Resolution Pt. 2
Bobby slammed on the breaks with both feet as Tara suddenly appeared behind his car.
"What the …" he started, putting the car up into park. Tara walked around the side and up to his window.
"I need to talk to you - now."
Bobby fumbled with his seatbelt, and grabbed his keys, all the while scanning her for bodily injury. "What's going on?" Myles and Lucy both exited the vehicle, also confused as to Tara's dramatic entrance.
"I'm sorry if I scared you but I need to talk to Bobby, immediately." Tara took the agent by the hand and dragged him back toward the elevators. If it hadn't been so confusing Lucy would have thought the size difference comical, seeing little bitty Tara leading Bobby who was twice her size along like a toddler.
"Looks like we're taking my car this time," Myles commented dryly, a brow raised.
"The sooner the better, 'cause I'm starving." Lucy shut her door and hit the lock button.
As soon as the elevator door closed Tara stopped the car.
"What's this about? You've gone troppo, luv." He leaned down to look more closely at the beaming young woman in front of him.
"Did you mean it?" Tara asked, twisting her fingers as she looked up at Bobby. She wondered if he could hear her heartbeat or if it was only in her head.
"Mean what?" He tilted his head to one side.
"Did you mean it, the kiss." She practically danced, her voice higher. "The kiss. Last night, when you kissed me outside the club."
"Ah, Tara, luv. I'll mean kissing you every chance I get." Before he could relax Tara had launched herself up his frame and at his lips. Bobby had to lean back against the elevator car wall and still nearly dropped her. They both slid to the floor. The kiss was every bit as magical as the previous two had been, only this time Bobby didn't feel like he'd overstepped his bounds.
"You're certainly full of surprises." Bobby's smile matched Tara's in wattage.
"I talked to Dimitrius, he said that when the time comes to talk to H.R. and fill out the necessary paperwork." She shrugged as she moved to a position at Bobby's side.
"What about the no-frat policy?" he questioned, taking Tara's hand in his.
"D said that no one ever reads the fine print. I guess that means we should."
"I guess we should." Bobby pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. "How about lunch before we walk into the lion's den?"
"You're on," Tara chuckled.
Bobby drove Tara to the Mexian restaurant. They arrived just as everyone's food was being brought out of the kitchen. A waitress hustled two chairs over to the already full table. Even Dimitrius managed to beat them to the restaurant.
"We have good news," Bobby began.
"As soon as we take a trip to H.R. we're going out to dinner."
Dimitrius was the only one at the table not completely bewildered. Everyone looked around the table at each other.
"What about Stanley? What about Darcy?" That Lucy asked the questions surprised no one.
"Stanley has made his life choices and it wasn't me." Tara looked away.
"As has Darcy; she's happy in L.A. and that's all good." Bobby gave a lopsided smile for a brief moment.
"Here's to new beginnings!" Jack raised a glass of ice water to the both of them.
"True enough," Bobby conceded with a smile. Everyone began talking at once, happy for their friends.
If Bobby and Tara took their time getting back to the bullpen, no one mentioned it. He gave her a quick wink before leaving her at her desk, to which she gave a bright smile. Tension in the bullpen had disappeared, thankfully.
"Hey, want to have dinner with me and Sue?" Lucy asked just before quitting time. Her dark eyes sparkled with curiosity. Tara had figured as soon as they came back from the Mexican restaurant that they'd end up having a hen party that evening.
"Okay, that'd be great." Across the room Tara spied Jack talking to Bobby, probably asking him about his plans for the evening. Lucy gave her a knowing look.
"If you'd rather spend time with Bobby, we totally understand. Raincheck?"
"No, dinner sounds great. Me and Bobby will catch up afterward."
"Girl!" Lucy teased as Tara grinned from ear to ear."
The next day at 10 AM, Bobby and Tara were ushered into the H.R. director's office, Chris Miller. Dimitrius and Jack were already seated fore and aft of the director's desk as he sat mid-ship. The office had a distinctly nautical theme, a sail ship in a bottle sat beneath a reproduction of "Ships on a Stormy Sea" by Willem van der Velde the Younger.
"Agent Williams, Agent Manning, please, have a seat." Neither agent could read the older man's neutral expression. Bobby met Tara's eyes and gave her an encouraging nod.
"I've spoken to your immediate supervisors, who have both put in a good word."
Both visibly relaxed.
"There's a reason why everyone assumes the no fraternization policy is iron-clad, we prefer it that way. It keeps workplace drama to a minimum. Usually when this situation arises one or the other asks for a transfer - problem solved.
"From speaking to your supervisors though, I see that transferring one of you would be a detriment to the team as a whole. So, I'm going to approve the necessary paperwork. BUT…"
Bobby and Tara held their breath, waiting to hear his potentially ominious next statement.
"But, I will be keeping an eye on your work performance; a close eye." He handed Bobby and Tara each a red file folder, thick with forms.
"Thank you, sir," Bobby addressed the balding, Asian-American man.
"Don't thank me yet." Miller finally broke into a smile. He stood up to escort all four agents to the door.
"I will be monitoring your work performance, but I wish you the best." It was handshakes all around before everyone returned to work for the day.
Bobby stopped Dimitrius and Jack in the hall outside the bullpen.
"I just wanted to say thanks to ya mate, for stickin' with us on this. It means a lot." He met each of them's gaze, trying to show them what he couldn't seem to say.
"Anytime, Bobby. Anytime." D gave him a friendly slap on the back before walking on into the bullpen.
"You'd go to bat for us," Jack shrugged.
"US? So, does that mean I need to put in a good word for you and Sue soon?"
Oh the death glare Jack gave his best friend. It could have scorched tungsten steel. Bobby only grinned.
"Say the word, mate and I'll return the favor."
Jack walked away shaking his head. Bobby didn't see the concerned look Sue gave Jack at his unusual scowl. To answer he finger spelled, "C-R-A-S-H."
Sue only nodded, leaving well enough alone. She knew Jack wasn't too mad at Bobby, just extremely peeved.