Warning: Sexual gestures at play. And OC's may be a little off.
It was his determined demeanor and soft brown eyes that drew her in. The way he would shout at his employees until he began to start coughing, to the way he would smile at her lovingly as he sipped the glass of water she'd brought.
He was bolder within the confines of the empty building, pushing her into dark corners and closets, hands under her skirt, nails dragging up her thigh, lips on her neck, whispering deliciously dirty things in her ear...
She knew she was way in over her head and could potentially lose her job for something like this. She'd brush off the compliments and attempts for her attention from her co-workers in exchange for his rough hands around her waist.
She knew how much he loved his company, perhaps a bit too much, and agreed with every step he took to create a truly operative enrichment center. She was a bit apprehensive as the years passed by, as the frequent touches and caresses slowly came to a halt.
However, with health violations and safety regulations, as well as countless products stuck in the testing phase, the company began to struggle. The loving look in his brown eyes was replaced with anger and arrogance. Yet, her heart still soared whenever he would call her name softly, as if it was his dying breath.
The company continued to decline as the years passed, and one night she found him in his office after hours, his hands covering his once handsome and young face as he took shuddering breaths. His face was now etched with the stress of losing his company.
Quietly, she walked over to him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder; He flinched away, as if her touch burned him.
"Cave?" She whispered timidly. He didn't look up, and as he answered, his voice was muffled.
"Caroline...I don't know what I'm going to do. Aperture was doing so well before, but it's slipping away from my grip that I thought was unbreakable."
"Oh, Cave, that's not the real problem right now-"
"I'll tell you what's the problem is. Black Mesa. While they're over there financially supple and happy, here we are, bankrupt. They are so heinous, Caroline," he explained to her, his eyes flashing with anger."But not as clever as I am. Aperture is going to be fine, because I'm going to further expand our mobility expand development for testing."
She opened her mouth to speak, but her words were caught in her throat as he enthusiastically grabbed her left wrist.
"Moon rocks. Can you believe it? Turns out they're a great portal conductor. Don't you see?! Aperture is going to kick Black Mesa ass!"
She stared at him, and it broke her heart to say these next few words as excitedly waited for a response.
"Cave...I don't think that's the best solution."
His smile faded. "Why not?"
"Moon rocks cost money, Cave, money we don't have."
"So what? Do you want to stay bankrupt?"
"Of course not! I mean...what if they're dangerous? What if they hurt the test subjects?"
He snorted, tugging on her wrist as he swiveled in his chair to rest his head behind his arms as he lay back. "There's always someone who wants to test for science; Don't you remember how many subject we got off the street? Just one mention of money and they were lining up!" He chortled to himself. "We could always take out a loan; Don't have to pay them back, once they find out it's Cave Johnson."
Disgusted, she snatched her arm away, wincing slightly as she tried to sooth the red indents left in her skin. "No, Cave. That's inhumane. We can't afford another safety-"
"Why is it always money with you, Caroline? We've got nothing left to lose, so why not?" He turned to face her once more, and the look on his face was mischievous. "I suppose it won't matter soon enough; the moon rocks will be here tomorrow."
She gaped at him, mortified, and he smirked as his hand reached out to drag his nails down her leg. She stepped back, and he grabbed her wrist again.
He merely stared at her as he rubbed at his stinging cheek sloppily, his hand still clenched around her fragile bones.
He stood up towering over her, and she stepped backward in the wall as he advanced toward her, locking her wrists above her head. His cold and clammy forehead lay on hers, and she could smell the scotch on his breath as his hands began to explore.
She struggled against his strong grip as his hand ventured upward, skimming along the lines of her panties. "Cave, stop!" She screamed at him; Luckily for him, the building was empty.
"Don't act like you didn't miss it," he rubbed his lips across her collarbone, up the spot behind her ear that made her shiver.
Her heart was beginning to pound, either from the fear that he would molest her or arousal warming her skin. As his hand stroked her inner thighs, he kissed down her cheek, stopping at the corner of her mouth. Her breathing was staccato, and she closed her eyes.
She felt his warm lips press against her own, tongue prodding against her teeth. With brute force, his shoved his hand under the line of her panties until his fingers brushed against her. With a cry of outrage, she viciously bit down on the tongue that had somehow found its way into her mouth.
The warm coppery liquid filled her mouth as he screamed in pain, leaping backward to clutch at his bleeding tongue. Gasping, she wrenched open the door and ran, his words sending shivers up her spine.
"Don hink his is ovah, Caroline! You will ot rui his fah me! I wi ake you screa mah nahm soo eough! Yull lahv meh again!" ("Don't think this is over, Caroline! You will not ruin this for me! I will make you scream my name soon enough! You'll love me again!")
When she got home, she ran in her bathroom, slamming the door shut and turning on her shower with shaking hands.
She stepped under the spray, furiously yanking at her clothes as her hair became plastered against her face. She sobbed into her hands; She could feel his touch everywhere, and it made her feel dirty beyond belief.
The next few weeks were hell; She would play along with the doting service of his secretary, but would always have to run out of the building when everyone was saying goodbye at the end of the day, in fear. She hated herself for allowing him to control her.
Sure enough, he received his precious moon rocks, also creating Conversion Gel, a sticky, white goo that would allow any surface to become portal-conductive. He felt proud as the increase of the facility, eventually, began to rise.
Years later, he coughs and retches violently into a handkerchief, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. She brings him his pain pills and a glass of water, which he accepts gratefully. She watches him as he places his weak lips against the glass and takes a sip. Blood flows through the clear water, making it slightly pink.
The moon rocks were poisonous, giving a disease that only weakened his state of mind. Everyday, he grew weaker. And everyday, her sympathy grew.
"You were right, after all. You were always the smart one." He weakly says to her, his brown eyes dull and lifeless. He knows he doesn't have much time left.
As she stares at the man she once loved, her pity for this man dissipates. She now feels anger and resentment, but doesn't let him see. He should already know by now.
"If I die before any of you can upload me into a computer," He explains softly on the intercom, voice cracking."I want Caroline to run this place. Now she'll say she can't; But you make her!"
Fear erupts in the pit of her stomach, and her heart races. Sweat forms on her upper lip, and her breathing becomes erratic."Sir!"
He looks at her and smiles weakly. "Now she'll argue. She's modest like that. Hell, put her in my computer, I don't care."
"Mr. Johnson!"
"...just make sure she's taken care of." His red, swollen eyes fall shut, and his chest remains still. She stares at him, and immediately jumps to his side, snatching a fistful of his shirt.
"No! No, you don't get to do this, you BASTARD!" She's screaming then, and it takes three men to restrain her and drag her away. She breaks free and rushes back to him, ripping the buttons off his shirt and begins chest compressions. Her efforts are useless as her wrists begin to sting, and then she hears a loud snap. Mortified, she can only stare as she is led out of the room.
The next day, arrangements are made. As she walks to her office, she can't help but notice the looks she's been getting. She passes by his office without looking.
She was drugged as she sipped her bitter coffee, and when she wakes, she is upon a flat table. Bright lights block her field of vision, and four scientists with masks over their faces stare down at her.
"Oh, Caroline, you're going to be perfect."
"NO! I don't WANT this!"
"It's what Cave would've wanted!"
She struggles and writhes from her restraints, screaming his name. As a needle is plunged into her delicate skin, her head slumps to the side as tears collect in her eyes. He was right, after all.
She still loved him.
Across the room, gray eyes bore into hers with a grave expression, watching as Caroline's eyes fall closed, and the scientists set to work with attaching numerous cables from her open skull to a computer.
._.
If you're still with me, I love you.