Author's Note: PLEASE READ!!!
I'd like to send a thanks out to L (or is it J? You changed your initial between two reviews) at popepotsie@aol.com, Crystal, and Meg, three very helpful reviewers. You brought to my attention a few issues, and now, I shall resolve them.
First, I'll review the new characters. Nancy: Remember at the beginning of the show, Dave had a girlfriend from Wisconsin who came up to WNYX for an episode (guest star Genine Garofolo – sorry if that's a misspell. My bad!) Well, her name was Nancy, and I am reusing her character. And if I've confused you, I'm sorry, but no, Dave and Nancy are not married. Patricia – Ok, I made a mistake. Dave's mom's name is Mary Anne (thanks for the info Meg!). Seeing how I learned this a bit too late, and I'm feeling a bit lazy at the moment, I'm going to keep her name as Patricia. Many apologies. Anyway… yeah, she's Dave's mom. The New Coworkers: The new staff at WNYX consists of Cecile (co-news director with Lisa and other on-air talent), Janet, and Ryan (reporters). So far, these characters may seem a bit dry, but all for good reason. Cecile will play a much bigger role in the future, but as for Janet and Ryan… well, I guess you could say they're 'filler.' Here me now: do not get connected to them (if that's possible…). As of yet, I have no future plans for them. If this angers you… it may change! Honest!
Also, I'm going to start a little system: every new chapter, I'm going to put a little review of the preceding chapter so no one gets lost. You know, just to give you little reminders and what not.
Lastly, I'm going to admit it: this story is going to be angsty. I intended for it to be, and that's why I made it the leading genre. Apparently, the tidbits of humor I've put into this is enjoyed, and so, I'll try putting more of it in. Still, keep in mind that this is an overly serious piece of work… I'm hopeless when it comes to that sort of thing. So I beg pardon if there isn't enough humor. I'm trying. Really. I can be funnier when I try to be. lol
So in closing… sorry about the really, really long author's note (which I hope all of you read. If not… you sadden me), and again, thanks to L (or J), Crystal, Meg, and everyone else who reviews.
Lose Yourself
Chapter 5
*~ Syren ~*
* ~ *
Last Chapter: Jimmy pays a visit to Dave while Lisa backs out. Cecile learns of some unsettling news in regards of our favorite little news director. When Lisa finally gets the nerve to visit an unconscious Dave, she meets both Nancy and Mrs. Patricia Nelson, both of which seem a bit perturbed by her presence. Also, she learns of Dave's father's condition.
* ~ *
The front door men, who Jimmy remembered to have been employed at WNYX for years, had let him by without a second thought. The elevator ride to the fourteenth floor seemed hesitant and unfamiliar in comparison to the two story building he had grown accustomed to back in New Hampshire; unfamiliar, but at the same time, like he was coming home.
Upon the opening of the steel doors, a wave of foreign senses rushed over him. WNYX was different, to say the least. Jimmy was almost timid to enter the large office, but of course, wiped that notion away as quickly as it had come.
"Mr. James," a short, 4'11" to be exact, blonde noticed him, a wide smile between her slightly rounded cheeks. "Welcome back to WNYX."
His eyes scanned the office in wonder. "It really has changed, hasn't it." It wasn't a question, but an overstatement. Studying the woman, he squinted his eyes. "You look a bit young to be working here…"
The blonde laughed. "Mr. Nelson said that we had that our 'prepubescent look' attribute in common." Her smile wavered momentarily, but restored itself in a heartbeat. "My name's Kristina, I'm Mr. Nelson's secretary."
Jimmy laid a hand on her shoulder. "So you were the one who took such great action. Might I say that I'm proud to have such… efficient personnel here."
Blushing, Kristina ducked her head. "How is he doing, sir?"
"Too shy to go on over for a visit, are we?" he surmised, stuffing his hands in his pockets. She merely giggled. "I'd like to say he's doing better…"
Kristina's face fell. "I understand." Jimmy could smell a crush a mile away. "Well sir, would you like a tour of the newly-innovated office?" Nodding, Jimmy followed her, surprised at how much had actually changed. "Mr. Nelson was set on the idea of renovating and refurbishing." Kristina quipped, seeing his wondrous expression. Mr. James noted the change of color on the walls, and could imagine the lingering smell the paint gave off if one stood too close to it. It was a soft blue, and the ceiling was left white. The office was also re-carpeted with a short-cut navy spread. The radio booth now had tinted windows, and the stairs that led to its door were replaced with softer looking steps. Cubicles lined the walls, and Jimmy's mind wandered to the coronary Dave nearly had when Bill had brought in his own cubicle.
