1x05: The Roundup

***

Hunter walked out of the women's locker room, having changed into her uniform, she places herself beside Tim's empty chair, while Tim was once again up on Grey's podium like hw always was during the roundup, everyone was talking amongst themselves, quieting when Tim starts speaking. "All right, settle down. Settle down. Listen. Everyone knows what today is, and I just want to say that Team Bradford is gonna dominate once again."

"Yeah, not this year, Blondie." Hunter yelled to the front.

"You're going down, man." Another officer said, Hunter was thinking that it was Janssen.

"Yeah!" One of the female cops yelled as well.

Grey walked into the briefing room. "All right, settle down," Grey looked at the TO table as he walked past. "Don't think I didn't see you up in my spot, Bradford," Grey walks up to the podium. "So, I am aware that today is the day where our T.O. units compete for most arrests. Under no circumstance does the department endorse this," Grey walks to the TO table looking Tim dead in the eyes. "Meaning I don't want to hear about your points or strategy. Am I clear, Officer Bradford?" He asked.

"Yes, sir. This job isn't about winning. It's about good policing and teamwork." Tim replied, Hunter shoots him a look. Tim just shrugged.

"Detective Lopez, Officer Lawrence, feel free to join in, obviously your points can be given to another team." Angela said, quietly giving Hunter a pointed look, Hunter nodded, she knew what this was about.

***

 Roll call is over. Tim and Lucy emerge from the room and walk down the hall. "We win at any cost." Tim said.

"Oh. But Sergeant Grey just said –" Lucy started to say.

"He said he doesn't want to hear about it, which is different than saying don't do it. Now, the scoring is like football." Tim interrupts before stopping Lucy just outside Dispatch. "Hold up, Boot."

"What?" Tim pulls something that was wrapped up out of one of the warbags, Lucy notices it. "What is that?" She asked.

"Insurance." Tim replied.

***

Tim walked into the dispatch room where Nell was working. "Nell." Tim said.

Nell spun around in her chair. "Hey."

"Look at you. You are positively glowing. What's your secret?" Tim asked, Lucy raised an eyebrow, wondering what Hunter or even Isabel thought of this when they were married.

Nell frowned, she wasn't stupid, she knew Tim was flirting with her but she knew that Tim had feelings for Hunter and Nell had to admit that she just saw Tim as a friend. "Um, I hiked Malibu Creek yesterday. You should try it. Good for the soul." Nell replied, but it didn't hurt to go along with it.

"I bet. Listen, I saw this at the bookstore yesterday, thought of you." Tim said, handing Nell the present.

"That is so sweet," Nell opens the present. "Oh, my gosh. Kilimanjaro! I have been dying to go someday." Nell said, looking up at Tim.

"You will. Hey. So, listen, as calls come in that sound like felony arrests, can you send them to us? And not over the radio?" Nell asked.

"Um, that would qualify as favoritism. So –" Nell trailed off.

"But I am your favorite. Come on. For me?" Tim asked.

"Fine, but I'll be informing Hunter as well seeing as she's Hunter and would flip out if she wasn't informed." Nell said, Tim nods and walks out the room, Lucy followed him, confused at what he was doing.

***

Lucy and Tim are in the booking area. "Isn't that cheating?" Lucy asked.

"I'm celebrating the unsung heroes of the LAPD." Tim replied.

"In exchange for hot calls. Isn't our job to respond to any crime, no matter the anticipated outcome?" Lucy asked.

"Of course. But if you're gonna be some Pollyanna on my shoulder all day, I'll be happy to loan you out to clean the drunk tank. Heard there were some heavy pukers there last night." Tim said.

Lucy glances into the aforementioned drunk tank, where someone is mopping the floor. "Clearly, I misspoke when I said cheating." She said.

Hunter and Grant bring two suspects into the Booking area. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me." Tim said.

"Oh, hey! Look what we found just two blocks away. A burglary and a conspiracy lookout." Grant said, gesturing to the two men.

Hunter looks up. "Are you here booking someone?" She asked.

"No." Tim answered.

"Oh. Then I guess we're first on the boards. 14 points." Hunter and Grant fist-bump. Hunter's phone chimes just as Tim and Lucy leave, it seems Jackson and Angela have 14 points as well and are on their way to book the criminals.

