Twenty-one Weeks at Quantico

By: Lesera128

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing... Obviously. Just playing in someone else's sandbox for a bit.

Summary: When the FBI establishes a pilot program for consultants to receive training at the FBI academy, Brennan and Booth clash over whether she should enroll. AU.

8. 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1: Orientation, Part II

A few hours after the reception, the final event of the training program's orientation's first day, concluded, Special Agent Rose Harding sat in a conference room in the Academy's small office building. She was sitting at a table in front of a large projector, being watched by two of the Bureau's Assistant Directors. Harding's boss, Assistant Director Diane MacKinnon, watched her agent carefully as she gave her report.

"Overall, I think we have a diverse group of individuals who, if properly trained and supervised, would make excellent resources for the Bureau," Harding said.

MacKinnon frowned as she said, "Rose, I know that tone. That's the tone I get after one of the classes of FBI trainees comes through here, and you've already decided that some of them are going to washout."

Harding was quiet for a moment. She then said, "I have concerns about some of the consultants and their ability to successfully complete the training, yes, ma'am."

At this, the man to the right of MacKinnon spoke. "Who?"

"Honestly, sir… Dr. Dackins… the cultural anthropologist from Catholic University… even though chronologically his age is within the program requirements… he is at the upper end of our cut off.. and I have concerns that his age… combined with his outlook on life… will make it very difficult for him to successfully complete the rigors of the physical training."

"Are you saying Dackins is too old?" MacKinnon asked.

"As I said, chronologically he is only forty-eight… but in some ways… well, ma'am… I've known retirees who are more sprightly," Harding said. "Especially for someone who works in a field dominated by rights and religious rituals. He is somewhat… rigid in his approach to things."

As MacKinnon and Harding continued discussing the other candidates, the video on the projector had continued replaying shots that had been taken during the entire day… including the reception. Suddenly, the man beside MacKinnon reached out and clicked the projector remote.

"Wait," he said. "Stop right there."

"What is it, Sam?" MacKinnon asked, turning to side.

"There," Cullen asked. He pointed at the screen that was paused on an image of Harding… and Brennan… from the reception.

"Why do I get the impression from Dr. Brennan's face that Dackins isn't the only anthropologist with whom you've taken issue, Agent Harding?" Cullen asked.

"Sir, permission to speak freely?" Harding asked.

Cullen nodded. "As long as you tell me what you were saying to Dr. Brennan at the time this image was taken."

Harding said, "Of course, sir. I was informing her that I was the agent who would be serving as her liaison for the duration of the program instead of Agent Booth."

Cullen frowned. "While I'm sure that wasn't pleasing to her, I'm sure it wasn't a great shock. Hacker told me he fully briefed Dr. Brennan on the situation when the invitation was extended."

"Yes, sir," Harding said, ignoring the fact that Brennan had expressed some surprise at some of the details concerning Booth that she hadn't actually been told… at Booth's insistence or someone else's, Harding wasn't sure.

"Then what made her react as she did?" Cullen said.

"I was expressing my personal opinion, sir… that while I respect and admire Dr. Brennan's talents as a forensic anthropologist, I questioned her suitability to participate in the program given her condescending and overbearing personality combined with the questionable relationships she has with family members who are convicted felons… particularly when she herself has been arrested several times on felony charges herself," Harding said.

Both MacKinnon and Cullen sighed.

"Rose," MacKinnon began.

"Ma'am," Harding said, interrupting her. "You hired me to run this program to get the best results of this joint venture by the Major Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigations Department and the Training Division of the Law Enforcement Service Department. I would be remiss in doing my job if I did not let the trainee I was mentoring have a fair and accurate assessment of what criteria I will be using to relate to her over the next twenty-one weeks."

Cullen crossed his arms together as he sat back in his chair and said, "Now that you've shared this… personal opinion with Dr. Brennan… do you still think you will be able to complete your job as her assigned liaison with impartiality? Can you do what she needs you to do to make sure she has a fair shot at getting through the program?"

