Disclaimer: So the characters and names aren't mine, but the thoughts, plots and views expressed in this story are strictly from my deranged mind. Enjoy!

Must Be the Weather

"Angela!!" Rollie's frustrated voice rang through the brewery.

Angie sighed, and rolled her eyes to the sky. "What now," she said to herself. All day, she and Rollie had done nothing but fight and squabble; about the stupidest and minute of things too.

It had all begun that morning when she'd come to the loft to find no coffee. Complaining that she *always needed a cup of Java to start her morning* Angie had known even then that this day would never end. Rollie had come downstairs in his morning-wear, having slept in, only to hear complaining. Not exactly a great start to his morning either.

'Listen Angie,' he had told her. 'I'll get the coffee on in a sec, okay? Being the first person awake in New York on a Saturday morning doesn't give you reason to come in here screaming.'

'Well you shoulda been up' She'd said. 'You knew we were doing this work early. We need to get the morning sun in the back-up files for later. Besides, ignorance is no excuse.'

'Hmm,' he had turned away from her, and padded into the kitchen to brew her coffee.

The rest of the morning had followed much of the same pattern. Rollie had been snippy for every single mistake she'd made, every thing she did to his dissatisfaction. Spilling coffee on their backdrop would normally bring out a new creative idea in him, like adding a brown cloud to the drop. But this morning, it had thrown him into a speech on *how one must be careful with the sets, because they were very delicate, and bla bla bla*

So one could imagine the frustration Angie felt when Rollie called her name in his annoyed tone, later that afternoon.

Rollie made his way down the spiral staircase, carrying a ball of fur in his arms. When he stood before Angie, he threw the ball toward her.

"Hey!" Angie cried, catching the ball - which happened to be her cat Chiops - in her arms. "be careful with him, will ya?"

"Angela..." Rollie began, his tone threatening. He took a moment, and seemed to calm himself down. "Angie. You know I'm fine with Chiops coming into the shop with you once in a while, and normally I would love the attention. But what the *heck* is wrong with him today?"

"What do you mean?" Angie cried, defensively. "There's nothing wrong with my cat."

"Are you telling me it's normal for a cat to sit and wait, an evil look on his face, while a *friend* of his owner's does his work. And then when that *friend* isn't looking, suddenly jump on his back, claws extended?"

Angie laughed. "Oh, that's nothing," she rubbed Chiops' face as he purred loudly. "He's just being a cat ... cats need to explore the interesting, and that's obviously what he finds you!"

"This is no laughing matter, Angela," Rollie said sternly. "As if that wasn't enough, once I finally got him off my back, he sat in the corner of the room and started yowling. Ang, you know how long I've been perfecting those sound files ... now they're nothing but trash!"

Angie considered the claims. "Well, Chiops has been acting strangely lately, real clingy and stuff, but I'm sure it's just some natural cat instinct thing."

"I love your cat - usually - but we really have to get this movie wrapped up. The cast is only on a one-week break, which already is half over. When they come back to shoot - everything needs to be finished. Angie," he sighed. "Listen, I don't have the time or energy right now to care if it's natural or not ... either you get him to behave or you leave him to act like a nut at your apartment."

"Well fine," Angie said, fiercely. "If that's the way you feel, than maybe we should both leave." She got up from her chair, leaving Chiops in the seat, and began to pull her coat on.

"No, Ang ... you know that's not what I meant. My point was..."

"Oh, your point was very clear, Rollie." She picked up her cat, and made her way to the door. "Goodbye, Rollie."

"No, wait, Ang ... We need you ... I need you," he ended, throwing his hands up into the air. And sadly it was the truth. The production relied heavily on the two members of Tyler FX, him and Angie. If one of them were to quit or leave on short notice, any plans they had would be destroyed. But he himself had also come to rely on her lately. Maybe for a little more than he liked to admit, even to him.

He'd known Angie since she was a young child, and had always known of her hot temper. When he used to work for her father, Manny, he would always caution himself before talking to her, ensuring that nothing he said would taken the wrong way. She was a defensive child for the first while, taking everything he said the wrong way. In fact, when he'd first started at Manny's little Special Effects business, Rollie could have sworn that Angie had worked her hardest at getting rid of him. She'd run to her father every time he spoke, twisting his words into something insulting.

