Tabitha came home and was surprised not to see Rick anywhere in the house. Upstairs, she found Brendan in his room.
"Have you seen your father?"
"Rick's not my father," sneered Brendan.
Tabitha let out an exasperated sigh. She hoped her son's continued hostility toward his stepfather was just teenage angst. Tabitha realized Rick must be in the basement working in his lab. She headed down the stairs.
"Rick? Are you..."
Tabitha let out a gasp at what she saw. Something was in the basement looking at papers on Rick's desk. It looked almost human, except it was pink, hairless, and looked strangely wet. The thing turned toward her. It had Rick's face. Tabitha fainted.
When Tabitha regained consciousness, she was looking at Rick's face, except it was pink and slimy. Tabitha realized she was laying on the basement floor, cradled in Rick's arms.
"Rick? Is that really you?" she asked.
"Yes, Tabitha, it's me," he replied. His voice sounded odd, like someone talking through water.
"What happened to you?"
"An accident. Chemicals mixed. The vapor or smoke or whatever it caused got on me and in me. It changed me somehow. I don't understand it. I was just reviewing my notes, trying to figure it out. It's difficult when everything I touch gets wet."
He was right about that. Tabitha's felt like she was laying in mud.
"Did it hurt? Does it hurt?" she asked.
"It feels indescribably strange and it's frustrating, but it doesn't hurt," said Rick. "What about you? I caught you before your head could hit the floor, but you blacked out."
"I think so. I was just in shock at seeing anyone like this, but especially you." Tabitha's first husband had died and the thought of losing her second husband was unbearable.
Rick helped Tabitha to her feet. She embraced him and he returned the gesture. His body melted against hers in a way no human body could. It was strangely comforting.
"Now I'm completely slimed," said Tabitha with a laugh. "I hope these clothes aren't ruined."