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Equus	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2855 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I do own the equines though, please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
“Equus”

Chapter 6

Once Zechs entered his home he headed straight for the 'phone and dialed a number he knew by heart.

“Khushrenada stables, Treize speaking.”

“Treize, it's Zechs.”

“Zechs! It's lovely to hear from you. I take it you have some news for me?”

Zechs couldn't keep the excitement from his voice. “I've just come back from the interview with Duo.”

“And?” Treize held his breath.

“I start two weeks on Monday.”

“Zechs! That's fantastic news, I'm so happy for you.”

“I must admit, it's a relief to me too.” Zechs went on to explain all that occurred during the interview and finishing up with how happy he was that he would at least be working more reasonable hours again and get to spend some time with his boyfriend.

“When do you plan on letting Anderson know?” Treize asked.

“I'll write out my letter of resignation tonight and give it to him first thing tomorrow morning. I plan on giving him two weeks notice which means I'll finish up in a fortnight's time. Duo kindly told me to enjoy the weekend off and start work there on the Monday.”

“That sounds good to me. Zechs, I'd like to take you out to celebrate. If you're not busy tomorrow evening, can I take you to dinner?”

“I'd like that, Treize.”

The pair continued to talk for a while before Zechs said he really had to get going if he wanted to write out his letter of resignation and still get to bed at a reasonable hour. With Treize promising to pick him up the following evening at seven-thirty, Zechs said his goodbyes and hung up the phone, the smile on his face wider than it had been for some time.

* * *

Duo broke the news to Hilde the following morning, the female vet just as happy and excited as Duo was to have Zechs joining their ranks. Catherine was already pretty certain Zechs would be the practices' third vet after the previous evening, but she'd promised Duo she wouldn't say a word to Hilde and she'd kept that promise.

With the addition of Zechs, the other two vets would now be able to enjoy a little more time off, Duo letting Hilde know that once Zechs joined them he wanted to call a full staff meeting so they could discuss and work out the new roster system. Everyone was happy with that and the morning's work got underway.

Heero arrived at Treize's for work at his usual time and was pleased to see his boss in much better spirits. Treize thanked Heero again for his role in Zechs getting the job at the Maxwell practice, Heero shrugging the thanks off and telling Treize that Zechs had gotten the job on his own merits.

With the discussion over, the two moved on to working the horses Treize had in his stable.

* * *

It was with mixed feelings that Zechs arrived for work at Oakford on the Friday morning. He'd sat up for quite a while the previous night writing out his letter of resignation; he hadn't thought it would be as hard as it had. Not that he was regretting his decision to move on and leave Oakford, no, it was more the trying to find the right words to put on paper. He wanted to let Anderson know that whilst he'd enjoyed working at the practice, lately the pleasure had gone and he found he could no longer work the hours demanded of him. Eventually he'd managed to put the words down and before he could change his mind, he'd put the letter into an envelope and sealed it up.

Walking into the office at Oakford, Zechs spied Sarah, one of the vet nurses behind the desk and walked over to her. “Morning, Sarah.”

“Good morning, Doctor Merquise,” Sarah replied with a smile. “You're looking a lot happier this morning than I've seen you look lately.”

Zechs blushed a little. “Yeah, well, there's a reason for that. Is Doctor Anderson around?”

“He's consulting at the moment, a horse with an abscess I think. He shouldn't be too much longer though. Did you need to see him now or can it wait until later? I've got your list of appointments for today and it's quite extensive,” Sarah said and handed over a piece of paper.

Taking the paper, Zechs studied it and felt the anger starting to rise again. Judging by the number of appointments listed he wouldn't be finished until eight at the earliest. He gave a low growl. Dammit! He had a date with his boyfriend at seven-thirty and Zechs was damned if he was going to miss out again.

“Doctor Merquise? Are you okay?”

Zechs turned to look at the vet nurse who was regarding him with worried eyes. “Did Anderson write this list up?” he asked.

“Yes, but...”

“Then he can damn well change it. I have another appointment at seven-thirty that cannot be canceled. I will be finishing my appointments at six-thirty today whether he likes it or not,” Zechs stormed.

“I see.” Sarah shrank back in her seat a little, the outburst from the normally charming vet being most unusual.

“I'm sorry, Sarah, I didn't mean to take it out on you,” Zechs apologized.

