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Tweak says, "You're...going...to love me!"

or_mikey (or_mikey) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2011-06-01 20:46:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2011 06, character: derek morgan, dead: michael westen

RP: Derek and Michael
Who: Derek and Michael
Where: Team center
When: June 1 , 2011
Summary: They talk and talk and talk some more.

The day had come and gone. The uneventfulness of the day -- no one dying, no parties, no surveys about flirting, no housing changes -- was a welcome change. But there were things he needed to discuss with Derek, who Michael now reported to. Some of these things were decisions he could make on his own, but he knew it was important to discuss them with Derek if for no other reason than to prove contrary to his CIA past he was a team player. More than seven months since he last saw Sam and Fi, and it was still an odd feeling that his CIA past was as much as a liability as it had turned out to be here. Not that he could really blame them.

"Derek, do you have a few minutes?" He asked the similarly tall man, and when it was safe to talk he began. "I'd like to discuss security procedures for my house. Get your take on some things. I thought since I reported to you, it would be good to have similar procedures. Plus I figure if housing assignments change again and you get stuck with some of mine or some get stuck in a house also with similar procedures, then it'll make the transitions easier."

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derek__morgan
2011-06-02 02:06 am UTC (link)

Derek was working out how to split the work with the new people here. He'd have three certified agents pretty soon, and that would finally allow them to have more time to investigate these cases. He was reviewed the bank case, when Westen approached him.

"Sure, take a seat." He closed the folder and put it down. When the man started, he almost wanted to laugh. He'd heard about the problem at Callen's, and he was certain that they had different rules, but it would be good to coordinate with Westen.

"Rules. Night time, everyone should be in the house. If not in the house, I need to know where they are. I don't let them sleep over any of the soldiers' quarters. So basically, they are either at home or another ICIS house. During the day, I don't have a rule to be honest. I vary depending on the person. I'd let some go without too many questions and there's no way in hell I'd let some other go." Like Kinney, who showed no sense of self preservation. "We can go into specifics if you like."

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or_mikey
2011-06-02 02:39 am UTC (link)

"Thank you," he said as he sat down. "How are you doing?" He asked with a smile. It wasn't just a pleasantry. He actually cared, partly because Derek was in charge, partly because he didn't make Michael want to shoot himself, and partly for other reasons as well.

"I like those starting parameters, they are fairly similar to what I had in mind," he hadn't been nearly as vigilant in the past with making sure people notified him when they weren't going to be home, part of that was because he had been just going with the standard rules. "I'm most concerned about where they are after dusk and under what conditions they can go off base. When the attack comes, it'll likely be at night." He held up his hands with a small smile. "which isn't to say we shouldn't be vigilant in the day. As far as when they can go off base, that isn't too much of an urgent problem, since none of them aren't going to be certified anytime soon. Archibald being the soonest who can try." That was a pickle in its own right. There wasn't anyone else in his house who he could immediately rely on. Parker was the closest; he figured Eliot would be to if the man got over his anti-gun fetish and that was a big if, or so Michael was figuring. And he knew the Other Mike was in a similar situation, but at least he had two people who would have no hesitation in pulling the trigger. "So, the bigger question is coming up with a list of people who they can go off base with. I'm thinking there are going to be people who become certified who just be considered as uncertified for this subject."

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derek__morgan
2011-06-02 02:59 am UTC (link)

Derek smiled, not sure when he had anyone ask that question. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. What about you? All these changes are not doing anyone any favors, but at least you should be used to running a house already."

He nodded. "I understand. Don't worry." He was finding that after people dealt with Callen and Hanna, they felt a need to explain more than necessary. It was almost like they were under constant scrutiny. It wasn't the way he worked. "As I said, anyone who's not at home needs to let you know and if they are staying overnight in one of the other houses, they need to tell you. No one is staying at the hotel for any reasons. I don't care if they have the best orgy going, although that's really an issue for Kinney," he said, chuckling.

