Finally, Brooke gets her punishment. I didn't do any research for CIA reprimands, just came up with it on my own. I own nothing but myself. Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Reprimand

After we finished off the sandwiches and the famous Potbelly milkshakes, we noticed the time was ten minutes to 4. I started to get nervous. In a few minutes, the future of my career was going to be revealed to me.

I got up and started to clean up the dishes. Within a few minutes, Jack's phone rang.

"This is Jack." I heard him answer. "Hi, Dixon…yes, she's here. I will put you on speaker."

I walked over and sat back down at the table as Jack put the phone in between us and hit the speaker button. "Brooke, are you there?"

"I'm here, Dixon. Go ahead."

Jack reached over and took my hand. I heard Dixon ask if I was ready to hear the results. I took a deep breath and said "I'm ready."

I could hear him ruffling some papers in front of him. "Alright, before I tell you, I just want you to know that you have nothing to worry about. They could have come down you a lot harder than they did, so don't worry." He paused. "Okay, they gave me a formal report but I will summarize it for you. First piece of good news, they are going to ask that you return to work on Monday to begin serving a 6 week period of administrative duty. Basically, they want you to come back to work but you won't be eligible to be field rated again for 6 weeks. Given that you haven't been cleared by the doctors anyway, I think that's pretty fair. Are you still with me?"

"We are, Dixon." Jack and I both said at the same time.

"Good. Now, Brooke, when you are finally cleared by your doctor, ask him to write you a note. The committee requested a copy, and I will need one as well. Do you have an appointment set up already?"

"Yes, next Thursday. But I won't know if they are clearing me until then. I will keep you updated."

"Good. Just be sure when you do get that clearance, you let me know as soon as possible."

"I will."

Dixon continued, "The other piece of good news is that not only do they want you to return to work but they want you to be the point person on deciphering the manuscript since you were the one who found it."

Jack and I looked at each other, "Really?" I said.

"They respect and appreciate the fact that you were the one who took the risk to recover it. They figure it's only appropriate that you be involved." Dixon cleared his throat, "Now, there's one last thing I need to share with you. And here's where the bad news comes in."

I closed my eyes and felt Jack give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Go ahead."

"Even though this was your first infraction since joining the Agency and you have an impeccable record, because you disobeyed a direct order from a Senior Director, they're marking this on your record as such. Normally, if it's your first strike, it goes in as a warning and it holds no bearing. However, this one is going in as an intentional disregard for protocol and the safety of your fellow operatives. As well as complete failure to obey a direct order from a senior officer, at least that's how they're characterizing it."

I suddenly felt tears fall down my face. Just hearing all of that was absolutely disappointing. And it was my own fault, I knew that. "Okay. I accept that", was all I could manage to respond. Jack was silent. He was still holding my hand but he looked angry.

Finally, Jack spoke. "Is that all?" He glanced over at me.

"No. You can appeal their decision, but you have fifteen days from today to do so. Personally, Brooke, I think you made out really well. This mark on your record isn't forever. If you go a year without any infractions, you have a good chance of getting it taken off. However, if you disobey another direct order in the field, you will be demoted, no questions asked, no hearings. Do you understand?"

"I do."

"And if you do want to appeal, you have to submit a formal letter to myself. Normally, you would present it to the Director but due to your personal relationship with Jack, they have decided to put me in charge of this. Jack, I'm sorry. They know you will be fair and objective, but they feel it's best to just completely eliminate the risk of any conflict of interest whatsoever. So Brooke, if you have any questions about any of this, please come to me. Take the weekend and decide what you want to do."

"Thank you, Dixon. Is that everything?"

"Yes, it is. I hope you both enjoy the weekend and I will see you on Monday."

"Thanks again, Dixon. Have a good weekend."

I hit the phone off and sat back in my chair. Jack got up and walked over to the sink and looked out the window. "Well, what do you think?" There was no answer. "Jack?" I got up and walked over to where he was. "Please talk to me."

"This is Douglas. This is his way of getting at me. There's no reason you should have gotten such a harsh reprimand on your first infraction. They've never done that before."

I shook my head, "But Jack, it's a fair reprimand. Like Dixon said, it could have been much harsher, but look, they're letting me come back to work and they want me working on the manuscript. Don't you see? They could have refused to let me be involved at all and that would have been worse." I put my hand on his arm, "And I can't expect them to let my decision to break protocol go unpunished. I disobeyed a direct order from a senior officer…..you."

Jack nodded, "You're right."

"If I'm okay with it, you should be too. It's over." I smiled at him.

"Do you want to appeal it?" Jack asked me.

"No. If I appeal it only looks like I don't want to take responsibility for my actions."

Jack nodded and folded his arms. "You're probably right. It just drags it out anyway. I just don't like that they put this on your record when it's only your first strike. That's the only thing that bothers me." He sighed. "But it is fair and if you accept it, then I do as well."

"Good. Now that's settled. Are we going hiking tomorrow with Sydney and Vaughn?"

Jack walked over and stood in front of me. "Definitely, but I want the rest of the weekend for us, understood?"

"Yes, Director Bristow."