MONDAY MORNING AT 1PP
Baker sat at her desk early Monday morning.
She couldn't wait to get back to her work with all the craziness in her life the last few days.
She had gotten to the office earlier than usual and found herself seated at her desk staring down at her engagement ring.
Which was somewhat awkward with her arm in a sling.
Mrs. Reagan. Mrs. Frank Reagan. She felt a silly, goofy grin come across her face.
It's just like middle school.
She was still smiling to herself when the Commissioner walked out of the elevator and strode by her desk.
Wearing a navy blue pinstriped 3-piece suit with a red striped tie.
He sensed her good mood and smiled knowingly at her as he walked up to her desk.
She stood up in as much habit and respect as she was happy to see him.
She smiled slyly back. "Sir."
"Baker." His eyes twinkled as he walked into his office.
Once he had closed the door to his office, he sighed as he sat down at his desk.
Baker was in a good mood. As she should be. But he doubted she still would be when he had to tell her the plan for the week.
Oh well. She would just have to accept it. He was in charge of the office after all.
He paged her to come in.
She came in and stood at the door as it softly clicked shut.
"Commissioner."
"Baker, have a seat," He gestured towards the couch in the office.
Baker's eyes narrowed, wondering what was up but she did as he asked.
"Look, I have to go to upstate New York tomorrow to give a speech at a university. I need you to stay here –"
"What?" Baker interrupted him.
She was part of his detail. She went where he went.
"Yes. I need you to stay here and man the office."
"Why? I'm part of your Team. I should be with you." She reminded him wondering why he was trying to leave her out.
He sighed, "I understand that. And it's not anything personal…" he stressed realizing how ironic that was to say, now that everything was personal between them.
He looked at her shoulder sympathetically, "It's of no offense to your detective skills. But we both know you can't fire a weapon in your condition."
Abigail fumed. So there it was. This dang handicap of her arm in a sling.
"Not personal?" her voice was raising now. "If we weren't personal, this wouldn't even be an issue!"
He paused thinking it over for a moment.
Truth be told, maybe he was handling her with kid gloves for the time being. But it was still his fault she had gotten shot in the first place. And he wanted her completely healed up before she was put into any other situation which could potentially endanger her.
"I'm sorry Baker, but that's just how it's going to be."
She stared back at him with an icy glare. She hated to be excluded when she had earned her way into this elite inner circle of 1PP.
He stood up and she sensed he was about to say something else she wasn't going to like.
He strode over to the window overlooking the enormous skyscrapers of downtown Manhattan and gazed out.
He took a deep breath, as if for an extra bit of courage, and spoke again, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Also, Erin will be taking you wedding dress shopping tomorrow evening."
"What?!" She stood up now, her eyes switching from icy blue to fiery daggers in his direction.
"She's agreed to do this and I think it would be a nice time for you two to get to know each other better."
Abigail had very few personal encounters with Erin but the one that stood out most was when Erin had almost let her mugging attacker back out on the street.
It had eventually smoothed out, but now there was this.
She was marrying Erin's father.
Abigail couldn't even picture the two of them hanging out without it being horribly awkward.
And now she was so flustered she couldn't even speak straight, "What, why…I mean…that would be a disaster…" she sputtered out. "No. Absolutely not. I won't do this."
Suddenly the Commissioner's whole demeanor changed and he walked quickly over towards her in a commanding manner.
Abigail found herself shrinking back against the wall and suddenly he was right in front of her. Cornering her.
He put a hand on the wall beside her and leaned in.
Baker didn't know what to expect. She felt a mixture of emotions.
He seemed pissed off. Frustrated. And incredibly aware of the power he had over her physically when he wanted to.
Though she was pissed off herself she found herself drawn in by his magnetic power.
He stared down at her. His blue-green eyes hardening like steel.
She saw a mixture of him being mad at her and wanting to kiss her at the same time.
She felt the same urge and fought to control herself.
Damn him and this annoying hypnotic power he has over me.
She held his gaze and stared back.
"Look Abigail," he opted to use her first name now. "You and Erin are the two most important women in my life," he reminded her in a low voice.
"And I want you to get along. For my sake as well as yours."
She searched his eyes for a moment before speaking. He seemed intent and decided that he was going to get his way on this.
And clearly she wanted to make him happy. She was in love with the big jerk.
She sighed aggravatedly. "Fine." she said with gritted teeth.
He dropped his hand and stepped back from the wall.
Just then the door opened and Sid and Garrett popped their heads in.
"Uh, is everything ok in 'ere, Boss?" Sid questioned looking wide-eyed.
"Everything's just peachy, Sid!" Baker shouted sarcastically in his direction.
Sid looked like a wounded puppy and she instantly regretted her comment.
Her face softened and she walked over to Sid, putting her right hand on his arm, "I'm so sorry Sid. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's not you that's got me upset," she glared back in the Commissioner's direction.
"S'ok Abby," he said quietly feeling the tension.
Garrett spoke up, "Time for the morning meeting then?"
The Commissioner sighed feeling like it was going to be a long day and it was only 7:30 in the morning.
"Let's have it."
LATER THAT MORNING
Baker was trying to focus on her work. Which at that moment meant coordinating the Commissioner's travel plans for the next day.
Which irked her to no end that she wasn't going to be part of them.
"Damn," she cursed quietly to herself as she typed in the wrong password for her 1PP login.
Just then the office door opened and Frank Reagan came out.
He walked up to her desk.
She didn't bother standing but rather stared up at him icily.
"I hope you're not still mad at me," he said quietly.
She said nothing.
"Let me take you to lunch." He said more as an order than a question.
She knew better than to refuse. She also realized that with him leaving with his detail early in the morning, that this might be the one chance they woud have to be alone together.
"Fine." She said curtly.
He nodded and gestured for her to follow him to the elevators.
Jim stepped in behind them to take them in the Excursion.
A/N: More to come including a special guest character. Hope you're enjoying this long part 5 of the Baker & The Commissioner series!