Work Text:
Part of the Process
by Irena Adler
Penfield didn't get one step towards the door before Colby grabbed him by the back of his collar. Gurgling, Penfield came to an abrupt stop.
"Charlie," Colby said. "We can't just let him walk out."
Charlie's shoulders slumped. "I don't see what else we can do."
"You think `fluffy math' was bad? He'll crucify you with this!"
Penfield began to speak but a twist of Colby's hand stopped him.
Charlie frowned at the floor. "It's part of the process of peer review."
Colby hauled Penfield back and shoved him towards a chair.
Penfield protested, "How dare-"
"Stow it," Colby snapped.
"Why, you-"
Colby put his hand on his gun meaningfully and Penfield paled.
"Abuse of authority," he mumbled, but sat down anyway.
Colby turned back to Charlie. "Peer review means responding in a journal, not snooping through your office."
"True," Charlie sighed. "But now that he's here, I can't just tie him up and throw him in the closet."
Colby bared his teeth. "I can."
A shiver went through Charlie, a mixture of fear and love and comfort at Colby's protectiveness. Charlie put his hand on Colby's arm. "Cole, that's not a solution."
Colby smiled wryly, "No, but it'll get him out of our hair while we decide what to do."
"Oh God," Penfield groaned. "He's your boyfriend! I should have known! All this bull about `security precautions' and he's just trying to save your ass." He guffawed. "Literally!"
Colby and Charlie glared at him, but he ignored the warning.
"That's how you get your FBI work," Penfield sneered. "By bending over for them until you found one who'd keep you around. Must be really good in the sack to make up for being a prissy prima donna."
The back of Colby's hand knocked Penfield to the floor.
end