Kate smiled in recognition of the overly familiar tune. She'd heard it many times before- in rehearsals, in the shower and at many, many gigs. She leaned back against the back wall- let the people who hadn't heard them before enjoy the show. After all, she was the one who got to see them after hours- and for free. She grinned and gave a little wave of recognition as she spotted Gatesy trying to catch her eye. Their new suits did in fact look fantastic.

"Thank you very much, we've been Tripod. Any coinced-"

Kate made her way out of the room before she could get crushed by the crowd (She'd had a lot of experience with this sort of thing on many previous occasions) and went out to the back room to wait for the Podsters to return. Judging by the crowd tonight, they'd have a lot of signing of T-shirts and CDs to do.

As Kate walked through the open door, a pair of hands covered her face, effectively stopping her in her tracks. "Good evening," a very familiar voice whispered, tickling her cheek with his breath.

Kate grinned and spoke. "I know exactly who you are, Mr Freedman!" Tim laughed and released his hands. "I should hope so by now!"

Kate hugged him and kissed his cheek. "I've missed you so much! Where have you been - you didn't write, phone, email or anything, you bastard!"

Tim laughed. "We've been very busy. And what do you mean, I didn't contact you? I-"

Kate poked him. "You didn't. Don't lie, or I'll-"

"You'll what?" Tim challenged her. "I did try to phone Katie dear, but your abominable flatmate kept on telling me you were out." He sighed. "I would think she'd be over it now- what was it, two years ago? Anyway, when are you moving up to Sydney?"

"I'm not! You know very well that I hate and detest Sydney- and Tim, you love me so much that you'll follow me to the ends of the earth if need be."

"Yeah, I already know that! Look where I am tonight!"

Kate narrowed her eyes. "Tim, you're skating on exceptionally thin ice�and I think I'm beginning to like it�"

Tim laughed again. "So how about you? What've you been up to since I've been away, besides pinning after me?"

Kate grinned and whacked him on the arm lightly. "You know you could never tame me," she teased, before becoming a bit more serious. "Actually, we've been pretty busy around here too - business has been good."

"That's always nice to hear," Tim commented. He was about to add something when Kate heard someone call her name. Turning around she spotted Peter Hellier, who had been a special guest on the Tripod gig, helping them with their Bevan the Musical skit.

"Heya Pete," she smiled in greeting, giving him a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.

"I'm glad I caught you, before you disappeared into that netherworld you always seem to go when I'm looking for you!" Pete replied with a laugh, returning the kiss on her cheek.

"What's this?" Tim demanded, trying to look angry - although the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth betrayed his humor. "Are you cheating on me behind my back, little Katie?"

Pete looked confused as Kate laughed. "You wish buddy - on both accounts!" To Pete's baffled expression she said, "Don't worry, Tim and I aren't dating and he knows you and I aren't either. He's just yanking your chain."

Pete obviously didn't get the joke (personally, he didn't see what was so funny about the thought of him and Kate dating), but pushed ahead with what he was going to say anyway.

"I need to know who you've got lined up for the gig on Rove Live this week," he said earnestly. "Rove's been bugging me stupid about it - he hates not being in on a secret."

Kate rolled her eyes. "For the last time, it's a surprise! That means he isn't going to find out until Tuesday, even if it kills me!"

"I think it might kill Rove first," Tim observed. The three laughed. They all knew how curious the little man could be.

"Anyway Kate, I've got to bail - I have a gig tomorrow night, and the lads want to do a sound check before it starts." Tim blew a kiss at Kate's pouting expression as he walked away.

"But you just got here!" she called after him, but he was already gone. She sighed. "I hate how he does that," she muttered. Pete wisely didn't comment.

"So, are you coming out with us boys after they finish dealing with their adoring public?" he asked instead. Kate looked curious.

"Where're you going?"

"Nowhere really. Probably just the pub - you know, something to help us wind down."

She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."

Just then the aforementioned musical trio appeared in the doorway. They grinned and waved in greeting as they made their way into the room.

