Finding Her Way. Ch. 2
With her alarm going off at 5:30AM. Darla groaned as she got out of bed. Slowly. Cracking her neck and back on the way out of bed felt amazing. OK, first I need to get coffee, next shower. Perhaps clothes, probably shouldn't be walking into my first day in my sushi roll pjs. Making a point to look down at herself. Well Sgt. Voight did say to not dress formally. Just thinking about his reaction to her pjs, made her shiver. I don't think he would be the one to play jokes on. A passing thought of being sent to the principal's office and a wooden paddle came to mind. Nah, I'm good.
Making her way to her little kitchen, she got her Keurig going. She loved that thing. Just one little cup, a push of a button, perfect sized coffee. While it brewed, she leaned against the cabinets, kind of lost in thought about her parents.
Mom and dad really didn't want her to leave the family ranch, while she understood that they wanted to keep her safe. Darla just really wanted to see the world. She made a compromise though, she agreed that she would make a go of the "real world" in Chicago. Having Trudy here, put a lot of ease on her parents mind. In truth, she needed to leave Arthur County, a small town, everyone knew your business, and she was expected to marry Tyler Locklin. He was a good man, from a good family, but what the town chose to ignore, he was a drunken slob. He was a former football star, and didn't think the word no applied to him. It was about a year ago when at the local honky tonk, Darla was out with some friends, he made the choice to play grab ass on her, she was able to get him off, and get home safely. However the damage was done, the sheriff showed up at her family's door, trying to explain she must have misunderstood his intentions. Blah blah blah. That's what made her decide to leave. Done with such a small town mind, where boy's will be boys. Fucking crap. Rapist is a rapist, it doesn't matter if he can catch a ball.
Coffee finally done, she took a big long sip. Ah, Nirvana. Letting the warm liquid soak down to her soul, it gave her enough energy to head towards the shower. I guess growing up on a farm, you are used to starting your day before the sun even peaks over the horizon.
Turning on the water, she stripped down and waited for the water to get to the right temp. Looking at her nake self in the mirror, Darla examined herself, she didn't fit in the Platt family that's for sure. Most of the Platt's were average of 5'8, she stood 5'4. They all had dark brown hair and light brown to deep brown eyes. Hers, an icy cornflower blue. Finally her hair. Like a toss between golden blonde and light red undertones. She couldn't have looked more different from her adoptive family even if she tried. However, the chest, the Platt woman were blessed with a busty chest, and luckily she wasn't any different. 34C.
Not being vain by nature, but a girl can admire herself from time to time. The water finally got to the perfect temp, and she stepped in. The heat made her moan in pleasure. She started her routine, wetting the hair, shampoo, conditioner. Leaving the conditioner in her hair while she went to shave up her body. First she got her underarms, can't be having bush pits, moving down to her legs, finally her vag area. While she hasn't had sex in almost 3 years, you keep yourself cleaned and prepared. Girl scout motto! Or is it boy scouts? Hmm. Can't remember. Finishing up, she started to rinse the conditioner out, finally complete, stepped out and wrapped her blue fluffy towel.
Heading over to the sink, starting working products into her hair. Don't want to be looking like a wild lion. Mufasa, Mufasa! Getting her hair neatly in place, she put it up in a high ponytail. Still cute, but out of the way. She never understood how women can work with long hair in the way. I mean down while you're out on the town, maybe, but while you're running around most of the day? Why?
Darla was not ashamed of her body, so walked around stark ass naked, heading to her closet, she wanted to look nice, but didn't want to go too casual and wear an Ozzy t-shirt, but also didn't want to get too formal. She had a feeling if she did, the team would torment her relentlessly. Decisions Decisions. Opting for a sundress, it was still warm enough for. It was down to just above her knees, a pastel floral pattern, and just a hint of cleavage. She paired it with her white converse sneakers. Heading back to the bathroom, she gave herself a once over, making sure she looked alright, satisfied with her appearance, she proceeded to brush her teeth and head to the office.
