Their Fragile Strength

Things to do

"'G'mornjng Effee!" I turn around to see where the voice was coming from. I know it belongs to Marc Kenote. He is a paleontologist whose office resides on the first floor. He is a muscularly built giant of a man whose temperament is that of one both gentle and brotherly. I look towards his lab but I don't see any sign of him. As I turn another half circle he comes right up to me.

"Ken, there you are. How was your weekend?" I ask warmly.

"Quite boring to be honest with ya," he shrugs his massive shoulders and continues. "The missus said if I dont lose some weight right here," he pats his stomach affectionately, "She gone set up bed for me out with the dog."

"Ken, you gonna lose weight, let me know if you need a running partner," I say smiling.

"No effee, the wife said I need to be losing weight. I like my boneless wings and ribs too much." he laughs and I cant help laughing along with. "Listen Ken, I have to go but you know where to reach me," I say already moving towards the first floor elevator.

"Bye black barbie."

I turn around and he's doing a mock bow and curtsy. It was an inside joke from years ago when we first started working together. I shake my head and get on one of the elevators. When I get out on the third floor, the floor secretary drops a huge pile of papers on top the front of her desk.

I look at her and raise my brows.

"You could have shredded some of these papers for us, Lyn!" Just coming off the second elevator is Julian Marcoy with a handful of textbooks in his hands. Lyn looks at him and blushes. She starts fussing with her hair and pulling down the hem of her shirt and smoothing her hands down her flat stomach. She bats her eyes and flirts with him shamelessly. I roll my eyes, grab my pile and start to walk away as I hear the thud indicating his pile was no less than mine.

"Slow down!"

Looking back I realize Julian has a large pile of books and papers balanced precariously and due to the teetering stack is unable to keep up. Heeding his request, I stop to skim the page at the top of my own stack only to groan in frustration a moment later as Julian stumbles into me and the contents from both our hands blanket the floor.

To avoid both our heads colliding I wait for him to grab his papers first.

I watch him get into a deep squat as he stretches forward to grab papers. His shoulders are lean and when he bends forwards, his muscles bunch under the well fitted button down he has on under his lab coat.

Julian is my assistant, and has been for many years. He had his own project and a big paycheck to go with it but for some reason I don't know he left it and came to be my second in command and assistant. It has been years now and he's refused employment and research offers so much, they have waned down to a trickle.

He is quite an anomaly. Most people see his well sculpted, purposely crafted physique and develop crushes on him. Some see his well pampered and prestinely maintained beard and tailored suits and underestimate the hardships he's endured to get there. He is in no way some spoiled, heartless playboy.

I was confused why he joined my research team at first but regardless we quickly become friends, and one night after a few too many drinks, more than.

He stands up, shifts the contents of his arms to his hip, c***s his hip to one side slightly and raises one eyebrow at me. I come out of my reverie and realize, small things like him c*****g his hip belays his current image. It sheds light on a person he had not been in over a decade, one who was softer with a rounder hip and who's features were described as pretty instead of handsome.

I had gotten over my shock quickly and since then we have had the occasional benefits when the need fits. Once again Julian pulls me out of my thoughts by clearing his throat.

"Sorry," I mutter as I quickly duck to avoid his eyes.

A minute later with papers in hand I resume my walk to the lab. I pass work stations with telescopes, papers and pens strewn on desks. I pass a couple of water fountains and breakrooms. I see five people in the breakroom but only 2 whom I recognize.

The white walls seem endless and bleed into the ceilings. The only thing that interrupted the sea of white is the light gray, white and black tiles on which we walk. As I near the fast approaching door that leads to my large lab room I feel someone brush by me. I stop just in time to avoid returning the favor and crashing into Julian. He mutters a quick apology and holds the door for me.

After going through we both walk to the big desk to the left of the wide double doors we just came through and dump our papers unceremoniously on the surface. I rub my arms to relieve some of the tension that had built up during the long walk and watch as Julian stretched all five feet, seven inches of himself accompanied by various popping sounds from a few of his joints.

Though I dread dredging through the dozens of scientific articles, I know the faster I start the sooner I stop. I push my sleeves up, sit down and pat the seat next to me. "Early bird and all that. y'know?" I say, already grabbing the first article and skimming the title.

Instead of starting in on his own pile, he leans over my shoulder and reads aloud "Biker Claims to have seen Bear Sized Wolf." He examines the photo and then quickly skims the first page. He doesn't seem to care for whatever it is he sees.

He lifts the next article and sighs. "You can't be serious!" he exclaims.

Intrigued I snatch the article out of his hand and read aloud "Man bit by werewolf..." I glance over and see him roll his eyes rather vigorously.

"Really though. Werewolves? Can't they come up with something other than the ridiculous?" He continues muttering in disbelief.

I turn back to the articles and examine the images under the titles. Something about them seems important. I can't quite place my fingers on it.

I keep reading the article but the nagging suspension that I'm missing something makes me flip to the beginning of the article multiple times. Frustrated I neatly line up my stack again.

Putting them aside I focus my attention on the large list of things to do today. At the very top it reads Research materials. I cross it off and turn back to the table to finish what I'd started.