Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. I'm just borrowing them for fun.
Albert entered Dr. Gilmore's study only to find the man in question pouring over a pile of papers but unlike his usual concentrated look he looked like a teacher grading his student's essay.
"Dr. Gilmore." He held in a chuckle as the man jumped up with a startled look on his face.
"Albert. Hello." Albert nodded in greeting.
"What are you working on?"
"Oh! This is Alexandra's essay." The doctor explained with a fond smile. However Albert was confused. He'd heard the doctor talking about her but he'd imagined…
"I thought she was a doctor. A pediatrician if I'm not mistaken." He voiced his confusion but Dr. Gilmore didn't catch up.
"She is." He confirmed waiting for Albert's elaboration.
"Yet she has homework to do?" Albert phrased it like a question and the scientist chuckled.
"Of course not. This was a thoughtful thing of her really. We were in the lab and I was talking about how her essays used to be ten feet tall. The next thing I know I have this mailed to me."
Albert nodded in understanding.
"So what brought you here?"
The professor asked taking off his glasses.
"Françoise was worried about you."
"And sent you to check up on me." The professor finished already gathering his papers and knowing full well what the next sentence would be.
"And to bring you down for dinner."
Looking up at Albert an idea flashed through the doctor's mind. He'd need to talk to Françoise about it of course but he really doubted she'd refuse to help him.
"I think I'm going to invite her here."
Albert didn't miss the look but he couldn't quite place it either so he settled for a slow nod. Whatever the man wanted to do he'd deal with it.
Stepping out of the office Gilmore already started to form a plan. Most of the team had found happiness except for the man beside him. Albert deserved to be happy, God knows he'd been suffering for far too long.
"Everyone." Dr. Gilmore called gaining the team's attention. "I'd like you to meet Ms. Alexandra Green. My finest student." All eyes went to her silently taking in the slender brunette standing next to their professor.
"Hello, my name's Françoise." The blonde's voice interrupted the silence. Her aqua green eyes were gentle and reassuring and the ballerina gave the doctor a welcoming smile.
"That's my fiancé Joe." She gestured to the burnet standing beside her and Alexandra instantly saw the overwhelming love his chocolate brown eyes held as he looked at the blonde.
"That's Jet..." A guy with ridiculously long red hair and a long nose saluted her.
" … Chang." The ballerina continued.
"hey." Came the greeting from the short plump Chinese man who was dressed in a chef's outfit.
"…G.B…." A bald man gave her a theatrical bow and Françoise shook her head with a smile.
"And finally Albert." Unlike the others this man didn't greet her. He looked at her with cold eyes. Eyes that were the color of steel. His grey hair was swiped to the side. He didn't look much older than her but she knew for a fact that that wasn't true.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all." She said calmly, her eyes meeting each and everyone's for a brief moment.
Gilmore glanced at his watch and gave a quiet sigh. "Alright. She's going to spend the day with us so make sure she's welcome."
She smiled at her mentor and he gave her a nod. "You know them all in theory, now you get to talk to them in person."
"It would be our pleasure." She heard a voice and a moment later felt her hand being lifted from her side and kissed gently.
"Back off G.B.!" Jet exclaimed pushing the actor away.
"Please don't tell me you think you have a shot with her."
"Oh but the bald…"
She tuned the argument out when Chang caught her attention. "I expect you to be here for dinner. I want you're testimony that I'm a great chef."
"Who takes days to finish a meal." Came the words from G.B. who adopted Chang's appearance.
"Why you little no good…" She didn't catch the rest as G.B. broke into a run with Chang and a lot of chuckling following him.
"What did Dr. Gilmore mean when he said you know us in theory?"
"He's showed me a lot of his work over the years and recently he showed me how he…" She searched for the right word. She didn't want to insult them.
"… developed." Albert supplied with a chuckle.
"Yes. He showed me how he developed your physical potentials and he saw fit for me to meet you all."
"Did he tell you why he developed 'our physical potentials'?" Even through the amusement the tenseness and uncertainty were visible in Albert's tone and to solidify her suspicion she saw everyone in the room look at her uneasily.
"No. All he said was it was an important project. It was obvious he didn't want to talk about it so I didn't pry."
