ThunderSnow

CHAPTER EIGHT: All Access

They wound their way back through the trailers, then turned and approached a small tent at the edge of the barriers. Eli smiled and placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her inside the tent.

As they entered, a large man in a security uniform looked up. Lyn instinctively took a small step backward as he stood. He was tall and imposing with a wide chest, bulging arms, and tattoos that crawled up his neck from beneath his uniform. His face was grizzled with slight stubble across his jaw, and the smallest evidence of salt and pepper hair at his temples. His eyes lit up as a large smile covered his face.

"Hey, Mr. Colton. Nice to see you."

"Hey George."  Eli clapped him on the back. "I told you, it's just Eli." He nodded his head in Lyn's direction. "This is Lyn Elliston. She will be accompanying me on the set. I need to get her checked in. She'll need a pass."

George turned to Lyn. The corners of his eyes crinkled as his smile widened. He exuded genuine warmth. "Welcome, Miss Elliston. You bet, we'll get you taken care of." He quickly turned and pulled open a file, pulling out a piece of paper and a plastic badge.

Lyn smiled. "Thank you. And you can just call me Lyn."

George grinned. "Okay, Miss Lyn."

He slid the piece of paper across the counter.  "You just need to fill out the top part with your information."  He turned and smiled at Eli.  "Then you'll need to sign it, Mr. Col... Eli."

Lyn quickly filled out her information then slid the paper over to Eli.  He signed it and handed it back to George.  "Done," he said with a wink toward Lyn.

George briefly glanced at the paper and nodded before putting it back in the file and smiling warmly at Lyn.  "Perfect!  Okay, Miss Lyn, you are officially our guest."  He pushed the plastic badge toward her. "You'll need to wear this at all times"

Eli glanced at the badge and frowned. Just as Lyn reached for it, he grabbed it and gently pushed it back to George. "Level one, please," he said.

Lyn looked at Eli in confusion and George's eyes widened. "Oh... uh... yes, Sir. Sorry about that."

"No worries. You didn't know," Eli said with a reassuring smile.

George returned the badge to the file and pulled out a different one. The new badge was yellow in color. It said "ALL ACCESS" in bright red letters across the top. Lyn looked up at Eli as she picked up the badge with trembling fingers.

Eli shrugged. "I just want you to be able to move around the set freely while I'm shooting. I won't be able to be with you at all times, so this will get you in anywhere you want to go."

Lyn stammered slightly as she looked down at the badge. "Oh... I don't... I mean... I can just..."

Eli placed his hand over hers, laughing softly. "Just put it on, Lyn. It's not a big deal."

She smiled and nodded before slipping the lanyard over her neck. Oh but it is, Eli.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Eli patted the counter as he looked back to George. "We all set here?" he asked with a smile.

George nodded. "Yep, we're good." He smiled at Lyn. "Nice to meet you, Miss Lyn. Enjoy your visit. I'll see you around."

"Thank you, George," Lyn said. She turned to leave, but then stopped and held up her badge. "Oh, do I just return this before I leave this afternoon, or..."