15. Oops

9:02 AM, Tuesday.
Kim awoke slowly and calmly, somewhat cleansed of the emotional flood of last night. The long talk with William, and the surreal dream (?) with Angelica went a long way to help. Kim thought about the uncanny correlation between William's dream and hers - but then, through the months that she had known her, Kim came to accept that she shouldn't be surprised about much that Angelica did - or could - do.

She quietly sat up and looked at William, who was still sound asleep. His expression was calm and soft. Sleep well-deserved, she thought, after the roller coaster she had put him through the night before. Kim wasn't usually the type to impose on others, especially when it came to her emotions; But the news of Angelica's death had taken her from the blind side, overwhelming her ability to control herself. It was rare - but last night, Kim needed help with her loss. She needed someone to be there.

And William was there. He said nothing about her using his phone. He tried to console her. It was more than just being kind - Wiliam actually seemed to care - he showed concern over her grief. He had ridden that roller coaster with her, instead of just being a bystander, watching her take that scary ride. Kim broke into a small smile. She was indeed glad to be here with William.

William was asleep. This would be a good time, she thought, to try to call Ron.

Kim slowly stood and draped the afghan over William. She sat on the floor in front of the end table and dialed the phone, glancing up at William again while she counted four rings.

"Hi there," she spoke in a lowered voice. "It's me...yes, I heard...I called Wade right after I found out...he must have called you right afterward. I know it bites...it really does...a drunk driver hit her...I don't know too many details about it, but I'll try to find out more, if I can...please don't cry, Ron." She swept a tear from her own cheek.

"You have to be strong, for me...and for Angelica. There are a lot of people there who you can talk to...you'll be okay. I know you will. Try to find and talk with Misty...I think she knew Angelica best."

Kim let out a long sigh and brushed her hair back with her fingers. "Yeah...I'm okay...I'm doing better, especially this morning...yeah...Sunday night...William...he's the one who told me...he really helped when I lost it...he's neat, Ron...I think you'd like him...he bought me a ton of clothes yesterday, and get this - he fixed steak for dinner last night...yes, steak! It was so big, I couldn't eat it all! And he even had Wor-chester--Worster--that sauce I really like...just dreamy, Ron...I could almost cut it with fork, and it just melted in--"

The phone beeped. Kim reacted instinctively. "Incoming call, Ron. I'll email you in a day or so and tell you more. 'K, bye." She pressed the "flash" button - and winced immediately, gritting her teeth, realizing what she did.

A pregnant silence. Then--a cautious "Hello?"

"Hello? Good morning," a rather cheery voice on the other end said.

"Uhhh...good morning?"

"This is David Morris. Is William Hodge there, please."

"Y-yes," said Kim, trying to contain a small flash of panic. "Just one moment, please."

William was wakened by Kim, her hand on his shoulder, nudging him to and fro, her other hand covering the mouthpiece. "William...William? It's your boss!"

He stirred for a quick second - then snapped fully awake. "I was on the phone with Ron, and he beeped in. I clicked over before even thinking," said Kim in a slightly frantic whisper, still wincing and extending her arm, offering the phone to William.

He held up his hand, waving it slightly. "There's no problem," he said almost in a whisper, and took the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi William. David Morris here. I'm on conference with Lee in Data Operations. Just wanted to give you the setup for you to dial in. Do you have a pen and paper?"

William reached to the table for a pad and clicked a pen, readying it against the paper. "Go, Lee."

William had never met Lee in person, but had talked with him several times on the phone, when snags came up with files or operations in the department. The gruff voice of the older man came over the phone. "Hey William, how ya doin'. Here's the info for your access. You want to get to a command prompt. Ya know how to do that?"

Lee was the type who had to talk everyone through everything before he could be satisfied that it was done "right." He just couldn't grasp that other people might be computer literate, too. "Yes," William replied, trying to resist returning the same condescending tone.

"Okay, when ya open that, type in 'telnet'...t-e-l-n-e-t. Then a space...and then these numbers: 213-dot-87-dot-45-dot-112. The dot is the same as the period, ya know."

