Triskele

"So you're telling me that he was bitten by his pet spider and went into anaphylactic shock?" Jordan asked, looking at the tarantula.

"Exactly," Bug said, letting the tarantula walk across his hand.

Bevan walked in and stopped dead in her tracks, staring at the spider.

"That's a big damn spider," she said.

"One like it killed the guy in three," Jordan said, taking the bag of popcorn out of Bevan's hand. "Don't mind if I do."

"Just save me some. He was allergic to bees?" she asked.

"Yeah," Bug said.

"How long are the fangs on it?" she asked, bending forward to look at it.

"About half an inch," Bug said.

"Great," she said sarcastically, cocking her head. "God they give me the creeps."

She felt something slide up her back and she let out a startled 'eep' and jumped. She turned around and looked at Nigel, who looked very satisfied.

"That is not funny," she said, trying to be angry.

"Pretty good Nigel, give her a heart attack," Jordan said eating another handful of popcorn.

"I'll get you back," Bevan threatened. "You just wait."

"Bring it on," he said.

Bevan grabbed a handful of popcorn and threw it at him, hitting him in the face. He grinned and grabbed his own handful.

"Hey, get your own!" Jordan yelled, pulling the bag away from them, "Go fight outside."

Nigel hit her on the top of the head with a file just as Garret walked in.

"Just what in hell is going on in here?" he asked, looking at the popcorn all over the floor.

"Just having a snack," Bevan smiled.

"Then why do you have popcorn in your hair?" Garret asked, looking at them.

"New fad," Nigel said, hearing Bevan snicker.

"Just clean it up," Garret groaned, walking out.

Bevan began laughing and Nigel turned around, grinning at her, "So you're finally lightening up."

"I suppose," she shrugged, suddenly herself again. "Now help me get this popcorn out of my hair."

~~~~

Bevan walked into the Pogue Mahone around six thirty, looking for Jordan. She spotted her and walked over.

"I thought I was going to be talking to myself the whole night," Jordan smiled, "Have a seat."

"I love the glass," Bevan said, looking around.

"Dad," Jordan called as Max walked by, gaining his attention. "This is Bevan Bayne."

"Nigel's wonder woman?" Max asked, looking at her. "You want coffee or something harder?"

"You got a good amber ale?" she asked with a small smile.

Jordan raised her eyebrows and Max grinned, "Coming up."

"Make it a pint," Bevan grinned. "A glass doesn't last long enough."

"You drink beer?" Jordan asked, a half smile on her face."

"You were expecting a wine spritzer maybe?" Bevan asked, "Or a daiquiri perhaps?"

"Yeah, actually," she said. "Next thing you'll be telling me you do shooters."

"Only on Fridays and Saturdays," Bevan smiled, "or if I feel like getting sloshed. Last time I drank shooters in public I got too drunk too fast and danced on the bar."

"Are you serious?" Jordan asked.

She nodded, "They called the police and escorted me back home. Bad thing was, I was working on a case with the officer who took me home."

Jordan laughed and Max handed her the large glass of ale.

"So you're the girl Nigel talks about all the time?" Max said. "I can see why he likes you."

"Thank you," she smiled, "Jordan didn't mention that you owned the pub I was meeting her at."

"She likes to leave things out," Max said.

"Well, regardless, I think I found myself a new pub," she smiled. "As long as there's a pool table and taps, I'm happy."

"You play pool?" Jordan asked.

"I'm a shark," she smiled. "Want to try me?"

~~~~

They were on their third game when a familiar figure set down two quarters as Bevan was shooting.

"Mind if I cut in on the next game?" Nigel asked, admiring Bevan's rear.

"No problem," Jordan said, "she's beating the crap out of me."

"Any other interesting talents you're hiding from us Bev?" Nigel asked with a smile.

"Not that I can mention in public," she said, knocking in three balls, "And it's Bevan, Dr. Townsend. Six in the right far corner and four in the right side."

She shot again and made it, already looking around for another shot. Not finding one, she just hit the cue ball to knock the balls around. She went back to her beer as Jordan surveyed the table, not seeing Nigel grin at Bevan's choice of drink.

"So where did you learn to play pool?" he asked, watching her take a deep pull from her glass.

"VCU," she answered. "I learned to jump balls from all the frat boys."

Jordan knocked the cue ball off the table and looked at her. Nigel grinned and Bevan gave Jordan a wink.

"Set it back up, that wasn't fair of me," Bevan told her.

"So you partied," Nigel said.

"I played pool," she corrected. "I didn't party until I was out of med school. Unless you count the times when I snuck out of boarding school with my friends and went to party."

"You were a regular bad girl," Jordan said, making her shot.

"I've been in my share of fights and wet T-shirt contests," she smiled, "as I'm sure you both have. Well, I doubt you've been in any wet T-shirt contests, Nigel, you're a little flat."

Jordan laughed and made her second shot, looking at them. Truth be told they looked very good together.

"How much have you had to drink?" he asked.

"Two pints and counting," Bevan grinned. "It takes a lot more to get me drunk, Dr. Townsend."

"I liked it better when you called me Nigel," he smiled.

"Your shot Bev," Jordan said. "Anyone want anything while I'm going to the bar?"

"Could you top me off?" Bevan asked, looking around the table.

"Sure," she said, getting Bevan's glass, then leaned towards Nigel. "I dare you to smack her ass."

"I'd rather live to see tomorrow," he grinned.

She laughed and walked to the bar to refill their drinks.