Dr. Ling sighed loudly enough for Stuart to hear.  He rolled his eyes; he'd heard that sigh enough to know what it meant.  As Gabe would say, I'm being "judged" again.

"What's wrong?" Stuart asked.

Dr. Ling shook her head.  "Nothing."

"Come on, just say it, you've been huffing like that since you got here.  What's the matter?"

She looked at him.  "Only- thinking of how easily all this could have been prevented if you hadn't let in a child."

"He wasn't supposed to know how to get in.  We have cameras, and a heavy duty lock, you've seen it-"

"And yet, he found a way inside the lab.  Managed to manipulate the controls all by himself-"

"He had help," he protested lamely.  "Some guy let him in-"

"And you have record of this?  Aside of the boy's word?"

Stuart bit his tongue, left the question unanswered.  Lady, will you just get what you came for and tell us what we need to do, so you can go?

Dr. Ling was a woman of her word.  She showed up at Preus Hall right on time, and right after the necessary briefing took straight to the investigation.  Ever since ten o'clock that morning, she and her subordinates had been filing through the data, scanning the reports, inspecting the machine itself.  The woman may have been even more thorough than Stuart when it came to her profession and her research; K had to admit, he was impressed- especially when she passive-aggressively chewed out Dr. C for bypassing the teams, albeit with George's permission, last night, in sending Freddie's consciousness home without taking any of the established precautions.

Even more startling, perhaps, was how little it meant to Ling that Freddie Mercury was the man they had brought forth from the past.  The legendary showman, the rock god, harbored no importance in her eyes; it would seem she knew next to nothing about music to begin with (music that wasn't classical, anyway).  As far as she was concerned, he was just another gauche, foolish performer who contributed nothing of practical use to the world, aside of some silly songs and ridiculous music videos in the 1970s and 80s.  Her sole interest was ensuring he returned home, and the continuum could be released without a hitch.

"Look at all that stuff," Gabe marveled aloud, gesturing toward the yet-to-be-installed equipment they had brought along- foreign tools and technology that Dr. Ling referred solely to as "upgrades."  "What's it for?"

"Damned if I know; I don't speak Chinese," Dr. C admitted, for that was the language the upgrades were riddled with, inside and out- and among the American team, only Stuart was fluent, so only he knew what was actually going on thus far.  "As long as it gets Bucky out of here tomorrow or sooner, I couldn't care less."

"I wish he'd stop calling him that," Madelyn whispered to Gabe.

Dr. C whirled.  "Sorry, Ms. Boyd, you say something?"

"Uh, nothing," she replied hastily.  "Just- talking to Gabe."

When C's back was turned, however, Gabe whispered back, "I actually watched the Queen movie on Netflix last night, the one with the guy who was in Mr. Robot?  It's called Bohemian Rhapsody."

"That guy played Freddie?"  Madelyn squinted.  "How did that work?"

"I don't know.  But that's who they picked."

"Huh.  So was it good?"

"Hey, you two," Stuart called from where he and Dr. Ling were standing, inside Speck's open compartment, "can we save water cooler conversation for the water cooler, please?"

Rolling his eyes, Gabe shrugged and walked away; a couple of the young guys from the Chinese team looked like they could use a hand. 

Madelyn turned to face K, who had been within earshot of this discussion from the start.  "Did you ever see it, Dr. K?"

"Hm, what?  Oh, Bohemian Rhapsody?  No.  I don't spring for biopics, generally.  I got a friend who saw it though."  K didn't know why he referred to Julia as his "friend" instead of calling her by her name, especially since the intern knew her too; perhaps he had simply grown so accustomed to secrecy, he didn't quite know where to draw the line.

"What did they think?  I just ask, because I'm thinking about watching it tonight.  I mean, he's here, and everyone's talking about him right now, it's like when that movie came out, times five.  I used to not care about old music, but then I got to see him up close- very close-"

"Yeah, that would make all the difference." 

