Chapter Text
Officer Tim Bradford and Officer John Nolan were at the podium with their watch commander, Sgt. Wade Grey, in the roll call room at Mid Wilshire. Everyone else was on their feet clapping as Sgt. Grey shook the hands of his two officers. “Well done Officer Bradford, well done. And Officer Nolan...you continue to surprise me. I have to admit I wasn’t sure you were cut out for this job...today obviously proved me wrong. Excellent work, gentlemen!”
Earlier that day, Tim and John had made what they thought was going to be a routine traffic stop. It had turned out to be the biggest drug bust of their careers thus far. They had pulled over a car that clearly yelled “gangbanger” for a busted taillight, and obstructed license plate. The car was full of gangbangers. The traffic stop had at first been very routine. But Tim had noticed a crack pipe sitting right there in the cup holder, plain as day. That had given him enough probable cause to search the car. He’d radioed for back up and a K-9 unit with a drug sniffing dog. Both had arrived almost as soon as he’d requested them. By the time the search was over, Tim and John had hauled in eight illegal weapons, and 80 bricks of crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of over $18 million.
Tim smiled as he shook Sgt. Grey’s hand. “Just doing my job, sir.” Tim glanced at his fiancée, Officer Lucy Chen, and he actually blushed. Lucy was beaming with pride, and Tim couldn’t help but preen for her a little bit. Sgt. Grey looked at the rest of his officers in the roll call room. “Dismissed. Excellent work today, team. See you all tomorrow.” Everyone stood up; several of the officers went forward to the podium to congratulate Tim and John. Lucy glanced at her colleague and friend, Officer Angela Lopez, who was sitting next to her. Lucy elbowed Angela, wondering what was on her mind. “Ang? You ok?” Angela sighed...she didn’t want to worry Lucy. But Lucy hadn’t been a cop as long as Angela had, and Angela felt it was her responsibility to warn her. “Look...Lucy, what Tim and John did today was awesome, don’t get me wrong...” Lucy studied Angela thoughtfully. “But?” Angela sighed as she tried to find the right words. “But sometimes these type of busts can backfire. I don’t want Tim or John catching any blowback from this. A bust this big can sometimes upset the wrong people.” Neither Lucy nor Angela could possibly know at that moment how right Angela was.
Later that evening, Tim and Lucy were at Regan’s Place, a bar and grill close to Mid Wilshire. They were there with several of their colleagues celebrating Tim and John’s earlier bust. Tim frowned at his friend, and newest colleague, Officer Brenna Parker. “Ok, Brenn...spill it. I thought you of all people would be happy for me on this. You’ve moped the entire time we’ve been here.” Lucy rolled her eyes at Tim. She loved the man, but sometimes he could be so freaking clueless. Brenna rolled her eyes. “It’s been a long day. I’m headed home; nice job today, Bradford.” She left a few bills on the bar to pay her tab. She sadly glanced over her shoulder again before she stood up. She hugged Tim and Lucy goodbye, and all but sprinted for the door. Lucy watched her go before she glanced over at another colleague, Detective Ash Reno, who was at a table close to the bar. He was clearly on a date. She glared at Detective Reno, who had watched Brenna leave. Tim glanced at Lucy and narrowed his eyes at her. “What am I missing here?” Lucy rolled her eyes and took his chin in her hand, turning his head so he could see Detective Reno. Tim was still clueless. “What am I supposed to be looking at, Boot?” Lucy rolled her eyes yet again. “Brenna and Detective Reno over there have the major hots for each other. But he’s here on a date with someone else.” Tim gaped at Lucy. “Brenna and Reno? No way.” Lucy shook her head and laughed at him. “Yes, way.” Tim sipped his beer as more of his colleagues came up to him and congratulated him.
Brenna was walking to her car when she stopped and frowned. She had parked just a few cars over from Tim’s truck. She fished out her cell phone and began snapping pictures of the two men that were currently trying to break into Tim’s truck. She stalked her prey as she quietly approached them. She put her phone in her pocket and was about to announce herself when a hand clamped down over her mouth. Suddenly the two men at Tim’s truck looked up and saw Brenna struggling with her attacker. It wasn’t long before all three men were on her, but Brenna knew how to fight. The guy who had grabbed her tried to lift her off the ground. She took that opportunity to let him lift her as she lifted both of her legs and kicked the two guys in front of her in the balls as hard as she could. They both crumpled to the ground, moaning. Then she rammed her head backwards into the face of the man that was holding her and heard a sickening crunch. She wrenched herself free and screamed as loud as she could.
Detective Ash Reno caught the glares Lucy had been giving him, and felt like a total dickhead. He and Brenna had been circling each other for weeks. He knew she liked him, and he was crazy about her. But he had vowed to never date or get involved with another cop, not after what had happened to his fiancée,and fellow cop, Savannah Daniels. So he tried to keep Brenna at a major distance. But he’d definitely been failing, and had been giving Brenna mixed signals. He silently berated himself as the door to the bar flew open. He recognized Officer Jackson West come flying into the bar, frantically looking for Tim. “Bradford!” Tim frowned as he turned and saw a very anxious looking Jackson West rushing to him. Tim stood up as Jackson reached him. “Tim...it’s Brenna.” That was all Ash heard as he watched Tim’s eyes widen at whatever Jackson had told him. Not long after that, Tim, Lucy, and Jackson ran out of the bar. Ash looked apologetically at his date. “I’m really sorry, Amy, but I have to go.” Ash rushed out of the bar followed closely by John, Nyla, Grayson and Angela.