I stepped up to the contraption and pulled up my most condescending tone that all men in the American movies used, and said in an American accent, “Well then, little lady, it's lucky I happen to be around then." This got a snort, giggle, and blush that made me happy to have elicited from hir.
I explained as I looked at the little gas motor and pulled the spark plug wire off. “I know the basics. McGrath taught me. There are really only three things it can be on small gas motors. Either you are getting no spark, no gas, or no air.”
I held the cable close to the plug and pulled the starter rope. We saw little blue sparks of electricity arcing from the wire to the plug. “You have spark..." I unscrewed the wing nut holding on the little air cleaner. The foam filter was a little dirty but not enough to cut off the much needed airflow to the motor.
I said, “This could use a good cleaning or be replaced, but it isn't dirty enough to stop the motor from running." I glanced up and froze for a moment. Big blue eyes were wide with wonder as they looked at me. I felt the heat on my cheeks, and I tried not to smile as I put the air cleaner cover back on.
I tried not to melt under hir gaze as I concluded, “So, barring a fouled spark plug, you're not getting gas. Which can mean only one of three things: fuel line, fuel filter, or a bad float.”
Then I felt so bashful for some reason as I looked at my crush and prompted hopefully, “I can come back tomorrow night if you want, and we can see if we can get Melody running again.”
Reid fluttered hir eyelashes at me and clasped hir hands over hir heart and said, “My hero."
We shared a giggle, then it wasn't funny anymore as I found my hands cupped in hers. Gulp.
After a moment Reid said, “Come on, let's get you on your way. The next train is in twenty minutes."
I nodded and allowed hir to lead me by the hand back into hir house where Mimi was waiting in the hall.
Mimi said, “Cat." She shoved a small canvas with a black cat painted on it into my hands. “Kiss." She kissed the top of my head. “Door." She moved past us to hold the door open.
I giggled at her as I was dragged out by her evil spawn. I called back as we hustled down the walk, “Goodbye, Mimi. Thank you so much for having me. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
She waved, a genuine smile on her face before she shut the door.
I said with absolute certainty. “I simply love your mother.”
Reid said with pride, “Me too.”
Chapter 6 – Mischief On Two Wheels
I smiled at the memories as Mr. Jameson and I stuffed his Metropolitan to the gills with pikes and armor. He produced a twenty pence and held it up. He flicked it, and I blurted out hopefully, “Heads!" I really didn't want to sit around waiting for the Henningsly Production Group to come calling for their order. That was soooo boring, and they were always at least an hour late.
The coin flipped through the air, and he slapped his hand down on it, capturing it on the back of his other hand. He peeked under his hand and said in a false conciliatory tone, “Ohhh, a shame. I'll be back before you know...”
I cocked an eyebrow at the slippery old man. “Why aren't you showing it to me? I smell something rotten in Denmark.”
The old man grinned at me and then lifted his hand, I looked to where the queen was staring back at me. I slapped his shoulder lightly. “You old snake.”
He chuckled and slipped the coin back into his pocket, produced his keys, and tossed them to me. Playing the feeble old man with his voice, he said, “Not a scratch on her, you hear?”
I shook my head again at him, suppressing my smile. I really did enjoy working with JJ, but I wasn't daft, I hopped into the driver's seat before he could change his mind. I gave a tiny wave in the mirror when I saw him waving from the walk.
On the short drive to the BBC backlot, I looked at the steering wheel in my hands and thought about how freeing it was not to have to rely on public transportation. I hadn't realized how restrictive it would be until Reid and I had our own way around town.
The memory of what occurred that next day all those weeks ago flitted around in my mind. It had been a Friday. JJ and I had taken to working half days on Friday, so I could rush home from work to help with the renovation. I can't believe how gorgeous the greenhouse was becoming under McGrath's skilled hands.
I can't tell you how much I loved contributing to the Flotilla. I felt as if I were accomplishing something to be proud of. But on that day, I was looking at the time every few minutes. I even caught myself looking up at the huge clock face that overlooked the inside of the greenhouse that was part of the housing structure, even though it didn't work. The restoration of the clock face was progressing swiftly as well, and the entire building was starting to look brand new.
