Behind The Badge

First Day

It was Lucy Chen's first offical day at the LAPD. She was so excited, but she was nervous, mainly about her daughter. This job was going to put extra stress on her plate, more than she already had. Her daughter, Maya Chen who is 3, is barely sleeping through the night, causing Lucy to also, barely sleep through the night, but Lucy wasn't going to let that stop her. Lucy had already dropped her daughter off to daycare and then made her way to work, she had to go in early as her sergeant Wade Grey requested her to. Once she arrived at work she walked to Grey's office and knocked on the door, he signalled with his hand for her to come in, she went into his office shutting the door behind her.
L: "You needed me, sir?"
G: "Yes, yes I did."
L: "What is it sir?"
G: "I just needed to discuss with you about a plan for your daughter, Maya Chen, so some of us here at the station can legally pick her up from school if anything happens to you in the line of duty, as well as some family members. So, I wanted to ask who?"
L: "Uh... that's the thing. I don't have family, well I do, but none I speak to nor trust to take my daughter. So, that's out of the book. The only people here I know and trust at the moment is you and Captain Anderson."
G: "I can add me and her to the list, if that's what you want?"
L: "Yeah, I suppose that's better than nothing, right?" She let out a nervous chuckle.
G: "Yep. Anyway, go get yourself ready for roll call, I'll see you there in 10 minutes."
L: "Okay, but can you and Captain not say anything about my daughter or personal life to anyone?"
G: "Your wish is my command."
L: "Thank you sir!" Lucy said smiling, feeling relieved whilst opening the door and leaving Grey's office, closing the door behind her.
Lucy went to the locker rooms, found her locker and started getting changed, when someone started speaking to her. Lucy turned around and saw a really pretty lady talking to her.
A: "Hi! You must be a new rookie?"
L: "Hi, yeah I am, I am Lucy Chen."
A: "Nice to meet you Lucy, I'm Angela Lopez."
L: "It's nice to meet you too, Angela! I'm assuming you're a Training Officer?"
A: "Yeah, I am."
L: "Hopefully you're my Training Officer, you seem really nice, and cool, and not to mention pretty."
A: "Aw thank you so much! I can tell we are going to get along and be best friends."
L: "Me too!"
Lucy and Angela finished changing and walked to roll call together, smiling. They went to different seats once they got into the room, Angela sat with Tim Bradford and Talia Bishop, whilst Lucy sat next to the other rookies, John Nolan and Jackson West.
L: "Hi, I'm Lucy Chen."
Ja: "Hey, I'm Jackson West."
J: "Hello, I'm John Nolan."
They all smiled at each other and had a conversation until Wade Grey walked in.
G: "Settle down officers!"
Everyone settled down and brought their attention to Grey, being silent.
Grey explained the normal things in roll call before continuing.
G: "If you haven't noticed already, we have new blood today. 3 new rookies. Stand up and say your name and badge number.
J: "John Nolan, badge number 25253."
L: "Lucy Chen, badge number 28537."
Ja: "Jackson West, badge number 33356."
G: "Thank you, rookies. Sit back down."
G: "So, time for my favourite part about getting new rookies at Mid-Wilshire. Pairing up rookies with their Training Officers. Continuing on, Angela Lopez, you get Jackson West, Talia Bishop, you get John Nolan, and lastly, Tim Bradford, you get Lucy Chen. That's all for today, everybody is dismissed."
Everyone got up and left roll call, the rookies went and set up the shops. After that the T.O's walked them through everything to know about the shops, after that they went on patrol.
L: "So... what's it like being a training officer?"
T: "I don't do small talk, Chen."
L: "Okay, then.."
T: "Was that attitude, boot?"
L: "No, sir."
T: "Good."
Lucy got the hint that Tim wasn't the most friendliest guy to talk to so she stayed silent until it was lunch and they went to the food trucks. Lucy sat with Jackson and John.
L: "Gosh, Tim is so strict and harsh."
Ja: "How so?"
L: "Doesn't talk, made me walk along side the shop after I couldn't tell him our precise location in something I believe is what he calls, a 'Tim Test'. It's so stupid! I hate this already, how am I meant to last another 1-2 years?!" Lucy said frustrated and pissed off.
J: "Jeez.. Bishop isn't too bad, she's friendly, but follows the book, which is good."
Ja: "Lopez is the best. I suppose I have it easy compared to you two.."
L: "Mind doing a T.O swap, Jackson?"
Ja: "No, thank you."
They all laughed until their T.O's called them back to the shop.
Tim and Lucy continued on patrol, Tim kept on doing 'Tim Tests' on Lucy and it was pissing her off but she didn't say anything about it. It was finally end of shift and the rookies and T.O's were in the bull pen, discussing about going out tonight.
A: "Let's go to the karaoke bar, and celebrate at 6:00pm?"
Ta: "Sure, why not?"
T: "I mean, I don't want to. But with Angela going, I don't get a choice, do I?"
A: "No, you do not!"
T: "Then I guess I'm coming."
Ja: "I'll come."
J: "Same."
A: "Lucy?"
Lucy was zoned out thinking about an excuse knowing she has to look after her daughter.
L: "Yes?"
A: "Are you coming?"
L: "No, thank you."
A: "Why not?"
L: "Uh... I-...I don't feel like going out tonight. I-...I had a big first day, so, I'll pass."
A: "Uh, okay, that's fine, I understand." Angela didn't believe Lucy one bit, so she planned on stopping by Lucy's apartment before going out, to check on her.
Lucy was glad Angela didn't push it and just let it go.
Lucy walked off, got changed and went to her car and picked up Maya and went home.
At 5:30pm Lucy heard a knock on the door while she was playing with Maya.
L: "Hang on baby, mommy has to get that, you stay here, okay?"
M: "Okay momma!"
Lucy got up and left Maya's room and walked over to the door and opened it.
L: "Hello?"
L: "Oh, uh... hi Angela, what are you doing here? Aren't you going out with the others?"
A: "Hi, yeah I am going there after I stop by here and check on you."
L: "Why are you checking on me? I'm fine."
A: "Just wanted to make sure by best friend is okay."
L: "Haha, thanks, but seriously, I'm okay."
A: "Okay, well I'm going to head off, have a good night."
L: "Yeah you too, Angela." As Lucy was about to shut the door, Maya came running over yelling.
M: "MOMMY!!"
Angela immediately swung around and saw the little girl at the door.
L: "Maya, go back to your room."
M: "No!"
Lucy sighed, picking Maya up, preparing herself for the conversation she is about to have.
A: "You have a kid? You're a mom?"
L: "Yeah."
A: "How old is she?"
L: "3."
A: "Oh my... that's got to be so hard with this job."
L: "Yeah it is. Doesn't help that her father isn't in the picture and I have no family I speak to or trust with her."
A: "Oh Luce, I'm so sorry... you know what, let me in."
L: "Uh, okay, come in."
Angela walked in and Lucy shut the door behind her.
L: "What are you doing?"
A: "Cancelling on the others, and helping you with your daughter. You have enough on your plate with Tim Bradford being your T.O."
L: "He isn't too bad."
A: "Oh trust me, he is, I know that you know that."
L: "Yeah, I guess he is..."
A: "Give me a second."
L: "Okay."

