Inside his office, Capt. Frank Furillo looks through a desk drawer for a stapler. An item drops to the floor which somehow got snagged underneath. He picks it up to see it's an identification tag that bares the name Det. John D. LaRue.Smiling, he stares at the blue seal accompanying the name. It only seemed like yesterday that laminated lanyard badge was worn. Two years had gone by and he still couldn't let J.D. know that things weren't the same without him. Sure, he would see him every once in a while, but that was to pick up files on past troubled officers Counseling other cops seemed to suit him best. Chasing down bad guys and other occupational hazards had lost their allurement to the former detective. Even his former partner, Neal Washington whom had been promoted to sergeant had his fill of crazy runs. A bad knee had already forced him to perform lighter duty assignments, and having a new partner didn't appeal to him in the least. He was forty-five and LaRue was forty-three.

Sgt. Det. Neal Washington knocks on the opened door, alerting the captain of his presence.

"Frank?"

Furillo drops the badge back in the drawer. "Yes, Neal?"

"Henry wants to know what we're gonna do about those cases we got backed up."

"Uh, put Hill and Renko on one of the new computer systems."

"Not good, man. Belker's havin' a tough time with it already." Washington answers, chewing on a toothpick.

"See what they can do. A lot of the department has been complaining about not enough to do lately. Most of the rookies are out on assignment to get their feet wet."

"That reminds me. We've been getting complaints about some of the new guys."

"Rookies?"

"Transfers."

"Already? We just got them today."

"Apparently, they were causin' trouble at roll call."

"Okay. Keep me posted on them."

Sgt. Det. Mick Belker walks straight into Furillo's office with Washington still present.

"Captain, about those new transfers."

"Which ones Mick?"

"Johnson, Kincaid, Gelman, and Jolevitch."

Furillo's eyes turn to Washington. Then he asks, "What about them, Mick?"

"I don't like them. I think they're trouble. They were very disrespectful during roll call today. You should have heard the things they said about Sgt. Bates, throughout the morning. Then Johnson picked a fight with Renko out on the stairs. I've got a bad feeling about these guys. They think they can do whatever they want at their age. They scare me even! Captain, we're not talking about pranks. They're not nice. I don't know how our department got them, but I for one don't like it or them."

"So duly noted, Mick. Going back to the computer?"

"I don't like that machine and it doesn't like me either."

"It's an expensive piece of equipment."

"It's an expensive piece of junk, Captain. Why can't we just go back to the way we've always done things?"

"Chief Daniels doesn't want us losing anymore files. It's cost effective on typewriting ribbon and paper."

"Fine." Belker retreats from the office and goes to the computer. He presses a button to turn it on. It greets him with the words, "HELLO" in bright green letters. "Well, hello yourself." He starts to smile. "Maybe we can be friends."

Renko steps in back of him, "Mick? Don't forget about asking Robin about Philip's playdate with Laura Ann."

"I won't. Now, let me get back to work."

"And, I don't wanna hear anything about Philip biting my little sweet cheeks."

Belker squints defiantly at the officer. "Are you accusing my son of biting your daughter? If so, I'll need to see proof of the evidence."

"There is no evidence, Mick. How do I know you're not groomin' him to do so."

"Andy, I think you've got that wrong. It's Philip who has to worry about Laura Ann. She's a year older and twice his size."

Renko puffs out his chest. "Are you suggesting my child is fat?"

"No, Andy. I'm saying she's bigger than my son. He's just a little guy."

"No doubt he gets that from his father." Renko retorts.

"Same goes for your daughter." Belker answers in sincerity.

Renko huffily walks away.

Sgt. Lucille Bates walks through, fully attired in her blue uniform. She picks through papers on a desk.

"This is a huge mess." She grumbles, tossing a pile down.

Goldblume walks by her.

"Lucy, ask and ye shall receive."

Wearily she answers, "Not that computer again. Henry, if you like it so much then why don't you do it? I've got other things to do."

"That's the price you pay taking time off."

