Standard Disclaimer: I don't own them! (Oh, but I can wish :-) Rysher,
Fireworks and a bunch of other folks have claim to FX: The Series and its
assorted characters. This is just fun, no money involved.
Angie Rameriz, special effects expert and computer wizard, heard the ominous
sounds behind her back. She twisted around to see what was going on.
Whatever it was, it sounded dangerous to her orderly closet. Chiops was up
to something in there. The blonde gaped in silent surprise as she saw the
dirty seat of her jeans. What? She was positive this pair was clean when she
put them on this morning. So early this morning, when she'd bladed over to
the studio to rework that sequence. Nothing she had done would have caused
her to get dirty like that. It looked... it looked like she'd been sitting
on the ground. Like... like in her dream!?! Angie blinked and wondered if
she was finally losing her mind. Surely, it couldn't be!
This morning, Angie had dreamt vividly of the Australian Outback and a very
young, heart broken Rollie Tyler, grieving over the recent death of his
mother. Rollie was her best friend, boss and partner. She met him when she
was eleven! Not when Rollie was a young child! It was absolutely impossible!
It had just been a dream - a dream brought on by worry for Rollie and recent
events. It couldn't have been real! And yet, here was evidence mutely
proclaiming something had happened. How could it be?!? Remembering using her
handkerchief to clean the child Rollie's dirty face, she reached cautiously
into her pocket. IF it was still neatly folded, it would prove that it had
all been a dream, nothing more. She'd gotten her jeans dirty... some other
way. If it wasn't... She pulled out the crumpled white square, still
slightly damp in the middle. NO! Angie slumped into the nearby chair, dazed
by the thoughts whirling in her head.
Some how... some way... Angela Rameriz had met Rollie Tyler when he'd been
younger than she was when she met the older him... Angie shook her head,
totally confused. The only one who could answer the questions swirling
around inside her was Rollie. But how could she ask... this? Of him?
Especially now of all times! Angie knew the recent events had brought back
strong memories of his mother's death, she couldn't... wouldn't add to his
pain. And yet, part of her was screaming to know the truth.
Later, she was never sure of how it happened, Angie found herself blading up
to the old converted brewery just as the sun was setting. She had to know
and the only one who could tell her she was crazy was Rollie. She HAD to be
crazy! It was the only answer that was sane. Angie heard the soft, eerie
sound of a didgeridoo leaking out of the loft. So totally out of place in
the heart of New York City, so absolutely right for where she was now and
for her thoughts.
Angie took a deep breath and hesitated. For one moment, she considered
leaving and never mentioning the strange thoughts that circled in her mind.
Rollie didn't need to know she was crazy. After all, sometimes HE was crazy
and it never hurt. Right? Her shoulders slumped and yet... yet she HAD to
know! Angie took another deep breath and squared her shoulders. She opened
the door to her second home and peered around, looking for the source of the
music that perfectly echoed the feeling of her dream.
The music stopped and Rollie turned from where he lazed barefoot on the
couch to look at his partner and assistant curiously. "Forget something,
Ange?"
"Uh no..." Angie wondered how she was going to ask Rollie what she had to
ask Rollie what she had to know... She slammed the breaks on her scattering
thoughts. It was a mistake to come back like this, she shouldn't have come.
"Is something wrong, sweetie?" Rollie asked gently, realizing just what
Angie must have realized. But how? How could she have figured it out? Angie
was the practical one, HE was the one that was suppose to get the crazy
ideas and notions.
"Rollie..." Angie took a deep breath and hesitated again. How could she ask?
"Angie, come here," Rollie patted the seat next to him. "Seat down. You want
to ask me something?"
Hesitantly, Angie approached the man that was her family. How could she ask?
She sat on the edge of the couch, poised as if to take flight.
"I remember," Rollie whispered softly as one large hand gently wrapped
around her smaller wrist. "I remember my friend, Angie, coming to me when I
needed her the most... after mum died and I needed a friend, someone to tell
me it was okay... Okay to cry and mourn."
Angie gasped and stared into Rollie's warm brown eyes, stunned. Her thoughts
whirled like a frightened flock of birds, then stilled, reassured by the
warmth, gratitude and love from deep within those eyes. "It was real?" she
squeaked in a tiny voice.
"It was real enough for me, sweetie," Rollie assured her, "and I needed it
so desperately then." He pulled her gently into a tight, warm hug and
whispered in her ear. "Thank you! Oh thank you, my friend!"
Remembering how she had told the young boy that she was a friend, she smiled
and whispered back. "You're welcome!" She pulled back and asked hesitantly.
"Did I... did I really...?"
"Did you help me? Oh yes! Angie, sweetie, you have no idea how much you
helped me that day!"
"Rollie," Angie stared down at her hands, puzzled. "If you remember meeting
me... then why didn't you ever...?"
"But I didn't remember it," Rollie answered, "at least I didn't know it was
you. Not until today when I saw that shirt." He beamed at her. "I love your
new shirt by the way! It brings out the blue in your eyes."
'Why didn't you say something?"
"What? And have you think I'm even crazier that you already think I am! No
thanks, Ange." Rollie laughed softly. "I wondered if you would remember and
guess." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Want to watch a movie? I'll make
the popcorn." He looked at her anxiously, trying to lighten the mood, but
also extend a wonderful day. "You can pick!" He generously offered. It would
be nice if Angie stayed for a while tonight. "I'll drive you home later."
"Okay," Angie smiled, "but no complaints about my choice!"
"Whatever you want, sweetie." Rollie bounced up to microwave a big bowl of
popcorn.
Angie wondered over to Rollie's video collection. Most of them were "guy
flicks", but she knew he had others as well. She wanted to pick the perfect
movie for tonight. It had been a special day and she wanted to end it on
just the right note. A movie that both of them would enjoy watching. She
considered the titles carefully and noticed "Sabrina", old and new versions.
No, not one of those movies and continued browsing. Angie Rameriz smiled
secretly to herself as she remembered how she had (after finally accepting
Rollie's presence) developed a huge crush on her dad's new "apprentice" and
decided one day she would marry Rollie Tyler. Angie had never mentioned the
decision to anyone and it had been buried underneath the natural events of
growing up. Now the memory was as vivid and strong as the dream from this
morning. Angie glanced over to where Rollie was popping the popcorn. They
were together now and it was enough, Angie smiled dreamily to herself. More
than enough for now.
