This is my first attempt at a Mason POV. It's a stand alone, but it may work as a prequel to What Am I to You? I haven't decided yet (I tend to work backwards).

Disclaimer: Dead Like Me and its character are the creation of Bryan Fuller et al. and are copy written under MGM/Showtime/etc. No infringement of their rights is intended. The stories written under the penname Gabigail, however, do belong to me. None are written for profit and are intended for entertainment purposes only.

George/Mason pairing. As usual the others reapers are around too:)

Is George a friend? A sister? Perhaps she could be a potential girlfriend, but Mason is forced to re-evaluate his feelings (if there are any).

Please Read & Review :)

Here For You Always

It shouldn't surprise me in the least that George literally fell head over feet for some guy; it was bound to happen eventually. It certainly shouldn't bother me, but it does. When I actually take time to think about it, I realise that I've always liked George, but had always managed to conceal those feelings from her, which totally went out the window the moment she had feelings for someone else. Oh my poor Georgie girl, it's breaking my heart to see her suffering the way she is right now. And over some bloke named Trip. What the hell? Tripp, Tripp, who the hell names, or nicknames their kid Trip? I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around that catastrophe.

The scowl on her face has become somewhat permanent, and I'm not taking that very well either. I miss her half smiles when she thinks no one is looking, I'm pretty sure that I see more than the others would give me credit, but it's probably the fact that it will be noticed by Rube upon his return from wherever he's been hiding these past few days. As I watch her, I really wish she had heeded his warnings about her and romantic entanglements being a bad idea, or something to that tune, because let's face it, she wouldn't be going through the hell she is at this moment. Taking into consideration the fact that she hasn't been undead as long as the rest of us, nor does she have the life experience, which by my simple calculation, equals her pretty much being doubly screwed.

It's funny how we have this unwritten rule regarding our not telling Rube about George's misconduct, but I really want to. I know that I'm supposed to keep quiet, or as she would put it: "swim with the fishes", but I know he would know what to do and how to handle her, and yet at the same time, I've noticed over the years that I've known him, he can be one of the most insensitive of men. Having said that, worse case scenario then is him basically exploding on her, which I'm fairly certain is the last thing that her already broken heart needs right now. She doesn't need an "I told you so" lecture. She needs a comforting shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen to her woes, not being put in a bad book and not to be spoken to for what was it again? A day? A week? A month? A year? A century? Forever? Besides, Roxy already handled the parental perspective when George was arrested for vandalism, which is just another minor detail that we shall fail to mention to the boss.

Sitting at our usual booth, I try and get the teen to snap out of her funk before Rube arrives. She's slouched in her seat, face literally stuck to the table, only answering in a monotonish grunt, and only when absolutely necessary. She's still a bit dishevelled, her hair a wild ponytail and thank goodness it's her day off, her clothes look as though she's slept in them for a week.

"Aw come on Georgie girl, cheer up. He's the idiot. He wasn't good enough for you anyways." I say knowing that truth be told, it is I who isn't good enough for her. If you know that song She's so High that pretty much sums up my lowly position, in which case, I cannot possibly imagine her ever looking at me the way I saw her look at Trip. I finally give up, knowing that she's still ignoring me, and my obviously lame attempts to comfort her.

Sitting beside her is Daisy, who I think is still in a mishmash of shock and disbelief that George hadn't confided in her about the loss of her virginity, and to Richie Rich no less. If he's anything like I had been when I was alive, he won't call, but I'm pretty sure she already knows that. Believe you me, if he does come round and she doesn't kill him. I sure as hell will, and when Rube finds out, which I'm fairly certain he will, via Daisy and her big mouth. Let's just say there won't be a large enough piece from which to extract his soul. Tripp would be very lucky to get lights.

Dejectedly, George finally finds the strength to unpeel her face from the table, which might I add is just in the nick of time too, as Rube makes his entrance. She doesn't even give him the chance to join us.

"Where the hell were you?" she snaps at him. I can tell by the look on his face that he doesn't want to deal with her lip or attitude, and we all kind of shudder at the thought or her further agitating him.

"Good morning to you too Peanut." He replies in a very controlled tone, which is never a good sign, as he motions for me to move so he can sit in his usual spot. This is so not good, he and George are both in bad moods, which usually just requires a spark and the flame will inevitably ignite, especially if they happen to be in a sparring mood.

