Jack released Magnus and supported his head. Magnus appeared dead in Jack's arms, aside from the steady breathing and occasional reflex.

"Hey, uh, doc." Jack started, "Magnus is going to be alright, right? It's not that I'm worried about him or anything, it's just that…well…he's my girl's mutt, and-"

Dr. Ediug approached the table with freshly-gloved hands and started to check Magnus' paws. "Do not worry, Mr. Atlas. Magnus is just fine. The tranquilizer I administered to him is a very weak dose, diluted with mostly mineral water and liquid vitamins. He will be like this for a while, but he should come two in about an hour."

"Oh, right. I knew that! By the way, why did you sedate him? Are you going to operate on him?"

Dr. Ediug checked Magnus' back by applying pressure points in his spine. "No, uh, that was actually because he wouldn't sit still long enough for me to examine him." While Magnus snored quietly, Dr. Ediug finished his tests quickly and jotted his results on the clipboard. Jack watched from the visitor's chair quietly as the veterinarian inspected Magnus' padded feet, checked for any fleas and ticks in his fur, and examined his irises with an ophthalmoscope. (It's that long, black, flat thing with a light in it that the doctor looks at your eye with!)

Outside of the clinic, A gray van drives into the parking lot and stops perfectly in an empty spot. After some figiting from the inside, the driver's door bursts open and a wobbly man steps out. His entire head is completely wrapped in white medical bandages, leaving him absolutely blind and staggering everywhere around the car. He even fell to the ground several times and got back up almost too quick, causing him to stagger even more. (I don't know how he was able to drive like that, so don't ask me!) The man, after some close calls with street signs and oncoming traffic, approached the walkway to the vet clinic in one piece. He trips on the first step and falls flat on his face with a loud thud. River, who has been resting on the roof this entire time, snaps out of his daze and looks over the edge. He sees the bandaged man lying on the pavement and immediately jumps down to his side, afraid that he might be hurt or worse.

River pulls the man to his shaky feet and straightens him. "Sir? Sir, are you alright?"

The man pats his hands all over River's face, much to River's dislike; he was able to tolerate the stranger's foolishness until he pulls River's nose. "YOWCH! SIR! Please, we need to get you to a hospital. I don't think you should be out and about with that bandage all over your-? What the…"

It was then that River notices that this total stranger is wearing his mentor's exact same outfit from this morning. Come to think of it, he also walks a little like Mr. Boulder and is his exact height!

Boulder steps forward and pats River's head again. "Wifer?"

"Mr. Boulder?" River said with a surprise. "Wh-What are you doing here? How did they let you out of the hospital?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE OFF YOUR BANDAGES?!"

(Boulder tries to answer River's quiestions, but with the bandage encased over his head and his mouth barely open, all of his words were slurred and mumbled. Also, there's some anesthetics in his blood. In short, he sounds like a cross between a drunk hillbilly, talking with your fingers jammed up your nose, and one of the mumbling "wah-wah-wah" adults from Charlie Brown that you NEVER see.)

What Boulder said: "I got here by driving the extra car, which is pretty cool since I can't see anything in this stupid mask. When I heard that I would be okay, I (kinda) snuck out and came down here to help you with 'the mission', 'cuz that's the guy I am! But in hind sight, I probably should've waited until they took of the bandages or gave me permission to leave and stuff. Anywho, how is the mission?"

What River heard: "Why go bear bi divi ve veva ka, shish esh kiity wool seence why camp sieve manyting em fis stookid mash. Wren e hearve bat why should bee mokay, why (finda) shuck out end came wown where chew help yew with 'the miffin', juz what's the dye why am! Lut n gind slight, why robedliy chould've laited wunfil whey shook off the tangeres or shave me terrifing ku leaf when fluff. Rainydoo, dow es the miffin?"

(Insert cricket sounds here)

Mr. River just stared at his bubbling partner like he grew a second head. "Um, well, uh…nevermind. Okay, I'll brief you in! The target is inside with two fully sized males, possibly one of his owners and the licensed veterinarian. We need to infiltrate the facility and quietly sneak out with the target before there's any trouble, sir."

