First Job

[quinn_pro_quo]

Quinn was already the kind of person who could be hard to get along with, let alone like, but this new team really had it out for her. They were a team of four, but when one of their members was injured, he was moved to working intel in office as opposed to field work. It seemed they didn't see him fit as of yet to go back to working like he had been previously. Quinn was his replacement and the team wasn't too happy about that.

It wasn't so much that they didn't want her at all, but more that they all had a repore with each other. They trusted each other and Quinn wasn't one of them yet. She had to earn her place among them even if she could do her job flawlessly, which posed a bit of a problem in and of itself.

Their first job involved tracking down a recent target who they believed to have been involved in the murder of a young woman. However, when they took a week to track and gather intel about him, they realized that the girl was being held in a storage unit the man had been renting. Quinn felt this was something that needed to be dealt with immediately, where as he new 'boss' felt they needed to check in first, send out a hunter after him while they rescued the girl.

Yeah, Quinn wasn't going for that. She disobeyed a direct order and went for the girl, successfully retrieving her. By time she'd grabbed the girl, her other teammates had called back and got a hunter set on his way after the man. The job was successful... sort of. Quinn practically got a lashing for acting against orders, ignoring clear signs and putting all of them in danger. She felt the risks were worth it. They did not. She was sent home

They were going to file a report and Quinn could expect to hear from the boss soon enough, but for now, she was going home to her nice apartment where she could relax, put her feet up and call her man. She was sure he'd want to know how it went. As much as she planned on ranting about the situation--she was still pissed off that they couldn't see that clearly they had to save the girl before it was too late instead of waiting for approval--she knew that he would probably say she was being impulsive.

But she picked up her phone after flopping down on her couch and gave him a call.

Comments

[crackedpuzzle]

When Quinn had gotten home from her meeting with Flynn and told him about their agreement, Francis could only add his own. He did think that Quinn was very much a loner, but he also knew how unpredictable she could be. Having her work in a team could potentially do her some good; temper her impulsiveness and teach her to look at a problem or task from different angles.

He hadn't heard from her from the time she went out with her team on her first job, and it wasn't without worry that he waited for her return. So when the phone rang, the caller ID displaying her name, he smiled, feeling relief wash over him. "Hello, Quinn," he said as he answered the call. "Are you back? Did everything go okay?"

[quinn_pro_quo]

"Hey there, handsome," she flirted as best she could through the phone. He had two questions for her right out of the gate and she laughed with a snort, "Miss me, did you?"

Quinn sat up again on the couch, "Yes, I'm back and more or less. Are you coming over or not?" Yes, she knew she hadn't asked him yet, but certainly he should know she was going to ask, right? Besides, he sounded like he wanted to hear all about it.

[crackedpuzzle]

"I did! Can you blame me?" He had kept himself busy while she was away, but he had missed her none the less. Things always seemed a bit brighter when she was around. And, it was almost scary how quickly one could get used to sleeping next to someone. While they didn't spend every night together normally, now it had been a week.

He laughed at her her comment about him coming over. "If you had told me sooner that you were coming home, I would have already been there." He got up from where he had been reclining in a chair with a book and started to wander around his apartment, gathering what little things he should bring with him. Wallet, keys... The basics. It was all he needed. "Now you are simply going to have to wait for me to drive over."

[quinn_pro_quo]

"No, I guess I can't. I'd miss me, too," she sounded so damn humble, that little bitch. He laughed at her and there was this little thrill at the sound. God, she missed him, too, apparently. Not hearing him laugh or that smile in his voice. The way he flirted right back with her even if they had officially been together for a little while now.

She rolled her eyes at him even if he couldn't see it, "I was too busy being scolded to call you. I'll explain when you get here, just hurry up." Yeah, this was going to be a fun conversation. Maybe she could distract him so he wouldn't be too disappointed. "See you soon, lover," she sassed at him and hung up.

