“His mucus membranes are pink. That’s a good early sign.” Jess retrieved a stethoscope from a nearby drawer and placed it on the dog’s chest.

Val stroked his face silently as Jess moved the diaphragm across the dog’s body. Concentration sharpened her features, but her hands were light and gentle as she felt his tattered coat and bloodstained limbs. The dog lay still, accepting.

“His lungs are clear.” Jess looped the stethoscope around her neck. “I hear good gut sounds, too, and his heart rate is steady but elevated, as you’d expect from an animal in pain. His pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light.”

“What does that all mean?” Val asked meekly.

“It means that I don’t think he has internal injuries, although Dr. West can tell you for sure. I also don’t see any signs of brain injury.” Jess ran gentle fingers over the dog’s left front leg. “This leg is clearly broken, though.”

“He hasn’t moved his back legs, either,” Val murmured.

Jess’s lips turned down in a grimace of sympathy. “That might not be as bad as it seems. Let’s wait and see what Dr. West says after he takes X-rays.”

Val’s hands tightened in the dog’s thick red fur. “This was my fault, Jess.”

“It was an accident. These things happen,” Jess reassured her. “I know you feel horrible, but it could have happened to anyone.”

Val nodded mutely, then stepped aside when a tall Hispanic man in a white lab coat strode into the room, drying his hands on a paper towel.

“Evening,” he growled to Val. “What’s going on, Jess?”

Val retreated to the waiting room and sat on an uncomfortable chair for what felt like hours. According to her phone, in reality, half an hour later, Jess popped her head around the exam room door.

“Come on inside, Val.” She grinned. “It’s good news.”

Relief washed through Val as she returned to the room. The dog lay very still on the table, breathing rhythmically. An IV ran into a clipped area on his right foreleg. The left foreleg was encased in a white bandage from paw to shoulder.

“We sedated him for the X-rays and the splint,” Jess explained. “Here. You can see that it’s an uncomplicated fracture of the humerus.” She pointed at the computer screen, where a dark line ran across the smooth white bone. “This should heal fine in a few weeks.”

“Okay.” Val ran a hand over the unconscious canine’s fur. “What about his back legs?”

Jess clicked on the screen, and a different X-ray popped up. “He’s broken his pelvis, see? Here and here, but again, these are closed and uncomplicated fractures. He doesn’t need surgery. It should heal well with rest, considering he’s a young dog.”

“He’s young?” Val asked.

“About two years old, judging by his teeth.” Jess turned to her. “Where did you find him?”

“A few blocks from here on the edge of Bed-Stuy. Do you think he belongs to somebody?” Val’s heart twisted at the thought of a worried dog owner searching the streets.

Jess shook her head. “I’m afraid not. He doesn’t have a microchip, and judging by his coat and body condition, he’s been on the streets for a long time. Maybe his whole life.”

“Poor guy.” Val rubbed the back of her neck. “He’s gonna be okay though, right?”

“I think so.” Jess smoothed the dog’s ears. “He’s going to stay with us for a few days, so you can go home. I’ll walk you out.”

Val shuffled to the waiting room and fumbled for the money clip in her pocket. “I’ll pay his bill.”

“Are you sure?” Jess asked. “I can talk to the local animal shelter about that.”

Val shook her head. “I hit him. I’ll pay for him.”

“Thanks, Val. That’ll really help.” Jess went behind the counter and pulled out a card machine.

Val tapped her card and slowly left the veterinary clinic. Her heart felt like a cannonball in her chest.

Val couldn’t believe it was past midnight when she finally drove into the garage at home. She stumbled out of Genevieve, toting a paper bag of takeout, and plodded up the stairs to the apartment. The promising greasy scent made her stomach rumble.

“Should probably eat less takeout,” she muttered. Maybe she’d have time to cook someday, faeries, dogs, and murderous breweries notwithstanding.

She thumped the door with her elbow. “Tetra! Dinner.”

“Finally!” The faerie opened the door.

“Don’t ‘finally’ me. This is your last free meal.” Val shoved past her and dumped the bag on the kitchenette counter. “You’ve got a job now. You can order your own tacos after tomorrow’s paycheck.”

Tetra pulled the taco box from the bag and ravenously bit into one. “How?” she asked with her mouth full. “I don’t have one of those.” She pointed at the outline of Val’s phone in her pocket.

“We’ll get you one after you get your paycheck. Enzo tells me your shift went fine.” Val folded her arms.

“I wouldn’t say ‘fine,’ considering I spent the whole evening carrying drinks for ungrateful drunk people,” Tetra grumbled.

“That’s what bar staff does, girl. Get used to it.” Val turned to the door. “Enzo will pick you up for your shift tomorrow.”

“You’re guarding those dwarves who make the beer?” Tetra asked.

“No. They’re staying home tomorrow since it’s Saturday. I have...plans.” Val stepped over the threshold.

“Val, wait,” Tetra called.

Val paused. The faerie had never used her name. “What?”

Tetra replaced the half-eaten taco in its box. “Can you show me how to use this thing?” She waved the TV’s remote. “If I’m going to be stuck here all day tomorrow, I might as well be entertained.”

Val bristled. “I told you. Figure it out.”

“How?” Tetra demanded. “It’s a stick with numbers on it! How does it make sense? I don’t know what any of this shit means!”

“How hard can it be?” Val barked. “You can press play, pause, and stop, can’t you?”

“I don’t know what those are!” Tetra yelled.

Her shout reverberated through the room with an edge that didn’t sound like anger. Tetra fell silent, clutching the remote, and her defiant mask slipped long enough that Val realized how small she looked standing in the apartment all alone.

She sighed. “Fine. Come on. I’ll show you.”

The faerie handed her the remote and perched on one armrest as Val flopped down on the couch.