Shades of Grey Chapter 36 Part I
AN: Had to split it due to LJs current trouble with langly postings.
With disgust Jenny threw the filtration mask on her desk. She'd had no idea how miserable she’d felt before being subjected to Ryan's mood-boosting pheromones.
Although people had commented that she was smiling more than ever and seemed more relaxed lately, she had attributed it to the changed situation with her fiance. Since she had told him a few hard truths, they were finally on the way to starting a healthy, equal relationship.
Jenny took a deep breath, glad the new air filtration system hadn't been installed in the ARC yet. Then she gathered two files and, with a growing smile, set off to Lester's office.
Lorraine and Lester weren’t wearing the filtration masks either, prompting Jenny to comment that it was quite ludicrous that Lester was disregarding his own orders.
"That was a logical conclusion after perceiving that we are more effective in a pheromone-enriched environment," Lester declared stoically.
"Must be shocking to realise what a lazy bunch you normally are," Ditzy remarked as he meandered into the room with his filtration mask properly in place.
Lorraines's glare and Lester's raised eyebrow put across that the medic had more than overstepped the boundaries. Hastily, Ditzy handed Lester his report and began to explain the meaning of the test results on the paper.
"The mood enhancers aren't addictive. People can perform their job without them satisfactorily, they are just not so enthusiastic about it and certainly don't go the extra mile. I think I was a little rash in my initial evaluation."
"Your demand to install high security air filters at the ARC has merit. We have neglected the possibility of prehistoric germs for too long already. The Prime Minister is in agreement."
Lester stopped flipping through the file, suddenly pointing at the efficiency quota of the Special Forces team.
"Lieutenant Owen, does this result mean what I think it means?"
"Yes, sir. With the pheromones in the air, the men have taken two-thirds less tea breaks. If they've received a strong dose through close contact with Ryan they even forgo tea breaks entirely."
"Interesting. I revoke my early order. Down with the filter masks. Just keep them close in case Helen Cutter comes by for a visit."
Laughter danced in Jenny's eyes as Ditzy left the room with a grin on his face and a spring in his step, the filter mask he'd worn on entry now dangling in his hand on the elastic band.
"We should do the public a service and bottle the pheromones up and release them in Westminster. They really might need a performance boost. I'm still waiting for an answer to an requisition I sent in two weeks ago. And maybe they would finally stop running around with those unattractive pinched faces," Jenny said impishly before she made a hasty retreat.
As Lorraine’s laugh wafted after her, Jenny turned around, just in time to see how Lester lost the fight to maintain an irritated face and broke out into a small smile.
Mark was elated. For the first time Ryan was remembering episodes from his teenage years when he came out of the hypnotic trance. Then Ryan started to ask questions, quite confused about a particular memory flash of him french-kissing a boy at the age of sixteen, and Mark was in trouble.
His sketchy explanation had satisfied Ryan for the time being. But Mark knew there would be more questions should another of those memories rise up from the recesses of Ryan's mind. He certainly wasn't looking forward to that.
"For me?" Ryan asked joyfully as Lester handed him a red-black caster board.
"If you want it," Lester said with a shrug. "My children don't care for boardsports and it would be a shame to leave it lying around unused any longer."
Stephen gave Lester a pointed look, knowing the caster board Lester had given Ryan was one of the brand-new top of the line boards. In the shopping centre he had seen them offered for a special introductory price when he was shopping for Ryan’s protective gear. He even had considered buying one as it was advertised to be more flexible but also more secure as a skateboard but then decided to go back with Ryan and let him chose for himself which board he wanted.
Apparently, Ryan was quite happy with this one. With glee he jumped on the caster board and after a brief balance problem quickly adjusted to its different style of handling.
With an elegant turn, Ryan stopped skilfully in front of Lester. "It's super. Thank you, Uncle James," he said politely. Then, before Lester could respond Ryan pulled Lester into a hearty embrace and suddenly pressed his lips on Lester's mouth.
