Title: Fraternity
author: Mary McGinnis
Summary: Missing Webb Scene in the episode "Family Business"
Clayton Webb stood looking out the window, the scene of the busy airline
boarding gate area behind him clearly reflected in the wall of glass. He
seemed merely a fellow traveler, as only ticketed passengers were allowed
past the security checkpoints.
Sergei, intent on finding the right gate, walked up to the row of seats
nearest the window and dropped his carry-on luggage to the floor.
"There’s other better paying jobs flying helicopters elsewhere," Webb spoke
to Sergei’s reflection before turning.
"Mr. Webb….." Surprised, Sergei hesitated at sight of Webb, glanced around
as if assessing which magic hat Webb had sprung from, then looked Webb back
in the face with a touch of wariness frowning his own face.
Reaching hands casually into his trouser pockets, suitcoat brushed back by
his arms, Webb casually asked, "You sure you want to do this?"
"How…..how did you know……" Sergei began to ask.
Webb gave the merest of head motions and eyebrows shrug in reply.
"Yes." Sergei avowed. Webb just stood and watched. "I’m going back," Sergei
added. Webb rocked ever so slightly on his toes. "Harm treats me like a
child who can’t be trusted to make his own decisions. I’ve no friends.
Immigration doesn’t want me. I don’t belong here."
"So you go home to Russia where Big Brother watches over your every move
rather than Rabb annoying you with his big brother routine, and where you
won’t know if your friends are your friends or secret police keeping an eye
on the army pilot bought from the Chechens by the Americans." Webb made
another of his face and head shrugs, as if no accounting for Sergei’s taste.
"I don’t fit in here," Sergei flared in reply.
"No one ever does…..at first," said Webb.
Half-angrily spreading his hands wide, Sergei answered, "What do you want me
to do?"
Brusquely taking his hands out of his pockets, Webb responded with slight
emphasis on his first word, "I don’t want you to do anything. Just came to
see you off." With that he handed Sergei a business card.
Reluctantly taking the card, Sergei looked at it a moment then stated, "You
think I’m making a mistake."
Webb nodded to the card in Sergei’s hand. "If you change your mind, call
me." With that Webb strode briskly away and was quickly lost in the crowd,
leaving Sergei to look from Webb’s card in hand to his own reflection in the
window.