K then furrowed his brow, choosing his words carefully.  His thoughts rolled back to some years ago, when Julia told him about watching it with her old friends, John and Veronica.  Not in theaters, mind you, that would have been too high a risk; they all had waited for the film to come out on DVD so they could cheer or boo to their heart's content. They had crowded into the parlor with Danny, then only six months old, started the film. 

About twenty minutes in, John apparently could stand it no more and started alternately praising and heckling the movie- but mostly heckling. And apparently, criticism is contagious, because Julia joined in, and the two of them made it impossible for Veronica, who was actually trying to take in the film as it was being presented, to enjoy the film, and she ended up leaving the room about halfway through- which led to both the culprits following her and begging her forgiveness, which she gave them, and they carried on, maintaining a rather shaky peace thereafter.

In addition, according to Julia, every time Queen music played while Rami's face appeared on screen, baby Danny would get a little restless, pointing at the screen and babbling in concern- and eventually (as soon as the mustache appeared, incidentally), he began to cry, to the point where she had to put him to bed early.  And all the while she kept reassuring him, a bit tongue-in-cheek, "Sweetie, no, it's all right, don't worry, that's not really your daddy, that's just a man pretending to be him, your daddy doesn't really look like that, I promise..."

Snapping back to reality, then, K cleared his throat and answered at last, "She, uh- she liked it."

Madelyn nodded.  "Eh, I don't know.  It wouldn't be the same."

"Now you sound like my friend," K smiled.  "She's a purist too- she kept on saying how he didn't have this or that- like the face shape, or the eyes, or the charm-"

"Or the junk," Madelyn added, half-listening.  "Without it, that movie's just a wasted hour and a half."

K blinked, lips dry.  Admittedly Madelyn was his favorite of the interns.  Her brain was sharp, her smile was pleasant, and her hands were steady with the controls- but seemingly all it took to banish her mind to the gutter was one look at Freddie's-

Then, straight out of the blue, it hit him.  John Deacon was Danny's godfather- and Freddie's former band mate.  Supposing Julia had gone back on her word, spilled the beans to the bass player?  He didn't know how much in touch she and the Deacons kept, but in a situation such as this, even a little was excessive.  I'll have to ask, K told himself, and as soon as I can.  If I could just get away from these clowns-

"That should do it," Dr. Ling announced.  A unanimous sigh of relief resounded throughout the room.  Even Dr. C smiled to himself- but his smile was tinged with smug satisfaction rather than gratitude.  He lifted a hand to his ear.

"What is it?" K whispered.

C grinned in amusement.  "They're fighting again.  Good God, they're so bitchy."

He's listening in on them even now?  K's fist clenched helplessly.  Damn you, Tim. Why can't you give them some privacy?

"Now, if you please, take me to the place where you're holding him," she went on.

Preus coughed.  "Where we're keeping him, you mean?"

"Yes," Ling nodded.  "I want to observe his condition for myself."

Dr. Preus's face seemed to pale.  "That's- about half an hour away, just so you understand."

Dr. Ling blinked.  "What?"

"He's- not here."

Her eyes narrowed.  "Why did you move him off location?"

"It was an executive decision which I made, and I'd appreciate if you would at least show a little respect."

"You misunderstand me.  I have great respect for you, Dr. Preus, as a scientist and as a person," she replied, her voice almost softening there- before drying out again as she continued, "it's your judgment- and your security choices- that I question."

Ouch, K whistled inwardly.

"Where is he, then?" she asked.

"It's, um- a long story," Stuart stammered.  "You see, uh-"

K didn't hear the man's attempt at an explanation, for at that moment a tone sounded, coming from Stuart's desk.  He started that way, but Madelyn beat him to it, hurried over and took the call.

"Why there?" Ling was demanding.  "Why with your so-called girlfriend?"

"So-called?  I beg your pardon-"

"Why did you so much as allow him to achieve consciousness at all?"