"Tom!" Mark gasped in a high-pitched voice from across the atrium. Stephen was too shocked to react at all. Beside him, Cutter gaped like a fish.
For a moment, Lester stood like paralyzed then he shoved Ryan forcefully away.
"Have I done something wrong?" Ryan asked, confused, as Lester staggered backwards and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Uncle Mark said kisses are a way to show people that you like them. And I like you, Uncle James. A lot. You give me always such nice pressies."
"Tom, you’ve misunderstood me," Mark, who had come running over after witnessing Ryan's behavior, said.
"Uncle Mark meant another kind of kiss, like a peck on the cheek," Stephen managed to utter, although his voice sounded like it had been roughened with sand paper.
"Whatever you were trying to bring across you can't just go around kissing Les... people at random," Cutter tossed in.
"Not even if I like them very much?" Ryan asked in a small voice.
"I told you, you only kiss people on the mouth you are really close to, who you like more than all the others," Mark tried to explain it in terms Ryan could understand.
"My God, what is it with you. Can't you even say the word?" Lester muttered, annoyed. "Kisses on the mouth are reserved for someone you love, Tom. It’s not for people who you just like because they are giving you gifts."
"I love you. And not just because of the gifts."
"I know, Tom. But there are many different kinds of love. Such a kiss as you were trying to give me should stay reserved for someone really special. A particular person, who makes you smile and your heart swell. Someone who gives you a feeling of security and caring and with whom you can imagine spending the rest of your life with."
Ryan was contemplating Lester's words for a moment then said with conviction "Like you and Uncle Nick. I love Stephen."
Lester turned to Stephen who looked almost fearful. "You probably do. But nevertheless you should refrain from showing him your affection in this way. Only adults should share such special kisses."
"Okay," Ryan answered, very subdued.
"Hey, cheer up. All's well. It was just a misunderstanding. Now go and try out your caster board."
The four people breathed out in relief as a grin rushed over Ryan's face. A minute later, he raced happy-go-lucky around the atrium, the earlier episode already almost forgotten.
Go to Part II
With disgust Jenny threw the filtration mask on her desk. She'd had no idea how miserable she’d felt before being subjected to Ryan's mood-boosting pheromones.
Although people had commented that she was smiling more than ever and seemed more relaxed lately, she had attributed it to the changed situation with her fiance. Since she had told him a few hard truths, they were finally on the way to starting a healthy, equal relationship.
Jenny took a deep breath, glad the new air filtration system hadn't been installed in the ARC yet. Then she gathered two files and, with a growing smile, set off to Lester's office.
Lorraine and Lester weren’t wearing the filtration masks either, prompting Jenny to comment that it was quite ludicrous that Lester was disregarding his own orders.
"That was a logical conclusion after perceiving that we are more effective in a pheromone-enriched environment," Lester declared stoically.
"Must be shocking to realise what a lazy bunch you normally are," Ditzy remarked as he meandered into the room with his filtration mask properly in place.
Lorraines's glare and Lester's raised eyebrow put across that the medic had more than overstepped the boundaries. Hastily, Ditzy handed Lester his report and began to explain the meaning of the test results on the paper.
"The mood enhancers aren't addictive. People can perform their job without them satisfactorily, they are just not so enthusiastic about it and certainly don't go the extra mile. I think I was a little rash in my initial evaluation."
"Your demand to install high security air filters at the ARC has merit. We have neglected the possibility of prehistoric germs for too long already. The Prime Minister is in agreement."
Lester stopped flipping through the file, suddenly pointing at the efficiency quota of the Special Forces team.
"Lieutenant Owen, does this result mean what I think it means?"
"Yes, sir. With the pheromones in the air, the men have taken two-thirds less tea breaks. If they've received a strong dose through close contact with Ryan they even forgo tea breaks entirely."
"Interesting. I revoke my early order. Down with the filter masks. Just keep them close in case Helen Cutter comes by for a visit."
