Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 05:35:42 -0700 From: clark Subject: Office Gossip (01/01) To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU This is a follow-up to the tag of "Let No Man Tear Asunder." (Aka, the one where Nat ducks the kiss.) Any character names that seem to be coincidentally similar to folks you might know, well, all I've got to say is that coincidence is an amazing thing. (But I do have permission, McLisa, just in case.) Lots of thanks on this one. Thanks to Mary for the clothing check. Thanks to Laila for teaching me how to spell. Thanks to all who let me use their names. Thanks to TPTB for creating this universe and for letting me play around in it. I don't own the characters, but don't take the words. This story can be archived only at FkFanFic and my own site. "Office Gossip" by S. Clark Heather-Anne slid into the chair so quickly, her drink almost fell off the tray. Only with a quick grab was she able to save it from toppling over. "You are going to be so sorry you were off work yesterday." Mary responded in a hushed tone. "I've heard something from Marchell in the lab, but she couldn't really talk. What did you hear?" "Hear?" Heather-Anne took a nibble off the end of her sandwich. "I not only heard, I saw." There was a loud squeak as Shelia slid her chair over from the next table. "I've got to join you for this." The two already seated starred at her for a moment, then laughed. They shifted around their chairs to make room. Shelia patted the back of Heather-Anne's hand. "Spill, spill." "Ok, I'm walking down the hallway, and I see her lab door open." Heather took a sip from her drink. Shelia scooted in closer. "And? And?" "So there he was, in the doorway. He was holding the door open, and leaning against the door with his arm blocking it so she can't walk out." Mary dug her spoon through her carton of yogurt. "Really? What'd you do?" "It was an obviously personal moment for the two of them. So, I ducked into that little alcove on the other side of the hallway. I don't think they could see me." The women shared another laugh. "Good thinking," said Shelia. "Did you happen to see what he was wearing?" Heather-Anne pondered that for a moment. "As I recall, it was a black jacket with a blue silk shirt, and black pants." "He looks so good in blue," said Mary. "Sets off his eyes." "Yeah," agreed Shelia. "But enough of that, what happened next?" Heather-Anne paused again, collecting her thoughts. "Next? It sounded like they were flirting." Shelia let out a small laugh. "The coroner was flirting?" Mary gave a nod. "She may be a coroner, but she's still a w-o-m-a-n." Taking another bite of sandwich, Heather-Anne nodded in agreement. "He was saying how her knee was a personal favorite body part." "Oh my!" Mary's eyes went wide. "Can you imagine, having him taking inventory of your body parts?" "A personal inventory," said Shelia, with a wicked look on her face. "Then," Heather-Anne put down the sandwich, "and you won't believe this..." She paused for a breath. "Go on," Shelia said, leaning forward, "go on." "He moved in to give her a kiss." Mary sighed. "That's so romantic." Heather-Anne slammed her hands down on the table, causing the others to jump. "But she ducked out of it!" Everyone else in the room turned and towards the three. Heather-Anne's head dropped to the table for a moment, covering her laughs. Shelia's jaw literally dropped. "No way!" "Way!" countered Heather-Anne, recovered from her embarrassment. "She ducked right under his arm, and continued towards the exit." "Ohmigosh!" Mary couldn't believe it. "She ducked out on a kiss? >From him?" Heather-Anne nodded. "She just started walking away." "What'd he do?" Shelia asked. "What'd he do?" Heather-Anne's mouth drew up into a wry grin. "He followed. He draped his arm over her shoulder, and he looked like he was whispering into her ear." Mary leaned back in her seat. "Oh my. One can only wonder what they did after that." "Well..." Heather-Anne's grin continued. Shelia's eyes narrowed. "You've got more." Heather-Anne nodded. "I was still on shift, and couldn't leave the building." "Of course," agreed Mary. "So I had Marcel, the janitor, follow them. Besides, he's got that heavy coat and all," Heather-Anne explained. "And?" Mary and Shelia asked in unison. "He said they climbed into that big land yacht he drives, and stayed parked out front for an entire hour." Shelia let out a small shriek. Mary took a big gulp from her diet soda. "An hour, alone? With him?" she said, her voice took on a dreamy tone. "Could you imagine?' "Imagine what?" The women looked up, and found Natalie Lambert standing at their table, holding a tray of food. Those seated were stunned to silence. "Mind if I join you?" The three women were still quiet, but Mary managed to push out the table's free chair for Natalie. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Natalie added, noting that the table had gone from lively to silent. "No," said Heather-Anne, finding her voice. "We were just chatting." "Chatting," said Shelia, nodding in agreement. She made a more than obvious gesture of looking at her watch. "Oh, but look at the time, I've got to go." "Next time," said Natalie, watching the woman hurry off. Natalie shrugged. She looked at Heather-Anne. "Anything new going on?" Heather-Anne had just taken a sip of orange juice, and turned several shades of red before the came out her nose in a barrage of laughter. "Something good, I guess," said Natalie. Mary shrugged, feigning innocence. "Must be." "I'm sorry," said Heather-Anne, dabbing at her face. "I just laugh sometimes. The oddest things just sound funny." She pointed over her shoulder. "I've got to go, too." Mary waved, and mouthed 'later,' to Heather-Anne. Natalie stirred her soup. "Seems like I caught everyone at the end of lunch." "I guess so," agreed Mary. Natalie took a sip from her tea. "So, what's up with you?" "Nothing," Mary responded. She leaned towards Natalie. "How about you?" "Nothing, really," Nat replied. She rubbed at her neck, which was covered by a thick turtleneck sweater. "You know, same old." Mary gave Natalie a sweet smile. "Really. Nothing?" "Well," Natalie had her own smile, more wistful, but then her face went neutral. "Really, nothing." Still, Mary couldn't help but notice the blush rising on Natalie's face.