Preus couldn't stand being interrupted- certainly not by someone as critical of him as this woman.  "Dr. Ling, we have it under control.  We'll be wiping his memory at the end of this- and we have the power to undo whatever damage he may perpetrate.  We haven't dropped the ball on everything, you know!"

"Again, this would not even be a concern if you didn't allow this woman so much access-"

"Uh, he's over there, talking to Dr. Ling," Madelyn answered the strained voice on the phone- which suddenly screamed. 

Stuart whirled around.  "Who is that?"

"Huh?  What's going on?" Madelyn asked, raising her own voice- but there was no reply, save for a sudden click and droning tone.  They had been cut off.

Madelyn looked up, confused.  "I think that was Ms. Samuels."

"Why'd she scream?"

"I don't know."

Even C seemed to be having trouble receiving transmission.  He poked at his ear, confused.  "Something's wrong."

Stuart raced over.  "Call her back!  Come on!"

Madelyn tried, but there was no answer.  The phone itself didn't even ring.  Stuart's face blanched.

"I don't like that," K whispered aloud.  "Not at all."

Dr. Preus stood frozen for a few seconds, then sprang into action, grabbing his coat off the chair.  "That is it.  No more."

"Where are you going?" C asked.

"Going to go drag that motherf----r out of that house, that's what."

"What for?" Gabe wondered.

"Jules is in trouble and Bucky's the reason.  That's why she screamed!"

"Are you sure about that?" K murmured- but no one heard him.  Not since Stuart was now giving orders, telling certain people to grab this or that, to come with him or to stay, to prepare the Crebinator, to prepare the holding station, and to ask Dr. Ling very politely not to finish that sentence, "This wouldn't have happened if..."

***************************************************************************************************

The drive to Julia's house typically took about half an hour, but thanks to the torrents of rain and sleet still obscuring the road, not to mention a wreck or two along the way, the trip dragged even more than usual.  All three of the lab rats - C, K, and Preus - had piled into the white van they used to bring Freddie to Julia, the white "coffin" strapped securely down in the back. Dr. Ling herself had tagged along as well, presumably to continue nagging Stuart for every little thing he did wrong, to his unending chagrin.  K busied himself most of the way with a short note to Julia- one he intended to give her as they were leaving.

"Still no answer?" K asked as Dr. Preus hung up his cell.

"No," he sighed nervously.  And from the way C kept covertly touching his ear, the mystery mike, too, had yet to reconnect.

"Why does this Jules of yours have so much access to the subject?" Ling asked.

"She met him personally, a long time ago," Preus mumbled.

"Oh!" Ling's tone shifted to genuine awe.  "Jules- is Julia Samuels?  The Julia Samuels, of the T-Rod incident?"

"That's the one," C yawned.  "The one who botched our maiden voyage."

"I had no idea!" Dr. Ling exclaimed, then shot a sidelong glance at the man beside her.  "A forgiving woman she must be, if she is on such friendly terms with the cross-continuum community."

"She is," was all Stuart said.

Dr. Ling was silent a while, then after tapping around on her tablet, she asked, "Why are his medical data reports 'Top Secret'?"

"That's how George wanted it," C answered.  "He said so."

"Is the subject ill?"

"If the rumors are true," C replied, "as I have not been read into the details- I can't say per se that he's ill- but I would venture to guess, he's positive."

"Positive?" Ling asked.  

C leaned forward and whispered the answer.  K didn't bother to eavesdrop; he'd snuck a look at those records himself, and he knew it was true.

I sure hope she forced that pill down his throat, like she said she would, K mused.

At last, they came upon Julia's neighborhood- a near-death experience in itself.  For as they rounded the corner, some maniac in what looked like a yellow Lamborghini coming from the other direction nearly slammed into them at the Stop sign.  The van driver honked his horn and screamed a few obscenities, then continued.

They didn't let the rain slow them down, though, when pouring out of the van and rushing up the steps to the front door.  Preus beat his fist against the window, shouting, "Open up! I know you're in there! Open up before I kick the damn thing open myself!"

