[[[If this story confuses you, click on the author's name for an explanation.]]]

[This event happened about three months ago.]

Curiouser and curiouser.

Boss came in early today and plopped himself down on a chair in the greeting room, facing the front door with his chin propped up on his elbows. He looked for all the world like a little boy waiting for the ice cream truck.

"Mornin', sir," I said, in a manner I hoped was quizzical enough for him to explain.

"Mornin', El. Sarah still come in at ten?"

"As far as I know, Boss. She in trouble or something?"

He grinned at me -- a very unsettling grin, that was -- and went back to watching the door. He sat there for half an hour, not tearing his eyes away for a even a minute.

At six til ten I hid behind an empty desk and waited. I was not about to miss this.

I heard the door open, and the unmistakable click click click of Sarah's designer heels, the ones that cost more than my Toyota. The sound stopped short after a few paces.

"Is there something I can help you with, Nathaniel?" she asked. (She's the only one who dares to call Boss by his full and entire first name, which he hates. Even I don't have the guts to do that.)

"Got a mighty interesting phone call yesterday."

The heels clicked a few feet further. "And that concerns me because....?"

"It was someone you know."

"I know a lot of people."

"Your name came up."

"Still not concerned here."

"Your... teacher..... called me for a recommendation."

".... Shit."

The chair creaked; Boss was standing up. "It appears you have some explaining to do, Miss Sarah."

"It's not anything that will interfere with my work here. But one must expect these things when one pays pittance to one's employees."

I made a mental note to look up "pittance" in the dictionary. Sounded like some kinda fruit. Boss does pay us light, but the station doesn't really make that much.

"C'mon, Sarah, you know you could find better work than that. It's beneath you."

"What I do outside these walls is none of your business."

"It does when it's such an.... interesting profession."

Her voice was cold. "You are on very dangerous ground, Nate. If your foot goes much further in your mouth MY foot will go straight up your --"

"It SAYS, right in your contract, that moonlighting is not allowed. 'Strictly', the wording says. STRICTLY no moonlighting!"

"Then fire me. Old man."

Whoa. I peeked out from behind the desk, expecting major fireworks. Sarah was wearing her usual combo of short skirt and silk blouse, and an expression of pure triumph. He would never fire her; she's too good at what she does. Boss turned around sharply

and saw me.

Ulp. "Um... hi?"

"Doesn't anybody around here WORK anymore?" Boss stomped out of the building, slamming the door behind him so hard that I felt it on the floor. Sarah smiled at me and offered me a hand up.

"Thanks." I brushed myself off, feeling (as I always did) very underdressed in my overalls and ponytail.

"You little sneak. Eavesdropping is a felony in some countries, you know."

I felt my cheeks get warm. "Sorry, Sarah. I won't tell anybody."

"I know you won't."

"What did he mean by, 'moonlighting'? Did you get another job?"

"Sort of." She put a finger to her lips, as Zelda and Kay had come to investigate Boss's noisy exit. "Come over to my place tonight and I'll show you."

~~~ ~~~

I am never not awestruck by the fancy digs that Sarah has. I know she made a lot of money at her last station, in the City, but to actually see it in furniture and paintings is pretty incredible. (Did she really make that much? She's so skinny she probably NEVER eats. I guess that helps.)

She offered me tea -- she caught on pretty quick that everybody drinks tea in the South -- and disappeared for a few minutes, returning to lead me to a room lit only by candles. I wrinkled my nose at a strong unfamiliar smell. "What is that?"

"Incense."

(She could not understand why I nearly collapsed laughing. I am sure, as fellow Firefly fans, you do.)

Sarah opened a closet and took out a white sheet, which she neatly arranged over a small table. "Take your shirt off and lie down."

"Er, what? Why would I do that?"

"For an Indian massage. I'm taking courses at the University."

"Ain't that... kinda expensive?" And kinda weird? I kept that last thought to myself.

She lit more candles, making the room brighter. "When I'm certified, I'll work part-time to supplement my income. Get on the table."

I was dubious (new word Doc taught me) but I sat on the table -- with my shirt on, thank you very much. Sarah ran her fingers through my hair. It didn't feel weird; it felt wonderful. Heavenly! Her hands were warm, and after a while I let her convince me to lie on my stomach. Starting with my calloused feet, she worked out every knot and kink, going from one end of me to the other end. When she got to my shoulders I yelped; a tender spot had come to the surface. I didn't know that pain could be brought about by such a light touch, but apparently it can.

"There! That's called your trigger point," she said.

"My trigger point?"

"Um-hmm. The places where you store tension and everyday frustration. You have two of them here." She rubbed the areas gently, in a slow circle from the outside in. "We'll call them 'Boss' and 'Kay'."

Laughter is the best medicine, they say, and it's true.

~~~ ~~~

Now, I promised Sarah I wouldn't say anything to anybody, and I'm keeping that promise. I'm not "saying" anything. But come to think of it, the more secrets I spill the less chance I can ever tell the WSRY crew that they have twins out there in TV land.

I'm going to try and conjure up some memories I have of each of the crew members. There's just a LOT to choose from, we do spend most of our waking hours together, after all.

A few questions I have for YOU, the reader:

Should I change the names to the ones more familiar to Firefly fans? "Sarah" to "Inara", "Kay" to "Jayne", and such? Would that be less confusing or more? It doesn't matter to me either way, as the real names are somewhat different anyhow.

Is there anything you'd like me to ask the crew members, about their thoughts on current issues or how they'd handle certain situations? Or about the daily routine? I'll be as honest as I can without giving away locations or details that would lead to names or addresses.

(We are searching for a new crew member, by the way. When he/she comes on board I'll be sure to let you know.)

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