Michael was making his way to the bathroom when he thought he heard something come from Ashley's side of the loft. He shrugged and headed to the bathroom where he was about to do what every man did in the morning when all of a sudden he heard a very familiar voice use a very unfamiliar tone. “Eric?” he called out as he rushed towards Ashley’s area. 

When he reached the section of the place now occupied by his friend and temporary house guest he saw an unmistakably awkward situation in front of him. To his left was Eric. Looking a quarter dead, a quarter polo wearing jerk, and half terrified. Opposite of him was Ashley who seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable. Michael’s thoughts first went to his house guest. “Ashley are you alright!?” 

Eric started to stay something which garnered a response from Ashley. Michael didn’t hear it as he was now fully focused on what was laying on the ground in front of him. The two others in the room seemed to be waiting on Michael as Eric started talking about how it was normal for him to come in through the window. “Both of you shut up.” Michael said looking very serious. He rarely used the tone he had just flexed, but it was necessary. 

“Eric are those Acanthodian fossils?” Michael was pointing to the bag that was partially spilled and the fish fossils that had spilled out from inside. He walked over and started to pick them up carefully. He seemed to hold it in his hand and then suddenly changed visibly. He put the items back in the bag and then picked it up. He stared daggers at Eric and spoke. “I don’t care if these are plastered copies. Use the damn window from now on.” 

Michael then turned to Ashley. “The doctor said to not do any heavy activities. If you thought it was a burglar you should have shouted out. That was stupid. Both of you are a couple of idiots.” It was very unlike the normal Michael that everyone knew it loved, but it was hardly a shock to Eric. After all he was one of the few who knew just how much Michael loved the past. Eric shot a look at Ashley and then shot a moronic thumb up to his friend who was already starting to turn and walk into the living room area. 

The first to follow him was Eric who, before he left the area gave a long look at Ashley, was already starting to do damage control. Before he opened his mouth he patted Michael on the back a few times. “Look buddy I know fossils aren’t your area of study. A guy like you in the Archeology department is all about human remains and the like, but did you actually thing I would bring real fossils hundreds of millions of years old over to your place…?” Eric was not happy that Michael seemed to pause and think about the question. “Asshole.” Eric muttered with a sly smile as he made his way over to the coffee machine. 

Boon promptly plopped down near Ashley and began his now common panting staring contest with the young woman. He would simply lie on the ground and pant while looking up at her. Michael told her it was because he wanted some petting. Still this time he seemed to make it more obvious as he scooted closer to her. He was quickly ignored as she went about her business of dealing with the current situation. 

“You remind me of that ‘Caress Me Down’ song from Sublime” Eric said seemingly have desided to just throw the little event under the bridge. “That whole part where he talks about her having that Kung Fu grip or whatever. Seriously did you really just come out of the hospital?” Eric was a bit talker and Michael had learned to enjoy the soundtrack that his friend came packaged with. He also enjoyed poking fun at him. 

“I would make fun of you but I always got beat up by girls in school so no shame here.” Michael then mussed. “Looking back on it I think Lara might have had a crush on me. Isn’t there something about girls beating up boys they like at that age or something…” Michael was talking to the group with a smile, but it wasn’t from the silly story. He was completely wrapped up in looking at the plaster copies of the fossils Eric had brought. 

“I still don’t know why don’t switch over to Paleontology.” Eric said while shaking his head. He then looked over at Ashley. “They guy gets all sparkly eyed for some rocks, but doesn’t bat an eye when a troupe of girls in lingerie walk past in a night club. What made you pick Archeology over Paleontology anyways?” He seemed to be having a normal conversation now as Eric stated to lift the coffee maker and pour himself a glass. 

“I love history. The way we learn from it and ignore it is amazing. The real versions of these plaster copies are hundreds of millions of years old. That doesn’t put you in a state of awe I don’t know what will. I picked Archeology because of the connection to us. Looking at tools that, thousands of years ago, was the height of human achievement it’s too cool!” Michael was starting to look like a kid at a county fair. He realized Ashley was in the room and quickly seemed to calm himself down. 

“Anyways why are you here Eric? I thought you didn’t have anything going on till the afternoon?” Michael nodded to his friend who started to pour another cup of coffee. 

“Dude. You asked me to bring those over a week ago. I just finally got a handle on them and figured I would deliver them.” Eric then grew a devilish smile and looked from his friend to Ashley. “Plus I was hoping to sneak in and find only one bed in use.” This comment seemed to make Michael spill as he was pouring his coffee. “Then I remembered who I was thinking about. The day this guy beds a woman just might be the day those fossils spring back to life.” Michael laughed and took a swig from his cup.

Michael seemed somewhat loss for words at his friend’s comments. He finally managed to express some amount of protest. “We aren’t all the Casanova wannabe like you are Eric.” He then realized he was addressing the wrong part of the comment and quickly backtracked. “I mean that isn’t what is going on here. Ashley asked if she could stay and I said yes. There wasn’t any alternative motive for either of us.” Michael looked to Ashley for some confirmation as if it would help sell the whole situation as a normal thing to Eric.