Notes: Disclaimer is with the first chapter. Umm…don't have all that much to say really. But thanks for all the reviews and I've tried to work some of the suggestions into my work. And I know that when Finch is with Maya that he doesn't exactly act like the Finch from work. That's kinda the point of this story…to show that I think that Finch puts on a bit of an act or mask at work, but when he's alone with Maya away from work he can let the act drop and let his true self come out. Read The Inner Finch by TasChiBandGirl because she expresses this act very well in her fanfiction. Wakizashi also expresses the same dilemma in her fic Ciao. Ok, enough from me and onto the fic.

Monday, July 17, 2002, Blush Magazine Headquarters

Dennis Finch stepped through the door leading to Blush Magazine. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Oh joy, another day of groveling at the feet of corporate America." Tiredly rubbing his eyes, Finch meandered his way over to his desk. His eyes brightened slightly as his gaze honed in on the coffee pot across the office. "Ohh, coffee…it does a body good." As Finch approached the coffee pot, he started to feel highly uncomfortable. He could almost swear that everyone in the office was taking surreptitious glances at him and whispering about him behind his back. Finch shook it off as just his overactive imagination. Finch poured a cup of coffee and sighed in bliss as the hot liquid ran down his throat. On his way back to his desk, he noticed that he had a piece of mail in his box. Grabbing it, his eyes narrowed as he realized that it was a note from Nina. *What she didn't degrade enough on Friday?* His eyes widened somewhat as he read the note.

Finch,

I'm sorry about what I said on Friday. It was wrong of me. Plus, I really don't think that Maya would do something like that. It's something I would do but not Maya. I don't really know that she will ever see you in a romantic light, but it is obvious that she does see you as a friend. I can't believe that I'm actually apologizing, but you deserve it. And if you tell anyone, I'll deny it and beat you to death.

Nina

Soon a small smile formed on Finch's face. He couldn't believe that Nina had actually apologized. Receiving an apology from Nina Van Horn was like winning the lottery…something that only came along once in a lifetime, if that. Granted, she had threatened him with bodily harm if he told anyone, but an apology was an apology. His smile grew into a full-fledged grin as his thoughts turned to Maya. He reminisced about Friday night, and biting his lip, he considered to himself that Nina was wrong and that Maya did see him as more than a friend. It was just a matter of getting Maya to admit it.

Finch suddenly felt a strange tingling sensation in the back of his neck like he was the center of someone's attention. He quickly jerked his head up and looked around the office. As Finch's eyed perused the office, all conversation came to an immediate halt and people quickly turned back to their desks and steadfastly avoided his gaze. Finch's eyebrows rose in question. He suddenly jumped in his seat as the door to Blush Magazine was slammed opened. Elliott DiMauro stood fuming in the open doorway. Dennis could swear that he could almost see steam coming out of Elliott's ears. Elliott's eyes zeroed in on Finch and he focused all of his negative vibes on Finch's unsuspecting form. Dennis' eyes shot open and he muttered, "Oh god."

Finch warily watched Elliott approach when he felt a hand land on his arm and start pulling him backwards. The unexpected change in velocity took Finch by surprise and he tripped over his own feet. He managed to catch himself on the edge of his desk before he crashed to the floor. As he righted himself, he turned to face his assailant. Nina rolled her eyes at him and yanked him behind her as she headed towards her office. Muttering under her breath, Nina said, "Hurry it up! Unless, of course, you want Elliott to beat you into mush." Nina's eyes darted back to see that Elliott had almost reached them. Nina finally reached her destination and dragged Finch through the door into her office. A slight thud and an exclamation of pain were heard as Nina slammed the door in Elliott's face.

Finch stood in the center of Nina's office with a dumbstruck expression. Finally, gathering his wits, Finch exclaimed, "What in the hell is going on?!" Turning to Nina, Finch snidely remarked, "What? Didn't berate me enough on Friday? Going to give me another earful?"

Nina sighed with exasperation and replied, "No, I actually left you a note about what happened on Friday. Thank you very much."

Finch looked slight shamefaced as he said, "Yeah, I know. I got it. Umm…thanks for the apology."

Nina rolled her eyes and said, "Yeah, yeah whatever."

Finch smirked at Nina's response. He had forgotten there for a second that this was Nina Van Horn…the former model who apologized to no one. At least, not that she'd admit it. "Uh… Nina what exactly is going on? Why did you drag me in here, and why did Elliott look like he was going to pull my intestines out with his bare hands?"

"Finch, have you looked at today's paper yet?"

Finch looked at her strangely, before he shook his head and said, "No, I usually glance through it after I get to work, but I haven't had the chance yet. Why? What exactly is this all about?"

Nina smirked at him as she opened the paper to the Entertainment section. "Well, you know how they always cover the concerts over the weekend on Monday? I must say that there is an awfully interesting picture this Monday." She turned the paper around to show a large picture of Finch and Maya onstage at the Barry Manliow concert.

