"Yes, you may well have been trying to get away from an ex-gang member with a chainsaw, Sir, but that doesn't account for the fact you were doing almost double the speed limit in this area," Stef says firmly, standing over a plump, Latino man who was trying – and ultimately failing – to reason himself out of being charged for speeding. Stef was having none of it, though – he'd lost her after 'chainsaw' – and she had no trouble writing out his details as Mike issued him a fine.
Today had been busy, too busy for Stef's liking. She feels as if she hasn't stopped all day, although she doesn't have anyone to blame but herself. As soon as she'd arrived back at the station, she'd bumped into a flustered Mike who told her he'd been called to man some kind of community sports event in Chula Vista and was needed immediately, if she wanted to come. At the time, getting out on a job had seemed like the better option, but now, having had her patience tested a few too many times, she is beginning to regret the choice.
Now, the time is creeping close to her 4:30pm finish, and she's stuck all the way down in San Ysidro again of all places, reciting the rules and regulations on speeding in a neighbourhood area to a grown man who she knows probably isn't listening or has a care for what she's saying.
The sun is still hot on her skin, and Stef wipes her brow with her shirtsleeve for the umpteenth time as she gives one final glare to the man in the car before sending him on his way.
"At least he had the decency to drive away slowly," Mike jokes, coming to stand beside her.
"Yeah, but that probably won't last long. Wait until he reaches the highway, and I bet he'll be pulled over by another squad."
The two share a laugh, and with that, return to the cruiser. Mike pulls onto the road, and the suffocating heat of the car begins to get the best of Stef. Not even rolling the windows down and blasting the AC can shake her out of her sweat, so finally, the two agree to pull over at a close by grocery store so Stef can fetch them some cold sodas.
When she gets out the car, Stef can't help but cringe at her surroundings. There's litter caught up in the chain-link fences, and the store's walls are spray-painted with various profanities and gang symbols. She'd promised Lena that she would do her best to stay away from San Ysidro, but it seems that ever since she made that promise, she had been destined to break it.
"I'll take a Dr. Pepper," Mike says through the open window, bringing Stef back to reality.
He pushes a couple of dollar bills into her hand, but Stef shakes her head and gives the money back. "My treat."
"Thanks." He smiles, and for a moment, Stef feels like she's back in the academy. Sure yesterday had been odd for both of them, suddenly having to spend all day together again after the history they shared, but now the awkwardness has passed, Stef finds herself enjoying being in the company of Mike again. He really is a good guy, it's just a shame she had hurt him so much throughout their romantic and platonic relationships.
She heads over to the door, and instantly sighs in content at the sensation of the cool air conditioner blowing cold air in her face. After greeting the security guard, Stef looks around the shop and heads over to the refrigerator to grab the sodas, and instantly groans as she sees the long line for the checkout. Of course, she thinks to herself. How typical.
As she waits, she studies the label of her chosen soda and raises her eyebrows at the number of artificial flavourings and sugar, knowing Lena would choke if she knew Stef was drinking it. She'd hate to think what her girlfriend would do if it were any of the kids, and hopes for their own safety that they would know better than to bring sodas like this back to the house. Of course, Stef agrees with Lena, and encourages their kids to be as healthy as possible, but she doesn't see how a little treat like this can do any harm. Especially when its temptingly delicious flavour is only enhanced by the ice-cold condensation bleeding down the bottle on a stifling hot day like this…
By the time she looks up, she realises that the line has slowly crept up on itself and she's now second to the front. Before her is a young boy, maybe ten or eleven, and he's struggling to move all the groceries from his cart onto the conveyer belt, with a book clasped under his arm. Stef can tell by the pinched up look on the shop assistant's face that she's growing impatient, and for some reason, she finds herself mildly annoyed with the woman.
"And the book?" she almost hisses just as the boy has finished.
"Oh, um, I forgot to put that back…" Stef can't see his face, but by the timid tone to his voice, she can gather that he's feeling slightly flustered as to what to do.
"Well," the woman snaps, finishing up scanning the last item. "are you gettin' it or not?"
"Um," he says almost urgently, his voice wavering slightly as he looks down at the money in his hands. For a moment, Stef thinks he might cry, and her heart softens. "I don't think have enough. I'll just go put it back."
The shop assistant shakes her head, chewing her lip in annoyance, and it takes everything in Stef to control herself from chastening the woman about the foul attitude she's showing towards the young boy. "Well hurry – I don't got all day to be waitin' on you. There are other people waitin' in that line, too!"
"Wait!" Stef finds herself calling out just as the little boy begins to walk away. Both he and the shop assistant look round at her, mouths wide open with surprise. "I'll get it."
She can't help but notice the boy's eyes widen with fear as he stares at her, his body physically stiffening as he takes in her uniform and gun belt. It almost reminds her of the girl she'd met earlier this morning.
"No, it's okay. You don't have to do that," the boy says, shrinking away from Stef's stare, although not retreating back to the magazine stand either.
