Sentimental Gentlemen are not afraid to show you when
I am you, you're my best friend
Show me your soul

SHOW ME YOUR SOUL

Chapter 3

It was snowing. A woman and a man were getting out of the car. Libby was sitting in a cafe across the street, watching them as they laughed and smiled at each other, saying what seemed to be the nicest things to each other, looking happy and content.

The man was the perfect gentleman. He jogged around the front of the car to his lady in a very amusing way and held out his arm which she took gracefully with a wide smile. She gestured towards the cafe and he nodded as if agreeing to her silent invitation. Libby could only stare at them in awe.

Then a red balloon appeared from behind a car, floating just above it, and only a few seconds later Libby saw that a little girl was holding it in her hand as she came into view. The girl was happy, too. Of course, she was, it was Christmas, after all.

The girl ran to her mother, gave her the balloon and hugged her legs. The woman laughed and tried to rearrange, deciding what to do so that she could take her daughter's hand, but the girl suddenly released her and started to run away towards the cafe where Libby was sitting. Pure fear appeared on the woman's face. She was shouting to her daughter, probably trying to stop her and make her come back, although Libby couldn't hear what it was, then she ran after her daughter. But before the girl even crossed the street, there was a loud screech of brakes and all she could hear was the man's screams as the red balloon flew away and up into the blue skies...

Libby woke with a start. She couldn't breath, clutching at her chest. It wasn't the first time she had that nightmare, more like a thousand and first time. It had been bothering her for several years now and she couldn't do anything about it. It was like a curse.

The only distraction was work.

Charlie was already in the office when she entered the headquarters.

"Wow, is that a tattoo?" she exclaimed excitedly looking at somewhere below his chin and squinting. "I'm thinking of getting one myself."

Charlie frowned, looking a bit too tired even for this early hour in the morning.

"What tattoo?" he said uncertainly, almost curiously.

Libby raised her eyebrows in amazement and pointed at him.

"The one on your neck, duh", she said. But after he began to try and see himself in his tea spoon's reflection she started to suspect that something was wrong.

"Wait", she said, finally realizing what was going on. At first she began giggling, then giggles turned into hysterical laughter. "Didn't the bar have a mirror?"

"Kiddo, it's not even funny", he was clearly pissed, finally finding the source of his trouble and trying to rub it off.

"Are you sure?" she was almost choking.

"Dammit, I gotta have it removed", he was looking positively alarmed. "I can't go around like this."

He put his left elbow on his work-board and pressed his hand over the tattoo on the left side of his neck trying to look as innocent as possible.

"I hope Melissa doesn't kill you for exploiting the expensive equipment too often", Libby finally calmed down and shook her head.

"And you think you should get used to it after six months here, right?" he laughed showing all his teeth in the process. "What did we do to our lives?"

She couldn't help but agree with him.

"So how does it feel to be the second in command?" she asked him patting him on the shoulder and proceeding to her own workspace.

"Feels nice", he replied chewing his gum loudly, but trying not to move much. "Broyles was kind enough to spare Captain Cutie."

"Oh, I'm sure he's gonna find his way back to the top", Libby said and stuck her tongue out after Charlie raised his eyebrows in that "oh yeah?" manner she loved so much. "No offense."

"None taken", he nodded. "Yet. Because I will kick your ass if you continue defending him."

"And I thought you said that you never talk about me while I'm not around", they heard a familiar male voice suddenly and turned to the man.

Lincoln flashed them one of his trademark smiles and looked at Charlie.

"You need to stop your jokes or I will hide your little anti-worm device one of these days", he said and turned to Libby bowing his head slightly. "Agent Carroll."

"Agent Lee", she replied, giving him one of the most flirtatious looks. "How are you feeling today?"

"Quite nice, I must admit", he said still smiling. "Unlike agent Francis, I suppose."

Charlie pressed his palm harder against his neck. Libby and Lincoln snickered.

"I would love to hear more stories about your night out, boys", Libby said, "but I need to work now, thanks."

