Colin MacGregor

Ryan looked up from the couch as Sean strolled into the lounge. The skimmer grabbed a sandwich from the buffet table near the back wall. After filling his plate, the young man turned, noticed Ryan on the couch, and started towards him.

The banshee looked up from watching 'The Real World' and smiled a greeting. "Howdy, you read the latest briefing?"

Sean took a seat in a chair to his left and shrugged. "Not in detail, just flipped through it. Wondering how Colin's gonna take it, though, with the water and all." He set his plate on the coffee table and picked up a chip. "I already set him off once, and now he's got to come in and face this." The skimmer sighed.

Ryan nodded. "Liz, will have double as much, I think. She's going to be going under for the first time on a real mission as a sleeper, and I've a feeling she's got some sort of water issues as well."

"Great." Sean made a face and took a big bite out of his sandwich. He chewed for a few minutes before replying. "I wonder how the dorm rooms are here? I may need to pull an all nighter studying up on this, and I'd hate to be late again."

"I wouldn't worry about it. You've got months before Kate gets as snippy with you as she does with Colin." Ryan smirked. "You haven't missed any classes because you were out scaring cows, have you?"

Sean blinked. "Scaring cows? No, haven't done that one", he said slowly as he ate another chip. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then stood and moved around the couch to the soda machine.

"Just make sure and tell Marcus 'no' if he asks you if you want to go do something fun." Ryan snickered as Sean returned to his seat with a coke. Remind me to tell you about Marcus's idea of stress relief some time."

Looking thoughtful, Ryan asked "What do you spend the paycheck on, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Keeping myself on the leading edge, if not a step ahead, of technology." Sean rubbed his goatee thoughtfully and took a sip of Coke. "Random pilgrimages for getting some quality time in with rollercoasters, a trip here and there depending on my 'patron'."

The wisp shrugged. "Been thinking of hosting a rave sometime. But I'd like to see what kind of routine Orpheus adds to my schedule before I start looking at dates, venues and DJs."

"Oh, and also storing a bit aside for my niece's post-highschool education." He grinned widely. "It is a nice paycheck."

Chuckling, Ryan nodded. "Yep. Orpheus puts a sizeable chunk away for my Gran and nephew, as well. How old is your niece?"

"About five and a half." Sean leaned against the couch and took another bite of the ham sandwich before continuing. "All wound up, all the time to. I like getting her going while my sister's out then leaving for the evening." He grinned wickedly. "Kind of like shaking up a soda and passing to someone who wasn't watching."

Sean smiled genuinely then. "And I love being the 'weird' uncle, getting to spoil her. Pretty much the closest I'm going to get to kids of my own, given my genetics, unless medical science makes a big leap." He poured himself a cup of coffee from the large silver carafe.

"I assume", Sean continued more seriously, "that the money isn't your only reason for doing this? Risking your existence, when you could be off doing...well, whatever?"

"Glory, honor, and the pleasure of serving my fellow man," Ryan said pretentiously.

"Honestly, to help provide for Patrick, mostly. And to try and stop Pigment." Ryan's eyes narrowed and his voice hardened. "I'd be doing that with or without Orpheus. I expect we'll be looking into that soon as a crucible, as well."

"Seen our mission schedule, or just a prediction?" Sean smiled at the hue as he took another drink of his soda.

"Well, I do see the shadows of what may come to pass. Pigment shows up in a lot of them, I guess because I'm looking for it." Ryan shrugged. "On this mission, though I see some issues, if you know what I mean. Best to be ready for it. Obviously, Colin can't be happy about going underwater."

Sean nodded agreement. "Nor Liz." The skimmer sighed as he stood and dumped his paper plate in the trash.

"Well, I'm sure we'll get them through it. And, not to sound too Kate, but hadn't you better get crackin' on that case file?" Ryan smirked. "Sounds like you've got a lot riding on that paycheck."