But Manny had been a good man, and had always taken his daughter's claims carefully. He'd know that she was making stories, but always seemed to find a way to solve the problem without coming out and accusing her of lying.

But as she grew up, the lies grew further apart, and he and Angie ... they grew closer together. Chiops had been a birthday gift for Angie, when she was still young. Her father had picked him out a local shelter, always the one to take in something in need of love.

Rollie remembered the surprise on Angie's face when her father had presented the kitten to her. She had just finished moving into her own place, and the apartment was still bare with what little furniture she could afford in it. Manny had given her the kitten as a housewarming gift and, as he said, "something to always remember me by." Rollie had suggested they name the cat "Cheetah" because of the large black spots that covered his belly. But Manny had declined, saying he'd already named the cat, Chiops.

Both Rollie and Angie had wrinkled their noses at the name, but Angie had decided to honour her father's wishes, as he did present the kitten to her. It wasn't until a few years later, after Manny had passed on, and Angie had found his old diaries, that she discovered the significance of the name. Manny had been shooting a movie down in Egypt when he'd met her mother, who was a tourist. They had married a year later, as the movie shoot was drawing to an end. The wedding was held in the same tiny town where the two had met, Chiops, Egypt.

Rollie shook himself back into reality, and found himself still staring at the door that Angie had just left through. If only he'd kept his big mouth shut, maybe they could have talked things through, and Angie wouldn't be so angry at him.

Perhaps the cat wasn't the only one with an attitude problem.

* * *

"Whoa, whoa!" Angie was nearly knocked off her feet, as she set the bowl of fresh cat food on the floor. Chiops galloped over to her, tail straight up, and pushed his face into the bowl.

She backed up, and watched the cat eat. His tail flicked behind him, a sign of satisfaction, as he gobbled down the food. It was as though if wasn't every day he was fed. Angie walked over to the kitchen counter and picked up the cat food tin. 'Friskies: Chicken Flavoured,' she read. That was what Chiops usually ate.

Angie sullenly thought of that morning, and the fight she'd had with Rollie. Of course both of their flaring tempers had gotten between the real issue, and had messed up a good day of work.

"It's all your fault!" She called over to the cat, who turned briefly to stare at her, and then back to his food. "If you hadn't been acting like such a ... such a cat this morning."

Truthfully, Angie didn't know what Chiops had been acting like this morning. He'd been acting strangely for the past week, always wanting to be close to her in the kitchen, or while she snuggled up on the couch with a good book. Sure, he always was a cuddly cat, but his behaviour now was much more than cuddly, it was ... sticky.

As she settled herself down in the loveseat, Angie noticed that Chiops had begun to wander into the living room. He was licking his chops, no doubt satisfied with the gift of wet cat food, and now looking for some rubs. He seemed to pause when he noticed his master staring at him, but proceeded when she offered him a kind smile.

"Oh, come on," Angie called, as the cat jumped up into her lap. "I'm not mad at you."

Chiops settled happily in her lap, tail wrapped around his sleek body.

"I just want to know what the heck is the matter," she began. "Your behaviour towards Rollie is definitely not acceptable. You've known him just as long as you've known me, and probably spent even more time at his place than mine!"

Chiops turned around, his yellow eyes piercing into hers. He mewed softly, as if in answer to her questions. He then spun back around, and jumped from her lap. Angie watched as he made his way into her bedroom, where he was no doubt going under the bed for a quick afternoon nap.

As soon as he'd gone, Angie picked up the phone prepared to dial. She should, afterall, give Rollie and quick call and apologize for her actions earlier. They would probably have to do some nightshooting that night, and she wanted him to know that she would be there, whether he wanted her or not.

* * *

A brutal storm had started up later that afternoon, long after Angie had given Rollie a call to apologize. He was eager to accept her apology, offering one for himself as well. They'd decided to start the outdoor shooting that evening around 6 p.m. when dusk was just beginning. That was before the skies had opened up to offer their pelting drops of rain.

