Author's Note: Someone put a bug in my ear a while back to do a story of Shane's date with Lester Kimsickle. I must apologize that I don't recall who it was but I want to thank them for the idea(please let me know if it was you). Lester is the almost loveable oaf played by the very talented Lane Edwards. I came to appreciate his portrayal of the chief of postal security especially after hearing him share stories of the filming of OIAM. Lester gives us many cringe-worthy moments that would send the blood pressure of any HR director sky rocketing. I give him some leeway because I know his heart is in the right place.
I planned to do this as a one-off story but there will be at least two chapters. There's always so much to unwrap with SSD that I have a hard time restricting the story's length. I hope you enjoy my take on Shane and Lester's date(the actual date will come in the next chapter).
As always, these are not my characters. They belong to the amazingly talented Martha Williamson and are brought to life by the uber talented Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, and Lane Edwards.
Shane put the final touch ups on her makeup and held her breath as she spritzed herself with the Chanel no 5 Alex had given her for Christmas. She hadn't had the heart to tell her sister that it wasn't her preferred scent so she kept it. It wasn't intolerable. Just a bit too floral for her taste. She saved it for those times when a little fragrance was needed but not worthy of her favorite Jo Malone scent. Tonight was a perfect example of such a time. Shane took a long sip of the rather substantial glass of wine she'd poured earlier after arriving home from work and thought to herself. How did I get myself into this?
She rued the day she promised her best friend Becky that she would start doing some 'stomping' in Denver. Just the thought of putting herself out there made her heart pound and her stomach churn. Leaving Steve behind in DC and his subsequent trip to Denver to persuade her to return had been an arduous experience. Add to that the botched assignment transfer which landed her in the wrong DLO and she'd felt adrift both personally and professionally.
As Shane transitioned to life in Denver she realized the absence of a significant other gave her the freedom to focus on herself which was a welcome change after the multiple responsibilities she'd juggled in DC. The silver lining of the mix-up in her new role in Denver was the intersection of her life with Oliver O'Toole and the more time she spent with him thoughts of a significant other again filled her head. Her dilemma was that while thoughts of him filled her head someone else was filling his and her name was Holly and he was married to her. While Holly may have been a figment of Shane's imagination she was very real to Oliver in spite of her extended absence.
Becky had been in town less than 24 hours when she quickly picked up on Shane's attraction to her new boss. Shane denied it, quickly and vehemently, but Becky knew her and had a clear window into Shane's heart. Her advice? "Find yourself another Oliver, an-available-one" she said. Shane had chuckled knowing that was unlikely. Another Oliver didn't exist.
So, when Lester Kimsickle, head of OPS, asked her to dinner not long after Becky's departure, Shane thought maybe it was a safe opportunity to dip her toe back into the dating lake. Shane refused to recognize their dinner together as a date but it was the closest she'd come to one(other than Steve) since she'd arrived in Denver.
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Shane's path had not yet crossed with Lester Kimsickle. She knew him by name and reputation only and even that was vague. As part of their new federal task force designation, she was responsible for completing the necessary security information to be filed with the Office of Postal Security. Normally such a task would have fallen under Oliver's purview but because much of the information had to do with the team's use of technology he'd relinquished the work to her. Shane didn't mind as completing said paperwork required Oliver and her to spend an afternoon working on it together. Working shoulder to shoulder with him she'd struggled to focus. It was impossible not to be sidetracked by the scent of his aftershave or the muscles of his jaw that, when tensed, made her want to cradle his cheek in her hand. When both reached for the same pen and their fingers touched, a spark coursed through her all the way to her toes as it did every time he'd held her hand during their dances together. Becky's words kept returning to her…'go out and find yourself another Oliver…an available one.' Shane knew her friend was right but whenever her eyes landed on him she couldn't help but wonder what could happen if he was available.
She'd found the OPS in the first level of the terminal annex. A quick scan of the room yielded a wall full of screens that displayed every area of the post office save the DLO. She could only imagine Oliver's refusal to allow surveillance cameras in the inner sanctum of the DLO. She stood for a moment taking it all in. She saw Rita walking through the sorting area on one of the screens and wondered if she had any idea she was on camera. The hairs on Shane's arms stood up as the whole wall gave her distinct 'big brother is watching' vibes.
