Girl Talk

Los Angeles Federal Bureau of Supernatural Intervention

Jenny pressed 'save' on her file, and closed the document.

"Finally," Jenny sighed, and leaned back in her chair. She thought back to all of her family's stories, how they cleared out vampire nests, defeated The Beast and crippled the Senior Partners.

And not once did they ever tell a story about the adventures of God damn paperwork.

"Okay," Jenny heard her joints snap as she stood up. She'd set aside the entire day to catch up on her paperwork, and now her sore body was reminding her of it. She didn't need to exercise per say, but that didn't mean her body was built for sitting for hours on end, "just call Liam, and…."

Jenny froze when she heard her phone ring. She looked at it, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was her non-emergency line. The call had likely been cycled to her automatically, and would turn over to another desk when she didn't answer.

"Sorry, I've got a date tonight."

And with the floor being empty, she felt absolutely no shame at not answering her phone. God knew she'd done enough for the agency, twice over.

The phone stopped ringing, just like Jenny knew it would.

And then her cell phone.

"Damn it!" Jenny shouted, before answering her phone, "Agent Burkle here."

"Hey, agent beautiful!"

"Liam!" Jenny beamed, then the wheels in her brain turned, "…you're not going to be able to make our date tonight, are you?"

"Sorry, honey," Liam said, "hostage situation, and I'm on SWAT rotation. Rain check?"

"Rain check," Jenny muttered. She'd slogged all day through her backlog, using the date as her light at the end of the tunnel. It was childish, perhaps, but paperwork…

"Thanks, babe, I'll make it up to you, I promise!"

Jenny sighed, and though she loved Liam, she half expected that it would turn out to be an empty promise. They were two professionals in law enforcement, for pete's sake. They both kept odd hours, though if Jenny was being honest with herself, that was part of the appeal. He understood instinctively why she couldn't just 'call in sick'. There were precious few things in her line of work that could be passed off to a coworker, morally and ethically.

Liam understood that.

Precious few boyfriends before him did.

And as if to remind Jenny of her always present responsibilities, her cell-phone rang. This time she recognized the ringtone as her professional, non emergency number (Jenny had a lot of numbers and ringtones).

"Agent Burkle," she answered.

"Hello Agent Burkle, this is Dr. Strohm at the Department of Supernatural Care. Do you have a moment to talk?"

"I'm free," Jenny sighed.

"I was wondering if you could come by my office? In an unofficial capacity," Dr. Strohm said.

"May I ask why?"

"We're treating a young woman, a Kru-culler," Dr. Strohm replied, "she was brought in by a specialist who recommended we contact you."

"Who was the specialist, if I may ask?" Jenny already suspected a trap, but hope springs eternal.

Dr. Strohm told her. Jenny's curiosity was peaked.

"I can be there in thirty minutes," said Jenny.

"Thank you. No need to rush," said the Doctor, "we have her restrained, and we're still making…umm, the stew."

Later, Department of Supernatural Care

As Jenny waited in the lobby, she took the opportunity to look around. The name, 'Department of Supernatural Care', certainly seemed to imply that it was a government organization, but that was far from the truth.

Ever since magic and everything that went with it became public and 'official', dozens upon dozens of research companies popped up overnight, hoping to find or create any magical miracle cure that could be mass produced and sold for a fortune.

Gunn compared them to the bubble, only they kept popping up for years until the government instituted several regulations. That stamped down on most of them, from the scientists who had no idea what they were doing, to the start-ups that were trying to replace Wolfram and Hart, and your just plain maniacs.

The organizations that survived were mostly legitimate research facilities or rehabilitation dedicated to the slow study of magic. Mostly.

Jenny only had to wait a few minutes before an orderly greeted her, and asked Jenny to follow her. He left Jenny in a room with a double sided mirror, with a young woman strapped to a steel chair on the other side.

There were three men in there with her, with a metal gurney, with a steel pot resting on it, bubbling with steam.

Jenny, knowing the contents, was glad there was a wall between it and her. She knew from experience that the smell, and the cooking, was enough to make her lose her appetite.

"Agent Burkle, thank you for coming," Dr. Strohm said as he entered the room.

Jenny shook his hand, "Anything I can do to help. So how old is this Kru-culler?" Jenny said.

"This is actually her first emergence of the curse," said Dr. Strohm, "for fear of stating the obvious, we worry today may have been especially traumatic for her. Normally, we bring in grief counselors, but the man who, umm…brought her in suggested that it may be best that you talk to her."

Jenny raised an eyebrow, "He did, did he?"

"It's not a problem, is it?"

Jenny shook her head, "No problem at all. We've just been having some…disagreements lately."

Dr. Strohm could tell from her tone that he shouldn't pry. Instead, he gestured to the glass.

"They're about to begin."

