Issue 1 Downtime

Steph had left the area where they'd re-entered the world almost in a worse state than she had been when in the evil copy of the world she'd just spent quite a long time in. Mostly since she had no idea where her boyfriend was. Or when.

In a secluded corner of the quad, Stephanie laid down in the sun next to a large oak tree, shifted into her wolf form, and laying with her head on her paws, drifting in an out of sleep.

Bobby was passing by, and stopped to sit next to her on the grass, slowing reaching over to scratch her between the ears in a familiar movement.

Steph whined a bit, still asleep, like she was having a nightmare, her tail twitching through the grass.

bobby knew better then to mess with a werewolve's nightmares. he pulled back, just reassuringly staying at her side.

Steph woke up with a start, and looked around frantically, before spotting Bobby. Her tail started wagging, beating against the ground before she rose and gave his cheek an affectionate lick.

bobby smiled, returning to skritching her ears.

"Doing okay, Steph?" he asked quietly.

Steph finally stepped back and started to shift, rising first to her half form, and then shrinking back into her human form. She hadn't changed out of her uniform yet, and she had dark circles under her eyes.

"Eh. I've been better. How about you, Mr. Bowen?"

bobby turned to a sitting position, stretching out his legs.

"Well, my garage is still standing, at least. everything else... Ugh, that will take some time.."

Steph sat next to him, brushing her hair back out of her face. "That...that place was intense," she said. "I shudder to think of what my double would have been like..."

"Or mine... Or my dads..." he said without thinking, before quickly clamping up.

Steph sighed, "We're home now at least.... How is your dad anyway? I know he's here, but I don't think I've seen him since high school."

"Oh, he's good. Still doing what he does, only here rather than up at ESU or off on a research trip somewhere. I think he's happy, anyway."

"Good. Send him my regards," she smiled wearily.

She was silent for several awkward seconds.

"I really wish we knew where David is," she sighed, her eyes starting to glisten.

"He'll be fine,"He said, secretly hoping it was true as he put on a smile for his old flame.

"He still owes me six hours in the shop, after all!"

"He does work for you, doesn't he," she smiled, sniffling and wiping her eyes. "I had almost forgotten about that."

"you need to stop by when he gets back, Steph. He does really nice work restoring the cars we get to play with." He said, smiling.

"He has a gift for a lot of things," she said with a smile, "saved my computer a few months ago."

"And he saved us all, getting the portal working again."

Bobby rubbed her shoulder platonically.

"We'll get him back, Steph."

"I hope you're right," she said, her head hanging slightly. She twisted awkwardly and wrapped Bobby in a hug. "You're a sweetheart for trying to cheer my up, I hope you know."

"Thanks, Steph."

Grunting a little, he stood up.

"Damn, I need some aspirin."

"I'm tired, but I've definitely felt worse," she said. "Benefits of regularly ripping apart a fleshy body to change into a wolf I guess,"

"heh. I don't think I've pushed myself that hard in a long while... The garage has made me go soft, with no more shifting to a big, metal net or something."

"You've still got the moves, Shiny," she smiled. "Was glad to have you at my side."