Moira and Samson

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Leonard Samson straightened up from his laptop with a sigh, stretching until one . . . two . . . _three_ vertebrae popped. Definitely past time for a break; the session notes and therapy plans could just organize themselves for a while.

Until recently, it would have been a safe bet that the short trip down the hall to Moira's office would be a guaranteed boredom cure. She'd actually planted her flag--and a good many other things, Leonard surmised--in the fabled land of the social life, though, so it was anyone's guess whether she was working today.

She wasn't. But only because she was asleep on her couch. Leonard couldn't help a boyish grin as he bent down next to her ear.

"Man the battlements! Prepare the boiling oil! The English have landed!"

With a started scream, Moira jerked away, nearly headbutting Leonard in the nose. Clutching her heart, she glared up at him as he grinned down at her. "Oh, ye bloody...I dinnae need a 'eart attack. Yer lucky I dinnae go all Brave'eart on yer American arse..."

She scowled as he laughed and winged a pillow at his head, irritated but slightly amused as well.

Leonard caught the pillow with a laugh. "You're the one who insists on living in a castle, Moira. And my laptop tells me it's a beautiful day outside--what are you doing here?"

"Sleepin', apparently," she muttered, reaching down to pick up the scattered papers on the floor. Moira had only meant to sit on the couch and catch up on some work while her computer ran through some tests, but her body had had other ideas. She looked up at him, amused. "Wha' am I doin' inside? Wha' are ye doin'? Isnae today yer day off, Leonard?"

"Theoretically, yes. You know, Moira, Charles is a good friend and I couldn't have asked for a better mentor, but you might have warned me that when he said 'please come for a few days and speak to a few of my students,' he really meant 'your life will never be the same again.'"

Laughing, Moira scooted down to the other end of the couch and gestured at him to sit. "Yer makin' me dizzy, lookin' up at ye like tha'." As he settled his frame down, she shook her head. "Somehow, Charles is damned well good at tha'. I really should 'ave made good on me threat ta roll 'im inta a lake..."

"Ooh. Can I help? It isn't so much the number of patients as it is the way they hide."

"Sure, we'll jus' gan' up on 'im...shouldnae be tha' 'ard, especially if I remove th' wheels from 'is wheelchair." She chuckled and rubbed her head. "Aye, they do tend ta nay want t' come callin' when they need ta, dinnae they?"

"Not all of them, luckily--just enough to be very irritating and make me wonder if I should start ambushing them in the halls. I'm afraid I'm just not built to be a ninja." He grinned.

She tilted her head for a second and tried to picture that. The result had her giggling madly. "Oh, I dinnae know, I think ye'd look wonderful dressed in black an' tryin' ta 'ide tha' build o' yers in some small, dark corner, waitin' ta jump th' more reluctant patients."

"I'm afraid the effect would be spoiled by the Scotswoman in the corner giggling madly and taking flash photography."

"Would I ever do somethin' like tha'?" Moira paused and then burst out laughing again. "All right, so I would."

"If Dr. Pym hasn't carried you off by then. What did you _do_ to him?"

"Oh God." Moira groaned and covered her eyes. "I dinnae *know*. I even insulted 'im at th' dinner an' 'e willnae back off!"

"Oh, well, there's your trouble. He doesn't understand why you don't find him irresistible." Leonard cracked his neck with a sigh, then grinned again. "Now, normally I wouldn't venture a professional opinion on someone his age, but I have a feeling his emotional development stopped at sixteen anyway."

Grumbling, Moira picked up her head and looked at him. "This is bloody stupid. I pretty much told 'im I wasnae interested when 'e asked me out an' now 'e won't bugger off. 'Tis flatterin' in a creepy way."

"You should let that Nathan of yours at him. I'm sure he'd find amazing new insight into the subatomic behavior of body casts."

Moira chuckled and sighed. "I'm sure 'e would, once Nathan's well enough ta do somethin' like tha', as much as 'e wants ta right now."

