34 Second Avenue Brentwood
17 hours missing
Vivian knocked on the door, taking the opportunity to look around the neighbourhood. In every yard there was at least one bike and in most there was a football. The houses were all well kept, with fences and plants, although some of the plants looking the worst for wear, probably down to the football. It was a really nice neighbourhood, the kind of place you live in order to have the American dream lifestyle. From inside the house came the sound of running footsteps, when they reached the door Vivian expected the door to open, it didn't. Suddenly Vivian felt very uneasy, bending down she pulled the flap of the letter box up so she could look into the house. Almost immediately her view was blocked, as two scared looking eyes met hers.
"Alice, it's Agent Johnson here, from the FBI. Where's your mommy" Alice's eyes started to fill with tears. "Ok, can you open the door sweetie" Alice shook her head,
"I can't it's locked and I can't reach the key" Alice wailed, starting to cry. Vivian swallowed nervously, putting on the most reassuring voice she could.
"That's ok don't worry. What about the back door, is that locked" Alice sniffed and nodded, tears still pouring down her cheeks. "Ok, are the any other doors" Alice shook her head"Right, how about windows, are there any open" Alice shook her head again in response. Vivian nodded thinking fast, she could call the local PD, they would be able to break the door down. In an ideal world she should be able too, however she'd failed that part of the course at Quantico. The problem with getting the local PD is that they would take a while to get here, and this could be a life and death situation. Decision made Vivian looked round the garden, soon spying what she was after. "Ok honey, I'm just going to get something ok. Now, I want you to stay exactly where you are ok. Don't be afraid ok, I'm right here." Without waiting for a response Vivian stood up and walked over to the rock garden at the end, once there she chose a rock and lifting it she headed back to the door. "Ok Alice, now I don't want you to be afraid. I'm just going to come inside alright, stay where you are and don't worry I'm right here." Reassuring Alice all the time, Vivian moved over to the study window, with only slight hesitation Vivian raised the rock up the glass and threw it through the window with a massive crash. Part of the window around the hole the rock had made broke, carefully Vivian punched in the rest of window with her elbow and then broke off the jagged edges at the bottom of the window. Wishing she had gloves Vivian gingerly hoisted herself up and through the window, after a perilous few moments her feet found the floor. Crunching on the broken glass and inspecting herself for any cuts, Vivian made her way out to the hallway where Alice was waiting. "It's ok sweetie" Vivian smiled reassuringly moving so she could see into the living room. Lying on the couch was Elaine Parker, her skin was as white as snow. An empty pill bottle and a half empty bottle of vodka lay on the floor, it was obvious she was dead. However, procedure dictated that Vivian check for a pulse. Muttering reassurances to Alice all the time Vivian walked over to Elaine, as soon as her fingers touched Elaine's skin she knew she was dead, she was cold to the touch. Vivian nodded and noted the time, before walking back out to the hallway and Alice. "Ok Alice, let's go outside now ok" Vivian suggested unlocking the door and taking Alice's hand, guiding her away from the body of her mother.
FBI Headquarters
17 hours missing
Nervously Jack walked into Van Doren's office, he wasn't quite sure why he'd requested this meeting, it had just seemed like a good idea at the time. That time had been four in the morning though, when anybody's though processes were impaired. However, it was a little late now to cancel.
"Jack." Van Doren stood up to meet him as he entered"How are you" Jack bit his lip, he himself hadn't evaluated how he felt and even if he had, he wouldn't be telling the result to Paula Van Doren.
"Paula, any thoughts on what my job situation is" 'Jack skillfully avoided my question' Van Doren noted, letting the issue pass.
"No firm decisions have yet been made Jack, there is a lot to consider" Van Doren told him, Jack nodded sighing slightly.
"I know that. However, I need to know whether I can rejoin my unit or not."
"The missing persons unit Jack, not your unit" Van Doren corrected.
"I know, it's Vivian's unit now and I'm fine with that. I'll work under Vivian's leadership if I have too but I want to stay working missing persons" Jack said firmly, Van Doren hesitated, thinking of the best argument to put across to dissuade him.
"Jack there are several reasons why that isn't a good idea. One, you are too experienced to go back to working as a ordinary special agent. Two, there is the question of your relationship with Spade. Now you and your wife have split there is no reason why you won't pursue a relationship, I know how you feel about her Jack. Three, think how Agent Johnson will feel, she's finally got the command she worked so hard for and her old boss is looking over her shoulder. Think about it Jack" Van Doren suggested, studying his face and thinking that he was going to listen to her for a change.
"One, you were perfectly happy for me to go back to being a street agent in Chicago. Two, I wouldn't look over Vivian's shoulder and three. I would no longer be Sam's supervisor, there are no FBI regulations on whether colleagues can have a relationship" Jack argued, Van Doren bit her lip in annoyance, he always came up with an answer didn't he.
"No there are no regulations but you know it's frowned upon. It wrecks the teams dynamic, if you were in a dangerous situation, no in fact you have been. Barry Mashburn, the bookstore. Look me in the eye and tell me you would have done the same for Taylor or Fitzgerald or Johnson. Tell me that you would have traded your life for their life, that the action you took wasn't just because it was Spade." Jack nodded accepting the question, he knew there was no avoiding this one. He looked Van Doren in the eye and told her the truth.
A/N: I found this quite hard to write, of all the characters Vivian's the one that I find hardest to write for. Was the action paragraph with her realistic? As for Jack and Van Doren, I have no idea how this is handled for real, is what I did ok?