A Second Chance

Former Partners

Chapter 22

2016 January

Three months later, a brand new year. New Year's is suppose to resemble starting over with a brand new year ahead of you right? That was all Caden wanted.

Silence was all that could be heard in Caden's car today. He had slept longer than anticipated and of course he could not find his keys so Anderson told him not rush into work today. Still he was not going to delay anymore than he already has. Someone could need him.

Caden was trying to focus on the road never wanting to get in a wreck again but his mind was troubled today.

Today was a hard day for him. Today was when he would get assigned a new partner so Tammy and Victoria were deep on his mind.

He lost two partners in one year. He didn't even understand how he could do that. Was he to careless? Was he to focused on the mission itself and not his partner?

Caden had made it clear no more rookies were to be assigned to him. He had nothing against them, he just felt he could not protect them, so he requested for someone more experienced. He still has no idea who it will be though.

Caden had told himself this would be his last partner. He was not sure if that meant he would always have this person until he retired, or if he would lose them too.

He wanted so badly to tell himself he could protect this person, that they would be trained and he would never even have the problem of needing another partner but... he's already lost two, so he's not going to trick himself into thinking there is no chance something could happen because it always can, it could even happen to him. He will just have to use Tammy and Victoria as a reminder to constantly be watching his new partner's back.

This overwhelming guilt suddenly fell upon Caden making him think maybe if he requested for Victoria to follow him instead of taking the elevator by herself she would be ok. Maybe if he let Tammy climb up with the kids first instead of him she would be ok.

What if he has already met his new partner? He is pretty well acquainted with most of the agents who have been working here for awhile.

What if it was someone who does not like him? How could he rely on them or them rely on him?

Caden shook his head trying get rid of the negative thoughts. Ever since Victoria and Tammy's death his thoughts are filled with maybes and what if's and he refused to keep tormenting himself like that. It was time to move on and accept that it was not his fault.

Caden finally reached worked and saw a really expansive blue car pulling into the parking lot the same time as him. He's pretty sure he's seen it before so at least he was not the only late one.

Caden was getting ready to pull into his spot like always but that same blue car took the spot, nearly bumping his car trying to get it before him.

He would try to be nice but he really wasn't in a good mood today anyway.

The driver stepped out and it was a girl but her back was turned to him.

"Ma'am I normally park there." Caden tried to reason with her.

In response she locked her car door, showing she was not moving her car.

"I don't care I don't have time to find another spot." The woman snapped, not even waiting for him to answer.

Well it seems he's not the only agent in a bad mood.

Caden sighed not wanting to fight and found another spot.