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The next day, the conference room is buzzing with energy as everyone files in for the morning briefing. Tim stands at the podium, his eyes scanning the room as he waits for the chatter to die down. The rookies are tired but eager, their faces a mix of excitement and exhaustion. The veteran officers look on with a mix of amusement and pride, having been in their shoes once."Alright everyone, settle down," Tim's voice booms over the noise. "You all know what today is. And I just want to say that Team Bradford is gonna dominate once again," he says with a smug grin, his eyes meeting Lauren's.Angela, sitting next to Lauren, rolls her eyes and shouts back, "Yeah, not this year, blondie!" The room erupts in laughter, and Lauren feels a warmth spread through her at the playful banter. It's a stark contrast to the heaviness of their conversation the night before.Tim hops down from the podium, his eyes twinkling as he makes his way over to the other T. O's. They all greet him with varying degrees of respect and joviality, slapping him on the back and exchanging quips about his overconfidence. Lauren can't help but smile as she watches him interact with his colleagues, the ease and comfort of his movements highlighting his years of experience and the respect he's earned.

Suddenly, Sgt. Grey strides into the room, his eyes sweeping over the rowdy assembly before settling on Tim. "Alright, settle down," he barks, his voice cutting through the chatter like a knife. The room quiets instantly, the officers snapping to attention. "I'm aware that today is the day where your T.O units compete for the most arrests," he says, his tone dry as a desert. "But let me be clear—this department does not endorse this."As the briefing wraps up, the officers start to disperse, heading to their designated cars for the day's patrols. Lauren and Seals break away from the group, heading towards the locker room. "Get the shop set up," she says, her voice brisk. "I'll be there in a second."Seals nods, a knowing look in his eye. He's seen the way Tim and Lauren have been looking at each other, the tension between them as thick as the LA smog. He knows something's up, but he's not about to pry. He's got his own battles to fight.Lauren heads down the hallway to the dispatcher's room, her boots echoing in the empty corridor. The precinct is a maze of beige walls and buzzing fluorescent lights, each room holding a piece of the puzzle that is their day-to-day lives.As she enters, she spots Nell, one of the dispatchers, sitting at her desk with a knowing smile on her face. Nell is known around the station for her sharp tongue and even sharper eye for dispatch calls—Her desk is adorned with sticky notes and photos, a testament to her organizational skills and her not-so-secret crush on Tim."Hi, Lauren," Nell says, her smile widening. "What brings you over here?"Lauren leans against the doorframe, her smirk deepening. "Oh, just waiting for a certain someone," she says, her eyes dancing with mischief.Nell's smile falters, and she looks at Lauren with a hint of suspicion. "What are you talking about?"As if right on cue, Tim shows up with a present in his hand. His smile fades and his eyes go wide when he sees Lauren standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable. He freezes, his hand hovering awkwardly with the small, wrapped box."Morning, Officer Bradford," Lauren says with a smirk, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What a coincidence running into you here."Tim's face reddens, the hand holding the box behind his back. "Lauren," he sputters, trying to recover. "What are you doing here?"Lauren shrugs, her eyes gleaming. "Just passing by," she says, her voice light. She brushes past him, her hand grazing his arm. "So, is it just dispatchers you flirt with? Or can I get on the list too?"Tim's cheeks flush an even deeper shade of red, and he clears his throat, looking down at the box in his hand. "It's not what you think," he mumbles, his voice gruff.But Lauren just laughs, the sound echoing through the hallway as she struts away, her hips swaying with a confidence that wasn't there before. "Whatever you say, Bradford," she tosses over her shoulder, her tone light and teasing.

...

