Coping

Chapter 2: Familiar Face

"Spoken" Thought/Flashback/Dream Writing

"Mom, why aren't you married?" The curious little girl asked.

Suddenly my spot on the couch wasn't so comfy anymore. I lost count how many times Hailey had asked me this question. "Because, I have yet to meet the man of my dreams." I said flatly, as I averted my eyes from the book I've been reading and glanced over to her.

I knew where she was going with this. I could read this kid like the back of my hand. "Tell me about daddy?" She asked.

And so began the game of twenty questions. I let out an aggravated sigh and snapped my book shut. "Tell me what he was like. Was he funny, smart and handsome? I bet he was wasn't he? I think that's where I get my good looks from huh?"

I stared at this child dumbfounded. This kid thought she inherited her good looks from her father? I couldn't contain the laughter that escaped my lips. I gave her a light swat from my book and stood up from the couch and made my way into the kitchen to begin dinner, but stopped briefly to give her another glance.

"Hailey, we've gone through this hundreds of times before sweetheart. Now is just not a good time." I said.

"That's always your answer mom. Please, just a little. I promise I won't ask again, I swear." She pleaded.

That was a lie. Every time I would tell her a little something about him she would beg for more or would bring the topic back up just like she did today.

"Alright, fine Hailey." I said agitated and sat back down on the couch. Her face lit up as she made herself comfortable waiting for me to begin.

"I'm waiting." She sang out.

I couldn't help my childish behavior, so I stuck my tongue out at her. "Your dad was something else. He had a way with words that's for sure. Yes, he was funny and would love to crack jokes all the time. He definitely knew how to put a smile on my face. He was handsome, very handsome. And just for the record, you did not get your looks from him, that's all me kid. As for his intelligence...we'll just leave it at that." I giggled and stood back up from the couch making my way back into the kitchen.

She quickly jumped off the couch and grabbed my hand. "That's it!" She cried, pursing her lips.

"Yep, that's it baby girl." I laughed.

~PSYCH~

My eyes snapped open at the sound of my alarm going off. I reached over to the night stand slammed the alarm off. I sat up and threw the covers off me. Those dreams keep occurring more often. I stretched and got out of bed made my way to the bathroom to get ready for my job interview at the S.B.P.D.

After I finished getting ready, I made my way downstairs and started breakfast. I made Hailey's favorite; Pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon. I sat down at the table and stared at the plate for what it seemed like an eternity.

Sighing, I pushed it away from me. I was disgusted, I hated breakfast now, I honestly didn't know why I kept making it, but I've kept doing it every day since Hailey passed away. The psychologist said it was a way for me to cope with the loss of Hailey, but what did I know.

Since Hailey's murder I was ordered to see a therapist if I was to continue working. And when that didn't work out, I would transfer to another department. It was all the same, everywhere I worked, they would tell me the same thing over and over. I was honestly tired of dealing with shrinks. There was nothing to talk about. I just wanted to be left alone so I could handle the problem on my own.

I stood up from the table and threw the cold food in the trash and placed the plate in the sink and made my way to the interview before I was late.

When I finally reached the police department I parked my car outside the building and turned off the ignition. I took a deep breath before getting out of the car and made my way into the large building. Upon my way up the steps I was greeted by an overly tall and cheerful officer.

"Excuse me ma'am can I help you?"

Glancing at his name plate, I gave him the best smile I could muster and introduced myself. "Yes, Officer McNab, my name is Cassidy Reed. I have an appointment with Chief Vick this morning."

"Ah, yes ma'am, she told me you were coming in today." He said smiling down at me. "Follow me."

I cringed at his overly positive attitude and followed behind him. How he could be so cheerful was beyond me, but it made me wonder if I was that happy before Hailey died. We came to a stop and he knocked swiftly a couple time before opening the door.

"Chief, Miss Reed is here for her appointment."

"Thank you McNab, send her in." She said

He opened the door and gestured me to enter before shutting the door softly behind me. "It's a pleasure to meet you face to face Miss Reed. Welcome to the S.B.P.D, I hope you found everything alright?" She asked as she made her way around her desk and extended her hand, which I shook gratefully.

