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Disclaimer - I don't own anything but the characters I create and I do not profit from this
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I'm hoping you guys like this one
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Chapter One
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Gail had entered the police academy because it was what was expected of her, but, as it turned out she actually loved the job, she liked being on the street and doing the work. Her real only issue was the people she worked with, she'd been assigned to 27th division after the academy, she was suppose to have gone to 15 with the people she had been friends with during training but her mother had interfered and had her assignment changed to 27. So she had put her head down and worked hard, she had stayed away from the other rookies socially and had gotten the reputation as a hard worker but a loner. When the call had gone out that 5 jobs were available for the K-9 unit she had immediately put her name down. 27 was the division closest to her mothers office and the K-9 control centre was attached to 15 which was one of the furthest away, her mother wouldn't be happy if she got the position, because she expected her to go into the administration side of policing but she didn't care, it was one section of the police force she knew her mother was no longer involved in, she always loved animals and the idea of working with the dogs intrigued her. When she finally got the letter that she had been accepted into the 15 week training academy with 15 others, there were 5 positions available including the coveted one that was exclusively attached to 15 division. She was over the moon, she called up Traci straight away "I got it" she said as soon as her friend picked up.
The other woman laughed "Got what Gail?" She asked.
"I got a spot in the K-9 academy" she explained happily.
"Finally, at least you'll be closer now" Traci said "Chris and Dov miss you"
"Those losers" she said with an eye roll, she did love them like brothers but they were complete dorks "How are things with Chloe Price? She left here a few months ago"
Traci sighed "she's a little excitable"
"No kidding" Gail answered "She's a talker"
"You hate talkers" The other woman said with a chuckle.
"How's my brother?" She asked.
"He's great, we took Leo away last weekend, he was wonderful with him"
"Of course he was he's a big kid himself, You guys up for a drink at the Penny?" She asked wanting to celebrate
"Why not?" Traci answered "We haven't celebrated the fact I've gotten the detective rotation yet anyway"
"So 8 tonight?" Gail asked.
"We'll be there"
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It was 8am on the first morning of the K-9 training academy, Gail stepped out of her SUV, she wasn't due to start orientation until 9 but wanted to make sure she was ready on time. She pulled her duffle from the back of the car and grabbed a back pack as well. She closed and locked it, she looked at the building in front of her, this place would be her home for the next 15 weeks. It was a large property of the outskirts of the city, there were a few large buildings and residential cabins around the back, the blonde had looked into it and there were 2 people to a cabin, she just hoped to God her roommate wasn't someone like Chloe Price. She sighed and headed in towards the administration building. She walked in to find a young blonde woman behind the desk "Can I help you?" She asked.
"I'm Gail Peck, I'm here to start the course today" she explained.
"Oh" the girl said, she handed her an envelope "That's your orientation pack" she stood and went to a row of duffel bags, she looked at the tags until she found the right one "And your training uniforms and training gear" she said "head down that corridor right to the end it leads to the auditorium, if you wait there the trainers will be there soon" she said and went back to her desk.
The blonde picked up the extra bag and headed out as she walked down the corridor to the room she'd been instructed to go to. She pushed the door open, there were two other people already here.
"Hi I'm Nick Collins" the man said coming over and holding out his hand for her to shake.
"Hands are kinda full" she pointed out not really wanting to touch him anyway, she moved away a little.
"Andy McNally" the woman introduced herself from across the room.
"Gail" the blonde said and dropped her bags on the floor.
"Gail who?" Nick asked.
"None of your business" she answered and looked around the room.
"Gail Peck right?" Andy said walking over to her "Your reputation precedes you, she's superintendent Peck's daughter" she said with a smirk "Mommy probably got her the spot here"
Gail rolled her eyes "Actually, check your facts, McNally was it, Superintendent Elaine Peck has nothing to do with K-9 training" the blonde pointed out.
Before anymore could be said a brunette woman wearing dark rimmed glasses, jeans and a Toronto PD hoodie, holding an iPad came in "Sorry guys, I wasn't aware that anyone was here yet, there's tea and coffee in the room over there" she said pointing over to a closed door "can I get your names first please?" She said
"Andy McNally" the brunette said as she headed for the tea room.
"Nick Collins" the man said and followed the other woman, leaving Gail with the woman.