Sean rolled his eyes. "So, is this a banshee thing, reminding people to get to work?"

"Hey, I'm not that much like Kate." Ryan feigned a wound, clasping his hand to his breast and falling off the couch. "Take thy beak from out my heart."

Smirking, Sean leaned over to see the ghost lying on the floor with one table leg spiking through his midsection. Unimpressed, he downed the rest of the Coke and tossed the can in the blue recycling bin under the table.

"Right. Well, I'm off to find a room to study up, then. See you in the morning." With a wave, Sean left the banshee to his repose.

November 12, 2003

Colin sat in a comfortable chair in the well-appointed conference room #5 and stared at the glowing computer terminal in front of him. The only sound was the soft whisper of the ventilation system as it cycled the air through for those still concerned with such things as ambient temperature.

No such people were present now, though. The young spirit sat alone, arms folded over his chest as a shiver that had nothing to do with the draft from the vent wracked his form yet again.

Diving. In the ocean. Underwater. He closed his eyes tightly and willed himself to stop trembling once again. For a few moments it worked, but then he reopened them and read the words again and the shiver returned.

Maybe I can jus' tell Kate tha' I can nay go on this one. Aye, I'm sure tha' will work. He rolled his eyes at the thought. She already hates me, I'm sure she'd jus' love tae make an exception for me.

The door opened then, and Sean and Ryan walked through. Colin instantly snapped his hands back to the keyboard and focused on the briefing. Without turning, he gave a bright "Good morning."

Sean and Ryan exchanged a look, and Ryan walked over to see what Colin was reading. Leaning over, he quietly murmured "You doing allright?"

Colin turned a genuine looking grin on the banshee. "O' course. Why would I nay?"

"Well, with the mission and all..." Ryan looked skeptical, but Colin seemed fine.

The spirit waved a hand dismissively. "I'll be fine. I' would nay be my first choice, bu' we play wha' we're dealt."

Nodding slowly, Ryan took a seat at the end of the table, three seats down from Sean, who was flipping through his report folder.

"Ye started yuir research yet?" Colin peered quizzically at Ryan. "Seems like we could use plans for the United."

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, I can try and call that up, and look for some background on the submarine crew. Sean, you want to hit Google, see if you can dig up any rumors?"

"Sure thing." Sean hopped up and moved over to the computer next to Colin. As he sat down, he spoke quietly to the young ghost. "Sorry about that slip at the bakery. CJ clued me in after you left, I just didn't know."

Colin shrugged without looking over. "I' happens", he said flatly. "Jus' hit a li'l too close." The spirit continued his two-fingered, hunt and peck typing on the computer.

Ryan looked over at them both with a shit-eating grin. "OK, now Sean, you tell Colin something deeply personal, and you'll be even."

"Why don' ye jus' get tae work?" Colin stuck his tongue out at the banshee, and Sean snickered.

Waving his hands in defeat, but still smiling, Ryan countered, "Fine. Do either of you know how we can 'project' underwater? Is it like swimming or does the water kind of, I dunno, pass through us?"

Colin shook his head. "Nor me, I've nay been all tha' anxious tae try", he said quietly.

Ryan looked back up from his laptop at Colin's tone, but the young ghost had returned to working on his computer, as had Sean. The banshee frowned, but resumed his search on the 'net for information about the United.

"I assume Liz will be sleepin' in a coffin here, and ye and CJ will skim from the boat?" Colin glanced over at Sean curiously.

"I'd say that's more than likely." Sean grinned. "I wonder how Ms. Logical Explanation 2003 will handle being sea-sick without a body?"

"I wouldn't let her hear you say that, Sean", Ryan said without breaking away from his spooktop. "I have a feeling she might be a bit bothered by this trip. Just a hunch."

Ryan looked around suspiciously. "Probably best not to mention this when Max or Kate are around...did either of you catch the Radio Free Death broadcast the other night? I know OG doesn't want us to listen, but..."