"Great gig guys," she congratulated them.

"Thanks!" Scod said enthusiastically, obviously still hyped up after the show.

"It's good you're here Kate - we didn't get to thank you last time for getting us a gig here," Yon said, referring to the deal the group now had going with the Prince Pat, thanks to Kate. She smiled.

"Hey, you know I'd do anything for you guys."

"Anything?" Gatesy asked, raising an eyebrow. Everyone laughed, although Kate knew Gatesy was only half joking. Pretty much the entire time she'd known him, he'd had a crush on her. But she simply didn't reciprocate his feelings. Anyway, she didn't think it was anything too serious - she was sure he'd get over it in time.

"Have you made up your mind about coming with us?" Pete asked.

Feeling a bit put on the spot, Kate replied, "Thanks for the offer, but I'd better get going." She honestly didn't feel up to a night of fencing off Gatesy's advances. She liked the guy well enough, but he just didn't know when to leave well alone.

Yon shrugged. "If you're sure. We do owe you one though - you're going to have to let us take you out some time or another." He grinned.

"Wow. A foursome? Now there's something I haven't tried before. How very tempting," Kate teased. "But it'll have to take a rain check guys. Sorry."

With a wave goodbye, Kate left. She headed out into the car park around the back reserved for the staff and special guests, where she had parked her car. Pulling her keys from her pocket, she was just about to unlock her door when someone grabbed her from behind.

Kate nearly jumped out of her skin, whirling around ready to defend herself.

"Whoa!" Ted Robinson cried in surprise. Kate nearly fainted from relief.

"Jesus!" she cried. "You scared the shit out of me, Uncle Ted!"

"I'm sorry Katie - I thought you saw me."

Taking a few more deep breaths to steady her still jumpy nerves, Kate offered her mother's brother a shaky smile. "No, I didn't. What're you doing here anyway?" she asked, giving him a hug.

"Scooping out the local talent," he replied with a grin. Kate raised an eyebrow and he laughed. "I never could fool you, not even as a little girl."

"Nope." She answered his grin with one of her own. "So what are you really doing here?"

"Actually, I came to drag some information out of you," Ted replied. Kate blinked in surprise. "I'm dying to know who the special guest is that you're getting to appear on Rove's show this week."

Kate groaned. "Why does everyone have to know? It's a goddamn surprise! That means I'm not telling anyone - not even family!" She eyed him suspiciously. "How much did Rove give you to come and wheedle it out of me anyway?"

"Front row seats to his show for the next month," Ted replied with a grin. Kate couldn't help but laugh.

"C'mon Katie - let's say you and me go and get some food. It's not often I get to see my favorite niece in the world, no matter what the circumstance."

Kate smiled. "I'm you're only niece in the world," she couldn't help reminding him, "but I accept."

Together they wandered out of the car park and down the street, heading for a quaint little restaurant that was a favorite of them both. Once they were seated and had ordered, Ted asked, "So what's been happening since I last saw you? However did you manage to get a job setting up comedy gigs for Rove Live - surprise ones at that!"

Kate shrugged. "I'm still not sure exactly. I've been helping comedians get gigs now for ages, but it was all casual stuff. I just seemed to know the right sort of people to be able to help out a couple of friends. Anyway, I was able to set up a gig for Pete - you know, Peter Hellier? And apparently he was so impressed, he told Rove." She rolled her eyes. "I said no to them for weeks - I was happy where I was."

Ted nodded, knowing how much she loved writing the gossip column for her local magazine, Comedians In The Mist, which a friend of hers owned and operated. Kate was one of the leading reporters - mainly because nearly every comedian who had ever cracked a joke was friends with her, and those that weren't were friends with those who were.

"So how did they drag you away?" he asked, genially curious. Kate sighed and shook her head, a small smile appearing on her face.

"They got Wil to come down and beg me," she replied, burying her face in her hands in embarrassment.

