A Second Chance

There's a First for Everything

Chapter 25

After two weeks with Valerie, Caden has learned to deal with sevrel things;

1) Valerie parks in what use to be his old parking spot just to joke with him.
2) Valerie sleeps with her head on his shoulder on the way back to work from missions.
3) Valerie sits on his desk instead of an office chair.
4) Valerie is normally late for work.

It was about mid-afternoon and not much had happened today, unless you count Valerie complaining every ten minutes about how board she was.

The phone finally rang and Caden was glad to know he had a mission because Valerie was about to drive him insane.

"Rogers." Caden answered.

Valerie tried being quiet to see if she could hear what Anderson was telling him but she could not. Not like it mattered, it was like a ten second phone call.

"Got it Anderson." Caden spoke into the phone, hanging up afterwords.

"Did you just call Rivers by his first name?" Valerie was looking surprised.

Caden was at a loss for words not even realizing he called him that. Valerie seemed to think nothing of it.

"Never mind, what was the deal with the short phone call?" Valerie changed her question.

"Just come on and I'll explain in the car."

"Car?"

"Yeah the location is close, we'll drive my car." Caden assured her.

Caden stood from his chair and Valerie hopped off his desk. She followed all the way to the door before finally asking, "Don't we need weapons?"

"I'll explain in the car Val." He repeated himself.

If it wasn't for the use of her nickname she would have demanded an answer right then and there but she followed because he called her Val. Something told her Caden knew that too.

Caden got in his car first and then Valerie got in in the passenger side. Before he could even start his car Valerie started asking questions.

"So since when are we just so skilled we don't need weapons?" Valerie questioned sarcastically.

Caden started the car and headed out on the road.

"There is this lady, her name is Garnet. She's been really kind to Anderson since he started ARRO." Caden explained. Wait! He called him Anderson again!

"Okay?" Valerie was still waiting for the whole point.

"Every month or so she calls because her cat gets stuck in a tree." Caden explained.
  
"You have to be kidding Caden. We're not seriously going to rescue a cat are we?" Valerie said annoyed.

"Have some respect, she's been really nice to both me and Rivers." Caden said Rivers slowly making sure not to slip up again.

"Then why not send an agent who doesn't have anything to do.. or the fire department.. or any person except us?" Valerie snapped.

Valerie looked angry, having her arms crossed, pouting as she stared out her window. Caden glared at her never having seen this side of her.

"Don't be like that Jones." Caden used her last name seriously.

"Rivers is the one who has seemed to have lost his mind!" Valerie raised her voice.

"No he hasn't! Why are you always talking bad about your boss?" Caden raised his voice right back.

"Give me a reason not to! He's your boss too, you can't seriously think he always makes the right judgment."

"Not always but on this he does, and you know what? He's human, so he makes mistakes just like you and me both!" Caden was getting annoyed with her saying bad things about his best friend.

"Why are you standing up for him!?"

The car came to a screeching stop in Garnet's driveway. The car jerked both agents forward but their seatbelt kept them still in their seat.

"Because Anderson is my best friend!"

Caden practically jumped out of the car and slammed his door shut. Valerie did not bother getting out, not changing her opinion. She did sit there kind of bewildered about what he just said though.

"Are you alright Caden?" Ms. Garnet asked.

He offered a smile and calmed himself down, not wanting to take his anger out on someone as sweet as Garnet.

"I'm fine thanks." He assured her.

He climbed up the tree and brought down her kitty. You know, he was not even sure of the cat's name. He'll just call her Kitty.

"That's Tammy's replacement huh?" Garnet asked, looking toward the car at Valerie who was still pouting.

Caden felt almost ashamed of himself. Before he met Valerie he would not have called her a replacement, sure a new partner, but not a replacement, but truthfully since he has not even thought of Victoria or Tammy he felt like maybe Valerie was  a replacement without him realizing it.

To respond to Garnet he slowly nodded.

"When are you going to get a partner who will talk to me?" Garnet jokingly asked.

"Don't worry I'm sure she'll warm up to you." Caden assured her.

They said their goodbyes and Caden got in his car and began to drive back to work.

"I'm sorry I shouted." Caden apologized.

"Me too." Valerie mumbled. She was not mad anymore she just does not like apologizing. Caden was one exception though.

"Thanks." He said.

Caden smiled at her and she smiled back. By the next morning both agents had completely forgotten about their fight.

Wow Caden and Valerie's first fight. I know this was short but I've done a chapter with Garnet with all his other partners so I felt it was necessary.