Liz Sherman

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?

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"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.

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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.

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"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.

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I wonder who else has tried to hit Manning. I bet it was Clay, he always hated Manning. I'm almost glad Clay was killed before Broom died, I have no idea what he would have done with Manning in complete control. Probably quit. No, he'd definitely have quit.

I reach over and rest my shaking hand on Jack's. I'm so damn nervous, I need to just relax. Jack can handle anything Manning can dish out. I'm sure he can. "Hellboy can be..difficult, Dr. Manning." I speak slowly, choosing my words very carefully. I so rarely can muster up a good show of professionalism, but I think I'm doing okay. "However, if you take the time to communicate with him honestly about the situation, you'll find he's quite cooperative once he understands your point of view."

As if Manning would take more than 5 seconds to actually get to know anyone here. He's too busy looking out for his own ass.

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I squeeze Liz's hand to keep from hitting Manning again. He's bad mouthed Broom and Hellboy in a few seconds.

"It takes a freak to know a freak and I know Hellboy is smarter then the FBI has given him credit for, which is why.....I went and had Broom's will read a few days ago, it seems Trevor wanted Hellboy to run BPRD in the event of his death. With me as consultant until things were running well."

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"That's not possible." I say simply. "This organization is run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and they have appointed me the director. They, unfortunately, supersede anything Trevor requested. He may have founded BPRD, but it is under control of the United States Government."

"Things are running fine, save a few...complications that are beyond my control. I know what's best for this Bureau." I look at both of them. "Just let me handle it, it's my job."

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I shift a bit uncomfortably in my chair. Manning's clearly not going to go down without a fight. "Don't you think that the FBI would want Broom's wishes carried out in the way he requested?" I try not to sound timid, but I am. I hope Jack knows what he's doing. Manning can be so slippery.

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I smile slowly. "I'm afraid the FBI was brought in as a consultant and it grew out of hand. Trevor's will says he never meant for the government to take control and now I have made sure his wishes were met."

"Which means we no longer need you Dr. Manning."

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"Just how do you plan on making sure of that, Mr. Harkness?" I fold my hands together and give him a serious look.

"I'm the glue that holds this whole mess together," I look at Elizabeth for conformation, but she's just staring at the table. "Without me what do you have; a sideshow with government funding. Not exactly practical or useful, is it?"

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I do my best to keep my mouth shut when Manning gets even more condescending. I ball my free hand into a fist and exhale sharply. I can't do it; I have to say something. "Manning, we are all well aware of how important you think you are. There's no doubt that you think the Earth would just fall out of orbit without you telling it to stay in line." I look over at Jack and swallow hard. "The simple fact is BPRD doesn't need you. You're....expendable."

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I stand to my full height and smirk at Manning, I'm not playing nice now and I want him to know it. "I know because I am the one who leaked that information to the press and it is my foundation now funding this organization."

I take a deep breath. "Liz, Abe, and Hellboy are more human then you sir and if you call them freaks again I will hit you."

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I pause a moment and click my tongue, thinking. "This is the thanks I get for all my years here, is it?" I stand as well, leaving Elizabeth the only one seated. "We'll just see what the President has to say about...this. " I've never called the President, but they don't know that. I'll be damned if I'm getting shoved out of here like yesterdays trash.

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Shit, Manning knows the President?

"Dr. Manning, you brought this on yourself. You make it impossible for anyone to do their jobs the way they are supposed to around here." I say quietly. "Someone had to do something."

I shoot Jack a pleading look followed with a soft smile, as if saying, Don't hit him, that's a really nice suit. It'd be a shame to get blood on it.

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I smile again. "You won't be calling the President because no one in the higher government has known about this organization for years, just the FBI. You've been cleaning up your own messes for no reason."

"And if you are the glue that holds this place together, then it's no wonder it's falling apart."

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Damn it, that Son of a Bitch! Now what?

"I suppose you have years of experience with organizations like this one?" I say with a scowl.

"Harkness, if you think you can do a better job than me, have at it! I know for a fact there are about a hundred departments that would love to have me head them. I am an excellent leader." I look Elizabeth in the eyes again. "People look up to me."

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