Chapter Two- Sniffles

"Pe-CHU!"

Darn colds.

Deanna lay on the couch, wrapped in many blankets and sheets as she huddled for warmth. It was bad enough that she had a cold but to have one right at the eve of Christmas was an even bigger disappointed. Even if Deanna wasn't one to go about hopping from place to place screaming about Christmas, she did enjoy the holiday season.

But to be sick? To feel so dizzy and congested right when everyone was going to have fun?

"Poop."

The woman reached for another hanky and sneezed loudly, but not loud enough to cover up the sounds of everyone going about the apartment. She could hear her neighbors laughing and talking amongst themselves and she could hear the sounds of the Sugar Rush racers as they began to file in.

If only she were feeling better. If only she wasn't so achy she could move.

"Urgh, why did this have to happen?" she moaned loudly, her head throbbing "Why couldn't I have gotten sick the day AFTER?! That would have been swell!"

She huffed and buried herself deeper into her sheets but as she peeked from the hole, she noticed something on the coffee table.

A present.

THE present.

Her Secrete Santa gift.

"Wh-what?"

Wonderful, just WONDERFUL. Deanna had made sure she had taken care of her gift hunting long before the others and she was ready to give the present out but as she had fallen ill, she had forgotten to hand it out.

And even worse? It was ROY'S gift.

The woman knew Roy would go into a worried tizzy if things went wrong but she was just so achy, just so ill.

She had to give the gift but she felt as if she were to take one step off the couch, she would ROLL down the hall.

"Urgh, I need help. I need-!"

*RIIIIIIING!*

The phone.

Who could that be?

The bespectacled Nicelander reached a hand out and picked up the receiver, coughing slightly "H-Hello?"

"HEEEEEY, Dee-Dee! Where are ya?"

Lucy. It was ALWAYS something with Lucy.

"You KNOW where I've been for the past three days!"

"What, you're still sick?" the girl asked on the other end. Deanna felt her headache getting worse.

"Ye-!"

A loud coughing fit interrupted her reply, the woman slumping back on the couch.

"Look, Lulu? I don't feel too much for talking right now."

"When do you ever?"

"I-I'm SERIOUS!"

"Whoa, calm down Dee-Dee! I didn't mean anything by that." Chuckled the younger Nicelander "Just wanted to see if you had any last minuet things before the big party and all!"

Opportunity strikes.

Deanna looked over at the table, the package seemingly calling to her. She sneezed again, trying her best to stay strong.

"Y-Yeah, there is one thing you can do for me."

Calhoun walked down the halls of Niceland, looking everywhere for Mary.

"Where did she go off to?" the woman asked herself when she passed a window. The fresh blanket of snow didn't faze her for a second until she realized ONE BIG THING.

Only an hour before, the lawn was as green as ever and though it was a tad nippy, it wasn't that cold.

The marine rushed back to the window, pressing her face against the glass to take in the MOUNTAIN of white that lay before her.

"Is THIS how the weather here works?!"

"AH! AAAAAAAAH!"

"Ralph?"

Calhoun saw a large flash of red barrel past the window, Ralph screaming at the top of his lungs as a gaggle of children chased after him.

Leading the front? One very angry Vanellope.

"YA HAD TA OPEN YOUR MOUTH! YA JUST HAD TO!"

Ralph looked back, his nightmares coming true as the children continued to run after him.

"Felix is only gonna make MORE snow if he catches us like this!"

"But WHO is ta blame for tha snow in the first place!?"

Ralph kept up speed, not wanting to get captured but just as he thought he was some distance away, he large clump of snow SAILED towards his head!

*KLUNCK!*

"OW! Okay! SOMEONE JUST THREW A SNOW COVERED BRICK! WHO WAS IT?!" the wrecker roared.

Those guys, always doing something stupid.

Calhoun heard a few noises from the community kitchen and as she peered down the hall, she finally caught a glimpse of the familiar Nicelander in pink.

"Ms. Mary!"

The Nicelander smiled as she saw Calhoun walking up to her "Ah, everything is going well I take it dear."

"Pie." Calhoun said.

Mary blinked "Pie?"

"PIE." Calhoun repeated "I NEED pie. I NEED to MAKE pie."

"Goodness…" Mary laughed "From the way you put it, you're getting just as hungry as Gene, dear."

