Bull
Chapter 1.
For Tess it had been an amazing year, but never in a million years had she expected the highlight of it to have been falling in love with one Dr Jason Bull.
She and Bull had met via her friendship with Chunk Palmer. She and Chunk had met a few years before in a bar where she'd been out to cheer a friend up after having split up from her boyfriend. As they were having the drink the boyfriend had followed them. He then jumped to conclusions and thought that Louise and Tess were now seeing each other because of Louise being bisexual. When he and Louise started arguing he started to lash out and one of his hits ended up connected with Tess. With that Chunk got himself in amongst them and managed to get hold of Billy and kept hold of him until the cops turned up. After giving them a short statement when they arrived and a promise to go in and give a full statement later. He then stayed with Tess as she got checked out at the hospital. After that he saw her safely home and from that moment they became the closest of friends.
Tess had specialized in forensics, computer forensics and also psychology. She'd ended up just using the forensics and worked for the police. So when Chunk had started working for Bull she did find it all really interesting, but she and Bull's paths had never crossed.
Eventually of course that had to change and they finally did meet. It happened during a murder case that she worked on the forensics for involving a detective Sprong. She started to get suspicious that something wasn't right with the case and she felt that Sprong's arrest of the suspect was a bit too fast. And she also had some suspicions about the forensics itself. In the end because she was getting herself so worked up and worried about it she actually went and sort Chunk out and find him. Seeing as normally she'd call him and they'd meet up for lunch or something. But the TAC team had been involved in quite a big case. Which as it had continued and they'd had quick catch ups on the phone. Had made her laugh because of his moaning about the client they were working with. Because she didn't have any sense of style and kept trying to insist that he'd got no sense of style either and didn't know what he was talking about. In the end she guessed where Chunk may be on the night she decided to do something about her problem. Because earlier that day she'd been in court on a different case she'd worked on giving her evidence on the forensics for it. Just as she was leaving the courtroom she was in. She saw a group of people leaving another courtroom and they were all shaking hands and congratulating each other. It was then that she spotted Bull amongst the throng and guessed that their case was now all over. Not only that as she made her way past them to leave the court building. She and Bull made eye contact with each other and just did a slight smile. So with knowing their case was over and knowing the bars that the team tended to go to and eventually found the one that they were in. Because of not wanting to disturb them all she got herself a drink and sat where Chunk would know where she was.
Eventually he joined her and as he sat down next to her he said "Come on out with it, what's wrong?"
She sighs and replies "I don't know what to do. Detective Sprong has a case that I'm on. He's already got a suspect in custody. I don't know something just doesn't feel right. I don't know if he's somehow fixing the evidence, but it needs to be sorted out and I just don't know what to do or where to go."
He then asks "Can you prove that he's fixed the evidence?"
She replies "I most probably could do it, if I had the time to do more extensive tests. But you know how busy things get there and I just haven't got the time to do them."
He says "Leave it with me, but try to collect everything together and I'll see what I can do for you." As she squeezes his hand, she does a small smile and says "thanks." He then invites her to join the others which she does do and ends up having a much better night now that she has managed to confide in someone about things."
The next morning she does manage to do as Chunk told her to and gets things squirreled away. She's then not that surprised when a bit later on one Jason Bull comes walking into the lab to find her. As they talk he explains to her that he's taken the suspects case on. But he has also gone and cleared it for her to join the team and that she can concentrate on that evidence only. While he's talking to her detective Sprong comes rushing in with an evidence bag in hand saying that it had just been found in the suspect's apartment. Instantly her hackles go up because she knows that the suspect's apartment was searched originally when he was arrested. Because of Sprong then noticing Bull there he says to him indignantly "And you are?"
He replies without revealing too much because of realizing who he is because of the look on Tess's face speaking volumes without her having done any introductions "Just needing help with a case. Don't worry she can still deal with whatever it is you need." As he then gives her a sly look of pretend that you're doing it, she does so and then says to Sprong that it would be ready for him in about an hour, but she will let him know. After that Sprong leaves and after waiting a while to make sure that they're clear of him, she gets everything packed up with Bull helping where he can with it, before the two of them finally walk out of the building.
When they then get to TAC Bull shows her around a little bit, before then taking to her to an area just off the main section. As he opens the door and she walks in her eyes nearly pop out of her head at the sight as she finds herself standing in a fully equipped lab. Not only that but just off the lab she has also got a small but gorgeous office, which has windows looking out onto great views of New York around them. As she stammered out "Thank you." He replied with a smile "I hope that will help you get what we need. If there's anything else that you need just shout. As I do agree with you, there is something off with Sprong and why the look you did over the evidence he bought in?"
