(no subject)

[yessirmrjohnson]

There was something off about Cave. It bothered her as she made his coffee and plagued her mind as she went about typing up his reports. By time she had to bring him his lunch, she was convinced she had to ask him. It was probably all in her head, the lack of that personal smile in the morning, the quietness on the radio between her desk and his.

No, it was probably all in her head. Not worth worrying about and certainly not worth bothering him over. With a deep breath, Caroline lifted his lunch tray and knocked twice before stepping into his office.

"Here is your lunch, Sir."

Comments

[yessirmrjohnson]

Caroline showed up for work early to find a desk next to Elena's. With a weary sigh, she placed her box on the desk and managed to Cave's office trying to hide any hint of a limp or the hangover pounding through her head. She gave three knocks before calling through the door.

"Mr. Johnson?"

[paysthebills]

"Come on in, Caroline."

Upon entry to Cave's office, she'd find the place drowning in papers. Caroline's replacement clearly lacked the same manner of efficiency she'd had.

Cave was at his desk, where the papers were at least in a controlled chaos, with vague borders determining the 'to read' pile from the 'already read' pile.

"Alright then, let's get down to it. Same pay, similar responsibilities, nearly same title. Questions?"

[yessirmrjohnson]

He wouldn't give something to his girlfriend and then take it away. Not really wanting to know the answer, Caroline took a deep breath and lifted her chin.

"Will I be working under Elena?" God, she tried to keep her expression neutral.

[paysthebills]

"Of course. I'm not in a position to out and out replace her. You'll be answering to her most of the time, and me if necessary. Aside from that, your job should be...mostly the same."

He looked one his desk, trying to figure out where he'd start his day from. Settling on a thick packet that would keep him busy through lunch, he continued.

"Well, I think that's about it for the introductions, don't you? Go on and unpack your things. Elena will be here soon enough, and she'll tell you what she needs from you."

[yessirmrjohnson]

Right about now Caroline would have taken that mail room job. But, instead she nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Johnson." By time Elena showed up, there was a tone of work waiting on her desk and Caroline sitting in the desk next to her.

[paysthebills]

Elena greeted Cave with a smile, waiting until his door was closed to change to a fierce scowl.

"So. You're back. When I'd asked for an assistant, I hadn't dreamed I'd get you."

She drummed her fingers loudly, and leaned closer. Her eyes narrowed to thin slits.

"Well you listen to me you fat skank. Cave may be generous and forgiving, but I'm not. I remember what you said when you left, about the both of us."

She leaned back, scowl leaving as quickly as it had appeared.

"Then again, perhaps I should leave that behind us. After all, I won, didn't I? You do as I ask, and I think we'll get along just fine."

[yessirmrjohnson]

No, giving her anger was just what Elena wanted, so instead Caroline smiled out of sheer spite. "Understood. What can I do for you today, Ma'am?"

[paysthebills]

"Hmm..."

Elena looked around a bit, clearly not anticipating the question. Her eyes settled on her shoes.

"Ah. That seems like a good start. Carol, be a dear and shine my shoes, won't you? They're new, and I would hate to walk around with them looking as disheveled as yours. Don't you agree?"

[yessirmrjohnson]

She had to be joking, right? There was obviously plenty of real work to do. Still, if this small quick task let her get to anything productive, then whatever.

"As you wish, Ma'am."

As soon as she started shining the woman's shoes, while still on her feet, it became clear to Caroline that the others in the office were watching. She could even hear some of the snickering. Still, when she finished Elena's shoes were perfect and Caroline stood and straightened the wrinkles from her dress.

"Done. What else can I do for you?"

[paysthebills]

"You missed a spot. Do it again."

She said it not yelling, but loud enough to attract the attention of anyone in the office that hadn't noticed the spectacle.

[yessirmrjohnson]

She almost spoke out about it and for a second she looked to Cave's door before she finally looked back to Elena.

"This is a misuse of my abilities. Surly you'd rather me take care of the piles of work on your desk, Ma'am."

[paysthebills]

"Those piles will still be there for you to work on once you're done with this. Complete one task before moving onto another, Carol. If you had done this correctly the first time, you would already be working on them."

Her tone was a mix of equal parts patient and condescending. The tone one would reserve for a child, or perhaps a simpleton.

[yessirmrjohnson]

"It's Caroline. I'll suffer your petty revenge, but I won't answer to anything but my name." She crossed her arms.

[paysthebills]

Elena laughed.

"Oh, you're mumbling dear. Just as well. Looks like you've finished. Ah Carol, look at that. Nothing quite like a nice shoe shine."

The woman heaved a great mass of papers and plopped them unceremoniously onto Caroline's desk. To her credit, she didn't dump all of them.

"Here you are. those papers you're so fond of. You know what to do. Try not to go around forging signatures on any of them, won't you?"

[yessirmrjohnson]

Caroline was happy to get back to work and she put more into it than normal just having missed this feeling after all these months. By lunch, a week's worth of work was finished.

[paysthebills]

Cave walked by, visibly impressed with the amount of work done.

"Hey now! This is what I like to see. Everything working out well here?"

Elena spoke up before Caroline would have a chance.

"I managed to get most of it done, Cavey. Despite her failings, she's quite the little helper you know. In fact..."

She pulled Cave closer by his tie.

"I think I've caught up enough to leave the rest to Carol here. Maybe we do lunch?"

Cave agreed, and with a kiss, they left.

[yessirmrjohnson]

The rest of the paperwork was finished, and Cave's office settled back to how it had always been before she had left. When they got back, Caroline would be away from her cleared desk. Instead, she was busy down in the labs and as far away from that desk as possible.

