Side note – I will mostly ignore City Primeval, I have seen it but I didn't like it as much as the first Justified. Action of the story starts sometime in June 2023.
I do not own any right, this is purely a release for my imagination.
Tim Gutterson was still working as a Deputy Marshal in Lexington, Kentucky. His friend and usual work partner – Rachel Brooks – was preparing to take over Chief's duties from offices, still current, Chief Art Mullen. The things in Kentucky were mostly calm since his friend – Raylan Givens – has moved to Miami 7 years prior. Occasional madness happened, but it hasn't been as intense as the case against Boyd Crowder. Deputy Gutterson has had a little down time at the moment, normal office working hours for last couple of weeks, since his last big chase happened – he caught the guy with not much fuss somewhere in Vegas and brought him safely back to Kentucky.
Roughly in the same time Raylan Givens have been getting used to his new partner in Miami office. She was assigned to work with him about a month before. His boss apparently thought he was a good example for a newbie – she was fresh out of Marshal's training in Glynco. Ha wasn't exactly a fan of working with someone straight from training – he would rather prefer someone who knew what they were doing. Additionally she didn't even look like a Marshal – she always wore some baggy clothes matched with something skinny – more like a college student in his opinion – how was that supposed to evoke respect – he wondered. And that morning, to top it all, Raylan and his partner has gotten transfer orders. To where? Yup – fucking Kentucky. So here he was – entering the office with his newbie partner right behind him…
Tim was typing, the reports weren't gonna write themselves, when he heard the door open – he looked up and smirked when he saw the familiar hat – he never thought he would be happy to see it… and then he noticed silent being behind the cowboy – wavy dark blonde hair reaching her shoulders, chocolate eyes that he could tell had already taken the whole office in, lightly tanned complexion and delicate freckles… and at first glance making her look more like a witness or something than a Marshal – an oversized T-shirt and jacket, skinny jeans and leather boots.
Raylan grinned widely when he noticed Tim's expression.
You're gaping buddy and he winked. Tim closed his mouth and looked up at him.
What are you doing here Raylan?
Got transferred. That desk is free? the older Marshal motioned to his old desk. Tim gave him a nod. Nina you can sit here for now he said to the girl. He himself went to walk in Art's office when Rachel poked her head out.
Tim you can come in too she said.
Welcome back Raylan Chief Mullen sounded slightly annoyed, looking at Givens over the rim of his glasses.
Art Givens gave him a tight smile while sitting in the chair in front of him.
You brought a tag along?
Ha… Cowboy sighed before continuing gotten assigned to me a month ago. Straight out of Glynco.
Anything you have to say about her? asked Rachel
Not much. She's 28. I don't know what she used to do before.
Really? cut in Tim 28?
Yeah, she looks younger. said Art. He was reading her very scarce file before and he really didn't know what to make of the girl. She's staring at us he noticed. Everybody in the office glanced at the young woman. She smirked and turned her gaze to her phone.
Interesting commented Gutterson
Mhm Chief hummed with a thoughtful expression. Alright he seemed to have made some decisions – his Deputies turned back to him From now on Tim will be partnered with Deputy Pérez. Raylan take Rachel's old desk. You can leave.
What about Rachel? wondered Givens.
Got a new desk Brooks motioned with her hand to a desk right by the Chief's office.
Huh Raylan nodded walking out of the office when does he retire?
Supposedly this year, but he says that every year since 2018 answer came from Tim instead of Rachel, in a stage whispered somewhere by Raylan's left shoulder, that effected with little laughs all over the office. Older marshal only smirked.
Two days later Tim was picking some stuff from his locker when Raylan stepped in.
Hey
Hey
Givens made a circle around his own axis.
So what do you think? He asked the younger Marshal.
I dunno said the Tim closing the locker door haven't had an occasion to talk actually. We've been at our desks since you came. She does her job and leaves. You worked with her for a month. You ought to know more. What can you tell me?
A month at our desks Raylan said in a flat tone Nina Pérez. 28. Looks younger, acts both younger and older. Depends on the air pressure I guess he chuckled. Tim rolled his eyes.
You haven't read her file?
Nope. Thought I'll get to know her a little first. So my judgment wasn't biased by something I read.
But it's biased by her looks said Gutterson with another eye roll. Raylan shrugged I'll figure her out when we have an opportunity to leave the office and be alone. And after that he left the locker room.
Next morning , before Tim had a chance to put his butt on a chair he and Nina have been called by Art to come over to his office.
I have a subpoena to deliver Art threw some papers at his desk I think you two can handle it.
Yes chief was the stereo response.
Address is in there he motioned his chin at the file. Tim picked it up and they left. The subpoena was for Tom Walden, he was to show up in court due to multiple unpaid speeding and parking tickets.
Okay they were sitting in Tim's pick-up truck the address is in Florence, that's a little over an hour drive.
Mhm Nina hummed without looking up, focused on the file on her lap. Tim knew he was staring but he couldn't take his eyes of her - clad in loose navy jeans, white tank top and checkered jacket paired white sneakers, hair pulled up in a bun, except few shorter strands near her face, minimal make up, nicely done nails and some piercings in her ear 'how on Earth did she end up in Marshal service in Kentucky' he thought.
Shouldn't we drive already? she pulled her eyes away from the file.
Ahh… right Tim flustered a little and started the car. She smirked and came back to reading the file. Something interesting there?
Mr Walden apparently doesn't like trespassers she said, glancing over at Tim He has threatened local police with a shotgun few times she sounded amused, he noticed.
