After the most awkward of chemistry labs, where Elsa virtually acted like Anna didn't even exist (with the exception of, 'Get me a beaker. No, the fifty milliliter beaker, not the hundred can't you read?'), Anna contemplated skipping work on Thursday.

Like, really contemplated it.

But looking back on her decision, she was grateful that she had had half a mind and decided to go.

Because right before Anna started sweeping, after she had given all of the horses their nightly grain rations, Anna noticed something wrong—with Dee. Anna walked over to the mare's stall, and saw that Dee hadn't touched her food. And this was merely the first of the signs that Dee wasn't acting normally. Had it been any other day, the ravenous chestnut mare would have had all of the food gone before Anna had even walked back her way. But tonight it remained untouched, with Dee holding her head low and her back to the bucket, lip curling upwards every few seconds.

"What's the matter, girl?" Anna asked, putting the broom down next to Dee's stall to assess the problem.

As if on cue, Dee turned her entire head around and nudged at her stomach, and seconds later, she dropped to the ground and began rolling.

Crap, crap, crap! Anna forgot about the broom completely as she ran to the office.

The door was in its usual state—closed—but Anna didn't have time to knock.

And she didn't have time to worry about the dispute she had had with Elsa.

Anna burst into the office, and before Elsa even had a chance to open her mouth, Anna exclaimed, "I think Dee is colicking!"

Almost immediately, Elsa's stiff demeanor caved—figuratively and literally, as her shoulders hunched and she put her head in her hands, "Just what I need right now."

But no more than a minute later, the senior was on her feet, heading to the filed manila folders, and saying, "I'm calling the vet. Get any food out of her stall, hay, grain, water, anything, and keep her standing."

Anna nodded, "Got it."

Quickly, she made her way back to Dee's stall, job of sweeping abandoned as she removed anything that Dee could consume. She knew the consequences of colic, and how severe it could be. The insanely long equine digestive tract, crammed and folded into a tiny stomach, could become twisted or blocked very easily. The adverse results of the blockages or twists, considered colic, then led to a waiting game that could easily go either way depending on the severity of the situation. And with the changing of the weather, the horses became more sensitive, and colic more frequent.

"Why, Dee?" Anna sighed, "You need to stay standing so that you don't cause even more damage."

She had managed to get Dee up and on her feet, but was struggling to keep the mare standing.

Luckily, she didn't have to wonder what to do for long. Elsa showed up only a minute later, all differences and arguments set aside; this was indeed an emergency.

"The vet is an hour and a half away. So he probably won't get here for another two hours," Elsa said.

"You mean he won't get here until ten?" Anna asked.

"He's getting here as fast as he can. He was with another client," Elsa's words were rushed, but then grew authoritative once more, "But he's still on the phone and needs to know how severe we think it is. So hold her still."

As Elsa moved closer to inspect the horse, checking for whatever she knew she had to check for, Anna couldn't quite ignore the fact that Elsa had said 'we'. Or…the fact that Elsa hadn't even double-checked Anna's diagnosis—the senior had called the vet without even looking at the horse herself.

"Walk her down the aisle, and whatever you do, do not let her roll. You are to keep her on her feet at all times. I have to finish with her records. I'll be back in a minute," Elsa instructed, already walking back to the office.

Control.

Something that Elsa was insanely good at.

But…Anna found that she didn't quite mind it as much as usual.

It was an emergency, after all.

And…was it odd that it seemed kind of…attractive?

But God, not in that way, Anna's eyes grew wide when she realized the other implication of her thoughts. It's just a respectable quality to have. Sometimes.

Dee nearly yanked the lead rope out of Anna's hand in another attempt to start rolling, and it was enough to snap Anna's attention out of her odd, spontaneous thoughts, and back to the more important situation.

Anna fought with the mare for a few moments before she got Dee walking, back and forth down the aisle like she was supposed to, and the entire time she talked to the chestnut mare, who was clearly distressed—as anyone would be in whatever amount of pain Dee was most likely in.

"How is she doing?"

It was Elsa, back already from the call.

"Fighting me, clearly," Anna said, "But I'm managing."

As Anna circled Dee at the end of the aisle, right in front of Elsa, the senior looked as if she wanted to say something, but then thought better of it. Then she looked to the ground, and then back at Anna, and then once Anna had completely turned around and could no longer see Elsa's face, she heard a small, shaky breath before it was followed by a request, in a slightly more timid voice, "Would you mind...staying? Just until the vet comes and then you can leave. I just…hate being alone here when things like this happen."

