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When Colin arrives in the newsroom, he expects to find Alicia there. Even if the door was locked.

The door is ajar, and Colin finds Alicia standing waiting patiently for him. The only sign of her state of mind are her slowly clenching and unclenching hands, knuckles cracking audibly each time her fists close.

"Shut the door," she says, and without further preamble, starts off, the words coming out like a flood released from a long pent-up dam.

"Ok, mijo, I don' know how much of this you know, and frankly I'm sick and tired of keepin' track, so if any of this comes out as news, just suck it up.

"From what I understand, the part of Sammy that makes her all whooshy also makes her want to be with boys, any and all. I don' have a problem wid dat, but she seems to, and mebbe she has a problem with the fact that I don', I dunno. Far as I'm concerned, there're worse things to be than a nympho, and she can either deal with it and move on, or do somethin' about it. At least, she can stop bein' all f**king emo like it was some horrible fate.

"In any case, one of the boys she's wettin' her panties over is John, but of course she's too nicey-nice to just walk up and tell him so. Mebbe it's because John himself is so damn square you can use him to mark off corners, whatever. I don' care.

"So now here comes Looney Laney, who's head over heels over Johnny, and let me tell you dat's a disaster in the making, but she's pretty set on it so I'm not gonna step in front of that bus, oh no, thank you so very much.

"Anyway, Sammy's fumin' because Laney's steppin' into her unclaimed but still marked off territory. Pretty stupid, as far as I'm concerned, and I haven' made any bones about it to Sam. It's like she wants all the boys to fall at her feet, but isn' willing to do any effort about it and gets all pissy when they don'. That, and well, the fact that I've actually tried to be nice to the space-case has put me up to #2 on Sammy's s**t-list, right after the Lane herself.

"Now I'm sure you'll be all 'well, just talk it out with her and it'll all be better'. Sure, that'd be fine, but every time I try, she gets all 'you don' understand' and 'you're just as bad' as if I went around shoving my tongue down every boy's throat or somethin, and I get to the point where I have to leave or end up bitch-slappin' some sense into her."

The machine-gun delivery finally ends. "So there you have it, Medicine Boy. You got any bright ideas, I'd be ecstatic to hear them." She stands there, arms crossed, her head bowed so that her golden eyes can look challengingly at Colin over her shades.

Colin frowns.

"I think it's a language problem. Or a patience problem. Both, probably."

He sighs.

"Sammy wouldn't be so confused if John didn't send mixed signals, though. And... I really don't think that's how she sees you. Maybe it's the contrary. It's just that her first instinct is to run away from problems. And you won't let her. She needs her time."

"I have!" Alicia expostulates, waving her arms around. "Last thing I told her, when she was ready, talk to me. That was, s**t, a month ago!"

She starts pacing, talking to the air more than to Colin now. "In the meantime, I'm walking around with her throwing daggers at me with her eyes, and, let me tell, that s**t gets old reeeaaal quick!"

She spins to face Colin. "And then there's Miss Non-Sequitur herself, walking around sticking her head in the lion's mouth every time she opens hers, and if the s**t ever hits the fan, I have no idea which one to jump in front of, or whether to just walk away from the whole goddam fiasco!"

In a sudden fit of mad realization, she spins again to face the empty room, raises her head and in a loud voice proclaims, "And if you're listening in, John, you goddamn c**ksucker, I hope you're f**king satisfied!"

Colin can catch the stray tracks of frustrated tears on Alicia's cheeks.

About ten seconds later John opens the door to the news room and is followed by a wave of air.  "You called?  What's up?"  he says, his stance is alert and ready.  Alicia hasn't ever seen him looking like he's ready for a fight before.  He glances around the room.  "Did I miss something?"

Alicia fairly vibrates with anger. She stares at John, every muscle in her body tight.

Then it's like seeing a storm cloud dissipate. Or maybe more like watching the approaching shark fin sink under the surface.

With complete calm and aplomb, Alicia says, "I'm sorry, John. We didn't call you. Your name just happened to come up in the conversation. Could you give us a moment more of privacy, please?"

"Sorry."  John says, visibly relaxing and closing the door as he leaves.  Alicia hears him continue down the hall, then head back upstairs until he's out of her range.

With the ominous speed of a tank turret, Alicia turns towards Colin.

