Author's Note: Sorry about the short lengths of the chapters. I guess I have a pretty small attention span, but it seems to flow better this way, at least in my addled brain. Please keep reviewing. are the descriptions of the characters/situations okay? I'm a dialogue person; I always write that first and have to fit everything else around it; let me know if you think I could expound a little more or if I've gone off track somewhere. :)
Elena Vadillo walked down a dimly-lit hallway, surprised to see a sliver of muted light as she turned a corner on the way to her room. She approached quietly and peered into the room by way of its partially-open door. Seeing its occupant sitting at the small desk, she knocked lightly and stepped inside, smiling when Daniel twisted in his chair to see who had broken his reverie: it had been many years since she'd seen him last, but his habits were much the same: he was working late into the evening with only the small desk lamp; Elena could also see a cup of coffee half-hidden by his arm.
"Getting started already?" she questioned, keeping a fair amount of distance between them, still conscious of just how many years it had been.
Daniel returned her smile and closed the book he'd been reading. "I'm a little rusty." He removed his glasses and rubbed a hand over his eyes.
Elena took the opportunity to flip on the overhead light. Daniel removed his hand only to begin blinking furiously at the new brightness that had invaded the small room.
"Ow. What'd you do that for?'
"This is why you have to have glasses. Besides, much more is revealed in the light than in the darkness." Elena scolded, noting how this light exposed just how tired the young man looked. Her tone softened. "Do you need anything?"
"No." He replied quickly, then amended. "No, thank you. I'm fine."
His response brought another smile to the older woman's face: so much the same. "You are as fine as you are rusty." She waited for a sign of recognition. "Kurt didn't tell you that he would be here."
Daniel's brow furrowed at her declaration; he was silent for a moment before conceding to her insight: these were the people who knew him before he had refined the ability to hide his emotions when he needed to. "No." Daniel sighed. "I assumed if he were here, you wouldn't need me."
"Maybe so." Elena admitted. "In any case, he's not been much help. Seems to think he's above this... above us." she reflected. "Maybe he'll pick up some interest now that you're here."
Daniel raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Why's that?"
"Harrison always did love competition, didn't he?" was the cryptic reply. "You get some sleep, dear." Elena stepped back out of the room. "We have an early day tomorrow."
Daniel watched as she flipped the light back off and closed the door, sending him back into semi-darkness.