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🚓🤍three-month time skip

Three beautiful months have passed since that fateful day. They had said their goodbyes to Jackson, the ache of his loss a constant reminder of the fragility of life. Lauren had her baby, a little girl, and Angela had her son, a robust and healthy baby boy named Jackson Now, everyone is gathered at Angela's house, eagerly awaiting her return from the hospital with her newborn.The door swings open and there she is, her eyes glistening with joy and exhaustion, cradling her baby boy in the carrier. Lauren's heart swells with pride as she sees her friend's strength and resilience, knowing that she's been through hell and back. "Welcome home!" they all shout in unison, their voices a chorus of relief and happiness."Oh no, did we just wake the baby?" Nolan whispers, his face a mask of horror. Angela laughs nervously, taking a sip of the wine Grey had just handed her, hoping to ease the tension. The room falls silent, all eyes on the source of the sound."No! It's okay. Watch." Angela says with a smile, her eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and mischief. Lauren and Lucy exchange confused glances. "7-Adam-20. Shots fired at Pico and Arlington," she continues in a semi-loud dispatcher's voice, mimicking the urgent tones they've all heard countless times over the radio.The baby doesn't even flinch. Not even a murmur escapes his tiny lips. The room erupts into laughter, the tension momentarily forgotten. "He sleeps through everything. He's the best baby ever." Angela says proudly. "Which means, I'm the best mom ever."Tim, standing in the corner, watches Lauren with a soft smile playing on his lips. He can see the love in her eyes as she holds their baby, her gaze never leaving the tiny face that is a perfect mix of both her and him. It's moments like these that make the risks of their job worth it, the moments that remind them why they fight so hard to keep the city safe."You guys didn't have to do all this," Angela says, her voice thick with emotion as she walks over to Lauren, her eyes scanning the room filled with balloons, gifts, and smiling faces. Lauren looks up at her friend, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But we wanted to," she says simply, her voice filled with warmth. "Plus, you got like a years' worth of diapers now!"The room fills with more laughter, the kind that comes from the depths of the soul. Lauren passes the baby to Tim, who takes her with ease, his eyes never leaving hers. He whispers something into her ear that makes her smile widen and her cheeks blush. The others pretend not to notice, but the air in the room seems to charge with an unspoken understanding.Wesley returns from the kitchen with a tray of food, and everyone gathers around the coffee table to eat and reminisce. Stories from the academy days are shared, bringing forth a mix of laughter and nostalgia. Laura looks around the room, her heart swelling with the camaraderie and love that's been forged through fire. Each face tells a tale of sacrifice, courage, and friendship.

...two month time skip...

