“Sleep. I’ll watch over you both.”
“Mmm.” Ottis helped Marcie out of her clothes. When he shifted into a wolf, Marcie did the same. Except she didn’t curl up with him. While Ottis tucked his nose under his tail, Marcie clambered all over him.
Doc took a quick shower and climbed into bed with them, shifting into a shimmering gold dragon. Marcie promptly shifted into a tiny red dragon, roaring and trying to scramble all over Doc instead.
Doc cooed, helping Marcie onto his tail. “She’s amazing.”
“She’ll wear herself out like that,” Ottis mumbled.
“Good. Then we’llallbe able to nap,” Doc said dryly. He curled himself around Ottis, a solid, smooth wall of heat. Ottis barely noticed the wing that Doc tucked around him; he was already fast asleep.
Two days later,Ottis threw up all over Doc.
19
PREGNANCY (PART 2)
“I’m sorry!”Ottis yelped, scrambling for a paper towel.
It was too late. The contents of his stomach dripped down Doc’s front, down the clean scrubs that Doc had worn for his shift.
The worst thing was that Ottis hadn’t even been prepared; it had just happened out of the blue.
“Oh gods, you look terrible,” Ottis’ mouth said. He wanted to bury himself under the floorboards. First the puke, then an insult? Doc was going to kick him out.
Doc huffed. “Sweetheart, I’m a doctor. I’ve been a doctor for hundreds of years. I’ve been splattered by all manner of bodily fluids, much more than you want to imagine.”
Ottis made a face. Then he tried to stop making the face. “Ugh. How are you still a doctor? Don’t you get grossed out?”
Doc shrugged. “I got used to it. It’s part of helping those in need.”
Ottis wiped his mouth with the handful of tissues that Hijinks handed him. “You’re a saint.”
Doc’s eyes crinkled. “I try to be. No one is perfect.”
“You’re more perfect than me.”
“Lies.”
Doc stripped off his clothes and headed for the hallway bathroom, leaving on his cloth mask. Ottis followed him guiltily.
This time, when the nausea struck, Ottis was more in control of himself.
It hit Doc straight in the chest. Ottis turned to direct the terrible stream into the toilet, except it went everywhere.
“Oh gods,” he said between heaving into the toilet. “I’m a biohazard.”
“We’ll need to replenish your fluids if this keeps happening,” Doc said, sounding worried.
“Why are you worrying about me? I just puked all over your bathroom,” Ottis wailed.
“It won’t take too long to clean up. I’ve had worse.”
“I don’t want to imagine what that was like.”
“Good plan,” Doc agreed. “Here, step into the shower with me when you’re done.”
“I’m making you late for work,” Ottis whimpered.
