"Come on you goof," ordered David Rossi, as he pulled at Baxter's leash trying to get him to move.
Baxter was his dog, one that had a stubborn streak a mile wide. Bax had decided that no he wasn't going to his appointment at the pet spa where he would have his claws clipped, be bathed, shampooed and a lot of other things, specifically designed for dogs.
"You're just so stubborn you old dog," Dave told him, even as he took a bag of treats out of his pocket and shook it in front of Baxter's eyes. "You get some of these only if you don't make us late for your appointment," Dave told Baxter.
Baxter strained against his leash that was wrapped around Dave's hand trying to reach the bag of treats, but Dave held the bag high enough that Baxter couldn't get to them.
Also, Dave had a good grip on the leash and it helped that he was also immortal so Baxter couldn't really do him any harm other than for a few seconds where he got leash burn from the way it slid back and forth in his fist from the way Baxter was pulling on it and Dave was pulling back. It was a tug-of-war between him, and his dog and Dave was determined to win.
Baxter finally sat back on his hunches and looked up at his master with his soulful brown eyes. Baxter was just an old bulldog that Dave had gotten as a puppy, but now he was quite advanced in years. That didn't mean he didn't still have a lot of life left in him, however, as being strong enough to prevent Dave from moving him along when he didn't want to go anywhere should prove.
"You'll like the treatments at the pet spa whether you think so or not old boy," Dave told him his tone, gentle and persuasive. "Why not give it a try this one time where you can be pampered."
Baxter finally gave in with a doggy sigh, and Dave quickly led him to the spa before the stubborn old dog changed his mind. Dave quickly walked the remaining distance to the spa and the doors opened automatically when they got within range. There was a barking sound as soon as they entered, and Dave took that to mean that was the bell. All shops had bells over their door, and the sound of a dog barking was a rather unusual doorbell, but since it was a pet spa, Dave thought it was rather unique way to let the employees know that they had customers.
"Can I help you, sir?" the lady at the front desk asked Dave when he came in with Baxter.
The lady was older, with grey hair, cut short, plump cheeks and ice blue eyes bright with intelligence and humor. She was also a bit overweight in her middle and looked old enough to be retired but Dave knew a lot of older people liked to be active and she could very well have retired from a career after 40 or 50 years. She had deep wrinkles around her eyes and mouth that said she had smiled and frowned a lot, and her hands were not those of a young woman either.
"Yes, I have an appointment for Baxter here," Dave said. "I saw one of your advertisements in the paper and thought that Bax here might enjoy some of the treatments so I called a few days ago to make an appointment for him."
"He's kinda cute," the lady behind the counter said.
"You might think so, but I think he's old and he's stubborn and he gave me quite a fit when I tried to bring him here," Dave snorted in amusement.
"So he didn't want to come," the lady said, and Dave shook his head.
"Nope, he just refused to move in the middle of the sidewalk and it's not like I can pick him up and carry him as he's too big and heavy. It's like trying to move several cement bricks stacked on top of each other at the same time by hand or maybe the rock of Gibraltar. He's impossible move when he's being stubborn," Dave said.
"Hopefully, he'll change his mind once he's been through day of treatments," The lady said.
"I had to bribe him to get him moving," Dave said shaking his head, as he took the bag of dog treats out of his pocket and handed a few to Baxter, who took them out of Dave's hands and chomped them down in no time. "Now you behave for the nice people here," Dave told Baxter. "No being stubborn and refusing to move."
"We'll just need your credit card information," the lady said.
"Can I have your name, my lady, before I give you that information," Dave asked politely.
"Oh, I guess I didn't introduce myself and I forgot my name tag at home this morning, I'm afraid. I'm Bethany Anne Carscallen. I'm the one that checks people in most frequently but also help out with the dogs. I love dogs and cats, which is why I work in a place like this."
"I bet you have a dog of your own since most people who work in this type place do," Dave said knowingly, even as he handed over his credit card.
"Yes, I do and he's a sweet little thing," Bethany agreed, smiling as she ran Dave's credit card. "My husband and I just got him a few years ago so he still relatively young really. You can pick Baxter up at five as you signed up for full day of treatments."
Baxter looked at Dave his expression so betrayed that Dave nearly sighed out loud.
Bethany, who saw Baxter's expression, burst out laughing, and Dave finally saw the funny side of the situation, so chuckled.
"It's like he can understand what were saying," Bethany said what she had finished laughing.
"Oh believe me, he can even if he doesn't speak English," Dave chuckled. "Baxter is a very smart dog."
"I'll call Mandy so she can escort him back for his first treatment which starts at 10 o'clock," Bethany said.
"I'll be back at five to pick him up. I have some errands to run," Dave said. "I have a feeling and I'm going be paying for this indignity to his ego for sometime to come."