***

Hunter and Grant get out of their patrol car in a residential neighborhood. "7-Adam-20, wellness check, 552 Oakwood. ER nurse reports patient with suspected stroke disappeared from the hospital." Dispatch said.

"7-Adam-20, show us Code 6 on the wellness check." Hunter said.

"14 points out the gate. You ever done that before?" Grant asked, looking over to Hunter.

"No, but we got to keep the pressure on. Tim's always got a trick or two up his sleeve as you know." Hunter replied.

"You and Angela gonna rig it again, so that he wins?" Grant asked.

Hunter looks over at him and chuckles. "It's like you don't know us, of course we are. It's an emotional thing for him."

"Is it an emotional thing to you or to Isabel?" Grant asked. Hunter paused, she'd never thought about it like that and didn't know how to answer it, something Grant noticed. "If out patient croaked it's fine, we won't be losing points." He said changing the subject.

Hunter chuckled and continued up the stairs. She knocks on the door. An older gentleman answers. "Police. Mr. Walker?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah?" Mr Walker said, sounding confused.

"Sir, are you okay? Your ER nurse said you left the hospital before you were discharged. She tried calling you, but you didn't answer." Hunter said frowning at him.

"Oh. Uh. I'm, I'm, I'm sorry. I was feeling better, and that hospital food, you know, it's just - it's just so awful. So I came home for some leftovers. Can you please tell her thank you from me for for checking up on me?" Mr Walker asked.

"Yeah. Sure thing. Hope you feel better, sir." Grant said.

"Thank you." Mr Walker closes the door and Hunter and Grant walk away.

"He was lying to us." Grant said.

"About what?" Hunter asked, she also sensed that he was lying about something as well.

"I don't know. But he was clearly nervous." Grant replied.

Hunter leads the way around the side of the house and peers through a window. Mr Walker is dumping a bag of prescription bottles out on a table. Hunter knocks on the window, Mr Walker walks over and opens the door. "Stealing opioids from the hospital is a felony, Mr. Walker." Hunter warned him.

"I'm just making ends meet. You know how hard it is to live on a fixed income?" Mr Walker asked.

"Jackson's grandparents moved into a townhouse," Hunter gives him a look. "Just saying. There's options."

***

Lucy's phone chimed and she opened the next message seeing one from Nolan in their group chat saying that he and Talia got seven points as well. "Nolan and Talia are on the board." Lucy said to Tim.

"Damn it. Call Nell. Put her on speaker." Tim said as Lucy put Nell's number in and called her.

"Hello?" Nell asked.

"Hey, it's Officer Bradford. You haven't forgotten about me, have you?" Tim asked, Lucy raised an eyebrow again.

"No. Of course not. Um, we've actually just we've been a little slow. Oh, um, we just got a 911 call DUI hit-and-run, teenage pedestrian injured. Black 528i. Last seen eastbound on Melrose." Nell said.

"Perfect. Attach us to that, please. And, Nell –" Tim trailed off as Nell responded with an "Mm-hmm?" "You're the best." Tim said, before Lucy hung up.

***

"7-Adam-20, we have a noise complaint at the Eaton Company Lofts, number 501." Nell said over the radio.

"Thanks Nell." Hunter said picking the radio up. "7-Adam-20, responding."

Grant pulled up outside an apartment building, they make sure the shop's locked and then walk up to the apartment they need. Hunter knocks on the door. "LAPD. Open up, Mr. Askari." She said.

"Whoo. Uh, coming. Just give me a second." Askari said through the closed door.

"Open up!" Hunter pounds on the door.

Peter Askari opens the door wearing just socks and boxers, Hunter raises an eyebrow. "Ah. Can I help you?" Askari asked.

"We got a noise complaint. You've been playing loud music for hours." Hunter said, she and Grant enter the apartment, which also contains three scantily-clad women, Grant raises an eyebrow as well.

"Hmm. Sorry. Just blowing off a little steam. My office is next door. I stay here when I work late. We were just having a little fun. No harm in that, right?" Askari asked.

"Depends on what kind of fun you're having. Uh, just give us a moment," Grant and Hunter huddle closely together and Grant whispers to her. "What do you reckon? Think he's paying these ladies?" He asked.

