Controlled Love, Part 25: Firing
Title: Firing
Series: Controlled Love, Part 25. Start the series here.
Fandom: A Bit of Fry & Laurie
Pairing: Tony/Control
Rating: PG
Summary: Tony gets fired. *sigh*
Disclaimer: No ownership claimed, just oodles of love for these characters.
Note: I didn't want to rewrite what Stephen and Hugh had created. Instead, I've provided some backstory and inner dialog to the scene. The text in bold is taken directly from the script. No copyright infringement is intended.
Firing
"I understand from Valerie that you wanted reasonably strongly to see me."
Valerie looked somewhat upset when she stopped by Tony's office. He wondered if there was anything wrong.
"Hello, Valerie. You look somewhat upset this morning. Is there anything wrong?"
"Yes, Tony. One of my best friends, another secretary here in our building, has just been let go."
"May I say, Valerie, how very sorry I am to hear that news and ask if there is any way I can help."
"No, Tony, that's very nice of you. But it doesn't seem that there's anything anyone can do."
"Hmmm." Tony tidied some papers on his desk; Valerie didn't make any movement to leave. He paused from his straightening and looked at her again. "Was there another reason you came to my office this morning, Valerie, or was it just to share that news with me?"
"Control wants to see you. He asked me to let you know."
"That's most kind of you to tell me, Valerie. Does he, do you think, want to see me now, or can it wait until later when I take him his morning coffee?"
"I think now, Tony, would be best. He said rather strongly that he wants to see you."
"Well, then, I mustn't keep him waiting. Thank you, again, Valerie. And please tell your friend how very sorry I am for her losing her position."
"I will, Tony. Thank you."
Valerie walked to the door and was just about to leave when Tony called her name. "Oh, Valerie?"
"Yes, Tony?"
"I was wondering if you would be kind enough to pop out and buy us some new political maps of Europe. Ours seem to be rather out of date."
"Have you ever been in the position, I wonder, where you've had to tell someone you like quite a lot that you've got to fire them from their job?"
Control had been in many difficult positions in his life. He'd had to ask people to redo reports that hadn't been completed correctly; he'd had to deal with his wife leaving him and his unrequited feelings for Tony. Even worse, he'd been forced to interrogate uncooperative prisoners.
Worst of all, he'd once been forced to shoot an enemy agent who refused to surrender. Control had been relieved to find out that the injury had only been a flesh wound, although a severe one. The man, one Heinrich von Stolz, who hailed from East Germany and had a great-uncle who had served as one of Hitler's oberleutnanten during World War II, later became a very effective double agent. Functioning under the code name of Glow-worm, he had been an integral part of their information-gathering network until he'd been shot and killed while attempting to cross over into the West.
There was no denying; Control was no stranger to dealing with difficult situations. But, in many ways, what he had to do today would be the hardest thing he'd ever had to do in all his years of running the Secret Service, perhaps in his entire life.
Would it be the kind of thing that would go better with a good cup of coffee, Control?
Control looks so sad, thought Tony. It's only ten o'clock, but perhaps he could use a coffee earlier than usual today. I know how relieved he looks whenever his morning coffee arrives… like he's seeing an old friend he's been missing and is happy to see again. Tony could understand that; he felt just that way whenever he saw Control, even if it had only been a few minutes since they'd last been together.
"It's also meant that our masters in Whitehall have started wondering whether they need quite so many people involved with spying."
Control was most vexed by the time his telephone call with The Minister had ended.
"Yes, Minister, I do understand. Yes, perestroika has certainly been a factor in changing how the political winds in Europe have been blowing."
He didn't like the sound of where this was going.
"Of course, Minister, I recognise that we are very fortunate that the Russians simply ring us up and tell us most of their secrets."
Control felt more and more uncomfortable as the conversation continued.
"I agree, sir, that perhaps we don't need to spend as much money on finding out the secrets ourselves. But is it really necessary to shut down the entire East German and related satellites desk? Certainly it would be worthwhile to have at least one man here at HQ to oversee to our interests in the region?"
Control had the distinct impression his suggestion had fallen on deaf ears. He decided to try a slightly different approach.
"Yes, Minister, very astute political thinking. But if I may say respectfully, sir, I believe it is perhaps a bit radical. I would appreciate if you would reconsider."
Control could tell that he wasn't getting through to The Minister. Apparently the decision had already been made and was unchangeable.
"Certainly, Minister, I understand. I shall take care of it. What's that, sir… by noon today?" Control sighed softly. "Of course, yes. Thank you, sir. I will report back when everything has been resolved."