"I don't know what we're going to do with certification. Things will be changing soon, and we might consider getting people certified even if they haven't done the full course." He'd have to speak to Callen about Spencer. He was Special Ops after all, and maybe Parker. "In your house? Kepner is the one who'll get certified the soonest and there's no way that the she should be out there on her own." He looked at the other man, because this was where things got dicey. "If you go out with her, they can't be dates. You can't concentrate on her and security, too. Other than you, though, I can't see anyone allowed off base at this point unless they go with someone else. What we should do is go out as a group. That will give them some idea of what's out there. Spencer hasn't even been out yet."

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or_mikey
2011-06-02 03:38 am UTC (link)

"Oh, I'm dandy. As you mention, I'm used to running a house. And while Burke was becoming a friend," he was careful not to claim that he had been a friend, because frankly he wasn't, he was Michael's lead, but in the final few weeks Michael had seen a side of Peter that he made him want to get to know the man more, "I learned long ago how to grieve and do my job. I wouldn't be alive today if I hadn't. Or I would've been so completely different. And quite possibly in prison." He had been self-aware enough at age 17 to know he either had to get the hell out of his father's house or he'd end up in prison (not necessarily for assaulting his father).

"Yes, not placing people in the hotel is a wise move. Has there been any discussion of what to do with future new arrivals before they get assigned to houses? I would be glad to provide temporary lodging in my house until a new person gets assigned a house." As far as Michael was concerned putting them in the hotel was unacceptable. Plus this would give him the chance to find out about a new arrival. "And of course that can't be a blanket rule for the security of the other members of the house--of any house, regardless where they go." He thought their intake procedures were such that it shouldn't generally be an issue.

He had his own opinions on the training and certification process, but he kept those to himself, at least for the moment. That wasn't why he was here. So, Michael just nodded. "Oh yes, April. How the heck did I forget her?" He asked with a smile. "Let's not tell her that I forgot how long ago she arrived. Of course it's rather moot since I agree that there's no way she's allowed out alone even when she is certified. I would like to make it clear just who has to go along with them if they want to go off base. So far I have four names in my list, aside from myself, the list is Michael Renko, Marty Deeks, Kensi Blye, and Dom Vail. Obviously, you, G Callen," he used the first initial only to distinguish from the pilot, "and Sam would also be possibilities, but I don't want to include you on such a list I give them only because I think the three of you have your hands full as it is. Now if one of you offered to take them out, then that's a different story, but I don't think they should be asking. And yes, a group outing would be a good idea. Something that could be fun but also teach them some routes."

He took a drink from the bottle of water he had brought with them. "And now, back to the issue that I might have seemed like I was dodging, I understand that April and I cannot go out alone." He took a breath before going on. "We did once. It was fairly reckless. I had the foresight to scout the place first along with escape routes. But if we did want to go out, does that mean you are offering to chaperone? You'd look great in a tux." He asked with a teasing smile. He had always heard that high school prom chaperones wore tuxes. He didn't know since he never went to a high school prom. And he was glad for it.

He added Spencer to his mental list of topics to come back to.

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derek__morgan
2011-06-02 03:54 am UTC (link)

Derek had become friends with his teammates back at the BAU, but it had taken a lot longer, and while he felt bad about Burke, he wasn't mourning. No, he was just tired of trying to figure things out and make sure that they could find a compromise. However, he wasn't tired enough not to see that Westen was trying too hard.

"I don't know how Burke ran things, but I'm very easy going. You don't have to impress me. Just do your job and we're good. Now, back to the hotel, I meant that they aren't allowed to stay over those very good looking soldiers' rooms at the hotel. Where we put the new people isn't my call," he said. "We'll deal with the new arrivals as they come."

He smiled. "Because she's your girlfriend and not an agent," he suggested. "Not many people can manage to separate the two. The only time I've seen it happen it's when you get to experienced agents together. It helps that they work on different teams." At least technically they were supposed to be in different teams.

The list of names had him on the alert. "No, if they want to go out, they come to you and only you. If you aren't available, then they come to me. In our team, we'll have the two of us, Blye and Vail. Callen deals with his team. However, if it's not important, they shouldn't be asking to go out." He wasn't about to turn Blye or Vail into a body guard unit, and he was sure that they would be happy to tell people off.

