FIC: Titanis and their solution, for Melissima
Title: Titanis and their solution.
Beta: Babnol.
Recipient: Melissima.
Summary: The problem exists - a good deed tore them apart. Will Megan and Robin reconcile?
Characters: Robin, Megan, Terry, Colby, Ian,
Rating: A strong PG-13.
Warning: Offscreen death of an OC. Brief shower scene as well.
Pairings mentioned: Megan/Robin, Ian/Charlie/Amita, David/Alice, Don/Val.
Universe: Dutiful. (very far in the future of that AU). No special knowledge is required to understand the AU, other than this: “Don married Val Eng in season 2.”
Word Count: 2,023.
♪ = & # x 2 6 6 A ; (no spaces)
♫ = & # 9 8 3 5 ; (no spaces).
Spoilers: Bones of Contention.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOON
Two pairs of eyes met across a bustling room full of chatter, and you could feel the ambient temperature shift.
Nobody dared to walk between them - one person accidentally did, but he swiftly realized his mistake and stepped back, whistling a familiar Western tune: ♪-♫ ; ♪-♫ , ♪ ♪ ♪
“Cute, Granger,” Robin said.
Colby grinned and got back to work. As did Megan, the owner of the pair of eyes that had met Robin’s across the room, leading to Colby’s tune.
Understandable, though, Robin knew: Neither Megan nor I are the sort to back down from anything. So, with our impasse of the last few days, yeah, climactic gunfight scene music’s appropriate.
“I was going to stop by later,” Colby says, back again, “but I should ask first - does she need anything?”
“Anything you can cook up, Colby, is something Val would appreciate,” Robin says.
While Colby was heading back to work, she knows, I sat with her a while yesterday. I never envy anyone in their position.
“Almost forgot to mention,” Colby said, back once again, all business. “D.C.’s sending Don’s replacement, should be landing this afternoon.” D.C.’s over the moon with praise for how we handled the Benhavarchic case.
“Good to hear. And how’s the case going in the meantime?”
“Pretty good,” Colby said. “I mean, I don’t know what the legal stuff around the Titanis is, but the rest of what we need to do seems pretty straightforward.” And then added, “So far.”
Robin nodded. That’s a good summation of how things tend to go around here, in casework and in personal life. “The legalities around the Titanis fossils aren’t as mired as they could have been,” she said, thinking of that Kennewick Man-look-alike skull a few years ago. “Extricating them from the political morass should be even easier,” as the bones of giant flightless birds rarely made front-page news for long.
~~~~~~~
AFTERNOON
Terry ducked Megan’s swing with ease and used her momentum to swing Megan over and away. In a fight, I could’ve snapped her arm, knocked her to the ground, gouged out pretty much anything. “We can do this later, if you prefer,” Terry offered.
“No, now’s good,” Megan said.
“This is krav maga, not bare-knuckle ballet.”
“I know.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“The hell you are. You never could bullshit me, so don’t try to start.”
“Let’s get back to practice.”
“Robin?” Terry said, taking a wild stab at it.
Megan’s silence was her answer.
“What happened?” Terry enquired. Were I opportunistic and conniving, I’d use this opportunity to get back together with you, Megan.
Megan didn’t sit down, so Terry didn’t offer her a seat; instead, the krav maga practices dialed down the severity more than a few degrees, and were more by-the-book. While they went through the motions, Megan said, “Granger and Ramanujan found Benhavarchic‘s secret doctor, and called in to warn us how weak the guy’s heart really was - but by that point, it was too late.” I took him down. Didn’t even use lethal force.
Opting not to make an observation about the psychological distancing involved in using the surnames of familiar people - meaning not wanting *anybody* near, Terry remained silent, a good ear. She could see the points of both sides: on one, the guy was #3 or #2 in an organization of so much international competence that Bin Laden would’ve wet himself dreaming of it. The world’s largest black market network, about to be de-boned and filleted and gutted.
On the other hand, krav maga had a lot of lethal moves, and that wasn’t one of them.
And considering the guy’s known allergies to metal, plastics, and ceramics, then shooting, even winging, or clubbing him would’ve been just as lethal.
Either way, no matter whose side I take - and it’s a hard call either way, since they’re both right - I can plausibly be accused of bias. Starting to understand Solomon’s ‘I’ll cut this baby.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EVENING:
Aside from one or two occurrences with the late Don, Robin Brooks always showered alone. This time, however, the desire to be clean, sailed headlong into her brain’s habit of recalling everything.
