Author's Note: New story! Haha hopefully you guys aren't sick of my writing yet. I have a vague idea where I'm going with this, but nothing is set in stone so this should be an interesting journey. Also, because this story isn't really planned out, updates may take a while: just a warning! This story is AU but I am going to incorporate various elements from the show. This chapter sort of follows 2x23 "The Master Plan" but I will stray more from canon as this story goes on. Constructive criticism is appreciated but please no flames.
Disclaimer: I do not own Parks and Recreation in any way; I'm just a fan
Chapter One: First Day Blues
"Pawnee is LITERALLY the most beautiful city I've ever seen!" Chris declared enthusiastically and Ben barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It was the same routine in each new place and quite frankly he was getting sick of it. In actuality, Pawnee was not the most beautiful city Ben had ever seen; it looked exactly like the other dozen or so they had previously visited. There were plain houses, manicured lawns, small stores, and overall it seemed like a nice place. It had that "Americana suburbia" appeal but it wasn't anything special.
"Don't you agree, Ben? Isn't this the loveliest city you've ever laid your eyes upon?" The man in question gave a half hearted nod; it was easier to placate his friend than it was to disagree. Ben genuinely liked Chris but at times he was sorely tempted to punch his friend.
The pair had arrived in Pawnee the night before and they were driving to City Hall to start work. Ben had familiarized himself with the city's budget reports before they got to Pawnee and he saw that it was in serious economic distress. No doubt layoffs and budget cuts would be necessary and Ben really wasn't looking forward to delivering the unhappy news. He supposed that there were some evils that couldn't be avoided.
They reached City Hall at quarter to eight and Chris affectionately clapped Ben on the shoulder; he always did that before they started work in a new city.
"We're going to have a wonderful day while we help Pawnee!" Chris said cheerfully but Ben knew the truth. Chris was going to have a fantastic day while he dealt with highly emotional and angry government employees. However, Ben was willing to handle volatile workers if it meant that he actually helped a city. His job was often stressful and frustrating, but it was also incredibly rewarding. He liked knowing that even if people hated him for it, he had given a city a fresh new start.
"I'm sure we will," Ben replied, trying to humor him, and smiled. Chris returned the grin and then they entered City Hall. Their first appointment was with the mayor so they headed towards his office. The secretary, a middle aged woman with auburn hair, nervously stared at them while they waited. Ben didn't mind; he was used to it. The meeting went surprisingly well and he was relieved. The mayor understood that dramatic change would occur in the upcoming weeks and seemed to accept their presence. Ben was relieved that he and Chris had at least some support.
When they were done, the duo started to meet with all of the departments. They wasted no time in their mission and Ben and Chris stuck to their normal practice. They worked well together; Chris softened the blow by being exceptionally charming and positive, while Ben calmly delivered the hard, gritty facts. There was a wide assortment of reactions. Some had seen the writing on wall and were prepared for the news, so they were easier to handle. Others had been blindsided and were stunned or hysterical. It was tough for Ben to watch the responses; he wanted to offer comfort but he couldn't lie to them either. Ben didn't want to lay off people or create hardship, but sometimes those were necessary actions to save a city's finances. He didn't CAUSE the problems; he merely tried to find a solution.
By three o'clock in the afternoon Ben was exhausted and his head throbbed painfully. The first day was always the hardest; people tended to be upset, belligerent, and often they shouted verbal abuse. It was draining and all he wanted to do was curl up in bed until sleep overtook him. Their last department for the day was Parks and Recreation and Ben was relieved. He was eager to finish up, grab an early dinner, and take the rest of the night to just relax. Ben and Chris entered the department, gathered the employees, and then Chris started his spiel. Ben stood in the background and took a moment to quietly evaluate the employees of the Parks and Recreation department. It was a small group, which wasn't that surprising, and they all looked at them in wide eyed trepidation.
As he was taking in the group, Ben noticed a blond haired woman standing in the center of the group. She really was quite pretty, with vivid cornflower blue eyes, full lips, and smooth skin. Her hair was in soft curls and her outfit showed off her slim figure. His eyes involuntarily trailed over her form and his stomach dropped when he spotted the glint of a gold wedding band on her left hand. Ben was oddly disappointed to learn that she was married but brushed aside the feeling. He was being ridiculous. He was startled when he realized that Chris was almost done his speech; Ben had completely lost himself for a moment. When the other man finished and left, he took control of the meeting.
"Thank you everyone for your cooperation. Chris has some other meetings to attend to so if it is convenient I would like to see the Director and Deputy Director in the conference room." The blond woman and middle aged mustached man glanced at each other before stepping in front of the group.
"Hi, I'm Leslie Sanderson, the Deputy Director, and this is Ron Swanson, the Director," the woman introduced happily. Ben thought it was odd that the Director wasn't taking charge of the meeting but he supposed it didn't matter.
"It's nice to meet you both but we have a lot to discuss." Her expression fell slightly at his tone and she stiffened. For some reason Ben felt guilty at the sight and he tried to give her a reassuring smile. It didn't work; he could tell that she was extremely nervous. The three entered the large conference room and settled around the wooden table. Ben silently began perusing the financial statements of the department while Leslie tapped her fingers on the desk and Ron calmly relaxed in his chair.
"I wanted to talk to you both today because we need to make some serious economic cuts," Ben said bluntly. "Each department needs to make drastic changes and I would like to hear your suggestions." The two stared at him for a moment in silence before Ron leant across the table to give him a hearty handshake.
"Good for you son!" Ron said and his moustache twitched gleefully.
