A/N Hey- thought I'd try something different. This is a T/M story, but told from other people's POV. This first chapter is George's POV and is set before s2. Not written anything in 1st person before, so any comments are appreciated. Also, I don't hate Tony, but based on his day one persona I guessed that George might.

I hate my job, there's not really very much more I can say on the matter. I come here, 7 days a week, generally at ridiculously early times in the morning, and don't get to leave until I'm so tired that collapsing in front of the TV with a microwave meal is about all I can manage. The job itself is awful, I spend all day under immense levels of pressure, dealing with incompetent staff and having to co-ordinate with my even more incompetent superiors.

They've all learnt not to approach me unless it's for a very good reason, well, almost all of them. She's coming my way again, she's normally the one they elect to send up here, mostly because she doesn't give a damn about what I might say to her. She's perhaps the least incompetent of my staff, and somehow I don't seem to mind her even when she is having a stupid moment. It doesn't hurt that she looks like that either.

Make up done perfectly, despite the fact that the sun hasn't even decided to show itself yet, and complemented by her hair which, although has been pulled back, cascades loosely about her face in perfect ringlets. She looks stunning, and she knows it, although I'm aware that it isn't for my benefit.

I try not to look as though I've been watching her as she slides into my office, throwing, "Mr. Mason..." around a couple of times before handing me a file and sliding out again. This is unusual, she's not worked here long, but normally she isn't the type of girl to have difficulty constructing a sentence, more like one who would seriously kick your ass if you weren't doing what she asked when she asked. And she's done this more than a few times, mostly to the new IT techs that division sent over. I almost feel sorry for them, they are all quite clearly besotted with her, but she is completely ignorant to this, and gets annoyed when they have difficulty working for her.

My eyes slide to the reason that she is so unaware of their, and most of the male members of the office, regard for her. He's perched on the edge of her desk, and is probably the reason she was so incoherent when she was in my office.

He's also one of the reasons I hate my job so much. Aside from the horrific hours, abysmal pay and incompetent staff, Tony Almeida, and all those like him, and so far their has been one like him in every office I've worked at, is the main reason why I so often feel like if I were to spend two years lying on a bed of nails, it might be more fun than coming to work.

He's one of those irritating people who thinks they know everything and that they are always right. Generally speaking, he is as well, which just makes it even worse. Not only that, half the girls in the office are madly in love with him, Paula has only been working here two weeks and already she spends every spare moment she has eyeing him.

But like Michelle, he's completely blind to it. He's completely blind to everything apart from her, which is very entertaining.

In fact, about the only thing I look forward too when I come to work is the entertainment they provide. He asks her for help and opinions on things which have nothing to do with her, and she readily agrees, all the while standing just that little bit too close to him. Most of their actions are followed by glances at each other, for no discernible reason, but which half the office is aware of. And messages which could be relayed by phone or over the network are always delivered in person.

Overall, the interactions between the two of them are the highlight of my day, especially considering that nothing is ever going to happen between them. I know I'm a horrible, miserable person for finding that amusing, but I don't really care. I'm allowed to be miserable, my life is a hideous blur of boring, unending meetings and nights spent alone on my ancient couch watching documentaries about the mating habits of zebras. I think I ought to be allowed to take pleasure in watching them torture themselves.

Michelle works for Tony, and she's too composed to ever let anything happen between them, she'd have a fit if she weren't in absolute control of a situation.

Not only that, but he's still on some weird crusade to separate his professional life from his personal life, something which he ought to have learnt by now is never going to happen. Has he not seen the people he works with, not one of them has managed to maintain a relationship with a civilian, it's just too hard.

But Nina messed him up, she messed everyone up. Hell, she's the reason I'm here, working in this ridiculous job and trying to pretend like I give a damn. Palmer owes me a promotion, but I'm not going to get it, I never was. I'm going to be stuck in this office for the rest of my life, watching pretty girls flirt with complete morons.

Still, its not that bad. Tony's leaving her desk now, she's staring into the computer, trying to cover up that beautiful smile that's spreading across her face whilst he shoots her very obvious glances as he returns to his station.

The only way they'll ever get together is if the world is about to end, and until then, at least the entertainment's good.

A/N- let me know what you think, I'm still not sure about the idea. I might try another chapter either from Paula's or Carrie's POV.