Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Puppyshipping ABC's	By : AnonymousTigress Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 12830 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh nor do I gain any profit from writing Yu-Gi-Oh fan fics.

Chapter List
- 25
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- 27
Z is for Zoiatrics
Zoiatrics – veterinary surgery
“I’m sorry I don’t have better news.”
Joey was leaning forward with his head down in his hands. He had known it wasn’t good when all the tests had been conducted. Now here were the results. And it wasn’t good.
Joey lifted head to look up at the doctor.
“What are my options?” Joey asked, quietly.
The doctor tried to hold back his sad look.
“There’s nothing more I can do. But I have a colleague in New York. He’s very hopeful with surgery that the problem can be fixed,” the doctor explained.
Joey sighed. He stood up and walked over to the window. From the third floor, he could see the busy people below. He wondered how many of them were going to get bad news today.
“I can’t.”
“Joey?”
The blonde male turned around with a sad smile on his face.
“Doc, I appreciate all you’ve been doing for me, but I can’t afford a plane trip to New York or a major surgery. I’m…I’m sorry,” Joey confessed.
The doctor stood up and walked around his desk.
“Joey, a few months ago you said if it was something serious, you would be willing to do what it takes. What’s changed, son?” the doctor asked.
Joey gave a little dry chuckle. He leaned back on the window sill with the palms of his hands resting on the sill.
“A lot. A lot’s changed since November, doc. My friends have been busy visiting colleges and applying to ‘em and applying for scholarships. My…uh…boyfriend got upset with me and we broke up. And my dad…good old dad…he tossed me out a few weeks ago. On my eighteenth birthday. My friends don’t even know I’m homeless.”
Doctor Samuel Cray was shocked. When Joey had first appeared on the radar, the poor blonde had possessed outstanding bills. He had begun working night shifts and weekends at the hospital to pay for his bills. The boy…young man…was a hard worker; he was there even on his weak days. He didn’t know it, but the hospital staff thought of him as one of their own.
“Joey, I’m sorry to hear all that. But I don’t want you to worry about costs. The Foundation is taking care of it and I’m going to fly out with you. I don’t want you to give up, son,” Samuel told him.
Joey was shocked and started to protest but stopped when Samuel put a hand on his shoulder.
“Joey, you’re in pain almost every day and that pain varies in intensity. No one deserves that kind of pain. You’re one of us here at Domino General and we take care of our own. Where are you staying right now?” Samuel asked.
Joey explained that he had been jumping from shelter to shelter every few days. All the things he owned were in the duffle bag and backpack he had with him.
“Then you’re coming home with me. There’ll be no arguments, Joey. My family would be happy to have you.”
Joey smiled weakly and nodded his head. He was too tired to argue with the good doctor.
“Thanks, doc.”
Samuel smiled.
“There’s no need to thank me, Joey. You are a truly remarkable person; a gifted individual who never asked for this kind of pain. It’s the least I can do to ease your pain. How is it today? Scale of 1 to 10.”
Joey cracked a grin.
“It’s a one today, doc.”
“Have you had lunch yet?”
Joey shook his head. Samuel offered to buy him lunch and Joey graciously took the offer. Samuel took off his lab coat and replaced it with his jacket.
“Let’s go.”