“Errr, that's okay.”

“Look, I'll wait around until he's finished, I really need to speak to him on another matter of importance, I can get him to change this list as well.”

“Okay then.”

Zechs turned and after consulting the list went through to the drug store to fetch what he would need for the consults he had. He loaded everything into his car, double checking before going back inside the equine hospital. He took a look through into the consulting area and noted that Anderson was just finishing up with the client. As the other vet came through to the office, Zechs greeted him.

“Morning, Doctor Anderson.”

Anderson frowned when he spotted Zechs standing there. “Morning Merquise. You should be out on consults by now, were you late?”

“No, I wasn't late and I've just finished stocking my car for the list you gave me. I need to talk to you about that list-”

“Not now, Merquise. You have your work for the day and I suggest you stop dilly dallying around and get started. I need to give this client their bill and move on with my own consults.” Anderson made to push past Zechs, but Zechs stood firm.

“I'm sorry Doctor Anderson, but I really need to talk to you on a matter of some urgency as well as the list.”

“Fine! Let me finish with my patient first.” Anderson stormed past, Zechs moving to the side to let him but not leaving the immediate area. The letter in his pocket seemed to burn against his skin, but Anderson's attitude only made Zechs firm in his resolve to quit.

Another ten minutes passed before Anderson was finished and returned to the office. “I have five minutes, Merquise. What is it that has you demanding my attention? If you're going to complain about your vacation time again, like I told you before, we are flat out right now and I can't afford to have anyone taking time off.”

Swallowing his anger, Zechs reached into his pocket and grasped the list. “Firstly, this list of consults you've given me for today, I don't think I'm going to get through it all. I have an appointment at seven-thirty that cannot be canceled. I will be leaving work at six-thirty regardless of whether the consults are finished or not.”

Anderson looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. “Do I need to remind you that when you accepted the position here at this practice you were fully aware that you would have a list of consults each day and that sometimes those consults run over time. You were also made aware at the time of your employment that this job does not run at a nine to five schedule. There are times when you will be required to work back and sometimes work late.”

“I am well aware of that and I accepted that at the time of my employment, however,” Zechs swallowed and narrowed his eyes. “However, I was not informed and neither is it a part of my employment contract that I be required to work seven days a week, or to be working twelve, sometimes fourteen hour shifts, often without a break. Neither was I told I would not be able to take vacation time owing to me when I want or need it.”

“Merquise, suck it up. We're all putting in long hours here.”

“Then you really need to look at putting on another vet.”

“I can't afford to employ another vet!”

“With the way we're snowed under with clients it seems to me you'd be making more than enough to employ another two vets,” Zechs shot back.

“Merquise,” Anderson growled. “I'm warning you. You'll get your vacation time if and when I say so, as for your list of consults, you'd better have them all completed before you finish up for the day.”

“Or what?” Zechs snapped. “You'll fire me?”

The two vets stared each other down before Anderson broke the moment. “You're wasting time, get out there and get moving. I expect all consults completed, failure to do so and you will leave me with no option but to give you a written warning.”

“Don't bother, I'll save you the trouble.” Zechs pulled the envelope from his pocket and handed it over. “That is my resignation, Doctor Anderson. I think you will find it all correct and well within the parameters set down by the Veterinary board in relation to resignations. I am giving you the mandatory two weeks notice, effective from today. I will be finishing up in two weeks time.” Zechs spun on his heel and walked quickly from the office. He noted the shocked look on Sarah's face as he walked out of the building. Obviously the vet nurse had heard the entire conversation, but Zechs was in no mood to talk right now. The look of thunder followed by disbelief on Anderson's face as he'd said his piece and handed the vet the letter was something Zechs wanted to savor for a little while.

Reaching his car, he got in and drove to the first of his consults for the day, still determined that he would be finishing at six-thirty for his date with Treize regardless of whether he'd finished the list or not.

* * *

“Hi honey, I'm home,” Heero whispered into Duo's ear. Heero had finished a little earlier than normal. The horses had all been worked and Treize explained he was taking Zechs out for dinner to celebrate that night and had let Heero leave early. He'd come home and walked into a silent house. Padding through to the lounge room, he was surprised not to find Duo there. A further search of the house located his missing lover, curled up fast asleep on their bed.