"Ms. Mary, I'm serious!" the marine said, a bit of worry in her voice, a surprising thing for ANYONE to hear "Don't ask 'bout the details but can I please, PLEASE help make a pie with you?"

"Um, sure young lady. Whatever you want to do." The smaller woman said nervously "B-but can you give me a LITTLE hint as to why you need-?"

"There's no time for this!" Calhoun interrupted, reaching for every tin, bowl, and baking pan in the kitchen. She then threw a few ingredients into a bowl and started mixing "Let's get started!"

"That's all fine and good, Tamera." Mary said, reaching up and pulling the full bowl out of Calhoun's hands "But I must inform you."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"You just poured cornstarch and ketchup in. I think you might want to try something else."

Cursing to herself, Calhoun could feel her cheek turning red but she remained steady and strong.

"O-Oh yes. I knew someone of your skills would catch that. That is why I require your teaching!"

"Just…just stay right here for a moment." Mary grimaced "I have a few things back in the apartment that might help so just…just relax"

Mary then hopped on the elevator, leaving Calhoun alone in the kitchen. She looked at the mess in the bowl, putting her face in her hands a moment later.

"Don't let it bother ya. Ya can do this, ya can do this…."

"Okay, no clues there…" Gene said as he walked back into the apartment and turned the lights back on "Just where in the arcade did those pies-?"

Gene looked over towards the counter towards the aforementioned pies and what he saw made his jaw drop.

The pies, just like the cookies, had DISAPPEARED!

"Oh, COME ON!" the mayor growled as he ran over towards the counter but the image did not change. The only thing left were a few wayward crumbs but nothing more. The man groaned as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I swear, if I find out ANYONE is up here stealing pies, I'll-!"

"NICELANDER GENE!"

Gene let out a terrified meep as he turned, his wife right at the door and looking not at all pleased to find him in the kitchen and her baked goods gone. It didn't take a genius to figure out what Mary was thinking and in no time Gene was already panicking for the wrath that was headed his way.

"Dear! Love! I can explain this!"

"You had better!" Mary snapped, grabbing Gene rather roughly by his nose "I TOLD you to leave those cakes alone and what did you do!? You went ahead and crammed it in your mouth ANYWAY!"

"URRF! MAY-WEE!" Gene whined, his arms flailing before he was able to pull away. He rubbed his sore nose and gave his wife a pathetic look "Really? REALLY? You cannot tell me that you think I ate ALL of that in such a short time. Give me SOME credit, Mary!"

"How long have I known you, dear?" Mary said, a brow arched and her hands on her hips "How long? Thirty years? I think by this time I have seen what you can do with food in such a short time."

Gene huffed, looking like a pouting child "Okay Ms. Know-it-all. I'll find your pies and cookies and whatever! Just to show I'm not as big a pig as you think I am!"

"Gene, give it up." Mary grumped "I don't think anyone would attest to what you did!"

"BUT I DIDN'T-!"

Gene shut his mouth, feeling much too frustrated to continue on with the argument.

"Give me an hour. Just ONE HOUR and you'll see!" he said, walking out of the apartment and slamming the door behind him. Mary only stood at the door for a moment, fingers tapping on the side of her arms when Gene returned, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"I need my coat, don't I?"

Mary took the item out of the closet, eyeing the man with each move he made "Yes, you do."

His head low, Gene sulked back out of the apartment, the door closing softer this time.

How things were building up in such a short time. It was bad enough that there were nearly five feet of snow outside the building for some reason but now nearly all the pies and cakes that Mary had made for the party were gone. She began to gather a few things from the refrigerator, readying herself to help Calhoun back downstairs.

"Well, maybe that young woman won't mind helping me with THIS."

And with that, Mary left the room….

But was unaware of the eyes that followed her movements.

"Th-that was bad!"

"Ha-ha! What a snow fall!" laughed Lucy as she both she and Tony trudged through the wonderland of white, ignoring the ensuing fight that was happening before them.

"SOMEONE HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"EVERYONE GANG UP ON RALPH!"

"What did Dee-Dee want again?" Tony asked his sister "From the sound of things, she didn't sound all that well."

"Something about some package an' givin' it to Roy an' all that jazz. Meh, she'll explain it ta us once we get inside."

"It's for the Secret Santa thing, isn't it?" the man asked, a small smile on his face.

