For all the Nicole DaSilva Lovers out there I hope you like the Characterception going on here and messing with poor Bridget's head! Keep up the reviews and let me know what you think or what you'd like to see more or less of. Also, sorry for all the past typos I missed I believe they are fixed now! REVIEW!

I pulled into the parking lot at the current Federal corrections facility I worked at in down town Melbourne. Before taking the big breath I needed to push myself out the door I took a big gulp of my green tea. She was strong in my nostrils and on my tongue. Just as she intended, the smell and taste of hand-rolled fags and mint toothpaste hung on my mouth hitting me before the taste of tea did. I had never smoked a day in my life but I ached to taste it off her cracked lips... I felt a smile spread across my chest as I plodded toward the building.

Everyone greeted me pleasantly and exchanged morning conversation as I took my seat in my office. I was still fairly new before I left for leave but I had settled in quickly. Still, I could feel my co-workers were curious and wanted to ask about how I was and perhaps why I had been off. For obvious reasons I couldn't inform them that I had taken home my ex-patient turned lover from parole and brought her home with me. Hell, that sounded crazy even to me... maybe it was. Honestly Franky was often terrifying even to me. I loved her, I knew that. Yet, it didn't stop me from fearing the things I knew she was capable of if we didn't get her on a healthy track over the coming months.

"Hello Stella. it's lovely to meet you." I chimed to my new intake. She looked familiar but I couldn't quite place it. I looked to the clock. it was 9:13am...

Stella eyed me from her chair. She sat stiff with a very composed feel about her. A quick glance at her file and I understood why. An ex-tactical response officer pulled in for drug affiliation and un-necessary brute force.

Stella was stunning. Her long light brown hair hung nearly half way down her back and her piercing green eyes reminded me so much of Franky it was eerie. I found her endlessly distracting. Suddenly I found myself wondering if Franky had a sister because she truly could have passed for her. It saddened me to realize I knew so little about her that I couldn't even answer that question.

" It's like I don't even know her..."

"Wha, was that?" Stella question eyebrows crinkled with her forehead. I hadn't even realized I'd been speaking aloud.

"Sorry. Nothing. So how are you settling in Stella?"

"Yeh. Good, I guess. As good as I can be. How often do we have to do this uh?" She seemed irritated but calm and composed. I lifted my eyebrow in response. If 20 years in corrections had taught me anything it was that the women who thought they didn't need help were typically the ones who needed it most and being that she was an officer who'd certainly never be returning to her line of work I figured her mental health may be a bit fragile. I smiled and leaned toward her.

" After today you don't have to do these sessions at all but it will look good when your parole comes up and I truly think you'll benefit from it." She flexed her upper face slightly with intrigue and nodded submissively.

"Okay." She said "I'll bite, good luck to you though... Years of policing has made me a bit hard to read and un-pack I'm told." She seemed cocky and sure of herself and that presence was so haunting my mind once again raced with thoughts of Franky. Was she being productive, destructive, numb, all of the above? I longed so much to know.

"You know, you seem to be somewhere else Ms. Westfall ." Stella said blatantly as she looked me up and down. I was taken with her thick Sydney accent and how close she sounded to... Come on Bridget get out of your arse this is Stella ex-cop...

"Sorry Stella I'm here, I promise you. I'm just back after a long leave so my head is a million places I apologize. I'm looking forward to getting to know you if you'll have it." I was sincere. I truly did find her sweet and I wanted to know her story.

"So am I yer first crooked cop?" She said laughing nervously and chewing her lip. Am I seeing things? I nodded as our session came to an end and she excused herself from my office looking cheeky and content with herself. I found myself twirling my pen between my fingers as I finished my now ice cold tea.

The hours seemed to drag on and I watched the clock frequently through my next two intake appointments. Lunch rolled around and as I picked over my sandwich I hoped Franky had prepared herself something decent to eat. Her appetite hadn't been great since getting out, but to be honest I had nothing to compare it to...

I got busy filing paperwork when I received a call from Wentworth Prison to remind me about Franky's weekly parole meeting. I wrote down all the details and fiddled with the paper clips on my desk. It was now 3:17pm. 43 minutes left. You can get through this.

4pm finally lit up on my computer screen and I bolted for the door knocking two file folders off my desk in the process and setting me back another 3 minutes to clean up...

I nervously started up my car and headed for home, uncertain what exactly to expect when I got there...