Welcome to Gaia! ::

The building was like many of the others in the big city -- gargantuan, sleek, mostly compromised of windows. It had the typical cold and unfriendly appearance of any standard business structure, the first floor containing little more than a desk that was probably never occupied and a directory of the given floors behind thick pane glass. Most of the floors belonged to a company called NEO, though many of them were unmarked - with only three of the levels unlocked for visit, finding the Laboratory wasn't hard.

Once inside the designated floor, it pretty much abandoned the idea of being a standard work environment. The walls were lined with various images of popular culture - super heroes, Disney Princesses, cartoon characters - especially on the left side, where there were children's toys and a full play station sectioned off from the rest of the room. There were about a dozen desks scattered throughout the large space, a few cut off from view by large partitions, most of the work stations open. The desks themselves were a thick wood, lacquered in white, with more than one tower beneath it and up to four monitors per surface. Many had large printers on the desk and a few had even larger ones next to the desks; some were in motion, showing off the 3D printing in process, while others were still, their monitors blinking with various screen savers. Some desks had figurines on them, some had full size statues.

In the general middle of the room was a large open space with tables set out and various pieces of equipment on it - unusual ones that looked like tiny backhoes and more familiar shapes of joints, pulleys and metal plating. Some were even pieced together to resemble limbs - a prototype section of prosthesis and cybernetics.

The very back of the room had several full sized stand ups - some cardboard, like Captain America and Wonder Woman, some actually suits of armor, like Iron Man and medieval sets. Next to the displays was a sizable room that had tinted windows, though there was a large IN USE glowing above one of the central windows, a soft din indicating there was some sort of music playing within.

At the edge of the middle clearing closest to the elevator were a man and woman that didn't look like they belonged, given that most everyone else that worked there had a white coat or were bent over their computers. The woman sat, lips pressed thin, her hands gripping to almost white-knuckled tightness on her lap, alternating between staring at the far room and glancing to the man that paced next to her. He looked more agitated than she did, running a hand through his hair and pacing between the woman and the center of the room, also casting looks to the back room and sharing knowing glances with the woman.

All they could do was wait.

The Wilson's turned as soon as the fireman entered, both of their faces changing for the better: she looked relieved, and he looked proud.

"Lieutenant," Mr. Wilson greeted Rylan, waiting for his daughter's exuberant greeting to finish with a small smile before extending his hand for the man's free one. "It's okay. We had some difficulty convincing her to try it on..."

Mrs. Wilson followed suit, squeezing Rylan's hand and using her other hand to gently stroke her daughter's hair. "You're not late, it's a...process." She smiled, and it spoke of little sleep and concern for the absent Wilson-child. "Like Henry said, Sasha was resisting but the tech she liked was here, they got her in the room." She glanced towards the back area, taking a deep breath.

"It helps, you know, when she can see someone else who has the same thing - more so, even." He, too, looked sleepless, but he had the type of strain around his eyes that spoke of stress since their fateful meeting. His wife nodded as he continued, "They said the first fitting can take a while, it's been a half hour since they -- "

A large TV in the corner of the room flickered to life, immediately playing music - and judging from the beat, it was the same one that had been playing in the room. It was confirmed when the door on the side of the room opened and the music poured out, loud and filling the room. Some of the workers stopped what they were doing to watch, some glancing up with a smile, most of them familiar with this case and the difficulties that had been presented earlier.

The tech in question bounded out of the room, his back to the group; his left pant leg was pulled up to his knee, the prosthetic he wore a bright pink, decorated with what looked like Disney Princesses, and the white coat he wore was rolled to his elbows, his right prosthetic arm covered in random decals that included lips, a heart around some teen heart-throb's face and a rainbow. He turned, and even if Rylan hadn't remembered him putting his hair up in a low, loose bun that morning, Lucas was recognizable even with tinted glasses on, wearing a huge grin as he held out his good hand to the door.

He lip synced with the song, swaying to the music in a theatrical and exaggerated manner, motioning for the guest of honor to take his hand and show off her new equipment. Laughing, he shook his head at whatever happened inside and motioned -- and when he was denied again, he put his hands on his hips with his brows raised and disappeared back into the room. A moment later - and on time with the music - he came back out with Sasha supported with his prosthetic arm, his good hand linked with hers, dancing in circles and singing up to her like she was the only person in the room.