She rolls her eyes and flails in exasperation. "I took two stinkin' hours off!" Finding a box nearby, she tosses the pile in.

At the same time, former detective, John D. LaRue appears at the main office desk. Several officers go up to greet him. Lucy turns her head in curiosity.

Renko gives a big smile. "J.D., ol' buddy. Ain't you a sight for sore eyes!"

LaRue lights up, "Hey, Andy!"

"So, how's Division treating you these days?"

"Can't complain. Higher pay. New car."

"I'll just bet the ladies can't get enough of you now."

"Uh, yeah." LaRue says in reluctant agreement." He changes the subject. "Doesn't look like much of a difference."

"Oh, we got some new computer system the chief wants us to use for filing reports. Ever since the fire, he's been up in arms over it. Yeah. Mick's workin' on that now."

Hill starts to call out to his partner. "Hey, Renk…" Then he sees LaRue. "Hey, and what say you, lovah?"

"A-okay, Bobby."

"You back here permanently?" Hill asks in anticipation.

"Just visitin'. Got a case file to pick up from the captain."

"I gotta tell you, J.D., things have not been the same since you left."

LaRue nods his head in agreement. Then he sees Lucy carrying the box. He stops her. "Hey, Lucy. Gotta give you something."

"Oh?" She answers in curiosity.

As he walks through, Lt. Howard Hunter of the Emergency Action Team sucks on his pipe. He glances over at the two's exchange. Slowly he removes the pipe from his mouth.

Bates says awkwardly to the ex-detective, "Can I talk to you for a few minutes?"

"Sure."

"In the interrogation room."

They walk off with Lt. Hunter watching until they disappear into Interrogation Room 'B.' He goes over to Renko. "Uh, Andy? Have you noticed anything different about Lucille Bates lately?"

"Lucy? She was flyin' high yesterday over an insurance adjuster she's been workin' with to get a plan for her and Fabian. Clark Henderson, I do believe."

Lt. Hunter looks over at the hallway. "I don't think it's an insurance adjuster, Renko. More like, keeping in her field. Close."

"A cop, Lieutenant? Here?"

"Just a hunch, Andy." Hunter answers in a deliberate fashion, then walks away.

Bates and LaRue reappear ten minutes later, parting directions. Renko feels the need to follow the sergeant. "Sweet Lucy, how did your date go with Clark? 'cause I know you were flyin' higher than a kite yesterday."

Bates sucks in her teeth and answers, "It went fine, Renko."

Hill goes to join his partner. "Oh, yeah, Lucy. How was Mr. Big Time Insurance Man? Last I remember, you were all pink over him."

"Like I told Andy. It went fine."

"That's good." Hill says while walking away.

Renko continues to her, "You seem different today. From the time you left the station last night to the time you came in. You were all hopped up on this guy. Said you were gonna get a new dress for the occasion. Now, you're all, I don't know…evasive." He says with concern in his eyes.

LaRue watches from a little distance away.

"Andy, it was good. Okay?" Bates answers.

Renko stares her in the eyes. "My God. The Lieutenant was right. You weren't with Clark, were you?"

Slightly annoyed she answers back, "Andy, you're reading too much into this."

"Am I? I'm inclined to believe Howard…"

"Howard?" Bates blubbers back. "I think he's been breathing in too much gun powder. In the meantime, how's your sex life with Daryl Ann?"

Renko reacts, but not insulted as she had hoped. He's more intrigued by her response. "My, my. Aren't you defensive."

Lt. Hunter surprises LaRue by putting a hand on his shoulder. "John, did I ever tell you about what happened to me in Vietnam?"

"Uh-uh."

"We had this Vietnamese scout, Minh Pham. He brought us around the jungles. Taught us survival…" He grins back. "…and how to find women. Judas, man! These were magnificent creatures! All smiles. Ebony black hair. Perfect almond eyes. Petite figures. These girls would throw themselves at the soldiers. I'll tell you, some of the men would get really lonely on the battlefield. Minh had his younger sister with him, Xaun Pham. She would run errands for us around the main base. Nobody thought much of her. All the other girls got the lonely soldiers, and then they would all move on to the next."