Anna nearly froze in place at the admitted words.

Elsa wanted her to stay? After everything that had happened previously?

"No one wants to be alone when a horse colics," Anna said, her back still to the senior, "I'll stay. And I don't mind staying when the vet comes, either."

Elsa sounded slightly shocked, but mostly relieved, "That means a lot, Anna."

Guess that's her way of thanking me?

"It's no big deal. We can take turns walking her until the vet comes, and we'll just…deal with it as it comes, I guess," Anna said, and at this point, she had to turn around again, and walk Dee back towards Elsa, and she saw Elsa nod her head in agreement. And so, after Anna had walked Dee for about ten minutes, she turned the chestnut mare over to Elsa, who walked Dee silently up and down the aisle.

It was very quiet afterwards, as neither of them spoke. Anna just found herself listening; to the horses as they drifted in and out of sleep, sighing, nickering, and swishing their tails; to the late autumn wind that blew past the slightly open barn doors; to the loud striking of Dee's hooves on the cement floor accompanied by Elsa's soft footsteps.

After about forty minutes had passed, they let Dee have a short break, not wanting to exhaust the poor horse. But they knew that continuing to walk Dee was best for the mare's health—a little tiredness was nothing compared to having to undergo a surgery that wasn't guaranteed to be a success. And when two hours had passed and the vet still hadn't come, and the glow of Anna's phone read 10:36, she wondered where in the world the vet was, and worried if he'd make it in time. Because while Dee seemed stable, Anna knew that the proper medication needed to be administered, and that a proper examination needed to be performed in order to determine if Dee would need surgery.

"Your turn," Anna said through a yawn, handing the lead rope over to Elsa. Then she eyed the two hay bales by the doors, "You know what? I think I'm going to lay down for a few minutes. Just wake me up when it's my turn to walk her."

"Go ahead," Elsa said, sounding just about as tired as Anna felt.

Anna yawned again as she walked over to the hay bales. She could just about fit if she curled her legs all the way up to her chest. And while it was slightly uncomfortable, and quite itchy, she found her eyes closing almost instantly.

Just a few minutes…I'll get right back up…

The next thing Anna knew, she was waking up to—horses? And voices? And what was that awful poking in her side?

"You're really very lucky you caught it when you did. If it had been any longer she would have needed the surgery. And even then nothing would have been guaranteed."

"Actually, it wasn't me. It was Anna who recognized what was going on. I don't know that I would have caught it in time if she hadn't been here."

"Anna?"

"She's our student worker. Just started the beginning of this semester."

"Oh, I didn't realize you were hiring."

"She needed work in exchange for lessons."

"I see. Well, everything should be okay with Delaney now. Keep monitoring her progress, and I want an update in about twelve hours."

"Thank you so much for coming out so late."

"Not a problem."

There were footsteps.

Then a very loud, exhausted sigh.

Anna rolled over, remembering exactly where she was, and sat up, rubbing her eyes, "I told you to wake me up."

"You were out cold," Elsa's voice wasn't even the slightest bit angry—she sounded completely drained.

"So she's okay then? Dee?"

"I've never been so happy to see a pile of horse shit."

Anna would have burst out laughing, had she had the energy. Never in a million years would she have thought she would hear Elsa curse. And it was kind of endearing—in its own way that was only Elsa's.

I think I need to go back to sleep, Anna thought.

"So, I don't know about you, but it's one in the morning and I'm exhausted. And I don't think I'm in any shape to drive, let alone walk back to the house. So you're either sleeping here, or on the sofa."

"I choose the sofa," Anna said, as she continued to pull hay off of her clothes and out of her hair, "But who's going to stay with Dee? And check on her?"

"Kai's coming. He's got it covered."

"Who?"

"Kai. He does your job every morning and evening that you don't work."

"Oh," Anna didn't ask any more questions—she could barely keep herself awake as it was.

It took all of Anna's energy to bring herself to her feet and follow Elsa all the way up to the house, but even though she was practically sleep walking, it didn't lessen her amazement at how huge Elsa's house was.

"Wow," she said, "This is incredible. It's like a castle."

Because at 1:08 in the morning, she had no filter.

"It's not really that big."

