Chapter 10
Three weeks after my meeting with Skinner, I reach my breaking point when I forget to address my boss with a "Sir" and he moves me from evidence logging to filing the requests for evidence retrieval. I didn't go through Quantico for this, and I refuse to have that ignored any longer. I don't even use the in-house gym anymore; I ran into too many of my classmates there, and I hated the looks on their faces when I said I had been assigned to evidence logging.
I spend all day thinking of a variety of reasons for my short stint at the FBI: too much bureaucracy, not letting newer recruits work on case work, hazing – perhaps. Anything to get me out of here. The one major problem is that without a solid reference, no excuse will adequately explain staying for only a few months. I could ask Mulder, but our only real contact was on one case – choosing him as my reference would be just as suspect. I certainly can't ask my current boss. I sigh, thinking the situation is hopeless, before I remember my last conversation with Agent Skinner. He did say I was a good agent, didn't he? He doesn't seem like the type of man who says anything he doesn't completely believe. The thought of asking such a serious and busy man to vouch for me makes me nervous, but I don't exactly have a lot of other options.
The next morning, I'm waiting outside Skinner's office when he arrives. Dropping by unannounced isn't the best way to endear myself to him before such a request, but I couldn't make it through another day at work without having an answer – hopefully, one that gives me a window out of the FBI.
"Agent Simonson, to what do I owe the visit?" he asks while unlocking his door. "If you're inquiring after that mentor of yours, you're right that he's dirty, but we haven't been able to make anything stick." I hold my hand to stop his explanation.
"I didn't want to talk about that, actually." That raises his eyebrows. "You…I can't stay in evidence any longer. I'm going to start applying for jobs outside of the Bureau, but I'm going to need a reference to vouch for my character and confirm my excuse for leaving after such a short time." He nods in understanding.
"I am completely willing to do that for you, but it would be a shame for the Bureau to lose you. I understand that evidence is unbearable – you were trained to work cases, not type numbers in a computer – but you're a good agent."
"Thank you, Agent Skinner, but I can't stay in evidence in hopes I'll eventually be placed somewhere else."
"Give me a day – if I can't find a position for you, apply away. But if I can, are you willing to stay with the Bureau?"
"Yes, absolutely." I'm a little breathless; I didn't even think that was a possibility. "The second to last thing I want is for these assholes to win – I know they want me gone."
"What's the last thing?" he asks, a little amused.
"Staying in evidence," I say with all seriousness, but that manages to make him smile. He sits at his desk and starts writing a note.
"Fair enough. What did you do before you went to Quantico?"
"I was a toxicologist, working on occupational health and safety."
"That's good – concrete skills. Any lab experience?" I nod.
"I would often run tests in the company lab rather than outsource it."
"Okay, I'll let you know as soon as I find something."
"Thank you, Agent Skinner. Really." He nods in farewell, and I head back to the evidence warehouse to get out of his hair, figuratively, of course.
Not two hours later, my boss stalks up behind me. "That Agent Skinner is asking to see you again." That was fast – hopefully that means good news and not that he reached a dead end that quickly. I realize my boss was telling me that I will have to make up the time I miss, but I give myself the luxury of an eye roll on the way out. I am daring to hope I'll never have to see his face again. On the elevator ride up, I can't help fantasize about telling him to go fuck himself as I collect my things. Please, Skinner, have good news.
His secretary waves me in when I arrive.
"That was fast," I comment as I walk in.
"Caught a break of luck – there's a position in the environmental crimes unit, which happens to be run by an old war buddy of mine. I'll owe him a favor, but it's worth it to piss off whoever designed your assignment to evidence." I can't help but smile.
"That's great! When can I start?"How will I ever repay this man for his kindness?
"Does today work?" Internally, I start cheering.
"Most wonderfully," I say with a mischievous glint in my eye. Looks like some dreams do come true. Skinner passes me a casefile.
"Floor 6, room number 315 is where your new boss will be. Well, your supervisor. I technically am your boss again now, but you'll do all your reporting to him." That means more contact with the handsome Skinner, so that's not too shabby.
"Thank you so much. I really don't even know how I can thank you enough." He holds up a hand for me to stop.
"Don't worry about it – I'm glad I was able to help." Not wanting to take up anymore of his time, I head back to the first floor to take my briefcase and bid my hellish boss adieu.
I pick up my things, but I can't find my boss anywhere, so I leave word of my new assignment with the agent taking care of evidence requests. Too bad I won't be able to see his face, but this way is almost better as I don't have to see him again.
