My Old Friend, Fred

Date/Timing: 12 January 2019
Setting: Jones-Walker suite (mostly), The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Derek swallows, steps from transport to helipad with the other new arrivals.
- Jamie Walker -
says a sign.
That's ... that's the same name as on his residence and they're headed—
"Hey, roomie!" Sign Person grabs Derek in a tight hug. "Great to meet you!"
"H ...," croaks Derek.
"James Walker—call me Jamie, please—he-him-his, handler for Team Vulcan Specter."
Derek meeps.
"Yea, gonna try /real hard to avoid them. Thankfully, the 'Dome makes it pretty damn easy. First things first: jet lag?"
"Eh ...."
"Better to stay awake until bedtime, anyway. Hungry?"
Derek's stomach whines.
"We'll toss your stuff in /our room and I'll whip up some leftovers."
"Sounds g ...."
"Awesome." Jamie slings an arm around Derek's shoulders, leads him inside. "When you're stuffed, you can either nap or we'll head down to the Quartermaster's for your new kit."
"Th ...."
"My pleasure, kid." Herds him into an unused storage room.
"Wha ...?"
"Gotta check on something before we go farther." Jamie takes out his mobile, holds up a hand for quiet.
Derek sags against the wall.
""How may I help you, Officer Walker?""
"Hello, AGNIS, dear—"
""Flattery will not cause me to work any faster.""
"I'm setting a good example for our newest officer."
""You. A good example." A beat. ""I'm impressed.""
"Why thank you, AGNIS."
""That was a joke. Ha. Ha.""
Jamie doesn't face-palm. "You need to work on your derisive laugh."
""I will make a note. How may I assist you?""
"I need a route to our quarters free of folks who might recognize my new roomie, /especially his brothers."
Derek squeaks—claps both hands over his mouth.
""Follow the directions I will send to your mobile.""
"No sending me through the freezer this time, ay?"
""Recalculating route.""
"Thank you, sweetheart."
""Must I file another report of sexual harassment, Officer?""
"My sincerest apologies, AGNIS."
""I'm watching you, Walker.""
"Wouldn't have it any other way," says Jamie, grinning. "Thanks for the map." He disconnects, addresses the kid. "We should be good to go."
They make it to the suite without seeing a soul and Jamie unlocks the door. "Home sweet suite!" he cheers.
Derek slinks past.
"Hope you don't mind, but I had them put your stuff in the back bedroom. Figured you'd be more comfortable farther from the door."
"Thanks," whispers Derek.
"You freshen up and I'll whip together a feed for you."
Derek grunts, plods for his bedroom.
Jamie whistles to the kitchenette, grabs eggs and every bit of vegetable and protein from the mini-fridge, builds up a thick omelet. 
Which Derek inhales as soon as it's in front of him.
Jamie grins. "Now, I've gotta do some squiring, but you do whatever you want and I'll make sure no undesirables get through the door."
Derek nods, creeps back to his room.
Jamie clears the table, sets it all to soaking in the sink, sets himself towards the living area, and sprawls on the couch. 
Judging by the shuffling and ripping tape, Derek's unpacking.
Jamie gets out his mobile, taps a contact, lets it ring through, greets, "Salutations, Nate!"
""Jamie! So /good to hear from you! I take it your hangover has finally worn off?"" she chuckles.
"I was back to normal after the second chili chutney sandwich, which's more than I can say for Jack."
""What trouble plagues our beloved almost-bad boy this week?""
"You-know-who was here a couple of days ago—"
""I heard."" Sighs, ""He's moping again, ay?""
"Yep. /And he's got a black eye."
""What idiotic thing did he say this time?""
"Probably several idiotic things, but he got the shiner trying to stop her from pulping Logan."
""At least they're predictable.""
"Certainly makes my job easier."
"If there can be one upside to this situation, that would be it," drawls Nate. ""It just so happens I'm on campus today—with the proper supplies no less.""
"Lucky Jack," grins Jamie.
""'Lucky Jack' indeed."" Nate sighs wistfully. ""If he'd simply stop acting—""
"Like a total and complete asshole?"
