Snippet #2681379

Rosemary smiled. Despite having only met Ginny a few times, her reputation was known throughout the agency, but she wondered whether the nonchalance with which Ben spoke about her was a show. She didn't know the details about what happened -- it was one file she decided not to open, to respect her friend's privacy -- but she knew Ben had been affected greatly.

"Yes, actually," she said, obliging the change of topic as he had obliged hers. "James Thyme. He's fresh from basic training, but very basic, from what I've gathered. He should be coming up today. He's the one person I actually knew was coming; Wilkins has been very slippery about mentioning your name, it seems." She smiled at Ben and realised she had missed him. She'd missed a lot of things recently, so she'd pushed them out of her mind and forced herself not to think about them, but having him back was like inhaling after holding your breath for too long.

"Have I got a file put together?!" she grinned. "Benjamin Buchanan have you forgotten me completely?"

She placed her hand on his back to pass him in the gap behind the desk, heading to the cabinet and pulling out the file on Whelen. She handed it to Ben and pulled up the electronic version on her desktop. As she flicked to the first page where a photo of Whelen smiled out at them, there was a knock on the door. Rosemary felt a sudden illogical pang; she had been enjoying spending time with Ben and suddenly the appearance of someone else pulled the world back into the present. She could no longer pretend it was three years ago, that Dillinger was alive and she was happy. She became aware again of the heavy loneliness in her bones -- something she had become accustomed to, but forgotten in the last few minutes. She would have been quite happy going over the files just with Ben, but that again was illogical. James (as she assumed this was) needed to know what was happening too. She shook away her illogical thoughts and called, "Come in."

A young man opened the door and stuck his head around it. "Miss Firth?" She smiled and gestured for him to come in.

"Just Rosemary," she stood up. "You must be James. Or would you prefer Mr Thyme?" she teased and James grinned -- a charming and almost childish grin -- and laughed, before extending a hand towards Ben.