Lock And Load (Chicago P.D.)

Chapter 17

Camille smiles at me as we walk into her new playschool. When we arrive she takes off her coat and shoes and puts them in her cubby. As I help her put on her indoor shoes I hear some of the Moms behind me whisper, "I hear she's a single mom." 

"The Dad lives in California. That can't be good for the girl." 

"The Mom is also a police officer. That can't be easy for her little girl." 

"What if she gets killed?! The girl won't have anyone!"

I hold back my anger as I finish helping Camille with her shoes. I give her a hug and a kiss and say, "Have a good day monkey. Sean will be picking you up later today because Mommy has to work, okay?" 

She nods and smiles. I watch as she runs into the playroom and then I stand up. I make sure that no other kids are in the hallway and then walk up to the group of Mom's gossiping about me. I look them all in the eyes and say, "Yes I'm a single Mom and I'm proud that I have the strength to raise my daughter alone. Yes her Dad lives in California and its best that way. He was an idiot anyway. Yes I'm a police officer and my daughter loves hearing about my day because she thinks my job is very cool. If I got killed on the job there are plenty of people who would take her in a heartbeat and become her permanent guardian and raise her just as I would."

 They all scoff so I say, "If you think this is comical try being a single Mom for a week. Try arresting a 15 year old. Try putting a man who got caught in the middle of a gang shootout who has 3 kids and a wife in a body bag and then telling the family. Try discovering a child's body that can't be older than your own child in a bush, dead and deserted for weeks. Try coming home after an intense investigation to your little girl and putting on a brave face for her when all you want to do is cry because of what you saw that day and because of the one minuscule detail you missed that caused an innocent young woman her life. So until you've done all of that, don't you dare judge me." 

They all look away from my glare and I know my point has been proven. I'm about to walk out of the door when I quickly turn back around and say, "Oh, and I could arrest all of you right now for assaulting an officer but I'm feeling rather generous today."

 I see them all gulp so I walk out of the doors and go to work.

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Thank you guys for 3.1K reads! I hope you had a good holiday! -Becca