The New Recruit (Summer)

[Summer Morgan]

Summer followed Alcide in without a word. What else could she do anyway? Back to his office they went and Summer made her way inside and hesitated before sitting down. Alcide leant his massive frame against his desk. He moved in a manner that screamed awkward and uncomfortable, but her certainly didn't seem to be a man that avoided certain issues. At least not if they interfered with the business and this little crisis had certainly interfered with the smooth running of his ship.

"This really honestly shouldn't be that big of a deal... it's just so sudden. We just didn't see it coming." No kidding. Summer waited until he had said what he had to say. No point in interupting him mid-flow. Asking her to be as well behaved as she had been up until this point. Summer just nodded with a grim smile, she could do that no problem.

He continued on in a manner Summer wasn't used to seeing him act. Nervous. It amazed her that someone with such confidence and an air of cool about him could be reduced to something less. Though in fairness, this was pack business and Flood had an air of don't-mess-with-me about him. He could make a special forces operative nervous without even an effort.

"I'll try to arrange something... if you want, between you and Flood so you can talk about whatever you want to tell him about your dad" Hoo boy. Now we were getting to the meat and bones of it. Alcide made it clear what was expected of me by his Packmaster, and a feeling of dread just washed over Summer. This is exactly what she was hoping to avoid.

Summer looked up at him with a sincere expression. "I'm just gonna be honest with you. There's just no other way around that." she sighed, looked down at her pumps and back up, not avoiding his gaze one bit.
"I don't like this. I really, really don't like this at all." she paused for a quick intake of breath, "But I'll do this, for you. I don't know why, it makes no sense to me. Though you seem like a good man, reasonable and above all else trustworthy." she was just blurting everything out, it was now or never. "Though I don't know what I can tell your Packmaster anyway. I didn't even know my dad, save for a few choice words my mother threw in his general direction."

Summer was off and running unable to stop the torrent of words pouring out. Shooting up from her chair she began to pace and gesticulate angrily.
"He left us and my mother sought comfort in the arms of a bottle of scotch every day." Now she'd done it she thought and finally managed to put up a dam to resist the flow.

"Sh*t!" the words came out more embarassed that angry. "Listen, I'm sorry, this is just bringing up things I'd rather not remember." she looked over at Alcide from across his office. She'd probably gone and got herself fired for her unprofessional outburst.

[Alcide Herveaux]

Summer seemed to be like a kettle full of hot water, slowly starting to bubble and letting out a whistle of good measure. He wasn't enjoying her telling him such family secrets, but it's not like he had an "off" feature on his hearing. She tried explaining how she didn't know what she was going to tell the packmaster. He was about to speak up but she continued ranting.

He guessed this was what was bottled up inside, he knew how it was to have those sorts of feelings. If only he could just spill it all out like Summer did... Alcide looked to Summer with stern eyes but then just shrugged.

"We can't pretend to be perfect and lead perfect lives. Yeah, I guess that was unprofessional, but John brought something up that hit a big nerve, what can you do?" Alcide shrugged again, not knowing what more to do, "alright, if you want to stay by me during the meeting, you can. If you want me to speak to John with you, then I will. He will understand, I think. He didn't become the packmaster and a Colonel in the Air Force for no reason. Just know, I'll be behind you no matter what he says."

Alcide's voice had taken an altogether saddened tone to it as he spoke.

"I'm sorry that this man is revering a father you obviously have extreme hatred towards... He just doesn't know that you have these feelings. But say, let's get off of sad crap. I do want to mention though that the pack meeting will be at the Hair of the Dog, it's a special bar for shifters and weres. It'll be in two days. At 6 PM, why don't you go ahead and come here to Herveaux and Son and I'll pick you up from here and we'll go to the meeting together. Also, try to dress up a little, about as you are... It'll make a good impression."

Alcide pressed his hands together, "so now I have to ask, do you want to continue training or do you want to go home now? It's up to you, if this is too much and you need a day... all you have to say is the word."

[Summer Morgan]

Summer stood there, part simmering and part mortified that she let out her innermost feelings to her boss. She raised her hands up, "Geez, listen to me." she said frustrated with her behaviour. "I'm sorry that was uncalled for. You didn't need to hear that." was still pacing the floor of Alcide's office. It was either that or go off on another pointless rant.

Alcide spoke to her, confirming her suspicions that it was indeed an unprofessional thing to do. At least he'd not fired her, yet. So it wasn't all bad. He began to talk about the pack meeting and if Summer wanted him there, he would be. This surprised her, but under the circumstances she it was a pleasant one. "That...that would be great. Thank you. It wouldn't hurt to have a familiar face there if things get uncomfortable."

"Just know, I'll be behind you no matter what he says." these words surprised her even more and Summer raised an eyebrow. But she said nothing. At least not yet as Alcide was about to speak again.

He apologised for Flood's abrupt and unusual behaviour. Summer nodded, "It's okay. It's not your fault. It's no-ones fault I guess." she shrugged. When Alcide changed the direction of the conversation to the meeting itself. Summer had mixed emotions. She was past the anger and the frustration and was even feeling a little positive towards the whole thing. But still the meeting loomed over her and she really was feeling anxious.

