Alternative Pathways
By Linda Schwartz

Kermit's fingers danced across the keyboard, deftly calling up info on the monitor. He sat bak in his chair, grabbing the bag of gummy bears sitting beside it. He patiently waited for the computer to deliver the results of his search when...the lights went out and the computer went dark.

"DAMN IT! a blackout...Now?" he bellowed, throwing the gummy bears onto the desk, spilling them all over the desktop.

"Problem, Kermit?" Blake asked from the doorway.

"Gee, Blake, how did you guess? Yeah, there is a problem, no power, no computer, no computer and Kermit is VERY unhappy. You know what happens then?" Blake quickly disappeared, Kermit's icy glare from behind the sunglasses were enough to make the strongest man cringe.

Now what the hell was he going to do, he needed this info for the case Peter was working on. 'Think, Kermit.....I know, the Public Library has the Internet.' Kermit got into the Corvair and drove to the nearest library. He walked up to the librarian.

"Can I help you?" she asked him.

"Yes I'd like to sign up for the Internet."

"Or course, sir," she handed him the sign up pad and he scrawled his name and the time he was signing on next to it. There was someone using the computer.

"Excuse me, I've signed on to use the computer." The man finished what he was doing and logged off.

Kermit sat down at the computer and began calling up the info he needed.

"Hi there," a soft feminine voice called from behind him.

"Linda, hello. I bet your wondering what I'm doing here using the library computer. "

"Well the thought did cross my mind. I mean I never thought you left the precinct. Besides you have a system there that would give any computer geek a run for their money including my friend Maria."

"Well unfortunately my computer won't run without power, the precinct is in the dark for a while. I'm helping Peter with a case."

"Well Kermit, I signed on after you, but we can share the time so this way you can have a whole hour on here."

"An hour?" Kermit asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, when you sign on you get half and hour unless no one signs on after you. Can I help?"

"Sure, dollface, pull up a chair." Kermit moved over so Linda could sit next to him. Kermit was typing up a mean streak.

"Oh Kermit, I know a great site that has more info for you. Do you mind...?" Kermit slid over so Linda could take over the keyboard. Kermit's mouth dropped open as he saw Linda's fingers dance across the keyboard.

"Boy, I thought I was fast. You have me beat by a mile." Linda smiled as she brought up the site they needed. They started printing when the paper ran out.

"I'll get more, Kermit. We are allowed 10 pieces. " She went to the librarian and got the paper. They watched as that paper was quickly printed out and once again the printer needed paper. Linda looked around and took some paper she had brought with her from home.

"Shhhhh, Kermit, I have to sneak this in and...."

"Excuse me, Linda, You can't put your own paper in, You'll jam the printer."

"Damn, it's the evil librarian, Kermit. I thougt she was off today. Sorry, we can't print the rest of this out." She said sadly looking down at the floor. Kermit put his hand on Linda's chin, pulling it up to look at him.

"Don't worry, dollface, I'll handle this."

Linda watched as Kermit went to the librarian, she watched the exchange curiously. She saw the librarian's mouth drop open, she paled. Then she took a stack of paper and handed it to Kermit. He came back and sat next to her.

"Kermit! What did you say to her?" she asked agast.

"I told her I needed paper and I needed it now!"

"How?" Linda stopped as Kermit opened his coat, revealing the Desert Eagle tucked underneath and his badge and ID hanging from an inside pocket.

"Ohhhhh," Linda giggled.

"Think we have enough for your e-mail too?"

"Oh yeah." Linda said as she kissed his cheek gratefully. Don't mess with Kermit.

"Oh, and the librarian said we can stay as long as we want." He smiled as they settled in for a long session.

'Hmmmm, maybe I'll visit the chat for a LONNNNNGGGG talk with my friends." Linda smiled as she realized she could keep Maria up ALLLLLLL night now!