Chapter 14

… Future's so Bright …

The officer's routine of wasting their days sleeping through their classes and then working for Lawrence at night continued. However today, unlike previous days there was a nervous tension shared by the officers. As today was the day they had planned to arrest Lawrence and all his known associates. The officers were also going to be busted with him, to make sure their cover was maintained and that the ex-cop had no reason to get suspicious.

Fuller, Ioki, Judy and two other uniformed officers came to arrest the two undercover officers as well as Mathew and Lawrence. The bust went down as planned which allowed the officers feel more relaxed and fall into their normal routine, finally getting to have a little fun.

"Get your hands off me," yelled Doug feigning offense at Ioki who had run his hands down Penhall's jeans in search of a concealed weapon.

"Or we'll have to report you for sexual harassment," Hanson continued, cocky grins covered across both the men's faces.

"I mean I know we're irresistible but have some self-control for Christ sakes," Doug said continuing to re-enact a scene they had been at the receiving end of a thousand times before.

"Give 'em a break Doug, I mean I feel bad for them. They bust their asses all day, arresting scum like us!" he mocked.

"I suppose you're right, they're just poor, pathetic public servants. Were as we are business men, were going somewhere, we've got a bright future. And dad always said to us you can tell a great man by how he treats those inferior to him, isn't that right Tommy,"

"Mhm he did," Tom confirmed chewing his gum obnoxiously.

"Speaking of our bright future, you know I was planning to buy a Beamer next week?"

"Mmm, a Beamer? Really doug, I thought we decided you were going to go with the… "

"The only thing you boys are going to be paying off is your bail," Adam Fuller interrupted sternly as he roughly shoved Tom towards the door of the apartment.

Hanson played off his captain, laying it on thick, "That's a real shame, because I would have liked to pick you up in it some time," he said eyeing Judy over his shoulder, "You really are a fine piece of ass," he said internally cringing, the words sounded like nothing he would ever say. Judy tightened the cuffs around his wrists. He was sure she did it as roughly as she could. He probably deserved it, he thought. Judy had to admit she did enjoy Hanson's flattery even if it was just an act but wanted to show him it wasn't okay to talk about her or any woman in that way. Even though she was sure he knew that already.

It seemed their little show was serving its purpose, their fellow officers were highly irritated by their antics and Lawrence was thoroughly entertained. As he laughed Fuller walked over to him. "Who do we have here? My,my have you fallen," he said taking the reins, allowing the undercover officers to finally relax and watch their partners butter up their suspect.

"Who is it Captain?" Ioki volunteered.

"Ex-police Captain Lawrence," he answered putting emphasis on each word, expression still emotionless.

"You can't just arrest me for no reason Adam," The cuffed man said uncaringly.

"I but I do have a reason, you see we have been getting complaints about suspicious behaviour occurring around this apartment and so we wanted to investigate. This is such a nice neighbourhood after all,"

"The best," Lawrence answered mimicking Fullers sarcasm.

"You know people don't look kindly on a policemen turned criminal," Hanson looked over without meaning to. He knew exactly what Fuller was talking about; he had experienced the full force of people's disgust firsthand. He was sure his captain didn't mean anything by it, but still it stung his still not fully healed wounds.

"And Trent," the use of his first name seemed to effect the usually fearless man. "You're going to need all the kindness you can get, so I'd be cooperative if I were you,".

With that the four handcuffed men were lead to the police cars out front and taken downtown. They were all put into separate cells and then interrogated one by one. Tom and Doug however were released and headed back to the chapel to catch up on some paperwork. As with the pair working both nights and days, they had let their paperwork get the better of them. A few hours later Judy and Ioki walked in on Hanson studiously working and Doug fast asleep with his head tilted over his chair, mouth inelegantly open.

"Where's Fuller?" Hanson called out.

"He just finishing up with the last guy, I'm not sure how he went, but he didn't seem to be too happy after his talk with Lawrence, hopefully he had better luck with the others," Judy returned.

"Hopefully," Tom said hoping it hadn't all been for nothing. That Mathew hadn't been arrested for nothing.

"No no…I don't want, I don't want any broccoli," came the pleading voice of Doug Penhall. Judy and Tom looked at each other and laughed.

"But they will help you grow up to be big and strong Doug!" Judy spoke patronisingly.

"No it tastes so bad…" he said still obviously dreaming.

Ioki jumped in to save him from his nightmare, "Doug wake up man, before these guys draw something horrible on your face," he said plainly, throwing some trash at him which seemed to do the trick. It was obvious he wanted the others to stop mucking around.

"We would never, how old do you think we are?" Judy said offended.

"Speak for yourself, I'm still in high school you know," Hanson interrupted. Jude and Ioki rolled their eyes but Hanson ignored them. He instead went back to assaulting Doug who was currently wiping the drool of his chin, looking very confused.

"What were you dreaming about man, seemed like you were having some sort of nightmare," he asked trying his best not to laugh.

"Oh it was terrible Tom, there were these two women, they were so beautiful. One was a six foot blond and the other a gymnast and they both wanted me, but I could only have one, it was dreadful! I couldn't decide." he said acting distraught. Judy and Tom watched on amused. When he had finished Judy threw some rubbish at him.

"You're so full of it, you know that Penhall!" She taunted.

"It's the truth, happened in real life once too! And what's with people throwing things at me today?" he said trying to sooth his ego.

"Give it up Doug, you were sleep talking, you were frightened by a vegetable," Tom took over unable to wipe the smirk off his face. He was thoroughly enjoying winding Penhall up, it was nice to have some normality to his day.

"Why'd you ask me what I was dreaming about then if you already knew?" he growled his anger fuelled by his embarrassment. Hanson just shrugged in reply, still laughing.

