Author's Note:Usual disclaimer applies. I don't own these characters, etc. I know it doesn't look like much yet, but there will be more from the other characters later. This takes place during Season 5. Please R&R, no flames.
"That's a wrap!" yelled executive producer Miles Silverberg as the ending credits of FYI began to roll on the studio's monitors, and the anchors began to walk away from their desk. "Great job, everybody! Frank, that piece on Internet predators was amazing! I bet the Humboldt committee noticed."
Frank shrugged. "It was no big deal...for Frank Fontana, ace investigative reporter," he said with a grin.
Murphy rolled her eyes. "So, Ace, you coming to Phil's, or are you too good to eat with us lesser reporters?"
"Of course I'm coming," her best friend replied. "And because I'm in such a fantastic mood, I'm buying!"
"Wow, I don't think I've heard those words come out of your mouth since before I left for Betty Ford," Murphy teased.
"Let's just get over there before he changes his mind," Corky said. The others nodded their agreement and headed off to the bar across the street.
For the next few minutes, the gang sat at their usual table, congratulating each other on having survived another show. Just then, the head of the network news division, Eugene Kinsella walked over to their table. "Nice to see you all," he said. "Great show tonight."
"Thank you, Mr. Kinsella," Miles said, standing up. "Would you like to sit down? You can have my seat."
"No, Silverberg," the boss responded. "And stop sucking up!"
"Yes, Mr. Kinsella," Miles said as he sat, embarrassed.
"I'm here to talk to Fontana," Kinsella said, turning to Frank.
"Me?"
"Yes, the network was very impressed with your work this week. I'd like to see you in my office first thing tomorrow morning to discuss a new opportunity."
"Sure," said Frank, still somewhat shocked that this was happening.
The next morning, Frank showed up at Kinsella's office right away. He didn't even stop to say hi to his colleagues first. Although there had been nothing in his boss' behavior that suggested he was in trouble, Frank was still nervous. He figured it was best to get the bad news right away, or else the worrying would drive him nuts. Frank was already seeing a therapist several times a week; he did not need any additional stress.
Kinsella's secretary showed Frank into the office, then returned to her desk. "You wanted to see me, sir?" the reporter asked hesitantly.
"Yes. You're not being fired, for goodness' sake, Fontana, stop looking at me like a deer trapped in headlights!" Kinsella replied.
"Whew," Frank said, letting out a sigh of relief. "So...what is it, then? Another special?" He remembered when Corky was given her first special two years ago.
"No...something better than that. Your own show."
"My own show? You mean, like, without the other anchors?"
"That's generally what 'your own show' means," Kinsella said.
"Wow!" said Frank, not quite sure what to think. Although he was a talented investigative reporter, he never quite got the attention Murphy got with her tough interviews, or that Corky got for simply being Corky, or even that Jim got for having been around for so many years.
"We'd like you to do the same sort of thing you do now, only more of it," Kinsella explained as Frank let the good news fully sink in. "And you'll have full creative control. No more fighting for airtime with anyone else." By "anyone else," Kinsella meant Murphy, of course.
"I don't know what to say," Frank stammered.
"Well, you'd better think of something soon," Kinsella told him. "The network needs an answer in two days."
"My own show...I don't know what to say," Frank said.
"Who's going to replace me on FYI, Miller Redfield?"
"That idiot?" Kinsella replied. "You must be joking. FYI will continue with three anchors. If you'll recall, that's what the show started with, before Corky was hired."
Frank let out a relieved sigh. He knew that his fellow anchors would not have taken kindly to having Miller around again.
"I know this is a big decision, Fontana, so take some time to think it over," said Kinsella.
"Thanks," Frank said, turning to leave.
"Oh, there's just one thing," the boss said, as Frank stopped in his tracks. "The network wants you to do the show from New York. That's not a problem, is it?"