The big map on the wall of the conference room at IMMF headquarters was full of flashing lines, blinking lights, little flags, and tiny bubbles that indicated travel by any number of the ten field teams that made up the IMMF itself. It was a particularly busy time, and nearly everyone was traveling. Janessa Mohr in the reception area was kept busy fielding messages and sending off reports by messenger and owl nearly all day now.

The little bubbles occasionally would show a picture of the team that was on the case and the name of it. At the moment, Preston Rostron was gazing at one team that was in Rhodes, in the Mediterranean. They had been there for nearly two days, waiting for clearance to enter Egypt through a floo network that connected several Greek and Turkish principalities with Egypt.

He touched the bubble, and the faces of the little team appeared:

Haephestus Kent
Constance Jones
Tom Williams
Frank Martin

He studied the smiling faces for a moment or two, and then sat on his desk. The next airship going to Cairo was in two days.

He tapped the head of an owl sculpture on his desk, and the eyes lit up with a yellow glow, and it hooted.

"Janessa, any sign of that paperwork from our diplomatic friends at IMC?"

The girls reply came through the owls head.

"Not yet, I'll call you if something comes, in Preston."

"Thanks."

He returned to the map, and then looked out the window at the sky beyond.

The scrolls that Jenn were carrying were heavy things, papyrus rools with wooden handles on them. They were also bulky to carry, and she wondered what bureacratic idiot invented the need for them. The blonde girl rode up in the elevator from the lower floors of the Ministry towards the IMMF headquarters and listened to the sound of the music that was piped in. It was not her favorite group: Michael Gordon and the Banshees; and the song was called "Wailing For Your Love". She sighed, but couldn't put her hands over hear ears because of the scrolls. It had taken three weeks to get them from the Ministry of Magic in Egypt, and now that they were here, she cursed the day she'd ever thought she might want to be assigned to the Consulate in Cairo, but there it was. One scroll was for her diplomatic visa; another were the permits necessary for the IMMF team to enter the country; and a third came from the head of the IMC Consulate in Egypt, and had the required fifty-four signatures of Egyptian Ministry officials that approved the other two scrolls to be sent. Jenn was an expert on protocol, but this seemed a bit too much.

The bell dinged the right floor, and the familiar charming female voice announced the destination:

"14th Floor, Ladies Lingerie, Sleepwear, and Fuzzy Slippers"

"Hey!" said the blonde to the elevator. "You need maintenance or something!?"

"Sorry, dearie. Have a nice stay at Huffington Resorts"

Jenn stepped out of the elevator quickly, afraid that it might decide to take her to the wrong place.

"These elevators are sure getting strange," she remarked to no one. The young witch behind the desk looked up and raised an eyebrow.

She strode up to the desk, and set down her burdensome scrolls with a dull thud, which the girl looked at with big eyes. Jenn slipped a small medallion on a chain from inside her suit coat, and presented it to the girl as identification. The little golden disk showed Jenn smiling and waving, with her ID number, and title below her picture: "Junior Deputy Consul"

"I'm Jennifer Sloane-Underwood from IMC Central. I have some diplomatic paperwork to give to Mr. Kenrick. Is he in today?"

Um, nope. He's in France, I thiiink.

"How about Director Deckard?"

"Out with his wife, they're expecting, you know"

"I didn't know. How about Aurelia Murdir?"

She's with Mr. Kenrick.

"Well all right, I'll allow for that. Is there anyone that is here that is working on the Lost Library project?"

At this point the girl got up, and indicated that Jenn ought to follow her. She ushered Jenn and the scrolls into an office just off the main reception area. Then she left.

"Hello there," said the blonde girl to Preston, who wasn't looking at the door. "You all alone here today?" She smiled a dazzingly white smile.

Preston turned at a slight sound, and saw Janessa and Jenn in the doorway to his office. Janessa left to go back to the reception area, and the blonde girl stood smiling at him. She looked very businesslike standing there, but also quite atttractive. Had they been anywhere else, he would have given her a big hug, but he did come forward to help her with the big scrolls she had.

"Well, well, you've brought me presents, I see," he said, as he took in the armful of bulky-looking objects she was carrying, and quickly set them down on his desk amidst the books, maps and reports.

He did grip her hand, gave it a playful squeeze, and led her to a comfortable chair, while he stood next to the desk and opened the first scroll from the Egyptian Ministry. It was in English, but the writing and legalese still covered the whole piece of papyrus. It smelled faintly of some kind of spice. He studied her for a moment, and admired the way she moved and sat. So smooth...

