Todd filled out the paperwork, and took a seat in waiting room. Chad did his best to cover up his nakedness by lying flat on the floor. His senses were flooded with scents and sounds.
He heard bits of conversations from other parts of the clinic, and outside. It was all quite confusing.
"...there. there, Fifi it will be alright..."
"...down the street to the Mobil station, then turn right, it'll be on the left..."
"...what do you mean you lost him? You better find him, Bruno..."
"...yes, we have an opening next Friday..."
"...bad kitty!"
"That's a good boy!"
"...Millie will take the new dog Chad, and William can neuter the cat Salem..."
"Did you say, the dog's called Chad?..."
"Yes. Golden Retriever over there..."
"So, this dog's just getting its shots and..."
"Millie, you mind swapping. I'm all catted out..."
"Sure..."
The door to the back office opened, and a teenager in a white lab coat stood in the doorway looking right at Chad, and calling, "Chad!"
Todd stood up, and tugged on Chad's lead.
"Hi. I'm William, the veterinarian is my dad. You must be, um Todd," William said glancing at the paperwork in his hand, "I'll do the routine workup, measurements, then the vet will check him out. I am a veterinary tech, so I will give Chad his shots."
"Great," Todd said as William took the leash, and put his hand up to stop Todd from following Chad in.
"Sorry, civilians have to wait in the lobby. Shouldn't be more than an hour or so, if you want to go and come back, " Todd suggested.
Chad strained at the leash. He wanted to stay with Todd.
"Come. Chad," William ordered firmly pulling on the lead.
"Go on, Chad, it will be okay," Todd said.
The door closed as William led Chad down the corridor to an exam room. William got Chad up on the exam table, then he locked the door. He muttered to himself and half to Chad, "Guess, this is your destiny, Chad," as he jabbed a needle into Chad's left flank. The injection felt warm, then hot, and the Chad collapsed on the table unable to move, but still conscious. "There that anesthetic is derived from curare, and should paralyze you for an hour or two. More than enough time for what I've got to do. Can't believe that even with Bruno and Rico losing you, you ended up here just when you were supposed to arrive."
Chad felt that William should have laughed, "Mwahahaha," like a comicbook villain. But Willuam didn't.
William! Chad remembers who William is...