"You want tea?" Lincoln asked. "I'm gonna go get some."

Libby thought for a moment.

"Actually, I'm gonna go with you", she stood up.

"Yeah, you're gonna need four hands for the cups", Charlie said.

Libby stopped and frowned.

"Why?"

"Because there's a new agent coming today", Lincoln replied.

"Oh no", Libby pretended to look disappointed. "I can't have more than two of you hanging around at the same time."

"Actually, it's a girl". Charlie grinned. "And a hot one."

"You've seen her?"

"She's an Olympic medalist", Charlie's gum was almost falling out of his mouth. "So... Yeah. I've seen her."

"And I hope she shoots you before you recognize her", Lincoln said. "C'mon, Liz, let's go, this guy is getting on my nerves."

Once they were back in the office they saw the agent that they talked about earlier and she was already talking to Charlie. At first all they saw was her back and long light-brown hair, but when Charlie pointed at them and she turned around Libby almost dropped the paper cups she was holding.

She couldn't remember when was the last time she felt so horrible. Maybe for the first time in thirteen years... It was going to be tough.

"Hello", Olivia smiled and offered her hand to Libby first. "Nice to meet you."

Libby set the cups down and shook Olivia's hand. After a round of greetings mixed with typical jokes from all four of them, Olivia told them that Charlie already explained a lot about what they were doing here, including the gruesome stuff that they had to deal with.

"Oh yeah", Libby told her. "We don't have much of a life here, you know, so get used to it."

They all laughed.

"Do you work in the field, too?"

"Um... no, I'm more of an office plankton type", Libby shook her head and chuckled. "I usually just sit here and give these two instructions how to risk their lives better."

Olivia laughed.

"Behind every great man there's a great woman", Lincoln said looking at Libby with a hint of an admiration which made that awkward little smile appear on her face again.

He turned to Olivia.

"Come on, I'll show you around", he said leading Olivia away from the other two.

It's wasn't until Libby heard Charlie's "awwww" that she finally came back to her senses. She turned to look at him.

"What?" she asked with a half-smile, frowning slightly.

Charlie's expression said enough already.

"Our little boy is in love", he announced like it was something way too obvious not to notice. "Now I have all chances of becoming the Head of Division after Broyles resigns, 'cause there's no way he's gonna keep his mind straight with that chick around."

Libby simply laughed and suggested they return to their work.

"If he wasn't such a big-head, he would be babbling around her, trust me", Charlie said. "I've known the guy since forever. His confidence is his weapon."

"Whatever", Libby just rolled her eyes.

Olivia had her first assignment in field the following day. Charlie and Lincoln took her to a Fringe sight arguing loudly about who was the boss for the job that day. As usual, Libby was worried for the rest of the afternoon, until all three came back, looking exhausted and quite awful.

"What happened?" she flinched as she saw bits of something disgusting on their clothes, skin and even hair.

"I commanded that prick not to touch the goddamn trigger before I told him to", Lincoln threw Charlie a hateful look and got an uglier one back. "But no, he needed to shoot the freaking gas barrel."

Olivia looked like she was going to throw up.

"And?" Libby asked impatiently.

Lincoln jumped onto Libby's station and she moved away trying not to get anything on her.

"Well, the dude we were after just exploded...", he tugged at his t-shirt. "ON us!"

"Yeah, well, next time you whisper your commands in my ear a little bit quieter and see what happens", Charlie said. Lincoln mocked him. Charlie made a rude gesture.

"Ok, you guys, that was one hell of a day", he declared stretching. "I think I need a beer." He looked at Lincoln. "You in?"

"Um..." Lincoln hesitated, still looking pissed. "I'm kinda short of money right now."

"I can lend you some", Olivia quickly said before Libby could even open her mouth.

"I have money, too, you know", she almost immediately regretted saying it, but Charlie quickly came to her rescue.

"Aww, then lend me some, too, kiddo."

And they just laughed it off.

"To hell with the paperwork, let's go chillax", Charlie suggested, getting up.

