"So I'll pick up at seven, then?"

"Better make it ten to. I hate being late for the previews. They're the best part, everybody knows that. And then you can't find the good seat."

"So you're saying that you want to sit in an empty movie theatre for twenty minutes? Watch lousy Starplex entertainment?"

"Good grief, Milo, it isn't that bad."

"Ten to seven, then. Got it and looking forward to it."

Any idiot that thought one could actually have a private conversation in CTU should be shot. For crying out loud, it was a government building, meant only for privacy to the outside world; inside was a spring of gossip and so-called security secrets. And people calling across stations in a room with the same sound dynamics as an amphitheatre was not exactly increasing the surreptitiousness. Whatever happened to workplace professionalism?

Amazing when petty annoyances proved themselves in serendipity.

Morris did not bother to reveal the obvious. Chloe and Milo were back to their work, anyway, plans for the evening discussed and put aside and already heard by all non-deaf co-workers—not that Milo and Chloe realized that, the silly lovebirds. If Morris said anything about it, darling Chloe would freak and probably hit him. Few knew that about her, but the girl could really pack a punch if you pissed her off enough. Glorious. He kept his eyes glued on his screen despite the fact that he had forgotten what the hell he had been working on. The plan was forming. He hadn't allowed it on purpose, but he had never been the one to defer moments of personal inspiration.

So he was a little jealous. Of course he was jealous. There would be absolutely no point if he were not. Screwing up a date with no inner motivation would be exceedingly low, even for him.

Unfortunately the plan had yet to have any real details. No matter. The idea was there, and that was what mattered.

He allowed himself a glimpse of Chloe. No smile, smiles were rare for her and always had been. Some women were smiley, not her. Not that she wasn't pretty when she smiled. But smiley people were incapable of being as delightfully nasty as was Chloe. Her eyes were locked on her monitor, fingers moving with incredible speed.

He tore his eyes away. His heart was pounding. He certainly had not intended for that to happen. But then again… heck, why not? He did love the woman, had never stopped doing so.

And it was painful to see someone you loved dating a Mouseketeer.

He sighed. He really should be getting back to work, whatever that was. L.A. was finally free of a terrorist threat. Was it just him, or did everything bad happen in L.A.? He had never seen that crap in Beverly Hills. Was any of this actually important? Somebody at the water cooler had brought up a conspiracy theory involving the head honchos having some sort of mind-reading machine. B.S., probably, but if there were any truth in that he would so get fired.

So how was this movie date going to work? Was Milo going to borrow his parents' minivan? Good ol' dad letting his boy have the nice car for the night? Or maybe the 'rents themselves would drive—the minivan, of course. Maybe the would let Milo have the dignity of knocking on Chloe's door himself. Maybe he would bring her a cheap corsage.

Morris laughed aloud, drawing several stares, including Chloe's. Well, if they could be privy to the little image in his head, of Milo in a tacky tuxedo and a corsage fresh out of the refrigerator, his parents waiting out in the minivan. How old was the guy, anyway? Just some lucky soul fresh from MIT, still living in his parents' basement? Morris was too lazy to pull up that date, or actually ask. Probably just kept his age well. Yeah, well, he was missing out on world of mature and distinguished charisma. Drowned rats were incapable of pulling off that sort of allure. Poor kid.

He also suffered some sort of power complex, as well.

And yet he was taking Chloe to the movies.

Morris bit his lip as his eyes slid, of their own free will, to Chloe. She was really into her work. Just like her. She was devoted to her work, that woman.

If only her station wasn't in such a clear view. Though it was very convenient for annoying her. She was so wonderfully easy to annoy.

But he really had not expected that working with her so close would be so hard. It was a good thing that the right wink in her direction could send her into a most unflattering fluster. A very good thing, in fact, what with all this other crap that went on, unspoken and otherwise. Wasn't this whole gig supposed to be temporary?

Life hadn't turned out that way. He snuck other glance at Chloe, longer this time. He had better not be the only man in the world still in love with his ex-wife.

A box popped up onto his screen. Ah, yes. Inter-office messages. Thanks to technology it would never be avoided again. Morris smiled as he noticed the sender.

Stop staring, moron.

And Chloe didn't even bother to look up.

He quickly typed a reply. But you're just so gorgeous.

Good. Now she was frowning.

What movie was she planning on seeing? Would she have to buy Milo's ticket?

At least he knew the theatre.

And a few details were popping up.

He smiled once more, wondering if Chloe were watching. If only she weren't so much fun to annoy.