What was she thinking? Was she trying to get them in trouble? Attacking Charlie like that in front of the Doc? Was she suicidal? The old guy already didn't like them on a serious level. He glared down at the bundle of fur in his arms, glared right at the tip of her nose. She must have felt his stare because she lifted her head up to stare back up at him.
And gave his chin a wet lick.
"Ugh! Gross," he shouted in disgust, immediately letting her go and now using his hands to wipe the saliva off the bottom of his face. The back of his hand was able to get most of it but now he was going to smell like flowers and dirt. On top of that, his chin felt sticky. "What is with you today?" He hissed down at her, though with less irritation.
Rosey plopped back on her haunches, ears perking up as she listened to the back and forth between Charlie and the Doc. I was just thanking her for a good meal. Never mind the logic in the fact that as far as Charlie knew, Rosey and Abbey were two different creatures so there was no way that the connection would be made. Why on earth Rosey couldn't just thank Charlie in person? Probably had something to do with Rosey being unable to utter the words 'thank you' without curling up into a twitchy ball.
Geez, is that all it takes to put you in a good mood? Figured. Rosey was all about her stomach. Royce rolled his eyes, then straightened up when the Doc's voice shot towards him. Typical. Once again, he was left with the clean-up. Royce cleaned up enough of his friend's messes. How come she had to keep making more? Couldn't she learn to not be so ... so dirty? That was it. He made up his mind. Rosemary was getting a very soapy, extremely sudsy bath and soon. "Yessir." Royce gave the old man's back a jaunty salute as he left.
When Charlie asked him what had happened, or really hadn't asked, the young man gave an exasperated shrug. He wasn't sure what made the Doc so grouchy all the time. It couldn't just be Rosemary being a pest because according to Charlie, the Doc had been grumpy way before they ever showed up. If a bouquet of wild flowers couldn't get the guy to crack a smile, what would? Maybe that was what kept Rosey around the old guy. The challenge.
Except, this time Rosey hadn't followed the old man out. She was, of all odd places, at Charlie's side. Almost leaning against the girl at any chance she had. It was kind of adorable and Royce finally grinned, in spite of the previous crazy moment. "Call me Dirt Man, always around for dirt cleaning services," he came over to the counter and using one hand, swept all the dirt into the cup of his other hand. There wasn't much dirt, thankfully. Rosey had mostly got the top of the flowers, not the roots. They wouldn't last long, even in water, but it was the thought that counted. "So dinner last night was great, by the way. Um, Rosemary told me to tell you she really liked it." He added to her over his shoulder as he walked to the door, opened it and dumped the dirt outside. "We should do it again. Y'know, whenever."