Control returned the handset to it cradle. This was a blow, both to the Service and to him personally. And The Minister expected it to be handled before noon; it was already half nine. "Boh!" Control bitterly exclaimed, as near a curse as he'd ever uttered in his life.
"Mmm. I certainly don't envy you, Control, having to pass on a bit of news like the one you've just passed on to me."
At first, Tony honestly couldn't think of anything to say. He was being fired. He was being let go from the Secret Service. He was being removed from the best job he'd ever had. He was being separated from his best friend.
Then he realized how hard this was for Control. He knew Control appreciated their daily conversations and his morning coffee. He knew that Control thought of him as a valuable co-worker and perhaps even as a close acquaintance. After all, he was the only one Control had confided in about his wife's situation. Tony hated being in the position of having to leave, but he would have felt just as badworse, probablyif he'd been in Control's place having to pass on such news. Control was very brave.
He hoped Control would let him bring one last cup of nice coffee.
"I really am very sorry."
Control wanted to say that he was sorry he had to fire Tony. He wanted to say that he was sorry he never told Tony how he felt. He wanted to say that he was sorry he'd spied on Tony that night at the embassy. He wanted to say that he was sorry he hadn't gotten coffee for Tony more often. He wanted to apologise for all the other times he thought he'd neglected Tony or not been as good a friend to him as he should have been.
The apology couldn't have been more filled with meaning or more heartfelt. He was truly sorry.
"I'll be somewhere else."
Where else was there to be but here? Tony couldn't begin to imagine being anywhere else. But at some point, he would have to figure it out. He'd have to come to terms with a new normal, whatever it would be. He would give everything he owned if he could keep the old normal instead.
They shake hands.
They'd reached a point where nothing else could be done. They each had an almost overwhelming urge to hug the other, but a handshake would have to suffice.
"Well, goodbye, Control."
"Goodbye, Murchison."
Tony awkwardly made his way to the door and left. He needed to clean out his office, not that he had that much in the way of personal items. There was only one thingone person, reallyhe wanted to take with him. But Control was head of the Service, and the Nation needed him here.
"Valerie? Could you bring me a cup of coffee? How do I like it? I like it the way Tony Murchison used to make it."
Control sat down again and blew his nose. He desperately needed a coffee. After his conversation with Valerie, he hung up the phone, already missing Tony more than he imagined possible.
Series: Controlled Love, Part 25. Start the series here.
Fandom: A Bit of Fry & Laurie
Pairing: Tony/Control
Rating: PG
Summary: Tony gets fired. *sigh*
Disclaimer: No ownership claimed, just oodles of love for these characters.
Note: I didn't want to rewrite what Stephen and Hugh had created. Instead, I've provided some backstory and inner dialog to the scene. The text in bold is taken directly from the script. No copyright infringement is intended.
Firing
"I understand from Valerie that you wanted reasonably strongly to see me."
Valerie looked somewhat upset when she stopped by Tony's office. He wondered if there was anything wrong.
"Hello, Valerie. You look somewhat upset this morning. Is there anything wrong?"
"Yes, Tony. One of my best friends, another secretary here in our building, has just been let go."
"May I say, Valerie, how very sorry I am to hear that news and ask if there is any way I can help."
"No, Tony, that's very nice of you. But it doesn't seem that there's anything anyone can do."
"Hmmm." Tony tidied some papers on his desk; Valerie didn't make any movement to leave. He paused from his straightening and looked at her again. "Was there another reason you came to my office this morning, Valerie, or was it just to share that news with me?"
"Control wants to see you. He asked me to let you know."
"That's most kind of you to tell me, Valerie. Does he, do you think, want to see me now, or can it wait until later when I take him his morning coffee?"
"I think now, Tony, would be best. He said rather strongly that he wants to see you."
"Well, then, I mustn't keep him waiting. Thank you, again, Valerie. And please tell your friend how very sorry I am for her losing her position."
"I will, Tony. Thank you."
Valerie walked to the door and was just about to leave when Tony called her name. "Oh, Valerie?"
"Yes, Tony?"
"I was wondering if you would be kind enough to pop out and buy us some new political maps of Europe. Ours seem to be rather out of date."
"Have you ever been in the position, I wonder, where you've had to tell someone you like quite a lot that you've got to fire them from their job?"
Control had been in many difficult positions in his life. He'd had to ask people to redo reports that hadn't been completed correctly; he'd had to deal with his wife leaving him and his unrequited feelings for Tony. Even worse, he'd been forced to interrogate uncooperative prisoners.
