A Box Full of Kittens
Despite being a fully staffed 24 hour institution,Pike All Animal Hospital had an occasional issue with pet abandonment. It was likely because the hospital ran a small adoption center, which seemed to give the ill-informed public an excuse to dump unwanted animals or abandon those whose bills were too high to pay. The victims abandoned outside the facility were typically either an “aggressive” breed adult canine tied up to the sign or a litter of something. When Indigo pulled into the drive leading to the parking lot she spotted a box left on the curb which usually signified the latter.
She sighed as she pulled into the empty space next to where Cain usually parked his Mustang. Indigo typically beat him to work. He almost always blew in like a storm a few minutes before his start time, franticly caffeinating and hunting around for his stethoscope or badge. As she peered into the box in the half-light of the morning, she could barely stifle a squeal upon laying eyes on the precious beings inside. A box of helpless little baby kitties sleeping all huddled together in a pile of orange and white fur. Her delight was quickly replaced by pity as she realized how small they were and without the mother. They would need to be nursed by hand.
“Poor babies.” She cooed as she picked up the box. The kittens stirred, yawning and attempting to stand. They spilled over each other on wobbly legs unable to maintain balance with the movement of the box being carried.
At 6:56 A.M. Cain came rushing down the hall and into the break-room scrubbing his hands through his obviously uncombed hair. So consumed with nearly being late again, he failed to notice the small group of kennel maintenance and vet techs gathered around Indigo and aweing over the kittens. He figured they were appreciating a photo of one of their children or pets and was generally disinterested in partaking in such social rituals.
“Who am I relieving today?” Cain slung his stethoscope over his shoulders and slammed his locker shut.
“Dr. Wetherbee.” Came Indigo’s reply. Some other’s wished their good mornings to the doctor.
“Cool. Hey everybody.” He muttered as he started to rush again from the room, but stopped dead in his tracks with a squeak of his tennis shoes and backed up a few paces. “You coming? What’s with that cat!” He demanded pointing an accusatory finger his assistant.
Indigo snuggled the little orange kitten against her cheek. “We got a box of abandoned kittens today. Aren’t they precious?! They’re too young for adoption.” She held up the creature with delight for his inspection.
“Sure--okay.” Cain acknowledged it’s existence with no emotion in his voice and maintained his distance from the creature thrust at him. “You don’t have time to play with those cats Indigo. Come on. I’m late.”
“I already checked with Dr. Wetherbee. She discharged most all of her patients. One is waiting to be picked up later this morning. I have the chart here for your review. We don’t have anything to do just yet, Dr. Hart, except nurse these kittens.” There were tiny bottles of formula on the table waiting for consumption by the beloved beings in the box.
The annoyed sigh that came from Cain’s throat was grossly out of place amongst the cuddling and loving murmurs of the others. As the clock turned to 7, everyone clocked in and the group slowly trickled out leaving Cain and Indigo alone with the box of kittens.
The doctor stood awkwardly near the doorway, trying to find a reason to leave the room. His ears gave away his annoyance and discomfort by their semi-rotated and pointing to the sides position. The tip of his tail flicked impatiently against his leg.
“Sit your ass down, Cain.” Indigo pulled a chair up next to her and pointed at it as she demanded his compliance with a threat in her voice. “Help me. You’re going straight to hell if you’re so callous that you can’t take pity on these orphaned kittens.” Her manner of professional deference for the doctor in front of the other staff reverted to their friendly bantering rapport when they were alone.
“Already there.” He whispered to himself as he plopped in the seat next to her. He just sat there stiffly, and made no other moves to help.
“You - Ohmigod Cain!” Indigo laughed and retrieved a kitten from the box and thrust it at him. “Go on. Take it! How old do you think they are? Three, four weeks?” She knew asking a medical question was the best way to warm Cain up to handling the critter.
Glaring at Indigo all the while, Cain allowed the kitten to be deposited into his hands. “Uh--well--” He inspected the creature, peering at its eyes and under it’s belly. He used his finger to lift one of its paws, and then coaxed it’s mouth open. The kitten sucked at his finger expecting nourishment. “Probably more like 10 to 12 days at best.”
Indigo cocked her head, smiling tenderly at the pair. She committed the image of the catboy doctor and the baby kitten to memory. “Oh? How can you tell.”
Cain placed the kitten on the table. “Look at how unsteadily it ambulates. It’s barely got any motor skills.” Indeed the animal tried to stand and stumbled over it’s weak trembling legs. Cain was likely the only person who unemotionally observed how charmingly useless the kittens were. “It can’t retract its claws. And no teeth have come in yet.” He retrieved the wobbling animal as it inched closer to the edge, saving it from plummeting to the floor.
Indigo chuckled at Cain’s medical assessment, shaking her head. “You’re so weird.” She said not unaffectionately. She held up the kitten she had been feeding, showing Cain its rounded belly. “Look how cute! It’s so full and sleepy!” She squealed and nuzzled the blinking kitten against her cheek.
“Yea...cute...” Cain agreed awkwardly.
Indigo was very obviously amused with his discomfort, as she usually was. “Here. That one hasn’t been fed yet.” She deposited the fed kitten into the box, handed the doctor a bottle of formula, and retrieved another kitten for herself.
Cain cradled the cat against his chest, trying to figure out how he could touch it as little as possible and still ensure it didn't tumble to the ground. The kitten’s paws rested on his shirt and its eyes closed as it drank the formula. Indigo hummed happily in her throat as she observed unwilling cuddling. He fixed her with a withering stare, “What? Stop looking at me like that. It needs…nourishment. I’m just feeding it.”
“I’m not looking at you in any type of way!” She settled into nursing the kitten she chose, and petted her finger along its head and spine as it fed. “I so want a cat of my own.” The tech gazed at Cain mischievously through mascara darkened eyelashes.
“There’s one right there.” Cain gestured at the cat in her hands, without any indication that he noticed her coquettish look.
“I don’t want this one.” She offered, never taking her eyes from his face.
That earned her an arched eyebrow. “Well there’s a whole box of the --uh, things--I’m sure you can find one you like.”
“I’m not allowed to have pets at my apartment.”
“Welp, too bad? I can’t help you with that.” Cain muttered, figuring the conversation was over. He didn’t know why she brought up wanting a cat when it was out of the question.
“I think you could, Cain.” Indigo countered with a suggestive ring to her voice, drawing his name out.
He frowned in response, looking as if he were considering her proposition. “I could...” Cain began as Indigo brightened. “...give you the number of my realtor? The place where Akiko and I live is really nice. He could help you.” It was a good-natured offer, but not what Indigo was expecting.
“Oh nevermind.” She sighed, wondering how he ever secured a girlfriend when his flirt radar was so whack.
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
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