"Probably, but we don't have proof and therefore can't arrest them for prostitution." Hunter said shrugging her head.

"So, I'll cite him for noise, identify the girls and pass it onto Vice." said Grant.

Hunter nodded and Grant moved back to Askari. "Hey, Mr. Askari, I'm just gonna need, uh - a little bit of information." He said.

"Sure." Askari replied.

Grant glances down and sees a gun protruding from a leather bag. "Hello. Detective Lopez, we have a gun."

"Hmm." Hunter said.

Grant looked up at Askari. "Do you have a permit for this weapon, sir?" He asked.

"A friend gave it to me." Askari admitted.

"That's a felony weapon possession." Grant informs him.

"Everybody get dressed. We're taking Peter for a ride," Hunter lowers her voice to speak to Askari. "You all paid up with the girls?" She asked.

Askari doesn't answer; Hunter shrugs and turns away. "Nice try." Grant comments.

"Almost had him." said Hunter.

"Yeah." Grant agreed.

***

"Nell seems nice." Lucy comments as Tim drives.

"Yeah. What's your point?" Tim asked.

"She likes you." Lucy said, looking over at him in disbelief.

"She's doing me a favor. That's all. Keep your eyes peeled for our DUI." Tim ordered.

"Yes, sir." Lucy replied.

That's when Tim saw the DUI suspect's car speed past them. "There." He said.

Lucy picks up the radio. "7-Adam-19, DUI suspect sighted heading east on Melrose," Lucy goes silent for a moment. "7-Adam-19, turning north onto Serrano." She added.

They chase the suspect's car down the street and around a corner. They hear a crash and come upon the car, which has collided with a metal gate. "Let's go, Boot. He might try and run," Tim and Lucy run over to the car window. "LAPD. Hands." He said.

"Don't move. Show us your hands." Lucy called out.

The DUI driver doesn't move - there's a metal pole from the gate sticking out of his chest, pinning him to his seat. "Whoa. This is a first." Tim said in shock, staring.

"Don't worry. I'm not going a-anywhere." The driver stuttered out looking at Tim.

Lucy grabs her radio. "7-Adam-19, DUI suspect crashed at Melrose and Serrano. We need ambulance and fire, Code 3," Lucy speaks to the driver. "Okay, sir, just hang in there," the ambulance pulls up and Lucy notices. "The ambulance is here now." She said.

"Should I pull it out?" The driver asked.

"No, no, no. Don't move, don't move." Lucy said.

Tim has brought out bolt-cutters from their shop. "Stay still. I'm gonna cut this pipe. Three, two..." he cuts the pipe, leaving some of it still sticking out of the driver's body. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, One will be appointed to represent you. Do you understand each of these rights?" Tim asked, Lucy stared at him in shock.

"Yes, sir." The driver said.

Tim continues as the EMTs start taking charge of the driver. "Now, you're required to provide a chemical sample if suspected of driving while impaled," Tim realises what he's said and amends it quickly. "Sorry, impaired. You can choose between blood, breath, or urine. A refusal will result in the immediate suspension of your license for a minimum of a year." He said.

"Yes." The driver said.

"We need to get him to surgery!" The nurse yelled.

"No, not before I get my blood draw. 21-gauge vial." Tim replied.

"Can't this wait? - He's obviously –" Lucy tried to say.

Tim walks over to her, still holding the bolt cutters. "Wait, what? Huh? He's what? He's dying? This guy got drunk and hit a kid with his car, maybe killed him. If we wait, his blood alcohol will return to normal, and we'll lose a crucial piece of evidence."

"And you sure this has nothing to do with the 7-point felony arrest?" Lucy asked, treading carefully.

"Boot, criminals get hurt all the time during a crime. They don't get special treatment if they get a boo-boo. Understood?" Tim asked.

"Yes, sir." Lucy replied.

An EMT hands a vial of blood to Tim, who seals it in an evidence bag. "Now call in our 7 points." Tim said as he walks past Lucy.

***

Hunter and Grant are bringing in Askari, who is now dressed. "There must be some way we can work this out." Askari said.

"Are you offering us a bribe?" Hunter asked.

