Doing her best to hide her bad mood Vivian walked on to her desk. She wasn't sure what to make of this situation, Jack having given her this assignment… was he punishing her for something or should she take it as prove of his trust in her abilities?
"Hey!" a voice interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up into the face of Agent Andrew Banks, the fourth member of Jack's team. "Oh, good morning, Andy…" she greeted him still a bit absently which make him grin.
"Did you just talk to Jack?" he asked curiously.
"Yeah, spoke to him first thing this morning." She forced a smile.
"Well, then I take it you haven't met pretty-boy over there, yet?" Banks said pointing over to the conference table where, usually, the team was sitting around the table, discussing options and possibilities when they were on a case. Right now there was only one person there; and he wasn't sitting he was standing behind a chair, holding onto it as if he was feeling uncomfortable; a young man in his early to mid twenties, and after having seen his picture in his file, Vivian had no doubt that this was Agent Taylor.
She sighed deeply before walking over to greet him, friendly as she always did. "Morning. Agent Taylor, I assume? My name is Vivian Johnson, and we're working together from now on."
"Yes, I know. Nice to meet you."
As an FBI-Agent Vivian had developed a habit of running a close eye over everybody she met and so she did as they shook hands. Agent Taylor was tall, very slender and with his boyish features and his dark hair all ruffled up he looked even younger than his twenty-five years. Well, he would have – if it hadn't been for his eyes. There was something about them, something very serious and – she couldn't help herself – something sad as well. But she couldn't say for sure what it was.
Well, at least he's got manners, Vivian thought to herself before speaking again: "Would you please sit down. Since we're not on an active case at the moment we've got the time to go through some rules, unwritten rules I mean. Rules that Agent Malone and I would appreciate you sticking to."
When they sat down at the conference table Vivian noticed that the young agent didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable anymore, instead he was obviously very eager to start on his new job. But he would have to be patient. She felt a little sorry for him; she knew that to maintain patience before their first case was always one the most difficult things for every new agent. Danny Taylor was no exception. He didn't look happy at all but did as he'd been told.
"First of all I'd like you to know that there will be no playing the hero if you want to stay part of this team; no putting yourself in any unnecessary danger, no trying to deal with any problems or solve any case on your own; if you got any information you always have to share it with the rest of the team at once. No secrets and no competing with other agents, is that understood?"
The young man just nodded and Vivian went on: "Well, you might think all this does not need to be mentioned but you wouldn't believe how many young agents there are, who are just eager to impress and therefore are totally unable of working as a part of a team."
"I know how this works" Agent Taylor replied calmly.
"We'll see." Although at the moment he seemed pretty reasonable, Viv had her doubts. "Oh, and one more thing: our victims depend on you being totally healthy, fit and concentrated at work; so no matter how wrapped up in a case you are and how little time there seems to be; you always have to eat and sleep regularly, if you can manage it."
"That's logical isn't it?"
Vivian shook her head. "It isn't. Just wait and see." She leaned back on her chair and grinned. "Well, I'm done. That was it."
"Ok, I think I got everything." He gave her a questioning look. "And now?"
"Now?" Vivian grin grew even bigger as she told him: "Now you're going to the things everybody has to do on their first day, no matter at what job."
"And that would be?"
"First you're going to make coffee and then you're going to go and make some copies for me…"
She could see the disappointment in his eyes but didn't feel sorry. It amused her knowing that soon enough he would be thankful for these quiet days at the office.
She watched as Agent Taylor was just about to leave for the coffee when Jack interrupted their plans rushing out of his office: "Everybody; we got a case…"