Duo had been called out during the night to assist a dog that was having trouble giving birth. After checking the dog and determining that the only way to deliver the pups would be with a cesarean section, he'd called Hilde and brought the dog back to the surgery to operate. With his wrist still bandaged and it being another week before he would be able to use it properly again, he'd had no choice but to wake the other vet.

Hilde had met him at the surgery and the pair had operated. The end result was four healthy pups and a very proud mother, not to mention grateful owner. By the time Duo had made it back to bed it was four in the morning - and he was rostered on for morning consults.

Seemed his lover was grabbing a much needed nap while he could.

Heero snuck onto the bed and nuzzled Duo's neck, his sleepy lover slowly wakening. “Hard day?” Heero whispered as he pressed a kiss to the nape of Duo's neck.

“Busy. What time is it?” Duo yawned and stretched, turning over and stealing a kiss.

“It's a little after two. Treize let me finish up early.”

“Mmm. I could do with a bit more sleep,” Duo mumbled, his eyes closing and body wrapping around Heero's.

“And I'd love to stay here with you, but I can't.”

“Why not?” Duo asked, his voice a little muffled as his face was currently pressed against Heero's chest. “I like my huggy toy.”

Heero chuckled. “I need to go into Salsbury and do some grocery shopping. In case you'd forgotten, we have Zoe and Michael coming on Sunday and the pantry is looking a little bare.”

“Oh, yeah. I had forgotten.” Duo rolled over to his back, releasing Heero. He scrubbed at his tired eyes and yawned again. “Just gimme a minute and I'll come with you.”

“Duo, you don't have to. You can stay here and sleep some more, I'm quite capable of grocery shopping by myself.”

“I know you are, but if I don't come along all you'll get is that healthy shit. You need someone to add in the snacks and stuff, you know, turn it all into a balanced diet.”

Heero's eyebrows raised. “I do not just buy all healthy shit! I buy meat, vegetables, fruit, bread-”

“Exactly. All healthy shit. A man need a touch of the wild now and again, Heero. What's wrong with good old pizza, some fries, hotdogs or hamburgers? You need to learn to live dangerously, where's your sense of adventure?”

“I think it's about to be found,” came the dry reply.

Duo snickered. “Come on, I'll teach you how to shop.”

Heero gave a long suffering sigh but allowed himself to be pulled from the bedroom.

*

“I think that should be enough,” Duo stated as he looked at their laden trolley

Heero looked a little more skeptical. Whilst he'd managed to get the meat, vegetables and other 'healthy' things into their trolley, he also noted quite a few other items had somehow 'found' their way in there as well. “I guess we should head for the checkout, it's getting late and I still have the horses to bring in and feed.”

“Lead on, Heero.” Duo gave his partner a smirk and grabbing the trolley, nudged his boyfriend in the back of the legs.

Taking the hint, Heero shook his head and aimed for the checkout.

The girl behind the register scanned their purchases as Duo unloaded them, bagging them as she went and passing the filled bags to Heero to load up in another trolley. As she scanned the products, she flirted outrageously with Duo. The vet did his best to dissuade the woman, but it didn't have any effect, she continued with her forwardness.

Heero couldn't help but glare at the woman from time to time, the green monster rising in his chest. Oh, Heero knew Duo wasn't interested in the woman, but he couldn't help being annoyed with her for pushing herself at his lover. In the end, Heero couldn't take it any longer. “I'll be right back,” he said to his partner and took off back into the store.

Duo was left a little bewildered and miffed that Heero would leave him at the mercy of this 'vulture', but he was soon snickering to himself when Heero returned.

Strolling back to the checkout, Heero noted the young woman was just scanning the last couple of items. Duo looked harassed and relieved to see him return. With an evil smirk, Heero strolled up and waved something under Duo's nose. “I forgot this,” he said and placed the tube of lubricant down for the girl to scan. “We're almost out,” he added with a lick of his lips. Locking his eyes with Duo's he gave a wink and moved back to packing the last of the bags into the trolley.

The girl seemed to get all flustered as she picked up the lubricant and scanned it. Her eyes kept darting from Heero to Duo and back again. It was clear she was having trouble coming to terms with what she thought had been hinted at.

It did stop her from flirting further with Duo though.

Having scanned everything through, Duo handed over the cash and doing his best not to blush red to the roots of his hair, he turned to follow Heero and the trolley out of the supermarket.