The tension lifted from the atmosphere and Alexandra diverted the spotlight away from her.
"Françoise, when's the big day?"
Françoise flushed slightly as Alexandra looked at the ring. She lifted her hand so it was obvious.
"April."
Alexandra nodded, waiting for the rest.
"I'm still not sure about a few of the arrangements and asking Joe is out of the question but if you don't mind…" She trailed off, not sure if it was a good idea but Alexandra's reassuring smiled made her relax.
"Sure why not?"
"You wouldn't rather…"
"…ask you about your lives and activities?" This time she sounded amused.
"I already know everything there is to know. Today is more of a social thing really."
Françoise led her to the balcony while each of the guys went in a direction.
"Hey Alexandra." She looked up from the pictures she had in her hand.
"Hello Jet." She greeted.
"Care to go for a flight?" She looked at him confused and everyone in the room looked up from what they were doing.
"I…" She trailed off, not knowing how to protest to the crazy offer.
"Come on! You'll be completely safe and you'll get to see how I fly." The last sentence really tempted her.
"Alright." At that Albert put down his book and Joe turned off the T.V but before either could protest Jet lifted her into his arms and took off.
"He's going to kill her." Albert said looking at the spot were Jet disappeared.
"I'm sure he knows what he's doing." Françoise disagreed. "She'll be fine."
She gave Joe a sly smile and he quickly caught on.
"I think he's gonna ask her out." Joe said trying to get a rise out of the German.
"There's a shock." He answered sarcastically.
"She might say yes." Joe persisted.
"She'd be really stupid if she did." Albert asked looking the brunet dead in the eyes.
"Not stupid." Françoise interjected. "I've been talking to her for the last hour, the woman is anything but stupid."
"You were talking about colors and china patterns." Joe said and she rolled her eyes.
"Not for the whole time, and I'm telling you for a twenty eight year old she's far too knowledgeable."
Meantime Albert went inside. He didn't want to hear all the blabber about the young doctor.
"Good you're here. Come and help me out."
Albert sighed but went ahead and didn't object when Chang sat him behind a pile of potatoes.
Joe and Françoise followed a little later.
"So you don't like her?" Joe's blunt question earned a disproving glance from the girl and a snort from the German.
"I barely exchanged a sentence with her." He answered eyes not moving from the potatoes.
"Look Albert…"
Françoise didn't continue as her ears picked up Alexandra's laughter not far from the balcony.
"They're back." She announced.
Alexandra let out a small laugh as Jet flew over seawater allowing her to dip her fingers while he zigzagged over the sparkling surface.
"Enjoying yourself?" He asked and she turned her head to look at him.
"Very much." She answered looking back at the water.
"Hang on!" She looked at him but before she had the chance to voice her question he flew up in full sped making her shriek and cling to him fearfully.
He chuckled but slowed down to hover in place over the ocean.
"You can look now."
She did and gasped when she saw the breathtaking view, clouds surrounded the sun letting a few sunbeams penetrate the grey layer forming the most fascinating picture she'd ever seen. The soft light that escaped the clouds made the waters sparkle as if they were a blanket of diamonds.
"Wow. Jet this is… just wow."
The American chuckled behind her. "I'm glad you like it."
"This is fantastic." She agreed.
They spent a little more time flying around before they got back. They're laughter filling the living room.
"Thanks for that Jet." She said with a smile.
"Anytime."
She nodded then looked around the room.
"Where is everyone?"
"In here!" Came Chang's voice."They're crowding my kitchen. Shoo, shoo."
Joe and Françoise left and Alexandra thought she saw disappointment on their faces.
"You need some help?" She asked stepping in the kitchen.
"Finally, an actual volunteer!" He exclaimed. "You can help Albert with the potatoes."
She nodded and sat beside the German and started peeling the potatoes while he proceeded to cut them.
"So where are you and Jet going?" Chang asked his tone made it clear that it wasn't just another casual question and it showed when Albert's cutting turned into obvious butchery. She could hear a few mumbled words which sounded like 'nosy matchmaking idiots.'
She caught his hand, being careful not to cut herself with the sharp edge. She felt his grip relax beneath the calming touch and she leaned in to whisper.
