Chapter 29

"Oh my God, it's a wee-itch!" Brian called out when Kim came into the room.

"Oh my God, it's one of the Seven Dwarfs! I think Snow White is looking for you," she responded.

"Smart ass." He flipped Kim off.

"No thanks, I'm not that desperate," she deadpanned.

"Do you two ever stop?" Denise asked, looking up from a stack of papers she had been working on.

"The day they do stop, Dee, is the day we all should worry," Cricket said. "If nothing else, it makes great comic relief."

"Kim's face alone is comic relief," Brian laughed.

"Ha! Speak for yourself, Elf Boy," Kim shot back.

"Paul's right about one thing, I don't see why those two just admit they like each other and go get a room," Carol chuckled.

"No thanks," Kim said, making a face. "The raise I got was a big enough joke."

"Be thankful you got a raise," Brian said. "I could have kicked you to the curb a year and a half ago."

"And you didn't because nobody else would be dumb or hard up enough to work for your happy ass for slave wages."

"Ungrateful bitch," he teased, then asked, "You seen PL anywhere?"

"Not my day to watch him, but he's home with Lana and will roll in soon. She's sick again."

"Still?"Denise perked up. "I thought she was supposed to see the doctor."

Kim shrugged. "She did. They said everything looked okay, but they took some blood. I don't know if she heard about that or not."

"My God, you don't think she went back on—" Cricket began.

"No," Denise said firmly. "If Lana was getting stoned on pills again, trust me, I'd be the first to notice it."

"As would PL," Brian added. "He'd have her ass in rehab faster than anyone would think."

"No question," Kim nodded in agreement. "You know, I can go down and check on her over lunch."

"Would you?" Denise asked. "I would feel a little more reassured knowing she was all right."

"She's been sick off and on since the fire at the hotel where we stood about a month back," Carol said. "Surely some doctor can find something wrong. It's just not normal to be that sick for this long."

"Like I said, last I heard, she didn't get the stuff back from the blood tests. Maybe they found some shit in there," Kim replied.

"Well, whatever it is, I hope she gets back on track soon," Carol responded. "She's been pretty good for morale around here, not to mention terribly efficient."

"Yeah, unlike some people I know, she actually earns what PL pays her," Brian quipped.

"Very funny, ass wipe," Kim shot back, dialing a number. "You'd be lost without me."

"Who are you calling? Don't be running up my bill."

"Hell. I want to see if they're hiring. Oh wait, never mind; I already work there."

"Figures I'd get a smart answer."

"Actually, I'm leaving a message for Lana that I'll be by over lunch."

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure you weren't calling China since that's my phone."

"Trust me, across town is hardly long distance. Now go find your boyfriend; he should be coming in any time now."