But I'd Have Had to Miss The Dance (Sylverasey Collection)

Vk ~ Sylvie V, Frank IV, Elliot II

Why does it seem like my mojo to write these fandoms in general always comes when the time change occurs here in the States? It feels that way, anyway . . . and it seems like my mojo to write comes in spurts nowadays. The last third or half of this came together in the past forty-eight hours or so. Oh, well. I guess if you're going to stay up late to write, it should be on the day you gain an hour in the middle of the night.

Sylvie gets down to business, Peter complains about Nolan's new hobby, Frank is not jealous (three guesses who doubts that), the 225 gains three members for a shift, and Elliot learns two pieces of information of their special visitor. One piece is job related. The other is most certainly not.

***

While Sylvie hadn't been a member of the Fire Department of New York since she left in 2014, she knew enough through Nolan and Peter that her former fire department remained closely tied to the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Commissioner Andrew Newhart shared many similarities with Jack McCoy, among them a strong moral compass and a strong desire to look out for his people. Above all, he was a New Yorker through and through and wanted nothing more than to mold the department into one that would do whatever it took to keep their people safe.

So when Sylvie was led to the commissioner's door by his assistant, she immediately stiffened to attention when Newhart's eyes raised from his computer. "Commissioner," she greeted with a sharp salute.

"At ease, Commander," Newhart smiled as he rose from his chair. "You are no longer one of my paramedics, as my Chicago counterpart takes immense glee in reminding me."

"I feel like I should apologize for that," Sylvie smiled sheepishly, stepping into Newhart's office and readjusting the cuffs of her dress uniform. "I give him a lot of grief at times."

"But he takes great pride in his 'Diamond Trio,' I believe he calls you and your captains," Newhart countered, smiling at Sylvie's blush and extending his hand to her. "I saw the photos from your promotion ceremony as well as Captain Severide's. I'm glad you're happy, Commander. I can only imagine how hard it was to pretend this life hadn't existed."

"Difficult at times," Sylvie admitted as she shook her former boss's hand. "Thankfully, I don't need to do it any longer. Now I have everything I've wanted in life." She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "I just hope I'm not too late to help here."

"I believe you are just in time," Newhart assured her. "And any little help you can give will be monumental."

Sylvie smiled weakly and took the seat offered to her. "If it means a nonemergency call won't be the reason my brother has to prosecute a homicide, I'll consider it a win."

"In that, McCoy and I are in agreement," Newhart nodded. "Perhaps a loftier goal: no nonemergency call being the reason a case ends up on any prosecutor's desk."

Sylvie's smile widened. "That's a goal I'm happy to help chase, sir."

Newhart nodded in satisfaction. "Then how do we get started?"

***

"Is your new hobby making my life difficult?"

The sudden voice behind them startled even Frank, and he and Jalen turned in surprise to see Peter jogging down the staircase to catch up with them. Nolan, on the other hand, just snorted and continued perusing the file he held without even flinching. "And how am I doing that, Stone?" he asked, only glancing up once to swerve around clerks walking in the opposite direction. "This is the first time I've seen you this week."