Title: Anomaly in the Form of a Woman
Author: S J Smith
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: Bad Robot, Buena Vista, ABC, USA, FUSE, Flying Glass of Milk Productions and a lot more other people own these series, not me.
Summary: Michael spots a woman at the airport. Her lack of child accompanying her makes her a curiosity.
Note: Written for the LJ community, Fandom_Stocking
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Being a spy meant you keep a weather eye out for anomalies. Things that stand out, like an adult woman, playing with a toy airplane in an airport bar. At first, you think, well, maybe there's a kid involved. But no wedding ring on her finger, and the carryon bag at her feet didn't have any kid stuff tucked into it, to keep a child quiet and entertained during the flight. Not to mention, her attention was focused on the toy, rather than the airport itself.
A half-full drink sat next to her at the bar – another indication she didn't have a child traveling with her – and she set the plane down with a certain reluctance before picking up her glass and sipping at it. The sound of a kid throwing a tantrum didn't make her turn around, to see if it was her child or not, just confirming what you already had guessed – she's traveling alone.
And that just begged the question of why she's playing with a toy plane. Why it's so important to her, because even though she's not touching it right now, she's got it in her sights, as if she's afraid it's suddenly going to vanish.
You consider going to her, chatting her up, figuring out what's up with the plane. But then you hear your flight being called and duty is more important than the mystery. Besides, you figure, gathering up your own carryon, it's likely she was divorced and the kid's with the ex.
You adjust your sunglasses, glance over your shoulder at the woman, and continue on to your plane. Time to focus on the business at hand.
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