Title: Inspector and Deputy

Fandom: Inspector Gadget

Summary: Based off Aline Riva's IG Trilogy Series. Takes place between Man or Machine and Rise of the Lazarus. These are some short snippets in the daily lives of Inspector Gadget and his partner, Deputy Taylor Braydon. One-shots.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Taylor Braydon belongs to Aline Riva.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

"Today is the Day"

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

"Today is the day, Gadget!" announced a rather excited and beaming Taylor Braydon.

Inspector Gadget, whose eyes were currently focused on the road ahead of him, raised a dark eyebrow in curiosity. "And what would that day be exactly?"

Taylor turned in his seat to look at Gadget, a large grin on his features, making him have the appearance of an over-excited child. "Today is the day I'm going to make Chief Quimby smile at me!"

"Say what? You've lost your marbles, man!" exclaimed the Gadget Mobile before Gadget could open his mouth and respond.

Gadget gave him a skeptic frown. "That's not exactly what I had in mind when you said 'Today is the day'. Most people who say that would have…a bit more of a goal than that…."

"A LOT more of a goal! What kind of a goal is that?" demanded the Gadget Mobile as Gadget made a left and went to park into the Police station parking lot.

Taylor frowned, having hoped for better encouragements from his friends. "A GOOD one!" he fought back. "Chief Quimby NEVER smiles at me—"

"Taylor—"attempted Gadget, but he was cut off.

"I don't think he likes me a whole lot!" Taylor pressed on, running a hand through his blonde hair. Once the car came to a stop, Taylor opened his door and got out the second the car was to a stop.

"Gee, I wonder why" grumbled Gadget Mobile.

It had been three months since Taylor had started working with Gadget as Deputy Taylor Braydon and since the Riverton Bomber had been stopped, and so far, he was not making himself well-liked among the Police Station. Most of the other officers made fun of Taylor behind his back; sometimes right in front of him, though if Taylor noticed, he gave no reaction.

"How exactly do you plan to….make the Chief smile…?" was the question on Gadget's mind as he stepped out of the Gadget Mobile and walked around to the other side so that he was standing next to Taylor.

Taylor pulled his brown coat closer to his metallic arms and gave the inspector a satisfied smirk. "I'm going to do everything he tells me to do! I'm going to do everything perfect today! I'm going to catch speeders! Lots of them! He'll be so thrilled, he won't be able to help but smile at me!"

"Why is this important to you, Taylor? You know the chief isn't exactly the friendliest guy in the world. You shouldn't take it so personally" confided Gadget, opening up the door to the police station and letting Taylor step in first.

"Thank you!" said Taylor to Gadget's gesture. He then continued explaining. "I'm about to change that! Today is the day, Gadget! I'm gonna make Chief Quimby proud!"

"BRAYDON!" came the infuriated holler of Chief Quimby himself.

Both Gadget and Taylor gulped and took a step back, clearly intimidated by Quimby's fury. They hadn't even managed to take five steps inside yet. Other officers around them all looked on in worry, suddenly busying themselves and trying to act invisible. They didn't wish to share in the wrath.

Chief Quimby, wearing his uniform, minus his hat, walked down the stairs from where his office was and glared daggers at the Deputy. He marched over to Taylor, ignoring Gadget altogether.

"Yes, Chief?" squeaked Taylor, with a strained smile, placing his hands behind his back.

"Thanks to you, yesterday a man suspected of thievery of some local jewelry stores got away WHILE you were on watch! He escaped by highway; YOUR HIGHWAY! The first major crime we've had since the Riverton Bomber and you went and let him go without so much as turning on your lights!"

Taylor gulped, looking down at his feet. "I honestly didn't see any speeders yesterday, chief" he mumbled. "There were some questionable winds though…."

Chief Quimby turned purple in the face and began ranting, cursing, and basically chewing Taylor out for the whole police station to hear. Gadget just remained at his friend's side; his hands also clasped behind his back and listened as he stared before him.

In the middle of his own rant, Quimby turned and started pacing the area before them. While the chief was busy ranting and raving, Taylor leaned over to Gadget and whispered into his ear: "Perhaps today isn't the day after all….." he sighed miserably.

Gadget shook his head sympathetically.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Author's Note: Just a quick little snippet in the daily life of Inspector Gadget and his partner, Deputy Taylor Braydon. Taylor belongs to the lovely Aline Riva.