9th Case - The Lab in the Zone

[beltbucklerebel]

[It's the Monday after Easter and, just like any night (because the Lab's been here forever. What are you talking about?) Booth and Bren's club is open for business. The music is pounding, the drinks are flowing, and the dance floor is open for any and all.

Feel like dancing or drinking your sorrows away? Then this is the perfect spot for you]

Comments

BREN'S OFFICE

[beltbucklerebel]

[Is there a problem the bosses need to know about? Just hiding out from the crowd? Here's the place to be...until Bren tells you to get back on the floor, anyway.]

[whichswan]

[ For Nina, it's time to work, not party, and she's dressed accordingly in office wear, hunched over inventories. ]

[beltbucklerebel]

[when Booth steps into the office to find a number, he sighs a little when he sees Nina. It's not that he doesn't like her. She's just so... serious. Still, if she's in here]

Nina, have we got a number for that band that stopped by yesterday? We have a cancellation for next week and I want to get that gap filled asap.

[whichswan]

[ Inventories are boring, and so she fills her mind thinking about Wesley and Bren--when she hears Mr. B's voice. Nina looks up with a gasp, fumbles with her pen and drops it to the floor. ]

Oh--I'm sorry. I wasn't--[ She stands up. ] You said cancellation?

[beltbucklerebel]

C'mon...I'm not that scary.

[bending down, he'll retrieve the pen to hand it to her]

Yeah... the... Two Tones or Toners or...whatever the hell they were calling themselves. Next Friday. They needed to cancel.

[whichswan]

[ Her eyes widen at the comment. ]

Oh. No. No--it's not you. I was just--thinking.

[ She huffs as she takes the pen from him. ]

Thank you. I'll get on that right away.

[beltbucklerebel]

Yeah...alright. Just try not to work yourself into the ground or anything. [Bren would be impossible to deal with if she had to find another assistant.]

[whichswan]

[ Nina gives him a reassuring smile. ]

I won't. I'll head home in a few.

[beltbucklerebel]

Right. Good.

[an awkward pause. He was never quite sure what to do with Nina] Keep up the good work, kid. And get me that number when you get the chance.

[and he'll leave her to whatever she was doing before he interrupted]

[demonologist]

[Wes is a clever fellow, and he's not going to let certain people deter him from his goals. And so it's with a certain kind of casual boldness that he saunters out the back to poke his head into Bren's office, just on the off chance that she is there.]

Hello?

[whichswan]

[ Nina has been at the club since six this morning, so it's time for her to go home. She is sorting out her table when she hears a very familiar voice. She whips around in surprise. ]

Mr. Wyndam-Pryce. Mrs. Booth isn't here right now...

[ Oh no. Did she forget to schedule him an appointment? ]

[demonologist]

[It's a disappointment, but he hides it well. In fact, he puts on a wry smile and moves into the space anyway.]

I don't suppose you happen to know where she is? We were supposed to meet tonight but unfortunately I was waylaid.

[He gestures offhandedly at his bandage. He's not above milking a little sympathy if it suits him.]

[whichswan]

[ Nina lets out a relieved sigh to learn that it wasn't quite her mistake, though her expression quickly turns to that of concern. ]

She didn't say... she'll be back in an hour or so if you'd like to wait.

[ She doesn't want to step over any lines, but-- ]

What happened?

[demonologist]

Oh, this? Just a minor disagreement with a client. He didn't like my terms. But it's nothing to be concerned about.

Hmmm. Perhaps I will have a drink, then. Would you care to join me?

[He gestures in the direction of the bar.]

Nina, isn't it?

[whichswan]

If you say so.

[ Nina really hopes that it isn't Mr. B. At his offer, she looks down and fumbles with the straps of her bag. It doesn't seem like a very good idea to be drinking with him, for reasons that are obvious. ]

Yes. But--I should head home.

[demonologist]

Just one drink? Since I'm going to have to wait for Brennan I'd rather have some charming company while I did so.

[He gives her a winning smile. Come on, Nina, loosen up a bit.]

I'm buying.