The blonde had drifted off into dream land when the woman walked in, something about her was causing butterflies to jump in Gail's stomach. She knew she was instantly attracted to this woman, after a minute she realised the woman was actually talking to her "What is your name?' She asked sounding exasperated.
"Sorry" the blonde said with a blush "Ummm Gail" she said, her tone making it sound like a question.
The brunette raised and eyebrow "Your not sure?" She asked.
"Sorry my name is Gail Peck" she said sounding more sure of herself.
"I've heard about you" the brunette said her eyes narrowing and darkening "Before anyone else gets here I need to say something to you, your family influence does not extend to here, everyone here is on even footing for a chance to get the jobs on offer, I will not be threatened, bribed or bought" she turned and left.
Gail sighed, the only woman she had ever felt something instantly with hated her because of her family name unless she could change her mind this was going to be a long 15 weeks.
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The instructor, Gail found out was Dr Holly Stewart not only the resident Vet and animal behaviouralist but also the head of the academy and when she wasn't training, she is the vet at the control centre at 15 Division, which did not help her chances at getting the job available there. So not only did one of the top people in this field dislike her because of her heritage, she had been put into a cabin with Andy McNally. They were all seated in the auditorium, the blonde didn't know any of the recruits, she knew Staff Sargent Oliver Shaw well through her parents but otherwise everyone else were strangers "Good morning" the staff Sargent said to the group "You are our second group for this year and the twentieth group overall since this academy opened usually there is only one position available but due to our budget being expanded and two retiring officers we are offering five positions. Now expectations are that you will pass a physical test, practice for that begins tomorrow at five am on the course" a few groans sounded, without missing a beat he continued "At 8am breakfast, 9am you are expected back here for your classes, first you will learn animal behaviour and care with Dr Stewart and some of the other tutors until 5pm with a break for lunch, this will go for 4 weeks at which time Dr Stewart will assess you as to what dog could be suitable for you to work with, before working with the animals you will be assessed physically at the end of the 5th week and based on this, the group will be cut down to ten" he said "after that we will let you know what happens next"
After orientation finished the officers were given free time until the next day, thankfully after unpacking her roommate had wandered off. The blonde was sitting on one of the chairs outside their cabin reading alone until Nick Collins walked up "Hey" he said stepping up on the small patio.
Gail glanced up at him and back to her book "You after something in particular?" She asked.
He leaned on the nearby railing "This is gonna be rough, lots of hard work" he said with a smile "I happen to have a cabin to myself"
"Good for you" she said turning a page, still not paying any real attention to him.
"Could be good for you too" he said "keep me company"
Gail finally closed her book "I'll say this once, I'm not interested"
"Yea right" he said with a chuckle.
"Nick, I get it, you think your gods gift to women but I'm telling you, my bitch of a roommate has a better chance with me than you do" she said, putting the book on the nearby table.
"Your kidding right, Superintendent Peck's only daughter is a lesbian, I think your bullshitting" he said folding his arms.
Gail stood "look idiot, I don't care what you think, I'm not interested, go away" she pushed his arm trying to get him to leave.
"Officer, are you looking to go home today?" A male voice said behind him. They both turned to see Sargent Shaw with one of the dogs.
Nick snapped to attention "No sir"
"Well, officer Peck has made it very clear that she is not interested and your still on her step so I think you can be the first recruit on Scoop and poop duty" the younger mans shoulders drooped. "Meet me at the kennels in fifteen minutes"
"Yes sir" he said and left.
"You okay Darlin?" he asked the blonde
"Yea, thanks for that, he wasn't taking the hint" she said, the dog moved over to her tail wagging "hey beautiful" she said squatting down.
"This is Ellie, She's my last partner" he said patting the German Shepard's head "she retired last year but still loves work"
"So you living out here?" She asked.
"Yea, divorce came through, Zoe and I are officially done"
"I'm sorry" she said
"No don't be, I'm not" Oliver said "You know you wouldn't have to fight off social climbing assholes like Collins if you'd just come out" he said, he'd known for a while she was gay, they use to have long talks during boring social events.
"I've just gone to the evil K-9 unit, don't you think that's enough to for Elaine Peck to deal with, without finding out her daughter is queer" Gail said with a chuckle.
