Shawnda Rossi rushed into the pet clinic with a dog in her arms. The dog had been run over by a car and she had seen the accident where the guy hadn't stopped to make sure the dog was alright and had just kept driving.
What an ass, Shawnda thought, as she rushed up the the front desk.
"My name is Shawnda Rossi and I called ahead about a dog that was run over by a car," Shawnda told the receptionist.
The dog made little whimpering sounds as if he was in pain and Shawnda felt distinctly sorry for him. Poor animal she didn't even know his name or whether it was a boy or girl.
"Yes, Miss Rossi," the receptionist said. "The doctor is waiting on you. You can head straight back and the operating room is three doors down on the left."
Shawnda obeyed and followed the instructions carrying the dog in her arms and handed him off to the doctor that was waiting.
"Thank you Miss Rossi for bringing him in I'll see what I can do," the vet who Shonda thought was very handsome said. "Leave your name and contact information with the receptionist and we'll call you."
Shawnda obeyed and headed back to the waiting room.
"I only hope that they can be saved," Shawnda told the receptionist after she had given the woman her information.
"Dr. Reid will do everything he can Miss Rossi," the receptionist said. "There's only so much that he can do though so prepare yourself."
"Oh he's not my dog," Shawnda said. "I just saw him run over and brought him to the nearest vet. The idiot that ran him over kept driving away not even stopping to check on the dog. I have no idea if they're a stray or if they belong to someone."
"You did the right thing and so many people don't. They would just drive away like that idiot did. Hopefully, the dog has a chip, since he doesn't have a collar," the receptionist said. "If not he'll end up in the pound I'm afraid."
"I'll take him, if an owner can't be found," Shawnda said immediately. "I've been wanting to get an animal for sometime anyway, as I always had dogs growing up."
"I'll let the doctor know," the receptionist said with a pleased little nod. "You'll be contacted either way within the next 24 hours."
"Thank you ma'am," Shawnda told the receptionist before leaving getting back into her car.
As Shawnda drove away she couldn't help thinking about the brown haired, brown eyed doctor she had briefly encountered.
Could the vet be her mate as she couldn't seem to get Dr. Reid off of her mind, Shawnda wondered suddenly, as the thought occurred to her, even as she drove out of the parking lot of the animal hospital.
~~~Shawnda and Spencer~~~
"It's really nice to see you Shawnda," Dave greeted his daughter. "So what is the reason for this surprise visit?"
"Can't I just come see my parents because I missed you?" Shawnda asked.
"Sure you can, but that's rather unusual," Jazz told her daughter giving her a hug.
"It hasn't been that long mom since I visited," Shawnda said rolling her eyes at her parents antics.
"You usually call first though," Dave said, "make sure we're not busy."
"That's true," Shawnda agreed. "I guess I do have a reason for this surprise visit."
"So?" Dave inquired curiously.
"I think I've met my mate," Shawnda explained her voice awed.
"You have," Jazz asked her daughter excitedly.
"I think so," Shawnda said. "I felt that instant connection that you explained to me."
"So who is he and when can we meet him?" Dave asked very happy for his daughter, his oldest child.
"Not for awhile dad. I only met him for like a minute just today," Shawnda explained. "As for who he is. He's a veterinarian. His name is Spencer Reid and I only learned his first name because the receptionist gave me one of his business cards."
"Why were you at the vet when you don't have any animals? Not unless you suddenly acquired one," Jazz said.
"This dog was run over by a car and I happened to be driving by when it occurred. I got out of my car and checked on the dog while the asshole just sped away not caring about the dog he'd so carelessly run over. I rushed the dog to the closest vet, which I looked up on my phone."
"Poor dog," Jazz said compassionately. "What an idiot. The jackass was probably speeding."
"Actually, the dog ran out in the middle of the street as the car was coming along and he didn't have time to stop. His only crime is not stopping when he hit that poor animal to see if the dog was still alive or not."
