Capítulo Um

"…and the stars fell out of the sky…and the tears rolled into the ocean…"

Bump.

"…and now I'm looking for a(h) reason…why…you've even set my world…"

Her tires were going to fall off any minute now.

"Into motion…"

And she wondered what she felt was so wrong in her actions.

"Get it together," she told herself, hushed tones barely heard over the music, but then again, who was there to listen? Her only companion, that deceivingly smooth asphalt, couldn't give her answers logically. "You'll be in Charming in no time," she smiled, "and you'll find the problem, fix it, and be on the way back to civilization, wait, just wait." As luck always has it, the landscaping was dry, and obviously in need of "decent advertising," she muttered, as it stood, her mind wandered enough through the thick of Miami traffic, and as the saying goes "if one can drive in Miami, one can drive anywhere." Obviously there were some places that could be ruled out.

Pulling up in a visitors parking space (which thankfully didn't require change); she let out a suppressed breath and stepped out. Of course, she knew she stuck out like a sore thumb- a tropical – sore thumb. Someone, the wrong someone, she thought idly, was bound to see her and there would be Mr. Lucifer, clutching a handmade invitation to his fall fashion show, asking her if she wanted crumpets and café con leite.

Finding the room wasn't especially hard, staying within the buildings cold and white surroundings, however, was the real challenge. 'The nurses here worry more about keeping busy than being legally bound…'

Here came the other trifling ordeal: opening 215B.

"Breathe."

"Talking to yourself, miss, is the beginning of all sorts of problems."

Humph, Smart ass. Today wasn't the day for overzealous nurses. 'I guess it's another one of those who spend their time finding imaginary holes in the walls and comparing them to Sally's on the next floor up.'

'These grump episodes better subside, I'm stuck here for quite some seconds.' She wasn't usually this cynical, borderline mental, even. Finding out she had volunteer work (because in her position, this situation in any other way could be recorded and used against her) in the backwards town of Charming the same day she was forced to take a vacation from the practice in the middle of the most important and diplomatic…'enough,' she guessed the nurse was right. The internal talking brought more problems than it solved.

Turning, a small smirk arose as she got a look at the doctor standing behind her, and with that she promptly spun around and entered the room. She had heard plenty of her, and from what she recollected, the greetings weren't necessary.

"And here I thought you weren't going to show that pretty face of yours in our town" Bobby "Elvis" Munson said, knowing any show of doubt of her would set her on fire.

"You big teddy bear," she giggled, "still acting tough through those fraying sides of yours, huh?" He gave her a slim grin, and motioned for her to join him. Plopping down on the chair beside his bed, she realized just how long it had been since she vacationed, 'heh, vacationed,' in Charming.

"I appreciate you coming down to see me doll," he waved his hand, knowing she would soon speak up and say something along the lines of "of course!" or "don't even say it Bubby!" but he knew the sacrifice she was making in coming, and certainly understood the implications that could put a weight on her professional life.

Relaxing, he flexed his hand and took hers in his, patting the soft skin of her fingers with his colossal paws. "How's your mãe?" she squinted, his tough accent endearing, "muita boa Bubby, é Clarice?" with a roll of his eyes he knew this was the same girl he had grown to love, full of wit and sadness, the years not making much of a difference as far as he was concerned.

"He's doing well; the club has been having some problems here and there." That much was evident, hence her Bubby lying in a hospital bed whilst the rest of the club…

"I talked to Clay yesterday; let him know you were coming, so all is ready when you are doll."

"Now or never, huh Bubby?" She looked around, noticing how he ravaged the "food" the hospital provided, his full beard, his ever disheveled hair; how things tended not to change if not with full allowance of the self.

He nodded, the blankets keeping him warm tangled with the various I.V's hooked to his wrists. "Have you found a place yet?" She nodded, lying, she knew if it were any other way he would demand she stay at the shop.

"There's a house by a lake," 'somewhere' she fibbed, disregarding the raised bear eyebrow, covered in plasters. "I called the landlord, he said he would rent it out, it was reasonably priced." End of conversation.

"Alright doll," he knew any attempt on his part was futile, and instead settled for some reruns of "Happy Days" playing on the hospitals dinosaur of a television. She was happy to just sit there and listen to the 1950's jokes and covert sexual connotations until she saw how dark it had become.

Charming was a scary place at night, and if it weren't for the nice chills in the evening, not worth even stepping onto the front porch for a nightcap. 'Maybe that house will have a porch,' she had always wanted one of those, ever since her parents had divorced and moved away from their first house. The only house other house in her lifetime that had such a nice porch, or one at all at that.

Yawning, she gathered her things quietly, leaving behind a note she had brought him.

"Read that after, Bubby, and I'll see you tomorrow around the same time," she needed enough time to go find that fictional house off next to some lake and a porch.

"Alright doll," he said again, "take the weekend off, and start Monday, no need to worry about things right away."

Nodding, she maneuvered herself around the starched white sheets and gave him a tight hug and placed a kiss on his gruff cheek. And with a lopsided smile and a wave, she was off again.

'Here's to more asphalt."

A/N: The lyrics are from Sam Sparro's "Black and Gold," not owned by me. Of course, the show is also not owned by me.

Translations: "Mãe" is mother, café con leite is a hispanic beverage of milk and espresso, and "muita boa" means "very well."

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