Room 406, late afternoon/early evening

[izzyalienqueen]

Work and being social meant that Isabel was more then content to spend Sunday quietly in her room doing some writing, reading for class and surfing around on the web.

Then the phone rang. Recognizing the number, Isabel flipped open the phone. "Hi Maria. What's up?"



Maria began to babble so quickly, Isabel couldn't understand a word she was saying. "Dammit Maria, take a hit of cypress oil and calm down!"

She waited, but Maria was still babbling and Isabel was starting to get worried. "Put your mother on. Better yet? Is the sheriff there? Put him on!"

Thirty seconds, and one dropped phone later, Jim Valenti was on the line.

"Sheriff? What's going on?"

Isabel jumped to her feet as he started to explain.

"No. It's not possible."

"How?" And even more important, "How are they?"

"I want to talk to them."



Thirty minutes later, Isabel hung up the phone and sat in stunned silence for a few minutes as the shock wore off. Then she let out a yell of pure glee, before starting to pack.

The door was open.

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

By pure coincidence, Anders had been on his way up to drop in on Isabel when he heard the yell, which only made him head down the hall at double speed.

"Big sis, what's going on in there?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel could probably use a bottle of cypress oil herself. She dropped the jeans she'd pulled for her drawer and launched herself at Anders.

"They're back! They're safe! They're back and I'm going to see them tomorrow!"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders suddenly found himself with an armful of Isabel. "They made it? Really?" He was slightly fuzzy on who they were at the moment, but there was no mistaking the enthusiasm or the relief.

Then it hit him.

"Holy frak, they're back! That's awesome!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Isn't it?" Isabel hugged him tightly then let go, to excited to stay still. "Maria called and I couldn't understand a word she was saying, then I talked to the sheriff and then I talked to them and I'm heading back there tomorrow because even though I've talked to them I really want to see them and then maybe I'll believe it."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders lived with Bridge, so he didn't have any trouble sorting through all of that. "Big sis, that is . . . that's seriously awesome news. I mean it," he said, and proceeded to swing her around in a circle.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Laughing, she went with it. "Isn't it? I know it's not going to be that simple. There's no way. We can't be that lucky. But they're home. That's what's important."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I'll keep my fingers crossed anyway," Anders told her once he set her down. "I know this has been eating at you for a while now . . . but you are coming back this time, right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Isabel promised, understanding exactly what he was worried about. "It might take a little time. But this is home now. I'll be back."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I'm holding you to that," Anders said; he still had an arm around her shoulders. "You're not allowed to leave. Ever. If I have to chain myself to you at the ankle to make sure, I will."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"See now? I think handcuffs would be more fun," she teased, knowing it would probably induce flailing. "But no. You're stuck with me. Someone needs to be around to thwap you when you need it."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed, there was flailing. "No handcuffs! No handcuffs!" squeaked Anders, staring at her in horror. "You're supposed to be my big sister and thwap me when I need it, but nowhere in that description is handcuffs called for!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel patted his cheek and laughed. "You are so much fun to tease. I love it. I was only kidding."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You like making me flail," said Anders, sticking his lower lip out. "Did that sneaky boyfriend of mine put you up to it or something?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Nope," she told him. "It's all me. I need to do something to pass the time. Besides, Parker laughs when I tell her."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I am nothing but a source of free entertainment for you people," Anders said with a mock sigh -- and a wink. "Of course Parker laughs."

[bigbluekitty.livejournal.com]

Sulley knocked on the open door some time later.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel turned around, ready to share her glee not dirty with someone else. And then stopped short because wow...big and blue. "Hi! You're new aren't you?"

[bigbluekitty.livejournal.com]

"Uh-huh. I mean yeah. I'm Sulley. Could I take a look at your closet?" If he hadn't won the award for weirdest newbie, this would probably clinch it.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

One closet was open, with stuff spilling out as a result of Isabel's gleeful packing. The other, Xander's old one which now held her winter stuff, was still closed. "Sure? Are you looking for something specific? I'm Isabel by the way."

[bigbluekitty.livejournal.com]

"Oh, nice to meet you, Isabel." He glanced at the open closet. Nope, no scare floor there. Then he looked at the other closet. "A door connected to home. They usually only use closet doors to get through to the human world. I'm hoping if I check them all, maybe I can find one that goes back."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Ahhh...a different sort of portal then," she said. "Well take a look. Maybe you'll get lucky."

[bigbluekitty.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." He shuffled over to the closed closet, opened it a crack and peeked inside. His shoulders sagged and he closed the door. "Not there. One down, I don't know how many to go. But thanks, Isabel."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No problem. I hope you find it," Isabel said, disappointed on his behalf. "Good luck."

[bigbluekitty.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. I'll keep looking. There's gotta be one around here somewhere. See you later. It was nice meeting you, Isabel."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You to. Bye Sully."