Up to the sixth floor, I find office 315 and knock. A slightly overweight man who looks slightly older than Skinner answers.
"You must be Agent Simonson. Welcome, welcome." He ushers me inside and motions for me to take a seat. He's more cheerful than I would expect any friend of Skinner's to be. "So glad we were able to get this position filled. What did Skinner tell you about it?"
"Not too much, just that it was with the environmental crimes department. I'm sure he mentioned to you that I have a background in toxicology, specifically occupational health and safety."
"Yes, he did, and that's part of why you're going to be such a great fit here, I'm sure. Whenever federal facilities are out of compliance with environmental standards or there are issues of environmental contamination, the FBI, specifically this division, gets involved. We also do some work monitoring private companies, especially near state borders, and investigate any tips we get. And if you're interested in that, you can definitely move over there after a while, but for now we need you investigating federal sites."
"That's fine by me. I only had the chance to just glance at the case file Skinner gave me, but it looks like there's some military bases where soldiers are coming down with inexplicable symptoms?" He nods.
"Yes, this is a case of finding the contamination."
"Is the military willing to comply with the tests necessary to determine that?"
"Usually. If you have any pushback, try going up the food chain, if that still doesn't work, send them to me."
"Very well."
"I'll show you to your desk." We walk down the well-lit and decorated hallway. What a breath of fresh air. "Unfortunately, this division of the FBI is always understaffed, so we only partner up on cases that pose a possible danger to our agents. All the same, since this is your first case of this type, if you're having trouble, just let me know and I'll find a free agent."
After I set down my things at what will be my desk, my new boss introduces me around the department. Although everyone is working hard, they still find time to be friendly. I think this is going to be a good position. I should really send Agent Skinner a card or something. I spend the rest of the day familiarizing myself with the case, and tomorrow I plan to head to the first site, which is right on the Potomac River. I have a couple ideas of where the toxins could be coming from, based on the soldiers that have been effected and the fact that most of the symptoms so far have been dermal – skin irritation, rashes, blisters, that sort of thing.
For the first time in almost two months, I'm excited to go to work in the morning. I go in early to hit the gym – I haven't been active enough these past couple of weeks, and if I'm investigating without a partner, I feel it would be prudent to keep my fitness peaked. At nine, I check in with my boss to let him know I'm headed to the first site of contamination and then get myself an FBI vehicle for the day so I can more easily transport my field testing kit.
On the drive, nerves begin to grow in my stomach. I've never actually been to a military base, and although they requested FBI assistance on this problem, I still doubt I'll be warmly received.
When I arrive and flash my badge, a stone-faced guard tells me where to park and to meet with the Lieutenant General. He buzzes the gate open, and I drive inside. I'll have to confirm the assignments of the sick soldiers with the Lt. General, but from the assignments that were listed in the file, these men were mostly working as groundskeepers, thus I will be collecting all sorts of soil tests. But, assuming I can locate the contaminated areas, I'll still need to determine the root of the contamination and how to stop it.
I make it to the Lt. General's office without having to ask for directions. His secretary tells me he's in a meeting when I get there, so I give her my phone number and tell her to call me when he's free. In the meantime, I'm going to be doing some tests.
"Are there any maps of the base available?" She hands me a sheet of paper, but it just denotes where the buildings and the paths are, not what the purpose of each building is. "Is there anything…more specific? I don't really have the time or the supplies to test near every building."
"Well, what are you looking for? Maybe I can point you to buildings that would be of interest."
"I'm looking for anything that might generate pollution – weapons storage, chemical or radioactive testing, labs, weapon decommissioning, incinerators or garbage, even sewer lines." She takes my map back and puts asterisks on a few of the buildings.
"The Lt. General might be able to tell you more, but I know that these buildings all serve one of those purposes."
"Thank you." I set off, somewhat nervous. I don't want to come up empty handed and out of leads. The first few tests I do come up normal, but I collect samples all the same to do more detailed analysis back at the FBI laboratory. I move to my fourth building, and as I'm mixing the soil with the indicator solution, it turns bright pink, indicting the strong presence of a heavy metal pollutant, but as I'm pouring the liquid into the bacteria tray, the color fades. I can't believe my eyes. I am about to perform the test again when my cell phone rings. I peel of my gloves to answer, and it's the Lt. General's secretary telling me he is free to meet. I pack up, but I make a note on the map where I need to return to.
Heading back to the Lieutenant's office, I spy two familiar faces walking my way.
"Agent Scully? Agent Mulder? What are you doing here?"
A/N: Back to the X-files mysteries we love!