The Newcomer

James had been dozing off on the couch (he did that a lot recently) when there was a knock on the front door. He figured Rachel would get it, she normally did, so he went back to his mostly-slightly-asleep mode and tuned out again.

But Rachel didn't get it. And the person knocked again. And again. He rolled his eyes and struggled to a sitting position "Rachel?" he called, but there was no answer. Grumbling he stood and headed for the door, running a hand through his hair, making his bed head even worse. He flung it open "What?" he asked, realizing after that it sounded pretty rude..

Barney rang Rachel's doorbell repeatedly. She wouldn't answer her phone, which was quite typical. He didn't stop until someone answered the door. The man looked a bit familiar, but Barney couldn't remember where he was from. "Greetings," Barney said, holding out his hand. "I'm Barney Emerson, Rachel's cousin. Is she home?" He asked the man, glancing around the inside. It was a very nice house. Rachel had lived in better, of course, but he was sure that Rachel would do anything for her job.

James leaned against the door frame and yawned, and took his hand "James" he said and stepped aside "Probably. Maybe. Fuck if I know. Come in" He said, walking into the main hall "RACHEL! YOU'RE COUSIN IS HERE!" He shouted, and groaned again when she didn't answer again, he looked up the stairs "Fuck" he groaned "Wait here I'll go find her. If she's here" he said, rushing up the stairs, "RACHEL" He yelled again.

Rachel tossed and turned over in her bed. She could hear shouting and footsteps coming up the stairs. She got up and angrily opened the door, pulling up her tank top and straightening out her shorts. "WHAT?" She shouted back sleepily at James, glancing down the stairs. "Barney?!" Rachel shouted, running down the stairs and hugging her cousin, pulling him inside and shutting the door. "What are you doing here?"

Barney nodded at the man and tried to figure out where he knew a James from. He walked around and shouted for Rachel, who came out of what he assumed was her bedroom and bombarded him with a hug. "RACHEL!" He exclaimed, hugging his cousin back. "I got transferred, thought I'd come see my favorite cousin." Barney said. "This your boyfriend?"

"You're welcome" James said to the spot where Rachel had just been, and then shrugged and walked slowly down the stairs, still drowsy. He caught the end of what Barney said and snorted, but didn't answer. He walked into the kitchen and pulled a soda out of the fridge, before heading back to where the couch, not wanting to intrude on Rachel reunion with her cousin.

Rachel 'oh'ed at Barney's reply. "I see." She said, smiling. "And no, he just teaches here. They haven't built his cottage yet, so he gets to stay with me." Rachel said with a fake smile. "I'm going to go shower and put on some clothes, why don't you go sit with James?" Rachel said to Barney, starting up the stairs.

Barney nodded at her. "Sure..." He said as she walked upstairs, going into the living room and sitting down with James. "So, you teach?" Barney asked him. "What do you teach?" The chair was uncomfortable, that was all he really noticed. Barney wondered if Rachel knew about the murderer having escaped. She probably did, but he'd have to make sure to tell her later in case she didn't.

James watched as Rachel left and her cousin came to sit by him "Yep" He said, nodding "I teach Art. Hence the paint" he said, pointing to his pants, which were spotted with assorted colors of paint. And these were his jeans. That he wore every other Friday. "What do you do for a living?" he asked Barney, deciding to actually put in an effort. Maybe if Barney liked him, then Rachel would like him more..... Or maybe it would fail miserably.

Barney nodded. "That's neat." He chuckled slightly. "I guess I should've known." Barney opened his mouth, ready to answer the question. "I'm a detective," He said, glancing around. The chair was still incredibly uncomfortable. "So did you go to school here?" Barney asked.

"Yeah. It's worse when we start with plaster. I come home coated in white dust" James said taking a drink of his soda, "Detective? Cool. So do you work with the police? Or are you independent?" he asked, and then nodded "I did. Everyone in my family but my oldest brother did, actually" He said, scowling ever so slightly at the thought of Martin. "Did you?" he asked

Barney laughed. "Bet Rachel loves that white dust all over everything." She was such a neat freak. The thought of her freaking out made him smile. "With the police," Barney responded. The government could be considered the police, right? "Ah," Barney said. "I didn't, I grew up in Harlem. Public school and Harvard," Barney said with a chuckle. "Bit of a jump."

"Yeah, not really. She pretty much follows me with a vacuum" James said shaking his head and grinning. "My brother works with the police" He nodded, "At least I think he does..." He shrugged. The next part was quite relieving. That meant there was less of a chance that this guy knew who he was, less of a chance to get berated for what happened because of him. "Ah I was sort of opposite" he said, smiling humorlessly "Manson, then to a local college, then I had to drop out and go to committee college" He said

Barney laughed. "Sounds like Rachel." He said, nodding. "Really?" Barney said. "Interesting." He chuckled a bit. "Ah, yeah. That's how my oldest sister was. At least she's got a husband," Barney said, smiling weakly. Suddenly, the name James registered something in his mind. "You wouldn't happen to be the James who dated Rachel, would you?"

James cursed himself mentally for jinxing it "If I said no, that I was ANOTHER James Montez, would you believe me?" he asked "Or if I said I lied, and my name is actually... Louis, and that I have no idea who James Montez is?" he asked, "Or if I said yes, would you tell me that I'm a bastard and attempt to punch me?" he asked, smiling hopefully, and nervously.

"I wouldn't believe you unless you said that you were, because I never mentioned a Montez, just a James." Barney said to him with a faint smile. "It's fine. I heard quite a bit about you. Are you two getting along now?" Barney asked.

"Gave myself away" he said, relieved "Well. Better than before. She's stopped yelling at me in the halls for walking to close to her. And she's started getting a plate out for me at dinner, and actually telling me that she had made something" he said, shrugging "So I guess we're good"

Barney chuckled. "That's good," He said. Again, the chair. Rachel made plenty of money, yet she couldn't afford a comfortable chair. Then again, she probably didn't care how it felt as long as it looked nice. "She was really mad when you guys broke up, she came home screaming that summer." Barney said with a laugh.