Of Burnt Pancakes and Lead Lined Spare Rooms
AN: OK, so this is a continuation of the the flashback that was the previous chapter. I decided I need to give more background before he heads to college. Sorry about the long delay!
Gordon was surprised to learn that he had the same eyeglass prescription as Li, and as such had inherited her spare office pair, which had the same distinct thick square lenses.
Li had offered to give Gordon a lift to her friends house after her shift, and he accepted. As soon as Li started the engine, he knew something was different about it besides its odd looks.
"What's different about this car?"
"It uses a combination of electrical and gas power to increase efficiency. The main computer controls the ratio for optimum mileage,"
"Hmm. How does it deal with energy lost during breaking?"
"It actually has an electronic breaking system. There are coils and magnets around the axle, and if they are connected in a certain manner they will produce current which increases the magnetic field, and resists movement."
As they continued their conversation on the attributes of Dr. Liah's car, Gordon felt his eyes begin to droop, and his answers to her queries became gradually more unintelligible, until he stopped responding altogether.
Dr. Liah smiled. Her young friend had nodded off to sleep despite his interest in their discussion of her car. She nearly missed the next stop sign when she realized she had forgotten to call Dr. Antons and ask about the spare room he had.
Li pulled off to the side of the road and stepped out of the car to make the call—it wasn't necessary, she knew, but she didn't want to disturb Gordon.
"Hello Dr. Antons, it's Dr. Liah,"
"Good evening Li, how are you doing today?"
"I'm doing just fine. By the way, you're no longer the only one who uses that infernal nickname."
"Ah, I have competition."
"Anyway, your 'competition' is currently called Gordon. He's an amnesiac who woke up near the hospital, and I was wondering if he could stay in your spare room?"
"Err... I'm afraid the room is currently uninhabitable at the moment."
"What do you mean uninhabitable? If it's messy I can help you clean it up."
"Well- it's not messy per se. I was bringing home one of my isotope experiments to work on. What I hadn't noticed was that the shielding was cracked. I dropped it accidentally, and it all fell off and spilled onto the bench. Rather than expose myself to gamma radiation I ran out of the room and shut the door."
"Wait, so you were using your spare room as a radiation laboratory? And don't gamma rays pass through wood and concrete?"
"Yes they do, but I fortunately had the foresight to line the room with lead. Rather expensive but worth it now in my opinion. And since the isotope I was using has a relatively short half-life, I'll be able to clean it up in a few years without risk."
Dr. Liah shook her head.
"I'm not going to lecture you on lab safety. That is supposed to be paramount you know. You'll probably just do the same thing in a few years after you clean it up. I guess I'll put Gordon up at my place then."
"Yes, yes, that would be best. After all your maternal clock is ticking. Bye!" With that parting shot, Dr. Ben Antons hung up the phone.
"Urrgh!" growled Dr. Liah. "I'll get you for that or my name isn't Xiang Do Liah!"
As she got in the car again, though, she realized he really was right. "I shouldn't kid myself- I'm getting older, and I am partly responding to a desire to be a mother, if only for a little while."
"Well, at least I won't have to go through labor or change any diapers" she mused quietly aloud. "It really just feels right giving him a home, but will he want one?"
Her musings were broken as her house came into view sooner than she had anticipated. She pulled into the driveway, and looked over him one more time. A line of drool was making its way down the corner of his mouth. Li couldn't help it—she burst out laughing at the sight. Gordon's eyes snapped open, and every muscle in his body tensed briefly.
"You alright there Gordon? Sorry about startling you, but you were drooling in your sleep," said Dr. Liah.
Gordon had calmed down within a few seconds of waking up, and after detecting no immediate threat, responded to her question.
"I'm fine now, just a little bit jumpy I suppose."
"That's fine. I'm afraid to say Dr. Antons didn't have that spare room anymore, so I figured I would put you up at my place. You don't mind do you?"
"Not at all. Are you sure you want to put up with me though?"
Dr. Liah gave Gordon a look.
"Yes, come help me set up the guest room. It'll be just about bedtime by the time that's done."
It took the better part of a few hours, but cleaning up her guest room was much faster than waiting for Antons' isotopes to decay.
Gordon awoke to the smell of something burning. He jumped out of bed, following the smell until it led him to the kitchen, where Dr. Liah had apparently attempted to make pancakes.
Dr. Liah was wafting smoke out the kitchen window when she noticed Gordon come rushing in. She grimaced and said "I think that cereal sounds like a good idea, don't you?"
Gordon just laughed, and gave her a big grin. He had found a home.
AN: Thats it for this chapter, next one might take a while but not nearly so long. Thanks for the reviews! Those were what finally got me to finish this chapter.