This is what you came for, he mouthed with a serious expression, even if the person singing was female, lightning, strikes every time she moves! His metallic fingers pat her calf - a blue cover on hers, adorned with an image of Elsa, some sort of mech and more rainbows - raising his eyebrows to keep on with the music. And everybody's watching her...

Lucas had expected laughter and he was all for it - he just hadn't been prepared for the familiarity of it. Grey eyes flit towards where they'd left the parents, spotting Rylan easily. His grin warmed - and then for a split second, probably only noticeable by the fireman in question, panic lit his eyes like a storm. That was his boyfriend. His boyfriend standing with the parents of his client. Holy s**t. Was he supposed to greet him like his boyfriend? Professionally? Like the Lieutenant of Ashdown's finest? What was he supposed to do?

Thank all the forces that be, Sasha spoke and he easily turned his attention back to her, kneeling down and still holding her hand. "You most certainly can dance," he replied in a voice that didn't betray his mild panic attack. "Remember, it took time to learn how to pirouette, and this is no different. It'll take a little while to get used to your balance, but once you do? You're gonna be bouncing around more than me, and that's a lot." He grinned up at her, easy and earnest. "If I can dance, me, who nearly knocked everything over trying to get this pink cover on, you most certainly can." Only Rylan could know him a hypocrite for that statement - he'd confessed to having used to dance on their first date, after all. Still holding her hand, he jumped to his feet and did a little step-dance around her, trying to encourage a little spin.

Mrs. Wilson had glanced to Rylan and Nina at their exchange but hadn't lingered, mostly focused on Sasha. "It looks great, sweetheart!" she enthused warmly, looking over the shape of it and how it fit in size with her good leg. "And Mr. Reis said he'd keep it updated with your growth, because we all know that as a dancer, you're going to be taller than your father."

"Only if she eats her vegetables," Mr. Wilson added, beaming with pride.

Lucas laughed again, peeling off one of the decals on his leg and patting it against the back of Sasha's hand in his. "I'm on your side, Sasha, and I fully expect to be invited to one of your shows. But if you need anything - adjustments, new covers - I've got you. That's why there's five other colors by my chair, including another pink because I probably stretched this one a bit much." His metal hand covered the one he held, his smile gentle.

"And look who came to support you!" Mr. Wilson clapped Rylan on the shoulder, though it was obvious the girl had seen him.

Looking over to Rylan, Lucas tried really hard to make his smile neutral, but it was definitely familiar and pleased. "You want to try a little Waltz, Sasha? Give the good Lieutenant a show for coming out here?" Lowering his voice, he whispered to her, "Maybe he'll dance with you?"

Mrs. Wilson took Nina into her arms, looking between the two men with a stunned expression. Her husband had also fallen silent, watching.

"He's a very gracious man," Lucas chipped in, trying to keep a straight face but horrifically failing, alternating between a toothy grin and a smile trying to contain it. "The Waltz is three steps, doesn't require a whole lot of movement, you'll manage, Ry." The grin came back, clearly delighting in the situation, especially if it got him off the hook. Extending the hand holding hers to Rylan, he winked and looked to Sasha. "All yours, sunshine."

He wasn't going to take no for an answer, plucking his phone out of his back pocket. The music that had been playing was dimmed, and instead, he put on an easy Waltz that wasn't overwhelmingly loud. "Teach him how it's done, Sasha, show the man how to dance." Damnit, but he could not repress his flirty nature, not around Rylan. "Could come in handy some other time."

Lieutenant Cam Rylan - charming everyone in the room with that damn grin of his. Lucas swore it was some sort of tagline for the man's life and it never got old.

Crossing his arms, he watched the two dance, and not just that -- he saw how gentle, careful and patient he was with her; he saw how willing, if not a little afraid, and trusting she was with him. The way Rylan's strong hands - that could spout fire, nonetheless - were delicate in guiding her, the way he smiled, his attention on his partner. His heart filled with joy, flooded by a warmth and satisfaction of seeing the most important person in his life bringing happiness to someone who had been so certain they wouldn't feel that way again. He was a natural with the teen - and even if Lucas had wanted to hide his expression, he couldn't, eyes holding a tenderness and his smile immensely fond.

