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Chapter Text

Prologue

Beep! Beep! Beep!

He fell asleep last night, forgetting to turn off his television. The last thing he remembered was watching some sort of documentary about old castles before he drifted off to sleep.

He was now wondering if he was still dreaming as he looked around his strange surroundings. He was still sitting on his two person couch, and the TV was still in front of him, but this time it appeared to be attached to a white smooth wall.

The floor was the same smooth white surface, along with the four walls and ceiling that surrounded him. He looked at his hands and gasped when he couldn't see his familiar skin.

"What the fuck?" He whispered, staring at his now translucent shape. He checked the rest of his body and realized he wasn't wearing anything at all and his body looked like a faded image of a person without any discernable details.

A chime from the TV attracted his attention and he narrowed his eyes at what he saw on the screen.

[Welcome to the Reincarnation System! Please select options.]

[Select World]

[Select Character Appearance]

[Select Character Traits – select 3 options from characters]

He pinched his arm, trying to wake up, but he couldn't even feel any sensation at all. After several tries he gave up and walked around the room, trying to figure out what was happening to him. There weren't any doors and windows in the white room, and he knew he was trapped.

The TV and his old couch were still there, and he sat back down, trying hard to think about his predicament. He wondered why he wasn't panicking since he hardly felt any anxiety or trepidation about his current condition. He knew he would have been freaking out right about now.

He looked back at the TV and the message it showed and realized he was in one of those situations he read in fantasy books and novels.

What the hell, he knew he might as well try and select options to see if this was all happening. He was curious though of what worlds would be available for him to be transported to and he suddenly felt a bit of excitement at the thought of appearing in Star Wars, or even Star Trek. There were several options, he was a sci-fi geek and enjoyed watching shows like Battlestar Galactica or Babylon V. He approached the TV and pushed on the [Select World] option, but there was no reaction from the TV screen. He tried several times and gave up on his lack of progress and sat down on the couch.

Right, he remembered his TV was an old and cheap Sony flat screen TV, it was a durable brand, but the old model meant it didn't have any touch screen capability or even wifi. He mostly relied on watching programs through cable or plugging in shows through the USB port.

He looked around and shifted in his seat, looking for the remote. He looked up again when he heard the chimes from the TV screen and realized he had sat on the remote control. The options tab for the world he could reincarnate in started to show its selection, scrolling down in a rapid pace.

Wait! Fuck! He quickly sat up and pulled the remote from under his seat and realized a few of the buttons were stuck, and the plastic casing had a few cracks in it.

He immediately tried to whack the remote on his palm to release the buttons, but it only served to worsen his problem. A chime sounded and he saw a green square appear on a world called [The Rookie] and the option continued to his character design.

He wasn't able to focus back on the screen as he tried to pry off the cover for the remote's battery but he realized he was too late as the TV changed its screen.

[Congratulations on selecting your options!]

[Soul transfer commencing in 10 seconds.]

[Enjoy your new life!]

He watched the countdown as it reached zero, powerless to stop the process. He stared at the broken remote control in his hands and closed his eyes as the brightness in the room intensified.

What the fuck is The Rookie was his last thought.

Episode 1

"You okay?"

He opened his eyes to see the face of a woman, concern etched on her face as she leaned over him. He blinked and looked around and realized he was lying on the smooth floor, surrounded by dozens of police officers.

He tried to speak when a wave of memories flashed in his head and he closed his eyes in pain. He remembered the reincarnation process and more and more details came into his mind as he arrived in this new world.

His name was Jack Routh, yes the same surname as the Superman actor. He also had his appearance and was currently twenty-four years of age. He remembered a screen that appeared as he arrived in this world before he lost consciousness.

[Select World – The Rookie]

[Select Character Appearance – Brandon Routh Age: 24]

[Select Character Traits – select 3 options from characters, primary, secondary, tertiary]

[Jack Reacher]

[Charlie Puth]

[Lucy Worsley]

It was his first day here in Mid-Wilshire, transferred from Rampart after spending a week there. He had just graduated from the academy a few weeks ago. He was just reassigned to the LAPD Mid-Wilshire police station since his T.O. at Rampart would take month to recover and he had just entered through the doors to report for duty.

"You took a nasty fall." The woman replied. She was an attractive woman, in her thirties, wearing a suit over a white blouse with a matching knee-length gray skirt.

"I'm sorry." A policeman behind her apologized quickly. He was carrying what looked like stacks of boxes in his hands. On the floor beside him, he saw a box filled with books and papers and realized it was what hit him on the head.

The woman quickly produced a pen light and aimed it at his eyes, looking for signs of concussion.

"I'm alright, thank you." He quickly rose to his feet with the woman's help and picked up his bag and uniform. The woman was pretty strong and she had a firm grip.

"Check on your T.O. if you feel any signs of dizziness or visual impairment." The woman suggested and turned around and faced the other police officer. She had a nice view from behind as well and an attractive figure. "Quigley, you better be in my office when I get back there. We'll have a discussion on proper safety behavior in the workplace."

"Yes, captain!" The officer named Quigley rushed to pick up the remaining box and scampered off. He stared back at the woman who helped him and realized she was the station's captain.

"Officer Jack Routh, reporting for duty!" He snapped up to attention, nervous as he realized he was checking out the top boss. He hoped she didn't notice his staring.

It looked like she noticed, judging from the small smirk on her lips and the knowing look in her eyes. "You better hurry up Officer Routh, roll call is in fifteen."

"Yes, captain." He quickly nodded and rushed to the locker rooms. He was still trying to sort out his memories and ignored the stares he received as he hurried to get his gear stored.

The locker rooms were busy, but he was able to reach his assigned locker without difficulty. The long sleeves of the uniform for rookie police officers were stifling, and he stared enviously at the short-sleeved uniforms worn by the senior officers.

"Jack Routh? Is that you?"

He turned around when he heard his name. He spotted a man, John Nolan as his new memories informed him wearing the same long-sleeved uniform for rookies. The older policeman was in his forties, and he recalled he was one of the hardest working cadets in the academy.

He had to since he knew the man was unfairly targeted by a few of the instructors due to his age.

"Nolan." He greeted back and gave a quick handshake.

"Where's West?" He asked. He knew the man was close friends with their batch's overachiever and they had plans to join the same station with Chen. Jackson West always performed the best in exams and broke his famous father's records in the academy.

"There were some problems with Jackson." Nolan appeared uncomfortable as he answered. "Let's head to the roll call. The sergeant is pretty strict with punctuality."

He shrugged and followed his fellow rookie as they entered a large briefing room, with glass walls on three sides. He sat down beside his colleague and waited as he observed the officers starting to gather inside.

Nolan appeared to be in deep thought, so he refrained from asking more questions. He noticed a few eyes were observing him, but he ignored them and used the time to understand his reincarnation. He was curious about the character traits he had unknowingly selected and wondered how they would affect his new life in this world.

He was familiar with the first two names, but was surprised that he could select real-life characters as part of his options. Jack Reacher was of course a badass character in the books and TV show, and he hoped the character's traits would help him in his new job. If being a police officer didn't work out, he knew at least he had other options with the other two character traits he accidentally selected. Who was Lucy Worsley though?

Lucy Chen walked in, rousing him from his thoughts and he returned the nod of greeting, though he noted the uneasy expression on his fellow rookie's face.

"He's Jackson's replacement." He heard Nolan whisper to Chen. They both looked disappointed for some reason, and wondered what happened to their famous batch valedictorian.

"I just wish he told us what he was going through," Chen replied. "We're his friends. He shouldn't have to cut us off just like that."

Curious about what he was hearing, he was eager to learn more when he saw a bald older black man with sergeant stripes on his sleeves walk in, and the chatter in the room lessened.

"Before we begin, we have a new rookie here joining us this morning. I understand you went to the academy with Nolan and Chen, and you already saw action when you were assigned at Rampart for a week." The sergeant walked around their table, observing him with sharp eyes. "I'm sure you already received a speech from your sergeant over there, but you'll have to hear another from me. Stand up."

He quickly stood up and faced his fellow police officers, and he returned their assessing gazes.

"You've earned the right to be here, but you'll have to prove yourself to stay. The way we do things matters. Protocol and tradition are the metal from which every cop in this city is forged. Understand?"

"Yes sir." He replied with a nod.

"Sit down." The man, with the nametag Grey, stated as he returned to the podium. "Our new rookie here, Officer Jack Routh will be assigned to Officer Lopez as his Training officer to replace Jackson West."

A hand shot up beside him, and knew Nolan was about to ask a question. "Sir, what happened to Officer West?"

"Let's just say there are some deficiencies in his training that his training officer discovered." Sergeant Grey replied.

"But sir, Jackson's the best in the academy." Lucy Chen piped in. "Even Jack can confirm he has the top marks in almost every exam."

"Academy training and exams cannot fully prepare you to face the real dangers we face every day in the streets Officer Chen." Sergeant Grey replied. "That's why the captain and I specifically requested a replacement who has proven himself already. You ran in to save your wounded T.O. on your second day while under fire, didn't you Routh? You managed to provide cover fire and incapacitated one of the suspects. I saw the bank robbery on the news."

"Yes sir." He replied with a nod. New memories continued to rush in, and he slowly started to understand his new situation. "The four suspects were taken into custody with no fatalities."

"Good work." Grey nodded. "Report to Lopez. That's all. Be safe out there."

Angela Lopez

She ignored the nudge from Talia as her new boot stepped closer. Her friend was right. He was eye candy, with his athletic frame and handsome face. If she didn't know any better, she would have guessed he was some model for a police-themed photo shoot. It would certainly increase recruitment numbers for female applicants.

"Quit it." She hissed to her friend and took a moment to compose herself.

The introductions went smoothly, and she kept a close watch as he prepared their equipment and shop. She ordered him to review the daily protocol when checking their equipment, and she nodded her approval as he recited every instruction perfectly as he ran through the checklist. It didn't hurt that she found his voice pleasing to listen to. It was rich and soothing and with a quiet strength behind it when required.

Damn, he really won the genetic lottery.

"Why do you want to become a police officer, Routh?" She asked while they were on their way out of the station. She decided to let him sit behind the wheel, to test his awareness and driving skills.

"It was the only option I had, Ma'am." Routh replied, maintaining his eyes on the road.

She didn't believe his answer for a second and scoffed. "Don't give me that crap Routh. I'm your training officer, and I don't appreciate being lied to."

"I'm not lying." He insisted. "There was no other choice, I just have to accept it."

"Then what's your goal as a police officer?" She asked. "Any career path you want to take?"

"I was thinking of going to Metro." Routh admitted. From his memories, Metro was the path to D Platoon. "Maybe detective."

"I'm preparing for the detective exam." She shared. "If you continue with your performance like you did while you were in Rampart, then we'll have no issues. A good showing from you reflects on me as your T.O."

"I'll be happy to help you then, Officer Lopez." Routh briefly turned his gaze on hers with a smile on his face and she looked out the window to hide the flush on her cheeks. She was a no-nonsense cop, but her new rookie was too handsome. She knew it would be one of the difficulties she would face in dealing with him, but she didn't mind it. It was far better than trusting her back on a cowardly rookie who froze up in a gunfight.

She shared the incident with Captain Andersen, but she also discussed her worries about possible retaliation from West's father, the commander of Internal Affairs. Thankfully the captain had her full support, and assured her there was no political fallout after submitting her report and reviewing their body cam footage.

The short clip of Legacy Jackson West freezing up, refusing to discharge his weapon in a firefight to support her despite her pleas as he shook in fear was enough to convince the brass.

She remembered Commander Percy West's face as he reviewed the footage in its entirety. It included her conversation with Jackson in the shop as they returned to the station, and his admission of his newfound fear and inability to deal with the danger he encountered.

He begged her not to report the incident and asked for a second chance, but it was too serious to ignore. She could tolerate a lot of screw-ups from her boot, but courage in the line of fire was an essential part of being a police officer. Her life was more important than her ambitions to become a detective.

Jackson's father was stone-faced, his lips set in a tight line when he finally finished reviewing the footage. He had thanked her for her discretion and the process for Jackson's replacement was quickly ramped up. He must have pulled some strings with the chief of police, as a replacement for his son was quickly found and reassigned to their station.

Their first report was about a possible burglary in process. It turned out to be a memorable one, as two female exhibitionists got their thrill breaking into other houses and having sex. She was annoyed when the two exhibitionists tried to have sex in the back of their shop, and it ended up with Routh having to use more restraints to control their suspects.

It was nearing lunch when they received an emergency. A toddler was left inside a vehicle, a gray Corolla. They quickly joined the other five vehicles in a grid pattern, the tension palpable in all their faces. She did not want to see or hear a report of a dead toddler. She could see Routh's jaws were clenched tight, and she knew he was feeling the same way.

"There." Their shop sped up and she saw what her rookie spotted. Nolan was desperately trying to smash open a car window with a baton to no avail. They quickly arrived on the scene, and before she could pull out her tool for breaking a car's laminated window, she noticed Routh walking towards the car as he started to remove his uniform.

Before she could even follow him, Routh had his uniform wrapped around his right hand, leaving him with his white undershirt. He threw a powerful punch, shattering the car window and unlocking the car from the inside. Nolan quickly rushed to the rear passenger and scooped out an unconscious toddler trapped in a car seat.

She let out a sigh of relief as the toddler started crying, while emergency vehicles started to converge in their location. Talia Bishop arrived next with her shop, and they watched as their two rookies handed the child to an ambulance that just arrived.

"Did I just see that?" She heard Talia ask.

"Do you mean if you saw my rookie shattering a car window by punching it, then yes, yes you did." She replied while her eyes locked on to the Routh's muscular body. "Damn."

"Yeah damn. But they both panicked." Talia replied, holding up a breaker tool. She held the one in her hand and shook her head in amusement and relief.

"Your rookie used a baton, mine used his fists." Routh shook the glass shards in his uniform and started to wear it back.

"Wanna swap?" Talia offered.

"This one's mine." She replied with a proud smile.

After a stern lecture to her boot about panicking and reminding him about using the correct tools for emergencies, she allowed him to treat her to lunch, as was tradition. The steak burrito was adequate and she decided to give Routh some bonding time with his fellow rookies.

There was a problem though, as Routh appeared to be sitting on his own, away from Nolan and Chen.

"Do you think there's an issue there?" Talia asked as she put her tray of food on the table.

"Maybe they're not that close in the academy compared to Jackson." She mused and took a bite of her burrito.

"That's fine, but to eat on your own?" Talia replied. "I didn't peg him as the quiet and broody type."

Routh looked content sitting alone, and the contemplative expression on his face was enough to deter anyone from joining his table. She noticed a few women were tempted to join him, but veered away once they saw how serious he looked as he ate his meal.

"He got that mysterious, lone wolf appeal though, judging from those stolen selfies." She observed, spotting a few girls pretending to take selfies while in reality trying to get a picture of the hot cop in the background.

The rest of their shift ended more peacefully, and she realized she didn't have to watch him closely since he was already on the force for a week in another station. He was already comfortable on the routine, as he turned in their equipment and report.

"Good work today." She gave a nod to Routh and headed to the lockers for a shower.

She was still intrigued by his unusual behavior during lunch and decided to ask his classmate in the academy for more information.

"Chen." She called out to Bradford's rookie. Tim was still recovering from his gunshot wound, and it would take a few more weeks for him to return to active duty.

"Yes, ma'am?" Lucy Chen turned to her, having just finished storing her belongings in her locker.

"What can you tell me more about Routh?" She asked. "I noticed he didn't eat lunch with you and Nolan."

"That's just how he has been ever since I met him in the academy," Chen explained. "We called him the lone wolf. He doesn't get close to anyone, but he's a reliable partner in team training."

"So he's an introvert." She observed.

"Not all the time, he can choose to be charming if wants to. Problem is he doesn't want long-term relationships." Chen looked bitter for a moment, and she realized why the female rookie looked uncomfortable when she saw Routh appear that morning. That meant they had a history together, but she knew better than to pry. Not yet.

"But at least he's honest about it." Chen continued. "He doesn't lead you on."

"I see."

"If you manage to get him drunk, try to make him sing," Chen added, this time looking mischievous. "He has a wonderful singing voice."

"I'll keep that in mind if the three of you don't wash out. So keep your focus on your job." She replied. "Thanks, Chen."

The next morning, she knew Sergeant Grey had something planned for their morning briefing, judging by the barely concealed smile he wore as he waited for the time to start.

"All right, settle down. I just got a disturbing video. I've never seen anything so horrific." Sergeant Grey began and pointed at the TV with his remote. The screen flickered to life, showing a body cam footage of someone running.

Talia groaned beside her, telling her who the footage belonged to. Nolan was running in pursuit of a suspect, the father of the boy who was left in the Corolla. He tried to cut through a parking lot, his breathing clearly labored as he struggled to maintain his pace. He tried to climb up a chain link fence, but got his foot stuck on the opening.

Laughter soon erupted around the room as he struggled to free himself, while in the background Chen gave a textbook flying tackle, pushing the drugged-out father off his feet and into the ground.

"Such grace and athleticism have never before been seen in the LAPD." Grey continued, ignoring the laughter in the room. "Is that a gazelle wearing the blues? Or a dinosaur from a long-forgotten age?"

The footage shifted, this time showing Nolan trying to break a car window with first his fists and then with a baton. The laughter in the room stopped, as they watched the serious situation that they all heard.

"This next video shows the importance of maintaining situational awareness. Panic and fear can interfere with rational behavior." Grey sounded more serious. The video continued and showed Routh approaching as Nolan turned to the voice that called out to him. Routh had finished wrapping his uniform around his fist, and she heard a few in the room let out exclamations of surprise as her rookie shattered the car window with a powerful punch.

"While this might be impressive, may I remind Officer Routh that we cannot solve all our problems with our fists?"

"Yes sir," Routh replied looking embarrassed.

"Alright, next is a BOLO for Lance Selby's associate, Carlson Floyd for parole violation." Grey started to distribute the information sheet on their suspect. "He's as dangerous as Selby, and we nearly lost Bradford because of his partner. Use extreme caution. Whoever gets him off the street, has a one day off. That's it"

"We better wear vests today." She suggested to Talia. She did not want to end up like Tim if their suspect was as violent as Selby.

Their patrol that morning was busy. A couple of calls for domestic disputes and a quick chase for a DUI. Their shift was about to end when they received a call from Talia Bishop.

"7-adam-15, requesting additional units to 1350 Bellview Street. Possible location of our BOLO suspect. We're en route."

"That's the same address." She muttered and quickly replied on the radio. "7-adam-07. Show us responding."

The atmosphere in the shop was tense, and she was tempted to tell Routh to increase his speed when she noticed he was already doing seventy. She was worried about Talia and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw their shop arriving near the address at the same time they did.

"How do you want to do this?" She asked as they parked a block away from the address and discussed their strategy on the sidewalk.

"C.I. said he might return to the address to recover a hidden cache of weapons." Talia replied.

She was about to reply when they spotted an old Bronco move out of the alley where Tim and Chen were ambushed. Three men were inside and the driver immediately spotted their location.

"Hey, isn't that…" Nolan trailed off as Floyd and his men turned their weapons out the window.

"Shit!" They all ran to the back of her shop as the men started to shoot at them.

"7-adam-07. Shots fired, in corner of Bellview and Clinton. Need backup." She heard Routh on the radio as she returned fire. They were outgunned, as Floyd and his associates used semi-automatic rifles and higher caliber ammunition.

All she heard were pings of bullets hitting her shop and flying past her. It was like déjà vu, she thought as she recalled another incident. She glanced at her boot and saw him returning fire on his side of the shop, preventing the men from encircling them. This time it was different though, she had covering fire and her boot wasn't paralyzed with fear.

Nolan and Bishop took turns to cover them, but they were all pinned down as her shop continued to amass dozens of bullet holes.

One of the gunmen suddenly stopped firing, followed by another. She peeked on her side of the shop and saw the driver slumped down on the steering wheel. The passenger beside the driver was leaning to the side, blood staining his side of the window. The remaining shooter jumped out of the Bronco and started running with a semi-automatic rifle in hand. He didn't get far, as he fell down with a well-aimed shot on the back.

She ran to the Bronco, her weapon ready in case of any movement from the driver and passenger, but lowered her weapon when she saw their state. Talia and Nolan had the remaining suspect in cuffs as he moaned in pain from the gunshot wound to his lower back.

She looked beside her to see Routh staring at the two dead men, both suffering from a gunshot wound to their heads. She was about to radio in their status when she saw Talia doing it for her.

"I think you'll need this." Routh offered his firearm to her as the sounds of sirens became louder.

"It will be fine." She replied and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Just follow the procedure, okay? Keep your weapon holstered."

"Yes. Thank you, ma'am." Routh remained still, staring at the dead men. It looked to her that Routh shot the driver with a bullet to the head, and judging by the exit wound the bullet also hit Floyd in the passenger seat. That was one hell of a shot.

"7-adam-07." She called to her radio. "Notify the watch commander that the primary suspect is deceased. Two fatalities and an injured third gunman in need of an ambulance."

"Copy."

"Time of death?" She asked.

"One seven three three hours."

She guided Routh to Talia's miraculously undamaged shop and sat him in the back seat. She winced in sympathy, she knew taking someone's life was one of the hardest experiences a police officer would ever get to experience in their careers. She secured the scene and returned to stand beside the Bronco, staying on guard to protect any evidence.

More vehicles and a few ambulances arrived on the scene, as the EMTs started to treat their third gunmen. Grey stepped out of his vehicle, with their captain following behind him. She met up with them halfway and stopped beside her bullet-ridden shop so that Routh wouldn't be able to hear their conversation.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Floyd and his crew started shooting as soon as they us." She reported. "We were discussing our plan to approach the house when their vehicle suddenly appeared out of that alley."

"We hid behind my shop, and were pinned down here." She pointed at the spot between the two parked police vehicles. "Routh called for back-up and we returned fire. They were all using high-caliber weapons."

She grimaced as she spotted the high-caliber rounds' destruction of her shop equipment. The vehicle was a write-off by now, from what she was seeing. She did not want to imagine what would have happened to her and Routh if the shooting started while they were still inside their vehicle.

"You were lucky." Captain Zoe Andersen added.

"We were." She agreed. "We would have been dead if we didn't consult with Bishop and Nolan first on the sidewalk."

"Who shot the gunmen?" Grey asked.

"Routh." She turned back and glanced at her boot for a moment before she continued. "He was on my right, returning fire to prevent the gunmen from surrounding us. It happened so fast."

"It looks like a single bullet killed both of them." Grey observed the scene. Investigators started to gather evidence and photographs of the deceased gunmen. "Hell of a shot."

"That's what I thought too." She replied.

"How is he?" Andersen asked.

"He's in shock. Haven't said more than a few words before you arrived."

"Understandable." Andersen nodded her head. "I'll take care of him."

She watched as the captain entered Talia's shop from the other side and sat beside Routh. She could see them talking and turned around when Grey spoke to her.

"You did good. You exercised proper caution, and because of that all of you are walking out of here without any injury." Grey stated. They both turned to Bishop and Nolan as the pair approached their position.

"The third gunman will be rushed for surgery." Talia reported. "EMT thinks he's going to make it."

"Who took down the third gunman?" She asked.

"Routh." Nolan replied. "I saw him take one final shot and saw our gunman fall down soon after."

"Good." Grey replied. "If our gunman lives, it will be even better for Routh's investigation."

"Sir?" Nolan looked confused. "Why is Jack being investigated?"

"It's a homicide, Officer Nolan." Grey replied in a somber tone. "And at this moment, Routh is the suspect."

She was slightly irritated when the captain returned and informed her that she wasn't chosen as his companion officer. She was already thinking about the procedures and the process to guide him through the investigation.

"Captain, he's my boot." She protested.

"It's his choice, Lopez." Andersen replied.

"Who did he pick?" She asked.

"Me." Andersen replied.

"Wise choice." Grey observed, giving her a warning look. Andersen didn't know she also had experience with taking a life but the sergeant was warning her to keep her mouth shut. "The Captain has experience in these types of situations. I think Routh would benefit from a police companion who experienced the same thing he has."

"That's what I told him." Andersen replied. They watched as Routh got out of Talia's shop and started walking towards their group. "He looks like he's managing well. I'm taking him back to the station."

She watched as Routh followed the captain in her unmarked car and sat inside the passenger seat. They soon left the scene as more investigators arrived and she joined Nolan and Bishop in securing the area from onlookers who already had their phone cameras out to take pictures and videos.

It's a simple guilty pleasure story. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Text

Episode 2

He had taken a life. He remembered aiming for the driver who was relentless as he unloaded an entire clip on them. He feared they would soon be overwhelmed and decided to take a shot aimed at his head. What was currently disturbing him was that he wasn't feeling anything at the moment. Why wasn't he feeling guilty? He was calm. Too calm.

His gorgeous captain was driving him back to the station. She had offered to be his police companion for the entire process and he quickly accepted when she mentioned her own experience of taking someone's life.

"Something's wrong with me." He whispered.

"Why?" His captain asked.

"I'm not feeling any guilt." He admitted. "I just reacted."

"It will hit you later." Zoe Andersen replied, giving him a quick glance. "We can't talk or discuss what happened until you speak with your attorney and the investigators. I just want you to know you did the right thing."

"Thank you." He replied. He tried to recall the firefight, and the bullets whizzing by his head whenever he returned fire. His marksmanship wasn't the best in the academy from what he recalled, and suddenly remembered the character traits he selected. He knew Jack Reacher was a marksman, he wondered if perhaps some traits of the famous fictional character were slowly being integrated into his mind and body.

This would also explain why he wasn't feeling any guilt for killing two gunmen. Jack Reacher had a simple mindset when it came to violence- kill or incapacitate using extreme force to those who were trying to kill you.

He realized this could be a potential problem. He needed to control his impulses since he was now a cop, not some hobo wandering the country with just a toothbrush and without any permanent place of residence.

It was surreal for his mug shot to be taken, but Andersen was quietly giving her support behind the camera and he appreciated his captain and the new station he was assigned to. She made sure he had something to eat and drink, and while they couldn't speak to him directly, he saw the nods of support from the other cops when he met their gazes.

He was massaging his arm near where the needle punctured his skin to get his blood sample when his attorney appeared in the interrogation room. He calmly answered any questions, and the process continued with his union rep discussing possibilities if his case went to a civil trial.

The most interesting meeting came from Commander West, head of Internal Affairs. His questions were short only at the start, requiring him to answer in one or two sentences.

"Do you have any non-lethal weapons available? Taser? Pepper-spray?" Commander West asked.

"Yes, but at the time of the engagement, these tools were useless for the situation." He replied. "The three gunmen were using high caliber weapons, with armor-piercing rounds judging from the bullet holes I noticed in our shop's interior."

"The suspect and his crew were at a distance of around fifty yards and I determined that it would be ineffective for the nonlethal weapons." He continued. He watched as the commander wrote some notes and gave a quick glance at the one-way mirror inside the interrogation room. He knew other investigators were watching from the other side. "The bullets were already bursting past our cover. They were shooting over the engine block of our shop and aiming for the back seat. It was only a matter of time before one of us was killed. I decided I had no choice but to resort to lethal means."

"How many rounds did you fire?"

"Eight." He replied. "The first five rounds were to suppress the shooters and the last three I aimed to take them down."

"Did you hit what you were aiming at?" Commander West leaned forward.

"The third round hit the driver's door mirror." He replied. "The second one hit the shooter on the forehead, between the eyes. Fire from the vehicle immediately stopped and he slumped forward to the steering wheel. His head was the only exposed part of the shooter. The last bullet hit the suspect who abandoned their vehicle on the lower back."

"I see." He noticed the head of internal affairs looked confused for a moment. "Finally, with police work involving rapidly changing and dangerous fluid environments, is there anything you would have done differently?"

"No."

He surrendered his badge and weapons to Commander West and was told not to leave town while the investigation was underway. It was now morning, and he realized he nearly spent the entire night sitting in the interview room. He was about to leave when he was called back into the captain's office. He was amazed and how refreshed she looked despite knowing she left the station at a late hour.

"The media would soon get a hold of this. You might want to call any family and friends." Zoe Andersen offered him the landline phone on her desk. "I think it would be better for them to hear this from you than from seeing it in the news."

"I'm fine." He replied. "There's no one to call. Thank you though."

"Parents? Siblings?" She asked and he watched as she took out his file and started reviewing his information. "Girlfriend?"

"I'm an orphan, and an only child." He responded. "There's no significant other for the moment."

"I see." Andersen continued reading his file. "Your file is more interesting than I thought, Routh. Ancient and Modern history degree and a minor in music. What's your favorite period?"

"I really don't have any favorites, but I focused my thesis on seventeenth-century architectural and social history." He replied as new memories came in. He was starting to suspect Lucy Worsley was some British Historian, based on the staggering amounts of information he suddenly knew about the Tudors and medieval fashion. He didn't realize skirts were that complicated. "But if you were to ask me to give a quick lecture about my degree, I'd first give a lesson about the kitchen."

"The kitchen?" His captain looked amused.

"The cooking fire, the hearth was the very center of the medieval home." He explained. "You know back then for commoners, they only had one common living space. Their living room and bedroom were centered around the cooking fire. It's where everyone gathers, to stay warm, share stories, discuss topics, and where myths and legends come to life. And our hearth whatever our ethnicity, our ancestors gathered around flames at night as they ate. They told stories about things over which they had no control, like where they tell their children where thunder comes from? Or why is there fire coming out of a mountain?"

"Everything you can't understand and control you gave a name to a god. These gods developed their personalities around the hearth and more legends and myths of their character grew. You could say the kitchen was the birthplace of our imaginations."

"Intriguing. Please continue." His captain looked interested, and he wondered if she was doing this on purpose to distract him from what happened hours ago. He decided to continue, since the knowledge he had was even fascinating to him, and he felt a distinct pleasure and satisfaction in sharing the knowledge he had. He wondered if this was part of Lucy Worsley's trait.

"But now sadly we lost the hearth. We don't eat around tables anymore. Everyone's doing something else. Nobody gathers and shares stories, we lost our focus, we lost our hearth. The kitchen symbolizes the relaxed feeling of sitting around the fire, listening to stories, which I think is a primal thing, listening together."

"Captain?" He watched as Zoe Andersen stared at him with glazed eyes and a small smile, a far different contrast to the normally cool and calm visage he observed from her so far.

"I wouldn't have skipped lectures if you were my history professor." She commented. "Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It was fascinating to understand history from your point of view."

"Thank you."

"You also enjoyed Officer Routh's lecture, didn't you?" He turned around once he realized the captain wasn't speaking to him.

He saw his T.O., Bishop, Nolan and Chen hanging around the hallway outside her office.

"I was waiting for my rookie to make sure he's fine getting home." Lopez admitted. "I'm sorry captain, I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

"But that was fascinating." Bishop replied. "You sure you're in the right profession boot?"

"If he were a university lecturer, we wouldn't be here." Nolan stated.

"It was a team effort." He replied and turned to his T.O. "I'll be fine mam, I'll use the one week of paid administrative leave to look for better living arrangements closer to the station."

"Good idea. Contact me if you're having problems finding a good location." His captain offered.

He nodded in agreement and walked out, eager to investigate the apartment he was living in based on his memories.

Lucy Chen

She watched as Jack Routh disappeared down the hall and she followed her temporary T.O. to the briefing area, confused. She had never seen Jack that animated in all the months she'd known him in the academy.

She never even knew he was that passionate about ancient history. With psychologists for parents, she had a more informed view of human behavior, and yet Routh confused her.

She asked him out on their first month in the academy, but he declined her attempts to get closer to him. She would have felt bitter about it, but he had rebuffed every interest directed at him without any hesitation. There were rumors about his sexuality that started from a few of the rejected women, but they all came to a stop when her class saw him dancing with another woman not from their batch.

She started a relationship with a fellow cadet, John Nolan halfway through their training. Thoughts of her former crush were gone from her head until he appeared on their second day as police officers as a replacement for Jackson.

Things became more complicated for her and John, having confessed to him that she found Jack attractive when they started dating, since she believed in being honest before getting into a relationship. Now it seemed like it was causing more tension with her and John. She could feel how awkward he felt when he was around Routh.

"Would you please tell me what's going on?" She asked him during their lunch break. Thanks to her more relaxed temporary T.O. her lunch breaks lasted a full hour.

"It's nothing." John replied, and she could see the lie instantly.

"John." She grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Please. We won't be able to get past this awkward stage if we're not honest."

"It's Routh." John admitted. "Ever since he showed up, I felt like I'm being left behind."

"You're not the only one." She replied. The first two days of Jack Routh's appearance were still being discussed around the station. Punching a car window to shooting back against criminals armed with semi-automatic rifles with a double headshot made Routh a popular topic. She had already answered half a dozen questions about him from the women in the locker room, and even those that were from the night shift that hadn't met him yet.

"You didn't feel like that with Jackson." She observed.

"It's just, standing next to him, I kind of feel inadequate." John confessed. She understood his meaning, Jack Routh stood out with his six foot three height and muscular Olympic build. Combined with his wavy brown locks and handsome face, the effect was devastating on the female population in the station. She even noticed the Captain giving Routh second looks when she thought no one was looking. She knew only her original T.O. came close to his manly appeal.

"And with you having admitted that you asked him out before…" John trailed off. "It made me worry about our relationship."

"I'm not denying he's eye candy." She admitted. There was already a nickname for him in the locker room on his second day. E.C. depending on who was speaking, since he was both eye candy and easy on the eyes. "But I chose to be with you. E.C. won't get between us."

"E.C?" John asked in confusion.

"That's what they call him." She explained as she struggled to control her blush at revealing one of the female locker room secrets. "Forget what I said."

John appeared to look amused at her mistake as he leaned forward and teased her. "E.C. for eye candy right? What kind of candy do you think you would call me?"

"Butterfingers." She replied, joining his game. "Cause of your smooth fingers."

"I am a skilled contractor." John replied proudly. They both laughed after a moment and continued with their lunch.

"Now tell me about this runaway bride." She asked.

Zoe Andersen

She thought she would be alone as usual on the treadmills but there was already someone who was running full sprint on the machine she usually picked. The spot was great, as it provided a nice view overlooking the park across her apartment building.

She decided to use the weights and wait while the unknown sprinter was finished with his session, when she saw the familiar faces of her neighbors looking in the runner's direction. She noticed they were distracted, their movements erratic and uncoordinated in the various weight machines. She followed their gaze and understood immediately.

The runner was a tall hunk, wearing a gray shirt and jogging pants. The sweat around his body caused his shirt to stick to his skin, showing off his toned physique. She saw the man's reflection in the glass window and immediately realized who it was.

She returned the weights to the rack and decided to have a bit of fun, also curious at how one of her rookies was in her apartment building gym. He ignored her as she moved beside him, feeling the stares of the other women behind her back. She set up a mode and started running beside her rookie.

"Good workout?" She asked. She nearly laughed when Jack Routh nearly tripped in his run when he turned to look at her. He quickly lowered the speed, and settled for a fast walking pace.

"Captain!" He replied. "What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same question." She replied. "And please, call me Zoe when we're not on duty."

"Okay, Zoe." She noticed he still looked uncomfortable speaking her name but ignored it. "I just moved in this morning. You… you live here?"

"What are the chances right?" She asked. "What floor are you on?"

"Eighth floor." Routh replied. She remembered her elderly neighbors beside her unit had just moved out a week ago, deciding to migrate to another state. She would miss the sweet elderly couple, they constantly spoke through the balcony that was only separated by a thin and opaque divider that reached just above her head. There was enough room however to pass plates of dishes if she leaned on the balcony railing, and the kind old woman handed her dishes with her original recipe for special occasions.

"802?" She asked.

"Yes, how did you know?"

"It looks like we're going to be neighbors." She smiled as a thought crossed her head. With her position, she knew Routh would be unwilling to piss her off if he started throwing noisy parties and playing loud music. He would make the perfect neighbor and she really preferred her peaceful and relaxing sanctuary, away from the problems of the station. "I live in 801"

"Uhmm great?" Routh looked uncomfortable.

"If you're having second thoughts with having your captain as a neighbor you better tell me now." She stated. "Though I have to say, I'm not a fan of loud music and noisy parties."

"I'm not a fan either." Routh replied. She figured he was, judging from his quiet nature. "I better get going, cap… I mean Zoe."

"Go on ahead. I was just waiting for you to finish on the treadmill. That's my favorite spot." She replied.

"The view is relaxing." Routh agreed and turned off the machine as he finished his cool down. He wiped his sweaty arms and face on a nearby towel and turned to face her with a rare smile on his face. "See you at the station next week, and please call me Jack."

"See you later Jack." She replied. She was not surprised when she continued running on her now favorite machine that the rest of the ladies in the gym converged on her location. It looked like the E.C. effect was as potent outside the station as it was inside.

She continued to enjoy her day off, and nearly forgot about her new neighbor as she was reading a book about mythology. Routh's impromptu lecture made her pick up a book that reminded her of his lecture about the origin of mythological gods. She was reading about Hestia, the goddess of the hearth when she heard a beautiful yet unfamiliar tune from a piano.

It wasn't loud, if she closed her balcony door the noise would be gone or if she turned on her TV or music the noise would easily cancel out the faint melody. She closed her eyes, trying to see if she was familiar with the music

[See you again - piano instrumental]

The melody was both beautiful and sad, and she realized that the music was coming from her new neighbor. She remembered Routh had a minor in music and decided to investigate and headed out to the balcony.

The music was louder and she tapped her fingers to the melody. The music ended too quickly for her tastes but then her other senses were assaulted as a fantastic scent drifted through her nose.

She could smell roasted chicken, garlic, herbs, and other spices. Her mouth watered and she unconsciously swallowed. It wasn't time for dinner, but she wouldn't mind having a taste of what Routh was preparing.

"Routh?" She asked through the divider. She heard the sounds of utensils being dropped on plates and saw a figure approach the barrier. Jack Routh leaned along the rail and what she saw she knew would cause most women to salivate and it wasn't because of the wonderful smell of cooked food.

Jack Routh was wearing an apron over a white tank top, showing off his sculpted shoulders and arms.

"Captain?" He asked. "Do you need something?"

"What do you have cooking over there? It smells good." She admitted.

"I decided to throw a little celebration for myself and cooked a specialty dish." Routh replied.

"And you didn't invite your captain?" She asked.

"Relax." She added quickly upon seeing how uncomfortable he was. "I didn't mean to be a nosy neighbor. I'm not usually like this, but I really liked the smell of whatever it is you were cooking and got curious."

"You're free to come over." Jack invited her without any hesitation. "I cooked food that's more than enough for the two of us."

She was aware of the need to maintain distance with her fellow officers under her command, but the offer was too good to pass up. Besides, she was just being a good neighbor.

"Okay, give me five."

She brought two cans of beer as her contribution to the meal, and she had to be honest, it was one of the best meals she ever had in a long time. The roasted chicken with a side of truffle mashed potatoes made her sleepy, and she didn't bother to act all prim and proper in front of a subordinate.

The ambiance of the place and the company played a part in the enjoyment of her meal. It was peaceful and pleasant, allowing her to relish the flavors in her mouth.

"You're an academic, a musician and a good cook." She joked at the end of the meal. "Tell me Jack, what other hidden talents do you have?"

"I'm boring." Jack admitted, waving his hand as if to physically discard her compliments.

"That melody you played wasn't boring." She reminded him. "I'm not familiar with it. What was it called?"

"I composed it." He admitted as he glanced at the electronic piano tucked away in the corner. "It's called See You Again."

"Does it have lyrics?" She asked. "It's a catchy melody, especially the first part."

"I do." Jack replied, pointing to a stack of music sheets on the piano.

"Mind showing it to me?" She couldn't help but ask.

"Maybe later, it's not finished yet." He looked like he was teasing her. "I could show you a sneak peak captain, but it's going to cost you."

"Go on." She wondered what he was about to ask and played along.

"Heard police captains sometimes get complimentary tickets to the Dodgers." He stated. "Do you think you can spare a ticket?"

"I'll see what I can do." Is that all? She knew she was right not to doubt Routh's intentions. She was afraid he would bring their work into the conversation, like asking for extra vacation days. But he kept it personal, just as she liked it. Work-life balance was her motto after all.

It shouldn't be too difficult, a quick phone call and she could secure a ticket with a good seat. "Just one ticket?"

"Just one, captain."

She fell asleep immediately after her nightly ritual, and felt refreshed and energized as she prepared for work. She was in the basement and in her car, when she saw Routh walk out of the basement elevator sporting a leather jacket and shades.

He moved in a relaxed manner, and she remembered that he still had a few days to go before he was required to report for duty on Monday. The investigation was nearly over, with the I.A. clearing Routh after an exhaustive round of interviews with his colleagues and reviewing the body cam footage of everyone involved. It should have just been a few days, but the double headshot raised some eyebrows up at the department.

He mounted a large gray and white motorcycle, she wasn't an expert on bikes but she recognized the small BMW logo on its side. His helmet matched the paint job and she had to admit he pulled the look well.

She was not pleased when he revved up his engine and then shot out of the basement parking lot like a demon. He better not break any traffic laws.

Angela Lopez

Tim Bradford was an idiot. How could he think that they wouldn't be there when he was discharged? The stubborn idiot even insisted on carrying his bag, despite the wince of pain she noticed as he reached and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

"We're taking you home." She ordered. "Don't say no, Tim. You scared us."

Tim grunted and allowed Bishop to take the bag off his shoulders. "Thanks. How's my boot doing?"

"Restless. She's getting impatient." She replied. "The other two rookies saw some action, and she's left twiddling her thumbs hoping her temporary T.O. will answer any call remotely dangerous."

"Good. I want her to be hungry." Tim replied.

"Is this another twisted Tim test of yours?" Bishop asked.

"What else could it be?" He replied as he entered Lopez's shop. "How is the legacy's replacement? Did he cower like a little girl too?"

She snorted as she remembered Jackson West's embarrassing incident. "No, he's the exact opposite."

"How so?"

"Remember the news about Selby's partner in crime getting taken down a few days ago? He took that shot." Bishop replied.

"I heard rumors." He replied. "Did he really make a double headshot from fifty yards out while under fire?"

"Two shots and three shooters went down. It happened in a matter of seconds." She replied.

"One moment armor piercing rounds were raining through our cover and the next…" Bishop snapped her fingers. "Just like that."

They were in a busy intersection and just stopped as the red light came on. She looked around as was her habit and noticed the big bike beside her and the face of the rider standing patiently with his visor up. "Speaking of my new boot, that's him. I didn't know he got around in a big bike."

"S1000 RR." Tim nodded in approval. "Smart choice, not that expensive, but it's a comfortable ride."

The light turned green, and the bike accelerated from them and headed downtown. It might look cool as heck, but she didn't like being left in the dust and flipped on her lights and accelerated after her boot.

"What are you doing?" Tim asked. "He was under the speed limit. That bike just accelerates that fast."

"Checking up on my boot." She replied. "Haven't seen him in three days."

The rider noticed he was being flagged and slowed down and turned to a side street with less traffic. He pushed his bike up on the kickstand and turned off his engine.

She suppressed a smile as her boot approached her side and removed his helmet, revealing messy hair and looking like he came from a fashion shoot.

"That's your boot?" Tim asked.

She didn't reply and lowered her window, allowing Routh to approach her.

"Good day, officers." Jack Routh greeted them. "Something I can help you with?"

"I'm just checking up on you. How have you been?"

"Busy, I spent the last few days moving into my new apartment. It's just a five-minute drive from the station. I'm on my way to order some furniture downtown."

"This is Officer Bradford, Chen's T.O." She said once she noticed Routh looking at the backseat.

"Good to see you back on your feet sir." Routh greeted with a nod.

"Thank you, Boot. But sucking up to a T.O. doesn't work on me. " Tim replied. "Heard about the shooting, how are you holding up?"

"I'm trying to learn to live with it. That's all I can do." Routh didn't appear to be bothered by Tim's rudeness.

"That's all we can do."

"Visit the food truck near the station when you're done." She told her rookie before the mood became more somber. "I'm treating Bradford for lunch since he just came out of the hospital, I might as well include you."

Routh quickly accepted her offer and hopped on his bike and put his helmet back on. She noticed him glance back at her, revved up his engine a few times, and then took off in a heartbeat.

"He's got to be baiting you." Tim snorted in amusement.

"I'll make sure his order is extra spicy." She muttered.

Lunch was more interesting than normal, as Routh finally appeared, catching the attention of everyone seated between the food trucks. Her boot approached her table, sat down on an empty chair and took off his helmet.

She was fascinated at how oblivious Routh was from all the attention he was getting.

"Hollywood." Quigley approached their table and directly addressed Routh. "Good to see you, oh and Bradford's back on his feet!"

"Hollywood?" Routh asked.

"That's our nickname for you, coz you're like an action star!" Quigley grinned. "Heard you were looking for a place…"

"Save it Quigley, he already found an apartment and moved in." She interrupted the older officer.

"Too bad. Anyway, see you around." Quigley left and sat back at his table.

"I think you're smart enough to know better than to accept any offered from him." She addressed her boot.

"I heard in the lockers that he's living in a camper van in the parking lot. Is that true?" Routh asked as they all started on their lunches. She watched avidly for any reaction, but her boot continued eating like normal.

"It's a dead end there. It sucks away all ambition." She replied, watching his face intently. There was no flush, no sweat, he wasn't pretending it wasn't spicy. She took a tentative bite of her own food and it also tasted normal.

Behind her, she heard a coughing sound and saw Nolan rushing to the food truck to get a bottle of water.

"So that's where it ended." Talia commented.

Chapter Text

Episode 3

Monday arrived and he was suiting up in the locker room, engaged in some small talk with Nolan who was more friendly than usual.

They headed to the briefing room, and he noticed a good amount of officers were present. Sergeant Grey was already waiting by the podium and then applause erupted as Tim Bradford finally showed up.

He saw the blue inflatable donut his T.O. placed on Bradford's seat, and Chen's T.O. took out a pen and stabbed the object, causing everyone to laugh at the prank.

"Alright, alright, settle down." Grey stopped clapping and walked around the room as he began his briefing. "Let's get to it. You ready Officer Nolan?"

It was just like in the academy, it was obvious Grey was picking on Nolan. "Because once again, we start with you."

"I'm flattered." Nolan replied.

"Don't be." Grey informed them of a current case. Bishop and Nolan were able to apprehend two members of a four-man crew that robbed a cash advance teller. Two had escaped, while the stolen bag of money was taken by a bystander on the train, busking for change.

He looked up from the information sheet handed to him by Chen when someone knocked on the door. Their police captain came in, wearing a salmon skirt and a dark suit. The floral blouse was a nice touch and showed a bit of her cleavage.

"What can we do for you captain?" Grey asked.

"Nothing much, I just want to welcome back Bradford and Routh. If both of you need anything, let me know."

"Yes, ma'am." They both replied simultaneously.

Captain Andersen provided more information about their plans to capture the remaining two bank robbers and connected their crew with previous incidents in the past few months.

Their first arrest came from responding to a silent alarm from a small grocery store. He followed behind Lopez and they observed a female figure in a blue outfit and mask, demanding the cashier to fill the bag with money. The suspect also had a gun in her hand.

He took out his weapon and remained on guard.

"7-adam-07, we have a 211 in progress in our location, requesting backup." Lopez spoke on the radio. "Let's wait for her when she gets out."

"Affirmative."

The woman in blue rushed out of the grocery and they quickly pointed their weapons at the suspect.

"Police! Drop your weapon!" Lopez yelled out.

The suspect was startled and immediately dropped her gun to the ground and ran down the street. He immediately ran in pursuit as he holstered his weapon and quickly caught up to the suspect with his longer strides. He quickly tackled her to the ground and removed the cuffs from his duty belt.

After cuffing the woman, he took off her mask, causing Lopez to look on in amazement as she observed the suspect's face.

"Sue Cliffords?" Lopez asked.

"You know her?" He asked as he pulled the suspect to her feet.

"She played ball for the Trojans. Best three-point shooter in the NCAA." Lopez replied.

"Nice to meet a fan." The suspect replied.

He listened as Lopez interrogated their suspect as he pushed her inside their shop, his hand guiding her head so she wouldn't hit the roof. The former athlete busted her knee and her career vanished in an instant.

"Do you have a plan B?" Lopez asked him.

"I'm thinking of applying for faculty for any institutions that have a spot if this doesn't work out." He admitted. "If that doesn't work, then I'll go to the music business, and compose and write songs for a living."

"Chen said you had a good voice when you're drunk," Lopez replied. "It's good to have a plan. Statistically one in three rookies washes out in their first year. My old boot washed out on his first day, so I think you'll do fine."

"The Jackson West washed out on his first day?" He asked. "He was leaps ahead of us in preparation in the academy."

"Just goes to show not everything can be learned in the classroom." Lopez answered.

"What about you, what's your Plan B?"

"Hello! This is officer Booty boot! Shout out to all the single ladies out there!" The radio blared out over the general frequency.

"What the hell was that?" Sue Cliffords asked from the back.

They returned quickly back to the station where Grey met with them as they processed their suspect.

"It's a tragedy. You can see it on her face when she blew out her knee. She knew her career was over." Grey shook his head as he checked their paperwork.

"She didn't have a Plan B." Lopez watched Sue Cliffords walk around her detention cell.

"You should always have a plan B starting now." Grey replied, staring at him.

"I have one sir, and a plan C." He replied.

"And what career is that, Officer Routh?" Grey asked.

"My boot here is a history buff. He plans to teach if things don't work out here. He's also a musician. He has a degree and everything. Heard it when he was speaking with the captain."

"Really?" Grey looked intrigued.

"He gave a short lecture on the history of the kitchen." Lopez replied. "The captain enjoyed it, and so did we."

"Let me get this straight." Grey folded his arms and looked at him with clear interest and amusement. "You gave the captain, a lecture about the history of the kitchen, and she didn't take offense?"

"The captain looked like she was looking forward to more, but she was too busy with her schedule." Lopez explained. "Boot here has a way with words. You should have been there sir."

"Do you think you can use that knowledge of yours and use it as a way to engage more with the community?" Grey asked.

He was surprised by the proposal, but the idea appealed to him. He didn't have much to do at the moment and nodded in agreement. "I could give a lecture on the relevance of the home and how they connect with how we live our lives today. We could have a trial period on weekends."

"Let's plan this then. Submit a proposal." Grey looked delighted. "I'm sure the captain would approve this."

He spent half his lunch creating a rough outline for the content of his proposed lecture. The second half of their shift was unremarkable. He was listening to Lopez on how she got the idea to apply for the LAPD from a pamphlet when Grey called them for an emergency meeting in the bullpen.

He reached the office area and noticed several dozen police officers surrounding the captain, with a whiteboard behind her. Half the men were wearing tactical gear, and he knew they were from Metro, B platoon.

"Listen up." He had to admire how his neighbor was able to grab the attention of all the officers with her sheer presence alone. "We have the final location of the remaining two suspects."

She pointed to the two, a male and a female.

"The female suspect Severa did two tours as a door gunner in a Blackhawk. She's more dangerous than Bower, but don't underestimate him either. He left a lot of collateral damage in his wake."

The sergeant from Metro stepped forward and continued the briefing. He observed the map, and guessed their patrol group would be assigned for perimeter patrol. Grey gave additional instructions and they followed the convoy of swat units and stopped at their assigned area.

They split off in pairs, and he followed Lopez, keeping a wary eye out for movement. He soon heard gunfire and listened to the progress on the radio. B platoon was engaged in a gunfight, as the speaker on the radio asked for additional support and an airship. It sounded like there were more than two gunmen in the house.

"Stay sharp." Lopez whispered. They both ducked down as they heard gunfire, closer to their location and he realized it was the area that Nolan and Bishop decided to patrol on foot. Lopez decided to follow Bishop and by the time they arrived at the location, the suspects and their fellow officers were long gone.

"Let's get back to the shop." Lopez decided to monitor the situation inside their vehicle. It was a rapidly changing situation, and they both breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Bradford and Bishop had both detained their suspects.

The ride back to the station was more pleasant, as Lopez continued to share her plan B. She wanted to start a security firm, offering her services to companies.

"That's going to take a lot of capital." He observed.

"That's why I purchased my own house as soon as I could afford one." Lopez replied. "The rent in this city is insane. The only problem is I'm thinking of upgrading my property, but the quotes from the contractors are astronomical."

"Why don't you ask Nolan for advice?" He suggested. "He was a contractor and had his own business before he enrolled in the academy."

"That's not a bad idea." Lopez admitted. She parked the car in their designated spot and waited for him to finish checking the shop before locking it.

Chen was happy as she greeted him when they reached the main area. "Good work out there."

"Thanks, Jack. It took some creative thinking on my part, but I was glad I was able to pull it off. Brower was determined not to go down without a fight." Chen replied. "Why don't you join us for some drinks? Nolan said the beers in the bar where we're going are cheap."

"Just don't stay out until the early morning Chen. You have to report for duty tomorrow morning." They both turned to their captain who joined them.

"Captain." They both greeted her.

"It's getting late, so we should all get home and rest." Andersen suggested. "But before you go, here Routh. Just as I promised."

"Thank you, captain." He received the Dodgers ticket and carefully tucked it in his front pocket. "This is for you, as we agreed."

"It's finished?" Andersen looked surprised.

"I finished it during my break." He admitted with a small smile. They both watched as the captain hurried out the door to her car.

"What was that about?" Chen asked.

"She requested my creative skills." He patted the ticket inside his front pocket. "This is payment for that service."

"Uhuh." Chen gave him a strange look. "You're not going to elaborate, aren't you?"

"I'm afraid that's private." He smiled and continued to the locker room after Chen gave the address of the place they were going to go to.

He decided to take a shower in the apartment was better, since Grey and Bradford were having a heart-to-heart moment and hurried to remove his uniform and equipment so that he wouldn't attract their attention.

"This is nice." Nolan's idea was to drink in a bar near the beach. As the tables were full, they decided to bring their drinks and sat on the sand listening to the crashing waves.

"We jog here frequently during weekends." Nolan shared. "You should come join us."

"It was never the same since Jackson left." Chen added. "It would be nice to be a trio again."

"Are you sure I'm welcome? I don't want to step into Jackson's shoes."

"Don't think like that." Nolan slapped his shoulder. "Ouch. Are you wearing a suit of armor under your jacket?"

"Just my guns." He jokingly curled up his arm to show off. This caused Nolan to laugh while Chen hid her giggles with her hand.

"You were never like this in the academy." Chen admitted. "I wish you were this friendly and open back then. What happened?"

He reviewed his memories and realized he was mostly working on autopilot before his consciousness transferred to his new body. He tried to think of a suitable answer and realized the best answer was one closely aligned with the truth.

"I guess I found my purpose here in this world once I stepped into the Mid-Wilshire police station." He admitted. "I didn't have this much fun in Rampart, so this place must be special."

"I think so too." Nolan replied. He held out his beer can in front of him for a toast. "To new beginnings!"

"To new beginnings!" He and Chen tapped Nolan's beer can with theirs and they finished their own drinks.

He was glad he accepted Chen's invitation. Her question answered a lot of his worries about his past behavior. This was a new beginning and he would make the most of the life he had been given here. One problem remained that bothered him- he didn't know what the TV show The Rookie was all about.

The next morning there was a new interesting development. Grey decided to switch up their T.O.s with him being assigned to Bradford, Chen to Bishop, and Nolan to Lopez. But there was a catch. Grey wanted them to find out something personal about their T.O.s by the end of their next shift.

He immediately knew right away that this was a test of integrity and camaraderie among the officers. The reward of a day off for the winner and cavity search duty for the loser only confirmed his suspicions.

"So what's it like to ride with Lopez?" Nolan asked him as they prepared their war bags and equipment.

"Let's just say, it will be an experience." He replied and finished his documentation. "Bradford would push me hard, wouldn't he?"

"No. You? You're the super rookie." Chen answered. She looked the most stressed among the three of them. "You'll be fine."

"Unless, he would try to tear you down and make sure it's not getting into your head." Nolan suggested.

"Thanks for the advice." He replied and carried his war bags to Bradford's shop where he was waiting. His temporary T.O. was talking with Bishop and Lopez and he decided to start the routine inspection of their shop.

"I see you've trained him well." He heard Bradford speak with Lopez.

"Can I just have him back please?" Lopez complained. "We're already in sync, shifts run faster and smoother with my boot."

"You need to learn to share, Lopez." Bradford smirked and hopped into the driver's seat. He quickly followed and buckled up. "I want to see if he lives up to the stories."

"Just don't complain to me if you get frustrated." Lopez replied.

"I definitely won't." Bradford quickly replied.

"Please, you hate losing and being proven you're wrong." Bishop added.

"It's going to be an exciting day." Tim Bradford declared as they started their patrol. "I was glad when Grey paired us up."

"You are?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. It's going to be a privilege to see the super rookie everyone's-" Their vehicle immediately stopped, forcing him to grab into the side handles.

"I've been shot! Where are we boot?" Bradford yelled. "I'm bleeding to death! You have to call for help! Where. Are. You?"

"North Mansfield." He replied immediately. "Cross street Beverly Boulevard."

"Where's the nearest medical facility?" Bradford demanded.

"There's one on Third Street." He answered. "Seven blocks from our current heading."

Bradford turned back to the road and resumed driving. "You're no fun."

They continued driving and approached a vacant lot near the edge of their patrol area. "Had us attached to a raid. I was injured so I was not able to see those vaunted marksmanship skills of yours."

They approached an unmarked maroon car where four men in civilian clothing waited. The four men left the vehicle, with the driver wearing a yellow hoodie smiling as he clasped hands with Bradford.

"Detective Singh."

"Bradford. When are you going to make the jump out of patrol? You're too good to be there."

"Never, I work for a living." Bradford replied.

"Who is this?" Singh asked Bradford as the detective nodded his head in his direction.

"It's the super rookie. The one that made that double headshot." Bradford answered.

"You're that guy? I thought they were exaggerating." Singh replied as he offered his hand in welcome.

"I was just glad no one else got hurt." He shook the man's hand.

"You ready to mix it up?" Singh asked.

"Yes sir."

"Good." Singh turned to Bradford and started his briefing. "We got a known gunrunner two blocks up. We could pin at least three murder weapons on him. We're going to put eyeballs on his place, make sure he's home then we go in hot."

"Let's see that shooting boot." Bradford slapped him on the shoulder and got back into the shop.

They quickly received confirmation that their suspect was in the address and moved out in formation.

"Be on your toes boot. These guys are armed for war." Bradford warned. He followed his T.O., weapon drawn as they headed to the fence while the rest of the team would push straight in. They ignored the dog barking and continued to circle around until they reached the back of the property.

The raid started and bullets started to fly, punching holes in the wooden fence.

"Let's go boot!" Bradford aimed at a suitable location and provided covering fire. He quickly followed and started discharging his own weapon. The raid was well planned, their location allowed for the assault team to fire without worrying about hitting them.

The suspect and his gang returned fire, but they were surprised at the bullets he and Bradford shot from their position. The gang was caught between two firing arcs, and he managed to hit one active shooter on the back. Bradford did the same with another shooter, and the rest of the gang quickly surrendered when they saw some of their men bleeding on the ground screaming in pain.

It was over in moments, and Bradford yelled out for a clear signal, indicating he saw no threats in the yard. Reinforcements rushed in, and started to provide first aid to the gang members who were incapacitated.

"Clear!" He heard Singh yell out and saw him step into the backyard.

"Two down inside." Singh stated. "You guys okay?"

"Yeah. We both tagged a shooter when you breached." Bradford replied. "They were drinking beers in the backyard and were surprised by our ambush."

"Good work. Looking forward to working with the two of you again with how smooth this operation turned out.." Detective Singh added. "I owe the two of you a beer. Come by on Friday and we'll swap stories."

Ambulances started arriving, and he followed Bradford back to the front of the house.

"Nice work out there boot. I'm glad you were not instantly aiming for the head. I thought it might have gotten to you." Bradford replied.

"I don't aim to kill unless there's no other way sir." He replied. "It's always center mass, just as we were trained to."

"That's good." Bradford started to head back to their parked shop two blocks down the street. "C'mon. I'll show you where Singh and his guys eat. They have the best kebabs in the city."

The next day, Nolan and Lopez were able to extract crucial information from a convict who tried to escape from the courthouse. He shared time-sensitive information about a drug deal going down this afternoon in a parking lot. It was supposed to be a large shipment of cocaine, and the captain designated it as a priority. They barely had an hour to prepare.

He and Bradford were assigned to the northern entrance, while Bishop and Lopez were each assigned to the other two exits. Grey would provide intelligence in an unmarked vehicle, pretending to be pulled over by Nolan in a specific spot to allow him a better vantage point to scope out their suspects.

"We take them out, hard and fast. Just like yesterday." Bradford advised him.

"Yes sir."

The situation completely deteriorated when the drug deal started. They all moved in at once, although the driver of the red car was able to get past Chen by running over a sign on the sidewalk.

The suspected men in a Dodge pick-up truck that Grey spotted started to rain fire on their position, forcing him and Bradford to jump out of their shop.

"You take the right, I'll move along the left!" Bradford called out and he nodded and proceeded to find cover along the row of parked cars. His temporary T.O. had fewer cars to use as cover and saw him pinned down by two shooters.

He ducked down as a spray of bullets hit his cover and moved to another location. Nolan and Bishop came in for support, diverting the second shooter's attention. He quickly moved along the ground and saw the first shooter trying to outflank Bradford ahead of him, spraying bullets from his semi-automatic weapon. He lunged and bashed the man's head on a car window, knocking him unconscious.

This allowed Bradford to move up and tazed the driver and he quickly secured his suspect in handcuffs. Just as the situation escalated, it also died down that quickly. Bradford had incapacitated the driver while Nolan pulled the second shooter's feet from under him, knocking him out as well.

"Everyone all right?" Lopez asked.

"Peachy." Bradford replied, standing up and dusting off his uniform and the shards of glass from his hair.

They waited as backup arrived and soon heard news that Bishop and Chen were able to detain the suspect in the red car.

"Good job all of you." Sergeant Grey said as he finished relaying information about their situation on the radio. "Since all three of your rookies performed above expectations, I decided that there will be no punishment for the challenge I set yesterday."

Back at the station, they were all standing in a line in front of Grey in the briefing room, while their T.O.s sat on the chairs behind them eating sandwiches. The captain was leaning on the doorframe, listening in on the meeting.

"So since there will be no punishment, I'll start with Chen. Time to come clean. What did you learn about your T.O.?" Grey began.

"I'm sorry sir I was unable to gain any insight on Officer Bishop." Chen replied.

"That's disappointing. How about you, Officer Nolan?"

"I failed in my assignment too, Sergeant."

"Alright. Alright." He noticed Grey give a quick glance at the training officers behind them.

"What about you, Officer Routh? Any insights on Officer Bradford?"

Since they were just having fun now, and the purpose of the challenge was proven in the operation an hour ago, he decided to play.

"I do Sergeant." He replied. He ignored the sounds of laughter behind him and remained standing at attention. From the corner of his vision he saw the captain covering her mouth to hide her smile.

"Really, what did you discover about Officer Bradford?" Grey leaned forward in interest.

"He's a sore loser, Sergeant." He answered truthfully. The muffled laughter increased and he even heard snorts of amusement from Lopez and Bishop.

"Would you agree with his insight, Officer Bradford?" Grey asked. The man looked to be barely maintaining his composure.

"I…. I'm just motivated to win, Sergeant." Bradford replied.

"I guess you're the winner." Grey stepped back and smiled. "You and your T.O. will get a day off on Monday."

"Thank you sir."

"Sir, technically, I'm still his T.O. until he returns for the next briefing." Bradford spoke out. "That means I win that day off."

"What? No!" Lopez answered.

"Technically, what Bradford said is correct." Their captain joined in on the fun. Lopez groaned in defeat and he felt Bradford slap him hard on the back.

"Let's go boot." Bradford led him to the locker room as they were dismissed. "I want to take a closer look at your bike. Is it modified?"

"All stock sir."

"Mind if I take it for a spin around the parking lot?" Bradford asked.

"Uhmm sure sir."

"Good, I haven't tried a wheelie in years."

It was the first time their training officers joined them for a night out, and permitted them to call them by their first names when they were not on duty. He guessed they had broken an unspoken barrier and reached a new stage in their training.

They arrived at a music bar, where he saw a few other fellow officers enjoying their Friday night. Chen immediately dragged Nolan to the stage to sing her favorite songs where a live band accompanied them and he tapped his fingers to the beat of the song on the table, appreciating Lucy's musical talent.

"So Jack, do you think you'll grace us with a song?" Angela Lopez asked.

"I think I'll need a few more beers for that." He wasn't resistant to the idea and he might as well test the traits he gained in his reincarnation.

"If you sing a song, I'll buy a round of beer for everyone on the table." Angela offered.

"And if you sing a second song, I'll do the same." Talia Bishop added.

"But it has to be a song I've never heard of before." Angela gave him an eager smile. "You told me that was your Plan C right? I want to see a glimpse of that."

"What's plan B?" Tim asked.

"History professor and we already heard one of his lectures." Talia replied.

"Alright fine. Anyone have a pen?" He asked and finished his beer.

Tim gave his and he wrote down a series of chords to show to the band. Several musical artists and songs didn't exist in this world and he decided to introduce them. He wasn't planning to take credit for them anyway. He just wanted the music that existed in his old life to exist here as well, and it would help him feel that this world was his new home.

He waited for a few more minutes as Chen and Nolan finally finished their number.

"That was a blast!" Lucy declared after she finished drinking a glass of water.

"That's the last time you will pull me to the stage." John Nolan complained.

"Relax, you weren't that bad." Angela replied. "Besides, Jack here will perform for us."

"No way!" Lucy exclaimed. "Go! What are you waiting for, the stage is empty!"

"Jack's singing?" John looked surprised.

"Yeah, now go!" Angela playfully pushed him towards the stage while the rest of their table cheered.

He reached the stage and greeted the guitarist, bassist, pianist, and drummer who were taking a break after Lucy's performance.

"Hi, mind if I sing a song with your band?" He asked.

"Sure." The guitarist replied with a friendly smile.

"I'm afraid it's a new composition." He handed out the written chords on the tissue paper. "It's a simple repeating pattern, and I'll have to borrow the piano."

"Be my guest." The female pianist moved aside and even prepared the microphone to match his height.

"Watch out for the cues." He explained to the drummer, but it's mostly a steady rhythm, nothing complex."

"Alright, I'll give it a try." The drummer replied.

He moved to the keyboards and the lights on the stage prevented him from seeing the people at the back where his table was located. He tapped the microphone amidst whistles and cheers as the crowd realized there would be another performance.

"Hi, this song is called Payphone."

[Maroon 5 – Payphone]

Zoe Andersen

"What do we have here? A get together?" She asked as she approached a table filled with her officers.

She decided to accept a Friday night out invitation from her two friends, but they bailed out at the last minute due to an emergency. She was tempted to just go home when she a table at the back filled with the rookies and their training officers.

One person was missing though, to her slight disappointment. She didn't realize the music bar was so popular with her officers and decided to join their table to salvage her Friday night.

"Mam!"

"Captain!"

"Relax." She replied as she sat on an empty seat beside Angela Lopez. "I'm here to unwind, the same reason you're all here. Unfortunately my friends didn't show up and I was planning to go home until I saw your group. Mind if I join your table?"

"Not at all Captain." Lopez replied with a smile. "You just arrived just in time."

"In time for what?" She asked.

"Hi, this song is called Payphone."

She looked at the stage and her eyes widened in surprise. Jack Routh was on stage, and he was preparing to sing a song.

"How did this happen?" She asked as she sat up, happy she had a clear line of sight to the famous super rookie of her division.

"You could thank me later, mam." Angela said proudly.

"She bribed him with a free round of drinks on the table every time he sings." Bradford explained.

"That's genius." She remarked.

I'm at a payphone, trying to call home
All of my change, I spent on you

"Whoa." She heard a gasp and noticed the crowd focus on Jack's surprising vocals. The noise from the bar lowered as conversations stopped and focused on the new singer on stage.

Where have the times gone?
Baby, it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?

He started playing a melody on the piano, accompanying his vocals. She noticed the musicians around him were surprised, standing still and not playing their instruments.

Yeah, I, I know it's hard to remember
The people we used to be
It's even harder to picture
That you're not here next to me
You say it's too late to make it
But is it too late to try?
And in our time that you wasted
All of our bridges burned down

The drummer started playing a beat on the snare and the guitarist and bassist joined in quickly.

I've wasted my nights
You turned out the lights
Now I'm paralyzed
Still stuck in that time when we called it love
But even the sun sets in paradise

"He's amazing." She whispered.

"Yeah" Angela replied nodded.

"Oh my god! He's so good." Lucy Chen gasped.

I'm at a payphone, trying to call home
All of my change I spent on you
Where have the times gone?
Baby, it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?

The entire bar was silent, as even the servers focused on Jack's performance. She heard a commotion behind her and saw more people trying to enter the music bar all at the same time. They had probably heard Jack singing and wanted to see for themselves.

If happy ever after did exist
I would still be holding you like this
All those fairytales are full of shit
One more fucking love song, I'll be sick, oh

Jack resumed playing the now familiar melody and she felt her heart beat faster as she saw him under the stage lights, sweat glittering on his forehead and face. He really was too much.

She saw Tim was staring at his drink, looking torn and she instantly knew he connected to the song and its lyrics, just as she did.

You turned your back on tomorrow
'Cause you forgot yesterday
I gave you my love to borrow
But you just gave it away

She held back tears as she remembered the horrible time she experienced with her former husband. She quickly rubbed her eyes and continued listening to the song.

The other musicians were getting more familiar with songs structure, and it only added to the appeal of Jack's performance.

You can't expect me to be fine
I don't expect you to care
I know I said it before
But all of our bridges burned down

I've wasted my nights
You turned out the lights
Now I'm paralyzed
Still stuck in that time when we called it love
But even the sun sets in paradise

"Is.. Is anyone recording this?" Lucy asked. She noticed the rookie's eyes were wet. She was obviously crying.

"Since the beginning." Talia replied with a smile.

She made a mental note to ask for a copy from Bishop.

I'm at a payphone, trying to call home
All of my change I spent on you
Where have the times gone?
Baby, it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?

If happy ever after did exist
I would still be holding you like this
And all those fairytales are full shit
One more fucking love song, I'll be sick
Now, I'm at a payphone

Ooh, yeah, yeah
Now baby, don't hang up
So I can tell you what you need to know
I'm begging you, just please don't go
So I can tell you what you need to know

It was a bittersweet song, especially the lyrics at the end. She already knew what was wrong with her previous relationship, but still tried to find excuses, unable to bear the thought of being alone. Jack's amazing vocals drew her in.

I'm at a payphone, trying to call home
All of my change I spent on you
Where have the times gone?
Baby, it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?

If happy ever after did exist
I would still be holding you like this
And all those fairytales are full shit
One more fucking love song, I'll be sick
Now, I'm at a payphone

There was a quiet pause at the entire bar for a few seconds before the entire establishment erupted in applause. The cheers continued as the musicians exchanged high fives with Jack, and even the female pianist hugged him.

He stepped off the stage and the applause continued, with many stopping Jack to introduce themselves or express their love for the song. Jack finally reached their table after a minute of navigating through the tables and the well-wishers.

"At least we know his Plan C will work." Angela stated.

"Does that deserve a round?" Jack asked once he reached their table. He sat down on the only empty chair beside her and realized he had not yet recognized her presence. Lucy looked like she was struggling not to jump at Routh and hug him, while John stared in amazement.

"You bet boot!" Angela signaled for a server. A girl quickly rushed forward, though her eyes constantly darted to Jack who was wiping away his sweat with a tissue. "A round of drinks for the table please."

"Right away." The waitress replied and quickly headed to the bar.

"The stage lights felt like I was in a sauna." Jack tugged at his collar, trying to let air cool down his chest.

"Here, you can have my water." She offered her glass and Jack nodded in thanks as he drank the contents within seconds.

"Thanks… wait." Jack looked surprised as he stared at her. "Captain?"

"I decided to crash your night out." She explained. "That was a good song."

"Thank you." He replied.

The server arrived with another staff, and they were all surprised when several appetizers joined the drinks that Angela ordered.

"Compliments of the management." The server replied with a smile.

"Remind me to kidnap you if we're planning to go to karaoke bars." Angela joked as she took a serving of the nachos drizzled in ground beef, peppers and cheese.

"You're already making a living Jack." Tim joined in as he started on the appetizers.

"Now you have to perform a second song." Talia commented. "We can't finish all of these without another round of drinks."

"Let me eat first, then let's see. I'm starving."

The table soon got used to her presence and they continued to drink and eat as other singers performed on the stage, using the Karaoke machine while the band took a break. None were as amazing as Jack's performance, and already a few customers from other tables were looking again at their table hoping he would sing.

"I don't want to sing again." Lucy denied John's suggestion to sing solo on stage. "Not after I listened to Jack's performance."

"You're actually a very good singer." Jack replied.

"Really?" Lucy asked.

"I told you." John Nolan answered. "You weren't called the karaoke queen at the academy for nothing."

"Can you make your next song a little more… happy?" She asked Jack once she noticed he was done eating. "I'd like to hear something I can dance to."

"I guess I have to, since it's the captain's orders." Jack replied, causing everyone on the table to laugh.

"You know what I mean." She crossed her arms and gave him her best mock glare.

"Yes mam. Anything for the captain." Jack stood up, causing her and her fellow officers to cheer once more. The other customers saw Jack heading back to the stage and joined in the cheering as well.

"Is he, like an actor? Or someone from a band?" A young woman from a nearby table tapped her shoulder to ask.

"No, this is more like his hobby." She replied.

"But that's such a waste! He's so talented and gorgeous!" The woman declared. "Can I have his name and number? It looks like you all know him from work."

"Sorry, but we value our privacy." She replied.

"He already has fan girls." Angela chuckled and leaned closer to her fellow T.O.'s ear, but her sharp hearing caught what Lopez whispered. "The E.C. effect is at full strength tonight, Talia."

She heard that term a few times before in the locker room, when she used the shower while the other women gossiped around her, unaware of her presence. She knew it was their collective nickname for Jack.

Jack continued to speak with the band, this time writing on a piece of paper as the band members crowded around him. She saw them nod in excitement while Jack appeared to be humming a tune and using his hand to indicate the timing. The female pianist was preparing her another microphone stand, and guessed she would serve as backup vocals.

The crowd started clapping in unison, impatient for Jack's performance. Finally Jack moved in front of the keyboards, now relocated at the front of the stage with his own mike adjusted for his height.

"This one is called Sugar, as requested by my boss Zoe."

[Maroon 5 – Sugar]

Jack pressed a few notes and started singing, but this time the drums joined in quickly with a quick beat.

She ignored the gazes from the people around her as Jack mentioned her name, though she was inwardly amused at his antics.

I'm hurtin', baby, I'm broken down

I need your lovin', lovin', I need it now

When I'm without you, I'm somethin' weak

You got me beggin', beggin', I'm on my knees

The crowd immediately started clapping to the beat, and a few even stood up to move closer to the stage. She was amazed at the pitch his voice could reach and found herself tapping her foot to the beat unconsciously.

He looked like a genuine pop star as he effortlessly attracted attention with his panty dropping looks and amazing musical talent.

I don't wanna be needin' your love

I just wanna be deep in your love

And it's killin' me when you're away

Ooh, baby

'Cause I really don't care where you are

I just wanna be there where you are

And I gotta get one little taste

The crowd erupted in cheer at the start of the chorus as almost everyone in the room started jumping on the spot. More and more people rushed in front of the stage to dance, making the area crowded and she could only see the top half of Jack Routh.

Your sugar, yes, please

Won't you come and put it down on me?

I'm right here, 'cause I need

Little love, a little sympathy

Yeah, you show me good lovin', make it alright

Need a little sweetness in my life

Your sugar, yes, please

Won't you come and put it down on me?

"This is awesome!" Angela cheered as she danced on her feet. "Go Jack!"

Beside her Talia Bishop was dancing to the beat, her arms raised up and clearly enjoying the music.

"This is better!" Bradford yelled to the table. He was right. She liked this tone more.

Babe, my broken pieces, you pick them up

Don't leave me hangin', hangin', come give me some

When I'm without you, I'm so insecure

You are the one thing, one thing I'm livin' for

It looked like Jack took her request to heart. The music was fantastic, perfect for dancing and the lyrics were uplifting.

"Let's get closer!" Lucy suggested, and they all headed closer to the stage while the men stayed behind at their table. She could see better now amidst all the people jumping and screaming around her.

I don't wanna be needin' your love

I just wanna be deep in your love

And it's killin' me when you're away

Ooh, baby

'Cause I really don't care where you are

I just wanna be there where you are

And I gotta get one little taste

Sugar, yes, please

Won't you come and put it down on me?

I'm right here, 'cause I need

Little love, a little sympathy

Yeah, you show me good lovin', make it alright

Need a little sweetness in my life

Your sugar, yes, please (Your sugar, yes, please)

Won't you come and put it down on me?

She could feel the vibrations every time the chorus came as people started jumping again. She soon reached the area packed with people in front of the stage as Jack displayed his impressive vocal range.

Her heart skipped a beat as she locked gazes with Jack for one moment. She was astonished to see him wink at her and gave a playful smile. Naturally the girls around her screamed louder, thinking it was for them.

Did the rookie just flirt with her? She could barely hear herself think with all the screaming women around her.

"Wooo!!! Go Jack!!!" Lucy cheered as she somehow managed to get to the very front of the stage.

Yeah

I want that red velvet, I want that sugar sweet

Don't let nobody touch it unless that somebody's me

Jack took off the microphone from its stand and moved away from the keyboards to stand closer to the crowd, this time pointing at Lucy, Talia and Angela.

I gotta be a man, there ain't no other way

'Cause, girl, you're hotter than a Southern California day

And I wanna play no games, you don't gotta be afraid

Don't give me all that shy shit

No makeup on, that's my sugar!

He now interacted with the backup vocalist, both of them staring at each other while they playfully danced while singing.

Sugar, yes, please (Please)

Won't you come and put it down on me? (Down on me)

I'm right here, 'cause I need (I'm right here, 'cause I need)

Little love, a little sympathy

Yeah, you show me good lovin', make it alright

Need a little sweetness in my life (Yeah)

The crowd started singing along as Jack returned back to the keyboards and resumed playing while he sang.

Your sugar, yes, please (Your sugar, yes, please)

Won't you come and put it down on me? (Down on me)

Sugar, yes, please

Won't you come and put it down on me? (Down on me)

I'm right here, 'cause I need (I'm right here, 'cause I need)

Little love, a little sympathy

Yeah, you show me good lovin', make it alright

Need a little sweetness in my life

Your sugar, yes, please (Your sugar, yes, please)

Won't you come and put it down on me?

(Down on me, down on me, ooh)

"Thank you!" He shouted to the crowd and gave a bow, followed by the band as applause erupted from the crowd. The noise was louder this time and it was fortunate that the girls were at the front of the stage as Jack was nearly attacked by the other women when he stepped off.

She joined the group and they slowly made their way back to the table. It was a hard exercise in crowd control, as she found herself being at the front of their group, pushing people to the side to allow Jack and the rest of her subordinates to move forward.

"I think it's time to change venues" Tim suggested once they reached the table. The cheers didn't stop as poor Jack continued to be mobbed by new fans and admirers. His polo shirt was practically torn as people tried to get his attention.

Thankfully Bradford had the foresight to pay for their bill before the song ended and they were able to leave their table before they were overwhelmed.

"Why don't we head to the beach and cool off?" Angela suggested. She liked the idea, the temperature inside the music bar was stifling from the crowd of people packed into the venue.

They quickly rushed out, laughing as Jack had to dodge a few more insistent admirers at the entrance and hustled to the beach that was only a few blocks away.

"I must say, you girls would make for an excellent bouncer team for VIPs." Nolan remarked, earning him four pairs of glares while Tim and Jack laughed.

"I think someone is requesting extra cleaning duty." Talia replied. "Don't you think so captain?"

"It looks like it." She replied with a smile. "Are you volunteering for cleaning duty, officer Nolan?"

"No mam! I mean yes mam!" John immediately replied looking flustered.

"Relax boot."

They reached the beach a minute later, and the group enjoyed the refreshing breeze. Tim volunteered to look for bottled waters and sodas for them to drink and walked away, heading for a nearby store while the rest sat on benches at the edge of the beach.

"Those were amazing songs." Lucy remarked. "I enjoyed the lyrics, especially the second one."

"Both were great." Angela added. "They're like exact opposites of each other in the course of a relationship."

"I think you must have been heartbroken and madly in love at some point to be able to write those lyrics." Lucy observed. "Do you mind me if I ask Jack?"

"It's fine but unfortunately I didn't write those songs." He replied as he fiddled with his shirt. Several buttons were missing and he showed his forearms lined with scratches.

"They're too catchy to be unrecognized, but okay." Angela replied, giving a quick look to her, Talia, and Lucy.

If Jack didn't want to admit he wrote and composed those songs, they wouldn't insist on the subject.

"That must sting." She took Jack's arms and moved them closer to where she could see them better under the street light.

"Those women's nails are certainly sharp." Nolan observed the line of scratches on Jack's forearms.

"I'll take care of it when I get back home." Jack replied. "I'm more annoyed at my shirt. I just bought this."

"They were certainly enthusiastic." Angela looked at the ruined shirt and shook her head. "Yeah, that's beyond salvageable. Sorry."

Tim returned with a plastic bag full of bottled water and soda, and the drinks were passed around.

Lucy wanted to take off her shoes and run on the sand, but Tim discouraged her.

"I wouldn't do that. You wouldn't want to step on syringes or any other crap buried out there without proper protection."

"I see, thank you."

"Addicts also wander here at night." Talia added, pointing to a few figures walking down the beach. "You'll learn all about it if you earn the right to work the night shift."

That reminded her, they were about to have an exam about their knowledge of their rook book and once they passed that, they would start their night shift. It was a tough exam, since Grey has high standards and considered anything below 80 percent a failing grade.

If one of the rookies failed the exam, he or she would be held back, and retrained again, while the rookies that passed would move on ahead with a new stage of their training.

"I'm thinking of forming a study group this weekend." John suggested and looked at his fellow rookies. "Are you two on board?"

"Why not?" Lucy replied and turned to Jack. "How about you?"

"Sure, just tell me where to meet tomorrow." Jack replied.

It was a good idea for the rookies to form a study group, and she was happy with the attitude they showed. She was hopeful they would all finish their probation and succeed with what she had seen so far. As far as she was concerned, the rookies had their weakest link removed.

It was 8 pm, and they started heading back to their cars. Lucy and John left in their own cars, while Angela left with Tim and Talia, leaving her alone with Jack.

"Go ahead, I'll call for an Uber." She stared at her phone and started to book a ride. The entrance to the music bar had a long line, and more people were coming in.

"Captain, why don't you hitch a ride with me?" Jack offered. "You can use my helmet, and I promise to slow down."

"May I remind you of California law of 1992 Officer Routh?"

"We'll buy another one on the way." Jack pointed to a motorcycle shop further down the road. "It's where I purchased this bike."

"No wheelies." She warned him. She was glad she wore jeans this time and boots.

"Yes captain." Jack promised. He showed her where to put her feet and she wrapped her hands around his waist as they took off from the parking lot of the music bar.

It felt too fast for her, but she enjoyed the new sensation, she had never been on a big bike before. Jack had a pleasant scent, and she didn't mind wearing his helmet. He also had rock-hard abs to hold to.

Feeling excitement for the first time in years, she ignored the riding position where she basically had her ass out for everyone behind them to see.

A quick one-minute ride later she was accompanying him inside a motorcycle shop. Jack quickly purchased another helmet, with matching colors to Jack's bike and his own helmet. He also bought a motorcycle backpack that had straps to secure a helmet. She hopped back into the bike with him, with her wearing the backpack. She wondered how her friends would react when they saw her now.

Jack was a safe rider as they made their way to their apartment building, and she enjoyed the feeling as they moved and weaved around traffic smoothly.

"Hey girl! Introduce me to your man!" A group of three women in a convertible teased her when they were waiting for the light to change to green.

She was getting annoyed at their comments and ignored them and leaned closer to Jack.

Fifteen minutes later they had finally arrived at their building. She took off the helmet and handed it back to Jack.

"Thanks for the ride."

"You're welcome captain." He replied. She rolled her eyes and gave him a look.

"You're welcome, Zoe." Jack repeated.

"Better." She nodded and they both stepped off the elevator and headed to their doors.

She dropped to the couch and immediately opened her phone, and waited patiently as Talia Bishop posted two videos in a newly created group chat with Lopez. She played the first song and closed her eyes, listening to the lyrics and music composed by her neighbor. She couldn't believe a man with that talent and looks was living next door. She pressed her face on the throw pillow and let out a squeal.

She was officially a fan.

Chapter Text

Episode 4

He was having fun.

The review nights with his fellow rookies allowed him to form genuine friendships with the two. It no longer felt awkward when he was around. For some reason, Lucy Chen only agreed with a group study if all three of them were present. There was now some strange sort of reversal, compared to his first few days at the station. John and Lucy appeared to be awkward around each other and both were using him as a buffer against the other.

It was interesting, interacting with these two made him feel like he wasn't forcefully dumped in an unknown TV show anymore.

At least he was getting his bearings now with his situation. He enjoyed being a cop. The next discussion among them was what career path they should choose.

"Detective, definitely." John Nolan agreed with him when Lucy asked what his plans for the future were. "That's my goal too Jack."

"I'm thinking of working undercover." Lucy Chen shared. "I think you'd do well in metro."

"Isn't that too dangerous?" John asked.

"What? You don't think I'm capable? Lucy challenged him.

"Not at all." John looked flustered. "It's just I have heard stories… anyway, pick detective Jack. I don't think metro fits you."

"Metro guys have the best tactical skills." Lucy argued.

He let them argue for a few more minutes. "Did you guys break up?"

Immediately they turned to him with surprise and worry on their faces.

"You knew?" Nolan asked.

"It wasn't hard to figure out." He answered. "You two were close in the academy. I've seen the two of you spend time walking together all the time. When I arrived here I figure that you two were dating."

"We were dating." Lucy admitted. "But it's a casual thing, you know? I decided to focus on my career as a police officer first."

He could see the hurt expression on John's face and offered the older man a can of beer to comfort him. He could see he still had feelings for her, and that now answered why Lucy never joined them for rook book review when he wasn't available.

"You two were using me as a chaperone so you wouldn't fight." He stared at the two.

"Sorry." Lucy apologized.

He tried to lighten up the situation and decided to distract John. "Do you want to go out and accompany me to the public library and then drink after?"

"I'm sorry." John replied. "I already have plans with Hawke."

"The Hawke?" He asked.

"That's right. He told me he wants to get back on patrol." Nolan answered.

Nolan and Hawke were tight at the academy. He was one of the instructors that supported John instead of belittling him.

"Where are you planning to go?" Lucy asked.

"I want to check out the National History Museum." He replied. "It's part of my preparation for the community lecture series that Grey is proposing."

"I heard about that!" Lucy looked excited. "I instantly signed up for your first lecture. Can I go instead?"

He glanced at Nolan who gave a slight nod. "Alright, let's pack up our notes. Don't complain if I spend a few hours there."

"I won't. I'm also curious to see what they have on display." Lucy replied.

"We'll go on ahead." He called out to Nolan and left the luxurious mansion grounds where his fellow rookie lived in.

Lucy's car was a beautiful Datsun 280z. Unfortunately it hadn't been well maintained and it failed to start.

"I'll tell Nolan my car won't start." Lucy started typing on her phone. "I'll see if he can have it running, you can go ahead. Sorry Jack."

"I do have a spare helmet." He pointed to his backpack that contained two gray and white painted helmets. She quickly agreed, and a minute later he could hear her screaming through her helmet and she clutched tightly on his torso as they headed to the museum.

"That was a thrill." Lucy looked flushed as he parked his bike. "I don't think I can do that every day, but it was fun."

"You get used to it." He replied.

They spent an hour touring the museum. He couldn't find any inspiration and went to the toilet. After he was washed his hands, he stared at the toilet paper he was using to dry his hands and he suddenly had an idea. He found the origins of common expressions interesting and decided to propose another topic aside from the history of the home.

He also noticed Lucy was fascinated with true crime drama, and he wondered if discussing the history of Jack the Ripper would attract interest.

"Yes! OMG yes!" Judging by Lucy's reaction, he might be correct.

"I'd love your take on that famous serial killer." Lucy continued. "True crime drama has many fans."

After dropping off Lucy, he met with Grey at his office as the sergeant reviewed the proposed topics.

"Yes, I can see a focus on Jack the Ripper to be intriguing, but that's sending the wrong message to the community." Grey explained. "Keep the topics here like the home and commonly used expressions. Maybe we can use the famous serial killer lecture on Halloween."

"We'll start a trial run next Saturday. Tell me if you need anything, I heard the brass expressed some interest in our idea." Grey continued.

He spent an hour on the gun range to practice his marksmanship and finally collapsed on the couch once he got back to his apartment. He was about to fall asleep when he heard knocking on his door.

"Jack?"

He groaned and opened the door to see his captain looking frantic. "Thank god you're here. I need a ride to headquarters. There's an emergency regarding Hawke and the chief of police wants me asap and my car is in for repair."

"Say no more." He stretched and grabbed his keys and backpack and followed after his captain.

Seeing how urgent the topic was, he increased his speed, and got into the main headquarters in record time.

"I'll wait for you." He called out as Andersen ran into the entrance. He displayed his badge to the security desk and headed to the area exclusively for cops. He heard the vending machines inside had better choices and it seems the rumor was right.

He was enjoying a canned cappuccino as he scrolled through his phone, ignoring the other officers who passed through. Finally, his phone showed a message from his captain. He replied, telling her he was in their break room. A few minutes later Andersen came in and sat across from him.

"Thank you, the chief is mad that Hawke is dragging the name of the cops down the dirt." Andersen shared. "He had a domestic dispute with his wife and punched her boyfriend."

"Is he going to press charges?" If the victim did, Hawke's name would be in the system and they would no longer be able to discipline him discreetly.

"If I recall, Nolan is supposed to be with him right now in some bar." He replied. "Hawke and Nolan were tight in the academy."

"Let's go. I've heard of a bar retired and senior members go to." Andersen looked determined. "I want to head this off before it tarnishes the division's reputation. It's only a matter of time before the judge signs a warrant. I want him in custody before it arrives. Playing nice is over."

He found the captain sexy as hell right now and followed after her as she stormed through the lobby.

He only needed a quick look at her phone and memorized the location. Ten minutes later he removed his helmet and noticed Nolan's vehicle in the parking lot.

"Do we log this in?" He asked.

Andersen nodded and called the dispatch on her phone and reported their location and situation.

He followed after the captain, and looked around to see plenty of retired or off-duty cops inside the bar. He spotted Nolan and Hawke seated at a table near the middle and pointed their location to Andersen.

It looked like both officers were drunk and Hawke's cheeks were flushed red as they laughed at their table.

"Officer Hawke." Andersen stepped in front of them.

"And if it isn't the illustrious Captain Andersen." Hawke spat her name. It was clear he held no respect for her and her rank. "You continued to block my application to your division, and you have the guts to come here?"

"I tried to show you courtesy for your years of service but I could see I'm right in my judgment." Andersen folded her arms. "Your wife's boyfriend suffered a missing tooth and a fractured jaw. You're coming with me to the station to get the situation under control."

"And what If I don't want to?" Hawke challenged.

"You have no choice Hawke. Word is the warrant would be out by tomorrow morning. You wouldn't want to be hunted down like a dog." Andersen declared.

Hawke suddenly jumped into action and tossed his mug at Andersen. He was able to pull her to the side and it just missed her head as the mug crashed on the wall behind them. Nolan also jumped back and immediately moved behind Hawke though his movements were sluggish. Other cops now paid attention and a crowd formed around their area.

"You're under arrest Hawke." Andersen declared.

"Is that the lone wolf hiding behind your skirt?" Hawke asked when he noticed him. "So you got yourself back-up, but I beat his ass in the academy. Are you brave enough for a little tussle Captain? I'm afraid your boy toy bodyguard isn't up to par."

"The captain doesn't need to bother with you." He stepped forward. It was clear Hawke wanted to start a brawl. "I'll give you a good beat down."

His memories back at the academy were that he was mostly on auto-pilot. Constantly at the middle of the curve. Average. His new memories with added traits made him a different person today.

"Alright." Hawke greened and stepped closer to him and raised his fists. "Show me."

"We're going to start in three." He made a show of removing his jacket and stepped closer and raised his own fists. "One. Two..."

He quickly grabbed Hawke's wrists and pulled him close for a head butt. He felt a blinding pain in his head but ignored it and delivered three elbow strikes on Hawke's neck as he lay dazed over a table.

Hawke collapsed down on the floor unconscious and he grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair and put it on again while Nolan was able to procure cuffs from a bystander and secured Hawke.

He looked around and saw astonished faces around him and he hid his smile. Reacher was a monster in unarmed combat and didn't play fair.

"Good work officer Routh." The captain replied as they heard sirens grow louder and saw the flash of red and blue lights through the glass window.

"What was that?" Nolan asked. "I've never seen you move like that in the academy."

"Never behave the way your enemy expects you to." He replied. "Hawke and I sparred nearly a dozen times, we all did. I used his assumptions against him."

"What is it with you and possible concussions?" Andersen asked as she checked his eyes for dilation. "Should I start ordering you to wear a tactical helmet Officer Routh?"

Andersen rode back with the responding units after the reports were made and he went back to his apartment. He was glad for his day off tomorrow, but decided to head to the station in the morning to use the computer and printers for his upcoming lecture. He didn't have anything to do anyway and his time was his own.

He was well on his way in creating an outline for his lecture on commonly used phrases when Grey beckoned him to join the briefing.

"I know it's your day off today Routh, but you must learn a valuable lesson here." He began as the officers prepared for his daily briefing. He was the only one in civilian clothing in a sea of uniforms. "If it's your day off, don't show up at the station or else your superiors would see you and make you do things and take advantage of you."

The officers laughed and he earned several pats on the back.

"Notice Bradford is relaxing at his home while you're here because I saw you working on a desk. Who's the smarter man?"

"It's clearly Officer Bradford, sergeant." He replied.

The briefing continued. Grey complained about the night shift leaving a lot of cases for them to pick up. He was about to leave when the briefing ended when Grey asked him to stay.

"The captain told me what you did." Grey explained as he sat on the table in front of him. "Good work on covering the captain from that glass mug."

"How is your preparation for Saturday?" Grey asked. "I saw the sign-up sheet, it's already full."

"Brass is participating too, how about you do a dry run for me in my office? Let's see what you have."

He was five minutes in to his lecture, with an amused Grey in front of him when they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"What's going on here?" Captain Andersen asked.

"Just evaluating what Routh has prepared for Saturday, Captain. Anything I can do for you?"

"You should have called me." The captain muttered and pulled up a chair and turned it around. She quickly sat and faced him as she crossed her legs. "Please continue."

Angela Lopez

She watched as her boot continued his lecture, and she was intrigued at the expression of interest and amusement of Andersen and Grey.

"Wish I was there." Talia replied. "How's your boot doing?"

"He attracted too much attention." She sighed as she waited for Chen to finish the check up of their shop. "Now I feel like he's my boot in person only. He's already tight with Grey and the captain."

"Don't have anything left to teach him?"

"I'm now wondering if the rookies' scores in the academy were rigged to allow Jackson to come out on top." She explained. "Routh quickly learns from his mistakes, and rarely makes the wrong judgment. I'm afraid it would look poorly on me as a T.O."

"Wouldn't the super rookie's performance reflect on you positively?" Talia asked.

"If only." She replied. "Have you uploaded the video yet? I heard there interested members willing to join the ECGC"

"From where?"

"He was apparently spotted in headquarters waiting for the captain." She explained. "Got a few ladies interested. It only increased after the video with his takedown of Hawke was leaked."

"But what was he doing there in the first place with Andersen?" Talia asked.

"Maybe he lives close by her apartment and she decided ride pillion with him was faster so she wouldn't be late in her meeting with the chief."

"They're awfully close." Talia observed and they both watched the bright smile on Andersen's face as she listened to Routh's lecture. "Do you think there's something going on between them?"

"Captain's not like that." She replied. "Even if she did, I couldn't blame her and as long as it doesn't interfere with police work."

Morning was hectic as they continued to follow up on the cases left by the night shift. Thankfully by lunch things were mostly back to their normal load. She was surprised to see Tim sitting beside the food truck with Routh.

"What's going on?" She asked as she joined their table.

"Boot here is asking me for help for some modifications on his bike." Tim looked smug and wagged a ticket in his hand. "And he just paid the price for my assistance."

"That's a dodger's ticket." She observed.

"And premium seat too." Tim relaxed in his seat. "Nice doing business with you boot. Let's head out once they're finished with lunch. I've got some buddies in motors that could help you with your problem."

Jack left their table and joined his fellow rookies.

"What's with you acting like a buddy to my boot?" She asked Tim. "Where's the Tim Bradford I know?"

"Your boot's doing well. Too well." Tim replied. "We just have to see how he handles failure."

She turned to her boot and realized Tim was right. Jack hadn't experienced any significant mistakes so far. Not that she wanted him to fail, but she needed to see his grit and tenacity after crashing. She was worried, her earlier confident demeanor about her super rookie vanishing.

Their next briefing went smoothly, although there was a complication when Grey mentioned the phrase Ride along V.I.P. She held her breath as Grey assigned the task to Bishop who immediately asked for a sick day in protest.

The deep worry she had felt yesterday grew as she was called into the captain's office and she narrowed her eyes when she saw the chief of police inside with what was clearly the V.I.P.

The Captain and Sergeant Grey looked worried, as the VIP continued to address Nolan, calling him James instead of John.

"And there he is!" The VIP approached her boot who only stared at the elderly man with an expressionless face. "The star rookie with the classic Holllywood looks. Are you determined to pursue this career path Mr. Routh?"

There were frowns on all their faces, except for the chief who appeared to be enjoying the opportunity to entertain the VIP.

"I'm afraid so. Who are you? Jack asked.

"That hurt." The man stepped back as if he was struck by a physical blow.

"He's not a fan of movies." Nolan thankfully stepped in. "This is Rupert Payne. He has directed some of the most popular action franchises in the last decade."

"Thank you James."

"It's John." Nolan replied.

"How about I have these two for the ride-along?" Rupert Payne suggested. "It would be a wonderful story, the world's oldest rookie and the star rookie together in patrol. I could learn so much."

"I'm afraid it's against policy." Captain Andersen stated in a firm tone. "They're rookies, and they're place is beside their Training Officers, to learn how to become real cops."

"But didn't you say these two are some of the finest officers you have ever seen?" Payne addressed the chief. "Surely the two of them would be able to address any danger we encounter when we're out on patrol."

"I did say that." The chief appeared to be deep in thought.

She realized she was whispering "please say no" repeatedly as Bishop nudged her with an elbow.

"Very well, you'll join Officers Nolan and Routh on your ride along today." The chief decided. "I'm counting on the two of you."