"Everyone knows that cops are underpaid." Askari replied.

"Yeah, don't look at me. I don't pay rent, I own my house, and I live within walking distance of the beach." Grant replied.

"Mr. Askari, you're already facing one felony. You want to add to those charges?" Hunter asked.

"No. Let's just get this over with." Askari said, reluctantly.

"Detective Lopez," Hunter looks over to the officer. "Captain wants to see you in the bullpen." He said.

Hunter turns to Grant. "Start processing him. I'll be back." Hunter exits the room.

***

"Article 849B authorizes peace officers to release arrested persons from custody due to insufficient grounds to file a complaint against said person." The lawyer said.

Zoe was holding a piece of paper reading it over. "Conceal and carry permit. Signed by Judge Sather." She then looked at the lawyer.

"How'd you even know he was arrested? Did one of his hookers call you?" Hunter asked.

"Who called me is not your concern. You have no right to hold my client, so release him immediately." The lawyer said.

Hunter re-enters the Booking area. "You can stop printing him. Suspect's attorney has provided a permit for the weapon." She said.

"He has?" Askari asked.

Grant and Hunter shared a look. "Is that a problem? Do you not want to go?" Grant asked him.

"No. I mean yes, yes." Askari said.

"Can you take him to his lawyer?" Hunter asked the clerk in the booking area.

"Mm-hmm." The clerk exits with Askari.

"I'm gonna say he's got a link to organized crime?" Grant asked.

Before Hunter has a chance to speak, Zoe enters. "You're right about that, if a fancy lawyer shows up with a same day permit. Then there's certainly a link to organized crime and your banker seems to be connected to a big fish who has the juice to get that kind of permit."

***

The TOs and the rookies are sitting at separate tables, Hunter and Grant have joined Talia, Angela and Tim at the TO table. "The numbers are black and white. Hunter, Grant, Jackson and I all have 28, while each of you only has 7." Angela said.

"There's still a whole second half of our shift. And you know I'm a closer. Hold on, Grant and Hunter aren't a TO and Rookie." Tim said.

"So?" Angela asked. Tim just rolled his eyes and continued to eat.

"You know we're not playing." Talia reminds them all.

"Oh, right, you're above all this." Hunter drawled.

"Mm. When you're chief, we promise not to divulge you had any fun on the job." Grant and Angela said.

"It's not fun. It's a relic of a time when the department drove a wedge between the cops and the community." Talia argued.

"I get it. You think it promotes an "us versus them" mentality. And you're right. But the "them" isn't the community. It's the criminals. I just arrested a guy for putting a teenager in a coma. And I'm not gonna apologize for hustling to get that guy off the street." Tim said.

Hunter, Grant and Angela watched the two of them with interest.

"I'm not asking you to. All I'm asking you to do is take a hard look as to whether this contest teaches those rookies the right lesson." Talia said, standing up.

"Right, I better get the boot and continue winning." Angela said, flashing a grin to the other three people at the table.

***

Tim and Lucy are back in their shop, Tim glances over at Lucy. "Do I need to be worried that your mood is gonna affect our chances in this competition?" Tim asked her.

"I'm fine." Lucy said.

"Because I've won this five years and counting." Tim added on almost as an afterthought.

"Yeah, I get it. I won't let you down." Lucy replied, resting her heading on her fist.

"You're clear what happened earlier with our DUI, right? That wasn't about score. It was about making sure that guy sees the inside of a cell." Tim said, glancing from the windscreen to watch the road and to making sure Lucy was paying attention to what he was saying.

"Yeah. It's just - It's hard when he's the one that's bleeding out in front of you." Lucy said.

"Understood. But it's our job to always maintain perspective." Tim said.

Lucy's phone rung and she answered it on speaker. "Hey, so we just got a call about an armored car robbery. Suspects were seen wearing ski masks on Wilshire and Robertson."

"Hot damn. We're back in it." Tim replied.

***

"Get down, Boot." Tim warned Lucy, thy pull up to a parked armored car and exchange fire with two men who are obviously trying to hijack it. 

Eventually, the men disappear into the back of the truck and slam shut a barrier between the cab and the cargo area. "What happened?" Lucy asked.

