The Universe's Mixer

To say Harry wasn't having a very good time of things was putting it mildly. He'd had worse times, true, but losing a girlfriend was usually pretty hard on him. There had been the inevitable conversation with Murphy, and then Harry had simply avoided answering his phone for a while, staying away from the apartment if he suspected Murphy was there, and throwing himself into work. He kept his training sessions with River out in open areas, away from people.

He wanted someone to talk to. Someone male. Someone to share a drink with, complain to, and then go off any bury the rest of his feelings into work or other aggressive activity.

Luckily, Jesse Custer was in the phone book.

He'd only gotten to leave a message, but he hoped it was clear enough. Harry waited at a table, nursing a beer, while Mouse slumbered underfoot. The bartender had initially been against letting the big dog in, until Mouse had given him a doggy grin, offered his paw, and rolled onto his back for belly rubs. Once again, the Foo dog showed better people skills than Harry.

Ollie had been happy to get Dinah's message, and even happier that he'd been able to talk her into meeting him for coffee. Not that he was trying to wedge himself in, and steal her from Gandalf the Tall, but he hoped they could put aside whatever awkwardness was hanging over them from whatever crap his future/alter-ego had pulled. It wasn't hard to guess what kind of crap, but it was time to turn over a new leaf.

So he sat at the coffee house, humming to himself, and pretending to read the paper while he waited for her to show.