Disclaimer: I don't own Lost.

The Tie

Daniel Faraday knew that he was the joke of Oxford among the students. He had known that since the day he revealed that he believed time travel was possible. Most of the faculty steered clear of him, when they weren't playing jokes on him. The students tried to avoid taking the classes he taught, but they were never successful. Daniel could hear their grumbling about it during the first week of classes, but then they accepted it. Still, they avoided his office and meeting with him out of class as much as possible. Still, that did not keep him from doing his job.

One day, he was dead on his feet. He hadn't slept very well the night before, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to get through his day without a caffeine boost. He decided to make a quick trip the coffee shop on campus, and once he bought it he hurried back outside, staring at the ground as he walked in order to avoid seeing anyone passing him. His progress was halted quickly as he ran into something, and his coffee splashed onto his shirt before the cup hit the ground.

"This is not my day" an exasperated voice muttered. Daniel looked up, and saw a young red-headed woman standing in front of him. She looked as exhausted as he felt, and he could tell she was in a hurry.

"Are - -are you all right?" Daniel asked hurriedly. His eyes swept her body, trying to see if any of his coffee had ended up on her. She glanced up at Daniel, and her tired blue eyes swept any remaining frustration about his spilled coffee.

"Yeah, I'm fine" the woman sighed before dropping to the ground to pick up her books.

"I'll help" Daniel moved to follow, but she held up a hand.

"Don't. You should get cleaned up, the coffee will ruin your shirt if you don't soak it soon" the woman said.

Daniel glanced down, and sure enough his shirt and tie were covered with coffee. "This was my favorite tie" he groaned.

The woman straightened up and took in the ruined tie. "It's kind of bland, don't you think?" She finally said with a small smile forming.

Daniel noticed the smile, which caught him slightly off guard. "It's - -it's black. How is that bland? And what's funny?"

"It's like every other tie every professor wears" the woman straightened the books in her arms, and Daniel instinctively reached out when he saw a paper sliding off the top. "Thanks. As for what's funny, you're worried about your tie, but not your shirt"

"I'm…not exactly normal. And what do you suggest I do about it?" Daniel sighed as he removed it. He studied the ruined fabric and threw it in a nearby garbage can.

"The tie?" she asked, and Daniel nodded in response. "I'll get back to you on that" the woman smiled. "And sorry for running into you. These books…" she trailed off.

"I understand" Daniel nodded and looked at his watch.

"What time is it?" she asked suddenly.

"8:55…why?" Daniel answered.

"Guess I have to skip my coffee today" she groaned. "I'm running late now" She smiled briefly at Daniel once more before hurrying away.

One week later, Daniel returned to his office to find a box sitting on the ground outside the door. Curious, he picked it up and carried it inside. He hadn't received anything like this since he started teaching at Oxford. He opened it as soon as he put the bag down, and he saw a black tie inside. Next to the tie was a note. Unfamiliar handwriting was on the small piece of paper, and Daniel began to read.

I bet you're wondering how I found you. It was actually rather simple. I asked around and someone pointed your office out to me easily. This tie is to replace the one that got coffee on it last week. I still think plain, black ties are bland, but you seem to like them for some reason.

He let out a chuckle as he took off his tie and put on the one in the package.