She replies "It's because the apartment was searched after the suspect was arrested, so why did he do another one?"
He answers "I don't know, but it is very strange. Let's get things sorted out in here. Then you can join everyone for lunch and get to know everyone."
She says with a smile "Ok and thanks again for everything."
Over the next couple of months or so Tess starts to feel that once again she is loving her job, which is a love that she never thought she would get back again. Because even though there were all the other forensic scientists round her as she worked, they would only exchange pleasantries with one another as they worked, so all day she would just feel alone. Because other than perhaps a couple of people they wouldn't really interact together all that much. Compared with other police precincts that she'd worked in. Not only that she did also have a bit of a history with one detective Sprong as well and a few years ago he had turned into a bit of a stalker with her. She never could work out the reason for it and had never told anyone else about it, surprisingly despite how close she and Chunk were she hadn't even told him about it. No matter how many times she changed both her mobile numbers and home numbers, he still seemed to find out what the new ones were and the calls would start all over again. She'd also got a secret that was personal to herself and had guessed that he'd found out about it and wanted to do something about it for her, but he just never seemed to take no for an answer. With her disappearance so far from the police lab it seemed like he was finally leaving her alone.
The other thing that she loved about her job now. Was that even though she was still alone in the lab, she never was alone. Because everyone was in and out of the lab and they would chat. Plus if at anytime she was waiting for results to come through and she hadn't got anything else to test or reports to type up. Unless they were in court. She would go and watch the team in action and was totally fascinated by the whole process of their work. Not only that because of the evidence being called into question in the case Bull along with Benny as their clients lawyer had played a long shot in going directly to the police chief who had managed to get the case temporarily suspended while it was being investigated and she had got her findings. Not only that she and Cable had soon become best friends, and during one case they were working on she'd helped Cable get into some hidden E mails that she'd not been able to get into. Not only that she'd also managed to give the whole team a full psychological report from those hidden E mails. So because of that Bull ended up putting the two of them together more and more. Which had helped to bring her passion back for both computer forensics and psychology, in fact she was just loving her job now!
Of course with her working at TAC it also bought she and Chunk closer together in their friendship. But after having tried over the years to bring she and Bull together, with the start of her new job she had warned him that now she and Bull were in even more closer proximity to one another, he wasn't to dare attempting it again. He had promised her that he wouldn't do it, but somehow she didn't believe him. Even so somehow she started to wonder if the process was happening a bit more organically between the two of them, because she knew her feels for Bull were growing more and more with each passing day. Because she really loved watching him work as well as in the personal interactions that the two of them had each day. Especially as she had always been an early bird, but most of all really hated having breakfast. Even with getting up early and weather permitting either going outside for a run or would do a treadmill run everyday. So because of that after showering and changing she would then grab just a coffee on the way in and would almost inevitably be the first one in. She didn't know how he did it but somehow Bull had worked out what she did in the mornings. So all of a sudden he started to come in not long after she had done. On his way in he would get breakfast for the two of them and he'd drag her out of the lab so that they could then sit and have their breakfast together. After a few days of it she was soon finding that she was loving breakfast after all. Most of all though she was loving that private moment that the two of them were sharing together, chatting in the peace and quiet alone. Although what did make a laugh as well everyday was the eye roll that he would do as he said "ok let's get to it." When everyone else would start to come in nosily around them. Even on days when they were also in court he would still make sure that the two of them would stick to the routine still. She was also finding that she was growing to love any little touches that the two of them would share sometimes and if she was ever on the receiving end of one of his winks, well it would just make her weak at the knees!
Of course just as she started to feel happier in herself and with everything that was happening in her life, it had to all come crashing down. First of all the anonymace calls started again, followed by the E mails and letters. She had a feeling that she knew where they were coming from, especially when in the letters it started to threaten her about her finding out the truth in the case that she was working on.
On that fateful day a few days later when Tess finally worked out the truth that detective Sprong was really the murderer. Because of the others being in court and the rest doing their thing for them. She was able to be quiet in her office writing the reports up for Bull. And because of the quiet she was able to sit and think as she did them and finally made a decision that she was going to tell Bull and Chunk about what was going on. The only trouble was that day she was finishing up early because she'd got a doctors appointment. So in the end she left the finished report on her desk thinking about giving it to Bull the next day. After that her plan was to go home and change following the appointment, and then she was going to find out if they'd finished at court to then get Bull and Chunk on their own so she could tell them the truth. But then as she was changing she all of a sudden heard from the front of the apartment windows smashing and what sounded like bullets coming through them. So she hit the floor at the side of the bed furthest away from the window. When it was all over because of being so scared all she could think about was running. Even though she didn't have an exact plan on what she was doing as she just chucked some stuff into a case and ran. Although just before deciding on her final destination as her head had become clearer. She stopped to send Bull and Cable an E mail, thinking that she hadn't left any clues as to where she was going.
