Josephine settled into the hard plastic chair, wondering why she was still there. Jake's breathing had settled into the relaxed rhythm of sleep nearly five minutes earlier; he wasn't likely to know if she left, and she certainly hadn't promised to stay all night. But as her gaze flitted across his vulnerable features such a rush of protectiveness swept her that she was momentarily stunned. What was the matter with her?

Moving to her feet, she began to pace. It was time to reaccess the situation. She was a scientist with a logical mind who wasn't given to wild displays of emotion. Everything had an explanation, and so did this.

Fact: Jake McGregor was a man. A very attractive man, she amended as her steps came to a stop before his bedside. And of course, she was a woman. That in and of itself could potentially lead to an impressive number of chemical reactions. Although, of course, she could think beyond such things. Which should have dampened any urges on her part.

But as she stood looking at him, the feeling remained and even intensified. Her fingers moved instictively to his brow and brushed a lock of hair from his face. The warmth of his skin against her fingers was electrifying. Drawing her hand back protectively against her chest, Jo forced herself to sit.

It was instinct, that was all it was. Jake, a man, played the warrior role. She, the woman, played the nurturing role. That scenario played itself out over and over again in human relationships. As Jake was the wounded warrior, it was only reflex for her own, womanly, nuturing instincts to arrise. It facilitated the survival of the species, really, and was simple human nature helped along by a few chemical reactions in the brain.

Josephine smiled and settled more comfortably in the chair. She was satisfied with that explanation. Her reactions were only natural, documentable responses. Chemistry 101. What separated humans from mere beasts was the ability to logically understand such things. There was absolutely nothing the matter with her.

After having put her powers of analysis to good use in explaning her emotional reactions, it seemed odd that she found it impossible to explain why she jumped guiltily when Shelly and Michael entered the room moments later.

"You seem distracted, Josephine. Is everything all right?"

Jo blinked, mortified that she had actually been daydreaming. "I'm terribly sorry. I had trouble sleeping last night." Well, at least that was the truth. But lack of sleep wasn't what had caused her mind to drift off of the task at hand. The blame for that resided with a certain dark-haired man, who, if her calculations were correct, was being released from the hospital.

"I understand completely," Tiffany Duncan winked, settling a friendly hand on Jo's arm. Josephine covered a confused furrowing of her brow by taking a sip of coffee. She and Tiffany had never gotten along well - mostly because of the rumors of Josephine's own interest in Greg Petterson. There hadn't been animosity exactly, but more a coolness between them. Jo had sensed a little of it when she'd arrived in the lab earlier that morning. She wondered that being caught daydreaming could effect such changes.

"What's his name?" Tiffany continued conspiratorily.

Jo nearly choked on her coffee. "Excuse me?" she asked, when she was able again to talk.

Tiffany laughed knowingly. "What's his name?" she repeated.

"Whose name? There's no one."

"Umm hmm," Tiffany watched her from the corner of her eye. "And my name is Mudd. Well, if you want to keep it a secret then, fine. But you, my dear, have a man on your mind."

Jo wasn't quite sure what to say to that. She wasn't quite sure if she should say anything to that. Thankfully, she was saved by Greg's return to the room.

"All the couples are set up," he informed them. Then, seeing his two female partners sitting so close together, "Did I miss something?" His blue-eyed gaze was wary.

"Oh, just girl talk," Tiffany spoke up, sending a sly smile Jo's way. "So who get's first round?"

"I'll do it," Jo volunteered quickly. On her way out of the door she tossed a quickly smile Tiffany's way, equally thankful for the oppurtunity to escape and that the other woman had decided not to pursue the conversation. Now if only she could manage to keep herself focused.

"Good boy, Bojo!" Jake called from his position seated on the wooden steps leading from Michael and Shelly's deck to ground level. A large Irish Setter bounded toward him, anxiously anticipating Jake's next toss of the rubber stick. Jake and Bojo had become fast friends over the course of the day. But after playing with the dog and attempting to find something interesting on television, Jake was beginning to go a little stir crazy. He found himself wishing that he'd not promised Shelly that he'd stay in and rest. Despite Shelly and Michael's offer that he live with him for the duration of his stay, the need to get out and find his own space weighed heavily on him.