Colin nodded. "Aye, I heard i'. Something abou' nay ge'ing too waterlogged and spooks more than three years old."

"Exactly, but it's not very clear, or useful." Ryan frowned. "Too bad it's always so broken up by static, but it came on right after the families of the sub crew announced they were suing."

Colin nodded and started to reply when the door opened, and Max glided in on an electric wheelchair. He looked far frailer in his physical form, but his voice was still strong. "Good morning. Good to see that some of you", here he turned a conspiratorial grin on Sean and Colin, "are making up for past tardiness."

"Dinnae expect me tae make a habit ou' o' i'." Colin smirked at the older man and Sean snickered.

"I've tried to schedule some practice time at the pool to address that." Max interrupted. "Unfortunately, we may not have time. Kate wants us on our way pronto."

Max shrugged. "As for getting around underwater, unless you use the vitality to make yourself insubstantial, you'll be swimming. You just won't have to worry about all those pesky things the living have to keep up with, like breathing, floating, or strong currents. Now a shark attack would still be a problem, though."

Colin perked up at that. "I wonder if I can 'ride a shark. That'd be pretty deadly."

"We could pop up to Chattanooga at some point, visit the aquarium and try some time." Max grinned. "For now, let's hope you don't have the chance to find out."

"Good morning, everyone." The brunette was in one of her best 'impress the client' dresses this morning, cut low in all the right places. "I just wanted to check in with you. I'm afraid you won't have time for the pool practice, you'll need to get moving ASAP."

"Oh, well, tha's really a disappointment", Colin muttered, sounding anything but disappointed.

Kate frowned at him as she continued. "And Marcus will be going with you. In such an environment, I think there will be some safety in numbers. Any questions, you can call me, but I'll be in a meeting until after lunch." With that, the trainer stepped back out of the doorway.

Ryan turned back to Max after Kate left. "So, no training. Let's hope everyone figures this out..."

Colin suddenly stood from his chair and hurried out of the room with a mumbled "Excuse me."

"Is it just me", Sean mused," or has he been doing that a lot lately? It's like he's been channeling a cat."

Ryan frowned. "I'm not sure what that was. It wasn't the pool, this time. I think he'll be all right, just under a lot of stress."

"He needs to get over it, this isn't Little League any more." Max scowled. "And where is everyone else? They should have been here half an hour ago."

"Liz said something about going into the coffins today", Sean offered. "Maybe they're not done putting her under yet."

"Is here now, thank you." CJ strolled in carrying a large Starbucks cup. "And you can watch your mouth, old man, there's a lady in the room."

"Well, one gone, one arrived, and one missing. Brilliant." Max's scowl deepened. "We may as well continue. Anyone turned up more info on the United?"

"Just what we found in our briefing. 560 foot steamer, it was believed the Captain may have been carrying immigrants illegally." Ryan shrugged. "It wasn't that interesting of a ship type or case, not a Titanic sort of event since only three people died."

CJ sat down, listening to Ryan, and took a sip of her coffee. She pulled her lips back slightly and sucked in a bit of air to cool off the hot liquid.

Max nodded. "Well, that's not entirely surprising. On the positive news front, we should be forming a close enough bond to work on yoking this outing. Orpheus has a training video on the process that we can load into the van's DVD player and watch on the way down."

Ryan looked at the older man curiously. "I take it then that you're coming with us? I wasn't sure, given that you're out of the cradle now, and it's only been two weeks..."

Smiling indulgently. "Don't worry about me, there's no problem. Two weeks is a bit short of a rest, but I've been spending more time under than out since the accident." He indicated his lifeless legs. "I'll be fine."

Colin slunk back in quietly, his usual flamboyant suit faded into a pale shade of its usual brilliance, and resumed his seat at the computer station. "Sorry, jus' had something tae take care o'," he mumbled.

Max glared at him. "And this is not something tha' could be 'taken care of' when we're not having a meeting?"