They drove in silence for some time but Tim curiosity got better of him – he really couldn't read his partner and he didn't like it, because he usually had no problems reading people. He decided the easiest way to start figuring her out was to ask…
So, ah… for some unknown reason he was nervous I wonder how is it that a 28-year-old is a rookie Marshal. What'd you do before? Old job gotten boring for you?
You could say that she answered quietly. He side eyed her, she was looking at him I'll give you a deal. When you ask a question, you get an answer. But it's only fair if it'll work both ways.
Deal Tim nodded once So let's start at the begging. Where do you come from? Your accent is all over.
I know. Nina said with a chuckle we lived everywhere from Honolulu to Gisborne.
What?
That's in New Zealand.
That's not what I meant Tim mumbled, which got him another chuckle from his passenger.
I'm a Navy brat she smiled at him. We lived everywhere where my dad got an assignment.
Why not NCIS then?
Too close to the Navy. I guess I wanted to avoid that uptightness… And yet I still ended up in Law Enforcement she said in a far-away voice.
Mhm. Your turn
Right Nina glanced his way What's your gig?
Huh?
I mean are you cannot be just a sarcastic comic relief in the office…
Funny. he made as flat face as he could and eyed her I'm a sniper. I was before, in the Army and am now for the Marshals when necessary and on rotations with SOG*.
Noted that sounded like she has just filed that piece of information in some internal data base.
Navy brat. Tim continued So you travelled a lot as a kid. Where to?
We moved a lot, I mean like almost every year, sometimes every 6 months. I was born in Honolulu, then was NOLA, New York, LA. I don't even remember every place we've been at. Last move, 2 years or so before my 18th birthday, was to Gisborne. I came back to Hawaii after that. My parents live in San Diego now.
Cool.
Lonely. If you move that much there is not much of a chance for friends. Tim gave her a look, she was turned to the window for a bit before looking back at him Army?
Army Ranger, sniper, did two full tours…
Two full?
The last one was cut short he cleared his throat seemed like he was nervous, but willing to continue…
Stop Nina cut in before he could
Hm?
That's obviously a touchy subject, you don't have to tell me she said calmly
Ok the breathed out. So you moved back to Hawaii, then what?
Studied on Chaminade University – two minors – psychology and forensic sciences. Nina glanced at Tim for a reaction – there was a little awe in his eyes. The latter focusing on forensic IT. After finishing them I continued with psychology, I got a major from Stanford on behaviorism.
Wow Gutterson glanced at the younger woman Nice. She grinned at him "nice smile" he thought.
When did you serve? was Nina's next question Actually, how old are you?
That's two questions Tim chuckled but alright. Was born in 1984, served 7 years, training included. I enlisted when I turned 18, so in 2002.
Ok she looked thoughtful again, storing the information internally. Tim waited a moment with his question.
Any side skills? Hobbies?
Haa… Some. Dad wanted me to know how to defend myself, so I took some kind of martial arts classes since I was about 4 years old. Started from Kyokushin Karate and I tried to find a Dojo in every city we lived in. Didn't in some, but found some others. So right now I have 2nd Dan in Kyokushin Karate, I do Muai Thai and Krav Maga… oh, and I even know some moves from Kapu Kailua.
Kapu what?
Kailua… Hawaiian martial art.
Aaaha.
Women weren't allowed to do it back in the day, but the rule ain't that strict anymore. Tim nodded.
They stopped the questioning game then, seeing as they were nearing their destination. A shotgun poking out of the door welcomed them, Tim moved closer to Nina in case the guy decided to shoot, but when they introduced themselves it moved back and a little chubby 50-something gentlemen stepped out. They delivered the subpoena with no issue and started on the way back.
They stopped in some pub on the way back. During lunch Gutterson managed to find out that Nina was an interesting mix – mother's side of the family consisted of WW2 immigrants from Poland – two different parts of the country. Dad's part was a mixed race marriage of a semi-Mexican boy from California and a semi-Hawaiian girl from the Maui island. Additionally she told him that at some point she picked up on ASL* and lips reading – been bored as a teenager, wandered into a school for hearing impaired kids – which she was pretty sure Art new about. That explained why she was looking at them when she was left at the desk and they were in Chief's office, and also explained why Art wasn't surprised – he knew what she was doing. "Wonder what other interesting stuff she does" thought Tim on the way back.
Ehm… Nina started before the got out of the car, unsure, which somehow didn't fit her very well to Tim Do you know of some small apartment of room to rent in the area?
Oh. Tim looked at her You're staying at the same motel as Raylan is?
Mhm she confirmed I never slept well in motels and it seems like I am going to stay here or a while, and I have kind of… loud neighbors.
Is it Raylan? Tim said with a chuckle
No. she responded in kind But they bang every night. Tim laughed out loud at that That's not funny, I need sleep
Ok ok, sorry. I uh… he hesitated I have a room Nina eyed him I was goin' to post it online or something, but I would just end up with some college kid or somethin' so… I guess you'll be better
Mhm she hummed.
But if you think it will be awkward, you…
No she stopped him we'd figure it out. I guess you have some space in the house?
Bedroom with a bathroom upstairs, room and another bathroom downstairs he said
See, no problem Nina smiled. I'll think about it ok? I'll let you know in a few days. Tim smiled to himself when she left the car. Funny how she usually was reserved with new people, but he liked her basically right away. He wondered what that could mean…
SOG - Special Operations Group, one of the first federal tactical units. It is a flexible, modernized unit with a diverse skill set.
ASL - American Sign Language
