Alec
End this game. I was supposed to end this game!
Like most everything in my life since moving to this rural community, it's not going as planned.
Feeling like a hot-wired ball of nerves, I was stirred up with determination all morning. I'd practiced what I was going to say in between scheduling appointments, seeing to patients, ordering medicines and returning calls.
Obviously, I need to ban Christopher from my clinic. I didn't want to see even the trail of dust his mammoth truck kicks up. I'm a grown man; I won't put up with a mule-headed bully.
As the day dwindled on, my hectic clinic managed to flat line my energy. I didn't have some of the medications I needed in stock. I had to stop twice to call other offices in the county to try and find some that my customers can go purchase today for their pets. There were two walk-ins and I still have three new patients' information that I have to enter into the computer. Wiping down the exam room in between each patient seemed to take longer today, due to extra 'messes', and made me late in starting the next appointments.
I was almost an hour behind when I came out and saw Christopher, along with someone else I'd seen picking him up a few times, waiting out in the lobby, opposite side of the room from elderly Mrs. Oliver and her cat Sassafras. The usually sweet cat kept letting out guttural growls that worried me about her condition. I'd heard she's only like that sometimes, but per Mrs. Olliver's request I'd scheduled her around other cats' appointments. Sassafras hates dogs.
The angry sounds were emphasizing the pulsating headache that had been growing increasingly worse all morning. I had my apartment key set aside at the front desk already and simply chucked it towards the blond giant. It earned me a surprised look from the auburn haired giant with him but I needed to keep my attention on the customers waiting. Christopher caught the key easily and I spared him one gesture, pointing up towards the apartment and mouthed the word, "Go!"
I couldn't be sure how long it took them to move the furniture. I saw a glimpse of them waiting outside at one point but things were too hectic for me to take time and check that my furniture and only my furniture were upstairs. They were still outside when I came out of the exam room next, as well. In between one of my calls with another clinic, I saw Christopher's friend pull him towards the truck and I assumed they finally left.
The day rushed on to the end, sapping my energy. Popping a few acetaminophen had slightly dulled my headache, but it was growing along. I quickly finish wiping down the exam room for the last time today. With a familiar rhythm to my work taking over, my thoughts drift. My brain entices me with the image of my new bed waiting. All soft and welcoming, I can almost feel the pillowing against my back. Wait, no! I'm imaging the wrong bed, that super duper plush one that I definitely did not pick out.
I just need to get used to my own bed! I'm sure, with how tired I am, that I'll sleep with ease tonight.
The tinkling sound of the bell over the clinic's door sends a little bit of dread down into my stomach. I love work, but I really was ready for the end of the day. It might be a walk-in though, or an emergency, and I hurry out to the front.
Stopping short, the trio waiting inside surprises me. Christopher is back, looking like an excited puppy as soon as I come down the hall. I didn't get a chance yet to fully elaborate how very un-welcome he is here, but surely he isn't that dense.
The man from before is with him. Matching Christopher in both height and build, he has more angular features. His auburn hair is tired up, exposing skin on both sides of his head.  He's dressed in looser clothing though, more suited to going to the gym. He offers me a wide smile and seems to bow his head a little in my direction.
The woman is tall and athletic, dressed casually and a gentle smile on her face. Her steel-gray hair pulled into a ponytail and a smattering of wrinkles belies her age but her stance seems steady and strong. She too seems to dip her head a little towards me but at this point in the day it might just be my imagination.
Absent-mindedly, rubbing my temples I consider if a polite sentence is possible. One look at Christopher's too-happy grin and I realize. It isn't.
"What do you want now?"Â I spit out, the headache giving my voice a slightly rougher sound than normal.
All the smiles drop. Two are replaced with shocked expressions. One is sheepish. Christopher begins. "I'm sorry, Alec, I didn't get to say it earlier when you were busy-"
"I'm still busy," I interject, making my self wince as a fresh pulse of pain seems to ricochet across my brain. "Please, just leave."
"Pardon us, uh, Alec," Christopher's friend, the sporty gorilla starts to speak. "I'm Reed and I understand it's been a long day, but its best not let things like this go on too long without dealing with them."
