A/N: Just a little one-shot I whipped up one evening. I kind of like it.

Also, please note that this is not implying the Cave/Caroline coupling. I highly dislike it, so obviously I wouldn't write a fan fiction of it. Although, if you really must, you can pretend it does.

An Echo

"Parallel lines have a lot in common, but they never meet."

Chell was making her way through yet another test chamber when she heard a voice.

"Ever."

An echo of a person, a person she may have known… before.

"You might think that's sad."

Before she'd been diagnosed with a serious case of minor brain damage. Wake-less for 9999999…

Long, brown, beautiful hair. Today she wore a sporty white dress with a red neck tie, along with a tight business-like smile.

Chell shook her head, as if clearing it.

"But every other pair of lines meet once, and then drift apart forever."

She felt a sudden warmth on her face. When she touched it, it came away wet.

"Which is pretty sad, too," she smiled fully then, showing her teeth. But it was a sad smile.

Chell still didn't understand what her mother had been trying to tell her.

"Caroline, are those compensation vouchers ready yet?" A voice broke through her internal monologue.

"Yes sir, Mr. Johnson…" Two voices at once. One computerized and old, one completely human and young. "Why did I just—who is that? What the hell is going on he—" The potato shorted out, after speaking alone this time.

Chell's heart nearly stopped.