At 5.30, when Rollie still hadn't given a call, Angie figured she might as well make her way over to the brewery. He probably had a long list of inside jobs they could do while they were waiting for the storm to pass, including what they'd missed this morning.

She grabbed her PDA, stuffed it and a pair of running shoes into her bag. She then pulled on her rain slicker, and a pair of ducks, to keep her feet warm. Luckily, Rollie had left her with the 4x4, so she could drive to his place without worrying about the PDA and other equipment getting soaked in the process.

As she was preparing to leave, Angie heard a loud mew from the bedroom, and instantly tensed up. She'd forgotten all about Chiops, whom she hadn't seen all afternoon. She had believed he'd gone under her bed for a nap, and didn't worry much when he didn't surface for dinner. But now she sighed as she threw off her boots and made her way back into the apartment.

Just as she reached her bedroom door, Chiops marched out, stretching his long legs behind him. He yawned, producing another mewing sound, and a view of his sharp teeth.

"What?" Angie asked him.

He looked up at her, taking a seat.

"I'm going over to Rollie's for a bit, and you don't have to come. After your behaviour this morning, I don't think he really wants you there for a bit now." She spun on her heel, ready to leave the apartment.

"Mrow!" Chiops let out a loud mew, and raced toward Angie. He latched himself onto her ankle, and refused to let go.

"Hey!" She shouted, trying to shake him off. He hadn't done this since he was a wee kitten, and used to grab her ankles and bite them. But this time he wasn't biting, not even crying, just latched his front legs around hers. "Chiops!" She bent down, and tried to separate him from her leg.

When she finally succeeded, she set him back down on the floor and scolded him. "Now stop that, I am going out and you can't come."

She kept her eye on him as she picked up her bag, and opened the apartment door. She was almost out, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted him gear up for a pounce. He raced past her, and out the apartment door. She quickly locked it behind her, and took off after him.

"Chiops, get back here!" She cried, spotting him making his way down the back stairs. "Chiops!" Once he was out of her sight, she stopped running. "Ugh!" she cried, frustrated. "Fine with me if you would rather live outside in that slop."

"Miss Ramirez?" A voice came from the bottom of the stairs, followed by a hiss.

Angie moaned as she walked down to meet it. Her landlord stood at the bottom, Chiops in his arms, hissing and trying his hardest to get away. "Yes?" Angie asked, sheepishly.

"Is this belonging to you?"

Angie nodded. She walked forward and reached her arms out to retrieve the cat. However, the landlord pulled the cat closer to him. "If I'm not mistaken, we made an agreement when you moved in here, did we not?"

Angie grimaced. "Yes, we did," she acknowledged.

"You promised I'd never have to see this animal in the hallways, unless he was kennelled up or on a leash. Both which he is not."

"Listen," Angie began. "He's not feeling the greatest right now, and we were just on our way out. He slipped past me into the hall and took off. I promise you it won't happen again."

"Hmm," he held the cat out for her to take. "It had better not, Miss Ramirez. You knew I was doing you a big favour by allowing that animal in here. This block does not normally allow any animals with the tenants. Do you get that?"

"Unfortunately," Angie took Chiops into her arms.

"What was that Miss Ramirez?" He called after her.

"Thank you," Angie said, through clenched teeth, as she made her way back up the stairwell, Chiops safely in her arms.

She took him out to the truck, and piled him, along with her other gear, into the backseat. As she drove toward the brewery. "What is your problem, eh?" She said, directing her question to the rear-view mirror, in which she could see Chiops. "Do you want to get us evicted?"

Chiops stopped what he was doing, and starred up towards his master. He let out a long meow, and then turned back to the interesting equipment he had found in the back seat. Angie just sighed, shrugging her shoulders toward the cat. Maybe it was just a mood swing, something that he would jump out of soon enough. And maybe Rollie could be the one to bring him out.

* * *

Angie threw the front doors of the brewery open, and heaved a loud sigh, catching the undivided attention of Rollie, who was seated in his work area.

"Hey, Ang," he called to her. "Down in a sec."