"Yuppers! Can't wait to see the look on Nory's face when I give him his gift!" Lucy smiled cheekily "It'll be just as good as the one I gave Meggy lat year!"

"Oh, ya mean 'How to Get Into Bed with Old Dudes?'. Yeah, she an' Don REALLY loved that." Tony chuckled, rolling his eyes "How long did he stuff you in the closet that time?"

"Oh bah. Is it my fault the old fart has no sense of humor?" Meg said as she opened the doors to Niceland "Either way, I know he'll be happy this year! Both he an' Meg will be happy!"

"Oh? How so?"

That familiar smirk reappeared on Lucy's face "Cuz a lil someone ya know took a copy of tha present list from ol' Maypr Blueberry, that's why."

"Who?" Tony asked in all seriousness "Nolan?"

"No, silly! ME!" Lucy whined "I took the note an' I know for a FACT Meg an' Don are the ones handing gifts to each other."

"Oooooh! That makes sense!" said Tony "Ya think Gene an' Mary did that on purpose or?"

"Could be." Tittered Lucy "Gene did tha same thing last year for Nel an' Nory. Maybe Mayor Booty-Shorts is more crafty than we th-!"

"Ms. Mary, watch out!"

A loud BANG and a CLANG were heard from the community kitchen, the siblings running towards the source of the noise as fast as they could.

"Is everyone alright?!" asked Tony but what he saw, he wasn't prepared for.

There in the kitchen were both Calhoun and Mary, the two woman looking as if they had both taken a spill, pie ingredients everywhere.

And a large blast hole in the wall.

"Ow." Mary moaned, rubbing her sore shoulder "That was smooth of me."

"Ms. Mary, I'm sorry!" Calhoun gasped, picking the woman off the ground "I guess that's what I get for not putting away ALL my guns before cooking."

"Uh, is there something we should know goin' on?" asked Lucy, scratching her head.

"No, no. We're fine." Sighed Mary as she looked at the mess "Just…just making sure that everything is up and ready for the party tonight."

"Try one was a failure…." Huffed Calhoun.

"But we're not giving up yet!" Mary said proudly as she wiped herself off "On your feet, young lady! We are going to make you a pie baker even if it kills us!"

"Yeah, I think we should be going now." Lucy said as she pulled her brother towards the elevator.

"B-But this looks fun…"

"Un, my head…." Deanna groaned, pulling the covers tighter around her. She heard a knock at her door, the urge to simply roll off the couch growing stronger.

"Come in, its open."

"D-Deanna?"

"Meg?"

Meg slowly walked into the apartment but from the way she was looking, Deanna could tell that the woman was upset.

VERY upset.

"I'm sorry that I just barreled in here with the way you're feeling but….but…."

Deanna sat up, or at least she TRIED to "Y-Yeah, what's wrong?"

Meg turned red in the face as she held a hand towards her mouth. Deanna knew something was about to come up but whatever it was, it sure had Meg more flustered than she usually was.

"Oh, this is so stupid but I can't do it!"

"You can't do WHAT?"

"I can't give Don his present!" Meg finally confessed, looking as if she were about to break down in tears "Why did I have to end up as HIS Secret Santa!? I could never hand this to him!"

"Wait, that's what this is about? Meg, you had me worried there!"

Meg felt like tucking herself into a ball and hiding in the darkest corners of the apartment she was so embarrassed "You don't understand Dee-Dee! This is MORE than just some little present exchange! I-IN the thirty years we've been plugged in here, I-!"

"Yes?"

"I-!"

"Come on Meg, spit it out."

"I'VE NEVER GIVEN DON HIS PRESENT!"

"Yoooo!" came a voice from the door, Lucy and Tony walking in just in time to see Meg THROW herself on Deanna. Lucy froze at the door, her smile as large as well "HUH. SEEMS LIKE WE WALKED IN AT THE WRONG TIME! BYE YOU TWO!"

"No, no! Stay!" said Deana, pushing the sobbing Meg off of her "And shut the door will you? Its freezing everywhere for some reason."

"Ya mean, ya haven't seen all the snow?"

"Wait, WHAT?"

"Meggy, is this about the present exchange?" Lucy quipped "Aw, don't fret about it this year. Just hand Don the stupid thing, he'll like ANYTHING you give him!"

