Summary: She knows how to get things done. Fourth in a series of post-eps/missing scenes from Kim Cook's POV.

TITLE: The View From the Outer Office: Herrenvolk
AUTHOR: Lara Means
E-MAIL: LaraMeansXF@aol.com
WEBSITE: http://larameansxf.tripod.com
CLASSIFICATION: V
RATING: PG
ARCHIVE: NO to Gossamer, Spookys; I'll submit directly to both.
YES to Ephemeral. YES to mailing list auto-archives. Anywhere
else, please ASK. I'll say yes; I just like to know where the
kids are at the end of the day.
FEEDBACK: Please?
DATE POSTED: 11/02/02

DISCLAIMER: I don't own them. Heck, I don't even own my name.
It all belongs to 20th Century Fox. No infringement intended.

SPOILERS: Talitha Cumi, Herrenvolk.

SUMMARY: She knows how to get things done.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is the fourth in a series of post-
ep/missing scene fics centering on Kim, Skinner's assistant.
Each is self-contained. If you like, you can read the first
three at my website (I'm updating this weekend, I promise) or at
Ephemeral or Gossamer.

Some logistical explaining... An FBI field office's jurisdiction
is sometimes divided into resident agencies (RAs), which cover
smaller areas. The resident agency in Providence covers the
state of Rhode Island; the appropriate field office is in
Boston.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE VIEW FROM THE OUTER OFFICE: HERRENVOLK
Written by Lara Means



I don't like to leave my desk, especially when the Assistant
Director is in a meeting. If I'm away, it's too easy for people
to get to him. Unfortunately, there are times when it's
necessary.

I'm hurrying back from the ladies room when I see Mr. Skinner
and Agent Scully standing in the outer office. She's on her
cell phone, and I catch the end of her conversation before she
hangs up, something about that man Jeremiah Smith who was here a
few days ago. I know they've been looking for him. Mr. Skinner
catches my eye as I come in.

"Kimberly, I need you to get Agent Scully and me to Providence
as soon as possible."

"Yes, Sir," I tell him, grabbing my pad and pencil from the
desk. Agent Scully goes back into his office, and he steps
closer to me.

"I also need at least ten agents to meet us at the hospital
where Agent Mulder's mother is."

"I doubt the RA in Providence has that many agents available."

"Go through the field office in Boston if you have to."

"Yes, Sir, I'll take care of it." He nods and goes back inside,
closing the door.

I pick up the phone and get to work. First stop, the travel
office.

"Rachel, it's Kim Cook from A.D. Skinner's office. I have an
emergency travel request."

"When is it *not* an emergency, Kim?" she says, a smile in her
voice. But I don't have time for pleasantries.

"A.D. Skinner and Agent Scully, to Providence, Rhode Island,
absolute soonest."

I hear her keyboard clicking as her fingers fly over it. As
speedy as Rachel is, I still find myself wishing there was a way
for me to find the flight I need before I call her; it would
save us both a lot of time. After a few long moments, she
finally asks, "Can they make it to National in an hour?"

"I'll get 'em there. Thanks, Rachel. You're the best."

I hang up and check my e-mail -- as I'm watching, a message from
Rachel pops into my in-box. I open it and print out the
itinerary, then pick up the phone again. I decide to go
straight to the Boston field office. I wasn't kidding when I
told him the RA in Providence wouldn't have that many agents
available; I don't think they've got ten agents assigned there
in the first place. Besides, I'm sure Mr. Skinner would feel
more comfortable dealing with a field office's SAC.

"SAC Thomas, this is Kimberly Cook from Assistant Director
Skinner's office in Washington. He's asked me to arrange for
ten agents to meet him at Providence Memorial Hospital in a
little over two hours."

"Kinda short notice, Ms. Cook. Any reason you're not going
through the RA in Providence?"

"Because the Assistant Director said to call you." Only half-
true, but I can already tell this guy's going to be an asshole
to deal with.

"Can I ask what this is for?" he says, and I'm momentarily
stumped. Mr. Skinner didn't tell me, but I imagine it has
something to do with Jeremiah Smith.

"Security detail for a witness. That's all I can tell you."

"Ten agents? Big security detail."

"He's an important witness," I tell him, losing patience.
"Agent Thomas, I don't have time -- "

"Don't worry, Ms. Cook, they'll be waiting for him at the
hospital."

"Good." I'm about to end the conversation when I remember an
important detail I've overlooked. "Do you have someone who
could meet A.D. Skinner at the airport in Providence?"

"I'll do it myself."

Relieved, I give him the flight information. "Thank you, Agent
Thomas."

"Any time. Always happy to help out the Assistant Director."
Uh-huh. And you want me to be sure and tell him you said that.

I gather my notes, then knock on Mr. Skinner's door. When I go
in, his meeting is wrapping up.

I hand him the itinerary as I tell him, "Your flight from
National to Providence leaves in an hour. SAC Thomas will meet
you at the airport, and ten agents from the Boston field office
will be waiting for you at the hospital." I pause a second,
then, "I told him this was a security detail for a witness. Was
that all right?"

"That's exactly what it is, Kimberly, thank you."

"You're welcome, Sir. Do you need a car to the airport?"

"No, we'll take mine."

I nod and turn to leave, but his voice stops me.

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

I glance back at him. The office is now empty except for the
two of us. He's sitting at his desk, not looking at me, just
gathering his files and papers for this sudden trip to Rhode
Island. I smile, even though he doesn't see it.

"Thank you, Sir."

I close the door behind me.



END

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Extreme gratitude as always to IWTB for their
support and encouragement. Thanks, too, to Kristen and the
Harem Wives for keeping me aware of Kimberly in the first place.