Trixie walked into her room, once again throwing her wallet and keys on

her desk. She sat down on her bed and looked at her clock, which

read 1:21pm. Eventually the overwhelming need to talk to somebody in the

States came over her, and despite her empty stomach, the need to see if

someone was awake and online overcame her.

She walked over to her computer and started it up. After opening up her IM

program, she was delighted to see that one of her best friends, Dan Mangan,

was online.

1:30pmSchoolgirlShamus: Good morning, Officer Mangan. Whatcha doing online so early?

1:31pmDantheMANgan: Trixie? Long time no talk. I just got home from

work. It's about 6:30 here. I thought I'd check my messages to see if a

certain blonde, curly haired, blue eyed beautiful American in Paris had

emailed me.

1:32pmSchoolgirlShamus: LOL! Dan. You think you're funny, don't you?

1:33pmDantheMANgan: Of course, Freckles. What's up?

1:34pmSchoolgirlShamus: sigh Just a lot of stuff.

1:35DantheMANgan: I know what you mean. I've been dealing with a bunch of stuff at work too. Is it anything you can talk about?

1:37pmSchoolgirlShamus: No, not really. Just, well, why does our lives

have to change? Why do our worlds turn upside down just because we are now adults, why is it that things we thought were impossible, fairy tales,

even, turn out to be true?

1:39pmSchoolgirlShamus:Dan?

1:41pmDantheMANgan: Yeah, Trix. sigh I don't know. Life has a funny way

of throwing us curve balls, doesn't it?

1:42pmSchoolgirlShamus:Yep. Ok, enough about that. How's New York City

treating you?

1:43pmDantheMANgan:Pretty good. I've been learning some various forms of martial arts, so that's helping me to keep in shape. I never realized what

chopping wood did for my physique until I wasn't doing it anymore!

1:44pmSchoolgirlShamus:LOL! Well any of us girls could have told you THAT

Dan!

1:45pmDantheMANgan:Oh great! So the only reason why you all let me join

the Bob-Whites was so that I could be eye candy?

1:45pm:SchoolgirlShamus:snirt Remember, you weren't chopping too much wood when you joined. You were a skinny little obnoxious kid.

1:47pmDantheMANgan:Me? Obnoxious? Excuuuuse me? I think you're confusing me with you!

1:48pmSchoolgirlShamus:Never!

1:49pmDantheMANgan:Heehee. So tell me, what have you been doing lately?

1:50pmSchoolgirlShamus: Let's see. I tried to stop a purse thief, but

well, it happened too quickly.

1:51pmDantheMANgan:Was it your purse?

1:51pmSchoolgirlShamus:No, it belonged to a friend of mine. But because

of it, I met some people who work in the security industry. I'm wondering

if I might be able to get a job with them once I graduate.

1:52pmDantheMANgan:That's cool Trix!

1:52pmSchoolgirlShamus:I thought so too. We'll see.

1:52pmSchoolgirlShamus:And I went out on a date.

1:53pmDantheMANgan:What? Trixie went out on a date! I'm in shock!

1:55pmDantheMANgan:Trixie?

1:57pmDantheMANgan:Trixie?

2:01pmDantheMANgan:Oh Trixie! I just realized what I wrote! I'm sorry.

You are completely datable, I just am surprised you agreed to go on a

date. That's all. I'm sorry.

2:02pmSchoolgirlShamus: You're forgiven. But sheesh, you're Dan the MAN

you know better than to say stuff like that.

2:03pmDantheMANgan:Yeah, I know. Let's blame it on the fact that I just

got off of a 10 hour shift and that its 7 in the morning for me.

2:04pmSchoolgirlShamus: Gleeps Dan! Do you need to go to bed?

2:05pmDantheMANgan: That might be a good idea. If you need to talk some

more, I'll be online at about the same time tomorrow.

2:05SchoolgirlShamus:Thanks Dan. Goodnight.

2:07pmDantheMANgan:Goodnight Freckles.

DantheMANgan has logged off

Trixie shut down her computer and sighed. Talking to Dan had only helped

her forget her problems for a few minutes. Frustrated, Trixie got up, grabbed her keys and wallet and headed towards one of the nearby student cafes for lunch.

Joe's Bar

"Joe, I must admit, I am impressed with her," Michael spoke as he sat down

with his drink.

"I knew you would be," Joe replied.

"She's very intuitive and extremely observant," Thomas chimed in.

"Yes, but how will we test her? How will we know whether or not we can

trust her to not interfere?" Christina asked.

"She's romantically involved with Adam Pierson, no?" Monique asked.

Joe laughed, "Not exactly. They've only had the one date, and I really

doubt there will be anymore."

"Oh? And why not?" Monique was intrigued.

Ignoring the question, Joe was thoughtful for a moment, "You know, I could be wrong. And with your permission, Michael, I think I have a plan as to how to test Trixie."

Michael leaned towards Joe, "My permission? You're asking my permission?

My, this must be a good idea," he said almost questioningly Joe laughed,

"Trixie may end up hating me, but you know about Robert and Gina?"

Michael looked a bit confused, "The immortals that have been married to

each other for over 300 years? Yes, I know of them. What about them?"

Joe turned to the others, and with a conspiratorial wink and grin began to tell his superiors a story he had only recently learned.

Duncan's Barge, late afternoon

"Joe, the answer is no!" Methos glared at his friend.

"But Methos, you've got to admit, the irony is beautiful." Joe replied.

"I agree!" Duncan chimed in.

"I'm sure you would," Methos voice was dripping in sarcasm.

Duncan stood up from his desk and walked over to his arm chair and sat

down "And I'm sure we can even get Robert to help you. He and Gina have

finally returned from their Honeymoon. They owe you after all. You did save

their marriage."

"Yes, and I still regret it. I came this close to losing my head," Methos

held up his thumb and forefinger, no more than an inch apart.

"But think about it, Methos. The only person that won't know what's going

on is not even immortal. She can't kill you." Joe asked pleadingly.

"She can't kill me permanently. What's to say she doesn't run me through

with my sword a couple of times to get even?"

"It's not like you don't deserve it, Old Man," Duncan grinned as he

quickly took a drink from his teacup.

"Ah, and this is the thanks I get for all the times I've helped save your

life?" Methos glared at Duncan.

Duncan only shrugged and grinned.

Methos turned his glare from Duncan towards Joe, "So let me get this

straight; You want me to continue to romance Trixie, then the Watchers will

leak information to her that there is a bigger, badder immortal after my

head, and you want to see what she does?"

"Yep," Joe replied, "that's just about it."