Chell travelled home in a daze, unsure what to think, unsure if she was being cowardly by leaving, caught in cycles of argument with herself.

Doug is a common name, she reminded herself.

Yes, but there wasn't just a Doug. There was a Doug AND a Henry.

No, if it had been him he would have said something.

No he wouldn't, not if he didn't know.

A memory floated back to her: 'The other department has your file, otherwise I'd get all your information out of there.'

Both Dougs were annoyed with their Henrys that day. And he was at the bus stop on the day he said his car broke down.

Her heartrate, which she'd managed to slow, started racing again.

You just want it to be him because deep down you're terrified of meeting him and finding you don't like the way he looks. You're terrified that you're shallow, and that your shallowness will ruin everything.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, and she sat locked in indecision while the cab driver negotiated town traffic.

Suddenly, she felt stifled in the back seat, and reached forward to knock on the glass partition. The driver let her out where it was safe to do so, and she set off walking, trying to clear her head.

It's no use, I can't keep torturing myself like this. I need an answer, once and for all.

Before she could overthink it, she rattled out a text and sent it.

Me 4:53pm
Does the number 1498 mean anything to you?

Even if it proved to be a dead end, she would ask him to meet up or send a photo. Anything to stop the endless wondering. At first it had been fun, a game, almost, but as they grew closer, as time passed, it became something she could no longer be flippant about.

She glanced at her screen, seeing the little 'read' icon underneath her message. There was no indication of a reply. She understood, even as she wanted to scream in frustration. It was potentially a big question. She would just have to wait.

Doug stared at the words, re-reading them over and over. He couldn't breathe. She was…

Phone in hand, he shot to his feet, leaving his lab at a walk that was nearly a jog. He retraced his steps to Human Resources, startling the secretary.

"Do you have the file for subject 1498?" he asked breathlessly. "I need to check something."

"Uh, sure." The secretary scooted his chair backwards, opening a filing cabinet and sifting through its contents. "Here."

"Thanks."

Doug took the unassuming brown card folder, retreating with it to an empty office. His hands were shaking. Leaning against the door, he flipped the file open, noting the mug shot photo that was paperclipped to the top. He scanned the first page, finding the information in seconds.

'Subject 1498. Name: Chell…'

The rest of the words blurred before his eyes. It had been right there, within easy access the whole time. He scrubbed his face with an unsteady hand, then unexpectedly laughed. She was real. She'd been there, in that very room, less than two hours ago. He'd shaken her hand. Had she known the whole time? No, she couldn't have.

She heard Henry call me by name. The look on her face…

And she was still waiting for an answer. He drew his phone from his pocket, mind blank of any possible reply until he started typing.

Me 5:13pm
I think it might mean everything to me

It was a heartfelt, truthful reply, but one that seemed laughably free of the emotional anxiety he was going through.

Me 5:14pm
Did you make it home yet?

Chell 5:14pm
No, I needed to think. Been wandering around the park for the last 20 minutes

Me 5:14pm
Will you wait for me?

He was already moving, returning her file and jogging back to his lab for his things. Regardless of her response, he needed to get out of there.

Chell 5:15pm
Yes

Chell walked perimeters of the park's tiny lake, (more of a pond with delusions of grandeur), while she waited. Dusk was steadily falling, but the place was well-lit, and she didn't feel at all unsafe. The lights reflected on the water's calm surface, bringing the lake to life. It was peaceful, and it made her feel peaceful.

Oh, the constant nervous anticipation was still there, thrumming beneath her skin, but she felt otherwise calm. Strangely calm, considering. The thought of chickening out and leaving did not even cross her mind. There was reassurance in the knowledge that she had liked and gotten along with Dr. Rattmann before she'd known the truth. It gave her hope for their future interactions.

Resisting the urge to check her phone – for the time rather than any messages – Chell wandered the bank of the lake, pausing on a little bridge that crossed the stream leading to it. She leaned her elbows on the railings, huddling into her coat. Winter was on its way out, but it was still cold, and she hoped her nose hadn't gone red.

Her phone buzzed. Heart leaping, she tugged it out of her pocket, feeling guilty at the flare of disappointment.

Mel 5:41pm
TGIF! How was ur day?

She put the phone away, opting to reply later. Mel might want to chat and she wasn't in the mood. Besides, she had plans. Plans that her friend would probably approve of, but ones she didn't want to share just yet.

"Chell?"

She glanced up, seeing him standing at the end of the bridge. The now-familiar figure of Dr. Rattmann. Doug. Her Doug. She sent him a warm, slightly nervous smile, and he walked the few feet to meet her.

"You waited," he said, the words laced with gladness and a touch of anxiety. "I was half afraid that you'd change your mind."

Chell shook her head.

"It's…" he began, halting to let out a quick laugh. "You're…"

Her smile widened. He was so articulate in texts, it was endearing to see him struggle now.

"I'm sorry, I don't really know what to say," he admitted, laughing again.

