Finding Home

Chapter Eight - Tour

Dean guides me into the station and removes his hat. It is quite small in here. I have really never been inside the police station before. There was never a reason for me to be in here.

There is a girl who looks to be about twenty sitting at a long, high desk close the door. She is sitting on a raised stool and has a big smile on her face with curly brown hair coming past her shoulders. "Hey Sheriff, you have a few messages on your desk. Nothing too urgent. Nathan Baxter called and asked if you were still on for Friday night too. I told him you'd give him a ring." This must be the new recruit. She appears to be very efficient at her job.

"Thank you Georgia" Dean smiles. "This is Annie Stevens.. Annie, this is Georgia" He gestures towards me and then the young girl, so I step a little further to the desk to give a little wave.

"Matt and Grace's daughter?" She exclaims. Of course she already knew "Ooh, it's nice to meet you. Your parents have been talking about you non-stop this past week. They have been so excited to have you home"

"How lovely" a forced smile appears on my face. They really did talk to everyone.

Dean let's out a small chuckle besides me. "I'm just taking Annie for a quick tour around the station"

"Sure" she beams "Coffee?"

"That'd be great! Annie?" Dean and Georgia both look at me.

"No, thank you, I'll be fine" I smile. I don't want Georgia running around after me too. I am not anyone important.

"I'll pop it on your desk Sheriff" Georgia calls after us and we head through a gate and to the police officer's desks, there is six, two rows of three and they all face the door just like Georgia's.

They are all look the same but as we move through the room I notice little touches to each persons desk. A few photo's, personalised stationary and mugs even some quirky little figurines or keepsakes.

Only two people are at their desks, one is on the left hand side, talking on the phone he nods towards Dean, giving me a small smile. The name on his desk badge reads "Officer J Hammond". He looks to be in his sixties. Thick, white hair gelled back with a stocky build. 

The other officer is on the right hand side one row back, He has his feet up on his desk with a cup of coffee in his hand. Smiling at both of us and watching us head his way. His blue eyes twinkle and he brushes his shaggy blond hair back with his hands only for it to flop back over his forehead.

"This is where all the officers sit. We don't have everyone on duty....there's not much going on to warrant it so they are usually on different shifts" Dean explains, "This is Benjamin" he points towards the officer with his feet up. I am surprised to see he looks to be a similar age to me. Maybe a little younger. "He's fairly new here " Dean says  "Ben, this is Annie Stevens"

"Ah you must be...." Ben starts

"Yes, yes Matthew and Grace's daughter and you've heard a lot about me" I finish for him

Both men stare at me, making feel a little embarrassed. I didn't mean to be rude, but I am getting so sick of hearing people say that.

"Sorry, just hearing that a lot lately" I explain, shrugging my shoulders apologetically. 

They share a look and laugh. I'm relieved they aren't too offended. 

"Understood" Ben raises a hand in mock surrender. His phone rings and he mouths 'Nice to meet you' before removing his feet from the desk and leaning forward to pick it up "Officer Porter how can I help?"

Dean nods his head towards his office and I follow him in.

The walls separating Deans office from the rest of the station are glass from halfway up until they touch the ceiling, they have white horizontal blinds on but they are fully pulled up so Dean has a view of the entire place.