"Whatever it is don't massacre the potato for it."
He slowed his hand down but the tension was obvious in his posture.
"Besides…" She continued. "… I don't think Chang will be happy if he sees this."
He chuckled at that and nodded.
"You're probably right."
She smiled and looked at Chang. "We're not."
"137." Chang said before diving back into the sauce pot.
"What?" Her question was ignored by Chang so she turned to Albert.
"You're the 137th woman to let him down." He explained.
"What? Why?"
"You tell me."
She gave a small laugh. "He's a nice guy. I'm just not interested in dating."
"Bad experience?" He asked conversationally.
"Something like that."
"So Alexandra."
"Lexie." She corrected and Chang smiled.
"Lexie, tell me what did you think of G.B.?"
He sounded smug and so sure of himself as if he knew that what she was going to say would help him mock the British man for a long time.
"I don't know. You didn't give me a chance to talk to him."
Albert gave a low chuckle and she responded with a small smile.
"I'm at your disposal my fair lady."
The English accent rang through every word and no one was surprised to see the former actor in the door.
Alexandra's eyes lit up with a sly glint that Albert instantly picked up on.
"Are you speaking the truth dear sir or are you just trying to charm a lady?" she responded with her own accent.
"Of course not my lady?"
She fiddled slightly with his scarf. "Can I rely on your word?"
At this point G.B.'s face was resembling a tomato from the doctor's proximity, which amused both Albert an Chang to no end.
"Absolutely." G.B. was sure that he was going to regret it.
And he did when she jumped behind him and pushed him in the kitchen, glancing quickly at Chang who pointed to a table covered in vegetables with his ladle. She nodded, sat the bald man on a chair and handed him a knife.
"Start cutting."
"What..? I…"
The men chuckled.
"Fair's fair." Albert chuckled and went back to the potatoes, a moment later Alexandra joined him.
"Do you realize what you did? These two hate each other."
She gave him the most innocent look he'd ever seen on anyone's face.
"Then he shouldn't have tried to impress me."
He shook his head helplessly and went back to the potatoes.
"Chang, this is all done."
"Oh great. Would you mind helping with the sauce?"
G.B. sputtered at that. "You're asking her? But you only order us around."
Chang rolled his eyes. "You don't have enough food to cut?"
G.B. just glared and returned to his chore. Alexandra tried stifling her laughter and Albert watched in amusement how the doctor looked in amazement at the arguing duo.
"What is going on here?"
Alexandra turned to smile at her mentor. "Hello doctor."
"What did you people do to get him to work in here?" the man's astonished question made the girl chuckle.
"That was all Lexie's doing." Chang's words made the professor notice the spoon in Lexie's hand.
"You're cooking?"
She shook her head. "Just helping out a little."
"Should've seen her up in the air doc. She was amazing." Jet complimented standing in the doorway.
"I hope you had the good sense not to ask her out." Gilmore's tone was that of a disapproving father and it made Jet nervous.
"Uh… I…"
"Honestly 002." The older man sighed.
They were interrupted by the sound of a constant ringing, which was coming from her jeans.
Digging in her pocket she looked at her pager and looked up, apology evident in her eyes as she looked at her teacher.
"I'm sorry. I can't ignore this one."
He nodded in understanding.
"Chang, thank you for this. It was fun."
Chang gave her a small smile. "I'll wait for you at the restaurant."
She nodded. "I'll stop by as soon as I can." She looked at the rest of the guys. "It was a pleasure meeting you all."
Slipping on her jacket she smiled and said in her normal voice.
"It was great meeting you Françoise." And then slipped out of the house.
"She's a nice girl." Jet commented looking at the empty doorway.
"I like her." Chang announced looking all too satisfied while staring at G.B. dicing tomatoes.
Albert chuckled at the Chinese's expression.
"What about you Albert?" Gilmore asked, hoping that the German had enjoyed her company.
He just shrugged in response. "She turned 002 down." The amusement in his eyes made Jet sputter indignantly.
"Alright I'm done."
"But you didn't answer him."
Albert rolled his eyes and strode out of the kitchen. A walk outside was a necessity.
So did it suck or is it worth continuing?
Leave me a review and tell me what you think.
