The Family [Finished]

[accalia]

Bear takes Vic outside and sits him down on a bench. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" He asks, still with the veneer of being polite but he's definitely not happy.

[yamikuronue]

Vic blinks up at him awkwardly. "....sitting?" he asks, hesitantly.

[accalia]

"Try again. You don't think I haven't noticed you nodding off at your desk? You do realize how many rules Tony bent to the breaking point to get you this job? How much trouble he'll get in if you keep this crap up?"

[yamikuronue]

He flinches. "Sorry," he mumbles, looking at his lap. "I'll do better."

[accalia]

"Try getting more sleep at home." Bear commands "Now get out of here, you're half asleep as it is and no good in the office. I expect you to be well rested tomorrow when you come in to catch up on work. Yes, it's supposed to be your day off but you're taking that day today."

[yamikuronue]

He nods. "Yessir. Sorry, sir. It's just my second job, is all. I'll get used to it."

[accalia]

"Two jobs?" Bear asks incredulously "Why am I not surprised? Look. Right now you're running yourself ragged, that's not something you get used to. that's something you burn out on. I'm not going to tell you which job you need to keep but i will tell you that if you keep up the performance you've been having you're going to get fired from this job, and if your performance is that bad here i can't imagine it's that much better there."

[yamikuronue]

He fidgets a little in his seat, silent. I like this job... but the other one pays better long-term.

[accalia]

Bear also stays silent, waiting for Vic to speak.

[yamikuronue]

After a moment of wrestling with it, his shoulders slump. "Alright, sir. I'll figure out how to tell Tony."

[accalia]

"Tomorrow you can tell him. Get your butt home and get some shuteye. I'm serious that you're no good to anyone tired as you are. Oh, and take this. read it over when you get home, and next time we meet at work you can tell me if you want me to sign and file them." Bear says, handing Vic a folder containing two documents, one is a form for sponsoring Vic to the board of education for consideration for the General Education Equivalence Diploma, and the other is for recommending Vic for inclusion in the next class of criminal investigation at the department, both prerequisites for a substantial promotion for Vic. While the documents are fully filled out Bear hasn't signed them, giving Vic the chance to decide if he wants to walk that path or not.

[yamikuronue]

Vic rubs his eyes, staring at the documents. Already? But... but if I...

"Yeah. Good idea," he says, quietly. Sleep. Then I can figure all this out.

[accalia]

"Talk to Dispatch if you need a ride home, patrols go out in ten and several pass close enough to Tony's place to drop you off on their way past." Bear says as he turns to reenter the office. Throughout this whole exchange he's been polite, but there was an edge of steel behind the politeness that Vic had never seen directed at him before..

[yamikuronue]

Vic slinks inside after Bear, his shoulders still slumping, his expression hangdog. He got the message loud and clear: he fucked up, and he's gotta make it right. Whatever right is...

[accalia]

Bear stops by Tony's office briefly to let Tony in on the schedule change. Then he goes back to his desk and tries to get ahead of his work so he'll have a little time to lessen the work Vic has to deal with tomorrow.