Title: Managing Author: bigtitch Rating: Gen Characters: Lorraine, Ryan, Norman Words: 530 A/N: Written for the Primeval Monthly Challenge Prompt 2. Norman belongs to fredbassett
Lorraine looked across the meeting room table at Professor Nick Cutter and sighed inwardly. The man was complaining about the lack of protection for the experts by the special forces team. The cause of this complaint was another near death experience by Stephen Hart, who had been allowed to get far too close to an irritable mastodon. As could be predicted Captain Ryan argued in defence of his men, while Lester alternated between trying to keep the peace while clearly siding with Ryan.
It was Lorraine's job to minute this, which she did in her usual efficient shorthand.
"Item 2.4 Safety of Non-military Personnel "Professor Cutter raised concerns about how little protection was offered to Stephen Hart in the mission regarding the mastodon in the car park. Captain Ryan replied that Hart had been acting recklessly beyond his role as animal expert. It was generally agreed that life would be a lot easier if Cutter and Hart would just get on with it and have a quick shag in the showers&"
Beside her Ryan suddenly acquired a coughing fit. She glanced at him suspiciously, but he had got his normal meeting face back in place and the meeting went on without any further bronchial interruptions.
Ryan held the door open for her on the way out of the meeting room.
'I didn't know you could read shorthand, Captain Ryan.'
'It's a useful skill if you want to know secrets. Not that there's anything secret about Cutter and Hart.'
'Only to themselves, apparently.'
Ryan considered this. 'You know I think they both know it on one level, but each is convinced they're unlovable so they're just imagining it. One takes a step forward and the other takes a step back. It'd be an interesting dance if it wasn't likely to get one of them killed at some point.'
'Or one of your men.'
'That's true. They need a place where neither of them can back up, but they won't even go in the same car any more. Maybe I should just thump Cutter again.'
Lorraine laughed. 'Don't do that, he only has so much common sense, you might start beating it out of him if you continue!'
They both laughed and went their separate ways. But Lorraine started thinking about what she could arrange. For the good of the team, of course.
++++
Three days later Ryan came into the ARC maintenance office.
'Norman! Cutter and Hart are stuck in the lab-side lift!'
Lorraine looked up from where she was sitting beside Norman by one of the security monitors. 'Thank you, Captain. We're aware of the situation.'
'Are you going to do anything about it?'
'Oh yes, but not until they've sorted out their little problem.'
'Remember, we're letting them out before they start using a corner as a toilet!' Norman interjected. 'I don't mind playing Cupid as long as it doesn't involve a mop and bucket!'
'Agreed,' Lorraine conceded. 'But they're definitely sitting closer together now, so I don't think it'll be too long.'
Ryan came over and looked at the monitor. Cutter and Stephen were definitely sitting closer than they had at any point since he'd known them. 'It looks like it's working. You are a clever woman, Lorraine.'