The exceedingly polite tone and words seem out of place. This Reed guy somehow reminds me of a truant student, trying to talk his way out of trouble with the teacher. "What things like this?"
"My friend here," Reed throws his arm casually along Christopher's shoulders, "just wants to apologize and make things right with you."
My eyes travel from Reed to Christopher's downcast expression and back again, trailing along the arm still resting across large shoulders. Reed gives me a wide grin the entire time. I've decided I hate this guy.
"What does any of that bullshit have to do with me?" I had the satisfaction of seeing this annoying guy's face go slack with surprise. "Do whatever you want, but don't do it here."
"Alec, pl-!"
"Stop!" Exclaiming halted Christopher's pleading tone and caused me to grip my own hair as a fresh burst of pain exploded inside my brain. "Please, just stop!
I don't know what kind of newcomer hazing this is, or if I just pissed you off on day one, but just leave me alone! I've worked too hard building up my knowledge and training to have my own clinic. I've lived frugally for the last decade to complete my education and put away savings for my own clinic. Your constant harassment, your bullying tactics and your fake ass demeanor are not going to break me!
SMACK!
The loud sound of palm hitting skull took me by surprise. Lifting my gaze, I catch Christopher rubbing the back of his head. "Dee!" he pouts.
The woman named Dee steps up and levels her gaze at Christopher. "This is how you've been handling the situation? Just what have you been doing? Do your parents know how you've been treating this young man?"
"Yes, I mean, uh, recently..." Christopher trails off, looking like a giant toddler being scolded.
Rolling her eyes, Dee turns to me instead. Despite her stern gaze softening, I instinctively straighten my shoulders, feeling partially scolded myself somehow. "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Alec Harrison. I will try not to waste anymore of your time but I can assure you that Christopher was raised better than this, but his 'raised by wolves' tendencies come out in embarrassing ways."
"Uh...nice, nice to meet you, too." I stammer out dumbly.
Walking closer to the me and desk, Dee scans over the mess of papers and folders with a sharp eye. "I know that you won't believe me but everyone in this room is very proud and supportive of your work here." Before I can follow her thought on that, Dee breezes on. "However, no matter how hard our efforts are, sometimes we just need help. That's why I am here."
She sticks out her hand and I instantly accept her no-nonsense handshake out of politeness and, honestly, a little fear. "I am the retired Chief Assistant for Christopher's father and I was asked to see if there was something I could do that would help with your overburdened workload here."
Dammit! Another hand out?
"Ah, ah." Dee raises her hands as if to halt my thoughts. "I don't work for free and I won't work full time. I'm enjoying my retired life with my husband. I'm sure we can come to something reasonable for both of us for a salary, but only if you choose to have me work for you. I like your attitude and it certainly looks like it would be a fulfilling challenge to work for you. I don't have any training that would help you with your patients but I can assure you that you're office will never run smoother."
"Well, wow, you sure do have some confidence but now, for me, isn't a really great time to find any sort of receptionist. Maybe another day would be better."
"How much further behind will you be then?"
"Excuse me?"
"It's obvious that you never had to handle this side of running a vet's practice and I know that this whole county has more than enough business to keep you hopping. If you think putting off getting the office help you need and struggling through your workload is going to benefit you than you're not as smart as you are cute."
"Dee!" Christopher, who had been quiet since being smacked, interjects with a growl, but Dee keeps on like he was a little bug walking by.
"Not to mention anyone can see that you'e suffering through one nasty headache. Or some kind of psychotic episode. How effective are you going to be are taking care of your own clinic tonight? I promise, I can get more down in half an hour than you'd accomplish the rest of the night."
"Psychotic episode?" I mumble. Might be closer to than I know. "And if you can't do it right in the next thirty minutes, what then? I'll be further behind and will have to fix any mistakes."
Dee finally looks less confident, glancing over at Christopher.
"I won't bother you," he finally states. "For any length of time that you choose!"
"Forever," I immediately fire at him. A collective wince from all of them follow my words, Christopher even seems to pale a little.
"Alec, please..." he trails off.
Lacking the energy to glare, I simply reiterate, "You are not allowed to come see me or bother me in any way again."
Christopher gaze doesn't leave me, ignoring the worried and concerned looks his friends give him. His strong expression the most serious I've ever seen on him.
