Under New Management: RP captain_flyboy<user site="livejournal.

[open_flame]

"You're really going to do this?  "I'm still not used to the idea of Jack being able to buy and sell his way into pretty much anything he wants. Ever since that day we came to tell Red about Prof. Broom having cancer, Jack had the idea that BPRD needed to be out of the FBI's control. It's true, the bureaucracy of the entire place was not an ideal situation, and since Broom died, things only got worse. I stare at the BPRD building for a few moments after the car stops, almost in a trance until I hear my door open.

"What I mean is", I continue as I step out of the car. " You're sure you want to give Red control of everything?"  The idea has merit I must admit, but Jack doesn't know Red like I know Red. Tom Manning may be the worse director in the entire history of BPRD, but at least he's professional, at least he can defuse the media bomb that Red insists on setting off every few weeks. "You really think he can handle running the show, the WHOLE show?"

This time we have clearance, though I'm not sure how Jack managed to swing that given the fact that he punched Manning in the face last time. I feel my stomach sink as the lift lowers to the basement, the hidden headquarters of BPRD.

"Is it too late to tell you not to go through with it?"  I ask Jack, only half joking.


(posting order is Liz, Jack, Manning. Tag Red in when needed)

Comments

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I've pulled out the stops with this one, suit, limo, even a bodyguard waiting outside the building if we need him. "Liz relax I've done my homework," I tell her as we walk into the building arm and arm. "Meyer is getting a promotion too and will be around to handle anything Red can't."

I give her my most sincere smile as we enter Manning's office. "I've done my homework this time."

[dr-manning.livejournal.com]

This one again? Myers told me that Elizabeth was coming by on business, but he failed to mention she was bringing that freelance friend of hers along. I was sure I told security not to let him in here after he punched me. No one ever listens to me around here.

"Miss Sherman, you're looking well. And you," I don't remember his name, but I shake his hand anyway. "Are looking rather different than last we met."

There's been so much to deal with. Hellboy is creating trouble as usual, and I can not believe some of the things I'm reading about ME in the papers and online. When did I become the bad guy?

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

"You better have; Manning won't take too kindly to this kind of thing." I look at Jack as seriously as I can manage given that we're about to walk in there and basically turn BPRD upside down. Jack choosing to wear and actual suit's a nice touch though; Manning will be more likely to treat Jack as an equal. That is until Jack drops this bomb on him.

"Hello, Dr. Manning." It is just like him to space on Jack's name. He probably doesn't have the chart in front of him like last time. I take the liberty of reintroducing them, though I know Jack remembers Manning. "Dr. Thomas Manning...Captain Jack Harkness. You remember each other from...last time." How could Manning forget? I wonder.

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I smile and shake the offered hand. "Pleased to meet you again Dr. Manning," I say smoothly, "I do appreciate you allowing us to drop by again after what happened last time."

I pull out a seat for Liz and move to close the office door before returning to sit beside my girlfriend. "It has come to my attention that you've been having some trouble in the press."

"Not only that you've recently been cut off from your government contacts, a real shame," I add, "any idea why that would be?"

I know why, but I want to see how the bastard spins this one, if he's honest I might rethink rehiring him at a later date.

[dr-manning.livejournal.com]

"You're not the first to take a swing at me, Captain." He is actually, I command a certain level of respect around here. That's just the way things a done, the way they should be. I'm in charge.

"Oh that? It's nothing I can't handle. If I can deal with that big ape getting himself seen every time we let him go out, I can deal with a little negative PR thrown my way. You'll come to find out I'm quite resilient."

I notice Elizabeth glaring at me. No wonder she thinks this Captain Harkness is so great; he's as bad as Hellboy. No, he's worse than Hellboy. At least Hellboy kept to his place in the natural order of things; humans first, freaks second. As it should be.

"It seems that I'm under an unscheduled review is all. Not surprising given the circumstances surrounding Trevor's death." I clear my throat and continue. "That was not my fault, by the way." I look at Elizabeth. "He insisted that he do the examination of Kroenen. I tried to tell him no." No, I didn't. Frankly, I kept as far away from all the spooky mumbo jumbo as I could. He knew the risky. If he died that's his own fault, not mine.