Their hygenicity aside, showers are an inferior option. For one, gravity only permits water to massage or flow in one direction, Robin thought, standing under the showerhead, preparing for work. Have to be my best when I explain to the Judge why we need a continuance.
And that duality, that disparity, she knew, was at the core of it. “I’ve got no problem with physical incidents,” adrenaline’s never wasted. Sometimes even makes the explosions bigger. “But legal incidents are the kettle of fish I want to pull my hair out over.” With this fiasco being case in point.
And she knew exactly what and why. Benhavarchic. His raised blade. Megan. Saving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TWO DAYS LATER
Another day, another few rounds getting better at krav maga. During one of the rounds, “Something I heard once. Might be apocryphal,” Terry said. “Larry once had sex, and then ran for cover.”
“I’ve heard of that,” Megan said. “Figured he’d give up because he couldn’t get the same result twice.”
Terry nodded. “An untwinnable event.”
“I thought you said you had a piece of advice about what’s going on.”
“I do. But first I need an answer to a question - do you see what you and Robin had, as untwinnable; as something that, no matter how well this dispute is resolved, will never be as good as it once was?”
‘Ah. Hence the comparison with Larry.”
“Well,” Terry said with a grin, if you’d prefer a comparison with Charlie, I’m sure I could find some way to tie in a strong fear of being rejected, into your reluctance to move forwards.”
“Which you just did.”
“Only in Readers Digest form,” Terry said and took a drink of water.
And you’re too polite to say ‘aaand…?’ So, “It’ll be just as good - not exactly the same, but nobody ever expects a sameness in a relationship.”
My parents.
Megan continued, unaware of Terry’s thought; “There’ll be some differences, but we’d be together.”
Terry sidestepped Megan and zipped to behind her, only to be brought down by a well-aimed swing. “And that’s the important part,” Megan said, about both the practice win and the topic of conversation.
Terry nodded, and accepted a hand back up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEANWHILE
After a second hour today on the shooting range, Ian did something he would have denied if anyone had said it to anybody else: he stopped shooting, made sure his chamber was empty, and said “Okay, that’s enough of this,” to Robin, easing her rifle out of her grip.
“I’m fine. Now are you going to return it, or…”
“No.”
“Explain.”
“Robin, you decapitated a bulls-eye. That means we take five.”
“I don’t need a break.”
“I do,” Ian said, shouldering his own rifle. “Now, I know you’re glad she’s alive.”
“True.”
“And you’re glad you’re alive.”
“Again, true,” Robin said.
“So what’s the problem?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve never liked things to be easy. Half the world’s crime, gone in one fell swoop? You’d celebrate for a day, then be miserable for a week. At least a week.”
“At least it would be accomplished.”
“From what I hear,” from the ones who were there, not seconded to help the CBI at the time like I was, “the arrests made are a huge accomplishment.”
“That’s also true.”
“And you’ve never been a glory hound or a credit junkie.”
“There’s a point to this.”
“And you know as well as I do what it is.”
“And I know you know how I feel about taking the Fifth.”
Ian nodded. “And the reason you aren’t about to talk about it is…?” knowing as well as she did that this was part of the ‘it’ in question.
“Same reason I recuse myself from some cases,” Robin said.
“Huh?” Ian said, picking up Robin’s glass of water from where it sat on the ammo table, and held it up to the light.
“What?” Robin asked.
“If you think I can or would get you disbarred, this stuff’s stronger than I thought.” Which could be dangerous, what with that fossil case all wrapped up and ready for court.
Robin waited til he‘d put it back down before she said, “Funny.” Taking it for a sip, she added, “And wrong.”
“Yeah, I know - only drink with your Significant Other around.” While Robin was nodding, “Think you’ll ever drink again?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you still here, talking to me…when you could be having a drink?”
“You’re my friend.”
Ian shot her a mock-disappointed look, “What did we say about you getting a better class of friend?”
“That I did,” Robin said. “And you’re one of them.”
“And?”
Point made. Point taken.
“And I’m moving,” she said and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THAT EVENING:
When Robin walked into Charlie’s office, it was empty. Or rather, devoid of other people.
“Seriously, Ian?” Robin wondered as Megan walked in.
“He doesn’t seem to be here either,” Megan said. Ian or Charlie.
“I noticed. And I believe I know who he’s with.”
“I think they’re cute.”
“Ian with Charlie and Amita?”
“I never could understand the attraction.”
“Shirtless,” Robin said.
“Ah. Now I have an idea,” Megan said. “And speaking of ideas -”
Robin raised an eyebrow.
