Sorry about the filler... This girl has 7 grants to write by the end of July. Keep me entertained with reviews, comments... or whatnots... :)
Antonia walked through the lab briskly, her eyes focusing on the office across the room as she attempted to avoid eye contact with any of the interns, or other lab workers. Just as she was about to reach her destination, she knew she had been snagged.
"Sweetie?" Angela called, her feet clacking against the hard floor as she made her way quickly toward Antonia. "Hey, hang on a second." Angela called.
Antonia turned around, her tight smile was an indication that she was tired, and thoughtful, but did appreciate Angela's presence. "Hey." She said, a sigh on her lips as she stopped. "Mom and Dad are coming back today."
"I heard." Angela said, reaching out to touch Antonia's cheek. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Antonia said, shaking her head to clear it for a second. "Who did you hear it from?"
"JV mentioned it." She said, watching Antonia. "He also mentioned a few other tidbits of information that you haven't shared with the rest of the class."
Antonia's eyes widened. "Why couldn't you have given birth to a mute?" Antonia asked, grabbing Angela's hand, she dragged her into the office with her. Once they were both in the office, Antonia closed the door behind them and turned to meet Angela's eyes. She could see the slight smile in her face, and the humor in her eyes. "What did big mouth tell you?"
"You and Aiden took in Melody?" She whispered. "Your mother is going to flip out."
"First of all, Mom does not flip out. Mom stares at me for an undetermined amount of time as if she's trying to formulate some kind of argument, and then she turns and walks away. It's Dad that does the flipping. Secondly, it's really none of her business." Antonia said, sighing. "Melody needs a stable environment. She needs someone who can communicate with her, and it's not like it was my crazy idea. It was Aiden's. Besides, she's still a witness. We need to keep her close, and safe. Have you gotten those sketches yet from her description?"
"Yeah, but she'll have to confirm them." Angela sighed, watching Antonia's blind determination shine through.
"She'll be in this afternoon." Antonia said, leaning over the desk slightly to turn the computer on. "Aiden has some paperwork he has to sign, and he's probably out shopping for her again. She needs a real bed, and some other things. Which reminds me, I have to call her case worker and ask about the group home." Antonia babbled.
"And how about the other stuff that JV mentioned this morning? Is that all true?" Angela asked, leaning on the desk slightly, her eyebrow was lifted just slightly as she watched Antonia avoid her gaze.
"Uh, yes." She replied, lifting her gaze to Angela, she watched a slow, brilliant smile light up her face. "What?"
"Sweetie, it's only been like six months." Angela whispered.
"So?" Antonia asked, clicking a few items on the computer, she looked up at Angela. "Ange, it's Aiden. We just fit."
"Yeah, but engagement? Why not try the moving in together thing first, see if you can stand one another. Or I don't know, maybe date for a couple more months before you decide that you're ready for wedding bells."
"You do know that we practically live together now, right?" Antonia asked, watching Angela shake her head, the smile still not leaving her face. "It's not too fast, okay? Trust me. Mom isn't going to like it, Dad probably won't like it, but it's right. It feels right." She sighed. "Besides, engagement doesn't put a deadline on marriage, it just solidifies the relationship a little more."
"And it looks better in an adoption application." Angela shook her head, her smile fading slightly when she saw Antonia look back down at her computer. "Ant, no."
"You're getting a little ahead of yourself there, Ange." Antonia said, standing up straight, she crossed her arms over her chest. "We're just trying to keep her out of an orphanage right now. She just went through a horrible experience, and she has no way of communicating. I also don't think that her experience at the group home was all that great considering some of the issues that have arisen."
"Issues?"
"She appears to have a fear of starving, or having her food taken. I'm not sure. When we try to discuss it with her, she closes her eyes and refuses to communicate. She completely shuts down." Antonia sighed.
"She tries to go invisible on you." Angela said, lifting an eyebrow as she watched Antonia narrow her eyes.
"I guess you're right." Antonia said, her expression softening as she sat down in the desk chair and looked up at Angela. "That's exactly what she's doing. If she can't see me, then I'm not there to her."
"Right. Just like another little girl that I used to know, who would block out anything and everything if she was feeling threatened. It appears that you two have a lot more in common than just knowing how to sign." Angela smiled.
"Yes, but where you may think a similar trauma and defense mechanism is a strength. I think that Mom is going to find that it's a weakness." Antonia sighed. She sighed slightly and could see the shadow of someone just outside her doorway. A quick glance to her computer screen made her smile slightly. "Mr. Morris, you may come in if you like." She said, watching as the intern poked his head into the office with a slightly hesitant smile.
"I still haven't figured out how you know it's me." Charlie said with a laugh.
"Security cameras." She said, turning the screen, he shook his head. "Also, you hover." She said. "What do you need?"
"We've made some conclusions concerning the bodies, and there are some unidentified marks on the body we'd like you to take a look at and sign off on." He said, nodding toward the platform.
"I'll be right out. Thanks, Charlie." Antonia smiled, her eyes moving to Angela as Charlie excused himself, her eyebrow lifted slightly. "What?"
"Nothing." Angela said, shaking her head. "Using security cameras to watch your surroundings. You are so your father's daughter."
"I am just keeping an eye on my work space. No surprises." Antonia replied.
"You already knew that someone was going to come in here to get you, didn't you?"
"When they congregate like a bunch of beetles on the platform, yeah. It's pretty obvious that they're playing the shortest straw game." Antonia laughed, watching as Angela shook her head. "Mom and Dad should be here at about one. Aiden will have Melody here at about noon for the identification."
"Okay, good." Angela said with a smile. "I'll let you get back to work." Angela said, as she quickly excused herself.
Antonia sighed for a moment, scrolling through some e-mails, before she made her way out into the lab to see what the squints had for her.