Turning the Tables

He glanced over at her for a moment before turning his attention back to his glass. Vicki hadn't been expecting to see Timmy up this early, so she was now very thankful that she had decided against walking down here in just her panties and tank top. She shifted awkwardly in the door frame of the kitchen. He glanced over in her direction.

"What are you doing up so early?" he asked simply.

Vicki chuckled, "I could ask you the same thing, twerp... Are you alright?" The question came out sounding more forced than she had initially intended it to be. Timmy looked at her quizzically. She didn't want to come across as caring too much but instead wound up sounding like she was struggling to care.

"I guess I just couldn't sleep anymore. I've been asleep for the most part of two days. I figured I would get something to drink but the longer I've been awake, the more I think about… this." He gestured to himself and the room. Vicki had walked over to the fridge to grab a pear, not exactly a filling meal but a good snack for now.

She now sat across from him, "You mean being stuck here, with me. All while the rest of the town seems to be out on their own crazy adventures, not to mention that we're both hurting." She raised her bruised hand for emphasis. Vicki sighed and took a bite out of the pear, she'd been in a similar boat a long time ago.

"When you put it like that, you make it sound so romantic" he replied flatly.

Vicki shot him a smirk and batted her eyelashes at him, "Hey, I'm a great catch. So you should consider yourself lucky you're stuck with me for this romantic getaway." Vicki had said it with sarcasm, but it still managed to strike a nerve with the twerp.

Timmy blushed a deep crimson, "I-I I wasn't saying… I mean… That's not what I meant to say..." The kid was a stuttering mess. Vicki chuckled to herself, "Twerp, I was joking. Besides, you're like six years younger than me. I'm not even sure how that would work out." '

Timmy just stared at her with a bewildered look, a look that Vicki didn't appreciate. "What? Do I have something on my face?" she touched at her cheek to feel if she had gotten some of the pear on her cheek by some odd chance.

Timmy shook his head slowly. He wasn't sure how he was even going to get this message across. "You know, not that I'm complaining because I'm not, but you've been different."

Vicki tilted her head at him with a curious expression, "What are you getting at twerp?"

He would need to tread very carefully now; he nudged his near empty glass towards her direction, "Like right there, 'Twerp', you've called me twerp for years, but it doesn't carry the same weight it as it once did. Before I would feel hurt when you called me that, or be terrified, either way it wasn't good. Now instead of an insult it feels more like a nickname. You're nicer to me. Well, now you are. Up until a few days ago you were just less aggressive. You haven't threatened me in weeks, I wasn't sure at first if it was some elaborate plan to throw me off guard and then attack while I was weak, but so far nothing. At least not yet. You're not the same Vicki as when you started babysitting me. It's just different. You don't really force me to do chores, you don't yell at me, and we can even sit on the same couch together to watch tv. It's just a lot to take in sometimes."

Vicki felt very cornered now. It was like he had uncovered one of her worst secrets. She shifted in her seat; then glared at him, "I think you're looking too much into this."

Timmy looked at her with suspicion, his blue eyes boring into her, "Am I?"

Was he? Vicki already knew the answer to that question. She huffed, "Maybe I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. You ever think of that genius?"

Timmy looked unsure, "But why now?"

The longer this conversation dragged on the more Vicki wished she could run away from him so she wouldn't have to answer. Truth be told, she really didn't know why. She hadn't been able to figure out why she was changing like this. It terrified her; she found herself caring about things that hadn't bothered her all that long ago. Timmy waited patiently for her to answer. She hated that patient look. When had he gained control of this conversation? No matter, she was going to end it. A delicious idea entered her mind.

She perked up suddenly and spoke in a sickeningly sweet tone, one that she had never used before. "I guess I don't really know what the reason is. It's definitely not easy because I still do get upset. The thing that's different about it now is I just don't go to extreme lengths because of it. Though I don't always have control over my anger; sometimes it still gets out. Hmm, Timmy I'm going to give you some friendly advice, and you would be wise to take it m'kay?"

The hair on the back of Timmy's hair stood on end. She had called him Timmy recently, but this was different. That voice, when she said his name in that voice it made him truly afraid. Angry Vicki he had seen before but this was new. All he could do was nod.

Vicki smiled brightly at him and leaned over so that their faces were only an inch apart, her piercing pink eyes digging into his skull. She leaned closer to his ear, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." She pulled away and walked out of the kitchen. Timmy was left shaking in his seat.

He really wished he had just stayed up in bed this morning. Meanwhile, Vicki plopped down on the couch. I can't believe that actually worked... She was brought down back to Earth by the throbbing pain in her hand.

Guess I don't really have a choice if it's getting this bad. She climbed back upstairs with suitcases in tow and got changed. She popped into the kitchen where he was still glued to his seat, "Twerp! I'm going to the hospital. I'll be back in a few."

He didn't move, she shrugged and headed for the door. Halfway out the door, she was stopped when she felt something snake around her wrist. She yelped in surprise only to find Timmy grabbing her wrist.

Vicki had almost jumped out of her skin, "Jesus! You scared the crap out me. What is it?"

Timmy let go of her and sheepishly looked at his feet then looked up at her. "D-Do you want anyone to go with you?"

Great, now he was back to being a stuttering shy kid. Vicki sighed, she hated hospitals and she did want someone to go with her, usually that someone was Tootie. With her being gone, that only left Timmy. She definitely didn't want Timmy going because she didn't want him to see her like that. She had no choice though.

She knew she wouldn't be able to do this alone. "...Yeah, I guess. But you're going to have to get dressed." Vicki had tried to plat it off like she didn't care if he went or not but Timmy's face grew into a small smile before he raced upstairs.

Maybe he just didn't want to be alone anymore? He's probably just tired of being cooped up in the house all day. Either way, Vicki decided the kid needed a day out. He came walking down the stairs in his signature pink hat and t-shirt with blue jeans.

"Let's get this over with." She closed the door and locked it before they piled into her car and sped off towards downtown Dimmsdale.


AN: Sorry this turned up so late. I thought I would be home for the evening but those hopes were dashed. Just a quick update: I won't have time to update the two stories until about Monday. I'll be doing a lot more traveling than I would like but the upside is that I will be writing nonstop while I'm on the road. Have a good weekend, everyone!