When Old Meets New...
by Katie
Disclaimer: Kara belongs to herself. Joshua belongs to Tribune *hiss*.

* * *

Kara plopped her briefcase on her desk, and glowered at it. The traffic that morning had been horrible, and she was venting her anger on her briefcase. It couldn't talk, so it couldn't shout for help if she beat it into a leathery pulp....

Mr. Collins, a familiar voice said smoothly. Thank you for meeting me on such short notice.

No. It couldn't be....

Ms. Palmer, Mr. Collins simpered, what an honor....

It was.

Kara blanched, and snuck towards Collins' office. What's Renee doing here?

What can I do for you, Ms. Palmer?

Doors International needs a new webpage, and your company came highly recommended. Yeah, sure, by who, Addicts Anonymous?

Collins began a long speech about his humble' little company, which Renee briskly interrupted.

Excellent. I'll have my lawyer fax you the papers, and we'll arrange a meeting with your premier design expert. Good day, Mr. Collins.

Good day, Ms. Palmer. It was an honor...

Kara jumped back from the door as Renee opened it and strode out purposefully. Renee caught sight of her and paused, as if trying to remember who she was, but Kara saw no flash of recognition in her eyes, and Renee continued walking out of the building. Kara breathed a sigh of relief, and rushed over to the telephone.

Is Big Brother conducting an investigation on us? she asked the moment the phone was picked up, without giving Katie a chance to greet her.

What? Katie asked.

Big Brother. Investigation. Us.

There's always an investigation on you guys. Why?

What about with DI?

Okay, you've beyond lost me, Kara. What happened?

I saw Renee.

A gasp.

Did she recognize you?

She looked as if I was familiar, but she didn't place my face. Supposedly she's here to hire us to build DI a new webpage, and Collins was too busy ogling at her breasts to find her story suspicious. Why would DI go to Cincinnati, Ohio, just for a webpage expect, which they probably already have hundreds of?

You have a point. I'll look into, see if any of the guys knows what's going on.

Kara's shoulders slumped with relief, and she felt a sudden pang of curiousity.

Katie, she asked, who are your contacts?

If I told ya, I'd have to kill ya.

Okay, then how'd you find them? You're only twenty, too young to be in the law enforcement.

Katie laughed.

Especially since I'm still in college, she said. Naw, I happen to work in the bar across from the J. Edgar Hoover building, and I have a face that says Trust me'. People, especially drunk men, love to confide their troubles to me. You can learn a lot from just keeping your ears open.

That's for sure, Kara said. Well, see ya.

See ya. I'll call you if they know anything.

Kara hung up, and returned to work.

* * *

Joshua started as he heard the door slam. Ten bucks says Collins made another move.

Bath, massage, brownies? he asked as he shut down his laptop. Kara plopped down in the chair across from him.

Talk, bath, massage, brownies, she corrected.

Okay, Joshua said, let's talk.

I saw Renee.

Joshua gaped at her.

I'm not kidding. Renee was at the office today. Supposedly she's hiring us to build DI's new webpage. I called Katie, and she's going to see if DI's helping Big Brother investigate the company. She saw me, but she didn't recognize me. I did seem familiar to her, however, so she might figure out who I am. I just hope it comes to her when she's alone.

Joshua was surprisingly silent.

How did she seem? he asked finally.

I didn't really have time to tell, Kara answered honestly, but she seemed fine to me. She had that same mischieveous gleam in her eye that she gets when she's playing business, and she didn't look tired.

Joshua nodded, and stood.

Bath time?

Kara grabbed her husband's hand, and kissed it softly.

I know you miss her, she said quietly.

She was the only reason I knew Dad loved me, he replied. She knew him almost as well as Mom did, and even more than me. She's practically family.

Kara nodded, letting Joshua release his emotions. He didn't continue, and she finally broke the silence.

I think we both could use a bath and massage, she said as she stood. C'mon. She led him to the bathroom, both trying not to think about how this development would change their life.

* * *
Finis