Laughter danced in Jenny's eyes as Ditzy left the room with a grin on his face and a spring in his step, the filter mask he'd worn on entry now dangling in his hand on the elastic band.
"We should do the public a service and bottle the pheromones up and release them in Westminster. They really might need a performance boost. I'm still waiting for an answer to an requisition I sent in two weeks ago. And maybe they would finally stop running around with those unattractive pinched faces," Jenny said impishly before she made a hasty retreat.
As Lorraine’s laugh wafted after her, Jenny turned around, just in time to see how Lester lost the fight to maintain an irritated face and broke out into a small smile.
Mark was elated. For the first time Ryan was remembering episodes from his teenage years when he came out of the hypnotic trance. Then Ryan started to ask questions, quite confused about a particular memory flash of him french-kissing a boy at the age of sixteen, and Mark was in trouble.
His sketchy explanation had satisfied Ryan for the time being. But Mark knew there would be more questions should another of those memories rise up from the recesses of Ryan's mind. He certainly wasn't looking forward to that.
"For me?" Ryan asked joyfully as Lester handed him a red-black caster board.
"If you want it," Lester said with a shrug. "My children don't care for boardsports and it would be a shame to leave it lying around unused any longer."
Stephen gave Lester a pointed look, knowing the caster board Lester had given Ryan was one of the brand-new top of the line boards. In the shopping centre he had seen them offered for a special introductory price when he was shopping for Ryan’s protective gear. He even had considered buying one as it was advertised to be more flexible but also more secure as a skateboard but then decided to go back with Ryan and let him chose for himself which board he wanted.
Apparently, Ryan was quite happy with this one. With glee he jumped on the caster board and after a brief balance problem quickly adjusted to its different style of handling.
With an elegant turn, Ryan stopped skilfully in front of Lester. "It's super. Thank you, Uncle James," he said politely. Then, before Lester could respond Ryan pulled Lester into a hearty embrace and suddenly pressed his lips on Lester's mouth.
"Tom!" Mark gasped in a high-pitched voice from across the atrium. Stephen was too shocked to react at all. Beside him, Cutter gaped like a fish.
For a moment, Lester stood like paralyzed then he shoved Ryan forcefully away.
"Have I done something wrong?" Ryan asked, confused, as Lester staggered backwards and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Uncle Mark said kisses are a way to show people that you like them. And I like you, Uncle James. A lot. You give me always such nice pressies."
"Tom, you’ve misunderstood me," Mark, who had come running over after witnessing Ryan's behavior, said.
"Uncle Mark meant another kind of kiss, like a peck on the cheek," Stephen managed to utter, although his voice sounded like it had been roughened with sand paper.
"Whatever you were trying to bring across you can't just go around kissing Les... people at random," Cutter tossed in.
"Not even if I like them very much?" Ryan asked in a small voice.
"I told you, you only kiss people on the mouth you are really close to, who you like more than all the others," Mark tried to explain it in terms Ryan could understand.
"My God, what is it with you. Can't you even say the word?" Lester muttered, annoyed. "Kisses on the mouth are reserved for someone you love, Tom. It’s not for people who you just like because they are giving you gifts."
"I love you. And not just because of the gifts."
"I know, Tom. But there are many different kinds of love. Such a kiss as you were trying to give me should stay reserved for someone really special. A particular person, who makes you smile and your heart swell. Someone who gives you a feeling of security and caring and with whom you can imagine spending the rest of your life with."
Ryan was contemplating Lester's words for a moment then said with conviction "Like you and Uncle Nick. I love Stephen."
Lester turned to Stephen who looked almost fearful. "You probably do. But nevertheless you should refrain from showing him your affection in this way. Only adults should share such special kisses."
"Okay," Ryan answered, very subdued.
"Hey, cheer up. All's well. It was just a misunderstanding. Now go and try out your caster board."
The four people breathed out in relief as a grin rushed over Ryan's face. A minute later, he raced happy-go-lucky around the atrium, the earlier episode already almost forgotten.
Go to Part II