A/N: Here ya are, Katie, just for you. Hope everybody had a great Christmas, and Happy New Year everyone! -DL
Chapter 8
Tim was feeling a bit giddy. He sat up in his bed, ignoring his pounding head, disbelief and happiness waging a war within him. He couldn't BELIEVE that he had a date with Adrian tomorrow night!
As though his thoughts had conjured the man, Adrian came back into his bedroom with a plate in his hand. He came over to the bed and set it down in front of Tim. "One serving of dry toast, coming up," he said.
"Thank you," he said gratefully. "You didn't have any trouble finding anything in my kitchen, did you?"
"Nope. The only trouble I had is this guy winding around my ankles. From the way he was carrying on, I get the feeling that he's dying of hunger," he pointed down toward his feet, where Abbott was making a nuisance of himself while meowing loudly.
Tim felt his lips quivering. "Oh, dear," he said. "I'm afraid that he'll be like that until he gets his breakfast. Do you need me to...?"
"No, stay where you are. Just tell me where his food is, and I'll take care of it."
"That would be great. I keep the kibble in the far left lower cupboard in the kitchen, along with the bowls. Fill both of them about halfway, and please make sure that Cos actually eats his. Abbott will steal his food if I'm not careful."
"Greedy guts," the vet remarked to the fat cat as he turned toward the bedroom door.
Tim chuckled. He felt better already. He picked up a piece of toast and began to nibble at it, alternating each bite with a sip of water from the refilled glass. It was nice to have somebody else looking after his kitties for once, especially since he still didn't feel that great. The last time he'd had the flu, he'd still had to make sure that his babies got fed and taken care of even though he'd barely been able to walk straight.
He ate all of the toast on the plate, and his stomach settled nicely. Then he called his work, telling them that he was horribly sick and wouldn't be in. His hoarse voice helped to sell this story, and he hung up the phone feeling grateful that he didn't have to drag his hung-over ass into work today.
Adrian reappeared at the door. "I've gotta go open the clinic, Tim," he said. "And I want to grab something to eat before I do. When you're feeling better, why don't you bring Costello in so I can check his stitches? I might be able to take them out today."
"I will. Thanks again for everything," Tim said gratefully.
"Least I could do. It was sort of my fault that you got falling down drunk last night, anyway. See you and Cos later," he waved a hand and disappeared from the doorway.
A little later, Tim pottered out into his living room. He'd taken a long, hot bath, and he felt much better. He saw Abbott and Costello sharing the soft pad, Abbott licking the black cat's ears tenderly. Cos looked resigned, his eyes half-closed. "Do you feel like taking a trip to the vet's today, Cos?" Tim asked his pet.
The cat's eyes opened, and he gave his master a cold kitty stare. He was a smart feline; no doubt he understood what the word 'vet' meant. Tim anticipated a fight to get him into the carrier later. He grinned as he went into his kitchen to find something more substantial than toast to eat. It was good to see Cos getting back to his old self again.
It occurred to him that certain problems might arise with him dating a vet; Cos wouldn't take too kindly to having Adrian around. It should be interesting to see how that went. But he wasn't going to worry about it for now. They hadn't even gone on their first date yet. He wasn't going to count his chickens before they hatched.
Tim lugged the cat carrier into the clinic a few hours later. It was heavy because it contained both Abbott and Costello; not that the fat cat needed anything, but the only way that Tim could get Cos into the carrier was to stick Abbott in there with him. He suspected that the black cat had the attitude that if he had to suffer, then Abbott should too. And since the good-natured fat cat didn't care in the least(since he loved the vet and didn't mind coming to the clinic at all), Tim invariably brought both cats here even when it was only Costello who needed to come.
Judy the receptionist smiled in greeting. "Hi, Tim! Did you bring Cos in to see Dr. Freemont?"
"Yeah. He said he wanted to take a look at his stitches. Should I wait?" he looked at the empty chairs in the waiting room.
"No, you can go right back. Since it's only eleven, we don't have too many patients right now. If you'd come in an hour later, this place would be packed."
"Thanks. Come on, guys," he remarked to the carrier, carting it into the back.
He found Adrian in the examination room. The vet glanced up as he appeared. "Hey, Tim, how are you feeling?" he asked. "How's the hangover?"
