Jack stopped dead in his tracks the next day when he saw Bobby already sitting at his desk, doing some of his paperwork. "Bobby? What are you doing here? It's only," he looked at his watch, "8:30. You're never here on time, let alone early!"
"Very funny, I just thought I'd start early with my expense report. As usual, I'm sure Randy will find something wrong with it, so this will leave me some time to get it right and still get my money this month."
Jack stopped by Bobby's chair and looked at all the papers strewn across the desk. "And how long have you been at it?" he asked, his eyes falling on the piece of paper Bobby was intently studying.
"I don't know. Maybe about an hour…give or take a few," Bobby answered distractedly.
"I'm sure it would go faster if you didn't have to look at it upside down," Jack smirked, righting the paper Bobby was holding. "Come on, why don't you tell me why you're really here? Does it have anything to do with your newest assignment and the person who'll be working it with you?"
Bobby growled low in his throat. "I wish you'd phrase that differently mate. The last thing I need right now is the thought of working it with Jaycey Matthews."
"I take it you didn't get your answers last night?" Jack enquired, sitting on the edge of Bobby's desk.
Bobby let out a disgusted sigh and threw the paper slip in his hands on top of the others in the pile. "I didn't ask any of the questions I had when I left here. Instead, I got a few answers to questions I should never have asked to begin with."
"Like what?" Jack asked, half-fearing the answer.
Bobby leaned back in his chair and looked at Jack, a lost look on his face. "You were here Jack; so you already know the answer to that. I just don't get it. Why her? Why now?"
"It's been a while since Darcy. Maybe you're just ready to join the land of the living again. Jaycey is an attractive woman, so it's probably just a normal reaction you're having," Jack ventured.
"I really hope it's as simple as that Jack because I can't take much more of the roller coaster I'm on."
"You're selling yourself short Bobby; you're much stronger than you give yourself credit for. Listen, I'm not saying she's Miss Right but I know you weren't meant to live your life cut off from everyone," Jack stated.
"Maybe I should come back later," a small hesitant voice said, putting an abrupt halt to their discussion.
Jack and Bobby both turned towards the bullpen entrance and saw Jaycey standing there, looking uncertain and ready to bolt at the first provocation. Jack would never know what prompted him to look back at Bobby at that instant; but what he saw in his best friend's eyes, he wouldn't soon forget…
"Jaycey!" Bobby shot to his feet and had to physically restrain himself from going to her and enfolding her in his arms, a reaction that scared him even as it enticed him. Why can't I see her without wanting to make a fool of myself in front of everyone? Why can't I just be happy to see her and leave it at that? But then, he remembered the way she kissed him back, the fire they generated, and a slow smile softened his features. Oh yeah! He knew exactly why he couldn't just leave it well enough alone!
Jaycey opened her mouth, but the words she was about to say remained locked in her throat when a hand pressed against the small of her back. "Excuse me," she heard, recognizing Dimitrus Gans' voice just in time to stop her first gut reaction. Oh my Gosh! I nearly went black belt on my new supervisor. If I keep this up, I'll be flipping burgers at Mickey D instead of flipping my badge… She broke from her revelry when a soft snicker reached her ear. Looking up, she saw Dimitrus Dempsey glancing from the wall-mounted clock to Bobby.
"Is your apartment being fumigated today?"
Bobby arched a questioning brow at D's question. "Are you saying my place is a roach race track?" he smirked good-naturedly.
"No, but I didn't think anything could get you out of bed this early…short of an atomic bomb," Dimitrus grinned back, resuming his trek to his own desk.
"Doesn't work," Jack mumbled around a mouthful of Krispy Kreme. "I tried that once and he slept right through it."
Bobby rolled his eyes at his best friend's antics. "It was M.A.S.H. reruns, not real C4 under my mattress… though I still appreciate you making the distinction back then Sparky," he winked almost as an afterthought. "And anyways, aren't you two supposed to be picking on the new sheila instead of me?" he inquired, his eyes sparkling with merriment as he glanced quickly at Jaycey.
