Colin's posts

"All right, off we go." Rene said with a chuckle.

With that, the two of them left the room, made their way through the hospital, and eventually to the underground parking garage, where they approached his car.

Kalin put her stuff in the back seat, and Rene helped her into the front passenger side, before shutting the door and getting into the driver's seat.

"Want something to eat?" he asked as they buckled up and he started the vehicle.

"I can hit up a drive-thru or grab something from a take-out place on the way back." he said.

Rene pondered what she said for a moment, and nodded.

"Right." he said.

"Back in a moment." he told her.

With that, he disappeared from the room, and returned a few minutes later with a crutch that was just the right size for her.

"This should suffice." he said.

"And walking will help your rehabilitation." he reasoned.

"Oh, is the laptop bag I got you working all right?" he then asked.

"Well, that's up to you." Rene replied.

"I can arrange for either." he told her.

"It all depends on what you'd prefer to use, or what you think may look better, or perform better." he said further.

"So... yeah, pick one, and it'll be done." he chuckled.

She hadn't been waiting long before Rene showed up.

"Hey." he greeted her.

"Time for me to clock out." he said.

"Meaning it's time for us to skedaddle on outta here." he told her.

"You ready to go?" he asked, before pausing.

"What am I saying, you've been ready to go for a few days now." he chuckled.

"...I say 'strolls', but I meant 'being pushed around in a wheelchair'..." Rene clarified.

"But that can be arranged." he told her.

"Perhaps even get outside for some fresh air." he said further.

"If you like, I can see about getting that done right now." he offered.

"Think you'd like to step outside, so to speak?"

"Hmmm..." Rene mumbled.

"The cleithrophobia is a legitimate concern." he told her.

"That, coupled with how you're feeling, alongside you deciding to actually take me up on my offer, might be enough to get you released fairly soon." he said further.

"Granted, it might take a couple of days for the paperwork to be rushed through, but it shouldn't be long." he went on.

"In the meantime, I can arrange for you to go on strolls outside your room." he added.

Rene nodded in response.

"Sure thing." he said.

"I just want to make sure you're ready to hit the ground running when you're released from here." he told her with a smile and a small thumbs-up.

"I'll get that done ASAP." he then assured her.

"How's the recovery going?" he asked.

"Thinking you'll be good to go soon?" he asked further, merely wanting her opinion, which he would take into consideration.

Rene just smirked.

'Charlene pulls through.' he thought.

"Excellent." he said.

"I'll make sure your room is ready to move into." he told her.

"There anything I should know?" he asked.

"Like, decorating style, as well as fashion likes and dislikes?" he asked her.

"Odds are you'll need some outfits for when you're outta here."

Rene was silent for a moment, before smiling.

"It's always been on the table." he told her.

"Not a problem at all." he said.

"What about the University and your schooling?" he then asked.

"I assume they're all right with you living off campus, but can you risk going onto the grounds for schoolwork?" he asked her. "Or have you worked out another deal?" he then inquired.

Internally, he was wondering if she had. Charlene WAS understanding and flexible, after all...

Rene made his way back to his place, and spent most of the rest of the day there, pondering Kalin and her well-being.

The next day, he was at work again, and was in his office. He was sitting at his desk, thinking about Kalin, and of the necklace that he was wearing.

'Time's getting near for this thing to wear off.' he thought.

'Wonder what'll happen when ghost Mom returns...' he thought further, before sighing.

"More importantly, what's Kalin going to do?" he then asked himself. "It's abundantly clear that the University won't be safe for her..." he mumbled.

"Other than my offer, where else CAN she go?" he wondered aloud.

"You're welcome." Rene responded.

"And yeah, I can tell you can move past it." he commented.

"You really are a fighter, full of pep and spunk." he said further.

"But... there's one thing I've learned in life." he went on.

"Doesn't matter how much strength or energy or whatever you have... you can't do it alone, all the time." he finished.

"Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow when I return to work." he then added with a wave.

"Well, odds are I'll just head back home." he told her.

"I mean, what with what happened here, it puts a damper on being social." he admitted.

"And, as you said, it's my day off." he went on.

"I did what I came here for, and visited you, although under less-than-optimal circumstances." he mumbled.

"You all right? Overall?" he asked.

"That altercation couldn't have been pleasant."

"Oh?" Rene asked.

"I would imagine so." he said. "And I'd imagine it's nothing pleasant." he sighed.

"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you in your thinking." he told her.

"I'll do all I can to help." he went on.

"Feel free to contact me whenever."

Rene shook his head.

"Seems so." he said.

"I wish I could tell you otherwise, but it seems the resentment towards you runs deep and complicated in the right parts of the alumni and faculty." he commented.

"And there's not much we can do about it." he admitted.

"Odds are they'll keep it well-hidden and subtle now." he went on.

"Or be a LOT more stealthy and dangerous about it..."