Click.

Flickering on the screen is Cassie, visible to her mid-chest. She's flushed, and seems agitated.

"Oh. My. God. Why me? Why, out of everyone in the whole planet, did it have to be me?

Okay. Good news? The jingling in my head - the migraine-inducing, agonising, 'help me, help me' jingling - that's gone. Totally gone. Not even a tinkle. Seriously. It's amazing!

The bad news is ... well, I've got a charge. Which is totally cool, you know, I knew this day would come and all that, but - Well, get this. He -or she - was in a cave, maybe tied to a post, and there were monsters! Real live monsters with the scatty fur and the claws and the eyes and the teeth. And the breath! Oh god, don't go there about the breath ..."

She pauses, covering her mouth with a nauseated look.

"Anyway, back to the whole charge thing. Whoever it is, they didn't own up. So I'm waiting around for another blinding headache, and let me tell you, when I find them, I am going to give them such a piece of my mind -"

There's a thump against what sounds like a door, and Cassie glances off to the right.

"Okay, Wisp, I'm coming!"

She looks back at the screen.

"We'll talk later."

Click.

Click.

The screen flickers into life and shows Cassie curled up on her bed with wet hair, wrapped up in a thick dressing gown. Sprawled across the end of the end in front of her is a large cat, about the size of a lioness, dappled grey and with huge green eyes, purring contendtedly as Cassie scratches her jaw.

"Wow ... where do I start? Feels like an age and a heartbeat since I last turned this thing on. I don't know where to start ...

Well, there's the swimming thing. I know, I know, I've never been comfortable wearing a bikini, especially in front of people. Men people. Oh god ... one man person in particular. the Jin man person. Has seen me in a bikini. Twice!"

The cat's head lifts to look at her reproachfully.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Wisp. Didn't mean to squeak. I just ... I dunno. It was so embarrassing, I was completely shameless. hell, I even backed him into admitting he fancies me. At least I think so. He didn't, you know, actually say it, but he didn't, you know, not say it either.

Thing is, I fancy him. Really, I do. He's smart and he's funny, and that whole awkward stuttering thing he does is really cute. And he tastes lovely - I mean, well, not all of him; obviously I haven't gone that far, just his lips ... oh god ..."

For a moment, Cassie presses her face into Wisp's fur. The cat does not respond.

"He's my charge, for crying out loud! There's nothing in the handbook that says what to do if you start falling for your charge. I've checked. There's no section on office romances, no how to guide! I'm totally at a loss here. Feelings and responsibilities and duties ... they shouldn't mix.

Or should they? I mean, if you have feelings you should go with it, right? I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, is there? You can't ignore your heart ... or hormones ... whatever ..."

The cat rolls over onto her back, attracting Cassie's attention for a belly rub, which is duly given, together with a fond smile.

"Even you like him, don't you? Hell, you almost pinned him to the floor the third time you met him. And you don't like most people, so what does that say about things? My Moor Cat runt who doesn't like people likes Jin."

Cassie groans, burying her face in Wisp's belly.

"I'm so confused."

Click.