Ted burst out laughing. He knew Rove must've called in a huge favour to get Wil Anderson to fall to his knees and beg a girl to work for a rival television show. But he also knew how Kate felt about Wil - he wondered if Rove knew the full weight of what he had done. However, he wasn't about to voice these things to his niece.

"That must have been something to see!" he said instead. Kate peeked out from between her hands and shook her head again.

"You have no idea."

Ted tried to imagine the six foot three lanky Triple J star on his knees before Kate, who was barely five foot seven, and just started laughing again. Kate smiled tolerantly and even chuckled slightly herself.

"So you're working for Rove full time now?" Ted asked, as he re-gathered his composure. Kate shook her head.

"No way," she replied vehemently. "Not even Wil could convince me of that! All I do is organize the gig once a week, and sometimes help the writers."

"You help the writers?" Ted looked surprised. Channel ten was usually very strict about who wrote for them - not that it appeared to do much good with some of their lame t.v shows.

"Nothing huge - just small stuff, like put the jokes in the credits, or help with the opening skit. Basics really," Kate reassured him. "And I still write for the 'zine, which is always a good excuse to use when they try to dump extra work on me."

"Hey Ted!"

The two looked up and spotted Corinne Grant making her way through the now fairly crowded restaurant.

"It seems I get to meet the whole cast tonight," Kate joked to Ted.

"I thought it was you!" Corinne said in her usual enthusiastic manner as she reached their table, barely even glancing at the producer of her own show before turning to his companion. "Hi Kate! How are you? Have you been well? It's been a while since we chatted, you know - girl to girl."

Kate sighed. "Corinne, a word of advice from an old friend - poker: not your game. I'm not going to tell you who's going to be on the show!"

"That obvious huh?" Corinne asked with a disappointed expression, as she pulled up a chair and sat down. Kate smiled and nodded.

"I'm afraid so. What'd Rove give you?"

Corinne brightened. "The new Gadfly's CD!"

"Meanwhile, Ted here got a months worth of front row seats to the show," Kate informed her. Corinne's mouth dropped open.

"Really?" she gasped, looking at Ted who just nodded. "That bastard!" she cried, referring of course to Rove. "Grr - wait 'til I see him!"

Kate giggled, trying to imagine Corinne and Rove in a fight. Ted chuckled a bit too. Corinne smiled ruefully.

"Yeah well - I can give him a good talking to at least," she said. "Anyway Ted, I did have another reason for popping over. About this weeks show�" The two began talking about the Glasshouse, the new show they were working on together with Wil and Dave Hughes. Kate soon tuned out of their conversation, as it was only technical things that Corinne wanted to double check - microphones and such.

As her gaze wandered around the restaurant, her eyes fell upon a familiar face who was also scanning the crowd.

"Richard!" she called, ignoring the disapproving glares of fellow diners. Richard Fidler spotted her as she waved, and began to make his way over. He was slightly out of breath when he reached her, but didn't waste any time getting to the point.

"Kate! I need your help!"

"Why? What's wrong?" Kate asked, slightly alarmed. Richard waved his hand away, quelling her fears.

"Oh no - it's nothing like that," he replied. "Khym and I are going out tomorrow night, only the babysitter's called in sick and we have no one else to look after Joseph," he told her, referring to his only son. "It's a really important function and we can't cancel. Could you please help us out, just this once?"

Kate smiled patiently. "It's not going to be just this once and you know it." She laughed at Richard's guilty expression. "But you also know that of course I'll help!"

"Thank you!" Richard let out an audible sigh of relief.

"Wait Katie - tomorrow's Tuesday," Corinne pointed out. Kate stared at her blankly, before it dawned on her.

"Oh right! The show!"

Rich looked worried. "What show?"

"Rove live," Kate nibbled on her bottom lip, trying to think of a solution. "You wouldn't mind if I took Joseph along to the show, would you?" she asked Rich. "He's what, ten years old now?"

Rich nodded. "Yeah, he's ten. I suppose he can go�" he said dubiously.

Kate smiled her most winning smile. "Rich, you know you can trust me, don't you?"

