the rescue
Ruby pushed her earbuds into her ears as she left the apartment building. She tucked the case into her jacket pocket and readjusted the bag straps on her shoulder before setting off down the sidewalk towards work.
She always had her music loud enough that it blocked out the sounds of the city around her, but she was very observant of her surroundings and what was going on around her. She liked to people watch, but she was also paranoid. It was because of this that she noticed a kid with a backpack on his hands and knees by the curb, looking at something under a parked SUV.
She slowed her speed to watch the kid for a moment. His backpack slid up his back as he nearly touched his face to the pavement. He reached a hand under the car slowly, his palm up, and that really piqued her attention. An animal?
She approached the boy, taking out an earbud and placing it in her pocket, automatically pausing the music.
"Hi," Ruby said softly, coming to a halt a couple feet away from where he crouched. "Is there something under there?"
He withdrew his hand and leaned back into a squat to look up at her. "There's a dog under there, I think he's hurt."
"Oh." Ruby's eyebrows cinched closer together. She immediately dropped to the ground as well, and joined him in peering under the car.
Peering back at them was a little tan terrier. His scruffy coat looked neglected, but his brown eyes shone bright. He was laying behind the shelter of a tire, and though he was laying with his chin covering his front legs, she could see a little bit of blood on the feet that poked out.
She frowned. "Do you know who he belongs to?"
The boy shrugged. "I just saw him while I was walking home from school. I've been trying to get him to come out."
Ruby's heart squeezed. The dog look terrified, and he was probably in pain. She reached a hand forward slowly, and the dog sniffed it cautiously before giving it a few frantic licks. It was as if he wanted help, but was too nervous to accept it.
"Okay," she said, withdrawing her hand. "I have an idea. I live just over there, and I need to grab something. Can you wait here and keep an eye on him for me?" She gave the kid a very solemn look, like she was asking for his help with a top secret mission. His eyes grew big and he quickly nodded his head, accepting the responsibility.
Ruby was on her feet within seconds, and half-walked, half-ran back toward her apartment. She tapped her feet impatiently in the elevator as it slowly climbed the floors. She fumbled with her keys as she made it to her door. A towel, and something to tempt the dog out from under the car with.
She snatched a clean towel from the bathroom, and grabbed one of the little cat treats that she fed to the strays in the alley. It was chicken puree in a little tube, and she hoped it would smell tasty enough to lure the dog out of his hiding place.
When she yanked her door open again, she nearly collided with Pete.
She let out a startled breath, then tucked the bundle under her arm and turned around to shut and lock her door.
Pete raised his eyebrow, taking in her flushed face, heaving breaths, and the towel under her arm. "You good?"
"Yeah, I just--" she paused to tuck her keys back into her tote bag, then turned her doorknob twice to make sure it was locked. "There's a hurt dog under a car outside. I gotta get him out."
Pete's gaze flicked past her toward the street. He shifted his weight. "You need help?"
She hesitated. Normally she would say no, but it could be hard to capture a scared dog. She could use his help making sure they covered all the dog's possible escape routes. "Yeah, actually. I'd appreciate that."
Pete nodded, falling into step beside her and pushing the button to call the elevator. They rode it in silence, aside from Ruby's foot tapping impatiently. They exited the building and she guided him the short distance up the street to the boy sitting on the ground by the SUV. The dog hadn't moved.
"Alright, here we go buddy," Ruby said, kneeling again and opening the treat, towel in her lap. She held it out to the dog slowly. "You hungry?"
The dog sniffed the treat but didn't move. He licked his lips and wagged his tail, but put his ears back and whined. Pete crouched beside her, assessing the situation.
"Probably scared outta his mind. It's a busy street."
"I know," Ruby said. "There's way too much going on for him, poor guy."
Pete watched her for a moment before shifting forward slightly. His presence alone seemed to steady the moment, and she found herself appreciating his offer to quietly take shared responsibility of the situation. "Here," he said, taking the towel from her lap. "When he comes out, I'll get him."
Ruby looked at him. He met her eyes, and something about the way he said it-- calm, sure-- made her nod. She wouldn't have trusted just anyone to pick up an injured and distressed animal.
They all sat in silence for several minutes, aside from Ruby's occasional soft coaxing, trying to pretend the streets weren't filled with cars and passersby. Finally, after what felt like forever to Ruby, the dog began crawling forward. She praised him gently, encouraging him to come closer, pulling the treat away from him and nearer to her.
After a few tense moments, the dog inched forward just enough for Pete to act. He moved fast but gentle, scooping up the little dog up and wrapping the towel around him before he had time to panic and wriggle too much.