Start of group-chat.
The MidWilshire's Finest.

A: I can't come any-more guys, sorry for the late notice.
T: Why?
A: Personal reasons, Timothy.
T: Okay, well I guess I'll stay home then.
A: Suit yourself.
Ta: All good, Angela. Look after yourself, see you tomorrow.
J: Alright.
Ja: Okay.

End of group-chat.

A: "Done."
L: "What did you do?"
A: "Texted the group-chat and told them I'm not going."
L: "Okay, thank you so much for this Angela."
A: "Of-course. You can add me to that list at your daughter's daycare and with the station if you need someone, by the way."
L: "What to pick her up?"
A: "Yeah, only if that's what you want. I don't mind if you do or don't."
L: "Oh my gosh! Thank you so much, I only had Grey and the Captain on it."
A: "They know about, Maya?"
L: "Yeah."
A: "That's good, but I'm assuming nobody else does?"
L: "Nope, just you, Grey and Anderson."
A: "Okay."
L: "So, please don't tell anyone, keep it between me, you, Wade and Anderson."
A: "Your secret is safe with me."
L: "Thank you so much, Ange." Lucy smiled and gave Angela a warm hug, letting go after a few seconds.
M: "Mommy?"
L: "Yes, baby?" Lucy kneeled down to Maya's height.
M: "Is Angela, my auntie?"
L: "Uh, I mean..." I look up at Angela and she nods her head in approval. "Yes, she is baby."
M: "Yay! She is very pretty!" Maya jumped into Angela's arms.
A: "Thank you, Maya. You are very pretty too!" Angela smiled warmly.
L: "I guess you're my sister now, Ange." Lucy said, laughing.
A: "I don't mind that."
Maya, Lucy and Angela hung out for the rest of the night and had a girls sleepover and slept on the couch that can convert into a bed.