Two weeks later, Caroline hadn't broken her promise to Chell. Cave, on the other hand, was more involved than ever.
"I still don't think you should be touching that stuff," said Caroline as soon as she heard her office door open.
"Relax, Caroline," Cave replied with his trademark grin. "I've washed it all off."
"Still."
He threw himself down onto his chair and did a little spin. "Still what?" he asked, rolling his chair up to Caroline, who looked down at him like a mother that wasn't angry, just disappointed.
"Still, you shouldn't be getting it onto your skin in the first place," she snapped. "Don't you remember the Repulsion Gel incident?"
"Ah, but that's the nature of science. We've grown. Evolved. This one's a winner. I can feel it."
He struck a rather dramatic pose, but deflated upon seeing Caroline's cynical expression. "Listen, I appreciate your concern, Caroline, I really do. But trust me, okay?"
After a few moments of silence, Caroline sighed. "Yes, sir."
That conversation was repeated in some form many times a day. Of course she wouldn't break her promise to Chell, but every time Cave came through that door with a huge grin and a spark in his eyes, Caroline felt a little bit of weight lift from her chest. Maybe 'washing it off' actually works, she mused.
Then one day, he coughed.
At first it was only small. Caroline figured it was just all the yelling taking its toll. Then she assumed a cold. But then it didn't stop. She was sure she was just being paranoid. Yes, just paranoid. Of course she'd expect the worst after what Chell had said.
Nevertheless, she soon found herself stood outside Chell and Wheatley's office, her hand hovering over the handle. She took a deep breath, plastered a smile on her face and swung the door open.
"Afternoon, Miss Caroline! How can we help ya?" asked Wheatley in his usual chipper way.
"Ah, I'm just popping in to say hello," she said.
"Is everything okay?" Chell asked.
"Oh, yes, yes. Everything's fine, don't worry, my dear." She paused for a moment. "Cave seems to be coming down with a bit of a cough, but that's nothing we can't handle." As an afterthought, she let out a nervous laugh.
Wheatley immediately began talking about every cold remedy his entire extended family (including pets) had ever used. Chell, on the other hand, turned ghostly white.
On the bright side, at least Caroline now knew that she wasn't just being paranoid.
It took a week for Cave to realise that something was wrong, and another to realise exactly how wrong. Acceptance was definitely off the table, however. He'd decided death would have to take him kicking and screaming.
He was determined to make his time count, whether that be months or days. And he'd be damned if that didn't mean having fun.
"Aperture Staff Party. Friday evening in the lobby. All invited," he wheezed down his microphone. "Except John from accounting. You're fired. Effective immediately."
As soon as he switched the microphone off, Caroline entered the room. She carefully placed a mug of coffee down in front of Cave and put one hand on his back.
"A staff party, eh?" she said softly.
"To raise-" he coughed- "To raise morale."
"And you're sure you'll be fit enough?"
"You just watch me."
Caroline laughed lightly. "A true leader." To the end.
Wheatley paced up and down his office, a single red rose in hand.
"Hey, Chell," he said, despite the fact that it was only him in the room, "you, me, that party. Whaddya say?" He paused for a moment, the rose outstretched, then he shook his head. "No, no. Too casual, too casual." He cleared his throat and resumed the pacing.
"Hello, Chell. I would like to formally invite to you to attend the party. With me. As… As my date." He shook his head again. "Hey, pretty lady, got a date for that party yet? Oh, no, that's too weird. And what if she says yes? What if that good looking lab boy got to her first? What if-"
"What on earth are you doing?" came a voice from behind him.
Wheatley spun around to see Chell stood in the doorframe. "Oh! Chell! I, uh…" he remembered the rose in his hands and tried to hide it behind his back.
Chell raised a single eyebrow.
"Well, uh, I was wondering, if, you know, you're free… The party… With me… Wanna go?" He thrust the rose into her arms as he flushed to match the colour of the petals.
Chell laughed, causing Wheatley to somehow out-red the roses. "I'd be delighted to."
Friday came before anyone could blink, and before they knew it, the party was upon them.
Caroline had once again gladly risen to the task of dressing Chell up, so very sweetly insisting that Chell should definitely wear the heels.
They approached Aperture together, where they spotted Wheatley waiting outside the door. His tuxedo was very him, with a bow-tie and trousers that were just short enough to show off his odd socks. He saw the two of them approaching and waved.
Caroline gave Chell a sly smile. "Go get 'em," she whispered before tottering off through the front door.
Chell felt her cheeks burn as she approached Wheatley, sincerely hoping that it didn't show.
"S-shall we?" Wheatley asked, holding out his arm.
Chell smiled softly, linking her own arm through his. "Let's go."
Within minutes, Chell discovered that Wheatley was a terrible, terrible dancer. This information wasn't particularly surprising, but experiencing it first-hand was an experience and a half. Although his flailing initially earned him one or two strange looks, people eventually decided to join in once they were sufficiently intoxicated.
"Yeah, that's right!" Wheatley called over the music. "Nice and loose, nice and loose." He demonstrated by wiggling his arms around.
"Like this?" Chell called back, imitating him.
"Perfect! Absolutely brilliant! You're a natural!"
Chell collapsed into a fit of giggles as she grabbed hold of Wheatley's hand.
Wheatley spun her around and pulled her closer, placing one hand on her waist. Chell didn't protest, in fact, she did the same to him. Her heart fluttered. Every fibre of her being was screaming closer. Closer. When Chell first looked into his eyes, those brilliant blue eyes, she saw the robot she vowed never to trust again. But now when she looked, she saw something so human. So very, very human. And it made her heart sing.
Then the song faded, and the sound of cutlery hitting glass rang out through the air.
With the magic of the moment gone like a leaf in the breeze, they both looked up in curiosity.
Chell potted Cave Johnson hobbling out towards the podium, holding Caroline's arm for support. Caroline had said he was getting worse, but Chell hadn't been prepared for that. Judging by the way Wheatley's hand tightened around hers, he hadn't expected it either.
"Everybody, I have an announcement," he said, his voice low and raspy.
In an instant, all sound vanished from the room. You almost wouldn't guess that it was still full to the brim with people.
"I'd like to propose a project. he continued, "A huge project. An incredible project. A project so magnificent we won't even need to use words to tell those jokes over at Black Mesa exactly where to-"
"Sir."
Cave cleared his throat. "Right. Sorry, Caroline."
He flicked a switch and the screen lit up behind him.
Chell's stomach dropped to the very bottom of old Aperture as she read the big, bold letters that now filled the wall.
It was like looking into that amber optic all over again.