Back at CTU
Jan. 5th, 2007 01:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
agirllostLos Angeles, CA
May 7, 2012
All Sunday she hid any nervousness. Chase wished her luck before she left and she'd kissed him after holding Angie for a few moments. In her purse she carries a framed picture of them that will soon be on her desk.
At least Behrooz is somewhere far away so that she doesn't have to deal with his emotions concerning CTU on top of everything else.
On the drive over, she kept tapping her fingers against the steering wheel and turning up her Green Day CD. Somehow she had to calm down. Before exiting the car, she went through the rosebud exercise, but was unsurprised to find all the tension flooding back the minute she entered the concrete and steel building.
A few weeks ago, she'd gone to Division to get fingerprinted and have new ID cards made. She wore her brand new ID clipped to the lapel of her jacket but the guard still asked her questions.
When she gave her name to the red shirted guard, his eyes widened slightly and he affirmed that she was on the list. The security check took a few moments but the guard kept glancing at her and it was a testament to Moiraine that she kept from fidgeting.
Across from her, another guard picked up the phone and said a few words.
"She can go ahead," the first guard said, nodding toward her bag.
The second guard held open the door to the main hallway and she shouldered her bag, focusing on the task ahead.
Back at CTU, hers by birthright, her mother's blood had been spilled here - sometimes she thought she could feel a connection, even if she knew that ghosts weren't around outside of Milliways.
When walking she was sure the looks people were giving her had very little to do with her clothing or choice of shoes.
She's only working part-time and she'd forgotten how this place can sometimes feel like a sealed in world apart from everything else - only these halls exist, outside life seen only through screens, and she wonders if the White Tower has the same sense of heightened reality.
Although she can't imagine the White Tower having long winding concrete hallways or decorative arches that somehow only make the place feel colder.
Kim rounds the corner and enters the main area. She'd gotten over her shock at the difference when she came for the first meeting, but she has to stop herself from glancing up at the director's office and a few of the analysts look up from their work and then back down, as if trying to pretend they hadn't been distracted.
She hears someone coming down the stairs and for a moment it could be Tony or her dad and Michelle could be showing her to a station but no, the man who comes into view is definitely not Tony. She's surprised by the difficulty she has in pushing back her emotions but manages a small professional smile.
"Mr. Buchanan," she holds out her hand and he shakes it. His expression is sympathetic and his eyes are kind. She remembers what Christopher told her about Bill, that it would be a mistake to think his decisions could be affected by emotional ties.
"He's a nice guy," Christopher said conspiratorially, "but when there's a crisis he'll save himself before anyone else." That told her Bill could not be trusted, even if she couldn't really see Michelle ever being friends with someone who acted that way. And Chris never mentioned that side of her boss, then again, Chris tried not to talk about work too much.
"We're glad to have you back with us, Miss Bauer."
For many reasons she'd been hoping that Chris would be here today instead of Bill.
"Thank you for taking me back, Mr. Buchanan."
Bill nodded and started walking. Kim immediately followed.
"It's been quiet so we've been working on backlogs. You'll be assisting Carrie with the facial recognition database." He turns to look at her, "We've been focusing on the Canadian border, especially the Vancouver area, but the whole border's a potential security risk."
At the mention of Canada her grip tightens on the bag's strap and she wonders how much Bill knows, but outwardly she nods.
"I'd take your dad back in a second but it's no secret that Washington had declared him hands off." Bill says, leaning in, giving her no choice but to look at him.
"If he was needed I don't think any law would keep him from trying to help," she answers honestly, unable to stop herself. "But you said it's quiet."
This time Bill nods and they reach a station where a dark haired woman's sitting behind a computer.
"Carrie will bring you up to speed," he glances at the analyst. She jumps slightly at the sound of her name.
"Mr. Buchanan -- " she begins to protest but he's already walking away.
Kim tries to give her a reassuring smile, but Carrie only looks up nervously. "You're sitting over here. When we find a match to a terror suspect, we update the information and try to fill in any missing fields. It's tedious."
