(no subject)

[itwillbeokay]

With the weather warmer lately, playing outside with Bailey was a given. The park was full of spots she could just let the little dog run free around, especially now that she knew that she had to stay close. It was a little while after school that she was outside with her, just off one of the major pathways through the park. She'd been throwing her ball for her, and for the most part, it'd been a nice afternoon.

And then it suddenly got bad.

She didn't know what happened at first. Bailey was fine, and then suddenly she let out a big yelp and stopped chasing after her ball. By the time Clementine got over, she was favoring her front left paw. Clementine sat down and gently scooped the small dog into her lap, and at that point she saw what the problem was.

The glass shard was small, but definitely stuck in her paw, a little blood oozing out of the wound. She bit her lip as she tried to take it out, but Bailey was having none of that.

"Bailey, no, stop squirming okay?" she asked with a frown, the dog letting out a little yelp again. She stopped trying then, knowing she couldn't keep her still and get it out at the same time. She heard someone walking down the path nearby, and she looked up. She didn't know her, but she was the only one she could see that might be able to help her. "Can you help me? My dog's hurt."

Comments

[drownondryland]

Meredith doesn't expect anyone to talk to her, and it takes her a moment to notice that's what the girl is doing. It takes another moment to process the request, but she's already walking over as she does so.

"Yeah, I can try," she says, crouching down beside the girl and her dog. She's got more than a slight soft spot for dogs as it is, confused though she stil is at times by the presence of her own once-dead mutt. "What happened?"

[itwillbeokay]

Clementine hadn't been sure she'd even stop. The look of relief on her face when she did was obvious, even as she continued to have to concentrate to keep her dog from escaping her arms.

"There's some glass in her paw," she said, gently taking the paw so it was still long enough for her to see. "I was trying to get it out but she keeps moving."

[drownondryland]

"Oh," Meredith says, wincing. She reaches out to stroke the poor dog's fur as she leans down to get a better look at the wounded paw. "Poor thing." No wonder the dog can't stop moving. It has to hurt pretty badly. It's just good it's prevented the kid from trying it herself and potentially getting all cut up.

"Well, you know what? It just so happens that I'm a doctor. So I will get her all fixed up in no time, alright? What's your name?"

[itwillbeokay]

Clementine couldn't believe her luck. She had hoped to at least have someone who could help her, but a real doctor would definitely know what to do besides get it out. Bailey seemed to still be pretty agitated by the whole thing, and she didn't blame her one bit. It must hurt a lot.

"Clementine," she replied, gently petting her free hand through her dog's fur to try to calm her down. "And this is Bailey. Is she going to be okay?"

[drownondryland]

"Bailey's gonna be just fine," Meredith says, nodding. "Now, we're gonna need to grab a couple things so I can get her all taken care of. If I run and get them, can you stay right here and wait?" She's definitely going to want some kind of rubbing alcohol to disinfect the wound after the fact, and she doesn't want to risk trying to extract the glass with her bare hands. There's a drug store pretty nearby, though, and they're things she would need around the house anyway. Besides, she knows how badly someone can want to help her dog. "You're gonna be my helper, Clementine, and just keep comforting her, alright?"

[itwillbeokay]

"Okay," Clementine replied, though she was sounding a little distressed herself at that point. She didn't like seeing Bailey in pain at all, and it felt a little like her fault for not checking the area before they started to play. She held the puppy closer to her and nodded up at Meredith. "We'll be right here."

[drownondryland]

"I'll be right back," Meredith says, as gentle and serious as she can be. "Fast as I can, I promise." She reaches out to pet Bailey again, giving Clementine a smile. She doesn't want the girl to worry anymore than she has to. Getting to her feet, she hurries away, glancing back over her shoulder as she goes.

It isn't far at all to the drug store, and, in the middle of the day with most people still at work, the lines are short. It doesn't take very long for her to assemble gauze bandages, rubbing alcohol, tweezers, and other things she'll need, most of them located near to each other, and she returns to the park as quick as she can. "Hey," she says, trying to catch her breath as she sinks back to the ground. "How are you two holding up?"

[itwillbeokay]

Eventually Bailey stopped struggling as much. She seemed to understand every time she moved it hurt her, and by the time Meredith got back she was still in her arms. Clementine kept petting her fur softly, and she at least seemed comforted by that.

"I think it really hurts her," she said, looking up at Meredith. She was glad she really didn't take long. "But she isn't fighting so much anymore."

[drownondryland]

"Good," Meredith says, "that's good." It's going to make this a lot easier on all of them. Looking at the two of them makes her chest tight. She almost wants to reach out and hug Clementine. "It's going to be okay, I promise. Quick and easy."

She keeps her voice soft as she assembles her purchases, pulling on a pair of rubber gloves. Hopefully her tone will help sooth both the dog and the child. Pulling out the tweezers, she holds Bailey's paw in one hand, carefully working to get a good grip on the piece of glass. Steadying her breathing, she yanks it out as quickly and evenly as she can, setting those aside to reach for the rubbing alcohol and cotton pads so she can clean the cut.

[itwillbeokay]

Bailey didn't like what Meredith was doing at all. Clementine's grip tightened a little on the puppy as she did what she needed to do to help her. It hurt to hear her yelp out like she did.

"It's okay Bailey, it's okay," she promised, looking up at Meredith to make sure she was right in saying that. If she looked worried, Clementine would worry too. "Did you get it all out?"

[drownondryland]

Meredith peers closely at the dog's paw, humming soft reassurances. With the paw cleaner, she can get a better look at whether or not there's any glass remaining, and she sighs in relief as she does so. "I did," she says. She grabs a bandage and wraps it quickly over Bailey's paw, hoping it stays. She's never had any veterinary training — practiced on animals, yes, but not when it comes to bandaging.

"That should be all better. Good girl, Bailey. You're such a good dog. And you..." She looks up at Clementine as she removes her gloves, smiling. "You were so good with her, thank you."

[itwillbeokay]

Clementine waited until she got the 'okay' that she was all done to relax. Bailey wagged her tail happily at the praise, and Clem herself smiled shyly at the compliment. She sat up so she was on her knees, gently putting Bailey on the ground again. The dog still seemed to hobble as she went immediately to Meredith to start sniffing her, but it was a lot better than the pain she was in before.

"I think she's saying thank you," she said, trying not to giggle as she watched them.

[drownondryland]

Meredith smiles, chuckling as she reaches out to ruffle Bailey's fur. "Well, you're very welcome," she tells the little dog warmly. She hopes that the pain on that paw won't be too bad. With any luck, her bandaging was effective and Clementine will be able to keep the cut covered until it's healed some. "It was an interesting break from bandaging up people."