"Yet we still love them despite all," Bethany suggested and Dave nodded with a fond smile at Baxter.
"Yeah, we do," Dave agreed smiling as he took his leave.

~~~Dave and Bellamy~~~

Pampered Paws Galore Pet Spa
5 PM

Dave ran his errands and they took him until near 5 o'clock to complete. He bought groceries and more dog treats, because he knew Baxter would punish him for just leaving him at the pet spa all day.
He bought chicken and steak for Baxter, which the dog rarely got because it wasn't good for his health to have human food to often. No, Baxter mostly got dog food that was supposed to be good for older dogs. Dave took Baxter health seriously because despite him being a stubborn old cuss, Dave loved him and he was good companionship for him when he was lonely. Dave was well aware that Baxter would die within a few short years while he stayed young because of his immortality.
He been around for a very long time, and had multiple dogs over the centuries as every few years he got another one once he had finished mourning the one that had died. This was the first time he'd ever taken one of his dogs to a pet spa, as they hadn't existed until sometime in the 20th century and it had never occurred to him to take any of his dog to one not until he'd seen the advertisement in the paper.
Dave, reentered Pampered Paws Galore just a few minutes before five and Bethany, who was behind the desk greeted him.
"Welcome back Mr. Rossi, Baxter is just about ready to go," Bethany said warmly.
"It's just Dave," Dave said. "There's no reason to be so formal. I'm not really sure if I'll be back or not. We'll see what Baxter thinks first, before I'll make another appointment."
"I think you'll be surprised at how much he enjoyed the treatment," Bethany said. "Most dogs do, even if they give their owner has trouble at first getting them here."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Dave snorted with humor, lacing his voice. "Bax is a lot like his owner, very stubborn and obstinate."
"So he's stuck in his ways," Bethany said, and Dave nodded.
"You should see the trouble I have when I need to take him to the vet for his shots or just a check up. He absolutely hates going to the vet so I don't expect a pet spa to be any different."
"No one likes going to the doctor though, including animals," Bethany suggested. "Here, they are pampered and made much of and a lot of dogs love that."
"A point," Dave acknowledged thoughtfully. "I guess we'll see."
The double doors that lead into the back open then and a woman with long blonde hair came out with Baxter on a leash.
"See don't you feel so much better boy?" the woman was saying.
Dave stared at the woman, who was very beautiful, 1001 thoughts instantly began going through his mind all at once. This woman was his mate the last person he had expected to find at a dog spa no less. Another thought was that Baxter looked 100% better. He was moving more easily for one thing, his fur had been cut and his claws had been trimmed. His fur also looked a lot cleaner, then it ever had since he was a young puppy.
The expression on his face was also one he hadn't expected. It was of relaxation and happiness. He didn't look grumpy at all, which was a surprise to Dave, as he figured he'd be in Baxter's dog house for putting him through such an indignity.
"Well, you look a lot better old boy," Dave said with deep affection in his tone, as he patted Baxter on the head. "I never expected to see the day that you looked so clean and you're also moving easier than you have in years."
Baxter licked Dave's hand and was perfectly docile as the blonde haired woman handed Baxter leash over Dave, who took it.
"You know, I expected to be paying for the dent to his dignity for sometime to come," Dave told the blonde haired woman. "I expected to have to bribe him to get him over being mad at me. It looks like he actually enjoyed the treatments something I never expected in 1000 years."
"See, I told you that Baxter here would likely enjoy the treatments, even if he didn't think so," Bethany, who had been standing at the front desk, said.
"Well, whatever you did, you worked miracles and I'm grateful," Dave said. "He's even moving more easily than he normally does as he has arthritis in his back legs that pains him excessively."
"Reiki treatment," The woman told Dave, her voice soft with a slight accent.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm David Rossi," Dave introduced himself. "Bax here is mine."
"I am Bella, which is short for Bellamy. My last name is Ishida." The woman introduced to herself. "I am a Reiki practitioner and I am the one that got Baxter here moving so much more easily then he usually does. He'll need another treatment though in a few days to continue that easy moving about. Unfortunately, Reiki is not a permanent solution to things like arthritis pain, but the pain can be eased at least temporarily by getting the energy flowing more smoothly in his body."
"Well, you've worked miracles, so it's well worth the price I paid," Dave said, even as he patted Baxter on the head and ran a hand gently down his body.
"He also had dried tears and food stuck in the creases of his jaws, which can make an animal uncomfortable," Bellamy explained. "That kind of thing happens a lot to animals with the wrinkles on their faces like bulldogs."
"You know I've had Bax ever since he was a puppy and I never knew that," Dave said thoughtfully. "At least it's useful information for the future, as I know Baxter isn't going to be around more than another few years since he is positively ancient for a dog."