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

I fight the urge to stand and yell at Manning. Jack can defend himself, there's no need to me to be a bitch about this. It will only make things worse.

I have no idea what to say when Manning looks at me to back him up. I can't really, he's a terrible leader and I can't think of anyone saved the few lap dog like flunkies he has that actually look up to him. "Some people think so." I say quietly.

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I nod. "I worked with the best in the world," I say calmly, "I know what I'm talking about when I discuss this particular subject. And as such I feel Hellboy is better suited to run BPRD then you Dr. Manning."

I smile. "In the words of my fellow millionaire, you sir are fired."

[dr-manning.livejournal.com]

Now, wait a second." This can't be happening, I've worked for this countries government for years. "What makes you think Hellboy would even want to run this...place?" I sit back down in my chair. Yes, MY chair.

"He's not what one would call a 'people person', if you take my meaning." I laugh a bit. "Do you think he will be able to get on camera and talk to the press. One look at him and the entire country, no the entire world will be in a panic!" I've got him now. They need me, they can't do this without me.

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

I narrow my eyes and try to sound calm. "You're not as articulate with the press as you think, Manning." I say coolly. Most of the time his lies sound less believable than the truth.

"Besides, there are plenty of people here who can talk to the press. Red doesn't have to do it."

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I nod. "I've already spoken to John Meyers about the subject and he's agreed to become BPRD's new spokesperson and Hellboy's sounding board when he is needed. I believe together John and Hellboy will take this organization in the direction Trevor wanted."

"Also I have promoted Abe Sapien to head of Research and Development. We need to anticipate trouble before it happens not clean it up after the fact."

[righthanddoom.livejournal.com]

I'm finishing up cleaning the dirty laundry from the floor and bed when I hear my door open. I had notice Liz and Jack were coming this time. Something about Manning getting the axe, and me getting a promotion. Jack asked if I wanted more responsibilities, and I do. Father always said if I could get my act together that I could run this place one day.

I don't know about that, but a promotion sounds nice. Jack said Liz wanted it to be a surprise. I hope it's not like her last surprise.

She did sound less depressed than she ever has the last time she called me. Almost like when she first became and agent here, before she realized what that actually meant. Optimistic, happy, she's even quitting smokes. Wish I had that much will power. I switched to light beer, that's something.

"Hey, you ditched that old coat, huh Jack?" I laugh as he follows Liz into my room. They both look a bit stressed. Guess telling Manning to take a hike is not as much fun as I imagined it would be.

"Cleaned my room." I say as Liz rushes over and hugs me. "Impressed?" I ask as I hug her back. She looks like she's finally sleeping again. She looks good, really really good.

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

"How could he not?" I beam at Jack. "Everyone will listen. Red can be really persuasive; who do you think I learned it from?" I laugh as an agent opens Red's door. He's new. That happens a lot around here. Hopefully the changes Jack's putting into play will keep that from happening. Too many people die around here because the 'book' gets in the way of doing the job effectively.

For a second I actually think we're in the wrong room until I see the clowder of cats and hear the TV's. He...CLEANED! Well, maybe he got someone else to clean for him, but it's clean in here, one way or the other.

"Hey, Red." I don't even have to watch where I'm putting my feet when I go over to hug him. "I'm very impressed. Unless you conned or threatened someone into doing this for you." I raise an eyebrow as I pull back and look around. He still has everything; he's such a pack rat. At least it's all organized. Is that a...bookshelf? Wow.

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I walk into the room behind Liz and give them a moment to greet each other before I step up and offer my hand to Hellboy. "Long time no see Red," I say smiling, "place really, really looks good and there are places to sit now too."

I pull up a chair for Liz and one for myself after the handshaking is done. "The impossible has happened, Manning has left the building."

[righthanddoom.livejournal.com]

"Figured if I'm gonna be having company on a regular basis, I oughta clean the place up." I say as I shake Jack's hand. I sit myself as I watch Jack get a chair for Liz. Damn, he's nicer to her than I ever was. Bet he hold doors for her, too. No wonder she picked him over...

No, don't think about it. She's happy. She's looking amazing. Really amazing. Fuck!