"I'm happy to see he left the wood up around the office," Jimmy added as they came up to it. Opening the door, Kristina let the older man in before her, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. The small windows had been torn out, giving way to a large bay window. Dave's old desk was replaced by an even larger one, and the famous green couch that had sat in that office for nearly six years was gone. The only other furnishings in the room were a few plants and a single chair off to the side. The carpeting had been torn out and beneath was a fine wood floor. Sadly, no picture frames remained on the walls, nor any other sign of familiarity.
Sitting down at Dave's giant desk, Jimmy leaned his elbows on its counter, his head bowed. Kristina pulled over the chair that had hardly been sat in for its worth and settled down in front of the desk, taking off her phone headset.
"Mr. James…" she started, playing with her headset in tension. "Do you think Mr. Nelson will uh… will be able to come back to work?"
Jimmy offered the tiny woman a sympathetic smile. "I don't know, dear. I was hoping he would come to his senses and join us in New Hampshire with the rest of the old WNYX crew." He paused, eyeing her mischievously. "You wouldn't want to come with us, would you?"
Yet another blush rose to Kristina's cheeks as her fingers writhed together in her lap. "Well, uh, Mr. Nelson needed my assistance before, I do believe. So I would like to go wherever he decides to go."
"Ah, I see," Jimmy leaned back in the well-cushioned chair. "That is very honorable of you."
Nodding, Kristina excused herself before she could embarrass herself any further. "Feel free to use the computer, wander around; anything you'd like. I'll be at my desk right outside this office if you need me."
Watching the woman leave, Jimmy couldn't help the grin that slipped into his expression. "You better hurry on up, Dave you ol' coot. You've got someone waiting for you."
* ~ *
The little clock at the corner of his computer blinked four PM, and Jimmy James was growing quickly tired of computerized Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Blackjack. He was also growing tired of the business-like attitude swarming the office, and how no one understood the importance of casualness, such as constantly calling him 'Jimmy' instead of 'sir'. It drove him nuts, but to some degree, reminded him of Dave.
Stretching his limbs, listening for any new cracks, Mr. James shut down the computer, turning to face the bay window one last time before he departed. It was a nice view, and he wondered why no one had come up with the idea of tearing out the wall sooner.
"What happened to his father?" The voice startled him, causing him to bonk his head against the windowpane. Rubbing the growing goose egg of a lump on his forehead, Jimmy turned to greet a bewildered Lisa. Not letting him answer, she stepped closer to the desk, her vigor surprising even herself. "Mrs. Nelson said he lost his father…"
Closing his eyes, Jimmy dropped his hands behind his back. "Oh, did I forget to mention that?" Catching the impertinent glance Lisa cast him, he put up his hands in mock defeat. "Mr. Nelson passed away not long ago. I do believe a week or two after we packed it up at WNYX."
Lisa wet her lips, turning to sit at the chair Kristina had evacuated earlier. "From what, Jimmy?"
Circling around, Mr. James took a seat beside her on the desk, clasping his hands in his lap. "He was a Type 2 diabetic. A heart attack brought him down."
"So it's in his bloodline," she finished, resting her chin on her palm. "…I had a chat with Mrs. Nelson today."
"You made it down there without me, huh?" Jimmy questioned. "I was on my way..."
Lisa chuckled. "How'd I know you'd stop here first? Everything's so different." She paused, meeting eyes with her elder. "You think he's better off here? I mean, Mrs. Nelson did say he wasn't too happy…"
"Then that answers your question, doesn't it," Jimmy concluded, rising to his feet. "For all of the phone conversations I had with the boy, not once did I hear of any benefit. Sure, the ratings were up and WNYX was receiving awards left and right… But not once did he genuinely say that he was happy." Extending his hand to her, he waited for her to take it. When she didn't, he sighed. "Take your time. The people are relatively nice, albeit a bit overly formal."
As Jimmy had done earlier with the new secretary, Lisa watched the man leave, letting out a groan. Everything she knew had changed, and everything she had created, faltered. Was there any advantage to the decision she and the others had made, save new territory? Had it all been necessary?
Retracing her tracks, Lisa felt a sudden need to escape what was once a second home to her. Winding her way through the mob of cubicles, she nearly made it to the elevators when an almost youthful voice called out to her.
"Excuse me…" Lisa turned, recognizing the short secretary from earlier. The thought of whether or not this woman would get along with her predecessor, Beth, crossed her mind, but it was quickly forgotten. She could tell the younger lady was a nervous sort, for the way she was always fiddling with her hands. Taking on a kindly, though professional face, Lisa waited for her to continue.