Alcide spoke of a shifter and Were bar, Hair of the Dog, Summer smirked at the name. What is it with Supes and there absurd names for things? It'll be in two days. At 6 PM, why don't you go ahead and come here to Herveaux and Son and I'll pick you up from here and we'll go to the meeting together. Also, try to dress up a little, about as you are... It'll make a good impression." Summer thought it over and tilted her head towards Alcide. "You think I can make it back to the motel and back here in time? I can bring a change of clothes to work with me if that's easier." Anything to make that night go smoother would make all the difference she thought.

so now I have to ask, do you want to continue training or do you want to go home now? It's up to you, if this is too much and you need a day... all you have to say is the word." Summer's mouth fell open slightly at his suggestion. She had thought about it, but didn't feel she had the right to ask such a thing on her first day.
"Uh..wow um. You know that probably would be for the best. This whole thing just shook me up and I'm all outta whack." then she smiled. "Plus it'll give me time to go buy the perfect outfit to impress the good Colonel."

Summer looked at Alcide curiously, the words he said about being behind her regardless of how it went with his Packmaster ringing in her head. She bit her lip softly, "Why would you do this for me?" she asked, "I mean you don't know me. You owe me nothing at all, yet every step of the way you've shown me nothing but kindess and patience." she paused for a brief moment. "Lesser men would have washed there hands off me the minute I upset there peace."

[Alcide Herveaux]

Summer seemed to be more and more relieved by the fact that Alcide wasn't the typical hellfire and brimstone sort of boss. He didn't really have a degree in Human Relations or really anything, so he went with what he was taught, treat others the way you'd like to be treated. That was what he tried to live by... tried.

He nodded as she spoke, as a way to clarify her words. He was surprised she was going to buy something new for the meeting, that was sure different, but a good thing. To Alcide, it showed that she cared and that she was going to do her best at the meeting.

"Why would you do this for me?" she asked, "I mean you don't know me. You owe me nothing at all, yet every step of the way you've shown me nothing but kindness and patience."

"You know... honestly..." Alcide pulled on his hair slightly, trying to find the words to complete his sentence, "a lot of sh** has been hitting the fan lately, the last thing I need is a new employee that hates me. Besides, I have my reasons. Just as you, I need to clear my head. Once things start going at a normal pace, I'll be expecting more, I guess."

When there was unforeseen circumstances, there was just no way around it at all. He was very honest with her, although part of him was letting her off the hook because they were very similar in many ways. Definitely brownie points. Alcide stroked his fingers on the desk and then stood up.

"Let me do the honors of saying you can go, Summer," Alcide casually said to her, motioning with his hands to the door, "don't even bother if Connie asks you why you are leaving, I'll talk to her in a bit. I'll come up with something."

He strode over to the door and opened it for his new employee. As he opened it, he saw the figure of Jackson Herveaux, looking bedraggled and unshaven, walk right past him like a child trying to sneak a cookie from mama's kitchen. Alcide's eyes followed him with a wolfish eagerness. He wouldn't be in half of this crap if it wasn't for Jackson. Alcide was going to be polite and allow Summer a chance to leave before he began his verbal assault.

"I'll see you tomorrow at 9 AM again, okay?" he nodded at Summer. You could definitely tell he was holding back the desire to rant.

The door to Jackson's office opened and then with a subdued click, it closed. He wasn't going to escape that easily...

[Summer Morgan]

a lot of sh** has been hitting the fan lately, the last thing I need is a new employee that hates me. Besides, I have my reasons. Just as you, I need to clear my head. Once things start going at a normal pace, I'll be expecting more, I guess." Summer nodded along to Alcide's words. He was holding things back for sure. What it was she didn't know. But it didn't matter really. She had no reason to pry, if he wanted to confide in her he could.

Alcide officially said she could go. He added to ignore anything Connie said about it. That gave Summer a little mental kick. "Just tell her I was sick?" she said half asking, half suggesting. Summer pivoted round to face him onwards. "You're a good man Alcide, don't let anyone tell you otherwise." she reached out and patted his arm, as if he was a lifelong friend. Realising her folly, she pulled it away sharply. He may not appreciate that sort of openness, especially with an employee. "If anyone says any different, send 'em my way and I'll kick there ass." Summer finished with a deflective smile.

Alcide opened the door and there was his father, Jackson trying to skulk past without being seen. But he had been caught red handed.
Summer didn't need to be a mind reader to know Alcide was not a happy man. But she reckoned he held it in check for her sake or at least an effort not to make a scene outwith either of there private offices.

"I'll see you tomorrow at 9 AM again, okay?" he nodded towards Summer, the tension almost palpable. Summer did not want to be there when it all went down. Were's are vicious when the urge takes them and this was an especially difficult situation. "No problem and thanks again Alcide." she said as she slowly began to walk out taking note of Jackson quickly and then down the corridor. She muttered under her breath as she left. "Don't forget what I said."