"Thanks for bringing these over, you have no idea how behind we are getting people to the right places. But I detect that you brought them personally for another reason?

"I thought I'd be obvious and see you at work; and to thank you for dinner and for last evening. I know I 'm hard to catch, sometimes," she said, and she tilted her head slightly. "I haven't exactly made things clear. But I had hope that you know that I know where I stand with you. You've always been very honest with me."

It looked like he might speak, so she smiled and tried to keep herself from bursting out in some silly way. As it was, her foot bounced subconscoiusly. Their relationship had always been so balanced, but now she felt very reckless.

"I'm younger,and your father is now Minister of Magic. We can say it doesn't matter, and maybe it only matters to others, but I want you to know I understand how much work this is going to take. I'm not afraid, though. Why should I be? Your feelings are the same, aren't they?

Jenn didn't need him to say it, shesaw it whenever he looked at her. It was a thrilling, scary, warm, and loving gaze. This wasn't where she had intended to speak about these things, but time was short, and her feelings wouldn't let her wait.

Preston hardly had a moment to catch his breath and reply, and Jenn hit him (sweetly) with a barrage of thoughts and emotions that he wasn't very prepared for. He couldn't get a word in, so he forced himself to relax and listen. Listening wasn't one of his strong skills, he knew, because he had the strength of his own intellect to fill in the gaps. However, this was Jenn, not an Arithmancy equation.

The words were all in that same voice he knew and loved so well, but now there was an urgency and an excitement to them, and it had him quite caught. She was putting her heart out on her sleeve for him to see, and Jenn wasn't normally a gambler like this. The excitement in her tone took away some of the eloquence, too. It was a clumsy, girlish expostulation of feelings, but somehow it calmed him down. When she'd finished, he sat for a moment.

"Jenn, I -- Jenn," he started and stopped again. "If you're wanting to give us a real try, I'm all for it. Who cares what people think? It's just you and I."

He got up and closed the door to his office. The office walls were glass, but at least he didn't want the dialogue to be repeated up and down the offices. Then he turned back to her, and came down to her level in a sort of crouch until her eyes were level with his.

"And you and I are what I think about -- all the time."

The reaction she got to her passionate little speech was a more measured one, but actually more exciting than she'd expected. A warm flush hit her cheeks as he replied, and she was a little scared that there was more that he wanted to say, and that this was just a build up to something more. She also had an impulse to fling herself into his arms, but his position made that more likely to knock him completely over. He was right, it was their own thing, and he didn't seem afraid, although sometimes what men said and what they did were two very different things. This wasn't usually the case with Preston, but it was new territory for them both. She leaned forward, balancing on the edge of the seat, and placing her arms around his neck gently, so that what was coming wouldn't be a complete surprise.

"I'm not into poetry, but I think I heard some, right then," she said, and her head tilted slightly as she laid a soft kiss on his lips. Then she drew back. She didn't know if anyone had witnessed that, but she didn't care, either.

When his eyes opened again after the kiss, it was the same face he knew, with the same dimples and happy smile, but the whole world was a bit different. To be kissed was one thing, to be kissed by the tasty lips of Jenn was another and in his office and with people around! He briefly thought of conjuring some very dark curtains over the windows leading to the outer office. He knew all kinds of unbuttoning charms -- It was a tempting thought, but he knew she had limited time. She'd come for business, and stayed for their benefit.

"Do you have to go soon?" he asked quietly. "When are you leaving?" He laid a finger on her cheek softly, before she could speak again. She had the most perfect skin, and just a couple of freckles on her face, and elsewhere. "I saw the transport paperwork to Egypt."

She sigh that escaped her lips was one of both happiness and resignation to her original mission at the office. Preston had already guessed that she was leaving in a few days, and who knew when she'd be back? She took one of his hands, and held it for a moment, until she could bring his gaze back to his.

"I have -- a few days. Then I'm posted to Egypt, but it's only for a little while. I'm supposed to help with some project that the IMMF is doing there. I'll be back, or maybe -- you can come with me?"

It was a lot to hope for, but Preston was a traveler, too, like she was. Of course it would be difficult for them to find any time for each other. She'd known that the moment she stepped out of the elevator. But she felt a little better now that they'd talked. Although now she felt as if she'd teased him in some way.

"I know, I know, long distance romance. But I said I'm not afraid."

She was right about the long distance romance. They'd been having a romance of intersecting lines for almost a year. This was the first time they were both literally on the ground. It felt good, but she deserved an answer to her question about following her around.

