Cale shook his head and snapped his phone closed with a sigh. Justin Bricker was an annoying little punk. And Cale was actually starting to like him.
Running a hand through his hair, he glanced around the kitchen. Alex had said to make himself at home. It was a good thing since he was now hungry ... and for more than food. Unfortunately, Alex wouldn't have a couple of pints of O positive around. She would have food though. Cale would settle for that for now. He wasn't sure how much of the cramping in his stomach was for food and how much was a need for blood. If the food helped, he'd hold out until morning. If not, he'd have to call and see if a special delivery could be made.
Cale moved to the cupboards and began opening them. There was loads of food, but it all seemed to bein boxes or cans with cooking involved. He wasn't in the mood to try that again, so tried the refrigerator next. He'd struck gold. There were several premade meals inside, all merely needing a moment or so in the microwave. Cale had seen Alex use the microwave at the new restaurant several times. She'd brought him lunch every day this last week when she'd checked in to see how things were going, and he'd watched her pop them in the microwave and punch buttons to set it working. He could do that.
Cale chose a plate of lasagne, set it in the microwave, and then peered at the panel. It took him a couple of tries, but then he figured out that he had to hit cook, how long he wanted it to cook for, and then the start button to work the machine. Sighing with satisfaction as the microwave began to hum, Cale stepped back, and then reached for his phone when it rang.
"Yeah," Bricker said as soon as Cale said hello. "So Lucian happened to come in as I was telling Mortimer about Alex's being attacked, and then Sam overheard part of the conversation, and now they both want-Hey!"
There was a rustling, and then Lucian barked, "I'm sending Bricker over to read Alex's mind and see if she caught a glimpse of her attacker. If it's an immortal, I want to know."
"She said she didn't see him," Cale said calmly.
"She's a mortal with a head wound," Lucian said dryly. "She doesn't know what she knows."
"Right," Cale said on a sigh, and then thought to ask, "If Bricker's coming over, have him bring some blood."
Lucian grunted what might have been agreement, and then apparently handed the phone to Sam because her voice was the next to speak.
"Bricker said Alex was all right. She is, isn't she?" she asked anxiously.
"She's fine," Cale said soothingly, glancing toward the microwave when a small popping sound came from inside. The Saran Wrap covering the dish had swollen like a balloon and now had tomato sauce splashed inside as if the sauce were boiling and bubbling, though it didn't appear to be.
"Bricker said she had a concussion," Sam said, reclaiming his attention.
"A mild concussion, yes," he admitted. "But she never lost consciousness, so they said it was all right for her to come home so long as she took it easy for the next couple of days, and there was someone here to keep an eye on her, which I'm doing," he assured her. "I've checked on her several times already and intend to continue checking on her through the night. I'll also stick around and keep an eye on her tomorrow."
"Good," Sam breathed, and then asked worriedly, "She's supposed to take it easy the next couple of days? What about the restaurant?"
"I guess I'll have to find someone to cook for her tomorrow night," Cale said with a sigh, wondering who the hell he would find for that.
"Good luck with that," Sam said dryly, and then warned, "Even if you do find someone to replace her at the restaurant, I don't envy you trying to make her takeit easy. She's not a good patient. She'll fret at staying in tomorrow."
"Well, the doctor said she was to take it easy, so she'll just have to take it easy," Cale said grimly. "We can stay in and watch movies or something."
"Yes, well I recommend you start with that, but if she gets stubborn, suggest antiquing," Sam told him.
"Antiquing?" he asked with surprise.
"Yes. Just look around you. Alex loves antiquing, and it's not very strenuous. She'll walk slowly through the shops to look at everything, and you can recommend breaks for coffee and lunch between each place."
Cale didn't have to glance around. He had noticed several antiques when he'd followed Alex in earlier. He'd never heard of antiquing before, but guessed it was buying old stuff and supposed he could bear it to keep Alex from doing anything too strenuous.
"Bricker's ready to head over, and he wants his phone back, but would you mind calling me tomorrow to let me know how she is? Or have her call?" Sam asked.
"Yes, of course," Cale said, giving a start as a much louder pop sounded from inside the microwave. Turning, he saw that the plastic had burst and tomato was now splattered on the door's glass window. He started toward the microwave, but paused as Bricker's voice sounded over the phone.
"I'll be there as quick as I can, but it will probably take forty-five minutes or so to cross town," he announced.
Cale grunted in response and continued on to the microwave, peering in with worry at what was supposed to be his meal.
"Is there anything you want me to bring with me or pick up on the way?" Bricker asked.
Cale peered at the mess inside the microwave, but shook his head, and said, "No thanks. There's plenty of food and coffee here."
"Right. See you soon then," Bricker said.
Cale nodded and hung up before he realized his nod wouldn't have been seen. Shrugging, he slid the phone into his pocket and peered at the microwave panel, searching for the button to shut it off. He'd check his lasagne, clean the inside of the machine and put it on for another ten minutes if it wasn't done. He'd put a different cover on it though. Unfortunately, while he'd watched her press buttons, he hadn't really paid much attention to what Alex used to heat things up in the microwave, but it seemed obvious he needed something heavier than that plastic wrap. Maybe a plastic lid would be better, he thought as he spotted a button labeled clear/stop and pressed it.