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Stone’s time working for the government hasn’t been easy. In his field, it’s difficult to breeze through your work. He often found himself envying those who could leave their jobs at the front door when they got home after a long day. Stone cannot manage that, however. How could he? If his day involved conflict or vigorous training the day stays with him. He lies awake still hearing the shouts of his pained fellow agents or the aggressive orders of his superiors. Even now every time he closes his eyes he sees pools of blood and dead soldiers. Almost as if the memories have been engraved into his eyelids.
It took Stone a while to realise how debilitating it feels to carry the trauma with him. Once he did he spoke to Commander Walters who organised for him to see a psychologist. After some time talking with them, Stone was diagnosed with PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It didn’t come as much of a surprise by that point. But he wasn’t sure how to move forward with that diagnosis. His psychologist did, however. They got Stone in contact with Service Dogs America.
That’s where Stone met Baxter. An eight-month-old long-haired German Shepard. He was still in training, having completed only six of the 18 months required. But even with only a small amount of training, he managed to change Stone’s life as soon as he took him home.
Baxter has woken Stone from nightmares, warned him of oncoming panic attacks, and grounded him after an attack. Even beyond the assistance with his PTSD, Baxter has offered something Stone has longed for his whole life: companionship.
He considers Baxter to be his best friend. And he likes to think Baxter sees him the same way. He truly feels as though they have a special bond with each other.
Now Baxter is fully trained and Stone is retired from fieldwork. It’s an odd thing to not be doing it anymore, having spent his whole life doing it. But he just found he couldn’t do it anymore. Instead, he’s been assigned as an assistant to the government's on-site robotics engineer.
Baxter has been given the all-clear to accompany Stone to work, though he has a feeling his new boss isn’t thrilled about it. His feeling is confirmed when he walks into the laboratory on his first day and is greeted by an angry scowl. It’s directed at Stone for a moment then quickly turns to Baxter.
“Good Morning, sir,” Stone starts, hoping to make a good and polite impression. “I’m–”
“Agent Stone, yes, I know,” he snaps. “If your pet breaks anything I will not hesitate to throw him out. Understood?”
Baxter, knowing loud voices to be a trigger for Stone’s anxiety, leans against his leg, hoping to ground him.
“Yes, sir,” Stone nods, reaching a hand down to pet Baxter’s head.
“Good. Make me a coffee,” the doctor orders, turning on his heel. “Something drinkable.”
“Right…” Stone looks around for a moment then decides to explore the hallway to his left in hopes of finding a kitchen.
He takes a deep breath as he walks. Coffee. He can do coffee. Only it would be helpful to know what the doctor deems ‘drinkable’.
He finds a kitchen and searches for a mug. Rolling a mental dice, Stone decides to make the doctor an Americano. He clips Baxter’s leash to a belt loop on his pants to allow him two hands to make the coffee. Baxter sits by Stone’s side quietly, watching Stone with what looks like a dopey grin. It makes Stone smile when he looks down and sees him.
“Alright, bud,” Stone mumbles. “Let’s see if this is drinkable.”
He unclips the leash, holding it in one hand and the coffee in the other as he heads back down the hallway.
“Sir?”
A long drawl of a sigh. “What?”
“Your coffee,” Stone says, placing it down next to him. “An Americano.”
The doctor frowns and sips it. He grimaces and spits it back into the mug, quickly whipping around to glare at Stone.
“This is disgraceful ! So utterly and awfully bitter. Why would you even begin to think this is acceptable?”
Stone flinches every time the doctor raises his voice, shoulder’s tensing and eyes welling up in tears. Baxter quickly notices a change in his heart rate and starts nudging and pawing at his leg.
“What is it doing?” the doctor stares. “Does it shed? Oh my god. I can’t believe I had to let that mutt into my pristine lab!”
Stone holds onto his breath, trying to will the tears away. Baxter walks in front of Stone and jumps up at him, pulling him down to the ground. Stone collapses to the ground, desperately wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Wh…” The doctor watches, utterly bewildered.
Baxter climbs into Stone’s lap and licks at his hands and cheeks. Stone wraps his arms around Baxter and runs his fingers through his fur. Sensing Stone’s heart rate lowering, he sits on his lap feeling confident that he’s helped Stone.
When Stone looks up from Baxter to apologise to the doctor, he doesn’t see him towering above him. He follows Baxter’s gaze to his left and sees the doctor sitting cross-legged next to him.
“That was my fault,” he says.
“No, sir, it’s– I just–”
“Agent,” the doctor cuts in. “It was my fault. I should’ve been more… understanding. I must admit it’s not my strong suit… and I’m sorry.”
Stone smiles and nods. “I appreciate that.”
Baxter moves off Stone’s lap and sits between him and the doctor, resting his head on Stone’s thigh.
“What’s his name?”
“Baxter,” Stone says.
“Well, nice to meet you Baxter,” the doctor nods. “Sorry to get off on the wrong foot… or… paw…”
He watches Baxter panting noticing that his open mouth resembles a smile.
“I’m more of a cat person,” the doctor shrugs, looking back up to Stone. “But I’m sure I could come to tolerate him.”
A year later, however, the doctor has not only come to tolerate him but love him and his dopey smile. Most of all though, his obedience and training is of higher standards than any of the hungry monkeys he works for. He decided pretty quickly that he was happy for Stone and Baxter to stay.