(Most characters are part of the Burn Notice universe)
BURN NOTICE
No Hidden Fi
Chapter 1
Fiona Glenanne hated check-ups at the doctor's office.
They had always seemed a waste of time. And right now she had other things on her mind. Lately she had been considering making an important, life-changing decision, something that concerned Michael.
And now everything had to be put on hold momentarily because of this visit.
Fi was not worried about seeing a doctor, for outside of missing a little sleep, she felt great.
The nurse had escorted her to the doctor's office and then shut the door behind her. Upon her entrance, Fi noted how her doctor looked so serious, as he peered above the opened file. He was the grandfatherly type, with white hair, pudgy body, and horned-rimmed glasses that he removed from his face as he viewed her.
Fi wondered why he wanted a private consultation with her.
The doctor knew Fi for quite a few years now, and privately categorized her as, well, different. She had originally been referred to him by former patient Michael Westen. Evidently, patient Westen led quite an most unconventional, dangerous life, if the doctor were to believe half the things Mrs. Westen had told him during her examination.
At last Dr. Jones shut the file and looked directly at Fi.
"Well, Fiona," he stated, pleasantly plastering on a smile, "Upon reading the results of your examination you truly are the picture of health…"
Yet his voice slightly faltered at the end, puzzling her.
"And?" she pushed him to continue.
He cleared his throat.
"Before I proceed, let me ask you this..." he seemed to be stalling for time, "is there…uh, anything…unusual going on in your life?"
Fi couldn't fathom what he was getting at.
She shrugged her shoulders as she answered casually, "I moved in with Michael at his loft recently."
He nodded agreeably, "Congratulations...although...a move like that can bring on a certain amount of stress..."
Fi's expression did not look pleased with that comment.
"We're HAPPY!" Fi insisted roughly, "HAP-PY! And anyone who says otherwise will have their heads blown off. Literally."
For most people, Dr. Jacob Jones would have corrected them by telling them the word is, "figuratively", not "literally". But knowing Fi all these years, he knew not to discount what she said.
"Well, I can see by your gentle tone that you are extremely happy.." he stated drolly.
The doctor then took out a cloth and began wiping his glasses. Fi knew there was something he wasn't telling her…like…like…
She leaned forward, expecting the worst.
"Am I dying?"
She asked it like a statement.
His head shot up as he exclaimed, "Heavens no!"
He now replaced the glasses on his nose.
It was something far worse, Fi thought, a frown appearing on her forehead.
"Doctor, I'm pregnant, aren't I?"
Fi sat at the edge of the chair, waiting.
One corner of the doctor's mouth turned up, "Now, Fiona, that wouldn't be such bad news now, would it?"
His grin was wiped away when he saw how thin she had pursed her lips.
"Well? " Fi asked impatiently.
Oh boy...The doctor had trouble wording it in a way that she would take seriously.
"Fiona," he began gently, " even though you are in excellent health physically, I do note a certain degree of...how you say... depression. You're not quite the same as you were last year. Anything in particular troubling you?"
He watched as Fi breathed out a sigh of relief, "So I'm not pregnant? I just have depression?"
As expected, she was not getting the seriousness of the matter.
"Fiona…please…depression is something you should not take lightly!"
She blinked at the unexpectedness of his statement. A myriad of thoughts seemed to run through her head.
At last she concluded, "Hmmm... now that I think about it…I haven't been sleeping well and I think it's because I haven't seen a lot of action lately…"
Dr. Jones found that hard to believe, coming from someone as attractive as Fiona.
"…and, uh, by action, do you mean in the bedroom?"
Fi sent him a cold look that would have frozen penguins, "Certainly not, doctor!"
She looked ready to challenge him to a duel.
He waited for Fi to continue, but it didn't look as if she would. He always knew her as someone who said very little but knew exactly what she wanted.
"Then, Fiona, let me make a suggestion," he advised, "It's important everyone lives up to their potential. If your life lacks…action…you might want to insert some more excitement in your life. I do not want to prescribe medication at this point, but something needs to be changed in your lifestyle. Otherwise, a kind of dry rot will set in, if you will...causing an eventual disintegration of personality."
He was prepared for denial from Fi. That's what usually happened with his patients. Instead, she had the exact opposite reaction.
Fiona's entire face lit up.
"Actually, doctor, I've been thinking along that very same line myself lately!" she smiled at last, "Thank you, you've made my decision so much easier!"
She almost bounced out of her chair.
Dr. Jones scowled.
"Uh, Fi, listen... by seeking...excitement...you don't plan on doing anything risky or life-threatening, do you? Nothing, like, oh, I don't know... skydiving, or mountain climbing...or god forbid...bull running?"
Fi made a dismissive noise.
"Oh, nothing like that, doctor," Fi shook her head adamantly, "No, those things do not interest me at all!"
The doctor was relieved that he had not aided in having her do something foolish.
"Good to hear, Fiona," he nodded, "so what exactly is this plan of action you plan to take then?"
Her eyes were smiling, "I want to be a spy!"
.
.
The following morning, Fi drove to the CIA field office.
Surprisingly, there wasn't anything discreet about the building. It had signs everywhere indicating what went on in the building. She was surprise one of the signs didn't say, "Good spies need only to apply."
