A/N: Thank you to everyone who offered to be on the receiving end of my ideas... I look forward to bouncing them off you!
And I know - it's a day early. It's unprecedented, but I have plans both tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday and I am not cruel enough to make you wait until Sunday!
Sam and Andy made it to the diner within 25 minutes and were relieved to find Frank was not there yet. They found an empty booth and settled into it. Within minutes the waitress arrived to take their order.
Andy, having wanted pancakes since she woke up, ordered a stack smothered in maple syrup, while Sam opted for a stack of pancakes with blueberries and yoghurt.
Frank arrived as the waitress placed two steaming mugs in front of the pair.
"You two couldn't have waited for me?"
"We ordered breakfast. If you want anything, let this lovely lady know." Sam told him, offering a dimple popping smile in her direction.
"Again, you couldn't have waited?" Frank said, before ordering French Toast and a coffee for himself.
"I was hungry! So why are we here Frank?" Andy protested.
"I have a little welcome back gift for McNally and I thought you'd want in on it Sam."
"What is it?" Andy asked, a little apprehensive.
"I want you two to do the Scavenger Hunt, but with a twist. I want you to run around collecting as much money and drugs as possible, while the rookies try and use the Law to catch you."
"So you want us to play robbers in a game of cops and robbers?"
"Exactly. I am also giving you permission to mess with the Rookies any way you see fit in order to avoid detention. If they have you arrested and at the station by six am, the drinks are on you. If you waltz in at half past then the drinks are on them."
"Sounds like fun. So start at normal shift in civvies?"
"Yeah, but you both might want to change to look the part" Frank advised them, noticing Sam was wearing the same clothes he had been the previous night.
"I did tell you I wasn't alone this morning." Sam told him, noticing Frank's look over his clothing.
Frank looked from Sam to Andy to guage her reaction to Sam seeing someone. Her face remained impressively impassive, so she either didn't hear Sam or she didn't care, and Frank decided to keep an eye on them.
Their order quickly arrived and Frank watched as two steaming stacks of pancakes were placed in front of Sam and Andy and was amused when the healthier option was put in front of Sam.
"There is something I would like to do first." Andy said, looking at Sam's pancakes and breaking some off with her fork, while Sam did the same with her stack.
"You two share all your meals?" Frank asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Only when we're working." Sam told him with a straight face.
"Little! Come with me. There's someone in interview one that I want you to talk to." Sam called as Little walked through the door.
Feeling a little nervous that Sam was asking him to conduct an interview, Little followed.
"I haven't changed into my uniform yet, Sir."
"That doesn't matter." Sam said as he led Little through the bull pen.
They reached interview one and Sam opened the door to let Little in before following and closing the door with a beep.
Little looked around at the room. It was empty. He spun to face Sam, but came face to face with Andy instead.
She kicked a chair in his direction.
"Sit." She told him.
Little didn't move.
"I said – sit. I want to talk to you" Andy repeated, her tone more commanding.
Little still didn't move.
"She will make you if you don't sit down." Sam warned him.
Huffing, Little dropped into the 'criminal' chair while Andy took a seat and Sam lurked by the door.
"Why? That's all I want to know. Why did you report us?" Andy asked.
Little considered for a while.
"I didn't report you." He finally said.
"Really, so, what? You happen to complain to your uncle, about what? A female being in the male changing rooms? And he transfers me out with no explanation or warning?"
Sam could see Little blanche at the mention of his uncle.
"Tell us and we might let you off the shift unscathed." Sam told him, picking the dirt from under his fingernails.
"What do you mean let me off shift unscathed?"
"Didn't you ever get taught? Never mess with a true Legacy, they have more influence than you could possibly imagine."
"What do you mean a true Legacy? I am a Legacy."
"You are only a legacy when one or both of your parents are 50." Sam informed him.
"Anderson is a Legacy and his brother is a cop!" Little pouted.
"Anderson's father was a legendary Vice cop over at 13 Division. Now let's get back to the trust issues we now face here."
Little refused to answer Andy's question about why he had told on her and Sam and remained silent until Frank knocked on the door.
"Guy's if you have quite finished having your payback fun, parade is about to start and I need Little here to take part."
Five minutes later, Little walked into parade clipping his belt and radio to his body.
"Alright! Now everyone is here, let's begin."
"Wait a minute Frank, where's McSwarek?" Oliver asked, looking around the room and noticing their absence.
"If you will can it and let me do my job I will tell you. McSwarek are celebrating the fact that they are, indeed, back to being McSwarek again by running our annual Scavenger Hunt."
"What?"
"No!"
"I thought only Rookies do that?"
There were more comments, which Frank didn't hear, but it took him whistling with his fingers to restore order.
"There is a catch. The Rookies will be paired up, and, using the Law and what they know of it, will be on the lookout for Sam and Andy committing minor crimes with the aim of arresting them. If both Andy and Sam are arrested and brought back here by 6am then they will buy everyone drinks at the Penny. Rookies, if they walk in here of their own free will a half hour later, then you will buy the drinks!"
All of the officers sat up a little straighter, suddenly alert. Frank continued:
"If you stop them and have no lawful reason to do so, they have been told to let you know using the code word: razzmataz, at which point you must immediately let them go and allow the other to explain to you why you have no legal standing. They will also give you fair warning when they will be back in the game. You can only stop them if they commit a crime in front of you and, just so you know, they are instructed to mess with you within the game scenario. You will also be required to work as normal within your shift. Assignments are on the board. Go, get out of here and serve, protect and know your law!