"But I'm sure you'll get another dog at some point, maybe even another bulldog, which is why is such useful information to have," Bethany spoke up.
"Perhaps," Dave allowed. "Bulldogs are such good companions, but I was thinking that next time I would go for something like a golden retriever, but I suppose we'll see. Perhaps you could come to my home and do another treatment for Baxter in a few days," Dave requested of Bellamy. "I promise you'll be well compensated for the home visit."
"Well, I wouldn't mind seeing Baxter again, as he's such a sweetheart," Bellamy said, as she petted Baxter fur on the top of his head, and he responded by leaning against her leg, panting looking up at her hopefully.
"Well, you certainly have a way with dogs. I've never seen Bax respond so well to anyone, but me and Spencer Reid who is a good friend of mine," Dave said, looking from Baxter to Bellamy in amazement. "You must have quite the soft spot for animals for Bax to respond so well to you."
"I'll be happy to visit your home to see Baxter," Bellamy finally decided having developed quite the crush on David Rossi all in the space of just a few minutes of conversation. It was clear that he loved his dog and that put him in her good books and it didn't hurt he was a handsome man, dark of hair and eye and broad of shoulder.
"Good, is there anything in particular you'd like by way of refreshments?" Dave asked.
"You don't need to do anything special as I won't be there long. Tea is good, as I really don't drink coffee, because it's not good for me and I never have liked the taste either," Bellamy said.
"I, for one, can't even get started on my day until I've had at least 3 cups," Dave told her smiling. "I am very hard to wake up in the morning. I don't know how anybody woke up before coffee was around unless you're one of those perky morning people, which I am definitely not."
"A lot of people aren't though so it's not like it's unusual," Bethany spoke up. "A lot of people need their caffeine fix before they can function and I am definitely one of them."
Bethany had watched covertly, as Dave flirted with Bellamy and really Bethany couldn't help blame Dave for his flirting, as Bellamy was a very beautiful woman and also single. The two looked close in age as well now that that really matter in this day and age to most people anyway, though there were some old fuddy-duddies that complained about older men with younger women or vice versa.
It was clear spa's first time customer was interested in the Reiki practitioner and there was nothing wrong with that considering that neither was married. At least Bethany was assuming Dave wasn't married or she didn't see him flirting with Bellamy if he wasn't.
"Would you like to make an another appointment before you take Baxter home?" Bethany asked Dave once Dave had gotten Bellamy's link number and address.
"I think I'll wait on that to see if he's mad at me before I do," Dave decided.
"And I'm assuming he demonstrates his displeasure by pooping and peeing all over your home," Bellamy suggested, and Dave nodded grimacing, as he remembered Baxter doing exactly that on several occasions mostly as a puppy before he had learned to piddle outside.

"Mostly as a puppy, but they have been a few incidents when he was an adult. I have one of those invisible fence systems. His collar has a GPS so I know if he goes past the boundaries I set."
"That's an excellent way to keep your pets safe," Bethany approved. "My husband and I did the same thing for our dog. Claremont never goes past the boundaries we set and never pees in my flower bed."
"I've heard of the invisible fence but I've never had to get such a system as I live in an apartment," Bellamy said. "That doesn't mean I don't have a dog, it just means I have have to walk them myself, because I don't have a yard."
"Well, for me it comes in useful as Bax can use the doggie door to go outside when I'm not there in order to do his business and then goes back in. He's never once tried to get out of the boundaries I set," Dave said rubbing Baxter's back. "He's mostly been a very good companion and doesn't cause me much worry."
"So how old is Baxter?" Bellamy asked. "I can tell he's pretty old. I would say at least 10 to a dozen years."
"That's close," Dave said looking at Bellamy with a little smile. "You must really love dogs to know so much about them. He's nearly 13 and his birthday is in the next few weeks."
"In doggy years that's ancient," Bethany said.
"Yes, it is as bulldogs have known to live anywhere from 12 to 16 years," Dave said. "Still, I'll make his remaining years as pleasant as I can, as he's been such a good partner for me. We should be going though, as I need to pick up dinner before Baxter and I head home. I'll see you in a few days Dr.," Dave added looking at Bellamy.
"You can just call me Bella as that's simpler. Yes, I did go and get my doctor's degree, though there's not really a course you can take for Reiki, but still this is ancient practice that came over from Japan a long time ago."
"Come along, Baxter, buddy," Dave told his dog, even as he tugged at Baxter leash gently to get him moving. "I know you're ready for your dinner, just as I am."
Baxter immediately started wagging his tail and panting, as if anticipating his dinner.
"Well, that got him moving," Bellamy said amused, as Baxter's weight left her leg, as he started following Dave out of the pet spa.

~~~Dave and Bellamy~~~