"He got him!" The boy exclaimed in a stage whisper, understanding the near-reverence they used with the animal.
Ruby reached out her hand to the dog once more, letting him sniff her before giving him a few scratches on the top of his head. "Hi buddy, it's alright. You're gonna be okay now, huh?" She looked up at Pete, who held the moving bundle securely against his chest with a practiced ease. "Thank you."
Pete gave her a small nod. "Of course. Where to?"
She exhaled, glancing down the street. "Just a couple blocks. I work at the vet hospital."
His brow ticked up, like he was hearing information that stood out to him. He shifted the dog carefully in his arms. "Lead the way."
Ruby smiled softly at him-- the one that made her ears shift back just a little, and her eyes crinkle at the edges-- then turned to the boy. "Thank you so much for your help-- you really made a difference to this pup here. We're gonna take him to get all fixed up now."
He smiled widely at her. "I'm glad, I was worried about him. My mom won't let me bring home any animals."
Ruby sucked her teeth at that. "My mom was the same way. It's no fun. But don't worry, we'll see if he doesn't have owners already, and if not, he'll be able to get put up for adoption. He'll find a home, he's awfully cute."
The boy nodded, then pulled the straps of his backpack together across his chest to clasp his fingers together. "Good. I hope he finds a good home." He started walking backwards away from Ruby and Pete and waved. "Bye, dude. Good luck finding a family!"
Ruby waved at his retreating form, then turned to Pete, looking up at him expectedly before leading the way up the street.
The walk to her work was a quiet one, not out of awkwardness but because Ruby didn't have anything she needed to say. Pete followed wordlessly, his large hands snugly holding the small dog to his warm body.
When they arrived at the front doors of the hospital, she turned to him. "I can take him from here. I'll go straight to the back with him." He nodded, and silently handed the dog over, careful to keep the towel wrapped securely around him. "Thank you, Pete, you're the best. I owe you."
He frowned and shook his head. "Nah, you don't owe me a thing. That's what neighbors are for, yeah?"
"One of these days I'll find some way to help you-- since you're always the one helping me."
He continued shaking his head. "Don't worry 'bout me. I'm just happy to be useful."
She pursed her lips. She wanted to argue with him on this, but this was not the time. "You've been incredibly helpful. I mean it." She paused briefly, then continued. "I'll see you back at the apartment?"
"I'll see ya' round, Ruby." He nodded a farewell, and Ruby smiled and returned it. They parted ways, and not for the first time, she found herself wishing the interaction had lasted just a little bit longer. She was happy to get any excuse with him she could get.
As she carried the dog towards the door that led to the medical exam area, she looked down at the little animal in her arms. She hoped it would be sufficient enough explanation as to why she was several minutes late to her shift.
Ruby sat on the floor in the hallway, her back pressed against her door and her legs crossed in front of her. She had gotten home from work 15 minutes ago, but only got as far as her front door. The stupid thing was stuck, again.
Her eyes were still closed when she heard the steady tread of boots coming up the stairs. The door to the stairs opened. She wasn't sure why her chest tightened, already guessing who it was before the low, familiar voice confirmed it.
"Again?" Pete's tone was as dry as ever, but there was something just shy of teasing in the single word.
Ruby's eyes fluttered open to see him standing a few feet away, his hands in his jacket pockets and a slight tilt to his head as he took in her defeated posture. She huffed, half-laughing, half-sighing.
"It's not like I planned this," she said, gesturing vaguely toward the door with one hand. "I think it hates me."
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he walked closer and crouched slightly, offering her his hand. Ruby hesitated for a moment, then slipped her smaller hand into his, letting him pull her to her feet like it was nothing.
"You gotta let me look at this door soon," he said, jerking his chin toward it as she dusted herself off. "See if I can't fix it for you."
She blinked at him, surprised by the offer. "You don't have to do that," she said quickly, though her tone lacked any real conviction.
Pete just raised an eyebrow at her. "Not much of a choice if I keep finding you sitting on the floor like this."
Ruby blinked back at him, not able to find a good reply. She watched as he stepped past her, grabbing the key and the dangling keychain, still in the lock, where she had left it hanging in defeat.
It only took a few seconds before the lock clicked, and he pushed the door open for her.
"There," he said, stepping back so she could pass. "But you let me know when you've got some time. I'll take care of it so this doesn't happen again."
Ruby lingered in the doorway for a moment, her fingers brushing against the frame as she glanced back at him. "Thanks, Pete."
He nodded, already turning to head to his own apartment. "Don't mention it."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving her to step inside with the faintest warmth lingering in her chest.