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"Oh, there you are," Lia the way Chubs’s nostrils flared and his eyes ide behind his glasses "We ondering where you’d gotten off to"

"I was just--building some shelves, for the--uh, the supplies and books in thebetween us, the door, and back over his shoulder, literally looking for an escape route

"Did you build the for the first time that his shirt was buttoned incorrectly I started toward the door, trying not to laugh as a look like death came over Chubs’s face "We’re happy to help you--"

Lia up, up, up

"Nope, no--I ? I’ll go with you--"

"Are you okay?" Lia all twitchy"

"Fine, totally" Chubs pushed the glasses Vida had e of his nose, then looked down at his shirt Without warning, he snatcheduys okay now? Spare no details We’ll--"

The door creaked open behind us again Chubs shrank back against the wall as Vida ca out, her shoulders set back, head of ave her a look of s her by

Vida didn’t say a thing; she simply dropped Chubs’s jacket over his head as she passed, letting it hang there He waited until the sound of her boots against the tile had faded before sinking down onto the ground Chubs kept the jacket pressed to his face, looking for all the world like he was trying to suffocate himself

"Oh, God," he groaned "She’s going to killto hide the grin on his face I put a hand on his shoulder, afraid he’d start julee "Are you?"

Chubs finally lowered the jacket And, after a deep breath, nodded

Well, I thought, surprised at my lack of surprise Well, well, well

"WowIout of ainst his forehead "I’m so proud of you, Chubsie, but I’m so confused, but I’ has this been going on?" I asked "You haven’tyou’re not?"

One look ofI needed to know They had They were Liam choked a bit at that

"What?" Chubs demanded "It’s ait’s a perfectly normal human response to--to stressors And it’s winter, you know, and when you’re sleeping in a car or tent it can be freezingactually, you knohat? It’s none of your business"