Who? A/Z (Professor!verse, part next)

AN: Continuing Prof!verse. Also continuing to try not and fail in my lack of A/Z fiction.

Further Studies

Rubbing an absent-minded hand through his blonde hair, Professor Zane scanned through the applicants for his upcoming research project. There were over a hundred underclassmen candidates for five spots. The large University turned up its usual assortment of excellent potential - former valedictorians, future top researchers, and, as his hand paused...

Amy Michaels.

It had been three years since she had been in his Biology course, but he hadn't forgotten her, nor had he awarded any other student with an A+. Since then, he had glimpsed her around the department - stepping out of classrooms, speaking quietly with classmates, tucked into his favorite corner of the Sciences library usually surrounded by large stacks of journals and textbooks. He had heard the whispers from his colleagues. The girl was a genius – she had a definite lock on a Rhodes scholarship and there were those who wanted to hook on to her rising star. Already, the dean of Sciences was paying special attention to her, hoping she would remember her university when she was a rich and powerful alumnae.

Zane placed the large stack of files aside and read intently over her application. There was no doubt her grades fit. Furthermore, she had already been published and held promising potential in her intended field of genetics. Although he could justify having her on the study – there was no question she deserved a spot – Zane couldn't shake the feeling there was more to adding her to the team than just her mental abilities.

In August, at the start of the fall semester, Zane met with his undergraduate assistants, welcomed them and explained what their responsibilities would be. Their part in his research was small, but detailed and important. There was strict protocol to follow and while he recognized there was a lot of grunt work from their end, they were an integral part of the process. Leaving them to work out their schedules, he paused, realizing something indescribable locked into place with the promise of having Amy back in his life again.

Stopping in one day when he knew she would be there, Professor Zane silently entered the laboratory. Amy, her dark hair – still streaked with electric blue highlights – paused carefully to look into a high powered microscope. She neatly held a pencil between two perfect rows of teeth. Zane opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, he heard the voice of another young man from across the room ask, "So, what are your plans for the weekend?"

Amy, intent on her work, didn't seem to realize a question had been directed at her. Zane smiled to himself.

"Hello? Amy?"

"Yes, Greg?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Hmm…what's that?"

"Never mind." Her lab partner stood up and said, "I'm going to go to the canteen, do you want anything?"

"Oh, no, thank you."

An oblivious Gregory walked out the back exit to the lab, and Zane stepped forward. This was the first time they had been alone since the start of the research. Unlike her interaction with Greg, she was aware of his presence and turned on her lab stool to face him. Pulling up a seat next to her, he breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of her perfume, and asked, "How are you finding things so far?"

Amy quickly removed the pencil from her mouth, and replied, "Very interesting!"

"I'm glad to hear it."

Unsure what prompted him, Zane asked, "So, what are you doing this weekend?"

The young woman blushed slightly and responded, "Oh…I'm not sure. Probably studying for Midterms."

Zane knew Midterms were over a month away and chuckled lightly. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her to dinner, to do something social together, when Greg walked back in and said, "Forgot my wallet – oh hi Professor!"

While a loquacious Greg started talking Zane's ear off about his projections for the results of the project, the professor followed the young man out of the lab. The moment – whatever it was – had been lost, and he wondered at his temporary lapse in sanity.

AN: Thanks to Naoko, who left plenty of extra characters to make things difficult for the Shitennou.