'Morning Boss,' Smithy smiled as Gina pulled up beside him in the car park.
'Smithy, Cienna,' she acknowledged both officers as she locked up her car, 'you know we've got two new officers starting today?'
'Do we know anything about them?' Smithy asked, a little annoyed that he'd only found out they were coming on the last day of shift 3 days ago.
'With our luck they're called PC Satan and PC Slapper!' Cienna said as Smithy started to laugh.
'PC Newman!' Gina stopped in her tracks, 'you haven't even met them!'
'Sorry Ma'am,' Cienna slid an arm around Smithy to protect herself from Gina and to hide the smile on her face.
'All I know is they're both experienced officers,' Gina said as both Cienna and Smithy rolled their eyes.
'Experienced at what is what I'm worried about,' Smithy replied as Gina struggled not to start laughing herself, they had reached to back yard and it wouldn't be good if they were seen taking the mick out of officers they hadn't even met. Also although everyone knew she was friendly with the two younger officers, she didn't want to flaunt the friendship infront of the other officers.
-----
Smithy walked into the male locker room and found himself confronted with a half naked Nick Klein.
'Nick! What... when... how have you been?' The last person Smithy expected to see was Nick, no the last person he expected to see had just walked in behind him.
'Sarge,' came a voice behind Smithy.
Smithy turned to find a smiling Luke Ashton standing in the doorway.
'Luke, I didn't know you were coming back, but saying that I wasn't expecting Nick either!' Smithy didn't known what to say he wasn't sure if Nick being back was a good or bad thing but Luke.... 'here we go again' he thought.
'I asked to come back,' Nick said as he finished getting dressed, 'with Weaver dead there was no reason for me to stay in witness protection.'
'Does Phil know you're back?'
'Doubt it, but I'm sure he'll find out soon enough!'
'Looks like you're looking forward to seeing him again, you're not planning anything are you?'
'Me? Of course not!' Nick smiled as he and Smithy left the locker room.
-----
After briefing Smithy and Nick headed down the ramp as Cienna threw Luke the car keys to the panda they would be using.
'Not bad, not bad at all,' Nick said giving Cienna the once over twice.
'Oi, she's spoken for keep your hands and your eyes to yourself,' Smithy smiled to himself, he knew if Nick tried it on with Cienna he'd regret it, she was more that capable of handling unwanted interest.
'She hasn't even met me yet!' Nick couldn't resist making a comment.
Smithy rolled his eyes at Nick whilst watching Cienna climb into the passenger seat, unsure who he prefered her to be working with, Luke wouldn't try it on with her but Nick would look after her. Smithy smiled as he thought it, she wouldn't be happy that he thought she needed looking after!
'What's so funny?' Nick asked as he watched Smithy smile.
'Nothing, c'mon lets go.'
'Can't wait to get me alone, eh?'
Smithy groaned, 'I've just remembered why I was glad to see the back of you!'
'Don't worry Sarge I won't tell anyone how much you missed me!' Nick sped up down the ramp before Smithy had the chance to respond, he had missed winding Smithy up.
'Here we go again,' Smithy said to himself as he followed Nick down the ramp.
-----
'Tony says this is your third tour of Sun Hill, can't stay away eh?' Cienna asked Luke.
'Seems that way don't it, it's nice to see some old friends, not so nice to see certain people.' Luke answered.
'Oh, who gives you trouble?'
'Don't worry about it, if he gives me any grief I'll sort it,' generally everyone especially women liked Smithy so Luke wasn't going to cause problems by mentioning his name, what the hell was so special about him anyway?
'Why would anyone give you problems?' usually Cienna wasn't into gossip, but if Luke was going to be a problem she wanted to know. She had tried to ask Smithy about Luke before they left the station but he didn't answer, making her wonder if Smithy was part of Luke's problem.
'Look you might as well know, everyone else does. I'm gay,' Luke looked at her.
'So?'
'What do you mean 'so'?'
'Exactly what I said 'so?', why would that make a difference?'
'I don't know, but it does.'
'Not to me, as long as it's consensual and legal, do what you want.' Cienna looked at him, she knew that some officers had trouble working with gay men but as far as Cienna was concerned that was because they were scared they would be fancied by their colleague and then hurt when they realised he didn't find them attractive. She smiled to herself as she thought of her friend Bobby who was gay, he'd told her he fancied Smithy and had even made a pass at him! The look on Smithy's face was worth his being annoyed at her for finding it so funny, Smithy got on well with Bobby but wouldn't go anywhere with him alone, Cienna found that even funnier.
'Earth to Cienna,' Luke woke Cienna from her daydream.
'Sorry, I was thinking, means I've got to concentrate,' she laughed as did Luke.
-----
'C'mon, give me something!' Nick rolled his eyes at Smithy.
'I'll give you a broken nose if you keep on,' Smithy said smiling at Nick still not sure if he was happy he was back or not.
'You can't say she's your girlfriend and not say anything else.'
'I did say something else, I said hands off!'
'Looks like I'll have to ask her then.'
'Good luck, she doesn't talk about herself, and if you make a pass at her, well would you like grapes or chocolate?'
'Huh?'
'If she doesn't put you in hospital I will!'
'Hmm, can just see you in a nurses uniform!' Nick replied as Smithy slammed on the breaks. 'Hey I didn't mean.....' Nick trailed off as he realised Smithy had breaked because of a puppy that had run into the road.
'Ooohhh, he stops for puppys now! He's going soft!' Nick couldn't resist the comment as both he and Smithy watched a woman pull the puppy back onto the pavement making apologetic gestures to the two officers and then clipping her son round the back of the head for letting the dog out into the road.
'One more comment out of you,' Smithy turned to Nick, 'and you be on foot patrol for the rest of your career!'
Nick decided not to answer, it was safer to keep his mouth shut, for now.
-----
The panda sat at the crossroads waiting for the lights to turn green, both Luke and Cienna trying not to laugh at the kids in the car in front who were making faces at them.
'Those kids should be belted in,' Cienna told Luke, 'once the lights change turn on the lights we'd better pull the driver.'
'OK,' Luke watched the lights change and pulled away turning on the blue lights to tell the driver in front to pull over.
'LUKE,' Cienna yelled as a car came thru the red lights and slammed into the side of them, forcing the panda to roll finally settling on it's roof.