Author's Note: Another chapter up early, go me aha. If anyone has any suggestions for this story(I do have a general plot line laid out, but not all of it is written) I'd love to hear them - or for this chapter. I feel like something is missing and can't figure out what, if anyone can pinpoint what it may be?

Disclaimer: I do not own T.J. Hooker or any of the characters. I do own Jessica Ethan and Ginger.

"What's the update on the families of the missing people?" Hooker adjusted the collar of his tan jacket as Jessica, with Ginger following close behind, caught up with him.

"Two of them had mysterious phone calls. One was - well, here, read for yourself." Jessica handed Hooker a sheet of paper with writing that he recognized as hers. "The other two haven't gotten any calls, notes, or anything suspicious."

Hooker slowed to a stop to the side of the hall, out of the traffic of other officers darting to and fro, to read the paper. "Heavy, rough breathing for about thirty seconds before the line went dead. The caller was repeatedly asked who they were and why they were calling, but never responded. No background noise. Other family first had no noise - speaking, breathing, background noise, or otherwise for about ten seconds before the other person hung up. Second time, someone called and whispered something into the phone. The word was repeated three times - it sounded like 'the mare' or 'beware,' and the person hung up when they were questioned on who they were. The voice didn't sound like anyone the family knew," he read out loud. He was about to comment when a squeak was heard behind them, and the two turned around.

"Here's the information you asked for, Jessica," Lieutenant O'Brien said as he took his cigar out of his mouth, holding a folded slip of paper out to Jessica. The dark shadows of writing were visible, despite the folding that looked as if it was done to hide what the paper held.

"Awesome, thanks!" Jessica's expression brightened up considerably as she accepted the paper.

"What's that?" Hooker squinted at her, but she shook her head.

"Nothing," Jessica answered, just a little too quickly.

"Okay then..." Hooker tried to fish a hint from her expression, but she kept it neutral. They maintained eye contact for several seconds, Hooker trying to pick up hints at what Jessica was hiding and Jessica trying to keep it hidden, before Hooker gave up, shook his head, broke away and walked towards the door. "See you tomorrow," he called over his shoulder, and Jessica nodded, walking in the other direction.

Hooker gave a sidelong glance to the other room as he stepped away. Jessica was leaning over the phone, her back to him so he couldn't read her lips, and he couldn't help but wonder what she was doing. On his way to the door, he passed Romano, who was looking over his shoulder as if making sure he was not being followed.

"I'll wait for you at my car," Hooker said, leaning over towards Romano to make sure the younger officer heard him. The younger of the two looked slightly startled as he turned around, but nodded in acknowledgement when he saw the speaker.

After Hooker had walked away, Jessica wandered off to make a phone call. She unfolded the paper the lieutenant had given her and dialed the number, each button producing a noise that she could only think to describe as a sticky clicking as she pressed it. A muffled voice came over the earpiece. "Is this James Romano? This is Officer Jessica Ethan, from LCPD. I work with your son, Vince Romano. Yes, hi. Well uh, I had a question for you... it's important."

~Meanwhile, in the parking lot...~

Ten minutes after walking out of the door, Hooker was still seaching the grounds of the academy precinct and watching the door like a hawk, waiting for Romano. "Where is-"

"Because," said a familiar voice suddenly, "we live closer to each other than you and I do, and we've always carpooled to and from the precinct!"

Frustration was never a tone Hooker wanted to hear in that voice. It had led to many arguments between the owner of the voice and himself. Fortunately, he thought, he had technically won one argument that counted, and his former partner no longer had that earring. Gold pin - excuse his mistake. The memory brought a smile to his lips. A different and somewhat unwelcome voice interrupted the flashback and made the smile fade.

"C'mon, kid," said the second voice, "he's not your partner anymore! Anyways, I have to go in that direction today anyways."

"And what, you'll say that tomorrow too! And the next day, and every day after that! The answer is no!"

The two officers came into view. Romano looked like he was about to bite someone's head off, and Marten was trailing behind, occasionally speeding up to speak, oblivious to his younger partner's irritation. The two had just reached the curb when Romano turned around to face Marten. Hooker recognized the expression that told him Romano was going to lash out at Marten, and stepped to the front of his car to stop it.

"What's going on?"

Romano jumped and turned around, but looked relieved when he saw who it was. Marten was significantly less pleased, and narrowed his eyes at Hooker. "None of your concern," he bit out.

Romano took the moment of Marten being distracted to jump off the curb, step to the passenger side door, and grip the handle like his life depended on it. And perhaps it did, Hooker thought, but Marten's life probably depended on it more.

"If you'll excuse us, we have to go now," Hooker said tersely. Marten glared at Hooker, turned on his heel, and walked off, head tilted up as if he thought himself to be above such nonsense, which amused Hooker. The sergeant began to step back to the driver's side door when he heard another commotion from behind him.

"Leave. Me. Alone."

"You sure you don't want to go out for dinner?"

"Positive!"

Hooker and Romano turned to see Jessica trying to get into her car, a simple white car that happened to be the same model as Hooker's(although in significantly better shape). Michael Henderson was blocking her door, however, and giving her a sweet smile. Hooker shook his head and started to step up on the sidewalk, but Romano had come around the car and tapped Hooker's shoulder. A quick glance around reassured him that Marten had stormed off and would not hear.

"You handled my partner, I'll take care of this," Romano offered.

Hooker looked at Romano for a moment, studying the younger officer's now-calm expression. Despite wanting to ask Jessica about the note the lieutenant had given her and the call he had seen her making out of the corner of his eye before walking out, he nodded. "Okay."

Romano stepped past Hooker onto the sidewalk and towards Jessica's car. He stepped down to the blacktop and leaned on the top of the car opposite to the two arguing officers. "Henderson, what are you doing?" Romano spoke quickly, and his voice held a no-nonsense tone.

"I'm-" Henderson paused, mouth ajar, searching for a way to phrase what he wanted to say to keep from sounding ridiculous. "Just talking to Jessica."

"As you keep her from getting to her car and continually pester her for a date," Romano concluded. "Don't you have better things to do?"

Henderson paused, searching for an answer. When none came, he dropped his head and stalked off. Jessica looked at Romano as if he was her knight in shining armor.

"Thank you," she breathed, and Romano nodded and smiled.

"See you tomorrow," he called to Jessica as she got into her car, and she smiled, calling the same back to him.

Romano returned to Hooker's blue car, opening the door and ducking to sit down in the passenger seat. Hooker glanced over at him. There was a brief pause, and both of them started talking at once.

"Thanks for handling-" they said in unison. "Marten," Romano finished, and Hooker ended his sentence as "Henderson." Another brief pause rang in the air and they both started chuckling.

"Ready to go?" Hooker asked, an amused smile plastered on his face.

"Yeah," Romano said, the smile back in his voice.

The car rumbled to life as Hooker turned the key.