December 10, 2005

"And...your name is?" the secretary looked up from her computer. Across her desk was a striking young man, spiky blond hair and dazzling smile. She took a moment to take all of him in. Sexy stubble on his chin, his only flaw would be his large, pointed ears. They were so grotesquely elven that she almost dismissed him-but when her gaze fell upon those hazel eyes, she could not break contact. She was so infatuated that she failed to notice the increasingly impatient parole officer at his side.

"Babe, you're gonna make my buddy over here think this is a scam. Garfield Logan." He drummed his fingers on her desk.

This did not seem to register with her.

"I'm one of the lab rats." He cocked an eyebrow, which only made him more appealing.

"Part of the trial team for drug rehabilitation? Is this ringing any bells?" He tried. He started doubting that this was indeed Titans Tower. The officer behind him coughed loudly, and the secretary blushed.

"Ah-hem. Yes, I have you here. You're a half hour early. I'll escort you to the top floor. Our guards are currently dealing with...a situation. Thank you, officer." She nodded curtly to the mustachioed man in uniform and he grunted.

Garfield turned to shake his hand and smiled. Quietly, Officer Charlie grumbled about how he had all the luck with women.

"What? They only want me for my body," Garfield laughed, "But you-you're a swell guy, Charlie. Any girl would be lucky to have you. Really. I'm glad to have met you, though I can't say I don't wish it was under different circumstances." He winked at the unsmiling officer.

Charlie put a hand down on the young boy's shoulder-that's all he was, really. A boy, a kid, who smoked a blunt in the wrong place at the wrong time. He then proceeded to give the biggest speech in his life. "Listen to me. You can't land yourself in jail again. I've never agreed with the decision to jail petty drug offenders, or any drug offenders, but the law's the law. So get clean and stay clean, alright? Don't waste any more of your life in there."

Garfield nodded, and the two looked at each other in silence for a few moments.

"Hey-Can I come visit you sometime?" Garfield blurted.

Charlie snorted, "So long as you're not wearing jumpers. Why would you want to spend time with a grumpy old man anyway?"

Because you're like the father I never had.

Instead of being honest, he stuck to what he did best-clowning around. Garfield batted his lashes and swiveled his hips, "I'm a sucker for a man in uniform."

Charlie's mustache twitched.

"Okay, okay. You helped me out in there...I'm not the kind of guy who takes that shit for granted." he said sheepishly, staring intently at the floor.

Charlie shrugged. "I was just doing my job."

Garfield wanted to tell him how he did much more than just his job, how he probably would have died under another officer's watch. He wanted to look the officer straight in the eyes and tell him all that and how grateful he was, but before he could muster up the courage the police officer was already walking away, and the secretary was by his side, gently tugging his arm along. As they made their way to the elevator, Garfield took one last glance at the retreating back of the officer. The elevator doors slid shut and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He would tell him later. Or write him. Garfield wasn't awfully good at expressing how he felt. I can't believe I told him I'm not the kind of guy who "takes that shit for granted". I'm practically a modern day Shakespeare.

Garfield continue to agonize over his horrible "thank you" until they finally reached the top floor. The doors of the elevator parted, and a sharp looking woman introduced herself to him as Dr. Karen Beecher.

"What's up, Doc?" he shook her hand, and Dr. Beecher smiled faintly.

"Hello, Garfield. It's good to have you on the team."

Funny how he always imagined this moment, but with another mouth saying those words.

A/N:

*cough cough his dad cough cough*

So I love Garfield so much that I decided this should be the first chapter. If you're one of the few people who saw the original first two chapters, I apologize. I'll be using them a little later on.

A nod to the Twihards-your M fanfiction is perfection. I have learned much from your kind.

(I noticed a lot of spelling errors that I swear weren't on the doc I was writing. That's what I get for writing this at 1 in the morning. Please point out any typos you see-I really hate them.)

There is much, much more to come!