Chapter Text
Honestly the Rookie still scared the hell out of you even after a month. Ron Stallworth was his name. He was incredibly professional and gave little hint to any personality traits, which you suppose wasn’t too bad of a thing. Ron was very polite even though it was obvious he did not want to be in the records room. You imagined it was this job itself that he hated -at least you hoped it wasn’t you that he had a problem with. You just couldn’t seem to find an opening for getting him to have any real conversations.
Shuffling awkwardly you cleared your throat to ask him a question. “Would you mind grabbing a few files for me? I have to run some other ones around real quick, also my uncle's lunch.”
The note in your hand gets a little wrinkled from your fidgeting with it. He holds his hand out for it and looks it over. Every one of them had the exact location of where it could be found in hopes to make it easier for him.
“Why didn’t you just grab them if you wrote them all down?”
You could tell the question was out of curiosity but you didn’t quite get what he was asking. “What do you mean?”
“If you stood there to write this all down, why not just grab ‘em out?”
You rub the back of your neck and frown a bit. “I already know where all of them are. The list is what I was working on just a moment ago, that way it shouldn’t take you too long.”
“You just… know?” He sits up and looks perplexed.
“I’ve got a great memory.” You can’t help but grin at him. This was probably the longest conversation you’d had with him yet.
Ron chuckles as he stands up and crosses his arms, you mimic the crossed arms and smirk. You knew this room like the back of your hand. “Go ahead and pick any box in this room. If you tell me the box label I can tell you everything about it. I’ll even face the desk.” Turning on your heels you face towards the desk.
“You really think you can do that?”
You look over your shoulder to shoot him a smile. “I know that I can. I’ll even bet you a ten dollar bill on it.”
“Alright, I can dig it -but make it five dollars and I’ll take that bet missy.” You hear the over-confidence oozing from his voice. For a brief moment you almost feel bad about swindling him. “Look back that way.”
“Copy that Rookie.”
He scoffs and starts walking around with a new found purpose. You can hear him start in the middle before moving a few over to the left, touching a few boxes before selecting his target. Clearing his throat purposefully he reads off “UCI-2-78-C”.
“Undercover Investigations February 1978, the C at the end means those are closed cases.”
“How many files are in here?” He quizzes you.
“There should be 46 but-”
He shouts in his believed victory. “Ah ha! There are 45 here!”
“As I was saying… There should be 46 but one is signed out by Sergeant Trapps for possible re-opening. There are 4 sections: first one has twelve, second has nine, third has 14, and the last would usually have 11.” You grab the log book from one of the cabinets before handing it over to him. “Trapps also has correlating files from UCI-8-76-C and N-1-79-O, signed those two out last Wednesday at 3:42pm”
He looks through the logs before staring at you in bewilderment. “I’ll be damned. How the fuck do you remember all that junk?”
Letting out a laugh as you grab the book to put away. “I told you! I have a really good memory” You explained simply. As you reach the desk your smile instantly twists into a sneer at the person walking up to the door.
“You all good?”
Ron comes to stand next to you right as Andy Landers pushes through the door. You didn’t think you could hate anyone as much as you did him
“Well if it isn’t my favorite recording keeper!”
You keep a neutral face as you address the man. “Where is your buddy? You know you aren’t allowed to be here without one.”
“Since you have a helper, my Sergeant said I didn’t have to have one.” The officer shoots a quick look of disdain to the man beside you as he leans on the counter. He tries to get as close to you as possible.
You feel Ron bristle beside you. “Didn’t you say you need to get lunch over to your uncle?”
“Nobody asked you to speak Rookie.” Landers' tone drips with venom as he shoots a glare at Ron. The two of them lock eyes onto each other, one with hatred and the other with indifference
“I can handle everything here. Why don’t you head out?” Ron’s eyes never leave the battle as he talks to you.
You pat the desk twice with your left hand as you begin to turn but stop as a hand tightly grabs your wrist. Ribs dig painfully into the edge of the counter as Landers pulls you towards himself.
“We're still talking here!”
“The fuck we are!” You snap.
Ron immediately goes to grab at Landers which causes the officer to release you. Knowing how racist he is you can only assume it's because he didn't want Ron to touch him. Said man runs a hand through his hair before glaring at your savior.
“Your kind doesn’t get to touch me.”
Indignation flares through you at what he said. “You can’t talk to him like that. He's an officer just like you.” He opens his mouth but you're quick to cut him off. “Would you look at the time, we're on lunch now. Get out.” You stare him down as his jaw clenches tight.
“I'll be back later.” He grumbles
“Make sure you bring a buddy!” You shout as he leaves, your only response is the slamming of the door.
Ron's concerned voice cuts through your stewing. “Does he do this sort of thing often?”
Rubbing at your wrist you take a deep breath before answering him “I don't like talking bad about people but you need to watch out for him.” You wanted to tell him how much of a corrupt S.O.B the blonde was but didn't want to stir the pot more today.
He nods in understanding before grabbing his mug off the desk beside him and gestures to the door.
“How about I walk you over? I think I'm going to get some more coffee.”
You nod in acceptance and retrieve the lunch cooler from the back room real quickly. As terrible as the situation was, you were certain this would at least be a good turning point in your working relationship with the Rookie.