Heero maneuvered the trolley around and glanced back at the checkout girl. She was watching the pair of them. Feeling even more daring, Heero let one hand slip from the trolley and brush lightly over Duo's rear, adding a smirk and mouthing 'mine' as he turned back to continue walking out.

The girl covered her mouth and turned back to her next customer.

“Heero! I don't believe you did that!” Duo scolded as they reached Henrietta and began to put the bags of groceries in the trunk.

“It stopped her from flirting with you,” Heero smirked.

“I know it did, but there were other ways you could have stopped her!”

“Next time I'll just grab hold of you and kiss you senseless in the store, shall I?”

“Heero!”

“Mine,” Heero growled and with a glance around, he snuck in and stole a brief kiss.

“Come on, time to hit the road before we get arrested or something,” Duo muttered, but his eyes held a spark to them.

* * *

Zechs worked flat out to try and get through all the consults on his list, snatching a bite of lunch as he drove from one appointment to the next. Luck was on his side and several of the appointments were simple cases and easy to treat. He took a quick glance at his watch, the time reading five-forty five. He had one consult left to attend and the list would be complete.

Pulling into the yard of the address, he spotted a young woman coming out of a barn type stable towards him. He cut the engine and got out. “Miss. Stanhope?”

“You must be the vet,” the woman replied and shook Zechs' hand.

“Yes, yes I am. Doctor Merquise from Oakford, I believe you have a horse that requires stitches removing?”

“That's right. He's inside the stable. I've just fed them all so he shouldn’t be any trouble.”

“Good. I'll just get my bag.” Zechs reached back into the car and pulled his bag out. Inside were his basic tools of the trade, everything else he might need locked safely in the trunk.

“This way.” Miss. Stanhope led the way into the barn and stopped at one of the eight stable doors. “He's in here.”

Zechs took a look over the stable door and swallowed. The horse stood around seventeen hands and was of a very solid build. There was a bandage around the off hind cannon bone, a hind leg that was well muscled with a dinner plate sized hoof attached. 'I hope he's quiet,' was all Zechs could think. If he wasn't, it could become very interesting very quickly.

“He's rather large, isn't he?” Zechs said.

The woman laughed. “Yes, he is. He's a Thoroughbred Clydesdale cross, built like a barn and has the stamina to go all day. I bought him to train up as an eventer and he's doing very well so far. At least he was until he hit one of the last fences in the cross country phase at the Brambley One Day Event just over a week ago,” replied Miss. Stanhope as she opened the stable door and stepped inside.

“Hopefully the damage wasn't too bad and he will be okay again.”

“He was lucky. The cut wasn't too deep, but it was long and really needed stitching. Doctor Alves did a good job in stitching him up for me and he was of the opinion that Hugo would be back out and competing again in another six weeks.”

“Hugo?”

“Yeah, that's the name of this big lump.” The woman pulled on the horse's ears affectionately. “If you're ready to remove the stitches, I'll just grab a lead rope and hold onto him for you.”

Zechs swallowed. “Okay.” He rummaged around in his bag and came up with the thin nosed scissors and tweezers he would need to remove the stitches.

“Don't worry, he'll be perfectly fine, Doctor Merquise.”

“Thank you.” Zechs still wasn't all that sure and would have preferred to have had the horse in a crush, but there wasn't one available so he was on his own. Moving forward slowly, he placed his hand on the gelding's rump first to let the animal know he was there. The horse ignored him, preferring to keep his nose buried in his feed bin. Gently running his hand down over the gaskin and hock, Zechs reached the top of the bandage. Hugo never moved.

The scissors soon took care of the Elastoplast securing the bandage and Zechs began to unravel it. The bandage came away easily along with the gauze to reveal a neat row of seven stitches. The wound was a healthy pink color, the skin having knitted back nicely. “It's looking very good,” Zechs told the woman.

“That's good. I have been changing the bandage every second day and washing the area with betadine as Doctor Alves instructed.”

“It shows too. The wound has healed up perfectly and I don't think you will have much in the way of a scar there either,” Zechs commented.

“Thank you.”

With his attention fixed firmly on the row of stitches, Zechs began to lift them one at a time with the tweezers and snip, pulling the now cut stitch away. Reaching the final one he stood up, taking one last look at the leg and noting that the horse hadn't moved a muscle in all the time he'd been working on him. He smiled and gave the horse a few pats. “All done and he was a very well behaved boy.”