Turning and facing off with the older man, Colin simply said "No" before returning his attention to the computer.

"Then perhaps, Agent MacGregor, you would care to tell us your plan of action for this mission, since you obviously don't see the need to discuss it with your crucible mates." Max was almost snarling, now.

"Send someone else woul' be my choice", the spirit said with a scowl. "Bu' tha's obviously nay gwan tae happen."

"Colin, relax, if you think you're going to have trouble with this..." Sean turned to the young man next to him.

"I'll bluidy well be fine, allright?" Colin snapped. "Le's jus' ge' on wi' i'. Look, I found summat on this infernal machine, is nay tha' why we're here, tae discuss wha' we've found?"

"What is it?" CJ stood up and moved to look over the ghost's shoulder at the screen.

"Didn't our report say the third victim was an unidentified immigrant?" Sean asked.

"Yes, it did." Max still sounded angry, but his interest in the report won out and he read over it thoughtfully.

CJ nodded as well. "The shipping company must have been trying to cover that up."

"I've found a few rumors that there may have been a lot of illegals on board, too." Ryan said. "And if none were recorded as rescued, it may be that a lot more people drowned when the ship sank than anyone knew. Especially if the Captain was the only one aware of them."

CJ took another sip of the coffee and made the 'hot' face again before returning to her seat. Grinning slightly, Colin typed an IM to Ryan. 'Watch her whenever she takes a sip of that stuff. She has this face she makes.'

Ryan snickered as the message popped up on his spooktop and CJ shot him a look. "What's so funny, there?"

"Oh, nothing." Ryan replied with a smirk. He put one elbow on the table and rested his chin in his hand, smiling at her.

CJ eyed him suspiciously, but turned back to Max. Another sip of coffee, another face.

"Quite." Colin replied, putting on an exaggeratedly pompous and serious expression. "So we go tae swim wi' the fishes, and please note I go' tha' ou' wi'ou' shuddering, wincing, or panicking," he turned to glance at Ryan who bowed his head with a smile. "We find the sub, figure ou' wha' went wrong, and clear ou' wha'e'er is preventing the recovery."

"Right." Sean nodded. "Seems possible there's something on the United. Now that we know that ghosts can last longer than three years, we can consider the possibility that the passengers or crew from the United may be haunting the area."

"And with one of the Tethys scientists interested in the occult and taking a Ouija board down there," Ryan mused, "maybe they woke something up that should have been left sleeping."

"Could be." Sean nodded. "Logistically, CJ and I will be the only ones Tethys can deal with, so I guess we need to put on our professional faces." He grinned at the ex-cop, who rolled her eyes.

"I'm not wearing heels." She folded her arms with a determined look and everyone chuckled.

Ryan broke off suddenly and groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose with a hand.

"Oh, bluidy hell. Tha's ne'er good." Colin winced, and Ryan flipped him off, still grimacing.

"A young man smiles at me and enters a sleeper cradle." Ryan began flatly. "As he begins his flatline process, I watch as the bottom drops outs from under the cradle, as his 'dead' body falls through into nothingness. His spirit dangles in the air, as if marionetted by the sleeper bay. Then it looks like the string snaps and he's left crumbled and lifeless in the black nothingness.

"I still can't tell how far into the future it is, and I have never seen or met this man before." Ryan blinked a few times, as though a light had just been shone in his eyes.

"Well, we'll just have to see", Max said thoughtfully. "From what I understand about these visions, they may be completely unrelated, or far in the future." He shrugged. "In any case, we leave first thing in the morning. I suggest you make any preparations you need this afternoon."

The grey-haired man started his wheelchair for the door. "As for me, I'm going to go slip into cryo. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Well, I guess I'll head down to the lounge", Ryan said. "Liz should be showing up any time, and that seems a logical place for her to look for us."