"Lucy, do you really have to be so CRASS?" Deanna moaned but she turned her attention to Meg once more "Meg, there is NO reason for you to be this worked up about giving a present to Don. To put what Lucy said in KINDER words-"

"Hey."

"Don likes ANYTHING you give him and he'll love the present you'll hand to him."

"B-But…." Meg looked down at the tiny package "What can I really give him that will make him understand?"

"What do ya mean?"

"Look, I'm not Mary…" Meg began "I'm not Nel, I'm not Calhoun….I'm nothing like them. I don't have the spine to talk to ANYONE let alone D-"

She couldn't even finish, shaking her head and clutching the package.

"Meg?"

"I can't do it!" the woman wailed as she ran into Deanna's room "I can't!"

"Meg? MEG!" Deanna shouted "For crying out loud, if you're going to cry somewhere DON'T DO IT IN MY ROOM!"

"Why can't I talk to him?!"

Deanna knew it was going to be some time before anyone would convince Meg to move but even so, she couldn't let Meg miss out another opportunity.

"Lulu?"

"Mm-yeees?"

Deanna blew into a hanky, flopping down on the couch "I-I need another favor from you."

"Felix, you need any help with that?" asked Nel as she walked into the penthouse, Felix going around the entire room and hanging up ribbons.

"Oh, sure!" the repairman smiled "Just realized that things did move a lot faster before everyone ran off."

"Yeah, speakin' of which…" Nel said, tying a beautiful bow around a few decorations "Is THAT why there's nearly ten feet of snow outside and there's a burning smell coming from downstairs?"

Felix laughed nervously "H-Hey, things can get hectic around the holidays! We all know that!"

"I know…" Nel smiled "But I never thought I'd live to see the day when things would get THIS excit-!"

"OOOH! STUPID! STUPID!"

Nel nearly fell over and Felix almost crashed to the ground as the doors to the penthouse flew open, a snow covers figure stomping into the room.

"Um, hello there?" Felix said, tipping up his hat.

The figure looked at the two before it, covered in snow and pink.

Pink?

Without saying another word, the figure dropped off its sopping wet clothing only to reveal.

"TAFFYTA?!"

Yes, Taffyta Muttonfudge and if one thing could be said about the girl, she looked a mess. Her hair and clothing were soaked with water as was the large tote bag she clutched in her hands. But if anything shocked both Nicelander and repairman it was the look on her face.

Anger. Pure anger.

Anger and sadness.

"Hey, hey. What's up kiddo?" Felix asked as he walked over to the girl and picked up her clothes "Somethin' tha matter?"

"No, NO. It's fine…" huffed Taffyta, shivering from the cold "I-I just wanna get dry an-an' make sure everything is okay for the party."

"Well, if you're worried about tha present, they seem alright…" Felix said, noticing Taffyta eyeing them but he instantly regretted the comment as Taffyta seemed to clutch the straps of the bag tighter. She was upset alright but what about, the man did not know.

"Taffyta, look at me…" Felix said, turning the girl's head over towards his "Are you okay?"

Taffyta tried to play tough with the man but the look he was giving her was just enough to break away some of the cover she had placed up. The anger seemed to melt away as she walked over towards the couch, clutching her arms.

"I just wanna get dry, okay?"

Felix sighed heavily as he walked over towards the supply closet, pulling out a few towels "Here, this should dry ya off an' in tha mean time, I'm gonna put your coat up ta dry."

"Thanks…"

"No problem…." The repairman smiled "But if you'll excuse me, I think I have to check on somethin' first."

"Where are you goin' NOW?" asked Nel.

"I have my suspicious on ta what happened here, so just hand on. I'll just be a sec!"

And then Felix was gone.

Nel looked over, seeing Taffyta hunched on the couch, looking off to the side angrily.

"Ya know what always makes me feel better after a cold, snowy day?" Nel smiled "Some hot chocolate. Would you care for some?"

The strawberry racer said nothing, only nodding weakly.

"Heh, no one can say no to coco!" Nel laughed as she went to the kitchenette to prepare the drinks "Still though, ya came up here in a huff. An' knowin' from experience, I think I know why."

Nel glanced out the window, seeing the massive snow-ball fight continue. There was no doubt about it, Taffyta had found herself caught up in the melee but from what she had brought into the penthouse only moment ago Nel also realized that a snow-ball fight wasn't something Taffyta wanted to participate in.