J.D. sucks in his teeth, waiting for the rest of the lieutenant's story. Not wanting to show boredom he humors him by feigning interest.

"Anyway, when it was time to leave, and we all had our fill of war and women. I went back to the landing pad still feeling lonely. No accomplishment had been made. Got my heart broken by a few of those Vietnamese fillies. Then, I saw her. Xaun. My, she was glowing like an angel. She was a gorgeous piece of Asian art. I was with her when her cousin was killed. I saw her joys and her sorrows throughout my time in that no man's land."

J.D. nods back, slightly more interested.

"The point is, she was under my nose all that time and I didn't know it until it was too late. I never did anything about it and I still think of her from time to time."

Lt. Hunter puts the pipe back in his mouth and gives J.D. a pat on the shoulder before walking away. J.D. looks down and exhales deeply.

Belker sits at the computer. Constantly typing, he soon runs into a problem. The screen goes blank. He sits up in rage. "What? I just loaded two pages worth of writing!" His eyes go wide and he gives a growl.

A voice comes from in back of him. "Uh, Belker, maybe if you don't breathe on it."

Belker's brows furrow in disdain. Then he lights up. Turning around, he smiles, "J.D.!"

LaRue smiles back. "See you got a computer now. Division's got one. A lot friendlier."

"How are you supposed to operate this thing?" Belker asks.

"I wouldn't know. Hey, I talk to people, not machines."

"I hate this thing."

"No undercover or stakeouts?"

"It's been quiet lately. Barely any gang activity since last June and what happened to Jesus Martinez."

"Why? What happened to Jesus Martinez?"

"You didn't hear?"

"No."

"He was trying a case in night court. His client didn't like that he couldn't get him off. Got a hold of the bailiff's gun on the way out and shot him cold. Close range."

"Man…" LaRue nods back. "Reformed from street thug and…that."

"Hardly any gang member has been seen from the factions since then. Jesus was a big part of their community. He may have been the leader of the El Diablos but he was also the king of the streets to all others. He was movin' up in the world too. Ironic, isn't it? You'd think a guy like him would meet his fate on the street. Instead, it's in a courthouse."

"Yeah." LaRue blows out a breath.

"Anyway, Howard calls it urban renewal."

Former Lt. and ousted captain of Polk Ave., Ray Calletano drops by the precinct. Many officers rush over to greet him. "Hello, everybody!" He announces in his heavy Colombian accent.

Bates is the first to react.

"Hey, look it's Capta… Lieutenant…"

"It's okay, Lucy. I prefer my old recognized rank of Lieutenant. No Captain. Please. That was a wash-out. Just call me Ray instead."

Lt. Hunter pops out and gives Calletano a hug. "Mi Amigo! How are you?"

Calletano gives a huge smile. "I'm doing great, Howard."

"That's great to hear, Ray. What brings you down here?"

"Oh, I have news. Wonderful news!" Calletano bubbles over with pride.

At his office, Furillo talks over some orders of the day with Washington.

"I don't know what's going to happen to those treaties. The streets have been quiet. No known gang activity. Dudley Hicks was seen working with kids at the 'Y.'"

Washington raises his brows as he chews on his toothpick. "There's an improvement."

"My main concern is the rash of rob…" Furillo gets interrupted by a knock at the open door. He turns to see it's LaRue.

Washington reacts quickly. "J.D.!"

LaRue does the same. "Hey, Neal!"

They give each other a big hug.

"What's been goin' on, babe?" Washington asks.

"Oh, you know. Just here to start trouble."

Furillo slowly smiles. "Hello, J.D."

"Captain." LaRue says in respect.

"Listen, Frank? I'll be back in a few minutes. Gotta go get somethin' for Belker." Washington puts a hand on his former partner's arm. "Hey, I'll be right back and leave you two alone to talk about the old times. I have to talk with you anyway." He then disappears.

