Title: Dr. J and the Women
Author: Ellie
Rating: CWW-Complete With Whip
Archive: You betcha
Timeline: After Back in Bad Graces or Complaint Department, whichever was last
Summary: The new Prof arrives, Indy's POV
Disclaimer: Poor as always. Oh, look, I gave a donut. At least I won't starve.
I tossed the driver a few bucks for fare as I climbed from the cab. After securing my hat atop my head and wrestling my bag from the trunk, I glanced up at the ominous black gates before me. 'Nice place,' I thought as I passed through the open gates. Glancing to one side I saw a large field, I assumed for some kind of sports, but it was covered in half scorched tents and various sized men clamored about, some with swords. Strange.
Directly ahead was a group of buildings. The first inscribed as the dorms, and then I stopped at the one labeled as the Administration Building.
Dr. Lelaney was to meet me at 2:00pm at the administration building's steps. I was early, it being only a quarter till. So I set my bags on the steps and decided to explore a bit. Within moments I was no longer alone. Two men, one tall and in roman dress approached, the other in a dark burgundy cloth robe of some kind.
"I will not have this! She will want me!" The robed man cried in anguish. "If only I could find my sister."
"But, sir.." The tall one tried placating the other as they disappeared into a maze of tall shrubbery.
Very strange.
Another moment passed and small dog came bounding across the grass followed by a striking woman with dark hair. She seemed very irate.
"Get back here!" She cried and the puppy stopped, made a 180 and bounded directly toward her. She sighed in relief until he was upon her. His tail wagging happily, and it wagged happily right across her shin. "Oomph!" She cried out in pain and doubled over grasping her leg. I thought to help her, make sure she was alright but she just uprighted again, made a face of pure hellfire and raced back after the creature.
Even stranger.
I decided it might be safer to wait over by the steps. As I reached them I noticed another young woman wearing khaki pants, shredded across one knee, a simple white tee, and thick brown leather boots. She looked harried as if she's just been doing strenuous work. She struggled with a lighter, trying to ignite a cigarette. Removing my zippo from my suit pocket I flicked the flame to life and moved to light the smoke before she's realized I'd approached.
Startled, she coughed on the first drag. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming." She seemed embarrassed slightly and smiled a winning smile. "Oh, excuse me," she said and gestured to the burning cigarette, throwing it to the ground and grounding it repeatedly, and viciously with the heel of her boot. "I didn't expect you so early. I'm Ellie Lelaney." She extended her hand. It was then that I noticed it was covered in little scratches and her clothes in black and orange fur. She noticed me staring and hurriedly explained. "You'll have to excuse my clothes, I've been giving the tigers check-ups all morning, our Nurse has been, uh, in meetings."
"Tigers?" I queried.
She started to explain then shook her head. "You'll see. Can I show you around?" She turned as if to enter the building. I reached out and took her wrist.
"You're the Director? I'm sorry, I was expecting man." She laughed a throaty laugh and stared at me intently.
"Typical."
Then she just turned and headed into the building. I hurried to catch up.
"The dorms are that direction, and there are some staff suites on the upper level of this building. That is where I share a loft with Kendra, should you ever need to contact me there. This is the Clinic, then over there is the library, and down the hall the Lounge and the Bar. I doubt you'll see much of the Nurse, but if you need her her name is Darry and her associate is Cicero. The Librarian is Dorotea, don't be frightened by her coffins, she's harmless. And her consultant is Giles. You'll like him, he's an educated British guy. The bartender is Judy, you'll like her. Oh, and I had her order a special shipment of whiskey for you. Just watch her bartop, you can lose a finger that way."
Extremely strange.
"What were the men out on the fields?" I interjected, becoming more and more curious of this place with every word she said.
"Oh, those are the miners, and security personnel for our diamond mine," she said nonchalantly. She just grinned as she noticed my surprised look.
"And a woman with a dog?"
"That's the Dean, Emmy. Don't piss her off." She said flatly and continued with the tour.
"This is the General's office, he's the President of the University, but he's basically a figurehead." She said honestly. "His secretary is my roommate Kendra." There was the sound of bubbling water coming from behind the closed door. "Seems they're in a staff meeting, though, so we'll have to come back later."
Suddenly there was shrieking. "EMMY!" The door opened halfway and a towel wrapped, completely wet Kendra tossed out an equally wet black lab puppy. "Ellie!" She gasped in surprise. "Well, I have no idea how he got in here, but someone could have warned me labs are water dogs!" She huffed and slammed the door closed.
I stood there confused but Ellie just shook her head again, auburn curls swaying this way and that. "Don't try to understand, Dr. Jones. I don't even understand sometimes."
"Please, call me Indiana. Only my students call me Doctor." I could have been mistaken, but I think I made her blush.
And almost made her forget about the wet dog, until a tail thwapped against my leg and I grimaced.
"Let me look for a towel." She offered. But before the search even began the puppy took off down the hall, leaving wet doggy footprints in his wake.
"Where's Jael and her obedience class when you need it?" Ellie sighed.
~~*~~
"Well, this is my office, and until yours is prepared you can share mine. Don't worry McCoy is friendly," she said and gestured to the tiger dozing lazily in a leather lounge chair. She yawned and large, intimidating canines glared at me. Well, it could have been worse, it could have been snakes. I shivered at the memory. "I've secured you a loft off campus, and tomorrow we can get you a car. You can meet the rest of the staff tomorrow, cause there is no telling where and what mayhem they're causing right now. Well, what do you think so far?" She finally said at the end of a long breath.
"I think I'll survive if I carry my gun and my whip." She laughed again, and I think I blushed.
"Actually, I think most of us here would enjoy that. But really there is no dress requirement for the Professors or staff, as you can tell," she said and looked down at her own attire. "Feel free to wear the leather jacket and your hat."
I was surprised at her thorough knowledge of myself, but pleased that she found me so interesting.
"Well, how will I be getting to my apartment tonight?"
"Oh, I can take you. We can get some dinner first if you like. I'm sure you're starved after your long trip."
I wondered what she'd do if I kissed her then, but I decided instead to take her hand and kiss it softly.
A multitude of loud bells and ringing ensued and I scowled.
"Oh, don't worry about those, I'll fix that later."
"Well, then, shall we?"
She smiled at me then led the way.