Ross looked casually around the reception area; it appeared to be more sterile than a morgue. He knew anyone who was even vaguely important was in a meeting and he wasn't due to bring them coffee for another hour. He let a smile form as he casually moved from his desk and sauntered into the storeroom come stationary cupboard and collected a small radio. He brought it back to his desk and fumbled with it until he found a descent radio station and, pleased with his achievement, started bopping in his chair. Ross was standing at the photocopier and too busy dancing to the music and singing along to notice his boss appear.
          "I'd rather do it was Madonna. She's what a woman's supposed to be. She's really got me on my knees. Only girl I'd ever need. Madonna's the one for me."
          "Anderson," his boss grumbled.
          "I'd really like to be with Kylie, cos she's really, really hot. I wonder if I could get Kylie to do it with Madonna?"
          "ANDERSON."
          Ross jumped and knocked the buttons of the photocopier. Paper began to shoot out and smack into a nearby filing cabinet. He pressed a few buttons in blind panic and the paper stopped ejecting itself. Ross quickly straightened up and looked at his boss, Mr. Truman. "Hi."
          "I've told you before about that radio."
          "I know," Ross pouted looking at the floor. "I promise it won't interfere with my work." He looked back up as his boss, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Much."
          "I want you to put an ad in the paper," Truman scowled. "We need a new copywriter."
          "Right," Ross nodded. "Copywriter."
          "Yes, that's what I said."
          "What would you say if I said I could get you one without having to out an advert in the paper?"
          Truman looked Ross up and down. "I'd be impressed."
          "In fact, I can get you one before lunch," Ross continued enthusiastically.
          "Ok," Truman nodded. "You get your man here and we'll see."
          "Have I ever let you down?" Ross smiled.
          "I'm not answering that," Truman sighed and turned to leave. He stopped and looked over is shoulder. "Oh and Anderson."
          "Yes sir."
          "Clean up that paper."
          "Already there sir," Ross perked and started grabbing the loose sheets.

          "Are we all ready?" Chris asked as the team assembled in a nearby field again to test another prototype.
          "Never been more ready," Marty perked.
          "She's all set up," Ken nodded.
          "Right, everyone stand back," Penny breathed and pressed the launch button. The rocket rose quickly and the four colleagues held onto each other as it started to veer away. Not further into surrounding fields as they had hoped but toward the buildings of the Defense, Science and Technology Organisation.
          "Oh shit," Marty gasped.
          "We better follow it," Chris declared and they took off at a run, trying to keep their eyes on the rocket and not trip over clumps of glass. They hit the asphalt and still the rocket appeared to be making no attempt to stop.
          "Where'd it go?" Marty asked suddenly stopping and looking around blankly. They all looked in different directions.
          "CAR PARK," Ken screamed and they set off again. They sprinted into the car park to see the rocket nosedive straight through the sunroof of their superior's, beloved sports car. Nothing happened at first and then the interior of the car began to smoke, a few seconds later there was an explosion big enough to rock the neighboring buildings and shatter the windows of a few close cars.
          "We're so dead," Marty breathed.
          "I have a suggestion," Chris announced.
          "What?" Penny wailed.
          "RUN!" The four took off as people began to flock to the smoldering vehicle. They clearly heard the enraged rants of their superior as they took cover back in the lab.

          Kirsty had just put on a load of washing when her phone rang. She nipped from the laundry into her bedroom and found the squealing device amongst her bedclothes.
          "Hello."
          "Hey, my angry little cleaning wench."
          "Ross? What on earth are you calling me for?"
          "Well I was bored and thought you might like to come and give me fellatio under the desk. Honestly, do I need a reason?"
          "No, guess not…does arouse suspicion though."
          "Gee thanks, you try and do something nice and what do you get huh?"
          "Did you want something? Really, because I've got a million things to do?"
          "Yeah actually I do, put on your best power suit and get your arse here pronto."
          "I'm not giving you fellatio under the desk."
          "You smutty, smutty girl."
          "You brought it up."
          "You've got a job interview."
          "Excuse me?"
          "A job interview, Truman wants a new copywriter and I've suggested you."
          "You did what?"
          "Are you even listening to me?"
          "I'm not prepared for an interview, what am I supposed to say? He'll hate me, they always hate me."
          "Are you panicking?"
          "Of course I'm panicking."
          "Never picked you as a panicker."
          "You'll have to cancel."
          "Don't be so spineless, you'll do great."
          Ross's utmost confidence made Kirsty's self esteem rise just enough to give her the boost she needed ."Ok, ok…I'll be there as soon as I can."
          "That's my girl and don't panic. The old sleaze will love you."
          "What?" Kirsty squealed and was greeted by the dial tone. She fell onto the bed and let out several panicked whimpers before she managed to pull herself together and start hunting out something smart for the interview.