A few seconds later, the door popped open- and there stood Julia. "Good news, everyone!" Farnsie squawked behind her.

Dr. Preus seized Julia's arms, searched her face.  "Are you okay, Jules?"

She squinted.  "...Yes?"

It was true, she seemed very calm, collected- hardly as though she had just been attacked.  Her hair was more wavy-looking than usual but smooth, makeup perfect, purse slung across her shoulder as though she was just about to leave herself.  Everyone ducked inside; the rain was finally starting to show some signs of letting up, but it was still far too cold and wet to just stand around in it.  Strange, how quiet the little house seemed.

Julia walked toward the kitchen.  "What brings you all here?"

Preus didn't mince words.  "Why didn't you answer my phone calls?"

"Well, one, the power went out."

"It's on now."

"Well, it wasn't then- and two, my cell phone's broken," she replied, pointing at the jumble of parts on the counter.  "I was just heading out to buy a replacement."

"How did that happen?" K squinted.

"I, uh- I dropped it.  That's why I screamed. It was- surprise."

"Dropping a phone may crack the case, but this- this looks like you took a hammer to it or something," C noted, suspicion in his eyes.

"Hardwood floors, what can I say," Julia shrugged.

"Where's Bucky?" Preus asked.

She blinked.  "Why?"

"We're here to collect him," C answered.  

K watched his friend almost twitch at that.  "Excellent- but I was told you'd have the machine evaluated and ready by tomorrow."

"That's when we plan to send him back," Dr. Ling nodded.  "But we've unanimously decided that it's best for everyone to remove him now if we can."

Julia's mouth pulled into a smile that didn't match her eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've had the pleasure?"

"Dr. Siang Ling," she introduced herself with a small bow of her head.  "You must be Julia Samuels."

"That's me," Julia nodded, putting forward her hand.  "I've heard so much about you, Dr. Ling, an honor to meet you."

"Where is he, Jules?" Preus asked again.

"Who, Freddie?"  She cleared her throat. "You guys, uh- just missed him, actually."

"Where'd he go?"

Julia shrugged.  "I don't know. He just went.  You know how he is."

Preus ran a hand through his tousled hair.  "Not that I think you're hiding him or anything- but do you mind if we look around and make sure?"

"So suspicious," Julia sighed dramatically.  "Don't even trust your own girl to tell the truth.  Go ahead though, search away."

"You sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine.  How are you?"

"Feeling a little henpecked, but otherwise, I'm fine."  Tossing a pointed look at Ling, Dr. Preus kissed Julia's cheek, then he and C took to wandering the house in search of Freddie.

And K seized his chance.  He tapped Julia's shoulder and drew her quietly into the master bedroom.  "Mind if I shut the door?"

"Now what?" she chuckled.  "Have we something to discuss?"

"It's really short," K began- before he paused, tossing a glance at the bed.  It was still made, mind you- but the duvet was rumpled, the pillows a little smushed.  He couldn't help but smirk.

"Nice day?" he quipped softly, nodding toward the bed.

She folded her arms.  "Oh, now don't you start.  I got enough people giving me the fish eye these days."

"You didn't answer me."

Julia rubbed her eyes wearily.  "Yes, it was pretty nice- eventful, more like."

"So I see."

"K," she started in a louder voice- then, after a single nervous glance at the door, continued in a whisper, "K, I don't know what you're implying, but Freddie and I did not make love.  I was just tired- and I felt like laying down a few moments- and making bed angels."

"Bed angels?"

"You know, when you lay down on top of the covers and stretch out, moving your limbs back and forth- Danny calls that making 'bed angels'.  But anyway. My point is, we didn't. Okay? So get that right out of your head."

"Julia, take it easy, I'm not accusing you of anything," K said gently, though to himself he was chuckling, It's only a matter of time now...

"Yeah- but someone else might."  With that, Julia started smoothing the bed covers.

K walked around to the other side and straightened the shams for her.  "Does John know?"