"I know which one. That won't take too long, and -- maybe I could get away. The team might need me out there for something. I'm working on some new magical equipment for work in extreme environments."

He slowly got up and drew her out of the chair. He was taller, but in her heels she just about matched him. He left her arms where they were, and held onto her waist. It was shameless just standing there holding her like that, but she was warm and comfortable feeling, and softly scented like a fresh breeze.

"There's a matter that's come up, and I may not be able to join you for a few days. But -- no you don't need to worry about that yet. What flight are you taking?"

She felt a little hot, suddenly, and she could barely whisper that she was taking one of the big skyships in a few days. She didn't know whether he heard her.

When Preston brought her to her feet, she had little butterflys in her stomach because she could see over his shoulder into the corridors and offices beyond. Although no one was paying much attention -- yet -- she was getting just a little nervous, but it felt so good to just stand there close. She ran one hand up into his hair for a moment, brushed his lips once more with hers (to do any more was likely to lead to rash things) and then slowly and gently she disengaged.

"Why Mr. Rostron, I do believe you mean to take advantage of a young girl's affections!" she said with a laugh.

"Good God, look at me, you've turned me into a giggling idiot! But I don't mind. Now you let me know when you're all done with whatever it is you're working on with Chase, and I can arrange everything from my end. Rhodes, maybe, or maybe Egypt. Not a Ministry flat, either." She raised one eyebrow.

"The scroll has the permissions for you to transport the IMMF team to Alexandria." She looked straight at his eyes, and smiled again with the big pearly ones. "I wish i could go on the expedition, it sounded exciting from what Janessa said. But I suppose I'd have to get some cool clothes."

The spell was broken temporarily as she laid out the plans, and the romantic bubble he'd been in popped softly. However, he knew the link was there. He knew, like an instinct, that as soon as she came close again it would be rekindled and strengthened.

"Let me have a look at the paperwork," he said. He grasped one of the huge scrolls, and put it on his already littered desk and unrolled it. The amount of ink expended...was enormous. it was done in three languages, too: Arabic from right to left; pictograms top to bottom, and Diplomatic English.

"Oh, these are you travel papers. You know the head of the Consulate there is an old friend of mine from school. He'll make sure you're not running coffee. I don't see why you can't stop by at the dive area, and lend a hand, either. If the Cairo Ministry suddenly gets sticky about protocol, Kent might need someone to be there that knows how to talk to those folks. What do you have to protect that beautiful skin of yours from the sun?"

The blonde smiled as Preston examined the documents. She wanted this to work out, and now that their feelings were plain to each other, she was even more determined to get some time away with this lovely man. She wasn't jealous of Chase Lang, (although she knew that few men would probably be able to resist her), but it was more jealousy about the time he was going to spend on helping Chase. Then again, she also knew it must be important, and that personal feelings had to stand aside when there was some big case. He hadn't told her what it was all about, but she imagined it must be at least mildly dangerous, Auror work. Hadn't Preston once dreamed of being an Auror? She hoped he hadn't changed his mind that way. The work he was doing now was so much safer.

She came up to the edge of the desk, and walked her fingers across the scroll he was looking at, and then up his arm.

"The water is very blue in the Mediterranean. I'll make sure I have some things that are appropriate for swimming and diving," she said. "I've meant to pay Hazel Chaisty a call and say hello. Maybe I can get a friend or two to go shopping with me before I go. Don't worry about my skin, I'm a Charms expert."

He grasped the long-fingered hand that so playfully walked up his arm, and kissed it, while his eyes scanned the travel documents for the IMMF team. Then he examined her hand carefully. They were long-fingered, and as always perfectly manicured. He thought vaguely how she must have a charm for that. The Med was a nice place at this time of year, and not too hot. If Hugh was busy with his wedding preparations, Preston could stand in. He could imagine Haephestus, all nineteen stone of him in the heat of Egypt. But the big man was capable as any in the water, and he'd proved that during the North Sea salvage expedition of that Viking craft.

"I'd go shopping with you, but I have things to do, darling. Now don't forget to grab the briefing booklet from Janessa your way out. I'll tell you what, Ellsburg will get you an environment suit tailored for you to take along, so you can work in the water with the team, if you want."

"Could I really? Of course the Consultate might have something to say about what I do out there. I'm just supposed to be there while the project is going on. But it would be fun to actually do something instead of file papers."

She took Preston through the papers,a nd showed him the 10 places that it needed to be endorsed by someone of authority. There were also places for seals and approvals. Her father's own seal was already affixed to the Ministry paperwork that would go back with the scrolls. She stayed close to him, and explained all the red tape jargon that the Egyptian Ministry of Magic used.

