(Season 1)

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Mikey Santana was being promoted to Executive Assistant Director for Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch which left an opening for Special Agent in Charge for Major Crimes. Deputy Director Cullen and the Director of the FBI were considering their best options and that meant they needed to make sure the Supervisory Special Agent they promoted to Santana's position had to be able to take over with as little training as possible.

Aware of what was happening, Caroline Julian felt that the Justice Department relied on whoever filled that position to run that department in an efficient manner and made sure that the agents under them produced results that led to convictions. The last thing they needed was someone in charge of Major Crimes who would cause the Justice Department problems and their conviction rate to start to falter.

Sitting in the Attorney General's office, Ms. Julian listened to him talking to the other prosecutors he was responsible for while they debated about whether or not to try to influence the Director of the FBI. "Sir, the choice they make will affect all of us. Mikey Santana ran a tight ship and his agents produced results. We need that to continue. I think that they have an excellent candidate ready to take over the department right now and it would probably be a good idea if this office reminded them of that fact."

Curious, Attorney General Hunter turned in his chair to stare at Ms. Julian, wondering who she had in mind. "Who are you thinking of?"

"Special Agent Seeley Booth." Caroline saw a few heads nod and she knew that she might get her way. "He was the agent that killed Farid Masruk before he set off his bomb at the Hamilton Cultural Center last September. If he hadn't killed Farid that dirty bomb he was carrying would have killed a lot of people and doomed many more to cancer, blindness, diabetes . . . he and his partner figured out what was going on while investigating Sahar Masruk's death."

"My wife was at that peace conference." Hunter leaned back against his chair and placed his clasped hands under his chin. "Director Blankenship claimed that it was an undercover operation, but I know better. I talked to Deputy Director Cullen at a meeting at the White House and he told me that Agent Booth didn't want a medal for what he had done . . . Cullen wouldn't say why, but I don't think the why is that important . . . Booth and his partnership with the Medico-Legal has resulted in some excellent work and they've solved cases that seemed almost impossible . . . I don't think we could do better than Booth. I think he'd be a great replacement for Santana."

Pleased that her boss knew what a gem Booth was, Caroline leaned back against her chair and stared at her supervisor before commenting. She didn't want to push too hard, but she really wanted Booth to get that promotion. "Agent Booth's solve rate has been exemplary and he's made us look very good in court."

"He has." Hunter lowered his hands and placed them on the arms of his chair. "I think having a talk with Greg might benefit both him and us. Of course, he is the Director of the FBI and I don't really have any say in how he runs his organization, but a friendly conversation wouldn't hurt."

The meeting wrapping up, Caroline left Hunter's office confident that Booth at least had a chance to take over Major Crimes. The man had never disappointed her and she knew that he would continue to shine at what he did because he was dedicated and a brilliant investigator.

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Booth couldn't believe his luck. He had ambitions like most men, but he'd never thought he'd move up in the FBI this quickly. He'd hoped he might get there towards the end of his career so to be named the head of Major Crimes now meant he could set his sights higher in the chain of command. It was possible he might make it to Assistant Deputy Director or Deputy Director before he retired. He wasn't sure why he had been given the job instead of Agent Danfield, but he wasn't about to question that decision. He knew he was good at what he did and he was confident he could continue to make Major Crimes a vital department of the FBI.

Settling into his new office, Booth liked the fact that he now had a window. Working in the bullpen meant that he had been in a common room with windows he had no control over. Now he could open the blinds or keep them closed when he wanted to do it. That might seem like a small thing to most, but Booth knew that an office with a window meant prestige. He was now in charge of his department and he could begin to implement a few changes he had thought about while working for Santana. They weren't drastic changes, but it would make his agents work more efficiently.

She had given him time to move into his office and now Caroline knew it was time to visit Booth and let him know that she supported him in his move up the chain of command. She had recognized that Booth was a brilliant investigator and she knew that he might be as great if not greater supervising Major Crimes. "So, congratulations are in order." She entered Booth's office and took the time to study how he had decorated the office. She saw obvious signs of masculinity and his enthusiasm for sports was noticeable, but all in all, she approved of his showing a hint of his personality in his décor. It allowed who ever entered the office to see what made the man tick. It gave the room personality and it allowed you to see the human part of the man.

Surprised to see Caroline in his office, Booth stood up, pointed at a chair in front of his desk then sat back down. "Thanks. I'm not sure why Danfield didn't get the job, but I think they made the right choice choosing me."

"Oh, I think they did too." Once she was settled on the chair, Caroline placed her purse on the floor near her feet then turned her attention upon Booth. "I want you to know that the Attorney General was happy to see you get this position. He remembered what you did in September at the Hamilton Cultural Center. You did what had to be done and you saved a lot of people. The Director of the FBI couldn't have found a better agent to fill this slot."

"Thanks." Booth leaned back against his chair. "I have a few ideas that might increase the departmental solve rate."

Slowly nodding her head, Caroline saw that Booth wasn't being intimidated by his promotion and she liked that. "Are you still going to be the liaison with the Jeffersonian? I'd hate to see your partnership with Dr. Brennan dissolved. Your solve rate is phenomenal."

"No, nothing has changed." Booth had thought about it and he knew he couldn't give up working with Brennan. "She only works with the best and I'm the best. She won't work with anyone else here at the Hoover and I won't let our partnership dissolve. She's done a great job for us. I can run this department and work with the Lab. It won't be a problem."

"But it will be a lot of hours." Caroline knew what Booth was going to give up to do what he planned to do. "You won't have much of a social life."

Amused, Booth smiled. "I don't have one now, so I don't see the problem." He had tried to find someone to share his life with many times and they had all ended in failure. Tessa had been his latest attempt and failure and he wasn't eager to get back out there at the moment. He had his son in his life, his grandfather, some friends and his job. For now that would have to do.

Chuckling, Caroline felt a certain comradeship with the younger man. Her marriage had gone down in flames because both she and her husband had been workaholics. She dated once in a while, but she was certain she didn't want to walk down the aisle again. "Well, this could be a stepping stone up to bigger and better things if you play your cards right, Cher'. I once told you that I don't like to be disappointed and most of the agents around here have done just that but you . . . you've managed to stay on my good side. Not just my good side, but Cullen's good side and that's not an easy thing to do. The FBI has seen your potential and you're being rewarded. You deserve that chance." Standing, Caroline glanced at the picture on the left wall of Bobby Kennedy with his brother John in the background. "I always liked that picture."

"Yeah, me too." Booth stood up and leaned on his desk. "Thanks for coming by, Caroline. I appreciate it."

After she glanced at her watch, Caroline knew she had to leave. "You and that partner of yours keep making me looking good, Cher'. We can both go far with the results we've seen from you two working together. Now if you can get the rest of your department to produce results like you do, I'd appreciate that and so would the Attorney General."

Once Booth was alone, he sat down and turned to stare at the picture of Bobby Kennedy. His grandmother had owned that picture and before she had died, she had given it to him. "You can go far, Seeley. You're smart and clever and I think you can be whatever you want to be. Maybe you can even be President someday. Don't sell yourself short. I never have and I never will."

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