“Wasn’t going to suggest it,” Megan said.
“Then continue,” Robin asked.
“We need to talk about it,” she said, knowing they both knew what ‘it’ was - what had happened. Not out of any sense of ‘just in case’ - but for opening the windows to clear the air, Megan said, “About what happened to Benhavarchic.”
“You did what you had to do,” Robin said.
“But now you can’t -”
“I think I’m a little disappointed,” Robin said. “We both came out of our corners, and now we’re going to take up the other’s argument, and their corner as well, I assume.”
“It does seem that way,” Megan said.
She looked at her, and was given a good firm look back.
After a while, “I think talking it out is our only option.”
“And if it doesn’t work, we try again in two weeks.”
“Sounds fair and reasonable,” and they sat down.
~~~
JUST SHY OF THE PRE-DAWN HOUR
Robin and Megan were walking to their cars, reconciled, when Megan tested the water: “By the way, who is D.C. sending?”
“Deputy Director Sinclair,” Robin said.
“You’re kidding. Wait, when was he promoted?”
“Yesterday. It’s why they didn’t send him when they first said they would.”
“I can think of one person who’ll be pleasantly surprised when he walks in off the plane.”
“Colby, definitely,” Robin said.
“Him too. But I think a certain Agent Chen is going to be over the moon.”
“Think one of them will propose this time?”
She shrugged.
“Breakfast?”
“Definitely. But first, is it too early to stop and ask Val if she needs any help?” Megan asked.
“I’m not sure how much she’s sleeping, so I don’t think its too early,” Robin said.
“Bring her breakfast?”
“Now you’re reading my mind.”
~~~
EPPES HOUSE
Val welcomed them inside, thanking them for what they’d brought her. Robin had a feeling the fridge and freezer were full from the gifts brought by those who had come to offer their condolences. She also observed that all the mirrors were still covered, and all the mezuzahs had yet to be put back up on the doorways.
After they had helped out with the needed-to-be-done chores, Megan and Robin sat down with Val at her request. “Thank you both for coming over,” Val said.
“It was -” Megan started to say.
“No, I mean it. Thus far, its been family, individual guests, or couples with trouble at home,” I saw the signs for it often enough at work. “Its refreshing and helpful to see two people still in love, still making a go at life together.” Val gave the best smile she could under the circumstances, “Thank you both.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The End.
Beta: Babnol.
Recipient: Melissima.
Summary: The problem exists - a good deed tore them apart. Will Megan and Robin reconcile?
Characters: Robin, Megan, Terry, Colby, Ian,
Rating: A strong PG-13.
Warning: Offscreen death of an OC. Brief shower scene as well.
Pairings mentioned: Megan/Robin, Ian/Charlie/Amita, David/Alice, Don/Val.
Universe: Dutiful. (very far in the future of that AU). No special knowledge is required to understand the AU, other than this: “Don married Val Eng in season 2.”
Word Count: 2,023.
♪ = & # x 2 6 6 A ; (no spaces)
♫ = & # 9 8 3 5 ; (no spaces).
Spoilers: Bones of Contention.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOON
Two pairs of eyes met across a bustling room full of chatter, and you could feel the ambient temperature shift.
Nobody dared to walk between them - one person accidentally did, but he swiftly realized his mistake and stepped back, whistling a familiar Western tune: ♪-♫ ; ♪-♫ , ♪ ♪ ♪
“Cute, Granger,” Robin said.
Colby grinned and got back to work. As did Megan, the owner of the pair of eyes that had met Robin’s across the room, leading to Colby’s tune.
Understandable, though, Robin knew: Neither Megan nor I are the sort to back down from anything. So, with our impasse of the last few days, yeah, climactic gunfight scene music’s appropriate.
“I was going to stop by later,” Colby says, back again, “but I should ask first - does she need anything?”
“Anything you can cook up, Colby, is something Val would appreciate,” Robin says.
While Colby was heading back to work, she knows, I sat with her a while yesterday. I never envy anyone in their position.
“Almost forgot to mention,” Colby said, back once again, all business. “D.C.’s sending Don’s replacement, should be landing this afternoon.” D.C.’s over the moon with praise for how we handled the Benhavarchic case.
“Good to hear. And how’s the case going in the meantime?”
“Pretty good,” Colby said. “I mean, I don’t know what the legal stuff around the Titanis is, but the rest of what we need to do seems pretty straightforward.” And then added, “So far.”