The next few days were more of the same. She'd let Elena have her little show, do the entierty of the work, and be rewarded with a trip down to the labs to over see research and development. It was hard, but she was doing her best to move the feelings associated to Cave to Aperture alone. With all her effort she tried to forget everything that came before this day. There had never been years of perfect partnership, just this humble and lowly position. Just...just her and science and nothing else.

Research and development was booming as a result. Caroline was excellent at guiding the sector and with all her heart and focus in it, it wasn't long before they were pushing new breakthroughs.

A form ended up on Elena's desk while Caroline was in the lab. It was a letter from Dr. Hanstle asking Cave for possible subject names for an experiment with a new stasis chamber. There was a 45% chance for survival, but they wanted an intelligent subject to participate, someone perhaps a little smarter than the subjects that they normally got in.

All it would need is a name and Cave's signature and that person would be forced into the experiment and not be seen for a month with no garentee of survival or side effect.

[paysthebills]

The paper, of course, would never make it to Cave's desk. The entire process didn't take very long. A few pen strokes and the deed was done. Caroline would be put into testing the next business day.

She was told, with no small bit of glee from Elena, about her mandatory participation. If she wanted to speak with Cave about it, he wouldn't be found in his office. He was in the labs, attempting to help fix some of the stagnation in the research department.

[yessirmrjohnson]

When she found him, Caroline hesitated just a step behind him. Who was she to question his choices? Sure, she had made huge strides in the company since her return, RnD was doing just as well if not better than before. But she had always thought she was doing well enough before Elena showed up and that obviously wasn't the case.

No. Considering there was a chance she'd never wake up tomorrow, she had to say something to him.

"Sir? Do you have a moment? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

[paysthebills]

"Caroline, that you? Come here, come here!"

He pulled her in excitedly, looking genuinely happy to see her.

"You're one of the only people that could appreciate something like this. Look at it. The boys built a machine that compresses matter together on the subatomic level. It makes new elements. You want to do the honors?"

He hands her a trigger button attached to a long industrial wire. Here they were. Together, doing science again. Like old times.

[yessirmrjohnson]

"For old time's sake." She did her best not to let her hands tremble as she took the button. She pressed the button and watched the beautiful swirl of light in the resulting experiment. For just a moment, in this beautiful fusion, everything was painfully perfect and in the light. If she could dream of this while asleep, she could be happy. The experiment was soon over and the light faded and as the other workers rushed to collect and study the new element, Caroline placed down the button.

"Thank you for that, Mr. Johnson."

[paysthebills]

Cave flashed a smile at his assistant's assistant as he made his way to the machine. Shooing his employees out of his way, he fetched a small rock from inside of it. It looked like it could be a gemstone of some kind, but it was too shiny, like an alloy.

"I want it on record that the first element created by Aperture Science will be called Carolineum. After it's creator.

She did push the button, after all."

Cave walked out of the room, motioning Caroline to follow him.

"Caroline. Another moment of your time, if you would. I have something important to discuss."

When safely away from eavesdropping ears, Cave continued.

"I need to ask you something. Something of the utmost importance, that must remain completely confidential. You're the only one I can trust with this."

[yessirmrjohnson]

She rubbed at the moisture gathering in her eyes. An element of her own, it was beyond an honor. "Ah, yes, what can I do, Sir?"

[paysthebills]

"I've been thinking lately. Er. About the future. And...I'm not really experienced with this kind of thing. So I needed you're perspective."

He took the stone out from his pocket. It was a considerable size, and gleamed in a bright, yet unnatural manner.

"You know me, I don't really like doing things the regular way. Would this make a good ring? I wanted to propose to Elena with this, but I'm not certain if I should go with this, or just a regular diamond ring."

[yessirmrjohnson]

She swallowed at that, looking to the floor. "A regular diamond. E..Elena is a conventional girl with..classic tastes." Caroline pulled her hair over one shoulder and took a step back, using all her will to plaster a smile. "Sir, I have to go. There's a lot of things I need to do to prepare for tomorrow." She turned for the door.

Caroline wasn't there in the morning when Cave would make his announcement. It wasn't until the party after it that Jenny from accounting approached Cave with a light purple wrapped gift with a white bow.

"Mr. Johnson? Caroline asked me to give this to you."

Inside was tissue paper and an envelope with a heck for more than 12 grand on it and a letter.

Dear Cave,

Please accept this small wedding gift. I may not have shown it, but now I can say that I am glad that you are happy. I hope you and Elena have many long and happy years together. I'm thankful for the few I was able to share with you. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share this journey with you and I'm certain you're in good hands to carry you into the next chapter of your life.

You gave me everything I had dreamed of as a child. A place to belong, a place to be myself, and a companion in science. That's why I don't hold any grudges for your choices. Even this one that I face this morning. In the event of my death, I've arranged for you and Elena to inherit the proceeds of my estate and the rest of my liquid assets.

The only thing I ask is that you don't forget me. I included my favorite picture album in this gift box. Please remember me fondly. There's nothing in my life that I would have changed, no regret to speak of other than never telling you how I felt. For that, I hope you can forgive me.

With all my unspoken love,
Caroline Mossman.

Just under the tissue paper was a white photo album. The edges were worn and the corners rounded from its long use. Inside were dozens of pictures of the two of them, starting as far back as Aperture fixtures, pictures of just the two of them cutting the ribbon at the mouth of the abandoned salt mine that would later become the enrichment center. Newspaper clippings about Aperture's growth, pictures of them laughing and working. There were pages left in the back blank and unfilled still waiting for pictures that wouldn't be taken.