The metal desks and file cabinets that filled the rest of the room looked like they'd come straight from the USPS furniture warehouse. The space stood in stark contrast to the warmth of the DLO with its cozy clutter, ceiling arches, misplaced fireplace mantel and the old couch she gravitated to when she needed a break from her floating desk. She remembered the words of their former supervisor, Andrea, when she called it a lousy, smelly office. Shane admitted she'd thought the same thing during her first days in Denver but it didn't take long for it to become her second home.
Approaching the only desk with a body behind it she introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Shane McInerney. I work in the DLO on the new task force formed by Rebecca Starkwell." Her voice carried with it the sense of pride she felt for their little team. Their new designation was a big deal and gave the unique group of postal workers much more flexibility in their charge to deliver the lost and misdirected mail that passed through their department.
The man at the desk jumped from his chair a little too quickly sending his chair rolling and banging into the wall behind him. He put his thumbs in his belt loops and hitched his pants up. He swaggered around to the front of his desk and thrust his hand out to her. "Lester Kimsickle, chief of postal security, at your service."
Shane thought for a moment he was going to salute her and did her best to keep from rolling her eyes. She offered her hand in return and pulled it back quickly when his clammy hand held onto hers a little longer than what was comfortable. Quickly wiping her palm on the side of her pants she responded. "Um, I'm just dropping off some paperwork for the DLO Federal task force. Rebecca Starkwell said it should go through your office.
"Ah, yes. Becky. Nice lady. Pretty smile." Lester was oblivious to Shane's cringe as he spoke about her friend in a way that would have had the head of HR admonishing him in a heartbeat. "She told me about your little group being overseen by her."
"Yes, Ms. Starkwell wanted me to get these to you for your review." Shane's emphasis on Ms. was an attempt to return to remove the familiarity Lester had given himself license to use. Handing him the file she simply said "let me know if you have any questions. You know where to find me." With that she turned on her heel and got out of the OPS as quickly as she could.
Shane thought little of her interaction with Lester Kimsickle until a couple of days later when the exceptionally obnoxious loud speaker system introduced by Glynnis Rucker blared. "Shane McInerney please come to OPS. Shane McInerney to OPS."
Three sets of eyes turned to her seeking an explanation. Shane shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea what it's about." She rose and as she walked by Oliver's desk she suggested, "maybe it has something to do with the task force paperwork I dropped off the other day."
Oliver nodded. "Well, please do not keep them waiting. It would not reflect well on the team if there are errors with the paperwork."
Shane's back was to Oliver so he couldn't see her lips tighten into a thin line. She turned toward him but caught herself and bit back a snarky reminder that the paperwork was a joint effort between them so if there were errors they were as much his as hers. Rather her eyes rested on Oliver who'd gone back to studying a stained and mangled letter through his antique standing magnifying glass. All four of the members of the DLO had taken their new designation seriously but none more than Oliver. During the frequent letter deliveries Shane and Oliver made together Oliver frequently spoke of his ancestors' storied history with the USPS dating back to 1787. Oliver spoke of his grandfather with such high regard that Shane sensed he never thought it possible to live up to his family's legacy. That is until their recognition as a federal task force and their Dark of Night awards. Shane hoped Oliver finally realized what she'd recognized soon after they'd started working together. Oliver O'Toole's dedication to the post office not just lived up to his family's postal legacy but made the O'Toole name synonymous with the mission of the USPS.
Arriving at the OPS Shane was relieved there were a few more occupied desks than she'd seen previously. Heads all turned in her direction as she looked around the room for Lester Kimsickle. She found him standing at the water cooler filling his coffee mug. "Mr. Kimsickle, there was a page for me to report to OPS."
Lester turned, one hand on his mug the other at his hip. "Shane. Nice to see you again. Thanks for coming so quickly." Shane winced at Lester's brazen use of her name. She considered correcting him but didn't think it would do any good.
Shane got straight to the point. "Is there an issue with our paperwork?"
"No, well, I haven't actually read through it all yet but given the security level associated with your little task force and you being new around here and all, I think it's important that I get to know you a little better." Lester shifted on his feet and directed his stare on Shane. "You know, given the top-secret nature of your work." Lester leaned against the front of his desk and crossed his arms. "It's my job to make sure you're not doing anything to compromise the security of the USPS."
