Hey, this is Em (nonsenseandmischief ) and Kate (HarrysGirl22).
Ok, so this fic is a little work of smutty nonsense and innuendo which started, I think, as Kate's dream one night and fast became an obsession of ours (not that I spent my working hours dreaming up innuendo lines or anything!? and not that Kate did either!?)
Anyway, here is the result for you delectation!
Disclaimer: we don't own anything except for Kate's dream and, judging by this, it's a good job too!
Honorary mention: Gems, for innuendo laden encouragement and for being a star!
"Aaaaagh, thing!!" she yelled to nobody in particular as she tried, and failed, to get the multimedia projector working for the third time in a row.
She really didn't need this right now. She hated presentations at the best of times. It wasn't that she didn't know what she was talking about – far from it. She was prepared to the point of ridiculousness. Somehow though, it all got lost in the 'presentation' aspect. She would stumble and trip over words and Malcolm's very unhelpful advice of 'picturing the audience naked' had nearly induced a choking fit when, the first time she tried it, her gaze had landed on Harry. She'd thought that arriving early to set up might allay some of her fears, especially seeing as technology was not her closest of friends, but it seemed determined to make even more of an enemy of itself today.
Sticking her head around the door of the Forgery Suite, she tried to decide if there was anyone she could ask for help, but all bar Harry's light was off. Not fancying explaining a broken projector to him to start his day off, she wondered out in the other direction toward the quiet corner where Malcolm often sat, out of sight, to play with the latest gadgets. Bugger it, he wasn't there. She cursed fluently under her breath and tried to think of any alternative which didn't involve alerting Harry to the broken equipment. Noticing Malcolm's compact tool box next to a dismantled mobile phone and several pieces of solder, she seized it and set about recalling the very limited knowledge she had in electrics.
"What have you got there?" Damn it! She was so close to getting back in the suite without him having seen her. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
"Oh, um, some tools," she lifted the box and rattled it to emphasise her point "The, um, projector has broken – again – and I need it for the briefing."
"Do you have a clue what you're doing?" he asked, doubt clearly evident in his voice.
"Well, um, I'm sure I can figure it out. It can't be that difficult Harry."
He reached across for the toolbox and tried to take it from her grasp, trying to ignore the spark of electricity that he felt as his hand brushed against hers.
"I think I should help fix it, I have enough worries without you breaking the damn thing completely and electrocuting yourself in the process."
"Don't worry Harry, one broken projector isn't likely to blow the budget," she huffed, slightly peeved that he thought she couldn't manage on her own. In truth, she reflected, she probably couldn't, but he didn't have to just automatically assume that she would make things worse.
"I'm more bothered about having to replace you than the bloody projector Ruth," a light blush stained his cheeks as he snapped.
Doing the only thing she could manage after his words, she passed him the tool box and trotted down the corridor after him.
She watched with some amusement as he took his jacket off and placed it on the table, rolled up his sleeves and then began rooting around in the tool box. She waited until he had crouched down at the far end of the table and was just about to crawl underneath before she spoke.
"What about the fuse Harry?"
Harry poked his head over the top of the table so he could look at her. "I'm sorry?"
"The fuse. Shouldn't we check that first, you know in case it's just that simple…" she trailed off as she registered the embarrassed look on his face.
"Yes, well, I don't think it will be that but we might as well check it just in case." He tried to inject as much authority into his words as he could manage given that she had just seen him fall at the first hurdle.
Placing the tools back in the box, he began to crawl under the tunnel like desk, cursing whoever designed such an impractical monstrosity. It was built like a bunker; enclosed on all sides and, given the considerable width of the desk top itself, had an improbably small, hinged opening at the far end of the room. Right under the centre of the desk was the housing for all the room's electrics. He rued the day the Grid went minimalist, and longed for a metal box of wires and chips sat in the corner of the room instead. Swearing as he hit his head on the underside of the wood, he bent down and unlatched the wooded door to access the electrics. Ruth's keen eyes watched as his trousers drew themselves tight around his pert bottom, before feeling herself flush and averting her eyes. Her self control, however, was as lacking as her technical knowledge, and she was soon sneaking glances again. She even caught herself craning forward to watch him further as he crept along until his questing hand found the sockets which were set in the floor.
"Ruth, roll a torch in."
Finding the small torch she bent down and obligingly rolled the torch to him. She could just about make out his cramped form in the darkness.
"Thanks"
Resting against the desk, she became aware that Harry was muttering to himself. She smiled as she pictured him under the desk, brow furrowed in concentration, a slight pout on his face. She felt slightly guilty from getting so much enjoyment out of this situation but if nothing else it was helping to calm her nerves about the presentation.
"Ruth, it's no good. You'll have to come and give me a hand."
"Really? I thought you didn't want me to break anything."
"I need you to hold the torch. It's bloody hot in here though, you might want to lose a layer or two before you join me."
Nodding, despite the fact he couldn't see her, she reached for her cardigan and threw it haphazardly onto the table before kicking her shoes off and leaving them strewn on the briefing room floor. Picking up the tool box, she took a deep breath before she joined him under the table.
More soon, we promise! Please use the review button, that's what it's there for!