Julia looked up.  "John- Deacon?"

"Danny's godfather.  The bass player. Have you told him?"

She swallowed.  "Promise you won't tell Stu?"

"Cross my heart."

Plopping down on the covers again, she shook her head.  "I didn't have to. Danny told him."

K nodded slowly.  "So he knows."

"That's what I think.  I don't know for sure, I haven't heard from him since Tuesday- and until I get a new phone, I won't know. He's only got my cell number- and he hates sending emails. Again, please don't tell-"

"My lips are sealed, Julia," he assured her, which made her smile, but only for a moment.  In the very next, her eyes saddened, and the color in her cheeks seemed to fade.

"So," she said at last.  "I guess that Speck is all set now?"

"All we need is Freddie," K nodded.

"That's- wonderful," Julia sighed, turning her head down.  To see her this way always cut K to the core- to watch her fight against her feelings, say the exact opposite of what she meant.  "He'll be glad to hear it when he gets back from Manhattan."

"He's gone off to New York again?"

"With Danny, yes.  Charles is driving them- apparently Wes's station wanted to have some kind of meeting with him in person up there- so he's going there tonight while Danny's at rehearsal- which is also our secret."

"And you stayed home?"

Julia shrugged.  "I figured he'd seen enough of my face today, he could probably use a break."

"You still haven't told him, have you?" K asked.  "Told Freddie, I mean. About the boy."

"No," she replied.  "And I most likely won't, either.  It's too risky."

"But he's going home tomorrow.  He won't remember."

"Exactly, there's no point," Julia replied.  "There was never a point, I don't think. It just happened, and here we are, and tomorrow, there he'll be, and that's that."

She sounded so defeated, the poor woman.  With a sigh, K put his hand on her shoulder.  "There's a reason for all this, you know."

"Yeah?" Julia snorted.  "What's that?"

"I don't know- but there is one," K answered.  "There's a plan."

Julia's brow arched as she stood; outside the door they could hear the search draw to a close.  "That's what you think, is it?"

"Not think.  Know."

"I wish I had your confidence, my friend," she quipped.

"It's the only thing in which I have confidence at all," K smiled.  "Actually, that's one of two things."

"What's the other thing?"

K winked.  "You and Freddie."

"You're a nut," Julia chuckled.

"No, I'm just a little more sensitive to the more obvious things."  A fist rapped at the door, and Julia started to greet it before K continued slyly, "Like the shirt that's lying in a heap by the side of the bed."

"Oops."  With bugging eyes, Julia scooped up Freddie's shirt, threw it into the vanity, and pushed the drawer shut.  "That was purely by coincidence, a simple mistake."

"Of course," K nodded solemnly- but this time, all she did was smile as she opened the door.

The lab rats didn't stay much longer.  Freddie was not here, and since it was a complete mystery where Freddie had put himself, there wasn't much more they could do except return to the university and wrap things up for now.  Julia saw them out, bidding them a safe drive home.

"Made in heaven, made in heaven," she sang to herself quietly.  "That's what everybody says to me, it was really meant to be, so plain to see-"

"What's that you're singing?" Stuart asked.

"A very pretty song."

"Yeah, I like it," he hummed.  "Have to look it up. Let me know when he gets back, would you?"

"Absolutely," Julia replied.  Were K's eyes playing tricks, or did one hand slide behind her back as she said that- and were the fingers of that hand crossed?  

A bit distantly Stuart kissed her lips, then darted back through the rain into the van.  K pushed the note into her hand and said good bye as well, moving a bit slower than the rest.  He watched her close the door, opening the note as she did to read, in K's haphazard cursive:

Your house is bugged.  I don't know how, or where, but it is.  C's listening in on you guys. I suggest you find the mike and destroy it as soon as humanly possible.  There's a way around them- you just have to be smart. Good luck. -K

P.S. Burn this after reading- and make him take his pill.

P.P.S.  If you don't find it- play disco music, and C will turn it off himself.  I'm not kidding. He hates it.