"I want to," Stef assures, her voice kind and she reaches out to take the comic book from the boy.
He looks around uncertainly, before handing it over. "O-okay. I mean, really? You're sure it's okay?"
"Of course," Stef replies, waving off his doubts. In truth, the little boy reminds her a lot of Mariana when she first came to stay with them: extremely timid and unsure. But also, in essence, much like Jesus – in fact, Stef is sure that the comic book she holds in her hands is an exact replica of one of the countless copies she had bought her son in the past. Now, the collection lies in a box under his bed, probably gathering dust.
The boy gives her what looks to be the most genuinely happy smile he can muster, although Stef can see it doesn't quite meet his eyes. "Thank you," he says, so sincerely that she suddenly wants to wrap him in a hug. Being a cop always had it's rewards, but the chance to make a little kid so happy with just a small gesture like this doesn't come up often, and Stef smiles to herself. She watches the boy pay for his groceries and wander to the store's exit while she buys her sodas and the comic book.
While scanning her items, the shop assistant gives Stef an icy gaze. She obviously doesn't know what it's like to be a mother, she thinks to herself, ready to reprimand the woman's bad attitude, but stops herself when she catches sight of the boy waiting on her. Now that she can get a better look at him, Stef see's that he's very small and overly pale, and by his skittish stance, she gets the impression that he's intimidated by the surroundings.
She wanders over to him, a reassuring smile on her face to assure him she's not a threat. She can practically smell the nerves off him, and wonders why on earth his mother would send him out alone in a neighbourhood like this. Although the thought is unjust, she can't help but shiver at the thought of her kids wandering this kind of area on their own, and they're teenagers – never mind a small, vulnerable child like the boy before her.
"Here you go, buddy," she says, reaching out to pass him the comic book.
He looks up sheepishly before taking the book from her hands, almost too quickly, as if he is afraid she'll change her mind. "Thank you, Miss," he mumbles, looking down at the book in awe. The smile that graces his face makes Stef's heart melt, and she's glad to see she could make the boy happy.
"You're very welcome. I'm glad I was able to help out."
They stand there for a moment, neither making the move to leave, but not finding the words to continue the conversation, either. Eventually, after a few moments of the boy flicking through the pages, he tucks the book under his arm and begins to pick up his bags.
"Do you need any help with that to get to your mom or dad?" Stef asks, cringing as the plastic sack handle strains against the heavy weight of canned goods. She bends down to help shift the weight of the groceries into one of the other less filled bags, but at her movement, the boy darts backwards and almost stumbles into a promotional sign offering a half off carpet freshener.
Stef immediately places the two bottles of soda occupying her hands on the ground and reaches out to steady the child, and to her relief, he allows her to help him catch his balance. Red lights flash around her head at this whole scenario, but she shakes her head, determined not to lose focus on what's right in front of her.
"You okay?" she chuckles, trying to make light of the situation, but there's no way of wiping the look of horror off the little boy's face.
"Yes," he squeaks, too fast, edging away from her close proximity. "I-I have to go now…"
Stef nods, backing up a little as not to spook him. "Okay."
She watches as he picks up the bags of groceries, the comic book wedged under his slender arms as he heads for the exit. Just as he reaches the security guard, he pauses and turns to face her. His brow is furrowed, and some kind of adorable frown graces his face, as if he's debating whether to speak or not. "Thanks again…uh, Miss."
"Stef," she says, nodding her head, and the boy releases a shy smile. "You can call me Stef." She bends down to pick up her soda, but when she looks up expecting to hear the small brunet share his name, he's nowhere to be seen.
She crosses over to the exit quickly, taking a step out into the scorching heat before peering out into the parking lot and glancing along the sidewalk, but there's no sign of the child. All traces of her interaction with him have gone – almost as if she'd dreamed it. The only evidence was the receipt she had for her trip in the grocery store, the comic book that ran up to a total of six dollars being the heaviest of her purchases. She shakes her head, confused as to what on earth just happened. That little boy. He looked so scared and fragile, and the thought that he had assumed Stef was going to hurt him makes her feel physically sick. Maybe she is overreacting, but she swears he seems familiar, almost like she's seen him before…
Her thoughts drift back to last night, but before she lets herself connect any dots, she shakes her head in frustration. It's just the heat, she tells herself. It's making me paranoid and over emotional. Lena always says that the heat gets to me worse than anyone she's met before. That's all it is: the heat.
It's just a strange coincidence – in fact, it isn't even a coincidence, it's just by pure chance, because for it to be a coincidence, what she saw would have to be real, and right now, Stef isn't sure what to call reality and what's just a fragment of her imagination.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stef and Callie are going to have a real run in soon enough instead of these brief, close misses!
As always, thank you SO much for the feedback and reviews - I'm really glad to hear what you guys are thinking. So, let me know what you thought of Jude and Stef's first interaction, and your other thoughts! -K :)