Angie closed the door behind her, wiping her feet on the mat just inside. She stood and waited, soaked as a drowned rat, while Rollie made his way over.

"Listen, Ang," he reached his hands out toward her. "I ... whoa!"

Chiops leapt from Angie's coat, snarling towards Rollie.

"Whoa, mate, what's the matter?" Rollie backed away, and eventually Chiops settled down to a mild growling, restrained in Angie's arms.

"Chiops, stop it!" Angie scolded the cat, staring straight at him. "I'm sorry, Rol. I don't know what his problem is lately. Nearly got me killed a while ago, ran out while the landlord was around."

"Hmm, well he sure does seem very protective of you today," Rollie reached out to touch Angie's shoulder again, but Chiops halted his arm with a loud hiss. "He seemed fine when you brought him over yesterday."

"That's true," Angie replied, trying to slip off her coat without disturbing the cat. "Strangely enough he was okay early this morning, all until we came over here."

"Hey - don't try pinning his problems on me!" Rollie cried.

Angie was about to reply when a loud crash of thunder roared from above. Chiops let out a yowl, and jumped from Angie's arms. He jetted across the floor, and hid underneath Rollie's big workbench.

"Must be the weather," Rollie joked, lightly.

"Well, it isn't you," Angie replied. "And I never meant that it was."

"Oh, right, his problems started here, but you don't blame me one bit?"

"Rollie!" Angie cried. "Back off. Chiops was acting strange at my place too, not just here. I'm sorry if you felt I was implying you had something to do with it, but I wasn't!"

The two fell silent, the only sound was that of the washing waves of rain that fell down onto the brewery. Angie could see Chiops' eyes glowing from beneath the worktable, pinned on her face.

"Listen," Rollie began, quietly. "Why don't we just get to work. We have a lot to get done, and we can do most of it inside here, since we didn't get any done this morning."

"And I suppose that's my fault, isn't it," Angie replied, bitterly.

"Angela..." Rollie began. "Just don't start, okay?"

"Fine," Angie threw her hands. She threw her wet coat towards the rack Rollie kept in the corner, and started to make her way toward the workshop. "I'll just finish the graphics I was working on yesterday; and I suppose you'll be redoing those sounds."

"Yup."

"And don't worry, I'll keep Chiops down here with me, so he won't cause you any trouble." There was a note of bitterness to her voice, which Rollie chose to ignore.

As the storm seemed to let up, both set out on their way, in different corners of the room. Angie silently worked on her computer graphics, while Rollie was up in the VR chamber, recording the sounds they would need.

Once it was deemed safe to come out, Chiops made his way from beneath the table. He spotted his master at the computer, and slowly came up behind her. Of course nothing was a surprise for the cat anymore, not since his Angie had attached a bell to his collar. She turned when she heard him coming, and motioned him onto her lap.

"I don't know what's going on, bud," she said, slowly. "I think all we ever do now is fight, and I hate it." She stopped her work to rub the cat's face, and he responded with a low purring in his belly. "Man, Chi, maybe I should fall in love with you."

The purring in Chiops' belly stopped, and he stared up at his master, as if realizing what she'd just confessed wasn't to be said aloud.

"Oh, not that I ... or Rollie and I ... or we," she rattled on. "Oh, who can I kid anymore. Oh, what's a matter with me. Must be the weather," she laughed.

Deciding that he'd had enough of the conversation, and deeming that his Angie wouldn't rub him any longer, Chiops hopped down from her lap, and onto the floor. He started up the spiral staircase, tail flicking slightly behind him.

"Chiops!" Angie called out. "Don't you dare go up and bother Rollie!"

Chiops ignored her, and made his way toward the VR chamber. He stopped at the door, seeing it closed. But with a cat's curiosity, he pushed himself into the door, and was surprised to see it budge open.

"Ang?" Rollie called from his corner. "That you?" He seemed to spot Chiops at that moment, and his eyes fell. "Oh, it's you."

"Prrow," Chiops exclaimed, sauntering towards Rollie. He sat just feet before the tall Aussie, his golden eyes pinned on the man's face.