Immediately, Harding nodded. "Of course, sir." She paused and then said, "I'm not going to misrepresent my opinions, though, sir. I believe in the years that Dr. Brennan has been partnered with Agent Booth that she has grown accustomed to being treated in a certain way that does not critique nor impede her ego…."

At this, Cullen barked a sharp laugh. "Let me get this straight… you think Booth… has been… indulging Dr. Brennan for so long that she… isn't ever criticized even when she's off the mark?"

Harding shrugged. "I have only met Agent Booth once, sir, and that was many years ago. All I can say is that what I observed of their interaction… he was very… placating to Dr. Brennan to the point of coddling her at times."

Again, Cullen laughed. "Word of advice, Harding… if and when you next see Booth… my advice is not to repeat those words. Not only do I not think that he wouldn't agree with them… I don't think you'd like his response to your assessment."

Harding shrugged again, "As you say, sir… but, I can only base my assumptions of what I've witnessed firsthand of Dr. Brennan's behavior… at some point, she developed the idea that it was acceptable to behave in the way she demonstrated when we discussed my assignment as her liaison. She was combative, brusk, and argumentative. I believe that was as a result of the fact that I was not interacting with her in the same context that Agent Booth does… and has for years."

"Booth isn't the only agent she's worked with over the years, you do realize, Agent Harding?" Cullen asked.

Harding nodded. "I've read the reports of Agents Sullivan and Perotta over the years… and neither one of them had… well… what they had to say about her in their earliest reports echoed much of what I've voiced as far as my concerns go here. In his report on the murder of Judy Dowd in 2006, Agent Sullivan reported that while he believed that Dr. Brennan had an impressive knowledge of forensic investigate techniques, he observed she had difficulty interacting with individuals without sounding 'arrogant and clinically detached.' Likewise, in Agent Perotta's report on the murder of Pete Carlson in 2009, she wrote that she found Dr. Brennan to be a very intelligent investigator, but also to be 'bossy and over-reaching' while at times making comments that 'overstepped her boundaries' as an FBI consultant."

Cullen rubbed his chin for a moment and then said, "You do realize that both Agents Sullivan and Perotta have regularly worked the Jeffersonian liaison position in a continued rotation with Agent Booth for almost the past two years?"

Harding nodded. "Yes, sir."

"And?" Cullen prompted.

"And, I fail to see how that invalidates the prior points I made given the fact that Dr. Brennan was not in residence for substantial chunks of time during that two-year period." At this, Harding frowned as she said, "She takes *frequent* and sometimes… prolonged leaves of absence."

Cullen shrugged. "From what Camille Saroyan, Brennan's department chair at the Jeffersonian has told me, Brennan's contract with the Institute is such that she can pretty much come and go when she pleases… she's that good."

"No one's that good," Harding said, muttering. Both MacKinnon and Cullen looked at her. She smiled immediately and said, "Again, just my personal opinion, sir, ma'am."

She was silent for a moment. At last, MacKinnon said, "You've read her psych profile, right, Rose?"

"Yes, ma'am," Harding said. "Dr. Sweets characterized her in… many of the same terms." She paused, and then frowned as she said, "Of course… he tended to like using the descriptor 'hyper rational' more than anything else… he used that adjective a *lot* now that I come to think of it."

"Listen," Cullen said, placing his hands on the table in a conciliatory manner. "I'm not saying… in some of the ways you've characterized her behavior… you're not very accurate. She's a squint… and a pain in the ass… and has been since the very first case Booth ever took her out on almost eight years ago. But… she is very good at what she does and… their case solve rate is proof that however she does things… it works."

"Maybe," Harding admitted. "I'm not debating that how she behaves… the cost-benefit analysis of her behavior in the field versus the results of cases solved, that her behavior is acceptable if you have an agent that's willing to put up with her… and she's acting as a consultant. But, sir… if she completes this program and gains a status as a reserve agent… she… she won't be a consultant anymore. And, her behavior is not acceptable for someone who is a formal member of this organization," Harding said emphatically. "It's just not appropriate… not warranted."