Boulder motioned towards the front door, avoiding the remaining steps, and felt for the handle to the closed door. River pulled his hands away before Boulder could successfully unlock the door. "Sir, we need to treat this mission delicately! If we walked in there looking too wei…uh…I mean, suspicious, they might call the cops! We can't risk bringing the local authoritites into our objective! Understood?!"

Mr. Boulder was only able to briefly nod before the front door swung open, revealing the receptionist (Madison, probably?) staring at the two of them; her rush arrival has barely given River or Boulder any time to come up with a good excuse for being at a pet hospital with no pets.

Madison stared at both boys, Boulder longer than River. "Uh, hello?"

"Greetings." Said River.

"Mollo." Said Boulder.

(Sorry about earlier; it was really Mackenzie!) Mackenzie stepped onto the walkway and stared down the two men. "Excuse me, but you two are making a lot of noise out here! Unless this is an animal related emergency. I must ask that you both leave. NOW."

River was the first to react. "NO! I mean…this IS an emergency!"

Mackenzie just stared at him. "Really? Then where's the animal?"

River darted his eyes to follow up the excuse, when he noticed Mr. Boulder and his mummified head. "HIM! He's the emergency!"

"He is?"

"Mi am?"

"YES!" River directed a hard gaze at Boulder; it was so strong, that Boulder didn't even need his eyes to shiver. "Don't you remember, neighbor? That wild…uh…badger sprang up out of the bushes and nearly clawed your face apart. Wow, we were luckly that the doctor cleaned up the wounds at the hospital! He said my neighbor will be fine, but I needed to bring him here for a shot!"

River was beginning to sweat because Mackenzie didn't look like she was buying it. "A shot? For what? He's already fixed up!"

"Yeah…well…the doctor said that my neighbor needed a booster shot for…uh…"

"MAVIES!" Shouted Boulder.

"Mavies? …Oh, rabies! Yes! The hospital didn't have any rabies shots, so he brought us here! Is it alright if we came inside for the shot? Please! His brain could be swelling as we speak!"

"Mellon?"

"No, sweetheart, he said swelling." Said Mackenzie. "Alright, alright. It's a little unorthadox, but we'll have a look at your friend here. Although, the hospital should have plenty of rabies shot…" Mackenzie muttered to herself as River led Boulder inside to the front desk. There, Madison helped Boulder sign in and wait for the doctor.

Seizing the opportunity, River walks over to Mackenzie. "Excuse me, but where is your bathroom."

"Huh?" said Mackenzie, "Oh, it's, um, up the stairs, down the hall, and on your left. There are signs there and everything."

"Thank you. Boul-I mean, sir?" Boulder was jotting down his fake information on the clipboard. (Still not sure how he can see…) "I'll be right back. Just stay. Right. There." And with that, River was gone in a heartbeat.

River was racing down the hall, carefully picking his way between "I've got to locate the subject before that quack discovers something he shouldn't have! That fool and his mate think they're housing some stray pet, but he's more dangerous than anyone thinks! I have to find Magnus before…before, she does…"

River's heartbeat was racing as he looked through the open doors of every room except the locked room (Dr. Ediug's room) which he quickly brushed off as a closet or something. River's feet picked up as he moves from place to place, oblivious to what was inside.

Magnus suddenly began to whine softly, his feet twitching as if trying to escape. He soon began to shake and shutter, growling while his eyes were still closed. Jack and Dr. Eduig rushed to Magnus' side, holding him down to make sure he doesn't fall off of the table.

Jack was really starting to worry about Magnus at this point. "Doc, what the hell is wrong with him?! I thought you said that stuff was nothin' but vitamins!"

"It is!" Dr. Eduig defended, "He must be thrashing about because of some nightmare he's having!"

"Dog's have nightmares?"