Fuck. Her boot was in real trouble now without her to look out for him.

Andersen looked like she was resisting the urge to throttle the chief with the way her fists kept clenching by her side.

"If you'll wait by the bullpen, we will have these two join you shortly."

Once the VIP, the chief of police and his aide left, Grey sat down on a chair and rubbed his forehead. "Fuck."

"You can say that again." Andersen seethed.

"Fuck." Grey repeated.

"Under no circumstances that you would respond to a violent crime." Andersen addressed the two rookies. "I'll check up on your shop constantly. Am I clear?"

"Yes captain." Routh responded at the same time as Nolan.

"Show him procedure, show him and us what you have learned so far." Andersen continued. "Bishop, Lopez, plan a patrol route that makes your shop available for back-up for these two. Monitor their movements."

"Oh boy." She breathed out once she got into her shop.

"Here we go." Talia replied.

They monitored the situation on the radio as Routh's voice acknowledged that they were checking out a 459.

"It's just a burglary." Talia commented. Their interest grew when Routh reported the discovery of a mummified body.

"That should keep them busy for a few hours, if they're smart about it." She observed. Technically they could leave once forensics arrived, but they could hang out and make up some procedure about securing the perimeter.

Nolan and Routh responded to a family disturbance after lunch and she shared a worried glance with Talia. Their concern grew when Nolan reported that a suspect was armed with a knife and was requesting back-up.

"Go go go." Talia muttered. She stepped on the gas and flipped on her lights.

They arrived and saw Nolan pointing his weapon at a large man with a knife, while Routh was grappling with another man on the ground. Their VIP was recording the entire scene on his phone as he giggled in excitement.

Everyone was yelling and she drew her weapon alongside Talia as they moved beside Nolan to cover the rest of the family.

"He started it man! He started it!" Routh finally secured the suspect and made him lay on the ground. Routh looked angry as he wheeled around and faced their V.I.P.

"You think this is amusing?" Before she could stop him, Routh displayed incredible strength and lifted Payne off the ground by his vest. With his height, Payne dangled a foot off the ground.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Payne wailed in fear.

"Routh!" She yelled. She had never seen him like this before. "Drop him now!"

Routh's action's caused the rest of the family to calm down as they stared at the developing scene. Even the large man dropped his knife.

"You made it worse." Routh's voice was like steel. There was a powerful electric feeling around him, like he could explode into action at any moment. "You giggled like a fucking girl at a family in crisis! How dare you?"

"I'm sorry. Please. I'm sorry." Payne cried.

Routh dropped the director and crumpled to the ground beside the suspect Routh secured. Payne stared with wide eyes at Routh as he towered over him, his back against the sun.

"Yeah that's right!" The secured man looked happy.

"Routh back to the shop." This should not have happened. She seethed in anger as they secured the two suspects at the back of her shop, while Nolan escorted the shaking Payne into her own vehicle.

They rode in silence, well mostly. The larger man seemed to have an impairment as he continued to apologize for burning the pancakes. The other suspect was apparently his brother and he tried to calm him down.

"It's alright. I burned pancakes too! It's just that stupid smoke alarm right?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't mean to." The larger man sobbed.

"It will be alright. We're riding with good cops today. Did you see how he lifted that jerk up in the air?"

"Yeah. It was funny."

"It looked like he would piss himself if you held him up any longer." The brother addressed Routh. "Thank you for protecting our dignity, Officer."

She listened to the conversation as she watched Routh drive. She now discovered an aspect of Routh, he had terrible, no terrifying temper when he was pushed to his limit.

She noticed blood continued to drip down the back seat and she narrowed her eyes.

"Routh, you didn't tell me you were injured."

"It's just a scratch, an accident." Routh replied.

"Well you're dripping blood on my shop." She snapped.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" The large man began to cry again.

Once she processed the two suspects, she drove Routh to the hospital to get him checked out and ordered him to stay in there. She then hurried back to the station for the meeting she was dreading.

The Captain was waiting with Grey, while Nolan and Bishop stood in front of them.

"Took you long enough." Grey observed. "Where's your boot?"

"Had to bring him to the hospital for stitches." She reported.

"I didn't know he was injured." Nolan replied.

"How is he?" Captain Andersen immediately asked. "Is he alright?"

"He was bleeding on the ride back to the station. He said it was a scratch." She rolled her eyes in frustration.

"Then let's see the bodycam footage from Nolan first." Grey suggested.

They watched in silence as Nolan and Routh approached the suspect with a knife. In the yard there was a pan filled with burned pancakes while a smoke alarm continued to beep in the background.

"Please stay back." She heard Routh's voice. Between the two rookies, they managed to de-escalate the situation. A family member rushed to turn off the alarm, and once it was turned off, the large man with the knife calmed down.

"You burned the pancakes right?" Routh asked as he holstered his weapon. "It's fine. I did that a couple of times. too"

"You just forgot the bubbles. Remember?" The large man lowered the knife as he mumbled the word bubbles.

"We flip the pancakes once we see bubbles, that way we won't burn it." Routh repeated in a gentle and calm tone. "Why don't you drop the knife and maybe your mom here can cook a new batch with you?"

"Fantastic! Great acting!" Payne came into view with a phone camera. "This setting is perfect! You're perfect!"

"You're making fun of my family?" The brother moved to attack Payne and was about to pull something from his pocket but Routh tackled him to the ground. Before that, she could see the man turn towards Routh, his knife slicing his back in a long arc.

"Let me at him! Let me go!" The brother shouted.

"Everyone stand back!" Nolan ordered.

"Yes! Yes!" Payne giggled as he continued filming. "Show me more!"

"He started it man! He started it!"

"Routh's bodycam footage is next." Grey played the other body cam footage on the screen.

She watched as Routh grappled with the brother and blocked a few thrown elbows. She knew the rest that would happen but continued watching anyway. She wanted to see his boot display his anger and phenomenal strength.

Once he secured the brother in cuffs, he quickly turned to Payne. She noticed the look in the director's face morph to fear as he realized what he had done.

"You think this is amusing?" She heard Routh's voice again, and noted the difference between his normal speaking voice and this. Routh did not increase his volume or shout, but the effect was still menacing to her.

Routh quickly reached Payne and pulled him up by his bulletproof vest seemingly without any effort.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The brother was right, Payne looked like was about to piss himself.

"Routh!" She heard herself shout. She didn't realize there was a tinge of worry in her voice. "Drop him now!"

"You made it worse." Jack Routh continued lifting the man. "You giggled like a fucking girl at a family in a crisis! How dare you?"

"I'm sorry. Please. I'm sorry." Payne looked pathetic, far from the condescending ass he was this morning.

Payne dropped to the lawn and cried, staring up at Routh with fear and wide eyes.

"That's the end of it." Grey replied with a sigh. "What a mess."

"This shouldn't have happened in the first place." Andersen leaned back in her chair and folded her arms.

"Will Payne press charges?" Nolan asked.

"No." Andersen gave a small smile. "He spoke to me as soon as he got here. He even apologized. He told me to tell Officers Routh and Nolan that it was his fault for escalating the situation. He even put it into writing so he can't sue us later."

"He did all that?" She asked.

"Yes, and he wanted to thank Routh personally for shaking some (his words) god damned sense into him." Andersen replied.

"That will be all." Grey dismissed them and they all stood up and started to leave Andersen's office.

"Lopez, hold up." The captain called out.

"Yes captain?"

"Routh's still in the hospital right?"

"Yes mam, I'm on my way to pick him up."

"Good. Tell him I'll wait in my office after you give him a dressing down. I'm going to suspend him for three days and assign him counseling."

"He really didn't hurt him." She replied. "Is counseling necessary?"

"I'm afraid so, but it is policy. I'll make sure it's unofficial so there would be no record." Andersen replied.

The drive to the hospital was quick, and she found her boot waiting in the lobby. He was wearing his white undershirt, with his torn and blood-stained uniform held in his other hand.

"I've never seen you lose control like that before. What happened?" She asked.

"It surprised me, a memory from my childhood." Routh admitted.

"Well you're going to counseling because of that, and you're suspended for three days. Use that time wisely and see if this is really the career path for you." She stated. "We're held to a higher standard boot, and I was expecting Nolan or Chen to fail before you. It turns out you were too good to be true."

She watched as Routh's face fell when he heard her words. It sucks, but she needed to get tough on him.

"Be thankful it's not going to be permanently on your record, because Payne didn't press any charges. You dodged a bullet." She continued.

"Shit."

"Yeah, your actions have consequences." She snapped back. "Congratulations on learning this lesson."

Zoe Anderson

"Thank you Lopez. That will be all."

Lopez gave her boot a final glance before she left her office.

"How are you doing?" She watched his face and observed him for a few seconds.

"Okay." Routh replied. He looked uncomfortable but continued staring straight at her. Good. That meant he was willing to listen to what she had to say.

"You're a cop Jack. You can't emotions control you. You need to rise above it." She stepped closer to him and tapped a finger to his chest. "That was not your job to scold him, do you understand?"

Jack nodded and looked down at his feet for the first time. "Overcoming that impulse would be the hardest thing you would do at this job."

Jack's eyes looked back at her and she stared back. The moment was broken when her phone beeped an alarm.

"Lopez must have told you, but you're suspended for three days. Use that time to see a counselor for three sessions then report back for duty." She handed out a card containing the counselor's information.

"Is the test lecture canceled?" Jack asked.

"You're not off the hook with that. You're suspended from patrolling, not barred from visiting the station in a personal capacity." She smiled. "How's your injury?"

"It wasn't deep enough to require stitches, but it stings a lot. Please ignore any sounds you might hear when I shower." Jack replied.

"That will be all, Officer Routh. You're dismissed."

She grabbed her bag from the couch and left her office as she followed the rookie. She could see faint dots of blood on Jack's white shirt and realized he would need help in changing bandages later.

She was relaxing in the balcony of her apartment an hour later when she heard Jack cursing, and remembered his predicament. She moved to grab her own first aid kit and walked to his door and knocked.

"It's me." She called out.

"Captain… Zoe" Jack said when he opened the door.

"Move over, I'm helping you with your bandages." She ordered and headed inside his apartment.

"There's no need…" He trailed off at her raised eyebrow. She was impressed at how quick he picked up on her cues.

"Have you showered?" She asked.

"You didn't hear any screams yet, so no." She noticed he was using humor to hide any nervousness he felt.

"Where are your bandages?" She asked. He pointed at a plastic bag filled with bandages and disinfectant and inspected the contents.

"Good, you picked up these water-resistant ones. You're lucky I'm here, they're tricky to apply correctly." She beckoned for him to sit with her back facing him and told him to pull off his shirt.

It was then that she realized her first mistake the moment she saw his back. She was tempted to run her fingers through his broad shoulders and muscled back and willed herself to focus on why she was there in the first place.

Jack barely made a sound as she peeled the bandages on his back.

"This will sting." She warned as she started applying disinfectant to his wounds with a cotton ball. Jack hissed in pain but remained in place and she finally started applying the water resistant bandages. She used it as an excuse as she traced his muscles.

"That feels better, thank you ma'am." Jack replied and stood up and checked his new bandages on the mirror.

She swallowed at the sight of Jack's bare torso, his sculpted chest, the chord of muscles of his arms, and the six-pack. Her eyes focused on the faint trail of hair that started to form below his navel and disappeared under his belt. She wanted to see where it would lead to.

"That should last for a couple of days." She stated and gathered the packaging to keep herself from staring and dumped them in the plastic bag. "Call me if it's time to change them."

"Thank you Zoe." Jack smiled. "I really appreciate this. I owe you a few dinners."

"Make that roasted garlic chicken again." She joked and quickly left the apartment.

She closed her eyes once she was inside her unit and breathed a sigh of relief. Being in Jack's presence was like a drug, she knew it was dangerous but she couldn't help but look. She stared at her hands and remembered the feeling of her muscles under her fingers.

She shook her head, stripped, and immediately headed for the shower. She needed to cool down, but her fingers drifted to her groin and she moaned in pleasure as she imagined what could have happened if she pushed a little more. Her other hand played with her breast and nipples and she leaned back at the sensation of the water falling down her back.

She imagined her body writhing against his, his face between her legs soaked in her secretions, his talented tongue flicking her clit…

She bit her hand as she reached her orgasm. She nearly fell down on the floor and grabbed the walls for support as her legs shook.

"Holy shit." She whispered, breathing hard. She never had an orgasm that was so intense. Usually she needed a longer stimulation time and a toy, never with just her fingers. "I'm in so much trouble."

It turns out having Jack suspended for three days was a blessing in disguise, as she was sure she would be unable to look him in the eye during briefings. She submerged herself in paperwork and was surprised and slightly disappointed that she was done by lunch. It meant she would have time for her thoughts to wander and she had an overactive imagination.

Grey immediately appeared in her office informing her of an incident. Nolan had shot a suspect, an armed robber in self-defense. They both rushed to the scene of the incident and found Nolan standing at the entrance of the room, looking numb with a faraway gaze.

"Grey, I want Grey." Nolan answered when she asked who he wanted for a police companion for the duration of the investigation.

"Why are they hard on Nolan this time?" She heard Chen ask her T.O. in the bullpen. "It wasn't as intense when Routh shot those two in the head."

"Because this time Nolan was alone when the incident happened." She answered, surprising the rookie. "He didn't have eyewitness statements from two veteran training officers to back him up. It will be all on him."

"And we were facing semi-automatic weapons with armor-piercing rounds in that thirty-second engagement." Bradford added.

"Let's just trust the process. Nolan would be placed on administrative leave until the investigation is finished." She continued to her office and waited for Commander West to arrive.

"Let's hope it's as clear cut as you say." Commander West replied when she summarized what happened.

"I'm sure." She left her office, finally finding the time to go home and rest, leaving Grey to watch over Nolan.

It took a great amount of control to ignore the smell of food coming from Routh's balcony but she persisted, until she heard him knock on her door. She made sure her hair was fine in front of the mirror before she opened it.

Routh was standing there with a white shirt, shorts, and an apron. He was carrying an aluminum tray in both hands, containing a half of a garlic chicken.

"I figured you were busy because of what happened to Nolan, so here." Jack offered the tray to her.

She could jump for joy when she saw a good portion of mashed potatoes beside the roasted chicken.

"This is wonderful. Thank you." She replied. She inquired about his progress in his first counseling session, and noted how reluctant he was to share more details. It was a normal response for a typical male cop, as most viewed counseling as a sign of weakness.

As soon as the door closed she grabbed her utensils and dug in, happy that she didn't have to waste time preparing her own food.

The next morning she felt well rested as she entered her office. She had prepared the laptop with the footage. She had a feeling Nolan would visit her and request to see the footage. She didn't want him to view it yet, it was still too early for him. But like she did, they all wanted to see if they made the correct decisions.

Well, except Jack. He did express regret for taking lives, but was convinced that his actions were appropriate in his situation. He didn't even request to see the body cam footage.

Nolan knocked on her door and she invited him and asked him to close the door. The conversation they were about to have was sensitive.

"How are you doing?" He looked like he hadn't slept. His gaze was distant, with deep eye bags under his eyes. She knew guilt was haunting him.

"Good. No. I don't know." He was a mess. "There's something I hope you can help me with. I wish to see the body cam footage of the event, if that's okay?"

Nolan rambled when he's nervous like he was right now.

"You have a right to see it, but I think it's too early for that. I've been where you are. Mine was a rapist instead of a robber. It was in an alley instead of a bedroom." She took a moment as she recalled the events of her own incident. No, she was stronger now. "I understand you want answers, but watching the footage, I don't think you're ready for how traumatic it can be."

"I need to see it." Nolan insisted. "Please."

"Okay." She opened the laptop and turned it around so it was facing Nolan. He seemed surprised at how prepared she was. She moved around her desk to watch the footage with him and offer her support. They watched as Nolan warned the suspect repeatedly. The suspect suddenly turned around with his gun aimed for Nolan.

Nolan flinched at the sound of the gunshot and she reached over and closed the laptop.

"He was scared." Nolan rambled on as guilt clawed on him. "Maybe he wasn't going to pull the trigger. Maybe I could have talked him down."

"Hey." She cut him off before he could continue. "That's not what I saw."

"You think he was going to kill me?" Nolan asked.

"I think you did exactly what we trained you to do when you saw that your life was in jeopardy." She replied.

She assured Nolan that he would have the full support of the department, after the brother of the man he shot was let out on bail. The man was already speaking to reporters about police brutality and that his brother was murdered in cold blood.

Her afternoon was busy, speaking with narcotics division and the FBI. Bradford's wife was joining an operation proposed by the lead detective. She approved it, but was surprised when Bradford stormed in when she was in the middle of a meeting.

She couldn't tolerate such blatant disrespect to her authority. She asked the two agents to give her privacy and rounded on Bradford.

"You barge into my office again without knocking and I will put you on admin leave. Is that understood?" She snapped.

Bradford was upset and she finally allowed him to join the rescue squad since she could see how anxious he was. It calmed him down and even apologized for barging in and promised not to do it again.

The next day was filled with meetings, coordinating with two important subjects that took most of her time. The investigation on the shooting was nearly finished, and she was keeping an eye on Narcotics and their preparations with Bradford's wife, who was a former undercover before her career tanked because of drug addiction.

Grey kept her appraised on Nolan's situation, and read the reports from Routh's counseling sessions. The Psychologist determined that Routh was fit to report for police duty.

Hopefully tonight she would get some well-deserved rest and relaxation as she fell on her bed. She knew of a perfect way to achieve that. It also helps knowing that the subject of her fantasy was just mere feet away from her.

It wasn't meant to be.

As soon as she started with her eyes closed and toy in hand her phone rang. She quickly shut off her vibrator and listened as Grey informed her that Nolan was attacked inside his home and sustained injuries.

She quickly put on a skirt and a blouse that she just tossed on the floor and headed to the door. She was outside her apartment and was about to head to the elevator when she noticed the light under 802 was still on. She hesitated, but then decided to ask Routh to accompany her. It would be good for Nolan to see his fellow Rookie checking up on him.

"Jack, you up?" She asked as she knocked.

"Yes captain?" Jack yawned as he opened the door. "Was I too loud? I was watching a movie."

"Not at all. I'm wondering if you'd care to go with me to see Nolan. I got a call from Grey."

"Of course. What happened?" He asked. He immediately took the pants hanging on the back of a chair with the belt still looped around the waist and started to put it on. He took out his leather jacket from his closet and put it on as well.

"Nolan was attacked at his home." She replied. "I'm going to check on him."

"Then let's hurry." Jack reached for the keys to his bike and his helmet bag.

"We're taking my car. It's safer and there's barely any traffic at this time." She turned around and walked to the elevator.

The drive to Nolan's house was spent mostly in silence with Jack giving directions since he knew the quickest route.

"He lives in the guest house of a mansion owned by his best friend." He explained. "Turn right here."

"This is an expensive neighborhood." She observed as they drove past large mansions.

"Tell me about it. My bike and Chen's beat-up Datsun got weird looks whenever we visited him to review for exams."

They parked outside the property gate since the driveway was now filled with first responders. She could see a few shops and Grey's car as well. The cold air chilled her and she rubbed her arms for warmth.

"Captain, please wear this." Jack took off his jacket and offered it to her.

"Cute." She replied and shook her head as they reached the gate. "But I can handle a little chill."

"That's not it." He glanced at her chest and she looked down and immediately blushed in embarrassment. She realized in her rush to get to Nolan that she wasn't wearing a bra and even forgot her jacket. Her nipples were poking through the thin silk blouse and a gentle breeze told her she forgot her panties too.

She took the jacket and put it on, feeling how warm it was. She was a little turned on at the idea of wearing the jacket of the man she was preparing to masturbate to before she got the call. She sighed and realized she needed to focus and forcibly ignored what she was feeling. She hurried over to the house and spotted Grey talking to Nolan.

"Captain." Grey greeted her but raised an eyebrow when he spotted Jack behind her.

She ignored his look and asked for a briefing on the situation as Jack made his way to Nolan who was being treated by a paramedic for his wounds.

"The brother who made bail attacked Nolan and he had a gun with him. He managed to subdue him and they wrestled for the gun until Nolan finally subdued him. The brother is on his way to the station as we speak for processing."

Jack was still speaking with Nolan and she joined him and sat on Nolan's other side. He was trying to convince him to go to the hospital, but Nolan refused despite the numerous visible wounds on his face.

"I'm fine mam." Nolan replied as the paramedic finally finished treating his wounds.

"Good thing you were able to gain control of the gun." She stated.

"Officer Nolan!"

She looked up as Commander West appeared. She gave a nod to Jack and they both stood up and allowed the head of I.A. to approach Nolan.

Jack headed to where Grey was and she remained close by to hear Nolan's official statement. She listened carefully and even asked a few questions of her own for clarification as the rookie ran through the series of events. Nolan's answers were coherent for the most part, but she noticed that hesitated for a moment when asked if he was alone during the home invasion.

She finally decided to leave once the interview was over and headed to Grey and Jack.

"We should assign Nolan to the front desk to let him calm down." Grey suggested. She liked the idea and gave her approval. "Do it. He needs some peace of mind after the last 48 hours."

"And I don't want to overstep my authority, but we need Routh back." Grey added. "Patrol's schedule is messed up, and we're falling behind our schedule. Night shift is making noise."

She considered Grey's proposal, technically Jack finished two and a half days of suspension and turned to her suspended Rookie. He had one more day to serve, but she could consider the half day he was asked to go home as part of his punishment. "Do you think you've learned your lesson Officer Routh?"

"Yes, mam. I'll do better." Jack looked eager and she glanced at Grey who gave a slight nod.

"Get your badge and your weapon from Sergeant Grey tomorrow morning." She ordered. "Let's go."

She was still thinking about Nolan's statement and it must have shown in her face since Jack noticed it.

"Something bothering you captain?" He asked.

"Nolan. Something's off with him when West interviewed him." She replied. "He hesitated for a brief moment when he said he was alone. The facial marks were there, indicating he was not truthful."

"Chen must have been there." Jack replied, looking out the window. "I saw two unwashed glasses on the sink. Please don't give them trouble for it, they're doing their best."

"Why would he lie about her?" She asked. On one hand, Nolan and Chen lied, and on another, she realized they were just trying to protect themselves from scrutiny and gossip.

"They were together since the academy, and then broke up since Chen wanted to focus on her new job." Jack explained further.

She just thought they were close friends and didn't realize they were intimate. "Then why would he lie about her if they broke up? No one, not even I.A. would bat an eye."

"She must have been there to offer her support and give him some comfort." Jack theorized. "And then when the home invasion happened, they realized they could jeopardize their careers if they were discovered to have been intimate that night."

"That's stupid." She shook her head in disbelief. "Lying for such a simple thing is not worth it."

She decided after some thought not to disclose this new information, and she had to admire Chen's decision to focus on her career rather than maintaining a relationship with a fellow Rookie. She would be a hypocrite if she condemned Chen for acting with her feelings and glanced at Jack. She practically devoured her neighbor with her eyes whenever she had a chance.

All this thinking made her hungry, and she needed to cool off. Thinking about Jack made her feel aroused.

"Do you want to get something on a drive-through? I need a snack, something unhealthy and greasy." A chocolate milkshake would be perfect too, she thought.

"Sure, if you're paying."

He was still staring out the window, though from time to time, she noticed him glancing at her. She looked down and realized the jacket was open, revealing her unbound breasts that were poking through the blouse, and they bounced every time her car hit a bump. She felt her skirt had also ridden up while driving, and she felt a thrill as she felt his eyes on her body. Could she do it?

The tension in the car was thick as they pulled to a drive-through. She didn't care as the man in the booth stared at her chest and legs as he handed out their orders. Was the man able to see up her skirt? They both got shakes and burgers and ate their food while her car was idling in the empty lot.

Their gazes became heated as they ate, and she sent another message as she unbuttoned the top of her blouse, showing more of her cleavage. She smiled and sucked her milkshake out of her straw as Jack shifted in his seat and adjusted his pants. She gripped the steering wheel tight as anxiety and feelings of passion churned within her.

She resumed the drive and allowed her tight skirt to ride further up to her waist as she shifted in her seat, and she felt horny and thrilled at the sensation of being exposed. This time was different, she was setting the pace and she was the one making the decisions. She had control.

She wondered what Jack could see, as they reached their apartment building. She didn't bother adjusting her skirt and blouse as she handed back his jacket, his eyes practically devouring her body. It gave her much-needed confidence and her reluctance to continue whatever it is between the two of them left as they rode up the elevator and walked down to their doors.

"You want to come in?" She asked. Jack didn't hesitate and followed after her.

The door barely closed when their lips met. She moaned in pleasure as his hands caressed her ass and thighs and she spread her legs to allow his hands more room to wander. She stepped back and decided to give him a show.

"Take out your dick." She ordered as she pushed him to sit on her couch. "I want to see it."

Jack obeyed and unbuttoned his pants and fished out his hard penis. She licked her lips and started to unbutton her blouse. "Whenever we're here, we can continue this. In the station, I'll be your tough, uncompromising captain. Can you handle that?"

"Yes." Jack replied while he slowly stroked his already erect dick.

"Good. You like what you're seeing?" She asked, lowering her hands. Only her erect nipples prevented the blouse from opening completely. "Show me, play with yourself."

"Fuck you're so hot." Jack admitted as he began to play with himself, his eyes focused on her body.

She allowed the blouse to fall off her shoulders, baring her breasts to him. Her nipples were rock hard and she felt herself drip down her thighs from arousal.

"You're hot too." She admitted and slowly slid her skirt down her hips. "You got my pussy wet when I think about you. See?"

She got a thrill exposing herself in such a vulgar manner. She spread her legs, and posed for him with her hands on her hips, allowing Jack to see every part of her. "I'll be harder with you than the other two rookies. Can you handle that Officer Routh? Is my body worth it?"

"Anything, just so I can have you." Jack admitted, and she his lust-filled eyes staring at her own.

Jack removed his shirt, and soon his boxers joined his pants on the floor. They took sight of each other' bare bodies, drinking in the view for a moment.

"Taste me Jack." She grabbed hold of Jack's dick and led him to her bed. She hopped on the bed, leaned back on the headboard and spread her legs, allowing him to see even more of her. She spread her lips with her fingers showing all of her to him. She was dripping wet with arousal. "See if my body is worth all that."

His tongue was magnificent and he had no hesitation in diving in to taste her sex. She knew she was loud as she moaned in pleasure, and her fingers curled around his hair as she guided his handsome face to her pussy. She wanted every inch of his face covered in her juice, marking her territory. She wanted him badly.

She reached her orgasm a few minutes later, and dragged Jack by his hair and resumed kissing his lips, tasting herself as their tongues battled for dominance. She reached for his hard dick and maneuvered the tip of his penis to her entrance.

"Last chance." She whispered. "As soon as this magnificent dick enters my body, you'll be mine."

They stared straight at each other's faces and he answered her as his dick slowly pushed past her lower lips and into her cunt.

"Ohhhhhh!" She moaned in pleasure and closed her eyes. Jack started to pinch her nipples and she groaned in pleasure. "Fuck me harder!"

They both grunted as the sound of their fucking reverberated around the room. Wet slaps followed by her groans as Jack increased his pace. She felt her orgasm building once more and leaned over and bit Jack in the neck.

"Fuck! Fuck! You're so tight!" Jack moaned. "Captain!"

"Yes! Fuck me! That's it! Harder!" She encouraged him, as her pleasure continued to build.

"I'm close!" Jack whispered as he gritted his teeth, trying to maintain control.

"Nearly there! Stay with me!" She wanted to reach her orgasm at the same time as Jack. The pleasure was unbearable, she needed to release soon.

"Cum! Fucking cum in me Jack!" She yelled as one of her fantasies came out. "Breed me!"

"I'm cumming! Take it!" Jack delivered powerful thrusts and stilled as he came deep inside her, moaning with pleasure.

"Oh yes! Cum in me!" She screamed as she reached her peak. She locked her arms and legs around his body to trap him as her orgasm ran through her trembling body.

She didn't know how long they rested, but she became aware that Jack was once again hard and he started to fuck her once more with slow and smooth strokes.

"Again?" She mumbled, still trying to recover from her intense orgasm but welcomed another round.

"You're too fucking hot." Jack panted as he maintained a slow and leisurely pace. "I always get hard around you, even when we first met."

She felt pleasure at his admission and thrust her hips to meet his slow strokes to encourage him to increase his pace a bit. "That… that early?"

"Oh yeah. I fantasized about you." Jack admitted.

"Jack… Jack… You should know." She pulled him close to her body and turned their positions so she was the one on top… "I'm a jealous bitch. And I don't like to share."

"Oh yeah?" Jack gave a smile and reached out to play with her breasts. "I don't like sharing what's mine too."

"If you want your cock to remain inside my pussy…" She lifted her hip and impaled herself fully on his dick, causing the both of them to groan. "…Then you only get to fuck me. No one else."

"I was never attracted to anyone but you in this world." Jack admitted. "If I'm yours, then you're mine. This hot body is mine. All mine."

"Then we're exclusive." She grinned and increased the pace of their fucking. "I'm a possessive bitch, and I like marking what's my territory. Now cum in me again, I don't care if I get pregnant. Are you okay with that?"

"Fuck yes. I'll put a baby in you!" Jack grabbed her hips and fucked her hard causing her to wail in pleasure. "Fuck Fuck Fuck!"

"Do it! Cum in me!" She shrieked as she came for a third time and collapsed on Jack. She felt him sucking on her nipples as her lover moaned as he pumped his seed in her.

They fell asleep cuddling and it was already morning when they both woke up from the increasing light through the window. His larger body allowed her to sleep on top of him in comfort, and she sighed in pleasure as she felt his hands start caressing her back. She felt a strange sensation between her legs and realized Jack's cock was partially buried inside her.

"This is the first time I slept with a cock inside me." She whispered.

"It's a first for me too. It's very comfortable." Jack admitted.

"Then feel free to stick it when we're sleeping." She offered, getting turned on by the idea. She was in control when they were awake, and the thought of him ravishing her body when she was asleep was a turn-on.

"Really?"

"Dead serious. You can fuck me even when I'm sleeping. I'm giving you permission." She felt his dick harden inside her. "It looks like you like the idea."

"Are you kidding?" She felt Jack kiss the top of her head. "I get to fuck this hot body of yours whenever I want even if you're sleeping? Of course I'd like that!"

"So it looks like we're a couple now." She smiled.

"Yes. Exclusive couple." Jack replied.

"Now hurry up and cum in me, I need to shower."

She yelped as Jack reached up and pulled her body closer to his. He changed his position, his hand under her knees and carrying her weight, as he slowly moved to stand up. She reached forward and hugged his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist for stability. His dick sank deeper into her womb and she moaned as he slowly walked into the shower with her impaled on his dick.

"Why can't we do both?" Jack asked.

Shower sex was new to her, but it was a fun experience. Jack never got tired of her body, as he fucked her from behind as she washed her hair with shampoo. She swallowed her cum as she gave him a blowjob under the shower. It was a novel experience and she looked forward to mornings like this.

They had a long talk over breakfast about professionalism in the workplace. It was ironic as she was impaled on his cock when they discussed the topic as they both shared a chair eating cereal.

After a passionate kiss, Jack moved to his apartment and headed out to the station first, eager to resume his role as a cop. She already missed his cock inside her pussy. She looked into the mirror as she prepared her clothes for today, an outfit that would get a reaction from her lover but still maintain the professional standards expected of her. She needed to get her head in the game, and today would be the first test in their secret relationship.

She knew it was worth it.

Chapter Text

Episode 5

He couldn't help but smile underneath his helmet as he continued heading towards the station. Zoe Andersen also liked him, and the sex last night and this morning was amazing. He couldn't believe that such a strong, confident woman returned his feelings.

She warned him that their relationship needed to be kept in absolute secrecy, and he took a few breaths to calm down as he reached his parking spot. He greeted his fellow officers as he put on his uniform, accepting the welcome back pats in the back with a polite nod and a smile.

"You look excited this morning." Sergeant Grey noted when he made his way to his office to collect his weapon and badge.

"I'm excited to be back." He replied.

"You're smiling." Grey pointed out. He realized he was indeed wearing a smile and controlled his expression.

"I guess I'm just that excited, sergeant."

"Let's see if that enthusiasm is still there by the end of my briefing. You have a lot of work to do. We're swamped with calls." Grey replied. "It's not my business, but how did you arrive at Nolan's house with the captain?"

"I recently found out that she's my neighbor when I moved to a new apartment from Rampart." He replied truthfully. "It was awkward at first, but the captain's fine with it. She warned me about loud noises and late parties though."

"I bet she was thrilled to know she could intimidate the new neighbor." Grey smirked. "At least I'll worry less for her safety with a fellow officer nearby. We protect the captain, do you hear me?"

"Yes sir." He replied.

"As a police captain, knowledge of her address must be kept secret at all costs. Her records are even sealed, in case gangs, cartels and other criminal organizations attempt to attack her where she's most vulnerable. Criminals gain more notoriety, fame and bragging rights if they were able to take a hit on a police captain." Grey leaned closer. "You can consider keeping a watch on her an unofficial assignment from me."

"Yes sir."

"I don't want to hear you inviting other cops for a party." Grey continued. "Some distance and respect must be kept, no matter how approachable and friendly the captain is. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir." He once again repeated, only now realizing the consequences of having the gorgeous Zoe Andersen as her neighbor. It was a lot of responsibility.

He left his office as Bradford stormed in and closed the door behind him after he saw the look on the veteran T.O.'s face. It looked like the veteran patrol officer had something sensitive he wanted to discuss with Grey.

They waited for the briefing to start, and he spent a few minutes speaking with Nolan and Lucy in an isolated area of the bullpen. He found out that Bradford's wife, an ex-cop participated in an undercover operation and it quickly went south. She was shot in the head and was in the hospital for a brain surgery with her life in the balance. 

"That explained why he looked so tense this morning." He observed.

"Anyone would." Chen replied, looking nervous. "Tim's looking for payback, he's determined to catch Vance."

"And what about the two of you?" He asked. "Something you want to share?"

He observed as his fellow rookies had an entire conversation with just a look. Nolan gave a subtle nod and Chen let out a sigh.

"I was there when John was attacked by the brother." Chen confessed. "After John subdued the suspect, I left."

"Why would you do that?" He asked. He already had his theory, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"I didn't want to jeopardize our careers. We worked so hard to reach this point, and…"

"Spending the night to comfort your friend and fellow rookie might look bad." He interrupted her. "Seriously, no one would care about that."

"I… I just panicked." Lucy admitted. "I didn't think."

"And now, judging by how John looks like he ate something past the expiration date, he lied to the head of I.A. You made a non-issue into a major problem." He replied. "You have to live with the consequences if he finds out."

"I think he already sees something wrong with my statement." Nolan admitted. "He keeps bringing up clues that I wasn't alone when I got attacked."

The briefing started as usual, and he was not surprised to see Grey assign Nolan to the front desk. His fellow rookie needed to be placed in a less stressful environment after what he recently experienced. He was asked to stay back with Chen and a few other patrol officers when the briefing ended.

Two detectives entered the briefing room, and Grey started to stick papers on the white board he pulled to the center of the room.

"This is an operation to catch the dealer named Vance." Grey started the meeting. "Detectives Wolfe and Vestri will stake out the warehouse that a dealer named Carson who works for Vance admitted to being a base of their operation. They'll have back-up from patrol units from the division over there. You guys will head over to the Bronson Estates."

He accepted a sheet of paper from Grey and reviewed the information.

"This is where Vance's girlfriend Cesiah Olivio lives, according to Carson." Grey continued.

"Carson doesn't know which apartment she lives in." Detective Wolfe added. "You'll have to do some knocking on doors."

"This has the potential to be a dangerous operation. Vance is a heavy hitter and he has a well-armed crew so he won't go down easy. Watch each other's backs out there." Grey looked serious as he stared at all of their faces to emphasize his point. "Be careful."

They arrived at the apartments and started to prepare. Lopez started preparing body armor with ballistic plates inside her uniform and he followed her actions. "Do you have your backup piece?"

"Strapped to my leg." He replied.

"This could get ugly, fast, so we're being more cautious than usual. How's your ammo?" Lopez asked.

"I brought more than regulation required." He tapped the magazines attached to my belt.

"Good. Keep a sharp eye out, and I'll buy you a beer tonight if the operation goes well." His T.O. replied.

"This operation will go faster if we split up." Bradford had overall command of the operation and started handing out assignments. He and Chen would check the third floor, with Bishop acting solo on the second while they were assigned to knock on the units on the ground floor.

"Stay in constant radio contact." Bradford reminded the team as he entered the building first.

They were halfway through the floor, most people that answered the door were uncooperative and Lopez was getting annoyed at their rudeness when they both heard gunfire from the upper floor.

"Tim, we're hearing gunshots, what's your status?" Lopez asked on the radio. She tried again. "Talia, you there?"

He could only hear static noise, and there was no response from the two officers. He checked his phone and looked at Lopez.

"There's no signal from my phone either." He informed her. They could hear more gunshots and he started looking around for threats as he pulled out his weapon.

Lopez suddenly dragged him around the corner as a hail of bullets flew past where they were a moment ago. They started to return fire, but they couldn't fire many rounds with the gunmen wielding semi-automatic weapons to suppress them. He pulled back Lopez by her collar as bullets passed through the walls they were taking cover from.

"We need to get out of this hallway." Lopez yelled out and they slowly backed away to find better cover. They quickly retreated down the hallway and took a few turns until Lopez found a suitable defensive position in a corner that gave the two of them a better vantage point. A man appeared around the corner carrying a plastic bag, and Lopez immediately pointed her weapon at him.

"Police! Show me your hands!" She yelled out.

"Wait! Don't shoot!" The man put down the grocery bag he was carrying and raised his hands in the air.

"They went this way! Two cops!"

He could hear the conversation down the hall and tapped Lopez. "They're coming."

"Where's your apartment?" Lopez demanded. They could hear footsteps running above them.

"Why?"

"We need to get out of this hallway."

Thankfully the man cooperated and led them to his apartment. He closed the door and kept his eye on the peephole. Four heavily armed men ran past the door and he moved back and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Vance said no witnesses!"

"Tell him we're going upstairs!"

He locked the door and started to inspect their new location.

"Hey, what are you doing?" The man who lived in the apartment demanded. "You don't have a warrant and you can't conduct a search!"

He ignored him and looked around for possible entry points from the gunmen.

 "They went upstairs. We're clear." Lopez observed from the peephole and turned back and moved into the center of the room.

"Place is secure." He told his T.O. "But we're stuck, there are bars on the windows. Do you think the others are alright?"

"I hope so." He could see the worry in Lopez's face. They knew Talia was by herself.

"They're gone already, you need to leave." The man demanded.

"I'm sorry sir, but we can't. Those men are out there with semi-automatic weapons trying to kill us." He replied, seeing as Lopez was content to remain silent.

"Vance?" The man asked.

"Yeah, you know about him?" He asked.

 "Yeah, enough to steer clear. He has a dozen guys living here. You walked into a buzz saw."

He shared a worried glance with Lopez and turned back to their host.

"No kidding." Lopez replied. "We need to call for help but he's jamming our signals."

"Shut the power to the building, jammer should go off." The man suggested. "There's a main circuit breaker in the basement. I see it every time I do my laundry."

"Good idea, but how do we get there without getting spotted?" He asked as he looked at the peephole. "I can see men standing outside the stairwell."

Lopez moved to the kitchen and started knocking on the wooden wall.

"What are you doing? Why are you knocking on my walls?" The man asked.

Lopez's idea was creative. He repeatedly tried to assure the man that the station would pay for his bill, but the man was furious as he started removing the drywall with a borrowed crowbar.

"I'm going to record this for evidence!" He muttered and he held his phone towards where he was in the process of creating a hole in his wall.

"Please do, it might be helpful." Lopez replied in a dry tone.

It took them five minutes to crawl down behind the wall, using the pipes to hold their weight as they continued going down. Lopez slipped but he quickly grabbed her by her uniform and pushed his feet against the pipes and wall to stabilize his position. His T.O. quickly grabbed a secure hold once more and he let her go.

"Thanks." She whispered. "You definitely earned a bottle of beer from me tonight."

"What would it take for two bottles?" He asked, trying to lighten up the mood as they continued their descent.

"Getting out of here unharmed." Lopez replied.

They were both breathing hard as their feet touched solid ground once more. He found a maintenance access door, and Lopez quickly peeked through it. She closed the door once more and turned to him.

"I can see two armed men." She whispered. "And the circuit breaker. Let's move quietly. You lead, I'll cover you."

They slowly moved to the basement floor and he crossed the hallway while the guard was looking the other way. Once he reached the circuit breaker, he shut it down. The lights immediately turned off and the emergency lights turned on a few seconds later.

The gunmen looked confused as they looked around but they did not spot anything wrong.

"Is it a blackout?" One of the guards asked.

"Maybe the circuits tripped." Another gunman replied. "Check the breaker. We need that jammer running."

He moved deeper into the shadows and used it for cover after a guard with a semi-automatic strapped to his back walked towards the circuit breaker. He quickly pulled the gunman closer and covered his mouth in one move. His pistol struck the gunman in the back of the head and he collapsed to the wall.

He slowly pulled the man down so as not to make any noise and removed his semi-automatic rifle from him. he checked the man's waist and found two extra magazines and took those as well. During that time Lopez was observing his movements.

"Kyle, what's up? Is it the breaker?" A guard asked from the entrance to the basement. He positioned the man so that he looked like he was sleeping by the wall and hid back in the shadows once more.

The second guard moved towards the breaker looking mad. "I swear Kyle if you're doing a hit, Vance will knock your teeth…"

He lunged at the guard, but the man's reflexes were faster than his predecessor and they wrestled on the floor.

"They're here! Cops are here!" The man was able to yell before Lopez knocked him out. Bullets started flying and they both ducked and jumped to their respective covers. The unconscious man was pulled by Lopez by his feet out of the path of the bullets and was trying to get to the gunman's weapon.

He used the weapon he acquired and started shooting back, and this time he could see the enemy gunmen moving back, apparently surprised by his rate of fire. Lopez joined in with her own acquired weapon and joined the firefight.

The exchange of fire was intense, and it looked like the remaining guards received reinforcement as more gunfire came from the entrance.

"I'm out!" Lopez discarded the semi-automatic and pulled out her weapon. He aimed his last rounds carefully and was able to hit the leg of the nearest guard before he tossed the rifle away and pulled out his weapon.

They were being overwhelmed, and they simply could not keep up with the enemy's rate of fire.

"I need ammo!" Lopez yelled.

He slid one of his spare magazines to her and continued firing. The gunmen were able to move closer to them, and now they could barely peek through before getting sprayed by a hail of bullets. Lopez resulted in firing her weapon without even looking as dust and stone chipped off parts of the wall and rained down on their positions.

He tossed his last magazine to her, and there was a brief lull in the fighting as the gunmen reloaded their weapons. She stared at him with determined eyes and he nodded at the unspoken message. They would not go down without a fight.

They were about to move when a loud noise rang in their ears and a loud flash seared their eyes. They fell back, disoriented and dizzy.

Five minutes later and the dizziness abated and he found himself being looked over by Nolan and Commander West. Around him were more police officers in tactical gear.

"Can you hear me Routh?" Nolan asked.

"Lopez? Where's Lopez?" He asked and tried to sit up.

"Sit down son, she's fine." Commander West replied with a smile. "You were more exposed to the flash grenade than she was."

"Is everyone okay?" He asked. "I shut the power to the building, I didn't know if it worked."

"It did." Commander West replied. "You saved a lot of lives today."

"It was Lopez's idea." He replied as he was slowly helped to his feet by Nolan. He tried to take a step but stumbled, and he took his time as he steadied his legs.

"Think you can walk?" Nolan asked.

"Yeah…. Thanks." He replied. He made his way up the basement. The previously empty parking lot where they parked their shop was now filled with emergency vehicles and more cops. He spotted the Captain and Grey who immediately rushed toward him as he was slowly led to the waiting ambulance.

"He's fine, just effects from a flashbang." Commander West answered before they could ask questions.

"And a few nicks from the broken debris." The attending EMT added. "This will sting."

He endured the EMT's treatment of his wounds and looked around. He could see Lopez talking to Bishop who was in a separate ambulance. Bradford and Chen were now speaking with Nolan and he smiled seeing all of them survived relatively unharmed

"That was a brave thing you did." Sergeant Grey said to him. "Investigators said there must have been hundreds of rounds fired in that basement. I'm amazed both you and Lopez left that room basically uninjured."

"We had each other's backs." He replied. "And I brought extra ammunition. I'm glad I did."

"Do you want to go to the hospital?" Grey asked.

"I'm fine." He replied. "There's only a mild ringing in my ear."

"Yeah, that's not going to happen, Officer Routh. You need to get to the hospital for a proper check-up." Captain Andersen finally joined the conversation. He noticed she remained silent since they approached him.

"Yes mam." He replied. The EMT pushed him back on the trolley and loaded him to the back of the ambulance. Before it closed he was joined by Lopez.

"What? Do you think I'll skip out on my promise?" Lopez joked. "I owe you two beers boot."

"How is everyone?" He asked.

"Talia's on her way to the hospital too. She got dinged on the arm, but she's tough. You have two detectives who wanted to see you though. Expect them to visit you later." Lopez answered, looking amused. "They were too embarrassed when they were rescued by the LAFD."

"What happened?"

"Wolfe and Vestri got stuck on the elevator." Lopez shared. "Your timing couldn't be more perfect, they were headed to an ambush, according to Bishop. Two men were waiting outside the elevator ready for them when you cut off the power. The surprise allowed Bishop to ambush them in turn."

"You know it was your idea to go through the walls." He reminded her. "Don't push this all on me."

"I don't mind." Lopez shrugged. "You saved me from a nasty fall, and disabled two gunmen in the process. The additional magazines you brought and the rifles we used saved our lives."

"Let's just say it was a Lopez-Routh collaboration." He suggested.

"I like the sound of that." 

The doctors determined that he needed to stay overnight for observation despite his protests. He insisted on leaving by tonight whenever a doctor or nurse came by to check on him. He was already feeling okay, aside from a slight headache and he got off the bed and started to head to the door to look for a doctor when it opened.

 "What do you think you're doing?" Captain Andersen asked, folding her arms and looking unimpressed with him.

"I was about to look for a doctor."

"I've heard." His captain replied, pushing him back to bed. "They told me you're a very stubborn patient."

"But that's also what I like about you." Andersen said as she sat on the chair beside his bed. She grabbed his arm and squeezed it tightly. "What happened earlier scared me. I thought I lost you."

Zoe closed her eyes briefly and leaned back on her chair, maintaining her hold on his right hand. "I thought I was prepared, but it's harder than I realized."

"I'm willing to fight for it with you." He replied, squeezing her hand in turn. She stood up and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. He saw her smile briefly as she stepped back and then her mask slid into place. "I'm glad you're okay, Officer Routh. Expect a big surprise when you get back home."

"I'm looking forward to it, Captain." He replied.

He was visited an hour later by the two detectives who sat on either side of him. They thankfully brought dinner from the taco truck and gave their thanks for saving them from ambush.

"It was Lopez's idea, detectives." He replied.

"We'll thank her too. But you cut off the power. Those seconds literally saved our lives, and we've seen Bishop's body cam footage." Wolfe replied. "They had AK-47s ready to spray on the elevator door the moment it reached the floor. I don't even want to think what would happen if you cut off the power ten seconds later."

"The LAFD did make fun of us through." Vestri added with a grin, trying to make light of their near-death encounter.

"We'll get them next time at the bowling game." Wolfe replied. "We're heading back to the station. See you around Routh."

"Call on us if you need anything." Vestri added with a wave of his hand a smile.

He was discharged the next morning, and he was eager to make the roll call on time. He was about to look for a taxi when Lopez arrived in her shop at the entrance of the hospital.

"What? Do you think I'll let you off because of a measly flash grenade? We got work to do boot!" Lopez replied to his surprised look.

He was welcomed by his fellow police officers and he quickly suited up and soon joined the briefing room. Unfortunately his test lecture had to be moved by a couple of weeks because of the incident, and he was fine with it since it gave him more time to prepare.

The next few weeks on patrol without anything happening worthwhile were exactly what he needed. Even if Lopez started looking more bored by the day with simple arrests and responding to neighbor disputes. It allowed him to develop his relationship with his girlfriend when his shift ended.

The sex was fantastic, but he also enjoyed their cuddling time as they shared their experiences of their days at their respective jobs. He didn't realize how much paperwork his girlfriend handled on a day to day basis.

It was on one night, after a passionate round of lovemaking and he was hugging her from behind. He still had his dick partially buried inside her sex as it went limp, but they both enjoyed the intimacy and sensation it provided.

"They called you and wanted to arrest their neighbor because a ball landed on their lawn?" Zoe giggled causing her chest to shake in a pleasing manner. He reached out and started playing with her nipple.

"I just finished signing off that incident with Vance." She closed her eyes and bit her lip as he rolled her now hard nipple between his fingers.

"That was nearly two weeks ago." He observed.

"Paperwork is tedious." Zoe complained. "There are too many reports to review before I sign it off. Sometime I miss doing police work on the ground."

"Well, why don't you do it?" He whispered in her ear. "I bet you'd look fantastic in that patrol uniform I saw in your closet."

"You're bad." She replied, turning around and looking at him. "You just want to see how good I looked in my uniform, and then have your wicked way with me while wearing it."

"You know me Zoe. I get aroused seeing you wield that power and authority." He replied.

"And I bet you'll get off even better if you see me in one. I didn't peg you as a badge bunny." Zoe looked to be considering it as she started to move her waist against his now hardening dick. "Fine, I do miss doing real police work."

"Will you give me a preview?" He asked.

"No." Zoe giggled.

"Please?" He asked again.

"No, and don't make me put you in handcuffs for begging."

"Please? He asked once more, thrusting into her harder than normal.

She gasped and turned around, wearing a determined expression on her face. "So it's one of those nights."

She pulled out of him and retrieved her handcuffs inside her drawer. They playfully wrestled on the bed, and he really didn't have to act that hard. His lover skillfully cuffed his hand above his head and into the bars of the headboard.

"You've been a bad boy, Officer Routh." Zoe began as she stared at him. She jumped on him, and turned around, presenting her ass to him as she reached over and played with his erect dick.

"Lick my ass, Officer Routh, as punishment for your dirty behavior." Zoe demanded. He knew she liked these types of role play and he started licking the crack of her ass all the way to her dripping cunt.

"I said my ass, Officer Routh." Zoe repeated.

His tongue played with her puckered anus, causing his lover to moan in pleasure. He inserted his tongue and started rimming her, enjoying every part of her body. Zoe shook in pleasure a few minutes later as she reached her climax. After a minute of convulsing, she reached for his dick once again and started to give him a blowjob.

The next morning, he arrived at the station, looking eager to see his girlfriend in uniform. He met Lucy who had just left the female locker room.

"Hey Jack."

"Good morning Lucy." He greeted back. "You look excited this morning."

"Henry's coming over to visit." She replied.

"Henry?"

"John's son." She explained. "I promised Henry I'd give him a tour of the city tonight."

"Right. I didn't know you were close with Nolan's kid. Did you meet at the academy graduation?"

"No, he followed Jackson and my own instargram accounts during the academy when he saw how close we were with his dad, and we followed him in turn." Lucy shared. "Oh look, there he is!"

"Henry!" Lucy as expected gave a quick hug to Nolan's son.

"It's good to finally meet you! I saw you react to my post in the airport." Henry replied.

John looked confused. "Do you know each other?"

"We follow each other in instargram since we were in the academy." Lucy explained.

"Right, you may not know him, but he was part of my graduating class in the academy." John started to introduce him and he stepped forward to offer a hand.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Jack Routh…" He didn't get to finish as Henry's eyes widened in shock when he saw him.

"Holy crap! You're Sugar!" Henry exclaimed.

"Sugar?" He asked. He looked at Lucy and John but they all looked confused as well.

"You went viral in Cliptok and Instargram! I can't believe you're my dad's friend!" Henry continued as he showed clips of his performance in the musical bar weeks ago. "Do you have an album?"

"Uhhh no."

"I can't believe I finally know of your real identity." Henry replied, still looking star struck. "The internet even have memes about you! I can't wait to tell mom…"

"I think you should hold off on that." John stepped in. "Jack really values his privacy."

"Oh right." Henry stopped typing. "Could we at least have a selfie? I promise I won't post it online."

He shrugged and allowed Henry to pose with him. Lucy looked amused as she started searching for him using his apparent new nickname.

"Let's go to briefing before Grey chews us out, sugar." Lucy giggled and dragged him to the briefing room.

The briefing from Grey went on as usual, including a little harmless teasing towards Nolan. He really was the sergeant's favorite. Finally the moment he anticipated since last night arrived.

The captain came in, with her hair styled in a bun wearing a crisp patrol uniform. He continued to stare at his girlfriend, amazed at her new look. She really filled out her uniform well, and her body was perfectly proportioned in his eyes.

The captain received a surprised reaction from his fellow police officers.

"Alright captain!"

"Hell yeah!"

The captain endured the teasing with a smile.

"Most of what a captain does is paperwork. Because of that, I feel like I've lost touch with being a cop is all about. People. It's not only the citizens that we served and protect." The captain looked around, instantly commanding attention and respect. "It's about every single one of you in this room. So to remedy that, I decided that sergeant Grey and I will ride patrol today."

"Together?" Bradford asked.

"No, we'll each ride with our respective rookie, and their T.O.s will pair up. Today, I will ride with Officer Chen." The captain replied.

Lucy looked thrilled and he noted with amusement how Nolan started to get nervous. He knew what was coming.

"Sergeant Grey, I'd be honored if you rode with Officer Routh." Nolan tried to avoid the inevitable.

"That's cute Officer Nolan." Grey approached Nolan with an amused look and crossed his arms. "But you know my heart belongs to you."

Even the captain smiled as almost everyone in the room laughed.

He hanged back to allow the rest of the officers to leave first. He finally stood up and watched the captain walk ahead of him, and he enjoyed the view for a few moments. He turned to the armory and saw the captain looking at him before she continued to the bullpen to wait for Chen. 

He knew he was caught staring. He picked up their gear beside Lucy who was looking flustered and excited as she prepared her own equipment, until Bradford arrived and ordered her to prepare his shop as well.

"Do you want a hand with that?" He asked, seeing how she juggled all the bags.

"Bradford, Bishop." The captain called out.

The two training officers immediately headed to her. "Officer Chen is my boot today, and that means you get your own gear."

"Badass." He heard Lucy whisper.

He finished preparing his own shop and waited for Lopez. She stormed into the bay looking pissed.

"My mother." She sighed as she looked at her phone when he asked her what was wrong. "She wants to know if I'm bringing a date to my brother's wedding."

"That sounds nice." He replied. "What got you so annoyed?"

"Not when there's extras on it. If I don't bring a date she's going to spend the whole day trying set me up with the best man. Hugo."

"What's wrong with Hugo?" He asked.

"He smells like kitty litter, and I don't think he owns a cat." Lopez looked serious, and he realized she was not joking.

"He spent the day during my niece's baptism bragging about how much he squats."

He muffled a laugh as he got into the shop. He knew when Lopez was annoyed she preferred to drive to let off some steam. She calmed down a couple of hours into their patrol and headed to their lunch spot between the two food trucks.

This time she was ranting at the patrol officers that rushed to Chen's location when she reported a shots fired call.

"The captain didn't ask for backup." Lopez continued her rant. "She's not a damsel in distress, and those idiots that responded only made bigger problems. If that were Grey they wouldn't have rushed in like the cavalry."

"Stop that guy! He's getting away!"

They turned to see a man in a suit running in their direction. Lopez immediately stopped the man running and they soon got into a heated debate.

The man appeared to be a lawyer, judging by his knowledge and answers as he continued to argue with Lopez, whose hands he noticed were inching towards her pepper spray.

"Maybe we could help him out." He suggested. He asked for some privacy from the now annoyed lawyer and spoke with his T.O.

"Fine, but if he mouths off on me one more time, he's getting the pepper spray." Lopez warned him as she glared at the waiting lawyer. he managed to convince her that dealing with a complaint from a lawyer was not worth the trouble and his T.O. grudgingly agreed to help track the thief.

They followed his tracker and he decided to talk to the lawyer to calm him down to prevent him from getting pepper sprayed by his T.O. The mouthy lawyer caught Lopez in one of her bad days and he feared for his safety.

"What's so important in that briefcase?" He asked.

"Handwritten depositions. My client may go to jail if I lose them." The lawyer explained.

"Maybe your client belongs in jail." Lopez retorted. Not helping! He gave her a glance but Lopez ignored him, she was still focused on the lawyer.

"Why handwritten?" He asked, trying to distract the lawyer from replying to Lopez's comment.

"To protect my client's privacy. I don't trust the cloud with anything important." The lawyer stopped walking and looked at his tracker. "Wait wait. It should be right around the corner!"

He quickly ran and they both followed him to see a man in a purple sweater trying to open a leather briefcase.

"Hey!" The lawyer called out.

"Police! Stop!" Angela yelled and the thief ran, throwing the briefcase at her to try and distract her.

She dodged the briefcase and executed a flying tackle and started to cuff the thief once she pinned him to the ground.

"Hey! Take it easy!" The lawyer complained.

"What?" Angela snapped in irritation.

"You don't have to be so rough!"

"You're criticizing my arrest?" Lopez asked. He took over and pulled the thief to his feet.

"Because I was expecting a thank you for getting your briefcase back." Lopez added.

They soon got into a debate about due process and proper use of force. He and the thief watched as they continued to get closer to one another until their faces were nearly kissing.

"They really dig each other, huh?" The thief observed with a smile.

"Like an old married couple." He agreed.

"Yeah." The thief replied. "My ex and I used to scream each other like that. It was hot. The make-up sex was unbelievable."

He processed the thief back at the station, as his T.O. continued to complain about the lawyer who was now threatening to go ahead with his complaint. This day was just weird.

He looked on with surprise when Lucy and the Captain arrived with a suspect. The Captain had a shiner on the side of her face and Lucy looked extremely embarrassed as most of the officers in the area stared at her.

"What happened?" He asked as his girlfriend headed to the front desk.

"The suspect swung towards me and I ducked." Lucy admitted. "He hit the Captain instead. I'm going to get a lot of flak for that."

 "What with your T.O.?" She asked. Lopez looked incredulous as the lawyer gave the thief advice on how to speak with the investigators. They were still arguing at the station.

"It's been a weird day." He replied.

They heard a commotion at the front desk and found the captain confronting a man with facial tattoos, who had a gun pointing to a civilian. He immediately pulled out his weapon and aimed it at the suspect.

"You don't want to do this. You don't have to do this." Captain Andersen stated with her hands out. He noticed her weapon was missing from her holster and realized she placed it in the weapons locker.

"I'll do anything to go back inside." The man whispered.

"Trust me, you'll go back in." The captain replied.

"I can't do a short fall." The man continued as he looked around. He slowly inched towards the gunman, preparing to take action at a moment's notice. "I can't take it out here."

"Okay. I get that. I get that you're not used to a little freedom." His girlfriend continued to talk the man down. "I felt the exact same way after I let the corps. Got used to be told what to do, where to go, what to eat, where to sleep.

"Why does she have to suffer just because you're undergoing a crisis?" The captain indicated his female hostage. "She didn't sign up for that. Put the gun down!"

"Bitch!" The man yelled at his girlfriend. He moved closer as the gunman turned to the captain. "I don't care what she signed up for."

"You pull that trigger, and half a dozen cops are going to light you up, and I know you don't want that." The captain added.

"Shut up!" The man screamed.

"Okay." The captain stepped back. He noticed her glance at his direction and slowly holstered his weapon and moved one more step closer behind the man. "I have… I have one more question."

"In your previous crimes, have you used a gun?" She asked looking at the gun in his hands.

"What? Why?" The man leaned forward in confusion.

"You got your safety on." The captain pointed out, staring at the man's gun.

The man looked at his gun for a moment and he suddenly moved. He quickly took hold of the gun by the barrel and wrenched it out of his hand in a flash, making sure it was pointed away from bodies around them while at the same time, the captain tackled the man to the ground. The rest of the officers responded quickly as they secured the deranged ex-convict while the others assisted the female hostage.

"Holy crap." Lucy observed. "That was amazing teamwork."

"I told you the captain could take care of herself." Lopez said with a smile to the other officers as she cuffed the ex-convict. "Good work boot. I didn't even see you move."

"What the hell happened here?"

He looked up and wrinkled his nose as Tim Bradford appeared, sweating like he walked for miles and smelling like he swam in sewage.

"Did you just get skunked?" Lucy asked as everyone covered their noses.

Bradford didn't bother to reply as he practically ran to the locker room.

"Ready to head out?" Nolan asked him in the locker room as they finally reached the end of their shift.

"Yeah." He replied. "I have to pass by the pharmacy first."

"Lucy is taking out Henry tonight. He wants to see the beachside scene. Do you want to pass by?" Nolan offered.

"Why not." He replied once Nolan shared the details. Luckily the pharmacy he intended to go was near the beach and it was the only establishment that stocked up on the product. The line was quite long in the pharmacy and he waited his turn as he read the effects of the cream in the packaging.

"Who is that for?" He heard a familiar voice and turned around to see his girlfriend. She had the exact same product he was looking for in her hands.

"For you, actually." He replied. "I was planning to surprise you."

"We really need to coordinate." Zoe said as she gave him a brief hug and a kiss which he quickly returned.

"Have you had dinner yet?" He asked.

"I was planning on take-out while I'm here." Zoe replied. "Do you have anything in mind?"

"Lucy is taking out Nolan's son Henry for a tour of the beachside scene. I think they're planning a picnic. Do you want to come?"

"Sure." He could see her face light up at the idea of a picnic. They made their purchases and bought drinks and supplies from a convenience store and soon found the location Nolan indicated. What they saw surprised them.

"Hey it's the Captain!"

"Captain!"

Instead of three people, he saw a large gathering of fellow officers and some even brought their families. Sergeant Grey was with what looked like his wife and daughter, Nolan with his son Henry, and then the rest of the patrol officers. The lawyer Angela fought with earlier was even present.

"Look who I met at the pharmacy." He said to the group. "I decided to invite the Captain."

"I heard there was a picnic." His girlfriend greeted the group and quickly made her way to Grey and his family and followed her.

"Routh, I'd like you to meet my wife Luna, and my daughter Dominique." Grey introduced him.

"So you're the star rookie I keep hearing about." Luna greeted him with a smile. "My daughter won't stop talking about you after Henry told her who you were."

"I didn't realize Officer Routh had fans. I didn't even know he could sing." Grey looked amused.

"Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god Oh my god." Dominique started to hyperventilate as he reached her.

"Sugar!" She squealed and suddenly hugged him.

"Hi! Nice to meet you." He said awkwardly and tried to pat her back.

"Sugar?" Zoe asked in confusion.

"It's the name given to him after he went viral after his performance in the music bar." Henry eagerly explained to the amusement of the other officers.

"Sugar does sound better than boot." Lopez remarked.

"It does." Zoe agreed, and he could see the mirth in her eyes.

"Please don't. Boot sounds fine." He replied immediately. He was beginning to dislike the name.

"Let's eat before the food turns cold." Nolan suggested and they quickly started picking on the food prepared on the picnic table. A few had brought blankets and were preparing their own spots around the table. There was a variety of pizza, tacos, nachos and sandwiches, food perfect for the beach that didn't require utensils.

He wandered around each group and finally spoke with the lawyer who was seated beside Angela.

"Good to see you again." He offered a hand to the lawyer. "I see you patched things up with my T.O."

"We finally came to see eye to eye." Angela replied. "Wesley caught me on a bad day, and he realized I was only trying to help him. He's my date for my brother's wedding."

"I'm sure Hugo would be disappointed." He joked.

"Who is Hugo?" Wesley Evers, the lawyer asked.

"He's the best man Angela's mom is trying to set him up with, and the reason you saw her in a bad mood today." He explained. "Look at her now, so nice and mellow. You're amazing, buddy."

"You'll pay for that on Monday, Sugar." Lopez promised as Wesley laughed.

The picnic continued, and then Dominique produced a guitar and sang a few songs at the urging of her mother and Henry. He was seated beside Zoe finishing the last of his pizza when Dominique asked for a performance.

"Please?" Dominique begged.

"It would really mean a lot to her." Luna added. The other officers realized what was happening and encouraged him to perform.

"You can just sing a song without any accompaniment since your vocals are good enough." Zoe added, lending her support to the group.

"Sure, but please don't upload the video with my real name." He asked.

"Of course Jack!" Dominique and Henry promised immediately.

"And can I borrow your guitar?" He asked the girl who immediately agreed.

"You know how to play the guitar?" Lucy asked in surprise.

"I know how to play a few instruments." He replied with a smile. He closed his eyes for a moment, searching for a perfect song.

Angela Lopez

As part of his fan club, she was excited to hear another performance from her boot. Welsey looked confused at the reaction of the other officers and she just told him to listen.

Jack sat on a cooler, and the rest of the group sat on blankets around a lamp in a semi-circle around him.

Talia, Lucy, Henry and the captain had their phones ready to record Jack's performance.

He tested the guitar and adjusted the tension of the strings by ear.

"He's got perfect pitch." She heard Wesley comment.

"What?" She asked,

"Usually you need a tuner to adjust a guitar. He doesn't need one since he can adjust it by ear. He can identify musical notes correctly without any reference." Wesley explained.

Jack was finally ready and started playing a simple tune on the guitar.

"This is called, I'm Yours." Jack explained and she noticed him give a quick glance at someone beside her. She turned to the right and noticed their captain watching him intently with a soft smile on her usually stern face.

Her eyes widened at the implication. Could it be? Her inner fangirl squealed. The badass captain she admired and the handsome super rookie had all the signs of an epic love story in the making.

[I'm Yours- Jason Mraz Demo Remaster 2023]

The tune was simple, and she hadn't seen that style of playing with the guitar before, using the strumming as part of the beat and plucking to deliver the notes.

The simplicity and their surroundings was a stark contrast to his previously electric and jam packed performance, and she found the tune suited their environment perfectly.

Well, you done done me in, you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill, but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
Now, I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out, I'll be giving it my bestest
And nothing's gonna stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn
To win some or learn some

She heard the captain gasp in surprise. His singing style was totally different, and she loved it. His voice was soft and refreshing, something she could listen to every day.

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

 The tune from the intro returned, and she found herself slightly swaying with Wesley with their arm around each other's waist. She had to thank Jack, he provided the perfect mood for a first date. She looked around and saw the rest were totally enraptured by his performance.

Sergeant Grey was wide-eyed, amazed at the sight of Jack singing so beautifully.

Well, open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and, damn, you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find
Love, love, love

Listen to the music of the moment, maybe sing with me?

I like peaceful melody
It's our godforsaken right to be
Loved, loved, loved, loved, loved

She was hugging Wesley tighter as a gentle breeze lifted strands of her hair out of place. Grey and his wife were hugging each other too, their group focused on the amazing performance.

She was positive Jack was staring straight at Zoe whenever he sang the chorus though he closed his eyes at times.

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

She heard Zoe sniff and knew the captain was crying from the heartfelt song. She saw watery eyes from the other girls, especially Lucy and Dominique.

Jack started humming to the tune he was playing, showing how accurate his pitch was as Wesley suspected. She couldn't believe he could produce such sounds from a single guitar.

"He's amazing." Wesley whispered in her ear.

"He is." She replied. "You should listen to his other songs."

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure

Well, open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and, damn, you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find
Love, love, love

Listen to the music and the moment, come and dance with me?

I like one big family
It's your godforsaken right to be
Loved, loved, loved, loved, loved

Well, open up your mind and see like me

Open up your plans and, damn, you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find

Love love love love love

He held the last note as the guitar tune slowed and the song finally ended. There was no applause at first, every member of their picnic mesmerized by the song. She looked around and noticed that even a dozen bystanders had moved closer to listen to Jack's performance.

Then they all started clapping, even the bystanders. She saw how the captain was struggling not to jump up and kiss her man, she would have done the same if someone had written a song just for her and performed like that.

 "I didn't realize we had such a talented Rookie." Grey commented. "Good job Routh."

"You were so amazing!" Dominique gushed.

Henry and Dominique insisted on a few more selfies and promised not to reveal any information about him, although they would use the hashtag sugar and post videos of his performance in their social media accounts.

"Good job Sugar." Tim joked. "Do you want to record a few of your songs in a studio?"

"And if you want to copyright them, I can help you with that." Wesley unexpectedly offered, and she couldn't resist but kiss him on the cheek at his display of generosity.

"If I finish a dozen songs, maybe I can make an album." Jack replied. "Thanks for the offer Wesley, but I don't plan on making a profit with any of the songs I sang."

"But they're catchy. You can make a lot of money with these." Wesley replied.

"Maybe we can copyright them, so that others won't use them to earn money themselves." Jack replied. "Could you help me with that?"

"Sure. Angela will give me your number so we can work out the details." Wesley promised.

The group soon packed up, and Jack left first since he was parked nearest to the picnic grounds. They all watched as he drove off with bike.

"He's so cool." Dominique repeated to her mother.

"I can't believe I know such a famous person." Henry added. "Thanks for tonight Dad."

"You should thank Lucy, it was her idea." Nolan replied.

The captain left quickly after that, and she watched with intrigue as her car left with speed nearing the speed limit. She wasn't sure yet about her suspicions, and she resolved to observe the two more and how they acted in the station.

But for tonight, she would focus on her date. Jack's song put her into a playful mood.

Zoe Andersen

She immediately parked her car and practically ran into the elevator with her bag. She waited impatiently until the door opened, and withheld a groan when it opened at the ground floor too allow other residents inside.

After waiting for what felt like an hour, she finally reached her floor and quickly used her key and opened her door. She quickly stripped off her jacket, blouse and pantsuit and donned the patrol uniform she wore today.

She was smelly and filthy by now, but Jack said he didn't want her to shower. She looked at her watch and waited impatiently.

She heard a knock on the door and quickly opened it, revealing Jack who was still wearing a simple shirt with his jacket and pants. She quickly rushed towards him and gave him a deep kiss. She felt his hands roam around her ass and squeeze them and she smiled against his lips.

"I bet you wanted to do that since this morning." She whispered in his ear.

"You have no idea." Jack replied. "I couldn't keep my eyes off you."

"My ass you mean." She giggled. "I'm wearing the uniform just as you wanted. Happy?"

"Yes." Jack replied as he pulled her for a kiss. He turned around and in within moments she realized she was cuffed behind her back like a criminal.

"I now have you, Captain Andersen at my mercy." Jack whispered in her ear as she felt him grope her breast through her uniform.

"It looks like I am." She replied, playing along. "What do you plan to do with me?"

"Tasting you." He led her to the couch and allowed her to fall forward while he maintained a grip on her waist. Her pants flew down to her knees, followed by her panties. Her eyes widened in realization. She thought Jack didn't want her to shower because he wanted to join her later for some steamy shower sex, not this.

"Wait! Jack! I'm not clean there!" She called out.

"Oh I know!" Jack replied. "You smell amazing."

She gasped as she felt his nose prod her pussy and her cheeks and she flushed with embarrassment and arousal. It was one thing to taste each other bodies when clean, but it was another when she had just finished two shift patrols and was sweaty from all the action and walking she had to do.

"Ohhh Jack you naughty man!" She groaned as she felt his tongue feast on her sex. "You'll pay for this!"

Jack didn't appear to hear her as he continued ravishing her and she endured his tongue and mouth on her cunt. Then she felt his tongue slide upwards towards her ass.

"Wait! Jack! No!" She cried in alarm as his tongue played around her anus. She couldn't believe he was serious about rimming her right now. She clenched her cheeks in a desperate effort to keep her out, but his tongue was determined and her arousal only grew at the situation.

They had a safe word for games like these, but she decided to surrender her body to him. She couldn't believe he would be willing to explore her body in ways she couldn't imagine before. She knew it was only a matter of time before she gave him her anal virginity, the only thing she could give him.

"Ohhh!" She nearly blacked out from the pleasure. She could only imagine what she looked like right now, bent over the back of the couch in her uniform, her ass and cunt for display for Jack to see and unable to do anything. She was at her most vulnerable and yet she was also incredibly aroused because of it.

She shook as her climax reached her as Jack rimmed her while his fingers played with her clit. He continued licking the cleft of her ass and then her thighs and legs. She started laughing, feeling tickled as his tongue licked the soles of her feet.

"Jack! They're smelly! Oh god!" She burned in shame once more.

"They're a part of you, and I adore every part of your body." Jack replied between licks. "I love everything about you."

Their bondage play ended with her being fucked over the balcony, her patrol uniform unbuttoned showing her breasts. They had closed the lights to hide their activities, but the feeling of their naughty sex play and having her bare body displayed to the world as her pussy was invaded by Jack's cock caused her to have a series of orgasms that melded with each other until she nearly passed out from the pleasure.

Jack finally stopped and she felt his seed trickle down her thighs as he came inside her. She felt the cuffs removed from her arms and she shook them to allow the blood to flow properly and placed her hands on the rail to rest.

"That was amazing Jack." She whispered.

"You're body is amazing." Jack replied. "I wouldn't do this with anyone else. I can't imagine myself doing it with anyone but you."

She smiled and reached behind her so that Jack would cup her exposed breasts. She was feeling a little cold, but she relished the experience of having sex in the balcony.

"We have to do this more often." She replied, squeezing his semi-erect dick inside her pussy for emphasis.

"And even a vacation somewhere where no one knows us." He suggested.

She liked his idea and started to plan for it.

They finished the shower, and after brushing their teeth together like a married couple, prepared for bed. She rarely used her sleepwear anymore, as she got used to sleeping naked with Jack. It now became a routine for them, and she slept better and felt more refreshed in the morning whenever she fell asleep in his arms.

She decided to sleep with on their sides, and briefly raised her leg and waited as Jack's penis entered her cunt. She moaned in pleasure and adjusted herself and pulled Jack's hands around her body, until his hands cupped one of her breasts. What happened as an accident when they first had sex was now a routine for her. She felt secure and complete with him hugging her and his penis inside her. It was long and thick enough that it rarely slipped out of her in the middle of the night and they were both the opposite of restless sleepers and did not move around the bed a lot.

Whenever his penis slipped out she would fish for his penis blindly with her hands and depending if he was still hard, stroke him to hardness and mount him. It was second nature for them by now that sometimes when they slept by their sides at night, they would wake up the next morning in a totally different position, with his dick still inside her and they didn't even have any recollection of what happened. It was by now second nature. She was hopeful though that she would get pregnant soon, though she had read that it would take about a year for the effects of a birth control pill to be totally gone. At her age, she needed to be pregnant soon as the risks only increased as she reached forty.

"Good night." She whispered.

"Good night." Jack replied.

 She was glad for her incredibly relaxing sleep with Jack, the quality of her sleep allowed her to bear the stress and frustration with her work. She couldn't imagine not having him by her side at night anymore. She refused to consider the mere thought of it.

She was falling hard for Jack. This wasn't simple physical attraction anymore.

She was called to a meeting with the other captains with the chief and the mayor the next morning. She, like the other police captains immediately felt wary when they spotted a well-dressed woman looking like she was better than all of them waiting with the chief. She introduced herself as a Secret Service Agent Danvers.

It was just her luck that the vice-president decided to make a few stops over at areas that her division was responsible for, and that meant agent Danvers would use her station as her base camp. The ride with the agent was cordial and pleasant, though she didn't appreciate it when Danvers spotted her boyfriend while he dismounted from his bike and removed his helmet.

"What a hunk." Danvers ogled her boyfriend and she resisted the urge to bash Danver's head into the car window. "Is he one of your officers?"

"He's part of patrol." She replied as she parked her car. She headed to her office, closely followed by Danvers who gave a last look at her boyfriend as he headed to the locker room.

"You certainly have a nice view here." Danvers commented. She was pretty sure the agent meant her boyfriend and not her station.

"Thank you for coming in on your day off." She told the assembled officers. It was Saturday, and she saw a lot of disgruntled faces. "The vice-president is making an unscheduled visit to our city, so it's all hands on deck."

"Agent Danvers." She introduced the special agent and stepped back, giving the other woman the floor.

"Thank you captain." Agent Danvers looked around, and she narrowed her eyes when the other woman took a moment and checked out Jack Routh who was standing near the front with Nolan and Chen.

"As always, the secret service appreciates the LAPD's assistance in clearing and securing Redwood's route. Another agent started to distribute a stack of papers to the assembled officers. She didn't miss the fact that Danvers handed her own copy to Routh who looked confused for a moment.

"These are your operation plan manuals. Each officer has been assigned a specific quadrant and zone along with your specific responsibilities. Your watch commander will liaison with me throughout the day as issues arise."

"These assignments are your priority today." Grey stepped forward. "You will not field calls over dispatch. Let the day shift deal with that."

"Most of you know the drill." She stepped forward and addressed the officers and then turned to the three at the front. "For our rookies, today will get ugly. Everything we do to ensure the route is clear will cause gridlocks. It's important to be vigilant and patient. That's all, dismissed."

She watched them head to their duties as Danvers assigned a special task to Bishop and Nolan.

She headed to her office and started on the stack of paperwork she had to deal with for the day.

Jack Routh

It was a novel experience setting up the shop with the additional gear. Rolls of police tape, traffic cones, extra ticket books, road flares, megaphones, tear gas and what Lopez declared was her favorite, a 40 mm tear gas launcher. They were also handed out riot gear, helmets, heavy duty vests and shields and batons.

"It feels like we're going to war." He said, staring at all the gear he had to bring to the shop.

"It essentially is." Bradford answered. "We're going to piss a lot of people off."

They first had to deal with protesters that chained themselves together in front of a hotel entrance. Lopez allowed him to take the lead, and he stated aloud what he learned from memory when dispersing a crowd of protesters.

"I am Officer Jack Routh. I hereby declare that this to be an unlawful assembly, and in the name of the People of the State of California, command all those assembled to disperse."

The protesters paused for a moment to listen and then continued their chants.

"No justice!"

"No peace!"

"You heard him." Angela yelled over the protesters. "Where are the keys."

One of the men swallowed the key as the protest leaders screamed their chants mere inches from their faces. They soon spotted an emergency as the man who swallowed the key started to choke.

Lopez immediately started the Heimlich maneuver on the choking protester while he ordered the rest to give Lopez space. The protest leaders didn't listen as they panicked at seeing one of their own unable to breathe.

Lopez performed the maneuver one more time, causing the choking man to spit out the key, along with his breakfast to the faces of the protest leaders. He shared an amused look with Lopez who he knew had to be laughing inside.

The protesters voluntarily dispersed once they unlocked their chains and they soon resumed their next task, removing signs placed by a building. The tenants were resistant, since they claimed they were paid by a fellow neighbor to hand the banners from their windows.

They encountered a room filled to the brim with beds full of illegal immigrants, and found the owner and ticketed him for several violations.

"You'll get a visit from us tomorrow." Lopez assured the owner and continued their way to the next unit.

The next unit had a more serious problem, and he was tempted to hit the man who abused his elderly mother with dementia. Lopez had noticed him glaring at the man and made him help the poor woman tied to her wheelchair instead as she cuffed the son. The elderly woman cried and begged as she saw her son being arrested.

"Would you have hit him?" Lopez asked once the EMTs took the poor woman to get checked at the hospital while their back-up came and picked up the son.

"I wanted to." He admitted. "But Zoe… I mean Captain Andersen told me weeks ago that it was not our job to punish criminals. She told me overcoming that impulse is one of the hardest parts of our job."

"She's right." Lopez replied. "I'm glad you remembered to control your emotions. No what's next?"

"Providing security to the secret service mobile command post." He replied. An hour into their boring watch, they heard from the radio that Bishop and Nolan were in trouble, and their position was only a block from their location. they could assist them and get there in less than a minute.

"I'm sorry Officer, but I just don't care." Danvers replied when they informed her that their fellow officers were in immediate danger, outnumbered and outgunned as she refused to let them leave.

"Screw this." Lopez turned around and he immediately followed after her, ignoring Danver's orders as she called for them to return back to their posts.

They quickly drove to the reported location, and immediately opened fire to give cover to Bishop and Nolan who were pinned down by gunfire. Beside them was a man with a bullet wound to his neck, with a pool of blood around his head. Lopez took down one of the suspects with a well-placed shot and he ran as she gave him cover to head over to the wounded man. He dragged him to their shop, and decided to bring the man to a hospital nearby.

He put his gloved hand over the wound in an attempt to slow the bleeding, and Lopez resorted to driving over the sidewalk to avoid the traffic and get to the hospital in time. They finally made it, with emergency personnel waiting for their arrival.

He helped transport the wounded man as he answered the questions of the doctor as they rushed to the emergency room. As he removed the gloves and took a break looking for drinks in the vending machines, he saw Lucy sitting in the waiting area.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. She was pale and looked to be troubled.

"I got stuck by a hypodermic needle this morning." Lucy admitted. "I'm waiting for results if I… If I got something from it."

"I'll wait with you." He replied and started texting Lopez where he was and explained Lucy's situation.

"Thank you." Lucy replied. "I should get the results soon."

"So what song did you like best?" He asked her, trying to give her something else to think.

"What?"

"The songs I sang, what's your favorite?"

"That's a hard one." Lucy smiled briefly. "Let's see, between Payphone, Sugar and I'm yours…"

"It's a simple question." He teased her, nudging her with an elbow.

"But I like all three of them!" Lucy argued. "It's like there's a song for when you still love someone even though you know the relationship isn't healthy, a song for when you're happily in love, and another song trying to profess your love."

"I'm glad you like them so much." He replied. He knew he had to let this world hear some of the songs that existed from his previous life, if it could help them in their emotional moments.

"You know you should collaborate with a famous artist. I'm sure they will like any songs you have." Lucy suggested. "Do you have a song designed for duets?"

"I have a few." He admitted.

"Can I hear a sample?" Lucy asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Why don't we do one better and you sing it with me?" He offered.

"You'd do that?" She asked.

"Of course. You're a good singer, I just need a pen to write the lyrics quickly and show the part you're going to sing."

"But…"

"It's an easy tune, very casual." He waved away her concerns as he began writing. "You'll instantly understand how to sing it after listening to my part first."

"We'll sing it right here? At the hospital?"

"Of course. Where else would we be?"

Lucy Chen

She couldn't help but smile as Jack led her to an unused waiting room after she informed the nurse where she would wait for the results. She looked at Jack fondly. He was still that shy academy cadet she first met in the academy, though he was less aloof now and more friendly and open.

"It's a pretty fun song and I think you'll like it." He added as he showed her the completed lyrics. She saw the part where he wrote "Lucy's part" and almost the entire half of the song where hers! She even saw a portion where they were supposed to sing together. The lyrics were amazing.

"Since we don't have instruments I'll just tap my fingers. I'll also hum some parts, so don't mind me when I hum while you're singing, okay?"

"Okay!" She said in excitement. She never dreamed she would be part of a duet with a talented artist like Jack. And she would be the first to hear it too!

"It's called closer." Jack informed her. He started snapping his fingers and tapping his foot on the floor as he looked at her.

[Closer – Chainsmokers]

Hey, I was doing just fine before I met you
I drink too much and that's an issue but I'm okay
Hey, you tell your friends it was nice to meet them
But I hope I never see them again

She raised her eyebrows at the melody, intrigued at Jack's performance. It was far different from his previous style.

I know it breaks your heart
Moved to the city in a broke down car
And four years, no calls
Now you're looking pretty in a hotel bar
And I can't stop
No, I can't stop

She nearly laughed as she nearly resembled the character Jack was describing in his song.

So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of the mattress that you stole
From your roommate back in Boulder
We ain't ever getting older

She found herself nodding her head to Jack's song and her eyebrows raised when he started humming an accompanying tune as he increased the beat by tapping the plastic seat in front of him as a makeshift drum.

We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older

She opened her mouth as she waited for her cue from Jack, he gave her the signal in time with the beat he provided.

You... look as good as the day I met you
I forget just why I left you, I was insane
Stay... and play that Blink-182 song
That we beat to death in Tucson, okay

She smiled when she saw Jack give her a nod of approval and continued singing as she looked back at the lyrics.

I know it breaks your heart
Moved to the city in a broke down car
And four years, no call
Now I'm looking pretty in a hotel bar
And I can't stop
No, I can't stop

So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of the mattress that you stole
From your roommate back in Boulder
We ain't ever getting older

She joined the humming part, nodding her head to the beat and smiling as she jammed with the music.

We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older

They sang as a duet in the last part of the song, and she matched harmony with Jack. She even raised a hand as if conducting a choir as she sang with her fellow rookie.

So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover
That I know you can't afford
Bite that tattoo on your shoulder
Pull the sheets right off the corner
Of the mattress that you stole
From your roommate back in Boulder

We ain't ever getting older
We ain't ever getting older (we ain't ever getting older)
We ain't ever getting older (we ain't ever getting older)
We ain't ever getting older (we ain't ever getting older)
We ain't ever getting older

We ain't ever getting older
No we ain't ever getting older

They both burst in laughter after the song ended and she quickly hugged him in gratitude.

"That was fun!" She exclaimed after the hug ended. "We should totally do that again!"

"It was." Jack replied. "Maybe a talent show competition in the station. Do we have something like that?"

"We don't, but that a fun song." They turned to see Lopez standing by the door. "The doctor's looking for you with the results."

She almost forgot she was waiting for a life changing result and headed to the door. The doctor was waiting for her and she quickly approached the woman in the white coat.

"I have the results, if you come with me we can set up your room." The doctor stated.

"Can you just tell me now?" She asked as she felt Jack stand behind her. She felt his hand on her shoulder and she reached out and grabbed his hand like a lifeline.

"Okay, so your initial test results came back negative for any viral infections like HIV or hepatitis. But your blood work indicated a presence of staph infection." The doctor answered.

"What does that mean?"

"It means we need to get you into antibiotics soon. Some strains are drug resistant so we'll monitor the wound for abscess or cellulitis, okay?"

"Okay. Does that mean I will be fine?" She asked.

"You will be back to normal, after you finished the round of antibiotics."

She breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Jack and hugged him again. She felt tears fall down her cheeks in relief.

"Thank you, for staying with me." She whispered. She couldn't thank him enough. He didn't realize how important their impromptu jamming session was to her.

"Of course. We need to finalize that duet anyway." Jack grinned.

She smiled and followed the doctor, after Jack assured her he would inform Tim about her status. There was a new spring in her step as she hummed a part of the song while she followed the doctor for her treatment. "We aint ever getting older."

Chapter Text

Episode 6

Angela Lopez

"That was a sweet thing you did." She said to her super rookie. Really, he needed to watch out with these sweet, endearing and thoughtful actions. It looked like Chen nearly fell in love with him right there.

"She needed something else to focus on, and I know she loves to sing." Routh answered.

"Are you going to prepare a duet with me too boot?" She asked.

"Can you sing though?" She nearly laughed when he expressed skepticism at her singing ability and hit him on the shoulder instead as retaliation. Ouch, she forgot her boot had muscles made of steel.

"I can carry a tune." She replied as they headed back to their shop.

Seeing Chen and her boot sing a duet made her curious about the man she was dating. During dinner with him at the end of her shift she decided to ask if he could sing.

"I mean I can carry a tune as well as the next guy…" Wesley replied. "But if you're comparing me to your rookie, then no. Why did you ask?"

"I saw him create a song while he accompanied Chen when she waited for her lab results. She got injured with a used hypodermic needle when they were trying to clear the homeless because of Redwood's visit."

"Is she okay?" He asked in concern.

"She got lucky. But during the wait, my boot created a song and made her sing with him, it was amazing." She answered. "I was thinking of asking him create a song that we can sing together."

"Or why don't we hire him to sing for us for one of our dates?" He suggested. "I really enjoyed our first date at the beach."

"I'm sure you did." She smirked as she remembered that night. She was insatiable, having been on the mood due to Jack's song. Their dinner turned out well, and it carried over to her apartment as her boyfriend stayed overnight for the first time. Unfortunately it was too late to realize today was valentine's day and she forgot to give him a gift.

She breathed a sigh of relief though, when Wesley admitted he had no plans for tonight. He would be busy dealing with a tough judge for his client. And he hastily added that he didn't have a gift prepared for today.

During the briefing that morning Grey was unusually annoyed with Nolan more than the usual. When Nolan apologized for ruining what was essentially an early Valentine's day date for Grey and his wife she finally understood the situation. She heard from the grapevine was pulling double shifts in the last couple of days.

As she waited for her boot to set up the shop, Nolan invited them to a get together at his house after their shift.

"Pass." She immediately replied. She stared at Talia when her friend replied that she also had plans for Valentine's day. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at her friend. Talia avoided looking at her and she suspected what was happening. She thought Talia had stopped seeing the man.

"Don't start." Talia walked away and she quickly followed her friend to the break room.

"It's my business, okay?" Talia said as she took a bottle of water with her. "Not today."

She sighed in frustration and headed back to her boot. Routh was waiting for looking concerned at what happened.

"Just don't." She explained. "It's a girl's thing."

"Got it." Routh replied. "Nolan said she might be on her period."

"He did?" Usually she would rush off to find Talia and tell her what Nolan suspected, but she decided to let this one go. "He might be right."

Their patrol continued as normal, and they decided to get coffee from a newly opened cafe truck and see if their drinks and prices were any good. She noticed Routh was unusually happy as he wore a little smile on his face. The effect caused a few women that they encountered to stop and even stare at her hunky rookie.

She suspected that he had plans for tonight as well with the captain, and that caused her mood to dip even lower when she remembered how easily Wesley said that he didn't have plans for the two of them. Although she remembered the look on her boyfriend's face when he mentioned he didn't have a gift prepared. She knew he was being evasive as he rambled on about the reasons why he was unable to get her something.

That meant he did have something to surprise her with. Crap. And she had no idea what to give to her boyfriend in turn.

She stared at Routh and decided to ask him for advice. "I think Wesley's planning to give me a gift. Does that mean I have to get him one too?"

"That's usually how it works." He replied. She cursed as she didn't like the added pressure of picking a gift that he would like.

"What do guys like as a gift?" She asked.

"It usually depends on the guy. Some like useful things, like tools and gadgets. Some prefer clothes." Routh replied. "I'm not sure about Wesley though."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"He's not flashy, but I know his clothes and shoes are good quality and tailored to fit him. His fashion style is discreet and understated and that costs a lot of money. It's the type that rich people usually prefer." Routh shared his observations. "But his office is just one room on top of an Ethiopian restaurant in the bad part of town when I visited him about the copyrights to the songs I performed. He's a walking contradiction."

She mulled her words over and had to agree with her boot. "So he's a clothes type of guy?"

"Yes and no." They reached their parked shop and Routh placed his coffee cup on the hood of their shop. "He wears custom-tailored clothes but he doesn't dress in a more… loud style. If I were you, I'd give him a combination of both, perhaps a nice tie or a handkerchief. They're both useful and it doesn't need to be tailored to fit him."

"Good advice boot." But she said. She was about to say more when she saw a naked fat man wearing a gimp mask run past their shop. He was chased by another man with golf club.

"I'll kill you!" The man with the club yelled.

 She placed her coffee on the hood- it tasted terrible anyway and set off in pursuit.

"You're tackling the naked one." She said quickly.

They requested backup and brought the naked man to the station, and another unit took the man with the golf club back into their own shop.

They gave the naked man a white jumpsuit and had him processed and locked in a holding cell. She just locked the door when her boyfriend walked in, wearing handcuffs with his arms behind his back and looking annoyed.

She instantly switched focus and told the escorting officer that she would process him as well.

"What happened?" She asked in amusement.

"I got into an argument with Judge Bollard." Wesley explained with a sigh. She had to admit seeing Wesley Evers in cuffs turned her on. 

"I used to have a dream like this." She admitted as she removed his handcuffs.

"I'm going to get something to eat." She heard her rookie speed walk through the door to the break room. She smiled and leaned forward, staring at her boyfriend's face. "Alright counselor, I'm going to need you to empty your pockets, take off your tie and shoes and socks. Do it nice and slow for me."

She twirled the handcuffs on her finger as Wesley complied.

"You're enjoying this way too much." Wesley said as he started to loosen his tie.

"Uh huh." She grinned. "So what did you say to piss off the judge?"

"I was listing cases that used extreme use of force by law enforcement." He explained and removed his tie. "I was trying to set precedent."

"Let me guess, he ruled those were immaterial?" She replied.

"Over and over." Wesley looked frustrated, and she wanted to reach out and comfort him. "It was relevant. By the time my client got the booking his arm was broken."

"Was he resisting arrest?" She asked, wondering what the client could have done to have the process of subduing result in a broken arm. The worst she knew when subduing suspects by herself were just sprains or fractures they suffered when they became aggressive.

"Even if he was, that doesn't give you permission to hurt him like that." Wesley replied.

Wait. What? She stood up and turned around and knocked on the window to gain the attention of the officer who brought Wesley in. "I changed my mind, you book him."

She ignored his pleas and left to join her rookie in the break room. After their break, she appreciated how her boot seemed to sense her mood and refrained from engaging in small talk. They followed up on a case where an elderly man was attacked and he was now in the hospital for treatment.

She introduced herself and her rookie to the man as they asked him more questions. His file stated that he was suffering from dementia and had no family left to help him. She gained no further insight and the old man couldn't even give a good description of his attacker.

"Hey, do you have any records if anyone visited Mr. Scott?" She asked the nurse at the duty station. The male nurse stared at her rookie for a bit and pursed her lips and waited as the nurse finally looked at his records.

"I'm sorry, no one visited him. I don't even know who to call." The nurse reported. "His primary doctor said he lives alone, no immediate family."

"We can do an extended search for him." Her rookie suggested. The nurse gladly wrote Mr. Scott's full name and date of birth to assist in the search.

She stopped by the court house as her annoyance with Wesley faded, and spoke to the court clerk. Wesley must have really annoyed Judge Bollard since he wasn't willing to release him yet. She visited him at his holding cell and informed him of the situation.

"I seem to have that effect on people." Wesley responded when she commented how the Judge was still pissed at him. "Look, I'm sorry okay? I get a little carried away sometimes, but I know you're a good cop."

"Most of us are." She replied, accepting his apology.

"Agreed." Wesley answered. She smiled and offered to let him take her out to dinner when he could finally leave his cell.

"I don't need anything fancy." She added.

"I already made plans." Wesley looked uncomfortable, looking away from her. "I thought I couldn't see you, but I could cancel."

She looked down and shook her head. "No, it's not a big deal." Did he have a date for Valentine's day? Was she just a girl on the side? She grew paranoid with fear and decided to check his phone stored on the shelf. She could see missed calls from a woman called Melanie in his notifications and even a text message confirming a reservation at a fancy restaurant. She put it back and stormed out of the room.

She found her boot on the desk doing an extensive search for the next of kin for Mr. Scott. She sat on the desk and listened as Routh showed to her the results of his search. It seemed the elderly man lived quite a solitary life and tended to move around states.

"You okay?" Routh was looking at her with concern.

"Yeah. It's just…" She took a big breath and exhaled, trying to get control of her emotions. "I think I misread my relationship with Wesley. Good thing I didn't get him a gift."

"Is he cheating on you?" He asked.

"I think so." She admitted. "I think he's seeing someone called Melanie. They have plans tonight. On Valentine's day."

"How did you find out?" Her rookie asked.

"I might have checked his phone." She admitted. She knew what she did was wrong. "There were numerous missed calls and text messages from her on his notifications. Maybe it's his ex-wife? Or girlfriend? Was I just a fling for him?"

"Stop. Angela." He called out, causing her to snap out of her train of thought. Routh rarely called her by her first name.

"Did you just call me Angela, boot?" She asked.

"Yes mam." Routh replied with a smile. "I'm just telling you, you're jumping to conclusions right now. That's not how you trained me."

She grudgingly nodded, she knew what she did was an invasion of Wesley's privacy, but she couldn't bear the thought of him cheating on her.

"You nearly crossed a line with Wesley. You have to tell him what you did soon and apologize. Checking his phone without his consent is a red flag for guys." Routh added.

"Let's also see it from another point of view. Who is this Melanie? Could it be a client? A family member?" Routh added.

"Okay boot." She hopped off his desk. "Thanks for the perspective. I'll give him some space, and if I have doubts, I'll ask him directly."

They resumed their investigation on Mr. Scott and learned new information that could be related to him. There was a report from a woman who claimed she was attacked as well by a Caucasian male who just then fled when the woman was able to fight her attacker off. Unfortunately, there were no further descriptions and she decided to see if Mr. Scott could offer other details.

They found Mr. Scott standing outside the bed, folding the sheets. He seemed happy as he replied that he had to go home since his mother made dinner for him. She shared a concerned glance with Routh and stepped inside his room.

They were able to ask a passing nurse for assistance to get the older man back in bed.

"We think the one that assaulted you attacked someone else beforehand." Routh stated.

"Do you remember anything else that can help with the investigation?" She asked.

Mr. Scott was able to add a few more details that matched up with the woman's statement until he got frustrated with his memory.

"Try and get some rest." She said, seeing how tired he looked.

"Yeah. Is she okay? The woman he assaulted?" Mr. Scott asked.

"From what I hear, yes." Routh answered, though her boot gave her a look. Good, he also caught that.

"Son of a bitch." She headed to the corner where they still had a view of Mr. Scott's door. "He's the one that attacked her."

"What do we do?" Her boot asked.

"I'm going back to the station to mobilize major crimes. They'll get a warrant for his DNA and check it against the woman he attacked" She replied. "You stay here and make sure he stays in that room."

"Got it." Routh nodded and took position a dozen feet from the door.

"Don't let him know he's a suspect." She whispered and left for the station.

She arrived at the station to see Nolan and Chen dressed in civilian clothes.

"Officer Lopez, any chance to see if you're joining us this evening?" Nolan asked.

"No chance, we're still working a case." She replied. She noticed flowers on a brass vase on the station desk.

"Who are the flowers for?" She asked.

"They came for Talia." Chen answered.

"Who sent them?" Nolan looked intrigued at the potential love life of his T.O.

"None of your business." She and Chen replied at the same time.

She first went to major crimes and shared her suspicions and the information she has with their suspect. She then reported to the Captain about their status on the case.

She headed to the bull pen carrying the flowers to find her friend when she confirmed her case was being worked on. She already made a mistake with Wesley, she did not want to see Talia do the same.

She saw him at the break room and put the flowers on the table in front of Talia. "These came for you."

"Okay thanks." Talia replied, looking uncomfortable.

"I thought you broke things off with him." She told her friend.

"It's complicated." Talia admitted.

"He went back to his wife right?" She asked. Talia took a deep breath and nodded.

"Then it's simple, he's married, not separated. That means you're done" She stated. Talia was about to reply when the Captain entered the break room.

"Officer Lopez." The captain looked concerned as she addressed her. "The detectives looked into your hospital vic."

"Am I right about him trying to abduct the woman?" She asked.

"It's much bigger than that." The captain's face looked serious. "When they looked into his background, they got hits on several attacks on similar women spanning three decades. Over a dozen unsolved cases, some of them homicides. I think you may have found a serial killer."

