The Deputy Director's Office

[ronfiction]

Lou gives the man a nod and a smile. He was glad that the deputy Director was entertaining the idea of letting him do some work around here. In one part, Lou honestly wanted to make the place better. If he and the rest of the quarantined folks were going to be spending a lot of time here, they might as well be comfortable. The other big reason he wanted to do some work around here was to calm his nerves. All this down time had left him too much time to think about the strange things he had been recently exposed to. People with poison blood, men who could transform into animal forms, even demons and undead. It had been a lot for the out of work high school janitor to take in. He figured if he could just do some work around the camp, it would help him cope.

"Whatever you folks need help with you just let me know and I'll get to it."

Lou said and gave the deputy director's waste basket an interested look.

[DeputyDirectorWhite]

The ancient rotary phone on the Deputy Director's desk rings.

"Please excuse me," the Fed says and picks up the phone. "Deputy Director White speaking... Yes, that's right... Oh, that's unfortunate. I'll see what I can do. Thank you for calling." He hangs up the phone and turns to Lou.

"Sorry about this, but I have to go take care of something." White locks his desk. "Feel free to stay if you like, but you'll probably be more comfortable elsewhere. Very nice talking with you." The Deputy Director Smiles and leaves his 'office'--and heads towards the mess tent.

[Henry Gondorf]

Henry made his way over to The Director's Office at an easy pace. He held a cup full of snow with what looked like a the handle of a plastic spork sticking out of a bright orange spot. When he got there he knocked on the doorway to see if the director made his triumphant return from the medical tent.

[DeputyDirectorWhite]

"Come in." The Deputy Director sits behind his desk and is clacking away on his antiquated machine. "How can I help you?"

[Henry Gondorf]

Henry steps into the office and presents the director with the cup.

"I figure after all that plus a trip to the doc you need a snack. And don't worry, It's just orange juice frozen around a plastic handle." He takes note of the typewriter the director is using with a smile. "Jeez, I remember these. You never had to worry about being off guard in your own office with one these around. One good hit and you had better hope the cops don't show up."

[DeputyDirectorWhite]

White accepts the cup with a smile.

"How do you mean?"

[Henry Gondorf]

"No one expects to be clocked with one these things if they get uppity. Hell, look what happen to that Annie Wilkes lady when she wasn't looking." Henry said with an easy smile. He took a look around the spartan office before remembering his manners.

"By the way, thanks for keeping things this side of civil. And yes: sucker punching a woman to keep her from being fitted for a chalk outline is civil. In the grand scheme of things." Henry tipped an absent hat in Salute.

[DeputyDirectorWhite]

Deputy Director White gives a bit of a rueful smile.

"I sincerely wish there'd been a better way to handle that situation."

[Henry Gondorf]

" I've seen worse done in better circumstances," Henry offered. "Count your blessings while you have them. Imagine what the paperwork would be like if it had gone sideways."

"I have a friend back home. He used to be a big action movie fan until the job got to him. Now whenever he sees those things all he can think about is what lousy bastards the heroes are leaving about a month worth of paperwork trying to solve one case. It's hard to know how little room is left for heroes these days."

Henry smiled broadly then "Guess that's why we merry bands of bastards flourish so. Easier to write a police report for everyone and hope the white hats in the group make bail."

[Henry Gondorf]

Henry nodded at the Popsicle on the desk. "Take care of yourself. I get the feeling people here like you enough a new face might have a rough time filling your shoes." Henry headed for the door with a easy wave over his shoulder.