Open Case File [COMPLETED]

A Challenge

Carter forced her thoughts to focus. The file seemed endless and she needed to know all the details by the next night when she'd be the girl on Bryce's arm at a political function.

The door to the conference room opened and Brock stepped halfway inside.

"Excuse me," he said. "I need a moment of Agent Owens's time."

Carter narrowed her eyes at Brock but he betrayed no sense of guilt or uncertainty.

"Of course," Bryce said.

Setting down the tablet, Carter rose and left the conference with Brock. They didn't go far, still in view of the glass walls blocking their conversation from being overheard. Brock glanced back at the conference room and then touched Carter's arm.

"Are you okay?"

A flame of irritation flared inside Carter. She put her hands on her hips and pointedly looked at Brock's hand on her arm to his face.

"You do understand how completely unprofessional this is, don't you?" she said.

Brock was smart enough to drop his hand.

"We wanted to check in on you. That's all."

"You both seem to be under the impression that I'm some teenage girl likely to be swayed by good looks and not a twenty-two-year-old agent."

"Carter-"

"No. Tell Donovan I won't be joining him for lunch. I won't stand for him being concerned about something that doesn't warrant concern at all. And Brock, don't ever do this again. I might be your inferior in rank but I'm still an Agent, at least show me that much respect."

Without waiting for a response, Carter strode back into the conference room and took her seat.

"Where were we?" she asked, focusing on the information.

"I hate to cross a line," Bryce said, in a low voice. "But after that agent touched your arm, you looked angry. Are you all right?"

Carter raised her head, surprised by the question and the genuine sincerity in it. His tone wasn't one of pretend concern to win her over, but true worry. Having a lot of experience with going to school with politicians' sons, Carter knew the difference.

"Thank you for your concern but I know him and he's simply being an idiot. I was annoyed with his idiocy, not his touch."

"Okay. Now for tomorrow," Bryce said, flipping subjects. "This is my main target."

Carter couldn't help but appreciate how Bryce once reassured went back to work. That appreciation grew over the day as he remained professional.

By the time the rest of the team clocked out, Carter knew she had to stay late. There was still too much to cover. Bryce easily said he'd stay with her.

That was where Donovan found them, at the conference table, files strewn across the top.

"Are you ready to go?" Donovan asked, clearly ignoring the evidence she wasn't.

Carter didn't bother to look back. "I'm staying late. Feel free to leave."

She sensed his want to talk but right then she didn't have the time for it. Donovan remained in the doorway for a second longer then Carter heard the door quietly click closed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Bryce glance from the door to Carter and then back. She didn't give say anything and he nodded once as if that were enough.

Twenty minutes later the door opened again and Donovan walked in. Carter almost let him have it. But he simply set down a takeout bag on the table.

"I figured you might not have time to get something to eat," he said. He locked eyes with Carter. "I hope your work goes well."