Tossing the stick again, he watched almost absently as the large dog trotted across the yard after the toy. The rich redish-brown reminded him of his own dog from his boyhood. Cuffy had been a Collie-Mutt mix, but Jake had felt as if she were of the finest pedigree in all of Oregon.

Looking about the quiet neighborhood, so full of children and animals, he realised that he envied Michael. A beautiful wife, a home, a dog... The American dream. As he travelled so often with the company, Jake hadn't had time for a home or family, much less a dog. He didn't think it would be fair to tie another living being to him when he'd be up and moving within six months, anyway. Off to the next site of the future offices of WTI Technologies. His was a life of short term relationships with women who understood the ropes and acted accordingly.

"There you are," a deep voice spoke from behind him, dragging him from his thoughts. "Thought you'd've managed to sneak out past Warden Shelly."

Jake rose from his seat, partly to greet Micheal and partly to avoid being run over by an over-anxious Bojo rushing to meet his owner. "I may not have experienced the bounds of marital bliss, but give me some credit. I'll never bite the hand that's been threatening me with clear broth for the next four days."

"You've learned the first step," Michael clapped him on the shoulder. "Know which wars you can't win."

"Absolutely," Jake returned.

"So what about you? Ready to take a couple more?"

"A couple more what?" Jake asked suspiciously.

"You know, steps toward that wonderful condition known as married."

"Are you ill?" Jake rested a palm against Michael's forehead. "No man in his right mind says that."

"Then I'm out of my mind," Michael laughed. He continued, his tone becoming slightly more serious. "Whatever happened with whats-her-name?"

Jake eyed his half-brother cautiously. "You haven't been talking to Mom, have you?"

Michael shook his head. "No. I was just curious, bro. You've been doing all the traveling for the past couple years. That's not really easy. I know. I've been there. Lyle is probably ready to take over with the heavy travelling."

Jake shrugged. "I'm used to it," he said noncommitally.

"Maybe," Michael told him carefully. "But there comes a time in a man's life when he starts looking for roots. When I came out on the porch I could have sworn you were wearing that 'looking for roots' look."

Jake held his brother's gaze for a moment, unsure of exactly what he was feeling or what he wanted to say. A look of understanding crossed Michael's features and then he smiled. Jake returned the smile, then laughed, "And you're sure you're not ill?"

Josephine typed the final sentence into her day report and saved the record. The computer beeped in acknowledgement and the screen cleared.

"How'd it go?" A head appeared around the door.

Josephine looked up and spoke drily. "Survivable." The word 'barely' was tacked on mentally.

Shelly laughed and stepped more fully into the room. "That's why I knew you would be perfect for this. Unflappable Jo, that's who you are."

"Yeah, unflappable," Jo replied, shutting down her computer. It wouldn't do to tell her friend just how 'flapped' she'd been that day. Allowing a moment to pass, she changed the subject. "How's your guest?" She refused to look toward her friend while she awaited the answer, suddenly finding her computer's shut down routine fascinating.

"He's fine," was Shelly's deceptively calm reply. "They released him around noon. He's a little tired, but he'll be fine. Michael's going to be with him this afternoon. He asked about you, you know."

"Really?" Josephine looked toward her friend, surprised. Then forcing nonchalance, "Well, I guess it isn't everyday that total strangers get to share that type of experience. Except in the medical profession, of course." She turned back to her PC, staring at nothing.

"Of course." Shelly's tone was entirely too placid, Josephine thought. The woman was obviously up to something; Jo could practically hear the wheels turning in her head. Shelly the matchmaker would soon be rearing her obnoxious head, Josephine was sure.

"So what are you doing tomorrow night?" Shelly asked.

"The usual," Josephine replied, finally realizing that her computer had gone completely dark. She reached into a lower desk drawer for her purse.

"Translation: nothing," Shelly put in. "Why don't your come to our place?"

But that would mean... "What for?" she asked.

"Normal folks call it dinner, but if you've got another definition..."

"You don't really need me. Especially since you have a sick guest and all..." Josephine hoped the excuse was good enough. She didn't want to test her instinctive responses to Jake McGregor just yet. She felt too weak to combat them.

"Please, Jo," Shelly begged. "No tricks or set ups, I promise. It's a thank you for what you did. It was kinda Jake's idea, really. He wanted to do something for you himself, but he doesn't really know the area yet. Do come."

