Chloe saw the blonde the barman had indicated leaving the stage.  "I'll be right

back," she said.  "Stay and flirt with that stripper over there or something."

               The whole thing had seemed like a great idea to her, in  theory.  The perfect thing to get Chase for his birthday.  Now that she was here, though, it seemed like a slightly less perfect idea, because the whole thing made her kind of nervous and she felt out of place and like she didn't know exactly what the hell she was doing.  Walking up to the practically naked woman, she managed a weak smile.  "Are you, Brandy?"

               The stripper turned and eyed Chloe clinically.  "That's me, sugar," she said in an almost kind tone.  "How can I help?"

               'Bartenders,' she thought, 'I can handle.  It's not totally foreign territory.  But how do you talk to a stripper exactly, and the fuck didn't I pay more attention when people were trying to teach me some damn social skills?'

               A blush rising in her cheeks, Chloe admitted, "It's my friend’s birthday and I was wondering if..."  She tried to get over the embarrassment of this part.  "If you would go do, um."  She broke off muttering, "Damn, I'm no good at this.  It's not you," she said quickly. "I'm just really bad at this.  I'm really bad with people. I work with computers."  'Fuck,' she thought to herself, 'why can't I stop talking?'

               Brandy place her hand soothingly on Chloe's arm.  "Don't worry about it, sugar.  Would you like me to dance for your friend?" 

               Nodding, Chloe sighed in relief, "Yeah.  That's it.  I can pay you..." 

               Waving her off, Brandy took Chloe's hand, "Show me where he is.  I'll do the rest."

               "You're really nice," Chloe said absently.  "I mean.  Oh fuck,

I don't know. I'm really great at always saying the wrong thing."

               Unoffended, Brandy gently tugged the other woman through the crowd around the stage.  "You're doing just great, sugar," she reassured Chloe.  "Now, is that your friend there watching you?"  She gestured at where Chase was sitting up in the booth, his eyes carefully following Chloe's movements.

               Chloe started babbling.  "That's him. His name is Chase.  Wait, do you even care what his name is?  I'm sorry; I really don't know what I'm doing here."

               "Chase, huh," Brandy muttered.  "Are you his girlfriend, sugar?"

               Everyone always assumed she and Chase were together.  She never could figure out why. "No.  He's just my best friend.  He's kind of my only friend.  And you don't care, and I can't stop talking."

               Brandy squeezed her hand and said gently, "You're doing just fine.  So you don't mind if I get a little personal?"

               Chloe shook her head, "Not really.  I mean.  Um.  Maybe I should like, hide in the bathroom."

               But the other woman wouldn't relinquish her hold.  Stopping at the table, she pushed Chloe into the seat.  A brilliant smile lit up her face as she turned to the man.  "Hey, Chase.  You interested, soldier."

               Tearing his eyes away from watching Chloe with concern, Chase ran his gaze over the stripper with detachment that surprised Chloe.  "Sure thing, honey," he said with his East Coast accent returning slightly.  "How much?"

               Shrugging Brandy replied, "Let's call it twenty for a lapdance, forty if you want me on the table."

               Chloe had thought she'd be fine with this.  I mean, this was why they came there and she had seen him in worse positions, but still, this could be awkward.  Fuck, maybe she should have just stayed home with him and ended up pierced.

               Seeing Chloe's discomfort, Chase sighed slightly and pulled out a twenty.  "Keep the change, honey.  Thanks for the thought." 

               Frowning, Brandy turned to the mortified Chloe and sighed.  "Oh, sugar. 

This really is your first time isn't it."

               "It's fine.  I'm fine. Everything's fine.  Do your thing.  Really."  Chloe took a long drink and poured herself another glass, swallowed that too, and looked at them.  "Really, really fine."

               Looking over at Chase, Brandy said, "I don't take charity soldier."  To Chloe's surprise the other woman moved forward until she was standing in the computer geek's personal space.  Hips swinging to the beat of the music the reverberated through out club, Brandy straddled Chloe's knees and put her hands on the other woman's shoulders.  "Take it easy, sugar," she said in amusement, "I don't bite."

               "I don't think," Chloe started.  "I mean, how is this possibly going to make things better?"

               Eyes glinting merrily the stripper tilted her head. "Take a look at your friend, sugar."

