Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles
"You're in the game now, buddy."
I echoed words I remembered someone else saying as I sat in the passenger seat of the police sedan. It had been Sergeant Friday's wise suggestion that he sit in the back with Hanlin; he knew me too well after only about four days on the job. So I sat there in silence, trying to make things that didn't add up come out even.
Even if they didn't, it didn't matter to me now.
As I lie tossing in my bedLost in my fears, remembering what you said
And I try to hide the truth within
The mask of myself shows its face again
Still I lie time and time again
Will you deny me when we meet again?
Hanlin was escorted by a pair of officers to Booking, and Sergeant Friday, Detective Smith and I walked through into the homicide bullpen, back to their desks. I surveyed the place one last time. With the case closed, I was off of my remand and I'd be going back to work tomorrow, unless I chose to take a long weekend, which I just might. But still, no matter what a whirlwind it had been, I did appreciate the lessons learned and the people I'd learned them with.
Standing there I exhaled and looked from one officer to the other. "That's it, then."
"Yeah, with the evidence your coworkers found, he'll go down for the murder and the attempted murder." Sergeant Friday seemed content with this outcome. "Not exactly the way I thought it might go."
"Me either," I confessed.
"Well, if you hadn't shown up we would never have thought about any of this," Detective Smith reminded me.
I half-smiled. "Please don't give me credit."
"Fine, then pretend you don't hear me." He extended a hand, and I took it willingly. "It's been good working with you. All of it."
And I feel like I'm falling
Farther every day
But I know that you're there
Watching over me
And I feel like I'm drowning
The waves crashing over me
But I know your love
It will set me free
"And I can say the same," I said with a firm handshake, then another for Sergeant Friday. "It's like I told my partner: change of fate, I could easily be standing here."
"The morning is still young," Detective Smith said, looking over at his partner.
"What?" I was confused.
"Well, you don't have to be at work until tomorrow, right? You told your friends you'd be here all day." He was looking back at me now. "If you're going to be here, we may as well put you to work."
"Are you serious?"
"Don't we look serious?" Sergeant Friday cut in. "Pull up a chair. Lesson one: the good guys don't have sides."
On the lunch break I received a call from Mason. He told me Alberta Green had officially been suspended pending questioning by the Agency's oversight. Until then, he would be the highest ranking officer in CTU, since it no longer had two of its top positions filled. He didn't seem to care about that.
"So then basically I'm the fifth highest ranking person in CTU."
"Yeah, you could say that."
"That's disturbing."
"Are you coming in tomorrow?"
Pause. "Of course. We have a lot of work to do, George."
"I know."
"I'm sorry about the master list."
"I wasn't talking about the master list."
"Neither was I."
I arrived home at five-thirty so I would be home for Derek and his friends to arrive; I had called Lex and he told me he'd kept them in San Diego, considering that my time in Los Angeles had thinned out; I couldn't blame his logic. I dropped everything on the coffee table, showered, changed into training clothes that were still kind of professional, and actually cleaned the place up a bit. Playing some Wonders and sorting my issues of Sports Illustrated was actually quite cathartic.
There was only one message on my machine. I punched the play button. He told me he wanted to do this to my face, but he knew I had better things to do, important things to do. He hadn't been able to find evidence to support a Los Angeles incursion, and as such, he had no further reason for remaining in the city. He was catching the next flight to London, where he would take some time to decide what he wanted to do, but whatever he decided should have no impact on what I decided to do with myself.
Derek, Chloe, Lan and Jason arrived a few minutes early and introductions and explanations were made quickly. Thankfully, Derek had briefed them on the way, and they had brought all their field equipment with. As we walked through to the training room, Derek looked over to me.
"Did it happen?"
"It happened."
We walked into the training room. No matter if Michael couldn't find evidence to support the idea of a Code Five presence reappearing in L.A., I believed it would happen, and in fact, Jason seemed more convinced than I was. We set to physical training and equipment. There was no time like the present. I liked saying that, but it did have its true meanings. With a glance in Derek's direction, I let go of everything else and focused on what mattered now. It was surprisingly simple.
As I find truth where I found it times beforeAs I search for your hope
I'm finding so much more
And I try to be more like you
And I deny myself to prove my heart is true
The team were surprisingly good learners. Apparently Derek wasn't the only one.
Jason proved himself to be able to expertly handle a camera and a gun at the same time, which would probably save someone's life along the way. He was also committed to going out and "kicking some Code Five ass."
Lan was a tech expert whose talents Lex would have appreciated and had the resourcefulness to match. Thanks to her we'd know exactly what was going on at all times and what we could and couldn't afford to do.
Chloe had a good focus, seeing the big picture. She wouldn't get bogged down in prejudices or misconceptions. I had heard stories from CIB London about people becoming jaded, seeing the Code Five issue as black and white. With Chloe's mind in the game, we wouldn't have any such problem.
And not only did Derek have the heart of a hero, he was also really good at delivering justice with a staff (apparently there was some incident with a rapper, a wax effigy, and him dishing out violence with a pole).
I liked the four of them. They were prepared to back me in the event of an invasion, and I had some other tricks up my sleeve. Derek was excited in the sense that he was once again about to face some of the things he was chasing, and he was making a reality out of it. He held out hope for finding his brother. As for me, I knew they were members of the team the moment I looked into their eyes. You can't hide what it takes to be a hero; you can't deny it, either. Another lesson I'd learned the hard way.
It had gotten dark outside by the time we were through. That meant it was time for some reconnaissance.
Jason beat me to the door.
The sign therein was clear. I made the leap.
I was in the game.
I hear your voice callingThe time has come for me…