With a voice devoid of any of the earlier emotion she'd been evoking, she says, "Now you know the drill. If you've got any ideas on what to do about it, knock yourself out. Hopefully we'll be able to minimize collateral damage when the inevitable cataclysm occurs."

Colin winces when Alicia shouts and when John arrives. He just waves and smiles apologetically as he retires.

When he's gone, he sighs again.

"Allie, she has good reasons to throw daggers at you with her eyes, you've hurt her. Do you know anything about her mother? It's not something you can drop around like that. And why do you think a cataclysm is bound to happen? Laney is stronger than you give her credit for. She has to be for surviving what happened to her. Despite what John might think, she likes him, but doesn't need him. Even if they were to break up, it wouldn't kill either of them. And Sammy only needs to find her balance. And it's going to be hard to do if every time she comes around we watch her like she's got a hundred pounds of dynamite strapped to her chest. We should allow her to relax. With Donnie, before, she was only joking."

Alicia gives him the you-gotta-be-kidding-me look.

"For someone who communes with spirits, you're sometimes thick as a brick, you know that?" she says, not unkindly.

Leaning against a table, she tries to explain. "Laney doesn't just like John, she wants him. Trust me on that. I'm not sure what could get someone like her pissed off, but being the woman scorned might just do it.

"And what do you think would happen if Sammy finally lost it and tried to bounce Laney off a wall? You think John-boy'd just stand there and watch? You feel up to trying to stop him if he got riled up?"

She rubs her face with tired frustration. "I'm seeing too many ways for this to go down wrong, and I don't like the odds. You think we just let things ride out? Fine, but if we end up pulling bodies out of a smoking crater that used to be the school, you bet your sweet ass I'll be right there saying I told you so."

She pushes off to a stand for emphasis. "And for your information, I was joking too, but I guess I'm not allowed to be funny like Sammy is.

"I mean, jeez, Sammy decides to give Donnie a lap dance and it's all fine and dandy. I happen to kiss and hug Ree-is, and all of a sudden, I'm the goddamn school bicycle. At least I'm only f**king one guy."

There's an uncomfortable silence as she realizes what she's said. She's not going to let it get to her, though. She stares at Colin, daring him to say the wrong thing.

"Spirits are easier than people." he says and he almost means it.

"Sammy would never do anything like that. Ever. She had a run in with a fucked up telepath messing with her mind. Nothing like what they did to you, but she was pretty out of control, and yet she didn't hurt anyone. But more important than that, I know her and I trust her. That's never going to happen. But the answer to your question is yes. I do feel up to stopping either her or John. I just don't think it'll ever be necessary. Allie, billions of people have every kind of trouble each day, and yet they don't end up shooting up a school or something like that. Do you really think so little of your friends?"

"I know you were joking too. That's why I didn't understand why all of a sudden you were being so harsh to each other. And why I'm here to talk."

He puts a hand on her shoulder. "And I never thought of you that way. Why would we? You two love each other, why should there be anything wrong with what you do? Aren't you being a little hard on yourself too?"

"People change, Colin. You know that as well as I do. I don't have your or Sylvia's little trick of opening heads and looking inside, so all I got to work with is what I see. And I've seen people do some really f**ked-up s**t for the strangest of reasons. Makes it hard to just see the good in all of them."


"Ask Sammy. She's the one who went off first," Alicia says sullenly.


"Me?" Alicia says incredulously. "I'm not the one throwing it at my face."

She lifts an eyebrow. "How would you feel if you heard someone calling Sarah a 'ho' because, I dunno..." she looks around as if trying to draw an example out of the air, "you and her had spent a night together in a hotel room?"

"That's not what I do. Sometimes, not always, I can make a place like yours to help people feel at ease. I can only see and show what they allow themselves to know."


"I will. I asked you first because you stayed. And because I suspect Sarah is having a similar conversation with Sammy. And she's better at it than me."


"Then who is?"


Suddenly he has this deer in the headlight look in his eyes.

"Wha- I mean- I... Wait. It would be just a stupid lie. How would that make her a ho? God and Great Spirit, since the beginning of the year, I've faced demons wanting to kill me and eat my soul. Such a thing would be so much beneath my notice. I'd just mark off the person saying that as an idiot, or at least as someone in a very idiot moment."

Alicia gives him another WTF? look. "Well, Sammy, for one, just a few minutes ago. Remember?"

