Page 32 of Scar

I successfully replanted the flowers at the mailbox and I'm just working on moving a few things around so there isn't a gap in their absence. But I see a stray dog, wait it's not a stray. It's well groomed, wearing a collar, and doesn't look hungry. But the poor baby is limping. I call it over to me, hoping to help it. But it starts to limp away. Poor baby is crying as it's trying to walk on its hurt paw. I can't just leave it like that. "Wait!" I call out, making kissing noises at this dog so it will come to me. I want to help it, not hurt it. Maybe keep it safe until Leon comes back and can call the number on the collar.

This poor dog keeps limping away, a pained squeal coming from every step. It's breaking my darn heart. I can't just let it get away. I stand up, brushing the dirt off my knees and take off after the dog. Luckily it's not running too fast since I am not a runner by any standards.

It doesn't take much, but I do have to wind myself to catch up to this beautiful dog. I end up running so far that when I look around, I have no idea where I am. I see a house not too far away from me. How far did I run? Wait… why didn't the fence go off? Why aren't I on the ground, screaming in pain? This feels like a trap. But I caught the dog. I lift it up in my arms as I walk back to Leon's house. "I'm sorry, baby. I know. I'll help you, Leon will help you." I promise this poor baby as we walk back to Leon's house together.

It takes me much longer to walk back to the house than it did to run after the dog. Adrenaline, I guess. But we made it back. I sit this poor puppy on the grass and in the shade while I take the lid off of the watering can, letting it get a drink of cool water.

I just sit and stroke its fur while it drinks. I hope Leon gets back soon so he can help this poor baby. It won't let me see its paw, everytime I try it growls at me. I know it's not the dog's fault, it's scared and hurt. I just want to help. I hate that I don't even know what to feed it, and I'm worried if I go inside to get it some food, it will run. But I'm also scared to take it inside. What if Leon gets mad? It's his house and I assume if he wanted a dog, he'd have one. I don't want to anger him when we've actually been getting along so well. I've been here for a month and I'm actually starting to feel like I belong here. The last thing I need to do is make him mad and I end up homeless or dead.

Leon doesn't get back for hours. By then the sun is starting to set and I'm exhausted. I'm dizzy, I have a headache, and I'm hungry. But he smiles when he sees me, even raises an eyebrow in confusion as to why there's a dog with its head across my lap. "I missed you, ma fleur. How was your day?" Heasksme. He leans down, kissing my lips as I stare up at him. "Fine."I answershortly. Mostly because I'm freaking exhausted. I've been out in this heat since lunch, too scared to go inside for more water or to eat. I'm scared this dog is going to run and end up hurting itself.

Leon squats down to my level, running his knuckles along my cheek before putting the back of his hand on my forehead. "You're burning up, ma fleur. Have you been out here all day?" Heasksme.

I can tell just by his face how concerned he looks, do I look that rough? I mean, I know it's hot. But I stopped sweating like an hour ago. My body probably got used to the sun and the heat since I've been out here so long. I nod, just wishing he would help this dog so I could take a nap. I'm so tired. "Okay, we're going inside. You might have had a heat stroke." He says firmly to me. He goes to push the dog's head off my lap, but I whine. "Puppy." I say sadly. "I know, fleur. It's very pretty. But you could die if I don't cool you down." He tells me. I huff at that, swatting his hand away. "It hurt its paw." I say sadly.

Chapter 44

Leon's POV

I didn't expect to come home and find my girl in the yard, I definitely didn't expect she'd almost be unconscious. I'm fucking terrified. Her skin is red, all the way red, and hot to the touch. She's not sweating, at all, her eyes look glossed over, she's not focusing on anything, and she's barely awake. I'm so fucking grateful my last patient canceled their session so I could head home early. Who knows if my girl would even still be alive if I'd been home an hour or two later.

But of course, my beautiful girl is concerned with the dog. I mean, it's a cute dog. A golden retriever I think. It growls when I get close to Maeve, like it's protecting her. "Down, girl." I say firmly to the dog. "Get in the damn house." I say with a huff, pointing to the front door.

I'm surprised this dog listens. But it climbs off Maeve's lap and goes to stand in front of the front door. At least that gives me the chance to scoop my girl up into my arms. "That's it, fleur. Wrap your arms around me." I say calmly to her. I can't let her know I'm freaking the fuck out. But I'm freaking the fuck out. She could have died! For a fucking dog!

