xp_logs | Callie and Fred: Return to Normalcy

An unusual occurrence has Callie running to the medlab, and on her way back she comes across Fred.

Even though Callie knew this day was coming, it was still almost incredible to believe that it was happening. She couldn't believe it when that lily just bloomed! It had taken her a few minutes for her to understand what was going on, and as soon as she did she rushed herself directly to the medlab, leaving her gardening tools behind. Those she could go back and retrieve later. This, this was more important. She had to be checked out, to make sure it wasn't just a fluke.

And apparently it wasn't.

The knowledge that she had defeated whatever virus had decided to attack her body put an extra spring in her step as she bounced through the hallways. It was overwhelming, in a good way, and her excitement completely trumped whatever guilt she knew she should be feeling. It was the best day she had had in awhile, and it wasn't even half over yet.

Fred caught sight of Callie coming as a flash of pink skin and clothing, and started to move down another another hallway almost instinctively. It wasn't that he didn't want to see her. He wanted to hang out with her more than anything. But since the incident in the kitchen and the few times they'd interacted with one another since the 'power swap', Callie seemed agitated and unnerved with Fred, and Fred couldn't figure out any course of action that didn't seem to make her more agitated. While he had tried to be quick and unnoticeable, there was only so stealthy a person his size could be...

Too late.

"Fred," Callie bellowed as her pace quickened to a light jog. She headed down the hall where she had seen his form duck into (was he avoiding her? she wouldn't be surprised if he was, she had been on edge recently) and closed in on him. "Fred wait up!"

It was not long before she was near enough to reach out and touch him. She was still wearing her gloves (just to be on the safe side), and lay one hand on his arm to try and get him to stop. "Hey," there was a wide smile on her face, "where's the fire?"

Fred stopped and turned. Oh well. Better just try and not mess anything up. He smiled a little hesitantly at Callie, "Oh, uh, nowhere, Cal. Just, uh, was gonna grab a shower. Me n' 'Gello just got done with a self-defense lesson and, uh, I smell a little.." He looked at the hand on his arm and sighed inwardly a little. You'd think Callie had the plague the way she'd kept to herself the past little while; the fact that she was making contact at all was a good sign.

Best not to push his luck, though, by bringing it up. He finally spoke again, "How, uh, how are you doing?"

"Jello?" Callie raised an eyebrow in question; sometimes Fred's nicknames were a little confusing to follow out of context. But whatever. She shook her head. It wasn't worth getting into. She pulled her hand away from his arm and began fiddling with the cloth covering her fingers, beginning to slowly pull it off.

"I was out in the garden and a lily bloomed for me."

Fred looked from her now bared hand, to her face, and gave a look of puzzlement, "You mean...you're okay now? I mean, like, with ya powers...?"

There was a pause, she was hesitant to answer, and then a slow nod accompanied by a small smile. "I mean I think so. I went to the medlab to get checked out and everything. I appear to be in working order?" She shrugged. "I hope."

Fred nodded along with what Callie was saying, then gave a small shrug, and proceed to roll up the sleeve of his jacket and hold out his exposed arm towards Callie, "Well, only one real way to find out, right?" he said with another hesitant little smile.

Callie chewed her lower lip in deep concentration as her gaze flickered between her now exposed pink hand and Fred's arm. She curled and flexed her fingers a few times, trying to decide what to do. She should be safe, she knew, but at the same time she wasn't someone to take chances like this. Everything appeared to be normal, but what if the doctors had missed something?

Her heart was pounding, it felt like it was going to explode out of her chest. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and softly laid her hand upon his arm.

Fred blinked and looked back up from his arm to Callie's face, his hesitant grin broadening, "That settle that, I guess..."

Nothing had happened. He was still there. She hadn't hurt him. Callie's eyes opened as wide as saucers as she stared at her hand. It appeared normal. She didn't know what to say, so she laughed.

Fred chuckled along with her infectious laughter while he mentally heaved a sigh. He knew Callie had been hurting, and it hurt every second not knowing how to help. He was happy she was better, more than he was guilty over not knowing what to do when she was sick. He squeezed her hand gently, enjoying the feel of her skin, "Better?"

The laughter was replaced with a wide smile as Callie nodded vigorously. Without hesitating, she threw her arms around Fred's neck. She couldn't hurt him, or anyone. It was one of the biggest reliefs of her life.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'" Fred said through laughter, and hugged Callie back. In a bout of spirit, he lifted her off the ground gently and spun her a few times as he hugged her. It was good to see her happy again, and while Fred wasn't the most expressive person on Earth, he certainly knew there was a time for spinning people about. And that this was one of those times.

Her grip tightened, and Callie squealed as she felt her feet leave the earth and was spun in the air for a few moments. She was positively giddy, and it was a nice change. "Wheee!"

Fred set her down just as softly as he'd lifted her, "So, what do you feel like doing now that you don't have to worry about your, uh, Marie's...what do you feel like doing now that you feel better?" he finally managed to ask after trekking the minefield that was his last sentiment...

Dropping her arms, Callie took a step back and slipping her hand in his looked up and said, "Well I have to put away my gardening gear, but after that I was planning on making some pizza and watching some really bad movies. Maybe if you're not busy you'd like to join me?"

Fred's eyebrows arched up, "Bad movies, you say? You know I'm in. Need some help with the pizza?"

"Sure. Meet you in the kitchen?"

Fred jerked his thumb toward his room, "Shower first. Then I'll seeya there."

Callie swiftly took a step in and pulled herself up on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Perfect. I'll see you in a bit then," she said before giving his hand a quick squeeze and heading out toward the front door.