Alec
I've been feeling like I'd been transported to another world, with werewolves and danger. It's a relief to see that my clinic exists here, too.
Seeing the clinic from the highway, riding in Christopher's truck, it was the first time it felt like coming home since I moved to Shady Woods. The bouncing of the tires over the long, dirt driveway were familiar and welcoming. The front of the building looks exactly the same as always.
Parking, Christopher digs my keyring out of his pocket and hands it over. "I brought a few of the pack over this morning to clean everything up."
"Oh. Thanks." Climbing out, I tell him, "I want to walk around back first."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure," I nod. "I want to see things back to normal instead of...instead of how I remember things being,"
I'm sure but I still follow a few steps behind Christopher as we head around the building. The field, however, stretching out down towards the trees does look normal. There is a still-smashed-down spot out in the grass but everything is clean and fresh looking. The sounds of insects, birds and the wind float through the air as usual.
"Are you alright?" Christopher's hand lands on my shoulder, pulling my attention away from the blowing grasses. Instead, his worried expression takes my attention
"It's fine. I'm going to go look inside." Stepping over to the back door, I unlock it and shove the wide door open. For a second, I stare at the large step up and remember the heavy weight of the tarp being dragged over the threshold a few days before.
Shaking it off, I step inside. Ignoring Christopher's presence following behind I turn to the surgical room. Everything is cleaned, although there is a neat lined up row of freshly cleaned tools still sitting on the steel table.
"It's not sterile or anything like that, we just got the mess cleaned."
"Thank you, it's a big help." I know it must have been a huge mess, especially after sitting for a couple of days.
Christopher turns me around toward him, ducking his face to look into mine. "Are you sure you're alright? You're, like, really calm."
"I don't really feel calm. I just don't know how to react."
Gently taking my hands, Chrstiopher runs his thumbs in soothing circles across my knuckles. "Are you sure you don't want to just come back to the pack house? You can pack a bag really quick and we can go." He suggests hopefully.
His lighthearted tone makes me smile a little, even if it feels a little hollow. "No! I need to get back to normal and want to reopen the clinic tomorrow. Besides, you have class." Shaking off his hands with a little more cheer than I feel, I put a little more energy into my step and quickly look through the rest of the clinic.
Locking up downstairs, Christopher and I then climb up to my apartment. Everything looks the same here, too. Papers and references book littering the room and a pile of bedding by the sofa.
"It feels good to be home. I do appreciate all the hospitality you and your fam- your pack showed me but I really want to take a shower in my own shower." I tug at the extremely loose borrowed shirt that I'm wearing. "And then put on my own clothes."
"No, I get it. But you are really cute in my shirt." The way he looks at me, teasing and something warm in his eyes, makes my cheeks flush a little.
"Okay, thanks, I guess. Don't you have to get going?"
"How about while you shower, I can," Christopher looks around for something to do. "Clean?"
"Hm, no."
"Cook something?"
"I don't have any food here." Already holding up a hand to cut off his next words, "And I will order food later, I can take care of it."
"Isn't there anything I can do to stay?"
"No, and I know you have stuff to do, too."
Christopher grumbles some but turns toward the door when I nudge him a little. It's like nudging a rock so thankfully this rock moves on its own.
"Wait!" Christopher puts an arm out to block the doorway. "We never got our date."
"Our date?"
"Yes, I wanted to ask you out but then we were taking things slow and then we jumped way ahead with all the werewolf stuff and," Christopher practically swallows in a huge breath before continuing. "And I really want to take you out on a date. Something normal boyfriends would do. Please?"
A date? Normal boyfriends? Like, in town? In front of people? I think I've taken it for granted that everyone at the pack house knows I'm dating Christopher. But, this would be, like, telling everyone that I am dating a man? The thought makes me want to go hide under my bed.
Looking into Christopher's pleading eyes, a knot also appears in my stomach. The knot seems to hold me in place and keep me from hiding just yet. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
"We can do anything you want to do! I just want to spend time together away from work and the pack, so I can talk with you without distractions.
Anything I want? So, if it turns out that I'm not ready, can we just stay in and watch a movie or something? Going out just sounds so, so public.
"What if I don't know what I want to do?" I prompt him hesitantly.
"No problem! I'll come up with some options, I bet there are a lot of places in town you have been to yet either. How about we go out Wednesday night?"
"This Wednesday? Three-days-from-now Wednesday?"
"Uh, yeah, is that okay? I don't have class on Thursday but if you'd rather wait until the weekend..." Christopher trails off, clearly not excited about waiting.
"Okay, okay. Wednesday night is fine but let's decide at another time what we are going to do."
"Thank you, Alec! It's going to be so much fun, I'll make some good plans and I'll text you later. Or call you later, can I call you later? Do you want to-"
"Okay, that's enough." Turning Christopher out the door again, I give him a little push. "We'll talk later, okay? I want to get cleaned up and have some time to myself."
"Alright, I'm going." Christopher leans down and pecks my cheek really quickly, stepping back to grin at me. "I'll call you later."
"Hm-mm, bye."
"Bye, Alec."
I let the door swing close, finally leaving Christopher outside. A strange wave of worry hits me and I don't want to leave the door. It feels like thick heavy layers of thoughts are smothering me one after another.
The thought of Christopher standing outside the clinic alone!
Christohper walking to his truck alone!
'
Christopher driving home with no one around him!
"Wait!" I slam the door open again. Christopher is still paused on the top step. I reach out and grasp his tee shirt. Feeling crazy because he hasn't even really gone anyway, I step outside and wrap my arms tight around him.
I'm immediately surrounded by Christopher's arms, his warmth dropping my heartrate down to its normal level. He just holds me for a little while.
"Hey," he asks softly, his breath brushing over my hair. "You alright?"
Nodding into the front of his shirt I debate if I should try to answer him normally? Or honestly?
"I just suddenly got worried about you being outside by yourself."
"His arms righten and pull me even closer. "It's okay, it's okay." He rubs his hands soothingly along my back and arms. "Don't be weirded out but we're not alone right now."
"What?" I pull back to look into his face.
"Remember when I said that I would be keeping a closer eye on you?"
I narrow my gaze at him. "Go on."
"So, there is going to be a patrol around your clinic all the time. They started this morning before we even left. If you step outside at all, you're not alone."
"That," I try to wiggle free but he holds me in place, "is really weird! Besides, what about you? You better not be alone either, where's your patrol?"
"Are you worried about me?" His voice rumbles through me pressed to his chest.
"You were the one that got hurt, weren't you!" I accept my fate and quit struggling, it feels nice to give in and simply lean against him. "So, you better have the same precautions that I have."
"I will."
"You're not just saying that?"
"Nope, I will listen to you and whatever you say." His voice sounds happy to me. Maybe too happy. Like, a little smug almost. "It makes me happy that you're worried about me."
"Well," I lean away and he finally lets me stand back again. "I'm a veterinarian, I always worry about animals."