Con Cariño
Chapter Six: An Argument and and Elevator

This chapter is set in the "Nurse Zack" episode, where they had the Employee of the Month contest. Just thought I'd let y'all know because normally the chapter titles refer to the epsisode titles, but this one doesn't. But anyway...here's the next chapter.

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"Get back to work," Moseby left those parting words as he strode away, having just called off the "Employee of the Month" program.

As he left, everyone began to argue with each other over who had was to blame for this incident. Maddie had a bone to pick with Patrick for smashing her candy, but she didn't want to go into the fray alone. Who knew who might attack her for something?

But she knew there was one person who would never turn on her, so she went straight to his side.

"Esteban," she called, and he immediately left off arguing with Arwin to listen to what she had to say. "Can you believe what Patrick did to me?" she pouted, and to her satisfaction, Esteban turned to the maitre'd and began to yell at him.

"How could you ruin poor Maddie's candies?" he questioned angrily. "She never did anything to you!"

"How do I know that?" Patrick said.

"Does she look like she would sabotage anyone? Just look at her little face," Esteban gestured towards her.

Maddie remembered using that same phrase she had once used to get her dog into the Tipton, and remembered how Esteban had been there to help with that issue, just as he was here now, and had been there for so many things Maddie had done.

"It's little me, back from Paree," London's voice suddenly rose above the din, causing everyone to stop and stare at her.

"Don't rub it in. Paris is where I wanted to go," Maddie said, to which London replied that she could have, if she hadn't been to busy working.

"I guess you're probably all too busy to go with me to Rio next week," she added as she headed towards an open elevator.

Maddie and Esteban glanced at each other, and with one mind rushed to the catch her. Unfortunately, every one of the other employees did the same, and all of their weight proved to be more than the elevator could handle.

As the cables began creaking and groaning, Maddie dug her fingers into Esteban's arm, and when she felt that sickening rush in her stomach as the car began its rapid descent, she screamed and buried her face full in the coarse green fabric, even as she heard him screaming as well. But in spite of how scared as he himself was - or perhaps because of it - he threw his free arm around her, and they clung to each other all the way down.

They hit the bottom with a huge rumbling thud, and Esteban and Maddie's hold on each other was broken as they, along with everyone else in the car hit the floor, walls, and each other as a result of the impact.

"Are you ok?" they asked simultaneously, as soon as they had caught their breath.

"Jinx, you owe me a soda," Maddie grinned.

Esteban laughed, glad to see that she was whole both in body and in spirit, even after that crazy ride.

"Fine," he said as he worked to extricate himself from the mess, then stood and helped Maddie to her feet. "But only if you can beat me back up the stairs,"

"Ooh, I might be good, but I'm not that good," Maddie winced at the thought of running like that so soon after such an ordeal.

"Well then, I guess I'll just buy you one anyway," Esteban said, even though he hadn't wanted to race either. He only suggested it so he could make her feel like she was just that special.

The tactic worked, because she broke into a smile again, and laced her arm through his as they wobbled towards the stairway.