Taverns are a funny beast. They are simultaneously places of rowdy fun and places to come in solitude and mire one's self in problems. The dichotomy of such a place makes a good bartender and manager essential. Absolutely essential. Why?

Because only the good bartender can tell the subtle signs that tell the difference of the loner bar patron that say either "leave me alone" or "Someone talk to me for the love of G-d." Rosie was a good bartender and a great manager. So when she finished her rounds around TC's Pub and saw Callie Urban sitting at the bar and staring at a half-empty beer, one she had picked out for her when she saw her walk in the door, she saw someone desperately needing to unload.

Checking to see everything was under control, she swung around the bar, grabbed herself a drink and another beer for Callie, and walked back around, sitting on the bar stool next to her contemplative friend.

"You look like you need a new one."

Callie glanced over at her, and shoved her now warm beer away, grabbing the cold bottle of Amstel. Rosie studied her for a moment as Callie simply stared at the new bottle. She took a swig of her own drink and slammed the bottle down.

"What's up?"

Startled by the sudden sound, Callie groused for a moment, before letting it all spill out.

"I TOLD Ivy there was a shit-storm brewing. I TOLD her. And who was it from? My own partner! He knew what was going on last week when I was being garroted by ring ropes! The hell is that crap?! All this work I've done to convince Chris I was on his side... He was beginning to believe me. POOF! It's gone! Like dust in the friggin' wind. I'm back at ground zero."

Rosie hesitated for a minute, remembering what her own boyfriend had told her about the match in question.

"So now you think Sheff won't listen to--"

"And another thing! She won't sign the damned papers! And it's not even about money, which she isn't getting any, but that's not the point. I'd pay her to sign the damned thing, but she won't leave me alone! Have you seen my phone log?"

"Well, no, but how bad could it b-"

"Seventy-two calls TODAY. My voicemail is full and I have hundreds of text messages to delete from her. I have to get a new number and tell all my clients and move all my files and I have to move! She's not leaving the house! I get back from a telecommunications conference from Mumbai, and she's moved back in! And my stuff is missing!"

Callie took a long pull of her beer and slammed the beer on the bar.

Rosie hestitated to see if the tirade was going to continue, and when the silence continued, she ventured to speak.

"So you're divorcing a crazy woman, putting out the fires on a bridge to Sheff, and Spike--Spike, right? Spike is dancing a jig on your last nerve.

"Yes."

Rosie tried to smile reassuringly. "Well at least your schedule is better?"

"Oh my G-d. You have no idea. The cruiserweight title was SO worth getting Jade's two women. They are AMAZING at organizing my schedule. Seriously, they're the best assistants I've ever had. And they're hot and I'm stuck with them all week and I can't violate my own intra-office dating policy. I need to get laid, I'm going crazy."

Rosie laughed and patted the other woman on the arm.

"Well, things work themselves out, one way or another. Slow and listen, you know? One thing at a time."

Callie narrowed her eyes.

"Come on, look at it this way," continued Rosie, "You aren't at work right now, you have the rest of the week off thanks to your assistants, you're on the opposite side of the country from the crazy woman and Spike's too straight edge to ever come in here. Besides... have you seen that woman at the table by the wall?"

She stood up and reached for a napkin away from their stools, deliberately so Callie could get a glimpse without being obvious about it.

"She's been eyeing you all night."

Now Callie wasn't one for one night stands. But after a sexless last two years of marriage, there are limits that are reached. Her eyes lit up immediately.

"Really?"

Rosie nodded. "Really. She's been glaring at me and trying to hide it ever since I sat down. She hasn't turned the pages of her book for the past five minutes, almost."

Callie's eyes narrowed again. "Wait a minute, I know her..."

A quick clap on the back interrupted her from finishing the sentence. She looked at Rosie, glaring.

"Has she ever screwed you over?"

"Well no."

"Has she ever stalked you?"

"No, but-"

"Then... just go say hello?"

Callie looked hesitant. Rosie laughed, but the laughing quickly gave way to a cough and she whipped out her inhaler for a quick puff and grabbed her beer.

She backpedaled for several steps, smirking at Callie's pleading stare, but turned around just as she reached the table in question.

The woman was startled at the bartender's sudden appearance. "Hey," said Rosie, "You see that woman at the bar? The one you've been sexing up with your eyes all night?"

The woman stared at her and nodded.

"She's interested, go talk to her."

Rosie winked, and turned back around. A few people had just walked in the door and she resumed her position behind the bar, but kept an eye on the woman who had put the book in her bag and had gathered her things...

...to approach Callie.

"You're welcome," mouthed Rosie, "That one's on me."