"Now what?" Jules asked, as we sat on the couch. She had her whole body leaned on mine. I had my arm wrapped around her body, as if to protect her.
"We go in for the meeting." I answered.
"But we know what's going to happen-" Jules said, "One of us will have to be re-assigned."
Then a thought came into my head. Actually two thoughts, but I'd have to put that one on the backburner for a while.
"I'll step down. You've been with Team One longer than I have- you should be the one to stay."
Jules looked up at me.
As if on cue, however, to ruin what seemed like an intellectual conversation about our futures, Megan came into the living room and sat down in a chair.
I had told Megan about me and Jules being involved the day after our suspension, which was the day after Ed and the rest of Team One rescued us from a barn after we were taken hostage.
She took it better than I thought. Maybe it's just me- but maybe Megan's warming up to the idea of Jules being her step-mom.
"Hey dad." Megan said.
"Hey."
"You'd do that for me?" Jules asked, as if there was no interruption to our conversation.
"Of course, I love you."
"Aww- that's sweet dad," Megan said sarcastically, "Do what?"
"Well Megan," I explained, "Two police officers who are involved-"
"You mean sleeping together?"
"Sure. Two police officers, who are involved, can't work in the same unit together. It's a Priority of Life Code issue."
"Oh. So what happens?"
"We have to go in for an disciplinary meeting."
"Good luck dad."
I suggested to Jules that we both go to the station together, in the same vehicle, and at the same time, but she was adamant that we should go separately.
"Yes- they know we're involved now, but we don't want to give them more than enough reasons."
That was a lame excuse…
When I walked into the station, I knew right away that all eyes were trained on me. Winnie, Kiera, that weird janitor…
I was about to muster the courage to continue walking when a figure stood right in front of me.
That figure was Ed.
"Ed." I said.
"Perra," Ed started, "You lied to me. I don't want no liars on my team, so I suggest you look elsewhere for re-assignment, because I will not give you an SRU recommendation."
"Ok Ed." I replied, as I walked towards the debriefing room, where I could see Greg, Jules, and Dr. Toft sitting down, waiting for me.
I sat down in the debriefing room. Behind me, the door closed.
"You're late." Came a remark from Dr. Toft.
"I wasn't aware there was a deadline. We were told anytime today."
" 'We'." Dr. Toft commented, as he made a note on his notepad, "Very nice Perra."
"Ok if I call you Larry?"
"Sure." He replied, "Now, I'm sure we're all aware as to why we're here, but to refresh your memories…"
Dr. Toft pressed a remote control as an audio conversation came through the single speaker on the table.
"You ok Jules?"
"Yeah, I'm ok."
"I love you Jules."
"I love you too."
"Strategic Response Unit Officers Julianna Callihan and Kristopher Perrasmith, caught on record, expressing profound love for each other. This would normally be the time to object, if you don't love each other, but seeing as you are here for a disciplinary meeting, the both of you are assumed guilty."
Greg shifted uneasily in his seat.
"Parker?" Toft asked, "Thoughts? Comments, questions?"
"I do want to say, that I was not aware of a relationship between Perra and Jules. I don't know how long it was going on for, but they did a damn good job of being unbiased professionals." Parker stated.
"Very well." Dr. Toft continued, as he sat down, "That being said, I am not making an exception. Team One has already been found in contradiction of the Priority of Life code. To make it worse however, one of the officers involved in the previous contradiction is involved in this case, with another officer that has only been in this job for less than year."
I wanted to say something, but I stopped myself, and instead, covered my face in my palm.
"Ashamed?" Larry asked.
"No...it's just that," I replied, "It's been a tough year for me. Stepping up into this job, it was great, but I wasn't without its difficulties. Then my daughter was kidnapped and held hostage- all because of my past in law enforcement. After that, my wife left me- got divorced. It's just nice to have someone I can talk to, who cares- who knows what I'm going through."
"You never sought counselling?" Toft asked.
"She was an idiot." I muttered.
I noted that Toft was writing something else down.
"And Ms. Callihan- did you learn nothing from your previous issue when you were involved with Constable Sam Braddock?"
Jules replied, "Sam was- is a great guy. But we drifted apart- I think it was because he never really connected with me, and that Sam was in it for his own selfish reasons."
"Do you hate Mr. Braddock?" Toft asked.
"No, I don't."
"What about Mr. May?"
Jules looked across the table to me.
"I love him." She replied, "He cares about me. He'll crawl into bed with only the intention of being with me as I fall asleep. That's what every girl wants."
"Where do we go from here?" Greg asked.
"The immediate suspension of both officers. The Police Advisory Board will follow up with a closed door hearing." Toft explained.
"With what result?"
"I am going to suggest, from team moral standpoint, that both officers be dishonourably discharged from SRU service, with a written record of infraction on their police record."
This time, I buried my head into both my palms.
Dammit!
"Dr. Toft." I interrupted, "What if I stepped down? Could Jules stay with Team One?"
He examined me like I was some sort of foreign bacteria. "You really do love her?"
"I do."
There was a moment of silence, as Toft thought to himself.
"I will allow that, on the condition that Jules undergo a re-qualifying psychological exam, and that she will agree that if she is found in contradiction of SRU Policies again, she will be terminated from the Toronto Police Service."
Jules smiled at me, as I smiled back. "Are we done here?" I asked.
"Yes." Toft replied.
I stood up and left as I said, "I have something to do."
I got home later in the afternoon.
"Kris- where have you been?" Jules asked, as she sat on the living room couch.
I walked in, and sat beside her, as I clasped her hands tight. "I got another job."
"Where?"
"With the service."
Jules looked at me with a face of confusion, and fear.
"I thought you can't…"
"Down in Unit 52. I contacted my old boss, and asked if he needed an officer, and I'm starting effective immediately as Unit 52's Staff Sergeant."
Jules smiled even bigger, as she kissed me.
"And I have some even bigger news," I said, as I grabbed a small item out of my pocket, and bent down to one knee, "Julianna Callihan. I've known you for seven months, eight days, and we've been together for a month- but I can't stop thinking about you. I want to be with you forever. Will you marry me?"
Jules looked at me in bewilderment.
"Yes, you idiot!" she said, "Yes, I'll marry you!"