Colin nodded, "Aye, I think I'll join ye, maybe we can get in a game o' Halo. Gi'e ye a chance tae even the..."

The ghost was interrupted by CJ's phone chiming. She pulled it out and snarled "Dammit!"

CJ sighed. "That was Joe, one of my friends down at APD. Mitchell Jones got away."

Colin was the first to make it to the lounge. Ryan had gone to his office to see if he could track anything down on the escaped rapist and murderer, Sean was taking a nap in his room to make up for the all-nighter he'd spent preparing for the mission briefing, and CJ was still in the conference room, on the phone with Joe.

As the Irish ghost walked in, he heard a moaning from one of the sofas. Quickly hurrying over, he found Liz's projected form lying there, curled almost into a fetal position, her eyes screwed shut and her normally professional demeanor lost in the throes of a panic attack.

"Saints preserves us, lass, wha's the ma'er?" Colin knelt beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. Dammit, what do I do? Where's Ryan when I need him? He's the bluidy counselor. Eyes wide in confusion, Colin looked over the body of his crucible mate.

Unharmed, as far as he could tell, just trembling. "I's all righ' lass, yuir among friends, come on now..." He tried, almost successfully to keep his rising worry out of his voice.

"Aye lass, I'm here." The ghost breathed a quick sigh of relief and his own building fears dropped a notch.

"Oh, God...it was horrible. It was the same dream I always have, only this time he didn't die!"

Liz wiped a hand across her eyes, on the verge of tears. "Nigel", she whispered. "My fiancé. We were on the ship, just like that day. But there was no storm. No storm." Her voice was hoarse but growing stronger now. "I kept waiting for it, but it never happened. Everything just... went on... like it would have if we hadn't... And it was so real...everything...everyone was so real...and alive." She stared at the floor, turning slightly, adjusting her position on the couch.

Colin remained quiet, eyes soft and reassuring, his own worries set aside for the moment. After a brief respite, Liz seemed to gather her strength for another run at recounting her tale.

"This was all while I was going under in the tube. I had felt the cold, felt myself drifting away when the dream began, but after things went on...the dream changed, and I almost thought that the past five years were a really the horrible dream.

"And then, without warning, the sky turned red, and the sea started to boil. Liz stopped again and Colin glanced up to see Ryan standing in the doorway with a concerned look on his face. Colin beckoned him over with his eyes before turning his attention back to Liz.

"And they said I couldn't stay...they said I couldn't stay with him...and they pushed me over the edge...I could see him reaching out for me....and he looked just the same as he did that day...all surrounded in light..." The ex-FBI agent pounded her fists to her temples and began muttering 'stupid, stupid, stupid' over and over.

Colin worked his mouth back and forth a few times, searching for words. "Och, lass, ye cannae blame yuirself. I' was jus' a dream, a side effect o' the process. I know ye cannae ha'e been expectin' tae go through i' again, bu' tha's all i' was - a memory."

Colin's voice gained strength as he tried to comfort the woman. "Look a' me, lass...e'en i' Nigel is dead, ye know now there's more tae i' than tha'."

Liz stopped muttering and looked up at the young ghost with pain filled eyes. Her voice returned to a hoarse whisper. "I made the same mistake. I heard something behind me and I turned to look...just like I did then. I looked back, just as I felt his hand touch mine and then it was like something pushed us apart. I was underwater. I could see what was left of the ship racing down into the dark as I was pushed upwards by something."

She stared up at Colin, then looked at Ryan as he moved closer. "I made the same stupid mistake."

"You have to let him go, I think." Ryan said comfortingly. "The cryo process has a way of dredging up painful dreams, and the best way to deal with it is to let them go, so they aren't so painful."

Liz nodded, tears brimming, but then she wiped her face again and took a deep breath. "I can get through this, it's just...all a bit much. And to have to watch him dying again, drowning, just before we go on a mission like this..."

Colin gritted his teeth, and when he spoke, his voice was strained. "Aye, lass, I sympathize, believe me."