But had somehow found herself swamped in the middle.

"Here, take this…." Nel said as she handed the racer the cup "You'll feel better once you warm up."

"Thanks." Taffyta said sadly "Ya don't have to be so nice to me."

"Hey! It's the holidays!" Nel said brightly "An' even if it weren't, I would still be happy to share some coco with you!"

A small smile appeared on Taffyta face as she sipped her drink. It was so nice to feel welcomed.

"Lemme guess. They got ya with a ton of snowballs, didn't they?"

Taffyta rolled her eyes "Ah-YUP."

"Puh, figures."

"I guess I wouldn't have had so much of an issue with it…." The girl began "If I WANTED to play in their stupid battle but does it LOOK like I wanted to?! I mean, GEEZE! I came here to put my gifts under the tree an' before I know it, I'm getting' PLETTED left an' right! I tell everyone to STOP, just STOP an'-!"

"Whoa, whoa, I get it girlie!" Nel laughed.

"S'not funny, that's all..."

"Heh, don't worry. I know how ya feel."

Taffyta looked up at the purple Nicelander "Really?"

"Pfft, yeah. I'm always finding myself mixed up with all the calamity my rusty-butt neighbors bring around me."

Nel couldn't help but laugh at the thought. She had been through so much with the others throughout the years but she couldn't hide the fact that some of those memories were actually ENJOYABLE.

"You know backstories?"

"Yeah?"

"Lemme tell you one of mine…" Nel began "Back when I was a kid, I was the smallest Nicelander around."

"I thought Gene was." Taffyta said.

"Well, he WAS. And then I came along an' suddenly he thought he was some big man of the apartments."

Not too far away, Gene was continuing on his cookie search when he felt a chill run up his spine.

"Why do I have the urge to yell at someone?"

Back with the Nicelander and the racer, Nel continued to tell her tale.

"Every winter, the boys used to go up against us gals in a snowball fight. There's about an even cut of us so it was fair by numbers, but not by SIZE."

"What did YOU do?"

"What could I do? I was always the easiest one to hit since everyone had to gun for the small one of the group!"

"That sound AWFUL!" Taffyta gasped "An' ya had to take this year after year?! I mean, in your backstory anyway…."

"That's what I thought…." Nel smiled "Til I learned a TRICK. I trick that taught those galumphs a lesson."

"W-what type of lesson?"

Nel sipped her coco cooly, snickering a bit "Finish your drink kid and I will show you."

Felix finally made his way outside the apartments, the snow now nearly three feet above his head and even more combing down.

"Hey, HAAAAY!" the man shouted "Tha heck is goin' on here?!"

"You'll never take us alive!" said Gloyd as his head popped out of one snow banks, his arms filled with snow balls.

"YAR-HAR-HAR! Just try and get is!" said Nougetsia.

Felix was hoping the amount of snow he put out would actually keep Vanellope and Ralph from sneaking comments about his wife's cooking abilities. He never thought about what chaos could come from it!

"Hahah, guys! We all had our fun now." The repairman said, stepping between the two warring sides "But don't ya think this is a bit mu-?"

BAD MOVE.

Before Felix could say another word, he was attacked by an AVALANCHE of snow balls, the little man in blue buried so deep the only thing that remained seen was his hat atop a huge lump of snow.

"Enough?! There is no such thing as enough!" laughed Vanellope "NOW TEAM TOP-SHELF! ATTACK!"

The children screamed loudly as the snowballs began to fly again. Flailing about, Felix managed to did himself out but the snow was still going everywhere and even worse, he was trapped! There was no way he could make it back to the door with things like this!

"Maybe I should have just coded for THREE FEET!"

"Okay, so we add how much butter?"

"Just cone cup." Mary smiled as she helped Calhoun with the pies "Too much and the dough will be much too slimy."

"Urgh, I'd hate to see the outcome of that…." The marine shuddered but her focus turned to the trash bin not too far away, the thing filled with some of her early 'attempts' "Of course, if we add SLIMY to my list, I think I'll have a complete set."

"Oh, don't talk like that dear." Mary said "A perfect pie is something you can't make in just ONE afternoon! It takes time, skill, and love!"

