beep BeEp BEEP!
Luca's alarm goes off, rolling over to turn off the phone, he looks out the window. The sun beaming at him, creating a beautiful feeling inside of him. Getting ready for work, he peeks into Street's room and realizes that he must have sleep over at Chris'
What lovebirds, he thinks, smiling wider
Luca drives to work and picks up a coffee at his favorite local shop down the street from HQ. When he enters the parking lot, Luca drives into his favorite spot, a corner spot shaded by a big oak tree. Luca turns off the car and steps out, he is about to take a swig of coffee when he sees a boy sitting on one of the tree branches.
The kid couldn't have been more than 12 at best. She is tanned, with black hair with a few brown streaks, and is more legs than torso. The child's face has sun freckles with round eyes, and a mouth that rarely smiles. They hold the tree with calloused hands and grip to the trunk with equally calloused feet.
Luca didn't think much of it until the child looked at him. Her eyes are a simple brown shade, but when they are touched by light, the eyes create a small white tint. There was a bruise under the left eye. The color was black and blue, Luca could tell that it was new
"A ball hit you too hard while playing?" Luca asks joking, the child shakes her head "what happened man?"
"Life, sir"
"What's your name?" Luca asks
"Isaac, but you may call me Isa" (ee-sa)
"Isa?" He repeats, the child nods "why Isa?"
"Short for Isaac sir. I find words that make big words smaller fascinating"
"Alright then, Isa it is" Luca says, then he takes in the whole picture of the boy "I must say, those clothes a bit big on you" he was not that far off. The clothes draped over her and it was obvious that Isa didn't eat, whether because she didn't want to or couldn't was unclear, the child shrugs
"I will grow big one day sir" Luca laughs, but Isa doesn't. Not very familiar with the concept
"Look man, what are you doing in a tree at 6:30 in the morning?" Luca asks
"Outside is where I am free sir"
"Well a young boy might like climbing trees, but that doesn't mean you should be here climbing trees at 6:30" Luca reasons playfully
"I am a girl, not a boy sir"
"I see" Luca says, he looks hard at the kid. Despite Isa's words, one could not tell if she were a girl. She wore boy's tan shorts and navy tank, both so dirty that the colors smeared into a brown. Isa's hair was cut to a style that resembled Street's, and based on the rough cutting, it seemed to be not her choice. The lack of food and bony frame made her appear smaller and younger. The only way you could really tell was her voice, which mimicked a gentle tone of an angel, full of curiosity. However, Luca only noticed because Isa pointed it out. Isa watches his reaction. Luca now finds himself with several questions, and is finding this morning to be not so normal. However, he decides to ask an easy one "why aren't you in school, it is October"
"Homeschooled and I am two grades ahead, sir" Isa says proudly "Besides, I am able to complete enough work to cover a week of school in one night. I plan to do it every night, I will be ok sir" Luca nods
"What is your favorite subject?" He asks, she shrugs, not really knowing what that means
"Ok then, how about this one, where do you live Isa?" Luca asks "live on the streets?"
"I live somewhere, I do not know where"
"Where are your parents?" He asks, an uneasy feeling coming into his stomach. The feeling he gets when he drives by the homeless children "do you have parents?" Isa shrugs as she hangs down from the branch, feet dangling, barely brushing the grass. Luca is about to say something when
"Luca!" Deacon calls to him from his car, he turns to wave
"Hey Deac! Come here for a minute" Luca answers, Deacon nods, heading over. He turns back to find Isa gone. "Where did you go?" There is no answer, Luca scans the parking lot "hello?!"
"What's wrong?" Deacon asks coming over
"There was this girl, underfed, dirty, and had a bruise on her face, a bad one. But now she is gone"
"What is her name?" Deacon asks
"Isaac, but calls herself Isa"
"Weird name for a girl" Deacon comments
"Yeah, I agree. Said something about the bruise coming from life. Something just didn't feel right"
"Maybe we will see her later" Deacon says, Luca nods as they go in
The shift was an abnormal one, following the unusual morning. Having no calls to keep them busy, Hondo ordered the team a bunch of different scenarios and fitness exercises. Throughout the whole day, the team was happy, enjoying a different kind of shift instead of the usual go go go. However, Luca couldn't appreciate the change of pace. Part of him wished a call would come in, because no matter how many times he tried to regroup, his mind kept wandering to Isa. When the time hit 7:25, the team had just finished showering and were in the locker room
"I'll call it, we can go home" Hondo says "shift ends in five but it's fine. Just leave slowly" the group chuckles.
"Any plans tonight?" Deacon asks
"Bonnie wants to what the premier of this new show. She wouldn't tell me the name, but it is an American crime drama series that is based on the original series from 1975" Tan says, slinging on his jacket "you?"
