exercise never did anyone any good...

[1000_cranes]

Charlie was trying to get into the habit of running a mile or so every day after breakfast along the sand, to get herself used to distance again, used to the stretch and pull of her muscles when she ran. She'd forgotten how good it felt to do something that she was just good at...all her life, Charlie had been good at two things: waitressing and

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[great_talent]

Hiro didn't see her fall, but she did hear pained cries as he walked down the beach. He quickened his steps, thinking someone was injured, and went into a full run when he realized who it was.

"Charlie!" he exclaimed, kneeling next to her. "Are you okay?"

[1000_cranes]

Charlie looked up when she heard the familiar voice, eyes full of unshed tears, her fingers still gingerly wrapped around her ankle.

"It's not broken," she said, blurting the words out, not wanting him to worry. "I just slipped."

[great_talent]

That didn't ease his worry much. He could see the pain on her face.

"I carry you to clinic," he said. "Get in checked, just in case. Okay?"

[1000_cranes]

"Oh, it's a long way to carry me, sugar," said Charlie, patting his face and giving him a smile that she hoped was reassuring. "You help me up and help me walk an' we'll get there."

[great_talent]

He looked conflicted, but sighed and nodded. She didn't look like she was going to take no for an answer.

"You get tired, you tell me. I carry you rest of the way," he said, standing up and holding his hands out to help her up."

[1000_cranes]

Charlie leant a lot of her weight onto Hiro's hands to help her stand up one handed, trusting him to hold her.

"I get tired, I tell you," she said solemnly, grabbing hold of his shirt to keep from stumbling. "I promise. Would I lie to ya?"

[great_talent]

He held her and kept her from falling easily, one arm wrapping around her waist.

"Lean against me," he instructed. "I take care of you, don't worry."

[1000_cranes]

"Oh, I ain't worried, baby," said Charlie, though she leant against him as instructed. "An' I know you will, Hiro. It's just a busted ankle. It ain't the end of the world."

[great_talent]

"That not matter," he insisted, offering her a reassuring smile of his own. "You hurt, I take care of you."

He said that as though that should be obvious. Once he saw she was ready, he slowly began to walk her towards the path to the compound.

[1000_cranes]

Charlie tried to put weight on her ankle and wished that she hadn't. Her breath came sharply through gritted teeth and she leant heavily on Hiro for a moment while she figured things out. If she just put a little of her weight on the side of her foot, she could almost walk.

"I love you," she murmured, because, at times like that one, those things bore repeating.

[great_talent]

He stopped immediately when she leaned even more on him. He waited patiently for her to either give it another try or tell him to carry her. She finally started to walk forward.

"Aishiteru," he murmured, letting her set the pace.

[1000_cranes]

A little smile curled the corner of Charlie's mouth as she half walked, half hopped along side him, keeping her weight off of her ankle.

"Oh, hey, baby...I got a question for you."

[great_talent]

He turned his head to look at her, though he still mostly concentrated on where they were going.

"What is it?" he asked.

[1000_cranes]

Charlie's smiled turned a little mischievous and she raised one eyebrow, biting her lip as she tried not to put down her foot.

"You know how to cook, baby?"

[great_talent]

He flushed a little at the question, shaking his head.

"Not very well. I make simple things," he explained. "But that about it. Why you ask?"

[1000_cranes]

"Oh, a friend of mine once told me that you shouldn't ever date a man who couldn't cook for you...and now you're tellin' me I've gone an' fallen...ow...fallen hopelessly in love with one?"

She rolled her eyes and winked at him.

"What am I gonna do, baby?"