Dog Tags: A romance anthology featuring military and canine heroes

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Dog Tags: A romance anthology featuring military and canine heroes Page 50

by Kate Kinsley


  She hesitated. “With the infection, visitors aren’t recommended ...” She seemed to read the hurt in his eyes. “But perhaps if he continues to show improvement today, we can get you in full PPE and in there for a quick visit.”

  “It would mean the world to me.”

  “Just give him some time. You can leave me a number and I will let you know when or if he starts feeling well enough for a visit. We’d just like to see his temperature go down a little more.”

  “You said maybe today, though, right?”

  “Tonight, yes. We just want to observe him and make sure he’s stabilizing.”

  “Okay, no problem. I can wait here.”

  She went to speak, but she hesitated. “Alright, Mr. Long. Let me know if I can get you anything. Samantha should be back at the reception window momentarily.”

  “Thank you, Doc,” Bastien said as he sat back down in the chair. “And Bastien, please.”

  “Of course,” she said. She motioned to herself. “Amber,” she added, smiling, and then she made her way back through the door.

  He spent several restless hours in the waiting room, trying to busy himself on his phone enough not to worry. But worry was all he could do. And he thought of Gabe.

  Amber came several times to check on him, even included him on the staff’s Chinese food order, which he appreciated as he hadn’t eaten a thing all day, but she didn’t realize that every time she came through that doorway and it was for anything other than to get him ready to see Zook, his hopes would be dashed, his anxiety heightened. He did appreciate her hospitality though, and the obvious dedication she showed to the animals in her care.

  She finally came at eight o’clock with a smile on her face that told him this visit was different.

  “Bastien, are you ready?” she asked.

  He was on his feet and at the door before she could finish her sentence.

  “Absolutely!”

  He rushed into all the personal protective equipment—the gown, the gloves, the foot covers, and the mask—and she donned her own, before leading him through a set of automatic doors into the intensive care unit.

  Bastien’s excitement was palpable as he scanned the large room. Along the back was a wall of kennels three high and stretching from one end to the other. Only a few of the kennels had occupants. Three hydraulic hospital beds ran down the middle of the room, pumps, monitors, and other medical contraptions surrounding each one. Two of the beds were empty, but on the last one, Zook laid on his side, his tongue poking out of his mouth. The side that was exposed was shaven clean and a sutured residual limb rested where his hind leg should’ve been. An IV was connected to his front right paw, pumping saline into his system through a thin tube. Bastien sucked in a breath, his eyes scanning the bruised skin of his beloved dog. He inched closer, and as he did, Zook’s eyes moved toward him, though his head did not.

  Zook let out a whimper when he saw Bastien, his eyes brightening, his ears straightening, and Bastien rushed to his bedside. He leaned over the slotted gate that surrounded Zook and kept him safely on the bed, and he said, “Hey, old buddy! Did you miss me?”

  Zook let out another whimper and his tail began to wag ever so slightly.

  Tears came then, though Bastien tried his damnedest to prevent them, embarrassed by the doctor’s presence. “God, I’ve missed you,” he said through sniffles.

  Zook continued his whining, and Bastien gave a quick glance back toward the doctor. “Can I just pet his head?”

  Amber nodded, her eyes glistening. “Yeah, of course.”

  Bastien slipped a gloved hand over the gate, and as he inched it closer toward Zook’s head, Zook whined louder, winking his eyes at Bastien as he did when he really wanted a good petting. Bastien set his hand against the pup’s head gently, and Zook groaned with delight.

  Bastien gave his best friend’s head gentle strokes and Zook reveled in the touch. “I’ll never let another bad thing happen to you, Zook,” he said, his voice trembling. “Not ever again.”

  Chapter Six

  It had been ten months since the phone call. Eight months since Zook left the Lackland Emergency Veterinary Hospital for the last time. For two months, the pup went through physical therapy, working on stretching ligaments, working joints, and strengthening the muscles that would be forced to share the burden of the missing right hind leg. But just like in his early days of training at the Explosive Detector Dog school, Zook remained resilient from the get go, fighting for his new normal with his dad right by his side. Bastien was there for every appointment, every checkup, every rehab session, every single day Zook spent learning to walk with only three legs, and Zook soon mastered it.

  As Zook and Bastien cuddled on the couch in their apartment, the hot August sun shined brightly through the blinds of the window beside them. Good Morning America played on the TV—Zook’s favorite show on account of all the dogs they have on there. Zook’s fur had long since grown back, and the suture lines had become scar lines that were barely noticeable. Bastien found himself motivated each and every day by this dog who had been through so much pain, so much adversity, yet his personality and love never wavered. He was as happy then as he had been the first day Bastien received him all those years ago, the day that used to be the best of his life until bringing Zook home with him eight months ago took the top spot. And his engagement, of course.

  On the wall above their heads there was an arrangement of framed photographs of different sizes—some from wars, others from places around Europe and Stateside—showing Bastien, Gabriel, and Zook in varying states of exuberance. In the center, a framed photo larger than the others showed Bastien and Zook at Arlington National Cemetery, seated in front of Staff Sergeant Gabriel Johnson’s grave, their backs to the camera, Bastien’s arm around his four-legged friend.

