Dancin' Around the Ring
By GeoGirl
Disclaimer: Witchblade is owned by TNT, Warner Brothers and all of those others that aren't me. I'm just playing in their playground until dark or Mom calls me for dinner.
A/N: Right now, this is a few scenes from Sara's early police career. Take a read and let me know if it's worth continuing. These little scenes came to me while I was trying to review a report for my client. Just had to put them on paper.
"C'mon Cap. She's a girl. I can't fight a girl."
"Stanford, if she was a perp, would you rather get bitch-slapped, or get the suspect in cuffs? Get in the ring now. She'll probably kick your ass."
Sara danced around the ring, trying to stay warmed up. Stanford was a big guy, over 6-foot tall and topping out at around 230. She hoped that she would be able to keep up with him and not embarrass herself too badly.
Stanford jumped in the ring, set his mouthpiece and began moving around his corner. Sara was caught off-guard when the bell rang and was late getting out into the rink. Stanford came at her with a right jab, which was slow enough for her to block. She was able to get a couple of decent jabs in before she eluded his grasp. He followed after her, throwing right and left jabs in the air. Swoosh, duck, block, grunt. The brutal dance started to heat up.
A few glancing blows made contact and Sara threw a right hook that made contact right on his cheek.
Suddenly, Stanford wasn't going easy, but coming after her like a charging elephant. Sara had a difficult time eluding all that he was throwing at her. She started playing serious. Right hook, left jab. Combination after combination. Block, duck. Stay away from the ropes. Right jab and left uppercut got inside, snapping Stanford's head back when the second of the combination hit.
The bell rang and Stanford let out a growl of frustration. This girl was making him look like a wuss.
The fight went on for two more rounds and ended in a draw. Sara went over to Stanford to shake his hand after the match and he turned away from her. The training captain stepped into the ring and took Stanford to task.
"Stanford, can't you be a good sport about this? She's a great boxer, been doing it for years. Lieutenant Siri taught her as a teenager, and if girls were allowed in the Golden Gloves, this Girl would kick major ass. And her Dad, former lieutenant for the 11th, was the New York City Police Department Champ three years running."
Sara bowed her head, trying not to make eye contact with anyone else. She hated being singled out and pointing out her connections to department. She just wanted to one of the generic trainees.
"Let this be a lesson to all of you trainees, never underestimate anyone. You never know who could kick your ass. Some little punk may be a former karate champ. Some girl could throw a mean right hook. Keep that in mind. Showers everyone. "
Next class was "Gathering Evidence". She really enjoyed this class. Detective Mason was a great lecturer and she was hooked by the subject matter.
****
Hands, arms and legs moved in concert, performing a beautiful but potentially deadly ballet. Sara stood in the doorway watching him move. He was mesmerizing to watch. So powerful and graceful at the same time.
She was shaken out of her reverie by a cough. "See enough, or should I continue?"
"Oh, sorry. I'm looking for Woo? The guys up front told me he might be back here working out?
"I'm Woo and who the hell are you?
"Pezzini, Sara Pezzini, your new partner.""
"Really?" That statement was filled with layers of speculation and irony. "Yeah, so welcome to the 11th."
He began to towel off and gather his shirt and shoes from the edge of the mat. "You can call me Danny. You know martial arts? Karate, judo?" He hoped he might get a sparing partner out of the deal.
"Nah, I'm a boxer, really. My dad and godfather taught me. You're quite good. Black belt? Studying since you were a kid I guess?
"Yeah something like that. Boxer, huh. Need to see you in the ring and see what you got. As much as I'd love to chitchat, how 'bout I get a shower and then we'll get coffee? You drink coffee?"
"Never leave home without it." She stood, hands in pockets, looking around the gym, checking out the equipment. Heavy bag, check. Decent ring, check. Good thing Siri knew what she needed.
"See you in about 15 minutes. Meet me by my desk and I'll show you the best place for coffee around here. It may not be great coffee, but it's better than anything you'll get here. You're not into those froo-froo drinks, latte, double stuff with whipped cream are you?"
"No, give me the naked black stuff."
"Ohh." His eyes got very wide and a big smile appeared on his face.
"Coffee, Woo, untainted coffee. Geez, get any lately?" She threw a light jab to his arm.
"Yeah last night, how bout you?"
Sara couldn't think of a comeback quick enough. She shook her head and shooed him toward the locker room.
"Black coffee coming up. Girl, we might just get along."
He turned to exit and Sara couldn't help but check out the retreating view. Damn, it will be hard to concentrate on police work with that by her side.
Danny stood by his locker for what seemed like hours, talking to himself.
So they paired me up with a girl. A rookie girl. Damn.
Did she have to be a looker too? The guys will never let me hear the end of it. Damn.
So Woo, have you nailed her yet? Cop a feel yet, Woo? How'd you get so lucky? I can hear it now. Hopefully she's tough enough to put up with the shit that flies around here.
Damn.
As Danny walked out of the locker room saw her sitting on the edge of his desk, looking like she owned the joint.
Damn, she sure is cocky. Oh, shit, Leigh. Shit. Shit. I'm going to have to introduce her to Leigh soon. Don't need a jealous girlfriend.
"Hey Pezzini, ready to get some java?"
"Sure. Man you take almost as long in the locker room as a girl. By the way, call me Sara, or Pez."
"Like the candy?"
"Yeah, 'cuz I'm so sweet and tasty."
Damn.