Cullen crossed his arms again in thought. At last he spoke and said, "Do you think she can make the necessary adjustments?"

"I don't know, sir," Harding said. "I think it's going to be very… difficult… in the event of either outcome."

MacKinnon nodded. "Well… your personal feelings aside… it sounds like you know what you need to do, Rose."

"Yes, ma'am. Yes, I do," Harding said with a distinct and definitive nod.

Later, MacKinnon sat in the conference room with just Cullen. She nodded and said, "Aren't you happy to be back among the lower peons of us Assistant Directors?"

Cullen laughed. "When Amy died, and I took that leave of absence... I thought about just retiring, but... I... I was home for four months, and I started going crazy... I needed to do *something* since it's just the two of us since Amy..."

His voice trailed off a bit.

MacKinnon said, "But why take the demotion?"

Cullen shrugged, "We both know I'm no good at the schmoozing and networking that's required among the politicos to maintain the DD position for longer than I did, Diane... Hell, it's amazing to me that I last even that long. I... I just never liked that part. Men like Andrew? Now... he'll tell you himself... he's very good at kissing the right behinds... and, I think he likes the results it gets him. So, when the Director asked me if I would be willing to take the AD job instead... I-I jumped at the chance. Solving crimes... helping agents... having an actual *positive* effect on the world where we live that goes beyond hobnobbing with politicians and foreign dignitaries and their wives while spending the little other free time mediating budgetary and jurisdictional disputes... No, I don't miss the old job. I can do more as an AD more than I ever could as a DD... besides... it's not like I'm doing this out of necessity. The pay cut wasn't a big deal. Like I said, I could have retired by now if I wanted to... but, this job... it keeps giving me a reason to keep getting up every day..."

"And what about Alexandra?"

Sighing, Cullen said, "It gives me enough time to be with her... but, it... it gives me enough time away from her, too, you know?"

MacKinnon nodded. She was silent for a moment before she said, "Sam?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think about what Harding said?" MacKinnon asked.

"About Dr. Brennan?"

MacKinnon nodded.

Cullen shook his head as he said, "I'm not sure, Diane... some of what she said is very accurate... I know that from personal experience... but some of it... I just hope she doesn't take her practice of registering her personal opinions *of* Dr. Brennan *to* Dr. Brennan a... habit... lest we end up down one consultant trainee and one agent program coordinator."

MacKinnon frowned. "Do you think Harding was out of line?"

Cullen shrugged. "It's her right to have whatever opinion she wants to about Dr. Brennan. From what she said, and what I observed of their interaction, just because Harding may have been pushing some of Dr. Brennan's buttons doesn't mean she was doing anything inappropriate." He was quiet for a second and then said, "What do you think?"

MacKinnon was quiet for a moment before she said, "I've known Rose Harding for over four years... she moved to DC from Atlanta... she had moved there from... mmmm, I think she's from somewhere in Louisiana originally. But, anyway, she was working for the Fulton County Sheriff's Department when she was accepted into the program. Her scores were okay... but... when we tried to place her originally, it became clear that a normal field office position wasn't the best... fit for her. I happened to be the AD for the Baltimore office at the time, and so made her an offer. I knew I was going to be up for the promotion... and I liked her. There's something about her... she's seen a lot of scary stuff... and is still alive. She's still... strong. And doing things her way. She worked with me at the Baltimore office for six months before I took her with me when I took over the Training Division." MacKinnon thought for a moment before she said, "Rose is a very close-to-the-vest kind of gal... doesn't have a lot of friends. She has a mother that lives in a retirement home in Cheverley... and an older sister who's widowed in Baton Rouge that she doesn't see very much. She's not married... no kids... the one time she's ever mentioned any romantic interests... it was during a very long evening involving several bottles of red wine... and her crying her eyes out about the 'one that got away'... But, she's very good at what she does. I trust her. If something about Dr. Brennan concerns her... I think it means we need to be concerned because I feel confident in saying there is *something* there to be worried about..."