/……/

Mama Cray had been very welcoming to him. She had fixed up a small but hearty meal for him. Their twin ten-year-old sons, Calvin and Carson, took to Joey like an older brother. They kept him entertained, but they heeded their father’s caution to let him take it easy. Joey finally felt like he was a part of a family.
After dinner, Joey went for a walk around the neighborhood with Samuel and the family’s large Newfoundland, Shadow. The giant black dog lumbered along head of them off-leash.
“If you don’t mind me asking, Joey, what happened with your boyfriend? As I recall you two were quite close,” Samuel said.
Joey smiled. He walked with his hands in his jacket pockets.
“Yea, we were. I guess we kind of still are. We just celebrated two years together in September. He…umm…had invited me to this huge gala his company was throwing in early November. I promised him I’d be there. He said he had some special announcement to make and he wanted me there.”
A tear fell down Joey’s cheek. Samuel thought about the timeline and came to a conclusion.
“November? November was when you had that latest attack.”
Joey remembered. And he wished he could forget. He had been looking forward to the Gala all week. He had a suspicion what the announcement was about, but he hadn’t been 100% sure. The morning of the event, he had woken up feeling a small bit of pain; about a 2 or 3, maybe 2.5. As the day progressed, the pain got worse; by five, it was a horribly painful 10.
Joey had dialed Samuel’s direct line. Samuel recalled hearing the pain and panic in the teenager’s voice. He had immediately dispatched an ambulance to Joey’s apartment. Luckily for Joey, his father had been away on a fishing trip that weekend. Joey had spent the night in a private room at the hospital, undergoing many tests. At one point, he was hooked up to everything and carefully curled into a ball, clutching his chest. He had spiked a fever of 102 and finally broke it around Midnight.
He spoke with Seto a few days later at school. To his surprise, Seto wasn’t mad; he had been more disappointed than anything else.
“I think we need a break, Joey.”
Sigh. “Okay, Seto.”
Samuel frowned.
“A break is different from a break-up, Joey,” Samuel pointed out.
“Yea. That’s true, doc. But I got the impression it was more of a break-up. I mean we’ve been kinda neutral in class and everything. But we haven’t talked or hung out in ages. Or gone on a date,” Joey explained.
Samuel nodded. It didn’t sound like a break to him, either.
“Joey, was Seto aware of your condition?” Samuel asked.
“I got a question for you, doc. What are the chances of me coming out of this surgery?” Joey asked, in return.
Samuel winced. He had been hoping Joey wouldn’t ask. Joey chuckled. He had seen the wince. He’d also seen Shadow chase a squirrel up a tree. The canine had his front paws leaning against the tree as he barked up at the furry little creature.
“That’s what I thought, doc. I didn’t want him worrying about something we weren’t sure about. He’s got a kid brother and a company to look after. He don’t need to be worrying about a sick dog like me,” Joey said.
Samuel shook his head. The young man wore dog tags around his neck that he suspected his ex-lover had given him. He put his hand out to stop Joey. The blonde turned to face him.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Joey. The surgery has rarely been done and the survival rate is less than where we would want it. But you need to have faith; faith, son, that you’re going to survive this. You’re stronger than this,” Samuel told him.
Joey bit his bottom lip. He looked down as Shadow came over and sat down next to him. He laid his hand down on top of the young puppy’s head and scratched behind his ear. He looked up at the doctor with a small, sad smile.
“You said your wife’s a lawyer, right?” Joey asked.
Samuel nodded.
“Ya think she can help me write a will?”

