It was nearing the end of week two into Aidan's convalescence at the Hinkley home, and she was talking on the phone, tugging on the collar of the suit under her clothes. She had been getting bored real fast the past couple of days. Just in the course of the first week back home, Aidan had made every single person who helped with the rescue a bracelet or key ring as a thanks. She also got visits and calls from her students, Rhonda, Tony, Bill and Cyler.
Out of all her visits, she was most surprised with Cyler's when he told her that he knew about the suit. After Ralph explained to her that Cyler had a hint about it and he explained it to the agent, Aidan understood why another person knew about the suit.
The only part of her stay at the house that was tough was asking Ralph about the night her parents died, which Ralph had been expecting. While he told her that he didn't want to go into details about what the wreck and what its results looked like for now - given what she had been through - he did talk to her more about the officer's visit and what happened after she fainted.
Aidan absorbed the information as best as she could, realizing that Ralph and Pam were afraid they'd lose her a few weeks prior, especially when Ralph told her about him getting the same feeling he did the night her parents died. She decided to hold off talking more about that night, as she wanted to focus on the future, which made both Pam, and especially Ralph, happy.
The young woman finished talking on the phone and hanging it up, looked up to see Ralph and Pam staring at her. "Well, what did the doctor say?" asked Ralph.
She smiled. "I'm all good to go back to work tomorrow," she said. "Good thing too, as the sub said my class was getting antsy to start casting their wax projects."
"That's terrific, sweetheart," said Pam.
"Yeah. Now, I just have to make sure no scenarios for a couple of more days so my students can get to wear their rings before Christmas," said Aidan as she picked up the idiot's delight chain necklace she was working on.
She had made a couple of links when she and the others heard the doorbell ring. The three looked at each other, confused at who could be there at that time of the day.
Ralph got up and answered it, finding it was Tony. "Tony, come in," he said warmly, but surprised at the man's appearance.
"Hey, guys. How's things for the cub at the Hinkley corral?" said Tony with a smile and handing Aidan a small box.
"Pretty good. Got the doctor's all clear to return to work tomorrow," she said, turning the package around and then blinking in surprise. "Wait a moment, did you just call me cub? What's this all about?"
"Oh, it's a get well gift from Rhonda, the kids and me," he said with a smile. "It'll explain the cub comment."
Confused, Aidan opened up the box and found a necklace inside. The pendant featured a bear made out of picture jasper, and the chain was made with liquid sliver and picture jasper beads. "Thanks Tony, but still why cub? I've been having some nightmares about that bear," she said. Ralph and Pam nodded, remembering having to wake her up from a really bad nightmare one afternoon. Ralph unfortunately also got hit hard in the shoulder when she struck the "bear," but she only bruised it as she wasn't wearing the suit.
"Well, the guy we bought this from said that if someone fights a bear, they're a true warrior. So, I thought it fit ya perfectly. Same goes with the nickname."
Aidan smiled softly and put on the necklace. "Thanks Tony, just don't call me it too much or people will get it confused with 'Artie.' Now, I'm sure you've got to go back to your lovely desk job while your leg heals and..." she frowned when she saw him smirk. "OK, I know that look, and I'm not going to..."
"Aidan, you won't believe the scenario I've got for us. It'll only take a couple of hours and..."
"No."
"Whatdaya mean no?"
Aidan crossed her arms and frowned, narrowing her eyes. "Uh un, no way, I ain't going to go on a scenario right now, not when I can go back to work tomorrow."
"Aidan trust me, it's a simple scenario. You just haveta go help me find a missing thoroughbred horse and..."
Seeing the glare in Aidan's eyes, Pam and Ralph frowned. "Aidan, cool off just slightly," said Ralph scolded. "If you don't, you're going to set something on fire with that look... literally."
Remembering that she was wearing the suit, Aidan calmed down and smiled softly. "Sorry Ralph. I'll cool down, but I'm not going to go on the scenario Tony." she said.
"Aidan, I can make you go with me," he said bluntly. "I'm an FBI agent, that trumps a teacher."
Having had enough, the young woman just stood up and stripped down to the suit.
Tony smiled. "See Aidan, that wasn't hard. Now, come on, we'll go in my car and..." he said, only to have Aidan pick him up in a fireman's carry and walk him out into the backyard.
Seeing their retreating forms, Pam and Ralph looked at each other, realizing what Aidan was up to. "Uh oh," they said and followed Aidan and Tony. They both got outside the door when Aidan took three steps and jumped, taking flight.
The couple chuckled softly as Aidan flew Tony in the sky across her shoulders, and Tony sounded like he was pleading for her to stop. "Looks like suit trumps FBI agent," quipped Pam.
"Yes, every time. So, how long do you think this'll last?" said Ralph, chuckling.
"Not long. Despite what Aidan's said, she still tires easily, but should be long enough," said Pam as Aidan crash landed, little sore, but no worse for the wear. "So, do we have a deal?" said Aidan with a smirk as she got up from the ground.
Getting up, Tony brushed off his coat and glared at Aidan. "That's not fair Aidan. You can't just fly me around until you get your way," he said.
"Yes I can if it's for a good reason. Tony, I need a couple of more days to rest and to definitely go teach," she said simply. "That's all I ask, then you can go take me on another crazy scenario. Now, if you don't agree, I'll fly you around again."
"You wouldn't," he said.
"She would," said Ralph, and Pam nodded.
"C'mon Aidan, this is getting..." he said, only to have Aidan start to pick him up over her shoulders again. "All right cub, I get the point. Now, willya let me down before I change my mind?"
"Deal. Now, I have a different scenario for you guys," she said smiling. "Why don't we go inside and talk? From what I remember about our adventures in the forest, I told Tony some stories about a trip South Dakota a few years ago, but didn't quite finish. I'd like to start where I left off... well if you remember Tony?"
"Yeah, I think it was the time you went to Mount Rushmore and saw the model they used to work on the monument..."
"Right, did you know it wasn't completed? I can tell that it wasn't because you look at Lincoln's concept, you see he was supposed to have a hand on his lapel. When you look at the actual sculpture, you know in the mountain, you see it was started but never got finished..."
"C'mon Ade, that's just ya being an artist..."
"No, I saw it, dunderhead..."
"Now cub..."
"Will you stop that Villacana..."
"Hey, you can't call me that either..."
As Aidan and Tony argued, Ralph and Pam smiled, reliving some of their memories of Ralph's time in the suit and some of those scenarios. "You know, I think that nickname fits her afterall," said Ralph.
Pam smiled. "Yes, just hope someday when Aidan gets a boyfriend again, Tony doesn't call her cub and the guy belts him."
Aidan and Tony stopped when they heard Pam and Ralph's comments and turning to each other, started laughing. "You know, Tony let's call it a draw here. Now... why don't we tell Ralph and Pam about the time we had to fight a bear?"
