We headed down to the cafeteria and we both ordered hamburgers, fries and sodas. We sat down at the table and began eating.
"So tell me, how'd you start working at CTU. Why did you decide to be an agent?" Keith asked.
"My dad. He was a CIA agent for twenty years. I was his little girl and he always told me stories about how he saved people. I looked up to him, and when he died on a mission I decided I'd make him proud and continuing saving innocent lives. He was a hero." I stopped as the tears that always came with the mentioning of my dad, threatened to spill over. Keith reached over and squeezed my shoulder. The sympathy and pain reflected in his eyes said more than words ever could. I took a deep breath. "So, I went to Georgetown, got a degree in computer science. After graduation I got a job in the CIA, and I worked there for a couple of years. Then three years ago a position here opened up for a computer analyst, and I jumped at it, then I took field training and became an agent." I ate a fry. "So, what about you?"
"Well, my dad was a Marine, and so was my granddad. So I followed in their footsteps and joined. I ended up like I told you in the Sniper Division and got drafted in the Gulf War. It wasn't too bad, but I realized in the months that I was there that I wasn't cut out for it. It was dangerous and I hated the destruction and violence. So, after that I got a degree in computer sciences at Howard and with that and my Marine training I got a position in the FBI and became an agent. It's better to save lives than take them, y'know?" I nodded wanting to understand. "I was an agent for four years and then when this opened up I took it. You know that, but what you don't know is that I'm really glad I did." He looked at me.
"I'm really glad you did too."
We ate in silence for a few minutes. Then I thought of a question. "So, tell me since you know about my train wreck of a relationship, why's a good looking guy like yourself not taken?"
"I'm just looking for the right girl." He again looked at me, and for a second I swear my heart stopped beating. "Tell me how a beautiful girl got into such a mess?"
"College friendship that turned into a relationship that went bad."
"Ah . . . been there." He ate a few fries.