Work Text:
Here is the thing.
Teddy loves dogs: puppies, canines, the cute little dog videos online that she sends Cristina a link nearly every other night. The puppy doll in a Swiss flag still rests between the pillows in the Landstuhl apartment.
Naturally, when Teddy’s landlord implemented a new policy, allowing pets for tenants building-wide, Teddy is set on getting one.
Through corridors after corridors of the German animal shelter nearest to Teddy’s apartment, Cristina is briefly reminded of one of the scenario she had pictured for her future when she was having an existential crisis: getting a dog with Owen at Owen’s request and choosing the most wretched dog she could find just to spite him. Teddy deserves a lot more than that.
Which is why she is gritting her teeth and bearing through Teddy’s enthusiasm and coos. Cristina is pretty sure that if Teddy had her way, they would be taking all of these furries home. Although, seeing Teddy this happy and excited is kind of worth the uncontrollable animalic chaos.
“She gets whatever she wants, do you understand that? Anything she wants from me. Ever.”
This is, largely, not precisely what she meant when she made the promise; but, she is keeping her oath.
“Cristina! Look at her,” Teddy coos at a white rabbit sleeping peacefully in the corner of the glass air conditioned box.
“Yeah, I have the same one in my lab,” she deadpans.
Teddy stands agape, mimicking a fish a little, that Cristina had to cackle. It takes a beat before Teddy swats her shoulder with a laugh and a roll of her eyes. “You are so terrible.”
They finish a lap of the entire shelter.
It is hard to feel annoyed when Teddy lights up like it’s Christmas. All glowing and stoked- her excitement may as well exceed that of a kid in a candy store.
“Found the one yet?”
“They’re all the one,” Teddy sighs dramatically with an exaggerated pout.
“Okay.. um, assign them numbers and I’ll draw one from a card.”
“Cristina!”
“We have another that we don’t show. He has some.. health problems. Congenital heart disease. He's 2 weeks old, a Border Collie. If you would follow me?” the volunteer staff politely asks, pushing open a door that says ‘STAFF ONLY.’ “A patron found him in the dumpster, wet and scared of people.”
“Oh, poor thing,” Teddy sighs.
“One look and everyone sees a future full of vet bills and more trouble than they would bother with,” the volunteer says with a sad smile.
A small mutt is curled up, perking slightly at the sound of footsteps. Shrinking, his big black eyes shone with careful interest and a slink of hope despite the involuntary trembling.
It touches something in Cristina. Maybe it’s the traumatized puppy aspect of him, or the challenge that he poses. Squatting down, she waits with her hand out until the puppy approaches them, pushing its body into her palm. The fingers work automatically, scratching his fur. Teddy joins her on the floor
“You like him,” Teddy exclaims, her grin widening.
“It doesn’t matter, we’re looking for your dog.” Cristina shrugs.
“It can be our dog, you know.”
Cristina stills the hand. She meets Teddy's excited, hopeful eyes and finds her heart softening, returning the smile with a peck of lips.
“You get full custody, I get visitation rights,” Cristina proposes.
“Deal,” Teddy agrees, sealing it with a kiss. “We’ll take him.”
—————————— 𖤓 ——————————
They stumble out of the door to the crisp air after finishing signing the papers. Border Collie in Teddy’s arms, and a few paperwork in Cristina’s, they load the complimentary canine food in the back of Teddy’s car.
“Cristina?” Teddy calls, her eyes wide like she just had a moment of revelation. A wide grin plasters across her face.
“Hm?”
With a serious expression, she says, “we’re heart surgeons.”
“Yeah?”
“We’re heart surgeons and we just adopted a dog with heart disease.”
“Hallelujah?”
“Ich liebe dich,” Teddy says, rolling her eyes. Cristina can’t help the irregular heartbeat.
“Ich liebe dich auch.”