A.N- My first real action chapter, so I've use several Martial Arts terms (being a martial artist myself). So expect terms like 'roundhouse punch'. I also added a few Spanglish words to give Rose a bit more of an Latin-American feel (And because charater in one of my books was very similar to her, and I wanted to add a little more to Rosie's charater).

2

NEW PARTNERS & BISTRO SHOOTOUTS

The EOD headquarters was clean and still pretty brand new. All of the stuff in there, from the computers to the crome desks to the carpet was high class. Everything seemed pretty high-tech for this new 'Internet age.' Not bad for a new police division. It was right up the old Precinct's alley I'll tell ya.

Not only that but there was an air to the place that I instantly liked. I felt as if I belonged here already.

"Oh Good, right on time," said a familiar voice to my side.

I turn to see the Chief come down the metal staircase that was next to the door. She motioned me to follow her. Naturally, I did.

"Nice digs, Chief," I commented on the new place, "It sure beats the old Precinct."

"I'm glad you like it," the Chief said.

We stopped at one of the crome desks. At the desk sat a Latina looking woman. Her dark brown hair was pulled up, her brown eyes where lined with blue eye shadow. Her outfit consisted of black shorts, combat boots, and a yellow shirt under a black jacket. She was attractive if you guys really wanna to know, but not really my type if you know what I mean. There was also something to her, something I couldn't quite place.

"Nick meet Rosie Velasquiez," the Chief said motioning to the woman at the desk. At the Chief's voice she turned to us and stood up.

"Great," I said, thinking she was the Chief'ssecretary or something (hey she looked like one!). "I'll take a cup of coffee, black, no sugar."

The woman's, Rosie's, eyes narrowed angrily at me and looked to the Chief.

Was it something I said?

"Uh, Nick" the Chief said, somewhat awkwardly, "Rosie's your new partner."

It was then I noticed a silver badge pinned on her black jacked.

Oh great, I thought sarcasticlly.

"Well, in that case, make it a Bourbon," I advised Rosie wisely.

"Screw you," She said with a slight accent that, after lived in the city long enough, I knew to be Spanish.

Rosie turned to the Chief.

"Chief, I've heard of this lose-cannon and there's no way I'm working with him," Rosie said.

Well how charming, I thought sarcastically.

"Fine by me," I told her, not really caring what she thought, she really didn't seem like the kind of cop I'd want covering me anyway.

I turned to the Chief, "You know I work alone."

"This is the way it is, Nick" the Chief insisted. " Sorry, besides, someone has to keep an eye on you."

Damn it, I thought to myself, should of known that the offer was too good to be true. I rolled my eyes.

"Well, guess I should of read the fine print then, huh?" I replied sarcastically.

"Oh, grow up!" the Chief said rolling her eyes.

The Chief put her arms over me and Rosie's shoulders and said, "Come on you two. Go to a local China Bistro, get to know each other."

Rosie snorted.

"Whatever," she said, still looking at me with that accusatory look, "but you drive yourself, ya got it?"

And, without waiting for me to answer, started to the door getting her keys for her white Ford Crown Victoria, that I later saw her get into.

"Suit yourself," I replied.

The Chief chuckled at my reaction. I started for the door.

"Hey Nick!" the Chief called.

Now what?

I turned around just in time to catch whatever the Chief tossed to me.

"Welcome to the EOD," she said and then went to her office.

I looked down to see a silver badge with the American eagle, and the words EOD ELITE OPERATIONS along with my picture id proclaiming me as an official agent.

Chief must of known that I would say yes from the way she had every thing ready for me.

I shook my head, went out the door to my Cadillac.

After several minutes and a few street crimes (I know, I couldn't resist), I finally made it to the bistro. I knew it had to be the one because of Rosie's car. I pulled up, locked the doors to my car (I had just arrested a car jacker, and this is LA) and went in.

