Ponch went into work, and was feeling cold so he brought his blanket with him not even thinking twice about it. Though with the weird stares he was getting from fellow officers as he walked to the sergeants office a blanket draped over his shoulders he was starting to wonder if maybe it was a bad idea.

"Ya know you could just wear a coat instead," Bear suggested.

Ponch shrugged. "It's not as warm…" he went into the office.

"What are you doing in Sarge's office anyway?"

"Oh, you mean they didn't tell you yet?" Ponch asked raising an eyebrow.

"No…?"

"I'm your sergeant till we find Getraer."

Bear looked up to Heaven "Oh God help us," he prayed quietly.

Ponch rolled his eyes. "I can't possibly be that bad."

"Oh yeah?" Bear started but then thought better of it. Ponch was his sergeant right now, not just another random officer. He had better keep himself in line.

Ponch smiled slightly. "You talk like that about me again and I'll put you at a desk, Baricza," he said only joking slightly.

Bear rolled his eyes. "Yes, Sir…" he said leaving the room. He ran into Grossie on the way out. "Grossie, I think Bates and Burke have gone mad."

"What makes you say that?"

"They put Ponch in charge!"

Grossie looked a bit worried. "Didn't he just get out of the hospital? He's still on pain meds…he might be a little out of it at times," he said. It wasn't Ponch being sergeant bothering him as much as the fact that Ponch was supposed to be home resting.

"I still don't get why they'd let Central's biggest trouble maker be our new boss!"

"Barry I can still hear you, ya know!" Ponch yelled from the office.

"Oh…sorry, Ponch."

Ponch didn't respond he was looking up as much as he could about that van they had seen during the shoot out and Getraer's kidnapping. He vaguely remembered the license plate, and was trying to talk with someone to figure it out. They were e-mailing back and forth.

Ponch was a little nervous using Getraer's work laptop. If he did anything to it Getraer would be upset…so he hoped it would just keep working fine and not cause a problem.

"Guys, briefing is in five minutes!" Ponch called from the office as he was taking a bit of his ding dong.

"Since when did he…" Grossie started. "Hmm maybe him being sergeant isn't so bad he's actually being good for once."

Ponch joined the two in the hallway. "Next time you wanna talk about me do it somewhere away from the office, ok?"

"Yeah, sure thing, Ponch," Bear replied following him to the office.

"Ponch, you're not wearing that blanket all through briefing are you?" Grossie asked.

"oops I forgot about it…" Ponch said. "Can one of you take this to the office?" Ponch asked.

"Yeah…sure," Bear replied.

Grossie and Bear shared a glance. Grossie knew it was just the pain meds and Ponch being nervous that was making him a little out of character, but he hoped he'd get back to himself soon.

Ponch brought Getraer's black binder into the room and set it on the podium. All eyes were on him mostly in shock.

"Ponch, is this some sort of joke?" Jeb asked.

"No…I'm your sergeant till we find Getraer. Jon is in the hospital otherwise he'd be taking over…but I guess I was their next choice," Ponch replied.

Jeb sighed. "Wow."

"Listen, I don't understand why all of you think that making me sergeant is such a bad idea. Sure I make mistakes sometimes, we all do, but does that mean that I'm unqualified for this position? I know what I'm doing, believe me."

The officers were quiet. None knew what to say.

Finally Bonnie spoke up. "I believe you Ponch…you're gonna do great," she said.

Ponch smiled slightly. "Thanks…now let's get on with briefing, alright?"

"Sure thing, Sarge," Jeb said with a smile and a wink.

Ponch rolled his eyes, and couldn't help but laugh slightly the next minute.

oOoOo

Ponch finished briefing and headed straight for the hospital to visit Jon. He was going to talk to him for a bit, then go and start searching for Getraer. He wanted to share his news with him.

He walked in the door, and was led by a nurse to Jon's room. When he got in he felt bad for his partner.

"Hey, partner," he said coming over to the bed.

Jon was half awake he smiled slightly. "H-Hey, Ponch."

"You feeling any better?" Ponch asked hopeful.

"Well when the pain meds are working yeah…" Jon said with a yawn.

Ponch smiled. "Hey, I can't stay long I just thought I'd check up on you. Um…we're still looking for Getraer…and uh…Bates and Burke put me in charge as the sergeant till we find Joe," Ponch said.

Jon almost laughed. "Really? You…so that means everyone can bend the rules and get away with it now, huh?"

Ponch laughed slightly. "Only if it's necessary, Jon."

"Well, Ponch make me proud, ok? It was supposed to be me taking Getraer's place if he's gone…not you taking the place for both of us."

"So you knew I was next in line after you?"

"Kinda…I mean I fought with them over it once. I didn't want to take over for Sarge I thought you were ready for it…and uh…they said maybe next time if I'm not there and they have no choice."

Ponch sighed. "So I guess it wasn't as great as I thought…I'm gonna have to prove to everyone I'm good. I mean not that I'd be taking Getraer's place too much but still ya know what I mean…they underestimate me, Jon."

"They haven't seen what you can do."

Ponch sighed again. "Well anyway I gotta get going."

"Ok, um Ponch."

"Yeah, Jon?"

"Don't get too nervous out there…and uh please be able to tell when enough is enough. Take breaks if you need 'em don't over do it…"

"Yeah, sure Jon," Ponch said then headed for the door.

"Oh and one more thing."

"What's that?"

"Don't do anything stupid."

Ponch laughed and walked out the door not committing himself to that last one.