"Chris said we only had to undergo light tweaking," Leslie mentioned feebly.
"Because that's nicer to hear than we have to gut the budget," Ben answered wearily. The older man giggled merrily at his response and the blond's mouth dropped open.
"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to be honest," he continued. "Pawnee is in serious trouble and that means that in the upcoming weeks everyone will have to make some difficult decisions."
"I'm very pleased to hear this," Ron said, a self satisfied smirk on his face, and Ben furrowed his brow in confusion. He had seen a lot of different responses but he had never met someone who was actually delighted about budget cuts.
"Anyway, I think it's clear that an employee needs to be laid off. Hmmm….a prime candidate is a man named Jerry Gergich." He looked towards both of them and waited for their reactions.
"No! Absolutely not! There has to be another way!" she protested. "We don't have to start cutting jobs!"
"I'm afraid we don't have a choice," Ben responded.
"I'm not going to start laying off our entire staff," Leslie huffed.
"I'm not suggesting that," Ben countered sardonically. Why did everyone automatically blow everything out of proportion? "Although it may be necessary to lay off certain employees. I know that this is hard but every department has to do this. I'm not the bad guy here; I'm actually trying to help."
"You may have the best intentions in the world, but people's lives are going to be destroyed because of you. How do you live with yourself?" She glared at him, accusation clear in her eyes, and Ben couldn't look away. He was trapped in her gaze and Leslie's cheeks flushed angrily.
"Leslie," Ron murmured softly. The blond broke the connection to look at the other man and she sighed.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I shouldn't have said that. But I refuse to lay of Jerry because he is a vital employee of the Parks and Recreation department." Leslie's chin was jutted out, silently challenging him, and the sight made him angry.
"I didn't cause these problems," Ben said stiffly, trying to mask his annoyance. He was sick of hearing that Pawnee's financial troubles were his fault. "But I WILL fix them. It's my job and I expect your full cooperation."
"Please," she begged. "These are good people. I've lived here my entire life and this department has become my family. You can't fire them! I know that you're new to Pawnee but this town is special.
"No it's not." Ben regretted the words the instant they left his mouth. Leslie stared at him, eyes wide with shock and hurt, and he cringed. Ben knew that he was being an ass and he wanted to apologize and promise that everything would be fine. But the words caught in his throat and he found himself standing up.
"There's a lot of work to be done and you need to be prepared. I'll be in touch soon to discuss further decisions regarding the Parks and Recreation department," he said and he left the office without another word.
XxXx
Ben already hated the Pawnee Super Suites Motel. It was run down, cramped, and the room temperature apparently liked to randomly change. Everything about it was uncomfortable, but Ben figured that he could put up with it for a couple of weeks. They weren't going to be in Pawnee for too long and perhaps their next accommodations would be a little more comfortable.
He tried to read A Clash of Kings for a while but he couldn't concentrate. His mind kept wandering to Leslie Sanderson and her passionate plea to spare her department. She was…interesting. He had never met someone with such an intense, direct gaze and truth be told it had been rather unsettling. A sharp knock on his door broke Ben's train of thoughts. He placed the book on the small nightstand and went to the door and looked through the peephole. Chris's smiling face looked back at him and Ben reluctantly opened the door.
"Hello Ben! I came over because I was informed that there is a lively club called the Snakehole Lounge where all the locals go to hang out. I was planning on going there tonight and thought you should tag along. It is the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with the people of Pawnee," Chris said as he stepped into the room.
"Not interested," Ben immediately replied. As much as he disliked his room, he knew that he would hate a crowded club even more. Chris pouted at his response.
"Nonsense, Benjamin! It's too beautiful a night to sit in your hotel room and do nothing! Let's go out!"
"Seriously, I'm not in the mood. Thanks for the offer but I don't feel like going," Ben said resignedly. Chris sighed and shook his head mournfully. "Ben, you're LITERALLY one of the best men I've ever met, but you're holding yourself back. Don't be afraid of making connections with other people; it'll be good for you. If you change your mind, I'll be at the club." The other man gave him a wistful smile and left. Ben knew that his friend was trying to help him but he didn't need it. He was doing okay and there was nothing wrong with that. Ben flopped onto the bed and mindlessly flipped through channels. There wasn't anything good on but he didn't care. After a while, he fell into a fitful sleep.
XxXx
Ben blearily woke up at six in the morning and stumbled towards the bathroom. His body felt strange, as if was out of sync or something, and Ben didn't like it. He didn't know what was going on with him. First days were usually tough but generally he could handle them. Something about Pawnee was throwing him off of his game. A pair of blue eyes flashed in his mind but he ignored the thought. Ben took a shower and relaxed under the spray of the hot water. Today would be better; this job was just like every other and he would do whatever he had to. When Ben was done, he got dressed and went to Chris's room. It didn't take long for the other man to get ready and the pair headed to work.
Ben entered his office but stopped in his tracks when he noticed a white Styrofoam box waiting for him on his desk. What on earth? Curious, he slowly approached his desk and opened the container. There were two large golden waffles and a small note inside and Ben gawked at the contents. Who got him waffles? Chris didn't have a chance and he was sure no one else would want to treat him to breakfast. Ben picked up the scrap of paper and quickly read the note.
I know you don't think Pawnee is special, but you're wrong, and I'm going to prove it. Be prepared ;)
~Leslie Sanderson
Just some small points: 1) Leslie's last name isn't a typo; there's a reason it's Sanderson, 2) the book Ben is reading is the second book in the series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. I'm sort of excited about this story so I hope you guys like it! Thanks for reading! Please review!