***
“There’s my favorite niece!” Uncle Jimmy turns around throwing his hands up with a flourish while motioning for a hug.
“That is a hell of a low bar.” You try to muster your best smile for your uncle.
Flip looks at his partner confused before asking, “Isn’t she your only one?” His gaze slides over and studies you for a moment.
“That’s exactly why I said that.”
Your uncle hums as you give him a quick hug. “If I had any others they probably wouldn’t treat me as well anyway.” You roll your eyes at his silliness and set down the lunch cooler on his desk.
“It’s probably because you pretty much raised me.”
“And here I thought you were going to leave me to starve today.” He mimics a tear with his finger at your previous statement.
Uncle Jimmy was honestly one of your favorite persons to ever exist, not just because you were related. He was honest and hard working. When you were a kid he never missed any of your races or choir concerts. Your own parents couldn’t be bothered to come to any of them, he was the most present person in your life.
Your uncle hovers beside you rubbing his hands together. “What do ya got for me?”
“You look like a fly.” Shooing at him you list what was brought for today. “You get stuffed bell peppers and rice with a side of coleslaw. No biscuits though because the cat got to ‘em while they were cooling.”
Your uncle grumbles about the biscuits and Flip chuckles lowly, the latter sound causes a flush in your cheeks. Uncle Jimmy and Lint did not get along well, the long haired grey cat really did seem to have it out for him to be fair
“That little bastard was the best thing I ever found. I can piss you off even outside of work.”
Flip leans back in his chair clasping his hands above his head. The fabric on his arms strain from the flexing muscles. Your breath hitches a bit at the sight, you can’t help but stare from the corner of your eye. Thank god the two men were bickering amongst themselves. They didn’t seem to notice your brief pause.
“Little!? That furry fucker is fat, probably eats more then you!” Your uncle points his finger at his partner before continuing on. “I don’t know why you had to bring that thing to her. You know she’d never say no to you!”
Your face burns at his words and you let out a gasp. “Excuse you! I will throw your lunch in the trash right now.” You hiss out.
“Aw sugar don’t do that… Give it to me instead.” Flip leans forward and shoots you his best pleading face. Perfect puppy dog eyes stare up at you and his lips take on a little pout.
“Are you seriously attempting to steal an old man's food right now?” Uncle Jimmy grabs your shoulder from behind to pull you away from his partner.
“Get off of me!” You grumble as your face burns with embarrassment. Flip really could ask anything of you. Especially if he used those warm brown eyes and baritone voice. Breaking free you grab the second lunch from the bag and put it down on the younger partners desk.
“Eat your own damn lunch.” You mutter as you sit on the edge of Flip’s desk. It’s your turn to point now though “And you! Leave my cat alone, old man. Somebody’s got to keep me company-”
Your rant is broken by Flip placing a hand on your thigh just above your knee, his sinfully low voice drawling out a “Thank you” as he does so. The warmth of his hand seems to seep through the fabric of your pants. It makes you acutely aware of the chosen location. You’re sure steam is coming out of your ears now. Breath hitches as you look down down at him, this angle was definitely not good for your imagination.
“That’s why you need to find yourself a good man already!” One of the other detectives decides to toss in their two cents making your eye twitch. You think you would run over Johnson at the end of the day if you could.
Both of your heads snap towards the balding coworker “Well hold on now.” Flip’s hand tightens a bit on your thigh.
Your uncle jests back “That’s what I’ve been telling her!”
“See if I provide help or food for this department again.” You cross your arms like a child and turn your nose up at Uncle Jimmy and Detective Johnson.
“Darlin’ can I not be included in that? I didn’t say shit.” Hearing him call you that with his thumb rubbing circles onto your leg sends a shiver down your spine. Act normal! You give the best deadpanned look you can to Flip only to see him somewhat guarding his food with the hand not holding onto you. The silliness of the sight causes you to chuckle softly.
“Traitor! You wouldn’t even get lunches if it weren’t for me!”
Uncle Jimmy’s outburst causes full on laughter to bubble out. The tension you had been carrying from your earlier run in with Landers melts away.
“I gave her a cat and pay for my lunch, you're just a freeloader.”
Clapping your hands twice you try to dispel the squabble for a moment. “On that note; You two are on your own tomorrow. I had to take a half day.”
“Everything ok? You hardly ever take time off.” Uncle Jimmy asked in concern as he finally sits down to eat.
“Yeah, don't sweat it.” You glance at the clock by the door and realize Ron should be back at the records room by now. “I gotta go back early though, the Rookie and I still have a bunch of things to get done today.”
You hop off Flip’s desk and try to ignore the way it caused his hand to slide up your leg just a bit. Choosing instead to focus on grabbing the cooler from Uncle Jimmy’s desk. He stands so he can give you another hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“If you need anything just let either of us know ok?”
You squeeze his shoulders after parting and nod your head. “I will, I promise.”
“I’ll walk you back.” Flip cuts you off and places a hand on your back to start leading you out.
You hum and bid a goodbye to everyone as the two of you head back to your area of the CSPD. Hopefully you can make it back without making a fool of yourself.