"Lila has a reading assignment, if that is thrilling" Deacon says chuckling, taking off any gear he does not want to bring home
"Chris and I are going out to dinner" Street chimes in, taking out his backpack "the girls are going to Nichelle's to do some volunteer work"
"Chris doesn't have you working huh?" Hondo jokes "Nichelle has me helping tonight, that is apparently now my date night"
"Give the pregnant girl a break" Deacon teases lightly "I can't believe she is working like that, her due date must be close"
"Yeah, a couple of weeks" Hondo replies "I told her to slow down, but she said why should I, if you can just do all the lifting" the group, minus Luca, chuckles
"You know" Street says "it seems like you helped get me a date night. Chris only agreed because someone else volunteered"
"I feel like I say this every time we talk about Chris, but it is still weird with her not here" Tan says "maybe she will visit"
"I would like that" Deacon says "she works a lot, I haven't seen her since our last shift together. Luca, didn't you say that Chris would come in for a go in the ring?"
"Yeah, I remember that. What do you think Luca, think you can get her to visit?" Tan asks, but Luca isn't listening. Instead, he is looking up missing children on his phone hoping that Isa's name would show up, allowing him to rest easier
"Luca?" Hondo asks, when Luca still doesn't reply, Street waves his hand in front of the phone
"26-David to 22-David!" He says teasing
"What? Yeah sorry, what are we talking about?" He answers, looking up
"Talking about you getting Chris to visit" Hondo says
"Oh yeah, I can try" he replies, putting his phone away
"You good?" Tan asks "you seemed distracted all day"
"Yeah, I'm good" Luca says
"Are you thinking about Isa?" Deacon asks
"Who is that?" Tan asks
"A kid Luca met this morning" Deacon explains "apparently she looks like-"
"Like she is abused, orphaned, missing, or something" Luca says "it's bothering me a lot"
"I'm sure she is ok Luca, if she is an orphan, she's probably learned how to make her way" Hondo says, he nods as the group disperses.
Luca goes to his car and looks at the tree. There Isa is sitting on the same branch, seeming to have been waiting for him.
"Hey there" Luca greets "how was your day?" She shrugs "why don't you come down, I don't bite" Isa looks at him, wondering if that is a good idea. Trusting her gut, she climbs down and stands next to Luca. They stand a few feet apart, Isa wanting to keep her distance.uva eyes her and can tell she is very short, coming up to maybe his shoulder. Isa wears no shoes and is more dirty than earlier. Dirt covers her, making it appear as if the earth was her skin tone
"Hello sir"
"What did you do today?" He asks her
"Sat here, best place in LA"
"Do you just sit here alone?" Luca asks, she nods
"Yes sir"
"Why aren't you out playing in the park with friends?" He asks, she shrugs "Do you like to play games with your friends or family?" Isa's face contorts in confusion
"I am sorry?"
"Do you have a family? Or friends?" He repeats
"I do not understand" Now Luca is worried
"Do you have a group of people that love you? A family is a group of people who might tuck you in night or read you stories. Or maybe friends, people who always have your back and like to have fun" he explains
"Oh" she looks at Luca, unsure what exactly those words mean "I do not think I have either"
"Can we be friends Isa?" He asks, she nods sticking out her hand. Luca is a bit shocked by the formality, but shakes it nonetheless. The distance between them shrinking just a bit
"Hey Luca" Deacon says from behind "is this Isa?"
"Yeah" Luca says, keeping his eyes on her this time. Isa peeks behind Luca, the person who is now what he calls a friend, and sees Deacon. She looks at the man, and seems to be afraid. Noticing, Luca adds "Isa this is Deacon, a friend of mine. He won't hurt you"
"Nice to meet you Isa" Deacon greets
"Likewise sir" Isa extends her hand again and Deacon shakes it. Now Isa turns back to Luca "You can have more than one friend?"
"Yes, I have many friends" Luca says "Deacon and I both do"
"Am I able to as well? Or is it selective?" She asks
"Nope, everyone can have friends, plural" Deacon says, coming a bit closer. Isa looks up at him, still afraid, but also feels safe "what do you like to do Isa?"
"Like to do?" Isa asks "what does that mean" the men look at each other, concerned by the concepts she doesn't understand. Isa looks at the ground, embarrassed by her stupidity
"Things that you do because you enjoy them" Luca explains "I like to surf on the beach, it's something that I don't have to do, but I enjoy the activity" Isa still looks at the ground, but appears to have heard him
"I like to read, but I have to do that. Does that mean it can not be an activity I like to do?" She asks
"No, I like to work out" Deacon says "but I have to do it, for work"
"You both are policemen right? The kind that kick down doors?" She asks
"Yeah, we are both SWAT" Deacon answers
"Special Weapons and Tactics she replies, Luca nods surprised by what the kid knows and doesn't
"You want to be that one day?" Deacon asks, she nods
"Very sir" then there is a sound of a crash, the two men look and see that it is just some teenagers messing around with trash cans. When they turn back, Isa is gone
"Isa?" Luca calls "it's ok, they're just messing around"
"You're right Luca, something is up" Deacon says
"Wonder what" Luca says, the two wait for a few minutes, seeing if she comes back. But after while they both go home