The moment McGrath called out as she clapped her hands loudly together, “That's five o'clock people. Hammers down. I'll be seein' ya all bright and early Monday. Now go. Have a great weekend.”
I was already shoving my tool belt into Robert's hands and running toward the exit. Bobby groused out, “Hey!”
I just grinned but then remembered myself and skidded to a stop, ran back, hugged Lenore, McGrath, and Angie quickly and then dashed toward the door. Ange was calling out, “Are you meeting this mystery person again? His name again was...?”
I don't know why I was so greedy and selfish about my time with Reid that I didn't share with them. But I truly savored every moment with those crystal blues looking at me, and I wanted them all to myself. Besides, it was sort of fun to see my little family all a twitter and trying to get information from me.
I waved her off with a single digit on my hand and ran out to Narrow Street. I had to hustle the few short blocks to the Limehouse Station.
An hour later I was hopping off another train at Parsons Green, I looked around hopefully, but the only person around not exiting the train, was a bloke walking along the platform, hands in pockets. I stood on tiptoes to look over a couple exiting passengers and deflated a little. Reid had said ze would meet me here. We only exchanged about a zillion texts that day.
But then my smile bloomed on my face. It was startling to me how relieved I was when I noted the bright red hair under the ball cap on the approaching boy. The big aviator sunglasses hid Reid's blue eyes. This was the most masculine I have seen hir, and it stirred a familiar heat inside me.
Then I grinned at hir decidedly shy and feminine smile that just threw all that masculinity out the window. I couldn't help myself, I gave hir a quick hug that coaxed out a bright blush on hir cheeks. I said as I released my bashful companion, “This is a new look for you. Very sharp.”
Reid shrugged and bit the tip of hir tongue a moment before ze said, “I was feeling it today. We're going to be doing mechanic-y shite and stuff tonight.”
I nodded sagely as I allowed hir to claim my hand and start pulling me along. “Yes, mechanic-y shite and stuff. That's what we'll be doing." I couldn't resist a little tease as I smirked playfully and asked deadpan, “You wouldn't know the difference between a spanner and pliers, now would you?”
The toothy grin I got in return as the sprite ignored my question, was all the affirmation I required. I nodded, continuing my sage tone. “No bother, at least you're pretty, you've that going for ya.”
This got me a super smiley version of Reid walking beside me as ze beamed at the backhanded compliment. I glanced over and shook my head, releasing hir hand. “What is with these glasses?" I slid them off hir face. Then squinted one eye and pulled off the ball cap too. I ruffled hir hair as she swatted my hands away with familiar windmilling patty-cake motions.
Indignantly, Reid pouted out as ze walked backward in front of me. “They make me look rugged.”
I reached up and ran one hand through hir silky red hair, smoothing out the mess I made of it and countered as I said, “If by rugged you mean somebody's overly cute kid sister wearing her brother's stuff then yeah, you rock it.”
She was all girl as she gave me a pou
ty lower lip. She raised her chin and looked down her nose imperiously at me and said in a regal tone, “Bint.”
I was having so much fun I just cuddled into hir arm, wrapping both of mine around hir bicep, and said, “To the home, good sir. We've a motorbike to repair." This was apparently the right thing to say as ze looked at me smugly then did as I had suggested and led me to castle Masterson.
We must have cross kicked each other’s butts at least five times in the short walk to hir place, having a grand time. Then Reid asked as we stepped up to the door, “You really think you can get Melody running again?”
The hopeful look in hir wide eyes had me gulping, I said with much more confidence than I felt, “Of course... most likely... maybe?"
Reid giggled.
Then I asked in a conspiring tone as I looked around, “You get what we needed?”
The sprite furrowed hir brow as we moved into the house as ze called out, “Mum, I'm home!" Then hir eyes widened in understanding and ze produced a spark plug from hir pocket, saying with pride, “Pluggy thingie. Same number as the text written on the old one.”