Faint dimples showing in her cheeks, Kristina smiled. "You're Lisa Miller, aren't you?" she started, extending her hand. Taking it, Lisa nodded.
"That's right."
"I've been hoping to meet you for quite some time," Kristina confessed, her smile widening. "Mr. Nelson spoke so highly of you and your work—"
"Did he?" the brunette interjected, her heart fluttering just a bit. After everything, he still…"
"Oh yes. He didn't talk much about the station before its 'transformation,' but when he did," she blushed, "or when we forced it out of him, his words of you were nothing short of amazing."
Touched, Lisa couldn't find any reply. Instead, Kristina prolonged, her already quick speaking growing faster. "I'm only a secretary, but since meeting Mr. Nelson and, now, you, I'm becoming more and more interested in a higher-ranking job. Don't get me wrong, I've got experience. The secretary position was the only job left open by the time I got here, is all."
Resting a hand on the shorter woman's shoulder, Lisa tried easing off Kristina's apprehension. "Calm down. I'm sure that if you run your resume by Dave again, you know, point out your skills and past practices, he'll consider a promotion or something." Allowing the uncomfortable pause to relinquish between the two of them, Lisa folded her arms across her chest and looked at her shoes. "Kristina…"
Kristina blinked, weary of the change in attitude. "Yes?"
"…Dave didn't talk much about the old station, huh?" The secretary shook her head. "How are the relationships between he and the employees?"
Looking thoughtful, Kristina answered. "For the short time we had getting to know him, Mr. Nels—Dave seemed very… straight-to-business. He's very generous, though. He spoke of a bonus ordeal that included something called 'The Shaft…'" Lisa stifled a giggle, urging Kristina to go on. "He said that it was custom to award a zero dollar bonus, and he took it himself." She sighed in short-lived memory. "He truly is an amazing man… er, boss. An amazing news director."
Eyeing her, Lisa felt a pang of electricity run through her body. "Did you get the chance to spend some time with him? I mean, outside of work. You know, to really get to know your boss…" She prayed jealousy wouldn't highlight her remarks.
Kristina bit her lip, scolding herself of the newly accustomed habit. "I would quite often ask him to lunch, just so that I knew he wouldn't skip a meal and stay in his office. He seemed to get thinner ever day… Anyways, he and I had a few dinner dates…" Yet another blush. "Well, not really dates, but uh… you know…"
Nodding her head, Lisa cut her off. "I'm sorry to end our conversation so abruptly, Kristina, but I need to be on my way." Again, she took the woman's hand and shook it. "I look forward to talking with you again…" Kicking herself, she added, "if you'd like to go see Dave, don't be afraid to ask me to accompany you."
Refraining from the urge to hug the new woman, escaping the unbearable awkwardness of it, Kristina beamed. "It was a pleasure to meet you. You're welcome back at WNYX anytime."
With one last forced smile, Lisa turned and, pressing the down button, entered the elevator. So Dave had met someone; a cute, perky little blonde – intelligent, a good head on her shoulders, a future ahead of her… rather short…" She banged her head against the metal wall. "A sixteen-year-old's body. My God, is she prepubescent or what?" Now that she thought of it, Kristina reminded her of Dave himself: a child on the outside, but a sage academic on the inside. She even had a little of Nancy in her… save the defensive attitude towards her… property.
And the awards Jimmy mentioned. Lisa had kept track on WNYX's progress, and was aware of how well her old news station was coming along with its new route. Their recognition donned every New York, and the surrounding area, for that matter, radio and entertainment magazine, and had reached their peak of number one New York AM station.
As the numbers descended on the elevator's monitor, her mind drifted to Jimmy's earlier words. 'Not once did he genuinely say that he was happy'…
He didn't need to say it. It showed.
* ~ *
Author's Note: I'm hoping this chapter doesn't mirror the ones that came before it (I know it lacks the humor aspect…) But if it does, I'm sorry… Still, there are key points made in this segment, not to mention a new character (ooo, you're gonna hate me for her!) I had these chapters prewritten so I could be ahead of my posts, and I just took the long uncut copy and chopped it down into chapters. Anyway, if this chapter seems a bit tedious, and you feel like flaming me about it… Hold back! 'Cause you're gonna love the next chapter! Remember, the more reviews (I prefer the nice, helpful ones), the more (quickly) I give you what you want. Evil must reign! So if you can find it in your hearts… review!!!
I promise to get segment six out extremely soon, but while you are waiting, I suggest you check out my friend Dale Dassel's story Reunion and Departure, starring our favorite redhead. You can find it at his website: www.geocities.com/vickiscape.