Jenny and Dr. Strohm became silent as the men in the other room went to work.

The young woman in the chair began to scream in a language Jenny had only heard once before, and she began throwing her head back as her body began to change. Her nails began to lengthen until they reached the size and shape of knives. Her jaw became unhinged like that of a python, and her teeth began tipping out of her mouth, as if they'd suddenly become unhinged. They were replaced with jagged, razor sharp teeth until her mouth resembled a parody of a shark's.

The young woman would have been terrifying, if she weren't restrained and sobbing like a newborn.

Two of the men took up positions to the left and right of the young woman, wearing specially reinforced hazmat suits. They reached down, and grabbed the sides of her mouth, and pulled.

The young woman's mouth stretched like taffy, and while her teeth were sharp enough to score bone, the men were protected.

The last man picked up the steaming pot, stepped towards the young woman, and tipped the pot into the young woman's outstretched mouth. He did so carefully and deliberately, like he was pouring spaghetti into a strainer.

"The poor young woman," Dr. Strohm sighed.

"She's luckier than the first Kru-culler I met," said Jenny.

"Dare I ask…?"

"Well before the amnesty, in England," Jenny said, "I imagine you can figure out how it ended."

"I can indeed," said Dr. Strohm, "but if it means anything, your research was invaluable in treatment. We've been treating her mother pretty successfully…"

"Her mother?" Jenny asked, "so that's how they knew."

"Correct," said Dr. Strohm.

Later

The treatment had taken about half an hour. When it was done, Jenny was led to the young woman's treatment room (really a polite term for a holding cell, Jenny thought), and Dr. Strohm wished her luck.

"Be careful," said the Doctor, "she's not violent, well…besides the obvious, but…"

"I've been doing stuff like this since I came to this world," Jenny said with a good natured smile, "I can handle a teenager with a curse."

Jenny's smile disappeared when she stepped into the room. The young woman was bent over the toilet, dry heaving.

"Amy?" Jenny walked towards the young woman, and placed her hands on her shoulder. Without waiting for a reaction, she nudged the woman away from the toilet, "I know it's beyond disgusting, Amy, but you need to keep that crap inside you."

"Leave me alone!" Amy tried to pull away, but Jenny's grip was too strong. The young hybrid brought Amy to the room's bed, and sat her down. Jenny observed the woman's black eye, but said nothing about it, "who the hell are you, and why am I here?!"

"Amy, lets be honest, I think you know the answer to both questions," Jenny said.

"…this is all a terrible dream," Amy said, "this can't be happening…"

"I'm afraid it is," Jenny said, "I know this is a lot to take in."

"A lot?!" Amy snapped, "my life is ruined! I'm a God damned monster! My life is over!"

"It's a little early to say that," Jenny said, "it's a cold comfort, but yours is not the worse curse out there."

"What, like being green?" Amy snapped, "how does that even compare to… to…"

Amy struggled to find the words.

"Honestly, you'd be surprised," Jenny said.

"So says the world famous CSI cop," Amy spat.

"I didn't start out start out Jenny Burkle, super cop," said Jenny, "as a matter of fact, I didn't even start out on this planet. I was literally born in a barn in another world, kiddo."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Amy spat.

"Everything," Jenny said, "you think no one will want you if they know about your curse? Well, wanna know what my family first knew about me?"

"What?"

"Well, when they first saw me, they knew I was a half demon, that my father raped my mother, who by the way was long dead, and that my mother never once spoke of me," Jenny said, "they knew I was a slave, knew I was beaten on a regular basis, hell, all they had to do was look at me to se that I had more baggage than an airliner."

"So what?"

Jenny smiled, proud of her father, of her family, "So they knew all that, but they didn't know my name. And you know what? That was all they cared about."

"This is different," Amy sniffed.

"Yeah, they took in an abused child because she shared the blood of a friend, and raised me," Jenny said, "not saying things will be a walk in the park for you, but if there's one thing life has taught me?

"It's that no matter how bad things are, no matter how terrible life gets, there are always people out there who care. People who will do right because it is right. My family taught me that, and I'm sure in time, you could teach your own family that."

Amy said nothing, but Jenny thought she saw the young girl nod. She allowed it to sink in for a moment, before she continued.

"But before we get to that, we have to talk about tonight," Jenny said, "specifically, what the hell were you thinking?"

"Excuse me?!"

Jenny narrowed her eyes at the young woman, "Do you expect me to believe for one minute that you didn't know about your family curse? You could have killed someone!"

"I didn't, I swear!"

Jenny gave Amy a hard look, "Oh really? Or did you hide your head in the sand, and think you could take amnesty afterwards?"

"I have no idea what…!"

"I looked it up," Jenny said, "I know your mother took amnesty. You know what that means, right?"