"Do you know what they are looking to recover in Alexandria? Because the IMMF is supposed to have a representative of their Ministry on hand, to make sure we don't steal anything that hasn't been agreed on. Not that we would, of course."

"As you'll see in the report, they're looking for a chamber of the ancient Library at Alexandria which was a magical annex to the regular library. Unfortunately, when the Library burned, it was presumed that the contents of it were lost. However, it's just possible that the chamber survived, because of its protective spells. That would mean a trove of artifacts and scrolls straight out of ancient times."

Although Preston hadn't been overly interested in the contents of ancient sites, which were usually mundane, this was potentially very interesting. He was an inventor, so anything that could be used to improve current processes was worth looking into. He understood why some people in the IMMF got such a charge out of hunting for such stuff.

"If you hang around with Haeph, just be sure you let them defuse anything that might be dangerous. Working underwater is a little bit hazardous. You take care of yourself."

He leaned in and gave her a brief kiss, his nerves jangling for more.

The caution in Preston's voice about the danger of the expedition made Jenn stop for a moment. Her romantic thoughts daydreams and excitement had gotten the best of her. However, she knew he meant it only in the best way, and the kiss was welcomed.

What a mushy mushy girl I am about him!

"I'm a fish in water, but I will watch myself, darling, and I won't get in the way of the team. I must say, it's dreadfully exciting to be involved in something like this, and I often thought I might put in for IMMF some time if Hugh needed me, or maybe there was a handsome devil who happened to work there that could put in a good word?"

She smiled, but then she fell back to a more serious tone of voice.

"Oh, and that reminds me. I wanted to ask you one more thing, Pres. Since we're sort of an office romance, how quiet do you want to be about this? It's no one's business really, but if you think it would make things difficult, we can keep it low key, if you want to."

He hadn't really thought of it as an office romance at all. he had been more concerned with how his father and some of his colleagues would view the matchup. Not that Jenn was scandalous in any way, far from it. The age difference was significant.... But why was he worrying about all this anyway?

"We're taking the chance, remember? I don't think we need to worry at all. Unless you're actually a Dark Witch out to steal my soul. In which case, it's too late, I guess," he laughed.

At the same moment, that they were speaking together, he noticed a couple of office assistants hanging around the hallway a little distance from the glass doors. The secret was out, if it had ever been a secret. He smiled in the general direction of the assistants.

"Don't look now, but some of the office has noticed you're standing closer to me than Ministry regulations normally allow. Now you'd better get packed and ready, and I have work to do, nice though your hair smells."

Her only response to the fact that they were going to be the subject of office gossip within minutes was to laugh her little waterfall laugh, and glance at the office staff loking in at them. She followed this with a little wave at them, and turned back to Preston. She really liked his smile, and he was flashing one now, and she was the subject. That made her cheeks heat up more than the office admins. She stepped back from Preston and unconsciously smoothed her suit, although they'd hardly done anything for it to get wrinkled.

"If you're free before eleven tonight," she offered, "you can come by my flat. If you bring food, that's even better." She put one slender finger to her lips and swayed a little back and forth. "Even if it's after eleven, just message me, and I'll let you in. You can help me pack, and teach me with those unbutt- I mean, folding charms."

"You already know me too well," he smiled. "I will give you a fair warning if I'm going to be very late; I've still got all the other teams to deal with."

Once more oblivious to any stares, he gave her a hug, and swayed in place with her for a few moments before shooing her out of the office, as he cast an admiring glance at the well turned ankle. He stopped her before she could get very far, though.

"If there's any other trouble out there in Egypt, here's the card of an old friend that came to Hogwarts years ago. Fornia Bekhit-Banoubh. You might remember her. She works for the Egyptian Ministry now in some capacity. She's been helpful before, and she knows Hugh and our people are often in and out of the country."

At the door, she paused as Preston stopped her to relay last minute instructions.

The name of Fornia brought up some memories for Jenn, of long ago and far away at Hogwarts, and that creepy old castle on the north coast of Scotland. She hugged him back, and turned into the hallway. At the moment is was empty again.

"I remember Fornia, she was very smart, and very capable. In fact, I think I'll look her up when I get to Egypt, and see what she's been doing! You don't know about some of my exploits when I was at school, Preston. I met Fornia when we flew -- well, time enough for that later."

She smiled the dimpled cheeked smile, and headed off down the hallway, turning and waving bye-bye.