She immediately started informing Routh about this new information. "My boot, he's there all alone guarding him."

She saw how the captain's eyes widened in surprise.

"We better go." She had never seen the captain walk that fast before, despite wearing heels and a skirt. "Bishop, radio this in with the hospital, Lopez, we're taking your shop."

Other officers scrambled to mobilize, and a convoy of three vehicles drove quickly towards the station. She tried calling Routh as she drove, but he wasn't answering his phone.

"He's not answering. It just keeps on ringing." She informed the captain.

"He'll be fine." The captain whispered. She didn't know if the captain was reassuring her or herself.

They headed to Scott's room, and found the place a mess. There were signs of a struggle, and he saw the male nurse they spoke before just clad in his underwear on the floor. Someone had taken off his clothes and she couldn't any signs of her rookie.

"7-adam-07, in pursuit of suspect, heading to the basement parking." They heard Routh's voice over the radio. She ran to the stairwell and headed to the basement with Bishop.

They headed to the basement as they heard reports of a cop chasing down a nurse. She finally breathed a sigh of relief as she saw her rookie walking back to the stairwell, with the suspect in custody as he started reporting on the radio.

"7-adam-07, suspect in custody, moving him back to his room."

"You okay?" She asked, seeing his messy appearance.

"Yeah, just a few bruises." Routh replied. "He's devious, and he fights dirty."

He looked around and looked surprised to see so many officers with her.

"Why'd you bring so many for backup?" He asked.

"You haven't checked your phone, didn't you?" She asked.

"There was no time." Her boot replied. "I felt it vibrate as I was chasing him through the hallways. He even told the hospital security I was a fake cop."

"We suspect Mr. Scott's a serial killer." She informed him as they entered the elevator. Her boot's reaction made her proud, as he merely tightened his grip on Scott as he pushed him out of the elevator and marched him toward his room.

She was surprised to see the FBI agents were already there, speaking with the captain.

"Good work, Officer Routh, Officer Lopez." The captain said as the other cops secured Scott to the bed with handcuffs. Captain Andersen turned to Routh, and she could spot the gentle smile on her lips that she rarely showed to any other subordinate.

"I heard you had quite the chase, Routh." The captain said, and she saw how her boss carefully checked her rookie for any signs of injuries. She knew that look. That was a woman showing concern about her man's wellbeing.

"It was a challenge to catch him." Her boot admitted. "The Hospital security didn't help either."

"I heard about that." One of the FBI agents stepped forward and offered a handshake to her rookie. "I'm Special Agent Matthew Garza, head of the FBI LA Field Division. Good work, Officer Routh."

"You're the super rookie I heard rumors about." The other FBI agent, a pretty blonde in her twenties smiled as she introduced herself as well. "Special Agent Laura Stensen. It seems the rumors didn't do you justice. It's good to meet you."

She raised an eyebrow at the blatant flirting the female agent did. She looked at the captain and saw a slight frown on her face.

"Have you thought, about applying at the Quantico?" Garza asked. "We could use more agents with your determination."

"No poaching of my police officers please." Captain Andersen stated.

The FBI took over and she left with her rookie towards the station. She looked at the time and decided to check on the one thing that was bugging her ever since she checked on Wesley's phone.

"Where are we going?" Routh immediately noticed they were heading away from the station.

"I just want to see for myself." She drove to the address and saw the long line of customers waiting to get inside the posh restaurant. She felt her heart as she saw Wesley dressed in a fancy dark gray suit sitting by the window. He was smiling, talking to someone whose face was blocked by a server taking their order, but it was clearly a woman.

She was about to step on the gas and drive off when Routh asked her to wait. She really didn't want to, but she listened to her boot and finally saw Wesley's date. It was an older woman, with graying hair and fancy expensive looking jewelry. The woman looked sad as she tried to dry her tears with a napkin and Wesley stood up and moved his seat closer to hers, trying to comfort her.

She felt the bubbling anger within her melt away and she suddenly felt stupid. This was clearly not a date in the traditional sense. It looked more like he was with a relative or a family friend who did not want to be alone on Valentine's day.

"Got what you were looking for?" Routh asked.

"Yeah." She pressed the accelerator and headed to the station. Routh was looking at his phone, and she noticed him frowning as well.

"What is it?"

"It looks like I'm free tonight." Routh answered as he pocketed his phone. "I'm thinking of going to Nolan's party instead."

She had an idea why Routh's plans for tonight changed. She knew capturing a previously unknown serial killer would stir some interest from the brass and the mayor. Routh's date was probably neck deep in meetings with various government agencies and politicians tonight. She felt bad for the captain and the long night ahead of her.

"I guess I'm coming too." She decided.

They arrived at Nolan's party, and met his best friend and land lord. She was surprised that Talia was there as well. Nolan looked delighted at their appearance and she decided she would use tonight to repair her friendship with Talia.

Jack Routh

He did not enjoy nightshift. He barely got any sleep during the day, and he missed sleeping beside Zoe. The only bonus was that he had more day offs when working the night shift.

"Hey, you did it." He felt Zoe's arms hug his waist and felt her head rest on his back.

"Thank heavens that's done." He leaned back, enjoying the feeling of her breasts against his back.

"You'll have to get used to it eventually." Zoe murmured. "That's part of becoming a cop. We don't get to choose the hours."

"How about you?" He asked. "You spent some late nights in your office. You usually leave on schedule."

"Paperwork." Zoe replied. "There's also the preparation for the community relations programs. Grey's proposal got approval. I forgot to tell you."

His test lecture that had been delayed several times was finally done. It was supposed to last thirty minutes, including the questions from the audience, but it stretched to an hour. By the end of his lecture his throat was nearly dry and he made a note to bring several bottles of water with him next time.

His audience was very attentive, and he was surprised at how eager they were with their questions afterward. He got to know the other cops from the other departments as well. According to Lucy, he gave his audience a more personal connection with ancient history and showed how it still continues to influence them today. Bradford who unexpectedly turned up said he enjoyed the comedic aspects of his lecture.

"But….?" He could sense some hesitation in her words.

"They're asking more of your time." Zoe replied. "I had to remind the mayor's office and the chief of police that you're still under probation and barely halfway through your training."

"I can withdraw from it if you want and just focus on police work." He suggested. He didn't know his idea with Sergeant Grey would lead to this. It was only supposed to enhance community relations and an occasional lecture once a month.

"That would make it even worse." Zoe pulled him back to bed and rested her head on her chest. "A video of your test lecture circulated among the brass and the politicians. Some are looking to attach their name behind Grey's proposal. You know how it is with them."

"I'll focus on my training first." He replied. "I'm not planning to accept any invitations or meetings."

"Like it or not you've become a high profile rookie in the police department." Zoe admitted. "A lot of eyes are on you and Nolan. The FBI seemed interested in you as well."

"The FBI?"

"It is a good career path for you after you spend a few years as a cop." Zoe replied.

"I'll think about it. I was looking to pass the detective exam first." He looked for clothes to wear and realized that he hadn't used Bradford's gift yet. If there was one other cop who hated the night shift experience more than he has, it was Lucy. After a relaxing shower with Zoe where they had a quick but passionate round of sex, he started getting ready.

"If I were any other girlfriend, I would get offended seeing another woman's face on my boyfriend's shirt." Zoe said upon seeing the shirt he wore under his jacket. "Let me guess, Bradford?"

"He gave it to me last week before my shift ended." He replied, showing the poor face of Lucy Chen who was squinting at the light pointed at her as she sat in the passenger seat of Bradford's shop. "I didn't know how he had the time to do this."

"Don't underestimate the resourcefulness of Bradford." Zoe inspected the shirt with her fingers. "At least he picked a good fabric, but I kind of want you to wear a T-shirt with a picture of me instead."

He smiled as Zoe started to unbutton his pants, knowing how competitive and possessive she was, seeing another woman's face on his shirt must have triggered her. She fished out his dick and started to make him hard with her hand and mouth. She didn't break eye contact with him, and once he was sufficiently hard she moved back to the bed and spread her legs. They were soon fucking hard, and she even boldly sucked on his neck, knowing the other officers would see the mark later.

 "Get… the… get your phone out." Zoe gasped. "Take a picture of my face."

He pressed the camera button and captured his lover's face in the midst of her orgasm. Her eyes were half lidded, and it was incredibly erotic as she gave the camera a heated look while she bit her lower lip. He came quickly after that and he groaned as he spilled inside her.

"Now make a t-shirt with that." Zoe whispered as she lovingly caressed his face as they kissed.

He went into the station that morning in a good mood after finally finishing his two weeks at the night shift. He missed the morning briefings with Grey.

"Ah! Excellent, you wore it!" Nolan looked delighted when he saw him and opened his checkered polo, revealing a white undershirt with Lucy's mug on it. "Let's go! There's enough time!"

"Go where?" He asked.

"Greet Lucy at the entrance of course!" Nolan giggled. He played along and followed Nolan. Along the way they encountered Bradford who was usually strict with the time and constantly pressured them about how long until roll call started.

"I saw her car at the parking lot. Make it quick." Bradford told them as he walked away and headed to the locker.

Lucy appeared at the entrance a minute later, looking tired. She stopped as she spotted the two of them, they were attracting a lot of attention and even a few cops started to laugh and point at their matching shirts.

"Funny, guys." Lucy replied, accepting the prank on her easily. "Who else did Tim hand out shirts too?"

"I think it's just the patrol group." Nolan responded.

"It looks like someone was busy this morning." Lucy suddenly leaned forward and inspected the mark on his neck. She gave him a teasing look, eager to get revenge for wearing the shirt. "This looks fresh."

"Wow." Nolan also looked closer. "I didn't realize you were seeing someone. Is it serious?"

"It is." He replied with a smile, not really embarrassed at Zoe's mark on his neck.

"When do we get this mystery woman of yours?" Lucy asked. "I know you've been seeing someone."

"When it's the right time." He answered.

"Do we know her?" Lucy asked.

"Nope." He replied. He knew better than to give Lucy details. "Not going there."

"So it is someone we know." Lucy's eyes shone with determination.

The morning briefing was interesting, as Grey discussed with them about the authority they wielded and how they can easily abuse it like their weapon. He had to admit that Grey was right, and it was a complicated issue. The spirit of the law and the letter of the law was a topic he debated with Lopez all morning.

Lopez seemed amused by the exercise and continued asking him to provide examples and then debate the course of action. It became a practical exam as Lopez allowed him to take the lead on a car that ran a stop sign.

"Please, my dog is dying. He ate a bag of macadamia nuts, it's toxic for them." The woman looked desperate and saw how the dog was indeed lethargic as it looked at them from the passenger seat.

"Alright, I'm giving you a warning. But please observe the traffic signs next time. This was a school zone, you're lucky the kids are in classes right now." He handed the woman back her license and registration.

The woman flashed him a smile and sped off. He watched the vehicle go, satisfied at how she drove more carefully this time.

"Was that the right thing to do, boot?" Lopez asked as they returned back to the shop.

"I gave her a break. Her dog was dying." He replied. "I'd just likely piss her off even more if I gave her a ticket, escalating the situation by increasing the anxiety she was already feeling. That could be even more dangerous."

"Uhuh." Lopez looked amused as she buckled up.

"Look, she was even driving under the speed limit this time." He argued back at seeing her amused face. "What?"

"Nothing. Let's go." Lopez replied.

They received a call about a man being held against his will in a fancy restaurant. He noted that it was the same restaurant where he and Lopez watched Wesley during Valentines. He knew enough about his T.O. not to ask her about her love life, though he noticed she wasn't checking her phone that often during patrol compared to when she started seeing the lawyer.

"We heard reports that you're holding a customer against his will." Lopez confronted the manager of the restaurant.

"He's not a customer, he's a scam artist." The manager replied confidently. "This guy sets up first dates with women, runs up the bill and sneaks out the back door. He's been doing at restaurants all over the neighborhood. There are records in their cctvs."

"He tried to do that to that poor woman over there." He looked back saw a sad looking woman on a table for two. "But one of our kitchen staff caught him and locked his ass in the walk-in fridge."

"Give us a minute." Lopez headed to the woman sitting alone.

The woman complained at the expensive items her date started ordering at the menu. "The bill is $680 dollars. I don't know how to cover my rent this month."

"Did you already order dessert?" Lopez suddenly asked.

"No."

"Go ahead and get something." Lopez was sporting a wicked grin. "Maybe two things."

"Why?" The woman looked confused.

"Just trust me on this. I heard their crème brulee is amazing." He saw Lopez gave the woman a wink. The woman seemed to understand called a server who was watching them.

"You're racking up the bill so it becomes a felony." He whispered to her ear.

"That's right boot." Lopez replied. "Go get our suspect before he freezes to death."

As he was pushing the suspect in cuffs to their shop, the woman stood up and confronted him.

"It looks like you're going to jail, Francois. Enjoy your time there" The suspect looked confused as he guided him out the door and pushed him inside the shop and closed the door. He watched as Lopez and the manager spoke to the victim who suddenly looked happy. He was surprised when Lopez walked out of the restaurant carrying a brown paper bag. He decided to drive, seeing as his T.O. seemed to be eager to snack on what looked like dessert from what he could smell.

"What happened back there?" He asked as he started the shop and started driving to the station.

"I told the manager that Francois here will be convicted with a felony." Lopez replied.

"What!" Francois looked confused.

"The bill, it becomes a felony when it reaches $700 dollars." Lopez happily explained.

"I didn't order that much." Francois complained.

"Oh but you did." Lopez replied and opened the paper bag, showing a plastic takeaway container with a crème brulee inside. "Including this dessert."

"I did not order that!" Francois argued.

"No, but your victim did." Lopez happily started the dessert. "Oh wow. This is really good."

He glanced at the dessert and the sweet smell filled the shop.

"You want a taste?" Lopez asked.

"I'm driving." He replied.

"Don't be a baby. Here." He noticed a spoon filled with the dessert in front of his face. He opened his mouth and Lopez fed him the dessert.

"That is good." He admitted.

"Isn't it?" It was the strangest drive back to the station as he shared a delicious crème brulee with his Lopez.

They were about to reach the end of their shift when they were called in for an operation. An undercover cop gave them a briefing about a Mexican gang, and they were in the midst of shipping the money earned from drugs back to Mexico.

"Rookies, this is your first high-level tactical operation. Let's be prepared." Their captain ordered.

It was the first time for him to wear tactical gear after he graduated from the academy. He noticed the gear they have in Mid-Wilshire was more up to date, and it smelled nicer.

Lopez quizzed him on the gear preparation and went through the plan once more. He was the breacher, and Bradford warned him that every failed attempt meant he had to buy a round every time he failed to knock the door down.

Bradford took the lead, and they waited in the shadows while carried the Blackhawk tactical breacher, basically a heavy piece of solid metal with handles on either end. He received a pack on the back, and patted Bradford. It was the signal, and it meant they had to move in.

Bradford covered him and he swung the breacher hard against the specific point taught to them at the academy. The door blasted open, but he immediately heard gun shots a second later and he immediately felt like someone had kicked him repeatedly in the ribs.

He fell backwards, out of breath as the rest of the team surged into the door. He could hear shouts and heard frantic radio traffic.

"Officer down!"

"Put your gun down!"

"Hands up!" 

"Do not move!"

His fellow officers headed to the assigned areas and he winced as he tried to sit up.

"Stay down. You're okay Routh. You're okay." He saw Grey watch over him as his sergeant called over the radio for an ambulance.

He felt himself being dragged to the lawn as the officers started to march out the gang members to a waiting vehicle. An EMT checked up on him as his vest was removed. He hissed as the EMT pressed his fingers on his chest.

"I don't think his ribs are broken." The EMT, a woman reported. "But we better get him to the hospital to be sure."

He was wheeled to the ambulance, and suddenly realized he would have died without that tactical vest. He wondered why he wasn't hyperventilating in panic at the moment. Was this due to one of his traits again, he wondered.

 The doctors rushed him for an x-ray, to check for other complications like internal bleeding and thankfully he only suffered severe bruising and some surface wounds. Unfortunately he was only cleared for light duty by the doctor when he asked and he eagerly accepted the offer to be discharged from the hospital, since the results of his exam appeared that he suffered no further life threatening injuries.

The EMT that treated him earlier offered to give him a ride, since they were on their way to pick up a few of the suspects who got injured in the operation for tests.

 "What are you doing here?" Lopez demanded with wide eyes as he hobbled into the station that night. "How did you get here?"

"Routh!" He turned to see the Captain walking towards him from the bullpen. "How did you get here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital?"

"The doctors cleared me for any internal injuries, captain." He reported as he handed the results of his x-ray. "The doctor offered to discharge me early if I wanted to and I accepted."

"And how did you get here?" The captain asked as she read over the reports from the hospital.

"I hitched a ride with EMS." He replied. His captain/girlfriend looked annoyed as her lips thinned and exchanged looks with his T.O.

"Don't report for work tomorrow. You'll work the desk for the rest of the week." His Captain ordered. "And don't think about riding that bike in the meantime."

"Yes captain." He replied. He knew he would feel sore tomorrow and was grateful for the day off. "If you don't mind, I'll wait here and hitch a ride with Nolan or Chen."

"Don't bother. I'll take you home. Just wait at the lobby" The captain replied and left.

He gathered his gear and tried to change shirts, but as soon as he raised his arms pain lanced through his chest and shoulder. He ignored the pain and pulled off his shirt and threw it in his bag. He was about to put a fresh shirt back on when he heard Bradford whistle.

"That looks like it hurts." The senior T.O. said as he saw his bruises.

"It does." He replied. "But I got lucky. No broken ribs, just heavy bruising."

"I'm glad I picked you as breacher." Bradford said as he started to collect his own gear. "I was initially thinking of using my own boot as a test, but I realized this was an important op to give her an exam. I can't imagine she would take taking multiple shots that well compared to you."

"You made the right call sir." He agreed. Lucy's smaller frame would mean she would suffer worse from the impact of bullets hitting her vest, or worse.

"Drink lot pineapple juice. You'll heal faster." Bradford suggested as he left the locker room.

He was resting at his own apartment since Zoe was busy with paperwork from the results of the raid. The initial ice bath helped with bruising, but now he used a hot compress to soothe the aches.

He looked up as his door opened. He had given Zoe a copy his key to his apartment during his night shift so she could visit him anytime even if he sleeping.

"How's work?" He asked.

"Not good." Zoe sat down beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Getting injured got you off the hook. Nolan, Chen and Lopez are under investigation, since they were the ones left to guard the money. The bean counters reported that there's $250,000 missing.

"But that's not possible." He replied.

"I know. No one suspects your friends or Lopez, but the chief insists on proceeding with the investigation." Zoe sounded frustrated. "You can imagine the morale at the station when I left."

He knew she cared deeply for her officers and tried to protect them from bureaucracy as much as she can.

"We need dig dipper then. Something's not right." He observed. "It looks like someone set them up to take the fall."

"I'm conducting my own private investigation with Grey." Zoe replied. "I'm only telling you this because I trust you. We're checking phone records right now. "

They fell asleep on the couch when they got woken up when Zoe's phone rang. She groaned and reached for her phone and answered the call while he continued to hug her from behind.

"What is it?" He watched as the sleep from Zoe's eyes vanished. Her face became more determined and finally she smiled.

"I'll be the one to arrest him. Send a unit with me." She quickly ended the call and sat up. "Your friend Lucy got attacked by the remaining gang members, but she's fine."

"What happened?"

"They thought she stole the money. But Lucy recognized one of them outside the house on the night you raided that house. Someone warned him." Zoe replied as she began to check herself in the mirror.

"I'm going out to make an arrest. What do you want for dinner?" She asked.

"How about Thai food?" He suggested.

"Great, see you in a few." She leaned down and kissed him on the lips before she left. He got his phone and started calling Nolan who quickly picked up the call after one ring.

"I just heard what happened." He told his fellow rookie. "How are you holding up?"

"Relieved. They even made us do a polygraph." Nolan replied.

"That's not reliable." He replied, surprised that the investigation came to that. Jack Reacher believed polygraphs were voodoo shamanism. "Wouldn't bodycam footage be enough?"

"Not according to I.A. It didn't help that our bodycams recorded us talking about what we would do if we had a pile of money in front of us." Nolan admitted. "Lucy said she would buy a helicopter to avoid traffic."

He snorted in amusement over the phone. Lucy always complained about the traffic, and her worry about finding a place to move to since she was getting evicted. Her apartment building was getting demolished by a developer to make way for a mixed use commercial space.

"How are you healing?" Nolan asked.

"Healing pretty well. I must do something nice for Bradford for the pineapple juice suggestion. I should recover completely and do patrol work in a couple of days." He answered.

Ever since he woke up in this world, he found out about a modest inheritance he received from the estate of his deceased parents. Deciding that real estate was a good investment, he immediately used it to purchase a good apartment from an older couple who wanted to sell it quickly. Aside from the bike and the accessories he also bought as his transport, he still had enough for emergencies since he rarely indulged in luxury items.

"On the other hand, Lucy finally found a place to move to." Nolan shared that Lucy immediately spoke to the landlord who owned the unit where Nolan found a dead gang member. By law, the landlord was obligated to tell potential renters about its history.

That the place was a scene of a homicide would only turn off potential clients, and Lucy immediately stepped in to lock in the place with cheaper rent and even told the landlord that she would take care of cleaning the blood stains on the floor

"So, are you up for spending a day off helping Lucy clean up her new place?" Nolan asked. "She offered us pizza and beer."

"Make it pineapple juice and I'll be there." He replied. It was a good way to test his endurance before he returned to active duty.

He had a wonderful Thai dinner with Zoe and they spent the rests of the night watching crime documentaries.

"You know, while watching this I'm starting to wonder what would happen if I gave a lecture on Jack the Ripper." He commented. "What's with cops and crime documentaries?"

"It's a good exercise to help get into the head of serial killers." Zoe replied. "You're serious about a lecture on Jack the Ripper?"

"During that time period there were several murders in London." He replied. "It was only because of the role of the newspapers that he got famous. There's debate today if he really is just one man, or other murders were accidentally attached to his."

"Really?"

"Yup. The newspapers sensationalized his name to increase their circulation. You could say he became a trending sensation in the Victorian era because the victims were mostly poor women. It only highlighted the disparity between the upper class and the lower class. Then the media sensationalized the murders, and added made up stories and angles that didn't help with the investigation."

"So fake news?" Zoe suggested.

"Completely fabricated, just to sell more papers." He replied. "It only added to the mass hysteria that was gripping the city. The police were notoriously incompetent because of their lack of manpower, and the unwillingness to cooperate with other law enforcement organizations of the time since more often than not they overlapped jurisdictions. That caused conflict and unwillingness to cooperate in the investigation."

"Even back then huh?" Zoe looked amused.

"Oh yeah. They often stumbled into victims on their patrols, their bodies were still warm."

"I'm thinking of having you dressed as Jack the Ripper for Halloween and give that presentation. What do you think?" Zoe asked.

"I'll do it if you dress up in a Victorian era dress to match me." He joked.

"No." She shook her head though she was smiling.

"Please? If I will make this presentation, I would need props, and get replica items that were suspected that Jack the ripper used to commit the murders. We would then use it as a thought exercise for the audience to determine what his occupation is, his background, job and family."

"Still no." Zoe answered. "I know what you're trying to do."

He sighed at the missed opportunity. It would be fun to see his girlfriend in Victorian fashion. Especially the corsets.

The next day he went to the grocery to purchase additional cleaning materials to help Lucy. He arrived at the address that afternoon to see Lucy and Nolan already getting ready while wearing worn clothes, fit for the work they were about to do.

"Just in time." Nolan said when he saw him.

"I brought additional cleaning supplies." He held up the plastic bag filled with soap, bleach, gloves and brushes."

"Thank you for helping." Lucy greeted him with a hug. "I really appreciate this.

With the three of them working, the apartment turned out nicer that he initially thought. "This has good potential." He commented, looking around the now clean apartment as he took a bite of his pizza.

"I know!" Lucy was happy as she dug into her own food. "It's so much closer to the station, and I don't have to wake up early every day."

"What will you do about the spare bedroom?" He asked.

"Yoga room." Lucy replied. "Or a library."

"Why not both?" Nolan suggested.

Next week he was called along with Lucy and Nolan to the Captain's office. The days were running by him so fast he didn't realize he had completed a surprising number of shifts.

"One hundred shifts." Captain Zoe Andersen smiled at them.

"Not a lot of rookies make it to this point in their probationary year." Sergeant Grey stated from beside the captain.

"It's a reason to celebrate." The captain continued.

"But not much." Grey quickly added.

"For the first 100 shifts your training officers have been there to guide the way. Not today." The captain looked at each of them in the eye to emphasize her point.

"Welcome to plain clothes day." Grey said with a smile.

"What is plain clothes day?" Lucy asked.

"Your T.O.s will be out of uniform, riding with you in strictly observational capacity only." Grey replied.

"They will not advise assist or help you in any way." The captain continued. "Every decision will be yours to make."

"Does this mean we get to choose where to eat lunch?" Nolan asked.

"Yes officer Nolan." Grey replied. "For all intents and purposes, today, you are alone. And that should scare the hell out of you."

"This is a true measure of where you are in the training process. Your performance today could have a profound impact on your career path in this department." The captain said.

"What happens if we get into real trouble?" Lucy asked.

"Deal with it." Grey replied. "If you can't your T.Os. will step in."

"But if that happens, you will be judged." The captain warned them. It meant a fail for plain clothes day. "That's it."

Chapter Text

Episode 7

Nolan was excited as they left the office. "We're in charge now!"

"I can play my own music!" Lucy added.

He shook his head at seeing the excitement in his fellow rookies. He had to give it to his girlfriend. She didn't even give a hint that this was coming. He decided he would act as he usually did with Lopez, keep an eye out for trouble and be ready to respond at a moment's notice.

"They grow up so fast." Lopez called out. Their T.Os waited for them wearing civilian clothing at the bottom of the stairs. They immediately started comparing the number of rookies they washed out at this stage of training as he prepared their shop.

"Do not listen to them. They're just trying to psych us out." Nolan replied to the unhelpful comments.

Already Lucy was panicking as she now realized the enormity of their situation and she hesitated whether to bring another war bag for Bradford or not.

"Better bring it." He suggested. "In case your T.O. needs to step in."

"You're no fun boot!" Bradford complained. He had inadvertently ruined one of his Tim Tests as Lucy explained. "First mistake avoided."

"This is going to be a long day." Nolan's earlier enthusiasm had completely vanished.

He noticed Lopez looked prepared for a boring patrol as she brought a couple of magazines with her. He made no comment as he checked the shop and soon he started driving out of the bay and started his patrol.

Things were normal for the most part, until he stopped a car that ran a red light. The man was angry for getting pulled over but he maintained his composure, enduring the insults as he wrote him a ticket.

"I'm late for an important meeting!" The driver scowled. "You're making this worse!"

"Drive safely." He replied as the man gave him the finger. He noticed that Lopez didn't even look up from her magazine while she sat inside the shop.

He received a call from dispatch about a noise complaint from sorority row, and called in that he was responding. His normal, routine day ended right there.

He could hear the loud music as he walked up to the lawn and knocked hard on the door of the sorority house. A blonde girl opened the door, and he knew she was drunk by the way she swayed while standing.

"What is it?" She asked. "Can… can I help you, Officer?"

"Mam, I'm Officer Routh. We got a call about the noise. Can you please turn it down?"

"Sure." She smiled at him and headed further into the room and lowered the volume. He looked inside and saw a bunch of drunk girls dancing in their pajamas. They immediately complained at the sudden lack of music.

"Hey! Jessica!"

"Turn the music up!"

"Officer Hottie said we were too loud." Jessica replied as she pointed at him.

The girls followed to where she was pointing and he had to step back as a dozen pair of eyes looked at him.

"Jessica you slut! That's not a cop!" One of the girls giggled. "Who called for a stripper?"

"Do we have a budget for that?"

"I don't care!"

"Me likey!"

Hands suddenly grabbed him, trying to pull off his uniform and unbutton his pants. He immediately grabbed his weapon to secure it, and used his remaining hand to push off the drunk girls away.

"Please, I'm not a stripper!" He called out.

"Feisty huh?" He heard a voice behind him and felt a body jump on his back.

He quickly bent down and lowered his shoulder, causing his attacker to fall into the carpeted floor.

"Enough!" He shouted, breathing hard as he stepped back to create some space. "I am a law enforcement officer and not a stripper. Please do not approach me again or I will have to detain you."

The girls instantly sobered as they realize the trouble they were in.

"You're really a cop?"

"Yes mam. Now who is in charge here?" He asked, looking around.

"I am." Jessica raised her hand.

"I will need you to lower the volume of your music, or I will be forced to shut this party down." He warned her. "Now please, everyone show some I.D. I need to verify that you're all adults."

The girls grumbled but they mostly complied. They each presented their I.D.s and he was satisfied and took one last look around to make sure there were no illegal substances in use.

"Thank you for your cooperation, ladies."

"Are you sure you're a cop?" One of the girls asked again. "Because if you aren't, you're a really good actor."

"Do you like, have a girlfriend?"

"Can I have your number?"

"I'm sure." Sorority girls were something else. It was like they were bolder in the presence of their sorority sisters. "Have a good day."

He practically ran from the door, hoping that his T.O, stayed inside the shop and was dismayed when he saw Lopez dying of laughter on the lawn. She had her phone out, and was struggling to breath. He was tempted to leave her there and drive away, but that would just piss her off.

"It's not that funny." He told her as he got back into the shop. He buttoned back his pants and tried to fix his uniform and fix his hair. That only set off Lopez once again into a laughing fit.

"This! This is great!" She giggled. "I could totally see it!"

"Hi, I'm Officer Sugar." Lopez lowered her voice in an attempt to mimic him. "I came here to arrest some naughty girls."

"Please don't send that to the others." He pleaded as he resumed his patrol.

"Too late boot." Lopez smirked as her fingers flew over her phone. "And you know how fast things like this go around."

He knew that fact. Cops were a bunch of gossips, but he couldn't claim to be innocent in that regard, since he also joined in when gossiping about their training officers. Surprisingly, it was Nolan and not Chen who was the most prolific gossip.

As he arrived for lunch, he could see they were already aware of his incident.

"Hi Officer Hottie." Lucy greeted him.

"I'll remember that when you respond to a noise complaint about a frat party." He replied.

"You think I'm hot enough to be a stripper?" Lucy teased him with a smile.

He ignored her and started eating his lunch. He could see the officers around still looking at him as they stared at their phones. He hoped the video Lopez recorded wouldn't be shown tomorrow morning by Grey at the briefing.

His second shift started in a more serious tone as he responded to a robbery in progress.

"7-adam-07" He called into the radio. "Responding to a 211."

He walked into the grocery and peeked in with weapon drawn. He saw two robbers in masks, the one with the blue jacket had a gun and the other one wore grey and appeared unarmed.

He retreated back and decided to wait for them to come out and called for back-up. "7-adam-07, I have an armed robbery in progress. Requesting backup."

The two robbers emerged from the grocery store and he immediately pointed his weapon at the one carrying a weapon.

"Police! Drop your weapon!" He ordered.

The two suspects looked at each other and ran.

"Get the other one!" He called out to Lopez she chased his suspect.

 He ran after the armed suspect as he quickly informed dispatch through the radio of his status. He ran closer to the suspect down and realized why the robber did not shoot his weapon. He could see the missing magazine from the gun.

The robber stumbled on a pothole and he used the opportunity and tackled the robber.

"Chill chill chill!" The robber suspect cried out as he jumped on top of him and secured his hands in cuffs within seconds.

"You're under arrest." He said to the robber as he controlled his breathing. He secured the unloaded weapon and pulled the robber to his feet and forced him to walk back to the shop.

Lopez was standing behind him and he widened his eyes in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I told you boot, I'm not here." Lopez replied calmly.

He pushed the suspect inside the shop as he used the radio. "7-adam-07, be advised, I have one suspect in custody. Remaining suspect has escaped. Wearing grey jacket, black pants. Last seen running along Keniston and Ninth."

"Confirmed, 7-adam-07."

He shook his head at his mistake, forgetting that he was alone and Lopez wouldn't do anything to lift a finger unless his life was in danger.

He booked the robber at the station and wrote the report while Lopez continued to read her magazine. He was a bit annoyed at himself as he finished the report and submitted it to Grey.

"You're too hard on yourself." Lopez suddenly spoke as he continued to read her magazine.

"Mam?"

"That's your problem. You're expecting too much from yourself." Lopez. "You have to control your expectations, not everything is going to always go your way."

"I 'm just annoyed at myself. I forgot I was acting alone in a crucial situation."

"And yet you made the correct judgment call." Lopez folded the magazine and tossed it to the table. "You know why I brought that today?"

He looked at the magazine and shook his head.

"It's represents my confidence in you. I knew coming in to this stage of your training that you would breeze through it. You handled a variety of calls today and consistently decided on the correct course of action every time. Each one tested every aspect of your decision making and judgement, from the rude driver that ran to the red light, to the aggressive sorority girls and now to the robbery."

"I tried to make bets with Tim and Talia on the boot that would perform best today. Figured I'd get a few round of drinks for free, easy. They didn't want to take it, even Tim Bradford." Lopez patted him on the shoulder. "But don't let it get to your head. You're only halfway there."

He smiled and stared at Lopez as she left and looked at his watch. Shift had ended and he realized he had to cook tonight. Zoe wanted pasta.

"Heading out?" Nolan asked him at the locker room.

"Yeah." He replied, zipping up his jacket as he grabbed his helmet.

"Why don't you eat dinner with us?" Nolan suggested.

"I'm sorry John, I have to head to the grocery while their still open."

"What for?" Nolan looked confused.

"My date wants pasta."

The next morning he received a message from Nolan. Grey wanted them to shoot a recruitment video that would play in the televisions in front of the waiting area of the station. They started to shoot the video during their break, and their T.O.s generously gave them the needed time to shoot it.

They were given a simple script and prepared for the shoot as best as they can. He ironed out his uniform and polished his nameplate and even had a haircut and a proper shave from a barber. It was all for nothing though and he doubt the editors would be able to use anything as their shoot progressed in front of the station.

"Cut. Chen you're too nervous." The officer from computer forensics that was behind the camera called out.

"I'm sorry! It's just, they're all looking at us. It makes me nervous." Lucy pointed to the officers and staff watching their attempts with some amusement.

"My coffee has gone cold." Nolan complained, looking at their coffee used as props.

"Again."

They reset to their starting marks and waited for the signal.

"Action!"

He approached the mark at the same time as Nolan who was carrying two cups of coffee.

"Good morning, Officer Nolan." He then turned to the camera and continued while he wore a friendly smile. "Ready for another day at the streets of Los Angeles?"

"Yup!" Nolan looked flustered, but it was better than the last two attempts. "Coffee?"

"No thank you." He replied and continued the cheesy line. "I get all the rush I need by making this beautiful city safer every single day."

Lucy then joined them on his other side, looking nervous. "And you will to, if you join the L.A.D.P. I mean P.D."

"Cut!" He could hear laughter from those watching, making Lucy even more nervous.

"Relax, you got this." He whispered to her as they moved back to their marks.

"But they're laughing at me!" He didn't know Lucy was camera shy. She was usually an extravert and the one that first initiated a conversation. Growing bored of the repeated takes, he decided to mess with the video shoot instead.

"Action!"

"Good morning officer Nolan." He turned to the camera, smiled and gave an exaggerated wink.

"Cut! Routh, stop flirting with the camera."

They didn't know how many takes I took, but they finally finished the recruitment video. What was a 30 second recruitment video took nearly 2 hours of repeated takes. He suspected the officer from forensics got bored and accepted the take with the least amount of mistakes.

Grey looked smug the next day as he showed the recruitment video they created. It even included some of the bloopers, causing the other officers to laugh hysterically. Even the captain was watching.

"L.A.'s finest." Grey joked as he paused the video and moved to the podium.

 "I know it looks rough, but this is Hollywood." Nolan tried to defend the quality of their shoot. "The guys can fix this in editing."

"Officer Bradford." Grey called out. "Would you like to do the honor?"

"I think that should go to Lopez, the whole thing was her idea anyway." Bradford replied.

He looked at his T.O. who was wearing a familiar smile on her face. Lopez smile number four. That meant….

"Lopez?"

"There is no promotional video." Lopez said, trying hard not to laugh.

"You got punked." Bishop added.

The whole room erupted in laughter as he shared resigned looks with his fellow rookies. Grey even brought out a bowl of popcorn and pressed play again on the remote.

The video continued, and he could see himself getting more bored as he started doing more outrageous things, like spins, slides and even a hop whenever he appeared on the frame. Lucy continued to complain while Nolan constantly asked if his make-up was fine.

They had no patrol today, and that explained for the relaxed atmosphere in the station. After playing the video, they headed to the bay where an expert was invited to learn more about the psychology of suicide bombers.

He was surprised at the dedication of the woman in her forties, as she even dressed up the part and purposely messed with her hair to make her looked more deranged. She had blocks of c4 strapped to her vest and what looked like a trigger in her hands.

"We're all going to die, right here, right now." The woman started her presentation.

She explained that she had ball bearings and other metals added in, soaked in her own filth to give secondary infections if the initial blast wouldn't kill them first. She challenged their operating procedures since she had a dead man's switch in her hand so they couldn't shoot her.

"The only way you can get out of this room, is if you talk me into giving up." The woman challenged the surrounding officers. "You only have ten words to do it."

He didn't believe that and started inching closer as soon as she turned away from him.

"Go!" She pointed out to Lucy who looked flustered and started introducing herself.

"Boom!" The woman called out as she let go of the switch. "They're I.D.ing your dental records."

"Bo—" The woman stopped as his hand grabbed her smaller ones and forced her thumb to remain on the switch with his own thumb.

"Look at you stud." The woman looked at him from head to toe. "Boom, I just detonated it manually with my other hand. You're buried in a shoebox."

He stepped back, feeling the demonstration was unfair. It was Nolan who finally reached her, with his compassionate words.

"I can only imagine the pain that you are feeling right now." Nolan told her.

"You just got ten more words." The redhead smiled. The woman continued to give Nolan more time to speak.

"Demonstration is over, let's meet at the briefing room in fifteen."

"Good try Routh." Bradford said to him as they left the bay.

He was surprised at the change in the redhead, as she wore a blouse and a leather jacket and brown pants, looking like she belonged in Washington than in L.A.

"So what did you all do wrong?" The woman asked once their lesson continued.

"Officer Chen, wasted her time introducing herself and then Officer Routh decided to skip words all together." The woman walked around the room as she pointed at him. "You nearly succeeded, but in real life you should have shot me in the head the moment you had control of my switch. Those few seconds matter."

The lesson continued, with the woman explaining the importance of maintaining rapport with a suspect, crucial for hostage negotiations. He wrote a few notes down as he found parts of the lesson gave him new insights in dealing with criminals.

Jesica Russo

"Oh my goodness I am so embarrassed." Sergeant Grey led her to his office after the lesson.

"Don't be." She replied as she sat on his couch. "If they knew how to do it, then you wouldn't have called me to come in and train them."

She always had a good working relationship with Grey when she was a field agent assigned in L.A. But then she wanted more freedom and decided to become a private consultant, though she still maintained her contacts with both the F.B.I. and the Homeland Security.

Writing her book and the sales it generated gave her a nice cushion to fall back on.

"How's Luna?" She asked. She noted Grey looked uncomfortable at the question.

"She's been pressuring me to retire." Grey admitted. "Dominique's now in college, so there are less and less of reasons to remain here."

"Then go ahead, do something new." She encouraged him. "You've done your twenty."

"What? What can I guy like me do?" Grey looked amused.

She smiled and moved to sit at his desk to get a better look at him. Men like Grey were a wealth of information and experience, having served as a cop and then watch commander for over twenty years in one of the busiest and dangerous cities in the country.

"Come work with me." She offered.

"You mean work for you." Grey corrected her.

"I'm not like that." She laughed. "The money's good. You have control of your own time, and make connections."

"I am nowhere near ready to make that decision, but I am tempted. If Luna heard your offer…"

"Perhaps I should call her." She teased.

"She'll kill me if she knew I declined your offer."

"If you changed your mind, the offer's still there." She told him. She looked around and spotted the three rookies she had looked up before she arrived at the station.

"How are the rookies?"

"They're getting there. Of course West washed out, but the remaining two are surpassing my expectations." Grey replied.

"I heard about West. The record breaker in the Academy. His performance on his first day was discussed in some circles despite his old man trying to keep a lid on it." She replied.

"He couldn't have anyone to blame but himself." Grey answered. "He raised his son in that manner and the expectations were too high. It was too much for Jackson. I heard he left the country to find himself in Europe."

"And what about the super rookie?" She looked closer at Routh who was seating in the bullpen talking to his training officer and Captain Andersen.

"The wild card." Grey smiled. "Sometimes I have trouble believing he's real. It's like he suddenly woke up the moment he graduated from the academy."

"I read his file. Average marks in the academy, but his academic career is impressive. I've seen the video of his lecture about the history of common phrasings we use today. He has a unique insight."

"Who would have thought the short end of the stick is also a toilet paper." Grey chuckled.

"I can tell you the F.B.I. is already drooling to get their hands on your rookie." She admitted. "Garza's just waiting until he completes his two years here and then intends to snatch him up."

"Garza?"

"Routh impressed him when he personally caught the previously unknown serial killer that tried to escape from his watch." She replied.

"If you think that's impressive, then you should listen to him sing."

"Sing?"

"He has a minor in music, and according to the captain, he's like a rock star on stage." Grey pulled out his phone. "Here, we had a little picnic at the beach. My daughter recognized him and asked him to play a song."

She watched his performance at the beach and was instantly smitten. "Do… do you have more?"

"Here, but I haven't fully watched the one that my daughter sent me. You know my taste in music is different." Grey played the other two videos.

Her mind raced at her discovery of this promising young man. It was a pity Jack Routh lacked the necessary qualifications to start at the academy right away.

She noticed the entire station suddenly woke up. Officers dropped they were doing and were rushing to the bay. Grey was looking at his phone as notifications came in.

"What's happening?"

"A prisoner transport bus just crashed. I'm mobilizing all units." He ran out of his office and she quickly followed him. She knew by now that she would be a hindrance and decided to stay at the bullpen and wait for new developments.

"Anything I can help you with?" She asked as Zoe Andersen, the station captain arrived at the bullpen.

"For now no. Maybe later with the profiling. There are seven escaped prisoners. One of them is armed." Andersen replied.

"I'll wait in the briefing room." She replied. She watched a temporary command post formed in the room, as information about the suspects and their faces was posted on the board. She studied each file and noted two that were particularly dangerous.

"Routh duked it out with a convict?"

She listened as a couple officers started to remove two pictures from the board.

"Yeah, a big guy. I heard it was a wrestling match as they rolled down the hill."

"At least he caught him, super rookie did it again."

"Wish I could see the body cam footage."

Interesting.

 Routh was already making a difference so early in his career. Thirty minutes later, the situation has changed again. She had to admire the efficiency of Andersen's station. The one she considered the most dangerous of the escaped convicts, Oscar Hutchinson was finally recaptured by Routh and his T.O.

There were now four remaining suspects missing. In the next hour, two more were captured and the chief of police asked her to lend her expertise to catch the last two. Profiling.

She studied the information on the two remaining suspects on the board. 

Twenty-four year old Marcus Gibson of the 54th street gang and he was a member since he was fourteen.

The other fugitive, Caleb Jost was more dangerous of the two. He was an investment banker, smart and ruthless, and she remembered it took the FBI a month catch him.

She gave her briefing, her eyes roving over Routh for a moment.

Officer Bradford looked unimpressed with her predictive analytics approach, and immediately shut him down by talking about his inexperience and narrow minded view. She had no time for macho bullshit.

"How's it going?" Andersen approached her once the officers were dismissed, though she asked for Lopez and Bishop to stay behind with their rookies to assist in the profiling.

She removed her hand from Routh's back as she watched him review a list of possible family members Jost could reach out to and straightened her jacket.

"Slowly. Hopefully we can catch the other two before tomorrow and the media makes a circus out of it." She replied.

"I think I have a possible location." Routh suddenly reported.

She immediately went to lean on Routh's left shoulder to take a closer look at the monitor, while Andersen went to do the same on his right.

"What is it?" She placed her hand on his shoulder again as a pretense of looking closer at the screen. She didn't need to, she had 20/20 vision. She just wanted to know how Routh smelled like. Was that cologne?

"I ran a name of Caleb's relatives against dispatch calls. There's a wellness check for his ex-wife's aunt's house. Here is the address."

"Good work Routh." She squeezed her shoulder and turned to Bishop and Nolan. Garza was right, he would be perfect for the F.B.I. "Why don't you to follow that lead."

"Yes mam." Nolan looked happy to assist. It was obvious the rookie was star struck by her. 

Thirty minutes later and she heard confirmation from Nolan that Caleb was in the house. They were able to subdue him before he was able to remove his hidden stash located in the chimney. He was standing inside the fireplace, his head stuck in the chimney when Nolan and Bishop came in and cornered him. The man had no choice but to surrender, though he offered to bribe them to let him go.

 "Last one." She smiled in satisfaction. She heard reports of Marcus Gibson's location from dispatch, and she knew it was only a matter of time before he was caught. 

She wanted to have fun tonight and invite Routh for dinner, but Grey told her Luna was expecting her at their house. Pity. It had been a long time since she had a romp in the hay with a younger stud.

Zoe Andersen

She stormed into her boyfriend's apartment and realized he was taking a shower. She immediately stripped her clothes and joined him in that stall.

"Hey." He greeted her.

She immediately kissed him, forcing her tongue inside his mouth and started to stroke his hardening penis. She roughly grabbed his hair as her other hand squeezed his butt.

"Mine." She growled.

It had been a challenge not to lash out at their expert. She noticed Jessica Russo had called her boyfriend a stud when she first saw him. She didn't miss the stolen looks either. Her boyfriend remained professional and kept his distance, but the older woman was obviously attracted to Jack and was making her moves all throughout the day.

The bitch practically draped herself over Jack like a lover inside the mobile command unit provided by the F.B.I. but she was able to control her emotions. As soon as she left the station, she wanted to mark her territory once more and claim him as her and hers alone.

"Come here." She gasped as she led him outside the shower. Their bodies dripping with water left a trail as she led him to the couch.

"Zoe?" She heard Jack call out to her, but her mind was filled with a red haze of jealousy.

She kneeled on the floor in front of the TV and leaned forward. She pressed her cheek on the floor and used both her hands top spread out her ass, showing Jack her asshole.

"Fuck me in the ass." She ordered, staring at him from her position.

"Zoe what's happening?" Jack asked.

"Do it now." She demanded. "I don't care if you don't have lube."

She had not yet experienced anal sex before, but she was determined to give her anal virginity to Jack tonight. No bitch would take him away from her.

He felt the tip of his cock first spread her pussy lips wide and enter her there first. She moaned as she felt the pleasure of his dick inside her as he fucked her for over a minute. He then left her cunt and she felt his penis poking at her anus.

"Take me." She panted. "Claim my ass Jack."

She let go of her ass once she felt Jack's hands on her waist and moved her arms in front of her to gain some leverage. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and winced as she felt his penis start to penetrate her tight puckered ring.

Pain flashed on her body but she ignored it as she gritted her teeth, and she felt tears build up in her eyes from the pain but she refused to let them fall. Who said anal sex was pleasurable was stupid.

"Oh Gods." She moaned in pain as continued forward. Her nails scratched the wooden floor as she tried to hold on to anything. "More! Put it all in my ass!"

"Fuck!" She screamed as Jack finally bottomed out inside her. She could feel her organs shift inside her and she felt bloated.

"It's in Zoe." Jack whispered to her. "I'm in your ass. It's so tight and warm."

"You're so fucking big." She replied through clenched teeth. "Fuck my ass Love."

"Yes dear." Jack replied and she could feel him moving.

She grunted every time he thrust inside her, but the pain was slowly being replaced by pleasure. She gasped as she felt Jack's fingers play with her clit. "Yes, that's it! Harder!"

Jessica must have her ass fucked several times. She gave her anal virginity to Jack. He was her first. She didn't cum, although she felt pleasure when she felt the surge of heat as Jack came inside her. She fell down on the floor, and Jack fell with her, his penis still lodged in her ass.

"What was that for?" Jack asked once they got their breathing under control.

"I got jealous." She shared as she turned her head and allowed Jack to kiss her neck.

"Of Russo?" 

"I was seething inside when she started to put her hands all over you." She admitted.

"She was bit touchy with me." Jack replied, showing he also noticed her advances. "You know I just ignored it and tried to be professional."

"You did, and I'm so proud of you." She replied. "That's why I asked you to fuck me in the ass. I wanted to show you that you belong to me, and I to you."

"When?"

"When what?" She asked.

"When do you want to get married?" He asked her.

She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She felt him trying to reach for something on the coffee table.

"It's a good thing you're not a snooper." Jack whispered to her ear as he remained on top of her. She saw an opened box appear beside her head, containing an intricately crafted ring made of silver and gold. There were no diamonds or other precious stones, but to her it was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.

"Jack." She felt tears form in her eyes, this time not due to pain. "It's beautiful."

"Will you marry me Zoe Andersen?" He asked.

She shivered in pleasure as she suddenly remembered her current predicament. "Did you just propose to me while your dick is still buried inside my ass?"

"I am." She could hear the amusement in his voice. "I decided that I didn't like not seeing you every day when I started night shift patrol. I missed sleeping beside you. I want to be with you because I love you. And I want to mark you as mine as well. So will you marry me Captain?"

 She laughed as she took the ring from the box and placed it on her ring finger in her left hand. It was a perfect fit as she admired the intricate design of the ring. It looked like it was weaved using bands of silver and gold.

"Yes, yes I will marry you, you bastard." She laughed and cried as she turned her head as much as she could and kissed her fiancé. She felt his dick harden inside her ass and she stopped kissing him as it caused a strain on her neck.

They quickly separated and headed to the still running shower to wash up to continue their activities on the bed.

Jack was sleeping peacefully in one of their usual positions after sex, with her using his chest as a pillow as she listened to his heartbeat. His soft penis rested inside her sex, they had fucked for several rounds, the intensity overwhelming her every time she reached her climax. There was a new dimension to their love making and she absolutely loved it.

She stared at the ring at her hand, giddy with excitement and happiness. She was engaged! She couldn't wait for the future. However, as much as she wanted to show off her ring, she needed to keep it hidden for now. She decided she would hoop it around her neck with a silver chain, to serve as a necklace.

The next morning, she tasted a glimpse of married life with her fiancé as he prepared breakfast in bed for her. She was all smiles as she entered the station, wearing her favorite white dress. She even hummed the tune she from the first ever piece of music she heard from Jack when he first moved in her apartment building.

Today was a test dreaded by most of her officers, but she was confident they would pass the week long test prepared by I.A.

She walked down the stairs and stopped at the halfway landing and leaned on the rail.

"Can I have your attention?" She called out to the bullpen. Immediately all activity stop as every cop turned towards her. She liked this dress because it allowed her to show a bit of her cleavage, displaying her new necklace and the precious ring that dangled between her breasts. "Everyone, gather up."

She saw her fiancé who was sitting inside the briefing room head to the bullpen, and they locked gazes for a brief moment.

"Listen up. Internal Affairs will be conducting random integrity tests this week." She announced. "I.A. officers will be spending the week pretending to be criminals, so they can analyze how we treat them. We call them reversals."

She noticed Lopez and Bradford rolling their eyes at her announcement. "Do you think this is a joke, Officer Lopez? Officer Bradford?"

"No ma'am." They both replied immediately.

"Good, because I take it very seriously." She looked around and observed her officers. "Because if you have to change your behavior because of these reversals, we have a problem. My officers do things the right way, every day. Is that understood?"

"Yes mam." Her police officers responded.

"Dismissed." She climbed up back the stairs and to her office as the officers returned to their duties. She was confident they would pass, she ran a tight ship. According to Grey, the latest batch of rookies, including her fiancé, was one of the best performing batch of rookies he'd seen in years.

She returned to deal with paperwork, but her mind wandered, thinking of possibilities that could allow her and Jack to announce their engagement and relationship without dealing with the conflict of interest issue. She wondered who she could consult with this delicate matter.

Chapter Text

Episode 8

Jack Routh

He watched as Wesley ignored Lopez when he visited the station for a client. He could see how it hurt his T.O. and decided to let her speak first. It was the start of the rainy season in L.A. and he was still getting used to their newly issued jackets.

They spotted a car weaving dangerously on the road and Lopez started to suspect it was a set-up by I.A. They pulled the car over and realized the gravity of the situation when they saw a young boy, around 10 or 11 behind the wheel with a clearly unconscious and shaking older teen in the back seat.

"My sister. I have to get her to the hospital." The boy claimed.

Lopez immediately got into the car and he informed dispatch of their location and status.

"She's barely breathing." Lopez used her lap as a pillow for the girl's head to ease her breathing.

"Get the narcan! It's probably heroin." Lopez called out.

He rushed to the shop and took out the emergency drug. He handed it quickly to Lopez who applied it to the girl.

"C'mon, c'mon." Lopez urged the girl to respond to the dose.

The girl suddenly woke up and started breathing better. Her younger brother hugged him in relief.

"She's better, alright?" He tried to comfort the brave kid in the yellow raincoat. "You got her help, you saved her, buddy."

EMTs got the sister to the ambulance. The boy told him his name was Jake, and he was depressingly familiar with OD cases. He informed them on the drive to the shop that he saw his mother OD three times and died on the fourth. Jake and his sister found her one morning, already blue.

Lopez looked to be deeply affected by the kid's story. "Listen Jake, social services will take care of you, okay?"

"Yeah." Jake shrugged looking like he didn't care about his situation. He shared a worried look with his T.O.

"Can we stop by a comic book store for a moment?" He asked Lopez. She didn't even question him and headed to the nearest comic book store. He bought a few issues of Amazing Spiderman, seeing the web-themed pants that Jake wore. He added a few issues of Flash, in case Jake was a DC fan.

"Cool." Jake took the bag filled with comics and started to read. He ignored Lopez's look and they continued to head to the station in silence. The rainy weather was really dampening the mood, he realized.

They were discussing their cases outside the food trucks as he waited for his order to arrive. Nolan's order came first, and his followed after.

"I think you got my order wrong." He told the guy on the food truck. He had ordered food for two and the plastic bag the cook gave him was too small.

"My bad, I got your order mixed up with Nolan's." The cook apologized.

"It's fine. I'll go catch up to him." He replied and hurried to catch up with his fellow rookie.

As soon as he reached the parking lot he heard shooting and immediately ducked down for cover. He pulled out his backup piece and moved between vehicles to see what was happening. He saw a gunman with an AR-15 and a scope, taking aim at Nolan who was taking cover behind his truck, wisely using the engine block as a barrier.

He moved closer and prepared to fire his weapon, but noticed that the shooter was determined to empty his clip on Nolan and didn't notice his presence. He quickly slammed his weapon on the back of the man's head, and he collapsed on the ground. He looked around for other threats as he kicked the weapon away from the unconscious shooter.

The sounds of a siren grew louder as more and more people gathered in their location. Nolan approached him, looking confused.

"He really wanted to kill you." He told Nolan.

"Yeah he was." Nolan replied.

A shop from the night shift arrived immediately and he flashed his badge at the responding officers. Being so close to the station, even the sergeant and the captain arrived in a matter of minutes.

"Who did you piss off?" Bishop looked at Nolan's bullet-ridden pick up truck and asked as the shooter was cuffed and moved to the back of the shop.

"I don't know." Nolan replied looking bewildered by what happened.

"He's been greenlit by the Southern Front. It's a white supremacist gang." The captain shared. "That girl you had an altercation with this morning is the baby mama of the leader of the Southern Front."

"I'm sorry, but what's greenlit?" Nolan asked.

"It's when gangs authorize a hit on a cop. Normally they don't do that, it's too much of a hassle, unless you disrespected one of them." Grey answered.

"Her dress broke by accident, and I embarrassed her. I thought she was I.A." Nolan explained.

"They're one of the most violent enterprises in the country." The captain looked pissed.

"And because of how you treated her, he authorized everyone in the gang to kill you." Grey added looking grim.

"What about Talia, didn't she participate in the arrest?" Bradford asked.

"Nolan was the one who put hands on her, he's the one they're after." The captain answered.

He narrowed his eyes when he heard there were several thousand members just in the greater Los Angeles area. They all escorted Nolan home, with the captain volunteering her car to drive him back to his house. He even acted as an advanced patrol unit with his bike as he led the convoy of cars.

Cops converged on Nolan's house an hour later and the captain decided to post a unit to watch over him. K9 dogs even swept the property for possible bombs. A special alarm was set up to bypass 911 and alert cops directly, courtesy of the District Attorney's office.

"What are you still doing here?" The captain asked him.

"Waiting for you." He replied. He had to admit the attack on Nolan set him on edge, and his instinct was to protect the most important person to him, his soon to be wife, even if he knew she wasn't the target.

He followed her car home, and held her tightly once she finally fell asleep an hour later. She had to appear strong for the others, and only shared her worries with him in the privacy of his apartment.

The next morning, his fiancé decided on a bold strategy. She called on all units, even those with a day off, and lifted over-time limits. They were planning to pressure the gang, to force Cole, the son of the gang leader to drop the hit on Nolan. His fellow rookie was understandably absent from the briefing. Strategically, it was a smart move to lay low for the moment while the greenlit was still active. Anyone riding with Nolan if he went out on patrol would be in considerable danger.

"Sorry I'm late."

"All the cops stared at Nolan as he entered the briefing room." He saw the pleased look on the captain's face by Nolan's show of bravery. Bradford stood first to acknowledge Nolan, followed by the other cops who all stood up in their seats and started clapping for him.

"Yesterday, Southern Front tried to kill one of our own." The captain looked around the room once the applause died down. "Today we hit back."

She never looked so hot.

He just booked five suspects before lunch started and the holding cells were brimming with prisoners. Every operation of Southern Front was targeted, from prostitution rings, to illegal arms smuggling and drug operations. They even had to call a bus to transport the booked suspects to other facilities since the holding cells were full.

What he was uneasy about, was Zoe's decision to ride with Nolan out on patrol. He just couldn't help but feel worried for her safety.

The tension in the station eased when Grey brought word that Midas, Cole's father ordered the green light on Nolan to be taken down. He remained vigilant though, after reading the profile on Cole, he knew the son wouldn't obey his father's orders.

He was monitoring the radio during his break in the afternoon and listened as Nolan and the captain responded to a 459, meaning a burglary. It was strange, Nolan tended to over-report on the radio about his status and it was already ten minutes since Nolan reported. Something was wrong. He took note of the address and headed to his bike.

He must have passed by several red lights as he swerved in and out of traffic as the engine of his bike howled. The sun was setting when he reached the house, and noticed several men posted outside the home and quickly turned to a corner a block from his objective. He was glad he was riding his bike. Arriving with a shop they would have instantly detected his presence.

He moved to the side street and parked the bike on the sidewalk. Exercising caution he moved closer to the house and a faint wind carried the voice of Zoe screaming in pain. He struggled to control his temper as a sudden downpour started, followed by lightning and thunder.

He walked towards the two guards who were sheltering under the roof. They were fortunately presenting their back towards him and grabbed the two heads and smashed them against each other. They crumpled quickly to the floor in a heap. He turned and saw a large baldheaded man with facial tattoos all over his head appear from around the corner.

They looked at each other for a second before they both moved. He tackled the man to the flower bed and they rolled in the mud as they both struggled to be on top. Fists and elbows flew and he decided to use his head and slammed it against his bigger opponent, and felt his opponent's nose break. Breaking free, he hit him in the kidney and repeatedly hit his elbow to the man's face with quick jabs. Seeing how disoriented the gang member was, he lifted his head by his hair and slammed the back of his skull to the ground. The large man went still, finally unconscious.

He stood up and headed to the backyard, pulled out his weapon and moved through the bushes. He saw the moment Zoe's eyes widened in surprise when she saw him as she continued to mouth off to Cole.

Nolan appeared to be struggling to remain conscious, both of them tied to chairs and placed dangerously close to the edge of the backyard pool. They both sported bruises and wounds on their faces showing how they were treated by the gang.

"I heard you were dumb." Zoe continued. "But it is shocking to see it in person."

"Dumb?" Cole asked, smiling.

"Dumb."

"Who lured you into an ambush with a false surrender?" Cole looked proud as he pointed at himself.

"Does your father know that it was false?" Zoe asked. "I can't imagine that revelation will go too well."

"What's my rank, junior?" Zoe continued.

"Huh?"

"What. Is. My. Rank?" Zoe repeated slowly. "C'mon, you're the leader of the sixth largest gang in all of California. Surely you can tell from my uniform what rank I am?

"Who the hell cares?" Cole asked. His men started to look worried and he noticed the two guards giving worried looks to one another.

"You're going to. See, it is one thing to put a hit on a rookie, no offense." She gave a brief glance to Nolan.

"None taken."

"But two bars? For crying out loud! And a badge that says captain!? You just crossed a line with anyone with half a brain would run screaming from." Zoe looked amazed that Cole still couldn't comprehend what he had done. "A line that even your father would whack you for crossing. Understood?"

"So let me tell you how's this going to go, you and your little goonies are gonna—"

Zoe started screaming as she was shocked by the stun baton on Cole's hand. He moved closer and aimed his weapon.

"No! Hey Cole! Hurt me!" Nolan yelled trying to gain the man's attention.

"Dumb..stupid…" Zoe gasped after she recovered from the shock and gave Cole a savage smile. "You also pissed off my man."

"Huh?" Cole asked.

Two shots rang out and the two guards immediately fell to the ground. Cole turned around in shock and he saw the fear in the gang leader's eyes as he stepped forward from the bushes.

"I'm that man that you pissed off. Police. Put down your weapons." He ordered.

"Routh." He heard Nolan call out but ignored his fellow rookie, his eyes focused on Cole.

"Last chance you inbred fuck." He called out. "Give me a chance to shoot you. Drop your weapons and get down on the ground."

Cole did not show any intelligence as he suddenly ran to the yard. He quickly chased after him and the man didn't get as he slipped on the muddy ground. He reached the man in two strides and tackled him to the grass. Cole could barely fight, and he easily disarmed the gang leader with a punch to the face. He broke the man's wrist and Cole yelled in agony as he wrestled his gun and stun baton from his hands.

He hit him on the head with his weapon, knocking him out to silence the crying man. His voice was irritating. He was tempted to kick him between the legs, but he knew he wasn't worth it and would only get in trouble with Zoe and Nolan watching. Fiance or not, she would still tear him a new one if he ever punished a suspect. Besides, a broken wrist was payback for using a stun baton on his woman.

He cuffed Cole and left him soaking on the lawn. He was in enough trouble as it is since he abandoned his post.

He reached Nolan and Zoe and immediately set them free. Zoe immediately jumped to hug him and he hugged her back, feeling relieved at seeing her alive. They kissed and he eagerly sucked her lower lip and played with her tongue with his as he hugged her closer to him, glad to see her safe.

"Uhmmm is there something I should know?" Nolan asked. They separated and stared at one another.

"Officer Routh is my fiancé." Zoe explained after a moment.

"When did that happen?" Nolan looked shocked.

"It's a long story." The captain took off her necklace and removed the ring from it and quickly placed it on her ring finger.

"That looks great." Nolan replied, looking amazed. "Wow. This is big."

"I'll explain later, but we have to call for backup." He replied and handed his radio to the captain. He pulled some zipties from his duty belt and started to secure the other gang members, and with Nolan's help they dragged them to the back lawn with Cole.

The guards with gunshot wounds were still breathing, and he applied emergency first aid to their wounds. They could hear the sirens growing louder and the sound of a helicopter approaching despite the heavy downpour. They were soon bathed in a bright white light as the airship arrived on the scene.

Police in tactical gear headed by Grey arrived, looking like they were ready for a fight with their grim faces.

"You have no idea how relieved we all are to hear your voice on the radio, Captain." Grey stated once he reached them. He looked around and turned to him.

"Your work, Rambo?" Grey asked.

"Sir?"

"Do you know what you look like right now?" Nolan asked him. "Even I got scared when you emerged from the bushes like some special forces operator."

He looked at his tactical uniform and realized how muddy it was and torn in some places. He touched his face and saw traces of mud on his fingers. He looked around and observed as the other officers started to canvass the area.

"Let's get out of the rain." The captain suggested. She surprised everyone as she grabbed his arm and put it on her shoulder while she leaned against his side.

"Whoa."

"Holy Shit! Look!"

"Captain?"

"Hey! Is that a ring captain?" Lopez pointed to Zoe's left hand.

"Something you're not telling me boot?" Grey asked him. "When I asked you to keep an eye on the captain, I didn't mean that you should marry her."

He shared a glance with Zoe who merely shrugged. "It's a long story Sergeant."

"I bet." Grey shook his head and entered the house.

"I need to grab my bike." He said to the group. "I left it at the corner a block from here and parked it on the sidewalk."

"I'll get it." One of the other cops offered and he tossed the man his keys.

The investigators led by Commander West arrived thirty minutes later, and it took a while for all of them to give out their statements. He used the opportunity to wash all the mud and dirt on his uniform. He did look like some operator with his face all muddy while wearing his tactical gear and helmet.

"How was he able to lure us to this location?" The captain asked, sipping a cup of coffee. "Only cops knew our patrol route."

"We're still investigating the matter." Commander West replied looking worried.

"It's the primary reason I didn't call in. I thought our communications were compromised." He added.

"We'll have to work fast to investigate dispatch." Grey stated.

While they waited in the house that was used to lure the captain, she remained at his side, leaning her head on his shoulder. No one made any comment. The ride to the station was relaxed and there was palpable relief in everyone's faces. 

Applause and cheers greeted them, and even a few whistles as they entered the bullpen. The rumor must have reached the station even before they did.

"Go freshen up." Zoe whispered in his ear. He nodded and headed to the lockers. He indulged a bit and took a long hot shower.

"No wonder you didn't seem interested in anyone else." Lucy and the T.O.s were waiting for him when he emerged from the locker room twenty minutes later. "How long has this been going on?"

"It started when I first met her." He answered. "It just developed from there."

"I already suspected they were together." Lopez admitted. "There was no hard evidence, but I could see the way she looks at him when she thinks no one else is looking. The engagement ring surprised me though."

"Thank you for your discretion, Officer Lopez." The captain appeared, wearing the white dress she had worn earlier in the morning. "I know this must be an unusual situation, but I made sure I treated Officer Routh no different than any other officer under my command."

"What happens now?" Lopez asked.

"I need to speak to the chief first about my engagement." His fiancé looked radiant as she proudly showed off her ring once more. "Officer Routh and I expect that there will be a long and uncomfortable meeting with the top brass regarding our relationship."

"But we're still determined to stay together, no matter the consequences." He added.

"I fear that they may question how I treated Officer Routh this past few months." Zoe shared. "I tried to be as professional and impartial as possible."

"No one's questioning your integrity in your relationship with Routh, Captain." Bishop answered. "The E.C… I mean we we're just surprised, that's all."

Further interviews continued with I.A. until midnight, and he was glad Commander West avoided asking about his relationship with Zoe. He breathed a sigh of relief when he finished the last of his interviews and headed to his bike. Zoe and Nolan went to the hospital for a final check-up just to make sure there were no lasting injuries they suffered from their brief captivity.

He rushed to his fiancé when she arrived early in the morning. They slept until late in the morning, and only their hungry stomachs forced them from the bed.

"We're going to meet the chief and the mayor this week." Zoe explained to him as they ate breakfast. "I'm afraid they're going to use our relationship as a reason to force your transfer to another station."

"I don't really care, as long as we don't need to hide our engagement." He replied.

"Do you have a suit?" She asked.

"No"

"Then let's visit a shop and have you get one, tailor made." She replied. "Dress shoes, Ties, and cufflinks."

"I need all that?"

"We'll need more." Zoe replied. "I need to expand my wardrobe too."

Their shopping spree was tiring, and by the time they returned home, they were both tired and just ordered a take-out. He would need to pick up his suit in two days for a rush order.

The next day he reported for duty, as things finally settled down. He noticed a change in how he was treated though, mostly from the male police officers. Female officers who usually spoke with him now kept their distance.

"They're scared of pissing off the captain." Lopez remarked, looking amused at his plight. "That's part of being engaged to the captain. Get used to it, boot."

 "And the guys?" He asked.

"They consider you a legend." She teased him with a wink. "Do you know how many cops here have a crush on Captain Andersen since she arrived?"

"A lot?"

"A lot." She agreed. "So for you to finally land the Captain, it's a big deal."

Their patrol was interesting that morning, as they encountered a stolen vehicle call. Lopez allowed him to take the lead, and finally found the stolen vehicle in a repair shop after an extensive search in their database. The call took the whole morning, since he also found the repair shop that the thief worked for was involved in the buying of stolen car parts. It took him an hour just to catalog the evidence against the suspects.

"Slow down boot, or I'll have to perform the Heimlich in you." Lopez warned him as he took large bites of his burrito. "Why are you in such a rush?" 

"I have to go to a tailor for my final fitting for my suit." He explained. "It's for the meeting with the mayor and the chief."

"Relax, we can easily pass by the area when we're on patrol." Lopez replied.

He left his belt with his weapon inside the shop and they headed to the tailor, who looked surprised at seeing him dressed in his police uniform.

"Sorry." He told the tailor as he started to unbutton his uniform. "I didn't have time to change."

"You should have told me you were a police officer, Mr. Routh." The tailor replied. "I'd have given you a nice discount."

"We're not really allowed to leverage our job for discounts. It would violate department policy." He explained.

"I see." The older man merely smiled.

He looked at his reflection in front of the dressing mirror as he checked the fit of the suit and pants. He wore a dark gray suit with two buttons with a dark green lining, and a lighter gray dress shirt underneath.

"It fits you perfectly." The tailor said proudly. "You can pick it up at the end of your shift, Officer Routh. I'll make sure we'll remain open later than usual."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

"You look like one of those old Hollywood movie stars." Lopez remarked. She suddenly pointed her phone at him and took a picture.

"What was that for?" He asked.

"To make fun of you, of course." Lopez replied. "Let's go back to patrol, boot."

They spent the rest of their shift responding to various calls, though none were serious enough for an arrest. Most were just citations and a few traffic violations.

The next few days were filled with patrol duties, and Lopez finally decided to make him primary for both shifts instead of just the second shift.

"We'll make it work." Zoe assured him as they prepared for the meeting. The day had finally arrived. He knew their relationship was technically a violation of department policy. She was a police captain and he was a rookie. The meeting with Chief Williams and the Mayor would greatly influence his future career.

Zoe looked radiant in a cool grey backless dress. He particularly liked the fact that she didn't wear a bra and displayed a good amount of her smooth skin. They took their car and headed to a fancy restaurant that usually required a month of reservation to get a table. They were led to a private room when they arrived where they met Chief Williams, two of his pet officers, and the mayor waited.

"Andersen! Looking lovely this evening." The Chief greeted his fiancé. "Congratulations on your engagement."

"Thank you chief." Zoe replied.

"You look like a handsome couple." The Mayor nodded in approval. "You will both look good on camera."

"Sir?" The meeting was not what he expected as he shared a confused glance with Zoe. They were expecting it to be a formal dinner where the chief would comment on how inappropriate their relationship was and that he had to transfer to another station.

"Like with all policies, there are exceptions." Chief Williamson smiled. "Provided of course, that the department benefits from it."

"We're planning to use the two of you for our media campaign." Mayor Stevens added. "A fluff piece, to improve the image of the police department to the public."

"So do you agree?" The chief gave them an expectant look.

They really didn't have a choice if they wanted to remain together in the same station. Zoe finally agreed, but had asked what they needed to do.

"Interviews and photo shoots mostly." The chief's aide answered. "There's the occasional T.V. interview."

"You need to make the city and this administration look good." The mayor instructed them. "I'm counting on you."

The rest of the meeting was boring, full of pleasantries and pointless conversation. He patiently sat beside Zoe as he continued to answer question after question about his experiences as a rookie police officer.

He later found himself giving a lecture about the dining room as he pointed out the history and significance of each item he could see. He even explained about mismatched decorations of the wooden carvings on the wall, as they were from different periods. It was like someone tried to replicate a Victorian dining room but used different designs to mimic the look. 

"And Jean Claude told me this was period accurate." The mayor complained. "Clearly he lacked consultants with proper qualifications when he designed this room."

"Only you." Zoe giggled as they waited for the valet to bring their car around.

"It wasn't my fault." He insisted. "He kept bragging about the design of the room. The historian in me couldn't remain silent."

"At least you were polite about it." She pointed out. "You didn't make him look foolish, and now he comes out of that dinner, feeling like he gained something. Be prepared to be a regular guest of the mayor."

"I don't mind sharing my knowledge. At least he was genuinely interested in history. The chief kept staring at your chest." He replied. The powerful AC in the private room made Zoe's nipples stand out, through her thin material of her dress.

"You noticed that too?" She shrugged. "He's always been like that ever since I joined the force. He stares at the few other female captains and sergeants when he thinks no one can notice."

"We all know he's an old pervert, but he's harmless." She whispered in his ear. "He can only look, you get to suck and play with them."

Zoe's simple sedan arrived at the driveway. He watched as his fiancé got into the passenger seat, and he had to admire the smooth skin of her back. He walked around the car and shook the valet's hand and slipped him a twenty.

"Thank you sir." The man replied with a smile.

"Thank you." He drove away and turned to his wife. "Where should we eat, because I'm still hungry."

 "Food truck?" Zoe suggested. "Something simple, I don't want to get anything on this dress."

They were lucky that the few spots that were usually used by the shops were free, and he gave his order to the food truck, ignoring the looks he was getting from the other tables.

Walking back to the table, he saw how Zoe was rubbing her arms and he removed his jacket and put it on her shoulders. He removed his tie, unbuttoned his dress shirt, and rolled up his sleeves as he felt the warm weather. 

"Thanks." Zoe smiled at him. She took the tie from his hands and inserted it inside his suit pocket

 They certainly stood out with their fancy clothes, but they were able to enjoy their meal in relative peace. A few of the police officers stopped by and talked to the captain, including some detectives.

"Jack?" He looked up from his dessert and saw Nolan approach him with Jessica Russo trailing behind.

"John." He stood up and greeted his fellow rookie. "Ms. Russo."

"Call me Jessica please." The redhead replied with a smile. "You dress up nicely. You look like you came from a Hollywood set."

"Thank you Jessica." He replied and turned to Zoe. "My fiancé helped me with my outfit."

"Fiance?" Jessica followed his gaze, and he saw the look of surprise when she saw his date.

"Is that… Captain Andersen?" Jessica asked. She gave him with a curious look. "She's your fiancé?"

"I put my leash on him as soon as I saw him." Zoe joked as she joined them. "Ms. Russo, Officer Nolan, enjoying the night?"

"We are." Jessica replied. "Congratulations on your engagement"

The two women sat together at the table, and he scooped up the trash they used and threw them in the bin.

"How was dinner with the mayor and the chief?" Nolan asked.

"It was okay, but the serving size of the meals is too small for my tastes." He explained. "I don't understand why you need a month in advance just to reserve a table in that place, I just couldn't see it."

"I was never a fan of those restaurants." Nolan shared. "It's practically robbery. I never trusted those Michelin star ratings."

"Where do you go out on dates?" He asked.

"We usually pick those off the wall family restaurants. If we wanted to get fancy we go to hotels." Nolan replied.

It was getting late, and they left Nolan and Jessica and arrived back at the apartment. They fell asleep quickly, both tired from the long day. 

They had an unspoken agreement with their behavior at the station. Despite being given an exemption to continue their relationship, he never visited her office, and she never summoned him unless he was with his fellow rookies or T.O.

They both knew many eyes were observing their behavior and they needed to prove they could maintain boundaries with their personal life and police work.

The briefing that morning went on as usual. Nolan even volunteered to be part of a protection detail on a witness. Grey initially denied Nolan since he was still a rookie, and his T.O. found protection detail boring. Bradford had suddenly decided to join Nolan, and Grey assigned Chen to Bishop on patrol for that day.

He and Lopez responded to a call about a suspect wrestling with a highway patrol cop. They were the nearest unit available and rushed to the scene.

"Police!" Lopez ran over and pulled the suspect off the cop. He helped him to his feet as Lopez quickly secured the suspect in cuffs.

"You're under arrest for assaulting a police officer." Lopez told the suspect.

"He's the one that should be arrested!" The suspect glared at the highway patrol cop. "He said he would rip off my ticket if I paid him $100 dollars!"

"That's not true!" The cop immediately denied the accusation.

"Like hell it is!" The suspect lunged at the cop, only to be pulled by Lopez.

"There's no use lying sir, there's body cam footage will show everything." He replied in an effort to protect a fellow officer. It was then that he noticed that the highway cop was not wearing his body camera. He didn't wear the utility belts that was standard for Highway patrol cops.

"Where's your body camera?" He asked.

The cop looked nervous. "I… I must have left it behind in my vehicle. I didn't have time to put it on."

The highway cop started walking to his shop when Lopez ordered him to stop. The cop ignored her and ran and he immediately chased after him.

"Routh! Fake cop!" Lopez called out.

Before the cop reached his vehicle he slammed him into his door. The fake cop fell down in a daze and he quickly started to cuff him.

"Please man, can't we talk about this?" The fake cop begged. "Cop to cop?"

"You're not a cop. Impersonating a police officer is a felony." Lopez replied as she removed her handcuffs from the other driver.

"I'm amazed at how detailed his uniform is." He admitted as he tossed the fake cop in a holding cell. The man kept on pleading that they let him go on the drive back to the station.

"You'd be surprised at how many fake cops are running around." Lopez informed him when they ate at a popular spot with kebabs for lunch. "Some want the respect from their community, while others do it for the money, like that guy. A few of those fake cops didn't make the cut in the academy."

He was listening to Lopez as she shared more stories about her encounters with fake cops when their table started shaking. The food trucks started to rock back and forth, and he felt the ground beneath his feet rumble.

It lasted for nearly thirty seconds as panicked civilians ran around. He could hear cries for help and looked around.

"Comms are down." Lopez informed him.

"Phones too." He checked his phone and saw the signal bar was at zero.

"We need to get to the station and report in." Lopez ordered. "See where we're needed the most."

He immediately agreed, since he started to worry about Zoe.

The drive to the station took longer than anticipated as traffic blocked most streets. When they reached the station and saw it was a mess, with fallen fixtures and shattered windows. Zoe was busy as she handed out orders while Grey looked over a map. They both had injuries, with Zoe having a cut on her arm while Grey had a long gash on his head but it looked they were already treated.

"Good, you're here." Zoe called them over.

"I've already dispatched units to these zones." The captain explained while she pointed at a large map on the table. "I need you to head to the Shaw Memorial and assist in maintaining order. There are reports that a few fights had broken out in that area."

"We've heard reports that they're overwhelmed over there." Grey added. "Bishop and Chen are at St. Stephens keeping an eye out. Be safe out there."

He was grateful that Lopez was her T.O. She had that intimidating presence and voice when needed to maintain order as she quickly organized lines in the emergency room. He was able to calm down more of the panicked patients demanding medical attention.

"Hey! Officer!"

He turned around to see an older blonde woman in a doctor's coat. "I need you to assess those that are coming in that need immediate treatment. If you see one, escort them to the E.R."

"Yes doctor." He replied and walked through the crowd, assessing those with injuries that he judged were in immediate danger. He ignored those bruises and surface wounds until he encountered a young teen slumped in the corner. He saw a jagged piece of glass was stuck in her shoulder and blood had soaked her shirt and jacket. He looked around and headed to the E.R.

The doctor was giving instructions as several other personnel rushed to take care of incoming patients.

"What is it?" He looked at her coat and saw her name embroidered on it. Grace Sawyer.

"There's a teen with a piece of glass stuck in her shoulder. She's bleeding badly, and I didn't want to move her."

"Good. Get that spinal board." She pointed to a stack that lined in the wall. He grabbed one and led the doctor to the girl.

"It's alright. What's your name?" The doctor asked, trying to calm down the terrified girl.

"Grace."

"That's my name too." The doctor replied. "Why don't we get that glass removed and take care of you."

"Okay… but my brother. Mom told me to pick him up from pre-school." The girl looked worried.

"Why don't you give his name, and I'll pick him up and bring him to your mom." He offered. The girl quickly gave the information and was soon carried out by Dr. Sawyer and a nurse.

"Officer Lopez." He called out to his T.O.

He quickly explained the situation and Lopez tossed him the keys to the shop.

"Keep me posted." Lopez ordered.

The pre-school was only a 5 minute drive from the hospital. Thankfully the pre-school only suffered superficial damage, and it was now surrounded by anxious parents who were picking up their children.

"I'm officer Routh. I'm here to pick up James." He informed the teacher. "His sister Grace is in the hospital, and she told me she was on her way to pick him up when she got injured."

"Is she okay?" The teacher asked in concern.

"She's getting treated right now by a doctor." He informed her. "She was worried about her brother."

"Right. Thank you Officer." The teacher opened the door to a play room, showing a little boy playing while a staff watched over him.

"James, this nice Officer is here to bring you home." The teacher explained. The boy looked up and stared at him with some apprehension.

"Hi James, I'm Officer Jack Routh, but you can call me Officer Jack." He kneeled down so that the boy could see him better. "I'm here to bring you home. Your sister Grace asked me to."

"Do you have a police car?" James asked.

"Sure do." He replied with a friendly smile. "In fact, I used one to get here. Would you like to ride in a police car?"

James quickly nodded in excitement.

"Then get your things, but don't forget to put your toys away first."

The little boy rushed to put back the toys he played with on their shelves and picked up his bag hanging from a wall designed for children.

"Do you want me to carry you or do you want to walk?" He asked.

James held out his hand, causing the teacher to laugh. "I guess that's his answer." She remarked.

He picked up James and carried him with the boy's arms wrapped around his neck. The boy proudly waved at the classmates he still saw on the way out.

"Would you like me to turn on the siren?" He asked the boy as he sat him on the passenger seat.

"Yeah!"

He informed Lopez of his status and then switched on the siren, causing James to clap his hands in delight.

The mother looked confused when his shop arrived at the house. She was standing outside the door looking worried.

"James!" She cried in relief when she saw him through the window waving at her and rushed to the side of shop before they even stopped.

"Grace sent me." He explained to the worried mother who was hugging her son in relief. The mother thanked him and he returned back to the station and resumed his duties. It was a long day, and he only had water and biscuits and was starving as their shift ended.

Angela Lopez looked worn out too, and they both sighed in relief when he parked the shop into the bay.

"You did good with that kid and his sister." Lopez informed him.

"I may have violated some procedure when I picked up James from pre-school." He admitted.

"What did you do?" Lopez asked.

"I sat him on the passenger seat, and turned on the siren." He replied. "James loved it."

"That's it?" Lopez shook her head and left him alone.

Seeing that Zoe was busy with meetings with brass regarding the earthquake, he decided to join John and Lucy as they ate their dinner. John's was the most exciting, as he and Bradford stopped a cartel hit team from kidnapping their witness, who in turn was planning to betray them anyway and escape.

Lucy's experience was complicated, as she had to arrest a patient of her father who broke his arm. Lucy shared that it caused a significant rift in their already frayed relationship as her father distrusts cops and believes the justice system was broken.

Wade Grey

He was enjoying dinner with his wife and friend. He knew why Luna invited Jessica, she wanted him to retire from the force.

Luna asked about Jessica's job, and his friend shared some details of her work and her schedule.

"That sounds like a wonderful job." Luna gave him a meaningful glance.

"My job as a sergeant is wonderful too." He replied as he cut his steak.

"You and Captain Andersen handled the crisis well." Jessica observed. "It was impressive watching the station and the men recover from the earthquake and start working again in minutes."

"How is Andersen doing?" Luna asked. "Is she giving special treatment to her hot and young fiancé?"

"No, they barely interact in the station. If anything, she's harder on Routh than on Chen and Nolan." He observed. The captain personally read the reports from the rookies after they made arrests and made more corrections on Routh's written reports compared to the other two.

"How are the rookies doing?" His wife asked.

He paused as he chewed his steak. He swallowed it and took a sip of wine before answering. "They're different from each other, so they each have their strengths and weaknesses. "

"John Nolan believes in the kindness in people and tends to talk people down but he's not afraid of confrontation. I could see now what Andersen meant when she asked for him to be assigned at Mid-Wilshire." He shared, leaning back on his seat.

"What about the other two?" Jessica asked.

"Lucy Chen is more empathic with people and can read them well. She's ambitious and smart. She's going to make a fine detective one day if she passes probation."

"And Routh?"

"Jack Routh? He's a brilliant cop. Smart, decisive, and insightful but not afraid to take action. But there's another side of him, one that shows up when he's pushed to the edge. One that's lethal and terrifying. And then he turns to a bulldozer and lets nothing get in his way."

"Jack Routh, terrifying?" Luna laughed. "Are you sure we're talking about the same person?"

"I did see his body cam footage when he rescued Andersen and Nolan." Jessica added. "He moved the way I see Navy Seals do when they hunt. I can't believe he didn't come from the military."

"That's why I think he'll do great in metro." He replied and stared at Jessica. "Unless the F.B.I. gets to him first."

"He's the type of agent they usually recruit." Jessica nodded. "An academic with unique insight and the skills necessary when faced with danger. I already heard whispers from Homeland Security that they're already looking at his record and marked him as a potential recruit."

"DHS and FBI?" He shook his head in amazement. Jack was going to get busy when he finally graduates from probation.

Chapter Text

Episode 9 

FLASH

"This way Jack! Now smile!"

FLASH

"Now face the camera and fold your arms. Turn your head a little… great!"

"Zoe! Keep smiling!"

FLASH

He wondered if his vision would ever return again to normal. He never knew photo shoots lasted for hours.

In an incredibly savvy move from the public relations firm hired by the LAPD, they reached out to People Magazine and made a deal. They could run a story featuring his relationship with Zoe, including an exclusive interview and a photoshoot. Of course, the LAPD had permission to use any of the photos for their own social media accounts and publicity materials.

The editors in the magazine immediately jumped at the opportunity and he and Zoe were whisked away to a studio for the photo shoot. It was strange, he didn't really understand the theme of the shoot, but he was mostly directed by the photographer to pose in a subservient manner to Zoe.

They had dressed him as well in a variety of police uniforms, and it had been the first time he experienced the short-sleeved uniform for patrol. It felt wonderful, and that made him even more determined to pass his six-month exam and earn the right to wear it. 

Zoe wore mostly suits, blouses, skirts and heels. They were shorter than what she usually wore in the station, displaying her toned legs.

"Everyone take five!"

He reached Zoe who looked amused by the whole process. She seemed to be enjoying the shoot more than he was.

"What do you think they'll ask us to do next?" He asked her as they headed to a table filled with snacks and drinks.

"Have you carry me on your shoulders?" Zoe teased. There was one pose where he was asked to carry Zoe in his arms in a princess carry. It lasted long enough that his arms were burning in the end. His fiancé was not a dainty little woman, she was incredibly athletic despite her feminine curves and had considerable muscles that she showed when she wore the LAPD merchandise tank top and shorts.

They were also asked to model a variety of LAPD merchandise, from polo shirts, shorts and even jogging pants. It looked like the PR firm was maximizing the opportunity with a professional photo shoot to build a product catalog.

"You know they'll have our faces plastered everywhere once this is over." Zoe reminded him. "So forget about doing undercover assignments in the future."

"That's not for me anyway, that's more Lucy's thing." He replied. "She's the one that expressed the most interest in it even back when we were in the academy."

"Do you think she can pull it off?" Zoe asked after drinking some fancy water with slices of lemon.

"I think so. She's the best at reading people."

"Look. I guess that's what they'll make us do next." Zoe pointed him back to the shoot. The staff wheeled a glass table into place in front of the white walls and then added a comfortable leather chair fit for a CEO behind it.

Papers and everyday items usually found on an office desk were arranged carefully on top of the table, including a mug with the words badass captain.

"You think they will let me have that after the shoot?" Zoe asked while she stared at the mug. "And also that chair?"

The interview that followed the next day was easier, as the reporter who introduced herself as Nat seemed experienced in asking her questions and immediately set them at ease with her casual approach. It was mostly Zoe that answered the questions when the interview started in her office. The woman then followed them around the station to see a glimpse of their daily lives. She signed a waiver without any hesitation as she rode with him and Lopez for one entire shift.

Lopez tolerated the reporter and even answered a few questions directed her way, and followed their instructions when they responded to low-risk calls. It was a completely different experience with Nat as a ride along compared to Payne.

"When will it come out?" Lopez asked the reporter as he parked their shop on the bay.

"If the chief editor approves it, then the following issue." Nat answered.

"I thought it would be released next week?" He asked.

"That was the original plan." The reporter smiled. "But then I saw an opportunity to use your story and proposed to my boss to feature it on the cover."

"The cover?" From his understanding with the representatives from the P.R. firm, their fluff piece was mostly likely a 1-page spread. There were no talks about being on the front cover!

"The interview turned out well." Nat replied as she followed him back to the captain's office. "You're real people, and I think our readers can relate more to your story. And let's be honest Jack, you and Zoe are an incredibly attractive couple. I'm sure we will be able to gain more circulation with your faces on the cover." 

Huh. He watched as the perky reporter went back to meet Zoe. They had been given clear instructions by the brass to accommodate the reporter in any way, and that meant clearing up the captain's usually busy afternoon to have a friendly chat with a reporter.

 He wondered if there would be any change in his and Zoe's daily life once the issue was released.

[Police Romance]

[The Captain and the Rookie]

Two weeks later he was looking at his face on the magazine stand at the mini grocery store he frequented.

The cover was a picture of him in a short-sleeved police uniform with his arms folded, as Zoe stood by him with her hand on his shoulder and her other hand on her waist, while showing off her shiny police badge attached to her belt. He wore a more reserved smile compared to Zoe's.

He quickly bought the magazine along with the drinks Zoe asked for and headed to the cashier.

"Nice pair of legs on that one." The cashier commented, looking at Zoe as he punched in his purchases. Zoe's pose, along with the tight skirt she wore, showed off her toned legs and a bit of her thigh.

Yes, his fiancé indeed had a very nice pair of legs.

 Zoe Andersen

She clenched her fists in anger as she read the report on her desk. Commander West sat across from her along with Grey, both wearing grim expressions.

"Thank you, sir." Detective Jenkins from Robbery and Homicide. He was the one who fed the information to Cole and Southern Front about her patrol route that day.

He was nice to her when she first took up her post, and even gave her a gift on her birthday when she first arrived at Mid-Wilshire two years ago. She instantly rebuffed his advances, and sent a message to the others that she was not that type of woman. 

"We will have to investigate the cases he worked on for the last ten years." Commander West added.

"This will be messy." Grey noted. "Defense attorneys will pounce once they hear of his corruption."

"We better get ahead of them." She decided. "Arrest Jenkins immediately, and bring him down through the stairs. I want him to be seen by everyone in handcuffs."

"Got it." Grey replied and left the office.

"I need to send a message." She explained to West.

"Zero tolerance for corruption for dirty cops." Commander West nodded in approval. "Another addition to the Brady list."

Jenkins pleaded his innocence while he was escorted out of his office in handcuffs, escorted by two grim-looking police officers. Everyone stared at him as he was led down the stairs and through the bullpen and into processing. Jenkins bowed his head, unable to meet the eyes of his colleagues in his walk of shame.

The following days she had the detectives scrutinize Jenkins' record and found an instance where he lied in court to get a woman convicted, and it was added to the charges against him. In a few other cases, the court had to release a few other convicted felons due to the doubt in Jenkin's credibility.

She knew the only reason she managed to get through the hectic days of meticulous investigation without tearing her hair off was the thought of getting back to Jack at the end of every shift. He was her reward every night, and Jack was a generous lover. Some of the cases were too confidential to even share with her lover, but Jack understood her position and never pressured her to share details.

They followed up on the cases, but that only opened another can of worms. Following up on one of the freed suspects led to a chain of events that exposed one of her best patrol officers for perjury, Talia Bishop.

The woman told her when she first arrived in Mid-Wilshire that she wanted to be chief of police before she reached 40. Everyone laughed, but she knew the other woman was serious in her statement. She kept an eye on her over the next two years, and was impressed by her professionalism and dedication. Bishop's rookies consistently performed the best in exams, even beating Bradford who was considered to be the best training officer in the station.

 "I don't want her to leave the force." She paced in front of Grey's desk in frustration. when the day of Talia's punishment came, a letter of reprimand. "She's one of our best officers."

"She is, captain." Grey replied. "Unfortunately, our hands are tied. It's the chief's decision."

"Either way, her chance to become a detective is gone." Grey continued. "This might force Talia to resign."

"Let's hope not." She replied. She left Grey's office and headed to the break room to cool off.

She found Jack eating a sandwich while he read a magazine. Thankfully it was not one where they were on the cover, and she received enough teasing from that stunt. She resisted the urge to hug him from behind and instead just patted him on the shoulder as she passed him and took out her own sandwich from the fridge, the other half from what he was now eating.

"Hey." She sat down in front of him, glad to focus on her fiancé instead of Talia Bishop's punishment. "How's your shift?"

"Captain." Goodness. His smile still sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "It went as usual. Got a few calls for burglaries and domestic violence."

"Good. So are we still on for tonight?" She felt like a college girl again and confirming plans with her date due to excitement. Her foot accidentally touched his leg, causing him to jerk up and narrow his eyes at her.

"It depends." Jack replied.

"It depends on what?"

"If she was a good or bad girl today."

Oh . So that's how he wanted to play. He would regret that later when they got home. She could be a very bad girl.

Lopez arrived before she could respond, and she noticed the T.O.'s hair was out of place and her uniform improperly buttoned. She wondered what happened to her.

"Officer Lopez, you need to fix your uniform." She glanced at the buttons and the belt that was hanging loose.

Lopez looked down at her uniform and muttered a curse.

"Sorry, captain." The T.O. replied and immediately hurried out of the break room.

"What was that all about?" She asked.

"She got back together with her boyfriend." Jack explained, looking amused at the situation with his T.O. "They've been using the break time to… play."

"I hope it's not in the station." She replied, struggling to maintain her stern demeanor.

"No. It's in her car I think." Jack answered. "And she usually parks at the satellite parking lot. Lots of privacy there."

"Pity you drive a motorcycle, Officer Routh." She looked at him as she sipped her coffee.

"Too bad your office isn't soundproof, Captain." Jack countered, leaning forward. She was about to retort when Lopez came back.

"Thanks Captain." Lopez replied looking more presentable. "Let's get back out there boot."

She watched as Jack waved goodbye to her and followed his T.O. to resume patrol.

 The rookies were about to take their six-month exam evaluation to continue with the field training program and she could see their T.O.s have increased their workloads. She spotted a problem heading their way, what she believed was an unnecessary reaction of the LAPD leadership resulting from Jenkin's actions just to avoid being sued.

 Chief Williams and his staff decided that every rookie in the LAPD field training program had to complete a training and experience checklist as a primary officer before they were allowed to take the exam. She immediately consulted with Grey and checked the records of the rookies while they still had time and before her station officially received the new memorandum.

Bishop, demonstrating her talent and foresight as a training officer, allowed Nolan to be the primary since day 1. It meant he had completed the extensive checklist required for the exam.

Jack also met the necessary requirements, since Lopez, perhaps taking inspiration from Bishop's training methods, placed Jack as the primary during their second shift of the day since he started training.

Chen needed to complete seven more on her checklist, as a result of Bradford's style of training with a 'watch me and learn' approach. Bradford seemed determined after learning of the additional requirements, and said that 1 week before the deadline was more than enough to complete his rookie's checklist. She had directed control to funnel specific cases to Bradford, while Bishop and Lopez took up his slack.

The next few nights as the exam date came closer Jack spent less and less time with her. She missed him, but she knew how important the exam was as he joined in the group study with Chen and Nolan at the guest house of the mansion where the oldest rookie lived.

Jack Routh

The written exam was difficult as he expected, but the oral exam with Chief Williams felt strange as he stepped out of his office. The older man merely asked a few questions about police codes and procedures, and then that was it. He asked what his plans were, what career path he wanted to take and he even told him he and the mayor expected a wedding invitation in the future when he and Zoe finally decided on a wedding date.

A handshake and an invitation to play golf this weekend and he was guided out of the man's office by his aide.

"How was it?" Lucy asked. She was waiting outside the chief's office, case notes and the rook book in each hand. "You've been there longer than John."

"Strange." He replied. "Just strange."

He said goodbye to Lucy and wished her good luck on the final part of their six-month evaluation exam and made his way back to Mid-Wilshire. By the time he arrived, he changed out of his uniform and left the building. He stopped when he saw his T.O. waiting for him along with Bradford and Bishop at the entrance to the station.

"Let's go Jack. Nolan reserved a table for us. We're going to treat you to a drink, it's tradition." Lopez told him. He followed them a few blocks from the station to a bar that cops frequented.

"How did it go? Lopez asked as they made their way on foot. "I won't forgive you if you get anything less than 90."

"It was strange. The chief was very… friendly." He replied.

"Comes with the perks of having regular dinners with him, and you're also engaged to a police captain." Bradford commented. He didn't hear any accusations in Bradford's tone and looked at the veteran cop. "Do you think it is right to get special treatment?"

"It's politics." Tim Bradford replied. "I know Lopez trained you well, so I'm not questioning your competency as a police officer. You three have been studying every night for the past two weeks either on your own or as a group. I bet you all memorized police procedure and codes by now."

"Yes we have."

 "We're just waiting for Chen." Bradford looked at his phone. "She'll follow us."

John looked like a nervous wreck when he arrived at the bar and finally understood why this was a tradition by the T.Os. Some rookies did not handle waiting for exam results and needed to be accompanied until they calmed down He quickly joined his fellow rookie and they traded notes from the exam.

"He just asked you four questions?" Nolan's eyes were wide with amazement. "Lucy texted me that you were in there longer than I have. What else happened?"

"He invited me to golf this weekend. And he told me he expects a wedding invitation."

"When do you plan that anyway?" Lopez asked him as she handed him a bottle of beer.

"As soon as I finish my probationary period, then I'll start thinking about it." He replied to his T.O. "I can't have a honeymoon when I don't have vacation days yet."

"And the wedding rings?" She asked. "Six months is barely enough time to plan a wedding. Does the captain even know?"

"I'll tell her when I saved up for the wedding rings." He answered. "I just want a simple, intimate wedding, but that's just me. I don't know what Zoe wants for a wedding."

"She's a no-nonsense captain, so I think she'll like a small wedding." Bishop added. "What do you think Tim?"

"Small weddings are the best." Bradford answered. "You know every face there, and don't have to worry about the comfort of the guests and keeping them entertained. They're already happy to be there. They know you, you know them."

"So what about two receptions?" He suggested. "One that includes the VIPs in the morning, and another one at night for friends and family?"

"That could work, but it's going to be expensive." Lopez commented. "How many people do you plan to invite to the smaller one?"

