Animals BIG and small ( Kasha)

[Josh Stokes]

Josh loved his job, he had been working here in Pinewood for a little over three years, and he never got tired of it. Truth be told, there were times when he wanted to throw in the towel and quit after a hard day, but he would miss it too much. He enjoyed working with the large animals more than the dogs and cats, but he still loved the dogs. It was all the same. He sat in his office and was on the phone with a client about a consult for their pet. His desk was straight, a cup with pens and pencils sat at the top of his desk calendar, and there were several photos on his desk. A large one of him and his mother, a medium sized one of Darby at the park as a puppy, and a smaller one for when he finds the woman of his dreams. That frame was being saved.

When he was done giving the consult, a smile came to his lips and he chuckled, " Well I'm glad I could help you Mrs. O'Brien, let me know if Lola starts getting any yellow discharge coming out. Then you'll know that she is close to giving birth. You have a good day, and let me know if I need to be there," he said and hung up. He rubbed his eyes and sighed, and looked at his calendar. Today he had a horse that was coming in for a tendon surgery, and then several dogs being spayed and neutered. Those were a cake walk to him, but he didn't mind. He drank the rest of the coffee in his mug, grabbed his coat as he got up, and walked out of his office and walked down the stairs to the main clinic area. He went outside to the outside holding stalls and saw a large Thoroughbred gelding that came in for surgery. " Easy boy," he said softly as the horse got a little jumpy.

[Kasha Silva]

Kasha was asked by a client of hers if she could bring their cat to the vet today for a little extra bucks. If it were anyone else she wouldn't of done it but she's had this client for many years so she's decided that it is an acceptable thing to do. Kasha isn't really a cat person at all. Hell all they do is lounge around, you cant take them for walks or anything fun like that by any means. Besides, she got scratched across the face by a cat when she was just a small child. Perhaps thats the main reason for disliking the felines. That would do it.

Kasha lifted the small cat carrier out of the back of her dodge ram. Looking down at her clothes before shutting the back door she questioned if she should of just gone home after to change into her barn clothes since she was already wearing her tan full breeches, black halfchaps with her black ariats, and a grey plain tshirt. She shrugged off looking like an idiot since the vet clinic has bound to of had many people come in such as herself. Besides she is a barn rat since thats what she does. Trains and competes her clients horses, so maybe she just isn't odd.

Walking into the clinic she set the carrier on the floor. The woman at the front desk was nice and the cat Lucy was checked in quickly. They only had to wait a few minutes before being brought into a room. The cat was shaking so bad that the carrier looked as if Kasha was hard core shaking it but that clearly wasn't the case. The door closed behind them and she sat down in one of the chairs. Crossing her legs she set the carrier on the other chair and opened the carrier so Lucy could roam around. The mainecoon cat peaked outside the carrier before going back inside it meowing as if she was being beaten. Kasha shook her head and smiled. Animals were so silly. All Lucy needs is to be caught up on her vacinations but she obviously thought worse was going to happen.

[Josh Stokes]

Josh finished the surgery with little complications, he looked at the tech, and instructed her on what to do, and then signaled to the person sitting on the stool by the machines to take him off of the anesthesia. " Good job team, we were successful today. Now we just need to keep Zeus under observation and monitor his behavior. Shelley, good work," he said and smiled at his intern as he walked out and took off his mask. He went into the scrub room, and watched through the window as they hooked the horse up to a small pulley system that lifted him into his padded stall. He washed his handed, and pulled off his operation coat. Josh walked out of the barn operated room, and got some coffee from the coffee pot in the small break room. This was his second one today, and he twisted his wrist and heard it pop. Whenever he did that it would drive people insane, and it made his laugh at their reactions. Her ran his fingers through his hair and tossed the small cup away.

He made his way around the side of the clinic, and walked in through the front door. Some of the dogs who were waiting there started to wag their tails and barked happily. It was as if Josh was some sort of dog whisperer and they worshiped him. Ha! He scratched a great dane behind his ear and he leaned over the desk and greeted the receptionist. In a thick English accent he said, " Hey Paige, can you hand me those files I set by the phone. Thanks," he said and shot her a smile. He glanced at Kasha and Lucy, and then walked through the door that led to the back rooms.

A few minutes later, the receptionist called for Kasha, " Miss, the doctor is ready to Lucy," she said in a cute southern accent and waved at Lucy who looked so scared. Once Kasha had gone into the room, she didn't have to wait long before the doctor walked in to examine her. " Hey Miss, Lucy. How are you today? Oh, I see how it is. Well I can't give you your vaccines while you're huddled in your kennel," he said peering into the kennel at the cat that hissed at him. He turned to Kasha and said, " Where are my manners? I'm Dr. Stokes. Lucy is one of my usual patients, she doesn't like me very much, especially after I declawed her front paws," he said and looked back at the cat whole still had not left her kennel.

