Chapter One - A Fresh Start

By AnnieLouise2011

Dressed head to toe in clothes that made a professional statement, Jo Sullivan stood outside her new workplace. The building was taller the most, with large glass windows on every floor. It was modern, yet with a classical twist of traditional brickwork. It was daunting, to say the least. It seemed as though the building was glowering over her. Jo was not one to accept change easily, but this was something she needed to do. It was a change she was forced to make.

Plucking up the courage, she took the concrete steps one at a time till she reached the large glass doors. People hurried in and out, barely missing her as she took her time to take everything in. Grey tiles coated the walls, light reflecting off them to create the airy atmosphere though most people would see it as a less pleasant place to be. "Excuse me?" Jo asked the receptionist, "Do you know where I could find Dr Hammerback?"

"What's your name?" The raven haired receptionist turned to her computer, ready to type. Her name tag, though it was mostly covered by her sleek glossy hair read 'Sally Jenkins'. A name that rolled off the tongue easily.

"Josie Sullivan. I'm the new Medical examiner. I'm due to meet Dr Hammerback in about ten minutes." Jo watched as those details were typed into the computer at an exceedingly fast rate. The receptionist seemed over-caffeinated. The light energy drink beside the keyboard was Jo's first indication, as well as a half empty pot of coffee stored away beside a shelving unit full of various folders. "He should be expecting me…"

The receptionist looked up briefly, blinked and then returned her eyes to the screen. "Miss Sullivan, if you take a seat on the blue chairs Detective Hawkes will be here in a few moments to show you around. Dr Hammerback was called to testify in court today and was unable to keep his appointment with you."

Jo nodded and said a quiet 'Thank you' to Miss Jenkins before taking a seat on blue cushioned seats which were lined along one wall.

Watching as people rushed past, dropping things off on Sally's desk and rushing past towards the elevators, using their pass cards to operate them, Jo began to feel at home. Jo was a little wary that people would undermine her ability. Only being a qualified Medical Examiner for less than three months, she hated putting up with the stereotypical view that she was not capable to do the job she trained for. It annoyed her even more when people joked about how she wouldn't be able to handle an autopsy.

Thankfully, her previous job was working as an Accident and Emergency Doctor. She'd seen the worst injuries, including bullet wounds, broken limbs, collapsed lungs and various other serious damages. This had prepared her for the move in careers. Jo could admit she had a short temper when it came to dealing with uncooperative people, which was useless when working with patients that were too involved in focusing on pain than helping to answer questions that needed to be asked.

"Josie Sullivan?"

Jo looked up. A dark handsome man was staring at her, a beaming smile on his face and big exotic brown eyes that made her feel welcome. "Eh, yeah. You must be Detective Hawkes?"

"Please, just call me Sheldon. I'm sorry Sid Hammerback was unable to come and show you around. He was looking forward to meeting you." Sheldon led Jo across to the elevator, pressing the button that indicated the basement. "You will be working more closely with him than me, but I will see you around from time to time. I work in the crime lab upstairs."

Letting his words sink in for a a few brief moments, Josie asked, "Not to sound rude, if you work in the crime lab why where you sent to show me around?"

Sheldon chuckled, "I used to be one of the medical examiners myself. So I know my way round better than most." As the elevator doors opened, Jo was greeted by the strong smell of disinfectant. It was overpowering to most people, but she was used to working in this type of environment. It was colder than the reception area. Everything was kept cool to keep the evidence and corpses intact for working cases. "Sid has told me a lot about you. The fact that you've been a doctor impressed him the most. What made you want switch the glamorous A&E position to work alongside forensics?"

"I was never really good at the whole bedside manners thing. I get frustrated easily with people. It's one of my faults."

Sheldon smiled that amazing grin and began to point out key areas in which she would be working. Detective Hawkes also pointed out were key tools and equipment was kept as well as the office in which she could fill in the paperwork which was compulsory to file with every case. He showed her some of the corpses from working cases which had been washed an analysed, pointing out what he thought were the cause of death even if he wasn't working on that particular case. Sheldon was making an effort to make her feel welcome, and Jo appreciated it.

Unlocking her apartment door while holding several bags of groceries, knowing her cell phone was ringing in her jacket pocket was frustrating. She barely got in through the door before she threw the bags onto the floor and answered the call. Thankfully, it was only her grandfather on the line and not something important to do with her new job. "Hey Papi!"

"Well, don't keep me waiting. How was your day at your new job?"

Jo smiled, closing the apartment door, having to kick a few of the escaped food tins out of the way, "It was okay. Not as bad as I thought it would be anyway. I didn't get to meet the guy I would be working with but this guy who'd been a medical examiner before showed me round. It's not that much different than Chicago."

"That's great Josie! Your Nan is worrying sick about you. I told her not to worry because we both know your capable of going out there to do your own thing now. And we're both very proud of you." Bret Sullivan replied in a loving tone. "Now, how's that apartment? You got anymore unpacked since we last spoke?"

Jo looked round, biting her lip as she thought up a quick white lie. "It's brilliant. There are only a couple of boxes that need unpacking. Most of the furniture is in now. It's looking nice. It's looking more and more like home."

"Good. I'm glad to hear you're getting settled."

Jo smiled triumphantly, "Give Nan my love, and look after yourselves, okay? I gotta get these groceries put in the fridge before they go off." They both said their loving goodbyes, each promising to call in the near future. Jo couldn't help but smile knowing her grandparents were proud of her for persisting to go out and do her own thing. Knowing her grandfather was holding back his worries, Jo knew she needed to prove that this change was a good one, and not a mistake.

She began to pick up the bags and collect whatever groceries had spilled out to the floor, cursing the flimsy paper bags that she had been given. However, she did feel truly independent for the first time in her life; away from family. Living and working through her own merit. It was a breath of fresh air compared to her life in Chicago.

Jo knew she could make something of her life in the city.

Please tell me what you think. I know I haven't wrote on here for a long time and I would like to know how I'm doing.

Annie x