Chris woke up to soft whimpers and something wet on her arm. She stretched and slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning boy." two bright dog eyes looked at her and Champ immediately started wagging his tail. He continued to stand in front of Chris and looked at her, waiting. Something in his look told Chris that he was eager to get into bed. "Well, come on, hop, before I change my mind again you rascal." she had to smile as he jumped into bed as if on his own and snuggled up to Chris. His head was on her arm and he sought physical contact. When Champ got really comfortable he let out a loud, long sigh. "You're having such a hard time Champ." Chris patted his head and had to smile again. He was her best friend and partner, she could always count on him. He had never disappointed or let her down. Yes, animals were simply the better people.

Champ had been her partner at K9 for three years now. She had done her training with him and also passed the final exam. They were the perfect team. After half an hour of cuddling, Chris reluctantly peeled himself out of bed. "Come on buddy get up, we have to leave for work soon." Champ immediately jumped up and ran after Chris to the kitchen, knowing he would get some of their breakfast bread.

After the two arrived at work, Chris was immediately called in to see her boss. There was a new case. "Hey guys, we've been assigned a very special case here. It involves the Cali drug cartel from Colombia. The cartel was active in the 70's and actually the police there thought they had taken everyone out of circulation back then. But now 10 new members have shown up at the Port of Wilmington and they are planning to pull off a huge drug deal. We got the info from an undercover agent from Long Beach, who was infiltrated into the cartel for over four months, but is now out again. Since the port is part of both L.A. and Long Beach, we will cooperate with the department there. So far, everything understood?" the chief looked at his team. They all nodded. "Okay then, let's get to work. Everyone knows what they have to do. Chris, you wait a minute please." Chris became puzzled and frowned. "Boss what's going on?" she was a little nervous. Why did she, of all people, have to stay here?

"Chris, I know you are doing and have already done insanely great work with Champ. You are one of the best dog handlers here. The chief of Long Beach and I agree that you should work with an officer from there. He is also very well trained, a bit of a risk taker and every now and then he acts before he thinks. So we thought that with your experience you would be the best partner for him, only during the case of course. Is that okay with you?" he looked at Chris. "Um, yeah sure boss. I'll be able to handle him." she said a bit overwhelmed, not knowing yet who would be coming at her.

During her break, Chris was out in the park with Champ. She looked at her watch. "Two more hours and then I'll meet the colleague from Long Beach. I hope he's not some arrogant jerk." she looked at Champ, who was working his stick. "What do you think Champ?" she stroked his head.

Two hours later, Chris was standing in the parking lot of K9. She was waiting for the colleague who was assigned to her. Slowly she became impatient, he was already 15min late. At the moment when she wanted to run inside, a motorcycle, which was traveling much too fast, came racing into the parking lot. "What kind of moron is that." Chris stopped and looked sternly at the guy on the motorcycle.

A tall, lean, very well-trained guy got off. When he took off his helmet, two dark brown eyes beamed at Chris. The dimples were impossible to miss and he ran his right hand through his hair. He looked Chris up and down and walked slowly towards her. The suspense between the two was unmistakable. When he got to Chris, he extended his hand to her and shook it.

"Hi, I'm Jim Street, you must be Chris. The fellows weren't exaggerating, you look really hot." And right now he had already made himself wildly unpopular with Chris.
"Are Long Beach guys all that shallow?" was all she could say at that moment. How were they supposed to work together?

"That sensitive? I was just stating the obvious." a grin came from Street. Chris had to roll her eyes and as she was about to say something again, two arms wrapped around her from behind. "Hey babe." It whispered by her ear. Chris turned to look her boyfriend, Clark Thompson, in the eye. She gave him a fleeting kiss, uncomfortable being so private in front of colleagues after all. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked him. Thompson didn't let go of Chris and possessively put his hand around her waist, but Chris moved to the side a bit. Street, who had been silently watching all this, was confused. He knew Thompson's voice from somewhere, but for the life of him he couldn't place where he had met him before. Frowning, he extended his hand to Thompson. "Hi, I'm Jim Street, LAPD Long Beach. I'm working with Chris on a case." still pondering that voice, Chris could tell by the look on his face that something was up.

"Hey, Clark Thompson, Crime Unit and this great woman's boyfriend on the side." he pinched Chris teasingly in the side.
"Clark, it's okay now. Don't you have your meeting to get to?" Chris looked very annoyed and looked at Street awkwardly and apologetically.
"Oh crap yeah, I totally forgot about that one. Are we still on for tonight? I'll come to your place?" "Yeah, fine." said Chris curtly. After Thompson left, Street couldn't help his comment. "Pretty special guy your boyfriend and he knows what he wants." Chris looked at him angrily and shot back. "This is none of your business at all, you understand?" Street raised his hands in surrender. "It's all good, didn't mean any harm. Sorry if that was too encroaching." he smiled at her.

Chris took a deep breath nodded at him appreciatively and went to her car to get Champ out. "So, now you're about to meet my best partner." and the dog was out of the rear and looking around. Street crouched down and held out his hand to Champ. "Careful, I wouldn't just do that. He's a pretty good judge of character and can tell when I don't like someone." Chris couldn't help but grin slightly.
"Oh, I can handle it just fine, don't worry and besides, if your dog ate me right here, you'd be the last one to be sad." now Street had to grin too."
"Mh I can't deny that now." Chris said dryly.

Champ walked right up to Street and Chris was actually a little nervous because her partner really wasn't friendly and outgoing to everyone, but that wasn't the case with Street. Champ immediately snuggled up to his outstretched hand and sniffed curiously. "Hey buddy, so you're Champ, the best partner imaginable." Street patted Champ on the head and patted his shoulder. He looked to Chris and couldn't hold back a big grin. "Looks like Champ and I are going to be good friends yet. He seems to have better taste than his mistress." And there he was again, that arrogant, self-absorbed cop from Long Beach, with whom Chris now had to work for at least a few weeks. Inwardly, though, she had to admit to herself that she didn't think Street's perky and self-confident manner was all that bad and she could always count on Champ. So this young guy couldn't be all that wrong.