X-ray Chapter 5, part 1

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When Ian woke the next morning, Sara had already left for work, and the impression she had left in her pillow was cool to the touch. He lay in the bed for a while, still somewhat sleepy, collecting himself into a coherent person. His face darkened as he realized that he might be working with Frank again, lightened some when he remembered how Frank had been less of a chore by the end of the day, and broke into a smile as he recalled the events of Mortimer's escape. He wore a small smile, therefore, when he walked into the station several minutes early and found Frank in the break room. "Our truck isn't here yet?" he asked.

Frank looked up from tying one of his boots. "Our truck?"

"It's not here yet?" Ian asked again.

"Our bus." Frank shifted in his seat to lace up his other boot. "No. They're finishing a call." He finished tying his boot and sat up. "Get yourself a cup of coffee or something and sit down," he said awkwardly.

Ian was still sitting with Frank, though his smile had faded, when their Tour I crew came into drop-off radios and keys, and to sign over their narcs. Ian had forgotten about his interaction with the woman with the green eyes, but the incident replayed itself in his mind as she walked in. Should he apologize? The urge was very strong, but he said nothing; he couldn't think of anything appropriate to say. In any case, he wasn't able to say anything to her at all, or even to meet her green eyes. He focused instead on her nameplate -- the root of the whole mess, he thought ruefully. Lest she think he was staring at her breasts, he quickly dropped his gaze to the floor, accepting the equipment without meeting her eyes.

"What's with you and Green?" Frank asked several minutes later as they dug through their bags to see if everything was there.

Ian didn't know what to say. "I don't know what to say," he said. "I don't know what to say."

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