"Oh, yes! And they can dream, too!" The doctor began to gently rub Magnus' head, calming him down in the process. Jack, unconcerned about the possibility of being attacked, started to comfort Magnus in the same manner. Magnus stopped thrashing his legs and whining, but he was still shaking like a leaf.

Dr. Ediug gently massaged Magnus' ear. "Poor thing, he must being seeing something horrific."

Jack raised his eyebrow. "What is horrific to a dog? Not getting his favorite chew toy?"

"Very funny. No, Mr. Atlus, it could just be some scary images. Or a past experience coming back to haunt him."

"Past experience?"

"Yes." Dr. Ediug returned to his notes on the clipboard, flipping through various pages. "According to the tests, Magnus has some old scarring along the back of his head and back, all near the skull and spinal regions. These scars are small and quite old, maybe from a few years. Since you and your 'girl' have had Magnus only for a short time, it's possible that he could be an escapee from an abusive or unsuitable owner." Dr. Ediug returned to scratching behind Magnus' ears, receiving a whine of comfort in return. "You can see now why I insist you find common ground with this 'mongrel'. He has shadows in his closet, Jack, dark ones. And even though he considers you the bottom of the food chain, you and Ms. Carly are still probably the best things that has ever happened to him."

Jack looks down mourningly at the blue dog, scratching his sides gradually to ease his pain. Dr. Ediug continues, "Do you understand what I am saying to you, Mr Atlas?"

Jack touches Magnus' nose gingerly, being careful not to rile up his nightmares again. "Yeah. Yeah, I think I do, Doc."

Magnus' eyes suddenly flutter open, and he glares at Jack with a start. Dr. Ediug jumps back, but Jack remains as he was. He gives Jack his usual growl-and-bark routine, getting ready for Jack to meet his threat. But Magnus is shocked to see that Jack is not phased by his intimidating presence; actually, Jack looks like Carly when she is worried about him. Jack and Magnus meet eye to eye, neither of them moving an inch. Then, Magnus did something he thought he would never do to someone like Jack; he nuzzles Jack's face and licks him like he would lick Carly for affection. Jack laughs and returns the act by taking his head with both hands and rubbing his fur, as if they were old friends. Dr. Ediug wasn't sure if Magnus has really turned over a new leaf, or if it's just the anesthesia messing up his head, but he couldn't help but smile at the two mismatched species.

After some laughing from all three, Dr. Ediug decided to act professional again. "(Ahem) Now that Magnus is awake and active, I am pleased to inform you that he passes with a clean bill of health." He writes down something on a small receipt pad, tears off the top page, and hands Jack the bill. His bottom jaw literally hits the floor when he sees the numbers at the bottom of the bill. Magnus is shocked to see the number as well; he wished he had that many bones in his backyard.

"ARE YOU &$! *^ KIDDING ME, DOC! I thought you said Maggie had a clean bill o' health!"

"He does." Dr. Ediug said with minimal emotion. "But since you and Ms. Carly have no insurance on Magnus, and he's an unlicensed dog with no clear pedigree papers. That would definitely cost you."

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO PAY THIS STEEP PRICE! YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM MY LAWYER!" Jack keeps barking at the doctor who remains his composure, while Magnus just sits there and stares at the two of them. Oh, brother. Whined Magnus. I can't believed I actually had on of those 'moments' with Jack, like what you would see on those lazy sitcoms with their own audience track! I feel like a drunk…

As Magnus, Jack, and Dr. Ediug continued their "conversation" behind closed doors, Boulder is seen walking down the hall in a stupor. Mackenzie and Madison are running after him, calling out "Mr. James" to stop and return to his seat. River makes it back down to the bottom floor after his fruitless search, sees Boulder waddleing away, and chases after him. Needless to say, everyone is busy with something and chasing after someone else. Now would be a good time to pan away from the scene and close the episode.

~(Sorry about the wait, you guys. I had to get back to this strange thing called a "life" for a few years, so I was forced to put my works on hiatus. But, I hope you've enjoyed this episode, aaanndd I promise to get more to you as soon as physically possible! Okay, bye!)~