"Because he knew you'd make up some shit like that," Judy supplied for him.

"Yeah, sounds like you need to get yourself a lady Doug," Tom continued to tease.

"What a great idea Tommy we can go out together, tonight!" he said decisively.

Tom was completely surprised by the direction and speed the conversation had embraced, "No,"

"Why not, don't be so quick to reply. It will be great! You, me, being each other's wingmen, "

"You need to take of your rose coloured glasses Doug, because us going out together never works out well!"

"Come on! You need someone to cheer you up, Mr grumpy pants. I know why you've been coming over my place all lonely at night. And besides this time will be different," he pleaded.

"Yeah it will be…"

"So you'll come" he interrupted excitedly.

"No, it will be different because I'm not going," Tom said finality in his voice. "Were not those same people anymore, we've talked about this. I'm not that naive kid who you first tried to corrupt," Doug looked at his partner he was right. Ignoring all the things he had found out about his partner in the last few days, even looking at him, his messy hair leather jacket and combat boots, he could see he was different. He was ready to corrupt some new young cop.

"And you're not some macho guy looking for a one night stand, you've got Clavo now. When we first met you told me you went on your first date at age 12 but I know now that's not true. And that's ok because you don't have to put on that front with me. We've seen each other's best and worst. And that is why I am asking you to please support me however I want to deal with this," Hanson now sounded drained. It had become obvious to Judy and Ioki, who were secretly listening, that the men were brushing over some issues that they had discussed privately at another time.

Judy watched on, removed from the conversation. She was surprised to feel herself be so relieved to hear Tom refuse. Why though? She had told herself for so long to get over it, that is wasn't going to happen. But still she was falling for him. She knew that she had memorised all the things she loved about him. Things like the way he cared so much about the job, his dry, almost absent sense of humour and the way he kept his desk so immaculate. To things as small as the way he held his pencil, the look on his face when he was confused and how he always appeared as if he had just gotten out of bed. Judy knew it was wrong and selfish of her to not want anyone else to notice those things about him. She didn't want him be with anyone else, even though she wasn't sure she would ever get up the courage to ask him out herself. Judy saw Hanson meet her eyes, she hadn't even realised she had been looking at him.

Then a laugh was heard from Ioki. Hanson, broke his gaze with Judy to look at him. He thought it best anyway. He was kidding himself if he thought he had a chance, she was probably just day dreaming, there was no way any women would really look at him in that way. Jenko told him what felt like a lifetime ago that she was out of his league and Tom knew he was right. He was just a scrawny, working class white boy with mental issues, so he had told himself to just admire from a distance. He didn't want to risk ruining or tainting her with his crazy. She deserved better so he just stayed away. At times he wishes he was selfish enough to just give it a try. After a moment of indulgence in his own thoughts he returned to the present. "What's up Iokage?"

"Seriously Hanson?" Ioki interrupted bitterly. Tom and Doug look over suddenly irritated as they realised their conversation had been overheard, "You are such a fucking drama queen" he continued scornfully. Tom looked unable to speak, shocked by Ioki's sudden outburst.

" 'Support me however I want to deal with this,' give me a break,"

"I'm sorry but I thought me and Doug were having a private conversation over here,"

"Come on, you act all moody and tough but you are secretly just dying for people to ask you if you are ok, you love the attention,"

"You're kidding me right, that's the last thing I want,"

"Bullshit, you couldn't stand that people had finally got over the fact that you went to jail and so now you're putting on some sort of mental breakdown!"

"Like you can talk Ioki," he shot back feeling disarmed.

"In case you were too caught up in yourself to notice I did almost die, I think I have a better reason to not be ok than you,"

"You don't know the half of what I'm dealing with. And besides you were asleep the whole fucking time, I had to live through my torture,"

"You know I didn't ask you jump right into that case after me," Tom suddenly realised what this was all about and he was immediately more enraged. His anger was clouding his thoughts. He felt adrenaline pumping through his body as if he were on a case and he was about to start his assault on a criminal. Tom had realised that Ioki wasn't just pissed at his recent mood swings, he was pissed that Hanson had gone in after he had failed and tried to play the 'hero', he was probably glad it ended so badly for Tom, he thought bitterly.

Adam Fuller interrupted his rage filled thoughts as he came barging into the chapel. He looked on in disdain, 'why do they insist on acting like such teenagers' he thought frustrated at the latest drama unfolding before him 'I'm too old for this shit'. "Penhall, Hanson, office now." The men got up from their respective desks and followed Fuller into his office. Both of them shooting Ioki a look that could maim.

"What you get coach," Tom said trying to return his focus to their case.

"Not much I'm afraid, Lawrence is too smart, he didn't say a thing. And well Mathew only knows as much as you two. As for the dealer you guys met with, Henry. Well he's been kept pretty in the dark also but he did let slip about a rumour that the boss had been recently murdered by whoever was under him. Would that information make any sense to you two?"

"Actually come to think of it, it was rather strange that whenever we tried to bring it up the Lawrence he always managed to change the topic in a hurry," Doug said still deep in thought.

"Well maybe that's because he is the boss now?" Fuller suggested.

"You could be right, I'm thinking we should confront our new friend about that don't you Tommy?" he said excited to finally have a lead.

"What? Uh yep?" he said as if he wasn't really paying attention.

"Alright, why don't you two go home and get some much needed rest, Lawrence won't be released till morning anyway," he looked at the pair, Doug's eyes were now glued to Hanson worriedly while Tom just looked at the floor. They both looked tired, so the usually tough captain decided to display his soft side.

"Thanks coach." Hanson said as they headed for the door.