Page 76 of Doozer

“Why did you choose to engage?” Dr. Fenton asked.

“Three of my team members were in immediate danger,” I said.

“And you believed this enough to defy the engagement protocols of the mission?” Taxi asked.

“Yes, sir.”

Taxi paused. “And I’d be willing to bet you’d make the same call if given the chance to do it all over again.”

“I’m not gonna lie,” I breathed out. “I would.”

“I see,” Taxi said.

“Maybe I’ve been in an MC for too long, or maybe I’m just not good agent material, but I’d break every rule in the FBI handbook to keep my brothers and sisters safe.”

“Well, I guess that’s everything I need to hear,” Taxi said plainly, before rising to his feet and extending his hand to me.

My heart felt like a tin can being crushed under the weight of disappointment and my knees weakened as I stood to shake Taxi’s hand.

“I’m going to need you to return to the barracks and pack your gear,” Taxi said.

I nodded, managing to fight back the tears as Taxi continued.

“And make sure you don’t forget anything, because you’ll be staying in the senior dorms for the last two weeks of your training.”

My head snapped to meet Taxi’s eyes. “What?” I asked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly.

“Welcome to the team,” Taxi said.

“But, you said—”

“Trouble, if you think I recruited you because I thought you’d shut up and do as you were told, or even because you’re a great shot, you’re not only wrong, but you’re selling yourself short. I need you on this team because you fight for the people you care about. That’s what I see in you and that’s the kind of person I want on my team.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I hugged Taxi so hard I thought I might break his spine, and this time I was unable to hold back the tears.

Taxi laughed, patting my back before setting me away from him. “I’m going to let you two finish your session.”

Without another word, he walked out the door and I faced Dr. Fenton.

She waved me back to my seat, then sat on the edge of her desk and grabbed the box of tissues she always kept there, handing it to me.

I ripped four out of the box as I burst into even uglier tears. Dr. Fenton left her spot on the desk, pulling a chair up beside me close enough to wrap her arm tentatively around my shoulders. “I am so proud of you, Trouble.”

I let out an inelegant snort. “Oh, yeah, I’m a right winner, bawling my eyes out and filling your tissues with snot.”

“You’re knocking down your walls and letting people in,” she countered. “The crying’s just a bonus. The body letting off steam, so to speak. You would have never showed this to me at the beginning. You’ve embraced the work, sweetie, and not only is Taxi proud of you, but I am as well. Well done.”

This only made me cry harder, which in turn, sent me into a fit of giggles. Jesus, I was bi-polar. This whole thing was making me crazy.

But it had also started to heal me in a weird way. The people I was letting in were guarding my heart and letting me be totally me. I trusted them and I didn’t think I’d ever get to this place.

“Thanks for all your help,” I rasped.

“Oh, this was all you, honey,” Dr. Fenton countered. “I just asked you a few questions, but you did the work.” She gave my shoulder a squeeze. “You have graduated my program, which means, unless you want to, you don’t have to see me again, at least for this portion. I’ll still be part of your briefing and debriefing protocol, but that will be on a per-mission basis.”

I met her eyes. “Really?”

She grinned, nodding her head. “Really.”

---