The dog follows me into the bedroom as I carry Maeve inside and lay her on the bed. "Ma fleur, I have to get your body temperature down before your organs are damaged. You're not going to like it. But I'll help you." Iexplainto her. "The puppy." She whines. I huff, staring down at the dog. "You first. It's fine." Isaytoher.She grumbles something incoherent, but I'm not having her repeat herself. I'm not listening anyway, she's my priority. Not this fucking dog.

I rush downstairs, grabbing a muscle relaxer for her. If she starts to shiver, it will make cooling her down even harder. I just have to watch her closely. If I have to, I'll take her to the hospital. But I need her near me, and I need to help her immediately.

When I get back upstairs, this damn dog is in her face, nudging her with its nose. I can tell she's trying to keep Maeve conscious. Works for me. It gives me a few extra minutes.

I fill the tub with the coldest water that will come out of the spout, dumping all the ice we have in the house into the tub. It isn't enough, but it will have to do. I also throw in a few vacuum sealed packages of frozen vegan meat. I just need this water cold enough to cool Maeve down before she fucking dies.

Maeve is still laying across the bed when I come out, the dog is nudging her with her nose still, yapping away for her to stay awake. It's working well enough, Maeve reaches out and pets the dog periodically. "Come on, fleur." I say, pushing past the dog to grab my girl. The dog growls when my girl whines. But I don't care.

I carry my girl into the bathroom, sitting her on the sink. "We're going to get in the tub, you're not going to like it. But I won't leave your side." I promise her. And I won't. I tuck the few loose hairs behind her ear, holding onto her face for a moment. This girl is going to have me getting gray hairs before I'm even forty. I carefully peel off her shirt, tossing it in the hamper before scooping her up. It's far too much work to get her shorts off right now. I'll pull them off in the tub.

It takes me a minute to get my leg off and put my shower assisting leg on without sitting Maeve down. But, finally I step in the water first, cursing under my breath. Fuck this is fucking cold! But she needs this. She screams when I lower her into the water, trying to get away from the water. But I won't let her.

I hold her firmly against me while I lay us both in the freezing water. "No…" She whines. My poor girl. I tuck her hair behind her ear again, taking one of the frozen packages and putting it on the back of her neck. Fuck, this sucks. "I know, love. I know, but you need this." I say sadly to her. I need her to cool down. I need her.

Maeve is whining and pushing me away, the damn dog is barking, and I'm shivering. What the fuck has this day become? I thought I'd get to come home, make my girl take a test, and fuck her to sleep.

Her period should be starting in a week, and I'm praying she's late. I had a test in my bag and everything. But now I'm just worried that she won't live.

I've got to get some blood and urine samples from her later. I have a buddy in the lab that can run her tests fast. I need to make sure she doesn't have organ failure from this. "It's so cold." She whines. I shush her, kissing along her neck. "I know. It sucks, but we have to stay in here a little longer, okay?" I say calmly. She shakes her head no, my beautiful dramatic girl. "Out. Now." She huffs. I laugh at how adorable she is when she tries to be stern with me. I don't even think she realizes how out of it she is and how she's almost speaking like she's drunk. "We're almost done." I promise her.

Igetmy girl situated in the room in the basement. I never wanted her in this room, I definitely never wanted her on this autopsy table. But it's cold in my special room and the table is cold. It's the best chance I have at cooling her down.

I know she'll panic when she comesback to, but I won't leave her side. I just sit beside her with the cooling blanket on top of her and a cool washcloth on her forehead.

I had to give her the muscle relaxers about half an hour ago when she started to shiver, but other than that she's been okay. She has an IV in and she's resting while she cools down and rehydrates.

Maeve wakes up with a jolt, trying to sit up. I know she can't, she's weak from the muscle relaxers. But she cries when she sees where she is. I know the medicine isn't helping her fear, she probably worries that she's being strapped down since she can't move. "No…" She says so sadly that it breaks my fucking heart. I immediately squat down in front of her. "You're okay, ma fleur. It's okay." I promise her. I run my hand through her hair, also feeling the temperature of her skin while I do so.

Maeve starts to cry after a minute of trying to move her body, huffing in defeat when she realizes that she can't. "I didn't do anything wrong." She says just as sadly.

I keep stroking her hair gently, staring into those gorgeous brown eyes that I intend to stare into forever. "No, you didn't. You're perfect, it's okay, you're okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'd never hurt you. You had a heat stroke. This is just the coldest room in the house.” I calmlytellher.