Author's Notes: This was intended to be a one shot but its turning out to be too long for that, so I'm going to write it as a chapter fic. It's for the Fanfic100 claim community, where I have the movieverse Johnny/Frankie ship claimed.

Despite the events in this story being mentioned in my other one-shots, this story is not connected to any of them. It takes place roughly 3 months after the end of the second movie. Each chapter will probably have a claim theme. This chapter is #89 – Work.

You can find all the claim fic on my fic-journal (the homepage on my profile)

Frankie Raye was not having the best of days, week even. It was her last week at work as Captain Francis Raye before she assumed the civilian role as governmental liaison to Fantastic Four Incorporated. Apparently, they thought it would look better if she was a civilian then if she was military and after the whole situation with the Silver Surfer three months ago, she wasn't about to argue with the reassignment. Or rather, forced retirement.

The last three months had been mostly her filing reports on what happened, alerting her superiors to her actions and finally training her replacement. Captain Larissa Lewis was only a few years younger then her, and had the same experience being a General's aide as she did really, in fact she had worked with the new General in charge of the project. Luckily this one wasn't as hard headed about things as the previous General.

She sighed. Despite being a jerk to Reed Richards and his "family", General Heeder was a good man and she had been close to him after working together for several years. They had an almost...well uncle-niece relationship she would say. He wasn't quite old enough to be a father figure, but certainly filled a role quite close. It still seemed odd that he was no longer there.

If she ever saw Victor von Doom again, it would be too soon and she certainly wouldn't stop anyone from attacking the bastard.

Tossing the last of her personal stuff into the cardboard box, she sat down in her office chair. It was a nice office, overlooking the city. She had grown up in the city, and was glad to have gotten assigned here when she did. She spun the chair around and looked out the window. Sometimes it was relaxing to just sit there and watch while everyone else rushed around. Today she had a spare minute to do so, so she indulged herself.

Reason #1 that she was having a bad week: Stress for switching jobs and work environments.

Reason #2 that she was having a bad week: Broke up with boyfriend of less then two months. Who just so happened to work at the same place she was going to be working on a consistent basis...in fact, there was a good chance they would be neighbors.

Reed Richards had offered her an apartment in the Baxter Building and she was considering it. It was bigger then her current apartment and it certainly was closer to work and possibly would allow more bringing the work home. It also gave her more access to the goings on at the lab that resided on the top two floors of the building along with Reed and Sue's apartment. Johnny and Ben (along with his girlfriend Alicia) had their apartments on the next floor where hers would be located. And the rent wasn't too bad either.

And Johnny Storm lived just across the hall. She didn't know really what had changed her mind about him, but when he had asked her to be his date for Reed and Susan's wedding, she had agreed. And they had been dating since then. Recently Johnny had decided he wanted to get a little more serious then they had been and she hadn't been ready for it. This had lead to this morning when they had a big fight and somehow, they were no longer together. She wasn't sure who actually stated the words first, but they were final and she didn't know whether to be relieved, anxious or upset.

How do you admit to someone you're afraid of their superpower? That had been her own problem with the relationship. After getting to know him better, she had left behind the "narcissistic" part of her definition although he was still a little self absorbed every once and awhile. However, she hadn't minded it that much, and if she did she told him and he stopped, or at least attempted to do so. However she had always thought it wouldn't last, she supposed. Johnny wasn't known to have long lasting relationships and she figured sooner or later he would have ended it. Therefore she wasn't too worried about admitting her pyrophobia.

The only people who knew about her nearly paralyzing fear were her parents, General Heeder and her friend Maria who worked with her here. Maria had tried to help her over the years they had been stationed together to get over it, but to no luck so far. Granted, it was hard to get her to go anywhere near a fire, let alone close enough to one to break her fear. Her parents hadn't really done anything but encourage it and the General had ignored it.

She had never actually been near Johnny when he used any of his powers, and likely wouldn't unless Reed was doing some kind of checkup to see how their mutations were evolving. Which she figured she would not be needed for if she was needed for anything really. There was no need to make any of them aware of the fear she had.

"I can't believe you're leaving us," a voice came from the door. Frankie spun around to face the door and smiled at Maria Brutus, who stood leaning against the doorway. "Although I can forgive you as long as you invite me to your new place once and awhile so I can enjoy the scenery," she said teasing. It was well known around the office that Maria thought well of all the male members of the Fantastic Four and would not object to merely watching them. Reed Richards in particular.

"I may not move in there, you know. My apartment is just fine."

"Please." Maria rolled her eyes. "The apartment we saw the other day was a world away from your current apartment. Just the kitchen alone made my day. And it has real air conditioning, not just a window AC."

"Would you like to move in then?"