William jotted down the IP; then flipped to another sheet, wrote something quickly and showed it to Kim, who had sat on the couch next to him, still a little apprehensive about David hearing her. The paper read, "Lee - BOSSY - nag nag nag." He then rolled his eyes. Kim brought her hand over her mouth to try to stifle a giggle. William flipped the sheet back over. "Okay Lee."

"Then ya get to a login screen. I set your username as the capital letter 'W' - then an underscore, that's a shift-and-the-dash-key - then capital 'H' and little 'o-d-g-e.'

"Gosh, Lee," said William as he finished writing the username. "That's the same as my last name!" He heard a muffled snicker from David. He turned to Kim, whose hand was still over her mouth. Her eyes had narrowed and she was bouncing slightly with laughter. He pointed to the phone, then swept his hand over his head in a 'whoosh' motion. A small squeak escaped from Kim. She grabbed the pillow from the couch and hugged it against her, her eyes peeking over the top.

Lee continued. "Now your password William. It's 'rookie,' all in little letters. 'r-o-o-k-i-e.' Don't let anyone else see that, William."

Duhhh...

William looked at Kim again with a wide grin, pointed to the phone, and brought the back of his hand to his forehead, thumb and forefinger extended into the letter "L." Kim couldn't help but laugh into the pillow - "hmmm-hm-hm-hm-hmmm."

"Ya got that, William?" said Lee. "If ya have any problems or forget something, you can call David or me. Talk to ya later."

"Thanks, Lee," he replied.

William then heard the click as the conference closed. "Heh. Ya gooot thaaaat, Willlliaaaaam?" mocked David.

William snickered. "Yeah. He's a real piece of work."

"True. But he keeps the place running like a clock - even if it is a cuckoo clock."

William laughed out loud. "Yep. Okay. I'll start looking for the data about 12:30...and you should have the reports in your inbox no later than 3:30."

"I'll look forward to those," said David. Alright, you're all set. Go get 'em."

William was about to hang up when David added, "William?"

"Hm?"

"The girl who first answered the phone...was that your 'company'?"

"Yep. Her name's Kim," he said, looking over at her. She poked his arm, lowering the pillow slightly, her chin resting on it, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"Does she look anywhere near as good as she sounds?" asked David jokingly.

William turned to Kim, looking her over slowly. "Yes....yes, I'd have to say she does." Kim's mouth dropped open.

"Hmmm," David said. "Think she has a sister?"

Now William's jaw dropped. He pointed to the phone repeatedly while sticking out his tongue. "No, I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a sister--"

Kim quickly bit the top of the pillow and froze, her eyes still wide and tearing a little from laughing.

"--but she has this friend - Bonnie, I think her name is - I could try to hook you up with her."

Kim threw herself back onto the couch, one hand holding the pillow over her face, the other arm clutching her stomach, trying to hold back her laughter. She kicked her legs out, shaking them in the air. A well-muffled "uurrrggghhh," broken with laughter, came from the pillow.

"Sounds like a plan," David said. William had to bite his lower lip.

"Okay, David. Thanks again for letting me set this up. Later."

William held the phone out in Kim's direction and pressed the button, so she could hear the "beep" as he hung up. All he said was, "Clear."

It was like a Pavlovian starter's bell.

"AHH, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Kim's body jerked as her laughter broke free, pealing through the apartment. She rolled to her side, still laughing loudly. Her eyes were tightly closed and her face began to turn red. She gasped, "You SO! did not say that to your boss!"

"Hey - he asked," said William through his own laughter.

Kim exhaled with a burst, her mouth wide open as she turned and fell from the couch onto her knees, the last of her breath turning to more laughter.

This was the other end of the spectrum from last night, thought William - and he would rather make her feel like this any day.

Kim rose to the couch again, nearly breathless from her laughter, and curled her arms tightly around William. "That was just too great," she cooed by his ear. "You rock, William."

"We needed that," William agreed. He needed this, too - Kim's touch was now flowing with warmth, immersing him.

Kim drew back, smiling widely. "Yeah." Then - "Whoa."

"Hm?"

"Know what would be totally weird?" she said. "What if David believed in Cellers, too? Then he really could meet Bonnie."

"I have no idea," replied William. "But..I thought you said that evil Cellers couldn't do the Cross."

