Sarah Jo’s Welcome

Katherine was waiting anxiously by the front door of the coffee shop. Inside, a crowd of people had gathered to welcome the new nurse, Sarah Jo McCants to SIMsCity. A smile curled up at the corner of Katherine’s lips as she thought about all the OIC-less men that had showed up. She had been approached herself several times by some of them who had hinted in various degrees of directness that they would love to be her third charge. She was now the official OIC of both Connor and John Clayton but had been dragging her heels over choosing the third one. Glancing back inside she smiled at John, who was having a conversation with several of the ladies present. Then her attention was drawn to Paul Racine and Dani Servigo who were chatting together near the carrot cake she had made and decorated. She had met many interesting men since she had come to the city, but her thoughts kept going back to those two. She was becoming more and more convinced that Dani would be a good match for Sarah Jo. Something about the pairing just seemed right. And then there was Paul, dear shy Paul. He had been the first CLim she had met when she first arrived in the city when she had literally collapsed and "died" in his arms. The more she thought about him, the more she really wanted to get to know him better.

"No sign of them yet?" her friend Toni asked, her camera poised and ready.

"Not yet. I know they are here though. When Connor was gone, there was a big empty spot here", she said, tapping her chest. "But now it’s filled up again." Sighing, she went back inside and made sure no one needed anything, going around with her coffeepot and filling up cups as necessary and getting refills of other beverages for the people waiting. She paused by Giles and ran her fingers through his hair affectionately for a few minutes; giggling when he told her about how Pem had drenched him while he had changed the little boy’s diaper. She told him next time to have a diaper ready to cover him to avoid that happening again.

Just then the tingling buzz of several immortals approaching her caught her attention and she snapped to attention, "listening" for a moment. "Their here!" She said joyfully, just as Connor MacLeod, Ian Tulley and Sarah Jo McCants walked into the coffee shop.

"Mamma Kat!!!" Sarah Jo cried out as she and Katherine rushed into each other’s arms. After a few moments of hugging each other tightly, Sarah Jo stepped back and looked her friend and mentor over for a moment before whooping in laughter. "Woowee! Would you be looking at yerself! Mamma Kat, you are looking good enough to eat! ‘Tis no wonder at all that himself over there couldn’t stop thinking of yah, night or day!" She said, tipping her head in the direction of Connor, who was standing nearby watching the two of them; shaking his head and raising an eyebrow over the nickname Sarah Jo had for Katherine. That got Katherine to giggling and she blew him a kiss as he rolled his eyes back. He could see big time trouble on the horizon with those two together.

"Come on, silly goose. Let me introduce you to everyone", Katherine said as arm in arm she led Sarah Jo around so she could get acquainted with all the people who had gathered there. The new nurse was a friendly, gregarious type, and her manner quickly put people totally at ease with her. As Katherine had predicted, she and Dani hit it off right away. The two of them having a mock contest in which they tried to determine who could make the most outrageous comments and wisecracks. Their antics kept everyone in stitches. Another person she spent a lot of time talking and joking with was Father Alec, but that didn’t really surprise Katherine either. Several hours later, the wonderfully rich carrot cake almost completely demolished, it was just Sarah Jo, Katherine and Connor left. The two of them were helping Katherine to clean up the mess. When Sarah Jo had left the room with a load of dishes to put in the dishwasher, Connor broached the subject of Kronos’ unwelcome appearance. He was not happy at all that the k’immie had been there and was more than willing to seek him out for a "discussion" of the incident.

"Connor!" Katherine finally cried out, quietly but firmly. "Drop it! Please."

The highlander looked startled but seeing the firm set of her chin, he knew that there would be no changing of her mind. Besides, she was already more than a little miffed at him for taking a head while he was up fetching her friend. He decided to let her have her own way for the time being, but Lord help Kronos if he ever lifted a finger towards his friend again.

They had just finished cleaning up and were fixing to close up the shop and escort Sarah Jo over to Ev and Rayden’s place when the door chimes rang and a tall, handsome Aim walked in. His long black hair was pulled back into a pony tail and he had a mustache and a little goatee style beard.

"Excuse me please, but I’m new in town. Could you possibly direct me to the AIM office?" he said smoothly, with a courtly bow to the two ladies. Katherine did not miss the sharp intake of breath from her friend as Sarah Jo looked him over.

"Of course!" Katherine said brightly. "By the way, I’m Katherine Ann Dixon, manager of this place, also know as the "Captain’s Lady". And this is the Captain himself, Connor MacLeod. And this fresh-faced country bumpkin is Sarah Jo McCants. She just arrived in town herself today!"

"I’m Duende. Duende Duncan. And I am at your service, my fair lady. I hope we will become far better acquainted and soon. We already have our day of arrival here in this city in common." He reached out and took the furiously blushing Sarah Jo’s hand and kissed it slowly, while Katherine leaned against Connor, her arm wrapped around his waist. A musical chuckle escaped her as she watched. A tall, dark, handsome stranger walking in the door! Now this was an interesting turn of events!