Thanks to doodlegirll and AudacesFortunaJuvat for replying. I know I said I would update on the weekend, but I found time today. Part 3 of 5 finally begins! Mike and Al finally meet, and hopefully, you'll like this chapter. I added some humor, so I hope it helps with the story's progression. Enjoy!

Part 3: The Partnership

Chapter 12

Not So Different

-

Mike opened the door and found a pretty, yet frazzled looking woman. She looked shaken; as if it took her a lot to just come up his door. She had a camera that was on a lanyard slung around her neck. Mike gave her a weak smile.

"Um...can I help you Miss?" he asked her kindly. She cleared her throat and breathed in and out loudly before she spoke:

"Listen," said the woman to him, "I know I didn't schedule an appointment and you're probably busy planning a new fantastic invention, but I was hoping I could interview you! It would look great in "The Advisor' and I won't get in trouble with my boss! So will you? Please? If you can that is…"

The woman's babbling startled Mike. The woman looked at him anxiously, awaiting a response.

"Sure…I'll do it," he said with a shrug. The woman gasped and grabbed his hand, shaking it energetically.

'Really! Oh thank you Mr. Yagoobian!"

"Please," said Mike as he shook her hand, "Call me Mike. What's your name?"

"Allison Weatherly," said the woman proudly. Mike was somewhat surprised in her sudden confidence. "But you can call me Al if you'd like. It saves time. My name is a mouthful after all." She laughed, but when she noticed that Mike did not join her, her laughter died away and she blushed with embarrassment.

"Very well…uh, Al…won't you come in? It's awfully cold outside…"

Al entered the house and Mike closed the door behind her. She admired the house and it's decorative theme. She took a quick look at her watch and read the time: 6:01.

"Um…do you mind if I use your phone please? Quick phone call to my boss…"

"Oh sure, it's right over there by the door."

Mike pointed to the phone. Al quickly ran over to it. As she dialed the number, Ted came back from downstairs with an oil-can.

"Yo big head," he said, "we're out of oil so we better go get some tomorrow…whoa!"

Ted just noticed Al, who was talking on the phone. He eyed her from head to toe, with an approving look on his face. He gave Mike a sly smile.

'You sly dog!" he said as he elbowed him in the ribs. "Ya picked a winner! I'm impressed…"

Mike slapped Ted upside the head. "You idiot! Her name is Al and she's just here to interview me."

Ted rubbed his head and crossed his arms, "I should have known. Why did I even think you could bag that?"

"I could so bag that if I wanted to!" he said in a low whisper. He then grew disgusted, "Oh that sounded wrong."

"Yeah it did," responded Ted.

"Okay Mr. Marling, I'll have both the stories in by tomorrow…I'm so glad you approve! Alright…bye-bye now!"

Al hung up the phone. She then tuned to Mike and Ted, who deceased their conversation and smiled at her innocently.

"Alright, I'm ready for the interview Mike. Where do ya want me?"

"Oh, I'll take you upstairs to my room. We could do it there…"

Ted punched him in the arm and wiggled his mechanical eyebrows suggestively. Mike got the message.

"NO!" he whispered angrily. Ted backed off. Al just stood there, utterly confused.

"This," he said grudgingly, "Is one of my inventions."

"Ooh…the one that can play baseball?" asked Al as Ted stood by where she was. He took her hand and kissed it.

"Call me Ted, Al."

"Wow…very polite!" she said with a shy look on her face.

"Yeah right," muttered Mike under his breath. Apparently, Al heard him.

"Pardon?" she asked.

"Oh nothing..." he said a little too quickly. "Let's move on shall we?"

He motioned her to the stairs. She walked over to where he was and he led the way to his room.

-

"Oooh…"

Al had to admit, she was impressed. What used to be an orphanage was now a very accommodating home. Every room held exciting surprises and they were all decorated in exotic colors that were appealing to the eye. They finally stopped in front of a closed door. Mike opened it and Al wondered what this door would hold inside. Once it was completely opened, her face fell.

All that the room consisted was a bunk bed and a small desk. I mean, it was fine and everything, but it just seemed way to plain for a rich inventor like Mike Yagoobian.

"Sit anywhere you like," said Mike a he gave Al a little encouraging push inside his room. She sat on the bottom bunk be, tying very hard not to hit her head. Mike sat next to her, with his back against the bedpost.

"So…fire away!" Mike said to Al. Suddenly, she froze.

Oh, geez, what am I going to say to him? I didn't prepare any questions! She panicked a little. She is still learning that she is a very disorganized reporter; and on her first day on the job too. She tried to calm herself down.

Get it together Al, she thought to herself. Ask him something no one has yet! Yeah! That'll work...but…what could that be?

"Um…"

Mike sat there uncomfortably as Al thought. She suddenly turned to him with a series expression on her face.

"Mr. Yagoobian," she began, "I've been hearing about all these wondrous creations, what they do and why you made them. But… I have never heard anyone talk just about…well, you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you," she said with a giggle. "So, can you tell me about yourself? Who's really behind these wondrous creations? You know…your life and such."

