Dave woke up, groggy and bleary-eyed, to the rapid, persistent rapping at his door. He took a moment to get his bearings. Right, the hotel room. Another day stuck in quarantine. That didn't seem as bad as it should to Dave, especially given what yesterday held for his little Immune Squad. He followed the constant knocking to the door, and looked through the peephole. He saw Rebecca staring back at him, a ray of sunshine on a weary morning.

He collected himself, opening the door slowly. "Hope I'm not too early." Rebecca said, before the door had even fully opened. "I like to get an early start. You know me."

"I know you, Rebecca. Despite everything." Dave said, still groggy. She shoved a cup of coffee into his hand, sauntering into the room with gusto.

"I've already made it up to you. Fresh and hot, my own blend too. Don't leave home without it. So how did you sleep? Did I miss anything in the 8 hours since we parted ways? Was the bed alright on the floor? Oh my god, you're in your boxers." Rebecca's chatter was cut off when she spun around to see Dave in a baggy tee and his boxer shorts. He rubbed his head, smelling the coffee she'd thrust upon him. "I didn't wake you up did I?"

"No, no. I was getting up." Dave lied.

"I'll just turn around until you're decent. I don't want to intrude."

"I wouldn't have opened the door if you were intruding. You're fine." He took a sip of the coffee and his eyes popped open. He stared at her. Her head turned slightly enough just for him to see a clever smile.

"Forgive me yet? Dark roast, with just a splash of hair of the dog." Rebecca cooed.

"Whiskey?" Dave asked.

"The good stuff, too. I don't waste coffee like that." Rebecca replied.

Dave shrugged, taking a big swig from the cup. "Cheers, then." He set the mug down, moving toward his suitcase. "Let me find some pants, at least."

"Oh, do you have to?" Rebecca teased. Dave chuckled.

"Not letting up on that, are you?"

"We've got all week, Dave. You never know." Rebecca stared at him as he slid his pajama pants up his legs. She was wearing her own leisure-wear: what looked to be a brand new sweat suit, complete with hip-hugging yoga pants and a sweat-wicking top that clinged to her chest like there was no tomorrow. She sat down on the couch, crossing her long legs the sultriest way she could.

"Any word from the others?" Dave asked, grabbing his phone as he sat down next to her.

"No, I knocked on a few doors, but you were the first to answer. All the better, so we can reset the Fortress of Immunitude." she nudged him. Dave laughed.

"We sure can-" Dave started, before Rebecca nudged him again, harder.

"I forgot! I have news! Speaking of the others... wait, should I tell you? Is that rude?" Rebecca stopped herself, trying her best not to bounce with glee.

"Tell me what?" Dave pried.

"Maybe it's best to let her tell you. She hasn't said anything yet. Or Ke-... anyone?" Rebecca was failing at keeping her secret fast.

Dave was still relatively oblivious. "Something with Erica? I haven't seen her since she left last night."

"No, not Erica!" Rebecca whined. The dominoes were falling at light speed.

Dave's mind went to Ashley. Was that why she hadn't responded? Rebecca was her old roommate after all. Maybe she'd confided in her. Dave looked at Rebecca, trying to suss out the truth in her darting eyes. Then, saved by the buzz.

Both their phones vibrated. The group chat. Dave and Rebecca looked down, Rebecca praising her good fortune silently.

*Hey guys, so Heather wanted me to let you all know that she tested positive this morning. We had some clues yesterday, but we wanted to wait it out since she was negative that morning. Everything's fine, she's just had some mild symptoms. Hope you're all staying safe. Especially you, Erica! Let us know if you need anything, since we're already compromised.* Dave stared at Kevin's text. So formal. He knew Heather had written that for him, absolutely. But she was obviously too insecure to send it herself.

Rebecca snorted, finishing the paragraph herself. "Mild symptoms." she muttered.

"Wait, was that what you were saying?" Dave asked.

"No, I mean... yes. Yeah, I guess yes." Rebecca decided discretion was out the window. "I ran into Kevin on the way to my room last night. He was trying to get stuff for her."

"Get stuff?" Dave was confused.

"Dave, she's huge." Rebecca said, trying to hide the excitement in her voice.

"No!" Dave said, completely in shock. He thought of the first time he met Heather. Small but perky, she acted like she carried a weight on her shoulders wherever she went, and goddamn if she wasn't going to carry it as efficiently as possible. He thought about her wedding day, standing next to Kevin at the altar as they watched her walk down in her long, white dress. She'd chosen a small heel, always efficient. He thought of the end of the ceremony, when they were all giddy and glowing with cake and booze and dancing, when she hugged him so tight he felt her head press into his chest. Now she was completely different, if Rebecca was to be believed.