"That's easy for you ta say though, Ma'am." The marine huffed "You're PROGRAMMED to make pies! Of course you can do it."

Mary fell silent, her hands freezing in place as she rolled out the dough. It was at that moment Calhoun knew she had said something that hadn't gone over too well with the small woman, regret already filling her mind.

"I mean-!"

"Young lady…." Mary said, her voice surprisingly calm "Yes. Yes, I am CODED to 'make' pies but there is more to it than that."

"I know that. I just wasn't thinkin' about what I was sayin'….."

"If I were to just 'make' a pie, I would follow the boring code that I know. No change, no variety….."

The Nicelander in pink continued her preparation of the dough, rolling the surface rather roughly this time.

"I know everyone thinks it's…SILLY for me to love pie so much but that's because I enjoy the look on people's face when I hand them out! Felix, you, Ralph, EVERYONE in the arcade!"

"Um, Ms. Mary?"

"Oh, I could just 'make' pie, dear. I could just 'MAKE' it but I don't! I don't because I know people deserve better than some block of bland pixels, they need something good, exciting and FILLING to bring them out of their dark mood!"

"Ms. Mary?"

The Nicelander was kneading the dough as if she were grabbing someone's arm roughly, Calhoun taking a few steps back.

"Do you really think I would subject ANYONE to something like that? Do you think I would dedicate all my time, my LOVE to something like that?! I know it's not much, I know making pie or cake or cookies or baking ANYTHING isn't as flashy as shooting someone's head off or doing massive kicks with legs or throwing punches but this is what I LOVE! This is what I LOVE to do and if I can say anything about it, I would very much LIKE IT IF SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND HERE WOULD STOP ACTING SO UPPITY AND SAYING THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE BAKES, THEY'RE FALLING INTO SOME STEREOTYPE OF -!"

"MS. MARY!"

Mary stopped in her tracks, finally snapping out of her tirade and glancing up at Calhoun.

If there was one thing that ALWAYS threw people for a loop, it was seeing Mary upset and given how shocked she looked, Calhoun didn't want to see what would happen if things were to go on even further.

Mary laughed in embarrassment, her cheeks flashing red "Oh…I-I guess I got a little carried away with that."

"Eh-heh, it's the holidays. W-we all get a little nervous." Calhoun grimaced, scooting away just a tad.

"As I was saying before my little outburst…." Mary breathed out "When you put love into your pie, love into your work, the results will be so much better."

Calhoun smiled a bit, understanding the words that Mary was telling her. It was obvious that the marine was too hard pressed on making a pie that was 'perfect', not one that everyone would actually enjoy. She then began to think of Felix, the love of her life, and the joy he brought to her.

His hugs, his kisses, his smile. They always put a smile on her face and brightened her day.

It was becoming clear now. She began to relax, she began to calm down.

And since the two had begun baking, Calhoun began to feel at home.

"Yeah….yeah. I get ya on that." Calhoun said warmly "It's just so amazing what a little baked good can do. How much it can make someone happy."

"Indeed." Mary smiled "Of course, we wouldn't be in this mess IF A CERTAIN BIG-BOOTIED MAYOR BY THE NAME OF GENE HADN'T EATEN EVERYTHING IN SIGHT!"

"DAMN IT MARY, I DIDN'T EAT THOSE CAKES!" Gene called out from somewhere out of view.

"Don't you lie, mister! I know you!"

"Aw, give me a break honey!"

"So….how's he behaving?" asked Calhoun.

"Like the big child that he is…" Mary smirked "But I have to say, I do enjoy that he's finally starting to calm down. After thirty years, I'm glad he's shaking off all that tension."

"Humph! Ya want Gene ta calm down? I wouldn't mind if Felix stepped it up a few notches but meh, he's such a cute lil softy…" Calhoun snickered.

"AURGH! AURGH STOP!"

The two women turned towards the window, watching as Felix was pelted mercilessly by a barrage of snowballs. The man screamed for his life before winding up PLANTED against the window, his nose and cheeks smushed on the glass as more snowballs struck him from every corner.

The only thing Mary and Calhoun could do was stare, stare as Felix slid down onto the ground, a large imprint of his face still left on the glass. Mary took a cautious step forward but Calhoun held her back, shaking her head.

"H-He'll be fine. He'll be fine."

"Can't….feel…faaaaaaaaaace."