/……/

The next morning, Joey was feeling today was a 2 or 3. Before going to the airport, Joey insisted on stopping at a few places first. Samuel agreed to it, but in return he insisted he go with him. First, they drove off to Domino High. The school was almost completely empty. Only a few staff members were in the office.
Joey introduced Samuel to the Principal before leaving to go to his locker. It was a slow walk down the long corridor. Old memories washed over him like a wave. He could hear him and Tristan laughing; Yugi calling his name; even Seto teasing him about his skills as a duelist.
When he reached his locker, all he did was go to the last number of his combination and yank it downwards to open. He put the empty box he had been carrying down on the ground beside his feet. Carefully, he went through the contents of his locker. He pulled off the photos he had attached to the door and placed them gently in the box. It hurt a little to bend down, but Joey pushed past that pain.
He pulled out two gift-wrapped boxes and placed it gently down into the box. Christmas was coming up on them soon. He had a joint gift for all his pals and one for Seto. Even with being homeless, he had pooled some of his money and resources to get them all something. He pulled out a few more things before closing his locker and shutting the door.
Picking up the box, Joey walked back to the office, but not before stopping in his first period class. He walked into the empty room. He placed a letter and the bigger of the two packages on top of Yugi’s desk. That way, he was assured they would all get their gift.
Turning back around, he returned to the office. Samuel was just stepping out of the Principal’s office. He immediately took the box from Joey’s arms. In its place, the Principal hugged Joey. When she stepped back, Joey could see fresh tear streaks on her face.
“I’m so sorry. I know you gave Dr. Cray permission to tell me. I’m so sorry that you felt you couldn’t come to me and tell me what was going on. With your health. With your dad,” she told him.
Joey let out a small chuckle.
“Can’t teach an old dog new tricks, Mam.”
The Principal released a small chuckle of her own.
“Yes, I can see that, Mr. Wh…Joey. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. I’ve asked Dr. Cray to let me know how you’re doing while you’re in the States.” Pause. “I hope that’s okay.”
Joey nodded. It was fine with him.
“Wish I could talk more, Mam, but I got some things to do before we leave,” Joey said.
The Principal pulled him in for another hug before allowing him to leave. Their next stop was a fair good distance from the school. When they pulled into the parking lot, Joey’s hand shot out to catch Samuel’s arm.
“I…I gotta go in alone, okay?”
Samuel nodded. Joey climbed out of the car and Samuel handed the box up to him. Joey walked up to the front steps and stepped into view of where a hidden camera was.
“Hey! Come let me in!” Joey shouted.
A few minutes later, a security guard appeared. He pulled out a key which he used to unlock the door and allowed Joey to come in.
“Mr. Wheeler, it’s been a while since we’ve seen you around here. Been hitting the books, boy?” the security guard asked.
Joey shrugged. “What can I say?”
The security guard chuckled as they walked out into the nearly deserted hallway.
“Mr. Kaiba’s not here right now. He’s probably flying over the sea right now.”
Joey nodded. He had known that, which is why he had come. He held up the box in his hand.
“I gotta drop off a few things for him. It all right if I go up to his office?” Joey asked.
The security guard nodded and asked if Joey still had his ID card. Joey answered in the affirmative. Joey walked across the near empty lobby and down a small, almost hidden hallway to the only elevator that went straight up to Seto’s office. Balancing the box on his hip, Joey stuck his ID badge halfway into a slot that lit up. A small window opened to reveal a retinal scanner. Joey leaned in, letting the scan take place. He sighed in relief when it pinged and the doors slid open.
I guess he hasn’t taken me off the system yet, Joey thought.
He stepped in and pressed the button to take him to the very top. Knowing it would take a while to reach the top, Joey set the box down and leaned back against the wall. The elevator had only reached the fifth floor when the floodgates opened. Joey dropped his head with his hand covering over his eyes. He trembled with small sobs.
He didn’t want to be sick. He didn’t want to be in pain. He didn’t want to be broken up with Seto. But most of all…he didn’t want to die. Joey understood that life wasn’t fair, but he felt like he’d been given a dead man’s hand in poker. Hell, he hadn’t even told Serenity or his mother he was sick.
Joey finally calmed himself down and swiped at his face. The elevator was nearing the top and he picked his box back up. When it stopped, the doors slid open and Joey exited. He went down the hall and past the empty desk of Seto’s personal secretary. He stopped in front of the side of the wall beside Seto’s right double door. He waved his hand and a secret panel was revealed.
2-5-8-3, or BLUE. The panel closed and the door buzzed. Joey pulled the door open and disappeared inside. Seto’s office. It brought up many happy memories; most of them of him pulling Seto away from his work.
Joey walked over to Seto’s desk and around it so he could place the box down in his chair. He made sure the Christmas gift was on top and an envelope in perfect view. He felt bad leaving without talking to Seto, but the man was on a plane and Joey would soon be leaving on his own flight. Before leaving the office, Joey removed his dog tags from around his neck. He placed them and his Kaiba Corp ID badge down on Seto’s desk.
He walked across the room, but paused with his hand on the door. Joey looked back over his shoulder at the office.
“Goodbye, Dragon.”

/……/

Joey had chuckled quietly to himself in his window seat when the plane was getting ready to leave. It figures Seto’s personal plane would arrive as his was departing. Joey knew from experience that the brunette would go straight home and crash on his bed. After napping for a few hours, he would get up, shower, and go to the office. It’s why Joey had left everything for him at the office.
While Joey was buckling his seat belt, the gang was arriving in the classroom. Teá spotted the present on Yugi’s desk.
“Yugi, look! Someone left you an early Christmas gift.”
Turning from his conversation with Yami, Yugi’s gaze zeroed in on his desk. He walked over to it and picked it up. After turning it all around, Yami spotted the tag and pointed it out to him. Yugi carefully flipped the package over and read the tag.
“To: Yugi and the Gang, From…Joey?” Yugi said, clearly confused.
Tristan snatched it up and shook it. He frowned while handing it over to Yami.
“Figures. Joey wrapped it so good I can’t hear what’s in it,” Tristan mumbled.
Duke shook his head as he looped an arm over his lover’s shoulders.
“I thought Joey agreed that he’d bring his gift on Saturday for Yugi’s Christmas party. We all agreed to it,” Duke said.
Yugi noticed Yami was frowning down at the package.
“Yami? What’s wrong?” Yugi asked.
Yami looked at his lover.
“Duke’s right. Joey agreed. It’s not like him to keep to his word. No matter how excited he is to give a gift,” Yami commented.
Yugi knew his lover was right. As he got older, Joey had calmed down and had learned to control his eagerness. It was then that Yugi noticed a card sitting on his desk with all their names on it. He picked it up and flipped the lid open. Yugi was surprised to find on the front cover a picture of brightly colored flowers and the words I’m sorry inscribed underneath.
Dear guys (and Teá),
I’ve practiced saying the words so many times and thrown away so many scraps of paper. I had wanted to tell you in person, but it seems the dice finally fell on snake eyes for me. Like that little dice reference, Duke? Knew you would.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. A lot has happened since about a year ago, but even more has happened in the last few months. I should have told you guys sooner about everything. Well, as they say, there’s no time like they present. You should know that I…
The others stood silently watching as Yugi read the card. They watched the smile fall from his face, his eyes grow wide and teary, and his bottom lip tremble. Yami placed the present back on the desk and put his hand on Yugi’s shoulder. That set off the tears and Yugi collapsed into Yami’s arms. The card fluttered down to the ground.
“Yugi! Yugi, what’s wrong?” Yami exclaimed.
All anyone could make out in the shorter boy’s mumblings was “Joey” and “sorry.” Teá bent down and picked up the card. Halfway through the card and tears were falling down her face, too. When the card had been passed around, there wasn’t a dry eye amongst them.