          Julia walked back to her desk and grabbed all her personal belongings (which amounted to a picture of Timtam and a picture of her, Penny and Kirsty the previous Christmas) and her bag and made her way to the door. It wasn’t until she was out in the street that she realised the disk with the business proposal on it was in her pocket. She slid a hand into her pocket and removed the disk, she glanced at it, looked towards the building, then without thinking about it threw it into the nearest bin before she made her way to the bus stop to go home. Julia arrived home in a state of shock. Somewhere on the bus ride between Adelaide and Elizabeth the reality of what she'd done dawned on her and she realised that without her job she wasn't going to be getting any money in order to pay her bills. That coupled with the realisation that Christmas was only weeks away meant that she was financially screwed.

          Julia walked into the house expecting to find Kirsty just getting out of bed but the house was silent. She quickly remembered Kirsty hadn't actually come home and made her way into her bedroom where she changed into jeans and a singlet and decided to make herself some lunch and stick the TV on. She had just taken a bite out of her vegemite sandwich when the front door burst open and Penny and three men dashed into the house.
          "We'll be safe in here. Just make yourselves at home," Penny announced.
          "How did you get a key to this place?" Julia asked, knowing that neither she nor Kirsty had given her one.
          "What are you doing home? You're supposed to be at work," Penny gasped as she noticed Julia sprawled on the couch.
          "I could say the same for you," Julia replied, noting that Penny never answered any of their questions about how she got a key to the house. "Shouldn't you be testing a rocket or something?"
          "Therein lies the problem," Chris breathed. Julia looked at him quizzically. "We tested the rocket and it kind of went off course and ended up in our supervisor's car and exploded a bit."
          "How can you explode something a bit? Wouldn't it be completely exploded or not exploded at all?" Julia asked
          "Oh you wouldn't understand, you're just an accountant," Penny huffed as she went into the kitchen and started raiding the fridge. "What do you guys want for lunch?"
          "I'll have you know I'm an unemployed accountant and I resent the implication that I don’t understand your engineering bullshit," Julia snapped. "And I don't even know these blokes you've brought here. They might be rapists or murderers or pedophiles or something."
          "You've been reading too many true crime books. I'm confiscating your collection," Penny announced, reentering the room with a tray full of food. "That's Ken, Marty and Chris." Penny smiled at Chris as she introduced them all to Julia
          "Nice to meet you all. I'm going outside to mope because it's obvious I'm not going to be able to do it here," Julia sighed as she took what remained of her sandwich into the kitchen.

          Kirsty arrived at the small advertising agency in a state of absolute panic. After so many job rejections it was hard to be even remotely confident when faced with a job interview, especially at such short notice. She walked into the foyer and was greeted by Ross as he looked up from his desk.
          "I'll let Mr. Truman know you're here shall I?" he grinned at her.
          "No don't."
          "What do you mean? I have to let him know you're here for the interview."
          "I don't think I can go through with it."
          "You're panicking," Ross soothed.
          "Is it obvious?" she asked, jittering on the spot.
          "You just need something to take your mind off the interview."
          "If you tell me to picture everyone in that interview room naked I'll scream."
          "Well picture me naked then…No, no I'll picture you naked."
          "You're not helping me Ross."
          "Helping me a lot though," Ross grinned as he came out from behind his desk and wandered over to her. He wrapped her in a big hug and gave her a peck on the cheek. "You'll be fine babe. I know you will. You're perfect for this. And besides, you've got working with me to look forward to."
          "Gee thanks I feel so much better now," Kirsty muttered as she hugged him back. Ross felt her nervous jittering subside and knew she had managed to calm herself down.
          "I'll just let Mr. Truman know you're here then?" he announced as he wandered back to his desk and picked up the phone. Ross had a brief conversation and then led Kirsty down the corridor, up a flight of stairs and down another corridor to Mr. Truman's office, where there were four people sitting around a huge oak table. Ross gave Kirsty a gentle shove into the room and watched as she instantly relaxed and set out introducing herself to the panel of people.
          "Anderson, bring us coffee in ten minutes?" Mr. Truman ordered.
          "Yes sir," Ross chirped, beamed a smile at Kirsty and left.