"I swear on my life, I was looking up at her. And she was naked as a jay bird. Well, she was wearing a bedsheet." Rebecca insisted.

"My god. Should I call Kevin?" Dave thought.

"Put him on speaker." Rebecca said, bouncing again. The day was about to take off.

Kevin stood over his own hotel room bed, spreading out his clothes across the folded sheets. Heather had made the bed the minute she woke up. At least, the minute after she stood up and sighed at her new perspective. Kevin watched as she made everything tidy before running into the bathroom to shower. He made the decision to pull out all the clothes he brought, to see if Heather would want any of them to wear for herself. She may have been several inches taller than him at this point, but it was better than her own clothes at this point. And she'd been so disappointed in the robe the hotel had provided.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He expected that, after Heather had hit send on that goofy announcement of her's. It was part of making things tidy, after all. It buzzed more, and he'd realized it was a full blown phone call. He whipped his phone out, seeing Dave's name and the same embarrassing picture he'd used as his photo on the screen. "Dave." He said, answering it quickly.

"Kevin." Dave's voice replied through the phone. "How are... things?"

"Oh, fine. Heather's just jumped in the shower, and I'm... taking care of some things." Kevin tried to be diplomatic. He wasn't sure if Heather could hear him. She wanted to play it low-key for a bit. She didn't want to be the only stand-out.

"And she's... ok?" Dave continued.

"Sure, totally fine. Just some mild symptoms. Nothing you haven't seen on the news." Kevin said.

"Get real, Kevin. Tell him the truth." Rebecca's voice shouted from the other line. Kevin's heart sank.

"You're on speaker, Kev." Dave apologized.

"Good morning, Rebecca." Kevin said.

"You're a liar, Kev." Rebecca replied.

"Yeah, sounds like you're a liar, Kev." Dave agreed.

"Just be cool, all right? You know how she is. Let her do this her own way."

"When have I not?" Dave implored.

"I'm just telling you. She was scary when she came up to my shoulders. There's a very real chance she might throw you out a window now." Kevin teased.

"So she's really different?" Dave asked.

Kevin heard a deep sigh from the bathroom, before loud girl-group music blared out from inside. "No, she's exactly the same."

Heather turned the faucet, leaning down far too much to reach it. She watched as the water shot out from the nozzle with surprising force. You never knew what you were going to get with a hotel shower. She was still completely naked, having chosen to sleep in the buff over the thick, scratchy hotel robe Kevin had found for her. She sighed again, looping her long leg over the bath tub as she ducked her head under the water. The nozzle was just an inch below her head. She adjusted it, not used to having it so close to her face like that.

 She thought about her own shower. It wasn't much bigger than this one. Their whole house wasn't exactly a palace. They enjoyed the coziness of it all, but now she wondered if it would chafe her, especially if her side effects had only just begun. She thought of the flight home, of course rescheduled indefinitely at this point. She'd always heard Martin complain about how cramped the flights could be for him. Now she was almost definitely taller than him. Maybe they'd let her upgrade since she was ill, after all.

No, of course not. The whole country was ill. There would be no discounts for her. No special treatment. She ran her hands down her body, washing the morning grime off her skin. She felt the new contours of her torso. Where before she had small breasts that hung down like dewdrops, now they curved out quite a bit. She lifted one up, watching it flop down against her chest, and wiggle. It felt nice.

Things weren't all bad, after all. She looked down past her breasts to her stomach, now lean and taut with the early signs of quite the six pack. She saw two little chambers at the very top beneath her breasts. She flexed, watching them tighten each time. All those hours in the gym, with the same reflection staring back at her year after year, and in one day she had become a fitness model. She twisted around, admiring her shapely legs as she spun them back and forth on her toe. Her ass rippled as she did, and she couldn't help but chuckle. Yes, she was huge. But damn if she wasn't hot, too.

She finished her shower, letting the soap rinse out of her long, chestnut hair, and stepped out of the shower. She grabbed a towel from the rack, watching her long arm grab it with ease. She played with herself a little, as she let the towel rub against her longer than she needed to. She let the towel drop, looking at herself dead center in the mirror. The top of her head was nearly cut off. That was new, too. She looked at her naked breasts, watching them come to rest as she stood completely still. She squeezed them, watching them return to their natural, round shape. Suddenly, she wanted Kevin to touch them too. She grabbed her towel, and wrapped herself up, walking out into the room.

"Kevin, I need you to check something for me." she started, flirty.

"No, we think she's still just a little over six feet." Kevin said, still on the phone.

"Kevin!" Heather yelled. He spun around, dropping the phone on the bed.

"It's just Rebecca." he panicked.

"And Dave!" Rebecca's voice called from the phone. Why did he leave it so loud? 