"Oh no, you're NOT bringing me into this one Manners," she shot back, finally stepping into the bullpen and taking her cue from the general mood. "I'm finding this all so very…educational," she smirked, taking a seat at her desk.
"Traitor," Bobby silently mouthed her way, flashing his dimples.
"Not nearly as educational as I found the paper you wrote yesterday," Dimitrus interjected, jerking Jaycey's attention away from Bobby's devilish charm and back to work. "Where did you learn all that information?"
"I've always been an avid reader and I'm blessed with a photographic memory, which comes in handy when you're in law enforcement."
"Speaking of law enforcement," Jack said seizing the opportunity when it presented itself, "I wondered why someone as gifted as your instructors seemed to believe remained a patrolwoman for three years. Who did you piss off, Special Agent Matthews?"
"Jack!" Jack looked beyond Jaycey Matthews and saw Sue, Tara and Lucy looking at him with incomprehension in their eyes. And he couldn't blame them because he himself couldn't figure out why he was seemingly out to get their new rookie.
"You're right, I had to have done something," Jaycey spoke calmly, her eyes going to Bobby for strength. "I mean, it's unheard of to encounter a superior who immediately dislikes one of their new rookies and make their life a living hell. Why, I'm sure no one in this room would stand for that kind of behavior," she finished, turning to face Jack. "Still, I don't see the need to rehash my past with you or anyone else for that matter. So I'd much prefer if we concentrated on the case at hand. That way I can get out of your face sooner rather than later…that ought to make you happy, no?"
Bobby nearly applauded Jaycey's calm and collected attitude and he would have applauded her if it had not meant siding with her against his best friend. And that was one tough place to be at the moment.
I wonder what's with you mate, but you've had my back so many times…it's my turn to have yours. I just hope you don't make me choose between you and that sheila…because I'm not sure my choice would be as easy down the road as it is now.
"I don't know who you are," Lucy said looking at Jack, "but I think I speak for everybody when I say we want our friendly Jack back, and quickly. That new song and dance routine of yours is not your best performance to date and is rather getting tiring."
"Lucy," Jack started to say, only to be interrupted by Myles' flamboyant entrance.
"Good morning fair-weathered friends. Glad to see everyone is still standing with all body parts attached where they were anatomically meant to be," he deadpanned, handing Bobby, Jack and Dimitrus a small wrapped box.
"What is this?" Dimitrus asked him, eyeing the white box in his hand as if something dangerous was bound to pop out of it. Bobby's hoot of laughter was his only answer. He looked at the tall Aussie and saw him holding…no, that couldn't be!
"Good on ya mate. Are you wearing yours?" Bobby laughed, dangling a jockstrap from his long fingers.
"I never leave home without it," Myles snickered, a devilish glint in his eyes as he strode towards Jaycey. "And since we have one ballsy lady in our midst, I figured she could use one too…especially if we're to have a repeat of yesterday's events. I hope you'll forgive me Special Agent Matthews, but I wasn't sure if pink was your color so I went neutral," he stated, handing her a white Jill strap.
Bobby's laughter only doubled at the sight and he had to hold on to the edge of his desk for support. Why, even Jack had to fight a smile off when he saw Jaycey's reaction to Myles' offering! It was obvious by her shocked expression that Myles's special brand of humor hadn't been discussed in his profile.
"That's…too kind," Jaycey stammered at a loss for word, though not for long. "Is this a one size fits all or did you keep your receipt, just in case?"
"I figured you'd need a large – at the very least," Myles grinned before turning to walk to his desk.
What's going on here? If I didn't know any better, I'd think someone was playing a practical joke on me. Based on the personnel files, Jack Bishop is supposed to be the friendly agent and Myles Leland, the prickly and uptight one. Yet I'm getting the exact opposite!
"Don't let Myles' upbringing fool you," Sue said softly as she stopped by Jaycey's desk. "Blue blood may flow through his veins, but he's as real as any of us here."
"I'm starting to see that," Jaycey answered pensively. "We all have more facets than is shown on paper, don't we?"
Sue's soft smile was the only answer she needed.