Kim giggled in falsetto, wiping an eye with the back of her finger. "Bonnie's not evil - just jealous."

"I've never really met David - and I wouldn't be sure how to approach him with the concept. Although..." he paused.

"What?"

"He...did ask if you looked as good as you sounded on the phone."

Kim blushed and turned away slightly. "That's....that's when you looked at me and told him 'yes, I'd have to say she does'?" she asked.

William nodded, smiling.

Kim smiled again, looking up at him. "You know, there's a list of crosses the agents have. I could get Wade to check it when I email him. What's David's last name again? Morris?"

"Yeah."

"I'll ask him then."

William's face then shifted to a mock pout. Kim pulled away again. "William...? What's wrong??"

"Hmph. I'll bet BONNIE would let DAVID serve roasted skunk butt in a light hollandaise."

Kim gave a thoughtful look for a few seconds, her finger to her lips. Then her mouth curled into an evil grin. "Nooo," she said. "That would be too much like....cannabalism or something."

"Meee-yow!" William said, smiling and curling his hand into a claw, making small swipes and little "f-f-f-fft" noises in Kim's direction. "Now who's evil?"

"I'm not evil," said Kim, patting her hand flat on his chest rather firmly and pushing off to stand. "I'm hungry!"

William put his hand on his knees and bent forward to get up from the couch "Well...let's see what I can fix--"

Kim put her hands on his shoulders and pinned him back into a sitting position, leaning over him. "Nonononononono," she said, wagging her finger. "I like to cook - but I don't get much chance to do any of it." She tapped the pad of her finger on the tip of his nose. "I'm making breakfast." She stood up and went to the kitchen.

William thought for a second about how he and Kim were interacting - how they were meshing so easily. "Celler food requires no cooking?" he asked.

"So not," said Kim, leaning her face back into the living room. Then she disappeared into the kitchen, her hair flourishing behind her like a short red contrail.

William wondered if there was any traffic approaching in the other lane of the two-way street.

A clatter snatched him back to reality. He stood up quickly. "Kim??"

"No no - you sit down," she said from the other room. "I just dropped a pan. It's okay. You just stay in there. I want to surprise you."

William sat back down. He thought about the gamut of emotions that Kim had gone through in just the last 12 or so hours...and how easily the current of those emotions sucked him into their undertow. His mind went back to when he lost his parents four years ago - and how hard that hit him. Perhaps that acted to help William with helping Kim through her loss - he'd been there before. Even though it seemed too strange to be true or rational, he also wondered how much the dream with Angelica helped Kim, and what Angelica "said" to her that seemed to calm her and help her through this trauma; God knows he didn't have much to offer. No words of condolence. He was basically just there, someone to hold onto during a vunerable time. He wished he was better at the "feel good" phrases that people seem to want to hear when they were dealing with a loss.

William thought about how quickly Kim seemed to bounce back - crying her eyes out last night - laughing her head off the next morning. He tried to compare it with the way Wyle E. Coyote always got up and walked away after falling off a tall cliff and making a three-foot deep hole when he hit.

He mentally slapped himself. Shame on you.

"William? Where are your spices?"

"Uhhh....cupboard between the stove and the sink."

"Thanks."

William sat back, taking in the industrious sounds and smells coming from his kitchen - the refrigerator opening and closing several times; the quick rhythm of a metal whisk against a bowl; the faint hint of cinnamon; the soft language of things placed on a hot griddle; cupboards opening and closing, and the sounds of items inside those cupboards as they were removed.

William thought for a moment that the ambient aroma of vanilla that had been added to the apartment with Kim's arrival was a little stronger than usual. He wondered if she perspired vanilla, too.

"Are you ready?" a bright voice called from the kitchen.

"For anything." he replied.

Kim walked into the living room, drying her hands on a dishtowel, and placing it on the back of the tall chair on this side of the breakfast nook. She held out her hand and pulled William to his feet.

William pointed to a white powdery spot on her nose. "Flour? Or powdered sugar?"

She crossed her eyes to look at the end of her nose and giggled. Then she tapped her index finger against the spot, and turned her hand, presenting her finger to William. "You tell me," she said.

