[personal profile] izzyalienqueen
It shouldn't have been a surprise. It was March. Isabel had been holding her breath waiting for whatever trauma the universe was going to dump on her this year. After all, it wasn't as if the last three years had been all that peaceful.

Still, in the grand scheme of things, a persistent portal that grabbed her on her way to the library and deposited her in a rather swank hotel room on the Vegas Strip wasn't all that bad, Isabel thought. Until she looked out the window and realized that it wasn't her Vegas strip. The differences were subtle but it was enough for Isabel to realize that she was somewhere she didn't belong. Especially when she had an exam in an hour.

Fortunately she had an interdimensional Bridge-phone and a boyfriend that could orb. She'd be back in time to get a coffee before class.

Except her phone – the one that was never supposed to fail – chose that moment to not work.

Crap…

Two hours later, after repeated calls to the Portalocity customer service desk that ended with a message of "all circuits are busy, please call back later", Isabel was ready to pitch the hotel phone across the room.

Instead, she grabbed her purse and left the room. She'd get a coffee. Take a walk. Check out the tourists and then try Portalocity later.

It was a just weirdness. She was used to weirdness. She'd cope and if all went well she'd be home in time for the weekend.

[For one...]

Date: 2009-03-05 06:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
She'd thought it was Greg. Or a least some other universe's older version of him. That he recognized her had Isabel boggling just a tiny bit. She hadn't just jumped dimensions. She'd jump time as well. Nice job Portalocity.

"Yeah," she said, unable to help a smile from spreading across her face. Seeing him was the first non-annoying thing that had happened all day. "Of all the crime scenes in the world, I happened to walk into yours. Go figure."

Date: 2009-03-05 06:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"Holy shit," he breathed, as Nick sent him a questioning look. "Um. Old friend," he told him, and wandered over to Isabel. "Um. Hi. How're you? More importantly, how are you here?"

Date: 2009-03-05 06:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"I go to school at UNLV now. Just, not this one," Isabel explained, dropping her voice in case Greg's coworker was paying attention. "I got portal napped this morning and dropped in a suite at the Encore."

Date: 2009-03-05 06:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"I was gonna say, you look awfully young," Greg admitted, glancing over to make sure Nick was ignoring them. He was. "Um. Any idea how long you're gonna be in town?"

Date: 2009-03-05 07:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"Oh gee, should I call you Grandpa? Since you're so much older now?" she teased.

But she sobered, thinking of all the people that would start to panic once they realized she was gone. Especially on today of all days. "If the weirdness sticks to the usual schedule, hopefully not more then a night or two. It wouldn't be so bad if I could just call people and let them know where I am. But my phone's dead for some reason."

Date: 2009-03-05 08:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"And I'm guessing mine isn't exactly going to be able to hit their area codes," Greg said thoughtfully. "Um. I'm kind of working at the moment, and I'm going to get questions from my boss if I bring a college girl home from a crime scene." He consulted his watch. "Do you want to hang out somewhere around here for like an hour? I have to run this stuff back to the lab, but I can come back after and we can get coffee or breakfast or something. Try and see if we can sort this out a little."

Admittedly, he didn't want to leave her alone in the city. He was too used to Vegas crime scenes by now.

Date: 2009-03-05 10:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"I'd like that. A lot."

Being in a strange universe wouldn't be so bad with a friendly face to talk to.

Isabel pointed up the street towards the Barnes & Noble she'd been heading towards before stopping. "I'll head over there and browse for a while. You can just get me when you're free."

Date: 2009-03-05 11:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
He nodded, consulting his watch again. "Um. Be careful and don't talk to strangers," he said, nodding swiftly, then making a face. "Sorry. It's the cop thing. I'll be back after I drop this stuff off."

He glanced over at Catherine and Nick, who were both looking curious now, and tossed Isabel a little wave as he scurried back to his coworkers, trying to look casual. It wasn't working.

Date: 2009-03-06 12:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
The cop thing was still kind of surprising. But it seemed, based on just a few minutes of observation, that it suited him. "I won't. I promise. I'll just find a quiet corner, a coffee and a good book and wait till you come to save me."

Isabel watched him crossover to his coworkers, flashed them a small smile then continued on to the bookstore, where she did just what she promised.

An hour later, she was comfortably settled in an overstuffed chair as she paged through a magazine, relieved to see that celebrities were still idiots no matter what dimension you were in.

Date: 2009-03-06 12:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
Greg had had to do some swift explaining to his coworkers before they'd headed back to the lab and he'd clocked out, ducking Nick's questions the entire time.

He found a parking spot outside the bookstore, still in his vest with SANDERS over his right and LVPD CSI over the left, (though it was under a jacket now) and headed inside the store.

It didn't take him too long to find her, and he smiled a little as he approached before gracelessly flopping into the chair behind her. "Look at that. No one kidnapped you or tried to sell you on the black market while I was clocking out or anything!"
Edited Date: 2009-03-06 12:38 am (UTC)

Date: 2009-03-06 12:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"Fortunately no. That was last year's trauma," Isabel replied, setting aside the magazine and studying Greg for a long moment. "You looked all official out there. How did that happen?"