Robin nodded. That’s a good summation of how things tend to go around here, in casework and in personal life. “The legalities around the Titanis fossils aren’t as mired as they could have been,” she said, thinking of that Kennewick Man-look-alike skull a few years ago. “Extricating them from the political morass should be even easier,” as the bones of giant flightless birds rarely made front-page news for long.
~~~~~~~
AFTERNOON
Terry ducked Megan’s swing with ease and used her momentum to swing Megan over and away. In a fight, I could’ve snapped her arm, knocked her to the ground, gouged out pretty much anything. “We can do this later, if you prefer,” Terry offered.
“No, now’s good,” Megan said.
“This is krav maga, not bare-knuckle ballet.”
“I know.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“The hell you are. You never could bullshit me, so don’t try to start.”
“Let’s get back to practice.”
“Robin?” Terry said, taking a wild stab at it.
Megan’s silence was her answer.
“What happened?” Terry enquired. Were I opportunistic and conniving, I’d use this opportunity to get back together with you, Megan.
Megan didn’t sit down, so Terry didn’t offer her a seat; instead, the krav maga practices dialed down the severity more than a few degrees, and were more by-the-book. While they went through the motions, Megan said, “Granger and Ramanujan found Benhavarchic‘s secret doctor, and called in to warn us how weak the guy’s heart really was - but by that point, it was too late.” I took him down. Didn’t even use lethal force.
Opting not to make an observation about the psychological distancing involved in using the surnames of familiar people - meaning not wanting *anybody* near, Terry remained silent, a good ear. She could see the points of both sides: on one, the guy was #3 or #2 in an organization of so much international competence that Bin Laden would’ve wet himself dreaming of it. The world’s largest black market network, about to be de-boned and filleted and gutted.
On the other hand, krav maga had a lot of lethal moves, and that wasn’t one of them.
And considering the guy’s known allergies to metal, plastics, and ceramics, then shooting, even winging, or clubbing him would’ve been just as lethal.
Either way, no matter whose side I take - and it’s a hard call either way, since they’re both right - I can plausibly be accused of bias. Starting to understand Solomon’s ‘I’ll cut this baby.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EVENING:
Aside from one or two occurrences with the late Don, Robin Brooks always showered alone. This time, however, the desire to be clean, sailed headlong into her brain’s habit of recalling everything.
Their hygenicity aside, showers are an inferior option. For one, gravity only permits water to massage or flow in one direction, Robin thought, standing under the showerhead, preparing for work. Have to be my best when I explain to the Judge why we need a continuance.
And that duality, that disparity, she knew, was at the core of it. “I’ve got no problem with physical incidents,” adrenaline’s never wasted. Sometimes even makes the explosions bigger. “But legal incidents are the kettle of fish I want to pull my hair out over.” With this fiasco being case in point.
And she knew exactly what and why. Benhavarchic. His raised blade. Megan. Saving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TWO DAYS LATER
Another day, another few rounds getting better at krav maga. During one of the rounds, “Something I heard once. Might be apocryphal,” Terry said. “Larry once had sex, and then ran for cover.”
“I’ve heard of that,” Megan said. “Figured he’d give up because he couldn’t get the same result twice.”
Terry nodded. “An untwinnable event.”
“I thought you said you had a piece of advice about what’s going on.”
“I do. But first I need an answer to a question - do you see what you and Robin had, as untwinnable; as something that, no matter how well this dispute is resolved, will never be as good as it once was?”
‘Ah. Hence the comparison with Larry.”
“Well,” Terry said with a grin, if you’d prefer a comparison with Charlie, I’m sure I could find some way to tie in a strong fear of being rejected, into your reluctance to move forwards.”
“Which you just did.”
“Only in Readers Digest form,” Terry said and took a drink of water.
And you’re too polite to say ‘aaand…?’ So, “It’ll be just as good - not exactly the same, but nobody ever expects a sameness in a relationship.”
My parents.
Megan continued, unaware of Terry’s thought; “There’ll be some differences, but we’d be together.”
Terry sidestepped Megan and zipped to behind her, only to be brought down by a well-aimed swing. “And that’s the important part,” Megan said, about both the practice win and the topic of conversation.
Terry nodded, and accepted a hand back up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEANWHILE
After a second hour today on the shooting range, Ian did something he would have denied if anyone had said it to anybody else: he stopped shooting, made sure his chamber was empty, and said “Okay, that’s enough of this,” to Robin, easing her rifle out of her grip.
“I’m fine. Now are you going to return it, or…”
“No.”
“Explain.”
“Robin, you decapitated a bulls-eye. That means we take five.”
“I don’t need a break.”