"Deal. Dee can do it and I believe that this will truly help you. Except, I have one condition. Dee has thirty minutes to prove she'll effectively and efficiently be a good assistant to you, but while she works you allow me to do one thing.
Feeling a slight chill run down my spine, I pull my lab coat tighter around me. "What one thing?"
"You let me get rid of your headache."
"I already took some medicine," I huff out.
"And that didn't do anything, did it? You'll need some good rest as well to get rid of a migraine and you're not going to get any if you can't relax. Thirty minutes and we'll be out of your hair. Even if its for...forever."
Right at this moment, the thought of never seeing Christopher Barnes again....perfect.
"Deal!"
Dee immediately settled herself at the desk, shooing me away as she started sifting through everything. Christopher grabbed a chair and pulled it out in the center of the waiting area, gesturing me to sit down. Reed settles himself down with a magazine in another chair in the corner.
"You're not going to do anything...weird?" I hesitantly sit down, barely letting my back touch the chair's back.
"No, I won't do anything you don't like. I promise."
Stepping up close behind me, I can feel his entire height looming over me. His large hands settle on my shoulders; even through my lab coat I feel a chill shoot from his hands down my arms, followed by a slow warmth. So gently, he guides me backwards until my back is fully supported by the chair. His hands glide up the back of my head, barely rustling through my hair. I allow my head to follow the slight pressure and tilt down to rest my chin on my chest.
His fingers have a controlled strength. His wide palms easily cupping my head yet so tender. If I had thought about it, I would have assumed his skin to be more rough. Also, I wouldn't have guessed at how warm he would be, or how that heat seemed to soak need beneath my skin.
"Just breath," Christopher says, and I realize that I'm holding air in my lungs. Exhaling awkwardly, I try to ignore the zing of nerves as his hands trail back down to my neck. The heat directly on my skin is so much more intense. As his hands start to move, the slightly rough fingertips make small circles on my skin.
Christopher gently applies pressure in small circle, fanning out. He hits on a particularly sensitive pressure point behind my ears, sending a shiver through me. Another large, shaky breathe escapes my lungs.
With more intention, his he rubs that pressure point again. Then once more, firmer.
"Ah!" A weird sound escapes me.
"Too much?"
Shockingly, no. I shake my head a little, realizing that the throbbing in my skull is already coming down to a dull roar. His fingers continue their movements, sometimes gliding down to work the points at the base of my neck and other times sliding through the strands of my hair to massage magically at my temples.
"Where did you learn this?" My voice comes out embarrassingly breathless.
"Hey, even animals have instincts."
Letting that comment go, my body slowly unwinds and relaxes totally under his ministrations. The dull roar is soothed down to a slight pressure. Then from the slight pressure to an almost glowing relief.
By the time, time Christopher pulls his hands away, my neck feels completely boneless. "That's thirty minutes." His gruff voices registers, but my brain is too exhausted and stretched to comprehend.
"Hmm?"
"You're all set, Alec." Dee's voice makes me open my eyes and look up. When did I even close them? "I'll come by in the morning and discuss terms."
Looking at the desk, it's practically unrecognizable. The files look orderly and full, neatly arranged in stacks. The loose papers cleared away. Notes I jotted down for various things are neatly arranged in a row of colorful little post-its. The computer even looks like its been closed down already.
Strangely, I feel comfortable that everything's in order. Dee and Reed head out the door ahead of us. I feel Christopher's hand under my elbow, guiding me from the chair and out the door. The cool night breeze clears my head enough to pull my keys out and lock up,
"I'll wait for you to get upstairs and inside," says Christopher. Stifling a yawn, I just nod.
"Can I come check on you tomorrow?"
Another nod, this time with a unchecked yawn. "Night." I mumble and head up the stairs. Vaguely, I hear the sound of the behemoth truck starting once I lock my door and toss my keys on the hook.
I feel better and more relaxed now than I've felt all day. Flicking the light on in my bedroom, I glance around my much less occupied bedroom. I contemplate making up my new mattress before quickly dismissing it. Turning the light back off, I shuffle out to the sofa, pulling my blanket from last night over me as I flop down. All to quickly, sleep overtakes me completely.
A/N: We're not dead yet.