A/N: I don't understand why there's not more Fargo/Zane love. I'm attempting to remedy that.

Fargo was sitting at the counter of Cafe Diem, sucking down a Vinspresso. Ever since Stark had become head of GD the young scientist had found his workload substantially increased. Not only did he have his own work to take care of but he had to have whatever Stark required at his fingertips. A lesser man might have cracked under the pressure – and Fargo certainly found it a challenge – but he had big things planned. After all, he had a family name to live up to. So he sucked down his caffeine while he waited on his lunch and just happened to see Jo greeting her potential new boyfriend.

"Wow," the new scientist stated as he greeted the deputy. "If all church girls looked like you, I might consider converting." As much as Fargo hated to admit it, that was a pretty impressive line. And Jo did look absolutely gorgeous in her white dress.

"Well, you should join me sometime and find out." Jo stated, grinning. Was it possible – was Jo actually being civil?

"Oh, I would, but I'm allergic. I'd have to get a new inhaler. It would be a whole thing." The man stated. Fargo bit back a grin, this guy was pretty funny. Jo made a noise which Fargo assumed was an 'uh-huh' and the man motioned to the table he'd been sitting at. "After you."

"Chivalry. Not something I was expecting from a felon," Jo stated, moving past the man. Fargo raised his eyebrows. Ah, so this must be Zane Donovan. And lost in his own thoughts, Fargo missed what Zane had replied. Something about never being convicted but the day still being young. "Try anything and I'll deviate your septum." There was the Jo that Fargo knew.

Fargo missed part of the conversation as Vincent served up his omelet. Still, he was intrigued about how things were going with the pair and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't interested in learning more about Eureka's newest addition. So he stealthily moved to a table close enough to overhear conversation without blatantly eaves-dropping.

"Actually," Zane was stating, "MIT was great. I could spend weeks at a time focused on a single variable in a lattice gauge equation. It was heaven." Fargo could understand that feeling. Apparently, so could Jo.

"I had the same feeling assembling a chromium flash suppression barrel for my grenade launcher," Jo stated, a small smile of happiness on her face.

"Yeah," Zane nodded, not looking overly impressed. Fargo got a sinking feeling. If Zane wasn't careful he was going to blow this. "But that's simple mechanics. Particle and theoretical physics?" he asked as he leaned back in his seat. "That's the real mind candy." Fargo swallowed a groan, noting the look on the deputy's face.

"Well, some of us like practical application," she stated, her eyes not quite meeting Zane's. Realizing that he'd inadvertently insulted her, Zane was quick to back-pedal.

"Oh, yeah. No. That's all good," he backtracked, leaning forwards. But, I mean, let's be honest. That particle accelerator? It only gets built after someone comes up with the idea. Right?" he asked. An awkward silence fell over the table and Fargo felt for Jo. She had no idea what to say and although Fargo might have enjoyed the entire date failing (he still wasn't over his crush) he could tell that Jo really liked Zane. And besides, only one of them should have outstanding bad luck in love and Fargo held the record. Pulling out his tablet, he quickly scrawled an answer before subtly holding it up and waving to get Jo's attention. Her eyes flicked over to his seat and he pointed to the tablet. A small smile of gratitude appeared on her face and she turned her attention back to the scientist in front of her.

"But how would you even think of coming up with the idea of a particle accelerator if there wasn't a practical use for it?" she asked. "Would anyone have thought to create a particle accelerator if all you scientists weren't trying to understand particle physics? I mean, the fact that they can be used in televisions and cancer treatments is all kind of beside the point – not the true objective," she stated and Zane raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, you've got a point. No one was looking for a cure for cancer when they created the particle accelerator," he ceded, taking a sip of his drink. "Still," he continued, "a lot of our most historic breakthroughs in science come from accidents. I mean, Fleming discovered penicillin by being a slob," Zane laughed. Jo chuckled as well before shooting a pleading look over Zane's shoulder to Fargo. The look clearly read, How the hell do I respond to that? The scientist quickly scrawled on his pad before subtly tilting it towards Jo.

"Well, think of how the world of fashion would have suffered if Perkin hadn't been trying to discover a cure for malaria?" she stated, hoping that she pulled that off casually enough. Fargo grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Yeah, I don't know what I would do with my life if the color mauve had never been invented," Zane joked, grinning. Fargo took the opportunity to roll his eyes before scribbling a rebuttal on his tablet. If the other scientist wasn't impressed with the discovery of the color mauve, he should be impressed with this. After all, it was his baby.

"Fine," Jo ceded, glancing at Fargo. "How about the discovery of the Big Bang? If Penzias and Wilson hadn't been using an antenna to get signals from the Milky Way they never would have heard the echoes of the first Big Bang." Zane hung his head in defeat and Fargo allowed himself a small smirk. "How did we get on the subject of accidents anyway?" Jo asked.

"Particle Accelerators," Zane answered and they both laughed. Jo took the opportunity to give Fargo a thankful look and the scientist nodded, digging out his wallet and leaving the appropriate amount of money for Vincent. "Any particular reason you keep looking over my shoulder?" Zane suddenly asked and Fargo froze, head whipping toward Jo. Say no, say no, he begged in his mind.

"Maybe there's a cuter guy behind you," Jo responded and Fargo took the opportunity to scurry out the door.

"Cuter than me?" Zane asked indignantly and Fargo barely made it outside before laughing at the absurdity of the entire situation. Back inside, Zane and Jo's date continued – undisturbed by Fargo's exit. "I really enjoyed this," Zane admitted and Jo felt a tug on her conscience.

"Look, Zane, there's something I have to tell you. If you enjoyed this entire conversation then you should be talking to Fargo," she confessed.

"Fargo?" Zane asked, confused.

"Yeah, Doug Fargo. If you had just been talking to me, I would have been out of here as soon as you brought up the particle accelerator because quite honestly, I have no idea what that has to do with anything. But Doug was sitting behind you and he was coaching me because I guess he could tell that I really do like you. The point is everything out of my mouth from particle accelerator onwards was all Fargo," she finished. Sighing heavily she collapsed in her seat.

"I...don't understand," Zane stated. "Why would you lie?"

"Because...I figured it wouldn't be long before you figured out that I wasn't as smart as everyone else in town. Carter and I, we're not science smart. I can do practical applications for my weapons but theory and brain-storming and all of that...I'm useless. And hearing people talk about it makes me feel like a complete idiot. And I really wanted this to go somewhere," she stated, motioning between the two of them. "But I can't keep up with you. I'm sorry," Jo apologized, standing and exiting the cafe. Zane remained sitting as he tried to absorb everything Jo had told him.

"Everything alright?" Vincent asked.

"Who's Fargo?"

~Review~