Roz slumped in the hard plastic chair and looked around the small windowless room. "I don't want to be here!"
Beside her, Frasier glared in her direction. "Oh, and I do? Spending a Saturday at a seminar about how to effectively deal with difficult people is not what I want to do either!"
"Yeah, tell me about it. God, I hate this new station manager! I hate him!"
"That makes two of us."
"Well, at least he didn't hit on you in the breakroom."
Frasier's eyebrows rose. "Actually-."
Roz, in turn, felt her jaw drop. "What? He did not! Oh my God, Frasier, are you serious?"
"SHHH!"
Annoyed, she turned and glared at the scrawny man behind her. "Oh shut up, Noel! Like you really find this stuff interesting!" Roz hissed.
"I know I don't!" Frasier grumbled. "It's insulting, that's what it is! I'm a psychiatrist for God's sake and a Harvard graduate! If anyone knows how to deal with difficult people, it is I!"
"God, when this day is over, I'm gonna be ready for a drink!"
"That's a good idea Roz. After all, Café Nervosa is right across the street."
"Actually I meant a real drink. Something stronger. I want to duck into the nearest bar and drink myself into oblivion. I'll probably get mugged as I stagger home but at this rate, I don't care!"
Frasier smiled. "No you won't."
"Won't what?"
"You won't get mugged, Roz."
She threw her head back and laughed. "What, in this city? Are you kidding? Yeah, right!"
"You won't. Because I'll be right there next to you, ready to drive you home."
She stared at Frasier in astonishment. He may have been predictable, but he was the most surprising man she'd ever known. "Really?"
His smile warmed her heart. "I'd never let anything happen to you, Roz."
She blinked back unexpected tears and hugged her boss. "Thanks, Frasier."
The speaker droned on, talking incessantly about the dangers of toxic people. But Roz no longer cared. She leaned her head against Frasier's shoulder and closed her eyes. And strangely, he didn't seem to mind.
~Fin~/TBC~