Charlie rolled over in bed and instantly regretted it. While his mind often comprehended the fact that he should remain where he lay in bed to achieve maximum comfort, not often could he follow these thoughts. Especially in the morning hours.
In an instant, not only did he find that the sheets where he now lay were cold, but that a particular warmth had been removed from its place against his chest.
From what simple thoughts he could put together, he guessed that Amita would be missing that heat as well, from where he'd held her to his chest all night.
With this, he was resigned and returned to his sleeping spot…
Only to find that Amita had awoke, and was more than ready to prepare for the day.
"C'mon Charlie, we can't sleep in all morning."
"Why not?"
"We're doing those faculty tests today, remember? No classes, just needles."
Charlie cringed, he'd forgotten about the rather unwanted agenda. Reluctantly, he dragged himself up from the mattress, pulled on a pair of pajama pants and went to wait downstairs until Amita was finished showering.
His tired, bare feet slapped on every step on the way down. Alan looked up from his morning coffee and paper,
"You look less composed this morning than usual."
"Just tired, I guess."
"Sure." Alan took a sip of the coffee, "How's Amita?"
"She's good – ah, you caught me." Charlie grinned, wagging his finger at his father.
"She's spent the night here off and on for what now? Four months?"
"Just about. Am I gonna get the lecture about how I shouldn't be bringing girls home without permission?"
"I'm just glad you're bringing girls home, son."
"Gee thanks, dad." He tried to look hurt by the remark, but it wasn't as successful as he'd hoped. This didn't surprise him, as he only had a 50 chance of accomplishing it.
"So what are you doing at school today?"
"Faculty blood tests."
"Come again?"
"The university's trying to encourage the students to get tested for STDS and HIV, so they're making the entire faculty get blood tests as a persuasion tactic."
"Think it'll work?"
"Statistically, no."
Alan grinned, "You still afraid of needles?"
Charlie glanced around, "I'm getting a fever just thinking about them."
There was a chuckle, "Maybe you should wait until Amita leaves to get your test done."
"Oh I disagree; maybe she'll think I'm sensitive if I faint in front of her."
"And I thought you were the sensible one."
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Charlie and Amita were surprised to see Larry and Megan already at the office.
"Megan, what are you doing here?"
"We've got a new case for you."
"What's it about?"
"We have a guy who's killing people in the largest 20 cities of the states."
"And you think he's in California?"
"We know he's here, in L.A. I think we're going to need all three of you on this case."
"Why?"
"He's extremely random. This guy just finds someone alone and decapitates them."
Larry looked at Megan with shock at her nonchalant method of delivering the news. She glanced at him, "Desensitization, not just from TV anymore."
"And there's no connecting factor?"
"We're pretty sure this guy buys his weapon in each city, an axe. Then he leaves it there."
"He sounds like a considerate guy. Lowering the city populations while boosting the economy with his purchases."
"Now who's desensitized?" Megan nudged him playfully.
Amita watched the whole proceedings skeptically. Megan and Larry maintained the ability to flirt while discussing cases and bond over blood. She'd seen too much, and Larry didn't comprehend a lot of it; though he understood everything else.
"Well, I guess, we'll come over to the offices and see if we can find any connecting factor."
"Right now, however," Amita laced her arm with Charlie's, "We have to go participate in the faculty blood tests."
She damn near had to drag her boyfriend to the clinic. The walls were festively decorated with little dancing smiley face construction paper blood-drops. It was the result of the students in the teacher education programs trying to squeeze out some last minute creativity. Even Amita had to groan at this.
Megan and Larry were too busy gazing at each other to really take notice.
Charlie sat down across from a nurse who took his personal information and then grabbed his hand.
"What are you doing?"
"I have to take a blood sample, Dr. Eppes, to make sure you're healthy enough to give blood today." She held up a thumbtack like needle.
"Is that a – "Charlie didn't get to finish. His irrational fears overtook him. He remembered getting caught by Larry and Amita before passing out.
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(I apologize for spelling the Eppes' name wrong! Many thanks to those who pointed it out!)