          Julia surveyed the backyard as she finished off her sandwich; there was nothing too notable other than the dog that was chewing on her second best pair on undies. She might have told him off had her mood not started to deflate. The reality of the situation was that although she had been right to stand up for her self, quitting a well paying job was not the most intelligent thing to do. Julia started pondering her options, going on the dole, searching for another job in the same field, searching for a job in a different field, getting herself knocked up. She looked miserably at Max the dog as he padded over, dropped her second best pair of undies at her feet and sat with an expectant look on his face.
          "Look, a ball," Julia declared and pointed to the far corner of the garden. Max's ears pricked up and he dashed off in the direction Julia had pointed. "Idiot," she muttered.

          "Your portfolio is very impressive," Mr. Truman smiled as he rested his elbows on his desk, the three 'yes' men nodded in agreement. Kirsty was about to point out her better pieces of work when there was a knock on the door.
          "Enter," Truman declared, smiling at Kirsty as Ross appeared with a tray of assorted mugs. He handed everyone coffee except Kirsty and Truman looked at him curiously. "How did you know she drinks tea?"
          "Lucky guess," Ross shrugged. "She doesn't express the normal qualities of a coffee drinker."
          Truman narrowed his eyes. "Don't leave Anderson, I'll have you escort Miss Adderley out in a moment." Ross shrugged and leaned against the closed door with his tray. Truman turned back to Kirsty "I'm quite satisfied that you could do the job with little or no direction and certainly your quality of work is better than most. I rarely offer a job on a first meeting but in this case I see no reason to wait."
          "I got the job?" Kirsty asked blankly.
          "You certainly have, can you start tomorrow?"
          "Yeah, of course."
          "I look forward to working with you," Truman smiled extending a hand, which Kirsty found exceptionally clammy as she shook it.
          A few seconds later she and Ross wandered back out to the foyer and Ross threw his arms around Kirsty and gave her a kiss.
          "I knew you could do it!" he beamed at her. "Never doubted you."
          "Yeah well, it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be," Kirsty murmured as she snuggled into his hug a bit more.
          "I suppose you should get going," Ross told her. "You've probably got a lot to prepare before you come to work tomorrow."
          "Not really," Kirsty breathed. "I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT THE JOB!" she squealed as she gave Ross a kiss that nearly knocked him off his feet. She then hurried out of the office to catch the bus back home.

          "Do you think we should go back to work later this afternoon?" Ken asked as he finished a mug of coffee.
          "Do you really want to go back and face the wrath of Fergus?" Penny asked.
          "That car was like his child. I don't think he'll be happy about it exploding and I don't think he'd be happy it was our rocket that made it explode because they're sure to find out that it was our rocket that blew it up," Chris babbled.
          "How do we know he's going to know it was ours?" Marty asked, stuffing a chocolate biscuit into his mouth.
          "Have you forgotten the identification code we have to put on every rocket we make, so it can be identified?" Penny asked.
          "Shit we're screwed," the three men said in unison.
          "Not if the heat from the blast was so intense that it melted the rocket beyond recognition and destroyed the code," Ken announced thoughtfully.
          "We're only going to find out if we go back and survey the damage," Penny shrugged.
          "I think we should all go home and then go to work tomorrow as if nothing happened," Marty suggested. "It's not like we can hide out here all day, someone's bound to find out where we all are and it'll look less suspicious of we're not found together."
          After much debating among the four, they finally agreed that Marty and Ken would go home.

          "Well hon, now that the kids have gone what do you wanna do?" Chris grinned as he put an arm around Penny.
          "If you're going to fuck like bunnies I'd prefer it if you didn't do it in my house," Julia announced as she walked back into the room and flumped back on the couch.
          "I guess that's decided then. You're house or mine?" Chris asked as he gave Penny a peck on the cheek.
          "Definitely yours," Penny murmured as she nuzzled into his neck.
          "Don't make me turn the hose on you two," Julia warned, not looking at them but knowing they were pashing.
          "Why on earth are you so grumpy anyway," Penny asked as she let go of Chris long enough to grab her bag from the couch.
          "I told you, I quit my job," Julia scowled.
          "Why?"
          "Because my boss is, was an inexplicable arsehole."
          "Do you even know what inexplicable means?" Chris asked.
          Julia glared at him and he decided not to pursue his line of questioning.
          "There are channels you can go through, people you can talk to. You didn't have to quit your job," Penny scorned.
          "They're called unions and I feel no need to associate with them thankyou."
          "Kirsty's part of one."
          "Are you surprised? If any of us was going to get sued, it'll be her."
          Penny crossed her arms and looked unsympathetic. "The only thing I suggest is that you get a good nights sleep and reevaluate your decision in the morning."
          "I wont change my mind," Julia announced stubbornly.
          "Fine, sit and fester," Penny breathed and grabbed Chris's arm. "Let's go before her mood spreads."
          "Bye," Chris smiled as Penny led him out of the door.
          Julia let out a huff and slid down on the couch. Penny was of course right but there was no way in hell she was going to give her the smug, self righteous satisfaction of knowing it.