Quinn decided to jump in the shower really quick, changing then into a tank top and cotton shorts. Over all that was too little clothing for this time of year, but the heater was on and she was comfortable. She french braided her hair while it was damp and then just waited.

[crackedpuzzle]

"Oh dear, what did you do?" But she wasn't going to tell him over the phone, apparently, so no sense in prying for information.

He quickly got his shoes and jacket on, and was on his way. The drive wasn't too long, and for once traffic wasn't an issue. Soon he was at her door, ringing the bell.

[quinn_pro_quo]

It was the story of her life; all the things she did to get herself into trouble. It was fairly common growing up, Darcy always having to figure out what to do with the rebellious baby sister. Then it simply got worse and worse. She would have to learn somehow, but apparently this first job was not the way to do it.

When the doorbell sounded she rushed over to the door and opened it up. Her place was much smaller than her filthy rich boyfriend's, but it was nice, in a nice building, with a decent view. It was more than enough for her. "Hey," she stepped back to let him in.

[crackedpuzzle]

"Hey, you." He smiled as he stepped through the door, stepping up close to wrap her up in a hug and to give her a quick kiss. He really had missed her.

He went on to make himself comfortable, toeing off his shoes and hanging up his jacket. Making himself at home. No doubt he would be there for the night.

[quinn_pro_quo]

Yes, he was going to be there for the night. She was not going to let him leave her place tonight by any means. Quinn have every intention of latching onto him like a barnacle all night long because sleeping alone is really shitty especially when your teammates hate you.

The kiss was happily received and she shut the door and followed him into the living room, "Need anything?" she asked, even if that's not really what they should be talking about. "How was your week?"

[crackedpuzzle]

He shook his head an dsat down on the couch. Since she was close enough to grab, he pulled her down with him. This had not been going on long enough that the overly cuddly, newly-in-love stage had passed. "It's been good. Busy," he said. "Lots of exercising." He could let other people into his head to help him now. He didn't like it, not by far, but he could. This meant that progress was coming faster.

"But what about you? Tell me all about it." Apparently something hadn't gone as it should, but it couldn't have been a total bust, could it?

[quinn_pro_quo]

She could do cuddly and clingy if he wanted and when he tugged her down, she sat herself sideways so her legs were draped over his lap, curled in against his side. "I'm glad you were busy. You didn't have to mourn over me not being here too much then," she teased him.

He then was asking what happened and she sighed heavily, pressing her face against his shoulder. "They hate me, to start," she explained, which he already knew from when she first met them and she spent a good fifteen minutes ranting about them, "So we were scouting, mostly. There's a guy that we know was suspected to have killed this one woman and stowed her body, but as it turns out, the woman was alive and being kept in a storage unit he was renting. I felt like we couldn't wait to get her out because who knows what he was going to do with her, right? I said we should grab her and go and they said we should check in at base, make sure we were cleared. I said fuck that and went in for her anyway."

Quinn gave her best innocent grin, "we saved her and then called out a hunter on him because he did figure out we were after him, but he couldn't have gotten far and I think he was close to catching him by time we got back. They were just mad because I didn't follow orders and ask permission when I felt it was more important to save the poor girl first," she rambled that off quickly, "and this is the part where you tell me I'm wrong."

[crackedpuzzle]

"...you disobeyed a direct order and went in by yourself?" He made a face. "Yeah. I'm sorry, Quinn, but this is where I will say just that. It's not that I don't understand your reasoning of wanting to get the woman out quickly, but your superior will have had their reason to not going in right away."

He sighed and got his arm around her, making sure she stayed tucked in close. "look, I'm not going to be ranting at you about it. Not my place. I have an opinion that I can share if you want me to, but I think you'll be getting enough of an earful from Marcus about it once he finds out than I should be adding to it." So in so many words: did he disapprove? Yes. But he also knew she needed someone to lean on, and he should be that someone.