"So I'm assuming that this Spencer Reid is having to do surgery on that poor dog," Dave said.
"Yes, he is," Shawnda said "and I only hope the dog will be all right. He should call me tomorrow to let me know if the dog survived the surgery or not."
"So I'm assuming the owner will be looking for the dog," Jazz said.
"Well he didn't have a collar and the vet said they'd look for a chip and if he doesn't have one then he's probably a stray and I offered to take him in if he survives the surgery."
"He could've lost the collar easily enough," Jazz said.
"Then I'll get me a puppy from a breeder as I've been wanting to get me a dog for sometime," Shawnda shrugged not bothered by her mother's pessimism.
"Does your apartment building accept dogs," Dave asked his daughter and Shawnda nodded in confirmation.
"Yeah, they do," Shawnda confirmed. "Several of the residents have dogs and I know of at least one person that has a cat, so yes, pets are allowed."
"You're already in love with this dog though and are hoping that he's a stray," Jazz said, as she studied her daughter.
"What can I say I fell in love with the little sweetheart on my way to the vet he just looked at me with those soft brown eyes of his and whimpered because he was in pain," Shawnda said. "I carried him into the vet in my arms and luckily, he's a small dog so he doesn't weigh as much as a big one, so I managed easily enough.
"The dog's whimpering went straight to your heart," Dave said knowingly, because he knew that his oldest daughter loved animals and had had several dogs over the years. She'd also grown up with dogs as he and Jazz had had Jasper and Amethyst at that time as she had grown from a baby to a child and then to a young adult. She hadn't been a child for a long time, as she was centuries old now, but that didn't mean she didn't still love animals. It was a trait she had gotten from him and her mother as they also loved animals. It made their immortality just a little less lonely.
"Yeah, it did," Shawnda admitted looking at her father. "I only hope that he survives, though I don't really know if the dog is a he or a she not that it matters as I'll still love them."
"Let us know how that turns out," Jazz requested of Shawnda who nodded.
"I will," Shawnda promised. "I should get a call tomorrow, as I'm rather anxious to know how the dog is doing and to see the brown eyed doctor again."
"I don't blame you, as animals can do that to us whether they belong to us or not," Dave said sympathetically. "As for the doctor, I'm sure you're anxious to see him again and hoping that he'll ask you out for a date."
"If he doesn't I'll just have to ask him," Shawnda grinned. "He seems rather shy."
"I hope it turns out all right, sweetheart," Jazz told her daughter kissing her on the forehead like she had used to do when Shawnda had been young.
"I certainly hope so," Shawnda said.
"You'll let us know what happens with this Spencer Reid, right?" Dave asked her daughter.
"Of course dad," Shawnda said, "but right now we need to concentrate on the dog. That poor animal needs our love and attention right now. That doesn't mean I'm not anxious to get to know Dr. Reid, but I can wait until we see how the dog is tomorrow. Besides, for all I know he's married or at least has a fiancée."
"Let's hope not," Jazz said. "Your godparents will be very happy when they hear you have met you mate."
"I certainly hope this Doctor Reid isn't married or with anyone at all, for both your sakes," Dave told his daughter seriously. "For all you know he could be human with no magic and also probably not immortal, since I don't see that happening again like it did with your mother and your aunt. That both of them had mates that were immortals is astounding enough, which will probably never happen again, is still a weird coincidence to me, even though it's been centuries now."
"Which will make telling him harder when it is time," Jazz said.
"We can worry about that later," Shawnda said, "as it's too soon to think about that."
"Why don't you go say hello to you a little brother while you're here," Dave suggested.
Dave and Jazz had had several more children in the last few years, but the others were in school and the only one home at this time was the brother that Dave had mentioned as he was only three years old.
"I will," Shawnda promised kissing her father's bearded cheek.
Dave was growing a beard again as he's gone for several decades without one because it made him look way different, which had been the point, as it had totally transformed his jawline. Unless one looked closely nobody would be able to tell he was the same David Rossi if they happened to run into somebody who knew him without the beard.