"Just all of you I personally know in the station, your families and dates." He looked up and saw his fellow rookie entering the bar. "There's Lucy."

"Took your time boot." Bradford told his rookie and tapped his watch.

"Sorry sir. Traffic was bad in the HQ. It took me five minutes just to get out of the area."

"No matter. Cheers to a good job on the exam." Bradford held up his bottle of beer for a toast.

"To the rookies!" Lopez called out.

"To the rookies!" They all raised their bottles, and even a few of the off-duty cops joined in the toast. Food arrived, and he spent the next two hours listening to the stories of the T.Os. and their own experiences with the exam. By the time he got to the apartment, his fiancé was still awake, reading a book.

She scrunched her nose when he gave her a kiss. "You smell like smoke and beer. You went into that cop bar didn't you?"

"Our T.Os. wanted to treat us." He answered. "I'll go take a shower."

By the time he finished Zoe was already in bed. He soon cuddled with her and hugged her body close to his, causing her to moan in approval and hugged his arm tight to her chest.

He didn't care much for golf when Saturday arrived, but he did like the golf outfit Zoe wore, especially the short skirt she was wearing. She had to remind him multiple times to keep his eyes on the road and not at her legs on the drive to the golf course.

"You never played golf before?" He had borrowed a set of golf clubs and gloves from Nolan, and Ben, Nolan's landlord and best friend heard him and kindly offered one of his spare sets.

He was surprised Zoe owned a set, but she claimed it was expected of her to own a set when she became a police captain.

"Never had a chance to even swing it." He answered honestly. The only lessons he received were from Ben as he showed him how to hold a golf club. They parked their car and carried their golf clubs to the clubhouse where the mayor, the chief and their wives were waiting for them. It was a good thing Zoe warned him of the mayor's wife, he thought she was his daughter.

"Jack, Zoe, glad you could join us!" Mayor Stevens beamed as he waved them over to his table. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"We woke up late." Zoe replied when they sat and he felt her hand on his thigh. That meant she wanted to take the lead in the conversation. "Thank you for inviting us, Chief Williams, Mayor Stevens."

"Don't mention it." The mayor laughed.

"I was telling Jack the other day that when I was his age, I could hit a ball for four hundred yards. I could have gone pro, you know?" Chief Williams added. "But duty called."

He listened to the man as he continued to share his stories while he ate his breakfast, occasionally nodding and adding his own opinion when asked about a particular topic. Yes, golf was indeed invented in Scotland.

He even explained the origins of the word caddie to the mayor, who was amazed that it came from French military cadets.

"By the way, I need a few of your best cops. One of my friends, Taylor, needs help with security while she's here for her concert." The mayor looked at him and smiled. "I think Jack can handle that, bodyguard duty isn't that difficult, right Chief?."

He saw the Chief looking at him and Zoe. "I'm sure Captain Andersen can arrange that."

He resisted the urge to wince as Zoe's gripped his thigh. Obviously, she didn't agree with their decisions but her face remained impassive.

"Of course Chief." Zoe replied in an even tone. He knew she didn't like what happened but was powerless to do it.

"Excellent! I'll have my staff contact you for details." The mayor stood up and they all followed him. "We're wasting this beautiful morning, let's play golf!"

In his opinion, he didn't play too badly. He came in last, followed by Zoe. The chief and the mayor were neck and neck, but the mayor pulled away at the seventeenth hole with a birdie. That caused him to be in a good mood when their game ended, and treated them to a lunch buffet back in the club.

To him, that was the real highlight of his first golf experience, aside from Zoe's golf outfit. the exclusive club's buffet selections were superior to anything he had before.

"You did good today." Zoe told him on the drive back. She insisted on driving this time since she said she didn't want to be in a car accident. He was sure she was teasing, but her look silenced any retort from him.

"Good? I was way behind all of you since the first hole." He remembered the encouraging comments and advice the mayor and the chief gave him to help his game. It didn't help his concentration with the occasional breeze that lifted Zoe's skirt, revealing the cycling shorts she wore beneath. That was a deadly distraction to his focus.

"That's exactly how it's supposed to happen." Zoe replied. "They felt better about themselves at seeing how they outplayed a younger man in golf and beat him by several strokes. Expect to get more invites from the chief or the mayor from now on."

"So we let them win?" He saw Zoe roll her eyes and gave him a brief look. "Politics, I get it."

"Use whatever influence you may gain in the future for the force." She advised. "So did you enjoy your first golf game?"

"The exercise is nice." He stared at her legs. "But I enjoyed the view more."

"The view huh." His fiancé spread her legs further, allowing him to see more of her thighs and the shorts she wore underneath her skirt. "So you'd likely say yes to a game with just me?"

"Of course." He may be ignorant about many important subjects in his past life, but he wasn't stupid.

"And what do you think about a bet?" Zoe asked. "Whoever wins, gets to do whatever the other wants for an entire day, no questions asked."

His eyebrows raised up in interest. "Anything?"

"Anything." Zoe confirmed.

He saw her smile and wondered what she was up to. Their sex life was strong in his opinion, the sheer passion and attraction they had to each other made up for their reduced time for more intimate moments. He missed the times they spent nearly the entire day practically naked and in bed.

"Then I better practice my golf swing." He replied. He now had an idea of what he wanted to do to her fiancé. He saw a poster of the San Diego Comic-Con coming up. They could drive there on the weekend.

"Work on your putting." Zoe answered, interrupting his fantasies of his fiancé in a costume. "You're going to need it."

Monday morning arrived, and he was so excited to see his scores that he arrived at the bullpen fifteen minutes ahead of roll call. He spotted Lucy and John already sitting at the front table of the briefing room, and he quickly joined them and took his usual seat by the glass wall.

He spent the time flipping his pen around his fingers, while John occasionally looked at the clock. Lucy was checking her phone, refreshing her email constantly hoping the results would arrive by email.

"Looks like the rookies are early today." Bradford commented as he entered the briefing room. "You all must have arrived early. I didn't even see the two of you in the locker room."

"They're just nervous." Lopez answered, taking her own seat beside Bradford. "So do you want to take bets on who gets the high score?"

"No bets. But I will get disappointed if Chen gets a score lower than 90." Bradford stated.

Other officers trickled in, and soon Grey entered, followed by the Captain. She remained by the door, allowing Grey to start the briefing.

"I must say, I was surprised by the performance of our rookies, despite my initial skepticism with one of them." Grey stated. He walked to the whiteboard and with a marker in hand wrote three sets of numbers.

98

97

96

"Mid-Wilshire has the highest scores for rookies in the entirety of the LAPD, well done rookies." Captain Andersen looked pleased as the other officers started to clap. "It also shows the competency of our training officers. Bradford, Lopez, Bishop, good work. You still have six months to turn those three into proper police officers, so don't let up."

"We won't Captain." Bradford promised.

"I usually reveal who got the top scores at the end of the shift, but since your marks are so close to each other, that would be pointless." Grey continued. He started writing their names under each number.

98 – Routh

97 – Nolan

96 - Chen

He got the top marks, but he felt guilty when he remembered the oral exam Chief Williams gave him. He wondered if he really deserved the high score.

"We did it." Lucy whispered in excitement.

"And as a bonus, you get to wear the short sleeves." Grey added.

"Finally!" Lucy added. "Goodbye itchy long sleeves!"

He and Nolan changed to their short-sleeved uniform and headed to their waiting T.Os.

"Looking good Routh." Lopez eyed him from head to toe. "This look suits you better. How many sets do you have with the short sleeves?"

"Just one." He replied. He liked the feeling of this uniform, he felt less constrained and he didn't have to wear that stupid tie. It was nice to see his arms again during the day on a weekday and feel the draft from the air conditioning against his bare skin. It felt like forever with his relentless Monday to Friday schedule. The promise he made when he wore this type of uniform for the first time in the photo shoot was finally completed.

"Let's pass by the supplies store first to get you a few more." Lopez stated.

"What are you doing boot?" Bradford suddenly asked as Lucy arrived wearing a short-sleeved uniform.

"I'm wearing my uniform." Lucy gave a confused smile. "Is something wrong?"

"All my rookies wear long sleeves until the end of probation." Bradford informed her.

 He stared at Lopez and his T.O. sensed him looking at her and gave him a smug grin in turn. She was the best T.O. ever.

"But Sergeant Grey said…"

"I have complete discretion on how to train my rookie." Bradford cut her off before she could explain further. "Now go back, and don't forget the tie. Stage 2 of your training begins today, boot."

Lucy looked devastated as she headed back to the locker room with her head bowed down. She came back a few minutes later, looking enviously at him and Nolan and their new uniforms.

He felt energized as he started his first shift. They responded to a few calls on domestic violence and headed to the supply shop before their break.

"You should always have a back-up uniform in your war bag. So I suggest you get at least three."

"I'll get four." He replied. "I don't like to wear used uniforms."

"Good." Lopez replied. "You won't believe some of the cops at the station barely wash their uniforms, they just spray febreeze and call it good enough."

"Like Officer Smitty?" He asked.

The older officer's locker smelled interesting whenever he passed by. He was lucky his locker was farther away and Nolan, whose locker was initially assigned beside Smitty's, immediately requested a transfer within the first week. Even Grey understood the request and approved it without asking for an explanation, and he openly disliked Nolan back then.

"Exactly like Smitty's." Lopez replied.

At the end of their first shift, they got called to the office of the Captain, and he already suspected what the reason was.

"Do you have an idea what this is all about?" Angela Lopez asked as they quickly finished their lunch.

"Some. I think it's a protection detail." He replied.

"V.I.P.s" Lopez looked annoyed.

"I think you'll like this one." He remembered Lopez liked to listen to this pop star's music.

He knocked on the captain's door and waited. She was looking at the papers on her desk and called for them to come in.

"Officer Lopez and Officer Routh reporting. You called for us Captain?"

"Yes, shut the door." The captain looked up and he saw her eyes widen when she saw him. He saw the faint blush on her cheeks as she eyed him for a moment.

"He's been getting looks like that all morning." Lopez stated with a smile.

"I…." It took a moment and the captain cleared her throat, but her eyes remained fixed on him.

"Really shows off his muscular arms." Lopez continued. He could hear how amused she was.

"Yes, thank you for your observation, Officer Lopez. Yes my fiancé does look good in a short-sleeved uniform." The captain replied and then handed a folder to Lopez. "This is an official request from the mayor's office."

Lopez opened the folder and started reading the contents. He could see her eyebrows shoot up in shock. "Taylor? The Taylor Swift is requesting us?"

"It's not all fun and games in this assignment. Her label complained to the Mayor about receiving disturbing fan mail from a stalker, then threats of kidnapping and wanted a more visible police presence around her while she's here in the city for three days for her concert."

 "She has her own security of course, but her agency said she'll feel better with a visible police escort near her. They're afraid her image would be ruined if her own security roughed up a persistent fan."

"So it's more of a deterrence."

"Correct, Officer Routh." The captain answered. "You'll be her shadow, in her hotel, the concert grounds and wherever she eats and has a chance to interact with the public. You get off when she sleeps and get back in the morning when she wakes up. Overtime is already approved."

'Of course, her recording company arranged for your living arrangements. You'll be sleeping in the same hotel for the next two nights." Zoe didn't look happy when she said that last part.

"When do we report in mam?" Lopez asked.

"Tomorrow morning you will arrive at her hotel where her security will meet with you in the lobby. You're going to use an unmarked car, so that you won't tip off the fans on where she's staying."

"Yes ma'am." Lopez looked eager at their upcoming assignment 

He was about to leave when Zoe asked him to stay.

"I thought it would be a day job and we get to go home at night." He told her once they were alone.

"So did I." Zoe stood up and hugged him. "Call me every night?"

"We still have tonight." He smiled at her.

"I know." Zoe crossed her arms. "Just promise you'll call every night."

"Of course love." He leaned down and gave her a brief but passionate kiss. He stepped back and he could see the lust in her eyes.

"Finish your shift, then head back home. No stops." She ordered. "Do you know why Officer?"

"Why Captain?"

"Because I've been a very bad girl." She replied, twirling a pair of handcuffs on her finger.

Angela Lopez

"No! You're not that lucky." Talia looked annoyed.

"I am that lucky." She grinned as she continued to store additional supplies in her bag. She wanted to bring better clothes, but this wasn't a social event. Besides, she would spend the day in uniform. She usually avoided VIP assignments, but this time she didn't mind.

She could see the envious gazes she received from the other girls in the locker room.

"It's not fair." One of the cops complained. "You already have an eye candy boot that makes your shift pass by quickly."

"I would have stared at him all day." One of the girls sighed. "Did you see him in his new uniform?"

"Did you see his arms…"

"Too bad the captain already got him. I didn't know she liked them that young."

Yes, Routh did look good. She was taken aback when she first saw him in short sleeves. He certainly filled out the uniform well with his broad chest, powerful arms and slim waist. If she wasn't his training officer she would have made a move herself and flirted with him.

Now she had Wesley, but she could still admit to herself that her rookie was ridiculously attractive. And the fact that he didn't know how handsome he was, made him even more appealing. His rookie was all business when it came to police work.

"This isn't just a vacation." She told Talia. "She does have a genuine worry about some of her fans and stalkers."

"You do know the security agency she uses has ex-soldiers and cops?" Talia asked.

"Yes, and that will make our jobs easier, but the presence of a police officer and the authority we represent with our uniform will add to that protection." She replied.

They used the unmarked vehicle but remained in uniform as they went to the hotel where she was staying. Her location was a tightly guarded secret and they were given a number to her head of security.

The man on the phone indicated that they would meet them in the lobby of the Ritz Carlton and take them up to Taylor's floor where she had booked all of the units.

 "I've never been inside this place." She told her boot. She stepped forward and entered the door opened for her by the doorman.

She was about to head into the lobby when a large man in a suit, near the height of her boot approached her.

"Officers Lopez and Routh?" The man asked.

"Yes, we were sent here by the request from the Mayor." She replied.

"This way please." The man led the way to the elevators. Once they were inside, he used his card and tapped it to a receiver and pressed for the penthouse.

"I'm Fred Adams, head of Ms. Swift's security team." The large man offered a hand.

After introductions were made, they stepped off the elevator and entered a room. She saw a luxurious sweet, with large comfortable couches and windows with a breathtaking view of downtown L.A.

The colors used in the suite were pleasant to the eye, cool grays and pastel browns and an off-white finish on the walls.

"Ms. Swift and her team would like to meet you as soon as possible." Adams informed them and led them to another room, and she realized the room they were in previously was merely the receiving area.

She saw the famous pop star hunched over a laptop as she sat on the couch.

"Ms. Swift, the police officers are here." Adams announced their presence.

She could see it in that instant as Taylor Swift raised her head and greeted them with a smile. She was curious if the E.C. charm had any effect on a global pop star like it had on regular women. It was clear that it was as potent as ever, or even stronger with his new short-sleeved uniform.

Taylor's eyes immediately locked on to her rookie. She watched as she gave a knowing look to one of the women with her as she stood up and immediately tried to fix her messy hair, an unconscious reflex she knew women had when they saw an attractive man.

"Hi, thank you for being here." Taylor stood up and offered a hand. "I'm Taylor."

She didn't fail to notice that her hands lingered more on Routh as they introduced themselves in turn with polite handshakes.

"I understand that you have been receiving threatening letters, Ms. Swift?" Routh asked.

"Yes." It seemed that the pop star couldn't take her eyes off her rookie. "Are you really a cop?"

"Yes ma'am." Routh replied. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing." Taylor merely smiled.

They received pictures and printed messages from the stalkers from Adams, and they asked him about the security preparations. As expected, they were a large team, professional and disciplined.

"Routh, take our luggage to our rooms." She ordered. Taylor was too distracted to answer her questions and decided to remove the source of the distraction.

"Yes ma'am." Routh replied and he put both war bags on top of their respective travel bags.

"I'll show you to your rooms." Adams offered and led Routh outside once more.

With Officer Distraction gone, Taylor and her team shared their worries. From what she read, two suspects were troubling as they even threatened to kidnap her. Others were mostly creepy love letters but overall, harmless, but she couldn't discount the threat. She took her radio and asked to run a trace on the names that threatened with kidnappings.

As she continued discussing the possible threats with Taylor's staff, Routh returned and handed her a keycard to her own room.

She gave a briefing to Taylor and her staff, of what their duties were while they were on this assignment. They agreed to all her requests, especially including them whenever Taylor went outside of the hotel.

Seeing how easy it was and how secure their current location was, she decided to rest for a bit and decided to check out her room. She smiled at seeing how nice and big her bed was. The view from the window was amazing, and when she saw the large bathtub with a view outside the window, she knew what she was doing tonight. It was a pity she couldn't invite Wesley here.

She went to Routh's room and found it was identical to hers. They secured their off-duty weapons in the safe and headed back to the main suite where Taylor continued to prepare for her concert.

"So Jack, can I call you Jack?" Taylor asked Routh as he stared out the window. One of the girls beside the pop star giggled when Jack turned to them.

"Of course Ms. Swift." Routh said politely.

"How old are you?" Taylor asked.

She knew the twenty questions were coming and hid her amusement. It was funny to see the pop star act like a love-struck schoolgirl.

"Twenty-four, Ms. Swift," Routh replied. He gave her a quick glance and she smirked in turn.

"So young!" Taylor replied. "I'm twenty-nine. We're like only five years apart!"

"Where did you go to school?"

"UCLA." Routh replied. "I have a degree in ancient and modern history."

"He also has a minor in music." She added. "Routh is a talented musician."

"Really?" Taylor looked intrigued. "Can you play instruments?"

"I'm okay with a piano, guitar and a tin whistle." She didn't know he could play a third instrument. What the hell was a tin whistle?

"Can you read music?" The pop star grabbed a few pieces of music on the table and handed them to Routh.

"I needed to practice Love Story tomorrow. Do you think you can help me?" She pointed to the grand piano that was in the corner of the suite. "The other group with the band and the musicians haven't arrived yet. I can only practice so much with just a guitar."

Jack looked at her, silently asking for permission. She gave a quick nod and a smile to encourage him. He sat on the bench and started to read the music, testing the keyboard for a few moments.

She knew the song, Love Story was one of Taylor's songs she released in her second album. She took out her phone and decided to record Jack's performance. Talia and the captain would love this.

[Love Story – Taylor Swift]

A beautiful melody surrounded the room as Jack's fingers danced on the keyboard. Taylor and the rest of her staff looked amazed at his performance. The pop star didn't miss her cue and started to sing.

She found it amusing that Taylor started to point at Routh whenever she sang Romeo. Her rookie stared at the music and occasionally glanced at Taylor as he waited for cues and she noticed that he started to play around more with the music and started adding his own flair.

By the time Taylor's performance ended, they all gave a round of applause, even Adams who was standing by the door.

"That was amazing! You were amazing!" Taylor gushed.

"Thank you ma'am." Routh stood up. "I'm glad you enjoyed my interpretation."

"Wait." One of Taylor's friends gasped as she took a closer look at Jack. "You're him! You're Sugar!"

"Oh my god!"

"You're him!" Taylor squealed and grabbed Routh's arm. "I know it's you! I've been searching for you for ages! This has to be fate!"

Taylor pulled him to sit beside her and played a video on her iPad. A poorly recorded video of Routh singing the song Sugar was shown on the screen.

"What are you doing as a police officer!?" Taylor demanded as she rounded on her rookie. She hung back, deciding to use this moment as a test for Routh.

"Don't you know that even my label looked for you for months! Months!" Taylor continued to rant.

"Ms. Swift, I love music, but I love being a police officer more." Routh replied. "I'm satisfied with where I am. Thank you though, it means a lot coming from a famous musician like you."

"Why couldn't I find you?" She complained.

"He doesn't have any social media presence at all." She decided to step in and explain her Rookie's situation. He didn't have instargram, cliptok or even facegroup. He had a private smartphone different from the department issue but he only used Messenger for communication purposes.

"That explains it." Taylor looked determined. "Can we have a selfie?"

"Mam, if you do that, I won't be able to continue my life as a police officer. I enjoy the anonymity I have." Routh replied.

"I promise, I won't tell them who you are." Taylor replied. "I won't even tell them what you do."

"You have to remove that uniform boot. That's a dead give-away." She added, enjoying all the attention on Routh. Besides, she believed her rookie's alter ego needed some boost for his fans. Sugar had been gone for too long.

Routh went to his room and removed his short-sleeved uniform, and came back out a few minutes later with his tight-fitting white shirt that showed off his muscular chest, shoulders and back. He ran his hand through his hair, slightly changing his look. Hot.

Taylor looked taken aback for a moment and then pulled him back to the couch to sit beside her. The pop star immediately took several photos in different poses, encouraging Jack to smile as well. "C'mon Jack! Let loose for a bit!"

"Miss Swift, it's time for lunch." One of her staff reminded her.

"Bring it up here." Taylor replied without looking up from her phone. "I have to post this…filter… sticker… There! Perfect! I posted it on instargram and cliptok!"

She pulled up her own phone and opened the app for instargram. She watched in her feed as Taylor Swift's post appeared. Immediately within seconds there were already thousands of likes.

[Met up with #Sugar in LA!"]

Routh looked devastatingly handsome as he gave a shy smile, with Taylor at the forefront of the picture. It also implied a lot with two attractive people sitting closely together while sitting on a couch. It did not surprise her as the post went viral almost immediately. She stared at Taylor Swift and had to admire the pop star for her cunning.

She had used the opportunity to increase her public image and generate interest in her concert in LA.

Chapter Text

Episode 10

Taylor Swift

Her post went viral, just as she predicted it would. She was already receiving numerous requests for interviews. She let her team handle that, as she had done her part. Now it was time to focus on rehearsals.

The next morning she headed to the stadium for rehearsals. Officer Routh accompanied them, but he joined his partner in their car instead of accepting her invitation to ride inside her spacious van.

She felt annoyed at his rejection and decided to focus on the preparations. The sound checks and the timing for the lights took the better part of the whole morning while her dancers and musicians rehearsed their line-up of songs.

He drew her attention from time to time as he walked around the stage. She even saw his tall figure at the far end of the VIP area, keeping an eye over the hundreds of crewmembers, technicians and sound engineers that prepared for her concert tomorrow night.

She wondered how she could convince him to join her on tour, since his musical talent was too good to waste being a police officer. She knew that if he recorded his song Sugar in a proper studio, it would surely top the charts.

She had invited Jack and Angela to join her and her team for lunch in her suite, and it was there that she made her pitch to him. He politely rejected her offer once more.

"C'mon boot, you got to give her something if you keep rejecting her offers." Angela teased her partner while she finished dessert. She had asked Angela why she kept on calling Jack a boot, and learned it was a term for rookie cops, since they were the lowest-ranking officers in the totem pole.

"How about you perform one of your original songs right now?"

"Yeah!" If she couldn't bring Jack on tour with her, the least he could do was give her a private performance. "Please, Jack?"

Jack finally agreed and asked for a pen and paper to write the lyrics and also asked to borrow a guitar. She wondered why until he told her she would sing his song in a duet with him. She hugged him in excitement and eagerly waited for him to finish writing the lyrics and the chords that accompanied them.

Once she read the lyrics, however, she frowned and looked at him with confusion.

"Who hurt you this badly?" She couldn't help but ask.

"It's a long story." Jack replied as he received a guitar from one of her staff. "Can you do it? You can just strum along the chords once you see how I do it."

"Deal. Show me." She demanded.

Then he opened his mouth and started singing.

 [We don't anymore – Charlie Puth]

We don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore, like we used to do

She was not prepared when he skillfully played the guitar, his plucking producing crisp and clear tones that traveled around the room. She was instantly entranced by Jack's voice and his singing style.

We don't laugh anymore
What was all of it for? Ooh
We don't talk anymore, like we used to do

He was talented, but she hadn't expected this quality of playing from him as he masterfully plucked the strings and even tapped on the soundboard with his fingers to add a beat.

I just heard you found the one you've been looking
You've been looking for
I wish I would have known that wasn't me
'Cause even after all this time, I still wonder
Why I can't move on
Just the way you did, so easily

Jack started singing louder, showing his vocal range. She heard murmurs of surprise from the people in the room but ignored them as she focused on the song. It had a very unique melody and musical style.

Don't wanna know
Kinda dress you're wearing tonight
If he's holding onto you so tight
The way I did before
I overdosed
Should've known your love was a game
Now I can't get you outta my brain
Ooh, it's such a shame

He gave her a nod, and she started strumming the chords in time with the lyrics.

That we don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore, like we used to do
We don't laugh anymore
What was all of it for? Ooh
We don't talk anymore, like we used to do

It was now her turn, and now familiar with the melody, she started singing her part that she read from the paper on the table. Jack accompanied her voice with his guitar, enhancing her performance.

I just hope you're lying next to somebody
Who knows how to love you like me
There must be a good reason that you're gone
Every now and then, I think you might want me to come show up at your door
But I'm just too afraid that I'll be wrong

She started gaining more confidence and she immediately picked up the song with Jack's guidance. She started to smile as she continued singing, and even started plucking her guitar, totally in sync with Jack and their duet.

Don't wanna know
If you're looking into her eyes
If she's holding onto you so tight
The way I did before
I overdosed
Should've known your love was a game
Now I can't get you outta my brain
Ooh, it's such a shame

They both started singing, the last parts as their voices harmonized instantly. She was delighted.

That we don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore, like we used to do
We don't laugh anymore

What was all of it for? Ooh
We don't talk anymore, like we used to do

Jack continued playing for a few more moments and slowed the tempo. She matched him and by the time the music ended she knew she was wearing a big smile.

"We have to do that again!" She demanded over the applause from the room.

She asked for his phone, called her personal number, and then saved her contact details on his phonebook, determined to remain in contact with Jack. She wondered what other songs he had composed yet no one else had ever heard before. She'd love to have him around when she got around to recording her new songs.

During dinner, when she again asked for the food to be sent up, she saw another side of Jack. One of her friends had asked him about his education, and she was surprised to learn he had studied at UCLA and graduated with a degree in ancient and modern history.

"That's his plan B." Angela added. Jack's partner was easier to talk to, and she learned more about him from her than from the man himself. She had been giving him hints all night, but he didn't react to her flirting.

"Plan B?"

"In our line of work where we deal with danger every day, we cops learned to have backup plans in case we decided for whatever reason, to leave the force." She explained.

"So that's your plan B?" She asked. "A history teacher?"

"A lecturer at a university." Jack's reply caused her to laugh.

"I really enjoy giving out lectures." He insisted.

"He's pretty good at it too." Angela added. "You'd be surprised."

 "What will you do there? Do a lecture on the history of the chair?" She teased.

"Chairs are part of our ingrained culture, you know." Jack replied as he touched the backrest of the empty chair beside him. "It was a sign of great respect and honor. In fact, we use that word for the most respected positions in our society."

"Really?" One of her backup singers asked.

"In medieval times, the most powerful person always had the chair. And the tables back then were called boards, because they were literally rectangular wooden boards." Jack tapped the dining table they were now sitting in front of. "The only person who gets a proper chair with a backrest and everything is called the chairman. The others sat on stools."

She never thought of that, as her hands touched the armrests of her chair she was sitting on. She continued to watch him with fascination as he continued his impromptu lecture. She noticed that even Jack's partner Angela had stopped eating her truffle pasta to pay more attention to him.

 "In fact, the chair is used for powerful figures with authority. That's why faculty members have a seat, and judges have the bench." He added.

"Huh." She looked at him and slowly smiled, Angela was right, he could be a fantastic professor. She could totally see him in a university setting, his classes popular with college girls. "Maybe you could be a history professor. I would totally attend your classes."

"Me too!" One of her friends added. "That was interesting!"

Angela Lopez

With their dinner finished, they escorted Taylor as she decided to visit the roof deck. The two of them took positions at the entrance to give the pop star her privacy with her friends, but she often gravitated to Routh, asking him to join them. Her rookie would comply, but then return to his post after a few minutes when attention wasn't focused on him.

She was laughing inside, as she started noticing how frustrated Taylor was becoming at failing to gain any attention from her rookie. She had to admit the pop star was persistent though.

"Everything secure?" She asked Fred Adams when he approached her. So far this VIP protection detail was not bad. The food and her accommodations were top-notch. Guarding the VIP was easy, since Taylor Swift was sensible enough to listen to her and the head of her security when it came to her safety.

"No incidents so far." The head of Taylor's security detail replied. "The entire floor is reserved for Ms. Swift and her entire entourage and staff. The hard part is the concert itself."

"How difficult?" Routh asked, joining their conversation.

"For rehearsals like this morning, we usually have to maintain a constant perimeter at the entrances of the stadium." Adams replied. "Then we have to keep an eye on Ms. Swift herself, she's usually friendly with local staff and indulges them a bit when they ask for autographs and selfies, but we have to be ready to step in just in case."

"Understandable." She replied.

"The real test is on concert day. Tens of thousands of fans. Local security staff will assist, on the outer perimeter. Exiting the stadium would be difficult."

"You do use decoys right?" She asked.

"We do. But you know some fans can be persistent."

"I received news from the station about the names you gave me. So far nothing stood out, no violent records, just a few parking tickets and speeding violations. We're still taking the threats of kidnapping seriously." She informed Fred.

"Thank you, officers."

"I'll take a break, you got this Routh?" She asked her rookie.

"See you in three hours mam." Her rookie replied.

She headed to her room and sat on the most comfortable and luxurious bed she had ever felt. She closed her eyes for a moment and was soon sleeping.

Taylor Swift

Her friends were enjoying a dip in the pool on the roof deck and drinking fruit juices, she couldn't drink until this leg of her tour was over. Pity. She needed the courage as she glanced at Officer Sugar standing by the entrance.

She wasn't the only one. Almost all of her girlfriends were looking at the hunk of a man from time to time. Even her make-up artist was giggling like a schoolgirl as she checked out Jack, and she was over forty with kids in high school!

She sighed in disappointment. It really was a shame that she couldn't convince him to join her tour. That kind of musical ability and songwriting talent, coupled with his good looks were a sure path to stardom, and he didn't want it. He wasn't even that star-struck upon meeting her, it was his partner Angela that showed her inner fan girl moment.

Jack was just… unfazed.

"Look, Officer Sugar is trending." She looked at her friend's phone and looked at the picture she posted that morning. There already were sixty million likes and hundreds of thousands of replies. Even A-list celebrities commented, asking if Jack was her new beau.

She scrolled further and saw a trending video and played the clip. It was Jack playing, but the video was of poor quality. Only Jack's face was shown as he sang a song she had never heard before.

She pulled the volume up and played the song again.

[I'm Yours – Jason Mraz]

"Oh my god." One of her friends whispered. "That was beautiful."

"It's a catchy song, and can you see how he played the guitar?"

She nodded as she played the song again. It was heartfelt- the lyrics of this new song were full of love and promise, the total opposite of the one he sang with her earlier.

She remembered the first song she heard from him Payphone, and it's more popular counterpart, Sugar. Then there's We don't talk Anymore and now I'm Yours.

She saw the pattern and stared at Jack and finally understood his theme.

There was no fairy tale, just real life and how to deal with the ups and downs that came with it. It was fantastic. If only he could create an album, she would gladly produce it herself, just to be able to have Jack's songs reach others like her who had their hearts broken and then healed.

Night came, and most of her friends turned in for the night. Sadly Jack also retired for the night, so she called it a night as well and crawled to bed.

The next morning, she was surprised the two officers were awake and in uniform before even she woke up. There were more people now, as backup dancers, musicians, and other artists wandered in and out of the main suite. Her friend Selena arrived eager to see Sugar.

She decided to play a prank on her friend, and claimed he already left. She was amused that Selena didn't even recognize Jack and he was just standing a few feet beside her.

The ride to the stadium was quick, as they made sure they beat the early morning traffic.

By noon she and her team locked in, and left the stadium to rest back at the hotel. Her afternoon schedule was booked, meeting with media at the conference room was arranged for her by the hotel management on the lower floors. She did notice the press were more behaved in the presence of two uniformed police officers inside the room.

Finally, the press conference had ended and she stood up to leave the room through a side exit.

"Taylor! Please! I really want to have an exclusive…" A large man rushed at her, and she was surprised by his actions as he bulldozed past other reporters. He was stopped when Jack suddenly appeared in front of him, and physically blocked the man from reaching her with her security right behind him.

"Sir." Jack said sternly. "You are violating the rules set by the organizers of this press conference."

The large man seemed to have come to his senses and nodded. He was quickly escorted out by the security team. Feeling a bit shocked, she headed back to the elevator, sandwiched by the two officers and the rest of her entourage.

"That's what I was telling you about." Fred, her chief of security explained to Jack as the elevator moved up to her floor.

"Any closer and we would have arrested him for assault." Angela commented.

That night she couldn't sleep and suddenly felt hungry for a snack. Knowing there were still fruit slices in the fridge, she headed to the main suite, only to hear Jack's voice in the dim light.

"Yes, I miss you too, love."

She listened in, realizing that Jack was talking to his girlfriend. He was in a relationship. Damn.

"I didn't sleep that well either." She could see him talking while he sat on the bench of the grand piano, his back facing her. She moved closer, until she could hear the faint traces of a woman's voice speaking through the phone. Jack had propped it up on the piano, so he could speak easier.

"I'd love to listen to one of your songs right now, I really miss you."

"Why do you think I moved here to the main suite? I can't very well sing inside my room without any instrument to use."

"… hear?"

"The doors are pretty soundproof. I couldn't even hear Angela as she binge-watched on the TV. I'm pretty sure they're all asleep since they had a punishing schedule today. They're amazing. I swear Taylor Swift must be some kind of Olympic athlete with that level of stamina."

She smiled when she heard the compliment, but felt a bittersweet moment when she realized Jack Routh was already taken.

"So, do you want to hear it so you can sleep better love?"

"I'd love to."

"Okay. I call this one, One Call Away."

[One Call Away- Charlie Puth]

The melody he played on the grand piano was beautiful. It was simple and elegant, just like Jack was. Then he sang with that distinct voice of his.

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

She held her breath as she listened to the beautiful song. She wondered why no one sang something like this for her?

Call me, baby, if you need a friend
I just wanna give you love
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Reaching out to you, so take a chance

No matter where you go
You know you're not alone

She didn't realize she was clutching her chest as her emotions overwhelmed her. This was unfair.

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

Come along with me and don't be scared
I just wanna set you free
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon
You and me can make it anywhere
For now, we can stay here for a while
Cause you know, I just wanna see you smile

She smiled through her misty eyes as she watched the beautiful, genuine moment, with Jack singing a song to the love of his life through a video call. She was insanely jealous of that woman, whoever she was. She didn't even bother to get to her room to record his impromptu performance. It was too precious in her eyes to waste even a single second of not hearing his song.

No matter where you go
You know you're not alone

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

And when you're weak, I'll be strong
I'm gonna keep holding on
Now don't you worry, it won't be long
Darling, and when you feel like hope is gone
Just run into my arms

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one, I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

I'm only one call away

She covered her mouth to stop herself from cheering him. His performance deserved a standing ovation! That was such a sweet and beautiful moment. She quickly blinked back tears, feeling glad and guilty for eavesdropping but she also felt lucky to hear such an intimate and heartfelt song. 

"Do you like it love?"

"It was beautiful. You jerk, how can I sleep when I'm crying right now?"

"I'll see you soon. It's only a few more days."

"I can't wait. I have a surprise for you when you get home."

"What is it?"

"I'll wear that for you."

"You mean the one with the skirt…"

"Yes, and we can even do it on the balcony, even if someone can see us. I just want to have your fucking big dick inside me."

"You're such a naughty girl."

"What if I am?

Okay, that was too much information. She retreated back to her room as quietly as possible, though that was hot. Now she wouldn't be able to look Jack in the eye without thinking about his fucking big dick… How large was it? It had to be large. She was pretty sure the woman in the video call wasn't just using dirty talk, but stating a fact.

She went to bed hungry and decided to call room service instead to bring up some snacks. She started humming Jack's latest song and sighed in disappointment. He was already taken, but she was still determined to push him to create a full album even if she had to pay out of her own pocket.

The world needed to hear Jack's songs.

Performance day.

She barely saw the two police officers, as she focused on giving the best performance possible for her fans. That was her focus on every show, and this time was no different. Her team was a well-oiled machine by now, her managers, her staff, and the crew working in tandem as they made the necessary preparations.

She avoided looking at her social media accounts during this time, as she didn't want unnecessary distractions. She had her staff handle that part.

Her manager handled the V.I.P.s, those with backstage passes, but she only made sure those who were her close friends and family had access to her dressing room. Concert days were strange. Time flew too fast, but when she was on stage, it was as if every minute lasted an hour.

Every second wasted changing into another outfit felt like minutes to her. She wanted a synergy to her concerts, with no dead spots to hype up her fans and give them a show worth the tickets they paid for.

"Ready Taylor?

She nodded as she stepped on her cue and formed her pose. The lights turned on and the roar of the crowd physically shook her. If it wasn't for the earpiece she wouldn't be able to hear her own voice despite the massive speakers around the stadium.

It was like a marathon. She thought as she emptied another water bottle. The lights were unbelievably hot, but thank god for waterproof make-up as she was soaked with sweat due to the unusually hot and humid Los Angeles night.

She went back on stage again.

1 hours.

2 hours.

3 hours.

She performed the fan favorite songs in the last act, encouraging the crowd to sing with her. She waved her hands, mesmerized by the lights that surrounded her. The crowd continued to scream her name. She loved it.

The final curtain call and she decided to dedicate her last song to Jack.

"This one's for you, Sugar!" She shouted at the microphone.

The fans screamed in excitement as she sang his most famous song to end her concert. It was her surprise gift to him, and while singing, she wondered what Jack looked like right now. Was he touched by her gesture? Did he like her rendition?

She was tired and a little bit disoriented as she was herded by her security team to the back entrance. She didn't even think why they were taking another route under the stage and through the equipment. Those wires nearly tripped her. Someone should check that at the next event.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"This way Ms. Taylor, we're taking you back to the hotel. The planned route has changed." One of the security men answered. They had been walking for five minutes and her legs were getting tired, but at least they were out of the stadium now. The cool air was refreshing. She looked around but she couldn't see any member of her staff.

"Does anyone have water?" She asked. She frowned when they didn't even bother to acknowledge her.

She wondered what changed. Fred said that they could even pass by an In and Out and get some takeout on the way back. A black van parked near the stage opened, and she was about to enter when she heard Jack's voice.

"Police! Stop!"

One of the men tried to drag her to the van, but her sweaty arm allowed her to slip through the man's grasp and she immediately ran to Jack. He caught up to her and he immediately pushed her behind the large boxes that contained their equipment.

She heard fireworks, wait, those weren't fireworks! She looked up to see Jack shooting back, his face set in a grim, determined look. This was real. Those were gunshots.

"Control 7-adam-07, shots fired, parking lot behind the stadium. Need immediate backup!" She heard Jack speak on his radio. He had never heard him shout before. She tried to move but Jack practically sat on top of her, shielding her with his own body.

"Move!" He whispered.

They ran back, but her heels made running difficult. She gasped as he picked her up and carried her like a princess, and they ran for nearly a minute, she didn't know how long exactly. She could hear his labored breathing as they ran through densely parked cars.

It was all happening too fast, she couldn't comprehend what was happening.

 They stopped and hid between cars as Jack put a finger to his lips and she nodded at what he meant. She got deposited into the flatbed of a truck and her wide eyes met Jack's deep brown eyes.

"Stay low, I'll lead them away, don't make a sound." He whispered, then darkness.

He pulled a tarp over her head and she remained still as she heard Jack run away, and heard more gunshots. The tarp had a few holes in it, and she peeked through and saw the men chasing Jack, wearing suits similar to her security team.

"Shit! Where did they go!"

"Find her!"

She had a good vantage point, and she slowly raised her head a bit over the tailgate as she watched the fake security team, three large men run past her. They were searching the second row of cars where Jack had led them to.

Suddenly one of the men disappeared as if he slipped. She blinked, and now there were only two men. She saw a figure creeping up behind the second man and realized it was Jack, moving gracefully and silently as a cat as he moved behind the second man. He covered his mouth with his hand and started choking him from behind.

It took a few more seconds as the second kidnapper fell unconscious and Jack lowered his unconscious body to the ground.

"Fuck! Where are you guys!" The remaining man shouted. "Rico! Martinez! Damn it! Talk to me!"

"Police! Drop your weapon or I will drop you!" Angela Lopez suddenly appeared behind the remaining kidnapper. Yes, she now realized this was an attempted kidnapping. She was nearly kidnapped.

She soon heard the sirens of police approaching and suddenly a bright light illuminated the previously dimly lit parking lot.

The third kidnapper dropped to his knees and then to the ground, with his hands above his head. More police officers arrived, but she was frozen in shock as the reality of the situation dawned on her.

"Taylor." She looked up as the tarp was removed, and she didn't mind the dust as she saw Jack looking at her, relief visible on his face. "Are you hurt?"

"Jack!" She cried out and jumped at him from the flatbed. She cried. She was nearly kidnapped, or worse by those men. She buried her face on his chest, and she could see flashes of light but ignored them.

"You're fine Taylor. I got you." She heard Jack murmur to her ear. "Can you walk?"

She shook her head as she started shivering. She felt herself being lifted again in Jack's strong arms.

"She's shaken up, but she's uninjured." She heard Jack report to Angela.

"Ambulance?"

"No, let's bring her back to the hotel. She'll feel safe there." She agreed with that, she wasn't even injured. She found herself being placed inside an ordinary sedan with another officer, a woman behind the wheel. She didn't mind, as long as Jack, and even Angela were there beside her.

"Here." Angela offered her a small bottle of water. She grabbed it and emptied its contents within moments. She was so thirsty.

"Thanks." She whispered. She didn't even realize they had reached the hotel when she was led to her suite. How did they get here so fast? All she could think about was those men and that black van.

"Taylor! Oh my god!" She saw her friends and reached out to hug them, relaxing in the familiar presence of her friends and crew. She was safe. She wasn't kidnapped.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you, Ms. Swift." A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a grey suit and skirt, with a badge on her waist escorted her to her bedroom. Her friends and a few of her staff followed her inside.

"Who were those men? How did they get past my security?" She asked as her panic slowly subsided. She started to feel angry and frustrated that she was exposed to that kind of danger. Why did she hire them if she could be kidnapped that easily?

"We're still determining that. However initial investigation indicates that someone caused a disturbance in your planned exit route, distracting your security team. They used the chaos of thousands of people moving out of the arena to stage their attempted kidnapping."

Her phone started ringing, but she ignored it for the moment. "I'm too exhausted to even think."

"That's the adrenaline." The woman replied with a kind smile. "Why don't you rest for now? We'll get more answers once we interrogate the suspects."

"Can… Jack and Angela stay?" She asked.

 "They technically need to submit a report to me, but their assignment doesn't end until tomorrow." The woman replied. "So yes, they can stay for another night. We'll add a few officers as well to supplement your security team."

"They're useless. If it wasn't for Jack…" She shivered, refusing to think what could happen to her if he wasn't there.

"I understand." The woman replied and left her bedroom. Her friends were all in a daze as they tried to comprehend the situation. The people around the bedroom remained silent but since the door was partially opened, she could hear the conversation outside. She held up a hand for her team to remain quiet.

"How is she, Captain?" She heard Angela ask.

"Still shaken up, but better." So the woman she was speaking with was a Police Captain. She never even realized she was talking to a high-ranking police officer. She looked too young and too pretty for that role and thought the woman was around her age.

"Orders mam?" She heard an unfamiliar voice ask.

"Bradford, Chen, stay here as backup to Lopez and Routh." The woman started handing out orders. she could see why she was a captain, she wielded her authority with ease and confidence. "I don't need to remind you that you should remain professional at all times, Office Chen. No asking for autographs."

"Yes captain." A female voice replied. She didn't mind that if they asked. These police officers saved her.

"Bradford, head to the lobby and arrange a location for a press conference with management. I'll see if the Chief wants to speak to the press."

"Yes Mam."

"Lopez, coordinate with Ms. Swift's head of security. Don't be too harsh on them." She could hear the stern tone in the female captain's voice when she spoke. What a woman. Now that a real girl boss.

"Captain, they were supposed to be ex-military. Professionals." Angela sounded annoyed. She agreed with her.

"I know. But mistakes happen, and that's why we train to respond to unpredictable situations. Get to it." The captain replied. "Routh, a word?"

She crawled on the carpeted floor to get closer to the door so that she could hear better. She saw Jack and the captain's reflection on a wall mirror and her eyes widened when they suddenly kissed.

"Missed me?" She heard Jack whisper as she continued hugging the pretty police captain.

"Terribly." The captain replied returning the hug. "I needed more than just a song."

Oh wow. She couldn't believe Jack's girlfriend was his own boss. She blushed as she remembered the… heated conversation between them in the video call. The one were the police captain wanted Jack's… and then doing it on the balcony for everyone to see.

Fuck. She was aroused. She wouldn't mind having Jack take her from behind as she leaned over the balcony. The thrill of discovery…. She wondered why she was thinking about sex when she was nearly kidnapped an hour ago.

"You did a good Job." The captain replied. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Zoe." So that was her name. She would look her up on social media later.

She told her team she didn't want to see anyone aside from close friends and family.

"Taylor look!" One of her close friends showed her the image on the phone. Pictures of her being carried by Jack, and in the background other police officers were leading the kidnappers, their hands cuffed behind their backs into a waiting police van.

She and Jack were illuminated by the powerful flood light from the police helicopter above them and the red-blue lights from police vehicles. It was like a poster for a movie, but this time it was real life.

She could see her face crunched up in anguish, tears falling down her cheeks as her hands clutched on Jack's uniform.

Jack looked like a movie star, his face dirtied and bruised, his hair messed up in a way that still made him look ridiculously handsome. He was looking at her in the picture with concern clearly etched on his face. The quality of the photo was impressive, since she could even see the veins in Jack's powerful arms as he carried her. She was a tall woman, but Jack carried her effortlessly like she weighed nothing.

She remembered he had knocked out two kidnappers and led the men with guns away from her as a decoy. It was an incredibly brave thing to do.

She swiped at other photos, and this one she could see herself with open eyes, relief in her face as she stared up at Jack, who was staring straight ahead, determination etched in his face. She didn't know what photo she loved more.

"Turn on the news." She asked her friends.

[Breaking News]

[Hero Cop saves Taylor Swift from attempted kidnapping!]

[Who is the Hero Cop?]

As usual, the reporter speculated, not really giving out any facts. They did post the picture of the unknown police officer who rescued her from a kidnapping. The reporter even included the word handsome as she described Jack in the picture. She switched channels and found they just kept repeating the same information, and she took the remote and turned the TV off.

She barely slept, and she tossed and turned on her bed. It took her a long while before she finally fell asleep.

The next morning was more chaotic as her team fielded calls from concerned friends and other individuals. Producers, fellow musicians, and artists reached out. Some were genuine in their concern, but some just wanted more inside gossip.

She met with Mayor Stevens and the chief police in her suite, as the rest of her family finally joined her. Her dad, mum, and brother were relieved and thanked the chief of police when they finally heard the full story.

"So Gang members?" His dad seethed in anger.

"Yes. They finally confessed, and we arrested seven more co-conspirators in your daughter's attempted kidnapping. The investigation is still ongoing with the FBI stepping in." Mayor Stevens replied. "If your daughter's team didn't reach out to me at the last minute…"

"Yes. Things could have gone much worse." Her mother replied as she blinked back tears.

"Thank you, Mayor Stevens, for sending your best officers to protect my daughter."

Mayor Stevens proudly smiled at the praise. "Chief Williams and I agreed to send one of our best rookies. He has already a record that matches most veterans in the force."

"Why is he still a rookie then?" Her mother asked.

"Of course, that would change very soon." Chief Williams promised.

"Can we meet him?" Her father asked.

"Sure. Get Officers Routh and Lopez in here." Chief Williams looked at one of his officers who was standing by the door. The other cop opened it, allowing Jack and Angela to come in.

"Dad, Mom, Austin. I want you to meet Police Officer Jack Routh, and his Training Officer, Officer Angela Lopez." Angela finally corrected her and told her Jack wasn't her partner. She was amazed to hear Jack was still on probation as a rookie police officer. She decided to introduce them herself since she was incredibly grateful to the two for taking care of her these past few days. Especially Jack.

"Thank you." Her father shook their hands.

"You're certainly as handsome as the pictures showed." Her mother told Jack, trying to lighten the mood. "Do you have a girlfriend Jack? Because Taylor is still single and…"

"Mom!" She hissed as she flushed red with embarrassment. The mayor and the chief laughed and she sighed and gave Jack a look of apology. He merely smiled at her, and that did not help her blush go away. Stop smiling and looking at me like that you stupid hunk!

"I'm afraid Officer Routh is already engaged. When is the wedding?" The mayor asked.

"We're still settling in our relationship, Mayor Stevens." Jack replied. "Once I have vacation days, I'm traveling to the east coast first to meet Zoe's parents."

"Traditional. I like it. That's what been missing in our country." Her father remarked.

"Who are you getting married to, Jack?" Her mother inquired. "She must be quite the catch!"

"He's engaged to the youngest police captain in the force, Zoe Andersen." Chief Williams replied. "It's a wonderful match, the youngest police captain and the super rookie of the force."

"Super rookie?" Her dad looked confused.

"It's the name the rest of the higher-ups call Jack here." Chief Williams explained. "First day on the job in Mid-Wilshire, and he saves his fellow cops when they were ambushed by gunmen wielding semi-automatic weapons with armor-piercing rounds. He took out two gunmen with a single shot."

"Two headshots, one round." Chief Williams mimed a gun with his hand and pretended to shoot.

She widened her eyes when she heard that and she looked at Jack. He looked uncomfortable as Angela started to tease him by nudging him with her elbow.

"Quite a marksman." Her dad was deeply impressed.

"You should attend one of his lectures." The mayor did not want to be outdone and joined in. "Don't let his youthful looks fool you. Jack has a degree in Ancient and Modern History from UCLA. He gives incredible lectures and is well versed in the subject."

Since it seems like it was praise Jack Routh hour, she also added her own two cents and looked at her younger brother. "Austin, Jack is also Sugar. The mysterious indie singer you were looking for. You said you liked his music, didn't you?"

"He is?" Her brother's eyes widened as he connected the dots and gave Jack a closer look. "Oh my god! You're Sugar! Dude!"

The mayor looked confused, so she quickly explained Jack's hobby and even showed his recent videos, at first of him playing the piano as she sang Love Story and then their duet. Austin then showed a copy of Jack singing Sugar, to the surprise of her parents, the mayor, and the chief.

"It seems you've been holding back a lot on us son." The mayor stared at Jack. "What else can you not do? Aside from golf."

"It's just a hobby mayor. I want to focus on being a police officer." Jack explained. She noticed how pleased Chief Williams looked when he heard Jack's explanation.

Their breakfast ended, and she grinned at how uncomfortable Jack looked. She hooked her arm around his and dragged him to the elevator.

"C'mon Officer Sugar. Time to face the press." Having her family with her already made her feel better.

There had to be dozens of reporters in the conference room that the hotel allowed them to use. The table was set up, and arranged in a way that she was in the middle. The mayor and the chief were to her left, and Jack and her father sat to her right.

The questions came quickly, and most of it answered by the mayor and the chief. Then the questions turned more personal, and she started to remember her harrowing ordeal. She took a deep breath and told her story in a now quiet room.

"If it weren't for Officer Routh and Officer Lopez, I would not be here sitting in front of all of you." She leaned back on her chair as she finished her story.

Her father answered next, expressing his deep gratitude to the LAPD and the Mayor for protecting her. It was then Jack's turn, and he answered in short sentences that she was pretty sure frustrated many reporters. In his defense, she thought the questions they asked him were stupid to begin with.

"Are you continuing your tour, Taylor?"

She answered yes, but she added she would have to delay it for a few months. Her father then stepped in, explaining the necessary precautions they would have to prepare for her concerts, along with coordination with local law enforcement units in those cities.

After a late lunch, it was a bittersweet feeling as she finally said her farewells to the two police officers. She gave Angela a couple of her CDs with her personalized message for her and of course, merch with her signature that she signed that morning.

Routh gladly accepted the gifts she gave him, though she did remind him to remain in contact with her and answer her calls. She intended to use the long break to collaborate with Jack and make some deals.

A last hug to Jack, and she even gave him a kiss on the cheek, she watched them leave the hotel suite with their personal bags and gear in hand.

"Poor Taylor." Her mother teased her. "Falling in love with a handsome young man who is set to marry another woman."

"Mom! I am not in love with him!" She insisted.

"Crush then?" Her dad suggested.

"Not helping!" She called out.

She could sense a business opportunity in collaborating with Jack.

Chapter Text

Episode 11

Jack Routh

"Hey, officer! You're him right?" He ignored the man and hurried to follow Lopez on foot patrol.

"Hey, man! Don't ignore me!"

The man grabbed his shoulder, and he shrugged the hand off and confronted the man.

"Sir, I'm currently on patrol. Approach me like that again, and I'll have you arrested." He threatened.

"Jeez, man! Chill!" The heckler backed off and he continued to follow Lopez. She didn't want anything to do with what he was currently experiencing and decided it was easier to walk several feet ahead of him.

His newfound fame as the hero cop who saved Taylor Swift from a kidnapping was proving more difficult to deal with than he previously thought. He expected the public attention on him would fade, but it had already been three days.

Photographers followed him for a time on his first day, causing Lopez to get pissed as she grew paranoid at the cars that followed their shop.

"This isn't working out, boot." Lopez told him an hour later as he pushed a man arrested for public intoxication inside their shop. The man's friends continued to take stolen selfies with him and they only stopped when he went back inside the shop.

"Can I have your autograph?" The drunk in the back asked.

"You're right." As much as he hated to admit it, his T.O. was right. He became a public figure, and that made his authority as a law enforcement officer pushed aside because of his fame.

"If you're thinking this will pass soon, then you're wrong." Lopez told him on the way back to the station. "You saved the most famous pop idol in the world from kidnapping. This will take at least weeks to blow over."

"What should I do?" He asked.

"Lie low for now. Let's see if we can figure out something." Lopez suggested. He had to admire his T.O.'s determination to continue his training. He quickly processed the drunk and left in the holding cell when they received a request from Bishop for help on guard duty.

"Perfect." Lopez smiled. "You up for guarding a dead body boot?"

At the moment he felt dealing with the dead was better than the living and followed Lopez back to the shop. They headed to the bus station where a dead body was discovered. Bishop and Nolan were first on the scene, but they were requested for additional support due to the volume of people in the station.

He found the area quickly and found Bishop dealing with an irate man who demanded to use the bathroom.

He was hoping from foot to foot, barely holding the urge to pee.

"Sir, this is a crime scene." Bishop told the man. "Find someplace else to go."

"But this is an emergency!" The man insisted.

"What kind of emergency?" Lopez asked as she stood beside Bishop.

"Mathematical, 32-ounce smoothie and a 16-ounce bladder." The man snapped.

"Sir, why don't you use the women's bathroom? We'll make sure it's empty first." Nolan offered.

"But that's the women's bathroom! I'm not a woman." The man argued.

"You will be, if you don't shut up." Lopez replied.

"You don't have a choice, unless you want to pee in your pants." He added.

"Very well." The man sighed and left with Nolan.

"Thank god you're here." Bishop told Lopez. "It's like were invisible to people that needed to go. We had to deal with an entire bus full of tourists that barely speak any English."

"My boot's encountering difficulties in patrol." Lopez shared. "I figured he needed a more stationary assignment to let him calm his nerves."

"That's the downside of being famous." Bishop remarked. "We'll be here for a while."

As the two T.O.s exchanged theories about the homicide to pass the time, he avoided any eye contact with the public and stood behind the two women. Nolan finally joined after a few minutes, the rookie cop looking bewildered.

"What happened?" He asked.

"What a strange man." Nolan said. "The man I escorted earlier, he had a public restroom kit."

"A what?"

"A public restroom kit, for when he uses a public bathroom." Nolan explained.

"What did the kit contain?" He couldn't help but ask.

"He showed it to me, one item at a time." Nolan replied. "Let's see, there was a roll of toilet paper, rubber gloves, Purel, air freshener, noise-canceling headphones, a danger whistle…"

"Danger whistle?" He grinned.

"Yeah, then a pepper spray and get this, a multi-language occupied sign… I think there's more." Nolan continued. "I think the man has germophobia."

"Most likely. You have to admire his preparations." He replied.

"It was extensive and his kit was meticulously packed in his backpack. It even had his name embroidered on the bag." Nolan shared. "A doctor Sheldon Cooper."

They stood around for more than an hour when suddenly several police vehicles arrived along with a large van.

"What the hell." He heard Nolan whisper as Jessica Russo arrived with several officers and medical personnel behind her,

"Hey. You stepped in a bit of a wasp nest." Russo said when she reached them looking worried. "Did any of you touch the body?"

"He did, with gloves on to get the wallet." Bishop pointed to Nolan who raised his hand.

"Is that all that you touched?" Russo asked.

"Yes, why?" Nolan answered. "You're freaking me out."

More medical personnel arrived and moved past them, wearing PPE gear complete with masks and face shields.

"That's an active crime scene." Bishop told the men wearing personal protective equipment.

"That's secondary right now." Russo replied as another woman approached them.

She introduced herself as Dr. Morgan from the Center for Disease Control. She asked again if Nolan came into contact with the dead man's mouth, saliva or any bodily fluids. Thankfully Nolan followed protocol and did not come into contact with any of those mentioned by the doctor.

"No sign of infection" A man wearing PPE told them as he finished inspecting the body.

He grew more concerned as Russo shared more details. There was a plan to launch a biological attack on the city, and the perpetrators were being tracked by the Department of Homeland Security. The dead man was apparently part of the terrorist cell, and their call to dispatch with the man's name triggered alarms for multiple intelligence agencies.

The CDC agents made them take an hour-long hot shower as a precaution, and then joined the briefing with the rest of the officers. Zoe and Grey watched the briefing from the side, as Jessica Russo, now working with DHS and Dr. Morgan of CDC gave them further information. It was all hands on deck as this was a genuine threat to the city.

He knew other stations were conducting the same briefing in search of the terrorist cell that believed the city of Los Angeles represented all that was evil in the country. The weapon they planned to release was a virus, a weaponized strain of hemorrhagic fever, causing one to bleed and never stop. It was highly infectious, as Dr. Morgan showed on the screen pictures of people bleeding from their eyes, nose ears and mouths.

Any contact with any bodily fluid from a carrier can cause infection since the virus has a short incubation period. It had an extremely high fatality rate of 90%, far higher than smallpox at 30% and Ebola at 50%.

If it was treated, the 90% could be lowered to a 60% fatality rate according to Dr. Morgan.

There was an experimental vaccine on the way from Atlanta, but they only had 200 doses. That was nowhere near the numbers needed if an outbreak occurred in the city. Grey assigned them roles to ID the one that killed Corey, the name of the dead person found in the bus station men's room.

"This is extremely sensitive." Captain Andersen looked around the room. "We can't risk this getting out to the public. That being said, you can warn your families to stay out of populated areas, but remember, no details."

Almost everyone pulled out their phones as the Officers started to call their loved ones. Lucy was already speaking with her mother, while Bradford was speaking with someone but told the person on the phone that he couldn't reveal anything else.

He got behind the wheel of the shop as he prepared to move out with Lopez. She was quiet, holding her phone in her hand with a conflicted look on her face.

"Are you going to call Wesley?" He asked.

"I want to." She replied. "But I don't know if I can trust him to keep his mouth shut. This is the kind of civil liberties issue he gets on his soapbox about."

"But what happens if something did happen, and you didn't warn him?"

Angela stared at him, her eyes tearing up as she finally called her boyfriend.

"Hey it's me, I'm sorry but I can't make it tonight…"

His T.O. remained silent, listening to Wesley's reply.

"Yeah, I'm disappointed too… I'll call you later." She blinked back tears and ended the call.

"I couldn't risk it." Angela stared at him. He couldn't judge her, since he didn't know what he would do when placed in the same situation. He gave her a nod of support as they left the station to investigate their assigned list of bus passengers.

If Wesley was told, and he rebelled and revealed the situation as was his character, the news would create panic in the city that would only make it harder for them to catch the terrorists. The terrorists would also learn that the authorities were hunting them and would release the virus in a panic.

 Not to mention the lives that would surely be lost as people start to panic, and that could easily rise to the thousands because word of the biological attack leaked out.

They arrived at the address and he knocked on the door. "Police!"

A black man opened the door, scowling at him. "Took you long enough, the bag's in here."

"Sir, we're here about the bus you took from Phoenix." He replied.

"No kidding! I called you about the bag." The man exclaimed.

"And what bag is that?" Lopez asked.

"I thought it was mine on the bus, I picked it up by accident since they were the same color and design. Noticed as soon as I got home, and called right away." The man picked up the gray backpack and placed it on his bed. "Still took you guys like six hours to get here."

"Sir, we're not here because of the bag." He informed the man.

"So you mean you don't have mine?" The man looked annoyed. "My laptop's in there. This one just had some weird science equipment."

He immediately shared a worried look with Lopez. His T.O. immediately got on her radio.

"Control, this is 7-adam-07, patch me to the task force."

"Sir, did you touch anything in the bag?" He asked, as he started to put on gloves.

"Yeah, I cut my finger going through it, looking for an address."

Shit.

"Some kind of broken vial." The man showed his cut finger. The wound looked infected. "It won't stop bleeding."

The man suddenly started coughing, and then he coughed blood, some of which hit his jacket.

"You okay boot?" Lopez asked from the messy living room.

There was a good chance he was already infected, so he ignored her question. "I'm fine Ma'am. Just stay out there."

Lopez seemed to sense something was wrong and he gave her a look. He noticed how her eyes widened as she saw him wearing gloves in his hands with their host dripping blood from his mouth.

"What's happening?" The man asked as he stared at his now blood-stained shirt.

He immediately closed the door, cutting off what his T.O. was about to say. He couldn't risk the virus from spreading.

"It's okay, there's a bad case of Flu going around. He started walking around the room to check if the windows were secure. He nodded in approval to see there were grills barely wide enough for a man to fit through.

"We were warned this morning on roll call." He continued, trying to keep calm so the man wouldn't panic.

"Why'd you lock the door?" The man asked.

"My training officer, she's got a weak resistance to the flu. I didn't want her catching it, since she'll make my training harder if she gets sick." He explained as he removed his jacket. He could only hope the blood was on the jacket and the droplets did not touch his skin but he knew it was highly likely he was already infected.

"We wait here for the doctors and medicine to arrive." He continued. "Was someone here with you today?"

"Nah my kid's with my ex."

"Do you have cold medicine?" Perhaps if the man started taking that, maybe he could survive.

"Yeah."

"Go take it."

"I'm coughing up blood." The man complained.

"That's what they told us in roll call about this strain of flu." He replied as he rolled up the jacket. He started removing his uniform as well, revealing the body armor and white shirt he wore underneath.

"Right now, my T.O. is radioing for an ambulance. Go take your medicine." He ordered.

The man went to the bathroom and followed his instructions.

"Routh!"

He heard Lopez through the door and approached it so he could hear her better. "Yes?"

"Damn you Routh. CDC is on its way. You idiot."

"Thanks." He replied and started cleaning his face and neck with wipes. He stared at the wipes and saw the red stains on the surface. Fuck.

Zoe Andersen

"He what?" Her fists clenched when she heard Lopez through the phone.

"We didn't know the man was already infected." Lopez replied. "I just heard him coughing up blood, and the next thing I know Jack told me to stay out and closed the door and locked it."

"Thank you." She started shaking when the call ended and collapsed on her chair. She stared at their picture together on her desk and willed herself to focus. She needed to be strong in this time of crisis. Her fiancé might have just prevented an outbreak and saved the city. He made the right decisions, but she was still mad.

"The vaccine's on its way." She looked up to see Jessica Russo standing by the door to her office. "What Jack did was incredibly foolish, but also brave."

"He'll get through this." She nodded her head. She knew he would, because she simply could not comprehend what would happen if the experimental vaccine didn't work and he died. Jack prevented one attack, now it was up to her and the rest of her officers to catch the men responsible.

She gathered herself and headed to the bullpen where the large FBI team was stationed, searching for the terrorists. She was following up reports from the other boots on the ground when an FBI analyst identified one of the suspects.

"Our terrorist is Jimmy Roskin, age 31." The analyst stated. "Arrested on a hate crime eight months ago, but it didn't stick."

"Okay, run his photo against the cameras around the bus station." Russo suggested. She would do the same, and from there they could track his movements. "Also run a search on known associates."

She received word that they confirmed a first infection, one of the bus passengers from earlier. Luckily he was safely contained by the responding CDC agents.

Angela Lopez

She would beat her boot's ass the next time she saw him. How dare he sacrifice himself for her?

She paced around the living room, her head filled with thoughts of what she would do to Jack once he got better. She would make him eat a ghost pepper, then put itching powder inside his motorcycle helmet. She would make him run while they were on patrol, and force him to wear the hated officer's hat until he graduated from probation. She'd sick the captain on him every time he made a mistake and would eat a bowl of popcorn and watch as he was given a dressing down by his fiancé. Yes, that is what she would do the next time she would see him.

She looked out the window as CDC vans and police vehicles arrived on the scene. Men in yellow protective gear and masks jumped out and headed to the door.

The door opened and she saw Dr. Morgan, covered from head to toe in protective gear approach her.

"Officer Lopez, can you tell me what happened?" The CDC doctor asked.

"The bus passenger grabbed the wrong bag, and the virus must be in it, since he coughed up blood in front of my rookie." She explained, her heart jumping when she saw the men place protective plastic sheets on the door frame. "Routh told me to stay out then locked the door."

"Did any blood get on you?" Dr. Morgan asked.

"No." She replied. "I was too far away, and before I realized what happened, Routh locked me out."

"Smart man." Dr. Morgan commented and approached the door. "Officer Routh, this is Doctor Morgan from CDC. How are you doing?"

"Hi, doc." She heard Jack's voice from the door. "I'm fine, Mr. Langston's struggling a bit, I made him take some cold medicine."

"Can you describe his condition?"

"He started coughing up blood, around 20 minutes ago. Now he has a nosebleed."

"Where's the vaccine?" She asked.

"Still in the air. It should land in about an hour or so." Dr. Morgan replied. She turned around and faced the door once more. "Officer Routh, can I put you to work while you wait?"

"You want me to check the bag Doc?" She knew her boot was Sharp since day one.

"That would be great." Dr. Morgan replied.

"I could use my Bodycam and transmit the feed to Officer Lopez's phone, so you can what I see" Routh offered.

"That's even better." She was confident Dr. Morgan was smiling underneath that mask, judging by how her eyes gleamed.

 She watched as Routh inspected the bag with his collapsible baton and saw a bunch of vials, one of them broken. There was a blue bottle as well.

"What's that bottle?" Dr. Morgan asked.

"It looks like a delivery device, with a misting fan." Jack reported.

"I think you're right." Dr. Morgan replied. "There's a growth medium in the bottle, add a virus to it, then spray it in a crowd. Droplets land on people's faces… infect them through their mouth and nose. It's as low-tech as you can get."

She watched as Dr. Morgan called the station and informed them of the terrorist's plan to disperse the virus.

"Great, now what about Jack?" She asked.

"All we can do is wait." The doctor replied.

She heard a sound on the door and heard a muffled sound and something heavy hit the floor. "Jack? What's wrong?"

She turned to the Dr. Morgan. "Get me in there."

"I'm sorry, quarantine protocols are in place." The woman from the CDC replied. "I can't let you go in."

She cursed and paced in front of the door.

"I'm okay." She heard her boot. "Langton's tried to escape through a gap in the bars of the window. "I tased him and handcuffed him to his bed."

"Good." She replied. This was the longest day of her entire life.

Zoe Anderson

"Understood, we will send that information out right away. Good work. Please keep me posted" 

She watched as Russo received a call from Dr. Morgan who was now with Jack, waiting for the vaccine to arrive.

"Jack inspected the bag, and discovered how the terrorists are planning to disperse the virus." Russo said to her. "Your man's a real asset to this country."

"I know." She replied. "How's Jack?"

"It's too soon to tell." She replied.

"I got something." Nolan called out.

They clustered around his table where he sat with an FBI analyst. They had traced Roskin to a gas station near the bus station with a stolen car, and by the latest heading he was headed to the freeway or using the side streets to avoid it.

"Canvass the area." She ordered. "I'm sending all available units to help in a grid search."

After an hour, Bradford and Chen had found a lead on the suspect and their target, LAX. The FBI coordinated with all division captains and started to monitor all roads that led to the airport. She allowed Grey to head there to coordinate with the other units while she remained at the station, still anxious about Jack and the vaccine.

"It's here." Russo told her. "The plane from Atlanta just landed. The vaccine should be on its way to Officer Routh. Why don't you head there? I'll keep an eye out here."

"Thank you, Jessica." She meant that. She quickly grabbed her jacket and ran to the parking bay.

She just arrived at the location, just in time. The CDC was taking down the plastic sheets to let Jack out of the room. She saw him, clad in his white undershirt and vest surrounded by agents in hazmat suits.

She saw Lopez staring from afar and joined her. They remained silent, trying to listen to what Dr. Morgan was discussing with Jack. He looked fine, though she noticed his shirt was soaked in sweat.

"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked. Her voice was muffled by the protective layers she wore, but she could still hear her clearly.

"Not bad, all things considering." Jack looked behind him and she noticed a white sheet covering a body. Only his arm was sticking out, still cuffed to the bed. She knew that was Langston, who had been exposed to the virus hours earlier.

"You're right at the edge of what we think is the incubation window. So the fact that you're not showing any symptoms doesn't suck. But we're going to give you this vaccine just to make sure."

"It's experimental." Dr. Morgan explained and injected Jack with the vaccine on his upper right arm. "So we're just going to wait and see what happens. Maybe nothing, maybe you grow horns, but for now, I say you might have dodged a bullet."

She breathed a sigh of relief. She felt a hand holding hers, and noticed she had held hands with Lopez without realizing it. Jack looked at her and she gave him a relieved smile. Her man wasn't going to die.

She didn't bother to complain when she was asked to stay in the isolation tent with Lopez. They endured the silkworm showers for decontamination, and waited on their cots without sleeping.

"I'm sorry Captain, but I'm going to kick Routh's butt later." Lopez told her while they rested.

"Get in line Lopez. Jack has to learn there are consequences for risking his life." She replied. Jack was in another isolation tent at the other end of the yard under observation. So far he hadn't developed any symptoms of the virus, and Dr. Morgan was confident he would be fine.

"That idiot didn't even hesitate." Lopez shook her head. "He just slammed the door and locked me out."

"He did the right thing." She replied. "But that doesn't mean he will get out of any punishment from us."

"No he won't" Lopez agreed.

She received news that Bishop, Nolan, Bradford and Chen were able to take down the remaining terrorists. Bradford used the pit maneuver on the stolen blue car after a short chase, and the crash incapacitated the two terrorists.

The tent door zipped open, revealing Dr. Morgan without her PPE gear smiling at them. "You're good to go."

They just stepped out on the lawn to see the Bishop and Bradford and their two rookies walking towards them. Morning had arrived, and she didn't even realize she had spent the whole night inside that small tent.

"Good job. I heard you saved the day." Lopez told Bradford. "Good job on that pit maneuver."

"It was a team effort." Bradford replied, looking around. "Where's your boot? I heard he saved the day too."

"He's still resting, but he's going to be alright." She answered for Lopez.

"That's good news." Chen looked relieved. "What now?"

"24 hour observation at the CDC" She answered. She saw Jack stepping out of the other isolation tent and rushed to him, pity she couldn't hug or hit him yet.

"There he is." Nolan commented. "Look at him, finding excuses to show off his muscles."

Jack glanced at them for afar. "Did you guys get some sleep?"

"Idiot." Lopez shook her head. "Prepare your ass to be kicked hard boot."

She watched as Jack suddenly collapsed on the lawn. Dr. Morgan and the other CDC staff reacted quickly and immediately surrounded him. She tried to run towards him, but realized Lopez and Bishop were holding her back.

"Jack!" She called out, trying to wake him up.

"Everyone, stay back." Dr. Morgan ordered.

 Jack was quickly put on a stretcher and carried to an ambulance. She climbed on the ambulance and held his hand. The ambulance took off, and she struggled for a moment to regain her balance.

"Is it the virus?" She asked.

"There's no bleeding." The doctor replied. "It looks like a severe reaction from the vaccine we gave him."

Jack started to convulse and she realized she was screaming.

"He's going into anaphylactic shock! Get me epinephrine!" The doctor shouted.

 Jack was given an injection, but it took her and two other CDC agents and the EMT to hold him down. Once the epinephrine was injected, he immediately stopped convulsing and his breathing became more regular.

"That's why it was still in the experimental stage." The CDC doctor commented as she wiped her forehead.

"So he's going to be fine?" She asked, while stroking Jack's hair in the hope that it will give him some comfort.

"He will be. We just need to observe him for 24 hours." The doctor assured her.

She looked at Jack and noticed he was staring to wake up. His eyes opened and he looked disoriented.

"Hey." She smiled as she held his hand. "You scared me back there."

"What happened?" Jack asked. Immediately the doctor started checking on his pulse and breathing.

"You suffered an allergic reaction to the vaccine." The doctor replied. "What was the last thing you remember?"

"I just got out of the isolation tent." He replied. "Then I felt dizzy."

"That's normal." The doctor sat back, and she took it as a good sign that Jack was stable. Suddenly they both heard gunshots.

"Get down!" She called out, pulling Jack with her to the floor of the ambulance. Bullet holes appeared where the doctor and the other CDC agents were, and one of the lights turned off as it shattered, raining bits of plastic on them.

What was happening now?

Angela Lopez

She took cover behind a pillar as a woman with an assault rifle continued to fire on their shops. It all happened so quickly, and if it were not for Nolan, they would have been caught completely by surprise.

That split second warning allowed her to duck as the windows of her shop shattered from the bullets. She got out of her shop and took cover behind the engine.

"Covering!" She yelled and shot several rounds when she noticed Nolan was moving, but the woman kept moving between pillars.

"Moving!" Nolan called out.

She spotted Nolan trying to get to the medical staff hit by the woman's bullets, but they couldn't get a proper vantage point on her.

Bradford covered for one of the victims as Chen dragged her out of harm's way. She heard a metallic noise and saw the woman discard an empty magazine and inserted a new one to her weapon.

Nolan fired a couple of rounds, but missed the woman by inches. It only served to attract her attention and aimed her weapon at him. He was caught in the open without any cover to hide from. He was trying to pull out a spare magazine from his duty belt, and that meant he ran out of bullets.

The door to the ambulance suddenly opened, and out came the pair of the captain and her boot, both with weapons in hand.

The captain shot first and hit the woman on the shoulder, while her boot's shot hit the woman squarely in the back.

Nolan quickly pushed the rifle out the woman's reach, as she moaned in pain from her injury.

"Suspect in custody!" Nolan called out. She stood up and headed to the suspect, who was still breathing.

"Doctor! I need some help over here!"

Their attacker was wheeled away as a doctor started treating her injuries. More medical personal rushed to the scene and began treating the victims.

"What was that about?" She asked.

"I just received a call from Russo." The captain gathered them around. She looked much better compared to earlier, and she knew the reason for that was Jack who was standing beside her.

"That woman was part of the terrorist cell." She was looking for revenge, and it looks like she targeted Shaw Memorial.

"It could have gone worse if it weren't here." Bradford replied.

She watched as Routh was guided to a special room for observation by CDC agents and decided to hitch a ride back with Tim to the station. This whole biological terrorist attack really drained her.

She hoped the next few weeks would be calmer.

 "Wow." Wesley looked around, he looked impressed when he arrived at her house a week later. "Did you get a cleaning service."

"No, I did it myself." She didn't mention her rookie who gave her a hand and helped clean out the trash inside her house. She would never forget the look of horror in Jack's face when he first saw the state of her house. It wasn't that bad, she was sure Jack was just exaggerating his reactions to tease her.

It was his punishment for doing the stunt that he did last week, trying to noble. The captain approved of it but she didn't share with her the punishment she gave to her fiancé.

"You cleaned and organized everything by yourself?" Wesley dragged a finger at a cabinet that she normally wouldn't be able to see, and her finger came out clean. "I don't believe you."

"Fine." She replied. "Jack came here over the weekend and helped out."

"Now that's more believable."

"It was his punishment." She explained.

"You punished your rookie for saving your life and preventing a deadly virus from spreading to the city?"

"His fiancé agreed with it." She replied.

They had an epic fight a day after the terrorist plot was resolved, and as predicted Wesley went ballistic. It lasted throughout the whole morning, each unwilling to back down from their beliefs. The matter was only resolved when she visited her rookie who was still under 24 hour observation by the CDC at Shaw Memorial that he finally calmed down. To his credit, he still came with her despite being mad, since he also considered Jack a friend and a client.

He had spoken to Jessica Russo of DHS by accident when they met her visiting her boot. The drive back, he finally admitted that he was way out of his league when he realized the number of threats the country faced on a daily basis. The make-up sex afterwards was one she would always remember.

Dinner was much more pleasant. She noticed the difference in behavior in her boyfriend with the big changes in her house. He was more relaxed, less stressed and was even asked if he could spend the night with her. Next morning he even initiated early morning sex, and she decided right then as he gave her oral sex that if all it took to be treated like this was to maintain the cleanliness of her house, she would do it.

She would be the drill sergeant of cleanliness, the watch commander of order, the captain of vacuuming and… she blanked out as she reached her climax.

"We still have time." Wesley nibbled on her ear. "Do you want to shower together?"

Zoe Andersen

She was nearly late for the meeting with Chief Williams. Jack was relentless with her as he ravaged her body after she handed out her own punishment. Tying him up all night and doing all manner of depraved things to her fiancé made Jack more dominant and assertive for the rest of the week.

She started to line her panties with a thicker liner, as Jack always insisted in depositing a fresh batch of his semen inside her cunt or ass, just as she was about to leave for the station. He told her he enjoyed watching her fidget in place, as she presided over meetings or gave out announcements during roll call, knowing that her cunt was full of his semen at that very moment. Perhaps she went overboard with her punishment.

They also had an upcoming golf match to consider. She had a feeling Jack was doing something behind her back so that he would win against their match.

"Captain Andersen!" Chief Williams greeted her and gestured for her to have a seat. She adjusted her skirt as she took a seat, feeling some of Jack's cum leak out.

"You told me this was important?" He would normally not ask her to come, as most of his orders came through the phone or sent by his aides through the system.

"Yes, we're just waiting for Mayor Stevens." Chief Williams replied. "And there he is."

She looked over her shoulder to see the mayor shaking hands with several police officers on his way to the meeting room. With the mayor were members of the city council and she realized how important this meeting was. She recognized the two council members that accompanied Mayor Stevens, but she couldn't remember their names.

"Zoe!" Mayor Stevens greeted her as she and the chief stood up when he entered the room.

"Mayor Stevens." She gave a nod of greeting and turned to the council members behind the mayor. "Good morning, council members."

"I'm sorry for calling you in such short notice, but I had to call you when I read the report on that terrorist attack. I needed some clarifications with what I read, and I want to hear it from someone not from the Feds or CDC, who had been there on the ground. No sugar coating."

"Certainly sir." She replied. "What is it do you want to know?"

"The terrorist plot with this weaponized virus. How close were we to a full blown outbreak?"

"Very close." She tried to think of an appropriate answer to properly convey how serious the situation was. "We literally dodged a bullet, Mayor Stevens. If we were even late by a few minutes, the western seaboard would now be infected by the virus."

"It was that close?" A council member asked.

"Yes, and we had to maintain strict protocols with the terrorist plot. If it got out, the panic alone would turn the city into a warzone."

"We are adding new protocols, ordered protective gear tailored for our police officers, if a threat of this magnitude happens again." Chief Williams added. "If Jack had the proper equipment, he wouldn't have to endure that hell he experienced."

"How is Jack?" Mayor Stevens asked.

"He's recovered completely." She replied. "But it was a close call."

"That was a brave thing he did." The mayor glanced at Chief Williams."First he saved a famous celebrity from getting kidnapped in our city, and then he risked his life to stop the spread of a deadly virus. When are you promoting him Williams?"

"Officer Routh still has five months in his probationary period." She stated.

"Promote him already Greg." Mayor Stevens addressed the chief by his first name.

"I'll start the process." Chief Williams replied. "He earned his golden ticket."

"There's also the community relations program that your station proposed." Mayor Stevens turned to her. "I like it, and I understand Jack will participate in the program and use his academic background to engage the community?

"That's our goal." She replied. "We plan to use various community centers for the venue."

"I'd like to upgrade it, that's why Kathy Reese and Hugo Fitzpatrick are here." Mayor Stevens slid a paper to her and Chief Williams. "This is the proposal we came up. Do you think it can be done?"

She read the document thoroughly. They wanted Jack to teach a semester in the community college once a week, two classes a day in history. There were two problems, Jack is an active duty police officer, and he didn't posses a master's degree.

"Before you object, I looked into Jack's transcript in UCLA. He has enough graduate level credits to teach the subject at the community college. It's a part time profession anyway." Mayor Stevens stated.

"I already spoke with the president of the community college and the executive leadership, and they are receptive to the idea." Hugo Fitzpatrick shared. "They were even enthusiastic about the proposal."

"This is highly unusual." Chief Williams replied after reading the proposal. "We discourage our officers from having second jobs, even if they work on weekends."

"It's not a job, it is community outreach." Kathy Reese added. "He won't get paid by the college."

She looked at Chief Williams and noticed he was stroking his chin. "Just once a week? What do you think Andersen?"

"It's possible." She replied.

"Excellent. Make it work, Greg, Zoe. Say hello to Jack for me." Mayor Stevens stood up and left the meeting, followed by the two council members.

Jack Routh

His mandated rest day after his 24 hours of observation by the CDC in Shaw Memorial helped him deal with his experience with the deadly virus. He still couldn't forget Langston's face, as he slowly turned from a man with a cough, to a meat bag bleeding from every orifice of his body.

 The most horrifying memory was when the man started pleading for help. Langston's eyes stared at his own, as his condition slowly deteriorated with every minute that passed. He wondered if the man's pleas for help meant to bring him to the hospital, or to help him end his suffering.

He remembered the moment Langston realized he would not survive, as he stopped struggling with the cuffs on his wrist that chained him to the metal bed frame.

He'd rather die by a gunshot wound than to experience what Langston suffered.

When he went back to the station, he was surprised by his sudden promotion to P2, skipping the remaining five months of probation. Chief Williams was present as he congratulated him for his achievements and offered him the choice of his assignment. It was unofficially called the golden ticket, usually handed out to cops that performed incredible feats of heroism and bravery.

He was told to take his time before he made a decision, as the rest of his fellow officers congratulated him. He was still paired up with Lopez but now he had new schedule and task apart from his usual patrol duties.

 Sergeant Grey's community relations proposal turned into something bigger. He was offered the choice to teach History at the community college, and once he learned what the schedule will be eagerly accepted it. The next two weeks included preparations for his added role as a lecturer and patrol duties with Lopez. He met up with the faculty and the administration officers and was quickly handed his credentials.

It was a strange feeling not to wear his police uniform on a Friday morning as he headed to the Los Angeles City College. His schedule consisted of teaching History 008 – Medieval European History in the morning and History 013, 20 th Century American History in the afternoon, with each subject allocated an hour and a half block. 9 am – 10:30 am and 1 pm – 2:30 pm. That meant he could be home by 3 pm every Friday.

Naturally, Zoe was very envious of his schedule.

Lopez gave him enough teasing for the past few weeks leading up to this day, but he was still excited about his new routine every Friday for the next seventeen weeks. His bike, freshly serviced gave a purr as he headed down to Beverly Boulevard.

He turned left at Heliotrope, and five minutes later he was turning to Lot 4 parking building, reserved for faculty. He found a suitable parking spot, took off his helmet and headed straight to the Sheriff's office attached to the LACC campus.

"Good morning." He greeted the officer on the front desk and displayed his badge. "I'm Officer Routh from LAPD, I'm here to see Captain Reed."

The cops from the Sheriff's office wore the tan shirt and olive green pants, in stark contrast to the LAPD's dark navy uniform.

"Have a seat" The officer behind the front desk called a number on the desk phone, and spoke to the captain for a few moments.

"Go right in, his office is at the end of the hall." The officer replied.

He followed his directions, and knocked on the captain's door.

"Come in." Captain Reed greeted him. "What can I do for the LAPD?"

"Thank you for seeing me sir. I'm assigned to teach here every Friday as part of the community relations program." He handed the captain his schedule, given to him by the administration office. "It's my first day, and I was wondering what is the policy regarding bringing a back up piece to the campus."

"I see." Captain Reed reviewed his documents and schedule and handed it back to him. "Where do you keep your weapon?"

"It's strapped to my lower leg sir." He told the man.

"Then it's secured, and I have no problem with you bringing your piece to the campus." Captain Reed replied. "Thank you for dropping by, Officer Routh. Welcome to LACC"

He thanked the man and quickly left the mini police station and headed for the building. He looked at the map on the brochure once more and crossed the courtyard to the Humanities building and to his assigned classroom.

There were many students around with varying backgrounds, ethnicity and age around the campus. He entered his classroom and stared at the clock.

[8:47]

Thirteen minutes left.

A few students that were inside the classroom stared at him as he entered and the conversations stopped when he moved towards the professor's desk. He placed his bag on the table and unzipped his leather jacket and placed it on the back of his chair, ignoring the arrival of new students entering the classroom. Noise grew again as he heard snippets of conversation as he patiently waited for his class to begin.

"It couldn't be."

"It has to be a joke."

"Oh my god."

As the hand struck at 9, he stood up and started writing on the white board the name of the course.

[History 008 – Medieval European History]

"Good morning." He greeted the students now seated in front of him. They were twenty six students seated, and they were all now staring at him with varied expressions. "My name is Jack Routh, and I'm here to teach you about Medieval European History."

"I have a degree in Ancient and Modern History at UCLA and I'm a guest lecturer here for the semester. You can call me Jack." He looked around and found confused faces staring at him. "Is there something wrong?"

"No..." A female student replied. "It's just that… you're younger than what we expected."

"I'm about to turn twenty five." He told the girl. "What's your name Miss?"

"It's Betty." The student replied. "Betty Price."

"Okay Ms. Price, let's continue." He continued discussing the course outline, his expectations for the class and his grading system. He was discussing what books were useful with their first topic when the door opened again.

A blonde woman, around his age ran in, breathing hard. "Sorry. The traffic was terrible and the parking? Who charges that kind of rate…."

"Miss, please have a seat." He addressed the latecomer.

"Oh yes sorry." The woman sat at the very front and looked around the classroom. She then looked at him and smiled as she tucked a lock of her blond hair behind her ear. "I'm Penny, what's your name?"

"Jack." He replied.

"When do you think the professor will arrive? It's a good thing they're late, I didn't want to be late in my first day."

Laughter soon ensued around the classroom.

"What did I say?" Penny looked confused as she stared at the other students.

"He's the professor." Betty informed her.

"Huh?" Penny stared back at him with a curious look then shook her head in denial. He started wondering what was wrong with this woman. "Naahhh. Stop playing around, Professor Hottie. I know a prank when I see one."

The class again erupted into laughter, and he sighed and took a deep breath, realizing this was not as easy as he anticipated. He was thankful that this incident would not get back to the station.

"Let's continue." He decided to ignore the comment and continue with his introduction. He placed his USB stick on the computer attached to the professor's desk and used the remote to turn on the multimedia projector attached near the ceiling.

He pulled down the white screen and closed the lights and noticed Penny's face turn to horror as she realized her mistake. Not willing to further embarrass her, he started on his first lecture.

The class was very attentive as during his lecture. He walked around their seats, copying Sergeant Grey's style whenever he conducted a briefing. Feeling generous due to his class' good behavior, he dismissed them 15 minutes ahead of schedule without any assignment.

The students were elated and they all started to leave one by one. A handful of students thanked him for his lecture before they left, until only Penny remained.

The blonde woman approached him and started to apologize. "Professor, I'm sorry for earlier today. I didn't mean to…"

"It's fine. I think it even broke the ice between me and the class, so thank you." He replied.

Penny blushed and looked away and left the classroom soon after. He ate at the cafeteria alone, where the food election was passable. His afternoon class went much smoother, and he decided to visit Zoe in the station.

Noticing that she had no visitors, he climbed up the stairs and knocked on her door.

"Officer Routh." Zoe greeted him with a beautiful smile. "How was your first day as a guest lecturer?"

"It was fun." He replied. "The students were very attentive. How about you?"

"Not good." Zoe stood up from her chair and stared down at the bullpen. "Talia Bishop just sent her two weeks this morning."

"It was inevitable." He replied. He knew how serious Bishop was with advancing her career and would not tolerate being held back because of a letter of reprimand.

"I was hoping she would stay." Zoe admitted. "The strange thing is as soon as I told the chief, he instructed me that there would be a replacement training officer that will be arriving in a week. I wondered why I was bypassed in the hiring process until the chief explained to me that this new training officer has a golden ticket."

"She has a golden ticket and she wants to be a T.O.?" He asked.

"She's a former detective, so she has the necessary qualifications and training already." Zoe explained. "I'm worried if this post is suited for someone with her background."

"What' her name?" He asked.

"Nyla Harper."

Chapter Text

Lucy Chen

She felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It was like being back in high school, except this time they were all police officers inside the bus. She sat in the front behind the driver with John, while the cooler P3 cops sat in the back. Her T.O. Tim Bradford sat beside Angela Lopez, while the P2s mostly sat in the middle.

Of course, their teachers sat in the front seat near the door, Captain Zoe Andersen was their homeroom teacher, with Sergeant Grey in a seat behind her. There was even the kid that jumped from seat to seat eating portions of the snacks the other kids brought to the field trip, as Quigley Smitty wandered up and down the aisle asking for a share of their Cheetos, Lay's chips or Pringles.

To add to the feeling of being on a field trip, they all wore comfortable polo shirts. Short-sleeved polo shirts. She was so happy when she put in on that morning that she didn't even mind the very early schedule for today. Most wore shades, even the Captain, but she couldn't seem to find the right one to fit properly.

 "Are we there yet?" Nolan asked. John was the impatient kid in the class, and she guessed she was the nerd.

"Ten to fifteen minutes with this traffic." Grey replied after he momentarily looked up from his phone to see where they were.

They had a rare half-day off today from patrol for their annual weapons qualifications, and they were using real ammunition. She was excited ever since she learned of their schedule since she had been one of the most consistent in marksmanship in the academy.

"This really feels like a school field trip." She told John.

"There's the teacher, the gym teacher." Nolan was mumbling as he started to identify the people on the bus in relation to his own experiences. Unfortunately he forgot that the gym teacher was just across from him.

"Are you comparing me to a gym teacher, Officer Nolan?" Grey asked. In front of him, she saw the ghost of a smile on the Captain's face as she turned her head to the side to listen in.

"No sir." Nolan immediately denied it. "It's just the gym teacher bullied me in middle school so…"

"So I'm the principal then?" The Captain suddenly asked.

"No ma'am, you're the homeroom teacher." Nolan answered.

They were interrupted by the sound of a motorcycle engine screaming, the noise getting louder. Everyone on the bus turned to the left as a distinct grey and black bike flew past them, and soon disappeared in the distance.

"That was Jack!" She called out.

"I should have brought my own truck." Nolan complained. "I wouldn't have to wake up so early in the morning."

"That's fine if your truck can bypass the traffic like Jack's bike and get there on time." She replied. "Not to mention you don't have to drive or pay for your own gas."

"So if this is a school field trip, then who is Jack supposed to be?" Nolan asked.

"He's the badass rebel." She giggled.

"Was that my boot?" She heard Angela ask from the back of the bus.

"No longer your boot, Lopez." Tim answered her. "I should have borrowed a bike for today instead of signing up for the bus."

That was right, she remembered Jack was promoted to a P2 ahead of schedule. It was well deserved, in her opinion. He had really stepped up after graduating from the academy and was awarded the rare golden ticket.

He hadn't decided what his plans were, but she had a feeling he would find his way to Metro. She always noticed him pay close attention to the tactically armed police officers of B and C platoon whenever they worked with the Metro units for joint operations.

They reached the shooting range several miles from the city that was exclusively used by law enforcement agencies. It was a massive complex, she observed.

Their bus stopped at the designated parking lot, and she saw Jack's bike parked under the shade of a tree. She was the first one out of the bus after the Captain and Grey and saw Jack eating a sandwich outside what looked to be a canteen. She saw the smoothie he had on his other hand and decided she wanted one for herself. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time. She would have gladly ridden behind Jack on his awesome bike again, but she knew the Captain wouldn't be too happy with her if she did that.

"Alright kids!" Sergeant Grey seemed to like her comparison of their weapons re-qualification day to a school field trip and decided to go with it. "Follow the teacher for the safety briefing before we let you all out to play!"

They trooped inside a large seminar hall as range masters waited for them.

"Excited?" She asked Jack as he joined her and John at the front.

"I'm looking forward to trying out the obstacle course." Jack replied. That wasn't part of their firearm re-qualifications, since they only needed to qualify for their duty weapon, the Glock 17. However, most of the officers prefer to maximize the time on the range by familiarizing themselves with other weapons and obstacle courses.

After the safety briefing, their assigned range master who introduced herself as Officer Dixon led them to a section for the requalification process. They were each handed ear protection and safety glasses for the exam. She was part of the first batch, so many of their fellow officers were watching them. She was sure they would be making bets based on how they performed, cops loved to gamble.

"Each target has two sides, the civilian and the suspect." Officer Dixon explained. "When you see the suspect, you have three seconds to get your shots off. If you fire on the civilian side, it's an automatic fail."

She watched the two sides, and she noticed that they were similar to their academy targets. The civilian side had a silhouette with a phone in its hand, eerily similar to the shape of the suspect side that held a weapon pointed at them. The test was not just for marksmanship, but split -second decision making.

"You have 36 shots, two magazine changes. 30 hits is a pass, 29 is a fail." Officer Dixon continued.

"Officers ready?" Dixon looked at them. She put on her ear protection and safety glasses and saw that Nolan and Routh did the same.

"Begin."

Beep

Their assigned targets started moving up and down the range and she started shooting, aiming for the center mass. It switched sides in a random pattern, preventing her from anticipating when the suspect side would appear. Her heart beat faster and she realized she needed to change magazines and quickly reloaded her weapon and resumed shooting.

It was too fast. She took deep breaths, checked the weapon if the chamber was empty and placed it on the desk.

The next batch of three stepped up while Grey reported their scores.

"Finishing first, with the fastest time and tightest grouping, Officer Chen." Grey told their group. "Congratulations. You all passed."

"She got lucky." She saw Angela pass Tim a 20. She felt proud of herself for coming out on top of her group and decided to watch the performance of the rest of the officers. It was a testament to the quality of their patrol force that everyone easily passed the qualification exam. Finally she watched as the captain took her turn along with Grey.

"20 on the captain." She whispered to John.

"No deal." Nolan shook his head.

Their captain and sergeant easily passed the exam, and she was sure their groupings were better than hers. The rest of the officers had wandered off to other ranges and she was unsure of what to do next.

"Want to check out the ranges?" John asked. "I heard the metro are here too."

"Sure." 

Jack Routh

"Hey Jack!"

He turned around to see Detective Wolfe and Detective Vestri approach him, wearing the same polo shirt.

"Good morning detectives." He greeted back. He rarely saw the two detectives, but when they crossed paths, the two always invited him for a drink or a meal after his shift. He enjoyed spending time with the two, as their advice and insight as one of the most experienced detectives in the station were invaluable to him.

"Just passed your requalification exam?" Kevin Wolfe asked.

"Yes. I'm just looking around and see what course I can take."

"If you're looking for a course, how about I introduce you to some buddies of mine." Elijah Vestri suggested. "They have the most challenging course there."

"Sure." He agreed, curious to see the training of the officers from metro.

"Heard you're eyeing metro?" Vestri asked.

"I'm thinking about it, but I have to gain some experience first as a P2." He replied.

"Then work hard." Wolfe encouraged him. "Hey, isn't that Hondo?"

"Sergeant Hondo!" Vestri called out to a tall black man wearing shades and a white shirt.

"Vestri! And look who it is, the big bad Wolfe!" The large man approached, smiling the whole time as he exchanged handshakes. "Are you showing a recruit around?"

"Nah, Routh is in Patrol." Vestri slapped a hand on his shoulder. "He saved our asses from being turned into pincushions. He just got promoted to P2, I figured I'll show him around."

Hondo looked at him for a moment. "Thinking of joining metro, Routh?"

"I'm thinking about it, Sergeant." He replied.

"I think he'll do well as a detective, but Vestri insists he's a good fit for Metro." Wolfe shared.

"I'm about to introduce him to the boys in B Platoon." Vestri added. "See if he can play with them for a little bit."

"Nah, why don't you play with the big boys Routh." Hondo took over. "C'mon, I'll give you an introduction to the boys in D."

D platoon, that meant SWAT, the famous unit of the elite Metro division. He didn't even realize he was with a sergeant from the famous unit.

Sergeant Hondo introduced him to the squad of ten officers under his command. They gave polite greetings, but he could tell they were evaluating him by the way they looked at him from head to toe. He watched their unique training method as they conducted a head-to-head, two simultaneous obstacle course runs.

The exercise was challenging, they would first use the assault rifle to take out three targets, conduct a tactical reload while moving to another location and then take out another three. They would then proceed to a new section and use a pistol to take out four targets, reload and take out another four. They would then use their remaining rounds to hit the last target at the base of the hill, shooting as they approached it. 

Hondo allowed him to familiarize himself with the weapons and led him to a nearby range where a set of weapons were displayed on the table. "How familiar are you with these?"

"This is the Heckler and Koch-416 Assault rifle with a Trijon scope." He picked up the weapon, as memories from Jack Reacher flashed in his mind. "It has a 30-round magazine capacity with the standard 556 ammunition and its effective range is at around 300 yards."

"Have at it."

He picked it up, checked the magazine and slotted it on the rifle. He pulled the hammer and fired a few rounds on the target after taking careful aim. With his finger on the magazine release, he pulled out the magazine and then inserted it back and fired two more rounds.

"Well, it looks like you know your weapons systems." Hondo commented. "Have you fired this type of handgun before?"

He looked at the handgun on the table. "No sir."

"Why don't you give it a try, see how it feels."

He picked up the staccato pistol and inserted the magazine and cocked the handgun and aimed at the targets. He was amazed at how flat it fired, and stopped after he emptied the magazine.

"Neat huh?" Hondo grinned. "It looks like you're ready, why don't you run the course?"

"Thanks, Sergeant." He smiled back. He loved this pistol.

Zoe Andersen

Her fiancé disappeared after the firearms re-qualifications ended for her patrol officers. Range master Dixon invited her for some snacks and coffee, and once she finished it she couldn't find any trace of her man.