"Have you been working on it long?"
Carrie double-clicks on an image and shakes her head. "This isn't exactly top priority, but it's a better use of time than surfing the 'net."
"From what I remember, that wasn't really allowed." Kim sits down, ignoring the queasiness as she opens up the archive. Being here brings back few good memories, but, at least there's a chance she can make a difference. Reaching into her bag, she pulls out the picture and places it to the side of her monitor. She glances down at the bare spot on her hand.
One analyst whispers to another a few feet away and she has the uncomfortable feeling that she's being watched.
It's been a long time since she's felt this alone. 'Can't embrace the Source, can't embrace...' Even if no one can sense her abilities, she has to learn to be strong and calm without feeling life pulsing through her.
Falling back into the pattern of work is easy. For a while she thinks of nothing but the digital images in front of her.
At least until Carrie tries to start a conversation.
"I have to ask, have you gotten to talk to him - your father?"
She turns to glare at her new co-worker, but decides against it. "Not really." The lie almost hurts but she knows what they need to believe. "Why?"
"There's been talk," she admits.
"About what?"
"I don't believe it, and I wouldn't bring this up to Chloe or, well - I was just wondering -- "
Kim takes a breath, preparing for the worst. "What is it?"
"Is it true that he's not okay?"
She slowly raises her gaze from the computer and looks up at Carrie.
"He's...fine, Carrie."
Carrie gives her a slight smile but her expession's wary. "I guess if he wasn't, you wouldn't be here."
"It doesn't really matter to me," she says softly and exhales. Her stomach tightens as she thinks about how many lies she's telling.
"I just had to ask," Carrie says lamely and begins typing commands into the computer.
"I understand," Kim answers before glancing back over at the picture of half her family.
She resists the urge to stand and find an excuse to walk through the bullpen or try to find out more about this talk.
CTU is nothing if not a rumor mill, it'll filter back to her eventually, she's just not sure she wants to know.
May 7, 2012
All Sunday she hid any nervousness. Chase wished her luck before she left and she'd kissed him after holding Angie for a few moments. In her purse she carries a framed picture of them that will soon be on her desk.
At least Behrooz is somewhere far away so that she doesn't have to deal with his emotions concerning CTU on top of everything else.
On the drive over, she kept tapping her fingers against the steering wheel and turning up her Green Day CD. Somehow she had to calm down. Before exiting the car, she went through the rosebud exercise, but was unsurprised to find all the tension flooding back the minute she entered the concrete and steel building.
A few weeks ago, she'd gone to Division to get fingerprinted and have new ID cards made. She wore her brand new ID clipped to the lapel of her jacket but the guard still asked her questions.
When she gave her name to the red shirted guard, his eyes widened slightly and he affirmed that she was on the list. The security check took a few moments but the guard kept glancing at her and it was a testament to Moiraine that she kept from fidgeting.
Across from her, another guard picked up the phone and said a few words.
"She can go ahead," the first guard said, nodding toward her bag.
The second guard held open the door to the main hallway and she shouldered her bag, focusing on the task ahead.
Back at CTU, hers by birthright, her mother's blood had been spilled here - sometimes she thought she could feel a connection, even if she knew that ghosts weren't around outside of Milliways.
When walking she was sure the looks people were giving her had very little to do with her clothing or choice of shoes.
She's only working part-time and she'd forgotten how this place can sometimes feel like a sealed in world apart from everything else - only these halls exist, outside life seen only through screens, and she wonders if the White Tower has the same sense of heightened reality.
Although she can't imagine the White Tower having long winding concrete hallways or decorative arches that somehow only make the place feel colder.
Kim rounds the corner and enters the main area. She'd gotten over her shock at the difference when she came for the first meeting, but she has to stop herself from glancing up at the director's office and a few of the analysts look up from their work and then back down, as if trying to pretend they hadn't been distracted.
