Colin MacGregor

With a thought, Colin dropped through the floor and into a seat in the conference room below him. Kate Dennison glared at him and glanced pointedly at the round clock on the wall.

Colin studiously avoided her gaze and materialized just enough to boot up the laptop in front of his chair. "Sorry, Kate." He mumbled the apology and quickly logged in and brought up the People Services document folder.

With narrowed eyes, Kate turned the full force of her glare upon him. "You're going to have to do better than that, Mr. MacGregor."

"We jus' got back from las' night's field exercises. I did hurry, bu' Marcus insisted tha' we stay there until everyone was able tae control their targets."

"Er, cows, for the skinriders. And a tractor for the haunters. There was only one tractor, though, so i' took them awhile tae all ge' a turn."

Paul, as well as Steve and Joanna, a couple of skimmers also sitting the Internal Procedures course, all exchanged an amused look while Kate's attention was focused elsewhere.

"I see. And what was Agent Kines' response when you told him that you had other sessions requiring your attendance?"

Colin glanced back down at his computer and began absently loading the needed forms from the intranet. "Er, well, we did none o' us actually tell him tha'..."

He was saved from further explanations as the door burst open and Michelle slid into a chair at the far end of the table. Kate's icy glare turned elsewhere, and Colin was able to quickly fill in the sample expense report from the example displayed on the projection screen behind the red-headed instructor.

"Well, Ms. Chan. Am I to assume you're excuse for tardiness is the same as Mr. MacGregor's?"

"How did you beat...I ran all the way from the...Er, I mean, yes ma'am. We were both late getting back from field exercises."

Kate scowled, then turned back to her own machine at last. "You'll just have to catch up, then. Quickly, bring up the expense forms, and be ready to move on to recquisitions. As I was saying to those who were able to make it on time, these two forms are the ones you'll need to fill out more than any others, and ensuring accuracy is the only way to be certain you will have the funds or equipment you need on missions."

Dennison turned to point at a box displayed on the screen. "Your Orpheus ID and crucible numbers are obviously crucial..."

Colin grinned down the table at Michelle and wiggled his eyebrows while she shot him a furious look. With a wink, he returned his attention to his expense forms and Kate's lecture.

With a sigh of relief, Colin shut down the laptop and rubbed his eyes. Strange, he thought as he stood up from the table. I don't need to rub my eyes. They're not really tired. They're not really eyes at all. One of those things we just carry over in our minds, I guess.

Kate nodded to each of her student s as she strode out of the room, looking as composed as ever, despite three hours of accounting and beauracracy discussion, while her students stretched and muttered.

Paul waved to everyone before slowly fading to grey and passing through the wall nearest the stairwell. The remaining four waved back as he disappeared, and began to file out of the conference room to head for the elevator.

He turned to look back and saw Michelle still gathering up her notes. "Why do ye nay jus' type those in, lass? Would sa'e ye a fair bi' o' time sortin' through the papers."

She shrugged, her ponytail bouncing a bit with the movement. "I just like having the tangible notes in hand, I'm always worried the files will get deleted or messed up or something, and then where would I be? Anyway, I was going to go get some lunch down at the bakery, and thought I'd see if you wanted to join me?"

For a moment, Colin was surprised into silence just by the fact that she had apparently managed to contain her usually boundless energy to stop and wait for an answer. The amazement hit next, that she liked him enough to ask him to join her for lunch. Then came the real shock. She doesn't know.

She must have interpreted his silence as disinterest, as she suddenly bit her lip, turned back to gathering her notes, and resumed her usual stream of conversation. "Or not, either way, I just know that you came straight to class without any breakfast, so I thought I'd ask. Anyway, I should get going if I'm going to have time to eat before my P.I. certification class at 2."

"Er, Michelle..." Colin began uncomfortably. "I, well, I'd love tae join ye for lunch lass, but I'm bluidy well near drained o' energy after the fieldwork and having to sit through Kate's class."

"Oh, sure, I understand." Her friendly smile stayed in place, but her eyes fell and she hugged her notes to her chest.

Michelle looked up at him and gasped as his body faded into a translucent, spiderweb like floating composite of his former self. "I'm sorry, lass, I though' ye knew. So, while I would love tae spend the time wi' ye, I cannae hold on solid any longer, and I dinnae think ye want tae be seen ou' talkin' tae thin air."

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry! You must think I'm a complete idiot, which I apparently am, I feel so stupid. I didn't mean to offend..."

Colin snorted a laugh. "Offend? Nay, no' a' all. Tis I should apologize, I jus' ne'er though' abou' i'. We always saw each o'er while I was solid."

Michelle's smile brightened a bit. "Well, at least I know how you got here before I did from the van."

Colin grinned. "Aye, one o' my many talents. Able tae walk through walls and still be late."

That got a laugh out of her. "Oh, gosh, I can't believe I've been making a fool out of myself for two weeks now. But," she turned her smile on him, "if you forgive me, the offer stands. Though, I think if you still want to join me, we'll stick with the cafeteria here. You're definitely right about not needing to look like I'm insane."

Both of them chuckled, and Colin gestured for her to precede him out the door. "Lasses first, o' course, and lead the way."

"Why thank you, Sir Colin. Most gracious." She led the way towards the elevator. "Of course, now that I know this about you, you're just going to have to meet my family."

"Well, they don't understand at all what I do here, and I don't think they'd believe me even if I told them everything." Her dark brown eyes twinkled mischievously. "Which means you can help me get a little revenge on my brother for all the times he got me in trouble. I think between the two of our imaginations and talents, we could come up with some truly wicked tricks."

Colin doubled over with laughter. "Aye lass, I think ye may be right there. This could be the star' o' a dangerous friendship."

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Last Updated: January 2, 2004 by Blake Sorensen

January 31, 2003