Getting Back to Normal Chapter 1

Wash rolled over in his bed. Instead of feeling her tucked into his back like she was when he went to sleep, he felt the cool bed sheet. He sat up and blinked a few times. "Ally?" he called, squinting slightly against the morning light filtering into the room. Getting no response, he grumbled as he swung his feet over the bed and onto the floor.

He called her name a few more times as he walked through top floor of the house. He checked all her favorite hiding spots; His office, her office, and he even checked the linen closet. Then he heard the TV on downstairs. He knew he turned it off before they had come upstairs last night, right? As he walked down the stairs, her laughter floated up to his ears. So, that's where she went. Standing at the foot of the stairs, Wash couldn't help but smile. She was wrapped up in a blanket watching cartoons…At six in the morning. How typical of her.

"I was looking for you." He said, walking over to the couch where she sat snuggled with the blanket and sitting next to her. She looked up when he sat down.
"I couldn't sleep so I came down here and started watching TV so I didn't disturb you."

She explained through fits of giggles. Wash nodded slowly and watched as she untangled herself from the blanket and snuggle up against his bare chest. Honestly, he had no idea how they ended up together. It was like they were from two different ends of the spectrum; she was bubbly and loud while Wash was… the strong and silent type.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Ally asked, looking up at him and playfully poking his cheek. Wash, snapping out of his thoughts, looked at down at her and offered a small smile. At her confused look, he squeezed her tight to him.

"What are we watching?" He asked, glancing at the TV then back at Ally. She just laughed and didn't answer, turning her attention back to the flat screen. He shook his head slightly. He forgot that sometimes, it seemed like she was five years old. After watching a few hours of mind numbing cartoons with her, Wash got up and walked to the kitchen, still only dressed in his pajama pants. He turned back to ask Ally if she wanted anything while he was in the kitchen, and there she was. Following him like a lost puppy.

She looked at him and smiled. "I was kind of hungry and I wanted to see what you were doing." She said at the obviously surprised look on his face. He offered up another smile and turned back around, walking into the kitchen. I wonder what we even have to eat… he thought, opening and closing cabinets. Ally hopped up on to the counter and watched him curiously. She was silent for a few minutes, the opening and closing of the cabinets and Wash's disgruntled mutterings the only sound in the kitchen.

"I think we have a few packs of Ramen left. I meant to go to the store yesterday but…I forgot." She finished, swinging her legs back and forth slightly as she was still perched atop the counter.  An exasperated sighed escaped him as he now searched for the Ramen packs. He hated Ramen. They both knew it but it looked like that was going to due for now. A few moments later he found them and started cooking them.

"What's wrong grumpy Dave?" Ally asked, still on the counter. Wash cringed slightly at the nickname. She knew he hated it when she called him 'Dave', though she did ALL OF THE TIME.  "I just thought we had more than…ugh…Ramen to eat." He said, though he wasn't complaining. He just DID NOT like Ramen. Ally hopped down off the counter and looked up at him.

"I'll…go get dressed and head out now." She mumbled, walking out of the room. As he opened his mouth to argue, she had already left the room. Grumbling to himself, he turned off the stove and quickly climbed the stairs, two at a time.  When he got to the room and pushed the door open, she was standing on the other side of the bed, putting on her shirt. "You don't have to go alone. We can go together later." He offered, walking more into the room. She nodded though she continued putting on her shirt. He furrowed his brow slightly at this.

Once she was fully dressed, she plopped down on the bed and glanced at him. He plopped down next to her and put his arm around her, pulling her more into his side. "Look, I…didn't mean to…make it sound like you HAD to go right then and there." He apologized slightly awkwardly. Her only response was a nod. A soft, slightly annoyed sigh escaped him. Now she was going to be pouty and while he was doing something later, she was going to sneak out and do it anyway.

A little later, as Wash had suspected she would, Ally snuck out the house and went to the store for the groceries they so desperately needed. He sat down on the couch and ate his ramen quietly, minus his occasional slurping of the noodles.