"What can I get you?" Kiffany asks in her usual pleasant manner. She's surprised by the chorus of silence, as no one answers right away and she cannot help but show her confusion because we usually know what we want, and are jumping in with our orders as soon as she's ready. "Okay, I'll give you a few more minutes." She says and we all nod. As she walks away I can hear her sigh under her breath as she makes her way to another table.

"So what? You're not going to answer my question?" George demands, and I kick her gently under the table. "Ouch! Mason! What the." She stops herself short and nods. Rube just glares at her.

"What? I need your permission to leave town for a couple of days? I would have gladly talked to you about it in a calm manner, but seeing your crappy attitude this morning, and come to think of it before I left. Forget it. Here guys." He sighs as he removes our marks (Post-its) from his book. I look at mine quickly before shoving it in my pocket, I notice George frowns and motions for Daisy to let her out. Not saying a word, she heads out of the restaurant. I wonder if her attitude towards Rube has to do with men in general, or just the arse that played her like a fool, and she's just taking it out on him. Without a word I go after her. I don't know if it's a great idea or not, sometimes we need someone, even when we don't think we do.

"George!" I call and she stops dead in her tracks. She turns around and waits for me to catch up. It amazes me how fast that girl can walk when she wants to. "What the hell is the matter with you? George, if you need to talk to someone, I'll listen." I say hoping that she will open up a bit, I know that it will make her feel better.

"Mason, there's nothing to discuss; plain and simple I'm an idiot. I should have known better. Rube was right as always, but hey, lessoned learned and I will eventually be okay." She says as we walk down the street.

"That's not true and you know it. Sure, Rube will kill you when he finds out, but he'll eventually get over it." but when she looks at me I can see the tears in her eyes.

"Mason, it's not him I'm worried about. I can take his yelling at me, and let me tell you, this time I've earned whatever he wants to throw at me." She stops herself and rubs her eyes with the back of her hand. I wonder what she means. "It's what you think of me that makes this as hard as it is." She blurts out and I just stare at her with a look that I'm sure is jaw hitting the pavement. "I have to go. I'm going to be late." She quickly turns on her heels and makes a mad dash towards the towering building that holds the company she works for. What's it called again, oh yeah, Happy Time. That's right George, get away from a perceived problem as quickly as you can, I cannot help but think as I make my way back to the waffle house for something to eat.

Roxy and Daisy have made their way out, so I'm left with Rube, oh joy oh fun! I think to myself as I plunk myself in the seat across from him. Thank goodness Kiffany had noticed my arrival and is standing at our table for my order.

"Coffee and the Johnny Vegas with bacon." I say with a smile. Rube looks up from his newspaper.

"Back again?" he says, taking a sip of coffee.

"Uh yeah, I didn't have breakfast." I reply, hoping he doesn't sense my need not to talk to him.

"What's wrong with George?" he's so to the point, he scares me.

"Nothing."

"That wasn't nothing. I've already had a word with the girls, and they seem to think that you're the person to explain this new attitude she has towards me. To me." I look away for a moment in thought. I'm not sure if I should say anything, and yet I know I have to. Why hadn't Daisy just told him, like she always does, the blabbermouth. Oh right! I forgot, it's only when she wants to be. "I'm waiting." Rube prompts me.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I lie and look away.

"Yes you do. That's why you're sweating bullets."

"Am not!" I protest, but not too much to appear guilty as sin.

"Look, Mason. I know that something's happened to George and she will eventually tell me. I just don't have patience for her attitude right now and just thought I'd get the heads up from you."

"Remember how you told her to see how the other half lives?" he nods and I continue to stall. "Well you see, she did her reap, but kind of fell for the guys son." I can see his expression as it falls. I don't really have to go any further, I think he's already put two and two together; because he's shaking his head.

"She didn't?" he asks in a tone I don't think I've ever heard him use. I can only nod. "I've got to go. Thanks for the chat Mason." He says as he collects his jacket, planner, and hat. I sit with a dumbfounded look as Kiffany brings me my breakfast.

"Thank you Kiffany." I say quietly, still in awe at the speed with which Rube just flew out of here. George is so dead and it's pretty much all my fault, I cannot help but think.

"You okay?" Kiffany asks me, her look of concern touches me, considering everything I've done to her.

"Yeah. I'll live." I reply as she smiles and makes her way to another table. No not really, a black cloud hovers over me as this really bad feeling works its way into the pit of my stomach, as I'm almost certain that Rube is going to pay 'Millie' a special visit. I shake the thought out of mind and try and eat my breakfast.

