Day: 409 - February 26, 2013
This chapter takes place the same day as Rule One of Science Club
"What is that thing?" Zach's head tipped back, a dazed look on his face as he mopped his forehead on the sleeve of his hoodie.
"No idea," Bryn admitted, standing beside him, her mouth slightly agape.
"According to the packing sheet it's a Gamma-Ray Goniometer," Jarvis declared, Bryn nodded slowly, folding her arms over her chest.
"I'm fairly alarmed," Zach admitted, his expression turning grim.
"Well, Doctor Foster's equipment isn't going to unpack itself," Bryn declared, turning away from the Goniometer and looking down at her tablet. "Baxter, Hanes, don't accidentally let that thing remove your kidneys while you're dragging it upstairs."
"Yes ma'am," one of the young men nodded, grasping hold of the hulking piece of equipment and steering it toward the service elevator as Zach flopping down on of one of the coolers parked at the foot of the ramp and opening the second cooler beside it.
"Ms. Marshall," a girl peered around a box she was holding to catch Bryn's eye. "This one doesn't have a packing label."
"I'm pretty sure those are Doctor Foster's personal items," Bryn nodded, checking the box over just to be sure. Stack those over by the wall and we'll take them up to her suite after we've unloaded the science stuff."
"Hey Jarvis?" Zach declared, gulping down Gatorade "They were out of knish again."
"It might be time to find a new deli," Jarvis sighed. Bryn shook her head.
"You would think the ridiculous tips would light a fire under them," she observed. "Thanks for coming in today, by the way. I really appreciate it."
"Hey you have your hands full with these bozos," Zach shrugged, waving his bottle in the direction of two of the movers. One of them gave Bryn a smile and a wink as he headed back out into the main garage to the moving truck.
"Keep walking buddy," Zach declared half under his breath. Bryn ducked her head, hiding her snicker behind her hand.
"He has spent more of his day attempting to garner your attention than actually seeing to his responsibilities," Jarvis observed drily.
"I really don't like him," Zach stated with a scowl.
"Yeah, I'm not a fan either," Bryn agreed with a shrug. "Have you got this for a few minutes? I want to grab a sandwich."
"Sure, take your time," Zach nodded, waving her off as she handed him the STARK Pad. Bryn grabbed her sweater off the hook on the wall, shrugging into it as she opened the office door and turned down the hall.
"How are we holding up?" She asked seriously, tapping the com in her ear and sinking easily down on the steps.
"I do not like these strangers so close to Mr. Stark's lab," Jarvis admitted grudgingly. Bryn gave a faint smile as she stretched her legs out in front of her.
"It's just a few more hours and then they'll be gone," Bryn assured, leaning back on her elbows. "Is Phil keeping an eye on things for you?"
"He assured me he would monitor the situation," Jarvis replied. "And Doctor Banner is on his way back to his own lab now."
"You really like Doctor Foster," she pointed out. "and just think how happy Thor's going to be too. It'll be great." Jarvis didn't reply and she stared at the ceiling for a moment.
"Did you talk to Mr. Stark?" she asked gently.
"I did," he answered, hesitating for just a moment. "Sir was… disappointed that I had not said something to him sooner."
"He read you the riot act, didn't he?" she asked knowingly, Jarvis gave a slight huff in answer. "The people that care most about you are naturally going to feel like they should have done a better job protecting you. And, well, Mr. Stark's a little over protective."
"To put it mildly," Jarvis allowed.
"It's going to be okay," Bryn promised, hauling herself to her feet. "You're already doing better, or have you been sugar coating things for me?"
"I still feel as if I worry excessively over the team's safety," Jarvis admitted as Bryn mounted the stairs, emerging into the back room of the street cafe and side stepping around a box of cups. "But ironically I did not experience excessive anxiety when they assembled last week."
"Hey, at least you can trust them to do their jobs," Bryn pointed out, slipping out of the "Employees Only" door and wrapping her sweater more tightly around her against the wind. "Hey, Rob, Chris, can I get a Club to go?"
"Sure, Bryn," one of the young men behind the counter nodded, moving to make her sandwich as the other took her bank card.
"You should take a break for lunch," Jarvis admonished as she took her card back, stuffing it in her pocket.
"I'll take a break when the movers leave at the end of the day," Bryn assured, slouching against the counter to wait. "It'll be fine."
"I worry about you too," Jarvis admitted.
"I know," she replied. "But it's just one day, and frankly a couple of those guys don't seem responsible enough to handle a bake sale. Thanks Chris." She took the bag from the young man's hand, flashing him a smile and shoving a couple of bills into the tip jar on the counter before turning back toward the "Employee Only" door.
"You know you could just yell up the stairs," Rob teased as she scanned her ID in the security reader beside the door.
"Yo, boy, make me a sandwich," Bryn declared, lowering her voice to a deep alto. Both of the young men burst into laughter and she gave them a cheeky grin before scanning her card in the second door and heading back down the stairs.
"Bryn is our friendship interfering with your work environment?" Jarvis asked, a hint of concern in his tone. Bryn froze on the steps as the door closed behind her.
