Discleimer; The rights and claims to Case Closed belong to the uber-spiffy Aoyama Gosho, who I dub my new father because he KICKS ASS.

(Please excuse my usage of names-- I read the manga in which Ran is Rachel, and... ah... that one name is Jimmy/Conan.)

Staying Put

The pencil in her hand stilled and for the fifth time in the last ten minutes, she glanced at the phone. Rachel gave a huff and planted her feet to the floor, pushing back in her chair frustratedly.

"What's wrong, Rachel?"

She turned her head toward the door and gave her houseguest a smile. "Nothing, Conan. It's just..." She sighed, tossing her pencil on the desk, watching it clatter around before stilling. "Jimmy," she bit out with a clipped tone. "He hasn't called in forever."

Conan shrugged his bag off his shoulders and hopped over to her, placingg a hand on her arm. "Aw, don't be like that. He's probably doing something really important, so... so in compensation of calling you he's just... um... thinking about you real hard!"

Rachel blinked before letting out a small giggle. "You're too cute, Conan," she replied, and he saw her fingers twitch. Then she bit her lip. He cocked his head to the side.

"What'cha thinking, Rachel?"

She paused before glancing away once and then, her hand laid over his. He noticed the size difference (and, truth be told, couldn't help but think that the positions should have been switched). "Would it be okay... if I... um..." She bit her lip again. "Can I... hold you?"

He blinked. "Huh?"

Rachel blushed and smiled sheepishly, shaking her head vigorously. "Kyaa! Never mind! I... I was just joking! Ha ha!" she said, patting him on the head and reaching for her pencil again.

"Yeah, okay." His arms (too small for his comfort) were thrown around her waist and he tenatively rested his head on her thigh. He heard a tiny, "oh, Conan" and he was easily swung into her arms. It was a warm place that he'd been plenty of times, but never like this. This time, she was just holding him for the sake of holding him, and he could only wonder why he'd never had her do it before.

That, and why he hadn't just done something about these arms of hers when he was his regular self. In fact, there were plenty of things he wanted to say to her right now, but he knew that this was neither the time nor place. But eventually. Maybe.

"Conan..." She mumbled, squeezing him tightly and burying her face into his shoulder. His heart nearly stopped. "Stay put, 'kay?" Today. Now. Forever.

Just don't leave me too.

"Okay." For now.

She sighed. "Pinky promise?" She retracted her arm from around his waist and held up her pinky. He almost rolled his eyes.

"Yeah."

The flesh bondage that was so common among children. It was so childish. Much too juvenile for a high schooler. But now it seemed... innocent. Pure.

Fitting.

"I promise."

- Fin -

My first Case Closed! Hoorah! Even though I've read volumes 1-10 (not including 7) so far, I'm still an utter n00b, because in China, there's... like... 100-plus novels. Lucky dogs.

I was inspired by this moment in book 10, where Harley (what's his real name?) hands Conan to Rachel (Ran) and she, y'know, takes him and holds him. And then later she's holding him, but not TO her. I really wanted that! I mean... if somebody that I treated like MY little brother was sick, I'd hold him tight to me. You know? I think it must be maternal instinct. Maybe the awesome Aoyama just didn't get that. Ah well.

Review, and tomorrow, a plate of cookies will be delivered to you door! Pinky promise!

-Bya