A/N: I always thought George Mason was a scheming little matchmaker- so I decided to have a little fluffy fun with this one. Set three months after Day 1, it chronicles the scheme behind Tony and Michelle's first meeting- and may make you appreciate the old man more than you thought you ever would.
Beep-beep, BEEP beep.
"Mason," I answer my phone emotionlessly, as usual.
"George, it's Tony," my Chief of Staff says, tone rushed and pissed off, as usual. "Am I missing something here?"
"Yes, I am smarter than you," I respond sarcastically. Sarcastically, of course, is for two reasons: first, because I'm always sarcastic; second, because Almeida is a freaking genius. "Look, if you're having a problem down there, you could let me know what it is."
"George, of course I'm having a problem," he hisses. "I've been balancing two jobs for the past two months because Division is too busy trying to convince Jack Bauer to get reinstated to notice that I've been forced to work my ass off. They couldn't have sent someone down to help me out?"
I chuckle to myself. "Tony, you're not going to have that problem for much longer."
"What?" he says, his eyes squinted as he looks up at my office, a glare in his eyes.
"So you're pissed when you're 'working your ass off', but you're pissed when they finally send a replacement, too?" I ask skeptically. "Something's been eating you, Tony, and whatever it is, you're doing a terrible job of dealing with it."
"Since when is it any of your business, George?" he says uncharacteristically softly as he stares at a photo on his desk. The one in which his arms are around the shoulders of a thin, petite woman who wears a big smile but whose liquid-gray eyes seem to be staring off into the distance, as if there was someone else she was chasing, something else to do.
"It became my business when a traitor was uncovered here," I respond a little harshly, "a traitor that happened to sleep with both the former director and IPM."
"Do me a favor, George," he says, "and stick to your job." I hear a click and a dial tone and groan to myself. Knowing I won't be able to catch him again, I call my secretary.
"Yes, Mr. Mason?" she says politely.
"Kara, can you tell Mr. Almeida to greet Michelle Dessler and show her where everything is when she arrives from Division?"
"When should I notify him?"
"Ms. Dessler should be here within the hour," I reply. "And do me a favor, Kara – don't tell him who he's greeting."
"Any particular reason why, sir?"
"Just my own personal amusement," I say with a smirk as I hang up. Oh, man, I think to myself. If only Babushka could see me now- her antisocial little grandson playing matchmaker with two unsuspecting thirty-year-olds. It will give me something to smile about, lift Tony out of the dumps, and, hopefully, give Michelle a nice, innocent little office relationship. I hate to admit it, but Tony can actually be a halfway decent guy when he's not scowling at everyone who walks within twenty feet of his desk. Suddenly, I realized there may be a problem. I can only hope that Tony will refrain from acting so tense when Michelle arrives. Otherwise, that IPM is going to be running for the hills.
Forty-five minutes later, I've gotten one of the more confidential analysts to help me to hack in to the security audiovisual feed of the front doors, security, and the bullpen. It's going to be completely worth it, but I can practically feel the hairs on my neck stand up on end. Considering my amazing luck, it's only a matter of time before Tony or an analyst who actually has a brain realizes what I've done.
Oh, hell. Since when have I cared what people think of me, anyway?
A gray convertible parks in the government-owned lot, and a professional-looking young woman with rich brown curls framing her face steps out and locks her car. She walks to the front doors, confident but slightly unsure. I watch with what can only be described as a kind of diabolical glee as Tony greets her.
Whoa. Okay, then. Did I ask Milo to bug Tony, or did he just do that on his own? Either way, the kid deserves a pay grade raise.
"Hi. I was told I would be receiving a visitor from Division." Tony says in a calm and soothing voice I haven't heard since before Jack Bauer and Nina Myers began a relationship.
Michelle locks eye contact with him and says, "Who are you?"
"I'm Tony Almeida," he replies, shaking her hand cordially. "I'm CTU Los Angeles's Deputy Director."
"I'm Michelle Dessler," the woman introduces herself, smiling warmly. "Division sent me over to fill the vacant spot as Internet Protocol Manager."
Oh, boy. How will he take this news? It's like a romantic comedy in the making. Maybe Kara can make me some popcorn…
To anyone who doesn't know Tony Almeida, nothing in his tone has changed. But I've known him professionally since he quit the Marines and began working here as an analyst. Here's what's probably going through his mind right now. Damn you, George. You didn't tell me that we were getting a new IPM, much less a woman, much less a woman my age, much less a woman my age who seems to be beautiful, kind, smart, professional, and able to hold her own...
This is probably insensitive, but the fact that Tony's head is spinning at a million miles per hour really, really amuses me. I can't believe that this is what my forms of entertainment have amounted to.
"I'm assuming by the look on your face that no one told you who I was," Michelle says, concerned.
Tony finally looks up and attempts a half-smile. (Better than nothing, I suppose.) "I apologize. You're right, Mr. Mason didn't let me know you were coming."
Of course. Blame it on me, don't you, Tony?
"It's fine," she says, brushing it off. "It's nice to meet you, Tony."
Come on, Tony. This is the moment that will define how everything else turns out. Either he'll be the insensitive ass he's been for the past year, he'll be a nicer professional, or he'll soften up a little. Which one will it be? Behind which door is Tony hiding?
He smiles at her, continuing to hold eye contact. "It's nice to meet you, too, Michelle. Now, come with me, and I'll show you where everything is and introduce you to everyone."
And the winner is behind door number three… I smile a little as I watch the feed, as Tony transforms before my eyes and becomes a much warmer person. Well, at least warmer than he's been. Changes don't happen overnight. Ah, hell. Maybe this'll actually be good for him.
A knock on my door sends me scrambling to shut off the computer feed as Almeida and Dessler walk into my office.
"Michelle, meet CTU Director George Mason. George, this is Michelle, the new IPM." He shoots me a pointed look, but it doesn't quite have the same razor-edge sharpness as it would have two hours ago. I doubt he notices the difference, but the point is, I do.
As I say hello and give well wishes to our new third-in-command, I give myself an imaginary pat on the back.
Well done, George Mason. Well done.
A/N: The review button is starving! Give it some love, and tell me what you think! Should I continue with this or leave it as a oneshot. Most importantly - did you like it?