"Hmmm..." Cullen mulled.

"What?" MacKinnon asked. "Does that conflict with what you know about Dr. Brennan?"

Cullen shrugged. "Not necessarily. As I told you... I know her... somewhat. The person I do know well, however, and whose opinion I *do* trust is Booth's. He stands by her... and has for years. So... to me... that says something as well."

"It's a tough situation," MacKinnon said. "What do you think we should do? Do you think we should watch them?" MacKinnon questioned in curiosity.

Cullen nodded. "It can't hurt... but, yes, I think it might be a good idea to watch both of them... for now... and see what happens."

After Booth had managed to get Chrissy calmed back down and settled, Booth had steered Brennan back to their bedroom. She had finally stopped crying long enough to explain to him what had happened.

"And that's it, Bones... you're telling me *all* that she said?" Booth asked.

Brennan nodded. "More or less."

"More or less, meaning what, Bones?"

"Yes, I've told you all she said about my background and family... and why she doesn't want me in the program," Brennan said weakly.

"But?" Booth prodded.

"'But' what, Booth?" Brennan asked.

"What else did she say?"

"What makes you think that she said something else?" Brennan said, vaguely.

"Bones... don't play dumb... not with me... you know I know you too well and that you've never been able to pull that off with me...not now... not that you ever really could even way back when... not with me, at least," Booth said.

Brennan sighed with a wave of her hand, "She may have made a vague comment about why you would want to continue to voluntarily working with me if you didn't have to..."

"What kind of vague comment?" Booth asked. His frowned deepened when Brennan merely shrugged.

"I don't remember, Booth," Brennan sighed. "It's not like it matters anyway."

"Yes, it does... and you never, *EVER* forget anything... which means you aren't saying what she said because you know it'll piss me off... which is tells me enough that I'm going to go see her next week and make *her* tell me what she said if you won't..." Booth said. "She and I are going to have a little chat... she's way off base."

"No!" Brennan immediately protested. "You *can't* do that, Booth."

"Why not?"

"Because... because, if you do... then she'll know that she got to me... and then... then, she use that as a reason to get me kicked out of the program, Booth," Brennan said.

She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him in exasperation. "I… it was all I could do not to break down right in front of her, Booth... but, I didn't... I got out of there... and made it here before I did start to cry... and after all I went through today to do that... if you went to her and said something... it would mean that all I went through today, all I did today... it was meaningless." She paused and then looked up at him again. "I... I came so close, Booth... so close to losing it right there in front of her-"

He shrugged. "But you didn't… and… more over… you didn't punch or slap her either. If you think back, Bones… you've kinda come a long way from how you used to react to that type of criticism."

"Yeah," Brennan said. "Well, a part of me would have rather punched her in the nose like I did to Judge Hasty."

"Ehhh," Booth shook his head. "Not a good idea if the goal is to complete the training… see… that type of thing… that's the type of thing the Bureau frowns on when it comes to evaluating the fitness of their trainees as potential agents, Bones… so, in actuality… what you did was a good thing," Booth said.

"Rushing home and crying like a little girl?" Brennan said in disgust. "Yes, you're right that it was a good thing I didn't cry in front of her... but that being said... a part of me is wondering if that's the type of person I'm going to have to be to finish this thing… then... I'm not sure I want to do it."

"So this mean you aren't going back to Quantico next week?" Booth asked hopefully.

"No," Brennan sighed.

"Then are you going to tell me what she said?"

"You aren't going to leave it alone unless I do, right?"

"Probably."

Brennan sighed. "It's nothing that we haven't heard before... basically... you're neither sane, rational, logical... or normal since you've chosen to be with me as long as you have been since we've been partners. And so on, and so forth..."

"Oh, that's it?"

"What do you mean 'that's it'?" Brennan asked, suddenly annoyed.

"I thought she might have been more creative than that... because, ya know, Bones... she's probably not that far off the mark if that's what she said... I like to think... and proudly so... that I'm neither rational or logical... I'd prefer to leave that to you squints... as to the normal part... well... what's so great about being normal?" Booth said.