"There's a safety feature in armored cars that allows drivers to escape to the back under fire. They're now locked in a bulletproof fortress, and we're gonna be here all day trying to get them out," Tim grabs his radio out. "7-Adam-19, shots fired. Suspects barricaded, requesting SWAT." He then placed the radio away.

"I'll call the armored car company. They should have a master key." Lucy said, about to grab her phone.

"It'll take them hours to get here. Hours where the Lopezes and Talia are running up the score on us." Tim said.

"You seem more interested in that than in us getting lit up by the guys in the truck. What happened to maintaining perspective?" Lucy asked him.

"You know, save the psychoanalysis for Christmas dinner with the folks, okay? My perspective is spot-on. I want to win and put these guys behind bars." Tim snapped at her.

"Yeah, I do, too. But they're not going down without a fight. We need backup." Lucy said.

"And I called for it. Which is what they expect us to do. They think - They think we'll stay here all day and wait for them. Which means their guard will be down." Tim takes a crowbar out of the shop and moves toward the truck.

"It's bulletproof. You're not gonna get in with that." Lucy scoffed.

"I don't need to get in. I need them to come out." Tim said.

"If they're armed and barricaded, we should wait for SWAT." Lucy said, trying to talk sense into Tim.

Tim pries a cover off a small opening in the side of the truck, then sprays pepper spray into the opening. "The weapons won't matter if they can't see anything. Cover the back. Just add pepper spray and -" the suspects come out choking and coughing. "Drop your weapon! Down on the ground!" Tim yelled.

"Down on the ground and on your stomachs!" Lucy also yelled at the other suspect.

"Hands behind your head!" Tim yelled and cuffed his suspect.

"Put your hands behind your back." Lucy then cuffed her suspect.

"Felony carjacking, armed robbery, attempted murder. That's 14 more points, Boot." Tim said.

***

Zoe, Hunter and Grant walk down the stairs from Zoe's office and walking into the bullpen. "I know who the banker's big fish is. Viggo Petrov. High-ranking member of the Odessa Mafia." Zoe said.

"The Russian mob?" Grant asked incredulously.

"They're responsible for heroin, money laundering, prostitution." Zoe said.

"So, like most other mobs." Grant muttered under his breath.

Zoe chuckled while Hunter side kicked Grant's foot. "How does Peter connect?" Hunter asked.

"DEA suspects that he's Petrov's money launderer." Zoe replied.

"Explains why they sent the lawyer so quickly. Petrov can't risk Peter getting chatty - when faced with jail time." Hunter said.

"Mm-hmm. DEA was actually pissed that we let him go so quickly. They thought I should be holding on to him for the full 24 hours the law allows. I told him I don't do business that way." Zoe said, with a small smile.

Hunter grinned as did Grant. "How'd that go over?" Grant asked.

"As well as you can imagine." Zoe answered.

***

Tim enters dispatch just as Nell is getting ready to leave. "Uh, where - where are you going?" He asked.

"Uh, my shift's over." Nell replied.

"Mine's not. Uh, any way you can stick around and be a part of the Bradford team a little longer?" Tim asked.

"How much longer?" Nell asked.

"Three hours?" Tim said, sounding unsure because it could be longer than that.

"Well, that will cost you. A drink. I mean, later. After. When you're off-duty." Nell said.

"Deal." Tim said.

"Deal." Nell agreed.

"Okay, thanks." said Tim.

"Mm-hmm." Nell replied, watching as Tim left.

***

"7-Adam-20, homeowner called about a possible intruder. 71 Holmby Avenue." Nell said over the radio.

"7-Adam-20, copy." Hunter said in response.

"Huh." Grant said looking at the laptop screen.

"What?" Hunter asked interested.

"Our banker, Peter Askari - he's the homeowner." Grant said, glancing over at Hunter.

"7-Adam-15, be advised. That call was just canceled. Homeowner reporting it was a raccoon." Dispatch said.

"7-Adam-20, copy." Hunter said once again.

"Hunter, are you buying that?" Grant asked.

"What?" Hunter asked.

"Our mob banker, who was clearly freaked out over being arrested, calls 911 about an intruder the same night. I'm just saying, what if it wasn't a raccoon?" Grant wondered looking at Hunter.

"You think he called again under duress?" Hunter questioned.