"What?" Rollie asked, his tone annoyed. "You had better not start that yowling again, you hear? It's taken me all afternoon to get these sounds working again, and to erase that terrible noise."

Chiops got up, and walked over to Rollie, rubbing up against the man's legs.

"Oh sure," Rollie began. "Now you like me." He reached down to give the cat a rub beneath his collar. "What is with you cats, huh? One minute you're snarling beasts, the next you love everybody. Gosh, if I didn't know you better, I would claim you were human." He laughed. "Like that owner of yours, wonderful gal she is."

Chiops lifted his chin up, as Rollie scratched his gullet.

"Terrible bouts of fighting we've been having, the two of us. And to tell ya the truth, I don't like it one bit, not one bit. Angie's a great person, she is. But I don't think she deserves someone like me ragging on her all the time."

Chiops suddenly opened his jaws, and bit the finger that was stroking him.

"Ouch, hey mate," Rollie cautioned. "Stop that! Sheesh, was it something I said? You think maybe I should be nicer to that owner of yours or what?" Rollie shook his head, "not like she'd appreciate it or anything," he said, more to himself than the cat.

Chiops gave Rollie's hand one more nip, before making his way from the room.

"What!?" Rollie cried, as he watched the cat leave. "What's wrong?"

Chiops strutted out, a single, solitary thought on his mind. Stupid humans.

* * *

The next morning, Angie awoke to a bright light in her face. She quickly rolled over, making room for practical thought to enter her mind. Of course, she suddenly rationalized, she had left the curtains open last night in order to watch the light show. She had expected to wake up the next morning to a gloomy sky, as the forecast had predicted. But as she rolled back over, the sight that met her was anything but a gloomy and cloudy sky.

The sun was just beginning to peak over the tall New York buildings, it's morning light blinding. Angie stretched her arms and legs, and prepared to get up out of bed. A sudden noise startled her, and she sudden realized that something was at the foot of her bed, preparing a pounce.

"Chiops," she began, her voice had the warning edge to it that usually stopped any sort of attack the cat might be preparing.

"Mrow!" Chiops instead hopped over to greet her, rubbing his face into hers.

"That's a better greeting, my dear." Angie began, sweeping the cat into her arms, as she stepped out of bed. "Care to join me for the morning's jog?"

Chiops let himself fall back onto the bed, and began licking at his paws.

"Okay, so we aren't in *that* good of a mood then, are we," Angie muttered to herself.

She set out on the jog herself, tanning lotion and sunglasses on. By the time she had returned to the block, the sun was fully up and shining. She decided to skip out on breakfast, in favour of going straight to Rollie's, so they could start their outdoors shooting early.

As she prepared to leave the apartment, Angie glanced around for sight of the cat. She had decided it was too nice of a day to drive, and had opted for her 'blades, meaning there was no way Chiops could accompany her. She finally spotted him lying in the center of the kitchen floor, a favourite place to nap, his paws curled in sleep. As she opened the door, Chiops stirred, and Angie thought for sure she'd blown it.

But the cat just looked up at her, suppressing a yawn.

"Okay, bye!" Angie called, waving shortly.

When she neared Rollie's place, she was astonished to hear the sounds of firebombs and explosives echoing in the alley. For a minute, Angie almost considered turning back around and going down to the station; but then she remembered that the flick she and Rollie were working on was a war film, complete with bombs, grenades, and lots of gunfire.

"Rol?" She called, cautiously, rounding the corner towards the brewery.

"Hey Ang! Ain't it a wonderful morning!" He called, coming towards her. Once he was close, Rollie lifted her into his arms and spun her around.

"Whoa, Rol. What has gotten into you today?" Angie cried, taking a step back once he placed her back on solid ground.

"Everything, Angie, everything is great today. The sun is shining, the sounds are done; and I think your cat and I actually did some male bonding yesterday."

"O-kay," Angie eyed him, suspiciously. "I'm just putting my stuff inside and I'll be back out." She called, making her way into the place.

Rollie had begun to work on the outdoor screening, when Angie came running out to meet him. "What's a matter now?" Rollie asked, spotting the look on his partner's face.