“I do,” Ian said, shouldering his own rifle. “Now, I know you’re glad she’s alive.”
“True.”
“And you’re glad you’re alive.”
“Again, true,” Robin said.
“So what’s the problem?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve never liked things to be easy. Half the world’s crime, gone in one fell swoop? You’d celebrate for a day, then be miserable for a week. At least a week.”
“At least it would be accomplished.”
“From what I hear,” from the ones who were there, not seconded to help the CBI at the time like I was, “the arrests made are a huge accomplishment.”
“That’s also true.”
“And you’ve never been a glory hound or a credit junkie.”
“There’s a point to this.”
“And you know as well as I do what it is.”
“And I know you know how I feel about taking the Fifth.”
Ian nodded. “And the reason you aren’t about to talk about it is…?” knowing as well as she did that this was part of the ‘it’ in question.
“Same reason I recuse myself from some cases,” Robin said.
“Huh?” Ian said, picking up Robin’s glass of water from where it sat on the ammo table, and held it up to the light.
“What?” Robin asked.
“If you think I can or would get you disbarred, this stuff’s stronger than I thought.” Which could be dangerous, what with that fossil case all wrapped up and ready for court.
Robin waited til he‘d put it back down before she said, “Funny.” Taking it for a sip, she added, “And wrong.”
“Yeah, I know - only drink with your Significant Other around.” While Robin was nodding, “Think you’ll ever drink again?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you still here, talking to me…when you could be having a drink?”
“You’re my friend.”
Ian shot her a mock-disappointed look, “What did we say about you getting a better class of friend?”
“That I did,” Robin said. “And you’re one of them.”
“And?”
Point made. Point taken.
“And I’m moving,” she said and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THAT EVENING:
When Robin walked into Charlie’s office, it was empty. Or rather, devoid of other people.
“Seriously, Ian?” Robin wondered as Megan walked in.
“He doesn’t seem to be here either,” Megan said. Ian or Charlie.
“I noticed. And I believe I know who he’s with.”
“I think they’re cute.”
“Ian with Charlie and Amita?”
“I never could understand the attraction.”
“Shirtless,” Robin said.
“Ah. Now I have an idea,” Megan said. “And speaking of ideas -”
Robin raised an eyebrow.
“Wasn’t going to suggest it,” Megan said.
“Then continue,” Robin asked.
“We need to talk about it,” she said, knowing they both knew what ‘it’ was - what had happened. Not out of any sense of ‘just in case’ - but for opening the windows to clear the air, Megan said, “About what happened to Benhavarchic.”
“You did what you had to do,” Robin said.
“But now you can’t -”
“I think I’m a little disappointed,” Robin said. “We both came out of our corners, and now we’re going to take up the other’s argument, and their corner as well, I assume.”
“It does seem that way,” Megan said.
She looked at her, and was given a good firm look back.
After a while, “I think talking it out is our only option.”
“And if it doesn’t work, we try again in two weeks.”
“Sounds fair and reasonable,” and they sat down.
~~~
JUST SHY OF THE PRE-DAWN HOUR
Robin and Megan were walking to their cars, reconciled, when Megan tested the water: “By the way, who is D.C. sending?”
“Deputy Director Sinclair,” Robin said.
“You’re kidding. Wait, when was he promoted?”
“Yesterday. It’s why they didn’t send him when they first said they would.”
“I can think of one person who’ll be pleasantly surprised when he walks in off the plane.”
“Colby, definitely,” Robin said.
“Him too. But I think a certain Agent Chen is going to be over the moon.”
“Think one of them will propose this time?”
She shrugged.
“Breakfast?”
“Definitely. But first, is it too early to stop and ask Val if she needs any help?” Megan asked.
“I’m not sure how much she’s sleeping, so I don’t think its too early,” Robin said.
“Bring her breakfast?”
“Now you’re reading my mind.”
~~~
EPPES HOUSE
Val welcomed them inside, thanking them for what they’d brought her. Robin had a feeling the fridge and freezer were full from the gifts brought by those who had come to offer their condolences. She also observed that all the mirrors were still covered, and all the mezuzahs had yet to be put back up on the doorways.
After they had helped out with the needed-to-be-done chores, Megan and Robin sat down with Val at her request. “Thank you both for coming over,” Val said.
“It was -” Megan started to say.
“No, I mean it. Thus far, its been family, individual guests, or couples with trouble at home,” I saw the signs for it often enough at work. “Its refreshing and helpful to see two people still in love, still making a go at life together.” Val gave the best smile she could under the circumstances, “Thank you both.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The End.