He brought her finger to his mouth, kissing it lightly. The powder could now be drain cleaner for all he cared. He applied just the slightest suction to the tip of her finger to remove the rest of the substance, and watched her other fingers curl in as he did. He then pulled back, smacking his lips a couple of times, trying to look like he was weighing evidence. "Inconclusive," he said.

"Try again," said Kim, touching her fingertip to her nose again.

William heard the barest tone of a faint train whistle.

He took her hand...moved it slightly to the side...and bent down. It was at this moment that he wished his aim would be just a bit off.

He pressed his lips against the tip of her nose for a second - swimming in the mix of Kim's essence and the warmth of her face, now so near - then straightened up, smacking his lips and looking thoughtful again.

There was a rather surprised expression on Kim's face - just for a second - then she looked up at him coyly, a slight blush to her cheeks. "Well?"

"I'm not sure," said William, still pretending to study the taste. "It...might be sugar - but I'm confused. Perhaps if I were to taste it again when it's not on you."

"Awww, William," she cooed. "That's sweet."

"Oh. Must be sugar, then," he smirked.

"Heh. You," she grinned. "C'mon. Breakfast will get cold. Turn around." She reached up from behind and covered his eyes, walking him around to the chair on the kitchen side of the nook. "Don't peek."

William sat and moved the backgammon board out of the way, letting the pieces from one side slide into the other and closing it. Kim then slipped a plate past William's shoulder and set it in front of him. Three pieces of french toast, a rich shade of gold, each with a thin pat of butter and a sprinkling of powdered sugar, and a criss-cross of syrup.

"Wow," William managed to get out.

"Please wait until I sit down," said Kim. "I want your unbiased opinion." She brought her plate, the jug of juice and two glasses, and sat opposite him. She had made herself two slices.

William cut a corner from one of the slices. Kim sat, her hands together, fingers spread, her chin resting on her thumbs, watching.

The taste made love to his tongue. He picked up the softness of vanilla as it fought with the syrup for his taste buds. The powdered sugar made its presence known as well, while hints of cinnamon danced about, flitting here and there in his mouth. The inside of the bread was neither soggy nor dry - just the perfect inviting silkiness that melted in his mouth.

William's eyes closed as he chewed, then opened slowly. "Is this where I moan now?" he smiled.

"Don't tease," Kim said. "Do you like it?"

"This is scrumptious, Kim," he replied, cutting another bite.

Kim raised her head proudly, then cut into her own toast.

"Kim?"

"Mmmm-hmm? Yes?"

"You mentioned the vanilla as a 'fragrance'," asked William. Kim nodded, and he continued. "Am I correct in thinking that it's...more than just a frgrance?"

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"Well--" William searched for a bit of tact. "I've noticed the vanilla ever since you arrived...and even before, with the candle. But when you were in here cooking, the scent seemed to be a little...stronger. That's all." William knew that couldn't have come out right.

Kim giggled for a second, then narrowed her eyes at him, with a small grin on her face, tipping her fork at him. "You're saying you think I worked up a sweat. Is that it, Mr. Hodge?"

"No! No!" he tried to evade slightly, then coughed, mocking a statesman about to make a speech. "It was merely an observation, Miss Possible," he said in a deep voice, noting that was the first time either of them had spoken the others' last name aloud. "I didn't mean to accuse you of- I didn't think-"

"That is what you think, isn't it?" she interrupted, grinning a little wider.

His shoulders drooped. He smiled a bit, squeaking out a "yes.."

"Oh," Kim replied, satisfied that he knew she wasn't offended. "Yeah, it's more than just something you would spray on. It becomes a...part of us, until we choose a different fragrance." She took another bite and added, "And you do know that there's vanilla in the french toast, don't you?"

Another meek "yes," with a little more of a smile.

Kim chewed her bite thoughtfully. "You know, now that I think about it, this could have used just a touch more vanilla. But, there was only about a tablespoon left in the bottle."

William swallowed another bite and, while he knew she was playing, decided to get in a small compliment to 'get himself out'. "It's still great, Kim. But...you could have just breathed on the toast. That may have given it just that extra touch."

"Awwwww," she purred. "You're forgiven - not that I think you really would try to offend me anyway."

