Keeping Tabs
A few weeks later, Sly was back in the office. Once again, both inspectors had to deal with everything thrown at them by their co-workers. But now everyone was stepping up his or her efforts with the coming of the Police Ball. Everyday in the break room, Carmelita met with her only friend in the station, Alexia. This panther was one conspirer.
"So Carmy," Alexia said. "Are you going to the Police Ball with someone, or are you not going to bother to come?"
"First off, I don't like it when you call me Carmy," Carmelita replied. "Second, I'm thinking of going."
"Well," Alexia continued. "That Inspector Cooper is pretty cute, you too would look good together."
Carmelita couldn't help but choke on her tuna sandwich. "Wha?"
"After all" Alexia continued. "You were going hysterical when everyone thought he was going to die."
"Well his body did slam into my windshield," Carmelita said. "Wouldn't you have gone a bit crazy if your partner came flying out of a cloud of fire, slam into your car and smear half his weight in blood on your windshield?"
"Well, yes," Alexia admitted. "But still, you weren't just fearing for his life, you wanted to be part of his life, after all, you did use your authority to watch over him after visiting hours. You even told me that he shouldn't die alone. See! Now your blushing!"
Carmelita couldn't help but turn pink. "But he's just a partner, we're pretty much just friends."
"Oh yeah?" Alexia said. "Remember Officer Tolburn and Officer Lykes? They were just friends and now they have three kids!"
A little while later, Alexia caught up with Sly. "Hey Cooper!"
"Yeah?" Sly answered.
"Carmelita wants this to be a secret, but I'm gonna tell you anyway," Alexia said, blushing. "Well, when you were in the hospital, when everyone thought you were going to kick the bucket, Carmelita came to see you after visiting hours. She told me that you didn't deserve to die alone. I think she likes you."
Sly was blushing. Now that he thought about it, there was that Police Ball coming up. "Hm…Well, I don't know what to say."
Meanwhile, two officers were listening in on the conversation. They were Officer McBride and Officer Tanner.
"I don't believe it!" McBride said. "Fox has the hots for Cooper and yet he's never done anything? That's not fair!"
"Well," Tanner pointed out. "Cooper never did try to…"
"Shut up!" McBride scolded. "It's her fault she couldn't stand my charm. If those two do get together, tell me!"
"Alright, alright" Tanner said. "I'll keep tabs on 'em"
Later that day, when Sly and Carmelita were signing out, it happened. Every time she looked at him, the light of the sunset always hit him as if he were being shined upon from the heavens. When they reached the parking lot…
"What happened to your car?" Sly asked.
"Oh," Carmelita said, a little surprised at this comment. "Well its in the body shop, they're replacing the windshield and are still trying to pop the huge dent in the hood."
"So I'm guessing your walking home then?"
"Well, yes," she had a feeling about what this was going to lead to.
"I can give you a lift," Sly said. He just got on a borrowed police motorcycle.
"Sure, that would be great," Carmelita said. Sly handed her a helmet and she got on. She felt different as she put her arms around him.
"Hold on!" He said. And the two went sailing down the street, not noticing McBride watching them with a glaring eye.