"I'm feeling much better, thanks. I brought Abbott and Costello so you can look at Cos's stitches. I had to bring Abbott, too, or otherwise Cos would throw a fit about having to be in the carrier alone."
"That's fine. Plop them both down on the table and we'll get this going."
Tim set the carrier down on the table and opened the door. Abbott got dragged out first, purring and hanging in his master's arms. He butted his head against Adrian's fingers affectionately when the vet scratched his head. "I think he likes you because you fed him this morning," Tim said in amusement.
"Is that all it takes, big man?" Adrian asked, shaking his head even as he smiled.
"With him, yeah. He's easy. Cos...not so much," Tim said, pulling the black cat out of the carrier in turn.
Cos glared ferociously at Adrian, hissing and spitting. Clearly he was not so influenced by food-giving, and he remembered that the last time he'd been here had been all about pain. And this person had had something to do with it...If looks could kill, Adrian would be a corpse cooling on the tile floor by now.
"Sorry," Tim said apologetically, as his cat struggled in his arms and tried to get free so he could hurl himself at Adrian.
"It's all right. I didn't really expect him to be all lovey-dovey with me," the vet replied with a wry quirk of his lips.
"Cos, behave! Adrian only wants to check your stitches!" Tim cried. Cos ignored him, struggling and squirming all the more.
Adrian reached out and got a hold of Costello's scruff, neatly pulling him out of Tim's arms and setting him on the table. Costello rowred in furious indignity, struggling against the firm hold. "You're obviously feeling better after your surgery," Adrian remarked, deftly turning the angrily hissing and struggling cat to remove the bandage from his side and check the surgical wound. All of Cos's claws were out, and Tim was worried that he might get free and slaughter poor Adrian. But the vet had it under control; no matter how much Cos wiggled, he managed to keep him in check long enough to look at the neat row of stitches.
"It's healing cleanly," he told Tim, over the sound of Costello's furious growls. "But I think they should stay in for a few more days. You can bring him in Friday evening, and I'll sedate him so that I can take the stitches out."
"Okay. So everything's good?" Tim asked anxiously.
"Yes. He's fine, as you can plainly see," Adrian said in amusement, holding the absolutely volcanically-angry Costello.
Tim laughed a little as he took over the hold on Costello, speaking in soothing tones to his disgruntled pet as he picked him up. "There, now, Cos, it's all right," he crooned.
Costello subsided somewhat, but the molten hate in his eyes as he stared up at Adrian promised mayhem and murder. "You're definitely getting a sedative when I take those stitches out," Adrian told the cat dryly as Tim maneuvered him back in the carrier with Abbott.
"Umm, about tomorrow," Tim began as he closed the carrier's door.
"You mean our date? What about it?" the vet asked.
"Where did you want to go? To dinner, to a movie, maybe dancing or something?"
Adrian cocked his head to the side. "Please remember that I've only gone on 'dates' before this to get guys into bed," he pointed out to Tim. "I'd take them out to dinner and then back to my place. You know a lot more about it than I do, so why don't you decide?"
"Okay. I guess a standard 'dinner and a movie' combo would be just about the right speed for a first date. Do you have any preferences about the movie?"
"No chick flicks," Adrian said positively. "I can't stand those."
Tim grinned. "I'm not a fan, either," he assured Adrian. "How about you come and pick me up at seven o'clock tomorrow night? You already know where I live."
"Very true. I'll be there with bells on," the vet said.
"Cool," Tim picked up his pet carrier, preparing to leave the examination room.
"Hey, Tim?" Adrian said behind him.
"Yeah?" He turned, and much to his surprise found Adrian standing very close. Only the carrier separated them. The vet leaned forward, and Tim's mouth opened in an excited quickening of breath.
"I'll see you tomorrow at seven," Adrian said, and started to pull back. Tim felt utter disappointment run through him - until Adrian winked at him and leaned forward again quickly, closing his mouth over Tim's in a soft but extremely pleasurable kiss.
He moaned, opening his mouth for a questing tongue. Who knows how long they might have stood there osculating, if an angry yowl from the pet carrier in his arms hadn't reminded Tim about just how much Cos hated being shut up in the kitty carrier? Adrian pulled back, a small smile flickering over his handsome face. "See you tomorrow," he said again, stepping back. His eyes dropped to the pet carrier. "Sans cats," he added dryly.
"Yeah," Tim said rather breathlessly, then hauled his pets out of the clinic before Cos started having fits and driving poor Abbott crazy.