"I think it's worth taking a look." Grant said.

"And if it turns out to be something we'll call in SWAT." Hunter said, Grant nodded in agreement.

***

Hunter and Grant slowly cruise up to the house. "Seems quiet." Grant comments.

Tim and Lucy cruise up to join them. "Heard you attached to a false alarm. Figured something big might be up." Tim said.

"How'd you hear that? Did you bribe dispatch again?" Hunter asked, knowing Tim had a habit of doing that.

"Again?" Lucy asked.

"I just thought you might need some backup. Unless you're too focused on getting all the points for yourself." Tim snarked ignoring Lucy.

Hunter rolled her eyes. "Whatever Tim. I don't care at this point."

"Well, then, you won't mind us tagging along." Tim said almost smugly.

The four cops, on foot, enter a courtyard behind the house. There's a dry fountain with a body lying in it. "I got a body. - They slit her throat." Grant said.

Hunter speaks into her radio quietly. "7-Adam-20, requesting SWAT for a hostage situation, one dead, Code 3."

They can see a corner of the living room inside; Askari and his wife are sitting on a sofa with a woman and two men beating them up. Askari's wife screams. "No, no! No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Askari begged.

"Guys, we can't wait. If they've already killed one, they can kill the banker and his wife at any moment. We need to go in now." Tim said.

"So, what, we go in stealth?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah. Upstairs or downstairs?" Hunter asked Tim.

"We'll take upstairs." Tim opts.

Hunter and Grant move quietly into the house. Tim and Lucy climb to the balcony under over of darkness and some potted plants. ""I don't know. I don't know." Stop lying!" A Russian woman yelled.

"Stop! Stop, please! No." Askari begged.

"No! - Wait." Mrs Askari yelled.

"Wait, wait, wait. No. What? No, no! You have to believe me! Wait. Wait! Wait! –" Askari was knocked out as was his wife.

Hunter and Grant are standing by in a hallway out of sight. "We've got to get in there." Grant said urgently.

"We will. We just need Tim and Lucy to get into place." Hunter replied.

***

Lucy stumbles on the balcony, Tim glances back at her. Hunter looks up at the ceiling and the Russian Woman seems to hear. "Is somebody else in the house?" She asked.

"I checked it." One of the men said.

"Go check again." The Russian woman ordered.

The two men split up and go to look around. One of them is lured into the kitchen to investigate the sound of a garbage disposal running and is ambushed and tased by Grant. The other is captured by Tim and Lucy. The woman takes two guns and moves into a room next to the living room; Hunter appears behind her and fires non-lethal beanbag projectiles, hitting the woman in the back. "Aah! Aah! Aah!" The Russian woman yelled.

"Clear!" Hunter yelled.

"Clear!" Grant yelled from where he was.

"Clear!" Tim also yelled.

***

Hunter, Angela, Talia and Lucy are all in the women's locker room, Hunter's putting her tigers eye ring on as Angela touches up her makeup and Talia finishes packing her go-bag. "Okay, how do we split up the points?" Angela asked.

"I told you." Talia said.

"I know, I know. You're not playing. But we need to figure out how to split them up right." Angela replied.

Hunter sat down and changed out her earrings to the tigers eye ones she got for her twenty fifth birthday, just a year after she left the army, also from Tim. "It's not tricky, just give him more." She said looking up at Angela.

Lucy who was sitting next to her locker was listening and turned to the three older women. "Wait, uh, are you guys trying to rig it so Tim wins?" She asked.

Angela, Talia and Hunter shared a look, while Angela fixes the sleeves of her jacket and Hunter puts hers one. "Why would we do that?" Hunter asked.

"I don't know. This competition is clearly an emotional thing for him. I just –" Lucy trailed off.

"It's personal. From when he was a rookie." Angela said as she closed her locker. Hunter did the same with her locker.

"Oh," Lucy goes quiet for a moment before looking up at the three women again. "Is it Isabel?" Hunter, Talia and Angela once again shared a look. "I-I met her once. I know that they were rookies together before they got married." She said.

Hunter shifted uncomfortably and then spoke. "Yeah. Yeah, and they loved The Roundup. They had an epic competition." Hunter can feel Angela's eyes stare into her back as if she knows there's something more to it that Hunter wasn't privy to.