"Jarvis," she began but he interrupted.
"I've noticed it for some time," he admitted. "I have to remind you repeatedly to take breaks, you stay late and arrive early. You take time that should be meant for yourself to engage in favors for me. I do not want to take advantage."
"Jarvis," she repeated.
"There are two openings in supply processing," Jarvis added. "The compensation is virtually identical and you would no longer have to deal with inclement weather. I can assure you that,"
"Oh my god, Jarvis, stop!" Bryn interrupted with equal parts shock and amusement. She took a deep breath, shaking her head as she let it out in a sigh. "You know what? I love my job. I hang out with super heroes and I get to train with the world's best spies, so yeah I come in early and I stay late because I like being here, because I feel needed. And because I always feel appreciated. You make me feel like what I do matters."
"It matters to me," Jarvis replied softly.
"I know you're trying to look out for me because you're a good friend," She offered, slouching against the wall. "But you're a great boss too. And I don't want to work for someone else, because they're not going to look out for me the way you will."
"Alright," he allowed. "If you become uncomfortable with the situation, will you tell me?"
"I promise," Bryn nodded. "Are we good?"
"I suppose," Jarvis agreed.
"I'm not going to come in tomorrow and find out I'm working for some stiff with no sense of humor and an inability to play Team Fortress 2?" She added, glaring at the security camera in the corner.
"I promise as well," he agreed.
"Good," she nodded in satisfaction, pushing off from the wall and heading toward her office door. "Don't scare me like that."
"It was unintentional," he repented. "I'm afraid I'm somewhat socially inept at times."
"Yeah, I'd picked up on that," she answered with a wry smile, crossing the office and tromping down the ramp to stand beside the cooler Zach was still sitting on.
"How are we supposed to get this thing onto the elevator?" The mover who had winked at Bryn demanded, glaring at the piece of equipment that looked more like a jumble of parts than a scientifically viable form of technology.
"If it has directions, they forgot to pack them," Zach sighed, flipping through the STARK pad. "Jarvis can you check with Doctor Foster?"
"One moment," Jarvis answered.
"Well if she hauled this thing from Culver to New Mexico it had to pack down at some point," Bryn observed practically, dropping the bag with her sandwich in it on top of the cooler and moving closer to eye the machine with clear skepticism.
"What if I buy you lunch while we wait for an answer?" the mover asked, flashing Bryn a smile as he leaned on the corner of the contraption. Bryn's lips turned down in a thoughtful frown and she reached out, grasping hold of a steel strut and pulling herself up the side.
"Be careful there, babe," the mover insisted, pulling a face. "You don't want to fall." Bryn scrambled the rest of the way to the top, kneeling down and grasping hold of a recessed handle. She gave it a sharp tug and a hatched popped up as the sensor array folded down, sliding into the hatchway.
"Yeah, someone didn't pack it right," Bryn stated dusting off her hands before swinging back down to the floor. "Jarvis, we've got it."
"I'll mention to Doctor Foster that she'll want to check the circuitry," Jarvis answered.
"Take it on up," Bryn declared, giving it a thump. "You guys can take a lunch break whenever. Can someone bring one of the hand carts down from lab storage so we can load the boxes?"
"Babe?" Zach declared, giving a derisive snort as Bryn settled on the cooler beside him, opening her lunch bag.
"It would be a terrible shame if he were to become trapped on one of the biocontainment labs," Jarvis' smooth voice declared over their coms. Zach's shoulders shook and Bryn bit her lip to stifle her laugh as the mover hauled the hulk of machinery toward the lift.
"Behave, both of you," she scolded.
"Apparently we are out of rye bread again," Jarvis let out an exasperated sigh.
"Dude, how many sandwiches does Captain America eat?" Zach demanded wide eyed.
"All of them," Bryn answered seriously, biting into hers. "All the sandwiches."
"Do you want to make the store run and let me handle Romeo?" Zach offered.
"Nah, it's cool," Bryn waved him off. "I can handle him."
"Sure you can," Zach nodded. "You just shouldn't have to."
"If you would like I can arrange for the temporary malfunction of the security cameras," Jarvis offered, still over coms. "In the event that you would like to test any of your recent training sessions with Agent Coulson." Zach let out a laugh.
"Jarvis, you are the best, man," he declared, handing the STARK pad to Bryn and chucking his gatorade bottle in the trash. "If she decks him, can I get a copy of the tape?"
"I'll forward it to your company email," Jarvis confirmed.
"Oh my gosh, is this what goes on when I'm not here?" Bryn demanded, burying her face in her hands. Zach only gave her a wide grin and a thumbs up.
"I swear, men," she sighed, ruffling her curls in frustration. "you're like children."
"Neurotic children," Jarvis agreed as Zach revved the motorbike.
"Ms. Marshall?" one of the movers called. She sighed, waiting for Zach to drive by before following in his wake toward the moving van, her lunch abandoned on top of the cooler once more.
"Coming!" she called. "I'm coming!"