"Booth!"

"What?"

"Stop trying to make me feel better," Brennan said.

"Why? Is it working yet?"

"No!" she pouted, although her small smile, hinted at by the crinkle at the curve of her upturned mouth, gave away her true and actual response.

"Okay, Bones... " Booth grinned. "But, you can't say I didn't try, Bones."

She reached over and tossed a pillow at him. "Shut up, Booth."

He ducked the pillow, retrieved it, and lobbed it back at her. Brennan, not expecting the assault, yelped in surprise as the pillow hit her straight in the head.

Pouncing, Booth jumped on top of her to keep her from retaliating. Pinning her to the bed, he wickedly eyed her with a mischievous grin on his face.

She looked up at him with a frown. "You suck."

"You don't even know what that means," Booth laughed.

"Yes, I do! Parker taught it to me a long time ago. It means… you are an unfair… horrible… bully who—"

At this, Booth bent down his head to kiss her, she reached up her head to meet his. The kissed for a moment, and then Booth pulled a part. He eyed Brennan for a moment with curiosity evident in his voice as he said, "What? No exclamations of that not being a fair move?"

"Nope," Brennan said, shaking her head slightly.

"Why?"

"Because," Brennan said. "I reached up to meet you with a kiss at the same time you were reaching down to kiss me… so it doesn't count as you taking advantage of me."

"Uh huh…."

Brennan paused, looking him directly in the eye again. "Booth?"

"Yeah, Bones?"

"You… that time… with Judge Hasty… you said you thought I was so hot because I punched him…."

"You were… extremely," he confessed. "But, you know that already… because I told you that a long time ago."

Brennan nodded. "What I don't understand is how can you think my being all aggressive and kicking ass back then was hot… and not think that I'm unattractive now since I've turned into this weepy emotional wreck of a mess?"

"You don't think I think you're still hot?" Booth asked.

Brennan bit her lip, but said nothing.

"Bones—" Booth said.

"Yes?"

"Never… ever… doubt… that I think you're hot… kicking ass and taking names… or not," Booth said. He leaned down to kiss her again.

"But—" Brennan shifted her head to avoid the kiss.

"No," Booth said, shifting his knees a little more tightly as he straddled her closed legs. "No 'buts' Bones. Not on this one."

"Booth—"

He leaned down to kiss her, and said a bit of roughness coming into his voice, "This is just one topic I thought you learned a long time ago you need to defer to me on, Bones."

She eyed him… watching his pupils dilate and his irises darken. She said, somewhat nonchalantly, "I suppose if I am to gauge the evidence in favor of your assertions, your physical response would seem to indicate positive agreement with that notion."

"Oh?" Booth said.

Brennan nodded. "I… I have to be up early tomorrow—"

"So?" Booth said. "What does that matter?"

She smiled and then shook her head. "I thought you said I was 'hot', Booth."

"I did… you are… what I'm curious to know is why you think that is going to have any impact on your getting up early tomorrow," Booth said.

Somewhat crestfallen, thinking that she had perhaps misread the signs and misinterpreted his intentions, Brennan frowned. She shook her head and opened her mouth to protest when Booth bent down and kissed her again.

When he pulled back, he said, "I think we can do what we need to do and still have you to sleep in good time, Bones."

Brennan, feeling a flush of warmth and self-confidence roll through her nodded with a grin. She then rolled them over so that she was on top. At this, Booth grinned again.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

Brennan nodded as she leaned down to kiss him. "Yes… much…. And I'll probably even better in a little while."

"Oh really?"

"Mmmm hmmm."

"Oh, in that case, what are we waiting for again?" Booth asked.

Brennan reached down, began to pull off her top and shook her head. "You tell me, Booth. You tell me."

But, try as he might… after Brennan took the top off and her bra soon followed, Booth never really found the right answer to give her in response… and, as other pursuits demanded their attention, it seemed they both were quite all right to let said question ultimately remain unanswered.

-TBC-