Two more months have passed, and the heat of summer has officially set in. Lauren stands in front of the closet, her hand hovering over her clothes. The smell of fresh coffee fills the house, a comforting scent that's become the soundtrack of her mornings. She takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of the badge in her pocket. Today is her first day back at work after maternity leave, and the excitement is mixed with a hint of trepidation.Maeve appears in the doorway, her hair done for the day. "Hey, can I stay at Tamara's tonight?" she asks, her voice still groggy with sleep. Lauren turns to look at her, her eyes softening. She knows her daughter's request is a sign of growing up, a step towards independence."Yeah, of course. Also, thank you for watching Marie." Lauren says, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. Maeve nods, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's only until Tim and I get our schedules sorted out," she adds, trying to reassure her. She doesn't want Maeve to think she's being pushed aside for the baby."Mom, it's okay. I don't mind." Maeve says with a reassuring smile before leaving the room.Lauren watches her go, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought of her babies growing up so fast. She takes a deep breath and turns back to the closet, selecting what to wear with a sense of pride. She knows that she's not just going back to work; she's returning to her second family, the people who've seen her at her worst and supported her through the toughest of times.Tim walks out of the bathroom with jeans and a red shirt on, "Hey." he says, his voice a gentle caress in the quiet room. Lauren's heart skips a beat at the sight of him, his broad shoulders and kind eyes a reminder of the love they've built together. He crosses the room to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead."Well, good morning, Sergeant Bradford," Lauren says, emphasizing his new title with a proud smile. Tim chuckles, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well good morning to you to," he says, his voice a low rumble that makes her want to melt into his embrace. Laura smiles, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers, the comforting scent of his cologne.Marie, coos from her crib, interrupting the moment. Lauren gently peels herself away from Tim to check on her. The sight of her tiny, sleeping form fills her with a fierce love that she didn't know was possible. She whispers sweet nothings to her daughter, feeling a swell of pride at the life they've created together.With a final kiss to Marie's forehead, Lauren heads to the living room where Tim is waiting, his hand on the doorknob, ready to leave for the station. They share a look filled with unspoken words, a silent promise to come home safely to each other and their growing family.At the station, Lauren's eyes scan the room, spotting Lucy and Nolan together by the door to Grey's office. She strides over, her boots thumping against the tiles, her heart racing at the sight of the new rookie standing at the back, looking slightly overwhelmed by the sea of uniforms and stern faces. "Oh my god, do you guys know who that is?" Lauren whispers urgently, her voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.Nolan turns to her with a quizzical look, "Okay seriously who is it?""That's Aaron Thorsen," Lucy says, her voice dropping to a whisper. Nolan looks at Lucy with still a confused look."The rich kid who was TikTok famous before he got arrested for murdering his roommate in Paris while studying abroad." Lauren clarifies, her eyes narrowing as she looks at the young man, who seems oblivious to the whispers and stares around him."Oh right," Nolan whispers, his voice filled with disgust. "God, that trial went on forever." Lauren nods, remembering the endless news cycles. She can feel her blood pressure rising just thinking about the entitlement that had dripped from his every word during the trial."Trials. Plural," Lucy says, her eyes wide with amazement. "The case was a mess. The dynamic between two of the investigators really drove a lot of issues." She finishes her sentence, taking a sip of her water, her eyes never leaving the new rookie. Lauren and Nolan exchange a knowing look. It wasn't every day that you saw a high-profile case come to life right before your eyes, especially not in the form of a fresh-faced rookie who was once a defendant in a murder trial.The buzz of the station grows louder as more officers trickle into the briefing room, the hum of conversation a cacophony of voices. Lauren takes a deep breath, focusing on the task ahead. It was a new day, a new case, and a new rookie. She couldn't let her curiosity or skepticism cloud her judgment. The doors to the briefing room swing open, and Sergeants Grey and Bradford step up to the podium, their eyes scanning the room."Alright, let's get started," Grey says, her voice commanding the attention of the room. "As you know, we have a new sergeant joining us in the field today." Lauren's heart skips a beat as Tim steps forward, his posture proud and his eyes gleaming with excitement. The room falls silent, and she feels a swell of pride in her chest. She knows he's earned this promotion through hard work and dedication."Sergeant Tim Bradford," Grey says, and the room erupts into cheers and applause. Lauren's eyes meet Tim's across the room, and she can see the joy and relief in his gaze. The tension of the last few months, the fear and doubt, seem to melt away in the face of his newfound authority and respect."Alright, first up," Tim starts off, his voice firm and steady. "We got a new rookie." The room quiets down, all eyes shifting to the young man sitting in the front row, looking like a deer in headlights. Lauren tries to keep her expression neutral, but she can't help the flicker of interest in her eyes as she takes in the newcomer's story and piercing gaze."Officer Thorsen, stand up," Tim commands, his tone a mix of authority and challenge. Thorsen rises to his feet, his movements smooth and poised despite the tension that seems to crackle in the air. Lauren notices the way his hand lingers on the edge of the chair, as if he's trying to ground himself."Now, there's a traditional introduction for probationary officers," Tim starts off, his eyes never leaving Aaron Thorsen's. "But you are anything but traditional." He glances at his watch, his expression unreadable. "So, I'm giving you twenty seconds to introduce yourself before the rumor mill ramps up."Thorsen clears his throat and turns around to face the officers. "I know there's nothing I can say in twenty seconds that'll change the way you all view me," he says, his voice steady despite the palpable tension in the room. "It's my actions that will define me. And I promise to always have your back, and I will always strive to tip the scales towards justice because I know what it's like when they're tipped the other way." Lauren's gaze sharpens as she listens, her curiosity piqued by the earnestness in his voice."And I want to make something very clear," Grey says, his gaze sweeping over the room, his voice a stern reminder of the gravity of the situation. "Officer Thorsen was found not guilty. He survived the academy. He earned the right to be here." Lauren nods, understanding the implicit message: give the kid a chance."Alright down to business." Tim says, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. Lauren and the others snap to attention, their expressions a mix of nerves and excitement."This weekend's gonna suck," Tim says with a sigh, his eyes scanning over the board with the upcoming events. "We got the Dodgers in the playoffs, six different concerts, a fancy art exhibition opening, and the Getty Gala tomorrow night." Lauren can't help but laugh at his exasperation. It's a never-ending dance of chaos in L.A., especially with events like these happening all at once."So, what you're saying is good luck?" Lauren asks, her tone playfully sarcastic, making everyone in the room giggle. Tim's expression morphs into one of mock offense. "You think I'd leave you high and dry on your first day back?" He grins, the mood in the room lightening."Actually," Grey interjects, "we've got a surprise for you." Lauren's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Surprises in this job were usually the kind you didn't want. "You're going to be working a special case with the FBI today." Lauren's heart skips a beat. Working with the FBI was a rare opportunity, even for one as seasoned as she was. "It's a kidnapping case. They specifically asked for you."

Lauren nods, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of the new challenge. The excitement of the job rushing through her veins like adrenaline. "Alright, let's go," she says, her voice filled with determination. The room starts to clear out, officers heading to their desks or out into the field. Laura takes a moment to look around, feeling a sense of belonging in this chaotic space she calls home.

🚓...🤍

KATE SPEAKS!

all i hear is ✨special agent clark✨but anywayss

how are we feeling about this and the past chapters?!ready for more action and plots?😊