Jo looked into her friend's sincere expression and felt herself melting.

"It was really a close call, Josie. If you had taken him home and left him, who knows what might have happened? We just want to thank you."

Still Jo remained silent.

"Come on," Shelly nudged her. "I told you, I've given up meddling in your love life, or the lack thereof. So what if I think you and Jake would make a great couple. You are on your own as far as I'm concerned."

"Okay," Jo heard herself promising her friend that she would be at her and Michael's for dinner on Saturday night. Before she exitted her offices, Shelly had convinced her to arrive early to help with desert.

Josephine stared morosely at her image in the mirror. Long curling locks tumbled over her shoulders, haloing her face with fluffy darkness. The entire mass was unruly, she decided. And her lips were too full, and her eyes too wide set. At least her lashes were dark and thick and she didn't have to worry with mascara. That was one plus.

Carefully attaching one of the multitude of barrettes that her mother had given her, Jo turned slightly to the side to take in the effect. It wasn't at all her usual style. But, it really wasn't logical to leave all those barrettes laying around if she were never going to use them. Imminently logical, that was what she was. Which was why she normally wore her hair braided and pinned neatly to her head. For some reason, lately her logical was slightly askew. It seemed more practical to wear it down.

Her musings were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Glancing toward the clock, she realized that if she didn't leave in the next three minutes, she would be late. The very idea apalled her. Deciding to let the machine pick up, she slipped out of her bedroom and headed for the front door.

She thought she heard her mother's voice as she was closing the door. She paused. Did her mother need her? Her tone of voice sounded okay. Things were probably just fine. Continuing on, she exited the apartment and set off for Shelly and Michael's.

"Oh, just look at you," Shelly exclaimed as she pulled open the front door. Throwing a harried, "Love the hair," over her shoulder, she returned to the kitchen. Josephine was left to shut the door.

"Thanks," Josephine murmured drily when she finally caught up to the bustling woman. "Now give me something to do before you blow a cylinder." The kitchen counter was covered with an astonishing variety of vegetables and spices. Shelly's favorite pasttime was experimenting in the kitchen. Josephine wasn't sure that experimenting was a good idea on a night that she was cooking dinner for 'guests' - one of which was recovering from food poisoning.

Shelly responded with a maniacal laugh. "Too late. Now guess what we're having."

Jo gazed again over the collection of foods. "Does the name consist of three words or less?"

"Well that depends on who you ask..."

"Shelly! You're kidding. Do you really --"

"It's normal everyday food," Shelly laughed, not a hint of manic tendencies in sight. "Just joshing ya. I took all this stuff out of the fridge cause I can't find my grated cheese."

"Why didn't you call me? I could have picked some up." Shelly's recipe ideas where only slightly less frightening than her ideas about refrigerator organization.

"Well, uh, I did," Shelly told her. "You were already gone. Get a cell phone already!"

"So you can call and tell me to bring cheese?" Jo laughed. "I don't think so. So, what kind am I getting?"

"Oh, you are a sweetie," Shelly grinned at her, quickly describing what she wanted. Both women turned at the sound of the back door opening.

"Hey! I thought I heard you drive up," Michael Winters appeared through the entrance, Jake McGregor on his heels. "Jake and I were doing dude duties. You know, lighting the grill." He tossed a handful of nuts into his mouth, then stooped over to give Shelly a peck on the cheek.

Jo felt her eyes drawn to Jake. He still looked a little pale and faint shadows were visible beneath his eyes, but it was obvious that he was feeling much better. He offered a warm smile of welcome, which Josephine thought she could feel all the way to her toes. She returned his smile hesitently, but responded to Michael.

"Dude duties, huh? Well I won't touch that one. I've come and now I'm going."

"So soon?" Jake spoke up.

"Cheese run," Shelly informed him, a note in her voice meant specifically for Josephine. And Jo would have had to have been blind to miss the suggestive look Shelly sent her way. Michael seemed to have intercepted the look.

"Hey," he said, turning toward Jake a beat too late. "Why don't you go with her? It'll give you a chance to learn at least a little bit about the area." Looking quickly toward Jo, "You don't mind do you?"

"Uh... No," Josephine said, giving Michael a hard look which he blithely ignored. It appeared that Shelly wasn't the only matchmater in the family.