With a passable imitation of Sammy's voice and intonation, she recites, "I'm not doing anything you haven't done a hundred times more, or a thousand times louder!"


"So you'd just let it stand, and let people believe it's tru..." Alicia pauses as she catches Colin's reaction.

"Holy s**t! You did spend the night with her!" she exclaims in the throes of a flabbergast.

Alicia's face splits in a wide grin and she punches Colin lightly on the arm. "About f**king time, you idiot!"

She quickly sobers up. "As long as everything went all right. Were you safe?" she asks in genuine concern.

"Blurting out something like that in anger is not like saying you're a ho meaning it. I meant if anyone else was saying that. And since the love goo incidents, I'm not sure who would have the moral high ground to say anything like that in the whole school. Ok, you both are able to hurt each other with words, you've got proof of that. Now, can you also stop doing that, since I'm quite sure none of you really meant to hurt the other?"


Colin buries his face in his hands and lets it there for quite a long time. When he resurfaces, he says "I'm not going to say anything to confirm or deny that kind of rumor. A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell. And neither he risks to put his partner in embarrassing situations."

He sighs deeply.
"Back to the topic, what should I do? Break all his bones? Wouldn't that prove I had something to hide? There's no way to win that situation, except with time. I refuse to let myself be bothered by lies. And believe me, I do have my share of nasty lies going on about me."

Alicia takes a deep breath. With a weary voice, she replies, "I'm not wired that way, Colin. If I'm attacked, I respond. That's not a part of me that can change. It's not a part of me that I'm willing to change."


Alicia swallows visibly and looks contrite. "I'm sorry, Colin. I understand. I'm not telling anyone, I promise."


Alicia remains adamant. "It's a bad example, I know. Just because..."

She pauses and swerves away from that track and back in line with Colin's. "Yes, you choose your battles, spend your energy only on what is important. But lies can be powerful, especially if you let them grow. At some point in time, you have to... accept the challenge or lose your place."

She's obviously struggling to put into words concepts that exist in her mind as self-evident foundations and therefore not in need to be explained.

This confuses Colin, and is much more than he was hoping for, but he's not going to argue with what works.


"Allie, I understand. And I don't want you to change. I'm just saying she's not an enemy, she's a friend who blurted out something stupid. So you're allowed an angry retort. After that, a simple 'sorry' can go a long way to put things back on the right track. I'll talk to her too. But equipping ourselves for disaster might be the wrong approach. I'd try with just listening to her first."

Alicia tilts her head in sincere confusion. "But how am I supposed to listen if she's not talking? I don't want her to be my enemy, but I'm not sure she wants be me to be her friend."

She sighs. "I'm not good at this touchy-feely stuff, Colin. You talk to her. And while you're at it, you might try getting Laney to stop poking Sammy with a stick every time she shows up. I've been helping her get some backbone, but she's still oblivious of what's in front of her face."

Here a little smile escapes from Colin's lips.

"Has anyone tried with: 'Laney, dear, Sammy might be uncomfortable around you because you're seeing John'? She doesn't need to be sheltered from the truth. She's going to figure it out anyway, and this way, we spare them the awkward time."

Alicia stares blankly at Colin for a few seconds. Finally, she mutters to herself, shaking her head, "Ese loco."

With a painfully patient tone, Alicia explains, "Colin, dear, has it occurred to you that Sammy may be uncomfortable with someone letting her feelings about John be blabbed out, especially if she herself is unwilling to let him know about them? Y'know, that whole 'kiss and tell' thing we just went through a bit ago?"

"John kissed her and she flew half a continent away. Faster than he could follow. And I think they talked after that. If he still doesn't know there's something there, he has to be blind and deaf. I think the situation now is way more uncomfortable to her than if we gave Laney a clue. Laney is going to figure it out whether we tell her or not."

Alicia cocks an eyebrow. "They talked? Huh, I got the impression she was still wrapped around the axle about that."

She shrugs. "Besides, John may know there's something there, but not know what it is. You boys tend to be painfully clueless about stuff like that."

She sighs again. "Maybe you're right. If nothing else, at least Laney will know enough of the score to decide which way to go."

Alicia drops her weight back on the desk. "So what do you suggest about me and Sammy? Keep dancing around? I can't just go and talk to her; she has to make the first move. At the same time, we just keep stabbing at each other and that's definitely unfun."