"Don't be so quick, Francis", they heard Broyles's voice. "I want all your reports in fifteen minutes. Especially yours."

An ugly grimace appeared on Charlie's face.

"I saw that", Broyles said. "Which means it's ten for you now. Chop chop, people."

Lincoln and Olivia exchanged glances and Lincoln jumped off Libby's work-board.

"I'm gonna hit the shower after that", he announced. "I can't stand the feeling of this dude's guts on me."

Olivia laughed.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea."

About half an hour later, of course, instead of promised ten minutes, they were finished with their reports which were successfully transferred to Broyles's computer. Then all three left to wash the day and "the dude" off, leaving Libby alone at her station.

She felt distracted. She couldn't focus on anything. She wanted coffee, not a bag of tea, dammit.

"You shouldn't be so aggressive", she heard Astrid's voice and turned around.

"What do you mean?" Libby asked, frowning.

It seemed like Astrid couldn't look her in the eyes for longer than five seconds. She looked down and continued.

"Isn't it obvious that agent Dunham is trying to make you all like her?" she said. "She just seems confident, but in reality she is very insecure and you shouldn't create an unfriendly environment."

Libby looked at her in a way that made Astrid feel like for the first time in her life she was saying something irrelevant.

"Oh, come on", Libby replied. "I wasn't that aggressive... I mean, I wasn't aggressive at all!" she paused and added quietly. "Protective, maybe."

"I don't think that the fact that you and Captain Lee don't have an official status to your romantic relationship is going to be a problem, if you mean that", Astrid said and raised her eyes to look at Libby just for a split second.

Libby frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think I have the right to discuss such personal things, but according to her file, agent Dunham has a life partner."

Libby's eyebrows flew up.

"You mean she has a boyfriend?"

Astrid nodded, still looking down.

"That is correct", she looked up briefly again. "I must add that this information is also public and has photographic confirmation in mass media."

A tiny light of hope lit up in Libby's chest. She didn't know why she did that, but she ran to Astrid and hugged her, leaving the older agent petrified.

Charlie was the first to return to the office. Libby smiled at him and asked what he thought of their new agent.

"She's ok, I guess", he shrugged. "We'll just have to see how she acts when the crap's gonna get real, you know what I mean."

Libby nodded.

"And what about Lincoln?"

Charlie didn't say anything at first as if he didn't really want to answer her question.

"I bet he didn't tell you he had a crush on her ever since he saw her picture in that paper", he said quietly to her.

All Libby could do was look at him and smile, shaking her head.

"Ok, kiddo, I'mma go tell Melissa this crap is itching", he pointed to his neck that was tattooless again and walked away.

Libby sat quietly for a few minutes, thinking of how weird it all was.

Olivia appeared in the office next and walked up to Libby.

"Ok, girl talk", she whispered. Libby thought that Olivia wasn't the type of a person suitable for a "girl talk", but found the situation really amusing. Or was it a joke? She couldn't think straight. "Don't tell them, but I don't really like drinking."

Libby chuckled.

"Ok, I won't. You're just gonna have to pretend really well, you know", she smiled and shrugged, trying to explain with her body language that it wasn't her problem if Olivia couldn't hold her liquor.

Soon Lincoln was back as well, doing a final check on everything, and Charlie had already returned from the medical centre and walked up to them.

"Ladies", he said offering Olivia his arm and she took it with some kind of a clumsy curtsy and they walked out of the room together.

A few seconds later Lincoln was at the door putting his jacket on.

"You coming, Liv?" he shouted.

For a second Libby thought there was no air in the room.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" she shouted back.

"Um..." he frowned and looked from side to side, obviously wondering what was so difficult about that simple question that she couldn't hear. "I asked you if you were going to come with us, Liz", he said loud and clear enough for her to hear the last word properly this time.

She gathered all her strength to force a smile and nod.

"Sure", she swallowed. "Coming."

And she made her way to the exit, Lincoln putting his arm around her shoulders as they walked out of the office together.