Six Months Later
The squad room appeared dark and empty when she entered. The only light came from the security lights and a small sliver of sunlight peering through the tall windows lighting the room. Unusual though it was for the room to be so quite she enjoyed the peace and serenity that it provided. After turning on the over head florescent lights she made a cup or tea, stowed her side arm and magazines into her locker before sitting down behind her desk. As she waited for her computer to boot up her gaze drifted to the desk across from hers.
Just over six months ago that desk sat empty and cold. A stark reminder of the hole left by her former partner. Now new case files were stacked in neat piles and several new photo frames of various people sat in the corners. It wasn't the way she wanted to break in a new partner, locked away in a shipping container being held for ransom, but in the time they had spent together she learned a lot about her new partner. There were still some unknowns but they had worked well and got along.
Lost in her thoughts she was started when Fin and Munch entered the squad room.
"Liv you know your not earning any bonus points by comin in before the crack of dawn. You could at least try to be…you know…on time. Ya know make the rest of us look less like slackers." Olivia looked up from her file to see Fin sitting at the desk across from hers.
"Yeah I could do that…or…" she leaned across her desk lowering her voice. Fin leaned in closer as well. "…You could bring your lazy ass in here on time once and awhile so you don't look like a slacker. Than again you cant hide what you are." Fin glared at her for a long moment before breaking out in a smile.
"Tru dat. Once a slacker always a slacker. You know me two well Liv." Olivia returned the smile and laughed. "I guess since the Captain isn't here yet I can continue to slack." He added pushing back from the desk, leaning back in the chair and throwing his feet up into a neat stack of files.
"Man go be a slacker at your own desk and stop messing up mine." Penn stated coming from the break room having heard the last comment. She limped over with two disposable cups in hand. "Fresh cup for you Liv." She placed one of the cups down onto the corner of Olivia's desk than walked around behind Fin. When he didn't acknowledge her she pulled down hard on the back of the chair. Already leaning back he spilled onto the floor with an echoing clatter.
"HA!HA! That is what you get man!" Munch said laughing.
"Opps my bad cus. Muscle spasm." Penn smirked. Everyone broke out in hysterical laughter, Fin still on the floor and Munch sheading tears.
"Sorry couldn't resist." Penn said gaining control of herself. She extended her hand out helping to pull Fin to his feet.
"No it was good timing. Well done." Fin responded dusting himself off. Penn up righted her chair than eased herself into it grimacing and holding her rib cage.
"Ribs still sore?" Olivia asked. Olivia had recovered fully from her injuries and returned to full duty after two months. Penn need a lot longer to recover and had returned to the squad on desk duty two weeks ago.
"A twinge from time to time is all." Penn answered pulling up to her desk. "I'm good though. The leg isn't marathon ready yet but the arm is better than before."
"That's good. Did you do your fire arms qualification?"
"Yup. Waiting on the official results but it went smoothly. Even managed my sharp shooter qualification." Penn answered happily.
"No need to wait any longer. Congratulations detective Rhoads you passed your fire arms exam. Here you go." Captain Cragen announced entering the squad room. He placed a mini glock nine millimeter with a small version of her badge on the bottom on to her desk.
"Excellent!" She gladly picked up the pistol, retrieved her holster from a desk drawer than placed the pistol into the holster and on to her belt. "Wow! I fell whole again. Thanks Captain."
"Your welcome. Keep working on that leg and you'll be out on the street where you can put it to good use." Cragen responded.
"Copy that Captain." Cragen smiled briefly before continuing on in to his office. Penn turned to face Olivia.
"So what kind of paperwork do you have for me?" she asked.
"Your eager to do paperwork? My paperwork?" Olivia asked skeptically.
"Well I am much faster…at everything…than you therefor my paper work is done and I need something to do. So yes, for now, I want to do your paperwork." Penn explained.
"As you wish." Olivia said sliding a stack of folders to her.
Olivia watched as Penn flipped open the top folder and got to work filling in the necessary information. She knew the hole left by her partner would never go away completely and that she could never forget him. What she didn't know was that the person sitting across from her would help to make that hole smaller despite the rough new start.
AN: The End. Now that this story is complete please review. This is my first full length story and I'd love to hear thoughts. Thanks!
Check out my other stories and keep checking for some more throw back style stories.