Shawnda headed in the direction of the nursery and she knew that's where her brother Aiden would be this time of day.
Both Dave and Jazz heard their son shout Shan from upstairs as it was in a loud and excited voice.
Dave and Jazz smiled at each other as they knew their son loved his older sister and that Shawnda loved him too.
~~~Shawnda and Spencer~~~
The next day
Shawnda's link rang at 8:20 the morning and as she was already up answered it immediately.
"Hello," Shawnda said yawning into the link.
"Ms. Rossi I just called to inform you that the dog survived the surgery and appears not to have an owner as there's no chip inserted," the receptionist from the other day said.
"I'm so glad," Shawnda said with a relieved breath.
"The dog will need to stay here for at least the next 24 hours, but after that if you still want him you can come pick him up and take him home," the receptionist said.
"Thank you this is good news and I'll be happy to pay the bill and then adopt him, since he doesn't seem to have an owner," Shawnda said grinning into the link. "I'll be there as soon as you open tomorrow."
"I'll be expecting you," the receptionist said ending the call.
"Looks like I need to do some shopping fast," Shawnda said to herself as she finished her breakfast and then headed for her car. "Let's see, dog bed, food, food and water bowls..."
Shawnda continued to mutter to herself making a list of what she needed to buy, as she got in her car.
~~~Shawnda and Spencer~~~
Shawnda was at the vet as soon as they opened as promised the next day and waited in line as there were a lot of people with their animals in front of her even though it was only 8 o'clock. Apparently, the vet was gonna be very busy today.
"Oh yes, Miss Rossi," the receptionist said once Shawnda had reached the counter. "Dr. Reid would like a word with you before you take the dog home."
"Of course," Shawnda said politely. "I'm glad the dog's going to be OK."
"It was a close run thing," the receptionist said. "Dr. Reid is one of the best vets I have ever seen though and he managed to save that dog's life."
"So is the dog a male or female," Shawnda asked. "I need to know if I'm going to pick out an appropriate name."
"It's a male," said the receptionist.
"Well since he's mostly brown with black patches I think I'll name him Mocha than," Shawnda decided. "I noticed that he's mostly brown when I rescued him from where he been run over so Mocha seemed appropriate."
"What a adorable name," the receptionist said with a smile.
"I think so," Shawnda grinned. "It helps that I love mocha coffee."
"And mocha also means brown," the receptionist said and Shawnda nodded.
"And is more unusual than brown or brownie which a lot of dog owners seem to name their animals. Those people simply have no imagination or originality," Shawnda said. "I know my little brother is going to love him."
When Shawnda said little brother she literally meant it as her youngest brother was only three, but then, she had plenty of siblings, the ones she had grown up with and the ones her parents had had since, including the three currently.
"So you have a younger brother," the receptionist said and Shawnda nodded.
"I have several brothers and sisters actually," Shawnda said not telling the receptionist how many as the lady would never believe her. "I'm the oldest of all of them."
"And I'm assuming the brother you mentioned is the baby of the family," the receptionist said.
"Yeah he is," Shawnda agreed not telling the receptionist that her brother was only three because she looked 30 and there's no way she should have a sibling that young as her parents should be too old to procreate by now.
When Shawnda said she was the oldest she literally meant that, as she was the first child that her parents had ever had.
The phone rang and the receptionist answered it.
"Yes, Dr. Reid," the receptionist said she listened. "You can go back now Miss Rossi, Dr. Reid's office is just down the hall, last door on the right."
"Thank you ma'am I am anxious to take Mocha home and get him settled," Shawnda said. "I've already bought everything he'll need food and water bowls, dog food, a bed."
"You certainly work fast," the receptionist said as she watched Shawnda walk and open the door to where the exam room were and disappear.
