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]

"We're talking about tormenting me, and I have no reason to be terrified. Right." Anders nudged her playfully, then indulged her desire for a hug. "Did we miss the torment part?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's a fun kind of torment?" Isabel grinned. "And we only do it because we love you."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Well, that makes it all better," said Anders, genuinely. "And I love you guys, too. You know that, right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel was on a bit of an emotional high, which explained why her eyes got shiny. "Yup.It's something I count on these days."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

That earned her another bearhug. "Guess I'll have to be extra reliable for you, then."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She'd never complain about a bearhug. "Funny you should mention that."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders pulled back and eyed her. "That phrase usually worries me . . ."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, no, no! I promise, it's nothing too horrible," Isabel said quickly. "I just need someone to watch Annie while I'm gone. Would you kitty-sit for me?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders hadn't quite been expecting that, and he blinked. "Oh . . . sure, yeah, I can do that. You don't think she'll mind a robot dog, do you?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Well you said you're going to be extra reliable," she explained. "And Annie's my baby. I want to make sure she's taken care of. I'm sure she'll get along just fine with Ric."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"And all the other animals in the room," Anders laughed. "I promise we'll keep an eye on her for you. No trauma or teaching her bad habits or anything."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It can't be any worse then Parker spoiling her with shrimp, cream and cavier while I was gone in March," she replied, happy enough at the moment that the thought of that time didn't make her twich.

Still smiling, Isabel started to gather up kitty supplies. "She doesn't have much." Food, toys, catnip and assorted other cat things went into the bag. "But this way she'll be happy and won't miss her stuff."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I am so not a shrimp, cream, and caviar kind of guy," Anders assured her. "But I might be studying the nutrition labels on the cat food. If you get back and I give you recommendations, don't say I didn't warn you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's a risk I'll take," Isabel smiled. "Thank you for this. I really appreciate it."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Anything for my big sis," Anders said genuinely. "After everything you've done for me, I couldn't not."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh stop that," she scolded. "One last hug before you wind up with an armful of cat?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders held his arms out, twitching the fingers of one hand in a 'bring it' gesture. "Hit me, big sis."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Consider yourself hit," Isabel said, hugging him hard for a long minute before stepping back and scooping up a curious Annie from her suitcase.

"Here you go. One kitty."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"And a very cuddly kitty it is," Anders said as he shouldered the bag of kitty supplies and took Annie from her. "I promise I'll take good care of her for you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she said. "Now I'd better get to packing. I'm leaving right after classes tomorrow. I'll call you during the week. Let you know how things are going."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You better." Anders nudged her lightly with his elbow. "Or I'll follow you to Roswell just to give you the puppydog face."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel nudged back. "I promise. I'll be back, so no puppy dog face will be needed."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"It better not be." Anders leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Safe trip, big sis."

With a quick smile over his shoulder, he disappeared out the door with a kitten and her things in his arms.