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There was a young lass from Yap,

who had acne all over her Lap

But in her interstices,

Lurked a far worse disease 

Commonly known as the clap

Unknown (London, 1735)

He winced as he left the toilet. It was beginning to get more difficult with each micturition, difficult not just because of the pain, but from hiding his discomfort from anybody within earshot. Especially when he was home with Phoebe.

This was the second day since it began. Only two weeks ago, unknown to Phoebe (and the rest) he had strayed to a local joint in town. The bitch had told him she was clean and he had believed her. He should have known otherwise! He recalled the events of that night...it was animalistic. She was definitely in heat or something.

 Now he was paying for his indiscretions.

The guilt was almost too painful to bear. Even more painful was the fact that he couldn't be close to Phoebe now that she was expecting and needed his comfort most. His boss's doctor had said they were going to have quadruplets and he wasn't going to risk giving her and their unborn children whatever it was that he had caught.

Last night, in her sleep she had pulled herself closer to feel his warmth but he had carefully put some distance between them. It was too early for her to notice now, but what would happen when he did it again this night and the night after? The question crossed his mind several times. He didn't want to lose Phoebe, she was just too good. Maybe to a fault. But she was the best thing that had ever happened to him and was this how he was going to show his love?

He looked down at his balls and inspected them for about the hundreth time that evening. They were swollen and tender. He hoped it was nothing fatal. Probably some bacterial infection that the doctor could fix with a few injection shots.

Somewhere outside a wolf howled at the full moon and he realized it was getting late. He would have to wake up early tomorrow for the long shift.

He left the balcony and returned to the bed where she lay innocently; the mother of his children. He licked the nape of her neck in what he believed was an affectionate gesture. She smiled and turned in her sleep, making a soft sound of satisfaction. He joined her quietly and fell asleep after a few minutes.

The next morning he was ready for work. His coat had been brushed and shone brightly. Even others' were not a bright as his. He reported at his duty post and some minutes later when his boss showed up, they decided to take a walk along the office perimeter.

They got to a spot and he stopped to take a leak. And that was when the pain hit him so bad he blacked out. The last thing he remembered was his boss calling out his name, Rover! Rover!!

Later that afternoon...

When he came to in the hospital, he had a restrainer over his mouth. There were others like him there, he could hear their barks. The whole place was a raucous. Two people spoke by his bed-side and he recognized his boss' voice:

Boss: ...We were on one of our usual patrol rounds when Ol' Rover stopped to take a piss and passed out. Never seen anything like it Doc.

Doctor: Well from our results, your partner has Canine Brucellosis, dog STD. You mate him with any females recently?

Boss: Good heavens No! His mate is expecting her litter in a few weeks from now. 

Doctor: Ah in that case we've got to quarantine him for the next few weeks or so. We don't want him infecting them with all sorts now do we?

Rover watched with big sad brown eyes as he was wheeled away from his boss... and Phoebe. He wondered how long he would be gone.

Suddenly his dog eyes narrowed and became blood shot. That bitch! When this was over, he would find her teach her a big lesson...