T/W:

***

"You what?" Avery is recounting her experience with the paranormal society to Everly, who doesn't seem to know what to believe.

"I saw an actual apparition," Avery repeats.

"Honey, I think you need to go lie down and stay there for several days," Everly says, her brow puckered.

"Everly, I'm not making this up! I really saw something! Something I can't logically explain."

"Maybe someone on the crew was playing a prank on you," Everly argues. "What you saw was probably just something one of them set up prior, waiting until you showed up."

Avery thinks about how she'd offered to help set up, yet Nolan had insisted the team had everything under control. Of course. They just set it up earlier. That's why Nolan was so adamant about making sure that Avery was with him.

"You're absolutely right," Avery declares. "They set it up beforehand and Nolan made certain he was with me, because he wanted to see my reaction."

Avery's hands fly up over her face, burying her face against them, eyes squeezed closed. Shit. She'd been the victim of a stupid, phony ghost prank.

"I can't believe I was so stupid!" Everly places a hand on Avery's leg, a sympathetic smile on her face. Avery lowers her hands and shakes her head, sighing.

"Are you going to confront Nolan about this?" Everly asks, removing her hand.

"Not yet," Avery replies. "However, I just might reconsider my promise to Mr. Nolan Wright."

****

Nolan has just finished up reviewing his part of the footage that they'd collected from Manchester Mansion. He was pretty excited about everything they'd caught.

The apparition is obviously the best footage out of everything. Also the knocking noises which Lola and Sid caught as well. He was pleased. He knows that the client will be pleased as well.

Nolan tiredly rubs his eyes, scooting back in his chair, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, recalling Avery's reaction to seeing the apparition.

Nolan smiles. He'll give her credit for keeping a cool head. Most people would have ran out of there, screaming, heading for the hills, never to look back.

He stands, checking his phone. Damn. It's much later than he realized. It's nearly ten thirty at night. He should have been home hours ago. This was one thing that Nolan hated; not having anyone to come home to at night. Perhaps if he had that, he might be more interested in getting home in the evenings.

Nolan hurries out front and stops in surprise, as he sees Sid still sitting there, watching videos on YouTube and eating a bag of barbecue potato chips.

"I didn't realize you were still around," Nolan says, stuffing his phone in his back pocket and grabbing up his keys.

"I wasn't willing to let you stay here, alone," Sid says, smiling as he turns off the laptop up front and grabs his own car keys.

"You don't have to babysit me, you know," Nolan teases. Sid just shrugs, crumpling up the now empty bag of chips and throwing it away in the trash can.

"No?" Sid gives Nolan a pointed look.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nolan hits the lights and waits for Sid to exit the building before he locks up.

"Admit it," Sid says, crossing his arms over his chest. "You've got the hots for Avery Greer."

"What the hell?" Nolan frowns ferociously.

"You heard me, Wright," Sid says.

"I do not have the "hots," as you put it, for Avery!" Sid takes note of Nolan's defensive stance. He definitely has something going on.

"Whatever you say. Well goodnight! Hope you have some pleasant dreams about you-know-who." Sid waves as he heads for his car.

"Bite me, asshole!" Nolan spits out, even though he's not really all that angry. He hears delighted laughter coming from Sid's direction and just shakes his head. He sure as hell takes a lot of crap from his team.

***
The following morning, before Avery heads over to the paranormal society, she stops by the local donut shop, getting some donuts and hot coffee for the team.

She decides that she's going to butter up them up and then...slam them for pranking her. Avery stacks the three boxes of assorted donuts on the passenger seat and sets the cardboard tray of coffee in the back seat, praying it won't tip over, not only staining it, but making her car permanently smell like stale coffee.

She drives slowly, thankful that the paranormal society is only a few blocks away from the donut shop. As Avery pulls into a parking spot out front, she sees Nolan watching out the front window.

"He's making this too damn easy," Avery murmurs to herself as she opens up the driver's side door. Within seconds, Nolan's outside. Avery greets him and tells him to grab the boxes of donuts.

"You brought us breakfast?" Nolan looks surprised. Avery just casts a sweet smile at him as she collects the coffee, which luckily, hasn't spilled.

"Consider it a thank you for allowing me to tag along the other day," Avery says, heading for the front entrance, which Lennox is occupying, warily eyeing the coffee and boxes of donuts.

"What's all this?" Sid leans forward from his perch on the front desk, as Lola comes in from the back.

"I decided to bring a little peace offering," Avery explains, setting down the coffee on top of the desk and smiling, making sure to look directly at Nolan. She doesn't miss the wariness in his eyes as he stares back at Avery.

"You mean, your bribe?" Sid says, looking at Avery, who just chuckles.

"Call it whatever you will, Sid," she says, reaching over to grab herself a jelly filled donut and a cup of coffee.

"They aren't poisoned, are they?" Lennox asks. Avery rolls her eyes.

"If they were, do you think I'd be eating them?"

"Maybe you only poisoned certain ones," Lennox replies.

"Oh my God." Lola goes over and helps herself to a glazed donut and a cup of coffee. She turns to Avery. "Thank you. This was very kind of you."

"You're quite welcome." Avery smiles at the guys. Nolan shrugs and grabs some donuts and coffee himself.

"I didn't expect to see you here quite so early," Nolan says to Avery.

"Well, I figured you'd want to get on the road at a reasonable time," Avery replies, nibbling on her donut.

"Uh, here's the deal," Nolan begins.

"We're not investigating today," Lennox jumps in.

"You're not?" Avery feigns surprise.

"No," Nolan says. "We're going to present the evidence to the owners of Manchester Mansion."

"Perfect!" Avery beams. "I'll need this stuff on my blog as well."

"I..don't know if that's such a good idea," Lola says. "They might not care to have their personal issues put online. We could get sued. So could you, for that matter."

"I won't post them," Avery explains. "I'll just add that part in myself. Along with Nolan adding his part."

Nolan shifts from one foot to the other, antsy and uncomfortable. He figured he'd probably end up being "interviewed" by Avery, but he still feels weird about it.

"You are willing to make an appearance, aren't you, Nolan?" Avery turns her gaze on him. He nods, feeling uneasy.

"Great!" Avery finishes her donut and coffee. "Mind if I use your bathroom quickly?"

"It's down the hallway, first door on your right," Lola says. Avery heads off.

"Did you know she'd want to interview you?" Sid asks quietly. Nolan shrugs, concentrating on his donut.

"Maybe we should just call the whole thing off," Lola adds.

"Look," Nolan says. "I agreed to let her do this. And so far, she hasn't crossed any lines we can't get back from. We'll just wait and see how this plays out, all right?"

Everyone stares at Nolan, but finally they all nod.

"I hope you know what the hell you're doing," Lennox says.

"Not really," Nolan admits. "But we'll figure it out."