What she didn't know of course was that following the conclusion of the case and before joining the others for a celebration drink Bull had popped back to the office again. He'd gone into her office to see if she was there to invite her to the drink as well. Seeing the report on her desk he'd picked it up and had started to read it when his phone alerted him to an E mail message. After reading her message he sprang into action calling everyone back into the office again.
When they got there he was pleased that Chunk and Cable managed to be the first ones in on their own, so he got them to go into Chunk's room. Just as he was about to join them Marissa walked in, so he told her to keep everyone there while he went to speak to Chunk and Cable. On his way to see them he picked up Cable's laptop to give her. As he got into the room and shut the door he handed her the laptop an said "I came back to see if Tess had come back and was going to ask her to join us, I found her full report and we've got trouble. You will find Cable that she's sent you an E mail, I was reading the report when I got one too. I'm not sure what but something has happened at hers because she said she was coming back to find you and me Chunk to talk about some things. I have a feeling that detective Sprong may have found out where she was and what she was doing, so he's threatened her and she's run. We need to find and protect her. She's probably put it in yours to, but she's given permission for you to hack into her E mails and copy them, all the letters are in her office as well." With that Cable says that she'll get on it leaving Bull and Chunk alone. He then turns to Chunk and says "I promise that we will find her and protect her. But talk to me and give me a clue as to where she may have gone?"
Chunk shrugs and replies "That's the thing though; I just don't have a clue. Because she lived in DC with her father as he was a single father. When she was fifteen he was arrested and sent to prison and she ended up in the care system. After that they never really had a great relationship, but since his release they have been trying to repair things and he now lives in Ohio. When she came back from her last trip though something seemed off so I think that something may have happened between them. Her mom had been half French and English. So I know that even though she was born here in New York she does also hold French and British passports. And you know I think there's more between detective Sprong and her that meets the eye. She's never told me what it is, but I know that she does have a secret. But I do sort of wonder if he's found out what it is, has tried something on and it hasn't been reciprocated by her."
Bull says "What is it?"
Chunk answers "She'll probably kill me for saying this, but I'm prepared for it. Let's just say that I think it might have something to do with her not ever having had a serious relationship. I also know that even though she never said anything to me she was having trouble with hang up calls at work, home and on the mobile. I also suspected that some may have been threatening ones as well. What if it's been him because of working out her secret and he's been trying to use it against her? Because I could tell that since getting away from that place and being here in the last couple of months, she has been so much happier. And dare I say it I think she may have fallen in love with her job again, plus her love of psychology and computer forensics has come back as well."
Bull replies "I believe so too. Because she has changed so much since that first day here." They then get interrupted by Cable urgently knocking on the door; Bull pulls it open and says "What is it?" She moves past him and tells him to shut it quickly; as he does so she says "Tess ran because her place has been shot up, the cops are here now."
Bull asks "Including detective Sprong?"
She answers "Yep including him and from what I've found I would really love to go and punch that smug look on his face off."
Bull raises his eyebrows at her as he then says "Ok Chunk go and tell Marissa to put them into Benny's office. Then get Benny in here so we can have a quick talk before we go in there." Chunk goes off and Bull then adds "What have you got."
Cable says "There's still loads that I've got to get through yet. But yes Sprong has been threatening her and more recently it's started to get a bit more graphic. She also left me her phone, but I haven't got to that yet. And she did say that there is more in voice mails and texts."
Bull asks "Without listening to the voice mails can you prove that it's him?"
She says with a smile "Yes I can thanks to something that she showed me how to do. Plus our detective isn't has clever as he thinks he is with trying to keep himself unknown. Because in what I've found so far some of the E mails have come from his own personal account and other's have come from his registered work terminal."
He then asks "Is there anyway that you could get into her apartments CCTV or the cameras nearby to see if we can get any proof that he was also involved with the shooting?"
She answers "I'll give it a go."
He says "Just stay in here and do it because I don't want anyone near Sprong alone in case he tries to get it out of you what's going on." As Benny and Chunk then come in he adds "Benny I know that Tess is missing, but can you get a restraining order or protective order out on Sprong on her behalf?"
Benny replies "If you can prove that he's out to get her and it is the reason why she has gone missing, then yes you can even in her absence."
Cable then buts in saying "As well as the E mails and the stuff that's on her phone plus this, I think that we will have more than enough."
Bull asks "What is it?"
She says "It's a mixture of the apartment buildings CCTV and the nearest street cameras. On both it's clear to see who it is."
