LINGER
Characters are not mine… this fic has been sitting in my closet for several months, I can't seem to get anywhere on Collide, Alone, a Tale of two friends, or well… anything for that matter, so I figured I'd type this up. Enjoy!
Chapter 5:
After several hours, a quick stop for ice-cream and an amusing display of watching Greg try to balance several large bags without falling; they finally made it back home.
Greg fell back onto the couch, setting several bags down. Elicia smiled and sat next to him, cuddling against him, quickly falling asleep from the events of the day.
He looked down at the bags scattered about the floor, reaching for his cell phone. "Hey, Sara." He said quietly into the receiver. "I know you just got off work, but I was wondering if you wanted to help me set up Elicia's room?" he asked.
"Sure, Greggo. I'll be right over," she told him.
Greg smiled doing a little mental happy dance. "Great," he said. "See ya then!"
Several minutes later Sara arrived, gaping at the pile of bags on the floor. "Jeez, Greg. Did you leave anything in the store?" she teased.
He laughed, glancing at the little girl still soundly asleep on the couch.
"Where do you want to start?" she asked.
He grabbed the nearest bag. "Let's just get everything sorted out first…" he suggested, pulling out several horse stuffed animals.
Sara smiled. "Lemme guess… she LOVES horses?"
"Nice observation Sherlock," he grinned back.
It took a while but Sara and Greg finally finished decorating Elicia's room. Horse posters, sheets, pillow, plushies, books, and more were now in arather organized order in the room.
"That took forever," Sara said, accepting the cup of coffee he offered her.
He smiled. "I'll go get her," and moved beside the couch. He shook her awake. "Hey, Elicia. I've got a surprise for you." He said, lifting her into his arms and walking toward her room.
He set her down outside the door, pushing it open, kneeling beside her. The little girl gaped and turned to face him, slinging her arms around his neck. "Thanks Daddy!" she smiled happily.
"Sara helped me, too," he said as she appeared from around the corner, grinning as well.
Sara was rather surprised when two little arms latched onto her waist, hugging her as well. "Thanks, Sara!" she said, much less shy than she had been at the lab.
"I have an idea," Greg said, turning to Sara and Elicia. "How bout the three of us go to the park?"
Elicia's eyes seemed to light up. "Can we?" she asked.
Sara nodded her agreement as Greg scooped her up again. "Let's go," he said, smiling, grabbing Sara's hand and pulling them all outside.
Greg and Sara sat on the bench by the swing set where Elicia was playing.
"I'm glad you decided to join us," Greg said.
Sara smiled. "And let you have all the fun?" getting up and walking over toward the swings and taking the one beside Elicia.
After a moment Greg got up and joined them, giving each of them a slight push in the process. He smiled; sitting on the swing on Elicia's other side. "Having fun?" he asked.
She nodded, smiling. "A blast."
"I'm glad," he replied.
After a while Elicia finished swinging and wandered over to the jungle gyms, Greg and Sara leaning against the bars.
Talking amongst themselves while keeping an eye on Elicia, several more minutes passed.
"Sara," Elicia said, now standing in front of her. "Can you fix my hair tie?"
Sara smiled, "Sure, sweetie," and took the hair scrunchie the little girl offered. "Turn around."
Elicia did as she was asked, and Sara began pulling her dirty blonde hair into a high pony-tail.
Sara hesitated a moment, spotting deep purple bruises on the back of the girls neck. "Greg," she nudged his arm.
He looked down and spotted the bruises. Elicia turned to face them. "What happened, baby?" he asked, pulling her into his arms.
I think I'll be evil and stop there… I'll update again soon… REVIEW!
