More Hardys and Nancy Drew...
Mar. 9th, 2003 12:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andverygingerA bit more fic, whether ya want it or not. ::grin::
Grabbing the door handle of the 7th Street Starbucks, Frank Hardy frowned. The morning collaboration meeting at FBI Headquarters had been less than stellar. Their section chief, Allen Chase, had caught him off guard, asking him a question about the latest analysis that came across his desk. When Frank stumbled through an answer, Chase has been kind enough to encourage Frank to pay closer attention to the meetings--before the whole committee. Nevermind that I haven't been around for half of what was being discussed, he thought.
As he stepped into the coffee shop, behind him followed two of CIA compatriots: Chad Snyder, fellow analyst, and Mike Brown, senior analyst for his section. Snyder gave a snort of sarcastic laughter. "Oh, don't mind Chase," he said. "He's always putting new guys through their paces."
"Yeah," Mike chimed in, "once we get another new analyst, you're off the hook."
Frank's frown deepened into a scowl. "Great."
Snyder blinked. "What?"
"They've gone on a hiring freeze as of Monday."
Brown and Snyder exchanged glances. Simultaneously, they turned to Frank. "You're screwed."
"Thanks for your concern, fellas." Frank rolled his eyes. Taking in a deep breath, and reveling in the heavy scent of freshly brewed coffee, he began to look over the shelves to his left. They were stocked with the usual insulated cups, mugs, coffee beans, and espresso machines. He followed the contours of the counter to the slate floor--green, of course--and across the room to the drink counter. He was startled by a familiar shock of strawberry-blonde hair.
"Nan?"
The redhead turned and blinked, revealing deep blue eyes and a confused expression. It was quickly replaced by a broad smile. Clad in a figure-hugging grey sweater and black jeans, she didn't appear to have changed in the slightest. "Frank!"
Crossing to her, he wrapped her in a crushing hug. "It's wonderful to see you!" He then released her, but held onto her shoulders. "What are you doing in DC? I thought you'd still be in River Heights!"
Nancy smiled up at him and he felt a warm rush overtake him. "Working on my masters," she answered. "Masters in Forensic Sciences at George Washington. How are things at CIA?"
"Oh, don't ask," he teased. She laughed. "Seriously, though, things are going okay. We just finished up a meeting over at FBI. Kinda slow and got my chops busted, but it's not too bad."
"I'm glad. I know it wasn't easy, leaving Joe behind."
"Well, it wasn't that hard." Nancy smacked him in the arm. "Hey! Quit taking his side!"
"Frank Hardy, I know you better than that."
Her blue eyes narrowed at him, Frank forced a chuckle. To think, he'd almost forgotten her sense of determination. "Yeah, yeah. I know." He sighed. "But Joe's fine. He's even thinking about transferring down at the end of this term."
"Solved any cases lately?"
"Not lately. Been busy learning the ropes." He smiled. "Besides, it's not the same without you. Or Joe."
A blush crept across her cheeks. "Thanks, Frank. I've missed working with you, too."
...you never know who you're gonna run into.
Grabbing the door handle of the 7th Street Starbucks, Frank Hardy frowned. The morning collaboration meeting at FBI Headquarters had been less than stellar. Their section chief, Allen Chase, had caught him off guard, asking him a question about the latest analysis that came across his desk. When Frank stumbled through an answer, Chase has been kind enough to encourage Frank to pay closer attention to the meetings--before the whole committee. Nevermind that I haven't been around for half of what was being discussed, he thought.
As he stepped into the coffee shop, behind him followed two of CIA compatriots: Chad Snyder, fellow analyst, and Mike Brown, senior analyst for his section. Snyder gave a snort of sarcastic laughter. "Oh, don't mind Chase," he said. "He's always putting new guys through their paces."
"Yeah," Mike chimed in, "once we get another new analyst, you're off the hook."
Frank's frown deepened into a scowl. "Great."
Snyder blinked. "What?"
"They've gone on a hiring freeze as of Monday."
Brown and Snyder exchanged glances. Simultaneously, they turned to Frank. "You're screwed."
"Thanks for your concern, fellas." Frank rolled his eyes. Taking in a deep breath, and reveling in the heavy scent of freshly brewed coffee, he began to look over the shelves to his left. They were stocked with the usual insulated cups, mugs, coffee beans, and espresso machines. He followed the contours of the counter to the slate floor--green, of course--and across the room to the drink counter. He was startled by a familiar shock of strawberry-blonde hair.
"Nan?"
The redhead turned and blinked, revealing deep blue eyes and a confused expression. It was quickly replaced by a broad smile. Clad in a figure-hugging grey sweater and black jeans, she didn't appear to have changed in the slightest. "Frank!"
Crossing to her, he wrapped her in a crushing hug. "It's wonderful to see you!" He then released her, but held onto her shoulders. "What are you doing in DC? I thought you'd still be in River Heights!"
Nancy smiled up at him and he felt a warm rush overtake him. "Working on my masters," she answered. "Masters in Forensic Sciences at George Washington. How are things at CIA?"
"Oh, don't ask," he teased. She laughed. "Seriously, though, things are going okay. We just finished up a meeting over at FBI. Kinda slow and got my chops busted, but it's not too bad."
"I'm glad. I know it wasn't easy, leaving Joe behind."
"Well, it wasn't that hard." Nancy smacked him in the arm. "Hey! Quit taking his side!"
"Frank Hardy, I know you better than that."
Her blue eyes narrowed at him, Frank forced a chuckle. To think, he'd almost forgotten her sense of determination. "Yeah, yeah. I know." He sighed. "But Joe's fine. He's even thinking about transferring down at the end of this term."
"Solved any cases lately?"
"Not lately. Been busy learning the ropes." He smiled. "Besides, it's not the same without you. Or Joe."
A blush crept across her cheeks. "Thanks, Frank. I've missed working with you, too."
...you never know who you're gonna run into.
