Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters and/or situations are not my own. I repeat: I do not own anything.
The sound of his phone vibrating filled the room, effectively waking Chase up from his impromptu nap. Damn, whoever it is they better have a good reason for calling me at this hour, he thought as he reached over to retrieve his phone from the pile of books on his nightstand. Chase tried to decipher the name on the caller ID, but his grogginess kept the letters on his phone from focusing and becoming readable.
"Hello," he answered, not bothering to hide the exhaustion from his voice. It had been a stressful week to say the least.
"Are you busy?"
Thirteen, as soon as Chase heard her he had recognized her voice even though she had never called him outside of work before. They usually made their plans to go out for drinks in person. Wondering what could account for the change in routine Chase instantly became more alert, all traces of fatigue leaving his system. He hoped she had changed her mind about his proposal. It had been over a year since he had asked her to sleep with him, but his offer still stood. If she's calling to go out then it's a very good reason to wake me up.
"Yeah, I'm, uh, I'm about to go out," he lied.
"Great—uh, can you do me a huge favor? I need you to go to the hospital and check out a portable ultrasound machine for me." Thirteen's voice sounded tense and rushed, and Chase knew her very odd favor was more of a demand. She had only asked if him for his help out of politeness. Wondering what could have rattled the normally calm and independent young woman he worked with, Chase tried to pry some more information out of her.
"Who's the father?" he asked while at the same time trying to get the stale taste of sleep off of his tongue.
Chase was surprised when she took the bait and proceeded to tell him what she really needed the ultrasound machine for.
"I have a leak in my bathroom, and my guy won't come and take a look at it until tomorrow morning, and an emergency plumber is two-hundred bucks an hour," she finished lamely.
There was a curious silence following her words and Chase was suspicious as to why. He knew Thirteen was a good liar, far better than I am, but he had heard the strange tone of her voice and knew there was more to her request than just home repair. He was intrigued. However, if her intentions for the machine were as innocent as she said, then Chase figured there was no harm in helping her out. She might even be wet from all the water—perhaps she had been wearing a white shirt when she checked the leak, he thought.
"Okay, I'll be by in half an hour."
"Thanks," came her terse reply before promptly hanging up the phone.
Chase tossed the phone and the book back onto the nightstand, quickly got off the bed, and headed for the shower knowing that, one way or another, the night would prove to be very interesting.