"It's big to someone who grew up in a town house."

"I thought you said that you were the one raised in a castle, anyway?"

"You remember that?"

Elsa rolled her eyes, "Come on."

"Where?"

"There is no way that I am letting you sleep on my couch," Elsa turned around, gestured towards Anna's stained work clothes that now had hay practically sewn in with the fibers, "in that."

"Well fine then," Anna grumbled as she followed the senior upstairs, but she was really too exhausted to actually care.

"So clearly I would have offered you a guest room," Elsa said as she turned on the light in her room, "But although our house is fairly large, we don't exactly have one."

"Anything is better than a bale of hay," Anna said, squinting at the sudden brightness.

It took her eyes a little time to adjust, but when they did and Anna could actually see where she was, she saw that Elsa's room reflected everything about Elsa herself. It was primarily blue, with all white furniture, a few pictures here and there, a desk with plenty of folders and papers on it, and, of course, it was cleaner and tidier than humanly possible.

By the time Anna was finished examining her surroundings, Elsa had tossed her a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt, saying, "I hope they fit."

"Somehow I didn't picture you owning a pair of sweatpants."

"I'm a college student. If I didn't own a pair of sweatpants I'd be breaking the law."

I thought you made the law.

"Very funny," Elsa said. Anna grew slightly rigid when she realized she had spoken her thoughts aloud, but the senior continued on, not sounding annoyed at all. "Just go downstairs. I have an eight a.m. class."

"I…uh…didn't mean to say that. That happens a lot. Especially when I'm tired," Anna sighed inwardly at her social awkwardness and her mouth's lack of an 'off' button.

"It's fine."

"No, really, I—"

"Anna, I make the law, remember? Get out of my room so I can sleep!"

But through the senior's exasperation she thought she saw a hint of amusement.

And it gave Anna an idea that brought a wicked grin to her face.

"I could just sleep here on the floor. And then I wouldn't even have to change."

Anna. Filter. Now…

Oh, but it was so much fun to tease Elsa! The look on the senior's face was priceless.

"Get out."

"Nope," Anna plopped herself down on the floor, and stared right up into Elsa's increasingly widening eyes.

"I go through all of the trouble of finding you something to wear and now you want to sleep on the floor," Elsa said incredulously, shaking her head.

"What, you expect me to walk all the way back downstairs after all of the walking I've done all night?"

"Would it kill you?"

"Maybe."

Elsa paused. And let out an audible and overly exaggerated sigh. And then said, "If I find hay on my floor in the morning, you're vacuuming the whole room."

Anna was sure that the smile of a delighted toddler was present on her face, but she didn't care. Elsa handed her a spare blanket and a pillow, and left the room with a change of clothes.

What the hell is wrong with you? Anna asked herself as she pulled the blanket up to her chin and let her eyes slide shut as her head hit the pillow. There's absolutely no reason that you had to stay here. And you can't blame your hyper mouth this time, either.

Anna was still trying to uncover the answer to her question when the door opened again, and Elsa walked back in.

From Anna's position on the floor, she was met with the sight of long, pale legs with clearly defined muscle, and although her mind told her not to, apparently her eyes acted on impulse the way her mouth did, and they continued to travel upwards, taking in the dark blue shorts and white tank top that were the most form-fitting articles of clothing that the senior had worn around Anna to date, and was it just her mind going crazy or was that tank top kind of…low cut?

Yeah, it was definitely low cut. No doubt about that.

And Anna's eyes didn't stop moving upwards until they met another rather wide set of blue ones.

Pointedly turning away from Anna, Elsa picked up the abandoned long sleeved shirt from the floor and pulled it over her head.

Anna grimaced at her own actions and pulled the blanket all the way over her face.

But from somewhere in her little cocoon of darkness where she wanted to curl up and die of embarrassment, she heard a laugh.

Elsa was laughing at her.

"Sorry," Anna grumbled, her face burning, "That wasn't what it…I mean I…I wasn't…God I'm awkward. And…I'm going to stop trying to talk, now."

Anna heard the click of the light turning off. And a small creak of the bed.

Thinking that she was safe from further judgement, she rolled over and removed the blanket from her head before she could no longer breathe. But of course, when she did so, she saw nothing but blue eyes staring down at her.

And a small smile that still looked slightly amused.

"Go to sleep, Anna."

Anna didn't quite exactly know how she had woken up.

