Chapter 10. Well here we are at the tenth chapter. I usually count any story that gets this far lucky…and this one is just beginning. So I know you really want to really the plot rather than my ramblings…Have fun…

Spoilers: None

Disclaimers: Strangely for this story I do not own any character in this chapter.

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

Steve Jobs

"Creative solution," Sweets remarked walking into Camille's office.

"What?" she replied looking up at the psychologist who had just joined her. She was slightly shocked by his presence. Sweets was not usually one to show up unexpectedly or to dispense with pleasantries.

"Sending Katharine to the other side of the country so you didn't have to fire anyone," Sweets explained.

Camille suddenly became very interested in newspaper articles on her desk. "I don't know what you're talking about," she told him calmly. That was a flat out lie. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

"No," he told her, "Really it isn't a bad idea. Neither one of them has made any move to find the middle ground. Am I right?"

Camille sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Yes," she admitted.

"That means that you have to either start moving towards enforcing your mandate or admit that it was an empty threat," Sweets told her almost excitedly.

"It was not an empty threat," Camille replied with a look of distaste that was directed not at the psychologist in front of her but at the statement she had just uttered.

"No," Sweets agreed considering, "It wasn't, but you don't want to follow through on it."

"Of course I don't want to follow through on it," Camille replied annoyed. She had not liked the decision when she had made it because she had little doubt that neither one of the women in question would change their opinion of the other for anything other than an act of God.

That had left her in a tricky situation. If the two could not work together than at least one of them would have to be fired. The logical choice would be to fire Elise because she was hired last. Unfortunately that would raise questions with her superiors because the difference in hiring times was about forty-eight hours. On top of that, Camille had a personal relationship with Katharine before hiring her. That would also raise questions. So in the hope that no one would get fired, she had threatened both of them. That had failed…miserably…

"So you sent Katharine to the other side of the country," Sweets finished a little too excitedly for the situation, "That way they can't fight and so you don't have to fire them."

"Sending Katharine with Daniel made the most sense for the case," Camille replied calmly emphasizing the last three words.

"Really?" Sweets asked a little skeptically.

"Yes," Camille told him, "It did." She liked Sweets most of the time, but he did get on her nerves once in while. This was turning out to be one of those times.

Sending Katharine with Daniel had made more than a little sense. She was a member of the team who could collect evidence and facts for the case. She would also be able to keep Daniel more or less in line. No one else in the lab really fit into both categories. That was the reason she had sent Katharine. At least that was what she was going to tell the rest of the team. They did not need to know the rest.

"Of course," Sweets replied understanding the Camille was not saying anything else on the subject. "But—"

Camille cut him off by holding up a single finger. "Did you come for a purpose Dr. Sweets?" she asked him.

"Yes," Sweets replied a little flustered, but covering quickly, "I wanted to check on how the team was working together." There was a pause in which he realized that this was not perhaps the most graceful transition that had been made. Quickly he added, "And how the case was progressing. What you're working on now looks very interesting."

Camille had to restrain a smile. "Dr. Sweets," she told him with a small shake of the head, "I am working on paperwork."

"Well then how is the rest of the case going," Sweets asked making an attempt at turning the conversation to something a little more neutral. "It sounds like and interesting one."

"It is," Camille agreed with another nod, "And I respect you're attempt at beating around the bush, but if you want to ask about the team just do it."

"OK," Sweets replied with more grace than a lot of people would have had, "How is the team working out?"

Camille leaned back in her chair and dropped the pretense of working on paperwork for a second time. "The team is working out okay," she told him after a moment of consideration. "Except for Katharine and Elise's little argument."

"Of course," Sweets agreed, "Except for that."

"And Agent Bennett lacks respect for the scientific community in general and has no patience when it comes to waiting for results," Camille added.

Sweets nodded again.

"And Daniel is going off the tracks a little bit because he knows the victim in this case," she amended again, "but I'm sure Katharine will keep him on track."

"Yes," Sweets murmured, "Of course she will."

"And Dr. Crammer," Camille added, "still shows a certain disregard for the other people in the lab, but I think that is just because he doesn't know anyone very well."

"Definitely," Sweets agreed.

"So yea," Camille finished, "Except for that they are getting along famously, and I guess every team starts out with problems. They'll get through them."

It was a vastly transparent conversation and they both knew it. Their tone was signifying that what was going on was no big deal, and that it could easily be worked though. They both knew it would take more than that.

"I find it interesting that you say 'they'll work through it' instead of including yourself in the team," Sweets told her after a moment.

"Did I?" Camille asked blandly, "I didn't notice."

She had noticed, maybe even done it deliberately. She felt no connection to her team right now. They were just a group of talented people working under her. It would take time for them to be anything more.

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