"I left the PDA at my place," she moaned. "Oh, a whole morning of work ruined!"

"Not quite," Rollie said, grinning. "Why don't we just take the 4x4 by your place? I'm sure we could get some great backdrops in that field out behind the blocks, anyhow."

Angie raised her brows. "Really?"

"Why not?" Rollie asked, gathering up the gadgets he'd been working with, and loading them into the back of the truck. Once he was finished, he opened up the door and motioned her in.

Once they reached the blocks, they made their way up to Angie's place. As soon as they opened the door, Chiops came darting out towards them.

"Grab him!" Angie cried, fearing that the cat was attempting to make another break away. But Chiops didn't run past the door, he simply ran to them, and jumped up onto Rollie's shoulders, which was quite a way for a small cat like himself.

Rollie's eyes grew big, and he, always being a dog person, tried to stay still. "Angela," he beckoned. "Get this cat off me."

"I don't believe it," Angie muttered. "Rol, don't you understand? That is the symbol of utter most trust from him, he likes you."

"Right, like when he jumped onto my back with his claws ... that was definite trust," Rollie said, sarcastically. "Just get him off!"

"Oh, fine!" She reached over and pulled Chiops off Rollie's shoulders, placing him onto her own. He walked around, looking for the place of maximum comfort, and finally lay down across her shoulders, his head drooping down her front.

Angie located her PDA, and made her way back into the kitchen, where she found Rollie seated at the table. "'Guess we can work on some internal stuff while we're here," he said to her, with a shrug of his mighty shoulders.

"Fine by me."

The two began to set up the props, cameras, and sound recorders throughout Angie's living room. They then seated themselves on the floor, equipment before them, and prepared to begin work. They decided upon Angie's living room furniture as a perfect backdrop for one of the scenes they'd next be shooting, one in where a war vet returned home for the first time.

They began the lengthy screening process, Angie working the recording, and Rollie on the sounds. More that once, Chiops had walked across the living room, deciding always to sit down right before the camera, and give himself a bath.

"Chiops!" Rollie called, "for the last time, stop that!" However, the cat thought better than to listen, and remained in his spot on the large loveseat, a satisfied grin upon his face. "Okay, that is the last time..." Rollie got up, almost knocking over his equipment, and set towards the cat.

"Rollie, wait!" Angie got up too, seeing the defensive position that Chiops took as he saw the lanky man coming towards him.

But Rollie ignored her warning, and reached down toward the cat. Angie quickly made her way towards him, and bent down at his level. "Rollie, leave him be!"

"Oh come on, Angie, I just want to get him outta the way! I'm not gonna do anything to him."

"It's not him I'm worried about," Angie said, softly.

Rollie took his eye off the cat for just a second, and brought his gaze up to Angie's. How could it be he had never noticed before just the beauty in her eyes. Like bright blue oceans surrounded by the beautiful Australian beaches he had grown up with. "Angie..."

She leaned forward, her face coming dangerously close to his. Rollie just stared at her, not wanted to close his eyes until the last second, for fear that he'd lose sight of her.

But just at that moment, Chiops decided it was time to make his exit, and got up. Both humans had been in their own little universe, and the cat bolting up startled them. Rollie was the first to snap out of the trance, and he leaned forward, almost falling to the ground.

"Rollie!" Angie, too, leaned forward in an attempted to catch him before he fell. But she was too late, and her attempt netted more problems, as she fell to the ground with him.

"Oh," Angie groaned, touching her head. She opened her eyes to find that during her attempt to "save" Rollie, she had fallen hard on top of his chest, and was pinning him to the ground. "Okay, was it just me, or did something strange just happen?"

Rollie spotted Angie above him, and laughed. She, too, returned the laugh, and attempted to make her way up. Once she got to a kneeling position, she offered a hand toward Rollie, and he gladly accepted it.

"Must be the weather," Rollie replied, sarcastically.

"No," Angie said, catching sight of the cat over in the corner, lying down. "I think it was something else." From where she sat, with Rollie across from her, Angie could have sworn that Chiops had one of the largest grins on his face.

END