Amy opened her mouth, to tell Jenny that she was wrong, but her words fell short.

"It means she went out at one night, just like you did," Jenny said, "and someone else paid the price. And I bet your mom thinks about that every day. How else do you think she was so prepared for you doing the same?"

"I just…" Amy swallowed, "I've read about vampires and demons in the paper and online, but I never thought it'd be like this! That it could happen to me! I'm a normal person!"

"Well, it did," Jenny squeezed Amy's hand gently, "but that doesn't mean it's the end. There are dozens of agencies that will help you manage this, including mine. You're a lot luckier than your mother, in that regard."

"I hardly feel lucky," Amy muttered.

"That crap they shoved down your throat? It will keep your curse dormant, and no, it's not soylent green," Jenny said.

"Soylent what?"

Jenny rolled her eyes. No one seemed to remember the classics these days.

"Just think of it as soy that magic thinks is meat," Jenny said.

"It's still disgusting," Amy said.

"But it's better than hobo chow," Jenny said, "and if you thought that you could get amnesty, kid, you're dead wrong. That offer expired a decade ago. You should know better. And because you didn't, I have to add your name will be added to a watch list for the next fifteen years. One slip up, and they will throw the book at you."

"I never thought…"

"No, you didn't," Jenny interrupted, "and what's happening to you know is horrible, I know, but while it's something you have to always live with, it's not something you'll always have to confront. Until I was fourteen, my parents taught me never to call the police. I have to wear water proof make-up because at least once a week someone asshole splashes me with Holy water."

"…I'm sorry," Amy said, "you're right. I didn't think, and I could have killed someone…"

"Well, you were lucky to have family who cared enough to be careful," Jenny cupped Amy's chin, and examined her back eye, "and they were smart enough to hire someone who could stop you before you crossed a line. If that had happened, we'd be having an entirely different conversation."

Amy nodded. The idea that she might have killed someone simply because she couldn't accept that she had a family curse felt worse now than the curse ever did.

"But it didn't," Jenny said, "the people here know what they're doing. You need to let them finish. I gave them my contact information, and they'll call me when they're done. I'll walk you through what comes next."

"…am I going to jail?" Amy asked.

"Think of it as probation," Jenny said, "I won't rake you over the coals, but I have to make sure you're aware of the consequences if you don't take responsibility for your curse, understand? It's no different than someone who has AIDS. You have to take responsibility for keeping yourself, and others, safe."

"I understand," Amy said, "thank you, by the way. I know I screwed up, it's just…"

"I know, it's a lot to take in," Jenny said, "like I said, I gave the doctors my contact information. If you want to talk, feel free to call, okay?"

"Okay."

Jenny gave Amy's shoulder a gentle squeeze, "It's been a long day, why don't you get some rest? You have to stay locked up for a few days, but tomorrow the doctor'll have some DVDs and books brought in."

"I'll try to think of it as a lame vacation," Amy forced herself to chuckle, "with the worst food ever. Hey, umm, Agent Jenny? Can I ask a favor?"

"Only if you call me Jenny," she said, "what do you need?"

"Can you tell my mom I'm sorry?" Amy said, "I know hiring that guy wasn't cheap, and I know she must be worried…"

"You can tell her yourself," Jenny said, "you're not in prison, sweetie. Just detained until you're no longer a threat."

"I know," Amy winced, "but after causing all this trouble, I'd rather face prison than her."

"Well, can't help you there," Jenny said, "but she's family. Even when you're part, you're still together."

"I suppose. Good night, Jenny."

"'Nite, Amy. Any bed bugs bite, bite back!"

Amy smirked at the joke before attempting to scowl, and Jenny took comfort in that Amy at least had some humor for the situation.

Jenny closed the door, and heard the familiar flap of a leather duster.

"'ello, luv," Spike said, "so how's the little bird?"

"She knows she screwed up," Jenny said, "but no damage done, to her or anyone else."

Jenny gave Spike a serious look.

"Right?"

"Right," Spike said, "she scared a guy real bad, though. But Kru-Cullers have a glass jaw, ironic eh?"

"Well, I can justify soft balling her on the watch list," Jenny said, "well done. Though I imagine it wasn't cheap."

"Cheaper than a lawyer," Spike said, "a man's got to eat. Even if that man is a vampire."

"Speaking of eating, you want to come by sometime next week?" Jenny offered, "I've got some aged otter's blood, and…"

Spike raised an eyebrow, "You ready to have that talk?"

"Spike, you're over-react…"

"I'm busy, sorry, luv," Spike said, and spun on his heel.

"Fine, see you around," Jenny growled despite herself. She had always known that Spike had a bit of a drama queen in him, and after the long day she'd had, Jenny had no patience for it. She was upset sure, but that was family.

They were together, even when apart.