Open Case File [COMPLETED]

A Challenge

He left and Carter found herself softening. He might be an idiot at times but at least he realized when he was and made up for it.

"I was going to suggest stopping to get dinner but this works," Bryce said, taking out wrapped sandwiches.

Carter settled into her seat and accepted the sandwich. For a long moment, they ate in silence, Carter still reading over documents. But she stopped and looked at Bryce.

"Why choose me?" she asked. "Both agents Flores and Emerson have more experience than me and would be able to handle this type of operation easily."

Leaning back in his chair, Bryce unwrapped more of his sandwich. "True. But there's something you have that they don't."

"And that is?"

"Experience with politicians. I've seen you interact with former First Son Mason Douglas. His status never seems to affect you. I needed someone who would be able to hold their own. Also." He gestured to the door. "I knew you were in a very serious relationship and that would take away any unwanted tension between us."

Completely logical reasons.

"Okay, let's get back to work."

******

"Would you mind if I danced with your beautiful date?"

Bryce smiled easily at Carter like she was everything he wanted in life. "As long as she doesn't object."

Carter beamed at the slick politician. "It would be my pleasure."

Once she was handed off, she was put through another boring litany of the man's accomplishments as a senator and all he planned to do. As was expected of her, Carter nodded and made the right comments at the right time, all while slowly swaying in the man's arms. This man was one in a long line that had filled her night as Bryce slowly infiltrated the circles of influence he needed to.

When Carter returned to Bryce's side, he took her hand and looped it through his elbow.

"Enjoy your dance," he said.

"Very much," she said.

Bryce gave her a real smile and she almost laughed as she knew he understood how tiresome her role was. He leaned in close and whispered.

"You're doing wonderfully. They can't stop talking about how enchanting you are."

"That's because all I do is reflect their arrogance back on them."

"It's an effective tactic. Not much longer now."

"Good, these heels are killing me."

Though true enough, Carter didn't let this fact show the rest of the evening. She never lost her smile or showed how dull she found the entire event. She would admit to enjoying the crab puffs but that was it.

When Bryce opened the car door for her, she happily slipped inside. Once he took the seat next to her, they drove off. Carter reached for the pins in her hair and quickly started to remove them. The intricate hairdo the FBI stylists had taken great pains to create was undone in a matter of seconds. Bryce laughed as Carter shook out her hair and rubbed her irritated scalp.

"I can see why you went to such lengths to look fat yesterday," he said. "This isn't something you do often."

"You noticed that?"

"Yes. But it didn't work. I'd already looked into every agent's previous cases to see who would fit well. I knew how you would look in formalwear."

"All that work for nothing."