Date: 2009-03-06 12:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"It's been a busy...twelve years," he said, smiling lightly and doing some mental math. "I've been working in forensics since I graduated college. They're training me to be a CSI now. Contain your shock that I ended up in a lab. Because I know, it's soooo surprising."

Date: 2009-03-06 12:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"I am shocked. Totally and completely," she grinned, not shocked in the least. "I bet you were good at it. But now you're escaping the safety of the lab for the mean streets?"

Date: 2009-03-06 01:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"Eh, it's more interesting," he admitted. "But, no, I get to ask the questions here, starting with -- how are you here? Portal malfunction? You skipped through universes and time, too?"

Date: 2009-03-06 01:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"Apparently?" Isabel shrugged. She was still clinging with both hands to the idea that this was just random weirdness that would be resolved. "I was on my way to the library to do some last minute studying for my Info Systems exam. This portal appeared and no matter where I went, I couldn't get away from it." How she was going to explain it to anyone that saw it, she had no idea.

"For me it's been almost two years since you left Fandom. I didn't have to go back there," she said, pointing her thumb up towards the sky. "And Max and Michael came back. So I was able to finish up my senior year at Fandom. I survived graduation and now I'm a freshman at UNLV.

Date: 2009-03-06 01:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"I was worried," he admitted with a little smile, remembering the years after he'd left Fandom. "About you and that whole situation." He pointed lightly to the ceiling, mirroring her gesture. "Crap, time stuff like this always threw me off. You look exactly like when I left. It's so weird."

He shook his head, trying to clear it. "What're you studying, anyway?"

Date: 2009-03-06 02:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"You've been away from Fandom and all it's weirdness for too long. Weetiny animals, random sex changes, pudding rain. The real world is much more boring." Until it did stuff like this.

"I'm studying hotel administration believe it or not. Specializing in meetings and events management. I figure it's the best way to channel my mad organizational skills for the greater good."

Date: 2009-03-06 02:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"You're in the right place for it," he said lightly, smirking. "God, did you spend Christmas out here? Because you'd fit riiiight in."

Date: 2009-03-06 02:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
Isabel stuck her tongue out at him. "I saw some of it, but the dorms kicked us out for the break. So I wound up back in Roswell refereeing the guys while they played Wii. Next year I'll have an apartment, so I'll be able to stick around a little longer."

Date: 2009-03-06 03:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"An apartment you can decorate with more lights than the Strip," he added, grinning at her. "And fill with presents."

Date: 2009-03-06 03:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"Guilty on all counts," Isabel admitted proudly. "Although I'm using LED lights now. So at least I'm not using as much power."

Date: 2009-03-06 03:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"Hey, save the planet and stuff," he said, nodding seriously. "I switched away from aerosol hair spray for the same reason."

Date: 2009-03-06 03:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"Everybody has to do their part," she agreed. "So life is good for you though?" Which when run through the ex-girlfriend translator actually meant Are you seeing anyone?

Date: 2009-03-06 08:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"Life is good," he confirmed with a quick smile, and he shrugged. He didn't have to work to figure out what she meant. "I mean. Life is kind of work. I'm on the night shift most of the time. Doesn't leave much room for a social life. But I'm happy. And you?"
Edited Date: 2009-03-06 08:24 am (UTC)

Date: 2009-03-06 02:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"I'm slowly adjusting to life in the real world. After going to school in Fandom, eighteen credit hours is a pretty big reality check," Isabel with a shrug of her own.

"But I'm happy. We have our answers. My brothers are safe. There's no destiny hanging over us any longer. I've got great friends and, well, there's a guy. Who's probably panicking right now because he can't get in touch with me." Her smile faded as she pictured it happening. "When I said kidnapping was last year's trauma? I wasn't kidding."

Date: 2009-03-06 05:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
He was proud of himself for not being jealous or anything -- though he did think back and recall that he'd been dating Amelia Wood (a girl from his dorm) at that age, so hey, good for her.

And there were more important things than wondering about his years-younger ex-girlfriend from another dimension's love life.

"What happened?"

Date: 2009-03-06 07:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
"About what you'd expect. Someone found out about us and thought I could heal like Max. I got grabbed with another girl from school," Isabel explained quietly.

"By the time the cavalry came to the rescue things had gotten pretty damn ugly. I almost died. So he still gets a little twitchy if I drop out of sight unexpectedly." Which was simplifying the events of last year just a bit. But explaining dying and taking over someone else's body just wasn't a conversation for a public place.

Date: 2009-03-06 08:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] like-a-sponge.livejournal.com
"Well," Greg said, studying his hands for a moment as he searched for the right response to something like that (he was a little out of touch, after twelve years), "all this Fandom weird stuff usually only lasts a couple days, right? We'll get you back home."

Date: 2009-03-06 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com
Isabel was nothing if not good at compartmentalizing any bad memories. She pushed thoughts of last year aside and focused on Greg. "Yeah, usually about twenty-four to forty-eight hours. So by Saturday morning I should be back where I belong," she assured him. "In the mean time I'll take advantage of the hotel and maybe get a massage or a spa treatment or something."

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