The Vet Story - 

To Love Them All
Chapters 1 & 2
by  Jordana
copyright © 2002

Part 1

"Relax!" He ordered.

"Easy for you to say," she replied.

"Relax your shoulders. I can see you’re all tense."

"I just don’t have as much experience at this as you do!" she said, her eyes close to filling with tears.

"You will when I’m finished with you."

"Is it too tight?"

"No."

"It’s just a bit longer than what you’re used to," he reassured her. "Now look at me and tell me honestly that it’s slimy."

"No, it’s not slimy." *smile* "Actually it’s quite smooth, except for that engorged area right before the head."

"That’s because it was just fed."

"Can we put him away now?" Her eyes begged him for mercy.

Dr. Kevin Grant leaned over and gently untangled the five and half foot boa constrictor from around Sarah Evan’s upper torso and put it back in it’s cage.

"When Mrs. Johnson comes in next week with her python for its yearly exam, I want you to be fully competent in handling it."

"But Kevin!"

"Shhh, Dr. Grant here, remember?"

"But Dr. Grant, can’t I stick with mammals and leave the reptiles to someone who likes them," she protested.

"What are you afraid of? That it will bite you?"

"Well yes, just to name one big fear."

"You were far more apt to get bit by that 90 pound Doberman you wrestled this morning than that snake."

"Let’s just say I prefer the things that crawl on me to have four legs." Sarah smiled at him coyly. "Or in some cases two."

Kevin looked about the treatment room to see if anyone was nearby and then whispered back to her, "You’re liable to get something two-legged crawling on you tonight young lady if you’re not careful."

Sarah laughed at him in challenge and then turned her attentions to the cat in the recovery cage along the wall.

"She’s waking up nicely. You can take her back to the regular unit and she can go home in a couple of hours. Make sure you instruct the client on her home care," Kevin told her.

Sarah nodded and then watched the tall, dark-haired, blue eyed veterinarian stroll off to the urgent care ward. She had started her career as a veterinary assistant with the practice just a couple months before. The practice was owned by an older more established vet named Dr. Ray Young. He in turn employed Dr. Kevin Grant, Sarah, a couple other technicians, a receptionist and a couple of kennel boys. Kevin had taken Sarah under his
wing shortly after she arrived at the thriving practice. Not only did he find her extremely attractive but also he was determined to make her a top-notch veterinary assistant.

Although they soon started seeing one another outside of work, they decided it was best to keep their relationship a secret for the moment from Dr. Young. Kevin was not sure how the older veterinarian would view his dating the young assistant. So for the time being, it was Dr. Grant and Ms. Evans during work hours.

Sarah gently carried the drowsy cat back to the regular unit and made sure it was settled before continuing down the aisle to check on the rest of the animals to be released that afternoon. Everyone seemed in good shape and eager for their owners to retrieve them and take them home.

She walked into the lab where John Darr was reading a slide for parasites. "How’s it going John?" she asked.

"Not bad Sarah. Everybody back there ready to go home?"

Sarah looked at her watch. "Yep, in about two hours this place will be a flurry of pet owners and tail wagers anxious to make their escape."

John watched the pretty young girl as she toyed with a bottle of test strips. "You haven’t been anxious to escape the clutches of Dr. Grant have you?" He smiled at her attempt to act shocked.

"What do you mean, John?"

"I mean Grant has taken quite an interest in you! There wouldn’t be more there than just professional interest would there?" He looked at her intently hoping to catch some confirmation of his suspicions but Sarah
guarded their secret diligently.

"I have no idea what you are inferring, John. Dr. Grant is a very nice man and is closely training me for the good of the practice only. Nothing more!"

"Whatever you say cupcake." John winked at her and then returned to the world under his microscope.

That night as they lay entangled on the sofa and Kevin was tenderly kissing her from her ear down her neck and onto her shoulder, Sarah suddenly interrupted his amorous intentions, "Kevin you should be more careful around John. I think he’s becoming suspicious that there’s more to you and I than just veterinarian and his faithful assistant."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because today he mentioned he thought you had more than a professional interest in me, that’s why."

"Hmmm, I guess I’ll have to make more of an assertive effort not to watch as you glide across the surgery room floor, and not breath deeply whenever you come within six inches of me, and not stick the thermometer in the wrong end whenever you walk into the exam room."

"Kevin!" She punched him playfully and he gathered her up in his arms and carried her off toward the bedroom.

"The doctor is ordering you a good night’s sleep. We have an important surgery first thing in the morning and he expects you to be on your toes. No mistakes!"

"Oh really? And just what does the good doctor prescribe for a good night’s sleep?"

"Me!"

Part 2

Kevin Grant spoke from behind his surgical mask, "Now when I get into the thoracic cavity, you will need to breathe for her Sarah. Just gently press on the black bag. Do it just as you are breathing, slow and even. Got that?"

Sarah nodded. "Right Dr. Grant."

She hated being gowned up for surgery. The paper cap was itchy, the mask made her a tiny bit claustrophobic and the gown seemed to swallow her small frame up into a shapeless blob. Style however, was not their purpose today. Today they were performing open heart surgery on a young Newfoundland with a small hole in her heart. Although she would not be able to show or be used for breeding, the compassionate breeder wanted to have the defect repaired and place the young dog in a deserving pet home.