He looked like he needed more sleep that morning, and it was her fault really. She had played with his cock the whole night and into the early morning as she had a very vivid and erotic dream with Jack and actually woke up just as she reached climax. Jack had been awake the entire time and he couldn't help but fuck her while she continued sleeping. It happened a few more times and that was the reason she gave him a few more hours of sleep and just wrote a note as she left for the station. Her sex drive was on overdrive, but that translated into her finishing the paperwork for the department in record time.

She walked around the complex and still, she didn't see any sign of him. She saw his fellow rookies walking ahead and called them over.

"Yes captain?" Nolan asked once they reached her.

"I'm looking for Officer Routh, have you seen him?"

"I saw him walking with Detectives Wolfe and Vestri." Chen reported. "I overheard them talking about watching the metro division training. We were actually on our way there."

"I see. Let's head there." She replied and led the two rookies to the more complex range suited for tactical training. There was even a mini Hogan's alley set up to replicate real-world conditions for exercises.

She reached the far end of the range and saw a group of metro officers standing with a familiar-looking sergeant. Detective Wolfe spotted her first and waved her over.

"Captain! Your man's kicking ass at the exercise!" Wolfe smiled and pointed at the range where two men were standing at the start line, one of them her fiancé. Jack was wearing tactical gear usually worn by D platoon, complete with a helmet, ear plugs and eye protection.

"Your fiance's really talented." Vestri added. "I knew he'd be perfect for metro."

"Fiance?" Sergeant Hondo of D platoon turned to her with a surprised look. "Routh's your boyfriend, Captain?"

"Fiance, sergeant." She corrected him. "How well is he doing?"

"Routh picked up things quickly." Hondo replied as he turned back to watch the head-to-head exercise. "Too quickly. Did he serve in JSOC?"

"No." She replied, confused by the question. How the hell would her fiancé end up as an operator for Joint Special Operations Command?

"Then I don't know how to explain how he's keeping up with my squad. Look."

She turned back to the course and the Range master called for them to begin.

Beep

She focused on Jack as he started shooting with what looked to her was the HK-416. His stance was impeccable, as he quickly hit each target twice in the center. His elbows were tight to his body and he leaned slightly on his weapon to provide a stable shooting platform. The tactical reload was quick and efficient, it was as if he had experienced reloading the weapons for years.

Ping Ping

Ping Ping

The targets hit rang like wind chimes as the bullets continued to hit the targets accurately.

"Look at his toes." Sergeant Hondo commented.

Jack pivoted on his right foot whenever he moved to the right, and pivoted with his left foot when he moved to the left. He walked with a natural walking pace, his toes pointed in the direction he was headed.

Jack swiftly moved his weapon behind his back with the straps as he transitioned to his pistol. Again he had that same proper platform, elbows nice and tight to the body in a compressed position.

Ping Ping

Ping Ping

She narrowed her eyes at what Jack just did. The magazine flew away and he smoothly inserted another magazine and resumed firing.

Ping Ping

Ping Ping

"Did he just..."

"Changed magazines with a flick of his wrist?" Hondo smiled. "He called it the wick flick."

The two officers reached the last target and they started expending the rest of their bullets on the target, firing as they walked closer to it.

"Holster your weapon!" The range master called out. He didn't need to inspect the spread of the bullets from what she observed. Jack's target was nearly shredded with a huge hole in the center and a few holes on the head.

"Winner!" The range master pointed at Jack.

"Damn. I want him." Hondo commented.

"You know you can't." She replied. "At least, not yet. He still has to do his time as a P2 and earn experience and other qualifications."

"He's built for this." Hondo replied as they both stared at Jack as he picked up the magazine on the ground, while the rest of the squad teased their defeated member. "But that doesn't mean I can't invite him for training exercises."

"Your fiance's a natural if I ever saw one, Captain." Hondo added. "And to think he'll get better with proper training. Now that's scary."

"Captain!" Jack reached them after he gave back the weapons and gear he used.

"Officer Routh, did you have fun?" She asked while she gave him a small smile. She was amazed and proud of her man's abilities. She had to admit it made her feel… aggressive.

"Yes Captain." Jack turned to the swat sergeant and gave him a nod. "Thank you for allowing me to participate in your squad's training, Sergeant Hondo."

"It's my pleasure. Come by anytime, Routh."

Chen didn't even wait for the SWAT sergeant to get out of earshot before she pounced on Jack. "How did you do that? That was amazing!"

"I just copied them." Jack nudged his head to indicate the elite squad of officers behind him. "They were great instructors. The transition to another weapon was hard to get used to."

"I think you were just a natural at this Routh." Vestri commented. "Watching you made me miss my metro days."

Jack accompanied her for the next hour, and they did find a secluded spot to steal some kisses and a bit of groping. By noon, she decided to ride with Jack instead on his bike. She was a bit embarrassed though as they overtook the bus on the road, knowing her Officers saw her ass displayed up high for anyone to see.

Back in the city after a relaxed lunch and some heavy petting in the bathroom of a restaurant, she was able to control her libido thanks to the oral sex and orgasm Jack gave her. It had been a real struggle not to moan in pleasure as she grinded her cunt on his face while his tongue and lips played with her sex.

When Friday arrived, she looked uncomfortable as they headed to the golf course. Jack was notified that there would be no classes that week due to a scheduled maintenance on the building and he decided to use his free time to challenge her in a golf match. It was still early in the morning and there weren't a lot of people playing when they decided to start their match. The stakes were high, and she was excited.

She didn't want to blame Jack for her loss, but his insistence for her not to wear any underwear beneath her very short golf skirt affected her game. By the third hole she knew she had already lost. She kept playing anyway, aroused and embarrassed at the same time. She did enjoy teasing Jack as she played more holes squatting in front of him as she pretended to line up her putt.

"You're enjoying this too much." By the time they reached the ninth hole, there were more people on the course. It was the last hole, and Jack was ahead by 8 strokes. This was just formality at this point, although the thought of other men being able to see up her skirt as she lined up for a 20-foot putt was incredibly arousing.

"I am. We should make this a regular thing." Jack admitted without shame. Feeling bold she noticed a group of older men heading to the halfway house and she widened her stance more than usual. The men had stopped to observe her, and she shot Jack a heated look. Since their position was higher than the path the men were walking on, she knew they could probably see everything up her skirt.

"You like this?" She asked. She tapped the golf ball and it rolled to within two feet of the hole.

"I like how it's making you hot." Jack replied as he approached her and placed a hand on her waist. "I win love."

She probably had a good chance of winning, but she allowed Jack's request for her not to wear underwear knowing it would mess up her game. Maybe she was curious about what Jack planned to do with her. She finished putting and scooped out her golf ball from the cup, knowing she gave a nice show to the men watching but she really didn't mind it at this point.

"So, you win." She turned to her man.

"I win." Jack agreed, smiling like he won the lottery. "Let's head back. I'll tell you what I want to do to you on the way."

The next morning she was wearing a strange outfit that Jack asked her to wear as they headed to San Diego. While a bit strange, she found the outfit comfortable enough. She wore a blue tube top, leaving her shoulders bare, a black miniskirt, and boots.

Jack had ordered her outfit online, and it initially had a cheap quality shoulder holster to allow for two guns to be secured under each arm. She threw that away, along with the cheap boots and used her own gear that she had lying around. The replica guns with the orange tip she could tolerate and took only one with her since the holster she had could only secure one weapon.

Overall, she liked this costume, and Jack must have loved it too, since he immediately started to make out with her the moment he saw her. He was pumping his cum inside her within minutes, and she was amused at how eager he was. She could see the possibilities with their relationship in the future if he was that eager.

They arrived in San Diego in two hours, and she stepped out and stretched out her arms once he parked her car. Jack was wearing what she guessed was supposed to be a tactical police outfit from a fictional city. He wore navy blue pants and uniform, with a tactical vest with the initials R.P.D. displayed at the front and back. She was giggling when he added the other props to his costume, including the fingerless leather gloves, elbow pads, and knee guards. She was sure his new friends in metro would laugh when they saw him.

She looked around and she saw more and more people arrive at the convention center, wearing a wide variety of costumes. She didn't realize her man was a fan of these things, but she was happy enough to accompany him.

They went inside the convention hall after Jack presented two tickets, and she was assaulted by noise once they entered the venue. It was packed. There were thousands of people inside wearing costumes and outfits while hundreds of booths with various displays lined the venue. She could see large banners and statues everywhere, and she struggled to make sense of it all.

"I'm glad you didn't make me wear those." She looked at the many princess Leias wearing a metal bikini with a maroon loincloth.

"I almost did." He replied as they walked around. "But I thought you would enjoy the experience of going here wearing a more practical costume."

"You're right. Thank you." She hugged his arm and leaned closer to him, happy at how thoughtful he was. Her costume was fine, she could wear it all day, and she appreciated the tube top and the mini skirt now because the AC was barely maintaining an acceptable temperature.

"Thank god you made me wear a thong." She spotted photographers taking pictures with the multiple princess Leias around. They were like bees, circling and swarming around each princess Leia flower as they took photos from multiple angles.

They ate a few slices of pizza from the food stalls and continued their tour, until they were stopped by a costumed character in red and black.

"Jill Valentine!" The costumed man approached them. He was wearing a backpack and had a camera around his neck. "You look fabulous! Can I have my photo taken with you?"

"Sure, Spiderman." She replied. She was not really sure who he was supposed to be and made her best guess.

"I'm not Spiderman! You take that back!" The costumed man jumped back and pointed an accusing finger at her. Okay, comic-con cosplayers are crazy. She smiled and looked at Jack who was laughing at the man's antics. "Sorry, who are you? I'm not that familiar with comic book characters."

"I'm the one and only Deadpool!" The man replied with a bow.

"My fiancé is the one that took me here." She told 'Deadpool'. "It's my first time."

"Well your fiancé is a lucky son of a bi.." Deadpool looked to Jack and trailed off. Jack had warned her about the eccentric people they would encounter. Something about wearing costumes made them act bolder with the anonymity they had.

"Oh my god! Clark Kent! What are you doing working as a cop at Raccoon City P.D.?" Deadpool asked. "Did you lose your powers? Or did you quit the Justice League after you finally lost patience with Batman?"

Jack did have a passing resemblance to the original Superman actor, Christopher Reeves. She looked at him and imagined him in a Superman man outfit, and licked her lips. She liked the idea.

They took a few pictures with Deadpool, and that opened the floodgates as other people started approaching them asking for pictures as well. She didn't even realize their costumes were that good. 

It didn't escape her that boys were the ones that approached her for a picture, while girls were the ones who mostly asked Jack for selfies.

She spotted a few photographers crouching and resisted the urge to kick their cameras away, as they obviously tried for a panty shot.

Jack was enduring the photos well, as more and more women asked for a selfie with him. His costume was perfect protection for wandering hands. She had to politely tell the men to remove their hands from her shoulder. They decided to retreat after ten minutes and continued their tour.

She was admiring the details of the other Comic Con visitors when she heard a woman call out to Jack.

"Is that you Professor Routh?" She turned around to see Jack talking to a pretty blonde. The woman was wearing normal clothes and noticed four men in various costumes standing behind her, looking confused. One had a red outfit with a lightning symbol, another wearing an orange muscle shirt and green pants and an honest-to-goodness sea horse between his legs. The third one had a green and black outfit, and the fourth was the only one she recognized, a Superman costume, complete with a muscle suit.

"Penny." Jack greeted her. This Penny smiled and turned to the four men behind her.

"This is the professor in my community college." Penny told the four men. "These are my friends, Leonard, Howard, Raj and…"

"Doctor Sheldon Cooper?" She was surprised to see Jack knew one of the men. Did he train with them? Well, they looked like they could use some exercise.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember you." Sheldon Cooper replied. "I don't hang out at community colleges, I might get infected."

Wow, what an ass.

"We met at a bus stop, you wanted to use the men's facilities but we couldn't allow you to enter since it would contaminate evidence." Jack replied. "I remember that you had a public restroom kit."

"Professor, I didn't know you're a cop." Penny looked confused.

"That's because that's my primary job, I teach at the community college on Fridays as part of the department's community outreach program. Normally I'm on patrol on weekdays." Jack held out a hand and she grasped it, knowing he intended to introduce her.

"This is my fiancé, Zoe Andersen." Jack said, and she blushed a little when she saw how proud he was to introduce her. She looked on with amusement as some of the men's eyes widened and their cheeks flushed when they saw her.

"Fiance?" Penny looked shocked. That's right little girl, he's taken. She smiled at Penny and stood closer to Jack, and gripped his hand tighter.

"That's right." Jack replied.

"You know, you have a passing resemblance to Christopher Reeves." Sheldon stated as he eyed Jack from head to toe. "With your height and build, you can be a good Superman."

"Thank you." Jack replied graciously. "Are you a DC fan?"

"That's right." Sheldon nodded. "It grates me to see all these Marvel Films releasing one after another, and the last DC film was released back in 2012. They should have a Justice League film by now."

She watched with amusement as the two men actually enjoyed their conversation, so much so that they were invited to join the other group for lunch. They happily accepted, and found a few empty tables that they joined together so they could all sit around as a group. Jack, Sheldon and Penny took their orders while she and the other three men saved their seats.

Howard and Leonard tried to engage her in small talk, but she really didn't know much about her character besides being a cop. Leonard happily explained to her that Jill Valentine was an important character in the game and movie, and kept complimenting her looks. She didn't fail to notice that he was ogling her chest. She might as well place another mouth between her tits so they could have a conversation.

She decided to end the conversation with Leonard and changed the topic and turned to Howard.

"Doesn't he speak?" She asked as she looked at Raj.

"Well, he has a condition." Howard confided. "He couldn't speak around beautiful women."

Raj merely smiled at her and then looked away once more.

"So what do you do for work?" Leonard asked, trying again to engage her in conversation.

"I'm a Police Captain." She replied.

"So you're like, Jack's boss?" Howard asked.

"I am." She nodded.

She was relieved when Jack, Penny and Sheldon arrived with their food. As she was eating, she noticed that Raj was staring intently at Jack. He quickly pulled out his phone and started scrolling on his phone.

He then started whispering to Howard who then looked at Jack and started staring as well.

"Don't you know that staring is rude?" Sheldon complained.

"I'm sorry, but Raj said that he knows Jack." Howard showed the picture on Raj's phone. It was a picture of Jack in his real police uniform, with the famous pop star, Taylor Swift in his arms.

"Holy crap!" Penny' eyes widened in amazement. "No wonder you look so familiar! You're that cop that saved her!"

"I was just in the right place at the right time." Jack explained, looking uncomfortable. She knew he didn't appreciate the fame that came with saving a pop star. It made policing harder for him. Sheldon ignored that and seemed determined to convince Jack to take on the role as Superman, as this would reinvigorate the DC franchise.

"You're the perfect actor." Sheldon continued to present his case. "You're already a law enforcement officer, so you share the same values as Kal-El. You have the proper height and build that you don't have to wear a muscle suit. I'll even volunteer as your agent to represent you. I know the studio is looking for suitable actors right now."

She didn't realize how serious Sheldon Cooper was until she received a call from her office.

"Captain Andersen?" A female voice asked.

"Yes, who is this?"

"I'm Emma Thomas. I'm a producer and I'm calling to ask you about Officer Jack Routh. Unfortunately, we couldn't reach him, so I called your station. We'd love it if he would come in and audition for the role."

"How did you get this number?" She asked.

"Chief Williams gave it to me."

Oh no. It was like with the annoying director Payne all over again.

"I'm afraid he's unavailable." She replied. "Officer Routh is a police officer, and is busy with his duties. It is also against department policy for officers to have a second job."

"I see. But surely we can make exceptions? What about a leave of absence?" The producer asked.

"At this point in his career, Officer Routh needs the experience and further training to get promoted. As his fiancé, I know he is serious about his career." She explained.

"I see. We'll call back."

She was certainly determined.

They were currently investigating a case. Thieves had robbed the supply store, stealing police uniforms. It made them all on edge, as the thought of criminals walking around in genuine police gear made her officers more paranoid. One of her night shift units nearly had a gunfight when they encountered a unit from another station. and they didn't recognize each other. Things calmed down when they started asking using their radios for confirmation.

They needed to resolve this case quickly.

Jack Routh

He looked at the pile of burning motorcycles from the robbery. The smell was terrible, and he wondered if it was from the various chemicals and plastics from the bikes. He and Angela responded to the scene and called dispatch when they realized it could be the motorcycles used in the robbery of police uniforms.

"There's a body in there." He turned around and saw Sergeant Gray and Nolan approach him.

"I'm sorry, but how can you tell?" Nolan asked.

"The stench. It's unmistakable." Grey responded.

They approached the scene to take a closer look, and he was right, they saw the burned body of a man partially buried underneath the burning pile of metal, plastic, and other chemicals.

"That's him, that's one of the guys that stole those uniforms. " Nolan pointed out as he struggled not to throw up. He couldn't blame him and he took out his hanky and covered his nose.

"Not on the crime scene!" Grey pointed to the area outside the police tape when he saw Nolan was about to throw up. "Go! Go!"

Nolan nodded and ran, holding up a hand to cover his mouth.

"7-adam-15, change our call to a homicide." Grey informed dispatch.

"You'll get used to the smell." Angela told him. She scrunched up her nose and returned to the police line to maintain their perimeter.

"Sends detective and a forensics team." Grey continued on the radio. "Alert Jessica Russo at DHS."

"Routh, maintain the perimeter with Lopez until the detectives arrive." Grey told him. "Press and curious civilians will be here soon. We can't allow them to contaminate the crime scene. Don't answer any questions, you know the drill."

"Yes, Sergeant." He moved to the other side with Angela to keep watch.

"What do you think happened there?" Angela asked him.

"Four bikes, one body." He took a glance back at the burning pile once more, happy to be far away that he couldn't smell the stench. "Nolan said one of the guys that's now dead dropped his bag containing a full set of a police uniform. The rest of his group decided he was useless or that Nolan had seen his face and killed him."

"Then burned his body and the motorcycles to destroy any evidence." Angela continued for him. "Good work Routh."

They were standing there for a few hours and investigators continued to record and photograph the crime scene while he warned curious onlookers from crossing the police tape. Bradford and Chen arrived and he waved them over.

"How's it going?" Lucy asked.

"I threw up." Nolan admitted.

"Couldn't blame him." He stated when he saw Lucy's amused expression. "The stench of a burning body is horrible."

A car arrived, and he saw Jessica Russo step out of the driver's side door. He watched as Nolan perked up when she appeared. The two had been dating for several weeks now, and he wondered if they had any plans of getting married.

"Hey!" Jessica greeted Nolan and he and Lucy looked away when the two shared a quick kiss. He wished he could do that with Zoe, but Jessica was in DHS and had no problems maintaining a relationship with an officer from the LAPD.

Jessica passed through the police tape to join Grey and the investigators while he and his fellow rookies continued to provide their theories.

"We need to get in on this." Lucy stared enviously as she watched Russo, Grey and the P3 officers discuss the case.

"Not going to happen, we're stuck on perimeter duty." He replied.

"And trust me, this is the place you want to be in." Nolan added.

They all turned to the horrible sight of the burned body, charred black in some places while showing red muscle in some areas where parts of the charred skin had broken off. He could see the teeth, as the fire burned enough of the man's face to reveal his jaw bone and parts of the skull.

"I guess you're right." Lucy replied.

Lucy Chen

She aimed an envious look at Jack's back. The temperature in the parking building where their shops were parked when not in the bay was stifling. She was pretty sure she would feel better if she wore a short-sleeved uniform.

Unfortunately, she was stuck with the most strict, hard ass in the entire force as her field training officer and refused to let her wear what she had rightfully earned. 

"It's only for a few more months." Jack replied. He had noticed her and she blushed. She had forgotten that her fellow rookie was a very observant person, even if he wasn't as chatty compared to her and John.

"I know." She lightly pinched his upper arm and smiled.

"What was that for?"

"For wearing a short-sleeved uniform." She replied.

Bradford and Lopez had asked both of them to check their shops, as they had used considerable supplies to maintain the perimeter of the crime scene from yesterday. Their respective dashcams also recorded a few of the more persistent reporters breaking through the police line, and they needed to collect the memory cards for evidence.

She punched her code and opened the door to the floor where their shops were parked and the door was about to close when she heard a voice from behind her.

"Hold that please!" An officer was rushing to the door and she held it open for him.

"Thanks."

"Yeah, no problem."

She didn't pay any more attention to him as she and Jack headed to their shops, when she noticed that the other cop seemed unsure of where to go. Curious.

She kept an eye on him as he opened a shop that she knew belonged to Officer Smitty. He was rifling around and she stepped forward wondering why someone would willingly step inside Smitty's shop voluntarily.

"You looking for something?" She asked.

"Oh, I just forgot my wallet." The officer smiled.

"Right." She turned around and headed to her shop. She noticed that Jack was watching the man intently as well, and they shared a glance, and knew he was thinking the same. The cop got into a car this time and pulled out a package.

She unlocked her holster in case she needed to draw her weapon quickly and walked closer to the cop.

"Did you find it?" She asked.

"Yeah thanks." The cop replied with a smile, but she wasn't fooled. His duty belt was empty and the man had a set of police radio equipment he pulled out from the car.

"What are you doing with that radio?" She demanded.

The cop quickly bolted and ran away from her. "Hey stop!"

They chased after the cop across the parking lot. He was a fast runner, and she pulled out her radio to alert the station as she ran after him.

"7-adam-19! Chasing fake cop in garage!" She called out. "Need backup!"

The fake cop jumped on the ledge and took a moment to check his landing. That was enough as just as he jumped, Jack grabbed him by the back of his uniform and stopped him from falling. With an incredible display of upper body strength, Jack grunted and tossed the man back and he landed roughly on the garage floor.

The fake cop was in a daze, and Jack rolled him on the ground face first and quickly secured him in cuffs.

"7-adam-19" She called on the radio again. "Suspect secure. Code 4."

She gave a sigh of relief and smiled at Jack, happy that her intuition was correct. She realized all the things Tim had been drilling into her had now paid off. Cop Eyes, as Tim described it.

The Captain, Sergeant Grey and even Russo appeared on the scene, and watched as the fake cop struggled as other cops came and took him to processing.

"Good job Chen, Routh." Grey said. He looked over the ledge and turned back to them. "You say he attempted to jump from this spot?"

"Yes, before Officer Routh pulled him back." She glanced at Jack.

"It was Officer Chen that first suspected the man was a fake cop." Jack added. "She was the first to notice his irregular behavior."

"You might want to check that car parked in the alley." The Captain stated, looking over the ledge. "I suspect that's his getaway vehicle, and he prepared that dumpster in advance to break his fall."

Captain Andersen's suspicions were correct. The dumpster was filled with bags and bags of shredded paper and old pillows and the car had its keys left inside the ignition. She stared at Jack and Captain Andersen as they stood together observing the scene, they really were suited to each other. She doubted any other woman could just match up to Jack's sheer presence. Captain Andersen was tall for a woman at five foot ten and had a commanding presence and she stood there as Jack's equal.

With the suspect caught, he was quickly identified as Thomas Bernhardt. It had also led to Nolan finding the missing woman she had investigated a few days ago, a court clerk by the name of Susanna Brown by pulling Bernhardt's records. She was found tied inside the house alone, terrified and sobbing.

Susanna Brown immediately told them of the plan of the fake cops that she overheard. She felt great satisfaction as they set a trap for the fake cops as they now knew their target, a caravan from the court house that was set to be destroyed full of counterfeit bills and weapons. She had to admire their dedication. Even the fake cops had legitimate looking police vehicles as they escorted the van.

She and Tim quickly stopped the convoy diverted by using Susanna's clearance codes as they knew the fake cops were listening in. The court clerk was pissed and was eager for payback.

The fake cops that escorted the truck full of counterfeit money and weapons initially tried to fight back as they were trapped on the bridge by two road blocks, until D platoon from Metro sprung the trap.

They jumped out of the white truck and moved in a flash, taking down the suspects within seconds. Their shots quick and accurate. She glanced at Jack who had joined Tim in the roadblock and noticed her T.O. and Jack were looking at the elite SWAT unit like they were kids in a candy store.

Zoe Andersen

She was happily packing up her bags, eager to return home. Jack was preparing a special dinner for her, in celebration for solving the case with the fake cops. He knew the pressure she was under and was happy that it was her station and her cops that solved the case. She could almost feel the collective sigh from the entire force.

She could understand the feeling. Trust to have each other's back, no matter what station you came from was the bread and butter of the police force. Protocols were immediately enacted to make it harder if another group of criminals decided to come up with stealing police uniforms and equipment again.

Her phone rang, and she was surprised to see it was from one of her brothers. He never called unless it was her birthday or it involved family matters. Why was he calling now?

"Wes?"

"Hi Zoe. How are you?" She rolled her eyes at her eccentric and quirky older brother.

"Why did you call?" She asked.

"I received word from a friend. She asked me for help to get to your fiancé. Congratulations by the way."

She sighed and sat back on her chair. "I was planning to tell the family on Christmas. I'm going to bring Jack there to meet the family." 

"Great, Eric and Mel would be delighted to meet him." Wes replied.

"How's Juman and Freya?" She missed seeing her sister-in-law, and she couldn't wait to see her new niece.

"They're fine, Freya's growing up so fast." Wes shared. "Since you're bringing your fiancé for the holidays, then I guess Emma and her husband will try to convince him there."

"Wes." Her tone was stern and cold. This was the reason she changed her surname. She didn't want any part of her family's lifestyle and connections. She hated it. "If you do that then I'll leave Jack at the hotel room and just visit by myself then leave as soon as I greet my new niece. I'm serious. Say no to whomever it is you're talking to."

"Okay, baby sis. Okay. I'll tell them they can't go. Have to go now. Bye."

She stared at her phone's screen for a few moments and left her office.

Chapter Text

Zoe Andersen

She noticed a man in the doorway and stood up as the new detective assigned to her division finally reported in.

"Captain Andersen." The detective held a hand for her to shake. She shook his hand and offered him a seat.

"Detective Armstrong, glad to have you on board." She closed the folder containing the file she had been reading. Nick Armstrong's file.

He was a night general, an unofficial term for detectives who handled nearly everything at night when the regular working hours were over. And he worked on that post for over ten years, in one of the most dangerous divisions in Los Angeles, the 77th. He had seen it all.

"What made you ask for a transfer to Mid-Wilshire?" She asked. She didn't have time for pleasantries.

"I got burned out in the 77th. I figured Mid-Wilshire might be a good place to ease up a bit, and get some balance." Armstrong answered, not bothered by her question. It was a respectable reason, and she was glad that a man of Armstrong's experience would be invaluable to her officers.

"Please tell me if you need anything at all to help with your transition here." She replied.

"I could use a tour guide to show me around, preferably one from patrol." Armstrong asked.

It was not a bad idea, and she remembered one of her rookies was still waiting for his new T.O. I'll have one assigned to you, Officer John Nolan. I'll have him join you after roll call."

"Excellent." Armstrong seemed like he was very eager to be here. "I also brought a bunch of donuts and I left them in the break room. Do you mind if I make an announcement with Sergeant Grey?"

"Be my guest. It's a good way to introduce you to patrol." She was sure her officers would appreciate the snacks, but he had a long way to go to endear himself to her patrol force, 10-year veteran or not. They do everything by the book in Mid-Wilshire, she made sure of that.

She watched him in roll call as he made a speech about how real police work is done by patrol. It could use less butter, but his speech about cooperation and trust was reassuring and she could see how he genuinely wanted to help with the cases.

"Be safe out there." Grey told them and ended the briefing.

"Bradford." She called the senior T.O. just as he was about to leave the room with his rookie.

"Here, Chief Williams added another book to your Sergeant's exam." She handed him an old, worn book.

"Split Second Leadership, leading men in the line of duty." Bradford read the title out loud. "This is from the sixties. What's this got to do with twenty-first century policing?"

She asked the same question, but Chief Williams felt like he needed to retain some of the old leadership style, and the old man was always fond of military veterans since he was one himself. She knew he had been keeping an eye on Bradford, as he was one of the few officers in her division he asked the status for personally during high-level meetings.

 She remembered the delight on the chief's face when he heard about Bradford's decision to finally take up the sergeant's exam and told her to give Bradford the book.

"Ours is not to ask the reason why." Grey stated. She was sure that he must have read that as well when he studied for his own sergeant's exam. "Read the book."

"Yes sir."

She went back to her office, as it was about time for another meeting.

Nyla Harper had arrived.

Jack Routh

"How are your students?"

Angela was very interested in his 'side gig' as she liked to call it. She admitted that she found Friday patrol to be dull and boring, since she patrolled alone. He missed riding with her too.

"It's only been one class." He told her. "So far, they've been very attentive when I gave my first lecture. Since they were well-behaved, I decided to skip the assignment for the day."

"I bet you'll be an instant favorite there." Angela mused. "Are you planning to assign them to group projects?"

"Yes, it's required by the history department." He answered. "Personally, I prefer individual projects. But I have to follow the course sylla…." Their chat was interrupted when they received a call from Shaw Memorial. It seemed like they needed help from a violent patient and were asking nearby units for assistance.

He pressed the accelerator and their shop rushed to the hospital, and he rushed inside to see the emergency room was crowded with medical staff. A nurse saw him and Angela and immediately reported the situation.

"Just came in from a 5150 hold." The nurse reported. That meant an involuntary mental health hold, and they and medical professionals could detain an individual for up to 72 hours if they were deemed a danger to themselves and the public.

He heard furniture breaking and screams and pushed his way past the crowd of onlookers.

"He got loose, he's high on something." The nurse looked worried.

He turned to the corner just in time to see a large obese man wearing nothing but a kilt taking out two guards. The suspect let out a bellow and head-butted another security guard and tossed him across the hallway. The suspect was shirtless, and he noticed he was sweating heavily, a usual sign of a meth user or other illegal substances.

"Whoa." Angela looked surprised at the scene. The suspect then noticed them and charged at Angela. His former T.O. deployed her taser, but the suspect shrugged it and he stepped forward and tackled him and both of them fell to the ground.

The man was heavy and Angela tried to tase him again, but he took out her legs with a swing of his arm and she joined him on the floor as she fell on her back.

They wrestled on the ground, trying to overpower each other and gain better leverage. They rolled down the floor, and he mostly avoided the elbows and fists thrown at him.

He was finally able to push the man off him and immediately created distance between him and the larger man. Angela had rolled to the side, giving him the space to take down his target. As the suspect charged once more, bellowing in rage, his right hand shot out with his palm facing outward and hit the suspect's throat. The suspect immediately started choking as he struggled to breathe, and he kicked the man's knee while he was distracted.

The suspect fell to the ground and hit his head on the floor, knocking him out.

"What are you doing?" He heard an angry female voice behind him. He ignored the woman and started to secure the suspect with his handcuffs.

"There's no need for that!" He finally looked up to see a familiar face, Doctor Grace Sawyer.

"You didn't have to hit him that hard." She continued scolding him as she checked for the suspect's breathing. "You could have seriously injured him!"

"Doctor, the suspect's a 5510, and he clearly had something to make him rage out like a hulk." Angela answered. "What Officer Routh did is considered an appropriate use of force. He was just shrugging off the taser like it was just tickling him."

"Routh?" Dr. Sawyer stared at him for a moment then at Angela and he saw her features softened from the angry look she had earlier. "I remember the two of you."

"Yes, from the earthquake." He replied.

"Grace?"

"John?"

He saw Nolan in front of the crowd of spectators along with the new detective assigned to the station.

It turned out that Dr. Sawyer knew Nolan, with how they knew each other's names.

"We need to get him to a gurney." Dr. Sawyer focused back on the suspect. A nurse wheeled one beside the unconscious suspect, and with the help of four other men including Nolan and Armstrong, they lifted the large man to the mobile bed.

 "How much do you think he weighed?" Angela asked.

"400 plus pounds, easy." Detective Armstrong answered.

He took a quick shower when they returned to the station to submit their report. The large man's sweat smelled repulsive and he had it all over his uniform after their tumble on the floor. Angela explained that was the side effect of using meth.

"That was a classic example of why I insisted you bring a spare uniform when you changed to short sleeves." Angela told him. She decided she wanted a shower too and they walked together to the lockers after their quick lunch. "I wouldn't have allowed you inside my shop if you still smelled like a skunk."

Feeling refreshed and smelling clean after his shower, he was about to head back to the shop when he heard a scream coming in from the front desk. He wasn't the only one who heard the sound, as he and other officers rushed to the front desk to see one of their female officers staring at a brown package on one of the chairs for visitors. Other civilians were standing back, maintaining their distance from the object.

The package was small, and it was wrapped in brown paper and tied with a black bow. There was also blood dripping down the chair's white surface and to the marble floor from the brown package.

"What is it?" Zoe came in, followed quickly by Grey.

"One of the visitors noticed the package." The female officer reported. "She screamed when she saw it was dripping blood on the floor."

"Secure the area." Zoe ordered, "Check the CCTVs and interview anyone who could have seen the person that dropped this off.

It was forensics investigators that opened the package five minutes later. The reception area had been cordoned off, and the station was in lockdown. He narrowed his eyes when he saw the human heart inside. Strange.

It took two hours for the results from forensics to come back. The news was not good. The FBI had been called in due to the nature of the case and their field team immediately arrived to take the lead with the investigation.

Something was nagging him when he saw the perfectly cut human heart, so he made his way to the briefing room to listen in to the briefing. He wasn't the only one, Angela was there along with detectives from Homicide.

 "So it's a female heart, 25 to 30 years old." Zoe read the report from the FBI forensic report to the gathered officers and detectives while the FBI agents sat to the side. "According to the report, the heart was removed while the victim was still alive, three to five days ago. No DNA or fingerprints were found on the paper wrapper or the ribbon. The forensics team noted that the heart was cut by an expert, using a very sharp implement like a scalpel."

Special Agent Garza stood up and took a closer look at the pictures. "I think this is a serial killer, Captain. You were right to call us in."

"What makes you say that?" Grey asked.

"Why send it to the cops?" Garza pointed at the picture of the package. "He wants to impress, like a child crying for attention."

They ran a search for missing women with the parameters from the victim. He admired the mobile equipment the FBI had at their disposal, their equipment were connected to several databases. They used their own specialized software, and he was amazed at the speed they could isolate information and pull up records.

He watched as their computer specialist ran a search for reports of missing women aged 25 to 30 and was surprised when he saw a familiar face.

"That's Betty Price."

"You know her?" Garza asked. He saw Zoe look at him with a raised eyebrow. 

"She's in the class I teach in the community college." He answered.

"She was arrested for solicitation six months ago. Her prostitute name was Mary Kelly." The FBI analyst behind the computer read her information. He didn't realize Betty was a prostitute. He sincerely hoped she wasn't the missing victim but the clues made sense.

"Strange. That can't be a coincidence." He looked at the picture of the human heart and Betty's prostitute name, as new memories from Lucy Worsley flashed in his mind.

"What's a coincidence?" Zoe asked.

"Jack the Ripper's last victim was also called Mary Kelly, in 1888. Her heart was cut out from her body." He shared.

"So you think it's a copycat serial killer?" Garza asked him and he saw how grim the special agent now looked.

"It's possible, but we can't be sure until we find the body and compare the injuries to the body from the records." He explained. "The attack on Mary Kelly was the most brutal one yet compared to the other victims of the Ripper. It was also his last murder before he vanished without a trace."

Special Agent Garza nodded at the information he shared and watched as the man briefly spoke to his team. They finished quickly and Garza walked back to Zoe.

 "Captain Andersen, I'd like to take Officer Routh with me when we investigate this case." Special Agent Garza requested.

"Go ahead." Zoe nodded. "Keep me updated on your findings."

"Thank you, Captain." Garza smiled for the first time since he arrived. "Shall we, Officer Routh?"

It was a new experience riding with an FBI field team. They were all more relaxed and casual than he expected.

"Officer Routh?"

He turned to the woman beside him, he recognized her when he caught the serial killer in the hospital a few months back. "Yes, Special Agent Stensen?"

He noticed the look of surprise from the blonde agent's face. "You remember me?"

"Yes, on the capture of that previously unknown serial killer." He replied.

"I watched your chase scene with the suspect from the hospital CCTV." Stenson admitted. "That was quite a show."

The rest of the field team then introduced themselves, and included their specializations.

 They followed up on a lead, where prostitutes like Betty used boutique hotels whenever they were with their clients. Records indicated Betty was last seen in this hotel and when they arrived they started asking the doorman questions.

The doorman initially denied knowing Betty, but he finally admitted to knowing her when Garza brought out his badge and told him she was missing. The doorman confirmed that he had seen Betty leave the hotel five days ago, and got worried when he didn't receive her text to reserve another room that he usually receive at midnight last night.

"That morning." Jack interrupted the doorman.

"Sir?"

"That night means she left at 11:59, when it reached 12, and then it's that morning." He explained. "In an investigation, details matter."

"Uhh right." The doorman continued his statement. "I saw Ms. Kelly leave five days ago that morning. I asked her if she wanted me to call a cab for her, but she said she would find one on her own."

"What direction did she walk to?" He asked, looking around.

"That way sir."

He immediately set off and crossed the street, following the direction the man pointed at. He noted a good spot for observation and started walking to that area to test his theory.

"Routh? Where are you going?" Agent Laura Stensen asked. She started following him, followed by the rest of the field team but he ignored them for the moment and continued his pace until he reached what he thought was a suitable hiding spot.

"If my theory is correct, the killer would have targeted her and knew her schedule." He explained and stood behind a dumpster. "This spot would give a perfect vantage point to look at the hotel without being seen. And with the absence of streetlamps in the area, the killer would be hidden in the shadows."

"You're right." Stensen took his spot and looked back to the hotel.

"There were no reports of suspicious activity, so the killer must have got her out fast." Another FBI agent who introduced himself as Brendon Acres suggested.

"No, he remained here. Otherwise, someone might have seen him." He looked around and noticed a wide metal door behind the hidden vantage point. It was rusty, covered in posters and it smelled of piss, but with one push, the door opened easily. He looked around the dimly lit room and walked inside.

The other agents immediately pulled out their weapons and flashlights and they entered the empty warehouse after him.

Agent Acres pulled aside the sheets of plastic that hung from the ceiling, immediately revealing Betty Price's body.

He clenched his fists, seeing the blank expression on his former student's face. She was very eager to ask questions during his lecture, and seemed genuinely interested in the subject. She told him she wanted to work in a museum. That was all gone now.

He was more determined now to catch her killer.

"Damn." He heard Garza let out a curse.

As he suspected, the body was mutilated in a way that matched the records from the newspapers in London during the 1800s.

"It's a match." He told the FBI field team. "The killer studied extensively Jack the Ripper's cases. Whoever did this recreated the murder to the very last detail."

Investigators arrived 30 minutes later and started recording evidence. Lopez also appeared and told him she was responsible for maintaining the perimeter with a few other units. There were a good number of reporters now outside, somehow having gotten wind of a copycat serial killer. The press always loved sensationalizing news to gain more viewers, similar to what had happened with the original Jack the Ripper case.

"Sir, I found something stuck in her ribs. Take a look at this." One of the investigators pulled out a thin blade from Betty's corpse. It appeared to have broken as only a part of the blade had remained.

"He even used an authentic Liston Knife." He leaned closer and shined his own flashlight at the thin piece of metal. Immediately the rest of the field team turned to him for an explanation.

"It's a surgical tool used in the 1800s when there were no anaesthetics , where speed is the determining factor for safety in a surgical amputation." He explained. "It's named for the Scottish surgeon, Robert Liston, a renowned surgeon noted for his speed and skill in surgeries."

"You really know your history." Garza commented. "Is this Liston knife easily sourced today?"

"I doubt it, they are known for being very brittle so very few pieces survived. That's the price for its razor-like sharpness. Less than a hundred are probably in the country right now and you can only get them from antique dealers or other private collectors."

"That narrows it down." Agent Stensen replied. "Well get a list prepared."

Matthew Garza

Those fools from the Department of Homeland Security were wrong in their analysis. Jack Routh was better suited for the Bureau. His analytical mind and encyclopedic knowledge of obscure historical facts were making their work easier by an order of a magnitude.

Aside from Agent Stensen, he noticed the doubt in the faces of the rest of the field team when he first invited Jack to join their investigation. Those faces full of skepticism vanished once the P2 Patrol Officer from Mid-Wilshire started speaking and shared his knowledge combined with his analytical mind.

The timeline for catching this copycat serial killer could be done in just a week at this rate, a new record for their field team. As agent Acres and his niece, Agent Flores looked up the antique stores that could have sold the rare Liston knife, he watched as Jack Routh continued to walk around the perimeter, his eyes analyzing everything he saw.

Because he was watching Routh at that exact moment, he was able to see the police officer abruptly stop and turn around. He followed the younger man's gaze and saw a drain grate embedded on the floor, several feet away from the perimeter of the crime scene.

He immediately hurried to Routh as the officer kneeled down on the floor, and with a gloved hand, carefully pried the metal grate out of the ground.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Take a look." Routh shined a flashlight in the drain.

"That's… a Black Dahlia." He whispered. He immediately called on the investigators to secure this scene as well. The flower was carefully lifted from the drain, but there weren't any other clues left by their copycat killer.

"We know who the killer will copy next." He stated. The Black Dahlia case was a permanent black record for the LAPD. The murder of an aspiring actress, the gruesome way her body was mutilated, and the letters he sent to the media made a mockery of the LAPD.

"The problem is, we don't have any leads aside from the Liston knife" Agent Brendon Acres commented.

"Officer Routh?" Agent Stenson called out.

Routh had made his way back to the body of his student, observing her wrist closely.

"What is it?" He couldn't help but ask.

"The wound on her wrist." Routh shined his flashlight on the area he indicated. "It's in the shape of a star. The Manchester Herald falsely reported the shape of the wound, when in reality it was a semi-circle. I read the reports of the original investigator."

"So the killer must have read the newspapers online and used it as a guide to copy Jack the Ripper." Agent Stenson theorized.

"Unlikely, the Manchester Herald folded in 1889." Routh replied. Damn, he was making his experienced field agents look like trainees.

"The only place we can find a copy, is the public library, and with that, a possible name." Routh added. He stood up, not noticing all the eyes staring at him with awe. Even the forensics team stopped their documentation process just to listen to him. "Shall we?"

Twenty minutes later, they were searching the logbooks of those who checked out the papers.

"Here." Agent Acres pointed at a handwritten name. "Manchester Herald 1889, borrowed a month ago by Freddie Abberline. We got a name!"

"It's a fake name." Routh replied. "Frederick Abberline was the chief inspector of the Jack the Ripper murders."

"I knew it was too good to be true." Acres sighed.

"But, this name looks eerily similar in penmanship." Routh pointed to the handwritten name near the bottom of the logbook.

"Jay Elroy. He took out a copy of the 1947 Los Angeles Times." Agent Stensen read the information. "And he just borrowed it today."

"That means the killer could still be here." He added. They started looking at the few people in the library. Most of them were ignoring their presence, while a thin, pale man was looking at them nervously.

The moment his agents approached the man, he immediately ran.

"FBI! Stop!" Agent Acres ran after the suspect, while the rest of the team tried to circle around him to cut him off. Agent Stensen managed to tackle the man near the stairs, causing his bag to spill out its contents on the floor.

Pens, notebooks and a bone saw spilled out.

"Care to explain?" Agent Acres asked the man as he started to secure him in cuffs.

"Let me go!" The suspect demanded.

They arrived at Mid-Wilshire Station where they interrogated the suspect, Jay Elroy. He invited Routh to join Agent Stensen and Agent Acres to join in the interrogation. He remained on the other side of the one-way mirror, along with Captain Andersen and Sergeant Grey.

"How's Routh?" Grey asked. "Was he useful in your team?"

"He made my team look like trainees." Garza sighed. "That man belongs in the FBI."

"What happened?" Andersen asked.

"Your fiancé used his expertise in ancient and modern history to track down the clues." He replied. "He has a sharp and analytical mind, perfect for the bureau."

"You have to convince him." Grey replied, giving a quick glance to his captain. "I think Metro is preparing a place for him already once he earns enough experience as a P2."

"I'll make a better offer." He replied. If Routh wanted action, the FBI has their own SWAT unit, and its elite Hostage Recovery Team that often participated in overseas missions alongside JSOC units.

The investigation did not turn out the way they had planned. The man they caught was an author of comics, glorifying the murders and the serial killers. Jay Elroy claimed that the bone saw in his bag gave him inspiration for his creative work, and even showed a copy of his work.

He watched through the mirror as Routh and his two agents poured over the thick comic book.

"This is incredibly detailed." Routh commented as he flipped through the comic book one page at a time. "It's practically a visual step-by-step guide on how to recreate the Jack the Ripper murders."

"Thank you." Elroy replied, looking happy. The man was a disturbing individual to actually revel in death and murder.

"That means the real killer is one of your readers." Agent Stensen added.

 "Wait, there is really a serial killer out there…. Doing murders based on my comic books?" Elroy asked. "Oh wow…"

"Wow?" Stensen asked. "You seemed to be happy people are murdered."

"Oh, I feel sorry for the victims of course." Elroy replied, but everyone could tell he was lying. "But the publicity…. I'll receive for this… wow."

The next day, they received a call. A body had been discovered in a nearby park close to where the body of Betty Price was found. They rushed to the scene, and he had once again asked Captain Andersen to borrow her officer to assist in the investigation. Andersen had agreed, and informed them that Jack Routh would head straight to their location instead of the station.

They had been drinking coffee as they waited for the forensics to secure the scene, when a large black and grey bike arrived. The rider parked his bike beside their vehicle and he spotted Routh once he removed his helmet.

"Thank you for coming so quickly Officer Routh." He gave a fresh cup of coffee to their guest, who accepted it quickly.

"Thank you." Routh replied. "Now I'm fully awake."

"Then let's go." He ordered his team.

It was as they feared, and they found the body of a woman who was mutilated in a way that mimicked the murder of Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia. Her body was nearly chopped in half, drained of blood and her intestines taken out and placed under her. Even he had the urge to throw up.

"What's that smell?" He asked.

"Gasoline." Routh replied. "The original killer used gasoline to cover up his fingerprints and any traces."

Their forensics had discovered large footprints in the direction of where the woman was found.

Agent Stensen had noted that this set of footprints went deeper into the mud, indicating they were carrying additional weight with them. They had also discovered a piece of nylon stuffed inside the victim's mouth.

"The Boston Strangler." Routh spoke after he saw the material. That means the killer will copy the famous murderer on the East Coast, where he strangled his victims using pantyhoses.

Having not found any other clues, they reconvened back in the station to utilize more of their resources and follow up on their leads.

"I found a name!" Agent Acres called through the phone and had spent the afternoon canvassing the various antique shops. They finally found a shop that sold its only stock, and found a name. They traced the accounts and found that this person has also purchased the comics of Jay Elroy.

Captain Andersen mobilized all available units to the address, and their field team followed the convoy of police vehicles. They had caught the killer by surprise. He had just captured his victim and was taking a shower to get rid of any evidence while his wife and son were away visiting relatives in Florida.

He had expected a lengthy investigation as more bodies were discovered, but this time…. This time they had stopped the killer before he went on a killing spree. All thanks to one cop with a love of history.

"So… we're recruiting him right?" Brendon Acres asked when they left Mid-Wilshire.

"Of course." Laura Stensen replied. "He's too invaluable to remain as a simple patrol cop. That's two serial killers he's managed to help catch."

He ignored his team, as he continued to type on his phone to the FBI Director of what needed to be done to recruit Jack Routh to the bureau.

Jack Routh

He watched the funeral service from a distance.

He recognized a few of the students who attended his class, and he wondered how he would tell them on Friday about their now dead classmate. Strange. He didn't feel guilty, he was satisfied that he had caught Betty's killer, and they had saved another innocent woman from a terrible fate. That was the important thing right now.

As Betty Price's casket was lowered to the ground, he turned around and headed to the car waiting for him.

"Thank you." He told his fiancé.

"You shouldn't thank me for this." Zoe replied and turned the ignition. They drove off and he remained silent while they continued towards Mid-Wilshire, still thinking of the Betty White and how eager she was on the first day of class. He wanted something to do to release this tension.

"Hey, Zoe?"

"Yeah?"

"How good of a shot are you? You were in the Marines right?" He asked.

"I can hold on my own." His fiancé replied with a small smile. "What do you have in mind?"

"Do you know any rifle ranges around here?" He asked. Jack Reacher always enjoyed shooting at rifles at gun ranges to unwind. "I want to get some practice."

"I didn't know you could shoot rifles." Zoe commented.

"It was a long time ago." He replied. "So do you know a place?"

Zoe unexpectedly smiled as she looked at him. "Then you're in luck, because I know a guy."

They drove for half an hour until they reached a rifle range. There was only one other parked vehicle in the parking lot, a pick-up truck.

 "Zoe!" An older man called out from behind the counter.

"Martin!" Zoe greeted back and leaned across the display cases to hug the older man.

"Jack, this is Sergeant Martin of the United States Marine Corps, retired." Zoe introduced him. "John, this is my fiance, Jack Routh."

"Finally got yourself a proper man to tie you down?" John Martin asked Zoe.

"Good to meet you, sir." He shook hands with the older man.

"We're here to blow off some steam. Jack just closed a difficult case." Zoe explained.

"You a cop, son?" Martin asked.

"Yes sir, and Zoe's my Captain." He replied.

Martin helped them set up, and loaned them a Remington 700.

"What range do you want?" Martin asked as he brought out two cardboard targets.

"300." He replied. "I'll clip them."

He walked down the range, feeling the wind across his body. It took a few minutes and he clipped on the targets at the metal frames. He took a deep breath and started walking back, eager to test his skills.

"Ready?" Zoe asked. He nodded and aligned his body with the rifle and looked through the scope. He opened the bolt, pulled and loaded a single cartridge on the magazine and pushed the bolt back.

He looked back at the target through the scope, exhaled and gently squeezed the trigger.

"Six inches to the left." Martin, acting as spotter called out. He reloaded his weapon without looking away from the target and pushed back the bolt. After he dialed his scope to adjust, he exhaled once more and pressed the trigger.

"Hit!" Martin called out.

He kept repeating his ritual until he fired five shots. Three were on the black.

"Not bad." Martin said to him and handed him a pair of binoculars.

Zoe looked determined and she replaced him on the ground. He took a moment to admire the view of his fiancé in jeans and then arranged her cartridges beside her while picking up his brass.

Zoe fired, and her aim was off by two inches to the left, and three inches high. She adjusted her scope, reloaded her weapon, and fired.

"Hit!" Martin called out. He repeated the same word another three times. Zoe was dialed in.

He was amazed. He didn't realize she was that good.

"I surprised you huh?" Zoe stood up and dusted off her jeans.

"You're very good." He told her.

"She should be. She's the first woman that finished the marine sniper course." Martin stated. "You still got it, Zoe."

"I was more surprised at you, Jack." Zoe looked him up and down. You're already there. You just need to take your time with every shot."

"I thought you went with the military police officer route?" He asked.

"That was after I graduated from the marine sniper course. Some old fossils couldn't stand a woman passing a man's course, and they thought they lowered the standards for me to pass."

"Idiots." Martin snorted. "I was one of the instructors on the course. Zoe not only had to train as hard as the rest of the boys, but she had to deal with unwanted attention."

"So I left, and became a military police officer. I even arrested one of those fossils a few years later. So up for a few more rounds? Loser buys dinner?" Zoe challenged him.

"You're on."

"Of course loser has to treat Martin too. He's coming to dinner with us." He should have known by the confident gleam in Zoe's eyes that he already lost before he even fired his first shot.

They enjoyed a nice steak dinner at a diner a few miles down the road with Martin, with the old sergeant sharing stories about Zoe when he was still active. Seeing how relaxed and happy Zoe was, he decided to make this into a regular date for them.

Monday began in a strange fashion. Nolan and Angela were chased by bees on a routine traffic stop, and the dash cam footage was shown on TV courtesy of Sergeant Grey. On Tuesday morning, he got a call from Angela asking for help, her car won't start. He picked her up with his bike, and he could hear her screaming in delight at their ride to work.

Grey had assigned him to the front desk for his first shift since it was his turn, and had Nolan patrol with Angela.

It was fairly boring work, as he continued to answer visitors questions throughout the morning. He overheard Lucy trying to setup Bradford for a date, and if it worked out she could wear a short-sleeved uniform.

He had to admire her determination and her courage because if the date didn't work out, she had to do 50 pushups after every call they take until she finished probation. And he was pretty sure Tim Bradford would make sure her punishment would be carried out.

After his break, he was called in by the Captain and Grey.

"You called for me Captain?"

"Officer Routh, I need you to head straight to Shaw Memorial. Lopez just reported that they're assisting in a case with DHS, and she needs an extra pair of eyes to guard a valuable undercover DHS agent before their agents can get to the scene." Zoe stated. "Be careful with this one Jack."

"Yes captain." He gave Zoe a firm nod and quickly left the office.

He arrived at the hospital in his shop and immediately proceeded to the floor where Angela and Nolan were standing guard. He saw her former T.O. looking visibly relieved when she saw him.

"Good work getting here quickly Jack." Angela looked worried. "I had to call for backup once Russo told me how valuable our UC was."

"I should be the one to thank you. I had to answer the same question at least fifty times today at the front desk." He answered, earning a smile from his former T.O. Where do you want me?"

"Nolan's in the Mejia's room, so I want you to stand guard outside the door and watch the other end of the hallway. I'll watch this end."

"Got it." He slipped inside the room first to check in with Nolan. He took out the chart for the patient and scanned his schedule. Dr. Sawyer had signed off on it, and they just needed him to recover since he was in a stable condition.

Satisfied with the schedule, he went to stand on his assigned post and then maintained his surveillance. If DHS was involved, then the criminal organization that's after Mejia were heavy hitters.

A nurse in maroon scrubs came down from his end of the hallway, and he gave her a cursory glance and noted the ids she had and stepped aside. She smiled at him and entered the Mejia's room. He looked back when Nolan pushed the door open, helping the nurse push the patient out of the room.

"Where's he going?" He asked.

"He's getting transferred to the ICU." Nolan explained.

He watched the nurse who just smiled politely, waiting for him to step aside. Something didn't feel right.

"The chart didn't schedule one." He pointed out and put a hand on the hospital bed and pushed it back.

"It changed." The nurse sighed in irritation. 

"Show me the paperwork then." He challenged her. The nurse suddenly tried to run, but he grabbed her by her ponytail and yanked her back. She fell to the floor and he immediately pulled out his weapon and pointed it at her.

"Police! Hands in the air! Now!" He ordered.

The nurse cursed as she raised her hand while she was kneeling on the floor.

"Nolan, put him back in the room and remain on alert. And call for backup." He told his fellow rookie.

He slowly approached the kneeling woman and pulled her hands together and secured her in cuffs. He then checked her for weapons as Lopez came running in from the other side of the hallway, with Dr. Sawyer right behind her.

"What happened?" Lopez asked, and he saw her put her hand on he weapon.

He pulled out a handgun from the woman's waist, along with a dagger.

"Fake Nurse." He reported. "She was trying to get him to ICU."

"She must have an accomplice." Lopez realized and he turned to Dr. Sawyer who looked shocked at what happened. "We need to lock down the hospital now, all exits. She's not working alone."

Dr. Sawyer nodded and ran to the duty station.

DHS agents finally arrived on the scene with Russo, and they joined the sweep. They found the nurses' accomplice hiding in the morgue.

John Nolan

He knew it was coming. Lopez is a friendly TO, until you screw up. Then she would turn into a raging volcano.

"Get back to the station Jack. We'll handle the rest." Lopez smiled at her former rookie. "Go on. Get!"

"Yes ma'am!" Jack gave polite nods to Jessica, the DHS agents and Grace before he left.

"Boot, with me." Lopez headed to an empty part of the hallway. At least she had the decency not to embarrass him in front of others.

"There's a reason why Routh got promoted ahead of his probation period. You think just because he's sleeping with the captain that he reached P2?" Lopez wheeled around and faced him. "What were you thinking?"

"I.. I didn't." He admitted.

"Are you distracted by your DHS girlfriend, your ex that's a doctor, or the pretty fake nurse that managed to fool you?" Lopez asked. "Which is it?"

"I have no excuse."

"Why didn't you check the schedule on the bed?" She asked.

"I… Mejia woke up… so I thought…" He took a deep breath, unable to continue speaking. He nearly screwed up.

"So you lost your focus." Lopez finished for him.

"It's a good thing I called Routh." Lopez started walking back to the main area. "I can't trust a cop who gets distracted easily. I washed out Jackson because he froze up whenever bullets started flying. Don't think you're safe because you're a few months away from finishing your probation."

The ride back to the station remained in awkward silence. He tried to engage her in conversation when she interrupted him again.

"Routh also so knew when to keep his mouth shut when I'm pissed." Lopez stated.

Message Received. He received a less harsh dressing down from Grey, though the Captain was sympathetic to him and just reminded him to always have the presence of mind and be aware of his surroundings.

He reached his newly bought house that he had been ripping the interior for the past two weeks and stepped inside. He heard a knock on the door and opened it to see Jessica with their dinner.

"How bad was it?" She asked.

"What?"

"Lopez. She looked like she was barely keeping it in when you two went for a… talk." Jessica replied.

Oh, it was that obvious? Lopez did look like a rumbling volcano when mad.

"Tell me the truth, how badly did I screw up?" He asked.

"Not too bad, Mejia was able to give us the passwords, and we retrieved $22 million dollars from the arms dealer." Jessica reported. "Good thing you had a reliable backup."

"Well yeah, he left me in the dust by this point." He admitted.

"John you don't have to always compare yourself to him." Jessica hugged him from behind. "You have your own strengths. Don't be someone you're not."

"Like a Navy Seal?" He knew he regretted saying it the moment the words left his mouth.

"What's that supposed to mean?" The warm body pressed to his back suddenly vanished.

"Look, I'm sorry. It's my own insecurities messing me up." He tried to reach for Jessica but she was already picking up her things.

"You better fix that then." She replied and then left the house.

Great. He needed something to vent out on. Good thing he has a whole house to demolish.

He picked up the hammer and started swinging.

Jack Routh

He was halfway through his lecture about the Abrahamic religions first to let his class understand the context behind the formation of Franks from the old Roman provinces in Gaul when his door opened once more. Another student was requesting to sit in. He nodded absently, his train of thought still on his lecture.

Technically there were no rules against other students sitting in, and it was at the sole discretion of the professor to allow them inside his classroom or not. Of course he allowed it, but now there were barely any seats left.

Next time he would lock the door when he started his lecture. The next person to enter he would ask to leave. As expected the door opened again.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you to sit in. You're already too late."

"But Professor, I just want to sit in."

He looked at the door and his eyes widened with surprise when he saw his former T.O., dressed in her patrol uniform standing by the door. His students were looking confused at the presence of a cop inside the classroom.

"It's alright, everyone, this is Officer Lopez, a friend of mine. Have a seat Officer Lopez, and please lock the door behind you."

"Yes Professor." Lopez winked at him and locked the door. His lecture finished, he started on the second part, where he used a more practical approach.

He allowed them to ask questions about his lecture, and used their questions to guide them to learn the answer together. It was more of a group exercise, as the students themselves came to answer their own questions in the end as he provided background context.

Once the round of questions was done, he decided to have some fun and decided to give the class a view of the life of high society. This technically wasn't part of the curriculum, but he was pretty sure they will enjoy it since majority of his class and students that sat in were women.

"Ms. Penny, can you step here in front of the class please? And can I borrow those two fans?" He asked the class. "We just have enough time for me to show you the secret language of fans in high society. This will help you communicate in a Georgian court if you do find yourselves in one."

Penny stood up, with the two fans with in her hand. He took one of the fans from her and instructed her to copy his movements.

"Why learn the secret language of fans?" He walked around the class. "It's because you don't need to nod or shake your head, that's old hat."

"To say yes, you tap your folded fan on your right cheek." He placed the fan on his cheek while smiling, which was copied by Penny who remained standing at the front of the class. "And to say no, it's your left. Simple right?" He repeated the movement, this time frowning as he tapped his left cheek. Giggles erupted from the class.

"Ms. Penny, do you like this lesson so far? You can't speak." He called out to his assistant.

Penny put her fan on her right cheek and smiled at him.

There was a round of laughter in class as they imitated what he just did, and started using the simple move with each other.

"Now the fan is a great way to break the ice at a party. To signal I wish to speak to you…" He stood a dozen paces away from Penny, spread the fan in front of him and tapped the very top of the fan with his finger.

"This is how you signal you're available for conversation, come and talk to me." He spread the fan again, this time holding it with his left hand, while he looked at Penny. "Notice I'm holding the fan in my left hand."

"And now this is the more flirty option, if you want to get to know somebody. This is the signal of hey I find you hot, or I desire your acquaintance." He spread the fan and covered his face, only his eyes were visible to Penny.

The class laughed once more.

"We're getting more intense now. This is how you say I love you." He folded the fan and caressed his right cheek with it in a slow movement all the way to his chin. He waited as Penny repeated the movement.

"Now, if you want more privacy this is the way to say follow me." He spread the fan with his right hand and walked away, using the fan to slightly beckon Penny to follow him which his student did.

"If you want to keep things platonic, and keep him in the friend zone, you drop the fan." He used the spread fan and lowered it from his face and lowered all the way until it was just held in his side.

"If you have a persistent and unwanted suitor, this is how to reject them gently." He spread the fan, copied by Penny and slowly fanned his chest. "It's a slow, bored waft."

 "This is a slightly harsher rejection and that you don't want to see them, you do this." He tapped his left ear with his fan. "That's get out of my face."

"If that doesn't work, then this is how to say to them I hate you." He made a ring with his left finger using his index finger and thumb and rand the folded fan through it. "That's the worst thing you can say to someone."

"Now how to say good bye?" He asked the class. "Simple, it involves wiggling your pinky." 

He spread his fan and stuck his pinky finger out and wiggled it slightly.

"Let's see a couple of paintings, and see what the women are saying with their fans."

He showed a sequence of slides of paintings, showing women with their fans in various poses. The class, with their new understanding, started to answer eagerly. The bell rang and he dismissed them for the day.

 "Have a good weekend." He called out as he handed back the fans and turned to Penny.

"Thank you for the help."

"Anytime professor! That was fun!" Penny smiled and left the room, until only Angela remained.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I was curious to see your classes so I finished my shift a little early to visit you." Angela answered. "That was amazing by the way. I wish I could sit in this class. Your students were really paying attention."

"Thanks."

"Is the food here any good?" She asked him as they left the classroom.

 "No, take me somewhere decent please." He replied.

Angela finally shared the reason she visited, aside from her curiosity about his new side gig. She needed advice since Wesley appeared reluctant to introduce her to his family and needed a man's perspective.

"So does he not want me to meet his mother?" She asked him over fries and burgers, his treat of course.

"No, he said yes to you going to his family function right? That slight reluctance from him is probably because for guys, meeting their mom means it's going to the next step. It's a reasonable reaction."

"You mean…" Angela's eyes widened at his implication.

"Yes, so don't overthink this Angela." He suggested. "Relax at this party and get to know his mom. This is a big step for guys. It's a commitment for them that this will be a long term relationship."

"But we never discussed marriage before."

"That will probably start to happen after you meet his family." He answered. He was glad he was able to ease the worries of his former T.O. and friend. They soon drifted to other topics, and Angela resumed patrol, after she dropped him off at the college for his afternoon class.

Saturday morning, after a passionate night with Zoe, he left to head to training range in Lakeshore. Hondo had sent word if he's interested in a unique poker game. With nothing else to do that morning, he accepted the invitation. He arrived at the address and realized it was a LAPD training facility used by metro.

"Glad you could come." Hondo was waiting for him with a few members of his squad. "We were short one man. How are you with rifles?"

"I can handle them fine although I thought we're playing poker, Sergeant?"

"We are, but it's not your usual poker." Hondo handed him a pair of binoculars. "Over there about 300 yards out are a set of deck cards. We each get five shots, best hand wins. You up for it Routh?"

"Hell yes Sergeant."

"Do you have experience with these before?" Jim Street, a member of Hondo's squad handed him a Remington 700 PSS. He got well with Street when he first him, with the officer giving him tips during the head to head exercise.

"I have shot a few rounds with this before." He smiled at the memory of Zoe kicking his ass.

"Good, we can head straight to the game then. $20 for a buy in for each round." Street led him to the rest of the squad.

He positioned himself beside Street and Chris, never call me Christina, Alonso. The only female member of the squad got called Christina by the rest of her squad for losing to him on their head-to-head exercise.

"Warm up! Shoot the Joker!" Hondo was their spotter today, and they started to adjust their weapons and shooting positions as they lay on the ground. They would be shooting in order, from Street, to him, then Chris and two other guys he had never met yet, named David and Victor.

"Hit! Street is coming in hot! Clipped the bottom edge." Hondo announced. Apparently he was also doing commentary as well.

 He looked for his target, and searched the deck for the joker. He aimed for the joker and pressed the trigger.

"Hit!" Hondo called out. "Just clipped the top. Routh has some game!"

He waited patiently for his turn and aimed for an Ace of Spades.

"Hit! Two of hearts for Routh!" There goes his strategy. He needed to calm down.

Despite losing $60 dollars after losing for a three rounds, he enjoyed the experience and asked Hondo when their next poker game was going to be held. He intended to bring Zoe so that they could win back the money he lost. He was sure Zoe would enjoy the time and practice her marksmanship skills.

Daniel Harrelson Jr. "Hondo"

He watched as Routh left the lot on his flashy bike and smiled. Routh didn't even realize how difficult the exercise had been. There was a reason only five of his squad participated in the exercise and he was able to keep playing with them for three rounds.

"You sure he's not special ops?" Jim Street asked.

"I checked his records. He is what he says he is." Hondo replied.

"So what's your plan? Grooming a recruit?"

"Something like that. I intend to show him the different exercises we do as an observer." He wondered if Routh would enjoy rappelling down helicopters.

"So when he finally arrives in metro, he already has the qualifications and training for D platoon?" Street smirked. "That's sneaky."

"That's how I operate." He said proudly. He wanted nothing but the best members in his squad.

Chapter Text

Episode 14

John Nolan

It had been a terrible week, and his mind messing with his feelings with Jessica and then meeting Grace caught him off guard. The timing couldn't be more worse, not that he regretted not seeing Grace again, but it made him lose his focus that he made a crucial mistake on the job.

He needed to be better.

The call came when he was fixing the mirror he got from a bargain sale on Sunday evening.

He answered it and placed it on speaker and went back to trying to slot the mirror in place. Where was that damn hole?

"Hello?" He called out.

"Officer Nolan, this is Detective Nyla Harper, I'm your new training officer."

"My.. great!" He was confused. "Did you say detective?"

"Yeah."

"Isn't that a little unusual for a detective to be my training officer?" He asked.

"I thought we should get a drink and size each other up a bit before shift tomorrow." The woman behind the call ignored him and continued speaking. "Meet me at Third Strike, twenty minutes."

Just great.

"Third strike, got it." He needed just a few more minutes to lock in the mirror. It was surprisingly heavy for its small size. "I'm going to need like thirty minutes."

"Be there in twenty, then I'm gone." The call ended.

Rude. Who does the T.O. think she is? He continued fixing the mirror. At this time he wouldn't be able to reach the bar in twenty.

Roll call came, and he appreciated Routh's insistence in seating beside him and Lucy, despite being a P2 now. He could patrol on his own, and earn the necessary qualifications for his career up the ladder. He had heard Routh was spending time after shifts earning his certifications in higher caliber weapons. He guessed Routh finally took the metro path.

"Before we begin, we have a new training officer joining us this morning." The captain stated. She looked confused and looked around, and then saw her eyes narrow as she pursed her lips. She gave a glance at Grey who nodded and headed to the glass wall that separated the tables for detectives and the briefing room.

He watched as a pretty black woman in a patrol uniform was casually sitting at a table speaking with another detective.

The woman looked up from the knock and saw Grey was beckoning her inside. She went inside the briefing room, looking confused.

"What's up?"

"You're late for roll call." Grey replied, looking unimpressed with the new T.O.

"Oh, that's still a thing?" The woman that he now guessed to be his new T.O. asked. "Oops."

"It is when you applied for the role of training officer." The captain responded. She did not look happy. "I'm starting to now doubt your intentions to become a training officer. I can clearly see you're not taking this seriously."

Zoe Andersen radiated determination, and her sheer presence was captivating. He now understood why so many detectives and senior officers found their Captain attractive. Damn, Jack was a lucky guy. He saw the admiring gaze his fellow rookie gave to his fiancé.

"Captain…" He could see how Harper had forgotten the captain was inside the briefing room. He could understand her, as he heard that it was rare for captains to join in the roll call unless it was to give an announcement. Zoe Andersen was different.

"Don't think just because you have a golden ticket that you think your position is safe. Did you take the Training Officer position because it pays higher?" The Captain continued. "The role of a training officer is a very important role."

The briefing room was totally silent, and he barely breathed, fearing that everyone could hear him. This was a verbal smackdown of epic proportions.

"Which is it?" The captain asked again. "You told me what I wanted to hear when you transferred here. Was it all a lie?"

Nyla Harper couldn't respond.

"Get out." The captain added. "See me in my office. You're not working patrol today until I can trust you."

"Nolan, patrol with Lopez." Captain Andersen ordered and left the briefing room.

"She really picked a bad time to show that attitude." Sergeant Grey shook his head. "You heard the captain, be safe out there."

"What was that all about?" He heard Lopez ask Bradford as they left the briefing room.

"She deserved it. Training new officers is a sacred duty." Bradford replied.

"Actually she called me last night." He told Lopez. "She wanted to meet me in a bar half an hour away in twenty minutes."

"Did you go?" Lopez asked.

"No. I don't know her, and she was demanding."

"Good." Lopez replied. "Let's make a good shift today boot."

"Yes, ma'am." That's one thing he liked about Lopez, she doesn't hold grudges. When a matter is over to her, it's over. He suddenly missed Talia.

Zoe Andersen

"Captain I'm sorry for this morning. It's just that I've been a detective for so long that…"

"Yet you gave that up to be a training officer." She replied. "Tell me the truth."

"My daughter." Nyla Harper looked to the side, avoiding her gaze. "I figured if I have regular working hours, the judge would grant me shared custody."

"I understand. You could have taken any assignment with better pay, and you chose one that could give you the time for your family. I admire that." She replied. "But is it fair to your rookie that you're just planning to half-ass his training with the attitude you showed this morning?"

"I'll let you out to patrol." She continued. "I'm assigning you a partner for today, a rookie who got promoted to P2."

"That stud sitting at the rookie table?" Harper asked.

She hid her smile, knowing how many women found her man attractive and so let the comment pass.

"Yes, that stud is Officer Jack Routh." She replied. "He's also got his golden ticket."

"Great, a warrior. Will that be all captain?"

"Yes. If you do well today, I'll put you back as a T.O., tomorrow with Nolan." She replied.

"Thank you, captain." Nyla Harper gave a quick nod and left her office.

She massaged her head in frustration and looked up when she heard a knock. Grey was standing there looking amused. "Have a seat."

"I'm glad I'm not the captain." Grey replied.

"Want to switch?" She asked. "I'm willing to jump back to patrol. Seriously."

"And I'll have to deal with the bureaucracy, budget hearings, and discipline officers?" Grey shook his head. "No, thank you."

"It had to be done, though." Grey stated as he sat on the couch. "Did you finally learn why she requested to be transferred here?"

"Her daughter." She replied. "She asked for a training officer position so that she could have regular hours and get shared custody. Unfortunately, she forgot that she has to be a role model to her rookie."

"She has to adapt quickly, and get rid of that mentality she did to survive for four years as a UC. It will only hurt her here."Grey replied. "What did you do to her?"

"I sent Routh to patrol with Harper." She replied. "If patrol goes well, I'll assign him to Nolan. He's the only one who can stand up to her. She would eat Chen alive."

"I'll keep an eye on her." Grey promised.

"Give Nolan a briefing too. He needs to know what to expect from her." She added.

"Yes, captain."

She focused on her paperwork and during the break she left for the bathroom before she could eat. Disappointment filled her once more as she saw the negative results in her pregnancy test kit. Her sex drive was still going strong, and she rarely left for work or meetings without her cunt full of Jack's cum. It had been nearly eight months since she became sexually active again, and she was even prepared to get pregnant when she first had sex with Jack.

She looked up a suitable doctor and called their clinic to set an appointment.

 She wanted to be a wife and a mother so that she would be secure with Jack.

Nyla Harper

She got chewed out, and she felt humbled when she realized how arrogant she was when she first entered the station wearing a uniform. She didn't like wearing it, and felt embarrassed being seen wearing the dark blue uniform. She was a detective, and detectives never wore uniforms. They were past that.

That attitude cost her and after some reflection while she waited at the captain's office. The dressing down she received will be talked about for weeks in the station, if she didn't get her act together and take the job seriously.

It was no wonder her rookie didn't show up last night.

She might have earned a golden ticket to any position she wanted, but that doesn't mean she couldn't get removed from it.

Her assigned partner for today remained silent as they continued their patrol. She silently observed him, curious what he did to receive the golden ticket.

She hated being asked that question, so she decided not to ask him. Their patrol was normal. Aside from a warning from Routh when he pulled over a driver that didn't fully stop at an intersection. That was good, that meant he already knew the difference between the letter and spirit of the law.

"Who was your T.O. before you got promoted?" She asked.

"Angela Lopez." He replied.

She remembered the feisty-looking Latina observing her when she entered the bullpen. "If you were promoted ahead of time, then that means you don't have a C.I. yet, am I right?"

"Yeah, but that's what I've been working on. Between getting certified for higher caliber weaponry."

"I see." They received a 211 call and she immediately responded to the radio.

Without another word, Routh increased their speed and a few minutes later arrived on the scene. She drew her weapon and decided to see what Routh was capable of and allowed him to be primary.

Her partner for today gave a few hand signals as he peeked inside the store. She immediately understood what he meant with his hand signals, and proceeded to the left once she entered the store while he went right.

She headed to the frozen food section, keeping her head lowered, intending to flank the suspect. Meanwhile, the cashier continued to sob as she grabbed fistfuls of money and stuffed them inside a plastic bag.

"Hurry bitch!" The suspect nudged the cashier with his gun, causing the woman to sob louder.

"Please don't shoot me, I'm doing what you asked!"

"Then go faster!" The suspect demanded.

She saw from her peripheral vision her partner taking his position. She looked at him and he gave a signal, and she nodded in understanding. He had a can of peaches in his left hand, and intended to distract the suspect.

Routh tossed the can to the middle aisle, causing it to bounce around, causing a racket. The robber immediately turned around with his gun pointed at the empty aisle.

"Police! Drop your weapon!" She called out.

 "Don't move or we will shoot!" Routh made his presence known. They had caught him at two angles where they could fire upon him without fear of hitting each other. The cashier had wisely ducked down below the table to keep safe.

"I said drop your weapon" Routh repeated. "You lost."

"Damn!" The robber cursed and dropped the gun on the floor. Almost as one, they moved at the same time, their weapons aimed at the suspect.

"Hands above your head." Routh ordered, kicking away the gun from the suspect. "Get down on the ground, slowly."

She was impressed. Routh didn't act like a rookie as they processed their robber. Even his written report was good, he added the necessary details without making it too tedious to read.
Unfortunately, he disappeared on his lunch break. She had been looking for him since she expected to be treated to lunch. Then she remembered he wasn't her boot. Pity.

Her job as a T.O. would have been a breeze if Routh was her boot, she would be able to focus more time with her daughter instead of worrying if her boot got her back.

She was eating alone in the food trucks near the station when she saw him walking back, with the Captain by his side. She was laughing as she looked up at him while he gave her a fond smile.

Her eyes widened in shock.

She looked around and noticed no one was giving them second looks. She was pretty sure there was a rule against forming relationships with a commanding officer. Could she report her? Get the captain off her back?

As she disposed of her trash, she saw a face she had been staring at since she started today's shift. The magazines sold by the food truck had her temporary partner on the cover, looking dashing in a police uniform. She shifted a few magazines covering the other half and her eyes widened in surprise.

"What the.."

 She had been in undercover assignments for so long that she had not even heard about this. Routh was on the cover of People magazine, and standing by his side with her arm around his shoulder was Captain Zoe Andersen looking like a million bucks like she came from the runway.

[Police Romance]

[The Captain and the Rookie]

"Are you buying that?" The food truck owner asked.

"Yeah." She replied as she handed out a crisp twenty. Once she received her change, she decided thethat she would spend the rest of her break reading this issue.

She learned a lot. Apparently, she had been sitting beside a celebrity cop. A quick internet search of his name showed his picture carrying Taylor Swift in his arms, as he saved her from a kidnapping.

On his first day at Mid-Wilshire, he shot a gunrunner who had been firing on them and hit him on the head. The bullet exited the man's head and also hit the passenger as well. That rumor had even reached her down in Mexico, and it was only now that she realized Routh was that rookie.

And also, he was engaged to the Captain. It was no wonder Andersen had assigned him as her partner, a poor showing from her and it would instantly reach the Captain's ears. Their age gap intrigued her, but they certainly looked good together.

Their second shift ended and she was finally able to relax. It looks like she had passed, and would resume being a T.O. tomorrow. However she needed to order more police uniforms and went to the website to make her order for pants, upper uniform, polo shirts, and jackets. She was only mildly surprised to see the power couple, modeling both men's and women's clothing on the website.

She didn't realize the captain had legs like that as she ordered shorts and exercise clothing. Routh must surely be a leg man.

Zoe Andersen

Jack had immediately sensed that something was troubling her, despite her best attempts to hide what she was feeling. She asked for him to wait and finally revealed her fears after their simple dinner.

"I got an appointment with a gynecologist." She shared with him. "We've had sex nearly every day and I still have my period regularly. I did a P.T. this morning but it came out negative."

"It's fine, If it's okay, I'll go with you to the doctor together."

"Of course, I'll want you there." She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "I'm just worried."

"I didn't realize you wanted to be a mother this soon." Jack moved her to the couch where she cuddled with him. She took a deep whiff of his scent as he buried her face in his chest, immediately feeling secure and comfortable with her man beside her.

"I'm scared you'll leave me." She whispered softly. "If I can't give you a child. What if I can't get pregnant? Will you leave me then?"

"Love." She heard Jack whisper in her ear. "I love you. Whether we have kids or not, I'll always stay beside you. We're getting married soon, remember?"

"I'm older than you." She shared one of her biggest fears. "What if some hot young thing decides to swoop in and take you from me?"

"I don't think that will ever happen. You know how I'm insanely in love with you, and not just because of your beautiful face or your sexy body."

She felt a thrill of pleasure and arousal when she heard him.

"I know, why don't I sing you a song?"

A song? He hadn't performed in a while, and she did miss hearing more of his music. It was the reason they became friends, when she first heard the beautiful melody from his keyboards.

"Sure." She smiled.

He led her to sit beside the keyboard as he turned it on. He looked up at her after testing a few keys in the keyboards and adjusted the volume.

"Ready? He asked her.

"Always."

Her man smiled, and then started playing a gentle melody while he started singing.

[Thinking out loud- Ed Sheeran]

When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet

She felt her heart beat harder when she heard him sing. She missed this.

Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?

And, darling, I will be loving you till we're seventy

Her eyes started to water instantly as Jack poured out his heart to her. This song was beautiful.

And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at twenty-three
And I'm thinking about how

People fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me, I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am

So, honey, now, take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
And maybe we found love right where we are

It was too much. She couldn't take more of this. Those lyrics, that melody, his voice, and that handsome face, her heart wouldn't be able to take this.

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way
I know you will still love me the same
'Cause, honey, your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen

She knew she was ugly crying but she didn't care. Those words were so pure. She remembered her earlier conversation and this was the perfect song to hear right now after she shared her fears. When did he write this?

And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory
And I'm thinking about how

People fall in love in mysterious ways
And maybe it's all part of a plan
Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand

Then, baby, now, take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are

This should be played in their wedding, she decided. It was just so perfect for their relationship.

So, baby, now, take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are

Oh, baby, we found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are

She immediately jumped into Jack's arms and kissed him with as much passion as she could bring.

"Take me to bed." She whispered.

Their sex that night was tender and loving, far different from the ravenous and lustful beasts they usually were. She cried in happiness when she reached climax, and when hers died down she encouraged Jack to finish inside her as she raised her hips to meet his thrusts.

She fell asleep soon after, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster she experienced but feeling warm and safe in Jack's arms. No matter what she may learn from her appointment, she was secure in her relationship with Jack.

John Nolan 

"Oh god, you're one of those."

He didn't expect his new T.O. to interrupt him when he was explaining the reasons why he became a cop.

The morning roll call went on as usual, with reminders about increasing violence from a turf war between two gangs. His T.O. tested him immediately, asking him to demonstrate the checklist of a shop before patrol. He felt like it was day one all over again, but he didn't mind.

He knew his T.O. was different from Bishop, Lopez, and Bradford when she asked for an AR-15 assault rifle when he prepared their gear. He had never even shot one of those before.

 Their conversation in the shop was cordial until she interrupted him.

"I'm a what?" He asked.

"A guardian." Harper explained. "You see there are two kinds of cops, Officer Nolan. There are warriors, then there are guardians. One's a hunter, the other is a nurturer. One is alive when they're in the fight, the other is happy to clock out after 12."

He pondered her words and nodded. That seems like a fair assessment. What's wrong with guardians? He didn't ask that out loud.

Her style was different and clearly not by the book. Bishop would have agreed with him when he saw a car that didn't stop when it turned a corner. She didn't allow him to pull over a car with a broken tail light.

He spotted a car that he normally would have pulled over. 

"Maserati, no plates." He sighed and looked back on the road. "Let me guess, not worth getting out of the shop for."

They soon pulled alongside the car and his T.O. Looked closer at the three men inside the car.

"No, this one we stop." Harper replied. "Look at the steering column."

He spotted a rag on top of it, a usual tactic to hide a broken ignition. It meant the car was stolen.

Harper activated the siren and used the PA system. "Driver of the Maserati, pull over."

The car pulled to the side and he got out of the vehicle, and put his hand on his weapon. Harper took the lead and walked to the driver's side while he kept an eye on the passengers.

"Driver, step out of the car." Harper ordered.

"You're hot for a cop." The driver smiled.

"I know." Harper looked annoyed. "Everybody out… now."

The three men stepped out, and suddenly the situation turned more dangerous.

"Hands where I can see them." Harper had her weapon out, obviously expecting trouble. He copied her actions and pulled out his weapon as well.

"Nolan, VIN." Harper ordered while he kept an eye on the men on the sidewalk. Before he completed reporting the VIN for control to run through, the driver started to approach Harper.

"Hey. Stay where you are. Stay where you are!" Harper ordered. The man didn't listen and approached Harper. She suddenly swung her weapon and hit the man in the face with the butt of her pistol, knocking him to the ground.

One of the passengers tried to run, but he immediately pushed him down to the ground and jumped on him, with his cuffs at the ready.

Harper quickly cuffed the driver when the third passenger suddenly ran.

"Hey! Stop!" Harper ran after him, and now he had to deal with two suspects. He quickly cuffed the other passenger and started reporting the situation to the radio. He could only watch as his T.O. ran down the street and turned to the right until he lost sight of her.

Deciding to help in case she needed it, he managed to put both men in the shop and secure their vehicle. He started running down the street, looking for his T.O. while he reported to dispatch the details of the third suspect.

He turned down the street where Harper ran and found no trace of them. He looked up when he heard her voice and headed to the sound.

"Stop!"

"I said stop!"

The third suspect suddenly landed in front of him, and he could see the man had broken his foot from the fall. He looked up to see Harper looking over the rooftop, shaking her head in disappointment.

"She…. She pushed me!" The suspect claimed.

"Don't be an idiot." He replied. "I heard her asking you to stop. What made you think you could survive a twenty-foot fall?"

The suspect instantly fell silent and he used the opportunity to call for an ambulance. He treated his new T.O. to lunch, and as they ate their tacos he asked how her day was yesterday.

"It's boring." Harper replied. "We only saw action on the morning shift, a 211."

"How's Routh?" He asked.

"He's definitely a Hunter." She replied. "when did he start seeing the Captain?"

"There were plenty of rumors." Nolan shared. Naturally, Routh and the Captain's relationship was a favorite topic of gossip for both male and female cops. "But I think they had an immediate attraction to one another, and only acted upon it when Routh got shot in the vest two times."

"What happened?" Harper asked.

"Routh was the breacher. As soon as he knocked the door off its hinges bullets started flying. There was no time to dodge." He shared.

He got a taste of his T.O.'s real capabilities when she spotted a known arms smuggler named Corkscrew when she was working undercover. Now she wanted to know what he was doing in Mid-Wilshire. Her transformation was almost magical as she removed her uniform, messed up her hair, and used the soot from the shop to put eye bags under her eyes and to dirty her clothes. She was now wearing a white shirt and her jogging pants.

"Keep alert. Remember, you don't know me. Arrest me too if something happens." Harper instructed him.

He nodded, still shocked at her transformation as his T.O. walked barefoot inside the laundry mat. Even her demeanor changed and she had a loose walking gait, if he didn't know her he wouldn't have even given her a second look unless she was committing a crime.

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and suddenly heard shouts from inside the laundry mat. Thinking it was his cue, he approached the business, only to see Harper jumping on Corkscrew's back.

"Police! Get on the ground!" He ordered.

Harper jumped off Corkscrew and scowled. She walked up to him and he was surprised by the very real punch she gave him. "Arrest me, let him go." She breathed.

"You're under arrest." He quickly pushed Harper against the dryer and put her in cuffs.

"The bitch just attacked me!" Corkscrew complained.

"Suck a dick!" Harper screamed back.

"Yes sir, I'll bring her to the station immediately. Can you please stay for a moment and get your statement, I have to lock her up in the vehicle."

"Go ahead." Corkscrew looked amused as Harper struggled against his grip. He forced her inside the shop, impressed at her acting.

"I'm going to have a report about this." He pretended to look tired. "I need to take your name and contact information."

"Of course, Officer." Corkscrew replied.

"I also need to verify that the number you give us is from that phone." He pointed to the phone Corkscrew had in his hand. "It's policy."

A few minutes later he was driving back to the station, keeping up appearances in case someone was watching.

"You can turn right here." Harper ordered.

He turned to a side street and parked to the side. He stepped out of the shop while his T.O. changed back to her uniform, pleased with his last-minute decision to ask for the phone number.

"Did you find out why he's here for?" He asked.

"Just that he's planning something. Not enough to get a warrant." Harper looked annoyed.

"Maybe this will be useful." He showed the small piece of paper containing the number. "It's from his actual mobile phone. I pretended that I need for procedure."

Harper smiled as she snatched the paper from his fingers. "Good work boot."

He never thought he'd be happy to be called boot. It was the first time his T.O. called him by that name. He treated Harper to lunch and sat with Chen and Routh as he shared his adventure. Lucy was intrigued by Harper's background and was the one that asked the most questions.

She had always expressed her interest and admiration for undercover police officers.

Nyla Harper

Her contacts came through immediately and she was able to tap into Corkscrew's text messages. She had a quick meeting with Captain Andersen and Sergeant Grey and they soon formed a plan to take down Corksrew's pipeline and prevent more guns from getting into the hands of gangs.

 A drop would be happening, and she felt the excitement of upcoming action. What she didn't like was the role she was relegated to. Perimeter duty.

"Metro units will come in and make the bust." Sergeant Grey continued with his briefing.

She wanted to complain but then she remembered her conversation with the captain. Why was she here for? She looked at Nolan. If it weren't for his quick thinking they wouldn't have this operation underway.

She was a training officer now, not Crystal.

They were all in position, listening to Corkscrew's conversation with a buyer. Their unmarked van for reconnaissance had their officers use a parabolic microphone to listen in.

"Nice, no serial numbers?"

"Yeah, $250 a piece. That's the deal."

She heard Corkscrew's voice over the radio.

 "Can you get a hundred more?"

"Sure, I got them close by, as long as you have the cash."

Perfect. They needed to get to Corkscrew's suppliers and stock.

"I'll text my guy."

"They're upping the buy, all units hold position." The Metro squad leader of platoon B ordered over the radio.

"Who is the buyer?" Her boot asked.

"Most likely it's one of two local arms dealers, Osito or Brooker." She replied.

"Osito." Nolan repeated the name. "The Teddy Bear?"

"It's a nickname, boot. I assumed it was meant to be ironic. Between those two guys, they provide sixty percent of the guns from here to Fresno." She replied.

"That many?" Nolan looked surprised. "This will be a big bust if we succeed."

"And get guns off the hands of the most dangerous gangs in the city. Our streets will be safer." She replied. "That's why we shouldn't fail."

"Wait! No!" It looked like the deal was done, and Osito was not coming. She got on the radio to plead her case but got rebuffed immediately. 

That was a mistake, buyers tended to feign reluctance in an attempt to get a discount. The metro squad leader initiated the arrest, and she was too late to stop them. They had lost Osito. He would now hide and disappear after hearing of the arrest. She wanted to intervene but the thought of spending more time with her daughter cooled off her frustration.

She watched as Platoon B pulled in and immediately made their arrests.

"Hands up!

"Police! Don't move! Don't move!"

She looked out the window. She did not want to watch the arrests as they threw their only chance to get to one of the most prolific arms dealers in Southern California. That was the only reason why she was able to see a driver in a blue Mustang quickly make a U-turn. He had a grenade tattoo below his left ear.

 "Hey is that…" Nolan started to speak. He also noticed what she saw.

"That's Osito." She started her car and hesitated for a moment. She wanted to make the arrest personally, but she also needed to take care of her rookie. "Call dispatch and ask for backup."

She followed the car at a safe distance and smiled when it pulled over to a storage facility.

"Where's our backup?" She asked.

A shop appeared behind them, and she noticed it was Bradford and his boot.

"What do we have?" Bradford asked.

"We saw Osito enter through that facility." She explained. "He has one of his men acting as a lookout at the gate. If we wait for SWAT they could be gone."

"Then we need to move. Vests." Bradford told his boot.

"Do the same." She told Nolan. She went to the back of the shop, happy that she had the AR-15 this morning. Bradford reported their plan to dispatch.

"7-adam-19. Requesting backup. Moving in with Harper to Osito at a storage facility in Crenshaw and Pico."

They were able to jump on the guard. Chen had cuffed him on the metal gate and removed his gun and phone and moved inside the compound. She saw Osito's car in front of an open storage locker with two of his men.

She looked at Bradford who had moved to another cover and gave her a nod.

"Osito!" She called out. "Police! Hands where I can see them!"

Osito slowly raised his hands, then jumped behind his car for cover. His men started firing their weapons and she immediately returned fire, followed by Bradford.

"7-adam-15, Shots fired. Need backup." She heard Nolan call on the radio.

It seemed like her rookie was a good shot, as he was able to take down one of the men. Osito and his remaining companion ducked into the storage locker as soon as they saw their fellow gunman on the ground.

"It's over Osito!" She called out. "Surrender!"

She watched as a weapon was thrown on the ground, followed by Osito and his remaining crew stepping out with their hands above their head.

She heard more sirens coming and she and Bradford quickly secured the two men.

"7-adam-15, suspects in custody. Need an ambulance for a suspect. Gunshot wound to the leg." Nolan started reporting on the radio again. Not bad. She could work with him. He met her gaze and her boot gave her a small smile.

Zoe Andersen

She was satisfied with today's results. They made a significant arrest that had the chief calling when word to him. Osito was the number one supplier of illegal firearms to the gangs. She felt like celebrating, and that was why she was now hugging Jack tightly as they headed to the arena on his bike.

One of the city's professional basketball teams, the Los Angeles Lakers had a game tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. And they had good seats a few rows behind the Lakers bench, courtesy of the Mayor. Jack's decision to bring take his bike was smart. Parking was nearly impossible and the traffic was at a standstill.

They reached their seats after quickly finding a parking spot for bikes. Jack had gotten them popcorn and drinks, and they spent the time waiting for the game to start identifying as many celebrities as they could.

 She found it amusing that she was winning, as Jack barely identified the celebrities watching the game. She thought she was bad, but Jack was way worse. He only knew his namesake, Jack Nicholson.

"You really wore that?" She just noticed the shirt Jack was wearing when he removed his jacket.

"I like it." Jack replied. He had worn the ridiculous shirt he got from Comic Con, a blue shirt with the words in big white letters saying "I'm with my boss." and an arrow pointing to the left.

"You're like a big kid." She leaned back and held his left hand with her right.

The pretty and sexy cheerleaders came out for a show, and she watched as Jack observed them for a few moments and then looked at her. More specifically his eyes traced her body. She immediately knew what he was thinking. He was probably imagining her wearing the same outfits.

"No, I'm not wearing that cheerleader outfit." She stated.

"Not completely." He replied. "They have shorts underneath, you won't."

"Is my body all you can think of most of the time?" She joked.

"Yes, when you're that hot." He admitted without shame. She let out an involuntary squeak when she felt his hand leave her grasp and put it on her thigh and squeezed her.

"Stop it!" She grabbed his hand once more and interlaced her fingers with his to prevent his hands from wandering.

The match started, and soon they were engrossed in the game. She wasn't much of a basketball fan these days but she did play in middle school and was familiar with most of the current star players. The game was close, as both were championship-caliber teams fighting to get a good record for the playoffs.

Halftime arrived with the score close and the Lakers were only leading by just six points. The halftime show started with the same cheerleaders, and then a fan was randomly selected to shoot for $1000 every time he made a free throw and was given three attempts. The crowd was happy when the fan made one count.

Then the kiss cam segment came, and she suddenly had a bad feeling. She and Jack constantly flirted and certainly looked like a couple with his arm around her shoulder and her leaning on him at times while holding hands.

She looked up at a screen and noticed the couples being shown on the big screen, with the crowd encouraging them to kiss. A few didn't, earning boos and jeers from the crowd. She watched as a camera crew quickly set up in front of the player's bench, with the camera pointed right at her.

A few of the basketball players looked back to see who they were focusing on, and then she noticed the red dot light up beside the camera lens. She looked up to see herself and Jack on the big screen.

"Kiss! Kiss!"

The people seated around them yelled. Even the players on the bench encouraged them and she laughed when Jack held up his shirt for everyone to read.

"Oh shit!" One of the players laughed. She recognized him, Lebron James.

"Go on man!" Another player hooted.

Jack shrugged and leaned in and she raised her head to meet his kiss. It seemed theirs was a bit more passionate than the other couples as she felt Jack play with her lips and they soon separated. The entire crowd cheered even louder and even the players clapped their hands.

She felt herself blushing and she wanted to cover her face with her hands in embarrassment. Jack wrapped his arm around her again and she wondered why the camera was still pointed at them.

"Wave back." He whispered in her ear.

She followed his advice and waved for a few moments and then it was over.

"Are you really his boss?" A woman beside her asked.

"I am." She replied. "He got that stupid shirt in comic con."

"You got balls, dude." A man behind them reached out and tapped Jack on the shoulder.

The players warmed up again on the court, and then a staff member appeared and made her way to their seats.

"Would it be possible to interview the two of you by our courtside reporter?" The woman asked. She was wearing a headset with a microphone attached to it.

"What for?" She asked.

"It's just that we're curious about you and your companion." The woman replied. "There would be complimentary tickets if you agree."

"Sorry, we're not really interested." She replied after she shared a look with Jack. "We just want to focus on the game."

"Oh." The woman looked disappointed. "Thank you then."

The second half continued, and the star player of the Lakers decided to show his talent. Every three points he made the crowd cheer louder. She was now standing with Jack as Lebron made his fourth consecutive three-point shot.

"He's in the zone now." Jack yelled to her ear amidst the cheering of the crowd. Lebron's exploits made them pull ahead and maintain a sizeable lead against the Spurs.

Then James shot one more three. Five consecutive three points while he was heavily defended. Even she was on her feet, cheering as Lebron left the court to rest.

With a nearly insurmountable lead with the clock running down, Lebron was more relaxed and playful on the bench as he chatted with his teammates. They must have caught his attention since he leaned forward and asked a question to Jack.

"Hey man, is she really your boss?"

"Yes." Jack replied. "I even call her Captain."

"I called him boot." She decided to join in on the fun.

That set off Lebron and the team into a laughing fit. He raised his hand over to Jack, and her man quickly gave Lebron a fist bump. The crowd watching cheered.

At this point, the players on the court were bench players who rarely got to see any minutes on the court. San Antonio had given up and benched their starting members with a minute to play and a sixteen-point lead.

The next morning their faces were in sports center. One of her friends called her and told her to turn on the TV and watch ESPN. She watched as these basketball analysts, a few that were former players discuss and analyze Lebron's performance. Then they focused on the kiss cam with her kiss with Jack.

"Now that's a real kiss right there." One commentator said.

"But at least we know she's not from San Antonio." Another replied. That caused laughter among the group, and she didn't get the joke. What's so funny about San Antonio? "And those big ol…"

She turned off the TV and resumed stretching before she prepared for work.

She immediately received a call from the chief when she entered her office. He was happy that she used the tickets to get more publicity for the men and women of the LAPD. Then a flurry of other calls from her friends and even her brother came, just telling her that she was featured on Sports Center and even a few other news channels. She didn't realize her simple date with Jack had turned into a big deal.

Grey arrived, looking like he had seen Nolan get stuck on a chain-linked fence again. 

"What's so funny?" She asked.

"Your date with Routh went viral." Grey put a few tabloids on the table. It was a front-page picture of her kissing Jack last night. Oh god.

"That's just the tabloids. You two have turned into a meme." Grey showed her a video of Jack showing off his shirt, shrugging, and then leaning to kiss her. Wow, they really lip-locked on that kiss. They separated, and she could see her cheeks were flushed and then the video looped back again to the beginning.

"Congratulations." Grey said to her before he left her office.

Captain Reed

His son was being an ass again. He had told him several times to get back to school, but he refused. He didn't want to go out. He mostly spent all the day in front of the computer, doing god knows what.

He had recently started wearing that black trench coat, thinking he was at school. He looked ridiculous.

It had to be the result of his mother. She resisted his wishes to send him to join the marines as he did. Now he was stuck here, and he could feel the resentment his son had for his mother and to him.

"Dad?" He looked up to see his son in his office. It was strange, he rarely visited the community college ever since he dropped out last semester.

"Percy. What are you doing here?" He asked. His police officers had known of his son, and didn't question his presence.

"I'm sorry Dad." He narrowed his eyes and stared at Percy. He looked different. Did someone hurt his son?

"What happened?" He asked. "You're sorry for what?"

"This."

His eyes widened when he stared at the barrel of a gun his son was holding.

"Percy?"

Penny Teller

She always looked forward to Fridays, it was worth the extra shifts he had to take so that she could finally take up a few college classes. She even enjoyed writing the paper assigned by Professor Hottie, the group discussion really gave her a new perspective.

Even Leonard was impressed when she showed him her paper, although Sheldon was still annoyed at her professor.

"I don't understand why he refused to audition." She remembered when Sheldon sent Jack's photos to the film studio and even photoshopped his face on a Superman costume. "His participation is the key to a revival of the DC universe. "He's so selfish."

"Sheldon." She rolled her eyes at her neighbor. "Professor Routh is a police officer, it's clear he has no interest in auditioning as Superman. He's not selfish since his job is to literally serve the public's interest."

