Participants:
| Scene Title | A Normal-ish Life |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Veronica rants about her meeting with Crowley to Brian, who sees a glimpse of a future he likes in the possibilities presented to him. |
| Date | September 7, 2009 |
Dorchester Towers Veronica's Apartment
It's a bit earlier than Veronica usually makes it home but suddenly the locks are turning in the knob, and the door flies open before flying shut with a bang. Veronica storms into the apartment, not looking for Brian, since it is early, and tearing off her blazer to throw on the couch, before reaching around to unlatch her guns holster and tossing it on the couch too. Obviously she's in a bad mood. She strides into the kitchen, opening it, searching it for something that's clearly not there, for she slams the door again. This time catching her thumb in the door. "God damn it."
Brian's head pokes out from the bedroom dorway. Slowly stepping into the hall he frowns slightly at Veronica's hurried and angry actions. Walking towards the kitchen, a little slowly, he starts buttoning up the white shirt that rests loosely over his shoulders. Besides that he's wearing black pants, looks like he was getting dressed. Stepping into the kitchen he places one hand on the counter and watches her quietly.
"Hi."
She reaches into the freezer for an ice pack. That is going to bruise. She turns at his "Hi." Her eyes have that hurt, lost look in them that she tries not to reveal to too many people, but Brian knows too well by now. "Hi," she breathes out. "I need to go to Seattle tomorrow morning. Gotta pack. Have you heard anything from anyone in Monroe's little crew? Any idea where they're heading next?" she asks, trying to shove aside all of her anger and fear. She moves to him — her words may be all business, but she reaches for him, letting herself melt in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, inhaling his scent. For this one night she can feel safe with him.
"No new news." Brian murmurs, though it's after he moves forward and embraces her. The words can come later if they come at all, giving her advice listening to everything. If they do come, they'll come later. Bringing her in tight he goes to set his chin on the top of her head. One arm works at her back softly.
She lets the warmth of his embrace melt away at least a small portion of her day's frustrations: her anger at Crowley, the shock of seeing Paulson, the fear that Denton had betrayed her. "Paulson's at the facility," she murmurs. "He was in Chicago, but for some reason he's here." It's all she says — she can't remember if she ever told him the man's name, the person who killed her father. With her luck today, Brian will probably think it's an old boyfriend or former, hated boss.
Tugging at her arm gently he takes a step back, letting his hand slide from her forearm to her hand. Leading her into the living room he goes to plop on the couch before reeling her into his lap and enveloping her once again. He frowns slightly before, "Who is Paulson, again?"
How strange that someone has to ask who it is — the name that's haunted her mind for the past several months, ever since Goodman showed her that file. "He killed my father. He's a company agent — they lied to me. They said he died when some telekinetic freaked out because his wife couldn't be healed — my dad was a neurosurgeon. They said some TK went nuts and threw my father out a window with his mind. But no. It was a bag and tag and the TK was this Paulson guy. An agent. He looks like he can't be more than a few years older than me." Her voice is flat. She has no more energy left for emotion. "He's at our facility. Here."
Wrapping his arm around her, he pulls her in tight to his chest. "Oh. That guy." His lips pull thin. "Does the Company know who he is? They're not going to do anything about it?" He frowns deeply, letting one arm dangle over her back. "What are you going to do?"
"Do they know? Of course they know. They know, and he's a higher clearance than… oh, you're supposed to… I'm supposed to tell you to meet with his partner, this guy who's doing internal affairs investigation. It's his partner. He wants to know why you ran. He asked me all sorts of questions about who I blame for stuff going wrong, like Adam, like Kat. He wants to talk to you. Seemed like he was even looking to see you come back, get the Company in … better shape or something. Less reprehensible or something." She shakes her head. She can't keep all the facts straight.
Brian's features screw up. It's all about her right now. But he can't help but get distracted by that last bit. He has to deliberately steer himself back to thoughts of her. "Baby. I'm so sorry." He says softly, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "That must be real hard for you. Do you want me to do anything for you?" His hand goes to rest on her stomach. "I can bring you some dim sum right now. Be here in ten minutes if you want it." He leans in to kiss her chin.
"So he asked you about me? What did you tell him?"
"I'm not hungry," Vee says with a shake of her head. "Oh, right, he said there's a free dinner in it, too, if that is more enticing," she says with a laugh. She sighs. "I don't know. I need to pack for Seattle. I just… it's good that I'm going away for a few days." She reaches up to rub her eyes, suddenly tired. "He asked about our relationship, if I thought you were a good agent while you were one, if I thought you and I were a good fit for partners or if that was some lack of foresight on the boss's part, pairing us up." She shrugs. "He was an ass."
"I'm not exactly lacking for funds right now." Winters murmurs softly, leaning over to kiss her chin once again before finally leaning back. "Do you think I should talk to him? What did you tell him about our relationship? What should I leave out?" He asks, going to rest his chin on her shoulder and let his hand slide into hers. "Do you want me to go with you baby?"
"I said we were seeing each other, I made it seem unimportant, just physical, and I didn't make it seem like we're still together. If you want to. I mean… maybe there's a way to get you doing what you are… but you know, legally, and then we can be really together, not just… hidden, like we are now." Her voice is tired, but there's a lilt of hope in there — she's tired of having to hide too. "No, the partner is coming with, so it'll be hard. Plus if the Adam crew comes back here, I'll want you to get in contact with me." Never mind he can leave a clone here. She's too tired to remember that, though.
"So you're saying if I become an agent again." His eyes go down to her hand, his own hand brushing against her ring finger of her left hand. "If I become an agent again we can…" His fingers run back and forth there. He lets his head rest against her shoulder fully. "Maybe I can meet with him on the plane then. Or in Seattle. I can always be here and there, Vee." He reminds gently.
"That guy isn't going to Seattle. And I'm not saying that's the only way, for you to come back to the Company — I don't want to bully you into anything." She reaches up to touch his cheek, fingers curling into the hair at his temple. "I don't know what direction he wants to bring the Company or if it's possible. But don't compromise your principles, your integrity, for me."
"We could be together. We could be married. At least on your side of things." Brian says softly, letting his fingers dancing over her ring finger where the ring could be. Should be. He smiles dreamily as her fingers slide through his hair. "Compromise is a part of love sometimes." He brings out, smiling gently.
"Meet if you want. Give me a contact to give him and I'll give it to him to contact you." She had rushed out and hadn't taken any card from Crowley and it's not like Brian can just knock on the doors of Fort Hero to meet with the Company agent," she murmurs, catching his hand and interlacing her fingers through his. She rests her head on his shoulder. "I just want to sleep a few moments… before I have to get up and pack and work again. Can you just… be here? Wake me in a couple hours." She needs him here, needs to feel safe.
"You sure you don't want me to meet you in Seattle baby?" His eyes are mostly glued on that left hand ring finger. Become an agent, and get what he wants. The woman he loves. Bringing her in tight he leans in and kisses her head gently. "I can pack for you baby. I've been around long enough to see what you take. You just sleep. I'll get you to your flight." They could have a normal-ish life.
"I love you." He whispers as she starts to drift off.