The bistro was a pretty nice place, with a shiny white marble floor. The tops of the tables where covered with a fax green marble and the chairs where a deep red color. On the tables where fine china plates (pun intended I suppose) along with sliver ware and a set of chopsticks. The place had an oriental feel thanks to the soft music over the speakers, the Chinese calligraphy symbol on the back wall, the bamboo plant and vase near the cash register.

I spotted Rosie was sitting in the back corner. A plate of food on the table in front of her. I walked to her and went to the chair across from her.

"Some partner you are," I said grudgingly, sitting down. "You didn't even bother to order for me."

"Look 'partner'" she said flexing her pointer and middle finger at her last word. "I know the Chief trusts you, but I've heard my share of stories off the street. You-are-bad-news."

Typical, I couldn't help but think.

"Yeah, I knew you were the classic goody-two-shoes the minute I saw you," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "I'll bet you still have your communion dress still, neatly, hang up in your closet."

Suddenly her dark eyes flashed, nearly surprising me with the anger I could see glinting in them.

"Hey, you don't know me, alright," Rosie said angrily at me. "I used to hang with more than a few Latino gangs. I've seen about as much crime as you have while I was living la vida. I was the crime while living la vida!"

Rosie was a former gangbanger? I thought surpised as she suddenly stopped.

I studied Rosie's face, noticing that she looked if her own words brought back dark memories. Memories of being (from what she said) a bad-ass home-girl getting into gang fights, throw downs, drive-by shootings, watching homies get killed in gang wars, along with all the other shit she had to of put up with to survive in the life. I couldn't help but look at her in a new light.

Rosie took a deep breath before she spoke again.

"I've made mistakes, but I was lucky enough to get a second chance," Rosie said softly

She then looked at me with a determined yet hard look. "And no one is going to ruin it for me."

Rosie said that as if she figured that it would be me who would screw up her one chance to do good. Before, I could give a witty reply a voice cried behind us.

"I said no! Please leave sir!"

I turned to see the China bistro owner, an elderly Chinese woman talking to a younger guy. The man was Asian, most likely Chinese his hair was dyed a horrible lion yellow and his ears had several sliver studs in them. He was wearing black boots, a black leather jacket, and a red and black shirt. He didn't look too happy.

"Huh? Sorry Rosie, what did you say?" I said to Rosie. Sort of forgetting what she said.

"I come here to collect," said the younger guy in a big tough guy voice that still carried an thick accent. "Where the money?!"

"Aye-ya," she exclaimed. "I've already paid the Triad every week. But this, too much."

The younger guy looked really pissed at this.

"You no listening!" He yelled. "I BURN YOUR PLACE!"

I turned to Rosie as the women ran behind the counter to the cash register.

"Whadya know, Rosie, it's my lucky day," I told my new 'partner'. "Not only have I met your charming self, but I'll be closing this Triad case by midnight."

I grabbed a chopstick that was nearby my place at the table, and got up.

"Yo! Tough guy!" I called to the thug. "Over here!"

I threw the chopstick. It flew through the air, and hit the guy right in the ear. He turned his burning gaze to me as he yelled in pain. A line of blood ran down his neck from his ear where the chop stick had stuck.

"You make BIG mistake!" he said angrily.

The guy got into a fighting stance. I did the same.

"Traveling with beer?" I asked in mock curiosity. "No? Well you should be."

The guy stepped forward. He lashed with a roundhouse punch. I blocked it easily, and swung around with a jump kick. He didn't see that coming. He stumbled back but quickly got a hold of himself and ran at me with a kick. I dodged it, so instead of hitting me he found himself crashing into two of the bistro tables.

There was a loud CRASH as glass China as well as silverware fell to the floor. He swung around just in time to meet several of my fierce 'tiger claw' punches in the chest. He stepped back, dazed. Taking this chance I swung around with a powerful (as my sensei would put it) 'monkey paw' strike. The guy fell to the floor.

I tried to stomp on his chest but the moron rolled out of the way.

He got up and tried to knife hand strike me in the neck. I grabbed him by the wrist and flipped him right into another one of the bistro's tables. As soon as he got up I gave him a 'tiger sweep'. He went painfully to the floor.