Worst of all, he'd once been forced to shoot an enemy agent who refused to surrender. Control had been relieved to find out that the injury had only been a flesh wound, although a severe one. The man, one Heinrich von Stolz, who hailed from East Germany and had a great-uncle who had served as one of Hitler's oberleutnanten during World War II, later became a very effective double agent. Functioning under the code name of Glow-worm, he had been an integral part of their information-gathering network until he'd been shot and killed while attempting to cross over into the West.
There was no denying; Control was no stranger to dealing with difficult situations. But, in many ways, what he had to do today would be the hardest thing he'd ever had to do in all his years of running the Secret Service, perhaps in his entire life.
Would it be the kind of thing that would go better with a good cup of coffee, Control?
Control looks so sad, thought Tony. It's only ten o'clock, but perhaps he could use a coffee earlier than usual today. I know how relieved he looks whenever his morning coffee arrives… like he's seeing an old friend he's been missing and is happy to see again. Tony could understand that; he felt just that way whenever he saw Control, even if it had only been a few minutes since they'd last been together.
"It's also meant that our masters in Whitehall have started wondering whether they need quite so many people involved with spying."
Control was most vexed by the time his telephone call with The Minister had ended.
"Yes, Minister, I do understand. Yes, perestroika has certainly been a factor in changing how the political winds in Europe have been blowing."
He didn't like the sound of where this was going.
"Of course, Minister, I recognise that we are very fortunate that the Russians simply ring us up and tell us most of their secrets."
Control felt more and more uncomfortable as the conversation continued.
"I agree, sir, that perhaps we don't need to spend as much money on finding out the secrets ourselves. But is it really necessary to shut down the entire East German and related satellites desk? Certainly it would be worthwhile to have at least one man here at HQ to oversee to our interests in the region?"
Control had the distinct impression his suggestion had fallen on deaf ears. He decided to try a slightly different approach.
"Yes, Minister, very astute political thinking. But if I may say respectfully, sir, I believe it is perhaps a bit radical. I would appreciate if you would reconsider."
Control could tell that he wasn't getting through to The Minister. Apparently the decision had already been made and was unchangeable.
"Certainly, Minister, I understand. I shall take care of it. What's that, sir… by noon today?" Control sighed softly. "Of course, yes. Thank you, sir. I will report back when everything has been resolved."
Control returned the handset to it cradle. This was a blow, both to the Service and to him personally. And The Minister expected it to be handled before noon; it was already half nine. "Boh!" Control bitterly exclaimed, as near a curse as he'd ever uttered in his life.
"Mmm. I certainly don't envy you, Control, having to pass on a bit of news like the one you've just passed on to me."
At first, Tony honestly couldn't think of anything to say. He was being fired. He was being let go from the Secret Service. He was being removed from the best job he'd ever had. He was being separated from his best friend.
Then he realized how hard this was for Control. He knew Control appreciated their daily conversations and his morning coffee. He knew that Control thought of him as a valuable co-worker and perhaps even as a close acquaintance. After all, he was the only one Control had confided in about his wife's situation. Tony hated being in the position of having to leave, but he would have felt just as badworse, probablyif he'd been in Control's place having to pass on such news. Control was very brave.
He hoped Control would let him bring one last cup of nice coffee.
"I really am very sorry."
Control wanted to say that he was sorry he had to fire Tony. He wanted to say that he was sorry he never told Tony how he felt. He wanted to say that he was sorry he'd spied on Tony that night at the embassy. He wanted to say that he was sorry he hadn't gotten coffee for Tony more often. He wanted to apologise for all the other times he thought he'd neglected Tony or not been as good a friend to him as he should have been.
The apology couldn't have been more filled with meaning or more heartfelt. He was truly sorry.
"I'll be somewhere else."
Where else was there to be but here? Tony couldn't begin to imagine being anywhere else. But at some point, he would have to figure it out. He'd have to come to terms with a new normal, whatever it would be. He would give everything he owned if he could keep the old normal instead.
They shake hands.
They'd reached a point where nothing else could be done. They each had an almost overwhelming urge to hug the other, but a handshake would have to suffice.
"Well, goodbye, Control."
"Goodbye, Murchison."
Tony awkwardly made his way to the door and left. He needed to clean out his office, not that he had that much in the way of personal items. There was only one thingone person, reallyhe wanted to take with him. But Control was head of the Service, and the Nation needed him here.
"Valerie? Could you bring me a cup of coffee? How do I like it? I like it the way Tony Murchison used to make it."
Control sat down again and blew his nose. He desperately needed a coffee. After his conversation with Valerie, he hung up the phone, already missing Tony more than he imagined possible.