"Ok, here we go. Breathe."

Sarah pressed the bag and tried to match the rhythm with that of her own breathing. She concentrated hard on her responsibility while also checking vital signs and depth of anesthesia. Dr. Grant worked in diligent silence,
grabbing first one instrument and then another as he began the tedious repair work. Finally after what seemed hours but in reality was thirty minutes, Grant instructed Sarah to stop bagging the animal to see if she’d breathe on her own. There were a few seconds of apprehension as they both waited to see if the bag would deflate, but deflate and then inflate it finally did.

Sarah and Kevin exchanged triumphant looks as he announced, "Let’s close this puppy up and call it a good day!"

As Dr. Grant made the final closing stitches, Sarah removed the animal from anesthesia. They removed their surgical garb and rechecked vitals.

"She came through that well," Kevin declared. He glanced over at Sarah and gave her a wink. "And so did you. You did a fine job Sarah. I couldn’t have done it without you."

Sarah gave him a theatrical bow. "And your surgical brilliance amazes me Dr. Grant!"

He laughed. "Let’s move her over onto the warming pad." It took all the strength the two of them had to lift the dead weight of the 150 pound Newfie off the surgical table and onto a recovery pad. The two of them watched the big dog rhythmically breathe for a couple of minutes, basking in the satisfaction that their work had probably saved the young dog from being put down.

Kevin finally stood up. "I’ve got a couple of appointments coming in soon that I have to take care of. I want you to watch her closely and stay with her until she’s fully awake and ready to go back into her cage. She’s a
deep-chested dog and I don’t want her stomach twisting on us so watch her real close and keep checking her vitals."

"I will," Sarah nodded.

Alone with the sleeping dog, Sarah once again thought of the rewards of her job. It was successes like this that compensated for occasionally having to put a sick or unwanted animal down. She remembered her first time
euthanizing an incurable animal. She had hesitated after insertion of the needle, feeling the determining power she held in her own hands. Only her determination to alleviate the animal’s pain had allowed her to carry
through with it. Tears had streamed down her face and she stood in respectful silence as the animal quietly took its last breath. She remembered Kevin touching her shoulder and offering her a sympathetic smile.
Suddenly, Sarah heard John yell in the next room. "HELP! Sarah, I’m being clawed to death by a vicious tiger!"

Sarah sighed and rolled her eyes. Although John was an excellent lab tech and generally good with most of the animals, cats were not his forte. He was definitely a large animal man and the wiriness of cat always overwhelmed him.

"Sorry John, I’m watching this morning’s surgery over here. I can’t leave," she yelled over to the next room.

"Ouch! Owww! YEOWWWW! Whoaaaaaa! Awww, Come on muffin, give me a hand before this thing tears me to shreds. Seems it doesn’t want to go into the cage."

Sarah smiled and shook her head. Since the day she had arrived, she had not understood John’s insistence on calling her nicknames associated with culinary sweets.

"YEOWWW YEOWWW...Ouch!" MEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWW! Sarah heard the cat’s screeching plea for rescue from John. She looked down at the still peacefully sleeping dog. The intubation tube was still inserted allowing easier breathing for the animal. Well...it would only take a minute. She’d be right back.

"Thanks cookie! I knew you wouldn’t let that thing rip off one of my appendages," John said as he closed the cage door.

"No, I’d never leave you to face such a five pound monster alone John," Sarah teased.

"SARAH!"

It was Kevin’s voice and it was coming from the recovery area.

Sheer panic flooded Sarah at the sound of Kevin’s voice. She knocked John into the row of cages in her haste to get back to the recovery room. She reached the doorway just in time to see Dr. Grant make a rescue dive towards the Newfie who was wildly chewing on the intubation tube as she regained consciousness. The dog’s giant jaws were chopping down on the one-inch plastic tube as she attempted to rid herself of the bothersome thing in her throat. Sarah stood frozen, holding her breath. Fortunately Kevin was able to retrieve the tube in one piece. With the tube removed, the dog settled back into that peaceful stupor that accompanies anesthesia.

Kevin sighed with relief. He held the tube up for Sarah’s inspection. It had nearly been bitten in two pieces by the dog’s large munching molars. Only a small edge had kept the tube intact. Kevin’s face was grim.

"Do you have any idea what would have happened if she had bitten that tube in half and swallowed it?"

Sarah lowered her head and stared at the resting dog.

"Do you?" Kevin’s voice showed his irritation.

"It would have meant another surgery for her?" Sarah answered the question unsurely.

"That’s exactly what would have happened! If she’d had survived, it would definitely put her back in her recovery. How could you leave her when I gave specific instructions to stay with her until she was fully awake?"

Sarah finally found the courage to look into Kevin’s eyes. She had never seen him angry like this and she felt so ashamed.

"I’m sorry Kev…Dr. Grant. She seemed so out of it yet and John needed…"

"Stop! I don’t want to hear any excuses. You knew what your responsibility was and whatever John needed was John’s problem."

