Notes: This is part one of a (probably) eighteen part case-file story. I'm aiming for a chapter a week, but that's not set in stone. Enjoy. :)

"Agent Dunham."

I have to suppress a shudder at Harris' smarmy voice drawling my name. He's far closer than I usually let him get and I'm kicking myself for being distracted by the stupid texts Peter's been sending me all morning. I've gotten good at avoiding Harris and I can usually slip into a side hallway before he can pin me down, but I was looking at my phone instead of watching where I was going.

He's smirking, mocking like the bully he is. The institutional green of the walls gives his face a sickly cast, making an unappealing creature even more loathsome. My hand clenches into a fist of it's own accord and I run the numbers again on exactly how badly things would go for me if I ever do lose it and punch him.

"I have a little project that requires your team's... unique talents." I'm biting my tongue to keep from defending them. It's useless with him; their own merits mean nothing in the face of Harris' hatred of me. It galls me though, that he dismisses them so easily, these people I've come to trust. I worry that this vendetta will wreck Astrid's career, land Walter back at St. Claire's. Peter... Peter lands on his feet. I don't worry about him.

"We've got plenty to keep us busy already, thanks." I try to keep walking but he stops me by smacking the case folder against my chest as I pass. God, the urge to throw him against the wall is nearly overwhelming. I slide my gaze up to his and we lock eyes for long moments. I know he's manipulating me, know he's seeing how far he can push, but that doesn't make it any easier to not push back. His vicious little smirk taunts me.

"I'm not presenting this as an option, Dunham." I grab the folder away from him and glance through it. "Seems to be something your little band of screw-ups can handle."

"What the hell is this? Lights in the sky?"

"You investigate weird events, don't you?"

"We investigate crimes linked to a widespread..."

"Wrong answer, Dunham." He steps close, right in my face, close enough to smell his breath and the stale sweat that his aftershave can't quite cover. "The correct answer is that you investigate whatever you are assigned. Is that understood?"

I hold his eyes longer than I should. Harris isn't the only one good at taunting. I wait until he's almost ready to bark the question again, the muscles along his jaw twitching. Adrenaline licks like flames through my system, spoiling for a fight that isn't coming, and I'm wearing the feral smile Charlie says makes me look like a panther. "Yes... Sir."

"Well then, collect your... team." He sneers the word. "It's a long drive to Maine. Can't be wasting resources on flights in these lean times."

I know I'm stomping like Ella when she's well on her way to a tantrum as I head to Broyles' office but I can't quite bring myself to stop. Therapy, I suppose. The door to his ridiculously big office is open and he's looking up at me, denying me the petty pleasure of irritating him by barging in without knocking. I slam the door behind me for good measure.

"Don't start..."

"He's sending me to Maine to investigate weird lights in the sky. Lights. In the sky. This is ridiculous. He's looking for the most idiotic things to assign to me all because he's out to get me and he doesn't even care that he's taking me away from real cases. This..." I wave the file in his expressionless face, "is a complete waste of time. It's not even a real case! Some drunk hunters seeing things in the sky and I'm supposed to drop everything? This is bullshit and I'm tired of it!"

One eyebrow quirks up but that's his only reaction. He watches me for a moment, the dark pools of his eyes impossible to read. "Are you finished?" There's dry annoyance and a hint of amusement in his voice but nothing resembling surprise.

I slump down into a chair. "You already knew."

"Harris is insistent that you work the case. Go. Investigate. Come home, file your report and get back to work."

I sigh and fix my eyes on the shelf behind him for a long moment before meeting his eyes again. I never expected to find an ally in him. Amazing what having your illusions about the people you call your friends shattered will do to you. There's a sympathy in his eyes now, a kinship born of betrayal, and the loyalty makes it easy to accept the order from him. Easier, anyway.

"Yes, Sir." I try not to let resignation creep into my voice and fail miserably.

His mouth twitches into a tiny smile. "His investigation will be over soon. Your work is above reproach and he'll leave with nothing."

I let myself smile back at him. "Thank you, Sir."

I gather my things form my office, taking a moment to look at the big ariel photo of Boston. Everyone assumes that it's here for tactical reasons, providing useful details about the city, but that's only part of it's job. The pattern of the streets is soothing to me, the lines and the order of the grid are calming. I count the streets when things are really bad, but today it's enough to just look.

Harris is lurking outside, catching me by surprise yet again. "Have fun in Maine, Agent Dunham."

I snarl at him on my way past and head to the lab.