The building itself was enormous, with its various floors of glass that seemed to scream for attention.
Fi was in a glorious mood, knowing what exactly she was going to do.
She drove up to the guardhouse. Because of Michael, she has had previous dealings with Agent Dani "Kim" Pearce, so she cited that name as the person she came to see, although she had made no appointment. After checking with Agent Pearce's office, they issued her a visitor's badge. It had been so easy for her to walk through the CIA gates and guards.
Instead of heading to Agent Pearce's office, however, she stopped one floor below and headed towards the office printed with the words "CIA Recruitment Center" on its door.
The room she was ushered in proved to be small, bright and impersonal. It contained only chairs, and one table with magazines on top of it. Fi deduced correctly that it was a repository for visitors who penetrated the CIA walls without invitation.
But soon, she would be comfortably walking down these halls as a CIA operative, she thought happily.
That would be one more thing she could share with Michael. He was always leaving her for highly sensitive missions. Now they could do assignments together or better yet, she thought, she would lead the mission herself.
Fi figured if she can't beat them, why not join them?
And the best part was that everything she would be doing would actually be legal.
She walked up to the receptionist. The middle-aged receptionist was typing and barely looked up from her desk.
"Yes?" She asked, before returning to her keyboard.
"I'd like to be a CIA agent," Fi announced.
That got the woman's attention. She stopped typing pushed her glasses up, and peered at Fi.
"Excuse me, did I hear you right?" the woman had a slightly stunned look on her face, "Y-you're applying for a job here?"
"Are you hard of hearing? Yes, so I will see the director now," Fi remained standing.
The receptionist gave Fi a dismissive look, "You may be reading too many action/adventure novels, Sweetie, because that is not how we recruit. But thank you for coming in and good luck with your future job search."
Then she buisily went back to her typing.
Did this receptionist really think she could just ignore me this way? Fi thought.
"Tell the director that Fiona Glenanne would like to speak to him."
When the office worker looked up again, Fi picked up one of the yellow #2 pencils and crisply broke it in two before replacing it back on the receptionist's desk. Then she picked up another pencil and held it.
That certainly made a statement.
The receptionist looked at Fi with large eyes, glanced over at the broken pencil and looked at Fi again, "And how do you spell your last name, Miss?"
Fi smiled, already enjoying the welcome she was receiving.
She felt her depression beginning to ebb away already.
.
.
Fi was shown into a rather nondescript office.
At the desk sat a distinguished-looking older male, who was reading some information off his computer. From the way he was reading the screen, it was probably some missions Fi had done with Michael, for he had a look of awe on his face. He looked at the petite woman in front of him and then back on the screen.
Finally he got up from his desk and approached her.
"Hello, Miss Glenanne, I'm Recruitment Director Guy Boysen," He carried himself like a man capable of classifying and disposing people at will.
He briskly shook her hand. But afterwards, he remained standing, as if he felt this would be a short meeting.
"So," he began, sounding very professional, "I was informed that you have in the past, worked in a civilian capacity with Agent Pearce. Somehow, you've been misdirected here. Her office is directly above ours. Allow me to direct you to the correct division..."
"No, this is the place" stated Fi confidently. She then leaned in and with a low voice announced, "I'm here to be a spy and would like an assignment by the end of the day."
His jaw dropped, "I-I beg your pardon?"
"I'm sure you are in need of agents. When can I start?" She tried to give him an "employee" smile.
Mr. Boysen looked oddly stricken, "Uh, we simply do not recruit spies this way, Miss Glenanne. I appreciate your enthusiasm but..."
"You don't recruit spies this way? Then what is the purpose of this office? " Fi wanted to know.
"Miss Glenanne, " Director Boysen tried to make it clear to her, "What I am trying to tell you is that when it comes to hiring CIA agents, usually we go looking for you."
"So I've just made it easier for you," she sensibly stated, "Here I am! How efficient of me! I can see already that I will be one of your top spies!"
"No you're not getting it! T-this is highly irregular!" blustered Director Boysen, quite flabbergasted.
But Fi seemed to not be listening carefully.
"Will I have to start as a junior agent?" she asked,"because I have experience, you know...demolitions, weaponry... I could demonstrate either one for you, if you will allow me to go back to my car…"
"Your car? N-not necessary, I assure you…" he said, not sure if she was joking or not, "Uh...Miss Glenanne...could you hold on for just a second?"
Fi smiled as she noted the sweat beading on his forehead. She liked how this was all turning out and couldn't imagine why she hadn't thought of this idea sooner.
"Alright," she complied, "a second...but not much more...I should inform you that I have a nail appointment this afternoon, so I'd like to be hired and placed in an assignment before then."
Boysen had been trained by the best to not let the opponent know what he are thinking, but it was hard to keep a poker face in this instance. This situation was beyond anything he had never encountered. He took out his handkerchief to blot his forehead, but new sweat beads reappeared almost immediately.
Walking back to his desk, he picked up his phone and immediately dialed Agent Pearce.
.
.
Hello, I am so happy to be back! It feels as though I've been gone forever! After the silliness of my "Seymour" story, I approached this one more seriously (slightly!). It is more plot driven and obviously features Fi. I hope you enjoy it!
Please review