Page 72 of S.O.S. Perk

Perk lifted her hand from where it plucked at the hem of her shirt, wrapping his warm fingers around her cold ones. “You do whatever feels right,” he encouraged, holding on.

She hissed in a breath and looked around. “My nickname is Buster at the office. As in ball-buster,” she revealed. “And it’s not just because I’m good on the mats and can take down much bigger opponents.”

Billboard grinned and saluted her with a turkey leg.

“It’s because I haven’t ever exactly been a person who’s been…approachable to my teammates. But there’s a reason for that.”

Perk didn’t think it was necessary for Sloane to unload about her past. “You don’t have to say anything else,” he comforted, changing his hand-hold to a one-armed hug, tucking her up against his side. He could feel the tension radiating through her body.

Sloane shook her head. “I’ll make it brief.”

She braved the room. “I’ve held myself more or less aloof from people because of two things: a dysfunctional family, and an asshole of an ex-husband. They all wanted to change me;make me more…feminine. I tried to live up to their expectations for a while, but it was total crap and I knew it. Which still didn’t mean I was completely confident in who I was, once I shook free of those…impediments. When you’re constantly shit on, you tend to have your doubts.

“My job at the FBI eventually gave me something on which to focus, and as long as I didn’t let anyone get close enough to see my insecurities, I didn’t have to sugar-coat my true personality.” Sloane paused for a moment and gave a wry smile. “To my fellow agents, my reticence to interact—especially in social situations—and my tough demeanor while working cases, was the reason they gave me the handle, Buster.” She blew out a gust of air before revealing the next. “Then you guys came along.”

Perk encouraged her now, with a slight squeeze.

“You weren’t like any of the people at the Bureau. You kept at me, like buzzing mosquitos, not caring if I metaphorically slapped at you every time you tried to dig into my skin. Prez, in particular, continuously teased me like some kind of—”

“Big brother?” Prez smirked.

“I was going to say malarial species to maintain my previous imagery, but I guess brother works, too,” she replied with a snort before elbowing Perk.

“It was this guy, however, who began making me feel like I was someone worthy. The tougher and meaner I got to drive him away, the more he showed me patience and…friendship. Like some kind of big goofy dog,” she grumbled.

“Rooby-roo!” Prez interjected. Del punched him to shut him up, but it had the effect of getting everyone in the room laughing.

Including Sloane.

Perk would thank the dick-head, later.

“Yup,” Sloane continued. “Perk continually told me without words that I was a person he liked, regardless of how nasty I could be.”

“Fuh the record Miz Vessers,” Mizzay piped up, “when I was… When I interfaced with your office, I nevah thought you were nasty. Just a little unapproachable.”

Sloane nodded. “Thank you. But even for that perception, I take full responsibility. However, now that my eyes have been opened—mostly—and I’ve started dismantling my walls here, I’m also trying to make changes for the better at my office. I’ve had a few recent conversations with Director Baskins that have proven insightful, Agent Tertia and I have actually had a few light moments together recently, and even Agent Smalley is starting to grow on me.”

Strangely, even though Mizzay had looked like she wanted to speak again, that statement seemed to shut her down. Perk noticed. If it hadn’t been for everyone approaching to drag Sloane out of his arms for hugs, he might have called the normally unflappable Mizzay on it.

As it was, he’d file it away for later. Currently, he was too giddy, seeing Sloane flush and laugh as she was passed around, given noogies, and even twirled into an impromptu dance-step by Daire.

“So what do you say, people?” Perk finally whistled loudly, making his voice heard above the cacophony. “Can we lay the ‘Buster’ moniker to rest?”

“You won’t hear it from any of us,” Del stated with certainty, giving Brent the hairy-eyeball.

“I’m over it,” Brent relented. “But who’s going to give a head’s up to her fellow agents?”

“I will,” Mizzay woke herself up from whatever had affected her, and gave Sloane a hug. “Nobodeez gonna call you that, ever again, or they’ll hear from me.”

Perk knew they could all take that to the bank.

Tears appeared in Sloane’s eyes as she made her way back to him.

Wiley must have noticed she was on the edge of losing it.

“Listen. Perk. The horses are in for the night. Why don’t you take Sloane out to the barn to meet them.” Wiley made it a statement, and Perk understood. Even though Wiley loved to be the one introducing his hooved-babies to newcomers, he was giving Perk an opportunity to get Sloane alone so she could re-center.

“Thanks, Wiles.” He turned to Sloane. “You want to go pat some very velvety noses?”

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