[Kasha Silva]

Kasha had been looking through a few magazines that talked about a variety of vaccines and the importance in getting them and what not until she heard the door open up. Setting them aside she watched the Vet before her. She hadn't seen him before, granted she hadn't actually been inside this vet clinic other than for the usual transporting horses here for a quick Cogins test and she'd only seen a few of the vets and assistants here when they came out to the barn for minor injuries or a whole barn check up. Usually the vets were in their mid thirtys or older. She certainly would remember someone as young and quite frankly as breath takingly handsome as him.

She watched as her spoke to the cat and couldn't help but he had an accent as well. "Its quite alright. I'm Kasha, the Regan's trainer, they went on a trip yesterday to look for another mount after their mare had ruptured a tendon last week. Guess I've dropped down a peg from being trainer to cat driver." Her portuguese accent was thinker in some parts but despite all her years in the states and now here, she will most likely never get rid of her accent. Not like it bothers her but sometimes it can be annoying in having to repeat herself because not a lot of people could understand it.

She watched as Lucy still stayed weary of Dr.Stokes. The cat hissed but she wouldn't attack, most likely because she didn't have her front claws but she had never used her teeth. Lucy is probably the only cat that Kasha felt ok around. If it were any other cat she'd probably be scared crapless. Which is hysterical since she can ride any sized horse whos mentally insane and violent and be perfectly fine with it but when it comes to a cat, she's practically have a panic attack. Kasha watched as he got the cat out. She could easily tell that he had his way with animals, not just because it is his job but he has a natural way with them. hmm handsome and gental. She smiled momenterally to get her mind not only out of the gutter but off the subject.

[Josh Stokes]

Josh listened to her and nodded to hearing about the horse with the ruptured tendon. He didn't sit in on that case, but he knew the doctor who did. " Ah, yes, I remember that horse. One of our vets tended to her. I wish I could've scrubbed in on that surgery, but I was over in the next county helping with a mare who was having labor complications." He had to stop himself and made a cringing look, " Sorry, I'm talking to much about my other clients. I am here to take care of Lucy," he said as he slowly reached his arm into the kennel, and felt Lucy use whatever defense she could. Since she no longer had her claws, she fiercely batted his arm with her paw, but it proved useless as he pulled her out and held her close to him. He scratched her under her chin and patted her chest. " Always a drama queen aren't you Lucy. It's as if the world is coming to an end," he said and chuckled.

He gently set Lucy down on the metal table between Kasha and himself, and watched Lucy. He cleared his throat, and opened her file and jotted down a few notes, and placed his pen back into his coat pocket. " Alright Miss. Lucy, you have some shots today, and also we'll draw some blood to check for heart worms. I'll be right back to get the draw up the vaccines. You just hold tight," he said and shot her a quick smile and left. He came back ten minutes later, and had a petite little intern with her who had her hands nervously in her pockets. Josh closed the door and introduced her, " This is Shelley, my intern. She'll be observing me, and she'll draw Lucy's blood work. If that's okay with you?," he told Kasha.

[Kasha Silva]

She shook her head at Lucy's attempt on breaking free. Kasha watched him leave and just continued flipping through an equine magazine. There was an interesting article about how to get a horse into a headset. Her brows came together in utter disbelief. They were talking about how to lunge your horse with side reins on, basically making the horse constricted in any other head movements that it wanted. It talked about how doing this repetitively would make your horse always know how to keep it there. How could anyone say that? Thats competely against any of her methods. She was taught and continues to use light hands with any horse and whenever she lunges she never uses side reins. She believes if that your presistant about asking your horse for the desidered headset that the horse will learn on its own to keep it there. No animal or person ever learns by being forced into doing anything, only suggestions keep them in line.

The door opened again and she looked up, catching eye contact with the doctor before here. Before he spoke about the intern she watched as the small woman who was still a little taller than Kasha enter. Setting the magazine aside she spoke, "Oh no worries. Whatever you need to do feel free to do it. I'm just her driver. You can even pretend I'm not even here if you'd like." She was never one to get in the way of a professional, least a professional in the medical field since she sure as hell doesn't know much other than keeping injuries wrapped and treated. When it came to anything else it was all in their hands from there on. She watched as they drew blood. She couldn't help but cringe because she herself never likes to get blood drawn, needles weren't really her thing. Just the thought of them could make her queezy. She looked at her watch, the band were small silver d-ring bits, it wasn't even 11 yet. Thus gave her plenty of time to ride the mounts, including her own, later.