  A white framed photo sat on the table beside the couch, and in the photo Bastien and Zook were joined by a third, the three of them standing in front of a beautiful waterfall. Zook was looking up at the two humans, Bastien with a half-moon smile on his mug, Amber with her lips pressed tightly against his cheek, her deep dimples showing, her left hand held out showing off a beautiful engagement ring.

  Above the TV, movie posters hung: The Way Way Back, St. Vincent, Perks of Being a Wallflower. Two more posters adorned the far wall featuring Anthony Bourdain and Guy Fieri.

  Bastien let out a groan as he checked the time on his phone. He glanced down at Zook, who was nuzzled against his side and already looking up at him.

  “Sorry, dude. I gotta get to class,” Bastien said, and he patted Zook’s head before getting up.

  Zook jumped down after him and trotted around Bastien’s feet. He was nearly indistinguishable from his old self, still agile and quick.

  Bastien dropped a hand and let Zook give it a lick.

  “I’m sorry, dude, but this is only school. Just wait until I’m having to work ten-hour shifts.” Bastien crouched down and rubbed both sides of Zook’s head. “Your momma will live here by then, at least!” He gave Zook’s snout a quick kiss and backed away before Zook could get him with that slimy tongue of his.

  Bastien chuckled, stood up straight, and moved to the kitchen, Zook but a step behind. He opened the fridge and scanned its contents: vegetables and fruit, ground beef and steak, a few yogurts, and a row of waters and energy drinks. No beer. No tequila.

  He grabbed a water and closed the door. He reached for his long brown leather rolled bag from the countertop—Mercer Culinary etched on its side—and moved toward the door, Zook running along behind him, tail wagging. He snatched his chef hat from a hook on the wall, eyed his buddy on the floor as he slipped on his non-slip shoes. Zook sat then and gave the very best puppy dog eyes he could muster to his dad, his best friend.

  “Ugh, I hate leaving you, dude!” Bastien crouched down beside Zook.

  Zook placed his right paw on Bastien’s shoulder.

  “You’re really fucking good at this, aren’t you, you brat?” Bastien s
aid through a chuckle. He ruffled the fur on Zook’s head, gave him a kiss, and stood straight once more.

  Zook stood too, anticipating a walk beforehand like usual, no doubt, but Bastien didn’t have the time that day. He couldn’t be late to the first day of his last semester! And unfortunately, the lazy couch cuddle session that morning had made it impossible. Bastien opened the door to their apartment, and he looked back toward his best friend who was sitting and flashing that puppy dog face, and Bastien smiled. He felt a warmth in his heart, an energy this dog had brought him that gave new purpose and meaning to his life.

  “I love you, boy,” Bastien said.

  Zook’s ears perked up, his head cocked to the side, and his tongue stuck a little bit out of his mouth.

  As Bastien reluctantly closed and locked the door of their apartment—leaving Zook on the other side pawing at the door—he was hit with a thought. All the time spent at Zook’s side in Texas, through surgery and rehabilitation, through pain and forced adaptation, Bastien had thought he was the one helping Zook.

  He hadn’t realized it was Zook who was helping him all along. That it was he who needed saving.

  Also By BT Urruela

  Solo

  Into the Nothing (Broken Outlaw Series) (Volume 1)

  Thirty Days

  Bishop (A Frat Chronicles Novel)

  Co-Authored

  A Lover's Lament

  Wicked Little Words

  King's Ransom: South Side Sinners MC

  Hush

  About BT Urruela

  BT URRUELA was an infantryman in the US Army from August 2004 until February 2011. At the end of a year long tour to Baghdad, Iraq, his vehicle was hit by two roadside bombs, which took his right leg below the knee and the life of his commander. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds, an Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. He medically retired from the Army in 2011 and moved to Tampa, FL where he currently works as a Vice President and Brand Ambassador for VETSports, a veteran community sports nonprofit he co-founded in 2012. He also conducts motivational speeches, works as a cover and fitness model. He co-wrote the novel 'A Lover's Lament’ with author KL Grayson in 2015. He released his first solo novel, 'Into the Nothing' in June 2016, ‘Wicked Little Words’ with author Stevie J. Cole in October 2016, ‘Alphas & Fairytales: A New Year’s Eve Anthology’ and ‘Into the Blood’ in December 2016, ‘Thirty Days - Part One’ in February 2017 and 'Thirty Days - Part Two in May of 2017. ‘Thirty Days - Part Three’ followed in August of the same year. ‘Bishop’ the short story started out as part of the The Frat Chronicles Anthology with his fellow Romance & Erotica Author Fraternity brothers which released in March 2018. ‘Bishop - a frat chronicles novel’ is a continuation of that short story. July 2019 he released his next co-authored book, King’s Ransom with CD Bradley. He will be releasing a psychological thriller with his fiancée author, Anne Malcom, August 2020 titled, Hush.

  He lives in Tampa with his fiancée, Anne Malcom, his dogs, Kiko and Scout, and is writing full-time.

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  BookBub - bit.ly/BTUrruelaBB

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