AN: I want to do a different chapter for every scene so some chapters will be short – however if the chapter is short like this one I will put it up at the same time as a longer one. This is not a wheeze to get more reviews (!) so feel free, if you feel like reviewing, to comment on two or more chapters in the one review (but please indicate which chapter you mean if it's not obvious from the review).

Waiting

Ross was waiting anxiously outside the interview room. He was well rested, well fed. He'd been to the bathroom. He'd looked at his notes but he knew what he was supposed to say. Emily had tested him that morning. He was word perfect.

He watched people as they passed by. Did they work here? Were they happy? They seemed to be. He imagined himself with them, in these corridors, taking it all for granted because it was where he worked.

This job was an excellent opportunity. It wasn't just that it was a teaching job. The position would give him access to research facilities as well, and he'd get invited to go on digs. He'd loved that as a student. They were wonderful places, far from the city, where all you could hear was the sound of a handful of other people all working on the same project as you. And at night, after the work was done, especially if you were camping out, you could look at the stars, so many more of them than you could ever see in New York...

'Well if it isn't Ross Geller,' a voice interrupted him.

'Dr Quist,' Ross said in amazement. He hadn't seen Dr Quist for years. He stood up and shook hands with the shorter and older man.

'And how are you?'

'I'm fine, just fine.'

'That's good. You're at the museum I hear, enjoying it?'

'Yes,' Ross said self consciously, since he was looking to leave it.

'I remember you were one of my keenest students,' Max Quist said.

'You're a great teacher Dr Quist,' Ross said sincerely. 'I've still got all the notes I took from your classes. It would be great if you could write a textbook.' He was sorry that he was in a dispute with Professor McFadyen. That was one thing that would be difficult about being here, steering a course of neutrality between the two men. He respected both of them so much.

'That's very nice of you to say so,' Max Quist said, 'But I'm too busy with the Diplodocus at the moment. I expect you're familiar with my theory?'

'Yes Dr Quist,' Ross said.

'It's a very interesting area – ground breaking if I do say so myself,' Max Quist said.

'Now that you've proposed it, it seems to be quite obvious, you know, like why didn't anyone think of it before,' Ross said. 'I guess a lot of great discoveries are.' He couldn't have said a nicer thing to Max Quist who positively beamed at him.

'I'm sure if you get this job you'll be doing some excellent work yourself.'

'I'm sure I will,' Ross said.

'You'll have to make sure that you don't get held back, you know,' Max Quist said, 'By people who parasitise your ideas.' He shook his head. 'It's a terrible thing when that happens. Of course someone in my position can take care of himself but I hate to see it happen to you younger people.'

'No,' Ross said. He knew Dr Quist was hinting heavily at his dispute with Prof McFadyen and he had to make sure that he wasn't seen to be taking sides, or worse, agreeing that Prof McFadyen might steal his junior's ideas. He smiled instead and Max Quist said.

'I like to see my ex students turn out well. I'll be seeing you.' Max Quist moved along. Ross thought he'd turned out well. He began to relax.