As they watch it Bull says "We've got him." After a pause he adds "Right Cable keep working on everything and getting that evidence together for Benny. I'll tell the others as well. But I don't want any of you to be alone with Sprong unless either me or Benny are with you. I'm going to call the chief and see what he says, then after that we'll go and talk to them. Once that is done me and you Chunk will go to her apartment to check it as well as sort out getting it secure. Especially as I don't trust things with him being on the case and also don't trust that he might have got in and got something or got a clue as to where she may have gone. It will also give us a chance to look and see if we can find something as well."
After what becomes an eventful couple of hours at the office. As after getting the proof they needed and Bull's subsequent call to the chief of the police about both the stalking of Tess by detective Sprong and also her report showing him to be the murderer in the original case. With Bull assuring the chief that he would make sure he got all the evidence for both cases. He told Bull to keep Sprong there talking about her disappearance while he sent officers to come arrest him, which was what they did. After that had been done with Bull and Chunk finally made heir way to her apartment. They also realized with being there that she had literally packed up as soon as it had happened and that no-one had been in there after she'd gone. As Bull was going through some of her paperwork and sitting on the sofa while doing it, Chunk had been checking things out in her study. As he walks out of there with a sigh he says "Why do I feel so guilty about doing this?"
Bull looks up at him and replies "It's because she's our friend and you never really expect to do something like this for a friend."
As Chunk sits down next to him he says "But why do I have a feeling that perhaps you might want there to be more than a friendship between the both of you? Look I know that for a long time now she's been telling me not to do anything to set the two of you up. But I did always think that the two of you would be good together."
Bull answers thoughtfully "Yes I would like there to be more between us, if she wants there to be more as well. In the mornings for a while now we've been having breakfast together, as I knew that she wasn't eating any breakfast. In that time the two of us have been getting to know each other, and yes I think I have slowly been falling in love with her. Before even realizing my feelings for her I had been starting to think about making her a permanent member of the team. As I will admit that there have been times that she's spotted more things than I have spotted with cases. But I also think it may be beneficial to keep the lab on too. Because in some cases that we've had there have been times that I've wished we could check the evidence. Plus of course I think that she and Cable also make a really great team together. I will also promise you now that if we do get together I will never ever hurt you. Not only that you can also be the protective best friend." There's then a silence because Bull notices a letter from her father, he doesn't look at it but does notice the different surname to Tess's and he then says "Where did her surname come from?"
Chunk answers "It sort of gets a bit complicated because when she went into care her father wouldn't give away his full parental rights to her. But her adoptive parents wanted to adopt her and in a way they did, with her also taking their surname. What are you thinking?"
He says "I'm just wondering if she had any of her passports in her mom or dad's name? It also seems that she was off after seeing her dad last because he was arrested again while she was with him."
There's another silence when Chunk all of a sudden says "No it couldn't be surely?"
Peaking Bull's interest he asks "What is it, out with it?"
Chunk answers with a smile "It might be just my brain working overtime with everything that's happened. You don't think that Sprong could have been involved in her dad's original case and ended up doing like his attempt with our client and set him up to cause the friction between them and then did it again somehow this time. Because we know that the threats have been getting worse recently. So he did it to try and make her finally give in to him?"
Bull says "I'll get Marissa and Danny to check on things. Before I ask them has she got anything herself somewhere?"
Chunk replies "There's a file marked dad in the study I'll go and get it." He's then gone a while but when he comes back he's also got some other papers in his hand, which he hands to Bull and says "Here her moms name was Grace Ruefelle and it also appears that she left Tess a house in both the UK and Paris along with a trust fund."
Bull then gets on the phone and tells Cable to get everyone together and put him on speaker phone. When she does it he then explains to everyone about the papers and the box of stuff on her father that they'll be bringing back with them once the repairs have been done. But for now could they start doing some digging on her father's original case and also his current one. If they manage to find anything suspicious or something that can mean they can make an appeal to give it to Benny for him to start working on it. He also gives Cable her mom's surname and asks her to do her thing and find out if Tess did have any passports in that name, as well as checking if any flights at all had been booked in that name. When they hang up he and Chunk keep looking through things and checking to see if they can find anything else that might be useful to them.
A/N: Originally I was going to wait for a while before I had an attempt at any Bull stories, but this one got stuck in my head and I thought I'd give it a go! When I first started it we weren't very long into it, so you'll probably notice the changes as we got more episodes into the season. As especially near the beginning of the story I hadn't quite got a handle on it yet! Anyway I hope that you enjoy it and please excuse any mistakes I've done with law issues, just count it as poetic licence! xxx. D.