The Fourth Law

Chapter 16, Part 3, Conclusion

The next morning was Lily's first to go back to work since she was shot. Carol had come in early to help so Lily could have a bit more time getting to work.

She stood in front of the Office and regarded her bike. I'll walk there with it, and if not too winded, ride it back this afternoon. She was heading onto the street just as Ai came out of the dining hall with Susie. She saw them speak to each other. Ai patted her head as she joined Lily.

"She wanted to know when she could play with Henge again," Ai said as they walked. "I'm happy they like one another!"

Lily realized something with a start. "You mean Susie was playing in your home?"

Ai nodded while returning the waves of the locals. "Mmm! They played by the beach. I told Henge to not let her in the water, though."

A little kid like Susie wouldn't give the difference between our world and theirs a second thought. Lily stared into the distance. What a future these children will see!

They were a bit more than halfway there when Ai pointed at a bench by the road. "Sit."

"But we're almost there..." Lily protested.

"Doctor's orders! Your breathing is labored and you're starting to sweat a little." Ai got a gleam in her eye. "I've already told Mrs. Watters you'll be a few minutes late."

"Fine." Lily sat. A few people came over to talk or get an autograph from Ai. Most also said "good morning" to Lily as well. That taken care of, Ai turned and peered at her.

"Better! Shall we?"

At the hospital, Ai followed Lily into the locker room. "Tell me, doctor!, that you're not changing into scrubs, too!" Lily said, opening her locker.

"Nope! Just stalking you!"

"Ai?" Lily's voice was oddly flat.

"Yes, Lily?"

Lily pulled the ball cap with "XC" on it out of her locker. "Throw this away for me, please?"

In a smooth motion, Ai grabbed it and sailed it across the room into an open trashcan. Then, a head-tilt.

"From now on, I'm going to live in the present, with you. Not," she regarded the trashcan, "in the past."

"Mmm!"

In the hallway outside, several of the staff wanted to speak with Ai, so Lily waved and went off on her own. Rules be hanged today, she thought, as she took the service elevator up to four. Everyone was pleased that she was back, and asked how she was doing. Some kept looking around, obviously wondering where Ai was.

Mrs. Watters had her on light duty. That was fine with her; as the walk to work with Ai had shown her, she still had a way to go before she was 100%. Coming out of a patient's room, she saw Ai at the Nurses Station. Ai waved.

"Didn't think you were going to get away from them," Lily joked.

"I didn't. We're talking in Conference Room B right now." Ai replied easily.

"Oh!" Got me again. "Of course; silly of me, friend Ai. Are you staying here more, or..."

"Mrs. Watters though I could be a walking 'goodwill agent,' so I was going to visit some of the patients here and meet you later for your walk home!"

"That's fine!" It wasn't, but Lily knew it was wrong of her to keep Ai completely to herself. "I'll see you later."

She resolved to get herself together and not fall to pieces when Friday came around.