/……/

……December 25……
“Can we stay with you tonight?”
Joey chuckled. He was walking the halls with the twins. Joey walked much slower than usual and with a cane in hand. He had a twin walking on either side of him. It was the only way Dr. Sherman Plank would let him walk all around.
“I’m gonna have to ask your Mom, guys,” Joey said.
Both boys groaned, causing Joey to chuckle again.
“How are you feeling, Joey?” Calvin asked.
Joey smiled. “I’m feeling good, Cal. Lot better than I have been.”
Calvin returned the smile. Both brothers paused in the hall to gently hug either side of the older blonde. Joey returned the hug as best as he could. When they separated, they continued on their walk. It was good for Joey to get some exercise, but not too much. They were already on their way back to Joey’s private room.
“When we get back to Domino, do you think you could teach us how to duel?” Carson asked.
Calvin nodded his head in agreement.
“Yea. Ma and Dad got us some starter cards so we can duel. Just like you,” Calvin added.
“I’d be happy to teach ya. You’re talking to one of the best duelists in Domino, guys. And that’s not all talk,” Joey told them.
Both boys simultaneously pumped a fist. Joey leaned heavily on the cane as it helped him to take it easy walking. When they got back to the room, the twins helped Joey climb onto the bed and rest back on his pillows. They settled down on the bed with him to watch cartoons. Around lunch time, Mama Cray showed up with some lunch.
All three of them sat on the bed with their legs crossed and their lunch trays on their laps. Joey’s food was a little on the lighter side. Mama Cray came over and gently brushed Joey’s hair out of his face while he ate.
“Mi ragazzino. Si ha una forte anima [My little boy. You have a strong soul],” Mama Cray told him.
Joey smiled before swallowing his moutful.
“Grazie, Mama Cray. Dov'è Samuel?” Joey asked.
Mama Cray told him that he would be along in a minute. Upon meeting Dr. Cray and hearing about his wife’s heritage, Joey had decided to learn Italian. He knew a few basic words from Seto but then he asked the brunette to teach him. Seto agreed wholeheartedly. He helped Joey learn by Rosetta Stone and taking him out to Italian restaurants and even an Italian Heritage festival. He had become quite fluent.
Samuel appeared in the doorway with a smile.
“Good morning, Joey. Merry Christmas,” Samuel told him.
Joey returned the sentiments. He knew something was up when Mama Cray told the boys she was taking them down to the cafeteria to get some fresh cold drinks. Samuel smiled and came over to sit on the bed.
“Joey, I’ve been speaking with Celeste. I – we – understand that you’re eighteen now and legally an adult. But we want you to know you have a home when we go back to Domino. A home, hot meals...and a family.”
Joey stared in surprise. He understood what the good doctor was telling him, but he just couldn’t wrap his mind around it.
“You...would want me...a part of your family? Are you sure, doc?” Joey asked.
Samuel reached out to grasp his hand.
“Quite. You learned Italian all so you could speak with my wife. You’re a hard worker at the hospital, even pushing yourself through the pain prior to your surgery. And the boys adore you. All we would expect of you is to try your best at school and maybe cut back a little on your work hours. You shouldn’t work yourself hard,” Samuel explained to him.
Joey was overjoyed. He had never felt such a love from anyone, except his sister Serenity.
“You can even still keep your last name if you want,” Samuel added.
Joey squeezed his hand.
“This...this is really big, doc. I...I don’t know what to say,” Joey said.
Samuel smiled as he squeezed Joey’s hand and let go. He stood up and patted Joey gently on the shoulder.
“Think on it. You don’t have to answer right away. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you,” Samuel said.
Joey raised an eyebrow in question as the man dug into his pocket for something. He spoke as he pulled a few things out and placed it on the nearby table.
“You have a visitor who...wanted me...to give you......this.”
Joey let out a quiet gasp when Samuel dropped Joey’s dog tags into his hand. Joey blinked away some tears as a small smile twitched at his mouth.
“Do you want me to send him away?” Samuel asked.
Joey shook his head.