[quinn_pro_quo]

Quinn sighed audibly, leaning heavily against his shoulder. She didn't really want to hear that from him. She already knew that he was going to tell her she was wrong, because even she knew that she was not supposed to be disobeying a direct order. She shouldn't have, but she did, because she felt like she was surrounded by people who didn't feel the importance of it.

"I couldn't let her continue to be trapped in a dark room, alone just waiting for her abuser to return. She didn't know what was going to happen to her. I couldn't..." leave her. She couldn't leave her there because what if something horrible happened. What if it was worse than death? It already had been.

"This is why they're afraid I'm going to be a liability," she murmured.

[crackedpuzzle]

"Quinn, listen..." He stroked over her hair, wanting to offer her comfort even if he didn't agree with her actions at all. In fact, had he been her commanding officer, so to speak, he would have been absolutely furious with her. "I'm absolutely positive that your command had their reasons for not going in at once. If they felt that it was a matter of life and death and that time was running out, they would have gone in. That's how things tend to work. But if they had reasons to hesitate, and time to call in back-up to make sure everything ran safely, then yes. I would have delayed too, if that were the case."

He turned his head towards her, planting a soft kiss to her forehead. "If you can't learn to trust and obey your command, then... Then they have cause to worry about that."

[quinn_pro_quo]

She listened even though she didn't like anything he was saying at the moment. It all sounded like she had no idea what she was doing and maybe they were right, but her pride was too wounded to give in to the fact that she may have been really wrong.

Quinn wouldn't look up at him at the moment, either. She didn't want to see that disapproval in his eyes and then that sympathy like she wasn't quite right yet. How could she trust them? They didn't want her there, they already treated her like she was some idiot child who didn't know what she was doing. She wanted to prove that she could handle it but at the same time, she didn't feel like they deserved any respect.

She rubbed her eyes and curled up into a tighter little ball than before. "I get it," she said softly. She sort of got it. She was mad, but she got it.

[crackedpuzzle]

It was a difficult situation that she was in, a rocky start. And yes, it seemed that the team wasn't letting her in as they should, and that was on them, but for the most part it was up to Quinn to learn to adapt and to prove to them and herself thats he could do the job. At least that was how Francis saw it. He had no doubt that she could do the job, but she had to learn to stop and think.

But, damn, he hated to see her like this. He almost wished that he was one to lie and just agree with her, so that she could vent. But that wasn't him, he would always speak his mind. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

[quinn_pro_quo]

She didn't like moping and she definitely didn't want to dwell on what was going on either. She made a mistake, very clearly. She knew it was wrong when she did it, but she wasn't ready to be stuck on a team. She'd never been formally trained and here she was being thrown into a group that expected her to function with them. How was she supposed to accomplish that? Someone out there had way more faith in her than she had in herself.

"No," she answered, sounding a little bit pitiful. She needed to stop feeling bad for herself. That was going to help immensely. Quinn sat up a little bit straighter and looked him in the eyes, smiling, "I will be just fine. Promise."

[crackedpuzzle]

He traced his fingers over her face, his hand finally settling cupping her cheek. "I know you will be." He had faith in her. She's come out on top eventually even if the road there might be a bit rocky.

[quinn_pro_quo]

She looked up at him as he cupped her cheek. Quinn leaned against him again, resting her head against his shoulder and wrapping an arm around his waist. "I'm so stupid..." she mumbled and then started to giggled because of course she was stupid! Why would that surprise anyone. She'd been removed from the world for nearly five years.

[crackedpuzzle]

"You're not stupid," he argued, hugging her close. No, not stupid. Impulsive. Inexperienced in this line of work. And, young. He sometimes forgot just how young she was. "It's just a new way to do things."

[quinn_pro_quo]

"Don't defend me. It's not like I didn't know what I was doing or thought I wasn't doing something wrong or against orders," she rolled her eyes. Yes, Quinn agreed that she was young and had a lot to learn, but she definitely did something stupid.

"But what really makes me stupid is that I don't regret doing it. I didn't want to leave her there, so I didn't leave her there," she said. It wasn't a defense against being wrong, but she did what she felt needed to be done and if that got her in trouble, at least this time she was okay with it.

