Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story line and the characters are not recognizable from the show. Thank you!
Once again, I would like to thank SailorJP, Fanpire101, cheliosfan, Huck05, JaS2g, Karyn, Gremlinpugs, and Countrygirl09 for your lovely reviews. Also, another big thanks to any other readers.
Knocking lightly on the thick wooden door, he stood in the hallway silently, his hands folded behind his back. He had made up his mind. Some would call him completely insane for giving all of this up...but some things were more important. Those that he loved, more dearly than he would ever be able to explain, were more important. Those that had become his family were more important.
"Come in!" he heard called from the opposite side of the door, and he reached a steady hand forward to twist the knob.
Stepping inside the small, but pristine office, he closed the door noiselessly behind him. Turning to face the large man behind the desk, he took a deep breath. He had been debating his reason for coming to see this man, today, in his mind, for weeks. Ever since the engagement had taken place. It seemed like he was now hitting his dead-end...but this was completely worth it.
"Ted," he began, his voice all business. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask, away," Ted answered, dropping the pen in his hand upon the desk and leaning back in his leather chair, indicating that he should sit, too. "What's on your mind?"
"The wedding," he answered, knowing that Ted would be on exactly the same page as he was. "I want to know what needs to be done to make it possible for all of us to stay on the same team. Whatever I have to do, please...consider it done."
"We've already discussed this," Ted answered, his face growing more sober as he leaned forward. "A transfer will have to take place. It's the only logical solution that will keep everyone within the same location...another unit really isn't that bad."
"It is 'that bad', Ted," he sighed loudly, leaning back in the dark red fabric of the chair. "Listen...we're like a family. You've seen what this place has been like when one of us are gone and replacements and temps come in. It's disfunctional, to say the least."
"Well, what do you want me to do?" Ted asked, picking up his pen again, only to tap it aggitatedly on the wooden desktop. "We all knew that a marriage within the same unit, at the same level, would cause some difficulties. I thought that you, of all people, would have understood that. As a leader on my best team, we've talked about this. You are responsible for helping make decisions that is best for the team. You have to choose...someone has to be transferred to another unit."
Taking a deep breath, he stood up from his seat, beginning to pace the length of the office. He had gone over this so many times, measuring up and investigating the bylaws and regulations of the F.B.I.'s policies. He was certain that this would work...and that they would all be allowed to stay together. No matter how much his brain and commen sense was telling him that this was stupid...something in his chest and the pit of his gut was telling him that this was what he should do. This was the answer, and he was willing to do what it took to take it.
"I have another idea," he said, still pacing the room, but meeting Garrett's eyes firmly. "A switch of positions."
"I'm sorry?" Ted asked, seeming confused, at first, but then slightly aggravated. Garrett did not like the prospect of breaking up his best team anymore than he did. "Being team-leader is not the problem, here...it's being on the same level of the totem pole, within the same unit. Come on...you know this!"
"I know," he answered, trying to explain himself, as Ted was obviously getting more and more frustrated, discussing an already unpleasant topic. "I mean a switch of positions from one level to another."
Garrett regarded him seriously, realization dawning behind his dark eyes, though his expression remained the same.
"Do you realize what you're suggesting?" Garrett asked, his voice calmer and more resigned, but still deathly sobered.
"Different duties, more responsibilities, better pay, a more sound position to start and raise a family with," he answered easily, taking his seat, again. "Same job that I love, same team, same life, different technicalities."
Garrett took another deep breath that seemed to move the whole of his large frame, before standing to his own feet and rounding the desk to sit on the edge. His folded his hands together on his lap, fingering a white envelope in his hand.
"You decided to wait until the day of to tell me this?" Garrett asked, coming to terms with the idea. "You're asking me to give a promotion to the second choice?"
"That's exactly what I'm doing," he answered, smiling with self-satisfaction, now absolutely certain, by the warm feeling in his stomach, that he was doing the right thing. "Some people deserve it more than other, because they need it more than others."
Garrett nodded his head in agreement, obviously not so certain as he was, but comfortable with the idea of settling for the runner-up.
"Well, if you're positive," Ted relented, pushing himself off of the desk and striding towards the door. "Let's get to the bullpen and get this done...one announcement, so as to avoid any confusion."
Jumping from his chair, he followed the supervisor from his office and down the hall, to where the rest of the team sat, perfectly unaware of what had passed and probably still discussing the details of the honeymoon. It was their first day back, after all.