Jennifer Grayson blinked at the packages on her desk, all wrapped fairly inexpertly in festive designs. Hanging up her coat the stylishly dressed blonde walked over to look at them thoughtfully, noting that there were four of them, from Gwen, Beth, Kate and Julie. 'Glad I dropped off my gifts in the other's offices already,' Jen thought with amusement, gently picking up and turning over the packages. She was tempted to just open them now, but she firmly held back, deciding it was best to wait. Beth Harris stuck her head in the door, the little redhead wearing the cutest little Santa hat. "Hey Jen," she said cheerfully, "Merry Christmas." "Merry Christmas," Jen repeated with a laugh. She looked at her thoughtfully, "I haven't checked in with my computer, any trouble yet?" "Yet?" Beth chuckled. She smiled as she perched on the corner of Jen's desk, her mini-skirt ridding up a bit, "Well, Kate's left a message she'll be in a bit later," she relayed, "but other than that I think we're good." "Good," Jen logged on, quickly calling up the active case hierarchy on her screen. As she read she asked, "Any problems with the regular police services?" "Couple of reports on minor android incidents," Beth said, "we're keeping an eye on them." "We as in, our computer wizzes Beth and Julie?" Jen smiled slightly as she teased, "Or we as in, you and Gwen?" A pink tint colored Beth's cheeks. "We as in me and Julie, thank you," she said with as much dignity as she could muster. Jen looked at her with gentle amusement then said reassuringly, "If you and Gwen are trying to keep this quiet, that's fine. I won't bring it up again." Beth smiled back a bit self-mockingly, "It's okay, I'm just... not used to this." "Oh?" Jen looked curious. Beth looked thoughtful as she admitted, "I've been a flirt, and I know I dated around a lot... but this feels like something more." "And I think you two are good for each other," Jen said cheerfully. "I think so, too," Beth laughed. She looked at Jen thoughtfully, "So, when are you going to do something about Kate?" Jen grinned, "Trust me, I'm trying." A soft rap on the door and they both looked up to see Gwen Musashi standing there, a faintly amused look on her face. The elegantly dressed, poised woman looked a bit odd wearing a red and white Santa hat, but it really was cute. "Don't ask," she said firmly as both Beth and Jen looked ready to question the hat. "I'll get it out of you later," Beth warned. "I don't doubt it," Gwen chuckled. She looked at Jen thoughtfully, "Are you visiting your family this Christmas?" "As much as I'd like to avoid it, yes," Jen sighed. "You're still having problems with your family?" Beth asked sympathetically. She frowned in memory, "You came out to them recently, is that it?" "It's a problem, but not in the way that you think," Jen sighed. "Oh?" Gwen asked as Beth looked on curiously. "Mother's back to arranging these marriage meetings," Jen groaned, "this time with suitable women!" She looked up with a pained expression, "I'm almost scared to go home, wondering what sort of dog she's going to try to hook me up with next!" Beth looked at her blankly a moment, then began to laugh, "I'm sorry," she wiped at her eyes, "I was just imagining what some of those meetings must be like." Even Gwen was fighting back a smile, her eyes twinkling. "Gee, thanks," Jen sighed. She smiled faintly, "So where did Kate go, anyway?" "She had an appointment," Gwen said calmly, "then said she'd check in with a contact in Lowtown. She should be back in a few hours." Unaware that she was a topic of conversation Kate Williams bolted up from the comfortable chair, then the sandy haired woman restlessly paced across the room. "What is this?" she demanded fiercely, "Why do you have to keep asking me these stupid questions?" Dr. Alexis Jameson remained seated, the black haired woman looking up at her calmly. "Because like most police officers you'd rather be doing the questioning," she said mildly, "repeating the question seems to be the only way to get a straight answer out of you." "Maybe," Kate conceded, her lips twisted in a uncomfortable smile. She stood by the windows, her back visibly tense as she looked out at the gray towers of the city, the color matching the clouds above them. "How do you think your parent's death," Alexis repeated the question to Kate gently, "has influenced your life?" "I don't trust intelligent machines or artificial intelligences," Kate finally conceded reluctantly. After Alexis prompted her Kate continued, "Machines can go wrong so damn easily... they save the same flaws as their builders. And because of that, people can get hurt." "So you're scared of being hurt?" Alexis suggested. "I am not scared!" Kate nearly shouted, eyes flashing. "That's a strongly defensive reaction, Kate," she said, Alexis trying to keep her tone non-confrontational and soothing. "I'm not scared," Kate repeated a bit more quietly, "at least, not for myself. But I don't think I could bear to lose another loved one to some damn machine's error." Alexis had to fight down her obvious jubilation at that comment, knowing a breakthrough when she saw it. Deciding now was not the time to push her she shifted to generalities, giving Kate a bit of time to catch her emotional breath. "You'd make a good cop," Kate sighed as she got ready to go a little while later. "Oh?" Alexis asked with a smile. "You have the questioning techniques down pat," Kate grinned and Alexis laughed. "Oh," Kate rummaged through a shoulder bag she had brought, "here." "You didn't need to..." Alexis looked at the rather badly wrapped gift Kate had given her. "It didn't cost much, trust me," Kate said dryly. A sudden smile appeared, "I just saw it and instantly thought of you." After Kate had gone Alexis sat down, glad that the mercurial woman was the last appointment on her calendar that day. She smiled as she turned the gift over in her hands, considering if she should go to the party Christa and the others from the Android rights movement were organizing, or maybe drop in to see her family. "Oh what the hell," she muttered, giving into temptation Alexis tore at the wrapping, getting a bit of tape on her hands as she opened the gift. The mug was a simple one, a bit old fashioned, and there was writing on the side. 'You don't have to be crazy to work here,' it said simply, 'but it helps.' Alexis began to laugh as she set it down, right dead center of her desk. "That woman," Alexis shook her head smiling, "will be the death of me." Probably well aware of the mirth her gift was causing Kate finished off her last errand, dropping off a gift for Silver, too. Technically she shouldn't have done it on work time, but she figured Gwen would forgive her that. "It's beautiful," Silver murmured, cradling the crystal figure thoughtfully. She looked up at Kate, the nearly archetypal tough cop and added, "Not what I expected." Kate smiled back, "I try to surprise people, if I can." "Would you like to come in?" Silver asked, looking at Kate with a thoughtful expression. Kate shook her head no regretfully, "Sorry, I'm still on the clock for work right now." She hesitated, "Do you have plans for tonight?" Silver smiled, reaching out to touch Kate's arm, "No, I was only going to see Kari and she's off with her family tonight." Teasingly, "What's the offer?" Kate chuckled, "Dinner, maybe dancing?" "I'd like that," Silver smiled.
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