But the sunlight that streamed obnoxiously through the room may have had something to do with it. And all she wanted was to go right back to sleep, but one look at her phone convinced her otherwise.

Had she really slept till noon?

What?

And…

Oh, shit.

Anna rolled over and looked up, taking in the sight of the blonde senior still sleeping.

She had an eight a.m..

Anna got to her feet.

And I just missed work.

"E-Elsa?"

It took a few moments before the senior's eyes opened slightly, "Anna? What the…"

Elsa had one moment of confusion before everything seemed to come back to her, and her eyes shot open as she sat up, hands flying to the phone clutched in Anna's own.

"Crap," Elsa groaned and fell back onto the pillows, eyes pinched shut, "I just missed my first two classes."

"Well, I missed my shift at Starbucks," Anna said, "It's going to be fun trying to explain that."

Elsa opened one eye, "Well if someone hadn't been so distracting, I was going to set an alarm."

Anna's face flushed again. She had chalked her reaction up to how late it had been. And besides, it wasn't wrong to admire an appearance…was it?

There's a difference between admiring and gawking, genius, Anna resisted the urge to face-palm.

Elsa sighed, "Think you can be ready to go in a few minutes?"

"Yeah," Anna said, all thoughts of her personal awkwardness tossed aside.

"Go wait downstairs."

This time, Anna didn't need to be asked twice. She stepped into the hallway, and couldn't help but be slightly awed at the sight. It seemed much larger in the bright daylight than it had in the middle of the night. She walked down the stairs, taking in the intricately carved wood of the banister, and, in a tribute to her ever-so-childish nature, imagined herself sliding all the way down that banister instead of walking.

Now then Elsa would think you're completely crazy, Anna rolled her eyes, As if she doesn't already.

Anna didn't exactly know where to wait, but decided on the kitchen. And luckily, she didn't have to wait for long, because only a minute later, Elsa was running into the kitchen, with her backpack over one shoulder, jacket in her arms, and hands attempting to twist the ends of platinum blonde hair into the remainder of a braid.

"You already missed two classes. What's the harm in being late to another one?" Anna's tone was joking, but if looks could kill…

"I will not be late to physics."

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction," Anna proudly recalled from her high school physics course.

"That's right. So if you don't get out the door right now you're going to pay for it later."

"But we didn't even eat anything," Anna complained.

"You don't get to invade my room and my refrigerator," Elsa said as she picked her keys up off of the counter, "Seriously, let's go."

"Okay, okay," Anna said, "I'm coming."

Anna followed Elsa to the car, where she made a mental note to not put her feet anywhere except for the floor, and the ride to the college was short and quiet.

"Well, thanks for taking me back," Anna told the senior as she got out of the car, "I hope you're not too late to your class."

Elsa looked down to her phone before saying, "It looks like I'll just about make it."

Anna gave a small wave before heading off—in the direction of the dining hall because wow was she hungry!

And of course my bike is at the barn, and I have a lesson tonight, Anna remembered, sighing.

On top of that, she really would have quite the time explaining why she had missed work…

But her boss was fairly lenient, and it really had been an emergency. The worst that would probably happen was that she'd get a warning for next time, since nothing like this had happened before.

So she didn't really mind.

Actually, she was rather happy with the way that everything had turned out.

All awkwardness—and of course the scare of Dee's colic episode—set aside, she and Elsa had been able to move past what had happened that night with Lance and work together, which made last night an overall positive in Anna's opinion.

Because every action has an equal and opposite reaction, Anna thought, laughing at her own joke.

No matter how much Elsa tried to push Anna away, Anna would keep fighting to be closer.

A/n: So did that make everything better? :) Conflict is resolved for now. Or at least put on the back burner to deal with later...

But onto more serious matters. Colic. In short, it's everything that was explained in the actual chapter. And as far as the 'horse shit' comment that was so eloquently put by Elsa, here's an explanation if you're still confused about how colic works: the only way to know if a horse's digestive tract is no longer blocked is if everything that goes in it comes out so…that's where that one came from. Sorry if you read that and had no clue what it meant, but there was really no feasible way to try to explain that in the story with two people who are so tired that they don't know what to do with themselves.

And speaking of not knowing what to do with themselves…poor Anna doesn't even know what's coming for her. Gawking? Oh, that's only the beginning of it…

Thanks for reading!