Rich rolled his eyes. "Now I know I'm in trouble!" he laughed. "But alright - you can take Jo along to the show." He shook his head. "As long as Khym doesn't kill me first!"

Kate smiled. "If I stop by at 7, would that be ok?" she asked.

"Could you make it 6?" Rich asked pleadingly. "The function starts at 7."

Kate sighed in mock exasperation. "You'll be the death of me yet Richard Fidler," she scolded, knowing she sounded exactly like his mother. They all laughed and she grinned. "6 is fine Rich."

"Thank you!" he said again, before disappearing back into the crowd.

Kate glanced at her watch. "I'd better be making tracks too," she informed Ted and Corinne. "Amy will be wondering where I am."

Ted made a face. "Are you still living with that horrid woman?" he asked, referring to Kate's flatmate, Amy.

Kate nodded. "She's not that bad," she feebly protested.

"Of course not - she's worse!" Ted told her. Kate ignored him and waved goodbye, before making her way out of the restaurant. It was only when she was halfway back to the Prince Pat car park that she realised she hadn't eaten her food order.

"Oh well," she muttered to herself. "I'm sure Corinne won't mind. And I can get something to eat when I get home." If Amy hasn't eaten everything in the fridge yet, she found herself thinking.

By the time Kate got home it was quite late, as she lived a fair way away from the Prince Pat. She snuck in quietly, but discovered that she needn't have bothered, as Amy wasn't there. She must be working late or something. Kate wasn't exactly sure what it was that Amy did for a living, but she knew she worked long hours, and often came home exhausted - one of the reasons Kate believed she was so short tempered a lot of the time.

Kate undressed and stepped into the shower, lathering the soap thoroughly over her skin. Although her day hadn't been any more hectic than usual, she still felt tired and drained. She was looking forward to a good nights sleep in preparation for the show tomorrow - and babysitting, she thought with a wry grin.

It would be good to see little Joey again, she thought to herself as she stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel. She knew he considered her his favourite baby-sitter - he had told her so many times - and she always enjoyed spending time with him.

Kate stopped in front of the mirror and studied her reflection. An open, honest face stared back, framed by damp red hair. Prominent cheekbones accompanied by a vulnerable mouth made her pretty, and her eyes were a piercing blue that were totally unreadable most of the time. She sighed. Many people had complimented her on her looks - a few had even recommended she take up modeling - but Kate still saw herself as ordinary.

Grabbing a towel to rub her hair dry, Kate went into her bedroom where she got changed into her pjs and collapsed in a tired heap on the bed, promptly falling asleep.

The next day Kate was up early, not wanting to waste any time in getting down to the studio. Spotting Amy's coat draped over the coach, she guessed her roommate had stumbled home at some ungodly hour, and made a coffee for her just in case she decided to get up anytime soon.

Grabbing a piece of toast on her way out the door, Kate made sure she had everything before climbing into her car. Just as she was pulling out of the driveway though, her mobile rang.

"Hello, Kate's owned and operated personal Porno service, how may I help you?" she answered the phone cheerfully, pausing before she pulled out into the road. The caller hesitated, obviously confused.

"Kate?"

She laughed. "Hi Uncle Ted." She could just picture his baffled and somewhat embarrassed expression right now. Her uncle stumbled for words for a few moments before deciding to ignore what she had just said, as she knew he would.

"Uh, I'm calling because Rove stopped by last night at the restaurant after you left."

"Uncle Ted, I already told you�" Kate began.

"I know, I know," Ted interrupted her. "That's not why I'm calling. He asked me if you could stop by the Triple J studios on your way, and pick up Wil. Apparently he's going to be helping out with one of the skits during the show."

Kate switched her mobile to her other hand. "Excuse me?" She couldn't have heard that right.

"You need to go pick Wil up after he's finished his radio shift," Ted repeated, a little slower.

"But Uncle Ted, I�" she protested, but Ted interrupted her again.

"See you tonight, Katie!" he said cheerfully, and hung up.