“Nah. Nah, he can come in.”
Joey lowered his head with his eyes closed when Samuel left the room. A few minutes later, he felt the bed dip beside him and a familiar hand weave into his hair.
“How long have you been sick, pup?” an even more familiar voice asked.
“Been a while, dragon. They...they um...didn’t know what it was until recent.” Wince. “Turns out I had a bad heart.”
Joey’s head was moved to rest on a strong shoulder as a hand smoothed through his hair. Joey sighed. They sat there in silence for a short time. Joey felt Seto press a warm kiss to the top of his head.
“You scared the Hell out of me. You’re not allowed to do that, puppy,” Seto told him.
Joey chuckled. He felt Seto pull his hand down from his hair. It coasted down to his chest where it lay over the spot where Joey had the surgery. Seto gently stroked the area with his thumb, causing shivers to tingle all over Joey’s body. Joey chuckled when Seto moved his head down to place his ear over his heart. After listening for a whole full minute, Seto turned his head to kiss the skin through the hospital gown.
Joey leaned back against his pillows as Seto rested his head gently atop his chest. He kept enough of his weight off it so as not to cause the blonde any pain. Joey leaned the bed back to a more comfortable point for them after Seto shifted around. He brought his hands up to gently play with his dragon’s hair.
“Your heart...that’s what kept you from the gala last month,” Seto said as more of a statement than question.
“Yea. I...I was in a lot of pain. I ended up staying in the hospital all night. I was gonna call ya, but I was so out of it and Samuel didn’t have permission to talk to anyone about me being sick,” Joey explained.
“Samuel’s a good man, pup. We talked while you had lunch.”
Joey barely covered up a yelp when he felt a sharp pinch to his thigh. He considered himself lucky; after all, Seto had done far worse in the past.
“You’ve been keeping secrets from me. You know I don’t like that, Joey.”
Holding back a sniffle, Joey used his grip on his lover’s head to pull him up and into a kiss. Seto immediately took over and slipped his tongue into the blonde’s mouth. The two tongues tangled together in a slow, wet kiss. It was a kiss that was testimony to just how much the lovers had missed each other. Joey released a throaty groan and tried to pull his lover down more, but he leaned back to break the kiss. Seto chuckled when Joey whimpered.
Seto leaned down to rest his forehead against his puppy’s forehead.
“When you’re better, puppy. Not before,” Seto whispered.
A few minutes later, when the twins reappeared, Joey was sitting back with the bed slightly reclined. Seto sat in a chair beside his bed with his hand holding one of the blonde’s. Seto watched as the two ten year olds climbed up onto the bed. One of the boys crawled up to sit next to Joey and rest his head on Joey’s arm. The other boy sat gently on Joey’s lap which Joey brought his arms up to loosely hold him around the waist.
Seto raised an eyebrow at his lover.
“Should I be jealous?” Seto asked, in a teasing tone.
Joey snorted.
“You know better than that.” Smirk. “Seto, this is Carson (on the lap) and Calvin (shoulder). Car, Cal, this is Seto...my boyfriend,” Joey introduced.
Seto was surprised when Carson unexpectedly slid off Joey’s lap and on top of his. He threw his arms around Seto’s neck.
“Welcome to the family!” Carson exclaimed.
Seto brought his hand up to the smiling child’s face and gently moved his head so he could see Joey. The other twin was smiling at him, too, until Joey reached up to muss his hair. Seto could see that yes, these two young pups had adopted his pup into their family. He secretly rolled a small box around in his pants pocket.
He decided he would wait until there was a better opportunity to pop his question. Right now, his puppy needed time with his new pack. He didn’t mind taking backseat to them for now.
Author’s Note: Okay, people, so you’re probably thinking, “Oh no! She reached Z. It’s all over!” Actually...I’ve decided to keep going through ABC’s and see how many times I can get through the entire alphabet. While I work on the first few chapters of the new ABC’s, I’m open to suggestions for letters, especially J to Z.
- 25
- 26
- 27
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Puppyshipping ABC's