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Chapter 8
Tim was feeling a bit giddy. He sat up in his bed, ignoring his pounding head, disbelief and happiness waging a war within him. He couldn't BELIEVE that he had a date with Adrian tomorrow night!
As though his thoughts had conjured the man, Adrian came back into his bedroom with a plate in his hand. He came over to the bed and set it down in front of Tim. "One serving of dry toast, coming up," he said.
"Thank you," he said gratefully. "You didn't have any trouble finding anything in my kitchen, did you?"
"Nope. The only trouble I had is this guy winding around my ankles. From the way he was carrying on, I get the feeling that he's dying of hunger," he pointed down toward his feet, where Abbott was making a nuisance of himself while meowing loudly.
Tim felt his lips quivering. "Oh, dear," he said. "I'm afraid that he'll be like that until he gets his breakfast. Do you need me to...?"
"No, stay where you are. Just tell me where his food is, and I'll take care of it."
"That would be great. I keep the kibble in the far left lower cupboard in the kitchen, along with the bowls. Fill both of them about halfway, and please make sure that Cos actually eats his. Abbott will steal his food if I'm not careful."
"Greedy guts," the vet remarked to the fat cat as he turned toward the bedroom door.
Tim chuckled. He felt better already. He picked up a piece of toast and began to nibble at it, alternating each bite with a sip of water from the refilled glass. It was nice to have somebody else looking after his kitties for once, especially since he still didn't feel that great. The last time he'd had the flu, he'd still had to make sure that his babies got fed and taken care of even though he'd barely been able to walk straight.
He ate all of the toast on the plate, and his stomach settled nicely. Then he called his work, telling them that he was horribly sick and wouldn't be in. His hoarse voice helped to sell this story, and he hung up the phone feeling grateful that he didn't have to drag his hung-over ass into work today.
Adrian reappeared at the door. "I've gotta go open the clinic, Tim," he said. "And I want to grab something to eat before I do. When you're feeling better, why don't you bring Costello in so I can check his stitches? I might be able to take them out today."
"I will. Thanks again for everything," Tim said gratefully.
"Least I could do. It was sort of my fault that you got falling down drunk last night, anyway. See you and Cos later," he waved a hand and disappeared from the doorway.
A little later, Tim pottered out into his living room. He'd taken a long, hot bath, and he felt much better. He saw Abbott and Costello sharing the soft pad, Abbott licking the black cat's ears tenderly. Cos looked resigned, his eyes half-closed. "Do you feel like taking a trip to the vet's today, Cos?" Tim asked his pet.
The cat's eyes opened, and he gave his master a cold kitty stare. He was a smart feline; no doubt he understood what the word 'vet' meant. Tim anticipated a fight to get him into the carrier later. He grinned as he went into his kitchen to find something more substantial than toast to eat. It was good to see Cos getting back to his old self again.
It occurred to him that certain problems might arise with him dating a vet; Cos wouldn't take too kindly to having Adrian around. It should be interesting to see how that went. But he wasn't going to worry about it for now. They hadn't even gone on their first date yet. He wasn't going to count his chickens before they hatched.
Tim lugged the cat carrier into the clinic a few hours later. It was heavy because it contained both Abbott and Costello; not that the fat cat needed anything, but the only way that Tim could get Cos into the carrier was to stick Abbott in there with him. He suspected that the black cat had the attitude that if he had to suffer, then Abbott should too. And since the good-natured fat cat didn't care in the least(since he loved the vet and didn't mind coming to the clinic at all), Tim invariably brought both cats here even when it was only Costello who needed to come.
Judy the receptionist smiled in greeting. "Hi, Tim! Did you bring Cos in to see Dr. Freemont?"
"Yeah. He said he wanted to take a look at his stitches. Should I wait?" he looked at the empty chairs in the waiting room.
"No, you can go right back. Since it's only eleven, we don't have too many patients right now. If you'd come in an hour later, this place would be packed."
"Thanks. Come on, guys," he remarked to the carrier, carting it into the back.
He found Adrian in the examination room. The vet glanced up as he appeared. "Hey, Tim, how are you feeling?" he asked. "How's the hangover?"
"I'm feeling much better, thanks. I brought Abbott and Costello so you can look at Cos's stitches. I had to bring Abbott, too, or otherwise Cos would throw a fit about having to be in the carrier alone."
