Birthday wishes, and a ficlet

[john_amend_all]

Happy birthday, lost_spook!

---

One more hop brought Liz to the top of the steps. She paused, resting on a low wall, and wondering how she'd manage to get across the expanse of beautifully-manicured lawn. So far, she'd been able to rely on the support of tree branches or railings, but grass would offer no such assistance.

"Ah, there you are."

She groaned inwardly. As if things hadn't been awkward enough already.

"Brigadier," she said.

He seated himself beside her. "You'd been gone for some time. We were beginning to wonder if something had happened to you."

"I was down at the lake, collecting samples." Liz produced a test tube of murky water. "No sign of anything out of the ordinary."

"No, the Doctor didn't think there would be." The Brigadier glanced at his watch. "It's nearly time for the meeting with Professor Goodwin."

"Let me guess. He'll say there's no possible reason for having a bunch of big-booted soldiers crawling all over this establishment, and we're all making a lot of fuss about nothing."

"Very likely." The Brigadier glanced over at her. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Why shouldn't I be?"

"Just now, I thought I saw you, well, hopping."

Liz briefly considered making up an excuse, but decided against it. A scientist should be truthful; besides, she couldn't possibly come up with anything convincing on the spur of the moment.

"It sounds so stupid," she said. "I've hurt my left ankle. Caught it in a tree root or something. Probably torn a ligament — it won't take any weight."

"What?" The Brigadier looked down at her foot, which she'd hastily bandaged with her scarf. "When did this happen?"

"Down by the lake. In that stand of trees." She pointed vaguely over her shoulder.

"And you've come all the way back on one leg?"

"Pretty much."

"Well, I have to say, Miss Shaw, I think that was a foolish thing to do."

Liz coloured. She hadn't expected that, though she told herself she should have. Now she thought of it, she'd been ridiculously stubborn. Not that she'd give him the pleasure of hearing her admit that.

"I suppose you think I should have stayed put and screamed?" she said.

"At least one patrol would have been in earshot the whole time. We are investigating two disappearances, after all, and I'd rather that the third one wasn't you."

Liz glanced at him. "I didn't want a fuss made," she said quietly.

She could have sworn the Brigadier was trying not to smile.

"Perhaps you'll be willing to accept military assistance now, Miss Shaw?"

"I think I'd better," Liz said, and hastily added, "We don't want to keep the Professor waiting."

A moment later, she found herself being carried across the lawn in the Brigadier's arms. It was hardly the most dignified method of conveyance, but much faster than hopping — or crawling, which she'd probably have been reduced to. In hardly any time, they were at the main door of the Research Centre.

Liz was on the point of saying "You can put me down now: I can manage from here." But in the event, she remained silent. This was, after all, the first and probably only time the Brigadier would carry her over a threshold. She was going to make the most of it.