I snatched the spark plug from the least mechanically inclined person in this or any other universe as I chastised in fun, “This 'pluggy thingie' may or may not be needed, it is a 'just in case' scenario, in case the original spark plug is fouled. It would be a good thing to replace it anyway as... gleeep!" I was pulled into a hug in a sneak Mimi attack, I hadn't stood a chance.
I turned to the glowing woman who had paint on her cheek and in her hair. She had an eyebrow cocked at Reid, who said sheepishly, “Oh, yeah. Umm... Mum, Christine's coming over for supper and to help fix my bike tonight." She went all girl and gave her mum the most innocent look, fluttering her lashes.
This just got her mum chuckling and shaking her head. “I swear, sometimes I'd think you'd forget your own head if it weren't attached, love.”
She turned to me, ignoring her child and looped an arm in mine and started to drag me down the hall ignoring Reid. “I'd be delighted to have supper with you, Christine.”
We both grinned at the whine behind us, “Muuuum, I need TinTin in the garage.”
Mrs. Masterson relented and released me into the wild, in an expert tag and release, “Fine, fine. I'll call when I have dinner ready. You two have fun playing." She winked conspiratorially at me before marching off. She was a delightfully evil person and knew just how to push all of Reid's buttons.
Said redhead grumped, “Muuum... We're not children mother, we're fully grown adults. We're not going to 'play.'”
I turned to hir, unable to keep the grin off my face and grabbed hir hand to drag hir toward the garage door, bubbling out, “Come on, let's go play." I giggled at hir harrumph and I soothed her, “She's just yanking your chain, silly girl." Then I hesitated when Reid turned on the light, and I looked at hir. “Sorry. Sometimes I forget. Hard habits and all, years of binary address... But sometimes you can be such a girl," I teased.
This just got a smile from hir. “You actually do better than most, and you have a knack for reading me. You seem to know when I'm feeling particularly girly and so what you say isn't entirely inaccurate at the time, and I sort of like that you can tell."
I had to pry my eyes from hir lips as something inside stirred back to life, reminding me just what Reid did to me when ze was around.
I pushed away the arousal and moved purposefully off to the bike. I felt the sprite at my back as I looked at the motor and pulled the spark plug wire again. I compared the numbers on the plug... just in case, and heard an indignant grunt. “Just making sure," I teased
“I did learn to read at a young age. It would be a superpower if every other child didn't do the same," ze grumped.
I grinned back at hir and explained. “It pays to be doubly sure, some plugs extend farther into the cylinder and can damage the motor.”
With a scrunched brow I got back, “How do you know so much about this stuff? You take auto shop in school?”
I shook my head. “Nope, just learned from McGrath, when we service the generators and bilge pumps." I had to bite my tongue to stop from smiling at her bemused look, then prompted as I squatted again and held a hand out, “Adjustable spanner?”
With surety and conviction, all I got instead of a spanner in my hand was, “That's a tool thing, right?”
I turned my gaze up and cocked an eyebrow. The impish grin I saw told me ze was messing with me. Reid stuck hir tongue out at me and then dashed off to the far wall, saying, “Mum keeps a few tools in here.”
Ze brought a dusty metal toolbox over and opened it up. I swear to all that is chocolate in this world of ours, hir hand actually hesitated over some channel locks before, with a nod to hirself, ze grabbed the spanner and handed it to me.
I said under my breath but loud enough to be heard, “We're going to have to teach you the basics, that was just embarrassing.”
Ze sputtered, “I'm not that bad, TinTin, you're just mean.”
I nodded sagely. “Whatever you say, Reidster.”
“No.”
I expected that reply every time I tried out a new nickname on hir that I sort of liked. Hmm... Reidster, I think that one will stick. Much better than Reid-inator.
I managed to get the spark plug out without barking my knuckles and swearing like an Irish sailor... bad habit I picked up from my pseudo-sister.
It looked fairly clean with just some carbon build up. I said, “It looks ok, but we'll replace it just in case."