Finch's mouth dropped open in disbelief as his gaze settled on the picture that took up most of the first page of the Entertainment section. Grabbing the paper from Nina, Finch took a long look at the picture. He suddenly exclaimed, "Great, just great! Now EVERYONE knows that I like Barry Manilow! How more humiliating can this get?"

Nina threw her hands in the air in exasperation as she said, "Finch, I think you have more serious things to worry about than you being seen at a Barry Manilow concert. Namely, who you were seen at the concert with. Why else do you think Elliott is acting like a jealous ex-boyfriend? He thinks you're honing in on his turf. He's who you need to be worrying about."

Finch moaned in despair, "First, Maya is not Elliott's turf. He dumped her, remember. But now everyone is going to think I'm gay because I listen to Barry Manilow. This is so embarrassing."

Nina was just about to retort when angry voices from out in the office interrupted their discussion. Nina's eyes widened as she heard Elliott's voice exclaim, "What is the meaning of this Maya?" Nina looked at Dennis and muttered, "Uh oh."

Maya had just walked through the doors into Blush Magazine when she heard Elliott's angry voice assaulting her. Turning her head quickly in the direction of Elliott's voice, she suddenly burst out in to uncontrollable giggles. Pointing at Elliott, she asked, "What happened to you?"

Elliott reached up and touched the piece of tissue that was sticking out of the end of his nose. "It's nothing. Just had a little disagreement with a door." Saying this, he shot a quick look of disdain at the door leading into Nina's office. Gritting his teeth, Elliott muttered, "However, I would like to know the meaning behind this." He quickly shoved the front page of the Entertainment section of the newspaper into Maya's hands.

Maya glanced down at the paper in her hands and was struck speechless. Her eyes widened in momentary panic as she looked at the picture of her and Finch at the Barry Manilow concert. She quickly brought herself under control as she thought, *Why should I feel embarrassed because I was seen with Finch at a concert…even if it was a Barry Manilow concert. I had a blast and that's what counts. And what the hell business is it of Elliott's anyways?* Maya glanced up at Elliott with a stoic expression, "It's exactly what it looks like Elliott." Feeling proud of herself for standing up to Elliott, she handed the paper back to him and started towards her office.

Elliott, however, was not finished with the conversation. He grabbed Maya by the arm and stopped her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "What Maya…trying to work you're way through all the men in the office?"

Maya glared up at Elliott with a look of hurt and disdain. In a dangerous voice, she said, "Get your hand off my arm Elliott." Yanking her arm out of Elliott's grasp, she turned on him and poked him in the chest with her finger to emphasize her words. "I can be friends with whomever I want to be, even Dennis Finch. If you have a problem with that then too bad. I had two tickets to a Barry Manilow concert and Finch is the only other person I know who listens to him so naturally I asked him. What? You think I'd ask you when I know how much you hate his music?" Shaking her head in exasperation, Maya continued, "But it's not really your business anyways. And I'm not the one here who works their way through the office personnel."

Flipping her hair over her shoulders, Maya turned on her heel and continued on her way to her office. Elliott called after her, "So you and Finch are just friends?"

Maya rolled her eyes and replied, "Yes, but like I said butt out of my business." Maya saw Finch watching her from the doorway to Nina's office. She smiled at him and waved. "Hey Finch, thanks for taking me to the concert. I had a blast. We'll have to do it again." Maya suddenly grinned maliciously as she considered that Elliott was watching this little exchange. "Hey, why don't we grab lunch later." Finch eyes danced with mischief as he grinned at her and nodded his head before making his way to his desk.

As Finch sat down at his desk, a shadow suddenly loomed over him. He glanced up and saw Elliott staring down at him with contempt. A spiteful grin broke out on Elliott's face as he said, "So Finch, you like Barry Manilow, huh?" Shaking his head, Elliott giggled, "Always knew you were gay. It's a good thing too. For a second there I was actually worried that you had your sights set on Maya…not that she'd ever go for a little weasel like you, but I don't have anything to worry about. I mean, come on, only gay guys like Barry Manilow. Just wanted to tell you that I'm off-limits. I'm 100% heterosexual." Laughing, he walked away.

Finch looked after him and yelled, "I am NOT gay! But even if I was, you certainly would never be on my list, baldy." Finch heard several snickers from around the office at his proclamation. "Well, it's true. I mean, what do all those women see in him. Must be their vanity…you know being able to see their reflections on his head." Raising his eyes from his work, he saw most of the office looking at him with amusement. Narrowing his eyes at them, he once again exclaimed, "And I am NOT gay!"

Jack entered the office a few moments later. His gaze was focused on the newspaper in front of him. Approaching Finch's desk, he showed Dennis the picture of him and Maya. "So Dennis, you took Maya to see a Barry Manilow concert?" Finch gulped and nodded. Jack raised his gaze to meet Finch's eyes and asked, "Dennis, are you gay?" Finch groaned in despair and slammed his face down onto the desk in front of him.