Heather stomped over to the phone, hitting the speaker button and standing over it. "Hello 'Immune Squad'" she huffed.

"Hi!" they both sang back.

"So Kevin got you all up to speed?" she asked sharply. Kevin started to saunter away, but Heather grabbed him, pulling him close. There was no escape.

"Yup! Sounds like you're officially part of the squad. We have booze when you're ready." Dave offered. "Both of you."

"We'll see if we can stop by." Kevin tried.

"We have a few things to take care of, first." Heather said. "Stay safe!" she chirped, clicking the phone off.

"They made me do it, I swear." Kevin said, immediately.

"I bet they did." Heather replied.

"That rotten Rebecca. She's a terror, now." Kevin continued. Heather just watched him. He stared up into her merciless eyes. His gaze only made it up to her chin now.

"So..." Heather finally said. "You know what you have to do."

"Do I?"

She grabbed him, throwing him onto the clothes-draped bed. She was on him like a cat, her long legs just inches above his underwear-ed form. "You have to make it up to me." she purred. Kevin's eyes shot open with the most perfect concoction of fear and pleasure possible.

Pat stirred awake. The sun shone into his hotel room like a spotlight. It must already be the later part of the morning, he wagered. He looked over at the other side of the bed. Erica's still form was lying there, comfortably. She must still be asleep.

"I'm awake." she replied, reading the now moving person behind her's mind.

"Just relaxing for a bit?" Pat asked.

"I'm afraid to stand up." she replied.

"What?"

"My shirt is so tight, Pat. I think I grew through the night. Pat sighed. He stood up, and held out his hand for her.

"I'm right here." he promised. She turned, staring up at him. Pat almost fell into her piercing blue gaze. She looked so worried. "It's not a big deal, I promise."

"Only one way to find out how big a deal it is." she said, taking his hand and sliding her legs across the bed. She stood up, watching Pat's face come closer before it started to move away. He was staring right at her nose. She had never worn heels high enough for this kind of view. She sighed, looking down at the several inches of belly she was showing off on her formerly fitted tee. Her tight panties dug into her soft, expanded hips.

"See, not so bad? Not even a local news story." Pat assured her.

"I don't think it's over yet." she sighed again.

"Yeah probably not." Pat agreed, cutting through her moping. "But hey, it's a new day. And it can only go up from here. I bet the Immune Squad's already started without us."

"Knowing Rebecca, they're already plastered." Erica said.

"Yeah, I thought I knew Rebecca. But this new girl... she's a live wire."

"Oh, and you like that?" Erica teased.

"Baby, you know you're the only giant for me." Pat shot back. Erica let herself laugh. She kissed him, the same kiss as last night. A fond kiss, nothing intense. Then she kissed him again. He wrapped his arms around her. It felt strange, leaning so far down to reach his lips, but it felt so good she couldn't stop. Soon they were making out, at the edge of his bed. Pat's hand crept along her exposed stomach. She pulled away, smiling.

"You know what we should do?" she said, voice dripping with seduction.

"What?" Pat wheezed, breathless.

"Shots." she smiled, popping off the bed in a hurry. Pat watched her, letting the stun take effect. "Do you have any pants? I can't go to the Fortress of Immunitude in my skivvies."

"Um... sure." Pat relented.

Dave and Rebecca laughed as the phone went dead back in Room 412. They could only imagine the trouble Kevin had just made for himself. Well, the trouble they'd made for him. Rebecca stood up, grabbing her bag from the bed and pulling out more bottles of booze.

"How many of these did you come with?" Dave asked, perplexed.

"Enough to satisfy a party of 10 after hours." she winked. "Honestly, we've almost used it all up, drinking all yesterday."

"So by all means, let's keep going." Dave joked.

"I brought snacks this time, too." Rebecca began to lay out an assortment of cheeses, meat slices, and breads. She organized the small desk next to the couch like it was a party tray. Host mode had possessed her fully. "I just want to make sure we're prepared for company."

"How many are you expecting, exactly?"

"As many as are willing." Rebecca smiled. "Manchego?"

She tossed a chunk of hard cheese toward Dave's mouth. He caught it, taking a big munch. He grabbed the remote, flipping the TV to something relaxed and background noisy. They settled back on the couch, shoving the room back to the disarray of its former glory. Dave caught himself nestling against Rebecca. Over the course of the last 24 hours, he'd bonded with her more than the last ten years combined. It was nice. She was nice. She held his hand. They sipped wine, and tossed cheese at one another for a good hour before the first knock at the door stirred them out of their comfortable laze.

Dave opened the door, and Pat and Erica greeted him. He noticed right away he was staring just a little bit up at Erica. "Sleep well, kids?"

