Chapter Text
Jane knocks at the door.
“Come in.”
She takes a deep breath and steps in.
She scans the office. Two chairs. A big desk covered by stacks of files. Blank walls.
She feels immediately uncomfortable.
So impersonal!
“Please take a seat.”
Polite tone.
But cold.
He doesn’t even look at her. He is focused on a file (hers?).
“An unfriendly man in an unfriendly room” she thinks.
Adoption is supposed to be a joyful process, isn’t it? So why the atmosphere seems so clinical?
She seats herself a bit nervously on the edge of the chair. Finally he closes the file he’s reading and looks up at her.
“Well… Miss Foster”, he drawls, “I have examined your letters of reference very carefully…(she holds her breath) Doctor Selvig…Doctor Banner…they think the world of you…”
She stiffens, trying to keep her composure.
“Please, don’t say “but”, please”, she repeats mentally like a mantra.
He shrugs.
“But…(she digs her fingernails into her palms)” these letters are rubbish !”
He smirks with disdain.
“Your doctor Selvig spent several weeks in an asylum. As for Doctor Banner, he is bipolar –or some sort.”
He snorts.
“Both are hardly reliable.”
He leans forward, looking at her straight in the eye.
“Are you such a pitiful woman that you can only find unstable guys to support your request?” he asks in an accusatory tone.
She opens her mouth to argue, but he dismisses her with a wave of his hand.
“I’ll see you next week, Miss. At the same place, the same time.”
He narrows his eyes.
“It will be your last chance to convince me you’re worthy. Don’t miss it.”
Then he plunges back into another file, ignoring her unashamedly.
Like a robot, she stands up and leaves the room.
The interview has lasted five minutes.
Enough time though to ruin her dream of motherhood.