"Damn!" Kate also hung up, then spent a minute glaring at her windscreen. Rove had done this on purpose - she knew it for sure. Manipulative bastard. Would he stop at nothing to find out who was going to be on tonight? Because Kate knew that as soon as she turned up at the studios, Wil would ask her that exact question. And she wouldn't be surprised if Rove knew there was no way she was going to be able to hide anything from Wil. She sighed. Did the whole world know about her feelings for him?

She had to find some way of avoiding Wil until after the show tonight. She pulled out of the driveway and into the street, grumbling as she took off down the road.

Kate pulled up outside of the ABC studios where the Triple J Breaky Show was recorded. The security guard recognized her and waved her through, but after she had parked, Kate waited a moment before getting out. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves; she could do this.

"Oh man," she said out loud. "If I can't pull this off, I'm so screwed."

Quelling the butterflies in her stomach, she climbed out of the car and headed inside. It didn't take her long to find where Wil and Adam were recording their shift - she had been here countless times before. Justine - the producer of the show - or "Queen Justine" as she was known on the air according to Wil and Adam, spotted her and took off her headphones to come over.

"Hi, Kate!" despite the early hour, Justine was in a cheerful mood. "What brings you here at this time of the morning?"

"Heya Jus," Kate greeted her. "Actually, I'm here to pick up that one." She pointed to Wil, who was laughing at something Adam had said. He was facing side-on to where they were, so he hadn't spotted her yet.

"Really?" Justine looked surprised. "How come?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure of the exact details, but somehow Rove roped me into being the one who makes sure he arrives at the show tonight," she explained.

Justine glanced at her watch. "Well, he isn't going to be finished for at least another hour and a half," she pointed out. A sly grin started to creep across Kate's face.

"I know," she replied. "Actually, I was wondering if you could do me a really big favour."

Justine laughed at Kate's expression. "Oh yeah?" she inquired warily.

Kate explained to her how Rove had been desperately trying to find out how she was getting to guest star on the show, and how he had been bribing everyone to ask her.

"So I think he's made some arrangement with Wil too - and I really don't feel up to being interrogated this early in the day," Kate finished. Justine smiled in sympathy.

"So what would you like me to do?" she asked. Kate hesitated.

"Could you drive him to the Channel 10 studios if I give you my car? Pretty please?" Kate held out her car keys.

Justine nodded. "Sure," she said, taking the keys. "I still owe you a favour from when you talked Ross Noble into doing an interview the very day he was heading back to England!"

Kate laughed. That had sure taken some sweet-talking on her part. She had all but forgotten about that - but it was obvious Justine hadn't.

"I always remember when someone goes out of their way to help me out," Justine told her, catching her expression. "The least I can do is return the favour."

Kate smiled. "Thanks Jus," she said, giving her a quick hug.

"No problem. Do you want to stay around for a while?" Justine asked, heading back over to the technician desk where her share of equipment was set up, and other people were fiddling with buttons and volume controls. Kate hesitated, glancing over at Wil.

"I probably shouldn't�"she began, but just then Wil glanced over and spotted her.

"Eep. Gotta go!" Kate said quickly, turning around and hurrying back down the hallway she'd come. She heard Justine laugh behind her, but didn't turn around.

She had just reached the car park when she remembered - Justine had the keys to her car! How was she supposed to make a getaway with no wheels?

"Kate!"

Kate nearly jumped out of her skin. She hadn't realised Wil had followed her! Quickly ducking behind a bush, Kate peered out from between the leaves.

"Kate?" Wil had just reached the car park, and was looking around. Obviously he hadn't seen her hide, but had probably just headed to the one place he assumed she'd be - the car park. He spotted her car, and walked over to peer inside. When he saw that she wasn't in it, he looked around confused.

"Kate?" he called again.

Kate wasn't budging. Even if she had changed her mind about talking to him, there was no way she was going to climb out from behind a bush! She felt like some kind of squirrel hiding in the scrub. Or maybe an echidna. They were always grubbing about in the dirt, weren't they?