"But what about my interest?" Sheldon complained.

She parked at the college parking for students and checked the time, there were 30 minutes left before her class started but she didn't mind. Professor Routh tended to arrive early as well, and didn't mind answering questions about their subjects. She was sure the younger college girls would be there by now, looking all pretty for the professor.

It was useless. They didn't know what she knew. Her professor was already engaged. She was pretty sure a lot of her classmates would be disappointed when they learned the truth. She arrived at the classroom to see it was nearly half full. Now most of the girls took up the front seats, and she remembered during the first class she was the only one that sat on the front row.

Professor Routh was already seated behind his desk, marking the essays that were due today. It seemed like he wanted to check their progress and she put her own essay on the pile before heading to her seat.

"Morning Professor." One of the girls beside her greeted him.

"Good morning." Their professor greeted absently, his focus still on the essays.

"I think that's really him!"

"So he has a girlfriend?"

"But she looks a little older than him!"

"What's happening?" She asked.

"Professor Routh was seen in a kiss cam." One of the college girls showed her the video. She smiled when she saw the shirt he was wearing, since she was the one that pointed that to him to buy.

"That's him." She replied. The secret was out anyway. "And I met his fiancé the other week."

"Fiancé?"

"He's engaged." She replied. "His fiance's name is Zoe. She's the police captain of the station he's assigned to."

"Police captain." Her seatmate slumped back on her chair. "Wow. I never realized."

The clock showed it was nine, and their professor stood up and started his lecture.

She then heard a faint scream, followed by another. She heard running footsteps outside the hallway.

"Is it a fire drill?" One of her classmates asked.

"There's no alarm." Another replied.

Then they all heard it. The unmistakable sound of gunshots.

"Everyone, lock the doors, barricade them with the desks." Professor Routh ordered.

"Turn your phones into silent mode and turn off the lights. Do it." His tone made it clear it wasn't a request and they hurriedly complied.

"Dispatch, this is Officer Jack Routh, Badge number 33186. Reporting sounds of gunshots in LA City College, Humanities Building. Will investigate, send back up." She watched their professor transform into a police officer as he pulled out his badge and wore it like a necklace and pulled out a gun from his ankle.

"Penny." She stared at those determined eyes. "Don't let anyone enter this room unless they have identified themselves as police officers. Understand?"

"Yes sir!" She nodded.

"Good, lock the door when I leave."

They waited for nearly a minute, and then they heard gunshots again.

"Police! Drop the gun!" They heard their professor's voice. Then several seconds passed. Then gunshots.

"Oh my god!"

"The professor!"

She peeked out of the classroom door, and saw her professor leaning on the opposite wall, as a few students looked over. In front of him was a man in a coat, on the floor with a gun in his hand. There was blood pooling out from under his body.

Jack Routh

Active shooting in a school was the worst-case scenario. He knew the longer he waited more lives would be lost.

That was why he decided to step out, rather than wait with his students, although the only mistake he made as he slowly felt weaker from the blood loss was that he should have checked those hiding places in the hallway. The shooter had shot him in the back after hiding in a closet, and he shot him in the chest in turn.

He looked over and he saw Penny's face looking over at him. He felt cold.

Then he saw a strange screen he had last seen months before appearing in front of his eyes.

[World – The Rookie]

[Brandon Routh Age: 24]

[Jack Reacher]

46 %

[Charlie Puth]

38 %

[Lucy Worsley]

36%

Chapter Text

I don't give anyone permission to translate my work to any language and posted in other sites. This simple guilty pleasure story stays here, free of charge for anyone to enjoy. That is the essence of fan fiction.

Episode 15 

Zoe Andersen

She was reviewing the programs for supplementary training for her officers when the alarm that every officer dreaded to hear, a school shooting. She immediately diverted all available units to Los Angeles Community College and sent a few more from the station.

Grey went there as well while she monitored news from dispatch. The report came from the sheriff's station attached to the school, detailing witness reports from 911. One of the patrolling deputies returned only to see the station captain and the Officer assigned to the front desk dead by gunshot wounds.

 "All units, Officer on scene, Officer Jack Routh, in civilian clothes. Be aware, over."

 She sat up when she heard Jack's name. Today was Friday and Jack was teaching a class. She knew he would have heard the gunshots and taken action. The problem though was they didn't know how many active shooters were in the school.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she listened to various units acknowledge the situation, which meant there was less chance of Jack being shot by accident by responding officers. Then she heard a notification that made her blood freeze.

"All units, 911 call from the college. Caller claims the shooter is dead, but the responding officer is down. Ambulance is on the way."

"7-L-07. On location."

Jack was shot. She struggled to reign in her emotions and took a deep breath. They had talked about this, many times. They both loved their jobs, and accepted the danger that came along with it.

It didn't surprise her that Lopez was first on the scene. Her patrol route was closest to the college, and she knew Lopez visited Jack before to check up on him.

"7-L-07….Officer down… need first aid… Where's my EMS?"

She could hear the tremor in Lopez's voice even through the radio. She sat back on her chair, suddenly scared. As she waited for new reports, she decided to come out of her office and she took deep breaths to calm her emotions. It was unnaturally cold and she shivered.

Her officers continued to rush to the scene. A school shooting scene was messy and difficult to mobilize, with all the responsibilities and procedures they needed to do. They had to secure the perimeter, preserve the evidence, and interview the witnesses. She couldn't just wait here doing nothing, Jack did his duty and she would do hers.

She skipped lunch as she coordinated with the La County Sheriff's Department. Then the Chief called when the press finally got wind of the situation.

"Yes, Chief. Shooter's dead. Who shot him? Officer Routh. Yes, Jack did. I can't tell him now." She looked over as Grey entered her office. She held one finger at him telling him to wait and continued listening to her boss. "Chief… Jack's been shot by the shooter… I don't know. I have no idea as of now. Yes, I will… Thank you, Chief. I appreciate it."

"What are you still doing here?" Grey asked.

"Excuse me?"

"I'll take care of things over here Captain. You did your part. Go see and see Jack." Grey replied.

She hesitated, and looked at the pile she needed to review before the school shooting happened.

"Go."

"Thank you. Give me a call if you need me." She finally replied. Why was she scared to leave her office?

"I'm pretty sure Jack needs you more, Captain." Grey answered.

She didn't even remember how he got to the hospital, and only realized she was in the parking area. She quickly parked her car and headed to the emergency room which was filled with reporters and security staff. Her badge allowed her to pass through security, while reporters and family members continued to demand to be let inside. All of the victims of the school shooting were brought to Shaw Memorial, since they were the closest and had an excellent trauma center.

She quickly made her way to the front desk, but was interrupted by Lopez. Jack's former T.O. looked worried.

"How is Jack?" She steeled herself and waited for an answer.

"I don't know. He lost a lot of blood." Lopez replied. "They're... operating on him now."

"Where was he hit?" She asked.

"In the lower back. He was shot in the back." Lopez replied. "I tried to stop the bleeding as much as I could until the EMTs arrived on the scene."

"Lopez, why don't you head back?" She saw how the other woman needed it. Her hair was in disarray and her eyes were red.

"If it's okay with you Captain, I'll wait here."

"Alright. Let's wait together." She replied, knowing how close her Fiance was to his former T.O. They found a seat in the waiting area and spent the time staring at the wall and she didn't know how long she waited. She felt her phone vibrate a few times in her pocket but she ignored it. She was too worried to focus on anything else.

She was surprised that Grey appeared in the hospital, and that shook her out of her daze.

"Captain, I couldn't reach you. The Chief wanted updates."

"He's still in surgery." She replied. "I don't have any news."

"Do you want an update on the shooting?" He asked.

"Please." She replied. Grey nodded and pulled out his notebook.

"The suspect is Kyle Jonathan Reed, 22 years old. He failed his last semester in the community college." Grey stated. "Investigators arrived at his house and saw he had shot his mother first. Then drove her mother's car to LACC, where he went to the Sherriff's station attached to the college."

"His second victim was his father, Captain Jonathan Reed. He shot him in the head, and then shot the deputy who checked in on them when he heard the noise." Grey continued.

"That explains where he managed to get his weapons." Lopez observed.

"Then at 8:46 am, he left the station and headed to the humanities building where he shot a male student. He killed another student, this time female on his way up to the second floor. He shot three more students who are now in surgery before he was confronted by Officer Routh."

Grey flipped his notebook to another page and continued reading from his notes. "Officer Routh chased after the shooter but he managed to hide in a supply closet. He then shot Officer Routh in the back, Officer Routh shot him in turn, hitting him in the chest and killing him."

"Coward." Lopez sneered.

"In total, he killed five people before Routh stopped him." Grey reported. "His backpack included another firearm, a Glock 17 and more loaded magazines, and a box of ammunition."

"Where was he going?" She asked.

"Unknown at this time." Grey answered. "We need to conduct more interviews with the people that knew him."

Grey then left for the station. Lopez stubbornly insisted she stay even after her shift was over. She went to the toilet and came back to see Lopez now had company. The rest of her training officers had arrived with their rookies.

 "We thought you'd be hungry by now." Lucy Chen handed her a wrapped sandwich. She forgot that she skipped lunch and now felt hungry.

"Thank you, Chen." She quickly started eating, while keeping an ear on the conversation around her.

"Routh's going to pull through." Bradford told her. She appreciated his confidence.

"Yeah. Remember when he took a few bullets to his vest and sneaked out of the hospital?" Lopez replied. "I was so surprised when his sore ass limped in through the entrance."

She remembered that. Jack's stunt scared the hell out of her. He always thought he was invulnerable.

The doctor arrived a few minutes later, and she quickly left her half-eaten sandwich on her seat and waited for the news.

"The surgery was successful." The blonde doctor replied smiling. "Jack's going to make a full recovery."

"Thank you Grace." Nolan let out a sigh of relief. She stared at the two, wondering if she was missing something. Wait. Jack was fine. He was alive.

"So you must be Zoe." The doctor addressed her. "I met Jack and Angela before, during the earthquake. I'm Grace Sawyer."

"When can we see him?" She asked.

"Family and significant others can visit him now." Dr. Sawyer replied. "Have you contacted his family yet?"

"I'm his fiancé." She replied immediately. "And I'm also his emergency contact."

"Then I'll show you to his room." Dr. Sawyer replied. "He's still sedated, he'll wake up in a few hours."

"Let's go Lopez." She called to Jack's former T.O. The other woman immediately jumped to her feet.

She reached Jack's room a few minutes later, and immediately went to his side. She watched every detail on his pale face and suddenly she felt tears gather in her eyes. She nearly lost her man.

After spending an hour beside Jack, she received a call. She really didn't want to go back to the station where the district attorney and the chief of police were planning to have a press statement but they insisted that she should be present.

Twenty minutes later, she stood in front of flashing cameras and reporters as Chief Williams read his prepared statement.

"This morning, two deputies of the Los Angeles Sherriff's County, were brutally murdered in a senseless attack. Two students from Los Angeles City College were shot and murdered, and another three more are fighting for their lives right now at Shaw Memorial. The shooter, Percy Reed, 22 years of age, started this violent rampage without any indication that he was suffering from a mental illness. He had also killed his mother at their own home, before driving to LACC where he killed his own father, Captain Jonathan Reed."

"We grieve with the families of the victims of this senseless attack, and give our condolences in their time of grief." The chief took a moment to take a few breaths and then he continued. "Fortunately, the shooter was stopped by one of our Police Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, assigned at the Mid-Wilshire division. Officer Jack Routh was participating in a community relations program at LACC where he generously offered his time and knowledge to give lectures on Ancient and Modern History, where he demonstrated that he is an expert on the subject. Officer Routh's presence no doubt saved many more lives today."

"Chief! Where is Officer Routh now?" A reporter asked.

"Unfortunately, Officer Routh was shot in the back by the shooter." Chief Williams replied, causing the gathered press to remain silent once more. "He was able to shoot back, killing Percy Reed. He is now at the hospital, and I have just been informed his surgery was a success."

"Is Officer Routh the same officer that saved Taylor Swift from kidnapping?" A female reporter raised her hand and asked.

"Yes, Jack Routh is one of LA's finest, and we're very proud to have him serve as a Police Officer."

She ignored the rest of the questions as she slowly became more impatient. She didn't let it show on her face though, her thoughts focused on Jack. She heard her name being mentioned and focused back on the press conference.

"…Captain Zoe Andersen, Officer Jack Routh's fiancé, has something to say." The Chief stepped off the podium and gestured to her to take his place. She was caught by surprise, no one told her she had to prepare a statement. She gathered herself and stepped forward.

"Thank you. I just came from the hospital, where Jack is recovering. " She looked around the faces of the reporters as they continually blinded her with camera flashes. "If Jack was here, I knew what he would say to all of you. He was just doing his job as a police officer, for which I admire him greatly for the dedication he continues to show every day to make our city safer. When he wakes up, I'll be sure to tell him about the kindness and concern the city showed while he recovers from this incident. Thank you."

She stepped back and now the District Attorney stepped forward to answer more questions, more specifically about the shooter. As soon as the press conference ended, she hurried back to Jack's side and used the time to rest herself.

She had to leave when visiting hours were over, but she barely slept, feeling suddenly alone in their bed. The next morning she headed straight back to the hospital, calling in Grey to tell her she would be by Jack's side until noon.

She brought her work, intending to finish the review of the proposed programs, when she fell asleep on the chair beside his bed. She only woke up when a nurse came in to check his vitals, and realized she had dozed off for a few hours. Being just in his presence made her comfortable enough to fall asleep.

Lopez visited during her break, and she appreciated the food the T.O. brought.

"It's going to be a circus when you come back to the station, Captain." Lopez told her.

"What's happening? The Chief already made a statement in front of the press." She replied.

"News outlets illegally obtained CCTV footage of the shooting, along with several videos from the students. Here's one where they stitched a couple of videos together." Lopez handed her phone to her. She saw a paused video, of what looked like a classroom.

She pressed play and could immediately hear the giggling of a few girls as they discretely recorded their professor standing at the front of the room. Before Jack could speak, she could hear the faint gunshots in the video.

"What was that?" A girl's voice asked.

"…Fire drill?"

"There's no alarm."

She watched as the video showed the one holding the phone looking around, showing a brief glimpse of her classmates. Then she heard the screaming in the video.

"Everyone, lock the doors, barricade them with desks." The mild-mannered professor suddenly transformed into a cop. She watched the video of Jack as he gave instructions to his students while he fished out his badge and wore it around his neck openly. He put his foot on a chair and removed the backup piece Officers carried when off duty, and then called dispatch using his phone.

The video ended when he left the room and another one plated right after, using a perspective from the CCTV footage from the hallway.

The firefight was chilling. Jack confronted the shooter and ducked behind a wall for cover as the shooter emptied his magazine at him. Her man fired back a few rounds and chased after the suspect. The shooter seemed to know his way around the hallways as he ran around the corner and straight to a door. Jack came around a few seconds later, holding his weapon as he slowly moved forward, looking for the suspect.

Once he went past the door, the suspect slowly opened it and shot him in the back. Jack fell and almost immediately shot back with a few rounds. One hit the suspect, causing him to fall face-first to the ground dead.

It was heartbreaking to see Jack crawl to the wall as he tried to stem the blood from his wound. He pushed himself to a sitting position with his back on a wall until students started to approach him.

She felt her tears now fall down her face and she stood up and gently placed Jack's hand between hers.

"He couldn't have known." Lopez stated. "The suspect was a student there and knew exactly where to run and hide. Jack was listening for disturbances in the classrooms. He focused on the well-being of the students instead."

"I know. What he did was brave." She replied.

Dr. Sawyer said he would be conscious tomorrow, so she was surprised to see him slowly moving on the bed two hours later.

"Lopez! Call the doctor!" She ordered.

"Right away!"

"Jack? Jack?" She spoke to him, and smiled when she saw his eyes open. He looked disoriented and confused, and he blinked several times.

"Jack, can you hear me?" He turned to her, but the confusion remained on his face. "Who… you?"

Her eyes narrowed with concern. Did he not know her? Did he lose his memories?

"You're supposed to be sleeping, Jack." Dr. Sawyer came in with another doctor, a nurse, and Lopez. The female doctor immediately went to his other side and checked his eyes with a penlight.

Jack tried to push the offending light away, but it was clear he was still too weak.

"Dr. Sawyer, he doesn't remember me." She gripped Jack's hand tighter.

"That's normal for patients recovering after surgery." Dr. Sawyer explained.

"Are you the doctor?" Jack asked in a slurred speech.

"Yes I am." Dr. Sawyer replied. She proceeded to take note of Jack's other vitals.

"Do you not know me, Jack?" She asked. Jack turned his head to look at her and she saw he was staring at her with his mouth partially open. "Is something wrong with me?"

"You're pretty." Jack spoke slowly.

"Thank you. That's nice of you to say." She replied. "How are you feeling?"

"I need to record this." She heard Lopez giggle in the background.

"What's your name?" He asked, ignoring her question.

"I'm Zoe, and I'm your fiancé." She replied. She chuckled when his eyes widened comically.

"You… you're my girl?" He asked.

"Yes, I am." She replied in an even tone. "Now tell me, how are you feeling?"

"Room spins." Jack replied and closed his eyes for a moment. "Did we have sex?"

She could feel the blush on her cheeks as she heard the muffled sound of laughter inside the room. She looked behind her and noticed that Lopez was biting her lips, but her eyes twinkled in amusement as she continued to record her former boot.

"Yes we did." She replied after a moment of hesitation. Dr. Grace handed her a paper cup full of water and she nodded in understanding. "Why don't you take a sip first of water."

He spilled half the cup, but managed to swallow the rest.

"Zoe, you're hot." Jack spoke again. She felt flattered of course, but she couldn't believe Jack was hitting on her already!

"Thank you. Now why don't you eat this soft biscuit?"

"We had sex right?" Why was he so fixated on sex right now?

She was tempted to cover his mouth. Even Dr. Sawyer was sporting a wide grin, and she even winked at her!

"Yes Jack we did." She pushed the biscuit towards his mouth but Jack batted the food away.

"I just had seeexxx" She widened her eyes as Jack started to sing a song to himself, not caring about who could hear him.

"And it felt sooo good." Jack continued and there was even a tune when he sang.

"I went and let me put my penis inside her…" She blushed as Lopez started laughing outright. She knew she was blushing hard by now.

"I just had seeexxx" Jack repeated and grabbed her hand with the biscuit, using it as a microphone. "And I'll never go baack, to the not having sex ways of the paaast."

"Jack!" She forcefully stuffed the biscuit inside his mouth, causing him to chew it. She couldn't believe he made up such a vulgar song.

Her fiancé continued to ask questions, and she patiently answered them until he fell back to sleep while she avoided looking at anyone.

"I haven't laughed that hard in years!" Lopez told her outside the room. "It was catchy too, captain."

"I'm glad you found it funny hearing Jack singing about our sex life." She replied.

"You should be proud Captain, now you have your own post-sex anthem." Lopez replied.

"I'll see you at the station later, Officer Lopez. Be safe on patrol." Lopez took the hint, but the T.O. was still humming the annoying tune as she walked down the hallway.

She had to admit the song was catchy in a quirky sort of way. It was also stuck in her head. Jack you horny bastard.

The next day, he was moved out of the ICU. That was a relief to her since she would be able to stay overnight and stay with Jack. Her quality of sleep improved, and Jack was more coherent. He didn't remember anything from yesterday and she was tempted not to tell him about his antics yesterday. The choice was taken out of her hands when Lopez sent him the video.

"I did this?" Jack stared at the video playing on his phone.

"You were… out of it. The anesthesia clearly made you loopy." She replied as they ate breakfast together.

"Sorry." Jack replied.

"Let's just say when you woke up you had a singular focus." On her. She was incredibly touched and fell in love all over again with Jack because of his antics. She now felt more confident with her upcoming appointment with a gynecologist. No matter the results, he would stay with her.

 "Any news about the school shooting?" Jack asked.

"They're still interviewing other witnesses, but we now know the whole picture." She replied. "His name is Percy Reed, he dropped out last semester from LACC."

"And the motive?"

"It could be a variety of factors. I think he just wanted to take out as many people he knew with him when he went down that path. Percy wanted to join the Marines after he graduated from high school, but his mother stopped him from going."

"Resentment." Jack guessed.

"Most likely." She finished her breakfast and collected Jack's clean plates, happy to see he had a strong appetite. "We also have a big problem, visitors. There are a lot of people who wanted to see you, due to your actions that day."

"Let me guess, politics?" He asked.

"You're now a hot focal point for politicians. Pro-gun advocates claim that because of your actions, further deaths were avoided. Advocacy groups for more regulation claim that it wouldn't have happened if we had more laws and restrictions. They're citing your actions that the police are enough to defend the public from criminals."

It was a mess when she watched the news while Jack slept. There was a fierce debate raging, and her fiancé was right in the middle of with his name mentioned dozens of times.

"Then there's the mayor." She couldn't believe the lengths that man would go through for public approval. "He's angling that the program you participated in had the safety of public education institutions in mind in case incidents like these happen."

"Isn't it community relations in the first place?" Jack asked. "The program that Sergeant Grey had in mind was increasing the trust the public had for police officers."

"That too, but he's pushing this narrative now." She explained. "He's the most insistent one so far about seeing you and I won't be surprised if he came with the press."

"Not going to happen." He replied. "There was no discussion about possible school shootings."

"That's what I said." She nodded her head. She looked at her watch and realized she needed to check up on the station.

"Go." Jack replied. "I'm sleepy anyways."

"Thanks love." She looked out the window and saw the blue sky without a cloud in sight. "It's going to be difficult today with this weather. I pity patrol."

"Tempers will be short." Jack nodded. "Bring your tumbler love. Stay safe."

She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss and was about to leave when her phone suddenly gave off an alarm. It was a strange tone she never heard before. Jack's phone did the same.

[BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT TO, LOS ANGELES CITY. 34.052235, -118.243683]

[IMPACT IN 29 MINUTES. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER]

[THIS IS NOT A DRILL]

"This can't be right." Jack stated.

She could hear footsteps running outside the hallway and swiped the message to turn off the alarm.

"It's an official message. No one could fake that using this frequency." She replied. Her thoughts ran about what this simple text could do to the city. She wondered if it was real, but Jack looked dismissive of the impending nuclear attack.

"Our military would have detected a ballistic missile immediately with the numerous sensors we have on our satellites and ground-based stations. Then there are layers and layers of protection that defend the mainland. There's a reason why rival states hate the THAAD systems we placed in allied countries. This is either a hack or a glitch."

Jack did have a point, and she calmed down a bit. She wondered how Jack was so informed on the military's defense capabilities. Few knew the capabilities of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System capable of shooting down ballistic missiles at their highest point of flight, and also their most vulnerable.

There were times that she forgot that she was not speaking to a fellow veteran. She very rarely had to explain terminologies to him or military slang, things she knew she'd have to take her time to explain to a normal civilian. It was like he served in the armed forces, with the way he quickly understood her. Maybe that was part of the reason why they got along so well.

"Well they don't know that." She pointed out to the people outside. "It's going to be a mess out there. People will surely panic."

"They already started." Jack was looking out the window and she followed his gaze. She could already see a few trails of smokes on the skyline.

"They need you out there." Jack told her. "Stay safe love."

She nodded and immediately called Grey, but she couldn't make a call. The phone lines were jammed. She looked out a window by the stairwell and saw chaos on the streets below. She headed to her car and took out her radio.

"7-Lincoln-20, dispatch, get me through with Sergeant Grey."

"Copy Captain."

She waited for a few moments and finally heard Grey voice.

"Captain, good to hear from you." She could hear the relieved voice from her sergeant.

"Grey, I'm stuck here in the Shaw Memorial. It's highly likely that this ballistic missile alert is a glitch." She wiped the sweat building on her forehead. It had to be at least a hundred inside the car and she opened the other door to let a slight breeze pass through.

"Where did you hear that from Captain?"

"Jack, he told me about the sensors and early warning systems we have prepared for this kind of situation. I have to agree with him, I know of our military's capabilities in my stint at the Pentagon. Let's calm our officers and focus on maintaining order in our city."

 "Yes Ma'am. What should we tell our men and women?" Grey asked.

"Tell them it's highly likely a glitch. Give them time to talk to their families and loved ones first if they're still worried. They can't do their jobs properly if they're worried about their homes. Send the rest of our personnel to the basement just as a precaution." She replied. "Tell our police officers they can bring their families there if they're still worried, but we don't have much time. Get everyone on the streets, even those that haven't patrolled in years. We need to secure sensitive areas and the public."

"Got it."

"Ignore petty crimes. We need to focus on saving lives, not property." She continued handing out instructions. She looked at the city from the third-floor parking garage and saw the situation was getting out of control.

"Send a few units to the hospitals in our area after the missile alert has passed. Many will get injured from the panic, so the emergency rooms will be flooded." She took a sip of water from her tumbler and continued speaking. "I'll stay here in Shaw Memorial since the streets will be full of vehicles. We need to be visible to the public."

"Yes, captain."

"Good. Let's update each other on this frequency. Andersen out."

She took out her handheld radio and her own war bag and headed back to the hospital. She could see more people were going to the E.R. and she headed first to Jack's room, to put her things in and to change. She needed to be visible to the public to do her duties effectively.

She was slipping into her pants when she heard a noise behind her. Jack was watching her with a smile on his face. A threat of a nuclear attack and he was concentrating on her ass.

"Enjoying the show?" She asked as she buttoned her pants and started to put on her duty belt and rank insignia on her collar.

"Very." Jack replied. "It's getting worse out there. You might not be able to convince them that this is not real."

"I'll take care of it. The most logical choice will be to send the patients and staff to the basement to ease their worries."

 She kissed him again quickly on the lips and left. She could see the immediate effect already as people started to look at her when she arrived at the emergency room. The head nurse was speaking with security guards and a few staff members huddled in a corner and she moved to join them.

"How can I help?" She asked the group.

Jack Routh

He leaned back and looked at his phone, there was still no signal. One minute.

He looked to the entrance as the door opened and saw Zoe enter, breathing hard like she had run up the stairs. Judging by the sweat on her face and neck, it looked like she had.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I realized that just in case a nuclear missile hit, I don't want to spend the remaining time I had surrounded by strangers." Zoe quickly moved to him and leaned down to kiss him. He returned the kiss, ignoring the brief pain from his side and his tongue parted her lips as he tickled the roof of her mouth. His hand reached over to cup her cheek, and he heard her moan as his other hand massaged her breast through her uniform.

He felt her suck and bite his lower lip for a moment, as their kiss became heated. Her lips were soft and he enjoyed her taste, as Zoe moved on top of him. He felt her hands move to his groin and she started to move her hand on his hardening member. His hand pushed through her uniform and bra and he squeezed her breast directly, playing with her hard nipple in response. He felt her tongue go deeper inside his mouth and felt her exhale through her nose as they continued their passionate kiss.

He guided her to the bed and shoved his other hand through her belt and pants. There was enough slack that he reached her panties until his fingers reached her dripping pussy.

"Mmmmm" Zoe moaned, but she remained committed to kissing him as she parted her legs to give his fingers more room to play with her cunt. A flick on her nub with his thumb caused her to moan louder, and she responded by increasing the speed with which she stroked his dick. He felt her shudder on the bed and felt pain as she bit his lip as she reached her climax.

If he were wrong, the missile would hit by now, and then he saw a flash of white light.

"Yes, that's it baby." He realized he had just ejaculated in her hand, and their kiss had ended. Her hand continued to stroke him, and he watched as her other hand cupped the head of his penis to catch the remaining spurts as he moaned in pleasure.

"Fuck Zoe." He gasped.

He watched as his fiancé licked his cum off her fingers, while she gave him a naughty look. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen and her hair was in disarray. The few buttons in her uniform were open, revealing part of her cleavage and the color of her bra. She looked like a cop's wet dream.

"That was a hell of a kiss." He replied smiling at her.

"It was." Zoe replied. "Fuck you taste so good."

She looked at the door then swallowed his entire penis down her throat to clean up the remaining cum and then arranged the hospital gown he wore back into place.

"No missile. You were right." Zoe replied as she started to fix herself.

Twenty-nine minutes had passed and there was not even a hint of a nuclear explosion, but he could tell the city was in a crisis, judging by the number of sirens he heard and the fires he could see in the distance. He was asked earlier if he wanted to be transferred to the basement and he told the staff that he preferred to remain in the room. Memories of Jack Reacher as a Major in the army gave him the confidence to dismiss the missile threat.

"I better get back." Zoe leaned forward and kissed him again and soon left. His girl was insatiable.

Feeling relaxed after his release, he started to feel sleepy and looked at the view of the city from the window. He reflected back to the time he woke up and the screen he saw before he passed out.

[Jack Reacher]

46%

[Charlie Puth]

38%

[Lucy Worsley]

36%

[Integration progress – 40%]

He wondered what the percentages were, and thought back to his new life in this world. As a police officer, he had been applying more and more of Reacher's skills and talents in his law enforcement duties. That probably explained the same with Puth and Worsley, with the music he performed and the history lectures he gave.

He wondered what would happen if one of his traits reached 100%, but he knew that would take time. And why did he only see the screen when he was about to lose consciousness? The pain in his lower back from the bullet wound and the surgery gave him the answer.

He only saw that screen when he was near death.

That was a chilling thought. He was not looking to that experience again. 

He fell asleep and woke up when the nurse appeared for his lunch.

"How bad is it?" He asked her.

The nurse hesitated for a moment before she continued to wheel in the tray with his bland hospital food.

"It was bad." The nurse replied. "We wheeled the babies in NICU first to the basement. Then the more critical patients. Your captain was a big help in maintaining order."

"She is a captain for a reason." He replied. He started eating immediately, and the nurse left him once she saw his appetite.

Zoe came in around thirty minutes later, and he watched as his sweaty and sexy fiancé collapsed on the couch.

"Air conditioning." Zoe sighed in pleasure.

"The crisis is over?" He asked.

"Yes, and now we're dealing with the aftermath." Zoe replied. "You were right, it was a glitch. The heat wave caused a malfunction in the sensors in Edwards Air Force base, and sent an automatic message."

"I hate to be the C.O. on that base." He replied.

"The blame game will start soon, you'll probably hear the C.O. point his fingers at the contractor. Then the contractor will blame the military since they just followed specifications. It will last months of back and forth as it is investigated in Congress and they'll end up blaming the heat wave and global warming." Zoe rolled her eyes. She probably knew more than most about how the military would react, having served as a police officer in the Pentagon.

"I'll head to the station to deal with the aftermath. I think I.A. will be here to ask for your official statement regarding the shooting. It should be a quick process this time. I'll see you later after my shift love."

"Don't forget to eat, I know you skipped lunch." He reminded her. She tended to get lost in her work, ignoring things like meals or sleep.

"Yes, honey." Zoe leaned in for a kiss and headed for the door, while he admired the way her hips and butt fit in those pants. She really looked good in uniform.

He closed his eyes, thoughts of Zoe in uniform in his head as he fell asleep again.

John Nolan

It was awkward to see Jessica in the courtroom earlier and now in the bomb shelter. He gave her a cordial meeting when they first met outside the courthouse for his first deposition, where he learned she also had to testify for a case.

At least Wesley was there, though Lopez's lawyer boyfriend did warn him that he shouldn't take personally what was about to happen. He didn't know what to make of that, but soon realized quickly that Wesley was questioning his competency as a police officer in an effort to defend his client, the man he arrested for a DUI. Wesley asked about his grades at the academy, he asked about his procedure, and he questioned his decision process. Even the judge was giving him a concerned look as he stuttered his answers.

He was made to look like an idiot, and he thought he prepared for this but Wesley's aggressive questions rattled him.

Now the nuclear missile alert warned them of an impending attack, and they all hunkered down at the bomb shelter beneath the courthouse where he had to wait in a small confined room with his ex. She had been looking at him from time to time, but he continually pretended to be looking elsewhere to avoid her gaze. It was working so far, as he took on the role of another guard watching the chained prisoners.

"Let's not do this." He looked up from watching the inmates who were sitting, chained together on the other side of the shelter. Oscar Hutchinson continued to mouth off about the effects of a nuclear blast, and that the shelter designed in the 60s would not survive a modern nuclear weapon.

"Do what?" He asked.

She looked pretty in that blouse and those tight pants. He did miss her, but after she dumped him, he realized it was probably for the best. His insecurity after learning about the previous men she dated made him realize that he needed some self-reflection before he could pursue another relationship. He needed a friend.

"Ignore each other." She sat beside him on the wooden crate that was probably from the Reagan administration. He hoped the food was still edible in case they needed the supplies.

"I felt bad for what happened, so I didn't know how to talk to you." He admitted. He kept an eye out on the prisoners, and saw how one of the suspects was mockingly staring at the parents of the young man he killed.

"You could talk to me like you always do. I needed some time off as well, and realized I should have been more open about my past." Jessica replied. He wondered where she was going with this. "So, what do you say we have a fresh start?"

She looked at him, with that beautiful smile. He looked away, unable to stare at her eyes.

"John?"

"Sure." He took a deep breath. This was hard. "But I don't think… I'm the right man for you. I have a lot of baggage, and with all the constant doubts about myself, it wouldn't be fair to you."

She didn't respond, but he felt her hand squeeze his, then it was gone. She stood up and headed to where the judge and the clerk were huddled together. They were isolated from the rest of the room, since they initially hid the location of the bomb shelter in an attempt to keep supplies to themselves.

That didn't go to well with the rest of the room, and even the civilians and the bailiff gave the judge and his staff of two older women dirty looks.

"One more time and I'll gag you!" The prison guard watching over the convicts threatened, after the man who killed the parents taunted them once more.

The father of the victim looked like he was ready to jump at the convict, especially when he made several rude comments about his wife. He made another crass joke about the grieving wife, and then chaos ensued. The father launched himself at the suspect, and all the prisoners reacted.

He managed to pull off the grieving father and herded him away and forced him to sit near Wesley. He still felt annoyed at the lawyer, but now was not the time for personal feelings.

Ten minutes later Oscar and the other convict attempted an escape. They had stolen the keys from the guard during the earlier scuffle and had somehow obtained the guard's weapon. The large convict pushed people into his line of fire, and he ducked as the man fired a few rounds and headed to the door.

He saw a moment where he could shoot, as the convict aimed his weapon at Jessica. He shot the man, causing him to fall down.

"John!"

HE turned around and saw Oscar had somehow obtained a pair of scissors and had it aimed at the Judge's neck.

"Everybody be calm. Thanks for the diversion buddy." Oscar looked at the convict bleeding on the floor as he slowly backed away towards the entrance of the bomb shelter.

"Let the judge go." He pointed his weapon at the convict.

"Sure I will, when I'm outside." Oscar replied cheerfully. The man was insane.

"What about the missile?" Jessica asked. She had moved alongside him with her own weapon in hand, ready to shoot.

"If it's real, then I won't even feel it anyways. I'm just going to wink right out of existence." Oscar looked back and finally reached the door. "I don't want to spend the rest of my days in solitary."

The convict used one hand and tried to open the lock.

"If you make even one twitch I'm going to cut your carotid." Oscar warned the judge.

 "No don't open it!" One woman yelled. Oscar didn't listen and the heavy metal door swung open. A moment later he saw Lopez standing outside. She only took one look and moved into action and hit Oscar with the butt of her pistol.

The convict crumpled to the ground, unconscious. He thought it was over, when he heard a scream from the back. He looked over and saw Wesley nearly unconscious with a wound on his chest, his dress shirt underneath his coat stained with blood.

He remembered the way Lopez looked when she saw her boyfriend. She still had the presence of mind to call for EMS and then ran into the room to give first aid. It took 5 minutes before the EMTs arrived and they quickly carried Wesley to an ambulance.

"Bring my shop to the station Nolan." Lopez tossed her keys to him and jumped inside the ambulance. Jessica hitched a ride with him back to the station, and he spent an uncomfortable fifteen minutes navigating through the still chaotic streets.

Jessica was looking at her phone and he heard let out a relieved sigh. "So no missile attack?"

"No, it's a malfunction of a system in Edwards Airforce Base due to the heatwave." She replied. "Thank you for saving me back there."

"It was my job." He replied. He smiled as Jessica leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. They may not be together, but it was wonderful to feel the soft lips of a pretty woman on his skin.

Another drama unfolded in the station when he arrived. He finally knew why his T.O. had arrived in Mid-Wilshire despite having a golden ticket. She wanted more time for her daughter. He had to step in and defend Harper when her angry Ex-husband demanded she be arrested for parental kidnapping since she didn't have any custody of her daughter and only visitation rights.

He understood her actions though and explained it was just her instincts as a mother that made her take her daughter from school and bring her to the station when she heard of the nuclear attack.

The ex-husband relented and even told their daughter to give his T.O. a goodbye hug. It was a touching moment, and it was the first time he saw Harper show that much emotion.

"That's one of your strengths." He heard Jessica move to stand beside him, and realized she had seen the whole thing. "That's who you are John, you don't have to always compare yourselves to others."

"I guess I am." He replied. He was nosy, talkative, and maybe stubborn, but he knew how to talk to people. In his twenty years as a contractor, he had to be good at reaching out to clients just to get paid. He knew who he was.

He looked at the woman beside him and reached out to hold her hand. "Dinner?"

"I'd love to." Jessica replied.

Angela Lopez

She watched as Wesley was wheeled away by the doctors. She wanted to go with him, but the nurse stopped her following. She looked at the red line on the floor. Right.

She turned around, looking for a spot to wait, but every seat had been taken. The hospital was flooded with injured civilians due to the panic and heat wave, a deadly combination. She just wanted a space to rest, somewhere preferably cool and with less noise. It had been a long day with the nuclear missile scare, and going solo on patrol was tiring. She missed her rookie sometimes.

Wait, Jack was still confined to this hospital and decided to visit him. After asking the duty nurse to call her in Jack's room for any new about Wesley, she made her way to her rookie, stopping by a vending machine to get a drink and a snack.

She arrived at the fourth floor and passed by the nurse station. They recognized her and returned to their work as she made her way to his room at the end of the hallway. When she peeked through the door, she saw that Jack was awake and was using his phone.

"Hey Jack." She greeted her former rookie when she stepped inside. He was looking better already. He was beginning to regain that color and healthy glow as he recovered from his gunshot wound.

"Angela, come in." Jack greeted her with a smile. That smile vanished and she saw the concerned look on his face. She must have looked terrible for her rookie to notice her state immediately.

"Mind if I rest here for a bit?" She asked.

"Feel free to lie down."

She collapsed on the comfortable looking couch and leaned back and rested her neck on top of the backrest as she stared at ceiling. She closed her eyes for a few moments as she tried to reign in the churning emotions within her. All she could think about was Wesley.

"Wesley got hurt." She shared a few minutes later. "He's in surgery right now."

"What happened to him?" Jack asked.

"A convict tried to escape the courthouse today. He used the chaos from the news of the nuclear attack to make an attempt." She replied. "I don't know if he'll make it, he lost a lot of blood like you did."

"I see." Jack didn't offer the usual words to ease her worries. He instead asked her about the state of the city and the station.

"There was panic in the station until Sergeant Grey stepped in." She replied. "Grey relayed orders from the Captain and we quickly got organized. The threat of a nuclear missile and the heat wave made a few people crazy."

"How crazy?" Jack asked.

"Like cult crazy. I stopped a group who claimed they were about to be picked up by secret aliens and were about to jump off the roof of a building." She replied. Those white-robed cultists were delusional, but she had to let them go once and informed them that the imminent missile strike was a glitch. A very costly and expensive glitch.

Then her thoughts returned back to Wesley, and tears started to pool in her eyes.

"You know Shaw Memorial has the best trauma center in the city." Jack stated. "I nearly died, but they were able to bring me back. And Wesley's young and healthy."

"You think he'll make it?" She asked.

"I'm just stating what I know. His chances of survival are high." Jack replied. That did make her feel better as she smiled at her rookie. She marveled at how much he'd grown, but she couldn't take all the credit.

"You're a P2 now, but you still need to submit a CI for Grey to review. Do you need help with that?" She asked.

"I overheard from the students in the cafeteria of LACC of a guy that prints fake ids. I'm thinking of using him for my CI, is that viable?" He asked.

She thought about his idea, and saw the merit of using one as a CI. There was a long-term viability with a CI like that, and these type of nonviolent criminals usually have their ears on the ground whenever something big is coming.

"It has potential. Why don't you bring me with you the next time you're planning on visiting this guy?" She suggested.

"Sure, but we have to be out of uniform for that one. I don't want to spook him right away." He replied.

She spent the next hour eating, catching a bit of sleep, and watched over Jack as he fell asleep again. She knew it was his body's response to recovering from surgery since he did lose a lot of blood from that school shooting.

It was strange, before today the topic was focused in the school shooting and the hero cop, now that topic was barely mentioned in the news. She looked to the door when it opened and was surprised when she saw Tim and Chen enter the room with another woman in tow. She was standing close to Tim and appeared to be near Chen's age. Intriguing. She would have normally tried to tease Tim but right now she was too tired to do that.

"I figured you'd wait here." Tim stated. Her fellow T.O. watched her sleeping rookie for a moment before he joined her on the couch. Chen and the other woman decided to sit by the chairs near Jack's bed. She realized none of them had been able to visit Jack since he had been shot. It had only been her and the Captain who managed to visit him.

"So this is him?" She heard the woman ask despite her whispering.

"That's Jack." Chen whispered back.

 "So he's the one that turned you down in the academy?" The woman giggled. 

"Rachel! The T.O.s are here!" Chen hissed.

"Who is she?" She asked Tim.

"Rachel, this is Angela Lopez, a fellow training officer." Tim stated. "Rachel works for social services… and she's my girlfriend."

"About time Bradford." She replied. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Officer Lopez." Rachel said to her.

"Likewise." She replied. Waiting for Wesley's condition was nearly unbearable, and she appreciated any distraction she could get. "How did you two meet?"

"Lucy set us up." Rachel smiled at Tim. "I think they made a bet about it, something about short sleeves?"

"You got lucky Chen, Tim's a very particular person." She addressed what she thought was the only conscious rookie in the room.

"Wow, Bradford has a girlfriend?" They looked over to Jack who was now awake, despite their effort to lower their volume.

"Yes Routh." Tim rolled his eyes.

"She's a looker." Jack glanced at Rachel, making the social worker blush.

"I know, Routh." Tim replied. "But she's also a very nice and caring person."

The woman looked embarrassed and saw her cheeks had a noticeable flush.

"Wow, it's like all the people in this room and their partners are their opposites in some way." Lucy Chen commented.

"How so?" She asked.

"Well, you and Wesley always fight for justice but through opposite ends and beliefs." Chen explained. "My T.O. is cold, professional, and unforgiving, while his girlfriend who is my best friend, is warm, patient, and understanding."

"That training is to prepare you, Rookie." Tim gave his rookie an unimpressed look.

Chen looked at Jack next. "Jack's a rookie and his fiancé is a Police Captain. Somehow you all shouldn't have gotten together, but you did."

"That is an interesting observation." Rachel replied.

Before anyone else could speak, the door opened, revealing the nurse who stopped her from following Wesley to the operating room.

"Officer Lopez?" The woman dressed in maroon scrubs was taken aback by the number of people in the room.

"Yes?" She immediately moved to stand up. The feeling of fear and anxiety that she had momentarily forgotten was coming back in full force. She suddenly felt sick.

"The surgery was successful." The nurse smiled. "The doctor repaired his lung, and as long as there are no complications, he should make a full recovery. We'll move him to ICU in a few hours."

Oh Thank God. She suddenly felt Tim supporting her as she was lowered back to the couch.

"Thank you for telling us." She heard Chen speak for her, since she was unable to speak at the moment.

The nurse smiled back at them and left the room.

"Wesley's going to be fine!" She repeated what the nurse told her. She felt Tim giving her a hug which she quickly returned.

The door opened again, revealing Nolan and Harper. The reasonably spacious room Jack had was suddenly starting to feel a bit crowded. She was pretty sure they were violating the number of visitors allowed in a room.

"I was looking for everyone downstairs." Nolan looked around. "A nurse told me a bunch of cops are in Jack's room."

"How's Wesley?" Harper asked.

"She's going to be fine." She replied with a big smile, appreciating that the new T.O. had taken the time to check up on her. She even saw Tim give Harper a nod of greeting.

With the tension gone, everyone in the room was more relaxed. She decided to sit on Jack's bed so the others could have space to sit on. Tim preferred to stand and had moved to Jack's side, telling her former boot about the recovery process and warning him not to return to duty until he was ready physically and mentally.

Jack shared his experience with an interview with I.A. that morning, and commented it was different from what he was used to. In her opinion Jack didn't have to go through the process, it was clear as day he killed the shooter in self-defense.

"Being shot changes you." Tim warned Jack once more. She appreciated Tim trying to look out for her former boot.

At one point, Jack had teased her about taking care of Wesley and acting like a nurse at their home.

"Would you also wear an outfit?" He asked. "I think Wesley would like that."

Bastard. She knew Jack was just trying to be playful and teasing her, now that they knew Wesley was going to be fine. She suddenly remembered she possessed a certain video and decided that if Jack wanted to play, she would bring her game. He knew better than to push her buttons.

"Anyone want to see what Jack was like when he woke up from surgery and high from pain medication?

"Yes!" Harper, Nolan, Tim and Lucy replied as one, countering Jack's vehement "No!"

It was only Tim's girlfriend Rachel that looked confused.

"You're outvoted Routh." She said over his protests. She placed her phone on the table and propped it up with a bottle of water, pressed play on the video, and stepped back to watch it again.

"Was that Grace?" Nolan asked.

Tim had actually laughed out loud when the Jack on the video started hitting on the captain as he focused on sex. The Captain was clearly seen blushing while the other doctor and nurse were sporting barely concealed smiles, as a loopy Jack unknowingly revealed how active they were in their relationship. His blatant flirting was hilarious as he kept calling her hot. Then he started singing.

She didn't see it before, but while Jack was singing the pretty blond doctor in the background covered her face with a clipboard.

Nolan was laughing, and she saw Harper was biting her lips in amusement. Lucy and Rachel were hugging each other as they giggled when they saw a loopy Jack sing. Jack had covered his face with a pillow and she pulled it away, she wanted to see his embarrassed expression.

"We should try to get you drunk next time we go out." Nolan said once the video ended, wiping tears from his eyes.

"Yeah, you're a funny drunk." Lucy added. She started humming the tune.

"Thank you." Jack replied looking resigned.

"It's a catchy song." Tim told Jack. "The lyrics were easy to memorize, it's my favorite one yet."

"Stop it." Rachel was blushing and hit Tim on the shoulder.

One by one they all left, but not before wishing Jack a swift recovery until she was the only one remaining in the room.

"Want to wait here and have dinner while waiting for Wesley to be moved to the ICU?" Jack asked.

That sounded amazing and she was feeling hungry. She quickly left to buy burgers and fries for her and Jack, and when she returned she found the Captain was sitting on her usual chair beside him.

"I heard about Wesley." The captain offered her a soft smile. "I bet you're relieved."

"I am, Captain." She was glad she brought an extra burger. Now it wouldn't be awkward to eat in Jack's room with the Captain there.

Jack Routh

Technically Zoe wasn't supposed to sleep beside the cramped Hospital bed, but she wanted to snuggle with him for a bit before she went to the couch that served as her temporary bed. She made it work, sleeping on her side and being mindful of his still sore wound as she pressed up against him.

The nurse gently reminded Zoe to sleep on the couch before she left, earning a tired nod from Zoe. His fiancé hugged his arm on his uninjured side, and a few moments later she was sleeping peacefully. He didn't have the heart to wake her up.

Even the nurse agreed with him as she ignored the sleeping police captain on his side when she checked up on him.

He suddenly woke up, and looked around the dimly lit room. Something didn't feel right. Almost all the lights in the room were turned off. Zoe usually left the lamp by the couch on when she needed to use the bathroom and not wake him.

"Good instincts."

He followed the voice and saw a figure sitting on the corner. He looked around for a weapon and saw the ceramic mug Zoe used for coffee in the morning. He eyed it, knowing it would take him a few seconds to reach it and throw it to the man.

"I'm not here to hurt you, Routh. I just want to talk."

"Then talk." He took his left hand out of from cupping Zoe's breast from beneath her top so that his hands would be free to move if needed.

"I just want to meet you, and send you a message." The man leaned forward, showing a black man with a hardened face and a beard. "We have been keeping an eye on you ever since you saved the city from a biological terrorist attack. And now, you saved many students in the school shooting by killing Percy Reed."

"I was doing my duty." He replied, wondering what this man's intentions were.

"Now it's personal. You saved my kid back then, and so now I owe you one too. If you need any help at all, anything, and we'll come." The man left a card and placed it on the table beside the couch. "Take care of yourself now, Officer Routh. Good night Major Andersen. I'll appreciate the discretion."

He watched as the tall imposing man gave them one last nod and left through the door.

"He noticed you." He told Zoe who now had her eyes open.

"You didn't have to squeeze my nipple that hard." Zoe complained. Then her face turned serious, as she stared up at him. "He knew my rank while I was in the military."

"So, black ops?" He guessed. Zoe had told him her records were sealed.

"Most likely." She replied. "And they came here personally to thank you."

"Is it a good thing or a bad thing?" He asked.

"Both." His fiancé replied. "Black ops do a lot of illegal activity abroad. Off the books, no traces. To see a cell operating in US Soil is worrying."

"But having a black ops cell telling you they have your back when you need it is useful." Zoe continued. She leaned back to rest her head on his chest once more. "We're not in any danger baby. Let's get back to sleep."

She grabbed his wrist and placed his hand on her breast once more and made a pleasing noise. He watched her slowly fall back to sleep, but he was still too on edge after being surprised like that. He didn't sleep until he saw the sky was turning blue as he kept watch on the door.

The next morning he waited until Zoe left for the station, and bored of being in bed all day decided to take a little stroll. The nurses all looked worried but he could walk fine, it was when he needed to bend down that made the wound on his lower back hurt like a bitch.

He couldn't wait to be discharged.

The nuclear missile strike alert was still the talk of the news stations, as the city suffered significant damage due to the panic that ensued. If there was one thing that he appreciated about the incident was it refocused all attention away from him.

"Officer Routh." The nurse called out to him as he passed their station on his way back to his room. She relay didn't look happy when she saw him walking around, but he read his file and knew the doctors wanted him to be on his feet as soon as possible and start physical therapy.

"Yes ma'am?"

"We received a call from the front desk about a woman and her friends who wanted to visit you. Are you willing to see visitors?" She asked.

"What is the woman's name?" He asked.

"Penny Teller." The nurse read the note she wrote down.

"She's one of my students." He replied. "Please send her up."

Penny Teller

She shouldn't have allowed Sheldon to come. Her patience was already running thin after the shenanigans his neighbor made when they all received a nuclear missile alarm in their phones. Her plan was to hide in the basement, but Sheldon kept bringing more and more emergency equipment out of their closet to take with them to the basement.

She wanted to cry, as she debated with her neighbor about the merits of bringing a second power bank with him, along with food, water, his survival kit and clothes, and finally a hazmat suit made her want to tear her hair out. By the time they finally agreed on what to take to the basement, they all realized the twenty-nine minutes had passed without anything happening.

She received a message an hour later as they waited in the basement, informing them that the initial alert was a mistake, caused by a malfunctioning sensor in a military base in the north of the city.

Then they had to bring up all the equipment and luggage without a working elevator in the building from the basement to the fourth floor. Five flights of stairs, and she was the one who carried the heavy bags.

The next day she decided to visit Professor Routh, the man who saved her life. Her car wouldn't start that morning so she had to ask Leonard to give her a ride. Leonard agreed and even told her he would accompany her on her visit. When Sheldon overheard her discussing her plans, he decided that he would also join them and picked up several boards with him covered in brown paper. She thought they were gifts and agreed that he could join them.

"Sheldon, please." The quirky genius had decided to stop at every Alcogel automatic dispenser that lined the hallway and continually rubbed his hands to keep himself clean.

"Hospitals are the incubators of viruses and bacteria, Penny." Sheldon replied while he wore his N95 mask.

"You said yes. "Leonard told her when she looked at him for help. She did say yes to Sheldon when he asked, and she was now regretting that decision.

They reached the fourth floor, and she finally found her professor on the bed sitting up and talking to a doctor. Even in a hospital gown he still looked handsome. She wanted to run her hands through that brown hair even if he had a scary fiancé with a gun.

"Penny, good to see you." Professor Routh greeted them. "Leonard, Sheldon, thank you for visiting."

"Should you be sitting up?" She asked. She remembered his slumped figure on the wall as he lost unconsciousness. She really thought he would die when they carried him on a stretcher. It was jarring to see him awake and looking healthy though aa bit pale a few days later.

"The doctor told me I need physical therapy as soon as I'm healed. I'm allowed to walk at the very least." He replied and moved back to lie on the bed. She did not miss the wince he made as he moved slowly and released a sigh of relief once his head hit the pillow.

"For a few hours, not wander up and down the whole hospital." The female doctor added. "It will take weeks to fully heal from your injuries and a month to get back into service. It's good that you have a healthy appetite already."

"How are you doing?" She asked, sitting on the chair beside his bed once the doctor left the room.

"Feeling better already. How are your classmates?" He asked her.

"I haven't spoken to them since I gave the interview to the investigators." She replied. "I think we were all in shock and haven't fully processed it. Then this missile alert thing happened."

"I must say I found the city's response to the threat was abysmal." Sheldon made his presence known as he sat on the other chair. He looked uncomfortable on his chair for a few moments as he wiggled on it. He looked around the room and then stared at her, then at her chair. No way he would…

"That's my spot." Sheldon pointed to the chair she was seating on.

"Sheldon, that's no one spot." Leonard tried to reason with this roommate.

"But I feel a draft here, and I find the glare from the window irritating to my eyes. Penny, exchange seats with me." Sheldon demanded.

She shared a look with an amused professor and rolled her eyes. She knew better than to argue with Sheldon by now, he wouldn't just drop simple matters like these and would constantly interrupt her conversation with Professor Routh until he got his way.

"Fine." She exchanged seat with Sheldon, and the aggravating neighbor look pleased at his new seat. She didn't know why he was complaining, Jack's room in the hospital had a great view out to the city.

"The community college has counseling services." Professor Routh told her. The investigators and police had told her that too, but she didn't want to focus on that. She didn't feel like she has PTSD from the incident.

"I'll see if I need it, but so far I've been far too busy to think about what happened." She replied.
I just want to say… thank you. For risking your life to save mine."

"You're welcome Ms. Teller." Professor Routh gave her that smile of his that made her stomach churn. "It's our job to protect the public from people like him."

She spent a few minutes sharing what happened, from the dozens of police officers that arrived on the scene, medical personnel, and the chaos that surrounded the whole incident. She had given statements to the LAPD, Sheriff's county and even the FBI along with the rest of her classmates. It was only upon meeting her history Professor once more that she started to process what had happened to her.

Thankfully Professor Routh gave her the answers she needed, not the speculation the media was presenting. Who the suspect was, his motivations and his likely end goal. They were just unfortunate victims that witnessed a deranged man as the world crumbled around him, determined to bring as many down with him in his final moments.

The conversation turned lighter as she asked when about what geek convention she will see him again, since her neighbors practically dragged her to a quite a few every year.

"Unfortunately I don't have plans to go the others this year." He replied.

"Not even in Anaheim?" Leonard asked. "It's a pretty good convention, and the rare comic collectors have moved to that scene from San Diego."

That's right. She remembered Leonard, Sheldon and Howard complained about the commercialization of the comic con experience in San Diego and constantly compared it to its more humble origins.

"Jack, I made a few posters for you to see. Perhaps if you see the artistry involved, you'd agree to my proposal." Sheldon eagerly removed the brown paper of the packages he brought with him and unveiled three movie posters. He placed them by the window, side by side.

[Superman Returns]

[Batman Vs Superman]

[The Justice League]

Each poster was done in way that if she didn't know any better she would have thought they were real.

First was a picture of Superman with Jack's face, lifting a car before it hit a man. The second was a large side view picture of Jack's head facing off against what she could only assume was batman, but he wore a strange armor and not his usual cowl she was familiar with in parties.

The third was a silhouette of seven figures, with Jack at the forefront staring at the camera with his arms folded.

"Where did you get these pictures?" Professor Routh asked. "These are great by the way."

"Thank you." Sheldon looked pleased. "I made them with a help of a grad student who was forced to take up a measly graphic artist side job to pay off his student loans."

"So will you reconsider?" Sheldon asked once again.

"I'll think about it." Her professor gave a vague answer. "So how did you get these pictures?"

"I found a blog online, called EC club with all your pictures, from you working out in a gym, to pictures of you in your police uniform and even when you're just writing reports." Sheldon answered.

Okay, that was creepy and gave stalker vibes but she needed to know the name of that blog for research. She was asking for a friend.

 "Oh what's this? Are you going into acting now?"

She heard a familiar voice that she usually hears in the radio on her way to work. She turned around to see a tall blonde woman wearing shades and a cap.

"Taylor? How did you get here?" Professor Routh asked.

"I told them I was your student, and the nurse bought it!" The woman called Taylor removed her shades and cap, and she suddenly forgot how to breathe. Taylor Swift is here! Taylor Swift is in the same room as her!

"What's wrong with her?" She heard Taylor ask.

"She always listens to your music every morning." Sheldon replied. "It's very annoying."

Oh my god! That snapped her out of her daze and glared at Sheldon. She was about to speak when she heard Taylor laugh.

"I'll be annoyed too if I keep hearing the same thing over and over again." Taylor replied.

"Taylor, this is one of my students, Penny Teller, and her friends Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper." Professor Routh started to introduce them. She felt giddy being introduced to the biggest pop star in the world!

"Thanks Professor." She replied happily. She couldn't believe this moment was real!

"Professor?" Taylor looked intrigued. "That's right, that's the reason you were there to stop the shooter. You're a history professor too!"

"A sad, but a necessary career in pursuit of science." Sheldon gave his unwanted opinion. "Just like engineers and… musicians."

She wanted to strangle Sheldon, but the famous pop star seemed amused rather than offended.

"So what are these posters for?" Taylor asked as she walked closer to the window to give each a closer look.

"Sheldon thinks I should audition to be the next Superman. They're in the process of making one now." Professor Routh explained. "So he made these posters to convince me."

"You do look the part." Taylor looked at Jack and the poster. "You do have the face and the build for it. You're like a younger modern Christopher Reeves."

"See!" Sheldon added. "The musician sees it too, and she's only a musician. It's pretty obvious, Officer Routh."

"Thanks, I think." Taylor replied. "I'm not here to ask about your potential acting career. I'm here about another matter. Can we have some privacy?"

She got the hint and offered her chair to Taylor and said a quick goodbye to Jack. She had to push Sheldon to the door and drag a dazed Leonard who hadn't spoken a word or even moved when Taylor came in.

Taylor Swift

After her kidnapping, she focused herself in her music, and her tour though she occasionally kept an eye on the young cop that saved her life. Seeing him on the news the other day made her worry about him, when there were reports that he was rushed to the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound after stopping the shooter.

She was finally able to find time since her planned schedule for the month had been changed due to the nuclear attack scare.

"I need help." She began. "I want to make a new recording of my old albums. It's going to be a huge undertaking."

"What for?" He asked.

"Let's just say I want to regain ownership of my own songs. My relationship with the record label is not the best, to be honest." She could see some fractures and she knew the relationship would deteriorate from there. She wanted to move in a new direction, but the record label wanted her in another. It was getting more tedious to attend meetings with the executives.

"So if they don't want to sell me the master copyrights of my old songs, I'll record new ones, with new instrumentation and flair, and I want you to help me with that." She continued, remembering the impromptu rehearsal she had with Jack on the piano with the song Love Story. "I also want to give you the opportunity to record your own album. We can discuss contract details later."

 "When I get discharged, let's talk." He replied after thinking for a minute. "I need a month or more to return to active duty, so I'll have time."

"Perfect!" Taylor grinned. "Of course this will be just between us. My label should not even get a hint of what we're up to. We can say I'm collaborating with you in creating new songs."

"Hmmmm." Jack looked like he was deep in thought.

"What is it?" She asked.

"I think I have a song that's perfect for you. Obviously I can't show it to you now, but I can write the lyrics down." Jack offered.

"Show me!" She eagerly reached for her pen and back of an old receipt from her bag and handed it to him.

She tapped her foot, eager to read the lyrics. If Jack said it was perfect for her, then she knew it would sound amazing. Two minutes later Jack handed her the old receipt and immediately read the lyrics.

Her eyed widened as she read the words. This was … wow. It really spoke to her.

[Lost Stars- Maroon 5]

Hold on

Please, don't see
Just a boy caught up in dreams and fantasies
Please, see me
Reaching out for someone I can't see

Take my hand
Let's see where we wake up tomorrow
Best laid plans
Sometimes are just a one night stand
I'll be damned
Cupid's demanding back his arrow
So let's get drunk on our tears

And, God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

Who are we?
Just a speck of dust within the galaxy
Woe is me
If we're not careful turns into reality

Don't you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow
Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer
Turn the page
Maybe we'll find a brand new ending
Where we're dancing in our tears

And, God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

And I thought I saw you out there crying, ooh ooh
And I thought I heard you call my name, yeah yeah
And I thought I heard you out there crying, oh
Just the same, oh yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah

God, give us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and this lamb is on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

And I thought I saw you out there crying, ooh ooh ooh
And I thought I heard you call my name, ooh ooh ooh
And I thought I heard you out there crying, oh
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

"Obviously we have to rework the lyrics." Jack explained. She didn't fully listen to him, her focus on the words of the lyrics. Once she had finished reading it, she looked at him with determination in her eyes.

"It will start slow at first, and then pick up in the middle." Jack continued to explain. She really really wished she could ask him to sing a sample, but she knew he was wounded and needed to rest.

"Thank you." She carefully folded the piece of paper and tucked it inside her phone wallet. "Here's the address of a bungalow house I own in LA. I was thinking of selling it, since it's mostly used as a guest house by my visiting friends, but maybe we can use it for our project?"

"Thanks." Jack looked over at the address she had given using his phone. "Good location, lots of privacy."

"I know right? That's why I bought it in the first place, but I ended up not using it. I'm reluctant to sell it since it has that charm and peaceful vibe. Even if it's a small property, nothing can beat it with the privacy it has since it's built on a corner lot with trees surrounding it." She explained.

Hmm, perhaps Jack would be interested in buying it from her. He knew Jack and his fiancé would probably look for a larger property in the future instead of the apartment he told her they were living in. It would be nice to know that a property she loved and bought with her hard-earned money when she was just starting out was owned by someone she knew personally.

"So let me share with you the songs I want to record new masters for." She leaned forward and began writing a list of her songs dearest to her.

She left Jack an hour later with a new sense of purpose and a signed poster of a fan-made superman movie.

Jack Routh

There was still considerable pain as he finally dressed in proper clothes after spending over a week in a hospital gown. He had been give strict instructions not to over exert himself and take it easy for the next week before he would need to go back to the hospital for another check up and evaluation.

It was a pity that he couldn't ride his bike for now and he missed weaving through traffic and the feeling of his machine underneath him.

"Ready to go?" Angela asked. Zoe had sent her to pick him up since she was swamped with meetings.

"Yeah." He lifted his bag but Angela immediately took it from him.

"I got enough of that from Tim, I don't need to see that macho crap from you." She stated. "Let's go. You better have some nice snacks in your place."

"I have a couple of chips." He thought of the chips Angela liked to snack on during break time, and luckily he had a bag of unopened Cheetos in his pantry. "If you're willing to wait, I can make us a sandwich."

"Deal." Angela replied. "It's near the end of my first shift anyway."

"How's Wesley doing?" Angela's boyfriend had been moved out of ICU a few ago. He had visited the lawyer a few times since his room was close to his.

"Bored. He's already reading up on his client's papers while he recovers." Angela shook her head as they got into her shop. "It looks like it's his office in there with all the binders and papers he has around his bed."

Angela let out an appreciative whistle when he led her to his unit, 802. "This place is nice."

"I got luck when I found it." He replied.

"And that's where… the Captain lives?" Angela nodded her head at the door at the end of the hallway.

"Yeah. I rarely use this apartment these days. It's mostly become a storage unit at this point." He opened the door and let her in. He watched as Angela looked around his apartment and apparently satisfied, made herself comfortable on the couch.

He turned on the AC and headed to the kitchen and decided to make a simple ham and cheese sandwich for them.

"So what's your plan when you're on your medical leave?" She asked. "You're on medical leave, so you couldn't do your duties as a cop, and that includes the community outreach in the community college."

"Taylor approached me with an offer to help her with her albums." He replied.

"That's interesting. At least you have something to, the department is having us increase community engagement to build a better rapport with the public and foster trust." Angela replied, looking like she smelled something foul.

"You don't like it?" He asked.

"It's just wasting hours listening to people complain about their neighbors instead of doing real police work." She replied. "I'd rather spend more time with Wesley and help with him with his physical therapy."

"You should." He stopped making the sandwich and stared at his former T.O. "We're cops, we have some idea about the dangers we face every day. Wesley doesn't. He got stabbed twice in the chest by a psychopath trying to escape from prison. That's not something he can just recover from, and I'm not talking about his wounds."

"He always changed the subject when I asked." Angela looked thoughtful as she considered his words. "You think he's trying to avoid the subject?"

"I bet you he is. He's going to need your support to get through this. That was a traumatic thing that happened to him." He explained.

"Thanks Jack. I'll keep an eye on him, but I won't push the subject, but I won't shy away from what happened to him either." Angela looked determined. "Now make me my sandwich."

Angela spent half an hour hanging out in his apartment, the only other friend he had invited inside aside from Zoe. Feeling restless, he went to his nook where the keyboard was and started writing the music for the lyrics he gave Taylor. He planned to maximize his time while on his mandated medical leave to keep busy.

Zoe arrived early that afternoon famished and tired. She ate a few plates of the diner he prepared and watched with satisfaction as she now relaxed on the couch after a quick shower. It was Friday, and he could see how happy she was able to get home early. She must have worked hard to finish all that paperwork that usually piled up on her desk during Fridays.

"How was your day?" He asked. He slowly sat down beside her, mindful of his stitches. His injuries flared from time to time when he moved too quickly or in the wrong direction and it was incredibly difficult to resist scratching the wound. Now wearing a pair of tiny shorts and a thin camisole, she moved up on the couch and used his lap as her pillow.

"More mandated community building programs." Zoe complained. She closed her eyes when he ran his fingers through her scalp like a comb. He always liked how the scent of the shampoo she used. "I think my officers will rebel soon with all the community engagement they were forced to participate in."

"Angela would probably be one of the leaders of the rebellion." He teased.

"Grey would lead it first." She countered. "When Grey envisioned a focus on community relations, this wasn't it. He wanted a more genuine approach with programs like the one you're participating in."

"How was yours?" She asked.

"I told you about Taylor's offer, I'm planning to use this month to help her with her music." He replied. "Since I'm limited to what I can do until I recover."

"It's protocol. You're lucky with your bullet wound. A few cops injured in a shootout in Rampart took six months to recover and get back on patrol. Just follow the doctor's order okay?

"Yes love. No lifting of heavy weights, take regular walks, and eat regularly. No strenuous exercises." He repeated the instructions Dr. Sawyer told him before he left. Apparently, John had asked her to keep an eye on him while he was confined to the hospital.

"Good."

"I'll share some songs with her and help her record a few songs too. We need to visit her in this bungalow house she owns, she plans to do all the work there in secret." He continued.

"When?" Zoe stretched as she yawned and he was reminded of a cat who was about to sleep.

"Tomorrow after breakfast we can visit her house."

"Okay. We can do that."

Zoe was about to sleep so he stopped massaging her scalp. She gave a noise of protest and opened her eyes.

"You would have fallen asleep, and I couldn't carry you with my injury." He told her and poked her on the side to fully wake her. Zo just grunted and headed back to their room.

They moved to the bed and he thought she was about to sleep facing away from him when she lowered her shorts until it was free from her legs.

"Put it in love." Zoe mumbled as she presented her ass to him as she lifted one cheek so he could better see her cunt.

"Mmmmm" Zoe let out a pleased moan when he entered her. It was the first time since he was injured that his cock was back in her cunt he didn't to rush as he gave fucked her in lazy and slow strokes.

He was pretty sure she didn't orgasm, but it was nice to have sex again after being in the hospital for over a week. When he came inside her she was already asleep, so he just hugged her tighter to his body and closed his eyes as well, relishing her presence.

The next morning they had a leisurely breakfast and then headed to the address Taylor gave him with Zoe driving.

"This is a good neighborhood." Zoe observed while she looked around. They finally stopped in front of the Spanish-style house, barely visible because of the wall and the trees that covered its front. "It's barely three miles from the station. So this is the very first property Taylor Swift bought when she started?"

"Yes, and she's having second thoughts about selling it." He explained. "She told me she wanted someone she knew personally to purchase it from her, rather than a complete stranger."

They walked through the unlocked gate and to the stone path. Immediately he felt like he was transported to another world, it was if he wasn't in the bustling city of LA anymore.

"Wow." Zoe commented. It was obvious she had also noticed the immediate change in their surroundings. 

There was a large tree in the middle of the yard, providing a cool shade to the table and chairs under it. There was no grass, only tiles on the floor and bushes that lined the perimeter wall. The Spanish-style house with its distinct red tiles roof and white walls looked inviting.

"You're here!" Taylor appeared from the front door. He could see a few security guards behind her. "Jack!"

"Good to see you Taylor." He greeted as the famous pop star gave him a hug then gave one as well to Zoe which surprised him.

"Thank you for coming, let's head inside." Taylor invited them in, looking excited.

"This is a nice house in a great location." Zoe told Taylor.

"Isn't it? It's such a shame that I didn't really get to use it." Taylor said as she looked around the house. The house was well maintained, and looked to be upgraded with modern appliances while it retained parts of its original style. "Come, I'll show you why I bought this in the first place."

The pop star led them to the backyard where it was surrounded by a wall. There was only a narrow strip of grass, beside it was a built in Jacuzzi with lounge chairs surrounding it. He looked around and realized he no other property would be able to see through the backyard.

"Impressive." He liked the aesthetics and that it didn't much maintenance.

"This is amazing." Zoe added.

"I wrote a few of my songs in here." Taylor said fondly. "Why don't I show you to the music room? I have my staff arrange it for when we want to record our songs."

She led them to a medium-sized music room, complete with a keyboard, a drum set, an array of guitars, and recording equipment.

"This room is soundproofed, so we won't have to worry about any noise complaints." Taylor informed them. They followed he around to tour the rest of the house, which included the large bedroom overlooking the backyard Jacuzzi and had its own entrance, followed by the combined pace of the kitchen with a center island, a table for six and the living room. "

"There's another guest room, but that's unfurnished." Taylor explained. "So this will be our base for the month that you're recovering. What do you think?"

"It's an amazing house Taylor. I can see why you fell in love with it." He replied.

"Want to buy it?" Taylor suddenly asked.

He didn't have that kind of money and was totally caught by surprise. "Taylor I don't have that kind of money."

The pop star waved of his statement and smiled. "You'll be earning enough with this project we're going to work on."

"Taylor I don't…"

"You don't want to make money from the songs, you just want the copyrights. I know." Taylor cut him off. "You'll still make a significant profit from the work we will do."

He saw Zoe giving him a look and he immediately understood what his fiancé meant. "Could you give us time to think it over?"

"Of course Jack. Honestly, you'll be doing me a favor by buying this place for me." Taylor looked around the home with wistful look on her face. It was obvious she cared very deeply about this house.

Taylor's staff arrived, bringing breakfast. He used the time to have a private conversation with Zoe while the pop star was busy speaking with her team.

"So, what do you think of her offer?" He asked.

"She's very generous. Homes like these are really sought after. It might not be a high end property, but all positives are there, great location, modernized but still has that unique character and very easy to maintain too." Zoe replied.

"So do you want to live here"? He asked. "This could be a nice wedding present for us."

Zoe's face immediately turned to him, and he could see the pleased look on her face. He knew she liked his idea to have a house prepared that's more suited for a married couple.

"Get it." She whispered with a smile. "I'll help you finance the payments."

Zoe walked around the property to take a more closer look, he could see she was already imagining what she would do when they started living here. Taylor was delighted when they told her they would buy it from her.

"I think I want to keep this room and not change a thing." He told Taylor as he inspected the music room. It was lined with sound absorbing materials, but had a glass so that they could see through to the smaller room the contained the recording equipment used by sound engineers and technicians. He took a closer look at the elaborate jade green drum set and took a seat. He placed his feet on the pedals and felt and heard the bass when he tested it. He noticed the drumsticks on the snare drum and quickly tested the drums.

"You know how to play the drums?" Taylor asked curiously.

"Some." He replied, as fresh memories poured inside his head. Huh, who knew Charlie Puth could play the drums that well? That musical artist in his old world was really dedicated and talented at his craft.

"I was thinking of changing the drum beats of Shake it Off." Taylor explained. "Want to give it a try?"

"Sure." He replied. Taylor left the room and started giving instructions to her staff. He remembered her famous hit, and started to have an idea of what to add to her composition with the drums. He checked the equipment and their position and found them in excellent condition.

"Okay." Taylor looked excited and handed out an earpiece for him to wear and wore her own headset. "They're going to play the rest of the track aside from the drums and vocals. Let's do this on three."

[Shake it Off – Taylor Swift - Mike Portnoy on Drums]

He was having fun with the drums as he listened to the cues in her vocals. He focused on the drums and maintaining the beat and adding an extra kick here and there with the percussion and high top.

He was having so much fun that the song ended too quickly for him. Then he felt the slight pain from his wound. He might have overdone it.

"This is what I was talking about! Did you get that?" Taylor grinned as she removed her headset. "That was amazing!"

"That was fun." He replied. He noticed through the window that their quick practice had attracted an audience. Zoe was there giving him the look.

"How did you do that?" Taylor demanded. "The drums, they sounded like they have their own musical style instead of a generic back beat."

"I played it depending on how you performed the song." He explained.

"This is even better than I hoped." The pop star replied. "We'll make new masters better than the original, and get the best musicians to re-record everything."

Zoe was waiting for him when they came out of the music room.

"Just when I thought you had no more surprises left, you pulled out this one." Zoe eyed him from head to toe. "You're an amazing drummer. I wanted to learn when I was younger, but my stepmother didn't allow me."

"You could learn now. I could teach you." He offered.

Taylor seemed energized by their earlier performance. One of her staff approached them while they rested and asked for the contact details of his lawyer.

"It's for the contract." The female staff explained. We just want your own lawyer to check it before we sign everything. Do you have his number?"

"I do, but he's in the hospital right now. I'll send his number to Taylor once I confirm he's going to help me review the contracts." He knew Wesley would appreciate work that's not involved in violence and criminals while he recovered.

Chapter Text

Episode 16

Jack Routh

"I need time alone, Jack." Zoe asked him after they left the doctor's clinic. The news was not good for his fiancé. She had a very slim chance of getting pregnant.

The doctor's test results came back, and it did not bode well for Zoe. He could see that she tried to put up a brave front to look like the news did not affect her, but he could see the trembling of her lips and the fake smile she gave to the doctor when they left.

"Of course." He replied.

He watched her walk down the block instead of heading for her car and he followed. He had known since living with her that she sometimes said things but didn't really mean them but somehow expected him to do what she really wanted like he was a mind reader. He guessed that this situation was one of them.

She spent walking for a few blocks, then realized he was following her. She stopped and narrowed her eyes at him, but he remained unfazed.

"I told you I want to be left alone." She snapped.

"I know." He replied. "I'm just walking in the same direction as you are."

Zoe looked irritated for a few long moments and then sighed. She looped her arm around his and they slowly resumed walking downtown. He was already feeling better, a week after he was discharged from the hospital. Determined to get back to fighting shape as soon as possible, he started exercising in his free time and found jogging on the beach every morning a good way to increase his overall stamina and leg strength.

"It doesn't change things, you know." He told her. "We're going to grow old together. I did not sing those lyrics just for show."

"Really? I thought you'd leave once I turn seventy." Zoe replied. Hearing her joke back made him feel better. He hated how closed off she could get sometimes.

"I can always rewrite the lyrics." He joked back. "They all rhyme easily since I just need to add one syllable, like eighty-three or ninety-three."

"I get it." Zoe led him to a bench outside a convenience store where they both sat. "I was just really looking forward to it. Seeing that house Taylor is going to sell to us… it just triggered something in me."

"She said we can move there as soon as the project is finished." He told her.

Zoe had started looking at furniture, and even looked up new outdoor furniture designs for a fire pit. He had a feeling Zoe was excited to express her creativity once more, since the apartment building they were living in had strict regulations for tenants.

They went back to the apartment building thirty minutes later. His bike was overdue for a tune-up up and he decided to take advantage of the auto shop's location with its close proximity to the beach.

"Where are you going?" Zoe asked him when she saw him in exercise clothes.

"I'm going to do some light jogging on the beach while the bike gets checked." He replied. "The parts I ordered for a better pillion seat arrived, and they're going to attach that too."

"Okay." Zoe gave him a gentle kiss that slowly turned into a full make-out session. She had pulled him back to the bedroom, seemingly determined to at least get a chance to get pregnant despite the odds. She cried after, and then laughed as he hugged her on the bed after they both reached their climax.

 He left later than he planned and arrived at the beach with more people than he expected.

Deciding to use the two lifeguard towers that were about 200 yards apart as his markers, he started his warm-up jog, and he was on his second lap and saw a man in a hood jogging in the same direction he was but at a much slower pace.

"On your left." He called out and ran past the man. He focused on maintaining his form and twenty minutes later he was about over take the man again who had the same idea about running around the two lifeguard stations.

"Don't say it!" A familiar voice called out once he reached closer to his fellow jogger and recognized Nolan as his fellow cop looked over his shoulder. Deciding to have fun on his final lap he increased his speed.

"On your left." He said again as he passed his fellow rookie.

"No!" Nolan called out and he could hear the man's heavy breathing as he tried to run after him. He soon left him behind and after he completed his cool down walk he saw Nolan sitting on the shade behind the lifeguard tower where had also left his tumbler.

"That was unfair." Nolan complained once he reached him and took a long drink of his tumbler to replace the liquids he lost when running.

"What's unfair?" He asked.

"You made running in the sand look so easy." Nolan replied.

"Try to run on the balls of your feet, and try to spread your weight as much as possible." He advised. "Avoid landing on your heels or running on your toes, since that will only make you sink deeper."

"That's it?" Nolan asked.

"Keep your back straight and look ahead and raise your knees higher when you run." He added. Seeing that Nolan remained silent he continued speaking. "I was surprised to see you here."

"I needed to blow off some steam." Nolan looked troubled.

"Something work-related?" He asked, sitting beside the older man.

"Home. Jessica… well we had a pregnancy scare earlier. Now she wants to be a mother, and I feel like I had my turn already." Nolan shared. "Grey told me he had her daughter when he was two years in as a cop and the only sleep he could get was back on his shop during lunch breaks."

He found it ironic at the stark contrast between John and Jessica compared to Zoe and his situation. Something in his face must have shown when Nolan pointed it out.

"What's amusing?" Nolan asked.

"We've been trying, and the doctor said it will be difficult for Zoe because of her condition." He shared.

"No, I see why you look amused." Nolan replied. "Why don't we swap?"

He could tell the older man was joking so he gave him a flat stare instead.

"Okay, bad joke." Nolan sighed. He stood up and dusted off the sand on his jogging pants and he did the same. "What are you doing now?"

"I'm getting my bike tuned up." He explained. "You?"

"Renovation. I'm finished with the drywall, so it's finishing and then I'll focus on the concrete and pour a new slab." Nolan explained. He remembered that Nolan had moved out of his friend's guest house and bought a rundown house in need of repair. "I could use some help. Pizza and beer are on me."

"Give me a date, and I'll drop by when I'm free." He promised. "How much do you charge? We're thinking of buying a house too, and I'd appreciate it if you take a look at the property."

"Sure." Nolan smiled. "How about burgers and beer?"

"Deal." He shook the man's hand and soon left for the bike shop as Nolan returned to his workout. His next schedule was to meet Wesley and the lawyer told him to drop by Angela's place.

A quick shower at the apartment and then he arrived at Angela's house. He was impressed to see how organized and clean it was, compared to when he first visited her house to help her clean it up.

"Jack!" Wesley seemed to have recovered from his injury as well, and he could see the healthy glow on the man's skin. "Thanks for coming by so quickly. I have contracts that Taylor's lawyers sent over for you to sign."

"Where's Angela?" He asked.

"She left earlier to visit her mother." Wesley explained. "I couldn't believe the terms she set when I read the contracts her team sent."

"How are the contracts?" He asked.

"They're more than fair. Aside for the charity we set up for majority of the sales, you still stand to make a significant amount of money with this deal. She set very generous terms. She must trust you a lot." Wesley explained.

Taylor planned her next album by including a few of his more popular songs in a duet with her. Then he got additional income as a writer for a few of her songs and a generous salary for his participation on preparations on her re-recording of masters of her old albums. Taylor also liked Call Me Maybe, a song he found out didn't exist in this world with Lost Stars, and decided to highlight the two in her upcoming album.

"I might not know more, but I can see where she's headed with these." Wesley shared. "What she's doing is revolutionary to the industry."

"I think it's about time artists have more control over their music." He replied. He heard her stories about her creative disagreements with the label and the underhanded tactics they used on uncooperative music artists under their brand.

He continued his routine, working out in the morning, recordings for the rest of the day and evenings with Zoe. She had bought a new set of Class As uniforms for the two of them and even steamed them to remove the wrinkles. He could see how meticulous she was with every detail, and guessed that it must have come from her military background.

She received word that the city and the department had decided to award him a Medal of Valor in the upcoming Above and Beyond Ceremony. Along with him are nine other officers to be awarded different awards and commendations. He was the only recipient of the Medal of Valor.

The next morning, he noticed something was different at the beach. There was a group of four men loitering around the area where he normally ran. He looked around, and saw another man with a camera near the water, taking pictures of the horizon.

"Hey, Jack." The pretty blonde lifeguard greeted him. She had talked to him on his third day, and he found out her father was one of the officers in the station, Jerry Mcgrady. She had generously offered to take his bag and store it in her lifeguard station while he exercised when she found out he was also a cop in the same station where her father worked.

"Good morning, Ashley." He greeted back and handed her a cup of hot chocolate.

"Thanks." The blonde lifeguard eagerly took a sip and sighed when she finished. "Thanks, Jack. I don't know what I'll do when you finally finish your medical leave."

"What's with that group?" He indicated the group of men in the distance.

Ashley frowned as she observed the group. "They arrived ten minutes ago, but they're just standing there doing nothing. I'm not sure what they're here for, but they're not doing anything illegal as far as I could see."

"Thanks, Ashley, I'll start my workout now." He started his stretching exercises, and once his body was loose, he set off for a light jog. On his third lap, he noticed the men were pointing at him and laughing. He ignored the group, until they moved to block his path when he reached the lifeguard station.

"Hey, dude. Heard you were some tough cop." One of the men told him. He looked around and spotted the man on the beach, pointing his camera in their direction. He instantly knew it was a setup and wondered who was planning to target him.

"He doesn't look that tough to me." Another replied. The group seemed to be on something as he noticed their eyes were bloodshot and their faces were sweaty despite the cool morning breeze.

He looked back to the man with the camera, who now positioned himself closer to the action.

He tried to run past them when he was hit in the back with an empty plastic bottle of water.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" The apparent leader of the group called out, annoyed that he had ignored them.

He turned around and stared at the four men.

"You've been waiting here for over ten minutes. Since there's literally nothing to do here aside from exercising, and you're not dressed for it, I got to assume you've been waiting for me." He noted the wary looks the men gave each other. "Let me guess, some rich guy with a fancy camera gave you a fifty to take care of me?"

"He gave us a hundred." The leader admitted with a smirk.

"Right. You picked the wrong target to piss off. I don't have time to humor your bullshit." He told them.

"You're about to get your ass kicked." The leader declared.

"No, I'm just going to break the arms of three drugged up assholes." He told them.

"There's four of us here." The leader looked amused at his reply.

"One of you has to drive to the hospital." He stated.

"Ohhh." They all mocked him as they laughed. He saw as the leader tensed and threw a punch.

He directed the punch to hit the wooden post of the life guard station, and heard a snap as the man's wrist broke. A second attacker threw a punch and he caught it with his left hand and twisted it while he met the third man's punch by meeting with his forehead. He followed up by breaking the wrist of the second man's wrist.

He kicked the third attacker who was now clutching his wrist, and he fell back and hit the man with the camera and they rolled down the surf. They all fell down one after the other, moaning with pain while the fourth hesitated, looking terrified with what he had done to his companions.

 "I… I know the way to the hospital." The fourth man said in a shaky voice.

"Then go. I'll have to talk to the man that paid you." He walked over to the man who was looking at his camera with disbelief.

"What's your angle here?" He asked.

"I… I don't know what you're talking about. You ruined my camera!" The man shouted.

"I'm about to ruin something else." He stated, walking closer to the man who stepped back until they were ankle deep on the water.

"But you're a cop…" The man looked terrified.

"Let me ask you something." He continued to step closer, forcing the man to walk backwards until the waves hit his knees. "What kind of man are you?"

"What?" The man looked terrified as he looked everywhere, looking for a way to escape.

"A stupid man? A bitter man? To just set me up like this?" He asked calmly.

The man visibly swallowed as he started to tremble. "My… my ex-wife. You've been seeing my ex-wife."

"So you decided to get back at her through me." He smiled, finally having an idea on what this is all about. "I'm here now. What are you going to do about it?"

"No…" The man's eyes widened in fear. "You can't hurt me. You're a just a cop."

"I don't have to." He replied. "I know your face now. And we're going to the station. You're under arrest."

"You can't! I haven't done anything wrong!" The man insisted.

"You paid four men to take out an off duty cop on medical leave." He replied. "Please, resist arrest."

The man tried to run, but he pulled him back by his jacket and the man landed in the knee deep water. Zoe's ex husband struggled in the surf and he pulled him by his leg back to the shore looking like a drowned cat as he couched and spat sea water.

"Jack! Are you okay?" Ashley asked, running towards him.

"Please call the police. This guy paid four men to take care of me." He informed the lifeguard.

"What did you do?" Ashley asked.

"He's a bitter man who wanted to get back at his ex wife by ruining the reputation of the man she's about to marry." He replied staring at zoe's ex husband who had his head bowed in shame.

Zoe was furious when she heard the incident when she came to the station after he gave his statement to the responding Officer. They were able to arrest the other three men when they went to the hospital for treatment.

He took a shower and wore his P.T. gear he had stored in his locker, while the man, Gerard Davis was interrogated by a detective. Zoe couldn't participate in the interrogation since she was too close to the investigation.

"Routh, a word?" Sergeant Grey asked while he was sitting in the break room. Zoe wanted to hear the interrogation and was watching her ex from the other side of the mirror.

"Yes Sergeant?" He asked. "First things first, glad to see you back. Second, I need you to calm down the captain. Take her home if you want, distract her."

He had seen some of the other officers jumped out of sight when they saw the Captain enter the station with a furious expression on her face. The way she walked was like a lioness on the prowl. He had to admit it was kind of hot.

"I'll see what I can do." He told Grey and followed him to the interrogation room.

He found the captain on the viewing room, her arms folded as she stared through the mirror at what he knew now to be her ex-husband. If glares could kill, the man on the other side of the mirror would have dropped dead several times over.

"Hey." He reached her side and placed a hand on the small of her back.

"He always does this before." Zoe muttered.

"Do what?" He asked.

"Ruin my life. He tried to make trouble for me when I was posted in the Pentagon. I didn't think he'd try anything now that I'm in the LAPD, but he must have seen our names on the news."

"Why would he do that?" He asked.

"Not here, come on, I need something to drink and get away from here before I'm charged with murder for strangling him." Zoe grabbed his arm and led him away from the room. She was walking fast but he had no trouble matching her pace.

They soon got into her car and they immediately left the station. They were driving on a road they rarely used until he realized she was driving to the outdoor gun range.

He took her hand and interlaced his finger with hers. She gripped her hand tightly until they arrived at the gravel packed parking lot. There were several cars parked and he noticed a group of gun enthusiasts at the pistol range. Zoe headed for the office first where he saw the former gunnery sergeant manning the desk.

"It's a little early for you Zoe." Martin greeted them.

"I need to shoot something." Her fiancé replied with a tight smile. Martin must have sensed something was bothering Zoe and didn't ask any further questions.

"Got a Remington ready for you." The older man handed a couple of cardboard targets to him, a pair of binoculars and a box of ammunition.

"Thanks." Zoe handed the man a couple of bills and headed out to the rifle range with their gear. Without word he started to walk to the 300 yard line and clipped on the targets for her, and made his walk back to where she had prepared her weapon.

She was on the ground, uncaring if her white blouse got dirty from the concrete floor while she dialed in her scope and loaded a three cartridges on the magazine. It seemed like she wanted to shoot fast instead of reloading after every shot.

"Ready?" He asked and put on the binoculars.

"I'm ready." Zoe looked through the scope and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

A bullet hole struck near the center of the target.

"Three inches to the right, two inches up." He called out. He heard the tick as Zoe adjusted the scope and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

"Hit!" He called out.

BANG!

"Hit!"

The black target was peppered with holes ten minutes later. Zoe stood up and dusted off her pants and blouse and offered the rifle to him. "Do you want to shoot?"

"No, I'm fine." He replied. "That was amazing display of marksmanship."

"Thanks." Zoe smiled. They left the shooting range after they handed back the Remington and the gear. Now behind the wheel, he had an idea and headed to the Spanish house they will be purchasing shortly, but not before they passed by a drive through for a quick lunch.

 "Are you sure no one's there?" Zoe asked when they arrived at the gate.

"There shouldn't be today." He replied, using the key Taylor gave him to unlock it. Once parked inside, it seemed more peaceful with just the two of them inside the property. The wind picked up a bit, and it made the tree in the yard to sway its branches and leaves.

"Mmmm" Zoe gave an approving sound. "This is just perfect."

"So do you want to tell me about it?" He asked.

"It's a long story." Zoe gave a bitter smile. "Where do I start? I met him in university. I was just a lonely university student with family problems. Vox clamantis in deserto."

"You went to Darthmouth." He replied, recognizing the motto from the college.

"Very good, Professor." Zoe smiled. "I thought I loved him, I really do, but things didn't work out."

"How did you end up marrying him?"

"He was always there, and my stepmother actually liked him. I thought I wouldn't have any other path." Zoe answered. "So I settled for it."

"But things went south right away. He's possessive, manipulative, controlling." He frowned when he noticed Zoe shiver, as if she was relieving a bad memory. "… and demanding."

"I just couldn't take it and after six months of that, I filed for divorce. You can only imagine the chaos that happened because of that. I didn't care, I wanted out. Used up all my money to hire a good attorney. Then I applied for the Marines, and then the Pentagon." Zoe continued. "He still kept tabs on me, and any potential date or romantic partner I had, he found a way to make them back off."

"He's that obsessed with you?" He asked. He couldn't believe a man like that would go to such lengths.

"Gerard's already married with his third or fourth wife, I think." Zoe answered. "No, I think he couldn't accept the fact that I was the one who left him, not the other way around. It's his damn ego that couldn't take the rejection."

"So why did you leave the military?" He asked.

"Attracted the attention of a general I rejected his advances." Zoe combed her wet hair with her fingers, showing off her natural beauty. He could see why a bunch of military men would go for his strong, hot in a 'I'll crush your balls' if you try anything fiancé. She was like the forbidden fruit. "You know how things are in the military, so I left that swamp. Gerard continuing his harassment didn't help."

"I thought he'd stop when I moved to the other side of the country. So far, he managed to drive away every potential suitor, until he met you." Zoe looked at him in the same way he remembered when they first had sex. He had a wicked idea and suddenly moved towards her chair and lifted her up in a princess carry in his arms. He felt a slight ache in his side but ignored it as he moved to the backyard.

Zoe seemed to have realized what he planned when he opened the door to the backyard and headed to the large Jacuzzi. He kicked off his shoes and reached the edge of the calm, still water, and readjusted his grip on his fiancé.

"Jack don't you dare, I don't have spare…" Zoe shrieked when he jumped into the waist-deep Jacuzzi that was suitable for at least four people. Smiling, he went down on his knees and submerged his fiancé underwater. He laughed when he saw her face submerged, giving him a scolding look as bubbles rose up to the surface from her mouth and nose.

"You idiot!" She broke the surface of the water and reached for him, revenge clearly in her eyes. He allowed himself to be pulled down, and this time it was his head that was submerged. Thankfully the Jacuzzi was well maintained and the water clean despite not being switched on. He broke the surface of the water laughing.

"Feeling better now?" He asked once they settled on the water, hugging each other by the waist.

"There's no one here right?" He saw Zoe look around, and he knew she was searching for cameras.

"We're all alone."

Zoe pushed off him and started unbuttoning her wet blouse and he quickly followed suit by removing his shirt, followed immediately by his pants. He could see the growing lust in her eyes.

"I think it's time we mark our future home." Zoe stated as she shrugged off her bra and slipped off her skirt. He watched her unbound breasts bounce as his eyes focused on her hardening nipples.

Her panties slipped down her legs, and he watched with excitement and lust as she threw away the soaking underwear to the grass. She smiled as she sat herself on the edge of the water and spread her legs, exposing her sex to him

"Come on baby, take your future wife." Zoe beckoned to him and he moved and started kissing her. Their kissing was frantic, both of them aggressive and he tried to be the more dominant partner but Zoe continued to fight back. Thoughts about her ex husband, another man enjoying her body ignited his own possessiveness and he soon over powered her and pushed her to the ground. He kissed her neck and kneaded her breast while his other hand played with her moist opening, causing her to cry out in pleasure.

He felt her grab him roughly by his hair and pulled him back and he could see the determination in her face.

"Come on Jack. Take me." Zoe gave him a fierce smile. "Show my ex-husband who my body belongs to now. Who gets to fuck me in any way he wants. Claim me, if you can."

He answered her challenge and pinned her arms above her head as he kissed her lips with as much passion and intensity he could muster. She tried to push him off, but he spread his legs to maintain his position on top of her.

He felt her bite his lips but pushed on and used his larger hand to hold her wrist while he used his free right arm to finger her cunt. She was extremely slick and he heard her whimper while he continued to slip his fingers inside her.

He stopped kissing her, passion and dominance overwhelming him as he forcefully spread her legs with his own legs and positioned his cock at her entrance. Her eyes burned with determination and arousal and he watched her face grimace as he thrust his cock inside her.

With his free hand, he groped her right breast, enjoying the feeling of her soft flesh in his fingers and the hard nipple that crowned it.

"You're mine." He growled. He had never felt such powerful emotions before, the primal urge to claim his mate.

"I'm yours." Zoe gave him an almost a savage grin. "Now take me, fuck me and use my body to do whatever you want. Prove to me that I belong to you now, and not Gerard."

Hearing her speak of her ex-husband's name made him feel an irrational sense of jealousy, and he began to thrust inside her with powerful strokes. He would fuck her until she forgot her memories of the other man until she could only remember the feeling of his cock in her cunt. Zoe gasped every time he bottomed out inside her and he grunted as he felt that he would come soon.

The slapping noises of their bodies meeting each other echoed around the isolated backyard, as his lust peaked and he started cumming inside her. He still fucked her as he spurted his seed, and she responded by groaning while she bit her lip, maintaining eye contact with him. He finally stopped and remained still, and he could only hear their deep breathing as they stared at one another.

"Fuck." Zoe gasped as she relaxed, while he finally let go of her wrists. She gave him a smile as she relaxed. "That was intense baby."

"We're not done yet love." He told her. He cock still felt hard and he felt like he could go another round. He felt his cock twitch inside her cunt.

"You're still hard?" Zoe looked surprised then she sighed and gave with a wry smile. "I did tell you to claim me. I've never seen you so dominant and possessive before. What do you want?"

"Turn around, and get on your hands and knees." He ordered as he pulled away from her. "I'll claim that other hole of your as well."

She gave him a heated gaze as his fiancé followed his instructions. Her ass looked stunning as she positioned herself in the backyard, her skin glowing from the sun.

"I did say you can use me however you like." She took a deep breath and spread her legs wider and lifted up her ass. He kneeled behind her and positioned his cock, still slick with her juices and his own cum, and pointed it at her tight puckered ring.

He pressed forward and heard Zoe gasp as he slowly entered her. He watched as she clenched her fists around the grass lawn, pulling individuals blades between her fingers. She felt hot, tighter than her cunt as he continually pressed forward.

"Fuck!" His fiancé screamed as she arched her back. "Oh God!"

"Nearly there love." He placed his hands on either side of her sexy waist and finally bottomed out, his balls slapping her cunt. "Good girl love."

"Mmmm Jack." Zoe gasped. She looked back at him, and he could see the tense expression on her face. She gave him a nod and turned back to stare ahead. "Fuck me Jack. Fuck me in the ass!"

He moved slowly at first, and then faster as Zoe started moaning. She screamed when he increased his thrusts, and collapsed on the ground, only using one arm to support her upper body. She used her free hand and started playing with her cunt as he continued to hammer his cock inside her ass.

Zoe reached her peak first as she wailed, collapsing on the lawn, and her tight asshole squeezed hard around his cock causing him to cum once more. He cock continued to throb as it spurted his cum inside her bowels.

They were silent for a few minutes, as they both tried to catch their breath. He wrapped his hands around Zoe's body and rolled them together, until she was on top of them as they stared up at the noon sky.

"Damn Jack… What has gotten into us?" Zoe asked, still trying to catch her breath.

"I think meeting you ex-husband triggered something in me." He replied. He felt a bit light headed, but was slowly recovering from their passionate sex.

"This reminds me of the day Russo flirted with you." Zoe mused, and he could hear the teasing tone in her voice as she wiggled her ass. "Who knew Officer Jack Routh can be so possessive of his woman."

"Damn right I am." He replied as he cupped her breasts with both hands and gently massaged them as he played with her still hard nipples between her fingers. Zoe let out a pleased moan from his gentle ministrations of her chest.

"You know what? I'm feeling rebellious this weekend." Zoe stated. "You proposed to me, with your cock still buried in my ass that day. How about I ask you to marry me this weekend in Vegas?"

He raised his head from licking the sweat from her neck and looked at her. "This weekend?"

"Yes, what do you say? Will you marry me?" Zoe asked again. Their noses were nearly touching, and he could see how serious she was.

"That was my plan anyway, but I haven't bought our rings yet." He replied. "But don't you want a nice, formal wedding?"

"I already had one, and I didn't enjoy it. Let's plan for a nice reception instead." She turned her head and kissed him on the cheek. "Are you in?"

He knew early on that they were both spontaneous people and he smiled when he thought about their relationship, from his initial attraction to her, to the first time they agreed to be exclusive, his proposal and finally to this. It seemed fitting that they complete their journey by a quick Vegas wedding.

"I'm in, but the Chief and Mayor wouldn't be happy." He warned.