"Why, planning on using another apartment in that building?" Maria asked raising an eyebrow as she sat on the desk.

"Johnny and I broke up this morning," she replied, knowing just what Maria was referring to.

"Why?"

"He wanted to make it official...instead of casual dates, actually be a couple."

"And that's a problem because?"

"I wasn't ready for that kind of relationship."

"Why on earth not? You're not dating anyone, he's not dating anyone. You haven't dated much of anyone in the years I have known you so I know there isn't someone whom you're emotionally attached to that broke your heart or anything." Maria paused and then stared pointedly down at Frankie. "This isn't about the fact that he can turn himself into a ball of flame is it?" When Frankie didn't respond, Maria sighed and shook her head. "Frankie, you decided to stay out of any serious relationship from the start because of that didn't you? You don't want to get seriously involved because you're afraid that one day you'll have to admit that deep down the boy scares you to death because he can turn into a fireball."

"There is nothing wrong with that."

"Yes, there is, but I'm not going to argue it with you," she said in a saddened tone. "Almost done packing?"

"Yeah. I'll be ready in a few minutes, even though I have the entire day before I have to leave."

"Well, that means plenty of time for cake!"

Victor Von Doom was angry. In the past three years he had lost a fiancée, been turned into a metal superman, been turned into a metal statue, been given another chance, got kicked across the planet and sunk into the bottom of the ocean. It hadn't taken him long to get out of the ocean. He still had some loyal employees who searched for him and found him before he drowned. He still could, though it took much longer then the average human.

He had documents pulled up on his desk of all those who were involved in the release of the Silver Surfer, and ultimately the Fantastic Four. From what his few loyal employees had gathered for him, it was mostly the doing of the four themselves. However there were a few officers that were in positions where they might have stopped them. He had already taken care of the General. The next person on the list was the aide…Capitan Raye.

He remembered little of her, not taking much notice to her. He had been more attentive to the General who could get him where he needed to be. But he did remember that she hadn't been quite friendly with Johnny Storm, although if he read the papers right, that had changed.

The papers in front of him gave him simple information. Her real name was Francis Elizabeth Raye, daughter of Thomas Raye, stepdaughter of Dr. Phineas Horton. 29 years old, Air Force Captain. Tall, blonde, blue eyed. Born and raised in New York, and was currently based there. Soon to be discharged for a civilian position between the government and military and Fantastic Four Inc.

Arsonphobiaic due to childhood accident-induced trauma.

He smiled to himself and motioned to his assistant Leonard who stood in the corner watching him as he read the papers in front of him.

"Get me a flight to New York. I have an idea."

Reed and Sue were working in the lab when Johnny walked in and it was easy for both of them to see he was slightly agitated. However, both knew better then to ask him. He would either spill about what was bothering him, or he wouldn't. If they asked, there was a good chance he'd choose the later, especially if it was particularly serious problem.

"Well, it appears Frankie and I are no longer together," he commented as he threw himself on the couch nearby and started to flip through the channels on the TV. "She thinks we are going to fast." He said it like it didn't matter, but Sue could tell that it did regardless. However, she had also gotten to know Frankie in the last couple of months and had an idea as to why Frankie didn't want to go as fast as Johnny, did…which probably wasn't fast at all considering what she had seen.

"You two had a fight?" She asked, bringing her laptop with her into the living room. She and Reed were working on an intranet for the members that would allow them to do projects together without involving the rest of the staff. Basically to give them a little more privacy. It had actually been Johnny's idea after a few of their projects leaked out to the public. Frankie, who had experience in computer security, had given a few tips and Sue and Reed were now designing the new programs that would put it in place.

"If you want to call it that," he said, continuing to flip through the channels. "It was more her saying she thought we were going to fast. I wasn't allowed really to say anything at all."

"Did you try calling her later?"

"Yes, a couple of times but she's either not answering or her phone's dead."

"Well, are you going to help us move her out of her old office later today?"

"I was planning on it, but given certain events of this morning, it may not be a good idea."

"Well, you should come and the two of you could talk while we take out the boxes and what not to the car." Sue honestly hoped they would work it out. She wondered if the stress of the last couple of months had finally gotten to Frankie. After all she had dealt with her mentor and good friend being killed in a violent matter, being grilled by her superiors for her actions, and then being told she gets a promotion, only its not a true promotion but one that takes her out of the armed forces. It made Sue slightly angry at the thought. They claimed it was because they felt her being non-military would be an asset, but really it was just the good guys in charge finding a way to keep the bad guys from trying to get her fired for losing the board.

The fact that it had been these 'superiors' who had authorized Victor's involvement in the case and therefore they are more at fault then Frankie didn't seem to matter.

"We'll see," Johnny said at last.