Driving didn't take too long. Actually she was about 20 minutes early. Parking her vehicle where Aunt Trudy told her, she locked her truck, and heading inside.
Trudy noticed that Darla walked in, "Hey kid, early on your first day, trying to impress people?" she teased.
Blushing at the comment, "No auntie, I just didn't know how traffic would be so I left earlier, rather be early than late, ya know?"
"Understandable, well since you're here," reaching under her desk, "Fill out the paperwork so I can get you in our system quickly." Trudy handed her the papers with a pen. Being one to complete tasks, Darla sat down on one of the benches in the main hallway and filled it out. It took about 10 minutes for all the paperwork to be completed.
"Here you go auntie." Darla said, handing her back her papers. "Now that I work upstairs, do I still call you auntie, or would you like me to address you as Sgt. Platt?" It was a fair question. She didn't want to take away what her aunt had built as a reputation.
Trudy looked at Darla, trying to decide exactly what she should say. "You know what, I'm a hard ass to everyone that comes through the district, I'll give you that reprieve, but don't get too mushy on me, OK?" Smiling at her aunt. She nodded "Of course. I'll keep the mushy to a low." Trudy smiled back at her, and pointed to the stairs, "Get you butt upstairs, the team should be rolling in soon enough."
With a quick wave goodbye, Darla waited by the gate until Trudy buzzed her in.
Walking up the stairs she saw how empty the space was. Voight's office was open, no lights on, to her left was a wall of knives. The hell? Once they accept me, I'll be sure to ask about that. Wandering around, she found herself in the "breakroom" looking at the coffee pot, Jesus, don't these people know to clean up? Nasty. Trying to busy herself until Voight got in, she started to wash the pot, and set up to make a fresh batch of coffee. She wasn't sure if this is what she was supposed to be doing, but she needed to do something or she'd just look lost. When the coffee started to drip down, she cleaned up the rest of the breakroom, and threw away a bunch of old coffee stirs.
Heading back out to the main bull pin, she sat down at the desk closet to the stairs. Just when she was about to get up and go further into the Intelligence Unit, she heard the metal gate below signalling that someone was on their way up.
Voight made his way up to his office, he knew that Darla was already upstairs, Trudy told him when he walked into the District. What surprised him was the smell of fresh coffee. Reaching the top, he looked around and saw her looking back at him. "Good morning, Sgt. Voight." she said pleasantly. He looked her over, smiled back, "Morning Darla, did you make coffee?"
Chewing her lip, looking down for a split second, "Yes? Was I not supposed to? I looked up receptionist duties, some offices have them make the first pot of coffee." she stated.
Hank was taken back by her uncertainty. You looked up receptionist duties? Interesting. "No it's fine, just surprising. Did you get all your paperwork done?"
Nodding at him, "Yes, I finished it as soon as I walked into the station. Trudy made sure it was done before she buzzed me up."
Hank realizing that she was ready to start her day, he told her which desk was hers, how he wanted her to answer the phone, and always take a message if it's from these certain people. Nodding her understanding, she sat down at her desk, waiting for her first call.
Eventually the rest of the team trickled in. Everyone greeted her politely, except for Detective Halstead. He just looked her over, and nodded at her. Weird, he was nice yesterday. Oh well. I'm here to pick up phones, not braid hair.
By lunchtime, the team was neck deep into a kidnap murder. Someone was setting people on fire, calling them peodphiles. Darla kept her head down, and tried not to listen to what was going on around her, no offense, but toasty corpses she could do without. She noticed that no one had stopped to eat. Was this normal? How do they keep up their energy? Coffee? Oh no. This won't do. Being raised on a working farm, she understood the importance of eating your fill, or you wouldn't have the energy to take care of the animals, and farm itself.
Calling downstairs she wanted to get her aunts POV. On the subject. "Auntie, does the Intelligence Unit eat while they are out or something?"
Smiling on the inside, Trudy knew this was one of the reasons that Darla would be good for the unit, she had a natural instinct to take care of people. "I'm not sure kid, why, they're not eating and it's bugging you?" Knowing full well it was really bugging her. Huffing her response. "Maybe, a little bit." Trudy laughed at her niece, and told her about her daily budget and what it can be used for ect.
