T/W: Mentions seeing spirits and speaking with them. Also paranormal activity.

***

Nolan decides to forget about kissing Avery, (although he doesn't regret it), and moves forward with contacting his old friend, Billie North, whom he's worked with for several years.

Billie was an incredible psychic and was always willing to help him out whenever Nolan called on her. He dials her number and she answers within two rings.

"Nolan!" Billie says warmly. "I had a premonition you'd be contacting me soon."

"Hey, Billie. How've you been?" Nolan asks.

"I can't complain," Billie replies. "What can I help you with?"

"You're the psychic," Nolan teases. "You tell me." Billie laughs in delight. This was old joke between the two and Nolan always enjoyed ribbing Billie about her supernatural abilities.

"You should know by now," Billie teases back. "It doesn't work that way." Nolan chuckles.

"I know. I just couldn't resist giving you a hard time."

"Naturally. So I'm assuming you have a case where my expertise comes in handy?"

"Yes," Nolan says. "My team and I were at a private residence the other day and came across some spirits who would like to cross over."

"Excellent!" Although being a psychic could be mentally draining, on the whole, Billie enjoyed interacting with these lost souls.

"When would you be available to join me?" Nolan asks.

"Let me see..." Nolan heard some papers flipping and knew that Billie was looking through her personal planner. "I could come either this Friday or Saturday, if that works for you and the client."

"I'll contact them and ask," Nolan says. "Then I'll get back to you. If you can, just keep those dates open for now."

"I'll do that."

"It was nice talking to you, Billie," Nolan says.

"You as well, Nolan. We'll be in touch."

"We will. Goodbye." Nolan clicks off and stands up, heading out to find Avery and maybe smooth things over with her and Sid.

****

By the time Nolan catches up with Avery, she's on her way out. Nolan notices how cautious Avery is acting around him all of a sudden and it bugs him some.

"I think I'll just head on out," Avery tells Nolan, not quite making eye contact, instead choosing to look at his chin.

"You really don't have to," Nolan says softly. Avery just smiles.

"It's okay," she assures him. "Besides, I'm about ready to upload the first segment of this project."

"All right." Nolan pauses. "Would you mind texting me when it's up? I'd really like to watch."

"I'll do you one better," Avery says. "I'll email you the link and you watch it whenever."

"Sounds good." Avery nods, making a quick exit. Lennox joins Nolan, scowling.

"You're crossing the line here, Nolan."

"How?" Nolan asks irritably.

"You know how," Lennox says. "By screwing around with the enemy."

"Since when do you consider Avery the enemy?" Nolan asks.

"Since you decided to get all cozy with her," Lennox retorts.

"My personal life is none of your or anybody else's on this team's business," Nolan says shortly. "Hell, I didn't complain about your weirdo girlfriend nor do I complain about Sid and Lola's physical attraction to one another."

Both Lola and Sid walk into the room, freezing up at Nolan's words. Nolan takes a deep breath, slowly releasing it before continuing.

"I'm not opposed to anyone on this team hooking up," Nolan says. "As long as it doesn't effect what we're doing."

"Nolan, you broke your own rules," Sid says quietly. Nolan bows his head. He knows what he did. He doesn't need anyone getting on his case about it.

"I...like Avery," Nolan mumbles.

"We know that," Lola says softly.

"Hell, we knew from the first time you two met," Lennox adds, smiling some. Nolan doesn't raise his head just yet. Instead he closes his eyes, remembering just how Avery's lips felt against his. He wonders how long he'll have to wait to feel that again.

"Yeah." Nolan raises his head, looking at his team. "I'm sorry. I know I screwed up."

Lennox claps Nolan, hard, on the shoulder, grinning.

"Consider this your first strike, boss," he jokes. "Two more and you're out." Nolan laughs.

"My first and last strike," Nolan says. "I promise to be on my best behavior from now on."

"I wouldn't go that far," Lola says. "Otherwise, Avery might decide to dump your ass."

Nolan chuckles, shaking his head.

"I wouldn't want her to do that." Nolan heads for his office. Now if youre all done with giving me the third degree, I have some calls to make."

***

Avery is a wreck. After she returned home from, well whatever the hell she and Nolan did, hurrying to post the first segment of her latest blog and after that, she couldn't settle down.

Avery works on some laundry, but it's hard for her to keep her mind on it properly. Her cell chimes and Avery leans over, checking the screen. Her heart jumps. It's...Nolan.

She immediately scoops it up and promptly drops it. Avery groans, dropping on her knees to retrieve it. Avery answers it quickly before it switches over to voicemail.

"Hello?" Avery's aware how she sounds, too eager and breathless. Shit.

"Avery, hey." Nolan's voice immediately causes her knees to quiver and she's glad that she's on the floor, otherwise she's certain be be down for the count.

"I just spoke with my psychic friend and we're planning on returning to the home on Friday morning, around eleven. Would you be interested in joining us?" Nolan asks.

"I think I'm available," Avery replies.

"Great! I'll swing by and pick you up," Nolan responds.

"Cool. By the way, did you receive the email link I sent you?" Avery asks.

"I did. Thanks. I, uh, haven't had a chance to watch it yet, however," Nolan says.