"We can have a fancy reception instead." Zoe started to sit up and slowly his half erect cock left her asshole. He watched as both her holes leaked his cum, and she gave him a look when she saw him staring. He got her message and they collected their wet clothes and headed for the shower. They had a wedding to plan.

He was able to quickly book a flight to Vegas, and two hours later on a Friday late afternoon, they departed for Las Vegas, both traveling light. He had booked a regular room for Caesars Palace and arranged for a quick wedding the next day.

They toured the casinos and tried a slot machine just for the hell of it, but he wasn't interested in gambling and Zoe said the same.

The next morning they walked down the strip, looking for suitable wedding rings. Zoe spotted a pawnshop called Gold & Silver and decided to check it out.

There was a large selection of rings available in the pawnshop, and there was considerable foot traffic from tourists like themselves. They were lucky enough to find a matching pair that had a similar style to Zoe's engagement ring.

"It looks like it was meant for the two of you." The assistant told them when they tried on the rings, they were a perfect fit for the two of them. "Getting married?"

"Yes, later today." He replied. He looked at Zoe, who looked happy at their choice and gave the staff a nod, and handed back the rings. "We'll take them."

With their primary task done, they walked around the shop while the store staff processed their orders. The pawn shop had a wide variety of things to sell, that it almost looked like a museum. From swords, to firearms, books and even ancient tribal masks were displayed on the walls and shelves.

Zoe decided to take a closer look at the various rifles on display while he browsed the books on the shelves. He was surprised to see how varied the selections were until he overheard a conversation between a man trying to sell two books and the bald man behind the counter. Judging by the collared polo shirt the bald man wore with the logo of the pawnshop on the right breast, he figured he was the manager or owner of the shop.

The title of the book caught his attention, and he leaned in as he marveled at the condition of the dust jacket.

"Are you interested in buying this?" The bald man asked him.

"No, just curious." He replied. "That's the memoirs of Edward the Eighth, the only monarch that abdicated his throne, for an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson."

"That's right!" The man selling the books replied. "This other book is her memoirs, and both have their signatures."

"If they have lived today, they would have been in the tabloids. Much of what they did was scandalous for their time." He shared.

"Like what?" The man behind the counter asked.

"Edward led a playboy lifestyle, he had many lovers, but fell head over heels when he met an American socialite, who was still married at that time. That caused quite a scandal. And the prime minister even threatened to resign his entire government if Edward married her."

"Of course, when rumors of their affair broke out, Wallis left Britain to escape the press, but they followed her all the way to southern France. There, she was pressured and finally agreed to renounce Edward." He explained. "Edward was reported to be slavishly in love with Wallis Simpson, since she didn't treat him like a Royal. He abdicated his throne, and his brother George VI took his place."

"Slavishly in love, huh?"

He heard Zoe speak and turned around to see her grinning.

"I left for a second, and here I find you giving a history lecture." Her fiancé teased.

"Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'm Rick Harrison." The man behind the counter shook his hand as he introduced himself.

"I'm Jack, and this is Zoe." He replied. "We're getting married later."

"Congratulations! Do you have a ring?" Rick Harrison asked.

"We just bought one from your inventory." Zoe replied.

"Are you a history expert?" Rick asked.

"I give lectures at a community college. I graduated with a degree in ancient and modern history." He explained.

He watched as the man with the book was able to sell his collection for $2000 when an expert arrived and gave her appraisal. During that time, Rick continued to ask him about various items he had in stock, and he tried to answer as best he could.

The man even invited them for lunch, which they happily accepted. Rick was a lover of American history and was an avid collector of Americana, and a self-proclaimed patriot. During their meal at a nearby restaurant, Rick even shared photos of rare letters and correspondence, a few even written by George Washington himself.

"Wait, your real job is a police officer?" Rick asked.

"Yes, I only give lectures at a local college once a week as part of a community outreach program." He explained. "The rest of the weekdays, I do patrol duty."

"He's on leave now, because he got wounded." Zoe added. "We decided to get married before he returns to duty."

He watched as Rick's eyes started to widen. "You're him, the cop in that school shooting that stopped the gunman in L.A."

"That's him." Zoe smiled. "We don't like to make a big deal out of it. Jack was doing his duty, even if it scared the life out of me."

"I didn't even realize I was peaking with a real-life hero!" Rick laughed. "So you're getting married, huh, need any help?"

"We're staying at Caesar's, and they said they're taking care of the simple ceremony."

"Do you have any witnesses yet?" Rick asked. "Because I'd love to volunteer, and I know my wife would be thrilled to come too."

"If that's alright with you…" He replied as he shared a look with Zoe.

"Of course it is." Rick insisted. "Here, give me your contact details. Does your fiancé have a wedding gown? Because I know of a good place you can buy or rent one."

"We're thinking of having a simple wedding, and we're planning to buy Zoe a dress for it." He explained, a bit overwhelmed by Rick's enthusiasm.

Deanna, Rick's wife, soon arrived, and quickly helped Zoe choose a short but elegant wedding dress from a nearby store. It felt like a roller coaster, and he couldn't help but thank his luck for meeting Rick and Deanna.

The two served as their witnesses in front of an ordained minister, and as a newlywed couple, they thanked the two by treating them to dinner. He had already changed the picture on his phone screen to their wedding photo.

He was excited about this new phase in his relationship, which was equally shared by Zoe. After a passionate round of sex, they lay on the bed admiring the rings on their fingers.

"Do you want me to change my surname?" Zoe asked. He was spooning his new wife as they lay on the bed. He still couldn't believe he could call her that now.

"It's up to you." He told her.

"Let's see, Zoe Andersen Routh." His wife practiced speaking. "It kind of rolls off the tongue easily. Zoe Routh."

"I like hearing both." He admitted.

"I'll use my former name in the station to avoid confusion." Zoe stated. "But I'll use my new name and update my records, husband."

He felt pleasure when she addressed him with that, and his cock hardened once more from its semi-rigid state while buried in her cunt.

"Someone likes to hear me use that term." Zoe giggled.

"It's more intimate, my wife." He whispered in her ear. He felt her shiver and noticed the goose bumps that appeared on her skin.

The next day, they prepared for their flight, debating about the best honeymoon spots. Since their flight back to LA was still in the early evening, they decided to wander the convention halls to pass the time.

"Paris?" Zoe suggested. "No, too much of a hassle."

"How about Maui?" He suggested.

They had stumbled upon a gun convention called the Shot Show in one of the exhibition halls and were walking around looking at the firearms on display.

"You just want me to spend the rest of the time in a bikini." Zoe teased. "Don't worry, honey, I'll still wear one for you no matter where we go. A really skimpy one. Wait, I have it! Napa!"

"Napa Valley?" He asked.

"Wine tasting, orchards, nature." Zoe stated. "It's ideal for us. We can take a leisurely six-hour drive or fly."

A road trip did sound nice, and he quickly agreed with her idea.

They arrived in LA in the early evening, and decided to eat out. He was still getting used to the ring on his finger, but he liked the feeling of it on his finger.

"Who do you think will notice first?" Zoe asked while they ate at a food truck. Feeling bloated from all the food they ate during their weekend trip, she suggested he try the Korean food truck. He had to admit the kimbap was good.

"Angela, definitely." He replied.

"Chen will." His wife stated.

"I still have a week left before I report for duty." He explained. "People will immediately notice the ring, but they won't look at your hand that closely since they know you're already engaged."

"So just me then." She replied. "I think your friend Lucy will be able to see it tomorrow morning on roll call."

"Angela will spot it first, and since Lucy's too shy around you, she will be the first to ask you directly." He answered.

"Hmmm, good point."

Zoe had decided to wear her engagement ring like a necklace once again, reminding him of the time when they still hid their relationship and only met in secret. Now, they were eating out in the open near the station, sitting together and wearing their marriage rings.

His phone suddenly vibrated as he received a text message.

"Who is it from?" Zoe asked.

He stared at the message, growing embarrassed as he realized they had left evidence on their future home of their tryst.

"Taylor." He finally replied. "She's asking if we visited the house. Her cleaning staff found a wet bra on the lawn."

Jessica Russo

She was worried. The investigation into Gerard Davis' case had opened a can of worms that threatened the safety of the country. Foreign agents had attempted to use Zoe Andersen's ex-husband to blackmail her.

Her former position as a Major of the military police meant she knew a lot of dirt on the top brass in the Pentagon. If it were not for her fiancé heading off the first attempt, she knew things would get much worse.

At least now, they have an idea about the strategies foreign agents are willing to use to accomplish their goals, even targeting retired military officers in various branches.

"Hey." She greeted her boyfriend. They had agreed to meet at the food truck after John's weekend shift.

"Hey, yourself. So what are you craving for?" He asked.

"I'm thinking of something light and healthy." She replied as she scanned the array of food trucks parked. She needed something nutritious to increase her chances of conceiving. "How about that?"

She pointed at the Asian cuisine food trucks. She looked at the food offered, when she spotted the subject of their investigation speaking with her fiancé, who was on medical leave.

"Look, there's your friend Jack." She pointed at the couple sitting at a table. They seemed oblivious to the world, as they gazed at each other's eyes while they ate. The food they shared between them looked appetizing.

"Let's go and say hi." John headed to the table. The couple still hadn't noticed their presence, as they held hands under the table.

"Jack! Captain!" John greeted the two, and she hurried her walk to join them.

"Officer Nolan." The captain greeted. "Just finished your shift?"

"Yes, Ma'am." John replied as she finally reached their table. "Jessica and I are actually looking for something suitable for dinner."

"Hi." She greeted the couple. "What's that you're eating?"

"Korean Kimbap." Jack answered.

"I think I'm getting that." She nodded. She looked at Andersen and resisted the urge to share her discovery. Parabolic microphones are easily obtained, and she wanted to inform her in a more secure location.

John stood in line to order their dinner and a glint caught her eye when Jack moved to drink his water. She immediately noticed the ring on his finger.

"We were both wrong." Andersen nudged Jack.

"You're married?" She asked. She smiled when Jack and Andersen nodded in unison. "When?"

"Yesterday." The new Mrs. Routh answered. "We flew to Vegas last Friday afternoon."

"Congratulations, you two." She told them and she meant it. Zoe Andersen needed something wonderful in her life after what she suffered from after she read her classified file. She finally understood why she snapped up Jack when she first laid eyes on him.

"We're still keeping it a secret until Jack reports for duty a week from now." Zoe Routh explained.

"What secret?" John arrived carrying their dinner.

"We got married." Jack answered, looking proud as he showed the ring on his left hand.

"What?" John looked shocked. She laughed and pulled her boyfriend to sit beside her across from the newlywed couple.

"We got married yesterday." Jack repeated.

"That's… that's big news!" Her boyfriend exclaimed.

"Please keep it a secret for now." Jack asked. "We're still enjoying this week of peace and quiet before I report back for duty."

"Of course." John immediately agreed. "When's the honeymoon? And where?"

"Napa Valley, we're planning a road trip after I received the award." Jack replied.

She read the briefs about Jack and his heroic actions that day. His quick thinking and decisiveness had certainly saved dozens of lives as a result. He really deserved that Medal of Valor.

While she was happy for the couple, watching their closeness left a slight bitter taste in her mouth when she compared it to her relationship with John. He still didn't give her an answer regarding her request. The longer she waited, the larger her doubt grew on whether John was serious about their relationship.

She didn't have much time left. Her biological clock was ticking, and she couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Chapter Text

Episode 17 

Jack Routh

"This is wonderful!"

He watched John Nolan look around the house they purchased from Taylor.

He had spent the entire day helping his fellow cop by sanding and painting the drywall and the ceiling in Nolan's newly purchased property in return for some burgers and beer. Nolan had expressed interest in taking a look at the property he and Zoe bought, and so he took him to the Spanish-style home after their renovation work was done for the day.

John looked around, sometimes running his hands on the concrete wall, checking the power sockets, or knocking on the few wooden furniture that Taylor left with them. The rest, the couch, chairs, beds, and tables were loaded into a truck once their secret recording sessions were completed.

"I know it's not as modern looking as yours." The Spanish-style bungalow had an old-world charm to it. Meanwhile, John's renovation had turned his newly purchased house into an open concept by knocking down a few interior walls.

"Not every house has to be designed like an open concept. And I can clearly see the work done to modernize this property." John stared up at the ceiling and let out a whistle. "High ceilings with exposed wooden beams, you can't find that feature on the market these days. They looked authentic."

"Taylor said that it was one of the older properties in the area when she purchased it." He shared. "She didn't want to change the look too much, just modernize the utilities and insulation. Let's go see the backyard. I think you'll like it."

"Now this is nice." John turned around as they stepped out into the small yard. "You have complete privacy here. It's like I'm not even in the city."

"That's one of the reasons why we jumped at Taylor's offer." He replied. "Zoe fell in love with the house as soon as she stepped in."

The older cop looked closer at the large built-in Jacuzzi that could comfortably seat four people. "The parties you could throw for your guests here will be amazing!"

"I'm planning to have one when we finish moving in, you're invited of course." He replied. "So, any upgrades I need to make?"

"A few things here and there, like adding more sockets, but it's a matter of personal preference. I'll upgrade the security system and install better cameras at the front door and the gate. Overall the basics are good, especially the recording room. The soundproofing materials required for that are expensive. Are you going to keep it?"

"Maybe change a few things. Zoe wants to use it as an office." His wife really liked the fact that there was no chance to hear vehicles when she was inside. "What I want to ask about is where I can put a weapons locker, but it shouldn't stand out."

"We could go look for damaged antiques that fit the style of this house." John suggested. "Use it to cover a modern gun safe. As for, the location, the closet in the main bedroom is a good choice."

"You'd do that?" He asked.

"Well yeah." John smiled. "I need help for a few more weekends. I just found out that this fellow rookie cop in my batch is handy with prep work and painting."

"Of course, I'll help out." He laughed as he led John back to the house and out into the front yard.

"There's a reason I maximized the space in my own property by turning it into an open concept." John stated, looking around once more. "You don't need that with this place."

The older cop indicated the wooden chairs and tables, the benches, the large tree in the middle, and enough parking for two vehicles. Nolan also suggested locations where the modern cameras should be placed to replace the old ones currently installed.

He thanked Nolan for his advice and walked with him to his truck parked outside.

"Can't wait for the party, and see you tomorrow." John waved to him and soon left the house. A few minutes later after locking the gate he hopped on his bike and headed to the apartment building where his wife waited for him.

The next morning he went on ahead of Zoe while she was still doing her stretching exercises and arrived at the station half an hour before roll call. He brought out new spare clothes for his locker and quickly dressed in his uniform.

 "Look who's back." Nolan greeted him. "Good to see you back in uniform."

"Thanks, it's great to be back." He replied. He was fully healed, and he was eager to resume his duties and training. He actually felt healthier than before, his jogging on the beach helping him increase his stamina and the strength training at the gym with the weights helped tone down his body. He wanted to be ready when he reported to Metro.

"Routh." Angela was smiling when she approached him outside the locker room. She looked at him from head to toe, and he put his hands behind his back, pretending that he was under inspection.

"You look healthier than ever." Angela observed as they headed to the briefing room. She poked his arm and looked confused. "Have you been working out?"

"Every morning. I even ran into Nolan when I was jogging at the beach." He replied. More officers started to trickle in the briefing room and he took his place at the front on his usual seat.

"Jack! You're back!" Lucy immediately rushed to his side to give him a quick hug which he returned with his own. "It's been ages since I saw you! I can't wait to tell you what you've missed!"

Before Lucy could continue speaking, Sergeant Grey entered the briefing room, followed by the Captain. Zoe hung back by the door, allowing Sergeant Grey to take the podium.

"Settle down. Before we begin, I'd like to welcome back Officer Routh who has been cleared for duty." Grey announced. The room erupted into applause and he turned around and gave a friendly wave to thank his fellow officers for the warm welcome.

"The department will be having the annual Above & Beyond awards ceremony later this afternoon, and three of our officers are receiving awards." Grey stated, earning another round of applause from the gathered officers. "Bradford, Lopez, Routh, are your class As ready?"

 "Just steamed it this morning." Bradford replied. He and Angela merely nodded when Grey turned to each of them. "Good. Lopez, take Routh for patrol. Now stay safe out there… wait."

He noticed Grey was looking in his direction, more specifically his left hand.

"Officer Routh, is that a ring on your finger?" Grey asked. He could see the surprise on the sergeant's face with his eyebrows raised. Immediately whispers broke out among the officers in the briefing room and he heard Lucy gasp as she suddenly took hold of his hand.

"Oh my god, it is!" Lucy gaped and stared at his wedding ring.

"Officer Routh and I flew to Vegas on a weekend and got married. We'll update our records with the department." His wife stepped forward, smiling at the gathered officers.

"Congratulations Captain." Grey replied, and he saw the sergeant was smiling. Beside him, Lucy was still staring at his wedding ring and then looking over to see the ring on Zoe's hand. He told her it was a matching set.

He left roll call and received slaps on the back from his fellow patrol officers and even a few detectives. He was immediately cornered by the field training officers when he headed to the bay to prepare Angela's shop. 

"You didn't tell me you got married!" Angela had her arms folded, and he saw the slight frown on her face. "When did this happen?"

"Last week." He answered. "We flew to Vegas on a Friday afternoon, got married on Saturday, and flew back Sunday evening. Here."

He took out his personal phone and showed the wallpaper of his lock screen, a picture of him and Zoe just after they got married. Angela wanted to see more photos, so he handed his phone to her. Nyla Harper and Lucy peered over Angela's shoulder as they looked at the photos.

"This is so romantic." Angela replied as she swiped the photos one by one. "The captain has a nice wedding dress, and you look dashing in your suit."

"We made a couple of friends over there that helped us." He replied.

"Okay, wow, I'm pretty sure that's not for me to see." Angela quickly handed back his phone. Her cheeks were flushed red, and Lucy was practically a tomato as they both avoided looking at him. Harper just looked amused, but she glanced at his crotch briefly.

He looked at his phone and remembered that he and Zoe decided to take some risqué photographs to commemorate their first night as a married couple. Oh no.

"I'll get the war bags." He muttered and hurried to collect their gear to avoid the stares from the three women.

Angela Lopez

She giggled as Jack practically ran across the bullpen to avoid the embarrassment. She knew he had an active sex life with the Captain, but to see the photo of Jack taking with his new wife in that position…. Wow. And about the captain, it explained a lot whenever she arrived at the station every morning. She just had that glow, while wearing a satisfied smile on her face.

The captain was a widely discussed topic in the women's locker room before her relationship with Jack became public. Now there were rumors that the reason the captain looked so relaxed and satisfied despite the stress of her position was because she was being taken care of every morning by her hot young stud she managed to snag before anyone else could.

Seeing that picture, she knew those rumors now had some truth to them. The photo also confirmed another gossip that the captain's man wielded a good-sized package between his legs. That explained the serene smile on Captain Andersen's face every morning, she was getting impaled by that massive thing before she got to work.

She never realized her former boot was so… adventurous in bed. And the captain, she had to admire the woman if she was willingly taking on that cock inside her regularly.

"What did you see?" Nolan asked, looking intrigued.

"It's none of your business." Harper answered immediately. "Let's go Nolan, get the gear."

She was still smiling while she stared at Jack ten minutes later. He was unable to look in her direction as they continued their patrol and she enjoyed the moment. Her eyes unintentionally dropped to his crotch as she remembered the photo. The captain must be the one that took the photo, with her hand wrapped around the base of Jack's cock while he lay back on the bed. Judging from Chen's reaction, she was pretty sure what the female rookie would use for inspiration the next time she needed some… release.

 "You don't have to be embarrassed." He had nothing to be ashamed of, and she couldn't see the captain's face anyway, just her hand as she held his large and erect dick in her hand. She wondered if she would be able to fit something so large inside her.

Jack merely nodded and continued staring straight ahead.

"I mean, it was an accident." She continued. "In fact, you should be proud, for having an active and adventurous relationship."

"Thanks, I think." Jack finally spoke.

"So, when do you think you'll be able to let me see your new house?" She decided to give him a break and changed the subject. Wesley had kept sharing stories about his meetings with Taylor Swift's managers and legal team. It included details of the work Jack was up to and the property. The transfer of ownership had gone smoothly, with the pop star setting a generous payment plan for the newlyweds.

 "We can pass by during our break if you're curious." Jack offered. "We still have to move our things to our new home."

"I'll help, and I'm sure the others can help you move." She offered. "Just throw a small party for those that helped."

"That's a good idea. Do you think the others will agree?"

"Don't be silly. Of course they will, even Tim." She knew of Tim's paranoia about moving companies and was confident he would help out Jack and the captain. Nolan had a pick-up truck, and between the three large men they could carry almost any normal-sized furniture with ease. 

"Okay, if you're sure, I'll prepare for next Saturday." He answered.

Their first arrest for their morning shift was catching a man texting while driving, and he nearly hit a pedestrian crossing the street because he was distracted. Jack turned on the lights and pulled over the driver. She immediately spotted something was wrong when she approached the driver's side window and saw the broken dashboard.

"Jack, run his records." She told her partner once she got the driver's license and registration.

A minute later Jack came back and told her their driver by the name of Trevor Johnson was currently on searchable probation for 11-300, meaning narcotics. That meant they could check his car without requiring a warrant and she knew the dashboard was a commonly used area to hide illegal drugs and weapons.

"Sir, step out of the vehicle." She ordered. Seeing the man was reluctant to move she gave him a steely gaze. "Today."

"Step to the back of the vehicle. Put your arms on the trunk lid." She kept an eye on Trevor while Jack started searching the car.

"There's something here, a package filled with white powder." Jack reported. "It's wedged up tight behind the loose panel of the dashboard. It's big, at the very least a kilo."

"Sir, give me your hands." Trevor complied and she quickly cuffed him. That was enough to detain their distracted driver.

"I can't get it out, it's stuck on something and I don't want to damage the bag." Jack reported.

"Relax, they'll tear this car apart and find out what it is." She replied.

POOF!

"What was that?" She asked.

"The seal on the bag broke." Jack stepped out and she saw his face and part of his uniform was covered in a white powder. "There's a mechanism in the dashboard that suddenly moved and squeezed the bag."

She looked away when Jack sneezed, kicking up a cloud of white powder around him.

"You got a little something on you." She tried hard not to laugh. Jack looked like one of those mimes she'd seen in an amusement park.

"I have wet wipes in the back." Jack coughed again and headed to the war bags to clean up and change while she pushed Trevor inside the shop to take him to the station for processing.

She didn't notice it at first, but Jack started acting strange after they processed their suspect and put him in the holding cell. Jack had finished the paperwork in record time and he did not take a break like he usually does. By now he should be in the break room eating a sandwich.

"Ready to go on patrol?" Her partner asked. He looked eager, looking like a rookie on his first day on the force. Strange.

"Did you know the patrol came from the French word patrouille? It means to paw in the mud." Jack continued speaking as they headed to the shop.

This change in behavior concerned her, and she took him to a rarely used utility room and used her flashlight to check for any symptoms. He was slightly sweating, but that can be attributed to the aftereffects of the recent heat wave.

"What are you doing?" Jack tried to look away from the flashlight but she grabbed his chin to make him stay still. His eyes were dilated. Shit. It was just as she feared.

"Just stay put. I think that white powder that exploded in your face is affecting you. We have to know what it is and we need help."

"Alright." Jack replied. He narrowed his eyes and stared at his hands, flexing them, and started testing his movements. "I feel… tingly." 

She had no choice and used her phone to call his wife.

"Ma'am, I need you at the utility room near the interrogation rooms. I'm afraid it's got something to do with Jack." She reported.

"I'll be there." The captain immediately replied and hung up.

A few minutes later where Jack spent the time stretching his neck and arms, she heard a knock on the door. She quickly opened it and the captain immediately entered, looking worried.

"What happened?" The captain asked, her eyes immediately focused on Jack.

"Zoe." Jack's eyes lit up when he saw the captain and he greeted his wife by giving her a rather long hug. "I think I might have accidentally ingested some form of drug during patrol."

"He has the symptoms, dilated eyes, sweating and he's more… energetic than usual" She added.

"Don't forget tingly." Jack reminded her. "I don't think my judgment is impaired, but it's better to investigate what's in my blood right now."

She watched as the captain took a closer look at Jack and grabbed his face in both hands. She didn't bother to comment on the flirty look Jack was giving the captain. She could see from where she was standing that Jack was looking down at the captain's blouse!

"What is it today?" The Captain sighed, it seemed like she didn't care what Jack was doing. Was her former boot always like that? She was his wife, so there's nothing really inappropriate about it. "First it's Bradford, and now Jack?"

"What happened to Tim?" She asked, suddenly concerned.

"His shop rear-ended a citizen's vehicle while he was driving his shop." The Captain shared. "They're all fine, but the citizen's boyfriend wants to sue Bradford. He can't attend the ceremony if he's under investigation."

"What do we do?" She asked.

The captain looked deep in thought for nearly a minute. "Lopez, get the magazine from Jack's firearm. I'm sorry Jack, but you can't be trusted with live ammunition when you're under the influence of drugs."

"Yes, Captain." Jack immediately obeyed and removed the magazine. He cocked the weapon to check that the chamber was empty and holstered his weapon. He gave the magazine and another spare to her and she slipped the magazines in her own duty belt.

 "Lopez, do you still have contact with Dr. Sawyer in Shaw Memorial?" The captain asked.

"Yes ma'am, you want me to bring Jack there and get his blood tested?" She asked.

"That, and pray it's not PCP." The Captain replied. "If he does, then we have no choice but to file a report."

Right. PCP is a drug that stays inside the body since it is fat-soluble. It could activate at any time within the body, and regulations state that a cop couldn't have a firearm with that kind of condition like hallucinations or psychotic episodes. It could literally set back Jack's career for months as a police officer, or even force him to retire.

"Once you get his blood withdrawn, get him back here in this room, and I'll watch over him." The captain continued. "Try to keep things under wraps, we'll have to report this if it gets serious."

"Let's go, Jack." She gestured to her partner.

"See you later, honey." She widened her eyes when Jack leaned down and kissed the captain hard in the mouth. She could see his hand even grope her ass for a brief moment.

"I'll let that one pass, husband." The captain looked amused. "Get to it, Lopez."

"Yes ma'am!"

Jack remained silent for most of the trip to the hospital, and she could tell he was a bit worried. He kept shifting in his seat, like something was bothering him and he couldn't get comfortable.

"I don't think I'm a danger to the public or will have a psychotic episode." Jack shared. "I just feel like I'm full of energy that I need to release."

"Yeah, you're slightly trembling right now." She felt his shoulder and could feel that he was tense, ready to explode at any moment.

"Wow, I didn't even realize that." He replied.

 If it were any other person, she would have been worried about sitting beside a large and powerful man high on drugs. But she knew Jack and his ability to remain in control even if he was overcome with emotions. She remembered the display of incredible strength when he lifted the annoying director up in the air in anger without showing any signs of strain, but didn't cause any injury to the infuriating man.

"I love my new wife." Jack suddenly shared. "Did you know in old English, the word wife was pronounced as weef?"

At least he was just giving a history lesson. She even paid attention as he gave a few more examples of how the English language changed over time. She didn't even realize English had such deep connections to the French language.

Once they reached the station, Doctor Sawyer was already waiting for them with a kit in the parking lot. The helpful Doctor even agreed to keep things quiet, and explained the importance of doctor-patient confidentiality.

"I'll send the results as soon as I can." Dr. Sawyer said as she stepped back after drawing a sample of Jack's blood. "Take care of yourselves."

"Doctor Sawyer, I'm planning to have a simple get-together in the new house I moved in with my wife." Jack shared. "Are you interested? It's just us cops."

"I'd love to, thank you for inviting me." Dr. Sawyer replied with a smile. "John's coming right?"

"He is. He's the first one I invited."

"I'll wait for the invitation." Dr. Sawyer stepped back and they quickly left the parking area.

"That's a nice gesture." She told Jack.

"She's done so much for me. She's a nice person." Jack replied.

"She took care of Wesley too. He'll be happy to see her at the party."

She arrived back at the station in record time and brought him back to the utility room.

"Doctor Sawyer said she'll send the results as soon as she can." She told the captain who was doing her paperwork in the room.

"Good work Lopez. Why don't you take a break?" The captain suggested. "I'll watch over Jack until whatever drugs that's inside his body gets out of his system."

"Call me if you need anything, captain." She replied and left the room. She immediately heard the lock engage and sighed in relief. No one had caught on to their predicament.

Zoe Andersen Routh

"First day back and you get high." She let out a breath and hugged her husband. "What do I do with you?"

She gasped when she felt his hands on her ass as he pressed his hips to hers. "Jack?"

"I'm really horny." Jack admitted. "I was fine at first, but then I saw you… my body just responded."

"I see." She replied. He didn't need to say it out loud. She could feel how hard her husband's cock is even through his pants as he continued to ground his groin to hers in their hug.

She pushed him off and gave him an unimpressed look. "We're at the station Jack. Surely you can control the urge until we get home."

"I know." Jack sounded frustrated as he stepped back. "Don't worry, I'll manage it. I didn't want to tell Angela or Dr. Sawyer for obvious reasons."

"Maybe we should ask Dr. Sawyer for advice." She suggested. "Do you still have her number?"

"Here." Jack gave her his phone. "Use mine."

She smiled when she saw the wallpaper on his phone, it was the exact same picture she had on hers. She looked at his call history and noticed the call log and the doctor's name. She pressed the call button and waited for the doctor to answer. The doctor picked up on the second ring and started speaking.

"Office Routh, good that you called. Should I bring food to this get-together?" She wondered what the other woman meant.

"Doctor Sawyer, this is Captain Zoe Andersen Routh, Jack's wife. I'd like to ask some questions about Jack's condition." She smiled when she introduced herself using her new name.

"Oh, congratulations on your marriage, Captain. I'm afraid we have to wait for a few hours to get results. The lab technicians are working on Jack's blood sample now."

"Thank you for your help. I'm afraid it's a different matter, Jack says he's suffering from other symptoms from whatever he was exposed to." She replied.

"What symptoms?"

"Well…" She took a deep breath and continued. "He says he's horny. Usually, he has good control…"

"Can you verify it? I need a description of his penis."

"Hang on." She turned to Jack who was now observing her as he sat on a foldable chair while he tapped his foot repeatedly. She placed the phone on the table and put it on speaker mode. "Jack, Doctor Sawyer needs a description of your penis right now."

"What for?" Jack asked.

"I need to verify if it's swollen more than usual." Dr. Sawyer answered through the phone.

Jack shrugged and removed his duty belt, followed by his pants and then his boxers. She widened her eyes when she saw her husband's very erect and throbbing penis.

"Doctor, his penis is erect. The head is swollen, and I can see pre-cum leaking a bit from the slit." She reported.

"Would you say it's more swollen compared to its normal aroused state?"

"Yes, it is." She had never seen Jack's penis like that before. The head was nearly purple in color and throbbing.

"What about his testicles?"

"They're very firm right now."

"Okay, put me off speaker, this will be a sensitive matter, Captain Routh. As his wife, you should need to hear this."

"You're off speaker, what's the diagnosis?" She asked.

"There's good news and bad news. Good news is it's highly unlikely that whatever Jack was exposed to was PCP. There are no documented cases that PCP causes arousal."

"And the bad news?" She asked.

"He needs to relieve the tension, by masturbating. As often as needed until the arousal is gone."

"I understand. Thank you, Doctor." She replied.

"You're welcome. Call me if you need any clarification."

The call ended and she turned to Jack who had zipped up his pants. She could still see the bulge, and felt conflicted about what to do. She didn't like the idea of Jack masturbating by himself, and on the other hand, she couldn't just leave the station and have sex with him in their apartment.

Her position as the captain and as his wife made it a difficult decision. Finally after some internal debate, she decided to help him here since she really didn't like the idea of Jack using his hands to pleasure himself. She was his wife for a reason.

She checked that the door was still locked then moved closer to her husband and stopped him from putting on his duty belt.

"Sit down Jack." She instructed. Good thing she was only wearing lip balm. "We can't be too loud here. Don't ruin my hair and makeup, okay?"

"Zoe?"

She kneeled in front of him and pulled out his swollen cock, gave the head a few licks, and then put it inside her mouth. She played with the head with her tongue as she started to suck, causing Jack to tense and let out a deep groan.

"Fuck Zoe. That feels amazing."

She took his cock deeper inside her mouth until it started to hit the back of her throat. She felt Jack grab the back of her head and quickly her husband started fucking her mouth. She choked and gagged but focused on giving her man the relief he needed. His eyes were burning with lust as they locked gazes while tears welled up in her eyes.

Gack

Gack

Gack

 Her husband must have been really horny as barely a minute when she began that she felt him tense and groan, a usual sign when he was about to ejaculate. She couldn't allow him to cum on her face and just focused on making sure she swallowed every drop.

She nearly gagged as her husband's semen flooded her mouth and she quickly swallowed as fast as she could as his cock continued to spurt down her throat. Jack groaned as he finally stopped cumming and he collapsed back in his chair, panting hard.

"Thank… thank you love." Jack whispered.

"You're welcome." She licked her lips, glad that her makeup wasn't ruined. "Are you feeling better?"

"Much better, yeah."

Jack seemed calmer than before. That was good, at least there was some improvement. She was about to speak when she realized his cock was still hard. She could see he was trying to ignore his condition as he started to pull up his pants once more.

She couldn't allow that, but if she continued giving him blowjobs, sooner or later her makeup and hair would be ruined. There was only one thing left that she could do.

 She went to the other end of the room farthest from the door, and pulled up her pencil skirt up to her waist. She moved her underwear to the side, exposing her sex to her husband, and spread her legs.

"Have a go honey as much as you want until the alarm, I have a meeting for the ceremony in an hour with the organizers." She set her phone down, showing the 15-minute timer, and gave Jack an encouraging nod. She grabbed the edges of a tall filing cabinet for support and braced herself for what was to come.

She heard footsteps and felt Jack's hand around her hips. She stifled a moan as she felt his cock enter her in one long stroke without any hesitation. Usually, he would tease her before they had sex, but she could understand his urgency. He was huge, as he parted her pussy lips and reached her deepest places. He started to fuck her, slowly then increased his speed once he got into a rhythm. It felt like torture just to control herself from moaning, since she was always vocal during sex but she couldn't do that now with the risk they could be overheard. She lowered her head as she whimpered, and kept her lips pressed together as Jack used her cunt to get off.

She wasn't expecting to orgasm, but she did, twice as her alarm rang fifteen minutes later. Every orgasm she experienced nearly made her fall to the floor as her legs weakened but Jack kept her upright. She could feel the fluids running down from her pussy to her thighs, and yet Jack wasn't done with her.

"Jack… fuck… time's… up." She gasped every time he thrust inside her. His cock was relentless.

"Nearly there..." Jack grunted and she endured half a minute of hard fucking from Jack and then she felt him stop. She shuddered as she felt Jack's limp penis slide out of her and immediately felt a large amount of cum leak out of her and into her thighs.

"Thank… you baby." Jack whispered as he sat back on the chair. She turned around and noticed that although he was sweating heavily, his cock no longer looked like it was swollen.

"I'm glad I could help baby." She replied as she placed her panties back and fixed her skirt.

"Here." Jack took out a wet wipes pack from his utility belt and handed it to her. She used it to wipe her legs and her pussy from the mess from their orgasms.

"Do you feel better?" She asked.

"Much better." Jack answered. "My head's clearer too."

"Good." She quickly finished making herself presentable with Jack's help. She used her phone to check her appearance and nodded when she still looked fresh.

"I'll see you at the bullpen." She leaned down and they shared a tender kiss. She couldn't help but tease him. "You owe me, honey."

"I'll make sure to pay you back ten-fold." Jack promised. "Anything you want when we get home."

"Anything?" She asked. She was planning to have Jack help her pack her things in preparation for their move to their new house. She also wanted to empty the storage locker she was renting, now that they would have the extra space.

 She arrived at her office early to prepare her notes for the meeting and headed to the briefing room. It was a good thing her skirt was black, as she slowly felt more cum drip out of her sex as she climbed down the stairs.

Her face remained calm, and sat down on the chair Jack often sat on during roll call. There were a few officials that had arrived, and they were now waiting for the mayor's representative to finalize the script and the schedule for the event.

An hour later they all signed off on the finalized schedule and she headed to the locker room to change into her class As. She still felt uncomfortable despite changing her underwear, but she was glad she was able to help out Jack out of a tight spot.

A text from Jack arrived, informing her that the lab results arrived. The powder he was exposed to contained a strange mixture of horse vitamins and caffeine powder, the usual ingredients for bunk. It explained much of his behavior, but she was relieved it wasn't anything more serious.

More good news came when she returned to her office as Sergeant Grey arrived also dressed in his formal uniform. He informed her of a new development with Bradford's car accident, Bradford didn't hit the vehicle out of negligence like the victim's partner claimed. The vehicle had its break lights disconnected. Lucy Chen, dug deep and discovered the scam and she and Bradford managed to get a confession from the woman. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of her partner as well.

That meant Bradford could attend the awards ceremony with Lopez and Jack.

She arrived at the bullpen and saw her husband also dressed in his class As, with his uniform hat tucked under his arm. He was speaking with Chen and Bradford, as the two shared their investigation on the criminals engaged in insurance fraud by staging car accidents.

"Officer Routh, Officer Bradford, looking sharp." Her husband looked dashing. He had combed his hair and looked like he was prepared for a catalog shoot as he nicely filled out his crisp uniform that she had painstakingly steamed last night.

Bradford, she could admit was also a handsome man, stood near equal in stature with her husband. Chen seemed to be enthralled standing beside her T.O as she gazed at his face.

"Thank you, Captain." Bradford replied.

"You look amazing, Captain." Jack replied in turn with a smile on his face. "Shall we?"

He offered his left arm to her and she took it, slipping her arm on his offered limb as they headed for her car. She couldn't believe that mere hours ago two of the three awardees in her division were at the risk of not being able to attend the ceremony.

The Above & Beyond ceremony started late at the hotel venue, but overall it was a pleasant experience since she enjoyed the food prepared. The speeches were longer than she would have preferred and she mostly spent the time speaking with other captains and lieutenants that visited their table.

 Finally, the nine officers to be honored that night were called to the stage. She watched with pride as her three officers, Lopez, Bradford, and Jack were called up last.

One by one, the eight officers were called to step forward while the action reports that recorded their deeds were read by the deputy mayor. Chief Williams himself awarded the medals and he looked happy posing for the camera for every recipient of the Preservation of Life medal including Bradford and Lopez.

A K9 unit that was about to retire was even awarded a hero medal, the dog looking confused as a ribbon with a medal attached was put around her neck. The cute German shepherd named Lani received the loudest applause from the crowd of police officers while his handler stood proudly beside her.

"And finally for the recipient of the Medal of Valor." The mayor himself came on stage to read the reports of that terrible day.

"On that early morning, Officer Jack Routh was participating in the community outreach program and volunteered to share his knowledge by taking the role of a guest lecturer at the Los Angeles City College. At approximately nine in the morning, just as he was about to start his class, he heard gunshots from the hallway." Mayor Stevens paused for a dramatic effect.

"Screams were soon heard outside the classroom, and Officer Routh immediately gave instructions to his students to take cover and barricade the door, and then reported the situation to dispatch. He decided to take action, knowing how crucial time was in this extremely dangerous situation."

"Officer Routh was able to engage the suspect, and chased after him through the hallway. The school shooter, a former student of the college, used his knowledge of his surroundings by hiding in a closet. Officer Routh was concerned if the active shooter had made his way to the classrooms filled with faculty and students and rushed forward, but was shot in the back by the suspect."

She noticed the whispers started around the ballroom as all eyes landed on her husband who was standing still at the end of the line. Their eyes met and she gave him a proud smile.

"Officer Routh immediately returned fire and hit the suspect in the chest, killing him. Officer Routh's actions have no doubt saved dozens of lives that day, if not more. He was rushed to the hospital, nearly losing his life from the gunshot wound he received. Today, it is my honor to award the Medal of Valor, the Los Angeles Police Department's highest award to Officer Jack Routh."

Jack stepped forward and Chief Williams placed the ribbon with the medal around his neck and shook his hand. Applause erupted from the audience as Jack took photos with the Chief and the Mayor.

A few minutes later she joined her officers on the stage when it was her division's turn for the pictures with the press and the LAPD's PR agency. It seemed that news had reached the Chief and the higher-ups at LAPD of her new status as she was asked to stand beside Jack for a few more photos.

"This is for police mag!" A photographer grinned as he took a few more photos. "We'll be running a follow-up article on the two of you!"

"I heard you two got married in Vegas, congratulations!" Mayor Stevens followed them back to their table once their turn was finished. "What's your plan for the reception?"

"We don't have one yet." She replied.

"Be sure to contact my office, Captain Routh." The mayor winked and placed a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Jack, it's good to see you again and back on your feet. I missed my golf buddy!"

Other cops and public officials continued to pass by their table, offering their congratulations. She finally found the moment to leave without being rude, but not without agreeing to join the Mayor for a round of golf and her officers quickly followed behind her like ducklings.

Once they reached Mid-Wilshire, they took a few more photos in front of the lobby, while the rest of the officers of the station, both in uniform and those that have just ended their shift approached them and gave their own congratulations to the awardees.

By the time she and Jack went back to their apartment, she immediately took off her heels and collapsed on the couch. She opened her eyes when she felt Jack kneeling in front of her as he started massaging her right foot.

"You're already making up for what happened earlier?" She asked. She had to admit having sex in the station added the thrill that helped her reach her own climax while Jack fucked her from behind.

"No, I just saw how uncomfortable you were in those shoes." Jack replied. She had just bought the pair and hadn't broken them yet. Her new husband was so thoughtful. "How do I repay the favor?"

"I was just teasing you Jack, I'm your wife. Who else could help you out in that situation?" She raised her left foot and Jack immediately switched feet. "Though I will need some help emptying a storage locker I've been renting since I moved to LA."

"No problem." Jack replied. She watched as he leaned closer once he finished massaging her foot. "How about I help you relax, wife."

He placed his phone on the couch beside her with a timer. She looked closer and saw the fifteen-minute countdown. She had a vague idea on what Jack was up to and allowed her husband to remove her pants and underwear. She felt a bit of embarrassment as Jack spread her thighs, fully exposing her sex.

"Fifteen minutes." Jack gave her a naughty grin. "My tongue will pleasure you for fifteen minutes."

"Have at it then." She repeated the same words she said to him at the station. She moaned almost immediately when she felt his tongue teased her lower lips. She knew she would have a very pleasurable tonight.

The next morning, they decided to use the weekend to start packing. Fortunately, they didn't need to move all the appliances since they belonged to the apartment. Their new home was mostly furnished with updated appliances, but it still lacked the basic furniture unless they wanted to eat, sleep and fuck on the floor. She decided that she wanted to spend her first night at their new house with Jack but they needed to bring at least the bed first.

Jack had disassembled the bed frame, but there was no way the mattress would fit inside her sedan. She watched as her husband made a few calls, and the reinforcements soon arrived an hour later.

"Just call me Zoe." She repeated for the third time as Lucy Chen and Angela Lopez helped her with packing the clothes and pillows. Nolan had taught her the trick of using large plastic bags and a mini vacuum pump to compress the pillows on the bed and throw pillows in the sofa so that they could be packed better inside her car.

"At least when we're off duty." She looked at the two police officers. "I appreciate the help, and you even came even if it's a Saturday morning."

"It will be awkward, Cap." Lopez replied. "And Jack was my boot. I have his back."

"I didn't have anything else to do… Captain" Chen replied. "Besides, I was always curious about where the two of you lived and where you're moving to."

"I guess that's everything." She looked to see Nolan dusting off his fingers as he shared a drink with Bradford and Jack. The oldest rookie, bless his contractor heart, had the foresight to bring a couple of heavy-duty dollies. That made moving the heavy loads easier to his truck. 

Jack's own apartment which he now rarely used had even less furniture, and he decided to leave the couch since it originally came from the previous tenants. At this rate, they would be finished before by lunch.

She picked up the pace and stuffed the last articles of clothing left in the closet into the luggage she used for traveling.

"We're done too." She declared. Bradford and Jack stacked the luggage and other bags brimming with clothes and shoes on the dollies and wheeled them to the service elevator. She took one last look at her apartment and closed the door.

The convoy of cars left, with her at the front driving her Sedan stuffed with pillows, shoes, accessories, and bags. Since their new house was built in a corner lot, there was enough parking for all the vehicles. Jack was already waiting for them as he went ahead with his bike to open the gates. Bradford and Nolan's trucks parked inside the house, since they contained the bulkiest pieces of furniture.

"Wow." Chen whispered when she stepped inside.

"I told you." Nolan grinned.

"This is amazing Captain." Lopez stated. "Like, this is my dream home. How far is it from the station?"

"Roughly four miles, about a ten minute drive depending on the traffic." Jack replied.

"I like the tall concrete walls." Bradford nodded in approval. "Add an electric fence on top and it should be a good deterrence for thieves."

"Make yourselves at home." She smiled at the group once everything was unloaded. Jack immediately got to work assembling the bed and Nolan and Bradford brought in the king sized mattress to their bedroom. "Tell me the pizza flavors you want. Everything is on me, including the drinks."

The house looked sparse with the few pieces of furniture they brought in, but everyone was able to take a seat. While they waited for the food to arrive, the others wandered around their home, checking out every inch of their property.

"This is it." She whispered to Jack as she sat on his lap while they watched their fellow officers explore their home.

"It is." I'm excited." Jack replied.

"Oh my god! There's a Jacuzzi here!" She heard Angela shout. "Captain, can I take a dip?"

"Me too!" Lucy Chen joined in.

"As long as you have spare clothes!" She called out. She sighed with amusement and leaned back on her husband. "They're just like kids."

Angela Lopez

I just had sex and it felt so good (felt so good)

I went and let him put his penis inside me girl!

I just had seeex!

And I'll never go back (never go back)

To the not having climax ways of the past!

"What are you singing?"

She looked at the mirror where Wesley was sitting on the bed, covering his naked form with a blanket like a virgin. He was usually pretty carefree about nudity and wondered why he was acting like a prude.

"What's wrong?" She asked as she put on her bra. She bent over and started looking for a suitable pair of matching panties, well aware that she was giving Wesley a show with her naked lower half.

"That song… after you sang it, I suddenly felt used." Wesley admitted.

She burst out laughing when she heard his reply and walked closer to his side of the bed. "You're just being silly. Jack sang that song when he was still high from post surgery medication. I changed the lyrics a bit so that I could sing it. Catchy huh?"

"Catchy... right." Wesley swallowed.

"We better hurry if we don't want to be late. Did you bring spare clothes?" She asked.

"What for?"

"In case we take a dip on the Jacuzzi!" She replied.

That Jacuzzi was perfect, her favorite part of Jack's new house. It was small enough so that it can easily be maintained, and functioned as a mini pool if she just wanted to just soak in if she wanted to cool down like she did earlier.

She wanted to have one installed in her own backyard, but then she would be giving her nosy neighbors a show.

"And Doctor Sawyer's also coming." She added.

"Really? That's great! I haven't thanked her since I got discharged from the hospital."

"She looked excited when she learned Nolan was coming, you know her ex." She already had a running bet with Tim that they would get together. She just couldn't see Nolan settling with Jessica Russo. She was too high profile.

They arrived at Jack's house thirty minutes later, and she could see cars were already parked around the property. She was able to park on the last spot remaining and headed inside the already open gate.

The front yard was already set, with the wooden picnic tables filled with an assortment of cold cuts, cheese and bread. A salad station was placed to it, for those who wanted a more healthy sandwich.

Her smile widened when she saw Sergeant Grey wearing an apron as he manned the portable grill while he expertly flipped burgers.

"Not a word." Grey warned, pointing a pair of tongs at her.

"It was his idea." Grey's wife Luna added. "He couldn't keep still as Jack nearly burned the patties."

"Where's Jack anyway?" She asked.

"He's off buying drinks with Nolan." Grey replied.

Doctor Grace Sawyer arrived next, and she brought along a bottle of champagne. Seeing that the captain was nowhere in sight, she took it upon herself to welcome the doctor.

"I wasn't sure what to bring." Grace admitted. "Jack just told me to come."

"It's a pretty informal party, doc." She replied. "John left with Jack to but more drinks. Why don't I introduce you to the rest of the people here?"

"Of course, thank you." Grace beamed.

The captain finally arrived, just wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt. She immediately welcomed Grace and thanked her for coming.

She liked these kinds of parties. She knew all the people present personally, and no one was trying to be what they're not. The food was great too, and the beer stored in coolers filled with ice was even better. Jack had wandered off with Grey, Nolan and Tim, and she overheard the men talking about security and the best locations for a hidden gun safe.

Wesley was talking to the captain and Luna and she found herself sitting inside the Jacuzzi with Lucy and Grace. The doctor decided to accept her invitation without hesitation and joined her in the Jacuzzi with Lucy. She hoped the doctor had spare clothes. She was listening in as the doctor shared her romantic history with John, her best friend and ex-boyfriend.

"It has to be a sign." Lucy sighed. "A second chance of true love getting back together."

"I'm not sure about that." Grace giggled. She noticed the doctor had consumed a fair amount of the champagne she brought, since most of the girls preferred the beer. "I mean, he's already seeing someone."

"Don't be too sure about that." She replied.

"What do you mean?" Grace asked. It was fairly obvious that the doctor was still harboring strong feelings for Nolan.

"Just a feeling. You just need a little patience." She replied and gave the doctor a quick look. There she should have already gotten the hint.

"I see." Grace replied. "Thank you for the advice."

"What advice?" Nolan appeared and decided to join them in the Jacuzzi.

"It's a secret." Grace smiled and shifted closer to where John was sitting. 

She saw Tim walking over and gave him a grin. She was going to win this bet, and she couldn't wait to see the look on Tim's face as he hands over his prized Lakers tickets.

Chapter Text

Episode 18 

Jack Routh

If there was one thing he could confidently say about himself and his wife, it was that they were practical people who really didn't like putting up appearances and knew what they wanted. He didn't like getting stuck in traffic, so he bought a bike to weave through them to get to work.

Zoe realized she needed a car for their honeymoon road trip, and since she really couldn't take the one assigned to her out of the city, she decided to get one for herself. She left one morning, and he looked up an hour later while doing maintenance on his bike to see a white two-door Toyota arriving at their driveway. He watched as his wife jumped out of the car, wearing a satisfied smile on her face. She looked stunning with her shades, jacket, and skirt.

"I got an eight-six!" She said happily.

"Eighty-six?" He asked as he took a closer look at his wife's car.

"A GR86, to be more precise." Zoe explained. "Reese, one of my friends, had been looking to sell this car that she received as part of her divorce settlement with her husband. It barely has any miles on it, and I loved the feel when I drove it once when Reese was too drunk to drive."

"It has an automatic transmission, not really the model I was looking for, but at least it has a paddle shift." He got in the driver's seat, and Zoe started to point out the features of the car. He looked around and marveled at the simplicity of the design. This was a driver's car.

"How much did it cost you?" He asked.

"Twenty grand." Zoe replied.

 He was surprised to learn it was just around the same price range as his bike.

"It certainly is comfortable, and I know you don't like driving heavy trucks. It suits you, honey." He got out of the car after he popped the hood and took a look at the engine. "How long was its last scheduled maintenance?" 

"About that." Zoe leaned at his side, and he felt a hand grab his ass. "Can you help me with that?"

Since he really didn't have any tools, he took it to a car shop for routine maintenance. The preventive maintenance only took an hour, with an oil change and checking each tire's balance. He had the radiator fluid replaced just in case in preparation for their long drive.

With their transportation taken care of, they started their vacation. Their week-long road trip honeymoon to Napa Valley was finally underway, and Zoe decided to drive the first two hours of their road trip.

He could clearly see how she enjoyed driving her new car, and the sound the engine produced was pleasant to hear whenever she stepped on the gas. It accelerated quickly, and he didn't feel cramped inside.

They were swapping stories about the golf game they had with Mayor Stevens, Chief Williams, and their wives during the weekend before they set off.

"No way!" Zoe giggled behind the wheel. "Chief Williams actually asked you that?"

"I didn't know how to respond." He admitted. The invitation surprised him and caused him to actually play his best game yet in his eagerness to leave the golf club as soon as possible. By the end of the eighteenth hole, he was only six strokes behind the leaders.

"So that was why you started hitting those drives that accurately." Zoe replied. "I can't believe the chief and the mayor are both swingers."

"I told you they're interested in you." He added. "Wearing that cute little golf outfit didn't help."

"As I recall, you selected that one for me to buy." He did because he liked how sexy she looked in it.

"And their wives were talking as well. They're looking forward to the time when you join the club." Zoe reminded him. Who knew a few members of the prestigious golf club association were swingers? And he didn't mean having a get-together at the driving range to work on their swings. The chief and the mayor participated in full-blown orgies, and they also wife-swapped with other members of their swing club.

Halfway through their journey, they encountered a problem. Zoe was waiting for her chance to overtake a convoy of exotic-looking cars with vans recording them when a group of three police cruisers started to flash their lights. A police cruiser sped past the head of the convoy to slow them down, and he shared a confused look with his wife.

The convoy pulled to the side, and Zoe ignored them, but a remaining police car continued to tail them.

Zoe pulled the car to the side just ahead of the convoy as a highway patrol cop reached the driver's side window.

"Ma'am, do you know it's illegal to film here without proper authorization?" The cop with a thick beard asked.

"We're not part of that convoy." Zoe replied. "I was just about to pass them when you guys showed up."

"Sure." The cop gave Zoe a look that clearly showed he didn't believe a word she said. "License and registration please."

He had to admire his wife's patience as she handed over the required papers.

"For the record, I'm a cop. We both are." Zoe stated and flashed her badge.

"You? A police captain? Nice props, though." The CHP officer laughed. He noticed the cop taking a look at his wife's thighs. "I'm afraid I have to detain you. Impersonating a police officer is a felony, hot stuff. Step out of the vehicle."

He received a look from his wife, telling him she wanted to take care of this herself. Still, he remained alert and watched the interaction.

He could see Zoe arguing with the CHP officer while her hands were on the back of the car. He frowned when the man tried to check her for weapons. It wasn't necessary, in his opinion, since Zoe was wearing a thin, tight skirt, and any hidden weapon would have a noticeable bulge.

Zoe suddenly flinched and then quickly turned around and confronted the CHP officer. He got out his badge as well and stepped out of the car to give Zoe backup, and he could see the moment she dodged another attempt by the cop to grab her, pivoted on her left foot, and pushed him off balance. The cop stumbled to the ground, and his wife immediately got the cop's arms behind his back and, had taken the cuffs from the man's duty belt and secured him.

"You're under arrest for violating the California Penal Code Section 243.4" Zoe stated.

He saw the other officers in the convoy rushing to them, and he showed them his badge.

"Relax, I'm LAPD." He called out, as he raised his hands.

"What happened? Hey! Get off him!" One of the cops shouted with their weapons drawn.

"She's also LAPD, and a police captain. Your man there didn't believe it when she showed him her badge." He explained. "He made her stand behind our car, and I think he groped her ass."

"Fuck. An LAPD police captain?" One of the cops lowered his weapon first, followed by the two others.

"Yes. Get your watch commander here." He suggested. He went back to Zoe and pulled the larger police officer to his feet.

"Hey, let me go! This is an illegal arrest!" The cop complained as he struggled under his grip.

His wife still looked furious and tucked her own badge on the waist of her skirt. She stalked towards the officers like a lion and demanded for one of their radios.

"Dispatch, this is Police Captain Zoe Andersen Routh, badge number 898. I just arrested one of your officers for sexual assault on an illegal search of my person. With me is my husband, Officer Jack Routh, with badge number 33186. Please connect me to your watch commander."

"Captain, this is Lieutenant Adam Miller. What happened?" The radio blared out.

 "Your boys pulled over a convoy of exotic cars and what looks like a filming crew just past the 33 interchange." Zoe replied. "I was about to overtake them when your officer pulled me over as well. I tried to explain the situation, but he didn't believe me even when I showed my badge."

"Damn. Please wait, Captain. I'll get there in ten."

He pushed the cop to the back of the nearest CHP shop and, took out his weapon and handed it to another officer.

"Looks like Wrigley pulled over the wrong car." The CHP officer who took the weapon commented.

"It's not about the wrong car." Zoe replied, shooting the CHP officer a stern glare. "What Officer Wrigley did violates several procedures for any law enforcement officer in California. I don't remember groping a driver's ass as part of procedure."

 "Yes, Ma'am." The CHP swallowed nervously and nodded.

The group from the convoy approached them, and he noticed a few cameramen with them. The situation was becoming more and more unpredictable.

"Why did you pull them over for anyway?" Zoe asked as the other group reached them.

"I told you, we had the proper permits!" The British accent from the middle-aged man protested as he waved a piece of paper secured in a clear plastic holder.

"And I told you, you don't." A CHP officer snapped back. "Get back to your vehicles. This doesn't concern you."

"Let me see that." Zoe interrupted and asked for the papers. He watched as the group of CHP officers suddenly looked nervous and gave each other worried looks.

"It says here you have received the proper permit from the California Film Commission, Mister…"

"Wilman. Andy Wilman." The British man replied. "But they're also asking for another permit, for state parks. They said we need those two together."

"Are you planning to film on state parks, Mister Wilman?" Zoe asked.

"No, we're just filming for the highways and roads." Wilman replied. "We're headed to Napa Valley., and we have the proper permits approved from the local authorities over there."

"Then why did you pull them over?" Zoe asked the surrounding officers. Nobody seemed to be capable of answering her as they avoided her gaze.

"Then it looks like you're free to go. I'm sorry for the inconvenience to your film crew, Mister Wilman." Zoe handed back the documents. "Please observe our speed limits."

"Yes, ma'am." Wilman looked pleased. "Pardon me, but are you a police officer too?"

"Yes, but I'm from LAPD, I'm Captain Zoe Andersen Routh." Zoe answered. "We were trailing your convoy on our way to Napa when we got pulled over by highway patrol."

"I see." Wilman nodded. "They must have mistaken your 86 as a part of our group. Is that a GT86 model?"

"GR86." Zoe smiled. "We were on our way for our honeymoon when this happened."

"Congratulations!" Wilman replied with a smile.

"Pardon me, but are you this man?" Another older British man with curly hair approached him, showing him a picture of his rescue of Taylor Swift. The man looked oddly familiar, and he was sure he had seen him somewhere before.

"Yes, that's me." He took off his sunglasses and gave the man a handshake. "Officer Jack Routh."

"I knew it!" The man turned back to the rest of his group. "I told you, May! I was right!"

"A broken clock can be right twice a day." The reply came from another man with longer hair.

It took them fifteen minutes of waiting, with the convoy deciding to wait and take a break, but he knew they just wanted to witness what happened next.

It was worth the wait, as not only the watch commander arrived, but several higher-ranking officials came with him. The dash camera needed to be reviewed first, but the film crew from the convoy provided clear video evidence since Officer Wrigley had conveniently forgotten to turn on his body cam when they were pulled over.

The camera had clearly captured the moment the CHP officer fondled his wife's ass, and there was no dispute as to the arrest. The other officers were scolded and sent back to their station for a disciplinary review, and he watched as the officials that remained discussed what would happen next.

"I want him out of the force and a thorough review of his past actions." Zoe didn't compromise in their attempts to negotiate. "If you could promise that, I won't go public with this."

 "I understand, Captain." The watch commander sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "He'll be kicked out of the force by the end of the week."

"Good. I'll be following up to see if you follow through on your word. If not, we still have that video footage from the film crew." Zoe replied as she stared at the gathered officials around her. "Is that all?"

"Yes, Captain. Sorry… sorry for this."

"Train your officers better." His wife gave them a final piece of advice and turned her back on them and headed back to the car.

They quickly went on their way, and this time, Zoe increased her speed to the speed limit to make up for lost time. He noticed the film crew was following them, and he heard the distinct sound of the engine exhaust of the exotic cars the film crew used. He finally realized the man who recognized him. He was Jeremy Clarkson.

He didn't know that Clarkson had left the famous British motoring show called Top Gear and made his own called The Grand Tour.

"Mmmm, that's a nice sound." Zoe commented as the yellow LFA driven by Clarkson overtook their car, followed by a red Ferrari and a black Mustang. Two hours before Napa, they decided to fill up the tank and have a quick meal. It looked like the film crew had followed them as they ate sandwiches outside the convenience store of the gas station.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your honeymoon." Andy Wilman approached their table with Jeremy Clarkson. "I just wanted to express my gratitude once again for helping out with those cops."

"And I want to say your wife is a badass." Jeremy stated, giving his wife an appreciative look.

Zoe smiled and lifted up her sunglasses. "It's no problem at all, and I apologize for the negative experience you had with those cops. Not all of us are like that."

"I know." Wilman replied with a smile. "The good cops helped us in the end, even if they were on vacation and on their honeymoon. You didn't have to step in like you did, but you helped us anyway. We'd like to invite you for dinner whenever you're free when you reach Napa since that's where we will be filming as well."

He shared a look with Zoe and shrugged. It was all on her if she wanted to accept or not.

"Why not?" Zoe replied.

They quickly exchanged contact information with the two men and soon resumed their trip. Their accommodations did not disappoint when they reached the place. They had their own private villa, surrounded by rows and rows of vineyards. The outdoor shower was amazing as well, as it provided an unparalleled view of the surrounding hills.

He did not waste time as he took his wife in the shower, enjoying the amazing scenery as he thrust inside her from behind.

"You were a total badass out there." He whispered to her ear as he thrust all the way inside her. "That was fucking hot."

"I'm surprised… ah fuck… that you didn't step in immediately." Zoe replied. He felt her clench her vagina around his cock, causing him to nearly spill inside her. "Harder. Yes!"

He spent the rest of the afternoon with Zoe, walking around the vineyards. By the time they arrived back at the villa, it was already dark. He spent the night with Zoe, cuddling into him as she watched a police show shot in LA. His wife was giggling every time the police officers on the show tried to sweep a room, or conduct a proper arrest.

"Look at that!" Zoe pointed as the protagonist used an ordinary car door as cover while his enemies fired high-caliber rounds at him, and the door miraculously stopped all of the bullets.

"That door has to be made of some super alloy." Zoe continued. "There's no way that could have stopped even a 22."

The next morning, they rode horses to tour more of the vineyard and the surrounding property and met a few other guests along the way. He was grateful that Lucy Worsley knew her way around horses, or else he wouldn't be able to keep with Zoe. She looked comfortable on a saddle, and even gave him tips to improve his form.

"You're too stiff!" His wife laughed as she galloped past him.

They arrived at the restaurant inside the property, and met a few members of the film crew they met yesterday.

"Good to see you again Officers." Andy Wilman greeted them. "What are your plans for today?"

"We're just taking it easy for today." He replied. "We just came back from a morning ride with the horses."

"How was it?" Wilman asked.

"It's nice, but I'm more comfortable with my own bike." He replied.

"What do you ride?" One of the men asked.

"A BMW S1000 RR" He replied. "You ride bikes as well?"

"I have a collection." The man said proudly. "My name's Richard Hammond."

"Jack Routh." He replied. "What kind of bikes do you have?"

They spoke more about bikes, and he even showed Richard pictures of his own bike. Then Richard started to explain what they had planned for the day. Richard was going to attempt to test his motorcycle riding skills and attempt to run away from a police bike and see if police bikes were really that fast, and showed a video of a black Hayabusa outrunning police vehicles.

"How about you join us if you're free?" Richard offered. "Can we do that, Andy?"

"I don't see why not." Wilman replied. "We're filming in Sonoma Raceway, about a thirty-minute drive from here. If you want, you can run a few laps with your 86."

Zoe liked the idea, and the two of them followed the crew van to the filming location. As the crew prepared for the shoot, they encountered some troubles and waited for another stunt rider to arrive.

His wife was on the track on her 86, and he watched as her lap times became progressively faster. He didn't know she could drift corners like that. By the time she arrived back on the pit lane, she was breathing heavily, and her face was flushed, but she was wearing a wide smile on her face.

"That was exhilarating." His wife declared. "I have to do that again!"

"Yes, and we also need to buy a new set of tires." He teased his wife. "You were really burning rubber out there."

They had a break for tea with the presenters. Zoe took a closer look at the exotic cars, and James May gave his wife a quick tour of the three vehicles.

He took a closer look at the two BMW 1200 RT police bikes and noticed some similarities with his own bike.

"You want to have a go?" Richard Hammond asked. He was wearing a green suit that matched the Kawasaki bike he was supposed to use. "We're just waiting for the stunt rider, and he's late."

"Sure! Any suits that I can borrow?" He asked.

Fortunately, the white spare racing suit he borrowed fit him, and he found it amusing that there were stylized police markings on the back and the forearms, and the helmet even had the same design.

"Take it easy on the first lap." The track marshal and the stunt team gave him a safety briefing, and soon, he was leaning and banking on the track.

He enjoyed Zoe's car, but nothing could replace the feeling of riding a motorcycle in full acceleration. He had just completed his second lap when he spotted Hammond on his green Kawasaki ahead of him. He slowed down, and saw Richard Hammond look at him and then took off. He knew a challenge when he saw one and chased after him.

After three laps, he was only a few bike lengths from Richard's Kawasaki, and he pushed a little more in the next sets of bends, his knees nearly scraping the pavement, and barely passed Hammond at the last corner before the straight. He noticed Hammond slow down after that when he looked back and eased off the throttle as well. He turned around and followed Hammond back to the pit with his visor up to cool down.

"Was that a good practice for you?" He asked the smaller man once they got off the bikes.

"Practice?" Hammond was smiling as the rest of the crew converged on them, including Zoe. "That was it!"

"I'm amazed Hammond! You didn't crash!" Jeremy declared.

"Maybe you should transfer to Motors." Zoe teased him as she gave him a hug. "That was amazing!"

"Thanks, honey, but you know I'm heading to Metro. What do you mean that was it?" He asked, looking around only to see grins directed at him.

"You were really good out there, and we decided to let out Hammond and film the scene." Wilman replied. "I hope you don't mind being featured on this episode. You'll get paid, of course."

He didn't see any problems with that and agreed. He and Zoe signed a few contracts allowing the crew to feature them on the show.

"When will we be able to watch it?" Zoe asked.

"This was the last part of the segment." Wilman replied. "If editing goes smoothly, you'll see the episode next week."

"It's that soon?" He asked.

"We film different segments and combine them to form one episode." This time, it was Jeremy Clarkson who explained. "Then myself, James, and Richard film the talking bits in a live studio, that's the last part."

"Unless it's a special." James May added. "Filming those is a bloody nightmare."

"Yet those receive the most popular reaction from our audience." Clarkson countered.

That night, they accepted the invitation for dinner from Andy Wilman, the crew, and the three presenters. Their dinner was lavish, and the wine was something else. He and Zoe were drunk when they reached their villa, and horny too. He couldn't remember much of what happened when he woke up the next morning, but he had a headache, and their room was a mess, with their clothes scattered on the floor and furniture.

Their third day of the honeymoon was more relaxed, as they mostly stayed in the villa. He couldn't get enough of his wife, and she was always eager whenever he initiated any sex with her all throughout the day.

"This is why I married you." Zoe said to him while they sat on the couch. It was their last night in Napa, and they would leave after breakfast. They were playing Go Fish, and the loser had to endure a mark on their face using a marker.

He was sporting a lightning bolt scar on his forehead and a mustache, while Zoe had a goatee and whiskers on her face.

"For giving you a beard?" He asked. As expected, he was hit by a throw pillow on the shoulder.

"Stop! I'm being serious here." Zoe replied. "We can be serious and silly. You're like my best friend, Jack. We do our own things and still have time for each other. I really like our dynamic."

He felt touched by her statement. He really did feel comfortable around Zoe the most. He dropped his cards on the table and opened his arms. Zoe leaped across the couch, and they had a long hug. He didn't know how long they were hugging, but neither of them said anything. He enjoyed Zoe's body against his, and took in her own unique scent, and gently kissed the top of her head.

"Mmmm" Zoe finally spoke. "I wish we didn't have to go back to LA."

"Me too, love."

Zoe Andersen

Their honeymoon road trip turned out to be one of the best experiences she ever had. Her honeymoon in her previous marriage, while ten times more expensive, didn't even compare. She had a horrible time stuck on that cruise ship, and her ex-husband really had strange tastes and kinks. She felt dirty even remembering her experience and what she was coerced into doing.

Her relationship with Jack was always unconventional from the start. But then, they were unconventional people, and she knew it was just their style. From their work, their age difference, the manner in which they got together… she smiled when she remembered the day he proposed to her. Her idiot of a husband had his cock stuck deep in her ass when he popped the question.

Early Sunday morning, they had already loaded up their bags inside her car. She felt like a bit of an idiot for initially packing so many clothes with her, when more than half was not even touched and remained in her suitcase. Most of the time inside the villa, she rarely wore any article of clothing aside from going out, since Jack enjoyed taking her in random moments throughout the day. She knew this practice would be carried on to their new home when they had days off.

Having a younger husband really showed since she often woke up in the middle of the middle of the night to feel Jack thrusting inside her. He really couldn't get enough of her.

"All packed?" She looked up to see Jack returning from storing his own bag in her car.

"I just finished. Breakfast?" She asked. They had noon to check out, but since it was Sunday, and they needed to report for duty on Monday, and they both decided to leave early so they would still have plenty of time to rest when they got back home.

"Let's go." Jack took her by the hand, and they walked the gravel path to the center for some breakfast after they loaded her own bags. There was a light rain that greeted them outside, but it was pleasant, and she enjoyed the droplets on her face and shoulders.

Soon, she could smell the aroma of cooked food wafting from the windows, and she heard Jack's stomach' growl. She knew Jack had a big appetite, and this was one of the reasons she picked this place in Napa Valley, they had good food reviews and a buffet for every meal.

A few people were eating in the dining area, and they quickly picked their food selections. She had a salad and some soup, while Jack had a stack of blueberry pancakes and bacon strips on his plate. A waiter asked for their drinks, and she asked for coffee for the two of them, black without sugar for Jack.

They soon started talking about their most favorite experiences on their trip.

"Horseback riding." She replied to Jack's question when he asked what she enjoyed in Napa. "That and the wine and cheese tasting."

"I thought you'd say it was the recordings we made." Her husband reminded her of the other more risqué activities they did.

She blushed and looked around, and sighed in relief when no one heard her husband. "Stop that!"

She felt adventurous and naughty during their stay at the private villa and decided to record some of her activities with Jack. Knowing she was in front of a phone camera added another level of excitement to their lovemaking. Jack particularly enjoyed narrating their activities as they had sex in a variety of positions, with the last making her sit on his cock as they both faced the camera.

"How about that motoring show we were part of?" She asked, changing the subject.

"I didn't care for the hot air balloon ride." Jack shared.

She smiled when she remembered how uneasy Jack was when they were in the basket. She had never seen him so anxious before, and held his hand for most of the trip. Her husband liked to be in control, and she knew the unpredictability of the hot air balloons unnerved him. To his credit, he was just calm, and even managed to smile when she took a few photos of the two of them together. That photo in the hot air balloon with the sunrise behind them flooding the valley was going to get printed, framed, and placed on her desk, and a larger one at their new house.

"So after this, we'll head back to L.A." She sighed and looked around their calm and peaceful surroundings. Her eyes stopped at the piano at the corner and turned to her husband. He must have noticed where she was looking since he smiled at her and, took her hand and led her away from their table. He really was an observant man.

Her excitement grew, eager to hear one of his songs again. She couldn't wait to buy his album when it was finally ready. Jack pulled out a nearby chair from a table and moved it beside the piano for her to sit.

"Is it one of the songs you recorded with Taylor?" She asked.

"No." Jack replied as he sat on the bench in front of the piano and lifted the lid. "This one's for you. This is called Sunday Morning."

She nodded eagerly and prepared to listen. His music was one of the reasons she noticed him in the first place. The first sounds of the piano echoed around the mostly empty dining area, and she noticed a few people look in their direction.

[Sunday Morning – Maroon 5]

Jack started singing, his voice warm and soft, like a blanket on a rainy day.

Yeah
Sunday morning, rain is falling
Steal some covers, share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in, oh

Fuck. Her inner fangirl came out strong once again. The lyrics were just perfect with their surroundings and the weather.

But things just get so crazy
Living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road
Get up and go if I knew
That someday it would lead me back to you
That someday it would lead me back to you

She wondered how her husband seemed to be able to sing such perfect songs with the right lyrics and at the right moment. His musicality was really amazing to see.

That may be all I need
In darkness, she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave

It didn't help as Jack looked up from the piano and stared straight at her, and she felt like a spell had been cast on her.

 Fingers trace your every outline, oh, yeah
Paint a picture with my hands, oh, oh
And back and forth we sway
Like branches in a storm
Change of weather
Still together when it ends

That may be all I need
In darkness, she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave
Yeah
Ooh, yeah

She blinked back tears, and leaned forward. This song was simply perfect for their honeymoon.

But things just get so crazy
Living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning, rain is falling
And I'm calling out to you
Singing someday it will bring me back to you, yeah
Find a way to bring myself back home to you
You may not know

She started to remember the experiences they had on this honeymoon road trip. It was like the song was describing every aspect of their journey, both in the road trip and their relationship.

She remembered the passionate and relaxed morning they had. His fingers were on her skin as he kissed her neck and shoulder. She shivered and shifted in place. Why was the air conditioning so weak?

That may be all I need
In darkness, she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
Driving slow, yeah yeah, oh, yeah yeah
Oh, yeah yeah, oh, yeah yeah
Oh, yeah yeah, oh, yeah yeah

There's a flower in your hair
I'm a flower in your hair

Oh, yeah yeah, oh, yeah yeah
Oh, yeah yeah, oh, yeah yeah
Whoa, yeah

A round of applause erupted after Jack finished singing. She wiped away tears and hugged her husband, and another round of cheers and whistles greeted them. She looked back at their small audience and gave a smile.

"That… that was amazing!" She whispered and kissed her husband again, unable to fully show her feelings to him in this environment.

"I'm glad you liked it, love." Jack replied.

"Would you like to the video recording, ma'am?" A waitress approached them and showed them her phone. "I recognized Officer Jack. Routh, also known as Sugar, the moment he came in. I started recording when he sat on the piano."

"Please, send it to me." She replied eagerly.

"And can I have a photograph and a selfie, too?" The waitress asked.

"Of course." Jack replied after she gave him a nudge. She was unbelievably happy that the magical moment was recorded, and she immediately played the video again on her own phone once the transfer was completed.

She gave the waitress a hundred-dollar bill, and they soon left the center and got into her car, leaving behind a very happy employee.

Jack Routh

"Police! Stop!"

He had to admire the porch pirate he was chasing. He and Angela responded to a call of a suspicious man in a blue pullover stealing packages from people. The thief pretended to be locked out of his house when Angela asked for evidence that he did indeed live inside the house.

The thief jumped the fence in an attempt to escape, got bitten by a dog inside, and still ran. He was a fast runner as well, too, as he was able to outrun him and Angela. As the thief rounded a corner, Angela followed him, and he decided to cut him off and slipped through the row of parked cars and slid off the hood to get into position.

The thief was looking behind him and never saw his arm that hit him right in the chest. The thief quickly fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"You should have stopped when we told you." Angela scolded and turned the suspect face first on the ground and immediately cuffed him. "You're under arrest."

He reached into his duty belt and pulled out his radio. "7-adam-07, Code 4."

"Dude, that was awesome!"

He turned back and saw a driver getting out of his car, looking excited.

"Stay in your vehicle, sir." He told the man politely.

"Okay, yeah." The man nodded but remained in place. "You have to teach me that move. That was sick!"

"Return to your vehicle, you're blocking the traffic." He repeated. Behind the man's red Mercedes, a few vehicles had piled up, their drivers impatient and were already using their horns. "Do it now, or I will have to give you a ticket for a traffic violation."

The man looked confused for a moment. He looked around and noticed that quite a few people on the sidewalk were holding out their phones, and he knew they were recording the situation. The man headed back to his car, and he joined Angela and helped push the thief in cuffs back to their shop.

"What was that about?" He asked his partner.

"No idea." Angela shrugged.

"That was Sterling Freeman, the celebrity." The thief stated.

"Who?" His partner asked.

"You know, one of the leads in that new Cop Show, Hot Suspect." The thief replied. He looked at the two of them, looking amused. "You're cops, and you don't watch it? It's the highest-rated cop show on TV."

"I really don't watch those types." Angela replied as she guided the thief inside the shop.

"I think I may have watched an episode with Zoe." He got behind the wheel and headed back to the station.

"Is it any good?" His partner asked.

"Zoe spent the rest of the time laughing whenever they made an arrest or had a firefight with heavily armed gunmen at thirty feet, and no one gets shot." He replied. "I think I saw one of the cops on the show use his shoulder to smash open a door."

"I guess that answers it." Angela laughed.

They weren't laughing an hour later when they were summoned by the captain in her office. Grey was inside, looking amused.

"Heard you had a brush in with a famous actor, Sterling Freeman?" Grey asked.

"Yes sir, we made an arrest in front of his vehicle." Angela replied. "Officer Routh took down our suspect."

"You must have made a strong impression on him." His wife smiled and crossed her legs. "I just received a call from Chief Williams. He, in turn, got a call from the Mayor's office. They asked if you could be a technical advisor in their show today."

He shared a look with Angela, who just shrugged. "I don't even watch the show."

"And Lopez, you'll come with him." Grey added. The Sergeant raised his hand, stopping Angela before she could protest. "If the two of you can teach these pretend cops how to properly clear a room, or at least use their radios, I'll give the two of you ten-hour shifts next week."

"Luna makes you watch." Angela grinned.

"Every week." Grey replied, looking frustrated as he clenched his fist. "It's all I can do not to punch my fist through the TV."

"Why don't you say no, then?" Zoe asked.

"It's our bonding time." Grey sighed.

Hearing that, he wondered what his bonding time was with his wife. They mostly took walks, exercise, movies and then… he glanced at his wife and took a moment to admire her outfit. He always liked it when she wore those skirts.

"Something on your mind, Officer Routh?" His wife asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, Captain." He needed to be more discreet.

"Make that show better." Grey added.

They headed to the studio soon after and were personally met inside by the actor they met earlier that morning.

"Hey, good to see you again." Sterling Freeman greeted them. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry for earlier, but I was just so excited seeing you pull that move. I did some digging after and realized you're that cop that saved Taylor Swift!"

He felt Angela give him a slight nudge with her elbow and returned Sterling's handshake.

"Don't worry about it." He replied. "So where are the rest of your co-actors? I'll give you a basic lesson on procedure first."

"Right! The director, Jim, has them gathered at the set." Sterling replied.

"Where's the catering?" Angela asked.

"Over there." Sterling pointed to a table filled with pastries, cakes, and a selection of juices.

"Great!" Angela grinned and headed to the table. "Have fun!"

He looked around at the gathered actors and extras and noticed several inconsistencies right away.

"Right, first things first." He adjusted his voice so everyone could hear him. "Check your duty belts. The firearm and the taser shouldn't be put on the same side since that can lead to confusion. The radio shouldn't be in the back. Cops constantly report their status on the radio. Being able to communicate with my fellow officers could be the difference between life and death in a critical situation."

He nodded as the various pretend cops adjusted their equipment, following his suggestions.

"This is the basic firing position, finger on the side, not on the trigger." He demonstrated the move as he smoothly drew his weapon from his holster and pointed it to the wall. Don't overextend your arm. You need your arm bent and tucked close to your body to provide a stable platform for your firearm."

He looked around at his audience and noticed they were listening intently. Even a few of the crew hovered nearby during his demonstration. The first hour passed by quickly as he emphasized procedure and how often he used his radio.

"So codes vary for different cops?" The director asked.

"Yes. For patrol cops, the letter A or Adam signifies that they're a two-man unit. If an officer is working alone, they use L. So I'm from the Mid-Wilshire division, whose police station code is seven." He looked around and continued speaking. "My patrol unit is 07, so I use 7-adam-07."

Thirty minutes later, after answering various questions, Sterling asked if he could show how to properly kick the door.

He looked around the set and headed to a nearby door. "Focus on this area here with your foot."

He quickly kicked the wooden surface with his foot, causing the door to swing wide open as the wooden frame splintered. He looked around and saw the surprised looks on everyone's faces.

"That works too, I guess."

"Damn."

"Did you see that?"

 "I was about to ask the props department to wheel that in." The director awkwardly laughed and pointed to a door with a frame being wheeled in. "The one you kicked was a real, locked door. This one's designed to swing open easily."

Oh. He looked at Sterling Freeman, who was standing beside him, and shrugged. "Sorry, send me the bill then."

"Don't worry about it. That was awesome!" The actor replied with excitement. "I want to do it just like that!"

He took a break and joined his partner, who was sitting nearby.

"Good work, Jack." Angela replied.

"Thanks. I'll need your help later in showing them how to properly clear a room."

"Sure. Anyway, I have news, one of Sterling's co-stars, Mandy Cross, asked for my help." Angela shared. "She's been receiving weird notes from a stalker. She thinks the stalker got inside her house when she was asleep, but there's no proof. "

"Without evidence, we can't do much." He replied.

"Exactly." Angela replied. "That's why I gave her my card."

They spent the rest of their shift demonstrating proper tactical procedures. The director and the writers were eagerly taking note as he and Angela conducted a sweep of a home, treating the exercise seriously with prop guns in their hands.

They communicated with hand signals and constantly covered each other as they moved down a hallway, clearing three rooms in succession. Angela even showed Mandy a few moves female cops used when dealing with larger opponents. Naturally, he was volunteered by his partner to act as the training dummy, and allowed himself to be subdued by Angela and, later, Mandy.

"I love your songs, by the way." Mandy shared while they were taking a break. The director, Jim and Sterling, had joined them, and they sat near the catering table.

"Thanks." He replied. "What's your favorite?"

"Sugar, of course." Mandy gave him a wink.

"Officer Routh, have you ever thought of acting?" The director asked.

"Not really. I enjoy being a law enforcement officer." He replied.

"Such a shame." Sterling Freeman gave him a once-over. "You could have made it big. You certainly have the looks."

He didn't know how to answer that and gave his partner a look. Thankfully, Angela got the hint.

"My partner's very committed in his career as a cop." Angela shared. She looked and stood up from her seat. "I guess that's the end of our shift here. Thank you for the food."

"Thank you for today as well. Hopefully, we'll get less flak from our audience with the suggestions you gave. Are you sure we can't sign the two of you as technical advisors?" Sterling asked as he escorted them out of the set.

"I'm sure you can easily hire a retired LAPD officer." He suggested.

Sterling was about to reply when they heard the scream of a woman. Without a word, he ran after Angela, and they quickly reached Mandy Cross' trailer. With weapons drawn, they entered the trailer and saw the actress sitting on the floor, crying.

"What happened?" He asked as he holstered his weapon, seeing that the actress was all alone.

"That…" Mandy pointed a shaky finger toward the dresser. Angela walked closer, and he saw how her eyes narrowed. He looked over her shoulder and saw several pictures of Mandy sleeping in her shift.

Written on the mirror with lipstick was a chilling message.

WHY WON'T YOU LOVE ME?

"It looks like your instincts were right." Angela faced the terrified actress. "Someone did go inside your house last night."

With evidence in front of them, they quickly secured the scene and asked for more backup.

"Who could have done this?" Sterling asked as he put a comforting arm around his co-star.

"It's probably one of the crew." He looked at the photos, and read one of the older letters from the stalker.

"The… crew?" Mandy asked, her eyes wide with fear.

"They're the only ones with easy access to this set." He explained. "Getting here, we had to pass through two security checkpoints, and this filming set is located deep inside the studio property. There were several sets from other shows here, yet the stalker still knew where to go and identified Mandy's trailer correctly, despite it being similar to the others parked beside it."

"When you explain it like that…" Mandy shivered.

"And the letters contain details no ordinary fan could possibly know." Angela added. "You need to hire security as soon as possible, and we will send units to follow this up. This stalker is already escalating the situation."

"There must be close to a hundred people working on this set alone." Sterling shared. "How do we identify who is the stalker?"

"Evidence gathering." He replied. "Fingerprints, DNA samples, let's see if a name comes up that matches with anyone in your crew."

"The detectives will be here with forensics." Angela added. "We'll follow up with your case tomorrow."

"I'm not going home tonight." Mandy replied. "I'll check in a hotel."

"That's a good idea. Upgrade your security system before you move back." Angela stated. "But it would be best if you have someone with you."

"I'll call my manager." Mandy took a deep breath. "Thank you for your help, officers."

"It's our duty, Ma'am." He replied.

The next morning, they visited the set to give Mandy an update regarding the case.

"No fingerprints turned up." Angela explained to the actress inside her trailer. "Threat assessment went through all the letters. As they expected, it's an escalating pattern of obsession."

"But in the letters, the stalker mentioned about someone keeping the two of you apart." Angela continued. "Are you dating anyone?"

"Only on TV." Mandy replied.

"Who is your on-screen partner?" He asked.

"Sterling's character." The actress replied. "The season is written in a way that our characters are heading towards an eventual marriage."

"He could be the next target." He told Angela.

"Go check up on him, warn him of the threat." His partner ordered.

He left Mandy's trailer and headed to the actor's, who was just parked at the other end of the lot. He narrowed his eyes when he noticed a woman with a headset heading towards Sterling's trailer. He had seen her before, one of the PAs that ran around serving coffee and snacks to the actors and Director. He saw the gun in her hand and immediately ran.

The woman seemed oblivious to everything around her, and he used the opportunity to sneak up on the PA. The woman finally noticed his approach, but it was too late by then. In two quick strides, he had caught up to her and tackled her to the ground, his right hand grasping her wrist, holding the gun.

They fell to the ground, and the PA screamed as she struggled underneath him. "Let me go! He needs to die! She's mine!"

"You're under arrest." He pried the weapon of the PA's hand and placed her hands behind her back. The commotion attracted the attention of Sterling as he poked out his head from the trailer.

"You! I'll kill you! Let me go!" The PA screamed when she saw the actor, and she struggled harder as he finally cuffed her.

"What's happening?" Sterling asked. He noticed the actor looking confused and wary as the PA continued to hurl insults at him.

"You don't deserve her! I'll kill you!"

"I found Mandy's stalker." He told the shocked actor.

Zoe Andersen

Their house still looked bare, but it was understandable since they had barely moved in before they left for their honeymoon. Once she bought enough furniture for guests, then they could throw a proper housewarming party.

She relaxed on the couch as she waited for her husband to come home. He had told her he would come home later due to the paperwork involved in catching Mandy Cross' deranged stalker.

Jack was an asset to her division, but this time, it was giving her a headache. She felt like she was being pulled in several directions as different, high-ranking officials continued to pressure her regarding her husband's future.

The mayor hinted that Jack would do well serving as one of his personal police escorts. She got a call from the FBI Director himself, who told her they had a spot for him at the academy. Russo messaged her and wanted her to set up a meeting between Jack and a high-ranking official from Homeland Security. She herself wanted Jack to remain in her division since she would miss seeing her husband every day, but she never voiced that out.

Chief Williams wanted him in Metro, and offered a unique schedule that she believed Jack would like. She heard the gate open and the rumbling sound of Jack's motorcycle. She heard him rev the engine a few times and then silence.

She looked up as the main door opened, and Jack walked in, his hair tousled, and he looked fresh and guessed he had showered at the station.

"Hi, baby." She greeted him. Their kiss lasted longer, and she pulled him to the couch. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Jack replied. "Long day?"

"Yes, all thanks to you." She replied.

"Me?" Jack looked confused.

"A few Federal agencies wanted to recruit you, but I know you want to head to Metro." She handed him a few sheets of paper. "This is the proposal we finally came up with, provided you agree to it."

She watched as Jack reviewed the documents and the proposed schedule. The Chief and Metro had an interesting proposal, a new program designed to train those who displayed incredible proficiency and a cool head in times of crisis. They would spend twice a week in Metro getting training and experience, then spend two days in their assigned division. Patrol was encountering more and more calls that needed a tactical response, and this was the result of the year-long study. A squad of cops, trained and officially reporting to the Metro division, would join various stations and provide immediate tactical backup in case of a crisis.

Then, there was the FBI joint field training. Jack was officially assigned by the Bureau as a consultant for his incredible knowledge of ancient and modern history. That meant he could be asked at any time to assist in a task force.

"What do you think?" She asked once Jack put down the papers.

"I like it." Jack turned to her, and she snuggled closer to her husband. "I don't have to guess where I would be assigned once my initial training and qualifications are completed, right?"

"I did pull in a few favors." The department's PR agency still liked the idea of the two of them working near each other. "So starting next week, you'll be going to SWAT School."

"Looking forward to it." Jack replied. She saw the glimmer of excitement in his eyes. His golden ticket was now put into use, since he would usually need more time before he gets accepted to Metro. She was confident her husband would get along with Hondo and his squad, even if it was only half the time.

Chapter Text

Episode 19

Jack Routh

The loud heavy metal music in the simulation room was annoying, but he pushed to the back of his head. It wasn't the deafening noise that annoyed him, but the disturbing screaming and yelling from the off-key vocalist who must have ruined his throat just to repeat one phrase for over a minute that truly bothered his musical ear. But this was all planned by Hondo, and was part of his evaluations and qualifications exam. He needed to focus.

He wasn't using real ammunition this time, but dummy ones. They still hurt if a person is hit, but they have enough punching power to tear through a cardboard target.

Then there was Hondo who was constantly talking in his earpiece as he cleared the maze-like structure.

"SWAT, is a life-saving organization, not a life-taking one."

He waited for the red light to flash, and stood at the ready with his HK-416 ready.

"That's why the FBI, DHS, and the Secret Service come here, to train with us."

The red light flashed and he moved into the maze once more. He kept to a steady pace, elbows tucked in and his weapon pointed forward. He came to a corner and shot the dummy target right in the center mass. He turned left and almost shot a civilian target with a microphone in her hand. The narrow hallway led all the way to the far wall, but there were a couple of doors he had to clear before he could continue.

He controlled his breathing and zoned in. The first room had two targets inside.

Thum!

Thum!

"There's no excuses for bad shots. We never miss."

Thum!

Thum!

He left the room and moved down the hall and checked the other.

Jim Street was sitting in the corner, eating a fucking donut as he shined a flashlight at him. He ignored the officer, looked around and immediately left the room and continued. This was the first time he encountered live civilians. Hondo was really testing his reflexes and split second decision making..

"Good call. Street's a good man, though his ex-girlfriends will disagree."

He snorted at the radio chatter as Street complained while Alonso laughed.

A target suddenly popped from the wall and he immediately shot it in the head, twice and continued moving forward. Lights flashed black and white, and he remembered a similar scene in the film Men in Black, but this time he wasn't shooting aliens.

He reached the end of the corridor and turned right. Immediately targets started popping up. He took them down one by one, and nearly fired on Alonso when he saw her at the end of the hallway when the final target fell down.

A deep breath and a tactical reload later and he moved once more. Two civilian targets appeared and he held back at the last moment. A last target wielding a knife appeared at the end of the maze and he lowered his weapon. That last one was tricky.

The bell rang, indicating the end of the exercise. It lasted barely a minute. That was how Hondo emphasized to him how fast their sweeps for threats were conducted in their usual operations. This was far, far different from patrol. 

Immediately the flashing lights and the deafening heavy metal music stopped and he sighed in relief. He was getting a headache hearing that noise. At least Hondo could do was use decent speakers if he wanted to play annoying music.

"Good work Routh."

He looked up at the second floor to see the sergeant and a few other officers were watching.

"Now pay up." Hondo held up his hand, and a few sergeants groaned and handed the man crisp twenties. It seemed it was the same everywhere he went, cops loved to take bets.

"Take a break. We're doing close-quarters combat." Hondo leaned forward with his elbows on the railing as he pocketed his winnings. "Let's see if you're only good with firearms and those muscles of yours are just for display."

He smiled when he heard that. Jack Reacher knew a thing or two about unarmed combat.

Daniel Harrelson Jr. "Hondo" 

"Son of a…" His takedown move was countered. How the fuck did he do that?

"OOOFFF!"

Thank god they had mats for the spar. He took a few moments to regain his breathing and slowly stood up.

"You okay Hondo?" Street was smirking at him. He gave Jim shit earlier for tapping out early with his spar with Routh and now he just got tossed like a child by the rookie. His explosive strength was incredible.

"Shut up." He scowled at the smartass. He knew he was good in unarmed combat. Routh was better. He was skilled too. He knew all the counters and moves he had, and he also played dirty when needed.

"One more round Routh." He called out and this time cautiously approached the man. They circled each other, and he watched any hints for Routh to move. This time he would play defensive and counter any grappling technique the bigger man threw at him. He paused as Routh looked over his shoulder and he wondered who had arrived at the gym. No matter, this time he would win.

This time… he was flying.

It took a moment to realize Routh moved and in a blink of an eye had thrown him over his shoulder. The powerful, iron-like grip on his wrist remained and he slammed into the mat, knocking out his breath for the second time in five minutes.

Routh… was ruthless. 

"Alright. Alright. You proved your point." He called out. "Damn. I believe you now Routh."

The rookie claimed he knew a variety of martial arts and combat styles. That was always the claim from cock sure jocks eager to prove they belonged to Metro. Former Delta Force, former Navy Seal, former Marine. Yadda yadda yadda.

Right now, he was seriously doubting the accuracy of the file they had on Routh. No one could get that good without years and years of experience fighting against various skilled opponents. Routh just had to get close, and then he would overpower his opponent with his superior strength and reach, then it was all over. Jim couldn't get out of the grappling move Routh did. Not only did the rookie possess incredible strength and speed, but he also had very good technique. It made for a deadly combination.

 He groaned when he finally got to his feet, he was sure he was going to feel that in the morning. Alonso looked amused and he decided it was her turn.

"Chris, you're up." He barked. Alonso gave him a look, as if she was questioning his sanity.

"C'mon, show us soem moves from that Jiu Jitsu classes you were taking." Street added. The entire squad needed to experience this, when fighting against a superior opponent. This would be a good learning opportunity.

Alonso sighed and put on her helmet and mouth guard and stepped into the mat. She got into a stance and slowly inched towards Routh.

The rookie waited calmly, as he watched his latest sparring partner with his eyes. Alonso inched forward, and then exploded like a cat. She grabbed Routh's left foot and tried to lift his limb to keep him off balance, but Jack simply grabbed her by the waist and lifted her entire body like it was nothing.

Alonso locked her legs behind Routh's neck as she hung off him. But before she could move her hands were suddenly wrapped around Routh's bigger ones, as the former K9 handler tried to squirm and shift her weight to keep her opponent off balance. Routh just stood still like a redwood motherfucker.

He winced about what was to come. A moment later he opened one eye and realized Routh did not slam Alonso to the mat like he should have. He was in the perfect position to do so. He just secured both her wrists in one hand and pried her legs off his neck, and in an incredible display of strength, let her hang like a kitten over him with her feet a good foot off the ground before dropping her.

Maybe Routh had a weakness after all. He wasn't as brutal with Alonso as he was with the rest of the squad. Chris seemed annoyed at being treated differently and narrowed her eyes at Routh as they both left the sparring area.

"See you next week. We'll be conducting team drills." He told his new recruit.

"Yes, Sergeant." Routh nodded and left for the lockers.

They all remained silent and he knew his squad was listening as the sound of Routh's footsteps gradually faded.

"Damn." He looked around and saw Victor had an ice pack on his shoulder. He was the first to volunteer to spar with Routh.

"You alright Tan?" He asked.

"Yeah." Victor Tan positioned the ice back on his back better and sighed with relief.

"Good." He snatched the unused ice pack beside Tan and put it at the back of his neck.

"So what did you learn today kids?" He asked his squad.

"Don't let Routh get close?" Jim suggested.

"Don't attempt to tackle a man built like a linebacker?" Victor added.

"Not even close." He replied. "When you encounter men like him, it's better to use your taser."

"He used kid gloves on me." Alonso complained. He watched with amusement as the only female member of the squad looked around at the muffled laughter directed at her with an annoyed expression.

"What? Don't think I can take the punishment?" She challenged the squad.

"Chris, it's not about that." He answered for the team. "We're all grown men here, fit and with solid muscles and proper conditioning. Routh's hits rocked me, and judging from the ice packs wrapped around Victor, he felt it too."

"He could easily break a rib with a punch Chris." Victor shared. "The air got knocked out of me with that tackle. I swear I saw stars, like in the cartoons."

"I'd be annoyed at Routh if he did that to you too." He shared. "But the rookie had enough sense and control not to treat you that roughly. It's not a question of your abilities Chris."

"I can't wait to see him on the field, Hondo." Street stated.

"Same here." He smiled.

Lucy Chen

She didn't know how she got here, but she realized after that first sip of beer that she needed it. Two first dates that turned into utter disaster. That has to be a record for her. Feeling lonely she sent a message to the group chat she formed with her fellow rookies for their exam for a night out.

Jack arrived at the same time she did, and they spent the first twenty minutes catching up.

"They're that strict?" She couldn't believe the standards Metro had, and Jack joined their D platoon as soon as he arrived there. She already missed his presence in Mid-Wilshire even if he still showed up two days a week.

"It's all about split-second decision making." Jack replied as he took a sip of his beer. "SWAT do not miss. That's what Hondo always tells the squad. Lives are at stake."

She sighed as she watched her fellow cop finish his sandwich. There were times she regretted not pursuing the man in front of him harder back in the academy, if she knew he would turn out like this. He was like a completely different person. The rejection from her recent dates made it clear. She needed company, of the more intimate nature.

The captain was really lucky, and she even managed to snag Jack and get married to him in less than a year. Though she remembered the photo… and doubted if she could take something like that inside her. Her cheeks flushed and she emptied her bottle as she remembered that particular memory. It was good material for when she needed to relieve some stress.

"You guys are early!" John appeared, and she was surprised to see Detective Armstrong arrive with him. "Hope you don't mind, I brought some company."

Really, John should know better. This threw the group dynamics off with a detective in their group.

"Sorry for intruding. It's been a long time since I hung out." Armstrong seemed uncomfortable as well, and she knew at that moment it was John who insisted he join them.

"It's totally fine, Detective." She pulled another chair from a nearby empty table so that he could sit with them. "Please, join us."

"Call me Nick." Armstrong smiled and sat beside John. "So what's this I hear about you feeling lonely all of a sudden?"

She really needed to watch what she said around John. The man could be so dense at times. Well, she did want company tonight.

"It's my dating life. Men suck." She confessed. At the very least, her recent dates could do was to explain themselves properly like adults, not just ghost her and then later block her number to prevent her from calling them.

"Ouch." John replied. That's right, her friend was single again. She remembered John had recently broken up with Jessica.

"Okay, it's not all men. The single men in LA suck. All my dates run the moment they hear I'm a cop. It's like all the good ones are taken." She gave a quick glance at Jack as the waitress arrived to take their orders.

"Look, those aren't men, those are boys, okay?" Armstrong replied. "Real men are not afraid of strong women. Take a look at Officer Routh here, he married a cop, a police captain to be exact."

