Warning: hate speech and language for purposes of education

The day of the protest.

Goren and Eames patrolled the area where the protests occurred. They saw protesters getting singled out and their backpacks searched. Any milk was tossed and anything resembling weapons confiscated. There had to be at least 100 protesters that showed up in Union Square. The protesters were set to march to City Hall, and block traffic in Lower Manhattan. Before, Goren and Eames could settle in and as the protesters grew, they were interrupted by a cackle.

"All this would be handled differently back in the day. String 'em up and make them watch. Those monkeys knew their place then."

Eames and goren were struck dumbfounded.

"Excuse me! That is way out of line! What is your name?" Eames rushed the officers.

"I forgot people are so sensitive these days. Dunne. William Dunne, sweetheart."

"It's not sensitivity, it's some Goddamn respect for the badge and the citizens it's supposed to protect. Lowlife cops like you make us all look bad."

"Oh boo hoo you over crying over a bunch of thugs that disrespect the badge and whine about special rights."

"Equal rights." Goren pipes up

"What'd ya say?"

"They want to be treated equal like human beings instead of being targeted by bigots like you," Eames continued for Goren.

"Where's your loyalty? You know I liked it better when the force was all men, less mouthy."

"And I liked it better when my colleagues had brain cells. I guess we are both having a shitty day then."

He's about to open his mouth again when Goren interrupts, "Watch yourself. She outranks you. Maybe consider that before you pop off on the mouth again."

Another officer shoots off a low class remark, "Now, I know why you put up with her. I guess I know who to give credit for the morning salute I am gonna have. I am gonna have my hands full."

"Oh that's right you have to resort to your hand. No woman in their right mind would want to touch you." Eames looked him up and down with a critical look on her face, "Although it seems like it would be a fast encounter you don't seem to be packing much."

"Wanna find out how wrong you are?"

"I am of right mind."

Goren laughs. He always enjoyed her witty comebacks. "Oh and make sure you return any valuables back to the protesters, weapons excluded of course. I'm sure a cop like you took more than you should have."

"And if I did, it's my business. Why don't you go home let's us real cops do our jobs?"

Goren positions himself between Eames and the other officers. He was reminded that they had a job to do and this was a distraction neither needed right now.

He whispers in her ear, "As much as I would love to watch you kick their collective asses we have…." His voice trails off and she knows what he's referring to.

They both turn the corner leaving the officers to do a job that they both are sure will fail. Goren made sure to get their badge numbers so that Eames could lodge complaints in the morning. Better it come from her than the resident whackjob that wouldn't get the time of day from anyone in the precinct.

"They have some nerve."

"Yeah well I guess the bar is set pretty low these days."

Eames nods. "Let's split up, you take the far right and I'll take the far left and we'll meet in the middle."

Goren fiddled with the coms in his ear. " Do you miss the Grunt work of early academy days?"

"Towing the line not so much." Eames responded, coming in clear. "I'm glad to be where I am now."

"I didn't mind it so much but I remember getting pulled aside a lot. They didn't like the time I spent with homeless and victims and even less that my paperwork piled up. You know, while I didn't initially mind the work, the military kind of drilled into me the kind of officer they wanted me to be. "

"So what changed? When did you decide to break free of all that left-brained procedural drone?"

"You kid but eventually I wanted to provide real change. Systemic change. Something, the law has yet to catch up with. After narcotics. I wanted to do more than putting up big numbers."

"I get it. Sometimes the job can leave a bad taste in your mouth. But the job is why I live the way I do. I love holding those types of people accountable."

"Definitely. Seen too many cops go bad to join the criminals. were supposed to stop. Do you see anything unordinary?"

"Just a lot of angry protesters and frustrated cops."

"It's a powder keg."

"Do you think this threat is real? Should we try to stop the protest?"

"I don't know what to think now. You know there's a threat either way. It's too damn hot. It feels like one of those days…"

"Where everything goes wrong."

"You feel it too?"

"Yeah. Like the other shoe hasn't dropped yet."

"Heads up."

"You got him in your sights?"

"I have an eye on him walking northbound on 17th."

"Okay he's walking in my direction. I'll engage."

Goren walks cautiously in Gregory's direction and passed near Dunne's station where he hit a protesters bike with a baton to trip them. The protestor fell with a clang and scraped up their arms and legs. Just as they rose bloodied and pissed, another protester threw some debris in Dunne's face. Dunne grabbed his pepper spray and taser going to work on the crowd. When that didn't work he threw blows until they laid out on the floor in fetal position.

"Stop asshole!" A protester shouted as they made their way up to lend aid to the injured protestor. They were met with Dunne pulling down his mask spraying pepper spray all over his face and in his mouth to shut him up.

"Great Dunne's acting up. He is fighting with the protesters. I got it. Keep with Gregory."

"I just want to get the suspect quickly before this turns into an angry mob. We are outnumbered here and there's a lot of ways this can turn ugly."

Gregory starts to blend in the crowd as Goren quickened his pace to catch up with him. "Gregory stop."

"Okay officer Dunne. I got it from here. I will need you to stand down," Eames commanded.

"Like hell I will, this motherfucker threw trash in my face."

"And you paid that forward more than enough. So officer, I am not asking. Stand down."

"You know I don't answer to you so I think I'll stay and do my job keeping these motherfuckers in line."

"And if you don't I'll have your badge. I am persistent. I won't stop until I have you handing out parking tickets. Try me."

"Bitch."

"Who you?" She said with a smirk as he swung she caught him in forward motion and knocked him on his ass. "Maybe now you've learned to not mess with me. Now, get up and save whatever dignity you have left and walk away."

"You won't get away with this," Dunne shouted as he walked away. Protesters cheered.

"Now, as for the rest of you. No more throwing things and keep this peaceful."

"What lady you gonna deliver a beat down like the other cop."

"Do I look like I want to beat anyone down. I'll retract that. Don't push me and I won't have to answer back. Let's not lose focus on what this is for."

"Yeah a crooked ass cop killed George Floyd and that cop just assaulted those protesters. My guess is that disgusting piece of shit will get nothing but a slap on the wrist. You guys cover for each other right."

"I will not cover for him. I have his badge number. We are all not bad."

"But you are just as complicit when they get away with it and you don't hold each other accountable."

"You got the wrong cop, that isn't me."

"Sure that's what they all say." The crowd begin to push each other forward. Some more than agitated. Others are trying to maintain peace. All of them headed for a collision physically and figuratively.

Eames speaks into her com, "Okay handled Officer Dunne. Any luck with Gregory?"

"Working on it," Goren huffed out of breath