[crackedpuzzle]

He had said he wasn't going to argue against her, but he just couldn't help to question her anyway. "You did what you thought was right, and that's admirable. But, do you know why what you did was wrong? Aside from being against orders?" Was she aware of what the consequences could have been and could be?

[quinn_pro_quo]

She pulled back when he started to question her again. Quinn shook her head, lips closed in a tight line. "No, you don't get to patronize me over this. Not you..." she immediately untangled herself from his lap and got up, walking towards her kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

[crackedpuzzle]

Oh dear, were they in the beginnings of their first quarrel? "Quinn, I'm not trying to patronize you," he said, getting up to follow her. "I'm just trying to understand. You say you don't regret your actions, but if you actions had led to you or your crew - or the victim for that matter - being hurt, would you have regretted it then?"

[quinn_pro_quo]

"You are patronizing me! Asking me questions like it's some kind of study or therapy session. Do you really think I didn't get the risks?" she had the open bottle on the counter, leaning on it with both hands. "It isn't like I went into that thinking it would be perfectly fine and I didn't bring anyone else into it with me. That's a ridiculous question. If someone had been hurt, then yes, I'd have something to regret, but no one did. So don't look at me like that. Like I'm young and don't think about my actions. I know what my actions have done! They've killed other people before!"

Okay, that rant stopped being about this mission a while ago. She swallowed, blinking rapidly and standing up straight, taking a drink from the water.

[crackedpuzzle]

Francis hated feeling as conflicted as he did. On one hand, he only wanted to comfort her, take all the bad away. And he did sense that there was more to this than the recent mission. But on the other hand, he couldn't shake the feeling of how important it was that she understand just how important it was that she learn to stop and listen, and find her place in her team. Him as her lover and him with his twenty-plus years in the organization were at war. What was he supposed to say?

"I don't want us to fight over this," he said lowly, leaning against the doorpost, looking at her, seeing how she was close to tears.

[quinn_pro_quo]

"Fine," she answered briskly, turning away from him so that maybe the tears would dry. She had cause a lot of pain in her life to other people. She wasn't about to let that keep going on and on. She knew she needed to stop taking matters into her own hands, but... she was trying to make things right and she couldn't.

[crackedpuzzle]

He stayed where he was, watching her. This was not how he had wanted things to be for them after a week apart. While he may wish that he could take some of his words back, he knew that he would have said exactly the same things again. Now he could only ask himself, what could he do now?

[quinn_pro_quo]

She wiped her eyes while still turned away from him, taking a deep breath. God, she really screwed this up, didn't she? They could have been together and enjoying each other's company, but instead she was feeling bad for herself.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, finally turning to face him, "I shouldn't have yelled at you."

[crackedpuzzle]

He didn't say that he was sorry. Sorry should mean that he wouldn't have said what he did if he could do it over, that he hadn't meant what he said. What he was sorry for, was that she was hurting.

When she turned he pushed off from where he had been leaning, crossing the kitchen to stand in front of her. Softly he stroked the back of his knuckles over her cheek. "I love you, you know?" They would never see eye to eye on everything, but that didn't change the way he felt about her.

[quinn_pro_quo]

He stepped towards her, fingers brushing her face and the words he said were spoken as though she did already know, that he'd said it before and Quinn, though she didn't physical recoil, she looked just as confused by it.

"No, I can't say I do know," she replied, voice soft because she didn't trust it not to waver. Her heart was hammering in her chest. How could he love her? She was so much younger than him and erratic.

[crackedpuzzle]

He smiled at her, almost sadly. "Then I have done a bad job of showing you that." Still with his eyes on hers he moved his hand to cup her jaw. "I do, though, don't ever doubt that."

[quinn_pro_quo]

And this time she couldn't look away from him when her eyes filled with tears. Go figure. She'd been a total jerk to him when he was just trying to help give her a little perspective. Quinn inhaled slowly and tried to combat the lump rising in her throat.