LaRue looks behind him and says indirectly to the captain, "First name basis?"

"Yes, J.D. It's been two years. Don't you think it's about time you do too?"

"Uh…" LaRue is at a loss for words.

"So, what brings you down here?"

"I came here to pick up a file on Monroe. I'm trying to figure out what's made this guy go off the rails since you said he was a good cop. I'm finding some...things."

"And you're looking for?"

"Records for heroic deeds. Citations…"

"Are you saying citations are no good?"

LaRue hesitantly says, "You know. Ego. Superhero complex. Change of attitude. Personal…problems."

"Is this from experience?" Furillo asks out of curiosity.

LaRue smiles back, quick to point out, "I'm just saying you have to look at every part of a cop's psyche."

"Okay. You know more about this than me." Furillo says, glancing at the drawer to his desk. He pulls it open. "Has Johnson told you how long you'll be staying with Division?"

"No."

"I found something just this morning I forgot I had. Thought you might like it back…if you were ever interested."

He hands LaRue the badge.

LaRue smiles back, holding the clip with his fingers. "Hey! You've still got this old thing?"

"It's not that old, J.D. Two years only." Furillo says in hopefulness.

LaRue looks at it before handing it back to the captain. "You can keep it." He lifts the visitor badge from his jacket pocket. "I'm pretty content with this one. Well, you can keep it or just toss it. I don't need it anymore."

"I guess I was just having it hang around and thought maybe... It hasn't been the same around here without you, J.D."

LaRue looks down in remorse. He nods back. "Captain, you really saved me. You never turned your back on me when you had every opportunity. You just kept on after me until I saw straight. I was determined to be what I once was. How I started my career in the first place. I can never forget that and I'm forever grateful.

But, I can't. Too many things have happened to me to go back to my old ways. Not to say that chasing bad guys and saving some people wasn't rewarding. Just that, I get to make a more rewarding rescue by helping people like myself before they get to the point of no return…which I was near. More than once. I hurt a lot of people. Alienated many of my colleagues. Hurt myself in the process. I'm not proud of my past behavior at all. But, if someone could learn… If I could learn from my own mistakes then maybe they don't have to be like me."

A disappointed Capt. Furillo nods back still with hope. "You're always welcome, just to let you know. And, J.D.? You'll never be turned away if something is on your mind. I'm just a phone call away."

"Thanks…Captain." LaRue smiles back.

Washington pops his head back in the office. Furillo raises his brows. "I'll let you two talk. I have some business I have to attend to downstairs." He leaves the two former partners alone. LaRue looks through the psyche file he had asked for.

"Got some news, lovah."

"Gettin' hitched?" LaRue snickers, looking down.

"Not yet. I was over at the Kubiak about two weeks ago. My cousin was havin' a party. One of his friends brought somebody over. Jill."

LaRue pops his head up. "J…Jill? You mean, Jill Thomas? The chick you broke up with a few years ago?"

"Six. That's right, babe. The same Jill. We got around to talkin' and we're thinkin' of givin' it another try. She said she'd like to play for keeps this time. She got the whole dance routine out of her system."

"You serious, Neal?"

"As sure as I can be. Not getting any younger. Knee actin' up. Feelin' a lot older than I am. Not bein' able to go out in the streets anymore. 'course I was offered a new partner. Said, 'No way. The only partner I want is J.D. by my side."

LaRue shakes his head in disbelief. "Man."

"Sometimes the past can come back and haunt you." Washington gives a big toothy smile.

"Heh. Yeah." LaRue answers with thought to those words.

"So!" Washington rubs his hands together. "How would you like to make it a double date? Me and Jill. You and whatever lucky lady awaits. Lovah, I'll bet you've got them all lined up like ducks in a row. One turns you down? The next one gets picked."

LaRue raises his brows at the thought. "Uh, yeah." He reluctantly agrees.

Washington can tell his former partner is answering but not like he had in the past. "Somethin' botherin' you, babe?"

"Me? Nah. Just uh, some files. Really makes you think." LaRue shakes his head again.