Finally, he thought that he had a pretty good idea how Callen had been feeling all of these months, because this discussion was becoming more and more surreal by the moment. "No, I mean that if you want to go out and don't think you can pay attention, you don't," he said. "I'm not going to make rules for certified agents, but I'm not starting a chaperone business either. I suggest you get creative, and if you can't, ask Savannah. She's been talking about dates that don't require leaving the base."

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or_mikey
2011-06-02 06:30 am UTC (link)

Well, it was clear he had made a mess of things. He couldn't remember the last time he miscommunicated so grandly. His bad days usually involved getting blown up or being shot, not babbling to the point that he was not only misunderstood but justifiably seen as any number of adjectives he'd rather not have ascribed to him. The word imbecile came to mind.

"Understood about the hotel," he nodded. He would like to have known what more was being discussed about how to handle new arrivals security-wise, but it wasn't his place to know, and that was just life. He let the matter drop, and from his nod he launched into his mea culpa.

"I've clearly done a poor ass job of articulating today," he said with a nod of contrition. "I did not mean to imply I'd have them asking others to take them out rather than me. And that was my fault for the way I phrased it. What I was going for was that if one of the approved people wasn't already someone they needed to do something off site with, then they aren't allowed off site. And regardless of that they would still need permission. When I speak to them, I will leave it at needing permission from me, or you in the case that I'm unavailable." Although after this conversation he couldn't imagine what such a case might be.

When he looked back on this conversation, he'd wonder why he thought he'd have any more success correcting himself than he'd had with his initial attempts at communicating. "I clearly misunderstood what you were saying and that's my fault." A humorous thought crossed his mind, but he didn't give voice to it because it wasn't that funny and now really wasn't the time for a joke anyway. "And the chaperoning was intended as a joke, for whatever that's worth."

He took a short glance around the room. He had wanted to discuss a couple of other things with Derek, but after the way Michael had opened his mouth, put both feet in, and swallowed, those were conversations best left for another day. "Thank you for your help with the house security procedures. There's nothing else pressing."

He really was an imbecile today. And he deserved all the mocking in the world.

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derek__morgan
2011-06-02 12:05 pm UTC (link)

Derek understood why all agencies were run by former agents, except for the CIA who always went out of house. None of them played well with others for numerous reason. He really was amused.

"Breathe, Westen," he said, chuckling. "You haven't said anything wrong, and I'm not interested in articulation. Maybe simpler terms and not trying to run would be good. Callen and I have put a lot of time to come up with a system, but if you have ideas I'll be willing to listen and bring them to the right person. Now, I find your offer very generous, but you're the leader of that house and you're at capacity. Where would you be putting these people? Would you be willing to have strangers roaming around? How would the people in your household feel? It's a balancing act, Westen, and you have to consider all of those angles. However, maybe we could have a smaller house ready for when people arrive, just a temporary base instead of the hotel."

He shook his head. "No, they ask you for permission. We'll share the job. There are four of us and we'll split it up so no one gets stuck with it. However, it is your job to explain when he request is unreasonable. Also, don't think about the other team; we work in house. If someone needs to go out and none of us can, then I will speak to Callen and see if one of his can help.

He snorted. "After what's happening lately, I don't take anything for a joke. And just wait. Someone will ask you for it. Give it time," he warned. "That's why I'm here; you don't have to thank me, and if here's something else, pressing or not, I'm here."

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or_mikey
2011-06-02 10:34 pm UTC (link)

At Derek's chuckling, Michael allowed himself to chuckle. "Honestly, the hotel was a spur of the moment thought, hadn't really finished thinking it through. But I think avoiding the need to have someone go into the hotel to get people out would increase the chances of all of us getting off this base alive. You're right there are many angles that need to be considered."

He nodded at the rest of Derek's explanation. It made sense. He wished he could've been as clear today.

"Thank you, nonetheless. I am glad you're here." It was as transparent an ending as he could hope for today.

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