Page 66 of Should the Sky Fall

“So am I.” At Dawson’s raised eyebrow, he says, “Just give me a lighter one. I need to start regaining my strength at some point anyway.”

Pursing his lips, Dawson seems to think it over. He looks at the bags, then reluctantly hands one to Cal. “Brick wall,” he grumbles, making him smile.

“Get used to it.” His smile grows when Dawson rolls his eyes, clearly enjoying the banter.

But Cal meant it. He needs to get stronger and he won’t manage that solely by walking. The doctor said no strenuous exercise and lifting heavy stuff for at least a month, but it’s been nearly two weeks since they opened and patched Cal up. Surely, carrying some shopping bags won’t kill him.

I might’ve spoken too soon, he concedes as he and Dawson unpack and put everything in its respective place in the kitchen, which requires lots of bending over and reaching up. By the time they’re finished, he’s actually more tired than he’d be from a half-an-hour walk.

Dawson, unsurprisingly, notices. “Jesus Christ. I told you, Cal!”

“I know, I know,” he mumbles, allowing Dawson to steer him towards the sofa and sit him down on it.

“Just sit down and rest, will you?”

“I’ve been resting for two weeks. I hate just sitting on my ass.”

Dawson chuckles. “Funny, because that’s what your job requires most of the time. Sitting on your ass and running numbers and whatnot.”

“That sounds horrible.”

Dawson gives a small huff, then holds up a finger. “Gimme a sec.” He disappears in the room he previously said was Cal’s office and comes back with something flat and rectangular, kind of like the iPad.

“This is your laptop.” He waves it in front of Cal’s face. “It’s password protected, so how about you make yourself busy trying different combinations?”

Cal takes it with a frown. “Can’t I just use my fingerprint?”

“Not on this one, I’m afraid. But you have an unlimited number of tries, so go for it.”

“You don’t know it?” He takes the laptop and opens it carefully. It is like the iPad, but with a keyboard. He presses what he thinks is the power button and it starts.

Dawson frowns. “You’re not supposed to share passwords, you know?”

“But we’re married,” Cal argues. When Dawson only stares at him, he turns to the screen asking him for a password. He types the first thing that pops into his mind.

Incorrect password.Hm. So it’s notDawson.

“When’s your birthday?”

Dawson’s brows shoot to his hairline. “I assure you; the password is not my birthday.”

“When?”

Dawson sighs, shaking his head. “May 15th.”

He types1505.“Year?”

“1997.”

Cal adds the numbers to the password, grunting when it doesn’t work.

“Told you,” Dawson says, unsurprised. “We can have someone have a look at it later.”

“Okay.” He doesn’t care much either way. “Does it do anything I can’t do on my phone or the iPad?”

Dawson thinks. “I mean, the screen is bigger, duh. But you mostly use it for work. Pretty sure all your projects and documents are on there. And probably backed up on a drive or something.”

“Well, I can’t work now.” He sets the laptop aside. “Is it going to be a problem? For us, I mean?”