Whilst she was contemplating her animal likeness, Wil had turned around and headed back into the studios, although still glancing over his shoulder occasionally, looking for her. It was only when he had fully disappeared inside that Kate breathed a sigh of relief.

"What are you doing?" a voice behind her asked curiously.

"Yaaaaahhh!!!" Kate jumped to her feet and whirled around. Merrick Watts stood staring at her, a cigarette in his hand.

"Geez!" Kate clutched a hand to her chest. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

Merrick didn't bother to point out that he hadn't moved one bit, and that she simply hadn't seen him when she was cowering behind the bush.

"Why were you hiding from Wil?" he asked instead. "Lover's tiff?" He grinned.

Kate glared at him, then snatched his cigarette and took a puff to help calm her nerves.

"No," she replied, handing it back to him. "Actually�" she stopped, not wanting to go into it. "It's long and boring, and what are you doing here this early anyway?"

Merrick took a final puff on his cigarette, before dropping it and crushing it under foot.

"Having a ciggie. What's it look like?" he replied, innocently. Kate rolled her eyes.

"Merrick, you getting up early in the morning is like the sun rising in the west. It doesn't happen unless there's a bloody good reason for it."

Merrick grinned and shrugged. "Okay, you got me. Justine asked me to drop by - said she had something to tell me." He scowled at Kate's sly grin and not too subtle wink. "And you can keep your comments to yourself, thank you!"

Kate laughed, and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry Merrick. This morning's just been one of those weird ones, you know?"

Merrick sighed. "You're probably right you know," he said. Kate stared at him blankly. "About Justine I mean," he elaborated.

"Oh!" Kate finally caught on to his meaning, then had to hide a grin. She knew she was right - Justine had confessed to Kate her attraction to Merrick ages ago. Kate was glad to see that she'd finally decided to act upon it.

"Do you want her to have these feelings?" Kate asked, trying to sound casual as she scoped out whether Justine had a chance or not. Merrick focused his attention on her.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing!" he protested, albeit with a good-humored smile on his face. "I know you're friends with her!"

Kate spread her hands, trying her best to look innocent, but just ended up laughing when Merrick raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, you caught me," she confessed. "But you can't blame a girl for trying."

"Sure I can," Merrick replied with a shrug. "Where are you off to anyway? Going to hang out in the parking lot all day?"

Kate looked around. "No, I�um�Damn," she muttered as she realized - how was she going to get to the Channel 10 studios without a car?

"What?" asked Merrick.

"I've got no wheels," Kate confessed. Merrick glanced at her car, then back at her, obviously confused. Kate shook her head.

"Another long story," she told him.

"I'd offer you a ride," Merrick said, "but I have an appointment to keep."

"I don't suppose you know anyone around willing to give me a ride to Channel 10 studios do you?" Kate asked hopefully.

"Well," Merrick thought for a moment. "You could ask Rob�but, well�you know�"

"What?"

"You're not showing enough cleavage," he grinned. Kate stared at him incredulously for a moment then burst out laughing.

"Excuse me?"

"Rob's our sound technician, for when we break something," Merrick informed her. "He's a total perve on all the girls around the office - and he only ever helps them out if they've got their bosoms showing."

Kate didn't know whether to believe him or slap him across the face - although the latter was definitely more appealing.

"And you're actually suggesting I ask this guy for a lift?" she asked. Merrick shrugged.

"I don't know anyone else that would be here at this hour, and available to drive around. Besides, you've definitely got enough cleavage to pull it off." He winked at her.

"I'm going to pretend that you didn't say that," Kate glared at him, suppressing the urge to laugh. She sighed, contemplating her options. She could stay here until someone she knew could give her a lift - which probably wouldn't be until the next shift started - she could walk for over an hour, or she could ask a guy she barely knew and was notorious for being a pervert to drive her.

"I think I'll stick around," she decided, much to Merrick's amusement.

He shrugged.

"Your choice," he replied.