The day unfolds in a blur of sirens and adrenaline. Seals and Clark are out on the road, the competition for the most arrests driving them harder than ever before. Lauren's eyes are sharp, scanning every alleyway and corner, looking for the next call that could push them ahead. The sun beats down on the car's metal, turning it into an oven, but she doesn't complain. Instead, she cracks the window, letting the wind whip through her hair, her eyes never leaving the horizon.Seals breaks the silence, his voice tentative. "Hey, can I talk to you about something?"Lauren glances at him, her eyes still focused on the road ahead. "Yeah, what's up?"Seals sighs heavily, his eyes flicking to the side. "I don't think I want to be a cop anymore," he says, the words hanging in the air like a lead balloon.Lauren slams on the brakes, the car skidding to a stop. She whips her head around to stare at him, her eyes wide. "What did you just say?"Jonah flinches at the suddenness of her reaction, his hand hovering over the radio. "I said, I don't think I want to be a cop anymore," he repeats, his voice small.Lauren's eyes narrow, searching his face for a sign of a joke. But all she sees is doubt and fear. She sighs, shifting the car into park and turning to face him fully. "Why? What's going on, Seals?""I think I want to move to LAFD," Seals starts, his voice wavering. "The fire, it's just...it's different. It's like I'm meant to be there, you know? Every time we get a call for a fire... I want to run in and save them, not be outside waiting."Lauren lets out a breath and smiles. "I knew you were going to say that," she says, her eyes softening. "You've got a heart of gold, Seals. You want to save people and go face-first into the action. And that's what you should do."Seals looks at her, surprised. "How did you know?"Lauren's smile is knowing as she puts the car into drive and pulls out of the stop. "I profiled you, Seals. I've watched your every move. The moment you came in late on your first day, I knew you didn't want to be a cop." She glances at him, her eyes filled with a mix of understanding and amusement. "It's in the way you look at the world. You're not just seeing the crime and suspects, you're looking for the people in the middle of it, hoping to pull them out."The car speeds down the road, the wind rushing through the open window. Lauren's eyes are on the mirror, watching the traffic behind them, her mind racing. "You know, Tim used to tell me that sometimes we find ourselves in the wrong uniform," she muses. "But maybe, just maybe, it's not about the uniform. Maybe it's about finding the right place to serve."Seals nods thoughtfully, his gaze flickering to the side. "Yeah, I guess it's like that," he says, his voice still tentative. "But what about you, Lauren? Have you ever thought of joining the FBI? You're good at the whole profiling thing."Lauren laughs, a sound that's been rare lately. "Me? The FBI?" she asks, her voice light. "Nah, I'm happy where I am. Plus, I don't think I could handle the paperwork."But Seals's words linger in the air, planting a seed in Lauren's mind. She's always been good at reading people, seeing the patterns in their behavior, but she's never considered it as anything more than a tool for her job. Maybe Tim was right—it wasn't about the uniform but about finding where she could make the most impact.They pull into the station's lot, the sun bright and painting the sky in a riot of yellows. The precinct looms before them, a bastion of order in the chaotic city. Lauren turns to Seals, her expression serious. "If that's what you really want, I'll support you," she says firmly. "But you need to talk to Grey. He's the one who can make it happen."Seals nods, his eyes wide and hopeful. "Thanks, Lauren," he says, his voice shaking. "You don't know what this means to me.""Just go," Lauren says, giving him a gentle push towards the station. "Make me proud cowboy."

Seals nods, a hint of determination in his eyes, and heads towards Grey's office, his boots clicking against the linoleum floor. Lauren watches him go before turning away, her thoughts racing. She takes a deep breath and heads outside to where the food trucks are set up. The scent of sizzling meat and fresh bread fills the air, mixing with the faint smell of exhaust and the distant sound of sirens.As she's about to order a burrito, she spots Tim, Angela, and Talia at a table, their laughter carrying over the chatter of the officers. They look up as she approaches, their smiles widening. "Hey, Clark," Angela says, patting the bench beside her. "Have many points have you got?""Uhm, none actually," Lauren says, a small smile playing on her lips.Talia's eyebrows shoot up. "What? You and Tim are always neck and neck at this."Lauren laughs, a hint of nerves in her voice. "Well, today's been a bit...distracting," she admits, taking a fry from Angela's plate without asking. "I sent my boot off."Tim raises an eyebrow. "Seals? What's he doing?""Talking to Grey," Lauren says, her voice casual despite the butterflies in her stomach. "He wants to move to LAFD."Angela's smile falters, and Talia looks surprised. "Really?" Tim asks, his voice calm despite the surprise."Yeah," Lauren says, taking a deep breath. "He's always had a thing for the action and flames. And after today... I think he's made up his mind."Tim nods, a smile tugging at his lips. "It's a good fit for him," he agrees, his eyes on the horizon. Seals emerges from the station, a grin stretching from ear to ear. "I did it! I start training tomorrow," he says, his voice filled with excitement as he strides over to them.Lauren quickly gets up and gives him a hug. She can feel the tension melt out of his body, his arms wrapping tightly around her. It's a moment of pure relief and happiness, a stark contrast to the tension of the day's events."My little boot," she whispers into his ear, her voice thick with pride. "All grown up now."Jonah pulls back, his eyes shining with a mix of excitement and nerves. "I can't believe it," he says, his voice still shaking. "Thank you for believing in me."Lauren smiles, patting his back firmly. "You got this," she assures him, her voice steady.Jonah nods, the excitement bubbling up inside him. He pulls away, his eyes scanning the groups of officers scattered around the food trucks. He spots the rookies huddled together, sharing their own tales of the day's adventures. He takes a deep breath, squaring his shoulders, and starts to make his way over to them.Lauren watches him go, her heart swelling with pride. She turns back to Tim, her eyes meeting his. There's a silent understanding between them, a bond that's grown stronger over the past few weeks. They share a knowing smile before she heads back to her patrol car.

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KATE SPEAKS!

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