"That's only because you girls never -talk-. We go crazy trying to understand what you want." he says with a grin.


"I'll see what Sarah tells me. I hope either of us will be able to get her to give you a call, just as a first step, ok?"

Alicia smiles with a wicked gleam of teeth. "We have to keep some mystery about ourselves. Otherwise, it would be too easy."


Alicia nods dubiously. "OK."

She stands up and dusts her hands. "I'll talk to Laney and brief her on the Sammy situation."

Colin nods.

"Good."

He looks around for something else to say.

"Beside that, are things all right for you?"

"Me?" Alicia's head jerks slightly back in surprise.

With a completely guileless tone, she says, "Oh, things have been peachy keen. Been doing some public service work. Y'know, trash pick-up, urban beautification, that sort of thing."

"How's that working for you?" Colin says, smiling slightly.

"Are you happy with the routine? Are Jack's lessons working? It's been a while since I read of any collapsed building."

Alicia raises a sardonic eyebrow. "Very well, Doctor. By summer, I'll be able to play Varsity again," she wisecracks, a smile removing any sting from the jibe.


"Jack understands what it is I'm trying to do, and he's helping me learn how to be the person to do it," she says openly.

A quick flash of mischief flashed across her face. "As for collapsed buildings, that was just a matter of using the tools at hand. Jack's been helping me make sure I don't have to improvise in the future." She makes an unconscious gesture, as if reaching for something tucked under her arm.

"But, hey, enough about me," she bounds into another topic with her usual enthusiasm and disregard for lane-shifting laws. "How was Arizona? Did you have any adventures, fight chupacabras, that sort of thing?" Colin's not quite sure if she's joking.

"It was... educational, mostly." he grins. "Not a lot of adventure, unless spending the night out in the desert counts. It's been nice to spend times with friends I see rarely."

OOC: I'm making this up on the fly."

Alicia's face sobers a bit. "How's your mom doing?"

She leans forward as if to share a confidence. "My mom's making noises about organizing a baby shower. You have been warned."

"Well..." he sighs. "She's a bit overwhelmed. And confused. She really wasn't expecting this. It shook her world for good. She's still getting to grips with it."


"Uhm. It's not a bad idea. Maybe you should tell her it's fine if it takes a looong time to organize that. And don't leave Mitzi... Sylvia's mom out. I think she'd love to be a part of it."

"I can imagine," Alicia says, somewhat distractedly. There's an odd glint in her eye as her mind wanders away for a bit and returns to the here and now.


Alicia rolls her eyes. "Don't worry. This is my mother we're talking about. The amount of planning she'll put into it will make the moon shot look like a high-school science project."

Her gaze focuses on Colin like a laser sight and her voice has a definite no-nonsense tone. "How are you handling it, big guy? And don't give none of that zen-I'm-at-peace-with-the-world bulls**t."

"I think I've been dreaming about her for some time before knowing it. It's a bit weird, it's been just my mom and me for so long... but I think they're going to be happy." he says with a smile.

Alicia sighs in irritation. "I'm sure they will be. What about you, you big dope? Once the kid pops out, your mom is going to be focused on pretty much her."

She asks with unusual perspicacity. "You gonna be okay with that?"

She stops, startled by a thought. "Wait. You know what sex the baby is already?" She rolls her eyes. "Oh, never mind. Of course you do. Forget I asked." She gives him a look of fond annoyance.

"You say that like it's a bad thing. I never entertained the dream of a brother or a sister. I thought it was impossible. I still thought it was impossible, even when I saw my mother glowing and I started having dreams about her. A baby is a blessing. And I can't wait to have my little sister. I just try not to sound too happy, 'cause the 'adults' are still adjusting to the idea."


"That's nothing. I think I have a vague idea of what her wedding dress is going to look like."

Alicia smiles brightly, a warm smile that rarely appears on her face. "That's good to hear. I think you're going to be a great big brother." She punches him lightly on the shoulder.


Alicia stares at Colin blankly for a few seconds. "Y'know, sometimes you're as easy to read as a book, but sometimes you can be so poker-faced you scare me."

She shakes her head in resignation. "I'm not even going to try and figure out if you're just pulling my leg."

Colin smiles.

"I have to keep some mystery about myself. Otherwise, it would be too easy."

OOC: Looks like a good closing point to me.

Okie-dokie.