The York Gallery; Wednesday [12/17].

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The York Gallery; Wednesday [12/17].

Charlotte had gotten a very nice (if very brief and rather grunt-y) call from Teddy's boyfriend mentioning that he wouldn't be in for work because he had turned into a puppy. Well, okay, then. Charlotte wasn't going to ask any questions, she was just going to come on in for Teddy, keep an eye on the exhibit, and enjoy a nice mug of eggnog and not spare any thoughts to where it came from if she could help it. It was simply seasonal and Teddy was just under the weather with a cold.

Some habits were difficult to break, and, even as long as she'd been here, Charlotte still had quite the habit of denial.

The York Gallery is open.

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Where Charlotte is also using this as an excuse to check on some of her online shipping.

It was a somewhat exhausted looking Dale who returned from his shift at the station. In his hands were two cups of coffee from the Perk which he was clutching in a death grip.

"Good Evening, Charlotte," he said sounding a tad weary. "How was your day?"

Charlotte glanced up, got one look at Dale, and almost instantly met him with a melted sort of sympathetic pout. "Clearly better than yours," she observed. "Oh, Dale, honey, everything okay? Rough day at the station?"

"It was fine," he said struggling not to pout. "However there was no coffee."

He then took a sip of coffee. "So. Yes. No Coffee."

Charlotte's eyes rounded. That...explained everything.

"Oh, sweetie," she gushed more sympathy, and she figured maybe she should get up and comfort him, but she wasn't getting that close to him until he'd had more to drink from that cup.

"I'm fine," Dale said... gulping another gulp. Now from the other cup. "I have coffee now. Everything will be fine," he said meekly.

"Awwwwww," Charlotte may have smiled, just a wee tiny bit, looking at Dale for a moment longer before she pushed her chair out to stand up. She moved with little clicking steps around the desk, to give him a hug, arms around his waist from the side so that she didn't restrict any coffee movement while she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "But you made it!" she pointed out. "I'm so proud of you."

Dale gave her a small smile and gave her a quick peck on the nose before letting out a small sigh. "Yes. I did. It was a very long day," he said prying his grip open to put the two coffee cups on the table. "Thank God, I'm home."

As soon as Dale set them down, Charlotte picked one of them back up and, with an insistent sort of expression, insisted that he take it and keep drinking. She gave him an encouraging smile to boot, another kiss on the cheek, and then smoothed out his hair a little. "And it's all over," she reminded him, "and tomorrow will be different."

"Here's hoping so, Charlotte," Dale said gratefully taking a drink. "It's one thing to deal with the phone calls but to do so without coffee? It's downright inhumane!"

"And look at you," Charlotte continued encouragingly, "still suffering through it so strongly."

"Well I felt I needed to set an example," Dale said perking up a little. "However next time I'm just going to buckle under and just get a cup of coffee."

"Or maybe," Charlotte said, trying to sound hopeful, "this is the first step in cutting back. Just a little. So that if this ever happens again, you can better handle it."

"Perhaps," Dale said nodding his head. "That definitely could happen. Right now I think I just want to put the day behind me."

He turned and gave her an honest grin. "So. How was your day?"

Charlotte smiled back. "Gooood," she said, wrinkling her nose a little. "Teddy's not feeling well, so I'm covering for him, and it's just gotten better now that you're home."

Dale's smile got a little bit bigger as he tapped that cute wrinkled nose with his index finger.

"I have to say just seeing you made my day as well," he replied. "Especially since you're not trying to attack something with your shoe."

Charlotte let out a little groan. "You just had to remind me," she said, feeling all her work in repressing that whole occasion slip away, which was a shame, because she'd done really well with that one! She met the comment with a little pout, although not for the garlands, because she was just going to go back to ignoring it. "If I'd have known you were having such a hard time, sweetie, I'd have brought something for you."

"Oh, I just had to muddle through," Dale said shaking his head. "These odd little events while amusing in some ways can take their tolls in others."

"As if the holidays weren't exhausting enough," Charlotte sighed, resting her head on Dale's shoulder, "this place definitely makes sure you keep on your toes..."

Dale took one final sip of his other cup of coffee and placed it on the desk to fully give Charlotte a comforting hug. "Well the holiday will soon be over with," he said soothingly. "And luckily enough I have my shopping all wrapped up."

"Oh! Do you need any help?" Charlotte was all too eager to volunteer for that. "Or are most of them for me?"

"Well of course most of it is for you," Dale grinned. "And just mostly small appropriate work gifts for the staff at the office."

"Can I help with those, then? And you know I'll want to bake something for them, too."

"Oh absolutely," Dale said. "And I might ask for something special for Ralph. I think he caught the brunt of my lack of coffee today."

"Oh, no," Charlotte said, but she couldn't help at least a little, sympathetic sort of laugh. "Poor Ralph. I'll have to definitely do muffins; those seems to be his favorite."

"That would be perfection," Dale said happily. "Are you sure you have time for this?"

"Oh, please," Charlotte rolled her eyes a little, but grinned, "I've got too much time. I'll be happy to do something. I love doing things for everyone at the station, you know that! And the dinner was a success, too. I need to plan more things like that."

"Well you certainly have the place for it," Dale said nodding at the gallery. "It's perfect for any kind of event. I think everyone seemed to enjoy themselves."

"It was really nice finally getting to meet the new detectives, too. They seem very nice."

"Top notch people," Dale said with a nod. "Ray's a bit... well, Ray. He reminds me a bit of a colleague of mine. However I can't think of anyone else I want on my team. And Daisy is a complete professional."

"I'm still a little sad that Ray and Nate didn't bring anyone," Charlotte said with a small pout, "but meeting Sarah was nice, too. Did you know we share a common employee? I wonder if she knows about Teddy's..." There was a slight pause. "Cold."

"I did not know that," Dale said. "Sorry to hear he's sick. Maybe we should get some chicken soup for the boy."

"Awww! Dale! That's a wonderful idea! You're so smart and considerate!"

"Well there's nothing better to fix the common cold," Dale said with a nod. "I assume that's what he has?"

Charlotte had gotten so caught up in her delusion that she'd actually managed to forget until just that moment that it certainly was not the common cold.

"Well," she winced a little, shifting as she had to admit the slip, "it's actually not a cold at all. He actually turned into a puppy, so maybe the soup's not a good idea after all. But it was still a very good thought!"

"A puppy huh?"

Dale seemed to be more amused by this than he actually should be.

"Well at least he's not an over caffeinated bunny."

"You were a cute little over caffeinated bunny," Charlotte said, grinning and mushing up her words a little.

"And you were a wonderful caretaker for me while I was in animal form," Dale said touching his forehead to hers. "Something I so appreciated when I had no opposable thumbs."

"Well, it was easy," Charlotte said, grinning, "'cause you were cute."

Dale chuckled. "So as long as something is cute you think you could take care of it?"

It was an odd question but it seemed to amuse Dale.

"It certainly makes it easier, anyway," Charlotte admitted, smiling back.

"Well that's good to know," Dale said with a smirk. "Very good."

[Night!]

Where there are still photos (http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/h/homelessate/), all pretty and stuff.

And absolutely no garland.

Man, I planned to do this all day, and only just now remember. GO ME.

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The York Gallery; Wednesday [12/17].

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OOC -- 12/17.