Next to him, Mrs. Wilson was watching with tears in her eyes, pointing out Sasha dancing to Nina. "He'll make a great father some day," she echoed his thoughts.

"He will," Lucas agreed.

Mr. Wilson concurred. "He's a good man. We couldn't have done any of this without him. Did you know, he visited Sasha in the hospital? Was the only reason she smiled most days. There were times we weren't sure she was going to pull through, but..."

The smile Lucas wore grew, crooked and just shy of turning into a grin. "He's got a knack for that. Do you have his number?" Grey eyes flickered to the parents. "Sasha should totally ask him to prom."

The parents exchanged amused and considering glances. Yeah, the firefighter's boyfriend may have just made him a date with a teenager, but maybe they'd worry about that in four years.

The parents were saying something, but Lucas had partially tuned them out - watching the dance, reading their lips when they were in view of him. He picked out a few words - something about kisses and running people over - and felt his smile warm into a grin. Finally turning his attention back to the parents and his work station, he moved to the latter (subtly lowering a photograph on his desk) and picking up the roll of colored leg covers, returning to Mr. Wilson and handing them over to him.

"The skin-colored cover will be done in a week, in case she changes her mind about it. She has two of each color here and a roll of decals, and you guys have my extension number and my e-mail, so if she decides she can do sports, drama, anything - you just give me an idea or a pattern and I'll make it happen, okay?" He smiled at the two, accepting the hand from Mr. Wilson that clasped his good one and holding it between both of his own. "This isn't an end - it's not even a beginning. It's just a different chapter than she was expecting, and that can still spell out a very happy story." He'd had words like that said to him at one point, and Sasha had a lot of support. It sure as hell counted for something.

Rylan and the star of the show were on the approach again, drawing Lucas' eyes back to the two, as well as the parents. "That was impressive, both of you!" he grinned again, spreading his arms to the side. "I was going to offer to be a partner if you ever needed to practice, but I think the Lieutenant is holding out on us for his skill, too!"

Mrs. Wilson reached out to smooth back Sasha's hair, Nina still secure in her other arm. "It's a great first step, honey." Her father nodded in agreement, looking at the eldest daughter with more pride in his eyes than he could formulate into words.

Lucas gave the firefighter an appraising arch of a brow before fixing his smile on Sasha. "You're all set, Princess. You've got your follow up with your doctor in a week to make sure it's all sorted and comfortable, but you can call me any time if something is bothering you. And once you're done growing and you've invited Rylan and I to a dance recital, we can revisit the discussion for surgery." Lifting his good hand, he offered his pinky to her for a pinky-swear.

Lucas blinked at Sasha, slowly looking over to Rylan with the most deer-in-the-headlights expression he'd wore since his hand had turned into a paw. And there, the fireman could probably see that brief flicker of mischief - a thought to kiss him right then and there - but he squashed it, not about to break the girl's heart after giving her a leg. That seemed a cold trade-off. Instead, he looked to her as solemnly as he could, half-whispering back, "I do, but you know what else? I take kisses when I want them. Don't let anyone else say when it's best for you." The smile that lit his grey eyes indicated Rylan was probably in trouble the next time they were alone.

"But this is a Princess Pinky Promise, and it cannot be broken. We've got your back, the Lieutenant and I, and we want you to go out there and be happy." His good hand lifted to gently cup her cheek before dropping, his smile light and proud of her strength in attempting all this at all.

Mr. Wilson cleared his throat and hefted the rolls over his shoulders, putting his free hand on his wife's back. "We should let Mr. Reis get back to work," he commented, glancing to the man in question gratefully. "We wont forget what you've both done for us."

Lucas subtly waved it off, having the grace to look a touch embarrassed. Mrs. Wilson pushed up on her toes to kiss the werewolf's cheek, putting her hand on his prosthetic arm. "You can expect goodies for the holidays, from the girls and I. We'll call you and keep you updated."

"Thanks," he replied softly, a little bewildered by their kindness, his smile delicately holding his emotions. The three of them looked to Rylan; Lucas hesitated for a moment before assuming he'd leave with them, smiling in the crooked manner he often had with the firefighter, relaxed and familiar. "You should practice dancing more. Teach your kids, when you have them." Another flicker of tenderness crossed his gaze, dipping his head and looking away before his fondness for the man could betray him.