History Main / AllAPartOfTheJob

* In the ''Literature/{{Quiller}}'' novels about British secret agent [[NoNameGiven Quiller]], Quiller makes clear that he (and by extension the other agents) do their job because they need the excitement. He presents it as a not very sane defect. I mean, he is all for helping humanity and his country and doing the right thing, but if he goes too long between assignments he starts to hang around the office waiting (begging) for something and finds himself agreeing to take assignments that he would have otherwise turned down.
* In ''Literature/FieldsOfForeboding,'' Silean Seeker Wylar Gabriel has a note brutally pinned to his leg with a big knife by a pair of kidnappers. After his leg gets healed, however, he appears totally unfazed by the whole event, presumably because he thinks of it as an in-the-line-of duty kind of thing.
* Literature/KateDaniels works two jobs, one at the Mercenary's Guild killing magical nasties and one at the Order of Merciful Aid, keeping the peace and tracking down serial killers. She mourns that she can't even have a pet because she's never home often enough to keep it alive, she's perpetually in dismal financial circumstances, and she's constantly being injured, brushing up against death three times in three books. Later it's revealed that she was offered a job with the elite Red Guard for very good money, but turned it down because it's too boring to sit around and wait for someone else to attack you. She'd prefer to be out there hunting down the bad guy.
* In Shanna Swendson's ''[[Literature/EnchantedInc Once upon Stilettos]]'', a gargoyle security guard's response when Katie thanks it for saving her.

* When Karina from ''TigerAndBunny'' considers quitting her dangerous, stressful, and often thankless job as a [[CorporateSponsoredSuperhero Hero]], she asks Kotetsu why he keeps at it (and puts everything he has into it, no less) when [[ButtMonkey he doesn't even get the same respect for his work that the other Heroes do]]. His answer is simple.

* ThePowerpuffGirls also ascribe to this, but it's been shown that they're on call even if it means sacrificing family quality time ("PowerProf.") or a budding friendship ("Superfriends").

* In the ''{{Quiller}}'' novels about British secret agent [[NoNameGiven Quiller]], Quiller makes clear that he (and by extension the other agents) do their job because they need the excitement. He presents it as a not very sane defect. I mean, he is all for helping humanity and his country and doing the right thing, but if he goes too long between assignments he starts to hang around the office waiting (begging) for something and finds himself agreeing to take assignments that he would have otherwise turned down.

* ''PersonOfInterest'': The POI is Detective Carter, Finch and Reese's SympatheticInspectorAntagonist.

** [[ShoutOut Also]] [[JayWard Super Chicken's]] CatchPhrase

* KateDaniels works two jobs, one at the Mercenary's Guild killing magical nasties and one at the Order of Merciful Aid, keeping the peace and tracking down serial killers. She mourns that she can't even have a pet because she's never home often enough to keep it alive, she's perpetually in dismal financial circumstances, and she's constantly being injured, brushing up against death three times in three books. Later it's revealed that she was offered a job with the elite Red Guard for very good money, but turned it down because it's too boring to sit around and wait for someone else to attack you. She'd prefer to be out there hunting down the bad guy.

* ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' is always on duty.

* In TheDresdenFiles, Murphy frequently invokes this trope. She's a policewoman, but she's also a KnightInShiningArmor, and she feels it's her duty to face supernatural threats as well as normal ones. Hence, she works with [[WizardClassic Harry]] to stabilize Chicago's magical community, even though her life is regularly threatened and the long hours spent doing so cut into her actual job. In ''Proven Guilty,'' she is put on probation for missing work, and tells Harry:

* Subverted rather disturbingly in http://www.fimfiction.net/story/119688/1/you-obey/the-interrogation You Obey.]] The protagonist carries out the interrogation in spite of his own feelings because a. He knows that he must. b. Everyone's lives depending on him successfully getting the information. c. He loves his job.

* On ''GeneralHospital'', Dante Falconeri is an undercover cop who knows his job is dangerous but he is determined to capture a certain mob boss.

* In Shanna Swendson's ''[[EnchantedInc Once upon Stilettos]]'', a gargoyle security guard's response when Katie thanks it for saving her.

They never get a moments rest. Every day they're called in for a new mission. And around every turn, some crook or monster is trying to kill them. They suffer injuries and put the lives of the people they love [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies at risk]].

* Easily applies to ''[[{{Series/StargateSG-1}} SG-1]]''. First line of defense against alien invaders? Wouldn't have it any other way. Regular near-misses at getting [[KilledOffForReal Killed Off For real]]? Not enough to make any of them consider resigning from the team.

* ''GetSmart'': Max doesn't appear to mind the constant danger his job entails. In fact, he relishes in it.

* The detectives on ''LawAndOrder'' series seem to fit this at times. Particularly Det. Stabler on [[LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit SVU]], who often finds his work emotionally unsettling and has had a lot of family problems because of it, but just won't quit for some reason.

* [[MontyPythonsFlyingCircus It's all in a day's work for Bicycle Repair Man]].

* ''InspectorGadget'' is always on duty.

* Easily applies to [[StargateSG1 SG-1]]. First line of defense against alien invaders? Wouldn't have it any other way. Regular near-misses at getting [[KilledOffForReal Killed Off For real]]? Not enough to make any of them consider resigning from the team.

* DarkwingDuck: "I knew the job was dangerous when I took it."

* ''CriminalMinds'' plays with this trope all the time. Justifiably, though, since everything about it applies: The characters are constantly being flown across the country and missing their families, they're constantly trying to convince mentally ill people not to shoot them (and sometimes have to kill said people or be killed), they're constantly being surrounded by mutilated bodies and grieving families, etc.

* The detectives on ''[[LawAndOrder Law & Order]]'' seem to fit this at times. Particularly Det. Stabler on [[LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit SVU]], who often finds his work emotionally unsettling and has had a lot of family problems because of it, but just won't quit for some reason.

* [[http://xawu.thecomicseries.com/comics/23/ "I was on the clock, actually"]] Complete with a IrregularWebcomic ShoutOut.

* Literary example: KateDaniels works two jobs, one at the Mercenary's Guild killing magical nasties and one at the Order of Merciful Aid, keeping the peace and tracking down serial killers. She mourns that she can't even have a pet because she's never home often enough to keep it alive, she's perpetually in dismal financial circumstances, and she's constantly being injured, brushing up against death three times in three books. Later it's revealed that she was offered a job with the elite Red Guard for very good money, but turned it down because it's too boring to sit around and wait for someone else to attack you. She'd prefer to be out there hunting down the bad guy.