A/N: This one's a little longer. xD I got really into it. Anyways, thanks so much you guys, for all the reviews. I'm surprised that I haven't gotten one bad one yet. ^^ Love you all, enjoy the chapter ~

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Chapter 7: Gotta Say Goodbye

It's all incredibly frustrating. Since she'd been reduced back to her normal size, General Monger has made all the arrangements needed to return Susan home. The more she talks about going home to see her parents and her friends, the more I'm convinced that this is likely the end for 'Ginormica'. A feeling of deep regret has settled in my chest, and I can't help but feel guilty about it. I want what's best for our Susan, I truly do, but the constant thought that I most likely will never see her again weighs at my heart in a way I find impossible to describe.

"Make sure you take a good, long dip in the pool for me."

Link's voice brings me back out of my thoughts and I tried to focus and figure out what they were talking about. It was strange to have Susan sitting at the table across from me.

"I will," Susan promised, smiling longingly. Ahh, Modesto again, it seemed. Not that I'm surprised. It seemed the be most popular topic for the past couple of days. "Maybe the General will let me visit you guys some time."

The chances of that are zero to none. I think all of us -- with the exclusion of BOB -- know that, but we all pretend not to know. "That would be wonderful," I throw in, getting an almost surprised look from Link and Susan. Had I really been so quiet for that long?

Susan was the first to snap out of the surprise, that always lovely smile of hers finding its way onto her face again. "Anything you'd like me to do for you, Doctor?"

Before I could even think of answering, BOB beat me to it. "Tell mom and dad that I missed them!"

Glancing to the side to look at the brainless mass, Susan laughed. "I'll do that." I suppose she didn't have the heart to explain things again.

She looked at me again, but again before I could answer, a roar echoed in the room. "Insecto says you should do some traveling," Link clarified for all of us.

We've all already traveled quite a bit in those three months we were allowed to go about free, but we all know Susan still wants to see more. And she's momentarily distracted by the idea, talking about going to Hawaii -- she'd been too big for the islands before -- and Japan.

I'm only reminded again: She won't want to come back. "Excuse me," I say, taking an old dishrag from my tray to snack on as I stand from the table and start toward my cell.

I flinch at the pause from the others, able to feel their eyes on the back of my head, and my antennae twitch in reaction to it. "What's wrong with him?" Link grunts, and I can almost feel him raising an eyebrow.

There's another roar from Insectosaurus and Link bursts out laughing behind me. "Yeah right, you're crazy Insecto!"

For the first time since my experiment accident, I begin to wonder if cockroaches blush. Insectosaurus had always been incredibly observant, and Link's response makes me wonder exactly what the giant fuzzball had said. I retreat quickly to my room before I can find out.

There I keep myself busy with my 'toybox', as Monger calls it, hearing the others' voices only distantly. It keeps me distracted until dinner rolls arouns, and by then I'm starting to believe that I may very well have come up with a cure for lupus. I'll never know for sure, considering Monger won't allow the scientists around her to use my data and inventions.

"Dr. Cockroach?" There's that voice again, though considerably quieter than the last time. Looking up from my work, I see her leaning on the frame of my door, one hand gripping her opposite arm a little self-consciously.

"Yes, my dear Susan?" I ask, standing from my positions and turning to face her, holding myself at my full height, which again feels strange, considering I'm now taller than her.

She shrugged a little, glancing at my latest work probably out of pure curiousity. "I just wanted to check on you is all."

Her words make the weight on my chest feel a little bit lighter. "That's very kind of you. There's nothing to worry about here."

"Yeah," she agreed, speaking in a surprisingly soft tone, "I guess not."

I can't help but pick up some little emotion in that. "Is something wrong, my dear?"

She released a heavy sigh, focusing her attention back on me. "It's just... I'm leaving tonight."

"Tonight? Is it that time already?" I feign my surprise. I'd already known.

Susan nods her confirmation, biting her lip. She seems unsure of what to say, and I decide to help her out a bit.

Stepping closer, I hold a hand out to her. "It's been a pleasure, Susan."

For a moment, she looks down at my hand, but her gaze wanders back up to me. I'm surprised when she pushes my hand away and instead throws her arms around my neck in a tight hug. I stumble a little to catch myself, stunned and not knowing what to do in response.

"Thank you so much. Doctor. You're absolutely amazing." She shakes her head, holding onto me tighter and finally I realize I should probably move, and I end up resting my hands a little awkwardly on her back.

It's a goodbye, really. For life, I'm sure. But I can't bring myself to say the words. Instead, "If... for some reason you decide you'd rather be here, I'll have the quantonium waiting."

Susan laughs into my shoulder, ducking her head. "Okay," she answers softly. "I'll remember that."

There's a brief silence in which she slowly releases me and pulls back to look at me. Are those tears in her eyes? "Bye Dr. Cockroach."

I'm frozen in my exoskeleton when she shifts to stand on her tiptoes and kisses me on the cheek. She's hurrying out the door before I can collect myself. 'Goodbye..."