Mike froze. He has never been asked that question before. He was eager to answer it, but he didn't want to reveal his past life. His encounters with the past Lewis and his partnership with Doris the Bowler Hat were not things he was proud of. He knew that if he wanted Al to like him and write a good report about him, he'll have to tell her very little about himself. Maybe he could possibly get her off topic as well…

"Well…" he began, "I was an orphan who lived here in this very orphanage…in this very room as well. At the age of 8, I was hooked on baseball. Absolutely loved that game, but because a family never adopted me, I was bitter and ruined my own future…so…I picked myself up and did...well…all these wonderful things!"

As he spoke, Al wrote it all down. She looked up at him and smiled.

"I…uh…" he tried to think of something else, "um…how about you?"

"Me?" asked Al.

"Yes you," he said teasingly. "Tell me your life story Ms. Weatherly, woman reporter extraordinaire!"

Al giggled and looked at him strangely. "Okay…well…I was born 30 something years ago...age is not important…my dad left…mom raised me…I never had a complete life due to money problems…I had never had any real friends since I was, and still am, very shy. It wasn't until just recently that I acquired a friend…boyfriend actually…who understood me and loved me for who I am…"

She paused, sighing very deeply. Mike looked at her with sincerity. Somehow, this story sounded oddly familiar…

"…he then changed…Suddenly, he was cheap, uncaring and his constant late work nights forced me to go out with him late at night, making me miss deadlines at work. Then I found out he was cheating on me and…well, it was over."

She put a hand up to her face and cried a little. Mike grew worried, because he never knew how to appropriately calm someone down. He put a hand on her shoulder and patted it very slowly.

"There…there..." he said unsurely.

"How could he though?" she said; her emotions getting the better of her, "I thought he was my friend…and yet, this happens!"

Mike eyes suddenly brightened. He suddenly realized that her story about her boyfriend was similar to the events that occurred between him and Doris. He then lifted up her chin with his finger and looked at her with great understanding.

"I…I know how you feel…" he said.

He sighed. He wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn't without revealing his evil past…

"I had a friend who supported me…and it wasn't until someone made me realize she never truly cared about me…it hurts…a lot."

Al looked to see Mike crying a little bit himself. She immediately wiped her tears and tried to calm him down. "hey…hey…it's okay. You're smart! I'm sure you'll be fine...I mean...you have Ted…"

Mike laughed. "Yeah…a great friend he is…"

Al bit her lip. She really wanted him to feel like he wasn't alone.

"Well…um…you have…me…I'll be here for you."

Mike looked up. She smiled and took hold of his hands. They both jumped when a clash of thunder could be heard outside. Mike jumped off the bed and took a quick peek outside the window.

"Nasty weather out there," he said. "You may want to stay the night. I don't want you to go out there…it's too dangerous."

Al nodded. "Thanks Mr. Yagoobian, but I really don't want to intrude…"

She got up from the bottom bunk a little too quickly and ended up bumping her head. She winced in pain. She gave out a bit of a laugh and Mike joined her.

What a klutz! He thought.

"Al, you are not intruding at all!" he said as he guided her out of the room. "I…actually enjoyed your company in our interview."

She smiled. "It's nice to have feelings to share someone with isn't it?"

Mike flashed a smile back. "It sure is."

-

Mike lead Al to the kitchen for dinner. Ted had prepared (or microwaved) pizza for them all…or so they thought…

"That's my dinner!" he whispered to Mike as Al sat at the dining table.

"Just for tonight Ted," he pleaded. "Al needs a place to stay and you know how lousy I am at cooking."

"Actually, I don't," he responded.

Mike continued, "C'mon Ted! Please? What do you need pizza for? You're a robot!"

Ted was about to protest, but could not come up with a comeback. He glared at Mike. "Touché Yagoobian. You win this round…"

-

Mike, Al and Ted (eating scraps of metal) had a nice quiet dinner together. It gave them the chance to find out more about each other. Mike learned that Al also went to Joyce Williams Elementary School before she moved out of the state when her dad left. She came back to the city when she went to college. He learned about her love for photography and also realized how shy she is at first, but gets very comfortable and confident once she knows someone well enough. Mike was really beginning to like her.

After dinner, they sat in the living room where they talked even more. Mike told her about how Cornelius Robinsons was his roommate and how Mildred cared for him like a second mother. She listened carefully and asked questions; she was very interested in his story. Once their life stories have been told, they noticed the time; 11:47.

"Whoa…getting kind of late," said Mike with a yawn.

"Yeah…" said Al with a small little yawn. Mike took her by the hand.

"Let me show you to your room," he said with a grin. He lead her to a very decorative room, with tons of kid posters and a nice big comfortable bed. She gasped.

"Your way too kind," she said.

With a little hesitation, she gave him a hug. It was awkward at first, but Mike gave in and returned the hug. He had to admit, he never received one of these and never imagined that this show of affection would feel, well…good.

"Good night!" he said hastily as he quickly removed himself from her embrace.

"Sleep tight!" she responded.

"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"

Al laughed. "You're so immature!"

And with that, she closed the door.

Mike could not believe what just happened. Had he really met a possible friend? He never met anyone like her; someone who knew how he felt. She would be gone tomorrow and they possibly wouldn't cross each other's path ever again. Mike didn't want that. If he wanted Al to stay, he would have to think up an excuse and fast.

"I know what to do," he said quietly to himself as he went to his bed. He would tell Ted about his idea later. He was sure he wouldn't mind having an extra person around the house…

-

Oooh...I wonder what Mike is planning. You'll find out soon enough. Thanks for reading!

-Kim