Engine Failure
Lee hates being small.
Not just that she was teased endlessly about it (Including by Abby, but that was rich coming from her) but at times like this, it was really hard to…
She growled in frustration, trying the wedge herself more underneath the machine.
“Come… on…” She mumbled, reaching up with her screwdriver and it just brushed the screw head but didn’t…
She rested her head back on the concrete with a groan.
A few more inches and she would have had it.
She rolled back out from under the machine.
… or she tried.
“Fuck” Lee mumbled under her breath, feeling the machine scrape and wedge against her ribs.
Oh no.
She pushed harder, the weight of the machine seeming to get heavier as she as the fragile supports it was on in her mind's eye.
Oh god.
“S.A.M? S.A.M!” She called, her voice starting to get a bit frantic as she attempted to escape “A little help?”
“Master Lee. I am afraid I am not corporeal, therefore cannot help you with your situation. May I suggest getting Master Abby or Bruno?”
“Fuck” She hissed again. She was so screwed.
“No S.A.M!” She called hastily “Don’t do that! Can you-?”
“Lee?” A familiar voice echoed around the workshop and she froze.
Fuck.
Abby.
She shuffled herself more under the machine, tucking her legs in the most awkward position ever known.
If Abby found her here she'd never hear the end of it.
"Goddamnit Lee, where are you?" Abby mumbled, and Lee could almost see her disapproving face, arms crossed in front of her chest.
Then footsteps retreated from the room and Lee sighed with relief.
She managed to wiggle her legs free, sticking them out of the machine.
It was starting to feel tighter, more restricted as her breath bounced back into her face.
If she could get herself headfirst out then she could breathe and then… and then get a plan.
It was a painful process of shimming and the metal pressing on her chest and stomach before she kicked, violently, trying to get to the air she knew was there.
The cool air hit her and she gasped with relief. Thank God-
The machine fell, slamming into her ribs and stomach as she felt them give, knocking the air out from her.
Her breath came out as a scratching gasp.
The struts. One of them had broken.
She needed- She had to-
She shoved at the machine, tears springing to her eyes and she heard and echoing "Lee?"
"Abby..." Her voice was weak as she clawed at the floor, the room spinning as footsteps echoed towards her, the sound of her name slamming into the back of her head painfully.
"Lee!"
Abby swam into view, her outline distorted as the pressure lifted slightly, pulling off her ribs…
The machine slammed down as Lee coughed and spluttered on the floor, tears dripping onto the floor as she curled in on herself, blinding pain shooting through her stomach.
"Hey- Lee come on, come here-" Abby managed to move Lee, propping her twin against the bed.
"Why in the Stars were you under there?" Abby demanded and Lee's breath came more in sobbing gulps.
"I tried to- I wanted to reach the-"
Her head dipped and Abby's laugh came out trembly and useless.
"Tell somebody next time alright?" She managed weakly, her head resting on Lee's shoulder as her shaking arms came around her sister "I can't lose you to a machine"
A small whimpering laugh came from Lee as she sagged into Abby.
"I was just trying to adjust the regulator to make sure the Nitrogen didn't come out so- maybe it would configure and not blow out again"
She managed to stop her tears, wiping at her eyes with the heel of her hand and Abby shook her head.
"You know that makes no sense to me right?" Abby said seriously and Lee couldn't help a small laugh.
"Yeah, I know" She moved and had to bite her tongue to stop a whine "I think I broke my ribs"
Abby just started at her. "You think?"