“Despite his size, he's a big softie,” the woman smiled.

“I wish all our patients were as easy to treat as he is,” Zechs sighed.

“I can imagine you must have some rather hairy times and a few good stories to tell.”

“You could say that,” Zechs smiled. “Now, keep an eye on the wound but leave it open to the air, it needs to start to dry out a bit. Continue to wash it with the betadine solution for another couple of days, then every second day for a week. After that it should be fine and require no further treatment. “Do you still have antibiotics left?”

“Yes. I've got another couple of days worth of injections to go before the course is finished.”

“Make sure he has the rest then and finish the course. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way.”

“Thank you, Doctor Merquise.”

“It's my pleasure.” Zechs picked up his bag and placed the tweezers and scissors inside a paper bag and then back into the bag so they could be sterilized later. He walked quickly out to his car and dropped the bag to the passenger seat. “Oakford will send out the account at the end of the month.”

“Thanks.” Miss Stanhope waved as Zechs drove off.

Another glance at his watch and Zechs couldn't help the smug smirk. It was six-fifteen and he'd finished. By rights he should drop back to the surgery and report in regarding his cases for the day so they could be logged into the computer and the patients' files brought up to date, but after his words with Anderson that morning, Zechs didn't feel like another confrontation. No, he'd head back home and get ready for his date with Treize. Anderson could wait until tomorrow morning for the list.

* * *

Treize's eyes lit up when they caught sight of Zechs. “You look so handsome,” he complimented when Zechs opened the door to his knock.

Zechs blushed. “Thank you, so do you,” he replied and added a lick to his lips at the sight of Treize. The man was so regal looking in his black slacks, blue button up shirt and gray jacket.

It was Treize's turn to blush. “Come on, I have reservations at the Fountain for eight o'clock.”

“The Fountain?” Zechs asked as he stepped outside and locked the door, following Treize to the car and getting in.

“It's a new restaurant that's opened up on the outskirts of Salsbury. I've heard good things about it so I thought we would try it out,” Treize informed as he drove them into the night.

“I look forward to it.”

*

“Now that was a meal to remember,” Zechs said as he reclined back in his seat and patted his full stomach.

“Yes, most delicious and satisfying,” Treize stated. “Would you care for coffee and dessert?”

“Coffee, yes, but I think I'll pass on the dessert, I couldn't fit another bite in.”

Treize ordered their coffees and as they sipped on the hot beverage, Zechs gave Treize the full run down on what had transpired at Oakford that day. “I really wish I'd had a camera, the look on Anderson's face was priceless,” Zechs said as he recalled the look of anger that had suddenly turned to one of disbelief.

Treize chuckled. “I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall. Did he accept your resignation?”

“I really didn't hang around long enough to find out. I just handed over the letter and walked out. I haven't been back to the surgery all day, I didn't even call in once I'd finished the list of consults to drop the paperwork off. Personally, I don’t give a damn what he thinks, whether he accepts the resignation or not, I've handed in my notice and as far as I'm concerned that's it. I will be finishing up in two weeks time and Anderson will just have to suck it up as he likes to say.”

“I hope for your sake he doesn't take it out on you for the last two weeks, you know, give you impossibly long lists of consults to complete, work you even harder,” Treize said.

“I'd like to see him try. No, Treize, I'll be working to time regardless of what he gives me to do. If I'm not finished the list by knockoff time then too bad; whatever is left will have to wait until the next day. If Anderson doesn't like it, too bad.”

“The sooner you're working for Duo, the better I think.”

“Yeah, me too. I'm really looking forward to working with Duo and Hilde. He has a good practice there, nice client base and both of them are skilled vets. It will be a pleasure again to go to work.” Zechs smiled and finished his coffee.

“At least we will be able to spend a lot more time together,” Treize said softly.

“Amen to that. I've really missed you, Treize.”

“I've missed you too, Zechs. If you're finished, how about I get the bill and we go back to my place so I can show you how much I've missed you?”

“I'd really like that, Treize.”

“Then let's get going.” Treize paid the bill and the pair left to go back to Treize's where the rider proceeded to give Zechs a night he wouldn't forget any time soon.

~ * ~

tbc...
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Equus