Thanking her aunt, Darla made the appropriate arrangements to get some food sent in. Of course ordering a little extra for her auntie.
Not even 20 minutes later, the food arrived, just in time too, the team just got back from another crispy corpse scene.
Hank and the team were making their way upstairs when they could smell all the food.
Antonio was the first to respond, "Darla, you do this?"
Looking like a kid who got caught taking a cookie, "Uh, yes?"
Hank couldn't help but smile. Walking over to Darla, putting his arm around her, "You did good, thank you. I'm certain that we would have gone hours before we tried to eat something. What'd you order?"
Having his arm around her, kind of made her feel tingly. Well that's a new response! Turning her head slowly towards him, "Some chicken burritos with yellow rice, and the fixin's. Figured it was something everybody could eat. Unless someone is a vegetarian, Oh crap, is someone a vegetarian?" she looked worried that she didn't think of that.
Hank was smiling down at her, "As far as I know, no one here just eats grass. If I found out, I'd have them removed from my unit, can't trust anyone who doesn't eat meat!"
The rest of the team started laughing at that. Half because it was funny, the other half because they knew he probably wasn't joking.
Everyone grabbed their portion, sat and ate around the whiteboard. Or as Darla started to call it, EWWW BOARD. Cause everything up there was ewww. I mean she grew up on a farm, butchered animals, helped them deliver babies. She wasn't the squeamish type, but yea, roasty people. BLECK.
In what seemed like forever, she was distracted by Haliey yelling for Erin to stop. Looking up, she saw Haliey chase Erin down into the interrogation rooms. Something happened, and Hailey was coming out looking frantic. "Detective Upton, are you alright?" she questioned.
She didn't answer, finally Erin came out, calling Sgt. Voight said she got the location of the boy.
Darla was certain, the way Detective Upton was freaking out, Erin did something bad to a suspect.
It was already 7:00pm, when the team came back, looking dejected. The boy didn't make it.
The room was still quiet. Hank looked around, and told everyone to head home. Come back in the morning fresh.
Darla nodded her understanding, and went to the breakroom to clean up before she left. Didn't want to have to come back in the morning to such a mess.
Hank was in his office when he noticed Darla come out of the breakroom. "Darla, my office please" he snapped.
Swallowing hard, she was nervous to think she already pissed him off, but she walked into his office, head held high, and when he motioned for her to sit down. She did.
"I need to ask you some questions about Erin," he gruffed.
"Of course." Taking a deep sigh, "Did you see Erin take her weapon into the interrogation room?"
Shit, is this a shit test, to see if I'll talk? Or if I'll tell him the truth. Shit shit shit. Hank could see the war in her face. Rubbing his hands into his face, "This is not a trick question, I need to know what happened. So I can protect her, understand."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Darla answered. "No, I didn't see Erin bring her weapon back with her, I was on the phone." Looking at her intently, "What did you see?" "Nothing. I didn't see anything, only Erin coming back from the interrogation area and talking to Detective Upton." she stated.
Nodding his approval, he got the impression that she would only answer his exact question, not offering more detail than that. "This might get to IA, I need to know what you are willing to say about this matter." He knew he was pushing for her loyalty, especially so soon, but he needed to make sure she could be trusted.
Darla knew what he was asking for, and this is one of those things that her aunt Trudy explained a long time ago, you don't rat on cops.
"Sgt. I am willing to speak the truth, I was on the phone, I was speaking with a desk Sgt. at district 12, my phone log would attest to that. Anything else, I was not privy to. Sir." Looking him right in the eyes.
Hank was pleased that she understood what he was asking. "Alright Darla, head home for the night, come back same time tomorrow. You did good sweetheart." he was not one for compliments, but he felt she deserved it.
Blushing at him, she smiled and nodded. Heading to her truck, she was going to enjoy sleeping.
Hank watched her leave his office, enjoying the way her dress swung as she walked. She was special, deep down inside he knew she was going to be special to him.