InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I think you're the pink panty"

Robert Callen (r_callen) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2013-03-22 15:43:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2013 03, character: marty deeks, character: robert callen

RP: Robert and Deeks
Who: Robert and Deeks
Where: safe house
When: March 22, 2013
Summary: Robert wants to talk to Deeks about Savannah

Robert knew chain of command, possibly better than Deeks. He'd lived it all of his adult life. It was probably why he had never been interested in stepping into that chain of command in this dimension. This and the fact that Air Force pilots were carefully picked, while this people gave him a headache. In a way, it was very very good that Deeks was in charge. He had the patience and personality that worked with this riffraff, but that could backfire, like in this case.

He waited for right before they were starting back after lunch to catch with Deeks. "Walk with me," he said without preamble. He left chitchat to others. He walked far away that no one but Mike could hear them. "You're doing a very good job in G's place," he started, because he doubted that Vance ever bothered with things like that, but he knew that criticism was taken a lot better if you told your men what they did right. "You're flexible, mixing styles with Reese, and you're integrating the new people well." There was also a lot of problems, but that wasn't his concern. Vance could deal with them or they'd become apparent with time. "There is one little problem. Your wife. You need to keep an eye on her. I know you trust her and I know she has a tendency to downplay her problems, but she's too big, Deeks. She wants to train people, she can do it without the practical demonstrations. Hell, she's too big to babysit five kids at this point. Her back must be killing her on Fridays. She should have been off the field weeks ago. One day, we might get a competent doctor, but until then, you're going to have to be the bad guy here."

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r_callen
2013-03-26 12:16 am UTC (link)

"Bullshit," Robert answered. "You are doing a good job, Deeks. Are you perfect? No, of course not. No one expects you to, but you're taking over for four people, at a time when we're getting new people and dealing with changing conditions. You're doing the best you can, and that's all you can do. If you start doubting yourself, you won't be able to do anything at all. You can't afford whatever it's going on in your head. We can't afford it. If you do have doubts, then Savannah or not, you need to find a way to talk to someone. "

Robert looked around, double checking that no one was moving closer. "Look, I know that I've never been the most helpful when it comes to this team, but I've led my own squadron. I know how hard it gets and I had the Air Force behind me, I had rules and regulations and I had people who wanted to be there. This is ten times harder for you. One, you have a different personality. Two, we built up to that level. You've pretty much been thrown there. Three, you will never be perfect at this, because there is no way to do that, but don't let it get to you and don't let it spill over into your private life. Make rules, decide what you can and can't discuss with your wife, but don't let command ruin what you have."

He nodded. "I know what you mean, but you can still talk to me. Or someone else. You might want to talk to Sam, but he's not here, and you'll have to find someone else. I'm not even saying it because of Savannah, but because I know what command does to a person."

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deeks_marty
2013-03-26 05:39 pm UTC (link)

Marty regarded Robert silently for a long moment, wondering what to say, what he could say. How he could explain that the problem was this job wasn't who he was. He didn't lead. He didn't take teenage boys to prostitutes. He didn't kill people who didn't even know he was there. He was a cop. A regular detective who helped keep trash off the streets, who didn't want to be promoted to where he started counting other people's collars as his accomplishments, and who arrested the prostitutes and killers. He wasn't judge, jury, and executioner.

But, that was what this job required.

And his wife was pissed when he was nice and tried to help people, tried to find that balance in who he was again, because he couldn't tell her any of this and he-

"I don't doubt who I am," he said after a moment more, shaking his head. "That's the problem. I'm a different person. It's not just a different personality. I'm not a politician or an agent or a spy or military. I'm a cop and a damned good one. I might have Sam and G's training, but not their way of thinking. And maybe the problem isn't that I'm letting things spill over, but that I've kept everything that's wrong so locked down my wife doesn't even know there's anything wrong in the first place. And I can't tell her or anyone else any of it."

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r_callen
2013-03-26 07:16 pm UTC (link)

"Can't you?" Robert said. "Listen, Deeks, half of my service record is a lie, or at least a very crafted version of the truth to protect some of the things I did. I was in Area 51 for almost five years. There were other pilots there, and everything we did was covered by national security, but some of those pilots had wives and there are ways to get around things."

He sighed. "Look, I know for G, it's an absolute, but that's because they bring paranoia to a different level, but honestly, with the life we life, you need to tell someone. You don't have to give the details and still be able to talk about it. You don't say this plane with this classification has a problem with the computer system that would allow an enemy radar to lock in and kill us without us even knowing it. You can tell your wife that you've been flying this new plane and if they don't fix it, it's going to be a dead trap. The first is a violation of national security and treason. The second isn't. There is something wrong, then tell her. Tell her without the minutia. She's smart enough and she's lived this life for two years; she'll know not to press for the details. The people who didn't find that balance between talking to their wives and honoring national security were the ones who ended up with a divorce.

"You're a cop, you've done undercover, then you know how easy it is for cops to lose their families because it's easier to keep things inside." Robert clapped his arm. "You don't have to answer to me now, but think about it and hopefully talk to your wife."

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