Detective Badass

Andy Weston (3)

It was cold as hell out here but I had to catch someone from the gang. They can't keep attacking these women. I walked by myself as I kept my guard up. I saw the car Fin and Rollins were in and passed them by. No one had followed me yet. As I made my way to the street Sonny and I were watching over I felt eyes on me from behind. Then I felt them creep closer. I turned around as the young man quickly grabbed me and pulled me by my tie into an alley. He pulled hard on it causing me to see stars. I clawed at him and pushed him away but he pulled on the tie from behind so I couldn't hit him.
"I have to do this or they'll hurt me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he was crying.
I was close to passing out from oxygen deprivation when he was tackled down.
I sucked in as much air as I could, choking on the cold air. I looked over to see Sonny had him in cuffs.
"Maia, are you ok!," Sonny reached out to me but I waved him away. He needed to take care of the perp first.
I heard footsteps running towards us as Sonny hauled the kid up to his feet. Carisi handed him off to Fin and Rollins before rushing over to me.
I stood up, breathing in shallowly.
"Are you alright, Maia?," Sonny turned my face up gently to check out my neck.
His hands were warm when he brushed my hair away from my face to get a better look at my neck. His face was so close to my own, it was hard to breathe already but he was making it worse.
"I'll be fine," I looked away and walked over to the squad so that I couldn't get too wrapped up in the moment we had.

We put the kid in the back of Liv's car, she charged him with assault of a police officer and read him his rights.
"Are you sure you don't wanna go to a hospital?," Sonny asked concerned, we were heading back to the precinct.
"I'm fine," my voice was barely a whisper.
He shook his head and turned the car around. "Let's at least get you checked out."
"I'm fine," I wheezed.
"You don't sound fine, gorgeous," he gave me a sad look.
My throat hurt so much that I almost missed his pet name he called me. "Did you just call me gorgeous?"
His adams apple bobbed up and down, nervous. "Yeah?"
I looked at him with a smile but underneath I was screaming with joy. I didn't add anything else, just sat in silence on the way to the ER with a big ass smile on my face.
When we got there a nurse checked my throat and my neck. There was a huge red mark already there no doubt there will be bruising.
"You're gonna have a sore throat for a while, drink lots of tea to soothe it or buy throat lozenges. Headaches, trouble swallowing, and a bruise as well, take the necessary medication for it. Next time, use a safe word, alright?"
I spat out the water she gave me as Sonny was clearing up with her that we weren't a couple. Oh my God, good thing the squad wasn't here or else they would be cracking jokes. We drove back to the station in silence, every once in awhile sneaking peeks at each other.
Fin and Rollins were already interrogating the kid when we got there. Just as I said the young man was telling us everything about his gang.
"Garcia, how are you holding up," Liv looked at my neck with worry.
"I'm never wearing a tie to work," I coughed out.
"Why don't you go home and take those days off. Get better," she put a hand on my shoulder.
"You sure, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, we've got this."
I was heading out when Carisi stopped me.
"Text me when you get home, ok."
I gave him a smile. "I will."
"I'll check on you tomorrow when I get a chance," he looked at me with a hopeful smile.
"I would like that," I whispered.
He hugged me quick and we parted ways. Despite last night's events I had a big grin on my face heading home.

When I walked into my apartment was another thing.
"You thought I would be asleep but nope I waited up for you. Now let's talk," El started talking fast.
I shrugged my jacket off and threw my tie in the trash, it was bad luck.
"Let me make some tea first," I coughed out.
I heard her gasp once she saw my neck in the kitchen light. "What the fuck happened?"
I chuckled at what I was going to reply. "Kinky sex gone awry. I knew we should've used a safe word, damn."
"This isn't funny, Maia! What the hell happened."
Once I stopped coughing from laughing so hard I told her what happened. I was making the tea while I talked. "And then he grabbed my tie and pulled me into an alley. He kept pulling on it harder and harder and well I'm here."
"Did you get it checked out?"
I nodded as I poured myself a huge cup of tea and poured one for her as well. I looked at her and I could see her worry growing more and more.
"It comes with the job, El. It's gonna happen sometimes. I'll be fine."
"Will you be? I heard last month you were hit with a gun!," she was shouting now.
"Who told you!," I rasped.
"Your mom told your cousin and she told me."
I rolled my eyes at my mom. "She's probably getting a petition going for me to quit my job."
"Would it be such a bad idea," she looked down at her mug.
I stood up and walked away, heading to my room to change into some pajamas.
"What the hell? I thought we were talking?," she stormed in.
"Not when you say stuff like that. You know why I decided to be a cop."
"I know but-"
"But what? I know the risks and I'm not gonna quit. Not when there are people like-," I stopped and threw on a sweater.
"Like him."
"Yeah."
"I'm worried about you, Mai. Ever since I heard you were in the police academy training to become a cop."
"You do love me," I joked.
She sat on my bed with her legs crossed. "Shut up, please. Take this seriously."
I sat next to her with my back against the wall. I took a sip of tea before she continued.
"I don't think what's going on with you is healthy. I don't think you're doing ok."
I looked at her. "I feel fine."
"What may be fine is probably numbness. Plus you've got bags under your eyes. Have you been sleeping well?"
I looked away from her. "I get enough sleep."
"I want you to talk to someone. See a therapist so they can help you through this."
"Can't I just talk to you?"
She gave me her hand and I took it. "I won't always be around when you need me. Plus I think a professional is what you need."
I nodded. "Ok."
"Plus, I truly believe a dog will help you through this as well. A companion will be good for you."
I smiled. "I think so too."
"Now let's talk about that guy."
Fuck. "I've been terribly wounded, don't I get a pass?"
"Nope."
I lied down and got comfortable for the onslaught of questions she was going to hurl at me.
"How old is he?"
"Thirty-seven, I think," I said rubbing at my neck.
"God, Maia, he's eleven years older than you! I'm not judging but damn!"
"And so what if he's older than me? He's so sweet to me and has this accent that makes me melt."
She rolled her eyes. "Ok, but I've read that ten years is the magic number. Anything over that is gonna have its challenges."
"I know."