She hears someone coming down the stairs and for a moment it could be Tony or her dad and Michelle could be showing her to a station but no, the man who comes into view is definitely not Tony. She's surprised by the difficulty she has in pushing back her emotions but manages a small professional smile.
"Mr. Buchanan," she holds out her hand and he shakes it. His expression is sympathetic and his eyes are kind. She remembers what Christopher told her about Bill, that it would be a mistake to think his decisions could be affected by emotional ties.
"He's a nice guy," Christopher said conspiratorially, "but when there's a crisis he'll save himself before anyone else." That told her Bill could not be trusted, even if she couldn't really see Michelle ever being friends with someone who acted that way. And Chris never mentioned that side of her boss, then again, Chris tried not to talk about work too much.
"We're glad to have you back with us, Miss Bauer."
For many reasons she'd been hoping that Chris would be here today instead of Bill.
"Thank you for taking me back, Mr. Buchanan."
Bill nodded and started walking. Kim immediately followed.
"It's been quiet so we've been working on backlogs. You'll be assisting Carrie with the facial recognition database." He turns to look at her, "We've been focusing on the Canadian border, especially the Vancouver area, but the whole border's a potential security risk."
At the mention of Canada her grip tightens on the bag's strap and she wonders how much Bill knows, but outwardly she nods.
"I'd take your dad back in a second but it's no secret that Washington had declared him hands off." Bill says, leaning in, giving her no choice but to look at him.
"If he was needed I don't think any law would keep him from trying to help," she answers honestly, unable to stop herself. "But you said it's quiet."
This time Bill nods and they reach a station where a dark haired woman's sitting behind a computer.
"Carrie will bring you up to speed," he glances at the analyst. She jumps slightly at the sound of her name.
"Mr. Buchanan -- " she begins to protest but he's already walking away.
Kim tries to give her a reassuring smile, but Carrie only looks up nervously. "You're sitting over here. When we find a match to a terror suspect, we update the information and try to fill in any missing fields. It's tedious."
"Have you been working on it long?"
Carrie double-clicks on an image and shakes her head. "This isn't exactly top priority, but it's a better use of time than surfing the 'net."
"From what I remember, that wasn't really allowed." Kim sits down, ignoring the queasiness as she opens up the archive. Being here brings back few good memories, but, at least there's a chance she can make a difference. Reaching into her bag, she pulls out the picture and places it to the side of her monitor. She glances down at the bare spot on her hand.
One analyst whispers to another a few feet away and she has the uncomfortable feeling that she's being watched.
It's been a long time since she's felt this alone. 'Can't embrace the Source, can't embrace...' Even if no one can sense her abilities, she has to learn to be strong and calm without feeling life pulsing through her.
Falling back into the pattern of work is easy. For a while she thinks of nothing but the digital images in front of her.
At least until Carrie tries to start a conversation.
"I have to ask, have you gotten to talk to him - your father?"
She turns to glare at her new co-worker, but decides against it. "Not really." The lie almost hurts but she knows what they need to believe. "Why?"
"There's been talk," she admits.
"About what?"
"I don't believe it, and I wouldn't bring this up to Chloe or, well - I was just wondering -- "
Kim takes a breath, preparing for the worst. "What is it?"
"Is it true that he's not okay?"
She slowly raises her gaze from the computer and looks up at Carrie.
"He's...fine, Carrie."
Carrie gives her a slight smile but her expession's wary. "I guess if he wasn't, you wouldn't be here."
"It doesn't really matter to me," she says softly and exhales. Her stomach tightens as she thinks about how many lies she's telling.
"I just had to ask," Carrie says lamely and begins typing commands into the computer.
"I understand," Kim answers before glancing back over at the picture of half her family.
She resists the urge to stand and find an excuse to walk through the bullpen or try to find out more about this talk.
CTU is nothing if not a rumor mill, it'll filter back to her eventually, she's just not sure she wants to know.