Heading out into the chilly autumn air, I bring the collar of my leather jacket around my neck as though it will offer some warmth from the chill. Looking at my watch I know that I don't have time to waste, so I head to the intersection that's on my Post-it and quickly try to locate my mark. It's funny how I still have that gut feeling when I catch a glimpse of my mark, in this case T. Nichols as she trips and drops the groceries he held in her arms.

"Great!" she says, feeling like a stalker I help her collect her bags. "Thank you." Her smile is radiant, warming the chill from within me.

"You're welcome. My name is Mason." I say hoping that doesn't sound as lame as I think it did. She rolls her eyes, I'm guessing that did sound like the world's worst pickup line. Perhaps she feels sorry for me or obligated to play my game, but she puts one of her bags down and extends her hand.

"I'm Tabitha." She replies.

"Nichols?"

"Yeah, how did you?" she asks as I quickly pop her soul.

"I thought you looked familiar." I save myself the trouble of explanation. She smiles and begins the trek across the street. I suddenly hear the high pitched squeal of tires as a dump truck barrels down the busy street and stops after making contact with the young women, who is basically tossed, oh I'd say a good 20 feet. Her soul stands beside me and I put an arm around her shaky shoulder.

"What happened?" she asks in a quite, dazed voice.

"Well, let's just say it wasn't your day, but things should improve." I say leading her away from the site of her death towards the shimmer of her lights.

"Thank you for sparing me the pain of that one." She says over her shoulder as the lights engulf her. Check, I think as I make my way to Georgie's workplace to see about taking her out to lunch. I so have to apologise because she is going to kill me, and Rube definitely wasn't a happy camper when he left the waffle house.

I cannot stand the smell of corporate America. Suits, power suits, hair just so, files upon files; well you get the picture. I get off the lift and head into the large space, divided up by cubicles. Which one is George's I try and remember as I pass a few interesting characters; the receptionist didn't even bother to help me, in fact just let me walk on by as though I work here. Then I nearly run into this chick named Delores Herbig, man she's a weird one, who promptly directs me to 'Millie's' workspace.

"Mason, what are you doing here?" George demands through clenched teeth.

"I came to take you to lunch." I say sweetly.

"I can't go. I've been out to lunch already."

"Been out to lunch? With whom?"

"Rube, if you must know. And right now I'm very angry with you. I've been considering Rube's method of oh let me see. Never talking to you again!" she says hotly and I can see the onset of tears.

"Georgie, don't get like this." I whisper so that no one hears me use her name. "I can't bear the thought of having you mad at me." I say, as I kneel on the floor in front of her, holding her chair so she can't spin away from me, which forces her to look at me.

"I know that it's for the best." She takes the words from my mouth. "How can you still be so nice to me?" she questions me. I don't really know the answer, sure she slept with that bloc Trip, and that in itself is just cause for me to never speak to her again, if I happened to be her boyfriend, or that kind of guy, which I'm not.

"I never wanted to hurt you. I only told him because he would find out via Daisy eventually, and while I would rather him have heard it from you, I thought it best to get all of it out of the way. Georgie girl, how could I ever be mad at you? It's not as though you're mine to get mad at." I say hoping that it doesn't hurt her feelings as much as I'm hurting my own. There is no way in hell that I'm admitting my feelings for her, it's far easier for her to think that I'm still killing myself to get Daisy. I've had my fill of Daisy and only to get her completely out of my system, but George doesn't need to know that either. Because I've been in love with her, if you will, from the first day I met her and even through my Daisy stage, which was pretty short and sweet. I believe that says quite a bit.

"Okay. I won't stay mad at you, even though I want to and think you deserve it." She says with a smile as I brush the tears from her face. Delores rounds the corner on our tender moment, and I pop up.

"I'll see you later?" I say with a smile. I hold on to her hand for as long as I can and she smiles back and nods before turning back to whatever she had been doing prior to my little visit.

I only wish I had the guts to tell her everything. Tell her that I was jealous as hell that she was giving her attention to someone other than me. Tell her that I have been truly, madly, deeply in love with her the moment we met. Tell her that I want to be the shoulder she cries on when she needs it, the one who will always stand beside her, and catch her when she falls. But for now, I'll have to be content to be a friend in her undead existence.