The Academy

Fifty Two

Tink:

"Wow, you never dress up like that," Peter says as I rush around our room, trying to find my high heeled boots. "I've got a debriefing. This is only regulation," I shrug. "Can I ask you something about work?" Peter asks, tying the back of my top. "Honey I'm already late," I say. "And your exhausted so your temper is running on short I know, but what does it take to get in?" Peter asks. "We're not discussing this right now," I say, shaking my head. "Uncle Jace is here," Delilah yells from the living room. "You could make it Peter. You've got what it takes. Character, stealth, the brains and your on the lean side so we could fix that," Jace says.

"Uncle, I don't think that's what mommy needed," Delilah says, going into her room to get dressed so I can take her to school. "Delilah is right. First you want to kill my father, the only person that I needed to kill and now you want to kill my husband. Perfect. Really hitting a home run Corporal. I have no idea if you came to ruin my life or improve my emotional state but you have no right to be here," I say, passing him and putting on my jacket. "Look I just came to apologize Tinkerbell. I'm sorry for stepping on your feet and getting in your way," Jace says. "You did a hell of a lot more than that. You hand cuffed me to a hospital bed then made Sam Winchester bring me to his house to keep me off the mission. I told you I would never forgive you if I didn't get the last word and now you think it's okay to come to my house and try a simple sorry. I applied for a new partner last night. From now on I'll be working with fellow Lieutenant Lightwood. Alec Lightwood. Congratulations you are now royally screwed," I tell him.

On the way to work I let Delilah sit in the front. Have weaves through traffic where we are left to sit in it for a good twenty extra minutes.  "Mommy are you okay?" She asks, sitting with her hands in her lap. "No honey I'm not. I'll be back to pick you up. I promise. Be good," I say as we meet Xavier for her first class. After Jace explains what happened on the field during the debriefing, Chief Hodge looks over some papers. "Lieutenant Howlett? Says here you applied for a new partner last night?" He asks. "Yes Chief I did. Based on his performance with this last mission, I cannot work with Corporal Wayland any longer," I respond. "Well Lieutenant when you and he where fourteen you received the mark of the parabatai. Once you receive this, you don't get a new partner. I'm sorry for the falling out but you must get over it. Thank you for completing the mission with great complacency Corporal Wayland. Thank you for serving, Lieutenant Howlett," Hodge says, standing. We stand at attention and I feel like crying. "At ease," he says, leaving the room.

Most people leave the room but I stay, feeling broken and lost. "Go home Tink. It'll be better tomorrow. I promise. I'll bring Delilah home or out for ice cream or something. I'm her grandpa. Trust me, I got this. Go home, cry your heart out and come back tomorrow to do it all over again," Dad says, patting my shoulder. "No, I'm not going home right now," I say, wanting to so badly. I make my way down to the training facility purposefully. Once there I change in the locker room into a gray tight tank top and my old training pants. I leave my shoes in the locker room and go out onto the mat. "Here early I see," Alec laughs, emerging from the guys locker room.

"Did you seriously think that they were going to let you work with me? You've been marked Tink. You can't come back from that," he says as we start going at it. I drop, avoiding a punch and sweeping his feet out from under him. "No, I guess I was just hoping. I honestly can think about nothing but ripping his miserable head off," I say, channeling the anger and turning it to power. "Exactly. He's miserable. The guilt should be enough. Give the guy a break," Alec instructs, pulling me into a headlock. I escape, pulling his arm back and up, pinning him to the ground with my knee between his shoulder blades. "It's not that easy Alec," I say, moving off of him and helping him up.

"I beg to differ," Alec says, spraying water at me from his water bottle. "So if Peter accidentally left you behind when magically proofing out would you freak out like you are with Jace?" Alec asks, circling me again. "No, but he wouldn't have done it on purpose. Jace purposely did this," I tell him. "Okay, what if Peter signed up to be a Shadowhunter, knowing that it would hurt you but still doing it anyway?" Alec asks, wincing. He grabs my shoulders and turns me around. "You're Alec, right? Um they said that I'll be working as your partner," Peter says, approaching him. "Who's with the kids?" I demand. "Logan wanted to take them out for the day," Peter shrugs. "What rank did they place you at?" Alec asks. That's one of the things we do differently than normal people, you don't start at Officer, you start at what they think you should be.

"Sergeant," he answers as Alec circles him, evaluating things the way he does. "Alright well we better get you built up and apply for a case," Alec says. The tears come back and I leave the room, slamming through the doors. "Tinkerbell!" Peter calls after me. I go to leave the building and the doors lock. "Not so fast," Peter sighs, placing his hands against the door, one on either side of my waist. "Peter seriously?" I ask, blinking away tears. "You need to stop throwing a fit. So what Jace killed someone you wanted to kill! Your alive, he's dying because of your reaction. He did it to protect you. I am doing this to protect you and the kids. To have a purpose. You need to understand," he says. "Okay," I nod quietly, kind of shocked by the tone he is using.

"I need to go talk to Jace," I say, pushing on his chest to get him to back up. "First you need to talk to me. Promise me you're going to be nice. He needs a partner and a friend not a bitchy commanding officer," Peter demands. "Promise," I say, tossing my head to get my hair out of my face. "Okay," Peter says warily, backing up and starting to walk back to Alec when I grab him by the waist, pulling him back over. He turns around, letting me hold him against me. "You have to promise me something. Promise me that you'll be careful. This job is dangerous. And one more thing, don't you dare run off with Isabelle Lightwood," I say, puppy eying him. "Promise. We've both got something to do," he says looking up over my head. I nod, letting go of him.

We go out separate ways and bump into Jace while going to find him. "Lieutenant," he nods, walking away. "Jace, please stop. I've been out of control and I get it, I would've compromised everything by being there. Thank you for getting it done. I forgive you," I say, grabbing his hand and talking fast. "I did what I had to," he responds, before swallowing other words. "Hey, I love you too bud," I say, dropping his hand and going up the stairs. "Heyo Rose," I say, throwing open her door. "Hi," she says with a yawn. "Wow you look exhausted. I guess dad didn't actually talk to you about it did he?" I ask, playfully shoving her. "I just was talking with Bella all night," she says, half heartily shoving me back. "If by Bella you mean Jace and by talking you mean-" "No. By Bella I mean Bella and by talking I mean emailing," she quickly says.

"Movie marathon? I'm pretty alone right now," I say. "Actually Rose and I had plans. We are going to go see a movie today," Jace says from the door way. "Well okay then. I'm sure I can find something to do..."