This little story was originally posted on Tumblr, but I'm bringing it over here in honor of AU week.
The office is buzzing with activity as Myka finally locks her computer screen to stand from her desk, donning a blazer over her crisp button down shirt. She takes a moment to pull on the blazer, adjusting the sleeves and sweeping brunette curls from the collar. She knows she's stalling. She has a meeting with Assistant Director Nielsen in less than ten minutes and her stomach is already beginning to knot with anticipation. She's never met the man before, but his reputation is a formidable one. She can only speculate why he's asked to meet with her today.
She makes her way down the long hallway taking little notice of those she passes, her focus intent on the office at the end of the hall. Raising her hand to knock on the door, she pauses to take a deep breath, finally rapping her knuckles on the wood to exude a confidence she doesn't quite feel.
"Come in," a voice answers the knock.
Myka steps inside the office, quickly closing the door behind her. AD Nielsen sits behind a large desk and beside him sits a black woman who stares unflinchingly at Myka as she steps further inside but doesn't introduce herself.
"Agent Bering, thank you for coming on such short notice," AD Nielsen greets her. "Please take a seat," he directs her to a chair in front of his desk. "I see you've been with us just over two years," he says glancing over an open folder.
"Yes Sir."
"You studied medicine but chose not to practice, is that right?"
"Yes, much to my father's dismay," Myka sighs.
"How then did you come to work for the FBI?"
"I was recruited out of medical school and just felt the FBI was a place where I could distinguish myself," she smiles.
"And so you have, and will continue to do so," Nielsen says. "Which brings me to the reason you're here now. Are you familiar with an agent named HG Wells?"
"Yes I am," Myka nods.
"Oh? How so?" Nielsen asks, bushy eyebrows rising in surprise.
Myka smiles at the sight. "Only by reputation. She's an Oxford educated psychologist, generally thought of as the best analyst in the violent crimes section."
"She was," Nielsen agrees somewhat reluctantly. "It seems Agent Wells has developed a consuming devotion to an unassigned project outside the bureau mainstream. Are you familiar with the so-called X-files?"
"I believe they have to do with unexplained phenomena," Myka answers carefully.
"More or less," Nielsen assents. "The reason you're here Agent Bering is we want you to assist Wells on these X-files. You will write field reports on your activities along with your observations on the validity of the work."
Myka contemplates what Nielsen and apparently the still silent woman beside him are asking of her. It sounds like she's being pulled from her current position to babysit a fellow agent, to curb her eccentricities. "Sir, am I to understand you want me to expose the X-files?"
"Agent Bering, we are trusting you to make the proper scientific analysis, that is all," Nielsen replies. "Contact Agent Wells shortly. We look forward to seeing your reports."
Myka knows a dismissal when she hears one. With a slight nod of head and a parting glance at the woman beside Nielsen, Myka leaves the office and any further discussion behind her.
"She isn't pleased with this assignment," Nielsen says adjusting his glasses. "She looked as if she was being punished," he shakes his head.
"Her pleasure isn't our concern, Arthur. The Regents agreed that she is the obvious choice to discredit the X-files. I grant you Agent Bering no doubt had different plans regarding her career, but working one case with Agent Wells and I'm sure any displeasure she feels now will dissipate. Above all else, Agent Bering is a woman who seeks knowledge in whatever capacity that may entail. Agent Wells is becoming increasingly heedless in her ways with complete disregard for protocol. As a partner, Agent Bering will steady her and in the process, she will soon discover the X-files are anything but a punishment but see them for the endless wonder they are," the woman smiles.
Myka takes the elevator down to the basement floor. The doors part to reveal a dimly lit hallway, deserted except for shelves of forgotten case files. There is a light at the end of the hall, emanating from what Myka knows to be Wells' office. Taking another deep breath, Myka resolves to make the best of this surprising situation she finds herself in.
Knocking on the door she hears the woman's English accent sing song, "Sorry, no one here but the FBI's most unwanted."
Myka pushes open the door, her first cursory glance into the room finds Agent Wells with her back turned as she studies photographs at a desk. Myka takes the opportunity before Wells acknowledges her to study the surroundings of the office. There are case files covering every flat surface and there are odd artifacts all over the room, Myka only guessing at their origins. Photographs also adorn nearly every surface of the walls; varied pictures of the cosmos, lightening bolts, grainy photos of the Loch Ness monster and bigfoot, a poster of a UFO with the caption 'I want to believe,' photographs of Einstein and Tesla among so many others.
Myka could spend hours just studying all the photographs, however she isn't given the chance as Agent Wells suddenly looks up from her work, a pencil holding her dark hair in a loose bun, no doubt to keep it out of her way, the sleeves of her button-down blouse rolled up over elbows to serve the same purpose.
Myka smiles attempting to put aside any reservations she may have working with the other woman and steps forward, hand outstretched in introduction. "Agent Wells, I'm Myka Bering. I've been assigned to work with you," she says as the other woman takes her hand a firm grip.
"Well isn't it nice to be suddenly so highly regarded? Who did you annoy to get stuck with this detail, Bering?" Wells regards her.
"Actually, I'm looking forward to working with you. I've heard a lot about you."
"Really? I was under the impression that you were sent to spy on me," she smirks.
"If you have any doubt about my qualification or credentials…" Myka begins to argue.
Agent Wells interrupts her. "I'm well aware of your qualifications, Agent Bering. You're a medical doctor, you teach at the Academy and received your undergraduate degree in physics, is that accurate?"
"That's right," Myka answers standing a little taller as Agent Wells stands from her desk, removing the pencil from her hair so that it tumbles over her shoulders. Myka continues to watch her run a hand through that hair, attempting to smooth it back from any disarray. "You don't think my background qualifies me for this position?" she prods.
"It's not a matter of qualification," Wells explains. It's just that what I deal in, the rules of physics don't often apply."
Myka wrinkles her nose at this. "The rules of physics apply to everything," she states, subconsciously stepping closer to the other woman.
Wells' dark eyes shine with something of amusement. "Do they?" she asks stepping forward. "Tell me Agent Bering, do you believe in the existence of time travelers?"
Myka frowns. "You mean extraterrestrials?"
"I believe that is the more common name for them. Certainly they are entities not of this earth."
"Then logically I would have to say no. Given the distances needed to travel in the far reaches of space the energy requirements would exceed a space craft's capabilities…"
Agent Wells sighs. "Conventional wisdom," she brushes aside Myka's explanation. "When convention and science offer us no answers, might we finally turn to the fantastic as an explanation?"
"What I find fantastic is the notion that there are any answers beyond the realm of science. The answers are there. You just have to look for them," Myka insists.
"That's why they put the I in FBI," Wells smiles approvingly. "See you tomorrow morning Agent Bering, bright and early."
Myka walks to the doorway, turning back for a last glance at the infamous HG Wells, noticing the woman already absorbed in some case report, absently twisting her hair into another bun, placing the pencil through long strands to hold it in place. Myka smiles at the sight. The woman is intriguing to say the least. Perhaps this new assignment will be an enlightening one.