               Chloe glanced over at Chase.  His mouth was open and green took up most of his wide eyes as he leaned back against the cushioning.  "God.  Okay.  Fine.  Anything for you, you ungrateful bastard."

               That made Brandy laugh.  Chloe found herself growing less wary of the slight woman's weight on her legs.  Maybe this would be okay.  Brandy seemed really nice and she didn't mind when Chloe babbled.  "You're really pretty," Chloe said. "I mean, objectively.  Your face is very symmetrical and that's a proven marker of attractiveness."

               "Thanks, sugar," Brandy said pleased, shrugging down her top some while rubbing their breasts together.  "You're fair beautiful yourself."

               More relaxed Chloe blushed.  "That's a really nice thing to say.  You're a nice person. And very patient.  You have good social skills, which I guess is important in...your line of work."

               Laughing, Brandy finished the dance, pulling back and fixing her top.  "You're sweet," she told Chloe.

               Chase pulled out another ten and slid it to the woman.  "Thanks, honey. Chlo's a little...high-strung sometimes."

               "I am. I'm sorry.  I mean, I know this is supposed to make things less awkward, I just don't get much less awkward than this, right Chase?"

               Chase stood up and sat down next to his friend.  "You're doing great," he assured her.  I was expecting you to duck and run by now.  Would you mind if I got..."

               "Brandy" Chloe supplied the name without thinking.

               He nodded gratefully.  "Brandy, to do a table dance for us?"

               "No.  Go ahead."

               Smiling at Chloe, Chase passed two twenties over to Brandy.  "You need any help up there?"  He nodded at the stripper's heels.  "I don't want you hurting yourself."

               "That'd be nice, soldier," Brandy said with a bright smile.  Chase stood and made a stirrup out of his hands, bending forward slightly.  Brady slid the front of her foot into the stirrup, balancing on Chase's shoulders, and let him lift her to the table.  "Thanks."

               The fact that was all seeming less and less strange to her concerned Chloe, but only slightly.  She sat back and took another drink.  Chase sat back down next to Chloe, slinging his arm over her shoulder.  Without thinking about it she leaned her head on his

shoulder.  Smiling at the two of them Brandy started moving to the music, slowly undoing the ties that held her shirt together.

               "You're having fun, right," Chloe asked him.  "Wait, do you

want me to shut now?"

               Tenderly brushing a strand of hair out of her face, Chase replied, "I'm definitely enjoying myself, darlin'.  Thank you."

               "Good," she smiled at him.  "Cause that's all that matters."

               Smirking he patted her arm.  Brandy's shirt fell to the table, leaving the stripper in a bra and mini-skirt.  Chloe looked at her and sighed in envy at the tight stomach.  "You have a really amazing body," she said without thinking.

               Chase gave a low chuckle.  Brandy offered a hand, "Come up here, sugar," she said laughing.

               Chloe paused.  "No," she said. "No, i'm fine right here."

               Nudging her lightly, Chase said, "Go on Chloe.  It's just me and Brandy here.  These booths are designed so only the guy at the bar can see inside, to make sure nothings going on, and he won't say anything."

               "If it wasn't your birthday, and you weren't my best friend," she muttered.

               "I get it.  You'll never, ever do this again. Now go."  He nudged her harder this time.

               Sighing she finished off her glass and accepted Brandy's hand.  Chase steadied her on the way up.  On the table she stood, stiff and unsure in her conservative t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.  Feeling dumpy next to the made up stripper in her spiked heels.  But Chase was grinning at her and Brandy was right to her, urging her dance.  'This,' she thought, 'is the stupidest, most ridiculous thing I have ever done in my entire life.'

               None the less her hips slowly picked up the beat and Brandy guided her with gentle touches, teaching her how to dance.  "Go on and slide on out of that shirt, sugar," Brandy said with an encouraging smile.  "Slowly now, grab the hem and lift it slowly."

               "This better be the best damn birthday you ever fucking have," she said, glaring at Chase, but pulling off her shirt anyway.

               "Fuck yeah," Chase muttered looking appreciative.  "Best damn birthday I've ever had."

               Brandy giggled and got Chloe swaying again.  "Don't stop dancing.  It takes some practice.  Now kick off your shoes.  Or we'll never get those pants off."

               What the hell?  Violently Chloe protested, "I am not taking my pants off!"

               "You're wearing panties, aren't you, sugar," Brandy said patiently.  "No one's going to see anything."