I smile as best I can at him. "What happened, Jack? You hit him so hard this time he had to be taken to the emergency room?"

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

"Nice job, Red." I smile at him, then sit down in the chair Jack brings over for me. "Thanks." I say to Jack as I look around Red's room some more. It's like night and day from the last time we were her. There's still a bit of sadness in Red's eyes when my own meet his again. Hopefully this news will cheer him up. It really should.

"No, it's not like that at all, Red." I grin at Jack. "Jack was a perfect gentleman today." I know better than to reach for Jack's hand, even though I want to. Red's...still Red. No need to flaunt this in his face.

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

"Red, you'll have more than Abe and Myers. Just about everyone here know's how good you are at this. They're staying because of you." I force a smile, still feeling a bit guilty that I'm not staying.

"You are a hero, though. To me anyway; to a lot of people. Not everyone would do what you do for a bunch of humans who don't even take a minute to say thank you."

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I nod. "Heroes are made not born Hellboy," I add, "you started out an agent of evil but thanks to the people that love you you became something so much better."

[righthanddoom.livejournal.com]

It hurts a bit that Father isn't around to see this. "If you two think I can do it, then I can do it." I say with a smile.

"Come on, Boss." I say clapping Jack on the shoulder as I walk by him. "Let's go give the troops the good news."

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

"I know you can do it, Red." I look over at Jack and smile. "We all know you can do it."

"Just don't say anything too rude and mean about Manning. He might deserve it, but you're an authority figure now. You have to act like one." I tease Red as I stand up to follow him and Jack.

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I wince as Red's hand hits my shoulder, he's still larger then me and it does hurt a little bit. "Don't worry Liz," I say with a smile as I follow Hellboy, "I promise to be good."

[righthanddoom.livejournal.com]

I walk silently to my father's study....my study. It's all mine now. Damn I've been in here more times than I can count, but now it's different. It's been sealed up like a tomb since the day he died. I asked them to, and they did. Well, less asked then threatened Manning and demanded he do it.

I move over to the desk, silently flipping though the pages of the book I left there months ago. It hurts, knowing that my father won't see this. Won't see things get back on track, they way they're supposed to be, the way he always wanted them.

I look over at an open photo album on the edge of the desk. I pick it up and flip though it. All those memories. All the good we did, and no one in the world even noticed most of the time.

"Well, Pop. Hope I make you proud." I say as I pull out one of the pictures of me and Broom in Japan. Liz took it, it was the day before her birthday. I forgot because I almost got killed the night before and wasn't in the best of moods the next day. I picked her some red flowers to make up for forgetting. God, those were the days.

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that makes sense." I say to Jack as I crane my head around to look down the hallway before focusing on Myers. He's just as nervous as Red, but he's better than Manning ever was.

People clap when he talks about getting back to Brooms original vision, and a more cooperative approach between species. No more blindly running into situations that get agents killed before they're even off their probationary period. It sounds wonderful. I zone out a bit, thinking about Broom and how happy he'd be with the changes that will be happening.

"You did good." I whisper as Myers walks by and Abe takes his turn speaking, climbing up on the lift before clearing his throat.

[captain-flyboy.livejournal.com]

I smile back at her gently. "I was doing what Trevor would have wanted," I say softly, "nothing but that."

[righthanddoom.livejournal.com]

I sit down in my Father's old chair; it reminds me of when I was younger. Sure I was fully grown by the time I was 5 but it always make me feel like a little kid, sitting in my father's chair.

I lay my head back and look around the room, books everywhere, scrolls and tapestries with old incantations pinned to boards, a view of Abe's tank. Not sure how I feel about that, old Fishface having a full view of what will now be my study, my office. I stand up and flick the switch to close the cover on the glass.

"I'm in charge." I mutter under my breath, mocking Manning's favorite thing to tell anyone who said anything against him. I chuckle a bit at my own joke. "How about that; I'm in charge."

[open-flame.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." I lean my head back against Jack's chest and wrap his hands in mine. Everyones looking at Abe, listening to the ideas he's had for sometime that Manning told him were stupid. "Broom would be so happy." I tilt my head to the side and look into Jack's eyes. "Everyone is happy." I say with a little smile. "Well, maybe not Manning, but most everyone."