          "You think Fergus is going to kill us?" Chris asked as he pulled his car to a stop at the front of his house.
          "Probably. There goes any chance of a Christmas bonus," Penny sighed as she slid out of the passenger seat.
          "Well we didn't do it intentionally," Chris shrugged as he led the way to the porch, hunting out his key as he did.
          "Still, we blew his much loved car to smithereens and that's not a good career move."
          "We'll think of something," Chris said giving Penny a quick smile before averting his attention to the door and the stopping of Bear racing out of it. Once inside the house, Chris escorted Bear outside and then reappeared looking ponderous.
          "What you thinking about?" Penny asked.
          "What you'd look like sweaty and naked," Chris nodded.
          "Why?"
          "I like the image."
          Penny felt herself blush. "Seriously Chris, don't you want to be just friends?"
          "Not unless you want to."
          "I just," Penny stopped and looked at her feet. "I can't see what you'd like in me?"
          "Pen," Chris said softly as he stepped forward, cupping her face in his hands. "You're a beautiful, intelligent woman, what's not to want?"
          "Man, where were you in high school?" Penny smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist.
          "Being bored to tears in a maroon blazer I imagine," Chris breathed as he brought his lips to hers. For a kiss that started slow and tender it soon became hungry and lustful, Penny clawing at Chris's shirt while his hands went to work under hers. The next thing Penny knew she was lost in a world of passion amongst the warm sheets of Chris's large bed, and the soft kisses he was trailing over her quivering body.

          Kirsty arrived home late in the afternoon and was surprised to find Julia on the couch.
          "You're home early," she perked.
          "You didn't come home," Julia countered.
          "Actually I did, don't suppose you hung the washing out?"
          "What washing?"
          "Are you all right?"
          "I quit my job."
          "You did what?'
          "I quit my job," Julia sighed, sitting up. "It got too much."
          Kirsty closed her eyes as if trying to (a) comprehend what Julia was saying and (b) not kill her. "Tell me you're temporarily insane?"
          "No, I can quit my job if I want to quit my job and I did."
          "Was that a sentence?"
          Julia shrugged. "It's your turn to make tea."
          "I can't, I'm going to Ross's."
          "Oh," Julia mumbled. "When will you be home then?"
          "After work."
          "I don't work, I quit remember?"
          "Not you, me."
          "You got a job?" Julia gasped.
          "Yeah, well it was Ross's idea. It's at the place he works."
          "Doing what?"
          "Copywriting."
          "Congratulations," Julia said flatly.
          Kirsty crossed her arms and cocked her head to the side. "Jools, I rarely ask you to do much but please, do me this: Go to Centrelink tomorrow and sign on the dole, don't top yourself and please, please hang out the washing."
          "Maybe," Julia mumbled.
          Kirsty refrained from screaming and disappeared to her room to grab a few things to take with her. She had a feeling she wouldn't need her pajamas but packed them anyway. When she returned to the living room Julia hadn't moved and was still staring unemotionally at the television.
          "I meant what I said," Kirsty scorned.
          "I won't top myself," Julia cussed.
          "No, hang out the washing," Kirsty chided as she shut the door behind her.