"You're right there," said William. "Say, I wanted to ask...why'd you freak when you took the call from work this morning?"

"Well," Kim said slowly, "I...didn't know if you wanted anyone to know about me."

"It's okay," he said. "I'm sure it was bound to happen sooner or later."

"But...remember how you said you'd never heard of this ever happening before? You know? Flying saucers landing in big cities?"

"Yep. I also remember how they said the 'horseless carriage' would never catch on either, and they said it 'scared the horses'," said Wiliam, taking the last bite of his breakfast. He then looked into Kim's eyes. She had a rather surprised look on her face. "I want you to know, Kim - the last thing I would ever be is ashamed of you. And besides - you're going to go stir crazy staying in this apartment all the time."

Kim didn't know what to think of William's statement. He seemed so matter-of-fact about something that no Flesher had ever done - or had the courage to even think to attempt. She then thought that there were quite a few things about William that no Flesher had done after a Cross before. She couldn't dismiss it as just naivete on William's part. Not after he had so seamlessly welcomed her into his environment, after the initial shock of her walking out of the mirror. Not after the time and effort he spent over the first few days welcoming her into his life. Not after the effort he spent the previous night trying to ease the blow of Angelica's death. It was as if -

- as if William seemed willing to do what it took to please Kim; to make her comfortable; to make her feel not as entertainment or fantasy - but a part of his life...and now he was talking about exposing her to the entire rest of his environment. Kim began to think about just what made up the man she had crossed to. What was in his head - and in his heart.

Kim looked both ways for oncoming traffic while waiting at the stop sign, so she could ease out onto the two-way street.

Her thoughts were broken with William tapping her hand. "You okay?" he said. "I hope you didn't freak over what I said." He took the plates to the sink and ran a little water over them. He turned to get the juice glasses--

And Kim was right there. She embraced him warmly. "Thank you, William," she said softly. "Thank you."

"What?" smiled William, clasping his fingers across her shoulders. "You're the one who made breakfast, not me...and a very delicious one at that. I should be thanking you."

Kim pulled away to look at him. William returned her stare, wondering what was going through her mind, after what he said about her meeting the rest of the world at some point.

William glanced at the wall clock. 10:41 AM. He looked back to Kim and grinned sheepishly. "I'll bet I don't smell much like vanilla right now. I've been wearing these jeans for three days."

Kim chuckled. "You need a fragrance!" she piped.

"I need a shower," William laughed. "Then I need to dial in to work. I can look over yesterday's reports while I'm waiting for today's stuff to start coming in."

He got the glasses from the nook and put them beside the sink, then looked at the stack of dishes. "I'll start on these after dinner tonight. Might as well have a big pile," he smiled.

"I can start on them right now," Kim offered. "Then I'll take a shower. Save me some hot waaaa-terr..." Her face began to drift into that dreamy expression again, her smile spreading.

"Breakfast was wonderful," said William. "Thanks again." He reached down and placed a small kiss on her cheek as if it were an accepted fact that it belonged there. William would later remark to himself that it almost seemed as if Kim had pushed slightly against his lips.

There could never be enough vanilla in this house, he thought as he went to the bedroom for fresh clothes; then he returned to just inside the kitchen.

"Kim?"

"Yes?"

"Did you make both your calls on the phone in the living room?"

"You know I did. Why?"

"I was just wondering...does that make it a--'celler phone' now? I never had one before."

Kim put her hand to her face and hung her head. "Ewwwww, that pun reeked!"

William smirked. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...pun-ish you."

"Owww!" Kim exclaimed. "William!" She grabbed a dish towel from the back of the chair and flung it at him, giggling.

"I better go shower - and then pun-ch in," he said. "I like to be pun-ctual, you know."

"URRGGH!" she screamed, bolting after him. He raced down the short hallway to the bathroom and slammed the door.

"Very Punny!" she said to the door in mock exasperation. She came back toward the kitchen giggling, stopping to pick up the towel.

"Wooooooo" came from the bathroom. "I'm punny! She thinks I'm punny!"

Kim fell to the floor on her side. She grabbed her stomach, trying to say "Stop" through her laughter.

to be continued...