"Take it from me, a little testosterone can solve all sorts of problems." He cocked his head, concerned. "How _is_ Nathan, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I dinnae, trust me. 'e's...nay t' good. Was on th' verge o' jus' givin' up, Leonard, last night. So damned close to thinkin' th' visions were over with." Moira touched her head and winced. "Nay so lucky in tha' regard, I guess."

Leonard patted her hand. "He's in the right place, and with the right person, to get through this." He mock-glared. "In fact, I insist on it. _One_ of us ought to get out once in a while. Or stay in, as the case may be."

She stuck her tongue out at him and grinned. "I've been *tryin'*. We should alternate, ta make sure ye dinnae go all ninja on th' students." She tilted her head at him and felt a flash of guilt. "I jus remembered I wanted t' talk ta ye. We really should be doin' more ta support each other, I know I 'avenae been th' best person ta work wit' lately."

Leonard waved a hand dismissively. "You've had a lot on your plate; I can hardly fault you. I wouldn't say no to the help, though, if it won't put you out." He eyed her. "I wouldn't want to make finding you asleep on the couch a habit."

"I dinnae think Nathan would let tha' fly," she remarked dryly. "I want ta 'elp. Wit' so many needin' ta see either o' us, it might be a good idea ta actually, ye know, work this out?" Moira grinned at him.

"Ah, this would be that mythical 'coordinating of schedules' I've heard so much about. Sounds like an excellent idea."

"Oh aye, tha' beast. I believe I've seen 'im once or twice before. Ye an' I are brilliant, Leonard, 'ow can we get swamp this easily?" she asked, teasing.

"Oh, that's simple. We're dealing with teenagers. What did you have in mind?"

Moira gave it some thought. "Hrm. Essentially playin' back up fer each other. I live 'ere..." She rolled her eyes at him. "Despite th' fact tha' yer around so often, 'tis almost like ye do t'. So I'm closer if'n somethin' comes up. An' I think we could juggle some o' th' kids around ta make th' load easier fer th' bot' o' us."

"I like it. And you have me on speed-dial, don't you? I can get here in under fifteen minutes if the traffic gods are kind and New York's finest are looking the other way."

She shuddered, remembering his driving style. "O' course I do. I think yer even programmed int' our beepers, more than likely anyway."

"Excellent." He grinned. "Honestly, Moira, I'm a perfectly safe driver. Never been in an accident."

"Only by th' grace o' God, yer brakes an' those bushes tha' one time," she reminded wryly.

"My point stands. Do you have any preferences on dividing the patient roster, or at least their schedules?"

"Nay really, whatever works best, I think." An eyebrow quirked at him. "Do ye?"

"Not particularly. Manuel has nearly everyone on his team already . . . there are a few others I might consider trading off with, but I'd like to get them to the point where they don't have to be dragged to my office first."

"Mmm, true. This at least should prevent us gettin' white 'air...any faster than we already are."

Leonard smoothed his ponytail. "Not something I have to worry about, not being decrepit and old like some people I could mention."

Cheerfully, Moira reached out and kicked him in the knee. "Keep tha' up an' I'll be more'n 'appy ta make ye decreipt before yer time, ye wee bairn."

"I tremble. Grandma." He grinned. "Although you're looking remarkably rejuvenated lately."

Even now, she had the grace to blush a little. "Hmph, nay idea why," she said, ducking the statement.

"Does Nathan know he's that forgettable? Poor man. But . . . honestly, I am glad you're happy. If anyone deserves it, it's you."

She kicked him in the knee again and eye rolled. "Nay forgettable by a lon' shot." Moira smiled at him. "Thanks, Leonard. 'Tis been t' lon', I guess." She perked. "When thin's settle down again, we'll 'ave ta 'ave dinner again. Last time was too much fun."

"It was. I'll hold you to that." He smiled. "I may even let you drive, if you ask nicely."

"I knew there was a reason I liked ye."