'It's okay,' she signed. 'I'm glad you're here.'

"Me too. Although I can't quite believe it. It's really you. You're…"

He was still looking at her as if she wasn't quite real, so she stepped forward and wrapped him in a tight hug, leaning her head on his shoulder. It hadn't been her intention to be so…familiar, so bold, so soon, but…it seemed like such a natural move. She felt him relax, his arms coming up to hold her close, and she felt the gentle weight as he rested his cheek on the top of her head. For the first time, she understood the old cliché about a person feeling like home. She could quite happily stay in the circle of his arms forever.

"You…" he said softly, his breath stirring her hair. "I never imagined… You're so beautiful, Chell. I don't deserve you."

She frowned at the words, her heart clenching because she knew he believed them. She couldn't sign without pulling away, however, and she wasn't willing to do that just yet. Instead, she drew back just far enough to send him an admonishing look. He lifted his head when she moved, but was still sufficiently close that she could have brushed the tip of his nose with hers.

That's not true, she urged him silently. I don't believe that.

His smile carried a sigh with it. "You don't believe it," he stated, sounding resigned to the fact that she wouldn't let him put himself down, and even gladdened by it. "How did I know you were going to say that?"

Chell stared at him, dumbfounded. The people close to her knew her well enough to read her, even when she didn't sign, but never had someone translated her intent so accurately, treated her silent communications as if they were perfectly normal. Her heart suddenly felt too full to be contained. She rose on tiptoe and kissed him.

He melted into her at once, his hand coming up to cup the back of her neck, his thumb ghosting across her jaw. The light caress tingled all the way down her spine and settled in the pit of her stomach. She drew back to catch her breath, sinking back down on her heels. He smiled infectiously, and she beamed back at him.

"I…wow. I haven't done that in a while," Doug admitted, leaning in to touch his forehead to hers.

Chell nodded slightly in agreement. Same.

"I don't want to move too fast, but also…it feels like I've known you for ages."

She nodded again, smiling.

"And…you truly feel the same way?"

This time she did pull back, signing, 'What way is that exactly?' She sent him an impish smirk.

"I think you know," he said sincerely. "You must know by now."

'Tell me.'

He released a breath, looking briefly down at where his hand still clasped her shoulder. After a moment's thought, he lifted his head and met her gaze.

"You…you're everything, Chell. You've become so ingrained in my life, it's hard to remember what it was like without you…what it was like not to think about you constantly and wonder what you're doing. I think I was half in love with you before I even realised I was falling."

Chell listened to his speech, swallowing a lump in her throat. His situation truly had mirrored hers exactly. They were on the same page, as they had always been. There was so much she wanted to say. Signing suddenly seemed insufficient. She drew her phone from her pocket, smiling at him in a way that would make him understand that she wasn't being dismissive. Typing rapidly, she sent him the text.

Me 6:04pm
I feel the same. Talking to you is the best part of my day. I feel like I've known you forever. And when I realised who you were…I couldn't be happier knowing that the guy I've been steadily falling for and the guy I may have developed a teeny, harmless crush on are actually one and the same

She watched him read it, his screen illuminating his face. He looked up at her incredulously. "You had a crush on me?"

She held up a hand, finger and thumb an inch or so apart, and mouthed, 'Little bit.'

He laughed, seeming a touch embarrassed.

Me 6:05pm
I would never have acted on it
If you'd been two different people, I mean. You came first, always
It seems silly to admit it now, but Dr. Rattmann reminded me of you

Doug laughed again. "But how, you never…"

Me 6:05pm
Mannerisms here and there. And your hands, of course

"My hands? But you hadn't…no, wait." He nodded once in understanding. "When I sent you the book picture."

She nodded.

Me 6:06pm
You have nice hands, I couldn't help but notice

He seemed a touch bemused, but intrigued by the idea. He held up his right hand, and she touched her left palm to his. Their fingers entwined, and she smiled at him.

"Interesting."

She sent him a quizzical look.

"Just filing the information away for possible future use," he told her. The smirk he sent her way was brief but borderline wicked, and she felt a jolt of surprise that left her breathless.

She had something else to say, though. The simplest and most important thing.

Me 6:08pm
I love you

His expression as he read the three little words felt like a physical tug at her heart; all at once disbelieving, grateful, and overwhelmingly happy. He looked up, and she repeated them silently, knowing that he'd be able to lip read it. He deserved to see her say it, even if he'd never hear it.

"I love you too." He stepped forward to pull her close again, letting out a little burst of laughter. "God, Chell, you have no idea how much I wanted to tell you. I never imagined I'd ever truly get the chance. I love you."

He bent his head to meet her lips once more, and Chell grabbed a fistful of his coat to keep him near. She kept her phone in her other hand. She still had one more question to ask.

A/N: One more chapter to go to wrap things up, then this story is done. Hope you enjoyed the massive amounts of fluff!