"That's fine. Plop them both down on the table and we'll get this going."
Tim set the carrier down on the table and opened the door. Abbott got dragged out first, purring and hanging in his master's arms. He butted his head against Adrian's fingers affectionately when the vet scratched his head. "I think he likes you because you fed him this morning," Tim said in amusement.
"Is that all it takes, big man?" Adrian asked, shaking his head even as he smiled.
"With him, yeah. He's easy. Cos...not so much," Tim said, pulling the black cat out of the carrier in turn.
Cos glared ferociously at Adrian, hissing and spitting. Clearly he was not so influenced by food-giving, and he remembered that the last time he'd been here had been all about pain. And this person had had something to do with it...If looks could kill, Adrian would be a corpse cooling on the tile floor by now.
"Sorry," Tim said apologetically, as his cat struggled in his arms and tried to get free so he could hurl himself at Adrian.
"It's all right. I didn't really expect him to be all lovey-dovey with me," the vet replied with a wry quirk of his lips.
"Cos, behave! Adrian only wants to check your stitches!" Tim cried. Cos ignored him, struggling and squirming all the more.
Adrian reached out and got a hold of Costello's scruff, neatly pulling him out of Tim's arms and setting him on the table. Costello rowred in furious indignity, struggling against the firm hold. "You're obviously feeling better after your surgery," Adrian remarked, deftly turning the angrily hissing and struggling cat to remove the bandage from his side and check the surgical wound. All of Cos's claws were out, and Tim was worried that he might get free and slaughter poor Adrian. But the vet had it under control; no matter how much Cos wiggled, he managed to keep him in check long enough to look at the neat row of stitches.
"It's healing cleanly," he told Tim, over the sound of Costello's furious growls. "But I think they should stay in for a few more days. You can bring him in Friday evening, and I'll sedate him so that I can take the stitches out."
"Okay. So everything's good?" Tim asked anxiously.
"Yes. He's fine, as you can plainly see," Adrian said in amusement, holding the absolutely volcanically-angry Costello.
Tim laughed a little as he took over the hold on Costello, speaking in soothing tones to his disgruntled pet as he picked him up. "There, now, Cos, it's all right," he crooned.
Costello subsided somewhat, but the molten hate in his eyes as he stared up at Adrian promised mayhem and murder. "You're definitely getting a sedative when I take those stitches out," Adrian told the cat dryly as Tim maneuvered him back in the carrier with Abbott.
"Umm, about tomorrow," Tim began as he closed the carrier's door.
"You mean our date? What about it?" the vet asked.
"Where did you want to go? To dinner, to a movie, maybe dancing or something?"
Adrian cocked his head to the side. "Please remember that I've only gone on 'dates' before this to get guys into bed," he pointed out to Tim. "I'd take them out to dinner and then back to my place. You know a lot more about it than I do, so why don't you decide?"
"Okay. I guess a standard 'dinner and a movie' combo would be just about the right speed for a first date. Do you have any preferences about the movie?"
"No chick flicks," Adrian said positively. "I can't stand those."
Tim grinned. "I'm not a fan, either," he assured Adrian. "How about you come and pick me up at seven o'clock tomorrow night? You already know where I live."
"Very true. I'll be there with bells on," the vet said.
"Cool," Tim picked up his pet carrier, preparing to leave the examination room.
"Hey, Tim?" Adrian said behind him.
"Yeah?" He turned, and much to his surprise found Adrian standing very close. Only the carrier separated them. The vet leaned forward, and Tim's mouth opened in an excited quickening of breath.
"I'll see you tomorrow at seven," Adrian said, and started to pull back. Tim felt utter disappointment run through him - until Adrian winked at him and leaned forward again quickly, closing his mouth over Tim's in a soft but extremely pleasurable kiss.
He moaned, opening his mouth for a questing tongue. Who knows how long they might have stood there osculating, if an angry yowl from the pet carrier in his arms hadn't reminded Tim about just how much Cos hated being shut up in the kitty carrier? Adrian pulled back, a small smile flickering over his handsome face. "See you tomorrow," he said again, stepping back. His eyes dropped to the pet carrier. "Sans cats," he added dryly.
"Yeah," Tim said rather breathlessly, then hauled his pets out of the clinic before Cos started having fits and driving poor Abbott crazy.
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