Walking the Fine Line

Chapter 7 Life challenges patience

Will laughed at me when I got back in my apartment and did a happy dance, whistling as I set the bag on my own bed, god how I missed my own space. Then we headed back to my car, now to the bureau for tests and a meeting with Gregg  Manning, my immediate boss and Assistant Director, along with Daniel Colby our Deputy Director , or otherwise known as Eric's uncle. I exhaled as Will and I walked through the doors, my family as I see it, the other agents all stood up nodding with smiles and clapping as I shook my head waving to them and chuckled when Will said “ You knew it would happen, everyone respects you partner, me more than others but hey you knew that.” I smiled answering  “No more then my respect for you partner, or well ex partner,  damn sounds weird coming out in words.” making us both sigh as I bumped Will he said “ You are always my partner Piper, no matter what these bosses say.” I knocked on Gregg's door and we both walked in when he said to enter, he looked at Will saying “ Agent Black, Agent Hancock, guess cutting that imagery cord between you two didn't work.” I shrugged as Will replied “ You know how we are boss, thick as thieves so no matter what, she is always my best friend and partner, even when you gave me  a partner wet behind the ears.” I coughed as Gregg smirked and told us both to have a seat. Gregg looked down to his desk and I noticed my very thick file sitting there open, I exhaled as he shook his head “ Easy Agent, what happens now is in your hands not ours, you make the decisions except one, field work isn't an option Piper,  one you are to valuable to lose and two almost dying three times, the bureau won't push their luck again, that decision is final and not up for  debate so don't even start on me okay, it came from well you already know who so my hands are tied.” 

 

 I growled as both men glanced at me then Gregg informed me next step was I go to the doc, get all the testing done then take the results to Daniel who is waiting to see me, then to meet him and Will back in the conference room when I was finished with  my meeting with Daniel. I nodded as Gregg dismissed us, reminding Will he had a case to get to work on and to find his new partner while Will grumbled going one way, I went towards the medical ward with my file from the hospital in my hand. Yes we take our files from any hospital or outside agency because as FBI agents everything stays in the bureau's hand so our identity can't be compromised, no records anywhere else makes sense right seeing anything about me is classified information. I walked in the swinging doors and nodded to the doctor as I handed him the file, he quickly skimmed over whatever was in it then nodded saying “ Very good agent, promising and expected that you'd be ahead of their treatment plan, just like previously you hate staying off on medical leave.” I smirked replying “ You know me so well doc, so let's get this over so I can meet up with the Deputy Director.” He chuckled and waved the file towards the treadmill as I exhaled and knew what I was in for since I went through this four years ago, now  changing in my clothes in the locker room and got on the  treadmill.

 

 All  the agents have use of any of the equipment in the gym, weights, every machine known to man, we have our own shooting area for classification testing, so each of us keep a set of shorts and  a shirt in a locker here at the bureau just like civilians do in their gyms.  After the rigorous testing the doctor told me to cool down before showering, so as normal is for me  I brought my Ipod and  placed it in the slot in the stereo system.  Now playing “ Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis since it is a slower tempo and walked to the center of the gym, stretching and slowly started  stepping allowing my muscles to relax and my body to cool down. Of course like every time I dance it draws a crowd, Will and his new partner watching from the open gym doors along with Daniel, Gregg and a few other agents who have been with the bureau a long time. Daniel had my file in his hand from the doctor and he smiled at me when I chuckled seeing my friends, “ family” all clapping softly. I turned around wiping sweat off my neck and shrugged smiling back to them, then bowed as we all laughed.