Open Case File [COMPLETED]

A Birthday Surprise

Cute for cuteness's sake. It's short but I still hope you like it.

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A bubble of nervous anticipation filled Carter's chest as the elevator doors dinged and slid open. She gripped the grocery bag and shifted the garment bag as she made her way to the apartment. Inside was silent as she had planned. After dropping off the groceries on the counter, she headed into the bedroom and discarded the other items.

Back in the kitchen, she pulled out the baking supplies and lined them up in one perfect row as if the military facade could somehow calm her apprehension. Shaking her head, she called Maggie.

"Hey, hon," she said.

Carter placed her hands on the cool granite top, face bent into a determined scowl.

"All right, walk me through this," she said.

"You know I don't think he would mind a store-bought cake."

Carter shook her head, already dismissing the weakness. "No. I can do this. It's simply following instructions. I can do that."

Maggie chuckled. "You sure about that?"

A small smile eased some of the tension in Carter's face. "I will follow these. Now help me do this."

"All right, you're going to get out these ingredients..."

Maggie talked and Carter obeyed, doing each step with an intense concentration that she held mostly when she was assembling a gun and trying to not think about anything else. In the end, the kitchen was a mess of measuring cups and dirty bowls and there was a pan ready to be placed in the oven.

"Okay, put it in and turn on your timer," Maggie said.

Carter opened the oven and a wave of heat swept over her. The pan clinked against the metal rack, the yellowish batter glowing in the oven's embrace.

"Okay, thank you," Carter said, feeling her nerves lessen with the process completed.

"Of course and you remembered how to check that it's done."

"I do."

"Good. I'm sure it will turn out great."

Carter nodded, though she still held edges of doubt. As if knowing this, Maggie went on.

"Hon, he's going to love this no matter what. You could do nothing and we will still love you."

Carter leaned against the counter. "I want his first birthday with us married to be one he'll remember."

"And he will. Don't stress. Now you should get ready, you have just enough time to before the cake should be done."

Carter looked around the messy kitchen. "Okay, thanks again."

"Of course."

Carter hung up. Knowing she would have time to do dishes later, she went and took a shower. In the bedroom, she pulled out the dress from the garment bag and stared at it. It was shorter than she would ever wear as well as strapless. Wondering if she were completely mad, she changed and slipped on a pair of heels, turning in front of the mirror.

"I hope he appreciates my legs cause this is the last time I do this," she said.

She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, scowling at her attempts to mimic the up-do that Maggie seemed to achieve without barely any effort.

She was sticking a pin into the twisted knot when the shrill whine of the fire alarm went off. Swearing, Carter bolted out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. A cloud of smoke was billowing out from the oven and a burned smell was trailing with it. Letting out a string of curses, Carter dived for the oven and tugged it open.