She nodded finally, "I'll try and keep that in mind."

She wasn't ready to say it herself. She was half-convinced he'd still change his mind.

[crackedpuzzle]

He didn't need her to say those words back to him. No matter what she said or didn't say, his feelings for her didn't change.

He leaned in and pressed a sweet but brief kiss to her lips before pulling her forward, hugging her close to him.

[quinn_pro_quo]

She didn't hesitate to return the kiss and her feelings for him were much stronger than just infatuation or lust or even like. Quinn couldn't exactly pin point what it was, but she cared for him deeply.

Quinn hugged him, arms around him tightly and buried her face in against his neck. "I missed you," she mumbled.

[crackedpuzzle]

"I missed you too," he whispered back. For a moment longer he held her before he stepped back slightly. "Now, what would you like to do today?" With the week she had had, he felt it only fair that they could spend a day or two spoiling her and doing wherever she wanted.

[quinn_pro_quo]

"You smell like home," she smiled, kissing his neck just afterwards and smiling. She didn't really care what they did, but if he had intentions of letting her choose, she could probably come up with something.

"What do you think? Go out? Something casual and fun or fancy? Or we could stay in and you can tell me all the reasons you like me?" she finally had a moment where she was feeling like herself again.

[crackedpuzzle]

He couldn't help but to smile at that first comment, because he knew the feeling. Sometimes he thought that smell was one of the most powerful senses. Just a whiff of something could trigger so many memories and emotions. That she apparently connected his scent with home was a nice thought.

"Oh no, don't ask me." He grinned. "It's up to you to decide."

[quinn_pro_quo]

"Oh no, I refuse to be the only deciding factor in this," she argues with him, leaning up and kissing him once, then again for good measure. She really had missed him.

"If you don't help me decide, I'll threaten to make you help me cook dinner," she did not look amused, aside from the little smirk on her lips.

[crackedpuzzle]

He gave a shrug, though he did grin widely. "It's your funeral." That had been a running joke, her trying to get him to cook and him refusing. He felt that best, because he really couldn't cook worth a damn.

[quinn_pro_quo]

She really didn't want to be poisoned either, so that was a reason she refused to let him cook anyway. She could at least follow recipes and sometimes she liked it. More baking than regular cooking. Sweets were so much better.

"You would be sad if you killed me with your bad food," she grinned brightly. "Fine, we'll go out. Somewhere nice. And you're paying."

[crackedpuzzle]

He bowed his head, consenting to her choice. "As you wish. Should I go home and get prettied up for the occasion?" He did rock a suit, after all.

[quinn_pro_quo]

"I do like you dressed up," she said with we eyes narrowed. "Let me get dressed first and then we can just go over to your place together and leave from there."

She figured that would cut down on their driving and they could spend more time together. "Now, the big question," she smirked and kissed him, "Short or long dress?" Or really short. She had those too.

[crackedpuzzle]

"I like your legs," he said in response. So, that was one vote for a shorter dress.

"Go on then, get dolled up." God knows she could. "I'll keep myself entertained."

[quinn_pro_quo]

"Short it is," she agreed and disappeared into her bedroom. Quinn got dressed quickly and did her make-up and her hair. It was easy enough and the dress she picked was mid-thigh length with an asymmetrical, one shouldered top.

Quinn walked out again into the living room and pulled on a pair of heals. "Ready."

[crackedpuzzle]

Before she had left to go on her mission, Francis had started reading a book at her place. That's' what he occupied his time with now, stretched out on her couch, reading.

Then she came out again, and she was a vision. That she wasn't afraid to show off was one of the many things Francis liked about her.

"You look lovely," he said, getting up and approaching her for a quick kiss.

[quinn_pro_quo]

Good, he approved. That was all she was hoping for. She was definitely glad to see him look at her like that. As long as she was doing something right. Quinn kissed him back and grabbed her purse a moment later. "Let's go get you all dolled up to," she grinned.