"As I said, you get to it when you can," Avery says. "No rush."

"Right." Dead silence. "Avery, about earlier..," Nolan begins but Avery butts in.

"It's okay, Nolan," she murmurs. "I'm not complaining."

"I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me, now that's it happened," Nolan says quietly.

"I won't be, Nolan," Avery murmurs, scooting back and leaning against her chair, reaching up to absently twirl a lock of her hair around her finger. "Besides, I liked it."

"I wasn't sure," Nolan says. "You left in such a rush. I just assumed you were uncomfortable with me."

"I was a little uncomfortable," Avery admits. "But mostly because..Sid walked in on us. Not necessarily because of you."

"That's a relief," Nolan murmurs. "I was worried that I'd blown it even before I had a proper chance with you."

"No need to worry about that," Avery says softly.

"I'm glad." Nolan pauses. "So I'll see you tomorrow morning around ten."

"I'll be ready," Avery replies, smiling.

"Great. Goodbye, Avery."

"'Bye, Nolan."

***

Friday morning, Avery is ready and waiting for Nolan to arrive. She isn't sure rather the entire team will accompany them or if it'll just be Nolan and possibly Lola or Sid.

When the cargo van pulls into her driveway, she sees everyone on board and immediately her stomach cramps up. Avery so isn't in the mood for anyone to start ragging on her about what happened between her and Nolan.

However when Avery goes to climb into the van, everyone greets her and nobody seems inclined to talk about the incident with her and Nolan.

"I'm excited to see how this works out with your psychic friend," Avery says.

"I've witnessed such a phenomenal myself," Lennox pipes up. "And I'm still amazed by how it works." Lennox seems to be back to his cheerful self instead of treating Avery like public enemy number one.

"Sounds cool," Avery comments.

"It's out of my line of reasoning," Sid says. "But that doesn't mean it's wrong. Just different."

"Truthfully, the thought of psychics have always made me somewhat uncomfortable," Avery admits.

"I felt that way the first time I met Billie, the woman who will be assisting us," Lennox says. "But she's really cool. And plus, she can't read your mind, if that's what you're worried about."

"Not..exactly," Avery replies.

"What?" Lola asks.

"Psychics can pick up on strong emotions, right?" Avery asks.

"Possibly," Nolan says.

"You worried that Billie will bust you about liking our fearless leader?" Lennox teases.

"Oh, I'm sure she'd manage to pick up on that, regardless of being a psychic," Avery says, smiling.

"We did," Sid says, smirking. Nolan just shakes his head.

"No, what I've thought psychics were, well, frauds," Avery says.

"I suppose there are plenty of those kinds that fake it, but Billie's the real deal. She'd never bullshit anyone," Nolan says.

"You're just defending her because you've always had a bit of a crush on her," Lennox jokes. The others laugh, although the thought makes Avery edgy.

"She's a damn decent person," Nolan says. "And we've always gotten along. I have no reason to believe Billie's any kind of fraud."

"Same," Lola says. "She is a good person and damn good at her abilities." Avery smiles.

"I can't wait to meet her."

****
Billie is already waiting for them, sitting on the hood of her car, when they pull into the homeowners driveway.

As soon as everyone is out of the van, Nolan introduces the two women. Immediately Avery is put at ease by Billie. She takes Avery's hands in hers, smiling warmly at her.

"It's lovely to meet you, Avery. I'm Billie North."

"Thanks. It's nice meeting you as well. I'm looking forward to seeing you do your thing," Avery says. Billie smiles, releasing Avery's hands.

"Avery is actually the one who was communicating with Sally Anne, one of the spirits lingering here," Lola speaks up. Avery blushes.

"Amazing," Billie says.

"It was pretty surreal," Avery admits. "But I enjoyed it."

"You should count your lucky stars, dear," Billie says. "Not everyone has that ability."

"Oh, believe me," Avery says. "I'm definitely not taking that experience for granted."

***

Avery has to admit; sitting here, in the master bedroom, along with Billie, she's completely blown away. Billie was able to make contact with the spirits almost immediately.

Avery nearly fell on her ass, when Billie sat down and simply began calling out for the spirits. Once they acknowledged her presence, Billie just sat there, chatting away with them as they were old friends.

After a while, though, Billie got down to business, asking the spirits if they wanted to cross over. A strange look passes over Billie's face. It's a mixture of sadness and joy.

"Yes, sweetie," Billie murmurs to whom Avery assumes is either Sally Anne or Jimmy. "You can both go, together. No one will be left behind."

Everyone is silent as Billie bows her head, tears filling her eyes and spilling down her cheeks.

"You just need to walk towards that empty void, baby," Billie murmurs. Avery clasps her hands together, a sadness suddenly filling her. She finds that she's crying now as well.

Nolan notices and reaches over, gently nudging Avery's hands apart and takes one of them in his. Avery is assured by this tender gesture and it anchors her, mentally and emotionally.

A few more minutes pass, no one has spoken, just waiting respectfully until Billie says it's over.

"They're gone." Billie raises her head, her eyes red and puffy from crying, but she has a serene look about her.

"Will..will they be..okay?" Avery asks in a whisper. Billie nods, smiling.

"Yes," she murmurs. "I believe they will."