Stef

The smile on my face could not be helped as I read the latest email from my ex-parolee, detailing the current happenings of his life. He's met a girl, receiving a job promotion…success stories like his give me the drive I need to do what I do.

When I started out at the Academy, I always figured I would be a uniform. Maybe even a detective. I thought of parole officers as somewhat akin to babysitters: make sure their charge is behaving and doing what they're supposed to do. I never thought I would end up as a P.O. but here I am. Every person I am assigned is unique and interesting. They all have their own story. I like learning that story, no matter how straightforward or twisted it may be. When you have background, it's easier to reach the person. Sometimes, it's easy to get their story. Most of the time, it's difficult, but hearing the thoughts and motivation behind my assignments' actions make it that much easier to get them back on the right track.

My record precedes me: I have had the most successful parolee turn-arounds than anyone other person in the department. It is something I take pride in as well as something that pushes me to do more and to do better.

"Foster."

I look up as my boss gestures for me to come into her office. Pushing back from my desk, I stand up and walk into the office, closing the door behind me. Captain Roberts motions for me to have a seat and I do. She takes a seat at her desk and puts a hand on top of a thick file. By the looks of it, this person has had quite the run in with the law.

"Yes, Captain?"

She pushes the folder towards me, but keeps a hand on it, "I have a new assignment for you."

"Okay." I reach for the folder but she makes no move to release it to me, "Captain?"

She releases a breath, brown eyes closing momentarily before opening again to meet mine, "This is a…different assignment."

My eyebrow goes up of its own accord, "Different?"

Captain Roberts finally releases the file, allowing me to take it. I'm surprised by the weight of it in my hands. I open it and look at the mug shot clipped to the top left corner. It's a girl, maybe fifteen years old. Her eyes are black, unforgiving. They reminded me of a nocturnal creature, nowhere to be seen when it's light out but alert and observant at night. There is an unhealthy pallor to her skin and the lighting in the photograph doesn't make it look any better. Her hair is a mess of brown curls and I can tell just from looking at it that it had not been brushed. This girl looked like death.

"She's being released today," Captain Robert's voice jolts me from my scrutiny of the picture, "From Chula Vista Juvenile Detention Facility."

I shake my head a bit, "I…she's my new assignment?" I ask in disbelief. I'm used to robbers, drug dealers…but a teenager?

"I know this isn't what you typically have, but I feel you're my best bet for this particular situation."

I begin to flip through the file and suddenly it dawns on me why Roberts assigned me this girl. She's in foster care, just like my babies were. I skim through each report quickly, and can't help but notice that the reason for her removal from each home has to do with something she did.

"Christ…" I mutter as I read through the complaints from her various foster parents. Disrespectful. Violent. Thief. Liar. I look up at my boss, "What did she do to land in juvie?"

"Took a baseball bat to her foster father's car." Roberts replied bluntly.

My eyebrows nearly shot off my forehead, "Why? Why did she do that?"

Robins reaches a hand out for the file and I gave it to her. She flips towards the back and reads it for a moment before nodding to herself, "Yes. It says in this report that she was angry about not getting something and took it out on her foster father's car. Angry she didn't get something? I don't know this girl, but something about this report sounds off.

"This girl sounds like a handful," I murmured to myself.

"She is," the Captain agreed, "But she just needs to be guided in the right direction." Roberts handed me the file once again and I took it, tucking it securely under my arm as I stood up. I was almost at the door when her voice stopped me.

"Stef? I wouldn't give you an assignment if I didn't think you could handle it." I nodded my head in acknowledgment before exiting the office. I crossed the bustling bullpen to get to my desk and plopped into my chair. I put the thick file in front of me: I had a lot to learn about this girl before I met her. All of my assignments are difficult, and this girl is no exception. I realized I didn't even know my new parolee's name. I turned back to her mug shot, that haunting photo, and read the name on the slate she held up.

Callie Jacob.

New story! Whoo hoo! Do you guys like the idea? I really wanted to do a piece where I focused on Callie and Stef's relationship because I find it amazing. The next chapter will be Callie's POV.

I will be posting an epilogue for "A Death in the Family" later on this week.

What do you guys think of this story so far? Is it good? Please review!

-Liv