""Put crudely, yes.""
Jamie snickers.
""Even if quite a bit of his poor behaviour isn't an act, he could make that girl—or some girl—so happy if he'd only be himself.""
"I'll have to take your word for it," says Jamie. "When should we expect you?"
""I'll drop in on him tonight.""
"I'll have a visitor's pass and keycard waiting for you. Though, often as you're in the residential blocks, we should probably give you a Corps ID."
""I already have one, honey.""
"I was thinking more 'mental health specialist' and less 'contractor liaison'."
""That /would be rather convenient. I'll bring it up with Officer Nguyen this afternoon.""
"Thanks, Nate. I'll owe you one."
""You owe me quite a bit, Walker, and someday I'll collect."" She chuckles and disconnects.
Jamie shakes his head, tucks his mobile away. He recrosses his legs, grabs the remote—
The doorbell chimes.
—hops to his feet, checks the peephole. "Hey, kid!" he calls, skipping over to his room.
Derek peeks out over a box. "Yea?"
"The big bads are at the door, so ye may want to take a powder."
Derek swallows, scoots into the washroom, and locks the door.
Jamie saunters back across the suite as the bell rings again.
"Heard you have a new roommate," Jack greets.
"That I do," replies Jamie. "You can call him 'Fred'."
"We gonna meet him?" asks Logan.
"Only if you feel like interrupting a fellow on the loo."
Logan makes a face.
"We'll pass," says Jack.
"Anything I can do for you gents?"
"Nah, just passing through and thought we'd stop in."
"Well, don't do anything /too stupid this evening, 'cause I won't be around to straighten it out."
Logan rolls his eyes.
Jack huffs.
"Later, boys!" Jamie waves.
Jack and Logan stroll off.
Jamie locks up, rolls over to the washroom, calls, "Coast is clear, probably for the rest of the day."
Derek slinks out.
"How goes the unpacking?"
"F-fine."
"You need any help? Anything else to eat?"
"N-no. Thanks."
"Cool," says Jamie. "Just yell if I can do anything for you."
Derek nods a fraction, goes back to his boxes.
The doorbell rings again.
"We are popular today," declares Jamie, ambling to the door. He checks the peephole, swings it open. "Hey there, Squire Seccombe, Officer Davega!" Bowing deeply, "How may I be of service?"
"We had a cancellation for a dinner party tonight and were wondering if you or your new roomie would be interested in filling in."
"Ooo, sorry. Fred's too jet-lagged to leave his room and I've got a date."
"Darn," pouts Tsuki, then zhi brightens. "Anyone we know?"
"Gabe from Hong Kong's in our fine city for the first time so I'm gonna show him the sights."
Tsuki snorts. "You really do have a boy in every port on the Pacific, don't you."
"The curse of being so handsome and charming," grins Jamie.
Emere and Tsuki roll their eyes.
"That how you and Fred met?" asks Emere.
"Nope. Law school," says Jamie.
"You went to law school?"
"Who /doesn't go to law school?"
Emere and Tsuki exchange looks.
"Like, most people?"
"Must be a generational thing."
"Must be a rich people thing," grumbles Tsuki.
Emere pokes an elbow in zhir ribs. "Well, we've got a fourth to hunt down. See you 'round, Jamie!"
"Later!" Jamie waves and locks up. He moseys to the couch, puts his feet up on the coffee table, and snickers.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Jamie
Category:Jamie (ficlet)
Category:Derek
Category:Derek (ficlet)
Category:Derek has an anxiety disorder
Category:AGNIS
Category:AGNIS (ficlet)
Category:Jackson
Category:Jackson (ficlet)
Category:Logan
Category:Logan (ficlet)
Category:Nate
Category:Nate (ficlet)
Category:Chuck D (mention)
Category:Chantell (mention)
Category:Conversations on phones
Category:Emere
Category:Emere (ficlet)
Category:Tsuki
Category:Tsuki (ficlet)
Category:Gabe (mention)
Category:Red Dwarf (reference)
Category:AGNIS and freezers
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Jackson's behaviour wins him no favours
Category:Portal (reference)
Category:Derek's First Day storyline