A/N: Thank you for all the encouragement, I really appreciate your comments. Here's another brief installment. My muse is whipping a PLOT, with action even, around in my brain. Hopefully, it will come out soon.
The Train Stop Café was busy, as usual, and Sara grabbed a booth near the back, while Danny stood in line to get the coffee. Sara sat people watching, surprised at the number of business types in the café at 10:30 in the morning. Weren't they supposed to be in an office somewhere?
Two steaming cups appeared on the table and Danny sat down opposite from her.
"Ok, spill it. Vital stats and all that. If you're going to tag along, I've got to know who's guarding my back."
"Have you got a questionnaire for me to fill out, or didn't you even look at my file when it was sent over?"
"Nope on either account, I like the personal touch. So Pez, single, married, or just committed?"
"Single at the moment. Committed to the psych ward years ago." A small laugh escaped.
Oh man, she's got a great laugh, I could be in trouble here.
Sara continued, "Parents are both gone and was in and out of foster care since I was a teenager. Graduated from the Academy two years ago, trained at the 55th in Vice since. I asked to get transferred here to the 11th, and now your stuck with me." Sara gave a small smile that never quite reached her eyes.
"Why'd ya become a cop?" Danny leaned in, wanting to get the scoop on this girl cop. They were still a rare breed; he only had a handful in his class at the Academy and worked with fewer still in his years at the Precinct. And they were even rarer in Homicide.
"Wanted to help people." Sara shrugged her shoulders and looked away from his face.
"Nice try, give me a real answer."
"Dad was a cop, my godfather is a cop, always knew I was going to be a cop."
"Dad retired?"
"No." Sara looked him straight in the eye and didn't blink.
The light bulb went on. "Oh."
"Yeah, he was killed in the line. Look for his picture on the wall at the precinct. What about you? Single, married, committed?"
"Single. Long-term girlfriend. Her name is Leigh. We met in college."
Girlfriend? Yeah, had to have a girlfriend.
"We're not living together; her parents threw up serious objections. Been with the 11th for 5 years. Did three years with Narcotics and two years now in Homicide. Trained with Captain Siri for homicide. He's the best. You'll meet him when we get back. Your dad worked for the 11th? How?" The question died a small death, hanging in the air between them.
"Not sure, the case was never solved." Sara got very quiet and her coffee cup became infinitely interesting.
"Is this going to be a crusade for you? Is this why you asked for the transfer?" Danny was worried. He didn't want to have to deal with a potentially rouge cop.
"No problem here, just want to do my job." That was not a sufficient answer, but that is all she was giving at the moment. "So is having a girl partner going to be problem with you? Cuz I don't need that shit. I'm a good cop and I can keep up with any guy out there." The challenge of her words were like gale force winds coming onshore.
"Whoa, back off girl. I got no problem with girl cops. No problem with girls period. Happen to love the whole lot of them." And he gave her a wink. She let out a snort and leaned back in her seat.
"Really, and what does your girlfriend say about that problem? There are treatment centers for sex addicts now. I can get you some references, if need be."
"Just give me the name of the one that just let you out. That aught to be reference enough." He smirked at her, knowing completely that he was baiting her. He hoped she could handle the ribbing, not just from him. Because there were several other cops, Orlinsky and Dante, to name a few that wouldn't let up.
She wadded up her napkin and threw it at him. "Seriously, how's the honey going to like you havin' a girl for a partner? All those late nights out on call, early morning phone calls?"
"Well, seeing as though I just met you, I haven't had the opportunity to break it to Leigh. Are you free Thursday night, because I'm thinking the best way to do this is dinner, the three of us?"
Damn, inspection so soon.
"Thursday's good. I just don't want a jealous girlfriend to deal with on top of Karate Kid here."
"That's Wise Asian Master to you missy! Let's get back before someone puts out and APB for missing officers."
***
A sharp tapping on his door brought Captain Siri out of his daydream. "Yeah?"
Danny Woo stuck his head in the doorway "Ya got a minute Cap?"
"Sure, sure c'mon in Woo." He motioned Woo to come into his office. The blinds on the windows facing the bullpen were closed so the Captain could have some piece and quiet before lunch. He tended to do that a couple times of the week. Shut out the carnival of noise and sights in the bullpen.
"Cap, I wanted to introduce you…"
Captain Siri looked up and saw his favorite goddaughter coming through the door. He quickly got up and embraced her with a big hug. "Sara, honey. How are you? So, did you just get here?"
Danny's eyes were wide with disbelief. Damn, not only was he stuck with a girl rookie, but the teacher's pet too. Just great.
"Aw Joe, just got back from a little girl talk with my new partner here." Sara backed out of the Captain's hug quickly and noticed how uncomfortable her new partner was. Great start there, Pez, completely alienate the guy.
"Danny, Cap is my godfather. He's one of the people that taught me how to box and made me want to be a cop."
She turned to the Captain, "Hey Joe, how 'bout we keep our relationship between the three of us right now. I don't want anyone thinking that I get special treatment for any reason." She stood with her hands on her hips, as if daring either of them to contradict her.
Cap nodded, knowing she was right about not wanting to give any validity to special treatment, though it would be hard. He had known her practically all her life.
"Woo, I am her godfather and her late father was one of my best friends. He was also one of the best cops I ever had the opportunity to work with. But, don't let it be said that Sara here gets special treatment. Being a cop is in her blood and she has great instincts. Her father and I used to talk shop in front of her as a kid and she would pick up on stuff even before we did. Trust her gut, it knows what it's talking about."
"And you, Sara, listen to Woo here. He's one tough cookie and a great cop. You couldn't have gotten a better partner, even if I did arrange this." Danny and Sara turned to the Captain, inquisitively.
"Yes, I put you two together because I think you'll compliment each other's styles well. Woo here is logical, methodical and has experience. You, Sara, are hot headed and impulsive with great instincts. I see the beginnings of a great partnership. Don't let me down."
"Yeah Cap." Sara nodded, pensively.
"Sure." Danny agreed, more reluctantly in his mind than he let on. This girl needs to prove herself to me. Cap is a good judge of character, but who knows what happens out there in the trenches.
"Now, Woo, get her set up with a desk and start briefing her on your open cases. I'll leave you off the call sheet for two days, so that you all can settle in together. Then you're out there. Sara, are you still coming for dinner Sunday? Marie's making a roast." The Captain started moving them toward the door.
"Sure, I'm coming. Dinner at your house is the closest to a family meal I get. Plus Marie's roast is to die for." She gave the Captain a small squeeze on the arm.
Captain Siri ushered them out the door. "Later Cap," they said in unison. Yeah, his girl would be all right. Woo was just the partner for her. Hopefully she would realize it too.