Cards Through The Table

        
Hello everyone. I thank you for last weeks indulgence. It was rough, but we’ve got a nice spot picked out for our Tami. Odd as it may sound, we have our cats cremated. It helps us to have them near, even in spirit. We’ve got a sweet picture of her near her favorite spot, just waiting for her ashes to come back. It may sound stupid or morbid, or whatever, but it helps us. We miss her dearly, and this, to us anyway, is a way to keep her near.

Anyway, enough of that. It’s a new week, four days ‘till Wizard World Chicago, and I aim for this to be a kick-ass week. In that spirit, on with the show...

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        Deb let herself in to Robbie’s apartment, not entirely sure how to break the news to him. She dropped her purse and his coat on the couch and looked into the kitchen. It was empty, but he had cleaned up the toothpicks, thankfully. She walked over to his bedroom door, and cracked it open. he was sound asleep.

        She smiled despite her down mood. Closing the door, she walked back to the living room, jumping slightly when she stepped on a piece of paper. Grumbling at herself, he grabbed the paper and retreated to the couch. The note was from Larry, telling Rob that he’d found a few things out and to call him when he had a few minutes. She put the note aside and tucked her legs up under her and tried to let the tension out. She was still doing so when Rob shuffled out of his room.

        “Hey Deb.”

        “Hey.”

        He paused and blinked sleepily at her and shuffled towards the kitchen, “What’s wrong?”

        She decided to just put it out there. “We got fired today.”

        He sank quickly into a chair, “We. Got fired?” She nodded and sat across from him. “But, why? It’s not like we were crappy workers.”

        She told him what Ms. Ramey had said earlier. “At least she put in a word. I’ve still got the letters and severance stuff in my purse.” She sighed. “I’m not sure it’s really sunk in for me yet.”

        Rob sat very still for a moment, then heaved a great sigh. “Dammit.”

        “Yeah.”

        Suddenly, Rob stood up and slammed his fist down on the table. “DAMMIT!” To both of their surprise, the table buckled under his blow, almost breaking in two. They both stared at the former table slightly wide-eyed.

        “Uh.” Rob uttered.

        “Yeah,” Deb glanced at his right arm, to make sure nothing cracked and stopped. “Robbie,” she pointed.

        “What? What’s wrong?”

        “Your hand.”

        He brought his arm up and blinked. “Well. This is unexpected.” Instead of the wood grain he had started to accept, his hand was marbling back into flesh. His wrist to slightly above his elbow was still solid wood. “Is it just me, or does this keep getting weirder?”

        “Getting? I think this passed weird a long time ago. Then took a wrong turn at Albuquerque.”

        “I’d laugh, but I think you’re right. What the hell? That was solid oak.”

        “I know. Could, could you have taken some of that wood and transferred it to energy for strength?”

        “Is that even possible?”

        “Rob, before yesterday, I would have said that absorbing matter was impossible.”

        “Point. I don’t really know what to make of this. I guess the good Doctor was right about getting my normal arm back. Who would have thought.”

        “Mm. Someone did. Otherwise they wouldn’t have started dosing people.” Her voice was sharp, angry.

        “Uh, Deb?”

        “What?”

        “Are you cold again?”

        “No. Why?”

        “I can see your breath.”

        “Ha.”

        “No. I’m serious.”

        “Oh come on,” she stopped as she looked and saw it of herself. “Crap.” Her eyes went wide, and as she watched the faint wisps disappeared. “What the hell is happening to us Robbie?”

        “I don’t know that, Deb. But I do know one thing.”

        “What’s that?”

        He shrugged, “We’ve got plenty of time to find out.”