          Penny lay on her back studying the shadowy patterns on the roof of Chris's bedroom; she could hear him singing in the shower. The only worrying aspect was that he happened to be singing Cold Chisel songs and actually thought he was quite good, when in reality he was nothing short of terrible. The water cut off and Chris re-appeared butt naked in the bedroom. Penny let a gasp escape her lips, he had an amazing body and he turned her on in ways she'd never imagined a man could. From the muscles that rippled across his back to a stray drop of water that was making its way between his buttocks. There were few men Penny would admit to wanting to ravish but she'd kindly tell the world about Chris.
          "You hungry?" Chris asked, looking at Penny curiously as he moved from pulling on clean underwear to grabbing a t-shirt from one of the draws.
          "A little bit," Penny replied dreamily. "Are you?"
          "Starving," Chris smiled. "I might pop out and grab us some Chinese, you fancy that?"
          "I fancy you," Penny replied, surprising herself.
          "I should damn well think so," Chris teased and he leaned across the bed to catch her in a tender kiss. "I shouldn't be more than half an hour," he breathed when they parted.
          "Get something nice to drink too," Penny ordered.
          "I'll even grab dessert," Chris winked before grabbing his keys and sauntering out of the door. Penny fell back onto the pillows feeling the happiest she'd ever been. She closed her eyes and let the pleasant tingles that were still lingering flood over her when suddenly she found herself pinned to the mattress by four gigantic furry paws.
          "BEAR!" Penny wailed as the dog's long tongue started bathing her face.

          "…And is it just me or is the Prime Minister a mushroom?" Ross said to his couch then screwed up his face as he tried to decide whether the line had been funny or not. He'd spent the few hours since arriving home from work preparing his gig for the next night, trying in vain to come up with a few new ideas in an attempt to avoid rehashing old material. He was about to start on his bit about Pol Pot when there was a knock at the door. Ross dropped his folder of material on the coffee table and hurried over to the door.
          "Yes, he's a mushroom," Kirsty smirked.
          "You were listening? You listened? No, that stuff…its never been…was it funny?" Ross flustered.
          "I thought it was," she teased, brushing past him into the apartment. Ross noticed her bag and raised and eyebrow as he closed the door.
          "You moving in or something?" he asked.
          "No, I planned to stay the night so we could go to work together," Kirsty shrugged, "but if you want me to leave…"
          "I never said that," Ross said quickly and swooped over to pull her into his arms. "You just make yourself at home."
          "I thought I did that yesterday?" she cooed before they started to kiss. They got carried away, lost balance and fell onto the couch.
          "I think I bruised something," Ross groaned but quickly forgot his pain when they started kissing again. "So I take it this is your way of thanking me for helping you get a job?"
          Kirsty looked at him a moment. "Yeah, that's what it is," she said laconically.
          "You are happy about that aren't you?"
          "Delighted," Kirsty mused as she trailed a few kisses over his neck.
          "I mean I didn't want to push you into it or anything."
          "It's fine really."
          "Great," Ross sighed happily as Kirsty slipped her hand under his t-shirt. "How's Jools?"
          "Miserable, she quit her job."
          "Oh, why?"
          "There was a reason, I've chosen to forget it," Kirsty muttered as she pushed Ross's t-shirt up and dropped kisses on his stomach.
          "You think she'll find another job?"
          "Ross?"
          "Yeah."
          "Shut up ok?"
          "Ok." Ross paused for a moment. "Why?"
          Kirsty looked up from his chest. "Because I'm trying to turn you on, in the hope that we, and I'm going out on a limb, might have sex."
          "I was turned on thinking about you earlier, something to do with strawberry sauce…" "So you're more turned on when I'm not here?"
          "No, see it’s the way the male mind works right? Women like the whole foreplay kissing, touching, and stroking thing…" Kirsty nodded. "Men, we're quite happy just thinking about you taking your bra off. Just the prospect of that happening is enough for us."
          Kirsty narrowed her eyes. "Ross, remember a few seconds ago I told you to shut up?"
          "Of course I do."
          "I think you should start now."
          "We're not going to have sex now are we?"
          "Ross," Kirsty sighed as she sat up.
          "What? You're angry with me now aren’t you?"
          "No," Kirsty breathed. "But I think I might go and have a shower," she added and disappeared into the bathroom.
          "Women are weird," Ross grumbled as he stretched out on the couch and readjusted his t-shirt.

          Julia was still sitting miserably on the couch when the doorbell rang. She pondered a moment before getting to her feet. It wouldn't be Kirsty, she'd be doing nasty things to Ross and it wouldn't be Penny, as she never seemed to need a key. A deeper gloom set over her when her only conclusion was that it'd be her parents. God no, anything but that. Julia unlocked the door, waiting for the onslaught of questions and the possibility that she may have to kill Kirsty, as she probably called and told them about her quitting her job out of spite. But to her surprise it wasn't her parents waiting on the doorstep. It was Liam and he looked nothing short of furious.