[Josh Stokes]

Josh smiled at Kasha and chuckled at her comment, " Now why would I want to do that," he grinned and Shelley nervously stood by him and gave her a small smile and got the needle, and the small collection tube for the blood. Josh calmly instructed Shelley on what to do since she seemed a little nervous about what to do. She just needed the practice, so she would feel confident. Josh gently picked up Lucy, who started to meow like crazy as if to say to Kasha,' save me! Don't let them poke me.' Josh gently stroked her back and held out her arm for the intern. " Now, remember, the best way to approach this is to feel around for a vein in the midleg, remember that cat's veins are slightly smaller than a dog or a horse. So it's tricky. If you mess up, don't worry. Just take your time in finding the vein," he said and gave Shelley a reassuring smile.

The intern took the arm, and gently rubbed her thumb till she was sure she found a vein. She took the needle, and ran it in. The cat jumped in Josh's arm and screamed and hissed. That was not a vein. " Hey Lucy it's okay. Okay, Shelley, you just hit a nerve. Not fun, but give it another try," he said as the cat tried with all her might to get out. The intern went again, and this time found the vein. Success! She let a sigh of relief and smiled. She finished collecting the blood that she needed, and left the room to take it back to the lab. Josh placed Lucy on the table, and the cat gave him the look of death, " Second time's a charm, eh Lucy,"" he joked and patted her back. He looked at Kasha and said, " Hope all of that didn't bother you. Shelley just needs the practice, but I think she's got it now," he said and started to administer the shots into the cat.

[Kasha Silva]

She looked back up at the vet, just realizing that he was speaking to her. She gave a soft smile, "Its fine, I'm not one for needles myself. Guess you could say that I'm a big baby about them." Which is completely and utterly true. Whenever she'd have to have something to do with needles she would have to look away and go to her "happy place" since they would frighten her so. She's not one for admitting her faults but since it is very so common that people and even animals are so frightened of them, she figured it wouldn't be all that embaressing to admit. Even her horse Clue is scared of them. He would act as if someone is attempting to rip out his soul when in all reality the worse that would happen is a little pinch.

She watched him handle Lucy ever so softly, almost as if to be cradling a baby. A grin pulled at her lips as she could see that his calmness seemed to have tranfered over to the cat instantaniously. It's true, someones emotions can and most certainly reflect on any type of beings surrounding them. A few dogs barks could be heard from outside the door, most likely animals just awaiting their turns and being anxious. This must be an interesting place to work at, since you never have the same case or injuries all day long. It would seem like an intense challange, a very stressful job that only a few patient people can handle.

[Josh Stokes]

Josh smiled and looked back down at Lucy, who was really not enjoying this even though Josh was soothing her, so he just put her back into the kennel. He pulled out his pen once more and checked down the list of the vaccines that he gave, and made some extra notes. " Well, Lucy gets the clean bill of health so far. We just need to wait on the results of the blood work. I'm sure Shelley can handle that. She's better at running labs than taking blood. Can't blame her," he said and his pen made a clicking noise and he put it back where it was before. " According to the records shown here, she is due for a teeth cleaning in... a week. I believe the Regan's are aware of this, but just incase here is an appointment card for it with the time and date," he said and handed her the card.

He looked at his watch and cleared his throat, " I will be right back. I'm gonna go and check to make sure that shelley hasn't lost the bloodwork," he said and left the room for a moment. He walked down the hall, and his beeper went off. Must be about Zeus. He quickly dashed off to the barn by taking a detour and went to the barn. Zeus was up and moving around, but his poop was abnormal. " That doesn't look good. Take his temperature, and get a sample to the lab, and some blood work." he said. Rarely has he seen this happen hours after a surgery. He was puzzled and pondered as he made his way back to the lab room, where he found Shelley just now writing the results. A sigh of relief. He took the lab work, and went back to see Kasha. He walked back in, " Now I can say that she has a clean bill of health," he smiled.

[Kasha Silva]

She listened patiently to everything that he had said, "Well I will just remind the Regans, just in case. Wouldn't want to make them miss anything, hell can't have my major clients annoyed." Kasha took the card from him and put it in her pocket. He mentioned something about going to look at the blood results before he left again so she sat there looking at the cat. Lucy seemed to have settle down a bit. She made the assumption that they had just about finished up here so she grabbed Lucy and coaxed her into the carrier before shutting it. She looked at her watch and thought the vet had been taking a little long, but what could she expect, they weren't his only clients he probably just started getting busy.

An old wound in her shoulder began to bother her so she stood up and stretched. Slowly she paced the room and looked at the random posters. A few where just the anatomy of cats, dogs, rabbits, and other common small animals. It must of been extremely hard to memorize and study every little thing about the small and large animals. She was never one for studying, when she was younger she wasn't a procrastinater at school, she actually did pretty well but she just wasn't the type to go to college. She just felt like doing something that came easy for her, well maybe not always exactly easy but something second nature. For her, riding and competing was second nature. To each their own.