"Anyway, Thursday's the big date. Got it all planned. One of the nicer restaurants. Not some bar. You up for it?"

"Th... Thursday? This Thursday?"

"Yeah. You know? Three days from now?"

LaRue answers with a preoccupied mind. "I, uh…"

"I'm sure Jill would love to see you too."

LaRue walks to the captain's desk. He puts a hand on it, tapping his fingers. His eyes dart back and forth, away from Washington's sight. Mulling it over nervously, he answers while squinting back. "I'll see what I can do." He turns back to his former partner with the flash of a smile.

Washington takes the toothpick out of his mouth as he exclaims, "Awwwright, lovah!" He gives LaRue a slap on the back. "I'll see you then, babe. You won't regret it."

LaRue nods back in agreement. "Yeah." He turns to look back as Washington walks away. Pushing his hair back, he gives a deep sigh.

Washington nearly walks into Calletano without looking.

"Hello, Neal!" The former commanding officer says in excitement.

"Hey, Ray!" Washington lights up with a big smile. "Long time, no see, man. How are you?"

Calletano can't wipe the smile off his face. "I am doing great, Neal." He takes the detective sergeant's hand in a firm grasp. "Better than I thought."

"That's great, Ray. Glad to hear it."

"As a matter of fact…" Calletano starts to explain, when Furillo reappears upstairs.

"Ray! So wonderful to see you. And how is your company going these days?"

"That is why I am here." Calletano says while smiling. "I have been appointed, leader of Latin American officers by the mayor. He saw me for who I am, not for playing politics like Chief Daniels. He figured since I was with the police department, who better to teach other officers about maintaining their heritage while doing their duty to serve and protect? I agreed with no questions asked. I am to give a speech next week to the officers of this precinct. Mi casa!"

"That's wonderful news! I'm proud of you, Ray."

"I know. I am so excited! Calletano's Language Inc.!" Ray responds enthusiastically.

Lt. Hunters steps up to him. "Congratulations mi amigo!"

"Thank you, Howard. Oh, this is a dream come true for me!" Calletano gushes.

LaRue slowly steps out of the captain's office, still preoccupied in thought. Calletano then spots him. "J.D.!"

The former detective responds back just as enthusiastically. "Hey! Hey! Ray!"

"One big reunion." Washington says, watching the exchange of pleasantries.

"J.D., like I told the others, you are now looking at Leader of the Latin American Officers. Appointed by the mayor himself. "La justicia a sido servida! Justice is served!" Calletano smiles.

"Great, Ray!"

"Now, I only hope I can drive to these seminars by next week. My car is in the shop. Rosa's had to bring me everywhere. She said if I don't get it back by next Monday, I would have to call a cab! As it is right now…" Calletano checks his watch. "…I have to be at the office in no more than a half an hour."

Furillo asks, "What about Rosa?"

"She went to run a few errands while I was here. But, I can not wait."

"The building is on the east, right?" LaRue asks. "Between Forbes & Market St.?"

"Yes. That is it."

"No problem. Let me just make a quick phone call."

Nearby, Sgt. Bates calls out, "Hill! Renko! We got a domestic on Jefferson!"

"No problem Ms. Lucy!" Renko shouts back. He and Hill scurry out the door before saying their goodbyes. "Hey, J.D., ol' buddy, don't be a stranger 'round these here parts. Always good to see you."

Hill says, "That goes for me too, lovah."

Furillo watches the two leave, with a growing smile.

Away from the squad room, LaRue places a phone call. "Yeah. Rockford? I'm looking for the Rockford Airport?" He clicks on a pen and jots down the number.

Nearby, Calletano says to Furillo. "I just need the roster of all the Spanish speaking officers in the precinct."

"Oh, that won't be a problem Ray."

LaRue returns to the group. "Okay. We set to go?"

"Yes we are, J.D." Calletano answers with pride.

Bates hesitantly looks up from her paperwork. Her eyes meet LaRue's. Then she goes back to closing the file drawer.