Sarah nodded her head. She knew she had really messed up. She had not thought with the maturity that was needed to do this job correctly. Kevin stared at her for a minute not knowing what to say or do next. His
staring made Sarah even more uncomfortable.

"Am I going to be fired?" she asked meekly.

There was a moment of silence between the two.

"No, but you are going to learn from this, both professionally and personally. Go to the kennel room and wait for me."

He turned away from Sarah and yelled for John, "John get over here and help me move this dog back to her cage."

John arrived in no time. Obviously he had heard Dr. Grant chewing Sarah out and didn’t want to share in the reprimand. Sarah stood there a bit dumbfounded, not understanding why he would send her to the kennel room.

"Did I not tell you to go wait in the kennel room, Sarah?" Kevin looked at her exasperated.

Sarah regained her senses and left.

The kennel room contained rows of runs, which had openings that led outdoors so the animals could go out and enjoy the fresh air. It was double insulated to prevent the barking noise from carrying out into the rest of the hospital. When Sarah entered the room, a full chorus of dogs vying for her attention greeted her. There were high-pitched yips, deep-throated woofs and medium howls. At the far end of the kennel room there was a sink for cleaning bowls and a hose hook-up for cleaning runs. The only piece of furniture was a medical stool on wheels, which the kennel boy sometimes sat on as he tried to persuade a homesick dog to eat.

The run at the far end held the resident blood donor, a big old redbone hound named Hobo. Sarah immediately walked back to Hobo’s run and kneeled down to greet the friendly dog at eye level.

"Oh Hobo, I really screwed up! I did something stupid and it could have cost a dog its life."

Hobo cocked his head and his big brown droopy eyes watched Sarah so intently as she told him the story that it seemed as if he understood her every word.

"And now I’ve probably ruined things between Kevin and I. What am I going to do, Hobo?" Sarah leaned her head against the chain link run and started to sob.

"Now what makes you think that?"

Sarah jumped at hearing his voice. In her distraught state and with all the dogs barking, Sarah had not heard Kevin enter the kennel room. Kevin reached down and pulled Sarah to her feet.

"That is silly thinking and you know it," he admonished her.

"I do?" she asked wiping a tear from her cheek.

"I’m disappointed in you and I intend to teach you a lesson but nothing like that would ever ruin things between us!" He hugged her close to him.

After a little cry, Sarah recovered and found the courage to ask, "So why are we in here? Did you want the dog’s to drowned out the sound of you yelling at me?"

"I have no intentions of yelling. I intend to spank you."

Sarah thought she hadn’t heard him correctly. For the second time that day, she stood before him dumbfounded. Kevin looked around and pulled the small stool over and sat down. He reached out for her but Sarah instinctively pulled back.

"What did you say?"

"I said I’m going to spank you."

"You must be kidding right? I mean I’ve never …I mean…you can’t."

Without any further words, Kevin reached for Sarah’s arm and pulled her across his lap. His actions took her by surprise so she didn’t struggle at first but after the first hard slap across her bottom, she squirmed and made
a valiant effort to escape her predicament. Kevin’s firm grip held her fast however, and he continued to spank her upturned rear. Sarah was so shocked at being spanked across her lover’s knee that she hadn’t noticed the sudden silence of the dogs. More than a dozen pairs of ears were pricked and tails wagged in appreciation of the goings on before them. Kevin paused for a moment.

"Normally I would not spank an assistant for making the mistake you made today Sarah, but you and I also have a relationship. I can overlook certain transgressions, I’m not an unreasonable man, but if you put yourself or an animal in danger then that’s a different story. I take that personal because I expect more of you since we do have a special relationship."

With that, he took hold of the elastic waist of her scrubs and lowered them to mid-thigh. Sarah was humiliated. She had never even been spanked as a child and now to be spanked by the man she loved was at this moment a fate worse than death!

After several hard smacks with his hand, Kevin finally felt he had imprinted his message loud and clear on Sarah’s throbbing behind and he pulled her scrubs back into place and set her on her feet. Sarah wanted to melt into the concrete floor. She was so ashamed she couldn’t even look at Kevin. He lifted her chin forcing her eyes to meet his. He kissed her gently on the forehead.

"It’s not the end of the world so don’t cry anymore... OK?" He tried to force a smile from her by making a comical face.

"Now go wash that pretty little face of yours, cupcake and I’ll take you out on a large animal call with me."

"CUPCAKE?"

The embers lit again in Sarah’s sparking blue eyes.

Kevin smiled and started walking out of the kennel room satisfied he had brought her back to life.

"You called me CUPCAKE!" she yelled after him indignantly.

"Thought that’d get a rise out of you!" Kevin chuckled over his shoulder as he closed the door to the kennel room.

Sarah looked down at Hobo. "Can you believe that man Hobo? Spanks me like a child then makes fun of me calling me cupcake! Paybacks can be hell Dr. Grant."

She winked at Hobo and then took off to get ready for the farm visit Kevin had promised. Ahh large animals, now that was going to be right up her alley, or so she thought!

Click here for Chapters 3 and 4

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