Shane's hand quickly covered her smirking mouth. She highly doubted Lester Kimsickle had the wherewithal to protect much of anything USPS or otherwise. "So what do you want to know?"
Lester stood up "I was thinking maybe I could get to know you better over dinner."
Shane's eyebrows shot up. "Dinner?"
Shane's surprise must have shown on her face because Lester back pedaled a bit. "Well, I think it's important to get to know someone outside of the confines of the USPS. Get you out of your natural environment."
Shane shook her head. "Mr. Kimsickle, you do know our work isn't top secret. It's just that we report to Ms. Starkwell now instead of anyone here in Denver."
Lester recrossed his arms. "Well that may be but it's still my responsibility to know what's going on here in this office."
"Fine. What did you have in mind?" Shane swallowed hard willing her morning skinny vanilla latte to stay in her stomach. The idea of spending an evening with Lester Kimsickle was not sitting well with her.
"How about Saturday night?"
"Saturday doesn't work for me." No, no, no thought Shane. If it's a Saturday there isn't an excuse to go home early. She thought about fibbing and saying she had church on Sunday but that didn't feel right. She couldn't take something Oliver was so devoted to and use it as an excuse to get out of dinner with Lester Kimsickle.
Lester came back quickly. "What about Friday?"
"Friday doesn't work for me." Nope. She'd recently read an article that Friday night is the most common "date" night for married couples. The last thing she wanted was to be surrounded by happily married couples lest anyone think she and Lester fell into that category. A shiver ran down her spine at the very thought of it.
"Thursday?" Lester wasn't giving up.
"Fine." She could live with Thursday. Work would be her excuse to end the evening at a reasonable time. "Is there anything else?"
"No, I'll pick you up Thursday at 7."
Shane's eyes shot up. "That's really not necessary. I can meet you wherever."
Lester smiled at Shane. "It's no problem. Happy to do it, happy to do it."
Shane found a post-it on Lester's desk and wrote down her address. Not giving him a chance to say anymore she turned and put distance between her and the chief of the OPS as quickly as possible. Walking back to the DLO all she could think of was the word Becky used. Stomping. She could think of a lot of other ways she preferred to stomp than dinner with Lester Kimsickle. Ugh, what was she going to say when she got back to the office. Norman and Rita weren't likely to ask her why she was called to the OPS but Oliver certainly would. He was already concerned there may have been errors in their paperwork. Shane decided the less said the better. She especially didn't want to let any of her co-workers know she'd been roped into having dinner with Lester.
The creak of the DLO doors announced her arrival. Oliver's head popped up from whatever he'd been working on. "Ms. McInerney. How did everything go at the OPS?"
Shane sat behind her computer ducking her head down so Oliver couldn't read any emotion that might be lingering on her face. "There was no problem Oliver. I took care of everything."
"Hmm, well that's good. Thank you for taking care of that." Oliver returned to his mysterious letter.
Shane peeked over the top of her computer screen, something she did frequently when she knew Oliver was engrossed in work. Oh Oliver, I would really prefer to stomp with you. A heavy sigh escaped her lips.
"Is there something else Ms. McInerney?"
Shane squirmed in her chair unaware she'd been heard. "No, nothing Oliver." Shane turned her attention back to her screen trying desperately but unsuccessfully, to stop the intrusive thoughts of Oliver that so often claimed her attention.
XXX
Shane sat on the couch waiting for Lester wine glass still in hand. To say she was dreading spending the next two hours with a man who seemed to not recognize normal social boundaries would be an understatement. How would she feel if it was Oliver she was waiting for. Immediately her stomach swirled and a smile crossed her perfectly lip-sticked lips. The dread she felt now would most certainly be replaced with excited anticipation. Where would he take her? Would he bring her flowers when he came to fetch her? What would he wear? Oliver dressed impeccably for work each day, she could only imagine how he would dress for a date. Shane's musings were interrupted by a car horn honking incessantly out on the street. Either someone's car alarm was going off or a child was playing behind the wheel of their parent's car. After a minute or so Shane could stand it no longer. She pulled on her jacket and went out on her front porch to find the cause of the disturbance. Her mouth dropped and it took everything in her power to not turn and escape back into the cozy confines of her house.