"Do you really think holding on to this is what he needs? Maybe it's better for him to lose." Lucy said.

"This contest is the one day a year he feels connected to her. Do you really want to take that away?" Angela asked, Lucy goes silent. Hunter walked out the women's locker room. "You know it's got something to do with Isabel, but Hunter has no idea that it's got everything to do with her, more than it does Isabel. The roundup was their favourite thing and then she left and he became obsessed with winning it."

"Okay, but Hunter's back now. So why the need to win it still?" Lucy asked.

"Because like I said, it makes him feel connected to Isabel and it also allows him, when Hunter was in New York, to feel connected to her as well."

***

The cops playing the roundup were all outside the food trucks, Hunter was standing up speaking to the others as they were seated. "After some complicated math, the winner is Bradford and Chen! Which means their drinks are also free," Hunter hugs Lucy and then moves over to Tim. "Eh, I'll give you a hug."

Lexi was standing beside Tim, holding a coke and smiles, giving him a side hug. "Thank you." Tim said to Hunter before he and Lexi sat themselves down with their respective drinks.

Jackson wanders off, sulking. Hunter follows him. "Hey. When's the last time you lost something?" She asked curiously.

"What?" Jackson asked.

"You broke all your dad's records at the Academy. You were the first in your class. When's the last time you lost at a competition?" Hunter asked.

"I don't know. I can't remember." Jackson replied.

"Sounds exhausting." Hunter comments.

"Yeah. It is, okay? Look, I just need to prove that I belong here, that I didn't just inherit this spot, that I earned it." Jackson tells Hunter.

"Can I give you some advice?" Hunter asked.

"Sure." Jackson said.

"Nobody cares how you got here if you can do the job. So give yourself a break every now and then." Hunter said.

Tim spots Nell sitting at a table and quickly explains to Lexi what's going on (to which the red head rolled her eyes) he then walked over and joined Nell. "Hey." Tim said.

"Hey." Nell replied.

"Thanks for looking out for me today." said Tim, sincerely, Lexi and Hunter have been making him soft, he took note of that.

"Oh, um, it was it was my pleasure. I'm glad you won. You were right. You are my favorite," Nell beams at him. "You know, when I said it would I owe you a drink. I was talking about Hunter, you should buy her one," Tim raises an eyebrow. "Anyway, I've said my peace so I'm gonna go, thanks for the book." Nell then departs.

Tim just blinks in shock when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked up sensing that it was Hunter. "Should I ask?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nah, I'll tell you later," Tim stood up. "Buy you a drink?" He asked.

Hunter hummed and grabbed his arm, they walked to the drinks truck.

***

"Thank god, Lexi can drive your truck." Hunter comments as they pull up to Tim's, Hunter had moved out already but would stay the night because she was slightly drunk, so it was easier to go home with him.

Lexi laughed and placed the keys where they needed to go, thankful that Tim and Hunter had the next day off, seeing as they would have the mother of all hangovers. "Well, it's helpful I got my license."

Hunter stumbled as she tried to walk by herself, Tim was more steady on his feet and not as drunk as Hunter was but he was well over the limit for driving so he handed Lexi his keys, Tim managed to catch Hunter before she fell.

"I think this lovely lady needs to go to bed." Tim said, guiding Hunter to her former bedroom, she had a habit of keeping some clothes at Tim's house just in case she stayed over.

Lexi rolled her eyes, Hunter and Tim acted like a couple when they were drunk, but she also knew that they did date once over ten years ago. "Right, I'll make sure to lock everything, Dadford, I know your night routine well after four years, so I promise everything will be safe." Lexi said guiding Tim out of Hunter's room and to his own room.

Lexi wandered out to the main area of the house, seeing Hunter trying to lock the door. "Jeez, Mompez. Go to bed." Lexi guided Hunter to her room and closed the door to make sure she stayed there.

Lexi then did the whole night routine Tim did, locking the doors and windows, arming the security system, and double, triple checking that everything was secure before taking herself to bed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seeing as this is based around Hunter and Tim, some of what Hunter does is taken from what Nolan did in the show.

Hunter's former tenants might appear at the start of the next episode.