SOS - Talia Bishop

FLESH AND BLOOD - Worth

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't—"

Jason held his phone up to his ear, his expression blank. Hailey was on the other end of the phone, trying to explain herself.

"I didn't mean to lash out. I'm sorry, I know I got ahead of myself. I tend to do that sometimes. It's just...I feel very attached to you, and maybe I've made decisions before a mutual agreement," she apologized.

Jason sighed. "I'm not, I'm not mad. I just think you're pacing a bit too fast. I'm also...so sorry. I just— I wasn't ready to be in a relationship...I don't know. Just...at least..."

"At least what?"

"...at least...not with you."

Hailey scoffed on the other end, "Are you fucking kidding me right now? Are you fucking kidding? Are you seeing someone else?"

"No! No! No! Oh my— no! I just feel like— Okay, look, Hailey. I like you a lot. You're funny, you're smart, you're kind...but I think maybe dating...wouldn't be the best choice."

There was a pause, and Jason couldn't be more nervous. Thank goodness this conversation was held in a phone call, or else he would've buried himself in embarrassment in front of her there and then.

"I can't fucking—" pause again, "Okay. I'll respect your decision like a respectful adult. It's okay if you don't want to date me, okay? That's totally fine. Yeah, that's fine."

She sounded like she was trying to convice herself more than she was convincing him.

"We're still friends, right?"

Jason waited for a response, but was only met with the beep of the call ending. He sighed and packed his backpack, getting ready for work.

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"Most of what a captain does is paperwork. 'Cause of that, I feel like I've lost touch with what being a cop is really about. People. It's not only the citizens that we serve and protect. It's every single one of you in this room. So, to remedy that, I've decided Sergeant Grey and I are gonna ride patrol today."

Jason squinted his eyes at the sight of Captain Andersen in patrol uniform. The last time he saw that was when he was a rookie, and Andersen rode with his TO, who she fired after shift ended. Yeah, that guy was an absolute asshole.

"You're riding together?" Tim asked.

Andersen shook her head. "Consider this...an evaluation for the rookies. We're each going to ride with two rookies, and the TOs will pair up."

"Ma'am, I'd be honored if you'd ride with me," Jackson volunteered. As always.

"That's sweet, Officer West. But today I'm riding with Officer Bennett and Officer Chen."

Sergeant Grey smiled sarcastically at the rookies. "And that means I'll be riding with you two, Officer Nolan, Officer West. Officer West, are you disappointed?"

"Of course not, sir. I'm more than glad to be riding with you today. Every event is a learning opportunity."

"And Officer Nolan?"

"Lucky me."

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"Why did the captain pick me? Am I doing really bad?"

Jason accompanied his rookie to the kit room, as she collected the gear for herself and Lucy collecting gear for her and the captain.