~~~Shawnda and Spencer~~~
"The dog was very lucky, Miss Rossi," Dr. Reid told her from behind his desk. "It'll be awhile before he'll heal but so long as he takes his medication he should be OK. I have filled out a prescription for anti-inflammatory medicine as his leg was broken above the joint. Also, some pain meds that are good for dogs. The dog had internal bleeding and that has been repaired though it was touch and go for awhile. You got him here just in time."
"Thank you Dr.," Shawnda said. "I can't believe the idiot that just ran over him like that just kept going."
"I hope you reported him to the police," Spencer suggested.
"I did and an officer came to my door to ask questions. I know I shouldn't have left the scene of the accident but the dog probably wouldn't have survived if I had gotten him here immediately," Shawnda answered.
"That's good," Spencer said. "Hopefully, they'll find whoever ran over that sweetheart."
"I hope so. I was able to give the officer a good description of the car and I hope the driver will be facing charges. Not necessarily for injuring the dog, but for not stopping and checking to make sure the dog was OK. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get the license plate as the car sped away before I could."
"He has a cast on his leg and he'll be weak for awhile due to his internal injuries that I repaired. He'll need lots of love and attention until he heals."
"I don't mind that, as I live alone," Shawnda said. "I've been meaning to get me a dog for awhile I just never got around to it and then Mocha just dropped into my lap, so maybe it was fate. Maybe I kept procrastinating about getting a dog, because I was supposed to adopt Mocha."
"So you decided to name the dog Mocha?" Spencer said catching on immediately.
"I thought it was more original than Brownie," Shawnda grinned. "So many dog owners seem to name their dog something like Brownie, which is hardly original or creative. Mocha still means brown after all."
"True," Spencer agreed, as he fiddled with the clipboard he held in his hand suddenly nervous.
Shawnda Rossi, was one of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and he was unbearably attracted to her. She had said she lived alone, which meant she wasn't married and she likely didn't have any kids. He hardly ever dated because he kind of got nervous in social situations and never asked a women out. He really wanted to ask Shawnda for a date he only hoped she didn't reject him, because that would crush him.
"So Miss Rossi I was wondering..." Spencer began stuttering a little. "I was wondering...if you would like to go to dinner with me?"
"That sounds wonderful," Shawnda accepted immediately. "If we're going on a date though I want you to call me Shawnda."
"I'm Spencer," Spencer said in a relieved body relaxing at her easy acceptance. "So Shawnda is an unusual name."
Shawnda heard the question that Spencer didn't ask in the comment.
"I was named after my godmother Shonda Hotchner. The only difference is her name is spelled with an O while mine is spelled with an A and a W," Shonda supplied the answer her mate was looking for. "My Godmother and mother are like sisters and have known each other all their lives, which is how I ended up with such an unusual name. I was the first child my parents ever had so it was kind of expected. My godmother probably would've gone ballistic if mom hadn't named me after her, because they are that close. She would've eventually got over that though, just that there would've been a lot of drama before she did."
Spencer chuckled at Shawnda's story.
"I'll see you for dinner Shawnda," Spencer said and Shawnda nodded eagerly
"I'll be ready," Shonda promised, as she gave Spencer her link number and her address. "If you're gonna take me somewhere fancy give me some warning so I know how to dress."
"I'm not really a fancy restaurant kind of person," Spencer said, "so it'll be entirely casual."
"OK then. That's actually what I prefer," Shawnda agreed with a grin as she collected her new dog, the medicine and the list of instructions for his care before leaving.
Spencer leaned back in his office chair and felt as if he had been on a roller coaster. He was actually looking forward to the date with Shawnda Rossi. That Shawnda had said yes immediately when he asked for date not seeming to have to think about it had surprised him, but then, he had been very happy that she had. The surge of positive emotions he had felt at her immediate acceptance had left him feeling nearly giddy a rather unusual reaction for him. Spencer finally forced his attention back to the paperwork that was on his desk so that he could get as much of it done as possible before his date.
~~~Shawnda and Spencer~~~
