"There are many things to think about besides sex, but why bother?" Jared had often asked her. Her mind had been persistently attacking her all day, which wasn't unusual. But now, it was assaulting her with lustful contemplation, which definitely wasn't helping this situation.
She didn't want to be here, and falling for some cocky detective would only complicate things. I AM GOING BACK TO WASHINGTON,she told herself, ignoring the heat that was spreading from her head to her toes as his large hand engulfed hers. She silently screamed at the universe,I just want a normal life, is that too much to ask?
What am I doing in New York? She wondered.Tom promised me Washington.Was it only two days ago that he had worked his powers of persuasion on her?
Tom was her boss, and he owed her. She had wanted to settle in Washington over 2 years ago, after a tough series of undercover jobs and the split with her partner, Jared. She had earned some downtime. But Tom was the kind of man that could sell ice to an Eskimo. Back then he had convinced her to take a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to see the country, courtesy of the FBI. "Tom, while many women might like to travel, and see the country, I doubt that many of them would like to spend the trip in extensive visits with serial killers," she spouted off. "Not just the killers Regan, the men who caught them too," he reminded her. And off she went, spending the next two years profiling the country's best profilers, and the men they caught. Robert Goren was her last interview before she began to write her report. She hadn't even asked him to talk to her yet.
Now the FBI wanted to send her in to fix the unfixable. They wanted a real, working partnership with the NYPD. They wanted tensions eased between the two organizations. It was like asking the kid to referee the fighting between Daddy and Mommy. She had grown up in New York, but had fallen in love with Washington D.C. during her college years. She was in her 30's and well aware that if she wanted kids, she had better decide, and stop playing super agent.
"But you will still BE in Washington," Tom had said, trying to convince her. He was a great boss, and a damn liar. "You will just commute to New York sometimes. Regan, this is a perfect match for your skills. You needed to interview Goren anyway right? Now you will be able to spend some time observing him." She smirked at that thought. Observing him. Oh, she had observed him all right. She had arrived at 1 Police Plaza, home of the NYPD, this morning with Agent O'dell, the man she was here to replace. They entered the elevator in silence. O'dell pushed the button for the eleventh floor. "Don't expect a warm greeting," he said snidely. "They think we are out to get them."
"I'm keeping an open mind," she replied, trying to sound positive.
Captain Deakins welcomed them to the Major Case Squad. He was not happy to have another influx from Washington, and he knew his staff wouldn't like it either, but he had been given strict orders to give this new agent access to what she needed. They went right into observation.
Detective Goren was in the interrogation room with a suspect. Well, actually, Detective Goren was dancing around interrogation with an obviously manic, homeless man. Alex Eames, Goren's partner, was already watching through the two way mirror.
O'dell let out a big, disapproving sigh. He was cloaked in that stiff-shirt attitude that everyone hated. O'dell, you Jackass, Regan thought, "if you had an ounce of tact, I would be sitting in an office in Washington right now, not here watching "The Goren Show", (as Deakins had put it).
But now was the time for diplomacy, she could bitch later, uh, she could "vent" later. ( "Watch your language Stabler," her boss had warned her before she left. Remember that you are there to calm things down, not to stoke the fire.")
She smiled and put on her game face. "Agent O'dell, I know that you are aware of how often we have tried to get our own agents to use personality mirroring in the way Detective Goren is using it right now. It is really impressive seeing the NYPD put it into action, huh? It is easy to see why Detectives Goren and Eames have had such success."
She smiled her most professional smile and looked around the room. O'dell seemed to be the only one who bought that line of crap. Eames looked at her with distrust. Deakins was wary, but seemed to be grateful she was getting O'dell off his back.
"I'm going to get some coffee," O'dell said as he left the room.
Regan turned her attention back to Detective Goren. He had given the homeless man doughnuts and come into the room. "He's not our guy."
"Detective Goren, meet FBI agent Regan Stabler, she is going to be working with us to build a new task force," Eames said with a smirk.
Goren gave Eames a knowing glance and turned toward Stabler, quickly observing her. Tall, nice figure, she looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place her. He held out his hand, and looked into her eyes. She had been told to expect him to be brilliant, and, well, unconventional.
What she didn't expect was that he would be so, so… statuesque, to put it eloquently. She didn't expect that he would be so well dressed ( did his shoes cost more than hers?), and she certainly didn't expect to have butterflies when she met him. Maybe I am coming down with the flu, she lied to herself.
"Uh, Agent Stabler?" Goren asked with raised eyebrows.
She snapped back to reality. "Oh, yes, it is nice to meet you as well, Detective Goren. And please, feel free to call me Regan." She silently wondered if she had pulled it off. Did she look like a confident FBI Agent, or a silly schoolgirl?
She couldn't read him. He smiled politely and looked into her eyes. Was she dreaming it, or did the eye contact and handshake between them last just a bit too long? Stop it, she said to herself. It is probably just the old "don't -show –weakness- by- breaking- eye-contact- or- handshake- first" routine. Damn it, who cares, I am supposed to be WORKING here.Goren grabbed a bottle of water, mumbled something to his partner ( did he say "lots of practice?") and the two of them strolled out of the room.
She sighed, and looked around. When had Deakins left? Here she was again, alone in a bleak gray room with a two way mirror. She got a bottle of water for herself, leaned back against the wall and tried to think about something besides... why bother?