Author's note: *Sigh* Well, I was trying to finish all of my in-progress stories before I posted a new one, but I pretty much gave up when I got this idea. I'm pretty excited to share it with you! Please enjoy it!
"I don't understand. I'm happy in the job I have now, why are you moving me?"
"You have proven to be exactly what we're looking for, Dr. Crane."
"I really think you must be making a mistake. I'm not that sort of person."
"But you are," Agent Ellis said. "More than you know. You've been through all the training; you know what we do. You look like the average person, and I know you'll be capable of more than you can imagine as time passes. You underestimate yourself, Dr. Crane. Besides, we know of someone who can take your place, and we're running low on field agents."
Niles sighed. He couldn't believe this was happening. Just a few minutes ago, he had been the psychiatrist for the agents, and now he was an agent. A spy.
"Well, I suppose I don't have much of a choice. I'll have to take your word for it." He reached out and shook Agent Ellis's hand, and she smiled.
"Welcome, Agent Crane."
Crimsontree Publishing hardly ever hired, never accepted manuscripts, and didn't publish anything. Crimsontree Publishing wasn't anything. It was a façade, an empty cover for the agency that had no name. It had offices all around the world under false names that all sounded similar: Creamlife Packaging, Pinksun Technologies, Goldroot Fabrics. They were small places that no one much paid attention to and no one ever had a reason to visit, which made it perfect for its overall goal: total and complete secrecy.
Niles had enjoyed being a psychiatrist there for a few years now, and he still didn't understand why they had chosen him to be an agent. It made no sense to him. Yet he had no excuse not to do it, and he wasn't about to quit. So he decided to try as best he could.
And he did. The next few weeks he was given training about how to be in the field and how to act in the field. He was told how to use certain weapons and use expensive tools, and even though he was terrible with all of them, he did his best to remember their purposes.
A month passed, and it was decided that Niles was finally ready.
That night he went home, and as he poured himself a glass of sherry and sat down on the couch, he picked up the phone and called Frasier. After exchanging small talk, Niles finally said, "Frasier, they say I'm ready. They say I can start tomorrow and go on my first mission next week." He sounded like a small child as he spoke.
"Niles, do you really think you'll be any good at this? The image of you being a spy is…almost humorous."
"Perhaps so, but the more I get into it the more fascinating it gets. I'm beginning to think that Agent Ellis was correct, I am going to be good at this."
"All right, then."
"Although, it does raise a few concerns in my mind."
"Like…"
"Like how on earth I am going to be able to use weapons and all of those gadgets they assign me."
"Don't worry Niles, I don't think they're used all that often."
Frasier also worked as a psychiatrist, but for a different branch. That was how Niles had gotten into the whole agency, by way of family. His father was a part of it, as was his mother.
"I certainly hope so. Also, you know how terrible I am at sports and much of anything…physical."
"You won't go on missions where you're chased by criminals right away, Niles. You'll work your way into those. They'll start you off slow. Don't make me tell you this, you already know."
"I do know it all, Frasier, but now it's different. I haven't even told you the part I'm most nervous about."
"What's that?"
"They're…sending over a partner for me. With my luck, I'll get some cocky, know-it-all muscular type who will want nothing to do with me."
"Now, you don't know that. Niles, all in all I don't think you have a very positive attitude and therein lies the problem. Be optimistic."
"Thank you, Frasier," Niles said, not quite sure if he could follow his brother's advice or not.
The next morning, he rose bright and early, put on his usual attire of a tie and jacket, then drove to the Crimsontree building where his authority was waiting for him. "Good morning, Agent Crane. Ready to begin?" asked Agent Ellis.
"I…yes, I do believe I'm ready."
"Terrific. I need you to come into my office first and fill out some paperwork."
Agent Ellis's office was so clean that everything shone slightly, and it smelled like paper and the cinnamon candle she kept on her desk. She explained what the papers meant and Niles signed them faithfully, and she tucked them away in a manila folder that on the tab read:
CRANE, NILES
WORK DETAIL
CRIMSONTREE BRANCH
Niles had seen that folder before, in fact he could remember Agent Ellis making the label herself when he had first came to work here. He had sat in this very chair, only that time she had lit a candle that smelled like fresh berries. Why do I even remember that? Ah yes, scent goes hand in hand with memory.
"Agent Crane? Did you hear me?"
For a moment, Niles looked up at Agent Ellis and remembered what it was he was actually doing. Her face was a fresh sort of face, sharp perhaps, with small, precise features. She had red hair just past her shoulders, yet no freckles, and she dressed practically. She was friendly, outgoing, and in love with being neat and clean. Niles had always liked her.
"Uh, no, pardon me," said Niles. "What were you going to say?"
"We're done here. I suppose it's time I introduced you to your new partner. She was just transferred her from the London branch."
She? London?
"Follow me, I think she's waiting in the East Wing lobby if I remember correctly." Agent Ellis tucked a lock of loose hair behind her ear and began to stroll down the hallway. Niles was ever curious, yet ever frightened. He didn't know what to do with his hands, or his eyes for that matter, so he stared at the floor and kept his hands attached to his side. His heart beat in his chest. He knew they were in the East Wing lobby now, he could tell by the color of the granite floor.
Suddenly, he heard Agent Ellis speak. "Agent Crane, I'd like for you to meet your new partner, Agent Daphne Moon."