"Likewise, and yes ma'am I did find everything alright." I replied.

"Good, now that we have that settled, take a seat. We have lots to discuss."

~PSYCH~

"I've looked over your resume Miss Reed. And from what I've read I'm quiet shocked that someone with your expertise, you would apply here." She said as she looked from the file on her desk.

"I'm just looking for a change ma'am, a fresh start." I said.

That wasn't a lie. I was ready for a change a do over as I called it.

"That's understandable, I suppose." She said. "It also states you excel in marksmanship, is that correct?"

"Yes ma'am. That's my specialty." That wasn't a lie either. I did excel in sharp shooting and I was highly recommended for jobs that needed a sharp shooter on the spot. When I was little my dad who was a marksman in the military would place a rifle in my hand every chance he got when he came home. There was no such thing as playing dolls or having tea parties when he was home, but I was surprisingly good at it, too good.

"Well I'm sad to say I don't have any openings for sharp shooters, but I do have an opening for a Detective. Who knows I might need a Detective one day that excels in sniping." She smirked. "Are you up for the job?"

I guess all those years for working at the DEA paid off, I wasn't going to be running traffic or issuing out speeding citations, I was going to be helping people like me. This was my chance, I couldn't turn it down. I would be an idiot if I did.

"I'll take it." I smiled.

"However, there is a catch to this position."

And the smile was gone in an instant, so much for a little happiness. "What's the catch?" I asked out of curiosity.

"This position is going to require you to babysit a certain psychic detective and his assistant." She said. "Your job is to escort them around on the cases I've assigned them to and to keep them out of trouble. They are to follow your orders at all times."

"Babysit? A psychic?" I said in disbelief. This had to be some cruel joke. There was no way she was serious.

"Miss Reed, I know it sounds crazy, but believe me when I say I'm serious." She said. "Mr. Spencer has a way of getting himself into dangerous situations. He also has a tendency to drag Mr. Guster down along with him. Please keep in mind, they do mean well. They have solved many cases for this department."

I did say I wanted a change, and I got it.

"I understand. I'll take the job."

What the hell did I just get myself into, a psychic really?

"Excellent. Welcome to the S.B.P.D Detective Reed, when can you start?"

"Just say the date." I retorted.

A smirk formed on her face, I guess she like the answer. "How about now?" She asked.

I nodded. "Good, now there is one more thing I wanted to discuss before I introduced you to the other Detective's and your charges."

This couldn't be good, all my interviews ended like this. "Let me take a wild guess, the incident that occurred two years ago?" I asked. Her expression said it all. I hit the nail right on the head. "Don't take this the wrong way Chief, but it's something I'm not willing to discuss, not ever. Can we please just leave it at that and not let word of this spread around the station?"

She sadly nodded in agreement and made her way around her desk and stood in front of me "If you ever want to talk about it, don't hesitate alright." I nodded and she walked over to her office door, gesturing two others to come in. "Detective Reed, this is Head Detective Carlton Lassiter and his junior counterpart Detective Juliet O'Hara"

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." I said shaking each of their hands.

"Finally, I think it's nice to have another woman to work with around here." O'Hara said with a smile

I giggled a little and had to agree with her, I think in all my times I've worked in law enforcement most of the people I worked with were all males. The chief cleared her throat and looked at Detective Lassiter "Detective Lassiter, did you get a hold of Mr. Spencer and Mr. Guster?"

"Yes Chief, the two nitwits are on their way."

Ah, he's going to be an interesting one to work along with.

"So what did you before you transferred here to Santa Barbara?"Lassiter asked with curious filled eyes.

"I worked with the DEA back in Santa Clara for almost six years. Then I ended up transferring to Santa Maria working for SWAT and viola here I am."

Just as Lassiter was about to say something the door suddenly busted open.

Oh, no. Not you!

It's as if all the air in my lungs was sucked out. I could tell he had the same expression on his face when he saw me. I knew that man, I knew him all too well.

Shawn?