At her desk, Brenda rested her head in her hands as she peered at the run sheet filled out by the paramedics for the 5th time that morning. It just didn't make sense, that the patient could present with legitimate symptoms like depressed respiration, and dilated pupils. Faking a seizure, sure, but the rest of it seemed too real. She walked out to the murder room, and posed her query to Tao, as he triangulated the cell phone.
"I'm not sure how they'd fake it Chief, but I'll research it while I wait for the cell to ping." He grinned reassuringly, and dropped his thick framed glasses down from his forehead, leaning in to focus on the screen.
"Thank you, lieutenant. I'm just going…out. I'll be quick. And I have my phone." Brenda cringed at how guilty she sounded. She'd have to do better in the future. She pushed out of the murder room, and headed for the wheelchair accessible restroom. Ducking inside, she pulled out her cell phone, and quickly dialed a number she'd never really expected to memorize.
"FID, Raydor." Sharon's no nonsense voice sent heat flooding into Brenda's cheeks.
"How can a person fake respiratory distress? Or increased heart rate? Or dilated pupils?" Brenda blurted the first thing on her mind.
"It's nice to hear your voice too, Chief." Sharon chuckled, leaning back in her chair and spinning around to face away from her squad, hiding her mirth.
"Sorry. Hi. How are you?" Brenda replied sheepishly.
"I'm quite good. And, I should think that blood pressure medication, or something along those lines, if taken by a healthy person, would cause weird symptoms like that. Why? What sort of case have you gotten?" Sharon tucked the phone between her ear and her shoulder, and absently scratched at her wrist.
Brenda explained the case, stopping petulantly when Sharon laughed at her for being incensed over having to cooperate with Delk.
"It's not funny! That man is so…he's so…arrogant! And entitled!" She fumed.
"Why do I suspect you've said much the same thing about me, behind my back?" Sharon replied cheekily.
"That's not the point, Cap'n. The point is, I'm investigating a double homicide, not a cold case from 2 years ago. It isn't my fault that Counter-Terrorism and the FBI couldn't figure things out. But they can't mess up MY investigation now, because they MIGHT have a clue."
"But, if the bombing is related, then perhaps the CTU and the FBI are the most well-equipped departments to handle things. You're an exemplary woman, Brenda, but I don't think you know how to diffuse a bomb." Sharon pointed out, a small smile playing at her lips.
"Ohhh. Shoot. I have to go," Brenda groaned, glancing at her watch, "thank you, for…Thanks. This was nice. I don't know when I'll be out of here tonight, so…" Brenda trailed off, unsure of proper etiquette.
"Feel free to give me a call, if you'd like. I'm usually up reading. I'll tell you if you've woken me." Sharon grinned, enjoying the uncharacteristic hesitation in the Chief.
"All right then. I will. You take care now. Buh-bye." Brenda snapped her phone closed, and leaned against the door. She felt steadier, somehow, now that she'd talked to Sharon. Shaking her head, she headed back to Tao, to suggest the medication angle for narrowing his search.
Walking back into the murder room, she found Provenza at the board.
"Here's my question. Where does Kevin Mason vanish to, for 3 years?" he asked, as Brenda leaned in to whisper to Tao.
"I don't know, Lieutenant," she sighed, straightening up, "but we better find him before he disappears again."
She started to say something else, but the jangle of her phone diverted her attention. Pulling it out of her sweater pocket, she saw an unfamiliar little 1 up in the corner.
"Lieutenant Tao? What's this little number 1 on my phone mean?" She asked, holding it out to him.
"You have a text message. Just hit this button here," he gestured, "and it should pop right up for you."
"Thank you so much." Brenda pressed the button, and tried not to gasp as she read the words on the screen.
It seems that I'm unable to stop thinking about last night, considering every time I cross my legs, I feel a surprisingly pleasant ache in my thighs.
~s
Brenda could feel the blush creeping across her cheeks, as she attempted to figure out the 'reply' button.
I suppose offering to massage your aches and pains might not work out exactly the way it ought to, hmm? -b ps. How'd you make the cute squiggly dash?
Hitting send, she felt remarkably proud of herself for managing to figure out the whole, 'texting' thing, without too much help. Glancing away from the screen, she realized the rest of her squad was looking at her curiously.
"Can I help you?" She snapped, fixing her glare on each man.
"You're texting now?" Flynn snorted in disbelief.
"I think she said her niece was coming in to town. It's probably her." Gabriel piped up, arching a brow in her direction.
"Well, not that it's any of y'alls concern, but yes, Charlie is due in for a visit. You know how they are, with the iPips and whatnot." Brenda smiled gratefully at Gabriel.
"Pod, Chief." Provenza muttered, drawing surprised looks from Tao and Buzz.
"What's that, Lieutenant?" Brenda asked, turning to face him.
"iPod. Not iPip. Though, a Gladys Knight app would be a thing I'd download, if I did that sort of thing." He snorted a short laugh, not paying any attention to the incredulous faces of his fellow officers.
"Yes. Well. Thank you for that, Lieutenant." Brenda spun on her heel, and walked briskly towards her office. She schooled her features into a mask of indifference when her phone jangled halfway there, and made sure not to look at the screen until she was seated at her desk.
If you're offering, I'm accepting. And the cute little dash is called a tilde. You can find it under symbols.
~s
Brenda pushed her glasses up on her nose, and peered at the tiny keys. "Symbol…I don't see a symbol key. Ohh that woman! Honestly. Texting at our age. Whatever happened to using the kings English and the voice god gave you?" She muttered under her breath as she mashed the menu key with her thumb. Blinking, she pondered Sharon saying those words out loud, and the dampness between her thighs was immediate and obvious. Smiling devilishly, she pecked out another reply.
I'm offering. I can't speak to the ache, but if Forensics got a hold of me just now, our secret would be out. –b
Oh my. Chief. What time will you be finished, do you suppose?
~s
Right now, it's looking like 7, maybe 8? Is that too late for dinner? Also, you're the only person who texts me. You don't have to sign them. It is cute, though, that little squiggly dash. Sorry, tilde. –b
We can do a late dinner. Where would you like to go?
~s
Takeout, at my place? Or yours, but I'll have to go feed Joel. –b
Your place is fine. I'm rather fond of your kitty. And Joel is nice too.
~s
CAPTAIN! Good lord.
Sharon laughed out loud, imagining the blush dancing across Brenda's cheeks, and decided to leave the last remark stand, until it was time to cement the plans for the evening. Setting her phone aside, she glanced up to find Sgt. Elliot staring at her as though she'd suddenly turned purple with orange polka dots.
"Was there anything you needed, Sargent?" She asked, her words clipped and frosty.
"No, Captain. I just..it's good to hear you laughing. You have a nice laugh." The young Sargent blushed, and looked back down at his desk, suddenly engrossed in a file there.
Sharon returned to her own paperwork, a strange feeling of elation making the triplicate forms seem less daunting.
Brenda, for her part, was busily running down leads with Gabriel at her side, though if he noticed her checking her watch every 10 minutes, he was wise enough not to say anything. And if he noticed her agitation increasing as it got closer to the evening, he didn't mention that either. Around 6:45, he rolled his shoulders, and turned to face her.
"Listen. I don't think we're going to get much else done tonight, and I'd like to get home. If there's nothing else, I can give you a lift back to your car?"
"Yes, Detective, that would be just fine. Thank you." Brenda sighed with relief. She might have time for a shower, if she beat the traffic.