Twilight carried Spike into the animal hospital, then got him registered. She sat down and took a deep breath, attempting to clam herself down. Spike looked up at Twilight. "Hey." He said, wincing. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm stable...for now." Twilight said, taking another deep breath. "But forget about me. What about you?" She gave Spike an apprehensive expression.
Spike winced again, then said "Well if I'm being honest, it hurts like a bitch." Twilight's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed into a glare. Spike responded by rolling his eyes. "Oh, come on." He put his good front paw to his forehead in frustration. "It's a dog pun! I'm trying to lighten up the mood here. Besides, you and I both know you've said far worse yourself."
Twilight sighed and lowered her shoulders, forcing herself to relax. "Sorry. I guess I'm still feeling a little tense here."
"I totally understand. I'm not exactly hunky-dory myself, as you've noticed." Spike said. "But don't worry." He gave Twilight a reassuring smile. "This may hurt now, but this isn't the worst thing that could have happened to me. You got me here as fast as you could, and everything's going to be just fine." He licked her hand.
Twilight sighed, and finally calmed down. "Thanks, Spike. I really needed to hear that." She gently pet his head.
Spike winced again. "Glad to help." He smiled.
As she waited for her turn, she yet again had her thoughts drift to Timber and her date...wait, she thought it was a date. Twice? First her actions during the 'hangout', and now this? What on earth has gotten into her?
"Twilight Sparkle?" The receptionist called out, snapping her to attention. "Head over to Dr. Fauna's office. She'll be ready for you shortly."
"Well." Twilight said, picking Spike up. "Time for the moment of truth."
Spike looked up at Twilight and raised an eyebrow. "I think Rarity's starting to rub off on you. That was a bit overdramatic, don't you think?"
Twilight smiled. "Maybe it was, but I just want to get this over with. Shall we?"
"Is there any other option?" Spike said with a smirk.
----------------------------------------------
Twilight and Spike entered Dr. Fauna's office to wait for the vet.
"So..." Twilight said, trying to keep any silence at bay. "Are you nervous, Spike?"
"Of course I am." Spike said. "But what I said still stands. Everything is going to be okay."
The door opened up to admit Dr. Fauna. "Twilight Sparkle? Spike?" Twilight and Spike looked up at her. "I'm Dr. Fauna." She said, introducing herself. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Well." Twilight said quietly, still ashamed of the accident at the lab. "Spike here was unfortunate enough to be near an...accident involving glass, and he got some stuck in his paw." She gestured to Spike's injured paw.
"I see." Dr. Fauna said. "How long has it been since the accident?" She asked.
Twilight cupped her chin in thought. "Not all that long. As soon as it happened I gave him the bandage and drove straight here."
Dr. Fauna walked over to Spike. "I'm going to need to see the wound." She said.
Twilight frowned. "Hold still, Spike. This might hurt." She counted down from three, then ripped the bandage off, causing Spike to yelp and Twilight to wince out of guilt.
Dr. Fauna examined to cut closely. "Hm." She said. "There may still be time." She grabbed a medium-sized paper cup and filled it partway with water. She grabbed some baking soda from the cabinet and added it to the water.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Why is there baking soda at an animal hospital?" She asked.
"Well, Twilight, you'd be surprised how often people come in with their pets after an accident involving glass." Dr. Fauna said as she stirred the baking powder and water into a mixture. "You always have to be prepared for this sort of thing." She said with a smile. "Hold still, Spike. This will only hurt for a moment." She applied the mixture to the wound and Spike winced. "Twilight?" She said, gaining her attention. "Could you please get me a bandage?" Twilight went to the first-aid kit and took out a bandage. She handed it over to Dr. Fauna. Dr. Fauna then set the bandage on the baking soda mixture affixed to Spike's injured paw. "There!" Dr. Fauna said. "Just leave that be until tomorrow and the glass should be easy to pick out."
Twilight smiled. "Thank you, Dr. Fauna!" She picked Spike up
Dr. Fauna smiled back. "You're quite welcome, Twilight. Stay safe out there, Spike!" She waved the two goodbye as Spike barked his thanks.
Twilight and Spike exited the building and made their way to the parking lot. Upon reaching her car, Twilight's jaw dropped. She nearly lost her grip on Spike, but quickly tightened it. Her shocked expression slowly morphed into frustration. "Are you fucking kidding me?!" She shouted, throwing her hands up in the air. She glared at the parking ticket that was left on her car's windshield.
Spike looked up at Twilight in amusement, then quickly averted his gaze once he saw the sheer fury in her eyes. As much as I want to say "I told you so" about the whole swearing thing, I value my life more than that. He thought.
Twilight sighed heavily as she took the ticket off of the car's windshield, then pocketed it. She grumbled under her breath as she gently set Spike down onto the passenger seat and buckled him up. She then entered on the driver side and started the engine.
"Uh...Twilight?" Spike asked as she started the engine. "Are you going to be okay?"
Twilight took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "First, you get injured in an accident that was all my fault. Second, I get pulled over for speeding. And now I have a freaking parking ticket!" She said, using her fingers on a free hand to count all that had befallen her so far. "What did I do to deserve all of this?!" She said, exasperated.
"Hey, now." Spike said. "Everybody has one of those days, and they make it out alive."
Twilight sighed. "Great. So you're telling me this is going to be one of those days, huh?" She made a sputtering noise. "I could've told you that." She said bitterly.
"I think you're missing my point here, Twilight." Spike said. "I'm just saying that no matter what else happens today, you'll survive. I mean, how many life-threatening situations have you been in with the girls? Weren't those adventures far worse than what you're going through right now?"
Twilight smiled. "Thanks, Spike. I feel better hearing that. I think I'd be lost without you." She said.
Spike smiled back. "Hey, I'm just happy to help. And thank you for getting me the help I needed."
Twilight used a free hand to gently pet Spike on the head. "You're welcome. It's the least I can do for you, after all." She said, smiling as she got into the driveway. Once she reached the garage, she noticed her parents were home from the neighborhood watch meeting. She got out of the car and unbuckled Spike's seat belt, then gently put him on the ground. She opened the door to reveal her parents.
"Twilight." Night Light said. "Could you explain to me why there's skid marks on the driveway?"