xp_logs | [log] Marie and Jake: One nice thing leads to another.

Marie takes some printouts to Jake and ends up agreeing to go to Washington to run interference between him and his sister and provide moral support.

It occurred to Marie, when she remembered the deer-in-headlights look on Jake's face on Friday, that he might benefit some from the information she'd gathered for herself and then shared with Pete. She printed off yet another copy between classes, put the information in a folder, and set off for Jake's office as soon as her last class ended. "Jake?" she called, knocking on his door.

"Come on in, it's open," Jake yelled, bending over Daphne with a glass over water in his hand. He was carefully dripping the water onto the plant's leaves.

"Hey there." Marie let herself in. "I thought you might like a few of the printouts I'd collected about counselling kids after a major trauma. I already gave a set to Pete."

Jake straightened, and stuck his free hand out. "Yes, please."

Marie handed the folder over. "I saw your post, too, about your trip. Just nipping down to grab a few things and the car? Or is the plea for company about something more sinister?"

He grabbed the folder, and flipped through it absently, obviously not reading a thing. "Yeah, no, I..." He squinted up at her. "Actually.. You're a girl, right?"

Marie stared at him for a moment. "...last time anyone looked, yes," she said at last.

"Wonderful!" Jake said brightly, thinking quickly. "What do you know about sixteen year old girls? No. Wait. You know what? What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Well, I was one two years ago," Marie said dryly. "And tomorrow, in theory, I am teaching my usual two classes. Why?'

"Well, I." Jake sighed. "Honestly speaking? I have to see my sister, and I'm just. very bad at talking to her. Would you like to come with me? Please? I'd... I don't know. Show you around the office?"

He looked pitiful, and Marie sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. -Oh, for the love of... I guess a road trip is a kind of nice idea.- "Someone will have to look in on my Lit and Phys Ed classes. The work's done, but I don't have a substitute lined up."

Jake brightened again and started flipping through papers on his desk. "Oh, I'm sure we can find someone who has the time..."

"If you can get my classes covered, I'll come with you," Marie told him. "I wouldn't mind the trip at all and I'm up at about five-thirty most mornings anyway, so a little earlier won't hurt. All my class information is ready for whoever you find to substitute, so just let me know before eleven tonight so I can set my alarm or not."

"Thank you. I'll owe you one." Jake tilted his head and read his sheet of paper. "Let's see... Shinobi and Warren... They surely have nothing important to do...Or maybe Scott would take the Phys. Ed."

"Yes, you will." Marie gave him a wicked little smile. "Whoever you get, send them up to my room to get my notes. I'll be around.” She opened his door again to let herself out.

"Will do." Jake sat down behind his desk and started typing on his iBook, smiling.

-…why do I do these things?- Marie wondered as she headed back to her suite. -It’s just a quick trip. No big deal. And I’m getting cooped up here anyway. It’ll be good for me.-