"As much as you can expect, being the host of a virus." Erica said, walking in. She was wearing a college sweatshirt that was rather baggy on her. Dave assumed Pat had lent her it, along with the pajama pants that were riding up her ankles. Even swimming in soft fabric, she was radiant. Her blonde hair cascaded down her slender face, freshly washed and combed.

"Hey, don't talk about Pat like that." Dave joked.

"You told them we stayed the night together?" Pat asked, confused.

"You just did." Rebecca said, standing up to greet them. She also silently admired Erica's new stature. Neither Dave nor she felt the nerve to call attention to it. It was just becoming the new normal.

"Nothing happened." Pat shot back.

"Pat was very sweet. We just snuggled." Erica said, grabbing her smaller partner around her arm, and leaning her head down against the top of his.

"Sweet little guy." Rebecca added. Pat suddenly realized he was the shortest person in the room. Not uncommon for him, but certainly rare in mixed company.

"So what are we watching?" he tried to change the subject.

"Your face turn into a beet." Dave replied.

"Let's check HBO, then." Pat persisted. 

"Quite the spread today. I assume that's all you again, Rebecca?" Erica asked, admiring the charcuterie.

"Thought I'd add a little extra spice to the provisions they're supplying us." Rebecca responded.

"Oh my god, did you even eat your's today? I think mine came right out of the fridge." Erica said.

"They've got a lawsuit on their hands, for sure. They've got 2 days before we riot, tops." Rebecca agreed.

Pat busied himself flipping channels, trying to avoid being singled out again. He finally settled on a loud, delightfully stupid action movie. The others gathered around to admire the explosions as they snacked and drank. The second day of quarantine was beginning to find its pace. Everything was going as expected, just as the day before had gone. What they didn't fully expect was another knock at the door.

"Hotel staff, maybe." Dave said, standing up from the couch. The others watched him make his way toward the door. "They owe us another update, after all."

The door opened, revealing Kevin, looking sheepish but very recently satisfied. "Kevin." Dave said, nonplussed. The others stood up at that, hoping to get a better look at their friend. 

Kevin twisted his toe into the carpet. "I was thinking, since we're technically immune, maybe you had room in the Immune Squad for new members?"

"We?" Rebecca said, inching toward the door behind Dave. Erica and Pat followed her, eyes darting around expectantly.

On the opposite side of the wall, Heather stood, almost like she was hiding from the big surprise she was about to unleash. She took a deep breath and stepped into the doorway next to Kevin. Dave's eyebrows shot up, but he caught them before they hit the ceiling. Rebecca smiled, looking up at her now taller friend. She could have sworn she grew a little bit more since their encounter the night before.

"Oh my god, I'm taller than Erica too." Heather said, cutting the tension like the ribbon on the grand opening of a Denny's.

"You are not." Erica lied, standing up straight. She knew it was the only way to get Heather to do the same.

Heather slouched in her own oversized t-shirt. She had begged Kevin not to that ratty old parachute, but he insisted it was his favorite sleep shirt. Now it was the only thing that covered her down to the pair of basketball shorts she'd also borrowed from her husband. On him, they were roomy. Perfect for summer. But they clung to Heather's hips at the top, and showed quite a bit more thigh than she had hoped for. "Don't do this, Erica."

"Do what?" Erica replied, pushing past the others to get right in Heather's face.

Heather rolled her eyes. She straightened her back, watching Erica's eyes slide away from her own as she stood at her full height. She stared right at her forehead as she announced, "What do I win?"

"Fancy cheese!" Dave shouted, tossing a chunk of charcuterie up at the highest mouth in the room. Heather knew this game. She jumped past Erica into the room, catching it like a pro. "Bullseye!" Dave celebrated.

Heather laughed. "You trying to feed an army?" she said, looking down at the spread.

"Just a pair of growing girls." Pat replied.

"It's a bit cramped in here, honestly." Heather said, stepping back from the small crowd in Room 412. "We can go back to our room if it's too stuffy."

"That's a perfect idea." Dave said. Heather hid how much her expression deflated upon hearing that. She was starting to warm up to socializing again. "Pat, Kevin, follow me. We're grabbing Kevin's mattress."

"Bed fort?" Kevin breathed excitedly.

"Full-room bed fort." Dave agreed.

"We can grab mine too." Pat added. "It'll take some engineering. But we can pull it off."

"We have the muscle for it, at least." Rebecca said, patting Heather on the shoulder. Heather pushed her, harder than she meant to. She made a face as she watched Rebecca steady herself. Maybe they should have sent her to grab the mattresses, she thought.

But soon the men were gone and it was just the three tall women alone in the Fortress of Immunitude.