"God, Colin, I'm sorry to dump this on you...I know you can't be looking forward to this any more than I am. I haven't heard you talk about...well, about your death much, but I do know what happened"

Colin winced. "Tis nay a pleasant subject, lass, and probably best to leave i' for now." He looked away, uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry", Liz apologized. "Can I just ask...I mean, knowing Nigel died the same way..." She took a deep breath, and let the question pour out in a rush. "Was it easy? Like they say? Drowning? Some people say it's like going to sleep..."

Colin thought back to that day, over a year ago, when his lungs were burning and his heart felt as though it were about to burst. He thought about the agony and the torture of the worst pain he'd ever felt. He thought about how the strength had sapped out of his body, replaced by an interminable span of pain, panic, and terror.

He thought about all of this, then looked up at Liz with a determined expression and lied. "Aye, lass. Jus' like goin' tae sleep."

She closed her eyes and let out a small sigh of relief while Colin clenched his jaw and shuddered. Ryan looked over at his young friend with sympathetic eyes and nodded slightly. "Thank you", Liz whispered.

The three agents sat in silence for several minutes, two lost in memory and one humming a soft, comforting ballad.

"I'm sorry", Liz said at last. "I shouldn't have lost ahold of myself like that."

"Quite all right, hon." Ryan smiled at her. "We're all entitled to our moments of drama."

Ryan made a mock wounded face, and Liz managed a small smile. She turned to Colin and raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you're ready? For the water, I mean? I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry, but I'm a little nervous, facing this on my first mission as a projector."

Colin closed his eyes tightly a moment, but nodded. "Aye, I'll be all righ'. Jus' ha'e tae keep reminding meself tha' i' can nay hurt me anymore."

Liz nodded, and changed the topic. "Did I miss anything in the briefing? It just took so long to get my bearings after coming out of the cradle that I couldn't make it in time."

Ryan shrugged. "Nothing terribly important. Once again, we'll just have to see what we encounter when we get there."

"Aye, tha's a pretty constant state around here." Colin smirked. "Welcome to Orpheus, lass, where the unknown is situation normal."

Smiling, Liz started to speak when CJ walked in, carrying a fresh Starbucks cup, this one a festive holiday red with snowflake designs. The ex-cop blinked in surprise to see Liz on the couch, but recovered quickly. A small smile twitched the corner of her mouth as she nodded greetings to everyone and took a sip of café mocha.

Ryan turned a quick grin at Colin, who was stifling a giggle. "That face?", the banshee asked, to which the skinrider could only nod.

Sighing, CJ shook her head and made her way to one of the large, dark brown chairs. She pulled her phone out of the pocket of her black leather jacket and punched a speed dial key.

CJ shot him the universal 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' look and muttered "A friend", before turning her attention fully on the call. "Hey Joe..." Her voice trailed off into a soft conversation that none of the others could hear.

"Hey Liz, if ye need some practice ye can always try haunting CJ's phone", Colin whispered to the other spooks. "Find ou' wha' she's talking abou'."

Liz grinned and Ryan snickered. "I don't think that's called for. Yet." Liz had a twinkle in her eyes that caused Colin to chuckle.

CJ looked over at the cluster of spooks and narrowed her eyes. "Allright, I know you're all talking about me. What is it now?"

"We're all better now?" Ryan looked around with an amused expression. "Good." He tapped the button on the TV remote and was rewarded with a resounding 'D'oh!' from the surround sound speakers.

"Perfect", Colin grinned. "Mindless entertainment before a mission. Jus' the thing tae bond crucible, I'm sure Mak's would agree."

Ryan laughed, and even CJ cracked a smile. "I think that may just be right", the cop added, and they all settled back to enjoy the antics in silence.

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Last Updated: January 2, 2004 by Blake Sorensen

#0767 - Strained Relations

November 11, 2003

November 12, 2003