It was apparent he was in pain. From slamming into all those tables (not to mention all the silverware and china plates) who wouldn't be.

He stumbled up. I was stood over him hands on my hips as he yelled,

"YOU DEAD MAN! YOU HEAR! DEAD!" and with that he ran out the door.

"What's that?" I joked with a chuckle, putting my hand up to my ear. "I can't hear you. Oh, that's right. You can't hear me either."

Rosie ran up to me, and, man, was she pissed.

"What's Chinese for loco?!" she yelled angrily.

I rolled my eyes, shrugged my shoulders, and sighed as she went on yelling.

"There's no way I'm working with you!!" Rosie went on. "Your out-of control!!"

She threw her hands up, like she was surrendering in all those cop shows, and turned to the door.

"I don't need this shit from you, Kang!" She proclaimed as she went to the door.

At this point I knew I was stuck with her, and she was stuck with me. The Chief was sure I would have a partner if I liked it or not. And if Rosie was it, this was not my idea of, what you might call the start of a glorious friendship. In fact it was probably the farthest you could get from that (I know, and you're thinking No Shit, Sherlock!).

I noticed her fortune cookie still on the table. Well, I was out of idea's, what the hell else was I gonna do? I grabbed it.

"Rosie!" I called, starting after her.

I found her halfway to her car. Acting like she didn't hear me the first time I yelled.

"Rosie! Wait! You forgot your fortune cookie!" I held it up. I know this was desperate but I had no other ideas (and if you do, well bummer, you weren't there).

"I know what it says!" Rosie said, turning around to walk backwards to her car. She had her hands in front of her like she was envisioning what in was. " 'Beware of nutcases'!"

At that moment the guy that I had just fought appeared out of nowhere. With a Uzi in hand he grabbed Rosie from around her shoulders so fast she couldn't have stopped it if she tried.

"Letmme go!" she yelled trying to wrestle out of his grasp.

"Rosie!" I yelled tossing the cookie aside, taking up one of my Desert Eagles, aiming at the guys shoulder.

"You both die!" yelled the Perp (short for perpetrator) who had Rosie, pointing the Uzi at me.

Rosie suddenly jerked her left elbow into the guy's gut. He let go of her instantly. But not before pulling the trigger. The bullet hit Rosie! There was a line of blood that came from Rosie's left arm. Rosie yelled in pain and she fell against the side of the restaurant.

"SHIT!" I yelled, running to her side.

She was clutching her arm, blood steeped from in-between her fingers.

"Rosie, let me see where you've been-"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" She roared suddenly, nearly making me jump.

There was the sound of bullets being fired. We both turned to see the perp running to a BMW Beamer, firing off bullet like they were candy. It's driver was an Asian man wearing all black like his buddy but he was wearing a muscle-shirt along with a black dragon on his left arm.

"GET HIM!!" Rosie yelled pointing at the shooter.

I stood up. Pointing my gun to the car's back window.

"FREEZE!" I yelled firing a shot.

It hit the back window of the Beamer. Shattering it instantly. That shot was a warning.

The Asian man (most likely Chinese) who was driving it panicked. Hitting the gas before his buddy could get in. The younger guy swung around to me, and said a few words in Chinese. I know Chinese pretty well, but I'm not gonna translate for ya, but I will tell you he was cussing me out.

He then dashed behind two cars and started to fire his Uzi. I pulled out my other gun.

Lock 'n load!

I jumped to the side and fired off a few bullets. They hit the car in front of him but not the guy, yet.

The shooter cocked and reloaded his Uzi and started shooting. I jumped behind another car and shot at him. But I missed.

Damn it!

Bullets sprayed the car I was taking cover behind. If I didn't finish this soon people were gonna get hurt.

Innocent people.

He started shooting again. I reloaded my gun. As soon as the he reloaded I ducked down, quickly I aimed at his leg and fired.

The shooter fell to the concrete sidewalk, gun falling out of his hands.

I ran to him, Gun still pointed at him.

"Damn shame," I said to him, in mock disappointment. "All shot up and no place to go."