Time seemed to move quickly within the confines of the B.P.R.D, two months passed in what felt like a matter of weeks. Of course, it probably helped that she spent almost every day in training – the heavy work left her exhausted and she was asleep by ten most nights. Weekends were spent mostly in the library speaking with Abe; of course unlike Abe and Hellboy she was allowed to leave the confines of the building as long as she wore gloves and some of the special 'invisible' protective clothing they found for her. There was nothing strange about her in outwards appearances, her only real defining features were hair like pale straw and her delicate looking figure, features which were a dime a dozen in California and not all that uncommon in New Jersey either although usually they were accompanied by over inflated chests. Unless she took off her clothes no one would realise she was different. Sometimes she did go out, but in the library with Abe she found something she rarely encountered in the outside world – good conversation. Of course she was nowhere near as intelligent as Abe, she'd only just maintained a C average in school, but she wasn't the dumb blonde people mistook her for.
Today was a Saturday, and like she did every second Saturday Fi had spent the morning in town and had come to spend her evening with Abe.
"Evening Blue." She greeted, pulling a chair up in front of the tank. "Had a good day?"
"Not bad." Abe replied, appearing in front of the glass. "Do you mind?"
He gestured to the jar of rotten eggs on the table and Fiona nodded standing and placing a couple into the hatch using the tongs. She returned to her seat and waited for him to finish, still amazed by how graceful the merman was even when eating.
"Thank you, I was famished." The merman said when he finished. "How has your day been? What is it like outside?"
"Surprisingly warm actually. But I can feel static in the air, so I'm hoping we'll get a thunderstorm soon." She grinned. "Other than that my day hasn't really been exciting. I need to make some plans before I go out. I just wandered around for a few hours. Bought a coffee and some cookies in Starbucks and came back."
"Hmm." Abe paused for a moments thought. "Well perhaps soon you'll be joining us on missions. Then you will be glad of weekends where you have no plans. I heard you've been progressing well with your training."
"It depends what you mean by progress. I'm very good at dodging punches, and I've discovered I have a pretty mean left hook. But my aim is still atrocious."
"That's not what Professor Bruttenholm told me."
"Well, after two months I can just about hit a large stone bust from fifty feet away." She admitted cheeks tingeing red. "But still I'm no crack shot. I mean, get another ten, twenty feet back from that and I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn."
"And that is why you practice."
Fiona jumped and span around, her eyes settling on the professor at the back of the room.
"Oh Professor, I didn't see you there!" She gasped. "I'm sorry."
"What for my dear?" The professor smiled. "However, I do believe Miss Platt is looking for you. You may want to hurry before she gets annoyed."
Grumbling under her breath Fi nodded and left the library, clearly unhappy that her plans for the evening had been disrupted. The professor watched her go before turning to look at Abe.
"What do you think Abe?"
It was only a couple of days later when Fiona got her confirmation. Panting she pulled off her helmet and carefully studied the bright blue splat she had left on the side of her trainer's own headgear.
"Good shot!" Charlie grinned, removing her own headgear.
"Yeah and I took three shots to the chest to get it." Fi grumbled, lifting a hand to indicate the three green marks on her body armour.
"Stop putting yourself down!" The older woman scolded playfully, resting an arm around Fi's shoulders. "You're doing absolutely great. In fact I think you may be ready to start working in the field with the guys."
"Three shots to the chest!" Fi protested, blue eyes searching Charlie's green ones for some sign of a joke. "I'm going to die!"
"Nonsense. You will be fine. If anything you'll do better out there in the field than you do in here what with the adrenaline flowing and all."
"I don't know…"
"Trust me. You'll be fine."
Fiona sighed and shook her head, looking away from the trainer and towards the floor. But she couldn't hide the smile that twitched on her lips, or the slight pink tinge creeping into her cheeks. Charlotte Brennan saw her reaction and chuckled, patting her on the back.
"Good, so you'll be heading out on the next mission with Abe and Red? Of course you will. Now, go shower and cool off then find your liaison. They'll need to know you've been cleared for action, otherwise you'll never get out there."
"Can't I just stay here? I'd rather go another couple of rounds with you than find Platt." Fi grumbled, the two really didn't get along.
"Get gone." Charlotte ordered, pointing towards the door and slapping her on the ass. "Or I'll push you out the door myself!"
"That's sexual harassment you know." She grinned, skipping off towards the showers, her mood suddenly lifted. "Not that I mind…"
Apparently in the B.P.R.D news travels fast. By the time Fiona had finished her shower and dried off half the building already knew she'd been cleared for fieldwork. She wondered whether that meant she didn't really have to tell Platt, but since the idea of getting out and actually doing something had grown on her considerably since she'd first been told, she figured she'd better double check. On her way she passed Hellboy's room, apparently he knew too.
"I don't want her there."
"Red, she'd part of the team now. You'll just have to deal with it."
"Listen Myers. Women. Are. Trouble." Hellboy growled in reply. "They just get themselves into danger and then I end up having to get them out of it. She'll only get herself killed."
Fiona stopped and leant against the wall. She knew she was eavesdropping but she didn't care.
"Red that was two years ago. Besides she's not Liz." Myers murmured.
Liz? Who was Liz?
"I know she's not Liz!" The red ape roared and she heard a crash from inside the room. "Liz knew how to handle herself. From what I hear this kid could hardly win a fist fight. Besides, have you seen her? She'll snap like a twig if she gets caught in a strong breeze, let alone out there. She's a walking funeral and I'm not going to be the one looking out for her."
"They wouldn't have cleared her if she wasn't capable of looking after herself. Besides, she's not just a girl and you know it. I know you and Abe talk."
"But she is still a girl. And I'm still not working with her."
"Sorry HB but you are, and you have no say in the matter."
Fi heard footsteps coming towards the door and she pushed herself off the wall, walking away so fast it was practically a jog. For once she was truly thankful for the insulated suit she wore because she could feel the sparks of electricity running over her skin. She didn't watch where she was going and with her eyebrows knitted together she stormed right into Agent Platt, who jumped back from the static shock she received, her glasses falling off her nose.
"Miss Jackson…"
"I've been cleared for missions and I'm going to bed." She snapped, storming straight past. "Wake me up when you need me."
"I'll be at your door tomorrow at 6am sharp. Your first mission is tomorrow." Platt called after her, hastily replacing her glasses and straightening her uniform.
Fiona stopped and turned, staring at the woman in disbelief.
"Sea serpent was found in a small reservoir in Yorkshire, England. You'll be flying out early tomorrow morning." The Agent continued. "So you'll be needing plenty of rest. Goodnight."