"True" he said "I'd better get to punishing Collins, enjoy your afternoon, oh and if you get to the food hall at least fifteen minutes early you'll get the best food" he winked and left.
"Thanks again Ollie" she said as he walked away with the dog.
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Gail arrived first for dinner, the only people there were the kitchen staff, Oliver and Dr Stewart "Hey Kid" he called out "Come here, I want to introduce you personally to Holly"
"We've met" the blonde said flatly, she moved away sitting at an empty table.
"Yes we've met" the brunette agreed with a blush as she adjusted her glasses "I've heard a lot about..."
"Don't believe everything you hear" He said to her "She's never used her family name to get ahead and check her work record, she's a hard worker and hasn't had any reprimands"
Holly raised an eyebrow "Some how I have trouble believing that, her family..."
Oliver again interrupted her "I know you've had your own problems with her mother but give her a chance, she might just surprise you"
The brunette sighed "Maybe"
"At least be open to it" he said "Let's get food before the hoard get here"
Holly watched the dejected blonde as they walked to the buffet, when Oliver gestured her over she gave her a tight smile.
Gail responded with a genuine one and they both silently served their food, she watched as her friend was chatting to one of the woman working in the kitchen, now she understood why he seemed happy.
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Gail was awake at 4am, her body clock waking her before her alarm. She looked over at her roommate who was still out cold. She quietly got up and dressed in her training sweats. She pulled her shoes on, gabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge and made her way to the obstacle course. When she arrived she found the trainer already preparing "Your here early" he said "Gail Peck right?"
"You've heard of me?" She asked.
"No" he said "I just make sure I know who's who thats all, Lieutenant Sam Swarek, but you can call me Sam" he said holding out his hand.
Gail smiled "Nice to meet you" she said shaking his hand.
"Since your here early, why don't you jog the course, warm up and get a feel for what you'll need to do"
"Will do" she said as she took off jogging.
When Gail got back most of the group were there, she sat on a nearby bench and took a drink of her water "Alright, everyone one lap of the course, last one back does morning poop and scoop duty" everyone took off, the blonde jumped up to go "You don't need to, you've already..."
"I need the fitness" she said and took off running after everyone else.
The recruits all came back mostly together, Gail crossed the line fifth with both McNally and Collins in front of her, the last person was an officer from 17 named Duncan.
"Alright" Sam said to the group as they sat on the ground "We have five weeks to make sure that you can all pass this course under a certain time, today we'll start with some basic physical exercise by the end of the week we will do a first run through of the course then you can individually focus on the parts you have trouble with.
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Once they were done Gail jogged back to her cabin, she had a quick shower before Andy arrived and headed up to the food hall with one of the books on animal behaviour they had been given to study, it was about 7am, she found a seat in the corner and tucked her legs up. She'd been reading for almost half an hour when someone spoke to her "Sorry?" She asked looking up.
"Hi I'm Celery" the woman said as she wiped the table Gail was at "I work in the kitchen"
"Gail" the blonde said "I was warned by Oliver to make sure I'm here early, I hope it's okay"
"It's fine" the shorter brunette woman said "Oliver is..." She got a dreamy look on her face.
Gail smiled "You like him"
"How did you..."
"I'm a cop I'm suppose to notice things, he's happy here and I was wondering why, until I watched him last night and he likes you too" the blonde explained.
"You think so?" Celery said with a smile.
"I do" Gail said, the door behind them opened "Speak of the devil" she pointed to Oliver.
She watched as the brunette made her way over to him, she smiled to herself, she picked up the book and went to walk but was stopped by a hand on her arm "Officer Peck" the soft voice said, she turned to see Holly holding files "Can I have a quick word?"
The blonde considered her for a second "Alright" she said and followed the other woman outside.
"I have been talking to Oliver, well he pointed out that I was making an assumption about you that may not be entirely true" she said looking down at the files, she looked up at her "I wanted to let you know that my opinion of your heritage won't effect your chances of getting any of the positions within the K-9 unit" she went to walk away.
"Dr Stewart" Gail called out, the brunette turned, the blonde gave her a smile "thanks"
Holly returned the smile with one of her own "Don't thank me, it should have been that way to start with" she said and went back inside.
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Hope you liked this one, let me know if you'd like to read more.
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