Reid was quick to pick up the new one from where I set it next to the tool box and handed it over then took the old one from me. I arched an eyebrow when ze impressed me by tossing the old plug half way across the garage and into a small bin by the door.
Ze just nodded confidently at my surprise and nudged hir thumb at hir chest. “Reid knows sports.”
I nodded skeptically, though I knew the smug one did play rugby. “And does Reid also speak in the third person often? I hear that is a sign of megalomania." I hid my grin as I installed the new plug and connected the wire.
I do admit to snorting at the response. “Reid is aware of this and Reid will inform you upon any urges to take over the world.”
I giggled, handed the spanner to the next ruler of the world, then stood up and inhaled quickly. We shared a look, and I pulled the cord a few times. The motor didn't even try to kick. I said in my sage manner, “The spark plug, was not the problem.”
Reid was nodding hir head and asked, “You think?”
I nodded back, having so much fun with our banter. “Yes I do, frequently, you should try it.”
I giggled at the incredulous gasp I got in return along with a light slap on my arm. I winked at hir and then bit my lower lip as I looked at the gas tank and taped it with a knuckle, it felt about half full. “How long has the gas been in it?”
Ze said, “Better part of a year now. I tried starting Melody after she sat over last winter, but she was dead.”
Ahh... I nodded and asked, “Does the one who knows sports, also know that petrol can go bad?”
“No, the one who knows sports was not aware of that fact.”
I looked over and explained, “If you are ever going to store anything with a motor in it for long periods without running them, it is good practice to run them out of petrol, so it doesn't go bad." I grinned internally, just a couple years ago I wouldn't have known any of this stuff. I love the skills I have acquired since coming to London and working with McGrath and the Flotilla.
Then I thought I sounded like a commercial as I added, “You can also get fuel stabilizer additive to add to your gas to help prevent the petrol from going bad.”
Reid was just nodding like a student in class, and I felt silly. Then ze asked, “So what is the next step?”
I looked around, then asked, “Do you have an old tin or anything you wouldn't mind getting gasoline in?"
Reid hopped over to a large bin and peered inside, then brought an empty tuna tin to me.<
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I nodded then asked, “Vice grips?”
She shook her head. “Nope. But if you want to talk vices, I have a weakness for pastries." She stuck out her tongue before I could say anything and she asked, “Just what in our recent interaction makes you believe I know what these vice grips might be?”
I shook my head and teased, “I reiterate my previous observation, you're such a girl sometimes." Then I grinned at the indignant look that turned playful a moment later as I pointed. “Just slide the box this way and let me see what you have in there. And to be fair, I wouldn't have known a vice grip from a hacksaw a short bit ago.”
Reid's eyes widened in mischief. “We've a hacksaw.”
I muttered as ze slid the toolbox over to me, “Smartarse.”
Ze laid hir head on my shoulder for effect and fluttered hir eyelashes at me. “I do try.”
I pulled an old set of locking pliers out of the box in triumph. “Ah ha! Ok, we'll just pinch off the fuel line just outside the tank..." I pinched the rubber hose tightly with the vice grips and left them dangling on the hose as I got the tuna tin and a set of normal pliers.
I moved the hose clamp up and then said, ok, here's where it gets messy. I moved the tuna tin as close as I could to where the hose connected to the carburetor and pried it off with the pliers, one eye squinted shut. And nothing happened. A single drop of gas fell into the tin, and it looked a little grainy.
I snorted when my handy dandy helper pointed out, “Well, that was anti-climactic.”
I agreed. “The gas in the line should have drained out. But it seems we've discovered the problem." I pointed at the solitary drop of gas that was beaded up on the fish oils in the tin. “See that black grit? It seems that the gas is fouled and the line is plugged with debris.”
I grabbed a small Phillips screwdriver and then looked at the hose and pushed the tip of the screwdriver in as far as it could go and pulled it out and winced at the black, tar-like goo stuck to it. I used a professional mechanic's term, “Ewww." Shut up.
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