Meredith had a nice crowd gathered around her. The guys here were familiar, and easier to flirt with than the guys in London had been.

"So where have you been all this time?" one of the guys asked her. "It's been rather boring around here without you."MOThen out of nowhere the guy was knocked across the mall by the sudden opening of a portal right in front of her. Susanne appeared right in front of Meredith in Mike's place. "So that's how it works!"

"Now look what you've gone and done! He was cute!" Meredith then realized that Susanne was standing in front of her, in California, no less. "Hey! I thought you were done with Cali for good!"MO<"Yeah, but I came to find you. Have I got something to show you!" Susanne's grin was so huge it was ready to crack. "You'll never believe how wierd this is... and I thought my life was crazy... well, this one, at least." Susanne grabbed Meredith's arm to pull her into the portal back to Meredith's apartment. She then noticed Mike standing there, watching with a very confused and portective look on his face.

"Where do you think you're taking her?" Mike had just cornered the market on Meredith's attention, and was not going to give up that easily.

Susanne narrowed her eyes and said, "Who invited you to the party?"

"I'm not the one who just appeared out of nowhere!!! Dith, what's going on?"

Meredith looked around and realized that they weren't in a very busy part of the mall. Mike was the only one who had seen Sus come out of the portal, and it was a good thing, too, because it would have started a panic and general pandemonium. "Almost as much as a sale," Meredith muttered under her breath.

"Huh?" Mike and Susanne said in unison... then glared at each other as they realized that they had agreed on something.

"Nothing." Meredith brused it off. "Mike, you want to come with me or not?"

"What?!?! My portal!! No boys allowed!!"

"What about Roger??"

"He doesn't count. He's a man." Susanne folded her arms and knew that she had no choice. "Fine, whatever, bring your little redneck."

"Whoa. Who said I was going... and where?" Mike was eyeing Susanne suspiciously.

"Well, I'm leaving now, and if you want to ever see me again, I suggest you come along. I won't be back for a while, if at all. I'll explain later."

Mike pondered a minute while Susanne hummed the jeopardy theme. "Let's go," he finally said, with a hint of apprehension in his voice.

"About bloody time," mumbled Roger as Susanne pulled open the portal to Meredith's apartment and they all jumped in.

Just as Meredith was about to jump in, Susanne asked her, "Where's Zeke, anyway?"

"I left him at home." Meredith replied simply. "Guys avoid me like the plague when he's around." A thought occurred to her, and she started laughing hysterically as she jumped in. Susanne shrugged and jumped in just before the portal closed.