fandomhigh | The Library is Open (02/09)

Rory glared at Parker.

"Shoot."

Parker cocked an eyebrow. "I *was* going to ask how long it'll be before Professor Tick gets our tests back to us, but now, I just wanna know why you're glaring."

"I don't know. Soon. And I'm sorry, I'll stop glaring since I'm probably not important enough to warrant an opinion," Rory said, turning back to her book.

"What. The. Hell." Parker took the book away and held it over her head. "When did I give you that impression?"

"Angela and I shouldn't have been involved in the study group?" Rory asked. "Because you know, running those comms and checking your progress and detailing maps and putting together supplies? Absolutely not important at all. Since you'd rather have had Zero involved and all."

Parker rolled her eyes, and gave the book, back, muttering, "Unnh!" under her breath. "I said, and I meant, I'd rather have Zero along for a fight. She likes fighting. You don't. I *never* said or meant I didn't want you on my side."

"Uh huh," Rory said. "Because our group was really important, you know. And feel free to ask Angel if you think otherwise."

"I never said it wasn't!" Parker protested. She palmed her face. "Look, I told Angela, and I'll tell you-- you guys *were* important. I know that! If I'm not sounding appreciative enough, it's just because I would have gone nuts if I'd been the one here. Zero's mad because she didn't hear *anything*, and she has a right to be." Parker glared at Rory. "And a right to be mad at more people than just me, I might add."

"Yeah, I know, I've barely seen her or I'd have taken my share of the blame," Rory replied with a sigh. "She has so much right to be mad."

Parker grimaced. "And I heard it from Vala, too. And I haven't even run into Jack yet, who will probably have more than a few things to say. Did you even *want* to go on the hunt, after we got things organized? I thought you were okay with running the supply and support stuff."

"I was. But I'd still rather have been out there rather than back in the room worrying when people's dots went out," Rory said. "But I know that's irrational, at least."

"You know, if you want to, you can get better at fighting, or martial arts," Parker said tentatively. "God knows I'm not the one to teach anyone, I don't have the patience for it. But Cam got a lot of training from Aeryn before he went out there last Friday. It wouldn't be such a crazy idea, if you had some training."

"Anakin and Sam have both mentioned it," Rory said, playing with a pen. "I think I'm going to take up fencing again."

Parker smiled. "That would be great. God knows you'll probably get a chance to use it around here." She cocked her head. "So, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was blowing off your contribution. I'm not that stupid. Just that frustrated with Zero. Damnit."

Rory nodded. "Sorry for snapping. And I don't know what we're going to do to make things up to Zero."

Parker sighed. "Apologies, explanations, chocolate, coffee, and CD's didn't do it. I'm tapped. If she'd even *tell* me something, I'd probably do it." She shook her head. "Anything else new and exciting going on?"

"Um. Not really. Are you doing anything for V-Day?" Rory asked.

"Probably not. Jack's birthday is the day before, I'm going to his party-- I seriously doubt he wants to do anything, and I'm not sure I want to anyway." Parker raised her eyebrows, then rolled her eyes. "Of course, you can't be doing anything, since you're not seeing anyone."

"No, of course not." Rory sighed. "Can't believe I'm asking this - if I were seeing someone? What would I get him? I mean, I'm the kind of person to kind of insist it's not a big deal. So should I get him anything?" She blushed. "You know. If I were seeing someone. Which I'm not."

Parker put her hand over her face and laughed. "For this purely hypothetical baseball player-- does he even know about Valentine's Day yet?-- I might get lingerie to model. You, on the other hand... maybe a nice book?" She grinned mischeviously. "Or a not-so-nice book?"

"The purely hypothetical baseball player knows," Rory said, sinking in her seat and turning even redder. "Lingerie? Seriously? That's so...we're not...."

"Haven't reached third yet?" Parker said sympathetically. "In that case, the book. Or, better? Two. One of poetry. He likes you, he might like that." She grinned. "And then the not-nice maybe-naughty book. For suggestions. So you guys can reach shortstop at *some* point."

Rory nearly fell over. "No naughty books! And poetry's like, cliché!"

She looked around shiftily. "If I were worried about this, I mean. Which I'm not, since there's nothing to be worried over, since I have no one to spend Valentine's Day with and I'll be sad and alone and et cetera."

"Of course." Parker grinned cheerfully. "So me suggesting massage oils, which don't have to be used for massage and are just *nice* smelling, would be a totally wasted opportunity. Likewise scented candles. 'Cause you have no one to gaze at over them."

Rory frowned. "No massage oils anyway, even if I had someone to, um, enjoy them with. Because they're messy. Not to mention there's a whole 'Dirty!' factor here."

She might have looked a little petulant.

The Library is Open (02/09)

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