"Also, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but dating a civilian…" Armstrong gave a noticeable wince. "Always a bad idea."

"I was told dating cops was a mistake." She replied and gave John a quick look. "What am I supposed to do, join a nunnery?"

"Sister Lucy Chen sounds nice." Jack joined in. She ignored the snorts that came from the two other men and narrowed her eyes at her friend.

"Not helping Jack!" She gave her fellow rookie a pout. Sister Lucy Chen.

"I'm saying, right now, end of shift." Armstrong explained. "It means leaving the job behind when you go home. But each one of you will catch cases that will kick you in the ass, that consumes your every waking thought."

"And those not in the force will not be able to relate to that." Jack added.

"Worse. They're going to start resenting you for it." Armstrong shared. "You're at home, yet your head is still in the case you just solved. You're still thinking about the victims, what could you have done better before anyone got hurt? And then the people you go home to will start to wonder why are you still caring about the dead than the living, them?"

"It sounds like you're speaking from experience." Jack observed.

"Was your wife on the Job?" John asked.

"No." Armstrong replied immediately, though she could sense something in the detective's words. "No. No. She was an elementary school teacher. Yeah, kept me sane. Totally sane."

Armstrong gave an uncomfortable laugh as the waitress arrived with two more bottles of beer. "I didn't know what I did for her, made her laugh, I guess. Anyway, let's order some snacks!"

"So how's married life treating you?" John asked the newly married man of the group.

"Yeah, heard about that." Armstrong turned to Jack. "Heard you're moved to Metro?"

"Married life's great. Our dynamics didn't change at all." Jack shared. "And yes, I officially reported to Metro last Monday. Two days there, two days here. It's mostly training for now and earning my qualifications and certifications."

 "It's that new program that's being implemented right?" Armstrong asked. "It's a good idea, training up new officers to Metro qualifications then help in dangerous situations. We could have used that kind of program back in the 77th. Patrol is getting more dangerous."

"What about that teaching stint in City College?" She asked. She was hoping to it in like Angela Lopez did. She overheard from Lopez that Jack's class was amazing in the locker room as she bragged to the others about his accomplishments.

"Another faculty took over." He replied. "It was decided that I'll return after their mid-term exam, hopefully, the students will do well."

"I'm sure they will." She replied. She wondered how to get her strict T.O. to agree to sit in Jack's class. She sighed, knowing it was next to impossible. Tim Bradford was as hard as a brick wall.

They spent an hour talking, and she later realized Nick Armstrong joining them wasn't such a bad idea after all. He was rather funny and he had a ton of interesting stories to share from his experience at the 77th.

Jack's phone rang, and he excused himself so he could talk properly to the caller. A minute later he informed their group that he had to pick up his wife from her own night out with friends.

"I think she's a bit tipsy." Jack admitted with a smile.

"The captain, drunk?" She smiled and exchanged amused glances with Nick and John.

"It was her girl's night out." Jack explained as he put a few bills on the table to cover his own food and drink. "That's why I had to use her car to get here, since she expected me to pick her up after her thing in case this happens."

"Don't keep the wife waiting." Armstrong patted him on the back. "Go on."

Jack waved goodbye and soon left the bar.

"My renovation's nearly complete. Do you mind stopping by if you're free? I'm undecided on the backsplash design I need to use." John started to share his progress with Nick about the renovations on his house. She used the opportunity to head to the toilet.

She squeezed through the crowded establishment and dodged a drunk who looked like he was about to hurl whatever he was drinking. In her haste, she bumped into a guy at the bar.

"Sorry." She smiled.

"I'm not." The guy replied and smiled at her. "Would you like a drink?"

"Uhmm… sure." She smiled back. He was cute, but unfortunately, she really needed to go. "But I need to go use the… facilities."

The cute guy merely winked. "Nature calls right? I'll wait for you."

"I'm Lucy." She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I got to go!"

"I'm Caleb." The guy replied. "I'll wait right here."

Zoe Andersen Routh

It was about damn time.

Her two close friends finally had free schedules that allowed all of them to meet up. Originally they were supposed to have fun in that music bar where she first heard Jack sing, but then they blew her off because of an emergency. She wondered if she would have bothered to go to Jack's table if her original plan pushed through.

Her friends picked a more upscale location for their night out, somewhere with less people where they could properly talk and still enjoy a good drink. She enjoyed the cool breeze of the nearby beach and leaned back in her basket chair. She made a note to have a date with Jack here in the future, but their portions could use some improvement. Her husband had a big appetite.

"I can't believe you're married!" Pam held her hand and inspected the ring on her finger. She never took it off, even when she showered. She knew Jack did the same.

"And to think we once thought Zoe wouldn't get married again. It's like I turn my back for a second and then ta-da!" Reese waved her hands like a magician to emphasize her point.

"And we didn't get to be your maids of honor!" Pam complained. "I'm hurt, Zoe. Really hurt."

"You never introduced us to the guy."

"It sort of just happened really quickly." She admitted as she took a sip of her drink.

"So when will you introduce us?" Pam leaned forward. "Cause I was really eager to meet him when I saw those pictures!"

"Hands off, slut." She lightly pinched her friend's arm, making Pam laugh.

"You're always so protective of your belongings, even back in college." Reese teased. "Seriously, when can we meet Jack? I'd love to meet him!"

"Maybe when we finish with the house. There's a lot of furniture we still need to order, but I'll make sure to invite the two of you to the housewarming party. Bring your kids too." She replied. The unique design of their home made it difficult to match with the furniture she found online. Almost everything was modern and too clean and minimalist for her tastes.

Her best friends since college continued to ask her questions about her relationship, and they drank more and more alcohol in between snacks as the night wore on.

"So… how is he…?" Reese asked. Her friend was flushed was alcohol, and she knew if she looked in the mirror she would see the same on her face. There was a pleasant buzz in her head, and the stress and worry for her work melted away.

"You mean in the bedroom?" She asked with a smile. She knew Reese would eventually ask that question. Her friend was the most promiscuous in their group. She always had a guy on the side when they were still in college.

"Yup, sex." Reese nodded her head. "Is he good in the sack?"

"I wouldn't have married if he wasn't." She grinned, recalling her memories of the time she first met her husband. "There was an instant attraction between us when we first met. He was checking out my ass the moment he reported for duty inside my station."

"He didn't!" Pam giggled.

"Oh, he did." She nodded. "The looks became longer, the stares… then I found out he was my neighbor. When we finally had sex… it was amazing. I never had so many orgasms in my life."

"Orgasms? As in multiple orgasms," Reese asked intently.

"One after the other." She recalled the moments she passed out from sheer pleasure that it was almost painful when she was with Jack. "I just passed out. Jack has incredible stamina. He just ravages me at times… I love it."

 "It's not like before right?" Reese asked with some worry.

"No!" She laughed at her friend's reaction. "This time it's completely different, nothing like when I was married to Gerard. We're just adventurous that's all. Sometimes I'm the one that's in control."

"That's good. At least you're compatible sexually." Pam added.

"I haven't gotten around to telling you how he proposed." She giggled at the memory.

"Was it romantic? A grand gesture?" Reese asked.

"Please, Zoe isn't one for those things." Pam cut in. "This is different, right?"

"We were still hiding our relationship for obvious reasons. A police Captain and a rookie fresh from the academy? That will raise some eyebrows. There was this Federal agent, real pretty too. She always wears those tight pants and she has to know the male cops are staring at her ass whenever she walks by." She shared. "Anyway, she immediately found Jack attractive the moment she laid eyes on him and was making the moves on him, it was quite obvious. Hand on his shoulder, leaning closer to him, even pressing her tits at his back when he was working in front of a computer…"

"I'm amazed you were able to control yourself." Pam observed.

"I was screaming inside. The only thing that kept me sane and not pulling her hair out was Jack not responding to her advances." She replied. "You know me, I got my blood up, and as soon as we got home…"

"Oh no, Zoe got crazy." Pam giggled with Reese laughing with her.

"You bet I did. I was insanely jealous and pulled him out of the shower." She looked around to make sure no one was nearby and leaned forward. "Then I demanded he fuck me in the ass."

"You didn't!" Pam's eyes were wide in surprise. "Zoe!"

"Isn't that... painful?" Reese asked.

"You bet it did, and Jack is huge. Felt like a baseball bat was being stuffed in my ass. But I was determined to give Jack everything, even my anal virginity." She replied. "Hurt like a bitch, but it was worth it."

"Yup, classic Zoe." Reese sighed. "What has this got to do with his proposal?"

"I was getting around to that." She replied. "So here we were in the living room, our bodies soaked with sweat and I told him why I did that. His cock was still buried in my ass at that point, and he reaches around the coffee table without moving too much and places a box containing my engagement ring beside my head."

"He didn't?!" Reese laughed.

"No way!" Pam exclaimed.

"He did." She replied with a nod. "Bastard eased my worry and jealousy by asking to marry me. When I plucked out the ring from the box and put it on my finger to say yes, I felt Jack harden inside my ass once again."

"That has got to be the most unique and disturbing proposal I've ever heard." Pam declared.

"No question." Reese agreed with a nod.

She could see her friends were flushed red, not just by the alcohol. Their nipples were poking through their bras, and she could tell they were aroused by her story.

"So you and Jack… you're both active?" Reese asked.

"Almost every day." She replied. "I told him he can fuck me even if I'm asleep. Falling asleep with his cock inside me is incredibly intimate and relaxing. He loves to give oral sex, and even stuck his tongue inside my ass."

"Wow… I need a man like that." Reese licked her lips.

"I'm not the only possessive one in our relationship. He always pumps me full of his cum before he leaves. He makes sure I'm already dressed for work before he does it." She shared. "Jack says he likes it knowing I walk into my division with his cum inside me."

"Kinky." Pam fanned herself with the laminated menu display on the table and called for the waiter. "Damn. I need a cold drink!"

"Me too!" Reese added as she blew air down the neck of her blouse.

They were all truly buzzed, and she sent a message to Jack that she wanted to go home. All that talk made her adventurous tonight.

Reese and Pam insisted on waiting for Jack to arrive before they called an Uber. Her tipsy, giggling best friends thought they were being subtle, but the elbow jabs to each other's side as her husband arrived with her car was comical.

"Hi!" Reese waved the moment Jack stepped out of the car. "Jack right?"

"That's right." Her man smiled at her friends and walked towards her. "Ready honey?"

"Aww, isn't that sweet?" Pam cooed.

"They're drunk." She explained. Pam and Reese were swaying a bit, and she started to wonder if it was safe for her friends to take an Uber.

"We can take them home." Jack offered. Her observant husband had noticed the state of her friends. She nodded, that was probably a good idea.

"Let's go girls. Jack said he'll take you two home." She pulled the passenger seat forward and guided her friends in the backseat. "It will be a bit tight back there."

"Yey!" Reese giggled. "I knew selling this car to you was worth it. My husband got so mad when he learned his baby was gone from the garage."

They continued talking as Jack drove to Reese's address on the other side of the city. Pam lived closer to Mid-Wilshire, so they all decided to head to Reese's house first so they could talk longer. Unfortunately, the topic from earlier was still in her friend's heads, and they kept asking more and more questions about their sexual relationship.

Reese was getting bolder, asking things like how often Jack can orgasm in a single day, or his oral techniques whenever he went down on her.

She was becoming more aroused as well. Reese was really fixated on the idea of multiple orgasms. Once they dropped off the two women, she pounced on Jack. She had seen the bulge in his pants and immediately pulled the zipper down and fished out his already hard cock. It seems like she was not the only one who got aroused by all the sex talk.

"You're being naughty, honey." Jack said when they reached a stoplight as she casually played with his cock with her left hand.

"I am." She played with his cock a few more times and decided she would tease her husband tonight. She leaned forward and kissed the head of his penis, teasing it with her tongue. She had to admire Jack as he was able to focus on driving.

She removed her seatbelt and leaned further and took her husband's cock in her mouth. She gagged as the head of his cock hit the back of her throat.

"Fuck." She heard Jack whisper.

She pulled back whenever she felt her husband's cock was twitching, a sign that he was about to cum. She knew she was being cruel, but she wanted a hard fucking tonight. She wanted Jack to get out of control.

"Please love." She heard her husband beg as she resumed sucking him.

"Nearly there." Jack started to breathe faster and she pulled his cock out of her mouth once more.

"Fuck no!" Jack growled and she saw him hit the steering wheel with his hand. She knew what she was doing to her poor husband was frustrating to him as she continued to tease him, but she wanted all that pent-up aggression and energy directed at her later. This would be worth it even if she knew she was playing with fire.

She continued doing this to him the rest of the drive home. At one point Jack even tried to force her head down with his hand as he neared his peak, but she was able to pull away, since he was still distracted by driving safely. By the time they reached their street, Jack was nearly growling with frustration.

"Thanks for picking me up honey." She wiped away the spit and pre cum on her lips and chin and stepped out of the car as the gate swung close behind them.

"Where do you think you're going?" She heard Jack ask.

"I've had too much to drink." She looked over her shoulder and noticed the heated look in her husband's eyes. "I think I'll just sleep in tonight. Good night Jack, thank for…"

She yelped as she felt a pair of strong arms lift her by the waist.

"Jack! Put me down!" She demanded.

"No." Her husband simply replied. He carried her like she weighed nothing and headed to the backyard. This was it, this was what she wanted.

"You're not going to sleep tonight wife." Jack declared as he pushed her to the yard.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow as her man started removing his clothes. She watched with appreciation as his nude body was bared before her. His cock was hard and swollen, and she could see the remains of her spit on the head.

"I'm going to fuck you." He stepped closer and she stepped back, eager to tease her husband some more.

"No, I'm going to sleep." She challenged him.

He reached her and she gasped as he tore away her dress, leaving her in just her bra and panties. She flinched when her remaining articles of clothing were violently ripped away from her now naked body.

"I'm going to fuck you." Jack repeated. "Then I'm going to fuck you some more. Even when you pass out I'm going to enjoy using that hot and tight body of yours."

She could feel her pussy getting wet by the second. She nearly had Jack over the edge, he only needed one little push… "No. I want to rest, I'm going back to sleep."

She ran for the door but she barely made three steps when she was tackled to the grass. She tried to push Jack off but he overpowered her and spread her legs with his knees. She gasped as she felt his cock thrust inside her without any warning and his hands pinned hers above her head.

Before she could speak, his tongue forced its way inside her mouth as Jack kissed her. She felt the blades of grass bite into her skin, but it only added to the pleasure of their mating. The passionate and forceful kiss stopped and she opened her eyes to see her husband staring at her intently. She gave him a challenging grin, her expression twitching whenever Jack's cock bottomed out inside her. The buzz from the alcohol remained, making her feel adventurous and naughty.

She used the moment when Jack let go of her wrists and pushed him off. She ran but she knew she wouldn't get far since she was still wearing her heels. Jack caught her again and this time he restrained her more forcefully and pinned her once more to the ground.

She suddenly felt her wrists getting bound tight and she looked up to see Jack had used his discarded belt to bind her wrists tight above her head. It looks like she may have pushed her husband past his limits.

"No more running." Her husband warned her. She didn't get to reply as he kissed her once more and she moaned as she felt his hands grab her breast while his other hand played with her cunt. Her scream was muffled by their kiss when Jack pinched her clit and she shuddered and trashed on the ground, but Jack kept her in place.

"Fuck yes!" She gasped as Jack started to nibble her neck. She thrust her chest out, presenting her breasts for him to fondle.

Suddenly she felt Jack move off her and she looked up to see what he wanted to do. He easily carried her closer to the house, and made her stand in place by the side, and pulled her wrists high above her head. He grabbed the chain rain spout and coiled it around the belt that bound her wrists and soon realized she was held in place, unable to move. She needed to stand on her toes so that she wouldn't have to rely on her bound wrists to support her weight.

"Jack?" She tried to turn around, but Jack quickly grabbed her hips and pushed his cock inside her once more.

"No, you're at my mercy, my naughty wife." Jack whispered into her ear.

"Fuck!" She moaned as Jack started to fuck her violently. She couldn't move, she was totally at his mercy. this wasn't some bondage play with fake cuffs and ropes. She was bound securely and she was totally exposed and vulnerable. Being helpless like this increased her arousal, and she could hear the slick sound of their mating and the slapping of flesh as his hips met her ass.

Her pleasure increased as Jack used his hands to fondle her clit and breasts, and she moaned again in pleasure. Her orgasm hit as Jack thrust deep while he pinched both her nipples and she screamed in pleasure. Jack was relentless. Another orgasm hit her and she felt her knees weaken, and now all her weight was held by her bound wrists above her head while her husband's cock continued thrusting in and out of her.

"Mmmmmghf!" Jack pushed his cock as hard as he could inside her and she knew he was cumming. She felt his cock leave her a minute later, and she could immediately feel how slick her thighs were as fluids leaked out of her cunt. Jack moved in front of her, stroking his cock to hardness. She knew she must look like a mess right now, bound by her wrists above her head and tied to a chain while sweat glistened on her skin while her cunt continued to leak his seed.

Her husband grabbed his phone from the ground and started to take a few photos of her. That only increased her arousal. She stared defiantly at the camera lens as Jack took a few more photos and then put the phone down.

"You're so fucking hot." Jack approached her again, and this time she felt the head of his penis poke her ass. "We'll be here for a while."

She didn't know how long she was tied there, as her body was used repatedly her holes fucked by her husband's cock or his fingers. She remembered when Jack drank a mouthful of water and shared it with her when they kissed. 

She passed out a few times from the intensity of her orgasms, but she could remember when Jack removed the belt that bound her wrists. She only came to consciousness when she felt the soft pillow behind her head and the comfortable mattress on her back.

"Mmmm." She closed her eyes once more as she felt a cool wet cloth start to clean her skin. She was extremely tired and sleepy, but she was satisfied and her lust sated. She spread her legs wide, her pussy exposed just in case her husband wanted to fuck her as exhaustion finally caused her to pass out.

She woke up the next morning feeling disoriented, but she then started to remember her night out and then her… games with Jack. Wow. That was the most intense sexual experience yet with her husband. Her body ached all over, especially her arms and shoulders, but she felt completely satisfied, she got what she wanted.

Judging by the ache between her legs and the sticky and uncomfortable fluids leaking out of her sex, Jack must have still fucked her in their bed even as she passed out. Her husband was slightly snoring beside her, an indication that he slept late since he was too busy with her body.

There was a debate in her head if it was ethical for her to take a sick day with Jack, but that problem was taken from her when her office phone vibrated on the nearby desk, and the caller ID made it clear it wasn't something she could just ignore.

Why was the chief calling her so early in the morning? She slipped quietly out of bed and headed to the backyard through their room so that she could answer the call without waking Jack. The cold morning air hardened her nipples and caused goose bumps all over her skin, reminding her she was still naked.

"Yes, Chief?"

"Sorry for the early call Zoe, but there's an emergency meeting scheduled an hour before roll call. It's something important and Sean will fill you in with the details. This is big. I have to make calls to the other divisions. Call you later."

The call quickly ended and she stared at the phone screen, wondering why the chief sounded so excited this early in the morning. Whatever that news he hinted at, it must be important for the older man to break his routine.

Jack was still sleeping, when she returned to their room, and she decided to write a note for Jack since she planned to leave earlier than normal. Morning sex can wait for another time. She left the house early enough that she had time to pass by a drive-through and ate a bunch of unhealthy hash browns and a cup of coffee. She knew she would be less distracted with food in her and caffeine to help jumpstart her day.

Every time the District Attorney or one of his assistants visited her division, it usually meant she would hear bad news. She hated being right. She arrived at the station and already saw Sean's car parked prominently in front of the station.

He was already waiting for her in the bullpen, along with Grey who looked like he still needed a few more hours of sleep. She led the two men inside her office and then Sean handed her a folder.

"The chief signed off on this? Her?" She asked Grey, her eye remaining on the photo of a red-haired woman.

"Yes." Her Sergeant replied, looking grim. "He says the other families needed closure."

She turned back to Sean Del Monte, the assistant DA who was wearing a satisfied smile on his face. He asked her out once, and thankfully she had a horrible time with him on the only date they had. She couldn't stand his arrogant attitude and questionable morals.

"Why do I feel like those words came from you instead?" She asked Sean as she stared at him with a raised eyebrow. "Is this a play for running for DA next year?"

"Not at all." The assistant DA replied confidently. "It's just like Chief Williams said, the other victims needed closure, and finally retrieving their bodies will help with that."

"Why my division?" She asked. "You could have gone directly to Metro or Central on this."

"I read the reports." Sean replied. "Your division has one of the highest performance ratings in the city. Besides, I missed seeing you, Zoe."

"I'm married now, Sean. It didn't work before, it sure wouldn't work now." She intentionally flashed her wedding ring and gave the lawyer a tight smile. "I just got back from my honeymoon last week."

"You're married?" Sean looked surprised as he sat up on his chair. "Why haven't I heard this before?"

"That's what you get for holing yourself up in your office and not even bothering to attend functions." She replied.

"Do I know your husband?" Sean asked.

"You'll meet him soon." Grey replied for her.

"He must be a saint for him to sweep you off your stubborn feet." Sean replied. She hid her amusement when she heard the bitter tinge in his tone. She knew Sean Del Monte didn't like losing and viewed her as some sort of trophy.

"You really don't have a choice, Zoe." Sean stated. "Griffith Park is under your jurisdiction, and it is four thousand acres. She says she will only be able to help us find the other bodies if she's there personally."

 She looked back at the file once more and grimaced. She felt uncomfortable letting monsters inside her house.

"What's the timeline for this?" She asked.

"Two days, minimum, three days tops." Sean replied, getting back to the topic of their meeting. "If this works out, she'll be off death row and to multiple life sentences."

Rosalind Dyer, the famous serial killer. She even heard of her when she was still working in the Pentagon. She was a psychopath, with a high intellect and could easily read people with just a glance. The press had even called her a female version of the fictional character Hannibal Lecter without the cannibalism. She enjoyed playing with her victims and torturing them in various gruesome methods. Now she had to house that monster in her station.

"Armstrong would not like this." Wade shared.

"He has no choice in the matter." Sean replied as he stood up. "I'll get the paperwork sent to the prison. She'll arrive within the hour if there's no traffic. I'll join you in the briefing room."

She watched as the assistant district attorney left her office and she turned to Grey the moment her door closed.

"I want all hands on deck on this one. Overtime is approved." She stated. "I want this operation locked tight without any mistakes."

"Yes, Captain." Grey replied. "We need close-in security for Rosalind."

"Have Bradford, Lopez, and Jack take those positions." She ordered. "I want them in tactical gear, waiting for her the moment she steps one foot inside the station."

"Good choice." Grey nodded.

The two T.O.s had good marksmanship scores, and they had the necessary certifications to carry assault rifles, as Jack did due to his preparations for joining metro. Between the three, she was confident they could handle Rosalind Dyer. Her husband was also one of the strongest men she knew.

Thirty minutes later she arrived at the briefing room and saw it was packed with officers, a good number were even standing by the sides since all the seats were taken. This was a difficult operation to conduct, and she needed as many bodies as she could throw to have an acceptable level of operational security.

She could see the disbelief in most faces as Sean explained the situation, and noticed the clenched fist of Detective Armstrong as he hid his arms behind his back.

"Bradford, Lopez, Routh, please stay." She called out once the lengthy briefing was finally finished.

"I have an assignment for the three of you. You'll shadow Rosalind Dyer, she must not escape at all costs. I picked you three because I believe in your capabilities." She stated a she stared at each officer in the eye. "Don't let her get into your head. Her file says she talks a lot."

"You'll all be wearing tactical gear." Grey added. "Assault rifles and the works. Suit up."

She stayed inside the briefing room, watching as her station turned into a madhouse in preparation for Rosalind's immediate arrival. The bay was cordoned off and civilians without proper clearances were directed to move out of critical areas.

The detainees in the holding cells had to be transferred to other stations. She couldn't allow the serial killer to communicate with the public.

Sean spent the time taking calls, while Grey continued to pore over the route their convoy would take as well as the decoy convoy that would lead the news vans on a wild chase around the city. Even motors chipped in, and provided six cops in motorcycles to act as front escorts to better fool the public. Anymore support vehicles and they could be mistaken as a presidential convoy, but without the limos.

The door swung open, revealing her husband in tactical gear, followed by Bradford and Lopez. Jack stood out with his more advanced Metro gear in black and dark grays, and the HK-416 now held in his hands, different from the AR-15s held by Bradford and Lopez. It was the first time she saw Jack in his new outfit, including the balaclava. Add face paint and camo, and he looked like he just stepped off a Chinook for a recon deployment.

"I like the gun." Grey immediately spotted Jack's weapons. "Is that a staccato?"

"Yes, Sergeant." Her husband replied. "Still getting used to it."

"What's with the baklava Jack?" She asked. "You'll get hot in no time with that on."

"It helps keep my earpiece in place." He removed his helmet and pulled off the black cloth around his head, revealing the earpiece and communications equipment connected to his radio that was now slotted in his front vest.

She could see the envy in Bradford's eyes as he stared at her husband's gear. Every cop wanted the fancy headgear to provide hands-free communication with each other and dispatch, but sometimes tradition was valued more than common sense, and so the regular police units were stuck with hand-held radios.

"Jack?" Sean asked from behind her.

"My husband, Officer Jack Routh." She stepped to the side and closer to her husband so that Sean could see her man. "He just started in D platoon."

"Right." Sean gave a wary look to Jack who merely gave the assistant DA a nod of greeting.

"Congratulations Zoe." Sean told her and left the room.

Jack Routh

The armored prisoner transport arrived in the bay, and he watched as Nolan and Harper stepped forward, prepared to handle Rosalind. His job was to watch the prisoner and prevent her escape at all costs. He had met serial killers before, but when he looked at her file while he waited for the transport to arrive what he read was extremely disturbing.

The woman caused so much pain and suffering for her victim, that the psychologists noted she reveled in them that it was like an addiction to her. She did not display any ounce of remorse for her actions, instead, she felt ecstasy. A part of him wanted to kill her when she finished reading the file, but he ignored it and focused on his job.

 The door finally opened after Sergeant Grey signed a few pieces of paper on a clipboard and handed it back to the officer in charge of the transport.

Rosalind Dyer could be considered pretty, if not for the alien expression on her face as she sat in a specialized restraining wheelchair. He noted how the red-haired woman's eyes took everyone in the room in an instant, though it lingered longer on Armstrong who looked like he was struggling not to throttle the woman.

"Hello, Nick." Rosalind greeted Armstrong with such familiarity like he was her neighbor who spent a month on vacation.

"Rosalind." Armstrong grunted.

"Are you going to introduce me to your friends?" Rosalind glanced at Lucy, Nolan, and Harper.

"They have nametags, and you can read." Armstrong replied.

The red-haired woman stared at him and their eyes locked for a moment. Her small smile disappeared and she turned back to Armstrong. "Seems like an exaggeration, don't you think?"

"It's a precaution." His wife stepped forward. "A necessary one."

Rosalind ignored Zoe and focused back on Nick. "That's not very gracious Nick, after what we've been through."

Grey gave a nod, and Lucy and Harper started to free Rosalind from the modified wheelchair. He didn't know if it was fake as Rosalind stumbled after she stood up, only to be caught by Nolan.

"Thank you." Rosalind smiled sweetly. He could see Nolan attracted her attention.

He walked beside her, as Harper led the famous serial killer to the holding so that she could be prepped for the journey to Griffith Park.

"You're all so silent." Rosalind giggled as she stared at them. "I won't bite… hard."

"And you, I would have enjoyed having you, handsome." Rosalind gazed at him.

"Try anything and I'd make sure you'll be eating out of a tube." He told her. He ignored the confused glances his fellow officers gave him. Something about this woman had him on edge. She was not human. No telltale signs, involuntary facial twitches, and her body language told him she was relaxed and in control.

"I can see that's not just a threat. You're willing to follow through with what you say." Rosalind returned his gaze. "Interesting."

Chapter Text

Episode 20

Rosalind Dyer

It was nice to get out again. It had been over three years since she felt the sun kiss her skin. The familiar dirt path made her relive memories of her… victims. Gary had stumbled over by that tree, as the drug she had inserted into his drink started to affect his balance.

Michael had invited her to have some kinky fun on their date. He was eager for the pleasure he expected when she told him she would receive from him, just not what he expected. His pleas for mercy were amusing, and the memory as he held both his chopped wrists together in a form of prayer, begging for his life, made her shudder in pleasure.

"We're not here for a tour of memory lane." Sean snapped her out of reminiscing.

"Let's take a break." She suggested that when they reached the shaded clearing that she used to drug her prey. Men, women, they were all predictable. The promise of outdoor sex on a remote picnic area made them eager to her plan, and the trek made them all thirsty.

"It's going to be a long day. We wouldn't want to burn out too early." She continued.

They all stopped right at this clearing, underestimating their stamina and the afternoon heat. Luckily, she had brought specially prepared bottled water to quench their thirsts.

The officers that accompanied her were no exception, and Officer Harper used her radio to inform them of their break.

"We're going to hold here, all units standby."

"Copy."

Officer Nolan, the man who caught her before she fell, handed her a bottle of water. He was such a gentleman. She wondered why he hadn't earned his stripes yet, he couldn't be just a P1, he was too old for that position. But then, the way he shifted in place nervously was in sharp contrast to the other veteran officers with her. He was a rookie cop. That was brave of him, and foolish.

Her cuffs were temporarily removed, allowing her to drink the bottle of water while she stared at Nick. His frustration and resentment were so delicious.

Her guards also drank water, but they mostly remained silent. The female refused to acknowledge her, and the male leader of the trio in tactical gear, who Officer Chen called Tim, refused to acknowledge her presence. Then there was the other one, the big guy.

Unlike the others, this one didn't avoid her gaze. Her instincts told her he was not prey. He was different. She couldn't get a proper read on him, and he gave nothing away.

"Thank you, Officer Nolan." She beamed at her escort and handed back the bottled water. "You're very sweet."

"Don't take it personally." Officer Nolan replied as he tucked the half-empty bottle back inside his bag. "I'm just doing my job. I don't want a cruel and unusual punishment filed against me."

"That will be ironic, huh?" She held out her hands to him to cuff her back. "Me accusing someone else of being cruel. I could teach a master class in unusual punishments."

Nolan suddenly tackled her to the ground, and the wind was knocked out of her. Suddenly, gunfire erupted, and a few seconds later, she saw him move to face the threat, his face determined and calm.

His weapon fired a few rounds in response as the rest of the officers ducked for cover. Sean was screaming like a baby, and her sharp hearing heard the sound of a man screaming.

"Fuck! I'm bleeding!"

She watched with amusement at the chaos that surrounded her. A few officers headed to the voice of a man screaming in pain while Sean wailed like a baby. She looked over and rolled her eyes, it looked like a piece of shrapnel had just hit the skin above his eye. Pity, she thought Sean could carry the pirate look well.

"You're okay!" Nick told the panicking Sean. It was just a piece of debris that flew when the bullet hit the boulder. "It's not serious! Calm down, Sean!"

She wasn't complaining when the group decided to return to the base camp. More time for her to enjoy the great outdoors. It looked like her silent sentinel's return fire hit their ambusher, and she smiled when she saw who it was, Peter, the husband of Christine, one of her victims. She was struggling with her marriage and had shown some interest in her during therapy.

She remembered that Christine's tongue was exquisite as the woman ate her cunt numerous times in her office, while poor Peter dutifully waited outside and until today he didn't have a clue that his wife wanted to leave him.

More officers arrived, and they debated for a while on whether they should continue or not. In the end, it was Sean who convinced the group to continue. He was really eager to prop up his image in preparation for next year. He knew the man was eyeing the District Attorney position.

They resumed the trek, this time with more officers to escort her. Officer Nolan walked beside her, while her three guards remained around her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She smiled at Officer Nolan. It looked like something was in his mind. "I've peeled a woman's face off, and yet you put your body between me and the bullet. Why?"

"It's my job, I don't get to choose who I save." Nolan replied.

"How noble." She smiled as she looked up at him. He would have been perfect to bring here, before she was caught. "It's funny, people look at me like I'm an alien, but it goes both ways. You don't do sadism, I don't do selfless. All of you look strange to me…. Except the big guy."

 "Jack?" Nolan looked back at the armed guard behind her. Finally, she had a name for this mysterious person. Jack. The name somehow suited him.

"Nolan." She heard the warning tone in Jack's voice.

"If you keep opening up your big mouth and revealing details to a dangerous serial killer, then I don't think you're ready to graduate from the program, boot." Tim stated.

"Seriously, you're this talkative when we're on the job, Nolan? What's wrong with you?" The female guard added.

"Right, sorry." Nolan looked flustered. "Shutting up now."

"Relax, there's nothing wrong with learning a name, it's only polite, Tim." Her smile widened when she saw how Tim straightened up and gave her a wary look. It always amuses her how often Cops think she couldn't overhear them talking and then express their surprise when she reveals personal details about them. Panic, then worry, then fear always flash through their faces.

"No matter, we're here." She stated when they reached the familiar clearing overlooking the city. "Over that tree, there's a body buried on the base."

Immediately, a few officer took out shovels from their packs and started digging. They worked quickly, and in a few minutes, one of the officers reported that they had discovered a body. Her smile widened when a second body was discovered, the decomposition indicating that the death had to be less than a year.

"Six months, nine tops." Police Sergeant Grey stated. They all turned to look at her, and she took in the horror on their faces as they realized there was another serial killer on the loose. Poor Nick was shaking in rage.

She was quickly whisked back to the station, and she now sat on the bench. She was annoyed that they didn't let her see the body, she was eager to see her student's work and how it compared to hers.

John Nolan

Boy scout. That's what Rosalind Dyer called him when she refused to speak with Nick and demanded she speak to him. He didn't fully understand the reason why, but it must have been because he was the most talkative cop in her escort, a mistake he was now only beginning to understand the consequences of. No cop wanted a serial killer's attention focused on them.

"Thank you for seeing me, John." She smiled pleasantly.

He steeled his nerves and sat on the bench across from her. The entire holding cells were emptied and the prisoners transferred to other stations so that they could focus their resources in guarding what many considered the most dangerous woman in the city.

"You asked to see me." He began. "Why?"

"I like you." Rosalind replied. He almost believed that what she said was the truth. Maybe she was telling the truth. "Nick's boring, and Jack... he'd sooner kill me without hesitation if it weren't for that badge."

"Jack? He wouldn't do that, he's a cop." He replied.

"A fine one, but I know a killer when I see one." Rosalind replied. "Only he's shackled by these laws and procedures you have, and he wants me dead."

He could see her body shudder in pleasure and frowned at her reaction. "We're getting out of topic. Who killed that woman?"

She ignored him, and he felt naked as he endured her gaze. Rosalind didn't blink.

"You know the best part of getting caught?" She asked.

He shook his head in confusion.

"Getting to relieve every detail with Nick." Rosalind turned to the camera held on top of a tripod, and he wondered how she knew that at that moment, the captain, the sergeant, and Armstrong were watching the feed from Grey's office. It was like she was speaking to Nick directly, taunting him.

"I didn't expect that." Rosalind sighed. "Seeing Nick again and walking the trail with him to visit the graves, it's glorious. I enjoyed sharing my experiences, seeing how they horrified people. Except Jack. I could see it in his eyes. Where is he anyway?"

"He has to file some paperwork because of the shooting." He explained.

"See, a killer." She smiled and leaned closer. "It's amusing to see him forced to defend me despite how he clearly loathes my existence."

"Cops are jaded. You really have to work to get a reaction from them because of the wall they put up." Rosalind continued speaking. "I remember at the trial, the jury and those horrified faces, and the families… I ate their pain like a five-star meal."

Bradford was right. This woman only wanted attention and an audience. They were just wasting time, and he stood up and headed to the door.

"Where are you going?" Rosalind asked. "I wasn't done speaking."

"I'm done listening. Clearly, you don't have anything to say that will help us." He replied.

"Wait."

He turned around and faced her. It looks like she was finally coming down from that high.

"Tell me about the body we discovered." She asked. "I only saw a glimpse of her face before you took me to the van. How did she die?"

"Visual autopsy showed she suffocated to death." He replied. "Most likely in some kind of a container. Her face showed signs of intradermal hemorrhage."

"Stupid girl." Rosalind muttered as she shook her head. "Wasting all that air screaming. She probably shortened her life by an hour."

"What about her hands? Was she trying to free herself?" She asked with a grin.

"Yes." He was starting to understand why Jack and the other TOs kept their distance from this woman. "I imagine her last few hours of her life were truly awful. Now I've shared something with you, it will only be polite that you share something with me. So, who killed that woman?"

"Slow down, Officer Nolan." Rosalind replied, her smile turning seductive as she raised an eyebrow. "We're still in the foreplay stage."

He suppressed a shiver and continued. "How did the killer know how to find the burial site?"

She leaned closer to him, as if she was sharing a secret. "Because I told them."

"You were able to communicate? How?" He asked. As far as he knew, Rosalind Dyer's communications were heavily monitored.

"But what about you?" Again, she ignored his question. "What would you do if you were trapped like that stupid girl? Consume the air as fast as possible and get it over with? Or hold on? "

"I'll hold on, for as long as I can." He replied, pouring every ounce of conviction he could muster into his voice.

"You're only going to make it harder on yourself." Rosalind advised.

She really didn't understand true empathy. "I'll be giving my friends a chance, the best possible chance of finding me in time."

"Maybe that's the difference." She muttered. Again, her smile vanished, her face turning back to that alien, emotionless mask. I was jarring to see how she quickly shifted expressions.

"Between what?" He asked.

"You… and me." Rosalind replied. "I've always known, even when I was little, no one was coming to save me. Is that why you're so good? Yes ma'am, no ma'am, serve and protect ma'am?"

He couldn't stand her mockery of the force and interrupted her little rant. "I'm good, because my brain is not broken. Now, are you going to give us something, or are you just wasting our time? Because we will ship you back to prison right this instant."

It seemed like he made her annoyed as she took a deep breath, as if she was trying to reign in her emotions. "Okay, I'll take you to the second grave."

"Okay. You think we're going to find another body in there?"

"I know you will." She replied. "I just need you to do one thing for me first."

"And what's that?"

 "Ask Nick if catching me was worth it."

Jack Routh

He had been on edge all morning, and he finally had time to relax as he switched uniforms inside the locker room. The statement and the interview regarding the shooting incident took a few hours to complete, but overall, it went smoothly. They had been ambushed, and it was his bullet that struck the shooter, but he wasn't the only one who returned fire.

Detective Armstrong seemed to want to speak with him when they discovered the shooter's identity, but the man held back in the end. He probably knew the shooter personally.

 "Jack, sorry about this morning." Nolan approached him after he put on his duty belt. He still stood out with his different gear, since technically he was now part of Metro but attached to Mid-Wilshire two days out a week. Even their body cam models were different, with his new one better suited to record darker environments and settings.

He observed Nolan for a moment. He had let the matter go, but sometimes the older man was too friendly to criminals. He decided to remind his fellow rookie what was at stake.

"John, it's over now. Like she said, it's not a big deal knowing our names, but you should consider how you interact with that monster. You saw how she reacted, right? How proud she was of that new body we discovered." He explained to his fellow rookie.

"I know. For a brief moment, I forgot how dangerous she was." Nolan admitted. "I spoke to her earlier. She seemed so normal, except the topic was about the murders and the victims. There's no remorse in her at all."

"That's how psychopaths are." He shared. "They're not like in the movies, exaggerated and acting like they're the source of all evil. They're friendly, warm, and even charming as they draw you in." 

"So, not like Hannibal Lecter?" John joked.

"No, as much as I enjoyed Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of that serial killer, that's not how they really operate." He explained. He had kept a close eye on Rosalind that morning, and noted her reaction when she pointed out the grave where she buried her victim. She looked euphoric, and when a new grave was discovered, she even looked proud as she wore a satisfied smile. 

"Anyway, Grey told me to keep you in the loop and check on the latest victim." John replied. Right, there was a new serial killer following Rosalind's footsteps, and time was of the essence. There was a second body, killed in the last three months. "We're heading to the morgue. Maybe we can find something new from the autopsy and help save this third victim."

Rosalind killed every three months, and even proudly tattooed a day of death on her victims' skin. Autopsy reports from her case file showed that she tattooed her victims while they were still alive, and the new body they discovered also had a date tattooed on her torso, just below her breast. That meant whoever this killer abducted was still alive, they barely had a day before he would kill her.

His wife called in everyone available to take up their slack, as she assigned several units to follow up on this new serial killer. Angela was assigned with the other cops at the newly discovered grave site, searching the vast area in a grid pattern for possible graves or clues to their killer. Bradford and Lucy accompanied Detective Armstrong to investigate how Rosalind was able to communicate with the outside world.

The rotting smell of the decomposing body was strong when they arrived at the autopsy room, but he was able to ignore it and shook his head when Nolan offered the paste with the strong scent of menthol that cops usually put under their nose to tolerate the rotting smell.

 "We need to pull up a print." Harper asked the medical examiner.

"That's doable. These prints are fresh compared to the last one." The examiner replied. "It's going to take some time, though."

"What's under her nails?" He asked when he took a closer look at her hands.

"Good eye." The M.E. replied. "I noticed that in the first victim as well, so I took a swab. It's a microbe strain, but it's indigenous to animals in Africa and Asia."

That was an interesting connection.

"So, does this mean both victims flew internationally?" Harper asked.

"Unlikely, for the microbes to remain in the victims' hand? They would have come to contact with it before they died." The M.E. replied.

"And with the number of times we wash our hands and use hand sanitizers, this has to be local." He added. "Maybe they met the killer in the zoo? That's the only place here in the city that could possibly have those exotic animals."

"That's a good point." Nolan replied. "I remember there's an old zoo that was abandoned when the new one opened. It shut down in the sixties."

"And the microbes could still live in the soil in that area, provided there's no extensive development or renovation." The M.E. added.

"Abandoned, isolated, that's a perfect place to tattoo a victim and kill them." He stated. "We better check it out."

"Let's go." Nolan looked eager. He knew the feeling, at least they now had a good lead to the third victim.

Their two vehicles arrived half an hour later in front of the old abandoned zoo. Harper, as the senior officer, led them through the gap in the gate and investigated the dilapidated complex.

He spotted an old worn-down cabin a good hundred feet from the gate, and quickly signaled the other two. They both nodded, and Harper told him to take the lead after Nolan reported their status to dispatch.

"The path here is well used." He observed as he knelt down at the dirt trail heading away from the main concrete path. "And the knob on the door is shiny."

"It means it's been used often. There's definitely a Ted Kacyznski vibe in there." Harper replied, using the comparison to the deranged unibomber in the nineties who lived alone in a cabin in the woods.

"I'll head to the back, you two take the front, we'll breach in five seconds." Harper ordered as they all pulled out their firearms. "Don't shoot me."

"Breach, don't shoot you." Nolan repeated his TO's instructions.

He and Nolan took positions by the door, and he mentally made a countdown in his head as he checked to see if the door was locked. It was. When he reached five, he kicked down the door, and Nolan rushed in, and he followed after him.

The cabin was filled with old zoo equipment, cages, and old incubators, stacked high to the ceiling. He looked around for threats and moved to the next room a moment later. He felt his heart beat faster as he noticed the stains of blood stains on the plastic sheets that hung from the door frame.

They reached the last room and spotted Harper arriving from the opposite hallway, and there they spotted a woman tied to a rusty metal bed frame. He didn't let his guard down and looked around as Harper quickly checked the woman's health.

"She's alive." Harper observed. He looked over and saw the fresh tattoo marks lined with blood on the woman's torso. He looked closer and realized the tattoo of the day of death was incomplete and that the killer has not yet added the year.

"7-adam-16, I need an RA, code 3 at the old LA zoo." Harper got on her radio and started relaying their status. "Alert the captain and the watch commander. We have found the next victim, and she is alive."

"The killer's still here." He stated. "We interrupted their tattoo session."

"You're right." Nolan replied, raised his weapon once more, and walked closer to a corner. "The barrels, there are blood stains inside. This is where they suffocated the victims and..."

Nolan trailed off, staring at a far window, and he turned to see what Nolan was looking at. He spotted a masked figure watching them, wearing some sort of burlap sack on his head.

"Harper..." Nolan nodded at the figure peering through the window.

"Yeah, go go." Harper replied.

"7-adam-15, in pursuit of the suspect. Requesting airship and backup." He heard Nolan behind him as they chased the masked figure. He ran through the back door and noticed movement ahead of him and followed him through the thick bushes.

He saw the suspect slip through an exposed storm drain and jumped after him. The tunnel was large, and the walls were overgrown with plants and roots. It was extremely dark, and he slowed his pace. He knew this was a perfect place for an ambush.

A metal bar hit him in the arm, forcing him to let go of his firearm. The second strike he blocked with his left arm and absorbed the punch in his gut by the suspect. There was a pause as the masked figure looked at him, and then he responded and punched the suspect with his right hand right at his head.

The suspect coughed and staggered on his feet, but he didn't give him any chance to recover and wrenched the metal bar away from the man's grip and kicked him in the chest. The suspect flew back and hit the wall, and before he could slump down on the floor, he took a few steps forward and hit him in the stomach with his knee.

 The masked suspect coughed and fell down on his knees. He was still conscious, and he pulled out his cuffs to secure him when the suspect suddenly lunged at him and tackled him at the waist.

The floor was slippery, and he slipped, and the suspect pushed him to the ground. They rolled over until they both fell into a shallow depression filled with water, but it was enough for him to get submerged as he felt the suspect's arms wrap around his neck in an attempt to choke him underwater.

With his upper body submerged, he could barely see, but he saw the silhouette of the suspect's head. This was Rosalind's follower, another monster in the making that was following her footsteps, and now they were trying to kill him, suffocate him in the way those two women were. He remembered the tattoos of their day of death, their fingers as they desperately clawed at the metal barrels that encased them. Their torture.

Rage filled him, and he thrust his right hand out, fingers extended, and felt something soft give way under his thumb. Immediately, he felt the grip around his neck loosen, and he rose up from the water's surface and took a breath as he continued to push his arm forward and pushed the suspect off him.

The suspect, now confirmed to be a man with his screaming, wreathed around the floor holding his masked face.

He quickly found his gun and pointed it at the suspect. "You're under arrest."

"My eye! My eye!" The suspect yelled.

"Jack?" He heard Nolan's voice behind him.

"Over here. I got him." He replied as he continued pointing his weapon at the suspect.

Between the two of them, they quickly secured the suspect in cuffs, and he pulled him out of the tunnel and back to the surface.

"You okay?" Nolan asked. He looked down and saw the wounds he had sustained in his arms and nodded. The suspect whimpered and moaned in pain, and he dragged him by the back of his shirt to the cabin.

He could already hear the sound of the airship above him and the sound of police sirens getting louder.

"7-adam-15, suspect in custody. Need EMS for suspect and officer Routh. Code 4." Nolan reported in his radio.

"You two okay back there?" They looked at Harper, who was standing by the door.

"He was determined to escape." He nudged the whimpering masked figure on the ground. "This idiot tried to drown me."

"Let's see who you are." Nolan pulled the burlap mask off the suspect, revealing a young man around his age, with a bleeding right eye.

"Caleb?!" Nolan gasped.

"You know him?" He asked.

"Yeah, we hung out with him after you left. Lucy met him at the bar." Nolan explained. "She was even happy he didn't leave when she had to make an arrest at the establishment and revealed she was a cop. Lucy even told me he visited her at the station. What happened to his eye?"

He crouched down and stared at the man's remaining eye, and realized what this man was up to. Caleb stared back at him with a frightened expression on his face and tried to shrink back from him despite the cuffs. "I gouged it with my thumb. It's nice to meet you, Caleb. Mind telling me what you have planned?"

"Get... get away from me!"

"What are you planning with Lucy Chen?" He asked.

Caleb didn't reply, and the scent of something pungent reached his nose. He looked down and realized their suspect had just pissed himself as a wet stain grew from Caleb's beige pants. He quickly stood up and moved before the puddle of piss reached his feet.

"I'm not that scary, right?" He asked Nolan.

"You... just gouged out his eye." Nolan replied, looking nervous as he stared back at their suspect.

"You're definitely scary." Harper answered.

Lucy Chen

She shivered unconsciously as she stared at the picture of the man on the screen. She had been checking his posts on Instargram constantly, even during patrol, that even Tim got annoyed. He was sweet, he had cute pictures of him playing with puppies and hanging out with his coworkers.

They danced, they kissed, and she thought there was really a spark, something special between them. She touched her lips and felt the urge to shower again, despite having done so three times since she heard the news. She felt dirty.

Caleb was the serial killer, and was communicating with Rosalind Dyer through yet unknown means. The man refused to speak, only muttering that he had failed Rosalind.

"Some good news." Sergeant Grey had called on all of them that were directly involved in the investigation. Jack had just arrived from the hospital after he was treated for some minor injuries. She could see the painful welts on his wrist and left arm and knew he had sustained those from his capture of Caleb.

"Nora Valdez, the woman Nolan, Routh, and Harper rescued, she's going to be okay." Grey stated as he stared at the three officers with a proud look. She looked around and saw the satisfaction in everyone's faces, but what attracted her attention was the gleeful look on Nick Armstrong's face.

"Caleb Wright, Rosalind Dyer's protégé is still recovering in the hospital, but he's now watched over by the FBI field team." Grey continued.

"I just want you all to know how proud I am at each and every one of you." The captain added. "Her life, and the lives of more women, were saved because each one of you gave your all in the last thirty-six hours."

"What about Bryan Coleman?" Tim asked. The man her T.O. asked about owned the address they managed to find hidden in Rosalind's books in prison.

"There's still no sign of him yet. But his face is everywhere, but the FBI suspects he's a victim of Caleb Wright and just used his identity and address. They're still following up and searching for him." Captain Andersen replied.

"What do we do now?" She asked.

"You all go home and take a well-deserved day off tomorrow." Sergeant Grey replied. "Dismissed."

They all stood up, and she was about to leave when the captain asked her to stay. Tim gave her a quick pat on the shoulder, and both John and Jack gave her a quick nod.

"How are you holding up?" The captain asked.

"I'm so confused right now." She took a breath to compose herself. "He was so sweet and… we were planning to go out this week for a proper date."

"Understandable." Zoe Andersen always looked stern and strict, but she could see a hint of sympathy in the captain's eyes. "You don't know who you could trust anymore."

"Aside from fellow cops, no." She admitted. "Maybe… maybe detective Armstrong was right. Dating outside of the force is really a bad idea."

"Don't let this one experience change your view." The captain replied. "I believe Rosalind and Caleb specifically targeted one of us to get closer to the investigation. Why else would Caleb Wright appear in a bar where off-duty cops hang out after their shift?"

"I just feel lonely." She confessed. "And now, maybe my life is to really become Sister Lucy Chen of the Mid-Wilshire nunnery."

She was surprised by the laugh that came out from the captain. "Who told you that?"

"Your husband." She replied. Zoe Andersen Routh's smile became even wider. Her features were enhanced when she smiled, and she could see why Jack was totally smitten by her. "He was joking Captain, but he did say the name rolls off the tongue."

"Want me to punish him?" She knew the captain was joking at that point.

"Of course not, Captain. Jack saved my life by exposing Caleb, who knew what would have happened to me." She knew she would have likely ended up like one of those women, trapped in a barrel with a tattoo of their day of death on her abdomen. "So, any advice for my love life?"

"Date a cop." Zoe Andersen replied. "It worked out for me."

"So does Jack have any brothers or cousins?" She asked while grinning.

"Jack's an orphan, but I'm sure there are men like my husband in the force." The captain replied with a smile and nodded to the door behind her. "I suggest you hang out with your friends tonight. Tell Jack to bring me dessert later."

She followed the captain's gaze and saw Tim, her fellow rookies, and the other T.Os waiting for her outside.

"Enjoy your day off tomorrow, Officer Chen." The captain added. "Remember, it was not your judgment that was wrong when you met Caleb. There are plenty of good people out there. Dismissed."

She gave the captain a grateful look and left the briefing room.

"We're going out." Tim stated. "You don't have a choice, boot, everyone voted on it."

"We're going to eat and then get drunk." John added with a smile.

"You really don't have to." She replied.

"C'mon, it's not every day that you dated a serial killer." Angela put an arm around her.

"You have to share stories." Harper added. "Let's go, the night is still early."

She did have a nice time. The alcohol certainly helped take the edge off, and the conversations around her kept her from thinking too deeply about what could have happened. The training officers shared more of their experiences as officers, and she nearly snorted her drink out of her nose when Angela shared an incident when she arrested a DUI who had a kink for getting treated roughly by a feisty Latina.

Nolan had offered her his spare bedroom, and she quickly accepted his offer, she did not want to sleep alone in her apartment.

The next morning, she woke up when she heard voices outside her door. She looked around her unfamiliar surroundings and took a moment to reorient herself. She was safe, and she was at John's house which was nearing completion.

The smell of brewing coffee made her leave her room, and she found John sitting on the island with a blonde woman who looked familiar.

"Hi!" The pretty blonde greeted her. "Lucy, right? We met at Jack's party."

"It's good to see you again." She replied, as her brain started to kick in. This was Grace Sawyer, John's old love before they separated because he got someone else pregnant.

"I heard you had a rough time with a case you were working on." Grace added.

"John was kind enough to offer me his spare room." She replied.

"He was always the gentleman." She watched as Grace put a hand over John's. The two shared a look only lovers could give to one another.

"Are you two…?"

"Dating? We are." John replied with a truly happy smile he hadn't seen before. "Decided to continue what we had before we separated."

"I'm happy for the two of you." She really was, despite seeing how these two acted made her lonely again. Was everybody hooking up aside from her? Jack was now married, Tim was dating her best friend, and now John was rekindling an old flame. Poor Sister Lucy.

"I was just here asking John for advice." Grace continued. "My son Tony's a senior, and he's dating this girl. She's lovely but…"

"What is it?" She asked.

"I think she doesn't have the best home life." Grace confided. "The girl doesn't elaborate when I ask her about her family and quickly changes topics. Oliver knows her address, but I had to force it out of him, and he revealed that his girlfriend's been living with her friends for weeks now."

"Do you think she's being abused at home?" She asked. Abused kids always got to her.

"We don't know, and we have no evidence that she does." Nolan added. "It could be she's just rebelling, it's normal for kids her age."

"What's her name?" She asked. Maybe she could ask Rachel to look into this girl.

"Tamara Collins." Grace answered. "Could you do something about it?"

"There's not enough evidence for us to check, but social service can." She replied to the unasked question. My friend works there, I'm sure she could look into Tamara's case."

Rosalind Dyer

It was all normal. Strange.

She was bored. It's been two days now, and no one came back to her cell to beg for her help. The police were truly incompetent, despite the trail of breadcrumbs she instructed her follower to leave behind. So far he's been reliable, but maybe he ran into some complications. The LAPD were really throwing everything they had, from what she observed. She knew it was only a matter of time before Federal agencies stepped in.

The mind numbing routine continued through the morning, but without the books. She was transferred to a new cell as a precaution, and she noticed the new faces of the guards now patrolling her cell.

She needed stimulation and she needed to relieve those memories again. She was getting impatient. With her eyes closed, she started to reminisce about the murders she committed and the focused on the fear and dread in their faces as she slowly chopped off their body parts little by little. They were still alive as they watched their limbs get removed one by one. Paralyzed by the potent drug she made them drink, they could only moan as tears fell down their faces. It was glorious.

She raised her head when her sharp hearing caught the sounds of footsteps approaching her door. Finally.

She smiled when Nick arrived and the door to her cell opened. He was always so predictable, but it was strange to see the smile on the detective's face.

"Nick, had a good day?" She asked.

"A great couple of days." The detective replied. "I told you at the station that it was worth it catching you and not being there by my wife's deathbed. After the last few days, I;m sure she would have understood."

"It seems you made your peace then." She observed. This was no fun.

"I did. Poor Caleb got caught." She stilled and raised her eyes to gaze at Nick's. She saw an expression she had never before seen in his face when they stared at each other. Satisfaction.

She remained silent, wondering if they were trying to catch her off guard. How did he know? Did Caleb leave evidence behind?

"You lost." He replied. "We found out how Caleb got you contraband. Poor Caleb sang like a canary. He even wrote notes about what you told him, including the last gravesite and all the bodies. "

She remained still, analyzing every expression on Armstrong's face. He was not lying.

"Oops, clumsy me." Armstrong accidentally dropped a full page photo of Caleb, and she saw that his face bloodied with his eye missing from its socket. Her follower had a strange expression on his face, he looked terrified.

"That's disappointing." She replied. "What happened?"

"I'm not telling you." Armstrong replied. She wanted to make him eat his tongue as he gave her a smug smile. "You're done Rosalind. You'll never get out of that cell again, no more deals from the D.A. You have nothing."

"I know your secret." She smiled.

"I don't care. No one will ever listen to you."

Her eyes narrowed as Nick turned her back on him, and she flinched a bit as the iron door of her cell slammed back, causing a mild breeze that fluttered a few strands of her hair. She must know what happened.

That night, she ran many simulations and variable in her head, and only one unknown factor kept appearing. That mysterious police officer who she instinctively knew was not like the other prey. Jack.

Zoe Andersen Routh

Tonight!

I get pulled over by the police,

Richard says Oh God he's right behind me! (Oh God he's right behind me!)

…and James says bloody hell when a woman throws a cop to the ground.

 "They included that!" She turned around to see Jack laughing beside her.

"This is going to be hilarious." Jack replied.

She laughed herself as Jack was introduced as the Stig's American Police cousin even if she didn't know what a Stig meant. Her husband's face was never shown, and her identity was never revealed in the episode. She doubted anyone would recognize her since she wore large shades when she was featured in the episode.

They merely showed a clip of James May giving her a tour of the cars they used, and mocked his attempts at flirting. She didn't even realize they had filmed her, and James May was genuinely a good conversationalist and he had an interesting insight on cars. He had approved of her choice with her GR86, instead of purchasing a Porsche or an Audi.

She watched the episode with her husband and absently traced the healing welts in his arms. When Harper reported that she would follow a lead, she did not expect that it would turn out the way it did.

Finding the next victim was incredible, but catching the killer was even better. She remembered watching the body cam footage of Jack's fight with Grey and Special Agent Garza, and the interrogation that followed.

The fight between her husband and Caleb was short but brutal, and she felt mostly relieved that Jack came out on top. She didn't care that Caleb Wright lost an eye in a fight, in truth she believed it was a fitting punishment for him. Now every time he looked in the mirror he would be reminded of his crimes and failure.

Caleb Wright had psychological issues, not a true psychopath like his idol Rosalind and he broke down after hours of interrogation from the FBI field team. As usual she received congratulatory calls from the Mayor and the Chief, and subtle hints about moving Jack to a protection detail for mayor Stevens.

The metro division captain was happy, and Jack's success proved their proposal of training Metro officers and assigning them to various stations had merit. If it were not for Jack, Caleb would still be at large, and most likely would have murdered one of her officers.

When the show finished, Jack stretched and stood up. "I'm going out."

She sighed and watched as her husband grabbed his keys, bag, and helmet. While their marriage was going well, there were some habits of Jack that she was still not used to, and they became more prominent now that they lived inside the same house. They had disagreements, of course, but because they were both willing to compromise, they rarely fought. She was still a bit of a control freak, and Jack liked to wander around the city with no plan. If there were no tasks and chores in their house, he liked to travel and explore.

Then there was their project. They were converting the soundproof room into a sort of speak easy office. Jack wanted to collect old movie posters that they could hang on the walls.

"Movie posters again?" She teased. He was collecting old memorabilia of his favorite shows, though she sometimes wondered when did he ever find the time to watch them with his busy schedule.

"This time I'll check Pasadena." Jack replied as he put on his jacket. "Heard there's a good comic book store there."

There were already a few movie posters he had bought, he hadn't framed them yet and stored them in the soundproof room in carton tubes. They were mostly vintage Star Wars posters, though she saw one that had Star Trek in it, with the crew in their uniforms standing on a bridge with the spaceship in the background.

Jack had asked her if she could dress up as the curly-haired woman called Deanna for Halloween. She knew he had asked that since the woman's black and blue uniform had a short skirt.

"Have fun." She kissed her husband and decided to watch one more episode of the car show. She found their humor and banter amusing. As she was about to select an episode their doorbell rang.

Jack Routh

The comic book store was bigger than he expected, and there were already half a dozen people inside. He walked in and stared curiously at a replica sword. It looked like a standard design of a two handed sword, with a white wolf pommel at the hilt.

"It's a limited edition."

He turned around and saw a thin man with balding curly hair approach him.

"I'm just looking." He replied. "I was just attracted to the sword's design, that's all."

"$220, that's the best price I can give you." The shop owner replied.

"I'm looking for old movie posters actually, from Star Wars to those Buck Rogers." He explained. "And if I'm going to buy a sword, I'm looking for something more… functional and less aesthetic."

"If you want authentic replicas, there's the medieval fair next month." The owner replied. "Hang on for a minute, I have a couple of posters at the back."

"Sure." He looked around once more and stared at the displays of mecha toys, but nothing interested him, although he was tempted to get that Robocop figure, he knew Zoe would find it funny standing beside her alarm clock.

They had divided the sound proof room as their home office, and Zoe was already starting to decorate her half with unique pieces she found at garage sales. He needed to catch up, and he already had a theme in mind, an old movie theater with a touch of a speakeasy style.

 "Here are the posters. And I found this gathering dust in the back, if you're interested." The owner returned and carried a long slim box along with the tube of posters. 

"What is it?" He asked.

"It got sent to the store by mistake, it's an actual forged sword rather than an aluminum replica." The owner lifted a box, revealing a slim sword with a unique design. There was no cross guard, and the profile made it looked roughly like a katana, only more elaborate and there was no curve. The most interesting part was that the entire sword was forged in one piece, right up to the hilt.

"It's Thranduril's sword, from Peter Jackson's the Hobbit Trilogy." The owner explained, looking desperate. "The best price I can offer you is $200, and I'm already selling it at a loss."

He lifted the sword from its Styrofoam packaging and found that it did have some weight to it, but not enough that he couldn't wield it. It was also balanced well, and he liked how comfortable it was to hold.

"What about the posters?" He asked.

"Only Marvel ones I'm afraid." The owner replied. "The only thing left is Galaxy Quest, and I'm not sure if you like that one."

"I'll take it along with the sword." He replied immediately. He loved Galaxy Quest, and considered it to be the best Star Trek film despite not sharing the same Universe. He took the poster from the tube and unrolled it, and admired the hand-painted effect it had, making it look like a feature film made in the sixties or seventies.

"That's going to be 215 in total." The owner immediately replied, looking happy. "You made my day, I'm Stuart."

"Jack." He replied as he returned the man's handshake. He quickly fished out the bills from his pocket and handed them to the owner. "Do you have a spare tube I can buy? I don't want to bring the entire box with me, just the sword and the leather sheathe it came with."

"Say no more." Stuart pulled out an old Hulk poster and handed him the now-empty tube. He transferred his sword to the tube, and secured his purchases with tape that Stuart provided and stuffed them inside his backpack with the tubes poking out of the zipper. He was about to leave when a man in a Thor mask arrived with a gun in his hand and approached the counter where Stuart was.

"Empty the register!" The robber demanded. "Nobody move!"

"Please don't hurt me!" Stuart was shaking as he punched a few buttons on the cash register.

"Hurry up!"

He slowly dropped his purchases to the ground and moved closer to the robber while he pulled out his backup piece from his leg. Once he was behind him, he bashed the man behind the head with the butt of his pistol, causing the robber to collapse on the floor.

"It's alright, I'm a cop." He called out. He looked around and secured the robber's gun and pulled out his phone. "You have something to tie his wrists with, Stuart?"

"Yes I have some zip ties for the large collectibles… you're a cop?" Stuart asked with wide eyes.

"I am, now go get those zip ties." He replied and called control. "Dispatch, this Officer Jack Routh, badge number 33186. Just stopped a 211 at a Comic Center in Pasadena, corner of Washington and Hill. Send a unit to pick up the suspect."

"Copy that, directing a nearby unit now."

"Thank you officer." Stuart returned with the zip ties, and he grabbed one and quickly secured the suspect's wrist.

A unit quickly arrived within a few minutes, and he spent the next five minutes explaining the events with his fellow officers after he showed them his badge. He then gave an official statement and returned back to pick up his helmet bag and his purchases.

"Thank you once again officer." Stuart escorted him to the door.

"Like I said, it's my job Stuart." He replied. "Stay safe."

When he arrived back home to his wife thirty minutes later, he was surprised to see Zoe sitting outside in the picnic table under the tree, and with her were two visitors he didn't recognize.

One was a pretty woman, wearing a brown leather jacket and pants, while her companion was a young man around his age. They both had bags with them, and it looked like they had been waiting for quite a while when he saw the drinks and snacks on the table.

"Jack!" Zoe called out to him once he parked his bike and removed his helmet. "You have guests. They've been waiting for half an hour."

"Right, sorry, but who are you?" He asked.

"I'm Sydney Fox, professor of Anthropology in UCLA." The woman introduced herself. "I've been teaching your classes in LA city college while you recovered."

"I know this is unusual, but I'm not here about your students." Sydney explained. "I need your help."

He wondered what a simple professor of Anthropology would need his help for.

Chapter Text

Episode 21 

Jack Routh

"I need your opinion on this." Sydney Fox turned to the man beside her and held up her hand. "Nigel."

The man handed a carton tube from his satchel, not unlike the one he got from the comic book store but smaller.

"This is Nigel Bailey, my teaching assistant." Sydney introduced her companion while she pushed the plates and drinks to the side of the table and removed a rolled up piece of parchment from the tube. It was wrapped in clear plastic and she placed it on the table.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Professor Routh. You have a lovely home." Nigel greeted politely.

"Thanks." He replied. "How did you find our address?"

"Oh that." Nigel looked to Sydney Fox. That meant she was the one that must have found out where he lived.

"Your records were sealed when I asked for your address." Sydney replied. "But I did some research with the California Property Records, and it was not hard to trace Ms. Swift's former property address and your friendship with her to make the connection."

"Research? More like stalking, perhaps." He heard Nigel grumble.

He was impressed with how resourceful his colleague was. She would have made for a good detective. He focused on the scroll and with a nod from Sydney he slowly opened up the artifact and narrowed his eyes at what he saw. The words were written in Latin, and there were even some detailed drawings of some plant. It was very detailed, and gave specific instructions on proper preparations of ingredients and some even had detailed illustrations. A word stood out to him and stared at the Anthropology professor.

"This is from Paracelsus, the alchemist." He stated. "The father of toxicology."

"That's right." Sydney looked pleased. "What do you know of him?"

"His real name was Theophrastus Von Hohenheim. He revolutionized medicine and laid the foundations for modern chemistry." He examined the written texts closely as he continued to speak. "He was a controversial figure, and publicly burned the canon book of medicine by the Persian, Avicenna."

"Why would he do that?" His wife asked.

"That book was horribly outdated, and it was written in 1025 AD. He meant it as a protest on obsolete healing practices." He replied. "That book by Avicenna, was a compilation of medical knowledge from Galen to Hippocrates, but arranged in a more systematic manner. It was also the foundation of Humorism, and that lasted nearly a thousand years before it was discarded."

"Humors?" Nigel asked.

"We're getting out of topic, but essentially the theory is that the body is made up of four humors, body fluids." He explained. "Blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. It is believed that a perfect balance between these four fluids is crucial for a healthy body."

"Gross." Nigel remarked.

"That belief lasted up until the 19th century." He added and then turned to his wife. "Do you remember those temperament tests you reviewed before from Central?"

Zoe's nose scrunched up in what he thought looked cute as his wife struggled to remember what he mentioned. The city forced the police force to conduct a department wide survey for their officers, and he heard rumors that it was pushed by one of the more… radical political organizations in the city with help from a council member. It was honestly a waste of thirty minutes in his opinion.

"Yeah, those personality tests…" Zoe finally replied. "Sanguine, Melancholic…"

"…Choleric and Phlegmatic." He finished for Zoe. "Sanguine, blood is for cheerful personalities, Choleric, yellow bile for passionate people. Melancholic, black bile for the gloomy and despondent and finally phlegmatic, obviously phlegm for the calm and cool."

"And we wasted precious man hours and tens of thousands of dollars for an outdated test?" Zoe asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't say our council members are smart." He replied and turned to the amused looking professor from UCLA. "We're getting off topic anyway, where did you get this scroll?"

"Some man claiming to be a government agent gave it to me and asked for my help." Sydney answered. "What do you think of the scroll?"

"It's definitely a forgery. A good one, but it's a fake." He replied immediately. Lucy Worsley's memories and vast experiences in handling ancient artifacts made him pretty confident about his answer.

"It's as I suspected." Sydney sighed. "That agent insists that it's real… and Nigel."

"But the carbon dating tests indicate it's from the correct time period." Nigel argued.

"They used rag paper back then, not parchment." He tapped the scroll. "It's a better material, since it's made of linen or cotton fibers. This looks like an elaborate forgery."

"I read the instructions in it, and it looks like it's for some medicine." Sydney leaned over and pointed to the torn bottom part. "But it's missing the bottom half."

"I think this is an attempt to recreate the drug called Laudanum." He mused as he read over the ingredient list. "Paracelsus claims it's the cure for everything, and it contains a wild assortment of ingredients, but the most prominent is opium."

"The government agent wanted me to help him recover the bottom half. He even threatened me if I don't cooperate." Sydney rolled her eyes. "I'm going to tell him to shove it."

"How did he threaten you?" He asked.

"He claimed he could pull the funding for my expeditions." Sydney replied. "He said he could ruin my reputation."

"You should call the FBI and verify this agent's identity, if he says who he is." Zoe advised. "I can help you get in contact with the people I know there."

"Please." Sydney looked relieved.

"That's good idea. Whoever wants to recreate this recipe can cause significant harm to those that will try it." He pointed to a specific drawing of a plant. "It has Rye in it."

"What's wrong with Rye? It's just wheat right?" Nigel asked.

"It's what grows within it that's dangerous." He replied. "Rye was commonly known to cause hallucinations back then, but now we know it only does that if they're contaminated with the fungi called Ergot. Combined with opium, this recipe is extremely dangerous."

"And we don't even know what's written in the bottom half." Sydney muttered and turned to his wife. "Can I talk to your friends at the FBI?"

Surprisingly, when the FBI ran the name Derek Lloyd in their database, all manner of warnings and red flags came up. He had been arrested before, claiming to be from a made up government agency called USGI, or government intelligence.

A quick explanation from Zoe, and Secret Agent Matthew Garza immediately dispatched a team to help arrest the fake agent. It seemed like had had a history with the FBI as well, and they were eager to settle a score with the con man.

Zoe called dispatch and sent a unit to accompany the field team, and they both came up with a plan to arrest Derek when he met up again with Sydney in her office at UCLA.

An hour later he was looking at the various artifacts inside Sydney's office as he waited for the fake agent with his wife. Zoe and Sydney were talking about yoga while the FBI agents hid in the next room with recording devices prepared. The pieces on display in the professor's office showed Sydney had been nearly all over the world, as he saw pieces from South America, to Asia and Africa. The antique didgeridoo in the corner also showed Sydney had spent some time in the land down under.

A small statue attracted his attention and he leaned in for a closer look. It was quite detailed and he knew it to be of Norse design, but he couldn't figure out who the statue represented.

"It's Freya." Nigel told him. The smaller man was standing in front of another shelf, polishing a few of the artifacts in the office.

"Goddess of love, fertility, war and magic." He murmured.

"Very good." Nigel replied with a smile.

"She's the most prominent goddess in Norse mythology. Is this a replica?" He asked.

"No, it's the real deal." Sydney answered. "We recovered that from one of our expeditions. The museum foundation gave that to me for helping them out."

"More like saved their asses." Nigel retorted.

"Sounds like an interesting story." Zoe added. It looked like his wife had made quick friends with his fellow professor, as he now overheard them talking about a unique form of yoga.

The door opened and he focused on the man wearing an impeccable suit. He could see how people would fall for this man's claims, as he walked with a confident stride.

"Ms. Fox. Who are these people?" The man asked in a dry tone of voice as he looked around. He pulled out his wallet and flashed his badge, along with an ID. The badge was made of silver, with an embossed eagle holding arrows and the letters USGI at the bottom. "I need some privacy with Ms. Fox. Government business, you understand."

"He's my colleague." Sydney answered and crossed her arms. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Agent Lloyd."

"And why's that?" Derek Lloyd asked with a raised eyebrow.

The door opened once more and FBI agents appeared and quickly surrounded the man.

"Derek Lloyd." Zoe stood up and held up a pair of cuffs. "You're under arrest for impersonating a federal agent."

Derek immediately stepped back, but was quickly subdued by the agents.

"No! You can't do this!" Derek argued and struggled as he was cuffed by Zoe. "I'm a government agent, you're making a terrible mistake! I'm from Government Intelligence!"

"There's no such thing." A female FBI agent replied. "We finally caught you."

"That recipe! It's very important!" Derek argued. He looked around, trying to look for an escape route.

"I bet that your weapon isn't registered as well." He observed when he saw an agent pull out a firearm hidden in Derek's jacket.

"Thank you for the assistance." An FBI agent approached them as Derek was dragged out the door screaming. Campus security accompanied the group and soon Derek' screams faded.

"That was fun." Nigel commented. "It's nice to be the one to spring the trap for once."

He shared a look with Zoe. He wondered what Nigel meant with that statement.

"You don't want to know." Sydney replied as she shook her head.

They spent half an hour more in Sydney's office, as he asked for updates about his students. He was pleased to know his class was doing well as he looked through a few essays they made for Sydney's mid-term exam.

"Here." Sydney took the small statue of Freya and handed it to him along with a small box. "This is for you."

"I can't accept this." He replied. He knew how valuable genuine ancient artifacts were.

"You can." Sydney insisted. "I have more than enough clutter in my office. Consider it as thank you for helping me."

He accepted the statue and handed it to his wife so that she could take a closer look. Zoe smiled and brushed the polished piece as Sydney handed a few pieces of documentation that came along with the artifact.

"Thanks." Zoe stated as she placed the artifact inside the box. "This would look perfect in our home."

"You're welcome." Sydney gave his wife a wink. "Don't forget to practice what we talked about, Zoe."

He wondered what that was about, but he figured Zoe would share it with him if it was important.

Lucy Chen

"You dropped this."

She was waiting for her order of a spicy chicken burger when someone patted her shoulder. The next thing she knew the man was groaning on the floor as she stood over him. She looked around and saw the shocked faces staring at her.

"Why'd you do that for?" The man on the ground complained. "I was handing out the receipt you dropped."

"I'm so sorry." She quickly helped the larger man get back to his feet. "You surprised me."

"That's the last time I'll help someone out." The man grumbled and pulled his elbow away from her and stomped off. The five minutes she waited for her food felt like an hour as she endured the disapproving looks she received from the other customers. She realized she needed someone to talk to and pulled out her phone and made a call.

The call was immediately picked up and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jack, I need help. I just threw a man to the ground for just tapping my shoulder." She rambled.

It was only when she heard the captain's voice that she realized it wasn't Jack that she was talking to.

"Chen, Jack's fixing up his bike."

"Sorry Captain, I'll call later." She replied.

"Hold on. First, are you okay? What happened?"

She took a deep breath and moved to a corner. "I'm fine, Captain. I dropped a receipt and someone tapped my shoulder. I reacted without thinking." She admitted.

"Is he pressing charges?"

"No, I just threw him to the ground." She replied. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

"Jack has training in Metro, so he's leaving soon. Why don't you come by our house, let's talk."

"Are you sure captain?" She asked.

"I'll even invite Lopez and Harper over. Let's have a nice lunch here. What do you say?"

"Okay. Do you want me to get some food and drinks?" She asked. The captain was really awesome. She couldn't imagine what would happen to Mid-Wilshire without Zoe Andersen. Sergeant Grey would probably have his hair turn white from all the stress, and he's already bald.

She wondered how the captain maintained such healthy looking skin despite her responsibilities. It was like she was completely unaffected by the pressures of the job, or had a way to relieve the stress. Though there were rumors about that as well that she heard from the locker room about how active their captain was… with Jack. She flushed even further when she recalled the photo she saw in Jack's phone.

"I don't know what drinks Harper and Lopez like so you can take care of that, but we have plenty of snacks here. Hope you like leftovers of Jack's cooking, but we can also order some food."

An hour later she was besides the captain's house and spent the time inside her car. She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Angela's car arrive and park in front of hers. She grabbed the grocery bag beside her and quickly got out and met Angela and Nyla Harper who got out of the passenger side door.

"Were you waiting for us?" Angela asked.

"Yeah." She replied. "It's the captain. I don't want it to be awkward."

"The captain's cool." Nyla added. "The fact that she asked you to come over means she's worried for you. You don't see that often in other brass."

"Nyla's right." Angela stated. "Cap even called us over to make you feel less awkward around her. Heard you encountered some trouble?"

"About that." She pushed the already open gate wider and closed it once the two other women entered the beautiful property. "I'll tell you about it when we're inside."

"Welcome." The captain appeared wearing a simple but elegant white cotton dress that reached to just above her knees. "Thanks for coming, Angela, Nyla."

"It's no problem at all." Angela replied.

"Glad to be here captain." Nyla added.

"Come in, I have some snacks and drinks prepared." The captain stepped aside to allow them entry.

She looked around and noticed that the home had more furniture now. It was still spacious, but it now had a lived-in feel to it. There was a new couch set and a new dining table with matching chairs. She approved the design choices and started to see the captain's vision for her and Jack's new home. They both wanted a more rustic feel to match their Spanish bungalow's aesthetics.

"I see you made some changes." Angela noted as she looked around.

"We've been looking at garage sales and antique shops. It's hard to find the right furniture but I enjoy the challenge." The captain shared. She gave them a quick tour and she smiled when she saw the couple's shared sound-proofed office. It was now obvious where Jack's desk was.

"Boys and their toys." She heard the captain sigh as she saw the unusual looking sword on Jack's desk beside his piano, along with a few movie posters that were placed on the wall in his corner.

"I like it." She admired the art of the posters, and Galaxy Quest was one of the funniest shows she had ever seen.

"My husband's a total geek beneath all that muscle." Zoe shared with an amused look on her face.

"Where's Jack anyway?" She asked.

"He's washing the grease off his hands at the back yard." Zoe replied.

They arrived at the dining area and there were several plates of food waiting for them, along with a few bottles of champagne and cold bottles of beer.

"Nice!" Angela quickly got a plate and selected the food she liked from the spread on the table.

"Jack won a few bottles from a bet at metro." The captain replied. "Have at it."

"Fuck me." She heard Angela whisper.

"Oh my." Nyla added.

She turned around to see what distracted Angela and her eyes widened when she saw a glimpse of Jack through the sliding door, just wearing black shorts in the backyard with a small towel around his neck, dripping wet. Her eyes followed a droplet of water as it travelled down his muscular chest to his abs and she swallowed as she felt her mouth started to dry.

It was only a moment as Jack vanished from sight, that she knew he used the entrance leading to the main bedroom. She turned around and tried to control her blush as Zoe gave them a look. 

"Thanks for the dessert, Captain." Angela stated with a smile.

"But I don't have dessert prepa…." Zoe look confused, and then saw the teasing grin on Angela's face. "Funny, but my husband's not dessert."

"Looks tasty enough for me." Nyla added with a smirk on her face.

"That's what you get for marrying Eye Candy, captain." Angela teased. "Women couldn't help but take a look when he's like… that."

"Oh I know all about that." Zoe replied, shaking her head with amusement.

Sadly Jack had to leave quickly, and only gave them a quick greeting when he appeared thirty minutes later. He made a sandwich for himself from the spread on the table and then left the house.

She was glad that Zoe didn't press her about the incident earlier. The conversation was pleasant and the atmosphere relaxed. She believed the unique and peaceful vibe of Jack and Zoe's home contributed to that.

The captain once again insisted they address her by her name. She was getting more comfortable by now and enjoyed the chilled alcoholic drink and the chicken salad she had. The alcohol had done its work, and she felt some of her anxiety and nervousness lessened.

"So, what happened earlier?" Zoe asked. They had retreated to the backyard, where they were all dipping their legs in the Jacuzzi pool to cool off. Naturally, they brought their glasses and the remaining bottle of champagne with them.

"I'm having nightmares." She confessed. She swirled the water with her feet and watch the bubbles that surfaced from the bottom. 

"Is that why you put that man on the ground that surprised you?" Zoe asked. "He touched you on the shoulder right?"

"I panicked. I didn't even realize what was happening until he was on the ground." She stared at her glass of champagne.

"That's what they get for touching you without asking for permission." Angela joked. "Did he press charges?"

"No, he's not hurt. I think he was more embarrassed that I was able to put him down that fast." The man had a good 100 pounds on her if she recalled correctly. "That's when I called Jack, and… Zoe answered the phone."

"You had your trust violated." Nyla stated. "I know that too well. It will be hard, but you will be able to bounce back from this."

"I know I will be, but I'm paranoid right now, and I keep thinking what might have happened to me. I don't even consider dating anymore, unless they're willing to be subjected to an extensive background check including sharing their psychiatric profiles."

"Or if it's a fellow cop." Angela teased.

"Not all cops are good." Nyla countered. She saw how the pretty cop's face hardened as she spoke. "I learned that the hard way."

"What happened?" She asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

Nyla sighed and took a good sip of her wine before answering. "It was during my time when I was undercover. Once a month I met up with my handler, and there I could drink, drop my guard and unwind. It was a fellow cop you know? He's supposed to be safe."

"And then I woke up and realized I was in bed with him." Nyla continued. "I keep thinking I was safe, until I wasn't."

"Did you report it to your superiors?" Zoe asked, looking serious.

"I did, but it never went anywhere." Nyla replied. "It's all useless now, he died of a heart attack, and I couldn't do that to his wife and kids. I decided to use it as a lesson instead."

She pondered on Nyla's words. She still couldn't help thinking about the sight of those two women in the morgue and what Caleb did to them. They were treated like animals for slaughter.

"It will get better." Zoe stated. It was as if the captain was able to sense what she was thinking at that moment. "You just have to keep your friends and loved ones close to you."

She was right. She could already feel better with the company around her. She decided to reach out more to her best friend Rachel, and set up a few bonding moments with her fellow rookies in the future.

"Captain, I heard from Jack that you're a good shot with a rifle at 300 yards." Angela stated. "Where do you practice?"

"Why don't I show you?" Zoe suggested with a smile she had never seen before. "It's a bit of a drive, but the range there is excellent, and the range master is an old friend of mine."

She had never handled a rifle before, but she was excited to learn from the captain. It may also be a good outlet for her anxiety.

"I can't wait." Angela grinned, and she could see the eagerness on her face.

Jack Routh

"Go!"

He swung the large piece of metal on the door, and it opened immediately with a crash as it hit the wall.

Street and Victor moved ahead of him, and he tossed the breaching tool aside and swung back his HK-416 rifle and followed Chris. The four of them continued the sweep of the room and they split of into pairs as he followed his assigned partner for the exercise.

"Clear!"

Chris called out and he moved once he heard her shout. He looked into the poorly lit room with flickering lights and checked every corner.

"Clear!" He shouted back and turned his firearm to the corridor to provide cover as Chris once more moved ahead of him. It was a repetitive pattern, but Hondo insisted they keep training and training until it was second nature to him. Evaluations were coming up, and he was looking forward to his first official deployment with Hondo's squad in D platoon.

They finally reached the end of the maze, and saw that Victor and Street were waiting for them. Sergeant Hondo had a stopwatch around his neck, and he pressed it once they entered the final room.

"A minute and twenty." Hondo stated. "Good. Tomorrow we'll run up the hill once more."

"Again, Sarge?" Victor asked with a sigh. The rest of the squad entered the room, all of them having removed their tactical gear.

"You bet." Hondo replied. "Full gear as well. Then next week we will brush up on the Helicopter Rappel Course, and it's for two days. We're going to focus on rappel insertion fundamentals with live training, so for those who haven't run this course, make sure to absorb as much as you can. Hope you like heights Routh."

"Prepare ice packs." Street advised the squad members who haven't experienced the training exercise. "The straps will feel like they're biting into your legs by the end of the day." 

"Morning is easy, since it is classroom based." Victor shared. "It mostly covers rappel safety, inspection of equipment, rope management and techniques, so I suggest you bring notebooks with this one. There's going to be a test before the instructors sign us off to board our assigned aircraft."

"Looking forward to it." He replied. From Reacher's memories, he already knew how to rappel, but not with helicopters. He was looking forward to the training course and smiled in excitement. He knew Zoe would get jealous.

Twenty minutes later and he was back at the locker room after a quick shower. He was in the process of sorting out his equipment when he saw Street approach him.

"Four out of four successful breaches today and you didn't even need to use a second swing." Jim Street stated with a grin. "Good job. Maybe I should start calling you Jack Breacher."

"Funny." He was amused at how close that name was to one of his character traits' real name.

"So what are you up to?" Street asked.

"Some dinner function tonight with the wife." He replied. He was now realizing what being married to a police captain fully entailed. Zoe as a police captain often attended charity dinners and official functions and he usually spent the time relaxing while Zoe was out. Now that he was married to her, the invitations included him and it would reflect badly on Zoe if he didn't show up.

 "That's part of the job you signed up for when you married brass." Street replied. "See you tomorrow, Routh."

"See you tomorrow, Street."

At least that he still had that suit, though it was beginning to feel tight these days. He wondered how he could talk Zoe into not wearing a tie for this event.

Zoe Andersen Routh

She watched her husband out of the corner of her eye as she listened in to the discussion with her fellow captains. Jack was surrounded by the wives of the police brass, and she smiled at how uncomfortable he looked.

"How's married life treating you, Andersen?"

She focused back to the fellow captains around her. "It's been great. Jack's a good husband."

"So that's your type." One of the captains teased and waggled his eyebrows. "No wonder you never paid me any attention."

"And you were still married at that time, Taggart." One of the captains retorted with a laugh.

"But not anymore." Another captain piped in.

"I guess it wasn't meant to be, Andersen." Taggart gave her a wink and she rolled her eyes and sipped her drink. She did not bother to reply.

"Zoe."

She turned around to face one of the few female captains in the department and gave her a smile in greeting. Jessica Cortez was the commanding officer of Metro Division and one of the few captains she could call a friend.

"Excuse me." She stepped away from the circle of brass and gave Jessica a quick hug. The other captain returned the greeting and they quickly moved to a more secluded area in the function room.

"Thanks for getting me out of that." She told her friend.

"Taggart is still hitting on you?" Jessica asked with a grin.

"He finally gave up, thankfully." Captain Taggart always asked her out and didn't seem to be bothered by her constant rejection to his offers to take her for lunch or dinner. Sure, he always claimed that it was just a simple meal and acclamate to her new role as a division captain, but she didn't miss how the older man's eyes drifted to her ass or tits.

"How are you?" Jessica asked. They sat down on an empty table near the back, providing them a good view of the spacious function room. The charity dinner was hosted by the president of the board of police commissioners for the families of cops who died while on duty. She was impressed by the amount they were able to raise tonight, surpassing the goal of 50,000 dollar the organizers set.

"Happy." Jessica was her friend, and she answered differently compared to when she was asked the same question by Taggart. "It took some time adjusting, but it's one of the best decisions I ever made."

"Are you sure it's not because I saw you head to the bathroom, followed shortly by your new husband?" Jessica teased.

She struggled to control her expression as a blush formed on her cheeks. "You saw that?"

"How could I not? Commissioner Plank's speech was making me sleepy." Jessica admitted. "And then you returned looking like you tasted something wonderful."

Out of boredom during the long speeches, Jack started caressing her exposed leg through the slit of her dress and later his hands started massaging her thigh as his fingers slowly moved higher and higher. It took nearly all of her self control not to moan in pleasure as Jack teased her all throughout dinner.

She pulled her husband to one of the bathrooms at the far end of the lobby, and their sex inside the bathroom stall made her orgasm particularly potent. She cleaned her husband's cock with her mouth, and Jessica was right, she tasted something wonderful. There was an added thrill, talking to her fellow officers with her cunt dripping of her husband's cum.

"I just needed to… relieve some stress." She admitted.

"Is that what you call it now?" Jessica asked with a raised eyebrow. "Anyway, I came here to ask for advice. I'm sort of in the situation you were in before you had your husband transferred to my division."

"Who is it?" She asked, lowering her voice.

"Hondo." Jessica answered. "It just happened. I really didn't plan for our relationship to get this far."

"That's how it usually goes." She replied. "This will be a problem if it comes out, Jess. You're his direct superior. Jack was a rookie when we started dating, and he was at the bottom of the ladder. I.A. could hardly accuse me of favoritism when Jack answered directly to his field training officer and then my watch commander before he faced me. How serious is it?"

"I don't know yet." Jessica admitted. "It's been going on for a few months now. That's the thing though. I don't know how we stand right now."

"One of you has to leave Metro if you want to make your relationship work." She advised. "Hiding a relationship is harder than it looks. Police officers are annoyingly observant. We gossip more than bored suburban housewives."

"I know. We were almost found out a few times." Jessica looked frustrated and sighed. "And I don't think Hondo is willing to give up Metro. He breathes and eats SWAT. Did one of you consider leaving their position for the sake of the relationship?"

"Jack didn't care if he had to transfer or leave the force." She replied. "All he wanted was to be with me. He even had a back-up career ready. "

"So your husband was serious enough to give up his career as a police officer for you?" Jessica asked intently. She saw how serious her fellow captain looked.

"I don't think it's entirely fair to compare our situations." She explained. "From what I heard, Hondo spent years as a police officer and worked his way up to Metro as one of its most experienced and decorated sergeants. He basically wrote the book on modern tactics and strategies. He has more to lose by giving up and transferring to another division."

"You're right." Jessica leaned back and folded her arms. "It's just that I keep hearing about you and your husband. It made me impatient with my own relationship. If you made yours work, why couldn't mine do the same?"

She didn't miss how her friend glanced at the ring on her finger and realized Jessica was now looking to settle down and wanted assurance that her partner shared her own desires for a stable, long term relationship.

"Jess, what Jack and I have is far from normal." She explained gently. "What happened to us was risky. We got engaged quickly and got married in mere months while he was still in the FTO program. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I don't regret what happened. I just know I'm incredibly happy where I am right now. We take each day slowly. I'm still adjusting, but it's been fun. It's like you have a best friend, a partner and a lover all in one man and sharing one bed."

"I guess if anyone deserves a happy ending, it would be you." Jessica replied. She saw the wistful look on the older woman's face and noticed how she glanced at her wedding ring once more. "I heard your ex-husband tried to get back at you? Need help?"

"He tried through Jack." She replied. "My husband saw through his attempts. Last I heard he's rotting in some prison by DHS. Apparently his latest wife was a foreign spy. She was also caught by the FBI."

"Good. Those honeypot tactics are surprisingly effective against divorced, single and lonely men." The metro captain nodded in satisfaction. "Is that your Jack over there?"

"It is." She smiled as she watched Jack continued to speak with a group of elderly women. He now had a stack of pamphlets in his hand while the women around him continued to engage him in conversation.

"Shouldn't we help him?" Her friend asked. "It looks like they're trying to invite him to their support group."

"Let him be for a few more minutes." She waved the concern off. It was Jack's punishment for teasing her and using his fingers while she was speaking with the chief on their table. She enjoyed it, but Jack needed to be taught a lesson about boundaries. "How's Jack doing in Metro?"

"Hondo still believes he received training from some secret military outfit." Jessica answered with a smile. "He's doing well and excelling from the reports I received. I heard he's still undefeated in sparring. Hondo's working out like crazy and he's determined to defeat your man the next time they meet."

"Good luck to him, but Jack's a beast in unarmed combat." She replied.

She knew how dominant her husband was in the few sparring sessions they had. What use was technique, when her husband was equally proficient in it but also had the overwhelming advantage in size and strength? He also fought dirty and she was intrigued by the tactics he personally developed.

Jack had even started to give her lessons in their backyard, though more often than not after their training finished they ended up having sex right after.

"You found a good man, Zoe. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Jess." She replied. "Now let's go rescue my husband before he becomes a member of the LAPD wives association."

John Nolan

His son was getting married.

He could clearly remember the day he first laid eyes on his son, bawling with his tiny little arms and feet kicking as the nurses gave him various tests to check for his hearing and other senses. Little Henry had a firm grip and a healthy set of lungs.

"Are you okay, Officer Nolan?"

He looked up to see his T.O. giving him a concerned look.

"I'm fine Ma'am. It's just…" He hesitated, wondering if Nyla Harper would agree to his request.

"Spit it out." Harper ordered.

"I was hoping you could allow my future daughter in law, Abigail to ride along with us today." He stated.

"Fine by me. Just make sure she knows what she's getting in to." Harper shrugged. That was unexpected. 

He was surprised at how easily his T.O. agreed with his request. He narrowed his eyes, wondering why she was so nice today.

He was once again stunned thirty minutes later when Sergeant Grey told him he would be assigned to Bradford for the week, with Lucy taking his place. His friend looked excited, and he knew it was because of her admiration for Harper's experience as a former undercover officer.

Bradford looked annoyed when he found out that he was being saddled up with a ride along, and he quickly explained the situation to the veteran T.O. His son did not want Abigail to pursue a career in law enforcement and asked him to expose her to the harsher and darker side of police work.

Tim Bradford looked amused at his suggestion and just agreed with a hint of a smile on his face. He knew right then that today's shift would be challenging.

"No problem." Bradford stated with a confident smirk. "Scaring rookie cops off the job is my specialty."

He struggled to hide his glee as Tim dialed up his intimidation factor to 11.

"Hi! I'm Abigail!" His son's fiancé greeted them as soon as they left the briefing room.

"My name is Officer Bradford." The senior T.O. loomed over the young woman. He was already at work, and he noticed his T.O. was using his height to intimidate the smaller girl. "You will only address me as Officer Bradford. Do you understand?"

Abigail did not seem bothered by the chilling introduction and even gave a mock salute. "Yes sir!"

"Did you sign the liability waiver?"

"Yes." Abigail replied eagerly. "I mean Officer Bradford."

"Good." Tim crossed his arms and eyed her from head to toe. "That means you might get maimed, paralyzed, burned or killed during this ride along."

"I mean, yeah sure!" Abigail looked even more excited. She was practically vibrating from where she was standing.

He exchanged concerned looks with Bradford and started their patrol. Kids these days, he knew they've been exposed to too much violent video games.

It was just their first call on their first shift, and Tim didn't hold back. A dead body, splattered on the ground. It looked like pile of meat and everything was so pink.

"I'm not even sure what I'm looking at." Abigail observed, her head tilted to the side, as if she was trying to make out a jig saw puzzle.

"That's the brain." One of the veteran scene investigators commented. "Impact velocity turns people into pinatas. Five stories and the asphalt, and his limbs akimbo."

"That's his left leg, that's his spine." The investigator continued, pointing out various body parts. Abigail was wearing a smile on her face. "Those pink bits are parts of the brain."

 Abigail was peering closer, her eyes wide with excitement and curiosity. She wasn't bothered or repulsed with what she was seeing up close. Weird. "Okay, I see it now."

The body was identified as Heston Dayton, 22. Tim saw the body was not scaring Abigail and decided to take on the role officers usually dreaded -informing the next of kin about their loved ones' death.

"That was cool." Abigail commented as they moved away from the yellow tape around the crime scene.

"That was a human body." He gave Abigail a sharp look. "We're about to inform his family about his death."

He gave a satisfied nod as Abigail's smile vanished from her face and headed into the shop. Good, she needed to learn some empathy. Their ride-along remained silent for the rest of the ride to the trailer park.

"I'm sorry..." Abigail started as they arrived outside the trailer where the victim's family lived. He noticed the look of someone in deep thought from the mirror. "…about my behavior at the crime scene. I wasn't thinking about the family."

"What we're about to do here is awful." He replied. "This isn't a joke where you can gawk at dead bodies and say it's cool. If you can't understand that, then this isn't the job for you."

"Death notifications are always a hard part of the job. What we're about to tell his mother and sister has the potential to destroy lives." Bradford decided to step in and share his two cents. "You never know how the family will react, so be on guard, and just observe. There's no shame waiting in the shop if you're not up for it."

"No, I'll be fine." The girl replied, her expression full of determination. She took a deep breath and gave him a determined nod. He shared a look with Bradford once more and they headed to the trailer.

Abigail meekly followed the two as they stepped inside the small porch while Tim knocked on the screen door.

"Police."

The door opened a minute later and a middle aged woman came out. She looked tired and resigned, her shoulder sagging. He could see a discarded fast food uniform hanging on the back of a chair. It looked like the mother just came home from work. "What did he do this time?"

"Ma'am, I'm Officer Bradford and this is Officer Nolan." Bradford started in a respectful tone. "Can we come in?"

"No." The woman crossed her arms and gave them a hard stare.

He decided to step in. "Ma'am, I think it's best if we came in…"

"Will you just tell me what Heston did?" The woman interrupted him.

"We regret to inform you that your son was killed this morning." Tim replied.

He saw the moment the woman realized what Tim said. Her eyes widened and she moved back a couple of steps.

"What?"

"What's going on?"

He turned to see a younger woman, around Abigail's age arrive behind them.

"Mom?" He guessed the new arrival was the victim's sister, and she shared a resemblance with the middle-aged woman despite their different hair color.

"You brother's dead." The mother replied in a whisper as she started crying.

"No." The sister replied immediately. Her face turned to a look of horror as her eyes widened in shock.

"What happened?" The mother asked as tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

"He fell from a building in downtown." Tim replied. "It's possible that he jumped."

"No, he would never do that. Never." The mother declared in a confident, angry tone and moved back inside the trailer. The two of them followed her inside the to give further details.

He kept an eye on Abigail through the window as Tim continued to ask the mother questions. Heston's mother had opened a bottle and was now drinking it straight. It was clear she was trying to numb the pain she was feeling by getting drunk.

It was the usual sad story, with the young man hanging around with other idiots as the mother proclaimed, and getting up to all sorts of petty crime.

A beaten up brown Pontiac arrived near the trailer, speakers loud with music and he quickly headed outside as the sister started confronting the driver. The situation quickly escalated as Abigail supported the sister as the driver started attacking the two younger women. He was impressed as his future daughter in law managed to kick the driver between the legs, knocking him to the ground.

"Heston can't be dead." The driver replied as he cuffed him, his arms behind his back. Tim managed to control the sister, keeping her from attacking. "I just talked to him this morning."

"Control, this is 7-adam-15, can you run a name for me? Everest Jones, born 02/01/96?" He asked through the radio.

"Wait, he's not really dead, is he?" The now identified Everest Jones asked as he leaned back on the hood.

"Yes he is." He replied. "If you know anything about it, you need to tell us everything right now."

"Dude, I don't know anything." Everett shook his head in denial.

"Liar!" The sister lunged for Everest, only for Tim to grab her by the waist to keep her back.

"Do you have a specific accusation?" Tim asked the sister.

"No, but ever since Heston started hanging out with this loser, he's been getting into all sorts of trouble." The sister seethed, still staring at Everest.