               “No," Chloe said, shaking her head.  "Nope, not even for you."

               "I hate to point it out," Chase said with unholy amusement, "But I've seen you in your underwear before Chloe.  Fairly often too."

               Chloe glared at him.  "Then you can just imagine it," she muttered.

               Running a hand down Chloe's bare shoulder, Brandy wiggled her hips and let her skirt drop.  Stepping out of it and kicking it to the side.  Blushing, Chloe realized that, compared to the stripper, her underwear practically covered everything.  "And you say I don't fight fair," she muttered under her breath.

               Seeing the Chloe's resignation, Brandy smiled.  "Kick off those sneakers," she said cheerfully.  Obediently, the computer geek slid out of her shoes and kicked them at Chase.  In the same manner as a kindly teacher with a difficult student, Brandy explained, "Now undo the button and fly and let them hang.  Wiggled your hips and move your legs to help slide them down.  Bend over slowly now."

               "Wait," she said, trying one last time to get out of it. "Why do you even want me to do this," she asked Chase.  "We don't like each other like that."

               Giving her a mysterious smile, Chase said, "You're having fun.  Far be it form me to stop you."  He pointed, "Plus I get to watch her."

               It was official.  Chase was nuts.  "You're right," she said, "this is totally me having fun.  It's a good thing the safety of millions of people doesn't depend on your ability to read people well."

               Smirking Chase leaned back and crossed his arms.  "Keep going, sugar," Brandy encouraged her, "You're doing great."  "Keep the top on," Chase said quietly.  "Somehow I don't think, Chlo's quite ready to do that."  Nodding, the stripper urged Chloe to dance with her.  "Relax," she murmured, "it's just us here.  You shouldn't be ashamed, you're gorgeous."

               "You owe me," she said to Chase.  "So much. You better start

planning my birthday right now."

               Sincerely Chase said, "I'll take you to CalTech's IT fair. 

How 'bout that?"

               "Nope.  Not good enough. Do better."

               He thought for a moment.  "Okay, I'll take you to the fair and let you sling me around as your boy toy in front of the rest of the women.  And then I'll take you out for a nice dinner on the bay and we can go to the beach after dinner, pick up a movie on the way home, and take Angela out for ice cream."

               "You know, you don't fight fair either.  Bringing Angela into this. Cause I can't ask for something better than that."  He gave her a shit-eating grin.

               "You've got a daughter," Brandy asked Chloe.  "I've got a three-year old of my own."

               "Technically she's not mine, she's his.  But I'm the closest thing to a mother she has,” Chloe explained.

               "You're her mother," Chase told her firmly.  "I wouldn't let any other woman raise her."

               "I know," she said softly.

               Brandy looked at both of them something akin to respect and wonder.  "I'm sure you'll both be great parents," she said firmly.  "And you should probably be getting home to your little girl."

               Puzzled, Chloe turned to Chase.  "You've been up there for nearly an hour," he told her smiling.  "I told you, you were having fun."

               She was going to smack that smug look off his faced.  “Yeah, best time I've ever had in my life, blah blah blah, hand me my drink, okay?  And if the next words out of your mouth are slow down I will hit you."

               He grinned and handed her a full glass, then handed the second one to Brandy.  "Thanks, Brandy.  This is the best time I've had in awhile."  Brandy smiled at him.  "Glad to help, soldier.  If you'd let me down?"  He stood and helped her off the table, handing her clothes to her.  She dressed quickly while Chase got Chloe down.  "Feel free tolook me up any night," she said.

               Pulling several bills from his pocket, Chase pressed them into the strippers hand.  "For your time and the lesson," he said quietly.  "I owe you."

               Brandy looked at the cash, her eyes widening slightly.  "This more than covers it.  Thanks.  You two have a good night."

               "I can get drunk now, right," Chloe asked him. "The interactive part of my evening is over, but you, you do what you want.  I'll hang out.  I'll watch.  I'll try not to talk."

               Chase nodded.  "Get dressed and stay in this booth," he ordered.  "I'm going up to the stage by the bar.  If anyone makes you uncomfortable wave down the barman.  He'll send someone, 'kay."

               She waved him off, "Yeah.  Fine," pouring herself another glass. 

               Chase nodded and ducked out of the booth, pausing to speak to the man who'd been leaning just out of sight watching them.  "What the hell are you doing here, Jack?" Chase said softly.  "She'll be mortified.”